Our Paisley Days

Sadness

2012-01-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

Facebook post yesterday:

This morning I have been sewing black bands to go around my officer's badges here at work. This is something that I am doing with great sadness. Please remember the officers and families from Ogden in your prayers today. What a great love and respect I have for all of them.

Working for a police department for the past 5 years and being part of the law enforcement family the incident in Ogden hits hard for me. I appreciate my officers and the hard work they do. I read the following poem on my friend that is a local city officer's facebook page today.

Final Inspection

The officer stood and faced his God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shinning,

... Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, Officer,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The officer squared his shoulder and said,
"No, lord I guess I ain’t,
Because those of us who carry badges
can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was rough,
And sometimes I've been violent
Because the streets are tough.

But I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep..
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
when the bills got to steep.

And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept an unmanly tear.

I know I don't deserve a place
among the people here.
They never wanted me around
except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
it needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't...I'll understand.

There was silence all around the throne,
where the saints often trod.
As the officer waited quietly
for the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, Officer.
You've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell"

What's To Come

2012-01-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty much sure that my boy is going to get married before me.......

(These aren't "offical" pictures. They were just having fun up the canyon.)

Christmas

2011-12-28T19:21:00.002-07:00

We had a nice Christmas. On Christmas Eve we had everyone over and had the traditional ham dinner. It was fun to have everyone here. We played games and opened a few presents. Rachel and little Allan played well together. Amy, Jeremy's girlfriend, spent Christmas with us.

Rachel's brought home some reindeer food from preschool. It consists of dry oatmeal and purple glitter. You are suppose to pour it on the snow Christmas Eve so when the moon hits it it will twinkle and the reindeer will know where to land. There was hardly any snow and not much of a moon that night, but we still went out and poured it on our one lone pile of snow.

Jeremy and Amy played Santa and put all the gifts out. It sure looks like a lot when you have gifts for 8 people under the tree.

Christmas morning started at 7:30 and we finished opening presents around 9:15. We take turns, youngest to oldest, opening presents one at a time. It draws it out and it lets everyone see what everyone gets.

And last but not least I finally got a ring.....YEAH! One of the best Christmas's ever!

Christmas Letter 2011

2011-12-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2011

This year I decided not to do Christmas cards. Well, really I'm just lazy and didn't want to do them. So a blog post will have to do.

Jeremy turned 20 this past July and celebrated by joining the Army in August. This was a big decision for him that he thought about for a long time. He has wanted to be part of the military since he was 10 so I wasn't surprised. Everyone asks me if I am scared for him. Yes and no. I am so proud of him, but I am worried. He leaves for basic training at Fort Benning Georgia February 21st. He will be there for 9 weeks and then hopes to do another 2 weeks for airborne training. After that he will be stationed at his base. He is looking into going to Fairbanks Alaska for that. Then I imagine he will be deployed by the end of 2012. He has a new girlfriend named Amy. They are spending as much time together as possible before he leaves. I imagine there might be a wedding sometime in the near future.

Jonah turned 13 in June. He has taken up skateboarding and is really good at it. He is the only one out of the 3 men in the house that hasn't broken a bone on his skateboard. Between Jeremy and Tony they have that covered. Jonah continues to have excellent grades and enjoys school. He has grown taller than me and is almost taller than Jeremy. He has spent the year growing his hair out and is constantly doing the "hair flip". I am waiting for him to pull a muscle in his neck and then maybe he will cut it.

Rachel turned 4 in November. She is a handful and keeps Tony and I busy. I can't decide if she is extra active or if I am extra old. She loves princesses and barbies. She has to have her fingernails painted at all times and has a shoe addiction already. She is a total daddy's girl and follows Tony around every second she can.

I am still working for the University Police Department. I love my job and the people I work with. Tony is still doing construction and has actually stayed really busy this year, although right now I think he wouldn't be too sad if it slowed down. The cold weather is hard on him. Our (my) big event this year was to see Bon Jovi in March. It was totally awesome of course and made my year. I am lucky that Tony puts up with my love for another man and goes with me. Funny thing is he sang just as loud as I did the whole show.

Other family news is my sister Melissa got married to an awesome guy named Chris in April. It was a beautiful wedding and we had a fun trip to Boise. My parents retired and moved to Utah county this fall. They are loving their free time now and celebrated by buying a new truck and 5th wheel. Jonah spent a lot time camping with them this summer.

We feel very blessed to have the family and friends we do. Thank you all for your love and support. Wishing you the best this holiday season and the new year.

Much love,
Tony, Heather, Jeremy, Jonah and Rachel

Holiday Spirit

2011-12-20T12:20:00.001-07:00

Finally.....got pictures to load. So I am going to fast catch up.

The day after Thanksgiving we had a family reunion in Utah county.

Hate the drive.

Traffic sucks down there.

Food was good.

So good to see my grandfather.

Love him so much!!!

Put the tree up the next week.

Rachel had to wear her Belle dress to do it.

Bought Tony a train to go around the tree that he has wanted forever.

He and Rachel played with it for about 2 hours.

He was more excited about it than she was.

Although Rachel danced like a spaz around the tree for about 15 minutes.

This past weekend was ornament and gingerbread house making.

Rachel colored more on herself.

Rachel and Jonah ate more of the candy than put on the house.

Tony and I wondered why we purchased something that had so much candy with it.

Rachel ran around like she was on crack.

Too much sugar.

Not doing Chrismas cards this year.

Will be doing a blog post instead.

Later.

I'm Here

2011-12-11T14:59:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to post for a week or so and blogger is taking forever to upload my pictures. Frustrating. Anyone else having this problem?

We're alive. We're fine.

When I can finally get it to work I will have a bazillion posts/pictures.

Beware

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

This Thanksgiving we spent at home.
2 of us cooking all day.
5 of us eating dinner.
3 of which were done in about 8 minutes.
Tony was kind of frustrated.

But it was still fun, and our turkey was BEAUTIFUL. Tony did a great job.

4

2011-11-20T10:35:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th Birthday to Miss Rachel Paisley

(Last Saturday the 12th)

Can't believe how fast it has gone. One day she was this little baby and now....

she is a little girl (who thinks she is 15 I swear)

We had a fun party with lots of friends. My friend Kristi made this butterfly cake. It was awesome. The kids made some crafts and then we had a butterfly pinata, cake and presents.

My sister was down for Boise. It was nice to have her at the party. We don't get to see her very often.

Thank A Veteran

2011-11-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

This is what I wrote on Facebook today and wanted to add it to my blog.

I personally think that there shouldn't have to be a specific day to thank our Veterans. I think that it is something we should do EVERYDAY. I am so thankful for those who serve, have served, and those getting ready to serve. I couldn't be more proud of my son Jeremy who will be starting that part of his life this February. Thank you all for my family's freedom!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T12:17:00.000-06:00

Patience

2011-10-24T10:06:00.000-06:00

This is what happens when you watch football all day and your 3 year old is bored.

What a good sport.

Future Soldier

2011-10-19T13:31:00.000-06:00

Beware

2011-10-18T11:37:00.000-06:00

This is a venting post......

This is how I feel today. I posted this on my facebook page already, but still had to vent. I am absolutely sick of my kids. As horrible as it makes me feel, and how guilty it makes me feel, I can't stand them the last couple of days.

Rachel's whining, crying, clinging, mouthiness. She can't just go to bed at night without making a huge production out of it. Crying because her books fall out of her bed, or because her sippy cup is making a noise (whatever that means), or because I only said good night one bazillion times, not two.

Jonah's getting mad and frustrated with me because I want him to check in every 2 hours when he is with his friends skateboarding down the street. "Well if my phone was working I could just call you!" Hey buddy, I didn't have a phone when I was your age and I managed a way to check in with my parents. Or him getting upset with me because I tell every time he leaves "No drugs, smoking, drinking, porn, sex, or going across main street." Deal with it Dude, I am going to say these things to you until you move out of my house. Probably after that too.

Jeremy's attitude altogether. He is just mean lately. I imagine working the grave shift doesn't help, but please you don't have to be an ass every waking minute. I get frustrated because he will eat the last of everything without thinking of anyone else. He will yell at Rachel because she is too loud. He will tell me to turn down my TV/radio when he is playing video games because they are too loud. How old are you man, 60? Plus today he came into my office to get something and he obviously hadn't brushed his teeth. I asked him if he did and he just leaned closer and breathed on me. I WANTED TO KICK HIS ASS!

I am not liking the mom job today. I am not looking forward to going home after work. My only ME time is the 10 minutes in the shower in the morning, the 3 minutes to work after I drop Jonah off at school, and the 5 minutes home after work.

Yes, I am having a pity party. Yes I know it will all blow over. Yes, I do love my kids. But my hell I need a vacation and a big bottle of xanax.

Absence

2011-10-17T12:17:00.000-06:00

Rachel had her tonsils out on the 5th, so that is why I haven't posted for awhile. I was home for 11 days. No Internet access. I have come to the realization that I would be a horrible stay at home mom. I didn't get anything I wanted done accomplished. Lots of movies (one day it was only Avatar, over and over again), Plants vs Zombies, and naps.

She is doing much better and is finally back at daycare. I am finally back to work. With adults. That don't talk about princesses all day and change their clothes 10 times a day.

Yeah!

Homecoming 2011

2011-09-28T15:51:00.000-06:00

Homecoming weekend is big deal at our house. We always go to the parade and the game. Now that Rachel is getting older it is more fun. She gets so excited. This was the first year she really understood that she was going to a football game. We were worried about how she would be since she wouldn't be in her stroller. She was awesome. She loved it.

Rachel's old babysitter Lindsey (the one that would do her hair so cute) mom made Rachel a new cheerleader dress. The matching bloomers make the outfit. She got so many compliments.

The parade was great this year. They throw lots of candy. One float was throwing bananas and Rachel was pretty disgusted with that. "This isn't candy!" she said as she threw it into her bag.

These guys made me all teary eyed.

This will be my boy in 5 months.

Go Aggies!

Remembering

2011-09-21T12:44:00.002-06:00

Last week we had to opportunity to see the traveling version of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Tony has an uncle that died in the Vietnam war so we thought this would be a great opportunity for us. It was amazing. All a bit overwhelming actually.

They had a place there you could give them the name of the person you were looking for and they typed it into a data base and printed off the location of the name on the wall and a bunch of additional information about the person. It took her under a minute to find Tony's uncle.

Last Name HANAWALD
First Name LEN
Middle MARTIN
Home Town ALBUQUERQUE
Home State NM

Panel 18W
Line 28

Age 33
Gender M
Branch ARMY
Rank LTC

Date of Birth 09/09/1935
Casualty Date 03-Sep-69
Tour Date 05/06/1969
Length of Service 12
Event
Cas Detail 1 HOSTILE, DIED WOUNDS
Cas Detail 2 SMALL ARMS FIRE
Cas Detail 3 GROUND CASUALTY
Major Org USARV
Division 101ST ABN DIV
Regiment 506TH INFANTRY
Battalion 2ND BN
Company HHC

The panel in the picture below list all the soldiers that died from August 29th - September 23, 1969. That is only 26 days. That is A LOT of names.

They also had a display of all the names of the soldiers that have died in the war since 9/11. I hope I never see my boys name on this wall.

Did You Know.....

2011-09-19T13:53:00.003-06:00

You can click on a picture in a blog post and it will now let you see every picture on that post in a slideshow format 8x10 size.

Didn't know that. Pretty cool.

The End of Summer

2011-09-19T13:51:00.000-06:00

Summer is finally coming to a close and we will get our 4-6 weeks of fall. (My favorite season). Then is will dump snow and be cold until next May. So we have been playing outside as much as we can.

My parents came down a few weeks ago and hadn't been in the door longer than 2 minutes before Rachel had Grandma out the door to play bubbles. Toby our cat had to join in too.

We bought a croquette set thinking it would be a fun way to spend some time together as a family. It has been fun but we have learned that Jonah is a closet croquette Nazi. He is brutal. Rachel will play for a few minutes and then get bored and start stealing balls and running away with them. You can only imagine how mad that makes Hitler, I mean Jonah.

Flashback Friday #23

2011-09-16T13:00:00.000-06:00

Tony and I were talking last night about all the concerts I had seen over the past 25+ years. So I had to sit down and write them all down. The first 4 are in order and then I can't remember after that. I remember 2 summers that we probably went to a concert every week. It was a lot of fun. I saw the most concerts with my friend Shauna. Tickets back then were almost all under $35. The most I have paid is $1350 for 2 front row Bon Jovi tickets. So very worth it. Would do it again in a heartbeat if I had the money. Curious to know how many concerts you have seen. Comment please.

Donny & Marie Osmond
Rick Springfield
Huey Lewis and the News
Quiet Riot
Def Leppard
Bon Jovi (13)
Areosmith
Motley Crue
Poison
Cinderella
Bullet Boys
Winger
Warrant
Depeche Mode (3)
Kenny G
Michael Bolton
Oingo Boingo
Erasure
Faith No More
Skid Row
Ryan Star
Janet Jackson
Tesla
LA Guns
Billy Idol
Van Halen (Sammy Hagar)
Faster Pussycat
Great White
Whitesnake

Have you seen THIS?

2011-09-14T13:20:00.000-06:00

I would imagine the only way you haven't seen this video is if you live under a rock somewhere.

This happened here in my little part of Utah. This happened right on top of my little university campus. This had my disptach phones lighting up for a LONG time. This had our office scrambling for 2 days.
This had me talking to the media all day yesterday. (I started the day by talking to someone from Good Morning America.)

This shows you how utterly AMAZING the people are here in my little bubble of the world.

Perfect

2011-08-26T14:29:00.001-06:00

I've been thinking the past few days about how it felt to be 13.

I have been trying to understand why my boy would rather bottle everything inside instead of talking to me and telling me how he is feeling.

I have always been a very open mom with Jeremy. We talk about EVERYTHING and I strongly feel that is why he has turned out to be such a good kid. Ok, sometimes I think he is a total ass, but overall he has made good decisions in his life. No drugs, drinking, smoking, sex, no run ins with the law, not even a speeding ticket. I think me being flat out honest with him and telling him what my expectations are have really helped our relationship. I wish my parents had been that way with me. Maybe I wouldn't have ended up pregnant at 17. Saying "Sex is wrong, don't do it before your married." just doesn't cut if for a young girl. Sitting down with Jeremy and explaining the heartache and pain that comes along with an unplanned teenage pregnancy and the loss you have to deal with for the rest of your life when you don't have that baby anymore makes a much bigger impact.

When I try to talk to Jonah about anything he gets all red in the face and frustrated and says "I know Mom." and tries to avoid me. Every child is different I know. That is why I trying to remember being 13.

This is what I remember about 13

* Am I skinny enough?
* Should I wear this or will they make fun of me?
* When am I EVER going to get boobs?
* Is she/he mad at me?
* Oh I like him (at the time HIM was a cute boy named Dave) so much!
* I hope the teacher doesn't call on me in class.
* Can everyone tell I am having my period and am wearing a HUGE pad? (It was a life changing day when I finally figured out how to use a tampon.)
* Could I have anymore zits?
* I want to look just like her.
* Why doesn't he like me?
* Let me please walk through the lunch line without spilling anything.
* I want to look like the girls in 17 magazine.
* Why won't my mom let me wear the things they wear in 17 magazine?
* What am I going to wear tomorrow?
* Will they let me hang out with them at the mall?

Oh I am so glad I am not 13 anymore.

Although some of those thoughts do still go through my mind.

I heard this song this morning on my way to work and have to say it made me cry. I dont' want my kids to feel inadequate, or insecure. I don't want them to second guess everything they do because they are afraid of what everyone else thinks. I know it is part of growing up, but I think it totally sucks.

Made a wrong turn, Once or twice
Dug my way out, Blood and fire
Bad decisions, That's alright
Welcome to my silly life

Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
Miss "no way, it's all good", It didn't slow me down
Mistaken, Always second guessing
Under estimated, Look, I'm still around

You're so mean,
When you talk, About yourself, You are wrong.
Change the voices, In your head
Make them like you Instead.

So complicated,
Look happy, You'll make it!
Filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game.

It's enough, I've done all I can think of
Chased down all my demons, I've seen you do the same.
The whole world stares so I swallow the fear,
The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer.

So cool in line and we try, try, try,
But we try too hard, it's a waste of my time.
Done looking for the critics, cause they're everywhere
They don't like my jeans, they don't get my hair
We change ourselves and we do it all the time
Why do we do that? Why do I do that?
(Why do I do that?)

Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like your less than less than perfect.
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like your nothing
You're perfect to me.

The End

2011-08-24T14:50:00.000-06:00

End of summer =

The Fair (and corn on a stick)

And corndogs....(and pulled pork sandwiches, funnel cakes, fresh lemonadas, spiral cut deep fried potatoes, tacos, burritos, tornado fruit drinks.

Tony's racoon eyes from wearing his sunglasses all day. (Rachel took this picture.)

Jonah playing dare devil on the tramp into the swimming pool.

Little Miss Attitude.....

And the first day of school.

Have to be truthful. I am not sad one bit summer is over. I LOVE fall. Although I am not loving all the students back on campus so much......

It's Official

2011-08-18T11:49:00.000-06:00

Jeremy is now Private Swenson.

He was sworn into the Army yesterday at the Salt Lake City MEPS.

He leaves for Fort Benning Georgia February 21, 2012.

He now thinks he should be called Private at all times.

This is going to get old.

Waiting to go be sworn in. Jeremy's best friend Josh came down with us.

Signing in to be sworn in.

They were standing like this when we came into the room.

There were only 3 getting sworn in at this time. They do it throughout the morning I guess at different times.

One cool thing the guy said as he was swearing them in is that they (as soldiers) make up 1% of our population. Which is amazing since they are also volunteering to join the military while we are at war.

I, Jeremy Allan Swenson, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Afterwards the Sergeant (I think he was a Sergeant) told them they needed to wake up and made them do some push ups. Very entertaining.

Even the Sergeants that came with the boys got down and did them.

Jeremy's recruiter Sergeant Nyman.

The other 2 boys didn't have any family there. One was from Vegas and the other from Wyoming. I felt bad for them. So I got their email and emailed the pictures to them. Jeremy was all embarrassed. You would think by now he would be used to it.

Giddy Up

2011-08-16T11:55:00.000-06:00

Rachel is learning about cowboys this week at preschool/daycare. I wonder if we will have to be buying some cowboy boots soon....

Flashback Friday #22

2011-08-12T13:59:00.000-06:00

I love this picture.

This was taken in 2003.

I was 33, Jeremy was 12, and Jonah was 5.

Hill Aerospace Museum

2011-08-10T09:22:00.000-06:00

On Monday we were suppose to be going down to Salt Lake to see Jeremy get sworn into the Army. We are learning very quickly that the Army runs on its own time frame. They have changed this date twice now. I think it will finally be happening this coming Monday. On the brighter side he did get his physical and test done. He scored well on his test and will be able to do any of the jobs he is interested in doing.

Since Tony and I had the day off already and were heading down that way we decided to make a day out of it and went down to Layton and ate at our favorite restaurant Training Table. Then we went to Hill Aerospace Museum. I had never been. It was actually really cool.

Jonah hated the hall of heads. They freaked him out.

Not That Anyone Really Cares......

2011-08-05T13:09:00.000-06:00

But I have to say that Adam Levine from Maroon 5 makes my heart get a little fluttery.

JBJ is my all time true love, but there is something about this man in skinny jeans that makes me lose my train of thought.

Oh The Fun.....

2011-07-27T14:03:00.001-06:00

Rachel is obsessed with these shoes. She is constantly taking them out of my closet and putting them on. Amazingly enough she hasn't fallen and broken her arm or leg. At the rate we are going these past few months though it could happen any minute.

Yesterday Rachel proved the theory that you shouldn't run with a popsicle stick in your mouth. Funny thing is is that she wasn't even eating a popsicle. I went to pick her up from daycare and she ran upstairs to grab her blanket and had a craft popsicle stick in her mouth (one of those big ones you use to build things) and she fell into the couch and rammed it into the back of her throat. So one trip to the ER, ‎2 hours later, one closely supervised popsicle, lots of crying, and some nice doctors we finally got to go home. She will be ok. No stitches needed. This child is going to wear Tony and I out before she is 4.

I told Tony we have to keep the scissors away from her because at this rate she will poke her eye out.

42

2011-07-27T09:07:00.002-06:00

Happy (late) Birthday to Tony!!!

The big 42

Hideously ugly cake. But it is what he wanted. We didn't have a #2 candle so we used 2 regular candles instead. Rachel thought it was the coolest thing ever.

The 4th on the 1st

2011-07-20T12:55:00.001-06:00

Our town never does our fireworks on the 4th of July. EVER. It frustrates the hell out of Tony. He hates it. I am used to it. This year they did the fireworks on the 1st. They have a huge production they put on at the University stadium. You have to pay to get in. This year they had the band Diamond Rio come and put on the show. So tickets were up in the $30 range. I don't go when it is $6 to get in, let alone $30. We usually sit in our driveway and watch the fireworks. This year we decided to go over to the elementary school by our house that has a great view of the stadium and watch them. I thought that there wouldn't be anyone else there. Boy was I ever wrong. There were people everywhere. But it was fun. Rachel could run around and we got home in 2 minutes instead of 30.

I am still trying to get the hang of my new camera. This is the first time I tried taking pictures at night. They kinda suck.

I think she was trying to walk like an Egyptian.

I swear they can never just smile.

Jeremy took this of himself.

Whale of A Good Time

2011-07-18T12:17:00.000-06:00

This weekend my friend Kristi and 3 of her 5 boys came over and played with Rachel in her new whale swimming pool. As it turns out the kids had way more fun with the squirt guns we got them. Duh....3 boys, why am I not surprised. Rachel had to "help" blow up the pool. Tony is so good and patient with her and let her do it. Me on the other hand would have just been like give me the stupid pump and let me do this as fast as I can.

Rachel stayed in her whole swimming suite for most of the day.

At least she kept her bottoms on.

Yummy corn.

Too cute, had to add it even though it has nothing to do with this post.

Letting Go

2011-07-12T14:03:00.002-06:00

So Jeremy is still planning on joining the military. He has talked quite a bit with the Army recruiters here in town. They say he is every recruiters dream. Not married, no children, never had any run ins with the law, including speeding tickets, no tattoos, and graduated from high school. He took the practice ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) and did pretty well. He should be able to qualify for what he wants to do. He is going to Idaho tomorrow and plans to talk to the Air Force recruiter up there since there isn't one here.

This all makes me so proud of him and also sick to my stomach. I think it will help him grow up and become a better man. But he won't be here anymore and that makes me sad. He keeps telling me that I want him to move out. Yeah, down the street/across town, not across the country/world. He's 20. It's time to let go. Where has all the time gone??? Am I really old enough to have a 20 year old joining the military? It seems like weeks ago that he was a blond haired toddler watching The Goofy Movie and eating fruit snacks.

I found these pictures and thought they seemed fitting. What a fun Halloween he had. Our friend that is in the military did his makeup and gave him some of his fatigues to wear.

Summer So Far.....

2011-07-08T13:57:00.000-06:00

My Baby Is A Man

2011-07-05T11:15:00.008-06:00

Yesterday was Jeremy's 20th birthday. Every time I hear this song I think of him. He has been struggling to decide what to do with his life and what he wants to be when he "grows up". I feel bad for him. I know how he feels.

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework

Come on show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"

As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework

Come on let your colors burst

Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"

You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

You don't have to feel like a waste of space

You're original, cannot be replaced

If you only knew what the future holds

After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed

So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow

And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

It's always been inside of you, you, you

And now it's time to let it through

Today he is meeting with the Army recruiters. It makes me nervous and happy. I think it would a great step for him. It would help him grow up. But it scares me. I don't want my boy to be deployed. I don't want him to see war.

It is hard to let go as a mom isn't it?

If I Had A Million Dollars....

2011-06-24T14:31:00.001-06:00

I would buy all of this woman's art. I LOVE it. She is at our local summer arts festival every year and she is Tony and my most favorite artist there. I am only putting one picture of hers here because I don't want to violate any copyright, but go check out her site. Beautiful stuff.

Flashback Friday #21

2011-06-24T13:02:00.000-06:00

In February I made a scrapbook for Kristina. I wanted to send her a copy of the scrapbook I made of all the things I had kept from my pregnancy and her adoption, plus some letters I had written her after she was born. So I scanned it all in and did a photo album with a company called picaboo. (Love them. If you haven't used them you should give them a try.) I added pictures at the end of the scrapbook of my birthparents and my family so she could see where she came from. I was pretty impressed with it. I sent the book along with a quilt to her, and we all know how that turned out and I don't want to talk about it anymore.
But....I did want to share part of the book. The pictures of my family. You can click on the picture and it will make it bigger.

First Love

2011-06-19T14:29:00.001-06:00

A daughter's first love is always her daddy.

Happy Father's Day to my dad & Tony.

Love you both!!!!!

Spring????

2011-06-15T13:59:00.000-06:00

Did we have spring this year??? I think I might have blinked and it went by. It has rained almost everyday since April. There is still snow on the mountains and you could see your breath this morning when I went to work. We haven't turned our AC on yet and actually we had our heat on this past weekend. Maybe we will just bypass summer and go right to fall.

Here is some proof though that spring was here. Apple blossoms and green grass.

Rachel did her own hair.....

Park

2011-06-15T13:27:00.000-06:00

We have found the most awesome park to take Rachel to. Why didn't they make parks like this when we were kids? It has no wood chips or sand under the toys. It is a bouncy rubbery turfy something or other. So if the kids fall it doesn't hurt. It has 2 different areas. One for bigger kids and one for little kids. Jonah had fun there too.

It does have a little sand area in the little kids section. Baby Allan loved it.

Yes, she is kissing the plastic window. Yes, it totally grossed me out. Yes, I wiped her face afterward. Yes, I know that it doesn't matter that I wiped her face, the damage was done as far as germs go. But it made me feel better.

Flash Back Friday #20

2011-06-10T12:25:00.001-06:00

In 2005 my friend WinDee and I, plus our friend Gaylee and her daughter Brittany and my Jonah drove down to Las Vegas to see Bon Jovi play at the Hard Rock Hotel's 10th anniversary celebration. We ended up staying at the Days Inn (I think that was what it was) across the street from the Hard Rock. The concert was outside in the parking lot and this was the view from our hotel room.

We didn't have tickets for Jonah and Brittany so they watched and listened from the hotel balcony.

It was a fun show. We went over and listened to sound check and got a glimpse of the band.(And heard them play The Radio Saved My Life tonight for the first time.) There was a red carpet before the show and we saw people like Rob Zombie, Kenny G, Shannon Elizabeth, some of the NSYNC boys, Jessica Alba and a ton of others I can't remember.

Soundcheck

The show was great, but a bit of a let down after being in the front row 2 years before. Gaylee ended up sitting next to Drew Carey. She said he was an ass. LOL

They were also having a celebrity poker game the afternoon before the show and we met Carmen Electra and saw the chick that played Donna on That 70's Show, plus a few othe obscure celebs. Carmen Electra was very nice and polite. She was there with her then fiance now ex husband Dave Navarro. He has a big head and she is TINY. (That is what I remember.) Mark McGrath from the band Sugar Ray and more recently Celebrity Appretice was there and totally was hitting and trying to kiss on a girl that was with us. He was kind of an ass too.

While were were down there we went and walked around the strip. Jonah didn't like it much. Too crowded and the lights scared him. (He was 6). But he now can tell everyone he has seen a Bon Jovi show. (And he got his own Bon Jovi shirt. That now Rachel can wear.)

Flashback Friday #19

2011-06-03T14:45:00.000-06:00

Of course my flashback this Friday is about my Jonah since his birthday was on Wednesday.

Jonah 'Alekisanita Ngaluafe Swenson
(Alexander in Tongan, and his father's last name as part of his middle name).

June 1, 2008
12:18pm

He weighed 7lbs 13.5 ounces.
20 inches long.
Tons of black hair.
Was an amazing baby. Slept through the night at 7 weeks old.
First word was bit bit (ribbit like a frog).
Smart, calm, quiet.
Incredible big brother and cousin. So good with little kids.
He used to take my breath away when I would see him after being gone from him all day. So in love with that boy.
Now he is taller than me. He is 5' 4".
Weighs 130
Wears a size 9.5 shoe

I am excited to see all the amazing things he is going to do with his life.

Happy Birthday Jonah

2011-06-02T08:54:00.000-06:00

Happy 13th Birthday (yesterday) to my little guy who is now a big guy.

Love you !

Flashback Friday #18

2011-05-27T11:14:00.000-06:00

Flashback Friday is back.....again.

My sophomore year in college I decided to join a sorority. I don't know if I would have done it alone, but my roommate Shauna wanted to join so we did. It was fun. Intimidating at first. I remember being really nervous when we first went to the sorority house. Then we became good friends with everyone. Some I still keep in touch with now. I only stayed in the sorority for 2 semesters because I got pregnant with Jeremy. But my friend Shauna went on to become president her senior year.

Yes, we were eating ice cream cones.

Oh my hell Shauna, could your hair be ANY bigger????? Wow!

Tony was a Sigma Nu. Man these pictures make me laugh. It doesn't even look like the same person. I tease him about the picture below because he is wearing a fanny pack and had Gerbeau jeans on and I am 99.9% sure they are pegged.

Tag You're It....Again

2011-05-26T12:15:00.004-06:00

About Me

I was tagged again.

I tag - Shauntae, Desi, Keri M, Tara and Becky K.

I know all of you will do it. :)

A favorite picture of yourself with fifteen random facts.

(I recopied a lot of these off of my 25 random facts on facebook that went around a few years ago because I am lazy and can't think of anything today.)

* I can fit 38 grapes in my mouth.

* I cry almost every time I hear the national anthem.

* I wear a size 6 1/2 shoe.

* I would wear sweats everyday if it were possible. Sweats, no shoes, and no bra. Hate bras. Good thing there is a "semi" dress code at work.

* I don't regret having a baby in high school. I don't regret placing her for adoption. If I were to do it all over again I would not change a thing.

*I have hydrotubed naked (at the Ross Park pool in Pocatello in1987). You go very very fast when you have nothing in between you and the tube.

* My toe nails are always polished. They have not been unpolished since I can remember. So probably since I was 12-13. So 28 years around about.

* I have held Jon Bon Jovi's hand and he sang to me part of "Livin' on a Prayer" in 2003. He has the bluest eyes. What a beautiful man. I have loved him since I was 15.

* I hate leftovers. Can't eat them. The only exception is obviously lasagna and enchiladas.

* I dream that I am still in high school all the time. But the big deal of it is I am always wondering in my dream if they realize that I have already gone to college. Plus I worry about not being able to fit into my drill team uniform anymore.

* I love that Tony and I have known each other for 23 years. We met when I was still in high school. I love that it has come full circle for us.

* I wish I could be a stay at home mom, although I probably would get nothing done. I hate that my baby is with the babysitter more than with me.

* I really don't like Dora the Explorer. She really bugs me. If I have to hear them sing "the map" song one more time I will go crazy. You know they say "the map" 15 times in a row in that song.

* I miss being young and having no responsibilities sometimes. It would be nice to just pick up and go without having to find a diaper bag, and making sure everyone has gone to the bathroom.

* I am afraid my daughter might become a stripper for how much he likes to be naked. Yesterday she came downstairs buck naked with a nerf gun in each hand like Laura Croft in Tomb Raider. A few weeks ago all she wanted to wear was a tiara and fancy shoes. She can't jump on the trampoline if she is wearing a shirt. It is the first thing to go. I hope she grows out of this stage.

A picture of you and the friend you have had the longest.

Chad Horman.

We have been friends since we were 3. We still keep in touch with each other. He is awesome.

A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

So miss this show. Haven't found a new one that I love as much.

A picture of your favorite night.

Front row. Bon Jovi 2003 Bounce tour in Salt Lake.

A picture of one your favorite memories.

Jon Bon Jovi holding my hand and singing to me.

A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

Dorthea Bongiovi. Jon's wife. No explanation needed.

A picture of your most treasured item.

My kids.

A picture that makes you laugh.

Jonah 6 years old.

A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Donna Chipman. We have been friends for 30 years.

A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.

Hydrotubing naked. Maxipadding cars. Teaching me to drive in a beat up Datsun that you could see the road through the floor. Selling snow cones at a snow shack for a summer.....

A picture of something you hate.

I hate chalk and chalkboards. It gives me the willies even to think about them.

A picture of something you love.

Warm brownies and ice cream with fudge.

A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Duh......

A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

Love him. He puts up with me and has come to terms with the fact that I am always right and it is easier to just do what I want him to do than fight me about it. Good man.

A picture of something you want to do before you die.

Get married.

On a beach in Hawaii is where we want to do it.

A picture of someone who inspires you.

Sandra Bullock.

She is just a classy person all around.

A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

How could a new baby when you are 37 not make a huge impact on a person.

A picture of you when you were little.

3 years old.

A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.

Italy

A picture of something you wish you were better at.

Cooking. I suck at cooking. So glad Tony loves to cook so much.

A picture of your favorite book(s).

Nothing better than a smutty vampire book on a rainy day.

A picture of something you wish you could change.

I wish Kristina would meet me just once and realize that I am not a threat.

A picture of your day.

Rainy.....

A picture of something that means a lot to you.

My family. I have an awesome family.

A picture of yourself and a family member.

My grandfather and sister.

A picture of something you're afraid of.

That picture even makes my stomach queasy.

A picture that can always make you smile.

Dance festival. 1984.

These are the people I grew up with in my church. It was so much fun.

It also was the first night I kissed a boy.

A picture of someone you miss.

My grandma.

Thoughts of the Week

2011-05-20T09:25:00.000-06:00

Things I have learned/thought about this week.

Glass marbles show up as big white spots on an x-ray in case you were wondering. Rachel swallowed a big flat bottomed glass marble last weekend. Right after Tony told her to take it out of her mouth because she might swallow it. Still don't think it has "passed" yet. But I haven't done a lot of research on that. Just a quick glance and then flush.

19 year old boys have to learn the hard way that it isn't a good idea to shave your chest hair. It itches when it grows back.

Campus without students is heavenly.

Always knock on wood when you say "Things can't get much worse." We are now down to no cars that work. Our driveway looks like a redneck car lot right now. We are borrowing my parents Durango until we can get at least one car working. Which makes me long for a real vehicle that was actually made in this century to drive.

12 year old boys without the Internet for a few weeks will drive you absolutely insane. He is secretly thinking that if he bugs me enough I will get it turned back on sooner so he will leave me alone. Little does he know....

I am gaining a teenage in 2 weeks (Jonah turns 13), and losing one in 6 weeks (Jeremy is turning 20). Nothing like a little perspective on how old I am getting. At least I will only have one teenager at a time. Jonah will be 22 when Rachel turns 13. GAH.......why did I take the time to figure that out???

If you leave a loaf of bread in a deep freezer and then turn it off and don't open it for a whole year it turns to dust. DUST! It looked like a big bag of dirt when we found it. Weird.

If the power goes off on campus everyone feels like it is their responsibility to call the Police department to tell them that the power is out. Ummm....yeah I know. No, I don't have a magic button to push to turn it back on. Quit calling me.

You can eat too many peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Does someone want to bring me lunch today?? Pretty please.

Without Me.....

2011-05-17T12:53:00.000-06:00

I think I want this shirt....

Easter

2011-05-17T09:27:00.001-06:00

I am a little behind. We don't have Internet at home right now. Which actually hasn't been so bad. Jonah hasn't been glued to the computer shooting things for 5 hours a day. Downside is that now he is driving me insane because he is "bored".

Decorating eggs was fun. Most turned out a turquoise blue because Rachel started mixing colors. We got a box that had little "jewels" in it that you could decorate your eggs with. Not doing that again. What a mess. After eggs we decorated cookies.

Rachel got a pillow pet in her Easter basket. I think Jonah loves it more than she does. They fight over it all the time.

Had to take the traditional Easter Bunny pictures. Jonah is getting sick of it. Told him he has to do it as long as he is living at home.

Rachel made bunny ears at daycare. I thought they were cute.

Holy Pasta

2011-05-12T08:19:00.000-06:00

It's amazing how something so trivial can make me so happy but look what I bought for 71 cents. Coupons rock.

80 boxes of pasta and 5 packages of women stuff. A great way to boost our food storage.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T11:55:00.000-06:00

Happy Mother's Day to the 2 women that made me what I am today. I love you both for your sacrifices and examples you are to me.

Wedding

2011-05-03T13:56:00.006-06:00

Note: Blogger sucks today and the formatting on this bites. Sorry for the weird spacing and fonts.

Last weekend weekend we drove to Boise for my sister's wedding. We had a fun weekend. Although a 5 hours drive with a 3 year old is not fun.

We stayed at the Oxford Inn and Suites and I think it is the nicest hotel I have stayed in. We had a fireplace and a deck, a huge bathroom (that I want in my house), and a full kitchen. I am usually pretty OCD when it comes to hotels. I hate walking on the carpet or sleeping in the beds, but didn't feel that way with this hotel at all.

There was a pool, a kiddie pool, and a hot tub. The kids and Tony had a great time. I did get in for a few minutes, but I do not like swimming pools. They gross me out A LOT!

Rachel has been driving me insane about this dress. It has been hanging up in her closet for a few weeks and she has asked me EVERY day if she could wear it. She was so excited to finally get to put it on. My friend Lisa made the cutest headband for her that matched. We even curled her hair with the curling iron. She was very fancy.

My sister did a Handfasting ceremony. At first I thought it was going to be weird but it ended up being beautiful. A little history behind it:

In Europe, until the mid 1700’s, few unions were sanctified in a church or synagogue. Rather, they were celebrated by a simple hand fasting ceremony in which the two partners joined hands over the village anvil, in the fields, or in a grove of trees. The couple would link hands, to form an infinity circle, symbolizing the entirety of the universe as represented in their relationship.

The man preforming the ceremony said this:

With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be hand fasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to God. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth.

Then they made 5 promises. With each promise the man preforming the ceremony would wrap the cord around their hands.

The promises were:

Will you be each others constant friends and one true love?

Will both of you stand by one another in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want?

Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes for this marriage?

Will you both seek to cherish and strengthen that honor?

Then he said:

Melissa and Chris, as your hands are now bound together, so your lives are joined in a union of love and trust. The knots of this binding symbolize the vows you have made. Like the stars, your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.

May this knot of love remain forever tied, and may these hands be blessed. May they always be held by one another. May they have the strength to hold on tightly during the storms of life. May they remain tender and gentle as they nurture each other. May these hands build a relationship of love, caring, and devotion. May Chris and Melissa see each others hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide.

My mom spent a lot of time making them a quilt for their wedding. She did this without a pattern. My sister loves moons and stars.

Everyone kept asking when Tony and I were going to get married. My dad said if we eloped he would give us gas money because he doesn't want to go through all this again. Maybe we will take him up on it. How much would gas money to Hawaii be?????

Another Hair Post

2011-04-27T14:13:00.000-06:00

Hair post.

Rachel got her bangs cut this weekend. She was getting to the point where she couldn't see at all. I thought I better get her hair cut before my sister's wedding this weekend. The girl that cuts the kid's hair did Rachel's hair so cute. Rachel called it Princess Hair. So of course I have to add pictures of it.

Dreamin of Summer

2011-04-23T09:06:00.000-06:00

Rachel is so ready for summer she can hardly stand it. Everyday she wakes up and wants to wear a sundress and flip flops. You would think by the end of April this would be a possibility. But then you remember we live in northern Utah that has only 2 seasons. Winter and not winter. Right now mother nature still thinks it is winter. It is 34 degrees right now. Summer may get here by July, maybe.

Off The Orginal Topic.....

2011-04-21T11:11:00.001-06:00

Disclaimer: This post started out as being about my favorite blogs and then turned into something else. So instead of listing all the awesome blogs I read I am going to forgo that and stick with the tangent this turned out to be.

Cheaper Than Therapy - This is one of my favorite all time blogs. Attila The Mom makes me laugh EVERYTIME I read a new post. I don't even remember how I came across her blog. I have posted about her before when she was documenting her son's battle with swine flu. (Ok, I didn't laugh at those posts. But she is the main reason I got my family vaccinated for H1N1.) One of the things that connects me to her is that she is adopted and has a relationship with her birthmother. She posted a little about it here in a beautiful post that mirrors how I feel about adoption and birthmothers.

There were 2 things in this post that hit home to me. First was her explanation on calling her birthmother "mother".

Before I get anybody's panties in a twist over my use of the word "mother", let me assure you that I'm not disrespecting my adoptive Mom at all. This is how she has always referred to the woman who gave birth to me---as my mother. Unlike many adoptive parents from the era, Mom never felt the need to obliterate my mother's role in my life.

She just scootched over on the "Mommy" chair to make sure there would always be a seat in my heart for the both of them.

Oh how I wish every birthmother had this support from their adoptive family. In my case as a birthmother Kristina's mom has been very open about me and supportive of her having a relationship with me. Even though Kristina wants nothing to do with me Ember has always portrayed me in a positive light. Some of my other friends that are birthmothers have no support from the adoptive parents. We have discussed many times how it hurts us as birthmothers that the adoptive parents disregard us completely after the adoption is final. Where is the gratitude? The comment of "It feels like the adoptive parents think they are doing US a favor by raising our child." has been made more than once. Yes, WE chose to place our child for adoption. Yes, we thought you would be able to provide our child with something we couldn't. BUT, we didn't do it because we didn't want our child. In my 23 years of being a birthmom I have NEVER come across a birthmother who didn't want to keep her baby. Or a birthmother that still doesn't feel grief over the loss of their child. We weren't out searching the world over for someone to take our child off of our hands and raise them for us because we just couldn't do it. Please........give me a break.

I quoted this here,

Birth mothers or First mothers make the FIRST parental decision for their baby and that is to find a family to raise them ,love them and provide for them. They are the FIRST to see their baby, the FIRST to love them, the FIRST to touch them, and the FIRST to make any decision concerning them.

Birthmothers deserve to still have the title Mom in my opinion. Why some adoptive parents feel so threatened by us baffles me.

The second thing she said that hit home to me was:

I had questions I needed answers to. I needed to know if my mother was ok, and I wanted to let her know that her decision to relinquish me was ok. I wanted her to know that I'd had a good life. As a mother myself, I think the question would have haunted me for the rest of my days, and I wanted to let her know that I was well.

The first time I called Rachelle the main thing I wanted to tell her was Thank You. Thank you for my life. Thank you for the sacrifice you made for me. I had a good life. I love you for what you did for me. I'm ok. Maybe being a birthmother myself I knew what I would want to hear. But it is truely how I felt. I am so thankful for her. I told her son (my brother) the other day that everything good about me comes from her. My adoptive mom built on those qualities and shaped them into what I am today.

Isn't it amazing how I can turn almost any post into an adoption one. This totally wasn't my intention when I started writing this. Oh well.....

Flashback Friday #17

2011-04-15T13:16:00.000-06:00

Flashback Friday is back.....

Before Tony and I got back together in 2005 I thought NASCAR was a hillbilly redneck sport. Who wants to watch a bunch of guys drive a car around in circles. BORING. So when he said he wanted to take me to a race I was a bit hesitant. It ended up the that the race in Vegas in 2006 was the same weekend Bon Jovi was playing at the MGM Grand. So I told him I would go with him if he would go with me. Fair trade I thought.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is huge. Lots of food and so many friendly people sitting by us. We had great seats and could see almost all the way around the track, but were still pretty close. But our parking wasn't very close. OMGosh we walked probably 2 miles from the car to the track. Then the traffic getting back to Vegas took forever. We learned to leave the race early so we could get out of the lot in 30 minutes instead of 3 hours.

Tony and I have gone to 3 races together. I am very knowledgeable about NASCAR now. I can tell you what bump drafting is and what a restrictor plate does. I know almost all the drivers names and who sponsors them. So a lot of useless knowledge really. I enjoy it. He loves it. He watches every weekend. I usually take a nap.

Family

2011-04-14T15:11:00.000-06:00

My parents came to visit a few weeks ago with my grandpa. It was so nice to see him. I have to take pictures everytime we see him because I don't want it to turn out to be the last time we spent time with him and not have documented it. (I'm not morbid. He's almost 93. I'm realistic.)

Still loving the new camera. Wish I knew how to use it better.

Thought For Wednesday

2011-04-13T12:25:00.002-06:00

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou

Lighter Note.....

2011-04-07T14:16:00.000-06:00

Four Catholic mothers were having coffee together discussing how important their children are.

The first one tells her friends, ”My son is a priest. When he walks into a room, everyone calls him ’Father’.”

The second Catholic woman chirps, ”Well, my son is a Bishop. Whenever he walks into a room, people say ’Your Grace’.”

The third Catholic woman says smugly, ”Well, not to put you down, but MY son is a Cardinal. Whenever he walks into a room, people say, ’Your Eminence’.”

The fourth Catholic woman sips her coffee in silence. The first three women give her this subtle ’Well.....?’ Mrs. B. replies, ”My son is Jon Bon Jovi. Whenever he walks into a room, people say, ”Oh my God....”

Bitter

2011-04-06T11:38:00.001-06:00

Found this very interesting...

According to Dr. Ruth McRoy at the UT School of Social Work, there are approximately 5,000,000 US births each year. Of that, approximately 118,000 are adoptions (roughly 2.36% new adoptees each year). Anywhere in the US, a minimum of 2.3% of the population are women who are also birthmothers who have placed children for adoption. Then you also have 2.3% of the population who are birth fathers, and 4.7% of the population who are adoptive parents. Total that up and you have about 11% of the population who are triad members. That does not count aunts, uncles and grandparents to adoptive families and birth families. Whenever you are in a room of strangers you can figure that one out every ten is a triad member."

I am having some bitter feelings about adoptions these days. Not towards my birthparents or adoptive parents, but with my personal experiences as a birthmom. I am not going to go into them on here, as I really don't know who exactly reads my blog. But you can read about it here . It is password protected. I am happy to give you the password, just ask. I would love to have any input. My birthmother friends have been awesome in giving me feedback on our birthmother blog. I am very thankful for them.

Otherwise....the sky is bright blue today and it isn't raining. So things are looking up. :)

Photo Challenge Day 31

2011-03-31T10:56:00.000-06:00

If I am reincarnated I am coming back as a cat.............

Photo Challenge Day 30

2011-03-30T09:39:00.000-06:00

This is one of my most favorite pictures of Jeremy and Tony. I think Jeremy was 14.

Photo Challenge Day 29

2011-03-29T13:51:00.002-06:00

This made me happy today.......yum!

Photo Challenge Day 28

2011-03-28T10:11:00.000-06:00

Thinking about summer makes me happy...............

Photo Challenge Day 27

2011-03-27T18:19:00.000-06:00

The wonders of being 3 make me happy......

Rachel decided she wanted to have make up on.....done with UNWASHABLE markers. Joy to clean up.

Photo Challenge Day 26

2011-03-26T19:24:00.000-06:00

This cute old man is the most amazing grandfather in the world.....he makes me extremely happy!

Photo Challenge Day 25

2011-03-25T19:13:00.003-06:00

I don't know why I'm not smiling in this picture!! (We took it at the concert.) Being in the same room as my 2 most favorite men makes me happy....

Photo Challenge Day 24

2011-03-24T08:36:00.001-06:00

Old friends make me happy....

I keep in touch and am friends with all of these beatiful girls on facebook (minus one stubborn one that won't get on the computer EVER). I feel lucky to have such longtime good friends.

This was taken at our junior high school graduation dance in 1985......

Photo Challenge Day 23

2011-03-23T10:13:00.001-06:00

Today's picture has a story...

So if you haven't figured it out by now I am a total Bon Jovi freak. Love love love them. They have been my favorite band since 1985. In 2003 I had front row tickets to see them in Salt Lake. You can read about that fun and exciting experience here. It was AMAZING!

When we went to that show my friend WinDee and I spent a lot of time making banners to take with us. Since we were on the front row we knew that the band would see them. This is my banner I made.

I decided to take it again last night to the show. We had pretty good seats and I thought there might be a chance that they would be able to see it again. It says specifically on the doors when you go in that no banners are allowed, so WinDee hid it in her purse, (under her tampons, since the security guards won't touch those) and snuck it in.

Our seats were good. I held up the banner when Jon was near our side and then put it under my seat. Well about 30 minutes later the lady sitting next to me taps me on the shoulder and points to a guy standing in the isle. He had on Bon Jovi staff clothes, radio/headset, and the all access passes around his neck. He pointed to my sign under the seat and signaled for me to get it. I was thinking Oh shit, he is going to take it away from me. So I reluctantly get it and go to hand it to him. He said no, open it up. Then I was thinking OK I am in even more trouble because it is on an American flag and someone complained.

So I opened it up. He smiles and whips out a camera to take pictures.

What the hell???

He takes a few pictures and gives me a thumbs up and leaves.

I am standing there stunned. First how did he even see it? I only held it up for about 30 seconds. I am not tall, so if you weren't standing in a direct line where Jon was on the stage you probably couldn't see it. How did he find me in the crowd 30 minutes later? Weird.

I was so wishing he would have come back and say you are the best Bon Jovi fan, with the most awesome sign, so I am going to give you backstage passes because Jon wants to meet you. Which if it was ever going to happen it would have been last night because I was so hot and sticky, my hair was a mess, and my makeup had all come off by then. AND I had crocks on with my jeans, which isn't too attractive, but comfortable. (Showing my age I guess.)

So I am going to keep watching the photos from last night's show on the Bon Jovi website and see if the picture shows up there. Otherwise maybe he was just a weird freaky random guy in disguise trying to steal my awesome sign idea.

Photo Challenge Day 22

2011-03-22T09:50:00.002-06:00

This made me totally happy..............

Photo Challenge Day 21

2011-03-21T11:31:00.000-06:00

Today hearing Bon Jovi on the radio on the way to work makes me happy...........

33 HOURS UNTIL BON JOVI!!!

This will really mellow out after Wednesday, I promise.

Visit

2011-03-20T12:21:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we made a trip out of our little valley and went to visit Tony's brother Nate. I figured that it was the first time I had gone south in a year and a half. Yeah, I'm a loser, I know.

Tony's mom was in town from California. It was the first time Tony had seen her in 7 years. Kate, Tony's sister, also came up to see everyone. It was such a good visit. Rachel didn't want to leave. She had a huge temper tantrum in the car when we tried to buckle her in to go. Thankfully she slept most of the way home, snoring in the backseat. She was worn out! The first thing she said when she woke up this morning was "I want to go to Uncle Nate's today." She had to settle with a trip to the grocery store.

2 DAYS UNTIL BON JOVI!!!!!

Photo Challenge Day 20

2011-03-20T12:07:00.000-06:00

Nothing brightens a day more than a smile and a kiss from this little thing....

Photo Challenge Day 19

2011-03-19T00:01:00.001-06:00

Bon Jovi friends make me happy..............3 DAYS!!!!!

WinDee, Michelle and I Vegas 2006

Photo Challenge Day 18

2011-03-18T09:45:00.000-06:00

90's hair makes me happy...........Rock On!

Photo Challenge Day 17

2011-03-17T09:34:00.000-06:00

This web site makes me happy....

The first time I read THIS I was laughing so hard I was crying. No lie. I was reading it at my desk at work and was trying to be quiet (so people would think I was actually working) and I had my hand over my mouth and ended up snorting I was laughing so hard. Haven't laughed that much in years and years.

Warning......these are not for little readers. The language could be offensive to some.

Reading these makes me wonder what the guy at Apple is like that created the auto correct program on the iphone.

He must be a big perv.......

Photo Challenge Day 16

2011-03-16T09:16:00.002-06:00

This crazy boy makes me happy......most of the time. Sometimes the 19 year old attitude is a little much, but his sense of humor can make up for it.

Example.....stupid grad picture he ruined....on purpose. Shesh.....

Photo Challenge Day 15

2011-03-15T12:56:00.000-06:00

Grandparents make me happy.....

News

2011-03-14T10:23:00.000-06:00

Very thankful to report that my cousin Scott and his family are safe in Japan, and that my sister Jocelyn is safe in Hawaii.

Scary things going on these days.......love your family.

(Stole this off of Scott's facebook. Hope he doesn't mind me showing off his cute family.)

Photo Challenge Day 14

2011-03-14T10:12:00.002-06:00

WooHoo!

My friend Lisa and I painted this for our 15 year reunion. AWESOME!

Photo Challenge Day 13

2011-03-13T09:29:00.002-06:00

Best Friends make me happy. Donna came up last night and took me out to dinner and shopping. No kids, no men, just us two. It was wonderful.

Photo Challenge Day 12

2011-03-12T09:22:00.004-07:00

HAPPY........10 Days.........Great Seats!!!!!

Photo Challenge Day 11

2011-03-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

How can this picture NOT make you happy???

Jonah was such a stinkin' cute baby. I could just eat him up....

Photo Challenge Day 10

2011-03-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

This speaks for itself.

Nothing like big red balls to make your night complete.

If you don't know what that means you really need to watch the show.....

Photo Challenge Day 9

2011-03-09T13:30:00.001-07:00

A good book makes me happy.

I just finished this one on Monday. I LOVE Wally Lamb. His books seem to be a little depressing at times and was pleasantly surprised at how upbeat and funny this one was. It was a quick read. I read it in 4 days. Now I just started reading The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff.....we'll see how that turns out.

My absolute favorite book in The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. If you haven't read it, read it. So so good.

Photo Challenge Day 8

2011-03-08T10:54:00.001-07:00

2 Today

This makes happy today.....and a large is only $1.

It's the simple things.....

This also makes me VERY HAPPY....

Oh how I love this place....

So grateful to have been working here for 10 years now.

(My anniversary was in February.)

Today is USU's founding anniversary.

March 8, 1888

123 years

GO AGGIES!!!!!

Photo Challenge Day 7

2011-03-07T15:06:00.001-07:00

This picture makes me very very happy, but also incredibly sad at the same time.

This is my doctor. Dr. Danee Young. She has been my doctor for almost 20 years. She has also been my friend. Her son is the same age as Jeremy and they used to play together a lot when they were little. Danee delivered Jonah and Rachel. She is the reason Jonah and Rachel were even an option. She is absolutely AMAZING.

She is retiring. I had my last appointment with her today. I cried from start to finish. How lame is that? Getting a pelvic exam is bad enough.......but crying like a big wanny baby is almost worse. I am going to miss her.

Rachel's delivery.

Photo Challenge Day 6

2011-03-06T01:00:00.004-07:00

Black cats make me happy.

I have had one ever since I was little. 5 total. Cocoa (my mom ran over her by accident) Cocoa II, which I got to replace said run over cat. Dweezil, my boyfriend in high school gave her to me. I named her Dweezil because he looked like Dweezil Zappa. Toby & Chloe, the big fat cats (the literally weigh about 18 pounds each) we have now.

I do not however like black shedding cats in the summer.........

Another awesome picture I took with my new camera.

New Camera =More Pictures

2011-03-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Photo Challenge Day 5

2011-03-05T14:29:00.001-07:00

This is my dad. He makes me very happy. He is a soft spoken, kind man. He has NEVER yelled at me. EVER. That isn't a lie, I am not making it up. He listens and cares about what I think and feel. He cleans, does laundry, and takes out the trash. (I think that is why I fell in love with Tony, he is like my father.) When I was pregnant with Kristina he would come down at night and sit with me while I cried. He didn't say much, but just sat with me. That will always stand out in my mind as one of my best memories of him.

My dad is a huge BYU fan (we forgive him for that), loves to fish, camp, and read.

I hope I have raised my boys to be good men like my father.

Photo Challenge Day 4

2011-03-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

This makes me super happy. My most favorite comfort food. I ate one of these last night......

Photo Challenge

2011-03-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

I have decided to take part in the 30 day photo challenge. The idea of this challenge is for the entire month of March, post a photo of something that makes you happy each day. I am 2 days behind so I will catch up.

I would have posted this on March 1st

This picture makes me happy. This man makes me very happy. Yeah sometimes he irritates me, and we argue. He gets moody, I get moody. But overall he is totally awesome.

On March 2nd I would have posted this picture in honor of my 2nd loves birthday.

He is YUMMY!!

Today this is what makes me happy:

I challenge all my blogger friends to do the same for the rest of the month. Post 1 picture a day to tell everyone what makes you happy.

New Toy

2011-03-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

New camera. Have no idea what I am doing..... I bought a Canon Rebel and it is WAY over my head. Way too many choices. It does have a point and shoot option which is what I did with these pictures below. I am pretty impressed with the quality of these, especially since I had no idea what I was doing. I can only imagine how good they will look in the future when I actually learn how to use the damn thing.

Cute Rachel.....

T -- It's Mommy's birthday today.
R-- (squealing) It's your birthday Momma???? (all serious) Do you have a hat?

After eating Chinese food last night opening her fortune cookie.
H -- What does it say?
R -- (pretending to read it) It says.......(pause) I can eat it.

Four Times Four

2011-02-23T12:35:00.002-07:00

I was tagged by my friend Shauntae to do this:

Four places I go:
University
Grocery Store
Costa Vida (usually once a week)
Babysitters

Four favorite smells:
Baby lotion (on a baby)
Rain
Gain laundry detergent
Tony just out of the shower

Four favorite TV shows:
Amazing Race
Survivor
The Bachelor
(Yes I do like reality TV)
Modern Family

Four recommendations:

You can never have too many people in your life that love you. Open yourself up.

A man is not a financial plan...accept responsibility for your own future. (Good one Shauntae)

Learn which bridges to cross and which to burn.

A 3 year old and a black sharpie marker, not such a good combination.