Thankful Thanksgiving Thursday

On the day set aside to reflect on thankfulness- I am indeed thankful for many things.  Harrison and I made the 8 hour trek to Grand Junction to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.  We were fortunate enough to have 9 out of 10 kids at home.  It has been a wonderful weekend.  Here are some highlights of my family fun that I am very thankful for!

We had some time to snap a few family photos

We are kind of crazy.  Well- a lot crazy

9 out of 10 kids oldest to youngest (we are missing #2)

Tallest to shortest (I am now 4th in line)

We had lots of food, family, and fun.  We seriously had so much food.  And the PIES.  THE PIES!  We made 8 pies (5 of which were apple) and I have eaten at least an entire apple pie just by myself... and I really don't think that is an exaggeration.

Mom making pie!

Holly and Audrey helping with pie

Pies and pies and pies!

My mom's apple pie is seriously the best in the world.  NO JOKE!

While we baked pies, dad worked on the computer

 Noellee was putting around trying to "help" where she could

Auntie Laura helped Noellee with her hair for pictures

Audrey and Harve loved eating the apple peels with their lunch

Brok couldn't wait to get outside to play some football with the boys

The big (and a couple of little) boys played football outside in the crisp air

My 3 sisters! Laura, Charnae, and Audrey.  I really do love them!

Westley, Jaala, Christian, and Laura

Christian and Jaala making faces

I am so thankful for my family.  We really do love each other.  We all seem to get along (and that is an awesome feat... since there are 10 of us... and a few in-laws too).  


I am thankful for the time I have had with my family this weekend.  The food has been stupendous, the visiting has been stimulating, and the laughing together has been wonderful.  


I am thankful for all that I have.  I am thankful for a vehicle that is reliable enough to get us from Las Vegas to Grand Junction safely and with a heater/air conditioner that works.


I am thankful for my siblings.  I have a special bond with each of them.  I have been able to laugh HARD with my sisters, and cuddle with my younger brothers.  


I am thankful for my parents.  They are the best parents I have ever had!  But really- they are wonderful.  They are wise and they are grounded in their beliefs and faith in Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful for that.  I am thankful for the values and standards they taught me while I was in their house.


I am thankful for good food and the ability myself and my families have to buy food and eat food.


I am thankful for many many things.  I hope you and your family have also had a wonderful and blessed holiday.  Be thankful for the things you have and the relationships you have with others.  


LOVE YALL!

Thankful Thursday!!!

Happy Thursday to you!  How has your week been?  I hope you have lots to be thankful for!  I know I do... when I think about it.  Let's recap the week:


Date Nights
We went out with friends on 11-11-11.  It was super fun.  We went and supported the UNLV Runnin' Rebels in their season opener.  It was fun... especially because our Rebels won!  Whoot!  So fun!

We had better seats this time... but we were still pretty high up.  BUT- no young boys around with beer to spill on me!  That was definitely a plus!

The three husbands enjoying the game

Happy 11:11 on 11-11-11!

Marriage
Yes- I am so thankful to be married!  Harrison and I attended a marriage seminar last weekend.  We learned how to make our marriage Good, Better, and Best.  It was REALLY good.  The speaker was great and I took a boat-load of notes.  I really am thankful for Harrison and the marriage that we have.  We have been married 6 1/2 years and I am really proud of that.  Sure we have fights and disagreements, but you know- we have it pretty dang good!  
Harrison tried to teach me to drive his manual car last weekend.  I sucked.  It was funny.  He is a great teacher.  He was so patient and he was more than willing to laugh with me (and at me) and guide me through the process.  He gave me positive comments even though the car stalled at least 30 times that afternoon.  Well- the next day I found this on my steering wheel when I got in my truck to go to work...

So awesome!  It was great.  I love my husband (like when I try to explain how much I love him- it will make you want to puke because it's so mushy- LOVE).  


Love
I know this blessing sounds generic... and I can see how it could be generic.  There has been many ways this last week that I have been shown love.  In word, in phone calls, in deed, in texts, in hugs, in laughter, in notes... the list goes on.  I am thankful that I am loved.


I hope you have many things that you are thankful for.  If you can't think of any... just know that I am thankful you read this post and I am sending you love!  It sounds sappy- but I am in a kind of sappy mood right now :)

Thankful Thursday

Lots to be thankful for... especially with the holiday dedicated to thankfulness right around the corner.  So here we go.  This week I am thankful for:

Einstein Bagles
They have really saved me these last few mornings with their cranberry bagel coolness and their asiago bagle awesomeness (especially when it has cream cheese and tomatoes on it).  YUM!  AND- the manager at the register knows my name now.  Cool.

Service
We were able to help some friends of ours move to Utah this weekend.  It was a very fast trip but I really am thankful that we were able to help them move all of their stuff so that they can begin a new chapter in their lives.

Fall Weather
It has finally made it's way to Vegas.  Brisk mornings and nights that need slippers and blankets.  Although- I am still not a fan of getting out of the shower and feeling like I just stepped out onto the Tundra.  But- nevertheless... I am thankful for fall briskness.

Cruise Control
Seriously- this sanity saving gadget is very much taken for granted.  On our trip to/from Utah... saved my sanity (and my foot that is still sore from falling down the stairs the other week).

Sisters
I have talked to both of my adult sisters quite a bit this week and I am very thankful for them.  I didn't used to be... like when we were all younger.  I always thought of them as the annoying "little sisters"... but I have grown to love love love them and appreciate them unconditionally.  We laugh a lot together.  We are quite silly and get kinda stupid with each other... which I love!

10 years ago

 Now

The New iPhone Update
Although iCloud is still sort of confusing to me... the new update and the new features on my phone/computer are pretty amazing!  I love them!  I love technology and I love the fact that I own cool technology.

The Book of Mormon

I have been trying (though falling way behind) to get it read in 90 days.  I have been really trying to read and process all that I am reading.  It is amazing!  I love the words of the prophets and I love the things I am learning.  So awesome!  Now- I just need to get on the ball and catch up on the 26 chapters I am behind in!

Ok- you're turn!  What are you thankful for?

Horror on Halloween

I almost got a diet coke again at Del Taco. 


I asked, "Cherry, right?"


She said, "Oh- I filled it with Diet.  Hold on."


Such a scary thing to almost have happen on Halloween.  I didn't appreciate the trick when I wanted a treat.


OK- I am done with the Halloween puns!


But really- HAPPY HALLOWEEN PEEPS!!!

Ha Ha... You say- FUNNY THING!

So- it's no secret that I am hilarious!  Kidding.  Totally kidding.  I like to think I am funny but sometimes I think that other people think I am just corny.  But anyway... last night I had a discouraging moment.  I felt broken down and just a little sad.  Well- then I looked through my board on Pinterest (seriously if you don't have an account yet... you are missing out) that is all about funny stuff.  I pin stuff on there that is funny, humorous, funny because it's true, and sometimes a little off color.  Well- I cheered back up after seeing some of these things.  I thought I would share my amusement with you!  ENJOY!  I hope you literally LOL!

So- when life seems like it is hopeless and you feel like you are the worst person or most unloved person in the world.... look at these and remember that life is funny, sarcastic, and pretty easy if you let it be!


Have a wonderful weekend PEEPS!

The Twilight Zone

So last night I could not for the life of me sleep.  At all.  I kept looking over at the clock and it was 1am then 2am then 3am.  ARG.  I think I fell asleep fully somewhere between 3.30 and 4am.  Well- while I was half awake and half asleep, I was thinking about things.  And at the time- my ideas seemed genius!  They all made sense.  I had my next blog post all set up in my mind and I came up with a  catchy title too!  It had something to do with an Ice Bath or Ice Ice Baby or something like that... well whatever it was... it was stupid now that I think about it in my full consciousness and not in THE TWILIGHT ZONE.  


I do remember what I was going to blog about though.  Being hot... hence the ice bath thought.  I was put on some hormone therapy a couple of weeks ago to help with some issues I have been having with my girly plumbing (like you wanted to know that).  Well- one of the lovely side effects of this therapy is hot flashes.  And I mean HOT flashes.  I thought I knew the extent of hot flashes... but I didn't until now.  I will be sitting somewhere just minding my own business and all of the sudden... BAM... I start to sweat like crazy and there isn't enough air conditioning in the world that can cool me off!  Even my scalp starts sweating (which is the sweat I hate the most... head sweat).  It lasts about 5-10 minutes or so and then all of the sudden I am freezing!  It is like I was sent into a deep freeze or something.  These lovely little events happen about every few hours or so during the day and night.  So annoying.
So annoying.
Well I was obviously sweating last night when I was thinking about this blog post.
Anyway- Harrison and I really have been watching the original series of The Twilight Zone from the 50's.  It is fun.  Did you know that they didn't have the "do do do do" music until the second season??  Well- they didn't.  We have watched almost half of the first season I think and Harrison and I have to just add the "do do do do" in ourselves.  


Also- I pilfered through the house today to find some spare change to go get a cherry coke. I have been craving them like MAD on this dang hormone shot thing.  So- I found some quarters and a ton of dimes and booked it to Del Taco to get a Cherry Coke.  I love that they have it in the fountain.  Well- I went through the drive-thru (mainly because I have been cleaning the house in my PJ's all morning and I didn't want to get dressed and I have baking soda paste dried to my legs right now and I didn't want to walk into the restaurant). Well- I pulled away and headed back home and I took a swig.  


IT'S NOT CHERRY COKE!!! THEY GAVE ME DIET COKE!

Which I hate.  Really bad.  And I have a huge cup of it.  And it was too much of a hassle to turn around and tell them what a sad mistake they had made.  So- I am suffering through a diet coke.  It serves me right though.  I have been drinking too much of the stuff lately.  It is my "manna from heaven" (which I should get around to telling you about that story someday).  So- I am sure that Harrison will agree (because he is always getting on my case about drinking too much CC... which he should) that I was punished with Diet Coke today because it is a sign to stop drinking soda!!!!!!


I have been crafting more since my post about craft weekend.  I made myself a laptop case... which I love!  Like a lot.  Like to the point that I want to make one for everyday of the week.

I also busted out my mad banner skills for our friend Stephanie who just had a birthday.  She is in love with Halloween and her birthday is in October!  FABULOUS!  I made this SPOOKY banner for her.  Harrison gave it to her in class today and he sent me these pics of lovely Stephanie with the banner... since I didn't snap any when I was actually making it.

Tell me what you think about this.  So- I made this banner for Steph... and it turned out SUPER CUTE... cuter than the ones I make for myself.  I made our friend Vicki her laptop cover a couple of weeks ago and it went off without a hitch.  It turned out perfect and I loved it.  My laptop case took FOREVER and I made mistake after mistake and there were hiccups and hang-ups left and right when I made mine.  I thought about this.  I think the reason that the things I made for other people turned out so well was because I was acting in the spirit of charity and service.  I believe that the good Lord blessed me with patience and with smooth sailing in my crafting efforts.  Now- you can choose whether you believe this as well... or not... but I like to think it.  I am glad that the things I made for my friends turned out so great!  It makes me feel very proud of myself and very accomplished. 


Oh- and I found another "green" cleaning solution that is a miracle!  BAKING SODA AND WATER!  Seriously.  I have heard from a few bloggers and some awesome pins on Pinterest that a baking soda and water paste make the miracle soap scum remover.  They didn't lie.  I have tried so many products and solutions on my shower it's not even funny.  The soap scum just would not come off of the shower door and off the bottom of the shower.  Well- I made my paste (and I added a few drops of my peppermint scented Castile Soap for scent) and scrubbed my shower.  HOLY CRAP!  That stuff works!  Like fast too!  It took me about 30 minutes to scrub the entire shower and it is almost PERFECT!  The shower door is cleaner than it has ever been since we moved in almost 2 years ago!  Actually- I am kind of embarrassed to tell you that my bathroom was that dirty for so long.  Why is it that our own personal master bathrooms and bedrooms get the least amount of attention overall in our homes??  I think it is because it is the room that is hidden the most.  You don't really bring your friends into your bedroom for a dinner party (but maybe you do.. I dunno)... so these are the rooms that get neglected the most.

Now- there is still some work to be done in this shower.  I mean- it is going to take another treatment of "paste" I think... and a major dousing of hydrogen peroxide (which is a great mildew killer by the way) to get it all pearly white like it used to be when it was originally built 20 years ago.  Oh- and don't pay attention to the girl in the photo's reflection.  She didn't do her hair or get changed out of her pi's before taking this photo... and running to Del Taco.  But seriously- I don't remember when the door was so shiny and clear!  It's a miracle I tell ya... a Christmas miracle!


OK- I am done rambling on for today.  Oh wait- one last thing!  My brother, Brok... the football star in our family, made it to the Super Bowl in his league.  He plays tomorrow night.  I am excited for him.  Here he is with his fan club after his team won their last play off game last weekend.

FUN!  I am excited for him to play in his Super Bowl against... the Cowboys I think.  Good luck to them!  


OK- bye for now!

Craft Weekend!

So I crafted this weekend.  It was super fun.  Our friend, Vicki, had a birthday today (HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICKI) and Harrison and I wanted to do something fun for her.  She recently bought the same laptop that I also recently purchased and so we decided that a rad laptop case would be a fun project.  You see... in my opinion... the covers they have in the stores for the MacBook Air are lame and really blah.  SO- this is what I made for dear and sweet Vicki!

It was super fun to make!  I kind of made up the pattern myself and it ended up turning out amazing!  I am really pleased with it.  I was kind of sad that I had to give it away- but I have some new fabric to make one for myself.  YAY

Harrison snapped a photo of me whirring away on my machine.

Harrison also decided to craft a bit this weekend. He got an itch to try out quilting.  I taught him all that I know... the seams have to be 1/4 inch.  That is all I know!  HA.  So- he made a pot holder of sorts... all by himself!  It was fun.

We had a good time. I think the best part of creating is when you think of an idea and when it is all done... it looks EXACTLY like it did in your head to begin with.  Yeah- that is my favorite part!  So- now I want to make laptop covers until they come out of my ears.  I should teach myself to make something else!

Project Snail Mail Winner!!!!!!

First off- thanks to all of those who entered into my first blog contest... and thank you for joining Project Snail Mail!  It is such a fun thing!


Well congrats to:


EMILY


Emily said: GIMME NAO!!! Why? Umm...well... 

I got those Star Wars stamps too, just like I get every cool collection that comes out. 

I've gotten all the state rolls and use the state stamp that corresponds with the address I'm sending it to. 

I bought the quilt and (Pacific Coast) lighthouse sets specifically for sending letters to my mom 'cause she's into that stuff. 

My favorite stamps are the Legends of Hollywood series and am more stingy about who I send those to. 

My other stationary staple is STICKERS! I have a billion stickers, they're awesome, and everything must have stickers. 

This month I am sending out birthday cards, thank you notes, and correspondence with my relatives and pen pals abroad.

In summary: I have a sick addiction to all things stationary, so I need more more MORE!

P.S. You should totally give away the Send a Hello (Forever) stamps. It goes great with your theme.

So this was a super fun thing.  I really think that I will do giveaways more often!  I hope you all enter them too!!!

Hope you don't get stuck!

I swear we had like 5 people say this to us by the time we left the office for lunch!

Working for an orthodontist has some really great perks... the best of which is braces for myself and for my immediate family.  I just had my 2 year anniversary with Feller Orthodontics and Harrison and I celebrated by having Harrison get his braces on!  YAY!

But really, it is such a generous thing that my boss does for his employees.  Harrison was pretty excited to have the opportunity to have braces... even if it might be for 2 years or so.

Waiting for the Dr to come put the brackets on!

Right after the brackets were put on.  Just need the wire in!!

And here we are with braces... the both of us!

It was kind of a weird thing.  I was super nervous for Harrison the entire day.  I sat next to him the entire time he had the braces put on and I knew what it felt like to be a parent (sort of) sitting next to their kid while they started treatment.  It was a fun thing though.


Until his mouth started to hurt.  It wasn't THAT long ago that I had that same pain and discomfort from the first couple of days of braces.  I hated that pain.  I wish that I could just take all the pain he is feeling and just feel it for him instead... since I have already had to go through it and I know how it feels.  I wish he didn't have to get used to them.  But- I know he won't regret it.  It will all be worth it in the end!


So now we both have braces and it is awesome.  And no... we didn't get stuck after kissing... we tried and it didn't happen!  HA