What has been done?

All the things highlighted are things that I've done...you can copy and paste it if you would like...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis - honestly, no desire
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped - no thank you!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow man
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon - does a half marathon count?
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run - I doubt it...maybe because of errors...
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community - I love their quilts.
36. Taught yourself a new language - does 5 years of spanish count?
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke - not until just recently...LOVE IT
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Gone without food or water for 24 hours or longer
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain - lived in Oregon...need I say more?
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Stayed up for 24 hours with NO sleep at all
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Changed a light bulb
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - does a moped count?
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Mowed the lawn
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

The 80's Party...

Our friend, Natalie, turned 40, and was thrown a huge surprise party. Everyone was suppossed to dress 80's. It was so much fun. Everyone who went - and dressed up - and danced - said it was the funnest night they have had in a LONG time! We all laughed to think what our kids would think if they saw us. It was complete with Karaoke, a fog machine, food, balloons, and thrown in a funeral home. It was awesome. My only disappointment of the night: I couldn't get my bangs to stand up straight anymore. Who would've thought? NO amount of hairspray was going to make it happen...oh well, I curled them under, and I still looked 80's, so that had to do. I was also wearing jellies. You can't see them in any of the pictures. It was like a normal junior high dance. The girls danced in the middle. The guys stood around outside the circle and watched. It was awesome. Even TROY was in the ELVIRA Karaoke group...imagine that...Anyways, I have an overload of photos...it was so hard to get great pictures with the fog machine...I tried...a lot of these pictures either speak "80's" to me, or just set the mood for the night...THANKS FOR A SPECTACULAR NIGHT. We all kind of laughed, because there are so many different ways you could dress up for the 80's. Preppy. Rocker. Miami Vice. It was a BLAST. I know, I know, I just can't say enough great things. OH, and I don't even know if I got a picture of Natalie. With the fog, I didn't have my camera out much. I think she was changing every time I had it out. Check this out...her parents brought ALL of her old prom dresses. After 7 kids, she still fit into them MARVELOUSLY! Every 1/2 hour, she would go put a new one on. That is why I think I missed her...SORRY NAT!

Our little nerd...

On Friday, the kids at Kyle's school got to dress up like nerds. Kyle looked forward to it all week. He wanted me to go buy him stuff at the DI. Ummm...no. I figured we had plenty of stuff at home. (Troy and I spent too much money there last week for an 80's party we went to. Stay tuned for pics...you will NOT want to miss it...a small hint...Troy ran into Raquel (his sister) and Eric at the grocery store on our way to the party, and Raquel didn't recognize Troy...)

Anyways, Here is Kyle. He was SO wanting to win being the biggest nerd of the class, because they got to be in a Nerd parade around the school...next time buddy...Here he is...


He is wearing a pair of Jake's pants. Too short and WAY too tight. He had pencils in his pocket, and I tried to part his hair right down the middle. I know, I may be biased, but I sure think he looks like a cool little nerd.

Someone please explain...

There is a movie coming out in theatres, called "Taken" starring Liam Neeson. Have you seen the previews? Well, it's coming out in February sometime. Here's the wierd thing...we watched it in a movie theatre in Korea almost a year ago. It was in English with Korean subtitles. Seriously...can someone please explain? Oh, for the record, it wasn't very good...

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

This recipe was forwarded to me today, and Colette and I decided to try it out. Here is the original recipe. After the recipe, I will tell you what I will do different next time. This was just great for a "I need a treat, a chocolate treat" kinda day...definitely not a "I need to eat healthy" type of day...

5 minute Chocolate Mug Cake

4 tbls. flour
4 tbls. sugar
1 egg
3 tbls. milk
3 tbls. oil
3 tbls. milk chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (microwave safe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chipos (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts(we just used whatever setting the microwave is already on). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

Okay, chocolate chips should NOT be optional. That is what made it great. We used tall mugs, so all the chocolate chips went to the bottom. So, next time, I will use a fatter one, and I will mix some chips in, and once it is in the microwave, right before I close the door, I would add some chocolate chips to the top - in hopes that they wouldn't sink to the bottom.

This is definitely a good recipe when you're just craving a small chocolatey treat but since your husband doesn't like chocolate cake, you wouldn't dare make a whole one, because in the course of a week, you would eat the whole thing yourself! ENJOY!

My very own Calendar Model...

Here is my hot husband.....



Yep, this picture is on a calendar put out from his work. He's Mr. February....


Along with the other 50 people...


Oh wait.....


You don't know which one he is????? I totally picked him out...


Guess you better scroll down...

Halloween 2008

I just realized I hadn't posted Halloween photos of the kids. Here they are...in all their glory.

Kyle HAD to be a jedi. I couldn't bring myself to spend $75 on a costume, so my mom made this. The funniest part, was that my mom gave him HER boots to wear. She told him they were Jedi boots. They had a tiny wider heel, and I thought it was hilarious. He was so excited. Hopefully it made up for his crappy costume last year!

Kristin HAD to be Fancy Nancy. If you haven't read those books, they're a must read. I kept taking her picture, and she kept making this face. It was driving me crazy! I finally realized that she was copying the expression that Fancy Nancy was making on her little crown...silly girl...such a poser!

Jake had just recently learned to ride his bike, and wanted to be a bicycle rider. When I saw this Motocross costume for $9 at Walmart, I was sold. Don't you just LOVE Jake's choice of shoes? To school he wore black sweats under his costume, so it didn't look so short...this photo shoot was the dress rehearsal.

Haley got stuck being a chicken. It was convenient, warm, and stinking cute! The cutest part was that she was also wearing her squeeky shoes. It was funny to see this little chicken walking down the street squeeking with each step. Haley didn't enjoy that people would allow their dogs to greet the kids at the door. She came away screaming a few times. It was so funny, but I can realize her terror. Could you imagine a dog, bigger than you, staring you right in the face? She had every right to be frightened!

This was a wonderfully warm Halloween night. The warmest Halloween I can remember since Kyle's first one, in Vegas.

I know, I know, I'll get in Valentine's mode...

El Cam's

I saw an El Camino yesterday. Seriously, I'm not kidding. When was the last time you saw an El Camino...running? My friend, Jared, drove one in High School. This El Cam was in my neighbors driveway...I have so many rude things I could say...but...I'll leave it at that!

This is a photo of the car I drove in High School. This is a photo of a photo - bad quality, I know - but you get the point. This is me after seminary and before school(early morning seminary-for anybody who is confused). It was tacky tourist day that day. Fun Times at BHS. My Great Grandparents drove it before I got my hands on it. A few fun "memories" of the car:

1. I think one night after a football game we fit 15 people inside.
2. It took REGULAR gas.
3. You turned the headlights on with a button. Located on the floor. That you pushed with your left foot.
4. It was like having 2 couches in a vehicle.
5. It had a 450 engine. I beat many a vehicle off the line...with much encouraging from friends.
6. I was called "Jeeves" while driving it.
7. In the winter - in California - I had to let it warm up for 10 minutes before it would drive.
8. It only had an am radio station. I know ALL the old skool country songs by heart.
9. Oh yeah, Michael and his friend took it on a joy ride while me and my mom were at girls camp and wrecked it - naturally not a scratch on my car. I think we dubbed her, "Big Bertha".
10. The blinkers were ON TOP of the hood.
11. Oh, there has got to be many more things I'm forgetting about...any friends that have graced it's seats that have some sweet memories?

Home Decor

I STINK when it comes to home decor. I'm serious. I finally had to decide that what is important to me, is my photos. So, I have tried to incorporate photos into my decor, and that is basically, all that my decor is. I have a LONG way to go, and still have 2 very large empty walls...but all in time...I am VERY scared of color. I can't figure out what color I like, so I just leave it neutral. Oh well, I figure if there is not something that I LOVE, it's better off not to have it. I have also learned that an 8x10 photo is JUST NOT BIG ENOUGH. It's true. I promise. I have made a bunch of enlargements for my house, printed on metallic matte paper, and I have them in my house on easels, or frames, or whatever...I LOVE THEM! I HIGHLY suggest metallic paper, as well as LARGE prints. The smallest print in these photos that are not in frames, is an 11x14. I LOVE THEM. Sorry, pretty sure I already said that...I am dreaming of a few gallery wraps...but all in time...Here is what I have now...This is the wall I finished most recently. The family photo is a 16x20. The two prints - one the Articles of Faith, and the SLC Temple the outside of the frames are 17x23. You can buy them here. THe metal accent I bought in Arizona, and the clock I got at Target on clearance for $3.00. I need to distress the clock, so that it's not so white. One day...
This is the top of the entertainment center. You can see fingerprints on the tv - sorry, it drives me CRAZY! I have these prints propped up with things behind them. I think behind one of them is a can of pineapple juice...it works!
The two photos above are on top of the wall that seperates the kitchen and the living room. I LOVE this. It's kind of an akward space, so I LOVE my photos here...BIG!
This last bulletin board I just finished. I made it. I got the frame on clearance, for $10. Then I got fabric, and ribbon and covered it. I wanted a place to put some of my photos that I could swap out easily. I think it's cute. It was fairly cheap as well!

My reasons for posting about my home decor are:
1. I'm supposed to have emailed Erin pics a long time ago - this is just as easy
2. I want to remember - or in 10 years, see how styles have changed
3. I want people to realize how GREAT enlargements look!
4. Just for me...

Foot Update

Yesterday I finally made it to the foot doctor. I went to the same guy who I went to after my running accident. His name is Francis Clark - if you're looking for a good foot guy. Anyways, I totally expected to go, say keep doing what you're doing, go away, kissing my $20 copay goodbye. I was wrong.

Their xray machine was down, so I didn't get a repeat xray, but first of all, he was wondering why I was wearing normal shoes. I told him that the swelling had gone down enough so that they fit in a pair of my slip on shoes that are a bit too big. He also wondered how I was wrapping it. HUH? Wrap? What's that?

SO, he told me I should be wearing the shoe they gave me at instacare for 8 weeks! SERIOUSLY? He said ideally, I should wear the big old boot that goes to my knee. I think the problem I have with that, is that it's so big and bulky. Also, I'm not very tall, so it's VERY painful to sit in with it on, it goes ALL THE WAY UP to my knee. I wish they would have just put a cast on - that would have been easier. Seriously. When you have an uncomfortable boot or shoe you have to wear, and you know that all you have to do is take it off, hmmmm...what would you do?

He also taught me how to wrap my foot. I have to try to force my big toe in to the right, so it will be easier for the bone to heal. Ughhh...anyone have any extra coban they don't want? He also gave me strict work-out instructions. I can cycle. That's it. I can do arm weights, but no lunges. If I'm adamant about doing squats, make sure I'm keeping all my weight on my heels.

He told me that if I don't do what he says, I will be going in for surgery to have the piece of bone removed. I have to follow up in 4 weeks. (*sigh* kiss another $20 goodbye)

So, lessons learned here:
1. Instacare's pretty much suck, get a follow up appt with a real doctor ASAP...
2. Next time ask for a cast. It's REALLY hard to walk around with a boot on one foot, and barefoot on another...I would rather not wear the stupid boot...any suggestions?
3. Learn how to walk up the stairs

So, for the next 6 weeks, if you see me, make sure I'm wearing my boot.

The many 'sides' of Haley...

Well, she's definitely hit the "terrible two's". She is such a little monster. Still cute, but a little monster just the same. As I was cleaning the kitchen after lunch, she hopped up onto her chair, and fell asleep. Once again, she had just gone potty. Apparently she prefers the 'natural' feeling. I didn't know she was naked, until I went to take the picture of her asleep.

This is a picture of her after church, posing. Definitely not her best smile.

The comment I hear all day, every day:

"I DO IT MYSELF"


It's defnitely frustrating...cause, it's kinda obvious, YOU CAN'T PUT PANTIES ON YOURSELF!

Oh, and my dad and brother were over the other night, and I heard noises coming from the kitchen. I came up to see what was going on, and this is what I found...OOOHHH! This girls is exasperating...just stacking cups, don't worry about her...(Oh, and don't you LOVE her outfit? Her shirt, and her tights from church...where's her skirt? at least she has pants on, right?)

Kristin

Oh, how I love this girl. She is really sweet most of the time - unless I'm picking her up from a friends house when she's not ready to come home...watch out then. She got a new dress, and I did her hair in cute little ragged buns - my favorite. I practiced a little with backlighting. I LOVE these pictures. She fell down the stairs last week, riding Haley's new Christmas Present, and broke her nose - we think - so she has a discolored nose. Also, her skin was SO dry. I need to get on that, I guess. I didn't notice it until I uploaded these photos...poor girl, I'm so neglectful. I LOVE my girls. It's such a nice break from the wildness of my boys. My favorite time is from 12:30-3:30 when it's just me and the girls. They are just happy and content to play. No pestering happening, no fighting, nothing. Maybe when they're teenagers, that will all change, but for now, I am absolutely in love with this little girl! She's a really great "poser" which I do not like, but Troy was making her giggle. That's probably why I love these so much. These are definitely her natural expressions!

New Favorite Quote

I taught Young Women's (Church youth program for girls ages 12-17 - I teach the 12 and 13 year olds)today. I came across a quote by Gordon B. Hinckley that I am absolutely in love with. Okay, I am obsessed with this. I can't stop thinking about as a mom, what I am really teaching my kids - especially my girls - in a world where looks seem to be everything, and mediocrity seems to be a good thing. I am currently drawing up plans to decorate my girls bedroom, and plan on getting this done in vinyl to put on their walls. (Natalie, beware, I may be calling you...first I have to paint, so it may be a few years - I hate painting). Here it is:

"You are creatures of divinity; you are daughters of the Almighty. Limitless is your potential. Magnificent is your future..."

I made each of the girls a bookmark with this quote. The lesson gave me another quote that I was supposed to put on a bookmark, but it was 30 years old, and I think that updating it with a quote 3 years old, would be okay. During my lesson today, I basically was trying to point out that each of us are in charge of our futures. We can do ANYTHING we set their minds to. They are daughters of God. I gave each of the girls a mirror, and asked them to view themselves the way God does. With love, not criticism. To "become the woman of whom they dream". I truly believe we determine our future, and it's not just by one choice, but by a series of choices. I hope I can be a good enough mom to have my own girls realize how truly special they are, how much they are loved, and how they can do anything they set their minds to!

My family...

The best part of Christmas was that my WHOLE family was here to celebrate. When I say WHOLE, I mean my 3 brothers, and Maria (Mike's wife - heavy with child - okay, not quite heavy, but with child). We literally hung out at my parents constantly. We would come home to sleep and shower but that's it. We played the Wii, games, went sledding, shopping, bowling, movies, dinner for Troy's birthday, etc...It was super fun...While all of the adults (pretty sure some of us shouldn't be called adults) were together in Korea in April, our whole family hasn't been together in 2 years. As Mike and Maria were headed out the door to drive home, we decided to hurry and do a family picture. I MADE my family go outside in front of the snowman. They all complained. Yeah, I know, my family complain? NEVER! Here we are, in all our glory! I love this picture. I love it because it is us! NO fake cheesy smiles, no posing, just Jake making faces, Kyle with his squinty camera smile...I ran into place after pushing the timer button (a wireless remote is in my future) yes, with my broken foot, in 12 inches of snow...That's my family! Love you ALL!