YES!!

This last week I have seen on TV ads for a new American Gladiators show! I am thrilled! You forget about these things but my sisters and I and even sometimes my parents would watch this show together. We all had our favorite stunts or whatever they called them, challenges...some of you might not even recognize this show at all, it would seem a bit odd for some people but I loved it! Anyway, back in the day it was on during the day or on Sat. or something but now it's got a night slot on NBC I think! How cool is that. American Gladiators and The Office, PHX Suns games and I'm set for this season! Whoohoo!!

Candid Pictures

I feel like I'm in limbo right now. It's the week in between Christmas and New Years and when you don't have your family around anymore, and even your husband is gone (well, for half the week anyway) It kind of feels like time is standing still or it doesn't exist. I feel very unproductive this week, like I was very productive Christmas Holiday and I will be very productive after the New Year is up and rolling, but right now, in between feels so unproductive. But, soon that will change. Sharrid will be home for good working a normal schedule. We have this pregnancy to keep up on and some great goals to focus on. I should find out what the baby is by the 12th. By the way if you are reading this and wondering why you didn't get a Christmas card, we are doing a New Years Newsletter in stead because we wanted to be able to announce the new baby by name, so we need to know if it's a girl or boy obviously. So you can expect that by the end of the month.

Marcelus got this trike for Christmas, he can't quite reach the pedals to do it, but he loves it when I'll push him, and he loves to push the buttons on the dashboard. There's quite a few!

A BIG Congratulations!!

A big congrats to Sharrid who has been working so hard at the Academy for Corrections!! He has recently passed his push ups and stretch tests. He continues to do very well on his academic tests, next up for him is shooting target tests. I know at some point he has to endure pepper spray and mase, also certain gasses they use...but at least he's already been through the beating up of self defense. Just 3 weeks away from graduation and on his way to being a Corrections Officer at the prison in Florence AZ. He'll be working four 12 hour days a week I think. We don't know what days or hours though.
Either way we are very excited for him to graduate and work the real job. It will bring some change and enable us to acheive our (or at least mine) New Year goals.

More Christmas Pictures of Family

Others not pictured: dad got a Boston Red Sox fleece blanket from Tibi, Mom got a new leather purse filled with dark chocolate from Peter, Peter got an Ezra Taft Benson Book and a calendar, The Office, from Lexie, Sharrid got a Hymn Book from Landon, Lexie got an American Eagle navy blue hoodie from Connie, Landon got a big basketball coffee table book and a PHX Suns cup, and an AZ cardinals pen.

Michaela got stuff to go slack lining from Kira who had her name

Kira got a Harry Potter fleece blanket and a Beatles shoulder bag from Michaela who had her name

Tibi got these letters to hang and Jonas Brothers cd from my mom who had her name

We (pictured here) played horse and bump out at my house until my parents and other siblings got there for our gift exchange, it was so fun!

Marcelus continues his Obsession

My mom and dad got Marcelus a toy vacuum that looks and sounds like the real deal. Now hopefully he can stop trying to play with mine. His is just his size. He has been playing with it so much ever since he got it, which keeps both of us happy. He's also wearing his new PHX Suns jump suit, ...adorable. What a fuuny kid.

More Christmas

Kira opening her Christmas with Levi

Tibi and Marcelus

On Christmas night my family got together to do our gift exchange, and open other presents from my parents and friends. All in all, I got a candle thing, a crock pot, blank cds (for burning), Mr. and Mrs. Smith DVD (I LOVE it!), The Family Man DVD, a little docking system (for my iPod), an American Eagle navy blue hoodie (that I love! - from Connie) High School Musical 2 DVD, Hairspray DVD.

Sharrid got some Vans skater shoes, some Jordan basketball shorts, a brazilian cd he had on his mission that he lost (his favorite gift from me, Yay!), he also got Fiddler on the Roof DVD (one of his favorite musicals), and a spiraled Hymn book.
Marcelus got the toy vacuum I mentioned from my mom and dad.

My Parents stayed with Sharrid and I while my siblings stayed at Connie's place. Marcelus took a walk with my mom both days after Christmas.

Marcelus dunking on his hoop! NBA recruiters are looking at him! Just kidding, the hoop was way huge for him, it was more of a gift for me I guess. It said 2-5 yrs. on the box, what the heck....well anyway Marcelus has figured out that he needs to stand on the couch to dunk the ball. Eh, he'll grow into it...

Christmas Morning

Marcelus was too tired to wake up Christmas morning, I tried to wake him up by putting his new ball in his hands, it didn't really work so Shar and I killed time playing with Marce's new hoop and reading the story of the birth of Christ in the scriptures...

Marcelus got a lot of fun stuff for Christmas including a basketball hoop, a big wheels trike, a play tent, matchbox cars, this spiderman camping chair, shoes (he's wearing), more shoes (I have a fetish), a PHX Suns jump suit, books, Cinderella DVD, Robin Hood DVD, Monsters Inc. DVD, a soccer ball, a toy vacuum (his favorite present) and probably more......it was too hard not to spoil him... since there's just him!

Sharrid Christmas afternoon

Marcelus in his new basketball shorts and shoes, playing with a stocking stuffer he got

Marce in front of the tree

Favorite Commercials

Well, the most TV I watch is Phoenix Suns games. Well that's just the season, back during baseball I'd watch all I could and was very happy that Boston beat out everyone again. Now it's Suns though. Basketball is my favorite and I find myself clapping, talking and shouting at the TV. I guess I picked that up from my dad. I've watched basketball for as long as I can remember with him, and by the time I tried playing, it was a natural. It's one of my biggest loves in this life. I love PHX and watching Detroit Pistons also. I'm also excited to see what Boston Celtics can do in the coming seasons. I do like individual players also like Allen Iverson who plays for Denver Nuggets.

This post was not supposed to be about basketball ok, well the point is that during the games I always see the commercials and there are two that I really like. I hope you know which ones I'm talking about. I just like part of one, and it's a Bank of America commercial where everyone is looking through the "logo" or Bank of America symbol and they see what they really want out of life, and everytime I see the business woman look in there and she sees herself unloading a minivan of kids, she's got a raggedy sweatshirt on and a ponytail in her hair, I love that. I don't cry but it really touches me everytime and it makes me grateful, and it makes me think of my Aunt. She's my hero. She's about 45 and she's always been single and she's always worked so hard to support herself and I wonder if she looked into that logo if that's what she'd see. I was thinking and I don't really know what I'd see, most things would be the same, maybe I'd add a few things like I'd be the high school girls basketball coach, or maybe be in the stands when my kid is playing in the final 4 or something. I'd be at a book signing because I'd have written a book that had done really well and helped a lot of people, or I'd be in the studio really laying down all the music I've written with my family helping. If I looked in the logo I'd be shaking hands with Michael Jackson or Fred Rogers or some of my ancestors, people I really support and believe in. If I looked in the logo, I'd be buying a house for my Aunt, or dropping off gifts of food and money and clothes on doorsteps.

It's just a cheesy commercial right? But it's a pretty cool concept.

The other commercial is more comical. It's a southwest.com commercial. The one where the guy steals a finger full of icing off a Birthday cake in the fridge at work. The cake is a co-workers, and as he closes the door she's right there. He then begins to tell her about a new southwest deal /club. When he's done he wishes her a happy birthday, she says "Thanks for remembering" (he didn't remember at all, he saw the name on the cake) He licks his fingers as he walks away while she's still standing there in a bit of a shock, saying to herself "nice guy..."

It's hillarious if you see it. It's my all time favorite right now.

I'm pleased...

"My" Charlie...

Bill Pullman was in "While you were sleeping", "Independence Day" (as the president), "A league of their own" "Sleepless in Seattle" as Walter, "Casper", "Spaceballs", "Wyatt Earp", and "The Grudge". I have seen all of these but the last 3.

For starters I did take a small break in between New Moon and Eclipse (for those of you who are Twilight fans) primarily because I had gotten pregnant and felt overwhelmed a little bit by time, even though I'm sure I had plenty of it. I don't know what it was. I LOVE read (thanks to my sister Connie) but I just didn't have a reading mood, so I took a break, (and also I was hating Jacob Black after New Moon...still do) BUT, I am going fast and strong with Eclipse now (half way through) and I just wanted to say that I am the type of reader that really enjoys when there is a movie put out on the book, I like more than one medium. I'm also the type of reader that doesn't imagine every little thing to a tee. Some things are more specific in my head and others I don't stew over too much. The movies sometimes help me finalize my imaginations actually. I'm always entertained by the movies anyway, even if everything isn't perfect.

I am pleased with who they have cast for Bella and Edward, I've only seen one picture of Bella, but I was happy about it. With the guy playing Edward I know they'll make him look awesome, he'll be really cleaned up, probably clean his eye brows up too and the make up will probably be awesome. After that, he'll act incredibly I'm sure and it'll be great. Edward to me has always had golden hair, so his hair is even the perfect color for me.

Even when I was a kid, I would read a little, mostly had to for school though, book like "Where the red fern grows" and "summer of the monkey's" and "Indian in the cupboard". I always liked to watch the movies that they had too.

I do have to say that I hope I'm happy with the casting of Charlie, and Billy, because I have pretty specific images of them. Charlie would be like Bill Pullman in "While you were sleeping" just a bit older of course. But rugged like that, and that same style of clothing, same raspy voice...ect. It has been hard for me to have a set picture of Jacob because he keeps changing and stuff. But I do have a picture of him at first and even a little after he changes but it's not really clear.

Congratulations!

Just a quick Congrats for a good friend, Natalie Jensen, who is now engaged! The wedding is in April and I'm pretty sure I'll be there as I'll be in Vegas area that weekend anyway most likely! It would be my first sealing that wasn't my own! So, hurray for Nat!

A cute Picture

Marce and cousin Eden watching a movie

Marcelus' Obsession

Marcelus is addicted to vacuums. He loves to "pretend" vacuum with my vacuum, or any applicable toys that can pose as a vacuum. I only let him play with our vacuum on days that I actually have to vacuum. He sometimes manages to get our vacuum at times he's not supposed to have it, even though he cannot open doors yet. When it is time to put the vacuum away, he screams and throws his biggest tantrums. Can I just say a public Thank You to my mom who is getting him a "fake" but very real looking and sounding vacuum (just his size) for Christmas.

We experienced even a bigger than vacuum tantrum at Ross a week ago when we were decided which little chair to get Marce, a soft camping looking chair or a harder patio type chair, both were Spiderman and blue. We had decided on the camping one cause you could take it anywhere (it folded and had a bag). We then discovered Marce had taken a liking to the other one. He was sitting in it and playing with another toy. So we decided to get both. They were cheap. Well, we told him this and tried to put the chair in the cart so we could check out, he threw an unbelievable tantrum and didn't realize what "buying" meant. We got him out and in the car seat finally, but we had to put the chair right next to him so he could hold on to it. Still crying, that wasn't good enough, he then had to hold the chair on top of him (how can that be comfortable). It was cumbersome and awkward but minutes later he had crashed asleep with his arms around the chair. We later snuck it into our trunk and resumed our shopping day.

I'm Still Here

I haven't posted for so long. After Christmas, it will be more. It's been so busy and crazy. I don't even know where to start for you who are reading this. I'm pretty much done with Christmas shopping, and just ready for Christmas to come ...and then leave and I mean that in the best possible way. I'm excited to see and be around my family and have our gift exchange. I am excited to see if Marce will understand gift giving and opening presents. I kind of hope he gets it, that would be fun for Shar and I. We've gotten him some really fun stuff. I can't wait.

I'm really excited for the New Year. I have my first Dr. appt. in a long time on the 5th, and I'm hoping they Ultrasound me that day as I'll be 19 weeks along. I had to cancel my last appt. because of insurance/schedule issues. By the time my next appt. hits I'll be far enough along for the big Ultrasound, but so far it is just a reg. appt. If I don't have the Ultrasound that day, I'm sure it'd be no more than a week later that we'd do it. This time around, I feel kind of the same way I did before with Marcelus' - don't really care what the sex is. It would be great to have a boy and have 2 little boys that could potentially be really close, and I still have every scrap of clothing of Marcelus' to use for the baby...or a girl, something we haven't experienced, curious to see what "our" girl would look like. It'd be nice to know that I at least had one of both...plus Shar wanted a girl the first time, and now of course he wants a girl this time also. He didn't grow up with any girls in the family, and last but not least, for sentimental reasons (she'll be named after my grandma)

I'm also excited for the New Year because I've set some really good goals. I'm hoping I can really be productive, I think they are very doable anyway. I know until January I can't start on them and even in Feb. it will be better because Sharrid will be out of the Academy. I'm really focused on them, keeping them in my mind, and itching to start making a difference in them, despite Christmas right around the corner...I'm hoping to have made some good progress even before the baby comes, (June 2nd) and at that time I'll really know how I'm doing, after all, the year will almost be half over!

It will be nice when Sharrid is out of the Academy. We're getting there, the end of Jan. will be the end of the Academy. He is working on passing his tests, the academic part he has done very well in, the physical for him is a little tougher. He has the weirdest body! He can't do some things that usually everyone can do. I think he grew too much for his own good. Another thing that doesn't help him physically is that he's gotten hurt, sometimes as a kid and never fixed the injuries, so he has a couple hang ups like that, but he will do fine. He's making progress. He is home every night this week, and then we'll enjoy Christmas together, after that he'll have a few more weeks of being away all week.

I'm excited for this year, goals being met, a new baby and family member, a better job for Sharrid...

Christmas Is...

There's a song that Bing Crosby sings on one of his Christmas albums called "Christmas IS..." And I was just thinking of how much I hate it when people say certain things during Christmas time don't really matter, like the lights and tree and food and gifts and Santa Claus, and candy canes, and the list goes on...I hate that. Of course these things matter. Why have we been doing them for hundreds of years?! Christmas is whatever it is, and you can't say that it isn't those things above. That is what Christmas is, even if they symbolize more important things than what they really are. It is all part of Christmas and it is all important, if we took those things away, let's face it, our Christmas wouldn't feel like Christmas. So this post is just to say that I love and appreciate all the things that make Christmas what it is to me.

Levi's Blessing

Levi

The Family

Connie and Jen Shirley

Jonah

Michaela.Landon.Levi

Connie and Peter

Lexie

A Week At My Parents'

After Thanksgiving, I stayed a week at my parents' house because Sharrid is gone every week to Tucson for Academy (Corrections Officer) and my parents were going down to Arizona for Levi's (Connie's) baby blessing the following week so here are some fun pictures from that week. Mommy and Marcy

A tired boy

Marcelus and uncle Landon eating dinner

Looking at Christmas mailer

He got a haircut while there by mommy