So Totally LOST!!!

There are very few things in my life that I get so excited about that I can't sleep or eat, weddings, babies, trips, work stress, none of that compares to the anxious, nervous, want to throw up feeling I get about the T.V. show "Lost". I enjoy other shows, Gilmore Girls, Glee, Roseanne, but nothing compares to LOST. What I love about this show is how it sucks you in, and you get so incredible attached to the Characters. The fact that it's filmed in Hawaii, and everyone in the show is incredibly good looking (well almost everyone) doesn't hurt either.

http://abc.go.com/shows/lost/index

So for those who don't watch here is a quick (and I mean very quick) break-down of the show. There is a flight from Australia to Los Angles, crashes on a crazy island, with Polar bears, smoke monsters, a crazy french lady and "Others" who are trying to take children. The island was once used in the 1950's to store atomic bombs, and in the 1970's as a communal, peace/love re-treat, trying to build a new society, and change the world. The island is the main character of the show, it can cloak it's self, move, force people to leave and reappear in the middle eastern desert.
The show has these great flash backs, and flash forwards, that help you get to know the other characters better. After one show about a certain character, they become your favorite person on the show. You know about their past, why they were on the plane that crashed, how they ended up in Australia, who there parents were, why they do certain things, and if they get off the island or not.
The show has so much suspense!! Guns shooting, animals attacking, smoke monsters appearing. You never know what to expect.
The main characters lives all intertwine. One will have a beer in a bar with an others father who killed himself after hiring another to do a mob style job for them. You find out that two of the main characters have the same father, but they never know it! It's like a sci-fi soap opera.
The show leaves you hanging with so many questions, like, Where is Claire? She wasn't in the show at all last season even though the actress playing her still had her name in the credits! She just handed her baby over and walked into the jungle, into Jacob's cabin and hasn't been seen since. And what about Juliette, she basically sacrificed herself to save everyone, only to not die and still be alive in the end?!?
The great thing about the show is they have given and end date. You can only be stuck on an island for so long before becoming Gilligan right. The producers and creators have promised and answer to all the questions, and a nice little resolution. So there is no wondering if the show will return or not.
What I love the most about LOST is that I have gotten Scotty sucked in as well. Before I met him I owed season one, two and three. He wanted to watch them so he could be caught up and enjoy the show with me (what a sweetie). Scott is now totally obsessed with LOST as well. He will tell me when he sees previews while watching other shows, and has started a count down to February 2nd when the new, and final, season will start. Having him in on my little obsession makes in more fun. We have even talked about naming our children after some of the people in the show, Mathew Fox's character is named Jack Shepherd after all, and luckily they have normal names like Kate, Claire, John, Jack, James, Hurley and Sawyer so we're not thinking anything crazy here.
This is why I love good entertainment, it takes you to a place where you can let your imagination run wild and feel like a kid again in that sense, you learn to love people who are different, and learn about other cultures. You get to hope for a true love like they get, and a happy ending that resolves everything. This is the dreamer in me, however who doesn't want those things right, true love and a happy ending.
So don't call me or Scott on a Tuesday night until May, we've ran off to get LOST together :)

You're my only hope...

So I have had a feeling lately to put up a blog post, but I really have nothing going on in my or Scott's life really worthy of a blog post, but I do however have some random pics that I've never posted, let's see what stories they tell...
This is a terrible picture on my baby, we went to the Melting pot to celebrate New Year's, and the end of the busy season at work. This is our favorite place to go out celebrate at. It's a fondue restaurant, but it's so so yummy, we both just love it and save up to go there :)

These are my brother-in-laws Kyle and Nathan, they are red neck sledding, Kyle is driving the 4 wheeler pulling Nathan in the lid of a dog kennel, never a dull moment... Ellie the dog is helping :)

For the third year in a row Scott and I went downstairs at work and saw the Christmas lights on Temple Square. This is always a lot of fun, and you really only need about an hour to see everything. Plus we get free parking so it's a great date night.

Another picture from Temple Square, it was so pretty, really crowded, but pretty, I see this view every day, and it never gets old.

Another tradition Scott and I have is every year before Christmas we build a gingerbread house, we just buy the kit from the store, and they are great!! They come with candies, and frosting, and then on New Year's Eve, or Day, we smash it, eat some, toss it and clean up the mess. I have done this since I was a missionary in Binghamtom with the Parkers and their kids, I have a video of this I still need to show Scott. Scott and I have had such a great year, and I fall more in love with him everyday. I'm a really lucky lady. He makes me so excited for 2010!!

And may all your Christmases be White

So I'm so bothered, my memory card for me camera got a crack in it, so until I could get a chance, or remember, to buy a new one I've been using my phone. Well, I didn't take a single picture this holiday... I'm so mad a t myself!!
We had such a great Christmas this year too!! So if anyone is still reading this post with out pictures I will now recount the marvelness (not a word but should be) that was our holiday season.
We slept in on Christmas Eve morning, since Scott didn't get off work until after midnight. We were awoken to the sounds on my brother-in-law Clogging in the Kitchen, and the other brother-in-law playing the "Christmas Polka" on the piano. We went downstairs and made Cinnamon rolls, and cookies for Santa, bot ready, packed up the car and headed to my parents house. This is were we stayed for 24 hours of Christmas joy. My Papa Gene and Mama Connie came for dinner, and we open gifts with them and my cranky Nephew who missed his nap and was so so so grumpy. I love my Papa Gene and Connie, and one the the biggest regrets I have is that I don't get to see them as much as I used to, they are both just so giving and loving, and I hope I can be more like them one day :) After everyone left we spent the night and helped wrap some gifts for my mom, and went to bed to wait for Santa, who I think was really confused this year because we moved. We got gifts from Santa all over the Valley. My brother, his wife, and my Nephews came back over in the morning to open more gifts and have brunch. While we enjoyed out morning feast, my Grandma Jo, Uncle Trason, Uncle Bart, and my Grandma and Grandpa Hulse came over and opened gifts with us there.
After all that, we packed up the car and headed to Scott's parents house were we got the rest of the pieces for our Lovesac sectional that we've been trying to get... so basically... they bought us a couch!!! We are so spoiled and loved. We spent the rest of the day eating and chatting with family, playing games and watching movies, it was a lot of fun.
Sadly both Scott and I had to work on the 26th, so we missed the party at Grandma Shepherds house. We planned on seeing Grandma Shepherd on Christmas, but my sister-in-law get the opportunity to talk to her boyfriend in Australia (mission) so we choose to see grandma at a later time, which happened to be yesterday.
On the 27th was my mom's birthday, so after church we went over to see her, she showed us all her gifts, and we spend the afternoon with my parents. We headed for home to start cooking for the greatest Holiday of all... NEW THANKSMAS!!! Yes, this is a made-up Holiday, but by far the most enjoyable. My other husband Tim is in the Navy so he is only in town for about 4 weeks a year. We planned a whole party around him being in Utah. We had Ham, and brownies, and cookies, and potatoes. We played Apples to Apples, drank sparkling apple juice and told stories. Then we all went around the table, said something we were Thankful for, something we wanted but didn't get for Christmas, and our New Years resolutions. I love my friends.
On Monday we went up to Scott's family cabin in Fairview. This was the first time I've been up there in the winter, and it was so much fun. We had to Snowmobile in, the pipes were frozen so we had to melt snow for dishes and other things. we rode snowmobiles and went sledding. It was super fun but boy was I sore when we got home.
I am so blessed with a wonderful family and friends. I'm grateful for those in my life that help me and strengthen me, and I hope everyone has a wonderful New Years :)

Happy Birthday dear Scott, Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

Birthday's are very important to me, I love to celebrate the people I love, and with Scott being the most important person in my world his birthday was a big deal, and every year I have to out do myself to make him feel more loved and special. His birthday just happened to fall on the same weekend as the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert AKA the busiest weekend of the year at work, so I knew we wasn't going to be able to get the weekend off, so I came up with a few plans of my own. Now these pictures were taken with my phone, because the batteries in my camera were dead and I didn't realize, so they're kinda rough, so bare with me. Since we are currently homeless, and I knew he wouldn't be off work until after midnight, I cleaned and decorated our room here at his parents house, and I must say it was pretty awesome...
Here we have 27 balloons (the age he is turning) and his gifts on the bed, he got Chocolate milk, and his favorite cereal... the milk is in the fridge....

We had a family dinner with his family, this is the gift from Allison, and burger cook book, I know what we're doing for the next BBQ!

Kyle gave him a sparkly soap dispenser, very festive...

Gift cards from Mom and Dad, I like these because I know they are gifts for me too!!

This is his gift from me, it's a Wustof chef's knife, these are expensive, but I found an awesome half off deal, he was so happy he cried a little, and now he can show it off to his Chef buddies at work. I must say I am proud of my gifts, I seem to get it right every year. I'm also excited for Scott twin siblings birthday's on Wednesday, because I got Nathan a teenage mutant ninja turtle wall clock, to go with the hamburger phone I got him last year... I would love to get these kinda gifts :) Scott makes me happier than anything, and I'm so so so glad he was born, and I would do anything to make him feel special. I love you Scott, continue being great!!

On a less celebratory note, I am getting so stressed and frustrated with Christmas plans this year. So if you want to spend time with us, you will have to wait until after the New Year, because this year is full. This year Christmas Eve and Morning will be with my family, and Christmas day will be with Scott's, the Sunday before will be the annual Hulse family Christmas party that is held the Sunday before Christmas every year, we work on the 26th, and my mom's Birthday and Thanksmas are on the 27th. I'm getting sick of trying to please everyone on both sides of the family, and missing watching my darling nephews open their gifts. I didn't get to see my grandparents or siblings last year, and will not get to next year, that's just the pains of having a growing family. I think we will have a great Christmas because I'm with Scott, and will see some of the people we love, and will try to see as many as possible. The Holidays aren't about where we are and who we please, it's about the Savior, and letting people know how much we love them, we have all of eternity to express this, so if we don't see you this Christmas season, we'll see you in the Celestial Kingdom... if not sooner :)

Lessons learned

I just wanted to take a minute and talk about some things I have learned this year. I know it's not quite the end of the year yet, but I feel I have grown so much just in this last year, if I don't write I'll burst. I have such an amazing husband, who loves me and honors me, and I have so much gratitude for him.
This year I learned how to actually humble myself. I am a very stubborn, independent person, and asking for help always makes me feel like a failure. I have always gotten by on my own, and been able to take care of myself, but now I have to think about not only what is good for me, but what is in the best interest of my husband. I may still feel like a failure, but Scott is happy, and in turn that makes me happy. Help isn't always bad, especially when asking for help brings you closer to a goal that will help your whole family and others as well.
I've also learned to let things go. The past is not worth re-living if it's going to hurt other people, but if you feel like reenacting a civil war battle I think that's good.
Speaking of the past, I've learned that my past is original, and that I have suffered much heartache, and envy, but I've learned I have a an amazing ability to embrace that past, but not dwell on it, to have a tragic history, but it's unique and colorful, I don't bring it up to get attention, but use it as a tool to help others. I have been truly blessed but my past.
I have also learned to love completely. I can be a pill, and so can my Scotty. For much of my life I never thought of myself as a person anyone would want to love, I'm mean, and opinionated, and pigheaded. I always felt in order to love me I needed to be fake, like people on TV or movies, or extremely beautiful in order to be loved. Scott loves me completely, and I love him so completely as well. I embrace his flaws, and odd characteristics, he loves me when I'm wrong and without make up. I have never felt so special in all my life as I do in his eyes.
I've learned to let people in. I think this goes along with asking for help in a sense. I am often closed off. I have had a fear for most of my life that if I let people in they will let me down and hurt me. Scott has taught me that not everyone leaves in the end. That trust is something not only earned, but upheld, and returned. And that people will like me even if I'm not the thinnest, or prettiest or smartest or funniest person in the room.
I'm still learning about the Lords timing. When I think I have this figured out I learn quickly that I don't. My life is miles away from where I thought it would be, but I don't know if I would like that life. Things are rough right now, but the important things are going as planned.
I have lived a charmed life, and I am grateful that I have these moments, and outlet, to reflect on it.
Happy Holidays everyone and know that you are in my thoughts and prayer :)

I've got one hand in my Pocket, and the other one is playin' a piano

So for the longest time Scott and I have really wanted to take my nephews out and do something fun with them, we finally go the chance this week when we took them the Gateway to go to the Discovery Children's Museum. Now I think I have the cutest nephews on the planet, feel free to argue, but I know you are just jealous :) Riley is my oldest nephew who is 6 (he is my step-nephew for those who are wondering, but I'll still claim him) and Tyler is my other nephew who is 2. They were so excited to go and Scott and I were really excited too, somethings are just more fun with kids. There are a ton of pictures in this post, so I'll try to keep the comments short.
This is Tyler, and he is very excited, this is the face he makes when you tell him to smile, and I just love it! By the way, he got into a kool-aid packet before arriving for our outing, so currently his hands and face are stained red, I think this is hilarious!

At lunch they handed out balloons to the kids, the boys loved this, and it created quite a distraction from our chicken nuggets...

Here is Riley in a helicopter they have there for the kids to play with. He thought this was so cool, and pretended to fly it.

Tyler liked it too!

I think this may have been the highlight of the trip today :)

They are building an earthquake proof house, and it fell... better luck next time.

They have this awesome room full of balls and tubes going all sorts of places, this one sucked the balls up, and every time it did Tyler would yell "Whoa!!" I thought it was the cutest thing ever!

He would empty the whole bucket, then go down and get more, and empty it again. He had so much fun doing this.

Riley was bit more fun, because he's older, here he is riding the life size fake horse they have there, he's such a ham for the camera.

Here he is at the top of the rock wall, again hamming it up!

Tyler loves water, his favorite was to pump the water and try to catch it.

He loves cars, here he's trying to drive away.

Finally her found one that moved, and after that we couldn't get him to leave, kids are so simple.

The water was a big hit!

back to the ball room, this place was just so amazing to them!

So this picture is funny, in the lobby they have this huge purple thing that you put coins on to roll down, and the coins go to help Primary Children's hospital, so I'm fine putting coins in it, but upon arriving and leaving you would have thought this was the reason we came, they loved this thing, I had to pull them away to go inside and play and pull them away to leave for home. If i invested in one of these things I'd make bank!

All in all it was a great day, and I hope to spend more time with my nephews like this again, they behaved really well for me and we only had one small break down when Tyler missed his nap time and was grumpy, but I think it was worth it. It's going to be so fun to have kids for them to play with, and dress up with and do fun things like this with. I love my family and the joy they bring into my life, and I'm excited for Scott to be a daddy because he's going to be such a wonderful father, teacher and leader to our children, and I will teach them how to compulsively wash their hands :)

Don't you remember you told me you loved me baby!!

You know that saying "You can't win them all." Well what if you did win them all, and then one day realized that you haven't won them all. Confused, well so am I. I don't want to sound... conceded, but people have always liked me for the most part, I know there is a totally annoying part of my personality that completely bothers myself, but people have always liked me. I've always been able to make friends easy, and I try to have a wide range of interested so I can be able to hold a conversation with people. I also think I am very funny :) but recently I have found someone that dislikes me. Now I've always told myself that not everyone has to like me, but everyone has, and I am really having a hard time with this. I have found myself agreeing with this person, and taking their side of conflicts, even though I don't totally agree, I just want this person to like me, and I feel like I'm cheating myself a bit. Well now that I think about it, I'm sure not everyone has always liked me, but I have never felt this need to make someone like me before. I find myself thinking about what I'm going to say, and stories to tell, and if they still don't want my company I think of ways of telling this person off. This is consuming my thoughts, and effecting my well being. Maybe I'm just crazy! What I should do is sit down and confront this person, except I'm practically paralyzed by fear of confrontation.
I think there is an episode of Seinfeld, where Jerry's girlfriend hates George, and he goes crazy trying to make her like him, that's what I feel like. Does anyone have any advice on how to win people over, because I have tried everything in my bag of tricks, and it's not working
On a different note, we've moved and bought a new car, so I'm feeling pretty on top of the world right now, my toes are warm, and I never have to worry about getting to and from work, which really is all I ever wanted out of life, Scott is working really hard to make me comfortable here at his parents house, which I don't think he needs to do, because they have a very comfortable home, Scott has set up our room to feel like home, and given my precious clothes and place to stay. I'm feeling pretty good right now. We're getting excited about the Holidays and Christmas shopping done. I think we are both looking forward to a bit of 'normality' in our lives.