Thursday, December 18, 2008

Dorothy, I couldn't agree more.

there's no place like home.
My place is in the home.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Top Ten Things I've Learned While Employed By UPS...

10. I never used to notice when people didn't shovel their walkway.

9. Some people are friendly and some people are not friendly. I prefer the former. (you know who you are Mr. Custodian at Bingham High School).

8. I have an extremely unhealthy relationship with Maverik. For example, Shawn loves this one item that is one extremely huge and thick hot dog wrapped in a croussant. I can't take more than one bite and feel good about myself.

7. I am not a whiner.

6. What I can accomplish and what I think I can accomplish are too very different things. I can do hard things!

5. You can get a whiff of someone's house, without them opening the door.

4. I've discovered three more "faces" of Shawn:
Work Shawn: Fun guy.
Wednesday Shawn: (the busiest day of the week at UPS): Not-so-fun guy.
Christmas Shawn: (Wednesday Shawn x10)

(you can't blame the guy, 250 stops in one day!!!)


3. I still do, and always will have, chivalry in my marriage (nothing over 20lb!)

2. My husband works very hard for our family. I truly appreciate that now. Hope this makes up for #4! You know I love you!

1. I used to love the color brown.


p.s. Number of times I've bit the dust: 3
Number of times Shawn witnessed said falls: 0

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

did I hear brown is the new black?

I didn't think so.

so here I am.
In my browns.
for all the blogging world to see!

For those of you who don't know,
I am Shawn's "runner" for the holiday season,
which means he drives the truck while I "run" the packages.
(This way I will actually get to see the husby during the holidays)
We have been having way too much fun.
I'm so glad I did it!




Thursday, November 27, 2008

and gobble we did...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

We are in Idaho with my sister and her family,

dinner was delicious,

one of the best Thanksgiving meals I can remember!

She is very gourmet!

and her husband made the rolls and pies! (awesome!)

Here are some pics...


Landon


Jensyn and sammy



sammy


Lincoln


Jaxon and Ryan



Natalie and Kevin



me and Shawn



Travis



my babe


Landon, Shawn and Jaxon



I can certainly and especially add my five for today:

1. a feast, including homemade pumpkin pie and fudge.
2. playing games and watching the youngest earn the first (and only) Yahtzee!
3. a safe drive.
4. good books to read..
5. my husband, my boys and my girl.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

par-tay!

What a fun night we had!
hAPPy HaLLOweEN!
First,
the FOOD!...
(bat wings)

(deviled eyeballs)


(snakes in the grass)

(salty bones)

all Thanks to Stephanie!
now for the fun!...


yummy (I mean "gross") food,
games galore,
scary stories,
spooky movies,
and the best part...
Shawn surprised me by dressing up!
Anyone who knows Shawn,
knows this is a first!!
He was a DAVIS DART CHEERLEADER!
(thanks Randy!)
Hilarious!
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Thursday, October 30, 2008

my little witch

Today was Jensy's Halloween party...
I am the room mom (finally, I'm able to!)
and we had a ball!
Here's my little witch...

Their graham cracker houses went from this...

to this!

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Today's Five:
1. Card day at mom's.
Always loads of laughs.
2. Eggs in a basket for dinner-
Courtesy of Shawn.
3. Rook.
4. Putting my foot down.
(with my kids.)
(sometimes they just don't appreciate)
5. moccasins.
yes. you know what I'm referring to.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

classic Lincoln

Lincoln: "Mom and dad, can you shake hands when you're married?""

Shawn: "What do you mean, shake hands?"

Lincoln: "Like if you don't want to hug and kiss, can you just shake hands?"

(Shawn: "yeah, mom actually prefers it that way")

Lincoln is always cracking us up. We were dying laughing!
Just had to share!

Five:
1. catching up with old friends on facebook.
2. "witches night out" at Gardner village, soo fun!
3. High School Musical 3- very cute!
4. Pralines and cream FUDGE.
5. comfy boots for fall.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

paper dolls





My grandma used to make paper dolls with me.
Jensy loves to make them.
When we make them together
I feel close to my grandma in some way
I sure miss her
and I'm grateful she took the time with me...

What's better than passing on a tradition?

This one's for you, Grandma Westbrook!














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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

dear dad...

Shawn received this letter from Jaxon: (I wish I could scan it)

Dear Dad,
I am responsibl to have a cell phone.
I wont call 911 unless your perishin (think he means permission)
I won't lose it.
Grandma got me a case fore it.
I need it because I have a hard time remembering and I need it to leve messiges on it.
I will call on it only for emergences or I need help with home work.
___

sweet Jaxon.
I'll give him an "A" for effort.

Five:
1. Wanting to grow up too fast. I was the same way.
2. Jaxon pleading his case.
3. The crisp chill of Fall.
4. Pumpkin pie bars, as Linc calls them (recipe below).
5. Meals prepared in advance.


"Pumpkin Pie Bars" (This is my sister Natalie's recipe)

4 eggs (well beaten)
1 C. oil
2 C. sugar
1 t. vanilla
2 C. pumpkin

stir together then add:

2 1/2 C. flour
1 t. soda
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt

Put in greased jelly roll pan (approx. 12x17)
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
Cool completely and frost.

Frosting:

3 oz. cream cheese
1 t. vanilla
1 cube butter (softened)
2 C. powedered sugar

Blend.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

not SNL funny...

but a weekend update all the same!

so for UEA Shawn's parents took the kids up to cache valley,
and for the record, it was their idea!
They jumped at the chance to sleepover, play in the treehouse,
ride "Jet" and go to a movie,
all of which they did!

It all started because we needed a sitter for a wedding at the temple on Saturday.
My cute cousin, Amber, was marrying her boyfriend of six years!
They worked really hard to get to the temple and I am overjoyed for her!
They had a yummy wedding breakfast at Tepanyaki!

The very best part was the temple sealing.
I am amazed by the look on her face as they were sealed together
for time and eternity!

Needless to say, I had a lot of alone time on my hands.
Shawn is very busy at work and working late
and I admit it, I played!
But by Saturday, the house was too quiet!
I missed them so much!

Five:
1. A Ben's cookie and milk for breakfast. (Milk chocolate + skim milk=perfect balance!)
2. First dance of the wedding couple to "It's Your Love"-Tim McGraw.
3. My aunt's smart car. We drove it before the wedding breakfast and it is too cute!
4. Red Box movies. That's what we did when I got the kids back, went to Red Box, got in our jams and snuggled on the couch and watched movies.
5. Freedom. The first thing Landon wanted to talk about as we drove home, was that he was worried about who our new president would be. He told me, with tears in his eyes, that he was worried that if the wrong person was elected, we might not have our freedom. That kid. I quickly put his mind at ease and explained it to him. I'm not sure what he heard or misconstrued, but I ached for that kid.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

blowing kisses

Today when I dropped the kids off at school
and we were saying our "Iloveyou's"
Lincoln turned around
and blew me a kiss.
and I wanted to cry.
Is that wrong?
I wanted to stop time
or go back in time
and enjoy every minute with him.
I feel like I cheated him.
He was only 6 months old and I was pregnant!
I had two babies.
and he got the short end of the stick.
I'm sorry Lincoln.
I love you.

Is this why he pulls at my heart strings?

five:
1. Yo yo's. Y are my kids fascinated?
2. Lincoln and Jensy drawing pictures together, his of spiders. hers of dragons with pink wings.
3. bike rides. This is on my list of beforewegetmoresnow.
4. batteries that recharge.
5. UEA. More about why I'm grateful for that...later.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Back to FIVE

1. Firehouse in Centerville. Oh. my. goodness. They have this lunch special, where I got a yummy salad, pasta dish, and a drink for 7 bucks! 7 bucks! My friend told me I would crave it. She was right.

2. Feeling better. Let's just say the Prozac is in my system and it is working/helping-whatever ;)

3. Dancing is on tonight! I am giddy. Let's just all hold our breath and hope the farewell is for Cloris. I can't take her anymore.

4. Sunshine today. I was afraid we were in for more snow. Its just too early!

5. Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer. It's worth reading the whole thing on your computer screen. All 264 pages.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

long story short

computer problems.
of which I will not bore you with!

ALSO...

When the kids are at school all day-
mom goes to play!!!

that's what I've been doing.
long story short.


_____________________

FIVE:
1. dinner and a movie. with a friend.
2. my new camera.
3. making jewelry! it's fun!
4. card day at my sisters. and her yummy salad.
5. being missed. thank you.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Chronicles of California vol.4

"WICKED"
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
SEPTEMBER 18, 2008

This day happened to be our 13th anniversary! We celebrated at the Cheesecake Factory and then we went and saw Wicked. Let me just say, it was Wicked awesome! I absolutely LOVED it! We had such a great day!
Another day we were able to go see Shawn's brother Scott and his family at their home in San Diego. This is a picture of Jens by their pool that I liked a lot...
and one with her daddy...

Enough already! (I know) This is the end of my postings about our trip. We just had so much fun and it was a long time coming!
the end.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Chronicles of California vol. 3

DEL MAR BEACH, CONT...

















Chronicles of California vol.2

DEL MAR BEACH
SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

Jaxon with his body board...


quite possibly our Christmas card...



Chronicles of California vol.1

AMERICAN GIRL DOLL STORE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
SEPT. 18, 2008

This was Jensyn's favorite part of our trip! She got a new doll "Kit", which is also part of her Christmas (wink!) Mom and Jensy...
Jensy with her doll "Kailey", she got her hair done...(yes, the doll...)

Jensyn giving Kit her first kiss...


Sunday, September 21, 2008

sneak preview!

Okay, I just couldn't wait to post some pics!
passing out our passes...
Family photo front and center...
Look at Jaxon checking out Minnie...
Four of the happiest kids on earth eating their lollies...

Disneyland Five:
1. Indiana Jones! My favorite ride!
2. Dole Whip! My Favorite treat!
3. Seeing my kids faces in Disneyland.
4. Kids favorite rides: California Screamin' (Jaxon), Grizzly Bear Rapids (Lincoln), Big Thunder (Landon), Mullholland Falls and Go Go Gagdet Coaster (Jensyn).
5. Seeing Shawn's face before and after Tower of Terror!
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