Carving Out Some Good Times!

Sunday evening Jared, Cassidy, Rob and I went to Brandy and Dave's for our annual pumpkin carving. We had some good food and then got down to some serious carving. Below are the results of our labors!!

Rob and Tammy's friendly creation.

Jared and Cassidy's frightful friend.

Dave and Brandy's soaring high pumpkin.

How can you not love this time of year!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I'm It!!!

I received my very first blog tag from Cass. The goal is to answer each question with only one word (which is hard to do). You are suppose to tag five other people but I am tagging anyone that would like to play along. Enjoying learning more about me through my one word answers!!


1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Where is your significant other? Office
3. Your hair color? Brown
4. Your mother? Loud
5. Your father? Heaven
6. Your favorite thing? Family
7. Your dream last night? That someone brought plates for Cass and Brandy to paint the week of Festival of Trees (this is something they do months in advance) and I was upset about it! (you can't tell all of that in one word)
8. Your dream/goal? Health
9. The room you're in? Office
10. Your hobby? Shopping
11. Your fear? Heights
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home
13. Where were you last night? Carole’s
14. What you're not? Shy
15. One of your wish-list items? BMW
16. Where you grew up? Alabama
17. The last thing you did? Talked
18. What are you wearing? Sweats
19. Your TV? Off
20. Your pet? Gigi
21. Your computer? HP
22. Your mood? Happy
23. Missing someone? Yes
24. Your car? Toyota
25. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
26. Favorite store? Macy’s
27. Your summer? Super
28. Love someone? Yes!
29. Your favorite color? None
30. When is the last time you laughed? Tonight
31. Last time you cried? Forgot

We love being Witchy!!

Aren't we the cutestes witches you have ever seen?

Another wonderful wicked witches convention has come and gone and as we sit around the day after enjoying some brew our best witches go out with you that you have a Happy Halloween whatever you decide to be!

Brandy and I taking a witches shower!

So until next year...

hugs and kisses 5 cent

bugs and hisses 10 cents

Will The Real Handicapped Please Stand Up!

Brandy posted in her blog today about Dave being classified as an amputee. When I went to see the orthopedic specialist he strongly suggested that I get a handicap parking sticker since I have limited use in my ankle. Unfortunately Rob heard the doctor suggest this and he acted on it immediately and I am now the proud recipient of a handicapped parking pass. The kids and Rob think it is awesome because we can get better parking, however I am always afraid I will see someone I know when we use it - yes I am vain!!!! So who knows, Dave may be the next to sport a beautiful handicapped parking pass. We love you Dave, pinkie or no pinkie!

I spy...

ELDER JORDAN MELDRUM

He has that wonderul missionary tan!

My cute missionary and two of his favorite people

When Jared was on his mission Alma and Carole happened to be in California both Labor
Day's he was there and they drove four hours out of their way to take him and his companion to lunch. Those yearly visits meant the world to me! To have someone I know actually see my son and report back on how he was doing kept me going till I could see him myself. When I found out we were going to San Diego I told my dear friend Julie that I would go see Jordan - no matter how far I had to drive. Well fortunately I only had to drive three miles and what a delight it was to see cute Elder Meldrum and to give him a big hug (I know - I tried to only give him a handshake but as soon as he called me Momma Olsen my arms went right around his neck!!). Rob also served in the California San Diego Mission thirty plus years ago and guess what -- Jordan lives in the same apartment complex that Rob lived in!!

This was taken in the Mission Office, which served as the Institute Building when Rob was there.

Where in the World are Rob and Tammy??

Any guesses??????

It's Friday Night Live....

A typical Friday night at our house...















...and we love every second of it!!!!

Dave we hope you are feeling better.

My Peeps

Several years ago I was invited to join a group of thirteen women who meet monthly for lunch. These ladies have met for over FORTY years to celebrate birthdays, enjoy each others friendship and most of all as an excuse to go out to lunch! I was flattered when I was invited to join this elite group of women (especially since they are all old enough to be my Mom) but after a few years I understood the real reason I was invited --- to push the wheelchairs, carry the oxygen tanks and most of all to drive(of course I am kidding)! I have grown to look forward to my monthly luncheon because I have learned so much from these dear women. They enjoy life, no matter what obstacles are placed in their paths, they are always there for each other in the good times and the bad, they know how to laugh, they know how to love, they really know how to talk (Jared stopped by one day when we were at lunch near his office and he could not believe that thirteen women could all talk at one time and still know what the other one was saying) and they especially know how to brighten my day. If you ever need a little sunshine in your day just join me for a monthly luncheon!

Here are some of my "peeps"!

Waffle House

If any of you are fans of Jeff Foxworthy then you have probably heard him talk about the Waffle House and how in order to work there you need to be minus a few teeth and some other funny things regarding this "wonderful" southern eating establishment (actually my sister refuses to eat there). Rob loves the Waffle House and always looks forward to a visit there when we visit Alabama - he thinks they have the best waffles in the world (what does that say about the famous waffles he makes). We were in Naxos, Greece this summer and we were walking down the street when we saw a sign from afar that said Waffle House and I thought Rob was going to have a heart attack as he raced towards it. But as we got closer we realized it wasn't the Waffle House Jeff Foxworthy refers to. This picture from Naxos tells it all!

The Funny Papers

I love to laugh so I thought I would share a couple of things that made me laugh this past week.

There is a nurse at my work that is an awesome lady and the Mother to a 14 year old only son. She has a great relationship with her son and they discuss everything. Last week he confessed to her that he had tried weed. Trying not to over react she inquired as to where he had gotten the weed. He proceeded to tell her that he and his friend had found it as his friend's house, whose father is a policeman. She asked how they found the weed and he said that it was in the kitchen cupboard. They had found something to roll the weed in and smoked it and they really didn't understand why people talked about smoking weed because they did not feel any side effects from it. He went on to say that the weed was kept in this container and on it read Dill Weed!

Second I have a single neighbor, who shall remain nameless, that I talked with this week and she stated that someone rang her doorbell on Wednesday morning at 6:00 AM and then she heard them drive off before she could get to the door. Being a single lady she was concerned why someone would target her for a doorbell ditch at that time of the morning. Well Thursday morning as she was laying in bed with her television on, just as it had been on Wednesday morning, she heard the doorbell ring again, but this time she realized it was a doorbell on the television for a Pizza Hut commercial and not her doorbell and about the same time she heard her next door neighbor drive away, just like he does every morning at 6:00 AM. Mystery solved!

Hope these little ditties made you laugh like they did me!!

Doctor Visit

Today was my appointment with the orthopedic surgeon to discuss my good ole ankle. After looking at the X-Rays and MRI he simply stated that my ankle is history. Due to the break that I had twenty-two years ago I have developed SEVERE arthritis and he gave me three options for treatment. First I can have an ankle replacement, second I can have it fused and third I can live with the pain until I cannot tolerate it any longer and then resort back to my first or second options. So my decision for now is..................................................................option three!!!

Happy Fall Y'all

Fall is my favorite season of the year. There are so many fun things that happen in the fall, the most important being my daughter's birthday, but there is also Witches Night at Gardner Village, our annual Halloween Party that we have to dress up for, Pumpkin Carving, Halloween, and then Thanksgiving. And in addition to all the wonderful events there is the smell of cinnamon candles, yummy caramel apples, good soups and that fun meal (at least I thought it was fun - the kids hated it) of dinner in a pumpkin, the leaves that turn wonderful shades of reds and oranges and last but not least beautiful sunflowers growing all around us. How could you not love fall. Each year I decorate my deck for fall so I wanted to share some of the sites that I look at each day as I work away in my kitchen. I am also posting a picture of my flowers in the front of the house because I thought they were so pretty this year.

Hope you enjoy the season as much as I do!

The Waffle Man

I have the most amazing husband in the world and fortunately he likes to help in the kitchen. Actually the kids think that Dad is the only one who can make mashed potatoes and waffles. This morning we decided it was a waffle Sunday so Rob proceeded to make his "famous" waffles. When the first batch came out I noticed they were not fluffy and they tasted a little different. I ask Rob if he had added baking powder and was assured that he did. I suggested that he look on the baking powder container and see if it had expired. He picks up the container and went "Oh, I put in corn starch instead of baking powder!" There went his credibility in the kitchen!

I couldn't resist posting this picture of my cute boys that I took last night when they returned from Priesthood Meeting. I am a lucky Wife and Mom!!!

Where's the Daughter?

Twice a year our church has a meeting for all men and boys twelve years of age and older. Ever since Jared has turned 12 he and Rob have looked forward to attending this meeting together and going to dinner afterwards (it requires alot of preparation on their part because they will decide which restaurant they want to go to and then find a church near the restaurant to attend the meeting so they don't have to wait in line for dinner) and Brandy and I look forward to our girl's night out (which usually includes dinner and shopping) while the boys are away. Well today I have a new appreciation for how Rob felt for two years while Jared was on his mission and he did not have his son to attend Priesthood with. Brandy is in Hartford, Connecticut teaching at the Creative Keepsakes Conference and I will be daughter less tonight while the boys are away. You don't realize how much you long for and appreciate things until you don't have them and today I am reflecting on how much I love my daughter and appreciate the "traditions" we have built over the years. I really hope this will be my first and last Priesthood meeting daughter less because I don't like it one bit! Daughters rock (sons too)!!!!

Forever Strong

Last night Jared, Cass, Connie, Shannon, Rob and I went to see the movie Forever Strong. It is about a Rugby team in Highland, Utah. If you are looking for a great motivational movie make sure you check this out. It even had some local boys (Big Budda and Chunga) and alot of familiar sites in it which made it even more fun to watch. Thanks Jared for suggesting we go!