Black Friday

Now that it is officailly the day after Thanksgiving I can officially "decorate" my blog! Yay. Thanksgiving was great and delicious, and being with our families and loved ones was the best part. Though we did miss my mom, she's in Texas. Last night my brothers, and Heather spent the night, and for some crazy reason we woke up at 3:30a.m. to go Christmas Shopping! The best though was going to Kohls, and watching how nuts people get waiting in line, as for us the doors opened at 4:00, so we just waited at the front, but didn't get in the line, people were freaking out, thinking that we were trying to sneak in there in front of them. While Broc, Austin, and Heather worked their way in, I paitently waited outside till everyone had made it in, I was not willing to take a punch this morning. The best part about going with my brothers is that they are really funny and easy going, so while people were waiting in line to check out, and getting aggitated, we were laughing at the Kohles "bouncers" who were outside before the doors opened and making people get into line, they were also monitoring the lines! Yikes! After we went to Walmart, that was a joke, we couldn't even take a cart, because there was no way to manuver it. Walmart did not have a bouncer, though they did have a couple of the American Fork police officers there trying to keep order. Really, police officers! I am happy to say though that Stetson is done, and it makes me all the more excited. I hope everyone has had a happy Thanksgiving, and that you all enjoy the long weekend!

" 8 Things"

Some of the ladies in my ward are doing this, and I thought I'd join along. If you want you should do it too!

1- I have had the same best friend for 17 years! We both got married less than a month apart, and our babies are less than a year apart, I can talk to her about anything.

2- I am super shy. Even if I know you I am still really shy. Sometimes I think people may see this as being stand-offish, I really am not.

3- I don't always word things right. This causes a lot of embarrassment on my part. Now I usually just warn people as I get to know them. It's like I am missing a sensor.

4- I rarely cry for myself, only if I am in a lot of pain or am really mad. Which is only a couple times a year. That being said, I bawl like a baby when I hear certain songs, read certain books, watch certain movies, or a stupid commercials. For example I almost always start crying in primary during singing time, but I try to hide it.

5- I absolutely adore Musicals and Theater. I have been in over 25 productions, and when I graduated high school I was very seriously contemplating going to New York, or going to SUU to be in the Shakespeare Festival.

6- I love to sing and dance. There is not a sporty bone in my body, but give me a pair of dance shoes and I will bust out some moves. I also have over 150 karaoke cd's, even though they don't get as much use now as they once did.

7- I am feeling old, which I know is funny but I turned 26 this year and am feeling the impending age of 30. Maybe it's because I really wanted to be done having children by the time I am 30 and I realize that it probably will not happen.

8- I enjoy vacuuming, but when I am done you have to be able to see the lines and the shadowing. I have been this way since I was a child, and it caused some anxiety when I worked at BYU in the custodial arts;) I couldn't see the lines because of the industrial carpet and it drove me crazy.

Called to Serve

 
 
 
 

So, yesterday Thursday November 13, 2008. Austin received his mission call. The funny thing was, he was out of town and didn't get home until 7:00p.m. The letter didn't actually make it to my dads yesterday. But a lady at the post office, who knows my dad saw the letter and knew what it was. It had just come to late to make it out. So she called my step-mom Karen, told her that the letter was there and offered to bring it by. The best part about this was, 1- Everybody was originally planning on being there at 8:00 so we could watch him open it. But when it didn't come, the plans were cancled. Well, at 7:00 Karen calls me and tells me we're back on. Austin however was still under the impression that it didn't arrive. So as he was downstairs showering, everyone was arriving. He was so suprised! So I know that I am rambling on... He has been called to serve in the Arequipa, Peru Mission! Spanish speaking. He will leave for the Provo, UT MTC on March 25, 2009 and be there for 3 weeks. He will then leave for Lima, Peru and spend the next 6 weeks in the Peru MTC. Then he will go out and share the gospel. We are all so proud of Austin. And I know he will be a great missionary.

So uh, I was wondering...

So I was talking to my sister Lindy the other day, she was telling me that when her and her man move that they need to find a new home for one of his cats. Naturally she thought of me,(I love cats) and asked me if I wanted to take it. Hmmm...well, see the problem with that is I really don't want any pets. We have two dogs, and well that is more than enough. So I told her, no thank you. But this got me thinking...her man has two cats, why was he only getting rid of one? Maybe he had already found a home for the other one?! And why was he getting rid of them, he is moving from an apartment to a house, so shouldn't it be the other way around. When I called Lindy up to ask about this, I think at first that she thought that I had changed my mind. She told me they were keeping the one cat. Well, why weren't they keeping the other? The answer: "Because he destroys things." What?! Because he destroys things?! Why would I want a cat the destroys things?! So I said, " If you don't want the cat to destroy your house, why would I want it to destroy mine?!" She just laughed...That's my sister for you. She is pretty funny. Hey Lindy, why don't you ask Grandma Judi if she wants the cat?!

Elder Austin Ford Bowthorpe

I am so proud of my baby brother, Austin! I had the opportunity to go up to his ward today as he got set apart as an Elder, and received the Melchizedek Priesthood. As he was receiving his blessing I was thinking how neat it was, now when our family is need of blessings Austin and Chad will be able to give them. I am so thankful for the Gospel, and the blessings that it has brought into my life. Austin will receive his mission call on Wednesday this week, and we are anxious to see where he will go. But we know he will be called to where he is supposed to be. I look forward to the next couple of months, helping Austin get ready. And for the opportunity that I will have to be able to go with him as he receives his endowments. I love you, Austin!

Pick your 8

So anyone who reads this blog...I tag you! Have Fun

8 TV Show's I Like
1. House
2. 7th Heaven
3. American Idol
4. Shear Genius
5. So You Think You Can Dance
6. News-Channel 13
7. Word World
8. The Disney Chanel

8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Visited with an old friend
2. Played with Stetson
3. Talked to my Dad on the phone
4. Stetsons speach therapist came over
5. Colored Lindy's hair
6. Colored my mom's hair
7. Went to Costco
8. Watched Get Smart with Chad, Austin, and Stetson


8 Favorite Places to Eat
1. El Farols
2. Tucano's
3. Olive Garden
4. Italian Village
5. The Village Baker
6. Stoneground
7. Guadalahonkeys
8. Chuch-A-Rama

8 Things on My Wish List
1. Tickets to Wicked the musical
2. A 2009 or 2010 Baby
3. A new Dishwasher
4. A new Fridge
5. A new Red front door
6. To paint my shutters red
7. To be done with the "45 days"
8. A maid

8 Favorite Songs
1. 'Dante's Prayer
2. 'I would-Laura Dawn
3. 'If your Gone-Matchbox 20
4. 'Seasons of Love-Rent
5. 'Slow Me Down-Emmy Rossum
6. 'Without Love-Hairspray
7. 'Run and Tell That-Hairspray
8. 'The whole Wicked soundtrack

8 Favorite Musicals
1. Wicked
2. Hairspray
3. The Pirates of Penzance
4. Phantom of the Opera
5. Mama Mia
6. Rent
7. Fiddler on the Roof
8. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

~k so copy and paste your answers, then add another category with your 8 answers to the bottom.

To read or not to read...Is that even a question!

Okay, Okay...So I swore I wouldn't do it. I would not be another woman who read and fell in love with the Twilight Series. I bought the first book in June. Still I was reluctant to pick it up then on a whim Wednesday October 22 I started reading. I was done with the series by Tuesday morning. I loved the books. I had a really hard time concentrating on other things, my mind would be wondering what was going to happen to Bella and Edward. So I guess I am one of those women. That's okay. I had forgotten how much I loved to read. When I was a little girl I would read all the time, even up into college I still read. After I got married, it was just one of those things that got put on the back burner. But my love of literature is rekindled, and I am very thankful for that. I have always truly believed that it only takes finding the right book to make you enjoy reading. When I was younger the series was "The Babysitter Club", now I guess it is Twilight.

Halloween #2

 

Still more pictures of Halloween. I made my usual batch of Chili. It was so yummy! We had good food, and lots of fun. It was Stetson's first year trick-or-treating. He seemed to like it, we took him to 3 of our neighbors houses. Everyone is such good sports. As for our home, we had a ton of trick-or-treaters. We went through 3 giant bowls of candy. But the funniest trick-or-treaters were the two couples who looked like they were 15 or 16 and doing it as a date. Broc and Austin were teasing them that they were too old, I say, if you have the courage to do that, than you deserve the candy. Broc and Austin were on a quest by then. They took a pez despenser and tried to tell the rest of the trick-or-treaters we were out of candy, they held open the pez dispenser and told the kids to take 1 pez. Of course I was right behind them with the real candy, but it was sure funny. By the end of the night, I was tired! And Stetson, Chad and I ALL slept like babies!

Sundays at the Hardy Home

The Five reasons that I love Sundays
1. I enjoy going to Church
2. I enjoy our Family Time together
3. I enjoy being with my Husband
4. I enjoy Chad helping with Stetson duty
5. I love Family Nap Time

Halloween

It was a very happy and festive Halloween at the Hardy Home this year! We had a great time, though we did miss not seeing some of our family. Most of my family dressed up which was fun. Austin was Hugh Hefner, Lindy was Little Miss Texas (a child Beauty Queen) Broc and Heather were a married couple. (This was funny because they wouldn't even hold hands, when they are normally sitting on eachothers laps.) My mom and Denny were Mrs. Robbinson and the Graduate. And Chad, Stetson and I were in themed costumes. Chad was the Redneck Tin-man. We hooked a funnal to his ball hat, Put a paper heart in his pocket and tied some oil to his belt. I was the make-shift Lion, and wore a gold star around my neck for courage. And Little Stetson was the Scarecrow. He looked so cute!

CornBelly's at Thanksigiving Point

This month I had the opportunity to take Stetson to Cornbelly's. My mom and Denny
were able to meet us there, and we had lots of fun! Stetson loved the rain-gutter duck game. He kept stealing peoples ducks as they were going down to the opposite side. He absolutely loved the Chicken singing. He was over there for a good 20 minutes. He just kept shakin' his little tail feather. He loved going down the slides. He enjoyed riding in the cow train, playing in the houses, going on a wagon ride, and running around. He did not like walking through the big monster, or any of the jumping equipment. I think his favorite part though was the Nachos. He LOVED them! As for me, my favorite part...besides being with Stetson and watching him enjoy things was sitting in the Cinderella carriage. I truly felt like the little girl again, who always thought of herself as a princess. What a fun fun day!

Things that go Bump in the Night- or morning

This morning around 6:30 Stetson woke up crying. Now this is an odd thing for him. I went in to comfort him, and he wanted to come with me. So we went back into my room, and he just wanted to sleep on me. Not by me, but on me. For about the next I had a little boy who was wiggling around trying to get comfortable with a foot in my face at one point or when my head was used as a pillow. But I didn't mind, I am just happy that I get to comfort him when he's had a bad dream, and that he knows that I am a safe place.

My little Pumpkin

I just wanted to add some individual pictures of Stetson. He really enjoyed the Saturday. Except for the picture in the middle. It was indeed a temper tantrum. I would not let him go in the street. I know, I know...mean mom! Hope you all have a very festive October, and Happy Harvesting!

Saturday is a Pumpkin Day?

Saturday was a fun day for our family. We started the day by going to a Pumpkin Patch with Chads brother Cory, his wife Gina and their cute son Mason. Cory and Gina were watching Braxton so he got to come as well! Aren't those three boys the cutest cousins you have ever seen?! Braxton is the oldest by 6 months then it's Mason who is a little over 6 months older than Stetson. We were at the pumpkin patch for about an hour, and the dad's definately took the longest picking out their pumpkins. We went our seperate ways after that. We were going to go to Gardner Village, but it was so crowded and all the boys were ready for a nap. When Stetson woke up, he helped me decorate the house for halloween. It looks really cute, and he had fun! Later that evening Cory, Gina and Mason came over and we carved pumpkins! Although the boys were more interested in wearing the bowls on their heads. Mason kept calling it his helmet. What a fun fun day!

A remarkable discovery

As Stetson and I were walking around Wal-mart tonight, I came across a fabulous discovery! In the candle section they have cute festive warmers with the scented wax cubes. You know the ones I am talking about. Like the ones the Scensty sells. Only the difference in cost is about 1/2. My cute pumpkin warmer cost $12.98 and my pack of scents cost $1.98! I love the idea of these warmers, but I could never bring myself to buy a $30.00 one and then the scents on top of that. I can however justify $15.00. So I'll just say YAY! Yay for my new candle. Remarkable.

Stetson Bow

He is my baby. He is my little boy. He is my fit thrower, mess maker, and trouble causer. He is my angel, and my devil. He is my joy, and sometimes my pain. He makes me worry, but also make me carefree. He works with me and against me. He is my hugger and my biter. He is my love, an expression of love. He is a part of me, and a part of his daddy. He is my son. He is himself. He is our Stetson. He is my little boy.

Labor Day Weekend

For Labor Day weekend this year, Chad, Stetson and I went up to Big Horn Ranch to go camping with Chad's brother Cory's family. I am so glad that we got to do this it was a lot of fun. Stetsons cute and slightly older cousin Mason was there and they played. Well... I should say that Mason wanted to play. Stetson wanted to fight. Don't ask me why? Every time I would try to help him he would lay down in the dirt and scream. I enjoyed being able to visit with Gina and I know that Chad loves the ranch. Cory and Gina were very nice to watch Stetson while Chad and I took an ATV ride down to the frog pond. I would shine the light and Chad would catch them. Some of those frogs were huge! As we drove back it was getting dark, and had started raining. It was actually romantic, to be cuddled up with my hubby. It was a tough night, and a wet morning. It had rained all night. It was so muddy going out of there you wouldn't believe it. Seriously. When we got home we just relaxed. Oh, on a sad

note Stetson had 4 slivers in his hands that we had to get out. Thank you Cory, Gina, and Mason. It was fun, and we can't wait till next year.

Lets hear it for Two Buck Tuesdays!

This August, Thanksgiving Point did a promotion. Two Buck Tuesdays every well... Tuesday. We were able to go every Tuesday since we only live about 5 minutes away. The first week we went to Farm Country. That was Stetsons favorite. We actually went twice. He loved all the animals and would mimic the sounds they made. But he did not love the pony ride. He prefers the wagon ride. The following Tuesday Austin came with us and we went to the Discovery Garden. It was great. At the front they have a Noahs Ark, with water all around almost like a wading pool. They had so much stuff for kids to look at and climb on. The gate to the big Gardens was open as well so we went and walked around there. When we were done, we were tired. The last Tuesday we finished up by going to the dinosaur museum. Stetson thought it was okay, but would have nothing to do with touching anything. Thank you Thanksgiving Point for offering such a fun idea. We hope they offer this again next year!

A Celebration Dinner

After our sealing we went to Golden Corral in Orem. We figured that was a good middle part. Our family and friends came to help us celebrate. Chad's mom made us a celebration cake. And we got to cut it like we did when we were married. How fun! But this time it was better, because we had Stetson. And we got to feed him cake. The blessings in my life are enourmous. The people that my Heavenly Father has surrounded me with is amazing. I am so thankful for the gospel. Isn't it amazing to know what we know? I hope that I am a good example , or that I can be. And I hope that everyone realizes how much I love them and need them in my life. Towards the end of the dinner Chad stood up and thanked everyone for coming, and for their support and love. After the dinner and our goodbyes Chad and I took Stetson home to have a sleepover with Aunt Lindy. Then we drove up to The Anniversary Inn- Carriage Room. It was such a wonderful anniversary, and Chad gave me the best present of all... Being together forever.

A Forever Family

On Wednesday August 20, 2008 Our family became a Forever Family. That was also the day of our 4 year anniversary. It was a beautiful day. We wanted to be sealed in the Manti Temple. We love that temple. Our friends Shay, Jeremy, their cutie Harlee girl, and Whitney met us at our house and we drove down together. My brother Austin also came with us. It was such a neat experience for me to have my baby brother there. He isn't endowed so he did a baptism session. It was his first time being able to go in to the Temple. I forgot our paperwork in the car and Austin had our keys so it took a while to get them. So of course by then we were running late. Go figure. On our wedding day 4 years earlier our ceremony was about 30 minutes late as well. The sealing was beautiful. Like a wedding. And the security that I know I will be with Chad and Stetson forever is very peaceful. When Stetson came in he was screaming. And I have to be honest I was slightly disappointed. Until I was writing in my journal a couple days later and I realized that even that was beautiful. I am excited for the day that Stetson gets to go into the Temple and to do baptisms and to receive his own endowments. I love the Temple. I love going to the Temple. Thank you to all who supported us.

Ooh La La

The day before Chad and I went to the Salt Lake Temple, we went in to Salt Lake for a fun date night. We stayed at the Anniversary Inn, in the Dodge City room. We went to dinner at Tuccanos in Salt Lake, then went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and watched the Joseph Smith Movie. We finished the evening with a night carriage ride. What a fun romantic date! How lucky am I to have such a wonderful Husband.

I love to see the Temple

Now that our computer is up and running I can finally post again. On August 16, 2008 Chad and I were finally able to go to the Salt Lake Temple and recieve our endowments. It was beautiful. I had a scripture in my head the whole time. Moroni 10:5 " And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things." I felt the spirit and I know the things I learned are true. I am so thankful that we have gotten to this point. It has been a long road, full of ups and downs. The adversary worked hard against us, but the blessings we recieved during our trials far outnumbered the bad. As Chad and I drove into Salt Lake I saw the Temple and I started to cry. I was so thankful that I finally would get to go inside. And I am thankful to all the people who supported us. I am also truly greatful to my Father in Heaven, who hears our prayers and knows us as individuals.