It's the insomnia talking

It is currently 4am.
I've had 2 cups of cocoa and 3 cutie mandarin oranges.  Must keep patients breathing for two and a half more hours.  Thought I'd spit out some random updates.

-We have a real Chirstmas tree named Holly.  She's really pretty and curvy, but maybe just a little tipsy turvey. 
-Michael attempted "Teaching Natalie how to snowboard: take 2."  It is still TBD whether or not there will be a take 3.
- Had a grand realization that I must be part Hobbit.  The curly hair, round face, short stature, stubby toes; these are my people
-Got my sweet father-in-law to hang my curtains.  Everyone should have a retired military man hang their curtains.  Sturdy as a rock and straight as an arrow they are.  They might even be bullet-proof, but I didn't ask.
-I finally stopped the vicious Kohl's cash cycle.  You know what I'm talking about: you get the Kohl's cash, then have to spend it, then get more Kohl's cash, then have to go spend that too.....
-Michael never has to take another general education credit class again. Boo yah!
-I'm officially and RRT (registered respiratory therapist) and can now put letters behind my name and let my brain turn to mush.

 curtains+tree+yellow+piano+goofy chair chaise thingy adds up to one heck of a room if I do say so myself.



 

The tree hunt began at the conclusion of a very long no-shave November.  Glad my Paul Bunyan approved of our tree though.

 And we attended an ugly sweater party.  The magazines were part of a game that we had just dominated. 



I should probably go save a life, or at least go restock the the equipment room.
Later Alligator!

Much much more than a snack cake

 

A hot topic on the news and social media today is the closing of Hostess brands.  This topic is much dearer to my heart than the loss of delicious snack cakes.  For 31 years my father was a dedicated employee for Hostess brands.   About a year ago,  he found it necessary to leave the company for a rival one to ensure job security.  Despite his change of companies, the Hostess brands company will always  be special to me.  It is what paid for the food on my table, clothes on my back, shelter over my head, and so much more for many many years.

Some thoughts I have as I look back include:

 

 

• The mascott is named Twinkie the Kid
• During high school my best friend and I got paid to pass out bread samles at grocery stores. Best job EVER!
• During the premiere of Shrek, they dyed the inside of Twinkies green. Those were my favorite
• Wonder bread was the first company to sell sliced bread
• My dad always had a trunk full of snack cakes ready to hand out to any neighbors that crossed his path. 
• Mini muffins tast so much better when they're microwaved
• Michael and I used to live right by the Hostess bakery in Ogden and could smell baking deliciousness early in the mornings from our apartment
• Bread men are some of the kindest, hard working people you will ever meet.

 

 



My dad used to say that he wanted us to get an education so we wouldn't be dumb bread men, but never once was I ashamed of where my dad worked.  I am a proud Wonder child, and grateful for his employment all those years.  Farewell Twinkie the Kid. I owe you.

 

 

 

 





An Argument for October

 

 

I have a firmly rooted belief that October is the most superior month of them all.  Year after year it manages to capture my heart all over again.  Besides the obvious fact that it's my birhtday month and Halloween, there's also the fact that it's the month in which I fell in love with my man.  And the fact that sports get good again(Hello San Diego Chargers Football and Utah Jazz Basketball).  It could have something to do with the way pumpkin bread smells, or how cardigans feel, or perhaps the way haunted houses make me giddy as a vampire in a blood bank.  Whatever the precise reason, October rules!!

 

 

October 2012 had a beautiful start with a shopping trip with my precious Bos and Daph, oh and thier moms too!

 October 2012 also involved a lot of pumpkin guts.  Sharing the slime with friends, family, and the youth of our Ward was well worth it.

A beautiful fall wedding at the temple helped us remember what's most important in this life.

 

And the ever popular 4th Annual Halloween Costume Party was spooktacular!!

 

 

A trip to St.George/Las Vegas with some dear friends helped us unwind after putting in a lot of hard hours at work.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Finishing off the month with some fantastic little trick or treaters was the cherry on top, or shall I say candycorn? 

 

Sorry other months, it's nothing personal.



The Lucky Lady in a Limo

 

I said it once, and I'll say it again; my man knows how a birthday girl ought to be treated.

I worked for ten hours during the day.  And it sucked.  Literally.  I probably sucked a liter of snot out of babies. TMI? Anywho, it was a busy busy day to say the least.  I am grateful for the dear souls at the hospital who made my day special, as well as the sweet family and friends who called/text/facebooked/sent good vibes my way.  It truly made a difference. Thank you. 

 

 

Michael used to have to commute an hour to Salt Lake every day for work. It was a little rough on him to say the least.  He vowed to never drive to Salt Lake again, and I guess he meant it because this sparkling luxerious limousine was our method of transportaition.  So glamorous!

 Twenty-two is fun to do!

 I was having a Justin Bieber moment.

 

 The sunset was to diiiie for!!

 The limo brought us to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for dinner for two at The Roof.  It was magic.  I could not wipe the smile off my face.  My husband's face, the temple view, my massive flower bouqet, the red velvet cake, and the mind reading piano lady all brought me so much joy.

 

 I kinda cried when the flowers arrived.Everythind was too perfect.  My blessing are many. 

 Yes. Please.

 

 

I love you, Michael.  You make each year sweeter! Viva la Birthdays!

 



If I wrote classic novels...

Ahhhh, novels.   I have had the great joy of reacquainting with them since finishing school.  After completeing nine consecutive semesters, the thought of a textbook makes me want to dry heave.  My favorite novel of all time is definately Pride and Prejuide. Even the first sentence gets my blood flowing, "It is a truth universally acknowldeged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."  In honor of my love of this Jane Austen classic, I will now recount some of my own universal truths.



 

It is a truth universally acknowldeged that... 

Frisbee Golf deserves more publicity.  There's something therapeutic about chucking some disks around with your honey.  Try it!

 

It is a truth universally acknowldeged that...



fantasy football has a misleading name.  It should be as carefully constructed and thought out as the U.S. Constitution.  It is a delicacy that Michael specializes in.

It is a truth universally acknowldeged that..

There has to be at least one perk to working a 12 hour night shift.  This gorgeous sunrise happens to be one of mine.  Working as a respiratory therapist has been one of the most challenging/fulfilling things I've ever done. 

It is a truth universally acknowldeged that...

You don't feel like a real homeowner until you've been TP'd.  Thank you to the little rascals who generously donated a couple rolls. But seriously, who uses Charmin extra cushy brand to TP?  





 

 

It is a truth universally acknowldeged that...

TGIF!!!!!!!

Happy Friday! :)

 



In the Summertime

Summer is in full swing in Crandall Town! We even got an indoor pool!  Ok, so our basement flooded and we've spent the last week and a half building a very close relationship with our wet-vac, but it's fixed now and we're ready to party!  Work hard, play hard is how we try to live our life and here are a few shots of the play hard part, because no wants to see a picture of me getting boogers out of patients.  Ever.

We really love Boston.  Sometimes we pretend he's ours.  shhhh

My dates to the Idaho Falls 4th of July Parade.  Keep your eye on the one on the right, she scrappy.  Especially when it comes to battling for Chick-fil-a coupons 

Planted this lovely with my Mama three years ago. Every year it get prettier and prettier.

  Everyone should have the privilege of planting a flower with their Mama.

My first time headed up to the Alpine Slide in Park City.  Great company, great views, and I even got a caramel apple all to myself.  





He's good.

Maybe someday I'll get lessons...

Wannabe hipsters?  And for the record, Shelb and I did not plan on the matching pants.   

Manager Mike, but when he does this well at work I like to call him... Magic Mike;)

Perfect Pinkalicious Princess !!

And now for the grand finale:

1. Mama-in-law is a dunking machine.  She also ran a half-marathon this weekend. Wonderwoman?
2. Daph-o-dill and her mama, Sierra.  Lovely joys in my life.
3. Juggling is cool
4. Dominic not only wearing cowboy boots, but also Mario swim shorts.  What a rockstar.
5. Birthday girl! I seriously thought the dunk tank was the funniest thing EVER. Laughed every time.
6. Feet.  My feet, actually.
7.  bahahahahah
8. She made that pinata. Seriously. Overachiever.
9. That's all folks!



Lost and Found

Tragedy struck my house earlier this week.  My beloved peacock wreath went MIA. 

Now I'm not gonna come straight out and say that it was stolen, but I do suspect foul play.

Came home from work the other day and it was gone.  Just gone.

But mama didn't raise no quitter so  I unveil...

A little different than version 1.0, but it has filled the void.

I was also reunited with a dear and precious friend yesterday.

This beauty belonged to my Great Grandma Garta back in 1918.  I spent my whole childhood dusting it as one of my chores.  I've always loved the ornate carving and the fact that it has five pedals.  I was told that when I grew up and had a house of my own that I could inherit it.  

Yesterday she showed up on my front door courtesy of my sweet Daddy.  I cried.  Not a pretty cry, but more like sobs.  I cried because this piano managed to represent a great-granma I never knew, the trouble my father went through to get it to me, and the fact that I can now share the gift of music with my family for generations to come.  

I love it so much.

Peacocks still run this joint.  I was lonely while Michael was at work the other night, but then I looked up and saw that like a good neightbor, peacocks are there.

 We got a glimpse into the world of parenthood when we got to spend the evening with our nephew Aiden.  At first there were no other kids at McDonald's, so Michael jumped in for a rousing game of Hide-and-go-seek.  

Goodness we are blessed.