CSI St. George

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Merry Christmas!

This is my FAVORITE time of the year!

Summer is amazing but there is just nothing like Christmas!

We put our tree up the other day and I'm in LOVE with it!

A few years ago my mother-in-law gave me a christmas present, she said after christmas she'd take me around to all the clearance sales and get me some stuff to start off my christmas tree and since then my tree has gotten FABULOUS!

Every year we get a new ornament that shows what happened that year!

This year we got a little Woody car for our trip to San Clemente

and...

.mine!.

This one is for my graduation from SUU in photography!

how cute huh!? 

I had been trying and trying to find ornaments for Brandon and I since SUU doesn't make ornaments.

Well I found mine and Brandons is still MIA.

What kind of ornament do you get for someone who has a Business and a Biology degree with a Chemistry minor?...

any suggestions?

My FAVORITE Christmas shop went out of business this year :( so if you know of any cute stores or websites let me know!

I also REALLY REALLY need to get one for Evangelines first Christmas!

this year I did lots of DIY Christmas decorations! 

1- those glittery trees! They turned out super cute and I love them but for those of you who are thinking "oh thats cute! I wanna do those" I recommend you just go buy some at Tai Pans, Pier One, Target etc. 

I thought it would be cheaper to make them...

.it's not.

and it's not worth the glitter I PROMISE!

I'm finding glitter EVERYWHERE!

in my hair

in my bed

in Evies diapers

on our dishes 

in the car!

and I made these

.4 weeks ago.

I had to buy the foam trees ($4 $2 $1) 

and the little glass stands (#1 each) 

White spray paint for the glass stands ($2)

and the spray adhesive ($9 YUP. NINE DOLLARS!)

glitter ($6)

E6000 glue ($3)

= too much

I've seen the really tall trees at all those places I listed from $9-$30

They don't come on the cute white stands but these puppies are not worth making yourself 

ha ha ha 

the stands are my favorite part so I would recommend just buying the stand part and gluing it to one you buy.

2- These fabulous reindeer!

I found them at D.I! They had big google eyes and red puff ball noses so I pulled it all off and sanded them down and made these beauties for a total of $2!

3-the mirror behind them! Brandons mom was taking this mirror to the D.I! It was this gross gold and cream mirror that was all chipped and broken so I salvaged it! 

The paint cost me $1.50 cause I got a sample size for wall paint and the mirror was free! How I painted it makes it look cold and frosty (perfect for winter) in the spring I'll put a brown glaze on it.

big news!

EVANGELINE CAN SIT UP!

She's a champ at it now!

(sometimes charley knocks her over)

but other than that she's awesome at it!

I started taking pics of Evie in front of the tree and this sprung a MASSIVE need for a legit Christmas photo shoot with her! I have JUST what  I want to do in mind!

So the other day I got everything ready for the shoot and went to go get her little white hat that I love 

. and its missing.

It's no where to be found!!!

I've looked all over my house, my car, my moms house, my moms car!

It's gone... I need to go buy another one...

I'm NOT doing the shoot with out that hat!

I CANNOT WORK IN THESE CONDITIONS!

;)

of course after taking pictures of Evie charley felt like she needed to be in the photos too.

as soon as I took Evie down off the ottoman from her shoot 

Charley jumped right up there and gave me this little pose 

ha ha ha

.crazy dog.

Jouex Noel!

You Wouldn't Want To Eat It Either...

So another big milestone in the Valantine home today!We tried RICE CEREAL for the first time and it was obviously...

. a huge success.

I think its safe to say that Brandon & I got more up her nose, in her hair and in her eyes, than in her mouth...

oh, the many adventures in parenting
...

xo Meg,

Shots

I hate shots day at the doctor.Evie is so thin so she feels them really badly and just cries!I always make Brandon hold her during the shots and I cover my eyes in the corner lolThe whole day after shots she is always very mellow and not very smiley or talkativeit's sadShe's brave for her shots though and doesn't cry very much after

Me on the other hand, I have a dentist appointment in the morning for a cavity and i'm DREADING it!wish me luck!
xo meg

Trick or Treat

love,
The Valantines

The 3rd Valantine Wedding

Brandons little sister Aubrey got married on Saturday!She and Brady have been dating on and off for 2 years and Aubs FINALLY decided too keep him!

I had a blast doing all their photos! They are such a fun couple(you can see more photos on my blog/website)We had the reception the night before at the Ence homeThey have the most amazing backyard and Aubs made it SO beautiful with all of her wedding decor!All though we all looked good in our bridal party get up I MUST say that Evie looked the cutest!

The night before the reception we were outside setting up and Evies hands and ears were FREEZING!The next day I ran to the store and found this ADORABLE hat for the reception!Needless to say she was a huge hit :)

I FINALLY got a good family photo of us (well kinda, evies got a face on)It was such a special wedding. The Temple Sealer gave them some great advice and had so many good things to say. I'm glad Aubs has such a great man to take care of her now, it takes a lot of worry off Brandon and I. Brandon and I got married in July 2009Cary and Kaili got married in August 2010and Aubrey and Brady got married October 2011... looks like Danis up next summer! ;)
Sorry this post is short but Eve's is ready for bed and is getting mad at me.*nigh nigh*
xo Meg

Best $20 bucks ever!

 My brilliant Mother found a Jumperoo on KSL for $20 so we bought it 

it has been by far the best $20 i've ever spent!

She will sit and play in that thing for HOURS!

(especially if you add some Mickey Mouse Club House to the mix)

I can actually get SOMETHING done now!

.fabulous.

The other day we went to the park and had a picnic so I took my camera and got these 2 great shots :)

My mom is coming down to STG this weekend for Brandons sister Aubreys wedding!I can't wait!more pic to come
xo meg