We're Having a Baby!!

Well, we aren't but I will have access to Baby Love whenever I want cuz Kort & Amy are having a baby!!! And since they live so close........I can have the baby whenever I want!! They way they told us was priceless. The showed up to Red Devil, where we were having dinner with the girls (Connor was on his Scout Campout) and Bonnie & Kamon, and Kort and Amy stopped by to say "hi". Well, she brought me some pictures from my fridge, and she pulled out these four pictures that were attached to this long ribbon. Here are the pictures.....

Isn't that cute?? Needless to say, I cried, and screamed, and cried some more. Amy is my baby sister, and Kort is my baby brother, and it was so emotional for me!! Everyone at the restaurant turned out direction and tried to figure out what was going on. It was so fun. And yes, the pictures are hanging on my fridge. And there they will stay.

Holy Cow! It snowed in our backyard!

Well, maybe not snow, but it sure looked like it! A storm rolled in this afternoon and it hailed like crazy! It really cooled off and it's finally starting to feel like I can start wearing long sleeves!!

The Gala

Well, after a year of planning, and weeks of total and complete stress, the Gala has finally come and gone. We held out 9th Annual Golden WHEEL Gala at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa last night. We had 410 guests and lots of wonderful volunteers and Golden WHEEL members. The theme was "Tropical Nights" and the colors were a melon orange and an apple green. The centerpieces were beautiful (thanks to Arrowhead Flowers) and the room looked amazing. The Silent Auction looked out of this world as well because we have this group of women who specialize in putting some serious decor into the tables. All in all, it went very well (with a few minor gliches) and we were told it was the best gala they had been too. Dan Manucci (a sports talk show host and former Buffalo Bills quarterback) was our emcee and a guy named Grant Synder was our auctioneer, and they worked so well together and made it fun. We hired a group of Polynesian dancers from a company called Tausala Productions and they were sooooo fun to watch! We also had a great band called The Walkens, but unfortnately, our crowd was too tired to dance by the time the "festivities" were over, so they band pretty much played for us GWO folks. That's ok, we loved them. They play at Margaritaville at Westgate, so if you are ever in the area.......Anyway, here are a few pictures that Hugh took. I'll put up some more when I get them.

Jerry Moyes & Bryon Yoder

Bonnie & Kamon came for moral

support (and dinner!!) Thanks for

moving my car Kamon!!

Mom & Bob and Kort & Amy came!!

Wendy & Bryon

Our wonderful emcee Dan Manucci

& his girlfriend Lori. Very nice!

Kristen, Jamie, Daniece & Dana

Check this out! Me with two of Phoenix

finest! Recognize the guy on the right?

Probably not, but check out here.

Loren & Andy working the Big Board!

Stephanie & Charlee got to come for the

first time to help. Thanks girls! You looked

beautiful!

Kort being funny.

Again, Kort being funny. Oh, Hugh's here too.

Hugh & his lovely Mom. Check out Kelly over

her shoulder.

Some of our wonderful youth!!

Ok, this was one of my favorite parts of

the night. One of my oldest and dearest

friends, Tommy Hale, came with his

wife Elizabeth. Thanks for the support you

guys! I love you!

16 Years of Wedded Bliss

Look at how young we were!!

This was my favorite picture from that day.

Love the movie star kiss.

Hugh and I were sealed for time and all eternity 16 years ago today. Can you believe that?? And let me just say, that even though we've had our ups and downs, I love him even more deeply than I did the day we said "I do". Here are my TOP TEN reasons I love my husband:

10) He makes me laugh - every day.

9) He puts up with my drama.

8) He's the first person I want to call when something exciting happens....and the first person I want to call when something tragic happens.

7) He has an amazing gift of communicating. Not always with ME, but he is definitely the mediator in our extended family.

6) He gives great advice.

5) He likes to clean. He takes great care of the outside of the house, and also helps me on the inside the house. He knows when I'm stressed or super busy and will just grab the vaccuum and go to it without a word.

4) He's a fireman....which makes him my hero. And on the job, he's a great example to the rest of the guys on the department. He's done a great job for Phoenix....even Chief Khan thinks so.

3) His AMAZING body. What can I say, my hubby is a HOTTIE!!

2) The way he is with our kids. He adores them, and they know it.

1) His testimony. It's strong. Never waivering.

I KNOW we will be together forever. What a great statement to make! He drives me crazy a lot of the time. We've had our disagreements. But you know what, in 16 years of marriage, we have NEVER called each other a name. We respect each other very much, and we've learned over the year that if we are always striving to make each other happy, we end up meeting in the middle. Thanks for a WONDERFUL 16 years babe! I love you!!!!

I wish....

History Has Been Made

Last night, it seemed to end so quickly. It's been a while since we have known the night of the election who actually won the presidency. In recent elections, we've had to wait until at least the next morning.....if not the next MONTH.....to find out who our newest president was. But not last night. President Elect Barack Obama won. And he won by a landslide. I didn't vote for him. I voted for McCain. I don't think that Obama has the experience needed to be the president. But the American people voted for him, and that's the way this great country works. We vote. We decide. I can't be all upset today because the American public didn't vote the way I wanted them to. It is what it is. So, now, I'm going to sit back, support my President to the best of my ability, pray very hard for him to make the right decisions, and watch him implement this "change" that he has been talking about for months now. I wish him all the luck in the world.....he's gonna need it. But let me say, I will never forget this day. History was made. An African-American for President of the United States. How amazing is that?? I cried during his speech. (The man has great speech writers on his staff.....) The story he told of this 106 year old black women who voted for a black man for president. And that man won. He told of all the wars she had seen, and the racism she witnessed, and I cried. It was a moment for me. He ended each statement with "Yes We Can". A little preacher-ish for my taste, but I was totally into it. Yes We Can. And Yes He Did. I just pray that he makes the right decisions, and that he really can turn this country around. If he does, it won't be all his doing. He has so many people working with him. Republican and Democrats. I hope that TOGETHER, they can help EACH OTHER make this country all that it can be. And John McCain....what a CLASSY man. His concession speech left me crying even harder that Obama's. Pure class. That was all I could think of listening to him. In the end, I'm so glad this election is OVER. Let's now just move on into this new chapter of history with hope, not negativity. It is what it is. We can't do anything about it now, other than pray. And that's what I'll be doing.

Trick or Treat!

This is the first time in YEARS that we have stayed home on Halloween night. We are usually at our Trunk or Treat party at church, but it was last night. Sooooooo, we planned it so Hugh would take the kids out around the neighborhood, and I would stay home and pass out candy. Well, I wish I was with Hugh & the kids. We've had about 10 kids come by. That's it!!! Which is why I have time to sit here in front of my computer and upload my Halloween pictures. The kids look GREAT! (Caitlin is very happy with her costume tonight, since her costume last night wasn't her favorite). Courtney is a Spanish Dancer, Connor is a Vampire, and Caitlin is a Pirate. I love watching them get into "character". My favorite picture is the one of Connor "biting" Courtney. Ah, sibling love.

My Favorite Patients

Here are are few more articles about my favorite patients, the Nielsons. I know, I know, I don't even know them, but I've been following their story and I just love them and am so incredibly inspired by them and their families. If you want a good cry, read here and then read this one for an update on Christian.

Freaky Friday!!

Caitlin & I - notice my "Camp

Rock" purse, and Caitlin's

Coach purse.....

Caitin as "me" getting ready to drive

to the party.

Burt (Ed) & Ernie (Heidi)

Me & Landon aka Scooby Doo. He is seriously

one of the CUTEST babies I've ever been

seen.

Caitlin & Landon - he loved seeing himself on

the camera after we took this....big smile!!

Well, with Connor, Courtney & Hugh off at Outdoor Ed, Caitlin and I thought it would be fun if we dressed up "Freaky Friday" for our church's annual Trunk or Treat party. Great thought.....in theory. I, of course, looked more like an 80's wannabe rather than a 9 year old. And Caitlin was being asked why she DIDN'T dress up. She told me it was getting "annoying". After the party, I told Caitlin that I was sorry that we did that, and she told me it was ok, and that she had fun doing it. She told me the same thing as I put her to bed. So, it didn't go off exactly how I was hoping it would, but we both had fun. A memory was made, I guess. She's now very much looking forward to tomorrow night when she gets to dress up in her REAL costume - a pirate!

P.S. My favorite couple of the night had to be Burt & Ernie (aka Ed & Heidi Smith). Adorable costumes!!!

IMPORTANT RECALL!!!

With Halloween tomorrow, I thought it was very important to put it out there that there is a re-call on Sherwood Pirate Coin Candy that is sold at Costco. It contains melanime, which has killed children in China. From what I have found, these coins are only sold in Canada, but I'm a "better safe than sorry person", so my kids won't be eating ANY pirate coins that they may get in their trick or treat loot. Just wanted to let you know. Happy Halloween!!