AND...we're off!

I didn't want to leave without taking the Halloween stuff off the blog...so I decided to replace it with the equally-annoying Disney stuff. Hopefully we will have lots of 'magical' stories to share when we get back!

Halloween FHE

Last night we enjoyed Family Home Evening with the Adams family. As always we had a great time...but how can you NOT with a lesson on keeping the commandments taught by Darth Vader, Shane's stirring rendition of Scripture Power, a game of Deal or No Deal (with actual pay out) and Daylight Donuts. Oh, and I can't forget to mention Erik, the Love Guru...the best part was seeing him drive up in their Honda Odyssey Minivan...classic!! Thanks for a fun time Kirk and Dani.

Princess play group

Krissy and Kendall both get so excited when it is our turn to host play group. We spent the first half hour getting everyone in costume and then they spent the next hour playing house and having tea parties and picnics. We feel so lucky that Krissy has such a nice bunch of "ladies" to grow up with!

the Ward Halloween Haunt

So, the party was a hit! It was also very exhausting...right Melissa (my right-hand-woman)??? I had so much great help in planning and executing a great party. Brittany made 125 bags of caramel popcorn, just because she wanted to help. That is one reason I love her...she is always willing to do anything to help. Britt, I hope you know I would SO do the same for you! We had so much fun dressing up and hanging out with our friends.

Yep, it's my birthday!

I know you must be thinking...she can't possibly be 32...she looks way more like 22. Right?? I woke up this morning to the best "surprise" party ever...balloons on the floor, noisemakers on the couch and my gift (a $25 Target card) inside of one of those balloons. Krissy and her daddy planned the perfect morning for me. They sang Happy Birthday to me as we quickly ate our Burger King breakfast before we hustled out the door to get Krissy to school. I stopped by QuicKutz for a quick visit...just as I was on my way out the sales team belted out their patented version of Happy Birthday, causing me to turn my patented shade of red. Then Tiff met me at Target for a quick shopping trip. When I picked Krissy up from school her teacher said she heard it was Krissy's mom's birthday...boy, news travels fast these days!

Next, Melissa came by with lunch from Olive Garden and we spent a few hours talking about the ward Halloween Party. Chanelle stopped by with a box from Smart Cookie. I really do hope calories don't count on days like this...I guess we will see tomorrow. I had a constant stream of calls all day from my sweet, sweet friends and family...Mom, Dad, Hollie and her boys, Shaunee, Kristy, Rosie, Laura, the Relief Society President, Erik, Britt, and Grandma Jan. Thank you, thank you to all of you!

Tonight we went to Arctic Circle for dinner...every girl's birthday dream ;) I wasn't feeling up to wrestling with Kendall at a restaurant and Krissy wanted a halloween flashlight, so Arctic Circle it was! It must have been a VERY special occasion because I let both of them play in the playland for a bit. Then it was on to Partyland to buy Kyle's halloween costume...drumroll please...he is extremely proud to announce he is going to be the Scarecrow that wishes he had a brain. He said that he NEVER dreamed of being a scarecrow before...I guess there is nothing he won't do for his girls (who will be dressing up as Dorothy and the Wicked Witch.)

We spent the rest of the evening passing out invitations/reminders for the ward party this Saturday. Tonight we all laid down on our bed for some quiet time before putting the girls to bed. Everyone but me fell asleep within 5 minutes...including Kendall. She never does that. I don't think I have snuggled with her like that for a year. It felt so good. I laid there in the dark thinking of all my blessings. I love my little family. I love right now. I can't imagine any better...32 feels great.

Shane, Kristy & Emma

Tonight we spent the evening with Shane, Kristy & Emma. Of course, I had a great time telling them where to go, what to do & how to do it. I have decided ALL control freaks should take up photography...it is very therapeutic... And can you believe...Kristy LET me take her picture??
I think we are all in shock that it has already been a year since our last photo shoot. Emma is growing up so cute and sweet...I just can't wait to see what her baby sister will look like! We love you guys! Here are a few of my favorites...





sweet little Emma, holding still for one second



Shane & Kristy...your glamour shot at no extra charge ;)

"Professional" Kyle

Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall and catch a glimpse of your husband at work??? I just saw this on YouTube. If you want to see how Kyle brings home our bacon check it out. He is the guy in the red sweater with a green hat and red hair...and no, this is not typical QuicKutz dress code.

Professional Me

Today I spent the day at a QuicKutz Retailer Event in Park City. We had some of our top retailers here from all over the country (and world, for that matter.) Kyle has been up there for the past few days and I was excited to join in today. I have known some of these people for nearly 6 years and it was great to get to see them and catch up with a few of them. We spent the day introducing new products, talking strategy and brainstorming together. It felt so good, but what felt even better was to come home to my two sweet girls. I feel so lucky to get to stay home with them, but to still get to play with the creative folks at QuicKutz. It is crazy...within minutes of being home I had Kendall on my lap, salad dressing down my "fancy" black slacks and potato soup on my shirt...but, of course I was loving every minute of it. Thank you Mom for taking great care of my girls and showing them a great time. Thank you QuicKutz for being flexible and working around my MOST important job.



a few of the QuicKutz Marketing and Product Development girls



with a group of our *rowdy* retailers from Southern California



with my most favorite coworkers...awh, sweet...

Wanna come?

I am busy getting ready for our ward Halloween Party. Here is the reminder I made that we will pass out to ward members. Oh, and lucky us, we also get to speak in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday.

Painting pumpkins

A 4-year old OBSESSED with Halloween
A 1-year-old DETERMINED not to miss out on anything
Some parents feeling CRAFTY...

...means just one thing...one BIG mess. But, ooohh, I love these kids.

Mary's sweaters

These sweaters were knitted by my ultra-talented aunt Mary. She has been creating and selling patterns for years. We get excited when she asks us to model for her...even more excited when one of her knitting creations comes as a gift! Check her out here...One Piece Knitting and here. You will see a bunch of my old hairstyles there too...oh, fun.

Lights, camera, action...

Coming soon to a tv near you...

Yesterday the Adams family spent the afternoon filming a tv commercial for Bear River Mutual Insurance Company. It was fun to spend time together and of course it never gets old hearing the Adams boys "sing" the Bear River jingle...I can still hear it...where values count...
Trying to keep all the kids happy & cute was exhausting. I can't tell you how thrilled we were to hear the director yell "Cut" the final time. It sounds like they expect the commercial to air in January...I am half-hoping when you see it, either you won't recognize me or they will have replaced my head with someone else's. That's a wrap!

(Of course I must say thank you to Tiff for coming along as our hair person and for the fantastic blow-dry job she did on my hair...I think one of my best hair days in a long, long time.)

Special occasion week!

On Monday we celebrated my Mom's birthday...you are awesome Mom...I hope I grow up to be like you in so many ways. Tuesday we celebrated Cam and Sydney's birthdays and Kirk and Dani's anniversary. For Cam and Syd...how fun to have a daddy-daughter birthday and for Kirk and Dani...congrats on 13 great years...it is hard to believe that we are just a few months behind ya!

Opportunity knocks...

We spent last weekend with the Tanners. Mike was asked to carry the Alumni Flag that leads the football team onto the field. This is a new tradition that Coach Mendenhall started this year. Previous flag carriers include Lavell and Patti Edwards, Vai Sikahema, and Ty Detmer...not a bad crowd to be in, huh?? Mike has such respect for Coach Mendenhall and I'm sure the Coach has similar respect for Mike. I also know that Mike embodies all of the ethics, values, determination, and integrity that the Coach wants his players to leave his program with. I am sure he was asked to carry the flag, not for a famous name or NFL career, but because BYU would be absolutely thrilled if everyone of their players turned out as great as him. My sister married one great guy and I feel lucky that he calls me family. We were the most proud Cougar fans at the game last Friday night...guaranteed!! We love you Mikey...thanks for letting us all be a part of and re-live those crazy-fun and special glory days!! I don't know what you have done to all of us (girls at least). We can't even sit through a football game without crying.

(I was lucky enough to get to go down to the field with Mike to take pictures...unfortunately they are still being held captive on Hollie's camera. As soon as I can get them I will do another post...I am trying to be patient. It was my once in a lifetime experience too! Hollie....)

Parker, Maddie & Christian

Tonight I spent an hour photographing some of my most favorite subjects...Parker, Madeline & Christian (my niece and nephews). I had such a great time. These are some excellent kids...I am so proud of the way they are growing up!! XOXO

The new do

So here it is. I have been wanting to try real bangs for a while now, but have been way too chicken. Last night my sis Tiff gave me a hair cut. She is a supervised-student-in-training at Renaissance Academy in Provo. I was really impressed with her cutting skills (apparently, Mom & Dad, your hard earned money has done some good...)!

As for the bangs the jury is still out...every time I look in the mirror I am shocked because I look so different to me. Krissy says it looks silly and Kyle says it looks sexy...I think I feel somewhere in between. Thanks Tiff for the fun new do, it was fun to have some girl time with you at the salon. Krissy even came and they pampered her too...they painted her fingernails, she watched a movie and even got to color. Sounds like her kind of heaven. I highly recommend Tiff if you are looking for something new...it will be the best $10 hair cut in town.