Santa Claus did come

This year I had to opportunity to play Santa. Things have been a little tight for many people this year, including my sister's family. I have been blessed and wanted to help her family so they were able to have a Christmas this year. They have helped me so much this past year it was the least I could do. I told my sister that she and Jake were in charge of the stocking stuffers and I would do the rest. It was so much fun picking out the gifts for each kid. Jake and I stayed up too about 1 a.m. assembling all of the gifts. I was the one who could not sleep on Christmas eve because I could not wait to see the look on their faces when they woke up.

I may have gone a little overboard but everyone got at least one thing that they asked santa for. I did all of my shopping on line because I was at work the majority of the day and so tired when I got home that it was easier to look at a computer screen than wander the stores. It was a wonderful way to shop, I may do it that way next year. There is one funny story about one of the gifts I got for Bubba. It was a Elmo Live doll and it came in a box all by itself. Jaylynn had put the box in my room not knowing what it was. I had picked it up and put it on my bed to open it and I heard Elmo talking to me. He said, "Elmo just wants you to know that Elmo loves you." Then he blew me two kisses. I started to giggle and hoped that he had not done this while the kids were around. As I started to peel the packing tape off the box Elmo repeted what he had just said. When I opened the box it was full of foam peanuts and elmo was no where to be seen, but when I started to search for him he started to talk again and the pile of peanuts started to move. (by this time I was grining from ear to ear) When I finally located Elmo in the box he was upside down and backwards. When I turned him around to see if he survived the journey this is what I saw...................








I started rolling and immediatly screamed for Jaylynn. We both started laughing and I knew we had to take a pictue to share with everyone. Elmo has a line that says" Look no cavities!!" I giggle every time because I have a picture of elmo with teeth. It was just as funny when I hit elmo's foot and he threw up all of those peanuts. Priceless!!!!

Santa brought me an elipitcal for Christmas. I am so excited to use it. I just hope the excitement stays after I am sore when it kickes my butt.

I hope all of my loved ones had a Merry Christmas and has much Happiness and Health in the new year!!!!

Crazy Christmas Time!!

Merry Christmas



I don't have pictures at this time of year because I spent all of my time at work. I sleep, wake up and go to work then come home, eat and then go back to sleep. Almost the entire month is spent working and sleeping. My co-workers/friends become my family for the month and we have some good times while getting our work done. I will have to remember to take my camera to work with me next Christmas so I can have proof of what happens.
This year our rush started on a Monday the first day of December. That also happens to be my birthday. I think the best gift I received was to have my day start at 3 a.m. This was for sure the longest birthday I have ever had. Unfortunately the majority of it was spent at work. I was able to go to dinner with my sister, Jaylynn and her family. We went and had Mexican! My favorite!!!!! I opened a few gifts and then went to bed around 10p.m. The rest of the week was about the same, in to work by 4 and home around 4 or 5.
In the catering business there are bound to be mistakes when you have the work load that we have during the holidays. As long as everyone does their job to the best of there ability everything should run smoothly, yea right. It happened for the most part that way with only a few bumps along the way. First there was our bakery manager, she had some problems with
some of the recipes not turning out and instead of telling some one above her that she had ruined them she tried to hide it. In a small kitchen with 8 staff members something like that is hard to hide. We had to let her go in the first week of December so we could focus on our own work and not have to focus on cleaning up other messes that we didn't know about.
Then there is a new secretary in the front office who's husband was helping in the afternoon in the kitchen doing dishes. The office manager came back one morning, during the second week into our madness, and asked to speak to one of the owners. The tone in her voice sounded urgent and of importance. We later found out that our new secretary was taken away by a bondsmen because she had skipped a bail hearing for some fraud charges. Come to find out later her husband was later arrested. We were loosing people left and right.
Last but not least we have a lock on our refrigerator out side because of some theft problems we have had. It is my job to go out side and make sure all of out events have the proper menu items on their assigned shelf. I was out one morning doing my job and the executive chef decided to change the combination on the lock. Instead of just changing it and leaving it on the side of the door he actually locked the door with me inside. He thought I was inside and had finished what I was doing out there. I was freezing inside and was glad that I had my cell phone in my pocket. The only problem, I was in a metal box with no reception. I tried banging on the door and pushing it as far as it would go hoping that someone would hear me and let me out. I could picture my co-workers/friends out there laughing and thinking this was hilarious. I was not laughing. I decided to turn off the fans in the fridge hoping that would allow me to get a signal on my phone. It worked and I called one of the bakers, she didn't answer so I called the executive chef and he didn't answer. I thought I was stuck until someone finished a project and needed to put it outside. I said a silent prayer for some help. Then I heard some noise out side like someone was moving things around. I pushed on the door a few times and then heard the noise of the lock being undone. It was the chef he opened the door and said, "I didn't know you were in there. I thought you had gone back inside. " I was relieved to know that he had not done it on purpose and was not outside the door laughing at me. I was cold, but we all had a good laugh when I got back inside. We all survived to see another Christmas.
We are blessed to work for such a great company and have not only a great work relationship but a wonderful friendship. I am so fortunate.

Finding a Happy Place

When life is just too much to handle and I can't make it to the temple to relax and let go, I like to get my hands dirty and paint. This is my happy place. This is the lastest project that I have completed.

What a witch!!!

I have a few more projects to go.

These are just a few of the things I have to finish. I still have valentines day from earlier this year to finish. By the time I buy my next house I will have more than enough decorations to make it a home for every season.

My Little BUDDY!!!

This is my nephew Kade. He is such a fun little boy. I have been off and working from home this week and we have been doing lots of things together. He sleeps in my room almost every night, he knows I will let him watch a movie until he falls asleep. I can not tell you how many times I have seen Cars or Finding Nemo.

He is going to take after me and become a Professional Chef or a Baker. Just look at the decorating skills. He knows how to use a piping bag..................

and just like me he has to taste everything he is making.

Pumpkin madness

This year, just like every year, we went to the local pumpkin patch and everyone picked out the pumpkin that was calling there name. This year at the pumpkin patch the weather was a cool 34 degrees and a snowflake would land on your nose every once in a while. The day we carved our pumpkins was warm, sunny and 70 degrees. That's fall in Utah for you. This kids could not wait and once Jake got the tops off the kids dove right in.

Even Kade, the little boy who hates to get food on him, was so excited to get the guts out of his pumpkin.

Jake has taught the girls well, so they are pros at gut removal.

Finally the finished product!!!!!!!

Riley doing an imitation of her pumpkin.....

Bubba picked and alien this year.

We had several of the neighbors and trick-or-treaters compliment us on the number of jack-o-lanterns and how well they were carved!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!

Dont Mess With Me!

This is me in all of my scooter get up. It is about 40 degrees in the morning and this is what keeps me warm on the 30 minute commute to work. I would not want to run in to me in a dark ally dressed like this. Be afraid be very afraid.......

Sometimes I wish I lived in the movies. I know that if I did, when I took my helmet off and shook out my hair.............................. It would not look like this!

My days are numbered!!!

The days of me riding my scooter are almsot gone.

This is one of the best & most fun investments I have ever made. The first helmet I purchased let me feel the wind in my face but also the bugs in my teeth. If you have ever been hit by a bug going 40 MPH it is not a pleasent experience. I once killed a bug with my boob, boy did that hurt but I bet the bug died happy!! I decied to upgrade. I also have bought my first leather jacket. I never in my wildest, and I mean wildest, dreams thought i would own a leather jacket. I even bought leather gloves. The only thing missing is the leather chaps. It is getting chilly in the morning and the only thing not protected is my legs and chaps are sounding pretty good at 5 a.m.
I love to see the look on peoples faces when they see me on my scooter. I have had men (with their wives in the car) give me a thumbs up and a big grin of approval.

Where do I Begin

I really don't know why I decided to start one of theses. I guess I think this will help me get a social life so I have more pictures and things to write about. Let's call this the "First day of the rest of my life!"