Diet Pepsi, a Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Cookies

Tyson drove by K-Mart today and saw they were having a sale on their Pepsi products. I was pretty excited, considering we were out of diet pepsi and we needed some really really badly.

So we took a little drive over to K-Mart and walked right over to the soda section, only to find out they were out of diet pepsi. That never happens! So we tried Albertson's. And even though it wasn't on sale, Tyson still bought me a 12 pack. He also let me get one of those cute little pumpkins they sell out front for $0.99. And to add to my treats, we walked passed the 10/$10.00 section and I saw those mini bags of Betty Crocker cookie mix. The chocolate chip ones looked so good! So we picked one up, came home, and I made them all. The pack only made eight cookies, but it was satisfactory! Delicious.

Ever have those days where you want cookies but you don't feel like baking them from scratch? Yeah, that doesn't ever happen to me. I'm all about the scratch! But today was the exception. And normally I don't like these kinds of cookies. But they were so good!

diet pepsi image via pepsi.com

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

Today is my brother Aaron's 27th birthday. Last night we had a family birthday party to celebrate the big day. We had a great time!

Happy birthday, Brother! We love you!

Opening presents

If he's reading his card like that he must be getting old!

Che', Amber & Dad

Aaron staring at his present from Amber & Che'

It was a snow globe-type thing with a basketball player inside of it. (Not sure how to explain that one!)

Blowing out the birthday candle on his favorite cherry cheesecake.

Mom lighting the candle

Britney & Aaron

Tyson & I

Amber & Che'

And So it Begins

Need I say more?

You'll know where we'll be tonight at 8:00!

image via greysanatomyinsider.com

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Murri!

On Monday night we had a family home evening that was also a birthday party for my Grandpa Murri. It was a lot of fun being able to get together with extended family. We haven't been together since the Murri Family Reunion in August. Good times!

Happy birthday, Grandpa! We love you!

"Heavy heavey hang over thy poor head..."

Remembering Patrick Swayze

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"Look, spaghetti arms. This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don't go into yours, you don't go into mine."
-----

This is how I'll always remember the late Patrick Swayze. My favorite movie of all time is "Dirty Dancing" where he played the part of dance instructor Johnny Castle. It has been my favorite since I was four years old. I could watch this movie every day. Amber, Ashlee and I used to sing and dance to the music of "Dirty Dancing" quite often. We even have video footage of us singing "I've Had the Time of My Life," thanks to our good friend Bill. We were also able to attend the 20th anniversary showing of the movie, and it was so much fun! Seeing it on the big screen was an amazing experience.

Patrick Swayze entertained us for years and showed his wonderful example by battling pancreas cancer. He was a wonderful person and a great actor.

____________________

"I'm gonna do my kind of dancin' with a great partner, who's not only a terrific dancer; somebody who's taught me that there are people willing to stand up for other people no matter what it costs them; somebody who's taught me about the kind of person I wanna be."

- Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing"

____________________

You will surely be missed, Patrick! Thanks for helping make my childhood so memorable!

images via imdb.com

The Last First Day of School

Yesterday and today have been the last time I will ever have a first day of school. How weird is that! I've really enjoyed being a student at BYU-Idaho, but now that I'm down to my last semester I can't wait to be finished. Especially since I have the joy of experiencing 20 credits for my final semester. Couldn't have planned it better, let me tell you! But I can see the finish line, so I'm motivated to get it done.

I only have two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays: Human Resource Management and Family Relations. These two courses will fulfill requirements for my business cluster and my family studies cluster. Today I just finished Senior Seminar (also known as Case Studies). Then I have Parenting, Marriage, Intro. to Bussiness, and Media Strategy & Planning. Notice the trend in the family classes? I think they will be fun and interesting.

So that's what I'll be doing Monday-Friday until Christmas. I'm just excited to finally receive my degree and move on with life.

Here's to a new and final semester!

***

And in honor of September 11th,

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to those men and women who risk their lives daily so we can continue to live in a free country. We are indebted to you! Thank you for all you do!

images via textually.org

Happy Birthday, Britney!

On Monday night we celebrated our sister-in-law Britney's 23rd birthday. We played Farkle and opened presents, and it was a lot of fun! We have a great time spending time with our families.

Britney doesn't like cake and everybody is on a diet. So we lit a candle in a bowl of M&M's ha ha.

Opening presents

We all got her e-cards to Forever 21 - her favorite store!

Playing Farkle

Che' & Amber

**

Happy birthday, Brit! We sure do love you!

Ready for Halloween

Yes, we are ready for Halloween at our house! On Saturday morning I went to Real Deals and Roberts with Amber and Britney to do a little shopping. I ended up finding a couple more things for Halloween at Real Deals (including this little jack-o-lantern) and then a couple of pilgrims for Thanksgiving at Roberts. We had a great time! And when we all got home we were just so excited to put our decorations up. So we did! Normally I wouldn't put Halloween stuff up till October, but I'm just too in the mood for it to be here already. It will just be Halloween for an extra month around here! Thanks again for the fun shopping day, Am and Brit! :)

I bought this pumpkin for $0.75 at a garage sale. I was so excited! And talk about a great deal! This is our kitchen table.

I found the "Spooky" at Real Deals with Amber & Britney

Mom made this little skeleton years ago, and he just had to stay in the family. So now I get to have him!

This is what the entry table looks like. I loved that jack-o-lantern guy, I just had to have him!

My mom also gave me this wreath. I love the little scarecrow.

Happy Birthday, Grandma O'Connor!

My dad's mom and his sister, Patti (from New Jersey), came up from Midvale, UT, to take Patti's kids to BYU-Idaho and to celebrate Grandma's 79th birthday. We had a bbq and opened presents. It was a really fun party, and it was great seeing Grandma and Patti!

Opening "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" from Aaron & Britney

She loves musicals!

Talking about her latest pair of sunglasses

Opening a Walmart gift card from my parents
She loves Walmart!

Aaron, Britney, Amber & Che'

Singing "Happy Birthday"

Blowing out the candles

Mom serving birthday cake

I caught Aaron in mid yawn ha ha.

Aaron, Britney & Patti eating birthday cake

Happy birthday, Grandma! We love you so much!

Our Praying Mantis Family

A couple of weeks ago I went outside to move one of the flower pots into the garage. When I picked it up there was a praying mantis on top of the longest plant. It freaked me out so I put it back down and made my mom move the little guy into the yard. Later that day Tyson's parents came over and there was another praying mantis on our light right outside the front door. And last night after going on a walk we came inside to find a praying mantis on the wall next to the front door. He must have been on the door when we left outside and snuck in. So I guess we have a family of praying mantis living somewhere in our yard. They're a little creepy, but they keep the bug population down!

My Wonderful Pan

Recently I have found myself wanting and needing some small bread pans. I did some shopping around and found some here and there, but the prices weren't exactly the best. Then I found this wonderful invention at Bed Bath 'n Beyond with four mini bread pans all in one. And the price was awesome! So I bought this for myself as an early birthday present. I tried it out on Sunday after church by baking some zucchini bread (for the first time, I might add). I love this pan! Talk about a time and money saver. And the bread was delicious!