Brotherly Love

It was so exciting for the Little Boys in my family (Westley age 5 and Brok age 9) to have Curtis come home. They were immediately glued to him when he stepped off the plane.

Wow... look at the resemblence of Curtis and Westley! Get ready Westley, this is what you will look like when you grow up!

Brok was right there to help Curtis find his bags at baggage claim. What a good brother he is. Ha Ha.

All weekend the boys were joined at the hip. They didn't want to go anywhere that Curtis was not going. We were even able to bribe Westley into doing chores and getting his pajamas on over the weekend. We just told him that Curtis would be so happy if he would do something and before we knew it... Westley was running up and down the stairs getting things done.

Balloon Making Fun

Our dear adopted brother, Robert (well not really adopted but he is at my families home more than some of my family I think), entertained us for over an hour with his clown skills. I had no idea that Robert was a professional clown for a time. He dazzled us with his ability to make pretty much anything out of some long balloons.

I have a motorcycle and Westley is holding a very pretty pink poodle (say that five times fast).

I was also surprised with a balloon earring and ring set. Very chic. We laughed at many of the designs by Herr Robert. Another great day at the Gladden home.

Another One Bites the Dust!

What a happy thing for us this weekend... we were able to pay off our truck two years early! We were so happy. Working extra jobs and long hours is really paying off. We asked the teller at the bank to take a picture of us. She said that it was the first time ever that she had somebody ask her to do that. So, we officially own our vehical. YAHOO! We were able to pay off about $3000 in just a few months. Now we just have to pay off my lovely braces. Just $3000 more to go! We are taking the advice of Dave Ramsey to get our debt paid off. Check out his site. If we would all live by his simple debt free steps and rules, the world would be a happier and much friendlier place!

Home Sweet Home

This weekend Harrison and I are going home go Grand Junction. My brother, Curtis, is returning home from his LDS mission to Portland, Oregon. Oh, what a happy day for my family! I have missed him so much. His flight comes in at about noon on Friday. I am sure I will have lots of pictures and subjects to blog about.

This weekend will be the first time in FOUR years that my entire family has been together. It has been four years of missions, weddings, college, and much more. It will be such a good time for us.

We will also have a mini celebration of my parent's 25th wedding anniversary. It was a couple of weeks ago, but we are going to celebrate a little late with all of the children home and in one place.

Stay tuned to see the happenings of the weekend.

The Cutest Blog on the Block

So, I was looking at Hilary's blog (click here to see) and found that she had the cutest blog layout I have ever seen! And I thought to myself, "Self... you should get a cute blog layout too!" So, I did! I went to the site Cutest Blog on the Block (click here) and found my cute layout! Hip Hip Hooray! So everybody check it out and get your own!

Celebrate Good Times... Come On!

Yes, I celebrated National Sugar Cookie Day a day late. But, I celebrated nonetheless. I took a couple of trips to my favorite sugar cookie establishment here in Provo, Smart Cookie, to get the goods.


I love their little wall with "smart cookies" such as Albert Einstein and Charlie Chapman. HHMM... I wonder why my picture is not up there with them. HA HA.


They had very cute daisy cookies yesterday. They were so tasty. I took the cookies to Amanda's house. We ate the cookies and folded laundry with her cousin Nicole. Good times were had by all on this glorious holiday!









Oh... one more thing! Today is July 11th... which means the date is 7/11. Do you know what this means? 7-11 is having their annual FREE SLURPIE day today! What an incredible thing to have! I think I am going to hop on over and get me a wonderful cherry and coke Slurpie today... FOR FREE!

I FORGOT!!!!!

What a sad day! I forgot that today was National Sugar Cookie Day! What a retard I am! I had such big plans for this day! My life has been so crazy! I totally forgot. I will celebrate it tomorrow and post some pictures of my celebration!

Go Sell Crazy Somewhere Else... We Are All Stocked Up Around Here!

Well, there have been some changes the last little while! Where shall I begin.

Life at the gelato cafe has been a little rough for me the last couple of weeks. It is really hard to work with people five and seven years younger than me. So, I have been praying to find somewhere else to work this summer. I didn't want to just quit the job and go back on my end of the "pay off the debt" bargain. That would be very unfair.

Harrison was able to talk to his boss at his night job with BYU. What do you know, they will hire me! WaHoo!! So, I have a new night job at BYU. Harrison and I will both work as janitors at the JFSB (one of the Joseph Smith buildings on campus).

The new job will be kind of a blessing in a few ways. I will work with people about my age, I will work with Harrison (which is nice. We will get to see each other a little more everyday), and the pay is better! What more could I ask for?

I will keep working the Farmers Market here in Provo for the gelato cafe. So, never fear! I will still have access to free ice cream! YUM.

I'd like to welcome Lauren and Jason to the program. I would also like to welcome my good friend JoEllen! I was so tickled to hear that she reads our blog often (more than my mother-in-law does I found out... hee hee).

Well, I think that updates us for now!

July Holidays

Yes, its time for another round of Obscure Holiday! So let's see... what can we celebrate this month?

July 9- National Sugar Cookie Day (this calls for a Smart Cookie run I think)
July 13- Embrace Your Geekness Day
July 14- National Nude Day (OK people... lets celebrate this one at home alright)
July 21- National Junk Food Day
July 27- Parent's Day (call your Mommy and Daddy and let them know you love them)
July 30- Father-in-law Day (I sent cards to my father in law's last year... it was a blast)

By the way... if you are wondering where the heck I am getting all of these holidays... click here. Its a pretty funny idea for a website if you ask me.

If you are feeling down and need a pick me up, celebrate one of these holidays! I promise it will put a smile on your face!

Tagged Again... Crazy 8's

8 things I'm passionate about:

1. The Gospel
2. My marriage
3. family
4. paper crafts
5. the beach
6. classic cars
7. children
8. shoes

8 books I have read recently:

1. Schindler's List (working on it)
2. The Outsiders (a guilty pleasure I would have to say)
3. Man's Search for Meaning
4. Night
5. Harry Potter 1 (a repeat)
6. Harry Potter 2 (repeat)
7. Harry Potter 3 (repeat)
8. Harry Potter 4 (another repeat)

8 things I often say:

1. "What?" - Harrison thinks I am deaf... he might be right.
2.. "I love you"
3. "Hell to the NO"... I know its not very lady like... but it is funny!
4."Krazytown with a capital K"
5. "It's freaking my shiz"
6. "Nu Skin Special Events, this is Jaala"
7. "Nice"
8."Oh mamma NO"

8 things that annoy me:

1. Utah weather
2. Utah drivers
3. People who do not read ALL of the directions
4. Gas prices
5. Grocery prices
6. Maestro's Gelato Cafe
7. The downstairs neighbors
8. Kids not in car seats

8 things I look forward to each day:

1. Going to work (how many people can say that)
2. Tasty food
3. Sleep
4. Sunshine
5. Walking to work (yes, I enjoy the walk)
6. Seeing my co-worker Jane
7. Talking with my hubby (even if it is only for a moment)
8. Laying in my own bed at night

8 things I look for in a friend:

1. honesty
2. sense of humor
3. good morals
4. mature
5. down to earth
6. doesnt mind burps and farts (what... its true... it is what I look for in a friend)
7. similar interests
8. good listener

8 things I want to do before I die:

1. Have babies
2. go to Europe on a Holocaust tour
3. See the pyramids
4. go skydiving
5. learn to play tennis
6. live in another country
7. own my own home
8. travel with my children and grand children

8 things I have learned this past year:

1. You can be happy no matter what your situation
2. If there is a will... there REALLY is a way!
3. You can be good friends with people your mother's age
4. Photography is not as hard as I once thought
5. Having a good attitude makes life a lot easier
6. Paying off debt makes life and relationships so much easier
7. I am not ALWAYS right (although I still like to think so from time to time)
8. If I think my life is so hard, ask somebody else how their day is... chances are... I am in the same boat as everybody else

8 people I tag:
1. Kristen
2. Marie Whetten
3. Jodi
4. Kirrily
5. Hilary
6. Whitney
7. Marie Stott
8. Brittany