Elf Yourself is back

Look at the side bar and there's some amazing links to watch me and my roommates, my home teacher and my sister's family and soon my bishopric dance as elves...it's seriously funny!

The last days with mom as a single woman

So my mom is getting married on Friday. My dad passed away last year in August and it was a really hard time. Then mom re-met our old stake pres from Tehachapi, President Christensen. His wife passed away earlier this year in January. They met up in June and the rest is history. Kind of an intersting thing to have my mom get remarried again, but it's good for her. She is the happiest I think I've ever seen her (possibly, becuase I never really saw her in those beginning stages of LOVE, all twitterpated etc), but if she's happy, I'm happy for her. It's going to be fun to see the new adventures they'll be able to go on together...for example, mom's never been on a cruise before and off she goes for her honeymoon with her new dancing dress!

It's amazing to me how life can seem so much in despair and then all of a sudden it changes and everything works out the way it should. Just gotta keep the faith. In the meantime, I'll say I've had a great time hanging out with mom in a different closeness that comes when you know life is about to change. I love her a lot and only wish her the best! Of course she'll be farther away in distance, but thank goodness for cell phones and the fact that I can still call her and have her walk me through a recipe!!!

Live Nativity Coolest thing yet!

Look how real that looks, yet fake at the same time!!! It's my first, but definitely not my last time being in a live nativity cause it was so cool! We had a blast. Jen and I were the wisemen, Dayton and Erin were the kings and Kelsey was Mary and Richard was her husband Joseph. The baby was fake...I was hoping for a real baby.

Thanks to all the dress up opportunities, Erin decided that she for sure wants to be a gyspy next Halloween. Look at her, do you blame her? I don't, she pulls it off well.

Girl's Night Out

Amy is moving and I'm so glad she had the brilliant idea to have girl's night, white elephant gift exchange, because it was really fun and a sad, but great opportunity to say adios, even though I have to see her, cause who else can take my honesty with such bravery? She is my special out of the country/contitental US twin...you get it right Amy??? Well we had a blast and 3 cheers for China Isle's Walnut shrimp! I finished it off today...delicious and amazing, celestial in fact!!! Amy we need to hang out and frankly talk all the time...hope my furniture is still safe!! PS you're beautiful with whatever color hair you choose to have...but you know my preference blondie! And to think the whole friendship started becuase I thought your watch was cool! LIFE REALLY IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES AT THE PARK, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET!

Amy is moving and I'm so glad she had the brilliant idea to have girl's night, white elephant gift exchange, because it was really fun and a sad, but great opportunity to say adios, even though I have to see her, cause who else can take my honesty with such bravery? She is my special out of the country/contitental US twin...you get it right Amy??? Well we had a blast and 3 cheers for China Isle's Walnut shrimp! I finished it off today...delicious and amazing, celestial in fact!!! Amy we need to hang out and frankly talk all the time...hope my furniture is still safe!!

Dancing Princes

I was really excited to get to go watch Ashbey perform her dance. Oh the crazy activities we fill our lives with and at the busiest time of year. I really had a blast sitting by my 10 year old nephew and making up random names to yell out in the audience. He loved it and frankly I did too. Shaunae said I should be a professional crowd cheerer...you know like random people they place in the audience to laugh or applaud so the rest of the audience thinks it's funny or great!!! liek they did in finding neverland...i'm game...in fact i used to get in free to comedy sports (no need to insert the detail that i was on a date with one of the players) so i could do just that, laugh and then other people would laugh...the crazy thing:I was sincerely laughing...doesn't take much to make me happy!

Betting at Bowling

So I went on a double date with my friend Tyson and Kynslie. Tyson set me up with his brother Nate. At one point Nate and I were tied (or so I thought) and so we made a deal that whoever lost between us owed the other one ice cream. Can you guess who owes who ice cream? Well, I lost badly and decided to say "Double or nothing"...well, I guess that means I owe double ice cream...apparentl chocolate with brownie chunks...so i guess we're figuring out the details of when and how that will happen.

Me and Nate enjoying the thrill of competition...little did i know I would lose...cause usually I'm not much of a good loser...times change, people change, I guess...


Me and my lucky 8 pound red ball that fits my fingers. All the other balls have the hugest finger holes and the ball goes flying out of your hand. I wish they made heavier balls with closer together and smaller holes. I would win then for sure!



Coach Bushman racking up 5 strikes in a row...no idea where that came from, cause he only won the first game with luck! But nonetheless i still owe him ice cream.

Kynslie was a really good sport to come and join us even though she was sick.

Tyson and his bad self.

The winner of each game...drum roll please....COACH!!! I'm paying for that!

Festival of Trees time

So every year I volunteer at the festival of trees. It is one of my favorite things to do, because as a volunteer we stand behind the chains, with the tree to watch and make sure that no one takes stuff off the tree or messes them up, cause they've previously been purchased for 1000's of dollars, but as we are back there we get to read the stories that go along with every tree. As I did it this year, I realized yet again how big this world is and how many lives are affected by hard things daily and multiple times in a lifetime. As a worker, we get the details on the trees and I am touched to see that people, though they have passed through some really hard times, they aren't resentful, but want to help where they can as much as possible. On so many of the stories I just stood there with tears in my eyes thinking, "Wow, they have been through a lot and the majority of these people walking by just say, 'that's a cute tree or, that needs help etc.'" and all the while there is a deeper story to all of the trees. Many people have sacrificed a ton to raise the money to be able to create such gorgeous trees and then donate them so the hospital can get the money in order to cut costs for suffering parents and families! It is one of the best causes I've ever volunteered at.

I especially liked the wood tree. It was carved and cut and made by a woodworker, it had a motor that brought a ball to the top and it dropped down through all these tunnels etc in a maze and made it's way down and then got sucked up the tube again to start over...it was amazing. so many hours of hard work donated.

then of course there's the Cullen Christmas made by the obsessed twilighters of salt lake who actually went to Forks in Washington and La Push and took a tour and ended up donating all this great stuff.

then there was the glass tree! My all time favorite. The lights blinked in coordination with the music and the surrounding trees. It was so cool and beautiful!

I saw these crazy ladies who got all glittered out and Christmasy. They were so funny. I think i'll probably be like them when i get old...at least i hope so!

I Really liked this tree! It's my new motto "It's all good"...don't worry too much about things...just enjoy it...cause life is good!

Ready for Rain and Rent

So Kelsey and I have the same coat (well almost the same). It's funny, cause last year I totally made fun of her coat cause i thought it was so crazy and noisy and just too much and then it kinda grew on me and I saw one on sale and got it and now we're twins!

St. George Halloween Weekend

So we went on a get a way over halloween so we didn't have to answer the door to little kids and not have any candy to give them. That happened and all I had were some pastacio nuts...so that's what i gave them...call me crazy! They didn't seem to mind. Their parents probably did! But that's one of the many reasons we went and had a great weekend in sunny St. George. It seriously was a blast. As you can tell from the pictures and the pictures don't even begin to describe. It

We stayed in a mansion on the golf course where they filmed HSM 2. There was a hot tub and a pool, we ended throwing each other in at 3am. after playing hours and hours of Mafia.

Erin said that this was my car, because it had my license plate "Costco" because she always says I'm a 70 year old in a 28 year old body since i like bargains, coupons and shopping at costco!!!

The crack and our scrumtous BLT meal as a family together! It was a great time! I wish I knew how to put videos on this thing, cause I have some fun ones of us getting thrown in the pool...so if you read this and want to clue me in on how easy it is, just let me know.

St. George and the crack

Jake looking hot as usaul.

Erin always taking care of business...our room was double booked I guess.

Les and I in the rain made hot tub.

Jimmy found a nice little tunnel bed.

The beginning of the crack...it was already a tight squeeze so i didn't chance the rest of the way. Amanda got a hole in her shirt...guess that was a good choice for me to stay out.

Fourwheeling...one of my new favorite sports

Our last night there, Haley and I found the edge of the canyon and went exploring. we past a herd of roaming in the middle of the road cows. it was great fun!

smore's...yummy

Holly and I also found the edge of the canyon. it was beautiful and dusty.

Kara and I found a great rock on our ride on the mule.

So we seriously went four wheeling all day long! It was the best time ever! I absolutely love the speed, the wind, the control. It is one of my favorite things to do!

Moving campsites at Dusk...works

The caravan to the new campsite!

Never leave home without your cell phone, even if you're camping.

I officially love the desert! Never thought I would, because I have usually hated it, but between the scenery to New Mexico and southern Utah, I am amazed at the beauty and just love it!

The crew had just gotten back from a long road trip and boy were they dirty! I thought it was pretty funny, but then I joined up and became really dirty too, that's just the joy of camping with no showers or running water. We seriously roughed it!

The moving of the tents and Holly being herself.

Haley, the ever helpful girl, just doing what she can to help us along! Gotta love her!

So I guess to keep with tradition, moving just before it got dark and into the dark had been the tradition on this trip, so why not!!! Hunting season started the next day and we didn't want to become the hunted, so we packed up and moved up to goosberry mesa for a dirty, yet really fun next couple of days.