True Life Confessions of the Tagged!

I accidentally read Melanie's blog and realized I was tagged. So here are 7 things you might not know about me.

1. I hate to be RUSHED or in a hurry. But, I live my life in a manner that, because I like to take my time,...I am usually rushing to wherever I need to go next. I LOVE to go to Joanns or Costco or a antique store and just lolly gag. That's what we call....looking and touching everything. It's like moving at the pace of a snail. It's very rare that I actually get to do this, because I usually have my children with me and that requires chasing one little boy down the aisles. And after a few times of that...we are rushing out the doors to go home. I think I have always been this way but after living in Mexico it confirmed the life I love to live. Easy going.


2. I love forgetting the world and getting caught up playing with my kids. It's fun to see their response when I sit down with them and play horses, dance, jump on the tramp or whatever they want. But my favorite thing to do with my kids is to take them on Nature walks or go exploring. Which leads me to my #3.


3. I love love love being outside. But I am picky about where "outside" is. I have had a really hard time living here in the valley because I haven't found a lot of nature". I know it sounds strange, because natures surrounds us everywhere. I live where every ones house looks the same and the walks you take are around a block on a side walk. And the places you have been and are going all look the same. My children could care less, but I love Nature. I am getting better about pointing out things and noticing things that are only in the desert. I am finding there are so many beautiful cacti, flowers and trees. Being outside makes me feel like I can breath easier. I forget that my house might be a wreck or my laundry is not caught up. I forget that I don't have the most stylish clothes or that my hair is out of control. It's like I am nearer to God.


4. Addictions. There aren't many things that I would say I am addicted to or obsessed with. But, there might be a few. Sugar...I hate how it effects me and my body...but I am a late night snacker. And it's not so good. I love sour candy! My all time fave. is sour patch watermelon. Oh, my mouth is watering thinking about them.
I am not a TV watcher during the day...but after 8:30pm, it's trouble. I know most mothers use this quiet time for reading or cleaning or sleeping. But this is mine and Luke's time to settle. I don't know if it's an addiction but it happens often.
Blogging is causing a kink in my daily schedule. I am a journal writer and it seems as if this blogging business is taking it's place. Which isn't so bad, because I can print off these pages. But I find myself looking at my sisters blogs and friends blogs and then realizing I could of cleaned my bathroom in that time.
Crafts...I don't know if this is an addiction, because I don't do it as often as I would like. But I dream about scrapbook pages once in a while, I think about other projects that I am currently doing, and get overwhelmed with the fact that they are undone. And there are a lot! WOW, this is very lengthy. I'm an addict!

5. This Hallows family are the traveling Gypsies. In the past 10 years we have lived in: 3 homes in Arizona, 2 homes in South Carolina, back to Arizona for 3 or so weeks, 3 homes in Ensenada Mexico, Utah for a short while, Nevada for a spell, out to Mississippi for a few hours and then straight to Georgia. Georgia was fun while we were there, and then we found our way back to Arizona. Please don't think that we are just freaky people. All of these moves, minus Arizona, have been with the same company. Its been fun and we have been able to meet so many people that we miss so badly it hurts. But I suppose our time of moving our family across the country have to come to an end....for now! To be continued.......



6. I love everything that comes with Fall and that includes Winter. I love the smells the colors the feeling of cooler weather. The one thing I love about Fall is that it's the start of the Holidays. It makes me homesick, sometimes, when I think about some of the upcoming events that will happen here in the next few months. I think about dressing the kids up for Halloween and then enjoying pies for Thanksgiving and finally celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ with all our loved ones. How sweet it is!

7. I love Silence and in the same breath I love good music, turned up. I know that is a total contradiction but it's the truth. I know that there is place for both and I am very aware of that. But sometimes you have to have the music up loud so you can hear each instrument and hear how the vocal changes. I get this love from my dad. My mom on the other hand is the Silent lover. She runs and rides her bike in silence. She says it's good for her soul! I probably need more time of silence to evaluate my life. Me and my kids love to dance in the kitchen and the only way to do that is our sweet Micheal Buble, loud. Then right away....it's time for quiet! I long for silence in my day...but it will have to happen right after a good song or while I sleep.

I now tag Robbie, Sisalee, Gilley, Emo & Bug (when you get around to doing one)

RULES:
A. List 7 habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
B. Tag people to do the same.
C. Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag whoever wants to do it.

I love my chocolate!

FYI

This is a new M&M that I found at one of the checkout counters. It's delicious and very nutritious...it's Razzelberry!

Seriously, if you like flavored chocolate..you have got to try these!

TOFU pics

Time Out for US

What a wonderful weekend I had. My mother and sisters flew in from Utah and Louisiana for the Time out for Women conf. We knew that we needed a good night sleep in between the Fridays musical performance and the Saturday conference...so we made reservations for a Hotel. Honestly, we knew there would be no sleeping with us together...but it was a nice try. Just like we thought, there was no sleeping, even for the two that were trying. Let me explain a little about the pictures above...otherwise I could have a mother disowning me. My mother doesn't drink anything but water but because she was out of her element she pick up a few cold ones....I am totally kidding! While we were eating late on Friday, some bone-head put the bottles in the back of my truck. So the next morning, my mom was taking some time to teach her daughters the importance of avoiding the appearance of evil. In the middle of her lesson my finger slipped and captured this picture...oops! Also, the silly licorice pictures were taken at the point of no return. You know that point when you are so exhausted that everything is beyond hilarious? Well, that is the only explanation I can give, unless you were there. There was a time when I couldn't lift my head off the pillow and catch my breath that a scary thought pass through my mind..."can people really die from laughing?" I have to say, mom and Nic you were both such good sports on not beating us down with all the noise. One last thing. Attending this conference was such a cup filler. It rejuvenated my Spirit as a mother and wife. One of the things I kept thinking about during the two day event was that just about all of my sisters were there, on both sides, to experience the same thing I did. We ran into and ate with my mother and sister-in-laws a few times., which was fun. I loved knowing that we were just a few rows away experiencing the same talks and music. Cool stuff. I couldn't of done this with out my husband....what a STUD!

PS Bug this whole post is a lie...we didn't have any fun at all!

Little Dash

It's official I have a new nephew! Little Dashden or lil' "D" as I call him, was born over a week ago and is cute as a button. His sisters are so excited they can hardly contain themselves. One sister cried because she was so happy and the other one didn't know what her sister was crying about. Oh, you gotta love the little sun bather babies!

I Surrender to 32

Well it's happened...I celebrated my 32nd Birthday in August and the gray hair have come out like an entire marching band. I remember driving to work and finding my first gray hair on my 21st birthday. I remember wondering if that was the beginning of the end. I pulled it out as quick as I found it and surprisingly it didn't come back for quite some time.

But now that I am 32 it's like that day, that very day, the flood gates opened and the gray came pouring into my veins. I hate to admit that I spend my time and Luke's time in front of the mirror plucking the hairs out with tweezers. If I can't reach it, Luke can! I see them on other woman and I think that it's very beautiful to see those natural highlight through out their hair. But today before church as I plucked out about 4 ....it was like a dream. This was happening to me and it's REAL!

Well, I have decided this is the year of surrendering! I must surrender to the fact (in my own brain) that gray is in. I must also surrender to the fact that the hips, butt and arms will never be the same as they use to. I suppose I have to surrender to the fact that I have to get my sleep in order to function the next day. And finally I will have pleasure in surrendering to the fact that I may be getting older, but tomorrow is still new to me!

PS Heidi, thanks for the cake pic.

September 11

Can I ever forget where I was that day, back in 2001? I can not! Will I ever forget the feeling that I had that day? I can say, I will not! Will I ever forget who was sitting next to me on Sept. 11, 2001? I remember. What a tragedy that day was! Even being so far away from New York City....I felt it in the air in Mexico. It was like the sky turned dark and time stopped completely. I think that is what the twilight zone must feel like. That very feeling at that very instant, sadness rolled into shock. And in the same breath I remember feeling love. That must sound strange, but I remember watching the day unfold and watching the support from others go to those who had lost someone or looking for someone. I also remember the news saying over and over...this will not make us afraid. I have to admit, I was. But I realized in the weeks and months and even years following, that, somethings we have no control over. And the only thing we can do is...help and love others.
Love One Another comes to mind! What a deal, as my mom would say.
Now, back to love and reverence. July 2002, Luke, my father-in-law and myself were able to visit Ground Zero. We were walking in the Financial District trying to find the best street to walk up for the best look at this hole in the ground. And I mean that literally. While we were walking in the streets you could still see soot and dirt and rubbish still in the streets and on the sides of the buildings. Here we were in this huge city and it was like a ghost town in that part of town. We found the area that was designed for people to get a glance and it was crawling with people. However, it was silent! It had this amazing spirit about it. I can say, I will never forget that feeling! It over took all of us. Very Special place. Then returning again to Ground Zero in 2004 & 2006. The city it clean, built up & hopping again in that area...but still the Spirit remains. It's amazing.

Turn it UP!

If you want to enjoy a rather fantastic song...give a listen to "Your Eyes".

I believe it's the last song on the list!

First the worst, Second the same but

Last the Best of all the game!

Pillow Fight

It's all a matter of opinion if the tooth came out on purpose or accident. Little Birdie had a seriously loose tooth and since Luke and I were on her bad list when it comes to the removel of teeth, this thing got gangly. We could not touch it, we could not hold her hand and have her touch it. When we talked about touching "the tooth" it was serious drama.

Luke came up with a smashing idea...PILLOW FIGHT! He gave her a few shots and she gave him a few good shots. Even little miss Shelby got involved and gave Luke a undercut while he was bending over. Right when that happened, he lifted his pillow up and got Lainie in the face. All the sudden you hear her say "oh, look what you did". She smiled and sure enough the tooth was missing. Luke yelled "STOP" to all the kid that are running around, so he could find the dadgum thing. Right then Lainie lifted her foot up and wouldn't you know it...there it was. She was so excited to have it out she just started running in circles like she had just won the lottery. OH BLISS!

The Budding Artist

Little Creed found his way outside while the other kids were playing with chalk. It's been so rare that we actually go outside and play, thanks to the nasty weather that we have had the past few months. HOT HOT HOT! The past few days has been a little cooler....96 degrees, so I find myself sending the kids out in the morning for their 10 minutes of fresh air before they melt. Of all the weather type that exist in weather history...this is my least favorite. Well, that could be a whole other topic. Anyhow, little "C" got right into the chalk. He loved it. His face and legs matched his shirt. Now that is a cute little boy!

Oh my Shelb

My sweet little Shelb....I can't say enough about this little girl. This one is Rennie Jr. in so many ways. She finds herself playing all alone, eager to help mom whenever she can, eager to please the "big sister", eager to fight back but knows she shouldn't, willing to share anything and then at the same time wants to just have Shelby things. This child of mine is full of humor and love. She is usually the first to point out that people have big heads or that they aren't dressed that modest. And it's usually in front of the person. All she wants is to be hugged and loved on, but there is a HUGE condition, you have got to be on her good side or it's "leave me lone". And you know she is one of the most forgiving little girls. I tell you, it's all sounding so familiar. I see myself in this sweet face more than I can say. Just wanted to share a little about my no. 2.

PS Cute hair, thanks to Ashon

Wheelchair joystick 101

Here is a little story that I can't tell without laughing so hard I cry. For those that are sensitive to a cuss word, beware.
Please sit back and free your mind of any thoughts so you might get the whole picture of what I am about to tell you.
So picture in your mind Sunday afternoon, Priesthood Class just finished and this would be the 3 hour...so we are all getting excited to head home for some food and sleep. Luke and I trade off with little Creed so I can attend Relief Society the entire hour one week and then the next week Luke can sit in Priesthood with out chasing the little grommet.
Well, last Sunday it was Luke's turn to have Creed and Preisthood had been pretty uneventful until the final minutes of exiting the room. (right now I am laughing out loud knowing what is coming next)
So imagine in your mind a darling picture of Luke and Creed walking side by side, in their little Church clothes, up one the aisles to exit the Sacrament room. While walking past the last row, my darling little boy notices something strange out of the corner of his eye...what can it be. "Let's just see what this will do". I'm sure crossed Creeds mind, as he reaches up to give a yank on the Joystick on this Brother's electric wheelchair that is NOT in park. Not only did he give it a yank, he pulled it back so far that:
To little Creeds surprise that wheelchair flipped around so fast it knocked him down and then continues in a direct route to finish him off by just about running him over.
To the man in the wheelchair's surprise a loud "Holy Shit" comes belting out of his mouth...as he is trying to catch himself from flying out of his chair. (remember they are in the Chapel still full of Brothern)
And to Poor Luke's surprise...as the wheelchair flipped around so fast and out of control...the hard, sharp, metal foot hold at the bottom of the chair nailed Lukey right in the shins.
I mean this is comedy, People! If only we had this on tape.
So while we are walking out of the Chapel, Luke says I got to show you something. Once in the car he lifts up his pant legs and pulls down his socks only to find...2 dents in his shins. One actually had left skin on his sock.
Holy crap....that is funny. To the expense of everyone in the story.