Craving Pumpkin Carving Party

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I ran away...got the flu...but it was worth it.

Okay, so last week was pretty busy with work and I had to go visit my Henderson, NV location. I left at 5:00 am on Thursday morning and while driving I realized that I forgot just how pretty this drive can be, especially with the new road and most of it being two lanes now. As I was driving I kept thinking about how I would love to just keep driving and run away from the headache of life. After a good visit and training with my location. Then a fun dinner with my friend Kim Jenkins and a short visit with her family, I decided that I had no need to stay another day. I decided I was going to run away to Provo, Utah. It was 5 hours away and I could visit my sister Ashlee, her husband Jeff, and their two cute boys Ben and Tyler. I made some arrangements with my brother-in-law Jeff to make sure that I would be surprising Ashlee.
Once again I left at 5 am in the morning on Friday and made it into Provo a little before noon. I decided to call Ashlee and talk to her on the phone while I made it to her home. I stood at the front door and as she answered the look on her face was perfect (see picture). It was so fun and little Ben was just as excitted to see me as Ashlee was, he might be only two but that little one knows family when he see's it. We had a lovely lunch and then took a drive up the canyon so I could see the last of the red, yellow, and orange fall leaves. It was so great and enjoyable to just be away and not think to much about life back home and FINALLY see FALL.

Saturday started off with pancakes for breakfast, running errands, having lunch, and then going to a farm and picking out pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, seeing Farmer "Joe"-I think it was the tracker that I found sexy. celebrating dinner for Jeff's offer letter to a Law firm in Roseburg, Oregon. It was a perfect day of just downloading and enjoying life with Ashlee and her family. I was lucky that one of my Best friends, Cammie and her husband Erich and cute kids were coming to Provo for a visit and was able to have a nice catch up dinner with them. I wish I had more time or I would have been calling family and friends but I knew it would be to short of a visit to catch everyone (Sorry, to those that I missed).

I had to leave on Sunday morning as I had to catch a plane on Monday for a business trip to Denver for HR training, and knew that I still needed to do laundry.
So, when I woke up in the middle of the night with the flu I knew I was in for a long hard day on the road. Side note, Jeff, Ben, and Tyler had all had this 24 hour flu thing before I got there but I didn't think it would effect me that quickly.

Okay so for those that don't like "Throw up" stories you might want to stop reading.

I woke up at 5:30 and threw up, I was feeling better and threw my stuff in the car and drove as fast and far as I could before I was going to have another "throw up" moment. I pulled the car rested until I threw up and then again I felt better so I drove as far and fast as I could before it would happen again. Lucky for me Ashlee had given me a big pot and I used it. At one point I don't really remember much other than pulling over throwing up again and then falling asleep. I woke up and did another section of the trip. I HONESTLY have no idea how I did it, I don't like being sick but I really don't like doing anything when I have the flu and I am throwing up, so to think I actually drove 10 hours is pretty amazing. I prayed before I left that the Lord would bless me and send Angels to help me make it, and once again he came through for me. Even with the stopping and sleeping I was home in 10 hours, in fact I think I would have been home in record time except for an accident in the hwy. as you enter Phx. That was a bummer as I sat in a stand still for an hour, but I will say that I was over the "throw up" of my flu by the time I entered Flagstaff, AZ.

I went to bed at 7:58 pm and felt better by morning. It turned out that Ashlee also got sick that night and she had the same thing only she was lucky enough to be home in bed. She and I are both amazed that I made it home, but I don't think I ever want to have the flu and drive again in my life time. You will be happy to know that I made my trip to Denver for my HR training, and I am once again on my way back home.
I ran away...got the flu...but honestly it was worth it because I loved feeling Fall again and spending time with those that I love.

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Tagged 4th picture in your 4th folder

Okay, so I was behind on reading family and friends blogs. I just caught up with Cousin Cyndi and saw that she tagged me. So here is my 4th picture in my 4th picture folder. My very cute nieces Hannah, Taylor, and Madalyn. This was from a photo shoot I had for my nieces and nephews. They all ate some kind of fruit and then I put the pictures into colored frames that matched and put them on my kitchen wall.
Thanks Cousin Cyndi...sorry it took me so long. :)

I tag....
Tammy Adams
Sister Ashlee
Sister FerFer
Sister Tricia (if she ever checks her computer)
And all other friends that want to participate....this is an easy and fun one.

8 Things about me...

Well my cute friend Jamie tagged me so here I go...
1. Post rules...I don't think there are rules
2. Answer the six "8" items
3. Let each person know they have been tagged

8 Favorite TV Shows - I rarely watch that much TV, I am a huge fan of watching shows online!
1. The Office
2. Pushing Daisies
3. Private Practice
4. Samatha Who
5. LOST
6. Chuck
7. 20/20
8. Today Show (I just listen to it as I get ready for work)

8 Things I did yesterday
1. I woke up and ate pancakes with raspberries and whip topping with my roommate Tina
2. I went to my sister, Amber's ward, she gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting. (You did a great job)
3. After church I went to Amber and Aaron's house and ate a mini Snickers bar - perfect treat after church.
4. I tickled my little neighbor Alexander and played hide-n-seek with him
5. I ate some "Fall Harvest Soup"...it's soooo yummy. (See Ashlee's recipes blog)
6. I went to the park and played golf with Zac and Alexander (my neighbors, and yes I am learning)
7. I played on the park playground with Alexander
8. I emailed some friends.

8 Things I look forward too
1. Playing with my neighbors, Alexander makes me smile all the time.
2. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
3. The weekend when I get to cheat on my diet.
4. Babysitting for Emma or Isabella
5. spending time with friends and family
6. Reading others blogs so I feel like I am keeping up with friends and family
7. Talking, playing, visiting my nieces and nephews
8. Planning a fun day and then doing it.

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Pita Jungle
2. Cheesecake Factory
3. Munch-a-Mania
4. Pinkberry or JuJu Berry
5. Cafe Rio
6. Barro's Pizza
7. Indian place up by Richard and Julie's
8. Home, mom's home cooking

8 Things on my wish list
1. Husband
2. Children
3. Living in a place that has 4 seasons
4. Living closer to Family
5. lose 40 more pounds...I'v already lost 40 :)
6. One day travel with those I love
7. Be happy where I am in my life
8. New things for my home, TV, Stove top, counter tops...

8 People to tag
1. Tina
2. Kerstin Lorenzen (I know you don't have a blog, but you can always email me :)
3. Ashlee
4. Cammie O.
5. Jamie Donigan
6. Kelli W.
7. Alexander Lorenzen ( will assist him with this)
8. FerFer

Okay well have fun!!!!

A very CUTE family

Okay, I just got this picture from my cute Brother Matt. This is his very CUTE family.

Father: Matt

Mother: Beth

Oldest: Madalyn

2nd: Carter

3rd: Hayden

4th: Bailey

5th: Paige

I don't get to see these guys very often because they live in lovely Oregon but I love seeing photos like this.

Let's talk hair...

Let's talk hair...my good friend Kelly W. made me think about this as she blogged about doing her daugther's hair. I thought, "hey wait a minute I have a lot to say on this topic".

I can honestly say that I hated my hair growing up. I was called "Bush Woman" in elementary school and no matter how hard I tried to "feather" my hair it NEVER worked. It was just one big ball of "frizzy hair". I hated combing my hair as it was very thick curly hair. No one ever made brushes or combs for curly hair people, especially if it looked like mine. The only people I knew that came close to the same kind of hair as me was my friend, Maria, who is Africian American.

I still remember all the times my Grandmother (Father's mother, curly hair came from his side of the family) would say to me, "As soon as you go up and comb your hair we will go to the store". It was like she just thought that I purposely frizzed out my hair on purpose. I thought I was doomed for life with ugly hair. My poor Mother always tried to help, but I was young and thought my way was best. After argument over argument we finally came to an agreement that I would wear my hair the way I wanted to on Monday through Saturday, but on Sunday she could have her way. Looking back through the many photos, I wish I would have let my Mother do my hair more than just Sunday.

Let's jump into the future, freshmen year at BYU and all the sudden my hair became managable. It has something to do with the dry weather, it controls my hair...and all the sudden people started commenting on my hair as if it was "cool". I became a little more confident and started to like my hair instead of hate it.

Let's jump a little bit farther into the future where my hair will and can be the main purpose of conversation. I have gone into interviews where my hair was talked more about than the actual job. I have had people comment on my hair all over the place. People that I don't even know come up and ask if they can touch it. Most recently a co-worker asked me how long it took me to get my hair to do that, I always find this to be a strange question, as I can't image anyone doing my "do" on purpose. I think that is the little girl in me that still thinks her hair is the "butt of jokes".

Why is it that we have to experience such trials in life before we see the blessings. I just wish that someone would have told me all those mornings that I fought and cried over my hair that one day some people will covet my hair. Ah...who am I kidding, even if someone would have said that to me I never would have believed them. Looking back I realize that I allowed myself to have such low self esteem because I never looked like others, I dreamed that I would be beautiful if I had different hair.

Now? Well now, I wish I had a dollar for everytime I heard a person say to me, "Wow, is that natural curl? People pay a lot of money to have their hair look like that". I wish I could say, "yes, but would they be willing to go through childhood looking like a bush woman?"

The other day a friend of mine was telling me why he liked me, while he was going down his list he mentioned my "big hair". I wish I could remember the other things he said, but the funny part was that my mind was stuck on the "big hair" comment. When I was little if someone mentioned my "big hair" I think that would have sent me off crying. This time when I heard it, I just smirked, because let's face it if only I had known then what I know now.

A lesson learned: Love thy hair no matter what age you are.

Fall...Pumpkin Patch...all in Arizona

I'm jealous, I hate being left out of family fun. This weekend some siblings were gathering at my parents house and going out to our favorite Farms in the Eugene area that have the best Pumpkin Patch. These Farms don't just have a Pumpkin Patch they have the Fall colors in bloom, the Tractor hay ride, the hot cider, oh the memories. It just about kills me thinking of all the fun the family had today all together. I love Fall, it's my favorite season and it's just like to me to end up living in a place that doesn't know what Fall is suppose to be like.
So instead of dwelling on what I don't have I decided it was time to get in the "Fall Season" Arizona way. Alexander and I headed to our nearest Arizona Farm with a Pumpkin patch while his Daddy was fishing with a friend. We ended up going to "Mother's Nature Farms" in Gilbert. The best part of the day for me was being with Alexander and the weather. We had a cold (75 degree) day with WIND and I pulled out my short sleeve sweater. I know, those of you not living in Arizona have no idea how exciting this is for me...but trust me. This doesn't happen very often in Oct.
We had a great day as Alexander and I woke up at the usual 7 am had breakfast, did the clean dishes, did the dirty dishes, swept and mopped the kitchen floor, Alexander hopped between watching the movie Toy Story and assisting me in my small garden by weeding. Well, let's just say he threw rocks while I weeded. He did end up in time out, but what do you expect from a 3 year old little boy. We got ready for the day and head to the Pumpkin Patch. It just happened that the Phoenix Zoo was visiting with their reptiles for the day. Not my favorite thing to touch or be close to, but once Alexander warmed up he was ready to be close and personal. I can't say I felt the same, but I was holding the camera so at least I had an excuse. :) I hope you can see that we did what we could to experience Fall and find us a Pumpkin.

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