HAPPY NEW YEAR! Love- Jared, Em, Mackay, Malz, Isabelle, and Gracie

INVERSION

According to Wikipedia...."In meteorology, an inversion is a deviation from the normal change of an atmospheric property with altitude. It almost always refers to a temperature inversion, i.e., an increase in temperature with height, or to the layer (inversion layer) within which such an increase occurs. An inversion can lead to pollution such as smog being trapped close to the ground, with possible adverse effects on health. An inversion can also suppress convection by acting as a "cap".

What it really means to me is.....

This is what I see from my windows at work! Grey, foggy, ugliness! We are supposed to get a storm today and while I hate driving in the snow.... a storm would clear out the air! No wonder I have no energy.....

Dinner with the Fam....

Here is a picture of us having dinner at The Cheesecake Factory with the Nielsen family. It was yummy! And it was awesome to have everyone together again (almost). We haven't been all together since Hawaii (June 2009). It was a fun celebration!

We have a big group (15) so we had a long wait but Maren and Loren got to the restaurant early and got our name on the waiting list. . .so the table was ready when everyone got there. Thanks Loren and Maren! It was really fun! BTW.... Jared is really happy.... he just doesn't smile for pictures. And I know that RED is not one of my best colors.....but it's Christmas.....had to wear it!

Last night, Jared and the kids picked me up from work so we could go see the Christmas lights at Historic Temple Square. It has been years since I have gone to see "the lights." Little did we know, there was a Jazz game and several concerts were just starting so parking was next to impossible! Once we finally got out of the car we realized just how cold it was! Brrrr! But we are tough so we bundled up and headed out!


After we got back to the car, we had to make one more stop.....to Wendy's for a nice, cold FROSTY!!! YUM!

Christmas Decorations at the office....Oh Brother!

It was time to decorate our "office space" for Christmas. So, I assigned out the task to a few of the ladies I work with. . . I guess I shudda done it myself! When I came back to my office after a meeting....look what I saw!!! OH-MYLANTA!

Aren't they so sweet to decorate my office door??? Oh, the JOY! Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

I have to say.....the snowman on the board is darling! Do you like the SPORK arms? And even though you can't see it very well.....He is smoking a cigarette!!!! No pipe for our snowman.....just a good 'ol Marlboro! My gals are hysterical! I guess they showed me, didn't they?

PIE NIGHT!

Because Mom and Dad deserted us on Thanksgiving to travel north to convince little Cameron to come out and play, they invited everyone over for PIE NIGHT on Monday (Family Night)! It was so fun! They come up with the best ideas these days! There were cupcakes for the non-pie eaters too. They should have retired years ago!! (Oh yeah, they did!) Here are some pics from the night! Pie, Pie, me oh my! I love pie!

Winter has hit!!!!

It's winter in Utah! My 40 minute commute was over 2 hours today! Oh, the joys of a Utah winter!!! GRRR!

A tale of two trees....

Those who know me well, know I have a little tree issue.....I can't let the kids help decorate the tree! Kids around a tree make me extremely ANXIOUS! Why, I am not sure? I know it sounds horrible but I want my tree decorated in a certain way and a certain order. It's all about the PROCESS! We all know that kids don't work that way. Mackay and Mallory are used to this odd behavior...Isabelle and Gracie are not! So, I bit the bullet and let them decorate the smaller tree in our living room (the main tree is downstairs and I decorated it when they weren't home to avoid any unpleaseantness). I gave them a few instructions so I didn't totally lose it and I left the premises! I started feeling anxious as soon as they started picking up the ornaments....It is better not to watch! When they finished, this is what I saw...They did a great job! (I did move a few things around but tried not to move too much) This is a tradition I may be able to live with...I decorate one tree and let the kids decorate another while I am in another room, city, or state...

The funniest thing is my tree is nothing fabulous! A simple tree that the Festival of Trees would laugh at.... Anyway....Here is MY tree in the basement (the pics are bad, took them with my phone)

One huge step for Emily makes two big smiles for Gracie and Isabelle!

Cameron Michael Morton

My baby sister is a MOM! WOW! Cameron Michael Morton was born on 11-29-2009 just after 1:00AM! He was a whopping 8 lbs 2 oz and 21 inches long!!!! Whoa Nelly! Mel and Ben did an awesome job though! He's a cutie! Ben has is very own "mini me" now! Mel says Ben is an awesome DAD already! Babies are amazing! The only pics I have are the ones my mom sent through her phone....

Watch for more pics to come on Mel's blog! Now I just have to fight the urge to jump in the car and head to Seattle! Congrats to Ben and Melissa! We love you!

I will always prefer the Wolf....

Okay, okay...I get that everyone is in love with Edward! I was too, until I read NEW MOON!!! I am sorry ladies.....snuggling up to a big, warm wolf sounds a whole lot better than a cold, skinny vampire! Maybe I'm just a sucker for the under dog.....or just a sucker for men that turn into dogs! O-Mylanta! Bring on the wolves!

No one has ever accused Bella of being smart......now have they!?!?

Emily, AKA, Cold Cereal Expert!

Jared and I have this continuing debate......Is boxed cereal better than bagged cereal? I say "YES" and Jared says "NO!" Now, don't get me wrong, I recognize that some cereal you purchase in a bag tastes just loverly.....but not HONEY SMACKS (my fav, btw)! Malt-O-Meal just can't do the SMACKS as well as Kelloggs! Sorry Jared! But he maintains if I took a taste test, I would not be able to tell the difference between the two cereals. Oh really???? So, the last time we were at the store, we bought a box and a bag. This morning was the taste test!

And the winner is.......EMILY! Whoot-Whoot! I CAN tell the difference between the bag and the box! At least with Honey Smacks! What do you think???? Are boxed cereals better tasting than the bagged??

Did you say FRIED TWINKIES??? Oh Yeah!

Last night when I got home, Jared had a little twinkle in his eye...and I didn't quite know why. I soon found out when he smiled that cute smile of his as he held up a box of Twinkies! It was FRIED TWINKIE night! YUM-MY!!!!!

We even got Mackay to ascend from the basement to enjoy a little sweet stuff! Fried Twinkies are DELIGHTFUL!!!!!

Scarves....my new friends!

If you ever read my blog you know I have this lofty goal not to buy work clothes for a year. (BTW-It is getting too hard not to buy ANYTHING! I have given in a couple of times already. I am not ready to give in but I may need to recommit to a more realistic goal.) The idea is to wear what I have and if I am not going to wear it...get rid of it! I seem to hang onto things longer than necessary, thinking I will wear it someday. So, I have been trying to make what I have look different. One thing I am trying to do is accessorize more! Accessories are fun and just give you a polished look (in my opinion)! ANYWAY....I have really enjoyed wearing scarves this fall. While I was blog stalking the other day I came across Affordable Scarves. Cute stuff! All under $20!!!! Check it out!

Thought of the Day.....Choice

"We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us, and make us kinder.

We always have the choice."

- Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama

How was your weekend?

Jared and I have a goal to be ready for Christmas before the end of November. So, we have been making a list, checking it twice and shopping! With 8 little snooping eyes in the house, we thought it best if we wrapped what we could as soon as possible.....So, we spent Sunday night....

WRAPPING! Jared set up a table in the bedroom and I wrapped presents while he shopped on-line for a few things we just can't find in stores! It is kind of hard to see the pile of presents on the couch but I did a lot of wrapping! It is November 9th and we are about 90% ready for the holidays! YAY! While everyone else is fighting the traffic and crowds, Jared and I will be home, sipping hot cocoa and relaxing by the tree. Doesn't that sound lovely?

(Yes, those are antlers in the background. Jared's deer is still being mounted, so the antlers are sitting on the back of the couch for safe keeping. And YES, that is a 54 oz diet Pepsi on the table.....What can I say, I'm addicted!)

This time.....last year.....

A year ago, I was sitting with Jared in a quiet little corner booth of the Melting Pot. We were snuggled together, loving every second just because we were together. And I had no idea what was about to hit me! I think my heart skipped a beat when Jared slipped that little black box into my hand and asked me to be his wife! I wanted to run out and marry him before he changed his mind! I am filled with so much emotion just thinking about that night! Jared has filled my life with so much love and happiness! And my days just keep getting happier!

The Road---now a movie!?!

I read "The Road" a couple of years ago. I thought it was AWESOME! So, last night during the dismal end of the World Series (let's not even go there) I caught the end of the movie trailer and it is coming out on NOVEMBER 25, 2009! What? I had no idea! (I guess I need to watch more TV...?) Well, Jared is not getting out of taking me to this movie! I must see it! hmmmmm......Maybe on Thanksgiving.....we shall see!

Closet Crazy!

OK.....So, my goal of no shopping for a year is not working out very well. Have I been shopping? No, not really. I bought a couple of things on "Girls Day" but that is pretty much it. (Although I do need to replace my black, patent loafers....they are a little too big) My problem is.....I sat and looked in my closet for about 30 minutes this morning trying to put together an outfit!!!! O-MY-LANTA! And I ended up wearing black pants and a blue printed blouse layered over a black, long sleeved tee with my loafers that are too big. BORING!! I have been blog stalking (literally) several fashion blogs and I still look at the stuff in my closet and I see NOTHING! How do these women (my stalking victims) do it??? They always look fresh, professional and really put together! I am going nuts!!! It can't be that hard! I don't think I look bad but sometimes I feel unfinished...and unsure of the outfits I put together. And if I take my cues from the people at work.....they aren't excited about some of my looks either. I don't know what to do!!! I want to throw everything out and start over! But Jared just won't go for that...the party pooper. Does anyone out there have any suggestions?!?!?!

(now that was a bunch of whining, wasn't it?)

Halloween 2009

Another Halloween has come and gone...The candles in the jack-o-lanterns have now been blown out. The costumes of goblins, witches, and vampires have been put away in the basement, only to be brought out again next October. Bags of trick or treat candy will be replaced with trips to the dentist.

Now, if I could only wake up from the NIGHTMARE of the World Series! Come on Phillies! Hang in there boys!

Carving Pumpkins

Last night the kids carved pumpkins...It was actually kind of fun. I am not the biggest fan of pumpkin carving but like Jared tells me...we do it for the kids.

Mals was at the Jr. High dance, so I cleaned out her pumpkin so she could carve as soon as she got home. What a lonely pumpkin....

Now our porch will be all spooky for Halloween!

And where am I during all the carving.....

GO PHILLIES!