Wednesday, December 31, 2014

|| Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal ||




As the title stolen from my favourite Christmas movie says, Merry Christmas! It's over but I still find myself wishing the Walmart cashier and friendly stranger a Merry Chrstmas to which they reply with "Happy New Year". I want to tell them to stop it because I am just not ready for Christmas to be over quite yet! How did it all go by so fast… darn. Before I get into how magical this Christmas was I have to tell you I had big goals and dreams of documenting this whole holiday with pictures, videos, and all sorts of things but what happened to those plans? They never happened. I even went as far to pick out songs to put to a video. Time wasted. My iPhone was the only thing that did any documenting and I hate that. Oh well what can you do! Better than nothing maybe…

***Detailed Post Ahead, Proceed With Caution***

I don't really think anyone besides me will find this post interesting but hey I need to write it down and here is the only place I will do it!

We got to SOAB late on Friday night and had a big day ahead of us. I couldn't even sleep. You know when you have to wake up early the next day and even though you have checked your alarm 18539 times you still keep waking up every hour scared you have slept in? Ya that was me. I was in charge of doing the videography for Mataya (Brett's cousin) and Jimmy's wedding that day and I was real nervous. I have really only done the video for one other wedding so ya nervous. It turned out to be really fun though and I hope it all comes together good! Fingers crossed for me k? I mean if I can't make those two look good I might as well just hang up my camera for good! Models those two. Tay seriously couldn't have looked better! I was dying. It was a full day but a really good one! So glad we were able to be there.



The Sunday before Christmas is my favourite Sunday of the year. It is known at our house as "Lisa's Sunday". She goes all out to make sure the day is very special. The first thing we do is all us go to church together. My dad is the bishop of my family ward in Magrath and he decided for the program all the missionaries that were out in our ward (7) would write 2 paragraphs home about their feelings on Christmas. It was awesome. Especially since Russell happens to be one of those missionaries! Each mom of the missionary came up and read their son or daughter's message and then there was a song in-between each one. Talk about incredible! I didn't want it to end. The message in Relief Society was also great. I sometimes feel bad for the men who miss out on being apart of the RS because I always feel so uplifted and recharged after hearing the lesson!

After church on Christmas Sunday we head back to my parents house and set up for a big fondue dinner! We seriously eat every kind of food you can imagine eating fondue style. It is so delicious! My personal favourite is the dessert chocolate fondue with fruit! So yummy! After we are so stuffed we all can barely move we have a little "program". We have a spiritual message usually given by my dad and Mitch which is always awesome. Then we have a game! So many classic lines and moments have come out of this over the years! So dang funny! This year it was my turn to say the line we will all remember. Who knew chinchilla wasn't a small furry dog? Whoops… After the games we watch a movie together. This time I had to leave early to catch another party but they watched Christmas Vacation and all said it was great!

I had to rush out early to make it the 1st Annual Gibb Girls Christmas Sock Party! I married into the most fun family ever. I feel so grateful to have such awesome in-laws! We ate food we had never tried before and each got to go home with a cute sock full of goodies! Definitely looking forward to next year!

Tuesday brought a first time event for Brett and I, Gibb Family Caroling! We lucked out with the weather being +4C so it made it a lot more fun I think! We sang all sorts of Christmas and Primary songs! The kids all looked so cute all bundled up and I love making these great memories with so many people that I love.





Finally we are at Christmas Eve! Christmas Eve and Christmas day get pretty crazy for us trying to make it to everything! It's not my favourite thing but Brett really likes it so I am learning to be happy about it too! haha So our day starts out at the Magrath Ice Arena for a little skate around! The kids and girls skate for the first half hour and then the boys play a little hockey game! I love this tradition, it's one of my favourites!








We then headed to Raymond to spend some time with the Holts! We had yummy enchiladas and played games! Then we head over to the Elementary school gym in Raymond to eat some more and then play bump, horse, volleyball, and all sort games! This year I was on the winning volleyball team so that made it extra special ;) After the games we ran back to the Holts to go take an annual photo in front of Brett's Grandpa Holt's grave and light an ice candle. They have been doing it ever since he passed away. It is a really cool tradition. After that we head back to Brent and Julie's and open jammies and then have a white elephant game! It is one of my favourite things we do all Christmas! This year I ended up with Lulu gloves that I love! We rushed back over to the Holts to open more jammies and take some photos! I love getting so many new jammies, it is the greatest! Then we go back to Magrath to sleep in the living room with all my siblings and wait for Santa to come! (Crazy day eh?)












Here it is!!! Christmas Day!! This year we woke up bright and early and opened our gifts in Magrath! We got spoiled rotten like usual! We got so many great things from my parents! Brett also crushed Christmas. He is the greatest and always gets me exactly what I need and want! It's a real bonus to have a hubby with good taste and one that listens to you through out the year! After we opened with my family we rushed over to the Holts to open with them and the spoiling continued! I can't thank our parents enough for their generosity! It makes me teary to think of how kind they are to us not only on Christmas but throughout the whole year. We had to run back to Magrath at 10:45am because my favourite part of Christmas was happening at 11:00am. Our amazing missionary, Anziano Maxwell, skyped us and it was really the best. I cried a few times but he was so happy and so positive! I miss that boy so much! Life is just a little lot less funny and exciting when he is gone! 


After I collected myself… We went to eat Holt Breakfast back in Raymond! I love that breakfast, Mike always does such a good job! We got ready and hangout there for awhile until we were off to Cardston for dinner with my grandma Matkin and my Matkin family! Grandma Matkin is the best cook ever and with the help of my aunts it turned out to be the best dinner! I was so full after I couldn't move! The turkey and early morning hit Brett and so he had a little sleep! We all loved baby Mary and she got lots of attention from the baby loving Maxwells!








Our Christmas day wasn't quite over yet! We headed back to Raymond for the Gibb dinner at Dana and Mike's! There are so many cute babies it was heaven! There was a cute little program where some kids sang and then everyone had to tell their favourite thing about Christmas. It was a great way to finish off a great day!











Whew that was a marathon but it's over! It was a great few days and I wish I could do it over again! Next up our post Christmas days and New Years activities!! 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

|| Whirl Wind ||

As I sat eating my dinner at Hu Hot with Jenni last Sunday it dawned on me that I had only been home for a week but if felt like so much more! This is strange because usually my trips home fly by and I am left wondering where all the days went. The difference this time must be the amount of things I have done in this short week! It also might have to do with how much I am missing my husband. Which is a lot, like so so much! He is in Tonga right now doing a service trip with a group from his school. I am so happy he has this opportunity and he is having a blast! I always miss him when we are apart but I am usually texting him through out the day and face timing him every night but with the time change and him being without internet most of the day, I hear very little from him. Which isn't good for this needy wife. Needless to say Friday cannot come soon enough!

Any who here is a little breakdown of my whirl wind week!

Sunday - I woke up at 4:30am and Brett drove me to the airport! I hated saying goodbye and like always fought back the tears at the drop off. It never gets any easier. Dang it. I then flew to Great Falls and my momma was there to pick me up! We then drove straight to Paxton's hockey game and caught the last period. He played awesome and is really becoming quite the little athlete! He is the only defenceman in our family so it's always cool for me to watch one of my brothers play that position and he does it so well! He sees the ice and passes the puck so well! I have always loved going to my brothers games and never felt forced! I often joke and say I was pretty much raised in an ice rink and I wouldn't have it any other way. After Pax's game we rushed over and I got to watch Mitch's game! I hadn't had a chance to watch him yet this year so that was so much fun. He is the bomb dot com people. He is so humble and hates when I say nice things about him both privately and publicly but whatever it has never stopped me before and probably never will. He played so great and had such a sweet assist! I know I am biased but he really is the best player on the ice. After all the hockey we went home and I got to meet the newest member of our family, our new puppy Harley. He is so cute! I have spent a lot of time with him this week and I just can't get enough of him! I'm obsessed and I need one. 




Both boys are #6! 





He loves to watch my shows with me! He is the best puppy in the whole wide world. Except when he bites me.

We also got another amazing letter from my favourite missionary Anziano Maxwell! He seriously kills me with his letters! I laugh, I cry, and then I laugh some more! I sure miss him! He is doing so awesome though and I could not be more proud of him. He has a hard mission and I know he probably has hard times and struggles but you would never know because he is so positive and never says a negative thing! He works hard and he is doing his best to enjoy the journey. He is such a great example to me!



This was his description of this photo: "My comp was kinda mad that I got on this boat but I was like I'm going on that boat." I told you non stop laughing!




Monday - Wednesday:
My momma and I decided sort of last minute to make a quick trip up to Edmonton to visit my baby sis! I was so excited because I miss Joce all the time and because when us three get together it makes for the best time! So we braved the snowy roads and made the trek up there. Our few days were full of shopping, food, late night chats, laughing, matching outfits, and more shopping! We also slipped in a mini photo shoot in the freezing cold. This was actually Lisa's idea but obviously I was totally down! The pictures actually turned out really cute! We just had the best time together and saying goodbye was so hard and I hated it. Goodbyes and me just don't get along. Period. I also snuck in a quick lunch date with 2 of my favourite girls, Amber and Presley! I just love when you make life time friends. We can go months without seeing each other and the second we meet up not a beat is skipped! We chatted the whole time and tried to squish as much in as we could in our short time together! Bestie's for life, us two.

I forgot just how DANG cold it is here….


Here are some photos from our little Maxwell girls photo shoot… Oh and ps it might be hard to tell which one is our mom cause she is a babe and looks more like our sister. 

I couldn't love these two more.



To say these two are close would be a huge understatement! They talk all the time and laugh at each other constantly! I am sometimes jealous of how close these two cuties are!



I told you, constant laughing!

This hot momma is the best and greatest lady I know! I wouldn't be where I am today without her!



She loves me.

Heavenly Father knew I couldn't make it through this life without her and wouldn't laugh near as much! I am so blessed to be her big sister.


"Because I have a sister, I will always have a friend."


We love our mom and she is the funniest! I can't wait until the day we are neighbours and this is a daily occurrence! 

Thursday - Friday
On Thursday morning I woke up bright and early (7:30am which if you know me, this is out of the ordinary) and stayed awake. For some reason I was up and there was no changing it. I had a text from Kates that mentioned something about coming to see her and her cute babies and a free lunch so obviously I was sold! I spent the day hanging out with the Wildes and Bethy and Laikey for a bit and it was so fun! I love that I can just sit and do nothing with Kates and still have the greatest time. Sign of a true friendship right there. That's what 20+ years together with do to ya. 

On Friday I slept in (much more like me) and played with Harley for most of the morning. Then we got to go watch another of Mitch's hockey games! He seriously plays so great in every game! I am so glad I have gotten to watch some games while being here! 

After the game I got to have lunch with Mitch, Nolan, and my Dad! I know lucky me I got to join guys night lol I just laugh the entire time I am with those three! The funniest guys I tell ya!

Saturday - Sunday
During this whole thing I was texting Jenni and we decided it was probably a real good idea to make a quick trip to Kalispell the next day! So bright and early Saturday morning we headed off to shop till we dropped and we did just that! We always have so much fun together doing crazy things and laughing so loud we get weird stares from strangers. It is the greatest!All you single ladies out there marry your best friend's brother, it's the bomb. Any who we shopped all day Saturday and then on Sunday we slept in, ate breakfast, lazed around, went quadding, and took some selfies! Overall it was a very successful trip and I can't wait to do it again!!





Okay so you feel me with the whole "this week felt like forever" thing right? I had a pretty packed and fabulous week! I am one lucky girl! I also did a little face timing with my hubs… I swear we were both really excited to talk to each other haha 


Only 2 more sleeps, only 2 more sleeps… you can do this, you can do this! I just miss him okay. I love doing fun stuff and everything but trust me when Brett is around it makes everything I do 1000000x more fun, exciting, worth while, and just plain old better. 

Bueller, Bueller… if anyone is still reading you deserve 5 gold stars! Sorry it was so long but I had to document it all! I am so far behind that when I have any energy to post I have to take advantage! Okay that's all! I hope you all have a great weekend!