Scentsy & Daisy Do's Party...

I am having a
Scentsy Candle and Daisy Do's Flower Clip
Party.

Tomorrow, July 1, 2008
6:00pm - 8:00pm (open house)

My house - Call or email me if you need the address

Please come - I absolutely LOVE the Scentsy Candles. My friend Dayna Velez just started selling them, so I thought that I would have a party for her.

I also LOVE the Daisy Do's Flower Clips... My friend Jenn Berrett is the cute creative one that started this. My girls love them and they just make their hair look darling.

www.scentsy.com/galev

www.daisydos.blogspot.com

Please come... if nothing else we will have good friends and treats.

Happy 36th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Happy 36th Anniversary Mom & Dad!
Today is my Mom & Dad's Anniversary... I am really glad that they are married... well mostly because I would not be here. My parents have a really great relationship. They love to be together. They work together, they run errands together, they do yard work together. Every Friday night they go to dinner at the Rio Grande Cafe. My Dad plays songs on the jukebox that were their songs when they were dating... Isn't that cute?

They just do everything together.

My parents are a really great example to Me and to Steve. They are a great example of what a marriage should be. They love to still hold hands and take walks together.

I am glad that Heavenly Father blessed me to come into their family as their oldest daughter.
I am a lucky girl.

I LOVE YOU MOM & DAD... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

An added bonus to living where we do...

So I have mentioned how great my neighbors are, the awesome ward that we live in, the fact that we live in a circle, that I love my house and that we live right behind the school BUT the one exciting part that I haven't mentioned... We live right by by the freeway!!! So you are wondering what is so great about that right? Well tonight I was sitting here reading blogs (like I always do at night) Shawn & Alyssa were laying in Shawn's bed reading books, Cameron & Ashley were asleep and Steve was just getting home from doing something at our rental. I heard a LOUD screech... I mean loud... then a huge crash. I ran up stairs and Alyssa & Shawn heard it too. So we did what most normal people do... we all three got on the roof to see if we could see the wreck that had just happened out on the freeway by our house. Now you might think this is the first time for this... no we do it often for entertainment. We have seen (or heard) 5 semi trucks roll over. One of which we heard crash at 3:00am and it woke us up. That one we had to actually go out on the freeway to help the people. We helped them out of their semi (it was turned on its side) then waited with them until the cops & ambulance came. We really have an awesome view from our roof to see these exciting things.

At least now you know that it doesn't take
a whole lot to amuse me.

CONGRATULATIONS Josh!!!

My Baby Brother Josh just got engaged. He is getting married to Victoria Grandinetti. He has wanted to marry Tori Grandinetti for most of his life (we have been next door neighbors with her since she was 3 months old). Tonight he finally asked her to marry him. Finally, I won't be the only one out of my siblings that is married. I am SUPER excited.

CONGRATULATIONS you two... I can't wait!

Our "finished" Basement!

We are MOSTLY finished with our basement! Steve has done so much work down there. He designed it, did the electrical, plumbing, touch up painted, tiled the bathroom... the list goes on and on and on. I am so proud of him and his great work. We took the boys to Home Depot to get the paint swatches for the painter a couple of months ago. I wanted my boys to get to pick their very own colors so I am warning you... the only ones that we picked were the hall and the theater chocolate browns. Shawn picked a dark orange (he is doing an African Art theme). Cameron picked dill pickle green (he is doing a soccer theme). Here are a few pictures. You will have to come and see it to get the best idea.





I am proud of Steve... he really is a handy Man!

Thank you Babe... I love you!

Christopherson Travel work party...

Yesterday was my summer party at work. As most of you know I am in charge of the events at Christopherson Travel. I really love it. This is the party that all of the employee's get to invite a spouse or guest and their own children. We had 230 people last night. We went to Fat Cats at the Pizza Factory. We rented the whole place out and at dinner there too. When we first get there they put out pizza after pizza after pizza, salad, bread twists and a whole bunch of different drinks. We brought in Paradise Bakery Cookies which to me are awesome cookies.

The other thing that we do is we buy prizes for the party. This time I did it a little different. I bought a prize for each of the kids under 15 years old. They had a choice of a soccer ball, foot ball, basketball, jump rope, or a bat & ball. We bought 70 of those prizes. Then for the adults 16 and older we bought 2 prizes per lane. I ended up with about 75 adult prizes. A few of the prizes were: Car wash bucket, movie bowl with popcorn & treats, gardening pail, picnic, coolers filled with treats & drinks, lots of board games, etc, etc, etc. We have a lot of fun buying them. The people at Target always think we are crazy - I should take pictures next time... it is pretty funny to see our carts.

I know most of the American population works full time but after a party I am always even more thankful that I am a (mostly) stay at home Mom. Monday I worked 9 hours, Tuesday I worked 8 hours, and Wednesday I worked 13 1/2... I was super done. Today I only worked about 1 1/2 hours. Then tomorrow we have our June Birthday lunch and we are doing it for about 60 people. I get to work tomorrow until about 2pm. I am fairly tired today.

Back to the party... My kids LOVE this party! It actually ruins the fun of Fat Cats for every other time we go there because at this party they can go up to Grandpa Mike and ask for dollar bills for the games, we get our lane from 6p - 9p straight even if they leave to go play somewhere else for a bit, they also get to run wild without Mom & Dad chasing after them the whole time. Most of the employees know who they are and the kids know them too. They are always excited to see a certain few and go up to hug them. It is just a good party and a really great group.





BUT... by the end I feel like the Barbie on Toy Story 2 (Tour Guide Barbie) at the very end while the credits are rolling... "Are they gone yet... are they gone? Great because my cheeks are killing me from smiling!".

What a fun night!

Weekend Update...

Our Weekend started out with Steve telling me on Thursday that we were hosting an Elders Quorum Dinner Friday Night at our house. Fun but I will have to change plans (we were suppose to have dinner with my Grandma who was in town from Phoenix and the rest of our Family).

Friday: We got up and took Cameron to his very first scout camp. Then I cleaned up and got the house ready for the evening party. I didn't understand exactly what the deal with Friday night was - all I knew was that we were having the Jeremy & Kelly Taeoalii, and Spencer & Erin Turner over for dinner. I did find out later that a few other couples in our Elder's Quorum were also "host couples". Each couple had 3 couples over and the idea is to get to know each other on a closer level rather than with a huge setting where you stay with in your comfort zone. I think that I like idea. Fir dinner we all brought our own meat to grill and then a side dish. We had strawberry spinach salad, potato salad, cut up fruit, and Chips. For dessert we ate "better than whatever" cake and peanut butter rice krispie bars.... MMMmmmm! They stayed until about 11:00pm. Dean & Jami's group saw us out side and came to talk and Trent & Julie came over to talk too. What a great plan and a fun fun evening. I know the Taeoalii's pretty well but I didn't know the Turner's very well - We had fun getting to know them.

Saturday: We got up very quickly when Alek Morrell knocked for his ride to Scout Camp with Cameron. I am so glad that he knocked - we slept right through the alarm. We got Cameron off to his scout camp. Shawn & Steve went to work together for an hour and a half. Then at 9:30am we met my brother Josh, My Mom & Dad at McDonald's for our Saturday Morning breakfast tradition. Then from there my Mom, and my two girls & I went to brave Costco the day before Father's Day (on a Saturday) while Shawn & Steve went to help my Dad and Brother's move something.

Then Steve and the Kids and I met back up at our house to get Steve, Shawn & Alyssa ready to go boating. We got their lunch, drinks and snacks and their swimming suits and towels (note we forgot sunscreen). Then we headed over to help the neighbors move in. We did that for a bit then Steve and the oldest two were off.

Ashley and I went to go Father's Day shopping. We ate lunch with just the two of us (she picked Arby's). We bought Steve's Dad's both a book on the Declaration of Independence (it was super cool). We also went in with all my siblings on game night for my Dad. We bought him a variety of board games that he didn't have - he has been really into this lately. For Steve we made a gift certificate for him to pick out a porch swing (I am pretty sure I will pick out the wrong one) and we bought him a huge supply of Garments (I know - EXCITING but it is what he wanted). We went and picked up Cameron then came home to wrap gifts.

Saturday Night: We went to dinner with Grandma and the whole family at The Training Table. It is always good there but I always feel so guilty after eating it.

After we went to Wal-mart to do a little shopping and to Harmon's. Steve wanted to grab a few things.

Sunday: Steve and I woke up early - because for whatever reason nether of us could sleep. He informed me that for Father's Day HE wanted to make breakfast. So I got up to help. This is why he wanted to go to the store Saturday night. We made yummy breakfast burritos, and crepes with fruit and whipped cream. We had Scott & Katrina Heath over because we had made SO MUCH FOOD! It was fun to sit and eat and visit while we were all still in our Jammie's.

Then we got ready and headed to church. What a great meeting. I loved hearing the cute kids sing for Father's Day. Each of the Men in the ward got a Candy Bar. We had a Relief Society lesson on Prayer. Joan Fackerall taught it. She is a great teacher.

After church we went to My Mom & Dad's house for a BBQ & swimming. We invited Steve's Mom & Step Dad and his Dad. It is always so nice to combine them together so we can sit and visit and stay as long as we want and not have to leave to go to in-law's houses.

The kids had a blast showing off in the pool for their Grandparents. They did flips and cannonballs off the diving board to see who could get us the most wet.

Steve helped my brother Jarred with something in my Parents mechanical room so Ashley & I went up and got in my parents bed and watched the news with them. I haven't done that since I was single. It was fun to sit with them like that again. Cameron fell asleep in the theater on a love sac and Shawn & Alyssa stayed up with the big kids (Jelissa & her friends).

We had a super busy, but fun weekend.

We ended it by tonight having Steve's real Dad over for dinner. The kids played in the sprinklers and then after we all sat down to make a HUGE list of activities for the summer. My kids are getting bored. I found a list that I had on hand that has a list of ideas from A to Z. Most of them are free. We can't wait to start taking our field trips.

I am super ready for bed tonight. GOODNIGHT!!!

1st time at the Temple...

Today the young men and young women in our ward went to the Temple to do Baptisms for the Dead. This was Shawn's first time going so just like with anything our kids do for the first time I was super excited for him to do it. I even took pictures. He said to me as I was taking pictures "Mom you are such a nerd... do we have to take pictures?" I of course said "Yes! Deal with it!" He came home really excited. He thought that it was so much fun. He wants to do it soon again. Someday when he looks back, maybe he will like the pictures.

Post 100 (or a little more)

Apparently there is a blogger tradition that when you reach 100 posts you are suppose to tell around 100 things about yourself. So here it goes...

Things about me:
1) I love my job of event coordinator but get I get nervous at my own parties at my house.
2) I love being a Mom MOST of the time, and would not change it for anything.
3) I am super sarcastic.
4) I love going on dates with my husband... especially when HE asks ME out!
5) I love the circle that I live in and have the greatest neighbors.
6) I am so glad that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I love my ward.
7) I love driving my Expedition except when I have to put $100 worth of gas in it.
8) I love a clean house but it is not my favorite thing to straighten it when it is a mess.
9) I love to read but I haven't read the Twilight series (I better hurry huh?)
10) I love to eat out but I also love to cook.

Guilty Pleasures:
1) Any sort of tortilla chips - Doritos, Chili's, etc.
2) DIET COKE - there is nothing like a Sonic drink with crushed ice.
3) Pedicures - Ahhhhh.
4) baths and reading every night.
5) Candy bars - although I hardly ever eat them.
6) Shopping - even if it is just for groceries
7) Scrapbooking - I just love the time alone (with girlfriends)
8) Sitting in the hot tub with Steve every night.
9) Jeans and a button up white crisp shirt on Steve
10) Mexican Food - everyday if I can.

Short and Long Term Goals:
1) Read at least one Chapter of the Book of Mormon each night.
2) Plan and put into action Chore Charts of some sort for my kids.
3) Clean out Kids rooms and make a HUGE D.I. trip... so we can move the boys downstairs with less junk.
4) Start some sort of exercise program besides Karate.
5) Go to the temple at least once a month and every other month with Shawn for baptisms.
6) Ride our bikes to eat with my parents at McDonald's on Saturdays
7) Learn to sew
8) Read the Book of Mormon more faithfully with the family
9) We get carpet in the basement tomorrow - So more the boys down there with NO junk (ya... right)
10) Be a nicer Mom.

Favorites:
1) Color: red, pink & brown
2) Movie: The Notebook
3) Video game: Tetris
4) Candy: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (or anything peanut butter)
5) Jewelry: Wedding Ring
6) Job: Christopherson Travel - event coordinator
7) Car: Lincoln Navigator - Black
8) TV Show: Prison Break
9) Cartoon: Flintstones
10)Smell: Kids right after a bath or a brand new baby

Ten things to do once a month:
1) Go Scrapbooking
2) Go to a movie with Girlfriends
3) Date night with Family
4) Pay Bills
5) Take a look at budget
6) Go to the Temple
7) Clean out the inside of my car
8) Get a Pedicure
9) Date night with my Husband
10) Write Thank You notes to people I appreciate.

Things I hate:
1) Liars
2) Laundry
3) Death
4) Bills
5) Feeling overwhelmed

Places I would like to go:
1) Sea World (Steve and the kids have never been)
2) Nauvoo
3) Australia
4) Iceland
5) Germany
6) Scotland
7) Ireland
8) Egypt
9) Tahiti
10) New England States with Steve (he has never been there)

Memories I would like to write down to share:
1) November 9. 1995
2) The relationship that I have with Steve
3) November 9, 1996
4) April 26, 1996
5) April 17, 1998
6) June 5, 2000
7) May 14, 2002
8) May 5, 1997
9) The relationship that I have with my Parents & Siblings
10) The relationship that I have with my girlfriends

Ten things in my purse:
1) wallet
2) lip gloss
3) felt tip markers & scrapbooking markers
4) gum
5) crumbs
6) kid toys (cars or Polly Pockets)
7) more crumbs
8) my trusty notebook that I use for everything
9) cell phone
10) loose change

Things to do today:
1) Tend Brooklyn and Tylar Mills
2) Pick up dry cleaning
3) Go to PO Box to get Redrock mail
4) Fold 4 loads of laundry
5) Clean up basement for Carpet that is coming tomorrow
6) Clean house
7) Buy Alyssa's friend Rachel a birthday gift
8) Get Shawn to the temple with young men & young women
9) Clean out car & vacuum
10) Figure out something for dinner

So that took way longer than I thought it would. Now I can go try to get some things on my forever long to-do list done!

Boondocks...

My Grandma is in town right now (from Phoenix) for a couple of different reasons... Cameron's Baptism, My Uncle Marv & Melanie's Temple Sealing & my Cousin Bryan's High School Graduation. She came into town last week. Up until now has been the crazy busy get ready for everything days. Well now we have a couple of days left with her to just have fun. She decided to take her youngest Grandkids and her Great Grandkids to Boondocks... We had my kids (great-grandkids), Aunt Melanie & her kids, & Aunt CJ & her kids. All of the kids are around the same age.

We went today after our neighborhood adventure days. We got there around 12:00 noon and ate lunch, then we played for about 4 hours. I don't think that I saw my kids most of the time which just makes me nervous to have them roam alone, but they sure had a great time. My kids love to hang our with their cousins. They are all so much alike and just have a great time together.


Grandma... thank you so much for taking us to Boondocks. We had so much fun. We love you and miss having you live in Utah. We REALLY want you to move back!

Cameron's Baptism

Today was Cameron's Baptism. What a great day. It is such a blessing to me to have a son who has the desire to be baptized. He has such a sweet testimony. He talked to me about getting baptized last night and he was so nervous. He said he doesn't like to have people watching him like that he was scared. Well he did great.

We got to the church at about 1:50pm... the baptism started at 2:00pm. So running late (or crazy). When we got there we realized that the other ward had emptied the font and moved the chairs. We were told that it can take up to 2 hours to fill the font... uh ok, what in the world were we to do with everyone dressed up in church clothes and waiting while the font filled? So we turned it on and waited, waited, and waited. We finally decided to start with the LOUD noise of the water. We turned it off as soon as it was barely high enough for him to be dunked.

Here was the program:
Baptismal Service
For
Cameron Mitchel Murray
June 7, 2008

Conducting Bishop John Fackrell
Pianist Sister Julia Richardson
Chorister Sister Catrina Leffel

Opening Song “When I am Baptized”
Opening Prayer Robert Cameron (Great Grandpa)

Baptism Talk Shawn Murray (Brother)

Song: “I am a Child of God" Alyssa & Ashley Murray (Sisters)

Cameron Baptized by Steven Murray (Dad)

Musical Interlude

Holy Ghost Talk Michael Cameron (Grandpa)

Cameron Confirmed by Steven Murray (Dad)

Remarks Bishop John Fackrell

Closing Song “Teach me to walk in the Light”
Closing Prayer Glenn Peterson (Grandpa)

Witnesses:
Jarred & Josh Cameron (Uncles)

It was such a great service. My favorite parts of the service (I had a couple):

~ When Cameron was baptized and gasped from the freshly filled font being so cold after he was dunked under.
~ When Shawn spoke like a young man... not a child
~ When Cameron held my hand the whole time that he sat by me. He played with my rings, he does that when he is nervous.
~ When all of the priesthood holders went up to the front to give Cameron the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a great sight to see.
~ Seeing my husband baptize and confirm our son.

We had a great lunch after the service.
We ate:

Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Macaroni Salad
Fruit Salad & Dip
Veggies & Dip
Chips & Dip... obviously we like dip OK.
Drinks
and Desserts

I am very thankful that I have a husband who is worthy to hold the priesthood. I am happy to see our son make the right decision to be baptized. Today was a really great day.

Happy 8th Birthday Cameron!

Today is my baby boys 8th birthday. I can't believe that he is eight. It seems like just yesterday that Shawn was getting baptized and that was 4 years ago... now Mr. Cameron is going to be baptized. It is just too weird.

Cameron is such a great boy. He really does try hard to be a good boy and choose the right. He is an absolute Mama's boy. He loves me so much... not too many days go by that he doesn't tell me how much he loves me and that he thinks I am really pretty (he is quite the Lady's man).

Cameron is the first of our kids that I stayed home with and didn't work. I semi-quit my job and started to be a stay at home Mom. I really do love it... even if I somedays don't act like it. I am thankful that I can stay at home with the kids.

Here are eight of my favorite things about Cameron.

1. He is a super great student and LOVES school.
2. He LOVES his Mom and really tries to take care of me.
3. He is a super great soccer player.
4. He loves to go to church and read the scriptures.
5. He is the greatest Daddy's helper.
6. He loves to do just about anything his big brother does.
7. He will still play Barbie's and Polly's with his sisters.
8. He is super nervous to get baptized but can't wait.


We love you Cameron and we are so glad the you are our son.