"Macee's" Thanksgiving Day Parade

So... my little girls name is Macee (most of you all know that)... and she is 3. I was talking about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and she caught the name and said, "MY Parade!!!" So since yesterday she has been recruiting people to be in HER parade! This morning she is watching it (as I type) and is LOVING it! She is such a funny girl! When I was taking her picture watching it, Maddy wanted to be in it, but Macee got mad and said, "No... just me!!!"

So everybody, have a great Thanksgiving and I hope you all enjoyed "Macee's Parade"!

Le Decor Holiday Boutique

Le Décor Holiday Boutique

Thanksgiving Weekend!

Friday 9 A.M. to 7 P.M.

Saturday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.

More than 20 Vendors

Saucy Creations, Denim Lovers, Funky Bums, T’s for Chics, Dani’s Designs, Madame Pumphrey, Scentsy, Chattering Walls, Itzy Glitz, Tu Tu Heaven, Pretty Organized, Tie Chairs, Funkie Trunks, and Many More!

We will also be having crepes, cinnamon rolls, cookies, tamales, chips and salsa

Credit Cards will be accepted.

We would love to see you all there.

2864 E. Fountain St, Mesa, AZ

SE Corner of Lindsay and Brown

Avoid the crowds & shopping at the mall. Shop with us!!

Credit cards will be accepted!

I will be posting this again next week as well, so be on the lookout for the next reminder! =0)

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I will have my mini-block sets for sale and 2 SUPER CUTE Disneyland brag books!!!

Disneyland Trip is off...

This decision was made by Chuck and I last Friday night. We had been worrying about how to pay for the trip along with how to pay for a Suburban that needs a new fuel pump, Maddy new winter clothes, finishing up Christmas details and paying our bills... We had a countdown going on the whiteboard for our trip and every time I updated it, I got stressed out!!! I was thinking, "How in the world will we pay for this." (We have annual passes, but gas, food and motel were going to be $500... a big chunk of change.) We started to talk on Friday night and prayed about whether we should go or not. We felt strongly that the answer is no. So we listened (when you don't listen life is not good). I'm glad that we decided to stick around here and for-go the trip. Grandma Nichols has her sister that is going in for surgery in the next few weeks and she felt she needed to be here for her, Billy and Karen had things pop up and they decided to not go as well (before we decided to not go). I know the Lord knows what He is doing and it is up to us to follow Him and go in the right direction or to choose to not follow and not listen and end up miserable for not heeding His answers. We are heading into an unknown time in this world and I want nothing more than to feel happy and be around those who I love and learn to be frugal and teach my kids the right things in life. Those right things do not come from how big of a trip we go on or how big their Christmas is... it comes from following the gospel and being close to our family and friends who will lift us up and be there with us through everything that life has to offer... good and bad. I'm grateful for the opportunity that we have to pray to our Father in Heaven and that He loves us so much that He will lead us where we need to go. Who knows what lies ahead of us in this life, but with family and friends surrounding us, I know it will be a FABULOUS journey and we will make many memories along the way!

Children are Like Wet Cement...

Have you ever heard that??? Well... as I was driving to the dentist this morning, I missed the turn into the dentist, had to turn around on another street, it was lined with cars, thought I would take a detour into the dentist office parking lot, but it was into an alley, had to turn around and start all over in the line of cars (that was even longer than if I would have just been patient). As I was turning around, Macee asked me what I was doing and I told her I was turning around. She then says, "Those stupid cars need to get out of your way!" Well, I guess she hears me as I'm driving (that is probably the worst thing I say, so she shouldn't repeat anything worse) and has picked up a few of my bad habits! Sorry Macee for teaching you to be unkind to those around us! I'll get better!

Biggest Loser Fans...

I don't know if you watched BL last night... here's what happened to me from all the drama!!!

I DO NOT LIKE VICKY!!! She is EVIL!!! Sorry if there are any Vicky fans out there, but I'm so glad that Amy voted the way she did! I was stressing the whole time! I wanted for a different person to make it back in! I didn't want Ed (although I think he is so FUNNY!!!) But I didn't want the blue Team to have a better advantage over the Black Team. I love the Black Team. They are in it to lose the weight... the Blue Team (just by the way they act) I think is in it for the money! But back to Amy... she just saved herself from being eliminated after the blue team picked off the black team. There is no hope for Amy once there was only the 2 couples left. I believe she made a very good choice! YEA AMY!!! Any followers of BL out there? Tell me your opinion in my comments!

Veteran's Day Parade

Tyler was in the Veteran's Day parade with his scout troop so the girls and I packed up a picnic lunch and went to watch the parade! It was really neat. You kinda get choked up when you hear what some of the people did for our country's freedom! Here are a couple pictures from the day!

My cute girlies being super patient waiting for the parade to start!

Me with my girls! I had a great time with them!

Tyler on what he described as a car like in Indiana Jones! I'm glad he was able to ride along with one of the Veteran's groups! He is the second one in from the back!

FHE at the Desert

Billy and Karen invited us to go out to Usery Pass for FHE on Monday. We thought that sounded like a nice evening, so we joined them. We let the kids play on the playground for awhile then we went over and had a fire and roasted (caught fire to...) marshmallows, some people made S'mores (while others just ate chocolate... Macee...) and we had hot chocolate. It was a very nice evening and we didn't have to worry about getting the kids home and in bed because of Veteran's Day the nest day, there was no school. I took a bunch of pictures... so take a look at our fun night!

Macee and Garrett

Tyler & Karynn

The Whole Gang...

in back... Reagan, Maddy and Dallin

in front... Macee, Karynn, Tyler & Garrett

Dallin & Maddy

Miss Reagan... I told her to smile and this is what she gave me!

A picture of our fire! So fun!

Macee and Reagan "roasting" (burning) mallows!

Tyler & Karynn roasting mallows

Maddy & Garrett roasting mallows

My mom & dad... those of you wondering why they are together here... they are getting back together!!!

Dallin and Maddy roasting mallows!

I love this picture. It is Macee's marshmallow... yes, it is burnt to a crisp! I just love the silhouette I captured here!

Now this makes me laugh! Garrett is trying his hardest to blow out his burning mallow! He is so stinkin' cute!!!

Maddy and Dallin were busy all night filling empty water bottles with dirt... didn't ever know what these were for, I think I heard something about for survival. Don't think I want to trust them for my year supply!

Last, but definitely not least, here are Chuck and I. So fun! Billy and Karen really were there, just not pictured! I didn't get them together... maybe next time!

Thanks for inviting us guys! We really had a fun night!

Ransom...

MORTENSENS...

We are holding

Devon's hat and Gunnar's shoes

for RANSOM!!!

If you would like to see these precious items of yours again you must bring us something that would make us laugh... it can't cost you a penny though! So get creative and maybe you will be reunited with your belongings!

Piano for Sale!!!

I'm selling my piano because my mom & dad gave me their old one! This piano plays beautifully! It's a gorgeous piece of furniture. Needs minor restoration for the keys and the middle pedal is missing (not used to play most things... I've never used it before on any piano!). If you are interested or know of somebody looking for a piano, please send them my way. We are asking $450 or BEST OFFER... so come and ask and we can see if it's a deal! Contact me for more info!

11 FABULOUS YEARS!!!

I just wanted to wish Chuck a Happy 11th Anniversary! Thanks for asking me to marry you! I've enjoyed these past years of learning and growing and I'm looking forward to many, many more! Thanks for being a great husband and for all you do for me! I'm looking forward to Monday of pure NOTHINGNESS with you!

Randomness...

I have a few things to blog, so you'll get them in one post today!

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When I go to school, Chuck cooks dinner for the kids... Tuesday he chose spaghetti made with elk meat (he knows I don't prefer elk, so he cooks it when I'm gone!). I was on the phone with Chuck on my way to school when I hear Maddy in the background saying "Elf meat!!!" I started laughing... and said, "Yeah... those are the elves that didn't do what they were suppose to do!"

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So I had to go to the dentist to have a cavity filled and a crown made for a tooth that has needed one for the past 4-5 years (yes, I'm a true princess people... I have the crowns to prove it too!)! Macee ended up going with me and so I packed a movie for her and her Dora toys. She sat so good watching Barbie Diamond Castle and then she played with her toys for a bit. She was such a good girl!

Well... a few days later (that was Monday... fast forward to Thursday...) I was flossing before bed and POP... out comes the temporary crown (I have the WORST luck with my temps... they always fall out... the last one fell out when I was eating a roll or something like that!). Anyways, so I went to sleep knowing I had to call my dentist in the morning. I got up, called and got in at 12:30. This time we didn't take anything to keep her busy (well, her Sally doll, but that was it!). At the dentist office they had a crocodile game where you push the teeth down and one a random one, the mouth shuts on your hand... Macee was so funny with this. She would flinch with every tooth she would push down.

Here is a video of Macee and the crocodile game...

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Last night we went to Tanner Hubers wedding reception. It was out on Greenfield and Pecos (farmland...). We enjoyed our time there. There was even a chocolate fountain (my kids liked that!) Chuck was in charge of the camera, so I'm in most of the pictures that were taken (that rarely happens). He took pictures of me and the kids while we were waiting for our "shuttle" (they had us park at the church and get driven over to the reception due to limited parking). He took a bunch of pictures but in most of them someone wasn't looking. I think this was the only one that turned out with us all looking! (Tyler's smile looks a little forced!)

When we got back to the church we got out of the van and you could totally smell COWS... Macee says to us (as she is pointing to the church), "I smell cows in there!" It made us laugh... what a silly girl!

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There is some randomness from the Melser house.

School...

I was asked by my MIL how school was going because I don't ever say anything on my blog about it, so this post is all about my school experience. I'm currently enrolled in BIO181 (Biology for Healthcare Majors) and MAT121 (Intermediate Algebra). I'm enjoying each of these classes equally, so not one or the other is my "favorite" right now. My Math class is online and I just have to get my work done on my own. There are due dates for assignments, but you can turn them in late w/out repercussion... but I don't take up the offer that I can be late because when I get a little behind I fall FAR behind in the end, so I keep up with my assignments and do the tests on time. I'm getting 100.4% in this class right now (last I checked). It's hard to not get a good grade in here when you can do a problem until you get it right so you get 100% on every assignment and you can take the tests up to 3 times and use the best grade (and it's open book... how hard is that???) and she offers extra credit!!! So... Math is easy and I like it a lot! Now Biology is SUPER FUN. I have a great Lab Partner and it's nice to have someone to talk over Bio notes with. This is the class I was super scared to take. It was a "real" class (go sit in front of an instructor) and I felt too old to go back to school. I assumed that I would be in class with a bunch of just out of High School kids... so I went to class the first night and sat myself in the middle 3 rows back... (hello nerdy KaraLyn) and when people started coming in, I realized I wasn't alone in my adventure. There were lots of other "older" people like me at school... and best of all a young mom sat herself by me and we became friends (my lab partner... Autumn) and I instantly felt comfortable! (Thanks Autumn!) So we have had labs (both fun and interesting... like right now we are making a fingerprint of our own DNA... fun, huh?), class assignments (funny drawings we didn't know anything about... what's in a cell???), lots of PowerPoints (thank heaven for these... they are a lifesaver for studying!!!), and 2 exams so far and one tonight actually (oxidative phosphorylation anyone??? That's been stuck in my head all day!). I have a great instructor, Ms. Lemon is her name and she is FABULOUS!!! Probably the best thing to get me going in school again was her and her teaching style... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! (just in case) So I really like Biology and I'm pulling a 97.8% right now, so I feel comfortable and I'm happy.

I really couldn't do this though without the support of Chuck. He has turned into Mr. Mom. He takes the kids 3 nights a week (2 for school and 1 for mutual) and feeds them dinner, bathes them, makes sure homework is done if we didn't get it done after school, he gets Tyler to scouts, goes to school functions that fall on those nights I'm gone, goes to PTO meetings w/ kids in tow, and he even helps keep the house clean and tries to have the dishes done for me before I get home! To say the least he is FABULOUS and I couldn't do this without his support... so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to him as well!!!

So there is my update on school! I'm already enrolled next semester for BIO201 (Human Anatomy & Physiology 1) and Personal Wellness (sounded like a fun class to me!). I should be applying for the Nursing Program early next semester and hopefully will be starting the Nursing Program when Macee starts Kindergarten (Fall of 2010). So there is what's happening with school... sorry if I bored anybody, but this is my "journal" and I needed to have record of my school adventure!

Last Night...

Last night on the way home from family dinner we came upon flashing lights and we were curious what was going on, so we drove slowly and I didn't see any cars, but Chuck noticed something in the street covered with a sheet. It was sad to think someone probably got hit and died. We voiced that and from the back seat we hear Macee say, "Someone died. He went to see Jesus. What's his name?" (meaning the one who went to see Jesus) and we just answered that we didn't know, but Jesus does! She was fixated on the fact that "he" went to see Jesus. At least I know she knows about life not ending here on this earth and that there is something to look forward to when we pass from this life. I hope those who lost someone last night will be comforted.

My Cute Pirate!

After trick-or-treating we went to Billy and Karen's to play games. While we were there, Macee found this eye patch and had fun with it. I don't think she realized I was videoing or else she wouldn't have performed so well! I just love this (and my new camera for doing so many wonderful things!). You will hear people yelling at me in the end, but they didn't know I was videoing and I didn't want to stop because she was doing this all on her own (no force whatsoever was used! Doesn't always work that way in life, does it?).