A different kind of Thanksgiving

I brought these delicious Pecan Pies that my mother makes, and an Artichoke dip
This is my free Thanksgiving dinner. I am grateful for the hands that prepared this, they too were away from their families.

Jim and I sharing our Thanksgiving together!

I tried not to cry as I watched my husband and girls take their exit to Shauns grandma. But the tears came anyway as I continued on my way to the hospital for work. As I was driving I was trying very hard to keep a positive attitude and so I started thinking of things I was grateful for.

Because this day is different than any other Thanksgiving I decided I needed to find different things to be grateful for.

1. I am grateful that I get to work with Jim. He is the kindest, most paitent co-worker I have. I felt very happy that out all of the Pharmacist I work with he was the one that was scheduled today. He is so nice he is working a double shift today.

2. I am grateful for my fat roll. My fat roll represents yummy and delicious food and drink that I enjoy daily.

3. I am grateful for my tiger stripe stretch marks that cover my lower belly. Having them means that my body is able to conceive and bear children.

4. I am grateful for my saggy boobs. My sagginess shows that I had the amazing experience to nurse my children.

5. I am grateful for my c-section scar. My scar reminds me of a miracle that I was able to be a part of.

6. I am grateful for the gray hairs that I continue to find in my very dark hair. This reminds me that I am happy and alive watching my beautiful children grow.

7. I am grateful for the crows feet that are beginning to show around my eyes. This proves to me that I have smiled a lot in my life.

I hope that all of you find many things that you are grateful for this Thanksgiving day.

Twilight!!!

The girls and our cute shirts!
Jen brought us all fangs to wear. See we really had a fun time

Bundled up wating for our movie

I am very happy to say that I LOVED the movie!!! I know that most of you didn't like Robert for Edward from the beginning but I liked him from the get go. I am glad that they followed the story line pretty darn close to the book, and I thought that Bella and Edwards chemistry was irresistible. I do wish that they kissed more, I kept wanting more of that. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Destiny and I went and saw it again on Monday, it was just as good, maybe even better. I really really really Loved it.

We had a very fun evening. A group of about 20 of us went to Chilis and then waited in line outside for our movie to start. It was fun and crazy to see soooooo many people late at night waiting for the event. Once we got into the theatre Destiny and I asked our Twilight trivia questions. Her friend Mary got every single one. Sitting next to me were about 5 girls in their early 20's that had some questions about "S" they just couldn't ask their mother, so I was happy to answer all their questions.

I really wanted an Edward shirt but I could never find one that I really loved, so I decided to make one myself. For those of you that know me, know that making anything that doesn't have to do with food is disastrous, but surprisingly the shirts I made turned out. One of my neighbors kept looking at my shirt and telling me over and over again that she couldn't believe I made it. (not to long ago she watched me try to make a craft at enrichment) While we were standing in line a young girl came over and asked to take a picture of our cute shirts. Who cares if she was secretly making fun of us. We really had a great and fantastic time!!!

8 Things you Don't know about me!

Rules: People who are tagged need to post these rules and the 8 random facts, habits, or quirks about themselves. At the end of the post, choose 8 people to tag and list their names.


Tulips are my most favorite flower. I love the delicate way that their petals open. I love the tall stems that don't have anything on them. I love that they are one of the first flowers to bloom, and maybe because they only bloom for a short time is part of the reason why I love them so much.

This is my favorite book of all times. I loved this book long before it was a movie. The first time I read it was 1997. Paul Richards a dad of Shauns friend was reading this book on our way to Vegas (in his private jet) and so I decided to read it, and then feel deeply in love with it. I have read this book at least 10 times and every time I read it I cry. Next to Somewhere in Time this is the greatest love story ever told.

Pepsi is my drink. Okay so probably all of you know this, but maybe you don't know that I have been drinking this daily since I was 12. When Stephanie got her drivers license her and I would go to Harts in Mapleton and get us a Pepsi and a candy bar. This is where it all started. All through High School this was the drink for me. I remember times that this was the only thing that entered my mouth. It was a great diet. Funny enough when I met Shaun this was his favorite drink as well. Onto the tradition, it is also Kates favorite drink. As often as we can we load up in the car and go get a drink together. The only time I don't like Pepsi is in my first tri-mester of pregnancy. It just doesn't taste good. Once I start liking it again it is a great reunion of old friends. I can drink it in the can, but there is nothing better than getting a good old fountain Pepsi with just the right amount of ice. I really do love this drink!

Apolo Anton Ohno looks like such a bad boy. With his soul patch and all he is simply tempting. I loved watching him skate but I was glued to watching him dance. I still have him TiVio'd! I loved the chemistry between him and Julianne. I secretly think he moved here because of her. The other day Adam was working out and lo and behold there he was. Adam said he was wearing itty bitty shorts and no shirt. I would have been disrespectfully starring. I chastised him for not taking a picture or getting an autograph. He assured me next time he would call me and hand the phone to Apolo. I think I would really like that.

1. I am terrified of killing spiders. I'm not afraid of the spider just killing it. One time when I was a teenager I had a huge spider in my closet, I tried stepping on it and it kept running and running and every time I stomped it moved. Another time my friend April killed a spider and the spider was full of babies so when she smashed it all the babies were running all over her. AHHH!!! I hate the sound of them crunching when you kill them. A small spider I will catch in a cup and let run freely, a big spider well that's just another story. Can you just imagine my horror to find a BLACK WIDOW right by my door in my garage while the husband was away hunting. I literally freaked out and was shaking and had tears in my eyes while trying to hit it into a cup. My sister had to talk me through the whole process.

I LOVE to go the movies! I mean really love it. I could go to the movies every day and still not get enough of it. I crave the smell and taste of really buttery popcorn. I love the anticipation I feel wondering if I will like the movie or the excitement I feel when I am seeing a movie for the 2nd or 3rd or 6th time. The previews are a favorite, I get to see what is in my future for movie watching. I love when I see a really good movie and then I think about it for days and days and tell everyone I know that they must see it. Maybe I could find a job getting paid to watch movies. All though I wouldn't be very good because I am easily entertained. There are only a very few movies that I really hated.

I HATE mushrooms. They are so ugly and slimy. They have the worst texture and the worst taste. They can ruin a very tasty meal. My girls all hate mushrooms and they have never even tried them.

I have a HUGE crush on Zac Efron. I started loving him in HSM but then I saw Hairspray and it was all over for me. It is kind of embarrassing that I like him more than my girls do, but he is worth the embarrassment. He was so Hot in HSM3 okay so now I sound like I'm 12. I think if I ever met him I would be so star struck I would not be able to talk. Now that is bad, I am like 1o years older than him. Oh well! It is what it is :)

I tag Melanie, Callie, Kim, Vanessa, Destiny, Diana, Tina and Jyl. Enjoy!!!

Boo is 3

When I was pregnant with Savanna I ended up having kidney stones and was in the Hospital for 4 days on a Morphine Pump trying to pass those little suckers. It was more pain that I have ever endured but was worth the fight. I think that maybe Heavenly Father was preparing me for my life with Savanna, it will painful, but worth the fight.

Adam sent this picture to me one day and as I open it up, I say out loud "Who is this really ugly baby?"And then I quickly say," Oh no I bet its one of mine."
Sure enough it was Savanna. Good thing she didn't stay looking like this for long.

Note to viewers, having a baby 4 weeks early causes them to have a thick white coat of stuff that I called pancake batter all over their body. Not so cute.

She has been a source of frustration, laughter, energy, nonsense, Patience, and happiness since the day she became a part of our family. She has more fire and lungs, than all the rest of us put together. (and that is a lot) She always does things her way no matter what. She is very stubborn and can cause me to loose my Patience faster than a bad driver. With all this fire comes a lot of fun and emotion. For instance, on Saturday we went and picked up her birthday cake, let me back track. Every time (at least once a week) we go to Sams Club we always have to look at the cakes. Her and MaKaya always pick out their favorites. So on Friday when it was time to pick out her very own it was more excitement than she could contain. She told the lady she wanted Barbie with purple flowers and chocolate. Now I will get to the point, when she saw her birthday cake she started clapping her hands and yelling, "Yeah I love my cake!!! I love my cake!!!" The bakery lady wished she had a camera because that was the cutest thing. All day on Saturday she told everyone about her cake. I kept thinking if she is this excited about her cake what is she going to do with all the presents.

Waking up today Boo ran to her dad and said "I'm free (three)today, I'm free today" At church when she saw her best friend Halle, she asked her to come to her house to see her birfday cake.

All afternoon she waited for her Uncle Bub to come, she just couldn't wait to see him. When it seemed like forever he finally arrived she ran to him gave him a big hug and said, "I've missed you so much". She luvs her Bubby.

Mom and the Birthday Girl
The fabulous Barbie cake

Uncle Bub gave her fingernail polish and now he is painting her nails.

Tuckered out after the long day of fun, in the arms of her Grandma Laraine

Three reasons why I love Savanna

1. She tells me at least 50 times a day how much she loves me.

2. She helps me remember to have Joy in the simple things of life. Such as finding a penny in the road is really really great.

3. I love her because she loves to fart and admits it when its her. She also loves to itch her bum. She really is quite hilarious. Oh and she really does not enjoy getting her picture taken.

HALLOWEEN!!!

We LOVE Halloween. My Mother has always been a huge fan of Halloween. She goes all out. Decorating the entire front yard, from lights, to skeletons, scary music, and of course witches. As a child I was always a Witch. The one with the scary chin and warty nose. Never a Princess or a Ladybug for me, nope always a Witch. For my mom being scary is what Halloween is all about. When I was old enough to decide I was never anything scary. I was always something fun, or cute. I remember being a Princess and my mom begging me to wear Billy Bob teeth with my costume. She loves to drive in the car and go to the store all dressed up and have people look at her. Many times good friends and grandchildren have no idea who she is.

Well I have to say that my mothers upbringing has worn off on me, and being a Witch is my most favorite character to be for Halloween. But of course I put my own signature to it and I am a purple cute Witch. (All though tonight I was told that I looked like a Naughty Witch)My mother did not fail me this year, she dressed up as a Scary Witch and took my daughters and I to dinner, and yes we were the only folks there dressed up.

I know you are dying to know where my costumes came from. My talented friend Jodi made them, and my dear Mother made my "cute" shirt.

The Mouth of Babes

Kids always do say the cutest most random funny things. I wish I had a little book for each of my children that I carried around and wrote the funny and cute things they said. But for today I will write what they have said, and be happy that it is recorded somewhere and remembered later on.

Savanna is almost 3, so daily she says things that make me smile. Today she said "Mom I love to go poop." She also says many times a day, "I luv you mom, I luv you so bad." Five minutes later she is yelling, "You so rude mom," and then back to "I luv you." Shaun watches her walk across to her friends house and the whole time she is walking she is yelling to him that she loves him.

Yesterday we were getting ready for dance, the girls were in the car and I ran back in the house for something. In the meantime I lost the keys somewhere, so I am frantically looking all over for them. I run back in the house and MaKaya yells to me from the car, "Mom, Jesus says they are on the counter."

As my children get older they say less and less things that catch me off guard, but this conversation with Lexi is one I hope to never forget. Shortly after she turned 8 I gave her the birds and bees talk. After I explained how the deed was done, she said "Eww that's gross!!! Mom if you really think about it, that is just gross!!!" A few days later our dog Sammy threw up and Lexi said, "Mom what you told me the other day is more disgusting than Sammy's throw-up."

Friends

Back row left to right

Tina, Kara, Kim, Krista, Vanessa, Jenn, Jenn, Monica

Diana, Destiny, Amanda, Kate

What is a Friend?

I think this answer changes as we go through out life. As a child it is someone that shares their pack of gum, and wears twinner clothes with you. As a teenager a friend is someone you hang out with on a friday night. You are at that uncertain stage in your life where you don't always get to choose your friends, they choose you. Then my 20's came and some of the good high school friends I kept in touch with, but mostly I was so busy with marriage and kids that friends were an after thought. Then I hit my late 20's and things in the friendship department couldn't be better. I have the best group of friends that I could ever ask for. Each one of these girls have differnt talents and qualities to make the perfect batch of friends. We motivate, we inspire, we laugh, we tease, we teach, we love. We help each other in this crazy life to endure the hard days and devour the great days. You have all stamped your print on my life and it is better because of you.