Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our Trick or Treat Weekend...

So another Mickey's Halloween Treat has come and gone. So much fun...it was busy, but I don't think it was as busy as last year. We went as Austin Powers and it was Groovy! Everyone loved our costumes, especially Dustin and Cooper! There were so many that wanted to take their picture. It was funny. We'd get the look, like "What are they supposed to be?" Then they would laugh and smile when they figured it out. It was awesome! The kids like it, though, going to Disney earlier in the day was probably not a good idea. It made for a very long day and some very tired kids. They were exhausted, but everytime we asked if they wanted to go to the hotel..."No! Lets stay!" I like it because safe treats right and its such fun with the dancing and characters. Though this year I was little ticked at some "big" trick or treaters (aka young adults) jumping right in the middle of a dance group of kids and characters. I was kind of like "Hey, those kids are trying to have fun and here you go jumping right in the middle and bunching them out of the way!" Go on the edge and let the kids have fun! I wish they had one for just younger kids. And, I'm sorry, I know its every one's right to do what they want, but please this is Disneyland and there's something wrong with people dressing up in the "sexy" costumes. I mean do we need to see sexy witches, pirates and Alice in Wonderlands all night? Especially when they are on 13 and 14 year old girls? A little weird I think.

Then on Saturday we went to the LA Zoo. And it was Boo at the Zoo! They had a little pumpkin patch set up for pictures and little trick or treating areas. It was fun. The kids loved seeing the animals, but Brody was very disappointed that there were no Penguins. we'll probably go again, who doesn't love the zoo?

So such a fun weekend, though very tiring. Come Sunday, we were exhausted. Good thing it was Stake conference. We skipped and had the laziest day ever just trying to catch up on sleep! Sinners, I know! But we needed it. Those kids wore us out!

Getting Ready for Trick or Treating...

So we're heading off again this weekend to Disneyland! We are going trick or Treating at California adventure Park! If anyone gets a chance to go to Disneyland I recommend going at Halloween and going to Mickeys Halloween treat. Its a separate event and you have to get a special ticket, but its so fun! They have teat stations set up through the park and other places where they play music and you can dance with the characters and cast members. The kids think its great! They also have areas to do little crafts and projects for the kids. So much fun and you know the candy is safe, right?! They also hand out healthier snacks like carrot sticks, apple slices and raisins. We've gone the last 2 years and I love it. Last year was really busy, so I'm hoping this time won't be quite that bad.
We have great costumes this year too! Two years ago we went as pirates, and last year we went as Peter Pan, Tink, Wendi and Captain Hook. This year is Groovy baby! Brody will be Austin Powers, Dustin - Dr. Evil, Cooper - Mini Me, And me and Gracie are going as 60's girls! Its so cute. Gracie wanted to go as Vanessa Kensington, but I wasn't up to making a silver dress or a black jumpsuit, so she had to settle being a 60's girl with me. And yes, i let them watch the movie...not all of it, just the fun parts like the end, so they could see what it was about. And the fun thing was they played Austin Powers later on. Gracie was in trouble and "Austin Powers" (aka Brody) had to save her! It was hilarious listening to "Help me Austin Powers!" "I'm coming! I'll save you!" My kids have great imaginations! I love it!
So wish me luck. I'll try not to have too much fun without you all!

12 Years Ago...

So today is October the 18. And 12 years ago today, Dustin and I hooked up! What a nice romantic way to put it, right? We started dating and I still haven't been able to shake him! LOL! I can't believe its been that long, it really has gone by so fast. Now we have 3 kids, a house and a fish! Well, and a dog, but she lives at Gramma Margie's ;) I always used to be amazed at how long my parents were together, or even my grandparents. How do you live that long with one person and not get tired of them, at least so tired that you want to trade them in? I guess the majority of people do, which is so sad. It used to be that I couldn't imagine being with someone for that long, and now I can't imagine what I would do without the guy. I don't think I would know how to act around anyone else. They would probably think I was a total nerd, because I am, but Dustin is just used to me being a nerd. He doesn't care, because he's a bit of a goof himself. I like that. I like the fact that I can totally be myself around him and not worry that he will trade me in, though he does make fun of me! I always return the favor, with all my love of course!
So how do you stay happily together for years and years? I know that 12 years is just a drop in the bucket, but compared to some its a big drop. Here are some things I've learned being with my guy for this long...some I learned fast and some I learned the long slow way and some I'm still trying to learn. And if anyone has any advice feel free to post it, I mean we could all use a little help now and then, right? Here it goes...

• remember he is your best friend. I tell him everything, even though I know he doesn't actually listen to all of it. I dump on him my problems, my happiness, and my thoughts. Sometimes it is for his help, sometimes it is for only my benefit of getting it off of my chest.
• remember he doesn't always listen. Some things are important to me and he could give no thought to. But as he is a guy, he pretends to hear and I patiently repeat things again.
• remember that I don't always listen. Refer to the last one and reverse the rolls. Hey I know I'm not perfect!
• remember the good times. Because we made those good times ourselves. We have had a lot of fun memories and learned alot from each other. We've learned how we can make each other laugh and what we both enjoy doing together and separately.
• remember the bad times. Because those are our bad times and we made it through. We learned to work together, maybe not always smoothly, but we did it. We learned to fight, not always fairly, and we learned to say we were sorry. (That's always the best part!)
• remember that some things don't matter. It doesn't matter that he can't find the laundry hamper everyday and it doesn't matter that I don't put things in the same place every time. these habits drive the other one nuts, but it really doesn't matter, because I will always pick up the laundry and he will probably always be looking for my keys.
• remember that people change, but not always in the way you want them to. No one will change for you, they have to want to change for themselves. We can push as much as we want, it won't do any good. All we can do is watch and see and make up for the difference ourselves. (refer to the last note.)
• remember to love one another. No matter what, I always tell Dustin I love him, even when I'm ticked. I do it to my kids to. I say "I love you alot, but you really make me angry when..." Look at me grow and express myself in such a grown up matter! It sounds corny but it does help me diffuse a bit!
• remember that its ok to not say anything. Sometimes we go for along time without talking, not out of anger, but because its ok that we are just together. Like when we are driving somewhere, or sitting watching tv, sometimes its really long stretches of no conversation, but its ok, becuase we are together and thats what matters.

So these are things I think I have learned and am currently learning. I love my husband and I am so thankful he decided to come cruising with us that October night! LOL! I have a wonderful time with him no matter what. Whether its just sitting on the couch or playing with our kids or going somewhere new. I love the fact that we are together and that we are working at making this a wonderful life for ourselves and our children. Thanks babe, its been great! Love you always and forever!

Having fun with my blog!

Finding out all sorts of things on the World Wide Web! And having lots of fun with my blog as you can see. Maybe I'm not so computer illiterate. Not great at it, but I'm getting there. I mean give me a break, when I was in High School, they hardly even offered a computer class, right? I could play Oregon Trail and Lode runner that was good enough! I mean half the time if my kids get a hold of the computer they have changed something and I can't do nothing about it! LOL!

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The beauty and wonder of nature...

Of all the things I have seen and done (which isn't a whole lot but...) I am always amazed by the wonder and beauty of nature. I have always loved the mountains...I'm not much of a camper, I enjoy showers too much, but I always loved hiking and driving up through the mountains. I love the ocean...its vastness makes a person feel so small yet so wonderfully peaceful. I love the Alberta prairie in the middle of winter right after it snows. Completely white and stretching on forever. To observe these things really makes a person marvel at the amazing creations of our Heavenly Father. To think of the time and thought he put into every one astounds me. We often run through our life and forget to stop and take in the wonder that is around us. Sometimes its hard when you live in the city like I do. The beauty is sometimes hard to see past the cement and pavement. But when you get the chance to leave the busy life and go on a little adventure, the wonders really open up for you...

We got the chance this last weekend to drive up to the Sequoia National Park. I had seen pictures of those huge trees and thought it would be really cool to see them. I thought they were in the redwood forest which is in Northern California and Dustin and I talked about going up there one day but we had yet to find enough time to go. Then I was watching an episode of Jon and Kate (love that show...makes my life feel normal!) and they were going to the Sequoia Park and I said to Dustin..."We really need to go there one day. Too bad its so far." And he says..."Its only like 2 hours away, its up near Fresno." I was like WHAT! We had been so close these last 3 years and had yet to see them! So when we had the chance, I said lets go for a drive up there and see. I am so glad we did! They were absolutely amazing. I've driven through the mountains numerous times, and you do marvel at how big and tall some of the trees are...but these dwarfed those huge pine trees. And to think they have been standing there for hundreds, even thousands of years! They were beautiful. Of course, as goes tradition with us seeing anything worthwhile, it was foggy! ( First Mt. Rushmore, then the beach...story later) but at least we could get close enough to see them. We had told the kids we were going to see some really big trees, and to them, who have never been to the mountains much, those pine trees were really big! So when we seen the Sequoias, they were quite excited. They kept saying..."Look at that one! Wow! Look over there!" We had gotten them the Junior Ranger books at the entrance and they had a scavenger hunt in them which they really liked doing during our hike...which was wonderful for me because I could enjoy it without hearing how tired or bored they were!

Those trees were so awe inspiring! And because it was so foggy and a little chilly, the forest was soooo SILENT! We hardly even heard any birds. It was a little creepy watching the mist float through the trees, so quiet, hearing the occasional sound distances away and not being able to see more than a hundred or so feet around you...I had to keep up the chatter because I was a little freaked we might meet a bear! But it was so unreal how huge they were! The pics look so funny because you're trying to fit the tree and see the people and the people look like little ants at the base of a humans leg. Amazing! And to think they just grow in that area of the world. No where else do you find those trees. God made that forest just for them, and here, years and years later, they stand. Absolutely one of the coolest things I have ever seen! I can't wait to go back. Hopefully when we go next time, there won't be any fog so we can really enjoy the forest!