Happy Thanksgiving!

Shayn and I are so lucky that we both have family in town and a great neighborhood to come home to. We go to both my parents and Shayn's parents' house for dinner every Thanksgiving, and while some people might view this as a lot of work, Shayn sees it as an opportunity...for two dinners! I don't really love Thanksgiving food, but I do appreciate that it is a great excuse to get everyone together and have a good time. When we pulled into our driveway after our double dinners this year, we couldn't help but notice that our neighbors were still in full-fledged celebration mode and we were happy to join them for some after dinner drinks! We are so thankful for our family and friends! Gobble Gobble!

Congratulations Dad!

I always knew that it was a possibility, but I think that I was secretly hoping that it wouldn't happen! It's official though, my Dad got a job transfer to Moscow, Idaho. Vandal country...eww! I have to admit that my first reaction was slight panic when I suddenly realized that slowly but surely my whole family has moved away and I'm the only one left in Boise! I got it together though when I remembered it's not all about me, (tragic!), and I have to admit that this is a really great opportunity for my parents. My Dad now has his own store and will no longer have to work nights or weekends. He is the hardest-working person that I know and Shayn and I are so happy for him, it has been a long time coming and he certainly deserves the promotion! So when Erin and Natalie were here visiting we had to celebrate of course with a little surprise party! Congratulations Mom and Dad, we are so excited for your new adventure!

Family Photo Fiasco

These days it's rare to get the whole family in the same state, let alone the same country! We decided that it was now or never for family pictures. It's even more rare to try and find something to wear that we all have, and more importantly that we can all agree on! White long sleeved shirts seem simple enough, right? Well, let's just say that it wasn't as easy as it sounds! Twenty minutes before pictures, we finally decided on the aforementioned dress code, and Natalie and I dug out my long sleeved white shirts from the bottom of my dirty clothes hamper. Off we raced to pictures, where we proceeded to run into not one, but two car accidents on the way. We finally arrived and hurried into the portrait studio. Let's just say our "photographer" was the new girl, possibly even her first day. We really felt like we were at the photo shoot for the cover of the "Stepbrothers" DVD! I really think that's where she came up with all of her poses. We were all laughing so hard that I can't believe our faces aren't visibly red along with tears streaming down our cheeks in the photos! Luckily, we got a few good pictures from the adventure, which I'll put at the beginning of the slideshow, and the rest are at least good for a laugh!

Kiefer George Carlson

Yep, I'm really going to blog about our cat right now, it's true. I have to share how hilarious it was to see how Kiefer reacted to a baby in our house. I was sitting on the couch holding Ander, and next thing you know, Kiefer jumps up onto my lap in a real hurry! This is a big deal because Kiefer isn't exactly a cuddly kitty. At first we thought that he was being jealous of a new little boy in the house, but it turns out that he was just curious (hence his middle name, George), and was actually being very protective of Ander. He wanted to be in the middle of all the commotion surrounding the baby and it was especially funny when I was wrapping a present for Ander, and Kiefer casually inserted himself into the box, right on top of the tissue paper and all! He refused to get out and proceeded to act like it was a normal, everyday occurrence. I think he was hoping I would wrap him up and ship him to Taiwan so he could keep hanging out with his new BFF, Ander!

Ander's Arrival!

Erin traveled alll the way home from Taiwan so that we could meet our new little nephew. Natalie flew in as well and before we knew it, the Wilcox girls were reunited! Ander is the cutest little guy and we had so much fun with him. I got quite the workout from holding him so much because he is a BIG baby! I swear he grew five pounds in the two weeks that he was here! It was so fun to see even his facial features change every day. We kept Erin and Ander VERY busy with shopping, lunches, and more shopping! I was happy to pick out all sorts of clothes for Erin and even more happy to hold Ander while she tried them on! Ander prefers to be held in a very specific way, kind of like a football, so it didn't take long for him and Shayn to become fast friends! Their visit went by way too fast, I can't imagine how big he is going to be when we see him again this summer!

Happy Howl-o-ween!

We had so much fun on Halloween this year, at the last minute we decided to get crafty and get some decorations that the neighbor kids were more than happy to help put up. We have really great neighbors and every year they throw an awesome Halloween party which always comes in handy when it comes time to get home...we can just walk across the street! As always, they went all out with the decorations and we had a really good time. Shayn and I were sailors, he got to wear his Navy blues from his days as a sailor...which happens to be about 13 years ago and he still fits into his uniform, impressive! I decided to make some hot dog mummies for the kids, I don't know how they tasted but they sure looked cute:) Luckily we get lots of little trick-or-treaters, the best part is always seeing the kids all dressed up!

Catch of the Day!

Shayn got to take a much needed day off last week and go on a fishing trip with some friends in Riggins. Of course it had to been the random day in October that it SNOWED, but something tells me that they still managed to have a great time! They were on a jet boat and bundled up pretty good and Shayn caught a HUGE fish! Unfortunately it was a native so he couldn't keep it but at least he had a picture to bring home to his very proud wife:)

Oh Baby! It's A Boy!

Our friends Kristi and Micah are having a boy! Last weekend I went to her baby shower and it was so cute, it looked like it was straight out of a magazine. Kristi happens to be the creative genius behind Beleza Design so all of the cute stuff that you see in these pictures she created! She also did my wedding invitations as well as Angie's so I always love to see her work in action! You can see more of her designs by clicking on the Beleza Design link on this page. Congratulations Kristi and Micah!

"Falling" In Love...A Bridal Shower!

I can't believe Brent and Angie's wedding is only a week away! Last weekend we threw Angie a "fall" themed bridal shower at the Paramount clubhouse. We had a decorating party the night before the shower and it turned out better than we even imagined! It was a Sunday morning brunch so there was lots of good food and of course the champagne bar was a hit! Congratulations Angie, you're really doin' it!

Welcome to the World Ander!

Natalie's Birthday wasn't the only reason to celebrate on September 21st! Turns out it was the same day that Shayn and I became a proud Aunt and Uncle to Ander Michael Jensen, my sister Erin's fourth child. Even though they live in Taiwan and we were fast asleep in the states when he was born, he came into the world on Natalie's Birthday and I'm pretty sure it was her favorite present. (So thanks for upstaging me even from a different country Erin, all I got her was a gift card to Victoria's Secret:) We are so happy that mom and baby are happy and healthy, can't wait to meet him! For more details and pictures of Erin's delivery in Taiwan, you can visit her blog at www.we-tuck-in-three.blogspot.com.

Natalie's Birthday

Recently Robert and Natalie sold their house here in Boise. It has been bittersweet because they have been trying to sell it for a long time but now that it has sold it means that they won't have a permanent home here anymore. We have made so many great memories in that house, it was really sad to see it so empty when they packed it up and went back to Minnesota. Lucky for me, three weeks after they left Natalie came back to stay with Shayn and I and celebrate her Birthday. Robert wasn't able to come, so we celebrated with...what else? A girls night out! I love all of Natalie's friends and I actually used to work with most of them so it was great to see everyone and catch up. Happy Birthday Seester!

Another One Bites The Dust...

Love is in the air! Angie and Brent's Wedding day is fast approaching and it is cause for celebration! We gathered all the girls and got all dressed up for a night out on the town. It has been so long since we all got together and it made for one of our best nights out ever! Even though it was supposed to be the bachelor party for the guys, midnight rolled around and we couldn't help but notice that Angie had wandered off...right into a cab with Brent! Oh well, it was fun while it lasted and it was a great kickoff to the Wedding festivities!

Summer Sun

Shayn and I went up camping with a bunch of friends and family a few weekends ago. Now I have to say, I'm usually always up for camping, but the past few times that Shayn and I have gone, there have been some...issues. I am a REALLY light sleeper, which causes a problem when everyone is snoring or there are strange animals circling our tent! Our last camping trip we got a hole in our air mattress, and while Shayn snored and slept like a baby beside me, I was awake for the whole descent of the air mattress! This time I came prepared with sleeping pills and ear plugs, and while I did wake up a few times, I thankfully slept through most of the night and had an all around great time. It was nice to get everyone together around the camp fire and do some boating the next day. I love summer!

Farewell For Now...

With the end of summer approaching and school starting it was time for Alex to get back home to Oregon. We had so much fun with her here this summer and we were so sad to see her go. We decided to throw her a little going away party with some of her friends before she had to head home. We decorated the house with paper lanterns, balloons and streamers and partied all night with pizza, milkshakes, dress up, glow in the dark frisbee, glow sticks, fake tatoos and a dance party. I was a little worried that the neighbors thought we were having a rave, but the kids had a good time! It has been a hard adjustment for me with her gone, I was so used to spending most of my time with her. We can't wait to see her again next summer!

Happy 90th Birthday Tia!

Shayn comes from a large Basque family and they recently threw a big 90th Birthday party for his late Grandmother's sister Tia. Let me tell you what, she is the spunkiest 90 year old I ever met! She gave the most hilarious speech before she cut the cake during which she informed her guests that she "gets drunk off one glass of wine," followed up with, "I've had four!" She then told us later that she turned 90 years old and was "90 proof!" She is hilarious and it was great to meet some of Shayn's extended family that I had never met before. Happy Birthday Tia!

One Year Anniversary

I can't believe it has already been a year! August 2nd was our one year anniversary so Shayn and I went on a little weekend trip to McCall to relax and celebrate! We had never been to the Shore Lodge before and when we walked into our room we were greeted with champagne and strawberries waiting for us courtesy of my best friend Misti:) It was a great way to start the night followed up with dinner and drinks at the lodge. The next day we went to the farmers market and relaxed on the beach all day. We did keep our cake in the freezer for a year and planned to stick with tradition and cut it on our anniversary, but Shayn surprised me and had the same cupcakes made that we had at our wedding which was really sweet because I never got to have a cupcake on our big day. It also came in handy because although our cake still looked perfect, it was so hard that we couldn't have cut it even if we wanted to! We have had a great first year of wedded bliss and I am looking forward to many more with my amazing husband!

A Double Engagement Party!

Two of my best friends are getting married, and recently Shayn and I threw them a Double Engagement Party in the Wine Cellar at Red Feather. It was really fun to get dressed up and get everyone together to celebrate the occasion! We can't wait for the big day for both Brent & Angie and Zac & Keri, Cheers!

Boating Bonanza

Before my sister's family left for Taiwan we had to squeeze in some good family fun! Nathan's dad let us use his boat and we had a really nice day at the lake with the kids. Hey, you know it's a good time when your mom goes tubing:) We miss the Jensen's sooo much, and if you want to follow along on their adventures in Taiwan, you can check out their blog at www.we-tuck-in-three.blogspot.com

Jeffery's Graduation

Shayn's brother Jeff recently graduated from the Diver's Institute in Seattle, Washington. With his training, Jeff plans to move to the east coast where he will pursue a career in underwater welding. Shayn and I went to Seattle with Jake and Carmen and met some of our really good friends there, Nan and Molly. Before his graduation we got to go take a tour of his school and see where he did all of his training. It was so cool to actually see his classmates diving and being pulled out of the water. After the graduation we went to Jimmy and Connie's where they put on a little graduation party for Jeff. We had a really great time and we are so proud of you Jeff!

Minnesota Mania

This year for the 4th of July and my Birthday, Shayn and I went to Natalie & Robert's lake house in Minnesota. We had SOO much fun! We had to stop by the Mall of America of course, and then it was a three hour road trip to their lake house. Although I expected nothing less, my sister and Robert did an amazing job restoring and decorating this place, it looks like something straight out of a Pottery Barn magazine! It is also right on the lake with a huge fire pit and beautiful dock. There is so much to do there, we went boating, biking and went into town for the BIGGEST cinnamon rolls ever! On my birthday, Natalie made me my favorite cake and we went out to dinner and then had some fun at the local casino. For the 4th of July we went to town and watched an amazing fireworks show over the lake. There were hundreds of boats on the lake with their lights on, it was beautiful. After that we went to a little bar and did some drinking and dancing. It went by way to fast, I can't wait to go back next year! Thanks for having us Robert and Natalie!!!

Girls Night Gala

Lucky for me, almost every one of my close friends works in the beauty industry. Besides the obvious perks, they also always seem to be part of fabulous events and parties, and I get to tag along! Recently, the girls went to work at Salon Couture, a new salon in Eagle. If you haven't been there yet, you have to check it out! It is absolutely beautiful, I'm so excited that my friends are working there! Last night, the salon hosted an event featuring several Eagle businesses. It was great to be able to support the girls - and the food and drinks weren't too bad either:) If anyone needs their hair done, make sure to call Jessica, Angie or Keri at Salon Couture!

Alexandria The Great

We have big news in the Carlson household! Our niece, Alexandria Paige Carlson is living with Shayn and I for the summer! Now that I'm a stay at home Mom, I have a new appreciation for parenting! She has been an absolute angel and blessing in our home and we have been having so much fun! I can't believe what an amazing person she is growing up to be, we are so happy to have her!

Kindercare

Once a year around the last month in June, our niece Alex comes to visit for a week. We live in a great neighborhood and we are pretty close with our neighbors, so Alex has made friends with a few of their kids around her age. To celebrate the occasion, we always have a big BBQ and invite all of the kids. Somehow the BBQ always turns into a giant sleepover! This year we had so much fun, we did it twice! The second time my sister's kids even joined in the fun. I love these crazy girls, can't wait until next year!

McCall Madness 2009

Every year in June we go to McCall with Shayn's family and friends. It is always sooo much fun and this year was no exception! We went to Chuck and Maria's beautiful new cabin and spent the whole day on 4-wheelers, we had a blast! Afterwards we went back to the cabin for great food, music and drinks. We also managed to get plenty of time around the pool, on the beach and on jet skis! Thanks everyone for a wonderful time, can't wait to do it again next year!

Happy Birthday Lindsey!

It seems like the older we get the harder it is to get together, but Birthdays are the perfect excuse for a Girls Night! We all got together to celebrate Lindsey's Birthday with dinner and drinks. We had so much fun, I love these girls! Happy Birthday Lindsey!

Happy Father's Day!

I'm so grateful that I have an amazing Dad to spend Father's Day with! My Brother was in town so my Grandparents and Shayn and I all went to my Mom and Dad's house and we had a great lunch. My Mom even made her yummy apple turnovers! Happy Father's Day Dad!

Mike Jones...Who?

My Brother-in-Law Robert has all the hookups, especially when it comes to concerts. He once surprised my sisters and I with front row tickets to a Beyonce concert! So it was no surprise when we were hanging out at their house one night and his friend showed up to hand deliver tickets to the Mike Jones concert! Shayn and I decided to invite our Mike Jones-loving friends, Mike and Lindsey, and we had a fun night out on the town! Mike Jones didn't end up gracing the stage with his presence until about 11:00 pm, but when Shayn and I decided to go to the bar next door to get some food, we discovered that our favorite band, The Shoemaker Brothers, was in from out of town and playing at the bar! They played at our Wedding so we have great memories with them and always have great times when they come into town. It turned out to be a great night!

Montana Mother's Day

One day while Shayn and I were driving to Tucano's to meet the family for lunch, my mom and dad called to say they were driving to Missoula, Montana to see my mother's mom, Grandma Doris, for Mother's Day and taking my brother Justin with them. When we all met up a short time later for lunch, Robert, Natalie and Shayn and I decided that a road trip was in order. Before we knew it, Erin decided to fly in from California to complete the party. And just like that, the whole Wilcox crew was on our way to surprise Doris in Montana. It was quite the road trip, but after about nine hours in the car and several adventures later, we were knocking on my Grandma's door yelling, "Housekeeping!" She was so shocked and we had so much fun over the next few days eating out, shopping and catching up! It had been years since the whole family had been together and it was a last minute trip that we will never forget!

Miami Meets Boise

When Robert and Natalie come to town they bring the party with them from Miami! We really enjoyed their visit, and seeing as they were only supposed to be here for a week and ended up staying for almost a month, something tells me they had a good time too! Can't wait to see you guys again soon!

The Nanny Diaries Part II

Natalie and I recently traveled to San Fran for some new chapters in the Nanny Diaries! About six months ago we traveled there to watch Erin's kids while her and Nathan went on a cruise, and this time we came back while they went to Taiwan to look for a house! (Just because I watched the kids doesn't mean I am encouraging them to move to Taiwan, just a side note) What can I say, it's always an adventure. Natalie and I in a minivan with three children in the back? I can hear the laughing! But it's true, we survived and had a great time with our neices and nephew. There was water balloons, slip and slides, bloody noses, sleep walking, minivan rides to every Target, Ross and TJ Maxx within a 15 mile radius (love that GPS system!), and even a fish fry when Unlce Robert came into town for the weekend. Love those kids and miss them already!

The Wilcox Family United!

Turns out that a person does a lot of changing from the ages of 19 to 21! April 14th my brother returned from his mission in Taiwan. His flight was scheduled to come in around midnight but don't think that stopped the whole Wilcox clan from gathering at the airport to greet him. Can I just say "Wow"! My little brother isn't so little anymore! We had a little gathering at our house to celebrate having all of us together for the first time in two years and as you can see from the picture, he is HUGE! At some point he turned into a man and I'm having a hard time accepting it. In my mind he's still 12, which would explain why everytime he's around I can't help but stare at him and think, "who are you and what have you done with my brother?" Even though I'm having a hard time adjusting, he's not, and has already gone off to school in Utah. So glad to have you back Justin!

Happy Trails to Tamarack...Until We Meet Again!

Over the past four years Shayn and I have made some of our best memories at Tamarack Resort. It has always been a special place to us and it is where I learned to snowboard and downhill mountain bike. We have spent many weekends in Tamarack with our friends and came to love it so much that we decided to get married there! This past week they closed their doors, but not before we all went up for one last weekend to give it a proper going away party! I have put together a slideshow of some of our favorite memories, enjoy! So Happy Trails to Tamarack...for now!

Shayn's Birthday

I love everything about Birthdays, parties and surprises, however my Husband does not share my enthusiasm for the spotlight! So this year for his Birthday we compromised by celebrating with a small group of our closest family and friends. We rented out Rembrandts Coffee House and had a great time enjoying good food and friends over a few drinks. Thanks to everyone who made the long journey out to Eagle to celebrate another amazing year! Happy Birthday Shayn!