The Best Weekend this year...

Now I know it is only February but I have the bar set pretty high now. My husband pulled off a total surprise. He had a little help, but he did not blow it and I didn't want to know anything to spoil it. He only told me what dates to take off and to bring a jacket not a coat. Oh and a swimsuit.
So we went to the Jazz game on Thursday night and it was a late game so it got out around 11 pm. Then we came home, packed, slept for a few hours, then gone by 6 am. He drove to the airport where we went to........Las Vegas!!! I know weird place for a molly to want to go, but people watching there is so entertaining. We were hoping for a little sunshine but it rained the whole time. We still had a ton of fun. Some other couples were in on the secret and their hubbies brought their wives as a surprise too. Lots of funny times and plenty of photos, I will share those later.
Really the fact that after 11 years my Husband wants to do something that nice for me screams how much he loves me, I tease him that he has no moves, but he sure has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Christmas Crash

So it is all put away and under the stairs, not one reminder of the wonderful time we were having last month. Sad. I need to check into a clinic where they sedate me for a few weeks and I can come out of the shock slowly. Everyone was so nice and sweet and then this month back to ignoring your friends because we are all just too busy. Well it has to go on.
I had fun with hosting neighbor parties and family parties and lots of singing and playing together. The Wii karaoke is so fun and Chet even braved the mike. We embarrassed just about everyone by making them hit the duets. Its all on video for our blackmail section of the blog! In all the fun, I somehow lost my digital camera and am very sad because I didn't upload anything since Thanksgiving. So if you were part of my Holiday, would you send me some pictures to have in my scrapbook?
I am hoping to keep busy this month so time will fly towards summer. If you are feeling like you need some quality time with your hairstylist/nail tech/wax guru/therapist, January is the perfect time. Call me for some much needed relaxation, I bet I can get you looking hot in time for your Valentines Date!

Merry Christmas!

Daddy's girl for sure!
My cute Family

Callie runs the show around here.

And she knows it....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LOVE THE TALBOTS

"7" Tag

I got tagged with this one and it looked so easy. It made me think and that is never good. So answers may be caused by lack of sleep....

7 things I can do...
1- Hair (color,cut,rat,curl,)
2- cook like I was Italian
3- Bargain shop
4- splits
5- whistle loud (like New Yorkers getting a cab)
6- lay tile
7- make my husband laugh

7 things I can't do...
1- play my guitar
2- go to bed before 10
3- drive slow
4- remember anyones birthday
5- remember... a lot
6- grocery shop without a list
7- ride in the backseat

7 things I always say...
1- Are you listening?
2- "awesome"
3- No big deal
4- Sweet!
5- I said wii
6- sweep the leg
7- no one cries alone

7 things I always eat...
1- swiss cheese
2- wheat thins
3- Diet Mountain Dew
4- Nuts
5- apples
6- carmel apple candy corns
7- PB&J

7 people I tag...
1- Ash
2- Natalie
3- Brittanny
4- Holly
5- Barb
6- Melanie
7- Anyone?

We had Barb for dinner?

That sounds kinda funny. Everyone in the fam is bloggin about having interesting lunch dates so I had one to boast about.
I came home to my cute mother-in-law trying to take a much needed nap on my couch and pay attention while the kids showed her how "good" they are at the wii. She had a pretty rough day and so i convinced her to stay and have a rowdy dinner with me and my kids.
Not that it relaxed her with Callie throwing all her taco on the floor and Carson telling me for the 99th time that he doesn't like what is on his plate. I am so glad that she seems to like being in my home even when it is crazyville. But she didn't have to cook, and we enjoyed having her for dinner, as a guest, not as dessert!

In Secure

So I just need to use my space to talk through this big security issue in the blog world. Every time the news runs a story about info being stolen off of a blog, everyone panics and slams the door shut. I am not saying you can't, I just wish it didn't make me feel like I got locked out of the fun party room. I like to read up on neighbors, friends, family and ward friends. I don't always comment so they might not even know I exist. But it is a way for me to get to know them and feel connected by seeing fun posts. I have had issues with the blog world from the beginning, just because it feels like voyeurism. You don't know who is looking at your world unless they comment. I feel like I should have been invited to the blog, but now that I am there I don't want to ask to stay. It is very weird to me. I just hope we all try to use some of the safe tips and keep our blogs smart instead of closed.
1. Don't give full names
2. Keep home and address out of view
3. Keep vacations secret until you come home
4. Code names for children are helpful to protect them

Happy Halloween

This year for Halloween even Chet got into the costume closet. He usually goes as a dad or a carpenter or even a Jazz Fan.

This year he went as Lt. Dangle from Reno 911 (tv show).

I went as the reformed Lady of the Night, Dep Clementime.

Chet made a great entrance at our friends house. He "cop knocked" and yelled "sheriffs' department!" He then carried his fresh made rolls and stretched out his handsome legs for everyone to enjoy.

Codie was a devil and got to go to a dance party, friend party, her school parade and our trunk-r-treat. Lots of miles for a cute costume.

Carson was Jack Sparrow and he kept asking for a weapon to go with the costume. It's funny how they get something on the brain and obsess over it.

Callie was a bee. She was irritated as one everytime we tried to put the hood on. Se we let her run around and eat some candy (her first candy ever) and she did just fine

We had fun at our parties and now are gearing up for the Holidays!!!

Sand Dune Trip

We found out the hard way that going to the sand dunes on Conference weekend is not what the Lord wants us to do.

The weather didn't look too bad until the session started and then it rained so much that we all had to stay inside the trailer and listen like good little mollys. We had fun though.

The Hanfts came prepared with games and good attitudes and we all came home still friends.
We had some major quality time together and might even try it again.

The two Callies had a fun time together.

I VOTED

Did you? Are you going to? I feel like you have to vote in order to complain. If you don't take a stand and vote, then you have no business telling everyone else what is wrong. I will be honest, it scared me when Hillary was still in the race, but now.....either way it is not going to be a big change. There is a big mess for someone to clean up and they both have good and bad ways to deal with everything. So go vote for someone and take a snack to eat because the lines are long!!!

Looking Good!

We are looking for a fun photographer to take our holiday picture. We will never step foot into a mall type place again so don't say they are good. We don't need to spend our children's inheritance either. Come on Ladies, I have seen some of your blogs and you have some great photos. Please share!

Hindsite is 20/20

Do you ever find yourself in the middle of chaos and think,"I can't wait to look back on this and see that it wasn't that bad". No pity story here, just when the highs of life seem out of reach we miss them so much. But then we would not appreciate those happy, high times.
It's a very cheesy solution but I could list some great things that happen on a daily basis.
Chet text me with his Joey from Friends-"How you doin'?" It makes me laugh every time.
Codie running in the door and showing me her splits were flat at dance tonight. Very excited.
Carson saying "Tarter sauce" when I tell him to clean up or come inside. He is going to curse like an old farmer I swear.
Callie shrugging her shoulders to the music and giving me the eyebrow. So cute.

See, within my life there is always little pieces of sunshine, and that is why I wake up and do it all over again tomorrow.

Mindy's Birthday Extravaganza

First of all that is what my husband refers to my birthday as, not me. My birthday usually gets celebrated over the course of an entire week. Not my fault I like to go to lunch with anyone who offers. Then I have some pretty great friends who are always up for a fun time. Finally my family always has to get sugar loaded with enough cake to feed a small country. We always have carrot cake. Chet had the best joke as he walked in with the cake he said "Mindy, I brought you a 14 carrot..... cake!" Haha He kills me. I really just like having a big party and being around fun people. The gifts are nice but not neccesary. Anyways it was a fun week and I won't say why but I actually got asked to show I.D. and was flattered. Then I slipped when asked how old I am and said "23 er, uh 33!" Maybe I have aging issues that slip out when I don't think about it. What a fun week.

My Birthday

Sneaking out...

Sometimes I talk myself right out of having a little fun. I covince myself that my family will be sad or no one will want to or that I need to get things done. When did I turn into such a lame-O? Well the other night I wanted to go out and see a movie and i called a few friends in my "hood" and presto we had a party. We left for the movie at 10 pm (i know, totally past bedtime) and then after we got home around midnight (waaaaay late) my neighbor Britt and I stood in my driveway for a looooong time just chattin'. It was nice to let myself off the hook for a few hours and relax. We even took pictures to document our rebel ways. The preggers on the bike...she is so brave because we do not know the owner of the sweet hog she is straddling. The other pic is us getting our hug on. Thanks for making my night Amanda, Brittanny and Natalie. Such little things make suburban housewives happy!

Baptism Day!

Saturday September 6th was Codie's Baptism. She was very calm about the whole thing. We had talked about it a lot. When her cousin Rylee was here visiting from Germany, she was baptized and Codie got to see everything for herself. Codie is a very faithful little girl. She goes to church with a blind faith. I mean that she does not challenge what we do to show our faith. She goes because she knows she is doing what is asked. By us and by Heavenly Father. It is overwhelming to see a child who seems to have more faith then a lot of adults do. I hope that this strength that she has now will help her through the next ten or so years.


The day was beautiful and Codie was supported by so much family. We had on my side, Grandma Myrna and Grandpa Tom, Rita, Lara & Marina. On Chet's side, Grandma Barb and Grandpa Doyle, Ashley, Matt, Eli & Alice (who made the drive from Oregon to be here, thank you very much), Jared, Holly & Mallory and Emily. We also had a few close friends who popped in to say Congratulations! It was a special day and Codie seemed very happy about it all.

Codie's big birthday extravaganza

My little girl is getting so old. The big 8. She has just snuck past those little stages so fast. She is very mature and helpful. She is very smart and I am not bragging,( her teachers brag for me). Codie loves her family and sharing her room with Callie. It gives her more chance to play"mommy". She really does startle me at how wise she already is at such a young age.

So here are a few pictures of her on her birthday.

Bowling and Pizza.

Pretty cool Party

We had so much fun that Codie forgot to open her presents until we were home. I was so embarrassed. But the party was so fun that all the kids forgot too. We hurried and opened them and then took her friends home. I guess she isn't all about the shwag. (goodies)

Ketchup

Here is just a blog to ketchup on what my crazy family and I have been up to.



We have been to Lagoon so many times that my children don't even complain when it is time to go home! Those season passes are a steal of a deal when you go a couple of times per week. I almost feel bad for the amount of times we went. When we averaged it out, it was like spending 3 dollars each time to go. Like I said, I almost felt guilty. We did have a lot of fun and the season is not completly over. FRIGHTMARES is starting soon!!



We enjoyed going to Roy aquatic center a few times. I would love to have a pool in our yard but that pool makes it worth the drive. Little ceasars pizza is on the way so 5 bucks for lunch and if i was really running late coming home 5 bucks for dinner. The fun of summer and not wanting to cook. Carson was very brave this season and would venture all over the place. Down slides and into the different pools. Codie learned to jump off the diving board and scare her mother. Callie just wanted to walk anywhere but where I could sit and relax. AHHHH.



Soccer has quickly consumed us all. Carson and Codie play city league and of course they don't play the same days or times. Chet really has done way more driving this time. Go soccer dad. Both kids like it but I think the treat thing has gotten way out of control. Whatever happened to orange slices and gatorade?



Finally, school has started. I didn't want to be that mom that wanted to get rid of her kids, but they were ready to go back. Codie started 3rd grade like a pro. She didn't want me to walk her in on the first day or even fix her breakfast for that matter. Big girl. Carson went to preschool a week later and I should have put him in the afternoon class. He gets so bored waiting for all of his friends to get home from school. And you know he doesn't want to play with Callie and me.



So now we are all caught up and happy. Codie turned 8 last Saturday and will be baptised this Saturday. So I will post that later. For now I just hope to get back to a little bit of a schedule and settle in for fall.

Scrapblog

Click on the link to see our vacation.

http://www.slide.com/r/6D6CsOF42D-AmAOVRggXn56-vuGVmtQt?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original