Uh...maybe I have a bucket addiction...

Yeah. I couldn't help myself. I made more buckets. I've had SO much fun using up some of my ancient Christmas stash, altering these pails.

Over the weekend we stopped at Lowes so I grabbed a couple of more paint cans. Not as cute as the clear ones from Roberts, but I couldn't quite convince hubby that he wanted to go there.

We delivered the buckets last night. The kids always have such a riot choosing who they go to, all though I was stubborn and picked on of my favorite neighbors this time. I'm sure it will be no surprise to her from where it came....especially since she reads this blog, but hey.....sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl has gotta do.

The other bucket we were totally busted on. Just as the kids were placing it on the porch they happened to open the door.

Kinda funny.







I know I'm sick in the head, but I think I might do up a couple more buckets, although I'm running out of cute Christmas embellies. I just think with 6 of them traveling around the ward that there will be a greater number of homes that get treats. (Like any of us NEED treats....Hee hee).

I'm also sitting here feeling quite proud of myself. I...yes...I downloaded music from Amazon, AND figured out getting it put onto my ipod with only 3 calls to my hubby for help! I think I am FINALLY getting the hang of it.

I haven't bought new music forever but just treated myself with the Christmas albums by Barlow Girl, and Mercy Me. I also picked up the most recent album by The Verve and a handful of free Christmas songs by Bare Naked Ladies, Leigh Nash, Rosie Thomas, Jars of Clay, Michael Bubble....I think that's it.

I'm happy.

My ipod is happy.

My hubby is happy that I finally get it.

Happy Birthday Maddison

I can't believe that Maddison turned 14 last Friday. It makes me wonder where the time has gone. It truly seems like only yesterday Tracey and I were making wedding plans and now we have a beautiful 14 year old daughter....



Her birthday was truly perfect. We had so much fun, and it was wonderful to see a smile on her face all day long.

Our day began by my waking her up early to go Black Friday shopping. I've only ever gone once before and she has never gone so we made a morning of it. We managed to score some pretty sweet deals and didn't even have to wait in lines for much more than 5 min.


We had breakfast at IHOP and the wait staff sang to her. I told them it was her birthday but wasn't really expecting them to sing, but sure enough they all came out and sang as loud as can be! I thought that Maddi might crawl under the table when I realized that they were going to sing but she just sat there smiling from ear to ear.

In the afternoon we took the kids to the movies. 1/2 of us saw The City of Ember and the other half (Team B + Tess) went to see Igor. Well I guess I saw more of the lobby than anything since I spent most of my time out there with JM.

After that we met G&G Lee at Red Robin for dinner. The wait was excruciating but in the end it was worth it for my birthday girl. Her most favorite food on the planet is french fries and the fact that Red Robin offers bottomless steak fries was a winning deal for her!

We then came back to our house and Jana & Bryan came over to have cheesecake with us. Now I have to tell you...this is one of the VERY BEST cheesecakes that I've ever had...aside from something from the Cheesecake Factory... Now get this. Maddi made it. Her first ever. Totally from scratch. I have to say that I'm a little jealous that she managed to pull off such a delicious, moist and perfect cheesecake when I've been making them for years, and while they are pretty good, they pale compared to hers. Who knows...maybe she's got a future as a chef!

We got her an outfit, The Host and a tuner for her flute. She's a crack up. She bought herself a few things with some of the money that she was given from family and insisted that she wrap them up and open them along with the presents that we got her.

Maddi girl! I sure do love you! I love that you came to our home. As trying as times can be, I wouldn't trade you for the world.

Traveling Bucket - Take Two

Here is the 2nd version of the traveling neighborhood bucket that I made.

For Family Home Evening last night we made a treat and then we let the kids pick where they wanted to ship it off to.

If I wasn't housebound, I think I'd go and get a couple more buckets to make to get passing around. They are so fun and easy to make!

Well, life is dull here, so this is about as exciting as it gets for today.

I think we're going to put up the Christmas tree today.

GASP!

Well ya know....it's exactly 1 month from today until Christmas!

How not to plan a wedding but how to pick your man!

I can't believe it's believe it's been 16 years ago today that Tracey and I were married.

I remember as a kid that the years seemed eternal...summer seemed never ending, and yet as an adult the years seem to be flying by in the blink of an eye.

I seriously don't know what I was thinking when planning my wedding. I mean, I flat out insisted that Tracey wore a white tux. Okay, seriously....WHAT WAS I THINKING? He says that he is still scarred to this day from the flat panel (which oddly enough he prefers flat panel now) bell bottom, white pants.


Oh and then there is the kitchen curtain bridesmaid dresses and yes people...take a close look at the mothers dresses....SAME print as Jana and Michelles, only a different color.






Oh please...where was J Lo the wedding planner when I needed her?


And then there were there were the carousel horses as table top decorations and the photographer that couldn't shoot a photo to save her life. Jen...where were you? Oh yeah..you were probably still in Jr. High.

The one thing I DID do right in regards to my reception was my cake (thanks a lot crummy photographer for not getting a decent photo of it!), and ice cream crepes for the dessert tray.

Another thing I did right from my parents point of view, I'm sure, was doing my entire wedding, dress included for $1,200!

All of those silly frivolities aside, I'll tell you what I DID do right. I chose to be married forever to the love of my life.

Sure we've had rough spots over the years, and it still makes me crazy that he can't seem to wipe up the counter after making toast, but I wouldn't trade him for ANYONE in the entire universe.

Tracey is my best friend, my listening ear and such a great dad.

He loves our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to the point that I am in awe.

We've had such great testimony building experiences...especially over the past year that have brought us closer together and more focused on our goal of being an eternal family.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him or look at him and thank my Heavenly Father for the blessing that he is in my life, and for what a hard worker he is to provide for our family...allowing me to stay home...even though there are days that I'd rather eat my hair than listen to the kids begging for something one more time!

So Tracey John Lee...I want you to know how much you mean to me.

I love you baby.

Little things you might not know about me....

So my cute friend Michelle that is looking way too good for having her 5th kiddo also had this fun diddy posted on her blog.

I'm at a loss as to what to post today so I thought this would be fun. And heaven only knows you don't want to hear me drone on about my woes with my near 14 year old. I swear...I just don't know what to do with that girl and I'm darn near in tears about it.

Anyhow, this is much more fun!

If you're inclined, play along. I'd love to see what you've been up to in your life!

Here's how it works. Change the items to bold that you have done in your life.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (Can I go again please?)
5. Watched a meteor shower (By myself at 3:00 AM one night...kinda scary!)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (Many, many times just this past summer...blech...the things you do for boys!)
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (I've been in a rain storm at sea...does that count?)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (Do Cabbage Patch Kids count?)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (Does a 1/2 count?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (Well at least how to order at a bakery in Germany!)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (at times)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (Just a few weeks ago in fact!)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (as of last Friday I officially own ours! HA HA!)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (When our family lived in Germany, incredibly somber & life changing!)
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (Thanks to Randy Ewell!)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (Allthough I don't remember it)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (only used ones for us!)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (Cover story thank you!)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (I've seen the outside...does that count?)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved some one's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one (I've lost grandparents, but I wasn't very close to them)
94. Had a baby (Been prego 7 times! Ack!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Looks like I've got some more things to chalk off before I die!

It's weigh in Wednesday again!

Wow. I can't believe another week has passed along. I did relatively good with the eating but could have done better with the exercise. It's always so hard to get back in the swing after being sick and hosting mother nature.

I'm off to a decent start this week though. Yesterday I did my new Firm workout. Oh man. Do I EVER hurt today. My cheeks are screaming with pain, and not the cheeks on my face either.

This morning I did my duties of going to the gym and did the treadmill for 30 min. and lifted weights for 20 min. or so.

Let's just say the scale wasn't my friend today. Again. What's with that thing?

I guess it could have something to do with the fact that yesterday I made up for a relatively good week of eating with a momentary break down of candy and peanut eating. Dang gas station treats.

Anyhow I'm up .2 pounds. I guess that's better than last week. Good news is I measured myself yesterday and I'm actually down close to 2" around my waist, and I think close to an inch off my hips and even 3/4" off my legs. I guess I'm just building muscle. Sounds like a good excuse anyway.

OH WAIT! I can't do math. I just looked at my original post. I'm actually down .8 pounds. I'm .2 more than when I started keeping track at the beginning of the month. Hmmm...Sweet!

Have a lovely day everyone!

Neighborhood Traveling Pail

So I totally stole this idea from my Sister In Law. She made one of these when we went scrapping the other night and I loved it so much that I wanted to make one myself. I ran to Roberts yesterday and picked up the pail. I had so much fun making it in the afternoon. I actually want to make a couple more to circulate around our ward.

I know that some of my neighbors peek at this blog, so I'll have to figure out someone that doesn't look at this to send it to. Maybe we'll even send it to someone that we don't even know very well, so they can't make the connection. So to you neighbors that DO peek here, if anyone asks you don't know where it came from. Got it? :0)

I just love how it turned out so much that I had to share with all of you non-neighbors!

Thanks for the idea Jana!

ETA: Here is the poem that is on the top of the can:

This is our traveling Neighborhood Pail to say "We love you! We think you're swell!" Enjoy these goodies we have for you, then here is what you have to do....Fillit with treats and give it away, Share love with your neighbor for this special holiday!"

I then printed out a copy of a Christmas tree that has a tag attached to it that says something about hanging a copy of it in your window where everyone can see so that as many different people can have the bucket before Christmas as possible.

I don't anticipate getting it back, but that's okay! it will be fun to see how many homes in the neighborhood it hits.