highlights of 2007

it seems that at the beginning of each new year i take a trip down memory road... the good times, the bad times, and everything in between!

here is our christmas letter that included a few of our fav's this year!

Greetings from the Little’s! We hope that 2007 has been a good year for all of you! We have a lot to be thankful for this year!
Kevin is currently working for Flying J, a convenient store chain. He is hauling fuel for them all over Utah. He enjoys his job and loves the fact that he is home every night.
In February, Kevin was able to visit his sister, Carol. They had a great couple of weeks together in Louisiana.
Jennie was able to travel in the scrapbook industry again. This year she traveled with a great online company, scrapbookpal.com. She was able to go to: California (3 times), Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma and Arizona. It has been great to continue the wonderful friendships she has found on these trips!
Jennie is still working at Sam’s Club as the Audit Team Lead. Her best friend, Ann, is now back at Sam’s Club and joined her team! They are having a great time working together again!
Jennie and Kevin have had tons of fun and adventure this year! They bought a new car, went to Las Vegas to see Celine Dion for Jennie’s Birthday, celebrated their 5 year Wedding Anniversary and lots more!
We love you all! Merry Christmas and Have a Great New Year!

as kevin and i talked today about the hightlights of 2007 we wanted to include a few more...

* my cousin carrie came to utah for a visit in march! it was so great to spend a week with her! kevin and i both had a great time with her!

* our birthdays were wonderful this year! celine dion for me and 2 big tv's for kev!

* we grew very close this year... happens with the up's and down's of life and for that we are grateful.

happy new year! may 2008 bring all of you laughter and love!

Merry Christmas!

merry christmas!

i hope that all of your wishes came true!
i am so grateful for this time of year!
a time to remember what the Savior did for all of us!
a time to be the best we can be!
a time to reflect on love, sacrifice and peace...

may this be a time for each of you!

Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance-
a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
Augusta E. Rundel

merry christmas to you all!

On the Twelth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

12 years of Christmas's in Logan, Utah!

this is my 12th year here! i love it!

it is funny that post is about this today, because this morning at work i saw 5 friends from "the good ole days!" what a great day!

1996-2007!

merry christmas!

check out this great group sing the 12 days of christmas like you've never heard before! they are amazing!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

11 Christmas Dinner Items...

turkey

stuffing

mashed potatoes

gravy

rolls

green beans

pie

whipped cream

sparkling cider

jennie

kevin

how fun! i can't wait!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

10 pretty nails!!

look! i have fun sparkles on my nails! i have never done that before!

one of my young women had it done last week and inspired me!

i love it! it might become a regular thing!

happy 10th day!!!!

On the Ninth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

9 favorite tv shows...

as most of you know, i love watching tv! and when i love a show... i really love it! so, here is a list of my 9 favorites... in no particular order...

* big brother

* ghost whisperer

* the amazing race

* the biggest loser

* cold case

* kid nation

* survivor

* without a trace

* american idol

* moonlight

there you have it! 9 of my fav's! what are some of yours!?

happy 9th day!

and happy friday!

On the Eighth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

8 great recipes!

these are some of my very favorites... new and old... enjoy!

Triple Fudge Brownies

1 chocolate cake mix in a box

1 pkg instant chocolate pudding mix

1 12oz pkg chocolate chips

2 cups milk

~Set oven @ 350 degrees. Whisk milk and pudding together. Add in chocolate cake mix (if you don't have a mega mixer like mine & are using a reg. whisk you may need to switch to a spoon as you continue to add cake) and stir until no lumps/clumps. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into a greased sheet cake pan (15x10x1) and bake for 30 mins or until top springs back. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with ice cream (if you want to gild the lily, so to speak).

Russian Tea Cakes I

Prep Time: 20 MinutesCook Time: 12 Minutes
Ready In: 35 MinutesYields: 36 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream butter and vanilla until smooth. Combine the 6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar and flour; stir into the butter mixture until just blended. Mix in the chopped walnuts. Roll dough into 1 inch balls, and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. When cool, roll in remaining confectioners' sugar. I also like to roll mine in the sugar a second time.

Creamed Chipped Beef On Toast
this is one of my new fav's... great white sauce!

Prep Time: 10 MinutesCook Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 20 MinutesYields: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups warm milk
1 (8 ounce) jar dried beef
1 pinch cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour all at once to form a roux. Whisk in milk, a little at a time, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring, until thickened. Bring to a boil, stir in beef and cayenne, heat through and serve over toast.

Sausage Crescent Rolls

Prep Time: 25 MinutesCook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 50 MinutesYields: 20 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound fresh, ground spicy pork sausage
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium skillet, lightly brown sausage and drain. While sausage is still hot, add cream cheese and stir until cheese is melted and mixture is creamy. Cool completely.
3. Separate crescent rolls and arrange into two rectangles. Form log of sausage mixture lengthwise down center of each rectangle. Fold over the long sides of pastry to cover sausage log. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, seam down. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
4. Bake 20 minutes until crust is golden. When completely cooled, slice into one and one-half inch slices.

Fruit Dip

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour 5 MinutesYields: 16 servings

INGREDIENTS:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a medium bowl, blend the cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Chill in the refrigerator 1 hour before serving.

Polish Mistakes
a friend of mine introduced these to me... yummy! i think she used 2 kinds of sausage instead of ground beef...

Prep Time: 10 MinutesCook Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 20 MinutesYields: 15 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound sausage
1 teaspoon minced onion
1 pound processed cheese food, cubed
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 (1 pound) loaf cocktail rye bread

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the broiler.
2. Place ground beef, sausage and onion in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until meat is evenly brown and onions are soft. Drain liquid.
3. Mix in the processed cheese food, oregano and Worcestershire sauce. Stir continuously until the cheese is melted.
4. If the bread is not sliced, cut it into thin slices. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of the mixture onto each slice. Place the slices in a single layer on a baking pan.
5. Broil the slices 10 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly browned and the bread is toasted.

Scalloped Potatoes

Yields: 7 servings

INGREDIENTS:
3 pounds potatoes, thinly sliced
salt to taste
9 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons butter, diced
1 quart milk

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Arrange one layer of potatoes in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt, 3 tablespoons flour and 2 tablespoons butter. Repeat layering 2 more times, until all of potatoes have been used. Slowly pour milk over the potatoes until the dish is 3/4 full of milk.
3. Bake until the milk comes to a boil (check after 5 minutes), then reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for another 45 to 60 minutes.

Cranberry Walnut Bread

Yields: 24 servings

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup butter
3 cups white sugar
3 eggs, beaten
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/4 cups orange juice
3 tablespoons orange zest
3 cups chopped cranberries
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease three 8x4 inch loaf pans.
2. Blend together butter, sugar and eggs.
3. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add to wet ingredients, alternating with orange juice.
4. Mix in the orange rind, cranberries and walnuts. Stir until just combined and pour into prepared pans.
5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

happy 8th day! and happy baking/cooking!!!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas...

my true love gave to me...

7 seasons of gilmore girls!!!!

(hopefully....)

i have posted many times before how much i love gilmore girls! i still have not watched the 7th season yet... but i am hoping that i will get the complete set for christmas!








this is for all of those gilmore girl fans!!!


happy 7th day of christmas!

let's watch some tv!

On the Sixth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

6 amazing women to serve in young women with!

i love my calling! it is one of the best things in my life! i have amazing girls and i am blessed to be part of their lives!

but today i want to honor the women i serve with!

they are amazing as well!

so here is to you...

tessa

stephanie

brooke

tiffany

kelly

mariann

i love all of you!

thanks for being who you are!!

On the Fifth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

5 Random Friends!

i am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends in my life... i would like to take this day and recognize 5 of them...

maryruth francks

i met maryruth about 3 years ago. we traveled with creating keepsakes and became great friends. she is one of the most creative and exciting people i have ever met! i have always told her that i want to be just like her when i grow up!

barbi mecham

barbi and i served in young women's together, i was her laurel advisor. we hit it off right away! she is so full of love and compassion for others. she loves her family and lives the gospel. barbi is a beautiful person... inside and out.

ruth baker

i was ruth's visiting teacher in my married student ward. we became fast friends. she is a sweet and genuine person. she is a great mother and wife. when she still lived in logan i would go over to her home about 2-3 times a week after work. we would fold laundry or wash dishes together and "solve the worlds problems" (or at least ours) for the minute! she lives a couple of hours away now and i miss her and her family so much!

kris parkin

kris and i became friends through creating keepsakes. we were teachers for ck and simple scrapbooks. we had the best time at each show! we always made memories! fun fun times, traveling with kris! now, i am blessed to work with her even more with scrapbookpal.com. i love kris and i am so grateful for her forever friendship!

margaret soucy

margaret is a great person! she is my younger brother's (marcus) mom and i have a ton of respect for her. margaret is an extremely talented, strong and independent woman. i feel honored to be part of her life and i know that she makes a difference to me.

so, there you have it!

5 Random Friends!

Happy 5th Day of Christmas!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

seat #4 at the christmas concerts this year!

i have been to 3 different christmas concerts this year and i have been in seat #4 all 3 times! i love it!

i love this time of year! all of the fun christmas concerts that are around! this year i went to:

Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean

AMAZING! i have gone every year since 1995! i love it! for me, it is what kicks off the christmas season! if you are any where near this next year, i highly recommend it! the best, by far!!!

Santa's Elves by Pickleville Playhouse

this was a new one this year! and it was really really cute! a great show for all ages!

Voice Male Christmas Concert

again, a favorite! this is another one that i have gone every year since 1996! this guys are so funny and talented! they are an acapella group and very entertaining!

and yes... at all 3 shows i was in Seat #4!!!

On the Third Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

3 Christmas Wish List Items...

i didn't officially ask for anything for christmas this year... but there were a few things on my wish list:

a new flat iron

~i got one last year and i love it, however, it is a little big... so i am hoping for a smaller one this year...

a hand mixer

~a couple of weeks ago i was making a treat for work and the speed dial on my hand mixer fell into the handle a bit. it still works, it just doesn't turn off... it is on the lowest speed all of the time... i really can't complain... i have had it since 1990!!!

a new tree skirt

~when i bought my first tree my mom made me a beautiful tree skirt! i love it! but it gets lost underneath my new tree. i am hoping that i will get a new, bigger one, this year!

happy 3rd day of christmas!

On the Second Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

2 wonderful parents!
i am very blessed to have such great parents.

my mom is a super hero! she does it all! and with a smile on her face! she is one of the strongest women i have ever met! she has been through so much in her life and such a great attitude about it all! i decided many years ago that i wanted to be just like her when i grew up!

my dad is a very caring and kind man. i haven't really known him for very long... actually met him for the first time when i was 27! he welcomed me into his life and family, and for that i am grateful! he will go the extra mile to make sure that all is well and taken care of. he is a very smart business man and has success all around him.

today, on the second day of christmas, i give thanks to my parents!

On the First Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

my beautiful Christmas tree!

all 7.5 feet of it! this is the first year i have had a pre-lit tree! i love it! it has been so fun!

i love to turn all of the lights off in the house, sip hot chocolate and listen to Christmas music! that is what Christmas is all about!

join me this year as i list the things i am grateful for, things my loved ones gave to me...

Pay it forward...

ok... noe had this great idea of paying it forward. helping others for helping others...

so here is where the fun for you comes in.

you must have a blog to participate &

if you are one of the first 3 to leave a comment here,

you agree to “pay it forward” to 3 others on YOUR blog (please leave me a link to your blog in your comment, so i can contact you).

i hope a few of you will play along. the first three that wish to participate & leave a comment here, will be receiving some fun surprise from me. go ahead and post something here and start paying it forward on your blog! what a great way to give during the holidays!!

on your mark! get set! go!

pay it forward!

christmas tag...

i was tagged by my cute friend emily... i love these questions! thanks em!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

i LOVE wrapping paper! i have so many different kinds and a million tags to go with all of it!

2. Real tree or artificial?

artificial. i always grew up with an artificial tree... only had a real one once... maybe twice! we just bought a new 7.5 foot pre-lit tree! i love it!

3. When do you put up the tree?

i usually decorate thanksgiving day...or the saturday after! the longer it is up the better!

4. When do you take the tree down?

as i just mentioned, the longer it is up the better... so i usually take it down the middle of january!

5. Do you like eggnog?

i do like it... not something i have very often, but still good.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

i have had many wonderful gifts, but the first one that comes to my mind is a homemade doll that my mom made for me when i was in kindergarten or first grade. she was simple, but pretty and i loved her! when i took her to school for show and tell all of the other girls had dolls that talked, ate, went to the bathroom and cried... mine just had a hand stitched smile on her face. i was a little sad that the other girls weren't as excited over my doll as i was, but it didn't change the way i felt about her! she was beautiful and made just for me...

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

i have the willow tree nativity. i love it. i am pretty picky when it comes to nativities. it took me a long time to find the one that i felt represented my Saviors birth.

8. Hardest person to buy for?

my dad... he has everything he could ever want... what i am going to give him that he can't get for himself!

9. Easiest person to buy for?

my best friend, ann. she loves anything...

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

i honestly don't think that i have ever gotten a horrible christmas present...

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?

i am all about mailing them! i love the excitement of getting cards in the mail! i can't wait for the mail to come everyday!!

i will be mailing out 120 cards this year... crazy!!!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

i love most all of them... but i have to say my favorite is a hallmark movie that came out several years ago called... "A Season of Miracles". white christmas is my #2.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

probably all year round, but i don't push hard until after my birthday (oct 15th). lol!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

ya... on occasion... don't tell oprah...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

when i was growing up, my mom would make christmas wreaths out of corn flakes. the recipe is similar to rice crispy treats, but with corn flakes. we used red hots as the holly berries! yummy!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?

i have always love blinking colored lights... but this year (with our new tree) we have solid white lights. i like it... didn't think i would... but i do.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

i am all about the christmas cds... there was a hallmark christmas cd by trisha yearwood a few years ago and i love it! i could listen to it all the time! i really like the song "Mary, did you know?" by clay aiken and am really enjoying celine dion and josh groban's christmas cds too!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

i love to stay home. i never have really had anywhere to "go". so i have made my own traditions and memories just staying home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

maybe...

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

i have a little homemade lace angel. i am not sure if i made it or if my mom did... anyway, i love it! even with my big new tree, i can't bring myself to get another topper...

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

when i was little we were able to open one present on christmas eve. now, i just want to save them for christmas day!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

the stress people feel (including myself) about what to do and when to do it! they get a little grumpy. i work in retail and see it tons! i wish we could all just slow down a bit and remember what it is all about!

24. Do you buy gifts for your pets?

don't have any pets, but don't think i would if i did...

25. Have you ever been Christmas caroling?

yes! it is very fun! i don't think that i have ever been caroled to... though... hmmm!

26. Hot chocolate or hot apple cider?

i am a hot chocolate addict! i love it! matter of fact i am drinking some now! i normally don't like the cold weather, but i don't argue too much when i get to pull out my hot chocolate!

I am tagging maryruth, dawn, emily s, brenda, joy and amber... So if you see your name here copy these questions onto your blog, delete my answers and fill in yours!! or something like that??

13 years ago today...

today is a very special day for me....

13 years ago today i went into the MTC

(Missionary Training Center)

i was there for 5 weeks training to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. it was the beginning of one of the best times of my life!

i had a great companion, alison haney, from twin falls idaho.

great memories! loved spending christmas in the MTC. what a wonderful experience!

happy birthday babe!

today is kevin's birthday!

he is 31 years old!

ya... i robbed the cradle! lol!

i surprised him with 2 big screen tv's!

one for the living room and one for his "play" room!

ya... lucky boy!

anyway... he is adorable and

i love him!

happy birthday babe!

you rock my world!

i am alive!

ok... sorry it has been so long since my last post!

i just wanted you all to know that i am alive, just crazy busy!

i promise i will post a really post soon! (like tomorrow!)

hope all is well with all of you!

jennie

terrific tuesday!

ok... so i am so excited today!!! i think my system is on sensory/excitement overload!!!

today is such a great day! why? well, let me tell you!!

1. gilmore girls season 7 is released today!!!! i am so excited! that means it will be coming in my mailbox from netflix tomorrow!!! wahoo!!!

i totally love gilmore girls and have anxiously awaiting the release of the last season!!! i am really trying to be a good girl so that santa will bring me the grand daddy set of all 7 seasons for christmas!!!

i first started watching the series a year or so ago... and quickly fell in love with all of the charactors! it is such a great show!

2. celine dion has a new cd that comes out.... TODAY!!!

this is her first english cd in over 3 years! how exciting! i can't wait to get it... i might be ok if i have to wait until christmas to get this cd...

but it looks so good! did ya know that celine was on oprah yesterday? i watched it.... it was coooooooooooooooooooooooool! and the songs that she sang (from her new cd) sounded awesome!!!

3. tonight is BUNCO!!!! i love bunco nights! we have such a fun group of ladies that play!

yep... one of the best days this week!

7 random things about me...

ok... so i have been tagged...

7 random things about me...

funny... i have lots more than 7...

1. i hate twisted phone cords! i can't stand it when the cord is so twisted that you can't even move... i have even been known to untwist a cord at a store... just drives me crazy!

2. the toilet paper roll should be rolling toward you when you are getting some off... rolling off of the top!! not the bottom... i know... with kids that may not be the best route... but i don't have kids!!! unfortunately, my husband doesn't get it... so even after 5 years he is still putting the toilet paper on "wrong".

3. i have 3 brothers, but am the only child!

ok... here is the story: i have an older brother (rick jr.) that i have never met, from my dad. and 2 younger brothers, one from my dad (marcus) and one from my mom (sam). i grew up with sam and he is my brother!! i don't even think of him being a "half", cuz he is my brother! i am getting to know marcus a bit more, but it is hard since we see each other less than once a year. marcus is 19 and lives in connecticut with his mom. rick jr. is married and lives in california. i hope to meet him someday soon...

now, sam and i are very close. he lives here in utah and has made choices in his life that haven't always been very good ones. however, i love him and support him any way that i can. one day, i will share more of his story...

4. i am a pack rat... i love "stuff"... i don't always know what i am going to do with it, or where i am going to put it... but i love it...

i have inherited this trait from my mom, so i come by it naturally. i wish that i could have a small portion of ann's O.C.D. habits and had a more organized and "picked up" home... but that is something i am working on...

5. i sleep in my stomach... with my face IN the pillow... seriously, face smashed into the pillow... my hand usually in on my forehead in someway too...

6. i am addicted to my soap opera... days of our lives... love it! everyday i take a trip to salem and hang out with bo, hope, belle, shawn, sammy, lucas, marlana, and all the gang... i try to tell myself that i am not addicted... but i am ...

7. my entire life i have wanted to be a mom...

dreamed about it, thought about it, prayed about it, talked about it,

knew it would happen...

now, i am not so sure...

ok... now it is your turn... tell me one random thing about you...

the best of the best

so... last weekend at dinner we were discussing movies... me, kris, dick, marsha and sandi... and we compiled a list of a "few" of our favorites... then i posed the same question to some of my co-workers at sam's... so, here is the grand list

steel magnolias

family stone

first wives club

my best friends wedding

the usual subject

count of monte cristo

it's a wonderful life

social club

big

shawshank redemption

pollyanna

on golden pond

back to the future -just the first one!

doc hollywood

the notebook

beaches

pretty woman

a time to kill

lake house

return to me

walk the line

top gun

6th sense

transformers

star wars... all of them

catch me if you can

dirty dancing

breakfast club

16 candles

field of dreams

sleepless in seattle

castaway

you've got mail

the guardian

monster's inc

robots

little mermaid

mary poppins

spiderman

titanic

pearl harbor

saving private ryan

sky high

zoom

x-men

message in a bottle

the gambler

the gods must be crazy

quigley down under

men in black

city slickers

wild hogs

somewhere in time

beauty and the beast

that touch of mink

cars

princess bride

much ado about nothing

ferris beuller's day off

300

labyrinth

knights tale

chicago

3 musketeers

phantom of the opera

the fugitive

maverick

some like it hot

kiss me kate

the nightmare before christmas

man from snowy river

can't buy me love

white christmas

ever after

national treasure

frequency

backdraft

ladder 49...

so... what are your top movies? what could you watch over and over and over again? mine are the ones that are highlighted...

busy girl...

hi there! i am so excited to post all about my week! i have about a million random thoughts floating through my brain... so here goes... the thoughts of a busy girl!

so we survived our overnight shifts... it was a little tough the 2nd night... but all went well...

our halloween costumes rocked! i think we were sooooooooo clever....

can you guess what we were? our job at sam's club is to count everything... so we were...

the count.... team!

ah ah ah...

it was fun... we at least had a good time! ann painted all of our shirts and they were each different and we attempted to wear the fangs... but they didn't work very well!

very, very fun!!

there were some really great costumes at work this year!

wednesday night i went down to centerville to stay with my friend kris. we (dick, kris and i) flew out to seattle early thursday morning for my last scrapbook show of the year! seattle is always a very good show and we had a good time! we were super busy, which is a great thing, and spent lots of time with marsha and sandi from paperloft! they are so great! we love them!

last night we had our Young Women in Excellence program. it was amazing! the girls did such a great job!

i am so proud of each of them!

as leaders, we sang the closing song "Walk Tall You are a Daughter of God" to the girls. last week we all met and practiced. i have to say, it was the first time that i really felt connected as a new yw presidency. we had such a great time... laughed, sang, giggled... sang a bit and laughed until we were crying. it was a great night. i am so grateful for my calling in the young women.

ok... so back to my story... as we started singing the closing song to the girls, our yw president starting crying a bit, then the secretary... i was on the end and was afraid to look over to them... i am typically a cryer, so i didn't need any instigating!! by the second verse, i think almost all of them were crying!

now, i wasn't sure if i should start crying, start laughing or just keep singing!!

i chose to keep singing... i got a little emotional during the last phrase of the song... whew! what an experience! as we all sat down tiffany said (kinda to herself, kinda not -lol) "that is NOT how we practiced it!" i have to say, i thought the whole thing was very comical! we all kinda laughed about it later! one of the girls came up to me after and said jokingly "nice solo, sister little!"

overall, it was an amazing night! we have such an amazing group of girls! i am so proud of all of them! i am grateful that i serve with women who love them as much as i do. we wouldn't have been so emotional if we didn't!

life is good.

happy birthday holly!

yesterday was holly's birthday! holly is one of my dearest friends! she and i became friends while working at coppin's hallmark. we hit it off right away! we have been through so much together! we started dating our husbands around the same time, got engaged within a month of each other, had a joint bridal shower and were married exactly one month apart!

we have lunch together often and love to just sit and chat! holly is one of the most inspiring women i know. she is a terrific wife and mother. she is one of the most genuine people i have ever met. she is patient, loving, kind and incredibly funny! she is a beautiful person, inside and out!

holly mathews wright! i love ya! hope you had an incredible day!

Sweets and Sours

hello there my blog friends! i am back! i am sorry that i haven't posted in so long!

i figured since it has been so long i should do a

"sweet and sour" post...

sours:

* my birthday is over for this year... i am very bummed! it went by so fast! however, i usually am in party mode up until the end of the month...

* i didn't hear from my dad for my birthday...i am sure he is very busy... but still, kinda made me sad...

* i have to work a couple of overnight shifts next week. we are going overnights sunday and monday night! yuck! we are counting clothing. they are the worst 2 categories to count because there are a million items to count! picture yourself in a clothes store and every single item, color and size is a different number and you have to count each one!!! yuck!! big yuck!

* i am way behind with all of my tv shows! i have been so busy the last couple of weeks that i haven't been able to watch my recorded shows! thank heavens for DVR!!!

* some friends of mine are going to the scrapbook house next weekend and i can't go! i am so bummed! we all went last february and had blast! i had been looking so forward to it! that's ok... i am going to be in seattle... but still! have fun girls! i will miss you!

sweets!

* it is still october!!! ya! love it!

* went to lunch today with one of my very best friends, holly. we get together about once a month to have lunch and catch up! i love this little tradition that we have! she made me the most delicious chocolate peanut butter brownies! so good! thanks holls!

* my husband is such good man! he loves me for who i am, not who i wish i was.... he has been so good to me. spoiled me rotten! love it! and him!

* i had a great time in kansas city for a scrapbook show. i was a little out of it when we went. i was still in vacation mode from our weekend in las vegas and wasn't really wanting to be there... but the minute we started doing stuff... setting up the booth, seeing friends, going to fun places to eat, selling scrapbook supplies, running the make and take at the booth... i was so glad that i was there. i have made incredible friends there and am grateful everyday for the opportunity i have had to work in this industry as my "side job".

* i am listening to chris daughtry now... i love him!

* my team (colleen and ann) at work and i have come up with the most amazing halloween costume! i am so excited for it! i am not sure that everyone will get it, but we think it is great! i will make sure we take pictures and i will post them!

* i get to go to seattle next week for the last scrapbook show of the year. i love seattle! last year maryruth and i stayed a few extra days to sight see. it was so fun! unfortunately, i can't stay late this year, but i am still pretty stoked to go...

* i have ben wearing orange everyday the last week in one way or another... i love october, halloween and fall!!! it makes me so happy!

* next weekend is our young women's in excellence for our ward. i am helping set up the invitations, programs and name plates. our theme is "In this Very Room... " there are girls that have talents... girls that are gifted... girls who set and accomplish goals... girls that make a difference. we are having little wooden blocks with vinyl lettering made that say "In this Very Room..." for each girl to remember this great night! i am so excited! amber is making them for us! her prices are amazing and she can do just about anything that you want! love it!

* i am in the mood to scrapbook, but haven't really had the time to! i think that i am going to set some time aside tomorrow and do it! i have a few projects that i have really been wanting to do but have not been able to.

* saw my friend barbi today at work! i have not seen her since may!!! way too long! anyway, it was great to see her!

* tomorrow morning our young men/young women are going to "the best of especially for youth" at the tabernacle. i love it! it was so incredible last year! i am thrilled to be a part of it again this year! it is such a spiritual lift for me.

* last night we had our ward fall carnival! it was super fun! each organization was responsible for a different activity... the young women had the cake walk! i wasn't able to help with it because i am also on the activities committee... i was the one in charge of the costume contest. we had some great costumes! very creative!

* i LOVE celine dion! she is so great! and i thought i loved her before... now i am an even bigger fan! oh.. and kevin bought me the cd from the show!!! i can relive it any time that i want!

* i am loving working with my best friend, ann, at sam's club! it has been so great!

* how did i ever function without my DVR? it is one of my favorite inventions!

* gilmore girls season 7 will be released next month!! i am soooooooooooooooo excited! i have been waiting so (im)patiently!! see, i never saw it because i was watching season 6 on dvd when the 7th season was airing... i am hoping that when the release 7 that they will have a screaming deal on all of the seasons! cuz i really want them all!!!

* i also want to thank each of you for your kind words for my birthday! i really appreciate it!

ok... i am going to watch some of those shows that are waiting for me on my dvr.... lol!

tell me... how are you? i have missed you...

see ya soon...

so i am heading out of town again! this time to kansas city!

see ya soon!

It's my birthday!!!

ok... so all of you know that i love my birthday, and this year certainly was no exception!!!

what a great day/weekend i have had!!!

i was able to sleep in this morning! i love that! i read my favorite book by mary engelbreit... happy to you...it's your birthday! such a great book! i highly recommend it for those who love their birthday or those who should...

then i got a call from my friends at work! i am sure that they missed me!! of course i didn't go to work!!! it is against all birthday rules to go to work on your birthday!

my visiting teacher came over and gave me some flowers... so nice! i got phone calls from my mom, my good friend holly and my cute little brother!

i had lunch with ann today! what a great time we had! she was telling me about a friend of ours that got sick today and ended up in the emergency room, so we went and found her to make sure she was ok... all is well... she is going to have to take it easy for a bit... but we think she is going to be just fine!

we then headed off to walmart to get a few things for our halloween costumes! (we are going to be the coolest costumes at work... more on that later....) it was fun to just wonder around! very cool!

after stopping at sonic for some route 44 drinks... we headed back to ann's house to open presents!!!i love presents!!! by then ann's roommate, julie, was home and we enjoyed a cupcake or two with a candle... i made a wish! of course, i can't tell you what it was...

we met kevin at angie's, one of my favorite restaurants in town and had a nice dinner! when we came home i had great messages from holly ,(every year on my birthday she leaves a fun song on my answering machine!!! this year was... "only you..."! simply hilarious!) maryruth, and of course my cute mommy!!!

i also found a fun bag on my door from chelsa! love it! so cute! and.... kind emails from kris, aubrey, my cute aunt paula, angie and tonya! oh.... and holly dedicated a sweet post on her blog for me! thanks holly!

what a wonderful, marvelous, terrific very fun day!!!

i love my birthday! i really do! thanks to everyone for making it very special this year! yes... that is you!!!

only 365 more days until next year!!!! let the countdown begin!!!

Celine Dion!!!

ok... so we just got back from las vegas... and my surprise show was CELINE DION!!!!!

here is the story!!! we drove all day friday and got to las vegas around 2:45pm. we stayed at our friends, noe and chad, friday night! it was so good to see them again!


friday night we went to famous dave's for dinner. i totally love famous daves! they have the best ranch! i dip my fries in it!



that night noe and i stayed up late visiting. it was so fun! it had been way too long since we have been able to do that! thanks noe!



noe was cleaning out her scrapbook stuff and gave me oodles! it was like christmas... or my birthday!! lol! thanks so much! i love it all, noe!



kevin really wanted to go the buffet at the rio on saturday afternoon. it was really good! they have so many different kinds of food! yummy!






after a great lunch at the rio we went to our hotel. we napped for a bit and then got ready for our evening. kevin wanted me to open my birthday gifts too. he gave me a couple gift certificates too! one to michaels and seagull book! how fun! i love gift certificates!



the last one was tickets, i could tell by the shape.... i was nervous to open them. i told him that i wanted to open them as we were pulling into the parking lot, but he really wanted me to open them then. i figured since he had kept this big secret for 4 months, i could open them then!!



Celine Dion.
A new day







i was so excited!!! i cried!!!





we headed over to caesar's palace for the show!



we were super early so we wondered the forum shops and of course we HAD to go to the Celine Dion Store!!

we waited outside of the colosseum in ceasar's palace and finally we were able to go in!



we were up in the 2nd mezzanine level, but the seats were still amazing! the stage was huge and i was thrilled to be there!



the had a bar at each level so people could get drinks before the show. kevin and i got virgin margaritas! yummy! we got to keep the cups as souvenirs!

when the show started i was so excited! i am not sure how i sat still! celine in amazing! not only can she sing and dance, but she knows how to put on a show! the set/stage, dancers, musicians... overall talent was so very incredible!

i will always remember it! what an wonderful weekend!

i am so lucky to have a husband who knows me so well! this was the perfect gift! and i am so grateful! i love you kev!

i am on a birthday high... and the actual day isn't until tomorrow!!! that is the way i like it! birthday... birthweek.... birthmonth...

love it all!