BRACE FACE

Yes I know you were wondering if I knew

I know you what you were thinking!!!...

"Does she know how bad her teeth really are!!"

Yes I knew that you knew that they were bad...

Blame it on the British relatives for my bad teeth

or

growing up I was given a choice between a car or braces.

I chose the car...and wrecked it 3 days later!

So now I have a mouthful of metal for 2 years and have been told to lay of the pop...

ummmmm....nope

2 years in the making....

We are almost done. I've been painting for the past 3 days and I'm half way done. The carpet still needs to be put in, but I couldn't wait to decorate it to see what it was going to look like. I just threw some things up there for pictures.

I've been debating all week whether or not to post about this...oh what the heck...my parents have been wanting to see pictures of it...

so there...

I finally got my piano.

Its still sinking in...

This was my zen growing up. I played and played for hours. I only play for me. If someone at church were to ask who plays the piano, I would NEVER raise my hand. I took lessons for 2 years, maybe 3. In high school I played for a friend for a devotional in Seminary and afterwards she told me she would never ask me again.

YUP! I'm that good!

But it was something I enjoyed doing and haven't played, well since high school really. SO now I have to relearn everything which is extremely frustrating especially when some songs took me months to finally play.
But like I said, I play for me.
I play the way I want to hear it and if I can't figure it out I just make it up. Nobody else knows that I'm playing it wrong!
I have control issues.
David hasn't even heard me play. I will spare him.
The music industry has really changed since high school. You can now download music and print it off! CRAZY!
Austin really likes it. He plays on it and sings at the same time. He won't let anyone play on it but me. Anytime he hears someone else get on, he will run into the room screaming "NOOOOOO! GEt OFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!!!"

GIRLS DANCE RECITAL!

WHEW! What a day! Aubree had a basketball game, both the girls had their dance rehearsal so Aubree had to change in the car, and then later on that night the big dance recital. Addison HATED her costume and I told her that this can be her last year, but after her recital she told me she didn't want to quit. (DARN! I have other things in mind...)
Aubree did AWESOME! This is really starting to be her thing. She LOVES it! If she didn't have so many things going on I would have her tryout for competition. I asked her out of soccer, basketball, and dance which one would she want to quit (Again, mommy has other things in mind) and she totally freaked out! She didn't want to quit any of them and I asked her how about dance (cuz I know daddy wouldn't let her quit sports) and she freaked out again. She said she would rather quit basketball than dance which really surprised me cuz she likes basketball over soccer. Of course I would never make her quit anything, I was just curious about what she was going to say.

Bad Mom

So tonight I have been informed by my 9 year old that all I do is clean and I never play with her.

OUCH

So never mind all the places I have taken her to (including Disneyland 30 bazillion times) all the mornings I get up early before school so we can have a good hour of one on one time to go over homework and read, all the basketball practices and games I take her to, all of her dance practices, and soccer..
okay that list can just go on...
all the times I let her use every sheet and towel I own so she can make a tent (nevermind the actual tent I bought her so she would stop doing this!) and then I have to dry myself with a washcloth because all of my towels are in the playroom and I don't feel like letting my husband know that I need a towel because that would mean that I am naked...

sorry for that one...ewe

all the happy meals I have bought her and brought them to her school for school lunch

seriously, the list could go on, but now she's going to have a memory of me not getting down on my hands and knees and playing.
I thought those days were over. Of course I did that when she was little. David does it every time he gets home from work. He's not so stressed out at work anymore so its his turn to be fun daddy so I can have a brake!!

But yet she's still going to have the memory of me NOT playing with her and just cleaning. Cleaning is soothing for me..its my blankey...

Maybe being a better mom should be something you need to write down.

I told Aubree I will try and do better.

AUBREE'S FIRST BASKETBALL GAME

Today was Aubree's very first basketball game. In the beginning she was really nervous and wasn't very aggressive, but after 15minutes into it that all disappeared. I was out in the hall for most of it so I didn't get a lot of pictures and missed her scoring! Next week we have dance dress rehearsal, basketball game, and the dance recital all in a row!

I've been reading a lot about how to take better pictures. I took these pictures with my flash off, which is how I like to shoot anyway, but inside they were way to dark with a yelowish tint,and check out Aubree midair throwing the basketball! Okay, she's only about 3 inches off the ground, but she's not blurry.

I SURVIVED THE DAY

I survived. No the 2nd coming didn't come and I didn't get resurrected into my 25 year old body, but I did survive and have come to terms with it. David took me out to lunch, shopping, a movie, dinner, and more shopping. And a big thanks for the emails, drop off's and phone calls!

Now on a brighter note, here are some goals I have for the next 10 years:

Upgrade my camera. I still shoot with a point and shoot. I feel I don't know enough yet about photography to make the big upgrade. I'm still doing my research.

Get a piano and of course I'm going to pull the high maintenance card and want a baby grand. Addie really wants to start taking lessons..so there..

Get braces...this one is easy...they go on January 29th!!!!!

Travel. David said he promises to take me to New York and Hawaii and I snuck in Rome, too.

Maybe cut down on the coke and start eating better...I said maybe...its the thought that counts

Maybe get out my violin one more time...again, its the thought that counts!

Get my picture taken with someone famous

Those are the main ones. Yes they are all pretty superficial. I didn't say anything about being a better mom and maybe growing spiritually, but those are goals you shouldn't have to write down.

MY LAST DAY

My last day to say I'm 20-something.
EWE.
MY THOUGHTS ON TURNING 30:

I remember watching the Friends episode of when they all turned 30 thinking,"How sad. That would be so awful! At least they don't look too old..."

So good-bye Forever 21 and hello Coldwater Creek (Seriously, is anyone old enough to shop at Coldwater Creek?)

I never thought I would see the day when I would be older then Aubree's school teacher!

2 more years until I have to get a hysterectomy

No more being the young cute fun mom and not looking old enough to have kids and hello I found a varicose vein!

Theirs a menopause book saved in my wish list at Amazon

10 more years until I am 40. THAT IS NOT A LONG TIME!!!

I COULD BE A GRANDMA IN 10 YEARS!!!

That thought depresses me

I have been holding on to baby clothes hoping for another one and now maybe I should just hold onto them for the grandkids cuz the clothes will still be in style since ITS NOT THAT FREAKING FAR AWAY!!

Sorry, I really hate that word. I only use it when absolutely necessary

I hate anyone who is 29

The girls are falling more and more to the floor

I still remember when the Schwan's man thought I was in my late 30's. I was 28 at the time...well your fat and smelly!

David took me shopping the other day and I shopped in the Junior's section just to make myself feel better as the 20-something year old stared at me with sad eyes. Just you wait honey..your time will come.

I think I found a gray hair...or I just need to shower...

CHRISTMAS DAY!

AUBREE: Purse from Justice, Wimpy Kid Series, American Girl mini doll with books, microscope, Moon in my room (very cool toy! Its like a nightlight and it comes with a remote and it shows all the phases of the moon!) scooter, doll house, art kits, ds video game, body science kit, and Calico Criters

ADDISON: Purse from Justice, Calico Critters, art set, tea set, American Girl mini doll with book, scooter (A lot of the girls stuff was for them to share)

AUSTIN: Train set, art sets, spiderman car, turtle night light (another very cool toy. Its a nightlight that lights up his room with moons and stars) Monsters Inc., UP,

The girls went to bed early but didn't fall asleep until 9:30. Addie said she wasn't going to bed until we went to bed. It took us 2 hours just to put the doll house together and then the dang train set....! So around 1;30 as I'm laying things under the tree Austin bursts out of his room with a huge grin on his face! We give him something out of his stocking and sent him back to bed. Finally at 2;10am we crawl into bed to be woken up at 3;30am with screaming girls! They didn't go back to sleep! They played in the livingroom (which is right next to our room!) until they could see some sort of daylight.

Later on in the day here was my conversation with Addie:
ADDIE; I wonder what Santa is going to bring us on Christmas
ME; (still in a fog) Ummm what? Santa already came! Where do you think those came from (pointing to the pile of brand new toys!)
ADDIE; Those are just Christmas Eve presents! I wonder what Santa is going to bring me on Christmas Day!

She was confused since she got up so early and it was still dark that it was still Christmas Eve to her.

CHRISTMAS EVE!

ITS COLD IN UTAH

I miss California! We woke up Sunday to find everything covered in frost, not snow, FROST. But it made the trees look peety....

DAVE'S TRIP TO NEW YORK (without me!!!!!)

So here's pictures of Dave's trip. Pictures that I did not take. Pictures I have always wanted to take. These pictures were taken from a cell phone..GASP! So with a little photo editing I think some of them turned out decent.
Too bad it wasn't my camera...I'm not bitter...

POLAR EXPRESS BELL

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to watch The Polar Express. I have wanted to do this in the past, but Ive been too lazy. This year I'm worried that its Aubree's last year believing in Santa so I made the 25 minute drive to our "local' craft store. I sprinkled some glitter over the bell and then I will sprinkle some more on top of the box when I lay them underneath the tree.

CHRISTMAS DECOR AT OUR HOUSE

I didn't take my annual trip to Tai Pan this year which saddens me very much. The bottom half of the tree is broken and missing several ornaments due to my 3 year old and David still refuses to put up outdoor Christmas lights (one of his good friend's dad was putting up lights and fell and killed himself so that's David's reason for not getting on the roof...OH P-A-LEEEE-S-EEEEE!!!)

MY 4 DAY PROJECT

The original plan was to paint the room the same color as the rest of the house, but at the last minute I decided to just go ahead and paint it pink. All one color so no taping involved. So i get to Home Depot and at the last minute change my mind to do the ceiling a different color. I chose a very light pink and then a darker pink for the walls. Of course David is worried that theirs going to be weird lines all over the place which of course stresses me out so after I pull the tape I take a fine small paintbrush and very carefully do touch ups all around the room. In the end, David didn't notice my imperfections and likes the color. And no I didn't get lazy by not finishing the rest of the walls, I'm still trying to convince David to do bead board. This is my way of convincing him: Painting the walls as if he's already said yes to the bead board cuz we're pretty much doing it.

SANTA AT KRAVERS

I took the kids to our local restaurant (hey its a small town, we only have one!), but their was hardly anyone there and so each of the kids got to spend a lot of time with him. So word on the street is they want their own computer and a puppy. I hope they're not too disappointed come Christmas morning...

Scared For Life...

All throughout Austin's life he has been tortured by his sisters, although he doesn't know it yet! His sisters have always loved dressing him up and making him attend their tea parties (notice he's in a doll stroller!) Now he just thinks its normal so when the girls are dancing in their ballet attire he runs and grabs a tu-tu. Oh well, something to show his girlfriends when he's older (Oh please be a girlfriend!!!!)

Ahhhh..I can almost hear the silence....

We're in the process of getting a bedroom done for the girls downstairs. No more late night giggling, fighting , me yelling "GO TO BED!!! You're going to wake up your brother and give me an aneurysm!!

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

WoW! Is about all I can say. I took the girls to the concert last night and can honestly say I have never seen anything like it! The talent these people had were OUTRAGEOUS from the singing to the instruments. Aubree's eyes were glued to the stage while Addie fell asleep! How someone can sleep through laser lights, the stage on fire to electric guitars blaring is beyond me! She was awake for an amazing piano solo (I don't even know what to call it). After she was done, Addie turned to me and said "Holy cow mom! She was sooo good!"
It was a solid 2 1/2 hour show with a 20 minute grand finale. Hopefully I've started a tradition to go every year!

CHENEY CHRISTMAS LETTER

Since I've been blogging I don't send Christmas cards out anymore because, well lets face it, I hate buying stamps! So here's our family picture that I have no idea how it happened. I look way too giddy, mostly because out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Austin had finally started smiling!
Anyhoo. This year was pretty quiet. No big news, no major hospital trips, and we didn't go on any vacations! We've been in our house for 2 years now with no talk of a move which is a new record for us! 2 years is the longest we have lived anywhere!

DAVID: Is still working at American Express and is going on a business trip to New York City! It was a last minute trip so we didn't have time to save up for me to go ( I begged him to let me put it on a credit card but the dang accountant said NO!) He had season tickets again this year and even gave up the Airforce game so he could stay home and watch the kids while I went to New Moon (GASP!) (And for those of you who know David knows that that must have caused some contention around the house) He loves his calling at church teaching Elders Quorum and took a break this semester from school, but returns in January.

ME: (K so my pet peev in Christmas letters is when the person who is writing it puts their name there. We know its you! Its not a ghost writing it!) I got released from YW's after a year and I'm actually enjoying the break. I still watch Carson 4 days a week who is a cute little redheaded 2 year old. My biggest project this summer was the yard. I planted 6 trees and 40+ bushes (by myself! I want credit!) and 190 bulbs. Which of course led to my back killing me every morning (even now), but I am excited for Spring (mainly to see what I killed) I am now holding on to the final weeks of my 20's. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I never saw past 18 and thought the 2nd coming would've been here by now. Can I still shop at Forever 21 or do I need to start shopping at Coldwater Creek? Do I need to start buying anti-wrinkle cream? Last Spring my sister and I saw WICKED which was amazing! k-I'm boring, enough about me.

AUBREE: has been very busy this year. She just turned 9 and is definitely out of the Barbie and Disney Princess stage. She started her 3rd year of dance and finished her 2nd year of soccer. She's very excited to be starting basketball in a couple of weeks and enjoyed another year season going to the BYU games with her dad. Aubree is my little science nerd. She loves to know how things are made, loves bugs, and is finally enjoying reading. She's reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid and loves them! Aubree is my golden child (I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but when she cleans the whole house without you telling her to..COME ON!)

ADDISON: (giggle) what to say about my over-the-top drama queen girlie girl. She started Kindergarten this year and is doing very well. I'm excited to see how she does in school. She's funny how she reacts to boys her age. They will always say hi to her and she stomps off with a huge disgusting grimace on her face. Their are only a few boys that are allowed the pleasure of Addie saying "Hi" back to them. Addie started her 3rd year of dance and loves it. She is always showing me her dance moves in her 10th outfit of the day which is always a skirt with leggings. She went to her first Jazz game with her dad and came home thinking she was on top of the world.

AUSTIN: has come so far in just the last 6 months. He's in 2 preschools. One is the one where they have a speech therapist there to help him with his speech and the other is from a lady who does it out of her home (Who is AMAZING!) I just had Austin's parent teacher conference and they were thrilled with his accomplishments. Austin is obsessed with his ABC's, numbers, colors, and shapes. He loves to read books and point out everything that he knows. He loves doing flash cards and his homework. I asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he said "Flashcards!' He is also obsessed with Spiderman and wears his costume all day long! One time he tried to climb the wall and when he fell he looked back at us and asked "What happened?"

With that said, we hope everyone enjoys the rest of the year and keep in touch!

Love,
The Cheney's

NEW MOON REVIEW

Your welcome.

A little eye candy for the mama's.

New Moon is my least favorite out of the series so to be honest, I didn't have high hopes, especially after seeing it was getting 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.

I was pleasantly surprised. The special effects were a lot better, obviously given the bigger budget.
Here's just a few of my main thoughts;
*Jake was HOT
*In some of the scenes Bella looked like she had something coming out of her nose
*Edward was way hot in the parking lot scene in the very beginning
*Jake's hot
*Edward should never take his shirt off
*Sometimes I think Jake cares more for Bella than Edward
*Jakes hot
*The guys who played the wolves were scrawny
*Kristen Stewart was finally good at the acting thing since she had to be depressed most of the time
*Jake's hot
*Didn't like the soundtrack as much as twilight
*They did a pretty good job at keeping to the book (of course I probably wouldn't know since New Moon was the only book I didn't read twice
*Jake's hot
*What was up with the moaning in one of the kissing scenes!!
*Bella's nightmares were way overdone
*Finally the meadow scene I had pictured in my head the first time I read Twilight!
*Jake's hot
*I cannot wait until Eclipse


Jake's hot.