Black Friday

Though I have never really understood the Black Friday thing, I decided I wanted to try it out this year... just for fun. I had talked to a few friends, also known as black friday experts on the best kept secrets. So after thanksgiving dinner I scoured the ads looking for everything I just couldn't live without. I even had Greg convinced to get up with me but as the day wore on Greg changed his mind, telling me I could just get his items for him when I went out. I quickly corrected him telling him this outing included him too. As he went to bed he said, "wake me up and MAYBE I will go." My body miraculously woke up at 3:59 just in time to hear the the 4:00am alarm.At this point Greg decided to come, since the alarm also woke him up. We (me Greg and Bubba) jumped in the car at 4:15 and headed to walmart. When we got there there were already alot of people standing around pallets of stuff waiting for the 5 am frenzy to begin. I found my place by my pallet, and waited... to just do whatever everybody else did. Someone came over the intercom at 5 and the grabbing and running began. For a moment I just stood with a huge smile on my face and laughed, and then I quickly realized this was game time and began running and grabbing myself. Racing from one side of walmart to the next to get all my needed items. This was actually funner than I had expected. We met back up and gathered all our loot in one cart and sorted though what we really needed. And then we headed to the checkout line and waited to buy our coveted items. I not only went to walmart, I also visited Target, shopko, and Toys r Us. I would say I had a great time, this was actully really fun to me. I later asked Greg if he had fun and he said "I don't think I would call it fun but I would do it again" Sounds like I scored!!

Off to grandma's house we went...

For Thanksgiving this year we decided to buck the rotation system and head to Boise. We are usually so religious in our holiday rotation but this year I really wanted to go to Boise to visit my grandparents. We haven't been to Boise in years and I felt my girls needed to have some good fun memories of my grandparents at their home. I have so many fond memories of my grandparents over the years especially at their house. So off to Boise we went, the drive was long, (a little over 5 hours) but well worth it. Pop in a few movies for the girls and they are good.

I don't know how to explain the warm fuzzy feeling that you always feel at my grandma's house but once again it was there. It felt so nice to be there with so many people who I love, Grandma and Grandpa, Sheri, my parents, bubba and of coarse my little family.


The weekend was full of good food, Greg loved the mashed potatoes (I don't make mashed potatoes because I don't like them myself) Matayia tried StoveTop for the first time along with Kaitlyn. The both thought it was great, after I convinced them that it was just soft croutons!! Though Thanksgiving never really fills me up to the stuffed stage I really enjoyed the lemon merigne pie. Matayia also tried Pumpkin pie for the first time, she said she like it but actually only ate the cream off the top!



The playground at the schoolyard, was a great hit with the girls. Bubba too!! Not really for Bubba but she definitely climbed the ranks of the favorite aunt by spending alot of time with Matayia and Kaillyn there. Thanks Bubba!!

Greg commented while we in Boise that our stuff was taking over my grandparents house. I looked around and I think he may of been right, I know we bring alot of work. I am so thankful for Grandparents who have always made me feel so special. But I feel even more grateful that my kids are lucky enough to feel the same love from them. When we left i promised Matyaia that I won't wait so long to take her back to Boise again. And a promise is a promise, see you soon Grandma!

My Thankful ABC's

A is for Airplanes I am thankful airplanes can take us all over the world to discover new places and visit my family members.
B is for Blogging The only way I can successfully keep a journal
C is for Cell phones not necessarily my cell phone, but my dads. I think of all the time my dad spends in the car and I am thankful he uses his cell phone to keep in touch with me.
D is for DVR Need I say more, the best spent $5 in my budget
E is for Education So thankful my children have the opportunity to be educated.
F is for Friends Not just thankful for good friends, but friends who help me to be a better person
G is for Greg Thankful not just for him, but thankful he puts up with me.
H is for Heat vents - My favorite winter pastime, curling up in a blanket on top of a heat vent.
I is for Instant Messenger - Keeps me in touch with Miranda, wherever she is in the world.
J is for Job Chart-I am thankful to be able to teach my children the value of work.
K is for Kaitlyn I am thankful for the spunk Kaitlyn brings into our home
L is for Love I am thankful to be able to feel true love
M is for Matayia I am thankful for such a great great helper
N is for Nightime reading, I am thankful to lay on a bed and read with my girls.
O is for Oregon, not just the state but all the memories I have enjoyed there over the years
P is for Paying Bills-I am so so thankful at this time to be ABLE to pay my bills while so many are not.
Q is for Quiet Sunday Afternoons
R is for Ranch dressing This may seem silly, But I thankful for the taste of ranch that can help me eat almost everything without gagging.
S is for Sisters I am thankful for all my sisters all for different reasons (not enough space here to explain)
T is for Texting A new found way to keep in touch with Melissa.
U is for USA I am thankful for the freedoms I enjoy living in ths country
V is for Vision I often think of Grandma in her last couple of years without her vision. I marvel at her grace. And appreciate my vision even more.
W is for Walking I think of Travis and his struggle to do such a simple thing, I am grateful for my working body.
X is for Tax returns (the best I could do with X) Always thankful for a little extra money.
Y is for Young Women Girls Not only do I love my Young Women girls they make me thankful I am not their age again, going through the struggles of teen age years.
Z is for Ziploc Bags maybe a stretch for Z but come on what would we do without them

I am Thankful for...

Last night at dinner Greg and I were talking to the girls about why we celebrate Thanksgiving. We talked about the pilgrims and Indians, why we eat turkey for thanksgiving, and explained we had many many things to be thankful for. We then proceeded to talk about things we were thankful for. Greg and I named a few things we were thankful for, and Matayia followed. Kaitlyn patiently listened to every ones list and then replied "I am thankful for prayers" I looked at her a little stunned, but felt a somewhat proud. Prayers at our house are often a time for fighting. It seems it should always be someone else's turn, which always causes a fight on who "gets to say the prayer. I often wonder if the things I teach my kids really sink in and Kaitlyn taught in that small comment, we are on the right path. However, I am sure there will be a fight on who "gets" to say the prayer for dinner tonight.

Matayia's Talk

Matayia volunteered to give a talk in primary last week. When she came home from primary she was so excited to write her talk herself. Her talk was supposed to be on how she can be a good example for her family. She thought and thought about this subject and wrote a short talk by herself. ( I really only helped her a little bit)

It went like this...

I am trying to be like Jesus, I am following in his ways. Jesus set a good example for us, and I can set a good example for my family. 10 ways i am setting a good example are...

1. Being nice
2. Being helpful at home
3. Listening to my teachers
4. watching good TV
5. Obeying my parents
6. Being honest
7. Talking nicely
8. Going to church
9. Paying tithing
10.Sharing with everyone

All of these things are important, but I want to talk about my favorite three.

1. Being nice to others, Jesus said " a commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loves you" Being nice to others is sometimes hard but I know Jesus is happy when I show love to everyone.

2. Being Honest, In the 13th article of faith it says... We believe in being honest. When I am honest I am happy.

3. Watching good TV. There are lots of different shows i can watch on TV. But sometimes there are shows that say bad things or are not good. I can be a good example by turning off the TV and walking away.

I am trying to be like Jesus by setting a good example for my family and friends. I am happy when I am a good example. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

I loved how much thought Matayia put into this talk, gone are the days of me writing her talk and making her memorize it, just another sign of her growing up.

My little project

I love to go to the DI. Some may find this funny but I just love to see what I can find there. I often have to remind my self while I am there that I don't need to fill my house with junk. But the other day while I was looking for something else I walked by this little desk.



I stopped, I looked at it and thought it was cute but told myself to walk on. Later that night I talked Greg into coming back to the DI with me to see if the little desk I now wanted was still there. It seems as though our laptop had found a home on our kitchen table and it was getting annoying moving it every night for dinner. I decided that this little desk would solve the laptop table problem. I think Greg secretly hoped the desk would be gone when we got there (He is not always fond of my DI treasures) but to my excitement it was still there. Greg couldn't refuse my little project and at $20 who could. Greg did make me promise right there in the DI isle that I would have it painted and done in 1 week. Greg seems to think I have a small problem with not finishing my projects. (I am not saying he is always wrong on this one) I promised, and we brought home the desk. And in less than a week we now have this cute little piece of furniture, a perfect home for our laptop.




Though the desk is technically done, I am not sure I love the drawers stained. But I figured it was easier to paint over stain, then paint. So sometime in the future I may paint the drawers white also. But for the sake of the 1 week deadline the desk is done. (my main reason for doing this post is to document to Greg that I do finish projects)

I did

I did, I really did put my christmas tree up today. I said I would never put my christmas tree up before Thanksgiving. But I broke down today and put it up. However, I can proudly say there are no decorations on the tree (just lights) that I am waiting to do after Thanksgiving.

Locks of Love

I decide awhile back that I wanted to grow my hair out and donate it to "locks of love" The problem with this was I was really getting tired of my long hair, and it wasn't quite long enough to donate yet. (I needed 10 inches) But I could not handle being what felt like Rapunzel any longer. So I cut my hair, I was very comfortable with cutting about 7 to 8 inches off. But when I got there to get my hair cut I just couldn't handle throwing that hair away. So I went for the full 10 inches. I went from the longest I can ever remember my hair being to the shortest. Matayia and Kaitlyn were facinated by the ponytail I brought home. (You mail your hair to Locks for Love)Matayia loved to smell it, she said it smelled so clean and Kaitlyn just wanted to carry it around and show everyone who came to our house. Both of these things really grossed me out, so I packaged up my hair and mailed it as soon as possible. I am getting used to my short hair, though maybe the summer is a better time to have short hair because my neck has gotten a little cold the last little while. Looking at the bright side I am perfectly capable of growing back my hair while others don't always have that same luxury. I will happily just buy a new warm scarf, to keep my bare neck warm this winter.