No time to post.... I'm too busy playing with my iPod Touch! Yay for my awesome husband!!!!

Go Elf Yourself!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Last Person on Earth!

Finally, I saw TWILIGHT. Rick actually went with me. I was so excited for him to at last get why I was so involved with these books. And, I have to say.... CHEESE BALL! I really don't get what everybody loved about it. It did have some OK parts, like the baseball scene and any scene where Edward wasn't trying not to eat Bella (I guess that's why every word that came out of his mouth seemed forced???) Bella was a good "Bella" and I loved Jacob! You've come a long way "Shark-Boy"!
Edward played a good Vampire, but where were the teeth once he got mad? I have been a fan of Vampires ever since I can remember (Lost Boys did it to me) and this movie was a let down. The whole time I was thinking, "Rick is gonna be pissed that I dragged his butt to this flick." When in fact, he was enjoying the movie! What!? I know it's because he had no idea of what was coming next. He thought the story line was good, I told him the book is even better and that he should jump on the band wagon and read it. No such luck. He'll wait for the movies and I'll stick with the books!

I could say quite a few more words about the "B" Movie, but my Ace is crying (he must have seen it too).

Some Pics

While in Utah we had the Christmas Party (mentioned earlier). My camera batteries ran out so I didn't get very many pics. So... I stole these of Marie's blog



Cody, my friend Jayla's husb. Way more flexible than myself (and also his wife ^_^)


Here I am getting ready to go down, really hoping no one looks at my butt while doing it!


All the great friends that we miss SOOOOOOOO SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!! Thanks for coming!

Me: Why don't you just love me and kiss me?

Cade: Well, I do love you......

Me: Then come over here and give me a kiss.

Cade: Well, I love you but I don't want to kiss you.

Me: Why?

Cade: I don't like kissing very much.

Me: I know that isn't true because you always want to play "Kissy Boys" (a game that Cade, Drake and their cousin Nico play. They run around yelling "kissy boys, kissy boys", while trying to kiss any girl they can get their hands on).

Cade: Well I do like to kiss, but just not you.

Me: Cade?!

Cade: Well you are cute, but just not Really Really cute. (he says this while pointing at me and in his ever so comical raspy little voice)

Me: (laughing)

Back to Utah

Just for a visit! We spent the Thanksgiving Holiday back in Eagle Mountain with Kathy and Bob, our beloved neighbors. The kids were so excited to see all of their friends from the neighborhood, as were Rick and myself ;o) We drove up on Tuesday which took us 11 hours! So long! It took us 2 hours to go 30 or so miles. I loath California traffic.

Thanksgiving was awesome. Just a nice day all around. We spent the night before with Rick's cousin Ryan and his wife Jocelyn. We love them and miss them so much! I would have liked to stay longer but there was cooking to be done at Kathy's. I made my infamous Meatballs & Weenies and Dixie Salad. I love Thanksgiving food! And the Turkey that Kathy made was super tasty, along with everything else she whipped up.

On Friday we went back to the Gleason's to hang out for a bit before our 2nd Annual Naughty & Nice Christmas Party. When I told the girls that we were coming, they thought it would be a perfect time to have this party that was supposed to be annual, but then we moved away. It was a great night (to say the least)! The only draw back is that Rick got really sick at the end of it and had to cut his HALO night short because he was feeling pukish. I actually got to go with him to Ryan's because Kathy insisted that I go spend time with my girls (Jayla and Jocy) even though it was already almost midnight. She loves my kids! And me!

I already am crazy missing all of our great friends. You don't find friends like them often. I think I'll hold on to them (all of you on Pinehurst Drive and anyone who was once or is now a Gleason or is related to someone who married a Gleason ^_^) for a while! Love you guys!!!






(click this one to see what Cade's face really looks like)




Jocelyn and her amazing "box biting" skills

Here He Goes Again...

Cade: Mom, I wish [uncle] Matt didn't choose [aunt] Rachael first.

Me: Why?

Cade: Cuz I want her. I love her more than Matt.

Me: Cade?!

Cade: Well... I wish I was older so I could pick Rachael for my girlfriend before Matt did.

Me: Cade, you are silly.

Cade: (thinking for a minute.....) Well, then maybe I want Rachael to be my mom... cuz I kiss you and so if she was my mom, I could kiss her!

8 Things

Haven't done one of these in a while...

8 things I am passionate about:

Ricky BB
All 5 of the kiddos
Food
My family
Friends
Music
The Gospel
Paper Crafting

8 words or phrases I use the most:

I Love You
What (in several different tones)
Stop screaming!! (while screaming)
Be quiet, the baby is sleeping!
What happened?
I said No!!!
I know, right?
Ooh, was up? (when rick calls me)

8 things I want to do before I die:

See all 5 kids get sealed in the Temple
Get caught up on my Scrapbooking
Get over my fear of heights
Meet my Grandchildren
A cruise to Greece
Serve a Mission with Rick
Go to Culinary School
Own a Horse

8 things I need right now:

Rick to come home
A Nanny
An infinite supply of Money
Next Wednesday to come
An idea for dinner
Dry weather
A loooong Vacation with my man and no kids
A bangin' body

8 places I want to visit:

Hawaii (again and again)
New York (with Rick this time)
Greece
France
Mexico (like on a cruise)
Texas (for the BBQ)
Utah (i miss it)
Japan

8 favorite restaurants:
Fleming's
Macaroni Grill
Chris N' Pits
La Casita Olvera
Red Robin
Roy's
Pei Wei
Wahoo's Fish Taco

8 TV shows I watch:

Dancing With the Stars
One Tree Hill
The Hills
Anything Real World/Road Rules
90210
Little People Big World
Clean House
Lost (if it ever comes back!)

I tag anyone who wants to do it!

NObama!

Too bad the election wasn't decided by Drake's 1st Grade class:

McCain= 14 votes
Obama= 5 votes

The 5 Cutest Kids on the Block

We had a great time this Halloween. We usually go somewhere but decided to stay home this year. I was actually relieved. Getting 5 kids ready to go anywhere is a production, but throw Halloween costume into the mix... not so fun. Anyway, our neighbors have this crazy, off the wall haunted house every year and really wanted us to stay so we could experience it. Let me tell you, you know those Halloween parties that you see on TV shows and movies, where they have a million people and tons of food consisting of cupcakes, caramel apples, chili and all the other Halloween food and candy imaginable? Well, that's what it was like. She (my neighbor Michelle) must have spent a small fortune. It was quite the night. SO glad we stayed home!

Now, on to the pictures!

Our SEVEN pumpkins (that we grew in our backyard!)

The little Sock Monkey (never can get enough of that face!)

The sad LGM that didn't want his picture taken

After he was told that he wouldn't be Trick-or-Treating if he didn't stand still and smile

I wanted to paint his face green, he wanted the plastic mask

Such an appropriate costume for Cade

There's the cute boy!

Drake in his school parade. He's the Jack Sparrow Skeleton (the best deal ever at $15 for such an elaborate costume)

He wouldn't wear the mask, boots or gloves. Too bad cuz this was a great costume. But, it was super hot that night.

This is the kicker! I loved this costume! My mom got all the pieces for this here and there. Kaleigh was excited that not one person at her school was the same thing!

These are all her ideas for poses

Rick thought I told her to do this. Yeah right!

She is my camera hog. How does she even know to do this?!?!?!

All of them together! Gotta love em!

Random Photos

I just got this micro SD card at Target yesterday for my cell phone and transferred all of (well, all most all of ^_^) my pics over to it.

So here you go.........

Our first winter, when we had no backyard just dirt (that's Kathy's house :o(

Now with grass the next year (don't miss the snow!)

Kaleigh showing off her new "do" this summer in California

I loved that Drake fell asleep still protecting his "Superhero" status

Drake would only let Uncle Matt shave his head if he let him shave his. Quite the negotiator.

Gotta love Cade...........

and his feet (those little square toes)!

Still small enough to fit in the kitchen sink (my lovely kitchen sink...... :o(

I love this smile, and that head!

Since Ace was born, Jett loves to sit, or sleep, right on top of me. That is my arm, by the way

So little (sad)

Don't you just want to bite that lip?

Chillin' at the beach the first week back in California

Having a bonfire the second week back in California (you'd think we like the beach or something)

First time eating rice cereal (like this kid needs more food)
And finally, this was yesterday after a shopping trip to Target to buy Halloween candy ($50 worth!! holy crap). And, No, he does not wear this shirt everyday, but, Yes, ALWAYS sits in his Bumbo. We think he kind of looks like a turtle cuz he sucks in his bottom lip all the time. I love this Baby!!!

A New Addition!

No... not another baby! But I bet some of you were thinking that!

About 2 weeks ago my Washer decided that it was through working. It washed just fine, but refused to drain. I thought we had a warranty, but of course, we didn't. Let me just say, I am sick of buying washers and dryers. We had a perfectly good dryer when we moved to Utah, but our house only had hookups for electric and ours, surprise surprise, was gas. So we bought a new one and Rick just gave our other one away to some worker guy. Then, we move back to California and now we have gas hookups. What the Crap! So we bought another gas dryer (but I did make Rick keep the other one in the garage, just in case). Then this with the washer. I decide it was time for me to have one of those front loading ones. I have sooooooo much laundry, it's ridiculous! I've heard you can put way more clothes in those ones than the regular ones. So we bit the bullet, and bought one (so much for a savings). I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg, but still wanted a nice one. I chose the LG. We have a bunch of LG appliances and they have done us well (I hate you GE). So we will see how long this one lasts. Now I just have to save for the matching dryer. I saw no point in buying it right away, seeing as though we just bought one 2 months ago!

Here's the deal (I think it was a deal) I got: Sears had it for $1099. But if I got white it went down $100. SO of course, I got white (it's in my garage anyway). Then they had 15% off, so that took it to $850. But then tax and delivery and haul away... My total came to $990. Not that great, I know, but then I got to send away for some rebates that, should they all come, will be $245. So my real total, for a nice piece of machinery that feels like family cuz I spend more time with it that anyone else, was $745. Pretty good!

Kaleigh Finally gets Baptised!

Kaleigh has been waiting so patiently to get Baptised. Due to the move and a wedding and a Hawaiian vacation, it kept getting pushed back. October 11th couldn't get here fast enough.

It seemed pretty crazy, having a child old enough to get Baptised. I really wanted to enjoy every minute of it. That didn't quite happen, though. With getting the house tidied up and food enough to feed the families and a baby that isn't the quietest, it seemed sort of rushed. Still, it was an awesome day! She got a bit nervous/embarrassed to have all the focus on her, but she was beautiful and great just the same!

(of course I forgot my camera, so I won't have good pics until i get them from my mom's camera)

Here she is in front of our BRIGHT peach house

On a side note..... Cade was a bit disappointed with the whole thing.

Cade: That's it?!

Rick: What's wrong?

Cade: Dad, I can't believe all Baptised is is going under the water!

Free Handbag!

Anyone want a free handbag? I found this on someone else's blog and tried it. Go to HandbagPlanet.com and enter. Lets see if any of us wins! Good luck!

Another of Cade's Funny Thoughts

My Sister-in-law, Rachel and Myself have decided that Cade needs his own post every week or so. That kid is just too funny! So here is another one of his off the wall comments with more to come I'm sure!

Cade: (while in the shower) Dad? Will I still be cool if I don't wash my butt?

Dad: Not only will you not be cool, but you will have a stinky butt as well.

Cade: Then I think I'm gonna wash my butt!

Just picture this 4 year old talking in that sweet, ever so raspy, voice of his!

YAY!!!

I'm so excited because Kathy is coming to visit this weekend! She will only be here for 2 days, but 2 days is better than no days! For those of you who don't know "our Kathy", she was my neighbor (our backyard's corners met) in Utah. She helped me so much when Rick was out of town working. She was like a friend/nanny/housekeeper/grandma all in one. All of my kids got so attached to her. It was super sad for all of us to leave her :o( Tomorrow can't come fast enough!!!

Cade's Funny Thoughts

For some reason, my kids are obsessed with dying and flying. I know, weird. They think that with dying comes an automatic pair of wings. I believe in angels and all, but I just don't think they get the picture. They always talk about wanting to live with Jesus and Heavenly Father, which is wonderful, but I constantly remind them that that time will come soon enough, but right now we have to live our lives the best we can so someday we can live with them again. Anyway, this morning, here was my conversation with Cade:

Cade: Do you want to fly, Mom?
Me: Sure, but humans can't fly like birds do?
Cade: Well, do you remember George's dad?
Me: Yes?
Cade: Marie told me that George's dad passed away and now he can fly! I want to fly too! Do you think George's dad can fly?

By this time I was laughing. First, because he used the phrase "passed away" and Second, because he is so freakin' cute when he talks. I also thought it was funny that he remembered this conversation that he had with my friend/neighbor in Utah.

Cade: Will George's dad live again some day?
Me: Yes. When Jesus comes again.
Cade: OK, Good. (with a sigh of relief)

This made me grateful for the knowledge I have that my family will be together forever. And it made Cade happy that George will see his dad again. And also that one day he might be able to fly, too!

Pictures as Promised

Kaleigh and London the week before we moved

Jett with his Kathy, we love and miss her sooooo much!!!

Jett playing at the pirate ship in Maui

The view from our room

Doing such a great job helping with Ace that she put him to sleep

In front of the Banyan Tree in Lahaina

Before I got sick on the Semi-Sub, "The Reef Dancer"
Looking for the fish

They all crashed after a long day of playing in the sun
Jett chilin' by the pool sportin' some new tattoos

Catchin' some waves, pool style

Ace and Dad taking a dip
Cousin Jasper (he and Ace are exactly 1 month apart)
Our annual family photo up at Ululani's Shave Ice Waiting to be seated at Mama's Fish House

Dad, Drake and Cade
Uncle Justin (one of Rick's younger brothers, Jasper's dad)

Kaleigh's first day of 3rd grade

Drake's first day of 1st grade