Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Yesterday afternoon Todd and I had the opportunity to go with our neighbors, Trent and Kim, to go cut down a Christmas tree! I'm so glad we went. We had so much fun. We drove up almost to Island Park. It was snowing pretty good the whole time. I've never had a real Christmas tree (at least that I can remember), and I always pictured them real big and full, but that wasn't the case here. I guess the ones you buy on the lots are, but we had a hard time finding one. We all kept making fun that we were getting our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Ours ended up being tall and skinny, but it actually doesn't look too bad now that there are lights up on it. It's our first Christmas tree together and it's our own little unique one!

Thanksgiving Week

Well the family has come and gone. We had a blast!

Last Saturday Todd and I drove down and met my parents at the airport. Sunday Scott, Julie, and Spencer got in. We went and visited my Dad's sister, Aunt Cheryl, and her family. Then we went back to my Uncle Jim and Aunt Marcie's and hung out the rest of the night. Our cousins Jessica and Barry came over and my cousin Kim and her family. We were able to look at old family photos and just have fun.

Monday we drove up to Park City. We got to drive aimlessly looking for a bathroom for Scott, walk up and down main street, and experience a heated bench. After Park City we drove through Immigration Mountain and then through Down Town Salt Lake looking for an Artisan Well. We just kept taking turns and finally ran into it. From our experience there's something in that water! We all went and filled up our water bottles. It was quite the experience. After all the excitement we drove out Tooele to visit our friends Don and Alice first stopping by the Great Salt Lake.

Tuesday Todd and I drove back home, while my family stayed a little longer and then met us up in Rexburg later that night. We were able to enjoy our favorite meat pies with chili and gravy along with some good ol' cheese curds!

Wednesday Todd and I had to work so my family went out and did some dinner shopping. On their way home they picked me up from work and then drove up to St. Anthony and Henry's Lake. In St. Anthony we got to see my grandpa Tuckett's house he grew up in and then go to the cemetery were my Great Grandparents are. After St. Anthony we made our way up to Henry's Lake. Along the way there were some little lakes that had ice on them, but you could tell they weren't completely frozen. So when we get to Henry's Lake we're thinkin that it's just going to be normal and not frozen. boy were we wrong! It was completely frozen! Scott and I tried to see how far we could go out, but didn't have enough guts to go too far. Spencer kept skipping rocks on it and then tried to see if he could get a big enough rock to break it. It was a blast! It was also freezing cold! Later we met Todd back at home and enjoyed some Delicious Baked Potato Soup.

Thanksgiving day was filled with cooking, relaxation, visiting, and excitement. We started the day off with some flag football. Todd and our neighbor got some guys together to play. Scott and Spencer weren't quite use to the altitude though. Scott was his usual self playing in jeans, a vest and t-shirt and his everyday shoes! Todd got to play on the opposing team and made the game winning touch down! The rest of the day we sat around watching some Dallas Cowboys and Texas A&M game. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner with our dad's amazing turkey and stuffing! Our Uncle Claude, Aunt Sherlene, and cousin Tana stopped by for a little bit to visit.

Friday was our excursion. We drove up to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. First we had to drive through the Jackson Pass. I wasn't the biggest fan of it and my brothers had the enjoyment of teasing me the rest of the trip. Once getting into Jackson we went to the Elk Refuge Center and saw some swans, mallards, and a hole bunch of Elk. They were huge! We then made our way up through Targhee National Forest seeing some more elk on the way. We also spotted a moose, bison, and a coyote. We made it all the way up to Jackson Lake. It was beautiful. On the way back we spotted some more moose. After making it back to Jackson we were able to see their city Christmas lights and Santa come. On the way home we decided not to go through the pass (which cause for some more teasing from the brothers) and went through a little town called Alpine, Wyoming. We were trying to find some place to eat. The first place we decided not to go to so we found this place called Bull Moose Bar. We walk in and all that was open was the bar. I think that city shut down at 8. So Julie and I decide to use the restroom while we were there. On our way out we heard some guys swearing and kinda think it's Scott and Spencer for some reason. As we go and turn the corner we witnessed a little bar fight. It wasn't bad, but it was a first for me. The guy knocked the other guy of the stool. More could have happened, but we left before anything else could. So we decided to head back to the first restaurant we found which ended up being the best. They had a buy one meal get one free special and we were the only ones in there! After dinner it was time to make our trek back to Rexburg. We finally made it back safe and sound.

Yesterday morning everyone came over and we had some cinnamon rolls for breakfast then they all got ready to drive back to Salt Lake for their flight. We had a pretty fun and adventurous week. There was lots of laughing, reminiscing, coffee, and hot chocolate. Every place we stopped we got hot chocolate and coffee. Some places were pretty good, some not so good. I'm grateful they all got to come up and spend thanksgiving with us. We had so much fun. It will be an unforgettable week to say the least.

They're Here!!

Well, the time finally came! My family's finally here. My parents got into Salt Lake Saturday night. So Todd and I drove down to surprise them. My mom had no clue, but my dad kept saying he knew we'd show up. The funny part was that it took them a sec to notice us. My dad looked straight at us a couple times! Scott, Julie, and Spencer came in yesterday afternoon. So we've just been visiting family and hanging out. Todd and I drive back to Rexburg today and the rest will come up tomorrow.

Come What May and Love It

Joseph B. Wirthlin, a member of the 12 Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, gave a talk at this last General Conference titled "Come What May and Love It". I think this talk hit me the most and I've been trying to remind myself of this constantly. Except for some reason I haven't for the past couple of days.

I was writing an email today and brought this up and it hit me. Duh Nick! I was telling someone something I needed and I didn't realize it until I went back to reread what I wrote. I don't know if I helped them much, but it helped me.

Elder Wirthlin's talk is based around handling adversity. He began with sharing a story about when something happened to him and his mother told him "come what may and love it." He goes on to say "How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I don’t think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don’t think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life."

We all will receive trials and pain. I like how he puts it "But the dial on the wheel of sorrow eventually points to each of us. At one time or another, everyone must experience sorrow. No one is exempt." But like Elder Writhlin says it's how we handle them that matters most. Things happen and I have no clue why. I can't see what Heavenly Father can, but I know that he has a reason for everything. Whether I'm suppose to know what that reason is or not, I just need to rely on my faith and enjoy the journey. As Gordon B. Hinckley has once said "In all of living have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

If anyone wants to read the full talk go here. It's amazing. I love it.

So the things that I found to help me enjoy today:

Frozen Mint M&Ms. They're great when you've had a frustrating day at work!

Todd's smile. It's more like his whole face. I love his eyes when he smiles. They're warm and there's something about it that just comforts me. I love us and I think that's what has helped get me through hard times. I know he's there and I know he loves me and wants me to be happy. And I know that I wont just be with him in this life, but for eternity.

He always knows what to say. Sometimes I don't think he thinks I listen, but I do. I can just be a little stubborn to show it.

Just One of Those Weeks

Have you ever had one of those weeks were it feels like it's going the way you want and then one little thing changes it. Ahh.. Good times....

I'm glad tomorrow's Thursday. Only a couple more days till my family is here. Much much needed. I'm ready to see them. I'm ready to hug my mom.

You know the closer you get to seeing people you really miss you'd think that you'd be getting really excited and everything, but for some reason something else is happening in this situation. Don't get me wrong, I'm way excited and every time I think of them coming I get really really excited. It's been almost a year since I've seen them and it's been hard. But for some reason every time I think of them coming I start crying. I get really excited and then I start tearing up. They're tears of joy! I'm just really really REALLY ready for them to be here. And I'm really really REALLY ready to be home in December. To be in the comforts of the place I grew up in. To be with the people I love most.

My brother, Spencer, will talk to me on facebook and inform me there are only a couple more days and it's getting closer. Yeah! I get all giddy and happy, but the tears start coming.

Is that suppose to happen? Luckily I have a husband who has learned how to comfort me. From bawling my eyes out last Christmas when leaving home, to bawling my eyes out on Monday just thinking of my mom. And pretty much right now. There's been many mood swings in between and he's still here by my side.

I thought you were suppose to get use to being a way. I thought I was getting use to it, until this week when the realization hit that I was really going to be seeing them in a matter of days. No more months, or weeks, but days!

I'm ready.

So week, you have my permission to speed along. Just a little faster. Not too fast that I don't get to enjoy it, but just fast enough for next week to be here.

Surprise!!!

Friday afternoon I get a call from my parents seeing if UPS came by. Umm... No. They looked up the tracking number and it showed that there was no apartment number, so it was going back to the warehouse. So my dad has me call the warehouse and they said I could pick it up at 5:30 when the trucks would be back. So my dad then informs me that the box would be too big to fit in the back of our car! What the heck?!? I was thinking my mom had sent me some cinnamon chips or something. Alright. So we go and borrow our neighbors truck and head over to UPS. This was our surprise:

A sweet new grill!! Oh man.... I was so excited. I've been wanting a grill forever! Our little George Foreman just doesn't always do the trick. When I call my parents my dad informs me that it's his and he'll be shipping it back after Thanksgiving. Yeah Yeah. Honestly I was way excited!! I can't wait to use it, but I think I just might wait so my dad can be the first to use it when he's cookin Thanksgiving dinner! Can't wait!

We went out yesterday and found a cover for it so it doesn't get ruined by the snow. So dad it's up and ready for you. Only a week a half and you can try this new baby out!

Cheating the System?!

I get this call from a pharmacy today saying that a lady came to pick up some prescriptions. She was claiming them through workman's comp for an accident that happened at our facility 3 years ago and they just wanted to make sure it was still credible. He had called our workman's comp people and they had no record of it. He thought maybe we used someone else back then, but we've always used State Insurance Fund. So I look in the system and the lady worked here in 2005 for 2 weeks. Since she's an old employee I had to go look for her file upstairs. When I find it there's no paperwork filled out that the accident went to workman's comp, but there was a paper filled out by a doctor for the same accident this guy was referring too. On it it stated that she got soap in the eye and that the diagnosis was chemical conjunctivitis. How long would you have to get prescriptions for, for getting soap in your eye?!?! 3 years? So when I informed the guy of what happened I asked what the prescriptions were for. He looks it up and finds out that the prescriptions were for a muscle relaxer and arthritis!! Seriously!!! Yeah I would say that was bogus and she was completely trying to cheat the system. Good thing there's people like that guy to review those kinda claims!

Todd

So after doing my astrology, thought I'd do Todd's.

LEO - The Boss (July 23 - Aug 22)Very organized. Need order in their lives - like being in control. Like boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy. Like to help Others. Social and outgoing. Extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted. Sensitive. Creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. Doing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive.

I just think it's funny cause I'm the Happy Go Lucky and he's The Boss. Social and outgoing though?!?! No he can be out going, but for those that just meet Todd will know he's not very social persay. Extrovert? Yeah try introvert. LIkes to keep things to himself. Although he is very warm-hearted and loving and does the right thing. More than me probably. Attractive, well here's a conversatoin he had at work the other day:

These ladies were talking to him and you know telling him he had a pretty wife ands she liked to smile. And one goes on to say how he doesn't talk much and goes "how did you get her to date you and then to marry you?" I'm surprised he didn't come up with his respsonse sooner. But later he said it's because of his looks. I will admit he is attractive.

Me?!

I'm not huge zodiac person, but I just got this email from my friend Christie. It was supposedly true descriptions of each zodiac. So here's mine

SAGITTARIUS - The Happy-Go-Lucky One (Nov 22 - Dec 21)Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibilities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out.

Umm....I think I'm like some of the things listed, but really...it's not me. Doesn't want to grow up? Heck I've wanted to be older since I was in middle school. Indulges self? Well, maybe with some blue bell ice cream when I go home for Christmas. Boastful? Like luxuries..maybe some Steve Maddens if ya call that luxury. Gambling? Always got sick spending money, why would I want to really waste it? Social and out going? Ummm...not really. I can be outgoing once I get to know people. Doesn't like responsibilities? Who does? No I would rather have a responsibility and get it done my way then let someone else do something and not like what they did. Fantasizes? My ranch house in Texas....... Impatient? Ask Todd.... Fun to be around...Uhhh Yeah come on people. Just ask my sister, she LOVES when I'm home!! Lots of friends? Sure I don't know. Flirtatious....Yeah no. Unless maybe ask Todd. I never thought I was. Doesn't like rules? I like having guidelines so I know what to do. Like baking you have to follow everything precisely or it most likely wont turn out. That's how my life is. Gotta have rules. Dislikes being confined? Don't mind tight spaces. Tight clothes on the other hand? Yeah no.... Doesn't like be doubted? Yeah I think it fits. I hate when people don't think I can't do something. Beautiful inside and out? Hmm......

So maybe 50/50 I don't know. I just think they're fun to read sometimes.

Isn't He So Sweet

Todd found this potato the other day while working. He brought it down with my lunch! He's so sweet.

Just in case you can't tell what it is, it's a W. And yes it stands for Wilson.

Psycho in the House?!

This is Vicki. We really, really, really, don't care for Vicki

Alright, so two weeks ago I thought Heba, from The Biggest Loser, was so crazy (still do), but there is someone completely psychotic. Vicki. Seriosuly people, over the top. Bob even mentioned last night that she was manipulative. To me this show is a game to win money, but for those people it's also a life changing event. On all the seasons I've seen you have to kick people off, but at the same time you still have respect for that person and you want them to keep losing weight and doing good. Last night they had all the cast memebers that were kicked off come back on and one had the chance to get back on the show. Well, our friend Phil had lost the most weight out of any of the old members. And if it was like last season he would have gotten to return. But they changed it. So anyway, Vicki's all (in front of everyone mind you) as long as the one at the top doesn't stay I'm fine. Whatever. I really like Phil. I think he's a good guy. All I got to say to her though is karma.

Shes been saying how her, Brady, Heba, and now Ed, were going to be in the top 4 at the finale. So last night at the weigh in the whole blue team is talking about how they were all voting Michelle (black team) off. Well, little miss Amy who was smart last night voted for her well being, which she should have considering the rest of the blue team was going to vote her off anyway later on. Brady got kicked off!!! Woohoo. Take that Vicki. Your little plan was just ruined.

Down with the blue team (except Amy C.)

I tried downloading a video, but it wont let me, but if you go here you can watch it and the rest of my post might make more sense.

They don't show what everyone said at elimination, but it was good. I loved Vicki's remarks about how Amy C. was stupid. Whatever. She was the only smart one on that team. Why would you want to go into the finale with 4 large people?!?! If you're smart you kick the bigger people off so you have a better chance at winning. Plus it's not teams anymore. Yeah they still work out together, but they don't vote together anymore. Booya to you Vicki.

I wish I could find a clip with what happens next week. From what we saw Vicki posts a sign saying revenge on it. Weirdo. They even show a clip where Ed says she's crazy. Hopefully he'll get some sence into Heba and then'll steer away from her.

Alright, enough of my Biggest Loser ramblings.

If you go here you can read the recap for yourself and dislike this woman as much as we do! You can also go here and then to videos and watch the full episode for your self. It was awesome. You'd be able to see the fight between Vicki and Phil!

Go Black Team!!

Halloween Weekend

I would have to say that Todd and I had a pretty enjoyable weekend. Friday Jessica and Alma came over and had some chili with us. Since my dad's not here to make his chili I had to create something. It didn't turn out too bad. I didn't like any of the recipes I found, so I decided to combine a few. Although I've decided to half what I made next time. We still have a ton left over.

After dinner Kim and Trent came up and we played Boxers or Briefs. As always, it was pretty fun. We had one set of trick or treaters. And we didn't answer. We didn't even buy any candy. And I'm glad we didn't if we only had one knock at the door. Kim and Trent had to leave early to put Ethan to bed, so the rest of us ended up playing a game called Bananas. Alma brought it over. It's kinda like scrabble, but not. It was fun. I would have to say that Alma was the word master out of the group.

Saturday was a pretty relaxing day. Didn't do much in the morning. This is pretty much what Todd did while I was straightening my hair.

Later we got ready and went down to Idaho Falls. We went and returned some stuff at Target and then went to Kohls. Todd learned to either never separate from me, or to always bring a phone while shopping with me. After 15 minutes of looking at stuff for him, he was done so he started to look for me. I was probably in the dressing room half the time, so needless to say it took him forever to find me. After his tenth time around the store he found me by the shoes. I was on my way to the mens section to look for him, and got a little sidetracked. I was told that if he hadn't just found me he was about to have me paged. Yeah it wasn't an exciting shopping trip for him, but I enjoyed it.

After our eventful shopping trip we got to enjoy a nice dinner thanks to my parents. My mom sent us a little Halloween package with some money. So we decided to go out to Texas Roadhouse. Hopefully that made up for all the walking around Todd had to do at Kohls.

Before we went I was trying to get some pictures of us. I've realized we've pretty much stopped taking pictures lately. Mostly cause we really haven't done much. Since I usually have pictures of Todd with a funny face, we finally have one with me. He went to take a picture and out of the corner of my eye it looked like he was doing something, so I thought I'd make a funny face like him, but he wasn't doing anything. He looks nice in this picture. Me on the other hand....

This one is the only half way decent one we got. All the other ones that would have been nice were blurry. Can't ya tell Todd loves when I make him take pictures like this?!

Quotables Part II

I didn't remember to write many of the things Todd said this past month, but here are just a few:

Todd had just got on a break, at work, and was getting some water. After filling up his cup he leaned against the filing cabinet. This is the conversation that took place:

Nicki: "You look like you're posing or something."
Todd: "I'm just a natural model."
Nicki: Starts laughing
Todd: "Wanna make a bet, you're not the first person to tell me that."

My husband, the natural born model.

After doing our budget, if we have extra money we each get some "blow" money. Todd needed a new pair of jeans, and had mentioned a couple days before that that is what he was going to get this time. When I asked where he was going to buy new jeans he responded:

"No, you're gonna patch up the hole, & I'm going to get a bike cover." I give him a funny look. He goes on "It's gonna start snowing and getting cold!" (10/21/08)

Yup his bike was more important than a new pair of jeans. Although he still hasn't bought the cover.

Todd had his music on and some spanish song came on. He starts dancing and getting way into it. His reasoning for his dancing:

"I can feel the music run through my bones." (10/26/08)