Zoo Trip

I am not a big zoo person but Jeanette asked me if we wanted to go to the zoo before the kids go back to school. It was a really fun trip. Finn and Erik joined us for a while. I think this was the best trip I had to the zoo.

Everyone together weighs 982 pounds the same size as a baby elephant.

Homemade Parade

My friend Michelle posted this on her blog and because she is so amazing and creative, I know I’ll love anything she makes. So...I signed up! The first five people to comment on this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year (hopefully sooner than later, although for sure after DC)
4. You will have no clue what it is going to be.
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog.
The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me you did will win a marvelous homemade gift by me!

Washington DC

I'm sorry I haven't written much this month. I don't know where this month went. I swear it was just the first of the month the other day. I have been invited to Washington DC. I am going this weekend representing Utah for the National Epilepsy Foundation walk. I am attending with my VP Margo. We are also speaking to our Senators and Representatives and speaking in front of the heads of the state foundations about the bill we passed last year. I am really honored that they have asked me to come and do this. Margo and I are planning all of our fun things we want to try and see between meetings. I have never been there before. Clarissa took me shopping on Saturday to help me get ready and to plan something to wear. I was really afraid of looking like a frumpy housewife when I walked in to meet some of these people. Not that isn't what I am I just don't want them to know it the second they see me. So wish me luck. I have six days in DC. My husband and kids are staying at home. I am hopeful that things will go really smooth while I am gone. Erik has taken half of the time I am gone off of work to be home with the kids. Although he is having a rough week working this many days in a row to get ready for me to leave. I don't know what I will do with myself to not be with them for that many days. Although I couldn't turn down this opportunity. I am really grateful to be doing this!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I feel like we already celebrated St. Patrick's day because we went down to see my niece Adrianne in the parade in downtown last weekend. We never have been a very big St. Patrick's day family. Every few years or something my Mom made us green pancakes for dinner, but that is about all we ever did. I didn't realize how BIG this holiday really is. So I will be posting photos later from the parade and of my daughter who got herself dressed for school today. She really doesn't match but it was all green. I managed to talked her into taking off the Sunday dress that was on the top. This morning when I was so frustrated at her I couldn't laugh but by this afternoon the fact that I let my daughter go out looking like she does. So I will have to take a photo when she gets home from school. Two years ago Kimmie had a friend in her class who's father was Irish and he came in and played the bagpipes and everything for her class and did a big party. Kimmie really wants me to throw a big thing today and I am just wanting to enjoy the day! So it will be an interesting day.

Field Trip with Kimmie

I took the day off last Wednesday and went with Kimmie's school class to Chuck e Cheese and Bowling. I had so much fun. It didn't matter if I got a gutter ball or a strike these kids were just excited! Plus I pulled it out in the last frame with a stike and a spare and ended up getting the best score I have had since my bowling class in college! We ended the day at Chuck e cheese. I bought extra tokens. So when Erik came to pick me up Erik, Johnny and I stayed after Kimmie's class left and finished off the tokens! It was a long day but really fun!

Crop Days are over, well for this year

I have been really blessed with a wonderful crop committee to help with all the craziness of crop every year. Like previously said I was on KUTV news early in the morning. Clarissa and Laura came to make sure that I looked okay and everything went well. Laura ended up being dragged on camera. I don't know if she has forgiven me for that yet or not. The night before Clarissa and Laura took me to the mall and put me in a dressing room to try on clothes so that I didn't go on camera in my old cumfy jeans. I have to tell you it is really a good idea to take some of your best friends shopping. I remember why I use to like shopping. They are totally honest about what looks good and what doesn't we had way too much fun! We had tried a few of my local favorite stores and hadn't found anything that fit what I was looking for (not to menchion my big rear end). Clarissa bought me new jewelry so that I would feel cute! With Clarissa's and Laura's help I got a new outfit and looked okay on camera so I hear. I still haven't seen the tape and I am not sure I really want to.

Bethany was my crop co-chair this year. She is amazing! I love and appreciate her so very much. I have been blessed so very much by wonderful friends that surround me in everything and Bethany is one of them. (Not to leave out anyone else). Bethany not only watches my kids while I work a couple times a week I rely on her for so very much. My mom keeps telling me not to take advantage of her goodness. She even put up with me not wanting to give up my registration job for crop. I keep over booking myself with crop and when she said she would do it I thought great. Although it was easier said than done. Giving up my job of 7 years was really hard. She even put up with that stress without killing me. She is expecting her 5th child in June. I can't wait to spoil another one of her kids! This isn't a great photo of me although here is Bethany and I with our cute flowers from Jenn. After I took of my cute necklace (sorry Rissa), also I want you to look it was near the end and my hair is still curled!

I haven't gotten the photos from Laura yet I will add more as I receive them! Thank you everyone for your support. It was so neat to look around and see so any of my friends and family there supporting me. I couldn't do this without you.

25 Things

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.
1. I love my husband and kids
2. I have the most amazing friends and family.
3. I have a photo fetish. I LOVE to take them and hate to be in them.
4. I have visited 36 states
5. I think the best way to enjoy a movie is with hot popcorn and a Diet Coke
6. I hate to check my voice mail
7. I don't know how to text message
8. I have a weak spot for my husband bringing me flowers
9. I work at two locations
10. I can't have any more kids
11. I hate spam
12. I HATE to do housework and especially laundry
13. I love to spend my spare time scrapbooking (although I haven't done that in a long time)
14. I started writting a book about two years ago I have never finished it
15. I have a weakness for cookie dough made by my husband
16. I graduated with two associates degrees
17. I keep in touch with a lot of my friends from growing up (FB has helped that)
18. Two of my three best friends I have known for over 16 years
19. I always wanted to be an ice skater in my dreams (I fall the second I put on the skates)
20. I am scared of heights
21. I am scared of the next seizure at my house
22. Want a two seater red sports car in my next life
23. I have had to choose to put a child on life support
24. I have helped get legislation through the Utah legislture
25. I can't talk about myself this much

I can see you but not hug you

Things in my life are always crazy with Crop each year. I miss sleeping and spending time with my kids. By Friday before crop Johnny was as ready as I was to have CBYC over with. Saturday morning I was on KUTV 2 news in the morning. I ended up being asked to do this at the last minute. Then I ended up doing not one spot but two. Erik called right after the spots and the kids talked with me. Johnny said, "I can see you on TV but when you are on TV I can't hug you." I wanted to cry. He is such a cutie.

Today's Miracle

With my life so busy wrapped around crop I haven't had much time to just listen to my kids talking. Yesterday Johnny finally let Erik pull out his tooth that has been nearing the falling out stage for three days now. It was so loose it didn't even bleed when it finally came out. He was so freaked about loosing this tooth. He has lost two before now so why this one was such a big deal I don't know. Anyway, I was laying in bed this morning and I heard Johnny go into Kimmie's room and say, "Kimmie wake up there has been a miracle. The tooth fairy left me a dollar, she really came." Kimmie much to Johhny's sadness says, "I know she has come for me too." Then she proceeds to fall back asleep. Johnny continues, "But Kimmie wake up she came to see ME!" So today's miracle is the tooth fairy came to see Johnny!!!

Getting to know you

Welcome to the 2009 edition of getting to know your friends and family. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to your friends/family INCLUDING the person who sent it too you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about them that you might not have known!
1. What time did you get up this morning 7:15
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema: It has been way to long to remember
4. What's your favorite TV show? lipstick jungle is my new favorite
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? nothing
6. What is your middle name? Joy
7. What food do you dislike? squash
8. What kind of car do you drive? Dodge Grandcaravan
9. Favorite sandwich? Turkey
10. What characteristic do you despise? liars
11. Favorite item of clothing? my stretchy cumfy pants
12. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Hawaii or Paris
13. Are you an organized person? I try to be
14. Where would you retire to? Probably in Utah boring I know
15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Good memories or bad?
16. What are you going to do when you finish this? Finish reading all my e-mails
17. Furthest place you are sending this? Tennessee
18. Person you think will send back? Everyone hopefully
19. When is your birthday? Dec 24
20. Morning person or a night person? A night person
21. What is you shoe size? 10
22. Pets? A few fish
23. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Crop is almost here!
24. What did you want to be when you were little? a Dancer or ice skater
25. How are you today? Wishing I was some where else.
26. What is your favorite flower? anything my husband buys for me
27. What are you listening to right now? some co-workers talking
28. What day on the calendar are you looking forward to? February 1st when crop is over for this year
29. The last thing you ate? A chocolate donut on the way to work (yes I had breakfast today despite the answer to #5)
30. Do you wish on stars? Yes
31. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Pink or Green
32. How is the weather right now? COLD!
33. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Bethany
34. Favorite soft drink? Diet Coke
35. What is your favorite thing to do outside? watch my kids play on the playground
36. Hair color? Blonde
37. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies
38. Summer or Winter? Summer
39. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla
40. Coffee or tea? Neither
41. Do you want your friends to email you back? sure
42. When was the last time you cried? I don't know I cry way to often.
43. What is under your bed? A whole bunch of stuff
44. What did you do last night Worked on crop stuff and went out to eat for dinner
45. What are you afraid of? Heights
46. Salty or sweet? Always Sweets!
47. How many years at your current job? 4 1/2 years
48. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
49. Do you make friends easily? Sure
50. How many people will you send this too? I'm not sure
51. How many will respond? Don't know
52. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends/family? Yes

Thought for the day

I just was watching the movie Return to Me. So I am taking my thought for the day from that movie.

Hairly legs are your only link to reality.

Christmas Recap

I have been a little busy working on things for Crop and I haven't updated about our Christmas fun! We were so excited to have Erik's sister Lara come and stay with us for a couple days during the holidays. Christmas eve has always been a nightmare were our families are concerned. I love both families and both of them have their traditional dinners on Christmas Eve. Well with it being my birthday I feel really torn. A few years ago I determined that I was not going anywhere and they were going to have to come and see me. So this year my Mom did the Palmer party at her house the Saturday before Christmas (see Nativity post). That was really nice. On my birthday we had my traditional birthday breakfast with my family. Then we went to Hansen's for a Danish traditional Christmas dinner. I have to laugh at how cute Finn (my father-in-law) was about the whole thing. I can't believe how much he got into making sure that everything was just right. My kids enjoyed dancing around the Christmas tree the most. I am sure that this will be a Christmas they will remember for a long time. Then off to home and bed. First thing in the morning Santa had been to our home and brought lots of presents. Thank you to the extra Santa's for the extra goodies. My kids were really spoiled! The funny thing is that when Kimmie sat on Santa's knee this year she made sure to tell him that Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Lara would be at our house Christmas morning so he needed to make sure to bring stocking gifts for them too. Thank you to Mervyns sale I found really cute new stockings for the extra family to ensure that Santa could bring them something too! She is so cute to think of everyone. That is until Christmas morning. She torn through everything like a little tasmanian devil. Anything that had a letter K somewhere on the tag had to be for her. So she ended up unwraping my gifts. We braved the elements and took the normally 45 minute drive to Grandpa and Grandma's house in about an hour and a half. I was really relieved to actually arrive there. I felt a little guilty unwrapping presents and leaving only a little while after we got there but the roads were so bad getting there I didn't want to get stuck. Although we did a little of that too. We got stuck coming out of my parents house we couldn't get up the street. So thank you Erik, Mike and Dad for pushing my heavy minivan up the hill. I was really grateful to get home and spend a quiet evening just to our little family. Thank you everyone for making this a really nice and calm holiday.

Photos: The Palmer Grandchildren (minus Scott and Laurie) , Kimmie in her Tutu made by Grandma Marijo, Erik in Kimmie's tutu, Johnny with a few of his gifts Christmas morning.

Nativity

I have to tell you that my Dad's family (the Palmer's) are not really big into the Christmas thing where religion is concerned. I don't remember very many times even hearing the Christmas story out of the Bible with Palmers. But this year Grandpa and Grandma had a party at their house. The grandkids did a nativity. Thank you to my aunt Susan for the costumes. The kids had a great time and Kimmie has been trying to talk everyone she knows into doing the nativity with her. Johnny and Kimmie made great a great Mary and Joseph. Baby Jesus was played by my cousins baby Timothy.

Christmas Letter goof up

I was in a mood when I wrote this year's Christmas letter as you can see. Although with this mood came a few weird things. Including a few things that I need to apologize for.

Christmas eve I gave Jeanette our Christmas letter and she freaked out after reading the first line. She also found my typo at the end it is suppose to say with love and affection. So Jeanette gets the star for pointing out my mistake! Also sorry to Erik for being hard on you (my brother-in-law said I was too mean).

SORRY! I guess I will chalk up this years letter to being too tired when writing. I will have to get a proof reader before sending next years letter.

Bingham Alumni Choir

Yes, I did put on their choir. Minus a few rare occasions I haven't sung in public very much since high school. As I posted a few months ago. Bingham high school (where I gradated from way to many years ago to post) had their 100 year celebration. A bunch of us got together and performed at the annual Candlelight concert on Saturday. I had a wonderful time. I don't think I have thought that much about high school in years. I really started to look forward to rehearsals. Our choir teacher from back in the days LeAnna Willmore lead two of the three numbers that we did. The performance was great! I think I even saw a standing ovation at the end of the third number! Although the lights were in my eyes so I could have been imagining things. We also sang with the choirs during the traditional Hallelujah chorus (photoed here). Thank you Bethany for these photos. My camera's batteries died. Thank you also to those that put this together I really had a wonderful time! Thank you also to my husband for taking care of my kids and helping me so that I can do this. I appreciate all you did to help with this. It really put me in the spirit of Christmas again. The other photo is one of those of us who sang in the choir together in high school that participated in this fun opportunity. I also learned something again. If I rehearse enough I can still hit a high C!!!

Festival of Trees

Every year Kimmie's school class attends that Festival of Trees. The kids really have a great time. Erik and I seem to be taking turns every year and going with their class. So here are photos of Kimmie at the Festival of Trees!!!

Black Friday

Yes, I am one of those crazy shoppers that went out on black friday!!! Erik had to work it and Bethany and I wanted to shop so Jarin took care of all six kids. Thank you Jarin!!! We brought him pizza as a thank you! Bethany and I had a great time. I got so many good deals! I am almost all the way done. I have a few things left to get for my kids but not much. I also have only three individuals of the 15 we buy for between both families left. We weren't crazy enough to go out at 4 or 5 am. Although Erik had to be at work at 4. This year he was not harmed in anyway execpt being overly tired by working Black Friday for 13 hours! About ten years ago when a certain elmo was the rage he got in the middle of two Grandma's fighting over one. For some reason this years madness seemed to be worse than in years past. I don't know if the economy being so bad spared people to run over a individual and kill him or what.

Then my evening came! Once a year my family gets together to honor my aunt Ann and we go do sealings at the Temple. This was a far cry from the shopping I had done earlier in the day. It was an amazing experience like it always is. Thank you to my family for having such a neat tradition. Ann is definately watching and smiling at all of us!

Family Photos- November 2008

Laura came to visit this last weekend as I said in my earlier post. She hasn't edited these photos but I couldn't wait to share them (sorry Laura).

Wedding Flowers

In the middle of packing and moving, and putting together and speaking at an Epilepsy Conference I did flowers for a friends nephew's wedding. I thought I would post these because they aren't like anything I have ever done before. It was a little stressful although I think things turned out really pretty.

Halloween Update

I am updating everything and I am doing it all today, before I forget or get involved in something else!!! I finally have internet connection so I am going to take advantage of it. I never did a Halloween update. We have a very uneventful Halloween for once. I am really grateful! It was so calm and fun. Danielle let me borrow a costume for Johnny and Kimmie was Sleeping Beauty. Thank you to Grandma's pink Easter dress we were set.

Grandma came over and the kids made cookies with tons of frosting and sprinkes. Erik and Kimmie did the pumpkin and we had pizza. It was really a fun and relaxing Halloween. I hope for every Halloween to be this calm.