A Thanksgiving to be thanksful for.

We had a terrific Thanksgiving. It was a 10 plus. I think Brad and I have looked forward to the Thanksgiving break since, oh, about August. Crazy how it came, we spent the break, and now we are back in the swing of things. It was a good, long break full of swimming, relaxing, napping, playing, and eating. We spent from Sunday night to Saturday afternoon at Lake of the Ozarks. It is about 3 hours south of where we live. Brad's parents joined us from Monday evening to Friday morning. We had a "delux" condo, which was more than spacious and gave us the perfect place to relax and night and spend our Thanksgiving day. Here are some pictures from our fun trip:

ABOVE: They had a state park called Ha Ha Tonka state park. I kept referring to it as Honkey Tonk state park (and I giggled inside everytime) Anyway, this is a picture of us on a glorious 70 degree day, hiking in a beautiful wooded area. Brad is the man with the backpack. I never, ever have to even offer to carry it. It is Brad and Chloe time!! BELOW: This was a picture of a higher point at the state park. You can see the pretty lake below. This was off season so we didn't see any boats on the water. We hear during the summer time it gets pretty crazy. One girl referred to is as a "cruising/social lake". Not much waterskiing going on.

We spent Thanksgiving in the condo. The best part about this picture is all the dishes are empty. We came. We ate. We conquered. Nancy made the yummy pie and yams. Good thing she got up and made the pie early because we found that out oven didn't work. Isn't that the luck. I remember one year our oven broke and my mom cooked the entire, huge turky in the microwave. It was very moist. Anyway, the repair people came quick and fixed it, but also gave us the use of an unoccupied condo's oven. We were well taken care of. I made the potatoes and homemade gravy and mom's homemade rolls. Our turkey was mini and we also had ham. Chloe started this waving thing right when she saw her grandma and grandpa. She doesn't do it anymore. It was her special surprise gift for Grandma Nancy. I bet she'll be giving lots of surprise waves over Christmas.

We have much to be Thankful for.

I was tagged to tell you 7 things about ME.

My friend Kalleen tagged me...Basically, I have to tell 7 things about me within 7 days in order to avoid 7 curses. Um...I didn't complete this task within 7 days, so I hope no curses befall me. These 7 things are totally random and I wrote them as quickly as they came into my mind. Enjoy.

YEP...THAT IS ME SPEAKING SPANISH.

-I really want to learn Spanish. Brad speaks fluent Spanish so I want to speak fluent Spanish. I used to commute from Ogden to Logan and I actually checked out a "learn-Spanish-in-1-month" tape and told myself I could actually learn spanish this way. I think I learned a about 20 words, 2 of which actually stuck. The word for left and right. I'm pretty good with immitating what a hear, so until I am around more Spanish people, then my goal will have to wait a bit. Chloe just recieved a little Spanish book from her grandma and maybe I can learn some more words this way!!

ANYONE UP FOR A GAME??

I love to play games. Whenever a group of people come over I would totally prefer to play a game. Often, I love to invite people over so that we can have an excuse to play games. I have such happy memories of growing up playing Nertz with the family in SunValley and helping pass out money while I watched games of Aquire being played. Brad and I have tournaments of Yahtzee, Mancala, Sequence, and phace 10 dice. We actually manipulated a phase 10 dice game to see what you would have to roll to achieve the highest score possible. It was pretty awesome.

TRUE STORY

When I was in about 4th grade, we were at my cabin snow mobiling. We were leaving and had to haul a bunch of the stuff we used at the cabin to the cars. So, in order to do this, we would attach two tubes behind the snowmobiles from rope. Two people would ride on the snowmobiles, and two people would ride in the tubes to the bottom. I loved to be one of the tube riders. The bags and supplies used at the cabin would be placed on top of the rider on the tube. Now you have the scene. Just as we approached the final bridge, disaster happened. Somehow, our tubes were slingshot off of this pole that marked the edge of the bridge. We were shot off the bridge right into the frozen river below about 20 or so feet. My brother ended up in the middle of the icy water and I was closer to the bank. The bags slowly drifted down the river. I struggled my way up the bank with heavy, water soaked boots, snowpants, and coat. When I got to the top, my mom was saying something about the bags and such. I just stood there soaked and crying. I turned to see my brother stumbling up the bank with wet hair and goggles hanging off his head. Still, my mom was telling us to go get the bags. She had just been to Japan and put all her priceless photos in a scrapbook and the scrapbook was floating down the icy waters. We had a japanese girl living with us and all of a sudden she just jumped right off the bridge into the water. She got the bag and trudged back up to the 3 of us standing there. None of the pictures were even touched by water, and you can be sure everything else was soaked. Isn't that an amazing story. We dried and now laugh at the story and I'm glad those pictures survived.

I LOVE CREATIVITY

-I love pretty much anything art related. When I was in France we went to the most amazing museum right on the water and it was absolutly breath taking. I bought a modern art poster there and hauled it all over Europe with me. I love the memory everytime I look at the framed print in my room. In college I came across the art of Andy Goldsworthy and was totally inspired. Nature is art, I've always thought so. I love to paint with bright colors and sketch portraits with simple black and white. I like to look at creative things in magazines and try and recreate what I see, or atleast tell myself "I could do that". Most of the things I have hanging in our house has some memory attached to it. Either I made it, painted it, drew it, or discovered it on some wall of some unique store or museum. Someday our walls could be covered, but it wouldn't matter to me because they would just be walls covered with happiness.

I MARRIED THE GUY IN THE MILITARY WITH A DIMPLE IN HIS CHIN.

-I met cute Brad right before I went on my mission and he left for basic training. He kind of wrote me back and forth, but I was sort of "wierded" out by the whole idea of this guy I barely knew writing me. So, in short, the time I could've spent getting to know Brad via letters on my mission was spent not getting to know Brad via letters on my mission. It all worked out okay because I came home and we fell right in love and got married. But...in one of the letters he wrote me he did send a picture of himself in his military uniform. I kept the picture and would look at it and show my various companions. Today, the picture resides somewhere in Mongolia (I gave it to my Mongolian companion) Anyway, before I left my mission the sisters made a sort of prediction/ goodbye tape for me and someone predicted that I would marry the guy in the military with a dimple in his chin and what do you know...it came true!! And I can definitly say I agree with the phrase: I AM ALREADY LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

MARATHON TIME

My sister and I ran a marathon a couple of years ago. Training for the marathon was just long and long and full of prayers for good health and strong bones and a resiliant body. It was a long 4 months hoping my body could withstand the pressure being put on it. When we did our 20 miler we all did fine, but when I went out to do my short run a couple of days later, that's when the pain set in. I had this excruciating pain in my knee. Turns out I had bursitis and I was told to ice it and such. Well, i wasn't about to not run the marathon, so I iced it and iced it and just hoped that the ice would somehow "cure" my knee in a week. So, time came for us to do another long run and I think this time we ran 21 or something. My knee felt okay, but hurt. So, I iced it right when I got home. I think I thought that if you applied ice directly to the skin it would somehow work better. I lost track of time (which is wierd because I had a freezing piece of ice on my skin) because when I took the cloth and the ice off, what I saw on my skin was frightening. A two inch band above my knee bone was bright bright white and hard. It wouldn't go away. I showered and still the white remained. I tried to rub it but the hard lump remained. I started to freak out and called Brad but he was in some crazy mcat prep course or physics class so I couldn't get ahold of him. So...I went to insta care. I seriously thought I was going to have my leg amputated. Sound dramatic?? Probably. But, I had never seen anything like that before. To end this long story, now. You can imagine what the doctor said when he looked at me. I think he had to control his laughter as he said, "you have a small case of frostbite and it will go away within the day. And miss, don't put ice directly on your skin again." Needless to say, we never saw a charge for that instacare visit. Pretty sure he felt sorry for me in more ways than one.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I love to cook! I love to read recipe books and create meals in my head. I am a sucker for recipes with red onion, feta cheese, blue cheese, strawberries, and sauteed mushrooms or onion.

Mom and Amy visit

Last Monday, Mom and Amy visited from Salt Lake. They were here till Friday morning and it was just wonderful. We had great weather to go see some of the sites nearby. Everything to do is about 1 to 2 hours drive away from Kirksville. We went to Nauvoo on one of the coldest days since I've lived here. We had a great time on the very cold wagon ride, touring the pioneer pastimes place, and seeing the temple. Brad showed Amy and Mom the cadavar (sp?) lab. He has quite the working knowledge of all the ligaments and tendons and muscles and such. I consented to go in after they did because they could watch Chloe. It's pretty cool to see what he is doing all day in school. He is definitly smart...probably the smartest in class!! (I'm fond of him can ya tell?) The last day we journeyed up to an Amish town and bought some way cheap spices and such. It was just great to be with them and have them love Chloe and play games with us and take us out to eat and just enjoy each other's company. THANKS MOM AND AMY!
This was a rare experience where Brad took the afternoon off and we went for a "hike" at the local state park with a pretty lake. We had fun letting Starsky off his leash and taking in the fall colors and crisp temps. I love that picture of Chloe because that is just how she is; so easy going and carefree.
Happy trails.

Happy November 1st.

It's November! I have to finish October with a few Halloween photos. This is the Chambers family 2007. We borrowed Chloe's cat costume and then I created ours in a couple of minutes. Brad is Waldo, incase there was any confusion. We went to a trunk-or-treat at our ward. We had a great time. No candy for Chloe this year, but plenty for Brad and me!!
I entered Starsky in a dog costume contest. We threw this outfit together at the last minute. He doesn't seem very pleased to be in it, but he brought us home a 3rd place.
Chloe and her friend Taegan. I wonder what kids think of all the costumes at this age. Chloe just laughed and squeeled everytime someone newly dressed came up to her. She helped pass out candy and lots of smiles.
Chloe and Daddy and out lamely decorated trunk
I can't believe she fits in her Chile sweater. Here is a fun fall photo of the Chambers girls.

Fall is in the air.

I love fall. I love everything about it. The colors, the cool temps, wearing sweaters, having a red nose, but warm hands in your pockets. I love the pumpkins that start to appear at the stores and on neighborhood porches. This year it is fun to anticipate Halloween and know we get to dress our little Blue up in a costume. We'll probably save trick or treating for next year. I love the feeling of Thankfulness that starts to be present and continue strong through the holiday season. This picture of Chloe just makes me happy. If you look close you can see her 2 teeth. She cracks me up the way she loves the camera and, well, pretty much any attention she gets! My Brad. I filled the gum ball machine with candy so that if we wanted a little sweet treat we would have to actually put in a little effort to be rewarded. Finding a penny and turning the dial is a little bit more difficult than just opening a drawer. Anyway, we ran out of pennies around the house and so Brad just opened it and dumped all the pennies out. Now we have our bag of pennies next to the machine and the candy is coming plentifully now. Kindof against the fact, huh? I love the fact that Brad is soooo easy to please. He is happy with his treat drawer full (thanks for the tradition Ruthie) and spending time on walks with us. He is doing really really well in school and is loving the fact that he is on his way to becoming what he wants to be!!
Chloe's first mess. She cruises around in her little walker and she has recently discovered the food shelf. She dumped her out cereal all over her and the floor. How am I ever going to discipline this child? She is just too cute. He is definitly not starved for attention, that's for sure.
A while ago I went with my photographer friend out to the country and saw some neat places as she took photos. Missouri is really a gorgeous, gorgeous place. This was a neat little road sign we came across. You can see a pointer that says Kirksville on it.
I figured out how to video and thought you would like seeing Chloe as she discovers Peek-a-Boo. I thought my child was some kind of phenom, but then realized that it is fairly common for babies to pick up Peek-a-Boo on their own at this age. I still think she is something pretty special, though.

2 stories.

Story number 1:
Yesterday, I let the dog out front as I went out to get the mail. He usually zips away straight for the backyard and squirrel heaven, but not today. Today, he kindof stayed by this bush we have in the front. I was worried because a couple of days ago he had a run in with a cat and his paw and a near eye loss. So, I just watched him and saw him run in and out of the tree. He was clearly trapping something in there. Finally, He dragged what he caught out. A bird. Oh, big man starsky killing poor defenseless birds. I was mad at him and I told him to leave it. The bird just lay there and we went up to the porch and the dog just sat by my side. Next thing I know, the bird was gone. I think he played dead. I let the dog back down on the grass and he just kind of sniffed around and played. And you guessed it...he found the little bird hiding next to the stairs;hidden in the bushes. I grabbed the dog, but not before he got a mouthful of my poor defenseless friend. As I grabbed starsky the bird waddled off. He waddled across our whole front yard, into the street, across the street, and up the hillish yard of our neighbor...Safe!! The whole "walk" took him about 5 minutes, which is a long time for birds, I'm sure. I didn't know how to help him. After about 20 minutes I let the dog go and you guessed it, he ran straight for the bird (this is the dog that can't manage to track the sent of the tennis ball when he knows the direction we are throwing it) and he tracked it along its exact route. Thankfully he didn't come back with anything and I think my little bird friend survived.

Story 2, which will probably make you laugh more than the "tug-on-your-heart-string-story 1:
Brad woke up the other day and his left eye was kind of, how should I put it, droppy. he described it as the "nerves in my eyelid don't feel like they are working". So he has been nursing this "lazy eye" for a couple of days, although it doesn't hurt him and he can see fine. Today, Brad went on a bike ride. He came home pretty early and he said he just didn't feel well. He took his helmet off and something feel out of it and hit the ground. It was a tiny tube shaped object, resembling a crayola marker lid, but clear. He said, "that figures" and kind of scoffed at it. So, I asked him what was up. He said as he rode he felt this tremendous pressure in his head just above his left eye (remember that is the eye that droops) He said he started to think he might have a tumor or something creating this tremendous pressure. He kept riding and riding and felt sicker and sicker to the point of throwing up. He just couldn't figure out why he hurt so bad. ANd he figured this pain must have something to do with his lazy eye. Turns out, bless Brad's heart, that this little clear tube was stuck in his helmet and he didn't know it. I started to laugh, really hard, and Brad just kind of was relieved that he didn't have a serious brain condition. He had a deep groove in his head for about an hour where the tube was. I am still chuckling about it. And...no need to think I am heartless, he gave me permission to write this. It was just too funny.

I love reading these on other people's blogs. So read this one and then take a minute to fill one out for yourself. They are the most fun if you just go with what you are thinking right at that very moment.
10 years ago: I was just livin it up at good ole Olympus High. I think I might have been one of the few seniors who actually took 7 classes, in addition to early morning seminary. I was just too interested in soooo many things that I still wanted to take stuff in school. I think 2 of my classes were art studio and a commercial art class. I used to think I would be this famous artist one day. Now I am just content with doodling and creating on the side and being 100% satisfied with how I spend my time as a mom and a wife and a friend.
5 years ago:I was a missionary serving in Manhattan, Kansas. The town was amazing. It reminded me a lot of Logan. It is a college town. The town was everything you picture Kansas not being (does that make sense) It was hilly and full of gorgeous colorful trees, because it was the fall. I loved loved loved Manhattan and the mission in general. Loved it.
1 year ago: I was on the plane, heading for Chile (thats in south America, ya know) The plane ride was long for a little pregnant girl. We were going to visit my missionary mom and dad and we had the surprise news of a baby girl on the way due April.
Today: is a crisp Tuesday afternoon. I am sitting on the computer with our little angel Chloe on the floor beside me. I used to feel bad letting her play on the hard floor without a blanket, but now I think she really likes how it feels. She is sitting right under me and has her legs straddling the chair leg and her arms wrapped tight around the top of the chair leg. What a blessing she is. I plan on making a fabulous dinner, read an entire book, and do some goodwill and service projects while I'm at it. Ahhh! But in reality, I will most likely cuddle and tickle Chloe, read her an entire book, and make a mediocre meal, but one that Brad tells me is the "best meal he's ever had" and then go to bed feeling terrific and happy and complete.
5 snacks I like: I have been eating those peanut butter sandwich crackers, but I add a huge amount of peanut butter to the top, homemade chocolate chip cookies. If it was socially acceptable I would probably just eat the dough and forget about the cookie, a handful of cereal, strawberries...I don't know I'm more of a eat at meal time girl.
5 things I would do with a million dollars: I would pay of Brad's school first. Next, I would go on my dream vacation to Ireland and scotland and probably tour the countryside on a bike with my brad. Next, I would take both families on some fabulous all expense paid trips. I would definitly buy the sweetest mini-van on the market. Yep, we want and can't wait to get a mini-van. I would also get my mini cooper, black subaru and Brad's dream road bike and then, I would do whatever I have to make sure that the rest of my million would continue to make me money for a long time down the road.
5 places I would run away to: cabin in the mountains to feel the crisp air and hear the wind rustle the leaves, back to Utah because it's just so "familiar", anyplace with family and friends. And to make my Brad's dream come true...a warm ocean.
5 favorite TV shows:Jeopardy, Millionaire (cuz it's on before Jeopardy) If I had filled this out 3 months ago I would've said Price is Right, but Bob decided to leave the show and his replacement needs to grow on me, if I even give him a chance to grow on me. It's just not the same without The Bob. I still always laugh at Seinfeld and yes, I love Survivor.
5 things I hate doing:cleaning the toilet (that's B-rad's job), emptying the big trash to the outside can and then replacing the can with a new bag. Changing the sheet on Chloes mattress. Those suckers are hard to get in an out of the crib. Going to the store if it is more than once a week. Filling the gas. Thankfully, my cute Brad usually does that.
Biggest joy in my life at the moment:My Brad, little Chloe Blue, and yes...Starksy.