FLORIDA!

We just got back from Florida last week & it was AMAZING!!! I couldn't have asked for more PERFECT weather! It was 85, hot, and after 3 had a cool breeze so it wasn't too skorching hot :)

Our hotel was right by the entrance of Downtown Disney so the first day we spent exploring it & at night it was pretty romantic... no picture though!

Here we are in front of the magical castle at Disney World's Magic Kingdom

..Yes, I'm all sweaty & yucky after a long day in the sun... but I wouldn't change it!

Our trip was originally supposed to be like a second honeymoon that covered Valentine's Day, but I guess our family just loves us too much & decided to come along too! Our party went from two to EIGHT! :) It worked out good becuase Vic's family was fun and seriously... how romantic could Disneyworld get?!

There aren't many let downs there, but after this ride broke down & it took FOREVER waiting in line we expected it to be really cool & it was far from... but we got a fun picture out of it so that should count for something, right?!

One of the days we spent in Animal Kingdom & they had really good shows there. The Lion King one was probably my favorite. They had amazing singing, acrobats, dancing, and fun... a MUST for Disneyworld!... Not to mention that it was SO nice to get off of our poor worn out feet for awhile!

Tausha, Jessa, & Vic on the Safari ride.. it was cool how many wild animals they have there!

This is supposed to be like Indiana Jones, but I'd have to say that Indiana Jones beats it by mile, but here is a picture of 7 of us in the 2 front rows

I can't even remember where this was... animal Kingdom still?! It was fun, but

I wish we had a before & after of everyone! Everyone got SOAKED! Lucky me is the only one that only got half their body wet! :) I have to say that it secretly made my day better, Haha!

My absolute favorite show is Fantasmic. I think it is so great in Disneyland, but so much better seen in Disneyworld because there is an entire stadium just for this show!

I guess I was tired of taking pictures by the last day because unfortunately I don't have any of one of the best! We had such a fun pool area at our hotel and it felt so good to relax, read, & lay around the pool... my feet THANKED me!

AND FINALLY....... VALENTINES DAY!!!

We started the day off as a group in Hollywood studios, but then we parted at lunch time. Vic and I went to "France" in Epcot center & ate at a lovely restaurant.. the best part was that I got my favorite soup.. Lobster bisque... it is always to die for in nice restaurants! Here I am in the "streets of France"

We spent the most time on the pier of Italy, but I didn't get a pic :( It was one of those moments that you were taking in the moment so much that you didn't think to take a picture! It was perfect time of day, weather was great, & we had the italian pier mostly to our self for the hour we were there with italian slushies & ice cream in hand :) ...We had a mid-afternoon snacks & break in "Japan"... it was so totally fun to run around & be silly with Vic in all of the countries.

We planned on going to a romantic seafood restaurant for dinner, but then we decided that we really need to experience the famous "Planet Hollywood". It was a fun atmosphere with well presented fun foods... take a look at my drink & appetizer!

Happy New Year!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone!!! Sorry I am a few days late, but we have been crazy busy!!! I hope everyone started the year off good & made good goals to make sure 2009 is a great one!! My talk last Sunday was on making New Year goals so I organized my goals ahead of time & I hope I get at least one perfect month this year!

For New Year's Eve we went to dinner & a movie with a fun couple from our ward. I was too gamed out to have another game party! Here is Vic & I at midnight... I know kissing... yuck! haha!

On New Year's Day we had a good sleep in, took down the tree, and then went SLEEDING! I love sleeding. I wish we did it more times each year! Here is our sleeding crew below:

...and here is Vic & his big brother crashing on their tube. Afterwards we..... you guessed it..... played games! haha, it was fun though :) Then we stayed up way too late watching a movie. The next day I was so SICK that I slept until 1pm! I sure hope I get over this cold SOON!

P.S. I uploaded pictures to the post below so make sure & check them out too!!!

Christmas Vacation

Wow, was this last week all a blur!!! Sorry for the long post, but it was just all so exciting!!! Read only the highlights if you need!!! It all started the day after my holiday treat party (posted below)
PICTURES TO COME!!!
Friday: Vic's brother's birthday so we all ate out & then played games at our house afterwards.
Saturday: We took treats to all of our neighbors for the first time this year & I didn't realize what a time consuming activity that was! Each neighbor wanted us to come in & talk for an hour! I felt rude cutting all of our visits short! We have the NICEST neighbors though! I am so happy to live in such a great neighborhood. Next, Vic & I invited Vic's neices & nephews to play in the snow, but their mom's said it would be too cold so we decided to play anyway without them! It was fun. We built a slide & a fort. Then that night we had a Christmas Party with Vic's mission buddies & their families.
Sunday: We had ANOTHER Christmas party for Vic's family! We didn't think we'd be here on Christmas so we had everyone over for games & treats.
Monday: I spent hours shopping for a family in need with 6 kids, then we spent the whole night wrapping all of their presents.
Tuesday: We delivered the presents to one grateful little family. (it was so fun, I can't wait to adopt another family next year!)
Wednesday/Christmas Eve: We played in the snow with Vic's sister Cindy's family then just the two of us went out to eat at Applebee's (one of my current favorites)... then we went over to Vic's parents house to watch a Christmas movie & games until 1am. The roads were so bad on the way home, we could hardly see 5 feet in front of us & almost ran into a tree that had blown into the road!!! Yikes (unfortunately it still clipped my car & left it's mark, but I'm glad it was nothing more)
Thursday/ Christmas: I loved having our own little breakfast & Christmas presents... plus there was no rush so we opened one present & enjoyed & looked at it before opening the next. I liked it done this way, but it did take us until 11am! Afterwards we went out to Vic's parent's house again for dinner & games all night.
Friday: I woke up sick :( ... but I promised myself Christmas I'd eat whatever I wanted because I was going to work out the next day so I worked out sick anyway! Then I went out to spend my Christmas money (I was very sick, but I had to get the most for my buck with all the sales!!) Anyway, I found this beautiful red coat that I am SO excited about! I have been wanting one like this forever! That night we had promised 3 nephews a sleepover so I wrote my talk for Sunday while Vic played games with them until late.
Saturday: I woke up even sicker, but I had 3 little boys to entertain so I forced myself out of bed & got them breakfast, played games, and then even went out in the snow for awhile! I made them lunch & then they got picked up by their uncle... THANKS Roger! I tried to recoupe & regain enough energy to go out to Vic's other brother's Christmas party. We played MORE games out there! They had dinner, but we had to leave early to go to ANOTHER birthday party! Happy Birthday to Justin! (Vic's best friend). It was fun & we played our usual rounds of pinochle and... we FINALLY won a round! Usually we stay at their house really late, but by this time I was just too exhausted (being sick & still running around everywhere)
Sunday: I woke up & couldn't even think straight so I slept for HOURS! I missed my talk that I worked so hard on, but my wonderful husband read it at church for me. I finally came out of bed at 2pm and felt a lot better, but still in pain so I took a pain pill from when I got my wisdom teeth out & I felt MUCH better! Enough that we still were able to make it to our backyard neighbor's for dinner... another fun neighbor/blessing! Then I finally got my own calling.... teaching 6 year olds in primary! I love that age & I am excited to start!
Monday: I CLEANED all day & organized every drawer & closet! Then had movie night :)
Tuesday: ANOTHER family Christmas/New Year party at Vic's parents house!
Did I mention we have ONE more party tonight at Vic's parents?!?

Holiday Parties Begin!!!

Last night I had our first party of the weekend. It was a Holiday Treat Party, where everyone makes 4-6dozen treats & then we all swap so we have a good variety for friends, family, & neighbors. It was so quick & everyone made such cute treats!! Here is a picture of some of them:


We all wrapped them in plates, tins, & boxes that turned out pretty cute. I can't wait to give them to our neighbors tonight! I so want to have this same party next year! I am e-mailing everyone recipes of all the stuff so let me know if you want to be added on to that list!

The fun really started when we started playing games afterwards. I mainly had girls from my church there since we are new & that is all I know! It was fun to get to know them better at a casual level... they are SO cute & fun! I have such a great ward & we are blessed to live in it as it really impacts my happiness! One girl, or should I say "lady" that inspired me was Marcie. She is 37 & she could so EASILY pass for 28! I couldn't believe it when I found out. I pray I will be outgoing, fun, & young looking when I am 37!! Hopefully Vic will keep me young because he is so much fun! :)
Last weekend I went home to help my mom after a surgery so I was finally able to see my girls, Ericka & Amber! They are BOTH pregnant at the same time again! I swear their husbands plan it that way (they are best-friend-brothers). Funny thing is Ericka gets another girl & Amber another boy! Here is a picture of us eating at Texas Rhodehouse, one of my favorite places to eat (and is NOT here in Twin)... I LOVED catching up. It is always a good time with these girls! I hope they don't mind me sharing their exciting news!!! :)

Sorry, this post is getting long, but I have to add two more things! This song was on a friend's blog & I thought all you mommies would enjoy it!!! So click HERE to listen.

Also I finally organized my blog friends to pull up to the top when they've been updated so I am excited to do better at reading everyone's cute posts. KEEP Posting because I love reading it!! Thanks, I hope you know I love every last one of you bloggy friends!!

Christmas is here!

I always know when Christmas is here because I never have time to watch my shows or get on the internet. I should be sending out Christmas cards at this very moment, but I had to catch up on all my dear friends first! I love reading everyone's updates & seeing pictures.

Last week we worked every day to get all the light up on the house (I'll have to take a picture later)... and to get the tree up & every room decorated with a little Christmas cheer. Vic thinks it is his crowning moment to be able to put the star on the top of the tree so here he is!

We feel so very loved to have had our friends from England come to visit us! (Vic actually lived with Matt for a couple of months after I moved home early.) They were here from Thursday to Sunday so we took them up to Island Park in hopes of showing them what real snow is like & snowmobile. Unfortunately winter has come late this year, but we did still have a little snow to play around in. Here is their cute little family in front of the cabin/by the lake.

We wanted to get out one day so we went to go find a restaurant & found Lakeside Lodge right by our cabin! I can't believe I've been going up there for 10+ years & never tried out this hidden treasure! The view was beautiful & all of the food was SUPER yummy plus I expected the prices to be high because of the atmosphere & good portion sizes, but it was great pricing so if you are ever headed to Island Park this is a great place to stop! (It is right before Bill's Island)

Vic & I dared to go out on what looked like thin ice so we took this picture, but Janita cut off the clear ice part... oops!

Our English friends left Sunday morning & we had a busy day Sunday with friends over for dinner, then over to our neighbors to watch the Christmas devotional & then out to Vic's parents house to plan Christmas time! Then yesterday we had an ADORABLE family from the ward that I've been wanting to get to know, invite us over for FHE and the lesson was on the true meaning of Christmas. We talked about the birth of Christ and one of the things that came up is how some people think it is overcelebrated when in all reality we should be having lots of "birthday" Christmas parties to celebrate this wonderful season to remember Christ. I love celebrating Christmas & there is no better reason to throw a party! I am so grateful for this special time of year & I hope everyone has their fair share of fun & also have time to serve others as Christ served us.

Tour de Galena House!

I FINALLY got pictures of my new house!!! A month late, but better late than never! Here is the front of the house. The backyard is a big blank carpet big enough to play soccer on! Landscaping that will be our spring project... Here is the Kitchen & Dining Room. This house came with PLUM purple walls in the kitchen. It looks 100% better painted to match the rest of the house! I should have taken a before picture of the color!! I LOVE having a big place to cook :) I actually have empty drawers! This kitchen has THREE large walk-in pantries! I was proud of myself for making my first picture collage above the sink (in bottom left of this picture):

Here is our front room. Vic is VERY happy to have a fireplace at last! I have to say this is my favorite room of the house. I LOVE the furniture we just bought so I put a close up picture in the middle of the coffee table.

The front bathroom walls were left white & I couldn't figure out what color to paint it so I decided to do an all black & white room. I ended up LOVING it!

...And now for the upstairs bedrooms!!

Beach Bathroom

My bedroom

HeidiLou (one of my favoritest people of all time, yes I like to make up words).... has been asking me if I have pictures of my new house. I haven't got around to taking all of them yet, but since I made my bed today I decided to take a picture! (I do try to make it most days, but it usually only happens on my days off!) Anyway, I saw this quiz on someone's blog & it made me laugh! Do they design what the results say to fit every person out there.... OR does this just happen to freakiciously fit me!

Here is what it had to say!!!...

*Outward appearances are a concern of yours, but not your primary concern. You try to take care of yourself and your home, but it's not an obsession.

*You are an organized and disciplined person. You do the right thing because you want to, not because people expect you to.

*You are very low maintenance. You tend to go with the flow, and you're easily pleased.

*In relationships, you tend to be quite dominant. You enjoy taking charge.

*You tend to be a dreamy, head in the clouds type of person. You think in terms of possibilities.

*You are a total homebody. You are happiest when you're at home.

Sutherland Thanksgiving

Vic's family did their Thanksgiving last night & since they never decorate I decided to go for it! It took a lot of time since everything I made I had to do 28 of them! The first thing I made was this centerpiece. Not near as cute as the idea off this site, but I was pleased anyway!

The next thing I did was make the hats on this plate. I filled them with Chex mix & had one on each plate. It was taking me so long that I had to recruit Vic as help & he was a great sport & did a good job! I was going to wrap the silverwear inside these napkins, but I decided to just leave the napkins & put the silver-"gold"wear out as decoration. I was excited I finally got to use my fancy gold-wear. I got it years ago & haven't had an occasion to use it yet! I also just used 12x12 scrapbook papers as the placemats.

I also decided to buy little wine glasses for everone & tie a nametag to each one. I thought they turned out pretty cute! We served homemade sparkling cider by mixing Sprite & apple juice. It was good too :)

The final thing I made was s'more pilgrim hats from familyfun.com. I bought an extra bag of cookies & when it was time to eat them we put a cookie on top & heated it up in the microwave a few seconds... yum! The kids went crazy over them which was fun to see :)

Family Thanksgiving continued

This is Roger & Darren, two of Vic's brothers. We celebrated early because Darren is in the Navy & has to go back next week.... and this is just another picture of Roger being the goofball that he is. Let me know if you know any single ladies in SLC for him!! hehe, I know he would hate if he found out I put that, but he'll never read this & he needs to date!

Trish (in-law), Jessa (niece), and mom & dad. Mom did such a good job with all the food. Everything was cooked to perfection! YUM :)

Yea! Here's Mom, Vic, and I! :) :)

Julie (sister), Kaila, Taylor, & Wes. Wes always thinks he's so funny doing faces like this in pictures. Gets old, but I guess as long as he thinks he's fun!

Tuesdays with Morrie... it WILL make you a better person!

A friend gave me the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" about 5 years ago & after reading the first chapter I threw it aside thinking it was boring. I didn't really get what the rave was about this book. We just moved into our new house & as I was unpacking this book, I decided to start reading it again from where I left off five years ago. I LOVE IT! This book has a million ways to show even someone with a good life how to more fully live it. This book is about an old man dying & everything he has learned about living life. I only let myself read a chapter or two a day so I can work on that day's lesson. It makes me excited for my next human interaction so I can make the best of every conversation & get out there and make more of my life & live every day with a passion. This is a long exerpt from the book, but I read it yesterday & I really liked it. The chapter is called "The sixth Tuesday we talk about emotions" and Morrie is teaching Mitch to "detach" himself:

Mitch asks: "Aren't you always talking about experiencing life? All the good emotions, all the bad ones?... well, how can you do that if you're detached?"

Morrie: "Ah. You're thinking, Mitch. But detachment doesn't mean you don't let the experience penetrate you. On the contrary, you let it penetrate you fully. That's how you are able to leave it."

Mitch: "I'm lost."

Morrie: Take any emotion-- love for a woman, or grief for a loved one, or what I'm going through, fear and pain from a deadly illness. If you hold back on the emotions---- if you don't allow yourself to go all the way through them--- you can never get to being detached, you're afraid of the grief. You're afraid of the vulnerability that loving entails. But by throwing yourself into these emotions, by allowing yourself to dive in, all the way, over your head even, you experience them fully and completetly. You know what pain is. You know what love is. You know what grief is. And only then can you say, 'All right. I have experienced that emotion. I reconize that emotion. Now I need to detach from that emotion for a moment.' .... I know you think this is just about dying," he said, "but it's like I keep telling you. When you learn how to die, you learn how to live."....

(Mitch writing again): I thought about how often we need to detach in every day life. How we feel lonely, sometimes to the point of tears, but we don't let those tears come because we are not supposed to cry. Or how we feel a surge of love for a parnter but we don't say anything because we're frozen with the fear of what those words might do to the relationship. Morrie's approach as exactly the opposite. Turn on the faucet. Wash yourself with the emotion. It won't hurt you. It will only help. If you let the fear inside, if you it on like a familiar shirt, then you can say to yourself, "allright, it's just fear, I don't have to let it control me. I see it for what it is." Same for loneliness: you let go, let the tears flow, feel it completely--but eventually be able to say, "All right, that was my moment with loneliness. I'm not afraid of feeling lonely, but now I'm going to put that loneliness aside and know that there are other emotions in the world, and I'm goin to experience them as well."

"Detach," Morried said again.

I loved that I read this because when Vic got home from another late night at work yesterday, despite my sore throat, I felt hyper-silly. Only a few close people know this side of me as I'm always afraid to share it with others as I get a bit insano, but after reading this chapter, I thought to myself "I don't care if Vic is tired, I'm hyper & I want to "experience" the emotion"... and well, it surprised Vic (a little, I don't think he's every surprised by my random moods!)... anyway, I don't know if it rubbed off on him much, but it made my night ten times better so I'm glad I did it! Live life & HAVE FUN! Above all, don't worry about what others will think. Otherwise we'd all go through life trying to act like a professional, which really is boring!!! ...just don't forget to mind your manners :)hehe, anyway, after I finish this book, I can't wait to start over again!