Walmart = family fun

I know a lot of you people hate Walmart. I for one, don't mind it. As I mentioned, we just bought a swing for our deck and I am lovin' it. I've wanted one for a long time!

It has forced me to be outside with the heat and the bugs,

which I hardly did any of last Summer

because it is now more bearable sitting on something comfortable and in the shade.

Thus, I love Walmart...my swing is bringing on the family fun.

I was outside almost all day.

We started the day with a little football fun!!

While I of course, sat on my swing in the shade.

Next, Tanner and I played on the deck,

had some lunch, and lounged on our swing in the shade!

Then we ran some errands. I went to Walmart and bought a few things.

STAY TUNED.

You will like what I share with you tomorrow about my trip to Walmart!!

And then it was back home for dinner,

on the swing,

in the shade,

and more playing around on the deck!

We had fun being silly, just relaxing, and having a good day on our swing!

(Tanner took this last picture of me. We never let him touch the camera, but I decided to let him try to see what kind of talent he had with it. I was laughing so hard...he did a pretty good job for his first time ever taking a picture!)

Conclusion:

Support Walmart, they will make your family happy!

buh bye weekend

After I got my fun pkg below (previous post) Friday afternoon...Landon's dad Kevin, and his wife Susan, came to visit for the weekend.

It was a short but sweet visit :)

It was a lot of fun being with them!

They only live 4 hrs from us, so we try to get together often.

We just bought a new swing for our deck and we thoroughly enjoyed using it!

Happy weekend...hope you all had a good one too!

No, I am not wearing pants.

I am wearing white capri's and YES those are my white legs

(the picture is accentuating their whiteness more than normal though!)

stop laughing

I know they are GHOSTLY!!!!!!

HELP

Here are the out-takes below...what it's like trying to take a pix with my family!

What is that smile Tanner? goof-ball

The sun was "too bright" for Tanner to look. Whatever.

I'm ready, what the heck are the boys doing?

fixin' the do

dang, wrong angle

"You've got mail"

I LOVE MAIL!

I love getting pkg's, cards, gifts, orders...anything in the mail (except bills). It makes me happy.

I purposely order things on-line so I can get something in the mail. I might not

particularly like a certain item I order, but I know I'll be able to return it, thus

I order it because I love getting a package! ha.

Tanner always gets so excited when "the box man" (UPS) comes and

always asks if it's for him. It's so sad, because it's always for me!

I need to order him something.

Anyways...today was a good mail day.

I GOT MAIL!

I did a favorite things swap with Ashley and her friends.

(thanks Ashley)

Ashley's "cool and hip mom, " which is so true, Marilyn, had me for the swap.

This is what she sent me:

Look at this adorable apron she made me! I love it.

It even matched my outfit today. How cute!

She also sent stuff for gardening, other things for the kitchen, crayons and a book...all her favorite things were awesome and I love it. THANK YOU TONS!

I will enjoy it all!!

And then Lindsey sent me a fun pkg below! I won the give-away she did on her blog, so I got this cute clock decorating kit and some US weekly magazines. I love to read the dirt on celebrities. THANK YOU!! That was so fun to get that surprise!!

Lindsey and Marilyn you're the best!

Thanks for making my day.

I LOVE MAIL!

I had Allie for the swap, this is what I sent her

(plus a bag of DOVE chocolate's, and an eye shield to sleep in peace and quiet!)

family pix

Both of my sister's and their families had their pictures recently done. I think they are sooooooooo cute! I love the colors they chose...color is always better!! They turned out adorable and Heather does an amazing job! If you live in Layton, Utah, or the surrounding area's you HAVE to call her. She does fabulous work. The best I've ever seen!

Check out here blog here.

Below is my other sister and her cute family...these were done last year!

Now I guess it's OUR turn!

Oh, and here is a pix of my adorable brother and his adorable wife.

I don't want them to feel left out!

The year is 1907, one hundred years ago......

(This has been circulating on-line and I thought it was really good and decided to post it).

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants

and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Every American citizen needs to read this.

thank goodness for awesome dad's

Dad,

Thank you for choosing to be one!

Thank you for fulfilling your fatherly responsibilities.

Thank you for loving me, and teaching me how to love others.

Thank you for your undying support. You will never know the comfort and reassurance you have given me my entire life. Thanks for your guidance.

Thank you for your wisdom and experience.

Thank you for your smiles.

Thank you for your example.

Thank you for being YOU.

I LOVE YOU!

you are my hero

(My dad willingly babysits Tanner...*alone...when I come to visit, so the girls can hang out. How AWESOME is that. One amazing father and Gpa)

(he'll even take off work to do it)

double WOW

*Alone definition: without Grandma, help, or aid of anyone else!

************************************

Landon,

Thank you for exceeding my expectations of what I thought my husband and father to my children would and should be.

I love you more than you will ever know.

Thank you for magnifying your duties and being the most amazing dad in the world! Tanner is the luckiest boy alive!!

Happy Father's day!

Quirks

If some of you remember, I did a post last November about Quirks. I had everyone submit their quirks in a quirky quiz, and then rewarded a winner. It was hilarious. You must go back and read the comments, they are so funny!!!

Janeal has recently tagged me to submit my quirks once again.

I know I have alot, but I can't think much right now...but I'll give it a try here!

1. Just like Janeal, I am obsessed with teeth, but mainly with

what's in them!?

After every meal or snack I have to consult with my husband, friend, or compact mirror.

I will NOT go walking around with oreo's or lettuce stuck in my teeth. Talk about humiliating!

My husband get's SO SICK of answering for me when I give him the cheesy "check my teeth grin." I'm just saving us both embarrassment!

I don't think this should really be classified as a quirk either. It's self-awareness.

Hello, we should all do it!!!

2. I have an equilibrium itching issue. If my right elbow itches, I have to then scratch my left elbow too (even when it doesn't itch), because my body has to be balanced. Or if my right eyebrow itches, next comes the left eyebrow.

I know. Weird. That is a definite quirk.

3. I can't stand feeling anyone's breath on myself, including my own. At night I have to sleep with the covers up to my chin (mostly for warmth too), and my arms wrapped in the blanket as well. I can not let my arms feel my breath as I breathe at night. ANNOYING!

4. If a rug or towel is not lying or hanging straight in the house, I have to fix it. It bugs me when things are skewed a little...but my house can be a wreck in the meantime. Just make sure the rugs and towels are straight! lol.

someone PLEASE straighten that rug!

I can't think of anything else right now. I know, I'm sure my close friends and family could list a million more for me. Oh well...that's good for now!

If anyone else wants to submit their quirks, feel free to share!

Let's bask in our quirkiness!!

Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives!

HA! I am cracking up...isn't that the lamest title, saying, and Soap Opera!!!

(yes, I admit I USED to watch it. don't judge me.)

Anyways, it really does pertain to my post.

The time left in my life is vanishing day by day, so I want to

live it up

day by day.

On Thursday I will be exactly 29.5 years old.

I've had some awesome opportunities in my life but there were a few specific things I wanted to do this year before I turned

the big 30.

This being a few:

1. be more adventurous

I went indoor skydiving!!

me and my sis

I'm flying!!!

2 & 3.

(They went hand in hand)

go to NYC,

see WICKED

we did both!

Time Square

Central Park

Broadway's WICKED!! (best show in this world)

cruised from NYC to Bermuda

4. learn how to sew

I'm trying

These pictures are back from December. I keep forgetting to post them.

My awesome mom got me a sewing machine for Christmas! Then I bought some awesome patterns from cute Camille (who has totally inspired me!). Then I bought some not-awesome fabric from Walmart (that is the only place around here. ugh). Then my awesome mother-in-law came out to visit and helped me learn how to start my first project: the table runner!

I have NO CLUE how to sew. I don't even know how to sew a button on. But. I have the desire and passion to learn! My MIL was so fabulous to spend time with me so I could learn what the heck to do. This is how far we got. I still need to finish it...but I'm so scared!

At least it's a start, huh!?

Camille, I need you!!!!

5. have a baby

been workin' on that one 7.5 yrs

I don't think this one has a possibility of achievement. Unless. I get pregnant right now, and have the baby premature! Or. We adopt again, which would be AWESOME, but haven't been currently or actively pursuing.

(but neither are we turning away that option)

I'll take a pregnancy at least...that would absolutely fulfill #5's requirement!

So, let's change #5 to:

get pregnant!

I guess I'm partially there...it starts with US!

6. read the book of mormon

I'm getting there...I'm slow, and had a slow start

I LOVE gospel doctrine class at church. Our teacher is AMAZING. He knows the scriptures better than I know myself! I love going and learning more and more, and really diving into them! My goal this year in reading is to STUDY, not just read them!

I'll stop now. There you have my top 6. I think I'm doing pretty good with my list. I still have things to work and improve on, but I've had a wonderful life so far, and I hope it only keeps getting better!!

Anything else you recommend I put on my list!!??

I've got 6 more months to achieve them!

Smell the roses

I haven't been working in my profession (RN) for a year and a half now.

It's been AWESOME.

At first it was weird and I missed it because I have always worked

(since I was 15 years old).

Actually, let me re-phrase that...I am STILL working!!

I've just switched fields:

My new job happens to be the hardest job I've ever had as MOTHER,

exploring green pastures and walking through clover fields...

so I'm currently on hold (for an undetermined amount of time) in the nursing field!

There are some things I do miss:

friends

the social aspect

holding and loving the sweet babies (NICU and Well baby)

getting a paycheck

having an outlet

girl talk

treats all night...

but I don't miss leaving my precious boys. I hated having to say good-bye 3-4 times a night so I could work the graveyard shift (Landon and I wanted one of us at home with Tanner while the other worked), and then coming home in the early hours of the morning and forcing myself to stay awake for another 12 hours so I could "pretend to be a good mom."

Graveyard shifts and motherhood don't jive.

I mentioned I missed the girl talk at night. Graveyards give more opportunities to shoot the breeze with co-workers than a day shift does...so there were always runs for take-out food, occasional movies, yummy treats, lots of DP to help keep us awake, and usually bashing of husbands in our late night gossip sessions.

BUT.

I never participated in those bashing sessions.

EVER.

Some of the nurses I worked with were horrible. They were horrible wives, had horribles husbands, and told horrible stories. I hated when those conversations came up because I felt so uncomfortable. I didn't want to participate...and furthermore,

I COULDN'T.

I had no bones to throw to those salivating dogs!

You know...once someone starts they each want the next person to jump in and tell how bad they have it as well.

Who could top the other with how bad their marriage was.

Who got the most sympathy votes.

It was pathetic.

I would just sit there and listen with absolutely no reply. OR. If I could (we are supposed to stay in the room with the babies, so I couldn't just get up and leave my patients) I would leave.

Why wouldn't I participate you might ask?

(but that shouldn't even be a question)

1. Because I don't believe in publicly bashing on my husband! If I have a problem with him, that is OUR problem. I'm not a hugely private person (obviously, my blog isn't private), but some things need to be kept in and only between a husband and wife.

I respect my husband enough to keep whatever issues we have, private.

2. Because I have nothing awful to say about my husband anyways!

I can't complain that he doesn't do the laundry-because he does.

I can't whine about how he cheats on me-because he doesn't.

I can't cry about how he yells and calls me names-because he doesn't.

I can't argue about his laziness-because he isn't.

I can't yell that he never brings me flowers-because he DOES...

every month!

I know my husband is not perfect...but at least he is trying.

Thank you babe.

I love you!

I'm so lucky to be Tanner's mom!

Last Sunday was Tanner’s first opportunity as a Sunbeam to give the closing prayer in Primary. Landon and I both snuck in to attend closing exercises, anticipating watching our son like a little kid waits on Christmas day to open their gifts! We wondered if he

would need our help,

if he would shy away from his duty,

or courageously perform by himself.

We hid in the background, not to be seen. When it was time, Tanner was prompted by his teacher to walk to the stand and give the prayer.

He ran up to the stand excitedly, with wide OPEN eyes, arms UNFOLDED with hands grasping the microphone, and head erected upwards, praying loudly into the microphone

(All improper prayer etiquette! I think Heavenly Father will forgive him though!):

"DEAR HEAVENLY FADER,

ANKS FOR MY BWESSINGS."

His sparkling eyes scanned his audience while his face reflected a nervous but prideful smile! After only a second of pause daddy came to the rescue to help him finish his sweet prayer. We were laughing so hard in shock and amazement at Tanner’s enthusiasm to pray that Landon could barely even get the words out for Tanner to repeat at the pulpit, in hopes to finish his prayer. I continued to laugh and enjoy the moment as I watched my boys standing together, faces scrunched side to side...daddy with a bright red face trying to silence his laughter, while sweet Tanner somewhat ignoring dad’s prompts, (because not many words were being spoken amongst the laughter anyways!), continued his prayer with phrases such as

"I like to play with my dad...." and so on.

Tears were streaming down my face from laughter! Then my tears turned to joy as I cried because in that second of realization I knew my little boy understood the concept of prayer and was excited to pray to our loving Heavenly Father.

He finished his prayer with success, and several sweet primary children praised him with words of affirmation:

"it was a really good prayer Tanner!!"

Several primary teachers smiled at Landon and I as they saw our beaming faces, and in their smiles I felt they accepted our feelings of a

"proud parent moment!"

I love my little angel. I'm so lucky to be Tanner's mom!

no sleep for the weary

OR

no sleep for the

SCARED OUT OF THEIR MIND!!!!!

I didn't get much sleep last night, and today I am feelin' it.

I just survived my first TORNADO WARNING.

There were tornado's in our area last night, and it was FREAKY. I am not from the mid-west so this is all new to me. The sirens were blasting all night. There were huge lightening bolts and deafening thunder crashes. The rain was pouring down in buckets. I thought if nothing else, we might get flooded out.

As we were abruptly awoke last night...my hubby and I sat awake tracking on the Internet exactly where the tornado was hitting, and listened on the radio to every little update.

We grabbed Tanner from his upstairs bedroom and brought him down to the spare room with a queen bed. I snuggled with him while daddy kept watch.

Tanner luckily slept through the whole thing wonderfully!!

Our County was on tornado watch, and even specifically our CITY was on tornado watch. We were advised to take cover. Well, unfortunately, we haven't had time to dig our cement hideout YET. lol. So. We had to take cover in our basement.

The short story of it is:

*We are safe.

*We learned valuable lessons.

*My friends laughed at me.

(they've always lived here and thought nothing of it. One day they just might though!!!!!!!)

*We still have our worldly possessions.

*We will be working on food storage and 72 hour kits vigorously now.

*We want to reiterate to our family and friends that we love them.

*Life is precious.

*Don't think you are invincible.

*Don't live in the mid-west.

*I need some of these:

I WANT TO GO HOME!!