Secret Revealed.

While a friend and I were at a retirement home yesterday evening to perform Christmas songs- an elderly gentleman stopped us and asked a very interesting question:

"Do you ladies wear heels?"

To which we replied:

"Yes, on most occasions..."

"Well, my wife wore heels all of her life, and even at the age of 80, she had the legs of a young lady."

There you have it girls- the secret to having good legs has been revealed. If you want the nice legs of a young lady when you're 80...WEAR HEELS.

After this conversation, I couldn't help but picture this... Thank you "FRAGILE" ITALIAN LEG LAMP MAKER...we aspire to have legs like this!

SwEeT SiNgInG iN tHe ChOiR

A very sweet lady in my ward offered me two tickets to Saturday night's Mormon Tabernacle Choir performance with David Archuleta. What a wonderful night it was- beautiful music, dancing and readings- spending time with my wonderful mother-in-law, fantastic, yummy food! I enjoyed every moment! Bravo! Merry Christmas!

SaY wHaT?

Best quote of the day from Work:

From a doctor to a patient (who just received some laxatives for a surgery later on that day...)

"Well- have a great time with those bowel movements today...see you around lunch time."

Should those 2 statements really go together in a run-on sentence?

Obviously this doctor has never done the prep work for a colonoscopy...Great time? Yeah right.

Ah Ha! Moment at Work-

I am kind of glad that I don't have the gift of tongues or interpretation...I can pretty much tell

when a patient is swearing at me in Spanish, Slavic, Sign Language...

I just have to remember that I am the one with the needle.

Early Resolution.

I have decided to do my New Year's resolution a little early this year.

Eat Healthier-Exercise-Lose Weight.

I have only been at this for 5 days- but I am feeling pretty good about my decision-

Day 1- Pumped and motivated- healthier choices, counting calories, watching portions, pilates.

Day 2- Really missing my sodas, sore from 45 min. pilates.

Day 3- Dying for sugar! I want my chocolate and diet coke!

Day 4- Not as sore- my craving for sweets subsiding...

Day 5- Enjoying my daily pilates (it's calming...) and I am not craving junk food as much!

Wish me luck!

A special thanks to my parents who really went above and beyond in changing their lifestyle with eating healthier and exercise! You inspire me!

ThAnKfUl.

While driving to my dear in-laws this morning, I reflected upon the last year- and all of the bLeSsInGs that I have received.

I am thankful for the power of FaMiLy. There is so much strength received within the bonds and love of a family. There is nothing greater.

I am thankful for my BeSt FrIeNd, CoMpAnIoN, HuSbAnD, and SwEeThEaRt...RyAn. He is my everything and I appreciate all that he does to make me feel beautiful and successful.

I am most ever grateful for the GoSpEl...the GoOd NeWs of Jesus Christ that helps anchor my life and give direction towards something greater.

I am thankful for MuSiC. For the way that it inspires, creates emotions, and heals the heart and soul.

I am thankful for the opportunity to WoRk- to provide for my family and become self reliant.

I am thankful for hEaLtH- and for the learned people who help solve problems to make a better way of life for others.

There is so much to be thankful for. Have a wonderful ThAnKsGiViNg.

Just a Bunch of Turkeys!

I can't wait- all of these lil' gobblers will be here next Thursday for Thanksgiving!

I finally decided to be crafty and make place setting decorations for Thanksgiving!

Double Date Delight!

We enjoyed our Friday night at the Jazz vs. Spurs NBA game

with Ryan's cousin Brody with his cute date- Lexi!

I wouldn't call these "nose-bleed" seats-more like...

sinus congestion.

I can still make this cutie blush!
Thanks for the great night out on the town!

Just A Lil' Scratch.

When I came out from work- I found this beauty. Just a lil' scratch. No note. No one around. When security and the driver of the other vehicle finally showed up- we were able to work things out...after she explained that she never even noticed that she swiped my car. (The damage is worse on hers...) I waited for her to blame it on the "one-armed-man".

Positive note- Man, my parking job that morning was superb!

Maestro The Lion

For those of you who voted to have Maestro be a lion for Halloween- you win!!

I LoVe FaLL.

I love fall. I love the colors of the changing leaves. I love the smells. I love the chill in the air- still hanging on to summer, but summons winter to come. I love the harvest. I love the foods and tastes of the season. I love autumn. Please stay as long as you want.

JuSt A FeW MoRe.

When we first saw this house- we had to move in because the bathroom was PINK and had DOUBLE SINKS! This was the 4 Haslam Girls' dream bathroom! Sunday mornings were better than ever! Now- it looks even more fantastic with all of the stone and tile work that Ryan did, mom and dad adding a fresh coat of "colored" paint!

"Stop Here"? I'm not quite sure if Sally or Marisa put this on the sheet rock in the garage-

but I am pretty sure that it had to do with something lined up with that dot and the Buick's hood ornament...

I could be wrong. But, I still get a chuckle out of it every time I see it.

HoMe SwEeT hOmE.

For almost 20 years- this is the place that I called "home".

2315- This is what I will remember about you.

Thank you for keeping us safe, warm,

and for bringing family and friends together within your walls.

When we first put in our yard, we raked rocks, or "Rocked Rakes" for what seemed like days. After bringing up all of this river rock- we hauled it out behind our house-
just to be told days later to bring it back to put under the eaves of the house.
Was this cruel and unusual punishment? Mom? We thought so.
But now- we learned the value of hard work and making a yard beautiful.



This window well may just look like your good ol' regular run-of-the mill window well, but to us- you could find stray cats, baby birds, little mice, or late at night, a fallen Kyla trying to help put in a swamp cooler.

I loved our backyard. The hours that we spent talking and swinging on the porch, playing catch
(wearing down the grass from pitching...) Paiting and staining the fence. Learning to plant a garden. But what I loved most- This Globe Willow Tree. When first planted, it did not take and died- so we cut it down just to the stump. We later discovered that little stems and branches started to form, later turning into this beautiful tree.
So much strength and beauty can come from adversity.

Why Can't We Be Friends?

Who wouldn't want to be friends with this cute pup?

Well, these ducks from our apartment complex don't.

Maestro loves people, new animals...he wants to be friends with everyone! With these ducks, he will wag his tail and come up to them, and they will go out of their way to bully him...

(it even sounds like they are laughing at him!)

Sunday Dinners

During our visit with the Sorensens, we were able to have Sunday dinner with them. This brought back many memories with my own family, as each one of us got to share what we learned at church that day...

This particular Sunday, Emma (8) shared that she had the "Tithing" lesson for the 3rd time! She just couldn't understand why we needed to repeat the lesson over and over... just pay 10 percent...how hard is that!?

Then the conversation went like this...

Kate, who is 4 years old: So- Aunt Kelli...do you talk to God?

Me: Why, yes- I do. Do you talk to God, Kate?

Kate: Yup, (chomp, chomp on a grape), and He talks to me too.

Me: Really? What does He say to you?

Kate: Oh, just stuff...like, how to love people.

Me: That's pretty awesome, Kate. Prayer is a special way we can talk to Heavenly Father.

Kate: I know. That's why I do it.

I never realized how incredible Sunday dinners were- until I got to see it through a little one's eyes.

What will your Sunday dinners bring to the table?

WiCkEd FuN!

While you were away...we had some wicked fun!

Fun food and games at John's Incredible Pizza-

much better than Chucky Cheeses!

Making Grandma Norby's Famous M&M Cookies!

Haslam Girls- Do you remember this? Setting up our Barbie Townhome.

3 Stages of Sarah- Crying herself to sleep. Thinking about letting Kelli hold her. All Smiles!

Thanks so much for the wonderful time! We love you, Sorensen Family!

WiCkEd SuRpRiSe.

I think these were the results we were looking for. Total SHOCK.

A WiCkEd SeCrEt.

Operation "Wicked" commenced yesterday- bringing Ryan and I out to surprise my sister in California. The Plan- (which was flawlessly schemed by my brother in law Paul) Make a surprise visit to my sister, watch the kids for "date night", all the while- Paul packed Marisa's bags and headed up to San Francisco to see Wicked for her birthday. Keeping this a secret for 2 months was a killer- especially for me, a Haslam girl...but I am so glad that we did it! More details and pictures of our now, not-so-secret operation to come!

Norby's look how cool we are!!

http://norbyco.com/contact.html
Norby Company 3805 108th AVe. N.E. Bellevue, Washington 98004-7697

http://www.norbysonline.com/

245 hwy 60 east Lake Wales, Flordia 33853
http://norbysgreatsteaks.com/

Norby is a robot from a series of science fiction books for kids. First book was 1983 Norby, the Mixed up Robot.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norby

Thank you, Lake Powell.

Thanks to the Kehl Family and Good Ol' Lake Powell

for a much needed vacation, and a little tan too.

Good Family. Good Food. Good Sleep. Good Urgent Care*. Good Water.

GOOD TIMES.

*A little trip to the Page, AZ Urgent Care never hurt anyone...just a good ol' sinus infection.

What I Love About Road Trips...

Ryan and I have made a few road trips this summer- and I absolutely love them! To give a little background why I love them so much- before I ever got married, I knew that I would have to make at least one road trip with the guy I was dating to make sure I could put up with him, and him with me- (I tend to be a bear when I get really hungry, or crazy silly when I am tired...) Needless to say- Ryan passed- with flying colors! Maybe I passed too? :)

What I love About Road Trips-

Queen is always on our play list.

Ryan always gets an ice cream on at least one leg of our trip...I get one too, of course!

It's about the only time I really get to hear Ryan sing!

We can talk about BYU football, for hours on end.

I'm not the only one who has to make a few potty stops now-

Ryan lets me drive...or take a nap.

Getting 30 mpg!

Seeing friends and family!

Spending time together. Quality time. In a little car. Priceless.

Cheers to you Ryan- to many more fun and exciting road trips! Love you!

Grateful for Grandma

Yesterday, Ryan's Grandma Skinner returned to her heavenly home. I feel so blessed to have been able to get to know her more this last year and to feel of her love and passion for her family and the gospel. She will be missed.
Things that I have learned about Grandma-
She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. Great cook! Made beautiful afghans- quite the seamstress. Loved the "Gift of Gab"! She loved, loved, loved her family and friends...especially her grandkids.

We Love You Grandma Skinner- Thank you for all that you have done.

God Be With You Til We Meet Again.

4th of July Weekend 2010

Great. Marvelous. Camping.

The Three Amigos

These Guys Rock. Thanks Erick and Lynlee and Steve for a great weekend!

Food Glorious Food

Ryan made some fabulous crepes for our first night at the cabin...umm, umm, good!

*I'm not afraid to admit that Ryan is a better cook than me...by far. Hands Down.

Girl Time

Lynlee and I had a great time driving down to Nevada while the boys drove in the other car...there's nothing like girl talk!

And PS- we were not speeding!

Trying to get some sun on our pasty-white legs! Burn, baby burn!

A new hat- just trying to get the hot sun off my head!