Movie Night!

Ok so if you want to see a movie that will kill every one of your senses...it's going to be "7 Lbs" With Will Smith! Seriously I loved it, I hated it, I was confused through most of it, I bawled like a baby...(good thing it was a girls night out movie!)

Can you tell we had been crying...

Ok, so Ayz is one tough chick...I'm too sensitive because I cried through the last half of the movie, maybe it's the hopeless romantic in me but I seriously let loose the minute Ayz pulled a Kleenex out of her purse for me! We had decided we were going to go to a "good movie" not a "sad movie" so we didn't' go to "Marley and Me!" Yeah...didn't work out so much! I was pretty embarrassed when our friend Jason who is the manager at the theater asks Ayz as we were walking out how the movie was...saw me a split second later and started pointing and laughing saying "that good hu!" Can we say Ultimate humiliation! It was even better when Ayz slows to a turle pace walk and turns to look and laugh at me too!

This is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. It's one that either your going to love it or your going to hate, but if you love it, it will Change your life forever! :) (Kinda Like transformers!)

Christmas Eve At Alicia's House

My family is full of Christmas traditions...This one has to be my favorite...

Every little kid loves to make a ginger bread house sometime around Christmas...well every adult in my family loves to make a ginger bread VILLAGE around Christmas! My parents made life magical growing up. They wanted us to have family traditions that we could take to our future families and this is one that I'm sure will last for quite a while. We do everything from Waffle's and Ice Cream breakfasts of Birthdays, finding our Easter lunch that is hidden in plastic baggies around our yard and house, Sleeping Under the Christmas tree the day we put it up, and ginger bread villages. (My dad has made some kind of pact with the Easter Bunny because they hide our Easter baskets Easter morning. If we can't find it before we go to church then we just don't get the Candy till after. The hunt has become substantially harder the older we have become!)

The Gingerbread Villages started, I think, because each year our houses/trains seemed to get bigger and bigger until one year we decided to combine and make the "SNOWED INN!" It was a huge ski lodge cabin, some how my brother figured out how to make a ski hill complete with chairlift and everything all out of food and frosting! Each year we have become more creative. The pictures above were in 2006. We decided to make "Whoo Ville" From "The Grinch that Stole Christmas." Pretty impressive hu! Last year we were in the Caribbean and my mom went so far as to bring the candy and graham crackers only to find the graham crackers too soggy to stand because of the humidity. We thought of building a "sand ginger-bread castle" in honor of Christmas on the beach but it just didn't happen.

So this year, I actually spent Christmas alone. I was pretty excited about it because I had planned some opportunities to serve dinners around the community hopefully filling my time with a little more service and experiencing the real meaning of Christmas. I was pretty disappointed when my Christmas eve plans fell through with a phone call telling me that they had enough volunteers for the dinner and to call next year. Talk about putting a damper in my Christmas Spirit! So I ran to Wal-Mart a few minutes before it closed on Christmas Eve and picked up a box Ginger bread house...Needless to say mine leaves much to be desired from previous years but its the tradition that counts and for two hours of my time it actually felt like Christmas on Christmas Eve!

Although it entertained me, the time we spend together as a family being creative, laughing, and challenging each others artistic abilities will never be replaced and it reminded me how important family and loved ones really are during this important time of year. So for each of you who spent the holidays alone, please know that you were in my thoughts and tears. Next year no matter how far the drive or how soon I will see my family, I will not spend it alone! Even if I have to go and sleep in a chair at the nursing home with someone else who may have spent it alone!

"Pillow Talk..."

So here's the story...my niece is probably one of the most grown up 4 year olds I have ever met in my life! I have been telling her for a couple months now that as soon as she was back in the states we could have a sleep over "at my place" (as she calls it.) Well I was pleasantly surprised Friday night when Derick, Megan, Hallie, Mason, and Reece all showed up at Cami and Jeff's house. I went to dinner at Cami and Jeff's and after we finished eating I was wanting to leave and go hang out with some friends...(it's not often that I do that, or even have the offer right but that night I had three offers...) but Cami kept trying to keep me there. I couldn't figure out why...and then I started to piece things together the minute Cami told the "Missionaries" I love you before she hung up the phone...I'll keep the details to myself because it truly was the best surprise of my week...here is how the night played out...

This is Hallie and I making faces at the camera while the grown ups watched something planet on HD... After too much of that we decided to head on over to my house at about 11:30 so Hal could see her present...SHE WAS SO EXCITED...

Here is Hallie in her "Littler Mermaid Costume" She looks way better then I did in it! her favorite part was the hair...when I told her I wanted to dye it red like the Littler Mermaid she said..."Well I love Ariel's hair but I actually would love her more if her hair was yellow like mine. It's ok if you leave it yellow Aunt Alicia. Besides don't you think it looks much more beautiful..." and then she began to pose...We did however have to pin up the shoulders because Hallie has got Modesty down to an art and I look up to her for it. She told me that one day her chest would fit but it was ok for now...(Side note: I was talking to a lady and her three year old daughter at the salon the other day and the daughter was talking about how much she loved Ariel. So I told her that I had an Ariel costume at home...the mother looked a me for a minute...and when I made eye contact with her she whispered in disgust..."Were you the Little Mermaid for Halloween." I busted up laughing...you've got to be kidding lady that would be like Free Willy trying to pretend he was Barbie...We don't belong in each others world!)

...around 12:30 after pinning her all up in one of my over sized night gowns...and testing the couch and the turtle chair to see which was more comfortable she settled down with three bags of Dora the Explorer fruit snacks and a couple Carmel's...We were all about a good chick flick... ANASTASIA

(Thats it in the background)

I was about to turn off the TV around 1:45 thinking that Hallie was asleep and she jumps up and says..."O my goodness I'm falling in love..." I look at the screen to see what is going on and Anastasia is dancing with the boy in the movie and they are about to kiss...but they didn't and Hallie was not happy! She told me all about how obvious it was that she loved him and that they needed to kiss...we had this conversation about four more times before they actually kissed and she busted out "O man I am so in love with this boy!" She is definitely boy crazy and a spitting image of her aunt...I think that's why I just can't get enough! We finally fell asleep around 2:30 or 3 after I promised her that if she would take a nap with me for one hour we could watch another movie...I didn't end up waking up in one hour...and neither did she...but it was the best sleep over I have had in a really long time! I love being and aunt!

I was so stinkin tired!!!

The best thing about life is...

BEING AN AUNT!!!...

My niece Hallie is the coolest chick ever! We are going to have a sleep over as soon as she gets back from the Caribbean. I asked her what she wanted to do at the sleep over and she said... "um, maybe we could go swimming!" of course I said sure...then she said "Yeah and we could be the Little Mermaid!" and

enthusiastically I said, yeah that would be fun...and then she asked..."Well do you have a Little Mermaid costume?" and of course I said "nope (do you really think I could wear what Arielle wears!) but I'm sure it would be easy to make one..." and then she tricked me and said... "Ok Aunt Alicia I can't wait to have a sleep over at your place and I'm sure you can make our costumes look great!"

WHAT COULD I SAY...

So I tried once to make an Arielle costume and it looked like an over sized Tube top! So then I thought about just buying a dance leotard and then sewing a coconut bra to the top and a skirt to the bottom...then I thought, why do I work and then try to make my own costumes...I work so that I can pay others to make

me seem like the coolest Aunt! Here it is Hallie...Only 10 more days!!!

Have You Ever...

Ok this is for Meg!!!

1. Started your own blog - Yep! I tried to wait till I had kids but...
2. Slept under the stars – Yep, on the tramp, on a boulder in the mountains when it was raining, on my parent's roof, and at the sea of Galilee
3. Played in a band – Clarinet and French Horn baby!
4. Visited Hawaii - no
5. Watched a meteor shower - Yep
6. Given more than you can afford to charity-Yes only because I was half asleep I told someone yes on the phone and got a bill in the mail...tried to ignore it and they sent me another bill with a late fee!
7. Been to Disneyland – Yep
8. Climbed a mountain – yes to take my name out of a book on top of heart mountain that a missionary hiked on P-day and wrote our names in it swearing he was going to marry me when he got home from his mission, and I hiked Mt. Sinai at 3:00 am to see the sunrise!
9. Held a praying mantis – no
10. Sang a solo – To try out for a musical and it was the most horrible experience of my life!
11. Bungee jumped-no
12. Visited Paris -no
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - Yep in a ship on the Sea of Galilee
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - Yep
15. Adopted a child-no
16. Had food poisoning - Yep
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty-no
18. Grown your own vegetables-no
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - no
20. Slept on an overnight train - Yep - in Egypt it kept stopping and starting really fast...my roommate fell off of her bunk and my friend was hovering over the toilet when it was stopped for a second and it started too fast and she fell on the floor and wet all over herself!
21. Had a pillow fight – of course
22. Hitch hiked - nope
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - O yes!!!
24. Built a snow fort - yes, My Dad used to help us build Igloo's growing up. I remember one year we even slept in it!
25. Held a lamb - yes
26. Gone skinny dipping - YEP!
27. Run a marathon- I'm still at the "visualizing myself doing it" Stage!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice -no
29. Seen a total eclipse- yes
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - Both but I have to admit I have seen more sunsets!
31. Hit a home run - Sure did! When I was a nanny I was helping the 4 year old practice for T-ball I just had to show him how good I was.
32. Been on a cruise - Yep on the Nile River
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person- Yep! With my Mom and Grandma on the Canadian side and the American Side. It was beautiful!
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors-How far back? because I've been to Idaho a million times!
35. Seen an Amish community- Yes
36. Taught yourself a new language- No
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied-For one day when I opened my Student Loan check
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - No
39. Gone rock climbing – Does Repelling count? I kinda hiked up the side of the rock to get to the top!
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - No
41. Sung karaoke – Yes the Classic "Girls Just Wanna' have fun"
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - Yes
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant -No
44. Visited Africa- Yep to switch flights
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight – Yep Hilton Head South Carolina to see the Dolphin's. It was amazing!
46. Been transported in an ambulance-No
47. Had your portrait painted - Yes - by my secret Santa in Seminary
48. Gone deep sea fishing- Yep I caught a baby shark.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person - No
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris -No
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling – Yep
52. Kissed in the rain – Yes for almost and hour and a half what can I say he was a great kisser and I got a sinus infection the next day!
53. Played in the mud – My family loves to play mud football! It was a favorite Pre-date before Homecoming and Prom
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - Yep! In a dump truck
55. Been in a movie-no
56. Visited the Great Wall of China -no
57. Started a business - Trying
58. Taken a martial arts class-no, I can't make Karate sounds I just laugh at myself and the other people doing it
59. Visited Russia-no
60. Served at a soup kitchen-No
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies-No Way!
62.Gone whale watching- Yes
63. Got flowers for no reason - Yes from myself anonymously! HAHA
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - Yep all three
65. Gone sky diving-No
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp -Yes
67. Bounced a check- Yep
68. Flown in a helicopter- Yep on a date
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy – no
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial-no
71. Eaten Caviar- Yeah on a date along with sushi, it was $60 a plate!
72. Pieced a quilt-No
73. Stood in Times Square -No
74. Toured the Everglades-No
75. Been fired from a job- Yep
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London- No
77. Broken a bone -Nope
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle- Yes Many times! I love it! I'm going to be a Harley chick one day! A classy one of course!
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person-no
80. Published a book- no but one day I will I have a couple in progress
81. Visited the Vatican - no
82. Bought a brand new car - nope
83. Walked in Jerusalem - Yes the old city and the new city
84. Had your picture in the newspaper –Yes, One for cosmetology school, twice for homecoming queen, and once when I was little there was a tornado by our house in Cody and they took a picture of my brother and I walking on the roof of our shed that was upside down.
85. Read the entire Bible - No
86. Visited the White House – No
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- No way but my Dad killed and prepared my pet bunny because I wouldn't feed it and then told me it was chicken. It was the best chicken I ever had.
88. Had chickenpox – Yes
89. Saved someone’s life-No
90.Sat on a jury- No
91. Met someone famous -Yep Muhammad Ali in the Chicago Airport on my way back from Israel I even got a picture with him and a signed card!
92. Joined a book club - Millions of times and I have tons of books that are only half read!
93. Lost a loved one - Yes
94. Had a baby - Yes
95. Seen the Alamo in person- No
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - Skinny dipped it burned SO bad! It was a dare!
97. Been involved in a law suit- No
98. Owned a cell phone – Yes
99. Been stung by a bee – Yes

I tag: Adrianne, Liz, Stefany, Cami, and Carissa

"Pay it forward"

Teagan Jensen Parker

How many of you have seen the movie "Pay it forward?" Well I have to tell you that I never in a million years thought I would reference this movie. When I went to it I was living in Provo Utah at the time. A group of girls went to the $.50 theater for a fun girls night out. As most of you know in this movie the teacher had been severely burned in a fire when he was younger and it is a huge insecurity for him. Well there is this scene that is supposed to be so touching and romantic where he is making out with the woman in it and she touches his scars...just picture this for a minute...I'm sitting with six other girls...every single one of them is bawling so touched and what do I do...BUST UP LAUGHING...I really tried to hold it in but have you ever done that where you are trying so hard and your lips start vibrating and you nose starts leaking and all the sudden it comes out in a huge burst yeah that was me. The whole theater was silent and into the moment and I LOST IT!...anway...the point of this post has nothing to do with that.

As many of you know I had a baby that I gave up for adoption in May of 2002. It was a bitter sweet experience that I will never forget. Teagan was born May 10th and the adoption was on mothers day of that year. I can't begin to explain the feelings that came as I handed him over to his new mother and finding myself at a loss for words I mumbled happy mothers day. It was an experience that changed my life and continues to effect my life and decisions. Because of that experience I have had the opportunity to talk to teen mothers who have found themselves in the same situation and also to adopted kids and birth parents. I have truly been blessed.

About a year after I had Teagan I decided I would set up and interest group on My Space called LDS Adoptions. That is all the further I got. The title. Well about three months ago (6 years later) a random guy on my space wrote me. He told me that he was adopted when he was three days old and wanted to know if I could help him find his birth parents.

One thing you have to know is that until about a month before Teagan was born, all LDS Adoptions were closed meaning that the child and the adoptive parents and birth parents really had no contact after the first year and that contact was strictly regulated. No last names or addresses were included in any form of contact.

After asking him a few questions I was able to get him the contact phone number for the LDS Social services office in the area that he was adopted from. On Thanksgiving day I received and e-mail from him that said:

"Hey Alicia, remember me! Well I just wanted to tell you that two days ago I received a phone call from my birth father. He is working on getting in contact with my birth mother as they are no longer together. Guess what! I also found out that I have a full blood sister and brother! Thank you so much for helping me through this. I will let you know how it all goes I'm so excited to meet them now 27 years later. Thank you forever and God Bless."

One good deed no matter how large or small and I'm still receiving blessings from it. Maybe now the next time you see pay it forward you'll think of it in a different light! Life is so amazing! First Day of 1st GradeTeagan's Adopted family Teagan and his dog Teagan and his new little brother Ryland Teagan had a rough day at school

The Simple things in Life...

So I just need to share a funny story...I'm kind of playing catch up. This weekend I was in Cody with my family. It was so much fun to be together as you can see from the pictures below. Saturday night we all went to the new James Bond movie and loved it but the best part was what happened after. Let me first give you a little background...

"Back in the day"-meaning high school I had a group of really close friends! We have all moved on with our lives and about a year ago one of my friends contacted me and told me he had just moved to Laramie. We got together a couple times because he wanted girl advice...First let me start off by telling you that I have no idea what girls are thinking EVER let alone myself! He has called me a couple times in the last few months wanting my advice...once I actually answered the phone by accident and pretended to be the answering machine...beep and all. The other couple of times I just let him leave a message. He is a really nice guy I just wasn't in the mood.

Back to my story...after the movie we stopped by the gas station to fill up and who is in the pump opposite us but this guy! I pulled my hood over my head and asked everyone in my car not to look at him. He was trying to get his hood open on his car to check the oil and could not figure it out!...Now you need to know my family are all very nice people and so what do we do...sit in the car and talk about who is going to help him all the while I am hiding hoping he doesn't see me because I felt so bad for not calling him...so I decided to pull a typical "Alicia Move..." I called him...while I was sitting in the car right next to him and asked him where he was and what he was doing. I know I'm a jerk but it was pretty entertaining for me and my family! They all had to pretend they weren't in the car with me...I can only imagine how he will feel the next time he comes over to Cami and Jeff's house to hang out and realizes that my brother in law was the guy that helped him get into the hood of his car!!! BLAAAAHAHAHA!