Turkey cookin

So... Julie asked me why I hadn't told this story and really she is right, it is pretty funny in hindsight.

The day before Christmas Joshs mom got really, really sick.  She always cooks the turkey and ham so we have never had to do it before.  Well Friday morning I got a call from Julie saying mom is really sick, we need to spend the day cooking for her so she doesn't have to do it.  OK.... how hard can cooking a turkey be?!

We brought it to my house and stared at it for awhile trying to figure out where to begin.  We started by pulling out the neck and ripping the heart off the hind end.  But there was this huge piece of plastic stuck in its butt that would not budge, it was still a bit to icy inside.  We searched around for the giblets package but realized they didn't put one in this bird.  We waited ever so patiently for the dang bird to thaw but it was taking forever so I got this great idea to go and get my blow dryer and stick it in the birds rear end,  Julie held the birds legs apart and  it was working wonderfully until we started smelling hair product, so we ended that idea.  It had gone on just long enough to thaw it enough to get out the plastic piece.

We put the bird in and 6 hours later it was done.  In the meantime Joshs mom called and asked if we had pulled the giblet and heart package out and cooked it for Josh, I explained that there was no package and the heart was attached to the bird above the rear end.  She sounded very suspicious of the whole thing but said... "well ok."  I decided to be nice and cook the neck and heart for Josh since he loves them.  After they were done I proudly told him to eat up.  He refused saying that is was obviously not the heart since it had bones in it and skin on it and wanted to know what the heck it was.  Julie and I fought for awhile with him until Julie was cutting up the bird and found the giblet and heart package cooked inside the bird.  We then had to figure out what the heck that heart was, we came to the conclusion it was the tail.  I guess we should have figured it out when we had to rip it from the hind end of the bird.

I also should say... have you ever seen a turkey neck??  A few years ago Julie saw the neck and asked if it was the turkeys "dinger"... we explained if it was it would drag on the ground when the turkey ran.  So everytime I looked at the neck while cooking I imagined this turkey having this "dinger".

We took the cooked bird out to Joshs mom and dads and told them the story of the bird cooking and after laughing so hard I thought they might pee themselves, they told us we should show Martha Stewart how to cook a bird!

It ended up being pretty tasty, but it was quite the experience.  Now we know and will be great turkey cookers!

1 year anniversary!

Today is my 1 year anniversary since I quit smoking!  It is honestly almost hard for me to remember what my life as a smoker was like but I know it feels so good to have the freedom being free of smoking provides.  I am now past the part where the smell of a cigarette makes my mouth water and am now to the part where it just plain stinks. 

This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done!!!

Chef Ry

Rylan LOVES to cook, bake or anything that involves being in the kitchen.  I keep telling him he can be the next Guy Fieri... I LOVE that guy!  Anyway... he is now taking a cooking class through the 4-H program and he is loving every second of it.

For Christmas he got his own "Chefs outfit"... he loves it!

Check out this little chef

Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  It really did not feel like Christmas at all this year so it was a little hard getting into the spirit but all in all it was a good day.   I do have to say that Jace was so excited this year I thought his little heart just might blow up.  I don't think he ever thought Christmas would get here.  Jace asked for 3 things this year.... a bike, a Nintendo DS and an X-box 360 and what the heck?!  He got all 3!!  Santa brought the bike and then grandparents filled in the rest, lucky kid!  Ry really wanted a bike and santa came through for him too.

We also took our annual picture with my side of the family... so fun to look at every year!

TWINS!!

On the 14th of Decemeber the Love family was given to beautiful little blessings.  Joshs brother Jerry and his wife gave birth to twins.  Calvin Joseph and Amber Kay were both healthy and about as perfect as can be.  How fun it will be to have twins in the family!

Sledding and tree decorating

 Last weekend the boys went sledding.  They LOVE to sled, again I do not like the cold so I sat this one out but from all the pictures it looks like they had a great time!

On Wednesday night we decorated our tree.  This is one of my favorite traditions.  I remember growing up we would go and pick out a tree as a family, turn on the Chimpunks Christmas music and decorate the tree together, it is a tradition I have carried on.

Snow day!

Yesterday we woke up to almost a foot of snow at our house.  I honestly cannot remember when it has ever snowed a foot over night!  Makes days like those tough being a bus driver, that is for sure.  But luckily it was a snow day here in Homedale and the boys and I didn't have to go anywhere.

The boys were so eager to get out and play in the snow but anyone that knows me knows I HATE the snow!  So luckily for them Aunt Julie was happy to come over and play with them.  They really are lucky to have her... in so many ways.

All in all it was a great day at home.

College Bound

On Monday I registered for my first 2 classes... there is officially no turning back now!  My goal is to be done in 5 years!

Jace turns 8!

On November 20th Jace turned 8 years old... technically it was at 6:04pm.  I seriously cannot believe he is 8 years old.  Geesh... where has all the time gone?!

On Friday he had his best friend Joseph (I LOVE that kid) spend the night and we went bowling and ate dinner then came back and had a typical sleep over.... you know, NO sleep.

On Saturday wehad his "family" party and he sure got a lot of great gifts.  It was a great birthday but seemed older somehow this year... different from all his other birthdays.  Just another sign he is growing up.

Of all the cakes he could choose from, he chose the hunting cake.  This kid is so much like his father it is unreal!

Halloween weekend

Oh my goodness.... this has to be the longest Halloween ever!  It started on Friday when the businesses here in town did the annual safe and sane trick or treating.  Obviously they had to do it friday since Sunday almost all of them are closed.  I love that our city does this and the boys had a great time.

                                                 I love this picture with the flag in the background

                                                                       The whole gang

On Saturday Joshs Aunt had a Halloween party at her house... they had fun games for the kids and some great food!  The boys begged me to dress up and I really am not big on dressing up but I did a little for them!

Making brother a mummy

Bummed this didn't turn out better (camera was cold).  Jace with his Uncle who was in the army.

All in all it was a great weekend with my boys but I am happy Halloween is over for the year!

Idaho City

On Saturday my sis in laws and I decided to kidnap my mother in law for the day and take her to the mountains.  She hasn't been on a drive in so long... she spent all her time taking care of her mom and she so deserved a trip out.  I LOVE being with these girls... I have been with Josh so long that his sisters are just like sisters to me and his mom is my 2nd mom.  I really love these gals... and we always have so much fun together.

When we woke up Saturday morning we realized it was icky and raining out so we decided just to go to Idaho City and get some lunch... look at all the beautiful fall colors and then come back.  After we got there and had lunch, it was fairly warm out so we drove into the mtns a little ways and let  the kids get out and run around. 

All in all we had such a good day and I think it was so good for my MIL to get out of the house for the day!

The BIG test

It really wasn't the BIG test but it sure felt like it.  I went in today and took my COMPASS test... which is basically a placement test.  You really cannot fail it but that still was not very reassuring!  I have been studying up on my algebra for the last 3 weeks.  Problem is I didn't understand algebra (and failed it) 13 years ago when I took it in HS.... not really sure how I expected to understand it now.  I did my best and got a really bad score on my placement test so I will be taking Math 015 (pre-algebra) and then Math 025 (algebra) before I can even take a college level class (and one where I actually get credits for it).  The same classes kids on my bus are taking right now.  UGGG!  Although I think now I will do much better because I actually want to learn this stuff... not at all like HS.

On the good side... I got a near perfect score in both my reading and writing!!  So they will start me much higher up in those classes.

Oficially I start classes in January and I am so, so excited!!  They said if I can go 1/2 time, which is 2 classes a semester then I should be done about May of 2015.  I figure I will still only be 36, lots of time left!

Some pictures I came across

I came across some pictures from the basement the other day and really these ones have no rhyme or reason as to why I am putting them on here... they just stood out and I decided I would like to have them on my blog.


                                                My mom and I... it says I was 3 months old

                                           My dad and I... it says I was 10 months old

  This picture was in the newspaper... My grandpa was LT. Governor at the time and it was the day my   brother was born.  We were looking in on the Senate.

                                                                       Our Junior Prom

Our Senior Picture

I'm finally doing it!!!

I have wanted so, so badly for the last 8 years or so to go back to school and get my RN (registered nurse).  I even went to school to get my MA (Medical Assisting) because it was much faster then getting my RN but quickly found out the schools push more people through then there are jobs available for MA's, and honestly I make more money driving bus then I would as an MA.

SOOOO.... I am all signed up through CWI to start school in January!!!!  It will probably take me a year or two longer then it would if I didn't have a family but that is ok.  I will do whatever it takes to get this done.  I will actually be able to do most of my core classes online, so that will be wonderful!  The RN program is extremely hard to get into at any college so I will just take that as it comes and pray that I will be able to get into one.

I am so happy to finally be pursuing what I feel like I have always been meant to do!  I hope to be writing a post in 5-6 years from now saying that I am working in a hospital in the OB department, that is my ultimate goal!

11 years ago....

11 years ago this week I married the love of my life.... the "man of my dreams".  I cannot believe how fast it has gone by and how many memories we have created along the way.  He really does complete me and I still look at him and think "I am so in love with that man".  We have had many ups and many downs and it hasn't always been easy, somedays we have really, really had to work at loving each other and other days it has been so natural but not once have I ever regretted one second of our life together.  I wouldn't change one moment!

Happy anniversary Josh... I love you so much!  Thanks for being you!!!

Quick trip to Twin

Josh has the best boss (and bosses wife) in the world... he really does.  They are wonderful people who really do appreciate what Josh does.... and they show it.  Last weekend they invited us to Twin to go watch the races (Joshs boss races) and they would get us a room and pay for the tickets into the races.  My boys love to watch him race so we jumped at the opportunity and we had such a great time!!

We drove down Saturday afternoon, after Jaces football game and came home on Sunday.  BUT before leaving on Sunday Josh surprised me and bought me a new wedding ring set for our anniversary!!!  It is beautiful and I cannot wait to pick it up on Friday!!!

Saying goodbye to a wonderful lady

Last week Joshs grandma passed away, she was 87 years old and she was a wonderful woman.  She LOVED her grandkids and great grandkids more then anything and was very active in all their lives.  And she cracked me up... she was very quiet but she had her opinions, and she knew how to get a point across if she needed to.  Her 1st husband died when she was in her 30's and her second died 23 years ago, she was a very independent woman.

I have many stories about her that make me laugh... from her running her motorized shopping cart into the sunglass display at Target to the pillow that had a flammable warning on it and she thought for sure it was going to spontanously combust.  She made me laugh.... alot.  She was warm hearted, fun loving and easy going and her grandkids thought the world of her.  When I was thinking back on her the other day I realized that I first met her almost 20 years ago.... before Josh and I were even together and even then I remember thinking what a neat lady she was.

She is going to be missed terribly by everyone that knew her... and a whole lot by my boys who really, really loved her.

Girls trip

On Friday Julie and I headed out for a trip to SLC and Lagoon.  It was kindof a last minute decision and I am so glad we did it.  Friday night we spent the night in Jackpot... although we really didn't gamble.  Julie is not much of a gambler and I am going to be in Jackpot in 2 weeks so thought I would save my gambling.  we did eat a nasty buffet though.

On Saturday we got up early and drove into SLC.. we stopped in Wendover and ate breakfast and then went on to Salt Lake.  After getting our hotel room we went to a chocolate store.... YUM!  Then went to downtown SLC and went shopping.  So much fun!!  Later that evening we went to a restaurant called The Mayan.  It is Mexican food but while you are eating there is a pool next to you and people dive into it.  The show was pretty cool but the food was not very good. 

On Sunday we spent the majority of the day at Lagoon... I am not nearly as tough as I use to be on some of those rides.  I use to be fearless, not so much anymore!!  That evening we went to the coolest little movie theater in Bountiful nd watched Vampires Suck.

We drove home Monday.  All in all we had a wonderful time and it was so good to get away for a few days, but I was more then ready to get back home and see my boys.

BSU and the fair

Last weekend Jace got to play football at BSU.... he was stoked.  He LOVES the Broncos and couldn't wait to play where they played.  Ended up he had to play outside the stadium... darnit!  He still had a blast though.

After that we went to the Boise fair... I LOVE the fair!  Mainly I love it to people watch.... the strangest folk come out to the fair, why is that??!!  We had a great time and were going to get on a ride that evening when out of nowhere a 70mph wind gust came through there.  It was insane... things went everwhere.  I guess there was several injuries but we were fortunate not to be around all those tents when it hit.  We headed for the parking lot and that is where we stayed for over 2 hours.  I have never been in traffic like that and I hope to never be again!!

All in all it was a great day!!

School... really?!

The boys went back to school yesterday.  It was a very sad day for me.  This summer has gone by soooo fast and my baby was starting Kindergarten.  I cried for most of the morning while Ry was gone and was very eager to get him at 11.

Jace was not thrilled about going back but Ry had been counting down the days on the calendar.  He was so excited to start school.  I think they both are going to love there teachers and have a great year.


                                               Jace - 2nd grade, Ry  - Kindergarten

BRACES??? ALREADY!!!

Last week Jace got braces on.  Everyone I tell that to says Braces, already?  We are not thrilled about it but his dentist told me he doesn't refer patients as young as Jace very often to orthos but Jace was one he thought needed it pretty bad.  Of course.... that is the luck we have with him.

So one week later we were in getting braces on the top, a retainer on the bottom and a jaw expander on the roof of his mouth.  This is just the first round of braces... he will have to do it again in about 5-6 years.

So far he seems to be doing very well with them and has had virtually no pain.  He was being a goof in the pic below :)

Ry takes 1st place

On Thursday at the fair they had a vegetable contest where you had to make something using just vegetables and enter it into a contest that would be judged.  On a whim the boys decided to enter and both turned out super cute but Ry took 1st place and won $15.00.  They had alot of fun!!!

                                       Ry's is on the left and Jaces is on the right.

Lewis the Goat

Last week was our local fair here and this was Jaces first year in 4H. We had a wonderful time but basically lived at the fairgrounds and were exhausted by the end of the week. And we can't wait to do it again next year, lol.

Let me start by saying I could not stand Lewis when we first got him for Jaces 4H program. Lewis is a pygmy goat and Lewis is the most stubborn goat there ever was. But after lots of working with him Lewis turned out to be a pretty good goat and by the end of fair I actually really liked Lewis.

Jace did well when he showed Lewis and Lewis only drug Jace one time. A HUGE improvement for Lewis! Jace was only a cloverbud in 4H this year so there was no champion or grand champion but he did get a participation ribbon... which he was very happy about.