Everything's a phone

even Kyle's little red (tire-less) motorcycle!

Way too much fun with a wig...

Did you pass or fail?

I really don't think I am the only one feeling this way lately with our economic recession, but something has been weighing heavily on my mind.
We are so blessed to have all the things we have: a roof over our heads, comfortable beds to sleep in, plenty of food to eat, shoes to wear. I think I have been taking this for granted for too long and there needs to be a change. At Stake Conferene this Sunday, the Temple President, a retired doctor, told a story of a lady who shattered her patella on her last step down stairs. He saw the accident and ran over to help and dialed 911. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, he waved down several people to help them, but noone would stop. They were all very busy...doing something good...and important...they were headed to the Temple for a session that was about to begin. The temple was 2 blocks from them. They were on the right track but failed the test.

I have to admit that I'm guilty of this. My parents set an example but I haven't lived up to it the way I know I should. I know this because suddenly in the last month as I've paid more attention, I'm finding plenty of opportunities to serve. Bonnie Parkin said, "I invite you to not only love each other more but love each other better."

Because i'm sort of restricted with the kids when I'm out, instead of racing here and there and everywhere trying to get my things done as fast as possible, I've decided to take it easy and keep me eyes peeled. Keep a prayer in my heart. If I notice someone needs a hand, though I'm careful and protective, I still stop.

what are your thoughts and maybe you have some ideas to share?

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there,
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care.
So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.”*

Tagged :)

Tagged by Kelly
The "8 things list" Tag

8 movies I like to watch...
1. Family Man
2. First Knight
3. The Count of Monte Cristo
4. Airforce One
5. Titanic
6. Sweet Home Alabama
7. Meet the Parents
8. Saturday's Warrior (c'mon, you know you love it)

8 Things that happened Yesterday
1. did 3 loads of dishes by hand because dishwasher broke
2. dressed up kids in their halloween costumes, for fun
3. Had pizza for dinner
4. took the boys to Fiesta Foods to get a treat after dinner
6. talked to my mom and dad on the phone
7. took a 2 hour nap!
8. Watched Superman w/boys

8 Favorite Places to Eat
1. Chinese/Japanese buffet
2. Ho-ho's
3. Aversanos (Italian)
4. Lamplight
5. Ruby River
6. Chili's
7. Seafood
8. Mexican

8 Things I'm Looking Forward to
1. House to sell
2. Year Food Supply completed
3. Moving
4. The Holidays
5. SIL's babies to arrive
6. Shane's Agents to hit their goals
7. Getting to know the members of my new ward
8. Aleah going to Nursery

8 Things on my Wish List
1. For all the sister in laws to have healthy babies
2. The Economy to turn around
3. John McCain to win
4. Nothing bad to happen to any family members
5. Nice landscaping at our new house
6. Lisa to get rid of Dave once and for all
7. Boys to do well in School
8. Me to be able to accomplish all of my goals

I tag...anyone who wants to do it!

Wedding

One of Shane's new Agents got married and we were invited to attend a Catholic wedding and Mass for the first time. The church is one of the oldest in the state. it was beautiful and even touching at times to see the bride break down and cry out of joy. A little bit different ceremony then we are use to. ;) They had an exceptional spread of food at the reception. Cary's dress was beautiful. I didn't take any pictures, dog-gone-it! I wasn't sure if I could take pictures inside the church. I should have known better, remembering all the camera's going off in the Vatican!

Shane got a lot done while we were up there. He took his Life and Health test which is mandatory for new managers and passed with flying colors. He got 6 100%'s and the rest were in the 90's and 80's.

At the motel


Braden: Mom, I love you--50 bucks!

Me: WOW, I love you thousand bucks. No, I love you infinity bucks!

Braden:(startled) that's a lot!!!

In the van...


Braden and Kyle: Mom, we love you as big as the red van next to us!!

Mom: WOW! I love you as big as that semi-truck!

Braden and Kyle: WHOA! That's a BIGGG truck!!

Tuesday
Aleah sat in this position for 5 minutes straight, smiling the whole time. She didn't move or make a sound--plenty of time for me to snap some pictures!

Forever Family

Sarah and Grandma

I love this picture of my cousin and Grandma. Truly priceless...it makes for such an enduring picture of the two of them. Both are amazing women.

All American 2008 in Florida

I am trying to get all the important pictures of the year on here. I've decided to have a company print and bind the whole blog at the end of the year. I hear it costs $80.00 and they do a thorough job printing each picture and every journal entry. Then they bind it into a nice hard bound scrapbook album. I figure this will be a great way to keep track of the years ahead, unless something better comes along. Anyone ever heard of the company that does this?

In April, we went on vacation to the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort in Miami, Florida. We enjoyed the room and spent quality time together at the beach.


As always we had a great time with our FB couple friends (Coby-Tangi, Shawn-Teresa, Rich-Naloni, Richard-Joanie, Jared-Haylie and many others). Shane played a lot of golf. I relaxed a lot at the pool with Tangi and Teresa and enjoyed a full one hour relaxation massage at the Willow Stream Spa. A great big bus drove us all around...




Shane made me leave out all the pictures of the guys at the pool with their (non-alcoholic) beer bellies hangin out! We ladies, on the other hand, look amazing, after just having had babies, lol just kidding. The three of us had them only weeks apart from each other, unplanned. Lindsay was not able to come because she had just had her 4th baby and we missed her!

We all went on a boat ride, were fed a steak dinner, then sat on the bow and talked until dark, watching all the expensive homes and yachts float by us. We eventually landed at a Mansion where FB handed out awards. We didn't get into our room until after midnight.



Then there was motorcycle night...they handed out bandanas to everyone. We ate another outstanding buffet outside, got professional pictures taken of us all behind a motorcycle, and mingled until dark...


Then it was time to jam! We got down and rocked out to all the best songs of the 80's. All the GREAT bands like Journey came to the resort. The crowd went crazy when Lynyrd Skynyrd sang "Sweet Home Alabama!"
We could hardly believe these famous bands came just to play for us
above: not Naloni's beverage! I got the 24 hour flu and at one point, thought I was going to die. I almost called the ambulance to come rescue me, lol. It was the worst 24 flu I ever had.



We are so grateful for Coby Reese for getting Shane to leave his job and get on board with FB. It was no easy task either; it took him nearly a year before Shane agreed to look into it. Thanks Coby for never giving up! Where would we be right now if it hadn't been for you!

You got us there honey, love you!

General Conference

I always say this, but I really feel this General Conference was the best! There were a few times I hurled my fist up and shouted, "YES!" because I felt the Spirit so strong. Shane and I really loved all of the speakers. Joseph B. Wirthlin happens to be my favorite apostle, and I just loved his talk on Saturday! All of the speakers, however, were terrific and inspired from heaven.

Afterwards, Shane headed off to the Priesthood session, and the kids and I were invited to join a group of nice ladies from my new ward, for an hour or two of fun at McDonalds!



You hear all sorts of gory stories about kids getting terribly sick after playing on the toys at McDonalds..so I felt it was necessary that they get a nice warmmm soapy bath!!


Before General Conference, $40 dollars a week
Early on Saturday mornings, Kyle and I get to spend some quality time together at the Farmers market in town. Sometimes Braden comes too, if I can wake his sleepy head up! I ran into Joann, a member of my ward. It was nice to see a familiar face! She sews and sells all sorts of neat stuff...


at home-roasted mild chili peppers

de-skin, de-seed, chopped, bag and freeze or bottle. Add to any meat, pork or chicken dish. I love to stuff them in my sandwiches!

Another trip home

I met up with Teresa and her cute kids at their beautiful home for a day of fun. She bought us a sack lunch from a really scrumptious bakery in town. Boy, they make the best sugar cookies, I've ever tasted-- nice chewy and doughy. It was a sunny day so we let the kids run around the yard while we played with the babies and got caught up on our lives! The next day, we flew home.

I love going home to see mom and dad. They always let me sleep in, mom usually feeds the kids breakfast and plays with them all morning while dad gets a scrumptious breakfast going for the adults. We did so many things, went so many places. Aleah was such a good sport about Grandma 'smacking' her cheeks non-stop! Here are a few pictures

Mom started a weekend tradition with us in high school called, midnight grocery shopping. And the tradition is, somewhere around 10 o'clock to midnight we make a quick run to the grocery store. The rule is, no seriousness allowed and each of us get to pick and eat our favorite flavor of icecream. This late night trip to the grocery store would always initiate one of us to start laughing, and then all of us would start to laugh and giggle...uncontrollably. We would laugh so hard that pretty soon we'd all be crying(you know the happy cry??). Anything and everything was funny. It was cheap fun entertainment after a long week school, homework and after school activities!

After putting Aleah to bed, we went midnight grocery shopping, but instead of buying junk food, we found a huge 75% off sale on kids books!! We felt like kids in a candy store. I think we were there at least an hour, rumaging through all the books, deciding on which ones we felt the kids would love. I captured a picture back at grandma's house: