Am I A Bad Mom.....?

For being so happy that he made this at school?

Cooked, Ate, and Cleaned UP!!!!

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone, and for anyone who has talked to me knew I was cooking for my in laws, and had a lot to live up to! It has been very stressful around here... But now it is over and hopefully everyone thought my turkey was decient.

Can you see the sigh of relief in me that I have finally served up! I was so stressed out that I didn't even think to take a picture of my first Thanksgiving Turkey I cooked!

And here is the fam... Do you think they look satisfied? I Hope so!

After dinner we usually wait a couple hours then get out the pie buffet! I had gone to my grandma's and learned to make her pie crust, and again didn't think to take pictures of my Peacan Pie or Apple Cranberry. If you look close you can see them. I have to say they turned out really good! Thanks Grandma!

I have to say at the end of it, I think it turned out nice and I think people enjoyed themselves..... But I think next year I will let someone else have all the fun!

Fall Happenings...

It is my turn to post my FALL pics, and what has been going on here at our house.

Every year we have a tradition to take a fall drive up some canyon and take pictures. This year we did the Alpine Loop, but we took a detour that we don't normally do, and found this beautiful meadow, and a great spot to take pictures...

I thought this was such a cool place, one of the best we have found...

I wish I was a better photographer, and had a digital camera... I didn't do it justice!

It is also Lance's birthday, and I think that is why he loves the fall, it seems you love the time of year you were born... Happy Birthday!

And finally Halloween... We were Star Wars this year ( due to Kenton's request) I think it will be the last year we match, because I think McKelle will have a say in it next year... ( Sleeping Beauty?!)


Don't we look HOT! Who posed us, Darth needed to come up a bit!


The kids got a kick out of Darth

Vader, they all wanted to fight him, it was like being in the movie! ( We have some real Star Wars fanatics in our family)

And then there was my sister.... I ordered my costumes in September, and then suddenly we were all going to be princess Leia and Queen Amidala, - Family, you got to love em right!

So that has been the last 2 months of our lives in photo's! Now we are on the Holidays, and I can't wait!

Family Wards - Something to Cherish

I had a dear friend of mine pass away this week. I attended her funeral today and I saw so many people from my family ward I grew up in.

I feel that in these times, people don't stay in one place too long. Which is fine, but the feeling I got today, seeing so many people from my childhood was overwhelming. Friend's parents, old bishops, old neighbors, who for almost 15 years, were such apart of my life, made me realize the comfort of what a long term family ward does.

It has probably been 10 years since people started moving out of the ward, but at the death of Brooke, they all were there, just like we were still all neighbors again.

To see all of the then "adults" to me, that now I have become, who I trusted, respected, were my leaders, made me think of my kid's future experience. How great it would be for me, to know and have such great relationships with so many people around me for years on years. To know the people who my kids would grow up with and play at, be lead by, would be a blessing an I believe nowadays is a lost reality.

Anyway, I was really struck hard by loosing Brooke, and by the emotional responses that came from her funeral. I hope we all live each day with charity, unjudgmentalness, and support to all those around us.

Snow Is Falling All Around

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Even though it snowed 1 time in October, it really feels like it is the first snow of the season today!

And my kids couldn't wait to go play in it!
















I love playing in the snow, I can't wait to go sledding this year !

My Sweet Little Girl

The other day we were getting ready to go and McKelle wouldn't come down the stairs. I yelled up to her and she said, "Wait, wait," then she comes running down the stairs with a purse, sunglasses, her phone, and a doll! She was so dang cute! I have no idea where she got her list of car items from! ;)

She is a joy to have, and moments like that make it worth the drama little girls bring!

I Don't Even Know The Title of the Tag!

So thanks Windy, I was tagged to the list of I's, so here is more info about me, than you probably want to know ;)

I am: a mom, wife, singer, stress case, and CLEANER!(not by choice)
I want: So many things, but don't really NEED most of them!
I have: 2 Beautiful Children, that make me laugh smile, and feel love everyday!
I dislike: Messy house, (so why does mine somehow always seem to get messy) Bad Music, winy children, when my shows get cut off by the DVR right at the very end
When a project I work on doesn't go they way I want...
I miss: Europe, and want to go back!
I fear: Loosing the ones I love, having my children hurt, or in trouble!
I feel: Grateful for my health, temple blessings, and children that ground me everyday!
I hear: Music in my head, all day, every day. When I watch shows, I always pay attention to the music in the background...
I smell: Fall in the air, and hope to smell a clean house scent!
I crave: Dr. Pepper, though I am trying to kick it, and FOOD!
I cry: I'm a weeper, I get emotional over commercials!
I usually: Make lists and To DO's all the time, and love to check them off
I search: Google for everything!!
I wonder: What the future brings, and how to do the right things at the right times..
I regret: Well, there is some major things in my life that I regret, but then I also learned from them, so it is a catch 22
I love: My family, feeling beautiful for my hubby, June 1st, gardening, singing, taking bubble baths, getting massages, oh I could go on and on.....
I care: About too much, I think I need to let things go sometimes...
I always: Hard, I am not an always type of person, I don't do things in Absolutes
I worry: About my weight - Ok it is out there, but I can't help it, it bothers me
I am not: Perfect, a bed time scheduler, a dieter, or a half a** doer, I like things done right
I remember: How silly High School was and all the things I look back and roll my eyes at in a can't beleive it kind of way..
I believe: That Prayer is powerful, and is the best way to draw close to our Heavenly Father
I dance: In the mornings, while I wait for calls to come in... it is how I work out ;)
I sing: ALL THE TIME, but after 2 throat surgeries, I have lost some of my talent, and it is very hard and furstrating...
I don't always: Take my nail polish off when it looks atroshious
I argue: Probably too much, need to take a chill pill sometimes
I write: Used to in a Journal faithfully
I win: I never win! I am not lucky
I lose: Money to Brand Name Items
I wish: Money didn't exsist, and we lived in Harmony
I listen: To all kinds of music, almost every genre, except heavy metal, but I do like, Pour Some Sugar on Me, and hard core Rap UGH
I don't understand: So many things
I need: Affection to make my happy
I forget: Every one's name, I have the hardest time lately with names
I am happy:When things are in order and my family is happy!

So there you have it! Me In A Nut Shell ;)

And I tag Heather, Marci, and Liesl- Have fun!

Kenton's Kampout!!

Well so this happened in AUGUST!! But when your own pics are on film, you can't post anything...

But then Heather sent me these pictures and Kenton got a kick out of them. So I decided to put them on....

We were watching the Disney Channel and Mickey Mouse had a campout. I said to Kenton, you should have a campout with your friends....., oops! Because then I was stuck....

It turned out really cute, except for my own children's behavior. Kenton cut his foot on a stake, running around the tentand it was a tragedy! And McKelle kept fighting to sleep in another little girl's Disney Princess Bag, and lay on her pillow. ( Can we say Christmas anyone;) )

So I was a nursing referree all night. I hope the other mom's had fun in spite of the hecktiness.

I made a peach cobbler for the mom's and the kids roasted marshmallows. They all loved the fire pit, and Kenton still talks about it.... Though we didn't actually "camp out" we went into our beds around 10:30, and I wasn't really sad about it ;)

Oh well maybe next year... if I am motivated!

Bedder Things Happen

Well as some of you know, I was planning on taking Lance to LAS VEGAS for the weekend for his birthday.... Well after looking at the weather ( it rained all weekend there too) and after discussing other options.... We decided to stay home, but still let Grandma take the kids for the night.

Lance got what he really wanted, time with me to go look at fixtures, faucets, ect... all the goods for the basement, and my loving hubby told me I could take the money I had for the trip and buy me a bedspread! ( For his birthday ;)



So I was very excited, dinner, movie, and shopping without my kids .... and after 2 years of queen size blankets on a king mattress, FINALLY, an actual bed setting!

We gave up our Ethan Allen queen size poster bed, for a king size mattress on frames.... ;( But with kids in your bed that queen was TOO Scrunchy! and a good night sleep was worth the wait.

It was very hard to pick something out because I have a husband who really cares about the decorating too, it is even harder to find something we both agree on. And I had painted my wall to match the old comforter set. So I wanted something simple that I could still feel like my kids could get on ( not like my old), and we ended up putting it together alacarte, because we couldn't find anything that we both liked that was pre assembled and coordinated...

Now I just need a King Size Bed to put it on... hmmm maybe Lance's next birthday! ;)

IT IS HERE!!! The Big Night

Did I mention that I fell in love with Grey's Anotomy in the 2nd season? I randomly watched the Bomb episode, and was completely hooked! - I had a Grey's marathon over the summer and watched the whole series again to get me ready for seems to be a great new season! SO nobody call me tonight, because I will be stationed at my TV, 45 minutes behind live tv, using my DVR to get through all the commercials, pining over my favorite TV show!

A "Quirky" Tag

So Thanks Niki, this should be fun....

This tag your suppose to list 6 quirks about yourself and then tag 6 more people on their site.

Well I don't know about you all, but I am pretty normal. This is going to be a challenge to come up with any ;)

So after digging long and hard, here is what I came up with:

Quirk 1: I shop name brand against my will. I try to buy the western family, no name brand, Smiths brand, kroger, ect, and I just can't do it. I pick it up and will put it back and buy the Del Monte green beans, the Pilsbury Cake mix, the Kraft Macoroni and Cheese... get the drift... it is sad, but true, and I know more expensive!

Quirk 2: Along the lines of grocery shopping, this quirk wasn't mine, didn't exist, until living with a man I will call, mmm Andy, (not to instigate anyone) for 8 years, and then it all started. I have to check the dates on everything from, bread, ketchup, each individual string cheese, to toothpaste - I once bought expired toothpaste! - Which is why that is now on the list. So this anonymous person was obsessed with dates on dairy, things in the fridge, everywhere, and I got used to having to check with him, for him, because I new there would be an integration after shopping. And now against my will, I still check, even though he won't ask me anymore( I think he knows he succeeded in training me) It is bad!

Quirk 3: I like my closet organized. I think a lot of people do this, maybe not so quirky, but to me it is a must. I hang my clothes all on the same color of hanger - Black, they have to be the same distance apart, and they are organized by fashion, style, color, sleeve length, etc. I am not saying that I am always organized and a clean freak, because I am not, and it isn't always in order, but when I put things away, it goes against the nerve to not have it just so and to do organize my clothes!

Quirk 4: When I develop film, I immediately put it in my photo albums. I hate undeveloped film. I like my pictures in their books, in chronological order! Small but defiantly me!

Quirk 5: Wrapping - my family can contest to this... I can't just easily wrap a present. I like to go all out, even for my kids, which I know they don't care about. I mean I make bows, ribbon, the whole shebang! During Christmas I spend hours wrapping packages with all sorts of decor. When I try to do the basic wrap job, I feel like I am under valuing the gift. I feel like I took the easy way out! It's a sickness and my hubby knows, there is always a budget for wrapping during the Holidays!

and finally

Quirk 6: I am a perfectionist, but with that said, if it can't be perfect, I don't like to do it. For example, gardening, I was loving it, then I lost my steam, because it wasn't perfect. Flowers died, things didn't look the way I envisioned, etc. so even though I really love working in my yard, I would get frustrated and let it go because I didn't like the imperfections. or Like my house this year, with it being up in ciaos, because of finishing our basement, cleaning never felt clean, among the boxes and crap from the basement in our living space. So sad to say, I wasn't motivated to clean because I could never get the result I wanted. - Don't wish this on yourself - It sucks!

And there you have it! Wasn't that entertaining.

And tag your it - Heather, Marci, Holly, Jill, Katie, and Liz

Milestone at Movie Theator

I took my kids to Fly Me To The Moon 3-D, by myself, knowing full well it could be a disaster. McKelle has been a terror at the movies in the past. And we have avoided taking her for a while now. Kenton thought it was so cool the way everything jumped out at you. He was really cute!

And Mckelle was really good. She sat there and watched the movie and ate her popcorn. I'm not sure if it was the popcorn or the movie that made her behave, because she wouldn't wear the

3-D glasses at all.

So this is what she was looking at the whole time...

I kept popping my glasses up to see what she was seeing. I don't know how she did it. I kept trying to put them on her and show her that it looked better, but she refused. Maybe she liked the way it feels to be drunk and see double! Oh no what am I instore for ;)

We had a fun time and the movie was really cute. I love going to the movies and I never thought I would say this, but I actually enjoy going to the kid movies. I get just as excited watching the previews to see what is coming as Kenton does. Oh no what does that say about me?!

Unexpected Naps!!!

It is always nice in my world to see my little loved ones asleep in the afternoon! I was working, and couldn't hear the kids. I was really worried what I would see when I went upstairs. But when I opened my door, I saw them snuggled together asleep, and my heart just melted!

I think they were watching a movie and the impossible happened. I just love that they are becoming friends. They are so cute to watch together.

So this unexpected suprise let me finish work, and then have a few minutes to myself before the nightly routine started.... Aren't naps a wonderful thing!

Why I Don't Post As Much As I Want!

Well it's because I don't have one of these baby's. When we first started dating, Lance had just purchased a very nice Canon Film camera, $$$$ - so it has been really hard for us to then invest in a digital one too. Because we will want one with all the bells and whistles.

Also we love developing our pictures and having photo albums, and not until recently, has it "seemed" more convenient to me to get digital pictures... or maybe I am just a little more savyy now! ;)

Anyway I think we will be making the purchase sooner than later now. So that will help in my posting!

We're Moving Up

Every year Lance and I go to the Parade of Homes. We have been going for 9 years now about. We love looking at arcitecture, design, layout, and decorating. Lance worked in the furniture business for 10 years when he was going to school, so he really appreciates looking at decorated homes as much as I do!

And this year we found our new home, and we will be moving in shortly, I know you will all be very jealous!This is the back porch that we will be celebrating our housewarming party on! Won't it be an amazing party!

Here is my new Master Bathroom! Isnt' it beautiful !!!

And even came with a dance room for me in my favorite color.

So we will miss our neighborhood, but we are off to bigger things. The mortgage might be a little steep on the $2.5 million dollar house, but it's worth it!

Nothing But Work, Work, Work!!!

Well, I got started blogging and then have had no time to keep it up.... This summer has been very hectic as you can see from the title WORK!


We are working on finishing our basement, I started working from home, and with working on the yard, housework, and all the other stuff, well I haven't kept up at this.

So Lance has a bug up him to finish our basement... Even though I don't know how long it is actually going to take... so we are in a state of constant upheavel moving boxes around our house from here to there depending on where the work is going on.


Here is a picture of the entertainment room downstairs.
















And this is my new post at home...
I started working from home a week ago and I had all sorts of problems with my connection and systems... So I was very stressed out!

So hopefully now things will settle down with me being home more now.




I am looking forward to the few weeks ahead... Sheet rock done... We can get some boxes out of my living room! I feel like we just moved in.

Right now the kids toys are in their rooms, instead of the playroom. I don't know how anyone goes without a playroom now! My upstairs has turned into a giant toy room, especially my bedroom where the kids love to bring there toys into!

So picking up toys has become a big daily thing... and I have to admit... I just have got sick of it and somedays... well you can imagine.

So this has been my life the last couple of weeks. And now maybe things will settle a bit and the end of summer, early fall will be good!

My Backyard In Its 2nd Year

Well, this is my backyard garden that I planted last year, throughout the season. (except for my shade garden that I started this spring) So for any professionals out there don't judge too hard. It all came back for me this spring and now this fall I need to do a little rearranging. The garden is going out of it's early summer blooming and my late summer flowers like aster and hyssop will bloom soon. Hopefully my delphiniums will bloom again in early September, they did last year. So this is my new "thing" I love planning my garden and watching it grow!

We will be adding an Arch and Bench to the center of the two gardens sometime... hopefully next spring.

Here is a front view of the right side. It was suprising to me how much I found myself enjoying researching designs and plants and then going out and giving it a try. It is frustrating, hardwork and time consuming, but I totally enjoy it!

Trying to Get This Up

Well this has been an experience trying to find a background when cutest blog on the block is down - and I just can't have it be the basic layout... I mean really ;)