Steph’s In Life

Birthdays and Kroger Brand are the BEST!

2012-02-08T15:52:00.001-08:00

This month is one of my favorites because of all the chocolate, the love and especially...MY BIRTHDAY! It was a great day! For my birthday lunch at work I chose to eat at Up Chuck-a-Rama and so we went there on Monday. It was super fun and as always anytime there is a buffet involved, I stuff myself silly. This is what I want to accomplish this year:

1- Strengthen my theatrical skills by performing in the Wizard of Oz...oh wait, I'm already doing that!

2- Think about writing another children's book.

3- Be happier

4- Be open to new things.

5- Learn how to use my Kindle Fire.

The rest are personal goals that I won't bore you with, but my birthday was fun and I'm thankful each day for the last 40 plus years of my life and the people that are in it.

Now on to the greatest thing ever! Kroger Brand stuff! I love the chocolate chips, the yogurts are to die for and it is less expensive then the regular brands. You can find Kroger brand at Smiths which is super nice cause then I can get a piece of chicken AND see Janette also.

After MANY attempts to make Truffles (huh Linds.) I came home and decided to try Kroger brand chocolate chips. Well they worked out wonderfully and now I'm a fan of dipping anything (cinnamon bears, Pringles, pretzels, my fingers) as long as I'm using Kroger chocolate chips. I made these around New Years and I love the heart paper plate and they are resting on.

My mom was quite impressed that I made these chocolate covered Oreos drizzled with white chocolate . The drizzling was a bit crazy cause I was sluffing Sunday School at the time and needed to hurry back for Young Womens. These little guys turned out to be a smashing hit at our Super Bowl party on Sunday...yummy!

Maybe I should be a spokes person for Kroger brand chocolate...it is good and I really enjoy this new talent I've found by dipping things in chocolate.

Sweet Sixteen

2012-02-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

On Monday, my niece Janessa turned 16 years old and all I can say is YAHOO! Finally she can drive me to the mall and drive me to get an ice cream! I’m really excited for Janessa to reach this milestone in her life where she is a Laurel in Young Women’s, she can drive and she can date! (Yikes that’s a scary one but I’m sure will be fun for her.) We all went to Fredrico’s for dinner and then back to my place for cake, ice cream and presents. It was a fun night and I’m happy and so blessed to have Ness in my life as one of my most favorite friends.

Kenna and her friend insisted on drinking their Sprite from the sippy cups I still had when they were babies...oh to be 9 yrs. old.

A-Fib not A-Vib

2012-01-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

Well this has been a MUCH better week then last week. I'm starting to feel so much better and less tired. Kallen thinks that my body is getting use to the new medicines and it will take sometime before I feel completely back to normal.
Janette told me the other day that I'm saying it all wrong! I guess that her and Paul get the whole story about what A-fib is and I only hear how I think it is.
It's not A-Vib but A-Fib which stands for here is goes wait for it...Atrial fibrillation!
Here is the defination of what it is according to the Mayo Clinic:

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow to the body. During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly — out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. Atrial fibrillation symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness.
Episodes of atrial fibrillation can come and go, or you may have chronic atrial fibrillation. Although atrial fibrillation itself usually isn't life-threatening, it is a serious medical condition that sometimes requires emergency treatment. It can lead to complications. Treatments for atrial fibrillation may include medications and other interventions to try to alter the heart's electrical system.

I know boring right? Well, I wanted to just clarify that I'm typing it all wrong and further posts will have the correct spelling...oh wait there WON"T be anymore posts on this horrible hell that I go through cause it's OVER.
I'm going to kick it's sorry butt to the moon.

Oh P.S. I meet with this CUTE Heart Specialist who I'm sure is married, next week, so please pray cause I'm pretty scared of what he wants to do.

A Crazy Heart

2012-01-11T09:59:00.000-08:00

The other day I was telling Janette how my friend Denise and me like to read/find all these blogs of people that are sick with cancer or other illness and follow them until they either get better or die. It is really inspiring to read about the "friends" we find on blogs and how their courage and strength gets them through the toughest struggles. Little did I know that my blog would soon be filled with stories like these...course my struggles aren't as bad as cancer and eventually I'm going to be alright but I want to remember what happened so it only seems fitting to share it on my blog.
Saturday January 7, 2012 started out to be a great morning. I got up at 5:45 am to be at the school at 7:00 am so that Karen the trainer could be ready to teach her class by 8:00 am. I had a funfilled day planned, I was going to meet Lindsay after work to get some stuff at Deseret Books, clean my house and get ready to teach my lesson on Sunday. Around 9:30, Karen started to wind down her class and prepare them for a break and a light snack. I could hear her getting the class ready for the break but, I couldn't move my body. My brain was saying move, you have got to get the carrots and juice out for the providers, but my body wouldn't move...I knew these signs, my heart was going into A-vib again. I sat down on the chair and knew that eventally 16 ladies would come out of the room, giggling and wanting to ask me questions, I had to make it from the chair where I was sitting to my desk to call Janette.
Call it angels that helped me but, I made it to the phone, called Janette who was working at Smith's to come quick cause it was a bad one. A provider came out of the room and asked if we have any Kaplin magazines, I said no...just a flat no! She gave me a crusty look and then I asked her to go get Karen. Karen saw how sweaty and pale I was and see began to freak out! I said "Karen, please don't freak out now, my heart is in A-vib and my sister is on her way." There well said, that is the last thing I needed was everyone to freak out on me; my heart was doing enough of that.
When I got to the ER all I could hear were words like "stat", "more fluids", "low BP" and my favorite "EKG". They knocked me out to shock my heart back into a regular rhytmn and when I woke up I saw Janette holding my hand on one side and Paul on the other...I didn't feel better though and I knew something was terribly wrong. Janette said that it didn't work and they would have to admit me into the hospital until they could get my heart back to a healthy beat again.
In the meantime, Lindsay had been calling my phone and so Janette called her to tell her what had happened. She put the phone up to my ear and after I said hi, Linds said "what the hell!"
I know! Those were my words exactly! Not again, I can't do this and how am I going to pay for all these people who just ask me a question and then charge me for it.
I was so thirsty, a big diet Coke sounded great at the time but, I knew that EVERYONE would freak out if I asked for a big, juicy Coke, so getting up the courage I kindly asked for a drink of water. The boy nurse said that there was no way they were giving me anything to drink cause they want to shock the heart again when the on call heart doctor comes.
Hasn't my heart been though enough!?
When Janette called my parents to tell them we were in the ER again, my mom had color on her hair so it took them quite some time to get over the mountain, but when they got at the hospital, I knew everything would be alright just to have them with me.
Dr. Saul came in a while later and took one look at me and said "Teacher Steph, you taught my son Charlie in preschool!" Charlie now is a senior at Logan High but whatever! He decided to try and shock the heart again and so they put me asleep again. Janette said that she could hear me snoring clear down the hall...the nurses where laughing.
I woke up and the first thing I wanted to do was go home! This was not fun anymore and I was done with all the poking, prodding and pressuring (of the blood pressure thing).
After 3 days of resting (and I'm not lying about the naps...they are "the best nap ever" quote from my friend Joey and Ross) I'm starting to feel a sense of normal again. I'm very lucky to have such a strong sister who even under the intense amount of throwing up and sweat, she remains calm and is always there. I'm blessed to have parents that will do anything for me and still boss me and remind me to take my medicine.
It's amazing that situations like these can bring you closer to the Savior and the people who love you the very most.
Tyson told the lady at Deseret Books that his friend Stephy has a crazy heart, then Rylie piped in and said "yah and they had to shoot her 4 times!" It's amazing the amount of love that I feel from so many of my friends both young and old...I may have a crazy heart but, it's a very blessed heart.

Christmas Wish

2011-12-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

This morning I came to work early, it's so quiet here when the phones aren't ringing and the girls aren't chatting about something...I love these times when I can just work without any interruptions. (hence, I'm blogging, instead of working ha!)
December is here! The lights are all around us and it seems like Christmas will be here before you know it, this month was a little different though.
I struggled with feeling the Christmas spirit! Usually when my little tree is up then I start to get excited or after I buy a few gifts for friends and family, or during the cookie party when the kiddos have frosting all over their faces, this year was different and I don't know why...
until Sunday.
Every year the Bishopric has a fireside for all the singles (or those that are widows) at Brother Anderson's house around Christmas time. I fight with my inner core in not going but, knowing that it's important, the craft project waits and I go.
This year President Horsley talked and he is wonderful! This minute he started to talk, the spirit was super strong and the tears began to fall from my napped creased face.
His whole talk was on love, not just loving others and Jesus but, loving ourselves and knowing that we are important instruments in the Lord's hand. He expressed powerful words of advice which was deeply needed, and at the end of his talk he blessed us that we would have peace.
This fireside was so needed in my life and the sweet lifes of those that were in the room, to me the Christmas spirit is peace, not only in the world, but in our families, with our friends and especially in our self.
That is my Christmas wish to each you.

A Typical Day

2011-11-07T15:48:00.000-08:00

This is a typical day working with my boss Leah. While I'm trying to concentrate on helping a child care provider with their schedule, Leah is decorating pictures.
What a fun job I have!

Cousins

2011-10-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there were a bunch of cousins who loved each other very much. On a crisp, sunny Saturday in October these cousins came together for a fun afternoon at the Tremonton Bowling Alley.
Some cousins we had never meet before and we instantly feel in love with.

Some of the cousins came from the North while other cousins came from the South but all the cousins greeted each other warmly with lots of hugs and loves.

All the little cousins dressed up in there most prettiest or scarest Halloween costumes.
At the party there were a couple of princesses, a Strawberry Shortcake, pumpkins that looked the same and Mario.

Some cousins dressed a little weird (and kindof scary)

There was also a honey bee with a cute, pink flower to add to the sweetness.

We ate yummy salad with Ranch dressing,

and yummy homemade pepperoni pizza.
( Note: the author of this blog is not responsible for taking or being apart of this picture!)

There was cousins that were silly,

and cousins who were a little green.
But, all these cousins had one thing is common, they all have a grammy who love them very much and will continue this tradition of being together as cousins, for many years to come.

Saturday's Warrior

2011-10-19T14:14:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a picture of these pretty, red roses before they die and this yummy candy card before it gets eaten, so that I can remember this wonderful experience of helping with the South Stakes' production of Saturday's Warrior. My dear friend Cece was called to be the director of a play for their stake and with much thought and pray, she chose Saturday's Warrior.
She then asked me if I'd help her with this production, she used words in her asking such as "trust" and "need your help" so how could I say no to her. The only concern I had about helping Cece was that I "wasn't" in her stake, well if I went to the singles activities then I would be but, I choose to do other things instead. So anyway, she asked the stake president and he said that if that was alright with Cece, then fine by him.
The last 3 weeks we have practiced until 10:00 at night, every night, and then Cece goes home and does her homework for school...she is amazing! It was a rush of excitement, a package of fustration but last weekend, the cast performed Saturday's Warrior on a whole new level.
I learned so much about the power of the spirit and how much the spirit is with us and can help us. Cece's goal during this whole production was to help the audience and cast members come closer to the spirit. The guy who played Jimmy was inactive and now is going to seminary and attending Young Men's activities, the girl who played Pam is graduating this spring and wants to study music in college.
It's just was such an amazing adventure for me to not only learn from and get to know these people, but to listen more to the spirit in my life and where I should go and what I should do. Also, it was a blessing to learn from Cece! We left some footprints at Ricks years ago and we left some more footprints on Saturday's Warrior.

Clever!

2011-10-01T07:11:00.001-07:00

My life has been so blessed the last 3 almost 4 years to have this little guy in it. Tyson has become an important piece in my puzzle of life and I'm so lucky to call him my friend.
Some of the things that I enjoy about Tyson is he is super clever. Why the other day while sitting in the car, he created this super cool "handy" carseat from just a kid's size lawn chair. I told him that it's probably not as safe as a regular carseat but, none the less, it was clever for a 3 year old to create.
I love that Tyson is such a good friend. He is super in tune with the spirit and loves the Savior. A month or so ago he told me that Jesus came into his room last night and said that all his tractors were cool. As I told Lindsay that story, I could feel the spirit so strongly and knew that there must be angels all around us.
Tyson is certainly one of mine!

A Time Out

2011-09-21T16:08:00.001-07:00

The last couple of days I've been taking care of my bosses daughter Anna while they are awhile at a Registry conference in Wisconsin. It's been like a farris wheel ride taking care of someone else's child (especially your bosses, yikes!), one minute they are happy like when we are at McDonalds and Chick-filla and the next minute they are totally grouchy at you cause "my mom doesn't make me do my homework," or "my mom said I don't have to take a bath!"

I think I would be a great mom and here is why:

1-I'm really into children being read to or reading a book for 20 minutes a night.

2-I LOVE going out to eat, especially to places with playgrounds.

3- I'll let a child watch as much TV as they want when their homework is done.

4- I will not even put the car in reverse until I hear the click of a seatbelt.

5- I don't talk on the cell phone when I have precious little ones in the car. I either pull over or they have to wait.

6- I don't believe in putting children in Time Out! We talked about the situation and use words to fix the problem.

There if I was a mom I would probably get a Mother of the Year award or something but, for now I'll just pass the torch to Janette, Becky, Lindsay and all the other friends with children that are in my life.

Another Time Out!

Friday and Saturday I went with Lindsay and her mother in law, Cindy to a wonderful Time Out for Women and we learned so much about the potential we have as daughters of God and who we can Choose to Become...!

Friday night the speakers were Laurel Christensen who talked about The Faith Experiment and she challenged us to "The Optimist Experiment." In a nut shell, just have faith in accomplishing your goals.

Dean Hughes was the next speaker who talked about...I can't really remember what he talked about but he is the author of Children of the Promise series.

Then this lady named Macy Robison talked, actually she sang about her story of the trials that she went though and now she is happy again.

Saturday was packed with tons of great speakers who talked about motherhood and the importance of it and then came the challenge!

The keynote lady challenged us to Choose to Become something...like one lady chose to become a runner (Laurel Christensen) and another chose to walk from the Draper Temple to the Salt Lake Temple like the pioneer John Boyle did.

All day I thought about this challenge and I haven't really pinpointed what I want to choose but, I know that with much prayer that my Heavenly Father will help me choose to become something.

If not, I can always refer to what Lindsay chooses to become...OUT!

*Choose to be Out!
So years ago when we were teaching at the Children's House there was this little fellow named Jack. He was so stinkin funny and made us laugh all the time by the witty things he said and did. One of his favorite things to say when he didn't want to participate is "I choose to be out, Ms. Steph." Those four words have just stuck! When we don't want to participate in things, such as group activities at Child Care conferences or when someone is asking for a volenteer, then "we choose to be out!"

It's just something clever to say when you don't want to participate...like a "Choosing to Become" challenge!

Thanks again Linds and Cindy, I really needed this time out!

FRIENDS!

2011-09-08T16:33:00.000-07:00

The other day I was thinking about the good ole days when I was madly in love with watching the hit TV show FRIENDS. It was and still is a classic that will never be replaced by any other show and one that will never be forgotten.

I was thinking about the first videos (I use that word lightly cause some of the younger readers don’t know what a VHS is), when they advertised on TV that you could buy the Season 1 of FRIENDS. It was a treat to have the box hand delivered to my apartment by the UPS man and then only to open the box to find in between all the white peanuts, a fresh set of FRIENDS.

Later on I remember being so excited to meet Lindsay at Hastings to buy the middle seasons of FRIENDS. The one where Ross and Rachel are “on again, off again” and Chandler shows that he is sorry to Joey by being put in a box. One of favorite episode is where they play that trivia game that Ross creates to see who wins the girls’ apartment and then there is the one where Ross is doing a “something new every day” and get stuck in his leather pants. I’m laughing out loud because it is funny!

Anyway, there is a reason for this post and it’s not to brag how I know “my friends” so well but it’s to say how grateful I am for friends. I was thinking about Joseph Smith when he was in the Liberty Jail and Joseph said “thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.” D&C 121 vs. 9

What a powerful scripture! The Lord has truly blessed me with young and old, fun, happy, creative and loving friends.

The BIG Weigh-In

2011-08-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

It's best not to really go into further details with this picture except that my family is getting ready to show their lambs in the fair. On Sunday afternoon, they weighed both lambs to see if they were over weight and didn't quite know if the scales were correct.

My brother in law Paul said "Steph, come over here!" I quickly yelled at him that it was a huge mistake and I would break the gunny sack scale.

Well, I think it was good for me to participate in this weigh in cause the old fashion scale that my dad use to weigh lambs in 1972 was WRONG.

Good luck Janessa and Jaden in showing your lambs!

American Idol...baby!

2011-07-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

This year American Idol was so fun to watch and cheer for our favorites. My favorite was James the rocker and Lauren Alana; I really liked Scotty also but not as much as the rest of my family. Janessa and I asked my mom if she would take us to the American Idol concert back in May and not thinking she would say yes...she said you guys find the tickets and I'll buy them.
We have been so excited for July 6...and it finally is here!

This is Ness and me with our $25.00 program. Thanks Grandma Kitty. I didn't want Janessa to use her hard earned babysitting money to buy a $35.00 t-shirt so I bought her and myself a super cool, must have, awesome, never to forget t-shirt.

I think my mom was more excited for the concert to start then both me and Ness together. This picture is us waiting for the concert to start.
My sweet mom and me waiting and hoping we might get a glimpes of
James or Scotty or Lauren.

Before the concert started we ran into our cousins Michelle and Mark.
They drove down from BYU Idaho for the concert.

Some of my favorite highlights of the night was:

*being with Janessa
*paying $4.50 for a medium drink when I could buy one for a dollar across the street
*listening to James rock out

*seeing and hearing all the Idols sing there hearts out.

What fun!

A Fun Trick!

2011-06-17T09:32:00.001-07:00

Last week when Lindsay was at a meeting, Rylie, Tyson and me played school. We each thought of an activity to teach the group: GROUP= Rylie, Tyson, me and our pretend friend Regina who doesn't behave very well and is always causing fights.
My activity was this cool licorice trick. All you do is take a Red Vine (they work best), bite the ends off and then put it in the water. You can choose to suck the water like a straw or blow the water to make a huge mess! Of course, we choose the second of the two and it sure was fun!
*** This mess cleans up super easy before the "mothership" comes home.

Goodbye Old Friends

2011-05-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

This past winter has been so cold and snowy that it's been entertaining to have some good shows on TV to turn the blistery months into great memories and fun. I would like to recap on all the friends that have come into my home and entertained me into the wee hours at night.

It's no surprise to anyone that I love American Idol. It's a show that can be talked about during staff meeting, Young Women activities and standing in line at the grocery store.

Every Wednesday night, Jamie, James and I took turns coming over to each others home for dinner and to watch Idol. We were rooting for Lauren but, Janessa had her heart set on Scotty winning...sure enough her heart was right...Scotty was the winner.

I had a dream the other night that I was one of Lady Gaga's back up dancers during the finale but I wore real clothes. I know weird!

(see American Idol finale to know what I'm talking about)

I told Jamie during a commerical for Dancing with the Stars that I'm not watching this season cause there isn't anyone worth watching expect for maybe Kirstie Ally! That comment went down the drain real fast and I was deeply hooked. I love this show especially when I can forward all the commericals at midnight. It was so cool to see the dancers become comfortable with the dancing and loose weight while doing it.
I'm not a Steelers fan but, I'm glad that Hines won and especially glad that Kirstie lost the weight and will be back on TV.

This show makes me pee my pants from laughing so much! My favorites on this show are Cam and Mitch, Lilly (even though she seemed like a child with delays), Clare and Phil, well pretty much all the characters are my favorite. My favorite episode is My Funky Valentine and when they go to Hawaii.

I saved Sister Wives for last cause I don't want anyone to judge me that I watch this show...it's probably one of the most talked about shows on TLC. I don't like the fact that they practice polygamy but, what I do like is that they are a family. In saying that, I wish those teenage girls were in a Young Women's program so they can be taught about what eternal marriage is and the importance of Heavenly Father's plan in each of our lifes.

So, as the winter and spring months past us and the favorite show take a rest for a season, we say goodbye to great months of "good TV" and being a couch potato.

As a result of watching all that TV, I think the gym maybe calling out my name.

Happy Summer!

A Joyful Moment

2011-05-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

A few years past I went for a visit into a child care provider’s home and was deeply concerned why preschool was not taught in his/her child care. The TV was a source of learning as well as playing outside, but no gathering time or art or story time was being taught.

I came back to the school and was talking with my bosses about what we as an agency could do to teach what a developmentally appropriate curriculum is and how to incorporate it into a classroom. Both of my bosses said together “well, get to it! Write a curriculum and then teach it.” Yikes! How in the world to you begin to teach what needs to be included in preschool.

So, after many diet Cokes and Tylenols taken, I worked and studied and the next fiscal year, taught my own curriculum to a bunch of eager, yet super smart providers who loved it.

Just this year a big wig from Salt Lake asked if I would share the written curriculum to a group from the state and then if they liked it enough, it could be taught to all of the providers throughout the state!

It’s very humbling but, I’m very happy to say that it was accepted and now you can find the Creating a Preschool Curriculum course taught in all 6 Child Care Resource and Referrals in Utah.
Talk about a Joyful Moment!

Oh My!

2011-04-26T15:56:00.001-07:00

It' just best not to ask how much fun the girls had dancing with this strange guy on the streets of Vegas. This minute of fun was so worth the dollar I added in his bowl taped to the street.

They Color My World

2011-04-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

In March, my mom and I went with Janette and her family to Las Vegas for a "very" short trip to see the "lighted"city (MaKenna's word), eat some yummy food and play some slots...no just kidding about the slots (sort of). Well it was a super fun trip and my favorite part was just hanging out with my favorite people.
Janessa, Jaden and MaKenna color my world with so much fun and I'm so glad that they are in my life.

One Born Every Minute

2011-03-02T15:23:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this show? Well I love it! It may sound weird that someone who hasn't really experienced giving birth before can love a show so much...well I do. This show captures the essences of delivering a baby in a candided way that looks so easy and quite delightful, if you ask me. While watching the show, I've narrowed it down in 3 steps.
Step 1- you get some medication to ease the pain.
Step 2- maybe scream or grunt a few times.
Step 3- pop out a beautiful miracle that will be the light of your life.
Sounds pretty easy to me!
Just because I haven't experienced those steps, I still remember when my little miracles were born and how much they have blessed my life all these years.

Janessa 15 yrs. old- When she was born I was teaching at Best Friends and had 5 other roommates to deal with. Ness became their light also. Janette called and said she was here and I said "does she look like me?" (of course every special moment is about me) and Janette said "she has your warmth."

Ryker 14 yrs. old- Roommates still, but my one favorite neighbors and I went to Brigham that night to see a movie and so we stopped to see this little guy. At school I had the children in my class paint a huge sign that said "Welcome Home Ryker".

Jaden 11 almost 12- Sluffed work (I was still at the hospital Child Care) that day to wait for his arrival. He was a big thing with lots of thick brown hair and just a cute baby with big eyes.

Bryken 11 almost 12- I remember driving with my mom to the hospital with Ryker in the car seat. He just learned how to drink diet Coke from a straw...Bryken was huge and when we looked at me, I sweared he smiled. Really, it's true.

MaKenna 8 yrs. old- She was born super late in the night but one of the nurses had a child in my class, let me come in to hold her. That's why we are so close cause I was the 3rd person to see this miracle. (Janette, Paul then me)

Kelby 8 yrs. old- What an angel. She was born beautiful, spoiled and had her aunt wrapped around her finger the minute I held her. She was so pretty!

Briggs 4 yrs. old- Just graduated from USU and was heading out to Boston when Briggs was born. Infact, we stopped at the hospital on the way to the airport. He was so cute and his sweet spirit just radiated the room.

I'm going to add Lindsay's children cause they are truly my angels also.

Rylie 5 yrs. old- When she was born we went to the hospital at lunch time to hold and love on her. Lindsay had just swaddled her in a blanket so that I could hold her and I took her tiny leg out of the blanket so kiss her feet. I called her my pal and still do.

Tyson 3 yrs.old (he says that he is 4 yrs. though)- I had just quit my job at the Children's House, bought a condo and was sustained as Primary president so alot was going on when he was born. At the hospital I held him while sitting in the window sill and just rocked him. He was a big BIG booda but he is just a sweet, fun friend.

See there you go, who needs to pop out a baby when you can experience love ones giving birth and just being the aunt/friend/spoiler that can love them and grow old with these miracles.

Some Of The Things I Love.

2011-02-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

Some of the things that I love on this heart/candy/flowers/card day are:

1- I love that I can smile and be happy when all the other co workers recieve roses and flowers.
2- I love that feeling inside when someone does something really nice, you know the kind when your stomach starts to hurt cause you're just so blessed and grateful.
3- I love sugar cookies with pink frosting.
4- I love Bleu Cheese.
5- I love Valentines Day cause it's a day where everyone can be cheesy and no one really cares cause it's a day full of love and cheese.

mmm bleu cheese!

Happy Valentines Day

It's Great to be 8!

2011-01-26T14:58:00.000-08:00

I love February! Even though it's a month full of love and a birthday that I'm trying to not think about; I'm still very much in love with this month. Already I've eaten 2 bags of Valentine Sour balls and Conversation hearts and the month hasn't even started... yet another great reason why I love this month.
Red, pink and white candy trumps the rest!

February is a month of love and so this post is going to be all about my darling friends MaKenna and Kelby. Both of my friends turn or have turned 8 and so they will be getting baptized. Kenna will be baptized in February and Kelby (I call her Kelly) she will be baptized in March.
We have so much fun when we are together. We like to create things with stamps and pretty paper, we LOVE to go on pop runs and buy the most expensive piece of dumb candy ever cause Steph will pay.

We also have a club.

It's called the Flower Power Girl Power club and we have a funny little cheer we do to start our club meeting and then we plan activities for camping, water parties and Christmas. The only members are Kenna, Kelby, me and sometimes we let Briggs join the group, even though he is not a girl and only 4!

In the summer I made the girls a circle journal with just odds and ends paper. I will write the girls a note and then when they visit Grammys they read my note or question and respond with a funny or sometimes serious answer. They will then write a note or question to me and I will answer. It's so fun to read what the girls have written to me and my responses...something I hope we can continue even when they get older.

I'm so happy and excited to watch these girls become members of our Church, they truly are the stars in my solar system and I will love even when they turn 18 or 28 or 38...we will always be the Flower Powers!

Pringles and Pizza

2010-12-16T14:43:00.001-08:00

Last night Rylie and Tyson came over to play while Lindsay went to the Temple and boy did we ever have fun. For supper we made our own pizzas using GRANDS dough, left over sauce, some cheese and...Pringles! Rylie and Tys. love Pringles so after the sauce and cheese were added I look over to Rylie and she had smashed Pringles on top of her pizza. Tyson followed suit and then looked at me and said "want some, Stephy." I said no thanks but thanks.

After cooking the pizzas I thought to myself that there is no way this can taste good. As both kids were eating their pizzas in the living room (you can eat anywhere you want at Steph's house) they commented on how "crunchy" this pizza is and how "flavorful" it tastes.

Pizza with Pringles...who said it doesn't taste good.

P.S. Santa Claus was going to bring Steph a camera but she's getting a Kindle instead. Sorry! Another year full of low quality pictures.

If only I was President...

2010-12-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

If only I was President, I would sign a bill that Christmas is celebrated all year long. People seem to be so happy around this time of year and I ask the question...why? Why can't people just be happy all year long and with what they have and not wish for things differently.

I was on the phone with a provider today and all she did was complain about her children and how this last child was a "mistake" and how they can't afford having another child. I never picture children as "mistakes" but she did and made it very clear that he was.

As she was talking about all these negatives in her life, a tear rolled from my eyes and it took everything not to say "at least you have children" or "be grateful for what you have."

So on this bill that I would have Congress sign, it would be for Christmas to be all year long and for everyone to have thankful hearts for what they DO have instead of being grinches about what they DON'T!

***Disclaimer: I should really talk! A provider came in and peed on my territory today! I was sortof a tiny grinch but, my grateful heart is back in place and I'm loving the blessing I do have!

Steph's Christmas Cookie Party

2010-11-29T17:18:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my friend Kallen yesterday on the phone and I told him about my annual cookie party that I "try" to have every December.
He said that events like this should be planned a month ahead of time.

I said "oh I will just Facebook everyone!"

Wrong answer! He chewed me out cause he is so old school that for his events he creates "beautiful embossed invitiations" and sends them out like before Thanksgiving.
Who does that?

Sorry friends, this is as good as it gets for many reasons:
#1- I don't have everyones address to mail invitations.
#2- As much as I love stamping, it's easier to invite ya all through cyber space.
#3- Facebook and blogs work the best...who buys stamps anymore.

Everyone is invited to Steph's Christmas Cookie party on
Saturday December 11 from 1:00-4:00 pm
I would love it if you could especially bring your kiddos and if you want, a bag of candy to share.
See ya there!

P.S. In my best friends defense, I admire how well prepared and organized his parties are and I just love him for being an example to me.

An hour of pure joy!

2010-11-17T16:20:00.000-08:00

So call me flakey but I really haven't kept up on this being thankful blog all that much but, you know time just gets away and really the honest truth...I got in trouble! I was reading my blog to my mom and sister the other weekend and my dad pipes in and preaches about how this isn't cool blah blah blah! I said "dad, everyone blogs!" He didn't have to much to say after that because I'm a grown up now and so...that is that!

Once a week, for one hour out of the eight that I work, I walk my tiny (but yet husky) body over to the other side of the building to a first grade class that is a pure joy to me. I can only volenteer for an hour but during that hour, it is so fun to interact with the first graders, here their funny stories and just teach them how to sound out letters and make sounds.

The teacher gives me the tough centers where shaving cream and markers are involved so it boosts my confidence that she trusts me to teach these children during center time.

The other day I was sitting with a group of four children when a little girl starts to sniff the air and said "something smells!"
I thought oh crap...I pulled the autumn shirt out of the dirty clothes to wear and it smells! CRAP!
Then seconds later another child in the same group says "yeah, something does smell."
Crap, it's me, I know it.
Then the two start to sniff over my direction and I calmly said "let's stay on task."
The girl then looked up at me with those blue eyes and said, "Ms. Steph it's you!
BUSTED!
I said in my nice but mean teacher voice, "what do I smell like?"
She said, you smell like flowers and sweet stuff!

WHOO! Thank goodness for Bath and Body Sweet Pea lotion to cover up the 'autumn shirt pulled out of the dirty clothes pile' smell.
I forgot how honest children can be but yet what a pure joy they are to me

Happy Birthday

2010-11-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday!
My nephew is one of my most favorite friends. He is so smart, witty and always has some kind of funny joke or informational tidbit about something or someone. (I call him a walking GOOGLE machine cause he knows it all)

I love how he tries so hard in sports and he gives his very best in whatever he does.

My super cool friend and nephew is what I heart the most for Day 7.

Guy at the Quad Side Cafe

2010-11-11T13:49:00.001-08:00

Don't worry I'm not a starker...this is just a cut and paste pic.

Every Thursday my bosses and I walked over to a small café by the Library. It's one of my most favorite times of the week because it's just us. I can vent frustrations, talk about classes or just "shop talk" about anything.
Well, there is this beautiful guy that works there! He always wears a pink shirt (Leah thinks he is gay) and a few weeks ago he got a hair cut so all those darling curls are not there anymore but, he is so cute.
I could probably be his mother or maybe his old spinster aunt because of the age difference but, he is a total doll when he refers to me as "ma'am." He serves yummy cheese bagels lightly toasted, delicious soup and huge peanut butter cookies that really warm my tummy and heart.

Thursdays at the Quad Side Cafe is what I heart about Day 6.

Janessa

2010-11-10T14:51:00.000-08:00

I call her Poopy Head!

Janessa is such a shining star in my life. She is almost fifteen and is already asking when she can drive my car or HAVE my car. I love her laugh and when you are around her she just makes you smile cause of the funny things she says and does.
She is what I heart about Day 5!

My Family

2010-11-10T14:39:00.000-08:00

My Crazy Family

I knew that this was going to happen when I get behind on this "project" for the month of November. I'm so blessed to have just a good family that loves me and that I love.

I remember growing up as the shortest (and the oldest) of four was fun for the most part but every once in awhile there were those times when it'd sucked BIG TIME!

One story that I will never forget was one afternoon, I was watching Days of Our Lives when Ryan and Matt came into the family room and thought it would be funny to tie me up to the bench press weight thing. After lots of struggles, they won and I surrendered.

I started to yell for my mom to come and rescue me when she came running into the family room with a steal comb in one hand and a can of hair spray in the other (she was combing a ladies head in the beauty shop) and she said in that quiet but mean voice...Stephanie Li...pause and then she started to laugh at the sight of her oldest, graduated from high school daughter, tied to a weight set.

I will never forget that look on her face! That is why I heart my family for Day 4.

I'm Grateful for...

2010-11-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

We eat out ALOT!

Yesterday in Young Women's we talked about all of our blessings and on the chalkboard (I know, let's get with the times 43rd ward...what's a chalkboard!) all of the blessings we have and all the things that we are grateful for.

I said "my job!" Enough said! I'm glad that I have a good job that I semi love and that challenges me everyday to be nicer and do alittle better.

That's what I heart the best for Day 3 of the blessings I have.

Attitude

2010-11-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

When I woke up this morning I thought is today Saturday? Then I realized OH CRAP I have to work this morning! I was running my house trying to get my things together and find my shoes when out of the blue I had the strangest thought.

In my head something said "Steph, you are not grateful enough!"

OH MY GOSH! Could it be more obvious that I really need to stop and think about the blessings that I do have, instead of all the things I don't! :(

So that brings me to my next project for the month...blogging everyday all the things that I'm grateful for. Oh gosh, now that I brought the thought to life, it seems like a HUGE project.

Not so much the being thankful part but the blogging part.

Day 1:

Oh before I start, the posts aren't going to be long (your welcome, Linds) they are just going to be short and sweet posts about the blessings that I have.

Ok, now I'm ready...

Day 1:

My testimony of the Gospel. What would I do and where would I be without the knowledge of knowing who I am, where I'm going and truly what the purpose of life is all about.

Day 2:

I'm going to write for tomorrow also cause I'm the author of this blog and I just can do that. I'm grateful for Sundays. Even though there are tons of meetings for YW's, I'm glad we have an excuse to sit and watch TV or take a nap.

Who Did It?

2010-10-28T14:28:00.001-07:00

The other day I was sitting at my desk working, work, work, work is what I do when all of a sudden my crazy eye noticed something gross looking splattered on my desk. I said to Sarah, "it looks like a bird pooped on my desk!" That is when both Chelsea and Sarah started talking about a wild bird flying in the building the other night. I just want to know who did it, was it really the "out of control" bird or was it something/somebody else.

Later on that night Rylie and Tyson came over to play and as we walked down to the river (well actually small stream) to feed the ducks, I told them about this story. I said, "maybe it was a duck that did it!" Tyson then looked up at me and said "ducks don't poop, they swim!" This is a pretty gross post but, it's Halloween and you pretty much can talk about anything around Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

Temptation Cupcakes.

2010-09-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite FRIENDS episodes is when Chandler and Rachel find this cheesecake on a neighbor’s doorstep and as a favor to the neighbor they take the cheesecake home and begin to eat it. It turns out to be one of the yummiest cheesecakes they’ve ever eaten; even compared to Monica’s that is “dry and mealy.” In the mix of fighting over whom has the biggest half, they accidently drop the cake upside down and it lands on the floor. Well, instead of wasting it, they both grab a fork and begin to eat this delicious cheesecake off of the floor. In the end it shows them kneeling on each side of the dropped cake, trying not to eat the floor pieces.

The other night I “sort of” had this same kind of experience. I teach a Theories class which includes talking about theorists in the olden times that study children, their behaviors, attachments etc. It’s quite tough to teach because of all the definitions to remember and what theory each of these gentlemen and ladies want us to know. So needless to say, I become a little frazzled while teaching cause I want the providers to like me and also I want them to learn.

When I walked into the classroom there on the table was a beautiful pink box with a label from Temptation Cupcakes. These cupcakes are so yummy but really quite expensive so I hardly ever go and get one but MMM they are my favorite! It was from my favorite Center directors from All About Kids. I was so excited to just get home, sit in my cozy chair and eat my cupcakes.

When class let out I quickly cleaned up my mess, gathered up my things and was walking out the door when all of a sudden out from no where, the yummy pink box fell from my tiny arms and landed upside down on the dirty, college students walked on, blonde girls play with their long hair, FLOOR!

I yelled “oh *&%$, my cupcakes”, in the loudest voice possible! I went on bended knees and try to salvage at least one of them, but both looked so good that I thought if Chandler and Rachel can eat stuff of the floor, so can I!

The chocolate cupcake landed upside down in the box but the other one with red velvet cake with butter cream frosting and a tiny candied heart on top had definitely hit the floor. With my fingers I gingerly scraped some of the frosting off the floor (the stuff that hadn’t touch…yet) and used my other finger as a knife to spread in on the cupcake.

I put both cupcakes back into the box, walked out of the school with a smile on my face and thought it’s going to be so worth it to eat a bit of floor.

Piggy Likes It

2010-09-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

This past week I went over to Tremonton to watch my darling nephews show their pigs in the County Fair. This is the first year that I have been to one of their shows during the week; I usually go to the sale on Saturday. Well anyway while I was sitting there watching the boys guard their pigs from the other pigs in the group ( I didn’t know pigs like to fight) and lightly tap the pigs to look pretty with what looks like a fly swatter…I got thinkin’.

What if I were a pig!? It would be so cool to be a pig because you could just lay down in the dirt and sleep. You can have a smell and no one would even care AND a pig can roll around in the mud and get dirty all day without feeling they need to take a shower. The biggest plus to being a pig is that you can eat anything you want and not worry about “oh this is going to ruin my figure” or “how many points is that bucket of grain.”

Sometimes I feel like a pig, especially after eating two pieces of peach pie at the fair and then one extra piece from Maddox three days later. I feel like a pig when I can sit and eat Rocky Road ice cream or fries and a frosty from Wendy’s. I know that for sure I’m a pig when I make a batch of cookies to share with the neighbors and most of the cookies are eaten late at night with milk.

But you know piggy likes it and I have just come to the conclusion that the older I get the more I’ve decided to just not worry, have fun and pig out in life.

Disclaimer: This post was spontaneously written on a Friday.

Girl's Camp

2010-08-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago the Young Women over to Bear Lake at Jen's families' cabin for Girl's Camp. We left early on Monday morning and when we arrived the first thing that the girls wanted to do was play in the water. It didn't really help that the lake was just minutes away and so tempting to just put on a swimming suit and play.
We set up camp, did a service project for Jen's dad by picking up sticks and rocks and stuff...that really wasn't all that fun but we did it with a smile on our faces and ate lunch. We each had the chance to share a skill that we could teach to each other. My skill was these really super cute folders that you make out of a file folder. It was so fun to just sit around the table and chat with the girls. I love the girls in our ward. I'm so impressed by their talents and testimony they each have for the Gospel and what great examples they are to each other and to me.
One of my favorite things about being a leader in Young Women's is Girl's Camp. It is so fun to be with the girls and the leaders in a quiet and relaxing place where you can just talk and laugh about anything. I love having skit night and eating smores and eating junk food and sneaking away with Estee to get a real pop.

We hiked into Minnatoka Cave on Tuesday adternoon. I was sortof a little nervous about this hike cause there was 444 stairs down into the cave and 444 stairs going out of the cave. The really cool thing about this hike was at the very bottom of the cave, the guy turned out the lights which made it super dark. He related this experience to how the people felt in 3 Nephi when there was 3 days of darkness. Then we each held tight to this bar (the iron rod) and walked along in total darkness until finally we saw a speckle of light and walked towards that light. When the hike was finally over, my legs felt like noodles but my heart was so full of love for the light of Christ and my testimony of it.

This boat is made of only cardboard and TONS of duck tape. We had a race to see what girl could stay afloat while sitting in the boat. Our team was names Team Monica.

Go Team Monica.

My Friend Rylie

2010-07-20T15:35:00.001-07:00

I don't like water! When I was in 4^th grade I actually had a near death experience by almost drowning at the neighbor's swimming pool many, many years ago and I still get kind of nervous around water. Last Friday I was chatting with Linds and she happened to mention that they were taking the boat to Glendale and why don't I come with them. Now taking the boat out for me means sitting in the boat, drinking diet Coke and snacking on junk food…no water involved, so to speak! I'm not as brave as Lindsay who can tackle a wake board or whatever you call them. This time was different though because I wanted to overcome my fear and at least put a life jacket on and play in the water.
They stopped the boat out in the middle of the water for a minute and quickly Rylie was hanging off the edge, ready to jump in and play! I looked at this four year old friend of mine and thought if Rylie can do it, so can I. I put on a life jacket and carefully climbed down the boat stairs (Tyson was pushing me backwards cause he likes to only put his legs in the water) and into the water. Rylie took hold of my hand for a minute so that I could get use to the water, all the while saying "don't be scared Stephy, you can do it." Then a couple of minutes later she said to me "Stephy, will you let go of my hand now so I can swim." And that was it! I was in the water, kicking my feet and loving every minute of it.

Children have the most amazing way of helping us overcome our fears, taking risks and not be afraid of the scary parts of life.

My friend Rylie does just that!

End of Parley Street

2010-07-14T13:47:00.001-07:00

Last week the youth of our ward had the chance to go on the Martin Cove's trek in Wyoming. I found this out on Sunday but it took a year or so for the stake to plan this experience and so when we were sustained in Young Women's (April) they were at the tail end of the preparations and such.

I wanted to go so bad! For about a month I seriously thought about going and was determined to put my mind to it and just do it but…all things considering, I don't really think that my heart could handle the heat or stress of walking that far.

I've experienced my own pioneer adventure about 3 years ago when we drove to Nauvoo. Ben was dating Jamie at the time so they both came and also his friend named Lerpy came on the trip with Debbie and me. I have always just wanted to stand at the end of Parley's Street and think about the pioneers having great faith in leaving the comforts of everything they know and walk to Zion.

On Sunday as I listened to the youth speak about their trek experiences and sharing their testimonies of what is in their hearts, I thought of when I stood at the end of Parley's Street years ago. It was faith that really is what got the pioneers through their journey and faith is what will get us through ours.

The Bloody Dam

2010-06-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

In the past 1 1/2 years I've experienced the Hoover Dam twice and boy has that been damn exciting! I really like the dam cause when you are there you can say the word dam as many times as you like and no one gives you weird looks like you have a potty mouth or something.

This time when we went to Las Vegas, Debbie's family from England went with us and that was a big treat. They are so funny and think we Americans are so strange in what we say and our behaviors.

Here is some of the things that I learned from the England friends.

1. I learned that Americans think the word Bloody is a really bad swear word and it's not. That's right friends, I asked a true Englishman when I say the word Bloody, is it really an offensive word to say and it's not! So that is bloody exciting huh?

2. That the British think American Idol is just as cool as we do and they love Simon Cowell.

3. The British really love The Cheesecake Factory. The cheesecake is "nice" and "smooth." Maybe because it's not wrapped in newspaper.

4. I learned that the Brits are kind, caring, talk really cool people that can strike up a conversation with anyone. It's neat how many people stopped to chat with us just cause they heard Micheala or Callem talking. They truly are fun people to have in my life and I will forever remember our bloody trip to the dam!

Just Chillin'

2010-06-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

So far it's been a pretty chillin summer. I have loved how the weather is rainy one day and then sunny next...it's great for my flowers that are trying so hard to grow and be pretty.

There hasn't been alot going on this last couple of months but I'll update you on a few things real quick!

My book has finally been published and on the market to buy as most of you have read on Facebook and it's pretty cool. The book is called The Purple Watermelon and it has a creative twist at the end, that's what I like most about it...oh and the illustrator did a wonderful job on the pictures. So pretty!

The last part of May I attended both Ben (nanny friend who somehow grew up) and Jamie's (Ben's old girlfriend who has just so happened to become one of my BFFs) weddings and they both were amazing. Ben married a gal named Elizabeth who is just a sweetie and Jamie married a cool guy named James. I secretly prayed that they would eventually marry each other but that didn't turn out so, I will be happy for them separately. And I am!

Last week I went to Las Vegas with Debbie and her family from England who came for Ben's wedding. We drove down on Monday and stayed a couple of days in Vegas, then drove home on Thursday. I wouldn't wish that drive on anyone...it is soooo long and boring but, luckily I was with good and entertaining company.

I'm excited for yet a long, hot, busy summer and hopefully it will be just that.

Love to all.

Just a Bite

2010-05-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

This is an after shot of the damage.

The other day a couple of the girls at work and me had a random lunch date with Iron Gate Grill. When I say random, it really means that it wasn't planned like most of the lunch dates are, this was just a spur of the moment type lunch.

We went to Iron Gate Grill and ate lunch, drank way to much pop and then one of the friends said "have you guys tried the seven layer cake they have here?" Well, in my head I was picturing this tiny piece of cake, with seven layers...NOT!

The server guy brings out this huge piece of cake with six forks and said to us "Good Luck!"

Who needs luck when you have cake sitting in front of you.

The Purple Watermelon

2010-03-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

About five years or so I got this wild hair that I would like to write and publish a children's book. When I thought about this dream, I could only think of how Don and Audrey Wood thought before they published all of their amazing story books. I thought about Lois Elhert and how she was so scared to presue her dream and now she has beautiful picture books with text and illustrations that speak to so many children. It is clearly so real that I thought to myself over and over...if they can do it, so can I.

I quickly erased the word failure from my brain and when forward in accomplishing this goal. Now five years later I'm very pleased to annouce that this goal is almost complete!
The Purple Watermelon was sent to the publishing company last week and it is just a awesome feeling to know that soon the "wild hair" will actually be sold "hopefully" world wide to bookstores and book companys.

When I was filling out the submission guidelines there was only a small space to write about myself and all so that people can know what "type" of author I really am. I wanted to fill that spot with not stuff about me but, thanks to all that have support me and help me through this journey (quote taken from Jake on Bachelor 2010).

The other day I was driving (probably to get a pop) and I just had this overwelming feeling of love and gratitude for all the friends and people in my life. I feel so blessed to have such good friends that have loved me and love me for who I am and the stupid things that I say and do.

Thanks to my family...they never really read my blog except for my cousins but, thanks for being the greatest family ever. We fight some and love more and through it all we are becoming a stronger, eternal family.

Sarah, thank you for your time and experience in helping me format the pictures and sending in the final stuff...you are so smart and I'm glad we are cube buddies.

Ok, so if all goes well (cross your fingers) the book should be in print by the middle of May and then you can all buy it on the Authorhouse website or through any bookstores website.

Exciting but yet still seems like a wild hair!

Sometimes ya gotta fly!

2010-02-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

See that bright paracute? That's us!

A week before Christmas I went on a cruise with Debbie and her family. It was good just to get out of town and do something different…speaking of! I have seen people parasailing before and it always looks to daring, yet fun to try. The boats first stop was a tiny tourist trap called Catalina.

This island is beautiful with the blue water, sail boats everywhere and just a fun place to spend the day. As we were walking off the boat I mumbled to myself that I wish parasailing wasn’t so expensive because it would be fun to do. Ben must have heard me (sometimes I just talk to the air and hopefully someone is listening) cause awhile later he came running up to me and said, “Steph, we are going parasailing!”

It was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had! Ben, Liz and me all went up together and that made the experience even more great. I screamed a little as the hot driver of the boat shut off the motor and let us drop until our feet almost touched the water. Then in a second flat, the hot driver of the boat put the boat in high gear and we were back up in the air… 12 minutes and 900 feet of pure fun!

Cloudy with a Chance of Meat Balls!

2010-02-22T15:38:00.000-08:00

A couple of months past my friend Cece and I took her two children to see this show. We were sitting in the front row of the theater (which isn't good when you are the only ones laughing) and LAUGHED through the whole show. At one point Cece's son leaned over to me as I was wiping the tears from my eyes and said "really what's so funny?"

So for Christmas, Cece gave me the DVD of this movie to watch and rewatch whenever I need a laugh. The other night Princess Buttercup spent the night at my house and together we watched this movie. I warned her that this movie might make her pee in her pjs cause it was so funny...she wanted to watch it anyways.

Half way through the movie as I was again laughing so hard, she flipped her hand around and said "Steph, what's so funny!"

Maybe, just maybe this movie is made for immature adults who laugh at food, flying from the sky.

What the ....!

2010-01-14T13:45:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just have to say "What the....!

Before I begin writing this post, I first want those friends who are reading this to know that I’m really an upbeat, happy and carefree person. Most of the time, I let the little things just roll off my back and “forgive and forget” as they say. However, in saying that, there are some things that I see in the daily ins and outs of my life that I just have to say “What the …!” Throughout this post, I’m going to write some of the things that I’ve seen daily where I’ve had to literally say this phrase out loud or mostly under my breath. Before beginning to write, I know that Heavenly Father loves us DESPITE of our imperfection! I can say bluntly that I’m not perfect and neither is my brain and mind but, I do know that everyday I’m striving to be better.

Brace yourselves…here she goes!

1-Sometimes people are just weird…like why is the skinny girls (and guys) always trying to out-run the treadmill walker next to them. Come on, I know that I have little legs and a wide backside but gosh you don’t even belong at the gym cause YOUR NOT FAT!
2-Why are people always cutting me off when I’m driving? What’s the hurry and why do they have to gun it as they pass? I know you are there so don’t show off your truck just because it’s bigger then my tiny car.
3-Why do people know it all! What if all the know it alls realized one day that they didn’t know it all and then us that don’t know it all discovered that we really did know something!
4-If you are at Joann’s and you are waiting for someone to cut your fabric and there is no one around you and the worker asks you to take a NUMBER! What the …! Then after waiting two seconds for her to call your number, she uses all her Joann power to use the loud speaker to say …number 79! Hum…lady we are right here! Duh!
5-Same day, still at Joann’s and you buy you and your friends a .99 candy bar when you discover as your sitting in the car that it’s as stale as last Christmas’s fruit cake…a total waste of .99! Just cause they specialize in fabrics and crafts doesn’t mean they can’t rotate the candy bars!

I was only going to stop at five but I have one more…

6-What’s up for running out of diet Coke when you really need one! That’s a good one and happens all too often.

I’m done…like I said these are just daily thoughts! I really do feel the love of my Savior daily as I try to tread through this little life of mine. I’m very blessed to have experiences like these that really does put some laughter into it all.

The Pink Wedding

2009-12-29T10:28:00.001-08:00

My mom made this dress for me to wear back in 1986.

Surprise the threads haven't popped out yet.

Yesterday afternoon Rylie and Tyson came over to play for a couple of hours. It's always so much fun when they come to play cause ya never know what Rylie has cooked up and Tyson well, he just follows along with the fun. We play tea party which consists of tea kettles full of water and random cups, a old blanket and the 2 stuffed animals I have on my bed. We like to play birthday party and especially make up!

Later on in the afternoon, Rylie found my old prom dress in the back of my closet which spells 80's era just by looking at it. Her big eyes became so wide as I pulled from the closet the soft dusty rose taffeta dress with wide lace and puffy sleeves. She looked up at me and said "Stephy, we must have a pink wedding!"

I pulled back her hair and placed the tierra gently on top of her head, that's when Tyson said "whoo pretty." The pink wooden rose that Ian made for all the mothers on mothers day, adds a perfect touch to our pink wedding day.

Wind Beneath His Wings

2009-12-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

This is a really neat story that must be blogged before I forget the details of this day. It started a couple of weeks ago while in Washington DC at the conference. The Insect Lore booth was giving away free caterpillars stored in a small container that you can take home and have the children observe the cycle of a butterfly.
I took one thinking in my head that it would never work because of the traveling, weather climate etc. Day four of the conference, I was packing my bags and noticed this small container that I had left on the night stand...it was changing into a cocoon.
I carefully wrapped the container in a sock and hoped the best for the little critter through the journey back to Utah.
I set the container on the bookshelf by my desk and everyday I'd watch how it would create a warm cocoon around itself and marveled how wonderful this experience would be for a child to watch. I threw away the directions so I called Insect Lore to find out what to do next cause it was changing so quickly.
Today as my co-workers and I were getting ready to head to lunch, I glaced down and saw a flutter in it's wings and a big butterfly trying to fly.
I've never been a mother before but, for one split second I felt so much responsiblity for this creature; that he was in my care and I was truly the wind beneath his wings.

NAEYC Conference

2009-11-30T15:14:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago my peeps and I had a neat opportunity to attend the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) conference in Washington DC. After my senior year of High School, the choir went to sing in Washington, New York and other popular sights this side of the United States. I was young then and mostly interested in the gift shops, snack bars and being with my friends...this time was a little bit different.

Of course we attended the conference during the day and really enjoyed learning more about the development of children blah blah blah but...at night we put on our tourist hats and hit the town.

Here is a sampling of the fun we had...the pictures are in no particular order...just random fun.

We went on a night tour of all the monuments around the city. The bus driver was very informative by telling us little bits and pieces of the historical parts of each monument. It started as a pretty clear night but then half way through the tour it rained like cats and dogs. The weather really didn't bug us Utahans like the other tourists in the bus...we saw it all.

Lincoln reminds us to be honest and not to lie...I loved this monument. It reminded me so much of Night at the Museum 2. I was teasing everyone that I swore he moved his hand and head.
He really didn't though!
I actually was looking forward to seeing the President to dicuss somethings with him...
no such luck.

World War II memorial. I almost got left here cause I was in the bathroom.

My favorite was the US History museum. In this building there was all the First Ladies dresses, Julia Child's kitchen and the red slippers from Wizard of Oz.

Here we all are at the Expo! This room is probably the size of two football fields and it's packed full of different vendors that are trying to sell us their products to use in a classroom. Mostly we go to get all the free pens and cool headbands. Notice the things coming out of our heads, they were free and we wore them throughout the night.

A friend of ours that lives in the DC area took us to see the temple at night. It's such a cool feeling to know that where ever you go in the world, the feeling around the temple is just the same.

My yummy cheesecake. I stepped outside the box and ordered an Oreo Mudslide piece of cheesecake, instead of just Cookie Dough like I get everytime.

A tradition we have is eating at the Cheesecake Factory the night we arrive for the conference. After a couple of Metro stops, we found a Cheesecake Factory and totally pigged out.

It was a super fun trip and I'm so blessed to be able to go learn at the conference, improve myself as an educator, eat, see the monuments and eat some more!

Um...about 400 points

2009-10-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

The other day I was getting into Lindsay's van to do our usual dollar store shopping and she said "I have a prize for you!" She handed me this take out box and as I opened it, yummy cream cheese frosting fell out from the side and onto my fingers. Opening the box very carefully (and not trying to drop it on the pavement...it was heavy) I saw the most hugest cinnamon roll ever!

She found this place in Layton called Granny something (can't remember the whole name) where they make these giant beasts of a treat and bought me one. They taste so yummy!

You can't tell me this is not at least 400 points...of goodness I mean.

A Little Bit of Fall

2009-10-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a sampling of our fun...

Jaden and me

Janessa and Me

Princess Buttercup and me

My favorite people

I love this time of year as I'm sure that many of you do. I love to watch the changes in the season, to admire the colorful leaves, the pumpkins and fallish things and especially how everyone seems so happy cause it's not to blasted hot.

Especially I love this time of year cause it only means one thing...Primary program! For those of you that are reading this and have experienced our primary, the children are pure amazing. For the past two years we've shared our primary with the Deaf branch and they are such a joy. As they got up to share their parts, both in English and Sign Language, the spirit was super strong and I love being apart of this great organization we have in our church.

In celebration of the Primary program being over with, I drove out to Hyrum Sunday afternoon to go with Janette's family up to the canyon to take pictures.

Sunshine Kids Music Academy

2009-10-12T15:21:00.001-07:00

Hello friends,

I know that you may think that I've jumped on the moon and have decided to stay but…nope still here, happy and hopefully healthy. This last summer I have thought a lot about starting a little singing group in the valley for children to come and just learn how to love music. I didn't want it to be expensive nor outrageously time restricted, just a half hour or so to sing and have fun. I chickened out though. I told my head that I couldn't do it and my heart was screaming YES YOU CAN! Still my head won and I chickened out.

Until yesterday...my desire to do this turned upside down when our Bishop gave a wonderful talk about telling children they can't do things and having faith in what they can do…instead of what they can't. I thought all day about this talk and had a wonderful feeling that this is what I'm to do right now in my little life.

So game on…registration starts now. The cost is $18.00 a month which includes activities and stuff…classes will be held at the Whittier Center every Monday from 4:30 until 5:00. Ages limit is questionable cause I love all ages of children so…just call (435) 752-7916 and we can talk about it…only if you are interested.

Registration is filling up fast (not really but, if you say that then people will really want to join) so please tell your friends about this great musical opportunity.

A Blue Ribbon Family

2009-08-12T14:16:00.001-07:00

I love fair days! I love eating the food that you pay so much for but, tastes so good. I love smelling like sheep, but it being so worth it. I love watching the crazy people and thinking how they can get away with wearing that article of clothing and watching the "want to be cowboys" at the rodeo. Here is a glimpse of the fun my family and me had last week at the fair.

At the last minute I got the idea from Janessa to enter some of my crafts in the fair. I ironed and dusted the moth balls off of this forth of July craft that Lindsay and I "projected" many years ago and sure enough got a blue ribbon. You can't really see it well but, it's the Americona craft in the background of this picture.

MaKenna had so much patience with this lamb. She really seemed to enjoy showing her (actually Janessa's) lamb in the Pee Wee show. I especially love the "cowgirl" hat she

wore during the showing.

These guys spent many hours at the fair everyday working so hard with their lambs. They did a really good job showing in the Market class and Fitting and Showing class. As my dad said "We are a blue ribbon family cause we all got blue ribbons." This statement is so true...

The Cinderella Pact

2009-07-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

A couple of Mondays ago, I decided to go to the library! I know, don’t be shocked but I actually love the library. The smell of old books, screaming children not wanting to leave and the wide variety of adventures that I can choose from all packed together in one big room.
I was looking for one of Anita Stansfields LDS/love story/sleazing/ where can I find guys like that books and so I found myself fingering through the authors with the last name that starts with the letter S. I came across this book called The Cinderella Pact and I was sold just by looking at the front cover. I love to read anything that ends in fairy tales/princes/love/happy endings and thought this would be the perfect summer book to enjoy.

This book has to be one of the best I’ve ever read; it takes you into the real life world with the main character being witty, funny, insecure and overweight. She tells of the adventures she has by pretending to be a British columnist that turns out to be a huge celebrity whom everyone adores…when in reality she is a frumpy, overweight Nola who lives by herself with her cat Otis.

This is totally a must read for everyone…even Kurt Farnsworth would bawl his eyes out after reading this book! Aside from the random swear words that come out of the characters mouths…I would suggest it to everyone. The story just gives you hope for something, a fairy tale ending that somewhere, someday, something magical will happen…I still have hope that it might.

Enjoy!
Warning: You will spend many hours late at night reading this book…it’s one that is very hard to put down.

Kathryn Elizabeth

2009-06-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken when Katie was a Beehive at Girl's Camp. I caught pink eye really bad while at camp (that's why my eyes look so funny) but Katie seemed to stick with me and tell me it would be fine when I had to go home.

In all the church callings I've had in my life I have never experience one like being in the Young Women presidency as the MiaMaid leader. I think back at that experience that not only strenghtened my testimony but gave me the opportunity to be taught by such wonderful girls who still are the light of my life. It's such a reward to see some of my MiaMaids serve missions, graduate from college but none can be compared to witnessing a girl being sealed in the Temple. Katie and I have been strong friends from the time she was twelve years old and came into Young Women. She and I have been tied to the hip as we've grown older together. She came to my graduation party, my birthday party and many other planned or "unplanned" parties,

Katie was always there cheering me on.

I remember having long talks on the couch with Katie about our goals and dreams of our lifes and what we wanted to accomplish...she always wanted a Temple marriage and yesterday as I saw her come into the Sealing room, big tears of joy fell from my eyes. I truly knew that this was what she has lived her whole life for at this place and at this time.

Marianne once told me that she wants her girls to be just like Katie Hibshman...and I agree...she is truly a friend that will forever cheer me on.

Last night at Katie's reception I found out that they now have only one Young Women class with about 600 leaders...nothing will ever replace the fond memories I have of that experience with those girls.

BRING ON PRIMARY!

P.S. I couldn't really think of a jazzy title for this post so I called it Kathryn Elizabeth because when Katie was in YW I would call her Kathryn Elizabeth...even though that is NO WHERE NEAR what her name really is.

Pictures

2009-06-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken at IHOP when I was having breakfast with Ben and Jamie.

This is just random!

Sometimes when I get really bored I like to take pictures of myself on my phone...it's just a fun past time that takes my mind off of other things like being sick! The last two weeks I have spent so much money on co-pays and doctor bills trying to find a solution to this awlful cold I have and had for quite sometime. Last week I went to Instacare with an horrible ear ache and while I was waiting for my turn I decided to take pictures of the things around me but mostly just me. Most of you that are reading this may think it's a bit odd but, it's fun to here the duck make a noise as I take the pictures. Then yesterday at Dr. Call's office I was super sick so I didn't take any pictures cause I didn't have the strength to do anything. So I wanted you all to know that I'm so vain in bragging about this weird past time and that I'm feeling lots better now that I have some great drugs.

Happy Flip Flop Day

2009-05-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

Rylie and all her flip flops!

This morning I met Lindsay at Old Navy for the $1.00 flip flop sale. I arrived at Old Navy at around 9:45 to find people standing at the front door waiting to go inside. So instead of standing on the side lines, I wrestled my way up to the front of the crowd. There was people of all kind waiting to push me aside but, I held my ground and acted tough...until the doors opened at 10! The doors finally opened and I quickly pushed/ran towards the adult flip flops and grabbed sizes I needed for Lindsay and then raced to the back of the store for Rylie and my sizes. (even though I'm 40, I still wear a size 2!) It seemed like a 3 hour shopping trip but in all reality it was 45 minutes of grabbing for sizes, waiting line and just enjoying this flip flop day.

A Good Friend

2009-05-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

A good friend let's you take a chill wherever you want.

A good friend likes to take walks with you.

A good friend will dive for binkies that fell in the flower garden.

A good friend lets you dance on the table while singing the Olivia song.

...and also waits patiently while you are trying to make lunch.

A good friend plays together in the sandbox for most of the morning.

A good friend especially let's you drink some of your pop.
(don't worry it's from the brown can so it's not to bad)

A good friend loves you even if you're having a bad hair day!

And a good friend will hold your hand for a while and your heart forever.

Thanks Rylie and Tyson for the super fun weekend we had together. Thanks for making good choices and for being some of my favorite friends.
And thanks Janessa and MaKenna for coming out to help me...

The Most Gigantic Safety Pin

2009-04-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

My friend Sarah is one of the most creative people I know! For the final project in her Graphic Art/Creative Art classes she had to create some kind of artsy fartsy project...a safety pin is what she chose to make. The last several weeks she has sweated over this project and it's done and finally on display for us to see. Now I know you must be asking yourself "how is that big thing staying up like that?" The bottom part of the safety pin is made from rather larger then normal PVC pipes and then wrapped with tin foil and the top is paper mache and wrapped in more tin foil. I ask myself this question? How many rolls of tin foil did she use? Any guesses? Well, I just wanted to give Sarah a shout out and say Way To Go on your sculpture.

The New Shades

2009-04-15T15:34:00.000-07:00

If any of you are having a crappy month, day or year...go buy yourself a pair of sunglasses! It takes all the cares away.

Remember how I lost my favorite sunglasses at the M&M factory last month? Well, the old have been replaced with the new stylin shades that I love so much. Lindsay and I went down to Provo a couple of weeks ago cause we were presenting at some Early Childhood Conference and we decided to take a detour to Macy's Department store. We walked into the store (which smells like money by the way!) and there they were hanging gently on the rack, with sparkling diamonds shimmering and the lenses without any smears...ready for me to buy. I carefully took them off the rack to try on and after wearing them around a few minutes, I decided that I must have these glasses. They were a little more then I would pay for a pair of sunglasses...ok a lot but it's so worth it. I know that next year they will be lost under the car seat but for now, I will just enjoy the sun with my new shades.

P.S. I did have a Macy's gift card that my aunt gave me for my birthday so the blow wasn't so bad but it was and still is so worth the purchase.

Colors of fun!

2009-03-30T16:46:00.001-07:00

M&M's are the best! I don't really have a favorite color cause they all taste the same but, I sure do love eating them while working at my desk, watching TV or at the movies. They are a well rounded (and they make you well-rounded aswell) treat. So we couldn't miss the chance to see the 3-D M&M movie while on our trip. Wearing the glasses was the best part of the whole show!

The Dam Tour

2009-03-30T16:23:00.001-07:00

It's been quite sometime since I have written on my blog...time just slips by so fast but I really wanted to write about the trip I took to Las Vegas with Debbie, Ben, Jamie and Uncle Kenny. For my birthday Deb cut up this poster board into puzzle pieces and after spending quite sometime putting the darn thing together it said that we were going to take a trip to Vegas, see some shows and tour the Hoover Dam. So here are some pictures of the fun we had. There is a disclaimer though...everytime I say dam, I'm not swearing, I am just referring to the HOOVER DAM! Ok so on with the damn tour...opps that was a swear word! This picture is of a Golden Monkey! Yup a real damn (opps) golden monkey that is only located at the dam! The legand is that if you rub the toes of the golden monkey then you will be granted good fortune in your life. (The dam tour guide said you will be granted lots of winnings and I didn't see a dam! opps another one slipped cent!) So here is Ben, Jamie and me rubbing the toes of the monkey found at the dam. Later on that night after Neveda took my money I played on a machine that was really called the Golden Monkey and won $20.00.

Here is all of us in front of the Hoover Dam! Lindsay HATES these sunglasses...she says I look like I have bees eyes. Well, I wore them anyway and lost them at the M&M factory.

This is a picture you will see of the damn dam at the beginning of the tour. There were people that had these really cool yellow hard hats on and Debbie and I wanted to know where you could buy such a cool hat. I went up the the dam tour guide and asked where I could buy one of those hats. He looked at me and said "they are only for those people going on the dam tour!" I showed him my ticket and he said we are going on the Power Plant tour not the dam tour! He kept saying the word dam over and over again until I laughed out loud and said thanks!

And thank you Debbie for such a fun birthday trip. The shows were amazing, the Tai food was awesome and the company was the best part of the whole trip. I love you guys.

What's the difference?

2009-02-25T10:40:00.000-08:00

Really when you think about this outfit it looks like something I would wear now in the year 2009...just subtract the hair and it's a comfortable outfit for any season. Well, I supposely dressed up in 1980 attire for Megan's birthday party. It was so much fun to be with all the friends, eating and just hanging out. My favorite part was karaoking the song Tomorrow with Megan and eating those peanut butter brownie things.

Thanks Megan for the way fun party!

Yup...still alive

2009-02-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

For my birthday my mom bought me a ticket to go see Celene Dion with her, Janette, Paul and Janessa. We drove down to Salt Lake, found our seats and then went of course to buy snacks. It was such a fun night and I loved spending time with my family and Celene. She is an amazing performer who really knows how to belt out the songs. My favorite song she sang was at the very end of the concert after she said goodbye the audience stood and just kept on clapping. She came out from the stage and they showed clips from the Titanic movie. She sang that song so beautiful that I got teary eyed and felt her love for that song. It was a concert I will never forget. Thanks mom!
This picture is a loan from Marianne...thanks for helping to beef up the post.
***Marianne, did you see all the snacks they had at the concert?

Still a fan

2009-02-25T09:35:00.000-08:00

This season I have not really been into watching American Idol and I don’t really know why. I think it’s because I don’t have a lot to say about the constants and it has changed so much! Going from three judges to four and the crazy only three get to move on…for those of you who know me, I don’t deal well with change. YIKES! There are some favorites that I like but, it really hasn’t been on the” top of my list of shows to watch.” The other day my boss Carrie came over to me and said “Steph, let’s talk about Idol.” I put my pencil down and we talked for a minute about all the crazy/weird/colorful/naked/wonderful people that have been and are on the show. My love for the show came instantly back as we chatted and now I am dedicated to my big chair every Tuesday and Wednesday to watch THIS…is an American Idol.

It's My Birthday

2009-02-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

Kelby, me and Kenna at the party
Being 40 isn't all that different from being 39, 38 or even 37 but, it's wierd cause I have always felt that once that big 40 hit...my life would change instantly. It would be easier to tell people off, it's not, I just clam up and nod my head. I would feel like I could tackle the world and try new things like eating a tomatoe or bungie jumping or even sky diving...nope not going to do it. I do feel wiser and more confident in making decisions but, that just comes with the package.
My birthday was one day that I will never forget. Thanks to all my friends that came to the party and enjoyed eating all that cake.

A Sad Conclusion to the VHS!

2009-01-16T10:23:00.000-08:00

The other day I walked into Walmart to purchase the yearly VHS video tape to record all the exciting shows that are on TV this season. Every year I buy a video tape so that I while I’m teaching class at nights or have other things to do I can just press record (or have Jamie press record) and then just like magic, it does the job and my shows are taped. Well this year is different! I made my way to the very back of the store but first stopping to explore the Valentine decorations and candy of course and picking up a can of chili for dinner. Finally, my squeaky cart and me made it to our destination. I first looked at the new releases that were displayed at the top of the isle, the cool flat screen TV’s was second to be observed and finally I went down the isle where the video tapes were last year and the year before. Instead I found all these cool looking gadgets to use for TV’s, cell phones and iPODS. They must have moved the tapes to another location so I walked up and down the technology isles only to find cool stuff…but not my video tape! I got the guts to ask the ornery Walmart guy for help. In my sweetest voice I said “could you please tell me where the VHS tapes are?” The guy looked down at me and said “um we don’t carry VHS tapes anymore, people now use DVR’s. “ In my head I know that guy really wanted to say was “dummy, what planet are you on, this is the 21st century and people have other ways to record shows…gosh idiot!” But he didn’t…
So, in conclusion to my story, today I am calling Comcast and they are going to hook me up to a 21st century video tape.

Watch THIS is American Idol (quote taken from Ryan Seacrest) Tuesday and Wednesday nights. It's good!

A Christmas Trial

2008-12-22T16:34:00.000-08:00

Bored as _ _ _ _!

When I close my eyes I think about this week and am in awe of the love and support that I have felt during this trial in my life. Last Wednesday morning my heart was flipping out (literally...188-200 beats per minute) by the time Janette and I got to the ER. While in the ER, they had to put me to sleep then shock my heart back to a regular beating and then the tests and needles came. I spent 3 nights in the ICU eating a Cardio diet and not drinking diet Coke or eating chocolate while the doctors continued to run test and try to figure out what went wrong. Well, in conclusion they found that my heart went into A-fib where the top part of your heart beats faster then the bottom. After a series of scanning, poking, X-raying and praying I'm going to be alright. The doctors continue to have close watch on my heart beats while I wear this jazzy montor that is hooked up to my heart...they will decide in a week what to do. The blessing out of this is NO SURGERY! I'm so grateful for the love of my Savior, I feel that this past week I've grown closer to Him (maybe that's the point of trials) but, I know that He was with me through it all. I'm grateful for the love of my family...my mom is in the height of her glory to have me at home. I'm so grateful for the visitors, the phone calls and the prayers that I have felt. It truly has been a Christmas I'll never forget.

Love you all.

P.S. After about 14 Tylenol...I now drink Caffenine free anything. It actually tastes just the same.

We Have a Winner! (finally)

2008-12-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

For the past two years Linds and I have been playing BUNCO with a bunch of girls that all know one another from work, neighbors etc. On the third Friday of every month we gear up for a fun filled night of eating, talking and playing BUNCO. It's a pretty intense game (well at least it can be intense) with dice, points, naughty dice and food. On Saturday after the cookie party (thanks to all those who came...it was a blast) I rested up for the big game. Lindsay had other plans so I asked my friend and neighbor Sarah if she would want to play. Boy was it ever a great game! Now friends, I'm not trying to brag about my great win but, let me just tell you the history behind playing BUNCO. During the summer when we played, I rolled the lowest score 3 months out of 12 and also during those losing months, I never scored a BUNCO. So this game was hot. During the first round I had rolled 2 BUNCOs and after the whole 6 rounds of playing, I had rolled 4 BUNCOs with a leading score of 480 points. I was so pleased with the win that I wanted you to all know that the moral behind this story is to never give up and keep wishing for three of a kind. They will pop up when you least expect it.
P.S. I also wanted to brag about the caramels that Lindsay and I made for neighbor treats. So in this picture you'll see my winning prize (the cookie jar) and also the caramels. They sure are tasty morsels of heaven.

Grateful Alphabet!

2008-11-24T14:40:00.000-08:00

The other day I was stocking Sarah’s blog and found that she did a neat thing using the alphabet. She recorded all the things that she was grateful for starting with the letter A and ending with the letter Z. I thought that was such a cool idea that I decided to post this blog Stephanie style and do the same thing as Sarah. She is much more spiritual then I am so my post will be way different but the meaning is all the same.

A- I’m glad that the alphabet starts with the letter A…it’s a way cool letter and is in practically in all the words imagine. I’m grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. WOW what a remarkable gift each one of us have to repent and live better each day. I’m not perfect, far from it actually but, everyday I can try a little harder to do better and be the very best. I’m grateful for that.
B- I love purple balloons, Bryken my science guy nephew and Briggs, the light of my life…I’m grateful that he let’s me kiss his cheeks.
C- My Savior Jesus Christ, Candy, Chocolate chip cookies, Coke and Christmas…need I say more! I love the letter C.
D- Dads…mine is the very best! Thanks for always popping those $20.00 when I need them.
E- Experiences! Life would be so boring without them.
F- Family…mine is the best and my friends! You know who you are because you’re probably reading this post! I’m so grateful that you are in my life, near or far…I love my friends.
G- Goodness of life. Each day is a gift from our Heavenly Father.
H- Happiness.
I- Ice cream and the freedom I have to ignore people that are being rude and mean to others.
J- Janessa, her laugh makes me pee my pants sometimes and Jaden who is always full of adventure and Jamie…need I say more. Love her to death
K- Kindness. These last couple of years I’ve really gained such a testimony of this word because I watch all of you and how kind you are to your families, others and me. And Kelby! She thinks that I’m so cool because I can usually pull a project or craft out of my hat in seconds for her to do. She is an amazing niece and friend.
L- Love…I’m glad I have this four letter word in my life and Lindsay. She is probably reading this right now saying gag Steph. I really am grateful for all she does and the friend she is to me.
M- Moms…mine again is the best. Thanks for always popping $20.00 in my hand even though I don’t need them (see letter D) and MaKenna, my tuddling buddy. I’m glad you still like to tuddle with me even though you are almost 6.
N- Nice people. I’m glad to walk into Wal-mart and be greeted by nice (and sometimes a little strange) people. It makes the experience a little easier.
O- The first word that comes to my mind is opposites…I’m glad there is day and especially night and I’m glad that I hate tomatoes but love chicken and Chinese food.
P- Personal time. Well, I have my big chair and my TV and my FRIENDS (all ten seasons) and that is my personal time…what about you! It’s healthy and much needed…call me if you need a sitter. I’m also thankful for Primary and what it teaches me…no more on that.
Q- I love to spend Quality time (ok I stole this one from Sarah but it fits perfectly) with the people that I care about…thanks for giving your time for me.
R- Ryker has the determination to go for it! I’m thankful that he is apart of my life even though he thinks it’s cool to be taller then me…and Rylie. She is a shining star who I love to hang out with.
S- Spiritual moments. I’m thankful that I can sit in church and feel the peace and love of my Savior and know that I’m truly not alone in this great big world. Sometimes I feel the spirit in the strangest of places, like walking across campus or after saying hello to a friend.
T- My Testimony and Tyson…he is such a Budda.
U- Umbrellas. I don’t really care if my hair gets wet but, I’m thankful that they are made so Lindsay’s hair won’t go fuzzy.
V- I love it when I’ve accomplished something really hard and feel victory that I did it. What a rush!
W- Welcoming mats…they say a lot when you go to someone’s house. You truly know that you’re welcomed and loved.
X- This one is touch…oh EXTRA exciting things that happen in my life.
Y- All of You!
Z- I’m thankful for the word Zeal…life is to important to not have it.

There I did it! The grateful alphabet…now I need to go get a diet Coke…this post wore me out.
Happy Thanksgiving!

NAEYC Conference

2008-11-13T16:38:00.000-08:00

Of course Trevor, Denise and I had to play on the jungle gym in the Exhibit Hall...lots of freebes were given away.

I'm so excited to post this blog cause last week was one of the neatest experiences I've had in a really long time. Some girls and Trevor (Dr. Austin's graduate student) from work went to Dallas, Texas to attend the National Association for the Education of Young Children (whoa long word) conference. When you attend these conferences all you do is eat, sleep and think about how to better yourself as a teacher/educator in the field of Early Childhood. That's exactly what I did! We arrived on Tuesday afternoon in Dallas...anyone been to Dallas? Nothing there except for the Dallas Cowboys football team and the Cheesecake Factory. Raise your hand if you've ever spent $30.00 by yourself at the Cheesecake Factory? In the words of Rylie MEEEEEEE! Yup, I certainly was hungry that night. Wednesday morning was a day I'll never forget. My Early Childhood idol is Dr. Becky Bailey. She speaks all about discipling/loving children for who they are despite their temperments or behaviors. Well, I walked into this huge room full of chairs and while I was bee lining it to the front of the class here comes Becky Bailey walking straight towards me, I was shaking so much when I saw her...it was like seeing a rock star or something.

Check out her link if your children are talking back to you and not listening...she is amazing.

We took time out of our conference fun to go on a tour of where JFK was killed many years ago.

In this picture it looks like JFK is checking me out but really he is waving to his fans.

Author Jan Brett (The Mitten, The Hat, Gingerbread Baby) tours around the USA in this bus...she goes from state to state on book tours and doesn't spend one dime on airfare.

Thanks to my bosses Leah and Carrie who are now faithful readers of my blog for letting me go with them, for laughing at my jokes (even though they were't funny) and for watching Mamma Mia with me and Denise...what memories I sure do have.

Hey Friends & Their Children!

2008-10-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

Jamie, Ben and Me at last years Christmas Sugar Cookie Party...tons of fun!

Mark on your calendars Saturday December 13, 2008 for

Steph's annual Christmas Sugar Cookie Party

(whoa...the name gets longer every year!)

More details will come after Thanksgiving is over.

It will be a frosting of a good time...hope to see you there!

Bowling + Pumpkins x Family = Fall Fun

2008-10-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

So Many Pumpkins

Janessa and Me "Ya get whatcha get and ya don't throw a fit"

My sweet Grammy Jensen, Janette and Me

Fall has to be one of my most favorite times of the year because of the bright orange, red and yellow leaves, pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, the chance to wear jogging pants all day on Sunday (well not at church of course…dang!) and of course…the Jensen bowling party held at the “red of all red neck” bowling alley in Tremonton. My sweet grandma Jensen rents the whole bowling alley for one Saturday and we eat mash potatoes, visit with cousins, eat orange sugar cookies, bowl a game or two (well, I don’t bowl! I’ve learned from the past that if you want to have healthy self confidence then don’t go bowling) and eat some more. It’s such a fun treat to see all my cousins and just to spend time with my family.

Seasonal Crafts

2008-10-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Now I can have some sortof craft all year long!

It's so wierd to me how quickly the weeks are passing us by and all the while time goes right on with it. I've been wanting to post this cute project I completed all this week but, I just haven't really had a minute to sit and focus until now...thank heavens for Friday afternoons. I ordered these blocks from my neat stamp lady named Stephanie Gittens in Hyrum. She is so talented and creative that when I saw this project I knew that I must have/make these. They were really easy! Lindsay and I started them on Friday night about 12:00 AM and after a Mod-Podge mess we finished ...we stopped the crafting until later. I finished the project Sunday night and thought I would share the cuteness with you all.

Memories at Sea!

2008-10-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Ryan, Ben and Me

This post is way outdated but, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite pictures that were taken while on the cruise we went on last May. (it's still ok to tell stories within the year...even though the months are outdated, Martha Stewart said!)

Many moons and stars ago, I was a nanny is California for two small boys and one awesome lady who have become some of my most favorite people. The boys were 3 years and 5 years old...Ryan is the oldest and then there is Ben. Debbie (the mom) worked as a nurse in fancy hospitals where they took care of movie stars etc. Well, still after missions, wedding (just Ryan) and college we are still the best of friends. It's such a blessing for me to have them in my life.
Disclamer: The author of this blog is not responsible for the bad hair...it's all the wind and sea water that caused her hair to look horrible!

Enjoy the pictures!

Eating "yummy" tacos and drinking the BEST diet Coke ever! The tacos were made "fresh" at a street vending place in Mexico! There were two homeless puppies in cages, a couple shops down from this eating place.

Ben wanted to take one home. Debbie said no!

Ben and me walking the "Cruise for a Cure" cancer thing! Everytime we walked past the camera guy, we would sprint into a jog, pretend to wipe the sweat (well, Ben did, I was really sweating) and wave.

Ryan, Andrea and me standing in front of some famous rock!

Move Over Rachael Ray!

2008-10-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

It may seem cheesy to take a picture of this plate of cookies but,

I was showing Lindsay my great work via cell phone.

My sister and sister in law always make these yummy Oreo type cookies from just a Devil Foods Cake Mix, eggs and oil. These cookies are always a treat when we go camping and there is always plenty cause both sisters make a lot to share. Well, last night for my Primary Presidency Meeting, I decided to make this treat only this time I substituted the Devil's Food Mix for Spice Cake Mix...and boy watch out! They were a hit! I decided that you all might need a yummy treat to eat during General Conference so, instead of keeping this "great idea" to myself, I'm going to share it with all my friends.

Spice Cake Cookies
2 boxes of Spice Cake Mix (or devil foods cake mix)
3/4 cup oil
4 eggs
Mix all ingredients together and spoon into round balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Filling:
I'm not sure the ingredients for the frosting that Janette and Becky makes but, I just buy Cream Cheese frosting and that works just as good. (Then you don't have to worry about getting powder sugar all over the kitchen!)

***Kid friendly activity: This recipe is simple for children to help by adding in the oil, eggs and cake mix and especially rolling the dough into balls. Oh and don't forget frosting the middles.
Love you all...Enjoy!

Totally In My Element!

2008-09-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

My friend Rylie (Lindsay's daughter) working on her non-structured and very Developmentally Appropiate collage activity. She is glueing worms (she calls them wormens) onto her paper.

Rylie is a very sweet friend to me and I love her very much...and Tyson too!

This is a sign saying welcome...free EVERYTHING!

A couple of Friday nights ago we had one of the most exciting events on campus. It was a celebration for USU children and families that work and/or going to school at USU.

IT WAS HUGE! The Child Care Resource and Referral/Aggie Care planned and put on this celebration and it was one of the most totally, coolest things I've ever participated in. I was in charge of planning activities for toddlers to do...I told my bosses that me and toddlers don't really mix and I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT TODDLERS! They said to do it anyway.

So I did...I planned this camping area with a fake (but looked totally real) fire, tents to read books in and college activity with bugs, worms and other junk to glue on paper. Nothing structured, just fun stuff to do. I called this station, "Spend S'more Time With Your Toddler". I know cheesy, but way fun. The toddlers recieved a free book, wonderful information about toddlers (I gave the job to write a handout about toddlers to our "boy" graduate student) and a bag full of marshmellows, teddy grahams and chocolate chips...you know like smores.

I was so tired after this event but it was a good tired like I worked really hard tired and will never forget how rewarding this was. I'm already starting to plan my activities for next year...maybe then they (bosses) will let me plan for preschoolers, then we really can have s'more fun! Ha! Ha!

Courage and a Cheeseburger...makes it all better!

2008-09-08T15:45:00.000-07:00

Throughout the weeks since my last post I’ve been trying to think of something as “entertaining” to write about. I’ve thought of sharing old photos of the stupid and almost immature things I’ve done or telling stories of the cute things my nieces and nephews have said to me. I thought about recording all the funny things that children have said to me throughout the years and to write about how much I miss teaching but, I’m so happy where I am at. One thing that has really stood out in my mind is this story of courage and disappointment that was taught during the Cache County Fair.

My niece was bound and determined to win the Showmanship Contest at the fair this year with her lamb. For you that are not from a farm or the Tremonton area, it’s a contest where the kids are judged not on the muscles or weight of their lamb but on how well they show it. The girls are all decked out with fuzzy Bear River hair piled high and in my niece’s case, the chance to wear as much makeup as possible. Last year she got second place and this year was going to be “her year” to win. I knew that she had it in the bag…she has the cheesiest smile that you could cut a huge slice of it with a knife. She is smart and really knows how to flatter the judges (umm…I wonder where she got that from).

The contest was quite intense; lots of diet Coke was drunk in the audience and fingernails bit down to the very skin. The judge went back and forth to each 4-H member asking them questions about their lamb and how they take care of their lamb. I could tell that my niece was nervous but she held her cool and did her best.

The ending of this story didn’t turn out as magical as she or we would have liked it. She was placed in sixth place because of a question that was totally misunderstood. I told my mom that I was to never come back to this fair again, only to get a funnel cake and a cheeseburger and THAT’S ALL.
There was a lesson that was taught that day. Never give up! Like all Jensen’s, we get back on our horses or in this case…lambs and move forward.

I’m so blessed to have such wonderful nieces and nephews in my life that teach me these valuable lessons that sometimes I forget so easily.
P.S. Notice in this picture…the tears in her eyes.

The Costume

2008-08-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

The story begins on one bright spring sunny afternoon at the Children’s House is where this picture was taken. A parent brought in a bag full of old hand-me-down clothes for us to use as spare clothes for the children. Deep inside the GLAD garbage bag there it laid…the mother of all costumes waiting to be used again by some child desiring to be Spiderman! I carefully pulled out the beautiful red and blue fabric admiring the silkiness of what seem like it was only worn once or twice. I gingerly touched the fake muscles and thought I wonder if I could fit into this costume. That’s when Lindsay piped up and said “You’ll never fit into that!” Well, I just had to wonder! I know it’s been a bad year and all but what if I could…
Wendy who is the Staff Assistant at the Children’s House silently twirled around in her chair to be involved in the commotion and said, “Steph I will give you $10.00 if you put on that costume and model it for us.” Now keep in mind, I had a classroom of 28 children upstairs left in good hands with teachers texting on their phones and talking to one another. I’m not really the gambling type so I thought and thought what to do, be responsible at my job or try on the costume. I quickly ran to the bathroom, tried on the costume and came out to model for my friends! This picture was saved on the computer and later found by Lindsay who now not working at the Children’s House. It’s certainly an end of a era…but fun memories that will stay with me forever.

Mamma Mia!

2008-07-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

First I would like to give a shout out to my friend Lindsay for buffing up my blog and adding a playlist, a cute template and especially the birthday ticker. You're the best Linds.
Ok so I like Megan and her friends have seen Mamma Mia this past week on my va-k to Odgen and loved it. My friend Debbie and I saw it on the 24th of July and then I begged Jamie to go with me last night to see it again. I think you have to be over the age of 25 to really appreciate ABBA and the beauty of the songs...Jamie laughed everytime they busted out it song. Those of you that would like to see this show...invite me! I could go for round three!

A Family Tradition

2008-07-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

Every summer my family goes camping to Willow Flats up Cub River in Preston. We have camped there for many, many years. It has now become a tradition for my family. My awesome Uncle Mike and my adorable Aunt Linda and their kids come from Shelley, Idaho. Now they have several grandkids to add to the party. My neices and nephews and my cousins kids have a wonderful time camping together. The serenity of the campground and the smell of the fire burning are a wonderful combination. There is nothing much better than hearing the crackling of the fire, and being with my family who I love so much!!

Every year we have our family picture

taken on this bridge, we laugh at how small the bridge is getting,
(or maybe it is that our family is getting bigger!!)

This is me finishing up a great

Navajo Taco. My mom always

trys new recipes, and we eat high on the hog when we are camping.

I love to eat, and camping is one of my favorite times to enjoy great food!!!

Pop Fever

2008-06-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

For this blog entire I thought it would be very informative in letting you all know the great places to buy pop. Now, I love pop! I love the bubbles and how it burns down your throat when you drink it. But has I’ve gotten older though I decided that it’s really not that healthy for you to drink and H2O is much better but who cares…it’s a fun thing to do with a friend though. So this is your guide as to purchasing the best pop for your money. If I reveal this secret information to you there is a small fee and that is you must buy me a pop next time…ok just kidding on that one. Your free guide to buying pop…here goes.
Let’s start with Lee’s Marketplace…cheap! They are the only ones in the valley that has not raised their darn prices….still .95 (can’t find the cent key on this computer) for a 32 oz. and .85 for a 22oz. Great for the quickie deals when you can only round up pennies for your addiction.
Aggie Station…good. Kind of smells in there like something has died years ago and they just haven’t caught the cause…but the pop is good. Watch out though! Sometimes the machine is broken so if you are in a hurry for work and don’t have a lot of time I would go to Foothill because most likely the machine will be broke and some swear words might slip out…for those of you that don’t swear then avoid that store.
Foothill Mart…I swear the little worker guy in there hits on me every time I go in there. They have the best pop on this side of town…it is really good but you are paying a little bit more in price. The funny thing about this convenient store is they have random candy bars up on the counter for suckers like me to buy…my gosh why can’t they move them with all the other candy bar friends then we/I won’t have to buy it.
Mooches. What can I say…the cookies and the pop are an out of this world treat. Now when you go in there here is the key…buy the refill cups that are on the counter, not by the coffee machines but just turn around and there are some refill cups…they are cheap and you can refill them for a small price. Well, maybe a cheaper price. Watch out for the cookies…whoa don’t go in there if you are on a diet of any kind because they have great snacks.
Bell Chevron…has cool straws but the pop sucks and its way to expensive. The people are friendly though.
Now if you are a traveler and love diet Coke, here is some more great pop advice. Stock up on diet Coke from about Cedar City to California cause the towns in the middle DO NOT have diet Coke only diet Pepsi and it’s stinks. I had the shakers when we stopped in Bakersfield because those towns don’t seem to like the Coke product. Maybe the Coke trucks don’t go that route that is to say…it’s very frustrating though to walk into a store all ready for a diet Coke and all they have in sucky diet Pepsi.
Now if you are traveling to Illnois then I'll let you in on a little secret. There are these stores all over called "On The Run" and they seriously have the best pop. When I walked in one of those stores I said to Jamie and Ben..."the mothership has called me home!" The whole wall was filled with all kinds of fountain drinks...seriously. AND they had diet Coke! If you want the very BEST diet Coke then go to Mexico...they have just great (and cheap) things in that state. The diet Cokes in Mexico and out of this world good. It's just like drinking sugar.
Now, those of you that are reading this post may think that I don't have anything to do on a Saturday well your right on that one...does anyone want to go for a pop run with me?

A Tough Decision!

2008-06-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Bloggers,
It has unfortunately come to my attention from some friends (Linds, Jeremy, Wendy, Alecia and other Children's House bloggers) that the name of my blog "Steph Wants to Play" sounds like a porn sight! I know I know! Shocking huh? Well, the reason behind my name is that I really don't like to be left out of things and I totally want to play...not the porn way! So bloggers what do you think? Should I keep the name...? I need help to decide. For those of you that know me, I'm not promoting porn...I just like the name. Everyone please help!

2008-06-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my last blog really didn't make tons of sense...I just left everyone hanging on to the wonderful thing I did. At the beginning of May I went on a cruise to Mexico. I've never been on a cruise before so it was quite a first time adventure. When I get pictures then I will post them on my blog. I went with Ben, Ryan with his wife Andrea, Debbie and Uncle Kenny (they are the family that I nanny for and I love them all so much). Those of you that have been on a cruise you know that there is tons of food...even at midnight. It was quite amazing to see all the creative things those people can create with a watermelon. My favorite part of the whole trip was laying on the lawn chair in the middle of the afternoon, drinking diet Coke and doing nothing. WOW! That was the best. Ben and I did a lot of activities together such as learning all these funky dance moves (I haven't danced like that since Rick's College), we did the Walk for the Cure cancer walk thing which was a blast. Infact the Carnival cruise people had a video camera man that recorded all the events...comes to find out I had to buy the video cause we were in it so much. It was such a way neat experience. Well, now things are boring again and summer going in cold and wet.

2008-06-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Family and Friends,

This picture is kindof out dated because first of all I'm not that skinny anymore, still carrying alittle holiday weight from Christmas, birthday, Valentines Day blah blah blah! And second, I don't live at this apartment anymore and lastly is my tulips are not yellow, they are now hot pink. So, anyway I have had a busy month with work being so out of control and oh yeah I went on a wonderful

Caught like Always!

2008-03-19T09:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks Marianne for tagging a new comer...

5 Things I Was Doing 10 Years Ago.
1.Teaching the threes at Best Friends Child Care Center.
2. Lambda Delta Soriety President.
3. Watching all my roommates (except weird Cyndi) get married.
4- Loving my neice and nephew.
5- Probably just enjoying life like I do now.

On My To-Do List Today.
1. Learn how to write blogs and attach pictures.
2. Work (maybe...bosses are away for three days)
3. Drink pop
4- Watch American Idol
5- Fill 400 eggs for the Primary party on Saturday...anyone can come...it's at the Henlines

5 Snacks I Enjoy
1. diet Coke
2. Cookies of any kind
3. Carrots
4. Chocolate mixed with peanut butter
5. Cheese

5 Places I've Lived
1. Garland, Utah
2. California
3. Arizona
4. Logan
5. Chile (just kidding,Chili's ust sounds good right now)

What I Would Do if I Became a Billionare.
1. Build a preschool center
2. Give some to all my friends
3. Save for something
4. Go back to school...heck who needs to work when you have all that money.
5. Charity

Household chore avoidance.
1. Cleaning the bathroom
2. Dusting (I don't like to get dirty)
3. Checking the mail
4.decluttering the piles.

5 Jobs I've had:
1. Teacher
2. Trainer for other teachers
3. Custodian
4. Aunt
5. Ditto copy girl for some lame company

What people don't know about me...
1. I drink to much pop (oh wait who is reading this!!! duh you all know my habit)
2.I grew a 1/2 inch on my mission.
3. I miss teaching terribly.
4. I really don't like cold things
5. I have all 10 seasons of FRIENDS on DVD and still watches them.
Now, I tag: mmmm...I'm not sure cause I'm just new at blogging.

Small Steps

2008-03-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!
I have been so inspired by all the fun blogs that I read almost daily and what to join the fun in creating one of my own. I know it may seem weird to have a blog spot because all I would write about is me and my tiny journey in life. That is why this blog is names Small Steps for those of us that take life in tiny steps and not worry about doing it all. I hope that this blog will be fun for you all to read. I will try to keep up on sending pictures and stuff but who knows how it will turn out...for now just enjoy the ride.
Love, Steph