HappY AnNiVeRsaRy & HaPPy neW YeAr!!

Hello everyone..in 1 hour Utah time at 4pm to be precise we will have been officially married for 26 years...this photo above was taken 2 days before we got hitched back in 1985!! I was almost 22 and Mike was just 25..we went to the justice of the peace to be married and then called our parents to let them know what was going on..my mom thought it was an April fool's joke and his mom was indifferent..we then had a church wedding with family on January 18th 1986..so new years eve is generally spent with friends (most of the time) and January 18th is spent by ourselves..so its kind of nice to have 2 anniversaries..;) we went for a nice walk today..the weather is beautiful..and tonight we are going to our good pals the Hogans and another couple and their kids are coming..having finger food..I am making jalepeno poppers with cream cheese and bacon..and a chex mix that is sweet..gotta go and get a bag of m&ms to do it..so because there is finger food..we are eating salads to fill us up..so we don't dip into all the finger foods..I have lost that 1/2 a pound..so my total is 74 pounds...I went clothes shopping yesterday with christmas money..and I found the cutest coat..and jeans and jammies and sweats..oh my..had a great time..took photos..will share another day..:)

these are the new do photos I promised you..its hard to tell that I have it asymetrical on one side.I didn't want it too noticable..

you can see its shorter on this side not the length so much but the bulk isn't there..so that is it for me..I got a wonderful award from Mumsy and the furkids..its the liebster award...thank you again Mumsy..that was so sweet..I love reading about her furries..well I hope you all have a most wonderful new years tonight and bring in the new year with a "bang"..be safe and see you all next year..(you know that saying never gets old)...lol..:)HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

ChRiStmAs 2011

Good Afternoon everyone!! did everyone have a wonderful christmas? we did too;) christmas is all about our babies..but first...here is Stewie aka stewbert riding on his daddy's back..this is his favorite thing to do..get a horsie ride..he has this nasty habit of when you are sitting on the toilet..he thinks it is funny to jump from the sink onto your back..scares the crap right out of you if you aren't expecting it..(so I guess its good we are on the pot)...lol..:) he is a little character and this was his and Lucy's first christmas..

he stole the straw out of my drinking cup..little stinker...

the aftermath of opening the kids toys..the kittys all got catnip toys..whatelse!!! they slobbered and chewed on those things..Sunny on the couch was not too interested.she preferred the heating pad..;)

love this shot of Tucker enjoying his candy can rawhide..he loves to chew on this thing..

silly Millie enjoying some nip.;)

that would be Stewie playing in a box...another favorite toy..

does Tucker look happy or what..my little sister sent all the kids toys and Tucker got 3 rubber ones..you can see 2 of them there...

Margaret came in for a bit..she is an outdoor kitty but loves coming in, in the winter..she got her toy to play with.;)

and when they are done playing..they crash hard..is this not just the cutest picture ever?

and this one too..love that little pink nose..precious!!!

this was taken this morning as I was trying to make the bed...(its still not made)..sunny loves to snuggle with us...well we had a great christmas..I got some wonderful gifts from 2 of my blogging buds..Thank you again Cindy and Maggie..you made my christmas..Hubby got a gun and well I got clothes (that I had been buying through out the year)..my little sister sent me a hello kitty watch..I love it...and she sent me some jammies and sweats..oh I love my jammies and sweats..I also got a cute knitted hat to wear on my walks..keeps my ears and head toasty.;)we then went to our friends house for a nice turkey dinner and played the funniest game..(can't remember the name) but we loved it..

yesterday I took down the christmas decor..amazing at how quickly you can put that stuff away..I only have a snowman wreath on the front porch and my big snowman out in the front..and my lights on the porch..otherwise it is done..couldn't wait to put it all away for another year..the house seems to have gotten bigger too..and I must say I love the simplicity and how clean it all looks..Hubby went out and shot his new gun after our walk yesterday..and I raked up leaves again..(we had some wind on the weekend) and it blew everyones leaves back into my yard..gggrrrr...and I did a bit of weed burning too...gotta keep up on it..now the yard looks good too..they are saying rain and wind tomorrow..hoping we keep our power..but we have a full propane tank and hubby is getting gas for the generator should we lose power...we have plenty of food and I don't plan on going anywhere..so we are set..any big plans for new years? we might go to our friends house that we spent christmas with and play more games..eat and bring in the new year..it is also our anniversary that night..this year will be 26 years for us..can't believe its been that long..so not sure..might stay home and relax..anyway have a wonderful day and enjoy the rest of your week too:)

update: I just stepped on the scales and I am down 73.5 pounds now..I lost over christmas..I turned down 3 sets of treats..and the treats we did get..I gave them to our friends...I have really been watching it..cause let me tell you I really wanted to splurge and eat to my hearts content..but then I would have paid for it..and I have worked too hard..so this just made my day.:) take care and Happy New Year!!! :)

MeRRy ChRiStMaS eVeRyOnE

I just wanted to stop in and wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!! I hope you are enjoying your day with those you love..Thank you all for a wonderful year of blogging and to all the wonderful folks I have met and continue to meet..you all are the best!!!

WhaT I've BeEn Up To ThIs WeEK

 Good afternoon Everyone!! welcome to my newest follower/friends..;) I have been so busy this week and now its time to play catch up..On tuesday I got my holiday baking done..baked on monday night and again on tuesday..photos to follow..and tuesday night I got invited to go caroling with the scouts from our church..and I haven't been Caroling in well over 15+ years..so I was excited to go and let everyone know just how bad I sing..lol..This is Al above with his beautiful Percheron horses..Leftie is on the left and Ponch is on the right..I gave them each a couple of apples to get their energy up for the long night of caroling that was in store for them.">)

 Here is our Chariot...er wagon that these beauties pulled us around in..oh I love these horses..just beautiful and so powerful..I sat in the back the first time around and the 2nd run with a different bunch of kids Rebecca and I got so sit up front with Al..and that was so much fun..cause then I got to enjoy all the beautiful outdoor decorations and lights..

 thanks boys for hauling us around and making it a night to remember..looking forward to this again next year.;)

 I am using the new browser on blogger and hate cause I can't put the photos in order like I like..but last saturday we went to one of my favorite places to go christmas shopping..and this is where I get my wool from..they had these $1 grab bags so we 4 girls all got one..and I gave most of mine to them..but the stuff above is what i decided to keep in hopes I can use it in my crafting.;)

 I picked up some teddy bears for putting in Santas sacks when I make more santas..some forks cause we always run low on forks..and an icecream spoon..all of girls grabbed them up..they are a bottle opener as well..and little mini saddle shoes..I must make a doll now to fit these..to cute..

 and I got my wool fix..another green army blanket, an off white one and a pinkish red one..hey valentines day is coming up..gotta make some more wool penny rugs..and I am doing a swap that Amy is posting..so gotta get her goodies underway..

 and lastly I got a carved santa pin that Bob the owner of Christmas house carved..I love it..thats my shoulder by the way..

 here are some photos of the christmas house so you can see all the goodies they have to offer and now you know why I love coming here every year..

 oh I love that stove..it still works..but they don't use it..just holds all the treasures we might want to purchase..

 this Santa is similiar to mine on my hutch.(its where I got mine a couple of years ago)

 oh I so wanted this one..with the Frosty light up...I haven't seen one this small..but I just didn't want to spend the money and 2 didn't have a place for it..

 the dollar tree

 this is a carving that Bob did..he does one every year...that gets put in a silent auction..from what I was told it got a pretty penny...I love those stockings hanging there..he does a different Santa every year..and I love this one..

 I took the last of my holiday goodies to my friends and neighbors yesterday..and this one was for my friend Juilie that makes the best baskets..she and I do the gift show every year together and are right across from each other..we have so much fun together..and her hubby is a dentist..so I had to make one for her to put in his stocking..she got him a coffee gift card...she says he will love it.;)

 here are the goodie plates being all divided up and wrapped so I could get them delivered..I made ginger cookies (my new favorite this year)..chai spice cookies another new favorite..chocolate almond bark with nuts and crazins..very addicting..mint chocolate chip cookies, homemade hot cocoa  and pumpking bread..along with my girlfriends almond roca (crack) cause it is so addicting..;)lol..

 I did 25 goodie plates this year..some went to hubbies work and for the liveaboards..one is getting delivered tonight when our friend comes for dinner and 2 will go to our missionaries on sunday..so it was a busy week of baking etc..but I so enjoy it..I have also been getting some wonderful christmas cards from my fellow blogging friends..I love getting cards in the mail..and boxes too..yesterday I got my hair cut in an asymetrical cut..and I must say I love it..it made me look thinner..and it is sassy..( must do my hair and then will share a photo for you)...

 I wanted to share a photo of myself from last year at our church get together with the ladies..this is a before photo people..

and here I am with my good Pal Betty that I just love and adore..I am a much healthier and happier person this year..and when I look at the before photos..I can't believe I was that heavy..I truly feel better then I have in years..the aches and pains are nearly gone..my feet even don't ache like they used too..in fact I am taking Tucky out for his walk today..went every day this week except yesterday..and believe it or not..the dandilions and primroses are still blooming here..is that crazy or what?
I have the house all cleaned, mopped and dusted for tonight and for christmas..going to get some holiday movies in I hope..haven't watched my "young pioneer christmas" or the house without a christmas tree yet..:)
I want to wish each and everyone of you a very merry christmas and all the best for the new year ahead..thanks for the wonderful friendships I have made here in blogland..I truly feel like I have known you all my life and consider you my good friends..hugs and loves to you and your furry ones too.:)
Remember he knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.;).....

MorE IdeAs FoR ChRiStmAs and moRe ProJecTs DoNe..

 Good morning my fellow bloggers..are you on the last minute cram session to get it all done before christmas? I have baking left to do..which I am going to do today and probably tomorrow and then pass stuff out to the neighbors etc..then I am officially done..I won't know what to do with myself..guess I will watch my christmas movies, catch up on my magazines...maybe start some more crafting to get ahead of the game for next year...yeah right..like thats going to happen..sounded good though didn't it..actually I will start my valentine crafting and working on a swap I am doing this january..but I really should get a jump on my crafting..so I am that much more prepared for next year..then I can play this summer and fall and not feel guilty about being outside..I was surfing and found some more christmas ideas for you all..they seem simple too.;)

 I have one of these picnic baskets..its yellow it was my moms..I store my photographs when I have my vanity decorated for the holidays and pull them back out when the holidays are over..

 don't those puppies look so peaceful..love this photo..

well I got my packages mailed off on saturday..and 107.00 later to mail them all off and only 4 went home to family..the rest were some of you blogging buddies..so 9 packages total..and that included buying 2 books of stamps..ridiculous!!! but I so love sending homemade/handmade items..but I am telling you a gift card is sounding good as its just getting so stinking expensive..so these are items I just finished up late friday and saturday..my brother's father in law is from the Ukraine..and they asked me to make them something..so I machine embroidered pillowcases with their names on them..Cindy helped me with the names..

 the cool thing is about this one..is my sister in laws dad was a vet..so what was more fitting then this little nesting doll holding a rooster..

 and his partner loves to garden..so she is holding poppies..I love how these turned out..

 for my brother..he is easy..he has a cabin that I love to go to when I am home in Utah for my visits..so I made him pillows to put on the beds and a towel for the kitchen..

 we had our church party the other night so I embroidered this for a candle cozy/wrap..and the gal that got it loved it..we played a game..(some of you will love this game) we brought white elephant/10.00 type gifts and they read the book "twas the night before christmas" and when the word "the" was read we had to pass the item right..and when the story ended the gift that was in your hand was what you got..I got a wonderful scarf that is just my color and it is warm too..

well that is it for me today..I will be back to share my goodies and photos of my trip to the christmas house I got more wool..we girls had a great time..hope you are getting all that you need to get done, done for christmas..my cards are in the mail as we speak..one more item to check off..taking Tucker for a walk today and probably the rest of the week..supposed to be nice this week..its been the mildest December we have had for a long time...have a wonderful day and a great week..:>)