Flowers

I have many great friends and family members. This past weekend my cousin stopped by with some goodies for Rick and me. This is a cousin that has never lived in the same state at me! He is 11 years younger than me, and yes, a boy. He is awesome!
My dad and stepmom also sent me some beautiful flowers...The photo with the pumpkins is the first day they were here. The other is day 3. They are opening up so beautifully. Man I like people who bring me things. hehehe

Pie Night

We have some friends who have Pie Night the night before Thanksgiving. Since everyone is usually too full on Thanksgiving to actually eat any pie. This is also a good way to start stretching your stomach for the big meal.
Last year we were unable to go because of Rick having double knee surgery that day. I told him that unless one of us is on our death bed that we are going this year.
The first year we went I took a peanut butter and chocolate pie and a white chocolate cheese cake pie with raspberries. I won the prize for the best pie!
So here is my quest...I need to find a pie that will out due my last one. This isn't going to be an easy task either. (I will see if I can find the recipe for these two pies. I have no idea what I did with them as it was 3 years ago.)

Disneyland

I have decided that I want to go to Disneyland for our 2nd anniversary in December. I don't know if it will happen but I am going to see what I can do to try and make it happen. Does anyone have any thoughts on where to get the best prices? I used Get-Away-Today for our Honeymoon and a friend in San Diego said his best experience is with Costco. I don't want to spend a lot of money so I really don't know if I can make this happen or not. I thought I would blog and see if anyone had any ideas...also, we don't drive so we will be flying, if we go.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince NEW Trailer

Hat Give Away

I mentioned this site before but want to again...my friend Darci creates the most adorable hats. She makes them for babies all the way up to...well I bet adults. She is so creative and does each one herself. I can't believe how talented she is. Now she is going to be giving away 3 free hats! Check out her blog and her Etsy store. Just think, Christmas is coming up. What a fun and unique gift or stocking stuffer for your daughters and nieces. There are some really cute boy ones on the blog too. I know that if I didn't have so much hair I seriously would wear this hat all the time. (My hair would probably make it pop up and look dorky!) But seriously, they are so cute!!!

Quackers

For those of you that don't know, there is a pond on our property. Some mornings there are probably 500+ Canadian Geese out there and other days, nothing. It is pretty funny. We do have some ducks that like to hang out too. Last week I went out on the porch said something to Rick who was inside and from around the corner of the other building tons of ducks came walking over. Just to the sound of my voice. Saturday we were cleaning out our cupboards and getting rid of dead bread. We went out on our porch and saw two off in the distance. Rick decided to do his duck call. Low and behold, they were hiding just around the corner of the other building. They all came running. Yep, that was my excitement for Saturday!

Bunnies

I was looking through my photos from my old cpu when I found this photo... I miss Maddy's bunnies. They were cute. Glad they didn't live with me!

New Addiction

I have a new addiction

LDS TECH

Come find me on there... MicheleNell

A Tag I Stole Cause I Needed Something to Blog About

I am. . .Me Shel Sea Shel and bored at work
I think. . . way more than I should
I know. . . not as much as I would like to know
I want. . . summer to last forever
I have. . . the tireds and maybe even the hungries
I miss. . . going to the pool everyday
I fear. . . not much at the moment
I hear. . . 2 different meetings going on, including one with a guy who's voice grates on me worse that nails on a chalk board
I smell . . .the remnant of the stinky guy at work...why did he have to come to my desk?
I crave . . . not sure at the moment but you don't worry, when I figure it out I will eat it!
I cry . . . everyday
I search. . . for things to look at online
I wonder. . . why does it have to get so dang cold?!?
I regret. . . nothing!
I wish. . . I had a house not just an apartment
I love. . . that dood that comes home to my place every night. He is pretty cool.
I care. . . about my family & friends
I always. . . have to go to the bathroom
I worry. . .probably not enough but when I do, you had better watch out cause I stress
I am not. . . skinny
I remember. . . getting ready for Cancun at this time last year
I believe. . . in God
I sing. . . whenever I feel like it
I don't always. . . do a good job at listening to my friends
I argue. . . and often get a kick out of it
I write. . . on my blog
I win. . . you can't finish this statement without using improper grammar
I lose. . . most everything
I listen. . . to music ALL the time
I don't understand. . .why you would want Obama as president
I can usually be found. . . on a computer
I need. . .more time in the day to do my own things
I forget. . . everything
I am happy. . . period!

My Niece Katie

I asked Rissa to take a few photos of me with Katie since I really don't have any. These are what I got from here, no editing here. I think Marissa has a future in photography. What do you think?

Rock Band!

I still haven't figured out how to save my mini dvd files to my computer from my video camera. I can view them but they just don't want to save.

This was our latest adventure with Rock Band. Jimmy heard what a great time we had in Seattle with it so he decided to purchase Rock Band 2 which came out last week. (In Seattle we were on the XBox in Utah we are on the P3. Not that is really matters.)
We had a big family dinner with most of our cousins and Jimmy brought the whole hook up for us to play. As you can see, it was a hit! It was SOOOO much fun. It is great with everyone being old and taking turns too. There were no fist fights but then again, the mosh pit wasn't really that rocking. At least not before Rick and I left. I hear Jake (my cousin) does a wicked job at the Beastie Boys and his wife Monica, rocks on any 80's song at singing. We just need to unlock some more songs with some cow bells! These were the groupies

Fire! Fire!

Just over a week ago it snowed. Rick decided to start a fire. We had a stack of papers sitting in the fireplace for several months now. (I cleaned out his school binders and put it all in there.) These are photos from our adventure... Since them Rick has cleaned out the fire place so well that it is white on the bottom. I don't think we will be having any more fires this year.

Flowers from a Friend

I know I have mentioned it before, and I will mention it again, I have found some friends on facebook from the past which has been a great blessing to me. A few weeks ago one of these friends stopped by my house to say hi. She brought with her some pretty yellow mums "to go with my blue walls". Check out how great they look on my table. I am so grateful to her and for her friendship. THANK YOU! (You know who you are and I didn't want to embarrass you by saying your name but I did want to "publically" thank you.)

Sunbeams - Everyone Needs a Sunbeam or Two in Their Life

Rick and I teach the CTR 6 class at church. We did last year too. We so love our kids from both years. It is so sweet to have the girls from last year come and give us hugs. We sit behind the sunbeams. The sunbeams crack me up! (Sunbeams are the 3-4 year old class) Some are just always so happy, some are so wiggly and some well...they are on their own planet. There are two little ones that made my day today.
Rick and I were sitting on the very back row during sacrament. We decided to sit back there because the families with kids come late and sit back there and therefore it is more entertaining. (Thank you LaDawn for being back there today. Your kids were great. Especially Conner and those sunglasses.)
Near the end of sacrament I looked up (I had been trying to sleep) and saw one of the sunbeams running towards me. It was my dear Annie! She was alone too. Her dad and older brother were way at the other end of the row but she came to me. She hopped up onto my lap and had to hug me. I told her that I loved her hugs. She said, I love your hugs too. She showed me her "hog" (A stuffed wart hog that was one of the funniest stuffed animals I have ever seen. He was great, squat and had a string for a tail.) Then she wanted to run her car over me to tickle me. She was just so sweet and loving, then again she always is. (She is the one that told me I smelled like candy one day. I think I blogged about that. She is also the one with the underwear incident from last week.)
Then we went to the "cultural hall" aka gym to practice our primary program next week. The last song that is sung is a medley with the young men and young women singing Sisters in Zion and We'll Bring the World His Truth aka Army of Helaman. The YM/YW sing their parts then at the very end the primary stands and sings the chorus.
We are as the Army of Helaman
We have been taught in our youth
And we will be the Lord's missionaries
To bring the world his truth
So there I am sitting watching the little sunbeams because they are in front of us and Emily decides to turn around and watch me. She knew EVERY SINGLE WORD and was belting it out. I could hear her over all of the other kids. She just kept singing and smiling at me. I couldn't stop crying!! That has always been one of my favorite songs and seeing this little 4 year old know it so well....I had to get up and leave. I couldn't stop shaking I was crying so hard. When I came back I had to stand to the side so I wouldn't start again.
It was so incredible to have this little 4 year old touch my heart today. Even now I am trying to not start crying again. Hearing primary children sing touches me deeper than almost anything in this world. Their pure innocent voices...Man I love being in primary!

Holy Moly! It's a Long but Easy Survey

What to do: Copy this list on your Blog, and bold the things you've done.

1. Touched an iceberg

2. Slept under the stars

3. Been a part of a hockey fight

4. Changed a baby’s diaper (Hundreds)

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Swam with wild dolphins

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a tarantula

10. Said “I love you” and meant it

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - but I was on land

14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise

15. Seen the Northern Lights

16. Gone to a huge sports game

17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables

19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope- I was able to see the Andromeda Galaxy

20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Bet on a winning horse

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

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Taken an ice cold bath – not on purpose- the shower wasn’t working in Mexico

28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Ridden a roller coaster

31. Hit a home run

32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking

33. Adopted an accent for fun

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment

36. Loved your job 90% of the time

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Watched wild whales

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach

41. Gone sky diving

42. Visited Ireland

43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Russia

45. Bench-pressed your own weight

46. Milked a cow

47. Alphabetized your personal files

48. Ever worn a superhero costume

49. Sung karaoke

50. Lounged around in bed all day

51. Gone scuba diving

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Done something you should regret, but don’t

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Been in a movie

60. Gone without food for 3 days

61. Made cookies from scratch

62. Won first prize in a costume contest-

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Been in a combat zone

65. Spoken more than one language fluently- maybe? I can't anymore though

66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone

67. Bounced a check

68. Read - and understood - your credit report

69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy

70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did

71. Called or written your Congress person

72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over

73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

74. Helped an animal give birth

75. Been fired or laid off from a job

76. Won money

77. Broken a bone

78. Ridden a motorcycle - But I wasn't driving

79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph

80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing

82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

83. Eaten sushi

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read The Bible cover to cover - I am working on it. I am done with the Old Testament. It was a killer!

86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about

87. Gotten someone fired for their actions

88. Gone back to school

89. Changed your name – married!

90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands

91. Eaten fried green tomatoes

92. Read The Iliad

93. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

94. Taught yourself an art from scratch

95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt

96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language

97. Been elected to public office

98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream- sometimes

99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care - I helped...

100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you

101. Had a booth at a street fair

102. Dyed your hair

103. Been a DJ

104. Rocked a baby to sleep

105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours - No but that would be awesome

106. Raked your carpet

107. Brought out the best in people – I like to pretend

108. Brought out the worst in people – all the time!

109. Worn a mood ring

110. Ridden a horse

111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap

112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe

113. Buried a child

114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play

115. Been inside the pyramids

116. Shot a basketball into a basket

117. Danced at a disco

118. Played in a band

119. Shot a bird-

120. Gone to an arboretum

121. Tutored someone

122. Ridden a train

123. Brought an old fad back into style

124. Eaten caviar

125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need

126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant -No but riding an elephant is one of my few goals in this life.

127. Published a book

128. Pieced a quilt - It is sitting on my kitchen table right now!

129. Lived in a historic place - Is Salt Lake City or even Draper Historic?

130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage

132. Made a hole-in-one

133. Gone deep sea fishing

134. Gone roller skating

135. Run a marathon

136. Learned to surf - I used to want to do this, until I went to the ocean in my 20's. I don't like the sand so much so it isn't going to happen.

137. Invented something

138. Flown first class

139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite

140. Flown in a helicopter

141. Visited Africa

142. Sang a solo

143. Gone spelunking

144. Learned how to take a compliment

145. Written a love-story

146. Seen Michelangelo’s David

147. Had your portrait painted

148. Written a fan letter

149. Spent the night in something haunted

150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane -Thank goodness NO!

151. Ran away- no, but I always wrote notes that I was doing so.

152. Learned to juggle –two balls! hahaha

153. Been a boss

154. Sat on a jury- no -I said things to get myself out of it

155. Lied about your weight – who doesn’t?

156. Gone on a diet

157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget

158. Written a poem

159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox

160. Gotten food poisoning

161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission

162. Hiked the Grand Canyon

163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks

164. Gone to the opera

165. Gotten a letter from someone famous

166. Worn knickers

167. Ridden in a limousine

168. Attended the Olympics - No but I went to activities does that count?

169. Can hula or waltz

170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books

171. Been stuck in an elevator

172. Had a revelatory dream

173. Thought you might crash in an airplane

174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert

175. Saved someone’s life

176. Eaten raw whale

177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint

178. Laughed till your side hurt

179. Straddled the equator

180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing

181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival

182. Sent a message in a bottle

183. Spent the night in a hostel - Does a Nun's sanctuary count - cause it was cleaner than the hostel

184. Been a cashier

185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

186. Joined a union

187. Donated blood or plasma

188. Built a campfire

189. Kept a blog

190. Had hives

191. Worn custom made shoes or boots

192. Made a PowerPoint presentation - This used to be my life

193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course

194. Served at a soup kitchen

195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube

196. Know CPR

197. Ridden in or owned a convertible

198. Found a long lost friend

199. Helped solve a crime

200. Responded to a NJP newsletter a what?