Thanksgiving 2010

Lets see ... we had 12 grandkids (all under 11), 11 adults (just as rowdy as the kids), like a dozen cars out front and 1 motor home. That was my parents house over Thanksgiving. It was a memorable time, probably one of my favorites. It had nothing to do with the food, even though it was fabulous, or the great deals on Black Friday. It had everything to do with family. Growing up my parents raised/forced us to be friends with each other. My mother always said "your siblings will be your best friends". That's hard to believe when your sisters are stealing your clothes and your little brother is eavesdropping on your phone calls. But it happened. There is no one in the world that I would rather be with than my family. Especially at 4 am running into Target,Walmart, Toys R Us, and Khols to get screamin' deals on everything from baby princess dolls to digital picture frames. Did I mention Emily and I almost got mauled by people at the Walmart electronic sale and that I had no voice for 2 days. It was a crazy time!

(Boys before their Thanksgiving bike ride... it was freezing!)

On Saturday we went to the Shark Reef

(little boys loving the freaky sharks)

(my favorite... the lion fish)

After all the company left we decorated our house for Christmas

(Scarlett loves Christmas)

A LOT!

Harry Potter and 4 cute kids

My red lipstick wearing sister came home today. She left for BYU-I in August and has not been home sense. I missed her. In celebration of her arrival we went to Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part I (that is a mouthful). It was fabulous and I want to read it again ( I have read them all twice). Harry Potter is almost perfect (Dumbledore did not have to die). It is amazing that J.K. Rowling was able to make the seventh book just as intriguing as the first, never once letting the plot or characters get away from her. I plan on reading everyone to my children!

(About to watch the movie)

We also watched my nephew and nieces this weekend while Tiffany and C-Jay hit the town for their anniversary. We fed ducks in the ran, played at McDonalds, and watched like 4 movies. Scarlett of course loved it and fit right in.

(feeding ducks in the rain)

(The babies. Don't worry Centri got the blanket right after the picture:)

Scarlett 11 Months

She has been eating a ton of food, which is excellent cause she is so small. These days she is loving eggos, easy mac, cheese, and green beans. I have the hardest time getting her to eat any meat but it will come. I swear she is growing an inch a day. 6-12 month clothes are starting not to fit. I look at her and she is not even a baby even more. She stands all on her own and will walk soon. I can not wait for her to walk, crawling is filthy. The knees of all her pants are stained black or completely worn. She loves, LOVES crawling around the house and up the stairs. Some days I feel like she is just doing laps around the living room. She is loving to beg at my feet. If I stand for longer than 10 seconds she has found me and crawled up my leg. It is hard to reseat her outstretched arms and toothy grin. So her first official word is "Hi", which is so her since she is super social. She loves saying it to little kids. "Hi, hi,hi" she says while waving. Oh, it is adorable. My mom and sister watch her while I work two days a week and she loves it. She has the best time playing with her cousins and all of their toys. I feel bad she was the first born and has no siblings to play with. When Nick gets home from work they always get the mail together. She loves to be with her dad and push the garage door opener. Before I go to bed I have to pick her sleeping body up and snuggle with her. One day she will not be so small and I have to enjoy it while I can. Scarlett, you getting so big and smart. We love you!

With her cousins and great grandparents from England

4 years ago today...

Nick took me to Vivaldi park in Seven Hills and asked "Jill Allison Camp with you marry me?"

I said yes and cried. It was dark but I like to think Nick shed a tear or two. I spent all night writing in my journal and looking at the ring Nick picked out. Nick, that was the best decision you ever made!

I got pretty lucky too

25 years old

Did everyone catch that? Nick had a "blog header" made for me. I never even told him that those things exist or that I wanted one. He showed it to me on the way to dinner for my birthday. Before we left he made me sit in the car while he put it on the blog and then pulled it up on his iphone. My birthday is a pretty big deal. I don't like anything expensive but I do love a good surprise. Well, Nick you out did yourself. I had no idea and I LOVE it!! You made turning 25 very memorable. I also scored a purse, boots, and holiday decorations from my mom. Oh, and my dad got me a magnet calender. I know I am spoiled (see my birthday is a big deal!). I had a great day with lunch with Nick and then dinner at BJ's with my family. To bad I have to wait a whole year to celebrate me again:(

MY LOOT

(boots)

(headband)

(purse/diaper bag, belt)

(funny turkey)

(candle sticks and candles)

So I was going through pictures and I found pictures of my birthdays since I as 19. Enjoy the show...

19 and eating spaghetti with my hands at BYU

We may or may not have just pulled those boys in from the street:)

20 and in Nauvoo knitting my scarf

21 and Nick took me to UNLV basketball game

22 and eating cake at Emily's house

23 and eating cake (the same cake 3 years in a row)

24 and pregnant

Happy Birthday

Well, happy birthday Jilly! I thought I would briefly entertain you with my first blog entry for your birthday. The picture…I just found it on the internet so please don’t expect that cake as a surprise at home. 25 is a good age. Abe told me of a number game that figures out about how many miles you've run. The rule of thumb is if it’s 13 miles it really rounds up to 15 and 15 really rounds up to 20, so you really ran 20 miles. This logic is turned around with age—from now on your age rounds down to 25.

Hope you like your new blog title. Well, happy Birthday! Love you-Nick

1/2 is better than full

my personal support car... what a waste of money I did not even need it:)

I have been training super hard for the Snow Canyon half marathon in St. George. I ran it with my sister Kim (mother of 5 and is seriously in shape) and her rather tall hubby Abe. It was a blast and quite possibly the most gorgeous 13.1 miles ever. The best part about a 1/2 marathon is that by the time you get tired... it's time to finish. I have already made up my mind to run another in January. Nick thinks I am crazy but I say my clock is quickly ticking before I get pregnant again. Best to get all this running stuff out of my system before my next year hiatus. Running while listening to great music and viewing majestic mountains feeds my soul.

PS I have run a marathon and I could not walk for a week. It was horrible, painful, and about 13 miles too long. If anyone is trying to talk you into running one just remember your D.A.R.E. training and "just say NO!"

I VOTED

I always feel so patriotic after I vote. I love it. Like I have done my civic duty. It is also an ego boost with everyone there saying" you are amazing", "thanks for voting", " you are so wonderful to come out". Scarlett loved the sticker, she ate the whole thing (wrapper and all) before we got to the car. That darn child, I really wanted to wear it with pride. Now time for 2 voting stories.

1. My nephew Jensen thinks that when his parents say "Jensen you want to come voting with me" that they are saying "Jensen you want to come "boating" with me". Disappointment sets in pretty quick when he realizes where he is going.

2. Nick gave me such a hard time because I was thinking of voting for a certain candidate. He got even more frustrated when voting day came and I would not tell him who I was voting for. I said " I am an American and it is none of you darn business". I think he was just super curious and wanted to know. At the end of the day Nick and I were sitting on the coach watching the polls come it on the new. When it came time to announce the winners Nick got happy when this candidate won. I was then curious myself and asked him why. Nick's reply "Well that's who I voted for". He smiled. He is just a stinker sometimes. In the end I am always right, just remember that!

... and for your viewing pleasure Scarlett learning to get up on her knees

BOO

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

We have had a Halloween week and it has been fabulous. We carved pumpkins on Monday with my family and then went to a great pumpkin patch on Tuesday with Nick's family. Next came trunk-or-trick with our ward on Saturday and finally a great Halloween dinner over at Tiffany's house. Sheesh are we spoiled or what?!

(our carved pumpkin, it kind of looks like Scarlett)

(she loved the pumpkin patch and her dad)

(there were goats below her and she loved watching them... oh and she is strong!)

Strobelt cousins

(failed family photo...this is what our family pictures will look like for a while)