Deatils

Sorry, in my frazzled state (plus I was on hold with Mastercard), I didn't give any detail about my purse. I had left it in the car last night (which I often do) and John took the car to the dentist this morning. He realized when he got back in the car that the center console (between passenger and driver) had been flipped down, but didn't think much of it. He ran a couple other errands and came home. Not too long later, we got in the car together to run more errands and I couldn't find my make up bag. I was almost positive I had left it in the car, then realized my purse had been left there too. We looked around the house and all through the car and concluded they must be stolen. So we canceled our errands, checked the bank to find the charges at Macy's and started making phone calls. We canceled all of our cards and closed our bank account. Now it's just going to take time to replace things. So it's not the end of the world. Actually, I'm glad they took my purse and not the $3,000 worth of scuba gear we had in the backseat. We won't be reliable for anything spent, so this is cheaper.
Just a HUGE headache!!

Stolen Purse

I'm spending my afternoon on the phone with my credit card companies and bank to cancel EVERYTHING (including checking since my check book was in there). Also in there, all my make up, our brand new camera, drivers license, temple recommend, Costco card, etc, etc, etc.
When we started making phone calls, we found out that there has been about $1000 charged at Macy's. Fun shopping spree!
And I filed a police report. Probably have to do something with my insurance.
GRRRRRR!!!
Off to the bank and Target so I can at least replace my make up today (first things first!)

Family Pictures: Fall 2009

My good friend Monica did family pictures for us a couple weeks ago. She did such a great job. It was the most painless photo shoot I've ever done with my kids.

Things that will get me through this winter

Of course, a hot bath nearly every night (wish my tub looked like that)
OK, so I've always been against these boots until I bought some knock-offs from Costco for $30. They are so warm and comfy. I am madly in love. I wear them everywhere casual. I do have two promises for you...1. I will never wear these over my pants and 2. I will never wear these with a skirt.

Yes, I am on the acne medication Accutane. I realize I am almost 30 and taking a teenagers pill, but I deserve clear skin before I get wrinkles, right? So now, on those extra snowy days when I don't want to leave the house, I won't feel the need to put on make up anyway, just to cover up my face. Plus, with the extra dry weather, I can put on any lotion I want and not be stressed that it will make me break out.

After a summer of sun dried and bleached hair, I needed a little healing. I grabbed this Pantene Restoratives at the grocery store and am loving it. I seriously notice a huge difference. It's super cheap too, like less than $5.
I've been scared to put this out there, but here it is. I am doing P90X. Please don't react like my brother did (YOU?!?!?!) Yes, ME! Since I can't run outside anymore and I just can't do the treadmill everyday, this is it. I wake up at 7am each morning to tone up! I did take before pictures, but don't count on them showing up on here.
Since fresh fruits and vegetables are hard to come across these days, this is my favorite way to get a serving of both at breakfast. I throw a handful of spinach into the blender with whatever fruit I have in my house (raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, cantaloupe, pineapple), any kind of juice, and maybe some yogurt. Blend it up and I have a yummy smoothie with fruit and vegetables!
YUM!
Oh, and thoughts of spending March here...

The fourth building from the left, on the ground floor is ours- poolside! HOLLA!

BYU 26 Utah 23

Rise and Shout!
I like to go to one football game with John each season. This year it was the Utah game. We HAD to be there an hour early, which was actually really fun. We saw the marching band, the cougarettes, and Lavell Edwards. The poor man can't walk down the street without being stopped every 10 feet, so we just smiled at him.
To start the game, we got a visit from some cool airforce helicopters (or maybe army? I don't know. And don't ask me what they are because I will tell you Apache and Black Hawk. Those are the only military names I know. I might be right!)
Anyway, it was so great because some old friends of ours were in town for Thanksgiving, so we got seats with them. We haven't seen them in about 5 years so it was great to catch up and a fun distraction from the game. It gets boring sometimes (don't tell John I said that!)

Star and Me

John and Chris

It turned out that Lavell was sitting in the box right above us, so I did get a picture with him (and some goofball he's sitting next to).

BYU worked it out in over time (I hate over time). It was a great game!

Go Cougars!

My First Thanksgiving

I hosted Thanksgiving at my house this year for the Jonas family. I think it was a success. We had such a great time with out of town family and the food was yummy! I did everything but the turkey and the yams (ok, I know that's major cheating, but can I still consider it my first Thanksgiving?)
I LOVED having my SIL Emily around. She was super helpful and is an amazing photographer, so we have gorgeous pictures of our holiday. (BTW, if you live in the Vegas area, you should totally use her as your photographer for anything!)
I did lots the day before, so the day of wasn't stressful. Here we are in crunch time.

John's brother Bo did the turkey...such a huge burden off me! (John's aunt had extra yams that she gave to me the night before)

And here's what we ended up with

So great to have these babies together. All 4 were born in 2007...Rylie (feb), Bailey (apr), Tyler (oct), Milo (nov)

It was a great day all around. The best part was I seriously didn't do one dish! If you know me, you know I prefer doing dishes (or scrubbing toilets or having a vaginal exam) over cooking, so it's a big accomplishment for me to make most of Thanksgiving dinner and not end the day in the fetal position with my thumb in my mouth!
The rest of the week was fun too. The weather didn't keep the kids inside.
Austin loved having his cool uncles around for playing Wii and flag football.
Thanks to all for a fun holiday weekend!

All my Thanksgiving recipes will be here soon... (not too late for your Christmas dinner)

A Thanksgiving Message

My dear friend Dana is an amazing wife and mother. She survived 15 months of single-motherhood while her husband served us in Iraq. Now she lives in England so he can work a non-deployable job. She made my Thanksgiving with this post...

"HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

They don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in England. Why would they celebrate the pilgrims leaving?! I am sure they have some sort of "celebrate the harvest" holiday, but not that I have noticed. As soon as the Halloween decorations are down, Christmas goes up. I love Christmas, but I am grateful for Thanksgiving. I think we all need a holiday to help us to stop and really think about what we are thankful for. I also like, that for the most part, Thanksgiving is a giftless, dedicated to food (and Marc would add football), family and friends get together. I like that. It is hard to over commercialize Thanksgiving.
Marc and I were sitting on the couch last night and I asked him what he was thankful for this year. He said he was thankful to be home for thanksgiving (he missed two in a row in Iraq). I told him that is what he said last year, he said it is still top on his list.
I sat and thought for a minute and I said that I was thankful for Marc. Not because he is such a great husband and father, which he is. I am thankful for Marc because I am lucky to have a daily reminder that there really are people in the world who are willing to risk EVERYTHING for freedom. He will forever be changed by what he lived and saw in Iraq. I may never know just what because he still cannot talk about some of it, but I can see in his eyes the change. He knows what is worth fighting for and what is not anymore.
So, this year, as I go over to his boss' house for turkey and all the fixin's, I will sit with just a few of the soldiers that have allowed me my life of freedom. It really is the soldier that allows us freedom of religion and freedom of speech. This year, in a selfish world, I am thankful for all people who put their own needs behind the greater good...wasn't that what the pilgrims left for in the first place?! "

Thanks guys! We love you!