{Gratitiude Friday}

This week I am grateful for:

1. Christmas being over
2. Spending time with family
3. Looking forward to more days off work
4. Dave home for an extra couple of days
5. A healthy family

I probably won't post again before New Years. Have a wonderful and safe one!

Awesome Graphics at pYzam.com

{Rockin Christmas} (Memory Tuesday}

We have had one ROCKIN Christmas.

During the day on Christmas Eve we went to Dave's sisters house and ate dinner with his family and exchange presents. We had a great time.

Then, my sister invited us up to her cabin to have santa bring our present there instead. The boys were worried about Santa finding them. I suggested writing him a note telling him where we were. PERFECT IDEAS!

Here is the note, it's kind of hard to read, I need to scan it. McKay was so cute, he put the note facing the fireplace so santa could read it as soon as he came down the chimney.

Once we got to the cabin it was time to go to bed. Good luck trying to get 4 excited kids to bed!

SANTA CAME!!!! And he brought exactly what we asked for! X box 360 with Guitar Hero III
I think I loved it more than the kids did!

After a few hours we decided to come home and open our presents under the tree

First gift. YOUR GOING TO SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT!!

Red Ryder BB Guns

17 MM gun. YIKES!!

I'm behind the camera of course but I got a Cricket Machine for scrapbooking. I LOVE IT!

More rockin out

MEMORY TUESDAY

What was the favorite place to go with your family when you were young?

Every summer since the day I was born we have been going to Bear Lake with a big group of friends that my mom and dad have. I look foward to this every year. The campsites are perfect with flushing toilets and showers. The beach is sand not rocks so it is the perfect place for kids to play. The lake reminds me of a swimming pool, not the temperature but how it just gradually gets deeper. You can let the kids go play and not worry about it dropping off into deep areas. The water is clean, beautiful and a tad bit cold, but on a hot day that doesn't bother anyone! I have continued this tradition with my kids, and will keep it going as long is the lake is full of water!

{Christmas Party}

Today my side of the family got together for our yearly Christmas Party. We went to my dads to exchange presents. We draw names and my brother Kent had our name this year. He gave us a 3 pack of DVD games. Deal or no Deal, Fact or Crap & Would you Rather. I can't wait to play them! My brother also put together an amazing cookbook. It has all of my mom's recipes in it, but not just the recipes, it is copies of her handwritten recipes with notes, reminders and stains. SO AMAZING! Thanks Kent!


After exchanging presents at my Dad's, we went to the cemetary to visit my mom and see her Christmas Tree that my dad puts up each year.

We went and had lunch with the rest of the extended family. I was so busy talking to everyone I forgot to take pictures!! Duh! Oh, well. It was fun chatting with everyone and catching up with my cousins.

{Gratitude Friday}

This week I am grateful for:

1. My work and Dave's work for giving us great Christmas Bonuses
2. Having all of my Christmas shopping done
3. Healthy family
4. My sister getting here safely from St. George
5. Having 5 days off work!!

{Happy Birthday}

Happy Birthday to my cutie niece Skyler!!! She is 8 years old

We love you Sky!!

{4th Grade Program}

McKay had his Christmas program today at school. They did a great job!



We are lucky to live by family. McKay goes to school with 2 of his cousins that are the same age. James and Zac. The part that cracks me up about this picture is McKay, he's on the right. Do you see a problem? Yes that is us running out the door late for school today. He couldn't find the shirt that we had set out the night before (I still cannot find it, I guess shirts can just get up and walk away) so this was the next white one he saw. Um, a little to small and you can't tell but it is on backwards! That just sums up my life every morning. LOL!





The plot was about 5 Christmas Trees wondering if they would be the one to get picked by Santa to be his tree for the year. All of the trees were big and decorated nice but there was 1 small tree with no decorations. The small tree knew the real meaning of christmas


McKay was a "wraping elf", they sang a cute rap song


Your puny, your small, your not even tall
You could never be a christmas tree at all
Your tiny, its true, you'll just never do
Santa Claus will never pick a tree like you
oh no no no
no way at all
Your just too small

{Memory Tuesday}

Tell about the house you lived in during your childhood. Do you remember the address or phone number?

The house I lived in as a child was small and simple. I loved it.

303 East 3060 North. Provo, Utah 84604. 801-375-3768.

It was a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, single story, no basement house. I don't remember how many square feet it was but it was small. My two brothers shared a room and my sister and I shared a room. My mom did a great job of making the house feel like a home. Very warm and inviting. She loved to collect things and loved nick nacks. The house was full of it!

The neighborhood was fun and safe. There was no problem going out at night to play night games or just hang out with the neighbors. Almost everyone that lived in this neighborhood were there to stay. I grew up with some great friends and great people.

When my mom passed away it didn't feel like home anymore. My dad ended up selling it soon after. I have driven by a few times since and it looks really different. (really horrible in my opinion)

{Happy Birthday}

Happy Birthday to Judy (mother-in-law) She is 64 years young!

{Birthday Dinner} {Lights}

Tomorrow is my mother-in-laws birthday. Tonight we took her to dinner. It was so amazing for her to have all of her kids together, Dave and his siblings had drifted apart for a while but things have been mended. I commented to Dave on the way home tonight how much fun they are to hang out with
After dinner we went to Temple Square to see the lights with Dave's sister Tara, her boyfriend Kelly and Dave's mom. It was cold but beautiful!

{Elf Yourself!}, {Gratitude Friday}

Jenn made this for her kids and I thought it was hilarious. I couldn't pass it up to make one for us.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1394379604

This week I am grateful for:
1. Dave, he is home again and makes me laugh!
2. Sharman for sending me the "Three Sisters" gift
3. The fact that it is Friday! This week went way too long
4. I can't go each week without saying how grateful I am for my healthy family
5. My sister. She is the one I can call to cheer me up.

{Sweet Gift}

A wonderful friend of my mom's, Sharman Hafen, sent me the sweetest gift today. It is called "Three Sisters" by Cynthia Webb

When my mom was alive she spent a lot of time with 2 really wonderful ladies. Sharman Hafen and Terry Roberts. So when they found this saying it fit them perfectly. It says, "A tribute to sisters, mothers, daughters, and friends, be they bound by blood or by love."

When my mom past away they shared this cute saying to me and my sister and gave us this pin. I wear it everyday on my coat. To me it represents me, my mom, and my sister.

{Memory Tuesday}

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY, YOUR GREATEST SORROW?

My greatest joy of course are my kids! Even though they put me to the ultimate sanity test they are the loves of my life. I never knew unconditional love until I held them in my arms for the first time. I love watching them grow and learn.
My other greatest joy is my husband. We struggled for a while at the beginning of our marriage but I wouldn't trade it for anything because we have developed such a wonderful relationship. He is my best friend and my soul mate.
My greatest sorrow is the death of my mother. I never had anyone really close to me pass away before, so I wasn't prepared for the hurt and devastation death causes. It has been 4 years and it feels like it was yesterday. I miss the unconditional love that she gave me and my family.

{Crazy Snow!} {Gratitude Friday}

This is what it looks like as we speak in my neck of the woods! The snowflakes are bigger than I have ever seen them before and it is coming down fast!

This week I am grateful for:

1. My family being healthy and happy.

2. McKay and Garrett's teachers, things are really starting to come easy for them

3. Not procrastinating and getting most of my Christmas shopping done already.

4. Having a great job

5. A beautiful place to live. These pictures were taken in Provo Canyon.

Deer Creek Reservoir

Bridalveil Falls

{Memory Tuesday} {Birthday Wishes}

DESCRIBE A CHILDHOOD CHRISTMAS

The first thing that stands out in my mind is when my mom would sew pajamas. They were usually long nightgowns! So fun, I loved it. She would even go as far as to make a matching pair for my dolls.

On Christmas Eve my mom would come in our room and read "Twas the night before Christmas" My brothers and sister would go to bed and scream in our pillows we were so excited!

In the morning all the kids would have to wake up mom and dad. We couldn't go into the family room without them. My dad would take his time getting out of bed, getting dressed. Then he would proceed to go turn the Christmas Tree lights on, even build a fire in our fireplace before we were able to come out and see what Santa brought. It was torture! Fun torture!

My parents always made christmas fun, even when I was the only child in the house. Santa came no matter how old we were.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my step-mom VICKIE! BIG 6 0!

{Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow}

I love this time of year! New snow! It's only December so right now it is fun but give me a few months and I will be ready for summer again.

This is a beautiful view from our backyard. Looks like another storm is rolling in.

We also have a huge dirt pile in our backyard. What an awsome sledding hill! Just give it a few more good snow storms and it will be perfect.

And the day wouldn't be complete without a snowball fight!

What a fun day we had!!

{Gratitude Friday}

A blog I keep up on Lisa Bearnson had a great idea. She made a gratitude journal with her kids. Every night they are to write 5 things that happened that day that they are grateful for. What a great idea!!! I will be starting this with my kids this weekend.

I decided to post every Friday what I am grateful for. I think it is a great way to keep your focus on the positive things not the negative.

This week I am grateful for:

1. Dave coming home last night to save me (I was at the breaking point with my kids)
2. My kids for sincerely saying sorry after they saw how upset they made me
3. Leesa for calling me to go shopping with her today
4. Having a wonderful sister that I can call anytime to vent and always cheer me up
5. My Aunt Cindy getting me motivated to make a new Christmas Stalking for Garrett. (I will post about that later)

Make it a great one!!

{Pandora}

My brother introduced me to Pandora and I AM ADDICTED!!

I sit at a computer all day and this is perfect to listen to! The program is so smart, you put in an artist and it will play their songs plus other songs in the same category. If you don't like the song just say so and they will never play it again. I wish I could download this to my I-Pod!

You can create different play lists. Today I made a Christmas station.

{Memory Tuesday}

DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST CRUSH. WHAT WAS THE PERSON LIKE? HOW OLD WERE YOU?

I don't have any 1 boy that I had a crush on. In third grade there were A LOT of boys I liked. Everyday at recess we would play kissing tag. The boys would chase the girls and then take them behind the bushes to kiss. Then the girls would chase the boys and go behind the bushes. The funny thing is, everyone would go willingly behind those bushes!!
I can't believe I did that in 3rd grade. I have a 4th grader and I can't even imagine him kissing a girl at his age!!!!

{Thanksgiving recap}

We had a great Thanksgiving! I love how the holidays bring families together. Dave's family doesn't get together very much so it was nice to spend the day with eachother and reconnect.

On Friday we went up to my sisters cabin and stayed overnight. NO SNOW!! Oh well, my kids love playing with their cousins and we enjoy hanging out with my sister and her husband.

I usually don't enjoy getting ready for Christmas. I get stressed about what to buy, how much, etc... But Santa planned ahead and he is almost done. Whew! Saturday we spent time putting up the christmas tree and decorating the house. Now we just need snow!

{Happy Thanksgiving}

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all have a great day and make sure to be thankful for EVERYTHING you have.

We are going to Kory and Stephanie's house this year (Dave's brother). The Horlacher family doesn't get together very often so it should be fun. I am excited to make my mom's home made rolls and I might even attempt to make a pie rather than buy it. I'm not much of a susie homemaker so that is a big deal for me! ha ha.

Make it a great one!

{Happy Anniversary, Memory Tuesday}

Happy Anniversary to my brother Kent and his cute wife Janie!

Memory Tuesday
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SPORT? TELL ABOUT IT.
Growing up I loved playing Volleyball. I never played for school and I probably wasn't the best player for our church team but I stilled loved to play.
I enjoy watching gymnastics, football and basketball. And of course watching my boys play soccer.

{Get well wishes}

On Monday my Nephew Tyson was not feeling well. He was complaining that his ankle hurt and he had a "skull" ache. By Monday night he wasn't feeling any better so she took him to the emergency room. Just so you know when you take your child to the emergency room with aches and pains in their body and you can't explain why...... they treat you like a child abuser. Anyway, they determined he had strep and sent him home with antibiotics. Tuesday he wasn't feeling any better but actually worse. He was complaining that his body ached and by night time he could hardly walk. She took him to the emergency room again and this time was admitted to the hospital. This is what they determined he has Henoch-Schonlein purpura

They put him on steroids and within a few hours he was back to his old self. He can't go to school until his immune system is back up to normal. Still pretty scary though. Just thought I would put the awareness out there for you.

{Memory Tuesday}

DO YOU HAVE ANY NICKNAMES? WHO CALLS YOU THOSE NAMES? DO YOU LIKE THE NICKNAMES?

Growing up I was probably called brat and spaz by my siblings. lol.

In high school my friend started to call me Amos, I didn't really like it but it didn't bother me, it never stuck though.

The most common name for me is Aim. Since Amy is so long and all I guess that is a good one. LOL.

My husband calls me princess and has called me that for a long time now. I love it.

{Weird things about me}

I was tagged by my friend Jenn. Here are the "rules" she gave me:

A. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
B. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. Everyday after my shower I have to clean my ears out with q-tips. I literally have anxiety if I don't

2. If I don't have acrylic nails on my fingers I will pick at my cuticles. YUCK!

3. I am obsessed with my camera and pictures. If I misplace my camera I will not sleep until it is found. Another anxiety problem I have.

4. I have to drink at least 1 diet coke a day or I will get a splitting head ache

5. I am entertained quite easily. I have caught myself many times being the only one in the movie theater laughing.

6. I can't go anywhere without foundation on my face. Other make up I am fine with not having on.

Okay, I am tagging: Kent, Jen S, & Haylee. I don't know any other bloggers :)

{Voting Results}

1,433 people voted for a big box development in Heber

1,327 voted against it.

Looks like we will be growing whether people like it or not. I bet all 1327 of those voters will shop at the stores!

{Memory Tuesday, Go Vote}

DO YOU HAVE A WEAKNESS OR AFFINITY FOR CERTAIN THINGS? (CHEESECAKE, JEWELRY, CHOCOLATE, SHOES, CARS, ETC.)

In the food department I think one thing I crave a lot is microwave popcorn with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on it. I know, weird. My mom got me on that one, thanks a lot mom!
I use to be addicted to Pepsi but was converted to Diet Coke. I can't go a day without one. And if I can get it in crushed ice that is even better!
I also always love getting a new purse. I will buy one and then a months later get sick of it and need another one.

Today in Heber citizens are voting whether or not to expand the building code, this would allow a Walmart and other big businesses to come to Heber. For those of you that don't know Heber it is a very small town but growing rapidly. I remember as a child when they first got a McDonalds, that was a HUGE deal!

Honestly I would love to have a Walmart close by, or anything for that matter. If you need to buy clothes it is a 15 minute drive to Park City or 20 minute drive to Provo. Otherwise you are going to the local store (Kings) or family dollar if you are desperate. The problem a lot of people have is it would put all of the small mom and pop businesses out of business. With the rate the city is growing I don't think they can avoid it much longer.

I will let you know what the outcome is.

{Cancer Sucks}

A coworker of mine found out in September that their 12 year old son has liver cancer. They were hopeful for a recovery. He has gone through chemo and a couple surgeries but just got the news that the cancer has spread to his intestines and is in all the major 4 veins so not even a transplant would help. They have told them to take him home and love and enjoy every minute they have with him. They don't know how long he has but probably won't be around next summer. I can't even imagine going through this! Here is their blog if you would like to read it.

How do you prepare a 12 year old to die? Here is something they said on the blog that hit me pretty hard.

"He goes around saying but you will be right behind me right mom you will be just a second and you'll be in heaven because in heaven every minute in heaven is a 1000 years on earth. So our saying around here is we'll be just behind you in just a second."

{Honor my Mother Day October 25, 1943 - November 2, 2003}

Not a day goes by that I don't think of my mom.

Today

I will honor her life

Carolyn (Joan) Edwards Remund.

She passed away November 2, 2003 after a year long battle of Lung Cancer.

I am the baby of the family and my mom always had my back. All I had to do was scream and she would come running to my defence telling my brothers and sister to leave me alone (the scream was hardly ever legit)

Laying on her lap in church touching her hands and feeling her finger nails. She always made sure they were filed and painted.

I had a lot of time alone with her since I was the youngest. She would take me shopping and say "don't tell dad we bought this" (You know I had to have those $80.00 pair of Girbaud jeans, that was a lot of money for jeans back then) It made me feel so special!

She was such a simple woman. She never got rid of anything and would use it until it just could not be used one more second. Example: Her blow dryer and curlers. I think she bought those in 1960 and used them until the day she lost her hair to Chemo!
Or when she finally broke down and got an answering machine and caller ID, it was a changing day for her! HA HA

I'm sure I gave her a lot of grey hair as a teenager. When I was late coming home (which was every night) never fail she would be sitting in front of our big window on the couch waiting for me to walk through the door. If I was outside and she wanted me to come in she would flash the porch light.

She was a collector. Her home was full of nick nacks, dolls, and of course BEANIE BABIES!

At times when I thought she would be mad and disappointed in me the most, instead she would be sensitive and understanding and do anything and everything to help me.

Anything you needed she was just a phone call away. She would drop anything she was doing to talk or spend time with her kids. She would plan parties for every occasion whether it was birthdays, holidays, even a jazz or BYU game. When she cooked, it was always with love. She knew everyone's favorite food and would always make extra so she could send it home with you.
Her grandchildren made her so happy. She made a scrapbook of her grandkids and on the front it says "Grandchildren light up your life" every single one of them had a special place in her heart.

She would watch my kids every Wednesday while I worked, that was the highlight of their week (I like to think it was hers too). She fed them toast, jam, banana's and sometimes a little slice of ham for breakfast then for lunch they would ride in grandpas truck to see the Cougar (BYU Stadium), get happy meals and go see the trains at the train yard. After nap they would sometimes walk to the store for a treat or just help her around the house or water the flowers outside. They will always have cherished memories of her and for that I am so grateful.

I say to everyone, please treasure your mothers!!! You won't know how much you miss or need them until they are gone.

{Trick or Treating}

This year our friends invited us to Park City to go trick or treating. It was a blast!!

Park City Main Street was shut down and all the stores handed out candy. Not just for kids either, everyone had their dogs dressed up and the stores gave out doggie treats.

This was my favorite dog costume. So funny!

Even my little Rio put on a mask for the occasion

Um.... this guy was not dressed up, I think he always looks like this.

As you can see my night was a little crazy and I didn't take an individual picture of my kids. I will have to get them dressed up again and post later.

{Memory Tuesday}

TELL ABOUT A TIME AS A CHILD WHEN YOU GOT INTO TROUBLE

Wow, Which story do I choose. I got in trouble a lot.

My dad loves this story.

I think I was 16 years old and some friends and I had gone to lagoon and had such a great time that we decided to go again. For some strange reason in my mind I figured that if I asked my parents if I could go again they would say no. So, I lied. I told my parents we were going to the zoo.

I was the only person who followed through with that lie, Oops. My parents talked to other parents and found out that we had actually gone to lagoon.

As I am sun bathing in Lagoon-a-beach I look up and see my dad standing over me!! Lagoon is HUGE, how he found me I have no idea, you ask him how he found me he has no idea.

I had to pack up my stuff and go home with him and my mom. The 1 hour ride home was the longest and quietest ride of my life. I don't remember if a punishment was given when I got home but having to leave my friends and the embarrassment of getting caught lying was punishment enough.

{Carving Pumpkins}

Last night we went to our friends house to carve pumpkins. What a mess! It's a good thing this only happens once a year.

This year we decided to get creative and let the boys do a picture in the pumpkin rather than a plain old face. They were determined to do it themselves, the pumpkins came out pretty good.

Garrett decided on the skull and cross bones

McKay decided on a ghost.

{Birthday Wishes}, {Surgery}

Happy birthday to my mom!! I love and miss you mom!!!!!!!

My dad had a much needed knee surgery today, he is doing well, they are going to keep him in the hospital for a few days to monitor the pain and help him walk around.

{Memory Tuesday}

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU "GREW UP?" DID YOU BECOME THAT?

Well, isn't it every little girls dream to get married and be a mom? I can't say enough how happy I am to be married to my best friend. Dave is amazing! we can count on him for anything, he keeps us laughing, he is handy around the house and he is the best father I know!
I am so grateful to have my boys. Some women never get the chance to fill a baby grow in their stomach and then to have the most overwhelming feeling of unconditional love when the child is born. It is another great feeling to watch your kids grow into really good kids (of course I haven't been through the teenage part yet, yikes!).

As a teenager I knew I wanted to work in an office environment, I have loved the 2 jobs (NuSkin for 11 years and current job DBA for 3 years). Of course the dream of becoming a mom also means staying home and I have been given some pretty harsh opinions about that, but I don't regret working. It has helped me to appreciate my kids more. Dave and I love "hanging" out with our kids, they go almost everywhere we go, very seldom do we get a babysitter.

{Birthday Wishes}

HAPPY 7th Birthday to my sweet baby, he isn't a baby anymore!!!

GARRETT

{Halloween Party, Birthday Party}

The end of October is a big party month for us. We have Dave's Birthday, Garrett's Birthday and my mom's Birthday.


When my mom was alive she started a fun tradition for her birthday to have a party with all of the grandkids dressing up in their costumes. We decided to keep this a tradition in her honor.


My kids are the 2 in the front with the scary masks. McKay is some scary guy and Garrett is a skeleton. Notice the sweet little Power Ranger not sitting close to the skeleton. That is my brother's son Isaak, so funny!

We ate pizza and then played a fun game eating donuts on a string with no hands. The kids were a mess after but they loved every minute of it

Then we took a pumpkin and birthday balloons up to the cemetary for my mom
Since everyone was together I decided to have Garrett's birthday party. We went to the local swimming pool. The cousins have so much fun. I am so glad they are all close in age and can grow up together.