Recipes

Is anyone out there interested in some awesome recipes? I keep acquiring some awesome recipes around the holidays and would love to share them if anyone is interested. I just made my six minute caramels Saturday and Luke has eaten most of them!

Love

Today I am so very thankful for family. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation. My Heavenly Father has been so good to me. The past year and a half has been something I didn't think I could make it through and he has carried me through so much and I am so very grateful. I am so blessed to have the family and friends that I do! I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season. Treasure those that are close to you and let them know everyday how much you love them! I love you all!!!

Flowers

I am one lucky girl! Saturday Luke brought me home a gorgeous bouquet of flowers on his way home from work! I am lucky to be married to a guy that works so hard to provide for this family! I need to get the camera back out so I can post pics! I can't believe Turkey day is almost here and then Christmas! The older I get the faster it comes! Hope all is well with everyone!

HELP

One last thing....my paragraphs don't work on here anymore! I hit the hard return and it looks fine on the preview but then when it posts it is all in one paragraph..how do I fix this????

15 years

Yesterday Luke and I celebrated 15 years! I can't believe how fast time has flown. Such a perfect day yesterday...I haven't been able to wear my wedding ring for about a decade because it was too big and just never had it resized, so he had it resized for our anniversary and it looks brand new! Feels so different having something on that finger but I love it! He got me a HUGE beautiful bouquet of wildflowers in a beautiful yellow vase since that is my favorite color with a card I will treasure forever! I am one lucky girl! I got him a wedding ring too. We had to cut his ring off awhile back since his finger started turning blue and then black so I thought it would be the perfect time to get him a ring! We went to dinner and it was just nice being alone for a few hours. Gracie now has glasses and loves them and I must say she is the cutest little chick I have ever seen in those cute glasses! WE are leaving for Disneyland on Saturday morning and we are so excited! Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather!

Crazy!

Gracie is in school and loving every bit of it! Especially the bus:) Her teacher is Mrs. Heath and she is a doll!! We really lucked out getting her! Work is busier than ever..I feel like I don't know whether I am coming or going. My house looks like World War 5...there just aren't enough hours in the day to get it all done! Disneyland is three weeks away and coming way to fast. I just hope I can get everything done before we go! Hope everyone is loving this time of year! I can already smell the chili and cinnamon rolls!!

Brigham City Temple

I took some pics last night at the Brigham City Temple open house so I will post those soon but wanted to take just a minute to express how grateful I am for being able to go to such a beautiful open house with Luke, Gracie, my cute parents and Luke's Dad. It was truly a night I will never forget. The temple was breathtaking. It was so special to have my parents and Luke's Dad together. The second you walk into that temple you can feel the spirit. Gracie has wanted to go in a temple so bad for as long as she could say temple! Every time we pass a temple she asks about it so for her to be able to go inside yesterday was awesome! School starts next Tuesday and I think I am more nervous than Gracie! I can't believe she is in Kindergarten! Where has the time gone??? Life is busier than ever but had to take a moment to let everyone know they must go to this open house!!! LOVED EVERY MINUTE!!!

Picnics

Once or twice a week Gracie asks me for a picnic..so she sets her blanky on the living room floor and then sets us plates, cups and silverware...our meal of choice has been a fried egg, a string cheese and ice water. I treasure these moments. They are going by way to fast! I just love her imagination and I am so glad she let's me be a part of it! I hate that I have to work, but at least it is only part time so I don't miss out on everything! I sure love my Gracie bug!

Busy!

I feel like I have no concept of time this summer! Life is going so fast! Gracie had swimming lessons and loved every second of them so I signed her up for more at the end of July! My cute little brother is getting married in a few weeks and I can't believe how fast time is going! We have had barbeques, game nights, many walks with Peanut...Gracie and I try to walk Peanut every other day. We take her to the canal and it has been so hot we love it when she swims and then gets out and shakes water on us to cool us off! We are so excited...we are going to Disneyland for the first time in October! Luke has been before but it will be a first for Gracie and I an we can't wait! We spend many hours looking at the website and all the rides! We are going with some great friends and couldn't be more excited! I will have to get on the ball and post pics! I have been on a diet since April 9th and I am happy to report I am down 22 pounds and I feel great! I miss so many foods, but I love that I can fit into half of the things in my closet now! If I can get another 18 off I will be a happy girl! I hope summer is treating everyone so well!

Old Friends

This past week Luke, Gracie, my friend Maria and I went out to eat and while we were eating I looked at my phone and saw that I was being tagged eating with an old friend...I opened the picture and sure enough there was a picture on FB of us sitting there eating, so I scanned the restaurant to see who was taking the pics and there sat a dear friend from high school with his cute family waving. I hadn't seen him since high school and he hadn't aged a bit. He had two beautiful teenage boys and a beautiful wife. They came over and talked for a little while and then left. When it was time for the bill to come the waitress came and told us it had been taken care of. I am one lucky girl. I have been so blessed throughout my life to have such amazing friends. After almost 20 years of not even seeing him he was still just as sweet as I remember! Life has been so super crazy this past little while and sometimes I forget to stop and appreciate all of the wonderful things that are in my life. Know that I love you all more than you will ever know!!!

Dance Recital and Graduation..

My baby did amazing at her dance recital! I am so proud of her! And yesterday was her preschool graduation. I sat and cried through it...something I never thought I would do..it was all kind of like a dream. It seems like just yesterday I had her..I hate that we only have one kiddo since I only get to experience everything once, but on the other hand...that means we have to enjoy every second of each milestone even if it is the last! Gracie sang her heart out last night. Such proud parents! I am truly blessed to have such a sweet, little girl!!!

Jeff

On April 19th my dear friend Jeff Astle passed away. He has been a friend for as long as I can remember...back in the day he was really close to my older brother Matt until Matt got married and moved away and then he became really close with my little brother Mark. Jeff has been to every party we have ever had at my house...every game night we have ever had...every barbecue...it will not be the same without him. Jeff's funeral yesterday was beautiful. What a great tribute to such a great guy. His sweet parents lost their other son Steve this time last year and I can't even begin to imagine what they are going through. At the funeral many friends were quoted with things they remembered about Jeff and that is when I lost it. It is so scary how fast it can all end. Jeff has had a great life but has had lots of health challenges along the way including two kidney transplants. Last night all of his friends gathered and we had a barbecue to celebrate his life. I know he is with Steve now and I am sure it was an amazing reunion. Hug those around you, treasure them, love them...enjoy every second..life is so precious!

New Day

The sun is shining...it is supposed to me a gorgeous weekend and it is a new day...my heart aches so bad for my sweet Daisy and my puppies. The house is so quiet. I just dropped Gracie off at preschool and walked in the door and it just hit so hard to not have Daisy come running to me. I know with all of my heart that she is happy and pain free now and with the rest of my sweet babies and what an amazing reunion that had to have been. I can't wait until I am with them again someday too. I look forward to seeing Peanut everyday. She doesn't understand where all of the dogs have gone but she sure gives me tons of loves and kisses and right now that is just what this heart needs.

Started a new diet that several guys at work are doing and it has been the hardest diet I have ever been on! But I can do this! Lost 7 pounds the first week and I am now at a stand still which is so frustrating! I thought going without diet coke would be tough but I haven't even missed it! I am started to get my energy back which is awesome. One day at a time! I can do this!

I am off to get ready for work and tonight we have a barbecue/game night with friends! Let the good times roll!

My Sweet Daisy

Daisy passed away yesterday morning and I miss that girl so much! My heart aches so bad for her. I am truly blessed that she was with us for as long as she was. After Millie, Dusty and Sadie passed away she just hasn't seemed the same. She has been so lonely and had pretty much stopped eating. I think she hung on as long as she could. With Daisy it has been different...with each baby that has passed, a part of me died with them, but I always had another one to hug and comfort me..this time with her being the last, I don't have one to hold or comfort me. I feel so empty. This house feels so empty and quiet. It just isn't the same. But on a happy note...I know with all of my heart that she is home...home with Sadie, Dusty, Millie and all of my other pets and family and friends that have passed on and that in itself brings me comfort I can't even begin to explain. To know she is pain free, healthy and happy running around with my other babies is the best gift ever. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation and the opportunity we will have to be together again someday if we live righteously. I don't know how people get through times like this without that belief. I prayed so hard on Tuesday night that Heavenly Father would come and get her and he did! I KNOW he hears and answers all of our prayers. Sometimes in ways we don't understand but I KNOW they are answered and I know he is always there. I am one lucky, lucky girl. Not only for all that I have been blessed with but for the knowledge of knowing my Heavenly Father lives and loves me beyond comprehension. He is my best friend and always there and I couldn't ever ask for anything more than that!

Date

Today is going to be a good day! I am finally done with the Home and Garden show and I am so in need of a break! I dropped Gracie off for preschool...I am picking her up soon, hitting McDonalds and then we are off to her Kindergarten Round Up testing...then my cute friend is going to watch Gracie tonight and I have a super hot date with Luke! Dinner and a movie! I am a lucky girl..and did I mention...I took the day off of work:) It is gorgeous outside! Here's to an amazing day!!!

Handsome Boys

Just a funny...picked Gracie up from school today and the first thing she tells me is that she likes boys that are handsome...and I said "You do?" and she says "Uh huh..and so does Dad! He likes boys that are handsome too!" I am still laughing!!!

Disney on Ice

Yesterday was a fun family day...we went to Red Robin, Build a Bear and Disney on Ice. Gracie has a blast. She made the cutest puppy and named her Daisy. Speaking of Daisy...our sweet Daisy is almost gone. She has stopped eating and drinking completely. Luke and I don't know if it is cancer but she will be turning 12 on Friday and I know she misses her friends so much. I hate to see her starve to death but I have tried everything and she just doesn't want anything anymore, so Luke and I are praying she will go on her own peacefully so we don't have to make that decision for her. Having to have Sadie and Millie put to sleep nearly killed me and I so don't want to do that with Daisy but I don't want her to suffer. I can't even imagine what it will be like walking in the door every night and not having her come running over to greet me wagging her tail. Dogs have always been such a huge and wonderful part of our family and I know in the future they will be too...I just miss her already:(

Spring Fever

Actually had two seconds to say hi! I hope everyone is doing great! The weather has been gorgeous lately and I am a victim of spring fever! We have had such a mild winter but I am so ready for spring..shorts..sandals...

Daisy is hanging in there...she is on new meds now but isn't eating hardly anything which scares me..I am just grateful we have her and hope she is with us for a little while longer!

Gracie is loving school, dance, gymnastics, going to Grandpa's every day..she is one happy girl!

This past week we bit the bullet and got satellite tv..I am so in love with the Food Network. My house has been so neglected since we got it! LOVE!!!

Home and Garden show is in full swing and will be here in just a few weeks...I am stressed out to say the least! I just hope it is a big success! So much work goes into this and I am so proud of the sales team at work for all of the hard work they have been putting into it too! I will have to take pics and post! It is at the Ice Arena for the first time and I think it is going to be amazing. The pieces are just falling together!!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Gracie Bug is Sick:(

My life has not slowed down a bit! I don't know how I am doing it lol. Yesterday I helped teach Gracie's preschool but she couldn't go because she has a HORRIBLE cold..I hurried home to grab stuff for work, went to work, got home and Luke has been amazing...he made dinner Monday night. He made a grilled chicken salad with grilled asparagus since he knows I am trying so hard to lose weight! What a treat...last night when I got home he had made spaghetti...such a great guy! I have been up all night for 2 nights now with Gracie. She coughs all night..I finally found some magic medicine that seems to be helping things out..she has got to get better for school tomorrow! They are making their Valentine Bags and she would be so sad if she missed it! So I am keeping my fingers crossed. I called the boss today and let him know I am staying home with her and it feels so good to actually sit for 3 minutes! I teach tomorrow at her school and twice next week..it is fun seeing her in the school setting and I am so grateful Marci picked me to help while she is gone:)

Home and Garden Show is coming fast and furious...I just can't wait for life to settle down! Or will it????

I am hoping to get some laundry done today and have some serious snuggle time with Gracie bug and Daisy!

Hillside Recycling Fire

Yesterday the recycling plant right up the street from us blew up. Building was a total loss. Sooo sooo sad! The owner said he will rebuild. They estimated the damages around 1 million! I dropped Gracie off to school this morning and stopped by and it is still smoking..just a big pile of melted tin:( So grateful nobody was hurt! Luke stopped and took these pics yesterday on his way home from work.

Life

Life has just seemed to fly by so fast I haven't had time to catch up with it! I had my kidney functioning tests done Friday and I am still anxiously awaiting the results of those...this Friday I get to hit the dentist for three fillings...just never ends!

Gracie is loving preschool..she can now write her whole name without any problems..she is just growing up so fast! I can't believe she will be in Kindergarten in the fall! I sure wish Luke and I could have one more. She wants a sibling so bad and I feel so guilty when I come home from work and have to get dinner on and all she wants is to play games with me! On a happy note..so glad I have another game lover in the family. I know we will spend lots of time playing games:)

Daisy is hanging in there. She is so lonely but loves being the center of attention. This cold weather has not been nice to her arthritis and we found a mass on her leg, but at this point we are just going to enjoy the time we have left with her:) She will be turning 12 in March! Seems like yesterday her and Millie were new puppies! Oh how I miss my babies. When I go on walks it is so lonely without the crew. I know eventually we will have more dogs, but not for awhile.

I started Weight Watchers again and I swear it will be the death of me! My goal is to fit in everything I have hanging in my closet! I have so many cute clothes and the majority of them don't fit, so if I can just get this extra weight off I will be a happy girl!

Luke surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers when I got home from work yesterday which was such a special treat!

Work is keeping me beyond busy. This year Tiffany and I were asked to put the Home and Garden Show together so that pretty much consumes every minute I have but I think it will be amazing when it is done! I hope everyone is happy and healthy and enjoying this gorgeous weather! I have to say I haven't missed the snow at all!!