DATE NIGHT

Friday night we went to the Coyotes game with Ron & Lydia & Jesse & Aleisha and then to my favorite pizza place, Oregano's! Thanks guys I had a great time! Faith stayed the night at Ron & Lydia's.... that is always a special treat for her and us:)

TAGGED

TAFI TAGGED ME!

10YRS AGO TODAY...
Hard to remember but I know I was working part time for Bank One and was a full time college student at MCC.

5 THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST TODAY...
1. take & pick up Faith from preschool
2. lots of laundry from our 4 day weekend get away
3. take Faith to dance (1 hr drive)
4. get to my hair appointment on time tonight
5. try to get to the grocery store

I ENJOY...
1. Rainy days
2. Sundays(even though they are hectic)
3. going to the mountains
4. going to the mall all by myself
5. Auntie Anne's pretzels


WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WERE SUDDENLY MADE A BILLIONAIRE...
1. Help close ones in need
2. See a financial advisor/invest
3. pay off debts
4. go shopping
5. go on exotic vacations

3 OF MY BAD HABITS...
1. staying up too late
2. messing with my eyebrows
3. obsessive worrier

5 PLACES IVE LIVED...
1. Snowflake
2. Holbrook
3. Show Low
4. Gilbert
5. Queen Creek

5 JOBS IVE HAD...
1. World Gym (front desk/daycare)
2. Macy's (floater)
3. Dillard's (mens fragrance)
4. Bank One/Chase Bank (8yrs)
5. SAHM/Secretary for our personal businesses

5 THINGS PEOPLE DONT KNOW ABOUT ME...
1. I almost always have a stash of Papa Johns peperoncini's in my fridge. YUM
2. I love to watch the food network channel and I love to cook (surprisingly)
3. Live for yoga and wish I had time to do it every day
4. FERGIE is the CD that has been playing in my car since Nov
5. Wish I wasn't so nervious to meet new people/more outgoing

I tag anyone who is reading this...

Snow on the Superstition Mountains

This was the view from our backyard yesterday morning. Its not very often you see snow in the desert.

WEEKEND NEWS

Faith gave her first talk in primary yesterday. She weaseled out of it last year as a sunbeam. Faith was excited and I was nervous! I begged Ronnie and my Grandma both to help her instead. No such luck. We walked up to the pulpit and Faith pulled the microphone down just like she new what she was doing and I whispered her talk in her ear. All the while my knees where knocking. Faith asked me after church when she would get to give a talk again? I hope that's not a sign that she is volunteering for next time:) Joking aside, I am really proud of her and how eager she is to participate at church.

Saturday Faith was being the BIGGEST stinker! I put her in my bedroom for a time out. She usually goes to her room but Jaylee was napping and their rooms are next to each other. When Faith is on time out she SCREAMS the entire time. Anyhow, she was quiet this time, so I just left her in there so I could have some more cool down time. When she came out she had bright pink lip stick on and was holding something behind her back. She says to me "mom remember when Aunt Bailey cut my hair"? She then whips out a zip lock bag with a 5 inch lock of hair that she cut herself! This is one of my most dreaded fears. I have kept the scissors hidden since she started to sprout her first hairs. I never thought to hide the finger nail scissors. The good news is, it could have been worse. At least she cut it underneath her hair instead of at the scalp.


yes...she had been crying(the picture was taken after I scolded her for cutting her hair.

GETTING TO KNOW ME, A-Z

ALEISHA TAGGED ME!

A attached or single: Attached
B best friend: My Aunt Coleen
C cake or pie: Cheesecake
D day of choice: Friday
E essential item: Definitely my Chi flat iron, don't know how I ever lived without it
F favorite color: Lately its been brown
G gummy bears or worms: Bears are better
H hometown: I'm a Gilbert Girl
I indulgence(s): I love getting a massage and I try to get one at least once a month
J January or July: July, it usually means trips to the mountains and vacation time
K kids: Two girls
L life is incomplete without: Loved ones
M marriage date: May 19, 2000
N number of siblings: Two sisters and one brother. I am the oldest
O oranges or apples: Oranges
P phobias or fears: Flying, scorpions, car wrecks and burglar's
Q quotes: "We are not physical beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a physical experience"
R reason to smile: I have too many to choose from
S season: Oct-Jan all the holiday celebrations
T tag three friends: Aybody who is reading this
U unknown fact about me: I wish I could sing but I cant:(
V very favorite store: Buckle
W worst habit: checking the iron and my flat iron 5 times before I leave the house to be sure they are off
X x-ray or ultrasound: Ultrasound
Y your favorite food: Mexican
Z zodiac: Aries

Random Rambling...

Jaylee & my gorgeous Aunt


Last weekend we went up north to stay in my parents new house in Show Low. We tried to make it to "little red" in my Tahoe. HA that was a JOKE. We got stuck so bad in the snow! What 4wheel drive when you have street tires? Needless to say we tore my truck up pretty good. Tomorrow it will be one week I have been without it:( It has been at brown and brown getting a work over. You think we would have learned our lesson from the year before when we did the same thing.

Tonight Faith tells Ronnie "I'm not wearing those jeans, I don't like them". Great, my four year old is starting to get her own fashion ideas! Maybe she's been watching too much What Not To Wear!

Faith starts kindergarten next fall and I have been debating public school verses private school? I am torn because I have a public school right here in my neighborhood. The closest private school is Franklin and if you know were we live, you know its not all that close. It is about a 15 min drive from where we live. Well with much deliberation I will be at the Franklin doors tomorrow morning when they open at 7:30am to get Faith on the waiting list. Tomorrow is the first day they are excepting names for the upcoming school year.

Some of you may have seen my little photo blog. No, I am not a professional photographer.... but I appreciate all your nice compliments:) I have always loved taking pictures! The first time I got my own camera was for 6th grade science camp. I remember coming home and dieing to get my film developed. Ill never forget my parents comment when they asked me, why I only took pictures of trees? Hehehe! Anyhow, Ronnie bought me the most awesome camera for Christmas and I have been loving every second of it! I am so excited because I start school at MCC on the 14th. I'm only taking 3 credit hours (photography) but I can hardly wait! I haven't been to college in 7 years! Thanks to my supportive husband who will be watching our kiddos while I'm at school 2.5 hours twice a week until the end of May!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

My Christmas Angels

Christmas Sunday dresses

Our neighbor played Santa at his house for the neighborhood kids


Faiths FAVORITE THING...

More CHRISTMAS Stuff...

Saturday Faith had her Christmas dance concert. She did REALLY GOOD! If I can figure out how to download the video of her dancing Ill post it later.

Last night Ronnie and I went to the ASU Gammage with eight of my family members to see the Forgotten Carols. It was awesome this year! Jordan Bluth sang a lot of the numbers. Jordan's family was in my ward when I was growing up and you may know some of his younger siblings that went to Highland with us. Sometimes I have a hard time getting in the REAL Christmas spirit. All the hustle and bustle can be distracting but the Carols ALWAYS hit the spot!

'TIS THE SEASON...

PARTY I

Thursday night we went to Ronnie's family annual Longhurst Christmas party at Jason's house. We ordered pizza, played games and ate dessert.

Ronnie playing "Santa Says" (instead of "Simon Says") with the kids.


Faith had fun trying to "pin the nose on Rudolph"


PARTY II

Saturday night Ronnie and I went to a Christmas party hosted by some friends in our ward. Everyone brought an appetizer to share. The food was YUM-O and it was great to mingle with our "adult" friends!


PARTY III

Last night we hosted my family's annual "Grannie" Christmas party at our house. We had our program on "the true meaning of Christmas" and played games. This party ALWAYS ROCKS because we have the BEST mexican food!

FYI

Faiths Christmas dance concert is next Sat the 15th at Highland High at 1:00pm. Tickets are being sold at Dance Energy or at the door the day of the concert.

What?

I went to check on Jaylee this morning (she was sleeping) and this is what I found:) How did she ever get her arm out of her sleeve and then up through the neck?

UNTRADTIONAL THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING DAY we had a yummy feast with Ronnie and his extended family. Aunt Eileen made her homemade chicken and noodles. THE BEST! Uncle Gerald made brussels sprouts, my first time trying them and they are SOOoo good! After pie Ronnie and his dad left for an Elk hunt. Ronnie could be gone as long as two weeks:( The girls and I went up north with my parents and my aunt and her family until Saturday.

TONIGHT we celebrated thanksgiving here at my house with my family. LOTS of WORK but LOTS of FOOD and FUN! I even made uncle Gerald's brussels sprouts:)

MONDAY Jaylee started with the flu. It has been NONE stop throwing up and laundry for the last week. I thought we were in the clear when we left Thursday, boy was I wrong! On top of Jaylee STILL having the flu, Faith and my aunts little boy Chance both came down with it too. Not your ideal thanksgiving/road trip. This evening both of the girls SEEM to be feeling better. I am just crossing my fingers that the flu bug will pass me by, especially with Ronnie out of town.

SENTIMENTAL TIME...
I'm thankful for Faith, her name alone is my everyday reminder to keep the faith.
My Jaylee, I have never loved brown eyes until I looked into hers.
My husband, just thinking about him right now made me chuckle:)
My family who would do ANYTHING for me and who have already done EVERYTHING!
My in laws, I know they love me because I can FEEL it and it feels good!
The gospel, that feeds me everyday.
My home, HOME spells it all.
I am thankful for ALL of my countless blessings!

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving!

Ronnie's Birthday

1st Birthday Party

2nd Birthday Party

our nephew Brody shares the same birthday as Ronnie:)

Monday was Ronnie's 29th birthday. Sunday night we had a birthday party at our house with my family. Yesterday we went to the movies with our girls and Ronnie's parents. We saw Fred Claus, it was a really cute show. Afterwards we had dinner at Ronnie's favorite place, El Charro. Then we had a second birthday party at Ronnie's parents for Ronnie and Brody. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONNIE!

Trick or Treat

Jaylee trying to find her way out of her costume

Faith loved passing out the candy to trick or treaters

Ronnie feeling the Halloween spirit

we started the night off with our traditional soup bread bowls that look like pumpkins. Filled with yummy potato soup and chili

Faith on her way to her preschool Halloween party

Faith having fun at Trunk or Treat last week

TEN YEAR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION & more...

Our senior year book photos...think we've changed?


10th grade valentines dance
a quick photo before we left. My hubby is still one HOT BABE!
Schenpf Farms
Faith & Chance



This weekend was mine and Ronnie's ten year High school reunion. After MUCH deliberation I am really glad that we decided to go. It was fun to see how people have changed and how some people will never change. I won a three day two night trip in the raffle drawing, talk about my lucky night!

We also went to Schnepf farms and had a not so great time (both of the girls are sick). We cut it short after a long two hours.

Faith and her cousin Chance had their primary program today. Ronnie taught Faith how to lip sink before we left for church, thanks Ronnie! Faith sure is good at an EXAGERATED lip sink:)

I also checked out the new mall this weekend. I cant wait to go back. The atmosphere and stores are awesome! It will be my new favorite spot (at least six months out of the year). The new mall is outdoors. You gotta go!

missing post

I was playing around on my dashboard and accidentally erased my Wedding Tag post:( I would post it again but I still wouldn't have all of your nice comments. I keep telling myself that I need to print as I blog and put it in a binder. I am terrible about keeping a journal and so I consider this as my journal.

Beautiful Scenery

We all got a kick out of seeing these cowboys round up their cattle.

We left Thursday night for "little red" because Ronnie had a turkey tag. We were just up there two weeks ago and the landscape has completely changed. It is always beautiful there but this time the leaves on the Aspens had changed to gold and were starting to fall from the trees. Ronnie shot his turkey early Friday morning so we had the rest of the weekend to do whatever:) Saturday night my cousin Shanna who lives in Show Low had us over for a family BBQ. What a great party!

Pay It Forward

Friday night Ronnie, the kids, & I ate dinner at San Tan Flats with my aunt and my grandparents. I have been there once before but only inside. This time we ate outside & it is the coolest place! It has a stage with a live band and little fire pits all around where kids were roasting marshmallows. Now that the weather has cooled off I can see us eating there a lot!
Saturday while checking out at Costco I found out that my membership card was expired. That was an ordeal, trying to get a manager to let me go ahead & make my purchase. I went straight from Costco to Walmart for some more groceries. After walmart I pulled into the chickfila drive through, after sitting there forever I decided to drive to the chickfila on Power & Ray instead. Once I got to the window to pay I couldn't find my wallet. Yep, I left it at Walmart, the worst place in the world to loose your wallet. I drove insanely fast back to walmart, running a red arrow & turning right on a, no turn on red, all the while thinking about my debit card, our business credit card and gas card, temple recommend, gift cards to Dillard's and Express a receipt to BabiesRus for a expensive return I haven't made yet, how Ronnie was going to tease me....my whole life seams to be in my wallet. I pealed into the parking lot where I found my shopping cart right where I had left it but NO wallet. I jumped back into my Tahoe & pealed into a handicapped space. As I was looking at the $100 fine & the handicap sign I thought "I am the last person who deserves to get my wallet back." I grabbed Faith & sprinted into walmart. Somebody had turned my wallet in! I really think that had my wallet not been there I would have burst into tears. Immediately I wished they could announce over the loud speaker a BIG THANK YOU from me. Unfortunately they don't do things like that. I will never be able to thank that person but I can PAY IT FORWARD by being honest myself and serving others.
It turned out to be a great Saturday because after that Ronnie & I got to go on a well OVERDUE date. I cant remember the last time we went out but I know it was sometime before May. I had my first babysitter ever! A girl in our ward watched our kids while we went to dinner & a movie. I was so nervous (hence why I have never had a sitter over before) I only called her three times in the 4 1/2 hours that we were gone. I don't know what I was worried about because Faith had a blast & Jaylee was sound asleep when we got home. Ronnie & I saw Game Plan, it was such a funny movie & fun to watch the ROCK, hehe:)
Conference weekends are always special too! I remember as a kid I thought conference was SOOoo boring but now as an adult I sincerely enjoy the talks, they are so uplifting. There is also something about hearing conference throughout the house & smelling something good baking in the oven that reminds me of being a kid & I love recreating it in my own home. After conference today I had my family over for dinner.
A crazy but lovely weekend at home.

P.S. I got the coolest pumpkins at Sprouts this weekend. I call them "vintage pumpkins" and I cant wait to decorate with them!

Southwest Art Museum Field Trip

Yesterday Ronnie went with Faith on her school field trip to the Southwest Art Museum in Mesa. They had fun looking at dinosaur fossils and at the live dinosaur replicas. Faith got to pan for gold and Ronnie spoiled her at the museum gift shop!

MY FIRST BIRTHDAY!

Today is Jaylee's first birthday! Jaylee has three teeth, two bottom and one top. She's not walking yet, but that's alright:) She can say "more" and do the sign in sign language. She says "mama" and "dada","hi", and "bye bye". Although these words have all taken a back seat for her new FAVORITE word, "what". Jaylee has been a breeze, she has slept through the night since I brought her home. She is so easy going and has the best temperment. Jaylee is a picker eater, she will not drink any kind of juice and hates fruit. I just barley got her to start eating some apple sauce, I guess she will love her veggies like me:)Jaylee loves giving hugs! She has the darkest brown eyes I have ever seen and these long lashes that curl. There is something so special about her! She has definitely stole my heart. Happy Birthday Jay Bird!