Christmas is here!!!

This past weekend I went to the Parade of Lights with Gary's family. I was so excited since I missed it last year and I go every year! We had so much fun and it was warmer than usual. So that always makes it nice. The kids seemed to enjoy it but I think I enjoyed it more. I love Christmas and I love going to the Christmas parade. Just brings the season in for me!!!

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So thankful!!

I have been reading everyones blogs and how grateful everyone is latley. I'm glad we have this month to really reflect on the things we are truly grateful for. Though I wish I could be better at year round.

Last night a dear friend of mine from work passed away. He was only 35 and an absolute sweetheart. He is going to be missed dearly by his friends and family. Just a little about him. His name was Mikey and the sweetest guy you could ever meet. He always had a smile on his face. He had a way of making people feel welcome and comfortable in any situation. He never hesitated to give hugs nearly everyday. Being a massage therapist we know the effect that human touch has on all those around us and he knew everyone needs that affection. He was a true example of how to love without judgement and showing charity to all.

So I am thankful!! I am thankful to know that there are the most amazing people out there like this. Just good 'ol fashioned GOOD human beings. People who take care of other people.

I am most grateful for my knowledge that Mikey can be with his family again and that his mom and sister will see him again. I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who has made this possible and has had this in His plan along!

Crazy Eight

I was tagged by Kayla about the crazy 8.

8 Favortie TV Shows:
The Hills
The Biggest Loser
Ace of Cakes
LA Ink
Ellen
Bridezilla
My Big Redneck Wedding
Chelsea Lately (OH MY GOSH Kayla... I thought I was the only one that loved her smart ass remarks about everything!!)


8 Favorite Restaurants:
La Loma
Qdoba
Salernos (Chicago)
Chili's
Johnny Carinos
Heaven Dragon
Portillos (Chicago)
Taco Bell (ya I'm not afraid to admit it!)

8 things that happened yesterday:
Worked
laughed
spent time with family
showered
drove
talked on the phone
dealt with a major B... at work
watched tv

8 things I'm looking forward to:
sleeping
being done with work tomorrow
relaxing at some point
MY WEDDING (in the near future)
thanksgiving
christmas
going dancing again
my future

8Things on my Wishlist: (TODAY...)
finding the most perfect apartment ever
a trip to France or Italy
OOO... or ALASKA
A BABY!!!! (ok maybe not today)
Financially Stable for life
win the lotto without playing
laughter forever in my life
I wish I could not be addicted to the internet today so I would just go to bed

8People I Tag:
Emilee
Shauna
Kristen
(I don't know 8 people on here!)

Falling down laughing!!

I am absolutely in love with my niece! (yes I know I am not married yet but they refer to me as auntie so I feel okay calling her my niece.) Her name is Raevyn and she is 6 months old. She is the most adorable. I gave her a nickname of Lil' Mo. All of her hair has not grown in and she has a mohawk right now. It's so cute! Last night her and mommy came over for dinner and we were just all playing on the floor. She started making this face that was just absolutely hilarious. She doesn't cry but she huffs and puffs while making this face and it was just too funny. It was how she was getting attention from everyone if they looked away and every time my moms dog would walk by she would give the dog this face! I was dying. Man... I can't wait to have kids!

I love Halloween!!

On friday night we had our Trunk or Treat at church. My mom did a spectacular job of putting it all together!!! They had a chili and cinnamon roll contest, costume contest, and decorating trunk contest. They also set up games for the kids in all the rooms. There was pumpkin toss, shooting gallery, darts, bobbing for apples, sword fighting (with swim noodles), a duck pond... tons of games and then they would each get tickets to redeem for prizes. The kids love it every year! Then afterward we all go outside for the trunk or treat! I think the church was so smart to start this up. The kids enjoy getting as much candy as possible and at the same time don't have to trance around every neighborhood to do it. Although I love to see the lil' ones coming up to the door all excited to see what kind of candy they can get next!! And the costumes are just so fun to see!!! Then yesterday Gary and I went to Boo at the Zoo with his family. Oh my gosh... so crowded and so fun to see all the kids just so excited to go to the zoo to get candy. I am so doing this every year!!!

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Estes Park

Last weekend was Gary's moms birthday. We drove up to Estes Park for the afternoon and walked the town. It was a beautiful day and the colors were still good. We met Gary's mom and sister and her baby Raevyn up there. It was so nice to get out and enjoy the weather and the fresh air. It's one of my most favorite places to go and stroll through all the shops. At one point Brandy gave Raevyn a huge sucker... well as you can see... she loved it!!

My future!!

FINALLY! It has happened for me! I have met the one person that truly makes me the happiest!!! We are getting married Feb. 7th and I can hardly wait to start our lives together as husband and wife. It's been fun getting wedding plans together and preparing for our big day! In the past I never understood the kind of love bonds a husband and wife. I see clearly now how it happens. I never knew I could love like this or feel so loved. He is my best friend!!

Fall is here and winter is already on the way!!!

I LOVE IT!!! This is my favorite time of year!! I love the fall especially with all of it's harvest colors and everyone looks all cozy in their sweaters and you smell all the fireplaces going! Makes me want to cozy up now and bring on the HOT COCOA!! YUM!! I went to Estes Park a few weeks ago and got to see the leaves changing colors and listen to the Elk bugle! It was so much fun and just a perfect day!

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Birthday Celebrations in September

I had great birtday gifts this year!! My actual birthday was in August but with tickets being bought I did more celebrating in the month of September!! My sister bought her and I tickets to go see Carrie Underwood and we just got lucky enough that Lady Antebellum opened for her! I could have watched them all night long! Carrie was good but sorry to say no match for her opener! Nikki bought me tickets to see the the play Avenue Q! SO FUNNY! It's puppets mixed with humans, lots of crude, drug, sexual, and racist humor. Yep I laughed, laughed through the whole darn thing and wondered how many of the old folks would be walking out. But everyone seemed to enjoy it as much as I did. My cousin bought tickets for me to see Montgomery Gentry and Toby Keith! PHENOMINAL!! Again they always end concerts way too early. I could have kept going! I had so much fun celebrating my birthday with everyone this year! Thanks - Ang, Nikki, and Heather for my bday gifts!!!

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Labor Day Weekend

I had to work Saturday but after church on Sunday we headed quickly up to the hills for some camping and fishing! We took the tent this time! Brrr... it got pretty cold in the evening.. thank goodness Gary brought 4 really warm sleeping bags! I knew I would be okay! Halfway thru the nights I would even get a little too warm. Tarryall was absolutely beautiful! We did some fishing and walked around a little. Our last night there we had a visitor... SCARY! I have no idea what it was but it kept scratching at the tent. I was completely freaked out and every time I heard it I woke up Gary. He came prepared with his gun! I got up the next morning and looked for prints and could find nothing. It was probably some little chipmunk or something but it kept me up most of the night! I had a great time and wish I could have done more camping this summer!

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My most favorite boys in the world!!!

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Last month I was able to see my most favorite band! I love them and they sure put on a great show! I never wanted it to end. I could have stood there all night listening to them!

Balloon Fest at Chatfield

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Unfortunately it was a little windy so they took the balloons down early before the lighting ceremony. But it was still fun!

Hawaii/2008 - Nikki Visits!!

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I'm so glad and so lucky that my mom and Nikki were able to come and visit me while I lived in Hawaii!! It gave me a nice 2 week vacation! Poor Nikki had quite the experience she will never forget with how it is to really live in Hawaii. We had some nasty critter visitors while she was in town. Yep, those damn caca-roaches! We had to sleep with lights on. I actually don't think she got any sleep while she was there. I could barely either, since I had the floor. I think Nikki wanted to sleep with her umbrella up over her thinking this would stop them from falling from the wall and ceiling to her oh so cozy spot on my half sized twin bed! I don't know what would be worse waking up to the noise of falling roaches plopping down on the umbrella or getting a foot massage from one of them crawling up your arm? YIKES!! Oh the joy of paradise! It's so good to be home again! I think we all still had a good time regardless! Thank you both so much for coming and visiting and making it a memorable experience!! Love you!!

April 2008 - Mom visits me in Hawaii

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Totally

Apparently I really like this word!?!?!

Trying to get caught up...

I have totally slacked off on this thing since I came home from Hawaii. Didn't think anything would be as exciting. If anything, I am kind of using this as a journal scrapbook thing. So if no one is reading it's totally okay! Well I am totally doing some catching up. I totally just remembered too I need to post pictures from when my mom and Nikki came to visit me in Hawaii right before I moved back home! More work still left to do! Here I go again!

Manitou Springs

Gary took the day off last friday and we headed south! We spent the day in Manitou Springs area. We had originally planned to take the railroad up Pikes Peak... but it was rainy and so cloudy that day. We did so many other things. Walked the town and played old fashioned arcade games. They had some 1, 5, and 10 cent arcades from the 50's I'm guessing. It was fun to see how they worked! We went to 7 falls, the cliff dwellings, and Garden of the Gods. It was a fun filled day. We were rained on most of the day but still had a good time. It's such a cute place and so much to do!!

Hiking at Cenitas above Boulder

My friend Jess and her sister invited me to go hiking in Boulder. Of course my first reply was YES! I love the mountains, love to hike, love the fresh air, and could totally take in some beautiful scenery! We left around 10am. I now know this is too late to start a hike in the middle of summer. We also couldn't find it right away, so we started later then we thought. We park the car and all I see are stairs up this mountain. Now I am thinking, "Holy Hell, what did I just get myself into??" I can't even remember the last time I worked out! We begin to hike or should I say stair step. I'm taking in my needed breaks and trying to control my breathing, all the while trying to enjoy the beautiful gosh darn big mountain I am trying to climb. We get up to a stopping point and take some pictures (shown here), when suddenly I begin to start feeling dizzy and light headed. I tell the girls to go on with out me and I will catch up. I just needed to sit and rest here for a minute and drink some more of my water. Suddenly... it came. I was sick all over the nasty place. Way to go Shandra for helping to beautify our earth! I don't know what came over me... but once it happened felt better and continued hiking as far as I could. I'm glad I'm not the only one that messed up that day. Thank goodness Jess slipped a tiny bit and fell. I wasn't the only one looking like a jackass!! I haven't been hiking since... I suppose I should get myself back up there again!

This was fun! I wasn't sure I would get into it... and by no means am I addicted or anything. But it was a good time watching the monster trucks totally demolish the little cars. Good times!

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CACA-roaches!!!!!

So the past 2 nights we have had quite the experience with the DAMN cockroaches here! We have had to sleep with our light on for the past 2 nights just to keep them away and I think now we have finally taken care of the problem! I'm attaching an obituary that Kristen wrote for our little friend that invaded our room the past few nights!

The Obituary of Mr. Cock-a-roach
LAIE – Hawaii, one of the largest stinking Cock-a-roaches of the 20th Century and a celebrated creepy crawler partner in crime, has died, due to insect poisoning. He was approximately 30 days old.

Mr. Cock-a-roach died Monday at home in the blue house on Wahinepee st, on north shore, from suffocation and minute internal injuries sustained in a late night attack at his residence “villa” in the corner room. His body was discovered by other victims this morning as he lay dying in the hall for all to see.

The allegations concerning his death, acts as a reminder to all of his friends; “there are no Cock-a-roaches in the corner room!” The criminal party pleaded guilty to 1st degree murder of an insect and is sentenced to sleeping with the light on for fear of invasion, jumpiness to everything that touches their arm, and having to take an unusual amount of shits due to the diarrhea that forms from nerves! Also, they will be sentenced to the laborious task of a deep clean as well as pesticide usage in order to maintain their sanity and sleep deprivation.

Known for his disgusting form and looks, Mr. Cock-a-roach also is remembered for his late night parties in the kitchen, bathroom, and other existing rooms, where he celebrated with the finest of filth around him. Having everything handed to him, Mr. Cock-a-roach rarely worked and on weekends had a buffet set style form the piling wasteland of trash in the kitchen which rarely was taken out.
Mr. Cock-a-roach was at the height of his growth when his death came to a smashing halt. Mrs. Cock-a-roach who died sometime ago was found underneath the bed on her back being carried away by ants that were doing their part for the recycling foundation. A never ending round of thanks for all those that participated in this event; including Mr. Gecko…God rest his soul who was tragically removed from the premises in a cup.

Big Wave Day on North Shore

First time snowboarding!!

Hunting on New Years!

Home for the Holidays

Christmas day!