Stuffed.

We're back from visiting Bob's family. We filled our bellies with a lot of amazing food, and treats. Bob's dad made a deep fried turkey, a smoked turkey, prime rib, and a ham.

I have supplied you with a detailed chart of what the dinner table looked like. So you can see what the five of us had in front of us to eat. We kept joking we could feed the entire neighborhood. And keep in mind this doesn't even include all of the yummy snacks, and treats that were all over the house.

Thanks to the Selle's for such a fantastic Thanksgiving! I hope all of you had yourselves a good one too. I will post all the fun from our trip tomorrow. Which by the way is December 1st. Which means the Christmas music and tree decorating are a happenin'.

Happy Thanksgiving (tomorrow)

This weekend we helped our friends Bonnie and Jon finish their basement. (Okay, it was more like sanding and painting a bit.) It was a really fun day, with a really yummy lunch and dinner.

At one point their daughter Ella woke up and we decided to do a little impromptu photo shoot. I am really pleased with how my new camera is working, and can't wait to put it to work up in Washington over the holiday.

Hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving filled with food, family, and tryptofan naps. See you back here Monday.

(p.s. if you're looking for something fun to do today, come play this fun little game on Eric's blog.)

It's almost Thanksgiving..

.. This holiday always gets me. Maybe because I have so much to be thankful for. Or because I know I have so much and others are going without.

When I used to live at home my mom would bustle around the kitchen whipping up recipes, and making her homemade pie crusts. (You haven't had a pie crust, until you have had my mom's.)

My dad and I would sit together and break the bread for the stuffing, laughing, and racing to see who could fill up their bowl the fastest.

Then when we would all sit down to eat, we would of course go around the table saying what we're most thankful for.

Well this year I have quite a lot to be thankful for..

- My husband who each day makes me laugh.

- My parents who are my biggest fans, and are always there for me.

- My husband's parents who never cease to amaze me with their kindness and generosity.

- For my siblings and my husband's siblings who are always willing to put up with my antics, and always make sure to tease me back. Just as siblings should.

- For an extended family. Mine and Roberts grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are some of the funnest people I know.

- For friends that make my life more fun, and realize I have shortcomings and love me anyway.

- For a roof over head, for food in my fridge, for freedom.

- For my abilities, talents, and health

- For my own personal relationship with my Heavenly Father.

- For my life and my support system.

Checklist for the weekend..

- Laundry.. I've had to dip into the reserves, which means concert t-shirts and those jeans that are just a bit too tight.

- Sleep in.. this week has been impossible to get out of bed. Perhaps it's the colder weather?

- Celebrate Jon's old age ;)

- Snap some pictures with my new camera.. I must look like the paparazzi with as much as I'm using it.

- Date night with my husband.

- Clean my house and try to de-clutter the office, so I can finally post some pictures of the new abode.

- Dig out our suitcases from storage and pack for Washington.

- And hopefully take me a short Sunday nap.

Hope everyone has a delightful weekend. See you back here Monday.

Cupcake, hold the frosting.

No, no, no, no, no. It's not here yet. It's not. I'm not ready for it. Frost. Scraping the frost off my windows in the morning is the worst.

It's the single thing I hate most about winter. Don't get me wrong. I love the snow. I love the chill in the air that forces me to put on my boots and gloves. But the frost? No thank you. I don't know what it is, but when I have to scrape it off my windows in the morning when I'm tired and grumpy.. well it's just not the way to start your day.

If there was a memo I could give to nature, it would go something like this..

Nature-

we're making cut backs, sorry to say, that means the frost on my car wind shield.

thank you for complying.

-Caitlin

p.s. if instead you would be interested in leaving a cupcake in it's place, that would be acceptable.

Cold Turkey

We all know I have a slight.. cough.. ahem.. addiction to something. (see here, here, and here.) So I have been trying to wean myself from my liquid sidekick. The only problem is that the headaches have started.

I have never experienced a caffeine headache until this weekend. We didn't have any Diet Coke in the house, and I was just drinking water. I didn't even notice until Saturday night when I got my first splitting headache. It was bad. But I didn't think it could be because of a couple days without Diet Coke. Then the next day, I had one all day long. One so bad I didn't feel like doing much of anything but laying down in a dark room.

Then on Monday when it hadn't gone away, I started thinking it might have something to do with caffeine. Well Monday night I went to my parents to have dinner and I spotted a can of caffeine just waiting to be consumed by little old me.

I wanted this headache gone, so I drank it. What's funny is I almost instantly felt better. I didn't notice it at first and then.. "Hey, my headache's gone!"

So I drank one more can, and went about my business for the rest of the night. That's when the caffeine took effect. I started talking faster than usual, which for anyone who knows me, knows that faster than usual, means road runner fast.

I couldn't sleep that night, I kept waking up and I just wasn't tired. I don't want to go back to it, but if that headache comes back, I don't think I can say no. This sounds like an abusive relationship doesn't it?

Which brings me to the conclusion that Mr. Diet Coke.. doesn't want to break up. Is there a solution I'm missing? I just want to let him down gently.

Santa loves me.

So I usually have a problem with any Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving. But last night I got a phone call from my mom telling me she wanted to give me my Christmas present early so I could use it.

To my surprise she and my dad gave me my very first digital SLR camera! I am so excited to try it out. Last night at Gavin and Jessica's housewarming party I snapped a couple pictures of this little bean. It's hard to go wrong with a model that cute. But I am loving the results so far.


Thanks mom and dad!

The Little Mermaid

Friday night my mom took my sister, my nieces and nephew, and me to see The Little Mermaid play at Kingsbury Hall. It was quite the experience.

Some of the highlights include:

-The cast taking those long pauses to remember their lines.

-Chairs getting kicked over on stage.

-Some less than stellar performances. (Let's just say none of these actors will be getting any Academy nods.)

-And my favorite of all. When one of the leads went off stage and didn't realize her microphone was still on, and for about five minutes told someone how she forgot one of her lines and all about the line she forgot. And should she go back on stage and say it still.

Oh boy, oh boy it was definitely entertaining. But the kids loved it and that was the whole idea.

And don't think we didn't stay after for the question and answer portion of the night. Where the kids could ask those all too important questions like.. "How do you get your tails to move?" Now, I wouldn't consider this a stupid question if the tails weren't obviously tied to their wrists with string, and they were flailing there arms about dramatically for no reason.

A Horror Story (may cause nightmares)

Minding my own business..

I make lunch at my apartment..

My spine starts to tingle..

I slowly glance down..

and see it..

the creature..

I let out a gasp..

Scream at the top of my lungs..

Utter some choice words..

Frantically look for a gun, a knife, a bomb..

Grab the closest squashing agent..

Hear the crunch..

Kill the biggest, grossest, multi legged freak bug I have ever seen.

Ugh.

What is it with me and creepy, crawly things? First it's a mouse, then ants, now a giant centipede, that looks like it originated in Madagascar.

When I told Bob all the gruesome details of the story later, he didn't seem to be alarmed that I found a toddler sized bug in our apartment. All he said after was "Wait Caity, was it gross though? Because I'm not quite grasping if you liked the bug or not."

The next time I make lunch at my apartment, I'm donning a HAZMAT suit.

(And yes, I refer to mice as creepy crawly things. I have a problem with any creature you can't put a leash on, and walk around the block.)

In {be} tween

Mm, today is just right. The air is cool and crisp enough to wear a long sleeve shirt, but just warm enough to wear shorts or a skirt.

I thought we were in for it when it snowed a couple weeks ago. I thought for sure winter was here to stay. But judging from the last couple of days, I am happy to report, we are nestled right in between Fall and Winter, and I for one am loving it.

This is the perfect time for doing some early Christmas shopping. For taking a run outside in the mornings. (which I should really do more) And for snuggling on down with a good book.

Quick story..

Eric and I used to work with one of those really nerdy, really know-it-all personalities. He would say really odd things, and throw out the occasional insulting remark to the rest of us.

One day I was trying to be extra nice to him and asked what he was doing that weekend. In his typical nasal-ee, snooty voice, he said, "Oh I think I will just snuggle on down with a good novel and sip some hot cocoa."

The room fell silent. And I just couldn't help but ask. "Um, did you just say you were going to snuggle on down?" After another minute of silence the whole room erupted in laughter. I think even he realized how ridiculous it had sounded.

So in honor of this chap, who will remain nameless. Let's all go home this evening and snuggle on down and enjoy this lovely in between-ness. (that's not a word is it)

So..

A while ago a lady at my moms work offered her a couple of tickets to the So You Think You Can Dance show. My mom knows I am a huge fan and was incredibly nice to take me with her.


I don't know if my mom realized it would be so loud. The 12 year old girls behind us were screaming at the top of their lungs. (And maybe the girl sitting next to her too.)

Our seats were amazing. We were on the fifth row, so we could see all the action and fabulous dancing.

The show was fabulous. We both had a blast. There's something about dance that makes me incredibly happy. Thanks to my mom for taking me with her and sharing in such a fun experience. I really do have such a cool mom.

Clumsy people might not be the best candidates for sharp objects.

Last night Bob and I were making dinner. He was grilling chicken on the BBQ and I was inside doing the potatoes.

Well as I was chopping them, I happened to slice my finger. I yelped out in pain and started cursing. Bob asked if I was alright and then chopped the rest of the potatoes for me while I went to bandage up my finger.

That's when I realized..

Who let the clumsy girl hold a knife? I think we're just asking for trouble in that situation. It's lucky I didn't fall while holding it, and slice one of my knee caps off.

On a side note, just yesterday I managed to not only cut myself, but rip one of my nails off, and choke on a banana. Yes, those mushy things they give to babies because they are so easy to digest.

help.

Would You Rather (7)

Would you rather..

Tell everyone you came in contact with for the next year that you are the biggest Twilight fan, and that you are on "Team Edward" and "Oh my gosh, I am so excited for the next movie."

or

Go on to the Oprah show live and tell everyone you are a vampire?

Sometimes I lose my motor skills.

As some of you may know, this amazing man died a short while ago. For those of you who don't know him, he was a leader in the church I belong to.


This conference I missed hearing Elder Wirthlin speak. He is one of those speakers that radiates with love. In the past he has spoken a lot about kindness, and gratitude. He gave a talk about five years ago, that quickly became my all time favorite. It was a talk that actually helped change me for the better. That doesn't happen often.

Anyway a story.. (and in true simplycaitlin fashion it was slightly embarrassing)

A while ago I had some good friends get married. I parked in the ZCMI center parking lot and like a dummy didn't think to write down where I parked in that huge lot, or even try to remember what level I was on. So when their wedding lunch was over I headed out to my car. About an hour later I realized someone had stolen my car. Okay, okay someone must have at least moved it. I couldn't find it anywhere.

I must have looked pretty strange frantically pushing the panic button on my key fob and holding it straight up. I swear to you I looked on every single level and walked up and down every single row of cars. I was beginning to think that I was never going to see my car again.

Finally I heard my car respond in honking when I pushed the button, but it was somehow across in another parking structure. I don't know if I just went back in the wrong door or what. Having no idea how to find the car or the other structure, I was on the verge of tears. Suddenly a black limo pulls up, and out walks Joseph B. Wirthlin and his body guard.

The three of us got into the empty elevator, and exchanged looks. The funny thing was I was standing really close to Elder Wirthlin and he was about a foot shorter than me. I looked down at him, and he looked up at me with his big glasses, and I didn't know what to say. I was frantic and was upset about my car. So what do I say?

"I lost my car."

*awkward silence*

Then his body guard politely told me how to get to the other parking garage and they got out of the elevator. THAT'S ALL I SAID!! I just sat there stunned, thinking about all I would have wanted to say to him. Like how much his last talk in conference changed my life and how amazing I think he is. But did I say that? Um no, I believe my exact words were "I lost my car." I was a tad disgusted with myself.

5 minutes later I found my car and was driving home calling my parents and telling them about the adventure I just had. The moral of the story is, if you are ever in an elevator with an apostle, a celebrity, a singer whatever.. Try to say at least more than four words. Try for eleven.. I lost my car, can I take a picture with you?

Halloween '09

This year we celebrated Halloween a little differently. We were invited to a Mexican Fiesta. The food was fabulous, and very authentic. And the company was great as usual. Here is our Halloween, in pictures..


And in our usual Halloween tradition, we ate donuts off strings. It's amazing what people will do to win this game.


Ella and London were intently watching their parents try to get those donuts in their mouths.

It was a great night. Thanks to everyone for making it so fun. I can't believe it's already November! We're super excited to be able to spend Thanksgiving with Bob's family this year. Bob's dad is the master at Turkey day. I'm already dreaming about the food.

(thanks to Eric for letting me steal some of his pictures from the night)