Farewell Elder Witt

Went to the farewell fireside with Kendon and Carol. It was fun sharing memories about Elder Witt. Did you know that Carol has a laundry shoot in her bedroom and some un-named person was said to have got stuck in it?!!!!

Vegas Vacation

The first night in Vegas we saw the Legends show (fantastic!!!) and the legends we we able to see were Jerry Lee Lewis (wow!), Bette Midler (flirted with Steve her whole set); Tina Turner and Elvis. They we all wonderful. Micheal jackson was also on the billet but he must have been sick. We sat front row center.

Saturday, we were taken to the Las Vegas Temple (by Elder Pehrson's parents). That temple has the most beautiful Celestial room! Then, that night we saw Donnie and Marie (our vacation highlight!). Their show was phenonmenal. We wished we had tickets to go see them again. Maybe next trip. We stayed at the Flamingo Hotel and who knew that they had real flamingos? Looking back on it , it makes sense that they would but who knew?

On Sunday we went to church with the Pehrson's and were able to see Elder Ben Lacusta hard at work - small world. Then we watched the dancing fountains at the Bellagio hotel.

On Monday, We went to the Wax Museum (see me with Johnny Depp) and the antique car show at the Imperial Palace. We had to be back to the hotel to watch Donny compete on Dancing with the Stars.

On Tuesday, before we left we ate at Planet Hollywood and we were seated under Peter Seller's trench coat from the Pink Panther movies. The flight was a good flight home and if it weren't for my flamingo socks and blown glass flamingo souviener I wouldn't believe that I had been there. It was a nice get-away.

I've been Lost

Well, let's just say, I've been living a life that hasn't allowed me to blog. But here I am! Back again, trying to catch up. Lots has happened since September. It all started with me teaching Kindergarten (a new assignment) and on September 17th was told that starting on the 20th I would be teaching Grade 1. That meant I had one weekend to transition my classroom to grade one and then be basically two weeks behind (and thats how I felt until report cards went home on November 20th). On top of that we had another leak on our basement floor but this time we have been able to identify the original problem from all of the troubles before. Apparently there was a plugged pipe (we figure about three feet long) that would keep the water from draining out and sent it up over the top of a vent pipe in the wall. After waiting one week for a plumber with no water (we were experiencing our own disaster this yearduring our Stake's "mock" disaster) and the time coming for Steve and I to go to Vegas, Steve attempted (and succeeded) to be our own plumber. After three nights and a number of bottles of "stuff" we had success the night before we left for our holiday. Now, our holiday started about an hour later than it should as both Steve and I slept in and spent the whole day running to catch plane after plane to get to our destination - Vegas.

Happiness Inc.

She's driving, ...... she is finally driving!!!!!!!!

Micabella Updated

Well, any of you that know me and have been with me in the Med. Hat mall I have a weakness for the Micabella men who push their samples there (dead sea products and eye shadows, facials, etc.) and I ALWAYS end up buying what they are selling! (It's the accent... and the attention.... and their big brown eyes!!!!!!!!!). Usually when I have returned with my friends I explain the situation to them and we avoid that part of the mall. Today, however, I was with my husband, Steve, and felt that having him with me would discourage the salesmen from approaching me and me from suckering into the sales pitch of the salesmen so I bravely ventured passed with Steve between me and the guys where, yes, you guessed it, the mediterranian sales guy (hunky hot!!!!!!) approached me and $90 dollars later I found myself saying to Steve, "See what happens? I just can't help it. Do you see my problem? Help me!" I didn't feel so bad with Steve being with me but I am thinking that taking a vacation to Italy or Isreal or any of those places where the men have dark-colored hair and eyes and olive skin would not be good! Also, returning to the mall on my own could break my piggybank! I dare anyone to try this and see what happens. If you can with stand it you are a better person than me. At least Steve is in the know at this point! By the way, you can tell Alan (A-lun) I sent you!

Jeans ... Revisited

I had bought Kinsley some jeans last spring at Walmart for $5.00 a pair. I bought four pair. With summer, she was not interested in wearing her jeans at all. Yesterday I convinced her to try them on to see if they still fit. They looked like flood pants so I got creative with 5 pairs of her jeans. Kinsley liked them so much she tried talking me in to letting her wear them to church underneath her dress. I think I have just started a new fashion trend! I'm excited to show them off! Kinsley had a blast being my model.

Three's A Crowd!

Cricket on the left, then Ryker and LuLu on the far right. Now my family of dogs is complete. We are trying to break them from their habit of barking when new people come to our house. I'm using a spray bottle with water in it. It seems to be working.

Both LuLu and Cricket are rescues. Lulu is a bundle of trickery and high jinks, Cricket is a very sweet dog. Ryker is the man of the house. When you see Cricket you can see how much Jack Russel is in Ryker... lots! When we go walking together (that's right, together) we do fine until someone comes in our path and then we bark. Next time I am taking the spray bottle. Just imagine me trying to handle three dogs and a spray bottle. Okay, quit laughing!!!

Introducing the newest member of our family

Cricket, adopted August 19th 2009. She is a four year old purebred Min Pin. What can I say, I'm a sucker for strays!

Disney Definitely Has My Number!

I went and saw Hannah Montana The Movie with the girls (mine) and I LOVED!!!!! every minute of it! Disney is safe, the storylines are good, and the love stories fit in my fantasy. I
don't do country but, with Disney, I did! (Boom-Boom-clap,boom-de-clap-de-clap, Boom-Boom-clap, boom-de-clap-de-clap)Move over HMS now Hannah Montana has moved in.

The Man of My Dreams

I know, you are all probably thinking this is another Troy Bolton blog but it is not! The last while I am finally noticing all the "little" things Steve does for me on a daily basis, never once complaining or making a big deal of it! The dishes are put in the dishwasher and started at the end of every day; the pocket-sized "Twilight" book he just happened to find and bring home for me; errands he runs here and there; getting Kinsley ready and off to school every morning and running Rachel everywhere she needs to go; hugs, loves, his patience every day, over and over. I have got the best guy in the world! After 21 plus years I love him more than ever. He warms my heart. I love my life with him. He truly is my best friend! Thank you, Steve, for loving me through thick and thin (and back to thick, again); for accepting this "quirky, silly, girl" and embracing all of her weirdness and her stunning beauty.

My New Favoritest Quote from the wise

"Life is a lot easier when you can sing about it." - Zac Efron

Is there any nice weather out there?

Well, today it happened! When I heard the temperature forcast for the next couple of days after spending yet another day with inside recesses I went to 7-11 and bulked up on the junkie comfort food and began existing. It's really hard. I don't ever remeber being in this low of a place where the weather is concerned. I'm retreating into my cave, I may be there a while. Oh, by the way, Joanne, my party favor is here!

Introducing .....

Introducing our new family member .... Lucy (LuLu for short). She is a little minature dashund born September 12, 2008. She is a five month old cutie who loves to snuggle. Ryker is happy to have a little playmate and LuLu needed a home. (No, that is not me wearing the Troy Bolton pin. However, it is mine (I just don't wear it in public). The video is of Ryker and LuLu after they had got used to each other.

Party re-visited!

Well, gals, I tried! I was even wanting to continue with the movie night even though Joanne told me it was Leadership but Desiree just phoned to let me know that Leadership is for me, too. So, I guess the movie night is .... postponed! Sorry! Please take a raincheck. Sounds like I will see most of you at Leadership anyway. Chow!

PPP Revisited

Thanks for the support! I apologize for my PPP (Personal Pity Party). I seem to experience it evey once in a while. I also am aware that I seem to have opened a can of worms. Is it just great to be able to say it and your friends will support you and express their feelings too? I like the idea of another get together. I have aquired a new "special" movie that I could share with an audience on this Saturday evening (the 7th) at 7:00pm. Let me know if you can come! It will be fantastic. Hopefully, someone will come out for the surprise! See you then! (All invited; Spread the word!)

Feeing Sorry for Me!!

Well, I don't know what emotional garbage I'm dealing with completely but I am spending a lot of time feeling jealous (yes, me, who knew?) Jealous over how awesome Kimara looks (Did you feel that way when I lost weight? and by the way, you look fantastic!); jealous over Stephanie and Joanne's friendship (I wish I had one friend that was a "boosom friend"); jealous about time at home that I am missing (I love my work, don't get me wrong, but I don't end up with a lot of time to socialize). I definitely don't like feeling this way. I am hoping it's the weather. Please love me anyway; I'm only human! (contrary to what you may have heard). Does anyone read my Blog anymore?

After an evening of inspiration on wednesday evening I tackled my daughter's bedroom. By the way thanks, Joanne, for the enthusiastic boost! I knew I would have trouble so I said a little prayer before I began de-junking and six garbage bags and two hours later left her this. When Kinsley got home from a friends birthday party she quietly played in her room for a long time. Obviously enjoying the extra space. She also fell asleep a lot quicker than normal. I wonder if it was the clean room.

After that I tackled a new craft. Yes, girls, I'm crafting and it's something new. It is a magnetic message board (the satinless steel appliances drove me to this solution). I think it turned out really cute, except for the "Mona" factor. After I got all the vinal on I noticed on the back that there is a top and a bottom and I put the vinal on upside down! Yep, that's me doing a new craft!

Oh, by the way, I never thought I would have that much fun but I sure enjoyed our adult kareoke night at the church. When all the men sang "I Feel Like A Woman" I was so proud. Great job to all those who participated in it. Vance, you did an awesomely fabulous job portraying one of my most favorite characters from one of my most favorite movies. Kimara, you and Sean were great as Sonny and Cher! "I Got You, Babe!"

Christmas Wishes from our family to yours

Sorry about the late Christmas greeting. We are all doing fine and had a very quiet holiday season.

Here is my top ten list for 2008:

1) Preparing and going to Moroni's Quest; "Go, Armorites!"

2) Visiting family during the summer

3) Completing our kitchen reno

4) My daughter's sweet 16 birthday

5) My birthday greeting from Donny Osmond

6) Seeing David Copperfield, second row, center! (I didn't need my binoculars but I used them anyway!)

7) Teaching Grade One!

8) Seeing High School Musical 3 nine times while it was in the local theater (can't believe the movie release date isn't until February 24th!)

9) Thanksgiving with my whole entire family at my place (except for my sister Anita and her family)

10) Spending time with my friends (You know who you are and the difference you make in my life)

Wishing you and yours the best in 2009.