The most wonderful time of the year!!!

It's coming! I love the 4th of July better than Christmas. (mostly because it is warm)

I love the parades, which now for some reason make me cry as I watch the flag being presented and the sirens following behind.

I love watching my kids wave at the people on the floats that they like.

I love sitting on a blanket eating sugary pop tarts and other non healthy breakfast items while we wait for the parade to begin.

I love eating warm taffy and tootsie rolls while we wait for parade traffic to thin out.

I love the "thank you" that I get for taking my kids to something that didn't cost me a thing.

I love the crappy carnival in the park.( Even though Chet hates it.)

I love seeing the cute family singing on the stage.

I love to see and visit everyone I run into. (The kids don't love that part.)

I love to eat random items from four different booths and still have room for a slushy.

I love getting the perfect spot to watch fireworks.

I love hanging out with my family playing games on the blanket.

I love the energy and excitement of the the first boom that makes everyone drop to the ground and stare up to the sky!

I love the Fireworks Finale!!!

I love the freedom we have to enjoy and I love the men and women who risk and give their lives for us all.

Please, God bless America.

Ramblings...

This is a fun family pose that i found in my file. Usually the frog rock is huge and the people are small, but we found this one and everyone is smiling because they are not falling down the ditch trying to stand up. Fun day at the park!

This is the hard one to pose by for some reason. And no picture perfect smiles either. Still Cute!

Goodnight Ash!

Runnin' just as fast as I can...

You remember that Tiffany song. That is my week! I could go on to declare my month but that would be whiny. So I am self employed (I have a lovely salon in my home where I can color, cut, nail or wax you:) so Chet keeps asking me how come I get overbooked and stressed out all the time.
I have not learned the art of declining the affirmative.
I can't say no. It is not polite, helpful, and certainly not going to win me volunteer of the year, so I just can't say it. Not being a martyr but it is getting kind of pathetic. I laugh about it because it is my fault.
On the other hand, I love being busy! I love that I don't sit and watch TV and that I have places to go and people to see. I love to visit and multi-task. When one of my neighbors is out and we visit for a minute, that makes my day. So if I happen to always be heading out when you call or driving someone somewhere, I might sound frazzled but I am really happy

Slacker?

I feel kind of like a slacker. I too have fallen into the facebook trap. So by the time I catch up on the latest status updates it is too late to blog. Slacker!
We have had some ups and downs lately and so I use that as my alibi for not documenting my life. Slacker!
Chet and I went to Salt lake for our Anniversary and stayed overnight. Any night without our kids is a restless night. Don't read into that the wrong idea! It is hard to have a room that is totally quiet, the sheets are tucked in and no crumbs. The temperature is just right and no one tries to snuggle into bed with you that wasn't there when you turned the lights out. No one coughs, throws up, or needs a drink of water that can't take care of it himself. So enough, you get the idea. So the next morning we went and did some work at the Salt Lake Temple. Too personal to blog about, but a very great experience.
Grandma Dorothy passed away, and so we got to gather with family and pay tribute to the awesome woman she is. She had such warmth and friendship with all of her children, grandchildren and anyone else who came into her life. I feel peace with her passing because she is not held back by her health anymore. We were talking to the kids about what a funeral is for and where Dorothy is now. We talked about how Dorothy won't need her wheelchair anymore and would be able to walk and Carson said "Now she can run!" I hope I can stay that open minded about leaving this life and going to the next.
We had a great day on Easter. Lots of family, sugar, food and fun. Auntie Rita brought presents to welcome spring. We got to see Zoee (Tawnee's baby). We celebrated Doyle's birthday with a quick song and candle blow. The cake was delicious and pie too. Then the in-laws hit the road, the kids hit the beds and we were done.
That catches me up for a while and now I can sleep better knowing I am not such a slacker!

I love this guy!!

So Chet and I just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary together last week.
I think this picture sums up quickly why we work so well together. Here is the story behind the photo.
On vacation (road trip that my husband loves, I prefer to fly or be sedated) our little baby girl decides she does not like milk and red Gatorade mixed in her sippy cup together. We hear the sound that makes the world stop and then our trip was at a stop. The baby was covered in gross stuff and we were all trying to quickly get fresh air before we joined the mess. So we head into town and were thinking of ways to clean the car seat when a great idea comes to me. I get lots of great ideas and this one was even better because my husband got to do the icky work. I simply used the excuse that I had cleaned Callie so this was his share. Now that is not an argument that is easily won. Here is the point. Do you see the smile on his face?
He loves me.
He is spraying a barfy car seat and posing so his crazy wife can capture this great moment in history and smiling. He is amazing.
For 12 years we have been friends, 11 of them while married and he gets it. I don't a need flashy lifestyle, just my man that understands my craziness and can stay calm when the panic button goes off. He is steady and true. Calming and strong.
I love him more.

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.