HaPpY 100th PoSt!!!

DigiPage Props: A beautiful mess by: Elizabeth Quintana Scrapalinquent From SCRAP ORCHARD (They have tons and tons of free amazing kits.)

Wow I can't believe that we've posted 100 times. The Hubs and I have decided that we like blogging. (Well He say's we but mean's his wife.) It's been really fun to do this whole blogging thing and join the new age in computer technology. As you all might know I'm finally figuring out how to use a computer for something other than a *Word Doc. or to look at

*E-mails. I've actually learned to use *Photo Editing software, How to download and save *Zip Files, to use *Instant Messanger and To *Digital Scrapbook in the past year so I'm quite pleased with myself. To commorate this special occasion of 100 posts I will be giving a little craft I've made to one randomly drawn comment on our blog from this post....(you have to leave a comment in order to receive this prize and I have to know you in some way shape or form.) This little ditty end's Tuesday morning and I will randomly pick the person and let them know they've won.
Thanks for taking the time to read our blog....

We've had fun reading all of your's.
-A

Flashback Friday!!!

Just a picture of a little me this week( I was just over a year I think)..... What I know from being little is what people have told me so here ya go.

* I used to hum when they'd put food into my mouth until all my food was gone during a meal.

* I got into a paint can at my Grandma and Grandpa's house and decided to paint a little of my own work on the floor and myself.

*I used to rollerskate on my Grandpa's shoulders around the block.

*I loved to talk and my Mom has a recording of me when I was one saying yabadabadoo... and jiber jabber. (They tell me I was born talking...)

* My Mom prides herself in telling us "bad" Mom's who have kids that aren't potty trained at just over 3 that "her" girls were potty trained by 18 months and it was a breeze.

Happy "Memory" Day!!!

So we didn't do our usual trip to Herriman to have breakfast with the Lions club and then go the the cemetaries with Chris' family. (His dad's side settled Herriman so it's a tradition that we've never missed except for this year.)

But we did make our annual trip out to the cemetary to visit Chris' Dad's Grave.

I couldn't help but snap some picture's of him with our kids. Every year as we go to the cemetary our kids ask questions about Grandpa Marty. This year they asked lot's. So Chris told them some of his favorite memories about his Dad. ( He tells them often and with tears in his eyes) So here are a few that I remember and some he told the kids:

He always carried a roll of Tums in his pocket. He always had the best candy stash. He always wrestled with him. He took the kids on the Deer Hunt every year. (Chris' Favorite Memory) Every time Chris put's on a tool belt or goes to one of the 5 gallon bucket's that his Dad used for tools and supplies you can see a tear in his eye because it reminds him of his Dad. He always keeps a wad of receipts just like his dad did. ( just not as many.) His dad was a great drywaller and was very very strong.

Thoughtful Friday!!! (Sorry no flashback today.)

So over the last year and a half I have had some very very humbling experience's. I keep thinking that I can't take another thing happening and the Lord says "Oh no no your not listening and learning so well. " Sometimes I've felt like I'm at the breaking point and that these things just can't get any worse then they do. However, I've also had many moment's and experiences during this period of time when Heavenly Father has blessed me immensely. There have been a couple in the last 2 weeks that I'd like to share.

I needed money really really bad for something and was praying about how to get that money and I went to the mail box over the next two days and received random checks from our insurance company to cover the cost of the things that I needed the money for.

I had a feeling that I needed to contact a friend about a part time job and all that day I struggled to write her an e-mail and finally late in the evening I sent it. The next day she sent me an e-mail back saying I could interview with her. I was bawling while reading it. I'm so glad that I listened to the spirit. I will now be working for her part time. I'm really excited about this opportunity.

I've had a very humbling experience where I've been blessed by the generosity of other's. I will not go into detail I will just say that Thanks isn't enough and one day I hope to pay it forward in some way.

So to say in the great words of Elder Henry B. Iring: "...Pray and ponder, asking the questions; Did God send me a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done. More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answer's prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that comes because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance- even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened." General Conference Talk October 2007.

A few months after hearing and reading that talk I was given a journal with those part's I just mentioned in the front of it to remind me of what great blessings I have been given. So all though I may be going through turmoil and sadness I have also been blessed and had great happiness too. I have seen the Hand of the Lord in my life several times in this past year and a half and I'm really trying to recognize it more too. It's been amazing to have these blessings given to me this person who is just as ordinary and plain as the next. I've done nothing of great importance, but I feel like I've been blessed by His hand.

Slip N' Slide

What Muppet Are You?

You Are Miss Piggy

A total princess and diva, you're totally in charge - even if people don't know it. You want to be loved, adored, and worshiped. And you won't settle for anything less. You're going to be a total star, and you won't let any of the "little people" get in your way. Just remember, piggy, never eat more than you can lift!

The Muppet Personality Test

Okay ... So Now I Feel Even Better About Myself!!!

NoteBooks!!!

Here are some more project's i'm considering. They are notebooks that are approximately 3x5. I need more imput Please? Are they okay or junk them?

(If you are just tuning in I'm thinking of opening an Etsy shop ie... online handmade craft's and putting my stuff in it.)

A Horse With No Name!!!!

So if you're like me songs are associated with different times and experiences in your life. The song : " A Horse With No Name" By: America

is one of those songs. My mom listened to this ALBUM when I was a really little girl and actually all my life. I remember her singing this song and many many other's as we went about our day's together. So when I was watching t.v. a few weeks ago this commercial came on with these girls driving in the desert and they find a carousel in the middle of no where. ( It's for some store or clothes or something.) I wasn't really paying attention to the commercial just the song.

I almost started to cry. Dumb I know, but this song just brings back all these fun memories that I've had with my Mom through out my life.

She used to read us books out on our front lawn all the time. She'd dance with us in the front room to any music playing. She'd sing to any toon on A.M. Radio... (Yes That's All There Was While I Was Really Little.) She took us to Sugarhouse Park and we'd run through the big sprinkler's in the middle of the day. She'd play Barbie's with us for hours and change their clothes and do their hair for us. She always gave us as many kisses as we were old at bed time and would sing us Brighton Camp songs. She would play baseball with us. She took us to the duck park all the time and let us feed the ducks and play. She'd always make sure that we looked very presentable. (Even if our hair was so tightly braided that our head's would hurt.) She'd let us get ice cream cones at Harmon's if we were good while shopping. She'd lip sink and make up dances with us. She did skit's with us. She toilet papered with us. There are hundred's of memories that come flooding back when I hear that song those are just a few. Even as a married adult Chris and I went to the America concert with my Mom and Rockey. I remember looking over at my Mom and seeing her sing the song's with a little sparkle in her eye's. I wonder what memories of her life she thinks of when she hear's that song. I wonder if she goes back to her teenage years and remembers certain aspects of her life. So I added it to my playlist at the bottom of our blog. It's the very last song.... If you've never heard it before. So today when your going about your day remember something wonderful and put a song to it or remember a song that goes with a part of your life and listen to it. It does wonders for the soul.....

CrAfT PrOjEcT .... And What Does Your Name Mean?

This is a Recipe box with dividers and cards that I made. So I'm going to open an Etsy Store...(If your wondering what Etsy is go to www.etsy.com and see all the wonderful handmade goodness.) I've been tinkering with some project's to put in it. This is one. I have a few more that i'll be posting in the next couple of day's too. I need feed back. Is this good enough or should I just bag the whole Idea?

Next I found this............ What Does Your Name Mean???
This is what mine means.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way.
And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life.
You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it.
You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life.
You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home.
You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.
You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.
You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.
You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!
You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

*****I don't know if this is at all accurate, There are maybe 2 things in this that fit me and the majority doesn't, but hey it was fun to do. You can take the quiz here if you'd like:
http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/

Continuing Onward
Well with the heat wave coming in.... I am officially a Mother who will be spending her day's outdoors with 3 kids who live there during the Summer. (Well they'd be outside all the time no matter what weather it was if it was their choice.) So I don't know if my blog post's will be so good. Hopefully i'll be able to do them early early or really late. We'll see what happens. See ya peep's. Happy Weekend!

Flash Back Friday!!!

Ode to when we remember the things we did when we were young......
#1- The summer before my senior year we slept out on our young women's president's lawn with a big group of kids. Girls seperate from the boy's. (Yes i'm telling the truth.) And for a week prior had been collecting things from the summer clean up from garbage cans ie... Broken lawn chairs, used carpet, old lawn rakes and tools, old furniture. Old canidate signs. Then we bought a 96 roll case of T.P. Then the young men brought fire works.(No our Leader's had no idea what we were doing.) So we went to only 2 houses and tp'd, strategically placed the items. (No we didn't Vandalize.) and then jumped into the back of the van's and lit fire works off to wake the people up. (No we didn't get caught. No we didn't set a fire. Yep we laughed and then we laughed and then we laughed and laughed some more. Some laughed so hard they wet their pants.)

#2- My friends and I slept out in my camper the summer before 9th grade and my Mom (The Coolest Lady In The World.) Took us toilet papering to the guy that I liked house. But there is a catch.... Some man saw us doing it and followed us for like 20 minutes while my mom was driving in and out of neighborhoods to try and get away from him. We finally pulled over and my mom said that she was and adult and it was okay because we were with her.... Too funny!!!

#3- Sleeping over at the Parr's house. There was never a dull moment. We would laugh for hours and play Barbies and Strawberry Shortcake. Sheldon would end up coming in during the wee hours of the morning and telling us to be quiet and go to sleep. Julie and I have been best friends since practically birth. We may not see each other enough but there is never a week that goes by that we don't talk at least twice. (Not many people can say that about their friends.) I could walk in their house and I always felt like I was part of the family.

#4- It's another memory from the Parr's. We used to sit on the back porch and eat the most delicious ripe tomatoes out of the garden. We'd take the salt and pepper out with us and eat the Tomatoes like they were apples.

#5- Grandpa Sandberg and his harmonica sitting by the heater vent. Oh I wished I could play like he could. He was such an ornery man but his eye's lit up when he played his Harmonica and I remember being little and dancing to it.

#6- Singing Annie at the top of my lungs!!! My poor family. Need I say anything more than this.... I sang it and sang it and sang it and sang it and sang it. (you get the picture.) I can still sing it!

#7- My Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen's House.
I had the opportunity to live with them for small periods and long periods. They have a very special place in my heart. They always made me feel safe and loved. I remember my grandma buying me avacado's, fixing me cream of rice, buying me the "in" clothes and making me feel sooo special. Their home had a special smell. Once in a while i'll be somewhere and i'll smell that smell and take in another deep breath and the memories come flooding back.

#8- Me and Aub's playing with a fridge box in the duplex!!! We probably played in that thing for 2 weeks. We made it into a house. Then it rained and the box died.
#9- Playing City. Me, Julie, Aubrie and Kristy used to pretend like our houses were certain parts of the city and ride our bikes around the block and then go "Shopping." We'd trade stuff and then go "drive" around again.

#10- Sunday Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen. Every Sunday and I mean Every Sunday there was a standing dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's. You could always count on an awesome dinner and a lot of fun playing.... Colored eggs and T.V. Tag with the cousin's. We'd also take the blanket's out and roll down the small hill. We'd play that tennis ball game. Eat home -made icecream. Play in the dirt in the planter boxes. Sit and talk. Take great nap's.

#11- Playing basketball with our Dad out front. All the time while I was in high school Dad would play hoops with us. Horse was the favorite. Tornado second. Loved it.

Oh How I miss being a kid..... Hopefully my kids have great memories too. (Well maybe not the T.P. one's or the Fireworks or Garbage digging.) But all the rest is fine.

Froggy Boy!!!

My guy came out of preschool yesterday looking like this..... I was laughing because he was so dang cute. He was all about me taking a picture of him with this on his head. He's too cute.

An OLDIE But A Goodie!!!

While the kids were riding the horse I took a couple of shot's of this really great old decrepid car in the pasture. If you know Grandpa P. he's a collector of old car's. Some restored some not.... This one's a not. But it takes a mighty fine picture don't you agree?

A CoWbOy NeEd'S A HoRsE!!!!

There is this cute song that my boy sings about what a cowboy needs: A horse, A hat, A rope....etc. My other little guy thinks that he's a cowboy especially at Grandma and Grandpa's house because there is land to play on fun toys to have, a garden to help in, a big tree house to play in, and most important a visiting friend's horse to eat the pasture down......! He definately love's him. All he can talk about is Pokey this and Pokey that. It Rained yesterday and he thought that Pokey wouldn't be all right untill I reassured him that horses have lot's of hair on their bodies to keep warm. He asked me if he could go to Grandma's to make sure he had a barn to sleep in.... Okay he's being to darn cute about it. He has told his Grandma and Grandpa for weeks when he visit's that he's a "Real Cowboy." So when he was able to ride the horse it definately fulfilled his dream. At one point he took off his hat and said YEEE HAAA Giddy Up!!! What a funny little man. McKenna and Hunter also had a great time and McKenna even rode him without a lead rope all by herself. She did a great job. My kid's definately love animals!!

So without further adu here is my Little Man The "REAL COWBOY"

and Pokey "THE REAL HORSE":":

Who Are You?

You Are Ariel!

Headstrong and fiesty. You have a mind of your own that's full of romantic dreams about the world around you. Exploring exotic places is your ultimate dream, and although you can be a little naive you'll realize that there is something to be gained from your family's wisdom.

Mo' Day!!!

We had a busy weekend filled with wonderful Mother's Day activities. We went to Ogden and celebrated with Chris' family on Saturday. We went bowling and then had pizza and chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert. Janiel my sister in law is such and amazing person and she put a lot of effort into making the day special for us. Thanks Jan. My Mother In Law is such an awesome lady and grandma. Thanks for all the funny memories you've given my family.

On Sunday after church we came home and relaxed and then went to my Mom's house for dinner. Yummy FOOd let me tell ya. She is an amazing Mom and Grandma. She always makes me,my sister's, her son in law's, husban and grand kids feel so special. My little sister gave me a really pretty platter that I just love. Thanks Aub's. It was a fun busy weekend and we're glad we got to spend it with the one's we love.

FLASH BACK FRIDAY!!!

Okay so it's May and more over the month when people graduate from college.

This photo was taken 6 years ago when Chris graduated from the U with a business degree. I was 6 months along with my 2nd baby. Boy how time flies when your having fun. I remember a lot of years of Chris working full time, then going to full time school at night and then coming home and doing his homework untill 2 or 3 in the morning and then getting up at 6:30 am. to start the process all over. He was amazing . He would bring his math homework home and there would be problems that would take 10 pages up and i'd think how in the world did someone come up with that problem. I was proud of him then and i'm proud now. That was a great accomplishment. Love ya Hubs!!!

WhAt Do YoU wAnT YoUr LiFe GoAlS tO B?

These are just a Few of my life goals..... Some day's I feel like i'm heading in the right direction and then other's it's one step back. I'll get there one day though.

Wacky Wednesday.

Here's Wacky Wednesday Photo's:

My kids and their Funny Face Teeth a while ago.... Needless to say we warned them about junk food.

HA HA HA HA

Life Event's!!! (deep thinking again.)

The Girls Again!!!

The event's in our lives are not what define us..... What we choose to do with those events are!!!!

My Cousin's ,2 of my Sister's and I went out tonight for dinner. We all had such a wonderful time. All of us are in different places of our live's. When I was driving home after I kept thinking of that phrase in general about all of Heavenly Father's Children. We each are unique and special. We all have had challenge's and will have challenge's. We all have made mistake's. Some big and some small. We've all conquered! We've all faced defeat. What we decide to do with all that we've been given is up to us. We can either make our live's change with a positive out look or we can make it negative. Sometimes it seem's like we have gotten over things and then something from our past comes to haunt us. Sometimes we feel like we cannot ever get back up from falling down or in some cases being pushed down, but we can. We can get back up!!! Actually we can get back up and make it up to the top's of the mountain's that we face. Who are you? What defines you? Do you want to be the change in your life? Do you want to push onward and know you are better for it? Do you beleive in you? Do you think that there are other's who can help you? Do you know that you are loved? Do you know that we all make mistakes? Do you realize that you are priceless in the sight of Heavenly Father no matter what???? I mean no matter what!!!!

Another Thought....

ARRGH!!!!

Gusman thinks he's a PIRATE!!! We brought back a skull filled with treasure for him from DisneyWorld and he thinks he's awesome. He asked me if i'd take a picture of him with it..... A rarity these day's since he only want's to scowl when I take his picture. (His true pirate nature coming to fruition.) He actually smiled for me though! A cheesy smile, but at least it was a smile.

Guilty as Charged......(I'm a Blog Stalker, But in a good way.)

So i've taken to the craz of blogging and in that time i've also become a blog stalker. Some people are from my ward, some are from my old ward and some from high school. Some are just randomly selected from other peoples blogs because it's like a friend of a friend of a friend kind of thing and some are because I like to look at how they've designed their blogs or had their blogs designed for them. ( I get great idea's for mine that way.) Sometimes i'll look at these blogs daily and sometimes weekly. I get inspiration and I get some kind of helpful knowledge that families every where go through what Me and my family go through. Sometimes you think that only you are going through an experience and then you look at all the blogs you love and a whole bunch of other people have experiences similar. So if you see that i've stalked your blog now you know why. I know that we're all a little guilty so you can reassure yourself your not alone. It's when you get weird comments and people you don't know leaving them that isn't okay. So my good freinds blog on!!!! Stalk on!!! (Just in a good way.)

FlashBack FrIdAy...... A Tale of Babies.

Easton....

Hunter... McKenna....

My babies aren't babies any more. They are little people with huge attitudes. I thought you'd like to see them innocent and cute........ There are days when I long for another child mostly because I miss the closeness and smell that they have and then I come back to reality and remember our family is complete and I get to hold litttle one's and then give them back. I have a love hate relationship with each stage that my kids are in. There are things I absolutely adore and cherish and then there are the things that are close to throwing me over the edge.(You all know the fits of rage my Beastie can throw.) So I found a few pic's of my crew when they were babies and here you go. I seriously want to cry. Time flies way to fast.

GlaSsEs!!

Sassy got her glasses and she looks so cute in them..... At least we think so. She got 2 pair and has been switching off between the two. She's even a diva when she's wearing glasses. Too Cute!!!