"Glass slippers" Continued....

I know, like 5 posted in 2 days.  I had to get all caught up, and now I am I swear. Anyway...


So, back in March I posted about getting new church shoes and could only find black when I wanted colored ones.  Well,  I have now succeeded in getting 2 new pairs that are colored!

First off is this pair...

Their MIA brand.  The color is called Mushroom Cherie.  Greenish brown, pretty much.  Not really colorful, but the next pair will make up for that.

Enter..... The KING!!!

I'm kidding!  I don't think Elvis would have worn these, but yes these baby's are blue suede.  I have really been trying to appreciate blue more recently.  I really like blue, but for some reason I don't really own anything blue...  That is the one good thing about owning a lot of black clothes though... If you wear all black you can wear whatever color of shoes your little heart desires. ;)

Tomorrow being September 11 I decided that I'm going to pair these with my red, white and black plaid shirt to church.  Dorky, I know, but I want to show my support.  That's the best way I know how at the moment.  I actually remember exactly where I was when the planes hit.  Like it was yesterday.

Anyway, that's my shoe update.  ;)

It's a Zoo in Here!

So, Julie came down for Labor Day Weekend.  We made a trip to the Zoo.  She brought Shelby, her daughter, and two of Angie's boys, Braden and Jace.  Here is the trip....

Dad, Julie, Mom and Phynix heading into the zoo.  Phynix is slightly excited... just slightly.

 Lol! There's that cute pouty face again.  ;)

 Scheli and Phynix checking out the giraffe

 The cutest picture ever!  Phynix getting a close up view of this adorable little monkey.  Houston says he looks like Einstein.  So.... This is an "Einstein" monkey. Lol!

 I have no idea what kind of bird this is but it's so odd looking and such a beautiful color!  Odd and beautiful.... I dig it!

 This Parrot is hard to see but it has a bright red head with a blue-ish  body.  It made a really awesome whistle.  I could listen to that all day.

 Jace, Troy, Scheli, and Phynix Measuring up!  Phynix had to have her hands right on the baby gorilla figure's hands. 

 Shelby and Julie.  Daughter and mom.  These guys are awesome

 Phynix, Jace, Shelby and I rode the carousel.  I was the gitty one who wanted to. This carousel had zoo animals on it.  Shelby rode a gorilla. Jace was on a Rhino. Phynix was on a Polar Bear, and I was on a Wild Boar. I love carousels! 

This took awhile to get Phynix to let go of the bar and wave.  She was holding on for dear life for the first few times around.  

The zoo was fun.  They are in the process of building new part. I can't remember what animals were supposed to be featured there...  I'm sure it will be really cool nonetheless. 

The Sound of Music

Yeah, I know, I've posted two other posts already today, but I'm WAY behind on the summers event's.  Now onto the next....

I posted awhile back that we were going to The Sounds of Music up at Sundance.  Here is our adventure!  First off, Houston didn't really know the story going into it, so I filled him in. We ate at Goodwood Barbeque before heading up there. (they have the best onion rings!!) 

Houston showing off the stage.  We sat up on the grassy knolls above the seats this time.

Waiting for it to start!  So excited!

A clear view of the stage.  They rolled the pieces around for each scene.  It was very smooth between scenes.

Us during intermission.  You can't really tell but it started pouring rain right at the "favorite things" I totally thought it was part of it.  Once it began to pour and people started to leave, I realized it was for real from the heavens.  Lol!  We stayed the whole time.  It rained once more but it was worth it!

This is Houston's pouty face.  I love this so much I had to get a picture of it.  LOL!  I really hope our kids get this feature.  The only bad thing is, I might laugh at them.... :)

We were pretty much dry by the time we left.  Then it was home to bed.  This was so awesome!   Houston such a good guy to give a musical a chance. Especially one he didn't really know before.  He Enjoyed it.  I bought the movie so now he can Julie Andrews at her best! 

I wonder what Sundance will do next year....  I'm sure it will be good.

Julie's Birthday Surprise!

It was my oldest sister's birthday last month and my other sister Angie put together a party for her.  The surprise part was that Julie didn't know that my mom and I were driving all the way to Idaho to join in the party.  We met everyone at the place called Jakers in Idaho Falls.  When we walked in Julie began to cry.  She is having one heck of a year and was so surprised that we would drive all the way up there just for the night.

The Girls!

What would an event be without me making weird faces. ;)

Julie and my mom!

The whole group.  Julie's friends and us

Julie getting her birthday hugs!

This was so much fun.  Julie was so happy.  My mom and I spent the night and ate lunch with her and Angie again the next day at this place called Gator Jacks.  I hope her birthday was a good as she hoped. :)

Family Reunion

It was a big year this year for our family.  We actually had all of the brothers and sisters there.  My brother Cris's family was able to come out from California for it.  It was a simple reunion.  All the traveling siblings stayed at my parent's house, and the rest of us came over each morning.   Some of the games we played were, volleyball, the unknown facts game, and the animal sounds game.  They were all so much fun.  Then on Tuesday we all went to Seven Peaks.  Here are some photo's of the event. 

While playing the Unknown Facts Game.  Cris taking a picture while I take a picture.  Also in the photo are, Lori (Left)  then Brooke, then Justine, and Jacy in the bottom.

My mom, Troy, and Julie.  Julie is reading everyone's crazy facts.

Little Niece Phynix playing with water balloons

From the left.  Nephew Beau, Eric (My niece Kassie's Fiance), Houston, and my niece Megan in the back.  We are playing an intense game of Volleyball.  It lasted like 2 hours. ;P

All of us playing the Animal Sounds Game.  Troy and Angie are in a tight race of the coveted #1 flag.  The neighbors probably thought we were nuts.  Imagine hearing a whole bunch of animal sounds from across the fence.

We played for quite awhile.... Lol!  The winner received a $20 gift card to Walmart.  The Winner, for the second year in a row, was my sister Angie.  She is really good at this game.

Here is the family photo of everyone that was there.  Some of the nephews weren't there and Houston had to work this day. :(  Also, don't mind my dog Maggie as she strolls into the photo.

This was the picture my dad really wanted.  All the siblings together.

From the left, Cris, Angie, Me, Troy, and Julie. With my parent's in the front. 

The cute California clan.  Parent's Cris and Lori, and the kids From the left.  Beau, Brooke, Justine, and Jacy. 

We were so happy to have everyone there.  Everyone leads busy lives so it's so hard to get everyone together.  

Pumpkins Pumpkins Pumpkins!!!!

I think I have mentioned before that I am HUGE into pinterest.com.  I love that site.  I find the most fun pictures and crafts.  The great thing about the crafts you find on there is that you can make them yourself, however you want.  

I found this tutorial for fabric pumpkins.

I really liked the idea but didn't really like the fabric the tutorial used.  Lucky me, I'm a frequent visitor to Hancock Fabric in Orem.  I was in there the other day and found the fabrics I wanted.  They may not match, but I like them all!

I followed the tutorial on every step except one and added my own.  Lol!  Where it says to sew the bottom together, I just straight stitched across it, and it did the same thing with less work.  (All about that) ;)  The tutorial doesn't show it with a leaf and I wanted one on some of them.  All I did is bought a fall leaf swag from Hobby Lobby and spray painted the leaf black.  

Ta Da!

A funny story about the Demask pumpkin in the front.  Before I had even told the lady cutting the fabric what I was doing with it, she said that it reminded her of The Haunted Mansion in Disneyland.  Ha ha!  How perfect.  That is my favorite ride there. (Imagine that...) My mom was with me and just smiled.

That pumpkin is my favorite.  It photographs so well.  The picture was taken on my phone so it washed it out.  The color on it is a dark mustard yellow, which I absolutely LOVE.  My mom liked it so much too that I made an extra for her.  Her favorite is the green plaid. 

Seriously, if I can make these ANYONE can! 

Showing Appreciation

I'm sure anyone reading this knows what I'm talking about when your told someone has died.  You think you understand death and the impact it had on you seeing that person in the near future, but for some reason, you keep thinking that it's all just a sick joke and that person will be there the next day...

Sigh... It's a guaranteed denial.


I was told that one of my supervisors at the Post Office past away last Wednesday night.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-ruden&pid=153181958

We all called him Joe. He was an awesome guy.  I joked around with him the day before he died.  When I was told he died, I had one of those... "Say Again?"  moments.   The worst part about this whole thing, is how he died.  It's so weird.... Sigh.... but he killed himself.  It was like getting hit by a Semi.  No one saw it coming.  Even the people who worked with him for a long time didn't see it coming.  His funeral is on Monday, and they are letting all the carriers come in almost 2 hours early so they can attend the Funeral and still deliver the mail.

I just can't wrap my head around it...  I guess it's just one of those things you will never understand.

.....2 Days Later.....

So, I started this post 2 days ago.  The Funeral has come and gone.  It was heartbreaking, but at the same time so enlightening.  The worst part was how much he hated his job.  :(  I don't the exact reason for his actions but I do know that the Post Office had a lot to do with it.  The comforting part is that I know he loves his family and only wants the best for them.  I wish he would have known that "Him staying with them" would have probably been much better choice.  It's sad to think that all he wanted was a "good job"  or a "We really appreciate what you do for us."  He never got it.  His father in law did the Eulogy and was read text conversations between Joe and his wife just days before he died.  They talked about the Post Office and about how he felt like he needed to transfer, because he didn't feel like he was appreciated.


I appreciated Joe.  He was always there to help and to make you feel like the work you were doing was appreciated.  I will miss Joe.  I think the world looses a lot of great people like him all the time, for sad reasons like not being told how much you appreciated them.  I might have been only a girl from the Post Office to him, but I hope he knows how much I appreciated him.


The denial is still there to a point.  It's weird how that happens.  But I'm glad I went to his funeral and was able to be reaffirmed about the gospel and it's teachings on death and the judgement of God.  Joe and his family will be together forever and I don't think his actions were intentional.  I think his mind was sick and the Lord will take that into account at his judgement.  I hope his family will grow stronger from this and be like him.  Selfless and willing to help anyone else.  I think they will. his oldest son talked towards the end and I think he is having a hard time now, but will become a stronger spirit because of it.  Joe would've given from his cup to anyone, but are we willing to give back as much...?  Because we should.

If you can gather anything from reading this, may it be to tell people you appreciate them.  I don't just mean your family and friends, but the people you work with, or that stranger who held the door for you.  "thank you" can go a long way.  You never know, it might stop that person from tipping over that fragile edge and coming to the same mortal death as Joe.  It's amazing what two little words can do.  Please use them.