August 10 - August 16

M2B =) days 552 - 558.  Wednesday, August 10th - Tuesday, August 16th happiness.

Wednesday, August 10th happiness:  Happy Birthday to one of the cutest boys I know.

I got to spend this afternoon with family, celebrating this boy's birthday.  It was great!

Tonight for mutual we played Book of Mormon clue.  It was so fun!

Thursday, August 11th happiness:  Tonight was the finale for So You Think You Can Dance.  Melanie won!  woo hoo!  She was my favorite from the beginning.  I love it when my favorite dancer of the season wins.  This is only the second time that has happened (for me, anyway).

Friday, August 12th happiness:  Girls night out tonight!  We went and saw The Help.  I almost never like books that have been made into movies.  They are always disappointing to me.  However, I have to say, that I loved this one.  I think it was the casting.  All of the characters were a perfect fit for me.  It was so great.

Saturday, August 13th happiness:  Today was long and exhausting.  The best thing about today was definitely bed time.  I have to say I was VERY happy to go to sleep tonight.

Sunday, August 14th happiness:  Happy Feet!
I love my Nightmare Before Christmas socks.  I have lots of them.  I can have happy feet every night of the week!

Monday, August 15th happiness:  Another August birthday for one of my beehives means another night of heart attacking.  We almost got caught.  While we were putting hearts on the garage door, it started to come up.  He hurried and ran around the corner and waited in the side yard, while someone pulled out of the driveway and drove away.  It was fun waiting in the dark and wondering if someone was going to come around the corner at any minute.  It reminded me of when I was younger and we used to TP people's houses.  Good times.

Tuesday, August 16th happiness:  I think today might be the hottest day ever.  So, when Ben suggested that we go to Sonic after school, I did not disagree.  Ben, Max and I picked up Joe from school and headed to Sonic.  

It was a grape creme slush for me!
Delicious!

Happy Day!

August 2 - 9th

M2B =) days 544 - 551.  Tuesday, August 2nd - Tuesday, August 9th happiness:

Tuesday, August 2nd happiness:  Well, I had to go back to work today.  I was not ready, but you gotta do, what you gotta do.  I felt like a zombie today, I was sooooo tired.  

On the happy side, when I went outside to bring in my class today, a bunch of my kids from last year all ran up to me and surrounded me with hugs.  I love my kids!  Also, as we were walking inside, a girl from my class held my hand all the way to the classroom.  Did I mention I love my job?

Wednesday, August 3rd happiness:  Tonight for mutual, we went bowling.  Love it!

Thursday, August 4th happiness:  This afternoon Joe and I went to hang out at my mom's.  My air conditioning is being temperamental.  Today it has decided that it won't go below 85 degrees.  Yuck!  So, we went to my mom's where it was considerably cooler.  Speaking of cool - I got to hang out with this cool kid:
Also tonight, Trina brought us dinner.  She is so kind and thoughtful.  I am still completely worn out from this last week.  That, and the fact that my house is super hot right now made me so so so grateful that I did not have to cook tonight.  Thank you!

Friday, August 5th happiness:  It has been a looooong couple of weeks.  I couldn't wait for Friday so I could finally get some rest.  I took 2 valerian root tonight and slept 'til 10 the next day.  It was fantastic!

Saturday, August 6th happiness:  It was nice to be able to sleep in!  Went to my mom's again today for a while.  I got to hang with some awesome kids!

Darrel was there too!  It was nice just to relax and hang out a bit.  Later on today after we were home, Darrel brought over some cherries for Brian.  So very thoughtful!

Sunday, August 7th happiness:  So, once every 4 months I have to teach a combined lesson for all of the young women.  Today was my turn.  The lesson was on Scripture Study.  I couldn't resist making this cute handout.  It is made with Hershey's nuggets- my current favorite chocolate of choice.  I've been eating waaaay to many of them.  

I had to take a picture, because I knew any extra's wouldn't last.  

Also, one of my girls has a birthday tomorrow, so tonight, the rest of the class and the beehive advisor and I went and "heart attacked" her house.

We totally got caught, but it was so much fun.  I love my girls!

Monday, August 8th happiness:  For family fun night tonight we watched Merry Madagascar.  It's never too early to be in the Christmas spirit.  I love this one too.  It makes me laugh.  We are now officially ready to put up our Christmas tree.  I'm not kidding.  I can't wait!  Ok, so we won't put up the tree until November, but Brian and I MAY have listened to Christmas music when we went to sleep tonight.
Tuesday, August 9th happiness:  Guess what Joe finally got back today?
He has been without it for at least a month.  He has missed it so.  I was happy to see him so happy!  I love that Joe loves music as much as I do!

Happy Day!

Mission to be grateful

M2B=) days 534 - 543.  Saturday, July 23rd - Monday, August 1st.

I have decided instead of posting happiness for days 534 - 543, I am posting gratefulness.  There are sooooo many things and people I have to be grateful for.  I really hope I don't forget anyone!

Saturday, July 23rd gratefulness:   Tonight Joe and I were hanging out at my mom's.  My mom and dad had just walked in the door from a return home trip from the cabin, when my mom got a call.  My sister Stacy had a seizure in the Walmart parking lot in Show Low.  I am grateful that she was not alone when it happened.  I am grateful that they were in town and near a hospital (literally next door to one), instead of 30 min. away at the cabin.  I am grateful for capable doctors and for air vac.  They flew her back to the valley.  Mostly I am grateful that she is ok!  I am glad that I was with family and I am thankful for prayer and for priesthood blessings.

I am also grateful for my sister Sheri today.   I got to spend some time with her tonight, and she is awesome.

Sunday, July 24th gratefulness:  I went to visit Stacy in the hospital today.  I am glad that she is going to be ok.  She better not scare us like this again!  She is an awesome sister, and I love her so much!

Monday, July 25th gratefulness:  Today was Joseph's first day of high school.  I am so grateful for Joseph.  I thoroughly enjoy being his mom.  He is such a great kid and I am blessed to have him in my life.  

Today was my first day of school too.  I am grateful for lots of hugs from my last year kids as I pass them in the hallway.  I am also grateful for a new batch of kiddos that I am sure I will just love.

Tonight Brian gave Joe and I our back to school blessings.  I always feel better after a blessing.

Tuesday, July 26th gratefulness:  Today was crazy!  It is no fun to get a call from your husband and having him tell you that he passed out!  I am thankful that he woke up, and was able to call me.  I am thankful that I have an understanding teacher, who didn't ask questions, but just told me to go.

I am thankful to live so near a hospital, where we can get medical attention when we need it.

I am thankful for capable Dr.'s who can help when I can't.

We spent nearly 6 hours in the E.R. before Brian was finally admitted and brought to a room.  I was very thankful when we finally got to a room.  

Brian was very thankful when they finally brought him something to eat, even if it was only a lemon ice.  They immediately put him on a liquid only diet.  He had all kinds of tests and procedures to do, so liquids only.  He ended up being on liquids only for 4 days.  He was VERY grateful when he was finally able to eat again.

This is the only photo I took of the 6 days we were in the hospital.  He was so happy to finally get his lemon ice.

Wednesday, July 27th gratefulness:  Today I was thankful for people.  I am grateful for all of the friends and family who texted, called, e-mailed, facebooked their well wishes and prayers for Brian.  I know some really awesome people.  

I am grateful for my mom for basically being Joe's taxi and picking him up from school, and for letting him hang out, and for feeding him, when I was at the hospital nearly 24-7.

I am so thankful for Sheri, aka Joseph's second mom.  She let him crash at her house for 6 days straight.  And made sure that he made it to school in the mornings.

I am thankful for Stacy, for offering to let Joe hang out with her and her family, even though she just got out of the hospital herself yesterday.

I am grateful for a young women's president and beehive advisor that I can just dump everything on at the last minute.  I was in charge of our Wednesday night activity tonight, and I basically had to turn it over at the last minute.  I love that people are so willing to help.  Thank you Nikki and Shauna!

I am sure I will forget to thank people who helped me so much.  Those 6 days in the hospital were a blur.  If I forget you, I am sorry.  I am just giving a blanket "thank you" to all of my friends and family.  I love you guys.

Thursday, July 28th gratefulness:  Brian had surgery tonight.  I am thankful for modern medicine and doctors who know how to fix things that I have no clue about!  I am thankful for my in-laws who sat with me the entire time, bought me dinner, and waited until he was awake, and back in his room before going home, even though it was very very late at night.  

I am also thankful for a good visiting teacher who makes the best baked goods ever!  She brought banana bread!

Friday, July 29th gratefulness:  I am grateful for percocet.  After trying many different medications all night long, the percocet he got this morning finally helped.  At least he was able to finally get some sleep after a long, painful night.  

I am also grateful for nurse Jeff who came in this morning.  He was sooooooooo much better than the night staff we had last night.

Saturday, July 30th gratefulness:  I am grateful for showers, and for in-laws who came and sat with Brian so I could go home and see Joe and take a shower, and feel normal for a bit.  I am grateful for a sister in law who works at the hospital, who checked on Brian several times a day to make sure he was getting the care he needed, and who talked to all the right people when he wasn't!

Sunday, July 31st happiness:  I am thankful for some really great friends who brought us dinner tonight.  Thank you Karen and Brenna!  Brian was supposed to come home today, but because of a fever, they wouldn't release him.  We still got dinner and Joe and I got to spend some time together eating some really good food!  

I am also thankful for good friends who came to the hospital today to see Brian and to give him a blessing, and to check on him!  Like I said before, I know some really fantastic people.

Monday, August 1st gratefulness:  I am grateful for a job, where my boss, and my teacher are so understanding, that I had to miss 4 1/2 days of work, during the first week of school.  They covered for me and made sure that I stayed as long as I needed to.

I am most grateful that Brian got the ok to come home today.  I have never been so happy to be home in my whole life!

I am thankful for Tia's family for bringing in dinner tonight.  Joe said it was the best BBQ chicken he had ever tasted!

Mostly I am grateful that Brian got the help that he needed and that he is going to be ok.  I am thankful that he is home!

July 16-22

M2B =) days 527 - 533.  Saturday, July 16th - Friday, July 22nd happiness:  

Saturday, July 16th happiness:  Today I got to see this boy be baptized.

It was a fantastic day.  Afterwards we had pizza and hung out at my mom's.  I love my family.

Sunday, July 17th happiness:  Joe and I played dominoes today.  I love hanging with Joe.  He is pretty much awesome.

Monday, July 18th happiness:  Back to work today.  The summer went by waaaaaay too fast.  But I am lucky that I had such a great summer.  Even though I had to go back to work, it was still nice to see everybody.  My teacher that I work with gave me a big hug and she even took me to lunch.  I am a lucky girl to have gotten such a great teacher to work with.

Tuesday, July 19th happiness:  Joe and I took Brian to see Harry Potter.  I loved it (again).  However, I did not love the man sitting behind us, chomping his popcorn loudly, eating one kernel at a time,  making it last for and hour and a half.  I thought the popcorn would never run out!

Wednesday, July 20th happiness:  Some days you just need it....
I love these!

Thursday, July 21st happiness:  I didn't have to work today.  Yay!  I spent the day hanging out with this kid. 
First, we had to go to the school for Freshman orientation.  I am in serious denial that my kiddo is a freshman.  Afterwards, we went to Olive Garden for lunch.  Then we went shopping for some new school clothes.  Then we ended the day with ice cream.  

I love this kid.  I really appreciate days like this.  I love hanging out with him.

Friday, July 22nd happiness:  Today was meet the teacher.  I got to see all of the cute faces that are going to be in my class this year.  I already have a favorite.  He came back to the class like 4 times.  He talked my ear off about books and Harry Potter (which he is reading now).  I really do love my job.  

Also, today was a half day, so I got to come home and take a nap!  woo hoo!

Happy Day!

July 11-15

 M2B =) days 522 - 526.  Monday, July 11th - Friday, July 15th happiness

Monday, July 11th happiness: Today was a great day!  We went to El Rancho for lunch.  I had stuffed sopapillas with green sauce.  Yum.

After lunch, My dad took the boys fishing while my mom and I braved the WalMart.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  The sky looked like this, so the boys ended up getting rained out.

When my dad got back, I beat him at 5 crowns. =)  Actually, he probably beat me, since I don't win often, but I sure have fun playing.
The boys made s'mores.
That night I made spaghetti tacos for dinner.
This was a first for all of them, so I had to take a photo.  Don't be fooled by Michael's face.  He liked them.  
I thought they were pretty dang good.

Tuesday, July 12th happiness:  More of the same (which is good!)  Grandpa took the boys on a loooooooong ranger ride.
I made Mac and Cheese for dinner.  It was a special request from Alex and Michael.  Brian made it for them last time and they loved it.  I had never made it before.  This was my first attempt.  I added bacon, so of course it was delicious.  
We ate every bit of that.  It was delicious.

Wednesday, July 13th happiness:  Sadly, all good things must come to an end.  And today, we had to go home = (  

I made Joe take me on one last ranger ride.
I love this place!

Thursday, July 14th happiness:  I was in a serious funk today.  I do not like being here in the summer.  I was grouchy and depressed all day.  

Brian helped cheer me up tonight by watching SYTYCD with me and buying me Magnum ice cream bars.  It worked! (mostly)

Friday, July 15th happiness:  Harry Potter came out today, so OF COURSE Sheri and I took the kids to see it.  And it was awesome of course.  And it made me super happy.
Also, I love being this boys mom.
Happy Day!

July 5 - 10

M2B=) days 516 - 521.  Tuesday, July 5th - Sunday, July 10th happiness:  

Tuesday, July 5th happiness:  Sheri had to go to the doctor today and have some tests done.  She was going to be put under, so I had to go with her so I could drive her home.  I met some interesting people in the waiting room, and I had to go to Quizno's and get a diabetic lady a soda and a cookie.  I can be helpful when I want to be. :)  

Later, she was still pretty out of it, so I took her kids to the movie.  Joe and Alex stayed behind, but I took Max, Ben and Evan.  I love my nephews.  It was fun to hang out with them.  Evan was especially cute.  He really liked the movie.  Any time I get to hang out with the kids, is a good day!

Wednesday, July 6th happiness:  I love that it is Summer.  Not the oppressive heat, but the fact that I get to hang out with Joe all day.  Today we spent a considerable amount of time on FAILblog.  Too much time probably, but we were laughing so hard and having so much fun.  Love it.

Today, we also went to my mom's so Joe could hang out with the boys.  I enjoyed watching Michael "fly" his bird around.  The bird isn't really flying.  Michael just holds it in his hand and then walks quickly around the room moving his hand up and down so his bird feels like it is flying.  It was pretty funny, and the bird really seems to like it.  Odd.  

Thursday, July 7th happiness:  Speaking off odd......
Let's talk about Michael.  Odd is probably a good word to describe him.  Today I took Joe, Michael and Alex back up to the cabin.  We got there in the evening, so we stopped at Little Caesars and picked up a $5.00 pizza for dinner.  Michael really wanted me to take his photo in front of the "Hot and Ready" sign.  I always thought that was a bit of a weird choice for advertisement. "Hot and Ready, only $5.00."  

After I took this photo, Michael then proceeded to walk in, go right up to the counter, pulled out a half eaten bag of twizzlers, set it down on the counter and asked the employee if he could make a trade.  His twizzlers for a pizza.  I told Michael that next time he is waiting in the car.  I love my nephews.  Even the weird ones.  

Friday, July 8th  happiness:  Any day I am at the cabin is a good day.  I love the smell of the trees.  I love the big sky that seems to go on forever.  I love the clouds rolling in, in the afternoon with the promise of rain.  I love the long lazy days that go on forever.  I wish I never had to leave. 

Brian drove up tonight to spend the weekend with us.  Woo hoo!   

Saturday, July 9th happiness:  My dad kept the boys busy this morning.  He would drive Alex and Michael to go get a bunch of rocks.  Then they would dump them, and Joe had to put them down in the ditch area.  I love it when my dad makes Joe work!  It's good for him.
Although, at times, I'm not sure how much working was going on......
Dad let Alex drive the bobcat.  He mastered it pretty quickly.
After work, there was time for play.....
Good times.  

Sunday, July 10th happiness:  We got some good rain today!  Rain.  I had almost forgotten what it looked like.

This afternoon it cleared up enough for Brian to take me on a ranger ride.  :)

We saw a bunch of elk.  When they saw us, they took off running.  We drove up to the road and caught them crossing the road just in front of us.  Awesome.
Sadly, Brian had to go home tonight, but I am glad he was able to come, even if it was just for a couple of days.

Happy Day!

July Cabin days

M2B =) days 512 - 515.  Friday, July 1st - Monday, July 4th - 2011.

So it seems that every time I get close to catching up on this blog, something happens that puts me further behind.  The last 2 weeks have been crazy with Brian being in the hospital, and all.  Anyway, I'll try to do some catching up this week.

Here goes!

Friday, July 1st happiness:  Guess what finally opened today?

I've known for a while that it's been coming, and have been on the lookout for when it finally opened.  Today as I drove past, I saw the open sign.  Woo hoo!

Even though we were leaving for the cabin this afternoon, we had to make a stop first.

The dream-cicle one was dreamy.  
The ride up to the cabin was awesome.  We saw TONS of elk.  The best was this clearing.  This is only a part of what was there.  There had to be at least 60 or so.  We pulled over and watched them for a bit.  I love seeing the wildlife up here.  It never gets old.  
I love the cabin.

Tuesday, July 2nd happiness:  One of my favorite things about the cabin is puzzles.  Who has time for them at home?  But I always get to do them at the cabin.  
Also, I forced Brian to play lots of games of NERTZ with me.  I love this game.  Brian is sad because I beat him so much!
Sunday, July 3rd happiness:  I had a puzzle helper today.  Evan was awesome at doing this puzzle.  He did like the whole bottom left corner himself.  He surprised me with his awesome puzzle skills.
I spent a lot of time today on the back porch enjoying this:
The boys had fun hanging out.  Can I just say how much I love Ben's face in this photo?  Pure awesomeness.  
My dad gave a fabulous family home evening lesson tonight.  I think I might just have the best dad ever.
I love this picture of Max and my dad.
I had been trying to get Joe to play NERTZ with me all weekend and he refused.  Alex and Ben finally talked him into trying it, and he liked it.  He still won't play with me though because I am too fast.
Monday, July 4th happiness:  Ian took the boys shooting today!  Good times.
I am digging Max's boots.  Sunday as we were getting ready for church, Sheri realized that not only did Max not have his church shoes, but he didn't have ANY shoes.  How did we not notice this yesterday?  She found him some snow boots he could wear outside.  
Max and Brian hung out this afternoon.  Max kept sneaking up on him and attacking him from behind.  I love his face in this photo.  He is clearly about to pounce!  I also love that he is wearing a yellow blanket and he kind of blends into the wall.
We had a fabulous weekend.  I love my family, and I love spending time with them.  I love the relaxing feel of the cabin.  Nothing pressing to do, just fun and relaxation.  I love it here!
On the way home we saw the most ginormous rabbit ever.  I made Brian turn around so I could take a picture.  Only after I took it did I realize, that without a small normal size rabbit next to it, it would be hard to tell the exact size of this rabbit.  Oh well.  It was freakishly huge - about 3 times the size of the other rabbits we see around here.  

We made it home tonight and were able to watch some fireworks from our backyard patio.  Happy 4th of July.  I love my country and I appreciate all of the freedoms and blessings that I have.  I especially appreciate those men and women past and present who fight to protect those freedoms.  

That's it for now.

Happy Day!