Faces of Halloween!

Halloween!

Nana: The Baby Witch?

Mr. Wonderful, Nana, and the Caboose as a Witch. Her second costume change of the day.

Nana actually went to High School like this today. A Big Baby.

Commando Guy. Something funny: Two days ago the phone rings--on callerID it says United States Gov...it was an Army Recruiter calling for Nana who graduates this year and just turned 18 last week.

Commando was downstairs and hears me call for Nana to pick up the phone and that it was the "United States Government US ARMY" for her.

Commando was so excited that they were calling, he said, "Is Nana gonna join?" I told him Nope she wasn't. His twinkle brightened as he said, "Hey, maybe they could use ME--maybe as a Scout or somethin'!" He longingly looks over at Norad Mountain along the Front Range here, and loves that we are along the same road as an Entrance to the Air Force Academy. (Seriously, it's about a mile from our street).

Dani helping with the camo makeup.

As she's doing this, she says, "Ugh, crusty. EW."

Dani wouldn't let Commando look at his face until she was done.

The Caboose's 2nd costume--she trick r treated in this one.

She went to school as Mulan though.

Mulan in the House.

Sudden Small Inspiration!

Five Things I am Grateful For Today:

1) My husband, my old self, all of my children: David Scott & Tisha, Danielle & Brad, Dean, Diana, Dara, Joseph and Arianna are all healthy and physically able to pursue our dreams.

2) I'm home in Colorado Springs. I love Pikes Peak.

3) Kent is employed.

4) We have been blessed with good friends who watch out for us.

5) Prayers: spoken and unspoken, always answered.

* thanks to a Mom in Canada who posted this on her blog and inspired me to stop and reflect on my own blessings today. I needed this.

Chocolate & Wedding Planning

I need an aspirin. Or a nap. Maybe an aspirin AND a nap. We have 7 weeks to get a wedding organized. I think I can I think I can I think...I th-th-th..what is it I'm doing? Hunh?

Ok, we ordered the dress. Check. Secured the reception sites. (One luncheon, 2 receptions--one in Idaho and one in Colorado)-Check. Reserved the Temple date in Salt Lake. Check. Set the date for the Bridal shower and print the invitations. Check. What's left? Ohhhh just a gazillion quadrillion things...flowers, cake, photographer, wedding announcements, register for the wedding, his ring, transportation to Utah, Idaho and back, I can't remember what else.

I have been online looking this stuff up until my bum is nearly as numb as my brain. I just wanted to show up in a pretty dress...that was my plan. Suddenly, I am becoming a wedding planner. I cry FOUL. This was so much easier being the groom's Mom last year. I can do this, I can I can I can...I WILL do this...and it will be Fabulous. Me, and a little help from my friends!!!

Aspirin isn't gonna touch THIS, we're gonna need chocolate.

My New Side Business!

Thanks to Lorna and Kevin, this is my new side business! Scentsy is pretty "Big" in Idaho, but not in Colorado, so I am way excited to share this fun product with my friends here. The product is something I myself own and I love it. If you want to see more or even place an order, you can check out my very own Scentsy website: http://www.scentsy.com/daybreak

Let me know what you think? I'm going to host an Open House in November to kick-start this business and have some fun. There's never a bad reason to share an evening with friends!

Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs

This is where I spent my day today with my 8th grader's class on a Field trip. Having lived in the Springs for several years, I was somewhat embarrassed that this was my first trip down there. I have to say, it was totally worth my time. Definitely a "feel good" experience. Our tour guide "Nicki" is a Jr. Olympian and very knowledgable--she fielded alot of questions from our group and was great. We even got to watch the Women's Wrestling team practice--which I have to say was pretty intense.

The best question during the tour was when Nicki asked the group what they wanted to see most--"MICHAEL PHELPS!" yelled a girl in the crowd! That was funny. It became a recurrent theme throughout the tour...when we went to the gym and especially at the now-emptied Swimming Pool. One girl got all giddy just thinking that Michael Phelps had actually been in that pool! It was cute.

So if you haven't been there, I would recommend it. In fact, if you come to visit me, plan on it.

We're going. Oh and the "Spirit Shop" as they call it is a neat souvenir shop too.

Don't Eat Dad's Breakfast!

I want to report a crime. I have a suspect and an accomplice. Oh yes, I can name names.

In my efforts to become, as Dr. Laura puts it, "my husband's girlfriend", I bought a whole box of Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches this week for my dh, Kent,b/c he drives through icy mornings to Denver. And, truth be told, I am not ready to meet my day at 5am, so this is my way of "supporting" him. Kinda lame admitting that, I know.

ANYWAY, when I bought them earlier this week, I expressly cautioned Joseph about not asking Daddy to share them, as I do get up with the kids and make them whatever they want for breakfast and I KNEW Joseph would go to Kent and ask him to share-- and Kent being the awesomest Dad on the Planet, (and a "sucka-dad" to Joseph) would give in to such a request---so I threatened his life if he even ASKED for one!

So this morning, as Kent was kissing my sleeping cheek "good-bye" like he always does...he whispers, "Is it okay if Joseph has one of my breakfast croissants?" Even in my dead-head sleepy mind I was not happy about it....but I was too tired to say more than, " Idoncare."

So a little hand brushes my cheek around 6:30am and says, "Mommmmmmmm....did Daddy ask you a question?" "Yes", I say. "Uh, Mommmmm...what was your answer?"

I said, "Idoncare." He let out a shriek of delight and bounded down the hall to share the good news with Arianna, who also shrieked.

Now, how am I supposed to be "my husband's girlfriend" when I am clearly undermined by tricky 9 year olds? Anyone?? A crime has been committed. Joseph manipulated his father's will by unknown means and stole his Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches right out from under his nose. I want to press charges.

Down Memory Lane

We're coming up on the anniversary of one of the Best Days Ever... This is handsdown my most favorite picture of Tisha and David Scott--because you just wonder what in the world he said to make her lose it right there?! And doesn't his face just look suspicious?! like he knows he is so dang funny?! yeah, that's my boy.

Joseph's face says what he was feeling that day. He said it was "the worst day" of his life. He adores David Scott and hated that David Scott was getting married, to be taken away by Tisha forever. lol We kept saying "SMILE, Joseph! SMILE!" And this is all he could muster. Pitiful isn't it? His eyes look as though he could cry any moment.

Tisha's immediate family that day: 427. Ours that day: 6.

We love you David Scott and Tisha!

UpStaged! new pics

This is the AFTER of the walk-out basement ..we made it into a teen gameroom.

BEFORE it was a kind of hang-out/craft catch-all room. With Staging, your rooms need to have a specific identity when they are this large of a space.

BEFORE Kitchen: the heart of the home needed some organization and filtering of non-essentials...in other words, just because it's roomy enough to hold a lot of extra stuff (like the child's desk), doesn't mean it should.

This isn't the best AFTER pic of the kitchen, but you can see it with a fresh look. You notice the counters, the cabinets and space more. Did you even notice the veggie sink on the island in the Before pic? I missed it the first couple of times I went into the house myself.

When Staging, put away all of your non-essentials so the perspective buyer can appreciate the structure and amenities of the home itself, cuz really, that's what they're looking to invest in...not your stuff.

First Snow of the Winter!

Old Man Winter has poked out his head and snuffed my Fall sentiments in ice.

We awoke to icy roads and a couple inches of snow this morning. I love snow, but ice is no fun! I was slipping and sliding on neighborhood roads going 5 miles an hour! No kidding!

Today's a great day to finish reading a book and make a great chili for dinner!

Second Verse Same as the First!

Can you think of a more beautiful place to spend a few days at Christmas??

Last December 22nd, our family was blessed to share David Scott and Tisha's special wedding day with them in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a wonderful experience!

Now, it is looking like we may be there again this December. Dani and Brad were talking about a Spring wedding--but now it may be in December.

Thanks to Sister Ramsay (my DIL Tisha's wonderful Mom), I can do this! She was so calm and Calming to me last year, I think I can do this! I think I can, I think I can...

I love being a Mom.

The Dress & the Deal!

Dani and I found her dress today. It's advertised online at the Eternity Store, so we hunted down a store here in Colorado Springs, tried it on, fell in love with it and then got very nauseas at the pricetag of 560.00 plus 12 weeks to order it....THEN, I came home, poked around online until I found it on EBAY for $99.00 (delivery is shorter too)!!!! Brand-new from the manufacturer!

Talk about a DEAL!

A "Lift Where You Stand" Season

Singing to full colour

through the rising haze

indigo bunting

~ Guy Simser

I love Autumn...everything about it...the change of colors, the crispness in the morning air, the comfortable structure of back-to-school days, making me appreciate the weekends even more, I love the changes in seasons. I love it all.

This past weekend was busy...our Deano came down for the weekend from Loveland. What a refreshing change to have a child come in the house and within minutes, offer to vacuum the entire house, clean out the car, mop the floor, and cook dinner! lol He loves to feel needed, Valued.

On the way to Fox Run Park, he even offered to "drive next time". LOL

He turned 23 in August, tho mentally he is around 6... he has such a unique "light" inside of him. I find him very interesting as he makes his way through this life-- knowing that he will not have the same kind of earthly experience the rest of my children will have, or have the options they have either. He will not ever learn to drive--thus, he will never be able to go do "whatever he wants"--whether it's go to a movie, a bookstore, a roadtrip, or even to Walmart by himself. He will always be a passenger. He will not ever go to College to pursue some dream he has.

So many things we take for granted--us "normal" ones.

I am profoundly humbled to think that he submitted to this "call" as it were, to come to this earth in a less-than-perfect body, and have a stifled earthly experience so that we can learn to be better. For our sakes, Dean came with special needs that cannot be smoothed away, talked out of, bought nor paid for, or even wished away. No corporation, no amount of money, nothing earthly can touch his mind and make it whole. And he still finds Joy in the Journey. He still smiles, he wants to contribute wherever he can.

It reminds me of Pres. Uchtdorff's talk at conference entitled, "Lift where you Stand"...Dean didn't need to be told to do the best he can with what he has by a General Authority. It is not in his nature to do otherwise. He doesn't need a committee or any outside source telling him to learn to serve others.

I am honored to be his earthly mother. He is the softspot in my heart, and has taught me more about who I am, what's really important in this life and to stop whining about stupid stuff.

This is a Season in his Eternal Existance that is much like our earthly seasons. He will someday be whole and perfect, and be able and eqipped to do all that his heart desires, and do it perfectly--there will be no blundering about or foolishness. He will be Perfect. And no amount of money or earthly things will touch or compare to that. What a splendid Season that will be.

Twitterpated

See that girl? See that skunk?
What do they have in common?

Twitterpation.

Urban Dictionary:
twitterpated:

"n enjoyable disorder characterized by feelings of excitement, anticipation, high hopes, recent memories of interludes, giddiness, and physical overstimulation which occur simultaneously when experiencing a new love. These feelings take over without warning, usually at odd times (such as at a check-out line), with or without the partner present, and make it difficult to concentrate on anything but romance. They interfere with work and safe driving, but should be experienced at least once in every person's lifetime."

Yup. That's what it is.

What does it look like?..when he's not here in the Springs, Shes distracted, inattentive, and barely "here". And when he is here, noone else is in the room but them, no matter how many of us are actually in the room. When she leaves the room, his heart follows her with his gaze.

Twitterpation

is

Fun

to

watch.

New Bedding Evaluation

Okay, so I ordered this bed set from King Linen...it's pretty to look at...but I am dissappointed that the "fluffi-ness" is not as heavy as I am used to for winter bedding*. Still, it is a really pretty set and is worth what it costs.

I cannot wait to show the staged pics of this house once we are done! Kelly and I have worked hard on this one...7 bedrooms is alot of bedrooms! Still, the rooms we have completed are WOW!
Today should be our last day there. Ha! Okay, maybe not. But we are down to 4 rooms left of the entire house. YEA!
I have to say, I love working with Kelly. We work together so well, so effortlessly. We laugh sometimes at the uncanniness we share. Okay, I'm off to work.

* NOTE: After a few nights' use, I must say that the "fluffi-ness" is not an issue where "warmth" is concerned--it's just perfect!

New Bedding Anyone?

Okay, so this is a great place to buy linens online. You cannot beat the prices and the quality is there. My good friend, Dodee, has ordered from them and has nothing but good things to say. This week they are offerring NO SHIPPING on purchases over $49.00.

But really, if you're still using the same quilt/comforter/pillows that you've been using since you got married in 1970--it's time. I have found that many women don't think about their bedrooms as the havens they can be, and would rather buy 412 super hero action figures or Barbies for their kids, instead of spending money on something for them. Stop that. You are the heart of the home, you deserve a place of beauty all your own.

Another Home UpStaged!

I love love love what I do! My partner Kelly and I are having a blast working together as we stage homes for the real estate market! The homeowner was in tears when she saw the results of our work. She'd said that this was her least favorite room in the home...not anymore! She loves it! There will be more pics to come...this house is 4000+ sf...7 bedrooms, 4 bath...more pics are on the way!
BEFORE Family Room


AFTER


VOILA!

General Conference Weekend

It's this weekend! Last April, Dani had just returned from her NJ Mission, and we lived in Idaho...what a difference a few months make!

Last October conference was remarkable in that my oldest son, David Scott, met his future in-laws and asked the Dad's (plural because Tisha has 2 amazing men in her life!) for their daughter's hand. (BEST DECISION HE EVER MADE! Yea! for Tisha!)

This conference weekend, I am home in Colorado, and grateful to be here. Danielle is heading to SLC to see conference in person, with Brad in tow. We're both so excited for her to be able to go to conference --the last time she went, was October 2006--when she sang in the MTC Choir!

For members of the LDS Church, this is a great time for us. We get to listen to the counsel of our Leaders in these troubled times for guidance and peace. President Thomas S. Monson is our Prophet, Seer and Revelator...he is most loved by all of us. His sense of humor, his tender heart that is so full of goodness for everyone, inspires and lifts us up in our daily purpose...to be better today than we were yesterday and to try harder tomorrow than we did today.

We love our Leaders. We look to their examples to learn to live happily and raise our families in love...and to become closer to our Lord, Jesus Christ. It simply doesn't get any better than this.

Check your local listings for times...the days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Conference are Saturday and Sunday, with sessions in the morning and afternoon of each day.