It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

M2B =) days 635 - 640.  Tuesday, November 1st - Sunday, November 6th happiness:

Tuesday, November 1st happiness:  Joe and I went walking again this evening.  It was great!  I really enjoy getting outdoors and getting some exercise.  I just wish that it wasn't so hot here year round.  I REALLY can't exercise outdoors in the summer.  I love that Joe will walk with me.

Wednesday, November 2nd happiness:  This evening after our walk/run, Joe and I hung out at my mom's for a bit.  I had been promising Josh that I would play a game with him.  I brought Pokemon Sorry.  It was one of Joe's favorite games when he was little.  We played it all of the time.  I played with Josh tonight.  Evan came over and joined in the game and ended up beating us both.  It was a lot of fun, and it reminded me of playing this game with Joe when he was little.  Good times.

Thursday, November 3rd happiness:  Brian and I bought a cranberry woods candle, and wallflowers at Bath and Body Works recently.  I put the wallflowers in today, and turned on the candle, and the house smells fantastic!
Also, today was a half day at school, so I got some much needed cleaning done at home.  Hooray for half days!  Tonight as I walked, the sunset was gorgeous.  That is one nice thing about Arizona.  We have some fabulous sunsets here.

Friday, November 4th happiness:  It was rainy and windy today.  A perfectly wintery type of day.  My favorite.  I had another half day, so I started the tree today!  I know that November is going to be a super busy month, and having the tree up makes all of us soooo happy, so I decided to go early this year.  Yup, we went right from Halloween to Christmas.  That's how we roll around here.  And just because I have my tree up does not mean that I am a Thanksgiving skipper, or that I don't appreciate it.  I do!  I can be excited about Christmas and still like Thanksgiving!
By tonight, it was just a tiny tree on a stick, but it's a start!

Also tonight, Brian and I went in the hot tub while it was windy and rainy.  It was fun!

Saturday, November 5th happiness:  Bath and Body Works!  Winter Candy Apple is finally here!  Last year I waited too long, and I didn't get ANY.  They were all out of it.  We went early this year to make sure I didn't miss out on it.  And they were buy 3 get 2 free.  I LOVE it.  It smells so yummy.
Finished the tree today!  3700 lights baby!
Joe helped me put the ornaments on!  He started with his Disney ornament (of course)
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  And I love it!

Sunday, November 6th happiness:  Joe and I put some more Christmas decorations around the house today.  We are getting there!

Brian made us a delicious steak dinner tonight.  I love that he cooks!  I am spoiled.

Tonight was FHE at my moms.  It's been a while since we had one and Joe was excited.  It also happened to be Evan's birthday.

This picture is SO Evan.  I love that shy face that he makes.  
I had to throw in this one, because I love Ben's face in it!
There was a pinata for the kids.  I was at a bad angle, and didn't get many good pictures of it.  The one of Josh turned out the best.  
I love my family.

Happy Day!

Happy Halloween Post

M2B =) days 632 - 634.  Saturday, October 29th - Monday, October 31st happiness:

Saturday, October 29th happiness:  Joe and I carved our pumpkins today.  We stuck with The Nightmare Before Christmas theme.  I did Oogie Boogie, and Joe did Lock, Shock, and Barrel.  Brian gutted them for us, so all we had to do was carve!

We finished them just in time for Trunk or Treat, where we saw this guy:
And this awesome football player:
Joe decided he didn't want to dress up this year, but Michael still had some Halloween spirit!
Brian was even in a good mood!  I didn't have to coerce him to go, AND he happily handed out candy to all the trick or treaters!
Happy Halloween mon!

That night, Joe and Michael decided (after watching an episode of The Middle)  that they would dress up like Axel and his friends did, and go as "superheroes" and get lots of candy.  If you haven't seen The Middle, and don't know who Axel is, then this outfit will probably not make sense to you.  But here it is....
He was all ready for Monday night, until Michael called and said that it was a no go.  He had to go somewhere with his family instead.  Joe was bummed, but he still let me take his picture in his awesome costume, even though he didn't get a chance to follow through on their plans and wear it on Halloween.

Sunday, October 30th happiness:  Joe and I ALWAYS go visit Grandmother on Halloween.  Usually he is in costume, and we go on Halloween night, but this year I knew he wasn't going to dress up, and so we went a day early, just for a visit.  We brought a couple of extra's with us.  Michael and Joe kept Josh pretty entertained, while Sheri and I visited with Grandmother and Dawn.  It was a fun visit.  I really should go more often.

Monday, October 31st happiness:  I was soooo happy today because I got to see 3 of my favorite kiddo's in the world.  It feels like I haven't seen them in forever.  They stopped by my mom's tonight to show off their Halloween costumes, so I invited myself over, of course, so I could see them too.


I was so happy to see them.

Later, Joe and I met up with the Trezise clan, who were going trick or treating with some friends, and we tagged along.  Joe didn't want to dress up, but he still wanted to hang out with everyone else, and walk the neighborhood.

Brian showed up a little later and walked with us.  He even carried Buzz when he got tired of walking.
I think Joe had a good time hanging out.  It was a lot of fun.
Here is Xander showing me his "buttload" of candy.
Good times.

Happy Day!

Happy Feet and ghost stories

M2B =) days 627 - 631.  Monday, October 24th - Friday, October 28th happiness.

Monday, October 24th happiness:  Today Joe and I watched "Life and Death of a Pumpkin" on YouTube.  Hilarious!  If I knew how to link to it, I would.  But I'm sure you can find it on YouTube fairly easily.  

Tuesday, October 25th happiness:  Corn Festival Field Trip.  I got to take lots of cute photos of my kids in the corn maze.  

After being on my feet all day, it felt good tonight to put on my cozy socks and sit on the couch.  Happy Feet:

Wednesday, October 26th happiness:  Now that the weather is starting to cool down a bit, I thought I'd start walking/jogging again.  Joe went with me today.  The weather was cloudy and cool and gorgeous.  We even got rained on a little.   I am waaay out of shape.  Joe lapped me at least 3 times.  But, it felt good to get out there again.  Afterwards, we drove home with the windows down - fabulous.

Thursday, October 27th happiness:  Book club tonight.  This months book was a ghost story.  
It was fun to hang out and chat, and eat, and tell ghost stories.  Good times.

Friday, October 28th happiness:  Since I stayed out later last night than I should have, all I could think about at work today was coming home and taking a nap.  And, I did.  It did not disappoint.  

On a side note, I had a little spring in my step today because I had more happy feet.
I got those happy socks for a dollar!  I love fun socks.

Tonight, Joe and I went to the Trezise house to watch Pearl Jam 20.  I LOVED it!  
Thanks for having us over Sheri!

Happy Day!

80's flashback

M2B =) days 621 - 626.  Tuesday, October 18th - Sunday, October 23rd happiness:

Tuesday, October 18th happiness:  Back to school today.  As I came to get my kids this morning off the playground to go into school, I was bombarded with hugs!

Tonight was our last time together as McQueen 1st ward young women's.  =(  We went out in style though.  We had to dress in theme (of course).  They chose 80's workout wear.  I love these girls!

Wednesday, October 19th happiness:  Joe and I hung out on the bed tonight and studied Espanol.  I love hanging with Joe.

Thursday, October 20th happiness:  Mrs. Johnson's birthday was during October break, so today the room mom's threw her a surprise birthday party.  I made this happy birthday poster and had all the kids sign it at recess without her knowing.  They loved surprising her.
Also, tonight my mom, Sheri, Alex and I, went and saw the re-make of Footloose.  It was a little to much swearing and dirty dancing for my taste.  I did love the guy who played Willard.  He made the movie.
Even though I didn't love it, it is always fun to get out of the house especially if I get to hang with my mom and Sheri.

Friday, October 21st happiness:  Hot Tub installed today!  Woo hoo.

Saturday, October 22nd happiness:  Dear 5 hour energy.  Some days I cannot live without you.  I love you!
Sunday, October 23rd happiness:  I got to play a couple of games of Candyland with this kiddo tonight!  Good times.  I was having flashbacks to when I used to play the game with Adam when he was the same age.  
Happy Day!

Cabin, Cookies and Red Devils

M2B =) days 615 - 620.  Wednesday, October 12th - Monday, October 17th happiness:

Wednesday, October 12th happiness:  One last long ranger ride to Christmas Tree Trail before we had to head home.

These boys (and I) seriously did not want to leave.  It is just heavenly up here.
We finally made it home tonight.  At the cabin, my mom kept telling me about the BEST apples ever.  They are called Honey Crisp and I just HAD to try them.  Tonight, when we got home, guess what Brian had bought?  Yup - Honey Crisp apples.  I had never heard of these before, and now, within like 2 days, I had 2 people telling me how fabulous they were.  They not only, were good, but they were ginormous.   Look at the size of that thing!
Thursday, October 13th happiness:  Cookies from Sheri!  Is there anything better?
Friday, October 14th happiness:  Having a long, lazy day at home with Joe.  I did all the laundry from our trip.  He and Tiger hung out on the bed and kept me company.  Also, we watched many episodes of The Big Bang Theory.  Good times!
Saturday October 15th happiness:  Wanda Witch Party!  Woo hoo!  I look forward to it every year.  This year we were on The Red Devil's team.  We were partnered with the Brande's, Jones', and the Munroes.  What an awesome team to be on!  I didn't bring my camera, so I had to steal this photo off of Maddy's blog.
We came in 4th this year.  Not as good as we had hoped, but much better than last year.  Last year we didn't even find all of the clues.  Win or loose, it is always a ton of fun. 

Sunday, October 16th:  Today was a sad day.  I had a Young Women's presidency this morning.  We were going to be planning Young Women In Excellence.  Instead, we found out that the wards are being re-aligned TODAY and that this would be our last week not only in young women's, but as a ward.  None of us saw this coming.  I think I was the saddest because I realized that I probably would not be in the same ward as the three other women that I am in the presidency with.  That, and I wouldn't get to be in young women's with all of these wonderful girls.  It was a rough day today. 

It got even worse tonight when I went to the Stake meeting where they announced the new boundaries.  Our ward got the worst of it.  We were split 4 different ways with members going to 4 different wards.  Most of the ward ended up together, and then 3 separate little neighborhoods went to 3 separate wards.  To say I was sad was an understatement.  I cried A LOT today.

Today was not a happy day, but I can still be grateful for all of the awesome friends that I have made in this ward, and for the time I did get to spend with these amazing young women.  Next Sunday will be hard for sure, but all of those unfamiliar faces will just be opportunities to meet new friends, and more amazing people.  Also.  I know it seems like a silly thing, but I am so grateful for facebook, so that I can keep in touch with all of the families that I will miss so much.

Monday, October 17th happiness:  Last day of October break (for me anyway, Joe doesn't go back to school until Wednesday).  We decided to go see a movie tonight.  But first we went to Paradise Bakery for dinner, and for Molasses cookies.  Yum!

We saw The Big Year.  I liked it a lot.  I'm sure some people would find it boring, but I thought it was a really cute story about what is really important in life.  I really liked it because it is RARE these days that you can find a movie that isn't filled with violence, or sex, or bad language, or that isn't all about special effects.  I especially liked that the song at the closing credits of the movie was a GUSTER song.  I love it!

Happy Day!

Oh, and this photo has nothing really to do with my post today, I just loved that I got this shot of Joe today.  He was resting with Bob.  He loves his cats.