Time to celebrate

Happy Birthday to my Dad.






Happy 10th Birthday to C-.




My dad and C- share the same birthday.


Happy New Year to Everyone!!!!

Happy Birthday Kim

Today is my sister Kims birthday. I only have silly pictures of her on my computer. Sorry Kim. I hope that you have a wonderful day. Love ya sis!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

No School tomorrow

Just in....

No school Thursday due to bad weather
Wednesday December 17, 2008 -
Due to weather conditions and for the safety of students, all Clark County School District schools will be closed tomorrow (Thursday). Students should not report to campus.

Can you believe it? The weather is nothing compared to places that are use to the cold snowy weather. I am glad it is though... I was not looking forward to riding my bike in the rain or snow cold morning.

The kids (Randy included) had fun playing in the snow today.

I started to take pictures but then my batteries went dead. There was more snow that fell then what is in the pictures.

having fun Christmas decorating

This is my Winter blog. I hope that you enjoy it. The decorations are of both the inside and outside of our house. The inside was done by Judi and the boys and I. The outside was done by the guys over Thanksgiving. Thanks to the help of my Brother-in Laws, Keith, and Aaron and my newphew Rob. They helped hang the lights. I later added the statues in the front of the house after they left. I hope that you enjoy the pictures. From our Family to yours "Merry Christmas".

Keith, Aaron, Rob, and I hang the lights outside

I got the statues from Mom
We have had to pick them up 2 times because of the wind

Our tree in the Livingroom. Mostly homemade ordiments

Judi did this on the piano








our other tree in the T.V. room.

Video of outside

winter is here

Randy came home today really early in the morning from work. He told me that it was snowing when he got off work. But of course it did not stick. That was near Summerlin. Someone else told me that it was snowing near the airport earlier too.
Who would of thought that it snows in Las Vegas. Believe it or not it does get cold in the desert during winter. But of course it is nothing compared to how cold it gets in other places. Since we have moved here in 2001 I have seen it hail 3 times where we live, and snow 1 time in the valley and it stayed for a day or two. The kids and Randy had fun playing in the snow at a park that day. Of course it snows on Mt. Charleston.

After I picked up T- it started to get cold and the rain turn to snow for a few seconds. Here are some pics of snow on Randy.

Christmas Party

Yesterday night Randy and I went to his Union Christmas party for Albertsons. We both had fun there. It was held at the Hilton in one of the Convention halls, so it was really nice. There was lots of food, dancing, and prizes given away. Once again Randy's name was not called for winning a prize. Bummer!! There was some really nice prizes given away.
Last year when we received a letter when it was going to happen I asked Randy if we could go just this one time so we will know what it was like. As we were coming out of it last year Randy informed me that we were going to go this year. YEAH!! He was not sure that he would get the night off to go this year because all three of the people that close requested it off. The other night Randy surprised me by bring home the tickets to go. He even arranged for a babysitter. Wow!! He was really excited to go.
His Union covers a large area all the way up the St. George and all the grocery stores. Randy was saying last year it was on a Saturday so this year it was on a Friday. It had a better turn out last year.
I wore the velvet black pants and blazer and red shirt outfit that I got from my mother-in-law. I was so going to bring a camera and take pictures but of course I forgot it. I did not even have pockets, and did not want to bring a purse. Sorry! But I did have a lot of fun.
I sure miss dancing. My feet were hurting by the time the party was over. I am glad that Randy and I were able to go out for the night. It is always good to get out of the house just the two of us, that does not happen very often.

My test results

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

I have not seen the movie yet but I saw this on a friends blog. I took the test and this is my result. I don't know when I am going to see the movie but look forward to when I do. Have some fun and take the test.
This is what it says about me....
You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great
importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be
sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and
appreciate the kind way you always handle things.

Hard to say "Good-bye"

For Thanksgiving all but my brothers family and a brother-in-law came here in my family. That is a total of 15 people in my home. C- only knew about Jeanne and her family coming. Boy was he shocked when my parents came Wednesday night, even more shocked when Lisa, Keith, Kim and Aaron showed up Thursday. The look on his face was priceless.

We all had a good time, I hope. Lots of laughing, games played, old memories talked about and new ones made. We even had fun crafts to be made. Lisa is really good in this department. Lisa even dyed my hair. It no long looks almost black. And we all survived! Randy even had help with putting up the Christmas lights. I am hoping he will do a blog on here.

It is always good to see family but then comes the hardest part saying "Good-bye" and lots of tears flow. All of them left today. Here are some pictures I took. Don't you hate it when you don't really take pictures because you are having such a good time that you forget about the camera?

Playing games together

Time for Racko

The cousins (2 were not able to come)

T- asking Rob why he has to go

J- does not want Sabrina to go

Tagged by friends

Tagged by Vicki
1. Where is your cell phone? back pocket and needs to be charged
2. Where is your significant other? working hard
3. Your hair color? dark brown
4. Your mother? ?Ventura, California
5. Your father? at work in Ventura
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? I don't remember
8. Your dream/goal?
9. The room you're in? T.V./computer room
10. Your hobby? scrapbooking
11. Your fear? snakes
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? richer in life.
13. Where were you last night? Pack meeting being the only leader of 15 boys in our den
14. What you're not? wealthy
15. One of your wish-list items? see my Bro in AR and visit Missouri
16. Where you grew up? California
17. The last thing you did? Waxed the floor
18. What are you wearing?jeans and a shirt
19. Your TV? on
20. Your pet? none
21. Your computer? on
22. Your mood? stressed
23. Missing someone? always
24. Your car? van
25. Something you're not wearing? socks
26. Favorite store? walmart
27. Your summer? working
28. Love someone? absolutely
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? last night
31. Last time you cried? Monday

Now you have been tagged. It is your turn to post your answers.

Laughter the best medicine.

The other night my oldest wanted me to tell him some bedtime stories instead of reading some. So I was telling some funny stories about me growing up. I loved that I was making my children laugh. It is the best sound. I was even laughing. I asked him which one he loved and he said the horn one. I thought that I would share that one since to this day it still makes me laugh, but I don't think my Dad thought it was funny then or now. I have never asked him.
So we ( I know for sure that my mom and dad was there... not sure which of my siblings were there) were driving up to Utah and it was in the middle of the night. For some reason we had gotten off the highway & was driving on the streets near a neighborhood. It was a cold night, there was snow on the ground. For some reason the horn on the car started to honk and would not stop. So we were driving with the horn with a constant honk and it was way late. My siblings and I thought it was so funny and was just laughing and laughing. I could not stop. My dad was getting so mad at us. It honked for a good 10 to 20 seconds non-stop. My Dad had to pull over and get under the car to disconnect it. Can you imagine being waken up by that? The people must of thought that was so rude or something, but to us it was funny.
Aaaahhhhh! Good memories. The joys of growing up and being able to tell your children about them.
I love hearing stories about Randy growing up, his mom tells the best stories.
There was one time that I was at work years ago and I thought of something that happened a year before. And just started to laugh so hard that my side hurt, and crying at the some time. Seeing my co-worker make me laugh even harder. Luckily the phone did not ring. I had to close the door of the office and call my sister to tell her the stories so I could calm down. Wow that was a good laugh.
Laughter is the best medicine. Ever laughed so hard that you fell out of a chair or your back hurt? Or laughed and made liquid come out your nose?

My Favorite Brother

Ok so I wrote a blog about my dad, and one on my 3 sisters, so I have my mom and brother left. Mom yours will be soon just give me some time.

I have a favorite brother. I can say that because he is my only brother. He is named after my dad but he is the 4th. He goes by Chip. (Chip has carried on that tradition and has a son that is the 5th.) My parents had to wait till the fourth child to have a son. (makes me wonder if I had a 4th child would it be a girl?) I think it was worth the wait to have him. He is an awesome brother, son, father and man.

When he was a teenager I loved to hear him playing his guiter. I guess that is one thing I really miss besides being around him. I wish that I would of asked him to record him playing.

I was lucky enough to be able to work with him. We make quite a team at work. I knew that I could depend on him. When I needed something done he was there with a helping hand. I don't know what he thought about working with me, but I thought it was fun and make the job less stressful.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Chip. His shirt says " Will stop for cookies"

In high school he was on the football team. But I have to admit that I never really went to a lot of his games because he and my youngest sister went to my high school rival. I think that all of us still tease each other which is the better high school.

I can always joke around with him. My family would always love saying "Pass the chips please" Now he is married to a wonderful woman named Bree. They make a perfect couple....chips and cheese. I hope they don't get mad at me for putting that on there.

I miss being able to take a short drive to hang out with Chip. Now he lives a couple of days drive. I have never been to his home since he has moved... but I hope someday I will be able to. I love and miss you Chip.

A surprise

Last week I was home and around 7:30pm the door bell rang. It was for me. There stood my R.S. president with some flowers. She gave me 6 Mums and thanked me for all I do. I knew they were Mums because of my Sorority days. What a huge surprise that was to me. I was stunned and did not know what to say. It feels good to be thought of.

In the face of hatred

As a lot of you know I am from California. This past voting day California had to pass for the marriage between a man and woman would only be allowed in that state. Well Prop. 8 passed, meaning 52.5% wanted only between man and women and 47.5% wanted the other way. Well since it passed there has been protester outside the L.A. temple and before voting day there was protesters outside the Oakland Temple.

My sister Lisa sent me a really good link to an article about what has been happening. I just wanted to share with you the article. Please read it. This makes me so angry. I am also scared for all the Saints but I know that they will be protected.

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081110hate.html

Veterans Day

I wanted to take this time and remember all that has ever served in any of the Armed Forces. From those that have served in the past, died, or are currently serving. Thank you for serving our country to defend and protect our freedom. We owe our freedom to you.I think that between both my Grandpas, Dad, and Uncle all but the Coast Guard is represented in my family.I have been reading my Grandpa's book of his life that he wrote and right now am at the point of reading what World War II was like for him in the Navy. His ship was delayed by a storm other wise he would have been there when Pearl Harbor was bombed. It makes me feel so sad and mad at the same time for all of the lives that were lost during any of the wars.
God Bless all that serve our country and thank you for your time of serving. Happy Veterans day everyone. I hope you all remember what cost people have paying for our freedom.

Time

I can't believe that it is already November! Where did the time go? Does anyone else feel like time just flew by this year? I am looking foward to the upcoming holidays! Those of you out here know what I am talking about. Just to let you know C- reads my blog and all of you that have one in the fam.

Feeling better

I am feeling so much better. My last visit to the eye doctor went well. He said that my eye is looking so much better then the last time I went in. I just have to finish up my eye drops and by that time the "foggyness" will be all cleared up. I don't have to go back until the next time I think it is starting up. I am hoping that will not be for a long time or even better that it never comes back again. I can already tell a difference. I am able to stand being in the sunlight better, and my eyes don't hurt as much. YEAH!!!! Thanks to faith in being able to be healed.
Life is so much better when all your parts of the body is working the way they should and that you don't feel sick.
Now I need to update my glasses, but not be until next month.
I hope that you enjoy the things that you take for granite in life. You never know when things will happen.\
Now to read all 103 e-mails.... thanks all for your prayers, love, and support that you give me.

I am a Audrey

I am a Audrey!

I just take a test for fun and this is the results.








You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me
* If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure
* I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this
* Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit
* Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally
* Ask me questions to help me get clear
* Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery
* Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings
* I like a good discussion but not a confrontation
* Let me know you like what I've done or said
* Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey
* being nonjudgmental and accepting
* caring for and being concerned about others
* being able to relax and have a good time
* knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around
* my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator
* my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now
* being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey
* being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive
* being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline
* being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally
* being confused about what I really want
* caring too much about what others will think of me
* not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often
* feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant
* tune out a lot, especially when others argue
* are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents
* are supportive, kind, and warm
* are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Eyes

I probably will not be posting until my eyes are better. I do not know how long that will be. I am having a hard time reading the computer screen. One of my eyes has this foggy affect to it. I have been having to wear a baseball hat when I am in the sun 'cause my eyes are really sensitive to the light. I am glad that my eyes are not as bad as they were the very 1st time I got this 4 years ago. I do not have the feeling of a grain of sand in my eye. I just glanced at my e-mail, there is 57 and growing unread e-mails. I was finally able to see the Dr. I am on medication with I think is causing me to be sick to my stomach. I have another appointment tomorrow to see if the meds are helping. Until next time... enjoy the things you take for granite.

Time spent today

I basically spent the whole day looking for pant for T- in our shed. I have saved C-'s old clothes and I knew that they were out there somewhere. The weather is starting to get chilly. I found long sleeve shirts. I finally found them in a unmarked plastic bin. He is now wearing the clothes that C- wore when T- was born. It brought back a lot of memories seeing the clothes.
Now I just need to buy some pants for my oldest because he has out grown his pants from last year. My youngest still wanted to wear shorts today but I course me being a "Mean Mom" did not let him.

C-'s surprise

Today I was in my bedroom getting dressed to take the kids to school. Then there was a knock at my door. It was C- saying he had a surprise for me. So when I was done this was his surprise.
He had picked one of my roses from out front and put it in a vase with water. How sweet! It was also a surprise. I love it when my kids do something like that.

Happy Birthday Lisa

Today is my sister Lisa's birthday. I hope that it is a good day for her.

I wish her the best. Love ya Sis!

A fear

I think that my eye virus might be coming back....GGGRRRRR! Last night one of my eyes was really watery and today that eye was sensitive to the sun light and it was hurting. I HOPE that it is not happening. I have a really hard time when it is active. I have to have the house dark and have to wear the "terminator"glasses, as Randy calls them. I have to find them first of all. I have not updated my glasses and was having a hard time reading the Twilight book today.

I was researching Belle's Palsy one day I read somewhere and the eye virus that I have is sometimes a result of having Belle's. GREAT I had or have both. Just love it. NOT!! I have no idea how I got Belle's years ago. The eye virus never goes away completely. It might be "sleeping" until one day it decides to wake up.

reading

Ok I have finally joined some of the LDS moms to read the Twilight book. I started today while I was waiting for J- to get out of speech. A sister in my ward has a son that goes to speech on Mondays with J- has loaned me the 1st and 2nd books. But she is not there in Wednesdays so it is a perfect time to read for 1/2 hour. I know that my mom, a sister, and a sister-in-law has gotten into the books. Now I just have to find time when I am not going to be interupted or to sleepy to read. I am looking forwards to get into the books.

We sat by ourselves

Today Randy and I sat by ourselves in Sacrament Meeting. We got to hold hands the whole time. It felt so strange not having the kids. All of our children was on the stand for the Primary Program. They did really well. Randy and T- was having fun making faces at each other. One time the Primary President saw Randy make a face and started to laugh and shook her head. Both C- and T- had speaking parts. J- looked cute as can be in the front row. It was so quiet where we were at besides the quiet laughs from Randy and I from when our children did something funny. I am sure all the parents were proud of the kids. I realized that we have a huge primary.

E. R.

I have been a follower of E. R. for many many years. Probably since the 1st season. Today was the beginning of a new season. I can't believe this is going to be the last season. Dr. Pratt died on todays show. I think that I have only cried like this from one other showing of E.R. and that was when Dr. Green past away. It is amazing how you follow shows and they can make you cry like a baby. You can get so attached to shows. I cried so hard that my head hurts and I feel a headache coming on. Not a good look for me. I just thought that I would share. Does this every happen to anyone else too? Let me know so I know that I am not alone.

Enrichment Night

I just got back from Enrichment Night. It was our Visiting Teaching Conference. The theme for the night was "By small and simple things, Great things come to pass". It was a really good program. Visiting Teaching is the heart and soul of Relief Society. A lot of the sisters got new companions and a new route. I got both. After going tonight I guess I feel renewed and excited about being a Visiting Teacher.

I'm just a Visiting Teacher

"I'm just a visiting teacher"

I said to my friend today

And my Father in Heaven

heard me.

and I seem to hear

him saying:

"Not just a visiting teacher,

A disciple with work to do,

And wherever you carry

my message

My spirit goes with you"

"Some daughters of mine

have burdens.

Some seemto have lost

the way.

Go take tehm my love,

and my gospel

To strengthen them

day by day."

"Never say you're

just a visiting teacher.

Have faith and you'll

understand.

When you enter a home

with love and prayer,

I take you by the hand."

Author Unknown

I love being a Visiting Teacher. But I feel that I need to do more service for the sisters in R.S. and to improve on being a better V.T.

Stop Worrying

"Stop worrying

about a phone call

or a quarterly or

monthly visit, and

wheather that will do,

and concentrate

instead on nurturing

tender souls.

Our reponsibility is

to see that the gospel

flame continues to

burn brightly. Our

charge is to find the

lost sheep and help

them feel our

Savior's love"

Mary Ellen Smoot

Truck races

Yesterday we all went to the truck races at the Speedway. I got free tickets for all of us. There was lot of accidents. Especially the last few minutes of the race.

T- fell asleep during the race. Some of the people around us thought it was funny.

After the race Randy BBQ'd hamburgers. They were really good. There was tons of traffic and by the time we were done eating all the traffic was gone.

Balloonapalooza

This weekend was Balloonapalooza. They launch the hot air ballons at a park not far from where we live. We decided to take the kids. There were rides, live band, and booths.

I think the kids favorite part was being able to see the ballons fly right over our house from the backyard. Some of the ballons landed in the vaccant lot to the west of our track.