My Favorie Things For Fall

If Oprah can do it....why not me!!!???

Not as many people care what my favorite things are, in fact, no one probably cares....but I'm doing it anyway!!!

Here is a list, in no particular order, of my favorite things for fall:


Hands down the Cocoa Latte machine makes me smile!! I just love the smell of hot chocolate warming and the sound of the machine whirring is a very good thing :)

Mine are not this color, exactly this style and definitely not this expensive...but I still LOVE my sweater boots. Best boot purchase. EVER!!

My new favorite cleaning tool. I love my black kitchen table and hate it at the same time. Until now, I have not found a cleaner that doesn't leave it streaky or waxy or yucky looking!!!! I am so singing the praises of this junk. Love it. Wish they sold it by the bucket!

I was aimlessly wandering through Costco a while back (because I was alone and wanted to savor that feeling a little bit longer ) and spotted this stuff. I have heard about it for years. I have a friend who used to eat it all the time in High School....I figured it was one of those "European" things that I didn't care to try. Um. Yum. That is it. This junk spread on a piece of whole grain bread makes me weak in the knees. It's just the ticket for a sweet treat after dinner. In fact, I think I'll have some now...

So. There you have it. A list of my favorite things for fall....

What's on your list?

Kids School Pictures

Rewards all over the place

Bribery. I live and die by it. It is probably the complete opposite of what I should be doing, my children will probably be in therapy for it, but I do it. It works. That is why I do it!

The big kids had parent teacher conference this last week and it went really well!!!

Seriously. I could not have been more pleased or had better news!

Louis' teacher gave him a glowing report. Saying that he is one of her best and easiest students. Um what? Are you kidding me? YESSS!!! This is a huge sigh of relief for me. Not that he is a hard kid, but he is super social and loves to talk (to the ladies OW OW!!) and he just likes to be chatty. So, to hear this was fab. She even went on to say that one of the harder students, who has a rough time staying on task and being quiet, was put next to Louis for this reason. That she knew that he would help her. That she constantly will hear Louis saying " Come on, you can do it. Don't forget what you're supposed to be doing. Do you need help?" What a little stud. Seriously.

The only thing that he needs to work on is his handwriting (typical boy). Because....he is racing with his cute friend Alyson to be the first one done!!! I thought that was pretty funny :)

Kennedy's teacher just loves her. She is a great student and is doing exceptionally well in school. Her only problem is this boy in her class. I AM SO OVER BULLIES!!! I know that "bully" is a strong word. But, this is a classic case of bullying. He goes out of his way to make her life hard, complicated and to see what he can do to ruin her day and make her cry. They even have little mean sayings that no one else knows what they mean, so they will walk by her desk and whisper these things at her. It is truly hurtful to her. Because, if you know Kennedy, she just wants to do well in school and play with her friends. She is definitely sassy, but not mean or hurtful. It has been a really tough year so far (it's only October. Ick.). And here I thought the problem would be the girls....It takes all the self control that I have not to throttle that kid every time I pick them up from school. My foot was flirting with the accelerator as he passed in front of my car on Tuesday. But, I didn't do anything....But I wanted to!!!

Wow. That was a long story about how we got to rewards. Anywho, the kids were rewarded for their great performances in school by a surprise date.

Ross told them to get ready and get in the car they were going to go some where fun....I met them there, because I was already in Orem working. We took them to "Pirate Island Pizza". Basically it's a Pirate version of Chuckee Cheese. But, we had a blast!! The kiddos were so surprised and loved it. They got to play games and eat pizza and just chill. It was a fun afternoon.

This was during fall break. So the day before that my friend Jami and I decided to take the kiddos to the Toy Story double feature in 3d. Sounds fun, huh? Well......7 kids, 2 under 2....It was fun, but the last half an hour of the last movie I almost jumped out of my skin. It is really hard for me to sit still through one movie that is REALLY GOOD! And I do love toy story, but 2. My butt was killing, I was sick of wrestling Cole and my mind was all over the place. Double feature with kids at a kids movie....not recommended. But, it's all for the kids and they loved every minute of it!!!

Jami's daughter Bailey and Louis are basically the same age and they are darling together. BUT THEY DO NOT LOVE EACH OTHER IN THE ROMANTIC WAY!!! Trust me, I asked!! :) It's so darling to see them when we are together. Louis gets all chivalrous on us and carries her treat bag and popcorn and takes her booster seat to her seat for her. Last time we ate dinner together, he asked her what kind of salad dressing she wanted and poured it for her. I KNOW!!! He's quite the little gentleman. Seriously, though it's like the cutest thing in the world.....

Kind of a random post, I know, but it's what we've been up to!

Louis

I came home from work on Monday night and this note was magneted to the garage door, so that I would see it when I walked in. (It was on the wrong side of the door, might I add. Which makes it all the cuter!!)


Translation: Can you sew Lucky. His leg tore.

You bet I can. Especially when you're that cute!!

Usually it takes me a good month or two to get around to "sewing" anything. But, I took Lucky (His stuffed dog) in and sewed him right up!! Cute little dude.

Darn those "Box tops for Education".

I just got back from Costco.

Louis has an obsession with collecting these "Boxtops" and turning them in at school.

EVERY BOX THAT I JUST BOUGHT HAS THE CONTENTS RIPPED OUT AND LAYING ON THE COUNTER AND THE BOX IS COMPLETELY MUTILATED!!!

All for a 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch square of cardboard.

I told him if he stopped ruining my boxes, I'd give him a quarter for each one!!!

Family Bonding

This past spring we finally got another four wheeler. So now we can all go together. Trust me, it's not pretty to stuff all of us on one wheeler. Yikes!!

The kiddos got their own last Christmas, so they take turns riding the little one and the other two kids ride with either Ross or I. It has been so much fun to have this family hobby. There aren't a lot of thing that we all enjoy doing with the big age gap and gender differences!!! :) So. We ride four wheelers. I'll admit, I don't love the whole "dust in the face, getting dirty" part....but I'm getting better! I have to unclench a little bit and just enjoy it.

I didn't grow up doing many 'outdoorsy' things, so this is a step outside of my comfort zone. But, I have truly loved doing it and am finding it quite enjoyable and I LOVE having all of us together. Let's be honest, there isn't anything much cuter than Kennedy or Louis working the four-wheeler. It's been really fun to see them learn how to work it and over come obstacles. Try things they didn't think they could do and see the look of pride on their face when they actually do it!!! It's our new family fave!!! So...here's a few pics from our latest adventure.


Cole just wears a kids bike helmet and sunglasses, because all of the ATV helmets are way too heavy for his cute little head to hold upright!!

Seriously. How cute is that Go sis!!!!

Ross and Louis riding around the motor cross track in West Mountain (where we went on our ride)

Me, just letting the kids ride around and letting Cole fill his pockets with rocks and get dirty. Like I said, I'm trying....(Yep. That's my hair in braids....little, but still....braids!!!!)

What a little stud.

KK and dad waiting for Louis to finish his lap!!!

Good times.

Just a Little Venting...

So. The salon that I work at in Orem was broken into last night. Seriously people. This is the third time in the 7 years that I have worked there that this has happened. Now, granted, it isn't in the nicest part of town, but still!! Three times!!

Here's the disturbing part.

I got the phone call from my boss this morning asking me what time I left last night and if I was the last one there.....I thought, here we go again. I'm going to get in trouble for not locking the doors (which by the way I ALWAYS do, but people come in later and leave them unlocked). Or, someone left all the lights on or something. No. They needed to know what time I left last night so they could put the time frame together about when this all happened.

For those of you who don't know, I work in a salon where we are all pretty independent. I have my own salon within a salon, basically...So I often work alone or odd hours when no one else wants to work. Hence, Monday nights until 9:30. So, I was working late last night and I asked my client if she would wait for me and we could walk out together. I NEVER do that. But, I just felt uneasy last night, I even locked the door after her when she came in. So, she walked out with me and we both mentioned how weird it felt. Just something didn't feel right. So we jumped into our cars and sped off.

Less than an hour later it was all finished. Which means, they were watching me work. They were waiting for me to leave. I feel nauseous. Really? Really!!! Who does that?

They got in through a window that someone left open. They kicked in all of our doors. Stole computers, cash and jewelery. That's about it. Luckily the stuff that I have is VERY VALUABLE, but not to a thief. They opened all of my cupboards and ransacked them and found nothing but color and all of my tools. (if you're a thief, scissors are way more valuable than a necklace made in China. Just fyi....) Anywho. I just am feeling sick about this.

What possesses a person to think "Hey, I know...Let's go into that business, where people actually have jobs and work hard for their money and things and let's trash it and let's steal all of their crap and sell it to make money..."

I know. It's most likely drugs.

It makes me want to throw up.

But, watch out, we're getting an alarm system. I can't wait. Not that it will stop them from trying. We've already been tagged and robbed and tagged and robbed.

Sheesh. You'd think we worked in Compton.

Kennedy had a 6 hour workshop with Thayne Jasperson (from sytycd) today at her dance studio!! At the end of the workshop they handed out awards to the top 5 dancers from each age/experience group. Out of a group of 15 + girls she got the first award!!! Go girl!!!

They were learning choreography for a dance they are going to be performing at a Jazz game half time. So....if you've got nothing else going on on the evening of November 18th, join us at the Glome Dome to see some cute chicks dance!!


Go Kennedy!! :)

Boredom

This is what happens when we get bored and we'll do anything to make this kid laugh!!!

Dear Channel 2 News people,

Please avoid playing commercials at 5:30 in the morning that are about food. I am at the gym watching the television and sweating, trying to lose weight. Please do not play commercials about chocolate chip cookies and all you can eat salad bars. It makes me hungry. I do not want to be hungry while I am working out. It also makes me want those things NOW. Do you know how awkward it is to come home from the gym and sit down to a plate of cookies and a bowl of salad? It's weird. I'm just saying....

To the gas station next to the gym. Would you mind not smelling like donuts? Really?? How can you smell donuts from across the road? Do you have a little fan wafting the scent across the street to the gym. I think that should be outlawed. So unfair. Don't you think about the fat people that are trying NOT to eat donuts?? Please be mindful of us. Don't feed the fat people.

Thank you. That is all.

Anyone?

Is it weird that I am sitting here looking at pictures of me from my grandmother's funeral hurling because I am so fat and yet, I am eating a bag of dorito's?

No?

Good.

Saying Goodbye

My grandmother's funeral was on Wednesday September 30. My aunts and my mom asked me if I would do my grandma's hair for the funeral. Whoa. That I wasn't so sure about. I mean, I wanted to, but it's not something I had done before.

Of course I did it. It was something I did as a service to my grandma. The last thing I could do for her. So, I went down on Tuesday afternoon with my mom and dad and my uncle Dan (my mom's twin).


My travel companions.

Her hair really turned out nice. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I am so glad that I did.

Here are some pictures from the viewing...

My cousins Dave and Lisa and their dad Mike. They live in Indiana so I NEVER get to see them. It was so much fun to get to know them as adults and get reacquainted with my family.

My cousin Austin, Uncle Vince, Whitney and Nick. They live in Canada. Not much seeing them, either. They are also a lot younger than I am, so it was fun to get to know them. Thank heavens for Facebook, I have had the chance to get to know them a bit through that.

This is the display table that my cousins Lisa and Whitney put together for the viewing and the funeral. It really turned out nice.

My mom's siblings. They are sitting in age order. My aunt Marilyn, my mom and her twin Dan, their younger sister Michelle.





We spent the night at the Comfort Inn in Beaver. Pretty sure we shocked the heck out of them. There were nine million of us wandering around and just kind of took over the joint!

At dinner on Tuesday night we went to this restaurant in Beaver to get some dinner. We walked in and told them we had a party of 26. You should have seen the look on the poor girl's face!! It was priceless. But you know what? We had great service. One waitress. Food was good, everyone got what they ordered and it didn't take that long. I've had worse service with 2 people in a restaurant with only us in it.....that says a lot for the "Timberline". If you are ever one your way to southern Utah, stop by.

Grandma hanging out with the girlies while dad dad this.....

Planning his talk. Good job, by the way dad. He gave a great talk at the funeral. The whole service was beautiful. Touching, funny and spiritual. Just like grandma!

The pall bearers at the graveside service. It was ffffffreeeezzzing!!!!

Just before the grave dedication. My brother Doug did that, great job.

My grandmother's casket. Isn't it beautiful? I love the topper. It was stunning. Pink and red roses.

My grandmother's husband, Robert, gave all of the grand daughters and great grand daughters a rose from her topper. To remember that we are the next generation of strong women coming up in this world and to have something to remember that grandma loves us!! It was so sweet!

Kennedy and her rose

Louis felt left out of the rose ceremony so he found a random ribbon blowing around the cemetery. This was his token :)

My WHOLE family. Man, we're fertile...6 siblings all married. Most with kids.

All of the Olsen grandkiddos

All of the Gale cousins (minus Scott and Savannah)Don't know if we'll all get together ever again. IT was really fun to get together. We have such a cool family!

So, that's it. I'm glad it over. We will miss her, but I'm glad that part is over!!!