A sad day..

Today was a sad day. This Saturday and everyday after has been a sad day. As some of you may know, Little 6 year old Jayden was killed on Saturday. She is the daughter of one of my dearest and closest friends, Natalie. I loved this little girl so much. Natalie and I have been friends for a long time and
I love her kids like my own. The day little Jayden passed away I feel like I lost one of my kids. My heart is so sad for Natalie. I hurt to know she is hurting. What can I do to take the hurt away? Is there any other pain like loosing a child? So innocent. So pure. So full of life.
On Saturday I got a call from Natalie. She was just finishing up with working for someone that day and was heading home to to be with her kids. She called to chat and then we hung up from each other. Later that day (about 2 hours later) I get another call from our friend Destiny. She asks me " Have you talked to Natalie today?" I reply "yes, I just talked to her a little bit ago. why?" I could tell something bad had happened. Destiny then tells me Jayden has been in an accident and didn't make it. I was beside myself. I didn't know what to say. I told her thank you for telling me and I immededatly called Nat. Then I rushed to be with her. My mind raced the whole way over and it started to hit me. When I got there I hugged her and We cried together. I didn't know what to say or to do all I could do is hug her and cry with her. She has just lost her baby. Her flesh and blood. My heart ached for her. She then later told me after she got home the girls where taking something to the neightbor across the street. They live on 8th North which is kind of a busy street sometimes. As they held hands ready to cross, Madison seen a car was comming and stepped back but little Jayden kept going and ran across the road. The SUV didn't even see her. Madison ran inside yelling to Natalie " Jayden just got hit" natalie ran out barefoot to her little girl. Madison called Jeff and soon cops and ambulances where there. They rushed her to the hospital and on the way Natalie knew she was gone.
So today was her funeral. It was beautiful. Jayden was beautiful. Natalie and her family did so well. Natalie spoke and it was perfect. Madison spoke and it was perfect. Jeff spoke and it was perfect. They even gave the family and friends the opportunity to get up and say some words. It was so neat to her all the wonderful memories of our sweet Jayden.
This kind of thing is so tragic. I wouldn't wish it upon my enemy. This is something that really makes you evaluate your life and how you are with your own kids. Things could change in a blink of an eye. I went home that night and really looked at myself and thought, If this was to happen to me, I don't want to have any regrets on I couldof or shouldof done something different. Thinking, I should of spend more quality time with my kids, I should of been nicer, I should of been there more. I would want No regrets. That night I spoke a little kinder. That night I squeezed my kids a little tighter. That night I stayed up and watched my kids sleep thanking my heavenly father that I had them. And almost feeling guilty I had all of my kids home safe and still breathing. It really hit close to home.
Natalie is so strong. And she is so strong in the church. When asked how they are doing so well through this, they tell people it is because the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Isn't that so amazing? To know that we will see Little Jayden again? I have a strong testimony in this church. I know my sweet Natalie and Jeff will see thier little girl again. I know families are forever. I know that my heavenly father knows each and everyone of us and he loves us. I know he gives us what we can bear. I know Natalie will get through this and I hope I can help her get through this.
So If you are reading this you are thinking "That is so sad." But I want you to do more than just that. Are you doing everything you can in your life to make the most of every moment with your family, with your children? If anyone of them was gone tomarrow, would you have any regrets? I would hope I wouldn't. My loss of this little girl has taught me alot already. To be a better person and make every moment I can with my family a great one.
I will miss Jayden. I will miss her beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair. I will miss how funny and smart she was. I will miss how spunky and full of life she was. I will miss braiding her hair making her look like a princess. Oh I loved that girl! I lost a little part of me this last Saturday. She will truly be missed.
I love you Jayden!!!


December 10th 2002- December 20th 2008

The remodel.

I find myself asking myself Why I did this. A Kitchen remodel in the middle of December?? Are you kidding me??? But let me tell you my reasoning... Well As most of you know we have our house up for sale. And we have been having NO luck. After talking to a few people, we decided the biggest downfall of our home was the kitchen. It wasn't aweful but it wasn't great. It had the low cabinets with the amazing black and white checker tile. YUCK!! It had to go! So I proposed this "idea" to Nick about opening it up and doing a little kitchen construction. He said "absolutly not!!" I told him if it doesn't sell then I would have a kitchen I could stand and it would help it to sell. Well,... The more I thought about my idea the more I wanted to do this. Nick kept trying to tell me why it wouldn't work and how it was a bad idea. ( I think he just didn't want to do the work on it )But after a while I just told him "look,.. I am going to do this. And you do this with me or I will have to hire it out!" And needless to say I got my way and We are done with my Kitchen!!! And it only took 15 days!!And I love it!!!! The whole getting it done by Christmas was a big push for us so it wouldn't be dragged on through out the year. And I must say I am SOO glad we are done. It is 3 days before Christmas but we are done!!!! Here is the progress..

This was our kitchen. Notice the beautiful railing on the top of the cabnents and the checker floor. And it is TINY in there!!!





The old dining room.
This was the first day of demolition. We took down the cabinets and there was instant light!! It already looked so much bigger!
Gotta love my ancient 1900 stove. But everything on it still works!!
My mom knocking down the wall. DEMO!!!!
Getting ready to rip up the tile floor. This is My awesome friend Tanya and my mom who helped me this day. Nick was gone to work and we had done all of this in one day!!! SHE WOMAN!!
Yes, ladies we ripped out the floor and the backer board all by ourselves! Anything is possible.It was SOOO much work!! We were so tired and only a few battle wounds. Did I mention this was alot of work!?
The next day or so Nick started puting up a little wall to seperate the kitchen from the front door. And a little sample of my paint color.

Nick is not a drywaller/mudder. Just ask him. This was not the greatest mudding job. Bless his heart :) But beggers can't be choosers.
getting the painting done.
Then the floor. I was so excited for my floor. It is probibly my favorite thing!! I love the dark wood.
Loving the green with the dark floor!!!

The cabinet guy (Russell Jorgenson) putting up our cabinets. FYI- We didn't have to buy any new cabinets. We just re-used the ones we had and rearranged them a bit. I am SO smart!! and frugal!
We got a new stove with a over the range microwave which is awesome to allow for more counter space. It is comming along. New lights and waiting for countertops.
repainting the dining room. I had to stay up many nights painting so my kids could have a Christmas tree set up. (Everything was in the frontroom and we had no room for a tree until we could move everything out.)

Getting countertops. I love them they match the floor perfect!!!
Put new pulls on the cabnents which add SOOO much to the room.
What a mess!!! we got new 2" wood blinds to match. They finish the look.
After alot of dust and clutter, we are done!!! And I love it. I am so sick of painted and touch ups but at least now I have a super nice bigger kitchen and I am ready for Christmas.
This image looks like my floor is split in two but it ts the countertop of the island.

Christmas Tag..

I saw this on Abby's blog and thought it was fun. Oh, Christmas!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? a little of both.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? December 1st or in this year's case, December 3rd. 00ps!
4.When do you take the tree down? Jan 1
5. Do you like egg nog? It's not bad.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My yellow banana seat "repainted" bike. My dad got an old bike and repainted it yellow and it had the coolest banana seat and awesome handle bars!!! I cant remember if it was Christmas or Birthday but it was definitely the best!!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes
8.Hardest person to buy for? sister in-laws
9. Easiest person to buy for? Nick or the boys
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received: Dollar store Santa Claus figurine. (Hahahah!!)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Christmas Story
13.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Spiral Ham, rolls and funeral potatoes. YUM!!
15.Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear
16. Favorite Christmas song? Silent night
17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and of course Rudolph
19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
20. Most annoying thing about this time of year? How commercial it has become. Do Kids really need SOOO much? What happened to one or two nice things???Forty or fifty?? come on!
21. Favorite ornament theme or color? RED. deep red.
22. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Ham and turkey.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? A new kitchen, healthy happy family, a few clothes.
24. What is your favorite Christmas tradition or traditions? Exchanging presents on Christmas morn. Christmas breakfast.
25. What do you like and dislike about Christmas? Love being with the family.dislike the cleanup after.

I tag.. Tracy, Ali, Addy, Stacy, Heather, And Amanda.

Where U at????

Well, if you must know.... I will be at a fun little Christmas boutique this weekend!! Yes, we have to start thinking of Christmas gifts. Blah!!
All the cool people and vendors will be there including... ME!!!
I will be giving away another FREE session and will be selling $100 gift cards for only $75!!! That is a smoking deal!!
So come and take a peek if not only to see me but for the other great stuff that will be there like:

-Pampered chef (20% off stone wear)
-Mod Be clothing
-Sole desires shoes - Have you seen these shoes? SO cute!!! and cheap too!!
-Marla Evans Minkie blankets
-Bumbles
-Aprons
-glitter toes certificates
-and of course your favorite and mine.... Me!

It will at:
261 South 810 East
Salem

Hope to see everyone there.
I will also be at the Central Utah Stars the 21st and 22nd. There will be more booths there too but I will post more next week when I know more on that. I will be giving away ANOTHER session there too. (holy cow, I am generous!!!) So mark your calenders!

The scary "red Dragon"

The day we got home from costume shopping, the boys couldn't wait to get on thier new costumes. They were playing so cute on the tramp all dressed up. When I went out to check on them later, Sawyer wasn't on the tramp.



I looked on the side of the house and saw this..My little devil. What the... Does he have on his face????



As he got a little closer I could tell he had put on Mitchell's costume mask.



How freaky is this???? What would you think if you drove by my house and seen this peddling as fast as his little devil legs ( I mean red dragon legs)could make him go? So funny!!!

Halloween - pt 2

Nick and I got to go to a Halloween Party this year at our good friends Bean and Shelly's. Tons of fun. I was rather skanky I should say. in my fishnet stockings and knee high boots.My sister brought me over her a Halloween costume this year to wear. Shelly and I where nurses with my cute little hubby as the Dr. Freelance gynecologist to be exact. What a PERV!! But you know him....
Here is Shelly not really claiming her husband cuz he was a poor sport and didn't dress up! We had Nicole as a pirate, Darla as a cat, Jamie and Shad as Napoleon Dynamite and the girl -I forget her name. (the one with the boondoggle and the caboodle), and we had Nicks brother Ryan and Lisa dress up like Shad and Jamie. So funny!

Halloween- pt 1

Well, my boys had a good year. Little Drew was the cutest monkey ever, Sawyer was a "red Dragon" and Carsen was a Pokemon Trainer. We went to Shopko to get an outfit weeks ago and I really wanted to find Sawyer a Peter Pan costume. Green tights are funny. But he found this "red Dragon" costume and had to have it. I couldn't help but think, "How perfect is that!!" Most of the time latley he acts just like a little..."red Dragon" And it was 45% off! Cute anyways.

Oh and for the record and if your with me let me hear a HOLLA!
I hate Trunk or treat!!! Is this what we are teaching our kids what Halloween is? Going around from car to car in a church parking lot getting candy? No, I tell you! In Relief Society a few weeks before they mentioned how they were going to have the blasted trunk or treat and I wanted to stand up in outrage and say "OVER MY DEAD BODY!" but.. I didn't obviosly. I hear about how "Well, it is safer fo rthe kids" Well I say, if they are too young to go out alone then you are taking them to the houses you know any ways right? I wont be a partaker in it! I havn't went to it in 3 years . I hope that they won't do it next year cuz enough people won't participate. And another point. What about the older generation who just love to see all the trick or treaters come knock on thier doors and now.. NOTHING! I buy candy and I have to eat it all by myself because no one comes to house anymore. I mean, come on!! Well there is my vent session. Any one feel me on the subject?
Next year I WILL say something! Well maybe.. ..

On a lighter note...PHOTOBOOTH FUN!!!

Family Fun!!! This is the funny-est thing EVER!! ( I'm sure nick will be super happy that  I have posted these of him, by the way..) My boys have had so much fun on this PhotoBooth. Its way fun and hilarious!!!

Monkey Boy...

Beautiful Eyes!!

One night my mom and Dad came over and of course we had to show them how the photobooth works. So we got a few great "pleasing" shots! This is of course my beautiful mother!!

My dear old dad.. We took this just messing around that night and I saved it. Then I  sent it out to EVERYONE on his surprise 50th birthday party invites. SO FUNNY! I am super duper funny!! This pic reminds me of Earnest. (Earnest goes to jail etc...)Anybody remember him? He wanted to kill me so he will also be way excited I have posted this today! HE HE!!!

Have a super day!!