Third Time's A Charm

These are just a couple pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,

and the order is screwed up. Sorry!

A Blonde Moment

I just had a thought...... I totally didn't post anything about our CHRISTMAS!! Good grief... I'm going nuts, I swear!! Hahaha!

Well, our Christmas was fabulous! We had Christmas Eve with my parents, and Scott's family at our house. Scott cooked an amazing prime rib and we just hung out and visited. It was so nice! It was cut alittle short because my Dad had to go to work (damn law enforcement!), but the Nelson's stuck around awhile and we laughed and giggled and really just had a good time.

Christmas Morning we woke up kinda early, like 7ish I think, and tore into our gifts! We made out.. We always do, and every year we always say 'next year, lets go a little less okay.' Never happens! Haha. I got jewlery, not what you are thinking, a great necklace! And my folks got me an Ipod. I feel like a caveman, I can't believe I didn't get one of these babies sooner! I LOVE IT! It's bright orange and it makes me happy! HA! We packed up our goods and were outta the house by 10am. My mom was heading to her sistes in Twin, and Scott, I and the boys were heading to McCammon to open gifts with the Nelson's. Gezz, we made a haul there too, that includes the little boy dogs! They are so generous to me! I love them, they really are great, I lucked out to get such a good pair of in-laws! We spent the rest of the day there and had Christmas dinner there.

I was really hoping to wake up to a white Christmas, there is nothing more I l ove than a fresh snow on Christmas morning. Although I didn't get the snow, I got everything I wanted a more. A happy, healthy family and more memories than I can count using my fingers and toes!

If I can figure out how to get pictures up with my dang new camera, I'll do it.

Speaking of, does anyone have a Sony D128 (or something of that sort) and use Picasa?!

I cannot for the life of me get my camera to go into install mode and upload them to the program, and it's killing me slowly, I'm sure of it! I have like 4+ months of photos to share for heck sakes! Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Christmas was great at our households, and from what I've read, it looks like everyone else had just as magical of Christmas as us!

A New Year

It seems strange to think back a DECADE ago... I mean seriously, 10 years has flown by. Some things good, and some things bad... Lets see how good my memory is:

2000- Spent at the Mini Dome, freaking out about the Y2K bug and the end of the world. I was in Jr high... Bla.... Best of all, I met Scott in Oct.
2001- My Mom and Dad announced they were getting a divorce.
2002- A new life begins with just my Mom, and getting shuffled back and forth between here and American Falls. A very tough time for me.
2003- My first year at Highland High School! Looking forward to school dances and a DRIVERS LICENSE!
2004- Our best friend, Tyson, got killed by a drunk driver...... Again, a horrible time in both out lives. Made Scott and I re-think what path we wanted to take in life and who we wanted in our life. This event made me who I am today. I am forever grateful for Tyson, and I miss him everyday. Scott graduates HS and turns 18 on the same day!
2005- A Senior... Wow... In June, I will be out of high school for 5 years. Sickening! Haha. This was the year Scott and I decided we couldn't live without each other. Again, wow. Best decision ever.
2006- College life. Not nearly as 'cool' as I expected! Haha :] Long nights and even longer days. Scott and I go through our first big trial, his Grandma passes away unexpectedly. We miss Grandma Betty lots. Scott turns 21!
2007- Scott's gets promoted to Hot Plant Foreman. He loves his job, and will be a lifer! I turn 21... And we head to Vegas!
2008- Diesel is born! Yay! We try our hand at 'parenting' (if we can keep a dog alive, I think we'll be good with kids too). Worst of all, we have 2 grandparents pass away within a day of each other. April 2 and April 3 was the worst thing Scott and I have had to deal with. There was anger, sadness, confusion, and a lot of tears between the two of us. We miss Grandma Hazel and Pa like crazy. To go through the holidays without them, well it hurts. We have a huge void in our life without them. We love them both, I know Scott is the man he is today bc of Pa. And I know, with help from Grams, I will graduate college, and I will help other families who have cancer stricken loved ones deal with this killer. Cancer Society, here I come.

2009

- As this year comes to a close, I think back about all that has happened. Scott and I are at 'that' place.. We are ready to move ahead with our life and make that big decision. We have had good things happen, a new pup.. And a few rough patches, Scott working outta town 3 months and mom getting laid off. All in All, 2009 was a pretty good year. I learned new things this year I never anticipated I would, and I am grateful. I'm grateful for new friends and appreciate those friends who want to take a different path as Scott and I.

In 2010 (so crazy to say) I want to make a resolution, not your typical 'shed some pounds and get in shape' but a real goal, something I should be able to accomplish and hold on to. I want to work on myself, I want to be a better women and prepare to become a wife (no, this is not an announcement :]). I want to work on my patience and my acceptance of others. So there, I made it public, now I have to stick to it, right?!

Happy New Year Everyone.

Let's pray for an economic recovery and a little more

happiness in the world.

Be Safe!

Merry Christmas

'Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.'

-- Norman Vincent Peale

Take time this Christmas season to remember the blessing you recieve from Christ the Redeemer. I know with all my heart He guides me through life and knows what is best for me.

His love makes me want to be a better person, a better saint, and a better women. I know He

sends his messages through the Prophets to help spread the teachings of Christ. I know their

word, is the word of God. What a comfort it is to know that these men, listen to the Saviors word. I know the LDS chruch is true, and I am beyond grateful to be a part of it always, especially around this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas friends.

To a healthy and prosperous 2010.

-Maren, Scott,

&

the boy dogs :]

Something For All

"The Best Way To Spread Christmas Cheer Is Singing Loud For All To Hear."

Buddy the Elf

I figured as a way to kind of get ready for Christmas, I would post a Christmas quote to get myself, and possibly you, ready for the true meaning of Christmas. It's easy to get caught up

in the buying and wrapping of gifts, making goodies, putting up lights, and basically running around like a chicken with your head cut off kind of mood. I know I've caught myself in that mind frame more than once...

Hope the quotes help you as much as it has me :]

Merry (almost) Christmas everyone!

The Christmas Gift

"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves--giving of the riches of the heart and mind--and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store."
James E. Faust

A Reminder

"Christmas means 'giving,' and the gift without the giver is bare. Give of yourselves; give of your substance; give of your heart and mind. "Christmas means 'compassion and love' and, most of all 'forgiveness' How poor indeed would be our lives without the influence of His teachings and His matchless example. "He whose birth we commemorate this season is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God, the Redeemer of mankind, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace."

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

Starting Today

The Christmas Spirit

"Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. During His earthly ministry, He taught men the higher law. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He blessed the sick. He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life. To us He has said, 'Come, follow me.'"As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always. We shall learn to forget ourselves. We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others"
(Pres. Thomas S. Monson)

Christmas Spirit

I am having the worst time this year getting into 'Christmas mode.'

I have hardly shopped for gifts, just got the tree up, and have

zero lights on the outside of our house. We have never

not had lights on the house!! This year has been a

crazy one, and I think that has something to do with my

downer attitude.. Pretty much everyone in the house has a

downer holiday mood.

On Wednesday, my mother was laid off from AMI (ON) after 32 years.

She has worked there over half her life.

"Merry Christmas, oh and by the way, we're laying you off today"

That isn't exactly how it worked out, but it's probably the way it felt.

You don't realize how bad the economy is until it actually affects you.

I'm hoping for the best for my Mom. And I'm praying something

will work out for her. She deserves the best.

On a brighter note, Tyler is back in Pocatello! He is living at the Pocatello

Care and Rehabilitation Center to work on strength and eating.

He is on a strict diet to help with the healing of his kidney and pancrease.

The kid can eat very LITTLE and seems to be adjusting well.

He is in the best of spirits and so is Hilairy!

What a Christmas miracle that he is alive and finally on the mends!

I'm hoping as soon as both jobs slow down (yeah right)

and I can get some Christmas shopping started, my mood will perk up :]

Happy Shopping everyone!

Good Grief.....

My family had an amazing Thanksgiving, it was my folks, me and Scott. It was laid back and simple, full of good laughs and good food. My dad spent the day with us because he had to work that afternoon, so we had an early dinner. But it was nice to get everything taken care of and then just be together. We watched a little football and took a big, much needed nap!

My mom and I are part of the CraZiES who get up at 4am and go shoppping the day after Thanksgiving! We make it our little tradition every year, I've been going with her since I was 12. I can't wait till I have kids and they want the MUST-HAVE toys. I'll be the lady throwing elbows and diving on people to get what my kid wants.... Okay, that may be a little over top, but...... We'll just have to see! :] I had to work later that day at TJs and suprisingly, it wasn't as wild and crazy as I expected it! Thank goodness! I do have to share a funny experience from the day though.

~

Man customers: Excuse me miss, have you sold out of all your Black Friday specials?
Me: Well sir, we don't really have anything specific marked down just for Black Friday.
Man: Oh, really? No killer deals?? (Perplexed)
Me: Well sir, everyday is like Black Friday at TJ Maxx

~

I don't know if I am the only one who is TOTALLY amused by this, but I think it is so funny! I seriously couldn't think of anything else to say to the guy, I mean TJs has their crap marked down 60%.. What the heck else do you want?! I could not stop laughing, for days I swear!

I have been nursing the WORST flu bug ever this week. I thought for sure I had the pig flu, my body aches were the worst I've ever had in my entire life. And that's the truth. My fever ran over 100* for 3 days. I just wanted to die! Luckily, I am on the mends and should make a full recovery! haha

And on that note, it is December.... What the heck?!