HALLOWEEN IS ALMOST HERE!!!

CAN YOU FEEL IT IN THE AIR?!  I CAN!!  MY VERY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR AND HOLIDAY...IT IS JUST SO FUN!  THE DECORATIONS ARE COMING DOWN FROM THE ATTIC THIS WEEKEND AND THEN THE REAL FUN BEGINS...PUTTING IT ALL UP!  I LOVE THE WITCHES I HAVE, THE SMELL OF ALL THE CANDLES, WATCHING "HOCUS POCUS" AND PUTTING TREATS IN EVERY HALLOWEEN BOWL I OWN...(THERE ARE MANY)!    IF I GET REAL AMBICIOUS I'LL TAKE SOME PICS AND POST THEM...WE'LL SEE.   HOPE YOU, TOO LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.  HAPPY HAUNTING!!!!!!!! 

The Texas Open House

Here is a small shot of what we did here in Texas for the open house.  The pictures don't quite capture it all.  It was all very nice and we couldn't have done it without some of my amazing friends!!  The majority of the other pictures I have are of guests that many of you wouldn't know.  The flowers were gorgeous, the food wonderful and we just loved it. I wish I had more pictures but this gives you the general peek of what it was like.

Tagged

Miken tagged me quite along time ago and I'm just getting to it!  So now I tag all y'all!!  Have fun because I want to see your answers!!  Loves!

1. What time did you get up this morning?  7:00

2. How do you like your steak?  Well done

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Harry Potter

4. What is your favorite TV show?  toss up...Survivor, Amazing Race, So You Think You Can Dance, Biggest Loser

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? On a ranch, complete with a huge log home, meadow in front, river running through the ranch with cattle and horses...in Montana or North-Eastern Wyoming!

6. What did you have for breakfast?  didn't have anything...

7. What is your favorite cuisine?  Mexican

8. What foods do you dislike?  FISH!!  STINKY!!

9. Favorite Place to Eat?  La Hacienda Ranch

10. Favorite dressing? Bleu Cheese

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Jeep Commander

12. What are your favorite clothes? depends...I love coming home and throwing on my "lounge wear" but I also like getting dressed up for a fancy dinner.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? NEW YORK!  Also Italy and Greece

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Most of the time, 1/2 full

15. Where would you want to retire?  Montana, NE Wyoming or Seattle!!!!

16. Favorite time of day?  somewhere between 7-10 p.m.

17. Where were you born?  Brigham City, Utah

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?  Depends...if Seahawks are playing then football.  If Mariners are playing then baseball...if Mavericks are playing then basketball.

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? Collin

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?  Mimi

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? Collin

22. Bird watcher?  Yes

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?  Night owl through and through!!!

24. Do you have any pets? Yes and they are old...I would think they'd be dead by now.  I'll keep the dog but the cat can go...I'm partial to dogs.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I just got back from Colorado...courtesy of Southern Botanical.  We stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Bachelor's Gulch...GORGEOUS!

26. What did you want to be when you were little?  I always wanted to be a stay at home wife and mom...that is what I am!  If I hadn't of done it so fast I wanted to be a news reporter.

27. What is your best childhood memory?  Building forts with LaVoy and the Bassuer boys...also swimming in the canals.  I loved farm life.

28. Are you a cat or dog person? dog

29. Are you married? yep...for 25 years as of August 14th.

30. Always wear your seat belt? yes or my car won't stop binging!  It's a habit also.

31. Been in a car accident? one slight one and it wasn't my fault.

32. Any pet peeves? employees that smoke outside the front doors of a place of business  that you have to go into so therefore sucking in their left over smoke!! GAG!!  Also driver's that are so uncourteous!!

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?  anything at Chico's!!

34. Favorite Flower? I love wild flowers and lilacs

35. Favorite ice cream? not an ice cream fan but if there is a soft ice cream machine...give me a twist!

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?  Taco Time and there aren't any in Texas!!

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? once, the written part...I was nervous

38. From whom did you get your last email? I don't know...let me check.  Cherie Bassham...good friend

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?  ummm..probably a home improvement store/furniture store.  My first thought though was Dillard's. 

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Yes...rode a ski lift.  I never thought I would!

41. Like your job? pretty good...I love the people I work with!

42. Broccoli? love it...cooked though

43. What was your favorite vacation?  Nauvoo...then it's a toss up between Walt Disney World or Bachelor's Gulch.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? All my fellow employee's from Southern Botanical

45. What are you listening to right now? the refridgerator running

46. What is your favorite color? purple, red, or pink

47. How many tattoos do you have? ummm, none. The other night I dreamt Eddy had some.  I was not happy!

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? Everyone who reads my blog, which are very few!!

49. What time did you finish this quiz? 9:20 a.m.

50. Coffee Drinker?  No, but I think I would be because I LOVE the smell!

Outside the Temple

I know I've been posting about the wedding and guess what...I'm not done yet!! There is just, too much to share. All of these pictures were taken when we were on the temple grounds after the ceremony. We waited around for the photographer to call us to pictures when it was our turn...in the meantime, we took some of our own (thank you Raelynn). Needless to say, some were serious (few) and some were just fun and well...us! The weather was perfect except the wind and some of the guests were cold...I loved it! I learned however that lip gloss, wind and long hair make a bad combo.

Just out of the temple doors...ahhh, cute.

Me and my guys!

Our first baby...he is also the handsome groom!

The three generations

With our new addition...welcome MIKEN!!

Grandma and Grandpa Richmond...again three generations.

smooches from "Ma"!

Some of us Chlarson "seesters" with our fun, loving Mom

whom we all hope to age so beautifully as she is.

Now just for some seester fun...the "Chlarson Cluckbutt Chicks"

From left to right: lil' sis Cara, Barb, Lavoy and me.

I love these pictures and would love to print them but if you notice there is one where a lady is pulling out a wedgie...guess I'll do some cropping.

I'll just END it here...(haha)

Eddy & Miken's Temple Wedding...August 8, 2009

The pictures speak for themselves.  Eddy and Miken are adorable together and it was just such a beautiful day.  The ceremony itself was very spiritual and touching.  The sealer gave some really good advice and it made me ponder on our eternal families.  We are blessed to have this ordinance and to truly know that we are together forever.  I am so happy for Miken and Eddy and am excited for them as they begin their life together.  How great it is to finally have a daughter...she is beautiful and wonderful.

The Wedding Dinner...yummmmy Maddox!!

Oh what a wonderful evening this was!  Great family, friends and food!  We had so much fun and stayed entertained by many stories...some more hilarious than others and yet some highly exagerated (a-hem Cara). But so much fun!!  I have not laughed that hard in so long...what another great memory.  I was quite worried that Miken's family was going to kidnap her to save her from this crazy family!  But they seemed to handle us all just fine.  Miken's family is amazing!  We were so happy to get to know them and so thrilled that Eddy married into such a kind and loving family. 

We held the dinner on August 7. The restaurant we ate at is Maddox and it is a family tradition for us Chlarsons.  It is located in Brigham City, Utah...(love this town!).  Wow...the dinner was fabulous and the atmosphere was great.  It was just an all around wonderful evening.

Here are some of the pics from this night. 

The four Richmond Brothers (Chandler, Derek, Eddy and Dylan)...acting as they usually do when they are together!

Eddy was happy when Miken arrived.  Aren't they cute?

Poor Miken...she is a tiny thing! Don't be fooled though...she can get a little crazy, too!

Miken's parents...Mark and Kaylene Pugmire

Here are the very sweet and pretty Pugmire Sisters!

So wonderful and fun having my family there!!  They are all so beautiful and you won't find a funnier or a more loving family. From left to right... Loving and lovely LaVoy, me, My gorgeous Mom, my darling Aunt Jane, beautiful and hilarious Barbie and cute, caring, energizer bunny, my lil' sis, Cara.Chandler and Dylan singing..."I'm Still a Guy".

Derek playing the piano and singing "Falling Slowly".Miken with her dad, Mark

Loved having Alan's parents there...Shirley and Robb Richmond...

with Alan and I.

This requires some explaining.  After everyone had left except for us and Raelynn and Joy, we decided to do a couple of family photos.  Well of course, can these boys ever take a serious picture? RARELY...Alan and I decided to join in the fun!  This is the "GQ" look as the boys call it.  We are all a bunch of goofs!!

So there is the Wedding Dinner at Maddox and wish you all could have been there!!  Thanks to all the family who came and provided much laughter!!!  Loves to you all!!!!!! (can't wait until the next time fam...the sooner the better!)

CHANDLER IS HOME...(has been for a month now)!

(THIS IS LONG...JUST KEEP READING!)

He is HOME!!  Okay so he's been home a month now and I'm just getting around to posting it!  We've just had a few things to schedule around.  It is so GREAT having him home again!  He came off the plane pretty quiet and acting like our shy Chandler...it didn't take, too long for him to start talking and sharing his experiences.  I was worried that all the brothers would overwhelm him because they are all so crazy when they are together!  I had to keep telling them to chill because Chandler wasn't used to them!  Didn't help...they kept being themselves!! I was so anxious for him to get off the plane I thought I'd go nuts.  The boys were making fun of me (imagine that) by mimiking what I was doing.  When Chandler finally made it through the doors of course I attacked him with a huge hug!  Then everyone took turns in hugging him.  When he looked at all the boys together he just shook his head and said "Man, I am the short one!"  It is hard for these missionary boys to come home and I knew he was homesick for a while.  I enjoyed talking to him alone because then I really felt re-connected.  His mission experience was all he had prayed it would be and more.  He loves the people and has made friendships there that continues.  He receives calls each Sunday from Lynn...his St. Kitts mom.  After being home only a couple of weeks, we headed to Utah for Eddy's wedding.  He got to know us all REAL well again during that time!  Derek doesn't overwhelm him...infact he finds Derek "Hilarious!" Now he's working for Alan and literally digging trenches!  He is planning on going to Collin College and getting his requirements taken care of and then hopefully transfer to UT (University of Texas)...HIS DREAM!!  

  So here is what he was doing and what he looked like just over a month ago...  

 At the airport in Puerto Rico bound for home!  (doesn't he look excited?!)

                                                                            

Here is a special baptism he had the Sunday before heading home.  It was his only ocean baptism and "Fatty" the kid he baptized was a very good friend to Chan while he was there in Virgin Gorda. 

Our pictures of him coming home off the plane are once again on Alan's camera and hopefully still on there!  But here is what Chandler looks like now and what he's been up to...

In front of the Monticello Temple on our way to Salt Lake.

At the Salt Lake City Temple while waiting for Eddy and Miken to appear.

On our trip through Yellowstone...it was beautiful and he was loving it!!

Yes, he is already back in the game...a game which before his mission he rarely played!!

Luckily, Derek knows when to step in!!

We have really loved having him home! He is funny, goofy and we love laughing with him and sometimes at him!!  I forgot what a big tease he is but he can be relentless...he does it with his side smile and snicker.  Chan just brings a sense of peace to our home and makes it feel more comfortable.  You just feel when he is home.  It's hard to explain but you just feel his presence.  I guess part of it is because Chandler is just warm (clammy...haha), cozy and calm.  Plus he still gives the best hugs and now even gives me more of them!!  WELCOME HOME CHANNY!!