December decorations!!!

So, when we went to Utah for Thanksgiving, Mark's mom got some cute little decorations and sent them home with us. She gave us cute little snowmen, and a little sign that says "We still believe." And then, I went to Seagull Book and picked up some Simon Dewey 3x4 Nativity cards, like the shepards pointing at the star, the baby in the manger, and Mary, Joseph and baby in the stable. I saw those and instantly got an idea. I wanted to find a multiple-picture frame, and then find a way to wrap in Christmas wrapping paper, like a present. We went to Roberts and found a "floating" frame, which fit my 3 little pictures perfectly! And then we went and wrapped presents, and I wrapped my frame. I love how it turned out, and was so excited that I thought it up that fast!! I love it!! After I put this cute little "Christmas Present" and put up some of my other Decemeber decor, that I had around the house. Like my countdown blocks and my snowmen from Mark's mom. I brought up our Christmas decor box from the dungeon, and I will be peroidically putting up our winter stuff. I'll be doing that in between making gifts, so I don't get burned out, I'll switch it up. I'm excited about Christmas. I'm excited about getting in the gift giving spirit. Here's a collage with the decorations I've got up so far. :)

Love to all - bry and mark

November means fall

Thanksgiving was exactly how it should be (I missed my family, but they know it!). There was hardly any snow (in the mountains and the high elevations there was, but not around Clinton!), it was chilly, and it smelled like fall! It was so nice! There was hunting and turkey and pie and football. Mark's mom and I watched the Packers game while we cooked food, and then the boys came back and we watched the Packers game again, it was the best ever!! We went and watched The Blind Side, which is a way aweome movie. And Mark and I got to hang out with friends, we made ginger bread houses with Angie & Smitty and with Bubba & Tracy. (More on the Gb houses later.) It was so much fun just hanging out with his family. I thought about my family quite a bit, and how we all would get together and watch football and play cards and eventually go outside and throw the football around. It made me excited for Mark and I to start a family and start our own Thanksgiving traditions. I'm excited for these things to be ours, but I can wait!! :) The past year has come and gone so fast! It's Mark's birthday next Saturday, and I'm torn on what to day. I know I really need to get my Christmas presents finished (and so does Mark) but I have a buy-1-get-1-free coupon for a daily lift ticket. What to do?! I'm so excited to start snowboarding again, we didn't go last year cuz of the heart stuff, so we haven't gone in over 2 years! We both enjoy it, even though I'm not very good. I'm excited to get better. But if we go, this will a completely new thing for me, again, it'll be the first time since the open heart surgery. (I'm not worried about it, my heart is completely healed!!) I'm excited to see if I can notice a difference, to see if I can breathe as we go down the hill (last time we went, it hurt so bad to go DOWN the hill!) I'm so excited to get back on the board!! Time to get some long underwears!! We'll see how much I can get done on presents. The last day to mail presents so they get delivered by Dec. 25th is DECEMBER 17TH!! So I have to mail everything by then! That's my deadline!! We'll just have to see how things go!

Love to all- bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 27

Day 27 : I have been thankful for 27 days!! This "program" has helped me gain a better perspective of my life and so realize that I have A LOT to be thankful for! Also, this program has inspired me to try the Project Life in 2010. I really like the idea of writing down something everyday. I'm pretty excited to start this new project. (It's my birthday present!! I'm so excited! However, I'll get it after my birthday, but that's ok, I'm going to take pics and jot some notes for the part of January I don't have my present!) It has made me really grateful for what I have and to notice all that I do have!! :) But, today I am thankful for Black Friday Bird Shoots! Every Thanksgiving that the Collard boys are together, they go rabbit hunting in the morning (to leave the girls alone to cook.) and they went to the Black Friday Bird Shoot today, supposedly to leave the ladies to go shopping. But, Mark's mom and I tagged along, we went and watched our pup point at some birds. He was so good!! He learned so much today! He pointed at the pheasants and he even got a few! (For one, he chased it down and fought with it, and when Mark got up to him, Bandit was standing on the bird!!) He was such a good bird dog! Plus, he was the only dog out there that didn't have a shock collar on, granted, he wasn't the most well behaved dog, but he was way good at getting the birdies. It was way nice to get Bandit out there to see what other dogs do, and to get him the training and to get him excited about birds!! It was such a nice day, it was cold, but really a nice day! I am thankful for my family, and how I love hunting just like them (I fit in!). It was a nice day together with them, and having fun with them!!

What are you thankful for? Check out what Amanda is thankful for! Thank you Amanda for this great idea, I'm pretty sure this is a new tradition for our family!

PS- I did go shopping today, but it was at 4:30 pm, and the only place I went to was Seagull Book (hey! I'm in Utah, I HAD to go!!) and I went looking for a book, but didn't find it, and I got some shirts and a 6-picture frame for $7!!! I am so excited!! That was the only place I went, the only place I could stand to go, there was NO way I was setting foot in WalMart today, they parking lot looked like a zoo! Ugh!

Love always, bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 26

Day 26 : I am thankful for non-existent holiday traffic and good weather. Mark and I drove to Utah last night. We both thought there would be tons of traffic on the roads and that it would be slow going, and if anything, there would be tons of cops on I-80. WRONG!!! There was NO traffic, and we were able to zip right thru Wyoming, and as far as I know, we only saw cops heading East. It was smooth sailing from Colorado to Utah. Only one minor mishap of getting dinner, we took the wrong exit, I wasn't paying attention (I was reading Fablehaven 3 out loud) and Mark thought we always took the 2nd exit. Considering it is November and we had terrible snow storms in September and October, I thought we would see a little snow, but the only snow we saw was the snow on the hills and mountains and on the side of the road. It was a cloudless night, and the weather was perfect!! We couldn't have asked for better holiday travel conditions!

What are you thankful for today?!!

Happy Turkey Chow day to all!! Thanksgiving is such an awesome holiday, I love getting together with family and hanging out. I am so excited to watch football this year, I am actually keeping track of me team! I am missing my family this time of year, though, they know I love them, and I would go see them if I could. But I am excited to spend this Thanksgiving with Mark's family. His family is great!! The boys are actually in the truck heading out to the hunting spot. They go rabbit hunting every year. :) Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!

Much love to all - love, bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 25

Day 25: I am thankful for short work weeks. Although I was completely distracted all week, I really didn't get any work done, this week has been a good week. Also, everybody is on vacation, they have slowly been leaving the office all week. Today, there 2 people here in my department, and he sits in another part of the office altogether. So, it's pretty much just me. (Go figure that today would be the day I get to work early, when I have nothing to do!!) I am thankful I have the rest of the week to spend with family. I'm thankful we're going to see friends, and go hunting, and watch football. I am thankful I was able to make pies for tomorrow. I am so excited to see the family!!

What are you thankful for today?

**Hmm, these pies are so easy, they might just turn into gifts to neighbors and friends. I know a few people who could use a pie right about now.... I am thinking of you all.

Love and kindness this Thanksgiving, bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 24 and Week 11

Day 24 : So I have gone to sites all over to get new ideas. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for alot, but I feel like I covered the general groups. And I got to thinking about how blessed I am for all that we have. So today : I am thankful for blessings. I know that seems like a general statement as well, but what I mean is : in times of need, and times of trouble, things have miraculously worked out for us. The bills have evened up, the dog's food is on sale, I end finding coupons for ALL the things we need at the store, Mark gets sent checks from a place he worked when he was 12 because he never cashed them, having a job that gives paid medical leave, getting a phone call when it's been a really bad day, having a friend stop by, getting a check in the mail for Halloween. Ok, what I am really trying to say is, that Mark and I have gone thru hard times (who hasnt?!) but we always come thru them stronger than before. We feel the prayers and the blessings given in our names. We hadn't even been married 3 months before we were told I needed open heart surgery again. We freaked, but people from church and friends from home, and family all came together to help us thru it. When Mark and I were looking to move due to said surgery, we got a check in the mail, and we were able to move out of those horrible apartments. Things really have amazing for us, and I am so very grateful for all that we have and all that we have been blessed with. I am thankful that we have both been blessed with a positive outlook on things that happen. Neither of us really gets mad (frustrated YES, but mad, no.) and no matter what, we are able to talk to each other about everything. I love how blessed we are and feel.

What are you thankful for today? Check out Amanda's thankful list.

Week 11 Fantasy Footbal :
Mark : 91 (3-8)
Bry : 95 (4-7)

Mark and I played each other again this week, and it was so close! We went and watched the game at Gerrit and Angie's. It came down to the last field goal! Mark and I were tied for almost the entire 4th quarter of the Titans/Texans game. Mark has Nate Washinton (WR) on the Titans, and I have Rob Bironas (K) on the Titans, so if the Titans got a TD, my kicker would go in get some points for me! But Mark only got points if Washington got the TD. He was so back and forth, THROW IT! No!!! Wrong guy! It was lots of fun to play against each other again. I won!! But it was very very close. (Next year we've got plans to have a Collard Family League, his folks and brothers and us, it's going to be awesome!)

Love - bry and mark

Contradictory socks and hair scare no more

Lately Mark has been asking me for more socks. He even went so far as to ask "Every time you go to Walmart, pick me up a pack, please." In my head, I was thinking, ok, that's do-able. Realistically, I only did it once, because I kept finding his socks all over the house! Behind the couch, in the video game box, under the table, in his shoes, in the truck, in the closet. So I washed them all, now he doesn't need socks. Imagine that! But I have come to discover that socks don't last as long for boys as they do for girls. I have had my socks since before Mark and I started dating (about 3 years ago) and Mark got all new socks when he moved out of his house (about 18 months ago) and his socks are in shreds! I just keep losing mine. So I went to Walmart last night and bought a pack for ME! I really did need socks. I figured I was picking up a pack of No Boundaries socks, I've always had good luck with those, they are comfy. I picked the multi color pack, if I get all the same color, I lose more that way. So I got the pack with the green, orange, pink, red, blue and black. On the toes I thought they said No Boundaries, but nope, they say No Nonsense. I thought that was soo odd! I found the package and they aren't No Boundaries, they really are No Nonsense socks! So, my socks say No Nonsese, I think it's pretty funny, because I think this whole time of year is full of nonsense (shopping and deals and sales....) Plus, if anyone knows me, I'm not really a "no nonsense" kind of girl. I live for the funny stuff and the random stuff. (Mark and I even play the Thumbs game-last person to put up his thumbs says the prayer- and we do Jinx when we both say the same thing-Mark complains because I'm dang good at switching it up from You owe me a soda to You owe me buffalo wings or You owe me kisses- and we still go get pictures from the photo booth. All about the random crazy things that make me happy! Ignore the socks and enjoy life!!

No more hair scare!! So I've started to NOT hate my haircut so much. (Aside from a comment about me looking like a boy the other day at work..it's been good.) And I try not to point out what all I hate about and where the hair dresser screwed up. I wanted it like Rachel Leigh Cook in Scorched, and that's really what I got, I just need to play with it more to get it to do that! I am so used to my hair just falling to the side of my head, that I'm not aware it can do anything else! So it is time for expirimenting!! YAY! But, I've been enjoying it more, and it hasn't been nearly as horrible as I thought at first. Granted it has been over 2 weeks, and my hair has already grown tons. my bangs are already over my eyes. I have decided not to hate it, this is the length I usually get it cut to, and it's cute if I flat iron it. The holidays should be interesting, thank goodness all I have to do it comb it and shake it up sidedown and we're good to go!! :) I sure am glad it's cut, I couldn't stand it long anymore!

Love, bry and mark

nor will they fix a hole under the fence

So, I came home today, expecting my little pup to be waiting at the gate when I pulled up. I even kind of whistled (it's not really my forte), he didn't come. I got all worried that he was in the house and had made a mess, that he had pushed the chair away from the kitchen and torn down to the gate and gotten into all my clean laundry and crafts!!! OH NO! But, that was NOT the case, he wasn't in the house either. So I went into the back yard, looked everywhere, there aren't too many places-our yard isn't that big, and then I started looking for holes under the fence. None up the front yard, none over to The Rednecks house, none to the alley, but there it was! The hole (and big pile/spray of dirt) under the fence to get to the neighbors with the little brown fluffy dog. And, what did I see over there with the brown fluffy dog? Our speckled pup! I was so mad!! I went over, rang the door bell, no one was home, so I went around back to see if they had a gate , they did. So went over, petted their dog and stangled mine as I hauled him away. He realized he could struggle and fight me if he was on 4 feet so, I grabbed his collar, and his front left paw and walked him to our yard, our fence, our gate. And booted him in the butt as he ran into the yard. I then put some brick slabs over the new hole! We have tried to fill in the other holes (Oh yes! There are many holes!!) before they get enough for him to get thru, or when he just starts them. But we missed this one. The thing is, we really didn't miss it, I went out there yesterday (looking for his Kong, still not found) and looked at the hole, it was tiny!! And it had bricks in it already! But, our dog apparently doubles as a back-hoe! When I got him in the house, I sat on the couch reading the mail, and he walks over, looking so sad, and drops a carrot by my feet. Really?! A carrot! I was like, are you trying to get me more mad?! I think he was trying to share or say he's sorry, or that he doesn't like carrots and he doesn't like me, and we should hang out. Hmmmm... Oh well. I threw the carrot back outside for him, and he is laying at my feet right now. Grrrr that dog! (I'll have Mark go out and take some pics tomorrow night, and then I will post them!)

Love, bry and mark

27 Day of Thankful - 23

Day 23 : Yesterday I was thankful for easy things, but today, I am thankful for trials and hard things. When I look back at this year, so many things have happened that have been so hard to us. I had open heart surgery in February, while we were paying for the old apartment and the new rental, Mark has had some insurance probs, and that dirtbag guy that made us pay for new pool table cuz his bumper was "dented" and Mark's "fun" gun stories - none of these things were easy. In my life, I have chosen to take the rough path, I went my own way and figured things out on my own, I thought was old enough to make my own decisions, and while I was old enough, I wasn't smart enough to choose what was best for me or smartest for me. I screwed up big time, and made things alot harder for myself than they ever should have been! But, every single choice I have made (good and bad) has lead me to where I am and who I am right now. I wouldn't change me for anything in the world, and Mark tells me he wouldn't either. I have learned so much and grown so much from the choices I have made (ask my mom!). I am so grateful that I realized a change needed to be made, and that I had the strength to make that change. I wouldn't go thru any of that ever again, but I am glad I know what I know, and I am who I am. :)

What are you thankful for today? Check out what Amanda is thankful for today.

Love, bry and mark

Carrots will not fix a broken heart

We have discovered our little dog is distracted with food. So, when we lock him out, or put him the backyard or the kitchen, we always put him with some foot like a carrot or a banana or some PB on bread. Either way he usually is ok with whatever we do then. Sunday, however, the distraction was not working. We put him in the kitchen with the gate up, so we could eat our steaks in peace, we didn't want him begging everybody. So I gave him a carrot, he grudgingly took it and immediately dropped it by the gate. He then rested his head on the gate and watched us eat, with those big sad brown eyes! He whined a bit, and even sighed and moaned about how he was stuck in the kitchen with a CARROT and we had steak. He has done thie before. For a while we locked him out of the house completely, and it was my turn one day. Mark had alreday left and I was locking the pup out, and gave him a carrot, he moped into the backyard, laid down with his carrot still in his mouth, just looking at me! So sad!!! I usually call Mark on our way to work, just to talk and say good morning. If I'm the last one to leave, he asks, What was your little dog saying? And that day I replied with "Carrots do NOT fix a broken heart, mom!!!" Cuz that is what he would have said if he could say anything! He was so sad and disappointed to be getting a carrot! But he took it, with an "if I must" attitude! He's such a funny little dog. And he really does like carrots, and bananas. He just really likes to eat them in the living room with us. I like having my cute little Bandit, he really has been lots of fun to have! And it's not like he doesn't have things to eat or chew on in the backyard. He has 4 deer legs/hooves out there, so he's got PLENTY!! He has been in heaven for the past 2 days, chewing on bones and eating scraps. Thoroughly enjoying life as a dog. He's even got his own spot in the sun! Saturday, I was home all day with him, and every now and then, he would be outside for a long time, and I'm not worried, he lives out there, it's his yard. But I was curios as to what he was getting into, or out of! So, I peaked out all the windows, and eventually found him (he kinda blends in with the dead grass) over by the fence, just laying in the sun! He's a pretty cute little dog!

Love to all - bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 22

Day 22 : I am thankful for things that are easy as PIE! I never knew how true that saying was until I made a pie. My easy pie got the Collard Stamp of Approval, so I will be making one for Thanksgiving. But I am thankful for easy things, like pie, crafting, making friends, showing love, the internet, trying new things, keeping in touch, taking pictures, phone calls, getting take out, falling asleep next to Mark, picking movies, making dinner, talking, laughing, smiling, dreaming, making goals, saying yes, having adventures, eating clementines, holding hands, driving, and holding babies. There are tons more things that are easy, but these ones popped in my head. :)

What are you thankful for today?

Love, bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 21

Day 21 : I am thankful I am a heavy sleeper!! Tonight we had 5 Collard under our roof. All five of the Collard were snoring!! Mark, Kurt, Dave, Bry, and Bandit - all snoring!! It was pretty crazy! I think I was the last person to fall asleep, and somehow I fell asleep! It was so loud! (The boys tell me last night was nothing compared to the night before when it was all 3 boys in the tent!) But I think it's pretty cute that my little dog snores too. But I am real thankful that I am a heavy sleeper (people say that's one reason Mark and I are perfect for each other, he snores and I sleep!) I am also thankful for my family!

What are you thankful for today?


Hmm, so I decided to make a pie today (I just faked it, it isn't a real pie, I bought the pie shells, and I bought the frozen berries, so I really did fake it!) But it turned out really good. I had my professional pie testers taste it, and they loved it!! So, this is what I will be making for my potluck at work on Tuesday. It was so easy, and it tastes soooo good! The boys enjoyed a nice pie after 2 days of shooting things and killing things and eating deer-steak. They each got a deer, but while Dave was chasing his deer, he rolled his ankle really bad, and Mark had to carry him back to the campsite. He seems to be doing good, he was limping around the house, and watching movies and eating pie.

Love - bry and mark

Cute little....

So, Bandit has a habit of waking us up at 6:30 am most Saturdays. And I have discovered he does that to wake Mark up!! Because today it was just me in bed (Mark is in Nebraska shooting deer with his brother and dad) and Bandit came and laid down on my side of the bed and slept. I slept in until 9!! It was so nice! So I took some pictures of the rat, he was so cute all scrunched up next to the bed. He liked the nice comfy pillow that is by my side of the bed, it was quite a switch from being over by the dresser like he usually is. But he was pretty dang cute. And then he chased a squirrel up an electrical pole, and he was seriously going nuts. Barking at it, trying to jump up there (he almost jumped over the fence right by it!) and just crazy! So I went and got Mark's pellet gun and aimed up, and I shot twice, I got it the 2nd time. It fell, but before Bandit could rush over and get him, the squirrel jumped up and ran away! (I made Bandit come sit by my feet so he wouldn't get in the way.) Those dang little creeps are tough! (Mark shot one a few weeks ago, and it had been shot twice already, it had a BB and a pellet in it!) So, better luck next time! :) Mark and the boys should be heading back soon, unless they are staying another night, but Mark and Kurt both got deer yesterday (I told him to take pictures!) So we'll just have to see. Now time to finish more gifts!! LOL!! Yayayayay!

What Bandit ate....

So, we went over to Angie's and Gerrit's Wednesday night, we brought buffalo wings and they had just got New Super Mario Bros Wii, so of course it was awesome. But I was telling her about my puppy and what he had gotten into that day and she said I should start a blog about what he ate that day. I thought about it, and I already have too many blogs that I don't write on anymore, so I add the death toll to the bottom of my posts. And since it is Friday today, I will run-down the destruction of the week.

Monday : Bandit ate a bag of bread and the remnants of a bag of Oreos (about a row and a partial row and a roll of paper towels.
Tuesday : Bandit ate a bunch of Bananas (3) and the box to my Bosch.
Wednesday : Bandit ate a washcloth.
Thursday : Bandit ate the back of my arm-chair (one of the green/orange/black ones) and the kitchen rug.
Friday : Bandit ate a bag of trail mix and the rest of the Bosch box.

It's not cuz we don't feed him, he eats! And it's not everyday, but somedays, he is just more destructive than other days. He eats carrots and bananas and peas and apples all the time, Mark says he is the healthiest dog ever. Mark also wishes I would make Bandit a carnivore, not a veggie eater, I tell him Bandit is an omnivore, that's why he eats sticks and grass. I'll keep everyone posted on the destruction of our possessions

Kurt and Mark's dad came out this weekend, they are heading out to Nebraska to shoot things. It should be a fun weekend! I'll craft all weekend and they will hunt. I'm so happy they're here!

Love to all - bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 20

Day 20 : I am thankful for me. (I'm not being arrogant.) I am thankful that I am who I am, and that I know who I am. I am thankful that I am comfortable enough with myself to be me, and to not bend to the will or wants of others. It took me so long to figure this out. (I know I am not that old, but it felt like such a long time to figure it out!) I struggled so much with who I was and who my friends wanted me to be. I was very easily swayed into doing things and being things just to have friends and be accepted. I am so thankful that I have found out who I am, as a person, as a daughter of God, as a wife, as an individual. I am so thankful for being strong enough to do what I want and to tell people when I'm not going to do something. I am thankful that I have the confidence to be who I really am, to be what I have always wanted to be, to be who everyone knew I could be. (I am still working on that whole "be the person everyone knows you can be" but I can see that person, and I am working towards that. I am so grateful for friends who push me to be better and who raise me up, rather than bring me down. I am thankful for a husband who loves me for me, and married me because I was different than the other girls. I am thankful that he lets me be me. I am thankful to be defined by me as a person, rather than as a companionship, or someone's friend, to be known as Bry, and not just Mark's Wife. (Don't get me wrong, I love being called Mark's Wife, but I am glad that people also know me as Bry.) I am so thankful to the support and the strength from others to rise up to my potential, to realize who I am and who I can be. I am so thankful that I can be a follower and also a leader. I am thankful I can make my own choices and not be confined by the choices made by others. I am thankful I can say, I know with a true knowledge that I am a daughter of God, and that He loves me, and He has a plan for me, and that He is aware of me and my life. I know that Mark and I are meant to be together, and I am so thankful he saw my potential, and that I figured out who I wanted to be when I met him. He has changed my life forever. I am so thankful for me.


What are you thankful for today? Check out what Amanda is thankful for!



Love y'all - bry & mark

Book to Movie

Ok, so, I went to the Twilight movie with a bunch of girlfriends. We have bunko every 3rd Thursday night, and it just so happened that the midnight showing of Twilight fell on our bunko night. So, yes, I went to the midnight showing of Twilight. It happened again this year, the midnight showing of New Moon falls on bunko night (tonight). So I will be going to the midnight showing with the same group of girls. I am NOT a Twi-hard. I really didn't the books, Edward is too whining and he can't make up his mind, he's not my type of guy, now Emmet....Emmet has a sense of humor, is a big hunky dude, and he likes his big Jeep! That's Mark! Anyways, I think that the lady that wrote the books needs to grow up, she's not 17, nor will she be 17 ever ever again. But, I will be going to the midnight showing, I have read all the books (even the awful and disappointing 4th book!), I have all the audio books (but only made it thru 1 & 2, 3 got really sappy and mopey and just made me want to gag, there are only so many times I can hear, "He is so beautiful, his face is beautiful." in 10 minutes, and boys should NOT be beautiful!!), and I bought my ticket for New Moon about a month and half ago. I am going to the midnight showing to hang out with my girls. I work all day and never get to see them, any amount of time that I get to spend with them, I am there!! Oh, you're making a craft I made yesterday, ok, what time and what do you need me to bring? I have already expressed my need of friends, so to me, it's not going to go see the most crazed about movie over (the pre-sale tickets have just reached the #1 spot, doubling the pre-sale take in from Dark Knight!) to me, it is just a night hanging with girls, enjoying the night out! So, don't be mad if I am not as responsive on Friday or if my eyelids droop, I will be bunko-ing from 7-11 and then New Moon-ing from 12-2!! Friday will be the crash day for me and I'd say, 75% of the female population. So just watch out on the roads a little more on Fridayand take note that production will be down.

But for those of you who will die unless they see New Moon, here's a link to Twilight stuff. It invaded my daily blog walk through, Twilight was everywhere!! OnePrettyThing has tons of New Moon stuff, printables, book marks, party ideas. Go for it, knock yourself out.

Oh, and don't think I'm making it hard on Mark, his brother Kurt and his Dad are coming into town tonight (while I am bunko-ing) because they are heading to Nebraska tomorrow for hunting. He's doing fine with it, and knows that I don't go cuz I need some "Edward Time" - I go cuz I need some girl time!

Love-bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 19

Day 19: I am thankful for buffalo wings. (Yes I know they not really BUFFALO's!) Anyways, I am thankful for wings because when you eat buffalo wings, fun ensues. Most situations that call for buffalo wings are parties, games, or resturants! Those are places of fun! You don't ever see buffalo wings at work (not fun!) or at an "I'm so sorry" gathering (not fun!). And I have noticed, in my vast Buffalo-wing-eating expirience (it is pretty vast, ask Mark!) that when people eat buffalo wings, they are in a good mood, and want to have fun, and are usually just chilling. There is something about buffalo wings that make it impossible to be too serious while eating them. I don't know if it's everybody's mouth being on fire, or eating with your fingers or dipping sauce. All I know is that if you bring buffalo wings over to someones house, you are going to have a good time. Laughs will be shared, jokes will be given, and fun will happen. I love buffalo wings.

Love, bry and mark

Week 10 Fantasy Football

Mark : 96 (3-7)

Bry : 46 (3-7)



Ok, I lost (again), no big surprise there. But Mark won! Yay! He played against our friend Gerrit, and Mark was trash talking so bad, it was hilarious to watch! Hmm, so yeah, I haven't even looked at this coming week. For some reason I just suck, someone said they thought I knew exactly what I was doing and was totally going to kick butt! HA! I didn't even know what round we were on when we picked, and I pretty much randomly picked people. Ugh, so we'll see about this next week, I just looked - Mark and I play each other again. So now it's on!



Love, bry and mark

We named him Bandit for a reason...

So, we figured, since we had a fenced in yard, we could get a dog, and they fence would keep him in. Alas, if we only knew how naming him Bandit was a bad idea. Our little dog has found a way to open the back door (we have latch handles) and he has also found a way to open the back gate to get out into the neighborhood. He did this yesterday, because when I got home, Mark's bike was in front of the gate door. He also did it last week, he was out in the yard waiting for me when I got home last Friday. Mark and I have fixed this problem, we hope, we bought a caribeener and put that in the gate latch (it has that hole in the bottom for a padlock) and we'll see how that works. We have also fixed the hole under the fence to get next door. Our Bandit found out he can dig to see new friends. A few times this summer, I would get home, only to have to go over to the neighbor's to get my dog. They didn't mind too much, they said, they like our dog. So we're hoping that this is just a James Bond/Houdini phase and Bandit will eventually stop trying to sneak out. We did, of course, name hims BANDIT, so maybe it will never go away.


Hmmm, so I looked to see how many posts I've made and when we started this new adventure, and I was pretty surprised. Since we started this blog on 8-06-2008, I have made 125 posts! This will be the 126th! I was so surprised!! Now, if I could find a way to get Mark to make some posts about him.... I'll have to think of way to get him to do it.... We'll see.

Love to all - bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 18

Day 18 : I am thankful that Mark goes out and starts the truck for me in the morning! He is absolutely amazing, and he is so cute! I love waking up to find the truck already started for me. He's such a thoughtful husband. (There have been a few times, when I go out and start the trucks, becuase someone doesn't have to work until 9! But then he's so cute and sleepy, I love it!) So yes, today I am thankful that my truck was warm when I got in it!

What are you thankful for today?

love - bry and mark

Wreaths all around!!

So, I have been desperately trying to find an easy way to make a Thanksgiving wreath. It wasn't lack of ideas (trust me, I have tons of ideas for these! But most were too much, too time comsuming...) But on Monday I went to the craft day, and Teri told me about a site she frequents that catalogs crafts daily, but she does like a TON of them. So, I headed over to One Pretty Thing, it was confusing at first because I was like, I don't need printable things! But I figured out, she does a Round-up every day, felt food round-up, Printables round-up, Christmas round-up, gift box round-up, Thanksgiving round-up. So I went back a few pages, cuz I always do that!! and I found a Thanksgiving page with this! So I went to Chica and Jo's site and got the d's on how to make this! It was so easy, and it looks really cute. Yayayyayayay!

In my joy to find wreaths, I found a Christmas one I was so excited to do! I follow Be Different...Act Normal on her blog and when I saw this Cookie Cutter Wreath, I just had to start looking for cookie cutters immediately! So, of course, I made it in one day after I found a can of 18 cookie cutters at Wal-Mart! I'm sorry my picture kind of sucks for this one, the cookie cutters are apparently really thin, and don't like to get photographed! But it is still way cute. Oh, and the reason this one is on the table, is because I will NOT hang it up (even for a picture!) until December 1st. But I have my crazy wreaths done, and now full concentration and time and effort will be on my CHRISTMAS presents! It is almost Thanksgiving and I don't have them done! ACK!! So, no more fooling around, no more little ideas, trust me, I have been saying NO to cute little things (like washer ornaments) because I can see me falling in love with how easy and cute and cheap they are, and never seeing my half-finished Christmas Presents again. (Leaving everyone on my list, wondering, Why did she get me washers tied together?!) So, here goes, I am diving in head first, see you the day before Christmas!! LOL!

Lots of love - bry and mark

27 days of Thankful - 17

Day 17 : I am thankful for a day off. Yesterday my computer was out sick, so I went home (I was so surprised at how much I could NOT do without my laptop!) and I made it to the Craft Day. Some girls at church had started a Craft Day, where they all get together at a different house each time, and make a craft. I'm never able to go, because it's usually at 9am, or sometime during the day. (I'm not real worried about, I work, it's all good.) But yesterday I was able to go! Now, I had made the craft (we made countdown blocks) the night before, so I didn't make anything while I was there, but I was able to help out with the kids and help some of the girls. I got a taste of what it would be like to stay home all day everyday. I think it's one of those things that takes some getting used to! I'm glad I have time before we start our family, but at the same time, I just can't wait!! I can't wait to stay home with my kids and change diapers and make lunches and get nothing done but make my baby smile. I know alot of girls say, things'll be differnt when I'm a mom, I'll get the house clean and I'll do dishes and laundry, and I'll make dinner and everything will be in order. I also know that none of that is going to happen when I have kids. I have such low expectations of accomplishment once I have kids, I don't expect my house to be clean, dishes to be done, or anything like that. But I am so very excited for kids, and being able to be home with my baby. BUT - that is a ways off, we've still got time. :) I am so thankful for my friends that stay home with their kids, they are freaking awesome and amazing! I am thankful that I was able to spend the day with them. Yay for days off!!

What are you thankful for today? Check out what Amanda is thankful for.

Love to all - bry and mark

Sleep Study and Flu Shots

So, people have been asking me about the sleep study, and what the results are. Well - I do not know. They haven't released my results to me yet, but I have heard they sent them to my doctor. I think if it were really serious, my doctor would call me in and let me know. I have a follow up appointment with the sleep study guys scheduled for January (it's really not that far away!) So, I will keep everyone posted as I learn more.

I finally got my flu shot! I am now not in fear of the Swine Flu! yay!! I went Saturday morning, and stood in line, and passed my papers to the shooter, and BAM! I got a good shot to the arm (it still hurts, just so everyone knows!) But, it wasn't bad, and it was free! SO Yay!

AND - I have been missing out on my days of Thankful, but I have a very good reason! We haven't had a working computer for a few days! The computer we work on at home is the one I use for work (I haul it back and forth to and from work every day, I can't leave it at work, or I will get in trouble) well, this computer got a virus this weekend. And I took it into IT first thing Monday morning, and they said they would work on it. I just got it back about an hour ago. So they worked on it all day Monday and all of Tuesday morning. But I have it back now, so I can finally get caught up on my Thankful-ness and my budget. (Mark and I are now in the process of scoping out a computer for us at home. With all the holiday deals, it shouldn't be too hard to find a really awesome deal!!) So, there is the latest news. I will post things tonight. :)

Love to all - bry and mark

27 days of Thankful - 16

Day 16 : I am thankful for IT!! I have no idea what I would do without my tech support team at work! They have been helpful for so many things. And with the latest go-down, they were so nice. We got a big bad attacking virus on the computer this weekend, and they fixed it! Thank you!! I am very thankful for the IT helpdesk here at work!! Yay for Information Technologies and the Helpdesk crew!

What are you thankful for today?

-bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 15

Day 15 : I am thankful for crafty-ness and creative-ness. I am thankful for friends that that let me come over and steal their ideas and let me come over any time so I can craft with them, share my ideas with them, and create new things. I am so thankful for new ideas and new projects. I am thankful for being able to share new things and find new things, and I am very thankful for being creative and crafty. I love getting new ideas and finding new things to do, and new ways to do them. So really, I am thankful for creativeness, and thankful that I look at things more than 1 way, and can see how to make things differently, and re-do things. I love crafty blogs that I can look up and check out new things and new ideas!



What are you thankful for today?



**I went over to Angie's today to craft, she is making some countdown blocks with friends, and she got enough cut for me! I am so excited! I have been wanting to make countdown blocks, but it didn't fit in with my timeline to get my Christmas presents done, but Angie found a way! (The girls get together once a month around 10 am one day, and craft. I can't make it because I work...) So I made countdown blocks today, countdown to Christmas, mine will not start counting until December 1st. Thank you so much Angie!!



Love, bry and mark



PS : there are 40 days until Christmas, just so you know. (I really need to get my presents done, and ordered!! AHH!)

27 Days of Thankful - 14

Day 14 : I am thankful for days I can sleep in. I am thankful for nights that I can't get to sleep because I have a new craft idea that just popped into my head, and I can't sleep cuz I have to figure it out. But mostly I am really thankful for sleeping in, and when Mark takes Bandit out hunting, cuz then I don't have Bandit's furry wet beard in my face, sniffing me! I am very thankful for the weekend! MMMM LOVE WEEKENDS!

What are you thankful for?!

Love, Bry and Mark

27 Days of Thankful - 13

Day 13: I am thankful for FREE stuff!! I am thankful for getting free stuff from work, free stuff from neighbors, free stuff from the side of the road. I am thankful for free trials, free samples, free energy saving offers. Free coupons that get me free stuff, free limited time offers, free tutorials, free ideas, free blogs, free friends! I am so thankful that people are willing to share their ideas for free, and show me how to do it for free! I am thankful that people put the word FREE on things on the side of the road, and thankful that I am the first one to drive by and pick it up! I am thankful for free tickets, free shows, free events, free gift just for entering. I am a sucker for free things, most times, I'll sign up for something just because there is something free attached (this has gotten me into trouble, and I have had movie moratoriums and crafting moratoriums before...) I am thankful for Buy 1 get 1 free deals (I figure, if I'm going to buy it anyway, might as well get something free, however, I do know that buy 4 get 1 free deals are usually bogus.) I am thankful for people at church that send emails out about the deals of the week, and I am thankful for blogs like Cheapie Cheapie that spot all the free deals. I am so thankful for free stuff!! (The free stuff I have collected this year are going to be my Christmas presents, I will post when Christmas is here, I don't want to spoil anything!)

What are you thankful for today? Check out what Amanda is thankful for.

Love, bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 12

Day 12 : I am thankful for my own space! At home, I have my craft room/office! I do my sewing in there, my cutting, my scrap booking, my Facebooking, all of creative-ness gets make into projects there. At work, I have my cube. A cube is jut that, a cube. 3.5 walls where I am alone. I can decorate this area to be mine, and I do. I am thankful that I have an area I can just relax and be myself in. I am thankful for our cute little home, that we can paint and decorate and make into our very own. I am thankful for the feeling I get as soon as I walk in the door, a feeling of peace and love and belonging. I love getting home and feeling so comfortable there, I don't have to worry about people making fun of me (if Mark does, I know it is only in jest.) and I don't have to worry about how I look (Mark's seen me at my worst, I've seen the pictures that were taken at the hospital!). I can just relax and enjoy being home. I am so grateful for that!!

What are you thankful for today?

Love, bry and mark

Week 9 Fantasy Football

Week 9:
Mark: 96 (2-7)
Bry: 54 (3-6)

Mark and I both lost again! Ugh! I was projected to win by like 43 points, but lost horribly! I really don't know what to say!! My Packers lost too, Rodgers got killed! I'm hoping this week will be better. I hoping for both of us. :) That's all I really know, we didn't watch any of the games, we're lame like that.

Love bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 11

Day 11 : I am thankful for books on CD! Both Mark and I listen to books on CD's. His family kind of got us onto it, they have Harry Potter on CD, and we listened to those all the time. Then Mark discovered that listening to something makes his day go so much faster, to I bought him an iPod and out tons of books on it (it's one of those old school 20gb brick ones) and I listen to books while I'm at work. I have to have something in the background, or my mind wanders and then I think up more and more crafts that I have no time to do. So books on CD have been our new love. They have tons of the library, we just copy them to iTunes and then put them on the iPod. Libraries are fantastic!! It's free, and if they don't have something, you can request it! It's awesome! So, we're going thru the library's CD section to find new things. :) Plus, Mark and I listen to the books when we go places, like when we drive to Utah and back, it is so good to have something that can capture your attention for all 6 hours!

What are you thankful for today?!

love to all, bry and mark

Turkey creations and doctors!

So I found a craft blog that had these cute little Turkey Cookies, and I decided I would make them! They looked so easy! LOOKED! Either they were hard or I have ZERO ambition today. I made 8, 2 for each of my visiting teaching sisters. I am so lame. But I got some cute pictures of me with the creations. And one of the boy chowing down on 1. I still have all the ingredients for the creations, maybe this weekend.....


But, I had my sleep study last night. I even asked the guy how it went, he said "We can't share any information regarding the test." Poo, all I wanted to know if my sleep is causing my headaches. But no, I guess I have to wait until January 12th for the follow up appointment. (I am on the CANCEL list, so if anyone bails, I get called to get a earlier spot.) But, they stuck 15 little electrodes all over my head (in my hair, on my cheeks, at my temples, at the top of my head, on my forehead, everywhere!! I had this goo/putty stuff to glue the electrodes on to me, it was all stuck in my hair. Ugh.) But, the sleep wasn't too bad, it was at a hotel, not at a hospital. So it could have been worse. Now all we have to do is wait. I'd like to have hope that if it were something way important, my docter will call and set something up. She will have the results by next week, so she could do it. But the follow up with the sleep study people is in January. (Realistically, it's not that far away, this year has gone by so fast already!) But tonight I am going to go snuggle with my man! :)

Love, bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 10

Day 10: I am thankful for doctors!! I know I complain about doctors alot, there are quite a few who I just don't like, and for very good reasons!! (You can;t charge someone $700 to look at an echo each time your view it, then view it 3 times, then view it in color for an additional $900, then view it in video for $1200. Trust me, your're not going to have a lot of friends. Also, you can;t try everything you can think of, all at once, and cross your fingers that something works. How are you going to know WHAT worked?! AND- Most patients don't appreciate it when you talk DOWN to them, or treat them like they come in to the dr's for every little hiccup and cough, I'd appreciate it if you just figured out what was wrong, rather than treat me like I'm 12!) Ok, I'm done, but I really am thankful for them! Without doctor's and all the advancements we've made (in the past 20 years alone!) I really wouldn't be here right now. The doctor's knew something was wrong when I was born (my OSAT was at 17, they told my mom it was "a little low" - now I'm at a healthy OSAT of 96.) The doctor's discovered I have transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and they preformed a balloon suptostomy (created a hole so I could get oxygenated blood to the rest of my body) and then when I waas 2 they did a standard Mustard procedure, where they re-routed the blood flow. (Now, it's typical for dr's to go in just after birth and switch the arteries and valves, just switch em!) The best way I have found to describe TGA is : most people's blood pumps in a figure 8, heart to body to heart to lungs. When I was born, my blood pumped in 2 seperate cycles : heart to lungs to heart to lungs. heart to body to heart to body. They put the hole in there so I would get a mix. But anyways, so they dr's figured that one out. Then just this last year in August I started having migraines really really bad (I've always had them, but not THIS bad!) and I went into the dr who told me to go to a cardiologist. They did a bubble study and noticed that most bubbles went 1 way while some when another way. They found I had a hole in between the chambers of my heart. So they went in to do open heart surgery again in February. They found it wasn't a 10 mm hole, it was a 2 inch gap in between the chambers (not a hole from my heart leaking to my body, it was a hole in my heart leaking into my heart) the procedure that was done when I was 2, had completely deteriorated. So they fixed it! But one of the surgeons on my heart last year, has the same defect I do, and had the same repair done to him that he did to me! How freaking cool is that?! It was such a relief to talk to a doctor who was able to say It will feel like this, it will hurt this much, you will be able to do. Rather than, tests say this, and we think this is how it'll feel. Anyways, I am thankful for the doctor I have now, she's pushinf forward and really trying to figure out my migraines and what's causing them. I had a sleep study last night, and I never would have thought to get one. I am thankful for doctors that think outside of the text book. I am thankful to be here now.

What are you thankful for today? Check out Amanda's thankful post!

Love, bry and mark

H1N1 Flu clinics in Brighton!

So, I put off getting my Swine Flu vaccine until this coming weekend. (Last week was all kinds of crazy, Mark went off to Nebraska and I helped people move and what not.) But the H1N1 Flu vaccine will be available at Vikan Middle School here in Brigton on Saturday from 9 am to 1pm. Overland Trail Middle School in Brighton on Monday the 16th from 4pm to 8pm.Vikan Middle School on Tuesday the 17th from 4-8pm. Vikan Middle School on Monday the 30th from 4-8pm. The conditions for getting the vaccine are : Pregnant woman, care takers of infants under 6 months, children ages 6 months through 24 years, adults 25-64 with chronic health conditions, and health care workers.. These vaccines are given for FREE for people that fall under the conditions. At all of these locations the vaccine is available in the Shot form and also in the Nasal Mist form. I'll be going on Saturday (hopefully) to get my shot! :) Hope the info helps!!

27 Days of Thankful - 9

Day 9 : I am thankful for goals. Longterm goals (like a car and a house and going to Italy with Mark) and shortterm goals (like getting my Christmas presents made before the 24th of next month and making cookies by Wednesday and folding the laundry I washed yesterday.) Some friends of mine were talking about goals a while back, something called "30 before 30" and I thought that was pretty cool. So I made a goal list, the list is at home, and I am at work, so I'm going to list a few from memory, some of these are obviously long term, while some are either-or. Learn Italian (it's such a beautiful language!), start a family, prepare and maintain the spirit in my home to prepare for children, kill 1 edible animal and catch 1 picture-worthy fish, go to Italy, get out of debt, do my visiting teaching every month for a year, maintain my budget, pick 1 crafty project to do each month and blog about it, make a fondant cake, find at least 10 new recipes this year and implement them into my menu, go back to school. I like my goals, and I feel that they are very attainable. I don't think I put anything on there that I wouldn't normally do, maybe I put in an excercising one, but I can't remember, and I think it was something like, Walk the dog everyday. I am thankful that I have these things to help keep me going. These goals help me feel like I actually do something. (I know I do stuff, but some days -most days - it feels like I get up, go to work, come home and then head right to bed. Some days I don't even feel like cooking dinner! But if I come home, and start working on a craft, I love getting a project done, it doesn't matter if I've been working on that project for a month, in 20 minutes shifts, but I am so excited to get them done! Any bit of accomplisment is amazing!) So I am thankful for goals. And I am thankful that I have achieved one goal I have been dreaming about for my entire life : to find my eternal sweetheart and companion, that I have found the love of my life! I am so thankful for that! (I know that alot of my posts have been about Mark, but I really am so thankful for him, and who he is, and that I found him!)

What are you thankful for today? I love what Amanda is thankful for today!

Love, bry and mark

27 days of thankful - 8

DAy 8 : I am thankful for my cellphone (and Mark's cell phone). This weekend, Mark is in Nebraska, and I am here in Colorado, trying to finish as much of my Chirstmas presents as possible (without my hunk of love distracting me!). So, he called to read with my last night, and just to talk to me. It would not have been possible to hear his voice at all this weekend if not for cell phones. When we were engaged, I lived in Colorado, and Mark lived in Utah. But we talked to each other every night before we went to sleep. I would cradle my cell phone against my ear to hear every word he said, every breath. He would lay on his cell phone (his shoulders don't hold the phone against his ear as good as mine did....) and listen intently as I tell him about my day and what I did with the apartment. We counted down the days to when he would join me in Colorado, because then we would be married! I love that I can call my mom in the middle of Walmart asking what a type of ingredient is and which row I can find it in. I love being able to call my sister on the way home from work, and aske her how her day is, and how she likes being married. I love being able to reach anyone at anytime, or have people reach me. I also love being able to text GOOGLE for directions, or locations of food places, or stores. That GOOGLE text thing has been so helpful since we moved here! We were lost all the time! I love being able to go to the store and calling my brother for his birthday, and shop for power tools at the same time! I love being able to text into my bank account for a balance! Genius! Plus, my new cell phone (from my amazing husband!!) has Guitar Hero on it, so that rocks too! :)

Thankful for my husband, and for making me think of him last night. He is the idea for this post!

What are you thankful for today? Look at Amanda's blog to see more thankful!!

love bry and mark

there are hair cuts then there are hair massacres

So, I got my haircut today. The place I like to go closed. TODAY, in fact! So, I ended up going to one of those chains like Cost Cutters or Fantastic Sam's (they are not so FANTASTIC!) I even brought in a picture! And I still got a crappy cut! Here are the pictures I wanted to look like. (Somewhere between the two, I wanted it cute like that!) BUT NO!! This is what I got! I have no idea what the lady was doing! If you look at the top left most picture on the collage of me, my hair is completely lopsided, it's like she had one leg shorter than the other or her eyes are lopsided or something! And I can't switch sides or it puffs out on the one side. Good grief! I hope I can do something with it tomorrow for church! Ugh! I've got product and some little clips I'm going to try, but really! All I wanted was hair cut! I asked for an A-line, that was pieced out! (I can't get straight cuts, my hair mushrooms out cuz it's so thick!) And this is what I got. I really hope I can get something to work with it before work, the guys don't know when to stop. Yeah.... Here's hoping.... Mark is still in Nebraska, I told him I was going to get my hair cut, I even sent him a picture. I have such a good husband, he said he liked it! I told him when I left the salon, I looked like one of the blonde twins from the old-school Parent Trap movie. (Let's get together, yeah yeah!) It was horrible. But I flatironed it, so it should be workable! (SHOULD BE!) Good thing my hair grows about an inch a month, it'll be grown out a bit before Turkey day and Christmas.


PS: with my glasses on, I look like I belong in the band Weezer!! LOL! If you want to detroy my sweater.....


Love to all - bry and mark

Door knobs and escape routes

So, lately we have had to be pretty creative on keeping the puppy out of the living room, and now the house. We shut him out of the house Thursday and Friday (it was like 75 both days, so it didn't kill him or anything!) But as I was leaving Friday, he was jumping up on the back door (his paw prints are ALL over it!) and I noticed the latch door knob we have, was turning!! So I locked it. And we lock the front door too. We usually come in the back door, so we can pet our little doggie first thing! So, I get home, and he's so dang excited, so excited ini fact, that has chewed Mark's bowstring making string into a big knot! So, he was jumpy. But I get in, pet him, and then start looking at my keys for the house key.... No house key! Dang it! Mark had just called me, he had an emergency with work, some lady called with snakeS in her house, out in Boulder. So, I was stuck! But them I remembered, the window! (Mark had to climb in this window a few times before, when I lock all the doors. Once when I had gotten home from the hospital, all the doors were locked, and I really couldn't go thru the window (even though I am the first choice) I had just gotten home from open heart surgery!) So, I went in the thru window! Bandit was so confused! But he soon figured it out, when I came thru the back door to get my laptop and purse. Yup, one adventure after the other. What's that saying about : for every action there is an equal reaction? Oh wait here it is, from The Sword in the Stone!

Left and right
Like day and night
That's what makes the world go round
In and out
Thin and stout
That's what makes the world go round
For every up there is a down
For every square there is a round
For every high there is a low
For every to there is a fro
To and fro Stop and go
That's what makes the world go round
You must set your sights upon the heights
Don't be a mediocrity
Don't just wait and trust to fate
And say, "That's how it's meant to be.
"It's up to you how far you go
If you don't try you'll never know
And so my lad as I've explained
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
You see my boy it's nature's way
Upon the weak the strong ones prey
The human life it's also true
The strong will try to conquer you
That is what you must expect
Unless you use your intellect
Brains and brawn, weak and strong
That's what makes the world go round

Love to all - bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 7

Day 7 : I am thankful for photographs. Photos of family, photos of friends, photos of newly weds and new borns, of grandparents, of puppies, of the ocean, photos of the mountains. I am gratful for photos of everything in the world. Of all the places that I will see someday but not right now. I'm thankful for photos to share with family and friends, and how easy it is to share now on the internet. I am so thankful that, even with how amazing pictures cameras take, that photos still cannot really capture the beauty of something, that you have to see it to believe it. I am thankful that I have pictures from me growing up (thanks mom!!) and pictures of our new family, from start to now! I am thankful not just for pictures of people, but also of places and things. I am thanful for photos of far off places, like Ireland and Australia and China and Brazil. Pictures just amaze me! I am thankful for $3 photobooth pics, thankful for $lots$ wedding pics, thankful for the pictures the little kids took at our wedding, thankful for sneak-up pics, thankful for sleeper pics, thankful for pocket camera-phone pics, thankful for internet search pics, thankful for star pics. I am so thankful for all the beautiful things in this world that I can take a picture of. All the beautiful, messy, gross, cute, crafty, scary, random things I can take a picture of. I am also thankful for being able to carry a photo-maker (camera) in my pocket, attached to my cell phone! I never knew how much of a need this was until 1) my dog at my camer and 2) I bought a cell phone that didn't have a camera-right about the same time as 1). So yeah, photos are great! I love how much expression and emotion you can put into a photo, but also how a picutre looks different to each person! I love that!! Mmmmhmhmm!

I selected some pictures (randomly!) from My Pictures and put them in a collage, and I have also posted some of the random pictures that I thought were funny (they are actually from my RANDOM folder in My Pictures...).

What are you thankful for today? Check out Amanda to see more!

Love to all - bry and mark

27 days of Thankful - 6

I am thankful for good memories. I love to look back and remember my friends, my family, old traditions, spontaneous moments, crazy ideas and plain good times. That's one reason I fell in love with scrapbooking. You get to keep all those memories written down and documented. When I failed horribly at scrapbooking (no, I really did!) I got into blogging. I love being able to look back and remember "back in the day." I am so thankful that I can remember those times. I'm thankful to have memories of my great-grandma, and how we went to her little green house every Christmas, and she always had those ribbon candies! Memories of my grandma, and having Thanksgiving at her house, with all her 12 kids and all the cousins getting together and playing cards. Memories of living in Iowa and finding baby bunnies in the back yard. Memories of living in Cottage Grove and opening the closet the day after Christmas to find RibbonDancer wands there! I remember making raspberry jam, and stewed tomatoes, and pulling weeds, and raking leaves, and building snowmen - all with my family. I remember my dad teaching me the rules of football, but only during commercials, and him laughing when I would holler something completely wrong at the TV. I remember going to see the Nutcracker Ballet with my mom back in Madison. I remember going to the doctor's and finding out I could still fit in the pediatric cardiology play area at the age of 15. I remember all those years at Girl's Camp, and EFY, and Youth Conference, and how amazing those weeks were, and how I felt. I remember going back to the temple for the first time in over 2 years, and then being able to go thru with Mark just before we were getting married. I remember the first time I got up to bear my testimony the Sunday after I was baptized. I remember holding my little brother and sisters after they were born. I could go on for pages and pages with all the good things I remember, I'll stop now because now I am just rambling. I am so thankful for these memories, and for the ability to remember them, and to write them down for my children to read and ask me about. This trully is an amazing project, this 27 days of Thankful, and I am so glad and happy that I decided to partake in it! :)

Thank you Estherlane for the amazing idea and for letting me use it!!

Love to all - bry and mark

Squirrels, bananas and collars

So, Bandit got a squirrel this morning! Well, if you ask Mark, he puts it like this: Bandit saw the squirrel, and he pointed so good, and as per Mark and Bandit's previous agreement, Mark had to shoot it. (The previous agreement being that Mark told Bandit, if Bandit pointed, Mark would kill what he was pointing at.) So, before Mark and I left for work, the killing began. Mark locked the squirrel in the garage, and Bandit sat at the garage door until Mark left and then until I left, he sat there waiting for one of us to get the squirrel out. He didn't even go to the gate to see who was in the truck when I left! I see where I rate in Bandit's heirarchy! But, he sat there whining and howling for someone to get his squirrel, he wanted it so bad! He's a good little hunting dog, and he's really a sharp looking dog, and he points so good! (Plus, I'm pretty sure that is the squirrel that has been putting sticks in our duct exhaust pipe on the house. He was a rebel squirrel, Mark found a pellet and BB in him when he killed him, and they weren't from Mark! This squirrel has been shot at before!!)

Our little dog LoVEs bananas! Anytime Mark or I eats a banana, he is right there. (OK, anytime we eat anything really!) But he absolutely loves the yellow fruit! Sometimes, I put peanut butter and bananas in his dish, he loves that too. But he likes bananas, which is pretty unusual for little puppy. I didn't think I could feed him carrots, bananas or apples, until I found some recipes for the Kong. (Which I still cannot find that dang Kong, the Bandit has probably buried it, but where?!) Walmart had a sale on bananas today, so I bought 2 bunches of them. :)

We officaially have a LARGE dog, he is no longer a medium. We had to buy him a new collar, his old one was at the end of it length, and it was choking him, so broke down and bought a new one. It's the same blue-camo collar, we got one for him when he was first new, and just went with it. (Mark's brother Steve has the green-camo on his dog Trigger, a chocolate lab, so we couldn't get that one!) He's such a cute thing, even though he really isn't a large dog, he's just a little dog!! Mark's parents went back to Utah telling everyone that Bandit is a little dog, and that's true. Compared to Tank and Trigger (both are triple Bandit's size) our little Bandit really is a shrimp! LOL! But, I think he's not getting bigger because of his doggie door. We got this one for when he was little, he had to step up into it before, and now he has to crouch and stretch himself out in order to get in. And he keeps hitting his knees(?) on the bottom of the door. We are getting him a new door, I promise. I think once we get him a bigger door, he will grow some more! :)

Love to all! bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 5

Day 5 : I am thankful for friends! I am grateful for old high school friends, and I am so very grateful for the friends I have met at church. I have moved around alot, and I have been in many different wards, and in each one, I have met people who have befriended me, no questions asked. I am so very grateful for them! I'm so glad I am where I am right now, the girls in my ward are amazing, and crazy fun! I love you all! I am so glad I can tell them about everything that's going on with the headaches and with the husband and with the job, and they listen. I am so grateful for them. I am the type of person that NEEDs people around, I don't necessarily need to be talking to them, I just need to be around them. Just to be around people makes me feel better and not so alone. (That's one reason I love our church, there are wards everywhere, and we all believe the same thing, and there always new friends to make!) We have found some really great and amazing friends here in CO, I wouldn't trade them for the world! They are really true friends, and I appreciate them so much! Thank you for all that you do! And to all the friends we have in Utah, we miss you tons, and we are so grateful for you guys! We're always happy to stop by and see you when we visit! We love all of you and are so very thankful for everysingle one of you. Thank you calling to say hi, or text WUZZAP, or just checking the blog! Thank you!

Ooh! And I love reading other people's blogs for new ideas, especially Amandas, she's the one who started this. I love getting new ideas on what to be grateful for. I'm thinking I'll be having a hard time for tomorrows! Hmm... I'm going to get creative!! LOVE

love - bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 4

Day 4 : I am thankful for music. I really don't think I could function without some kind of music. (it's not like August Rush or anything like that, where I see it or hear it everywhere, it's more that I need it in the background.) Music is really something I need. I need to have it when I drive in the car, I need it at work, I need it when I clean. I need it to keep my mind from wondering. If I don't have at least 2 things going on, my brain goes all over the place! My mind wanders, I get all kinds of new ideas, new crafts. Music is how I can control my mind. I love music! I love learning about new types of music, and new band names. Denver has been really good for getting new music. Salt Lake has the same appeal, but Denver is nuts about their music scene. But music is just needed to keep my brain under control. There is so many beautiful types of music, and so much fun types of music! I love music! I'm thankful that people can take words and create such a beautiful sound.

What are you thankful for today?

Love bry and mark

27 Days of Thankful - 3

Day 3 : I am grateful for my puppy. I'm grateful for the opportunity to travel with Mark to Arizona to go get him! He trully has been an adventure, he's been tons of fun. We have really enjoyed rasing him, he has been crazy tho! Getting him has filled our life up so much, it is amazing! I feel so blessed to have that puppy in my life. He can always make me laugh, and smile, even when he's been bad. I'm grateful to have his love. He follows both Mark and I around where ever we go. He is so curious. He has taught me kindness. I will always try to be people my dog thinks I am. I can tell he loves me, and I love him. I feel good that he relies on me to take care of him, and I feel like I do a good job! :)

It's a slideshow of Bandit since we've had him, until now. It's a little long, but it made me laugh! :) Enjoy!

What are you thankful for today?

Love to all - bry and mark

H1N1 flu vaccine clinics

Ok- so my doctor told me it would be a good idea for me to go get the Swine Flu vaccine. So, in my findings, I discovered a web site that listed all the flu clinics. So I figured I'd share the info. There are tons of places around Brighton that have the seasonal flu vaccination, but there are aslo plenty of opportunities to get the free H1N1 flu vaccine. However, in reading the criteria to get that shot, I don't really fall into that group. Does having a heart problem immediately nominate me? I'm not really sure. I don't want to go and get turned away. (That's what happened to Mark's dad, he went to get the shot and they turned him away from being too old! I thought that was who this dang flu was attacking!) But the doctor just said I should get the vaccination for the H1N1 flu because the side effects/symptons are really severe and harsh in "the younger folks" so, I suppose it couldn't hurt right?! While I'm at it, I might as well get the Pneumonia Vaccine too. If you click the link above, and then click on FIND A CLINIC in the left side bar, then click SEASONAL FLU (both types of vaccines will pop up, I promise!) then type your area code, it will get you alist of places that have the vaccines for seasonal flu, H1N1 flu, Pneumonia, and the like, it'll also give prices and times and directions, all the info you need! Mark and I will probably be heading up to Thornton Middle School Thursday for the Swine Flu vaccine, I think only I will get it, he thinks he already had it this year, and he's not too worried about it. I am planning on getting the SHOT (Dr's orders actually), she said the shot has the dead virus, where the nasal is just broken live virus, and you can get symptons from it. So, shoot me up Scotty!

Anyways, I went to the neuro-opthamoligist yesterday. And, it is not my eyes that are causing my headaches. He said that my pupils are not the same size but that is nothing to be worried about, because 40% of the population as non-identical pupils. He went on to say that I am very "run-of-the-mill" and that I fit in the "ordinary" box with everyone else (yes, he ever did the finger quotations on that last one.) and that my migraine side effects/symptons are normal with migraines. Now, I ask you sir, if I am so dang ordinary and run of the mill, how come NO ONE can tell me what is causing my migraines?! (This doctor was an arrogant jerk, I understand he went to school for 8 years and he went thru all that training and studying, but he doesn't really have to talk down to me, I like to think I understand my condition as well as most doctors, and I think I'm versed pretty good when it comes to what I have. I'm not retarded, I'm not psycho, this is not something that "I was just worried about, and felt like coming in to see a doctor." No, this is serious. Trust me, the first time in 3 years I went in to see a doctor resulted in open heart surgery, I don't rush the hospital for every little thing. This doctor did the head-bob quite a bit, he had on shiny whiny tuxedo shoes, and had on those argyle socks-I'm pretty sure those are part of the dress-code or the requirment to be called Dr.-but he made it sound like I rushed in the hospital for just a minor headache, and that I should just go home, because they are, afterall, just headaches.) So, now that I know for sure that it is not my eyes making my head hurt this bad, I am off to get an MRI done today after work. I'm also hoping to get that Swine flu shot on Thursday or Friday, depends on what's going on.

Speaking of Thursday, I'm wondering if Bandit has his puppy class (they cancelled last week, I guess it snowed too much). Also, Mark and I totally need to catch up on The Office! Looks like tonight's gonna be a good night. :)

Love to all - I hope the info on the Swine flu vaccinations help!!-- bry and mark

Week 8 and 7 Fantasy Football

Week 8

Mark: 52 (2-6)
Bry: 58 (3-5)

We both lost again. I was picked to win even, and DENIED once again. I'm hoping this season turns around soon, I'm getting sick of losing all the time. Alot of Mark's guys are injured, so that sucks for his lineup. There's no excuse for my line up, it just sucks. I do have to say that the Packers played an amazing game and they deserved to win. And grandma Favre can be arrogant all he wants back in Minnesota. It's where he belongs. He lost sight of the team, and started thinking of just himself. Well, the Brett Favre Show has moved to new locale, and they can have him. I think Aaron Rodgers is a great QB and he is my favorite. Mark and I went to a preseason game last year, Broncos VS Packers, and BF was out for the last 3 quarters (it's pre-season) so we got to Rodgers play, and it was an awesome game. (I'm pretty sure we won, there were alot of mad Broncos fans, but I can't remember.) So, yay for football! Next week is going to be a
better one.... :)


Week 7:

Mark: 73 (2-5)
Bry: 71 (3-4)

So it really has been a crazy week when I forgot all about posting for Fantasy Football! Mark lost, I won. Marks line up was scoring points like mad, but somehow, his opponent beat him anyways. Philiip Rivers continues to deliver on my team, he's pretty awesome. We're starting to wind down the season, so that means that Christmas is on the way, and alot of guys are going to be giving it their all! I love football in the cold, to me, that screams FALL!!


Love to all - Bry and Mark