The making of the Man Cave....

Made the Missionaries room into a Man Room now.  I didn't think that he would want to come home to soccor balls or pheasants or like - boy stuff - just Man stuff.  Since he's served in 3 different states - I made sure that each was represented by their own flag.  I took out all of his clothes that have been waiting 2 years - and washed them - he's not the kind of Missionary that is coming home and can't fit into anything - except perhaps we might have to add a few inches to the bottom of his Levi's.... I found all of the MknZe stuff - I was going to call Jon and have him make me a fire just for fun.  But it is a part of history for the Man child, so it's carefully tucked away in the shed, under the weed whacker, where the oil drips - oooops!  I found his testimony in his scriptures - he'd written it in his Senior Year it looks like - I wish he knew how much he has exceeded any of his goals.  Oh and just for fun.... right next to his light switch in Black Sharpie Pen... I've listed potential phone numbers from mothers that would like their daughter's numbers listed there.... I might have room for a few more.  Making the Man Cave, until he leaves for BYU, it's a good thing.  Today I'm grateful for blue things, that almost 21 years ago - the doctor who told me for months that it was a girl, choked on his words when God sent me what I had prayed for.

'It's a bunddttt cake"

So you know on those tear off calendars where you have the cutzie little thought and the date - and then you rip it off and the next day is there.  When you get to Saturday and Sunday - it's a combined page...?  I'm combining my gratitude page - to read Thurs/Fri...

Yesterday on the Thurs part of  Thurs/Fri - Mandy and I kept each other company in the car during her lunch hour, laughing and talking over a 5 buck pizza and left over root beer from the Halloween festivities.  Sweet wigglin' belly was there also, he likes his Grandma.  It's fun talking to that Mandy Girl... I remember having that much energy and excitement about life.

Yesterday, in the afternoon part of Thurs/Fri I received a package from my cute daughter in law Bethany with some GRANDBABY pictures.... dang - all of you just eat your hearts out - I win.   Ashley was on a business trip to their friendly state and she made sure that Andy said, "I love you Nanna!" a couple of times on the phone to me - he says that like a pro.  Made my day.

Last night, in the latter part of Thurs/Fri, my cute neighbor Joni brought me a bundt cake from 'Nothing Bundt Cakes.  I was trying to make her day - but she turned it around and made my day - Thankful for cute skinny running amazing friends... and her spirit, and her friendship, and her time spent on little old me yesterday.

Today - on the Friday part of Thurs/Fri I hit a wall.  Not with the car or the bike or heaven forbid the Harley... just emotionally.  So I'm just pluggin' my gratitude for the power of prayer.  I feel SO bad that he has to listen to me go on and on and on and on.... and then on again.  But he knew this day was coming and he was ready for me to come on bended knee.  Did he answer all of my questions?  No - but that's the beauty of it - I put it out there to him with all the faith I have in him... and then I wait, and trust,  and work towards my goals, and realize that all around me he in answering my pleas in his own way and time.  I wonder what kind of Bundt cake he would like me to send to him?  Something heavenly for sure.  Today - I'm grateful for Thur/Fri and that hopefully I'll see a better Sat/Sun. 

3 is not a bad number - in our fam it's the funniest one

Now you might think that I am forgetting that I have 4 kids, not 3.  But today I'm sharing a special day with my 3rd child, The Mandy.  Now if there was a way to download the messages on my phone left there by Mandy - you would (and Elaine I'll steal this famous line from you my friend....) have coffee comin' outta yer nose laughing.  Most of them are so hysterical that I play them over and over - I've saved them from clear back in 2008.... seriously - my phone messages are always full because I save the messages from my kids.  Elder Hillary's is on there from the day before he left - a message to me - to play any day any time.  Mandy's are always in some foreign voice... or opera singing lady, or "WHY DO YOU HATE ME" voice.... indescribable... but on the hardest days... I play every single one of them.  Ashley left me her Morphine call after her root canal, and Matt's is when he was doing donuts in the BYU parking lot after the first snowfall.... no doubt - probably right in front of a cop.  I love messages from Andy - coached by his mom and dad - messages to Nanna... could there be anything sweeter?  Today I called the 3rd child and used my SkELeTonZ voice and reminded her that because of  circumstances....we were the only Hillarys in the State of Utah right now - WHAT'S WITH THAT?  So tomorrow - we are meeting up for some serious picnicking in the car during her lunch time..We know how to have a good time eh?  Well, I thought it was a good idea until I noticed that the 3rd child had swallowed a watermelon .... What the heck... Looks like a 20 week old spawn growing inside my beautiful #3.... The day you call me to tell me you've had this baby boy... make sure you leave a message - so I can play it over and over again.  XOXOXO

 I'm grateful today that the #3 child is having the #3 grandchild,
and for the 3 messages it took

for her to sing me happy birthday last year
because she 'wasn't done singing it yet'.

Grattitude: Great great great grandma didn't get to vote - so TODAY I voted just for you....

 ....... because it must have been difficult voting behind that bear skin attached to the tree and all.....   Did a little votin' today - I never vote straight anything - I like to mix it all up and make my own cup o tea out of the whole mess.  I vote - because women didn't get to for a long time - and I get to every time - so to honor those that didn't get  chance - I vote.  I don't like the 'early voting' - I mean - what's the fun in that?  I love the crisp November air waking up your responsibility gene... and then remembering that you need to return the movie to the library that is over due.... and you look for some new ones.... and then - oh ya - I'm here to VOTE!!  I avoid with all my might - those pollsters standing right in front of the doors - in my way - and NO I don't have an opinion - I HAVE A VOTE TO CAST - so move aside.  Inside - I get my sticker first - I haven't voted yet - and I could just run out the door with my sticker... like those little old ladies would chase me down.  Loved writing my name upside down on the register.  Loved having my name announced like I was royalty, but actually hearing it said wrong made me double check to see if I brought the correct fake ID... you know the one... where is actually says that I weigh a certain amount, but I really don't.  I look at the names on the list... in my mind I'm hearing the debates, the mud slinging, the mud slinging, and the mud slinging.  I don't vote for either one of those people.... I don't like ANY of the judges - so I voted NO for all of them - it's just a popularity vote anyway, they all look the same in those robes so it doesn't matter to me who's wearing them.  I voted for one person because a little old lady said I should, and since she's been around a lot longer than I have - I gave that vote to her.  I did think that I wanted a change - but then again - I remember the LAST person that said we would have a change, and he won, and the only thing that's changed is where he lives now, while other people are losing their homes and also living somewhere else.  So, I voted - I wanted the sticker because at the 'SWEET TOOTH FAIRY' cupcake store if you brought in your sticker... they gave you a free cupcake.  On the way home from my bike ride tonight I passed a cop on a motorcycle with his radar up.... I stopped and asked him if he was trying to catch those people that didn't vote.... He actually smiled and said yes..... and I said, "and if they didn't do you pull out the other gun?  and he actually laughed again..... I love popo's.   I'm really excited that I cast my vote BEFORE my bike ride because I passed the 9 million (it's voting season I can exaggerate if I want) 'VOTE FOR ME BECAUSE MY OPPONENT IS A CRIMINAL!   Had I known, I may have been swayed to vote for this sign, pounded in between the row of signs.... "CALL ME I'LL PUT YOUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS UP!"  Hey - seriously - it's all location location location.....  So - I love voting - tonight I'm also voting that Bristol Palin gets kicked off of Dancing with the Stars.   I think everyone I voted for today will win because - my vote counts right?   I can't hear you?  Today I'm thankful for the opportunity to vote, and to bring home that coveted sticker to add with the other one I have that simple states:  "Don't blame me I didn't vote for Obama".  Voting - it's a good thing.  PS.... my ballot was incomplete - I couldn't find Spock on it anywhere....  If you haven't already voted - duh - the poles are now closed..... are you still in the Library looking for movies?  BAZINGA!

Borrowing a cup of....

Well, things have been a bit tough going around the farm lately.  Not complaining - just being real.  I went to check out the fridge and it was looking back at me saying - hey - remember when you use to pack me full?  That's when there were a lot more mouths to feed.  There's still enough in there for the empty nesters - it's just that it looked deserted.  I closed the door, and thought for a moment how really full my cup is in life.  That gratitude is such a filler to my soul.  How very blessed I am for so many little things that add up to be enormous things in my life. With Mr. Hillary on the site of another continent, and coming home to absolute quietness (because the birds pout when he's gone and they're very quiet), I thought of the strength of my daughter Ashley - never complaining, just looking to the future, and the joy it will bring.  Looking at my son Matt's cute Mickey and Minnie.... I felt my heart fill with grandma smiles.  As I reached over and felt Mandy's tummy as she is harboring no doubt a beautiful spawn....my soul remembered carrying her.  Today - I remembered Elder Hillary, as he shared with me that he would return home 4 days sooner, meaning a reset on my blog counter at the right....and there's something to be seriously grateful for... even though it's only 4 days, remember, the last time I saw him just about 2 years ago he was just leaving the hospital - and the look on his face cannot be erased from my mind.  For my Savior... there are not enough words of gratitude for his sacrifice for silly old me.  I'm not sure I was worth all of that - but I'm sure glad he still loves me through all of the years of mistakes and stumbles I've made.

Now and then I make a good choice, one was marrying Mr. Hillary.  Then again, I made 4 more excellent choices, my beautiful kids, and they returned the favor by marrying wonderful, beautiful spouses... and are bringing in the next generation to love.  Today my cup is full.   I've got a few more up my sleeve - I'll share them with you as I go through this month - as I need to look up somehow - and Gratitude seems to be a good place to start looking up.  Happy November... happy 46 days left for Elder Hillary,  almost 1/2 way for Mandy and Ryan, 2 weeks for Ashley and Mike, and many giggles and grins for Matt, Bethany, Em and Drewski.... I love you all.  What's on your gratitude plate?  

Random Halloween Moments In Time....

Found these random pictures I have posted

to my blog over time.

(Note to visitors.... Plastic noses are always found

in the entry way of our house... along with the Princess Leah wig)

Pretty self explanatory....

we get a little crazy at Halloween.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate (well not so much today)

and we'll be able to drag the cauldron of death to the

front yard and celebrate

National Anti Weight Watchers Day

in full force - I get the Butterfingers.

I asked Mr Hillary what he remembered dressing up

as when he was a little boy.  He mumbled something about

Halloween not even being invented back then yet.

(I actually believe him..... dum dum dum.....)

I was Little Red Riding hood once - yes... the plastic mask o' death.

I remember running to a house, jumping over a ditch and landing

full force into a barbed wire fence that had recently been put up.

(Halloween 3, Scream, and Freddie Kruger in 3-D all in one)

Mom had to wrap me up like a mummy for a couple of days

afterwards....my friends reminded me that Halloween was over.

Little did I know that later on in my life Heath Ledger would play

me in the bloody Batman movie.... minus the nurse outfit...

If you're in the neighborhood... bring your own hot dog stick,

and we'll string up the barbed wire....

Might want to be careful bobbing for apples this year...

I have a cold coming on... snot sure what will be in the pot

along with the apples....

Happy Haunting - on Sunday er - in Utah - Saturday.... 

whomever said Church and State don't mix... never lived here.

  ..... enjoy a good Hocus Pocus night...

Let's play doctor....

...........because if you are a doctor - you can charge this........

Q-tip - $89.00

Cup for peeing in - $12.50

Water to produce pee for $12.50 cup - $15.00

8 inches of tape for taping together the

3 (tiny) holes in my stomach - $45.00

Calling the insurance and telling them that I've never met the

doctor doing the surgery before the ER experience,

of which they charged me for an

OFFICE VISIT 2 days before $200.00

Priceless.....

always read the bill twice

they may charge you for reading it twice

but how would you ever know that

you knew your mystery doctor

before you ever met him

Like I said... next time I'll cut it out myself...

just in case it grows back.

Oh.... and remember to keep your ears

clean so they don't have to use the $89.00 Q-tip.

(it was only one - and I THINK that's what they used it for)

Just for the record - I'm so excited to have

IHC call me and ask me about my experience.....

Everyone should be taken from their room to their

car in a wheelchair with the IV still connected and

the blood pressure cuff still screaming away....

(duh...)(ya - the bills have arrived)