the one about a FUNNY gift

I was cleaning my closet a few weeks ago and found the funniest gift I have ever received! A few years ago, Janice got me this t-shirt for Christmas and I LOVE IT!!! I am madly in love with Patrick Dempsey and she was able to finally find the gift that proves his love for me as well!!

the "onesie" about one piece p.j.'s

I don't want my baby to grow up.

I saw these funny one piece P.J.'s on clearance for $3 the other day, and I just had to get them. I actually thought Quayd would throw a total fit about them, but to my surprise, he LOVES THEM! I was teasing him, though, telling him how I used to put him in one piece things all of the time when he was a baby. Then I BEGGED him to let me dress him. I know, I am a freak. It was so funny though!
(hey, Janice! Look at my TV! It is the opening credits for "Friends" on KJZZ! Funny, huh!)


Then Brett had to get in on the action and snuggle his baby! ;)

When I bought these jammies, Tara was with me and she bought a pair for Eli as a joke. Well he wanted nothing to do with them. Tara had left for a bit and when she came home Amelia had them on. So they came over so we could take a picture of them. Aren't they so cute??


Shae and Brett thought they were such dorks. They kind of were.

the one about Kentucky

Ok, so this is just funny. And yes, Janice. This is involves you! ;)

My friend Janice and her family moved to Kentucky last summer. She has been so bugged that they have closed school so many times because of snow. Being a Utah girl, she thinks that the little bit of snow is NOTHING compared to what she is used to. I realize that weather is much different there and one of their biggest problems is ice. So even though it just looks like a little skiff of snow, it is really thick, slick ice. They have ice storms and everything. Anyway, enough of that. If you want to read more, click on this link.

Anyway, today she sent me a text saying that they changed their Church schedule tomorrow from 9 until 1 and they are only having Sacrament meeting because they never plowed the parking lot and now it is pure ice. She was so annoyed by it. All three of us were in the car driving down the street when I got the text. I told Brett and we just started talking about how different the weather is, blah blah blah. It has been a huge topic of conversation lately because Janice keeps me updated on everything and the storms have been a big deal. Anyway, later this evening, Quayd was talking to Brett about the Kentucky storms. He said to his dad, "I guess it's kinda funny that they don't know how to deal with all of that snow in Kentucky. We are lucky because here in America we know exactly how to deal with it!" HaHaHaHa!!! I don't know where he thinks Kentucky is! He is so funny!

Check out this cool picture Janice took. It is a berry tree and all of the little berries are encased in ice, but it looks like glass. I think it is so beautiful. We love you Janice!! And we miss you! The Utah snow misses you too!!! Come back to America. ;)

the one about the New Year

Happy New Year!!!
I know, I know. I haven’t been very good about blogging lately. I don’t know what it is, but my life just hasn’t slowed down. I keep thinking that it will any day now, but it’s just not. Anyway, blogging is truly one of my favorite things in the world so I am trying so hard not to get too far behind in my blogging world.
I don’t really have any good reasons, but I am excited to start a new year. 2008 was a good year for us. I was so excited for 2008 to start, because 2007 was so rough. Mike passed away, Brett had his motorcycle accident and I lost my wedding ring. So 2008 came and now it is gone. I know this might seem weird, but I have always welcomed change. I love to experience new things and I don’t really freak out when big changes come my way. I look forward to the future and anxiously await new things. I am not really big on “resolutions,” so I don’t generally set them. Of course I have the standard ones… Lose weight, get healthy, be more organized, blah blah blah. But instead of worrying about what I will and will not do in 2009, I would like to reflect on 2008.
Here are just a few things that happened in our little world last year.
Quayd started indoor soccer, and later started AYSO soccer. He found a new love for this sport and really has no desire to try any others.
We got TONS of snow in 2008. It was the longest winter in the whole world!!
I joined the working world again. I hadn’t worked since before Quayd was born, so it was a huge lifestyle change for all of us. It has been good though. I substitute taught for awhile, worked in lunch lady land and now I am at the Holiday Inn Express. In fact, I remember mentioning a few months ago about a possible promotion. I got it by the way. I am the Front Office Manager. It has brought many new responsibilities, but I am loving it. Schedule is still good. I am home before Quayd gets off the bus.
We had major construction in our front yard this summer. They filled in our ditch and we got a sidewalk, grass and our own driveway.
I got a new bike!!!
Brett took and passed the EMT class. YEAH Brett!
I got my very first iPod. I have since upgraded from an iPod shuffle to and iPod touch.
I went to the Panic at the Disco concert in SLC.
Quayd rode his 4-Wheeler ALL SUMMER!!!!!
My friend Janice moved clear across the country to Kentucky. L
We took a weeklong vacation to Lagoon. We took our camp trailer and Brayden and had a blast!!
We all loved watching the 2008 Olympics.
Quayd started first grade.
My Great-Grandma Karren passed away.
Quayd turned 6!!!!
Brett and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary.
Brett spent 10 days in Washington DC.
I turned 30!
Ga got super sick and spent weeks in the hospital. It took quite a toll on all of us, especially her, but I am glad to say she is doing much better now.
Brett’s brother Brandon and his wife Brynn had a new baby, Brycen. And he is SO cute!!!!
Itty Bitty Kitty. Nuff said.
So that is kind of our year in a nut shell. We are excited to see what 2008 brings our way. Thank you for reading my blog. I promise that in 2009 I will try to be better about keeping everything current. But that is not a resolution!!!!

the one about... well... lots of stuff!

Why have I been such a slacker blogger lately? I feel like I just go and go and go and life is so busy and hectic, and sadly, some of the things I love the most get neglected. Blogging is one of the big ones. Also reading, scrapbooking and if you ask Brett, he thinks he is getting neglected lately. Sorry honey.

Anyway, I am pretty excited this evening because tomorrow I am going to SLC with Tara. We have to go to a training thing for work. It's pretty cool. We get paid to go, plus our room is paid for, food and mileage. Tara and I always have so much fun together, so I know the laughs will be abundant! When I was telling my mom about our big adventure, she said, "Oh no. That will be trouble." I was so confused. Trouble? Like did she think we were going to fight or something. I don't think Tara and I have ever had a fight of any kind. My mom was like, "Duh. Because you guys will have so much fun." Oh. I get it. I will give a full update when I get home. Anyway....

Our Thanksgiving was nice. My sweet little grandma was able to come home the day before so we were able to have dinner with her. She is still in pretty rough shape. She probably shouldn't have come home quite yet, but she was determined to be home for Thanksgiving. I had to work that evening so I missed dinner with Brett's family. Brett fixed me a plate and he and Quayd brought it to me at the hotel. Then we decided to spend the night there in a nice king suite. It was awesome. Quayd loved being right in between us in that huge bed. Brett and I always wish for a king sized bed but I know that Quayd would make himself right at home in the middle every night. And he is such a little snuggler it is hard to say no. Of course, I have many things to be thankful for. My husband, my beautiful son, my family, my home and great friends. Really though, this year, I was just thankful to have my grandma home.

In our town, the Friday after Thanksgiving is a huge celebration. It's called Holly Days. There are activities all day, a parade of lights in the evening, more activities and it all ends with a fireworks display. Every year, my brother makes a float for the parade. (Remember, my Grandma was supposed to be the Grand Marshal? She didn't get to do it, but they said they would ask her again.) Brandon turned his four-wheeler into Santa's sleigh. As he was constructing his float on Friday, Quayd decided that he wanted to be in the parade too. So he and Brett made a float for his four-wheeler. It was so cute. I was working so I didn't even really know what was going on with it, but when I got home I was so excited!! I wish Brett would have taken pictures of the construction, but we did get a few as we were getting it to main street. The floats were so big and awkward we couldn't load them in the truck, so they had to drive them. And of course, the other two wouldn't ride in the car with us, they had to go on the four-wheelers!



Here are a few pictures from the parade. Not very good pictures, but pictures, nonetheless.
Here are the boys riding the Christmas train thing after the parade. This is from the fireworks show. View from the car, of course. Burrrrr...
Ok, enough of that.

Saturday morning/afternoon, I got to hang with my old buddies Janice and Kandice. Janice was in town for the holiday and I was so excited to see her and hang with her. I have missed her a lot since she ran away to Kentucky. I have missed her beautiful little girls too and I was so excited to get to see them. And Morgan remembered me!!! The three of us went to the local craft fair, lunch at Don Pedros, shopping and to Lee nails for pedicures.
It was great fun. We also went to Arby's and had one of their new shakes. YUM-O!!! You oughta try one.

So....... if you know me at all, you know what a freak I am about Christmas decorating. I really like to have my tree up by Thanksgiving and I don't like anyone to help me. I really freak out about it, so I stayed up until 3:00 am the night before Thanksgiving so I could get it perfect. Speaking of my weird tree obsession, this is a funny story about me, but I don't want to type it... so if you are interested, go to Tara's blog to read all about it. Anyway, I love my tree. It is just how I wanted it and I am glad I was freaky and got it all done. Everyone knows not to touch it or try to move anything around. Just look, and enjoy. Itty Bitty is still learning this, so she has really been working me the last few days as she climbs up the middle and pulls out my sparkly red sticks!!! Errrrrrr...... Maybe the pound isn't sounding so bad after all.....I know I sound like a big ogre for not letting my family help, but seriously... Brett wouldn't help if I begged him too, and Quayd has his own tree in his room that he gets to do all by himself. So there. Here are a few pictures of my home decor. These are the baskets on either side of my "Proclamation to the World/Picture of Christ/The Living Christ" picture in my living room. I change them with every season.
Here is my favorite decoration in the world, my nativity set. I got it last year, and I was so excited to get it out again this year. It's hard to see in the picture, but I have lights behind it so it really makes it glow. It looks so awesome. This is another one of my favorite things. Jamie gave it to me a couple of years ago for Christmas and I just love it. It lights up. It is so cute. And of course.... my beautiful tree. Drumroll please............................ The picture doesn't do it much justice. Oh! And this is Quayd's calendar that he gets each year. (I still have a couple gifts to put on it.) Starting December 1st he gets a small gift a day. Usually school supplies, and dollar items. He loves it and I love doing it for him. I start buying stuff way early, looking for cheap, small items that will fit. I love it. He is always so grateful and looks forward to it all year. I am glad we are able to do that for him. See... having one child isn't all bad.

Well, I think that is all for this blog entry. Thanks for sticking it out. I know it was a long one. :)

the one about feeling blue, reversed

So, I have been a little blue lately. I have just been feeling all alone. I know.... sounds corny. But I can't help it. Several events have triggered my case of the blues. One of them being the fact that my friend Janice moved clear across the country. It affected me a lot more than I imagined. I knew I would be sad... don't get me wrong, but the emotions I felt really took me by surprise. I cried for days and everything. We ended up being on vacation on the day they left, and I am really glad about that. We sorta said goodbye the Monday before they left, but I planned on seeing her again before I left for vacation on Tuesday. Well, I just couldn't. One goodbye was hard enough. So when I was almost to Salt Lake, I called her and told her I was gone. Then I cried some more. These pictures were taken a few weeks before she moved at a BBQ we had at Kandice's. Another thing I was a little sad about was that the week I got back from vacation, I couldn't find anyone. Kandice was at a family reunion, Holly visiting her family, Tara was busy and worn out after their many trips right in a row and Brett was gone a lot. So I just kinda felt alone and left out. I wanted to see the movie Mamma Mia SO bad, but I didn't have anyone to go with. I had invited a few people, but for different reasons, it just didn't work out. I was so sad about it, so on Saturday afternoon, I went by myself. The show was SO good! I loved it. I mean REALLY LOVED IT! I want to go again. I think Holly and I are going to go when she gets back. Janice went and saw it alone in Kentucky around the same time I went so we text each other and called when it was over. It was cool! I actually didn't mind going alone. I didn't have to share the arm rest, I pigged out on my own popcorn (which was So good that day!), and I even crunched my ice when my diet coke was gone, and I didn't feel guilty about it. Even though I enjoyed going alone, it is still funnere to go with friends. Anyway, I started feeling better. (Don't worry about me, its really no big deal. I was just kinda down. I don't need sympathy or anything.) I started to feel like I am back to my old self. The emotions have tamed a bit and I am much better. My friend Chauntue called and invited me over on Saturday morning and I had a great time with her and Joey. Thanks girls! Sorry I had to take off early. (dang kids!) My mom took me to lunch yesterday to help cheer me up, and it was nice. We even went to my favorite place! Canton City. Well, anyway... Kandice got back last weekend and invited Quayd and I over today for swimming, slip and slide and lunch. We had a ball!!! When I say swimming and slip and slide, that means me and Kandice too! We were so dumb, but it was a blast. We lined up with the kids and patiently waited our turn. Little Hallie, though, was a bit of a line cutter! I had to call her out on it a few times. ;) Kandice filled the pool with water from her kitchen sink and it was so warm, so we totally sat in it. It was NICE! At one point, she noticed a black head on my back and I invited her to search for more. You all know how we LOVE picking! It was funny. We had a great time. It was a well needed break too. I am so grateful that she invited us over. I think she knew I needed something fun to do. What a great friend. Anyway, here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure... Thanks Quayd for the pictures! Good job, buddy! Oh yah! And Kandice got on the trampoline for awhile and check out her sweet back flip! Again, thanks to all of you who have worked on cheering me up. I have such great friends and family. I love you all!

the one about four wild and crazy girls

Oh my gosh, I have had the funnest couple of days!!! My friend Janice is moving next week, and I have been trying to get in as much time as I can with her. And boy, have we had fun!

When she moved here a few years ago, she was one of the first friends I had after having my baby. I was so sick for so long, and being a new mommy, I didn't have much of a social life. She was in the same ward as one of my other friends, Valeri. Valeri told me that this cute girl in her ward, Janice, was starting a BUNCO group, and would I like to join. I really needed some friends so I gladly accepted. Janice and I hit it right off. We became really good friends really quickly. She really helped me to open up and to just enjoy life. I know that sounds strange, but I was in a really dark place after all I had been through with my health. I was scared that whatever I did, I might die. I was really having some depression and weird issues at that time. (Awkward moment...I don't want you to think I am a freak, but I also want you to understand that I was really having a hard time.... Awkward.....) Anyway, Janice probably doesn't even realize it, but she really helped to pull me out of that stuff. She was so cute and fun, and I just couldn't believe that someone like her liked someone like me. It was awesome to have a friend that I really connected with. Ok, moving on. About a year later, I met Kandice. Kandice joined Bunco, and the three of us were great buddies. A little while later, Holly moved to Vernal and she was an instant friend to all of us. It is weird to say, but it was just like we had all known each other before. (And personally, I believe we did!) We were inseparable! There was never a struggle for attention from the other ones, no jealousy, and no back stabbing. Kandice, Holly and I don't have sisters, so we all decided that the four us us were adopted sisters and we were meant to be friends forever. Of course, things change, people change, we move on, our lives change, we find other friends, we have other things that occupy our time, we have babies, we struggle with depression and anxiety, among other things, and, well.... unfortunately, it just CHANGED! The four of us have still been awesome friends, don't get me wrong! But we just haven't been able to spend as much time together, as just the four of is. Do you get what I am saying?

Anyway, Kandice, Holly and I made a scrapbook highlighting our friendship to give to Janice as a "moving away" gift. We wanted to be able to give it to her with just the four of us. So we went to lunch on Wednesday then hung out for awhile after that. They had Bunco that night and someone cancelled at the last minute. I quit the group several months ago, so I went as a sub. We sat together, for awhile and just had a BLAST!

After Bunco, the four of us decided to go out for dessert. We just giggled and had the best time. We actually wondered if the "over-friendly" dessert chef slipped some kind of drug into our dessert because we just got SO SILLY! We drove around and laughed. We got out of Holly's van and laughed. We trespassed on private property and laughed. We peed outside and laughed, and I think the laughing caused is too pee some more! We even jumped on a trampoline and laughed. And I am pretty sure all of the jumping caused more pee! We went on a short hike in the moonlight, of course laughing more! Anyway, that is all I am going to say about our adventure, but Kandice said it well.... It was good clean fun! (wink, wink, right girls!)

During our hike, I fell climbing over the fence and my "FRIENDS" thought it was funny so they took pictures of my pain. I was COVERED in pokey things after falling into a sticker bush. I even had a sticker in my eye! Right in the tear duct. OUCH!








We had so much fun! We also spent part of yesterday together and it has just been a blast. I love these girls and I hope we can have more fun like this in the future. Janice, good luck with your new "adventure." Come and visit us! Holly and Kandice, thanks so much. You guys are the best!