Scattering Sunshine

The UnValentine

2012-02-14T11:16:00.000-08:00

Wow! I haven’t blogged in quite a while… time to start it up again…

As I ponder this Valentine’s Day, I have quite a few thoughts going through my head.

Apparently my brother seems to think I’m way anti romance, or love. He gave me a book for my birthday titled “The UnValentine” by Sam Beeson. It is a very cute book and he said it reminded him of me.

http://www.amazon.com/Unvalentine-Sam-Beeson/dp/1590388437

I can see his point of view on this. I seem to balk at romantic comedies. I think people who have to declare their sappy puppy love on face book and other places should find something more constructive to do with their time, and although I’ve had relationships that have been fun, I’ve never gotten myself too attached.

But does that mean I don’t want romance or feel love? I’ve been watching quite a bit of “Glee” lately. I love the music and it is so over the top cheesy that I can stand it. I like Jane Lynch’s character Sue Sylvester. She is so calloused and hard, but underneath she really is soft. Is this how I come across to my family and those I love now, and have loved in the past? I’ve been through my share of heartbreak; I just don’t let the world know. Is that cold? Maybe. Maybe not. I just don’t see a point in letting others know I’m miserable. I’d rather just come across as a happy carefree person. If you piss me off, I’m not going to let you know about it. I’ll find something else to focus on, something else to care about, and when that wound heals you won’t even know it existed. Unless I really care about you, then you'll know... ask my family.

I do want romance and love, as two of my personal heros can attest – I helped them out with Valentines this year. I loved helping and giving ideas that sometime in the future I can use, but they can test drive and give me feed back on. This year I did send a card (or two).

One of these people told me I’m a care giver and that that is why I’m able to help out with the ideas they needed. I needed to hear that, especially when I start feeling like people see me as a cold un-romantic-anti-valentine person.

http://shop.cafepress.com/do-not-touch-me-cupid

Doesn’t mean that I don’t want this later….

or this

http://www.someecards.com/the-walking-dead-cards

What an adventure...

2011-08-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

Life really is an adventure. I was doing some recollecting this morning on the past year and the changes that I've made and am making. I am on a journey, and hopefully before I call it quits on this journey I will have lost 100 lbs. I've been making great progress, but its hard. I don't pretend that I don't cheat, because I do. I try to be good but some habits are just so hard to break. I'd really rather have pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream, hash browns, sausage, and or bacon than oatmeal or "healthy" cold cereal. It's hard eating 6 times a day and remembering - "oh, now it's snack time! Stop what you are doing and go eat". That being said, following the rules on eating that Dan, my amazing trainer, has given me, eating oatmeal and healthy cereal for breakfast is working, and I'm feeling good. I notice a difference when I eat and when I don't eat, and with what I eat.
Josh that I work with had almost cured me of my "I have to have a doughnut, because they are here" excuse. I see them, I think that would be good, but not as good as being healthy will feel. I wish that I could do the same thing with Chili Cheese Dogs, but I haven't found that will power yet, they always do, and always will be a weakness to me. Learning to eat healthy after years of not is not easy.
Along with eating healthy is exercise. I started doing water aerobics and got a monthly pass to the rec center. It fun. I really like the teacher on Tuesday nights. She makes it fun but kind of intense at the same time. I enjoy it, I also feel super uncoordinated and silly at times, but everyone else probably feels the same way, so usually I just make a joke and laugh it off. I bought a new bathing suit a week or so ago. I like that it is fully lined but you can tell a big difference between that and my tankini. The tankini seemed to have quite a bit more tummy control, sure you had to worry about the top trying to creep up under the flotation belt, but you didn't feel the jiggle like jello below the waist. I have to say this has given me cause to keep the core muscles tight, I am more aware of the jiggling when I don't. Its funny how with the new swimsuit my focus moved from my thighs to my belly. Focus is a good thing.
I've been doing a little weight training as well, and by little I mean little. My darling roommate has some weights and resistance bands that she has given me unlimited access to. I have not taken full advantage of that privileged however I intend to take it a little more seriously. It is amazing to me how when you start to do something that is good for you, and you feel better after doing it, you still have a hard time doing it consistently.
I have to thank my family and friends for their support and help in this. It's hard telling your brother you can't go to dinner with them because Cafe Rio' isn't really diet approved, or at least the things you like to eat there aren't. It's hard eating before so you don't "pig out" on the bad stuff, it's even harder when you don't and you do eat to much of the bad stuff and feel like death afterward. They have been great in supporting and loving me through this, even when I'm moody.
Today Strider and I went up to Cascade Springs. It's been years since I've been there. It was a beautiful day and a fun experience. I like wanting to do things. I like feeling like I can. I like the changes that I see. I like this new adventure.

The Oil Cap Break-down and other "so called drama"

2011-01-09T15:28:00.000-08:00

It is Sunday, it has been a beautiful Sunday. I went to church with my darling little sister and then we bonded the best way possible - a fierce competition to see who could gain the best scores on a video game and making breakfast for lunch.

I truly am blessed with wonderful family and friends. I recognize that more now that I have before. I think I have times where I recognize this but every new understanding seems to bring with it more appreciation, more love, more caring. Maybe it just gets deeper. What ever it is I am grateful for them.

Friday I was driving my car into work. I woke up in plenty of time to get out the door, check the fluids in my car and make it to work on time. I opened the hood and started to check the oil. Since to leave for work on time I have to leave at O'dark Thirty, it was hard to see, but it looked a little low. I took the oil cap off and when to the trunk where I was sure I had an extra quart of oil to top it off, and looked, but no oil.

Well... I had plenty of time so I put the hood down, let the car warm up and drove to the service station.

I got there, popped the hood and swore out loud, much to the dismay of one of the customers entering the shop. I had forgotten to put the oil cap back on before shutting the hood and starting the car. Oil had spattered everywhere!! I cleaned it off and began my search for the cap, it had to have fallen down into the recesses of the engine, it just had to of.

I tried to find my flash light, which was on the cupboard at my house where I had left it. I looked and searched and then I broke down and started to cry, and after swearing out loud chastised myself, but said a silent prayer anyway. It was like I had left my brain at home, what was I thinking, or better yet why wasn't I thinking when I had closed the hood.

I quickly went through my options... I could call my Dad, but he was at work. I could call Steve, but he was in Lehi and it was his day off and he works hard so I didn't want to wake him. Amy lives close... I tried her but didn't get an answer. I decided Chris works in Orem sometimes and maybe he'd be close. I called him.

I had only slightly composed myself at this point, I was still slightly hysterical and I'm still blaming it on the hormone medications. He answered I told him what was going on, he was at home sick. He told me to call Mark, but I knew he was working. I started walking home, dressed in black pants, my heels and dark winter coat. I was sure I was going to get run over or fall on the ice. He talked to me most of the way home, said he was getting dressed and would be down. I told him not to come till I had made it home to see if it was there by some miracle.

Precariously I walked the icy path home. It was a miracle I didn't fall, it was even more of a miracle that I found the cap about 10 feet from my parking stall. I called Chris, and walked back to the car, topped it off, put the cap on and drove to work, again saying a silent prayer of thanks. It was a drama experience. I know at the time I was making a bigger deal out of it than it was, but I felt so foolish and scared.

I had a scare recently, and it is amazing to me how things that you wouldn't usually talk about openly seem to become less and less taboo the more you have to deal with it. Also I've found that medical terms are meant to sound scary even when they may or may not be.

I was diagnosed in December with Endometrial Hyperplasia with atypia, in layman terms - the lining of my uterus had excessive abnormal cell growth. I didn't really freak out till the doctor used the "cancer" word - saying "atypia means there could be cancer growth, or they could just be unusual cells." They didn't know and wouldn't know till after a d&c to remove the lining of the uterus.

I had the procedure done on the 4th of January, and I should have results tomorrow. The way I look at it right now - no news is good news! I figure if anything had shown up they would have called right away to schedule for a hysterectomy. Since I haven't heard anything I figure that instead I'm just going to use the next forever of my life (or every 6 moths) to get to know my friendly Gynecologist, honestly I just hope they can get the bleeding to stop. I'm tired of it.

Through these experience I've gained an even greater love for those people around me that lift me up and support me. I haven't told many people, mostly because I didn't want to be a project, and secondly, because I've felt like everything is going to be okay. I'm grateful that when I make mistakes those people are there to lift me up and make me feel better. I hope that when others need to be lifted up and made to feel of their own worth, that I can be there to do that. That I can be used as an instrument in allowing them to know how wonderful, meaningful, and special they are.

April till now... or I've been a blog slacker... and I rant about diapers... and social situations

2010-12-16T23:43:00.000-08:00

So my last post was in March, I really have been a blog slacker, but the greatest part about life is that you can always have a re-do. Restart, or Do-over... so here is my big do-over on the blog, updates and more, we'll see if I can keep it up over the next couple of months...

I was going to list everything I'd done and try and post pictures, but really that feels overwhelming, and I think I'd rather babble on and on than try and remember the details that I forgot to write down. Needless to say I had some awesome trips with amazing people that I love very much!

I was watching TV the other night and a commercial came on. It was by Huggies (the diaper company) and it was about how many people can't afford to buy diapers for their baby's so if you buy the diapers and wipes with the "certain label" on them they will donate diapers to these people.

Now, I don't have children and I don't claim to be an expert in the whole diaper industry, but really... I have to buy your over priced diapers to have you, who by the way must be making mint on those things, help out the needy? Then I stopped blaming the people who make a consumer driven product and turned my wrath upon those who "can't afford diapers for their children". Alright, as stated before, I don't have kids, I have no idea the amount of money involved in raising them, but I can tell you right now, that if for some reason I were to have a baby and could not afford disposable diapers for the dear child, I would humble myself enough to use cloth diapers. I mean really... yes, baby poop no matter what stage of life the child is in is disgusting, but instead of trying to have someone else fix the problem, why not take a little responsibility and try and fix it yourself. And actually all the tree-huggers, out protesting the circus coming to town and people that eat at McDonalds, should agree that cloth would be better for the environment, but no... "then you have to touch the soiled mess, and I'd much rather think eating meat is cruel than clean poo from a cloth".

It's the whole you can teach a man to fish parable... I think that our society in general is way too dependent on the free fish and we've all forgotten how to fish for ourselves. We expect to be given everything and not have to work for it!

I keep reflecting on friends that I have that were/are/have been unemployed for quite a while. One in particular kept turning jobs down because he was over qualified and didn't want to work for minimum wage. Really? Lets see, I can look for jobs that I don't want and not have to work and live on the tax payers money, or I could take a job I don't want, try and support myself, and contribute to the community while I look for another job. hmm... I'd rather not work too. However my parents taught me better than that and tried to instill some sort of sense of responsibility in me, hence I would take any job to make ends meet, and look for something better if I needed to, while earning what I could.

I think I'm just really tired of people feeling entitled because their lives aren't perfect, and I'm tired of seeing those that work so hard for their money tossing it down the toilet to help people that are too lazy, unmotivated or proud to get a job that will at least semi-contribute to their situation.

If we aren't the examples for those that come after us, who will be?

2010-03-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

"The nearer we get to our heavenly Father," Joseph told the Relief Society sisters, "the more we are disposed to look

with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs." (HC 5:24) Joseph Smith.

So I had a "friend" ask me the other day what my weaknesses are. I think we all have weaknesses. I have a weakness for Ben and Jerry's Phish Food Ice cream, but would I consider that something against me? No. I wouldn't. I wouldn't hold that against anyone. Do I stalk my freezer with the stuff? No. Would I like to... yes :) Am I denying myself something by not? NO! I think if anything I'm making things a little better by allowing myself that pleasure when I've done something I feel needs celebrating.

So what are my weaknesses? Well currently I think I'm too nice. I think actually this is a weakness. Its not one that I'm going to give up, just like Ben and Jerry's this one has a purpose. I seem to look only on the good in people. I've noticed a couple of postings of late on facebook by my friends that have really made me think. I used to wish I could be a little more calloused and judgmental, that I could look at others and not see their potential, however after reading a post by my cousin; I realized that this isn't such a bad weakness to have. He had seen a kid who he immediately thought "Thug" when he saw him, then the kid started playing the piano and his talent came shinning through and the way he was dressed didn't matter any more.

So this isn't such a bad weakness, who doesn't like to see all their best parts in their reflections, and better yet to see those strengths reflected in those around you is just an absolute bonus. Not seeing the bad in people is a gift, and seeing the bad and not holding it against people but striving to help them be their best selves is what we should all be aiming for.

2010-03-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

“Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love.”

-Neil Gaiman

I love Neil Gaiman, I loved "The Graveyard Book", and when I ran across this quote yesterday my obsession for him grew. I challenge you to provide me with a more perfect definition of the torture of love.

Valentines Day Idea... :)

2010-02-09T12:21:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day is just around the corner and I know it would make mine to get Drew Danburry's new album Goodnight Gary.

Drew Danburry has a new album out Feb 9th that you can listen to from start to finish on his website. You can also download plenty of free songs there too.

http://www.drewdanburry.com

You can purchase the new Drew Danburry album here.

http://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Gary/dp/B00345F9M2

You can hear the whole album on his Facebook Fan Page's Music Player, as well as become a fan!

http://www.facebook.com/drewdanburry

Snow

2010-01-02T22:01:00.001-08:00

fun with photo shop

2009-10-16T21:37:00.001-07:00

The new addition...

2009-09-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome the newest addition to the Marchbanks Family...

Both mom and the little one are home and doing well... and I am so excited to have another nephew to spoil.

We had our first photo shoot, and I have to say, he almost has "blue steel" down...

September Fun

2009-09-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

Aerials (or more commonly airs)

2009-09-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Aerials (or more commonly airs):

area a type of skateboarding trick usually performed on half-pipes, pools or quarter pipes where there is a vertical wall with a transition (curved surface linking wall and ground) available.

My favorite top news stories from this morning on MSN...

2009-09-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

Church enlists Satan in advertising campaign
A Michigan church is enlisting Satan in a bid to drum up attendance at services.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32655207/ns/us_news-faith/

Bank robber: I did it to get away from wife
A Pennsylvania man said he robbed a bank in 2007 to go to jail and get away from his overbearing wife.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32653327/ns/us_news-weird_news/

That really is desperation to get away.

Man arrested in outhouse pit crawl — again
A Maine man caught peering up at a girl from below an outhouse toilet seat four years ago stands accused of crawling into another pit toilet in a national forest in New Hampshire.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32646931/ns/us_news-weird_news/

All I can say is... gross!!

And this one was my favorite:

Honolulu considers fining stinky bus riders
The Honolulu City Council is considering a bill that would impose up to a $500 fine and/or up to six months in jail for public transit passengers convicted of being too smelly.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32649198/ns/us_news-weird_news/

Do you think they will have a burst of febreeze greet you as you step onto the bus?

why, why, why?

2009-09-01T11:22:00.001-07:00

Do you ever have days that no matter what you seem to do to try and stay positive, the negativity just keeps creeping in. I'm feeling today like the ever bright light at the end of the tunnel I keep trying to race towards keeps moving away, much like a lightening bug that refuses to let me catch it.
So here is my question today, and you can choose to answer it or maybe just ponder it like I'm doing....

"is it all worth it?"

That's it... that's what I'm pondering at this time. I know many of you are saying, WHAT? Why not be a little more specific, but the truth is, I can't. If I could be more specific I'd know what was bugging me and be able to fix it, or at least unleash pent up anger in its general direction till it dispersed from being a pain or I fizzled into tears.

I feel as though I may fizzle into tears anyway today... I guess this is fair warning to those of you I may be in contact with today.

Who says prayers aren't answered?

2009-08-26T22:45:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you a story about prayer... once there was a missionary who was teaching the most amazing family! While discussing concerns, one of the family members mentioned that if she was to have another baby, that it would resolve a concern and she would consent to be baptised. The missionaries left and right away pulled over in the car and prayed that if it was the Lord will, they would be blessed with another child. A month or so later, at a baptism, it was said that she was expecting another child, to which the missionaries started to laugh, and this was no laughing matter, but they told her what they had prayed for and knew the Lord had heard and answered their prayers.

That is a true story, I know because I was one of the missionaries. We jokingly refer to the child as "my prayer child". I had the wonderful opportunity to go this weekend to the baptism of my prayer child. It was wonderful to see my dear Friends and spend time with them. I love them so dearly, and am so grateful for their friendship.

I have to say how very tender my feelings were while I was there. It was so neat to see how the Gospel blesses lives. My life for the friendship and love I feel for this family, for the example they are to me in my life.

We had a lot of fun. They had a big party to celebrate 2 birthdays and the baptism, and there was an amazingly ginormous (the equivalent of giant and enormous) bounce house that we all played in.

I have to admit that I had a really hard time staying on my feet. For some reason I enter a bounce house and have absolutely no balance...

We went to the California Caverns, or Cave City. It was super fun... here are some of my favorite pictures from that adventure...

Also I have a new found love for Chihuahuas. That's right, I fell absolutely in love with Tim, he is a little love and if I could find one like him I would adopt in a heartbeat... literally, I wanted to kidnap him and bring him home with me, but I knew he would be missed, and Lily kept telling me that I couldn't take him home. I had to fight Strider for Tim's attention... see below...

LOL, this is a totally awkward photo... but he really was just massaging Tims legs, however because he made the comment that he worried about it I had to post it.

Also I need to thank Strider for being a wonderful co-pilot on the trip and being willing to go with me. It was awesome fun!

Fabulous Friends

2009-08-06T22:19:00.000-07:00

I love these wonderful people!

It is rare that you find people you can share, laugh and cry with without feeling like you've lost your mind. That is how I feel about this wonderful group of people. Thank you for being my friends!

Happy Birthday Smuchnkin!!

2009-08-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my little Sally Sue Sue is 5. She is such a sweet, bright, caring little girl. I love her so much!

We had a wonderful party for her at Chucky Cheese. I have to say, as a kid I loved Chucky Cheese, but as an adult it drives me crazy. I'm ok as long as I can play with the kids but this time as I was sitting by the stage and heard the song loop about 15 times, I think I've found what hell will be like!

Afterward we went to my aunts house and watched the fireworks for Highland. It was absolutly wonderful! I have to say that the fireworks they did were better to me than the fireworks for the 4th of July that Thanksgiving Pointe did. They put on a great show.

Oh, did I mention that I got her Operation for her birthday... thats right... I'm the annoying Aunt that gets them noisy things that require parental supervision... ahhh hahaha... :D

Payson Skate Park

2009-08-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

My new friend "Pip" doing an Ollie

I have to say, I have never been to a skate park before. I know almost nothing about skating but I had a blast on Friday night. I went with some friends down to the skate park in Payson. It was way fun sitting in the sun and watching the skaters "rip it" ( I think thats the term I wanted) I took my camera so that I could have fun too :D

I actually have quite a bit of respect for those that can stand on let alone do flips and grabs and jumps on a skate board.

Ryan and Strider skating the Bowl

Strider

Kendall

Jay

Adjowampa

My good friend Liz!

I have to say thanks guys for letting me hang out with you! I love your guts!

Memorial Day Weekend!

2009-05-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

My friend Holly at Flowers on Main in Lehi did these beautiful sprays for us for Memorial Day. I have to say, they do the most beautiful arrangements! I love them and would reccomend them to anyone!

Carol, Me and My Mom at the Orem Cemetary

visiting at the Lehi Cemetary

The Veterans Memorial Crosses at the Orem Cemetary.

Meeting family at the Provo Cemetary

Orem Cemetary, re-visit

The Barbecue...

We had the most wonderful weekend with family and friends!

Above all

2009-05-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

My Mom had me help her with invitations for their Above all Stand Tall program, and this is what I came up with. I took the picture of the temple. It was so much fun to do!

Zions National Park and Snow Canyon

2009-05-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

I took a trip to St. George with my sister Amy, our cousin Cynthia and two of her friends, Dave and Ally. It was a super fun trip!

We stayed in Hurricane out side of Zions National park.

Getting ready to go to the park...

This is us up by Weeping Rock. The little boy walked right into the picture as we were taking it, really... I promise :D

this is on the Emerald Pools Walk... we had a ton of fun, we joked about it being a huge shower and were able to make it look like Amy was taking one.

it was a glorious day for hiking!

The next day we headed to Snow Canyon, and played there. I've been to St. George many times but have never really taken the time to play in Snow Canyon. It was really fun and something I want to do again.

Easter showers?

2009-05-25T09:23:00.001-07:00

We had the annual Bonfire for easter at my Grams this year. It is always really fun with good fun, people and food. In the past we've had snow and sun and windy weather, but this year we had rain. I have to say, even with the rain it was super fun!

April showers bring May flowers....

2009-05-25T09:10:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite parts of spring is the flowers. These are just some of the beautiful ones I found this year!

Birthday's are for celebrating!

2009-05-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

I know... I haven't been very diligent in bloging but I wanted to put this one up. This is from Steve's birthday in March, and I made the cake.

HOLY CRAP ITS BEEN FOREVER....

2009-03-20T22:54:00.000-07:00

So I've been told that I need to update my blog like 70 times this week... so here we go... and mostly just for you Steve, Meg's and Jer... but the others too :D

What to say, its springtime and I've had the hardest time wanting to be inside on the computer, and I've been reading a ton! My new favorite book:

The Ultimate Gift.

I found out this book was made into a movie too, I'm not sure how good it would be but I think I'm going to go and try to find it. I've also read My Sisters Keeper, The Thirteenth Tale, and Hunger Games. I bought a book that was recomended to me... its called The Name of the Wind and that is my current read. I also went a little crazy at the book store when I bought it so, umm don't be mad but I will probably be spending my days at work and trying to enjoy the sun and my nights curled up reading! I love to read! Its an escape from my self pity mode I'm in right now.

Umm... lets see... what else... oh we are doing the Running with Angels 5K again this year... so anyone who wants to join us is invited. I say us, because there are 7 of us signed up for it right now, so anyone wanting to join is more than welcome. Its a 5k through the gardens at Thanksgiving Pointe, and so beautiful. I don't think I can take pictures, but if I can I will :D

This last Sunday I went on a ride with my parents up to Soldier Hollow. Its so beautiful! See....

it was a really fun afternooon, and such a beautiful day! While we were there we saw a Bald Eagle in a tree. I know I've seen them before but it was just as amazing this time to see it take flight! There were actually 2 of them. I however didn't take the right lens with me so, sorry no pics. We saw 2 of them on the way home too. They were sitting on the ice of Deer Creek, and it looked as if they were possibly fishing. Do they fish? Does anyone else know?

Anyway... more pictures ...

Aren't they so cute!!!

Christmas

2008-12-28T20:45:00.001-08:00

Christmas this year was wonderful. I missed my Grandma, I'm so used to waking up on Christmas and calling to wish her a happy birthday. I will admit that my heart ached many times durring the day for that opportunity.

I made hankies for my mom and grandma, Amy and I made hats and mittens and scarfs for the kids, and I made Amy a cookbook with all the fun family recipies in it. I had a picture of my dads grandparents enlarged for him. It was just so wonderful and fun. I recieved a tripod for my camera from my brother, which is just what I wanted and needed. It was a wonderful year... here are some of my favorite pictures from christmas!

Snow and Sushi!

2008-12-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

So on the first real day that it snowed we had the most wonderful lunch up in Salt Lake at the Mikado...

The Group...
Aunt Carol, Aunt Tillie, Aunt Nadine, Aunt Linda
Cousin Sherry and Amy... I was taking the picture

Amy and I goofing off!

the food...

This is part way through our meal. I should have been quicker with the camera but I think we were all to hungry to wait :D

And the Delicious Desserts...

Let the gift making begin...

2008-12-28T20:18:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned that I am a horrible procrastinator? Well sometimes I am... thus when it became December and I had started many projects for my homemade Christmas gifts, but hadn't finished any of them I began to panic. Thank heavens my mom and Amy are always there to come to my rescue... then again, they were giving some of the gifts as presents as well, so it was good to see that I may have inherited this procrastination thing, and it may not all be learned :D

These are some of the beautiful presents we made together...

Oh the holidays ....

2008-12-28T20:04:00.001-08:00

To kick off the Christmas Season we had our family Christmas party. Of course no holiday party is complete without Santa Clause, and we were lucky enough to have him show up in person to ours. The kids were so excited, and since they had been good so far, he even brought them each a present.

Aren't these the prettiest things you've ever seen? And they taste just like Christmas... these are my new favorite Christmas treat and they are what I took to the Christmas party.

And who says a white elephant gift can't be practical...

Friends...

2008-12-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

I was also blessed with the opportunity to take some family pictures for some of my good friends. With adorable children like these, it was easy to get good photos!

So much to Blog...

2008-12-28T19:39:00.000-08:00

I've been such a slacker on the whole blog issue, I appologize, and have made it a resolution to update more often... and by that I mean at least once every two weeks, we'll see how long this lasts. So to play catch up I would like to start with Thanksgiving. We had our family thanksgiving party the saturday before Thanksgiving this year. It is always super fun to get together. This years party was made memorible by not only the basketball game, but a pie fight.

First you start with a pie... and an idea...

Find someone crazy enough to perform the required act... and identify the victim...

Perform the deed...

Witness the aftermath...

And get dragged right through it :D

I have to say that through it all Jory was a good sport, and its memories like this that make going to the family parties so much fun. My dear Aunt Tillie was there and although she got a little bit of pie on her her she still said, oh I bet your grandma is laughing. If she were here she would have started the whole thing.

Pictures....

2008-11-13T22:38:00.000-08:00

I love that she's flashing the I love you sign... so cute!

Thanks Megs for helping me edit this one!

Playing Catch up....

2008-11-13T22:04:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I've been gone for a while and I need to play some catch up...

Have I told you how amazing my mom is? She is! I decided to do this elaborate costume for Halloween. Halloween is my favorite holiday! I love it!! so I started this costume and got in over my head, but my amazing mom came to the rescue so that I could go to the Sabin's awesome Halloween party... and this is what we ended up with...

Isn't it amazing! She did so good! She also made these costumes for the kids....

I went to the Halloween Party, and had a wonderful time... Here are some of the pictures I got before my camera died.... Can't believe I didn't charge it before I left... grrrr....

____________________________________________________________________

We then had family night to carve pumpkins with the whole family.... it was way fun, however Amy, I and the kids were the only ones to dress up....

Lets try something new...

2008-10-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

I love to cook and try new recipies. I found a bunch of dessert recipies for halloween recently and decided to try and make the one for Cheesecake Brownies. If you want the recipe you can print it HERE.

The recipe says to cut them out into fall shapes, but I just did squares because I don't really have any fall cookie cutters that were the right size to use. The recipe also calls for something called Pumpkin Butter. I had to look the recipe for that up too, and I'm trying to find other things you can use it in. If anyone knows please let me know! You can Click HERE for the the Pumpkin Butter recipe.

Happy Family

2008-10-18T14:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't been very good at taking pictures latley, in fact I didn't take any on thursday. I haven't felt well at all the last couple of days and have been on the go. I was able to go to Bunco with some of my friends. They play totally different from what I am used to, but I had a wonderful time. I was going to see if they would pose for a picture, however I forgot my camera, so that was a voided point.

Umm, so since I didn't take a picture on Thursday, I'm going to upload another one that I thought was way cute! It was Megans Birthday, so Amy and I got to go to breakfast with Her, Jeremy and their cute kids. These are the pictures I took.

My memories are a bit rusty...

2008-10-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went down to my Grandparents house to take some pictures. Its funny because all the things I found to take pictures of, have somehow gotten rusty and changed from the time I was a kid. How is it that time goes by so much faster as you get older. It kind of made me sad to see the place that I had spent so much time playing in as a kid in ruins. I took pictures of the Old swing set, where we used to play for hours, swinging and jumping. Its where I first learned to pump to make myself go higher...

The old swing. I think we had one wooden swing and one rubber one. I couldn't find the rubber one, but here is the wooden one with the chain still attatched.

My mom said that this was her old bike... I'm not sure. It probably was, but my grandparents were the kind who could fix anything and make it work again.

and this is the first truck I learned how to drive... ok not really but kind of. We used pretend to drive this old truck and spent hours behind the wheel. Thinking about it now, I wonder if that would have helped me pass drivers ed if I'd thought of it... :D

Not Peter Pipers Peppers...

2008-10-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

I decided after staying up way to late last friday night and watching Martha Stewart living on tv, to attempt to make the stuffed peppers that were shown on the show. I have to say that alot of the reason I chose this recipe was because in the clip of Martha making it with one of her team, she totally messed it up and I found it funny. Well I did make the stuffed peppers and they were tasty! They had feta cheese and coucous and beans in them... mmmmm... however I neglected to take a picture of them. They were too yummy for pictures anyway.

Quit bothering me I'm trying to study...

2008-10-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

yes that is what was running through Amy's head as I sat there in her room adjusting the blinds and snapping picture after picture. LOL she's always so patient with me. I will never forget when she was about 8 years old I made her pose for pictures for me, in one of her church dresses that I loved, and yes I even made her climb a tree in it, but they are some of my very favorite pictures... anyway these are the pictures that I took whilest tormenting her today... yeah!

update...

2008-10-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you all know that I have pictures to upload, I just haven't taken the time to do it... but I will in the next couple of days. And my pictures from today aren't going to be of what I wanted them to be of, because I was going to take pictures of the stuffed peppers that I made, but gave them away to be eaten before I took the picture... I guess I was too excited to eat them that I forgot... oh well... But on a happier note... I fixed my music player!... so please enjoy!

Its snow joke

2008-10-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

Thats right, I woke up this morning to snow. It is so fun to see, but I'm not sure if I'm really ready for the cold or not. I have wanted to go up into the mountains for the last week or so, and today my dad was kind enough to go up with me to see if the leaves had changed. There are some that have changed but not as many as I had hoped. However I did get some amazing pictures of the mountains.

You say tomato, and so do I

2008-10-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

Today we took those wonderful tomatoe's and peppers and put them into spaghetti sauce, chile sauce, tomatoe soup and stewed tomatoes. Its always so much fun to get together and do canning.

The final product...

Hope

2008-10-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

As some of you might know I'm a little bit of a golfer. I wouldn't say I'm even really a beginner, I'm a novice, but its something I like to do. In fact I'm such a novice that I usually can find most of the balls I hit, because they don't end up going far, and they usually stay somewhat straight. In the spring I bought some golf balls because I thought this year I might loose a few more. I pulled them out of the closet today, to put them in my golf bag that I am putting up for the season ( I think... who knows I may try and go a few more times this year). I thought... wow those might look kind of cool for my photo today... so here goes... enjoy!

Football fun

2008-10-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

Today I had the opportunity to go with my aunt and uncle to my cousin Jory's flag football game. It was a beautiful night for a football game. The air was crisp with just a little chill. the kids playing were so funny, they tease and joke with each other. It made me miss hanging out with my friends in High School, when you really didn't have anything to worry about but homework and what the social plans for the weekend would be. It was so much fun watching them play and cheering for the team.

Harvest Time

2008-10-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

I was sick yesterday, so I wasn't able to take my photo, but not to worry I think I more than made up for it today!

I love the fall. From the fall leaves to the pumpkins, but one of my favorite parts of fall is the harvest. I was at my moms today and I think the apples will be ready after this weekend. It usually takes one good freeze to set the juices in them! I decided that they were so beautiful that I would choose them for my pictures today...

Kyle and Joey were over tonight and were so excited when Grandpa took them out to pick an apple. Kyle just laughed at me when I told him that he couldn't because I was like the wicked witch and had poisoned them. He thinks I'm so silly.

There is nothing better than home grown produce. Below are pictures of the last of the produce that we will get this year. It looks like this weekend we'll be putting up tomatoes and salsa! YEAH! There's nothing better than that when the cold months come upon us.

Aren't they beautiful! I can't believe how many peppers there are!

Shadows on a wall

2008-10-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

I went to the grocery store today, and while i was there I really wanted to pick us some flowers, but I couldn't find any that I really wanted, so I decided to pull out some of the ones I have here and photograph them. I find my self wanting flowers when ever I think of my grandparents. I was really missing them today. Its amazing how often I still forget that they are gone. I find myself wanting to call and tell them things that are happening or ask questions, and then I get sad because I can't. But its all good... I know it will be at least. Anyway, thats why I chose flowers today... because they remind me of my Grandparents and they make me happy.

$.50 to rock and roll

2008-10-06T21:49:00.000-07:00

Its amazing to me how much fun a child can have on 50 cents... my picture today is of Brecken. We stopped on our way home from Cedar City and found this dumbo ride. Brecken loved it!! He is so cute and his giggle is so contagious. I didn't have my camera with me, so this was taken with my phone, but you get the jist of it...

My Heros, Sisters and Friends...

2008-10-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

For my photo today, I decided to use this one. This is my mom and my aunt, and they are amazing examples to me! I love the friendship that they share and the love that they have for one another. They truly are examples of how we should all be.

Running Down a Dream

2008-10-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

Today was the St. George Marathon. My aunt ran and finished the marathon today for her 7th time. I think it is absolutly amazing! The weather today was rainy and cold. We got down to the finish line and only had to wait moments till she came running past. It is so neat to see and such an emotional high. There was a lady next to us almost in tears as she cheered her daughter on. I think it is such an amazing thing and am in ase at ther dedication, especially because this year she ran and trained all by herself, and did better than she thought she would. How awesome!

Honey Honey

2008-10-03T23:14:00.001-07:00

Amy bought Huckleberry Honey today. I'd never had it before although I've seen it and was dying to try it. So before bed tonight we all had a piece of honey toast.

... and mmm humm... it was in her words G U D good!

A Photo A Day

2008-10-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

And for my second picture, well I choose these two....

We took a trip to St. George this weekend and Sarah rode down with us. She is such a cute and happy girl who kept me laughing and entertained the whole way down.

We stopped to have dinner in Beaver, Utah and the chevron had this huge rocking chair that she just loved and made us all get our picture taken in.

Amy, Megan and I had this awesome idea to do a picture a day! The theme is "something that makes you happy, and it will be so fun. I was supposed to start it on the 1st of October, however I didn't get my camera back out of the shop till the 2nd. I choose this picture of Amy as my post for the first picture.

Vacation 2008

2008-10-01T19:53:00.001-07:00

For our vacation this year we went to Disneyland. We drove to get there, and of course had to stop in Beaver, Utah at the Cheese Factory for lunch and a chance to stretch our legs.

Joey and Kyle had a lot of fun climbing on the fences and eating squeeky cheese.

Once we made it to California we spent a few hours at Newport Beach.

We spent 3 days at Disney land... here are some of my favorite pics from there... (my camera broke, and the Lance's were gracious enough to let me use theirs)

We also went to Sea World and Universal Studios...

Puppy Love

2008-09-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

I've wanted a puppy for months now. The problem being I'm not home enought to play with one right now and I don't have a yard of my own... but my brothers being the wonderful people they are have solved this problem for me. They both got puppies, that are adorable and sweet. Thus curbing my desire for one because I can go and play with theirs. Don't worry, they won't be as spoiled as the Nieces and Nephews.