I got tagged!

I got tagged by Michelle (who threatened my life if Ididn't follow through- just joking) to write seven random facts about myself. So here it goes.

1. I have six friends from Chicago (where I grew up) that I still keep in touch with from high school (a few from elementary school). None of them are LDS and we have a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Since graduation our lives have gone in many directions (some have moved, some have married, some are single)but we have still remained such good friends. Over the years we have visited each other. They all wrote me on my mission, some came to my homecoming, visited me in college, they all came to my wedding (even though they couldn't enter the temple obviously), one visited me after the birth of my first son and they all came to see me after the adoption of Owen. We don't talk every week or month but we have a bond that I know at this point will never be broken. I love these girls -Diane, Sonal, V, Lauren, Amy and Meg.

All of us at Billy Bob's in Texas! I'm the one in the blue shirt!

2. Lately, I have been obsessed with reruns of the 80s soap opera Dallas. I watch it almost everyday or Tivo it. Sometimes I watch two epsiodes a day! Sad huh? It all started when my six friends from high school came to visit me over Labor Day 2006 in Texas (when I was still living there) and we went to Southfork Ranch. It was so much fun. I remember my parents watching it while growing up but couldn't remember the story lines. I remember it being an adult show. It's funny how times change. This show is mild compared to the things on TV now! Well, this summer I saw it on Soapnet and they were starting at the beginning and now everyday they play it and I'm hooked! I'm on season 6 only seven more to go! I have no idea what I will do with my days after it ends!!

3. I hate Chocolate (except for milk chocolate candy bars)! Brownies, chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, frosting, chocolate milk, etc. I can't stand it. I think it tastes gross. I really tend to crave more salty foods like chips & salsa, fries, popcorn, etc. I wish, because of this, I could say it has helped me to become a size 2, but, I have just found other things to fill my tummy with!

4. I love Diet A& W rootbeer. I try not to drink more than one or two a day but I just love the taste!

5. I love watching the Star Wars movies (the old ones not the new). I guess it is just the classic good vs. evil. I can watch them over and over again and never get tired of them. I'm thankful I have two sons who are beginning to follow in there mother's footsteps! My hubby doesn't care for them as much as I do. I guess because I grew up with three brothers we watched these all the time. They bring back good memories.I just love Han Solo. I still have a crush on Harrison Ford!

6. I love surprises! My latest surprise was last Saturday. The kids, hubby and I were going out to celebrate him passing the bar. My husband said he was craving a burger and wanted to go to Ruby Tuesdays (that really wasn't my idea of a celebration) but I didn't say a word. My husband started driving and we passed Ruby Tuesdays but we had to pick up something downtown so I figured we were doing that first. Well, 15 minutes later he pulled into Cheesecake Factory (my favorite restaurante) to celebrate there. Just an added note to make it extra special he doesn't care for the Cheesecake Factory at all!

7. Lastly, I have never been one for late nights. Even in high school I would have my friends drop me off at 10:30 or 11:00 because I just felt like going to bed. I really didn't care what was going on. In college I would never cram all night for finals. I would go to bed at 8 and wake up at 4:00 a.m. Even to this day I tend to go to bed early.

According to instructions I'm suppose to tag 7 people and have them write 7 random facts about themselves and tag 7 others so here it goes. I had fun doing it but don't feel like you have to. I know these tag things can get old after awhile.

1. Julianne
2. Katrina
3. Debbie
4. Julie
5. Wendi
6. Mary
7. Stevens girl

We got Booed!

We were driving up to our house the other day and Derek screamed, "We got Booed!" I was thinking what are you talking about. On our front door step was this cute bag filled with fun stuff.

This cute poem was inside:

Boo

To our good friends on our street

Our homes locations made us meet

You now have been "booed", but who could we be?

We'll never tell. It's a secret you see!

We placed these goodies for you and yours.

Then we ran fast after knocking the door!

Happy Halloween!

Place this Boo on your front door

And make sure you "boo" two neighbors of yours.

We of course had to boo two neighbors. It was so much fun and the kids had a great time picking out the stuff to put in the boo bag!

Ringing the door bell and running away!

Better Late than Never

This was my first blogging swap and I had so much fun putting it together. My witch switch package finally arrived. I think maybe it got lost in the mail. My cute witch sister Michelle sent all these fun things.

These are the fun things I sent to my witch switch sister Sally. It was so much fun. I definately would like to do it again next year.

Super Craft Night!

Each year at our church we have a super craft night. This past weekend we had ours. It was so fun. We made some fun things. We had a lite dinner of soups and bread. It was a great night. These are the things that I made.
A family wall plaque.

Teacher clipboard for Derek's teacher.
A family home evening of 12 lessons on the different virtues.
A set of four cards with my initial. This is an example of one.

O Happy Day!

After moving to Tennessee this past spring my husband had to take on the terrible task of studying for the bar in Tennessee. We already lived through this experience four years ago and it wasn't fun then. However, because of the new job in a new state it was required for him to pass the Tennessee Bar. After many long evenings, Saturdays, and many many hours, weeks and months of studying this past summer Drew passed the Bar!! Yeah! I'm very happy for him. He is such a hard working husband and does so much for me and the kids. I'm so happy to have him in my life! Congrats honey!

Our Trip to the Smokie Mountains!

My in-laws were in town for the past week and we had a great time. We took a weekend trip to the Great Smokie Mountains. We had a wonderful time. It is gorgeous up there. It was fun to see some of the leaves starting to change. We saw a wild turkey and a coyote. There were lots of streams and beautiful trees. We stayed at this cute little cabin. It had a hot tub and a fireplace. We made smores, laughed and just had lots of fun. It is always great to get away.

Pumpkin Patch

Well, I love the fall and going to the pumpkin patch. We just moved to Tennessee and they have many pumpkin patches here. Yeah! However, I had big plans this year to get matching shirts and have fun, cute pictures. Which my family (especially my husband) just loves! (ha, ha) Well, it turned out to be in the 90s and everything I bought was long sleeved. Well, I am the mean mother that made everyone wear the clothes I bought and change after the pictures. Needless to say the pictures didn't turn out that great but I'm going to post them anyway because I went to all the effort! Despite the heat it was a fun day (after we changed!)



Barn maze with slides!

Little activities for the kids!


My boys loved watching the chickens!


The hay ride!

The corn maze! We only got lost twice!

It was a fun and hot day at the pumpkin patch! I thought fall was suppose to get cooler!

Finally some girl time!

This past week I had two girl nights out! It was so much fun. I moved here about five months ago and I'm so happy to finally be making some really fun friends. We went to Fridays for dessert and laughed and talked.

Then on Saturday night we went and saw Becoming Jane. I know it has been out awhile but I just got to see it and it was so so good! I loved it.

Well, we were all having so much fun that we decided to make it a double feature (thank heavens for Diet Coke so I could stay awake) and went and saw the Jane Austen Book Club. I really liked this movie as well. It was so fun. I figured after not having a girls night out for months I deserved two in one week! Thanks to my great hubby.

What fun things have you been up to?

Make your blog a book

Well, I have been thinking I would like to have my blog in a book so that it can be a journal or remembrance of this year. My friend Debbie posted this website on her blog called blurb.com. You can upload your blog and make a book. I have gone to the site and it seems great. I downloaded the software and have been working on making a book of my blog. The prices seem reasonable. I think it is a great way to capture all of these moments and have them for generations to come. I think I am going to make a book every year. This year's book won't be very big since I just started blogging in August. But it will be fun to have and read.

Have you found any blog book publishing sites?

My mom is the Greatest!

Well, my mom asked me a couple of weeks ago what I wanted for Christmas (we start early!) I told her I wanted this cute countdown calendar from Pottery Barn Kids. Isn't it adorable?



Well, my mom got busy and started talking to her friend and look what arrived in the mail today!



My mom and her friend made it! I think it looks as great as the one from Pottery Barn. Isn't it so cute? I am so excited to run to the store and buy some candy/trinkets to fill it. My boys will be so excited to pick something out everyday and have a countdown to Halloween! Yeah! Thanks Mom and Lori. I love it!