Dumb Groundhog...

I don't understand the exact science surrounding the Ground Hog Seeing his shadow and predicting 6 more weeks of winter...but I say they need to recalculate.

It's a beautiful day.

It's my party...

Yesterday wasn't my actual Birthday, but it sure felt like it! I went to Women's Conference yesterday morning, and it was fantastic. The spirit was so strong and encouraging-- just what I needed.

 I had picked up Trish and Ali, and we sat by my mom so I was surrounded with people I love, which made it extra good.

After the conference, Trish and I after changing our minds 5 times went and got lunch at Wimpy's. I hadn't been there since High School and was pretty disappointed.

Afterwards, we went to Real Deals across the street, because I needed a big clock for my basement.

Well...I don't know how many years it has been now, but I have always loved Mora Clocks. I have only ever seen them in pictures, and searched for them on ebay/KSL/etc. over the years, but never one in real life.

I was completely obsessed- I know.

So...we walk into Real Deals and there stand TWO- not one - TWO mora clocks.

I almost died....

Then I sent Justin a picture with the Price tag and he said "If you love it, buy it"...

so WA-LA

This is my new baby, lol.

After Real Deals, my dad had to come to town to help me pick it up since Justin was still at work and our truck is still FULL of stuff from his camping trip.

I really do have the greatest dad in the world.

Then the laundry list started: Go to walmart, pick up ice cream, come home, change clothes, make taco soup for the party, take Trish and Ali home, gather up stuff for the party, (I may or may not have passed out on the bed for a siesta by this point)

Then we loaded up the Truck and headed to UBATC for my Dance Party.

I feel way too old to have a Birthday party, but it was fun to see everyone and eat and play.

(You know-- do what we're good at)

Trish got me the cutest scarf from Real Deals! Love it.

This is a Church Bench out of the old Vernal Tabernacle, which is now the Temple. My dad found it at work and the end had been torn off. He knew I would LOVE it, so he fixed it up and tricked me into thinking he was going to use it as a drivin bench on his hay wagon. I was so jealous.

So when I walked into the room for the party and saw it there, I walked over and I just told him "I hope that's mine."

He just grinned.

I am so spoiled.

While Justin was gone, I might have done a little birthday shopping of my own...I got all new towels, rugs, throw pillows and blankets and a few other "normal" things that I decided I would just buy and blame it on being my birthday.

I told Justin months ago that I wanted this book, and he ordered it and hid it from me til yesterday.

He really is so thoughtful.

More Real Deals finds (that store really is going to get me in some trouble)

Mom bought me the cutest Damask throw blanket and some new rugs for the basement bathroom.

I always swore I wouldn't be the "weird lady" that asked for "practical things" for her birthdays and Christmas.

Well here I am-- eating my words.

After Justin posted a very disturbing video of me 'Just Dancing' on Facebook- this is as close to Blackmail as I could find on him.

That's right...

I can't tell everyone how much I appreciate them coming and hanging out with us. Even though I'm getting old and don't want to celebrate my birthdays anymore (I never thought that day would come), We had a great time and I love spending it with my family.

Some Glue....

I spent the entire day (8am Mon-1am Tues), cleaning, de-cluttering, re-arranging, decorating and organizing the upstairs of my house. I am SO GLAD to say that for the first time in a long time, it finally feels "held together". We're still in a temporary furniture situation, and the piano is half torn apart until the tuner comes back to finish it up, but even with all that half-done, it's finally back to feeling warm, and clean, and like Home.

It seems like we've been in a mess for over a year now- and the Basement is still in need of attention, but I took my sweet time doing everything just right yesterday, because I was tired of feeling the disconnect. With the basement finished, and how picky I am about cleaning, it takes me all day to just get the upstairs done, so the basement suffers. That is my next goal. I have to go through the basement with the same time and effort the upstairs got yesterday.

I'm happy to say that it is still the Month of February and my Valentines decorations came down. That's like a record or something...

Easter/Spring is up.

I have craft projects in mind that I'm super excited about because I know exactly where to put them. I always do better if I have specifics in mind. I'm not good at just "crafting to craft."

Now the big question is-- to clean/decorate/craft OR do homework.

PIC-A-HOLIC

I've never been much for taking pictures of myself. It was always so weird with phones and cameras, and having to turn them around backwards- then you could see your arms holding the camera/phone or whatever and I hated it.

Then I read {this blog}-- thanks Heidi-- and Realized- now that I have my iPad, I take pictures of myself allthetime. It's so EASY with the "turn the camera around- button."

Don't make fun of me people, lol. I don't know what it's called, but it's sure handy! I love it. I've actually never spent as much time looking at myself as I do now that I take my own picture all the time, lol. I'm starting to feel a little conceited, but It also works great as a Mirror when there's not one around. I just take a picture, and Wa-La!

 

I just barely noticed that I took every single one of these pictures at work.

Lovely.

Volleyball

Every Year (meaning last year and this one) I've thought that we need to make sure and take a group picture at Volleyball. Or we could have someone take pictures while we play. It hasn't happened yet. Last night we played our last 2 games of the season, we lost both. Over the whole season, we won some and we lost some more, but we didn't come in last, so that made me happy!

I had a great time though! I love volleyball. I must say I'm so grateful for my husband who has gotten me involved in sports. I know I cuss him sometimes for all of our "extra" activities and the time and money it takes, but honestly, I enjoy it. It's great for us to spend time together, being social and getting out of the house. Not to mention the exercise.

Between Volleyball. Softball. Basketball. Flag Football. We are constantly going going going- but I love it!

Thanks everyone for playing with us this season. We had a great time and hope you did too!

{Next year, I promise I'll sign up early and get us in C League}

We've just decided that instead of being mediocre in the middle league, we'd rather lower our standards so we can win more.

Sh-Sh-Sheep.

Justin got his Ram yesterday! 28" (I guess that's big for an Aoudad Sheep) Someone said it's the biggest they've seen in about 6 years. He's stoked!!

Good job babe!

Shenanigans....

We've had a thing or two going on lately...But it's strange, cause if anyone asks us what we've been up to, we both answer "nothing".

Well...this is what our "nothing" is comprised of.

I got put in charge of making 90 new Relief Society directories for our ladies. It doesn't sound like a headache, but it was, lol. I'm so glad they're done and overwith!

I've been TERRIBLE at keeping up with my school work this semester. The online classes I'm taking are mostly 'work at your own pace' kind of classes- which is bad for me. I need deadlines- haha. So I have been trying to do better, and I've been doing surprisingly well on my assignments given the lack of effort I've been putting into them. Go me! But really-- I've got a lot of reading to catch up on!

(notice the BEAUTIFUL new floors! Love them)

Last Monday, Justin wasn't feeling good and his mom came by, so he asked her to let the dogs run for a minute. Well they got to the end of our road, and the dogs went down in the little canal they always play in, but it's mostly blocked off visually by all the trees and bushes that grow along side of it. So she was standing there waiting for them to come back and heard a loud growling/fighting noise. When she yelled at them, they wouldn't come back, so she called Justin and he ran down and had to pull Liddy and Sophie away from killing a Racoon.

 {Notice Ace was standing on the sidelines watching the ladies do the fighting. Wuss}

Neither of them were hurt, Sophie got bit and Liddy got some scratches. The vet said that Racoons can carry all sorts of germs so $150 later, they got vet checked and antibiotics in their system.

With my awesome new promotion, I got to move into an office of my own upstairs. I don't get a window, but I got a fake plant, a lamp and some fish. Everyone tells me it's "homey" so I guess that's a good thing, lol.

This little girl, is bringing her big sister to my house this Friday for a sleepover! Her mommy and daddy are going to SLC for a weekend away for just the two of them, so I get the girls. We have a long list of things they want to do in 2 days, but I'm Aunt Chelsie and I rock, so we'll do everything we possibly can.

These include:

1. Going Swimming at the Rec. Center
2. Movie Night with popcorn and M&M's
3. Helping cook dinner 
4.  I HAVE to comb their hair after bathtime. Hailey informed me of this.
5. Then going to Jumpin n' Jivin

So far, that's all they've come up with, but I'm sure there will be more! I'm stinkin wooped over those little girls!

Our project from the last weekend in January. Justin had his 4 day weekend, so we laid the new Laminate in the laundry room, hallway, pantry and kitchen. I LOVE it. I will post before/after's later!

My sister crochet'd these slippers for me. They've been super comfy as I've been trying to force myself to sit down and read my college books. Not to mention how adorable they are!

Yesterday afternoon, when Justin got home from work, we got ready and went Superbowl Party Crashin! Not really, but we got invited to 2 parties, so we split them between half time. We had a great time visiting with Brody, Brandy, Brandon and Chelsea. It's been FOREVER since we've all hung out and it was just like we never skipped a beat.

{Thanks again for inviting us!}

Then we headed out to my parents house where my mom's whole family had dinner and the game going on both TV's. It's always a good time when you get us all together! Lots of laughs, and honestly, not a lot of paying attention to the game.

I did see the "sitting touchdown" though. Awesome.

Here's to February and doing a lot more of "nothing"!