Happy New Year 2011!

For the third year now Trent and I hosted New Year's for all our friends. It's a tradition that we look forward to all year long cause it usually gets pretty crazy with our group of friends! And recapping the next morning after the all friend sleepover is always fun too :)

This year to encourage lots of picture taking I set up a photo booth over our closet.

This was the prop table... lots of dollar store finds, New Year hats, GEHS king/queen crowns (thanks for saving those mom!), feather boas, and my favorite... the mustache-on-a-stick that I made specially for the photo booth. They were pretty sweet.

Even J-Fe was ready to party!!

The Gorneys were the first to make use of the photo booth!

Our turn with our fave girl.

The party getting started... usually starts with food in the kitchen...

... and then heads to the man cave (the garage) for all the games!

While the guys were in the garage playing beer pong us gals started our night with power hour of course. Here's the pre pic.

One hour later and here's the post-power hour pic!

The fur babies had to be in the photo booth too so they could show off their DD hoodies that Jeremy and Wendy made for them :)

Always have to take the traditional self timer group shot. I say it all the time but we have the BEST friends in the world. We really do :)

The silly shot

Cigars in the freezing cold

And now for your enjoyment just a few of the 176 photo booth pictures :)........

Adam, Shantel, Lindsey, Jamie, Joe

Prom King and Queen pose with Berg and Glezz

Mr. and Future Mrs. Erker! Can't wait for August!!!

The Carlson's... too bad you can't drink that my preggo friend ;)

College would've been a lot less fun without these boys ;) Oh the duplex party days...

The "Mexicans" haha. Notice the glasses on Jess' baby tummy.

Guy shot

The Bergs

Mustache BFF's

Action shot of the Ruscos

I have 14 of just Tyler by himself. Somebody likes the photo booth ;)

Tough man pose of Trent and Tyler

Jess, Searle, and pajama Caysie

Bina blowing NYE kisses...

Cays had the honor of being the last picture taken of the night... sums up NYE 2011 pretty well :)

Cheers to you for a healthy and happy new year from us :)

One Little Word 2011

I'm kinda an anti New Year's Resolution-er. I've just never been one to make a resolution- especially if it involved eating better or working out- like two of my least favorite things. You mean to tell me that a Snicker's going in your mouth as you click the TV remote isn't a workout?!? Then I'm out. Unless you count this blog which was my kinda-resolution from last year.

But in my monumental 25th year of life ;) I have changed my tune. One of my scrapbook bloggers (She's a big timer- she gets paid to scrapbook AND blog. I'm turning green with envy!) has what she calls the One Little Word Project. Basically, you pick one word to live by for the year. Check out the link to see for yourself. She explains it much better than me.

So my one little word for 2011 is... ACTIVE. I chose this word because: I need to be more active in my faith and in my church. I need to be a more active wife- things like cooking more meals for the big guy, doing outside projects with him, watching more of HIS shows (Trent watches all my shows with me- Bachelor, One Tree Hill, Jersey Shore, etc. But secretly he totally gets sucked in too.) I need to continue to be an active lifelong learner- in grad school, to be a better teacher, learning more crafty stuff and house stuff, etc. I need to continue to be active in my friendships- things like calling more often and doing more spur-of-the-moment stuff. And the one that I'm dreading the most is being physically active :( Trent and I have decided to start running so we can get in shape for our cruise this summer. So if you see some girl face down on the sidewalk in Gardner that is holding her side in pain, gasping for air, and is possibly crying... that's probably me. I hate 3 things in life: winter, waking up early, and running. Yuck.


Trent's word is... INVENTIVE. In his words... he wants to be inventive in the garage building stuff for us and our house. He wants to be financially inventive to help us save more money for the fun stuff. As well as being inventive by using resources that we already have.

After spreading the word to friends and family I talked several others into picking their own One Little Word for 2011. One of these friends is one of my best friends, Caysie. Her word for 2011 is... RISE. This word was perfect for her because it applies to having a fresh start and never settling. I really admire Cays for her strength and perseverance. She keeps busy being a wonderful single mommy to an adorable little boy... all the while she is finishing her degree, working 2 jobs, and still being an awesome friend. I know you will definitely rise in 2011 Cays :)

And still to come... the post of our New Year's Party. But after taking 190 pictures... I have some major choosing to do!

Happy New Years!

Looking back... in alot of ways 2010 was a trying but awesome year! We got to welcome LOTS of new little ones to our family and our friends. But Ashley, Jeryn, and Henry all fought for their lives in 2010 and we are so thankful to have them all here with us, healthy and happy to ring in 2011.

My community and my schools have also faced losses this year but it showed me how lucky I am to have grown up in this wonderful place we call G-town.

I started grad school this year which sucks but I know that I'll be thankful for my masters degree next December when it's all said and done. Already I've been learning new things to integrate into my own classroom.

I learned a lot this year and grew up in a lot of ways too. 25 really is the time-to-grow-up age ;) 2010... thanks for everything but adios! Time to bring on 2011!!! Things we're looking forward to this year: more new babies for lots of friends, the Olivier family cruise in June, more weddings of course!, and Kala graduating from grad school. Can't wait for what 2011 has in store!

Tonight will be alot of this :) Power hour, beer pong, flippy cup tournaments, and friends. We can't wait!!!!!

Happy New Year~ Kala & Trent

Christmas Rundown...

Here's a quick recap of our Christmas...

Trent's light & music display he worked so hard on :)

The tree...

My Willow Tree Nativity Set. I love setting it up every year and slowly adding pieces to my collection each year!

The mantel with my NEW card display Trent made me! He made me the frame with his new tools he got from his birthday back in June, then we attached wire and used mini clothespins to hang the cards. I LOVE getting holiday cards... especially the picture ones!

I need suggestions on the frame though. Trent likes the "rustic" look of the cedar boards. I however am not so sure... our house isn't really the rustic-y type. Should I paint, stain, leave how it is, etc for next year? I need some ideas!!

The centerpiece for the table...

Ashley came up with the awesome idea a few years back of giving us ladies in the family a set of Christmas china each year so that eventually we'll have all sorts of various Christmas sets to set a table with. I thought it was the coolest idea and love that someday our kids will get to pick the set they want to use each year from all of them I'll have gotten over the years! This was my set from last year.

My dish set from 2008... my first Christmas as an Olivier!

The Oliviers on Christmas Eve before heading to church

We always spend Christmas Eve here in Gardner with my family. Sadly, I forgot my camera on the charging dock so I only took two pictures with my camera phone at the McMillan family Christmas. I was so disappointed with myself! My mom always decorates her dining room so pretty for our family dinners!

I loved the little pears hanging off her glittery branches.

Christmas morning is spent at our house with these two cuties... I'll spare you the pics of Trent and I on Christmas morning. I'm especially attractive in the mornings.

On Christmas morning we make a breakfast and use my fancy Christmas china... then we make the drive to get to Great Bend a little after lunchtime.

The fur babies are already worn out from waking up so early for Santa haha.

Starting Christmas in Great Bend...

Somebody already needing a nap haha

Bentley really liked Jeryn's new chair

Jordan and Joshua opening presents

Jeryn's rocking horse from Abuelo Bob and Abuela Lora.

Everyone admiring Bob's handiwork... it was incredible!

Bob with his picture frame that Trent built for him to hang on his "Wall of Fame" in his shop.

Lora with her picture frame that Bob built her

I think Jeryn liked the packages more than the presents this year!

Santa's little helper

Jeryn and her toy we got her- it starts as a walker to help her learn how to walk and then it also converts into a rider toy.

J-Fe chillaxin' in her new chair from Santa :)

Jeryn's Santa Claus beard during bathtime

Haha... little Country Mouth Junior. I have now passed that nickname on to this loudmouth!

This is the outfit we got her for Christmas... how stinking cute is she?!? I can't wait to have a girl someday to dress up!!!! You're doomed Trenton ;)

Annnnddd... that's a wrap! We had a wonderful holiday season with both sides of our families. Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas as well!!!