Collective Soul

Lisa,

this song is for YOU!!!!!!

Lisa is my awesome friend! She lives behind me. She moved from Utah too. She has three adorable kids, and her 2 and 3 year old love Tanner and he loves them.

Her husband is cool too. He rocks out to Rock Band like he IS Collective Soul! lol

She is my YW first counselor. She is awesome and funny.

(my counselors rock. FYI)

The other night for a YW activity we had to drive 2 hours away (I miss walking down the block in Utah). Anyways...we had alot of time driving and bonding with the girls in the car. Lisa and I both LOVE Collective Soul!

They are the best band ever.

We played some of their music and asked the girls (who were 13) if they knew Collective Soul. They didn't!!!!!! It was crazy and I felt so stinkin' old. They said they didn't know who U2 was either...they might have been joking though.

We had a good laugh with it all.

You guys know who Collective Soul is? Right. You better. I shouldn't have to ask.

un-event-ful

Our day is pretty ful of un-events. It's all good.

Tanner is playing.

The rain is falling.

I am cleaning.

(and blogging)

I hope YOU are having a good day!

(sign up by tonight for the "favorite things swap" and I will post names tomorrow!! :)

so stay tuned

FAVORITE THINGS

I wish this was Oprah's favorite things...but it's not.

This is "bloggin' friends favorite things swap!"

I am too impatient to wait to do the "favorite things swap!" that I previously mentioned.

I want to get it started now!!!!

Here is the scoop:

Think of some of your favorite things.

Be it:

shopping at Target...

do you love pretty bling bling

do you scrapbook or make cute recipe books, fun projects...anything crafty and cute

can you make amazing quilts, such as this!!??

or maybe, all you like is CHOCOLATE!

Whatever your favorite things are, let's share them and swap around!

*Everyone that wants to participate will enter the swap and you will each be assigned a friend that you will send your favorite thing, or things to.

*Price range $20-25

*It can be one thing, like a quilt you made, or several things like a gift card to your favorite store, your favorite treat and favorite book you just read.

*Whatever it may be, make it fun! You can purchase or make the items you send. If you have a special talent, go ahead and use it. Have fun with it.

(just be aware that you might not particularly like the swap you get, so don't be disappointed. it is someone else's favorite thing, not yours, but maybe you will learn to love it too!)

Who doesn't like getting something new and fun packaged in the mail? I do.

Let me know if want to play!!

So far, this is who I think has agreed. Let me know if your name is mistakenly here, otherwise if your name is here you are cemented!

Jylaire http://mattandjylaire.blogspot.com/

Lichelle: private blog

Holly http://leviandfaith.blogspot.com/

Lorena http://seeleys.blogspot.com/

Katie http://mikeandkatietaylor.blogspot.com/

Ashley H http://ashleyhollis.typepad.com/joy/

Camille http://web.mac.com/cjroskelley/Camille_Roskelley/Simplify/Simplify.html

Shally http://sorensen6.blogspot.com/

Mandy K http://kirksmotleycrew.blogspot.com/

Jeanelle http://jeanelleshaw.blogspot.com/

Lindsey http://thompsonlove.blogspot.com/

Nicole http://nicolerees.blogspot.com/

Chrissy http://busylifehappywife.blogspot.com/

Kacie http://maloufish.blogspot.com/

Becky http://montjamesfamily.blogspot.com/

Please SIGN in by this Friday and then I will give you the name of who you send your package to, and who will be sending you your fun new surprise, we will mail our packages next week!

Super duper fun :)

showing "I love you"

My love language is different than Landon's love language. I am words of affirmation...you can praise me and tell me everything in the good book all day long and I will be on a high! I need to verbally hear encouragement, thanks, and "I love you."

I constantly say "I love you" to Landon...but he would rather be shown with acts of service. Words are still important to him, but they are not as meaningful as action. He always notices when I clean the house, make dinner, take the car in for an oil change...and is very appreciative of it (which makes me feel appreciated as well) and it makes him feel loved! I need to be better at doing service for him, rather than just telling him. SO. Yesterday I decided to mow the entire yard for him (.6 acres) on a slope. It was the hottest day so far (85 degrees) and I haven't exercised in months...so it was quite the task for me. I had fun though, and I also did it for selfish reasons because I needed a good work-out. It was a beautiful day and it felt good to do it out of love, when I knew Landon would come home exhausted from a long day at work and be grateful that wasn't one more task that needed to be done. I showed him his love language and he was ever so grateful!

My hips have been aching all day, but it was worth it. I love my babe and I (think) definitely proved it!

Blog-a-palooza, you ask?

Some of you have asked me what a

blog-a-palooza

is...well, I have to preface first. This is Denae

(and her cute hubby Dave):

Denae is actually my friend. I know her in the flesh. We lived by them in WyView during our BYU days and we loved their cute little family. Denae is a blog Diva. She is awesome. She is funny, entertaining, sincere and knows how to blog it right!

http://www.denaeharlow.blogspot.com/ I have found alot of her friends, and friends of their friends who blog and have them on my googlereader now, and have come to be "cyberfriends" with alot of them...such as Celia:

http://www.groundhogdaywithcelieafae.blogspot.com/

Celia is another blog Diva who rocks. She is so dang funny, everyone LOVES her. I have not met her in the flesh, but I definitely call her my friend.

Well, these two yawho's decided to arrange a blog-a-palooza party. Women's Conference for our church is in 2 weeks and alot of people travel to Utah for this event. These fabulous women threw together an event for some of us girls who blog together, so we can actually all meet in the flesh and prove to our husbands how legit blogging is and that we aren't crazy cyberwomen anymore, because now we personally, physically and bloggingly all know one another!!!!!!!

It is going to be so fun!!!!!! So you see...some of us already know each other (but haven't seen each other in years), but there are alot of us who actually haven't met, and now we have the opportunity. Now, no excuses, we will be friends forever!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the group of blogging chicks who are going to be attending the blog-a-palooza party during one of the nights at BYU's Women's Education.

Gabi http://thegabblog.blogspot.com/

Andrea http://eggplant-is-her-game.blogspot.com/

Christie http://stiesthoughts.blogspot.com/

Bridget http://bridget-adayinalife.blogspot.com/

Diane http://dianelittlebitsofnothing.blogspot.com/

Jessica http://everydayromneys.blogspot.com/

Mique http://adventureswiththeprovosts.blogspot.com/

Angie http://angieabillablog.blogspot.com/

Annie http://basicjoy.blogspot.com/

Sally no blog

Marty http://travelinoma.blogspot.com/

Julie http://julieblodgett.blogspot.com/

Tristan http://tkc615.blogspot.com/

Ilene http://greenbeanruminations.blogspot.com/

Shally http://sorensen6.blogspot.com/

KaraJayne http://crazygoodlife.blogspot.com/

Laurie http://laurieturk.blogspot.com/

Lisa http://mytrainerlisa.blogspot.com/

Holly http://leviandfaith.blogspot.com/

Rachel Hazen http://everydayhappeningsofthehazens.blogspot.com/

Anne Marie http://annemarie-livelovelaugh.blogspot.com/

Shannan http://shannandesh.blogspot.com/

Jenna http://momville.blogspot.com/

Martha http://thegtrain5.blogspot.com/

Susan http://mamasuisse.blogspot.com/

Susan's Friend

Paige http://paigeinthelife.blogspot.com/

Celia http://groundhogdaywithceliafae.blogspot.com/

Denae http://denaeharlow.blogspot.com/

Summer http://bryanandsummer.blogspot.com/

Lorena http://seeleys.blogspot.com/

Kimberly no blog

Jill http://quirkykirky.blogspot.com/

Shauna private blog…ask her if you want to see it… she's Jill's sis!

Lisa-Marie http://lisamarieandkendonjensen.blogspot.com/

Ashli http://storheimstory.blogspot.com/

Michelle Do you have a blog Michelle? Rachel Hazen's sister

Nancy http://snapshotsfromhale.blogspot.com/

Rachel B. http://bjorkfam.blogspot.com/

Anne Lee http://lifeofannelee.blogspot.com/

Heather http://motherofgeese.blogspot.com/

Heidi http://heidiram.blogspot.com/

I can not wait for this event. I already feel so connected with some of these blogging friends because we are all mom's having the same experiences, we share the same religion and values, some have dealt with infertility as well and have been such a strength to me...and we all are crazy about BLOGGING! Blogs really are a great way to connect with friends!

I love it!

Lorena, Gab, Jessica, Shally, Paige, and Celia I CAN NOT wait to meet you!!

You girls are pretty much the only blogs I read from this group (besides Shauna, Holly and Denae who I already know)...but I am excited to meet all the other ladies as well, and connect with them through their blogs too! The more the merrier :)

Happy birthday babe!

Yesterday was Landon's bday.

I've done posts about him before...so I won't bore you all with a sappy love post. But I do want to say Happy Birthday babe. You are the love of my life. You are the most amazing husband in the world, and the best dad in the universe...hence, why I am the luckiest girl alive. You rock my world! Love ya!

TOGETHER FOREVER BABY

(these are just random pix to show his cuteness, since I forgot to take any yesterday. ahh!)

Swap package

Cute Lindsey,

http://thompsonlove.blogspot.com/,

hosted a "favorite things swap" on her blog and I totally joined in! I got paired with cute Katie (her sister)

http://www.mikeandkatietaylor.blogspot.com/

and we were supposed to send each other some of our favorite things. I sent Katie some warm fuzzy socks (my feet are always cold, you'll rarely see me barefoot), a bracelet from Lia Sophia because I love bling bling, and some cards I made because I love to stamp and hand make/stamp my cards!

This is what Katie sent me that she said she loves...cupcakes! She sent me this cute cupcake kit, and I love it too!!!!!!! Really though, who doesn't love cupcakes!?

Thanks tons. I can't wait to eat!!!!!

I want to host a favorite things swap too...it's so fun. It's a great way to get to know someone better, and who doesn't like getting fun new surprises!

I can't do it right now though, alot of us are getting ready for blog-a-palooza anyways...but when I return I might try to host one. Would anyone be interested!!??

My american idols

No, my idols aren't David or Syesha...they are my parents!

Last week they brought Tanner back to us after vacation and stayed for 5 days. It was soooooooo much fun. I just love them so much. They helped around the house, took us out to meals, and were fabulous entertainment. One of the days we decided to head over to see what Branson was all about. Landon couldn't go because unfortunately he has a job. But we had a great time and it was fun to see what this "mini Vegas" was all about.

It was pleasantly surprising. They had a great new shopping area with a fountain that played music and a water show with fire as well (not as cool as Vegas), but none the less, it was a good effort. It was beautiful country there. A river ran by the shops and there are 3 surrounding lakes.

Of course there are plenty of hillbilly shows to see, but we were there on the first day of opening season and the one's that did look worth spending any money on weren't available.

Shucks.

We took a "ride the ducks" tour and it was really fun! I've done that in Memphis Tennessee and it's a fun way to see the sites. You ride in an old DUKW (it's an old army vehicle) that transforms from bus to boat. It's cool! You go from driving on the street, straight into the lake.

We all get duck whistles to blow and it's obnoxiously cute.

We had a great time!

Aren't parents the best!

(at least, mine are.)

great shopping area

fun fountain and river behind us

check out the DUKW bus/boat

QUACK!

the captain let Tanner drive the boat, he was thrilled!

love you G&G!!!!

Conference

I keep forgetting to write about Conference. Wasn't it fabulous!!? We are so blessed to have such amazing leaders. It was a powerful session and I can't wait to live out of my Ensign.

I loved Elder Zwick's talk on "We will not yield." Landon and I have a special connection with him because he married us in the SLC temple. He is an amazing man.

All of the apostles are wonderful, but Elder Bednar always speaks to my spirit and so does President Eyring.

I'm so grateful to have the truthfulness in my life. I surely missed President Hinckley and will forever be grateful for his teachings and continue to hope as he did, that we can:

"stand a little taller, lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships.

In other words, to become more Christlike."

Cruise winner

No no, it's not a cruise you win...

While I was gone on my cruise, I asked for some funny things to be sent that would make me laugh for when I arrived home because I knew it would stink coming back to reality and I needed some good entertainment.

Thanks for all the submissions. You guys are great. They were all funny...some of them I had heard or seen before. But I think the winner is going to be Jylaire!

She had me cracking up because her daughter is such a character. I LOVE kid quotes. Seriously, kids say the funniest things. This is what Jylaire shared with me:

(her daughter is London, who is 3)

"I have a cute story that I thought was super funny, but I am the mom, so I'm partially biased. A couple of months ago, London was in the shower with me and playing with a couple of tub toys I'd thrown in. She started really bugging me because she was putting this little cup right under my bum and filling it with all the run-off water. I asked her to stop, so she moved the cup right between my legs. (I know, not a great visual.) I asked her again to stop and she said she couldn't. I asked her why and she replied,"Mom, I'm just gathering tree sap for the pygmy marmosets." What, I said? "Mom I'm the only one who can help them, so I really need to gather lots and lots of tree sap." (she got the idea from watching Diego) Who can argue with helping out an animal in danger? I guess it's good that she has an imagination!"

Thanks Jylaire!

I have known Jylaire for quite awhile...we went to school together and I always loved her. Except for when she moved in during Jr high and was the "new cute girl" that we were all worried about stealing our boyfriends!!

She is such a sweetheart though.

She is genuine, funny, smart, beautiful, and I am so glad I can have her as my friend.

Anyways...I will be sending you a fun surprise! I have your address already, so no need to send it. I think you might be out of town right now...checking out Puerto Rico!!??

Good luck with that!

love ya

I'll leave you all with another funny quote by London that Jylaire posted on her blog.

Too dang cute!

On Saturday afternoon, we were headed to our nephew's 3rd birthday party in Riverton. We were trying to listen to the afternoon session of conference in the car, but London kept interrupting us. Matt asked her to listen for words she knew.

Just then she yelled, "he said Holy Ghost!"

Matt: That's right!

London: Daddy, what does the Holy Ghost look like?

Matt: Well, sort of like Heavenly Father.

London: Is he as big as you?

Matt: Yep!

London: Well I think he's really a bird! (She's singing a song in primary that compares the holy ghost to a dove)

Matt: Well, he can be everywhere, just like a bird.

London: Could he even be in our house?

Me: Of course he can. We want him to be everywhere that we are, London

London: Really! He can come to our house? I've always wanted a pet!

what's in a name?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 47 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

(47 other people with the same first and last name!)

There are 215,705 people in the U.S. with the first name Jill. It's quite a popular name I must say. I never did care for it much, because of that reason. I wish I could change it. It's a boring name I think. (sorry, no offense mom).

I wonder how many people wish they could change their name.

Do you?

part 2

I've been so busy with my parents in town I haven't had time to post the cruise pictures! It is so fun having my mom and dad here and we are having a great time!!!

Okay, here are some, actually A LOT, of cruise pictures finally.

We crossed the Atlantic Ocean and cruised into the middle of nowhere to find Bermuda. It is a colony of the UK so obviously has huge British influence. Most Bermudians are black (descendants of slaves) and they speak with a British accent. They drive on the left side of the road...that was hard to get used to. But they use American money, and also have Bermuda money used interchangeably.

The people are SO FRIENDLY.

It is clean and beautiful there.

It was a great experience and we had a fun time. I love learning about new places. It was still a little too early in the season for great weather. It rained a few times but one day was warm and sunny and we got burnt at the beach.

It was a fabulous vacation to NY and Bermuda.

sailing away... dropping of my cards for a swap!! the fun part of a Stampin' Up cruise is swapping idea's

friends on board with us! cold and windy the first day

downtown Bermuda...Hamilton city

beautiful beaches, forts and history

our ship! home sweet home

Horseshoe Bay...beautiful beach cute decor and food

spa time...hot stone massage was the best!!!

enjoying the amazing, delicious food...look at the beautiful intricate chocolate. yummmmm

beach time cold water! we hiked to the top of this lighthouse

awesome view of the whole island

there were no Dr Pepper's anwhere...on ship or land. when we went to Panama last year they didn't have any either. only coke. I remember a guy in Panama saying "oh yeah, I've seen those in the commercials!" well...my dear husband found this lone Dr Pepper in a gift shop and it was pure paradise to me!

snorkel time :)

dinner time and then playing cards

and more cards

and more card time...it was so fun!

another formal night...

me with CEO Shelli Gardner :) She is a celebrity to us stampers!!

our friends Stampin' Up wheel!

my girlfriend Stampin' Up demo's!

PARADISE!