Hard to come back to WORK

As always it is SO GOOD to be HOME, this is one vacation I could have stayed a few days more...and for me THAT is saying ALOT. The resort was MAGNIFICENT...and so was the all you can eat incredibly tasty food...fresh guacamole and chips and fish and fruit and pina coladas and strawberry daquiries, and the soft serve ice cream machine...oH BABY!!!...I'll give you the run down later. I am multi tasking at the moment...talking to Olive about GrandDad and posting so you know that I live....
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL...and soul soothing... I wish I could just blink and go back when I need moment or two of heaven on earth.
Don gave me a 25th wedding anniversary diamond band...you all know I'm NOT a jewelry person, but he wanted to give me diamonds since he had never given me any (the one one in my wedding ring I inherited). It was an unforgettable 25th...so wierd to have been married longer than I was single.

cutest beach bag on the planet

OKAY, we're off to tropical CANCUN for our 25th wedding anniversary. Not sure if I'll post or if you'll just have to wait until next Wednesday...if you see my kids, give em a hug and make sure they brushed their teeth! :)

I AM so GLAD that I found this ADORABLE BAG!!!

Happiness at the end of a crazy day

We are still trying to name them...are they ADORABLE or what? I mean the kitties AND the NIECES!!!!
Crazy day with GrandDad. Olive has called a few times worried and wanting me to come.
Yesterday he went to the Dr. and was extremely agitated...Dr. Donald is FINALLY worried about his living alone as well. GrandDad was having a hard time communicating. He has had extensive nose bleeds the last week and had his nose coterized to stop the bleeding(3 different neighbors took him to the hospital to get it stopped over the last week--LOVE THOSE PEOPLE)...pretty sure it is related to his high blood pressure over the agitation....the agitation is his tax situation which is now all settled, but he isn't "getting it" that it IS taken care of. Dr. Donald said to go to Cancun and enjoy it and them come when I can to get things taken care of...I feel EXASPERATED...I Have been there ALREADY to do that...obviously more than once...growing old is HARD. We may try to have him move up his Drivers Liscence Test...if he doesn't pass that, and Olive isn't sure that he will (I personally think he WILL) it will force him to decide the next move that will bring him help.
Huhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm. Pray for resolution...real and final resolution.

THANK YOU MEGAN!!!

These make me breathe lighter...I SO LOVE THEM!!!
I have a new favorite blog---a MUST visit.... thepioneerwoman.com make sure you check her recipes as well...the apple dumpling turnover things are TRULY to DIE for and SO SO easy!!! She is a delicious writer and her life is so engaging you just want to go hang out with her and meet MARBOROUGH(sp) Man and the kids and the dogs...
I hope to check out some of her stories while in Cancun.

Listed another amazing home this morning. SO MANY On the market. The data points suggest we'll be slow at least another year. Hard to comfort clients when they want to be gone yesterday.

Spring is hiding. One more morning of running in the low 30's...it seems almost unbearable. I pick up the kittens for the back shed (new mousers) today...I'll love that!!!

HOME AGAIN HOME AGAIN

I LOVE MY HOUSE!!! I LOVE MY NEST IN ALL THE WORLD MY NEST IS BEST!!!!
I am so happy to sleep in my bed tonight. I am so happy to smell the smell of our house. I am so happy to be HOME!!! I am so happy to get my e-mails and have phone reception. I am so glad to always have a clean bathroom! We had such a sweet time together. EVERYONE needs a vacation. This is just the bare bones of the trip. I could write a log just on what we/I ATE...I refuse to weigh until we're back a month. BUT IT WAS YUMMY!!! I love to see how different the rest of the world is...and believe me...life looks pretty darn good out there on the coast...WHAT DO THOSE PEOPLE DO TO MAKE THEIR MONEY????? And could someone explain why it is STILL COLD here? This Utah weather will make us all immigrate! Michael, we missed you like crazy buddy...you would have loved it all...especially the food and the coasters...and everything....I've put a bunch of pictures on here so you might have to click on OLDER POSTS to see them all.

SIX FLAGS

Remember how I was JUST saying how I feel 15? Scratch that. I am 45 years old and I feel EVERY year of it and I am now officially TOO OLD for Roller Coasters!!! First thing they have to take me on this instrument of torture called Tamatsu or some dumb thing like that were you start out face down, and stay face down and twirl and heaven only knows what else. I did it for the team to say "I'm apart of this good time with you." The second one was this tame looking old white roller coaster...yea right...i was SICK...I was also DONE. By the end of the day they literally DRAGGED me--physically holding on to both my arms with Don in protest...but not much...onto GOLIATH....yes, the largest drop in a roller coaster in the world with a g force like I don't know what. Finally I negotiated with Spencer and made a DEAL for something I wanted from him as a mother which he agreed to and then I went. I will NEVER EVER NEVER NEVER NEVER Ever...NEVER NEVER EVER do that again. No it did not make me sick...but that was the closest I have come to wetting my pants in I don't know when...and it scared the freaking daylights out of me. I was SO GLAD to walk out of that place and be very far away. I swear it will freak you out just driving up to it. I should say the boys had the TIME of their lives and I think my riding Goliath was part of that...perfect weather, no lines...they had had their fill by 4!!!

SEA WORLD

I'm afraid that this will be like those horrible HOME MOVIES for you...this is mostly for Michael...so if you want to click out here you might save yourself....
I LOVE SEA WORLD!!!! EVERYTHING was so interesting and FUN! The dolphin and Shamu shows were my favorite...but feeding the seals was right up there! A bird came and took a fish I had bought to feed the seals right out of my hand!!! But my most favorite part was just being with MY INTERESTING FAMILY!!! The boys and Megan had us laughing the whole trip.

My RUN

Newport Beach Marriott

Okay...I felt rich. I promise, the cars alone let you know you are on another planet!!! We saw Bently's and Rolls Royce's and "more GT Mustang's than I'v ever seen in my whole life"-Spencer...it was HARD to find a vehicle more than 2 years old!!! The beach was beautiful to run on...the first morning there were 100's of darling little brown bunnies with white bushy tails that would run across the path---and the AIR...was delicious...so easy to breathe. Our room was LOVELY, the pool was INCREDIBLE and the grounds...oh my goodness...just have a look. THANK YOU Mr. Marriott for your yearly special...we can't even be sorry that we don't buy a time share because you make the special such a killer deal that it is worth it to ANYBODY to sit through a 90 minute time share presentation in exchange.

Bellagio in Vegas

If you know me you know I HATE Las Vegas...but this trip they really cleaned up the strip...now mind you, we didn't get out of the car at night...but last time they had disgusting "pamplets" all over the ground and I really hated tromping my boys around, so I didn't...I just got them the heck out of there. THIS TIME, we drove in the car and there weren't any pamphlets or advertisements all over the ground. I could have appreciated a few bill boards changed...but that was to be expected. Anyway. Megan loves to go to Vegas with friends and talked me into going into the Bellagio for there inside Garden...amazing...she was right...I LOVED it! Hope you enjoy the creativeness as much as I did!

A few years ago we were in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving, when Josh was playing in the football national championships (they took second:))...lets just say, not a GREAT experience on THANKSGIVING Day...BUT it was very memorable...Michael...this picture is for YOU!!! We stayed in Vegas on the way to and from Newport Beach and ate at Denny's in memory of that Thanksgiving and YOU!!! We missed you the WHOLE time.

I have the shortest legs so I sat in the back alot and WISHED I could have taken more pictures and at least taped Sam being funny. It feels wierd to have such BIG BODIES in our family now!!!

Back Scratches

when they were little I could never bend down to get a pan out of the cupboard or sweep something up because they (THE BOYS) would pounce on my back....NOW, I can't sit down ANYWHERE without them lifting up their shirts for a back scratch....especially SPENCER!!! We loved listening to Harry Potter Book 7 on CD all the way down and all the way back!!! We only have 2 more discs to go...and we'll listen tonight before bed! It is AMAZING!!!

Price of Gas

It about made me cry...it seems it is never going to stop going up!

FORGOT THE CAMERA CABLE

Okay...pictures WILL follow to PROVE that I AM IN HEAVEN.....

Favorite Thing So Far

On the way to Vegas I was sleeping...driving puts me to sleep like a baby. I woke up and Don said, "You're pretty"...Spencer sitting behind us said "Mom, I think you're PRETTIER"...then Josh said "Well, I think you are BEAUTIFUL"....and Sam wrapped it up with "Hey, I think you are THE most BEAUTIFUL woman in the WORLD." Stupid, but it has made my whole week. It's nice to know that even if I don't fit into the world's standards of pretty, ther are other MORE IMPORTANT standards:)where I can still be beautiful to the ones I love. And yep...I'll spend 6-12 hours in the car with these guys ANYDAY.
A beautiful day ahead at Magic Mountain, a 6 Flags roller coaster park....YEEEEE HAWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

HAPPINESS IS YARD WORK

Saturday was GLORIOUS!!!! Becky and I ran 15, then I came home and worked in the yard non-stop until 9...wish I could have done it again yesterday!Don was great and bought Wendy's for dinner and did all the driving so I could just keep at it. It just feeds my soul to work in the dirt and with living things. I was transplanting perennials all over the place. I AM SO HAPPY FOR THE SUNSHINE!!!
Sad news is that OINK in no longer at the front of the house. He's in the back by the chicken pen. Anna (10) and Lauren (8) from next door spent most of the day with me "visiting" while I worked. I love those girlies. We found a big blow snake and they had thier dad come get it and take it away because they were afraid it was going to go into THIER yard:)
We're heading out for California today...I am READY for a break. i'm thrilled for the time we will be JUST US together without the rest of the world dropping in or needing things. I'll update you as I can.

SPRING BREAK BEGINS NOW!!!

School is out for today and now we have until Monday after next to PLAY. Sam did not win the election...Bryn won...a cute girl who is one of his good friends. I pretty much hate those "oh so good for you" experiences. He's taking it like a man, but a burrito at BAJIO's didn't hurt any. Woke up to snow and WIND...ugh. Barb did her good deed for this year and rode with me to place real estate signs.A good woman. I hope I am at her "judgement"...I'm going to beg for her to be given her own kingdom and then beg to be let in...
Don is home early, Johnsons are in town,my house is full of "guys" playing ninetendo games, tommorrow I run 15-20 with Becky (she's going to run another marathon without me...I can't stand the 10 pounds I gain everytime I do) Life is moving on......

ALL IS WELL

I LOVE GOOD PEOPLE!!!! Jeremy arranged for a special pediatric sedation team to be at the hospitl. to help Sam with the MRI since it was so long in the tube...45 minutes+...these women were angels and the epitamy of kindness. The rule is that you get your scheduled time unless there is an accident or emergency and then they go ahead of you. Well, these dear women stayed with us while we waited for at least 2 emergencies to go ahead of us (and we were grateful to wait as we thought of those who gave up their time when Spencer needed it). Anyway. he didn't get to go in until 3:10. We were home by 5...and they didn't find a single thing. SO it will be interesting to see what the eye specialist has to say on Monday. I have to admit that a huge part of me really wanted them to find "THE THING" that is causing his headaches and upset tummy. Anyway. I could FEEL your prayers yesterday--THANK YOU!!!

And Jeremy...I LOVE MY BROTHER...it was incredible comfort to have hin in the hospital and around while it was all going on.

Dang! I just accidentally erased the sweetest pictures of Jeremy and the nurses with Sam...ugh.
Anyway..THE SUN IS SHINING!!!
Natalie

can't sleep

Must be worked up about Sam...I can ALWAYS sleep....
anyway, made me think of two new favorite web sites Megan showed me last week that i think you might like too...

www.hulu.com free movie streams and TV shows
www.pandora.com music site that introduces you to new music and artists

okay...not a site, but I laughed my head off tonight...on the country TV station:
My Big Redneck Wedding Show....unbelievable!!!

SAM

Wednesday (tomorrow) Sam will have a brain MRI and be in the tube for 45 minutes...even for a person without clostrophobia that would be a long time. At his eye appointment last week the doctor sits back and says, "Does Sam seem to have a lot of headaches and maybe an upset stomach every now and again?" I sat in disbelief as I explained the last 3 YEARS of Dr.s visits and missed school and trips to Primary Children's hospital all over continual headaches and upset stomach with all tests turning out negative. Dr. Bean (real name) explained that his optic nerve ends were bulging markedly and that he needed to be seen by an opthamologist quickly...something is causing pressure behind his eyes that is causing the bulging. I am almost afraid to hope that this could be it...PLEASE let this be it...they have it narrowed down to one of two things...HOW I WOULD LOVE to be able to give it a NAME and a treatment!!! --To relieve him sometimes just in having an explanation as to WHY it keeps happening. I'd also love to take the diagnosis to the school and say "SEE...it IS REAL!!!" WE know it's real. Anyway...any prayers would be appreciated. Whatever the outcome, we are dang grateful to be surrounded by people who have sacrificed and studied that they can help us.
SPECIAL THANKS to Jeremy(how blessed can a mom be to have a BROTHER for a doctor who drops everything and brings the best of the best with him?)...he will be there with a special pediatric team of anesthestists to help Sam make the 45 minutes...they'll put in an IV and feed the sedation through that.It's ME they will need to give a valium!

Thanks MEGAN!!

Sunday Megan and I were out walking and stopped by my running partner's (Becky)house. She had these amazing tulips on her counter and I told her how they were one of my favortie things I'd ever seen...and Megan showed up with them for me yesterday!!!! I am SO excited!!! They should bloom in about 10-12 days.

I came back from my workout a new woman...not loving the weather, but not hating it either...and sun was out a LITTLE. These dang deer sure feel at home!!! They ALMOST ruined my better mood....

TRULY the weather is getting to me!!!

I woke up, it was snowing again, and I just COULD NOT get myself to go out in it...REALLY REALLY, this has GOT to end...It is April 8th for heavens sake!!!It's 8:15 and I am just now leaving to run. No sunshine, just grey skies, and snow predicted for tomorrow...for the first time I get why old people move SOUTH.

Michael knows Don is there and was glad he didn't visit...OK, the men in my family are WIERD.

I am TOTALLY LOVING Oprah's new bookclub book and the classes A NEW EARTH...I am learning tons about myself and how little I live in the present. I suggest it to everyone. Especially the online classes. Eckhart Tolle has the most soothing and calm personality.

Kori's Killer and Easy Salsa

SALSA

1/2 onion
1/2-3/4 bunch cilantro
2 cans SW Mexican Recipe stewed tomatoes
1 can Del Monte Original Recipe stewed tomatoes
1 can Great Value diced tomatoes and green chilies
lime juice and salt to taste

I process (in a food processor with the chopper blade) the onion, cilantro and lime juice first, put it in a bowl then process 2 cans at a time. Stir it all together and chill.

McKell and Mark's TWINS are HERE!!!

Okay girlies!!! Meet Macy and Gage! McKell...we are SO THRILLED for you!!!

CONFERENCE SUNDAY

Hard to think of Don so close to Michael...I cannot EVEN image how he didn't just get on a train and GO SEE HIM. I thought of them both all day.
It was SO NICE to just be HOME for Sunday. We loved Conference. We played ALOT of games of Settlers. Sam made the Primaries for the Jr. High elections so we are on round 2...he'll know this Friday if he wins...3 of them are going on to the finals.
Jamie came and "geeked out"my site with a playlist and the temperature...I'll post his picture later--it's on Josh's camera. THANK YOU JAMIE...it was GREAT to wake up and have the temperature there so I knew what running clothes to wear.

MY NEW SiGN

I am so lucky to have a graphic arts major for a sister in law! This is my new sign and I LOVE IT!!!! She actually had a much prettier font for my name, but at 30 feet it was too thin...anyway...THANKS Kori!!...

Saturday nothings

This should be my baby. I love baby toes!!!
Check out Jamie and Julie's site if you haven't been there...it is TOTALLY "geeked" out as Jamie puts it...I'm lovin'his play list...he's going to teach me how to do it:) Man I have great friends!
Got to sleep in... woke up at 5 to run and found Josh and Shaunzie Byron still talking on the front couch...she lost the election for Student Body President last night. Since Josh lost last year he must have been the perfect listening ear. They came in from the waffle party celebration about 3:30...man things are different from when I was a teenager...we never would have been allowed an all nighter...not even for graduation or Prom:) They are great kids.
My clients got tickets to the morning session of conference and cancelled this morning.YEAH!!!

HEAVY FOOT

Okay,...listed the (GORGEOUS) Stevens home out in Highland, on the way home on a 4 lane hiway I was pulled over by this darling YOUNG (24yrs MAX)police officer. I was embarressed and said so, and admitted that I had NO IDEA why he was pulling me over. He looks at me and says "you were going 42 in a 35". I apologized, confessed that I do have a heavy foot, but that I was amazed that the speed limit could only be 35!!! Anyway...the ticket wasn't the sad part...THE SAD PART was the way he treated me, like this fragile OLD LADY!!! What is this, make Natalie feel old week? Bless his heart, he was just trying to be sweet...and in his kindest voice he is explaining about traffic school. Of course I wasn't going to interupt to say "oh, I am SO AWARE of traffice school". I actually just smiled and realized that it has been 3 years since I had a ticket and visited that school...SO...not so bad for an old lady with FAT FEET:)
Don leaves for Germany early tommorrow and will be on the same continent and COULD GO SEE MICHAEL...but he won't. I'm not going because I WOULD!! He'll be gone a week and I swear if HE DOES go see Michael without me...my heart will be broke.
NC investor flying in today so no day off like hoped for.
Our Church Conference is tommorrow and Sunday and will be on most local stations. Will be nice to stay home and watch in our jammies.

FINALLY SUNSHINE

SUNSHINE! SUNSHINE! SUNSHINE! ohhhhh yea.....FINALLY! I NEED Sunshine!!! And the snow is gone except for the banks:)
Jeremi "Tagged" me a few days back, thanks...it's been fun to think about...so here goes...10 of my FAVORITE THINGS not in order and not including my FAMILY:
1. When people like me and they show it.
1 1/2. Talk time, relaxed time with friends when they don't have to hurry and leave.
2. Being held, touched, hair played with, back scratched, massages.
3. Laughing
4. Long summer days in the sun at the WATER...okay..WARM water...showers,bath's, hot tubs, swimming pools above 82 degrees...
5. Freshly cleaned sheets.
6. House cleaned and organized behind those cupboards and doors...yep, with that clorox clean up smell and the vacuum marks in the carpet.
7. A good book.
8. Having plenty of money in my bank account so that I don't worry or feel pressured.
9. Working in the yard/gardening.
10.Eating out/eating food I love.
11.That feeling that kicks in between the 3rd and 4th mile running where my mind slows and all I can feel is the strength of my body and the goodness in my life and I never want to stop and have to DANCE while I run because the music is so incredible!
12.Being with children; watching children, holding, snugging,teasing,sleeping,feeding,playing, exploring, reading with children.
There. An dozen.5 for ya Jeremi!

LOOKING 45...

It's been life at break neck speed here for 2 weeks or so...tonight I speak for 15 minutes at the Stake Yw Leadership Conference and then CHURCH will slow down...and after I list a home in the morning I plan on taking the whole rest of the day off. Remember my big project that looked out of place in Orem? Made National News...yep, gonna be foreclosed on. I feel horrible for the Developer. Although he has "made it" and "lost it" once before, so I just expect him to strap his boots on and do it again...if he can get a bank to trust him. I'm sad for my investors and the time they have spent without an investment. I'll just strap my boots on and find them another. I feel sad for my April...all of those closes were for this month. Ahhh Real Estate. It is a roller coaster ride, but I LOVE not having a boss and getting to be Queem of my own schedule...and that makes it worth that ride.

I looked at this picture and just felt tired looking at me! Geez...I AM 45 years old. I swear that most days I still FEEL 18 so it is SO CONFUSING to look at pictures and the mirror and see this older woman. I LOVE the look on Todd's face...he devoured the empanadas with such sincere enjoyment that it made it worth all the time they took yesterday. I'll include the recipe later when I have more time. The kick off was marvelous. Bill Pepperoni spoke about his conversion and was REAL. I love REAL people.

FACING THE GIANTS

We rented this for Family Night on Monday and then life was real and crazy and we never go to it...and then last night my obsession with BIGGEST LOSER got in the way. SOoo...today when Spencer stayed home "sick" from school (sick of not being able to golf), we watched it together while I made 120 empandas for our Missionary Month Kick Off at Mutual tonight. I'd never seen a Christian film before other than LDS. I was so impressed. It really touched my heart in places that needed to be touched. I liked the different words they used in their Christian culture like "minister" and "turn your life over". Okay...don't get the wrong idea, even if you are NOT a believer, you will like the thoughts that this movie will bring to your head.

I LOVED the scene where the kid is doing the death crawl and the coach is coaching him beyond his percieved ability...so many people are that coach for me in my life. I KNOW God put them here for me...yea, alright, I KNOW it's NOT all about ME. I still believe that He did anyway.AND THank you for being that coach. ALone I am such a wuss.
I really liked the blindfold part and how true it is for us not to be able to see what is coming so that we can do better than we think. Geez... my mind is racing. Go rent it, then call me and we'll talk. My only criticism is that in my life, just because I love God, everything doesn't work out how I'd like it. They kind of try to make that point, but it gets diluted with the ending. But hey...I LOVE HAPPY ENDINGS!