Merry Little Christmas

This family had the best Christmas. It was my favorite since I've been married, I think. I loved all the shopping and decorating and preparing more than usual this year. I am now sitting in a messy house wishing life could pause for just a few more days the way it does on Christmas. This is how we spent the holiday...

Christmas Eve Eve Eve - Miles and Betsey were on their way to Washington for the week so we had an early celebration of lamb stew, gifts and pool.

Christmas Eve Eve - The annual Arbon family Christmas party at Tim's parents' house. Lasagna and banana splits every year, followed by the kids' gift exchange and then the adult's As Seen on TV gift exchange game.

Christmas Eve - Our tradition of Mexican fare and more gifts! My mom has an amazing ten foot tree in her living room, but how adorable is this little tree with all of our childhood ornaments.

 

Christmas Day - Mason couldn't be bothered to have breakfast before presents, so he had to do both at once. Then ham dinner/lunch and more visiting the relatives.
 

 

 

The best part of all of these pictures has got to be the family. I love living so close to so many of the people we love! And just because I couldn't get a single picture of Mason looking at the camera with all those presents to focus on...

Some Things

Ahhhhh, the holidays are upon us. I love this time of year, just like nearly everyone else. I think the best part is how happy everyone tries to be. You do things you love with people you love. I can't think of anything better.

We kicked off the season with Thanksgiving with both families. Tim's for lunch, mine for dinner. I've been missing a lot of opportunities to take pictures lately, and I stole these of my mom's beautiful table from Emily.

Then of course - tree shopping. We get a real tree every year and it's a tradition I just can't give up. Mason thought the trees were both terrifying and hilarious. He wasn't about to touch them but he sure thought it was funny when we tried to make him.
 

 

Best of all, today is Tim's birthday! He was born 28 years ago today...that is reason to celebrate. I'm so lucky to have this guy as my husband. I could just talk about how amazing he is all day. It's so fun being in love with him.
 

And as a bit of side note, check out how much the kid has changed since today last year...

Harvest

Remember this post about my garden? It was a success! Actually, success is a bit of an understatement. Thing was OUT OF CONTROL. The squash took over the backyard, the tomato plants were too huge for words, I threw away about a million and fourteen peppers. I tried to can and freeze but I just couldn't keep up. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the garden in full bloom and we dug it up this weekend. I tried to pick everything at the right time, but this particular little bugger got away from me.

 

 

The Kickoff

When Mason was a newborn, Tim and I called him our little froggy because his skinny legs, tiny bum, and big belly made him look just like a frog. I should have let him be a frog for Halloween last year but I found this monkey and just couldn't resist. This year he loved his frog costume and when he wasn't wearing it he was carrying it around giving it kisses and cuddles. Wish I could get a few of those!

 Halloween this year consisted of three days of soup in bread bowls (really, we ate that three nights in a row at three different parties), family get-togethers, chocolate covered strawberries, pumpkin carving, pumpkin cookies, and of course, candy. I liked that Halloween was on Sunday because that meant more days to celebrate. I've never really loved Halloween but I'm definitely coming around to it.

That being said, the best part is that when its over, the real holidays begin! 

Not happy, but not necessarily sad

 

My baby brother, Kelson, left for his mission this morning. I know I've written a lot about him here lately. It just seems so bizarre that a few months ago he was just a teenager in high school and now he's a man leaving to live on the other side of the world for two years. I may have shed more than a few tears. We are so proud of him and grateful for his strong testimony and the example he is setting for us.

A few days ago we went to Temple Square to eat and spend a day before he left. Mason loves his Uncle Kelson. But everybody does.

We went to say good-bye last night since you just drop them at the curb of the MTC now. It was also Emily's birthday and Miles' is tomorrow, so here they are blowing out the candles of the fancy zucchini cake I made.

 

 

 

We're missing Ryan, boo. Love these people!

My Husband and Myself

I found this on my facebook the other day and realized that I never posted it here. I’d love for all of my blog-friends to fill it out. As silly as these things are, I really enjoy reading other peoples’ responses.

What are your middle names?
My middle name is now legally English. I didn't have one until I got married. Tim's is Eric.

How long have you been together?
We have been married for just over 5 years, together for a year before that.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We met on a blind date on June 17, 2004 and then dated continuously.

Who asked whom out?
I want to say that Tim called and asked me out, but Jesse Roberts may have done all the dirty work for him.

How old are each of you?
I am 25 and Tim is 27. I was a sophomore the year he was a senior.

Whose siblings do you see the most?
I am the second of five and Tim is the seventh of seven. We see them all pretty regularly.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Luckily we haven't had too many trying times. When Tim was in school and working nights and I worked during the day we only saw each other on Friday night and Saturday. It was rough.

Did you go to the same school?
We did not go to the same high school, but we both have our Bachelor's degrees from Weber State.

Are you from the same home town?
Nope. I am from Brigham City, Tim grew up in Washington Terrace (Ogden). I went to Box Elder High, he went to Bonneville.

Who is smarter?
We are smart in different ways. He is willing to work at learning a little more than I am. Other than that I would say we are pretty even.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
We have a few places that we love. Javier's, Rancherito's, Costa Vida (we love the Mexican food), Olive Garden. We usually eat out about once a week but I'm not sure that one place gets the special treatment.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Since we’ve been together we have been to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Mexico, Denver, Miami, Jamaica, the Florida Keys, and San Francisco. In that order. A few of those places more than once.

Who has the craziest exes?
I am the only one that has actual exes, so I win by default.

Who has the worst temper?
Tim I guess.

Who does the cooking?
This was my answer when I first filled this out before I quit my job: This is pretty even. Neither of us spend much time at it. Usually whoever gets home first either cooks or decides what we are eating. He has been cooking more lately since I'm in school and he's not.
Now I do most of the cooking but he still helps out when I get burned out.

Who is the neat-freak?
Tim likes things to be tidy and I like things to be clean. He’s always throwing away anything on the counter and I make sure to use antibacterial when I wipe them down.

Who is more stubborn?
I am extremely stubborn.

Who hogs the bed?
I'd say we take our turn on this one. However, when I’m pregnant he may as well sleep on the couch for all the room I leave him.

Who wakes up earlier?
Tim. I am not a morning person. While we were dating he would leave my house at 3 in morning and then get up for work before 6. He feels like he wasted his day if he gets up any later than 8. I slept in until 2 in the afternoon and still would if I could.

Where was your first date?
Maddox and then a movie at a friend's house. Stuck on You.

Who is more jealous?
Neither of us are very jealous people. I don't think either of us feel like we have anything to be jealous about.

How long did it take to get serious?
One date. Maybe two. By the third date we were in love.

Who eats more?
Tim eats more in quantity, but I would almost say we are either even or I eat more in proportion to our bodies.

Who does the laundry?
Again, this was my answer last time I filled this out: Tim does it almost every time.
Now, Crystal does it every time.

Who's better with the computer?
I am. He never had a computer growing up so I was way ahead of him when we first got married. I would say we are close to even now.

Who drives when you are together?

Tim. And he even still opens the door for me.

Ahh, dating. I believe this was our fourth. Or fifth or sixth.

Saint Anthony

Tim grew up going to the sand dunes in Utah and Idaho as often as possible, but he hadn't been in ten years. Mason and I had never even seen a sand dune. So when Tim's brother Scott invited us to go with him and some friends, we couldn't say no.

I think Tim had a little more fun than me because I couldn't go on the sand rail (he said it was crazier than the best roller coaster) and I couldn't go too nuts on the four wheelers. But I loved seeing all that sand, spending time at the lake, and meeting new friends.

Tim, Mason and Tim's dad on the T-Rex.

This baby loves the water.

The rails.

Shoulda taken more group pics.

Here's to sleepy babies actually sleeping in the car.

Pink

We are having a girl!

A girl.

I still can't believe it. We were both so sure it was a boy.

But I couldn't be happier!

Now Tim is going to have to let a little pink in the house.

(He hates pink)

Bear Lake

Here is a list of reasons I love Bear Lake.

1. Family vacations are always an adventure.

2. Water is my favorite chemical.

3. Sand is my favorite natural occurring granular material.

4. 2 + 3 + Warm days with blue skies = Perfect

5. Mason loves the beach as much as me.

6. SHAKES. From the Quick 'n Tasty, specifically.

7. When the lake gets too cold, there's a pool just up the beach.

8. I get tanner there.

Here is a photo list of reasons I love Bear Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

A bit of our August so far

A few weeks ago we had the awesome opportunity of joining our friends Thomas and Monica as they went to the temple for the first time and were then sealed there. They are such good friends and we are so happy for them!
 

The baby has been sick, poor kid. There is very little that can get him down but this cold sure did the trick. How pathetic is this face!
 

 

We are trying to sell our house. When we moved into our new house three years ago we didn't really plan on staying long. In fact, I'm suprised we've been here this long. If you know anyone looking for a new place, send them our way! We did have someone come through the house yesterday so we went to feed the ducks while they looked.

We found out later that they've asked people not to feed the ducks bread because they're getting too fat to fly south for the winter. That really cracks me up.

 

 

 

 

Again

I'm pregant! Again!

Due February 9, 2011.

That's only about 4536 hours from now.

If you see me, it's not totally that I haven't lost the baby weight yet -

I just seem to be putting it back on

at a rapid rate.

Couldn't be more excited to bring another Baby Arbon into the world!

Mission Call

My little brother Kelson got his mission call last night. He will be serving in the Philippines, Cebu mission, speaking Cebuano. Which is a language, apparently. We are so proud of him and his decision to serve. I can't believe that this little friend is now a man.