Lil' Santa

Just preparing for the big day! That face just makes me giggle!

Me and Oma

Thanks Oma. Elliot loved unwrapping all the fun gifts on Christmas morning!

Gingerbread Heaven

Tyrali and I won the prize for best roof icicles. But got cused for using all the icing. OOPS?

Kenz did this all by herself. She has quite the creative bone in her body!

This is the Haynie King-dom! (ha ha) Pretty Cool!

Skinny Dipped in my neighbors pool...somebody snitched on me. (Only 2 crazy men would think of adding this to their innocent gingerbread mansion)

Thanks mom for making Christmas so fun. These kind of memories last forever!

Justin Timberlake?

J.R. has gotten more comments that he looks like Justin Timberlake then ever! I think people in Sun Valley are just "star searching" and with J.R. all done up in his caroling gear and singing etc, it just makes sense. What do you think??

Our little caroling family!

More to come on our S.V. trip. Still trying to get back to Ohio. (I seriously hate flying!)

Why I Love Sun Valley

After 7 straight years of caroling in Sun Valley, I've been wondering why it is we keep coming back. Here are some of my thoughts.

An average day in Sun Valley...

9:00 AM Roll out of bed and throw on ski gear from head to toe

10:00 AM Catch the bus to River Run Lodge, pick up board from storage and HIT THE SLOPES!! Board all over, from Warm Springs lodge to Seatle Ridge. We usually run into some hot celeb while chillin in the lodge. This year was Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. He really is as hot in real life. VERY COOL!

1:00 PM Stop for lunch at Roundhouse at the top of the mountain for unbeatable tomato soup and grilled cheese. Jump back on the board and take a few more sweet runs.

3:00 PM Store board and catch the bus back to Sun Valley

3:30 PM Hit the pool that is 102 degrees of soothing relaxation

4:00 PM Grab a bite to eat and get ready for caroling

5:30 PM Run down to the limelight room for caroling call, warm up and devotional

6:30 PM Jump in line and head out on rounds with the rest of the gang to surround ourselves in amazing chords and musical sound that I just can't get any other time of the year. We stop at about 6 different restaurants caroling to all sorts of different people. Frequently we run into families that we have seen year after year because Sun Valley is such a tradition for so many people. It's fun to see familiar faces and even funner to hear the excitment in people as they see the carolers walk through the door. It's amazing the feelings music can bring to people. I like to imagine what might be happening in someone's life when I see them start to tear up as we sing "Have yourself a merry little christmas" or when they lean over and whisper to their spouse durning "mistletoe". It seems to always be the same reaction from everyone when we sing "It happened in Sun Valley" You can almost see the memories of past holidays in sun valley with their friends and families. At the end of rounds, whether my voice was tired, my nose was stuffy or I had the best vocal day of my life, I come back to my room happy to be there and happy to have brought a little bit of the saviors love to each of the people we sang for.

9:30 PM Back to the room for a quick dip in the pool again or out to the lobby for a crazy round of "Chuck Norris" or "10,000"(card and dice games) We usually end up laughing our guts out till we are so tired we can hardly keep our eyes open

1-2:00 AM Off to bed...FINALLY. Only to do it all over again in the morning. With occasionally substituting boarding with movies, ice skating, Wii tennis matches or just lounging around the room doing a whole lot of NOTHING! VACATIONS RULE!

Sun Valley is so beautiful. Surrounded by snow covered mountains and beautiful buildings. Lights on every tree and a bell tower playing christmas music. It's so sureal. The rooms are beautiful, the restaurants are fancy, the service is impecable and the feeling so relaxing. It's no wonder we can't pull ourselves away from this family tradition. Hopefully they'll let us come back for another 7 years!

I just have to tell you...
Last night Santa's wife babysat Elliot while J.R. and I caroled and she said that as soon as Dave put on the santa suit Elliot started into his laughing fits. (I wonder what he thinks is so funny?) I really need to get it on film. It's the funest thing to watch! Love it!

5 Crazy Haynie Cousins

Can you believe it? 5 Boys. What's even more amazing is getting them to sit still long enough to take a picture! Whoosh!

Santa is my new best friend!

Elliot is in LOVE with Santa. Santa comes out caroling with us every night and any time santa even looks at him, Elliot is busting out laughing louder and harder then I've ever seen. It's the cutest thing! Hopefully it stays that way!
Christmas is just around the corner and we couldn't be more excited!
Sun Valley is treating us well. The snow is awesome and it feels great to get back on my snowboard again. Talk about FUN!! More pics coming soon!

Merry Elfin' Christmas!

HILLARIOUS!
I stole this from Erin's site. I just couldn't resist. It's so holiday appropriate too! Enjoy....Shanae, This one is for you. I hope it cheers you up a bit and lets you laugh for a minute! I love ya!

(I couldn't figure out how to get the link to show up on this post so click on the link to the side called "Elf Yourself")

Off we go to Sun Valley Idaho!

Hooray! Another year has come for our annual trip to Sun Valley. We just love it so much we can't stop ourselves. This year will be our 7th year and we couldn't be more excited! For those of you who don't know about sun valley- we go up there for 2 weeks and carol around the village at night with our old sunburst group from Utah State. In exchange, during the day, it's all the skiing, snowboarding and hot tubbing we can handle. Hopefully I'll be on the hill most of the time so I won't have much time for blogging. If anyone is looking for a great vacation, come see us in Sun Valley! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I've Been Tagged

I have been tagged twice so I'll combine them into one. These thoughts are in no particular order, I just type as it comes to me. Enjoy!!

4 Jobs I've Had: 1. RN (I love being a nurse) 2. LPN/Secretary at Hospice Alliance (one of my fav jobs. Justin is the best boss ever! I learned a lot about how to be a good decent person from him) 3. Medical Assistant for my dad. (I loved getting to see the Docter side of my dad. He was sure good at it. His patients loved him sincerly, and I know why. He's one amazing guy! I feel lucky to have been able to work for him) 4. Can't leave out Pickleville - cookout, box office, sound and lights (back when it was just a few switches), on stage, choreography...you name it, I've done it! Got to love PVP. What sweet memories!

4 Movies I can Watch Over and Over. 1. Almost all the super hero flicks, I'm a sucker to my husbands passions 2. Mr. Deeds (Makes me laugh everytime) 3. Phantom of the Opera (I watch it once quietly then again while singing the whole way through) They really need to make more musicals into movies...speaking of... 4. HAIRSPRAY! (so cute...can't wait till Nov.20 when its out on DVD)

4 Places I've Lived: 1. Guatalahara, Mexico (sp??) 2. Detroit, Michigan 3. Logan, Utah 4. Columbus, Ohio

4 Guilty Pleasures: 1. Ice cream 2. Ice Cream 3. ICE CREAM 4. MORE ICE CREAM!! (I just can't live without it...thanks dad for passing that gene on to me.


4 Favorite TV Shows: 1. The Office 2. House 3. Scrubs (occasionally) 4. American Idol

4 Favorite Places I've been on Vacation: 1. Cancun with Jess and Becca 2. D.C. with J.R. 3. Sun Valley every christmas! 4. Cruise with the Fam!!

4 Favorite Foods: 1. Costa Vida (in utah) 2. Chipotle (in Ohio) 3. Olive Garden($5.95 soup and salad) 4. Quaker Stake (awesome hot wings) 5. Wingers (stickyfinger salad) 6.good old fashioned CEREAL (sorry, I can't stick to just 4 - it's food we're talking about)

4 Places I'd Rather Be Right Now: 1. Utah 2. sleeping 3. Just finishing working out (it means I'm done and it feels great!) 4. Shopping with someone elses money

4 Websites I Visit Daily: 1. Email 2.Blogs 3. Hummm...can't really think of others, Elliot limits my surfing time

4 Authors I Love: Wow. It's been a while since I've read a good long book, but my all time fav will always be 1. Dean Hughs (Children of the Promise) 2. any "how to be a good mommy" book 3. Stuff by Sheri Dew 4. Joseph Smith history books

4 Things I would Like to Know How to Do: 1. Sew - J.R. bought me a sewing machine last year and I thought it would be self explanitory, little did I know I stink at it...I don't even know the basics 2. Play the Guitar 3. Play the piano (better) 4. Be pregnant without throwing up for 9 months

4 Happy Moments: 1. Peeking over the crib at Elliot first thing in the morning (He's so happy and smiles so big when he sees me...that's when I know he loves me back!) 2. Cuddling with J.R. as we're falling asleep. 3. Working my butt off at the gym while starving myself and Finally seeing the scale drop!! Only 10 lbs left! 4. Getting off the plane in Utah seeing my mom waiting for us! I sure miss her!

4 Favorite Memories: 1. Sunburst!!! There wasn't a happier time in my life. I felt great about myself, got to do what I love (sing & dance), and of course meeting and falling in love with my sweet husband! 2. Any Summer at Pickleville. It was always great to again, do what I love, while spending time with family and getting to chill at Bear lake 3. Sun Valley. Particularly the first year...everything was brand new, we had an awesome sound and I was love sick for J.R. 4. Sitting on grandma Larsen's knee on her bouncy swing singing "I'll build a bungalow" and "Chingaling Chang" and "I love you a bushel and a peck"
Geez, I guess all my favs have to do with me singing - I guess I need to find more opportunities to keep doing it.

4 Greatest Blessings: 1. Landon, Lydia & Elliot. There's nothing better then being a mother. Land and Lyd have truly taken my testimony to a new level. And Elliot shows me everyday what true love really is! 2. J.R. We've been married now for 5 years and looking back I've realize we've both changed dramatically - for the better - we're just simply MADE FOR EACH OTHER! 3. My mom and dad. I definitly gave them a run for their money as a kid, but they stuck with me day in and day out. And now with dad being sick I get to watch them continue to be my greatest examples of love and endurance! It's all worth it because the prize at the end is worth a million "rough" days here. 4. Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm trying my best to be the kind of person my Father in Heaven would want me to be!

Well, there you have it. A little peek into the life and thoughts of Chelsea.

I guess I'll tag 4 more people... Erin D., Becca H., Liz R., Kathy J.

Lovely Solids

This is Elliots first attempt at solids. Not too bad for a big boy. He's still not totally sold on the idea, so we're just taking it slow. Breastfeeding was so easy compaired to this. I can't believe how fast he is growing.

Best Buds

Some of my friends here in Ohio got together for my bday. We ate dinner at Olive Garden and ended up staying and chatting for about 3 hours. We definitly don't get together enough. It was so fun! Thanks Emily for pulling it together!

Happy Early Christmas!

I bought this awesome exersaucer on craigslist yesterday and it is a huge hit! Elliot loves it! I think he was sick of playing with toys on his back. He had slobber from head to toe after about 10 minutes in it cuz all he does is suck on the toys. Good thing I sterilized them the night before.
He's such a cutie! I love having such a happy handsome baby!

Can Flowers Shops Ever Get It Right?

THANKS MY FAMILY!!
I got these beautiful flowers for my bday! I was so happy and then surprised when I got a second boquet. When the card said the exact same thing I figured someone must have did it on accident. Especially when the card said "Shelly" Got to love it!
Needless to say they are beautiful and really brightened my day! Love you guys!!

Dental Bliss

Being the poor student we are, I got suckered into being in a dental study at OSU. To leave the details out I got 4 shots and after 2 hours in the chair came out with a very numb lip. J.R. thought it was so funny so he had to take a picture. Lovely! It guess it was worth the $75 they gave me!

My Sweet Pea

I just can't help it! He's too too cute!!

J.R.'s new true LOVE

Congratulations!! I can officially buy all the scrapbook supplies I want and J.R. can't complain ever again. Am I a crazy wife or what??
Yes mom, I let him buy a motorbike. I'm a sucker for a man in leathers I guess. Thanks to dad for inspiring him! He looks great! And acutally the bike is a lot of fun. It scares me to death with him driving on the freeway, but he gets lectured every time he leaves so hopefully it's sinking in!
Every man needs his passion and if this is it, then more power to him!
Ride on my sexy bikin' baby...Ride on!!

Too hot to handle!

Well, I've decided that the days building up to halloween are much funner then halloween itself. On halloween day J.R. got home kinda late and by the time we got organized and ready to get costumes on and visit some friends, it was Elliot's bed time and he was letting us all know about it. So, I tried to snap a few quick photos then it was off to the bath and straight to bed. We couldn't get him to chill, let alone smile till we went out on the cold grass. I think he was just roasting in that thing. I guess I've learned for next year. All in all, I'm glad it's over cause now christmas is right around the corner!
Let the Christmas music ring!! (we've actually been listening to it since August :)

My 1st Halloween

Elliot's Halloween Picture! (Notice: I couldn't decide what he should be for halloween so we did both a spider and a chicken!) What a cutie pie!!

True Buckeye Fans

This is just after the game. (Bucks won, of course) Thanks to Emily for watching Elliot so J.R. and I could go to the game. Everyone with a heartbeat has to have a ticket to get into the games and we just didn't think Elliot would enjoy it enough to unload $30 for him to get into the game (and that's the student price) We sold our tickets to another game for about $600 a pair. Yep, we're professional scalpers. What can I say? We're poor college students. Every dollar counts! :)


Aren't my boys handsome?? Boy, I sure loves those two!

This is a new game. He can't stop eating everything. He just chews and chews. Maybe teeth are on the way?? Yikes!

PS: Notice Elliot doesn't have his Ohio state shirt on...yeah, he pooped out his diaper and all over the shirt just before this. Poor kid. Got to love being a mom!

REAL college football!

If you aren't wearing red and decked out from head to toe in OSU gear you feel very out of place here in Ohio on a game day. These fans are nuts, but it makes it so fun!

At every game the band marches the word OHIO in cursive. It is so neat. This is the end product. And the crowd goes NUTS!

Lil' bear baby

I just couldn't resist. One of my co-workers gave him this cute hat and I had to post a few pics because he is just too cute. (Don't get too lonesome gma. We'll be home soon enough!)

Just Sleep PLEASE!

Alright, so I raved about that baby book and then I had to give it back to my friend before I was done reading it. I only made it through the sleeping at night part. Well, now Elliot does great at night, but his naps STINK! He takes these little 40 minute power naps only a couple times a day and will only get to sleep by me nursing him. What is going on?? It's driving me crazy. I know he's tired more of the day, but he just will not fall asleep or stay asleep. Any suggestions all you mommy's??
I've got to get stuff done and I can't with him being so tired all the time and clingy. If he would just sleep longer I think he'd be more happy. HELP!
- mommy of a very stubborn 5 month old

Pumpkins anyone?

What a beautiful baby! He's such an easy going kid. He just chilled there letting us take millions of pics and making funny faces trying to get him to look up. If all kids are this easy, I'll take 20.

Apple Picking at Lynd Fruit Farm

Last weekend we took Elliot apple picking! Talk about a fun time. We filled 3 huge bags full of apples and ate a bunch along the way. YUMMY! We came home with lots more then apples too. There was lots of yummy fresh vegetables - corn on the cob, tomatoes for salsa, and of course pumpkins!
It made for some very cute pics too. Bon Apetite!

Calling all moms

I have just been introduced to this awesome book and thought that all moms should know about it. This woman has some very very helpful ideas on topics from feeding to sleeping to surviving the day to day with a new baby up to one year. I've been following some of her suggestions and Elliot seems more happy, rested, and full. He's now sleeping through the night. 6-7 hours in a row!!! Yeah!!! I thought this day would never come. I love it and definitly recommend it to all moms new and old.

Long Lost Friends

I'm learning to love this blog thing more and more. I just ran into some old high school buds and am loving seeing them and their cute as can be kids. It really takes me back to the good old days of SVHS! So many fun memories - Cheer, Swimming, Musicals, TEAM. All so fun. I can't believe it's been over 6 years. WILD! Time flies when you're having fun I guess. I couldn't ask for more.
J.R. and I live in Columbus, Ohio where J.R. is in his third year of dental school. I've been working as a RN at a HUGE hospital in the postpartum unit. I love it. It's much more low key then the tele/medical unit I was on before. It's nice not to be "practicing" my CPR skills so often. Being a RN rocks. The schedule lets me keep working and still be home with Elliot. Perfect! Ohio is great but I just live for the day we are out of school and settled somewhere closer to family. Don't get me wrong...I have really liked living here. It's fun to be out on your own and making new friends and seeing the world outside of little ol' Utah, but it would be nice to be to things like your little bros mission farewell (GO Dies, the Phillipines is going to love you) and sister's first cheer experience (Whit you look way better in a cheer skirt then I ever did) and your sweet nephews birthday parties ( I miss you Carter & Tanner) - but life moves on and new memories are made. Where would we be without family? It's the reason I wake up in the morning.
I LOVE YOU J.R. ELLIOT and my two sweet angels!!