Happy Birthday's.....

Yes, it's my little sisters birthday. And yes, I can still call her my little sister, because that's what she is. Although mentally she is far older than I am with all her wisdom that I wish I had.

It's also her 2nd boy's birthday, Ryan. He turns 7 today. Oh what a sweetie pie he is! I have video and picture to post so you can see his adorable-ness, along with the rest of his family. Love these guys!!

Love you Caiti and Ryan!! Happy Birthday you two!

Ryan, Me & Gavin at Temple Square

Caiti and me. Isn't she a beaut?!

"...every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings"

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!

silly boys

My cute nephews showing me their latest trick while I was babysitting them last night.

Holiday favorites

loving these!!! Especially the cheeseball, from my Mom's secret recipe...soooo gooooood!

a whole lotta good stuff...

This past month or so has been quite eventful. I had a lot of pictures to upload so I just put each event in it's own collage.

Let's start back in mid October after I came back from working in Orlando. I came home to find some of our bedroom furniture in our living room. I loved how Ryan arranged it down there, but then I thought, "hmmm...if this armoire and mirror are down here...what is upstairs?" I walked on up and found that Ryan had gotten this beautiful bedroom set for me. Such a great surprise! He's so good at surprises. I love how it looks. Now, I just need some curtains, a lamp for my night stand, and other little decorations. Thank you babe!

For Halloween our company puts on a Halloween costume contest. My boss told us that he was dressing up as Charlie Brown, and then the rest of us Managers decided that we'd dress up like the characters as well and hopefully win the prize for the best group costume. Originally we were just going to dress up as the gang, but then about a week before we had found these paper mache heads people had used. So, that was it! We spent the next days until the contest working on our heads. Layer after layer of paper mache, Ryan stepping in to paint mine and Violeta's head (he did an amazing job!), and getting the outfits right.

It paid off! We got third place and $100. I think we should have at least gotten 2nd place but it was still fun! :)

Top L-R: Linus (Kaj), Marcy (me), Pig Pen (Austin), Charlie Brown (TJ)
Bottom: Lucy (Violeta)

Best thing that happened in November...this whole year for that matter...the birth of my sweet nephew Liam Tobias Summerhays on November 16th. He is the son of my little sister Caitilin and her hubby Kurt. Proud older brothers are Gavin (8) and Ryan (6).

He weighed in at a whopping 9lbs. 6oz. 21", and absolutely PERFECT! I mean just look at him!! Oh he melts my heart and I haven't even met him yet. Can't wait until they come at the end of December for his blessing and for Gavin's baptism. He'll be welcoming a cousin that will be only 5 weeks younger than him. Shane and Sharon are also having their third, but this time it's a girl.

I'm so thankful for sweet miracles like this!

Tuesday morning we got up early and headed for Wyoming for Thanksgiving. A storm was coming that evening so we figured we'd head out a day earlier. We hit snow 3 different times, each time followed by clear skies, roads, and hardly any snow. It was weird. We had fun driving with Max. He slept a lot!

I love where Ryan's parents live, Powell. It's such a cute little town. We drove around and found our favorite houses there. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the side of the house on the bottom right corner. It was huge, and just gorgeous!


Took some pictures around his parents property. Lots of beautiful land!


Oh boy! This was eventful. The last night we were there we went to dinner at a place that serves "Rocky Mountain Oysters". If you don't know what those are google it. I was scared to try it, not for the taste but just the thought of knowing what they were made me nervous. I braved it and tried them. Not too bad, I guess. Tastes like ranch dressing. haha!

Pictures after dinner. I'm sad I didn't get the camera out for our actual Thanksgiving dinner the evening before. Ryan's Grandpa, and Aunt and Uncle came by to join us. It was great seeing everyone. I sure love these guys!!

It's been a great month, and a great Thanksgiving.

Too much snow??

Is there such a thing? I used to not think so...the more the better for me, just not so much that it cuts the power in our house, or that I can't drive on the road.

Well, we're supposed to be heading out of town for Turkey day and seeing as we're supposed to have close to Blizzard conditions tomorrow through out Wednesday morning (when we're supposed to be leaving)...oh man I'm just crossing my fingers we can make it. Too much snow at this time isn't a good thing; when you can't travel to be with your loved ones.

*Crossing my fingers everything will work out*

giveaway!!

I want to win this...badly!

Make sure you enter too! But if you do and you win...I won't be very happy. Ha ha, just kidding I'll be thrilled! I just may need to come to your house everyday to use it, that's all. :)

Snow Fall

When I see snow falling outside the window, I get giddy. As one of my co-workers put it today, “I love how your eyes light up”, when it comes to snow. I can’t get enough of the beautiful cotton-looking-fluffy-white-stuff falling outside. The sight of it brings a HUGE smile on my face, and as my co-worker said, my eyes light up.

I tried to figure out in my head why I get so excited by it. Then it hit me, a memory that made my smile grow a few more inches.

The day of the first snow fall that beautiful fall morning back in 1986. We had just moved to Utah from Hawaii that June. We waited anxiously those next few months for the day when it would snow. We’d never really seen snow fall. I mean we had taken trips every 3 years to the mainland, and had seen snow before…the kind where it had pretty much melted everywhere except for some in the mountains. We’d try to have snowball fights with it, but it was too hard…too icy. We’d tried to pack it up and put it in the cooler, but to no avail. It melted.

I believe we were woken up by a neighbor that school day morning, telling us it has snowed and was still snowing, or maybe it was our parents waking us up telling us about the snow. Either way we literally SPRUNG out of our beds and ran outside. Yes, we were still in our PJ’s, yes, we were barefoot, and no…we didn’t mind one bit! In fact I don’t even remember feeling cold. I think the shear excitement of the beauty that was all around us got our adrenaline going, and kept us warm. I’m sure the neighbors were thinking we were crazy running around barefoot, and not properly dressed, in the snow. What a site we were!

Pretty soon mom and dad had the video camera going taping all of us doing cartwheels on the front lawn, running and sliding into the snow, throwing snowballs at each other, and catching snow-flakes serendipitously in our mouths. All the things we had only dreamed of ever doing. The only person who wasn’t excited was my older sister Megan. She stood on the porch free from the flakes, dressed in her winter attire, dreading being cold. She wanted to be back in the sunshine, back in Hawaii. The rest of us…we were as JOYOUS as could be.

I’ll never forget that “First snow fall” for us. It was pure magic!

So yes, I still get giddy at the first snow fall(s) of the season. It’ll never get old to me.

It’s beautiful; magical!

I'm thankful...

...today to be PMS-ing. I know, I know that sounds totally wrong; to be grateful you feel like you're about to cry at any given moment, or feel like you want to scream at people, or feel like you just want to punch someone in the face. But when all you really want to do is sit and eat chocolate ice-cream with the works on it while watching "The Holiday" all by yourself. Yeah that about sums it up.

My body and my hormones have been crazy for the past...oh...3 years. I got some meds to try and regulate things and I think they're working. My body is back on track, it feels.

And I'm happy to be back on track...as sucky as it can be at times.

I'm sure I'll change my mind about how grateful I am here in a few days or so. But in the mean time, I'll take this feeling of gratitude and run with it...all the way to the store to buy my chocolate ice-cream with the works...yumm.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Bosses Day

I'm spoiled. I work for a great company, who has the greatest people working there. I manager their Call Center during the day. I know, I know usually when you think Call Center you think of a job where you would dread going to, with an environment that is so not fun and talking to angry people, etc, etc.

Let me tell you my friends. XANGO's call center is like no other there is out there. People are happy coming to work each day. The upper management want us to have fun at work, while we work hard. The culture there can't be found anywhere else. It's awesome!! I guess that's why I've stayed for over 5 years.

Well, Friday the 15th I went to work and found these cool things sitting on my desk. I have 5 Supervisors and about 50 agents that I manage. They all got together and did this for me!


They're the BEST!!!!

Pumpkin Patch

Had a great time at Mabey's Pumpkin patch, in South Jordan, the day before leaving for Orlando. It's now a tradition to go with the Fromm's, since we went last year, followed by Smash Burger. We sure love that family!

Orlando

So, I'm back from Orlando for my works East Coast Regional Event. It was fun! I love meeting our Distributors. They're amazing and they work so dang hard to get to where they want to be.

I met one older gentleman who was there with his wife. The employee next to me was helping them and I could tell he was staring at me. So, I turned over to say hello. He replied, "you have got the most beautiful smile! I just can't stop looking at it!", to which I laughed in embarrassment, and I admit it was flattering as well. He told me that I has brightened his day. hahaha!! He came back a few times during the next few days to, as he put it, "brighten" his day. Bless his heart!

I met a man and his 12 year old son who were just amazing! His son, Christian, was dressed so business like. I'm talking a button up white shirt, tie, slacks, and a cell phone ear piece in his ear. Wow! I've never seen a 12 year old boy like him. He was so excited to be there and told me how much fun he was having doing the business with his Dad, and how far they're going to go. Just in talking to both of them they were a great team. His Dad would carefully explain things about XANGO and the busines to him, and Christian would totally get it. Every one was in awe by his enthusiasm for XANGO. So cool!

(the picture just below on the top left is Christian and his Dad.



I met a wonderful lady, who I can now say, we are going to be great friends! Her name is Cheley (Shelly). I was helping her answer questions about her downline. We just clicked and had so much fun talking. Love her! (She's the one with me in the picture above on the bottom left.)

I also met a man who told me that I should contact him about how he can help me lose weight. *Thank you kind sir. I wasn't really asking for your help, but I appreciate you noticed and felt that I needed it. I probably won't be contacting you.*

The hotel we stayed out was actually pretty nice. The rooms itself were nice, but I've seen better. However the middle of the hotel, the 'Atrium' was absolutely stunning!!! There were alligators, stingrays, Koi fish, greenery reminiscent of being in the everglades, but in a pretty way, and all sorts of cool buidings, restaurants, water, etc. It would take you at least 20 minutes to walk around the whole atrium. It was huge! You didn't even have to leave the hotel to see beautiful things. It was like a world in itself. See for yourself.





I didn't do much in Orlando at all besides work. A lot of people went to Disney World, but I didn't because I wanted to share that experience with Ryan, since we both have never been.

The worst thing that happened was on Sunday, while doing a little souvenir shopping (I know I broke the sabbath) I dropped a $50 bill somewhere. Ugh! I felt sick to my stomach! I even cried...just a little...but I cried. I was so mad. Oh well, I guess someone needed it more than me, gosh dang it!

Good times in Orlando.

Oh! The flight there was awesome. The flight back was horrible. I guess I should say it could have been worse...I mean we could have crashed, but we didn't. So, I should say it was good. Just way to much turbulence while flying through storms in Alabama and Utah. Not fun!

This was how it looked on our flight on the way there.

I'm back...

...and it's good to be back. Lots of photos, some fun times and some not-so-good luck stories coming soon.

For now. I'm grateful to be on the ground.

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Ok, so not until Tuesday morning...but I'm feeling anxious already (not so much about the flying part though...oh the stress!)

I work at a great place. One of my job requirements is to help out when they have different conventions going on. One of them starts this Thursday and goes through Saturday, but I get to leave Tuesday. That means, exploring places like Downtown Disney, and seeing alligators.

Yes, I'm going to Orlando!

And I get to stay in this beauty of a Hotel.

I'm excited!

Going Private {again}

To everyone who reads my blog. I am going private {again}. I went private a few years back and then decided to go public. However, there are people out there who think our lives are pretty interesting (for some reason) and feel the need to spy on us.

So, please send me your email if you'd like to continue reading my random posts. :)

Thanks!

Enough is enough!

Dear Aunt Flo,

While I appreciate having you drop by each month, for roughly 7 days, to let me know that you still love and care about me and my well being, I think anything over that amount is a little too much love, if that's even possible.

You've been here for 65 days, and counting. Frankly it's a bit excessive and I feel the need to tell you that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY! I don't know what it is that you're trying to accomplish by sticking around for this ridiculous amount of time. You're hurting my sanity, my patience, my marriage (in case you haven't noticed having you around doesn't necessarily perk up someone's day for 7 days, let alone 65 freaking days!), my happiness, and my love for you (if there was any to begin with) is dwindling down to nothing.

Please, GO AWAY!

Sincerely yours,

*correction: there was 1 week where you had left at the end of August, and I thought it was for good, but then you showed back up with vengence. Curse you!

Guess what?

I sitting here at my desk listening to Christmas music, courtesy of Pandora.

My favorite station? The Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Carpenters, Gene Autry, Harry Connick Jr., Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, 1940's style Christmas music.

I love it!

Here's a Christmas CD I'd like to add to my collection this year.




Happy Friday.

Poor Max

Last Wednesday our little Maxie-poo was trying to defy gravity. He didn't quite succeed.

He broke his elbow.

It's sad, oh-so-sad. It breaks my heart watching him trying to walk on 3 legs instead of 4.

He's having surgery tomorrow so they can put pins in his elbow to stabilize it.

I know, I know. People have told us, "he's just a dog." But you don't understand. Max is our baby! He's still a baby at 3.5 months old. And he's OUR baby.

We love him so much. It breaks my heart seeing him in pain.

Praying that everything will be ok with the surgery.

Here's Max on our way home from the vet, doped up on Morphine.

One down, two more to go!

As you can see from my last post I have a few delectable deserts I'd like to try during this beautiful fall season. These deserts all have pumpkin in them...a favorite of mine.

The one I made tonight was the Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls. Holy Yummyness!!!

Since I'm not the best at making anything that has yeast in it I followed this step by step, including pictures, directions on how to make your basic Cinnamon Roll. Thank you, Pioneer Woman!

The only thing I did different, or added - I should say, was a can of pumpkin and more flour because it was so sticky, I couldn't even roll it out. So, I'm not sure how much more flour I used, but it was enough to finally roll it out and not stick to the counter, or rolling pin, or my hands.

After adding the Cinnamon and Sugar when rolled out I added dried cranberries and pecan pieces. It's feeling like fall now!

Then for the fosting I did a cream cheese frosting and added about 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree to it. Then, I sprinkled pecan pieces on the top.

That's it. Man, it's delicious!!!!!

To think I actually got it right this time! Seriously, my first time making cinnamon rolls that turned out!

things to try

As the holidays are approaching I have an overwhelmingly splendid desire to bake, and bake. But only bake holiday inspired goods.

On the list of things I want to try this season are...

Pumpkin cake Roll:

This is something I have always wanted to try to make. It's the rolling of the cake that intimidates me. But my these are yum!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls:

I have a hard time, a really hard time getting bread of any nature just right. Thanks to the Pinoeer Woman I have step by step instructions and pictures on how to make Cinnamon Rolls. I have also found a recipe that includes Pumpkin and cranberries, yummy!

Pumpkin Cheesecake:

I have never even attempted to make a cheesecake that you have to bake. I usually stick to my Mom's famous no bake cheesecake recipe that we always had for Birthdays growing up. But this year, I want to tackle this and make a real cheesecake...and nothing is as good as a simple Pumpkin cheesecake. Triple Yumm!!!

Do you sense a theme going on here?! Yes, I love fall. And Yes! I love pumpkin!! :)

*Note: To my neighbors...don't be surprised if you find one of these yummy baked goods at your doorstep sometime this fall.

My mom is funny...

So, a few days ago I see this email from my mom while I was at work. The subject line, "Crisis".

My heart sank for a moment wondering what this crisis was.

Did someone get hurt?
Was someone in the hospital?

Oh no! Nothing like that. Here's what her email said...plain and simple.

"I forgot to put on under eye concealer this morning. You can imagine how I look!! Mom"

If you know my Mom then you know that she cannot go without her concealer, nor mascara, nor lipstick...nor blush. Ok, so she can't go without make-up. period. It's a very touchy subject.

You're funny Mom. I love you!

excited!

I'm wearing a scarf today.

There's a crispness in the air. I won't need to be having my fan on in my room at night too much longer.

I'm excited to see these all over the place, as well as these.

I LOVE this time of year!!!

as of lately

Ryan and I are loving our Max so much. He really is like our baby...never thought I'd say that about a puppy, but it's true. Ryan wakes up with him in the middle of the night, each night to take him to the bathroom. I'm grateful he does that.

The other day Ryan and I were talking about adoption. He was holding Max and just loving him when all of the sudden I was brought to tears. He asked me why I was crying, I just started laughing and said "I don't know", but really it was happy tears. Just watching him and Max together makes me excited to someday have a little one of our own. Ryan is going to be an amazing Dad...again. :)

Some funny things about Max...

-He has two i-crates, one downstairs and one upstairs in our bedroom. He hates his downstairs crate, since that's where we put him when we have to leave. He loves his upstairs kennel; that's where he sleeps at night.

-He loves chewing on the wood chips outside, even though he shouldn't be. He'll act like he needs to go potty, we take him outside and he just plays with said wood chips. Such a stinker.
-He loves cubes of ice. He'll lick the whole thing until it's gone.
-He is scared of the stairs, especially when we're trying to teach him to go down the stairs.
-He farts...a lot. Sometime it interrupts us during our nightly prayers, and then we start laughing...so irreverent. It's funny
-His farts stink...really bad. Especially those 'silent, yet deadly' ones.
-He snores, it's cute.
-He sticks his tongue out when he sleeps. Sometimes he'll suck on his tongue while he's sleeping (think of a new baby doing the sucking motion while sleeping), so cute!
-He LOVES Ryan! He whimpers when he leaves, even just to go upstairs.
-He likes to bite, we're working on that. He made Ryan bleed one time.
-We got a dog trainer today who'll be working with Max, we're excited.
-He makes funny faces when he's pooping outside. It makes us laugh.
-He has the funniest run! Especially when he's running to you. The air pushes his skin back, which makes his mouth open like he's got this huge grin. His little legs are running as fast as they can. It's hilarious!
-He loves to snuggle!


I'm sure there are so many more funny things that I can't think of at the moment.

We're so grateful to have Max. He's brought so much joy and love into our home.