Death of us...

You know what gets me going more than anything else? Car problems!!!
I have never had issues with any cars until recently and now I am making up for the last 5 years of ease.
We just finished paying off my car in June and now of course, are having a myriad of problems. I won't bore you with the details, but we are so close to my extended warranty expiring- like 600 miles close. The dealership said they cannot fix it because the "problem" does not duplicate/manifest itself regularly- meaning the check engine light does not stay lit. They (the dealership) have seen the problem, but when the warranty guy came out to bid how much our warranty would cover, the car worked just fine. Oh, dont worry, the check engine light just blinks at me while driving and makes my car almost stall from 50-60mph. My car is an automatic... its NOT supposed to stall!
---RANT----
In the meantime, I have been driving Joel's car to spare my car of any extra miles. Yesterday I was picking up my mom and sister from the airport and wanted to meet them inside. I pulled up to the parking ticket distributor and rolled the drivers side window down to get a ticket. I went to roll it up and it was STUCK!! Yes, 30 degrees outside and the window is stuck! I immediately broke into tears. I tried to get it back up but it would not budge.
We made the drive home, window down and all, listening to blaring Christmas music and trying to talk over the frigid airflow.
Joel spent the rest of the night(4 hours) trying to fix it. Poor guy. He has been a trooper with my car and now I break his too?? Well, after disassembling the entire door, he was able to get the window up, but its still not working properly.

Moral of my RANT: be grateful for cars that work. One day you may not be so lucky!

Winter

Old Man Winter is breathing down our throats. We already have to scrape our windshields, we already have to wear tons of extra layers in our house just to stay warm, even with the heat on. We already have to wear our puffy coats with our scarfs and gloves to avoid becoming an ice sculpture the second we walk outside. But, this winter I am actually quite excited. Excited, you ask?

Yes, it means that in less than a week my family arrives to celebrate Thanksgiving, Milwaukee style. It means that in 6 weeks Santa comes to town. It means in 8 weeks our most precious gift arrives. It means in 14 weeks we get enjoy some surf and sun in Hawaii.

I have so much to look forward to, I don't even think I will mind the dark, dreary, hell hole we live in! However, I reserve the right to change my mind.

MUSIC

Being that it is the month of Thanksgiving, I thought I would share something for which I am grateful.

I am not a musically inclined person. I do not sing well (probably not even on key for that matter), I do not play any instruments, and I do not attempt to lead music. BUT, I love listening to music and it has had a profound affect on me my entire life. It has helped my testimony grow, it has taught me how to be a better person and how to love more, and has brought me comfort countless times. It has the ability to bring back memories- so much so that my senses are heightened when I hear familiar songs- and it reminds me of some very special times and experiences. It is all encompassing.

I am grateful for music and for my ears that allow me to hear.

Squeaky Clean!!

Yesterday was a busy day filled with two baby showers and a {real} shower of my own. I am very clean!!

Also, thank you for all the well wishes on my birthday!

Self Portrait

Not so smart

Today I got gas. No, not the pregnancy kind you are thinking of. I had to pay for this kind-- but only $2.07/gallon!

As I was placing the nozzle in my car, another car pulled up on the opposite side of me (using the same pump) and left his car on while he pumped his gas. It gets better-- he was smoking too! All I could think is "I am going to die! We're going to blow!" I got out of there as quickly as I could and kept looking in my rear view mirror, waiting for the explosion. It never happened.

BUT, come on now, is he really that dumb? Tell me you don't pump your gas with your car running while smoking a cigarrette! Isn't rule #1 to shut off your car and put out your smoke before pumping?

Congrats

My brother Ryan, his wife Angelica, and their daughter Layla welcomed the arrival of their sweet little boy Weston Bruce Hatch on Monday November 3.
7lbs 2oz
20.5 inches

Whirlwind Weekend

WARNING: TMI? You decide...
This past weekend I was able to go to Utah for my sisters' baptism...yes I have an 8 year old sister!

I was only there about 72 hours but it was full of events and surprises for my family and me.

Thursday:
I flew in Thursday night and my mom sent my little brother Tyler to baggage claim to pick up "new wheels" for a car Mike just bought in Chicago. He really did buy a car in Chicago, but I was the "new wheels". When he saw me he was super surprised and excited. It was fun way to start out the weekend.

Friday:
Awakened at 5:30 to go workout with my mom and her trainer. My mom is one tough cookie and looks better than she ever has...way to go mom!

We rushed home and I awakened Makenna to surprise her- she didn't know I was coming either. We got her dressed in her Halloween get-up and sent her off to school. My mom and I got ready and went to Kenna's school for her Halloween parade and classroom party. My mom is the room mom so she was in charge of the whole thing- it was so fun to see the kids in their costumes and feel the excitement of Halloween again.

After the party we went to an adorable baby store called Baby Babinski to look at cribs and such. Most cribs have an 8-12 week delivery wait-- I better get on it! Have you heard of pee-pee teepee's?? Hilarious!

We then hit up Cafe Rio for a late lunch--- so yummy!

We ran to Baby USA and JoAnn's Fabric to search for baby bedding to no avail. Why am I so picky??

It was getting late in the afternoon so we headed back home to get ready for trick-or-treaters. We stopped by my brother's house to see his cute daughter Berkleigh- she was a lady bug- and did some early trick-or-treating around her neighborhood.


The rest of the night we passed out candy and went to Target to get some last minute goods for Saturday.

Saturday:
9am - Makenna's soccer game
11am- Makenna's baptism open house*
4pm- Makenna's baptism
6pm- Makenna's piano recital

* My mom is so sneaky!! This was really a surprise baby shower for me. We got home from the soccer game and my mom was in a huge rush. I asked her several times what I could do to help and she kept saying, "Just go get ready and help me when you're done."
She came downstairs at 11:10 and told me my aunt and uncle were there to see me-- and to come up as soon as I could. I really wasn't even done getting ready but I threw clothes on and went upstairs. This is who I saw:

My high school girlfriends!!! I thought that was the extent of the surprise, but there was more. Around noon, ladies from my moms ward and neighborhood starting pouring in. I figured they were there for Makenna's open house, but they were all there for me! I was so overwhelmed that I was sweating bullets! More people kept coming -- my G-ma who I haven't seen in 4 years, all my aunts, old friends, in-laws--everyone!! My mom didn't leave anyone out!! Thank you to everyone who was part of the surprise!! The shower went until about 3:15, then we had to get ready for the baptism!
Kenna and me:


I am so glad I was able to share Kenna's special day with her. She couldn't stop giving me hugs and even made me a cute little tile that says "love". She was great at sharing the spotlight!

I flew out Sunday right after church and returned to my sweet hubby. He detailed my car and even did the laundry-- love him!!