Festival of Trees

This year Emma's 2nd grade class entered a tree for The Festival of Trees. The theme for the tree is A Magical Christmas. It was a way for their class to get involved in the community and be a part of something bigger than themselves. Here is a little bit of info about the Festival...

PURPOSE: Every penny raised goes to help children in need at Primary Children’s Medical Center.

HISTORY: For 38 years, the Festival of Trees has been a “Gift of Love” from Utah to children. The Festival is organized by a volunteer board of 84 women who enlist time and talents from thousands of individuals, organizations, businesses, and families throughout Utah. Over $22 million has been raised for needy children at Primary Children’s Medical Center through the Festival since 1971, with $1,604,021.64 raised last year.

Here is our tree.

The class and parents worked very hard getting donations and putting together this tree. It won't be the grandest tree at the festival but it will be by far the most loved. These are the little guys that I made for the tree. I like to call these magical creatures "hum bugs". I made 20 of them and they took about an hour each to make. Each one is very unique and has a personality of its' own. The kids adopted the hum bugs, fairies, stars, and gingerbread men and gave them names and wrote stories and descriptions about them. You can see all of the characters on the tree by visiting the tree's blog http://www.magicalchristmastree.blogspot.com/

Try and make to the Festival if you can. It's a great way to kick off the Christmas season and there is a lot to do there besides look at trees. Your kids will have a blast!

DATE:
December 3-6, 2008 (Wednesday through Saturday)
TIME:
10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day
PLACE:
South Towne Exposition Center9575 South State Street, Sandy, Utah 84070
TICKETS: $4 for adults $3 for children $14 for entire family (discount tickets are available at Zions Bank)

My Lucy

Lately, Lucy is very determined to never wear her pants. I put them on and she takes them off. Today she found Brent's sports bag and walked around the house for about a half hour wearing his cleats and throwing his football. She kept saying "sitball Dad." I love her at this age. She is so much fun.

Reed I. Oldroyd

April 24, 1917 - October 18, 2008

Brent's Grandpa Reed passed away quietly Saturday, Oct 18, due to old age. He was born in Fountain Green, Utah to Dorothy Brown and Irvin P. Oldroyd. He married Aileen Smith on July 18, 1941, and moved to Portland, Oregon to attend the Northwest Dental School. He graduated in 1944 and served two years int Army Dental Corps. Reed and Aileen returned to Portland to start a dental practice in Beaverton, where he worked for 30 years.

Reed was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many positions including counselor to the president of the Oregon Portland Temple. He served a church mission in Germany and New York from 1938-1940. Reed and Aileen also served two temple missions in Atlanta, Ga., and Bern, Switzerland.

Reed loved sports. He played basketball and ran track in high school in Provo Utah and his church team took the All Church Tournament in basketball. He loved watching his children and grandchildren participate in various sports.

Reed is survived by his wife, Aileen; his children and their spouses, Dr. Stephen B. and Suzi Oldroyd of Medford, Dr. Ronald I. and Cathy Oldroyd of Lindon, Utah, Mary Kay and Curt Fortie of Lehi, Utah, Janice and Bruce Vickers of Beaverton, Susan and Kurt Bendixsen of Hermiston; 24 grandchildren; and 41 great - grandchildren.

Brent was able to attend his funeral in Beaverton on Friday October 24. He said that it was a very spiritual and moving experience. Grandparents have always played an important role in mine and Brent's lives. I know that his Grandpa had a huge impact on his life. He always spoke very highly of him and has an enormous amount of respect of all that he accomplished in his lifetime. I too have very fond memories of him. Like how he used to crack jokes and how he was always so smiley. He was alway very happy and fun with our kids and loved to spend time with them. I feel very blessed to have married into a family that is so loving and accepting. Reed was a very good and righteous man. He will be greatly missed by all of us. It's very comforting to have the knowledge and faith in The Plan of Happiness. It simply teaches us that we will all be together again. Until that time comes, he will hold a special place in our hearts.

Emma and her Great-Grandpa (March 2001)

TV vs. My Conscience

For several months now I have had this nagging voice in my head that I should get rid of our TV. I've ignored this voice for a long time because I LOVE TV and always have. I'm a self proclaimed TV aholic. It's a great babysitter for the kids, it is a great pastime for me. I am totally hooked on Grey's Anatomy, LOST, Hero's, CNN (just to name a few). But most of all, I am a DVR addict. I love the pause button, I love fast forwarding commercials, I love skipping around and back, I love to see things in slow mo, I love knowing that if I miss one of my shows on the night it airs, I can always watch it later. So here's the question. Why would I do something so crazy as getting rid of it? I don't quite know yet. All I know is that I've had a prompting to do it, so I'd better listen right??? It's a little thing called faith I guess.

So, yesterday I called Dish Network and canceled our service. The jerks didn't even give me a last day with the TV or a chance to really let my final decision sink in. They turned off the dish even before I hung up the phone. And on a Thursday of all days. Only the best night of the week for TV watching. Oh the tears that were shed. Not by me but by Emma and Isabelle. It was a very sad day for all of us. But when the girls had no TV after dinner they had a great time playing soccer inside with each other, Brent and I talked together, and I actually found the time to work out and read.

So, here is what I'm hoping will happen as a result of ditching TV.

1. More family time talking and playing

2. Less of the "world" in our home

3. More time to devote to scripture reading

4. More money saved for a rainy day

5. More time to spend developing talents

6. Less of the media's doom and gloom to panic me

7. More music to fill the quiet

and

7. A confirmation that I have done the right thing for my family

Just so you know, when I say we don't have TV, it's literal. We don't have an antenna so we only get fuzz and the Spanish channel. {Isabelle loves all things Spanish so she might actually be the one to watch this channel.} I'm confidentish that this decision is going to be a good thing for us. It will definitely force me to create some new habits and a new lifestyle. Wish us luck!

Halloween

Halloween was really great this year. I planned and hosted three parties in one day (Preschool, Emma's 2nd grade class, and our 3rd Annual street party). I almost divorced Brent in the morning because when I went to get my energy drink (an extra large Rock Star) out of the fridge for my breakfast I found that Brent had stolen it! I was furious! I had bought it and saved it all week for this day. {Okay judgey judgers... Yes I drink caffeine. But only on days when I have to be super mom. }Brent wasn't allowed back in the house without a replacement drink, which by the way is still sitting in the fridge un-opened. I made it through the day without a drop of caffeine!

So here are some awesome pictures of Halloween 2008! It was a prefect day for the kids. But I have to admit, I'm sure I love this Holiday more than them.

Here I am! The hostess with the mostess!PEACE!!!

Isabelle was adorable Lucy Jane and her trusty pal Walter Little Miss Emma The best part of this costume was that Brent was totally unrecognizable. Our Bishop confessed to Brent on Sunday that after talking to him, while they were out trick-or-treating, he had to ask someone who the creep in our neighborhood was. He had no idea it was Brent.
These two dorks are our wards Elders Quorum President and First councilor. Cami and I are so proud. They took a spin around the neighborhood until their sweet ride broke down and they had to push it home. It was the highlight of my night. I couldn't stop laughing.This is the 3rd year we have had a street Halloween party. How lucky are we that we love our neighbors and that we all love Halloween? We had pot luck in the garage and set up a hot chocolate stand on the sidewalk for all the trick or treaters. Isabelle and KaylenLucy GooseyPete and LisaSommer and MillyEmma and TrinityMelissaI'm sad it's all over. But now I get to plan Christmas...

Breakfast in Bed

When Emma and Isabelle woke me up early Saturday morning with a big homemade breakfast, it took me a minute to process what the special occasion was. Did my birthday sneak up on me? Did I go to sleep in the fall and wake up to a springy Mothers Day? Am I recovering from surgery? Nope. Nothing like this. They just love me. With the help of the best Dad around, they made french toast and eggs (just the way I like them). Even though I love to sleep late on Saturday, I didn't mind at all having a early wake up to the best girls ever, my greatest blessings!

A card from Isabelle.

A card from Emma

A picture of me drawn by Emma. A spitting image if I do say so. (Those are shoulders in case you were wondering).

My terrible two

I'm talking about my two "twins". Isabelle and her BFF Kaylen. These two are inseparable and often times partners in crime. --- I just have to preface this post by saying that I love Kaylen like my own and love her friendship with Iza. These girls love each other like sisters and treat each other like the best friends they are. The best part of this friendship is that these two look like they could be twins. If I'm not paying close attention to them I can't tell them apart. I'll never forget the day they realized how identical they could look and switched clothes. This was the day that I sent Iza home and yelled at Kaylen. They both thought this was funny and since then have tried the old switch-a-roo again. Fool me once shame on me... I pay better attention now.

Well, yesterday these two decided to play beauty parlor. Off came inches of hair here and there. Erin (Kaylens mom) didn't notice at first but became suspicious when she saw the evidence of a haircut on the carpet and later found a big pile of hair hidden under the bed. Isabelle and Kaylen were very good at hiding their home made hair dos by cutting the underside of their hair. I didn't even notice until Erin called me early this morning to apologize. I found very quick what I hadn't seen the night before. Iza is sporting some pretty sweet bangs, new layers, and she almost has a bald spot in back. Poor Kaylen got the worst of it. she lopped off one side of her braid.I think she is going to have to get a pretty drastic makeover to fix it.

I don't know who's hair is who's but I think most of it is Kaylens

As punishment for this little stunt I've grounded them from playing together for the week. {This is much harder on me than it is on them.} Isabelle was in tears when I told her that now she and Kaylen won't look like twins. They will have different hair cuts for the first time ever.

These girls are usually very well behaved together. But I guess girls will be girls.

and they look so innocent...

Redneck DNA

Is it possible that my family's redneck ancestry is so dominate that my child can grow a mullet without any help from the local Fantastic Sams? Poor Lucy Jane... no matter how many hair cuts we give her, she always ends up growing a mullet. I hope this isn't a glimpse into what her future holds. But never the less, I will continue to take her to (as Brent calls it) the "beauty parlor" as many times as needed to save her from this well known "fashion don't".

The Mullet... yes it really is this bad.

You can thank The La Villa Salon for helping our redneck baby.

Goodbye mullet, we'll see you again in a few months.

Mom JEANS

I don't mean to offend any mom's out there who may be reading my blog. But if you happen to fall into the category of wearing "mom jeans", then please head over to The Gap and pick up a new pair of pants! If you don't know what mom jeans are, then watch this clip from SNL. It's so stinking funny!
Cut and paste this to your URL.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=29142171&searchid=bc3a037f-00c2-4f00-a85d-0a6401b35777

Fashion Police

Mom- "Isabelle put on your shoes."

Isabelle - "I don't know where they are."

Mom- "They're upstairs in your room."

Isabelle- "I can't go all the way up there. I just got downstairs!"

Mom- "Here. Wear these ones." I handed her her brown tweed flats with the pink bow.

Isabelle- "MOM! I can't wear these! They're fall shoes and it's still Summer!"

Oh my! I've created a premature teenager!

It's HOT!

On Saturday I discovered how dangerous jalapenos peppers are. It's not a very good idea to play with one and then itch your eyes (obviously). I picked a pepper out of my garden and proceeded to play with it for a few minutes while I was talking with Brent and Kim. I sliced it open with my finger nail and pulled out the seeds. I tried to get Walter to eat it but he was smarter than that so I tossed it over the fence. A few minutes later I itched my right eye and well, you can imagine what happened next. It felt like lava hot eyelashes were stuck in my eye. I ran to the sink and stuck my head under the faucet and let cold water run through my eye. I washed my hands several times with soap and water. I laid down on my bed with a cold rag over my eye for a few minutes when I did something very stupid. My left eye was itchy so I itched it. There must have been more pepper juice left on my fingers because I totally blinded myself for the next two hours. I ruined my entire afternoon (which was supposed to be spent painting and finishing Isabelle's room). I think this is how a raper feels when he gets pepper sprayed. My neighbor suggested I teach an enrichment night on "how to make your own pepper spray". If I was a rape artist, I'd have no chance if I got hit by the stuff. I would have taken a picture of myself but I couldn't see to find my camera.

Goodbye Old Friend

Last night I had to say goodbye to a dear old faithful friend. Jettadiah. My very first car. I fell in love with that car the moment I saw it. A bright red 1994 VW Jetta! I bought it in August 1998. 10 years ago this month (happy cariversary!) I was 19 years old and a few weeks away from starting my sophomore year at Southern Utah University. It was the perfect college car. I paid $9,000 for it and my monthly payment was a whopping $190 a month.
I'm a nerd for being so upset over selling the jetta. But really, it's not the car I'm sad about. It's more of me being sad over a time in my life that has passed on. A time that was absolutely amazing. That car was a symbol of my youth and freedom. It was a symbol of becoming an adult and learning responsibility. That little red car holds a decade worth of some of my most cherished memories:

Meeting and falling in love with Brent
The winter spent at Brian Head snowboarding
Trips to Cali, Vegas, Oregon

Moving back and forth from school to home during the Summer
Driving back and forth from home to Cedar City to see Brent during the Summer

Getting engaged and married

The Bear attack on Mt. Whitney!!!

Driving to the hospital to give birth to Emma

Moving to Colorado

Buying our first home

Buying our second home
on and on...

Every time I would move from one apartment to another during college, I would buckle my big pooh bear in the front seat. It would get a few laughs from other drivers on the road. It's been years since I've done this. Pooh now lives in Lucy's room.


I was always so happy to go on long road trips. I could sing at the top of my lungs with the Indigo girls or any other angry girl music that I had in my CD case. Now, I'm lucky if the kids will let me listen to talk radio. It's a mini van and Hannah Montana for me now.

Here is proof that I did let Brent drive my car once while we were dating. He says that I NEVER let him. Why should I have? It was my car! (Some things never change. I'm still the driver in this relationship.) And by the way Brent, quit your crying. Over the last 10 years you've gotten plenty of time behind the wheel. Geesh. I believe it was you who drove over 190,000 miles on it.

My roommates and I spent a lot of Saturdays driving to Brian Head to snowboard. Once we let Brent come with us. That year he was around so much he became one of the girls. Apparently I think I'm pretty cool. But I'm pretty sure I must have been a dork. Why else would I pose like that.

Thank you Joey for the great deco on my car. Yes, that's a condom that I'm holding. If only I had used it! Just kidding. Emma came many months later. Instead of heading straight to the honeymoon room, we stopped off at the car wash so the paint wouldn't get ruined.

I'm very aware that this is a long post. I just had to take a trip down memory lane for my own healing. It can be hard for me to move on. Buying that car has been one of the best decisions I've made. It's never had a single problem. If Brent had wanted to, I'm sure that we could have driven it for another five years. But we're moving on to bigger and better "things"... I guess. New memories and new adventures await!

Family Picture Day

Last weekend we went up to Little Cottonwood Canyon, with Brent's family, for family picture day. I took my own camera and Brent and I snapped a few pics of our own before the battery died. I haven't seen the professional ones yet but I was pleased with the way these ones turned out. It's not very often that I hop in the pictures with my kids. But on this rare occasion I was pimple free and not wearing "P.E." clothes so I figured why not!
I could very well have the worlds cutest girls!

My very own McDreamy.