Pay It Forward

Blog Stalker Contest!!!!

How it works: The FIRST THREE people to leave a comment on this post will receive at some point during this year a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive will be a total surprise--to both of us.The CATCH is that YOU MUST PLAY TOO! Before you leave your comment here, write the same (pay it forward) post on your blog to keep the fun going (you can cut and paste these instructions). Then come back and let me know that you are going to play, and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift. It's THAT easy!Remember, only the FIRST THREE comments will qualify. Good luck!

Um...

Okay, so I have an addiction. These little buggers get me every Easter and I really can't help but buy them and then proceed to eat them. I really thought I wouldn't be bothered seeing them this year with the Fit in Six thing I did, but I just couldn't resist. So, if you haven't had the pleasure of actually tasting this WONDERFUL, AMAZING, SMOOTH, and ADDICTING, candy-coated chocolate - DON'T DO IT!!!

Do you VOTE?

This is actually the 1st year I have wanted to really vote for my favs - yes, I am a complete fan of American Idol and I am not afraid to admit it. I only voted the season before last when Blake was on the show and that was only once. This year I am totally committed to voting. I just pick my favs (see below) and vote away. I know, they are all boys, but seriously, I am really not into any of the girls this year - the boys are going to take it all.
So, do you VOTE???

Matt- the AMAZING piano man

Kris -the laid-back guitar boy



My VERY Fav - Danny - widow - is very cool and I LOVE his style of singing

Another Fav - Adam - Wicked star -will probably win it all and has an amazing voice

Happy Birthday GRANDMA!!

My sweet "little" grandma just turned the big 85 last week and I just had to post about how great she is. She is such an amazing person, and I love that she is still healthy and totally involved in life. I have always been really close to her, especially when I was younger and all of my cousins were dreadful boys (not now, but when you are 10 they are:). The girls were all a bit younger and so it was just me. When we came to visit, all of my siblings would be off to have fun slumber parties with their cousins and I would sit and cry, but my grandma (and grandpa) would have me sleep over and they used to make it so much fun for me that I would completely forget about my sadness.



Now that I have kids, my grandma is still close to me and she always supports us in all we do. She comes to dance recitals, musicals, and even school programs and I really appreciate that she takes the time to come and also because my mom doesn't live close by. My kids just love her and I think they are so lucky to have such an involved great-grandma that they can know and remember.



She is also very funny and witty. There is never a time that I am with her, that I don't end up laughing about something she says or tells me about. I love that, and I love YOU grandma - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Pillow Talk part 2

My good friend Sara told me about a great pillow they found at R.C. Willey - and oh, my, gosh, is it great! I have used it for 3 nights now and it is pure bliss. Spence is getting pillow envy I think - he now wants one:) It is a little on the $$$ side, but I think well worth it. So if you are having pillow problems - go check it out here, but go buy it at R.C. Willey - it is WAY cheaper and just ask for the Latex pillows!!

A Weekend with GIRLS!

Okay, so this picture was taken in High School our senior year and we have been email buddies throughout the years. We have also had get togethers during Holidays and a girls weekend a few years ago, and one fun 10-year H.S. reunion, but this weekend seemed to top them all.


This is all of us today and really, the only thing that has changed is the fact that we are married, have a few kiddos between us, 4 out of six are pregos, and personally, I think we LOOK much better. We got together this past weekend and had a blast. Ris flew in from Canada, Em drove from Washington, and Ang flew from Arizona. It was quite the reunion and so much fun. We stayed at the Little America, ate at the yummy Cheesecake Factory, exercised, swam, shopped, ate some more and TALKED like there was no tomorrow. I LOVE these girls and can't wait for the next "Getaway".


Em and I at the Olive Garden


Yes, we really did all buy this great jacket!


Ris's Dinner - it looked soooo good!


My Dinner - which was good, but would have been better if I wasn't on this dang "Fit in Six" thingy:)


Jodie and I


Jodie, Em, and Ris


Lori, cute little Braxton, and Angie

Thanks for the great weekend girls - good luck with all of those babies coming:)

Pillow Talk

Okay, I am going to need all of your help on this one. I am in desperate need of a new pillow and for some reason, I can't seem to buy the right one. I have gone through 4 pillows in the last year and NONE of them have been quite right. Spence can sleep with the same one for years and not care, but I guess I am a little particular. I am mainly a side sleeper, but sometimes end up on my stomach, so I have bought these types of pillows before, but to no avail. I have bought expensive ones and they don't seem to work, so I bought a cheap one at Target last week, and it REALLY doesn't work. So, now it is your turn to tell me what and which pillows you use that you absolutely LOVE - I really want to love my pillow - HELP!!

My MIS-Adventures with Grady Boy!

This month has been quite the adventure or MIS-adventure with Grady. I mean, who knew that one tiny little person could create such problems and messes - I DIDN'T!! When I found out I was having a boy, everyone said how much easier they were than girls, and granted, that seemed to be the case until he turned 1. Now, it seems like 2 or 3 girls at age 2 would be easier than this boy. Here is my list of the things Grady has either gotten into, broken, or just plain made a mess of already in this month - can't wait for February:)
1. Dumped an entire box of Cheerios (it was new) out downstairs and then threw the Cheerios as far as he could.
2. Sprayed Orange Glo (a really GREASY cleaning product for cabinets) onto my laundry room floor and after two mopping sessions is still slippery.
3. Tipped over the lamp for about the 12th time, but this time was the kicker and it broke the shade.
4. Tore his gum into tiny pieces and then put in his hair - this was a FUN one.
5. Took Spencer's red pen and wrote all over the kithen floor - this has happened twice since.
6. Moved a tall stool over to the vitamin cabinet and tried to open all of the bottles - luckily he did not succeed.
7. Dumped Downy on the laundry room floor - this technically made the room smell great, but again with the slippery floor!
8. Learned how to open doors - this is too sad to talk much about - as the girl's bedroom door does not have a lock - guess those ugly white kiddie cover knobs are coming out.
9. Took Kendalyn's COLORED lip gloss and put it in his hair - he has a thing with his hair - it was bright and greasy and PINK.
10. And finally, today as I was exercising, he decided to come upstairs and even though Adri assured me about 4 times that he was just playing, decided to take off his pants and then his DIAPER and run wild through the house! I haven't found or felt anything wet - yet, but I guess I learned my lesson about having a 5-year old tell me what is happening with the T.V. on!

Guess what folks, he is not even 2 yet! I promise I really do watch him closely, especially since this is not the first month of this kind of behavior, but he is super sneaky. I do love him though, and I am already sort-of laughing at the craziness he has brought into our house - good memories right???


His Favorite Toy that is not a TOY

Another Favorite Toy that is not a TOY

Looking SUPER CUTE in his Sunday Stuff

Who couldn't just LOVE this KID!!!

Adri's SWEET #5

Adri just turned 5 and couldn't be more pleased with herself. She is so happy that she can put up 5 fingers instead of 4. We started off the day with just a few presents to open and saved the rest for later - such self control she has:) We asked her where she wanted to eat and all she said she wanted was shrimp - so that's what she got. She basically ate the whole tray except for 3 from me and about 2 from Spence - silly girl. We just had a cupcake party with our fam and she opened the rest of her presents with the pink robe being the biggest hit. Her REAL friend party was the next day. She wanted everyone to wear pink and they had a great time. Spence took her and Kendalyn to Chuck E Cheese after the party (bless him) and they had a blast. Adri is such a fireball and so full of energy. Everyday she comes up with something to make us laugh and it usally includes dancing and being goofy. We love you ADRI - Happy B-day!!!

- Turns out, all of my photos are floating to the right - ugh - too much work to fix so oh well!

Um... YUM!

This is a picture of the famous Serendipity's Frozen Hot Chocolate in New York, which I am sure is super FABULOUS. I haven't had it myself, but my friend Jodie said it was amazing. Anyway, since most of us do not live in or near N.Y. (except you luckies Mike and Brent:) there is a solution! My sis-in-law Barj introduced me to the Frozen Hot Chocolate at Dairy Queen the other day, and oh- my- gosh is it good. It is not on their menu so you have to ask for it, but you will be SO glad you did - I am totally craving one right now, so I thought I would share this great find - thanks Barj!!!

LOVE

That is the "Theme" or "Word" of 2009 for me. Yes, the Today Show told me to do it, but I liked the idea and ran with it. I really hope to have more LOVE for all of the wonderful things in my life this year. So, now that I have the word, I work in my New Year's Resolutions to go along with it. Here goes:
#1 Learn to be a GENIUS at Photoshop - this requires LOVE of my slow computer and sometimes slow mind
#2 Be a Better Mom - I think I have done this one before, but I obviously didn't succeed:) This is an obvious one that will require LOVE and tons of Patience
#3 Do better in my church calling/callings - I have not been trying as hard as I need to for my lovely leading calling in the primary, so here is to LOVING those kids and remembering that I am responsible to teach them to LOVE primary songs

So, here I go! I am already LOVING 2009 and all of your wonderful posts! Thanks and Happy New Year!