My last post as a 20 something...

At midnight tonight I leave my 20's and head towards the great adventures in my 30's. Woo-hoo. I know it's not that old, but it has made me stop and think how far I've come and where I'll be headed.

Well, I thought I'd include some facts about what was going on in 1979...enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Cost of Living 1979

Average Cost of new house $58,100.00
Average Income per year $17,500.00
Average Monthly Rent $280.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 86 cents
Sony Walkman $200.00
Jox Trainers $14.99




What Events Happened in 1979

USSR Invades Afghanistan

Margaret Thatcher elected Prime minister in UK

Three Mile island Nuclear Accident after fire at reactor in Pennsylvania US

63 Americans are taken hostage in the American Embassy in Tehran



Technology

VisiCalc becomes the first spreadsheet program.


Sony introduces the Sony Walkman costing $200.00


Voyager I photo reveals Jupiter's rings


The European Space Agency launches Ariane 1



Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )

Snowboard USA by Daniel E Chadwick
First Commercial Cellular Network NTT
The Sony Walkman Introduced Sony

Popular Culture 1979
YMCA sues the Village People for libel because of their song of the same name
Pink Floyd release the multi award winning concept album "The Wall" with the top selling single "Another Brick in the Wall"
The General Knowledge Quiz Game Trivial Pursuit is Launched
The First modern Bungee Jumping performed by a group from the Oxford University Dangerous Sports club jumped from the Clifton Suspension Bridge joining England and Wales



Popular Films

Superman The Movie
Every Which Way But Loose
Rocky II
Alien
The Amityville Horror
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Moonraker
The Muppet Movie
The Deer Hunter
Kramer vs. Kramer

Popular Musicians

Bee Gees with " Love you Inside Out "
Rod Stewart
Gloria Gaynor with " I will Survive "
Blondie with " heart of Glass "
Michael Jackson
The Eagles
Commodores
Pink Floyd
The Police
Village People
Boomtown Rats


Popular TV

All My Children
Masterpiece Theatre
Old Grey Whistle Test
Are You Being Served? (UK)
Emmerdale Farm (UK)
M*A*S*H
The Price Is Right
The Waltons
Last of the Summer Wine (UK)
The Young and the Restless
Happy Days
Little House on the Prairie
Saturday Night Live
Charlie's Angels
Family Feud
Quincy, M.E.
The Muppet Show (UK)
The Love Boat
Three's Company
Dallas
Diff'rent Strokes
Mork and Mindy
Taxi

Why didn't I ask for today off?

Yup, I'm working the day after Christmas. My question is...why? No one has called, probably because they think that there is no one in HR on the Friday after Christmas. No one has emailed, but I did read some from the last couple of days from my girls (shout-out to Amie, Christine and Toni).

Well, I guess I can blog about Christmas as I sneak time on my laptop while at work. Boring!!! I did bring a certain movie to watch at lunch. Hello, Hello! You know which one ladies!!!!

Christmas was great. James surprised me with a super cool, super expensive gift that I wasn't expecting. No pictures though, my camera has been kidnapped, by kids. Anyhoo, he bought me the Cricut Expression. Cool, huh? I'm excited to spend my weekend getting to play around with my neat-o new gadget.

The kids loved their gifts. We enjoyed the heck out of Joey's Guitar Hero World Tour game. Party over here! How fun is that? And the coolest, my mom and dad got Joey a Wii Fit. It is the coolest thing ever!! We were breaking a sweat using it on Christmas. We did racing and skiing and yoga. It's the neatest thing ever. It made my mom and dad want to go out and get a Wii and Wii Fit for themselves. When I get home I'm going to find out my Wii Fit age.

Speaking of age, next week I'm going to hit the big 3-0. It's kind of funny to be 30in my ward. I'm stuck between age groups. Too old for the Crazy Christmas parties and Rock Band get-togethers. Too young for the Relief Society groups with grand kids. Though I do have to say the RS groups invite me to parties. Shout-out to them! I'm not saying I'm bitter, it's just a little weird to be considered too old at 30. In the younger groups I'm the same age as the husbands (since they all came home from missions and married younger girls *wink*). So 30 is crushing my ego. My mom says that it's worse for her that I'm turning 30...she's a women with a 30 year old kids. I see her point.

Well, on to next year my 30 year old booty goes. And what a booty it is...I better jump on that Wii Fit ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Turkey.....late.....but I posted....right?

Thanksgiving this year was pretty typical. Apparently where my MIL is from, Thanksgiving dinner is actually Thanksgiving breakfast, so I got up extremely early make my beloved green bean casserole for my 9:30 Turkey Dinner. Yup, 9:30.

After arriving at my MIL house, on that long trek, then quickly running back inside my house to check the cooking time of a 22lb turkey at 350 degrees, then sending James to the store because she forgot to buy mashed potatoes...we finally got to take a look at the bird.

Now, let me tell you why I had to look up online the cooking time for the turkey to ensure it was cooked. My MIL removed the little pop up thingy that pops up when the turkey is done. She didn't know that's what it was for and perhaps thought it was for injecting juices (or tequila) into the turkey. So, she's been removing these things every year for ever....

It that wasn't funny enough (well it was sure funny to James and I) she had her *cough, cough* friend Willow (Mauricio is his real name, don't you want to say Willow with that weird voice from the movie...Wiiilllooowww) wash off the turkey so she could put in the stuffing that no one in the family eats. It has olives, nuts, grapes, something unidentifiable and it's black. I'm not lying. So, James cuts open the breast of the turkey to check if it's cooked all the way through and finds the bag of giblets cooked inside the turkey!!!!! Willow took it out washed it off and put it back in. Too funny!!!

So...dinner at mom's was perfect, as usual. Our Thanksgiving evening always wraps up with us pouring over the ads scoping out Black Friday deals. So, I'll take to you Black Friday.

I was ran over by a wild cart at the Wal-Mart. Yup, and that was too seconds after a lady fell on me as I was grabbing $5 High School Musical barbies. I was crouching down to grab them because they were on the bottom of the flat and she behind me and reaching over me to grab one (out of my hand the weirdo) well, apparently someone pushed her from behind and she fell on me. I was telling her to back off, but she had a language barrier and I haven't learned any nice words in that language, so I couldn't let her know that I was closer to her than peanut butter is to jelly. *shiver*

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I hope you all did too. Dennyse....post yours!!!

Forever and a day...

Sorry for the long time between posts. My work banned Blogger, so I can't post from work anymore. When I get home, I don't want to think about it and I don't even want to haul out my laptop. One reason why.....Primary Program.

Wow, was that stressful!!!

But, it was so good. The kids were just absolutely amazing. They sang their little hearts out and I had many moved to tears. I love when little children really start to feel the spirit. It's just so amazing to watch. I had two beautiful sisters in complete tears during their parts. I just love them, such strong amazing spirits.

Let's see, ah...Halloween. I didn't even post about Halloween. *sigh*
It was so great. I just love Halloween. Pictures, well...I know I have some and hopefully will get them up here.

I just had to take a second, on my laptop, on a break, to let everyone know I am still alive and well. Just extra busy. I don't expect it to lighten up until after the first of the year. But, I promise I will attempt to post more.

Well, if anyone cares....anyone still read this? Mom and Amie? Are you there?

And on a final note...........TWILIGHT COMES OUT THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Tagged by Toni

I like the way that sounds. Tagged by Toni, Tagged by Toni, okay I need to stop.

8 TV Shows I love to watch:

- Project Runway
- Fringe
- Pushing Daisies
- Life
- Big Bang Theory
- Heroes
- The Office
- Ugly Betty

8 Favorite Restaurants:

- China Chili
- Japan Express
- Golden Corral (shout out the buffet!!)
- Garcia's
- Olive Garden
- Chili's
- Filiberto's
- Pei Wei

8 Things That Happened Yesterday:

- I went to a job fair
- I ate El Pollo Loco that I got for free
- I got my Pirate Hat for Halloween
- listened to my ipod (I do this everyday)
- Stalked the blogs
- Worried about money (I do this everyday)
- Talked to my counselors on the phone
- Watched Pushing Daisies with James

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:

- Halloween
- Baby showers
- Babies (yeah all my preggo friends)
- The Primary Program being over
- The Twilight Movie
- Christmas
- My birthday
- Scrapping


8 Things On My WishList:

- Doing another musical
- painting my house
- A sewing machine
- Abby's tantrums stopping-hey, it says wishlist!
- Being able to send my kids to college
- Getting healthy
- Being debt free
- Getting my degree


8 Friends I'm Tagging:

Dennyse
Ronelle
Melody
Aimee
Tasha
Tammy
Tatum
Jenna

So much...

...has been going on!

I haven't posted in a bit, so this one will be a bit big. If I don't post it all, I'll never get around to doing it. So, no separate posts for me!!

On September 20th we had a combined birthday party for both Joey and Sophie. It was huge as usual. James has so many family members and we have so many friends that we always opt for Peter Piper because it is..
A: Cheaper. We used to spend like $800 on a birthday party at our house. Yikes it was horrible.
B: Cleaner. I don't have to clean up after or before. Mr. or Ms. Peter Piper does this for me.
C. Entertaining for my husband. James loves playing games. He usually finds a "broken" machine and plays his heart out until he has a stink load of tickets to get all the kids something.

So, here's a pic of Sophie donning her birthday hat:



My girls...Christine, Amie, Mom and Camille



More of my girls...Erin, Ronelle and Laura eating in the background (sorry Laura!!)



I never seem to get a ton of pictures during a party. I'll have to bug Camille about some of her's. She super-good at taking pictures during parties.

Finally, the cake. Joey wanted Star Wars figures on it and I made a little sign for Sophie. (It was really more Joey than Sophie's party. She's only 2, she won't mind. Just don't tell her when she gets older)



So, after all the birthday fun, we went out of town for a few days. My Grandpa Bud celebrated his 80th birthday on Sept. 27th. We decided it was high time we saw him again, since it isn't so easy for him to travel to us. Last time I saw him, Abby was a baby. So, it's been a few.

The Thursday before we hopped into the car and headed out. We stayed in Laughlin on Thursday night. Hello flashback to the 1980's. I never really realized that my family is a minority on the whole moral road. Yuck. But, for $19 dollars a night what do you expect? It draws the finest of people. The only good thing was the buffet in the morning. How I love buffets.

Friday we headed out through Vegas. We stopped at Circus Circus and the kids played games (again with the games, James was in heaven) and won some bears. They liked the juggler circus act. After that we headed for our final destination...St. George, Utah.

All of my pictures some how ended up fuzzy (James' thumb, but who's pointing fingers) but our reunion was nice. My dad's brother, Mike and his wife Sharon were there from California. Dad's sister, Denise and her son, Josh, and his girlfriend Casie(I never spell that right) also came. My brother, Camille and Johnathen. My mom and Dad. Dad's step-sister Heidi. Dad's other step-sister Karen and her husband (I won't attempt to spell his name, he's from Honduras) and their cutie-pie Tanner, were also there.

We had a grand time. On Saturday morning we went to "Swiss Days." We enjoyed a parade where Joey had a dream come true:




Johnathen's head looks tiny. I had to catch this during the parade.

After Swiss Days, we rested a bit before the birthday party. My Grandma Shirley ((not my Dad's mom, my Grandpa remarried after my grandmother passed away. My Grandpa Bud and Shirley were sealed, and her daughters were also sealed to my grandfather. *on a side note, she showed us an official church document and it had the 1st Pres. signatures. It had the signature of 2 prophets on it, President Kimball and President Hinckley, cool huh?)) had rented a ramada at a local park. We ate, looked at photos, played and had cake. It was really fun.

Here are Grandpa Bud and Grandma Shirley with Soph:


After the party, we said our goodbyes and headed off. Some went back to the hotel to swim, some went to the Temple. I just love the St. George Temple. Here are a couple shots.





We enjoyed the Visitor Center movies including "A Pioneer Miracle." It was wonderful and very spiritual. After that we went back to the hotel to relax before our trip home in the morning.

Sunday morning we decided to check out Zion National Park. I pulled this pic online. It was so beautiful. Apparently not beautiful enough to take pictures. I think taking care of a toddler was enough work. On another side note, we didn't have to pay to get in Sept. 28th was free at the National Parks in honor of Naturalized Citizens. Cool, huh? Thanks for saving me $25 bucks, Naturalized Citizens!!!



After Zion we headed back Vegas way. I had a horrible experience at a gas station involving at lost credit card, frantic searching, and eventual cancelling. That's all I'm going to say about that. Everything's okay, just so you know. But, ugh, that stank. We ate at another buffet in Vegas, at the New Orleans. OH MY HECK was it good!! *closes eyes imagines eating that food again, then opens Slim-Fast, sigh*

We got home really late on Sunday, and being nice, I let the kiddos sleep in Monday morning and skip school. Aren't I evil? We slept a ton on Monday before walking next door to celebrate Sophie's official 2nd Birthday.

I got her one of those cup-cake dogs from Wal-Mart. Don't yell at me Cake Wrecks!! She's 2, she loved it!!!!




I'm not going to post the one that made her look like she had a frosting Hitler-moustache. Disturbing.

Well, it was an exciting week! Tomorrow I get to go on my first out of town crop. I'm so excited! A weekend with just the girls! No worries, just scrapping!

It's Jello not Blood

I have to share this. I got an email yesterday from Amie. Unfortunately, I got it a bit late in the day, so she may have thought I fled the country because of what my Sophie did since it took me forever to reply. But anyhoo, the title of the email reads: "it's JELLO not BLOOD." A title such as this immediately sparked my imagination, so I opened it and read:

"Sophie learned some new things today.

First of all, cherry jello powder tastes goooood.

Second, it looks really pretty smeared all over the couch!

WE DO NOT PLAY WITH CHERRY JELLO POWDER!

And I learned not to leave 2 girls alone with a jello box in reach......"

And of course, Amie is an amazing scrapbooker and quick to take a pic ,so I got this attached:

Notice the tear drop, and the other tear drop stained red on her chest. Mind you, she smeared herself and clothing with mascara just a few hours before doing this.

Ah, toddlers.

Bean

10 years ago, I was 19 years old. I was laying in a hospital bed. I was in pain.....well heck, I was having a baby, so I would be in some pain *wink*

Yes, my beloved Blog Stalkers, I became the proud mama of Joey, 10 years ago today. Here he is when I still lived at home with me moms (yes that was on purpose), when he would sleep in a crib (it didn't last long-as soon as he realized Daddy hugs you when you go to sleep in Mom and Dad's bed, he was hooked, he didn't leave until he was 3. I'm not sure how Abby came about...oh, sorry).

He had a Blue's Clues party for his 1st birthday. The one and only time we had it at a park. Yuck, September weather. James tried to make a pinata. He got paper-mache everywhere. Somehow he got it on his speakers, the one's next to the television. Weird...(Sorry about he pic sizes, they were scanned, they look horrible when re-sized)

When he was 3 he switched from home daycare to a Preschool where my mom worked (technically a daycare center, but he called it his school). They took pictures of the kids like they do in elementary school.

It's fun to look back at Joey when he was little, since most of you know, he is far from little. BTW, the title of this post comes from Joey's nickname. Bean is actually a shorter version of "Half a Bean." James made this up because he's half Mexican and half white. They also use "Honkycan" but I don't approve of this one.

Happy 10th Birthday Joey! Below are some random insights into Joe as well as some memories..

• Joey once smeared himself head-to-toe with peanut butter. Even his eyelashes were covered.
• He once woke his Dad up using a mini baseball bat (thanks Uncle Steve)
• When he was 2 years old he was able to ride every ride at Disneyland but Indiana Jones. He didn't like Space Mountain. It was too dark. This means he was over 40 inches tall. He is currently 5'3".
• Joey is a huge Austin Powers fan. He watched #2 as a toddler and would make air quotes whenever Dr. Evil did. Weird.
• He crawled for a can of Pepsi.
• When Joey walked for the first time, he had crawled behind me into the bathroom and then pulled up on the cabinet. When I walked out, he followed me. He scared the heck out of me, because I wasn't expecting a little person following me. I screamed, so he cried. Poor guy.
• When he was 3 he would sing "Joey to the World" I have this on video tape. Too cute.
• When I was pregnant with Abby he would tell the cashier's at Wal-Mart EXACTLY where the baby would be coming out. Yup, he was precise.
• When I was pregnant with Sophie, Joey would put lotion on my feet and rub them. He would bring me water and snacks. My husband didn't do this. He is going to be a wonderful husband.
• He can change a diaper, even a poopie one. Thought he prefers the #1's to the #2's, LOL. Who doesn't?
• When he was a baby, he had a wooden puzzle with handles to help little ones put the puzzle together. He used them as cymbals and would scoot around in his walker singing and banging them together.
• He loved Teletubbies.
• He would bark like Blue from Blue's clues when he was 1. He would also tell us how old he was (with his finger) do Home Alone (scream with his hands on his face) and be "Cold" (hold his hands frozen and face frozen then shake like he was cold). He was a comedian even then.
• He would rather hold a conversation with an adult then play with kids his age. Once you laugh, he'll never leave you alone.
• He has an incredible memory. He has been asked to perform whole George Lopez comedy acts and can deliver.
• He is an amazing artist. Sometimes it looks like he traced it, it's so perfect, but I watched him draw it, so I know he didn't. I hope he continues with it.
• And (From James) he's his dad's best buddy. (I seriously teared up on how cute that is)

Anyone else have any Joey memories or anything you want to share?

8 years ago...

I was a bride. Yup, today is my anniversary. Hey out there, don't bother doing the math, I'll tell you right now. My Joey was a gorgeous ring bearer. Adorable! I don't have a scanner to add any pics but let's take a look back...

Since my husband comes from a picture taking family, we opted for the Relief Society Room instead of the chapel so we could take pictures of it. My mom and aunt did a great job of making it pretty. Bishop Harris performed the ceremony. My friends Lisa, Cheryl and my Aunt Denise were my bridesmaids. Cheryl was the maid of honor. James' cousin Martin was the best man and my brother Steve and friend Richard were the groomsmen. My wedding colors were deep purple with lilac and gold accents. My dad walked me down the aisle. I was totally teary eyed.

Cheryl sang "Evergreen" by Barbra Streisand, since I thought it a bit tacky to sing during the actual wedding ceremony. Tacky for me, ya'll, maybe not for you that have done that. I did sing Celine Dion's "Power of Love" during the reception. My cousin Josh played the music on a CD player. Whatcha' we were like having a real wedding, eh (that was me impersonating my son, impersonating George Lopez). It actually was really elegant.

After we took a limo (my only time riding in one) to the reception, which was in Surprise at the Windmill Inn (that's behind the KFC on Bell Road, cute little hotel). The reception started at 2:00 and lasted until 10:00. We did have the reception at a hotel so James' family could consume mass quantities of alcohol. Don't worry, his family are cute drunks. They like to dance, with everyone!

Anyhoo, so I had karaoke at my reception, provided by a real DJ, not my primo on a boombox. We had mexican food prepared by James' Aunt Josefina (Josie) and it was amazing! My mom and I had made the decorations, though she did the majority. She made topiaries, large and small to decorate the tables. I went to every thrift shop in the valley and bought tea cups and saucers that we put candles in and placed them on the tables.

One of the most romantic things James ever did was pick out our wedding song. It's a Wynonna song, it's called "She is His Only Need." Look it up, it's about a cook and a waitress that fall in love and they live in Arizona. Totally us!

We stayed in a suite in the hotel (that was trashed by my brother and friends, but nothing I had to pay for) while my mom watched Joey. Just to let you know how trashed, when I sat down on the bed, the picture hanging above the bed hit me in the head. No damage. We went to her house the next morning, said goodbye to Joey before heading to Disneyland for our honeymoon.

It may not have been fancy, it may not have been perfect, but it was ours. It was an important step, although it was only "for the period of our mortal lives." But that's okay, we've done made it forever. Just like Bella and Edward ;)

Worst Week Ever *Updated*

I already know that this week in going to suck....

So, I'm minding my own bees-wax but not my driving and I get pulled over (with about 3 other cars) for speeding. My first ticket ever. I am the biggest wimp in the world and no matter what, I start shaking like a leaf when I deal with the Police. Not to mention the after crying. Seriously, I've never been on cops and I've never broken the law (until now, yikes) so I have no reason to fear the Po-Po, but there you are: me a weepy shaking criminal.

My only hopes for a better week are my gal Christine finding out if she's having a boy or a girl on Wednesday and maybe a nice crop to wipe away all of the junk I had to deal with during the week.

So, tell me out there, please, that some of you have been pulled over and ticketed, please? I'm not alone right?

*So, just to add to my worst week....I got stuck on an interview panel with a horrible person, my shoe broke (the strap around my ankle) and my hubbie's work trailer broke. AND I have to pay $145.00 for a driving school when I have about 160 bucks right now, and figure out when the heck I can go to it, possibly missing some work. YIKES!!! Tell me it's going to get better!?!

Tagged, tagged, tagged tagged!!!!

I was tagged by Toni, so here goes!

SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks! Erase my answers, enter yours, and post it.

*Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...
*They have to be real places, names,things...nothing made up!
*Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial.
*You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

*WHAT IS YOUR NAME: Christine

4 LETTER WORD: cake

*VEHICLE: Chevy

*CITY: Charleston

*BOY NAME: Christopher

*GIRL NAME: Calysta

*OCCUPATION: Cowboy

*SOMETHING YOU WEAR: cape (well, sometimes)

*FOOD: chocolate!!

*SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: Curling iron (urgh couldn't think of one word)

*REASON FOR BEING LATE: children

*SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: Crap!

I tag: Brooke, Aimee and Tatum

The Memory Game...

So, I'm putting this up even though hardly anyone leaves me comments (blog-stalkers!) so thanks Amie...... anyway...

Heres What you Do
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

And lastly....I can't wait for Friday night! I'm so stinkin' excited for Breaking Dawn I can't even read anything this week. I pick up a book and I just can't seem to get into it because I'm anticipating my new book. Urgh!! Hurry up!!!

Twilight Tag (Extremely Late)

Okay, so Amie tagged me awhile back, so I recorded a video response that came out horrible. I appear to be sitting behind Jabba the Hutt in a really dark room. So, I just couldn't do it. But, I have it to inspire me that I need to lose weight and install better lighting in the family room. Anyhoo, I decided this morning that I really needed to post this before Breaking Dawn comes out, so here we go:

Who is your favorite character?

Well, I have to admit, this sort of changes each time I read the series (or listen to it, I go to sleep w/my ipod playing sweet, sweet Twilight series). Right now, I would have to say Edward. I don't think I have to go into his positive attributes, but I just like that he plays with her hair, wants to know what she's thinking, listens to her (okay maybe because I'm lacking a bit of this right now in my life LOL).

Which character are you most like?

I don't have a character that I am most like, I just have little parts of many of them. I am a worrier, like Bella. No matter how much someone tells me not to worry, I do anyway. Not to mention the fact that I have weird dreams (but luckily, not always scary). I am like Renee in the fact that I pick up hobbies and quickly get bored w/them. Scrapping is one I've kept for awhile, so I'm proud of myself. Also, I can relate to her fear of Bella making the same mistake she did (or the mistake she thinks she made), and so inflicting a fear of marriage into Bella. I don't do that with my kids, just make sure they are fully aware that I will expect them to go to college, then get married and then have kids and not follow my path. I'm also a bit like Jacob (alright Amie, hold on, let me type LOL) because I can quickly morph into a wolf....okay, just kidding... I can quickly get angry or upset.

Team Edward or Team Jacob?

*sigh* Team Edward, but let me say this. I love Jacob. I understand him and haven't pushed him aside like many out there. It isn't his fault he fell for Bella, it's not his fault he can't control his emotions or temper. He's a stinkin' werewolf for heaven's sake. He is also really young and hasn't had the years of experience Edward has had to learn self control. But, that being said, even Edward fights with self control. When he is over 100 years old, he will behave better. He is also furry and warm like my husband LOL.

What are your predictions for Breaking Dawn?

I would really like for Jacob to imprint on someone, I think that we will definitely have some Italian visitors and I hope that Bella gets to take them on as a vampire. I think that we should get to experience Bella's change and education as a new vampire. I unfortunately do think that someone is not going to make it, and I don't like to dwell on that unfortunate thought, but heck, even Harry had to deal w/death and in Book 7 a whole lot of it!

What do you think Bella's powers will be?

Okay, this is not my idea, but one I read in a really interesting fanfic on Twilight Moms. I totally dug it and thought it would be interesting. So, let's go with it. Bella can use someone else's power when she is touching them and only when she is touching them. So, she can hear thoughts when touching Edward, see the future when touching Alice..get it? Also, her ability to not be influenced by peeps like the Volturi can also pass to someone when she touches them, so if Jane was trying to use her power on Edward, if Bella was touching him he would not feel it. (Jane is kinda like a Death Eater using the Cruciatus curse isn't she?)

So, there is my Twilight Tag....I am now going to tag Brooke and my Mom (Mom, do it on email to me please?!?) Amie, sorry it's so late and not on a vlog. Someday, when I'm not Jabba.....

Hey, let's also open this discussion up...where's the weirdest place you saw someone reading Twilight? I'll start.....foyer of the Temple on Saturday.....anyone else?

When you are torn...

So, yesterday I sang at the Variety Show here at my work. It's for the residents (remember I work in a Nursing Home) and for staff to just do skits or dance or sing or whatever. I sang "Evergreen" by Barbra Striesand since it's one I already know. I remembered all the words and everything LOL. When it was over the new Director of the agency I work for told me I did a good job and somehow everything twisted into them wanting me to perform at a Veteran's Fundraiser on Saturday. At a resturant.

Remember that old Saturday Night Live skit with the lounge singer.....

I was torn, I already had plans with my family on Saturday. I don't do performances like that. I don't have a repertoire I can just pull out of my...head...nor do I have the time to perfect it. I don't play and intrument (the kid they want me to sing w/ plays guitar and sings...literally think of a 17 year old Elvis, with the looks, the voice and even the southern accent, who is also the Director's son!). I would literally be doing karaoke. It's weird.

But, I can't help but feel bad about not doing it. Are they expecting me to? Am I ruining a chance to get in with the new director helping my career-a career I really don't want? I feel so, so I don't know. I've been so emotionally lately, that I can't help get teary just thinking about it. Yuck, I hate feeling this way.

So, should I feel bad turning them down? I did offer them my services in the future as long as I get some more planning. I just don't know. What do you think?

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of the Cavazos family becoming an eternal family. I can't believe it's already been a year. I can't begin to tell you all the changes that have occurred with our family after our experience in the Temple. Let's just say, love has been easier to express for some and has been overflowing with others. Those who have not yet had this experience, I encourage you to do all you can to get there. It's worth it and you will be forever grateful.

Neglectful...

Here are some pics I have been meaning to post. Enjoy!


This is Abby in all her Kinder-graduation glory. Isn't she a doll?


Here she is amongst all the other kiddos. They were very official.


This is how we swim in the ghetto. Okay, we do have a bigger pool that James' hadn't fixed at this time, so in an effort to keep cool, Abby and Johnathen kicked it old school in chonies and everything.(also on a side note, the house you can see in the picture is my MIL's. We live next door to each other. I rarely see her. She is scared of me because I am an white lady LOL)


This is Johnathen writing his name on the wet cement with chalk. I love to do that. The colors are so vivid. I'm proud of this little guy. He has gone through alot and still has a sweet little spirit.


This is how all the American Idol's started, singing into a hose in their chonies in a ghetto pool.


And finally, very belated, but a shout out to my hubbie for Father's Day. If you have ever noticed, James isn't featured a whole lot on this blog. As you can see I have to sneak pics of him, so almost every picture I have of him is taken profile. But, I have to say I am so blessed to have him. He does more to make sure our family is taken care of. He does everything he knows how to show me how much he loves me, and he's learning how to express himself more everyday. He took me to the Temple, and for that I am eternally grateful (get it? JK) I am so blessed to have him as the head of my eternal family. Love you baby!

Check it out....

So, I finally did it. I gave in to my urge. My urge to have short hair again.

Scroll...








Down...







My favorite is my really messy scrapbooking desk in the back ground. Wow, what a mess! (BTW, this was taken from my cell phone camera, so sorry about the quality. I couldn't do the picture in the bathroom mirror shot, my bathroom was too messy LOL)
The picture doesn't do it justice, much cuter in real life!

Where has my baby gone?

Seriously? Sophie is entering the "Almost Terrible Twos Phase" that seems to last until they are 20 years old. At least it feels that way. Abby is still in her's and she's going on 7. *sigh* Sophie has taken to the screaming and kicking fits whenever she is asked to do anything like.... breathing or eating. Or..... "Sophie it is not okay to take off your diaper after you went caca and run around the house continuing to go." What? SSCRREEEAAAMMMMMM!!!!!! kick kick kick and then funny, enough, run to the other side of the room and give Mom or Dad a really mean look. Yeah, pretty nasty. Luckily most of the fits are after she is told she can't write on the walls or when she needs to get dressed.

The real kicker of her fits is she has never been one to really throw a fit, so it's almost like she's been possessed, it's just that shocking.

I knew it would come, it did, now will it end? :) I think her sister has been teaching Sophie some tricks.

Have a good weekend everyone!!!!!!!!

A quick update for you all...

I am so sorry! I have been so busy that I haven't blogged. I've been getting bad. I just wanted to post a quick little update on the crazy thing my family just went through.

So, my hubbie hadn't been feeling good since he came back from the Father/Son Campout on the 17th. He had a fever, pain in his chess(that's for all you George Lopez peeps, I do know how to spell chest) chills, you name it! He couldn't sleep and was getting up all night to pretty much feel miserable and take more medication. Thursday morning, the 22nd, at 1:00AM! he got up for his routine, looked into the mirror and essentially said "Scr*w this" got his keys and drove himself to the hospital. Without waking me! Yup, there I was sound asleep because his butt hadn't woken me up getting back into bed and tossing and turning. I was enjoying my sleep!

Well, 6:00am, my butt decides to wake up. I started the bath because Soph and I like to take a hot bath in the morning (aren't we girly-girls) when I heard a knock upon my door. So, I stomped off the the door because the dogs were going crazy and barking. In mine opinion (Christine, get it?) the only downfall of dogs is the constant barking, like I said mine opinion.

Ah, the door, boy do I get sidetracked. It was on of James' workers (he has a landscaping company if you didn't know-FREE ESTIMATES (LOL) anyway, so Ray asked for the keys for the truck and then told me that James wasn't here (in broken English and me responding in broken Spanish, boy were we are pair). Well that tipped me off as weird! So I pulled out the Ye Old Hello Phone (that's what Abby called the phone a hello phone because you say Hello into it-she used to have her cute moments....okay she still does) called my hubbie and found out, as he whispered over the phone to me, that he had been admitted to Del E. Webb Memorial Hospital because they think he had pneumonia. Well, of course I started to cry, had to call my boss, drag the kids off to me mom's and then rush to the hospital.

Where he stayed until Saturday. Where he had to move to a heart monitoring unit because his blood pressure was too low. Where he had two CTs. Where he was coughing up blood. AND where my kids enjoyed the hospital food. Where I got to spend time really comforting him. Where I helped him to the bathroom. Where I buttered his bread and cut up his food. AND

Where he received his first real Priesthood Blessing. The one that made his temperature go away, the blood in his cough cease, the doctor's find the diagnosis (pneumonia caused by a fungal infection in his lung) and sent the best staff to take care of him.

I know that blessing is the reason he was healed. I know that his name being submitted at the temple is the reason he was healed. I know that Heavenly Father helped us in our time of need. So, I going to publicly thank my Heavenly Father here, at church and to anyone who can hear me, for helping my husband. For giving me such a supportive family and such supportive friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you....

Sorry my quick post turned out to be really long. Have a good one!

Back to being hungry...

So, after an amazing weekend of actually eating, I'm back to my diet again. *sigh* I have to say, I ate a little more than a should have, but I didn't completely wreck my diet. I just have to be extra good now! Saturday morning, when I weighed myself, I was down 17lbs. Pretty good. I started April 22.

On a side note, I had a wonderful Mother's Day. I hope everyone else did too. I can't show you what James got me since it does not exist. Okay, not totally. We did go to Wal-mart and he purchased me a cuddly panda from the movie Kung Fu Panda. He has a squishy belly.

I'll cuddle with him on Friday when James goes to the Father/Son Camp out. I'll miss his squishy belly. Oh, don't tell him that, tee-hee! Just the missing him part, he already knows about the belly. We match, that's why we work.

I also purchased a couple things for myself, from yup, you guessed, Etsy. And yes, they are handmade! I make sure! Vintage, ha!

P.S. Speaking of vintage, Indiana Jones has invaded our home. We spent many hours watching the movies (they were on USA this weekend) looking up stuff on the web, and telling Joey he doesn't need the hat to go with his whip (it's just the toy one, but it does make cool whip-cracking noises and plays the Indiana Jones theme-wicked neat!). Can't wait for the movie!

A Promised Video

Yup, here it is, Joey performing some High School Musical. And no, he has not gone to the Rainbow Side, real men perform in musicals.

The weird clap was on purpose, I assure you, he was trying to be funny...

Next time, the Grease move!

Microwave Courtesy-Slight gag warning!

Okay folks, I just posted another blog yesterday. If you get a chance, take a read. But, as I sit here at work attempting to get some work done, which as been extremely hard lately, I am overwhelmed with the need to blog something that just happened.

So, for those of you that work in an office, or indeed, those of you that own a microwave, understand that certain foods shouldn't be cooked at work/home in the microwave due to the adverse smell they create throughout the home or office. Basically, the "Thou shall not cook smelly food in thy microwave for it will produce gagging from thy family or co-workers." I am blogging this at 9:26am. Keep that in mind as I relate what just happened to me.

I work in an office right of a Unit in a Nursing Home. Unlike most Nursing Homes my work does not smell like an old lady that made an Oops. Yes, I said it, most places smell yucky. My work has a pleasant aroma of clean. So, anyhoo, I'm sitting in my office minding my own beeswax (as I tell my kiddos) when I get a whiff of something. Now, I know where all of your heads went, since I mentioned old people diapers before, but it was more like a someone hasn't emptied a garbage can since 1964 kind of smell. Well, I immediately check around my office, out in the hall before the realization hit me. Every once in a while in the morning I smell burning toast. It's because there is a Nutrition room on the unit next to me with a toaster, microwave, Fridge, juice machine, yada yada. I think my air conditioning is hooked up with it because although I can smell the toast burning, no one else can smell it in the hall. Coming to the realization that the smell could be coming from the Nutrition Room, I hot-foot-it over there to see what that Gag awful smell is.

Broccoli and Cauliflower mixed veggies at 9:20am.

Yup, some Certified Nursing Assistant trying to be healthy.

Apparently trying to make me puke all over my cute black shoes.

I am a fan of both of these veggies. I love veggies. I also love them after 11:00am in the morning...when they aren't cooked in a microwave when the smell is wafting into my office carried by a air conditioner.

So, just a reminder, please be courteous of what is cooked in the microwave. No, if I was evil, I'd lock her in my office and cook fish (another microwave unfriendly dish).

The Highlights-Updated

Well, I've been majorly sucking at this whole blog thing lately. So, I thought I'd at least throw up some highlights of the last couple weeks.

1. So, starting out. Dennyse, Tammy, Tammy's daughter Heather, Tammy's baby Jesse and I all went to the Women's Expo on the 19th. We were providing the distraction for Dennyse's surprise party, which was being organized by Dennyse's hubbie and Tammy's hubbie. We were all enjoying the expo, trying food, getting freebies, walking when we got a call that the party was being moved from the park to Dennyse's house. It was really funny trying to make changes, and call people all while Dennyse was around. Mostly funny because, as Dennyse admits, she's a bit nosey :) So, she kept asking who we were talking to. She's so much like my husband with that! Hee-hee! So, when the appointed time was getting close we left the expo and I asked to be taken to pick up my kids, much to Dennyse's annoyance. She was hungry! As was I, but hey, we were fixing her a BBQ at home, so we needed to get there. She dropped me off and Tammy distracted her at Target until it was time to go. When she arrived, I can say she was genuinely surprised. It was really a good time. The kids went in the pool, although it was freezing, and we ended the night playing Mexican Train Dominoes (our fave).

2. I started a diet last week. Yes, I know, you've heard this before. *sigh* believe me, I know. So, I'm on week 2 and down 10lbs. I sure hope I can continue. I still love food and it's been hard during our separation and impending divorce(me and food, it's a little comparison-Added for Amie, sorry to freak you out!). Alas, it doesn't like me. It's completely abused me physically and emotionally. I know it's best for us both to go our separate ways.

3. We visited our friends out in Black Canyon City. Eeek! It's quite a little drive to take on a Saturday afternoon, especially when you have church at 8am the next morning! For those of you that don't know, take the I-17 past Anthem (that like, where the like, outlets are) and keep going and don't blink for you may miss Black Canyon City. They are such cool friends. I think we are going to try to send missionaries out that way. They would really embrace them.

4. Church on Sunday was wonderful! It began a little strange. My second counselor was home sick and my chorister was there but because of dental surgery couldn't open her mouth. My 1st counselor and Secretary were problem solving, so I conducted, did the music and did Junior sharing time. It was really fun though. The best was the Junior sharing time. I introduced a Reverence Butterfly to Primary using the story "To Catch a Butterfly" from the May 2001 Friend. Look it up, it's very beautiful. The children loved it! You could have heard a pin drop it was so quiet in there!

5. I came across a couple books I saw on Amie's blog. "Uglies and Pretties" Well, I read them both in two days they are quite addicting. It's so nice to just fall into an easy breezy book. I'm being to really enjoy Young Adult Fiction. Thank you Stephenie Meyer, thank you. Don't look down on it. Sometimes is nice to think Pretty, adult books are way bogus (Amie might be the only one to get that).

6. Did I mention how wonderful television is? I know, I should be doing better things with my time but, hey, what for when I can watch The Office and Ugly Betty. Not to mention The Tudors. *sigh* Even though I know he killed 2 of his six wives, he is way hot! So, for your viewing pleasure: (BTW, just so you know because I DVR the show I can fast forward through the naughty scenes-I'm not that bad of a girl you know)

My new stuff....

Okay, I've had a request to post a blog so someone has something to read at work, so here goes:



Here it is my brand new Dell Inspiron laptop PC! Yup, I'm so lazy I must lie in bed to read emails. LOL! I love it! Did my taxes on in and everything! Woo-hoo!

Last week I got to attend several events for my children. First, Tuesday was the Pinewood Derby. Joey didn't place, but he and his sister had a great time. I didn't get to take pictures because I was acting as the Announcer and James was home with a Sicky Sophie (she's all better now).

Because I actually have videos of the rest of the week's lovely dance performances, of course, I can't get either of my computers to allow me to upload the videos. I keep getting a Blogger error message, yada yada, contact them, yackity smackity. So, needless to say, no videos. I'll definitely post those later. But, let me break down what happened.

So, on Wednesday, after the Derby, Abby had a dance performance. She was enrolled in a dance class with the City of Surprise, that culminated into a 30 second dance to a High School Musical song. Yup, that's it! They did do lot's of other stuff and most of them are 5 and 6 years old, so I shouldn't be surprised. But, since it involved my baby, I loved it. Very cute. Also nice that we didn't have to sit through an hour of Swan Lake. Abby bid adieu to her Skinny Minnie dance teacher until the next day because she also taught Joey's musical theatre class.

Cut to Thursday night, same time, same place, same teacher, almost same song, different kid. Joey's class did another High School Musical song (Joe tried to get them to do something from Wicked, Spamalot and Joseph and the ATDC, but no dice...little girls love HSM-apparently alot of big girls too). Joey's song was almost the whole song, but considering they only do 45 minutes for 5 weeks, what else could we expect. It was cute, it also involved him doing a little hip movement thing from Grease (dang Blogger!!!! I promise I'll put up that video, HILAR!!). It was really cute, James was a little uncomfortable-guys really have this fear that their sons will go to the Rainbow Side (hah! darkside) even they do anything they feel is slightly girly, but James would never admit it. I could just see it in his eyes. BTW, Joey stayed in that class because there were 3 boys and 16 girls. Did I mention he is a very smart little boy? Did I also mention every time I picked him up he was always either being chased by, or surrounded by girls. Yup, that's my little man.

Since I was really pretty yucky that week, Friday night was spent at home with my hubby. The kids were all hyped because we had a Ward Picnic on Saturday. It was really fun too. Water balloons filled the air, lot's of good conversation too. The evening ended with the Primary children ice blocking on the blocks of ice we had in our water cooler. I used to love doing that! Now I realize I need a bigger piece of ice. *sigh* So, I didn't try. I just watched the kiddos enjoy the day. Everyone was bummed to have to go home.

I guess I could try to tackle this week...well it really amounted to this. Monday: work and a migraine. Tuesday: work, Taxes, migraine, Dennyse's birthday and book club missed for a migraine. I did watch a funny movie though. It's called Lars and the Real Girl. For those of you that didn't have an "Inactive time" a Real Girl doll is a really really fancy blow up doll. Aw, but the kicker is, that's not at all what the movie is about. In fact, no hanky panky occurs. It was actually a PG-13 movie only for content because of what she is. Look it up, it's actually quite cute. In fact, I don't even remember very many curse words...anyhoo. Wednesday: work, take boys to scouts Thursday: work and a Wal-Mart trip to furnish my 6 year old with grub for her field trip today. I actually had a conversation with her about the kids wanted to get sneezed on by a giraffe. Weird! Friday: work, work, work, yuck!!!!

This weekend should be fun though...anyhoo, until next post which will be sooner, rather than later. TTFN!

RenFest!!

The last Saturday in March we went to RenFest 2008 out in AJ. It was really fun. Hot, but fun. Since it was pretty smoking for March, I decided not to wear my costume, mostly because it is black and I would roast. I was disappointed, of course, but I figure there is always next year! So, once we drove a million miles to AJ, after getting lost, detoured, etc. we got into the fair. Then I realized I left my wallet in the car, so I left the kiddos with my mom (James had to work, so Mom and I took the babies) and hoofed it back to the car, another million miles away. This is the point that I was glad I didn't wear my costume I was so hot!!!

Okay, once I got back inside I saw: An Ent! Hello Lord of the Rings fans, check it out a TreeHerder!!

Then, I found the kids talking with a sheep lady. One of her sheep had a disease of sleep and just hung by a rope dragged behind her. They really are a special brand of people, RenFair folks...

After checking out the Torture Dungeon...let me speak a moment about this...for $1.50 we got to experience the best thing at the fair. If you can ignore all the torture scenes you get to stand in a freezing cold AIR CONDITIONED!!! exhibit. That's why it was the best!!!! Anyhoo, after the Dungeon..Lunch!
The kids chowed down on Turkey legs:


Abby went on the swings:


Sophie napped....


We enjoyed many shows and shopping, but the best part, by far is this Fairy. She is just awesome. She gives the children a fairy stone with lucky pixie dust. Here's a couple pics and a video of her playing her fairy flute:


We had a great time, although, next year, I did get a promise from Mom that she'd watch the kiddos so James and I could go together. So Huzzah!

Easter Finally...

Here's some pics of Easter around the Cavazos household. On Sunday morning we went to church and had a wonderful time. I sang with the choir and felt totally wonderful about expressing my love of the Savior through song. After church we went next door to my mother-in-law's house. Yes, for those of you that don't know, I live next door to the MIL. It's totally fine. Helpful even, like we are out of butter, go see if your Nana has some kinda helpful...or I need a break from you crazy children, go see if your Nana is home. Anyhoo, we had BBQ with my SIL and BIL's kids. They are a little strange, so it's not exactly fun, more like "and at the Last Supper they tapped a keg, hence why we are loaded on Easter." *sigh* So luckily we got to go to my mom's house later where folks are sober, happy and intellegent.
So, here's some pictures...
First some pictures of the girl's haul...I didn't seem to get one of Joe's





Soph hugging her bunny..I know, she's just has on a diaper, my kids don't like to where pajamas..


Next, they were flying kites and Joey had a very Charlie Brown moment with his kite..


That darn Kite Eating tree!!! (anybody remember Peanuts? anyone?)

Here are the girl's enjoying themselves...





And my nieces, don't you just love Ceeanna's scrunchy face?




Overall is was pretty enjoyable...coming next..RenFest!

I'm looking over a four leafed clover...

I thought I'd share my hubbie's discovery at work today. He was tearing out clover, then as we tend to do, took a bit of a closer look.



It may be hard to see, but there is actually 4 leaves on that there clover! Funny, yesterday he had corned beef and cabbage, today a shamrock :)

I'm sending good luck everyone's way!!!!

Easter update will post when I have more energy :)