Happy New Year's Eve :)

Hope everyone is planning to have some fun tonight. We are heading to my sister's house. It will be COLD! I am sure a good time will be had.

Just wanted to share a poem that my daughter wrote. It made me smile :)

I will be back with Christmas pics and New Years pics soon.

Where I'm From

Compliments to George Ella Lyons

I am from red sands,

From brown dirt and yellow leaves,

I am from the heat of the day,

(Comforting but blistering, it symbolizes home)

I am from the oleanders,

The giant mulberry tree

Whose smell stuck to me the longer I sat in it.

I am from 4-wheelers and luaus,

From Eula Mae and Grandma Barnes,

I'm from here-we-go-agains,

And the whatever-you-can-finds,

From "Brady-slap" and "Kameron Junior"

I'm from starting lines and running shoes,

Farmville and Sunday drives.

I'm from Talking Heads records and INXS concerts,

Caffeine Free Diet Coke and "something sour"

From the dentist tools my great-grandpa made,

And the ear "Grandpa Snickers" lost in a fight.

Black and white pictures cover the walls,

Of the rickety Mount Pleasant house,

The faces crossed the plains and settled valleys,

Coming from Sweden and Wales,

I am from the light of their eyes,

A dream they had a century ago.

-Meghan Simonson

Merry Christmas!

Life is a bit too hectic to be blogging right now. I have gifts that I need to finish up. A house to clean and MOUNDS of laundry to finish up. So, I guess that means no computer time for me. I am sure I will be back with all kinds of Christmas photos to share by next week :)

If you want to check out a few of my new projects that I have been working on this week (they are pretty cute!) then CLICK HERE :)

Until then, enjoy one of my all time favorites, Fall Out Boy's version of What's This. I love it! :)

I Think It Is Time.

This December has FLOWN by! I have been in school countless Decembers and have still managed to get everything ready for Christmas. This year, well, not so much.

We finally do have a tree. A real one that my daughter went up into the mountains and cut down by herself (no joke!). We haven't had a real tree in ages!!! One thing that I have found out from this is the fact that I am pretty sure that I am allergic to it. I know, it seems strange, but, ever since the tree has been in our house, I have been sneezing, my nose runs non-stop, and my throat and eyes are all itchy. When I leave the house, these symptoms seem to subside a bit. Has anyone else ever been allergic to a Christmas tree? Who would have thought?

The tree is up, undecorated, but in its spot waiting to be decorated. No presents have been bought. Lists haven't even been made. The only two things that I have accomplished this month were to get my Christmas cards sent and my neighbor gifts made and delivered. Other than that, nothing else is done!

I am finished with finals and I think it is finally time to get ready for Christmas, don't you???

Wants VS Needs

Life takes on a whole new meaning when you start looking at it with a wants vs. needs perspective.

I think there have been times when I have spent way too much of my life going after all the wants. After a while it all starts feeling so shallow and empty. I can spend my time acquiring a big house, fancy cars, nice clothes, and possessions galore, but in the end does all of that really matter???

This year is a lean Christmas for us. In years past we have always spent way too much money and always spoiled the kids rotten. With me being in school and with trying to pay for two homes with Bryan up north and us down here and with all of the things that we went through this year with Bryan's job, we don't have a whole lot of disposable income. Are we starving, no? Do we have sufficient for our needs, yes. It just isn't what we are used to.

Last month we came up with our Christmas budget and then Bryan came to us and told us that there was a family that he knew (he used to work with the lady) that was really struggling. The husband is having health problems and is unable to work, they have an autistic son and a young daughter and a couple of older married children. They are barely making ends meet and all they were hoping for this Christmas was to be able to find a way to provide their young daughter with a gift or two.

Bryan came to the kids and asked them if they would be willing to give up half of their already lean Christmas budget to help this family. I am so proud of my kids, not one of them even questioned for a second whether or not they would be willing to do this. Each of them immediately said yes.

We were able to give this family some money. Bryan handed the lady the envelope and she was very grateful. She had no idea how much money was in the envelope, but she told Bryan how grateful she was and then told him how she was going to use the money to buy her autistic son some new church shoes for Christmas. Apparently he doesn't have any nice shoes for church and it is very upsetting for him to have to wear the shoes that he does have.

Before all of this started, I was feeling bad knowing that my kids weren't going to have the kind of Christmas that they were used to, and there was a family out there who wasn't even able to provide new church shoes for their son. It put Christmas in perspective for me. It really isn't about what we receive, it is what we are able to give, no matter how small, that matters.

It was touching to me to know that my kids were willing to give up part of their wants in order to help someone else out with their needs. They really do know what this season is about and I am so proud to be their mother! I think that this Christmas will mean more to them (even though they won't have as much under the tree) than any of the Christmas's they have celebrated in the past.

Neighbor Gifts, FINSHED & Delivered! YAY! :)

The neighbor Christmas gifts are finished and delivered! YAY! Maybe now it will start feeling a bit more like Christmas :)

If you want to check out the pics of what I made, CLICK HERE.

I have finals this week, UGH! I have one down and three more to go. Two tomorrow and one on Wednesday. . .here is hoping that I can stay sane!

After finals, I will be able to start getting ready for Christmas!!!! YESSSSSSSS!!!

Have YOU Ever???

Copy, paste, and bold (& add comments!) to what you have done!


Have you ever.....


*1. Started your own blog (Well, duh!)



*2. Slept under the stars (Many times)


3. Been to Key West, FL


*4. Vacationed in Hawaii (Three times and hopefully counting!)


5. Watched a meteor shower


*6. Given more than you can afford to charity (We are doing that this Christmas)


*7. Been to Disneyland/Disney World (Land, not world)


*8. Climbed a mountain (Yes!)


*9. Held a praying mantis


*10. Sang a solo or played a solo


11. Bungee jumped - no freakin' way!


*12. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment (Yes at Yellowstone. A man with about 5 cameras around his neck tripped and did that running forward thing with all the cameras swinging this way and that, I busted out laughing. . .probably not a good time to do that!)


13. Watched a lightning storm at sea


*14. Gone rollerskating (All the time in Elemetary school!)


15. Adopted a child


*16. Gambled in Vegas (Yes, when I was young and stupid!)


17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty


*18. Grown your own vegetables (nothing better than home-grown tomatoes!)


19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. I WISH!


20. Slept on an overnight train


*21. Had a pillow fight


22. Hitch hiked


23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill


*24. Built a snow fort


25. Held a lamb


26. Gone skinny dipping


27. Run a Marathon


*28. Worked at a Cannery or Welfare Farm


29. Seen a total eclipse


*30. Watched a sunrise or sunset


*31. Played an instrument (used to play the clarinet)


*32. Been on a cruise (A few!)


33. Seen Niagara Falls in person


34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors


35. Seen an Amish community


*36. Taught yourself a new language (learning Spanish right now!)


37. Acted in a play or performed on stage


38. Been to Italy


*39. Gone river rafting (Colorado River & Green River)


40. Seen Michelangelo’s David


*41. Sung karaoke (All the time!)



*42. Seen ‘Old Faithful’ geyser erupt (Yep, read comment on #12)


*43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (nope, but I had one bought for me once)


*44. Water Skied


*45. Walked on a beach by moonlight


46. Been transported in an ambulance


47. Had your portrait painted


48. Gone deep sea fishing


49. Been to Japan


*50. Rode a horse (not only rode one, owned one!)


*51. Gone snorkeling


*52. Kissed in the rain


53. Sailed a boat


*54. Gone to a drive-in theater


55. Been in a movie


56. Surfed

57. Started a business

58. Visited the Great Wall of China


59. Lived in a foreign country


60. Delivered Meals on Wheels or Served at a Soup Kitchen


61. Snow Mobile or Snow Skied


*62. Gone whale watching (two different times in Maui)


*63. Got flowers for no reason


64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma


65. Gone sky diving


*66. Gone Ice Skating

*67. Bounced a check (once a VERY long time ago!)

68. Flown in a helicopter


*69. Saved a favorite childhood toy


*70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial


*71. Eaten caviar


*72. Knit, Crocheted, Sewn, Quilted


73. Stood in Times Square


74. Toured the Everglades


75. Been fired from a job


76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London


*77. Broken a bone (my little toe 4 times!)


*78. Been on a speeding motorcycle


*79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person


80. Published a book


81. Visited the Vatican


*82. Bought a brand new car


83. Walked in Jerusalem


*84. Had your picture in the newspaper or been on TV (TV a whole bunch of times!)


*85. Done something you said you would NEVER do


*86. Visited the White House


*87. Been stung by a bee


*88. Had chickenpox


89. Saved someone’s life


*90. Sat on a jury (Well, I got called to jury duty for the Federal Courts, but I didn't end up having to stay for the trial, only one day)

*91. Met someone famous


*92. Joined a book club


93. Had to put someone you love in Hospice Care


*94. Had a baby (Yep, 5)

95. Seen the Alamo in person


*96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake


97. Been involved in a law suit


*98. Eaten suishi (a couple of times, but I don't like it)


99. Won the Lottery


*100. Read an entire book in one day

T.G.I.F!

I am so glad that it is Friday!!! Next Friday I will be done with finals and will finally be able to get my house ready for Christmas. My kids CANNOT wait!

Today I am cleaning the house, doing the laundry, and then doing something FUN before I study for finals!

Wanna know what the FUN thing is? THEN CLICK HERE! :)

Hope everyone is keeping warm on this COLD day!

The End.

I have finals next week. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that the semester is coming to an end. It has been a semester that has kicked my butt! However, there is something that is a little different about the end of this semester compared to the end of the others I have experienced this far. This semester officially marks the end of all pre-core, pre-requisite, and general ed classes that I will take. WOW!

It has been a long, long journey. One that started after the birth of my third child. Just an FYI, my third child is now 14. Crazy!

After my third child was born, I felt this overwhelming feeling to go back to school. It seemed crazy. It seemed impossible. It seemed down right insane.

I think that the reality hit me that I was the mother of 3 kids (at that time) and I had been out of the workforce for quite a while. I had no education and some skills, but nothing that would get me enough pay to support my family if something were to happen to my husband. It was a very intimidating thought. I remember thinking that I wasn't sure that my husband would be supportive of me going back to school because he was so busy with work and we had three kids. Our oldest was only 4 at the time and we had two in diapers. It would take a lot of support from my hubby in order for me to be able to go back to school.

I remember the night so clearly. We were sitting at the dinner table and I told my husband that I really wanted to go back to school. He was very supportive. He agreed that it was a great idea and that is where my journey began.

It has been full of starts and stops. I attended night classes while my kids were young. Bryan would get home from work and I would head to school. I would do homework while they napped and homework while I waited in the car for them to be done with pre-school. It wasn't easy.

I attended school through two pregnancies, several moves, remodeling of two homes, building of one home, and quite a few other challenges.

Some semesters I would only take two classes and other semesters I would take three or four. Then finally in December 2000 I received my diploma for my AS degree! I figured that it wouldn't take me long to finish up my BS degree at that point. HA! Boy was I wrong!

I have changed my major a couple of times. As a matter of fact, I am only a few classes from having my English Lit degree. I figured I would finish up with that and then get my teaching certificate. Last summer with all the changes with Bryan's job, I once again went back to school, this time pursuing my Elementary Ed degree. Funny story, that is the degree I started toward all those years ago when my third child was born.

In January I will officially start "in the program". I have three more semesters of classes and one semester of student teaching. After that I will have that BS degree I have been after for all these years. I guess if nothing else at least I have been persistent! ;)

Feeling a Little BAH HUMBUG!

I really do LOVE Christmas. I really do LOVE decorating for Christmas. It is just so hard to get into the holiday spirit when you don't have any spare time.

I have finals until December 18th. I can't even think about shopping for Christmas or putting up my tree and such until finals week is over. At that point, I am thinking, what is the point of decorating??? Aren't the kids just more worried about their presents than the tree and decor anyway?

All of that hard work and time spent on decorating for a holiday that is only one week away. If I can't enjoy my decorations all month, why bother???

I had an idea. Let me run it by you. In order to save myself some time and still feel like the holiday season was in our home, I decided that we could make a tree out of paper. Yes, I said paper. Cute scrapbook paper. We aren't talking some little mini version of a tree. We are talking a 6 ft + paper tree. Then I was going to tape the cute paper tree on our BIG family room window. I would give my kids some craft supplies and let them go to town decorating the paper tree. That way all I would have to do at the end of the holiday season is tear it down and throw it away.

No pulling out the boxes and boxes of Christmas stuff. No sorting through strands of lights to see which worked and which didn't. No moving furniture around in order for a tree to fit. No hours and hours of decorating the tree. No stress, no mess! It sounded pretty great to me!

Unfortunately, my kids thought that it was the worst idea ever. *SIGH*. I guess that means I will pull out my Christmas stuff and decorate. Perhaps after I do, I will feel a little less Bah Humbug.

Maybe I just need finals week to be over with and then I can feel a little more of the holiday spirit. Here's hoping!!! (I still think the paper tree was a GRAND idea!)

Making Me HAPPY!

I found something new the other day that made me smile! It is something that I could have all kinds of CRAFTY fun with!

Wanna know what it is???

Then click on over to my craft blog

***Paisley Inspirations***

and check it out! SO FUN!

And Now This Man. . .

This man was 23 years old when I met him.

This man stole my heart on our first date.

This man works hard to provide for his family.

This man is a wonderful father.

This man has given me the gift of 5 children. 4 boys and 1 daughter.

This man and I have been together on ups and downs and highs and lows.

This man has seen me laugh.

This man has seen me cry.

This man is always there when I need him.

This man has lived with me longer than I lived with my own family.

This man puts up with my craft addiction.

This man loves me for me.

Happy Birthday to my hubby!

I Love You!

This Man

This man. . .

He (with the help of my mother) gave me life.

He changed my diaper.

He watched me learn.

He watched me grow.

He watched me succeed.

He watched me fail.

He spent countless hours worrying about me and probably many more hours being frustrated with me.

He made me ice cream shakes when I was sick, scrambled eggs with salsa when I was hungry, wiped my tears when I sad.

He tickled me until it made me cry.

He sang songs to me.

He was there when I graduated from high school.

He was there when I got married.

He was there to welcome each of my five children, his grandchildren, with open arms.

He is a role model.

He loves me for me.

He is my dad.

Happy Birthday Dad! May you have all the happiness you deserve and then some!

I love you!!! Thanks for always being there.

Wanting to Snuggle Up :)

I don't know what it is about this time of year. I don't know if it is the change in the weather or the fact that the holidays are starting. There is just something that makes me want to be lazy and snuggle up on the couch in a nice cozy blanket and not do anything except read a good book while sipping some hot cocoa or watch a good show on tv.

The problem with feeling this way is that I am in school (currently registered full-time) and we have two more weeks of classes AND another week of finals still to go. Feeling like snuggling up on the couch just isn't in the cards. I have two research papers to write, one on Mathematical Theory and one on Educational Psychology. I have oodles of reading. Tons of homework and a few more tests until finals begin. No time to be lazy, no matter how bad I want to be!

I guess that means it is time for me to quit dreaming of being lazy and get off the computer and get to finishing up my homework. *SIGH*

Thanksgiving Pictures :)

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Pain in the NECK!

Literally! I have been in so much pain the past three days that at times I have nearly been brought to tears! I woke up a few days ago with a stiff neck and it has been the worst case of stiff-neck-ickyness that I have ever had!!!

I was so looking forward to my long weekend break from school and celebrating Thanksgiving and heading out early on Black Friday to find me some deals. Instead I have been laying around in excruciating pain and not doing anything fun :(

I was bummed to miss out on Black Friday, but that is okay, there is always next year. I have a high tolerance for pain, but there was just no way I could have done it this year. Instead I stayed in bed with an ice-pack on my neck. Thrilling, right?

I am hoping I am better by the time this weekend is over. If not, well then, off to the Chiropractor I go!

We had a great Thanksgiving. The food was yummy and it was nice to have the family together for a few hours. I will post pictures later when it doesn't KILL my head and neck and shoulders to be on the computer for even a short length of time!

The Letter "E"

~GratitudE~

Happy Thanksgiving!

I can't believe that it is Thanksgiving already! This post will complete 225 things that I am grateful for. 25 starting with each letter in the word gratitude. It has been a though provoking journey. It really made me stop and think about life and that even the little things are something to cherish and be thankful for.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day of family, friends, good food, and memories!

Entertainment- movies, tv, plays, music, and the like.

Eurythmics- I OH SO loved them in high school. My son "Bones" didn't know who they were a few weeks ago and so I gave him a hard time. We immediately went and found some of my old Eurythmics/Annie Lennox music and remedied that situation :)

Elephants- It's not so much that I am a fan of elephants, but my child #4 is. He went through a phase where he was infatuated with them. Anytime I see an elephant, stuffed, real, or otherwise, I am reminded of his childhood fascination with them.

Eagerness- eagerness is such a good thing. It is a driving force.

Eggs- I do so love eggs. Eggs Benedict, scrambled, sunny-side up. I don't eat them very often, but I sure do enjoy them when I do.

Ears- I really think that hearing the sounds around us, even the little things, is something I never gave much thought. Ever since I found out that my youngest child is deaf in one ear, it has brought a new perspective to me on how lucky those of us who have been blessed with our hearing are.

Earnings- no matter how meager or how large they may be, any amount of $ we earn is something to be grateful for.

Earth- this crazy spinning rock is full of laughter, memories, and millions of people making their way through each and every day.

Easy- sometimes isn't life just so great when you get a chance to press the easy button now and again?

Eavesdropping- Okay, so this may sound strange. . .but I have a habit of eavesdropping on the tables around us when we go out to dinner on Saturday nights. Sometimes the conversations are so hilarious! It is fun to see what other people have to say and listen in for just a bit. Not in a malicious way, just a curious way ;)

Ebony- I really do love the color black.

Eccentric- Johnny Depp is eccentric and I do love him. I love people who are willing to live their life exactly how they want, for them, not for anyone else.

Enchiladas- YUM!

Echo- reminds me of being a kid and finding a place where you could hear your echo and standing there and listening to it over and over and over. . .

Eclipse- Yes, the Twilight kind and the other kind too :)

Edgy- I think it is a good thing to be a little bit edgy now and again.

Edible- There are many yummy edible things out there, both healthy and unhealthy to be grateful for.

Edifying- A good book, a good church service, a good class, learning something new.

Education- I have had a long journey on my road to education. 6 years to my AS degree and about 4 so far working toward my BS degree. It is a long process, but you know what? No matter how long it takes, at least at some point I will graduate. I think that education is a life long pursuit, one that should never have a destination, only a journey.

Elf- CHRISTMAS!

Efficiency- Sometimes I get frustrated with how my kids clean their rooms or how people do things, then I remind myself that being efficient means different things to different people, and that is okay.

Eggnog- reminds me of the holidays.

Eight- the number eight has always been my favorite number, couldn't tell you why, just has.

Elders-I am so thankful for the Elders in the mission field who are out there giving up their time for their beliefs. I only hope that one day soon, my oldest son will feel the same way I do.

Electricity- duh! Need I say why? :D

The Letter "D"

~GratituDe~

Here are my 25 things starting with D that I am grateful for. I cannot believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I haven't even been to the grocery store yet! I guess I better get my list made and go :)

Dads- I have a great dad and my hubby is an amazing dad. A great dad is so important!

Dinner- Family dinners are the best.

Date Night- My hubby and I have a tradition. Saturday nights are reserved for date night. The kids have pizza night and we go out with just the two of us. I look forward to it every week :)

Desert- My kids were all born in the desert. We live in the desert. It is our home. We refer to our children as Desert Rats because they can't handle being cold.

Dessert- One of my favorite things about eating out is the YUMMY dessert!

Daisy- I love flowers!

Dogs- I am not grateful for dogs for me, but for my son "Bones". He is a true dog lover.

Dancing- Dancing in the rain, dancing because you are happy, dancing like no one is watching.

Daughter- I only have one and we think she is pretty special. Not sure what we would do without her.

Desire- Some of the greatest accomplishments come from the desire to try.

Desk- I am grateful for my desk. Most of the time it is a cluttered mess, but it is where I study, where I learn, where I create.

Destination- I love traveling and going to a new destination. Exploring all of the places out there in the world is so fascinating to me!

Discovery- Discovering and learning new things, how great is that?

Delicatessen- Eating lunch out with family or friends or even by myself. I don't know why, but I LOVE going out to lunch.

Daiquiri- Baskin Robbins Daiquiri flavored ice cream, YUM!

Doctors- Thank goodness that there are people out there willing to go to school to become doctors, nurses, surgeons.

Deals- Like the kind you get on Black Friday! :D

Dandelions- I remember as a kid when the dandelions would go to seed and we would pick them and close our eyes and make a wish and blow the seeds up into the air.

Decaffeinated Diet Coke- I don't drink pop much anymore, but I am SO glad that there are a few restaurants out there that actually have decaff-diet coke when I do want one! :)

Decorating- I LOVE decorating things. My house, my Christmas tree, etc.

Dreams- where would we be without hopes and dreams?

Dollars- it is always fun to have a few dollars in your pocket to spend on something that you want :)

Dirty- I don't like it when it is referring to my house; however, when it is referring to my kids face because they have been outside playing with friends and digging in the dirt and exploring or because they have eaten something so delicious that it is all over their face, then dirty isn't such a bad thing ;)

Daffodils- It's that flower thing again!

Depp- As in the Johnny variety ;) He was just voted the sexiest man alive this month by People Magazine! I LOVE LOVE LOVE him as Captain Jack Sparrow.

The Letter "U"

~GratitUde~

This could get pretty interesting. Here are my 25 things that I am grateful for starting with the letter U.

Umbrella- every year at the scrapbook expo, it rains on us. Thank GOODNESS for our umbrellas. Not to keep us dry, to keep our scrappy supplies dry!

Umpire- wouldn't want to be one, but glad to have them. I think that my family could use an umpire for family game nights.

Unicorn- they remind me of when my sister was little. She had a unicorn room. Childhood memories :)

Unicycle- I have always wanted to learn to ride one.

Ukulele- Reminds me of Maui, one of my all time favorite places to visit.

Up!- LOVED that movie! I cried several times. It was so cute!

Uncles- for mine, for those who are my kids. Uncles are great!

Utensils- much better than eating with my hands.

Underwear- Do I really need to explain?

Understanding- isn't it great to find someone who is completely understanding? They are the type of people that you want for friends.

Unpack- I LOVE to unpack because it means I have just returned from a trip!

Unusual- Unusual is much better than normal :)

Unfold- Isn't it fun to watch how life unfolds?

Urge- The urge to do something fun. The urge to do something exciting. The urge to be creative.

University- I am HOPING to be a college grad someday before my 100th birthday :D

USA- Glad I live in the land of the free.

UGH!- Sometimes there is no better word to explain how I am feeling.

Ugly Duckling- It reminds us of the beautiful swan that can be found inside everyone.

Ultimate- Ultimate meal, ultimate dance, ultimate experience. Things that have ultimate in front of them sound so much more special.

Underground- When I was in high school, I was so into the "Underground" music scene, etc. Oh sweet memories.

Unique- I LOVE being the only me there is.

Umbilical Cords- memories of the births of all 5 of my kids.

Ultra- Ultra glam, ultra modern, ultra cool, ultra fun, things sound super ultra cool with ultra in front of them.

UFO- The thoughts of UFO's used to scare me when I was a kid. They don't anymore, but UFO's remind me of a really good book I read called The Way Station. Even though I am not into Sci Fi, it is a GREAT book!

Uber- One of my favorite designers, David Bromstad, uses this word all the time. I think it would be UBER cool if he came and designed my house for me! :) I can dream, right???

The Letter "T". . .again :)

~GratiTude~

Here goes my 2nd round of 25 things starting with the letter T :) Tomorrow, U! Yikes!

Technology: My cell phone, my laptop, my DVR, etc.

Talking: Nothing better than a good talk with family and friends.

Turkey: Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without it.

Tests: When I am taking them, I don't like them so much. However, when I get a good grade on a test, that proves that I have learned something new and THAT is a good thing.

Typing: I am glad that I spent 2 years in high school taking type classes. I can't imagine not knowing how to keyboard. It saves me so much time when I am writing research papers!

Tinkerbell: Ahhhh, Disneyland :)

Telling my story: I love my blog because it gives me a place to write down all of the things that are floating around in this head of mine.

Treats: Yum! Who doesn't love a nice yummy treat.

Tutoring: I spent about 50 hours the past two months tutoring 1st graders and my 4th grade son in math. It is pretty satisfying to see the students progress.

Trinkets: I love going to antique stores and seeing what kind of trinkets I can find.

Tie-Dye: I always thought that tie-dye was cool when I was in high school. I am so glad it is making a slight comeback.

Textures: I am kind of strange because I notice different textures of things, walls, paper, tables, rocks, plants, etc. They are inspiring to me.

Tambourine: I know this is funny, but tambourines remind me of the Partridge Family and I LOVED that show when I was a kid. Tambourines bring back childhood memories.

Tonto: another thing that brings back childhood memories, is my little brother Jeff watching the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Man I hated it when I had to give up watching the Adams Family so that he could watch the Lone Ranger. Awwww, sweet memories!

Toothpicks: Ever since I had my back molar fixed, I get food stuck in between my two back teeth. It drives me crazy! It really has made me grateful for toothpicks and dental floss.

Tic-Tac-Toe: When Luke was little, he used to love to play tic-tac-toe with me. He could never figure out why I could always win ;)

Twins: I always thought it would be fun to have twins. I didn't want to be pregnant with them, I just wanted to have some. I got pretty close, people always think my second and third children are twins.

Thunder: I love the sounds of a good thunder storm. I also love to watch lightening light up the sky. It makes me think of a Summer rainstorm.

Tingly: Remember the first time you fell in love? Your first kiss? Remember that tingly sensation?

Thrills: The feeling of a roller-coaster ride, the feeling of acing a test, finding a bargain while out shopping, having your children actually clean their rooms :), knowing the last load of laundry just got folded and put away.

Tickles: While I hate to be tickled, I love to tickle my kids.

Tomatoes: Eating a tomato fresh from the garden is one of the most delicious things ever!

Tigger: Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too! More childhood memories.

Toilets: Hate to clean them, but oh so glad to have them! I am so NOT a go out in the wilderness kind of a girl.

Tea: The herbal kind. When I am sick, the first thing I go for is a nice cup of hot peppermint herbal tea. It always helps me feel better.

The Letter "I"

gratItude

I have been wondering how this was going to work for the letter I. Here goes nothing!

iPod- my ipod, what would I do without it?

IKEA- one of my all time favorite stores!

Information- I love gathering information and learning new things!

Intelligence- Where would we be without it?

Ibuprofen- Considering I am having a MAJOR headache right now, I am very grateful for ibuprofen.

Ice- I love to eat ice, especially the crushed kind.

Ice cream- ESPECIALLY when I was pregnant. It was my favorite thing to eat :)

Ice Skating- I have only been a few times, but I love it! So fun!

Icing- What would a cake be without it?

ICU- We always hope we will never need to be there, but are so grateful that it exists if we ever need it.

Idaho potatoes- I LOVE mashed potatoes and gravy.

Identity- Isn't it nice to know who you are and what you stand for?

Idleness- I know it isn't good to be idle all the time, but there are times when sitting down and relaxing and doing nothing is what I need in order to re cooperate from the craziness of life.

Infinity- "To infinity and beyond!" One of my favorite Buzz Lightyear sayings :)

Imagination- Think of all the things that are possible when we use our imagination.

Images- especially the kind from pictures taken with my camera.

Imperfection- I spend so much time in my life trying to be perfect, that sometimes it is just good to embrace imperfection.

Impulsive- sometimes the best things in life are when we make an impulsive decision and just do it!

Indepth- an indepth conversation can really make you think.

In-Laws- They make our family complete :)

Independence Day- LOVE the Fourth of July!

Income- what would we do without our bi-weekly paycheck?

Indian Bread- We couldn't have Navajo tacos without it! I remember in 5th grade we made Indian bread. I loved it!

Indigo- Black, LOVE IT! :)

Italian Food- Can you say Olive Garden???

WOW! I am impressed! I actually found 25 things that start with the letter I that I am grateful for. Tomorrow, 25 more that start with T.

The Letter "T"

~graTitude~

Here are my 25 things that I am grateful for that start with the letter T. I should have done this one yesterday, but I went to visit my sister and see her new house and ran out of time :) I guess I will be posting "I" later today so that I can keep on track to finish with "E" on Thanksgiving!

Time: even though time can bring about some unpleasant stuff, like wrinkles and grey hair, I love having time to spend with my family, time to spend with my friends, time to create, time to rest, time to read, time to do the things I love.

Travel: I LOVE to travel! I want to see the world!

Teachers: The older I get and the more schooling I get, I realize how much time and effort teachers put into helping their students. I am truly grateful for all they do.

Thanksgiving: The whole reason I am doing these gratitude posts is because of the opportunity that Thanksgiving gives us to reflect on the things we are grateful for.

Temples: Need I say more? :)

Trust: What would the world be like without it?

Together: This word reminds me of my family. We have the opportunity to be together forever. How lucky is that!

Toddlers: I LOVED it when my kiddos were toddlers. How fun is it to watch them learn, grow, and discover the world around them???

Tongue: Well, I need it to talk, so I kind of like mine! :)

Toothbrush: We all want shiny teeth and good breath, right?

Tools: Tools for redecorating, tools for crafting, tools for finishing up a job. The right tools make doing projects SO much easier!

Trees: I love looking at the trees blowing in the wind outside.

Treasure Chests: Pirates of the Caribbean! That is what I think of when I think of treasure chests.

T-Shirts: Nothing better than pulling on a nice comfy t-shirt with a pair of nice comfy sweats.

TEVAS!: I LIVE in my Tevas! I can't imagine not having them. They are my all time favorite shoes.

Travis: He is my baby brother. Even though I don't get to see or hear from him as much as I used to, I am still glad I have him.

Texas: My baby brother and his wife live there and my brother Jeff was born there.

Tulips: As I have said in previous posts, I love flowers. Tulips remind me of Spring.

TV: I love to wind down at the end of a busy day by watching some of my favorite programs.

Tivo: I couldn't watch TV without it! Who wants to watch the commercials anyway???

Typewriter: When I was in high school, I wanted my very own typewriter so bad! It seems silly now with computers, but back then we didn't have computers in our homes!

Talent: Finding and discovering new talents is an awesome thing! Seeing and enjoying the talents of others is amazing too!

Trick-Or-Treaters: I LOVE staying home on Halloween and handing out the candy to the little kids who come knocking at my door.

Trains: Riding the Heber Creeper when I was little. That is what a train reminds me of. . .childhood memories :)

Twilight: I know that people have a love/hate thing with Twilight, but here is the deal, although it may not be canon material to rival Shakespeare, it is a fun series with characters that come alive. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the books!

The Letter "A" and NEW MOON!

GrAtitude: (25 things starting with the letter A)

apples, argyle socks, attitudes (positive ones), antibiotics, aunts, animals, avocados, automobiles, adventures, Alice in Wonderland, angelic baby faces, art, abs (especially the 6-pack kind), anesthesia, apple crisp, assertiveness, Australia, academics, apologies, appetizers, Armed Services, aspirations, alarm clocks, All American Rejects (it's that music thing again!)

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST,

#25
A Girls Night Out!!! :)

The Letter "R"

G~R~A~T~I~T~U~D~E

Here goes my 25 things that I am grateful for starting with the letter R:

Rain- I love to smell it, hear it, play in it, watch it.

Radio- Like I said before I LOVE music!

Red- The color red. It symbolizes love and passion. I LOVE the color!

Rolls- Especially the homemade kind :)

Raspberries- I love them!

Reality- Sometimes reality has a way of kicking me in the butt, but at least when it does, it helps me to refocus on what is truly meaningful in my life.

Rebel Without A Cause-James Dean YUM! If you haven't seen it. You NEED to!

Rings- I love rings, especially my wedding ring and what is symbolizes

Reading- Nothing better than reading a good book.

Rainbows- They are gorgeous! Great pic opportunities too!

Races- I love signing up for 5K and 10K races with my family. So fun!

Rides- We used to have a tradition that we referred to as our "Sunday Drive". It was fun to go out and explore together as a family.

Real Estate- It is a passion of mine. Sometimes I think I was meant to be an agent ;)

Razors- Do I really need to explain?

Recipes- Trying new ones and finding something wonderful is always fun.

Records- When I was a teen, I LOVED collecting records. Now, I am not sure if my kids even know what they are. There is something nostalgic about listening to music on a record player, scratches and all!

Redecorating- If I were rich, I would by homes, remodel and redecorate them and sell them.

Refrigerator- What would we do without one?

Running- I have been lazy, but I do love when I am faithful about my running schedule.

Random Memories- Aren't they great???

Roses- MY FAVORITE!

RAK's- Random Acts of Kindness, what could be better?

Redo- It is always nice to get to do a redo every now and again when something goes wrong.

Relationships- My hubby, my children, my family, my friends.

Relatives- You can pick your relatives, but mine I think I'll keep :)

The Letter "G"

Starting my GRATITUDE posts today:

Grandparents: Having them and seeing my parents become them. How great is that?

Great friends: Great friends are those who you can laugh with, cry with, and who will be there when you need them.

Girlfriends: If you choose them wisely, they are priceless

Good food: What is better than a meal with family, friends, and good food?

Gold: Well, it is nice :) Who wouldn't like a pile of gold? Or some gold earrings or a gold necklace? How about some gold coins?

Garbage collectors: We should all be grateful for them. What would we do about our mounds and mounds of garbage if they didn't come by once a week and pick it up?

Grapefruit: MMMMM! Love the stuff! Especially with a sprinkling of salt.

Graciousness: Isn't it nice when you meet someone who is truly a gracious person?

Giggles: Giggles in the dark, giggles in the day, giggles from a funny joke, GIGGLES are great!

Grass: How sad would it be if the parks and our yards didn't have grass for us to play on?

Glitter: Glitter, bling, shiny stuff! Girls love to shine :)

Glamour: Who doesn't like to feel glamorous every now and again?

Grand Pianos: or any piano! I love listening to good music on a piano.

Guitars: I love all kinds of music, so really anything that makes good music, is on my gratitude list :)

Global: This global world that we live in has made it so we have so many opportunities!

Ground: The ground helps us grow our food. It is the soil that nourishes the trees, the grass, and the beauty all around us.

Grahame: My friend Grahame that I met way back in 1986 or 87. He visited us from Australia and we reconnected a year or two back. It has been fun to hear from him.

Geraniums: OH how I LOVE flowers of ALL kinds!

Google: How could a G list be complete without it?

Goals: Life is always so much better when you set and meet your goals.

Giant: Giant hearts, giant hugs, giant kisses, most things are better when they are giant sized!

Gentleness: Gentle hugs, gentle kisses, gentlemen, need I say more?

Gutsy: Sometimes you need guts to make it through life. Sometimes being gutsy is all it takes to find success.

Greek food: Especially baklava!

Last but not least,

GRATITUDE!: My whole reason for starting this post is to reflect on what I am grateful for.

Dear Santa

Santa, I have been a VERY good girl this year and I think that I deserve one of these:

Just to prove how much fun I could have with one of these, I created my very first Digital Scrapbook page. Do you want to see it??? Then CLICK HERE.

Santa, I know that I can never leave the world of traditional scrapping behind, but I do SO BADLY want to do some hybrid and digi scrapping. This Bamboo Craft would really help my creative juices to flow! :)

Please make your list and check it twice to make sure I find one of these on Christmas morning.

Motherhood, A STRaNGe Journey. . .

I don't know why, but I have been reflecting on my life as a mom the past couple of days. What a journey it has been so far!

I was walking down the hallway after waking everyone up to get ready for school, and it struck me how grown-up my kids are getting!

During the days of diapers, bottles, constant messes, crying, spitting up, sleepless nights, pregnancies, diaper bags, etc. I never thought that it would end. Sometimes I feel as though I wished it away much too quickly. There were times when I cherished my time with my little ones and other times when I couldn't wait for them to be a little more independent. If I had known when I was in the thick of a house full of diaper-bottomed-little-ones that it was going to go by as quickly as it did, I don't think I would have spent one second wishing for them to get a little bit older.

It is strange to me that my oldest son no longer lives with us. How did it happen so quickly that my oldest child is almost 19? I now have two children with drivers licenses and one who will get his permit in 7 months. I have more kids out of elementary school than I do in elementary school. Actually, I only have ONE left in elementary school. That hardly seems possible.

There have been highs and lows, ups and downs, tears and laughter, and a whole lot of craziness in between. It has been satisfying and frustrating, but so far my journey through motherhood has been one that I wouldn't change for the world!

My kids are everything to me and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for each one of them. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to be blessed with all five of them in my life. Not to brag, but, I have the greatest kids EVER! :)

Halfway Through NOVEMBER!

Where has this month gone??? I can't believe that November is half over! It is crazy. Good, because it means that I am going to be done with this crazy semester of school before too long. Bad, because I haven't given Christmas a second thought and I really won't have time to think about it until finals week is over!

This week I will start my GRATITUDE posts. I will start on Wednesday with the letter G and end on Thanksgiving day with the letter E. I am hoping that I can come up with at least 10 things each day that I am grateful for that start with a letter from the would gratitude. It will be a fun challenge for me :)

This week my daughter and some friends and I get to go and see New Moon. We bought tickets for the 2:30AM showing on Friday. It will be fun! I am super excited to see the movie. It will be a busy night! I have Bunko that night and then we are going to make some New Moon inspired bracelets (if you want to see the bracelet that I came up with, (CLICK HERE).

After bracelets are made, we will go and stand in line for the movie. After the movie, perhaps breakfast at Denny's. Then off to bed for me and off to school for my daughter! Not sure how her and her friends will stay awake at school, but they are young, I am sure they will figure it out :) I am sure I will bring my camera along for the fun, I will post pics on Friday.

We had a busy weekend. My sister and her kids were here, we had Scout pow-wows, birthday parties, and errands to run. I also had two kids that weren't feeling great and a hubby who isn't feeling too great either. UGH! I don't have time to get sick, so here is hoping that they don't pass their ick on to me! Airborne here I come!

Kid Pics!!!

I posted kid pics from our visit to the ghost town on Sunday on my craft blog.

If you want to see them. . .

----CLICK HERE----

Gratitude

Thanksgiving is almost here. I can hardly believe it!

Last night I walked into Target and saw all of the Christmas decorations. It just doesn't seem possible that Christmas is just around the corner! Wow! I haven't even had time to give Christmas a second thought. Guess I better start at least thinking about it.

Anyway, last year for the month of November I decided to take my blog post each Sunday and post 25 things that I was grateful for. Since there were 5 Sundays, I ended up with a list of 125 things on my list.

This year I have decided to switch it up a bit. . .I am going to take the word GRATITUDE and start 9 days before Thanksgiving with the letter G, and list at least 10 or more things that start with the letter G that I am grateful for. Eight days before Thanksgiving I will do that with the letter R, and so on and so forth until I hit Thanksgiving day and end with the letter E.

This should challenge me a bit to REALLY think about things I am thankful for. Especially when I hit the letter I and E. We will see how I do :) I am kind of excited to give it a try!

Oh, and just an FYI, I researched it on my blog, and today is my anniversary for officially being caffeine-free. It has been ONE FULL YEAR! It hasn't been easy, but I have stayed off of my diet coke that I love so much!!! Just had to give myself a pat on the back :)

Watch for my Gratitude posts to start on November 18th. . .

Just in Case. . .

Just in case you ever find yourself in need of a short movie/song clip about fractions, now you know where to find one! Haha! :) I am sure I will have MILLIONS of people who are in need of a fractions movie thanking me for posting this! ROTFL!

I had to make this movie for my Math 2010 class. Just thought I would share. It is targeted for grades K-3. Turn up your speakers, the music is VERY catchy!! Beware, you will be singing the song all day long! It gets stuck in your head!!! :D

Birthday~Halloween~Drivers License

Things have been so crazy that I let October fly by without updating my blog much, or adding any pictures! We have been busy, but also very blessed this month. I was accepted into the Elementary Education program at the college, and Bryan was offered a new job that he loves so far. We know we still have some hurdles to overcome (like a home that has been on the market for almost 9 months with no offers!), but we are so grateful for what we have and have faith that things will work out.

The kids enjoyed the GORGEOUS weather that we had this month, and spent most of it outdoors hanging out with their friends (when they weren't in school).

"Skampy" celebrated his 12th birthday. Hardly seems possible that my fourth child is that old. He had a great time on his birthday and was happy that his Grandparents and his Uncle Bob and Aunt Karen were here to celebrate it with him.

"Nutmeg" was FINALLY able to finish up drivers ed, pass the test, and head out to the Drivers License division to get her official license. So, all of you on the roads might want to beware that she is going to be out there on the road behind the wheel! Unfortunately for her, the only time she will be driving is when she can get her hands on my car or her fathers. She doesn't have a car of her own, she wants one BAD! I am sure she will take any donations people are willing to give her for a car of her own ;)

Enjoy the pictures!

Official Driver!

Wahoo! She passed!

HALLOWEEN PICS!

Mr. & Mrs. Gene Simmons

What teenagers do on Halloween (act like nerds)


"Nutmeg" and her Halloween gang

Vampire


Skeleton Pirate

Birthday #12!

PS- I updated my scrappy blog as well! Imagine that! To check it, CLICK HERE :)

So BLESSED!

I am feeling so blessed right now. The past 7 months have been so difficult. Well, actually, I am not going to lie, the past 18 months have been pretty rough.

Bryan has been going through some stuff at work (a demotion, a pay cut, etc) that did not make any sense. Many people could not understand why these things were happening to him, because there was no reason for it. It would have been easier to understand if he had done something to deserve it, or if for some reason he hadn't been doing his job. That was not the case. What it boiled down to was politics. It was frustrating, heartbreaking, and well, needless to say, VERY humbling.

We moved forward. Bryan tried his best to do what he could in his new position, with his new pay. He was so much better at handling the situation then I think I would have been. He was not bitter toward the person who caused us to be in this situation. He just pressed forward doing all he could to provide for our family. I on the other hand, had to struggle with my feelings for that particular person. At times I still do.


I went back to school during all of this mess so that I could finish up my degree and help our situation financially at some point. It was a scary leap of faith to make the decision to pack up and move south 400 miles so that I could finish my education. However, we knew it was what needed to be done. The kids and I pack our bags and left, and Bryan stayed put in his new job assignment. A little time went on and we resigned ourselves to this situation.


There was a job that Bryan applied for a few weeks ago. It was one that was probably yet another pay cut, but, it would get him out of the situation of working for a person we no longer trusted or respected. He interviewed for the job and hoped like crazy he would get it.


After three weeks of waiting for an answer, he found out he did not get the job. It was a crushing blow. Another humbling experience. Another time to question what really was important.


We spent a lot of time praying trying to figure out what we should do.


At one point we decided that Bryan would just find some type of a job, any job, that would pay him enough for us to just get by and he would go back to school. It was scary to think of living like poor starving college students while we were in our 40's, but we knew that he needed to get out of the working situation he was in.


Yesterday at 10 AM, EVERY THING changed! It is amazing the difference a day makes :) Bryan received a phone call from a man that both of us have a deep love and respect for. This person has not only come to our rescue once, but twice. There have been some changes and a new company formed with the acquisition of new stores. This person, that many years ago was Bryan's boss, was put at the head of the new company. He met with Bryan and offered him a new position. I can't go into details about it, yet, because it has not all been announced. Let's just say we are feeling VERY blessed right now.


Bryan will still have to have his office up north; however, there will be some flexibility in his schedule and even times where he will be able to work from home. Things are better than we could have imagined right now. We are feeling very blessed and excited for the future.


There are still a lot of pieces to the puzzle to put together, but we know that with prayer and faith, we will figure out a way to make all the pieces work.

Just when you think. . .

Just when you think you have it all figured out. . .you realize you don't! :)

I don't mean this in a bad way, I just think that since my life has seemed to be on a continual roller-coaster ride since about March, I have realized that life is FULL of surprises! Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I guess that is what keeps it from getting boring.

Changes in Bryan's job have made us question all kinds of things. Once you get past the whys and how comes, you realize what is important. It is nice to know that family really is the foundation that our lives are built on. For us, family really is all that matters.

A house is just a house, money is just money, cars are just cars. . .family? Well, family is what makes a house a home. Family is worth more than money, and no matter how nice your car is, well, it doesn't mean a whole lot unless it is filled with the people you love from time to time.

I don't know where the next year is going to take us, financially or physically for that matter. What I do know, is, that as long as we have the love we share as a family. . .everything is going to be A-OK!

Shuttle Ride

I had a chance to ride the Shuttle up north on Friday. I was expecting the worst. A crowded van packed with people.

Instead, it was a great experience. There were only 5 of us on the Shuttle. So, that means that each of us got our own row to our self. The first half of the trip, I was able to get some homework done. When I finished my homework, I listened to my iPod for a bit.

The second half of the trip, the other passengers and I started to talk. They were young college kids (except for the old dude in the front seat who wanted to be left alone). One of the girls is a single mom, another boy just returned from two years in the Philippines after serving a mission for the LDS church, and the kid in the backseat is in his second year of college as a Theatre major.

It was fun to hear their different reasons for being on the shuttle and fun to get to know them a little bit.

It is kind of strange to be complete strangers with a group of people and yet still able to carry on a 3 hour conversation with them.

My husband tells me I am an extrovert. I don't see myself as one, but perhaps I am. I really did enjoy getting to know some new people. He said if he would have been on the Shuttle he guarantees that there wouldn't have been any 3 hour conversations going on with him and the other passengers. My friend Breck told me the same thing when he was cutting my hair later that day.

My husband thinks I am strange because I have strangers tell me things all the time. They just start talking to me and then before you know it they are disclosing personal information that you would think you would only tell someone who you knew well. Haha!

Maybe I am going into the wrong profession. . .perhaps I should have been a therapist ;) Then I could have conversations with strangers telling me their personal information all day long.

WAHOO!

I need to catch up on my blogging! I have been so swamped with school and life, that I haven't had a chance to blog in WAY TOO long!

I FINALLY got my letter from the college. When I opened the mailbox, I saw a large white envelope from the college in there. I stared at it for a minute. Then I pulled it out and stared at it some more. My heart was pounding. My hands started sweating. After standing frozen for a few seconds, I tried pushing down on the envelope to see if I could read through the envelope to see what the letter said. Don't ask me why. I suppose I figured if it said sorry, it would be easier to read it that way. I am not sure. Haha! Anyway, I finally opened the letter. It started out, Dear Lori. Congratulations! WAHOO! I did it! I was accepted into the Bachelor of Science program for Elementary Education!!! It has been a long road to get to this point, but I have arrived! My next destination? GRADUATION!!! A job, and then at some point, on to my Masters degree :)

Thanks to everyone who offered their support and wrote my letters of recommendation. I couldn't have done it without you!!! :)

Waiting and waiting and waiting some more.

Everyday, I DREAD the sound of the mail truck. Why? Because I am waiting for my acceptance or denial letter as to whether or not I was accepted into the Education program at the college.

I feel like my life is on hold. I am in limbo so to speak. I don't know what the near future holds. Will I be taking Education classes in the Spring??? Will I need to move on to something else??? Are the classes I am taking now going to do me any good??? (If I don't get into the program, they certainly won't!)

So, here I sit, waiting. . .

For now, my heart will continue to skip a beat every time I hear the mail truck drive by. As I slowly make my way to the mailbox, I will continue to wonder, "Will this be the day I get my answer?".

Off My Chest. . .

I ranted on my Facebook recently about a couple of pet peeves I have. I am sorry if this offends anyone, but seriously, there are a few things that BUG THE CRAP out of me and I thought I would share.

Maybe in doing so, I will make the world a better place and help a few poor lost souls out with some grammar. Heh, heh.

So, here is what started it all. Last night I am in my Education classes, yes, these would be classes for people who want to teach our children one day. Well, TWO of the students got up to do their presentations in front of the class and the first girl said, THREE times in her presentation how she wanted to be a KINDYGARDEN teacher. The next girl gets up and states that she wants to be a KINDERGARDEN teacher. Just for the record, it is:

K-I-N-D-E-R-G-A-R-T-E-N

A few others that BUG me:

Punkin---it is PUMPKIN. That is correct, pumpkin pie, NOT punkin pie!
Liberry--it is LIBRARY
Valentimes--it is VALENTINES

Whew, just had to get that off my chest! Do you have any that bug you? If so, feel free to share in my comments. I would love to know I am not alone in this :)

MaRaTHoN PICS! :)

First of all, thanks to the Borst family for inviting us to join in on their 25.2 mile marker post. It was great fun. This is the third time we have been able to do this with them. It always inspires me when I see what some of these runners look like when they hit their last mile. I SO want to do the marathon. . .I think the only reason I never have is because of a fear of failure. Maybe I will do it next year. . .

Our Linda, she was in SO much pain! She did GREAT! :)Running-Dog-Man! YES! He is famous in our little world :)
The final mile marker. Station 25.2 miles.

TOO CUTE! Wish I would have had my other lens on for this shot.

Grizzly Man. See him EVERY year.

WOWZAS!

Run-Away Bride.

AMAZING! This is Debbie and this is the 33rd time she has run THIS marathon.

Not to mention COUNTLESS others! She has run this marathon pregnant and while battling cancer. What an inspiration!

Heading toward the finish line.

PAIN!

Smile!

Before the runners arrive.

Waiting for the runners.