Happy Birthday Shayne!

We love this amazing man! - he makes everyone happy when he's in the room.  The kids adore him and crave time doing anything with their Daddy.

I made this incredible cake (again!) that is simply bear claws stacked with candles on top - that's his kind of cake!

You make 39 look amazing, hon. 

All about Shayne:

Favorites - Legos, Legos, Lego mini-figures (yup, this isn't just for kids folks), staying up too late, mornings he can sleep in late, vacation days, golfing, biking, being with family, cousins, and best friends (Amos esp), building stuff with his tool collection, and creating the ultimate Lego room.

Merry Christmas!

Hunter made this custom t-shirt for Skyler! 

The big surprise was at the end of a scavenger hunt - Shayne had them running all over - upstairs, downstairs, outside, high and low - and of course as much as distance between each clue as possible...

At the end - the boys found out that we were going to Florida in just a few weeks (and missing school!) for a big family reunion.  We included some fake "vacation" dollars they could each spend on the trip.  Of course they were thrilled and I'm amazed we had kept it secret up to that point - everyone else in the extended family knew about the trip months ago!

I made this bean bag for Danny - and it's stuffing is the stuffed animals he owns.  Perfect stuffed animal keeper!

Shout out to Laura and Maynrad for giving Cole these hilarious mini-hands!

Nana and Papa brought gifts for all the grandkids.

Of course the pillow cases go on their heads!!  

Nana and Papa always give the kids a book - I love this tradition!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a GOOD NIGHT! 

Random Pix from Dec

These two both took clarinet lessons from me for years.  And I seriously don't know how to explain the joy I have that they are together forever!  Each of them are AMAZING individuals - and together - it just makes my heart happy!! There's a lot of love in my heart for Jaron and Janelle!

What happens when you get to SLC and realize the 4 yr old never put shoes on?  I guess we're grateful we weren't carrying an older kid!

Cole made this piggy for Danny.  Danny has a slight case of Stuffed-Animal mania - and Cole made this all by himself just for his little brother!

Skiing at Sundance - Hunter, Shayne, and I

I only remember it was SOOOOOOOOO cold.

Danny LOVES basketball - look at the shot in ACTION!

Fabulous 40 aka LeaFab40

It was a significant birthday for me this year - the BIG 40!!

I wasn't dreading it, but I don't think I was super excited about it either UNTIL I decided what I wanted to do to celebrate.  It's kinda tough having a Dec birthday - money is tighter, everyone is busier, and weather limits the possibilities.  So, after a lot of thought and basically thinking "what do I think would be fun?" I decided on a dance party.  I wanted it to be like the good ole' days of high school church dances.  I LOVED dances and I have the best memories of dancing the night away and just loving it.  So - here comes the run-down of my fabulous birthday and birthday party - cause sometimes you just have to throw yourself a party!

On my birthday - my family made me breakfast.

Later that day, I was heading out to lunch with my girlfriends in the neighborhood (I have the bestest neighbors EVER) and as I ran in the garage door to find my mom there with a little something for me, there was a knock at the front door.  I immediately assumed it was a friend looking for Skyler and ran to get the door to answer it - when I opened the door I was COMPLETELY surprised by my sister, Lara, standing there looking at me.  OH MY STARS!  I can't tell you how surprised I was.  Lara and I danced all those dances together (we were a team) and I had told her that the only missing element of my ultimate dance party was that she lived too far away to be there.  Last minute, she and her hubby, and a friend, helped make it possible for her to be with me for 3 days and her kids were happy at home.  My mom "recorded" the surprise -  but later realized she only managed a pic... oops.  I still tear up thinking about that moment!

Now the ultimate dance party.  My sweet Devri (sis-in-law) made the invite, but I won't include it here online.  Too much info for the internet!  She also brought all the goods to create a photo-op area in the foyer of the church.  (yes, we did the party at a church!)  Shayne (with a little help from Hunter) made a bunch of decorations for the walls.  Shayne and I hung CD's and cassette tapes from the ceiling, and the DJ provided lighting and even fog - it was a DECADE party.  Yes, I got a DJ, I wanted to have the REAL DEAL party!   I invited guests to dress-up in clothing representing the decade of their choice - or to come as the current decade.  Many did dress up - and I'm even surprised at how many danced.  I could do this party every weekend - it was a BLAST. 

For my outfit - I decide it was ok to do a little shopping at the local DI (goodwill) and here are some of the choices I considered.  I think my mom either owned these same things or I did during the 80/90's!

Now the party pix!

Just me and my "blister"

Fellow clarinetists from my BYU days:

Sarah, Amy, myself, and Michelle 

Chari & I 

Siblings 

Family - just missing Alisa and Ben... maybe for the 50th!?! 

Chris, Cherae, myself, and Shayne 

Brian, Devri, myself and Shayne 

Sarah, Brett, Shayne, & myself 

We threw in a couple slow dances too! 

Chanin, Cheryl, myself

Greg, Rachael, Shayne, and I

Amos, Jen, Julie, & Micah

Chris & Maryanne

Mindy

Last pic - the next day my cousins Ashley and Alexa came by to see me and Lara.  Alexa lives relatively close (but I rarely see her!) and Ashley just got in town from Arizona - it was a happy little reunion.  

Shout Outs:  

To my mom, for keeping a secret (about Lara coming!)

To Devri for being super-prego- and still providing the photo booth, backdrops, help decorating, the awesome invite, and for being my sound board throughout the planning

To my family, neighbors and friends who came and danced the night away to help me feel young again

To Shayne for helping conspire, decorate, dance, and enjoy the moment and being the love of my life

To keep the birthday post tradition - ALL about ME

My favorite things:

reading books, riding my bike, being with family, being involved (church, lunches, anything involving the people that I love to be with), comfy clothes, a bowl of popcorn, no make-up days (I do them often), vacations, my boys who are completely unique in every way - they amaze me, and my hubby who  encouraged me to do something I wanted to do.