this girl needs a dog!!!!

Poor Bailey. Since she popped out of the womb she has been in love with animals and has dreamed of the day when she would have her very own! We had a dog, "Rocky" when Bailey was 0-1 years old but haven't had ANY animals or pets of any sort since then! Bailey has such a love for animals that as a little girl she would play veterinarian instead of doctor and set aside any doll permanently for a soft, cuddly stuffed animal! For entertainment we would go to the Oakland zoo every week, visit the horse ranch near our home, go to pet stores...We've made many "deals" with her where she does something and then she gets her long awaited pet but with no results obviously. While I was away in Vegas, Kelly broke down and bought some Beta fish for the kids. We've never even had FISH! When I came home I thought, "Oh that's ok, they'll die in a few days anyway so I need not worry about cleaning the bowl!" They are still alive. So this picture of Bailey shows how pathetic a fish is for a pet. She needs the real thing but I am SCARED to make that kind of commitment! What kind of dog? Where to get one that is trained, mild, happy, and well adjusted. Her b-day is in January. This is all she wants. What should I DO!!!!?????

my bro

I am blessed to have a brother that has always (or almost always) been my friend. We are only 16 months apart and because of the closeness in age, we have been through a lot together. When Chris was on his mission, he wrote me letters religiously! They are treasures! I came across them the other day and got teary eyed. When Chris proposed to his cute wife, Kelly and I were there. He had put the ring in an Easter egg and placed it on "This is the Place Monument". Kelly and I hid to safe guard the ring while the couple meandered to the egg! When newly weds, Kel and I and Chris and Nikki would get together and have FHE together and had amazing discussions. Chris has always been open and honest with me, sharing a lot of personal feelings that I feel honored to have heard and been a part of. Well, he and Nikki moved to ID shortly after their marriage and it was years and miles that seemed to separate. but a couple years ago they moved back to UT with their 3 boys and we were all so excited! Now that they are back (and have a new addition-- A girl, FINALLY!) we are spoiled! I love hanging out with my bro and his family. He has married the perfect, most sweet woman and I am sooo happy to have ANOTHER sister! Last weekend I took some pictures for them and they were kind and gracious not to laugh too hard at my attempt! Chris is a photographer and so I was nervous to have him see my mistakes but he was sooo understanding! I love this family and had to share a few photos. One of their favorite activities as a family is dirt biking! I thought this picture of Chris and the boys fit them perfectly! I hope I'm not ruining anything Nikki. Erika will be the only one to see these! Plus, once Chris photo shops these, they will be even more special! (Christmas card shot not included!) Love you guys! Don't go anywhere!!!

be grateful

I am in rapture over this weather we are indulging in! Today is spectacular! Yes, I am (tisk, tisk) excited for the first "fall" snow, for the bare branches, for the mittens and hot cocoa, but today is bliss. I feel that I have a reprieve to sit back and gather my thoughts and think straight, so I am taking advantage of the moment! Thanksgiving is such a relaxing time, such an important holiday! I am thinking of Christmas, yes, but I am also thinking of my blessings! I have been keeping a gratitude journal that I share with my children for the entire month! (Thanks Betsy!) And I must say that I look forward to writing in it! I always have more than one thing to add per day but I try to be original. Can't write, "thankful that my kids are healthy" EVERY day, right? I love looking to see what the kids write! Jenna is too young for this but the other kids are doing great with it! I am a blessed women. Blessed to live in a wonderful time in history with a man that has made me see who I truly am, a darling little family, a warm home, good wholesome food to eat, loving parents and gracious sisters and bro to make me laugh to make me feel needed and loved, accepted. I am thankful for relationships that teach us. I am thankful for forgiveness, patience, faith, loyalty, laughter, quiet reflection, being one with heaven, enjoying good entertainment, books, tender feelings, compassion, feeling like my heart will burst, seeing all the beauty around me even when it's not supposed to be beautiful, making good choices, making a home, loving one man for my whole life, kissing my children, long talks, running, being creative, seeing my children happy, making my husband's day, doing something nice for someone else, taking time to listen, music that goes deep to my core, sunshine, the temple, cozy snuggling in my bed (all six of us), and the list goes on and on! I love my life! It is a joy to have so many things to list, so many people to love, and to feel watched over from above! Hope you enjoy the month of Thanksgiving as much as I!

It's your day!!!

Everyone loves to have a day where they are in charge, can be spoiled, and pampered. Noah's day is today being his 9th birthday!!! He didn't have to do chores (although he offered to take down the garbage can from the road) and he got to choose what food he ate, what his party would be and who to invite! He even went shopping with me for his presents! We spent the morning at Target looking at cars and Bakugans and skateboard guys! Noah has been counting down the days to today and is so excited to go ice skating with his best buddies! He is also ecstatic about his new model car and iPOD!!!! I love my Nick! Happy Birthday!

Halloweeeen!!!

Here are the official pictures of the kids before our trick- or- treat outing in Layton (and a few from trunk-or-treat.) We first stopped at Grandma's in SLC and then went up to my sister's house/neighborhood for the tricking and treating and eating...fun night! And I had to include a picture or two of my sisters and their hubbies for a good laugh! They were AMAZING! After a long weekend of fun we are tired and ready to put the costumes away alone with all the decor. Kelly broke out the new issue of Fine Cooking with Thanksgiving dinner recipes and pictures and OHHHHHH I can't wait to make all the delectable dishes in there! I will be hosting Thanksgiving with Kelly's family again this year and I can't WAIT! It will be a breeze compared to Halloween!

Eat, Drink, and Be Scary!

I've always wanted to have a Halloween party at my house and finally pulled it off this year! This was an "adult only" costume party! Fabulous Carin made AMAZING invites and the ball started rolling! I had soooo much fun decorating my house with all the spooky Halloween decorations I could find. Martha helped my out A LOT!!!! Her Halloween issue gave me tons of inspiration. I had help from Kristen with a fog machine on the front step, skulls, skeletons...and a great play list with fun Halloween songs! I absolutely loved making "Devilish Eggs", "Poison Apples", "I-Scream Sandwiches" (I found more in the freezer after the party and was really excited to have a treat today!) "Eyeball Ice Water" and "Lady's Fingers"! This is my holiday and I lived it up! Yes Christmas is really fun to decorate for and there is a special warmth to that holiday but Halloween is crazy and exciting and dressing up is always a treat. So, the day of the party I had two wonderful friends take my children...ALL day!!! If they hadn't I think I would have been sooo stressed!!!! I can't thank you ENOUGH! Kelly came home from work early and set up a projector and movie screen so we could watch Frankenstein all night. He was a HUGE help!!! We had fun ALONE, cooking, decorating, and listening to and laughing to Frankenstein all afternoon! I loved dressing up, doing our makeup and then the anticipation of our friends arrival! We had a fun group with creative costumes that I couldn't stop starring at! Everyone brought yummy appetizers, soups, breads...we ate WELL! We had "Blood Punch" and "Mold Cider" to drink and lots of goodies! The guys had a donut eating contest which was hilarious! Scott won, beating Loren by a second! Costume awards went as follows: Scariest-Loren! Funniest-Scott! Best Costume-Erika and Shane! It was hard to choose the best award because honestly, they were all so very GOOD! So my dear friends, thank you, THANK you for making this party so much FUN and UNFORGETTABLE! I love you all and had a blast as your host!!! So...start thinking about next year's costumes!!!!! P.S., while vacuuming later, I found black feathers (Erika) and platinum blond hair balls (Loren). I had to laugh!

Anthopologie for less...does that catch your attention?

I saw the cover of Anthropologie magazine a month ago and loved the outfit as usual. It is rare that I don't love the clothes from this store! Well in my shopping trips to various places, I was able to copy this outfit for A LOT less! Anthropologie totals $794.00 for the outfit. My price? $189.00!!!! The boots were on sale at Nordstrom for $129.00. My blouse was found at (shockingly) Forever 21 for $18.00. The riding pants and gray cardigan were found at TJ Maxx! I love this outfit and more than that I LOVE the great deals I found! It takes more work but Kelly loves me for it! It also makes me feel like Tyra Banks-dress for less!