I am alive, but tired

It has been a while since my last post, and I just have not felt like posting anything lately. Of course I have not felt like doing anything lately. I have been so VERY tired for the last two three months now. I had been sick with strep throat, double ear infections, double sinus infections, bronchitis, poison ivy and poison sumac. I have tried everything under the sun, change of diet, exercise, medications, homoeopaths, blessings, and prayers. My immune system just does not want to cooperate with me. The Dr's even wanted me to stay home from everywhere, even church. To me that is just not acceptable, and with my calling almost impossible. I have had a very loving and supportive husband through all of my sickness. I just hope that I am on my way back to recovery. They have tested my blood and said that my B6 and B12 levels were low, so I am on a supplement of both of them with a folic acid. It does not seem to be working though. I hope to get back to my normal life, cause I feel like it is passing me by. I just am so fatigued. :(

Wii Fit

We got the kids a Wii for Christmas this year. I asked for Wii fit for me. Doug and I could not find one anywhere. They were sold out everywhere, even online we could not find one. There were people who were selling them for outrageous prices and I was not going to pay for their craziness. I decided I could wait till the stores received them back in. I have looked since before Christmas. TODAY I was successful at blockbuster of all places. They had one and at a normal price, they did not jack up the price. They are still sold out everywhere here and I was able to get one by luck. I set it up and it gives you a pretty good workout. I am sore already. My kids have been playing it for the last four hours. I think it will be a good investment for all of our family's health not just mine. It has been so cold here that they have not been able to go outside for even recess. Well here goes to a new adventure in exercise. Wish me luck.

Tired, but not defeated

I have been sick all week long. Tired, tired, tired is the best way to describe how I feel. I am just feel beat up this week. I finally went to the Dr.'s this morning. Guess what I found out? I have double ear infections, sinus infections, and strep throat. I guess that is why I am so dang tired. It seems like this always happens to me. When I start doing so well with my exercising and eating, something goes wrong for me. I get sick, or I hurt myself and I get discouraged. Well not this time, It is time to beat these illnesses and get back on track. Hopefully I will be able to be back on track by Monday.

Surprise trip to Arizona

Here is how it when down:

I booked my flight 9:30pm Wednesday evening

Left the next morning, (Thursday) at 9:30am.

Flight left at 1pm, flew to Washington DC layover for 3hours

Flight to AZ arriving at 9:15 pm

Drove straight to my parents house 2 1/2 hours away, arrived at 12:45 am AZ time (2:45am my time)

Parents not home, my dad had a call out for work two hours south of their home.

I am sleep deprived and decide to hide under the Christmas tree for when they got home.

Here I am under the tree.

1:30am Parents arrive home

Then here are the videos of my parents being surprised. They happened to come in at different times because my dad went to turn the Christmas lights off outside. Sorry the video is a little dark, I didn't think to turn on more lights and my niece taped it for me. She said she takes great pictures, but not video's.

My mom being surprised

Here is my dad being surprised

I came very last minute to surprise my whole family and they were all surprised. My sister was the only one who knew. She picked me up from the airport and shuttled me every where. My family had its annual Christmas party that Friday evening, then my nephews baptism on Saturday. It was a very fun filled packed weekend. I enjoyed every moment of it. Thanks to Doug for encouraging me to go and taking care of everything and everyone while I was gone. He even watched our friends kids for the weekend too.

My whole family:

Me, Ryan, Mom, Dad, Rusty, Rachelle, Scott

Just me and my siblingsThe best sister in laws ever.

Ondrea, Emma, Jamie My sister Rachelle and me. Thanks sis for picking me up and taking me to the airport. Thanks for helping with such a wonderful surprise. Thanks for being such a good host. Your house is beautiful, I love it and I love you. Alyssa my niece and my sister My dad and myself. He shaved his mustache, because he and my mother are serving a mission right now at the institute. I have only seen my dad without a mustache twice in my life. My mother and me

My brother Rusty and nephew Jordan at Jordan's baptism.

My Grandmother was there for a visit and I was able to surprise her too.

Tennessee Football game

Doug's boss gave him his four season tickets to the Tennessee vs. Kentucky game this past weekend. We took the boys. The girls stayed at their friends houses.

(Thanks Lynn & Marianne)

On our way to the game, in our new Suburban, the boys playing video games.

In the hotel room snuggling up.

Spencer & Doug

Renee & Hunter

Me and my boys.

Doug & I at the game The boys at the game

Part of the halftime show. It was fantastic. They did the twelve days of Christmas for the University of Tennessee. It was very funny.

Here is there "T"

My boys enjoying the game. It rained most of the time, but we had ponchos and we kept warm the whole time.

Spencer really enjoyed himself.

Hunter will watch football 24/7 now days if I would let him.

On the way home, Hunter was tired and Spencer was watching a movie.

Thankful & Grateful

At this time of year I am especially thankful and grateful for so many things in my life. I could name so many, many things, but I thought I would just write down a few of them. I have been kind of down lately not being able to be with family for the holidays, but then I remember that I have been blessed beyond measure for so many good things that it brings everything back into perspective for me.

1. My Heavenly Father and my brother Jesus Christ.

2. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

3. Doug, for his love and support and how hard he works to provide for us.

4. Jessica my first born, who is talented in so many things.

5. Hunter who is very unselfish and loving.

6. Spencer who makes me laugh daily.

7. Taylor who loves mom, dad & life.

8. My parents for raising me in the gospel and teaching me correct principles.

9. Doug's parents for raising such a righteous son.

10. Family - all of my extended family

11. A Forever Family

12. Temples and being worthy to attend them.

13. Friends - you know who you are.

14. My calling in Young Women's

15. The Young Women - I never thought I could ever love these girls as much as I truly do.

16. A job

17. A beautiful home and everything in it.

18. Talents

19. Health

20. Scrapbooking, my form of keeping a journal.

21. The scriptures

On Tuesday, Jessica and I were driving to an appointment and we were talking about all of the canning I had been doing. She asked "Mom, will you teach me how to can?" I responded of course, I had been wanting to do some jam, with the berries that I have frozen. So are asked her if she would like to can some jam? We decided to do it yesterday after school.

I taught her two different methods: First we made Raspberry Freezer Jam

Second: We cooked & made Blackberry Jam

Jessica stirring the jam while sitting on the counter, which she know she is not allowed to sit on.

Ladling the jam into the jars. Cleaning of the rims and putting on the lid & ring. Turning them upside down. Finished product: 9 jars of Blackberry jam

Time with my daughter: priceless How many teenagers do you know that ask there mother's to teach them how to can? Jessica said" She wanted to learn, because she will need to know how to do it when she is a mother." She also is going to use it as one of her young women projects. I had fun teaching and speding time in the kitchen with her. She will now be able to pass this knowledge on to her children one day.

TAGGED AGAIN, BUT DIFFERENT

My friend Rachel & Loree both tagged me at the same time, with the same thing. So here are the random things you may not have known about me.

1. I don't like to sit in a restaurant where people are walking by my food. I would rather sit in a corner or sit on the inside of the booth or table where my food won't get sneezed on, talked on, spit on by people talking or just there body flakes getting on it.

2. I did track in High school. My events were discus and the shot put. I was the littlest one out there and did pretty good, placing third in state as a sophomore.

3. I hate to sleep with any light. I can't stand even the light from my alarm clock. But get this, I can sleep with the TV on. Go figure.

4. I always move my furniture and decor around at least once a month. Don't believe me ask my husband. Ok not all of my furniture, but it is something that I change in the house.

5. I use to play the flute, saxophone, clarinet, piccolo, and piano. No, I can't play anything now. Which is very, very , very sad.

6. I was president of my class for Freshman, Sophomore, & Junior year. Every year 6 people ran against me and I won. Then when I was a Senior I ran for Student Body President and no one ran against me. So I won. They all ran for Senior Class President.

7. I did ballet for 11 years, till I was a sophomore in High School.

Now that you know a little bit more about me and maybe some things you wished you never knew.

I choose to tag: MYKELLE, JODI,JENNIFER, LORA, MELYSA & LORI

Beach Baby

Doug and I were went to Sandestin, Florida. He went for a work conference, I went for a vacation. We went from Sunday to Friday and it was heavenly to me. We did have some bumps along the way, but it ended up fantastic. When we showed up our room was OK for one person, but it was a small studio with a kitchen, but it had a broken toilet seat, no iron, and it smelled a little funny,come to find out the smell was from paint, but it did not smell like paint to me. It had a gorgeous view of the water though. We complained and they fixed the toilet seat, and brought us an iron. We were not really in the room at all, so we didn't complain anymore. Sunday night we relaxed and got ready for the next day. Doug went off at 7:30am to his conference and I headed to the gym to work out. Then I headed back to get cleaned up and then I headed for a day at the spa. I know these are some scary pictures, but hey I felt fantastic afterwards. I had a massage, salt glow body treatment (which was heavenly), and a facial. I forgot to ask for pictures till the end so I look a little worked over. Well, I lost a key to our room so we went to the front desk to receive a new one. We told the guy of all of our complaints and so he upgraded us immediately for no extra charge. Here is what our new room looked liked and it didn't smell. A living room, with a full kitchen, one bedroom, two bath room. It was so much better than our last room.

A few different views from our balcony.

We were able to hit the beach for a few hours, before having to go to dinner. It was very, very relaxing to me. Unfortunately Doug was there to work, but he did have each afternoon and evening with me.

We enjoyed every evening on the beach taking walks and just enjoying each other and what Heavenly Father has created.

I of course enjoyed shopping every day. The outlet stores were just a mile from our resort and I found some great finds. I got three new pairs of shoes, a new dress (three sizes smaller), two pairs of shorts, four new shirts, and a few other things. I also purchased beach chairs, towels, and an umbrella. It was cheaper to buy these things then rent them from the resort everyday.

Well hurricane Ike decided to make waves for us. The beach ended up being closed to swimming on Wed. afternoon and by Thursday afternoon this is what the beach looked liked. The resort staff started to collect the trash barrels, chairs, umbrellas off of the beach. The night before the water had made its way up to the stairs leading to the resort.

We took a walk on the beach that afternoon and I came across this bird with only one foot. The water up to the stairs to the resort. Yes I got wet taking this picture. In fact I was soaked from the waist down. Well since the beach was closed to swimming, we hit the pool. It was still humid and hot, but not unbearable. I could have stayed there all day, but Doug needed to do some work and I wanted to spend every minute I could with him. Double red flags were flying. Water is closed to the public and you could be arrested.

Every other day the yellow and purple flags were flying. Which meant there was dangerous marine life in the area, we did see a jelly fish washed up, but I did not have my camera with me.

All in all that was a very fun, relaxing, and enjoyable vacation I have had in a long time. The only other thing that would have made it perfect was if Doug did not have to work. I can't complain since everything was paid for except my food and trip to the spa. Thank you Doug for giving me a trip I will always remember and cherish. I love you!!! I did not want to come home. Of course while I am writing this I am in a cabin up in the Georgia mountains on another vacation. Yes, I am spoiled. The kids have their fall break this week. My mother came in to watch the kids for us last week while we were on vacation and now we are enjoying her company and relaxing up at a cabin where the weather is a nice cool 70. I will post more later. I almost forgot, we found this chocolate store who had the most amazing carmel turtle apples. I had to bring one home.