Christmas Lights and Diapers...

Last night we went to see the Christmas lights at the Mesa Arizona temple with my mom and Dave and my brother David and his family. It was beautiful! I love the Arizona Temple. It's crazy to be back. Jeff and I went to the temple in the morning and we saw our old bishop and someone else that was in our ward growing up. Last night we saw a family we grew up with. She was my YW leader. It was so great to see them and their family.

We missed all the excitement at the temple on Friday night. First of all, Brooke White was there to turn on the Christmas lights. (of American Idol fame) There were also about 150 mostly peaceful demonstrators there, protesting the passing of Proposition 102. (Arizona's equivalent of California's prop 8) The only excitement was they had a dirty diaper thrown at them. (I'm sure whoever threw it was trying to get it in a garbage can. But it makes me wonder... who drives around with a dirty diaper in their car? Or did they just rip it off the baby and then throw it... confusing)

Our evening was much less eventful. It was great to see all the lights and share that tradition with our kids. Let the Christmas Season begin!

Happy Birthday Amy!

Happy Birthday Amy!
If you are in Las Vegas and are lucky enough to know Amy, call her and tell her Happy Birthday and that her friend in AZ misses her. She made me a better person and I am grateful for the things I learned from her. Besides that she is a lot of fun and pretty funny too. (See doll head picture, long story but very funny:)
Thanks for being a great friend and hope this day is a great one. You are missed!

I'm grateful for my family

It has been four years since our last family picture. Here's our picture from Sunday with all of my siblings except my brother

James who is currently on a mission in Argentina.

I am definitely grateful for my family this Thanksgiving.

(We didn't color coordinate, but that's what black and white pictures are for! :)

TMI

My sister in law Whitney tagged me, so here goes...
everything you didn't ever care to know about me :)
8's
8 Shows I like:
1. Lost (if it's even on anymore?!?)
2. Biggest Loser
3. Criminal Minds
4. The Office (at least I used to, this season has more junk in it and doesn't seem as funny to me)
I can't think of any more, we didn't have TV for over a month because of the move and I got out of the habit. Give me time, I'm sure I'll have more :)

8 Restaurants I like:
1. Cheesecake Factory
2. Panera
3. P.F Changs
4. Coldstone
5. Sweet Tomatoes
6. Mimi's Cafe
7. Cafe Rio
8. Bajio

8 Things that happened yesterday:
1. I cooked a turkey, thought it was done but it wasn't so I had to microwave it for a few minutes...
2. Had 23 people at my house for Thanksgiving Dinner
3. I got to see all of my brothers and my sister and their families
4. Went to church in our ward and realized I need to start making friends, I forget that I don't have any yet. It's so weird to be starting over with all of that again.
5. We celebrated my sister in law Julie's birthday (Happy Birthday Julie!)
6. My brother David got thrown in the pool
7. Did I mention I had 23 people at my house for Thanksgiving dinner? I think that about covers it!

8 Things I am looking forward to:
1. Putting up our Christmas tree
2. Christmas Traditions
3. Having my husband home on Sundays
(no tithing settlement, well, just one)
4. Going to Florida with Jeff in January
5. Scrapfest!!!!
6. Christmas shopping
7. Seeing Arizona Temple lights. They are always amazing!
8. Christmas morning

8 things on my wish list:
1. Not too many, I feel pretty blessed this year.
2. World Peace :)
3. Healthy happy new year!

Happy Turkey Day!

We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday because then we could have everyone there (for at least part of the time).

It was great to be together and have the cousins make memories. The highlight was David getting thrown in the pool (he said he'd jump in for $20, so we "pooled" the money and decided that to earn it he would have to be thrown in!) That water is cold!!! I'm not sure it was worth $20 but it was fun for us.

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!!! Eat some pie for me!

Can today be over already?!?

Let's just say I want to put today behind us.
4 poopy "accidents" ...yikes! I kept my cool for 3 of the 4 :(
2 diet Pepsi's
way too many oreo's (does a Pepsi and oreos count for a balanced lunch?)
2 Car registrations and 2 Driver's Licenses at DMV = $960
(I guess I know what I'm getting for Christmas...)
1 grumpy wife
1 grumpy mom
and a partridge in a pear tree...
Here's to a much better tomorrow. It couldn't be worse :)

O.k. - Here's the disclaimer, today I can't even tell you where the day went or what I did, so not every day is super productive. Yesterday however, I got a lot done in the front yard. There were a lot of bare spots and also a few very straggly bushes. I planted 2 new citrus trees, a pomegrante tree, some flowers and several lantanas and palm trees. It's fun to see the difference and man was I tired! I love working outside and planting. I think one reason is that when the kids get home from school all my work is not undone! It's also fun to see it grow and mature (and it doesn't talk back or cause laundry). Overall a great day!