Busy as a Bee....

I know I haven't posted anything in awhile, not because nothing has been going on but I have been CRAZY BUSY!!! Work has been insane, I have been packing to move (not by choice), and I have been playing like crazy!!! I feel like November has run away from me when I wasn't even looking. How rude!! The last couple of weeks have given me time (if you call in the middle of the night and rushing from one thing to the next time) to reflect on the most important things in life. Whenever I am loosing focus on those important things I have experiences to get me refocused.

The last couple of weeks I have had many of those experiences, far too many to blog about! But I do want to make mention of a couple things that I am grateful for and that have been on my mind. First I am EXTREMELY thankful and grateful for my family and friends! I love them so much....every last one of them!!! I am very blessed with a GREAT support system! I have a great immediate family, extended family, work family, and circle of friends who love me NO MATTER WHAT!!! And that makes me smile!!! :)

I am thankful for the gospel in my life. I have a testimony that can get me through anything and I can't deny what I know. And because of the gospel I am able to meet and associate with AMAZING people! Two of which passed on this week. These 2 great men had an influence in my life that will stay with me forever. They taught me about faith, endurance, charity, and so much more. Thank you Arlyn and Lorin for being great influences in my life.

I will post photos of the things I have been up to the last couple of weeks after I get moved!

Tag I'm It!!

My cute friend Sarah tagged me, so here goes. Name your 10 likes and dislikes.

Dislikes:

1-Driving!!! Hate it! Always have probably always will!
2-People with no manners (I'm on a manners kick!)
3-Being picked on.....but I seem to get picked on a lot!
4-Spiders!!! Any and all kinds! But I can kill them if I have to.
5-Cats.....and they know it! They seem to follow me or find me wherever I am
6-Scary movies.....not a big fan at all!
7-Doing my hair....can't I have a live in stylist???
8-Choking....I do it far too often!
9-Milk---don't like to drink it......but can't stand it past the sell by date!
10-Being a responsible adult.....can't I be a kid again???

Likes:

1-My new cleaning schedule (see below)
2-My nieces and nephews---they all say the funniest things and are darling!
3-TARGET----my favorite store of all time!
4-My dentist--he is awesome! I don't dread going anymore!
5-Shoes and handbags---love them a little too much I think!
6-OREOS---anything with oreos is fine by me :)
7-Reading----can read just about anything!
8-Note cards----I write a lot of notes and like a variety of them on hand
9-Entertaining people---love having people in my home
10-Snow---or so I am beginning to, reverse psychology works still right????

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

Fall and Halloween Fun!

The last two weekends in October were fun filled, but a lot less eventful unlike how the summer has been! We had an enrichment activity that took a lot of planning and time on my part, but it turned out great and we had a great turn out! My friends and I went to the pumpkin patch and picked out pumpkins. Halloween we went to two parties. They were fun and the best part was that Tyler agreed to let us dress him up. He was just going to go as a snowboarder...lame since he is one!!! It was fun finding things for him to wear and creating a fun image for him!


The Gang!
Wendy, Brent, Me, MacKenzie, & Tyler


The Girls!


Getting Ready!

Wendy & I

The 2 Rockers!

At the pumpkin patch

Brent, Wendy, Tyler

Kristee, Laura, & I

At the patch

The Boys looking at the moldy pumpkin

Picking a pumpkin or two

My New Routine.....

For many years I have been thinking that when I have a family I will start a cleaning routine so that I can clean a little each day and keep up on my housework. I LOVE me a good clean house but find that when I spend one day doing it all it takes so much time and then I put it off for a week or so cause I want to play more! Well I finally got to the point where I said, "Why should I wait for kids??" So I came up with my "chore chart" and started it this week. It has been great so far! I have spent very little time each night (10 minutes or so) doing something and think that it just might stick! And my house is spotless! I am sure that there will be times when I get off my routine, but being as flexible as I am I can switch the jobs around if I don't have much time.

Give it a try! Happy Cleaning!!!

Arizona Trip Day 3 & 4

Like I said in the previous post. We got sick from the food at the wedding. This made for a VERY low key 3rd day. We didn't go too far from home at all! We did however venture to AZ Mills Mall to do a little shopping. I got a new pair of shoes and Sarah and John found some treasures as well, mostly for the babycakes but it was fun! We were all so sick and tired that we went to bed early.

To make up for the day that we were sick and it being our last day we got up super early on Fri. We headed for a hike up South Mountain. It was a nice hike and I am glad that we went early before it started to get too hot!


Sarah, John, and I atop South Mountain


We then headed to tour the Arizona Cardinals Stadium! It was amazing!!! I had a great time! We had a great tour guide who knew a ton about the stadium and made it fun. It was the best $7 that John spent! Thanks for paying by the way!!! Brenda's husband had gotten us lunch so we ate on our way to the next stop.


Inside the stadium

The turf that rolls in and out

We got a tour of the locker room!

Me inside the locker room--too bad we couldn't go in the Cardinals!

Leaving the locker room, heading to the field

We then headed to see where the other Arizona teams play. We snatched a look at the Diamondbacks stadium and tried to see the Suns but couldn't get in. It was fun though to see parts of AZ that I never saw as a missionary. We then headed to the Mesa Temple and visitors center. I wanted to show Sarah and John where I had served for part of my mission. It had changed a lot but it was still fun to see. We even drove by the apartment on our way to Queencreek!

The Diamondbacks Field

The Temple

Queencreek was my favorite place on my mission. While I was there it was a rural farming community. I have been back a few times since my mission but this time I could hardly believe what I saw! I was amazed at the growth. We used to have to go about 30 minutes to do any shopping----there is now a Target in QC!!!! If only we had had it! But I know that I wouldn't have like it as much if it was the way it is now. One of the things that I loved was it being away from things. We had the chance to see the Reed Family or what is left of their kids at home. They were super good to me while there and it was fun to visit with them and let Brian show Sarah and John his blacksmith skills. He even gave us all diamond rings!!!

We then headed to visit the Oberlys. It was fun to be able to visit with them and catch up for a bit since we didn't have much time at the wedding. We were tired from our full day and headed home to get ready to leave in the AM. It was a much needed vacation!!! I hated being sick and too a few days to recover once home, but it was fun to visit a place that I love and maybe just maybe will end up in again!

Thanks Brenda and Don for your great hospitality! It was fun to meet you Don and great to see you again Brenda!

Arizona Trip Day 1 & 2

We had a great time in Arizona! I can't possibly tell all that we did, but I will give it a try! We flew out Tuesday afternoon. We had an okay flight though it was a bit bumpy. John wanted to sit in the very back and since it wasn't a full flight we had our choice of seats. We will not sit in the back again! This is a photo of Sarah and I on the flight there.


We went to get the rental car. We decided that since I knew the area and it was cheaper if we had one driver, we wouldn't put Sarah and John on. It was super funny what happened!!! I was at the counter and the guy was flirting BIG time with me! It was fun and in the end we got a free upgrade! He even came out to the garage to make sure that we got a good car! Too bad that he had a super ugly mullet, I might have asked him to be my date for the wedding! That night we took it easy. We went the Brenda's house got the GPS system which was awesome and headed to dinner with Trenton (the groom). We then watched our weekly biggest loser! It was fun to find out that our friend Brenda and her husband watch too! So we had a fun time watching and meeting her awesome hubby!


Our awesome car!

This is Brenda's pet tortoise Ted. It was super fun to see him and play with him. We took it easy the morning of the wedding. Slept in, read, played with Ted and watched TV. We ran a few errands before the wedding and then headed to the wedding and reception.

This is Mr. and Mrs. Oberly. The wedding was held at a gorgeous country club. It was fun a beautiful place to have a wedding. We enjoyed a Mexican/American wedding. Which meant that it was late getting started, but the food was good. There was even a mariace band! Although we were all sick the next day. And didn't go too far. We left early because we were all tired but the party lasted well into the night! Glad we could be there! Sarah even ended up helping to serve cause they were short handed, and I translated for her. Fun times!!

A picture of the cake

Sarah and I at the wedding

Breast Cancer Walk

This past weekend a few of my friends and I participated in the Breast Cancer Walk. This was to help raise money for breast cancer research. It was a lot of fun, wasn't too cold, and was well worth it! We will be doing it again next year and hope that we can raise more money and have more team members! Thanks for the fun time!


Our Team--Keep 'Em Real


Mackenzie

Haylie

Wendy

Me, Kenz, Wendy