Torture the bride!

Saturday we had a shower for Zak's fiance Katie.  We love her!  I think we maybe even like her more than he does, or more than him, or both.  Well... almost!  She is just perfect for him, and I am sure that they will live a happy, wild and crazy life together!  She fits perfectly into the family, and I am sure that by the time she is done with us we will all be more fashionable and fun!  

In case you haven't met her, Katie and Zak have known each other for years.  They ran with the same crowd and have many of the same friends.  She went to beauty school in high school and then decided that she didn't like to touch lice (I made that part up... the lice part) or didn't love doing hair, and that she wanted to be a fashion designer.  She moved to Phoenix and started going to the Art Institute down there (she is also and amazing artist) and is going to do either fashion marketing or be a buyer... I think??!!??  Something like that.  Anyways, her and Zak reconnected and fell in love before we knew it he moved down there, proposed, and the rest is history!  

So to welcome her to the family we made her eat three packs of gum.  That is just kind of how we roll in the Ellis family.  If you can eat three packs of gum without chocking you can marry in.  She passed the test.  And she kind of liked it.  (really, it was a game... duh?)

Thanksgiving Day.

This year we got the entire family together for Thanksgiving.  It was great, and I am happy to report that no one became ill after eating my cooking!

I have so much to be grateful for!  I would list everything, but I don't have enough time!  There is so much.  However, having the family together this year was awesome.  Oh and if I never cook again, it will be too soon!!!

Gobble-Gobble!

Old and in love!

Steve turned 30.  Yes, finally he joins me in old age!  We haven't really hit the rest home stage in our lives, but we are approaching it, quicker than we had hoped.  Still we remain young at heart, and as energetic as you can hope to be in your thirties!  I have hope for us and pray that we still have a few good years left in us!

I surprised Steve with a trip to Vegas.  Just me and him in sin city!  Sinning of course... but hey, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... right steve?

Now if you didn't know it already, I am pretty famous there in Vegas.  From my dancing days.  Oh wait.  Did I just say that on the family blog?  But really, we arrived at the hotel only to see my name flashing on the sign outside... or on the TV in the room, but whatever.  
We immediatly kicked back and relaxed by the pool.  We had it to ourselves, which was GREAT.  Again, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!!!  

Steve realized that once you get old you really learn to love your wife.  He spent the weekend totally in love with me.  Probably because I surprised him with a trip to Vegas, or probably because.... well what happens in Vegas...

Then we hit the strip.  Not the strip clubs, the strip.  We walked around all day, broke into the pool at Trump Towers, and saw the sights.  Tourists.

We got this brilliant idea at Trump to take the elevator to the top floor and run down all 60 something flights of stairs.  It was great until we were lost in the stair case (yes, this would only happen to me, but at least I wasn't attacked by anything) and then had to run UP a bunch of stairs to get out.  This is why you should avoid alcohol.  Ha ha ha.  Kidding.  I would hate to ruin my holy image.

I found this tree guy that kind of had a crush on me.  See how he is looking at me?  Creepy!

It was a way fun weekend.  Sadly, we didn't win a jackpot, but then again we never gambled.  It was tons of fun to spend some time together.   Something we don't do very often.  Hope you had a great Birthday Steve!

WOW!

Coren actually played in the snow.  I hope that he learned to love it!  Snowball fights are just one of those things that you need to do as a kid.  White washes on the other hand should be skipped!!!

My kids are cute!

I love these little people!

From life to near death..

For anyone who has never run a Marathon, here is a brief glimpse into how it feels.

Mile 15 and having a great time...

Approaching the finish line...

Crossing the finish line...

Wants to be a Cowboy.

Tile

We spent the weekend doing tile in the basement.  Man, it is a job!!!  It is done, and we are SO glad!

We did have a minor water problem when the shower started spraying everywhere.  It was pretty funny, well not for Steve!

Cash Back!!

I just found the greatest website.  It pays you to shop online.  First, you get a $5 cash bonus just for signing up, then you get discounts and cash back for your online purchases.  It is a sweet deal.  I already earned 6.25 and I only bought one thing online.  I was just excited about it and wanted to share... especially now with all the online Christmas shopping.

I don't want to be a walking advertisement, or email this to all my friends, but if you are interested, leave a comment on this post and I will send you all the details.

Happy Shopping!

School Pictures 2009

Oh, aren't they cute?

Makes me laugh!

Last night I saw a news clip of a little girl who could not stop sneezing.  She sneezes 16 times per minute unless she is in a deep sleep.  The funny part was that she was holding a cat, and there were cats climbing all around her.  They had cages full of cats all around the house.

No-one has been able to figure out why she cannot stop sneezing....  Hmmmmm.  I wonder if it is the cats?

It made me laugh so hard!  Although it is sad!!  Check it out here!

The latest.

Time is cruising by.  I can't handle it!  So, I guess it is time for a quick update on what we are all up to.

The basement is SO close to being done.  It is driving Steve crazy that he doesn't have a lot of time to work on it.  Three days and we could get carpet... that is what I keep hearing over and over!  In the meantime, Kenna is just as anxious, because she wants to move down.  However, I told her that she cannot move down until her room stays clean for two months.  For whatever reason she is having a hard time keeping it clean.

Coren is obsessed with his train.  He plays with it nonstop.  If he moves rooms, the train and all the track come along.  He is also getting really good at tumbling and can cartwheel like nothing you have ever seen before!
Carson recently had some dental work done.  A cavity to be exact!  He was numb all night, and it was pretty funny.
I was at the dentist with him, getting a cavity fixed myself, HIGH as a kite on the laughing gas, which is the only reason that I love the dentist.  I told the staff that it is my one legal high a year and that I love it more than anything.  The assistant told me to "relax and suck it in" and boy did I.  Later she came back to check on me and said, "your lovin it, oh yeah, lovin it!"  I told her that I never wanted it to stop.  (It sounds a little weird now that I am typing it, but it was all pretty normal while I was there.)

It is the best.  If you haven't done it you are crazy.  I am not trying to push you towards drugs, but come on, take a break from life and float away while at the dentist.  You won't feel a thing, and if you do, you won't even care!  It is a trip!

The weirdest is when the turn it off and you feel yourself coming back to reality.  It is like you are entering the room again, but you never remember leaving.  You also feel a little sad knowing that it is over.  Oh well!  There is always next time.

I came home still a little out of it and Steve told me that the reason it feels that way is because it cuts off the oxygen to your brain.  He even mentioned brain cell loss.  I still highly recommend it.  I will be back for more.  6 months and counting!

Speaking of Steve he is doing great, just working hard, feeling lucky to have me as his wife so that I can embarrass him,  and having ADD.  What's new?

Halloween

It was just your basic Halloween at the Johns home.  Grandpa and Grandma came out for dinner, the kids got all dressed up, and we did some trick or treating.

This year, Mom got to take the kids out since Dad was still re-cooperating from getting his balls chopped off!

I decided that this year we would go with a theme.  Be yourself.  So Steve was a sick patient, and I was myself, the devil!

Kenna was a cute little Batterina, Carson was GI Joe, and Coren was  a Pirate!

And at the end of the night Steve got the best treat of all.  His balls returned thanks to our friend Ariane!  Gotta love that girl!

Spooky. In so many ways!

Each year our neighbors do a haunted house in their garage.  This year Makenna was in it.  She felt it to be a HUGE PRIVILEGE to be able to take part in the action.

In case you missed it either because you don't live by us, or you were too impatient to stand in the HUGE non-moving line, today is your lucky day.  I am taking you inside!

So first, you stand in line forever, because they only take two people in at a time, which is a pretty strict rule that you do not want to try to break.  Trust me.  I always learn things the hard way!  Then, once you are so cold that you are numb, and have lost a few toes, you make it to the door.  You are greeted by the spooky kid that is in charge of the production, and given the rules. 

I am not going to lie.  Once you get inside you are pretty scared.  Especially when you are being gripped so hard by your 5 year old that you are worried that you are bleeding.  Then you start going around, and are pretty shocked to find that you are being startled and are screaming at the top of your lungs.  This scares your 5 year old worse, but you cannot help it.  You are freaked out!
Next thing you know there is your hooligan neighbor coming at you with a chain saw.  At this point you are pretty sure that you are going to die, or there is going to be some sort of freak accident, because that is just the way that this kid is!  Oh, and did I mention the strobe light?  So you are pretty disoriented, being chased with a chain saw by the crazy kid, and causing the 5 year old to never ever want to go into another haunted house!

Then on a table you see your daughter.  She is screaming for help and reaching for you, only to have her leg cut off by a mad man.  She then passes out.

And, it appears that she may have lost an arm as well.  Not sure.  Finally you are lead to the exit and given a tootsie roll. 

I hope you enjoyed the tour!  I hope I am brave enough to go back next year!