Burning up the highway

In the last 4 years or so , I have put way to many miles on my car and now we are feeling the pain of a car with way to many miles on it. Now that my commute is more like 8 to 10 miles roundtrip a day verses the 40 to 50 miles a day that I used to, we are in the market for a "new to us" car. We have put way to much money into the car lately and there are still things that would need to be fixed.

Tuesday, I had to take the car into the shop AGAIN and they had to keep it overnight so I rented a car for the night. The only thing they had left was a Dodge Grand Caravan mini-van. I fell in LOVE with this car. The sliding doors in the back open automagically, it has stow and go seats and many other features that are just awesome.

So last night, we braved the rain and freezing weather to start the hunt for the perfect used van for us. We are still on the hunt (which is good for us because we usually impulse buy). We're hoping to get a good deal since we are at the end of the year etc etc. Wish us luck.

Priceless

3 hours total inside Babies-R-Us (Kiddie Kandids)
Eating dinner at 9pm
Trying to keep a 5 year old clean and happy all that time
3 changes of clothes
Making funny faces until your face hurts

Getting the perfect shot that shows every ounce of your child's personality....PRICELESS



It's not the "ideal" shot but man does it show exactly who he is and I love it.
Here are some others that are a bit more "normal"..LOL

Happiness is

Black Friday

After stuffing my face yesterday and enjoying being with family and being thankful for all that I have, I was ready for some SHOPPING.....

Every year my dear friends and I brave the cold/rain/crowds in search of that great bargain that we can't live without. Yep, I am one of the nutty people that get up before the dawn and stand in line wiping the sleep out my eyes and waiting for them to open the doors.

We start at Fred Meyer which opens at 5am and then head over to a great shopping center with several stores. We stop in between and have a nice breakfast and usually wear out by about 11am. It a tradition that is now in it's 7th year and we wouldn't dream of ever stopping. We have so much fun and it never fails to get me in the holiday mood.

I got the best deals today. Hubby and I carefully went through the coupons and made lists (his contribution to the shopping) so I was all ready with what I was getting and for whom and where. Before today I had purchased a whopping 2 gifts but after today I am almost finished with EVERYONE...YIPPEE. That is a relief and I really did well with keeping the costs down.

I'm feeling like I just might get through this year without stressing to much. Next weekend we'll get the tree (we get a live one) and get all the decorations up. I am sitting here listening to my favorite Christmas music and I am truly filled with the spirit of Christmas. Shopping is good therapy..LOL

Now, where to hide all my spoils to keep them from wandering eyes.....

Turkey Day..YIPPEE

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and enjoy being with friends and family.

I love Thanksgiving, it's a great time to really reflect on all that we have been given. No pressure about presents. Just getting together with family and friends. Having a nice meal.

I am so thankful for all the Lord has blessed me with. I have a great husband (who deserves a medal sometimes for putting up with me), a great little boy that loves his mommy and is such a joy to be around (well, 99% of the time), a wonderful family of in-laws that has taken me in and counted me as one of their own, 2 of the best friends that a girl could ask for (more like sisters than friends), my church and my testimony and the fact that my husband now has his own testimony, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for loving me and always being there (they really do know each of us individually and our circumstances and want to help), all the friends that I have out here in cyberspace, I have met some amazing people that lift, inspire and make me laugh. I'm thankful for our home, our health, our abundance of all that we need.

I have to be honest that when I sat down to post, I was feeling a bit grumpy but listing out all that I have been given has turned my attitude around 360 degrees. What are you all thankful for? I really should start adding something that I'm thankful for to each post. Maybe I'll try to list 3 to 5 things each time. Yep, I'm going to do that. Keep me honest if you see that I forget.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Gobble Gobble.

Never to early to plan

This morning Blake was "talking" on his toy cell phone so I asked said "Hey Blake who are you talking to?" He says "I'm calling Chuck E Cheese for my next birthday".

I guess he's not going to be a procrastinator like his mom.

Check it out

Come over here and check it out. This is a great new blog that I've decided to start blogging on about my weight and weight issues. I know it's crazy to start before Thanksgiving but there is no time like the present. If at first you don't succeed, try try again. So here I go AGAIN. Wish me luck!!

Busy weekend

I wish I had something funny or clever to say but I've got nothing left. I'm spent.


Saturday we had Blake's birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese. Everything went well and he had a great time. The only glitch was when we went to pick up the cake they didn't have it done. The order had been misfiled. They had to take a cake out of the display and in 5 minutes flat transform it into a transformers cake. It wasn't the best looking but Blake loved it and that's all that matters. Plus, they gave it to us for half price.

After the party, we dropped Blake of at the in-laws and got ready for the Saturday evening session of Stake conference. This is the one that we were assigned to speak at. I think it went pretty well. The spirit was strong and I don't think anyone heard our knees knocking. It was a good experience getting ready for it but I'm glad it's done. We then went to dinner late and headed home to crash.

Today was the Sunday session of conference and then we went to our nephews 1st birthday party.

The weekend went by in a flash and now just a 3 day work week and a nice long holiday weekend. I'm looking forward to it.

He's a big boy now

My little man is 5 today. Where oh where has the time gone. It's officially the end of the baby stage. I have to admit that it's been bitter sweet today. I will miss the baby stage. He is so excited though and told everyone that would listen that he was a whole hand now. His party is the weekend so I'll be posting more later.

I will always remember

I remember you today Dad. Not that I don't think of you often because I do but today I think of you even more because it has been 5 years ago today since you left this world. I often wonder what you thought as you passed through the veil. I miss you. I wonder if you ever get to catch a glimpse of us. Have you accepted the gospel? Do you miss the alcohol? Are you ready for me to have your work done? It was so unexpected when we lost you. I hope you didn't suffer.

It's Veterans day which I always thought was appropriate for you to pass away on having served for 21 years in the Airforce. You were a military man through and through and cultivated in me a great love of the men and women who fight and have fought for our freedom. I am very patriotic and even have a tattoo of the flag that you never saw.

I have cried today thinking of you and your big tough exterior. You were formidable at 6'6 and 250 pounds. I know that you did the best you could and that being addicted to the alcohol was a disease. It was very hard to live with you with the alcohol. I often wonder what it would have been like without it. It was hard to watch you push away everyone that loved you and that you loved but were too proud to say it. Regardless, you helped me know what it means to work hard and "if you are going to do it, do it right". You instilled in me a great work ethic and showed me what it was like to be loyal to those that you love. You didn't say it often but I know that you loved me. I know because you always took care of me. I'm glad that I forgave you before you were gone. I miss you singing to me on my Birthday, I miss you calling me Ethel May. I miss you Dad. I hope we will see each other again. I hope you are proud of me. I hope you know how happy I am. I love you!

Yikes and other happenings!!

The Yikes part is that we (Hubby and I) have been asked to speak in the Saturday evening session of Stake conference. WHAT?!?!?!? My first thought was how did they find out about us and who am I going to kick the next time I see them. After that thought passed I remembered to breathe and we were back on track. This will be my husbands first speaking assignment ever. Can you imagine? The good news is that he's never been to stake conference so he doesn't know to be afraid. Unfortunately I have been and I am freaked. They want me to talk about how I encouraged my husband when it comes to the church without pushing him and they want him to talk about accepting the gospel and how that has changed his life. I haven't started it yet and we speak on the 17th. I hope inspiration comes soon.

My new job is going pretty well. It's very busy so the days just fly by. I start at 5am at home and work until 7am and then get on the train. This allows me to leave work between 2 and 230pm. It's worth it to have more time with Blake.

Blake's birthday is soon so I've been busy planning that. He's going to be 5 and has begged us for a couple of years to go to Chuck-E-Cheese so we're going to relent. Yes, we love him just that much. It's such a zoo but he loves it and you only turn 5 once. The good news is that you have to be done with the party in a hour and half and it goes by fast. He's really into transformers right now so that will be his theme.

I can't think of anything else right now. It seems that we are busy most every weekday evening with something. Now that both of us are members of the church, it's amazing how many "good" things can fill your time. I am reminded of a talk by Elder Oaks in the last conference about "good, better and best" It's all about how you can be so busy doing things that are all considered good that you have start picking and choosing the best of these things. That's a tough one and I'm still working on it. It's the whole need to please people.

Dash the Incredible

We "dashed" over to great grandmas house and then "dashed" around the trunk or treat at church. Dash came away with way to much candy and had lots and lots of fun. I fear that he might be a tired boy today. His poor preschool teacher will have to deal with a bunch of sugar crashed sleep children today. If I were her, I'm thinking today would be movie day.