Christmas Miracles

This Christmas season has been pretty good. Jeff and I usually go to San Diego and visit my family, but unfortunately because of his work schedule we had to stay in Prescott. I really miss my family a lot but we did have fun being with Jeff's family and enjoying our time at work parties and relaxing at home.

Last night we had our Christmas miracles. At about 11pm we came home from Jeff's family to find our little doggie in labor. She had her first puppy about 12am and the last one at 3:30 am. There are four puppies in all, sooooo cute! Belle, the mommy, did so well and she loves her babies very much. Unfortunately we already have too many pets sowe will be selling these four cuties in about February. They are pure Shi-chi (Shi-tzu/Chihuahua).

If

you know anyone who wants to buy a little puppy, send them our way :).

Thanksgiving & Birthday

Jeff and I did Thanksgiving with his family. We had a lot of fun with a family scavenger hunt and a talent show. I decided to sing a church song...which I should have practiced more :). My sister in law and I have a birthdays one day apart so we celebrated together over the Thanksgiving

weekend. One of Jeff's sister's also gave me a haircut. It was much needed!

Below: Birthday breakfast at Cracker Barrel, Jeff and puppies, bday pic, and haircut.

San Diego Surprise

A few months ago, my sister's friend planned to throw my sister a surprise baby shower. It is my sister's 4th pregnancy so she didn't expect more than going out to dessert with her friends. Sarah's friend helped fly me out to San Diego and my mom and I surprised Sarah. It was great because Sarah finds out everything, but not this time. It was a nice shower. I really enjoyed seeing my mom and my sister, plus her little family.

Gobble Gobble

So Turkey Day is coming fast and I can't wait! I love this time of year. Jeff and I will be spending Thanksgiving Day with his family, as well as the whole weekend (including my bday). Jeff's family has an traditional talent show each Thanksgiving too. Jeff and I are planning a few improv skits and I might even sing (yikes). We have done this almost every year and then we do Christmas with my family.

I really do love cooking Thanksgiving Dinner and wish I could do it every year. I can help out with Jeff's family, but it is just not the same. I did make a Thanksgiving dinner a few years back and ended up having my family over. It was a lot of fun planning and preparing the meal. I like having people over and being a hostess, as stressful as it is. Does this seem odd?

I am grateful for many things, since it is the time to be thankful! I often think about the small and simple pleasures of life that make me happy. I actually started a book of these things over nine years ago, to remind me how lucky I am. I don't have the time to post them all and I know you don't have the time to read them all :) so I will only wet your appetite:

fuzzy socks
chips & dip
snuggling
warm pet on my lap
a clean house
cell phones
Dr. Seuss
laughing till I cry

Have a wonderful and grateful Thanksgiving Day!!!

Personality Test

Take the Jung Typology Test: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

I am an INFJ:
slightly expressed introvert
slightly expressed intuitive personality d
istinctively expressed feeling personality
moderately expressed judging personality

Last time I took it I was an ENFJ. I guess it depends on my mood. An INFJ's career is best as a counselor and an ENFJ is best as a teacher. I would enjoy either I think : ).

INFJ have an unusually strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others and genuinely enjoy helping their companions. Although Counsleors tend to be private, sensitive people, and are not generally visible leaders, they nevertheless work quite intensely with those close to them, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes with their families, friends, and colleagues.

This type has great depth of personality; they are themselves complicated, and can understand and deal with complex issues and people. Counselors have strong empathic abilities and can become aware of another's emotions or intentions -- good or evil -- even before that person is conscious of them.

From another website: "INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types."

"creative, smart, focus on fantasy more than reality, attracted to sad things, fears doing the wrong thing, observer, avoidant..."

Do you think it sounds like me???

Happy Anniversary!!

Yesterday was Jeff and my 4th anniversary. It has gone so fast it is hard to believe it has been 4 years already. So this year we spent our anniversary apart. Jeff is in Flagstaff for work training all week and I had to attend a Chino Valley Town meeting for school. Not very eventful but this weekend we will get to be together. I love my Jeffie so much and couldn't be happier!

I'm a Kitty Kat *Ding*

I don't know why but this video always makes me laugh!

McCain Rally 2008

On Monday November 3rd, the day before Election day, McCain decided to end his tour in good 'ol Prescott, Arizona. The Rally opened up at 9pm at The downtown Courthouse or "The Square".

Allen (nephew), Jeff, Keith (nephew), JK (bro-in-law)


"The Square" being set up

We didn't end up getting in (as in past the security) until about 11 pm. Hank Williams sang a few songs a little after 11pm and a few Arizona politicians talked. All of this happened until McCain, his wife, and Lieberman showed up around 12:45am. He gave about a 10 minute speech and that was it. We were soooo tired the next day, but it was worth it.


Hank Williams


McCain, Cindy, Lieberman

Cindy and McCain and McCain by himself

Halloween Fun!

Last week Jeff and I went to a church Halloween party dressed up as Sally and Mr. Oogie Boogie from Nightmare Before Christmas. We made the costumes from scratch,
wich was really fun. We made ourselves proud!
My work had a costume contest and a pumpking carving/decorating contest on Halloween day. I dressed up as sally again and brought Zero, the ghost dog from the movie. My efforts paid off. I won the most creative catagorie!

Here is my pumpkin that I won 1st place with at work. Jeff made the wheels, the reigns, and propped the door open. Allen made the little man and the top hat. It was a group effort though I did do the hardest part of carving and digging :).


Last night, for Halloween, Jeff's family came over for a party. Since Jeff and I worked all day and then I had to do the church carnival for an hour Allen so graciously finished cooking a lot of the goodies. He also decorated our front door with a creepy web!




Everyone dressed up. Allen went all out and dressed up with the house theme. Allen was Jack Skelington the Pumpkin King.



I love Halloween!

Nieces and Nephews

Work

For those of you who weren't aware, Jeff was working in the construction business as an estimator/bidder and because of the economy he was laid off. He was out of work for about 3 weeks. This past Monday Jeff started at Wells Fargo as a personal banker. He will be going away for training for about 4 weeks (in Kingman, AZ & Flagstaff, AZ) and home on the weekends. The benefits are great and there is a lot of room for promotions.

I have been working at Northcentral University since May. It is an online university located in Prescott Valley. I started doing admin work but am now working in the library. It is definately a change in my line of work. I enjoy it a lot. They let me work 4 ten hour days so I can do my practicum and go to school on the fifth day. They seem to treat their employees really nice, and I get benefits paid in full too.

Our Little Ones

I really get annoyed when people try to say that their pets are their children, when they take pictures with them, and when they dress them up....but I hate to say Jeff and I have somewhat become those people. Hopefully we are not as annoying and sickening as it seems.

We have two cats and two puppies. One of our cats, Elmo, is about 14 years old. I have had him since I was in the 6th grade. He is banged up but enjoys the simple things in life like sleeping on our bed and eating.

Our big orange cat around 2 1/2 years and is constantly mooching off of the neighbors and taunting the neighborhood dogs. He is a beefy cat but has the tiniest and cutest cry.

Nibbler, our first Shi-Chi (Shi-tzu/Chihuahua) is about 2 years and loves to cuddle. This is the first dog I have ever had and he taught me the joy of having a dog.

Belle, is our tiny Shi-Chi. She is about 10 months and she is very scraggly looking. She loves to lick, lick, lick, lick people and is very skittish.

One day we will actually have real kids and these guys will probably be on the back burner but for now we love them to death and enjoy their companionship.

Schools for Fools

I graduated from San Diego State University in May of 2006 with my BA in Social Science (emphasis on Secondary Teaching). Since my graduation I have substitute taught in Chino Valley and have come to love Elementary age students. Due to my epiphany, I went back to school in January of 2008 to get my Masters in Education and my Elementary Teaching Credential. I am currently working on my last semester and doing my practicum. Come January of 2009 I will be student teaching and graduate in May. I can't wait! I will finally be able to do something with my degree.

Jeff has recently gone back to school and is also working hard. He is finishing up his AA right now and will be transferring to a 4 year college before we know it. Right now he is working on his Business in Technology degree.

Church Callings

When we first moved to Chino Valley we started attending church with the Territorial Ward. Right away Jeff received a calling in Elders Quorum and I received a calling as Young Women's President. I was very nervous but have enjoyed this calling for a bit over 2 years now. I wouldn't know what to do other than working with the young women. They are so much fun and have taught me a lot.

About a year and a half ago Jeff was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric. That was an even bigger shock but he enjoyed it. I never got to sit with him at church and he had an awful lot of meetings but it was a fun calling for him. He is now the Sunday School President and teaches the 12-18 Sunday School kids. I think he enjoys this calling even more. We have always had opportunities to serve in the church and I believe our willingness to serve has blessed our lives more than we can count. Keeping busy with church keeps us out of trouble : ).

Home Sweet Home

Jeff and I were fortunate to buy our own home in July of 2006. It is a three bedroom house that we surprisingly filled up fast. It took us a long time to finally finish the landscaping and organize the garage but it suites us well.

Jeff has become such a little old man, tending the garden, mowing the lawn, fixing the drip system, working on the hot tub, and building/maintaining the pond. He is always puttering in the backyard. The pond is Jeff's pride and joy. He researched it out and obtained a bunch of pond plants, fishies, turtles, clams, and snails. It is very relaxing to listen to and he is very proud of his creation.

Our garden was a first attempt and though most of it didn't last we had a ton of tomatoes, some cilantro, too much green onions, a good amount of raspberries, and the lettuce was out of control. We now know some better techniques for next year. I am still yet to can my tomatoes and make jam with my raspberries. We are very blessed with the things we have and are extremely happy to have the home and comforts we own.

Love Story

Jeff and I met at church, in a singles ward. I accidentally sat on his lap during a rowdy game of Do You Love Your Neighbor. I told him to "at least buy me dinner first". That is when we noticed each other and it was history from there.

We dated for about 3 months before we were engaged and five months after that we got married. We were married in the San Diego Temple and had our reception at an amazing home in Escondido.



We will be married for 4 years on November 13th. Time has really flown by! It is wonderful to wake up to your best friend every day. I love my Jeffie so much, he is my knight in shining armour.