Oh, How I "heart" Christmas Break

This is what I look forward to from the moment my Kindergarteners walk through that door! Christmas Break!!! (not that I don't love my little kindergarteners, this break is just always sooooo needed!) It's been nice to be a lazy bum. Waking up to my daughters singing at 8:00 in the morning, lounging in p.j.'s till 12:00 in the afternoon, reading good books, hanging out with lots of family, and spending mucho amounts of time with my sweet baby girl and her wonderful daddy! I love, love, love Christmas Break. It's going to be devastatingly hard to get back to work next Monday. But I do have Mexico to look forward to in only a week and a half. Oh, life is good.

Family Foto Fun

We had the grand idea of going to visit Santa tonight...(even though I was pretty sure Savy would scream/cry/whimper when placed on the lap of a strange bearded man)...so we traveled up to the mall, grabbed a bite to eat, and hit the Santa line at 7:15. But wait!! We were too late!!! Santa's still there, taking pictures, until 8:00, but we were too late!!! I guess Santa has a strict policy of getting out right at 8:00, not 8:05 or 8:07, so we weren't allowed to sneak into line for a pic with the jolly, red man. Savy didn't care, but I was slightly peeved. And then I found out you can't take your own pictures and you have to pay 20 bucks to get a picture from Kiddie Kandids. And I wasn't mad at Santa. Just mad at Kiddie Kandids and everyone wanting a piece of everyone else's money. So if anyone knows of a Santa my fam and I could visit for FREE, where I can snap my own picture (cause they'll turn out much better than any Kandid place), let me know!!!

And on to better, happier news....and actual photos.

Our good friend, Toni, took some wonderful family pictures of us. It was a freezing cold morning, and Savy was only good for the first little bit, but the pictures turned out great. And how could they not, with a little girl as beautiful as Savy and photographer as talented as Toni? Together, they make anything look good! Thanks, Toni, for the fantabulous fotos!!

And the best are yet to come...via Christmas/New Year's Cards. If you want one, send me your address!!

5 Day Weekends are the BEST!!

Wow...it's December already! I can't even believe it. I've got my Christmas tree up, presents under the tree, but it doesn't feel like Christmas because there's no snow on the ground. Oh, well, I'm sure I'll be sick of the snow within a few days of it hitting the ground. But it sure does bring something "magical" to the season.

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend. I impressed myself with the tasty pies I made and the sewing projects I put together. (I can barely sew a straight line, but I somehow managed to make some baby blankies, curtains, and a baby doll blanket.) Savy got her first haircut, we hung out with both families all weekend long, ate four turkey dinners, relaxed at the cabin, saw some good movies, played some sweet games, and shopped some great deals. It was incredibly hard to go back to life, work, and reality on Monday, but lucky for me, I got to spend that evening with some amazingly zany girls who I love to pieces! We've had a wonderful few days, and I'm so grateful for the extra time I got to spend with my hubby and my little girl. Those two make life an exciting adventure. Here's a few pics from our fabulous weekend:

Even with the pink car, tinkerbell movie, and sucker, she still cried throughout most of the haircut.

My cute hubbie playing ring around the rosies with Savy and her cousins.

And finally...the people who bring smiles to my face: Sam, Savy, and my hilarious self!!

"oh, let the rain fall down.
and wash this world away.
oh, let the sky be gray.
cause if it's ever gonna get any better,
it's gotta get worse for a day."

-bishop allen



thanks for letting us rock out to your sweet music.

Dinner with Savana

A 30 minute episode.  Hardly any food was eaten.  Many words were spoken.  Savy looked at me with her intense eyes and asked me question after question, each one ending in "beep," "plane," "daddy,"and "hot." I have no idea what was said, I could just tell by the look in her eyes she was contemplating the many mysteries in life.  I love that girl.

Something unexpected happened this last weekend, and it's brought about some serious reflective thinking on my part.  And it's made me realize how little control I really have on my life.  I have hopes, dreams, plans, goals, and expectations set up, but one little thing can come along and disrupt my previous plans and set me on a new path.  And this new path isn't necessarily bad, it's just unplanned and unexpected.  But it takes a lot of faith to continue on the new path.  I'm not one to take a lot of risk, and I'm not one to patiently wait for things to happen.  When I want something to happen, I want it to happen now, and I don't want a lot of "sacrifice" needed to get it.  But there are important lessons learned about patience and sacrifice that we can only learn through our experiences.  I don't believe anything that happens is a coincidence.  There is a reason why things happen, why we meet certain people, why we have to wait for something longer than others, and why our sense of security is sometimes shaken up.  And I'm just interested in finding out what it is I'm supposed to learn from this, where this new unexpected turn of events is going to take me, and if I can rise up to the challenge and grow into the person my Father in Heaven is intending for me to become through these experiences.  

All Hallow's Eve

I think Halloween should always be on a Friday. School teachers everywhere will agree with me...there is nothing worse than trying to teach anything to a class hyped up on sugar and lack of sleep. Is there some way we can vote to have Halloween on the last Friday of October? Maybe on next election year's ballot I'll have to petition to have an amendment to the national holidays' constitution.

Halloween rocked this year. We had a crazy fun parade and party at school, followed by more parades at my mom's school, trick-or-treating around AF main street, monster pizza and sugar cookies at my parents house, and more trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. It was a different experience trick-or-treating this year as opposed to when I was a little girl. First, no coat was needed...I walked around in a short sleeve shirt!! And secondly, there were hardly any kids. I think the trunk-or-treats are slowly fading away trick-or-treaters. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Maybe that's something else I'll have to add to my petition. Anywho, here's some pics from that great day.

Our wonderful pumpkin creations. The Maxfield's invited us up and we turned on our creative thinking skills to create these. I think they're pretty sweet pumpkins.

Brynn is obsessed with Halloween and any chance to dress up scary/zombie-like. She's supposed to be a scary doll. Her teddy bear is the creepiest part (it has three eyes and two heads).

I think mom pulled off the best Raggedy Ann doll I've seen...ever!!!

Cowgirls and villains.

Mal even got to dress up Jack...He's "Jack"ula. And, she made her own costume...pretty talented!

The Bezzant clan. Sexy kitten and brave ninjas and one cute baby.

The sugar-crazy, adorable, hyper grandkids.

And this is Taryn, Savy's new best friend. Taryn is from Norway, and Savana has taken a special liking to Taryn. She'll pass up mom, dad, bompa, grandma, and all her aunts just to get to Taryn!!

And this is Savy's second love...candy. "Cany" and "cookie" were her two favorite words.

Happy Halloween!!!

Random Photos

So this is a combination post between Sammy and I. He posted the pictures and the captions, and I get to explain it all. Life has been incredibly hectic these past few weeks, but insanely fun. Sam and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary and decided to celebrate the best way parents can...dropping the sweet kid off at grandparent's for the night and spending a night alone at our very own humble abode. Our night was filled with soda, sweets, movies, sleep, and all the other stuff couples do on their anniversary (wink, wink). The best part of it all was sleeping in until 9:30 (although it doesn't beat waking up to our daughter's sweet babbles)!!

A couple of cute kids playing with the animals at Hee-Haws in Pleasant Grove.

Shanda and I also whisked our kids away to the local Hogle Zoo for some animal fun in the unusually warm October weather.

A stud and his new cape given to him on his birthday.

Sammy celebrated his b-day, and my fam blessed him with his very own BYU flag/cape. Now he can sport his true colors from our balcony. However, two weekends ago he was suffering from a serious case of Cougar let-down and was secretly trying to hide his colors.

What a good looking family. Wow!

Olive Garden just opened in our neck of the woods, and we waited one and a half hours to enjoy a birthday dinner with my fam where we ended up sitting at different tables because there was no room for our large group.

She's as cheesy as her old man.

This is the way she greets cameras, video cameras, and cell-phones.

What did I tell you? Good looking indeed! On the left is Nate Reuss, the lead singer of our favorite band — The Format. On the right is frontman for the band AIDS, uh, I mean Queen - Freddie Mercury.

And this, this is the highlight of our week. Our first annual ROKTOBERFEST was a huge success! We partied hard, Mormon style: endless bottles of root beer, candy craps, fake cigarettes that really blew out smoke if you blew out, and rocking out on Rockband till the wee hours of the night. Wow, what a great time!

The cigarette isn't real... but the rock was oh so real.

And yes, this is how disgusting my hubbie looked that night. I couldn't help but laugh everytime I laid my eyes on him.

just one more...

My beautiful, little grown-up girl.





She loves her wagon, the slide, outside, her binkie and blankie (they come as a combo), milk, smarties, my friends at work who let her bother them in the office all day long (they provide her with the smarties), reading books to herself, singing, dancing, jumping on the bed, playing peek-a-boo, running away from her daddy who's incessantly chasing her, her cousins, puppies, trucks, busses, trees, and saying the word "hot"! These are just a few of her favorite things. She certainly has my heart wrapped around her little finger!!

Rockin Cabin

This last week Sammy and I and Savy got away with one of our favorite couple in this universe...my bestest girlo Sheesh and her hubby Adam. We ran away to the cabin for the weekend and had a grand old time doing absolutely nothing. We pretended to listen to conferences (don't we get points for having it on), rocked our hearts out for a good couple of hours (they were even lucky enough to hear my beautiful singing voice), and played some wild card games (almost three hour marathon of nerts where I kicked sheesha's boo-tay)! I truly love these two crazy people and loved being able to hangout with them for an extended period of time. When we got home, Sammy made the comment at how "myself" I am around Sheesh and Adam. I'm even more myself around them then I am around my husband most of the time. I guess that's what happens when you know someone for 14 years of your life. You don't have to hold anything back from them....they already know everything there is to know about you. Thanks Healey's for a great weekend!!!

Sam's Shout Out

Yesterday was my hubby's b-day. He turned a whopping 28 years old. Sammy, I hope you had a rocking awesome birthday yesterday, because you certainly deserve it. A lot of people say they have the best husband, and we're lucky to be able to say that, but in all reality, I have the best of the best!!! Thanks for working so hard to be a wonderful father and husband (and wife) for our little family. You certainly make our lives exciting and full of giggles. Me and Savy love you mucho amounts! Have a wonderful 28th year of your life!!!!

Midnight Sun

I've spent the last few days reading Midnight Sun online, and was extremely shocked when it came to an abrupt ending last night.  Yes, I knew it wasn't finished and I knew it probably would never be finished, but I was still shocked to be at the end of it so soon.  Just like any good book, I was sad when I came the end of it and could no longer live in the mind of Edward.

A few thoughts the book provoked: I need to think kindly about others and about myself.  I'm fairly certain there are no mind readers out there, but I would be ashamed if anyone were to hear some of the things I'm thinking of (thanks Brynn for your post about that).

And 2, Bella is a much better character than I gave her credit for.  To be honest, I never much cared for her character in the other 3 books, but Edward's perspective helps to see who she really is.

Just to note, I'm not obsessed with the Twilight Series (like so many fanatics around me), but I do enjoy a good read, which is exactly what they provided me with!

My Treasure

Motherhood is a treasure.  I was reminded of that this last week when I was talking with a friend.  And almost any mother can attest to the treasures found within motherhood.  Motherhood has brought out more Christ-like characteristics in me than anything else I've encountered.  Patience, service, sacrifice, patience, self-less love, kindness, more patience...and that's just the beginning.  I love the change that's come over me as I've grown into the role of a mother, and I've loved watching this same change take place in my girlfriends and sisters and sister-in-laws who have also become mothers...motherhood rocks!!!

second-hand store addiction

I'm heading a little bit towards an addiction to this store. I walked in there today, and...voila...the playpen of my dreams is standing right in front of me! And it was for sale! And for a fraction of the price I've seen anywhere else! Yes, most everything that comes from there has been used before, but I have found the cutest things for the best price. So any moms or moms-to-be out there, hit this store before heading anywhere else. It's the best store around! Love it, love it, love it!!

(and now that it's even closer to me, i can feed my addiction more frequently)

Frockly T-Shirt Giveaway

I'm posting a little advert to give a little pub to a good friend of mine. He's started a t-shirt store online that, for now, caters to the awesomeness that is BYU football. There's also a little giveaway that I'll provide a link to:

Frockly T-Shirt Giveaway: "I want to win Frockly's t-shirt giveaway"

To Ute fans: I wouldn't expect you to understand how to navigate to the page or use the shopping cart through your meth/whiskey induced haze, so please disregard this post.

Blowed Up Hair

Savy woke up from her nap one day and her hair was "all blowed up!" (a phrase used most frequently by gma and gpa stroman). I think she looks super sexy!

Cougar Inspiration

Cougar football season has begun.  If you know my husband at all, you know he's a loyal cougar football fan (eventhough he never attended BYU).  Being married to him for five years, I have also become quite the fan.  Saturday was our first opportunity this year to see them play, and we were not disappointed.  It was a good game, but not good enough for me to blog about.  What is blogworthy was the fireside we attended the night before.  Sammy and I are both youth leaders in our ward, and our youth was invited to a fireside put on by the BYU football team and coach.  It was great.  The spirit those young men carry with them is incredible, and I count myself blessed to hear some of them share their testimonies.  These are the few pointers that stuck in my head...

Be an example.  Examples of people around us aren't the main influence in our lives, it's the ONLY influence.  Lift those around you up.  Build and strengthen one another.  Be a worthy example of who you truly are...a son and daughter of God.

Study and apply the scriptures to our lives.  I'm sure God inspired James to write the famous scripture that lead Joseph Smith to ask our Father in Heaven which church he should belong to.  There's a scripture written out their specifically for me. Treasure the scriptures, study them as often as possible, believe in them, and apply them to our lives.

It is a privilege to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Stand up for what is right, put forth some effort in doing what is right, and be proud to be a member of this great and marvelous work.

Quest for perfection.  Strive to be perfect even as the Savior is.  Be honest with yourself and do your best.  We don't have to be perfect, but we do have to do our best.  Have a talk with yourself and see if you're sincerely doing your best.  Do your absolute best in one thing, then try to do your absolute best in another area.  Quest for perfection.

These were just a few snippets of the great stuff that was shared that night.  My spirit was touched by what was said, and I have been inspired to do better, no, to do my honest, sincere, best at what I do.  

Bring It On

Kindergarten begins on Monday...and I am totally ready for it!  I've had all summer to prepare, and a week longer than all the other teachers at my school (because kindergarten starts a week later), and last night I was panicking because I wasn't prepared.  My sister was gracious enough to take my daughter for the morning, and without my little helper*, I got soo much more accomplished and walked away from my classroom with a grin on my face and excitement in my tummy for the first day!  I can't wait!  We've got a cute bunch of Kindergarteners, and I got to keep my large and spacious room, so I am super stoked for the year to begin.  After three years, and three different classroom, I feel the best about this year!  Bring it on, you snot-nosed, creative, silly, and adorable five year-olds!

*little helper: in 20 minutes, she manages to take the letter D off my wall because is has a picture of a "puppy" on it, dump out my container of magnetic letters, spread post-it notes all over the floor, visit a 4th grade classroom and a 6th grade classroom, convince our secretary to give her smarties, drag books off the shelf, and have a poopy diaper.  It was much easier when she just sat!!!

Phoenix...Hot, Hot, Hot!

Two weekends ago, Sammy and I packed up with Savy and headed down to hot Arizona.  Sam had work to do on Monday, so we decided to make it a long weekend and get a last minute vacation in before school starts for me.  Many people thought we were crazy to visit Phoenix in August...and we were.  It was fairly hot...like 106 degrees.  The first day down, we walked around ASU campus, and about died!  While walking around, I took the stroller in many crazy paths trying to jump from one shady spot on the sidewalk to the next.  We spent most of the weekend by the pool at our resort, but we did make it out to a Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game and dinner with one of Sam's buddies and his girl.  

Savana did great on the plane ride.  There were a lot of empty seats, so she got to sit in a chair all by herself most of the time.  Sam was gracious enough to entertain her on the flight down so I could read my book.  However, I was on my own on the flight home.  Sam stayed behind for work, so it was was just me, Savy, a whole row to ourselves, and a bag full of tricks and treats!

The Diamondbacks play in an indoor field where the roof can retract when needed.  The Braves stomped all over the Diamondbacks, but it was exciting to eat hot dogs we payed way too much for and cheer for the home team!  And after the game, they shot off fireworks for us!

The rest of the time was spent at our pool.  The resort came with a little water park with a lazy river, kiddie pool, and a couple other pools.  Savana loved the water and playing with her daddy, but most of all, she liked walking up and down the stairs.  They were the perfect height for her to maneuver around on.  All in all, it was a great, much-needed getaway with my sweet little family!

Strawberry Reservoir

I know, I know...it's been ages since I've had a chance to post. You're going through Sambervana withdrawals. Quick update...I got to keep my big classroom AND we got another full-time Kindergarten teacher...Baby Eli was joined the Bezzant family and it the cutest, smallest, sweetest looking thing I've seen in over a year...I've been a complete and total slacker in the workout department after my two weeks of going strong (but tomorrow's the day to fix that)...I think Joshua's big booty is mesmerizing to watch and I can't wait to see him shake it later on this week (if you don't know who Joshua is...tune in Wednesday night, 8:00, channel 13...you'll be glad to meet him)...and Sammy and I get to go on a little family vacation with Savy to Phoenix on Friday. Yipee.

And, since a post isn't complete without some pictures, here's som beautiful photos from my family camping trip to Strawberry Reservoir. Sorry, no pictures of me...my eye was swollen and too hideous to have pictures of. But enjoy the ones we've got...


My two beautiful younger sisters. Mallory likes double-decker chocolate things and Brynnie is (almost) a better swimmer than Jack.

And meet my daughter...she's not afraid of the water one bit! I tried to confine her to a little pool so I wouldn't have to chase her around in the lake, but she was only satisfied with that for a few minutes. And then she was out running toward the shore.


She also enjoyed the pool back at camp. She even climbed in it fully clothed once. Water is a magnet for Savana. She MUST jump in a splash around...even if it's only a half-an-inch deep!


Mallory also enjoys dressing other people up so she's not be the wierdest looking thing around.


This is Noah, Savy's caretaker. The first thing out of his mouth every morning as he walked from his tent to the campfire was "Can I take care of Savana today?" And he did a great job of doing just that!


Sam spent the majority of his time at the lake building a castle. It's great to have my heart taken by a 12 -year old kid in a 27 year old body!


Sammy's castle was tough, but not tough enough for the fierce tidal waves at Strawberry. His creation partially crumbled after only a few hours.


And my cute sisters trying to catch a fish. We were unlucky, once again, but we did catch quite a few crawfish. The little boys were fascinated with them, and loved shoving the crawfish in your face in an attempt to hear your screams.


Other highlights: watching Celeste cast her whole fishing reel into the lake with her first cast...and then watching her inch out in the freezing cold water to retrieve it, enjoying the peaceful outdoors (except between the hours of 8-11 PM when our neighbors listened to classic rock a little too loud), delicious tinfoil dinners made by yours truly, sweating all day and then freezing all night, playing games around the campfire, watching the Bezzant boys and Bailey boys nearly kill themselves taking their trikes down a steep dirt hill, and making memories with the family. Thanks for the great trip, everyone!