100th Post Give-Away!

Wow, I about died when I went to post this morning and noticed that it was my 99th post. So, to celebrate this, my 100th post I wanted to do a give away!

I just started offering cardstock Christmas Cards and Birth Announcements. So, if you're dying to have the cutest, freaking cards this year... leave me a comment (or email me at announcingjoy@yahoo.com) to have your name entered in a drawing. On October 15th, I will draw and announce the lucky winner!

RULES: There are none! You don't have to know me to enter. You don't have to live around here. I will mail them to you. I can use your own digital photos for the cards or if you've had a previous session with me we can use those! Or, if you have a session scheduled soon... we can use those!
So...everyone is invited to enter. They are 4x5.5 flat cardstock cards that are double sided. They come with envelopes. There are 25 in the package. Value: $39.90.

Good Luck Everyone!

Birthday at Tuacahn!

I don't have a lot of time to write about our little vacation. But, just wanted to shout out to my friends and family and thank them for your phone calls, texts, gifts and thoughts for my birthday! I feel really blessed to have you all in my life! Thank you!

Four of us planned a trip 6 months ago to go see Les Miserables. We saw it on my Birthday! It was my first time seeing the place. It was fabulous! We had a fun time shopping, eating, sleeping (kind of) and playing! We stayed at the Marriott Suites in St. George. We shopped our hearts out and had fun relaxing together! Thanks gals for a fun weekend!

You're Invited

Since it's less than a week away and I'm totally slacking on getting invitations out... here's your invite:

Gold Canyon Candle Party

Wednesday, October 1st

7:00-9:00 PM Open House

MyHouse

Fall is in there air and who doesn't want a new fall candle? These also make great gifts for birthdays and Christmas. So, I just wanted to share my favorite candles with you all!

Everyone is invited... bring a friend!

GIRLFRIENDS

We just got back from our Annual Cabin Trip with the girls. This year, like every year, we didn't get to stay long enough! It would have been fun to stay two nights. But, with dang BYU Football and several CrAzY-BlUe husbands out there... it gets cut short every year! Ahhh... someday!

Anyway, we really had a good time. It really is a good time for laughter and tears and we really do develop close bonds when we spend time like this together. I'm so grateful for my wonderful friends. I kind of wanted to tell each individual friend that went that what I love about them.

ANGIE: She is very giving and is very thoughtful. She never forgets my birthday and this crazy girl always is giving me things for Christmas, Mother's Day, Easter... every holiday under the sun! She's also very, very helpful with my businesses. She helps me every week with the mundane things that I think I will pull my hair out if I do one more time! I could go on... but I'll save it for a card! :)

NICKI: Nicki is always good for a laugh. She's very funny and a bit sarcastic and I love that about her. She too is always giving. She's always offering what she has for me to use or take. I'm so glad she moved into our neighborhood!

LINDSEY: aka Weeza! I love this girl. We became best friends in 9th grade. She is super funny and we totally get each other. She is such a good person and I admire what a good mother and wife she is!

MINDI: She is the best cook. Everything I've ever ate from her kitchen is divine! I admire that so much. (Because I'm a horrible cook!) She's also very creative. She always has the best ideas for gifts. She is fun to be with.

PAIGE: Sadly, we've lived in the same neighborhood for 8 years, but only the last few years have we really gotten close. I love this girl! She is dang funny and just so pleasant to be around. I love our late night conversations at work, when we get the chance to work together. I love the kind of mother she is and the traditions she has in her family. I really admire that. I wish I could be more like her that way.

KERA: I love Kera because she's not afraid to tell me how I'm screwing up or doing wrong. I love her honest opinions and even though I don't always want to hear it, I do respect her insight from the outside view. I know that if I ever need anything, she'd stop everything to help me. We have the best time together and I have seriously missed our 4 hours of alone time at work. I need my therapy! I love that Kera is Kera no matter what. She knows who she is and where's she headed. I hope I can be more like her!

MELLISA: Now, how many years has it been? Twenty? We have been friends for 20 years! Wow! I love that Mellisa is the most genuine person you could meet. She's also the kindest person I know. She doesn't have an enemy in the World. She really loves everyone and always looks for the good in everyone. I love that is so giving and thoughtful. She is always thinking of others. She's also a hard worker... I admire all that she can accomplish in one day. WOW! She's also very funny and we've laughed to tears together before.

So, there's a little insight to why I love my girlfriends. I know that I couldn't live this life without them. Women need friends. And, I have the best friends in the World. I glad that we had another fun night together and I will treasure the good talks we had and the fun we had that night. I love you girls!

(I know... aren't we so cute! We little rejects like to have fun!)

Our Little Football Player

Payton is just about done with his second year of Flag Football. I know I'm his mother, but he's pretty good! He plays wide receiver most of the time and he's scored lots of touchdowns this season. Sorry... I'm not a sports photographer, the photos aren't that great. :)

Tag: Six Things That I LOVE;

1. I love my family. I think I'm the luckiest girl in the world to live with 4 handsome boys! I love being "the Boy Mom" and wouldn't change it for anything. I love having a perfect husband, he does house-cleaning, yard work and he's an awesome dad! I also love my parents and brother. (And of course his family too!) I also have awesome in-laws that I love. How many girls can say that?

2. I love living in a place where there's seasons! I love when seasons change. In Summer, I look forward to the first crisp evenings of fall to come and soon I'm yearning for a good snowstorm. After a while... I'm sick of the snow and beautiful Spring is here! I just love that!

3. I love my girlfriends. I have such good friends...too many to name out one by one, I'm afraid I'd miss someone. But, you know who you are. I love my friends. I love that they make me laugh, are my shoulder to cry on when needed and that they understand me. Girls need friends!

4. I love to play games. (I like winning too!) Whether it be a softball game, a board game or good game of cards... I LOVE GAMES!

5. I love make-up. I am a "Make-Up Junkie". It's an addiction. I can admit that. If you've been wanting to try something... ask me before you buy, I've bet I've tried it! Along with make-up, I'm obsessed with skin-care products! I've tried them all!

6. I love elbows. Yes, I'm weird... but I love to pinch elbows. I started doing it as a baby and I still do it as an old lady! So, don't act shocked if I reach up and pinch you one day!

Tag: All my friends on my bloglist.

Park City

Every year Mike's work takes us to Park City for a weekend retreat. Of course, he has meetings and I get to shop! This year was especially fun, because our friends Jason and Paige were able to come! Jason was voted onto the supervisory board. So, from now on... they're included on our trips. YAY! I now have a shopping buddy.

We had a fun time, eating, shopping and sleeping. Yeah, that pretty much says it all. Unfortunately I didn't get that many photos. It also happened to be Mike's birthday. So, the credit union had a big "Princess Party" for him. haha. He was a good sport and wore the attire they bought him. Doesn't he look hot? Now you have something to tease him about!

Jason and Paige

Princess Mike

Watching the BYU game at Ruby Tuesday!

Tate's First Day of School

Tate started his second year of preschool this month. Brock was very distraught about this. The whole morning Brock was worried about finding his back pack and what he was going to wear to school. It was very sad when we dropped off Tate. Brock was not happy. Tate is his buddy and he wanted to stay with him!

Tate was very excited for school this year. He has the best little teacher, Miss Amber. We have really enjoyed her the last year and look forward to another great year. She is always telling me how good Tate is and how polite he is. YAY! I'm so happy that my boys are on their best behavior when I'm not around. Sometimes I worry about that!

Tate is a sweet little boy. Somedays... I don't want to take him to school, because I start missing him. But... it's good for me and Brockie to have some time together too.

Tate about to go into his class for the first time this school year!

Brockie sadly watching his brother head off to school without him! It was heart-breaking!

Finally...Labor Day Fun

So, when I use my little "purse camera" as I call it... It takes me forever to get the pictures off of it. But, I finally did today!

We had a fun Labor Day Weekend. We slept at my parents' house on Friday night. They live in West Mountain and we had a good view of the fireworks they do that evening from their backyard. I'm skipping ahead... first we ate dinner. Yummy! My mom always has shrimp dip and to be honest no one makes it as good as her, so I'm in fat heaven when I go to her house and get to snack on it! YUM!

After eating, we played some games and set up our beds in the backyard. Once it got dark... the fireworks began. I don't know if the kids were that interested. They were so fired up being together... they could care less. But, it was fun anyway. I don't think me, Mike or my dad slept much... but it was still fun for the boys!

We got up to an awesome breakfast that Grandma Carlene prepared. We ate and played some more. We were waiting for the pigeons to come in from their race. But, we were too busy picking corn and tomotoes that somehow we missed them flying in! Oh well!

The boys had a good time and I'm sure it's something they'll always remember!

Our Independent Brock

Brock is so independent. He's only 2-years-old... and he has to do everything himself. {I mean EVERYTHING!} He has to buckle himself in his carseat, he has to climb out of the car himself, he has to take off his own diaper... I mean seriously, this kid takes care of himself.

So, last night after fighting a couple of hours with our kids to go to bed, like always, we finally caved and let Brockie sleep with Tate. This morning I'm laying in bed and I can hear the fridge open and someone downstairs kicking around. I'm assuming it's Mike, although I'm too lazy to turnover and see if he's still in bed with me!

Soon, our door creaks open and there stands little Brock. He's went downstairs, climbed up the cupboard and got himself a cup. Then he opened the fridge and found the Diet Coke and poured himself a drink. {That alone proves that he's my child, although he looks just like the Claysons...the first thing he wants in the morning is a Diet Coke! Just like me!} Anyway, it's just so funny how he is.

Last week he got up early and went down stairs to the fridge. No Diet Coke that morning. So, he just got the brick of cheese and started nibbling on it!

Anyway... didn't mean to write a novel. But he's just not like my other kids, I get a kick out of how he takes care of himself!

Happy Birthday Honey!

My hot husband will turn 36 tomorrow, September 6th! Since, we will be out of town I wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday a day early!

With my kids, I've listed reasons why I love them on their birthday. So... I'd love to do that for My Honey! I could definitely list 36 reasons... but that would almost be like writing a novel. So, I'm going to add the 3 and 6 and tell you 9 reasons why I love my hubby!

NINE REASONS WHY I LOVE MY MIKEY:

1. He really is the nicest person I know. Mike might answer your phone call "Hey Jackass"... but he only means it in the most sincere, endearing way! He really is the nicest, truest friend you could have!

2. He is the best daddy. There is a reason I have all sons. They have one heck of a role model in their dad. Mike takes his father role very serious. He always makes time in every day to play with his kids. The boys love him so much. He is the best daddy!

3. He is very thoughtful. Mike is very thoughtful. Like last night... I asked him to stop at his mom's to get me some tomatoes tomorrow if he had time. He stopped at 10:00 at night instead and brought me home my much desired tomatoes! He went and picked them in the dark with a flashlight. It made me so happy! (Right now I'm having a major tomato problem... I can't get enough!)

4. He's a perpetual teenager. Mike is a big kid and I love that about him. It keeps us young! He's always out playing and acting like the boys. Occasionally he does dumb things like a teenager... but only once in a while!

5. Everyone loves Mike. I don't think Mike has an enemy. He genuinely loves everyone. He's always concerned about everyone's welware. His friends and neighbors are very important to him.

6. Mike's a good housekeeper! I love being married to a man that is willing to help out around the house. I couldn't do it without him. He's always picking up, vacuuming and he even does his own laundry. He really helps me out so much! I hope my boys will learn this from him and in turn help their wives! I really do appreciate his help and his willingness to share responsibilities at home.

7. Mike is a bargain finder! Everyone knows that about Mike! I like to tease him about it. But, really... I'm glad that he's so frugal with our money. I never have to worry about him over-spending or getting us in a financial bind. He's very good with our money.

8. He tolerates me and my ideas! That's a big one. He is very cooperative with all of my ideas for parties and outings. He's also very tolerant of my imperfections... which are many! He loves me for who I am. He doesn't try to change me. I'm a little rowdy and he likes it!

9. He has the best elbows in the world! I love elbows and I've pinched many. But, my hubby has the best. He'll even leave his arms out of the covers and get them all nice and cold for me! (Yes, I know I'm damn wierd... but it's true and I can't help it!)

Well, honey... that's only a few reasons why I love you. I hope you have the Best Birthday ever! I can't wait to spend the weekend with you! You're the best! LOVE YOU BABY!