The CrAziNesS Has Only Just Begun!

Black Friday! It just stands for craziness, and this year was like any other, except for the fact that instead of going to bed around midnight, and then getting up at 4:45, we decided that we might as well stay up... I guess it wan't really a "we" decision, it was actually a Me decision, that did affect two other people.
My Mom, Kathryn, and I decided to scope out the whole situation at Wally World, around midnight, to see where everything would be that morning, well we ended up also bringing Kate, Jesse, and Coral (Kathryn's friends daughter). When we got there we were walking around, and I found what it was I wanted, under a little bit of plastic, so I said, "Should I just take them now, hide them in the store somewhere, and come back in the morning and buy them?"
Well, dear Sis wouldn't let me do it... so I guess I really can't be blamed for what happened next.
As we were scoping things out, we also got yelled at by some wally-world-workers, who thought I was going to buy the thing that was going to be cheaper, in 5 hours, talked to about every manager there was, talked to the people who were in line to buy cheap lap tops (they had been there since 8:00), and saw a bunch of other people waiting in "imaginary" lines some had chairs and books they were going to buy, later, others had friends and were playing games on the cold hard floor... Suckers! Is what I thougHt!
That is until we got home, saw that the time was about 1:15, and decided, in order to save me at least $60, I should just go back to that stupid store, and get in line with all those other silly people (although they weren't in line for what I wanted). So I told my sweet, sweet man, and good man that he is, got dressed, and said "Let's go".
I was then torn, did I really want to become the "sucker" I was just taunting in my head? Then, I remembered that you could get some things on-line, once it was midnight, so then we hopped on to that world wide web, and got NO WHERE! We could Not see how to get anything there, so then I was torn again... really sitting in wallyworld for hours?
Well we finally went to that store, around 3:30. And there was about 6 people in front of me in this real imaginary line. After some major chaos,having to do with this "line" that I'm not in the mood to type, I finally got the things that I wanted! And my sweet, sweet husband has decided, he is FINISHED with Black Friday (and I think I might be, too... that is unless next year (or dear sis from Michigan is back, she felt bad she missed out on all the fun!!)



More shopping, this time in St. George (on Saturday)... with a bunch of cute girls, a cute Mom, and cute Sis! Much more fun, and way less crazy!

We challenged the Stathis Family to Wii Outdoor Challenge... we brought our secret weapon along (Dylan)and WE WON!!!! Much to their dismay! Next time we meet up there will be another challenge and I think that Primary Plate is the prize (whether or not I have to sneak it out of their house or not!)

Kath's blog has the picture of the winners!!

There sure is a lot to be thankful for

We sure do have a lot to be thankful for, sometimes I know I forget that... I take
everything for granted... our health (can't tell you the last time we've been to the doctor), our vehicles (I can tell you the last time the truck has been to the Doctor :-)), our home (that is actually big enough for us), my beautiful and remarkable children, and my wonderful and amazing husband, who keeps on trudging on, going to a job, where he is taken for granted, and being thrown into a way of life, that is for only a few select among us.

But I truly am thankful for these things, as well as the many other things that are in my life... probably the most important is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I can't even begin to imagine how I would live my life without this life line... for that is what it truly is. It gives us hope, and it shows us the way.

Thanksgiving this year was spent in Cedar City, where we get to have the best of both worlds, spending time with both families. We stayed at Kathryn's, and we ate with Grandma and Grandpaw Bryant. They moved last January, so this was the first time having Thanksgiving in their new home. I am very thankful they were able to move into such a nice new home, a rambler, where everything is on the same level, and someplace where they don't have to worry about renters. It's been great for them, and we are really happy about that.

Cousins from Texas weren't able to come (they went to Branson, Missouri for some fun), and we had Thanksgiving with the Benells, Uncle Ronald, and ofcourse Grandma and Grandpaw. It was so yummy! They worked so hard! I say they, because all I ever make is Cookie Salad, for Tony, not much work goes into that. Which is fine by me... they make homemade pies and rolls, and go all out... I'd probably open a box of stovetop, or even better yet, go out to eat! Good thing I am blessed with hard workers in my life! :-)

Sure have lots to be thankful for!

Oh volleyball (part two)

Well, to update you all about Tooele's Regional Valley Young Women Volleyball Tournament, the tournament started on a Thursday night in Grantsville, this also happened to be the night of the first snow storm in our valley. It was quite a busy night, it was the Primary activity at the church, Dylan had karate,and Kate was supposed to be at the tournament at 5:45. In order to get everyone where they needed to be, I took the volleyball girls, the neighbor lady picked up Jocelynn and Afton, and another neighbor picked up and k. Weall hen met up at the church, Daniel coming in from Salt Lake, and Dylan staying at Karate.
The girls and I got there around the same time as the lady who was setting up the tournament, so we lent a hand, untangling the nets, hanging the nets, setting up chairs, and so forth. They finally got everything ready, and the girls began their first game. They won it, so then they played the next hour, and then they won that game, so they played again! Each game they got better and better, and their confidence grew. They won each opponent in two games. They were in the winners bracket, and then scheduled to come back the following Saturday, for the end of the tournament. We didn't get home until around 9, and no one had had dinner, so we quickly made something to eat and finally went to bed, with smiles on our faces!


The next Saturday we went back to Grantsville for the rest of the tournament, our first opponent was the 7th ward, they were the ones who beat us in our stake tournament, so we were all worried about playing against them! But we won! It took all 3 games, but we pulled it out! We were so excited! We then had to wait for the next game, the loser bracket to be played, well that darn 7th ward won! So we had to play them again for the championship game! They beat us in 2 games, but since we hadn't lost a game, we had to play them again!! The girls were all so upset, they were crying (in private) and trying to calm down, we played them again... it took all 3 games, and...

we lost! They were close games and we definitely game them a run for a money, but we took second place. The stake was so proud of them, they had both teams meet at A&W for rootbeer floats!

Good job girls!!

The Pianist

Kate had her first piano recital, with her new teacher Gina Morrison. Gina lives 4 houses down the street, and happens to be the mom of one of her best friends.

It's been fun to see the way Kate has progessed in her music, and especially the piano. She has been taking lessons now for about 3 and a half years, and I think, no actually, I know, she is a much better pianist than I am! It's embarrassing for me to admit that! But it does make my heart proud to hear her play. I hope she continues!!

Who knew?? My mom was right! Practicing makes all the difference,and I am proud to say that this girl practices!! (Much more than I ever did!) Good job Miss Kate, keep at it and you really can be a great pianist! And then maybe you will have crazy people shouting at (I guess I mean for) you! (Let me tell you, it was sort of a strange recital...well, that's all I'm going to say about that!)

Trick or Treat!

Trick or treat, smell our feet, give us something good to eat!

Dylan was Barney from the Flintstones (no judging his homemade costume!) Jocelynn and Dylan went Trick or Treating with the Hathaway girls, and their Moms, while the Dads stayed home and passed out candy!

Kate was a pink fairy. She went with a friend, trick or treating, and then later her friends came to watch a movie at our house.


Afton went as Velma from Scooby Doo, she went trick or treating with Courtney and Madison.


This year Jocelynn was Pebbles, from the Flintstones.



There is the nicest man, who gives out full sized candybars, to both the children, and the adults who are trick or treating! Wish I was that rich!! So I could be that kind!!! There are lots of kids in this neighborhood! All in all it was a good night, now wondering what next year will bring, with Halloween being Sunday, questions, questions!

Oh Volleyball, Oh Volleyball!!

How we love you volleyball! Oh volleyball, oh volleyball you bring such fun into our lives, the world is green, the ball is white, we can bump you day and night! (That was supposed to be sung to... "Oh Christmas Tree")

Kate has been playing volleyball this year with the young women, or I should say Beehives. We have about 18 beehives, and they all decided they wanted to play volleyball, Kate played a little bit last year, they had a stake volleyball tournament (that was all...no stake play at all), anyways to make a long story short, our ward has so many girls, they divided into two teams, it was basically the girls with a little experience on one team, and the girls with absolutely no experiene, on the other team (the girls chose the teams), anyway Kate's team won every game, until the stake tournament, when they lost...but came in second to go to regionals, and the other team lost every single game... but improved each week.

Kate was really cute, she "glued" her arms together in that volleyball position, and they never came apart.. no setting, no spiking, just bumping!! She improved each game and it was a lot of fun to watch her!

Now they are off to regionals, we'll let you know how they do there!!

All the volleyball players.

Her team!! There's my Kate, Kelsie Morrison, Brooke Cavey (she just turned a Mia Maid), Callie Stewart, Zoe Johnson, and Talyia Fordam.

It's all in the head

Afton had a fun project this quarter for sixth grade...it was a book report on a person from history and for this book report, they were to make a head of that person. Afton chose to do Sacagwea, because we had a vampiress wig.

She took her ball of yearn, that she got a few years ago for Christmas, painted it, and then with her friend, found some googly eyes, and put them on. We used "brains" from some candy Dan got from his birthday, and we found some lipgloss lips for the lips. Afton did the project mostly by herself, and she did a good job!

Sometimes it's fun when the work is all about the head!!

Field Trip!!

We went on a liitle field trip as a family. We went to the Bingham Copper Mine. Part of that mine is what stinks up your car, on the way to Tooele, but that's the refinery part, and the mine is actually about 10 miles south of that.

It is the largest man made hole in the world, it can be seen from space!

We watched a little video about it, and saw the miners going down to the pit, they looked so small, but they were in these monster vehicles. It reminded me of one of those things, where you drop the penny in the upside down funnel looking thing-a-ma-bob, and it goes round and round, until it finally drops into oblivion... and to think that people used to live down there, in little cities, with schools and everything... that would have been an interesting life!

Dylan earned a scouting pin, and we had a fun day of learning why copper is so important, and how if we didn't have it, I might not be typing on this computer right now! Family field trips are the best... where else do you get to see a special t-shirt about SL, ut??

Detroit, Michigan!!

So my little sister moved to Detroit Michigan, in April 2009 (I think). She has the two cutest littlest girls, one of whom I was never able to actually hold in person, until Callie finally gave us a real excuse, which was the "attack of the gall bladder", when her husband called and said she was in the hospital, we decided then and there it was time to visit. So, about a week after she got that darn gall bladder out, we (my mom, and older sister, Kathryn)got to go spend time with her and her little family!

I made the airline arrangements, about 10 minutes too fast, because Kathryn said she could go about 10 minutes after I booked the flight, and when I went to go make the same deal, it had changed dramatically... Anyways, that's how my mom and I flew together, we had a layover in Chicago, and just had to stop and take a pic by the blues brothers.


It was so great to be able to meet my little niece Zoey, and hold her. She reminded me so much of my Afton, when she was a baby! I just love her so much, and her big sister, Whitney, too.

Those cute little sisters, brings me back to when I had two cute little baby sisters. They grow so fast!
We got to go to the Ford Rouge Factory, and see how they make Ford F-150s. That was really amazing. That moving line, was awesome! Amazing what they do there, and what has transpired since the beginning of the automobile industry.

We also got to go to the Detroit temple. It was the smallest temple I'd ever been in, but I was really thankful to go, since one of my goals is to visit all of the temples in the United States.


It was great to go and be with my family, and see a part of the United States that I had never been before. It was beautiful! My family was so amazing, my cute kids and wonderful husband pulled together and took care of each other while I got to go and have this wonderful opportunity! I'm so thankful for them! I love them all so much!!

Crazy Hair Day!?!

So today was a crazy day!! It was intentionally "crazy hair day" at the school. It's the day that's part of red ribbon week, saying instead of putting something crazy in your body, do something crazy with your hair!


Our intentions were good, but it really was a crazy day. It was "walk to school day", which really isn't a big deal at our house, because EVERYDAY is walk to school day, but this day, was meet at the park, and walk to school with the kids, whose mom's drove them to the park, and then walk to school (it's all about exercising and walking, but I swear I see more cars on that day, than on any other day :-)).

But today, was extra crazy, because it's the day I am (well really was) leaving for Detroit to see my little sis, and her cute babies!! My mom was with me (Kathryn had left earlier with Daniel, to fly out on another flight), and my mom brought apples, so while trying to get everyone to school, pack, get some "crazy" hair going on, make sure I'm ready to be gone from my cute family for 5 days, we were making... applesauce!

Afton had lopsided ponytails, Dylan had pony tails (in what little hair he had), and Jocelynn wanted to braids pinned up!

So...it was a crazy day, and only a little part of it had to do with hair!!

Ahh... the Dentist!

Open wide... It's always the first thing you hear, after you sit in the chair, and have your bib on.
Going to the dentist is not one of my favorite things to do, as I'm sure it's not yours... but my kids don't have a problem with it. Which is probably why these kiddos of mine, look at the dentist weird, when they keep asking them how they are doing!


We recently changed dentists from a regular old family dentist to a pediatric specialist dentist. Why? you might ask... because the specialist is cheaper...go figure! And open wide!!

A White Belt!!

We now have a white belt hanging proudly over the mirror in someone's room. This little someone has been practicing for his review, has been attending his class, plus another class (so 3 hours a week), and has just proven to a room full of people that he can flip a 200+ pound man onto his back!! Way to go my Dylan boy!! His Karate review was September 26, 2009. And his rank is no: Ju-Ni Kyu. I was so proud of this little man, and yet so scared... that's not really the right word, but it was so hard seeing a 200+ lb. man beat up on my 68 lb., 9 year old. But he handled him self with confidence, he kept going, and although it was a little tense, I was so very proud!! Dylan started about a month and a half after everyone, but he was able to catch up (and even surpass) others in his class. In order to be a part of this review, you had to show consistent progress, and even though we weren't even in town consistently, he showed that progress, and was able to review and progress!