Christmas Decor UP!

Okay Emma, look! Here are some of the pictures of the Christmas decorations I've got up. I forgot to take pictures of all the snowmen above my cabinets, the snowmen in my bathroom, and the snowmen out on the porch. Maybe I'll get those pictures taken soon. Here are my favorite rooms decorated Christmassy though :).

Samantha's 10th Birthday!

For Sami's b-day this year, we decided to SURPRISE her! She's asked me before when I'd ever do a "surprise" birthday for her and I tell her "it won't be a surprise if you know." So, in planning her big "double digits" party, that she just HAD to have, we told her it would be a week later than we were planning. We let her invite who she wanted, and she told us what she wanted, and we planned around that.

I created these darling b-day invitations, and because she kept changing her mind on who should come and what she wanted to do, it was too late to send them out. I had to make phone calls last minute! But it all worked out.

We planned a surprise birthday party for her (and she was surprised)! She wanted her 3 Lane aunts, and her friend MaKayla and cousin Brielle at her party. Everyone was able to come. We all sat down and ate a Spaghetti Dinner (her favorite), on the china, and then the girls had pedicures and manicures (given by Sami's Aunts)!!! Everyone seemed to have a GREAT time, and Sami got more than she bargained for! Thanks everyone for helping us pull it off!

Happy Holiday's

Can you believe it's time for Christmas? Man time goes by so fast! Yesterday was such a great day. We spent the morning hanging out and watching the Thanksgiving Parade, and then after noon, took off to the Barton's to have Thanksgiving dinner. It was so yummy, and so fun to be with the entire family. The kids are always so excited to be with their cousins! After a few hours there we took off and went over to mom and dad Lane's. Grandpa Joe was there, and we had a great time visiting, and eating more PIE! YUM! I love Thanksgiving. Just a great time to be with family and reflect on everything we're thankful for.
Today I spent the entire day cleaning house and decorating for CHRISTMAS! Yes! Decorating the house. I got the tree up, all of the snowmen out, and put the lighted snowflakes in the windows. Yay! I love this time of year! Happy Holidays! May your Holiday's be Merry and Bright!

My Baby Girls almost 10 --- and life is too busy!

10 years ago, I was about to deliver a beautiful baby girl. I can't believe that was 10 years ago. My how time flys. Today, I am planning a "surprise" birthday party for Sami. She wanted a birthday party with 2 of her friends and 3 of her aunts. She wanted to play misc. games at the house, and then go to Rubio's for dinner, and go get nails done. She has it all planned out in her head, and knows exactly how she wants it done. A couple weeks ago, she asked me if I was ever going to give her a "surprise" party. I told her it wouldn't ever be a surprise if I told her about it! So, that got me thinking, and I decided that's exactly what I'd do. So, I got a hold of her friends and her aunts, and planned this. We aren't exactly going to go to Rubio's or go get our nails done, but close! I've decorated the basement (cause our renters moved out) and we're going to have a spaghetti dinner on the china, and then we'll play Bingo, and some games, and then the aunts and I are going to give manicures/pedicures, do make up, and just have fun! She has no idea that it's coming, which will make it more fun! Mark and the boys are going to "serve" the girls dinner, and hang out with us. I really think it's going to be fun.

Tonight she is having Brielle sleep over, and they went and got her hair done. She wanted it highlighted and cut short again. It's soooooo cute! She's blonde, and it's short/spiky again (not that it had really gotten long). Tisa actually talked her into having bangs again. No more long bangs! She really looks cute -- different.. It'll take me a couple days to get used to a blond daughter!

Thanksgiving is next week, and I'm excited. I love Thanksgiving dinner! I love this time of year for the fact that I can sit back and look at all the things I am thankful for. Other than preparing Sharing Times this month, I haven't taken the time to sit and think of the things in my life that I'm thankful for, so I'm going to take this opportunity to do it.

Family. This is the first thing that always comes to my mind when thinking of things I'm thankful for. I love my family. I have a wonderful husband who loves and supports me, and our family. He works hard every day to give us the things we want and need. My kids are so wonderful, Heavenly Father truly blessed me with the GREATEST. My extended family is too good for words. Some people would not thing it's lucky to have all their family close at hand, but we are that lucky. All of our extended family lives right here in the same state as us. Right here in the same valley for the most part. Our furthes relative being about an hour away.

The Gospel. Where would I be today with out the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my life? I am so blessed to have a Heavenly Father who loves me. I'm grateful for prayer, for the opportunity to talk to a loving Father who cares and watches over me. I'm grateful for my ward family. For the friendships I have made in this area we live in. What would I ever do with out the support of the gospel and our ward members and their love and support towards me and my family.

Friends. I love friends! Mark sometimes thinks that's all I thrive on. I am so lucky to have as many good friends as I have. A large variety of friends, I LOVE them all! I am all about having a good time though, and my friends are always right there beside me egging me on to plan another "fun time."

My mom said the other day I write like I talk -- like a whirlwind. This I know. I told her she wasn't the first person that had told me that either, and I'm sure she won't be the last.

I am aware that all of this is mumble jumbled, but .... if I don't write what I'm thinking, when I'm thinking, it won't get written. So .... thanks for bearing with me.

I haven't had a lot of time lately to sit and read through all of your blogs, but I took the time tonight to go through some of your blogs, and in reading them, thought "man, I have got to get better at journaling." So .... here I begin.

Life is too short to not live it up, and live it up is what we do! We're always sooo busy. So busy at times I don't take the time to be thankful for what I have. I just live each moment to each moment. I hope I can get better to sit and slow down a little, and be truly thankful for everything that is a part of my life.

As for now, it's late, and I have to get up early, and have a BUSY day ahead of me. So, another day, I'll share my thoughts again :)

Make Enough of Me

I've meant to post this for quite some time now, but ..... haven't had time! It's great. I bought this Julie de Azevedo CD a couple weeks ago, and fell in love with this song. After listening to it over and over and over again, my kids and I have memorized it! Sami says this song had to be written about me cause it's just like me! I'm sure a lot of you will feel it fits you perfectly. If you have a chance to buy it, or listen to it, it's beautiful. The entire CD is awesome. The CD is titled HOME.

Make Enough of Me

Overwhelmed and underpaid
Morning comes too soon
Running late, and on my plate
A million things to do
Got a baby cryin'
Another trying to find the other shoe
When I open my eyes
The Dam will break
Their need will flood my room

You made wine from water
And raised up Jarius' daughter
From her bed, From her bed
Filled the empty fishing nets
And with some loaves and fishes fed
A hungry crowd, A hungry crowd
Make enough of me to go around

My mother's sick
And I'm late
To pick up kids at school
I need to clean
Can't fit in my jeans
The fridge gives no comfort food

You made wine from water
Raised up Jarius' daugher
From her bed, From the dead
Filled the empty fishing nets
And with some loaves and fishes
Fed a hungry crowd, I hunger now
Make enough of me to go around

Multiply and magnify
This tiny little life of mine
enlarge me and expand this heart
And fill it with divine.
My heart is cold
Nothing grows, but thistles and some thorns
They choke the light
and shrink the vine
I need to be reborn.

You made wine from water
And told a scarlet daughter
Sin no more, Sin no more
Surrenderede to the garden
Through thorns and nails you pardoned
The angry crowd, The angry crowd
Make enough of me to go around
Make enough of me to go around.

Hope all of you have a FABULOUS day today! Love you all.

My Time Flys When You're Having Fun!

I can't believe it's almost been a month since I've last blogged. I haven't even been on to follow anyone else's blog. Aaahhhhhhh! (that's a scream). I've thought about it a hundred times, just been so busy haven't been able to do it.


Last month was quite a busy one. Jaren turned 8 years old on Oct. 30th, and was baptized 2 days later. It was such a special day. I feel like, looking back, I spent the entire month getting ready. I made soups and froze them, made cookies, and froze them, and also the salsa I made, we froze. It all worked out perfect though!

Jaren wanted a "suit" for his baptism, one like daddy's. I looked everywhere. He's so tiny, it was hard to find one that fit. They're some what seasonal for younger boys too, so ..... that was an adventure. But we finally found one, and boy does he look sharp in it. He is so handsome.

Aren't these cute pictures! We added his blessing picture, a 4 year old picture, and then him, the cute young man that he is!

On his birthday, Justin and I went and bought McDonalds and took it to the school and sat and ate lunch with him. He was excited that we showed up and all of his friends were jealous he got to eat McDonalds Nuggets.

Grandma came out just before school ended and brought 26 knitted hats for his classmates. Then she sat and read the class a story she had written about Wisteria! It was GREAT! All of the kids loved the hats. Doesn't she look FABULOUS! Thanks Grandma!

Later than night Jaren got to go to dinner with Mom and Dad, and then headed to the Stake Center for his baptisimal clothing. Boy that got him excited!

The next day was HALLOWEEN! Talk about busy! The school parade started at 9:30 am, then Justin and I helped in Sami's class party, and then I helped in Justin's class for his party!

This year Sami was a Corpse Bride, Jaren was a Bionicle, and Justin was a Clone! So much fun!

We did the yearly trip to Grandma Lane's office and scored big time on the candy! It's always so much fun to go there! After all of that, we came home and still had to do the Trunk or Treat! I love this tradition we do with our ward and hope it continues for ever!

The next day Jaren got baptized! I can't believe it. We sure had a nice day. It started at 12:00 at the Stake Center. He and Kiki got baptized together. Grandma Connie gave the talk on Baptism, and Aunt Carolyn gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. It was so personal and nice having just the family and friends there of Kiki and Jaren.

Aren't they cute! They're quite the little buddies (most of the time) and think it's pretty special to be cousins sharing birthdays so close together, and being able to share this special day together.

After the baptism family and friends gathered at our house for a luncheon. Was such a nice day.

We had a party for Jaren on November 4th. I tried to talk him out of having a party this year but it didn't work! We had Sami, Justin, Kiki, Joshua Wright, Samuel, Braeden, Mason and Jaren all at the party. (Dylan and Hadley didn't show). We ate pizza and opened presents at the house, and then took off to Jumpin Jacks. It's a new bouncin' place out here by us and it was fun! They spent 2 full hours bouncing and still hadn't had enough when it was time to go.

Happy Birthday Buddy! I love you!

Now, life is still just as busy as it was then, I'm still going in a thousand directions. I held a Girls Time Out Craft night last Friday night, and we really had a GREAT time. We all got together, worked on vinyl projects (and scrapbooks), ate tons of junk food, laughed, and had FUN. It was a nice "time out" for me.

Now, this next weekend and the next, I'm going to do boutiques! Sounds fun? I think so, but man, I don't know how people do it regularly. It is a lot of time and preparation to get ready for one of these! We'll see how it goes. The address is on my Vinyl blog, so go check it out and come on over if you'd like. The proceeds go towards the UDA dance competition girls.

Well, it's late and I'm tired. I have wanted to update and journal for a while now, I'm sure I've forgotten tons of important things since it's been a month. That makes me sad. But .... I've got some of the more important things. I'll try to be better. :)