I gOt tAggEd...whOopiTEe doO!!

Seriously, I do like these tag things...they are kinda fun.

Anyway, my buddy ol' pal MER tagged me, so I supposed I should comply! Plus she said if I do that I might get a MAJOR award! Hey Mer...I only want the award if I get a sexy lamp so I can watch electric sex glowing in the window! (that only makes sense if you've seen "A Christmas Story" and if you haven't SHAME ON YOU!)

Ahem, here we go...

FIVE THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY...

1. My family (specifically, my husband)
2. An ice cold, fountain diet pepsi & pink frosted cookie...together!
3. A clean house
4. Holding my new baby niece, Eve
5. Having something to look forward to (like seeing Twilight in just SIX DAYS!)

And now...if your name is Audra, Lindsay, Tami, Jen, Ade, Heather, Melanie, Marci, Dawn, Alynda, Danelle or Rachel, you have been TAGGED!

"Help me Obi Wan Kenobi!"

wet kisses...

We have a lot of pets. More than the average family and I will tell you why: 'Cuz pets are awesome! Yes, I've heard it before "Animals are dirty...animals are smelly...blah, blah, blah"

Well, said animals are also some of the most loveable creatures on earth. I know this will sound stupid to some, but I think the Lord created animals for people like me. There are days that I'm just sad, and one of my four-legged buddies will come up to me and just sit next to me when I cry. They know I'm in need of comfort, and they provide it.
They also provide me with lots of entertainment. I was making a cake for Taylor's birthday, and in walked one of our kittens, Boy. He hopped up on the counter and started licking the beaters. I couldn't get mad--he has good taste! Plus, I tried taking the beater away and he chased me for it!

I thank the Lord for making animals. They are some of my best pals! Here's to my furry friends! I love your wet kisses!!

My Baby Turns 10!!

** SPOLIER ALERT: LOTS OF PICTURES IN THIS BLOG!***

I have to admit, upfront, that today was truly a wonderful day! Taylor's actual birthday isn't until Tuesday, the 11th, but we celebrated it today (certain events aren't easily planned on a school day!)

The day began like any other Saturday...get up, do chores, go on errands. However, THIS particular Saturday took us to Grandma's house. You see, she and Grandpa supposedly needed some "help in the yard", so we dropped off the boys and Taylor, Grandma and I headed out to do some errands. Well, this is the scenario Taylor believed. In all reality, we were headed to one of my mom's friend's house to get a "High School Musical" make-over for Miss Taylor Mae! We had tickets to see HSM3 that afternoon so of COURSE she had to look FABULOUS, as Sharpay would say!

Before said transformation began, I gave her a present with a brand-spanking NEW HSM shirt in it. She looked at it and said, "What's this for?" I told her, "Well, Grandma and I have our nice clothes on, and our hair and make-up is done. What happened to you?" She started giggling when the realization hit her, and she was all smiles from that moment on. I must admit, being almost 10, getting make-up, nail polish and a SASSY updo has GOT to be a dream come true! For my little girl, it was anyway!

From there, we were off to lunch. We went to Iggy's and had ourselves some delicious eats! Chips, salsa, BLT's, LOTS of yummy bread and endless soda! While eating lunch, our waiter asked, "Is this a special occasion? Somebody looks awfully dressed up!" That someone piped up, "It's my birthday! I'm 10!" and thus, the birthday song, followed by a yummy ice cream sundae finished our meal off nicely.

We still had an hour to kill before the movie started, and Taylor was jumping out of her pants with excitement. We decided to walk around the shops near the theater while waiting and had a great time trying on sunglasses and trying chocolate covered cinnamon bears at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. We even ventured into a store, appropriately named "High Maintenace" and Grandma & I got free make-overs! Holy Cow, now we ALL looked the part!

At the theater, we were surrounded by a sea of giggling pre-teens. I suddenly felt very, VERY old listening to the girls go on and on about how hot Zac Efron is. I remember melting for actors like Johnny Depp and Val Kilmer...wait...remember? What the crap am I talking about, I STILL DO!

The movie, of course, was adorable. I appreciate Disney SO MUCH for making such a cute series of movies for young girls that are CLEAN and have good MORALS. Okay, I did object a bit to how short some of those dresses were, but all in all, they are cute movies and I'm glad my daughter likes them.

FINALLY, we headed back to Grandma's for Taylor's birthday dinner with the rest of the family. Granty, the boys, Aunt Shelly and Grandpa were all patiently waiting for Turkey and stuffed potatoes. Taylor took her own sweet time to eat her favorite dinner, however her mother was NOT very patient. See, I have been waiting for WEEKS to give her the present I am most excited for and I'm terrible at surprises. I can't keep secrets worth crap, so don't EVER tell me one! I just get too excited and I can't contain it! Anyway...

She opened all of her presents, but the last one. As she opened that last one, SHE FREAKED, as you can see! I got two tickets, one for her, one for me, to see the movie "Twilight" at the midnight showing the day the movie is released. As she opened the present, Tim said, "Everyone plug your ears!" and he was right. She literally screamed with excitement. I just about did too. I have been dying to tell her!


Taylor's birthday was a great day. It won't be long before she is grown and hanging out with her many friends, but until then, I'm grateful to have such a sweet, enthusiastic, loving little girl. She is the light of my life and I'm blessed to be her mother. Happy Birthday Taylor Mae! "I love you way up to the moon and back, and to infinity and beyond!" --Taylor's nightly saying to me.

you REALLY like me!

The weather was kinda gloomy today, which I actually like. Anyway, this cute weather girl I know, Lindsay Storrs (YES! I'm a name dropper! I know a celebrity and it's COOL! Jealous?) forcasted much sunnier days ahead, and wouldn't you know it, she was RIGHT! She named me...lil' ol ME as a blog she likes! Awww...I'm touched. *tears* No seriously, I am touched. It was very sweet and made my day, thus...the sunny day. Get it? Oh shut up...

Anyway, I am supposed to pass on the love by doing the following:

1. Put the cute "love your blog" pic on MY blog. Check
2. Link back to Lindsay...crap, I hope I did that right. Check?
3. Nominate 5 other blogs. Did it below, check.
4. Link to the 5 peeps I nominated. Can I just nominate 3? If so, Checkaroo!
5. Leave a comment on those blogs letting them know I said they were cool. Holy Bajoley..anything else??

So now, without further adieu...here are my nominees:

1. My long time friend, Meridith. We've known each other since we were about 14. She's amazingly talented at so many things, especially scrapbooking! She designs all kinds of incredible things (she's on a design team for heaven's sake!!) so if you need advice, she's the one to ask! I love her blog because she's so witty--she always has been. If I need a good giggle, I give her blog a peek cuz she's always got stories about the cute kids she teaches at pre-school, or her teenage daughter's latest drama. Ahh, it's nice to know I'm not alone!

2. The next one I like is Marci's. Marci's blog is password only, but if you can get in the "loop", it's well worth it. She talks about her kids, her husband (who I dated in High School! YES!), her love of family and the gospel and has a lot of insightful things to say. Like the other day--she blogged about being grateful for the day and her cup of hot chocolate. She's just as pleasant as can be and I like her! :)

3. Another password protected blog is my cousin and dearest friend, Dawn. She has 5 kids, a cute puppy, a funny husband and STILL has plenty of good things to say about all of them. Dawn is basically the sister I never had. We are SO alike, it's scary. Right down to the way we inherited our children! She keeps me grounded and loves me like the unbiological sister she is! I love yer stinkin guts girl!

Now, I know I'm breaking the rules, but I'm only nominating 3. I don't know that many bloggers, so if I voted for 5, that would be just about ALL the bloggers I know, so this time I'll just leave it at the three.

Everyone else, I DO love your blogs, very much even. I know, I know, it's just not fair! Ahh well my young padwans, maybe next year, like you best I shall!

A heavy heart...

I've been watching the election coverage for weeks...

All the talk about this person...that person...he believes this...she believes that. I haven't been able to make up my mind and it has been tugging at me really, really hard! I think that this is the FIRST election, in my entire life, that I feel very strongly about. I usually have to ask Grant to explain things to me; tell me why this candidate is better than that one.

Not this year.

I have been listening to information on television, researching online, reading the newspapers and finding out who REALLY was the lesser of two evils. As of this morning, Election Day, I hadn't made up my mind. I've fretted over who I should vote for for weeks, and now the hour has come. What am I gonna do, I keep asking myself.

THEN...

I came across THIS:



And my decision was made. I watched this video in absolute horror. How could I possibly vote for a man who is okay with allowing this to happen? Yes, there are things about McCain that aren't pleasant either, but abortion? Legalizing LIVE BIRTH ABORTION? What kind of a sick country have we become?

My heart has ached all morning thinking of those sweet, newly born babies, alone in the dark, waiting to die. There is no way I could live with myself if I voted for such a cold, calous man. McCain, although he is a stupid old man, will get my vote.

I just feel sick.

Thank heaven for little girls...

As you all know by now, I have a new baby niece named Eve. She's just about the prettiest baby I've ever seen! Anyway, a few weeks ago, we traveled (by CAR I might add!) to Arizona for her blessing and to spend some time with the newest member of our extended family.

Now, driving is not one of my many qualities, so everyone was just a bit concerned about me making that 12 hour journey! I have a tendency to get into a "zone" and nod off at the wheel, sooooooo, we had to take two cars and my mom rode with me to help keep me awake. Between singing silly kids songs, telling ridiculous stories and playing the hand-held version of "Deal Or No Deal" (I made a deal for .01 by the way! YEAH!) I managed to stay pretty alert the whole way! The ride home is a different story, but obviously we lived so...we'll just leave it at that!

We arrived at Wade & Sarah's and they immediately handed Eve to Grandpa. He has been itching to see Baby Eve, so I was gracious enough to let him give her a good squeeze before I snatched her away. Muuahahahaha! Seriously!! I think it was Friday or Saturday night I held her for 5 HOURS straight. Either nobody wanted a turn, or they didn't want to battle me for her. Probably the latter, but I'll just say it's cuz Evie wanted ME. Yay!

My dad and Wade had some projects they were working on at the house, Sarah and my mom had errands to run to get ready for the blessing, so the kids and I retired to the backyard and
played in the pool. Correction: THEY played in the pool. I just held Baby Eve. Hee hee! Later in the week, Granty arrived (he flew in since he had to work) and immediately joined the kids in the pool. Since the water is heated by the sun, and it only reached the high 80's/90's while we were there, the water wasn't too warm. Granty took a very long time to finally jump in the pool, but the kids had a great time splashing him until he did.

We had a lot of fun eating at "exclusive" Arizona spots like Joe's BBQ and the Organ Stop Pizza Place. You can't possibly explain what the place is like--you just have to go there! There is an amazing, HUGE organ that takes up one entire wall of the establishment and the guy playing the organ is unbelievable! He play requests, and we had requested the Star Wars Theme, but he didn't get the chance to play it. We did hear the Indiana Jones Theme, It's a Small World, Phantom of the Opera and a bunch of others. It's very impressive! I think going to Organ Stop Pizza is one of our favorite Arizona traditions!

Sunday morning we all got dressed and ready for Eve's big day. The dress she wore for her blessing was made by my Nana (grandma) for my mom's blessing. Mom wore it, I wore it, and now Baby Eve will wear it. Since Taylor wasn't a baby when she arrived in our lives, she couldn't really wear it, so Taylor's first baby girl will get to wear the dress for her blessing. I think it's kinda cool to imagine my granddaughter wearing a dress that so many precious hands have touched. Anyway...

Wade did such a great job blessing his baby girl. He just said all the right things without all of the "flowery" crap that sometimes goes on and on. (Sorry, no offense anyone!) It was a really great day for all of us and I was SO happy we could be there!

Christmas this year Wade, Sarah & Eve will be coming to visit and I'm already counting down the days! It will be a whole new experience this year having a new baby during the holidays. Can't get much more perfect than THAT!