P.S. Skip This Movie...

Last night I went to movie night with the girls. Ricardo came out of the whole deal with a box of bullets and clay pigeons. That's how I was able to attend the second movie in a week with my girlfriends. But, it depends on how you look at it...I'm saving Ricardo the torture of seeing chick flicks. One of the girls we went with lost her Mom right after Thanksgiving. It was miserable for her to sit through this incredibly sad movie. Sure, there were funny parts, but for the most part it was incredibly depressing. It made me want to go home and write letters to my husband and children in case something ever happens to me. Not that that is not a good idea, but we were expecting lots of fun and laughter from the movie trailer, and we just didn't get it AT ALL.

But if you are looking for a great chick flick. August Rush is for you. It's still a tear jerker, only it's good tears with a happy ending. I loved the characters and the story. I wish they would have developed the love story a bit more only because the male lead was so cute. I highly recommend this movie.

Christ Is The Reason For The Season

I love this song. I never get tired of listening to it. Enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas.

All The Gory Details....

Nice Kitty ?
Here, Kitty Kitty....

That is a dog up in the tree (on the left) with the mountain lion
These dogs are crazy. They are trained to tree mountain lions for the hunters and then they go up in the tree to get 'um.
Now the dog is up higher in the tree than the mountain lion

This kitty was huge. Over 6 feet long.

I'll leave them out. All the gory details that is. One of my clients that I do books for showed these pictures to me of her husband, son and a hunting guide on a mountain lion hunt. There are mountain lions 'round these parts. They are plentiful. But the Wildlife Resource office says that they aren't a menace and they aren't the cause of the deer population decrease. These guys set out to prove them wrong. The pictures I didn't include are pretty graphic and show this mountain lions' fresh "kill"( a deer)buried under the tree below him.

Ricardo ran across a mountain lion last month when he went on a four wheeler ride with his buddies. Well, I should say the lion ran across him. Right in front of him. He was coming down the mountain ahead of everyone. He had to turn around because he was having trouble with the quad. It wouldn't go faster than about 10 miles an hour. Ummm, mountain lions run faster than that. Ricardo said that the mountain lion was more scared of him, than Ricardo was of it. I think he just told me that so I wouldn't freak out.

A 6 Year Old Potato

We celebrated a week ago tonight. We can't believe it's been six year since this little one was born. He's growing up so fast. And he's so smart. He's asking us how to spell EVERYTHING. He loves school and his best friend is his cousin. He's so kind to the other children in his class and so very thoughtful. I go and help in his class on Monday afternoons and it's fun to see him in his "element". His teacher is in our ward and a good friend. B was also in her class three years ago.

Then For Your 20th Anniversary THIS Is What You Get..

Why Didn't We Do This At Our Reception?

WHATEVA!

I'm A Believer

Growing up Vicks was used quite frequently at our house. I can't count how many nights Dad would slather Vicks on my neck, wrap a clean sock LOOSELY around it and attach it with a safety pin. Relief. I could breathe again. But by morning it was everywhere...clothing...bedding and my entire body. I hated it. We'd try not to cough at night so Dad wouldn't get out the Vicks. Oh, Dad also used iodine on every wound we had. He'd get out his medics kit and we'd run the other way. So now I have a tried and tested a cleaner use for our good friend Vick.


I received an email several weeks ago that said a woman had used Vicks successfully to stop a cough...without the mess. But here's what she did. She applied a thin layer to the bottoms of her FEET. Then socks. Then NO COUGH. She said that she didn't cough at all during the night. Yeah right I thought. So I waited patiently as I know when the weather changes we are in for nights and nights of coughing children. Cough syrup doesn't cut it when it comes to coughs in our family. And it never fails that when we travel and stay in a hotel our children cough all night and we can't sleep. Neither can anyone else in the hotel.

Needless to say I didn't have to wait long to try this out. A few nights ago Potato started coughing at 1 am. He wouldn't/couldn't stop. So I pulled out the Vicks, and the socks and tried out my new trick. Sure enough, as soon as I placed the blankets back over him the coughing had stopped. Just a conincidence I thought...at first. Then the entire night passed with absolutely no coughing. Mind you I didn't slather on the Vicks, because it is medicated. But I did apply a thin layer. I couldn't believe it. I thought for sure it was a fluke. I mean we didn't give him any medication...except the Vicks and socks. Piece of cake. We tried it again the next night. Same thing. He did cough a few times at first until it really started working. But nothing again the rest of the night. I love this stuff.

Last night was another test...as I was still on the fence. Ask and ye shall receive I always say. The youngest started coughing last night. I thought...this shall be the true test. So I applied it to his feet, then put on socks. He coughed at first. Probably for about the first 5 minutes. Then Nothing. So I can blog about this and spread the word. It works. It'll make a believer out of you too.

Child + Markers=Trouble

It all started the other night when we asked him to find some pj bottoms. This is what he came out with. Those are both of his legs in one pant leg.

He was stumbling at first, but after a few minutes he could really get aroundThis is what happens when he's "quietly playing" in the other room

He's lucky it's not permanent marker
Then your 8 year old leaves you a sweet chalk message and you realize it's all worth it.

My Favorite New Things....

The Place Setting for the Adult Table

We received a box this week from Mom, with Grandma's silver in it. We are so blessed to be able to have the silver to use this Thanksgiving. We also used Mom's china. I found vintage napkins and tablecloth online...so we were set. Only one goblet was "lost". I was so very careful and it wasn't until I left the table for a minute that a 3 year slipped into my place, insisted he was thirsty and couldn't wait for a drink, his father obliged and the goblet was dropped. Ricardo's first reaction was...."Oh, no..we're in trouble." I heard that from upstairs. But even though that happened Thanksgiving was wonderful. Fun, family and friends. Isn't that what it's all about?

My Famous Carmel Pecan Pie

The Kids Table.. B's Hair is On Purpose...

Love's First Kiss...

She comes to New York through the sewer drain She longs for her true love to come and resue her She makes her dresses from curtains
She starts to fall for Dr. McDreamy She sings everywhere she goes

And this is what happens She finds her one true love??

Every day should start with a song in my opinion. It's even better if you can get people in Central Park to sing and dance along with you. Yesterday A and I went to see this darling new Disney movie. We had a great time watching this film. So if you need a pick me up this holiday season go see Enchanted. You won't be sorry.

Ever Thankful....

I'm so grateful for my wonderful husband. He is also a wonderful father. As you can see from this photo, great minds think alike. So on this Thanksgiving Day, and every day we are ever thankful for each other and our eternal family.

We've Been....Have You?

Just a friendly reminder to attend the temple this month....

From Here To Eternity...

The Newlyweds

Ricardo and I had a wonderful weekend away alone. Yes I said ALONE! We went up to Provo to attend my cousin's wedding. We were able to be there for the sealing and wedding luncheon. It was so wonderful to be there and represent Kolby's mother's side of the family, my Aunt Janine who passed away. The sealer that sealed them said that he and his wife had been sealed by President Kimball. For having a wedding in November the weather was perfect for a perfect day. So here are some pictures of their first moments as husband and wife. It was really hard to
get pictures of them without everyone else in them. I did my best. Kissing

Smiling

The Flowers

Tom and Alisa

The Luncheon at Tucano's

Happy Eternity Kolby and Jamie. We are so proud of you.

Do You Recognize Me?

Do you recognize me Mom? That was the question Rico posed a few days ago when he went to his Preschool Halloween party. He really thought that his friends might not know who he was. If it were only that easy in real life. A little brown eyeliner makes a great goatee and mustache.

We had a great time tonight Trick or Treatin'. I stayed home and manned the door. I had candy for little kids and raisins for teenagers. I got a few great looks from the teens as I tossed fruit in their bags. Get a JOB and pay for your OWN candy I say. This year we bought costumes from The Disney Store. Great Deals. Our kids costumes should last through next year. They WILL want to be the same thing next year I'm sure of it. Let's just say they won't have free agency next year when it comes to costumes.

Stitch...With A Black Eye

The Green Power Ranger with a BONUS cape. He wants to sleep in it tonight.

I'm wasting too much time taking pictures...he's ready to go.

Cruella DeVil...Sort of....Alot of neat accessories were missing. But those eyelashes MAKE the costume.

He's Mine For Eternity Ladies....All Mine...

Only One...I Promise...

There are so many people out there in blogland with more than one blog. I have a hard enough time keeping ONE interesting...well at least I hope it's interesting. But I have seen really cute family blogs, baby blogs, craft blogs...it's inspiring. As soon as I'm out of my PJ's for the day I'll think about starting another blog. Yes, it's two in the afternoon....you got a problem with that?

Watch Out Bambi-Here We Come!

This is what the boys were doing while we were cleaning...in peace.

Every year at this time we (as in the Men in our family) don our orange gear and head to the hills. Yep, them there hills. A and I stayed home with Rico. It was a great weekend to clean out closets and get more organized. It's also a great way to remind yourself that the children have enough "stuff" already and Santa won't be needing to visit. We loaded up bags and bags to take to the DI. And I can't believe how much trash the kids had in their rooms. I didn't take any pictures of that, because it would have reflected badly on ME not THEM. But we did get alot accomplished.

Taking time out to stock up on yet more wood for Grandpa and Grandma's stove

These two cousins have SO MUCH fun together. They are the bestest pals. They are even in the same kindergarten class.

This is our newest/oldest four-wheeler that we bought from Uncle Carlos.

It was really cold. So here they are keeping warm by the fire.

It's time to go...See ya next year

NOT My Favorite Holiday

This picture says it all. It used to be that one costume was enough. I remember the costumes with the plastic masks. They had teeny tiny mouth and nose holes and you couldn't breathe. The costume was plastic that tied in the back and only lasted that night, if you were lucky and really careful. Today we have The Disney Store. Dangit. My cousin sent me the link for $5 shipping and we went shopping online for MORE costumes. (The little boys already have their costumes) They really did have great deals. The kids are thrilled. C was so funny when we were ordering his Power Ranger costume. He started heading out the door so I asked him what he was doing. He said, "I'm checking the mailbox to see if our costumes are here." HELLO! This generation knows NOTHING about having to WAIT for anything. Everything is instant. I really think that if we would have had TV watching ability in our cars when we were growing up we would have gone on a lot more vacations. Not that we didn't go on any, we had great vacations. But I guess we wouldn't have the memories of all the song singing and Dad quotes that we love to revisit when we come home for a visit. IE...Calling your brother "Homey" (as in friend) and having Dad say...."Don't you ever call your brother that!". Homey/Homo=not the same. So as we quickly approach this wonderfully expensive holiday we don't have any $$ left in the budget for candy. Sorry neighbor kids....we'll be trick or treating in Grandma's neighborhood.

Just Another Day In Paradise...

Our Four Wheelers



Our new Toy Hauler...



On the way home we asked B to lean against D so that they could both sleep comfortably on the way home. I turned around when we got back to town and this is what I saw. Those are B's feet propping up D's head in the backseat. B is laying down on his tummy with his feet up.