The New Year will be here soon. My goals this year will be:

• Appreciate my family more.
  
• To run more, race more, maybe do a 1/2 Marathon (hell, if I can do a Tri I can definately do a 1/2 Marathon) I need something to work for, do a bike race. Who knew that I would be my healthist at the young age of 41?????
  
• Go outside more.
  
• Be organized.
  
• Learn to throw things away, if I don't use it I don't need it.


• Live, Love, Laugh more.


• Camp more.


• Hike more.

These are all do-able goals that I am doing already I just want to do a little more. I am not going to make goals this year that realistically I know I will never do........

Went to the dentist yesterday with all of the kids. Chelsea and I came out with no cavities. I didn't even have tarter.....There is one bonus of not eating sugar......Speaking of no sugar, look what I have located and I am so excited about it I think I wet my pants a little....drum roll please?!?!?!

Yes, my friends this is SUGAR FREE 'Black' Licorice. I thank my father for my fondness of black licorice. Of course it will take me 6 weeks to eat this bag since my paranoia of gaining any sort of weight kicks in I only eat one every few days and I call it good. Now if I could find Sugar Free Willy Wonka candy my life will be utterly complete.

Where have I been?!?

I haven't blogged in forever!!!

The last 10 days have been busy and more busy!

Cody left us on 12/19/08 and our poor Cheyenne is not doing well without him.
Cheyenne has never been without Cody....

I have been so depressed and tried so hard to be happy for Christmas, but it just wasn't what I hoped for. Unfortunately, if mom isn't happy, no one is happy. Although, Christmas morning everyone was happy and pleased with what 'Santa' gave them.

I did get from Jason the following, it has lots of memory and I can load tons of movies. One very large problem.....I no longer have the internet at home to download the most recent ITunes version on my computer, so it is still sitting in the box looking pretty. I think I am feeling sorry for myself......or getting the winter blues....I like winter though....? What is up with that?

Friday, Friday, Friday, my friend Friday!

We went to my work Christmas party last night at the Downtown Marriott (go figure). It was a lot of fun, it would have been funner if the beer was free, for Jason's sake anyway. We have Jason's Christmas party tonight at the Hotel Monaco, this one should be fun, it is a nice hotel as well. http://www.monaco-saltlakecity.com/?WT.mc_n=MonacoSLC_Google_NAME&WT.mc_t=Hotel_PPC&WT.srch=1

This week has been crazy, by the end of today I will have worked 55 hours.....

Isaac is sick again...came home early from school yesterday and threw up three times.

I put together 60 gifts for the kids in Clarice's and Isaac's school class last night before the party.

AND...last but not least ~

Cody hasn't eaten in three days.....I will miss that bear, my Cody Bear....They always treat us better than we treat them.....We will spend our last day with him today and make a great memorial for him in the back yard. Jason and I will plant one of our favorite trees there.

(This picture was taken last weekend)

Breaking and Entering....

Yesterday, my father called me from Denver stating that he turned off the heat to the basement and wanted me to go turn it on so his pipes wouldn't freeze. PROBLEM: I have a key to the front door, that isn't the problem....the problem was......he locked the storm-door and I DO NOT have a key to that door....he actaully asked Jason and I to go around to all the windows and try and break in, yes, he asked me to break in. When I was younger I tried to get out, now I am trying to get in......WTH? After large amounts of trying, and three different screw drivers we were able to get it, and you know what? The heat was ON in the WHOLE house, their house was warmer than mine. Jason and I sat outside in 24 degree wheather for 1/2 hour to break into a warm house. My fear was that someone would call the police and we would end up being arrested for breaking and entering to my own parents home......Merry Christmas....send my gifts in care of the County Jail. I still have a few questions though.....Why do you lock the storm door when you know that NO ONE can get in if there is a problem while you are gone in the middle of winter? Also, why do you put pipes in every sliding door and window of your house? Are you trying to keep people in, or out? Okay after all is said and done it was really funny. I call him from inside his house and I tell him the heat is on, and he says, really? I don't remember turning it on, I love you dad, really I do, it is funny. Thank goodness Jason is a very handy man.

Snowflakes and a Rolls of Nickles

When I was growing up every Christams my grandma Holbrook would give us each a roll of Nickles and a handmade Doilie (I'm sure I spelled that wrong). The whole way home I would complain and whine. You know what, I want my Doilie. My grandma has been gone for 16 years, and I really miss those doilies. I'm sorry grandma for not being thankful, I really cherish them now. I miss walking into your home Christmas morning and you giving us all that hugh smile. You may not have always remembered our names but you were always happy to see us. Merry Christmas Grandma, I miss you.

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought ofsomething he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

~Dr. Seuss

Chelsea, it is your 17th Birthday.....I love you tons.....I hope you have a wonderful day today! You are the sunshine of my life.

I went to the 2 day Toys R Us sale this morning,
here are a few things that I completely scored on.........
I am so excited to play with this myself,
it stands almost three feet tall.




Christmas for the kids is done....

Reasons Why Jared isn't as Entertaining as Ember:

• He won't pretend to like my sugar free candy, he says it leaves a waxy film in his mouth. Maybe I can put a wick in it? Oh the possibilities.
  
• My nag-o-meter is constantly on High, yes I have a nag-o-meter created just for me, I am somewhat proud of it.
  
• He doesn't like the Native American name I gave him, 'Squatting Calve', he said his dad was 'Sitting Bull', process of deduction would mean that he is 'Squatting Calve'. Geeze, some people are so sensitive, he is now 15% gay. Ember would like it.....
  
• He won't come over to chat because I don't have REAL food in my 'pantry', what? Who doesn't like Saltine Crackers and Apple Chips? Please don't answer that one, I feel stupider just saying it, and lost 8 brain cells.
  
• He says since Ember is gone that I have to run his errands, I don't cave to Jared pressure, and I am not interested in being the Bank of Feliece.
  
• He gives me a big disgusting sigh when I walk in his office like, 'for the love is it YOU again?'
  
• He doesn't care for my stories about the kids......damn boys.....
  
• 3 people have asked me if Jared will ever reach the age of 6.
  
• He told me I am much more aggressive when Ember isn't around.....screw you bastard.....he he he...I guess he has a point, but I won't tell him he is right.
  
• He keeps giving me demerits, I feel like I am going to have to send a progress report home to my parents to sign.
  
• He is telling me to go talk to the 'Nose Picker', this is where I am going to have to draw the line or the booger, you 'pick'........he he he.....damn I kill myself...I am so funny....!!
  
• He is a dumb ass, okay maybe only 63%.....

Waves of Distruction......

Dear Diary: Day three, yes day three already! The weather in Hawaii yesterday was suppose to be horrible.....HA HA HA....(picture me wrenching my hands together and head tilted back laughing). Wave warnings are below.........directly from the weather service. (Ember you know I am just kidding, I do feel a little bad you can't really play in the water, I only say this becuase I know Ember will kick my ass when she gets back)

SURF HEIGHTS ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES WILL RISE TO ADVISORYLEVELS OF 10 TO 15 FEET LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND WARNING LEVELS OF20 TO 25 FEET EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.SURF HEIGHTS ALONG WEST FACING SHORES WILL RISE TO 8 TO 12 FEETLATE THIS AFTERNOON AND WARNING LEVELS OF 15 TO 20 FEET EARLYTHURSDAY MORNING.A HIGH SURF WARNING INDICATES THAT DANGEROUS...BATTERING WAVEWILL POUND THE SHORELINE. THIS WILL RESULT IN VERY DANGEROUSSWIMMING CONDITIONS...AND DEADLY RIP CURRENTS.

Chelsea is on her birthday countdown......okay really she has been since June. It is 6 days away until her 17th birthday and on her official birthday week.......the week where she does nothing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY week.......

How cute is this?

www.sassafras.typepad.com

The 'Soul' of Me....

Well, as everyone knows I am Collective Soul's biggest fan, okay maybe not the 'biggest' fan to the point where I stalk them or send them my underwear, nothing creepy like that. They are re-releasing this CD with three new songs on it AND a free one year membership to their fan club.....I know, I know, you are currently asking yourselves, 'how old is she', age is irrelevant.....he he he I already have the CD but wouldn't it be worth it to see Ed and his brother Dean sing? Well DUH? *****Hilary, no comment from you about the elevator....

Day Two:

Dear Diary:

It is day two without Ember and things have already gone awry. As I rolled out of bed this morning both legs had charlie horses in them (not the one with four legs that you ride on, that would be odd, the ones that make you feel like you are going to kill yourself if they don't go away, I want the pretty horses instead). At least I could smell coffee, oh coffee, my hot, dark, friend. Yesterday wasn't the same without Ember to laugh at my jokes.......Jared just rolls his eyes at me and pretends to be amused. I thought of changing her reservation to 'Handicap accessible' he he he.....As Ember sits on the beach today maybe she will get stung by a jellyfish.....I hear if you pee on it the pain will go away and stop the swelling.....I can picture Ty right now peeing on Ember......visual, very funny visual. Evil, I am so evil..... Truly, I am just jealous that Ember is in Hawaii and I am not. Current weather in Hawaii is 73......you suck Ember.....



I went to the RS Christmas dinner last night and it was a lot of fun. When I got home the house looked like a cyclone had hit it, the kids were still up, and for dinner they made themselves toast. I asked Jason what he had done all night and he said, 'I have sat here all night and played my DS', in shock, I say 'REALLY' I never would have known. Than he looks at me and says, 'are you angry', well of course not, why would I be angry? Oh well......welcome to my world.....I would bitch more but my family would just ask if I was going to start me period. Can I get a 'Do Over' button?

Hilary, we should make these, they are really stinkin' cute! Okay if necessary you can watch me make them..... Love you little sis of mine.....

Dear Diary: It is day one at work without Ember.....what kind of friend goes to Hawaii for 10 days and leaves you at work. Well it's oaky, I will find away to get back at her......I did call her son and gave him a list of things to do in Hawaii that Ember DID NOT want to do....he he he....evil, I am evil. I told him that he should make his mom take him to see the currently erupting volcano (which is on a completely different island than where they are staying), Ember take your CC you will need it. Weather in Hawaii currently is as follows:

64°F
Current: ClearWind: E at 2 mphHumidity: 73%
Tue79°F 61°F
Wed79°F 63°F
Thu79°F 63°F
Fri79°F 61°F

View of the hotel, note that it is a private beach.