I remebered

I am sure you are wondering what I am thinking about today - so here are 5 pictures to describe what I am thinking about. Not in any order. Take a guess and I will let you know next week if you were right.
From Last week - here are the answers:
#1-I was thinking about the weight loss challenge [Melissa was right - BUT I am not worreid about loosing] and how I want to loose weight. I also love the word cankles, don't you? (I probably put the wrong word Mel, sorry!
#2 - I am ready for Spring! [ both were right!] I am so sick of winter and snow and all of that!
#3 - I was thinking about my Disneyland trip [ both of you were right - dang more than 2 people need to comment! ]
#4 - Nobody guessed - I was thinking about the birds singing that morning. This also ties in with number 3 because I am excited for Spring.
#5 - I was really excited for American Idol that night, as I am tonight! [neither of you were right :(]

Here are the pics from this week...
I hope more than just mom my and sister comment, although i LOVED their comments.

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How I feel or what I am thinking about (in 5 photos)

So I am going to try something that I saw on this blog. Melissa, the author does 5 Photos Wednesday where she posts 5 photos and not alot of words. I think it is fun and since a picture is worth a thousand words I decided to do this. I dont know how often you will get to see 5 photos about what i am thinking about or feeling so you better enjoy it when I do it.

It is up to you to determine how I am feeling. I welcome comments where you can guess and say #2 means you ....

well here are the 5 pictures. You should do the same on your blog. :o)

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Post for my Mon

American Idol Post for Mom

My mom and I both love American Idol I believe that both of us started watching in the 2nd season and just love cheering for our favorites. My mom was saying the other day that she wished there were a DVD of the winners of AI that showed their auditions and recent music so this is my attempt at that. This one if for you Mon. I am sorry for some issues (mostly spacing) with this (hope you can forgive me) I started this post like 11 days ago and have had such bad luck with it. I have had my computer freeze multiple times. :( But here it is.... Enjoy. Leave comments!

Season 1 Winner was: Kelly Clarkson

Here is Kelly Clarkson Audition

Kelly Clarkson - with Reba McEntire - Because of you



Pretty incredible that she is singing with her 'idol' Reba. They sound so great together!
Love it!

Next up --> Season 2 --> winner was Ruben Studdard who is equally incredible. I love his voice. I have not listed to his music since the show but did really like him, although I loved Clay Aiken, until I found out his is not into women. ;)

Here is Ruben's Audition.

Here is Ruben singing (still during the show, sorry alot of his other videos that I like are messed up - I love him singing Amazing Grace...find it) Here he is singing A Whole new world. very nice.


Next up --> Season 3 winner was Fantasia Barrino who has such an amazing voice! (I will probably say that again but really she is great! Here is her audition

Fantasia is excellent in this next song. This is also still on idol because I am not as familiar with her music but I do really like her. This song "I believe" is beautiful with the choir behind her. Sooo good!

Next up --> Season 5 winner was Carrie Underwood. This is her audtion video. During this season I was on my mission during this season but heard about her during my mission.
I love country music and she is one of my favorites!

really do believe this girl is a star and love her music so I have quite a few songs for you to enjoy :)

Before He cheats - SO WONDERFUL!

And of course Cowboy Casanova - this song gets stuck in my head SO BAD BUT IT IS SOOO GOOD!

This is the song I heard on the mission. One of my investigators shared it with me. I listened to the CD she gave me for the rest of my mission.

Don't think I am a bad girl listening to Carrie Underwood but it is about Jesus so it is okay, right?

Up next --> Season 5 winner was Taylor Hicks. Again I was on my mission during this season and honestly not super sad I missed this {Taylor is not my favorite} but lets see...

here is his auditon video: {not super great if you ask me, but who cares what I think right?}

Here is one of his songs : Seven Mile Breakdown. One thing I can say for him is that he looks better with the new haircut. ;)

Next up --> Season 6 winner was Jordin Sparks.

I got back into idol this season after my mission. I loved Jordin! She is young, but so fabulous!

Here is her audition video - Simon is a nut - too many sugars? - what the heck?

Here is Jordin's song S.O.S. (Let the music play)

next up --> Season 7 winner was David Archuleta, I mean David Cook. I really loved David Archuleta and was sad he did not take the win.

I did like his audtion, the kid does have talent... here it is.

Here is a more current song of David's - Straight Ahead.

I had intended on including some of my favorites who did not win in this post (namely David Archuleta:( ) But this post has been a pain in the butt - as I mentioned earlier but here is my favorite song by Archy.

This is imagine. I love it!!!!Isnt he SOOO CUTE! and no, I do not have a crush on him. :)

Next Up --> Season 8 Winner was Kris Allen

Here is Kris' Audition

This is a more recent video of Kris Allen. Live like you were dying. I really like this one. Enjoy!

I {heart} Christmas Music

My question with this post is to find out what kind of Christmas music you like. I love Christmas Music. I dont listen to it year round, but I do love it when Christmas is near. I am so darn excited for Christmas . I have had a great year and hope you did too, my dear reader. Please enjoy the music videos that I have posted below. Listen to your favorites, dont listen to ones that you won't love. But PLEASE vote on the poll to the left you can vote for 2.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS.

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I want to express my appreciation for my country today since it is Veterans day. I am so proud to be American. I am thankful to live in a free country where I can worship how I choose, educate myself, and have the ability to vote. The are such a privilege, and many people around the world do not share these same privileges. How thankful I am for my freedom and my rights.

I remember going to Freedom Friday when I was in first grade. I don't remember why we had it but I remember one of my friends dads was in the military and during the program we ( the kids of the school district) sang patriotic songs. This song

"I'm proud to be an American" is one of the songs that we sang and I always think of that day when I hear it. I wish I had the video of that day to share with you.

I am grateful for the men and women who sacrifice so much, even their own lives, so that we can have these freedoms.

REMEMBER FREEDOM ISNT FREE!

Did you notice that more than one of those cities with crazy names are from the Great Uintah Basin? Enjoy!

Tribute to Utah

Several of these cities are in the great Uintah Basin.

wendy I did it!

I had wondered how to arrange multiple pictures together and then to post them to a blog or facebook and my cousin told me how to do it but until today I had not tried. I used Microsoft Publisher and uploaded images of the baby elephant and then selected them all (using control and click )then right clicked and selected save as Picture. This saves them all together. Here is a sampling.

To get the purple edge around it I just inserted a rectangle and made it purple and then put it behind the pictures. Clicked them all (as above) and then saved as picture. :)

October 4th

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. I was home watching conference with no internet, so this is delayed a day. I was not very happy to not be able to go home to spend the day with him but I did call to wish him a happy birthday. I seriously have the best dad ever. I hope he knows how much I love him. He is so great. If you want to read more about what i think of my wonderful dad you can read an earlier post by clicking here.

Here are some of his absolutely admirable qualities: he is a great teacher, he is funny and tells great jokes, he is honest, he is a good fisherman and hard working, he is giving, he is kind, he is silly. I love you dad! I missed seeing you on your birthday. Hope you had a great day! Here is a picture of my dad doing what he likes best - fishing :) well atleast he is in the boat getting ready to fish!

Yesterday was also my nephew Peyton's birthday. He turned 4 years old! He is such the cutest boy! I love him because: he is funny, he is so adorably cute, he is so smart, he is very handsome. He is a great boy! I think he will be an amazing missionary. Peyton I love you buddy! Here is a picture of him with my brother Preston.

Wordless Wednesday

Thoughtful Thursday er Friday

My thoughtful Thursday post ended up on my quotes blog. Check it out here. Please read it!

Wordless Wednesday

Thoughtful Thursday

Since yesterday was Wordless Wednesday today has to be Thoughtful Thursday, right? I have had lots of random thoughts going on in this brain of mine today but one of them has been about change. I hate change!

I could just tell you about all of the changes that have happened / will be happing / hope to have happen but that would totally bore you. Instead I decided to share with you a few quotes about change. Speaking of quotes I started a new blog dedicated solely to just quotes. Please check it out here - http://karensfavoritequotes.blogspot.com/

I believe that we have all heard the quote by François de la Rochefoucauld who said
“The only thing constant in life is change.” But there are several other quote that maybe you have not heard.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
Fredrick Douglass

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”
Maya Angelou

“If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living.”
Gail Sheehyc

And finally one of my favorites out of those that I read that is by C.S. Lewis who I absolutely love. I love this quote for many reasons but mostly because it shows that there is a choice. You can choose to be A or B. Where your life is at right now, it can change. I met many people as a missionary and so many of them did not think that change was A) Possible and B) Worth it. Change is possible and positive changes are always worth it! Now for the quote –

“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.”
C.S. Lewis

Just one last quote (I told you I like quotes) from President Thomas S. Monson, the prophet. He said this at last general conference.
“I begin by mentioning one of the most inevitable aspects of our lives here upon the earth, and that is change. At one time or another we’ve all heard some form of the familiar adage: “Nothing is as constant as change.” Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome, some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, the loss of a possession we treasure. But most of the changes take place subtly and slowly.”

I love how President Monson says that most changes take place slowly, hmmm, interesting. I think back and I would have to say that I agree. I think that this is true of my life and the changes that have happened to make me into the person that I am. I am thankful for those changes and look forward to more positive changes. It is OK with me if the not-so-positive changes stay away, just kidding (kinda)

Wordless Wednesday

I love the Zoo!

My mon being the excellent mon that she is bought a seasons pass "Grandma Pass" to the zoo this year. I had not been during the summer so we decided to go on Labor Day weekend. My brother Sterling and his family met my mom and dad at the Utah Hogle Zoo. My nephews Miles, Parker, and Jonah came along for the fun.



Sorry that my pictures are out of order - I wish blogging were more like Microsoft Word... oh well. We went on the train at the end of our trip. It was super fun, and super fast. We did see a few cool animals though.

Miles and Parker had to have their picture taken by the Gorilla.

Miles getting an Icee - that cost $5.00 and was gone in minutes... what a rip off, but we were so thirtsy becuase it was SO hot. The bad thing was that a refill was $2.50. Should have bought just one and drank it, refilled it, and so on. :)

The darn gorilla kept hiding from us. Other people would say oh he is back and then he would run away. I wonder what those animals think sometimes. :)

I am happy to report that my hand is not bigger than a gorillas. haha

Parker is the size of the Juvenile Gorilla. Miles is the size of an adult female gorilla. Karen is the size of the adult male gorilla. I had to get my picture taken by this becuase I do it every year. Don't make fun of how stupid I look.

THE CAROUSEL was one of my favorite parts of the zoo. We were the second group waiting in line and I was talking about how I wanted to get the elephant. My mom heard these teenage girls behind us saying that they were going to run as fast as they could to get the elephant. Well I was in front of them and ... needless to say I got to the elephant first {without even pushing anybody over like Sterling told me not to do} and enjoyed the ride. I love carousels! I collected them. I love them.

Now back to our zoo day {sorry that everything is out of order GRRRH!}

Here are some of the fun funky animals at the zoo - Tina the Turtle (who was very large and cute) Sammy the Snow Leopard (who was also hiding, it was a hot day I do not blame him to want to be in the shade) Molly the Monkey (Kinda looks like she is sticking her tounge out at you!) And of course Casey the Camel (Who looks so very uncomfortable, but such is the life of a camel) What do you think is the weirdest looking animal? I think that camels are very weird/different/kinda cute in a weird way animal.

Jonah decided not to smile but he really was happy Did I tell you it was hot? It was. Nice picture huh. haha

Giraffes!

Here is a cute little baby giraffe. Babies are so cute, even at the zoo. Abby loved the giraffes. She kept turning around to look at them. We watched the zookeeper feed the giraffes some food. WARNING: THE GIRAFFE HOUSE STINKS! They are cute {kinda weird looking} but man does their house stink! ;)

Zebras

another animal that all we saw was their bums. Here is my Mon with my nephews. oh the kid to the left is not my nephew, sorry.

here is a picture fo Abby and the cute little monkey. SO cute! Abby is such a cute girl!

What would a trip to the zoo be without a picture of the kiddos with the Lion drinking fountain. {I never realized as kid that there are two of these, I think I saw two Anywho}

Miles {silly smile} and the turkey. I hope you are on my plate at Thanksgiving Mr. Turkey.

Now... I must write the sad story of the elephant at the zoo. Can I first tell you a few things.

1. I LOVE ELPHANTS!

2. I went to the zoo mainly to see the baby elephant that was born a few weeks ago.

3. My idea of a perfect zoo is a place with tosn of elephants! I would be perfectly happy with seeing elephants, and only elephants. I had planned on spending hours looking at and talking to the wonderful animal.

4. I LOVE ELPHANTS

Well I totally thought that the baby {no name yet but you can vote on it until Sunday} would be out for me to see but I was very saddened when I found out that both baby and mom were still not out. :( Of course they have to make their debute but I wanted it to be when I was there SO SAD! Anyways, we got to see one elephant. She is super cute and we did get to see her but she had her bum facing us, which is cute but I wanted to see her face too. I am sure she was just as sad as me :( funny.

The group picture! Yeah Marx Family!

Hope that you enjoyed a relaxing Labor Day.