Things I have done!

I got this off of my friend Torys blog. You are supposed to Bold the things that you have done

1. started your own blog*
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band (does rock band count?)
4. visited Hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to Disneyland
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped-I would love to, but I am a scardy cat
12. visited Paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. seen in person the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch-hiked
23. taken a sick day when you're not ill-who hasn't is my question!
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or a sunset
31. hit a home run-does on the Wii count?
32. been on a cruise
33. seen Niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an Amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen Michelangelo's David
41. sung karaoke
42. seen the old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. visited Africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. received a prestigious award
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the Sistine chapel in person
50. been to the top of the Eiffel tower in Paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater- I miss the drive inns!
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited Russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. got flowers for no reason
64. donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a check-not to proud of that one!
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the Lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job-my very first job as a telemarketer, I finished an unfinished survey!
76. seen the changing of the guards in London
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the Vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in Jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someones life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one-my mom
94. had a baby-two beautiful ones!
95. seen the Alamo in person
96. swam in the great salt lake
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee
100. learned to play an instrument
I tag everyone on my blog list!! LOVE YOUR FACES!!!

Just a thought!

I just finished watching the season finale of little people big world. In this episode their very good friend Mike died all of a sudden and they were coping with his sudden death. And it got me thinking again about how sudden my mom died and how quickly you can lose someone close to you. It can happen in a blink of an eye. I hadn't talked to my mom in 6 months. I had wrote her letters and stuff, but I hadn't heard her voice for six months and then she was gone. I will never hear her voice again. Anyway the point of this post is to let EVERYONE I know, know that I love them. You have touched my life in some way and I am grateful for it. To all my friends, thank you for letting me be a part of your lives and putting up with my "weird" ways. And to my family, thank you for being such a great influence on our lives and helping us to raise our two beautiful children. I love you all and just wanted to let you know. Happy Holidays!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Okay, so remember when I said that I hope it will be a white Christmas? Well I didn't mean this white. The snow just won't stop. See this picture above here, it is of my driveway. I shoveled this driveway a half hour ago and look at it now. Looks like I've got a chore ahead of me. I've decided that I am not going to shovel again until the snow stops, or until it's almost time for Dusty to get home. I really hope that the weather cooperates so that we can go to Idaho on the 24th. Just goes to show that sometimes you get what you ask for :)

Add another blogger to the mix!!

Hey everyone I just wanted you to know that Katherine has a blog now too. It is phillipandkatherine.blogspot.com. I think that everyone should start a blog. It helps us so much to stay in touch with everyone. We will get to everyone eventually so you might as well start blogging now :) Ha Ha Ha (that is my evil laugh!)

I'm on a roll!

Wow 3 posts at once. I think this is a record for me! I guess alot happened this weekend. Well as you know my friend cut Jordyn some bangs and she just loves them. Well I have found that her hair looks kind of funny just down and not done, so I am trying to find new and exciting ways to do her hair. Well at the Ward Christmas party on Saturday I saw this little girl with her hair done like this and thought it was way cute and original. So I tried it on Jordyns hair. Tell me what you think!! The back looks kind of wierd. I think I might have done it a little wrong, but I will perfect it later. I am just glad she sat through my doing this.

A Hawaiian Luau!

On Saturday our ward had its Christmas party and we decided to go. Even though we are not active members, I do know alot of people in this ward because I grew up here, so I thought it would be fun to see some of them. It was fun. They catered with The Bamboo Hut restaurant, and that was good food. Then they had a Hawaiian band and Hula dancers come. It was great. They even got the Bishopric and the Relief Society Presidency up there to try out some dancing. It was hilarious. The kids got to see Santa and tell him what they wanted. All in all it was a good time.

Fun at the skatepark!!

So Saturday we decided that we were going to go to the skatepark for one last time before the big storm hit. The kids love going and Dusty has a great time too. This time was no different. Even though it was freezing it was still fun. The park in American fork was closed, so we went to the one in Orem. The one in Orem is right next to the fire department, so the kids got to see all the fire trucks because the were out doing inspections on them. The kids had a great time, even though it was freezing. Dusty is getting braver on what he will do, he actually went into the bowl this time. He made it down the side, but right after he fell on his butt. It was great. Here is a picture.

All in all it was a great time and I am glad the kids got to go one last time before the snow came. It is great exercise too. Maybe next year I will have enough guts to try it out. I am such a scaredy cat when it comes to doing stuff like that.

A child is born!!

I just wanted to post a congratulations to my friends Ali and Greg. This morning Ali gave birth (naturally with no drugs-not on purpose!) to a precious baby boy. Aidan Scott Packer!! He is so adorable. He weighed 7lb and 15oz. She was due on Jan. 1 but the little guy just couldn't wait. She almost had him in the car at the front doors to the hospital. CONGRATULATIONS!! I added the picture later, he is about 3 weeks old in the picture.

What's your favorite ornament?

Here's what you are supposed to do, Take a picture of your favorite Christmas decoration and then tell why. It could be that big Nativity in your yard or just a single beautiful ornament. Whatever it is, I want to hear about it :) Include any fun traditions or anything else that you want. Don't forget to tag your friends.

This is one of my favorite because we made it when Jordyn was first born. My sister Kim gave it to us. It is an imprint of her hand and foot. I just love this because it reminds me of when she was that little. Kids grow up so fast and it is nice to have something to remind us.

This is my other favorite because it is the first ornament that Ryan made me. I love that it incorporates his love of trains along with a picture of him. He made this last year in Pre-school. I love the fact that it is supposed to say 2007, but it says 2070. Just a little quirk.

I tag:

Chanc

Chelsea

Ali

Shelly

Linda

Lisa

Lindsey

Lori

Loni

Lacey

Bethany

and anyone else who wants to join in the tagging fun!!

I have to vent!!!

So this blog is kind of like a journal for me so this post is all about getting out my frustration. Our hard drive totally quit today. This hard drive had all my pictures and music on it. I am not as worried about the music, but the pictures are irreplaceable. I looked online to see about a hard drive recovery and it costs like $400. So we are basically screwed. I am glad that I have this blog so some of my pictures are here. I know that relatives have pictures and stuff so I might be bothering all my relatives to give me any pictures of my family that they have. I am just so sad and pissed and just sick that all my pictures are gone. We are going to have to buy a new hard drive, but this time we are going to make sure that we have a back-up. I definitely don't want to go through this again. Thanks for listening to me vent!! If you want and have any pics of my family please email me and I will try and get them from you either on CD, DVD or through our flash drives.

Blog Award!!

Well I have been given the blog award by my sister Shelly. Thanks so much! I have enjoyed blogging so much. My niece Chance is the one who actually got me going on it, so thanks Chance!! It has become an addiction to me almost. I can't go a day without logging on. I may not post, but I have to log on. I am always trying to find new things to put on there. I love that it keeps your family that live far away or that you don't see everyday updated on your life. So thanks again shell- I love your face!!
I want to give the award to:
Chanc
Carrie
Chelsea
Lindsey
Bobbie
Loni
Lacey
The only reason I nominated these guys and not everyone is because they are the ones who keep up with thier blogs and don't go months without posting. To be a true blogger you have to post every once in a while.

Fun in the leaves!!

So me and Dusty finally raked up our leaves in the backyard today!! If you've ever seen our backyard you will know why this is such an amazing thing. It is a pretty big backyard and it

wouldn't be that bad to rake, except the neighbors have this huge shade tree that loves to slowly drop its leaves all throughout the fall and winter. Now this wouldn't be such a big deal except almost all the leaves fall into our yard. I hate that tree this time of year. In the summer its nice because it shades our yard too, but come fall I detest that tree. Anyway, we raked up the leaves and the kids got their leave play time in too. Here are some fun pics of the kids.

Playing in the leaves!

Smile big!







Relaxing!

Where's Jordy?

Mommy I want bangs!!

My friend Ali cut her 1 year old daughter bangs because they were just getting in her face and she wouldn't keep a hair thing in her hair to save her life. So Jordyn sees her hair and decides that she wants to have bangs too. She keeps bugging me and bugging me to let her have bangs, so I finally gave in and let her have bangs. I decided that it is only hair and if it does look bad I can always grow them back. I'll tell you, it is a real change. It is definitely going to have to be something to get used to, but she loves them and so that it all that matters. Thanks Ali for cutting mine and her hair. Love your face!!

This is the before!!











And this is after!!

8 things!

8 Things
I've been tagged by my stampin up demonstrator Loni.
8 TV Shows I Watch
1.The biggest loser
2.Gilmore Girls
3.Ellen ( I think she is so funny!)
4.Good things utah
5. John & Kate plus 8
6.Friends
7.Samantha who?
8.Spongebob (that would be the fault of my kids-they are addicted!)
8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Olive Garden (anyone who really knows me knows this one!)
2. Applebees
3.Chilis
4. Bajio
5.Tepanyaki
6.China Light Cafe(I worked there and know what goes on there, but I still can't help that I love their Chinese!)
7. Subway
8.Wendys
8 Favorite Singers/Bands
1. Carrie Underwood
2. Taylor Swift
3. Reba
4. Christina Agulierra (Don't know how to spell)
5. Rascal Flats
6.Green Day
7.Metallica
8.All the old 80s singers-Madonna,Cindy Lauper etc.
8 books I have read (and recommend)
1. Twilight series (you knew that one was coming)
2. Harry Potter Series
3. Any book by J.D. Robb (mystery and "romance" can't get any better)
4.books by mary higgins clark
5. books by carol higgins clark (I try and stick with the same author for a while if you can't tell)
6. Romance
7. Mystery
8.I just started the Leven Thumps series
8 things that happened yesterday
1.Unpacked from coming home from Idaho
2.Started laundry
3. woke up at 3:30a.m. to watch my friends kids (I love your face Ali)
4.Cleaned house-kinda
5.Mailed my christmas cards
6.Took Ryan and Jordyn to school
7. Went shopping for my friends daughters birthday present
8. Started reading the first Leven Thumps book before falling asleep!
8 things I am looking forward to
1. Spending time with family for the holidays
2. Seeing my dads reaction to his christmas present
3. Having all debts paid off
4. Finishing our basement ???(refer to #3)
5. Ryan and Jordyns first christmas concerts at school
6. Getting enough gumption to do my scrapbooking
7. Christmas for my kids!
8. Hopefully a better year next year
8 things I wish for
1. World Peace!!
2. A debt free life
3. Unlimited patience
4. More time with family
5. Security
6. A jacuzzi
7. A healthy me
8. A skinny me
8 people I am tagging
1. Ali
2. Linda
3. Chanc
4. Chelsea
5. Lacey
6. Lindsey
7. Bobbie
8. Shelly, Carrie, Lori, Lisa-and anyone else who looks at my blog

Thanksgiving!!

So we had Thanksgiving twice this year. We were just going to have it at our house this year with my family, but then Dustys family didn't have theirs until Friday, so we rushed up there and had Thanksgiving with them too. It was great being able to see both families on the holiday. Unfortunately in all the rush I forgot to bring my camera to Idaho, so all I have are pictures of my family. We ate dinner-which my homemade stuffing turned out great I am so excited to report!! Then the boys decided that they wanted to play poker. So me and my two sisters were in the living room and we decided to play the game M.A.S.H. I haven't played that in years it was great! All I remember is that I married George Clooney. Then we played hangman. It was a great night!! Then we got to spend some time in Idaho with Dustys family and it was awesome! I got to see my nephew for the first time. He is such a doll, and so calm and layed back. It was fun to see them all again.

Chocoholic!!

So I am making pies for Thanksgiving today and one of them was a chocolate pie. Well I remember when I was a kid licking the bowl, so I decide to let Jordyn lick the bowl (I would have let Ryan, but he was downstairs playing a game-SURPRISE, SURPRISE!). So I am cleaning up my mess and low and behold I turn around and this is what I see. My little Chocolate face girl! Not only is it all over her face, but up her arms and on her shirt. What a cutie pie. I had to take a picture. It almost looks like her face is painted to look like a lion or something. I also wanted to brag that I successfully made meringue on the first try this year. Two years ago I tried and tried and tried, I think I tried 5 different times to make meringue all failing. Last year I didn't even try, but I am so excited that it turned out on the first try this year . I don't know what I was doing wrong, it was a piece of cake-or pie I guess :) Lemon Meringue Pie is Dustys favorite, so I am so excited that it turned out!!

My cute little Pilgrim!

I went to Jordyns school to pick her up today and this is what I found. My cute little Pilgrim. Today was the last day of Pre-school so they had a Thanksgiving feast and dressed as pilgrims and learned all about the holiday. Jordyn was so excited because she got to eat at school. I just had to post this picture because it was the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Going Private!??

So I was thinking of going private! I've just heard so much about the weirdos that can view your blogs that it it kind of freaking me out. Mostly because what I post about most is my kids. So if you want to be able to view my blog leave me your email. I think I will probably do it in about 2 weeks.

A boy and his dad!!

So I took these pictures because I thought that they were the cutest things I had ever seen. Ryan just came into the computer room and got on his dads lap and was asking all types of questions about the game he was playing. Now Ryan hasn't sat on his dads lap and watched him play for a long time. I think that Ryan sees Dusty playing computer games with his friends and by himself and Ryan wants to be a part of that. It was just the cutest picture. I had to share it with you.

Fun Tag!!

Shelly tagged me with this really fun tag! It isn't your usual type of tag. What you do is you go to the sixth folder and find the sixth picture and post it. For me I have my stuff done by year(How organized huh!) so I chose the sixth year-which happened to be 2006-then did the sixth picture in the sixth folder. It is kind of interesting to see what pictures people have that you have never seen.

This is Jordy by the way!












I tag:
Carrie, Ali, Lindsey, Chanc, Chelsea, Lisa, Linda, and Lacey!

I'm in the mood!!

I just love this time of year. Outside doesn't look like the holidays should be here, but go in any store and you are hit with a whoosh of the holiday season. I think that I am so into the holidays this year because for the last little bit I have been making my christmas cards, my dad christmas gift and my mother-in-laws gift and it all just got me in the spirit of christmas. I know that Thanksgiving isn't here yet, but I had to change my background and my music. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays! Not because you get presents, but because I get to give presents and see the look on peoples faces when they open them. That is the greatest joy of the season for me. I get to spend more time with family as well. I just wanted all my family-that means all of you!!-to know that I love you and I hope you have a great holiday!!(By family I don't just mean the people who are related to me, I mean all of you friends out there too, you are just like family to me as well!)

Tea Party!

So I got Jordyn this Chef hat and apron from all a dollar the other day because she is always wanting to help me in the kitchen. Well she decided to have a tea party today with her bears and her doll. It was the cutest thing. She made them pancakes and tea. It was so cute to watch. What a little princess. Today is her birthday!! My baby is officially 4!! We had her party on Saturday, so today is just going to be basically a regular day, with a little bit of fun.



















Her guests















Making Pancakes















Pouring tea

Jordyns 4th birthday!!

My little girl is 4 (not until Monday, but still) We had Jordyns birthday party today so that more people could come. It was great!! That lovely little outfit she is wearing, yeah she picked it out!! Cute huh? I can't believe what a big little girl she is becoming. It makes me sad! Not only because my baby is turning 4, but also because until my little brother has a kid, she is the last grandkid of my dads and she is growing up so fast. She has such a little mind of her own. I love it so much!! She had a great birthday party. Aunt Shelly and her family, Aunt Linda and her family, Grandpa, Ali and Greg and their family all came. She got a scooter from grandpa, a bike from mom and dad, jewelry and $20 from Aunt shelly and uncle shane, a tinkerbell sticker and activity book from Ali and Greg and Aunt Linda and her girls MADE her a cinderella dress and two tu tu's, and Aunt Kim had given her a cinderella jewelry box earlier that she got from Disneyland when she went. All in all it was an awesome birthday!! I am so glad that we have family so close that can share in our kids lives. I wish we had more that lived closer, but we all do with what we have!! MY BABY WILL BE 4 ON MONDAY :(

I'M DONE!!

I got in this mood today because lastnight I went to a stampin up party and it just got me in the mood to scrapbook. I knew I had the pictures, so I was like I am finishing this today and I did. My house looks like crap, but one of my Christmas projects is done. Yeah!!
December










October










January

The cutest thing!!

So I came upstairs after working on my dads calendar and this is what I saw. Jordyn was laying on the couch, Wii paddles in hand, princess dress on and asleep. Ryan and her were playing the Wii and I guess that she fell asleep. I thought that it was so cute. I knew that she was tired and I was actually coming up to see about putting her for a nap, but she had already put herself down.

Another one!

Yeah so I decided that I need to get crackin' on this project because I decided that I am going to try and make gifts this year. We are kind of strapped for money and so I am going to attempt to get my creative jean on. Wish me luck!!

I finished another one!

I just finished this page for July! I only have 4 more to go!! I am getting so excited to see this thing when it is all done! I think it will be totally worth the wait. Me and Dusty were talking yesterday about what presents to get what people and I got to thinking, the best presents that I have given or recieved have been made. I just think that they are more personal. Like with my christmas cards. I make them to let people know just how special they are in my life. I could just buy some in the store, but they aren't that personal. I am trying to think of gifts to make for christmas for people. Now I am not the most crafty person, but I would like to try. So if any of you have any good ideas for homemade gifts for mother-in-laws, sister, brothers, friends....whoever, please let me know and I will take them into consideration. With these trying times, money isn't always so available, but I would love to make something for people that isn't that expensive and still says I love you!!

Halloween!!

I would have to say that this Halloween was probably one of the funnest and easiest of all the Halloweens. Both of the kids are in school and so I got to go to both of their parties. That was a riot. To see all the little kids costumes. Then both kids had easy costumes. Ryan was a cowboy and Jordyn was a princess (like that is a shocker!). We went to the trick or treat in the park in Pleasant Grove around 4:30 and then at 5:30 Lindas ward was having their trunk or treat so we went to that. By the time we were all done with that, we went back to Lindas and ate dinner, thanks so much for that by the way Linda your awesome!!, then we went home. I asked the kids on the way if they wanted to do some trick or treating around our neighborhood and they said no, so I was like cool. We came home and the kids watched cartoons on t.v. and me and Dusty watched Sleepy Hollow. It was a relaxing rest of the evening. I was excited.

My little Princess!!

My little Cowboy--love the chaps!!