Trans Siberian Orchestra

We had a great time! We went with another couple, The Giler's that are in the Belleview Ward. I think each of us truly enjoyed ourselves.

Happenings from the Stake Adult Dance

Chris and I at the dance.
Stephanie and Carl Shaw

Mike and Tricia Desourdy

Dinner with Derek and Gail Berge before the dance.

We MUST do this again!

My oldest brother and what it is all about

I love this picture taken on Thanksgiving Day. I love it because to me, it says exactly what Thanksgiving is about. Family.

This was taken when Mark was leaving. He is 14 years older than me, but as each year passes, we grow closer. I'm so glad that he and his family could come to visit us this year.

Student of the Month!

Greyson was chosen as Student of the Month from Mrs. Platt's Kindergarten class. Each teacher only gets to pick one Student of the Month each year so Greyson being chosen was really an honor.

The note that Mrs. Platt sent home to tell me about Greyson was precious. She told me about him receiving the honor and in the note, she said "he is amazing"!

I think so too...

Way to go Greyson!

Good Friends, Good Times

We had the Relief Society Christmas Progressive Dinner tonight and it was a great turnout. We went from Sister Ingalls home, to Sister Wagner, to Sister Rasband. The food was good, but the company was great!

However, after we were done, some of us needed to eat. Well, wanted, to eat more...

So, we headed to Chili's for some more food, but more importantly, laughs.

Lurlene, KC, Danette, Mary, Frances, Gail, Debbie Clayton and I all had a blast!

I feel blessed to have friends like them, that we can all go and enjoy each other's company.

B.A.G.

This year's b.a.g.

B - Blessing - Losing the weight that I carried around with me for 12 years after having all the kids. I have lost 42 pounds this year and I feel blessed by that, for sure!

A - Accomplishment - Can making it another year in my crazy life be an accomplishment? I think so. So, that is what it is. I made it another year! ;)

G - Goal - To continue on my fitness trip and to find stress relief and perseverance through it all.

Happy Birthday Holly!

Holly is Chris' sister, but she and I have been friends ever since I came into the picture. So, not only is she my sister in law, but a dear and precious friend. She turned 30 today and I was hoping to talk to her, but I didn't get to. :( I love ya Holly and I hope that your 30th was wonderful!

We also got to visit with Grandma, Aunt Karen and Krystal today after church and as always, the visit was fun. I'm so glad that they got to come.

I was called to be the Primary Pianist today. Hmm.. I'm not too sure about that. I guess I'm going to have to be doing A LOT of practicing! I'm not the best at the piano...

Power visit to Disney

We decided to take a quick trip to Disney this afternoon in honor of Kerstyn's Birthday! We had a great time and I am really glad that we went. The added bonus was that Grandma got to come too! Our dinner was dining with the Princesses in Norway at EPCOT which was just perfect for the girls, as you can see with their smiling faces!

Chris and Kerstyn with their Norwegian hats.

Over to Mom and Dad's

Logan, my nephew and Noelani, his girlfriend
David and Gail

We loaded up this morning and headed over to Mom and Dad's for some more family time. Logan even came up for some of the fun.

Thanksgiving

Dad, Mom, me and Mark
Mom, Dad, Chris, me Vicki and Mark

Gail and the children making mashed potatoes while Vicki worked on the sweet potato casserole, the broccoli casserole and the green bean casserole.

We had a wonderful time with family today. We ate great food and had even better company. The weather was perfect! The only hitch was that I thought the turkey was cooking for 2 hours and then I realized that the oven was off. So, that set dinner back for a few hours, but we all survived.

Happy 11th Birthday Kerstyn!

Kerstyn is an amazing young girl!

She has been a joy from the start!

We love you Kerstyn!

Some family pictures

Wow! I think we've all changed! We had a great time having the pictures taken and Katelyn did a great job! They make me smile and I know that they will continue to do that for years to come.

Busy Sabbath

Chris headed to Belleview early this morning.

The kids and I got up and ready for church and we even got to take an extra kid with us. Thomas, Brennan's friend came along and we were glad.

The choir sang the intermediate hymn, Because I Have Been Given Much. They did great! It is a beautiful hymn and the voices were angelic.

I got asked to sub in Relief Society for Tricia Desourdy and I taught the lesson on keeping focus on what is most important. I really enjoyed teaching and I hope and pray that them people there felt the spirit.

Thanksgiving with Chris' family

We enjoyed a wonderful day of food and family in Lakeland today. Ricky and Carolyn and Bay were there. We surely missed Holly and her family, but Germany is a LONG way away just to come for Thanksgiving! ;)

We ate, and ate, AND ATE!

It was all so good!

We hated to leave, but not before watching New Moon. Grandma watched our kids which was SUPER sweet and Chris and I enjoyed a mini date with Carolyn, Ricky and Bay.

Good movie, good popcorn and great company!

Going to Lakeland

The kids are SO excited!

Grandma's house, here we come. Though the visit is going to be short, it is better than nothing!

Crazy house

We are in the middle of having the inside of the house painted. It has been really crazy. I now realize that I wanted the end result without realizing what I had to go through to get it.

All of the furniture is moved.

All of the blinds come down then go back up.

The appliances are pulled away from the wall.

You get the idea.

It is certainly a hard thing for me, to have my house not in the order that I like, but I know that when it is all done, I will be really glad.

Let's just say, it is certainly not all brown anymore.

I'm taking pictures and will post them later. Our home computer crashed so I am left with only my work computer.

Makes a difference

Tonight is activity night for the kids 8 and older in the church.

Brennan had combined Young Men and Young Women.

Kerstyn had Activity Days for Girls.

Lauklan had Cub Scouts.

I saw Brother Rasband, the Young Men's President at the end of the meeting and shared something with him. I told him how thankful that I am for him and his service to my son and more distantly my family. I witnessed him the last several Sunday's talking to Brennan. I saw him smile at him and put his arm around him. I felt so good when I saw that because I felt like he was serving my son and showing him love and support. I worry about all my children and Brennan being the oldest, I'm new at this. I want nothing more than to have an eternal family and Brother Rasband fellow shipping my son, helps make that happen. I feel blessed and grateful for that. I wanted him to know.

Rough

Today and yesterday were 'one of those days'. You know the ones, when nothing is right. Where you feel like 'wo is me'.

Yep. That.

Yuck!

Up and down

I subbed for Debbie today in Primary leading the music. I LOVE that job, though it is still odd for me to be in there. I went in and out of Sunday School and Relief Society to do the music but I was glad to be able to enjoy primary and the adult stuff too.

Our lesson in Relief Society was really good. The teacher is wonderful and always brings the spirit with her. The lesson talked about feeling the spirit and it reminded me of many times in my life where I have felt the spirit. It is something that I can't deny. Some of the feelings have been soft and quiet while others have been loud and very strong. I KNOW that the spirit can and will guide us. I KNOW that I need to listen and not question it. I KNOW that I am glad to be blessed with the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

We had choir practice again. I'll just say that I didn't feel as good about it when it was over. However, I'll go again and try to press on. I left feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. We'll see how it goes on Sunday when we sing the intermediate hymn, Because I Have Been Given Much.

Old Friends

Chris and I went to meet up with Turin and his family today. Turin and I grew up next door to each other from 1983. He is like a brother to me. We met at Disney's Boardwalk and got to visit for a few hours. He has two children, one daughter that was turning 5, Vivian, and a son that is 2ish, Ashton. They are both as cute as can be. Turin and his wife Jen live in Atlanta so we don't get to see each other very much, but when we do, it is certainly nice.

I took some pictures that I will post later.