My top 10 things for Christmas

I have seen some people do this and I thought I would share what I am wanting for Christmas. Now DO NOT get me wrong, I am NOT getting all of this, its just want I dream about I guess is the right words.

1. First, this lovely video camera, one day I will be the proud owner of it. And if not for Christmas then next year I will have it.



2. This is pretty close to my first one, but its a more reasonable price for my "big" gift this year. I am dying for this, its what my floors need and bad.



3. Who has these? And do you love them? I want a pair of slipper socks to put on when I get home from work. PERFECT in my eyes!!



4. I need this for my new ipod Bob got me for my Birthday.



5. I want a picture frame similiar to this one, the one I want is at Quilted Bear and you can put several pictures in it.



6. Why I want this? I am not sure myself, because I don't have any jewelry to put in it. LOL



7. I am in dire need of a new one of these, now that I can curl Lex hair, I need one bad.



8. My sister just got me the cutest gray boots for my Birthday, but now I need a brown and black pair.



9. I have some ear buds, but their getting old, so some new ones would be nice and this could be a stocking stuff.



10. They have this sweater at Old Navy and I have had my eyes on it for awhile now....one day I may be the proud owner of it.




So this is my list. What I will probably get is something like a gift card and then I will spend the money on my kids, thats just what happens when you become a Mom.

Our tree

Before any decorations.




Can you see how excited my kids are about their ornaments? Well Ash is, but Lex she wouldn't put down the bowl of grapes for NOTHING...unless it was food!


Our first year Christmas Ornament, simple!


My tree, I love it! I am so happy with how it turned out. I find myself just staring at it.






I am so excited for Christmas, I have all my bought gifts wrapped and under the tree. Last year at this time I hadn't even thought of gifts, it just didn't cross my mind. This year I have worked my butt off to make sure my family gets a good Christmas and believe me, we will!! 27 more days

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Food, Family, games, football and tons of laughing. No better way to spend the Holiday. I didn't get any pictures of the food, I know I am bad, I do that every year. But it was good.















And to finish up my Thankfulness.

Day 22: I am thankful for Awesome co-workers who make me laugh on a daily basis.

Day 23: I am thankful for paid time off, this is one of the BIGGEST reasons why it is so hard to leave Citi. Can't go anywhere and get 3 weeks of paid time off and 6 paid sick days. Plus floating Holidays, paid maternity leave and short term if needed.

Day 24: I am thankful for all 4 seasons, its the one thing I love about Utah. We get Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. I could NEVER live in Alaska or Arizona, I would go crazy!!

Day 25: I am thankful to celebrate another Birthday with my family.

Day 26: I am thankful for days when I can sleep in, my sleeping in is like 7, if I am asleep until 7, its a good thing, normally my body won't let me sleep past 5am.

Day 27: I am thankful for days when I can go out with my friends who live too far away to see on a regular basis (which is where I will be tonite).

Day 28: I am thankful for movie days, which is normally Sunday, Lifetime movies all day. It drives Bob crazy!!!

Day 29: I am thankful for my bed, its not the best, but it does its job.

Day 30: I am thankful for each and every person who has touched my life in someway or another. Whether its through FB, my blog or in my daily life. Love you all!

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I am NOT going shopping today, I debated and debated and debated. But I would rather get Christmas up and house cleaned and then on to dinner with my friends for my Birthday.

Turning 27

There are many people that have made bucket lists, "30 things to do before 30", well I am making my list now, I have 3 years to make sure I get them done.

1. Take my kids to Disneyland
2. Go on a cruise with my Husband
3. Take a photography class
4. Lose 50lbs
5. Upgrade my camera
6. Take pictures at sunset on Antelope Island
7. Play in the rain with my kids
8. Go a day with no computer
9. Go a day without texting
10. Redo my bathroom
11. Redo my boys room
12. Run a 5k
13. Find a new hobby
14. Make a shutterfly book for all my kids
15. Start a new tradition
16. Sign Lex up for dance
17. Start college
18. Plant flowers
19. Plant a garden
20. Have my blog made into a book
21. Not stress so much
22. Drink a 3 bottles of water a day
23. Make freezer jam
24. Go skiing again
25. Sign Jax up for Basketball
26. Have more patients
27. Get a reliable car
28. Get a bike
29. Go running atleast 3 times a week
30. Live, love and laugh a little more

Some of things may seem impossible, but when you put your heart into it, anything is possible. I know! So my list will be on the side and I will cross them off as they are done. And yes tomorrow I turn 27, I am scared, its one year closer to 30. But this last year has been a good one, I have learned a lot and I am a stronger person.

The greatest teacher

On Monday I received an email from a former classmate and it is with tears rolling down my face that I type this. I am still in shock! The world is full of bad news and at times I wish I could hide from all the bad things, but then what would life be. But this has my heart aching so badly. Mrs. Barnard (Christy Barnard) is/was my role model, I find myself talking about her all the time. She was the one who made me love accounting and school. I never regreted going to her class, in fact, I never missed her class. She was caring, fun, inspiring and an all around great person. She was my "Mom away from home". She always gave the most amazing advice. I remember sitting her class one day after school and she advised me that I could be anything I wanted to be as long as I put my heart and soul into it. She was right! It saddens me that her life is being cut short due to a nasty disease. I hate that her 2 children will have to bury their Mom at such a young age, I can't imagine the heartache and pain. I wish there was something doctors could do to save her and let her live a little longer. She really has no clue how many peoples lives she has touched. Truly the greatest person/teacher I have ever met. She is the ONLY teach I went back to visit after graduation. I am sad that I lost touch with her over the year as my life got hectic. But she has always and will always have a special place in my heart. Please keep her family especially her Husband and children in your prayers. The thought of losing my Mother is something I don't discuss because I just can't imagine. Thanks Mrs. Barnard for everything, I will NEVER forget you!!

Never a dull moment and Day 21

Friday about 4pm, I had just sat down to relax, well Ashton had other plans for me. Bob had just gotten done telling him not to jump on the couch, next thing I know Ashton does a flip and hits our coffee table and blood everywhere. I couldn't look, I was scared that it wasn't good, but his inside of his lip was hanging out and we headed to my sisters clinic to get stitches. 3 stitches later and some gum and he was good to go. But his poor face is so swolen and bruised. The line on his face is where the table cut him, he is sooooo lucky! And I am so glad my sister was able to get him in to get him stitched, he did good getting stitches, but the look on his face when Kolleen told him he needed them was heartbreaking. We both had tears in our eyes. I think he may have learned his lesson. We will see!!

Day 21: I am thankful for Thanksgiving week. It is my favorite holiday and here is why:

1: There is no worries about gifts or anything, its just food and family.
2: This year I get to celebrate my Birthday on Thanksgiving.
3: I love being with my family playing games, watching football and relaxing...oh and eating!!!

So bring on Thanksgiving week and all it has to come.

Day 19 & 20

Day 19: I am thankful for medical insurance, I would never want to know what would happen if I didn't have insurance and especially last year. I can't believe how much it costs for open heart surgery. The biggest shocker was Bob's transfusion that he needed. Also him being on life support for 2 days was another shock on the cost. But I have amazing insurance and I can't complain.

Day 20: I am thankful for my cars, Bob and I just bought my aunts truck and then we have an old escort, but the good thing is we have no car payments. We have worked our tail ends off to get to where we are today. And its because we have driven a POS for the last year. But hey its gotten us here.

Gingerbread fun and Day 16, 17 and 18

On Sunday, yes I am slow, we made gingerbread cookies. Yes I know we are a month ahead, but the kids were excited and thats all that matters. The boys were totally interested, Lexi did a whole lot of dancing. It was fun.

Now back to my thankful days:

Day 16: I am thankful to have such a wonderful boss, seriously I couldn't have a more fun boss than I have. She is so caring and I love her.

Day 17: I am thankful to have such wonderful Grandparents. I have an amazing Grandpa, he is so strong. He is 73 and walks 7 miles everyday. My Grandma (his wife) just had a transplant today, she is seriously the best lady in the world. So caring, so giving and so special to me. I am so glad that everything turned out good.

Day 18: I am thankful for my camera, because without my camera I wouldn't be able to capture everyday memories. My camera is my best friend and the best $800.00 I ever spent.

special request

My Grandma is going in for a kidney transplant this morning, she has been on dialysis for over two years now. I am confident all will go well, but I am asking for prayers. She lost her Mom two weeks ago and I know she is watching over her. Love you Bonnie!

Day 15

Yesterday I wrote this and it was gone, soooooo....

I am thankful for the many blessings in my life. There are times when I wonder how much more I can take, but then I remember everything happens for a reason. This year I am counting my blessings over and over. I gave up everything last year. I stressed about life. I wasn't sure what was going to happen the next day, let along next hour. This year, here it is November 16th and I am done Christmas shopping. I have all my family members here and healthy for the most part. And the simple things in life that I always took for granted are the biggest blessings and until you hit rock bottom you don't get it, I didn't.

I love my Husband, 2 adorable boys, beautiful daughter, supportive parents, amazing sisters and loving friends. I wouldn't trade any of them for the world.

I love all the blessings in my life, every single one of them!

Day 14

I am thankful today and everyday for my friends, I really have some of the best friends ever. I can always count on them to bring me up when I am down or give me good advice when I need it. Just to name a few of my friends that I know would do anything for me and I would do anything for them:

Lindsey Spargur (my life long friend, friends since we were 3)



Misty Stratford (My best friend, she is the best)



Sunset Stanley (My good friend, she is ALWAYS there for me, always!!)
Cara Glauser (My good friend, she is the best advice giver, love her)

I have no pictures of the above two. Sad!

And then there is all my friends that I talk to threw facebook who when I was going through the hardest time of my life were my biggest support. Thanks!!

Day 13

Yes, I saved my post for Lexi for today, because this little girl is officially 18 months. Time flies, but I love every minute of it.

I never imagined a little girl like Lexi, she has a sassy personality, she is a free spirit. She reminds me so much of my Mom. Nothing phases her, she can stand her own and take it all in.

At 18 months:

*Lexi's favorite words are "Yummy, yummy, yummy" and "Owie, Owie, Owie". She has had an Owie on her knee for about a month and she has to point it out about 50 times a day.

*She doesn't want anyone to feed her, if your gonna feed, she isn't eating.

*She loves cars (yes, she has two brothers), babies and everything else that isn't a toy.

*She still sleeps through the night. Yippee!!!

*She only takes one nap now and yes I am sad about this, because it means she is growing up.

*She only wants her Mommy when she isn't feeling good or is sad.

*She loves to be outside.

*She has the worst ears in the world, the poor girl can't go one month without an ear infection.

*She LOVES shoes, yes I am in TROUBLE!!!

*She says...."Shoes", "Boots", "Princess", "Pretty", "uh oh", "Nana" (Banana) and many more I can't think of.

*She is the busiest 1 year old of all my kids, she is constantly going and going and going and going. I call her tornado, becaus she is in to EVERYTHING and always leaves a mess.

*She has a major obsession with blankets, she can't have just one blanket, she has to have 10. So I have to hide her blankets or every single one will be in her bed or on the floor.

This little girl is truly a blessing! She spunky attitude lights up our lives. We love her dearly as we do our boys, she just fits in.

Happy 18 months Lex!!!