Looking back over the years!

I got this from one of my friends and I thought I was going to die laughing! Check it out!

You can yearbook yourself at www.yearbookyourself.com

Great weekend

Brekyn's Baptism

It has taken me a bit to post this last weekend. It was such an amazing weekend too. It all started on Saturday when Brekyn got baptized. She was so excited for this day and has waited a while for it to happen. She has been ready for a while and has actually been waiting for her dad to get ready. It was totally worth the wait. This is a moment that they will both treasure forever.

I was so proud of both of them for the decisions that they made. The day was perfect. All of our family and friends were there to share this wonderful occasion with us.

Brekyn was so cute about the whole thing. She "had a dream" about this dress and knew exactly what she wanted. She drew a picture of it and asked my mom to make it for her. She picked out the material and everything. She didn't want a white dress because she wanted to be able to wear it all of the time. Somehow my mom turned her dream in to this dress and Brekyn was very happy about it. It was a wonderful baptism. While we were sitting there listening to the talk on baptism, I looked over at Brekyn sitting there with her dad, snuggled up to him, and you could see the love shared between them. After trying to squeeze all of our loved ones into this room to watch the baptism, we went into the cultural hall and Sydnie gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Brekyn asked her to give this talk because she looks up to her and it wasn't too long ago that Sydnie had gone through the same experience and she could remember how it felt. Syd did a great job. She was very nervous though. Then Brekyn was confirmed by her Great Grandpa. This is something that she really wanted and it was amazing. She was surrounded by so many people that she loved.

Later, we all went to our house for some refreshments and everyone signed her baptism book that I made for her. She received some awesome presents including scriptures, a bag, some scripture stickers, necklaces, and her dad and I bought her a CTR ring. She was so cute because she said she really needed a CTR ring to remember.

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Bunco TIME!!

Later that night, Jon and I went to play BUNCO with our friends. every other month we meet at someones house and play BUNCO. This time it was at Dave and Amy's new house. They made an awesome dinner and we had so much fun. For the prizes, Amy got gift cards for different restaurants. Jon and I won one to CHILI'S. (very perfect for us) Then she got us all these bug eye halloween glasses and vampire fangs and when we all put them on I thought I was going to pee my pants. I was laughing so hard at all of us.

I love spending time with my friends and goofing off. These people are very special to me and I am very greatful to have all of them in my life. I have been friends with some of these people for 15 years.

It is nice to have friends who love you no matter what kind of fool you are and what kind of mistakes you make in your life. I love this group and I am glad that we are all friends. (Sorry Ruthanne- Somehow I missed a pic of you and Fathead)

~Memory Tuesday~

How do you eat an OREO?

So this is a big debate in our house. Jon is strictly a Double Stuffed kinda guy. He loves feeling that big chunk of vanilla flavored shortening coat along the top of his mouth. He doesn't open them and lick the cream, he likes to eat them whole. The only time he pulls them apart is if they are just your regular run of the mill, single layer Oreo's. Then he has to take two of them and smash them together so he can have it doubled. Really? He wastes more of the cookie part and that is my fave. I am so a regular single stuffed Oreo kinda girl. The less of that white lard in the middle of my precious chocolate cookies the better. Now I would like to say I am a dipper, but there is something about soggy chocolate wafers that grosses me out. Now my absolute favorite has the be the mini ones. They have the perfect ratio of pure fat and crunchy cookie. Plus I feel like I can eat more of them because they are mini-- I know, there is that dream world I sometimes live in.

Honestly it has been so long since I have eaten actual Oreo. I really have been trying to eat better, but thanks to this little blog post, I am gonna have to get me some and SOON!!

~Memory Tuesday~

First of all I just want to congratulate Amy on her new job! I am so glad she found something closer to home!
So on that note... here is the question

What jobs have you had and which one was your favorite??
I have had a couple of jobs. My first one was with my mom and I worked doing demolition to apartments so that my mom could redo them. I was only 14 and made bank for back then. It was when I lived in Nashville. I loved this job (lots of cute boys)
My second job was also in Nashville. I worked at.....drumroll......LITTLE CAESARS! This was such a fun job because i worked with all of my friends including my best friend Tim. We played around so much. My favorite memories were the pepperoni fights (and Shannon hitting a customer with one) and then we made a life size man out of dough. Way too funny.
When I moved back to Utah, my first job was at Riverside Country Club working in the Chalet. I really liked this job because I got to watch all the boys at the pool including the very nice looking life guards. What 17 year old girl wouldn't like that. I worked there until my motorcycle accident and I quit.

My next job was at Mervyn's in the Jewelry Department. I was dating Jon when I worked here. I loved the discount I got there. I worked there until I quit to go to college.

I had a couple more jobs (including Wally World and K-mart - both in the jewelry departments) They were just jobs to me. I worked at these places when we were first newlyweds and new parents. I would work at nights so Jon could watch Sydnie.

Then I got to be a mom for a while. I love this job most of all, but I got a little itch and needed to be a grown up every now and then. So I found an amazing opportunity that was kinda handed to me. I was looking in the Eagle Mountain paper and it had an add for this new scrapbook store that was coming to Saratoga and they were looking for employees. I called and found out I was the first one! I instantly hit it off with the owner Becky and we talked for over an hour. She said she wanted to see my work, so I met her at the store and showed her. She was impressed enough that she hired me on the spot. I was ecstatic. This was the job for me. What better than working at a scrapbook store. I started off as just a cashier, then worked up to teacher and designer. I had a special job of turning crap into beauty. I would take items in the store that weren't selling as great and work them in to project and show people how to use them. Then they would sell out and quick!

My favorite and least favorite part of the job was traveling. I went so many places that I had never been before such as San Antonio and the River walk, Dallas, Chicago and Navy Pier, Anaheim, and so many more. The only bad side of this was that I had 2 young kids at home that I had to leave and I missed out on a lot of stuff. I was also given an amazing opportunity to be a designer for our own paper line. I was going to see my paper on shelves. We took our line to a consumer show and people loved it. We were going to be in 4 continents. Unfortunately, the owner was not to busy savvy and she shut the the door with only a two hour notice. I was really sad because I had made some amazing friends and who knew if I would see them again. I loved to teach and design. I looked a little bit for another job and found one up at Gardner Village being a teacher there, but I soon found out that I was preggo with Tukar and decided that I needed to be a mom again.

So that is my job now. Being a mom to three kids. A pre-teen girl, an obstinate 8 year old, and a rowdy rambunctious 2 year old boy. My life consists of soccer, softball, school, trying to be a good wife and mother, and also a good friend. A new research analysis reveals that stay-at-home moms would earn $131,471 in annual salary, including overtime pay, if paid in cash in addition to the steady flow of rewarding hugs and kisses from their children. They consulted with a representative sampling of stay-at-home moms before finalizing a list of the top seven job titles that fit the average mom's job description. Ranked in order from most time-consuming to least time-consuming, the list included the titles of Daycare Center Teacher, Taxi Driver, Housekeeper, Cook, CEO, Nurse and General Maintenance Worker. Wow I wish I could get paid, but I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. (well maybe a part time job at night so I could be a grown up again!)

Happy belated Birthday!

We wanted to wish our nephew Justin a Happy Belated Birthday!

We hope you had a great day and we love you tons (not so) little man! I can't believe how big you are getting!

Check it out!

www.scrappinbarefoot.blogspot.com

Catchin back up!

Labor day

I have fallen a little behind on what's been going on with us. Last weekend (Labor day) we took our final camping trip for the season. I wish that wasn't true, but the next couple of weekends that we could camp are full of baptisms, softball games, soccer, and getting ready for winter (you know all that fall cleaning and yard work to do before the SNOW!!!)

My mom had gone up the canyon the weekend before and spent an entire week alone in solidarity. How amazing would that be. She had time to think about anything and everything. She had no schedule, no work, no nagging and no worries. Wow, jealous! We went up the next Friday and sort of took over her life. She went from pure quietness, to having 5 of us. (and I think that as busy as Tukar is, he should count as 3!) Then Scott, Lisa and their 2 girls came up and set up camp too!

We had a lot for the kids to do. Brekyn had some patches to earn for Girl Scout, so we got all the girls involved. They had a couple of Treasure Hunts to do that kept them busy for a couple of hours. Then it was Arts and Crafts time. They painted some jewelry boxes that my mom had picked up at the $$$ store.

We all relaxed and just played cards ALL weekend. One of the highlights for me was making a Dutch Oven dinner. I have never cooked dutch oven and was a little nervous. Lisa had a couple of dutch ovens that she brought so i was in charge of dinner and she was in charge of dessert. I had looked the whole week before for an awesome recipe. I decided to kinda do my own thing and I made YUMMY Chicken Enchiladas. I hate to toot my own horn, but TOOT TOOT!! They were pretty dang good! then Lisa made a SUPER YUMMY Apple Cobbler. Wow~ I am totally hooked mow into dutch oven cooking. I need to find us a couple of them (I know a good xmas present now for Jon)

On Sunday, we decided to take the kids on a hike up to the Hot Pots. I haven't been up there in years, and Jon has never been so we decided to go. Plus Brekyn could earn a Try It for going. We packed up some drinks and snacks and were on our way. The girls got a little tired on the way up and kept asking "how much further???" Jon kept telling them "were almost there, I promise" the WHOLE WAY THERE!

I forgot how x-rated it could get up there. They need to have a sign posted that says "BEWARE OF PERVERTS!" Oh that's right they do but it says "beware of bon*rs!" That's the truth. Sydnie and Lexi led the group and they were the first to arrive on the scene. Sydnie let out a little disgusted noise and said "OOOHHH GROSS!" Well that is when I realized that we were finally there, and so were the pervs! I just have a question..... for those of you that have been there, does it make the water better if you sit in it naked? I mean we are up there on a Sunday afternoon weekend and there are naked OLD guys up there, and alone I must say! Jon and Scott got a little pissed off because then when we had our 4 little girls there, they didn't have enough decency to get dressed. PERVS!!!

After we got back from our 4 mile hike, the guys made our day and decided to take ALL the kids fishing. Finally some time to relax. While they were there, they all caught a fish. Some even big enough to keep and eat. Tukar caught his first fish and he freaked when it came out and was wiggling around. When they got back, I asked Tukar how big his fish was and he showed me with his little hands spread out! He is a true fisherman for sure.

Later that night we got totally poured on so we set up shop under the awning and played a little cards while the kids sat in and watched movies (thank goodness for generators!)

Besides pervs, spiders the size of a small car, and the rain, it was a great trip!

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Utah State Fair

This last weekend we decided to take the kids to the State Fair since we didn't have church. Once again, there was an opportunity for Brekyn to earn a patch so we jumped on the idea. We challenged our family to go to the FAIR and enjoy all of the things there that DON'T cost a fortune. We did just that. We walked around and looked at all of the fair things like the animals, the crafts and hobbies, and even the giant veggies that people grow. One of the requirements for Brekyn was to study other peoples hobbies and learn about them. You know there are a lot of talented people in the world with some AMAZING talents.
One of the other requirements was to find a pet and talk to the owners and learn about how to take care of them. We saw a great opportunity for this one. There was a reptile booth so we went in and talked to the owner. As Brekyn is sitting there asking him about these snakes and what they eat (rabbits) and how they live, he stands up from sitting on this large garbage can and proceeds to show us this 14 foot long Python that is soaking in water because it is getting ready to shed. He know this because their eyes get milky and white. Sydnie let out this scream and jumped about 10 feet. Even Jon got a little freaked out. It was fun to sit and learn about how they live and see it up close. We also learned a little about the cows and goats and other animals.

Tukar was really fun with the animals. I loved watching him see these kind of animals so up close for the first time. Heck all my kids were fun to watch. I don't know if those sheltered kids have ever seen a cow so close before. We learned where we get our meat and pork from and I thought for a second that it would turn Brekyn into a vegetarian, then she said "who cares where it's from as long as it tastes good!" Good thinking I guess. Then we learned how many cups of milk it takes to make ice cream. Did you know it takes 11 cups of milk to make 1/2 gallon of ice cream?? So crazy! They got to pet goats, and pigs, and I talked to the girls about where wool comes from and we felt the sheep's wool. Then we got to see a woman actually spinning clean wool into yarn. The girls were pretty amazed. We were going to stay for the rodeo, but the kids were really tired and we had to get ready for school so maybe next time. I really enjoyed what the true meaning of the State Fair really is and I would definitely go back again. I told my kids I was going to challenge them to come up with something to enter for next year. I think Sydnie is going to do some photography. I think it would be fun for them. Heck I may even enter something in. They had a whole scrapbook section that I could be a part of.

My New Guilty Pleasure

OMG! I have a new guilty pleasure. Yes I am a complete and udder DORK!! I don't know how many of you were raised in the 90's, but one of the things I absolutely loved when I was a teenager, was watching "Beverly Hills 90210" . I was such a Kelly/Dylan fan and watched the WHOLE series from premiere to finale! Well now there's a NEW 90210 and I was a little skeptical about it. I had heard a little hype about it and that some of the old characters were going to be on there and it perked my interest a little more. So Tuesday night I DVR'ed the Series premiere and watched it this morning. I really wasn't into a "remake" but is wasn't that at all. It actually turned out to be pretty good. It may be my "new" show!! I love all of the juicy new characters and how they incorparated them in to the old.

So my question to all of you is how many of you out there caught this show and if you did, what were your feelings about it? Did you like it?? Did you not??

If you didn't watch it, would you ever watch it?

Just wondering what kind of shows my peeps are watching????

~Memory Tuesday~ (a day late)

What is something that you just can't manage to be without?

I would so love to say that there is something so sweet and wonderful that I can't be without, like the love of my sweet husband or the sweet sounds of my children's laughs, but truthfully, there is only one thing that I absolutely cannot function without. I simply cannot lay my head down to rest without the comfortable feel of my "pooh" snuggled under my chin. Yes! I sleep with a stinkin' wooby! My security blankie! My mom made him for me when she was pregnant with me. His name is "pooh" and I have slept with him EVERY night of my life. I take him everywhere with me (even mt honeymoon). Jon knows that he plays second fiddle to my "pooh". He has threatened a few times to throw him away, and I asked him if he would like to NEVER sleep in our bed again. He has decided against discarding him (for now at least). He has been so good about him though and gotten up in the middle of the night to go find him for me. He knows what a long night it would be without it. When I went to Richfield to visit Jon when he was out of town, I accidentally left it in his hotel room when I went home. He called me to tell me and I seriously pulled an illegal u-turn on the freeway to turn around to get him. That is what I mean by I cannot be without it!

The poor thing has lived such a good life and has always been there for me. He has caught my tears when a boy broke my heart, and snuggled me to sleep when I sick or scared. I almost had a heart attack though when Sydnie was young because she thought it would be a good idea to take some scissors to him. Jon thought he was going to have to commit me for a while there. Good thing I love her so much. If you ever saw him though, you would think "that is the grossest thing I have ever seen" and then try to pick it up with some tongs and throw it in a hazardous materials bag! I sure love it though. My mom has offered several times to sew it inside of another cover, but it's not the same.

So now that I have shared my deepest darkest secret, think what you will, but I will sure be snuggly tonight with my hubby on one side and my "pooh" and the other.

~60 years together~

What a milestone! 60 years ago today, Lynn married the girl of his dreams. LoRaine Faddis was that girl. Over the last 60 years, they raised 4 children, have 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren with 2 on the way! They have lived in the same house for most of their marriage.

They are such an inspiration to me. They have always shown me what the true meaning of the word LOVE is. They have always set such a good example to all of our family. They started the 3's thing with our entire family, and most of us have continued to do it in our own families. (for those of you who don't know-- the #3 is a special number in our family. Everything revolves around that particular number)

They have both stuck together through thick and thin, richer or poorer, sickness and in health. They have both had some health issues lately that have kept them apart from each other. My grandma had to go to a assisted living center to help her with her health, and my grandpa makes sure that he gets up to see her 3 times a week and he calls her every night to tell her good night and give her 3 kisses. That's love.

I can only hope that I can take all of the advise and examples that my grandparents have given me and apply it to my own marriage. Happy Anniversary grandma and papa!