Thanksgiving Weekend!

I haven't posted in awhile and I have a lot to share from this weekend, so this post may be kind of long. We had a great Thanksgiving! So much was going on. We went to my parents house to eat and we had quite the feast! I made a salad and two desserts. I will post the dessert recipes in a bit. After we ate, we went to see my cousin who took us on a helicopter ride. Yes, you read that right. My birthday is tomorrow and Nick wanted to do something fun and different for me since it's the last one that I want to celebrate (more on that later), so he thought a helicopter ride would be a great idea. Well, I happen to have a cousin who is a pilot and he owns his own helicopter. I talked to him and he said that he would love to do that for us and that Thanksgiving day would be a good day for him cause his family was actually at his hanger having dinner that day. My parents live close to Falcon field, so after dinner, off we went! All I have to say about that ride is, WOW! It was AWESOME! He took us over Superstition Mountain and Weaver's Needle and then over Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake. I've been in a helicopter before when I went to Hawaii many years ago, but never on one here in Arizona. This state is beautiful! It rained when we were up there and that was cool too. My boys had such a great time. Jacob said it was the best day of his life. It was the first time either of them had been up in the sky flying in something. They raved about it for the rest of the day. I'm pretty sure Nick and I are the best parents ever now for taking them with us! :) I'm thinking Nick's a pretty great husband to suggest such an awesome thing to do! Also many thanks to my awesome cousin for taking us! He has three airplanes and a helicopter. Sweet! I have some great pictures that I will post.

After the helicopter ride we went and visited Nick's family. There were a lot of people there that we haven't seen in awhile. Then it was back to my parents house to spend the night there. We were going to spend the next two days in Scottsdale and we didn't want to come all the way home. Nick and I left on Friday to do some shopping and we had a certificate that I won, for a free nights stay at a hotel, so we used it and left the kids with Sue-Ann and Greg. We hit some Black Friday sales and finished all of our shopping. We were able to relax in our hotel room with no kids around fighting and whining. It was nice, especially after spending the morning shopping. That night I took Nick to see Twilight. So that was my 2nd time seeing it and his first. He liked it and I thought it was better the 2nd time. Ladies, tell your husbands that he thought it was good and he's never read the books. It really is a good date night movie. After the movie we went and shared a piece of cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory of course! We were able to get a solid nights sleep with no kids waking us up. It was so great! After eating the free breakfast that the hotel offered we went and picked up the kids and took them to lunch at Gecko's, our favorite, where the stupid waitress spilled a soda all over me! Yes, I was ticked and I sat there all sticky, but we got a free meal out of it. Nick and I were able to get recharged and I'm pretty sure that the kids had a blast with their cousins while we were away. It was nice though to come home yesterday, and now I've been busy trying to finish putting up the Christmas decorations.

My BIG 39 is tomorrow and NO. I'M. NOT. EXCITED! It seems like I've been celebrating all weekend, but that really wasn't planned. I usually really hate celebrating my birthday, but I have decided that this year I'm going to make a BIG deal about it because it is the LAST year that I will be in my 30's. Actually I will always remain 39 now because I so don't want to turn 40, which means I want to make 39 memorable. This is the last birthday that I want to celebrate, so next year will be my first anniversary to my 39th birthday. :) It really has been a fun one so far though. I had a girls night out a week ago where we went to dinner and saw Twilight and then there was the helicopter ride on Thursday followed by a night away with just Nick in Scottsdale and then lunch with him and the boys yesterday. I guess I got lucky having my birthday fall just after Thanksgiving weekend. Since Nick and the boys will be gone all day tomorrow, I'm going to do something for myself. I think I will go get a pedicure. Who wants to go? If anyone wants to come, I will most likely be at LoAnn's nail spa in Maricopa around 9:30-10:00am. You can text me or call me to make sure. After that I may just go to lunch with my mom and sisters. I know, I'm spoiled or whatever else you all want to call it. Did you not read the part where I said this will be the last birthday that I want to celebrate? ;) I plan on leaving my 30's with a bang! One thing is for sure, I don't feel 39 at all and I don't think I look it, which are both things in my favor. :)

Okay, here are some pictures of the weekend, including shots from the helicopter. My recipes with pictures will be posted on a separate post.

Here we are in the helicopter getting ready to lift off!

Just shortly after leaving Falcon Field.

Everything looks so small! Oh and we were flying up to 130 miles an hour!

Someone's house on the way to Superstition Mountain. You can see the rain hitting the window on the picture to the right.

Here we are closer to the mountain. You can see Superstition Mountain in the picture on the right.

Here's another view of Superstition Mountain. The picture on the right is the praying hands. Yes, we flew BETWEEN those! So cool!

The picture on the right is Weaver's Needle and you can see that it was raining on our way there.

Two closer pictures of Weaver's Needle. Yes we flew to the very top of that!

Up close shot of Weaver's Needle.

Next sight to see was Canyon Lake. Not one boat or person was out there that day.

More Canyon Lake

The final sight to see was Saguaro Lake. Not one soul on that lake either.

Back at the airport. This is a shot of one of his 3 planes. He calls this one the baby bear plane. It seats 8 people.

Here are the boys being monkeys at my parents house. If you look closely at the picture on the left, you will see Jacob's foot hanging down. Cole is climbing up the tree on the picture to the right.

Cole deciding to be silly and then they both decide to get down.

Here is Nick at the hotel we stayed at. We had a Suite with a separate front room and small kitchen. It was nice! I can't believe I won that in a raffle for $1! I never win anything! :)

The weekend was full but a lot of FUN! Now we need to get the tree up and the lights outside up. The Christmas shopping is done, now I just need the decorating to be done. Thanks to everyone for making this such a memorable weekend. Thanks to the Willis Family for watching the boys overnight. Maybe next time Jacob won't get so homesick. :)

Twilight Night!

Unless some of you have been living in a cave, the premiere of Twilight came out on Friday. :) Me and some girlfriends that have all read the book went to see it on Friday night at 10:40. We went and ate dinner first at The Cheesecake Factory. We had a great time until Julie asked the waiter to surprise me by singing Happy Birthday. Yeah, I didn't want to have any focus like that on me. You can never go wrong with a Girls Night Out though! The car ride to and from Chandler really was a lot of fun! You ladies are a hoot! :)

Here are most of us at the restaurant. Some left early to go wait in line. Good times ladies!

Here we are waiting in line. Now keep reading for my review of the movie and some funny movie scenes.

Dinner was a lot of fun though and the company was great. The movie was awesome! We didn't even have to wait in line that long and it wasn't completely sold out so we actually got good seats. I definitely liked the book better, but I was pleased with how they portrayed everything in the movie. The actors all did a good job and boy those vampires were HOT! Yes, I said it, HOT! I actually think the actor that plays Edward did an amazing job and do I dare say he looked HOT! Their makeup was a bit much, and I understand that it was like that cause they are supposed to be pale and everything, but it was still a bit much. I can look past that though to see their cuteness shine through.

Here's my review of some of the characters. Edward-Super HOT, he portrayed the part really well, Carlisle-HOT, Emmett-HOT and funny, Jasper-HOT but in a constipated kind of way, Alice-Cute, Rosalie-Ugh, don't like her, Esme-Sweet, Jacob-Ugh, did nothing for me, didn't like his hair, James-HOT bad guy, seriously! Bella-Exactly as I pictured her. She brought Bella to life really well. I just wish she would have smiled more though. I mean a HOT vampire is in love with this girl and she can't smile just a bit more? The high school friends were exactly how I pictured them too, except where was Lauren and good ole Ben? Overall rating? Hot and awesome. (Is that an actual rating?) And in case you all missed that...HOT! Sure I wish that they would have added some more scenes from the book but I completely understand why they didn't. They have to pack an entire book into 2 hours. My favorite scenes were in there though, oh yeah they were! There was humor and romance throughout as well as some great action scenes. Who doesn't love a movie like that? Um, I do! :) My most favorite scene? Well, that would be the scene where they FINALLY kiss! Of course you all knew that, right?

So to sum up my movie review, in case there are some of you that are not paying attention to this wonderful spot on review, I completely enjoyed this movie and thought the actors were great! And just in case some of you aren't clear as to which team I'm on, that would be Team Edward, well because, say it with me now, he is HOT! I mean really who doesn't agree with that?

Here are some funny movie scenes I found. I believe they were posted as a joke, but they are funny. I just wanted to show you all some HOT photos of everyone too.

'Twilight': The Lost Script
EDWARD: Yes, this is a vintage Members Only jacket. You know how you weren't born yet in the '80s, Bella? I was. In fact, I was an 80-year-old man trapped in the body of a 17-year-old vampire. I wear this ensemble without irony. What'd you say? You asked if was I in high school then, too? Indeed I was. I am repeating high school because when you're as good looking as I am, high school is fun. It's amazing to me how people in Forks haven't noticed. No, Bella. No, of course not, my pet! Of course you're the first girl in my life I've ever kissed. Yes, you're pretty. Bella! BELLA! Come back!

'Twilight': The Lost Script
BELLA: I like this jacket a lot better.
EDWARD: I will burn the other and sprinkle the ashes in the four corners of the Earth, so that it never offends you again.
BELLA: You're amazing.
EDWARD: You're amazing.
BELLA: No, you are.
EDWARD: I said it first.
BELLA: No, actually, I did. Just look at the transcript.
EDWARD: You're right, my alabaster fairy. Would you mind scooting away from the waterfall? You're making me nervous.
BELLA: So are you saying I'm clumsy? I knew it. You couldn't possibly love me. You are like a god and I am an adolescent head case.
EDWARD: Shh, love. Don't talk. Let me carry you on my back as though you were either a toddler or a sack of potatoes. Then we will ride in my Volvo and not engage in any carnal activities whatsoever.
BELLA: You're amazing.
EDWARD: No, you are. (Repeat...)

'Twilight': The Lost Script
EDWARD: I will now use my superhuman strength to slam you against the mirror!
JAMES: Oh, the pain! I love it almost as much as I want to drink your girlfriend's blood! But for now I will satisfy my urges by breathing my undead breath all over your pretty face! Do you smell that, loverboy? It is the blood of a human being I just ate as a snack! HAAAAAAHHHH!
EDWARD: It's not working. For you see, I do not actually need to breathe, and if I do not breathe, I cannot be troubled by your odiferous oral issue.
JAMES: Nobody likes a smarty pants.
EDWARD: And nobody likes a vampire who doesn't floss. You should see the condition of your molars, you dastardly cur.
JAMES: Are they really that bad?
EDWARD: Well, I'd stay away from taffy and from people with really thick necks. You never know what's going to happen.
JAMES: Thanks, dude.
EDWARD: Now, die! For the sake of true love, die!
JAMES: At this point, I'd love nothing better.

'Twilight': The Lost Script
LAURENT: Hey, did anyone lose a baseball? We found one about ten kilometers back.
JAMES: And we'll totally trade it for that klutzy-looking brunette standing behind home plate. Hello. Anyone?
VICTORIA: Told you they wouldn't go for it, James. They're obviously having too much fun playing with their food.
LAURENT: You mean you're not planning to eat the human later?
JAMES: You're crazy! Have you smelled her? I would totally eat that!
VICTORIA: James, I'm standing RIGHT HERE.
JAMES: What if we ate her together?
VICTORIA: I could go for that.
LAURENT: Oh, you two... How is it that I am the only single vampire here? Everyone's seen my abs, right?

'Twilight': The Lost Script
BELLA: So did you do the chemistry homework?
EDWARD: Like, 100 years ago.
BELLA: No, seriously. Quit making jokes about our age difference. I have to do my homework before I go home and cook my dad his dinner.
EDWARD: You are a magnificent flower and the sweet cherry atop my life's sundae. Marry me and your life will be distilled bliss, for I do not eat food that requires cooking, and I am rich enough that your chemistry grade matters not a whit.
BELLA: Um, let's not talk about what you eat.
EDWARD: Your wish is my command, fragrant blossom.
BELLA: I don't understand how you can say that. I'm just a plain, awkward girl who needs to strap herself to the commode so she doesn't fall off. Accident-prone is my middle name.
EDWARD: I will sneak into your bathroom and offer my steady, marble-like arms as your supports. No harm shall come to you, my pet.
BELLA: OK, but you have to be really quiet about it and stuff, because my dad is, like, the police chief and even though he can't cook his own dinner, he will totally OWN your undead badonkadonk if he catches you.
EDWARD: (Laughs) Did you just see that? I sprinted to the end of these mossy rocks and back in less time than you took to say badonkadonk.
BELLA: Kiss me unchastely, you sexy beast.
EDWARD: Let's do your chemistry first, and then we shall go for a ride in my Volvo.
BELLA: See? I am ugly. My vampire boyfriend doesn't even want to neck.

'Twilight': The Lost Script
ROSALIE HALE: Ugh. There she is, that human brat Bella, with her scent that my fake brother Edward finds so darned irresistible. She will be the death of us all with her clumsy ways and noisy, American-made truck. Why can't she find herself a nice, human boyfriend? There are certainly a horde of stinky ones gathering around her, like flies to honey. Where is my Emmett? I must go to him so we can kill a wild animal together and drink of its blood. If I still ate, that silly human would make me want to puke.

'Twilight': The Lost Script
EDWARD: Oh my gosh! What happened to your ears! Did someone hurt you, my love?
BELLA: What? I can't hear you. I'm wearing my earbuds and rocking out. Have I told you today that you are gorgeous? Your torso looks like it's carved from marble. Who cares that your skin's so cold I have to wear a blanket when we snuggle? You're yummy!
EDWARD: OK, if you can't hear me, then I will whisper the words I've longed to utter for a century. I love you. Love, love, love, kissy, kissy.
BELLA: Um, Edward, I was just kidding. I can still hear you when I have my earbuds on.
EDWARD: I meant every word of it. You are the sweet love of my life. My nostrils flare to embrace your intoxicating scent.
BELLA: Do you have any Tic Tacs? I feel like I should, I don't know, eat a breath mint or something. We're going to kiss soon, right?
EDWARD: I fear my passions will overwhelm me. Let us just hold hands and take another ride in my swift, swift Volvo.
BELLA: Can't hear you. Earbuds.

'Twilight': The Lost Script
JAMES: OK, see, when I force you into the light? Your skin is definitely sparkly.
EDWARD: Oh, and you are laboring under the illusion that you yourself do not glisten like little girl's toy pony?
JAMES: I'm nowhere near as sparkly as you, you prig. Look at my hands. I haven't washed in weeks. It definitely tones down the gleam.
EDWARD: I can't really see your hands, not when they are wrapped around my windpipe. Do you mind releasing me a moment, so I can more fully appreciate your skin-care technique?
JAMES: Not a bit. Check it, dude. Pure filth. It masks my scent so when I am tracking humans, like your delicious girlfriend, all they smell is 100 percent animal stink.
EDWARD: Psyche! I will now slam your body into this mirror with total disregard for the fact that breaking it will cause me seven years of bad luck which will start immediately in the sequel to "Twilight."
JAMES: Sequel?
EDWARD: Yes, you moron. Even though there are people who travel to rinky-dink Forks to see Bella's house and purchase uniforms worn by the local cheerleaders, we are all as fake as Nigerian banking chain letters.
JAMES: My life has no meaning. Slam me into the mirror, please.

'Twilight': The Lost Script
ALICE: I predict Bella is NOT going to like this picture.
JASPER: Yeah, baby. Edward's hair is totally weird in it. And his posture is definitely less than godlike. But I will use my mind powers to calm her down.
BELLA: I know Edward means well, but when he holds my hands behind my back like this, I sort of feel like I'm being arrested and being arrested reminds me of my dad, and when I'm standing right next to my boyfriend, I don't really want to be thinking about my dad and handcuffs, you know? It just doesn't feel right.
EDWARD: She is so wobbly! If I weren't holding her like this, she would fall over. Do you think she has an undiagnosed inner ear infection? Carlisle could prescribe some antibiotics. I will ask him to do so immediately. Otherwise, Bella might die and then the rest of my immortality would be a prison of sorrows.
ROSALIE: I wonder if Bella knows that her brown jacket isn't all that flattering. It makes me angrier than my perpetually empty womb to look at her.
EMMETT: Rosalie saved me from death by a bear. Is there anything hotter? Man, I've got to get her into the woods again soon.

There they are in all of their Hotness and Glory! I thought these lines were funny, and I just wanted to add even more humor into this post. :) So for those of you that haven't seen the movie, go now and see it so that I can get everyone's opinion on this movie. Go now, seriously! :) I do recommend reading the book first for those of you who like to read. It makes the movie that much better. I'm ready for the next one so bring it on people! The End! (disclaimer: Yes, I do think that my husband is HOT and awesome. Yes, he is the one that I am in love with. I simply like looking at these characters and I do realize that these vampires aren't real. I just think that they did a really good job of casting actors that really look like HOT vampires. Would anyone really object to being bitten by one? Again, yes I know that vampires are NOT real.)

Citzenship Award

On Friday, Cole received the Citzenship award from his school. Every month each teacher chooses one boy and one girl from their class to receive a special Citzenship award. Cole received one for "being a person of character by continuously making good choices throughout the school community". Way to go Cole! We are proud of you! You are such a great example to your little brother and to others. You make good choices at home also. We love you bud!

Yay Cole! We are proud of you! :)

Here he is with Rachel who is the girl from his class that received the same award.

Here is Cole with his wonderful teacher, Mrs. Berry.

Fun Picture Tag!

Tracy tagged me and this is a pretty cool one. You need to post the 4th picture from your 4th picture folder on your computer.

This is at the last fathers and sons back in May. Obviously, I wasn't there, but this is the boys with all of their good friends from the ward. Lightsabers, sticks, fire, all fun boy things! Poor Alexander was on crutches then. Looks like they were having lots of fun! :)

So now I tag Sue-Ann, Natalie, Karen L., Kathy P. and Karen J. Tag, you're it! :)

Just how tough are you?

So I have a funny story about Jacob that I want to share. The other day Jacob was saying how tough he is. I told him he isn't as tough as me and he said he was. I said, "really, you think so"? and he said, "yes". I just laughed so I asked him if he was as tough as his daddy. He said, "no, daddy's tougher", so I said, "well one day I'm sure you will be tougher than daddy". This struck him as really funny, so he started laughing and said that when daddy's an old grandpa and he's a dad, he will for sure be tougher than daddy. So then I asked him if he thinks daddy is tougher than Boppy (grandpa, my dad), and he said, "no way! No one is tougher than Boppy. He's a cowboy"! I thought that was so funny, that I seriously laughed about that for the rest of the day and now that I'm writing this I'm laughing again. Are cowboys tough? So Boppy, if you're reading this, you're the toughest person Jacob knows. HAHA! We love you Bopster! I'm pretty sure that just made your day too. :)

Just so you all know how tough my dad really is, I found this old picture of him with Jacob. It's my favorite picture of grandpa with Jacob. I think Jacob was about 15 months old and he found a comfy place to lay while our tough Boppy was taking a nap. Real tough cowboy eh? HAHA! That kid cracks me up! :)

Nick's Birthday!

Yesterday was Nick's birthday. He is 38 now. For those keeping track, yes last weekend was our anniversary. Easier for him to remember that way. ;) We had a good time celebrating the day with him. He actually had the day off of work, so we were able to do several things. First, my parents came over to give him happy birthday wishes. Then the boys and I made him a cake, nothing fancy, but still a cake. He opened presents and then we went out to dinner to his choice of restaurant. He chose PF Changs. Yummy! I had never been there before, and I thought it was quite good.

After dinner we went and rode some go-karts. That is what he chose to do. He really wanted to do the high speed ones, but the kids aren't old enough to go on those and we were trying to find something we could all do together. We decided on Crackerjax in Scottsdale. It's a Fiddlesticks type place but their karts are WAY better I think, and faster too. We had a really good time! Of course I forgot my camera when we left the house so I don't have any pictures of us riding the karts, but the kids rode the little kiddie track by themselves, then Nick and I had our turn on the big track and then we rode it again with the boys in a two seater with each of us. We had a lot of fun. Happy Birthday Nick! I hope you had a good time. Next is my birthday and there are already some fun things in the works for that. :)

Nick keeps mumbling about how old he is now and he's seriously asking for it. I'm 38 now and soon to be 39, yes I'm older than him, and if he doesn't quit mumbling about how old 38 is, he's going to get smacked! Man, that hurt to write my upcoming age. I don't feel it though and neither one of us act like it so I'll just pretend that we're really not approaching the big, too painful,

4-0! :) Here are some pictures that I took before we left the house.

I only had to mention the phrase, "let's bake daddy a cake", and the boys went and grabbed their chefs outfits and got ready to help! Too cute!

They are quite the little helpers.

Yep, looks like cake ingredients to me. Jacob loves to push the blender arm down.

Here is their finished cake. Like I said nothing fancy, but I did at least get candles for it. Those are candles that spell out happy birthday. I thought they were pretty cool.

I managed to snap this shot just at the right time. :)

Um yeah, my husband got a little excited about the fact that it's his birthday. He's a good jokester with the kids and he was really putting on a good show for them. Check out their faces. They couldn't believe their daddy was able to jump so high. They're looking at him like he's nuts! Like I said, neither one of us act our age. He is nuts! :) I couldn't stop laughing! He is catching some serious air!

Okay, now I think I know where Jacob gets his goofy faces that he makes practically every time I take a picture of him. What in the world is Nick making this face for? Yep, Jacob takes after his father for sure! :)

Happy Birthday daddy! We sure love you, goofiness and all! :)