10 years ago...

.... I was a Junior in highschool, I had braces... I listened to strictly alternative rock... I had zero signs I would one day have mommy hips and tummy.... It was a New Years Eve dance and... I saw a boy.... He was 18 and days away from a mission call... He wore strictly punk rock t-shirts and running shoes.... I didn't know then I would be so crazy about him now.

You do something to me Stevie Scott.

Thanks for whisking me away to celebrate. Midway was cold... thanks for keeping me warm and buying me some cute, new, after Christmas sale, boots.

--Love you sweetness

morn

Two kids... Star wars and babies... good to go.

Sammo woke us up at 6 and tried oh so hard to fall back asleep but he just couldn't make his little eyes shut, he was so excited. Grandpa, Grandma, and Grams, were all going to be there at 8 so we decided to make him wait 'til at least Sophie woke up. We then decided we were too excited to wait and woke her up ourselves.

Sam's gifts: Storm trooper helmet and costume, action figures, tank, snake book, Book of Mormon with his name on it (from G and G) and lego set

Sophie was so delighted with seeing her stroller from Santa and her baby doll trying it out. She went right over to give it a kiss. She had fun with gifts and she seemed to think that Grandpa's lap was the perfect spot for gift opening because each time one was handed to her she toddled to "papa" to have him help her open it. The best is when she opened a baby doll potty, she looked at it and then at everyone around her, then turned around and backed up to sit on the potty. She also had to try out her baby bottles.

Sophie's gifts: Stroller, sunglasses, backpack, bottles, potty, 2 books

It will be fun to look back next year, to see how their interests have changed and what Santa brought them.

more rhyming, lucky you

I forgot about Laurie on her Birthday. I wanted to write her a birthday poem... as if you haven't been delighted enough with my rhymes. Hey I have a LOT of siblings! Bretts bday is on Sunday... I'm not sure if he even reads my blog, I might get out of that one.

Happy 32 Lar!

My Lovely sister Laurie is a phenomenon of sorts

She is fair haired and freckled but also tan beneath her shorts

Her waist is oh so tiny, and people think she's been enhanced

In her days of being single, she had all the boys entranced

She may be 6 years older, but that didn't stop our buddy bond

Everywhere she went, I went, Her big sister duties went beyond

She gave me advice on friends and she told me always to be kind

She said mean girls didn't get too far, so I left those friends behind.

She was a mild party animal, dancing was her favorite thing to do

she can still cut a rug and draw a crowd even as her pregnant belly grew

She claims to be the "boring" one, but the best parties she can throw

With waterslides and a backyard beach, I'd say thats anything but dull

Oh Larlee, Farlee, mucky muck, your Birthday came and went.

I so wish you were here not just to steal your clothes, but I have always liked your scent

That darn Christmas always upstages you from the attention you should get

Love you like a fat kid loves cake, your'e awsomeness is legit

First of the Christmas posts

Brookie Asked me to help her come up with a fun poem for our family for Christmas. We have such a big, Combined family, we didn't include everyone, seeing as we are on the younger end of the family, we included those we have some recent memories of at Christmas.

An Edde Christmas

T’was Some Night around Christmas,
when the Edde family gathered near
our celebrations are Always at different times each year.
Between Mom and Dad, we have 8 girls and 5 boys,
They have a hard time rounding us up, (try bribing with toys)
We started in Utah, but now speckle the globe
It’s a good thing that none of us is an agoraphobe (fear of big crowds)

Spence and Kymmie are local but don’t seem to know that.
With Spence always traveling, he’s not sure which time zone he’s at
All tardies are forgiven right when Kymmie glides in
With 5 children behind her and plates of yummy, edible sin.

Jamie is here with plans of games and card playing
Watch out, Ed gets carried away with his cuss word sayin.
There’s Luke and Brie, with new gadgets on display
and those 2 hungry boys, hide Kyms treats from Rohnin and Trae!

Laurie’s in Georgia, making some of Grandma’s cheese balls
Trying to squeeze in some “Edde” in her southern in-law’s
Her girls are beautiful. Not seeing them is the pits.
We all can tell Laurie is proud of her G.R.I.T.S
(girls raised in the south)

Jill Marie and her clan are too often missing in action
But she does all in her power to be next years coming attraction
She hates to miss out and hopes to put a web cam nearby
But if that plan is foiled, She will be on speakerphone turned up high

Brooke shows up in her heels to be well taller than Dad
Without a belly ring to reveal, what else can she do to make him mad?
Travis isn’t used to the madness as he watches our big, crazy fam
With Brooke always surrounded by kids, he wonders just how many she’s planned

There are well coiffed babes all around, and you have to admit.
Being related to Stacy is a great benefit.
Sophie’s giggling as usual and careful because Sam’s using the force
With Steve’s subtle influence, next year Obama you will endorse

Without Mackenzie the party doesn’t reach the same heights
Cause when she’s here, it’s like Hanukkah, with 8 crazy nights.
JT keeps her in threads that are oh so funky
Mississippi has no clue they are so lucky

And finally we have our baby brother Brett
We were taken by surprise when amber he met.
He married her, this girl from a fashion mag.
Sorry Brett, you’ll always be Spencer’s punching bag.

We come together now to sit around the tree
To say thank you mom and dad, Raising us was no small fee.

We are ready for some fun with white elephants in hand.
Agreeing so far, this Christmas is the most grand
Bring your smiles with you and some side dishes too
Nothing says I love you Like Holiday food.
Being in this family you can't help but feel blessed.
now how about you stay and help clean up this mess!
Then leave with a feeling of family and love
for we cherish this gift from god up above.

There really isn't a "usual"Edde family party but for the last several years, we have opted out of drawing names do to the shear size of our family. Whoever happens to be in town comes to the party and brings a 20 dollar gift for the gift exchange game. The game is always different but we do have some constants.

-My Dad always brings these LEAST sought after gift (a hot plate, or a lawn, light-up reindeer) This year he did pretty good with a coupon book of car washes.

-Someone always brings up Ed's first Christmas with us when he was rushing home from a shift at 7-11 and grabbed a chocolate orange, nobody wanted it and he ended up with it

-There is plenty of conspiring and strategy

between couples to ensure you get what you have

your eye on.

Here is Spencie, amazed at his good luck to have nabbed a New Moon calender (not shown, a DWTS workout DVD)

And above is Mom super pumped to have a brand spankin' new poker set. That got stolen from her though, she ended up with the car washes.

pretty, crazy haired, rachey bug in her pretty Christmas dress Grandma made. (soph has one too, Post coming soon)

Kymmie with the Turkey. Everything this girl cook is so yum

Brie and Lauren. No more did they get dolls and littlest pet shops. Brie got a netbook and Lar got a plethora of Twilight paraphernalia. This pic reminds me of how I was with my best cousins (Merredy, Morgan, Esther)

Me trying to console Little Lyss, In the cousin gift exchange, Her name got skipped. (my doing) Luckily, Jamie saved the day with an extra gift she just happened to have on hand.... Christmas miracle? I think so. And Rachel and her forever crazy hair and into everything-ness kills me! I love that girl

Edde Cousins and the Talent show. This year had some sweet moves by Sam and Chase, About 4, fully choreographed song and dance numbers by Breezy, A little drag, and with some intense coaxing, Lauren even sang a song. Sophie played as back-up dancer for just about everyone. The ham wasn't just for dinner.

The most amazing family update/look at our accomplishments!/we wish you a merry christmas a day late, post you will ever read... on this blog

I love how Christmas comes at the end of the year. It always seems like the most vivd memories are made around big events and my Christmas memories always seem to stand out to me. I have had fun remembering this time last year and what my kids were doing and what kinds of things they were into.

This year as a family, has had a lot of firsts for us. We moved into our first house (albeit as renters) but with the house, we have our fist dishwasher, yard and second bathroom. We went camping for the first time and of course with kids, they experience things for the first time nearly everyday

Sammers has hopped around here and there with his facinations. When he latches onto something, he does it ferociously. First hot wheels, then star wars and he has recently decided he loves legos. He seems to have only enough room in his obsesison tank for a few things at a time. When offered something that isn't one of his favorite things, he often says, "No thanks I'm not really into whatever it may be." Sam has also learned to write his alphabet, he can recite his phone number and address. He has made some new friends at pre-school. His best friend though continues to be Dad. He wears what dad wears, eats what he eats, and says what he says. He has tried hard to be a good big brother and has to be reminded occasionally to include his sister. He also has some new catch phrases like, "What the cool!?" and he as been calling just about anyone "dude".

Sophie has obviously grown like crazy this year. I remeber last year at Christmas, watching my niece, who is a year older, toddle around and say words and dance and get into things. It was so hard for me to wrap my head around that, that was going to be Soph next year. Well, it's true! She loves her baby doll and her Mimi (kitty) She has just had a HUGE increase in appitite recently. Not becasue she has increased her cardio workouts but because her mom decided she was doing away with her beloved bottles.... no more enormous amounts of whole milk.

Steven continues to be at home with the kids a lot, Because he is working at night. We have found this works great for us. He is loving his job and is doing well at it. He has found that his new responsibilities of designing the paper are just as exciting as the writing part. His love affair with BYU and the Yankees continued this season. (one season was slightly more exciting than the other) We were also starting to have a little more of a social life but Stevies work and hours make it a bit harder to hang out with good friends.

I am about to embark on my new life as I travel with the Lady Gaga tour, I will be one of the principle hairstylist. I will also be one of her back-up dancers.Look for me, I will be the one with a one legged cat suit with rotating watermelons around me and a ferret skin hat on.>>> Ok, so nothing really all that exciting to report about me. I'm still a part-time hairstylist and part-time stay at home mom. Ummmm I lost some weight this year (ahem about 12 pounds) but I am one happy girl. Really. It's such a wonderful feeling to be content with where you are at and happy in your surrounding and that's where I am at the moment. I have found it easier to not have cases of the "gimmies" and even though I want to buy myself a beautiful camera this year and I'm plotting just how to make it happen, I'm happy.

This year was a good one. And our Chritmas was just the cake topper on top of the icing. (christmas post to come.) I'm excited to plot my goals for the new year.

Sophster, Goosey loving the camera

Just a glimpse at our house. Sophie is showing off her words like a pro. I think the only reason she is cooperating is because I flipped the viewing screen over so she could look at herself while I recorded her. She has her all-time favorite accessory on... Brother's backpack (she is getting a more appropriately sized, girlified one for Christmas) Speaking of Brother, he joins the mix later and shows off some of his sweet dance moves that somewhat resemble Kung fu. Yes it's 5 minutes long and if you are not the mother or grandmother.... you may just want to skip it. But honestly... who can resist freshly bathed and pajamaed kids, hamming it up and for the camera. I say, it's worth the 5 minutes.

My Big Date

This Friday night was date night. I haven't had a date in so long because the hubby is always working at night now. Which is amazingly convenient for me to play the Field a bit. I have always meant to stay faithful to Steve but a girl needs to get dressed up once in a while and go out for a night on the town! You can imagine my conflicted heart when the opportunity arose to go with the most handsome blue eyed Blondie to the Theater in the city. (Steve never takes me to the theater)

We Drove together (well, I drove, he insisted on sitting in the back) We had an intellectually stimulating game of, "Would you rather?" My personal favorite he asked me was, "would you rather eat poop for dinner, or a trailer?" I must have pondered this question a little too long because he added the profound point that a trailer would most likely break my teeth whereas poop is soft and would not break my teeth. Clearly... the better choice.

As we arrived at the theater, hand in hand, we met up with some of his cousins that live downtown, and are frequenters of the arts. Even though My date found a spot sandwiched between his two cousins, rather than next to me, I knew where his loyalties were. (just to ensure they were with me, I promised him a snack during intermission. Everyone knows that the key to a mans heart is through his stomach.) I knew this would be a night to remember.

Because I suggested the play, I was a little nervous and hoped that my man would enjoy it. His face said it all. He was all smiles and was utterly amazed when he discovered that one of the characters, Tweedle Dee, used to be the Nanny of his cousin Malia. He let out a very breathy, "Wow!" He was particularly impressed by the acting chops of the bad guy Barnaby. After the show he was even more amazed that we got to meet all of the actors. We met Bo beep, Little boy Blue, Rumplestilskin, and at last, Barnaby. He gazed at Mr Barnaby as he shook his hand and told him, "You were my favorite Character!" I love a man that can express his true feelings. After the show, He exclaimed to me.... verbatim... "We should do this more often!" i don't know about you, but that sounds to that he totally wants to go out again... I really think he likes me! On the way home, He thanked me for the evening and gushed a little more about the play and the bad guy Barnaby. He said, "I really liked him, he was tricky, and he was very silly, He, like talked really loud and was very talented!" I love that he uses such sophisticated words like "talented" I really think I'm in love!

In all seriousness, we were invited to The Children's Theater in Salt Lake by my sister-in law Andrea. We saw "Babes in Toyland" It was such a fun and festive night. I love doing things out of the norm and was excited to discover this little gem. Sam love, LOVED it. I would most definitely recommend it. It was great for boys and girls.... and Moms and Dads. It was such a fun rare moment to get to go out with just my little man....Ooo I love that sweetheart.