Oh Las Vegas, how we love thee.....

For some people, Vegas is all about gambling and strip clubs. For us, it's all about family. I have loved going to Vegas my whole life and consider it a treat anytime I get to go, even still. My biological dad's family is in Vegas (most of them) and I was raised going down there whenever I wanted to. My first trip driving alone to Vegas was when I was only 16, and that was before cell phones were so popular!!! I love that my mom and dad have allowed me to have a relationship with the Albrecht side of my family and I am blessed that they have been so active in my life. This Thanksgiving was special because my uncle Barry and his family came down from Northern Utah, so all but 5 of us were at Thanksgiving dinner. That doesn't happen hardly EVER!!!!

First things first, Macayo's... it's tradition. It's our favorite place to eat as a family. Macayo's is the reason I never knew what a quesadilla was, for us, they are called "TCTs", toasted cheese tortilla!!! And Macayo's is the reason my kids know what a Shirley Temple is!!! YUMMY!!!! Looking at these pictures makes my mouth water!!! We had a great time, especially when my cousin, Jacob, got the explanation from my Grandma of who Lorenna Bobbitt is!!!! Ohhhhhh, THAT was GREAT!!!!!!
There were so many of us, they had to seat us in an "L" shape just so we could fit!!! Good times!!!


Then it's Thanksgiving day. Dinner was at Aunt Vicky's house, that's where we always stay. They are always so willing to have us down, even though we out number them!!!! We love spending time with the Hoppel's!!!

Here's my Aunt Vicky..... she's gonna LOVE that I put this picture on my blog!!!! LOVE YOU AUNT VICKY!!!!!!!

And my Grandma Albrecht. I love these two women so much. I have always looked up to them and they continue to be great examples to me!!!



Now, enough of the small talk.... BRING ON THE FOOD!!!!!!! You can do a Coke count if you want to!!!! It's like Where's Waldo!!! How many Cokes? haha!!!

Let us eat TURKEY!!!! Here's my biological dad (in brown), Scott, and my Uncle Barry. Both of them are WONDERFUL cooks, in fact, Scott is one of the top chefs in Las Vegas. As a funny note, Scott pulled the turkey pan out of the oven WITH HIS BARE HANDS!!! No pot holders for him!!! Barry made the yummy mashed potatoes, Scott carved the turkey that my Aunt Vicky seasoned and cooked, Grandma made the green been casserole and everyone else brought stuff!!!! I'm just wondering why that cooking gene skipped me? DANG IT!!!!
Here's my Aunt Vicky, Aunt Iva, my cousin Rebecca and Tyler..... just waiting on the final touches before we dig in!!!
LOOK AT THAT!!!!! Can you hear it? Can you hear the angels singing? I can!!!
I don't know what my Uncle Gus is telling us about, but it looks exciting!!!!

Dinner was delish and the company was fun too!!! The only ones we were missing was Debbie and Andre that were at home, Little Ricky, who's in the air force and currently in Washington state, and Dallen and his new bride, Brittney. They stayed with her family this year. Not too bad, huh?

Then we had family picture time.

Here are some of the people that I love the very most in my life.....

Scott, my Grandma, Uncle Barry, Uncle Ricky and Aunt Vicky. It's fun to see my Grandma with all of her kids. That doesn't happen much. I love these people soooo much!!!!


Uncle Bear with his family, Elizabeth, Danielle, Iva and Danielle's FIANCE, Daniel. We had a great time with them. I love these guys so much. It's hard for them to live in Pleasant View, they're just so dang far away!!!
Here's my Uncle Ricky, Dalin, Jacob, Rebecca, Rebecca's boy toy, Matt and Aunt Rhonda. My Uncle Ricky is louder than me, you heard it... you didn't know that was possible, but yes, he is louder AND more obnoxious than me!!!! Man, I love him!!!!
And then I have my Aunt Vicky, I've always been her favorite (don't tell Rebecca). That's KC, Uncle Gus and Trey.... the Jacob look alike from Twilight (only better)!!!! These guys always let us invade their house when we come down, in fact, they left on Friday to go to a ball tournament in California, but we got to stay anyway!!!! These boys are the nicest boys you will ever meet, and aren't they sooo cute?
Here's Grandma with all the grandkids (minus Andre, Little Rick, and Dallen)...

Danielle, Grandma, KC, Jacob, Rebecca, ME, Joanna, Trey
Cambelle, Savanna, Tyler, Elizabeth and Maddison.

This picture was great, but not as good as the next one my Aunt Iva got, right as she said "3" to take the picture, I grabbed Rebecca's boobs!!!! It was so funny!!!! I can't wait to get THAT picture!!!! We had everyone in stitches!!!
Thursday night, we went to New Moon (yes, that's #3 for me!!). We had to take Grandma to see her boyfriend, remember THIS POST about my Grandma's love for Jacob? Needless to say, she wasn't disappointed!!!!

Friday morning started off with us saying goodbye to Aunt Vicky, Uncle Gus and the boys. Randy went over to RC Willey with Rebecca and Matt to get us a camcorder. I'm so glad he did, black Friday saved us 50% on the camcorder we've been wanting!!! We got our $400. camcorder for $210. including tax and a bag!!!! YEA!!!! When he was done there, we went to Grandma's. The boys went to Dick's sporting goods for ammo and the girls (and Daniel) went to the mall. One of the highlights for me will be my Aunt Iva asking the saleslady in Macy's where the women's lingerie is and Daniel, without missing a beat, asking where the men's lingerie is!!!! That poor lady!!! I laughed soo hard!!!! After all our shopping fun, we went back to Aunt Vicky's for dinner and to hit the jacuzzi!!! It was sooo relaxing!!! It makes me want a "jubi" as Cambelle calls it!!!!


This is what everyone looks like after a long day of shopping and a night sitting in a hot jacuzzi!!!

Saturday morning was "Grandma pancakes" time (or skinny pancakes as my kids call them)!!! My Grandma Jorgensen passed down a love of crepes, we always love it when Uncle Bear will make them for us!!!
One HAPPY customer!!!! Ohhhhh they are so good!!!!
Then Aunt Iva needed some snuggle time with Cambelle!!! Who doesn't?

Then it was off for home. We had such a blast. My cousin, Danielle got engaged to her boyfriend, Daniel this weekend. Poor Daniel took crap all weekend, just like Randy did almost 14 years ago!!! He's a good sport. I think he'll survive!!!

One thing that I learned this weekend, is that my family loves me for who I am. Not what I used to be, or what I might become. They care about TODAY and love me for what I am. They don't care that I swear and they love Coke just as much as I do, both things that I regularly get judged for by others. I love that they will take me for what I am and love me so very much unconditionally!!!! THAT is what I would call Christ-like love. After spending time with them this weekend, I realized that I am so much an Albrecht and a Jorgensen. They complete who I am. I am so blessed to have that understanding. It's like the icing on the cake. Isn't that what we all want? To be loved NO MATTER WHAT? Well, I have it and I'm very grateful for that!!!!

I hope you all had as great of a holiday as we did!!!

HAHAHAHA!!!!!

So what? I missed another day!!!! Therefor I will post 2, yes, 2 posts on what I am thankful for!!!

Monday-

I am thankful for a sense of humor. I love to laugh. Laughing loud, long and hard is one of my favorite past times!!! Whether it's a knock, knock joke from one of my kids or a very funny story about my mom, I love to giggle. Speaking of my mom, here's one of my favorites. Mother, please forgive me for the story I am about to tell.

A few weeks ago, we were in SLC for my cousin's wedding. I called my mom to check on her while we were gone. My dad was driving school bus up North, so she was home alone. When I called her, she was really unsettled. She told me that everything in the house was dim. The lights, the computer, even the TV. As if it was only running on half the power. She called 2 of my brothers-in-law and quizzed them about it. She flipped a few of the breakers and nothing helped. She was really worried that there was something dangerous going on, electrically, in her house. The boys informed her that she was safe to spend the night there, but if it kept going to call an electrician on Monday. No one could figure out what was going on.

So, fast forward to a couple of days later, we were at my birthday lunch and Blanche mentioned something about my mom's lights (with a laugh), as my mom threatened her from spilling the beans, I tried figuring out why my mom would be so mad at Blanche if she told and THEN IT HIT ME!!!!!!!! I turned to my mom and asked one simple question that would keep us laughing for the next few hours....... "mom, were you wearing your sunglasses in the house?". With an angry/embarrassed look on her face, she confirmed that on that night, she indeed, had her sunglasses on!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, I have never laughed so hard. It was great fun on my mom's behalf.

Some people are funny when they try to be, like my dad. He can keep you going for DAYS with laughter, and then you have people like my mom and grandma Albrecht. When they TRY to be funny, it totally bombs, but when they are just being themselves, it cracks everyone up!!!!! I love that I have parents with 2 different kinds of sense of humor. It keeps us all on our toes!!!! This last year has been an absolute joke, between the 6 kidney stones I've passed, Randy's broken pelvis, my dad's cancer diagnosis, the kids getting swine flu, my miscarriage, my crash and Cambelle's possibly broken elbow on Wednesday, if we didn't have a good sense of humor, I would be in the loony bin by now!!!! The fact that I get to laugh at situations that would make anyone else go crazy, has saved my bacon more than once!!!! Randy has a great sense of humor also, I think it's saved our marriage!!! He makes me laugh so hard I will start dry heaving!!!! Now, that's love!!! So, let's keep laughing!!!!

Tuesday-

Today I am thankful for Angie.
She is going to cut my hair today and make me look purty. She makes everyone look purty. Her talent has enriched our family for years, now!!!! I am as low maintenance as they get and she knows that, therefor she never gives me more than I can handle. Today, I am just cutting some layers into my hair, so don't expect a blond mohawk or anything!!!!! Now, I'm off to the land of cutty, cut!!!

My chillins

Today I am thankful for my kids. I am thankful for them EVERYDAY, but today I will post why!!!

Here is Maddison, she is your typical "oldest child". Responsible and obedient. She is so creative, she'll take a piece of paper and make furniture for her Littlest Pet Shops. She got my love of music and can feel music like most people can't. She's naturally talented in music. She is taking piano lessons and took violin lessons last year and loves them both. She's so kind and doesn't want anyone to ever be uncomfortable. She is such a blessing to our family. I feel blessed to get the chance to be her mom!!!!


This is Tyler. He is ALL BOY!!! He has more energy than any single person needs. He is very sympathetic. It pains him to see anyone sad. He is my little "lover boy". He'll snuggle with my ANYTIME I ask him too!!! He has a math brain. He is not quite 8 and our favorite trick to do with him is tell him someone's age and he'll tell us what year that person was born, just THAT quick!!! He also has been blessed with a natural ability to learn music. When it's his time to practice piano, there have been a few times I've heard Maddison's songs and have gone in to see him playing HER music!!! He is such a fun boy and I'm grateful to get to raise him!!!


And then we have Cambelle!!!! She keeps us going!!! We named her after my MIL's family, the Campbell's. I should have thought this through more, they are a family of red heads with OCD. She has that red head temper and is obsessive about a lot of things!!! I'm telling you, don't make this girl mad!!! But I wouldn't trade her for the world. She is our little mama. She babies everything she can. She would rather nurse her baby dolls then play with her friends!!! She is at such a fun age and I can't believe now, how upset I was when I got pregnant with her. I can't imagine our family without this little fireball!!! A blessing sent straight from Heaven!!!


We have such good kids. We are truly blessed!!! They teach me new things everyday, whether I wanted to learn it or not ;) I love having them by my side every single day!!!

Thank you, thank you, and THANK YOU!!!!

I can't believe that I haven't blogged for 3 whole days!!! I have been posting everyday about something I am thankful for. Since I haven't blogged for SOOOO LONG (hehe) I have some catching up to do!!!


Thursday:

I am sooo grateful for Randy's job. He works for a great company. One that is always very modest with their spending, which has kept them in business in these hard times. Randy is such a hard worker. He's worked for Interstate Rock for 14 years next month. He started out driving a cement truck, then a few years later he became a foreman and started to dispatch. A few years ago at a cement convention, he learned that he was doing the job of 2 people. So, needless to say, he's a hard worker!!! He can also run most of the heavy equipment that IRP uses. He's even learned how to test concrete. Well, when things started to slow down for construction, they temporarily closed their St. George plant and he's been working out of the Hurricane plant. He drives cement truck a lot (and can still run circles around most of his drivers), he dispatches, drives dump trucks, and pretty much anything else he can to stay busy and make people's jobs easier, even learning how to do bids for concrete and sales. I am so thankful that he has a job right now. Remember when you used to work harder for bonuses and perks? Now you work that hard just to keep your job. I am so grateful Randy is such a hard worker. He has proven himself so many times in his company and they have shown us several times that they really care for the well being of our family!!!


This is Randy teaching Maddison's 2nd grade class what his job is all about!!! They loved it!!! They all got a turn lifting a chute and they loved how loud the horn was!!!

Friday:

I am thankful for New Moon finally coming out in Theatres!!!! Dumb? Maybe a little, but it's a day I've been WAITING for!!! My girl, Holly and I went to the midnight showing of it and had a BLAST!!! Then later in the day, I got to go again with my kids, Randy and his brother, Cory. We had a great time and loved the movie... everyone loved the movie!!!


Here's the shirt that Holly and I got just for the midnight show!!!! Cute, huh?


And now we're to Saturday:

I am grateful for my camera and the chance I get to take so many of my friend's and families pictures. I got a Cannon Rebel last year and this year, I had a great opportunity to buy Cory's camera from him for a steal. So now, I have a Cannon EOS 30D!!! It is such an amazing camera and I am excited to get to use it more. In the last week, I've done 3 family photo shoots for my friends and have had a great time doing them. Photography is so fun for me. I enjoy it so much!!! I have a PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG that I started and it's come in handy when my friends have wanted pictures, I just refer them to it and they can tell me what style they like!!! I have got to do a few weddings and lots of family pictures. My goal is to do it for a price that will allow everyone to be able to do them more often. I hate that there are people out there that charge such ridiculous prices for photos. Most people just want a family picture that is suitable to hang on their wall. I want my friends to look at their photos and remember how much they love their family, not how much they paid the photographer!!! Anyhow, I have more editing to do on those fun shoots, so I better get off my blog!!!

Maybe I'll actually blog tomorrow instead of waiting 3 days again!!!

20,000 and going strong

Today I am grateful for all my blog readers. I put a ticker on my blog last year in the fall and today, I noticed that it's gone over the 20,000 mark. I find it interesting that anyone is entertained by my crazy life!!! I have always been a big journal writer, so I have just made my blog that place now!!! I will make my blog into a book at the end of the year, so that way we can refer to it like a scrapbook. I know that some people are shocked about the personal things that I put on here, but if you know me, you know that there is nothing off limits!!! I like being open about everything, it's just who I am!!!

So, my acceptance speech for my 20,000 mark.....

First off, I would like to thank my Heavenly Father for pushing me out of Heaven when he did, if it would have been earlier then I wouldn't be into blogging. Then I would like to thank my parents for closing their eyes and letting me grow up and make mistakes that I would later blog about. I would never be able to do this without Qwest for supplying me with the internet and Mac for making a kick ass computer that makes it easy for me to blog. I would like to thank Randy for not ever editing my blog posts, even when he wanted to, my kids for providing me with crazy stories to tell and the medication I am on to make me seem more normal to the outside world than I really am!!! I would like to thank Blogger. Who (what) ever you are, thank you.... thank you for letting me say what's on my mind. And last, but not least, the readers. I would like to thank you all for laughing with me, crying with me, and questioning my sanity just like everyone else!!!! Here's to another 20,000 log-ins!!!!


Update on the last post.... Makayla Jo McInnes was born last night. Weighing in at 7# 3 0z. and 20" long. She is as cute as a button and I can't wait to get my hands on her!!!

Sweet miracles

Today I am thankful for the sweet miracle of birth. I have always been a sucker for babies, I just love how they are sent to us right from Heavenly Father's presence. Our friends, the McInnes' are at the hospital right now to deliver their 6th baby. I am so happy for them. I was in the delivery room with my sister, Launa, when she delivered her last son. It was the most spiritual experience I had ever felt. I could feel the room change as Weston was being born. It was a feeling I had never felt before or even knew existed. I KNOW that all of our family members, past and future are there to help us when we are delivering our little ones. I am so excited for Paul and Heather right now, and not to mention how excited I am to get to slobber on a new little baby!!!

A little BEHIND....

Sorry I haven't kept up on my gratitude list. I had some unexpected things happen.... so, I will catch up now!!!

Friday- I am thankful for in-laws that like to keep my kids for sleepovers on a regular basis. They are not afraid of having all of our kids over at the same time and they even usually invite the other grand kids over at the same time!!! My birthday was last Monday and Randy arranged to have the kids sleep over the following Friday so he could take me out!!! We went to Couple's Retreat, a hilarious movie and then we went to dinner. It was nice to be alone with Randy. I love having date nights!!!!

Saturday- I am thankful for seat belts. I have always been the "seat belt nazi" and on Saturday, I was glad I am!!! I had done a photo shoot for my friends, then I ran to Wal-mart and then on my way home, I was going up Bluff Street and the light at the Blvd. turned yellow, so I slowed to a stop and BAM!!!!! I got rear ended!!! I was the first car at the light, so I didn't hit anyone else, but if anyone would have been in front of me, I would have hit them too. The lady hit me so hard, more than half of my car went over the line I was stopped behind!!! I was so annoyed, but I stayed calm because I knew it was harder to be the other lady at that point!!! I called the police, then I called Steven, he was working but didn't answer his phone. I looked over and could see my mom's truck in their driveway, so I called them and they came over for moral support!!!

If you look in the background of this picture, you can see my dad in the "concerned" stance.





There's my mom taking pictures!!! Can you see the white line where I was stopped? It's between my front and back doors. NIIIICE!!!!
My car will need the bumper replaced, but her 2008 Toyota Avalon is totaled. Oopsie!!!


When I called Randy to tell him that I was in a crash but that me and the car were fine, I think that was the straw that broke the camel's back. He was soooo mad. I think we're both so sick of all the garbage we keep going through. I am so glad I didn't have my kids with me. That would have brought out the mama bear in me.

After I was done with the police, I went and had x-rays done at the hospital so I knew nothing was wrong. My chest was burning from where the seat belt caught me and my neck was already stiffening up. The x-rays show that I have pretty bad whiplash in my neck and back. I was warned that I would have 2 bad days and then it should be feeling better.

After all that, I was going to Vegas for the show I have been waiting so long for.... So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 tour!!!! I went with my neighbors and it was SOOOO fun!!!! I had to be careful how I moved my head, but I was comfortable other than that. It was sooo amazing!!! I never knew their tour was THAT good. I can't wait to go again!!! If you're a fan of the show, you'll remember some of the dances that I got to see.....

*The Zombie Dance
*The Pick Dance
*Addiction
*Gravity
*If It Kills Me (the necklace one)
*The BUTT Dance
And who will ever forget A Woman's Work AKA, the Breast Cancer Dance?

It was amazing in so many ways!!! I am so glad I went!!!

Here are the girls I went with... my neighbors Heather and Camrie Brey and Camrie's dance teacher, Kell.


Look how close I was to the stage!!!! Look at that talent... self portrait AND the sign? WOOHOO!!!



It was such a great night!!!

Sunday- I am thankful for muscle relaxers and Percocet. Without them, I would have been in a LOT of pain!!!

And now... MONDAY!!! I am thankful for modern medicine!!! My dad started his radiation treatments today. If it weren't for radiation treatments, my dad would die of prostate cancer, but now he will have a 95% chance of being cured!!! I am so grateful for that!!! One treatment down, 24 to go. Our good friend, Joe (more like family), will be doing his treatments, so it's a big relief to my dad and our family that Joe will be with him. He is one of the most gentle men I have ever met, so I can't think of anyone better to be helping my dad!!!

Maybe I wont be such a slacker for the rest of my month of gratitude!!! Thanks for staying tuned!!!

Family Vacations

Today I am thankful for family vacations. It has always been important to me to make memories for our family. One way we have been able to do this, is by taking regular family vacations. We are lucky to live by our family, so we see them a lot. But there is something magical that happens when you experience new things in new places, together!!! The Clyde's always take an annual Disneyland trip all together. It's a place where we get to experience some of our favorite things that would never happen at home. We've gone to the San Diego Temple, Sea World, Magic Mountain and the beach on those trips. I can think of fun memories for all those locations!!!






Here is a once-in-a-lifetime family trip with the Albrecht's!!!! A few years ago, we decided instead of buying Christmas presents for each other, we would save up and go to Disneyland together!!!! It was such a memorable time, one that we will never forget!!!


And this time with the Clyde's, we talked my mom and dad into going with us. It was their first time to D'land in over 27 years!!!! I can't tell you how fun it was to have my parents and Randy's parents on a family vacation together!!! My kids got BOTH sets of grandparents for a full week trip!!!! How lucky are we?


Then, this summer, my family went to SLC for a temple open house, this is my older kids with my parents on the train at Hogle Zoo!!! We had a blast!!!!


There are times in life when we make memories, some for our kids and some for us. I will cherish the times I have had in those moments because I know they will never happen again. So, that is why today, I am grateful for family vacations!!!

So grateful

Tuesday was my day filled with gratitude for my girlfriends. I have so many wonderful friends in my life. They are the ones that pick me up when I need it and push me to continue on the right path!!! I have always been surrounded with really great friends, my parents never needed to worry about them!!!

And it's nice when my husband can have fun with my friends also!!!! Chanieca and Randy playing Dance Dance Revolution!!!
Here are "my girls", plus Chanieca. We go for a girls night out about once a month (or as needed) and share our deepest, darkest secrets, fears, joys, losses, ect. These girls are such a big part of my life!!!
And then you have Anna, we were born across the street from each other and have never let our friendship go. She is someone who I can count on ALWAYS. I think everyone should have a best friends like her. She knows everything about me but loves me anyway!!!
Here's our first day of 5th (I think) grade!!! Aren't we so cute?
And then I have those friends that I know I can call on when things are hard and they will be there in one second. Natalie is one of THOSE. We don't chat everyday, but when we need each other, we're there.
Kammee is the same way, we've been friends since about 3rd grade and she just "gets" me. No need to be anything but myself around her!!! Yes, that is Lorenzo Lamas!!! We met him on one of our Jetette trips to Disneyland!!!!
And let's not forget Gina. One of the best friends a girl could ask for. Even though we've only (haha) been friends since we were 15 (after I convinced her to like me), she is more like a sister. We have a connection that is very special!!!
Here we are at The Ellen Show in Vegas!!! She's always game for some fun!!!!
There are a bunch of friends that I didn't put in here, but you know who you are. I can't believe the amount of support I have from my friends. I truly am blessed to be surrounded by so many Christ-like women that mean so much to me and my family!!!!

Thanks girls!!!!


Veteran's Day

For my gratitude day today, I am grateful for all those that are in the military. I have so many family members that have and are serving in several branches of the military.

My dad and his brothers-Army
My nephew, Chuck-Army
My 2 nephews, Josh & Jon-Air Force
My nephew, Robert- Marines
My nephew, Dan- Marines
My cousin, Ricky- Air Force

I'm sure I missed some, but look how blessed I am to have such a family showing in our military? I admire all of these men sooooo much. Chuck was deployed twice and on his second deployment he actually went over to the middle east to support our country. It was really hard having him gone... REALLY HARD. But when he got home, boy, was is a PARTY!!!!

Here's how we decorated our yard to welcome Chuck home!!!


Here's my sweet niece, Brittney, waiting for that long awaited kiss!!!!! I LOVE this picture!!!




Chuck came back a better person then he went out and for that I am grateful. I am so thankful for the freedoms we have. We are such a blessed nation, let's never forget how much has been done for US!!!

I love you guys!!! Keep up the good work!!!