What a Weekend!

What a busy, fun, full weekend we had. I think it's too much for one post, so I'll probably do few over the next day or so. Check back for fun pictures of our great weekend.

So to begin we had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving feast at my Aunt Frankie and Uncle Randy's house in Tooele. Everyone pitched in and dinner was delicious. I've included a few pics here to make you salivate. My sister's salads were works of art. For those of you that know her (Kelsha) that shouldn't surprise you.

Kelsha also in a stroke of brilliance brought beads to make ornaments with and kept Kelley busy ALL morning long.  Tyler got in on the action a little as well.  

Unfortunately I didn't get any pics of Kelsha, so you don't get to see her here, but did snap some cute pics of Karmin and Kember...the young spoiled ones ;).I've also included for your viewing enjoyment a picture of Kelley doing her rock star impression.  Not sure which rock star she saw with THAT face...
Of course dinner was followed by a movie. We watched Hancock with Will Smith. It was actually pretty good, but had lots of language. Finally included here a picture of my brother and his wife Misty.  They live just around the corner from us, which is lots of fun.  We love having them around.

My new calling!

One of the greatest blessings in my life is the gospel.  I've been so grateful to always have it in my life.  I love the Church, I love the people I meet there and love that it makes me a better person than I believe I would be otherwise.  I have always been one happy to serve where I was called.  As many of you know I LOVE music and play the piano.  My entire married life I've been in music callings, mostly in primary.  They are so fun, but I am so excited now to be serving in the Relief Society.  I was called as the Education (1st) Counselor in the presidency this last week.  I feel a bit in over my head, but am so excited to serve and learn and grow.  Joey is a bit apprehensive about my being busy with this all of the time, but I believe that whom the Lord calls, he qualifies and so I have a hope that I will be qualified as I do my best. 

By the way...Joey was called almost immediately as the Scout Master in our new ward.  He's really excited.  He's been in this calling for the last year and a half and LOVES it.  It is a very busy calling for him, so we'll both have to support each other.  Somehow though I think this will make our family stronger and help us both personally and spiritually.  

My kiddos!

On to one of my favorite things to talk about...Tyler and Kelley.  I'm sure I've said this before, but they are truly the light of my life.  Sometimes that light comes in the form of a lightning storm (;), but they are my sweeties all the same.  Here's a bit about my kids:

Tyler:  Just turned three yesterday (which is why he has the honor of being listed first).  He is SO fun.  He LOVES to dance and has great rhythm.  He is obsessed with trains (Thomas as well as real trains), Cars (mostly the movie) and pretty much all moving vehicles (motorcycles, trucks, helicopters,  etc).  He is really passionate and energetic.  He loves to play baseball in the backyard and really likes the color orange.  He has off and on been a biter, much to his mother's embarrassment.  Tyler loves his sister and is a very loving kid, often doling out hugs and kisses freely.  He has REALLY cool hair, way cute dimples and a personality to match.  I got a shirt for him that I think says it all "My parents are exhausted".

Kelley:  Kelley is almost five and a half and is just turning into a little angel!  She is so much fun right now.  She is in Kindergarten and loves it.  She is so creative, constantly pulling out all my ribbon and glue and paper and scissors to create stories or pictures.  She always has a smile and is still sometimes a bit of a mamma's girl.  Kelley LOVES friends and would have someone over all the time if I had the energy.  She has always been really smart and is really fun to have a conversation with.  Kelley will wear a dress every day if you let her and adores princesses.

I could go on forever.  These two are so precious to me.  I feel so blessed, although often inadequate at the chance to be their mom.  They remind me of the things that are good in this world and that I can be better.  I find it hard to remember a time when they weren't a part of our family.  I sometimes think at life before kids and wonder what the heck I did with all my time because it seems like everything now is consumed with them, but I wouldn't trade it for the world now.  I love em!

I love my hubby!

I meant to post a new "Thanks" post each day...well you can see how well I did with that!  This week was pretty crazy.  That being as it may tonight I want to express how much I love my eternal companion.... Joseph, Joe, Joey or "Honey" as I usually call him.  I love him for so many reasons.  One of the first things I loved about him was that he was open and we could communicate really easily.  We've always been able to talk about things, even hard things.  He makes me laugh and is a decent cook.  One of my favorite things to do is watch him play with my kids.  I looked for this before I married him and tested him out on my little sisters (thanks Karmin and Kember for being guinea pigs...)  He is so energetic with Kelley and Tyler.  He can laugh and wrestle and play monster or horsey all night long.  Even after a long day at work he can still be the crazy fun daddy.  Some things you may or may not know about him:  He is a graphic designer and I love having my own personal artistic consultant to turn to for advice on scrapbooking pages, etc.  He works for SUU and LOVES it there.  I have to spell check all his stuff (that's hereditary).  He loves mustangs and being outdoors.  He went gray very young and so sometimes gets taken for more "mature" than he really is :)  He is my best friend.  He is a great husband and an awesome dad.  I feel very blessed.

Thanks:Entry 1

Allrighty folks!  Two weeks and counting.  I LOVE (can I say love, Love, LOVE) this time of the year!  I love the holidays, the change of seasons, the first snow (or if you live in Utah it's already the second or third by this point...), then the next day the Indian Summer...lots of time with family, friends and don't get me started on the food!  Anyway because Thanksgiving is fast approaching...I'd like to share some things I am thankful for over the next few weeks.  Today I am going to start with my parents.  Every time I think about it I remember how lucky I am.  My dad is smart (I've always known he knows everything :), works hard, plays hard (waterskiing in the Uintah's on New Years...) and just about the best Grandpa you could ask for.  I think I'll always be a bit of a daddy's girl.  My mom is strong and fiery.  She's a little scatterbrained sometimes (wonder where I get it from), but SUCH and example to me.  My parents together did all they could for me and my four siblings.  The love us, love each other and love the gospel and we've always known that.  As I'm writing I realize I could go for a long time on this subject...but that would be entirely too much for this little blog.  So Mom and Dad...if you read this...I love you and THANK you!

RECIPES?

So a friend of mine made a request on her blog for easy recipes. I made a soup tonight that was really easy and sent it via email to a bunch of people because my mom had requested it. This got me thinking...would anyone be interested in doing a recipe blog? This would be something where anyone who wanted to could be a contributor and whenever you try a good recipe you post it on the blog. I could see it being something that no one has time to do, but it might also be a great site for exchanging ideas to ease our busy lives, but still feed our family decent food. Let me know if you or anyone else you know might be interested and I could set something up...

UPDATE: 11/13 I've started the blog, you can find it here.  I've invited almost everyone I know and posted two recipes already.  With any luck we'll all be cooking fools before we know it.  What fun!  (If you didn't get an invite from me and want one, leave me a comment with your email and I will send you an invite ASAP).

To Music Lovers Everywhere:

Blogs are a great way to share your personality and identity, and music seems to be a popular way for people to express this. Music can create a mood that you want to direct people to feel as they are reading your blog. The only problem is when you don't give people the opportunity to turn off your music you are forcing your music taste upon others. I don't mind when people put music on their blog, it is their prerogative to do so, but I find it very annoying when they hide the stop button, or place the music player at the bottom of their blog. Please be considerate of other people who might not share the same music taste as you and put the stop button in a convenient location—say at the top of your blog.

Thank You,

The Blog Music Police

New Ward and Political thoughts

They split our ward today and we are now part of the Cross Hollows ward.  A lot of our friends from this ward will be in our new ward, but there are a lot of new people we will get to know over the next weeks and months.  We are both really excited, we love change, but are leaving behind a lot of good friends and neighbors.  In addition we now have to drive to church every week instead of walking ever because we moved buildings.  Oh well!  We were released from our callings and are both excited to see where we will serve next.  

Also wanted to mention something about our new President Elect Obama.  I did not vote for him...BUT I believe I can support him, or at least respect the fact that he was voted into the highest office of our country.  He ought to at least be given a chance to prove himself.  It's been so disheartening to hear the racist jokes that have been circulating since he won.  I don't know if you have heard them, but I've heard them from several sources.  There are things that I don't agree with him on, but some that I do.  And I think if you disagree with someone the worst thing you can do is totally distance yourself by disrespectful and hurtful treatment.  What we ought to be doing is being more respectful and getting MORE involved.  In that case then you at least have some ability to effect change.  If you merely sit on the sidelines and heckle, you won't be taken seriously and nothing you have to say will seem of value.  That's my opinion anyway...

Halloween Pics

You all know how I have to BRAG about my kiddos. Well here's all sorts of cute pictures for you to enjoy. Originally we wanted to do a Peter Pan theme. Kelley wanted to be Tinkerbell (of course), I forced Tyler to be Peter Pan. Joe already has a REALLY cool pirate costume and I was going to make a Wendy dress. Well, the Wendy dress didn't get done, and Kelley changed her mind when she saw the pattern for this Pink dress - she ended up as a "Fairy Princess". What can you do? Thanks to my mamma for making Kelley's dress. I am the genius behind the boys costumes and Walmart is to thank for Koko's outfit. And shower of thanks to my little sis Karmin for helping out with the kids hair and makeup.

...Beep

I am sorry..."Kristy"...is not available, please leave your message at the beep.

Hey just letting everyone know that halloween was great, we are still suffering from the hangover. I am sure in the next couple of days we will have this old halloween background updated and some photos of halloween up. Just bear with us.

Thanks,

The Husband