Good times, Great oldies

So I love pictures and since I don't have the good ones we are all still waiting for (yes...Josh in the Santa thong) I have some others that we took last night at the Hawks family party. This was all of Josh's fathers family that was there. I couldn't believe how many cousins and kids there were. We had the dinner at Josh's aunt's Dance studio.



Monty and April (parents-in-law) with me and Josh


Josh and I with Grandma Hawks.

Joshy and me


Joshy, Dallin and Deklan (these were my fav's that I took)!


Me and B! Thanks for bein' a sport! ;-)

I need a nap!!!!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. I had such a fantastic weekend before Christmas. I haven't seen that much of my family in one weekend since I don't know when. It truly was the best weekend EVER! The Friday(Dec.21) before Christmas we all got together at Thorny's beautiful home. Family had come down from out of state, and the food was INCREDIBLE! (my brother Chris and I enjoying the eclairs)I stuffed myself like a Thanksgiving turkey, and still managed to shove more food in my mouth. I honestly don't think I could stop talking about the food, but I will spare those that read this.

We had a white elephant gift exchange which I am sad to say my husband went home with the Santa thong that is passed around .
It was just a blast to sit around and laugh and talk with family. Just sitting and watching everyone laugh and talk and enjoy each others company brought me so much joy. Shout out to Thorny, you did a fabulous job!
On Sunday (Dec. 23th) Josh and I went out to Tooele for my brother Chris' homecoming. He has returned from serving a mission in Poland. It was such an excellent service. My sister and brother in law both sang "Away in a Manger". It really brought me to tears. I was so emotional that day. Because again our family was all there. I guess for some of you that don't know, I should explain a little. My sister's, husbands, parents, have pretty much adopted me as one of their own and I now call them mom and dad. They treat me as if I had really been born to them. For me this has been one of the greatest blessings I could ask for. Mom's siblings have really accepted me as their niece and a member of their family. I couldn't ask for a better family to be a part of. I am truly blessed to have so many people who love and care about me, and have accepted my husband into the family as well. So continuing on...after church we went to the house for again more wonderful and delicious food. I love food. Later that night, when it was just us kids with mom and dad, we all sat around and talked and listened to mission stories from the guys, of course I teared up again, with the heartfelt words dad shared with all of us.

On Monday(Dec. 24), after working Josh and I braved the harsh snow storm that hit and drove from Layton down to Pleasant Grove. Luckily Josh is very calm driving in crazy weather, because it kept me very calm (well that and the fact I wasn't driving). We made it down to my sisters, where there was nicole and jon, mom and dad, chris and jim, grandma Vicki, Bryan and K8, and Darren. Grandma Vicki read the Christmas story to us out of Luke. We exchanged our family presents. Josh and I had decided to stay the night.

Christmas morning, we woke up to my niece shouting about all the presents that were out. I was so excited as I had a huge surprise for Josh (for those of you thinking it, NO!, I'm not pregnant). ;-) I had been doing everything I could to keep him from knowing about this one surprise, and it had worked. As the last gift to be opened Josh got his Linkin Park concert tickets. His face was priceless (could totally do the mastercard commercial right now, but again I will spare those reading this). It really was a fantastic day. My sis and I made breakfast and stayed in our pj's all day. We all watched the Borne Ultimatum, and Josh and I journeyed back to our home in Ogden where we could play our Nintendo Wii on the big screen. By the way I highly recommend the Wii, it's a blast! I've never had so much fun playing video games before.

Last night (Dec. 27th) was Josh's family party. We went up to the family cabin (aka-the house he grew up in), where we sat and ate and chatted while the kids all played. Josh broke out the Wii and each of us had to play once. I guess the day before the in-laws actually took a go at the Wii and loved it. I so wished I could have seen them play boxing. Later that night, Mama Hawks brought out matching pajama's for all to wear. At first, yes I thought this a little strange, but then realized how fantastic this idea is as I am out of jammies. Who doesn't need more pajama's right?! They were so super cute too (pictures will be coming for these as well). We then had a great time exchanging gifts, as most of us ended up with the presents that we brought. Josh was stoked because we came back home with the movie "Transformers". I was pretty thrilled with my gift as well! Thanks B, just know I will be collecting on my "I owe U!" ;-) Later as the little ones were put to bed and the older kids played the with the Wii, me, my two sister-in-laws, and my parents in law, all sat around and had a fantastic conversation about raising children. It was so neat to hear so many different sides and reflect on the way I was brought up. I really enjoyed talking with them, and feeling the spirit reside with us so strongly. I am really blessed to have married into such a kind and loving family. I really look forward to the future Christmas' that I will be able to spend with them. Sorry this is so long winded I hope everyone had such a Merry Christmas, and enjoy the New Year! Happy Hanukah everyone.

Josh ruined Christmas......

Okay well not really, but it's our new running joke. As some of you may know, Josh and I decided to purchase a nintendo Wii as our Christmas present to each other. I knew we needed the double controllers as the Wii only comes with one. Just about everyday Josh would pester me about getting them along with some games. So I thought I would purchase them and surprise him Christmas morning. I had one week to keep it from him. I figured shouldn't be too hard as he is very forgetful about things. Boy was I so off base. I did a lot of lying to keep this from him, as I got his brother involved, and asked him to let Josh know they were all sold out at Toy'r'us (his brother is the manager there). I just continued to tell Josh over and over that we didn't have the money at this time and that we needed to get Christmas presents for people first before thinking of ourselves. Finally last night as he pushed button after button on my nerves, then giving me the guilt trip of how I didn't want to play the Wii with him, he was just going to sell it. He figured getting $100 extra for it was worth it, and kept throwing the selling card at me. Boiling point was reached and that's when I lost it. I couldn't think of anything else to say to him to get him to let it go. So I informed him (of course at the top of my lungs cuz I was so frustrated) that I purchased the controllers as well as a game for him. I think I heard a pin drop, which was then followed by the continued apologizing of my husband. I was so angry with him that I informed him that since I had bought these controllers and they were for the both of us, I wasn't expecting him to get me anything, but now since he has ruined Christmas for me, he better be getting me the best present EVER. What that is I don't know, but he better be prayin that I love it. ;-) Eh, who am I kidding, I would be happy with my hershey's cherry cordials and a diet pepsi. Life really can't get better than that!

The best belated birthday present EVER!

So my best friend Dharma and her husband Sam went out to dinner with Josh and I tonight. It was just a blast to catch up with the two of them as our lives are so crazy. Well you can make fun of me all you want (and it's okay because Josh does it all the time) but after dinner they brought me over my belated birthday present.
It's true a full crate of Diet Pepsi!

It pays to have your best friends husband work for Pepsi. And if you look closely, I am sporting it's rival, Diet Coke. Apparently Pepsi Co. has a huge catalog for all sorts of clothing, hats, etc. I was so excited when Dharma told me this, I about fell off my chair. I can't wait to get a Diet Pespi shirt to wear with my Diet Coke pants and ask people, "which do you think is better?"

The second part of my birthday present was also one of the greatest past time joys.
"Attention Rex Manning fans, to your left you will notice a shoplifter being chased by night manager, Lucas. This young man will be caught, deep fried in a vat of hot oil and served to our first hundred customers. Just another tasty treat from the gang at Empire Records."


Thank you to my best friend who I love, and knows me so well!!!!

Very Bored at the moment

Just showing off my new hair color. :-)
From this hot on fire red......





to.......



the blonde that I truly am inside.....
I miss my long hair. But such is the way it goes. You grow it out to cut it off. Either that or your husband calls you chicken for not cutting it off so you have to be stubborn and chop it to prove a point. Good news is that he still likes it. I'm blessed to have a husband who understands my need to color hair, okay well he might not understand it so much, but he's cool with it. It used to be an obsessive issue for me (my sister still might think so, love ya jells), I think it still might be some days, but now that I have taken all the color out of my hair, I don't think I will be able to put any back in for a while as my hair is very very damaged. Kids don't try this at home. Leave it to the professionals.

Adoption Day

This morning Josh and I were able to attend the adoption of our nephew Jay. Josh's sister Kallee and her husband Chad have fostered Jay for the last year and today we all went to the courthouse/Juvunile Department. It was so neat, I teared up as I listened to the judge talk. The judge had asked Kallee and Chad if they would treat Jay as their own natural child as if though he had been actually born to them. I thought about how Heavenly Father looked at us when we were in heaven and asked us to do the same with His children. I thought how similar it is that we just take care of His children for him since he physically cannot be here. It just really touched me, and to look around the courtroom and see how much family was there to support. My in-law's even flew up for today, it was great to see them. There was so much love, it was awesome.

I love my mother in law she cracks me up. Josh says we are way to much alike. I took offense to that at first, but then today as we chatted, I saw how similar we really are, it made me laugh so hard. Afterwards we all enjoyed a fabulous breakfast at Dee's. I love Dee's. I love breakfast. I love breakfast at Dee's. Breakfast is my favorite. ;-) It's all about the biscuits and GRAVY!!!!

Christmas Meme

If you haven't done this yet and are reading it: Tag you are it! :-)

1) Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate all the way, Stephen's, have I told you lately that I love you, oh and there is no one else above you?

2) Do you wrap your presents or not? Totally all about the wrapping, even though I wait til the last minute to do it.

3) Colored lights or white? All about the white. White goes with everything (well at Christmas time)

4) Do you hang mistletoe? Dang it, that's what I forgot at Michaels

5) When do you put up your decorations? This is the first year I have my own house, and I have been so swamped with work, so just little bits have been put up at a time.

6) What is your favorite holiday dish? Anything dessert-ish that I don't have to make.

7) Favorite memory as a child? The year my sister and I went out to the living room to see what toys we got before we went into get our parents, and then went into their bedroom telling them how we hoped we got the toys that we had already seen. Mom wasn't to happy with us for going out to the living room without them.

8) When and how did you learn about Santa? A girl told me when I was in second grade, and I came home and asked my mom if he was real and she told me he wasn't. Worked for me.

9) Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Growing up we were always allowed to open just one.

10) How do you decorate your tree? I haven't yet. We probably won't have one this year, just because the thought of it makes me a little tired, and with my schedule this year, there just really isn't the time. But next year......oh look out baby, I am so all over it! I'm gonna hit Michaels the day after Christmas.

11) Snow...love it or dread it? Dread it on the roads, otherwise LOVE IT!

12) Can you ice skate? Depends, what I am skating on? ;-)

13) Do you remember your favorite gift? Sadly I can't remember, and truthfully I don't feel like sitting here for the next two hours racking my brain through all my gifts. I really just to love remembering all the toys I got as a child and remembering the Christmas' I had with my parents.

14) What is the most important part of the holidays? Remembering my Savior Jesus Christ, spending all the time that I can with my family, and eating as much as I can possibly stand.

15) Favorite holiday dessert? The oreo treats (crushed oreo's mixed with cream cheese, rolled up into a little ball and dipped in chocolate) kelli and I make, now Brandi(congratulations) has been inducted into our candy making.

16) Favorite tradition? Can't really remember any traditions, I am hoping Josh and I can start some of our own.

17) Favorite Christmas Carol? You are kidding right? There are so many! I have to say the top on my list is "What child is this" when my sister will sing it, if I can ever get her to sing it for me! ;-) Oh and I am so with Thorny on this one, "All I want for Christmas is you". I just can't get sick of that song.

So what about you? What are your thoughts and feelings on Christmas??

Please no more coloring for the night

Don't get me wrong, I love what I do. But it's nights like these that I just think there is no way in high holy heaven that I want to go back to work tomorrow when I know what will show up. So tonight I had an Asian woman come in to get her hair done. Nothing against Asian women, but they all want to be blond and it is really difficult to get their hair to that stage sometimes. Well she didn't want to be blond all over but just have it weaved through, as well as have the another color (almost black, but a dark brown to her) going throughout the rest of her hair. FABULOUS! So that takes forever, finally get her processed and in the sink and she is really bright yellow on the roots and a light brown on the ends, so I have to tone it, no big deal. I tone it, then put a really heavy conditioner on her hair and take her to the chair to blow dry her out. While the toner was on her hair in the sink, it looked as though it had pulled to just the color I had wanted (a nice light carmel color). So in my head I was home free. Not even close!!! As I blew her dry, the toner had given the look of orange to the highlights. It's now 9pm (time to go home), you can tell she is getting crabby because this has taken so long, I am trying to hide my frustration of the orange hair. She then asks me if it looks a little gold to her?! GOLD?! um no. So to allow both of us the opportunity to go home, I tell her that I think it just might be the lights that's she's sitting under and to wait until tomorrow in the daylight and if it doesn't look right to her to come back and I will be happy to fix it. Gosh I am so kind. I know in my gut she will be back tomorrow, my gut is never wrong when it comes to hair. I think the most frustrating thing is you spend so much time on something and knowing that the next day you are gonna have to see that person again to fix what you spent all that time on. GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRR. The even more frustrating thing is that I still don't have this color line down that I use at work. I hate guessing with it. I wish more than anything I could use my own color line, because every time I know exactly how the color is gonna come out and I am not saying a prayer at the sink pleading that this color will turn out and the person will like it! I'm going to take a bath!

Out of body experience, party of one

So you ever have that dream where you are doing something and you all of a sudden can see yourself doing whatever it is you are doing? Yeah, well I don't care what anyone says it happened at work today. Okay well not totally but something so close. I think this cold has gotten to the point where I am hallucinating. I was coloring this girls hair today, just touching up her roots and all of a sudden I felt like the world around me was going at warp speed, and I am just moving as fast as a slug on a log. At that point I swear it just felt like I could see myself just going super slow while I watched everything just move around me (just like you would in the movies...I watch way to much tv). I tried to tell my brain to move it along, and there was just no going any quicker. The best part is once I got her roots done and had to put the color on the rest of her hair I joined the rest of the salon at the warp speed. It's strange how days can go like that. Yesterday I did 13 clients, today I did 5. Both days were super swamped with people. I guess like anything good and bad days. I'm just glad I didn't get stiffed like I did yesterday. It was really bad yesterday, but luckily for me I was blessed by G's (a co-worker) Navajo crystal and still made good tips (shout out to G and the crystal).