HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHANTEL!

Everyone leave messages for Chantel to wish her a Happy Birthday!!!

Sorry I broke into your blog. :)

Holidays 2008

To start the holiday season off, we took Salem to shop for the food pantry. We felt like it was important that she start to understand the true meaning of the holiday and how blessed she is to have what she has in her life.

After shopping we headed out to see the lights at Temple Square.

I'm not sure why we do this every year but we are thinking that next year we need to find a new light display..the parking stinks, it's super crowded, and we aren't religious people...so why do we go?

We spent Christmas eve in Clarkston, which is always a party. Tons of food and fun! The ride home is usually very peaceful because Salem is exhausted.

Christmas morning started way too early (4 a.m.), Salem got sent back to bed a couple of times. She wasn't too happy because she thought there weren't very many presents. I guess our trip to the food pantry didn't make a huge impression on her. The joys.... after a small lecture about gratitude we woke up to open presents.

Little did she know that Santa had splurged and bought her an American Girl doll.

This doll has been worth every penny, she loves her. Morgan (the doll) has been to the movie, the store, and sleeps with her every night.
Salem also got a fabulous make up and she graciously gave her dad a make over on Christmas morning.

We spent Christmas afternoon up at Grandma & Grandpa Bender's. They gave Salem a Wii which she has loved playing. All in all it was a wonderful holiday season..now I am ready to start taking this stuff down...

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday and that 2009 finds each of you healthy and happy!

Sweet Caroline their Stalkers!!!

Last night I had the pleasure of going to Neil Diamond with my mother in law. The man knows how to put on one hell of a show. I wish I had some great pictures to post but the security there was unreal. We all meet up for some great dinner, wine and laughs.

Then we headed to the show, I have never seen such an age span in all my life. From teenagers all the way up to the cute 90 year old lady who sat by us. Everyone loves him and he works the crowd, the highlight was Sweet Caroline!

After the show Cheryl (my mother in law) and her friend Darell talked us into to going to the Grand America. This is where he stays and they basically wanted to stalk him. In all my crazy Stevie Nicks days I never did anything like this but I figured if two 60 plus ladies were up for the midnight challenge so was I. We got to the Grand America and waited in the lobby..within in about 5 minutes guess who walked in...




He was very gracious and kind considering there were about 10 crazy women waiting there for him. There were no autographs no official pictures but he stopped and chatted for a few minutes and was off.
I have the greatest mother in law ever, we had such a fun night!

Where are you Christmas...why can't I find you?

I have had a hard time getting in the holiday spirit this year. Last week we took Salem ice skating. She got the hang of it pretty quick and had a great time. It was just what we all needed, we have really been under a lot of stress lately and it was nice to just spend some time together. I guess that is what Christmas really is all about...being together as a family.

Christmas time is here...

I have a lot of catching up to do, first off Steve put the lights up a few weeks ago. He does such an amazing job and this picture just can't do it justice.

Today Steve gave me my Christmas present, he wasn't sure I would like it so he wanted to make sure...and well I love it. I have been saying that the stairs needed something but I didn't know what. It's perfect...thanks Karaden for helping him out.


In spite of everything that is going on, I have to pause and give thanks for the wonderful blessings in my life. I have an amazing husband, no he isn't perfect and our marriage has had it's fair share of bumps but I love him. I have a beautiful daughter and step daughter who make being a mom a great experience. I have the most amazing family. My sisters are women whom I draw strength from daily, and my mom comforts me when all seems lost. My sister in law Amie is one of my dearest friends and I can't imagine life without her. My in laws have given me so much support and I am forever in debt to them...My neighbors are people whom I have come to consider very dear friends, everyday they are there for me and I love them dearly. Heather and Ginger has been my friends for ages and they still are the ones I run to when I need a good laugh..thanks girls. When I look at all of these blessings how could I possibly let one person who doesn't even know me bring me down...I can't! I thank each and everyone of you for giving me the strength I needed. I love you!

Fast Update....

Well yesterday didn't go well at all..so much for hoping for a little human kindness. Anyway this could drag on for months so I need to put the drama away and get back to life. Stay tuned for some new posts I'm a little behind.

BTW how cute is my blog...Shannon did it for me! She is so talented and kind to take care of me every month. And if you didn't notice she put Stevie Nicks on the Christmas play list..just what I needed to get out of the slump. I have truly been blessed with wonderful friends in my life!

Just like the Energizer Bunny!!

The drama keeps going and going and going. We are still alive and hope the holidays find each of you well. We maybe on the brink of a resolution to the custody drama we have been dealing with for the past few months. I would like to ask each of you to please pray that this can be resolved tomorrow!

If it was only that easy....

So I haven't posted in two weeks, not good. Everyone is making their blogs private...not me. If only life was that simple that you could click a button and keep all the unwanted meaness out. You can't! Needless to say my life is full of drama lately...will be back in a few more weeks!

Happy Halloween!!

Without snow on the ground it hardly felt like Halloween but what a welcome change to be able to trick or treat without freezing your buns off. Salem had a great time this year, she was a midnight fairy. Don't ask the selection this year was either Hannah Montana or well Hannah Montana so we settled on a fairy.

Steve took her trick or treating while I stayed home and got ready for our annual party. We have our friends come over for dinner, this year we had a house full of about 60 people who dined on hot dogs, sloppy joes, soup, and homemade root beer and donuts. It was a great time but a little crazy! I would have died without Madison's help. A special thanks to Amy for making the root beer and Shannon for the homemade donuts...Yummy

Saturday night Madison had a girl's choice dance for Halloween. They dressed up as old fashioned golfers and they looked great. A special thanks to my sister Mandy who sewed the knickers! I couldn't sew on a button if I had to, so her and my mom saved the day! To be young again right...

So with Halloween behind us, let the holiday season start!!

Let the games begin....

It's Jazz time...yes basketball. I am not a huge fan of the game but every year Steve spends a good majority of the season entertaining customers. Sometimes I go with him, sometimes I get to stay home. It sounds like fun to go to so many games but by the end of the season I am tired of it. My company does a lot of work for Larry Miller, so we have great season tickets. Every time I got offered them last year we were already going to the game. So finally this year we found a free night and decided to take the girls to their first Jazz game.

We started the night off at California Pizza Kitchen. Madison's choice and a good choice at that.


Their first game wouldn't have been complete without a jersey! Salem was cheering for "LOSER", we had to keep reminding her that it was "BOOZER"


What a fun game, there is nothing better than making memories as a family.

The first snowfall and UEA

Salem was so excited last weekend when the first snow fell. I was sick just thinking about winter so her dad was a good sport and they built the first snowman of the year.


Steve and I had originally planned to be in Boston for the past week but due to other circumstances we had a change of plans. Since we both had the time off work and the girls were out of school we decided to pack it up and head to Park City for a night.

We had such a great time just relaxing and taking it easy. The girls get along so well, Salem thinks Madison hung the moon and Madison is so sweet and patient with her. We have loved having her live with us for the past few weeks and hope she decides to stay longer.


On Saturday we finally got around to doing our Haunted Gingerbread House. The girls did a wonderful job!

Yes Salem ingested way too much sugar during the process.

Brand New Headbands

Please check back to this list when ordering, We update often when headbands are sold out, so please right before ordering check this post to make sure your band is available.
Set 1




1A-Black and White Daisy
1B-White Flower Patch
1C-White with Black Pattern
1D-Skulls and Barbs (GONE)

Set2


2A-Black and White Flower Field
2B-Black with White Leaves
2C-White Black Lace

Set 3


3A- Purple with Lavendar and Purple small dot
3B-Purple Polka
3C-Purple Swirl
3D-Lavendar dot dot

Set 4


4A-Purple Pink Dotta
4B-Yellow Dotta
4C-Light Green w Multi Green Dotta
4D-White Black Dot

Set 5


5A-Seeing Starts
5B-Hankie Not Pankie
5C-Red with Deep Red Floral

Set 6


6A-Brown Cream Floral
6B-La la Leopard
6C-Washed Khaki with Tan swirl pattern
6D-Washed Red with Burnt Swirl

Set 7

7A-My Blue Hawaiin
7B-White on Whites

Set8


8A-Limey Swirl
8B-Lime with daisy patch
8C-Lime Heart and Daisy

Set 9

9A Yellow Prison
9B Dream Cicle
9C Orange Dream

Set 10


10A Pink Circle Swirl
10B Can't see Pink Camo
10C Plaid Daisy Field
10D Girly Purse Pink

Set 11


11A Cream Green Paisley
11B Purple Tan Paisley
11C Christmas Paisley
11D Grean Retro Paisley

Kid Tag

Here's a new way of being tagged! Ask your kids these questions and write down their first initial answers! From the sound of these answers you will think I was twisting her ear...really I am not that nice of a mom but thank goodness she thinks so.

1. What is something mom always says to you? Be Good

2. What makes mom happy? Listen

3. What makes mom sad? “Not Listening and Yelling

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Be Funny

5. What was your mom like as a child? Be good and have fun

6. How old is your mom? 20

7. How tall is your mom? I don't know

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Play and have fun with me

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Goes to work

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Being the lovely mom and being really good.

11. What is your mom really good at? Being nice and being good

12. What is your mom not very good at? Jumping

13. What does your mom do for her job? Works and makes stuff

14. What is your mom's favorite food? Sloppy Joes

15. What makes you proud of your mom? That she tries to take care of me

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Cinderella

17. What do you and your mom do together? Have fun

18. How are you and your mom the same? We both wear earrings

19. How are you and your mom different? We both don't have blue eyes

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because she plays with me.

Sportin the Headband

Disclaimer, I had already taken my make up off for the night and put on my glasses when Melissa requested I model a headband. Please no one black mail me over this. I honestly wear the ones I have all the time. I even put them on Salem basically one size fits all, there is Velcro on them so they stay put on even the smallest heads.

Holy @%$*

When Steve and I started living together we lived in the foothills in Layton. He told me to be careful because there were tarantula's. I told him he was a liar and to prove it I called my dad (after all Leroy the science teacher knows everything) who said he had never seen one. Steve said his ex-wife caught one in their backyard..again I called B.S. We have been together six years and I have yet to see one...until now.

My mother in law found this in her furnace room....

Lucky for her it was already dead but holy crap. Just to give you an idea of how big this spider is look at it in comparison to my cell phone.

Grandma is so nice to save all the strange things she finds for Salem. Salem is completely fascinated and I am totally freaked out. So I stand corrected these things really do exist!