Attention Ladies and Gentleman

I think a large, loud, screaming from the top of our lungs is way over due...
ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While watching the game on TV and trying to 'teach' rammer jammer to Isabel, I don't think that cheer could have been any louder. It was crazy just listening to it on TV, the announcers were hard to hear and I laughed when they ran out of things to say and just stopped talking to you could here it, over and over, and over, and over again!

I can't wait for Florida next week.

Thanksgiving part 2

We had a feast and I loved it! My turkey was so moist (granted when it's undercooked it will be), at least the breast meat was cooked all the way through! My mashed potatoes were great but SUPER thick, green bean cassorole was good as was the stuffing. Sadly, so so sadly, my famous sweet potatoes were not the best. I think I figured out what I did wrong but they were so runny. And to top it off, I'm pretty sure the whiskey didn't get cooked out all the way. I was so depressed about those, so I think I'll get a couple of sweet potatoes from the store and add them in and re-cook it. But to end the day by pecan pie was to die for! SO that made it all worth it. Next year I'll figure out how to do it all better and hopefully won't be so overwhelmed by the idea of it all. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat though.
Mike took pictures of my table for me. We all wrote reasons why we were thankful for everyone in the room and placed them in envelopes so everyone could have theirs. I think all in all it turned out to be a great night. We sat and watched CHristmas movies and talked all night. Of course we did a bit of prepping for black friday.

Katie ( Mike's sister) and I were up at 4:30 to go to toys-r-us and wait in a 1/2 mile long line. All that just to go in and realize that the toy I wanted wasn't on sale, so we left. We came home went back to bed and woke up at 9am. Then all four of us went to find Katie a new phone so we hit Costco, bestbuy and the Sprint store. Then to target for fun since they had movies at such a great price, 6 movies later we left. The Christmas tree is put up and decorated, Isabel helped, and now we move from the season of thanksgiving to the season of joy and wonderment but truthfully they all go together. This is the best time of the year, and I am so excited for it.

So here are some pictures, the place settings and table for Thanksgiving, Isabel NOT posing next to the tree with an ornament around her neck and her hiding under the chair. Enjoy!

What I'm thankful for.

I wanted to join the many others and list the things I am grateful for on this day.

1. Mike- This man is AMAZING!
2. My daughters- they have both taught me amazing things about myself, about this Gospel and about how to love
3. Family- mine and Mike's they have been there for us and helped us in ways they could never know
4. Home- I love my home and although it may not be Mike's favorite, he makes it all he can for me.
5. Food- I love to eat and eat and eat and have been through lean times without much of it.
6. Gospel- words cannot adequately describe what this has done for me.
7. TV - I admit very often my sanity is found here, it's a stress reliever and a babysitter.
8. Friends- More then ever before, this fall I found the importance of wonderful friends
9. Modern medicine- I would not have had either one of my girls with out it.
10. China- not the country (although it does have it's merits), I like having nice things and using them
11. Talents- I may not have a ton but I'm cultivating my scrap booking and sewing, it's so much fun!
12. Patience- Don't laugh! But I have learned from my daughter how to have and apply it, somewhat...
13. Sunshine- It can lift your mood on the dreariest of days
14. Cars- I'm lazy and it's nice to not have to walk or bike 30 miles away
15. Peaceful moments- need I say more
16. Cows (I'm stealing from Cheyenne)- one word... CHEESE
17. Cookie dough- a staple of my diet
18. Modern conveniences- computers to appliances, life is easier with them.
19. Callings- I really enjoy teaching Relief Society and hope that I can get better and better with time.
20. Holidays- Helping us all to remember and pay tribute to what's important.
21. Twilight- and others similar. Stories that take you away and evoke emotions and feelings that let you escape.

I'm sure I could think of many more if I sat here all day but I truly hope that everyone here get to enjoy their Thanksgiving day.

Thanksgiving Part 1

I am so excited for Thanksgiving this year. Mike's family is coming to our house. Cindy, Eric, John (Mike's g'pa), Jameson, Sheri (sis in law) and Katie. I get to cook for 9 people. I spent today making pecan pie, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and a pumpkin pie/cheesecake. Tomorrow I'll be doing the turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. I'm very tired but it's so worth it. It's not often I get to do something for his family to show my appreciation for all they do. Cindy is brining the rolls, I figure I can delegate those, plus Cindy's are SO good. Thankfully I was smart and I pulled out my china and set the table yesterday so that's all ready, all we'll have to do for tomorrow (besides cooking) and clean off the kitchen table to set all the food on. We're also pulling out all the Christmas movies so we can ring in the Christmas season. We'll pull out the games also. It's going to be a fun holiday. I even made place cards... nothing fancy but I made them! Now I just have to find where i put them..
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, I hope you have a great time and get to give many thanks to family and friends.

GO BLUES!

No I haven't changed allegiances.. but Mike took Isabel to her first hockey game... and she was able to cheer Go Blues! On a side note if anyone followed the Roll Tide/Go Ducks fiasco between me and my sister... the Blues were playing the Ducks so Mike had to quickly train her again the Ducks were bad... Unless you talking to my sister in which she can cheer with her. So back to the night at hand. Isabel was having fun with the folding seats and finally catapulted herself into the people in front of her. Thankfully they didn't mind and just laughed. They had to leave after the 2nd period and Isabel was waving and saying by to everyone, and the game. So my daughter has been to her first professional sports game, she's still talking about it, all day long!


YEA!!


GO BLUES!!!


Aunt Katie and Izzy read to cheer!


just before flying off the seat!


So excited about the game!

Twilight

I went and saw this with the girls last night and I loved it! The obnoxious screaming girls were a bit much, especially when Edward finally come in but it was so much fun. I can't wait for the other two movies and I really hope they will do all four. And of course I am dying to see it again and again and again and again and... well you get the point. I'm going to try and take MIke to see a matinee showing next week.

Update!
Mike took me to see the movie again last night. He thought it was ok but I did pick up on a few things I missed the first time around. I love how the movie evokes such great emotion, I think I was more nervous during the fight scene this time around. And Ashley, somethings were different in my mind but many of the things in the book are hard to translate over into the screen, so I thought it was well done. They also didn't have a huge budget this movie but surely will for the next so that might make a difference also.

A great weekend

This past weekend, thanks in part to my boss at work, Mike and I were able to finally have some time for us. We had the awesome opportunity to head to down Alabama for a football game. Courtney called me Wednesday night and told us she got tickets for us to the Miss State game ( ROLL TIDE!!!) and since Mike had never been to a game, and well, we needed time away, we went. Isabel stayed here with Mike's mom who watched her for the weekend (thank you Cindy).
We stayed at the cutest bed and breakfast. The owners took such great care of us and cooked us wonderful food. (thanks to the Barr B & B). We of course did a bit of shopping at Alumni Hall, my new favorite store there. Ate great food, went to Pepito's, my favorite, etc. The game was awesome, Mike is truly an Alabama fan. Sunday we headed to our old ward and it was so great to see everyone again. Thanks everyone who came up and spoke to us, we loved seeing everyone so much!
Isabel had a great time with her extended family. I'm guessing she was told how her grandma was so proud of her because when we picked her up and got her in the car, she was trying to hug my seat and kept saying, "I so proud of you momma". So yea, my 2.5 yr old is very proud of her mom!
Today was also a great day. I finally got a new hairstyle for Isabel. Annette, you have inspired me! I was always so jealous of her girls.

Commissioned Watercolor Portrait GIVEAWAY!!!!

Commissioned Watercolor Portrait GIVEAWAY!!!!

Food Storage

Sunday, all day, I just had this overwhelming feeling that we needed to make a change on how we were spending our money so we took our money set aside for our personal trainers for Christmas and purchase more food storage. So... enter COSTCO! Granted I will probably need to order some food from provident living or some other company but for now we have a TON of food, (and condiments and spices). Normally when we spend a lot of money we almost always feel guilty afterwards in some respect or another. However, this time was so much different. We felt so good about what we had purchased, even though we spent more money then I had planned on the whole trip (I forgot we had no food to eat on a normal basis so we needed to get normal food also!). I am so grateful for food storage, no we haven't had to use it yet but knowing it's there is great. I love knowing that we are preparing ourselves more fully for the future, whether it's a pandemic, a loss of income, we are more prepared. And don't worry, we did not forget the oreos!

It figures

I was supposed to work today. I got showered, all dressed up (well dressed) make-up on. Costco was first on my list then the HS afterwards. I called my boss to double check things and found out that the HS was cancelled (not school but me working today), then I figured out that Mike has my wallet and he left for a funeral. So here I am all dressed with Isabel, and no where to go. I could clean my house but who wants to clean in good clothes, and I don't want to change just to change back on two hrs. Plus I feel silly wearing make-up and sweats. I feel like I'm stranded at the prom.

So instead I'll blog about our family trip on Saturday. We took Isabel to the science center. She loved the Dinosaurs, until she got to close, it was a Tyrannasaurus Rex that was standing guard over his pray. A triceratops lying on the ground with teeth gouges and it was still breathing. Kinda creepy. We stopped by the Build-a-bear and Izzy ran around looking at it all, we decided no to by one there. She was scared of the blow up great white shark display also. We ended by walking over the freeway in the hallway conncecting the two sides of the center and Isabel loved standing over the clear glass inserts on the floor watching the cars underneath, and then running to the space ship stuff. Oh and I got practically no pictures of the stuff she loved.
Also is this great video of Isabel from last night, she's getting excited for Christmas!


Balancing skills


working hard to be like hamsters


So excited to get inside


Eating in the car

ROLL TIDE ROLL

I'm so done with games like that! It wore me out... out date last night didn't go nearly as well as hoped I was so tired!... I didn't beat Mike at putt-putt... we tied. Similar to how Bama was... maybe we should have had a playoff hole!

argghh

COME ON BAMA!!!

A new day

Today I got to sit for a couple of hrs and talk to a friend of mine. It was so wonderful to be able to visit with her, these last few weeks have been crazy for her and we have both been busy. The kids just play (with time outs sprinkled in!) and we could talk about church, food storage, then end of days, politics, gas prices and whatever else we wanted. So Thank you to my friend... I love you!

My turn

Ok I I never do tags but as I'm sitting here watching Lil' Einsteins with Isabel I figure...why not.

SO...

8 TV shows I watch
1. Chuch
2. Burn Notice
3. CSI: NY
4. CSI
5. CSI: Miami
6. House
7. Lil' Einstines
8. Handy Manny

8 Things that happened yesterday
1. Girl time at a friends
2. Put 3 kids in time out for not listening. They just couldn't stop banging the doors!
3. Went to the fabric store for a sale
4. Stopped by a friends to drop of her Arbonne stuff
5. ate cookie dough
6. Bought stuff to make Isabel a stocking. (hey Jeni, I'll race you!)
7. Called people for work
8. Emails, blog etc

8 Favorite places to eat:
1. Pepitos (maybe it's just nostalgic and I don't have it here.. so it's always sooo good!)
2. Courtney's house
3. My house -breakfasts are the best!
4. Franco Tratitoirias (I butchered this spelling, we just found this restaurant and I love it!)
5. Taco Time
6. Macaroni Grill
7. Chevy's
8. Arby's
(wow, that was hard... we don't eat out enough I guess...)

8 Things I am Looking Forward to:
1. Having our business take off... we are so close
2. Thanksgiving at my house this year!
3. Visiting Alabama SOON
4. Christmas
5. Isabel being potty trained
6. My sister's wedding!!!!! (these are in order of happenings... not importance)
7. Having another baby... no I"m not pregnant but I want to be, and I can't right now
8. To stop looking forward and start enjoying today

8 Things on my wish list:
1. President Mitt Romney
2. Alabama National Championship
3. To go to a Bama game this year
4. To win the $15,000 shopping spree the radio station is giving out
5. To have Isabel potty trained
6. For my family to come down for Christmas like they were supposed to
7. For our business to take off!
8. GMC Acadia

8 Tagged People
1. Who ever wants to or none at all....

and the rational T comes back

Ok, so I've calmed down a bit and would apologize to everyone but luckily, most everyone knows me, so y'all know that after about 10 min, my rant is done. But thanks for understanding! I will do my best to also support our President in his duty. While I don't agree with most of what he's doing, or saying... I truly hope I can 'eat' my words and that he'll turn out to be great for this country. We need to get our country back on its feet and fix it from within. I to realize the hypocrisy in this statement, but I am tired of the name calling and bashing (yes I was guilty on my last post... but it wasn't really about our president so does that count?) I may not agree with everything Obama said but he is our president and I can only hope for the best. May God bless him and what are hopefully good intentions for our country... or at least bless us for trying to follow God's will... (remember the 12th article of faith!)

Worst of it all

I saw a picture from Chicago and it has a very bigoted man smiling like a complete idiot...Jesse Jackson,(and Al Sharpton) the biggest pig headed racist of them all, will see this as a victory for him when he must be the biggest failure to the movement that Martin Luther King started. It may not be all bad but we may have just handed hell it's hand basket. I hate that man, he will keep me from going to heaven...
Oh well... I hope Mr Obama will be a good president but most anything would impress me about him anyways... I just hate that all we'll here is black black black.... yep lets keep the race issue going... (Leslie no comments please I'm just having a illogical rant and I'll calm down soon...)
However John McCain is such an amazingly positive man... I truly look up to him...

But I'll always hate Jesse Jackson (and Al Sharpton) and his smugness...

Why I love Isabel!

I'm making a book on Blurb about Brooklyn. Isabel sees the picture and says... "That's my Brooklyn". I asked how she was doing and Izzy says. "Brookwyn's with Jesus, in da ceiling!" So maybe when we point to Heaven we should do it outside!

Sunday... not my favorite

Yesterday was awful. Lately I've had a really hard time with Sunday's. Most people ask me if it's because of my daughter but honestly I'm not consciously thinking about her every time. Part of it is that we have 12:30 church and I get a bit bored waiting for it to start... but then unconsciously, who knows. Fast Sunday's are usually emotional still and we had this nice lady in our ward bearing testimony of her granddaughter who was born prematurely, her daughter called and wanted her to pray immediately, long story short , her granddaughter was fine. I love stories like this for those involved, it's similar to Isablel's story but is it wrong of me to not want to hear them?
A friend of mine who just went thru a tough time also reminded me that between being hormonal, stress and the unconscious thoughts of our minds I could just be screwed up. And that's ok, for now.
The quilt I finished was also what I put all my energy into the first 2 weeks after She passed and now it's done. I don't know what to do now. The only other project is Isabel's room and it should be done in a day or so, then what? It was so easy to get thru the first month or so because I had stuff to keep me busy whether friends or projects. I still have friends but since I can't call them to drop their lives every day, it's just projects, and I'm out.
I hate that the emptiness in my heart is feeling so incredibly huge right now but since I'm only 5 weeks out from her due date and it's holiday time I guess it's normal. But I can't wait for this to pass.

Halloween!

I am finally posting some halloween pics from our three outings. The first set are from the pumpkin patch we went to, the second are from carving pumpkins with friends and that last are from Costume parties... and if you're not sure, it's tribute to the Number 1 team in college football!!! (please don't jinx them...)

I Finished it!!!

So this is my first quilt. I am very proud of it. All that is left is to send it to my mom and have her do the actual quilting on a machine she has access too. Enjoy!