Murphy's Sick...

My poor little man has been so sick... I was thinking it was the 4 top teeth he was pulling but after 2 days of countless diaper changes, along with countless clothing changes (yup - you got it... that nummy diarreah that runs straight through the clothes), along with countless hours of crying... I have decided he may need to go to the doc tomorrow!!! I didn't even realize that in this cute picture he is pulling on his ears. Watch... mother of the year waits to take her handsome little guy to the doctor after a week of a horrible ear infection!!! Poor kid! On a side note.... he has a new do.... Isn't he adorable with the little spike? I think it makes him look so old!

I had to throw these couple pictures in for my dad. He always gives me a hard time about missing out on the beautiful sunsets in Cleveland. Dad, can you even believe that I walked out on my back deck last night and captured this sunset... HERE.... IN LEHI!!!! I try and tell him we have gorgeous sunsets here also but he doesn't believe... here is the proof daddy-o!

Other than that... just enjoying the kids being home for another week. I cannot believe 2008 is coming to an end.. where did the year go? Eric surprised me a few weeks ago and told me since he couldn't think of anything to give me for my birthday (yes, it was yesterday... can you believe I just turned 30!! I am so old!!) (HEHE) he was going to take me with him to San Diego this weekend. I cannot wait. Thanks to his fam for taking the kids while we are gone! He has a coaches convention so it's not like we will be spending tons of time together... my plan... 12 pack of Diet Pepsi... and a bed. I am literally so exhausted and plan on sleeping for 3 days straight... with no interruptions!!! I love my kids but am pretty gosh darn excited for a couple days of peace and quiet!!!

Back in the Saddle... oh ya... and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Holy Cow has it really been forever since I have blogged. It sure seems as though... but it has only been 12 days. I could have swore it was like a year. I love blogging. It keeps me connected with the world even if I haven't seen alot of my friends and fellow bloggers since high school!!! So... where do I start?

Well... the 18th of December we were FINALLY given our occupancy permit!!! Over that weekend Eric and I pretty much did the up til 2 am, wake at 5 am schedule to get our stuff packed and ready to move. We were able to move in on a Tues and our friends moved in to our old home on Wed. So not only was I cleaning the new house but trying to clean the old one as best I could in the time I had (sorry Shelby!) During that week I had some awesome friends who totally were awesome!!! Carrie - thanks for taking Murphy so often!!! Seriously... I love that little man more than words but he follows me and climbs up on my leg whenever I am in his sight. Thank You, Thank You!!! Emily and Sommer.... wow - my friends that scrub walls and wash windows!!! You ROCK!!! We should just have cleaning parties at my house once a month because it's so fun to hang out!!! And then my in-laws who spend their Saturday moving us, cleaning walls, and watching kids! Luv ya!!! Last but definitely not least... my mom! If you want to be organized (even if it might not last long) hire my mom! I didn't touch anything as far as packing my kitchen and moving it over. I still occasionally have to call her and ask where a cutting board or pan is but wow... if you seen the organization in my drawers you would die!! It really is amazing!!! Thanks so much mom!

So anyway, we are in... and loving it. This is my first NEW home and I honestly sometimes just look around in awe really wondering like wow... is this really mine!! That is when I feel so blessed... blessed with a warm home... blessed with awesome, healthy kiddos... and blessed with the most amazing hubby in the world. He really worked his tail off to get us in comfortably before Christmas!!!

So here are a few previews... if you want a better idea... please stop by... I love taking people through the tour! Just give me a 15 minute notice so I can pick up all the toys!!!

Here would be the kitchen... my favorite place of all!!!Oh ya, nevermind... this is my most favorite place of all!!!
Poor Mayser... we saw Santa about 5 times this year and this is what we got from him every time!!But he LOVED baby Jesus. I caught him giving him kisses more than once!Here is Gwire and Maddog with their preschool teachers Jen and Jess Frier. This was their program... they were so stinkin cute! We love Miss Jennifer!!! Here are all the Oveson grandkids at the Oveson Christmas party. Grandma always gives pj's... we had tons of fun!!!I had to throw this picture in... it was on our way down to Cleveland right after Mays woke up!! I just loved the gorgeous eyes (or should I say eye).We spent Christmas Eve with the Madsens in Syracuse. Madsen family tradition... McDonalds chicken nuggets!!! My kids LOVE it!!! Angie also makes sugar cookies and then lets the kids decorate them for Santa! Mmmmm..... were there some yummy ones this year!Macee and Grandma decorating cookies!
Last but not least... my little Murphy. He got his first 2 bottom teeth over a month ago and is pulling his top 4 right now (makes for a few ornery days!) He is seriously just a joy. Happy, content, lovable little man.

Wanted to wish everyone really quickly a Very Merry Christmas...

I printed out 150 of these cute cards the week before we moved and wouldn't you know it... they didn't ever get out in the mail. I am still (for right now) planning on sending them before the New Year but until then... this will have to do. Thank you soooo much Mandy for putting this together. I still have your stuff if you are ever in Utah County!!!

I love the feelings of Christmas... it seriously makes me a little giddy (in a happy kid kinda way!!!) My kids were so excited this morning and we had totally down-played Christmas this year so it was nice to realize that they don't really care... it's all about being together as a family and enjoying the goodies Santa brings!!! And of course, the most important... our Saviour.. Jesus Christ!!! Happy Holidays!!!

FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok... so here is how the events of the past few days have gone..

Thursday afternoon... we were scheduled for our first inspection. Knowing that you NEVER pass a first inspection we definitely wanted the city to come out so we could get our list of "things to fix" so that we could get everyone in and out quick. We are waiting for railing on our back deck so we basically boarded up the back door so you CANNOT get out. Get a call from the city saying that they will not even come look without a railing. Decision time, do we spend a couple hundred dollars to put up a temporary deck or just wait until Monday for railing. Being anxious we spent the couple hundred dollars and they built us a nice beautiful deck that would definitely keep out the cattle. I say that because it is butt ugly!!!! But nonetheless we have a deck so we are rolling right?

So know we have 20 guys just running around the lot trying to do final grade, pour cement.... it was awesome!!! So...

Friday morning... I have appts most of the day which takes me away from the house... which makes life stressful knowing that when I get home I have 20 voice mails waiting for me. Inspection scheduled for 3:30 BTW!!!

I had to call one of my clients to see about getting a mirror for my bathroom. These clients of mine are a BIG family and I insure all of them starting at the Grandpa down to 3 generations now. They have been clients for over 10 years and I feel like I could really go hang with them at a family gathering and feel totally comfortable. They are great people. So I make this phone call to find that they had all gone back to Texas because their 3 year old niece had passed a few days ago with a brain tumor. I had known she was diagnosed back in late August and that the docs had said it was a fast growing tumor. Are you kidding me? Here I am having a pitty party because I haven't got to move into my new house and there are others around me dealing with the loss of a 3 year old? HUGE REALITY CHECK! Anyway, the tears started bright and early.

Around noon... receive a phone call from our builders saying that the city drove by and because we had more than 4 stairs coming down the front of our porch (we have 5) ... we had to have a handrail. The beauty of it all... they will not come inspect ANYTHING until this is done. The problem.... the cement truck was at our house at the moment just pouring the stairs. So how are we to put a rail in??? Um.... we're not. They said they would still come out at 3:30 but if we didn't have the handrail up they will slap us with a $100 fine and drive away. Mind you.... I paid Lehi city over $15,000 for a stinkin building permit... they were being awesome! Oh ya, did I mention ALL OUR RAILING IS SCHEDULED TO BE DONE MONDAY MORNING. We tried explaining but nothing is working.

So here I am between meetings, bawling my head off!!! Not 5 minutes later I get a call from work about a couple different things. The tears were flowing!!! I honestly had to run back to my house between an appt just to reapply makeup and try and fix my puffy eyes!!! We had decided to just all show up for the inspection at 3:30 and pray for a miracle. Eric kept saying if they saw my face and eyes they would feel bad enough and cut us a break. Well... I was late because my appt ran late. I showed up at 3:40 and guess what... the inspector was walking through the house with our builder. It was a guy from our ward and I couldn't believe it!!! So I told Eric to call me when it was finished so I could head back home and work.

He called around 4:30 and told me to come down. The list was shorter than 10 items which I hear is really good. And the best news......

WE CAN MOVE EVERYTHING IN!!!! Yup - that is correct. We can move everything in. We cannot live there until all the items are taken care of Monday but they were simple things so we SHOULD be living in our new home Monday! So - here I am 5:30 on a Saturday morning, the day that I usually can sleep in until 9 am! Giddy as a stinkin 4 year old on Christmas morning... ready to start packing it up!

We have cleaning ladies coming in at 10 am and after that we are starting to move it all over. We were there last night until midnight doing some more cleaning and hanging up closet racks. Thank you my dear Emily for coming and scrubbing with me and then snuggling Murph the rest of the night! I picked the little man up from her around 11:30 last night!

YEAH!!! YEAH!!!! YEAH!!! Can ya tell I am super excited? I just kept telling Eric last night, "I don't know where to start... I really can't believe it's happening!!" So - ya probably won't hear from me for a bit because I AM MOVING!!!! I had to share.. even if it is 5:30 on a Saturday morning! Whoever it was saying there little prayers for me.... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Where are you Christmas?

Why can't I find you....

Wow do I feel like Cindy Lu Who!!! Seriously... I am lost! Here I go with the Jessica pitty party? Sorry - you choose to read!! (HEHE). We were supposed to be in the house 2 weeks ago! I am sure ya'all who have been through the building process feel my pain. One thing after another. We will FINALLY have the first final inspection tomorrow. Knowing that you never pass... we are hoping everyone gets in to take care of their "jobs" and we have another inspection Monday afternoon at which time we can start moving this family of 8 over! PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!! Eric and I have been going down to the house in the evenings. He has been putting on door handles and putting up closet rods while I have been cleaning. We have been getting home at midnight! The kids go down with us until I am ready to kill them all and then I always have 1 friend or another that will call and rescue me. Ok - I am in tears. Thank you my friends. Thank you so much for caring about my family! Even if it means coming and getting the Murph man for just an hour or two so I don't have him pulling on my legs everywhere I go.

My poor kids!!! I didn't put up a Christmas tree because I didn't want to get it put up here and then have to move it over! I kept think... this week... this week. Here we are... 2 weeks from Christmas and we have no Christmas tree. We are totally Grizwalds and we go down to Joes Valley every year and cut down "the perfect tree." My kids love it. It could be my all time fav tradition. Not this year... who has time for that?

I finally had my first "BIG" breakdown yesterday!!! Yup - cried for hours!!! I hope I can get through these next couple weeks. Ultimately, I pray that we wake up Christmas morning in a warm home (wherever that may be) and I can enjoy my kiddos. I have had no patience (could be the 2 or 3 hours of sleep each night). I better make sure I take the time to night to go lay down and give them extra snuggles. Sorry for being such a slacker. I can honestly say I haven't looked at blogs all week!

Again, thanks so much to my friends for being LifeSavers. If all goes as planned we SHOULD, I say SHOULD be moving in after Monday night! In the meantime I hope to keep in the back of my mind what this feeling of Christmas should be all about!

It's About TIME!!!!

So Sorry... I have been the biggest slacker and I am afraid it is only going to get worse before it gets better! I hope ya'all had an awesome Thanksgiving... we had the whole fam (My fam) at our house for a few days and it was tons of fun. I hardly took any pics (which is soooo unlike me...) but we had a great time... I took a video of the girls doing "Turkey Dinner," which was hilarious... but when I went to watch it it was not there... you could hear them but not see.. so hopefully Clint will send it to me??? But here would be my fav outfit of the year. This is Clint's 3 year old!!! She is so stinkin cute! We call her Jack Jack and she is a pistol!!! She left my house wearing this outfit and I made her let me take a pic (sorry Kori!) I just loved it... Really... she is so stinkin cute! What you can't see is she has Macee's tank top on, McGwire's Nike sweats, the black leather jacket and pink cowgirl boots!!! AWESOME!!!

Next is my Murphy lickin' the beaters after I whipped up some Banana Cream Pie (straight from the Jello box). I will never profess to be a Betty Crocker! But... He LOVED it so I had at least 1 thumbs up!

Macee was able to spend some time with her friend Alyssa... These girls are like two peas in a pod!! They requested makeovers and nails... so that we did... these are 2 of about 100 photos!!! They are both adorable.

Last but not least the Nutcracker... I first wanted to thank all my totally awesome friends and family who came and supported Macee. You do not know how excited she was that you call came. My mom and Macee's 4 girl cousins from Cleveland traveled up and back Monday night... what troopers. Mace was so excited for them to be there. My mother-in-law and SIL, Em, and her 2 cute girls came Tuesday... it makes for a late night when you have to travel back an hour or an hour and a half. Really.... it was great!!! And then the friends...I mean, really, I know how great my friends are but... this really meant alot to both of us to have everyone that came there so thank you so much. It's always alot of time and hard work and it was just awesome to have everyone there! I am putting a video below of her "Russian" part. She is the girl at the first (I missed her first back-handspring) and then she is always on the left and in front of the line. Sorry - I couldn't get any closer! Anyway, the prep... it usually take about 2 hours the night before performance so Yee-Ha... glad to be done!!! Here she is in her curlers...

And here she is with her dance team as the "Party Girls!" These girls are like a big family... they are all so fun and cute! But I can definitely wait until next year for the next go around!

Oh... I better not forget to thank my friend Mandy Parsons for the new header. Isn't she talented? And so nice... really... she sent me the email to send her new pics. I owe her... for real... The pictures are a little preview of our family pictures we had done a few weeks ago. We are hoping for a final inspection on the house Friday!!! Which would mean we can start moving maybe over the weekend or next week. I can't tell you how relieved I will be when we are all done. I think it's kicking my butt at this point! I better go check a few blogs... sorry I have been such a bad commenter.... chances are I haven't even looked lately! But I still love ya all!!!

My Favorite Russians....

It's SHOW time!!!

Ok family and friends... the time has come that my sweet Macee and her dance studio perform the great, wonderful, fabulous.... NUTCRACKER!!!

She will be performing on Monday, Dec 1st and Tuesday, Dec 2nd! They also have matinees those days but they are strictly for school kids... anyway, I know I have already talked to a few of you (and BTW - she is SOOOOOO excited that you are coming) but for all those who want a fun mommy-daughter date you oughta come. We are super excited this year because she is not only a "party girl" but she got the role as one of the Russians!!! This means she will be tumbling all over the place!! Hope to see ya there! I got a few extra tickets so if anyone is interested let me know!

One Last Thought....

I just wanted to say how excited I am to be sitting here blogging at 2:30 am! Do you know how long it has been since I have been able to do that? It's AWESOME!!! Please keep reading on... I was able to do a Tag and a post today...

Also - I still plan on officially going private next weekend!!! Thought I would have some time over the Thanksgiving break and since there are a few "non-committed" bloggers (just kidding) that aren't checking in once a week I thought I would leave it open another week! So... if you are in and haven't left your email please do so... Like Brooke said (sorry Brooke)... you are not committed to commenting.. but are welcome to read!!! Have an awesome weekend!

My Man Tag!!!

So.... Jess, thanks for the tag... and coincidentally guess what we celebrated last weekend? Our 11th anniversary!! Thanks to all my friends and extra helpers. I had 6 kids going to 4 different places... go figure!!! We escaped to Park City Friday night after Macee performed at the South Town Expo Center. We slept in and shopped Saturday which makes this woman a very happy camper! Thanks hon (not like he reads this... what am I thinkin?). On a side note... not to get mushy or anything, on my playlist "The Gift" was Eric and I's wedding song. I was so excited to put in on my Christmas playlist and listen to it again daily. So anyway, here we go...

1. Where did you meet your husband? He was coaching at CEU and I was a student (doesn't that sound sick and wrong). We played Co-Ed Softball against each other...

2. How long did you date before you got married? Almost a full year!!!

3. How long have you been married? 11 years and counting...

4. What does he do that surprises you? Dishes, laundry... but my favorite... comes home early from work... I know.. pathetic but it makes my life so much easier to cook dinner without 2 little boys at my feet!

5. What is your favorite feature of his? Definitely his beautiful BLUE eyes. Have you seen all my kiddos eyes... just like their daddy!! I always say that's why I married him...

6. What is his best quality? He is committed.... committed to his team at home and his team on the field. He spend endless hours with both! (Sometimes one more than the other!! LOL)

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Yes - Jess and Hon (Hey Jess... did I steal your answer!!!)

8. What is his favorite food? Definitely steak!!! He loves a good steak. He also keeps reminding me he loves Pizza. I have cut that out of my diet and I am thinking he is not happy about that. He also loves Reeses Shakes from Sonic or Arctic Circle... Nightly... Really!

9. What is his favorite sport? Hmmmm..... I am going to have to go with Soccer!!!! Just Kidding!!! I am going to go out on a limb and say baseball... but in all seriousness he LOVES football and basketball also.

10. When and where did you first kiss? Um... date #1 and we were at his apartment.

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? That is a little personal... No Just Kidding... Honestly...My favorite thing to do as a couple is get away from this crazy house and just be alone. I don't care if it's dinner, movie, going for a drive, or going grocery shopping. I love our nights where we can just lay in bed an talk. I have really enjoyed having our early breakfasts together. I am sure if you asked him this question he would have a very different answer!

12. Do you have any children? Yes - 5!!! Mick - 10, Macee - 7, Maddux - 5, McGwire - 3, Mays - 2. I also have Murphy... the red-headed step child as Eric would call him. Eric swears he is not his!!! Just kidding... he claims him.. WE HAVE 6!!!!

13. Does he have any hidden talents? He is a FABULOUS cook! He is an amazing speaker... I mean, get up in front of hundreds of people and keep your attention forever!

14. How old is he? Well... funny that you would ask... It's his Birthday today.. Oh ya.... Happy Birthday lova! So my new favorite thing to say is, "HE WILL BE 40 NEXT YEAR." (He hates that).

15. What is his favorite music? Whatever you would call that crap that everyone else (including me) is listening to these days. Ummmm I can't think.... 97.1???

16. What do you admire most about him? His desire and work ethic. He puts in so many extra hours doing lessons and camps to help out our family. He is amazing with our little boys (and Macee). They have so much respect for their dad because he demands it! I love that... He also has an amazing quick whit... Ok... we will not sugar coat it... he is such a smart a!!! He makes me laugh constantly!

17. What is his favorite color? Yellow and Green???? This weekend... RED - GO UTES!!!

18. Will he read this? Not a chance

19. Who said I love you first? I did...

20. I tag..... Sommer, Cali, Shauntel, Rachel E., Dana and Julie

McGwires Surgery

When we went to the dentist a couple weeks ago we received not great news. Poor little McGwire has probably been drinking too much Kool-Aid. He had some pretty deep cavities and Dr. Peterson decided the best route would be oral surgery. I didn't really blink... I am a pretty trusting person so I figured "let's getter done!!!" So Today was the big day. We started at the crack of dawn.... Here is McGwire in his car seat on the way up to Salt Lake....I have been fortunate to only have one kid actually have surgery. Mick had tubes done twice. Once at 18 months and again when he was in Kindergarten. When he had the tubes we would check into the hospital and they would come and get him and then bring him back when he was finished so we never actually saw the process. We were able to watch them put Migs out and I am embarrassed to say that I really was holding back the tears... I am a sissy when it comes to my kids and as stupid as it sounds got really scared... They put the little mask over McGwire which he WAS NOT HAPPY about! He was screaming and fighting but it only took a few breaths before his tiny little body went lifeless. That is the party that I DID NOT like!!! He was like a rag doll.... In my head I just prayed that he would wake well from this deep sleep. Needless to say, Hans (the dentist) was way fast and we were taken back to be there when McGwire woke up! This took awhile. I think the little guy woke up so early he just wanted to get his ZZZZZZ's. Once he woke up they removed the tube from his throat and took out his IV. Of course he was irritable and cried the whole way home.Eric was able to stick around and snuggle Gwire to settle him down and get him asleep! You can see from poor little Gwy's eyes he had been crying a ton!!!And this is Gwire getting the royal treatment... eating Jello in mommy and daddy's bed! He was awesome the rest of the afternoon. In fact, around 4 o'clock I said, "Gwy, do you want to take your socks off and show your brothers where you got your shot?" He didn't even know he had had an IV... which I am sad to say they had to poke the poor little man 3 times to get a vein - he is like his mommy!!! Good thing he was OUT COLD!!! Needless to say, it went very smooth but I hope we never have to have surgery again!!! Good luck with 6 kids right?And I had to throw this picture in. I was trying to get a little work done tonight when I went in to find this.... The culprit.... little Mr. Murphy... the mess... and Oreo cookie. Maddog said he REALLY liked it so they didn't take it away. Have you ever tried to get wet Oreo out of your carpet???? Not an easy task... He was brown from head to toe!!!

I'm Late...

My Mayser turned 2 yesterday!!! I was putting together his slideshow and the song "let them be little" was playing on my blog and I seriously got teary. I know, pathetic... but this little man was forced to grow up way too quickly. He has a twinkle in his eye (although sometimes a deceiving one). We love you tons Mays!! And yes, I am still going private. Probably first of next week so.. if you haven't already done so... please leave your email below!!!

Happy 2nd BDay Mays

I'M GOING PRIVATE!!!! For Real This Time!!!

Okay... so several months ago I had thought I probably should go private. Bottom line... I was lazy and didn't have the time or didn't want to put out the effort to have to actually type in everyones emails to invite them... I know... pathetic but true!!! It has been in the back of my mind consistently since then. As you probably can tell... I am very proud of my children BUT... I am not proud enough to maybe put them in any type of danger! So... I am REALLY jumping on the bandwagon and going private. Please leave your emails in the comments or if you don't feel comfortable doing that please just email me at ejmadsen5@msn.com!!! Please don't be shy... it's not that I want to hide away from all of you... it's just that I don't want to take the chance of one of those many crazy people we have out there in the world hurting my kiddos!!!

A good friend of mine (thanks Shauntel) threw out a couple scenarios and I realize how important it is for my blog to become private. So... please let me know if you would like to continue to follow us... I would be happy to invite all!!!

On a side note.... for all you Utah County women... I frequent Rod Works pretty much on a daily basis... I have been hesitant to put this on my blog but I have no pride and ya'all know I'm really not to shy so... we all got our Hometown Values book the other day. If you are going to chuck your Rod Works coupon please call me first. I would be happy to take it off your hands!!!! I laughed because last night Carrie forwarded me over a coupon from there that had been sent to her via email... Ya gotta love good friends that know exactly what you are thinking!!! Have a good day!

Super Saturday!!!

Wow!!! Today was probably the first Saturday in MANY that we haven't been to a sporting event. What were we to do with ourselves??? Hop in the car and drive down to Cleveland to see family. At the last minute we ended up taking Macee's friend Alyssa who we totally enjoyed. We rode horses for hours. My kids cannot get enough of it!!! Every time Mays had to get off to take a turn he would cry! Alyssa had never been on a horse before so that was great. We got to see both Grandma and Grandpa Luke and Grandma Cookie (my dad's mom). It was fabulous. We drove down after Macee's dance and just got back a bit ago! Here are a couple of my favorite pics but I took a bizillion so I did make a slide show below!!!

Eric and Mayser!!!

Grandpa Luke and Murphy. I loved how they were looking at each other. I have tried so hard lately to take more pictures with my kids and their great-grandparents. I think it is awesome my kids still have 4 great grandmas and 3 great grandpas. My dad's dad passed away when he was 18 so I didn't ever know my Grandpa Oveson!!

Maddux hanging on the swing. He loves this think and spends tons of time just leisurely swinging!!

My cute Gwire - Do you love those fangs? I thought this picture was adorable!!!

Macee and Alyssa on the horse! The had so much fun... Yes... Macee has the same "do" as yesterday. It stayed in awesome and saved me time this morning!!!

Too Many PiCtUrEs!!!

TGIF!!!!

Wow.... it's been such a long week. As I had to do in the past, I kinda grounded myself TEMPORARILY from blogging. I can get so consumed with... "oh.. new post from so and so..." and once I get started I can do it all hours of the night/morning! My work has been crazy.. I know I keep saying that but I am thinking that I have built my clientel up here to the point that I am going to just NOT have time to breath. Which is ok... busy is good!!! So I have been on the computer since 6:30 this morning and needed a 15 minute break so here is the new post.

I bought the boys Christmas PJ''s the other day at Costco. Unfortunately, they didn't get brought in the car so Sunday when we were on our way home from church they were found and since it was such a cold day... I caved and let them put them on. I know... pathetic. But they were so cute and SOOOOO cuddly for a cold day!

I have never been able to do the twisty thing on Macee's hair. She always begs and I always try... and then it ends in tears because I am a failure. I had a friend give me a couple tips the other day and we tried again this morning. Macee was seriously ecstatic. I know... how do you get sooo excited about a hair do.... Well.... ya gotta know my Mace!!! So she modeled, and posed, and modeled and posed!!

Side View

Back View

Other side View,,,

Top View

Last but not least.... I have closed the poll... I did go with brown and I LOVE it!!! I will have to go take some pictures. Thanks for the help...

I am going to have to call upon you one more time!!! My mom called me the other day to ask if I had any ideas for she and my dad's 35th anniversary. Our family has had a rough year.... I won't get into it but it will go down in our books as the hardest year so far for the Oveson family... One thing, upon another, upon another.... Anyway, my mom just wants to get away. Their anniversary is in January and they can't go on a long trip due to my dad's work. She has 5 days.... leaving on a Thursday, returning on Tuesday... She is thinking about staying in the state due to loosing 2 days on just travel alone. So... my dad is not a big traveler or spender. My mom is opposite... She was thinking like Park City snowmobiling... He is not a skier (neither is she). Does anyone have any great and wonderful ideas??? I hate to say money isn't an issue but it is kinda true... so I told her to find some nice secluded cabin up in Heber... we are throwing a few ideas around but someone out there has to know the "perfect place." Please help with this... she called a few days ago and said, "I think we will just bag it and not go." I think she is just getting stressed with the thoughts of the whole thing... so I want to help and am asking for any possible ideas!! They totally deserve this! Luv ya ladies!

Superbowl / Halloweeen

Today was the "Superbowl" for our football league and... drum roll... we lost!!! Darnit!!! These boys seriously played so darn good. The team they played is tough.. haven't lost a game in 3 years... have only allowed 3 touchdowns to score against them in 3 years.... until today. Final Score 21-12. Our boys are a first year team that should be VERY proud of the way they played.

Here are a few kinda action photos of Mick.

Here are the 5 Tigers (baseball team) that played on the football team.

This is Bub aka Matthew. Anyone who follows my blog knows this is one of Mick's best friends! He was phenomenal today!!! He ran the ball 80 yards for our first touchdown and broke through about 5 tackles for the second. What a stud!!! I always thought he was a great baseball player... watch out for this one... he is awesome. The whole entire team did great! The coaches were seriously fabulous!!! These boys all showed alot of class today. Mick LOVED his first season of tackle football!!!

Last but not least here is Jason, Mick's coach, giving Mick his medal. We luv ya Jason... you did amazing with these boys!!!

Now here is the Halloween low-down... I usually dress up... not because I LOVE to but my kids think it's great and hey... it makes me feel young right? Either that or juvenile. Anyway... this year with building and selling I really didn't have much time to think about Halloween. Mick didn't want to dress up at all - he thinks he is too old.... Macee didn't really care... which means we decided the night of our wards trunk-or-treat what she was going to be... and I purchased 5 Power Rangers costumes for yes.... $4 a piece on Disney online after Halloween last year so we were set! And then Murphy's costume... we have handed this down since we had Maddux... Our friends, Joldy and Megan gave it to us years ago... it's my favorite. So this year we did trunk or treat with the ward on Thursday night... Eric's family always goes to town on Halloween and has fun things to do so we decided to intrude and surprise them. We did Angie's blocks trunk or treat... walked around Grandma Vic's block... ate homemade chili.... watched Micky Mouse Halloween, decorated Halloween sugar cookies and had a great time! Thanks for letting us in on the fun! It was Spooktacular!! I know I did a slideshow below but when I have this turned into a journal the slideshows don't get pulled into the book so I have to post a picture of all the kids... except for Mick who was at a football party and hung out with his friends... so sad he is getting too old for his family!!! At least I can say he has great friends and I don't have to worry about him getting into trouble!!!

This is the whole family!!!

Oh ya, I forgot to mention that I decided to be a baseball player with Murphy. Nate gave Mick this jersey a couple years ago. So Nate... I wore #4 proud!!!

Here is my little "can-can" girl. She even did the "can-can" for all the teachers at the school! She is beautiful. When deciding what she wanted to be she didn't care as long as she could wear makeup. This was a perfect fit!

Here is Murphy the baseball player. He was so cute and so good. Just hung out in the stroller most of the time we did the trick-or-treating!

Last but not least... my Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. We had green also but it got wore the night before and got a little dirty! They LOVED their costumes and they were so warm!!!

Hope everyone had as much fun as the Madsens.... I know one thing for sure... it will take us until next year to eat all the candy we collected.!!!