Ethan and Ysabel

Ethan and Ysabel are Seattle Washington babies. We lived in the area for about 3 years then moved back to Idaho. Seattle is so diverse and fun! One of our favorite things to do was to buy a sub sandwhich and catch a ferry to one of the islands so we could talk or watch for whales. I miss it, but not enough to move back to all that rain.

Where on Earth Did Brian Come From?

Brian was born in Boise, but lived in Marsing...so that is what I plan to show you. It is a beautiful place. There are vineyards, mint fields, onion fields, peach, cherry, and apple orchards, sugar beets and grain fields. Enjoy the pictures....The waterfall is at Jump creek, the butte is called Lizard Butte, cause it looks like a lizard, and all the rest is just beautiful Marsing Idaho.

Ever Wonder Where on Earth I Came From?

I know sometimes you all have wondered "Where on Earth did she come from?" Well, this is it...Burley, Idaho. That's where I was born. I was born on my dad's 31 birthday. (I celebrated mine this year!) Its beautiful huh!

I'm Thankful for YOU

I am thankful for: Parents who taught me to love the gospel of Jesus Christ, sisters who have been with me forever, a brother who has always been there for me, Grandparents who have always loved me, cousins who make me laugh and make life fun, friends I can trust my life with, others that I can trust for funny times. I am thankful for 3 best friends who have put up with me for over 12 years! I am thankful for new best friends who make every day fun.

I am thankful for precious children who keep me going every moment, and make me remember what it feels like to be young. For all their help in the mundane chores of living, for their faith and testimonies that strengthen mine. For keeping me in line. For their inspiration and fun. For tents in the living room, wanting to sleep together when they are feeling like they want a sleep over with each other, for opportunities to bake them their favorite things, helping them with homework, making them laugh while singing and dancing in the kitchen, for listening to my old lady music and loving it. I am thankful for Ethan, Ysabel, Hannah, and Brock and all they are!

I am thankful for Brian...for all he is and wants to be. For his love and support, his fun humor and the way he makes me laugh. For his HARD work in all he does, and most of all...FOR LOVING ME!!!! I am thankful he laughs at me when I am a blonde and promises not to tell anyone about it! I am thankful he is around to scare me in the dark and then laugh at me when it works. I am thankful he is around to take me on dates and to eat my yucky dinners, to sing to me when I really BEG him to do it. I'm thankful he has been able to keep his job in this horrible market so we have money to pay our bills. I am thankful he loves me enough to let me be with my friends and do dumb girly things. For the way his mouth moves when he talks, for his silly voices and laughs! I am SO thankful for Brian and everything about him.

I am thankful for my testimony of the Book of Mormon, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For Jesus Christ dying for all of us and His perfect example. For the ward I am in and the wonderful people there who have done so much to make me happy and comfortable here in Jersey.

I am thankful for tender mercies of the Lord. For the daily blessings in my life from Him. For health, love, happiness, work, church leaders, and bugs! I'm thankful for scary cave crickets, fire flies, butterflies (even though they scare me) and leaves that change colors. I am thankful for email, cards that say I love you, pictures from kids, digital cameras, poetry books, support from good people, music, my ears, my eyes, heart, mind, for epi pens, for asthma meds, for flowers, crayons, messy kids, having a family, everything!

I have been sooooo blessed in my life! I am thankful for living and everyone who is living with me, where ever you are!

Girly-Girl Midnight Madness

Since Twilight is a story for the teenage girl, me and some friends of mine decided it would be fun to go to the midnight showing on opening morning. (Wow, that doesn't work...the 12:01 am showing) I think I got an eye roll and smile from my Brian when I asked about it, but he happily told me to go.

My family fell asleep at 8:30-9 (Brian included) so for almost an hour and a half I was alone and bored. I had called most of the people I thought would be a bit envious that I was going to the first showing, g-mailed everyone I hadn't in a while, messed around with my blog, blah blah blah! I finally decided at quarter after 10 to start off for the AMC in Clifton.

I was shocked at the site...not really...I saw the same thing in Soho... but the theater was already full, and the parking lot was packed. Women by the car-load were pouring into the Commons. I sat in my van and giggled. I was one of them! For the first time in my life the thought of "being one of THEM" (meaning a Girl-Girl) didn't offend the very core of me.

I have to tell you at this point in my story that I am so thankful for Brian...him being a great husband and encouraging my "girly stuff" has given me the freedom to "explore my feminine side" and has given me the opportunity to see that girls really can be fun and being a "Girly-Girl" really is ok. I NEVER felt that way before! So here's to Girly-Girls everywhere! Whoot Whoo!

I called the other Girly-Girls who were to meet me and told them they better get their booties to the theater quick cause it was a madhouse! I went in to wait because of the cold. Not sure exactly how a GG would react I bought a popcorn and stood back to wait and watch. There were girls giggling everywhere (my old self would have wanted to be sick right there, but I felt a tinge of humor in that, which caused me to smile.) Then it happened...the theater opened. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I've only seen excitement like that one other time! (My high school graduation, and it was mostly on the part of the teachers because they were so excited to get rid of us!) People were very polite for about 10 Min's, but then they shut the doors. There was a brief moment of panic and fear, but the ticket master quickly told the girl in the front to the line to follow him, a polite rush to the other side of the theater ensued where he opened the next screen room.

The relief apparent on the faces of those in line was all so humorous. Shrieks of joy at finding themselves in line for an empty screen room was more than some could handle. GGs were bouncing here and there, others were talking VERY excitedly...there was a tangible energy in the room. I watched the 5 or 6 guys brave enough to enter an apparently estrogen charged situation...they were amazing very calm (I personally think they might have been a bit scared to distract the GGs for fear of giving off a hint of testosterone that didn't belong to EDWARD.)

At this point I turned to watch for my group of GG's. A short time later they emerged from the frosty night with WIDE smiles and giggles of their own. This got me in the full spirit of the night. we were going to be count as one of the first in the history of the world to watch TWILIGHT, no not twilight....EDWARD!!!! (how was that for a GG? =-0) We stood in line for about 10 Min's then we too were allowed into our own fresh screen room. We seriously had the best seats in the house! We had less than an hour ahead of us before the movie started. RiLee, being a smart and forward thinking individual, brought Cranium for us to play while we sat eagerly for the movie. At 12:15 we finally made it through the previews and the screams of delight echoed through the room.

I refuse to spoil the movie for other Twilight lovers of the world! I had an enjoyable evening full of GG giggling! (Mostly at the father sitting down from me and the squeals and OHHHH's from the younger GG's who have not found their own REAL Edward). It was a midnight well spent for me!

Brock is thankful

Brock's school teacher asked him today what he was thankful for. His response made me quite proud..."Heavenly Father, Jesus and the scriptures." She told him that is something we should believe in. I am so glad he is hearing us and gaining a testimony of Jesus and Heavenly Father while he moves a million miles a minute.

Primary Programs

I realized yesterday, and let me preface this with....this is not my first primary program, that there is NO other explanation for a primary program to succeed other than the fact that Heavenly Father wants these programs to succeed. No matter how many practices you do they always turn out a fiasco, but the day of, the Angels from Heaven step in and...WOW! It all works, it is beautiful, the mothers in the audience cry, and the kids share their untainted spirit with the audience. I would have to say I am so lucky to be part of that. You miss so much when you are not with the Lords children.

My NIGHT With EDWARD CULLEN

Mindy, Rebekah and I found out that Robert Pattinson was going to be at the Apple Store in SOHO. He is playing Edward in Twilight... We decided to do a crazy girly thing and go see him. On our way into the city Mindy called to tell us they were only giving out 100 tickets and we were not in the first 100 people. Because of traffic we didn't get into Manhattan until aound 7. Even though we couldn't see Robert we wanted to at lease walk past the store to see if we could see him. We were early so we figured we would eat first at an Indian restaurant. The food was SERIOUSLY SPICEY!!!!!! BUT extremely tasty.

Once we got done eating we walked to the Apple Store. Just as we got there I realized my tongue was swollen, my throat was closing off and I was struggling to breathe! (I did touch the store though hee hee hee)

We noticed a Duane Reed store just about a block away. We got there just in time to buy some Bennadryl and get it down before I got seriously loopy. The only problem was...we bought pills. I took 2 pills but things were not getting better.

Rebekah called her RS president , Mindy called Aunt Vicki, both of which are nurses. They said I should get to a hospital NOW because I would need an Eppi Pen. Mindy went back inside and bought more Bennadryl (liquid this time) and I guzzled about 1/3 of the bottle. I couldn't think straight for lack of oxygen. I was scared. The worst part was trying to figure out how to get to the hospital. Rebekah had just bought our food and didn't really want to pay $200 bucks to get us a cab. I wasn't sure my insurance would pay for the ambulance ride if they didn't admit me, if we did go to the hospital we would miss the last bus out of the city, so we sat there for a bit to see if the Bennadryl would work. It took about 20 minutes but I did start feeling a definite difference, I could breathe again. My brain started working better once the oxygen got back into my system. But then I just started getting tired.

I am soooo PUT OUT that we didn't get to see Robert! It would have been so much fun! I had asked Brian before we left if he minded if I got a picture of Robert kissing me on the cheek. He said if I was going to get a picture of the two of us he wanted a picture of Robert biting my neck. What a GOOD husband huh?

I spent yesterday in bed recovering from the whole ordeal. Seriously, I slept until 11:45 am, luckily the kids had the day off school. Brian took the day off work so he could watch the kids for me. My goodness, allergies can sure kick your butt! My throat, neck, back and chest hurt so bad yesterday! I feel so much better today...I am just sooooo sad. It would have been a funner story to tell about Robert and to post pictures of him biting my neck, rather than a pathetic allergic-reaction-almost-dying-in-SOHO-because-we-didn't-want-to-pay-for-a-cab-or-an-ambulance Story!

The ambulance...it just happened to be around the corner from the Duane Reed. Nice to find it after I didn't need it anymore. I can laugh at the whole thing now. I love spending time with my two Red Heads. It's NEVER dull! OH, and Mindy got to take us to her favorite used bookstore.

HALLOWEEN!!!!

We had a great time this year. I can't believe how BIG Halloween is out here. Parents take off work so they can come to the schools to see the costume parades, everyone decorates like it was Christmas, big parties, etc. I really enjoyed it.

I was in charge of our ward Halloween party this year, so I felt pressured to dress up...this was me. I work at Brock and Hannah's school, so I dressed up for that, then we went to Ramos' so we could be with them and Dolan's for the night...we had dinner, made spud nuts, went trick or treating, made cupcakes for the woman's day for the stake the next morning, and played for a while. It was a fun night. AND YES THAT IS MY HAIR!!!! IF YOU HAVE AN EXTRA HOUR I'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO DO IT.