Caution: Sharp Curves Ahead

So we were out of town when they made the big announcement on Sunday. Our ward being split came as no surprise, we've all been anticipating it for a while.

I've been taking it all in stride but last night at mutual, when I actually had a minute to let it sink in, it started to become real. It was combined last night and we were collecting and organizing all the Salvation Army food boxes. The Bishop asked the youth if they had any questions about what was happening so that started a great discussion. He ended by bearing his testimony and asking the YW and YM Presidents to do that as well. It was such a great way to spend the last mutual with our Youth all together.

We have been knowing this had to be in the works for a long time and now it is finally happening. Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited to maybe have a manageable size ward, but I really will miss all the people and fun. I've been in YW for 4 years now. It's kind of a part of who I am. I know a lot of you might think 4 years isn't really that long to be in a calling, but when that has encompassed 4/7ths of you entire married life, trust me it seems like a long time. I will miss all the YW and the leaders that I have been able to learn from and have fun with. Seriously its such a hard, demanding, time consuming, draining calling, but at the same time I will partly be lost without it. But I shouldn't get too nostalgic because there is a 50/50 chance I will not be in the new ward, and therefore will not be released from my calling.

But what I am guaranteed is that no matter how the boundaries end up I will not be in the same ward with a lot of people who I will miss. I know, I should be used to this. This is the 3rd split Jeremy and I have been through in the last 5 years. Change is good, but it is also hard. My fall back though is that I do have blogging to keep me connected to my soon-to-be-split friends and my soon-to-be-banished-to-the-Stake-Center-friends.

Blogging solves all the worlds problems, doesn't it?

Turkey Bowl XXII

For the last 22 years our family (my dad and his brothers) has played the Annual Turkey Bowl in my grandma's front yard in Lehi, Ut. If you drive down 1200 East any Thanksgiving morning and you will see us out there- guaranteed. Uncle John has even been known to have a flag ceremony with the National Anthem playing on occasion. He thoughtfully retired that tradition a few years ago, along with his Lehi High Mid-drift Football Jersey.

But the game lives on! Who knows how many more years it will continue, but I dare say my dad and Uncles will be out there when they are in their 80's even if it means having to maneuver their electric wheel chairs onto the field.

Jeremy and I on the left looking very competitive.

Turkey Bowl: The next generation!

Let it be known Kaden even score a touchdown this year!!

See, I told you we are hardcore- we even make T-shirts.

A non-enthusiastic fan. But she's so cute!!

I Made the Cut

On the family blog I posted some pictures of our Utah trip (if you haven't swung by there in a while you might want to check it out).

Tiffani, being the detail queen, noticed that I had chopped my hair.

So in case you don't see me regularly I'll give you a little preview. You can't really get the full perspective in this picture... but ya know.

Brynners also got her first hair cut over the holiday- a sweet little A-line stack, but I forgot my camera and my sister let me borrow hers. However, she can't find the USB cable for the camera so those pictures may never be recovered.... we'll see. BUT trust me- she looks fabulous.

Insert Foot, Again

Remember last August when I blogged about how I wasn't making another trip to Utah this year??

Remember???

And then not even TWO days later my sister called to tell me she and her husband were going to be sealed in temple in the fall. So of course, I recall my words to travel to Utah once again for my lovely sister.

As were were making the drive to The Beehive State last week I was really enjoying the thought that I wouldn't have to make this gas-guzzling trip for quite a while. I would actually get a break since we were planning a trip to Canada next summer. We probably wouldn't be back to Utah until.... maybe next Thansgiving.

WOW!!

I wonder if it could be true??

Of course not! Why else would I write this blog?

Thansgiving morning my OTHER little sister announced she would be getting married....

****dun da da dun****

JANUARY 8th.

That's right... in less than six weeks I'll be making that drive that I love OH SO MUCH once again. Which will put me at 5 trips to Utah in 7 months.

So Santa, feel free to stuff my stocking full of gas gift cards, or if Rudolph is out for loan we'll take that option too.

Mr. Bean's Museum

Here are some photos of our trip to the Bean Museum at BYU. A first time for everyone in our family, if you are in Provo you may want to check this out (if you haven't already). For some reason Kaden was scared to death to take pictures with the animals... I'm blaming it on Jeremy who insisted on making noises and jumping at Kaden through every turn. And of course, we had to make the trek across the parking lot to The Creamery. Who can resist that wonderful BYU ice cream??

You Know The Grocery Store Is Calling...

when you are forced to feed your family chocolate chip pancakes for dinner, only because there aren't enough ingredients to make anything else. Thanksgiving was great, but I guess it's time to get over the non-exsistance leftovers and fill my fridge.

Hmmm...

So I was really awesome about posting over the Thanksgiving holiday. But, I did manage to change up the template a little, and I'm feeling good about getting that accomplished. I'm still alive and trying to blog. I have some great "trip blogs" so just hang out a little longer and I will return shortly!

Same Blog, New Stuff

So, I moved my old blog to a private blog and will keep posting pics and stuff of the family there...

This blog will be open to whomever (is that right all you grammer pros) but I can't guarantee the frequency of posting. I'm leaving for our Thanksgiving trip either in 4 hours, or tomorrow... I guess it all depends on how fast I can get through the blogs I have missed the last few days. I promise, I'll post on vacation and get this blog out of its very sterile condition.

I'll put those who emailed me on my "list" to read the family blog. If you want to subscribe there just let me know, and I'll need your login email address for blogger.

Spirit Week

A while back we planned to have a Spirit Week where we focused on one of the Young Women value's each day. So each of us as leaders were assigned a value and to create a packet for that value for the girls to open on our day.


Inside the packet could be whatever you wanted, talks, quotes, cd compilations, letters, it didn't matter. The only requirement was to create something that the girls could have or wear, corresponding with your value color, so when they saw each other at school they would be able to feel connected and remember that they weren't alone in trying to Stand for Truth and Righteousness.


I was given Good Works. I had created the packet, but was having a hard time deciding what to do for the Yellow "something". I thought about it forever, and was stumped and ready to head to Wal*Mart to procure myself some smiley face stickers. That is until Marilyn posted once again about Etsy.

I immediately got on there I was thrilled to find everything I needed to create something fabulous, and without dropping a ton of cash. Thanks again Marilyn for answering all my questions and walking me through the world of Etsy.

Here's what I created, and I like it. I told the girls (in my letter to them) that I hoped wearing this ring would remind them to keep their hands in the Service of God.







Anyway, to kick off Spirit Week we had a Pep Rally in the gym for Mutual on Wednesday. The leaders all dressed in our color and created a game to go with our Value. It was so great! The girls opened their first packet yesterday and will open the final packet on Wednesday and then we have Young Women in Excellence that night. This afternoon my class is meeting at my house to go decorate another girls room for her birthday. I'm excited to pick their brains on what they think of Spirit Week so far. I'm already in love with it.

Get me out of this twister, on the double!

Remember in the wizard of Oz when Dorothy is in the house and sees the Wicked Witch flying around in the "twister"? That's me! No, not Dorothy. The witch. (That was established long ago.) Life is so completely chaotic and jam packed that when I see someone it's only long enought to cackle and wave and then I'm gone, thrown back into the whirlwind.

Let me give you an example. Yesterday Karen stopped by and I don't think we had 4 minutes of conversation without interruption. Kids, phone, people going into labor, visiting teaching, coordinating Birthday surprises, figuring out YW stuff. The list is endless. The madness has to end at some point. It does, right??

Or not.

I keep thinking, "Okay. Once this is over it will calm down."

There is no end in sight... But just to be safe I'm holding out until after the Holidays until I officially give up.

My "6"

More random facts. Because I guess you people just can't get enough of me!!

1. I only had two career choices growing up. I either wanted to be a Neo-natal nurse, or a child psychologist. You see how well those two panned out.

2. In high school I had my life all planned out- go to college, go on a mission, finish my dental hygeine program, travel Europe, and THEN finally meet my dentist husband and get married. All before I was 24- I had determination.

3. I drove a pink Ford Aspire in high school. If this wasn't bad enough- my junior year of HS we moved to Santa Ynez California where everyone but me and a few other ghetto kids were the only ones not getting BMW's, and Mercedes for our 16th birthdays. Serious character building experience.

4. I used to hate when people would not put carts back in the "corral"- and then I had kids and became one of those people.

5. I save tons of coupons. My wallet is chuck full, and I hardly ever use any of them.... but I can't let them go unclipped, because I might (just might) need them!!

6. I the first and only time I have been to a drive in was after Jeremy and I were married. We went to the drive-in because Jeremy was shocked I hadn't been before. We got the full experience since our battery died and we had to get a jump start at 1 am. Good times.

I'm tagging: JustRandi, Rules for a Reason Kristen, Kristen S., Eliza, Jackie, Michele, Kristi

Halloween 2007

Halloween was fun! The collage consists of pumpkin bowling, eyeball eating, Shayla and me holding down the fort at the trunk or treat, and Brynners lovin all the loot! Good times for all!


Happy Snacking for the next month, or two!