Ready for Spring!

Yeah, I'm ready for spring for so many reasons. I'm ready for it to warm up a little (not a lot but 60's would be good). I'm ready to get back outside and exercise walking and running. I'm ready for the kids to be outside more instead of messing up the house when they're home. I'm ready to open my windows and smell and feel the fresh air come through the house. I'm ready to bring out my Capri's and short sleeve shirts! I'm ready to be a little tan (as tan as I can get). I'm ready for the flowers to blossom and to have color outside. I made some flower sugar cookies this week because I'm ready for the spring and it's the only way for me to feel a little bit of it for right now. A girl in my ward gave me a recipe for these (they are the softest sugar cookies EVER! No exaggeration! And they stay soft forever!). Yay for Spring!

Birthday Surprise

On January 19th (the day before my birthday) my Mom planned a surprise luncheon at Old Spaghetti Factory with all of my friends! What a surprise it was to walk in and see everyone sitting there trying to hide their faces with their menus. It was the greatest surprise ever! I had the best birthday I have had for a long time. It meant so much to me that all of my friends put me into their schedule, found someone for their kids, and make me feel special that day! I had no idea! I thought I was just going to lunch with my mom.....so it was a pleasant surprise to see everyone there. Thank you so much friends for that wonderful surprise and gifts! I appreciate it so much! Love you all!

On the 20th Greg took the day off and a friend took Karianne for the day (thanks Mandi) to spend the day with me. He spoiled me rotten. He took me to breakfast (we never go to breakfast), took me to get new blinds for the house (went from mini blinds to wooden), took me to Kohls to spend HIS Christmas gift card and even let me go over what was on there, then went to Target to get a few things! He fixed me dinner that night (Swiss Chicken......yummy recipe Mandi has), had my Mom and Greg's parents over for dinner and cake and icecream, and opened some wonderful gifts. I had finally decided to break down and upgrade my scriptures from the two books to the quad. They are beautiful scriptures.....I love them! Thank you sweetie for making this day the best EVER!

All in all this was the best birthday I've had for years thanks to my loved ones!

To my Mom on my birthday

Today is actually my birthday but years ago on my 18th birthday I had 18 roses sent to my mom at work. I'm sure she remembers this. I wanted to do that again for her today (in my blog-sorry it's not real) on my special day because without her, today wouldn't be my birthday. Words just can't express my mom. She is everything to me. She has always picked me up when I've fallen, she's kissed my owies, she's wiped away tears, she's laughed and played with me, she has been everything that a girl needs and wants. I cherish our relationship and wouldn't want it any other way! I have realized how challenging and rewarding it is to be a mother and I thank her today for always being there for me (good times and bad times)! I realize how a mother has unconditional love through her example! Thanks for being the wonderful mom you have been to me, Stacie , & Scott. So today I want to say thanks for giving me a wonderful day to remember! We have so many great memories!

I love you MOM!!

Cousins for life!

These girls are the very best of friends. We don't get to see each other as often as we would like to. Karianne was born in June and Maia & Carissa were born in March so they are only a few months apart from each other. Maia & Carissa were the first nieces to be born on my side of the family (they are my brother's cute girls) so they were the first cousins for my kids to have. It was about time! These cute girls were a miracle to our family. They are so cute and my kids have so much fun with them. When we visit each other Karianne insists she wear their clothes so that they can all wear the same thing. Or I have to buy the same outfits. We have had to switch some of their clothes already because one will like what the other has better. They love each other so much. I love my nieces so much and wish we could see them more often. ;-)

Twilight

E. Cullen baseball jersey I borrowed from a friend. Greg and I waiting anxiously for the movie.

So, we left at around 4:15 for Thanksgiving Point theater to see Twilight. We got there and had to wait to be let in for about 15 minutes. Greg's friend at work had privately rented one of the screens for her and her friends and ended up inviting people from work to purchase tickets. We got in and people ran to get their seats. We were on row 4 but someone ended up having seats for us the third row up in the top section. It was perfect! They had prizes for people that had dressed up. Let's just say I was over-dressed! Then they gave everyone a coupon for a massage place and the girl's sister had made an apple sugar cookie for everyone with a scripture that quoted, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" Genesis 2:17.

There was some screaming and hollering at the beginning but then everyone was quiet for the movie. It was nice. The girl had a rule that everyone be quiet during the movie or they'd be kicked out.

Here's our critique for the movie (hopefully I won't ruin it for those who haven't seen it):

Greg loved it......can't wait for the second movie to come out. I told him he should read the books with me so he doesn't have to wait. I thought he would think it was cheesy but he didn't.

I loved it too......although since I had just gotten through the book I saw a lot of stuff that was either left out, changed, or different. I guess no movie is exactly like the book. Maybe it's best not to have just finished the book the day of so you don't notice those things as much. All of the characters were well picked out for their part except Edward. He was definitely NOT cute enough to play the part. It was very good though. I'm glad I saw it! I can't wait to read the second book!! ;-)

READY!!

I am ready for the movie tonight at 5:30. I just finished the book about a half hour ago and now I'm ready to see the movie. I'm glad I just finished it, that way it's still fresh in my mind. I can't wait! I hope Greg is ready for it! I'm so excited!

Obsessed?......Naahhh!

Call me crazy! People are obsessed with Twilight right now (which I have to say I have tickets for it and have to read about 80 pages before Friday night) but I love David Cook (not more than Greg of course) but he has an awesome voice. He won American Idol last season and he is GOOOOOD! Yes, I do have to say I was in Target yesterday buying his CD the day it came out. I have waited for months for it to come out. So you can call me crazy if you want but I think you'll be hooked too once you listen to his music. My favorite is a song he sang during American Idol. My favorite opera I've seen is Phantom of the Opera. It's so good if you haven't ever seen it. He sings "Music of the Night" from the opera and did an amazing job. I have the song in my playlist. Take a minute or two to listen to it. As you can see most of the songs I have in my playlist are his. So call me obsessed I know!......Naahhh! ;-)

Isn't he cute too??? Shhhh.....don't tell Greg!

Hopefully soon-to-be nephews!

My sister and her husband have fostered these cute little boys for the past year that will hopefully soon be adopted by them. Bryan is 2 1/2 and Anthony is 1 1/2. They are very busy boys that have been such a blessing to be in our family. This past year they have changed so much by being in a loving home with parents that love them very much. Their physical and mental health has progressed so tremendously. As you can see, they are very happy boys. They always have a smile on their face. We have all fell in love with them from the very beginning. I love to show off my nieces and nephews. A picture of my adorable nieces will come soon. Kyle, Kayla, Kameron, and Karianne love their cousins so much. This picture is of my boys with them in California for a vacation. We hope and pray that these cute boys are able to stay in our family very soon!!

Christmas decorating already?

Yes, that is what I was doing today. Can you believe it? And I have actually enjoyed the music on already. You know, we only get to listen to it a couple months out of the year (although Karianne would love to all year round if I let her), so I thought I would enjoy it. My mom is going out of town next week for Thanksgiving and wont be back until right before Christmas so she wont be here to put up her Christmas stuff. So she asked me if I would come help her decorate her trees. We had fun playing Christmas music and decorating the trees. I'm already getting into the spirit! I love the spirit of Christmas. What an amazing time for me!

She has even done some of her baking already.....

I see fudge in the near future also.

Friend Halloween Party

Sorry I know I have lots of pictures. It was just a fun year to do parties so I have lots of pictures. We also got together with some of our friends this year the week before Halloween. We ate (of course), played games, and enjoyed each other's company. These people are going to kill me for putting these up. Watch out!

Family Halloween Party

This year Greg's side of the family got together the week before Halloween and ate, played games, and had a good time together. Here are some of the pictures.A couple of Greg's cousins

Greg's sister, husband, and son

Greg's brother and daughter

Greg's parents

Greg's niece and nephew

Kyle's Halloween party

Since Kyle seems to be too old for trick or treating and because Halloween was on a Friday this year we decided to have a party for Kyle. We thought it would be fun. They had a costume contest which included funniest (Jacob R. winner-McCain), most creative (Kyle winner-demented pirate), scariest (Keni winner-poor angel), played a trick or treat game where they had to do tricks (from walking like Frankenstein to dancing like a fairy princess and screaming outside "Happy Halloween") in order to get a treat, guessed how many pieces of candy were in a jar, played a candy corn game shooting into a bucket, and then they played an m&m game which they all got pretty sick of eating. They watched "I am Legend" and then played on the computer hanging out. I think they had a good time hanging out staying off the streets. Needless to say they were sick of candy.

Those that attended were Alec, Alex, Jacob R., Keni, Kieyera, and Kayla.

Here are some of the pictures from their Halloween night.

Kyle dancing like a fairy princess

Alec walking like Frankenstein Alec trying to scarf down m&m's
Kieyera trying to eat m&m's as fast as she can

Keni trying to be fast and so proper

Jacob just about gagging on so many m&m's

Halloween Parties Galore

We had a lot of fun attending lots of Halloween parties this year. It was fun to get together with family and friends. Here are some of our pictures.

Sweet little Karianne witch

Sargeant Major Kayla

Kyle & friends at his party

Kieyera, Keni, & Kayla at Kyle's party

New to the blog world

So this is a new thing my good friend introduced me to and finally got around to doing it! This should be fun.