"I want to work here"

Little story...

We went to Target last night to get a new star for our Christmas tree and a few other items. As we were walking out here's our conversation:

Abby: "I want to work here when I grow up"

Me: "That's cool, really?"

Abby: "Yea, I want to be a worker. When I'm done being an artist, I'll be a worker here because it is REALLY cool here."

Oh, really. Good aspirations kid. At least I can get her worker discount right?

When we came home we watched "A Christmas Story" (recently acquired from Target for $5.98), decorated our Christmas Tree, and ate some Egg Nog and Peppermint Ice Cream. New tradition, it was a lot of fun. In addition to our star, we each picked out a new decoration for our tree, I got some sparkle red snowflakes, Ern got a snowman, and Abby picked out an Angel kitty. here's the finished product. Picture doesn't do our little tree justice.

And our sweet future Target worker, anytime we pull out the camera she always wants a picture of her.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

name them one by one...

Ernie... Abby... family... Mom... special friends... the Gospel... Sunny days and warm cars... easy dinners that are nutritious... real mail (or even a real email)... snuggling... phone call from a friend... good neighbors... warm home and more than sufficient belongings... a reliable car... memories... pictures... scrapbooks... a good book... nieces and nephew... sisters... being born in the gospel... hugs and kisses... Abby's artwork... conveniences of the twentyfirst century... education... freedom... visitors

I really felt the spirit strong in church today. It started during Sacrament meeting, we sang "Count your Blessings", I could hardly contain myself to finish the song. Sometimes I feel as if the Lord has forgotten me when I'm not blessed with what I desire. I really struggling right now with my infertility battles. I get to a good spot, ready to accept my challenge, feeling good and relying on the Lord, and realizing that it will come when the Lord sees fit for me. And then reality hits me and I know I'm not pregnant and it feels as if life sucks. So instead of dwelling on what I don't have (which completely preoccupies my every thought), I'm going to count my blessings. These blessings in no way encompass the only blessings I have, I'm sure there are many that I forgot or may not even realize I have.

Another get to know us...

I found this on another blog and just thought it looked like fun. It's supposed to be a tagging thing, but I'll just say anyone who wants to do it should, don't feel pressure or anything.

How long have you been together? We've been married 6 years and 4 months- together approximately 8 years (10 if you include the mission years)

How long did you date? dated 10 months before the mission, and 1 year after, we were engaged for 4 months

How old is he? 28

Who eats more? Ern for sure.

Who said I love you first? Good question, probably me because he is too shy.

Who is taller? Ernie

Who sings better? Ernie

Who is smarter? We like to debate this one all the time. I'm going to say me-My FIL and I used to say that between the 2 of us we knew everything. 50/50, then I conceded and gave Ernie 2% and me 48%, now I'll give him another 5%- he knows lots of new stuff from school.

Who does the laundry? Usually me, Ernie will do some switching for me if I ask him, or a load if he really needs something clean.

Who does the dishes? We both do, Ern will say he does them more, but sometimes I think I do.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? have the right side of the bed.

Who pays the bills? Me

Who mows the lawn? Our landlord pays someone to do it

Who cooks dinner? Mostly me, but Ernie ALWAYS helps me

Who drives when you are together? I do if I'm dropping him off at school, but otherwise he always drives.

Who is more stubborn? For sure ME!

Who kissed who first? Back to the "who said I love you first"question, same answer

Who asked who out? I actually remember this one and it was me. We worked together all summer, then he quit, I gave him a really bad haircut, it was so obvious we liked each other. But Ernie is a very shy boy. So I helped him out and asked if he wanted to go to a movie. I'm not sure if he knew it was a date (it was only the 2 of us) but I paid for myself.

Who proposed? Ernie- we were snowboarding during Spring Break. I knew he had the ring because I picked it out. My little bro and sis came snowboarding too. He sent them off together and had me play follow the leader. He took me into some trees, and popped the big question. The snow was really deep in the trees, and we both got stuck pretty good. Of course later when we retold the story to his Bishop, he was asked if he got down on one knee (impossible on a snowboard), Ernie told the Bishop he was on 2 knees, and the Bishop replied, 'so you had to beg her.'

Who is more sensitive? he's going to hate me for telling you guys but it is Ernie

Who has more friends? Is this a popularity contest? We both have enough friends

Who has more siblings? I have 3 sisters and 1 brother, Ernie has 2 sisters

Who wears the pants in the family? I would say me, I buy whatever I want, Ernie always asks me first

Thanks for reading and I hope you decide to play too. It's fun to think about when we first started dating and the things we have been through. I think Ern's a trooper for putting up with me. I love you honey!

Here he is with Abby, Ernie is an excellent Dad!

So silly!

So I keep forgetting all the cute things Abby says- here are a few:

Abby was taking a bath and taking a really long time. I wanted her to hurry up so I started washing her hair. After the shampoo was in, she was so upset and said, "Mom you've ruined my life forever" Man, she has started young with attitude.

The other day I was on the computer just goofing around, Ern asked me what I was doing and I didn't answer him specifically. Then Abby piped in "Mom, are you blogging?". Enough said.

This morning Abby sneezed and dad said bless you, Abby replied "I'm blessed."

Yea, another visitor!

I'm so excited for Ernie's sister to come. She's flying out very late on Christmas day and will get here early morning the day after. Then she'll leave on New Year's day! Since we are not going home for Christmas it'll be nice to spend some holiday time with family.

Rosie, we are so excited for you to come. And I have not told Abby yet-

I need ideas on something fun to do while she is here- HELP!

TAG- I'm it...

Well I've been tagged twice this week, one of them I've done before so I'll you'll learn 7 things about Ernie instead. So here are both of them...


5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. Kissing Ernie...
2. Pep Club at Highland High
3. Honors Physics, Concurrent Alegbra/Trig, Honors English and a 4.0!
4. Late nights with my high school girls causing ruckus
5. Driving the brown station wagon, but not very good it was a clutch
6. Dreaming about moving away for college (I had to add one more)

5 Things on my to-do list today (I'll put for the week, I got lots done today):

1. Finish Laundry
2. Send letters home (with Abby)
3. Update blog
4. Progress notes for work
5. Clean hallways in the house/bring in toys from outside

5 Foods I enjoy:

1. Fruit
2. French fries
3. Mom's meatballs
4. Seafood (all!)
5. Chocolate

5 Bad habits:

1. Being bossy
2. Always being right
3. Telling to much info about myself
4. Having to do things 100% (or not at all)
5. Not picking up after myself

5 of my favorite toys:

1. The Internet/blog
2. iPod
3. Books
4. Abby's toys
5. Scrapbooking

5 People I tag: (I chose 6)

Jana
Autumn
April
Aubrey
Ali Crookston
Diane

All about Ernie:

The Rules: Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves. At the end of the post the player tags six people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Have fun!

1. Ernie is left handed to eat and write, but does everything else right handed (scissors, bat, guitar, etc.)

2. Ernie is color blind. Don't ask his opinion if what your wearing looks good, he won't know. Also for half his mission he wrote to me with a purple pen thinking it was blue.

3. Ernie loves to play the guitar. He owns a acoustic guitar, a classical guitar and I recently bought him a mandolin.

4. Ernie speaks Spanish, he went to Southern Chile for his mission.

5. Ernie was a cheerleader in High School.

6. Ernie is certified in SCUBA diving.

For this one I tag Miriam, Rachel, Ali Day, Kristin and Elise- but the new thing is you have to tell us about your husbands too!

My neighbors are awesome!

So I told everyone about our plans for a dinner swap. Some of you voiced concerns that it would be too hard- but let me tell you I LOVE IT!

First of all I have FABULOUS neighbors. Kristin and Ralae are great people to hang out with, great mothers and great cooks. I haven't had a meal that I wouldn't want to eat all over again.

Second, it is so great to come home from a busy day at work and eat a nice hot yummy meal, that I didn't cook. On the days that I don't get dinner we are eating fish sticks or hot dogs.

Third, on my end I get to cook the dinners that are my mom's recipes for a huge family, or try out new ones from my sisters. So tomorrow I'm cooking Amy's Au Jous sandwiches- my little family could never eat a 4 lb roast. Really it's not stressful cooking for the 2 extra families, I just add a little extra food!

I would recommend this to anyone- and whoever moves in to Ralae's house better continue...

Since all of our food has been so good I tried starting a blog for recipes. Well it hasn't really taken off yet. Ralae's been super busy planning to move (so sad), and Kristin's computer has a virus. So I'm opening up the recipe blog to anyone who wants to join. Just email me your email and I'll send you an invitation to post. My email is mistysorenson@hotmail.com.

Willy Wonker and the Big Bag Woof!

Abby likes the Willy Wonka movie with Johnny Depp. The other day she asked to watch Willy Wonker, then last night she was saying that Willy Wonker has really flat hair. It's too cute to correct!

Also she was pretending to be the "Big Bag Woof" today, funny girl.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 1/2

So Abby has been doing this for awhile- since she is 4 1/2, she loves that number and wants to do everything in 4 1/2's.

Tonight after bedtme stories she was giving us kisses goodnight- and she decided on 4 1/2- but she counts funny- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 1/2- so we actaully get 6 kisses, which is okay by me!

Happy Halloween!

Here we are Frankenstien, a witch and her black cat.

Cute Abby and me at the Trunk or Treat the night before.

Ernie made a pretty scary Frankenstein, Abby was scared of him for quite a while. And aren't you impressed with his make-up, he did it himself!

Abby and her "Prince" Eric

Trying to get all the kids to pose while trick or treating. There's Abby, and Eric (now a magician), Shalee, Alex- also Noah came but wouldn't pose, and I think Lucy is just outside the picture range. And I tried 4 or 5 pictures to get them all to look, it just wasn't happening!