Tagged Again...

10 Things I was doing 10 years ago

1. Bought our first home

2. Stopped working for a Mortgage company

3. Just had Kellsie

4. Started working on our food storage

5. Meet one of my best friends, Kristi

6. Discovered that I can't cook

7. Started Scrap booking

8. Visited Buffalo, NY (on purpose)

9. Started on the slippery slope of gaining weight

10. Slept in a water bed

10 Things on my "To-Do" list today

1. Get kids ready for church

2. Get to church on time

3. Get TV/VCR for my lesson

4. Not beat the kids in my class

5. Decorate for Christmas

6. Have Family Home Evening

7. Read the scriptures with Logan (he wants to start reading them on his own)

8. Make the Christmas DVD of the kids

9. eat dinner (not turkey, or stuffing)

10. Relax and chill with Jeff

10 Foods I enjoy

1. A &W Rootbeer

2. Somberros Burritos

3. Pizza

4. Cheese cake

5. Apple Pie

6. Scalloped Potatoes

7. Candy Canes

8. Choc covered cherries (the ones for .97 cents a box at walmart)

9. Smoothies that Jeff makes

10. Steak

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire...

1. Pay off debt

2. Travel

3. Disney Land four times a year

4. SAVE

5. SAVE

5 Jobs I've Had

1. McDonald's

2. Mortgage Company

3. Crafter

4. Mom

5. Secretary

5 people I tag

1. Laurel

2. Roxie

3. Amanda

4. Laura

5. Chris

Nativity Collections

I have always loved Nativity Scenes. So When I got married I started collecting them. It started with a crystal piece and then every year since then Jeff has bought me a Nativity. So while Kellsie and I were setting up, I started taking pictures of them. They are not amazing pictures and you can't see detail, but you get the idea.

My sister in Law Rose got me this in Spain (on her mission). It is made out of Olive Wood.

Laurel bought me this one. I really like the colors. So on a side note (and my brothers should feel really bad about this) I have asked them while they were on their mission to bring back a Nativity from the places they served. My brothers have served in Spain, Ukraine, Uruguay and Georgia. So I could have some pretty different ones. But they have all forgotten to bring me back one. I even told them I would pay for them. I think they all forgot, but I am reminding them right now.

I did have some more from Jeff, but having boys has not made things easy on the nativity front. You see the football likes to be thrown in my house (not that I let it, but it still happens). And it ways during Christmas brakes a nativity. And so far it has always been Joseph who bites the dust. Very sad.

I did have one that my mom gave me a couple years back. It was a ceramic one that she made herself. I use to be in charge of setting it up every year when I was younger, so she gave it to me. This was one of the ones that met the football head on. So I bought the Ceramic mold and I am making another one just like it.

Jeff has been trying to buy me some really cool (and expensive) ones the past couple of years, but I have asked him to hold off on the ones that cost over 50.00 because there is a good chance they will get broken. I will wait until the kids are out of the house and I can get shelving that is really high up and protected by shatter proff glass.

And More Nativities

This is one I got from Laurel

Here is one from Jeff

Here is another one of my favorites from Jeff. I love the colors and the faces

This is a scripture nativity. On the skirt of each piece is a scripture. Pretty cool. Also from Jeff

This is one piece. and another one of my favorites. From Jeff

Some More Nativity Sets

This is one of the first sets Jeff got me as well. I really like this one, but I should have taken a closer picture, so you could see it better. The texture is way cool. This is really Kellsie's nativity that Roxie (her brownie Girl Scout leader) got her for Christmas one year.

This is a Holy Family from Jeff
This is just the Wise Men. Pretty cool huh? I have never seen just the wise men before.. This is from Jeff as well.

Here is a snowman set. Laurel bought me this.

More Nativities

This one Jeff got me early on in our Marriage. It is a frosted glass nativity.

This is the first Nativity is got. It is a Princess House lead crystal Holy Family

This is another Holy Family that Jeff bought me

Here is a Native American Nativity that I painted. I see that I am already missing Joseph. I need to go talk to my boys!

I painted this Nativity also. It is a large nativity and takes up almost the whole table.

TRADITION!

Our family tradition is to decorate for Christmas the Sunday after Thanks Giving. I love this tradition. The kids and I have been looking forward to this all week.


For Christmas Aunt Kim, Aunt Denise and Grandma Joan like to send Christmas stuffed animals. Some make noise and some just look adorable. So Kellsie's job every year is to arrange them so everyone can see them. They only stay looking nice for a day or two until the kids start playing with them. Jeff, Logan and Jakob set up the lights outside on the garage and the candy canes lining our drive way. They look totally cool.

We set up the fake tree (that is right. Christmas trees are way too expensive so we bought a fake one years ago)

Black Friday Pictures

Jakob got dressed and then fell asleep on the couch.

Kellsie and Logan look they are asleep standing up

Thanksgiving Pictures

Like I said before, the kids were busy helping with the cooking.

Logan with his Choc cream pie Pic of Jakob's finished Cake. Pretty good frosting job. Nice work jake.

Kellsie really took a lot of work off my hands this year. She is good at chopping and that was most of the pre work.

My brother David

David was able to fly in for the wedding. Jeff and Picked him up from the airport at midnight on Friday. I saw him off and on on Saturday and then we left on Sunday. Not nearly enough time with him.

If you noticed David is growing his chin hairs into a long braid. No idea's Jeff. I will totally cut it off!

Randy's Reception

This is Jakob brake dancing at the reception.


Caitlin and Kellsie

Melea and Logan

My sister Susan in her bridesmaids outfit. Doesn't she look adorable?


The cool looking cake.

I had a total blast at Randy and Caitlin's reception. I loved the food (BBQ Pit), the cake, the family and the friends.

Extended Family Fun

Some of my dad's family was able to make it to San Diego for the wedding. We were able to see them at the Temple , at the family luncheon and again at the reception.

Here is my brother Robbie with Chryistal in the background

My sister in law Melea with my cousin Chani's daughter Tianna
I had a bunch of other relatives, and I wish I had taken more pictures of everyone. I missed a bunch of them.

Extended Family

More extended family...


Uncle John (my mom's brother) and my brother David

Uncle Marshall (my dad's youngest brother) and my cousin Chanie's son Danny
My brother Randy and my aunt Terry (Marshall's wife)

My cousin Cheyenne and my sister Susan

My cousin Chani and my Dad

TAGGED

The rules: Answer the question using only one word. Then tag 4 others.

1.Where is your cell phone? charging
2. Your significant other? Jeff
3. Your hair? Short
4. Your mother? Nancy
5. Your father? Rusty
6. Your favorite thing? Family
7. Your dream last night? PTO
8. Your favorite drink? Rootbeer
9. Your dream/goal? No- Debt.
10. The room your in? living Room
11. Your hobby? Ceramics
12. Your fear? snakes
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Texas
14. What your not good at? spelling
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? MOVE
7. Where you grew up? Lakeside
18. The last thing you did? Painted
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Favorite gadget? computer
21. Your pets? DUMB
22. Your computer? AMAZING
23. Your mood? HAPPY
24. Missing someone? Friend
25. Your Car? dirty
26. Something you're not wearing? HA!
27. Favorite Store? Target
28. Favorite Word? Laugh
29. Your favorite color? Pink
30. When is the last time you laughed? earlier
31. Last time you cried? monday
Tag: Laurel, Stephanie, Chris, Laura

Mormons?

So our church has improved one of it's websites. I went on it today and I liked it. Check it out.

www.mormon.org

Black Friday!

You know it! I took the kids out with me on black Friday and we had a blast. I had the kids sleep in the cloths for the next day, so they just had to get up, put their shoes on and go to the bathroom. I woke them up at 4:30am and we were out the door by 4:45am. We went to Walmart first. WE got there just as the doors opened. Talk about a mad house!

We got the bath towels for 1.50, jeans for Logan for 8.00, and a jacket for Jakob for 8.00. I also got a couple of movies for 2.00. Nothing major, all the other stuff was so jammed pack with people that I couldn't get in, so we left.

We got to Target a couple min before they opened. There was a major line all the way down the sidewalk and around a couple other stores. Kellsie took off running to save us a space in line while I carried Jakob who had fallen back asleep.

WE got my broom vacuum for 29.00, 3 shirts for me for 5.00, a couple more movies and then we left. I know, everything for me and nothing for the kids.

As tradition goes, we then go to Los Lunas (1/2 hour drive) to go see Jeff at work. We stopped by and bought his store doughnuts. At staples we bought an MP3 player (20.00) for Logan as well as a pay as you go phone(9,00). Kellsie is going more places now and I have been wanting to keep better tabs on her. Most of her friends at school and at Girl Scouts have phones, so we thought we would get her a pay as you go phone, just for emergencies. She is going to be thrilled!

WE stopped by Hastings where we bought 5 wii games. They were buy one get one 1/2 price. We got a hockey game, Lego Indiana Jones, a pet game, Mario Galaxy, and tony hawk.

On the way home we hit walmart in Los Luna's where we got the rest of the stuff we were going for. PJ's for Kellsie and Jeff. Slippers for the kids. 5 jeans for Kellsie and one pair for me. A hoodie for Kellsie and a jacket for Logan. I also picked up a hoodies for me (4.00), a blouse for Kellsie,one more movie and we were off again.

The kids were excited to go home and eat turkey for lunch. The kids were great while we were shopping. They are good at getting in tight spaces to grab things that adults can't get. They are amazing and I was so proud of them.

So we don't have too much more to get the kids for Christmas. I am making a skateboarding blanket for Logan's bed and that will be done soon. WE have to get some more stuff for Jakob, but other than that I am done spending both sets of Grandparents money. They both send money for me to buy the kids stuff for Christmas. It saves money on shipping and it is a blast for me! Thanks!

Thanks Giving

Thanks Giving was AMAZING!

Kellsie and Jeff did the turkey this year. Kellsie saw on a cooking show (so not my child) to put veggies in the turkey while it is cooking to give it flavor. She put onions, green onions, carrots and celery in and all around the turkey. It tasted fantastic! I think we will do it that way every year. Jakob and Logan helped brake up the bread for the stuffing. And I think this year was the best year for stuffing also.

As with the gravy. I made it with the drippings from the bird. And I didn't even add any salt this year. I think it was the veggies that gave it such great taste, I just had to thicken it up.

The desserts were great. We tasted a little of every ones. Of course ever one voted for their dessert, but gave high marks for everyone Else's. So we have a 5 way tie.

We hope you had a wonderful Thanks Giving!

Already started cooking

The kids and I already started cooking. Kellise cut up veggies for the stuffing. Jakob and Logan tore up the bread for the stuffing. And the boys made their desserts already. I can't wait for tomorrow...

I love Thanks Giving

On Monday for Family Home Evening we went shopping. I know that sounds dull, but shopping with me is the best adventure ever!

I had just made the Thanks Giving list of food that we needed. I also added some things that we needed in general. We went to Smiths because it had most of the things I needed on sale, plus I had tons of their coupons. WE TOTALLY SCORED!

They had the deal where if you spent 25.00 you can get a turkey for 29cents a pound. So I tossed half of the grocery's in Jeff's cart and 1/2 in mine. I spent 52.00 and saved 67.00 (that's right, over 50%). Then Jeff spend 56.00 and saved 48.00 (not as well as I did, but I didn't expect him to beet me at the shopping game). So for 100.00 we got 2 turkeys, 15lbs of ground beef, all the Thanks Giving stuff and a bunch of normal stuff (ie butter...).

The kids had a blast! We told them we were having a dessert cook off for Thanks Giving. Each could pick a dessert and make it. I am making apple pie. Logan is making a choc pudding pie with whipped cream on top. Jakob is making his famous choc cake (from a box) with choc frosting. Kellsie is making a mango shake. And Jeff can't make up his mind. Might be some apple bread or cheese cake or something crazy, we wont know until it happens. I will let you know who the winner is.

Randy's wedding pics

So Jeff has added a link to his website for Randy's wedding pictures. He only has a few on there as he took like 5 million. Check out Jeff's blog to the right that says "Jeff's wanna be blog". I think it is the first post that has a couple pics of the wedding and a link to the website. Enjoy. I think they make a great looking couple.

My theme song for the year

I have a theme song for this year, but I can't remember who sang it or what the title is. It is a country song.

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

You've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string.

Never compromise what's right, and uphold your family name.

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

Anyone know the title? Help!

My new toy

This is my new toy that my mom bought me. A wheat grinder. I have all this whole wheat in my food storage, but I didn't know how to make it into flour. While in San Diego, she gave one to me. So I ground wheat. It was really easy. I thought there was going to be flour everywhere. But there wasn't. In the picture of the wheat grinder, there is flour on the counter, but that was because I spilt it myself.

Last sunday Jakob and I made bread from the flour. It was really good. Thanks Mom!

Dog lover

Kellsie got this book on training dogs. In the book there was a recipie to make your own dog biscuts. So we did. I only was there as moral support, kellsie did all the cooking. She even made them into dog bone shapes. Too cute! The dogs really like them. She took some to her teacher for her dogs and they liked them too.

I really like how much kellsie loves animals. I mean I would rather not have any of them in my house, but her compassion melts my heart. She always talked about opening her own shelter to take care of animals. I am so proud of her.