Family Night...it was nice

We went to see "Get Smart" at the dollar theatre. That was last week, our family night this past monday involved urgent care and the police. Yeah, it was crazy, I'll tell ya about it sometime.

Art work, kids, toast and pickles....huh?

Cami, Megan and Lucas spent some time coloring the other day. That's Megan behind the self-portrait...can't you tell? Cami made the "valentines" and Lucas made the 3-D little pigs story..not shown in the picture is the paper straw house and the paper stick house..both destroyed by the paper wolf.

Skinny Tire Pictures

So, where was Tom this weekend while I was battling scorpions in the bathroom? In Moab riding in the Skinny Tire bike race with his brothers and their friend Heidi (cool name, eh?)

They had a great time and all finished the race and that's good because last year when they were attemping to finish this ride a freak snow storm came through and Tom nearly died from exposure on top of the mountain in his spandex shorts.... This year he just cut up his leg. They had fun and he is home safe and sound and sore, so I'm happy too :o)

Scorpion in the bathroom this morning!

Ok, so if you live in Arizona it's probably no big deal, but since we have lived here we've only seen a few and this is only the 2nd one ever in our house (the first one was under the kitchen table and our dog was playing with it)! This morning, while getting the kids ready for church, Megan - in the bathtub - yells "Mommy a scorpion!". I'm thinking probably it's just a cricket...but, sure enough it's a scorpion, ugh! Of course, Tom isn't home, so I have to be brave..I get his shoe and go to squish it. Scorpions can move faster than I thought...eek! But I finally win the battle and it's stuck to bottom of Tom's church shoe..so gross. Of all the places to find a scorpion though, the bathroom, where you are like the most naked and vulnerable...ugh, how did it get in there? I really hope they're not dropping out of the ceiling vents from the attic! So now every time I feel a little tickle, or I imagine I feel a little tickle, I'm jumping out of my skin. Now, I know I should feel blessed...I have many AZ friends who find several of the nasty things in their houses everyday...but I don't care to share living quarters with poisonous anythings. I've been told to always run the ceiling fans above your bed so if they are crawling around on the ceilings they won't fall onto your bed. Can you imagine having one in your bed????

My First Tag

THE FIVE

10 years ago I:

1. Had 2 little baby boys age 3 and 1
2. had super short platinum blonde hair, seriously, I have pictures!
3. was living in my mother-in-law's house (bless her for having us)
4. was working at Hollywood Video while Tom delivered pizza and went to school
5. Dreamt of having my own home and basically all the stuff I have and do now

5 things on today's "to do" list:

1. Fold and iron the 10 loads of clean laundry piled on my bed before Tom gets home (or hide it)
2. Pick my boys up from the movies
3. make dinner
4. buy a gift for a friend
5. empty the dishwasher and feed the dog

I enjoy:

1. cooking and baking for my family
2. traveling...but not so much when the kids come
3. live music and performances
4. riding my bike in beautiful places with no one and no cars around
5. reading...especially good sappy romances

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:

1. Buy a huge property and home with guest houses for my family and friends
2. Help Tom start his own extreme adventure tour company
3. live debt free forever
4. definitely hire a live in maid
5. be very grateful

5 places I have lived:

1. Weatherford, Tx
2. Toronto, Ontario Canada
3. Grand Junction, CO
4. Bellingham, WA
5. Apache Junction, AZ

Five jobs I have had:

1. Photo Lab Tech - developing pictures and film
2. Live-in Nanny
3. Mary Kay Consultant
4. McDonalds -French Fry Girl
5. Fredricks of Hollywood sales girl...it's really true

I tag...
1. Carri
2. Stacy
3. Alacey
4. Leslie
5. and You! ... just for fun!

And now I will go and HIDE that Laundry so I can go shopping and pick up take-out! :o)

MMMM...a good love story

http://thepioneerwoman.com/category/black_heelstractor_wheels/the_night_i_met_marlboro_man


Dear Girlfriends: Last night I happened upon a wonderful Love Story in blog form...(thanks, Leslie) it kept me up half the night cuz I couldn't stop reading it! I promise you will LOVE it! Check it out only when you have several hours to sit and read cuz you won't want to stop! You can thank me later....
Ps this may tide over any twilighters waiting for the movie release.....

"Pee-Heads"

Cami made paper dolls the other day. She said "Look mom I made Pee-Heads".

They did look like the letter "P" !

The Secret's in the Sauce!

These Enchiladas are so YUMMY! I think the secret's in the sauce! I always use this one, made by Macayo's. I know it's made locally...I don't know if you can get it outside of Arizona! So Here's how I make 'em:

Shredded Chicken or Beef - Ive used canned meat, meat cooked in the crock pot, leftovers...but my favorite is to buy a whole rotisserie cooked chicken from the deli and shred the meat right off it, so quick and easy and yummy! By the way, when I do that I pour the chicken juice in the bottom of the tray onto the shredded meat and mix it in...mmm! A whole rotisserie chicken is enough to make 2 large casseroles of enchiladas!

So Simple...so you just pour some enchilada sauce in the bottom of the casserole pan to start. Then take a flour tortilla put in some meat, shredded cheese- a mexican blend is goood, a dollop of sour cream and roll it up. Keep going till your pans are full. About 10 per 9x13 pan. Then pour more sauce on top, make sure all tortillas have sauce on them. Cover with LOTS of shredded cheese. Sprinke on a can of green chilies and a can of sliced olives and cover foil. Bake @ 350 for about 45 min to an hour. Let cool for 15 minutes and enjoy!

We had a really nice visit with Uncle Matthew. I hope he and his wife, Kennedy, come again soon to visit.

This is Matthew with my little neice, Siona.

I've decided that I really need to plan a trip up to Edmonton with all the kids for next summer! I want them to get to know my family in Canada! I really miss them all!

Who is This Hunk????

So who is this handsome guy?

Meet my Uncle Matthew. My Mom's youngest brother. He is here visiting (with his beautiful wife Kennedy) from Edmonton, Alberta. This picture is from his album, recently released, called Low Down. http://www.myspace.com/mattwalkercanada

You can listen to it from this link. I'll be posting more about our visit soon.

I miss my family from Canada sooo much! I never get to see them and they are so far away. Everyone is there except for my sister Sarah who lives here in Gilbert. As the years fly by, I feel like Im missing out on so much with them. This is the first time Matthew has ever met my family! Somehow I've got to find a way to get there more and get them here more!

What a Lovely Evening....

...went to eat at Joe's Farm Grill tonight with Tom and the kids. It was a perfect night. It felt so nice outside, finally cooling off. We sat at a picnic table under the trees and looked over the menu, trying to decide what to order-everything looked so good!-when I look up and see Leslie and Christian (friends we haven't seen for 12 years!) walk up. A few minutes later Marianne and Mike (friends in our ward) walk up.. apparently it's date night at Joe's...I'm thinking we should have left the kids home...we all sit together and enjoy a nice meal, pleasant conversation and perfect weather. I think nights like this and places like Joe's are why I think Gilbert is a perfect place to live. By the way, I had the sweet potatoe fries and the fried zuccini, mmmm....

Today Is Tom's Birthday!

Today Tom turn's 36! We are celebrating with his favorite cake...German Chocolate, homemade of course, and a yummy dinner. Shrimp Kabobs and Alfredo Pasta with Ceasar Salad and Garlic Bread. MMMMM...
I've been cleaning all day, cuz he loves a clean house. And I cleaned out his car!
We got him a little thing for his guitar called a kaypo.
This morning the kids were up early making cards and confetti!

"The Man Rules" By Thao...so funny!

I read and then copied this from my friend Carri's sister's blog...it was So Funny and So "Guy" I had to pass it along to my family and friends! I hope that's not against blogging etiquette...

The Man Rules­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down
Finally, the guys' side of the story. ( I must admit, it's pretty good.)

We always hear the rules From the female side.
Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules! Please note.. these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.You're a big girl.

If it's up, put it down.We need it up, you need it down.

You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports - It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.

Let us be clear on this one:

Subtle hints do not work!

Strong hints do not work!

Obvious hints do not work!Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it.

That's what we do.

Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.

In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.

Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways

and one of the ways makes you sad or angry,

we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us to do something

Or tell us how you want it done.

Not both.

If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.

Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color.

Pumpkin is also a fruit.

We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched.We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,'

We will act like nothings wrong..

We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to,

Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere,

absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.

Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;

But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping....

Have You Been Missing London?

Have you been missing our wonderful dog, London? Here are some recent photos of her. She is sweet as ever and shedding more than ever too! I wanted to get her shaved this summer so bad. Her fur is silky soft and so pretty we decided to let her keep it... London is the best dog ever. She is 4 years old now. I hope she lives for a good long time, I don't know what I'd do with out her! She follows me everywhere I go in the house and lays by my feet. She mostly sleeps all day. A Great Companion!

Ever Wonder where Tom Gets all That Talent and Good Looks From???

Meet Katherine Mae (Cami's Named after her) Tom's mom. This is her on her last visit here a few weeks ago. She plays guitar and sings. Tom grew up in a home with guitar lullaby's and he is continuing the tradition with our family. Thank you Nana Gallant! It is the most beautiful thing in the world to me to listen to him play. Tom learned to play the guitar on his mission. He hoped it would impress the girls. It sure impressed me! I can't tell you how much I love to lay in bed at night and listen to him. I feel so blessed! There were a few years when the guitar was dusty and untouched, now it is played every day. Tom teaches lessons to 8 children every week. He loves to prepare their lessons and learn new songs with them. I always love when Tom's family comes and they all pull out their guitars and play and sing. Tom's amazing mother reared 7-seriously 7!- Boys, 4 of them play guitar like their Mama. She has other talents too, I'm sure that's who Tom gets his good looks and charm from.... Um, she also runs marathons. So that's another passion she passed on to Tom. Cool huh!

A Visit With Tobey

So on our way home from Idaho we stopped in Salt Lake to see Tom's brother Tobey. It was a quick visit, we just stopped and had lunch together.
Driving home was not so bad. 13 hours in the car with the kids...we listened to The Nephites in Tennis Shoes stories on CD and watched movies like The Phantom of the Opera...my kids love that movie!

We had a nice relaxing weekend and I'm glad we went!