my MOUNTAIN MAN is home!!!

So, we picked Randy up at the airport yesterday after being in Colorado for 3 weeks, and this is what we saw. WHO IS THIS HAIRY MAN????

OH - CHECK out all the red in that beard!!!

TAGGED

Ok - my dear sweet Olivia (THANKS OLIVIA!!!) tagged me quite some time ago and I am just now getting around to it.

1. Most embarrassing moment - Can't really list this on my blog, but some of the ladies from my old Ward know a good one that happened to me in the church there on Signal Butte. It is not so much that I was embarrassed then as much as how I could have been humilated from it if it had happened!!! The picture of Jesus in the foyer will never have the same meaning to them or me ever again. (You ladies that went to Girl's camp with me know the story I am talking about!!!)

2. Five of my best friends - WeLL - TOO MANY TO LIST. I love them all!!

3. What did you do yesterday? I tried to get some of my Christmas shopping done. I also forgot that my kids get out every Wednesday at 1:35 - FORGOT THEM at School. Normally I am there at the school with them, so I was off on my schedule. That is the excuse I keep telling myself for forgetting to pick up my children.

4.3 wishes -
My husband will come home soon (He is gone on a work job)
My husband will come home soon
& that my husband will come home soon

I am not so good at the tagging stuff, so anyone that wants to answer these 4 questions, HAVE AT IT!!! Thanks OLIVIA(oh, did I already say that?)

WOW -- Where does time go? --

2005(top), 2004( right below--girls cut the card up, but this is the pic), 2007(red), 2006(black). I tried to get them in order, but the "computer" can't figure it out.

I was trying to find all our old Christmas cards the other night, but so far I have been able to only find the one from 2007, 06, 05 & 04. I know I have a copy of everyone we have ever made, but just can't find them right now!!! I want to put them all on here for journaling purposes, so as I find them, they will be added. Come back to check this post often for laughs. I also will post the 2008 card soon. I am not good at too many things, but cards are one thing I do every year. We started doing picture cards when Madison was a baby.

If any of you have one of our old ones from before 2004, scan it and send it to me by email.

**I can't believe another year has passed!**

TWILIGHT

I personally liked the movie. I know some were disappointed, but I expected it to not be exactly like the book. When you read a book, you get to take what the author wrote and make it what you think. I thought Edward and Bella had great chemistry. I can't wait till the next ones come out. Jasper was a little weird though!!! Hopefully he will mellow out during the next one. I read somewhere that a person felt just like they had when they read the books --- you are not wanting it to be over.

Frustration

This post is mostly for me to vent, so for those of you here for entertainment -- you better click off of me now.

I am trying to start back to school in January, and now I remember why I walked away from ASU in tears last time. It has to be one of the most frustrating schools I have ever dealt with in my entire life. Not only am I having to take super hard (Physics, Pre-calculus, Anatomy) classes that weren't required in TN, they are making me jump through hoops to get into them. I have been trying to get registered for these classes since Friday, and nothing has worked out. I stop for a minute during my frustration and think - - Does Heavenly Father not want me to do this? I reason with myself that No, I know he does because this will only make things better for my family for a few short "horrible" semesters of work. I am too close to not finish at this point. Anyone can do something for 3 semesters. I have prayed about this and know this is what I am to do at this time.

I just need to keep the faith that it will all work out. I fear how we will handle financially with me only working part-time, but then remember we have been in worse shape before. I guess if I have to give up everything and start from scratch, I will be doing it along with many other people. At least I am not in this alone!!! AHHHH - Now I feel so much better just laying that all out in front of me. So friends, if I seem like I am always saying no to going out, or whatever..... it will probably be that we have NO money and will have to be hermits at home.

NASCAR

GO 29 - Kevin Harvick

There is Madi enjoying the day on the Hill.

People sit on top of the trailers and watch the race.

Ok - I know my husband is a redneck, but he really loves Nascar. I think I rate 3rd to Nascar and his dog. He goes every year when it comes to Phoenix. It is always around his birthday, so he thinks it is a Birthday Treat for him. One time we were having a discussion about it being on Sunday and he had to miss church and not keep the Sabbath Day holy(because we all know Nascar fans are not "Holy"). He proceeds to tell me that there are 5 reasons to miss church.

1. If you are sick
2. If you are out of town
3. If Nascar is in town
4. If it is a Holiday weekend
5. I can't remember because at that point I was in complete shock!!!

He also takes our daughter with him every year, so now she too is learning that Nascar is a great reason to miss church. I don't go because someone has to be responsible and stay to teach church classes.

FUN TIMES

THE HOSTESS

I THINK NO ONE KNEW WHO WAS LEAVING THE TABLE!!!

SERIOUS BUNCO PLAYERS

I really don't have much to write about, but since I have not posted in a few days.... I thought I would write about the amazing family pictures my friend, Auburn Jones(Auburn Jones Photography---Check out her blog from my list of friends), took yesterday. I wish I had just one to even give you a glimpse into how good she really is!!! My Madi did such a great job. It is funny how you can see your children grow up right before your eyes. Remember the days of awkward smiles, crooked teeth, etc???? Madi is starting to leave those behind as McKay enters them. Madison's smile has gotten so much prettier since braces. I think she thinks so too. I looked at her today and could not believe that she looks like a teenager.

I do have some photos of my friend, Julie's, fun bunco the other night. I will add those into this post as well. I may have to leave the bunco group come January because I start school at ASU, and I am going to have a crazy schedule. We will see - I will be SAD :( if I have to leave those fun girls.

Oh How Time Flies

My girls had their school pictures taken a few months ago and I never thought about putting them on my blog until I saw my friend Hannah put hers on there today. The school used a different company this year. I loved them, but most of the office staff has not liked them at all. I thought the pics were cheaper and look at all the cool things you can do with the pictures. I purchased the disk with my package and I can take the original photo and alter it - add a background, curl their hair, change the color, distort their faces, etc. I have had so much fun and my girls have loved playing with it too. They can take their picture and play all the games that came with the disk. I curled McKay's hair for the day, but as you can see by the time she had her pictures taken most of the curl had fallen out. In one of the pics below, I made her some more curls. They grow up so fast!!!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy

I wanted to wish my wonderful, marvelous, fantastic, handsome husband a Happy Birthday today!!!

BIG 35!!!!!!!!!!

He says all these other wives are always saying such nice things about their husbands on their blogs, and I never say anything sweet about him. For those of you that know me, you know I am not all cheesy and sappy --- just can't bring myself to do it, but I do love him very much. We were able to go away this weekend for his birthday. Thanks to my mother-in-law for watching my girls, so we could go. She took the girls to see HSM 3, which they absolutely loved. I surprised Randy with a Birthday get-a-way. He had no clue we were doing anything. I usually forget and ask him that day what he wants to do for his birthday. He is also a very hard person to surprise, but I pulled it off. It was hard hiding stuff from him for weeks. He hovered around me everytime I thought I could get something done. I was trying to hide presents, and suitcases - whew I am glad that is over. I waited to tell my girls about it the night before because I knew they would blow it. They almost did a few times, but Randy never caught on. It was fun to just get to spend time with him and not worry about our kids. I love you babe!! You are the best!! :)

ARRRRGGHH - Yo Ho, Yo Ho A Pirate's Life for Me!!!

Madi and McKay actually agreed on something for once - being pirates for Halloween. They sure made cute Pirates!! I could not get them to wear the eye patches and earrings though. I guess they were too cool for that. Randy thinks McKay looks like she works at TGI Fridays. We had quite a time even finding a Pirate costume McKay would even consider. She sure is a picky girl. Madi loved her's from the minute she saw it!!!

Better Late than Never

Not sure how to add more than one picture and make them look cute, but I wanted to show a few of our carving experience tonight!! Someone please tell me how you make those cute collages, and how do you type words on your pictures??? We have had these pumpkins for several weeks. We did not want to carve too early because they would rot. Madi carved hers as soon as we got them, and it did not make it a week. So, here we are the night before Halloween carving pumpkins. Madi was updating her blog, so she did not have time for this activity. Randy was taking the pictures. The pictures are not in order, but you will see our pitiful art skills, but we had FuN!!!

SCARY!!!!

I guess I need to post about our Friday night experience since both of my girls have posted about it on their blogs.

Randy called me as I was on my way home from work on Friday. He said he wanted to go to a High School football game. We have some friends that have boys that play, so I called her to see if it was a home game. It wasn't, but she said we could ride with them - really far - to see the game. It was a blast by the way!! Thanks Steph for letting us go. :) I have to say Steph's family is great. I just wish they would adopt me into it as the "9th sista away from her own sistas". Come on guys - I have blond hair. I could pull it off!!!!

The team did not WIN, but that really did not matter because we had an eventful night anyway.

On our way home from the game at 11:30 at night, we saw a guy driving on the wrong side of the freeway right next to us. He would speed up then slow down. We watched him for a little bit with total anxiety thinking that every car heading his way was going to hit him head-on. Cars were swerving to get away from him. We started dialing 911. This guy was hitting the median, and continuing on in the path of oncoming cars. Nothing seemed to be stopping him. Obviously something was wrong with him because no one goes head-on into traffic at full speed. Finally after what seemed like forever, we saw the police coming and shutting down the freeway. They were stopping all cars heading right to this guy. I luckily think no one was injured. I do not know what happened after the police showed up, but I am grateful that no one was harmed that night.

My Sister's Wedding

YOU LOOKED BEAUTIFUL TATUM!!! MISS YOU AND TIFF BOTH. :(

I just was able to view some of the pics from my sister's wedding . I thought this was a good pic of me and my sisters. We don't get to see each other very often, so it was nice to be able to be there with Tatum on her special day. It was a beautiful day considering Hurricane Ike was making its way up the coast. The day after the wedding - 50 mph winds hit where we had had the wedding, knocked out power for days, and tore down many things in its path. Tatum got lucky!!!

Tatum has moved to KY, so all three of us are in different places now. Tiff lives in Georgia.

I know what ya'll are thinking - they have us placed in line of age with me being the youngest, right??? Just kidding Tiff and Tate. I am the middle of the three girls. Tiffany is the oldest and Tatum is the youngest. I am the shortest by far though. Since I have a birthday around the corner, I have to sneak in any chance to make myself feel younger. I can't believe how old I "am" getting.

Treasure your family!!

I just sat here forever reading a blog that I love to read, but also get sooooo sad reading it. Many of you know the Kamber blog. I knew the family briefly while we were in the same Ward. I am truly amazed at Jen's faith and strength. She inspires me to be a better mother and wife.
It makes me really think about my own life. I just got off the phone with my husband in quite an angry tone. He needed my help with something - which his projects are always a lot of work - but should I be so rude about it, NO??? I sat down and read that blog, and feel like I should call him back because I was so rude. You never know when someone is going to leave your life. Yes, he makes me angry, but I love him more everyday. Would he treat me that way?? I will have to say, probably not. My mother always told me that patience was not my finest quality. Boy, did she peg me right!!!! I feel like at night when I say my prayers I am asking Heavenly Father to help me with the same thing I messed up on the day before. I am so grateful he loves me and knows my heart.

NEW TO BLOGGING

Ok, after many people asking (or telling) me to start a blog - here it goes. I have told everyone that I never have time to blog, but for some reason I can always find hours to read other blogs. I can't guarantee that we will be good at this, but I am going to give it a shot. Hopefully this will help me with capturing all those everyday life situations that occur.
***Savannah - I need your help!!!***