time slipping away

Is it just me or does time go faster now? It seems like just a few days ago that i was putting away the Christmas Tree and now I am looking at Gaiges B-day,Gaiges 16th b-day...KILLER!!! Tomorrow he will turn 16 and we have plans to get up early (earlier than normal) and head to Roosevelt, thats where the Drivers License Office is open on Thursday and heaven forbid we wait until Monday when it is here in Vernal...Anyway we will be there when they open at 7am...then we are going to have brekfast...then Gaige will drive us back to Vernal (licensed) and go to school...I can't even believe that he is old enough for all this, I know I am for sure NOT!
Now as for a Sweet (or not so sweet)16th...we have rented the Vernal Theatre for today and he has invited anyone and everyone to come watch the newest ThrillBillies Movie (Travis Pastrana and friends doind crazy dirt bike things) on the big screen. He also got to take a guys trip last weekend to Sand Mountain with the new dirt bike we got him for his b-day. Then there will be cake and ice cream on Sunday with the Family. So, need less to say, he has had a week long celebration of being 16...which is how is should be right?
We love you Gaige and are so proud of you, you are such a great kid, me and Dad have had so much fun watching you grow up. Hope you have a super fun 16th birthday!!!

back to reality

well it has been a little bit since i posted...so i thought that it was about time to catch up and show how muc fun we had on our vacation...Which was TOTALLY amazing!!! We had such an amazing time and loved litterally everything about our trip. Puerto Rico is beautiful! We spent tons of time on the beach just playing in the sand! We snorkeled, swam, built sand castles, splashed and just relaxed for the wntire time!

Stole This one from my Cousin it looked fun and I am waiting for laundry to dry so...

37 ODD Things about you! If you opened this, FILL IT OUT!
Learn 37 things about your friends, and let them learn 37 things about you! Send back to me and to several more friends !!

1. Do you like bleu cheese? LOVE IT!!! it is one of my favorite things in the whole world.
2. Have you ever smoked? Yep tried it even tried a cigar YUCKY!!!
3. Do you own a gun? I have a 22, but Jeff has a lot of them
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? I never liked Kool-aid still don't Oh wait is Diet Coke Kool-Aid?
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes HATE THEM!!!
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I like hot dogs with the following rules...BBQed, grilled or roasted over the fire, extra well done with Ketchup, Mustard and relish
7. Favorite Christmas movie?ELF... Shocking!
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water.
9. Can you do push ups? More than one? Of course!
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I love any especially turquoise
11. Favorite hobby? Beading, scrapbooking, shopping, reading, photography I have lots
12. Do you have A. D. D.? Yes I do I was even diagnosed with Adult ADD
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? Not since my miraculous surgery 3 years ago!!! Jeff and I bothe had Lasic..LOVED IT!
14. Middle name? Danielle after my grandpa Daniel Thacker
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: This is silly... can't wait for vacation, should do the laundry now the timer just went off
16 Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, Diet Coke, Tea
17. Current worry? Not much!!!
18. Current hate right now? Not much really!!
19. Favorite place to be? Home, the carribean, shopping...
20. How did you bring in the New Year? Rocked it out at my house with Friends and family!!!
21. Where would you like to go? I would like to go to greece...next year maybe!!!
22. Name three people who will complete this. I don’t know but I really would enjoy reading other people’s answers though.
23. Do you own slippers? Yes, but yesterday and today I could not find one of them so I may have to go shopping for new ones!!!
24. What color shirt are you wearing? Black t-shirt with tan hoodie over it
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?No too slippery!!!
26. Can you whistle? Yes
27. Where are you now? Home
28. Would you be a pirate?YES FOR SURE!!! love to plunder and pillage!!! I would be great at it!!!ARG!
29. What do you sing in the shower? Can't tell...
30. Favorite Girl's Name? Ashlin cuz she's my favorite girl!!!
31. Favorite boy's name? Gaige, Keenen & Jeff (i have to say that right?)
32. What's in your pocket right now? cell phone
33. Last thing that made you laugh? I laugh at myself all the time...I am hillarious...jsut a minute ago I hit my head on the dryer door when it came back after i flung it open...now thats funny stuff
34. What vehicle do you drive? Dodge Nitro with nos...j/k
35. Worst injury you've ever had? Cracked my pelvis when I was 15 still remember the pain...
36. Do you love where you live? Yep Vernal is a great place to live and I am learning to love my new house...already love the basement witht he door to shut when the kids are too loud!
37. How many TV's do you have in your house? 3

That was fun for me anyway... now you all have fun with it too!!!

Happy Birthday Jeffy!!!

This year for Jeffs birthday we are giving him the most awesome gift...because it is for all of us!!! But don't tell him...
We are going on VACATION!!! My favorite thing!!! We will be gone for his birthday so I told him it was all for him... SO I get out of Birthday and Valentine Day too!!! Just kidding, we are so excited to get out of this cold and have a little bit of fun in the sun, it just happened that a week that Jeff had off that was in Februaru (the slowest time for me at work)ended up being over his birthday and so that will make the trip all the more fun.
The kids are all geared up and ready to pack...there is a problem however when packing for a warm vacation in the winter, where do you get shorts? Thank heavens for the internet I have found all the flip-flops, shorts, swimsuits and sundresses we need.
Oh Ya! We are going to a small town in Puerto Rico called Rincon for a few days then off to a tiny Island(21 miles wide) called Vieques for the rest of the days. No plans till we get there except for beach bummin. We will probably go snorkeling and diving at some point but I was told not to book us up...so we are flying by the seat of our pants I guess. CAN"T HARDLY WAIT!!! the photo is a beach in Vieques

our little town

well this happened last week and I didn't think it was noteworthy until now and a recent email from a friend who is traveling over seas... she told us about the poverty and sickness she had seen that was uncomprehendable. So it made it all the sweeter when I remembered what ashlin had said last week as we were driving into town from Roosevelt. Just as we topped to hill coming into town she let out a huge sigh and said, "Ya know Mom I just love Vernal". At the time there was no signifigance except yet another funny thing that Ashlin had said until I read the email from my friend and thought about how lucky we really are to be here not just in Vernal but the USA and that even though we are seeing some time of a little less we still have it pretty darn good. She was right there is alot to love about out town and the things that we enjoy. So what that we might have to be frugal with our money and go with out a few luzuries. We still live in the best place in the world...Thanks Ashlin for keeping it real, she is always my bright spot.

A trip to IKEA

Well we wanted to do a little post Christmas shopping before the kids went back to school we loaded up and took a little weekend trip to Salt Lake... We were on the hunt for a new TV, a couch and a loveseat. The kids each were looking for new bedspreads stuff like that to make thier new rooms look good. So we hit all the favorite stores and ended up with too much stuff to stuff in our car...Then we went to IKEA...Jeff went nuts...I went nuts... the kids went nuts...we loved and hated it all at the same time! We got shelves, frames, cups, sheets, and bed, mirrors, well you name it! Then, it came time to get it home and that is what you get in the photo...we looked like the Clampets hit IKEA we laughed so hard at ourselves... but we made it home and so did our LOAD... and the TV and Furniture from RC Willey??? gets DELIVERED today...It wouldnt fit...

Christmas & New Years

Well as you all know we were moving at Christmas time which made for some fun times... It all turned out in the end and we had yet another wonderful Christmas... Jeff got a food dehydrator and a jery maker(which he has used non-stop since)we both got a beautiful entertainment center and Jeff gave me a WII, Ashlin got a new Pink RipStick(a skate board with only 2 wheels) and a Minky blanket, Keenen got his own tool set and a digital camera and Gaige got snow shoes and together they got an XBOX 360 so they were pretty well set up.
We did all the fun Christmas traditions this year even in the chaos, including gingerbread houses and all the other have to do's in our family at Christmas.
This year for Christmas dinner before we went to the movie (another family tradition is to go to the movie on Christmas night) we went to my Moms with Jamie, Amy, Baeli, Caradie & Kevin and their kids and we had a huge Crab and Shrimp fest...well years ago Jamie (my older brother) was allergic to shrimp and crab, but had since out grown it and had not had any reactions to either for liek 15 years...UNITL Christmas night 08when he over did it I guess and so needless to say He and Amy spent the evening at the emergency room instead of at the movie. He has been told to not chance it again and was given an epipen to carry with him at all times.OOPS!

It was so nice to be here at our new house semi unpacked with no worries for the holidays. I felt really blessed to have had another amazing year with my amazing little family, with so many changes having taken place in 08 I am interested to see what 09 brings us. We'll be ready though!

Moving Day...Finally

Well I think that it is finally the day, we are going to close on our house and start the big move. Thankfully we have 90% of our stuff there and they have the same here so that should save us both some headach in the snow.
But at least we will both be in before Christmas, in but we will see how settled huh?

So it might be a while until I check back in...wish me luck!!!

Sad Day

Well I am a little emotional today and I debated wether or not to add yet another post today but since I am already bawling I guess I should get it all out...
A special little member of our family passed yesterday. Now I know many of you have heard me say that I hate my dogs and that they are the biggest pains but when you loose one it is hard they just become such a huge part of your family. They are always happy to see you and always love you. So yesterday when my aunt called to tell me that Ziggy had been ran over it didnt really hit me, then Ashlin called me at work, it was just getting dark,and she was outside looking for him. She was so upset because she didnt want him to get too cold...That is whem I lost it. So I ran home and consoled her and cried with her. Then Jeff came home and had to go get him and burry him...I told him to wait and he said he couldn't he didn't want him to get too cold...then I lost it again. It was really hard for Jeff to burry a pet that we all loved so much. Akeela our other dog wouldn't even pick up her head last night, I could tell that she knew what had happened they loved eachother. And this morning I am still crying over the little thing. He really was the best little dog and we will miss him dearly.

Our not so huge Christmas Tree

No our present are not that huge our tree is just the little...
This year as we have waited (4weeks)to close on our house swap we decided to wait until we moved to put up our tree but as the time has went on I felt more and more guilty about not having a Christmas tree for the kids(and me.) So last weekend we got a 3 foot tree and decorated it with pine cones and candycanes (that we have eaten already). You would have thought that it was the most beautiful tree on the earth Ashlin loves it and actually so do I. I guess the saying it true...
"No matter the size any Christmas tree is 30 feet tall in the eyes of a Child" So this year out not so huge Christmas tree will be just as wonderful and last years 9foot one...

Grandma & Grandpa Bowthorpe

I am one of the luckiest people in the world to still have one set of grandparents still alive at my age. My kids have been lucky to have grown a lot of thier life with them around and very healthy for most of it. However we are feeling the effects of thier age lately especially with my Grandpa being diagnosed with cancer and my Grandma with alot of different ailements. They have been there for everything and help me in so many ways, they have taught me so much like how to work hard, sew, quilt embrodery, crochet, cook, garden and so many other things, and Grandpa has always know how to do it the right way too. But most of all I have watched how they are there for each other and stuck through everything that has come thier way loosing childern, family conflicts, sicknesses, the years of struggling with money and just dealing with all kind of situations and still being there as the rock of our family together. We have alway known where to get a snack or meal and where to be able to kick back and relax or get a lecture. SO this year at our family Christmas party when I looked over and saw them holding hands it put it all into light for me that through it all that all they needed... eachother. They are the best example or true love. I want to be just like them when I grow up...

for those that asked

The sleigh was was all packed, the reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt by the side of his bed,
"Dear Father, " he prayed, "Be with me tonight.
There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.
My sack will hold toys to grant all kids' wishes.
The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I can do all these things, Lord, only through You.
I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.
I do this only to honor the birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.
So to all of my friends, lest Your glory I rob,
Please, Lord, remind them who gave me this job."

The one I have has a longer story but it is still a very toughing story and I love it the ornaments are available at http://www.catholicsupply.com/christmas/kneelsanta.html and http://willowtreehome.com/Home-Decor/182-26779.html I am sure you can find it about anywhere

Fun for Christmas Time

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Love both!

2. Real tree or artificial? Fake. Bad memories of our first Christmas tree and smoke...

3. When do you put up the tree? Day after Thanksgiving...usually...not this year though

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually day after Christmas

5. Do you like Eggnog? Yup!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cheerleader Kimberly doll

7. Hardest person to buy for? No one really I usually have something in mind for everyone... O wait maybe my Dad and Alisa!!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Kids

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes Thanks to Ann, Megan & Ashley (I LOVE MY NATIVITY SCENE)

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Usually hand made cards mailed... I am a little lacking in all areas this year...

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I have liked them all


12. Favorite Christmas movie? I want to say movies there are several, Elf, all 3 Santa Clause's, Its a wonderful life, A Chritmas Carol, and all the original cartoons

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I like to go when the stores and malls are all decorated and there are alot of people then I go home and order from the internet

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No but I have recycled gift bag and stuff like that

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? food

16. Lights on the tree? duh who wouldnt????

17. Favorite Christmas song? I love them all and was so thrilled when I figured out which channel was all Christmas all the time on Serious plus I have a huge selection of CD's and about 180 songs on my IPOD


18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home please!!!!


19. Can you name all Santa's reindeer? Yea!

20. Angel on the tree top or Star? Star, or big bow or spikes just depends on how I feel when we are am putting it up

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? One or two gifts on Christmas Eve. the kids think they are getting ripped off because they know the gift I let them open is going to be PJ"S

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People thinking that they need to be too extravagant with thier gifts

23. Favorite ornament? I have one of Santa looking at baby Jesus with his hat off it has a really neat poem with it but I love my nativity scene the most

24. Favorite Christmas dinner? we have a family Christmas party every year and this years was today and I think that it will be remembered as a favorite...i was really touched to look over and see my Grandma and Grandpa (who are both getting very old and my grandpa has cancer... they might not be around for many more family Christmas parties) holding hands. I took a picture of thier hands together. They are my favorite people in the whole world and I am afraid that I have not done a very good job showing them that.

25. Favorite Christmas cocktail? Cocktails no but I love Christmas Tea's ones with pepermint or cinnamon or citrus and ofcourse Hot Chocolate

26. What do you want for Christmas this year? To unpack...

27. What don't you want for Christmas this year? More stuff to find a place for

28. What is something you have never done that you want to do for Christmas? Some day I want to take a vacation for Christmas, to spend it a totally different way like on the beach or something like that

It's CHRISTMAS time EVERYONE should do this it was fun!!

This one was funny THANKS DONI

My Eight Alter Egos
1. My rock star name: *Gidget Nitro*
{First pet and current car}

2. My gangsta name: *M&M CC (Chocolate Chip)*
{Favorite candy bar and favorite cookie}

3. My detective name: *Black dog*
{Favorite color and favorite animal}

4. My Star Wars name: *Atwst of None* (that one makes no sense for me)
{First three letters of last name and first two letters of first name then the word "of" then a medication you are on}

5. My superhero name: *The Pink T*
{2nd favorite color and favorite drink with "The" in front}

6. My Nascar name: *Thelma Leona* (Now that didn't sound like a Red Neck!)
{First names of your grandmothers}

7. My "lover" name: *Love Spell M&M*
{Name of your favorite perfume/cologne and your favorite candy}

8. Witness-protection name: *Dan* (My Mom doesn't have a middle name)
{Mother's and father's middle names}

Tag to Everyone!!

sorry for the delay

Well I know that everyone who reads this blog has been on pins and needles wondering what in the world has been going on at our house and I am sorry for the delay... And alot has been going on first so Jamie doesn't feel bad I didnt get to go to the Twilight movie and the super fun girls weekend in SLC we thought we were going to be closing on our house(next story) and so I stayed home and Jeff felt soooo bad, that I had to miss the fun time so he tried to make it up to me by buying tickets for the friday night showing. It was fun and I loved the movie (not like the books) and Jeff even said he liked them movie and would go see the next one with me.
Now the house thing, we are in the process of making a house swap with some people we know, they love our house and have loved it ever since we finished it so they approached us about a trade and so we are in the process of doing this it is taking a little while and we have a few hoops to jump through but the end result will be a simpler life for us with alot of financial burden lifted, although there is a basement to finish we will have about the same size of home. We are ready fot the move and are looking forward to being settled and getting the basement done. Anyway that is about it, a quiet Thanksgiving and hope for a quiet Christmas too.