The Adventures of T-Anne, J-Mont, and E-Bear

Update, throughout the holidays, up to Now!

2010-01-26T22:37:00.019-07:00

Okay so it's been so long. Life has been out of control since October. So I guess I will give the long and short of it. At the end of October, Ian and I set out for California to visit my Aunt Gayle and Uncle Dennis. It is a 12 hour drive from Ogden, UT to San Clemente, CA. Why I chose to do this drive with a one year old I will never know. However, I did it, and it was great. Will I do it again? By myself, doubt it, but I can't say never, because then I know I will do it again. Anyway, Ian and I headed to beautiful sunny California where the weather was 80 degrees at the end of October. My Aunt took us to a pumpkin patch where we got to see lots of pumpkins. Ian got to sit on his first dirt bike, and also spent a day at the beach with my cousin Elizabeth. Ian and I got a great little tour of San Diego and Coranado with my cousin as well. I had such a great time!!!

There were tons of pictures from California and I would be here all night if I posted them. So I just posted a few. After five glorious days in Cali, Ian and I set off back to Utah. We stopped in St. George and spent 5 days there. We celebrated Ian's first birthday, Halloween, and my 30th birthday. Since Josh couldn't be there for our birthday's Josh sent me Beautiful Pink roses. 3 days after my birthday Josh flew into Vegas where I picked him up and we spent two days in Vegas celebrating my birthday. It was the best birthday as he took me to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and surprised me with two of my dearest friends who had been waiting for us. It was so awesome being able to catch up with them. (We left our camera in the hotel room, so sadly I have no pictures of the reunion with my friends) Josh also got me my Seahawks jacket I have been wanting for forever. I had no idea he had these surprises up his sleeve. I was so proud and lucky!!! The best part too was that I had Josh to finish the last part of the drive (St. George to Ogden) with me.

Well Thanksgiving came way to quickly. It was so fun, It was just Josh, me, Ian and my brother Darren. I got to cook my very first Thanksgiving dinner all by myself. I had always wanted to do it (just once, I really don't need to do it again). I must say I was pretty proud of my turkey. That night some of Josh's siblings and their families came over and we had a dessert party Thanksgiving style. It was great having everyone over to visit with.

The greatest blessing that came to our family came two weeks before Christmas, was that JOSH GRADUATED!!!! Yep, no more Weber State! He graduated with his degree in Criminal Justice. He will be starting his Masters program in Feb. working toward becoming a licensed counsler. I am so proud of him. He worked so hard and did amazing!

Before I knew it Christmas was here and we were headed to Spokane Washington. My brother and his girlfriend came with us. We were only able to spend 4 days there, but it was a blast being able to see my sister and her family and my adopted parents. We had a great time just relaxing and visiting. Unfortunately we left Ian's Christmas presents at home, so we had to stop at the store so he would have something to open Christmas day.

New Year's came and went. My mom had knee replacement surgery on Dec. 30th, so on Jan.6th, Ian and I were off again. We flew up to Spokane to help her out. We spent a week there. I had a great time being able to help her out. My sister came up (with my niece and nephew) for the weekend and it was so fantastic just spending time with her. We spent a whole day in the kitchen cooking meals, and I loved every minute of it. Ian loved spending time with Grandpa (especially when Grandpa played his electric guitar) and swimming in their ginormous bathtub. :-)

Ian and his cousin Levi, enjoying the other's sippy cup. They never wanted their own.

When I got home, Josh and I decided that we wanted to go spend some time down in St. George. So we packed up our stuff, (and not having been home for even a week) we headed down to St. George. It rained and stormed like no other, but I LOVED every minute of being there. Just spending time with the in-laws and especially my sister in law and her family was truly the best. It was just nice to just sit around and eat and play games. Sunday dinners in St. George are the best. They always have a theme for the dinner. This time it was foods from Finland. It was amazing. We got a great four generation picture with Josh's grandmother, Josh's father, Josh and Ian. I love St. George and just being able to get away.

We are hoping if it is in the cards for us we will be able to move there. Well I have now caught up on my blogging and our adventures. We have some more adventures coming up, next month and hopefully in March, so I will try to keep up this time. :-)

Summer lovin...

2009-08-29T16:40:00.031-06:00

Okay well I have been so crazy busy, I haven't had time to post about our travels since Paris and Roosevelt. My son is sleeping so I guess now would be a good time. At the end of July, Josh, Ian and I drove up to Spokane WA for my brother Garrett's mission farewell. We started our journey going up through Boise ID and up into Moscow ID. That seriously was the longest drive I have ever taken (due to the one lane roads and all the little towns where you can only go 25 mph... (give me the INTERSTATE PLEASE!!!) We drove half way and stayed the night in Boise so Ian could get a little exercise in the pool.

Papa Bear and E-Bear getting ready to go swimming.

On the way to Moscow, we stopped in Riggins ID to get pictures of the Salmon River where it is a Water Rafting town. Josh and I really want to come back to go rafting.

It was so fun to stop in Moscow, as I had lived there quite a few years ago. I hadn't seen my sister in almost a year, it was so good to see her and my nieces and nephews. Ian played so well with his cousins. But then again Ian gets along with all kids he's ever been around.

We went on a tour of downtown Moscow so Josh could see the great sites. ;-) We stopped at a cool art gallery.

We stayed in good ol' Moscow for a couple of hours and then headed on to my adopted parents house in Spokane. I miss that house so much. Josh and I got there and went out and sat on the deck and enjoyed the country air. We did that almost every morning while we were there. It was so peaceful and relaxing. During our stay in Spokane, we went to my brother Garrett's mission farewell (he's headed to Chile). He gave such an incredible talk. It was so awesome to hear him talk about how one day all four of us kids will be able to sit in the temple together. I'm so excited he is serving the Lord right now. He is going to be a great missionary just like my father.

That Sunday after Garretts Farewell, Josh, Ian, and I headed to the airport to go to the Oregon Coast to meet up with Josh's family. It was Ian's second time being on a plane. He did really well, Josh and I were so proud of him. He was a big flirt with the flight attendant.

We got to Depoe Bay, OR and stayed in these beautiful condos (thanks to my mother in laws friend Karen). We shared our condo with Josh's sister, Monica and her family, while my parents-in-law shared theirs with Josh's other sister, Kallee and her family. We had so much fun together. Our view was just incredible overlooking the ocean. I was able to spend two days out on the deck relaxing and reading (thanks to one night of my son keeping me up all night, and the next day Josh getting food poisoning).

The view from our deck.

We spent a lot of time swimming in the pool. We also got to see whales out swimming in the ocean while we were swimming in the pool.

Josh enjoying the pool ;-)

Just for you Kells!

A picture of my two handsome guys.

Our last day we were there we went crabbing. You do a lot of waiting while you wait for the crabs to come into the net, so the girls didn't stick around long while the guys hung out on the pier.
Yep, they caught a turkey leg! Way to go guys! Just kidding it was just the bait.

J-mont's crab :-)

I think I can...I think I can....I got nothin'.....

Marley got a pink starfish, we had to throw it back :-(

After about 10 days of vacation we headed back to Spokane (Ian did great on the flight back), and drove from there back to good old Ogden Utah. After two days of being home all my family came to see Garrett off to the MTC. We had a big family dinner the night before, it was a blast sitting and visiting with everyone
.
It was so hard to say see ya later to Garrett. He has such an incredible spirit about him, I'm so glad he is my younger brother. I don't think I have cried that hard in a while. Poor Ian kept looking at me like I was crazy! It was good to see Garrett go at the same time because I know what he will be doing for the next two years and I couldn't be prouder of him.

Well if you are still reading this, you really must be a true friend. HAHA! This long even for me. Well hope you will join us as our next adventures should take us to California. See-ya next time. ;-)

Slip and Slide

2009-06-23T21:46:00.014-06:00

This is for the Hawks family. Well and anyone else who needs a good laugh. I have to apologize for the witches cackle that you will hear through this video. I didn't realize you would hear me so well when I was videoing (I thank my mother for passing that cackle down to me). So if nothing else you can laugh at my laugh. We went out to Roosevelt to visit my sister in law Autumn and her family. We had so much fun while we were out there. Uncle Ben pulled out the slip and slide for all the kids. We tried to get Josh to go, but he wouldn't give in. Finally he said he would go if Grandma went. Grandma April.......

We love you April!!! Thanks for letting us come play Autumn and Ben, we had a great time!! Can't wait to come out again!
Here are a few pictures from our visit.
This was the hiking group who headed up the mountain behind them.

Here are the happy hikers almost to the top.

Josh and Kiersten enjoying some watermelon! Hang in there Kierst!!!

This is just a personal high point for me watching my hubby go down the slip and slide with the kids.

All of us playing "Capture the Flag".

E-bear and Grandma April playing horsey.

The boys in blue! Ian, Dylan, and Bowdy

All the cutie kiddos before we had to leave.

New York, London, and Paris

2009-06-20T23:43:00.035-06:00

Okay so four years later, I'm blogging again. Mainly for the purpose of family and friends who haven't heard about my trip or seen pictures. We took over 800 pictures so I did the very minimum highlights. Josh and I were given the opportunity to go with his sister, Monica, her husband Danny, their two oldest boys, Daniel and Derrik, a couple, Chris and Linda (Danny and Monica's friends) and my incredible traveling father in law, Monty, on a 5 day trip. Our trip started out Monday night at midnight flying from Salt Lake to New York City. Below is all of us at JFK airport at 7am. We had to be back to the airport by 4pm to catch our flight to London.

This was me first stepping out of the subway station onto 42nd Street. Also known as Times Square. It truly was one of the most amazing places I have ever been. I really don't know how anyone looks strait ahead, there is so much above you to look at.

Here is the whole crew in Times Square. We had met up with some missionaries headed to the Manhattan Temple. They told us it was just a few blocks down. 29 blocks later, we saw the temple.

Monica and I were so excited to see the Wicked billboard. One day Mon's we will go see it! One day!

So we lost quite a few of our New York pictures which I am so sad about. We stopped in Central Park and had a hot dog for lunch. (Thanks Danny for this picture). We also got to see Radio City Music Hall, Rockafeller Center, and of course the Avenue which I feel like I should have been born on...5th Avenue. I got to see my top favorite designer stores and was drooling worse than my teething son.

Once back at the airport our flight left at 6pm. We arrived Tuesday morning at 7am in London England. It was nice and rainy for us. Nothing new as it had poured on us in New York. We got some breakfast and headed off to see the sights of London.

I had been wanting to see the red phone booth and was so excited when I found one, until I opened it and it smelled of urine. Well so much for that.

After wandering around, everyone went into the museum at Trafalgar Square while Josh and I sat outside on the steps and fell asleep. Afterwards we hopped on a bus that took us on a tour of London.

Unfortunately below is what happened to most of us once we got on the bus. I think jet lag kicked in. Sadly for me I really don't remember the rest of London. Luckily Josh got some good shots so I was able to see pictures of what I missed.

After the bus breaking down and us having to catch another bus, then getting wrong directions from a few of the Brits we climbed into taxi's and headed to our hotel. I remember my bed and my pillow. :-) The next morning we got up at 4am and headed to the train station to catch the 5am train headed to Paris, France.

Can I just say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Paris! I had such an amazing time there. We spent two days in Paris. Starting out getting lost in the ghetto of St. Denis which is a (GHETTO) suburb of Paris. Then walked for about an hour to our hotel. We finally got to set our backpacks down! YAY! Then we were off to the heart of Paris. We started out at the Arc De Triomphe.

Next we headed to the Eiffel Tower. We got to climb that big ol' tower. What was it Mon's, 500 flights???? :-) So I found out that the first flight of stairs totaled 38. The second set that we climbed totaled 19. Yeah that's pretty close to 500. :-) It was one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen at the top. Well you can't climb to the very top, but the top meaning as high as they let you go, which is about in the middle of the tower.

The second day of our trip we headed over to the Louvre. I have to admit the first hour that I spent there was I was pretty bored. All Josh wanted to see was the Mona Lisa and the Venus De Milo statue. All I really wanted to see was the Napolean Apartments (which are inside the Louvre). We ended up going a second time that day to the Louvre and I have to say that I became much more fasinated with it. I could go again and really spend a day there. You really can't imagine how much there really is to see.

Us just taking a breather at the Louvre.

My favorite part of the whole Louvre. The Napolean Apartments. Everything has been left the same since Napolean the 3rd (Napolean Bonaparte's nephew) lived here. It truly was an incredible sight.

Below was our boat we took a tour on. It took us up and down the Seine River where we saw everything over and over again, it was nice to relax our feet.

And finally for our most favorite place... Notre Dame. Yep we ended up back here 6 different times. Mainly because we loved watching the Gypsies try to get money from anyone that spoke english, as well as the crepe stand down the street where we stuffed our faces. Yes my husband did walk around with his back hunched calling out "Sanctuary". My nephew Derrik really got into the action by tying his sweatshirt around his head and walking up to each member of our group with a white note asking us if we spoke english. Yeah......we had FUN!

Saturday morning we were up at 5am to head to the airport to catch our flight. We had crossiants for breakfast and they were truly amazing! I ate 3 and still could have had more. Even though it was a short trip it was the coolest trip of my entire life. Thank you Danny, Monica, and Monty for the best trip EVER! I can't wait for our next adventure! "This way Cosmo's, this way!!!!"

Below are some really cool pictures Josh took, so I played with the coloring to make them look professional. Hope you like. :-)

Times Square-New York

Trafalgar Square-London

Eiffel Tower

View from the top of the Eiffel Tower

Louvre

Notre Dame

Spring Break

2009-03-17T15:55:00.013-06:00

So I have received a few requests for pictures of my Ian Bear, they are random pictures from out trip. This last week we spent Josh's spring break down in St. George. It was such a nice relaxed vacation. I enjoyed every minute. Momma Hawks and I bonded over a sewing machine where she taught me how to sew a skirt. I am so excited to sew some more, I loved it. We didn't have time to finish it, so I am thinking about going back in April to spend some more time with her sewing machine. Josh and I decided to go to Vegas for a day and stay a night in Circus Circus. I was in cheesy game heaven there, I wanted to play everything. I loved winning all the stuffed animals for Ian (which between Josh and I were a ton). Josh and I had a blast, it felt like being a kid again. The best part was going to Fremont Street for my Deep Fried Twinkies. Yes that is my new obsession. Who knew you could clog an artery with one bite. Well if I die from eating one, it was worth it. ;-) We had so much fun and really appreciate Momma Hawks coming with us to watch Ian so we could play. Thanks Momma Hawks for everything, we had such a great time visiting with you and just relaxing. I can't wait to come again and spend more time with everyone. While I was down there I turned Momma Hawks kitchen into a salon. My sister in law Monica came over with her 6 kids, and I did all of their hair except for 2 of my nephews. We talked about getting before and after pictures, but we forgot. Oh well. Another time I suppose. It was so nice to get to do so much hair, I loved it! We also went to the fiesta fun park in St. George and had a great time playing mini-golf with the kids. Okay well Monica, Bryce and I all talked as we walked to each hole the kids played. I got to visit with family, go to lunch with old friends, and just relax. It was a fabulous spring break. Next my travels take me back to Washington at the end of this month. I can't wait to see my family and friends up there.

Fiesta Fun Park

Vegas! I love the Night Life, I love to Boogey! Oh and the M&M factory too!

Me and Ian Bear in Grandma's backyard

Ian and his cousin Macey
Our little pot-bellied stallion (Josh's nickname)
Family portrait at the Fiesta Fun Park
My favorite picture of Ian, it just makes me laugh
Ian sitting in the high chair at Grandmas. He's getting to be so big.

Photoshoot

2009-01-10T21:30:00.005-07:00

So this last week I was able to fly up to Spokane to see my family (shout out to Monica...thanks again, it meant a lot to me). It was definitely an interesting week. My sisters basement flooded from all the rain melting the 5 feet of snow they had. Thanks to the property management company that runs my sisters townhouse we were able to enjoy a sleepless night at a local hotel, thanks Gabe ;-) I do have to say the highlight of my trip was watching my sister run across the street with perm rods in her hair to get the maintainence man as the downstairs began to flood. Okay well that wasn't the main highlight, but it sure makes for an awesome memory. Love ya kell!

While I was up there my Aunt Lori, did a photo shoot with my sister and I and our kids. It was such a blast, she is such an amazing photographer. These were my favorite shots. I have some favorites that she took of my sisters kids too, but I thought I would let her post them first if she wants to. I have always always wanted a photo of me and my sister and now I have such an awesome one. Thanks Jell for being one of my best friends. I love you sis!

Holiday Spirits

2008-12-12T16:51:00.006-07:00

It's been hard recently and I haven't wanted to get on a blog much. I know I so should be in the holiday spirits and it has been hard to get into. Josh had been pushing me to get a Christmas tree, so I finally gave in and we got one. It's my first Christmas tree that I can say is mine (well and Josh's too). It's more in the fact of I got to pick it out, and I got to decorate it how I wanted, in my whole life, I've never done that. When I was a kid and my mom was alive I would mimic her so I could decorate the tree exactly how she did it the next year. I wanted my tree to be something she would be proud of. Simple and elegant. Now I don't have that much, cuz we are poor, but I feel like I did it. Decorating the tree with my mom is one of the good memories I have.
Josh's family all collects Department 56 Christmas Villages. So I thought it would be good for me to set that up. It took me two hours. I'm leaving that village up til February. There are so many pieces, I had forgotten the effort it takes to put up, strangely I DO remember the effort it takes to take it down (I'll need a prayer for that one ;-) )

Josh is so great, he reminds me everyday how Christmas is his favorite time of year. So along with the tree and the village, I thought that if I listened to Christmas music everyday it would help. It has perked me up a little. I would get frustrated that because we don't have much money this year, I can't buy presents for everyone that I want to, I can't afford to send out cute Christmas cards Then I thought about Christmas shopping and Christmas cards, and I got negative about it. Why do we put ourselves through the craziness of shopping long and hard to find a present, just to have to possibly find a box for it, then nicely wrap that box, just so it can be torn open in 2.3 seconds? Then I thought WHY do we torture ourselves with Christmas cards? Finding the right cards, the torture of getting the family picture, addressing 3 million envelopes, stamping all of them, just so people can look at it and throw the card away.
Thats when I remembered last year and the excitement of my husband when I surprised him with tickets to his favorite music band. Then I thought of my little Ian and next year and the year after that, the excitement I will get to see on his face when he rips open his presents. That thought made it worth it to me.
I thought about how much I love seeing the cute pictures friends send seeing their kids grow, and imaging everyone in the picture going crazy right up until the photographer says, "smile", and then you have this great picture. I love reading what friends have been up to through the year. So what the heck is my problem?
I haven't incorporated my Savior into my Christmas this year. I have been so utterly focused on all my families issues and wondering how things are going to work out, that I have not once thought about Him. I haven't stopped to think what can I do to serve him and others. I have forgotten that I don't have to buy presents in order to "do something nice for someone". Now I know we should be thinking about this always and not just during the Christmas season, but it is kinda pushed on us more this time of year. So I'm going to stop dwelling on the fact that I can't just go out and buy stuff (because that is the easy route), but find other alternatives to helping others, always.

Whenever Josh has seen me a little down, he always tells me, "I don't care about presents or what we do this year for Christmas, all that matters is that I have you and Ian." I still don't know how I got so lucky to have married such a good man. So today I had my brother be our photographer (because once again we are poor, I know... who isn't these days, right?) and took our little family picture. So I could be reminded that it's my little family that matters, and most important putting my Savior first.

Twilight

2008-11-23T11:28:00.002-07:00

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

You are observant, diplomatic and often aim to please. You are unaware of your attractiveness and despite being uncomfortable with any form of attention, people enjoy your company. You can be impatient, stubborn and headstrong, but you are true to your word and mature for your age, often taking care of your family and enjoying a good book over chatting with girlfriends on the phone.

Who would have thunk it?! Me Bella...I can't wait to see this movie. Monica and April...I'm on countdown!

2 week check up

2008-11-15T14:02:00.005-07:00

I know I really should be napping right now because I am so exhausted, but when your mind is going a million miles an hour and you really can't leave at the moment to go do the errands you need to, and you really don't want to clean your house, or do your laundry that has piled up for days.....you sit at the computer and blog.
Yesterday was Ian's two week checkup.
I was a little nervous that his weight wouldn't be back up as he has been throwing up a lot lately. Luckily he has gained his birth weight back along with a few more ounces. His weight was in the 23 percentile. His length was in the 33rd, and his little (yes little) head was in the 27th. According to the doctor, she said that was all perfect and he was right on where he needed to be. I was happy with that. The highlight of the doctors visit was Ian rolling over on the table. I had laid Ian flat on his back and he rolled over onto his side and then onto his tummy. The doctor about flipped out. She kept saying over and over, "you aren't supposed to do that yet". She kept stressing to me that I needed to really watch him now if he is doing that...gee ya think?! Thanks for the warning doc....I'm so in trouble all ready. I really can't complain though, I have been so blessed. Ian is such a great little baby. He really only screams when he has to have his diaper changed or when we give him a bath. Otherwise he is as chill as his daddy (thank the heavens for that one). I just pray that since he looks like me, he will take on his daddy's personality. I am soooooo in trouble if he has just an ounce of my personality. It will be interesting though to watch and see what my mother taught him in heaven. I know she taught him things to do to irritate me. I'm waiting, and scared to death for my payback. ;-)

I love St. George

2008-11-11T21:19:00.012-07:00

So there are probably quite a few mothers out there who will read this and think I am psycho, but that's okay, cuz it was worth it. This last weekend I was getting cabin fever very badly, and made the suggestion to Josh we go visit his family down in St. George. Josh had a three day weekend so he was thrilled with the idea. So we packed up our week old baby, and headed 6 hours south to sunny (70 degree weathered) St. George. Ian did so awesome, we stopped once to feed and change him, and he slept the rest of the drive. We got there pretty late friday night as the idea hadn't occured to me until 4pm. The next morning at 6am, Josh and I were up to go yard sale-ing with Josh's dad, and sister Monica. I'd never been on the "hunt" before, so this was an all new experience. We had a great time going all over St. George trying to find a "new find". I got a brand new ice cream maker, just in time for winter ;-) . By about 11am the back of Monica's mini-van was filled with all kinds of great things we found. One of my favorite things about St. George is the magnificent burger joint...In-n-Out. So with Monica and her hubby Danny, and the parents in law, we hit up In-n-Out. I seriously think I could eat there everyday. It always reminds me of growing up in California and eating there as a kid.

Later we went to visit Josh's grandma and got a generation picture. Cute Auntie Monica with Ian
Ian wore himself out hangin around with cousin Dylan. ;-)

That night, Josh, Monica, Danny and I all took a little trip over to Mesquite, NV for some good ol' buffet-ing (yeah it's my new word). It was awesome catching up with Monica and Danny, as we don't see them very often.

Thank you to Mama and Papa Hawks for watching all the kids for us, you are heaven sent!!!!!
Sunday was a great day of napping and football.

Mama Hawks made a fabulous Sunday dinner, and we had a short family home evening.
We had such a blast just hanging out with everyone. Monday we had to get back, we made one last stop to In-n-Out and were on our way home. Ian once again did awesome and we just stopped once for a feeding. I feel so lucky to have such a good little one (I know, I know...for the time being). I got teary leaving knowing I had to one come back to cloudy Ogden, and two leaving the family. I had such a great time with them, I'm gonna start looking at housing down there.

P.S. Alisha if you read this I'm sorry I didn't come see you. Next time I will hopefully know ahead of time and we can get together.

Baby Ian

2008-11-01T19:34:00.009-06:00

Well the wait is finally over. Ian Bruce Hawks has finally joined us in this world. Thursday Oct. 30th, I went into the hospital at 7am to be induced. We got things going around 9am, after an hour of contractions I was screamin for the epideral. Thanks Epideral, you are my new best friend!!! By 12:30 I was dilated to a 5. I figured it would be a while before I got to a 10 so I sent my mom and Josh out to get some lunch. When they got back at 1:30 I was dilated to a 9. By 2:30, I was at a 10 and ready to go. At 3:00, the doctor had me start pushing, I pushed for an hour, and at 3:56pm, Ian was here. I had such an awesome nurse. After I was all stitched up and ready to go, they moved me to my room. It was so great to have Josh and my mom there with me. My Mother-in-law, along with my brother Darren came to see me that evening. It truly is an incredible experience. It was so neat to watch Josh's reaction to everything, he is such an amazing daddy already. He loves holding his little boy, and has been waiting on me hand and foot and won't leave the baby's side. I truly couldn't ask for a better husband. I'm just so excited to be home now, especially knowing that I won't have someone coming in my room every few hours to take my vitals, or blood, or ask me something random. I feel so blessed to have such a happy, healthy baby. I know with out a doubt the Lord was watching over our little family throughout this whole experience. Hope you all enjoy the pictures. ;-)

Pain

2008-09-22T00:33:00.006-06:00

I'm sitting here at 12:30 in the morning because I can't sleep. Yay for pregnancy...well that and I have pretty much slept on the couch most of the day. Saturday night I threw my back out pretty bad after being on my feet for 8 solid hours. So I spent all of today on the couch, so along with the back pain I got to be lucky enough to feel the baby trying to punch a hole through my stomach. I was literally getting it from both sides. Josh was gone at work, then to church, then to a family gathering, so getting up and down by myself was some serious work. All day all I felt was pain. I was so frustrated that I couldn't do anything. When Josh came home tonight, he told me our neighbor was in the hospital again, she overdosed on her meds. My heart was broken as she had promised us so many times that she wouldn't do that again. Josh called his hometeaching companion and told me they were going over to the hospital to give her a blessing. I needed to go. I threw my pain aside and got up and went to the hospital. She was so happy to see us. It broke my heart as she talked about the good things in life that were going for her, and then relayed the sad reasoning as to why she wanted to end her life. Josh gave her a beautiful blessing, reminding her of the atonement and it's purpose, and of the love of our Heavenly Father. When we got home Josh made the comment about how great it's been that he has been able to give so many blessings recently. As I have sat here I realize how negative I have been, being sad for myself with all this pain I have felt, when I have been given such great blessings. I feel so blessed to have married a man who is worthy to hold the priesthood, and help be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to help others. I'm blessed to have the atonement in my life and know the truthfulness of it. I think of the pain that Jesus suffered in the garden for me, and my pain grows smaller each time I think of my older brother giving his life on the cross. The biggest blessing of all is knowing that there is a God who loves me, and is rooting for me to make it back home to Him. It's sad when trials come upon us, but joyous when we can overcome them by remembering the blessings we have been given.

Name for baby

2008-09-08T21:08:00.004-06:00

I have been so blessed to have married a man with the patience of a saint. We have grown so much together in the last year. It really has been a rollercoaster of a ride, working through our issues and really getting to know one another. We have so much more to really learn about each other and I look forward to those days. We had days I wasn't sure if we would make it, but I look at him now and wonder how I really ever made it through so much in life without him. I can't begin to express how much love I have for this man, who does so much for me each day to make sure that I am taken care of. He has become my best friend and my rock.

This is a short post, only because I want to share with those reading this, my husbands blog that he recently wrote. It really touched me to the core. We have decided on our sons name and Josh shares the story so beautifully. So I would rather you read it through his blog, titled "What's in a name". www.fanofboozer.blogspot.com, or just click on "Josh" on the side of my blog. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :-)

The way life goes

2008-08-30T21:45:00.004-06:00

Last week my sister, my best friend next to my husband, moved to Moscow, ID. My brother-in-law decided to return to school to get his PhD. I'm super excited for them because I know how much they love it there and have so many friends there. Some may think that it's no big deal, but for me its so much more than that. My sister and I have not been apart for almost the last 5 years. Up until I met my husband she has been my rock. I consider her kids to be my kids. When we were young and would fight, my mom would always tell us, "one day, you two will be all you have." In these last years, I have been there and felt that, where my sister was all I had. It's been a very hard thing to endure not having my sister close by. For me the hardest part is knowing that I cannot be there when she needs me. It breaks my heart when she has a hard day with the kids and I can't be there to help take over. It hurts to know she won't be here when my baby comes, but it's okay, I know it's not by choice. She has taught me a lot about myself, and I love her dearly for it. I will miss our movie nights more than anything...something salty, sweet, and chocolatey. I know she's not dead, she's only 12 hours away, but for me, and loosing so many people in my life, this has been hard. Sorry it may be depressing, but I needed to get this out. I love ya Jells!!!!!

If you need something cheery.....my awesome Aunt Kristi loaded me up on baby furniture this week. I got the crib, the basinet, the baby vibrating chair, a swing, and a garbage bag full of clothes. I am excited about the crib, it's green and I can't wait to get some blue spray paint and stencil in my Seattle Seahawks logo. Josh isn't all that thrilled (as he wants everything to be decorated in Utah Jazz) but, I think he will survive. Now I just need to get a Seattle Seahawks baby jersey and I am set...well that and a truck load of diapers. Anyone know of a Pampers truck I can hijack!? ;-)

Aloha-Hawaii

2008-08-09T20:42:00.024-06:00

Every where I go I just want to say Aloha. Lame I know but when you say it everywhere for a solid week I guess it just becomes one of those things. Josh and I were so lucky to be given the opportunity to go to Hawaii with my awesome parents-in-law for a week. We stayed on the island of Oahu and a block from Waikiki beach. It was absolutely one of the most incredible vacations I have ever got to go on. We relaxed and did enough where I felt I saw most of the island. It was just beautiful.
Our first day we spent relaxing on the beach, once Josh was nice and lobsterish-looking we decided to head out and go shopping. We hit up the International Market Place. I was in bartering heaven. I learned to get things, 2 for $5. I think I wore my father in law out with my shopping.

The next day we were up at 5:30am to start out at Pearl Harbor. I was in awe. They first sit you in a theater for a movie with the real footage from 1941, then take you out to the memorial. I teared up quite a bit as I come from a navy family. This was so huge for me. It was amazing how quite and peaceful it is there. But then again it is an underwater cemetery. Following Pear Harbor we went over to the Aloha Stadium for some serious bartering and shopping..aka the "swap meet". The whole stadium is surrounded with kiosks. We walked around the whole stadium. Again I think I wore my father in law out as he informed me he had never done that before. ;-) After the swap meet, we headed to Laie, to the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). That place is unreal. It was such a blast learning about the different islands. The luau was funny in the sense that our main entertainer made you feel like you were at a Las Vegas show instead of a Hawaiian luau. At one point in the show the host called all the couples up that were celebrating an anniversary or a honeymoon there to come up and slow dance. I refused as Josh and I were celebrating our one year anniversary, but my in-laws insisted, so we went up in front of tons and tons of people and slow danced. Okay so it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but still it was a little awkward.

The day following we headed back to Laie to see the temple and then off to snorkel at a place called Sharks Cove. Unfortunately for all you lucky souls, I didn't get any pictures of us with our snorkel gear. I however had a bit of an issue with the snorkeling since I had never done it before. I had a few anxiety attacks and called it quits. Josh decided the next morning we would work on my breathing techniques in the pool before we go snorkeling again.
Just one of our gorgeous sunsets we got to see every night.

So the next day I practiced in the pool until I felt comfortable that I could snorkel just fine in sharks cove. Before heading to Sharks cove for the second time, we planned to do two things, one Josh and I were on a mission to find "Dog the Bounty Hunters" main office. We found it. De Kine Bonds. I was so excited, and sad that we didn't get to see him, but it was still surreal that we found the office and got a few souvenirs at the gift shop round the corner. Following that we had decided to attend a session in the Hawaii temple. It was so beautiful. There was a man at the front desk who gave us quite a history lesson on the temple.

One of the amazing scenery's we were able to see as we circled round the island on our way to the temple. After the temple, we hit up Sharks Cove where I am thrilled to say that I snorkeled like a pro...well almost. We first went out pretty far and got close to this cave and I pretty much freaked out and jumped on Josh's back. After that I was pretty calm. It was so unreal, I saw so many incredible fish and swam with sea turtles.

As for our last day there, we went to church and then visited a military cemetery, which they call the Punch Bowl. The peacefulness that resides there was just unreal. At the top of it there is an overlook of Honolulu and Waikiki.

This was me after the walk back down the hill from the overlook...me tired..HA!

For people who have wanted to see my belly, here it is...27 weeks

On the way to the airport my last memory of Hawaii. Thanks to my in-laws for such an amazing trip. I couldn't ask for anything better!

My newest Nephew

2008-07-10T20:55:00.009-06:00

Wednesday morning July 9, 2008 at 8:42am my nephew Levi Garrett Foutch was born.
I got to be there with my sister through the whole child bearing. Let me first say I had no desire to see anything. I was at the head of the bed, there to support my sister and be a good first time coach. Who knew you could still get a first rate view of everything at the head of the bed. I was so amazed at how fast the whole thing went. The doctor came in at 8am to induce, 8:15 was the enormous needle inserted into my sisters backside, and after just two pushes at 8:42 the baby was here (I am beginning to plead with the Lord that my labor goes that fast). Its such a strange moment that continuously replays over and over in my head.

The best was that when I first held the baby, I teased my brother in law that he looked Jewish, with his very prominent nose. (Sidenote: originally the baby's name was going to be Matthew Bruce, and he had gone by that name all day after being born.) Wednesday night after I had left the hospital my sister and brother in law began to talk about how he didn't look like a Matthew. I had thought the same thing, but didn't say anything cuz he wasn't my baby. Come to find out my siblings and my cousin all had felt the same way about the name. My brother in law was then prompted with the name of Levi Garrett, who is a Hebrew ancestor on my mothers side. They both felt so strongly about that name. I thought it was perfect and very fitting.

I have to say it was an amazing experience, and I feel very calm now about what I will have to go through now that I have seen the procedure. I'm so super excited especially because my little man will have a cousin who is the same age to play with.
My brother Garrett joined in on the pictures with my sis and I

My sister Jelly and her adorable growing family My nephew Gabe wanted to go home in the baby's car seat...um about that.....

Where was smokey the bear?

2008-07-01T18:13:00.007-06:00

So this last weekend or the week before (I'm not sure of dates, because I can't remember what I did yesterday) Josh and I drove 3 hours to a remote place called Moon Lake to spend some quality time with his family camping. Any of you who know me know that my idea of camping is in a hotel with no cable, so I was happy when I found out we had cabins to sleep in. Being 5 months pregnant and the thought of sleeping on the ground was not so appealing. I must say I was overjoyed beyond anything when I saw the outhouses actually had indoor plumbing. I gave a prayer of thanks. LOL! I really had a great time hangin with the fam. We played cards, watched the kids play in the freezing cold lake, sent all the guys off to fish, and the best part was watching Josh throw our 45 pound old english bulldog into the lake. No need to report us to the "cruelty of animals" commission, as one, it was our way of giving him a bath, and two, Josh was right on hand when our dog went under for a second and Josh almost had to dive under to get him. He came back up and proved he could swim with ease. It was fun just to relax and watch the kids play and sit by the camp fire. I have to say that is one of my favorite things to do, just sit by the campfire, eating snacks, and B.S.ing with everyone.
All the women folk. Me with my sisters and mother in law.
Josh and Brutus. Josh would throw a stick out into the lake and brutus would go after it as long as it wasn't too far out, when it was too far out, he would stop and just back up all the way to shore. I have never laughed so hard, it was a sight to see.
My sister-in-law Autumn and me with my beloved Diet Coke. Can't leave home without it.
Josh caught a total of 33 fishes. I think I last heard that all together the boys caught over 100 fish.
Wow I was thrilled for this shot. ;-) I'm guessing I just woke up.
Thanks Kallee for all the pictures. ;-)

The big day

2008-06-17T21:38:00.002-06:00

For Josh and I today was like Christmas. We were like little kids waiting and waiting to see what the ultrasound had in store for us. Josh was sure we were having a girl and I was certain we were having a boy. We both have been wanting a boy. Luckily we had a great ultrasound tech. who told us right away. We are having a BOY! I'm so excited, I even got teary. For those of you wondering, our little darling had no problem showing us he was a boy. ;-) The tech even gave us a picture of it to prove it. I really didn't need that much proof, but thanks. Now if we could only decide on a name. I like Aiden Joshua, and Josh likes Bryant Joshua....who knows, knowing us it will probably change next week.

ABC Tag

2008-06-10T05:40:00.002-06:00

Thanks Kayla...I borrowed this from ya ;-)
ABC Tag...

A-Attached or Single?- Attached. Thank goodness
B-Best Friend?- I have 3.
C-Cake or Pie?- Neither really. I'm a cookie girl
D-Day of Choice?- Sunday, no obligations, what can I say I have slacker written all over my forehead
E-Essential Item?- cell phone, it's a love hate relationship
F- Favorite color?- Probably pink, I love all colors really
G-Gummy Bears or Worms?- Worms all the way, I love the red and clear ones, I need to go get some now, they sound so good.
H-Hometown?-what's considered hometown?
I-Favorite Indulgence? Something sweet, salty, and chocolate, all at the same time
J-January or July?- July, it's warm
K-Kids? one on the way, who is learning already to keep me up in the night, remind me to thank you when you come out.
L-Life isn't complete without? talking to my sister or brandi once a day
M-Marriage Date?- July, 20 2007
N-Number of brothers and sisters? 1 sister, 2 brothers
O-Oranges or Apples?- Both as long as they are pre-sliced for me, I hate cutting fruit
P-Phobia and Fears? Drowning. Funny thing is I love to be in the ocean and pools, I hate lakes. Yeah I'm weird, I know.
Q-Quote? Deal with it!
R-Reason to smile? My baby brother is moving here today. I've missed being around him.
S-Season of choice? Spring...when we have it. I love the perfect temps when it's so nice and warm. I love being warm.
T-Tag ten people? Whoever wants to do it. I'm sure there's gotta be ten of you.
U-Unknown fact about me? I can't think of anything at the moment so any of you still reading this can make something up and start a rumor if you want to.
V-Vegetable? Green beans. I can eat them right out of the can. I love it. Again weird I know.
W-Worst habit? Josh would probably say, nagging him to do stuff around the house.
Y-Your favorite food? Being pregnant it changes every week. I have been pretty sick this week so I can't say for sure. Normally I would say any Chips and or Candy. ;-)
Z-Zodiac Sign? Scorpio

I've been way to lazy

2008-05-27T18:13:00.007-06:00

So back after a month, here I am. Unfortunately I believe the medication the doctor had me on was causing me to pretty much want to lay down and die. I really haven't cared about anything and have just wanted to stay in bed, serious depression folks. So I decided to go off it and I have felt much more like my sassy self. So on with life shall we......
At the beginning of the month Josh and my brother Darren and I went to Las Vegas. We stopped in St. George for two days and then went on to Vegas for another two days to spend with my Aunt and Uncle from Florida. It was a blast hanging out with them, especially since my Aunt has to have everything planned right down to the last "whatever". Can I tell you how much I love buffets. Uh, I love BUFFETS. I think I had three plates each meal, which I am not embarrassed about one bit, I am feeding for two, ;-). Side note speaking of Buffets. My baby brother Garrett calls me when we got back and says, "I shouldn't tell you what Darren said about you in Vegas," I started laughing and said, "what that I am a big pig at the buffets?" He was silent and says, how did you know? I figured he would say just as much. I still get a kick out of that.

Anyway back to the trip, while in St. George we went to ride the bumper boats, go-carts, and had a blast at the batting cages.
Josh had way too much fun soaking me on the bumper boats.
When we hit up Vegas we stayed in the older part of Vegas (which I call the Old "Ghetto" Strip), and had way too much fun. I think my brother and Josh hit up every Casino on the strip. I could only handle about half. Here are just a few pics from our trip. I got to spin the wheel for a "free something" at the Monte Carlo, I won a free drink from Starbucks.... just what I always wanted. ;-)

Could Friday night get any better?!

2008-04-25T22:17:00.012-06:00

So I am sitting at home on the computer on a friday night while my husband is downstairs watching all the basketball playoffs. However, I cannot be mad at him, I did manage to get him to help clean the house, yes literally CLEAN the house. He is really awesome when it comes to helping me. Okay done bragging. ;-)

Anyway, so I thought it might be fun to post all my different colors of hair I have had recently in the last couple of months, okay okay, and weeks. Yes it's changed 3 different times in the last couple of weeks. Come on now, we all should be used to this by now. Why am I doing this? I don't know because I am bored and I personally think it's kinda funny to see all my different hair colors and lengths. So here goes.....
This hair excursion began in August of 2007-this is what Josh considers normal hair....
I love Red!!!!
It was necessary to be blonde again, not sure as to why, but it was necessary...
Now it's time to chop it off....then time to think pink... This was my favorite, I don't care what my future children will think of me!

The pink became too costly, so back to brown we go....or do we????

Yeah not for long, I call it.....Raspberry, my own concoction. ;-)
That too didn't last.... so as of right now it's Raspberry and black. Who knows how long this one will last, it's fun for now.

I love pictures.

Bored out of my Ding Dong

2008-04-23T22:29:00.009-06:00

So I love that phrase. My boss uses it all the time, and tonight it applies. My hubby is still at work and there is nothing on tv. It's sad because I have been doing so much lately, went to the Zoo, had a party for my brother, took a color class, went to a funeral, I have so many things I could go on about and have no desire. Maybe when you are at the the point of complete and utter boredom nothing will suffice. So I will throw a few pictures on here, don't worry none from the funeral, that could go very badly, besides, I didn't take any while I was there, so HA!
This is me and my nephew Deklan on his birthday at the Zoo. (Yep it's a new color I am sporting this week, don't worry will get to that some other time...maybe)

Sorry honey, this is my new boyfriend Eddie...

Me and B on the train ride of LAMENESSSSSSSSS

These are the pets I brought home, but Josh made me take them back, I just don't understand why!

That comes from where????

2008-04-11T16:29:00.003-06:00

So we had our official first doctors visit and got our first ultra sound. I still wasn't sure what I was looking at, but I pointed out the head and was right, so I guess there really is a baby there. It was so neat to hear the heartbeat. Josh came with me, and it was so nice to have him there minus the..."well I guess you really are pregnant now." All day after the appointment that's what I got to hear. It's official I'm not faking sick. ;-) The second best part of the doctors visit was while we were sitting in the waiting area we were given books to look at and one of them had explicit pictures of child birth. Josh's eyes got big and says "ewwww gross, I can't believe that comes from there. I said, Well sherlock where else would it come from. He says, I don't know but that is just wrong. "
Gotta love guys and their thinking. I really was happy that he came with. If you end up reading his blog, it's the more sentimental side of all of it, so I am glad he wrote the good stuff. 10 Weeks: Your baby, now barely the size of a kumquat, weighs less than a quarter of an ounce. (Length: a little over 1 inch, head to bottom.) Well folks for those wondering about what a kumquat is, there you go ;-)

Besides the doctors visit, my coolest sister-in-law (yes B, that would be you) finally spilled the beans that she is gonna have a baby. I am so excited because we are gonna be pregnant together. She is two weeks ahead of me. We have talked about being pregnant together for so long and to have it happen is so exciting. So now, lets see....my sister is due in July, my friend Dharma is due in August, B is due in October, I am due in Nov, oh yeah Nov. 4, and my other sister in law called to tell us she is due in December. WOW! Talk about an out pouring of kids.

Okay I am back from the land of the DEAD!

2008-04-02T22:20:00.002-06:00

So yes these last couple of weeks have killed me....almost. I have had no desire to come near this computer. So I apologize for the lack of update. I have been so tired and sick, sick and tired... just nauseated, thank goodness, no throwy-up-ey. Luckily this will all make you all puke when you hear that I have had the best supportive husband through these last couple of weeks. Like the night I was screaming for a taco bell salad and Josh could not understand for the life of him why I just couldn't eat anything here in the house, finally after playing the martyr (which yes I am good at) he went and got my salad. He is learning though. Especially the other night when I came home from work in a dire need for steak, which totally threw me cuz I like steak, (but man I don't crave it like this) and Josh didn't question me, I went to the store and got some steak and cooked it. He's beginning to understand. It's funny how people keep asking me so how you feeling, I feel like crap and I feel like adopting next time I consider having a child, thanks for asking. ;-) Good times, Good times. Okay well I really don't say that, but you know I think it every single time.
Well BABY update, I'm 9 weeks along and my baby is the size of a grape. MMMMM grapes, torr remember when we used to do the frozen grapes in college??? Those were my favorite, I still do that sometimes.
Anyway, back to the baby, and the fact that the tail is gone this week, HOORAY!!!!! for no more tail. Oh and hands and feet are there too. Okay this is enough, my unisom is kickin in, must go to bed now.

I had a retard sandwich today

2008-03-20T19:23:00.002-06:00

Okay so I am officially dumb and forgot to save my old blog template and lost everyones blog addresses. So if you could all leave your blog address for me so I can re-add you and save it like a smartie I really am, that would be awesome.

Thanks!!!!!!

Chips and Salsa for one

2008-03-11T21:36:00.003-06:00

So I have had the wonderful enjoyment of being nauseated. Lucky me. Last night I wasn't feeling it and on the way home from work I really wanted chips and salsa. Not just any chips and salsa, Chili's Chips and Salsa. If you haven't figured it out, I'm obsessed with Chili's. So I call Josh and tell him I am going to stop by there and see if they will let me have some "to-go". He tells me to just go to the store and get some chips and salsa, he actually said, "it's the same thing". I'll take " UH, NO" for $200, Alex. I was livid that he actually fought me on it. So I said forget that I'm going. I'm nervous to go into Chili's and get C&S, because I didn't call ahead. Well I walked in there and the guy asks if he can help me and I look at him and said, "you are going to think I am crazy, and that's okay, but I am pregnant and I am really craving chips and salsa and I just got off work and didn't have your number to call and order, can I have some?" Seriously, he looked at me like "yes you are crazy, and I really didn't need to hear all of that". He was sweet and got me my C&S. I love Chili's and the poor waiters to have to listen to crazy people like me!

Two lines does mean positive right?

2008-03-04T18:20:00.007-07:00

Holy crap, I am still in shock and still really am not sure if I believe it, but the test had two pink lines. So.....I'm gonna have a baby.

It's still so weird. At first we had decided that we would wait until after our first doctors appointment to tell people, but then the doctors appt. isn't til April and I will be 10 weeks by then. I told Josh I wanted to tell everyone and it slowly started leaking out, cuz I can't keep my mouth shut. Josh really didn't want me saying anything until went to the doctor, but I just can't hold it in anymore. I'm just too excited.

The one person that I didn't tell was my friend "G" at my work, who I think is awesome. I walked by her and she looks at me and says, "are you pregnant?" I was stunned. I said how did you know? She says, I felt it when you walked by. I just stood there with my mouth opened. I said how on earth did you feel it, she said, I felt the ora (or-rah) I don't know how to spell it. ;-) G is so great, since she is Native American she is very in tune with things like that. So it doesn't make my job dull at all.

I was reading on a baby site and found out this week my baby is the size of a poppy seed. Wow.

---There it is that is the size of my kid.

Funny how that is the size of the baby when I really feel like this is what is in my stomach:

Oh this is soooo gonna be a long 9 months. Wish me luck for goodness sake, cuz I am gonna need it. To the mothers out there who have done this before, God bless you!!!!

Girls night out....gone wrong?

2008-02-20T11:30:00.008-07:00

First off I am making a sincere apology to Liz, and hope she will go out with Brandi and I again. We are two girls who sometimes just don't know when to just shut up. ;-) We love you Liz and have promised that next time we go out, we WILL have FUN!!!!!!

So last Saturday night Brandi, Liz, and I decided to have a girls night and just go out and have some fun. Well we kinda left the fun at home and brought our horrible days that we had had with us. My day at work had put me in a most miserable mood, Brandi's day at home had done the same for her. Sadly it turned into a bitch-fest at dinner, then after dinner, then before the comedy show, then on the way home.

We started at Chili's, the home of the two entree meal and three appetizers that Brandi and I have become so fond of sharing.

MMMMM more food for us to shovel in our faces....

After dinner we went to the comedy club hoping that we could get in some laughs for the evening, we had a few before the show even started as Brandi was focused on her, I couldn't keep my eyes open from the flash to save my soul, and the people behind us joined in on our pictures. ;-)

Once the show started the MC was great. However the headliner was a whole different story. He wasn't crude or anything, just very odd and not funny at all. We three were so bored we got up and left. At least we got some fun pictures out of it. Thanks Liz for putting up with us! You really are a gem! :-)

Happy Red Hearts Day

2008-02-14T22:37:00.003-07:00

Waking up on Valentines with a tired and crabby attitude is not the best way to start the day. Somehow I managed to pull it off. I haven't been sleeping at nights lately and once again didn't get much sleep. When I got out of the shower this morning there was a huge package of my favorite Hershey's Cherry Cordial chocolates with a card. In the card Josh surprised me with a check of $2000. HAHA, gotcha he actually surprised me with going to get a deep tissue massage. I was so excited. I have been wanting one for forever. I was so tired and had a meeting I had to go to, and then just wanted to come home and sleep. Josh really wanted me to go with him down to Bountiful to meet up with my brother and Josh's friend for a new business we are getting into. I needed to sleep so badly. So Josh let me stay home and sleep. I had a fantastic 2 hour nap and got up and went to the massage. Oh I was soooooo in heaven. After that Josh took me out to dinner with Brandi and Heston at this fabulous Italian restaurant. We had such a good time hanging out.
We were remembering last Valentines when I met Brandi and Heston for the very first time. They thought it would be fun to play a game with us, as far as they knew it was one of those getting to know you card games. Well it turned out to be a "getting to know you game for the bedroom". Awkward.....oh yes, funny as crap.......it is now. Especially when the first card I got told me to run around the room naked. HHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMM, that's a toughy... I'm gonna take "NO" for $200 Alex. I just let everyone know that they all knew what garments looked like so it wasn't necessary. ;-) Good times, Good times.

Well the night would have ended joyously ;-) if my brother hadn't called to let us know he was coming to stay the night, thanks bro! LOL. I'm just kiddin, I love my brother, but only because he makes me laugh.

Thanks to my handsome hubby who made this a fabulous day for me. Happy Valentines Day to all my family and friends who read this.

And a P.S. to my sister........

More Free Graphics at pYzam.com

Know of my love for you and my heart goes out to you. So here are some roses to brighten your day!

2008-02-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth.

You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around.

You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking

How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

I seriously love cookies. This test is so right on!

D&C 18: 15-16

2008-02-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning trying to figure out why I had nothing planned on my day off. I always have something planned, be it errands, coloring someone's hair, cleaning my dirty house, something. I still could have done that, but a feeling inside me said I wouldn't be doing any of this today. I kept fighting it saying to myself, yes, I have so much to do, finally I gave into the idea that I wouldn't be doing anything today. My brother Darren had stayed the night, I went and woke him up to let him know we got dumped on again with snow. I suggested he and Josh get a move on with shoveling and I will make a big breakfast for him. I got Josh out of bed with the same bribe. I looked out the window and noticed our neighbor out side shoveling. Our neighbor is in her forties and her husband works mostly in California. She has one son who is her life. I began to holler at Josh to go over and help her shovel. I continued to keep checking on her and pushing Josh to go over and help her. This may sound a little harsh, but normally I wouldn't keep watching out my window like that and I wouldn't holler at Josh to hurry and help her. About the third time I checked on her out the window, she had collapsed into the snow. I was screaming at Josh to go over there, while at the same time I hurried and threw on shoes and a sweatshirt. We all ran over there, I didn't know what to do. We got her on the stairs, she then informed us that she has been taking many pills through out the night in order to get the courage to put a bullet in her head. The gun was lying right next to her bed. I was scared out of my mind, and at the same time I could relate, I had felt that low before in my life. We took her inside and Josh and Darren asked if they could give her a blessing, she is LDS just not active. She was very accepting of it. She then asked if they would give her son a blessing as she is so worried about him and the lifestyle he is beginning to get into. She begged and pleaded with Josh and I to take her son to church. She continually cried to us, he just needs to find Christ. Christ will help him. My heart was broken for her. She wanted to leave this world and her only son behind because of the lifestyle he was beginning to pursue. She continually blamed herself for going wrong somewhere. Her son agreed to a blessing. I felt like things might be okay, her son left for work, and (yes I know big mistake to do) I left her alone, went home to call my uncle as he is a doctor. He wasn't home, so I relayed what had happened to my aunt. She suggested I call poison control. I called them and was told to take her to the hospital immediately. Sometimes you worry how much you really should get involved, but a voice inside was screaming to get her to the hospital. So I ran outside and told Josh to go over to her house and get her because we are taking her to the hospital. She agreed to go, it was hard for her but she knew it needed to be done. I just prayed in my heart continuously. We got her admitted and after a few hours she became alert to the situation. As I had refused to leave her side, I held her hand and we talked. I can't remember the exact words that came from my mouth but I know that the spirit was there guiding me. I do remember telling her about Christ's mercy, that he knows our hearts, he is the only one that can judge us and what we do. She has brought her son up with so much love and has been the best mother that she could to her son. It is up to him now to remember these teachings. I told her of stories of my past and what it came down to for my turning my life around. I remembered things taught to me by my parents, I remember their love. She continuously thanked Josh and I for bringing her to the hospital. We have asked her son to come to church with us and he has agreed. We told him we just want him to come with us and that is all, what he gets and takes with him is up to him. I posted the D&C scripture as my title because the line, "....and bring, save it be one ^asoul unto me, how great shall be your joy..." has been running through my mind all night. My heart is so full tonight as I sit here and think how had I left this sweet woman alone this morning, she might not be here with us tonight. I think about the possibilities of her good son and the good path he still can choose, thanks to a loving Father in Heaven. As we spent our whole day in the hospital, I realize how blessed I have been that I was able to be of service and be a friend to someone who was in desperate need. I know this story might be long, but it is in remembrance for me, to know that I have a loving Father in Heaven who is there and puts us in peoples lives for a reason. For Christ and his prime example. He loves us unconditionally. This story is here to remind me that I will never allow Satan to get me that low again. No matter how hard this life gets, we must stay strong, we must fight the good fight.

Two hot chicks and a Jazz game

2008-01-27T21:55:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law, Brandi, and I went to the Jazz game on Friday night. She cared who we played, I really didn't. I was just there for the food.
Before we went to the game we stopped at Chili's for dinner. I love Chili's. I think I ate more that night than on Thanksgiving day!

We started off with an order of endless chips and salsa, somehow we managed to take out four bowls of salsa. Sooooooo GOOD!
Then we shared the triple sampler plate. Southwestern egg rolls, shanghai buffalo wings, and hot spinach and artichoke dip!!!! No wasn't feeling anything at that point.
Then we shared a create your own platter. We had the firecracker tilapia and margarita chicken with loaded mashed potatoes and broccoli on the side. Such glorious gluttony!!

"Uh ma'am, you really have had enough to drink tonight"

We got the shooter desserts. One was apple pie flavored and the other was strawberry cheese cake. It was so cute, Brandi hops up on the seat to capture and aeriel view. The eyes and mouth were chocolate. As we inhaled the dessert, Brandi needed more chocolate, so our gracious waiter brings a cup of chocolate for us. Another waiter questioned us as to why we were eating BBQ sauce. Uh it's chocolate, thanks for asking.

Glorious Chocolate! Somehow I managed to look evil while Brandi was enjoying the chocolate very throughly.

This was my favorite picture of the whole night.

Here we are at the game, just before we went to go get some dipin' dots. (Yes, that was dessert number two after we ate ALL of that other food!) :) We couldn't resist dipin' dots! Can ya blame us????

Me and B have way too much fun together. How we are allowed in public, I still can't figure out.

Here is proof of our childish behavior!

This was right when this guy on the other team was getting thrown out of the game. We liked yelling. :-) Oh and by the way as a side note, I guess the Jazz won. On our way home, we decided to get slurpees, my all time favorite!!!!
PS I was sick the rest of the night......BUT IT WAS SOOOOOO WORTH IT!

Husband Tag

2008-01-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

Okay B, I'm doin this one for you. Good thing I love ya! ;-)

1-What is his name?
Joshua Monty Hawks

2-How long have you been married?
Forever and a day.....oh alright, 6 months

3-How long did you date?
hhhhmmmm.....gosh, if you don't include being engaged, 3 months..whoa I didn't realize how short of time that was.

4-How old is he?
26, the young whipper snapper.

5-Who eats more?
I don't see what he eats during the day, so I am going to have to say me, seeing how I consume so much crap while I am at work. Yes, I eat crap for breakfast, ;-)

6-Who said I love you first?
I held out as long as I possibly could. It really took everything I had in me to hold out saying it. I swore I would not be the first to say it. And the night before he left for Europe for a week (p.s. having no communication with him for the whole week) I told him I couldn't take it anymore, and just blurted it out. Good thing he felt the same. I really would have felt dumb.

7-Who is smarter?
Depends who started the argument.

8-Whose temper is worse?
I wish for everything that I could say Josh. He is the biggest teddy bear and sometimes I think he gets a kick out of watching my fuse explode.

9-Who does the laundry?
I am so blessed to have a hubby that has no problems doing his own laundry. Putting it away is a different story, but I am looking at the positive on this one.

10-Who does the dishes?
Oh that so would be me. Again I am blessed that we have a system, I wash the dishes and load, and he will always (yes it's true, "always") unload for me.

11-Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
Looking from the foot of the bed, I do. He sometimes will ask me if we can swap sides, uh I'm gonna go with "No" for $200 Alex.

12-Who pays the bills?
I so do not want to do them, but I do. I'm glad I do because it's the one thing I don't stress over and Josh does. I have found life is a lot better this way.

13-Who cooks dinner?
My department. I love cooking. If it were up to Josh we would have Mac and Cheese every night. UGH! Gross!

14-Who drives when you are together?
Depends, Mostly Josh, there is occasions where he likes it when I drive. He drives all day for work, so I don't blame him when he wants me to.

15-Who is more stubborn?
I am 100%. I hate to budge an inch. Josh knows it. He calls me stubborn Nichols. Then I remind him that it's the Woolley side (sorry only family members will get this). ;-)

16-Whose parents do you see the most?
We see more of my adopted parents. Josh's parents live in St. George.

17-Who proposed?
Me, HAHA, gotcha. He proposed day before Easter and sent me on a scavenger hunt (which was all his own idea), I'm still so proud of him for surprising me.

18-Who has more friends?
No idea, I really don't pay attention to that one.

19-Who has more siblings?
Josh. There are 5 in his family, and 4 in mine.

20-Who wears the pants in the family?
Josh wears them more than I do. I love being in my dresses and skirts too much. ;-)

Do you think we can let her into the Pink Ladies?

2008-01-19T22:10:00.000-07:00

"Nah, she looks to pure to be pink!"

Maybe for Sandra Dee. ;-)

I have been wanting to do this look for a long time, and I finally did it! It's so fun. Today I had this 5 year old come in for a haircut and she told her mom she wanted me to do it because she loved my pink hair. I was so flattered. At my salon, we have ceiling to floor windows and I sit right next to it. All day I had little girls knocking on the window to tell me they liked my hair. I felt so cool. So of course I had to call my shorty, (my niece's nickname) and tell her that I colored my hair pink, as pink is her favorite color. She doesn't say anything for a moment and then says, "when can you come over." I love that girl. I miss her tons.

Thankful Thursday

2008-01-18T00:14:00.000-07:00

I'm borrowing this from you thorny as I have been sitting here tonight thinking about life. Tonight my husband was bold enough to post his thoughts on his blog. I am so proud of him for opening up his heart and sharing his feelings. I know many of you read this and mostly know me as sarcastic and turning everything into a joke. I'm feeling a little different and am turning to my spiritual/thoughtful side.

It's almost one in the morning and I can't sleep. I've been thinking about the incredible things I have been blessed with in this last year. I met Josh on a blind date and thought it would go no where. 5 months later we were engaged. Three months later we are married in the Salt Lake Temple. I know without a doubt us being married in the temple has brought so many blessings to us. I always thought that no man without the patience of a saint could put up with me. I feel so blessed to have Josh by my side. I have never felt so strong to want to get up each day and get out of bed, because I know he is going to be there by my side to hold my hand, through no matter what. He has shown that more than anything I have ever seen, especially this week. Some of you know I battle with depression. I deal with it as best I can. I have had so many other things I battle with, such as anger, mood swings, and many others. Josh has struggled to understand it. Trying to describe what its like to someone who doesn't understand can be quite difficult. I have decided to start seeing a counselor for this. After visiting with the counselor and taking some tests, I have been diagnosed with having A.D.D with some bipolar thrown in there. I know a lot of people might be embarrassed to share this, or even shocked that I would ever post such a thing about myself. But to tell the truth, I am so relieved to know what it is that is wrong with me and now I can deal with it correctly. I can have a better life. I know this might sound silly to most but I am so happy to know that something can finally be done. The biggest blessing came when I called Josh to let him know. When I told him, he at first seemed a little concerned but once he heard how thrilled I was about it (that I actually don't feel like I am crazy), he too became happy that we now can work together to move forward. I am so blessed to know that he doesn't look at me and think, what on earth did I get myself into. He supports me and wants to be there for me in all things. The Lord knows what we need and who we need in our lives, for that I am truly grateful.

Four Things...

2008-01-14T20:21:00.000-07:00

Four things about me that you may or may not have known, in no particular order. The directions are at the end.

Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Customer Service Rep - Close to my Heart

2. Assistant Manager - Northwest Beauty

3. Customer Service Rep - Cisco (aka the Human Network)

4. Hair Stylist - Mastercuts

Four places I have lived:
1. Washington

2. California

3. Moscow, ID

4. Taylorsville, UT

Four TV Shows that I watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy (the best show ever)

2. America's Next Top Model

3. Just about all of the celebrity reality shows on VH1 (it's sad I know)

4. Extreme Home Makeover

Four places I have been (other than where I lived):
1.Oregon
2. Missouri
3. Florida
4. Tennesse

People who email me regularly
1. Tiffany

2. Brandi

3. People sending Spam

4. Grams

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Mexican - chips and salsa all the way!
2. Ben and Jerry's "Half Baked" ice cream
3. Diet Pepsi (in my world it's a staple)
4. Pretty much anything without seafood

Four things I look forward to in the next year
1. Cruise to Mexico

2. Getting a new car (don't worry nick, I'll call ya when we get to that point)

3. Convincing my husband we don't need another dog

4. Playing with my new niece or nephew in July

If you have read this, tag you are it. Copy and paste on your blog with your own answers ((I know you all want to take mine, but you can't have them ;-) ))

I'm movin to Hawaii

2008-01-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

So today we got slammed with 21 inches of new snow. Up at Josh's cabin they now have 44 inches of new snow (not including the 3 feet they already had). Josh and I both ended up being late to work today, and got to help out many people who attempted to go up our street, as they were so lucky enough to get stuck. What was just insane was I had cleaned off the cars the first time (yes I cleaned them off about 5 times in two hours, please don't ask why I did that) after about a half hour there was already 4 new inches. I think my favorite part of today was watching the snow plows get stuck trying to go up our street, and then completely block us in after we had spent most of the morning clearing our driveway to get out for work. Horray to those fellow plow drivers. I'm trying to decide if I want that last comment to be sarcastic or not, I'm going both ways right now.

I thought it would be fun to share the pictures I took this morning of us out attempting to clear our driveway. The best was when I came home tonight, our driveway looked worse than when we had left, it was bad when we left. Hope everyone else had a better snow day.
This is before any plowing or shoveling was done by the mailbox.

The snowplow that got stuck....I think I can, I think I can....oh yeah the snow plow also took out the neighbors mailbox, poor little mailbox.

Baby Z's blessing

2008-01-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday I had the opportunity to go to the blessing of baby Z.

It was one of the sweetest baby blessings I have heard in a long time. The spirit that was there was so strong. This sweet, sweet boy has down syndrome, and I must tell you how much love there is for this boy. I heard so much how many people have been touched by his sweet little spirit. It brought tears to my eyes. I'm so grateful to be apart of this family. He truly couldn't ask for better parents. Oh and p.s. he is so stinkin cuddly!!!! You don't ever want to give up holding him. After church we went to R and K's for soup and salad. Jell and Jer sang "Away in a Manager" which has now been dedicated to baby Z. I tried to record the singing to put on here, but my computer chooses not to cooperate. Ah well. Anyway I took a few pictures while I was there.
My sis and I. I had to laugh when I overheard her telling someone, "yes that's my sister, but we are so very different." It's so true. I honestly don't know what I would do without her. She's one of my best friends. Josh teased me the other day, telling me, there is no way you could ever move away from your sister. I said, yes I could, but only for a week. ;-) love you sis!
Me and my Shorty. Someone asked me yesterday to point out my sisters daughter. I pointed to her, and said that's her, my sisters mini-me. My sis responds with no, she is your mini-me. I knew exactly what she meant and I really shouldn't be too proud of it, but I had the biggest smile on my face. I love this girl so much. She is my mini-me personality wise. I can't believe she is 6.

Me and Button. I just adore this little one. I had to post this, she is just too cute for me not too!

What color are you?

2008-01-07T19:59:00.001-07:00

You Are a Red Crayon

Your world is colored with bright, vivid, wild colors.
You have a deep, complex personality - and you are always expressing something about yourself.
Bold and dominant, you are a natural leader. You have an energy that is intense... and sometimes overwhelming.
Your reaction to everything tends to be strong. You are the master of love-hate relationships.

Your color wheel opposite is green. Green people are way too mellow to understand what drives your energy.

What Color Crayon Are You?

As promised....

2008-01-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

YAY! I finally got the best picture of all time. My husband in the santa thong. Way to pose for the camera!

Happy New YEAR!!!!!

2008-01-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

So welcome to 2008! I hope you enjoy us as much as 2007. So to ring in the New Year....question, where on earth did the term, "ring in the New Year" come from?? It's kinda weird, the more you say it over and and over it sounds really odd. Oh well. Sorry this moment was brought to you by A.D.D. :-)

Josh and I joined Brandi and Heston at their home, played games, and stuffed our faces with fabulous amounts of junk food!
I got my big New Years kiss, which this may sound sad to some, but it is true, I have never in my life been kissed on New Years before. It was so awesome to finally say I got my New Years kiss. I love being married to my big hunk of man.
"I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!"-Buddy the Elf
New Years Day was so fantastic. I finally got to sleep in and did not have to hear that miserable, no good, very bad sound, yes...the alarm clock. Josh and I went to breakfast (shout out to IHOP!and the stuffed french toast) with his best friend Jon and his fiance Kortney. Then we decided we would go up to the cabin, with Brandi, Heston, and Josh's two buddies, and ride the snowmobile and go sledding. My brother Darren came up and went with us. I had to share the pictures, Darren is very photogenic.
-that's Darren being pulled by the snowmobile.
This is my favorite: It was 6 degrees outside. While Josh was enjoying the icicles on his beard,
I was trying out for the newest edition of "Green Acres"....
Brandi and I got so cold we decided to go in and pig out! :-) Sorry B had to post, way to funny not to.

Hope ya'll had a Fantastic New Years!

Good times, Great oldies

2007-12-31T17:36:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

2007-12-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

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......

2007-12-20T23:05:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-12-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

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).

Money is just paper, or rather the root of all evil, your choice

2007-11-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

Funny how money can be such a stress machine. It's a piece of paper and it makes people crazy. My hubby can be quite the stresser of money. Me on the other hand am the complete opposite. I really don't stress over it until it's down to the very last millimeter of the wire, then I go completely postal, and POOF everything works out. It always does. I had to tell my hubby today that I can't have him stressing over money issues, because when he stresses, it stresses me, and it's the one thing I don't stress over and I need to not stress over it. I have a ba-zillion other things to worry over and if I have one thing that I don't worry over, I really would rather not have it added to my list. Luckily my husband is chilled out in every other aspect of life and promised that since I do the bills he will try to stay calm about the situation. Well the situation started out small and grew into one large ball of snow literally within a matter of two hours. Funny thing is that it all has to do with our cars, yay for cars and never working right! But, I figure, things have been going well for us for a while, so it's time for a trial, and I am going to try to pass this one with flying colors (let us pray!) :-)

The Best Day EVER!!!!!

2007-11-29T22:29:00.001-07:00

Okay so I have to say that yesterday was a horrible no good very bad day. I had a fabulous breakdown that was quite Oscar worthy, I was stiffed in tips almost the whole day, my sickness has gotten to me so bad that it has made me crazy (well more crazy than most days), I really just felt like I had done a horrible job with my clients hair all day, and all I wanted to do was come home and have comfort food. I love comfort food. I couldn't do that because I couldn't taste the freakin' food. Luckily my sweet husband worked me through the breakdown, I sat in the shower and breathed. This morning I woke up with the puffiest eyes, surprised I could see through them only to realize I could smell, yes smell. Then I thought ok well this will be for just a minute and my nose will stuff up again. After my shower I could smell my perfume I put on, and thought it way to good to be true. All morning I continued to smell my wrist just to keep checking to see if I could still smell. Just as an FYI I haven't been able to smell anything in almost a month. And if you read in my other blog I haven't been able to taste any foods a little over a week, I think almost two. Well anyway I get to work, got my diet coke (just for the caffeine since I couldn't enjoy the taste of it), and after a couple gulps of it realized I could taste it. I was so EXCITED! I can't begin to even describe the happiness. After my horrible day yesterday the most blessed thing in the world happens, I can TASTE again. The choirs were singing and my co-workers making fun of me. But I paid them no mind because I could taste my Diet Coke. Sad news is we were so swamped today that I didn't get to eat all day, so I stopped at Wendys on my way home and really took advantage of their dollar menu. :-) It was joyous. Work turned out pretty good today as well, I banked on tips as I decided to have the attitude of having no expectations in regards to tips and to really just focus on my artistic ability. I feel like it really worked today. Oh and did I mention I can taste my DIET COKE?!?!?!?!

Sisters

2007-11-28T22:41:00.001-07:00

You know it's interesting how much you think you know about someone and yet you really don't know them. I consider my sister one of my best friends up next to my husband. Funny thing is, I am finding out so much about her that I had no idea. We stayed the night last night at mom's (aka Robin) and sat up talking last night about past boyfriends and feelings, and I had no idea. It broke my heart when I realized how much I never paid attention to my sister and what was going on in her life while we were growing up. Then tonight reading on her blog that she saved two peoples lives, I had no idea. It was like the night about two years ago when we lived in Moscow and we talked for two hours about our parents death, and our feelings surrounding them. That was one of the biggest eye openers for me. I had no idea about her feelings and what she had gone through. I feel so strange inside knowing that I know my sister, I know who she is, but things that happened to her and her feelings just seemed to pass right by me because I was so self absorbed. Sadly I still am a little, but I'm working on it. It is cool that I am getting to know more about jells. I love my sis and I really don't know what I would do if she wasn't there for me.

Traciology

2007-11-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

Let others know a little more about yourself, repost this as your name followed by "ology."

Q. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
A. I can't believe I will admit to this but I'm gonna say Taco Bell. Yes it's sad, but a weakness.

Q. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
A: Chips and Salsa

Q.What are your pizza toppings of choice?
A. Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, extra sauce, extra cheese.

TECHNOLOGYQ. What is currently on your computer wall paper?
A: It was of me and Josh on our wedding day, but I just looked and it's gone, guess I will have to put it back up.

Q. How many televisions are in your house?
A: Three, what?! we like t.v. :-)

BIOLOGYQ. Are you right-handed or left-handed?
A. Right handed.

Q. When was the last time you had a cavity?
A. Uh I think I have cavities inside cavities, I think I'll call the dentist tomorrow.

Q. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A. Not that I know of

BULL-CRAPOLOGYQ. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
A. That would be a big crap NO!

Q. What color do you think looks best on you?
A. Uh I think red, I would need to consult Robins color pallet.

Q. Have you ever saved someone's life?
A. Wow no, but I just found out my sister did and I had no idea.

Q. Has someone ever saved yours?
A. My sister and my hubby

DUMBOLOGYQ: What is in your left pocket?A: my jammies don't have pockets

Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A. I'm still trying to figure out why it never won an oscar

Q. Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house?
A: Both

Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
A: This last August when Josh and I were driving to Washington, and while in the state of Montana Josh told me to slow down because we couldn't afford a ticket and I told him that we were fine because in all the times I have driven to Washington I have never passed a cop in Montana, not even a minute after I had said that, there were flashing lights behind me and I get a $70 ticket.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: A toys'r'us kid

LASTOLOGYQ: Last person who called you?
A: My Hubby

Q: Person you hugged?
A: my boss Jodie, she's awesome like that

FAVORITOLOGYQ: Number?
A: I have no idea

Q: Season?
A: Summer. I love to be warm! Oh and fall comes in second, I love the colors of the leaves and the smell of the first cold. Weird I know.

CURRENTOLOGYQ: Mood?
A: Sick and Tired :-)

Q: Listening to?
A: the water in our fish tank

Q: Watching?
A: The computer screen

RANDOMOLOGYQ: First place you went this morning?
A: Home after staying the night at mom's with Jelly

Q: What can you not wait to do?
A: Kiss my hubby when he gets home, I've missed him

Q: What's the last movie you saw?
A: The Holiday

Q: Do you smile often?
A: I try really hard to all the time.

Tagged

2007-11-25T23:25:00.000-07:00

So I was tagged by Brandi about 7 random things, wow this really could take a while......

1. FOOD! Okay so food is number one right now, because I am sick with this stupid cold and haven't been able to taste food for a week. I love food, I love to eat..lalalala(I've got the Mary Poppins song in my head "I love to laugh", but replacing it with "I love to eat") any way it was so frustrating going to Thanksgiving dinner and not being able to taste any of the food. We went to Chili's for dinner the other night and I was so excited to eat chips and salsa as it is my favorite and I couldn't taste it. I haven't been this frustrated in a while.

2. SHOES! I love shoes. Shoes are my favorite. Funny thing is that I buy shoes all the time and I only wear just a few of them. To date, I have 50 pairs. I love every single one. I buy tons of sandals but hardly ever wear them because my feet sweat (worse than normal). Boots are my second favorite, I am seriously addicted.

3. HAIR! It's my passion, and it's the other thing that is on my mind. I really need a deep condition right now as I am working my way towards going very blonde. I was a gorgeous purple and fire engine red, but I like to be different and go light in the winter and dark in the summer. I've realized that I love coloring my own hair, but cutting hair is what I love most. It's almost like sculpting. Some one comes in with nothing done to their hair and you create a whole new look for them and they look amazing when they leave your chair and you helped them to feel better about themselves.

4. COLDS. I have had this cold for a month now and my nose is RAW! I almost don't want to wipe it anymore. The worst part is being in public with a cold. I can't stand to blow my nose in public, and when its just running like the kitchen sink it's so hard not to just blow like a train whistle. So lets see what's more embarrassing, sticking the tissue up your nose and just letting it hang, or blowing so loud Mexico can hear you?

5. BEDS!I so love my bed. I made this horrible mistake of taking a nap today in my bed. It was a mistake because I know that when I nap in my bed I won't be comfortable when I go to sleep later that night. And here I am at 1 in the morning typing away because I can't get comfortable to save my soul. I am so super tired, I love my bed. When I was in school I would always think about my bed and imagine me lying in it.

6. MUSIC! So I have been sitting here and playing with the music playlist that will eventually be put up if I would stop getting errors. I love music, I keep finding all these great songs, I love just about every genre of music. I think for the most part I would rather listen to music than watch t.v.

7. HOSTING PARTIES. I finally have accepted and embraced the fact that I cannot plan parties. I really actually don't like it. I don't like hosting people. I hate having people look to me like what is next. I hate planning games and food, what a stress, at least for me. I thought I liked it and the more I sit here and think about it the more I realize how stressful it is. So power to those that can do it without stressing and love it!!!!

Ah welcome me

2007-11-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

Okay Brandi girl, this is for you! Okay well not really just for you, but me too. Josh says I need an outlet so maybe I will start to make this my outlet. I really have nothing to go on about right now, just cuz I am so all about making it all look pretty. :-) So if I think of something as I add things to this blog, I will type more.