three hundred four: 365

Happy Halloween!

three hundred three: 365

Jim was invited to go to the Oregon vs. USC football game with a friend{who is an alumni} and was like a little kid on Christmas morning! Even though SC lost, it was a fun night for him.

three hundred two: 365

Redhawk Ward Halloween Party..Ryder kept his costume on for all of about 5 minutes!

three hundred one: 365

Went to see Phantom of the Opera tonight for my girlfriend Julies' birthday! It was at the Pantages in Hollywood. Can you believe it..I forgot my camera! Luckily I was with friends who equally share the love of pictures. It was a great night..my 3rd time seeing Phantom but still just as incredible as the first!

three hundred: 365

A few months ago my Grandma, who was 92, passed away! The day of her funeral, all the family began rummaging through her stuff. I knew exactly what I was looking for..the black sequined body suit. My grandma in her earlier days was foxy grandma and would wear this to formal events, supposedly. I knew it would make a great costume. The gold/black sequined butterfly blouse was a bonus from her closet. She was a smaller/shorter lady so I wasn't sure how it was going to fit, but it actually was perfect. I threw on a red wig and disco was born...that or Reba McIntire circa 1970.

two hundred ninety-nine: 365

Went to wake up the boys for school and found this monster fort made in Jayden's room and Jayden and Ryder snuggled up inside. This is the noise we hear when they are suppose to be in bed!

two hundred ninety-eight: 365

Having not felt great today, I thought soaking in a peaceful, hot, and quiet bath would ease my pains. Ryder didn't get the idea of peace. He wanted to take care of me..so he ate the pretzels he brought me {crumbs in the water}, then took off his shoes just to touch, a few minute later his pants were soaked and Ryder was in the tub with me. So much for relaxation!

two hundred ninety-seven: 365

Our friends, the Helmers, decided that it might be fun to live in another country for a few years with their 4 kids, so they are off to Australia in a couple days.

two hundred ninety-six: 365

Boring picture day..got home around 11:00p.m. and found Ryder and the babysitter {skyler} sound asleep while Jayden was pillaging for food in the pantry.

two hundred ninety-five: 365

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times...I have an amazing husband! Jim wasn't feeling great so he decided to work from home and told me to go and use the spa gift certificate he got me months ago for our anniversary. I did the token, "no, you're not feeling well.." but then he insisted and I didn't waste a minute! The spa was about 5 minutes from my house at the South Coast Winery Resort & Spa but I felt like I was on a complete vacation! I've had a lot of massages at various spas but this one WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD!!! If you're in the market, I strongly recommend the 80 minute deep tissue with Essence! {yes, her name was Essence and she was a white woman with magical hands!}

two hundred ninety-four: 365

Ryder's 1st field trip! Peltzer's Farm and Pumpkin Patch.

Though it was kinda muddy, it was a perfect fally kind of day to visit the pumpkin patch!

two hundred ninety-three: 365

Having fun with my phone apps again. This time I used fx camera and

warholized a bouquet of sunflowers.

two hundred ninety-two: 365

So I'm totally on this bread making kick! A sweet friend of mine {Joanne} volunteers to teach ladies in our ward how to make rolls and bread from SCRATCH (using their food supply)!! Today was my day and with all the rain, it was a perfect day for baking! I learned so much! I made rolls the old fashion way..by kneading. The bread, we cheated and used a mixer. We even ground our own wheat flour. Both the bran rolls and wheat bread were to die for! Ryder even keeps asking for more and more! I just love learning new things!

two hundred ninety-one: 365

It's beginning to feel a lot like Au-TUmn..everywhere we go!

{and I love it!}

two hundred ninety: 365

Here we go again...another year of "Family Projects"!

two hundred eighty-nine:365

I have been vetoed as mother of this house!

While at Ryder's soccer game, Jim decided to go out and buy the boys a new snake {seeing as we needed to let the one we caught in the garage go because it was not a good snake to keep in captivity}. I sooooo DO NOT LIKE SNAKES! Growing up near mountains, snakes were one of my biggest fears and now I have one living in my house that I'm to call a pet! The boys were beyond excited and have named it NEMO. Eating time is their favorite time..it eats "pinkies"-dead mice fetus'. Lovely! I had one thing to say, if this snake is every missing from its cage, I will not come home until it is found!

two hundred eighty-eight: 365

Now it was the boys' turn! Each of them had their yearly physicals today. I told them they could do the flu mist, but apparently Skyler was due to have 4 booster shots. He was not happy with me, as somehow this was my fault! His brothers took great satisfaction in watching him go through the process of the shots. The poor guy was up crying all night and couldn't lift his arms. He won't have to get anymore shots until his mission!

two hundred eighty-seven:365

Great news...went to my follow up with my cardiologist and my heart is looking great! Amazingly enough I had nearly the exact same amount of extra beats, {15,000} in a 24 hour period, that I did last year, which means, thats my normal. The echocardiogram showed that everything else looked good and within normal range. So unless I start having pain or symptoms, I don't have to have anymore visits to the heart dr. While I was having my physical, I opted to get a flu shot. Don't really know why seeing as they haven't really worked for me in the past, but on the chance that this might be the year.

two hundred eighty-six:365

Tonight for mutual, one of my YW taught the class how to not only make bread, but how to grind the wheat to make the flour to make the bread! It was a lesson for them, but I seriously think I learned more. Besides our old bread maker, I have never made homemade bread! I'm so glad these girls are learning now!!

two hundred eighty-five: 365

Sadly, a very typical day for me...it's 11:00 p.m. and I still haven't gotten out of my gym clothes!

{i went to the gym at 9:00a.m.}

two hundred eighty-four: 365

It's the season for Booing...this was our family night activity tonight! You totally forget how much fun there is in the simple things like doorbell ditching! The boys loved it..except for Ryder, who we didn't let go to the door.

two hundred eighty-three: 365

Lisa, one of my bestest friends, was vacationing in Palm Desert so I drove out to visit!

Couldn't believe it had been 5 years since we last saw each other! Craziness!! We talk every few months and I feel like I know what's going on in her life via facebook, but 5 years? I hadn't even met 2 of her 4 children! What kind of friend am I?

two hundred eighty-two: 365

Ryder's Lizard Wizard {reptile} Party!!

The cake!

A very brave Grandpa..he really did not want to do this, but he couldn't look wimpy in front of all the moms that were there or his grandson! Thanks for being a GREAT sport dad!!

{hissing cockroaches, scorpion in left hand, tarantula on head}

umm..is there a boa constrictor on my head?

A snake with perfect coloring for our red ryder!!

The grand finale: the python..you know, the one brittany spears danced with in her video!

This party was a GREAT SUCCESS!! The Lizard Wizard was such a hit. She had the kids all engaged! It was very interactive and all the kids got to wrap themselves in snakes, spiders, iguanas, frogs, and other various reptiles. Me, I tried to stay as far away as possible! {The sacrifices we make for our children}. We had over 35 so it was a bit chaotic, but everyone had a great time and was thoroughly entertained.

two hundred eighty-one: 365

Busy, Busy day! Jog-a-thon at the elementary school {which I volunteered for both Jayden and Ryder's classes}, getting all the stuff together for Ryder's party, and temple night! It was good to have a helper...I think?

two hundred eighty: 365

The outside Halloween decor is going up! I've got inside, Jim does the outside...and loves it!

two hundred seventy-nine: 365

Life is so busy...I find that many of my meals are eaten in the car on the way to one activity or another..tonight, I was on my way to mutual and grabbed a veggie {my fav} from Subway.

two hundred seventy-eight: 365

Relief Society activity tonight: halloween/fall banners!

two hundred seventy-seven: 365

Here we go again...it's been a year since all my heart testing and now it's time to take more tests and see where we are at. Today was the echocardiogram and getting hooked up to the Holter monitor.

two hundred seventy-five: 365

A wonderful start to any morning..breakfast at the BEACHCOMBER right on the beach at Crystal Cove. The best frittata and beneighs I have ever eaten!! So sad that our retreat will be ending today! What a glorious 4 days it has been!!

two hundred seventy-four: 365

Lounging at the Pool by day....

Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes by night... It has been a long time since we have bowled..and it showed!