Thanksgiving Day for Us

I went home for Thanksgiving. This holiday though didn't seem like a typical Thanksgiving though. It was too short. I only got the day of Thanksgiving off... so I headed out with Thomas Wednesday night to Quincy. Leah had taken the kids up earlier that day. It was foggy and as funny as it sounds when we were just 10 miles or so from Quincy, Thomas (who was driving the truck) got lost. lol... and I got us back on track. I knew where we were, but wasn't about to question his navigation skills, so I just kept talking and singing along. Until Thomas admitted that he didn't know where he was. I then got us back on track which is probably the FIRST ever of me having more directional skills than another person! Whoo Hoo for me!

We got to my mom's house after stopping and letting David know about the gathering in town. We ate and during the meal told 2 things we are thankful for. Everyone said something like, "I'm thankful for my family," or "I am thankful for my kids." David was the sentimental one this year that made Misty cry with saying how much he loved her and appreciated what she did. Next year we are going to make it so that no one can repeat something that someone has already said. We also had to remind people time and again that it had to be kept G-rated. My family is a little vulgar and open. :) I love them anyways though!

We cleaned up and hit the sack after a while. Thomas and the nephews went coyote hunting and Leah and Jenny visited into the night. I slept in the full size bed with Landon and didn't sleep well at all because he kicks and turns and talks and moans in his sleep. I am a VERY LIGHT SLEEPER. So I was up most of the night listening, protecting myself, and cuddling with him. It was nice, but the next morning I could tell I hadn't slept well. My patience meter was a little low.

Then after getting ready and saying goodbyes Leah, Thomas, and I with the two little ones headed out to Thomas' Stepdad's Business in George (RiverShark Bar and Grill with only family invited) for their family get-together. There we ate even more food, played pool, and had fun visiting. Then Leah and I ended up leaving and heading to Othello to drop off the two youngsters with their grandparents. You see Leah and I both had to work the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday." We had a really good visit with Dad and Ruth. Dad looked really good and we loved to sit and chat with him. Their house looks really good and comfy. I loved the fire in the fireplace (even though they cheated with a duralog!) :) I still loved it! It was nice to see April and Jennifer there too.

We headed home and then when we got to Leah's house we made no bake cookies, sugar cookies, and chocolate chip cookies. I then left to come to my house and made Grandma Waggoner's Famous Jello Salad for Leah as well (even though she told me not to because we were both SOOO tired). I went to bed at about 9:30 after staying up watching a movie to unwind. It was a nice day, but I wish it could have lasted longer or that my vacation from work could have. It was nice to have some quiet time to myself though.

Oh and I have to say that I went to the theatre last night to watch Twillight and am a TRUE ADDICT now! I have never seen a man as cute as Edward, even if he was a vampire. He didn't look that great at the beginning of the movie and I wondered why they had even chosen him, but by the end of the movie I felt like his #1 Fan! I feel like a little school girl all over again! He was so cute and Bella did a fantastic job too! I just don't know how they are going to do the visual effects for the 3rd movie with the prego moments! I know they will handle it. I want to say thank you to my mom for "taking" me to the movies to see that. Ok... done rambling. But man that blew the other favorites I've had for a LONG time out of the water by a very large margin! If you haven't seen it, GO NOW! If you don't want to go by yourself, I WILL COME IN A HEARTBEAT! That is if you pay for me to get there! :) Twillight rocks!

Thanksgiving...

So I am taking an idea that I read on John's blog and letting you know what things I am thankful for this year and season.

I am thankful that I live in a country that is protected by men and women who serve this amazing country and fight for the rights of freedom we have. I am grateful that I can sleep peacefully at night, be able to travel across the country without being bombed, taxed, or in danger, and chose what I want to listen to and watch on tv, travel on vacation, and worship how I please. Thank you United States Soldiers (and Marines)! A special thanks to those in our family that serve in the armed forces now: John (in Iraq right now), Jared (in Marine Boot Camp at present), James and Jake (who have served tours in Iraq), and Shawn (who has served a tour in Afganistan).

I am grateful for my family that has stuck with me and supported me, loved me, and is there for me. I am grateful for the progress my Dad has made. Dad I am so proud of you and love you! Keep up the hard work and know that I am always here if you need someone!

I am grateful for my little boy Landon. He is truly my greatest blessing by far. He is my world. I love him so much and am so grateful to be blessed to raise him.

I am grateful for my ward family. It's a hard thing to continue to attend church is no one approaches you and makes you feel welcome. I have LOVED my ward. They are amazing and I am so grateful to them for their welcoming me and loving me. I love my Bishop, who has really given me some great, sound advise and counsel.

I am grateful for my job. Jay came to me and offered me this job when I worked at Jiffy Car Wash. It truly came to me when I wasn't expecting it to. I was blessed by my Father in Heaven. He knew what I needed and provided it for me.

I am grateful for my friends. Cheryl and Jeremy, Alanna, Trista, Kristina, Mary and Mario, Andrea, Molly, Terrilyn, and so many more that I have thanked in groups above. You helped me to keep my head up this year and really made me laugh and have fun! Thanks!

But most of all, I am grateful to my Father in Heaven for opening the windows of heaven for me. I truly have been so blessed this year that I can't count the blessings in numbers. He has been mindful and close to me. I am so grateful for his influence in my days, weeks, months, and in my life. I am grateful for my brother, Jesus Christ, and hope that this season will bring us closer to him and allow us to show appreciation for his birth with this approaching Christmas holiday season.

5 Things....

5 things I was doing 5 years ago
1. Getting excited about finishing my first semester of college at BYU-Idaho
2. Serving as the R.S. Secretary in our college ward
3. Laughing at my FHE brothers
4. Stressing out over homework and projects
5. Struggling financially to pay for bills and groceries... although that hasn't changed at all!

5 Things on my to do list for today.
1. Get to work on time
2. Before going to work, drop off the Jello Salad I made for Leah at her work
3. Check my email to see if anyone has responded to my items posted on Craigs list
4. Go to Leah's and help her around her house
5. Rent and watch a movie by myself tonight after Landon goes to sleep

5 things I would do with a million dollars
1. Pay off debt!
2. Travel with my family to far away places
3. Pay for Landon's schooling and extra sports and activites
4. Give some to charities
5. Buy a medium sized house and have a couple of horses in a barn out in back of the house to ride when I would like (everyday!)

5 Places I have lived
1. Quincy, Washington
2. Troy, Missouri
3. St. Louis, Missouri
4. Some other small town in the St. Louis area that I can't think of, Missouri
5. Rexburg, Idaho

5 jobs I have held
1. Veterinary Assistant
2. Assistant Human Resource Manager
3. Dishwasher
4. Book Store Cashier/Customer Service
5. Building Cleaner

5 People I tag - Trista, Alanna, Cheryl, Andrea, and any one else who hasn't completed this one

Thoughts

Lately I have been thinking a lot. I always am thinking, but I read my good friend/adopted sister's blog (Cheryl) and have really loved the little messages she writes about her thoughts and feelings on different things. They are so good. So I am going to try to attempt to start these and I hope you don't mind the no picture blogs, because I definitely make up for them in others.

I have really been thinking lately about my friends that I have now and that I used to have. Some have stuck with me through thick and thin and have been there no matter what the outcome was. Others have been there and then something comes up that you think that they will understand and they don't and end up leaving your life. I think that friends are like family. You need to love them for who they are and not necessarily what choices they make at times. I know I wasn't the best example of this in my family at times (when my sister,Leah, became pregnant I was horrible to her, truly mean to her and still apologize to her from time to time because of it). We all have friends and family that struggle and make mistakes, but they learn and grow from them in turn. I appreciate those people who have stuck through the hard and good times with me. I am so blessed to have family and friends today and in the past. I know that I have had my share of stubbles, but I want to thank those people who helped to pick me back up and get me back on my feet when I didn't want to. Who were there to support me and love me when I didn't want it. Who didn't agree with my choices or life, but kept calling or visiting. I am truly blessed to have my family close and healthy and friends to laugh and cry with. I am so grateful for the jewels that they have been in my life. I am the who I am partly because of those individuals. If I started to name them I would miss some and I don't want to do that... so just thank you. Each of you for being there and loving me regardless of the situation. I hope I can keep paying you back for the kindness you've rendered to me. My Father in Heaven truly is mindful of me and I know that when I follow his promptings that things will happen and people will come along to help get me through, and I have seen that happen in my life. I thank Him for all He's given me and for the happiness I feel right now.

Miscellaneous Pictures :p

Abby (my niece) and I carved pumpkins when she came down for a week after Halloween. These are our masterpieces!



My Roommate dying her hair before her boyfriend came up! Caught ya! :)



Landon LOVES sunglasses and they hardly ever go on him like they are supposed to. So here are just a couple of us in the sunglasses. He's so much fun!



Landon playing on the playground at the park!



Linzey (my niece) is so stinkin funny. I was trying to get some good photos of my other niece Abby (above with the pumpkin) and she kept doing these model poses when I took photos of her. She is so silly and definitely had us cracking up. :P





Landon has found his new fun place to play peek a boo in or hide and go seek as well as his new favorite toy (thanks to Cheryl and Jeremy!).



Linzey and Landon got into the bubble bath and if you can't tell they were covered in bubbles. I had to de-bubble the bathroom after this night of bubble explosion!



The kids love us to massage their backs with this little back massager that my roomie has. Landon just laughs and laughs, but Brielle loves to just lay there and take it in... you can tell she is a girl and will grow up to LOVE back massages. :)



Landon loves to help me out in the kitchen with cooking and stirring and just watching if nothing else. So this is him in his little apron. He's such a good helper... when he listens.



These are all photos that I liked, but didn't have a good place to put them in blogs, so they are all combined into this one.

Utah Trip in August

Ok. So I have been promising my family forever that I would post a blog with a lot of pictures from our trip to Utah this August. It was so much fun to go down in 2 cars as a family. It was April, Leah, Jennifer, and Abby in the first car and they danced, sang and told silly stories. Then there was Mom, myself, Landon, and Linzey in the other car... and the entire way we were reading the last Twilight book in the series that had just come out a week or two prior. I definately think we had more fun! I wish more could have gone, but it was financially tight with our family as it is with the rest of the country then too! So we are all planning on making that trip this coming year for our Second McCullen Family Reunion. All I have to say is PARTY AT ANGIE'S HOUSE!!!!! :)

This is Landon at our first stop on the trip on top of Dead Man's Pass I believe. He was cheesing it up like always. Isn't he a cutie?

Yes my mom is notorious for scaring us... so here she is outside the rest area getting ready to scare my sister, Leah.

And then she of course succeeded! LOL. I still laugh when I see this picture. Leah totally wasn't expecting it! hahaha (that's my mom's evil laugh of victory!)

This is our family pictures at both my grandma's condo and also at my Grandpa Waggoner's grave site.

This is Linzey trying to give Landon a kiss and right then he had no interest in receiving one. Little stink!

My Grandma had her birthday and Landon's was earlier that month so we got a cake for both of them. This is Landon blowing out his candles on the cake. Then later that day as I was taking a much needed nap, the family went outside and flew kites with the kids. Landon had a Backyardigans kite and Linzey had Dora the Explorer.






These were all taken at Alanna (Anderson) Longhurst's house in Utah. She is my all time best friend and I have known her since like kindergarten I think. If it wasn't for her friendship I definately wouldn't be the woman I am today. She helped me when I came back from Missouri to Washington. She was the only one to take me under her wing and help me get a social life back in my hometown. I love her to death and can't wait to see her next time. I can't believe she is already married to Neil and has little Cedric! Landon loved the pot outside her house and kept playing peek-a-boo with it.




These are all pictures of us hanging out with Angie, our amazing cousin in Utah. She let us stay at her house and fed us and kept us highly entertained with games throughout the trip. This is when we were eating at a resturant and then playing in the water park in the shopping mall close to the downtown area of Salt Lake City. The kids had a blast and even though it was SOOOO hot we enjoyed it in the shade too!



Here are the pics from seeing the Fullmer Family! Grandma Trudy, Kimber and Kara were there with James as well as the little ones. I love the time I was able to spend with them. I really was scared that they might not accept me as well as last time because of all the things that have gone on since, but they were so good to me. I can't believe I thought it would be otherwise! I really do adore the Fullmer Family. They are an amazing clan of caring people and I don't think there's another family as sweet and fun as them.



Kimber and Hyrum, Me and Landon. Then Kara, Max, and James. This was my first time seeing Max (besides pictures). He was so smiley all the time that it didn't seem he had a bad bone in his body that would make him cry. :) As you can tell this was towards the end of the photo shoot because the kids are tired of the camera action going on. :)



Landon got on his first Motorcycle (James Hills'). And he LOVED it. I'm not sure what I think about that... but he didn't want to get off of it. First he was really scared of it, but then he warmed up to it and wanted to be in the seat. Then there's a picture of Hyrum, Landon and ______.

This is Grandma Fullmer with 3 of the many many many grandkids she has now.

Landon LOVED this cat of Kara's. This cat would let Landon do anything to it (as you can tell in the third pic of Landon standing over the cat trying to sit on him) and when he had enough he would take off and then come back later. I love the photo of Landon trying to put grass on the cat sitting side by side. It was so cute.



Grandma Trudy gave Landon a banana before we left. I felt bad we couldn't stay longer. But next time I will definitely plan on more time with the Fullmer Family.

Then we went back to Angie's house and played games after Dinner. We also watched the Olympics with the famous swimmer winning yet another gold medal in swimming, Michael Phelps. We enjoyed that as a family. I loved us all rooting for the same guy!



From left front: Mother Therese, Linzey, Autumn; back left to right: Jennifer Yancey, Leah, Angie, April and Barbara (who we hadn't seen since grade school and it was so good to meet up with. She is going to school down in Provo at BYU.)

This is Angie's family. They are so cute and caring and amazing... I can say more and go on but I won't. We love you Angie!



This is my mom, Landon, and I.



My Grandma Waggoner, Landon and I.



Our Trip to Utah for Grandma Waggoner's birthday and The McCullen Family Reunion (which didn't really end up happening) was great. We loved to see those we saw and be able to enjoy the time with them. We hope to be able to come back down next August (if not before then) for the next reunion and birthday celebration!