PICNIC WEDDING? WTH!!!!

Today was a great Saturday! My Mom asked us this morning if we were interested in having a picnic with the kids and of course we said yes! We got all dressed and ready and did a few errands, then packed lunches and the cars and headed out to the Valley of Fire. It was the perfect temperature for a picnic and no wind, all we had to do was find a spot that wasn't filled with people. We headed to the site called "7 sisters" and saw that there wasn't anyone around so we pulled the cars in and got all the food out. We started to enjoy the quiet and the kids were beginning to explore when a huge party bus pulls in followed by 3 small cars and a limo, and we all look at each other like "What the heck is going on?" Next thing we know people in suits and dresses pile out of the bus and then my eyes blinked two or three times just to focus on what came out of the limo next, a girl in a big white dress!! It was an entire wedding party and all their guests!! I was thinking they were lost, and then I thought well, maybe they are taking some picture out here or something and then a guys busts out a boom box and two others are looking for the perfect spot to hold the ceremony!! We all sat there laughing hysterically, of course the day we decide to have a picnic we end up being in the middle of a wedding! As the smell of the latrines moved through the air, I thought, "yes, of course, the perfect setting for a romantic wedding!" Now of course I had my camera with me and I was all about getting some shots of this, I mean really when will I get this opportunity again?

We really had a great time though and then we headed back into town. We got home and got the kids ready for bed and then Jimmy and I were able to slip out for some "U Swirl" our new favorite place and a little walk through Target. I love days spent with my family, the kids love being with my parents and being outside!! For me I kept thinking "This could be the last time for a long time that we will be out at Valley of Fire with my parents so we have to enjoy this, and thanks to "Tony & Tina's Wedding" it was a day we will never forget!!

Flashes Back!! Sisters

The 2009 Woman's Conference is fast approaching and I am getting really excited. It is a tradition in our family, as I am sure it is in many others, for all the women to meet together for the 3 day celebration and education of women. It truly is amazing to be in a room filled with tens of thousands of Women who believe in the same things. The tradition started with my Mom and her sisters years ago and eventually spread to their kids and now their kids. Every year we try to stay in the same hotel and we all gather in one room in the evenings in our pajamas to talk and be with each other. This year will be the first year of Woman's Conference since my Aunt Annetta passed away, it will be strange to see just my mom and her sister Marylin, every year they try to wear matching outfits so everyone will know they are sisters. The relationship they have shared is such an inspiration to me and all of the generations that have watched the mutual respect and love they have for each other. Here are some pictures from Woman's Conference past.

Fire Station
Last Friday we were invited by some women in our ward to do a tour of the Fire Station. I had done one before with Scouts but Grace had never been and I knew she would love it!! It really was tons of fun, the guys let all the kids take turns in the fire engine and spraying the hose. Grace loved watching them put on their gear and then getting to try some on herself!! After the Fire Station we headed to the Lied Animal Shelter to see the cats and dogs, Grace decided that she didn't want any of the ones they had because they made too much noise, I was in agreement with her decision!!

Oh Grace!
Yesterday I came upstairs to check on Grace since I had not heard noise from her in about 10 min and when I walked into my room I see Grace standing by the bed holding something in her hands. Upon closer inspection I realize she is holding a sock filled with lotion and liquid soap, at first I am thinking "Ok, ok could have been worse". I begin to clean it up when Grace walks from the room and I ask "Where are you going?" her reply "To the naughty spot." How do you not chuckle a bit at the fact that I didn't even have to say a word and she knew right where to go!!

Oh and the end of that story is that it was worse, much worse, she had squirted the brand new tube of my favorite lotion ALL over the room, the walls, the floors, the ceiling, the doors, the t.v., the bed, the dresser!! She is now under constant supervision, we are all on shifts to try and keep her contained!!

All In The Details!!

So here is the low down on Jimmy's new job! He will be working at Buckley Air Force Base in the Engineering department, so he will be doing the same thing there as he was here. Where is Buckley, you ask, Aurora, Colorado! We are still waiting on his contract letter that will tell him his start date but our plan for now is that he will head out there first and then the kids and I will follow once school is out. The reality of it all hasn't really set in because I refuse to think about it. I am just living in the land of excitement that Jimmy is employed and that things are all working out. When we told the girls last night these were the reactions

Grace- "Yay, now we can get our house back!" followed by a booty dance!

Lexi- "That's awesome, oh I am so excited!!" followed a moment later with tears realizing she will be moving away.

James- he was just clapping his hands not really sure why everyone was so excited.

It truly is an answer to our prayers and honestly we have both known for a little while that Colorado is where we are supposed to be for now. With it being a government job there will be lots of opportunity for possible travel and that is exciting to me, it will also have some great benefits in the way of insurance and retirement. I am working hard at focusing on all the positives so that I don't end up a blubbering mess thinking about leaving all I have ever known since I was 6!!


For those following "Marylin's Secret" there is more to the story there!!

SHOUT SHOUT!!!!

We are beyond EXCITED to spread the good news that Jimmy has found a job!!!!!!!! It is a GREAT JOB, with excellent opportunities!!!! More Details to come but we are headed out to celebrate!!!! Thanks to all of you who have kept us in your prayers!!! Love to you all!!!!!

Give Away!!

Well it's not me but I had to spread the word about a great blog called Say It On A Sign that is doing a give away!! They are home made signs and they are super cute!! Go here and enter!!

Aren't I Too Old For This!

Last week I woke up with one of my least favorite problems, a ZIT! Not just a little bump but a large, underground, red blemish, BLAH! I'm 30, haven't I paid my dues in that department? Not to mention that I have a reputation to uphold as a licensed Esthetician (skin care specialist)!! Lucky for me I didn't have anywhere important to be that day so I got in the shower and began my morning routine. I was on my way to apply some cover-up to my face when my mother stops me to chat when mid-sentence she says "What's that?!!", I figured she would know but just in case her memory failed her I gave the informative answer "A Zit!" her follow up was "You don't get Zits, Emily must be on her period!". It is a common joke in our house that if any of us older women in the house have skin problems, mood problems or stomach cramps it's Emily's fault!! We figure her hormones are being passed our way just so she doesn't feel alone!! Zits are the worst though!! Fortunately for me I have some remedies that help to clear the occasional blemish within a day or two, and make-up to help hide them a bit. The down side is that I feel like anyone that might see me will hone in on the nasty little bugger and stare at it all the while thinking "Man, that girl should see a Dermatologist!". I mean as a women I think that by the time we Graduate high school it should mean the end of zits!! We should get a pass for the rest of our days, that's not too much to ask I don't think!! I will speak for myself when I say that I did the braces, the glasses, the bad 80's clothes & hair, the bad 90's clothes & hair, the bad skin, the years of sitting in math class with cramps, don't I deserve a break!!?!?! C'mon now!! Curse you oh giant of all that is ugly and embarrassing!! Go thee hence and leave no scars!! :)

Thanks A Million

I would love to thank all of you that gave your "Two Cents" in my private vs. public blog dilemma!! With some great suggestions I think I have come up with the solution, I have decided to create a private blog that will just be for me, it won't have family stuff on it and it will be my thoughts that aren't really for the general public. I will send invites to my private blog though so if you are interested in my crazy mind and the spewing that it might produce then by all means let me know and I will invite you!! I will warn though that I can not promise it will be on it's best behavior and that it might be lots of rambling.

Really though, thank you again for your help!! I will be leaving this blog open!! Love to you all!!