NKOTB is back!!!

If you know what NKOTB stands for then you know about my, once upon a time, obsession with them. That's right! I'm talking about NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! Holy moly! They are trying to make a come back in to the world of music and screaming voices of teenage girls - oh wait that would now be 30 something year old girls...and I'm one of them.

That's right, I'm actually excited about this. My sisters and I have been emailing each other reminiscing about those days when our bedroom walls were COVERED - no joke - in NKOTB pictures. We would change the words to their songs, send it to them, in hopes that they would notice us...hahah!! For example: They did a song called, "I wanna be loved by you", which each member took a turn saying what zodiac sign they, what they like, etc. Well, I did like Joe the best but Donnie was a Leo just like me - so I changed his words to make it my own. "I'm Shannon, a loveable Leo..." I'M STILL WAITING FOR YOU TO NOTICE ME, DONNIE!!!

So, today I got an email from Karen Harvie Jensen, another avid NKOTB fan and good friend. She may hate me for doing this, but I have to post the email she sent about their comeback because it's so funny...and so true to the way we were..here goes...

"OH MY GOSH!!!! HEART ATTACK!!! I am so still in love with them Cmon you know you went to the NKOTB website and signed up for exclusive information to be e-mailed to you. I SOOOOO did. Yes!!! My husband thinks I am absolutly losing my mind but NKOTB will live on forever in my heart. How could I forget kissing the poster of them in Smiths Grocery store and double daring you to make out with it!!!! We didnt sing I'll be loving you forever for nothing...let the words speak for us....HA HA Karen Harvie Mcintyre Jensen"

I must admit that I feel the same, however I haven't signed up on their website...YET. :) Oh the memories of traveling to Fashion Place Mall for a contest in hopes of winning back stage passes, crying at the end of their concert in the Marriott Center because I wanted to meet them so badly, wanting to convert Joey-Joe to the LDS church, countless hours of playing M*A*S*H - and putting his name in all four spots for the guy I wanted to marry, even throwing a NKOTB birthday party. We were FREAK-A-ZOIDS!!! Fun memories though...

Passing of a Prophet

As I saw the breaking news on KSL about President Hinckley passing away Sunday night, I felt a sense of loss and sadness. We all knew this day would come sooner or later, but yet I felt as if he was invincible. Here he was 97 years old and still full of energy, laughing, making jokes. You don't see someone his age in the shape that he was. Coincidence? I don't think so. Heavenly Father knew exactly when he needed to return home. He kept his energy and his health up until the moment of his passing.

Tears filled my eyes as they talked more about him. Ryan patted my thigh, signaling that everything would be ok. It was almost a bittersweet moment. I was sad that he was gone - this cute, funny old man - who I couldn't wait to listen to each April & October for General Conference. Yet, I was also so happy for him to now be reunited with his beloved wife, whom he has missed so badly since she passed away in 2004. I'm sure the reunion was incredible! Not only the reunion with her, but so, so many who's lives he had touched - including past prophets possibly giving him high-five's all around for a life well done. :)


I'm truly going to miss this wonderful man, but I'm so happy that President Monson will take his place. The gospel lives on regardless, and keeps getting stronger, the church is true, we live in a time where we need these leaders of the church to give us guidance and direction - what a blessing!

New year - New 'do!

I figured that since I was going to work on all these goals that I previously posted, I might as well make a fresh start - and start by cutting my hair. I thought sporting the "Victoria Beckham" look would be a good start. Ha! Take a look.

Marriage Meme

Ok, I totally copied this from my sister in law's blog, she's so cool!

What is his name? Ryan
How long have you been together? 3 years
How long did you date? 4 months
How old is he? He'll be 34 in March. Yikes!
Who eats more? pretty much the same
Who said I love you first? I believe I did...just couldn't help myself.
Who is taller? Um, I think I am by like 1/4 of an inch
Who sings better? I think I do - although he can harmonize real well, even though he doesn't know it.
Who is smarter? Ryan is smart when it comes to finances, money, making decisions - but I'm smarter when it comes to...umm...wait I got to think about this...
Whose temper is worse? I stop talking when I'm mad, or I cry. Ryan get's MAD!!
Who does the laundry? Both
Who does the dishes? Both
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Me...Ryan won't let me switch, I don't like being next to the door.
Who pays the bills? Ryan, thank goodness.
Who mows the lawn? The HOA people
Who cooks dinner? Me, unless we go out.
Who drives when you are together? Me, Ryan can't see very well at night so I usually drive.
Who is more stubborn? I would definitely say I am...always have been.
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Neither.
Whose parents do you see the most? Mine, they live 10 minutes away. Ryan's family lives in Wyoming.
Who kissed who first? I think it was mutual - probably me though. Haha...like I said, just couldn't help myself.
Who asked who out? Ryan told me to call him - so I did and then we went out.
Who proposed? Ryan
Who is more sensitive? I think we both are. Ryan puts a lot of thought into things for me and like to surprise me, and I love him for that. I am more sensitive when it comes to who sheds the most tears - yeah that would be me.
Who has more friends? We share.
Who has more siblings? Me for sure. 3 sisters and 4 brothers. Ryan has 1 sister - and she's awesome!!

2008 IS MY YEAR!!!

As I look back on 2007 I wonder what it is that I have accomplished. Well the best part of 2007 was that Ryan and I were sealed in March. Such a blessing! We also bought a house - big accomplishment which we are so thankful for. Let's see what else?? Ryan bought a 1954 Ford Truck after selling his '56 truck...and it runs! That's a good thing for him. I lost about 8 pounds, but then gained it back...blah! Bought a camera to keep practicing my photography...but what have I really accomplished? It seems that I go through the day doing the same thing. I get up, take Ryan to a co-workers house to car pool with to work, go back home, depends on how tired I am I may fall back asleep for a little bit and then get up and get ready for work. Work until 5-ish, come home, make dinner, watch a little TV with Ryan - maybe go out and go shopping, and then go to bed - what a life!

With that said I'm determined to make this a GREAT year!! Here are some things that I want to do this year...

-Travel: Visit family out in NC & TX. I also want to either go on more road trips or actually fly somewhere. I would love to go to Europe, don't know if it will happen...but would love to.

-Lose weight: this really is MY year to do this; lots of exercise & eating right.

-Have a baby: gotta lose the weight first or else I can't get pregnant, darn PCOS.

-Be a better wife and not get upset at my husband for the little things; be more laid back.

-Record an album. I've been wanting to do this for a long time, just need to come up with songs. My brother has a make shift recording studio where I can do this.

-Take more pictures.

-Be better at blogging and catching up on life with friends.

-Go back to school; Graduate!

-Be a better Manager at work

I'm sure there are more to add...

Christmas

Was Christmas weird this year to anyone? It seemed to fly right by as I barely took a peek of it. That's how it felt to me, at least. Things this year were much more non-traditional then ever. Christmas Eve was spent at my parents house in Orem. I made my mom's potatoe, cheese, broccoli soup - which I thought turned out delicious. Sharon made some yummy chili, my mom made French Onion soup - all part of the traditional Christmas Eve dinner that we have. Well this year some of us got some food, sat at the table to eat, as a candle-lit meal. Some, however, stayed in the living room chatting while the rest of us were eating, which is totally fine...just that it was different then having EVERYone at the table talking and listening to 10 conversations going on. We usually go Christmas caroling, but didn't this year, which was fine by me...it was too cold outside.

After all that we start opening our Pixie gifts, which were done this year in a random order - usually there is some sort of organization that goes along with this. Next the nephews starting opening up random gifts, which never happens..."stick to the tradition" was a phrase Megan kept saying, haha! All in all it was fun - just different.

Ryan and I went home after 11 to start on our tradition of opening our gifts at midnight. I'm sure this will change once we have kids...but for just the two of us it works great. Ryan gave me a couple of early gifts this year. He gave 2 beautiful paintings for the home. One is a Greg Olson picture of the Sacred Grove, with Joseph Smith kneeling and looking up at the light in the backgroud. It has been my favorite picture for so many years and I finally have it!! He also gave me a Simon Dewey picture, it's really big, of Christ praying on the mountain - when he was fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. It's a beautiful picture that brings so much emotion to my heart each time I see it. I love these kind of pictures of my Savior where he isn't just posing, but where he is doing something that is real, like praying. That's why I love this picture so much. Ryan even had Simon Dewey autograph it. Thanks babe! I gave Ryan a 12" copper statue of Christ. It's a beautiful sculpture! He also got some "So-Cal" T-shirts. Ryan gave me the soundtrack to the movie "Hairspray", along with some fun socks, I'm a HUGE sock fan. I made breakfast Christmas morning while we watched some DVD's that we got. We then headed back to my parents to open more gifts. The boys had already opened the rest of their presents, only a few people were there and it was all just very casual and calm - so not like the Curran's.

I guess the whole reason why it was different is that we didn't have the usual chaos that goes along with having a big family and everyone being there. Dad wasn't stressing trying to get everyone to the table to make his usual "Thanks for being here" announcement, Mom wasn't going crazy in the kitchen getting the food ready and running around finishing up last minute details, there was no orderly fashion like we try to do, Sean and Conn were going back and forth from their girlfriends families to ours. It was all around pretty calm and chill - which NEVER happens. However, I think Ryan enjoyed it more because it was more calm, he may disagree and say that it was still chaotic. Ha!

Hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas!! :)

Oh! the weather outside is frightful...

...literally it is. It started snowing last night just as I was leaving work. I couldn't believe how much snow fell in such a short time, it was crazy! There's ice all over the road by my house. It seriously looks like a skating rink. They say we're going to get more snow throughout this weekend and next week. That's right! We're going to have a WHITE CHRISTMAS, baby!!!

I wish I had more time to enjoy this Christmas season. Stress at work consumes me, it seems. I come home and I don't even want to think about fighting the crowds. All I want to do is relax, take leisurely drives to look at Christmas lights, take pictures, and bake Christmas goodies with the aroma filling the house. I haven't even watched "White Christmas" or my all time favorite, "All I want for Christmas". I've got some catching up to do this weekend. Wait, wait, wait..."Miracle on 34th street" is on TV...woohoo!!! Ok, I'm getting my Christmas movie in...this is good. :)