You don’t have to brush your teeth - just the ones you want to keep.

Do you ever have those days where you just want to lay on the couch snuggled up watching your favorite movie? I do...ohhh wait that's what I did this afternoon.

It was a rough day not like this rough day but still tiring.

I had a dentist appointment today, I went two weeks ago and learned I had a cavity or 2 or 3!!! I know, I know this sounds terrible but I promise I brush my teeth and even floss regularly.

I also had to get fitted for a "night guard" to wear at night...duh! I have been grinding my teeth in my sleep, well that is what Graysen says and I have been having headaches but my eyes check out fine. I hope I can handle wearing this thing in my sleep without gagging. I never had braces or a retainer, I was a very lucky child so were my parents for getting to skip a huge payment on my teeth!

It was all very funny when I came home and my smile looked like I could be related to Elvis but that soon wore off when the numbing medicine went away. It wasn't so funny when I could barely get dinner down but now that I am craving the pumpkin roll cake that is in my kitchen I think I am suddenly starting to miraculously feel better.

My clan, my network...my Family

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching next week I am more than excited to eat dressing and pumpkin pie until I have to be carried or rolled away from the table then lay on my parents couch and watch Christmas movies all day.


But I am even more thrilled to spend time with my family.


We are all very blessed to be in good health, cared for and loved more than we could ever imagine by our parents and each other. We are all coming from different directions this Thanksgiving, it's the first year that my parents haven't had anyone living at home.


Phil will be coming in from Florida, Scotty joined the Marines and will be departing in March , Amy just got her first "big girl" job which is keeping her busy and my brother Drake well...he's just trucking along and doing the normal things a teenager does, I guess. Plus it's our first Thanksgiving as a married couple. I know this Thanksgiving is going to be special for many reasons because this will be one of the happiest moments we look forward to sharing and remembering.




(My brother Scotty, sister Amy, my Parents, Me, my husband Graysen,my brother Drake and my brother Phil.)




I started this blog a year ago today and looking back through old posts this morning it has helped me realize just how important my family is to me and what a huge role they all play in my life and will continue to do for my future. My family. We are a crazy group characters trudging through life sharing secrets and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo or throwing hairbrushes at each other, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.

Repeat Offender

Oscar's newest habit is biting, not just biting his toys but everything he's NOT supposed to be chewing on. This weekend it was like he kicked into full blown nipping mode and I could barely walk around the house without him on my heels.

I bought a book last weekend about how to train your puppy...I haven't learned much so far. I've really tried to read every detail in the book and even share them with Graysen so Oscar has consistencies. BUT by the time he is hanging by my hand I can't say "NO Biting" in a stern voice, I instead scream "OUCHHH OSCCAAARRRRR" at the top of my lungs! I busted him in the act of trying to chew off G's arm.



(No, my husband does not always wear a fleece jacket without a shirt under it,he just threw it on late one night to take Oscar outside, he actually will die when he sees this picture! So, let's not tell him it's on here mmmkay??)


I went last night and bought him more chew toys, as if he needed more toys. And the fabulous Kong thingy I had heard so many people suggest. I never truly believed it could occupy his time for an hour or two but once you squeeze the puppy stuff in it he goes wild and won't let it out of his mouth. AMAZING! His toys held him over from the biting for a bit.



I hope this biting phase passes fast because at the rate he is definitely a repeat offender for sure...any suggestions or helpful puppy training tips? It's a rough life for Oscar around here, I mean this puppy has it made!

Fa La La La Laaa!

I can feel it in the air and I saw it Saturday while shopping. Christmas is here and so are the cruel shoppers that slam their buggy into yours while you are just browsing down the aisle. While running errands and shopping at Sam's Saturday I kept repeating nice things aloud to Graysen for fear of blowing it and screaming at a lady who wouldn't let me by after I poliety asked her 3 times! Seriously? All I wanted to do was play on the touch screen computer, with all the others 20 kids that were crowded around fighting and yelling, " I'm next!" "NO, Mom said I could touch itttttt!!!". Needless to say I needed 2 Advils and didn't get to touch the screen...

I did pick out a few things I needed or really more so just wanted and made sure to write them down so my Santa Clause could remember exactly what I wanted at Pier 1.

This would be a fantastic holiday prize from Ruby and Roja!

(Even though they did just update my blog header a few months ago, listen, a girl's got to change it up. I mean would you want to wear the same pair of shoes everyday?That's what I thought...)

Head over there and enter for your chance to win...it's a BIG giveaway!

It's official people...

My finger is crooked.

As some of you dedicated readers(dedicated meaning about...hmmm... 3 people) know back in September I got a hairline fracture from kickboxing in my right hand. The Dr. said it was healing nicely and would look "normal" in a few weeks...NOT is what I wanted to scream at him last week after a checkup! He did release me and say it was fine for me to start the kickboxing again which I am immediately regretting today!

Not because of the trainer, anyone who puts up with my complaints and whining during a workout can handle anything. So, I started back yesterday, I woke up this morning and thought I had the flu, I seriously couldn't move out of bed.
Then I remembered I got a flu shot about 2 weeks ago so that couldn't be it. I crawled out of bed and could barely raise my hands to wash my hair in the shower. I made it out of the shower and was fixing a bowl of cereal when I noticed it

THE MIDDLE FINGER!

It is so crooked I can't even try to straighten it without the help of pulling on it with my left hand.

If beauty is only skin deep then why are we all concerned with our appearance?.I constantly say I will get started on a NEW workout plan and eat healthier but after just eating a piece of left over Halloween candy I now feel like I should hop on the treadmill! I have got to change my diet and exercise plan, it's not going to be my resolution for next year, I am going to do it NOW!

I guess the good news is this crooked finger can still open a candy bar if it HAS to!

Viva La Vida

I am still coming down from a "concert high" after Wednesday nights performance by Coldplay at the Philips Arena. Philips is a very nice and clean place, I would go to any event there again and pay $10 bucks for a delicious Cinnamon pretzel and Sprite!

G and I decided we didn't care much for the screaming opening act, they were a band we had never heard of and actually couldn't understand much they were saying...so we opted for a self photo shot!



During the middle of the show these amazing butterflies dropped from the ceiling...







and most of them stuck, to EVERYTHING including me!

I took a few pictures of the band but my camera isn't the best, we did have great floor seats though. I already got Oscar so now I just have to work on getting the camera that I have wanted too!

On this day...

November 4, 2008 I would like to say that I was a first time voter, yes it has been hard to admit but I faced my fear today. I actually felt like I was showing up for an alcoholics anonymous meeting as I walked into the community center with a book in hand. I was fully prepared to read a chapter or two but when I opened the door there were only about FOUR people in the room.

I thought I was definitely in the wrong place and looked like a freshman on the first day of high school...not really but I did feel pretty lost until a helpful volunteer guided me in the correct direction. I was a little surprised when they handed me a folder and pen and I had to fill in the bubble of my choice, at that point I really did feel like I was in high school and I got the sweaty palms but it all passed after I got the first pen mark on my ballot.

I was thinking about wearing my Halloween costume to vote BUT,Joe,you know my plumber had to be at work early this morning and was unable to make it to the polls with me.







(I'm starting to scare myself the more I look at this pictures, the resemblance is almost too much!)

We actually did see Russia from our house on Halloween night, I think it had to do with my Goodwill outfit. All kidding aside...I am very thankful and feel blessed for the freedom that I have in oUr Simply beAutiful country.