COME ON DOWN!!!!

Remember that one time I had the calling of Enrichment Leader? And remember how much I totally complained about it. And remember how they fired me about two months into that calling? Well...THANK GOODNESS! Because our new beautiful and talented Enrichment Leader, Jennifer Jackson, put together one of the best Enrichment Nights EVER!!!

THE PRICE IS RIGHT
PROVIDENT LIVING STYLE!
Complete with real games and actual Barkers Beauties!
Allyson Misseldine and Jennifer Jackson

Rod Roddy was the gorgeous Erica Hogge.

And who was BOB BARKER, you ask??

ME!!!
I even had a microphone with a cord, and $500 in my suit coat pocket for the contestant who bid exactly the actual yardsale price!

CONTESTANTS ROW
Bob - "What's our first item up for bid, Rod?"
Rod Roddy - "First item up for bid Bob, is a 12 sting guitar purchased at a yard sale."
Bob Barker - "Lets start the bidding with you."
First contestant - "Twelve Dollars, Bob"
Second contestant - "Fifteen Dollars, Bob"
Third contestant - "What was the first bib, Bob?"
Bob - "$12!"
Third contestant - "I'll say Nine Dollars, Bob!"
BUZZ BUZZ
Bob - "I'm sorry! You've all OVERBID - please go lower than $9."
"six dollars bob" "three dollars bob" "ONE DOLLAR Bob"
Bob - "And the actual yard sale price of the 12 string guitar is...$7!!Amberly was one of our lucky contestants who made it up on stage out of contestants row. She played the "Whats the bigger bargain" game. Other games included "Range Finder" "What's in the bag?" "Pick a Pair" and that one where you have 60 seconds to label the 4 prizes with their proper dollar amount then run back in pull the handle to see how many you have right...then run back and try to fix the ones you might have wrong. I can't remember the name right now. BUT ALL THE GAMES WERE SO MUCH FUN!!!

All of our items were purchased at YARD SALES, or were purchased brand new from stores at a DISCOUNTED PRICE. Our commercial breaks were quick tips from selected sisters who spoke on "free activities around town", "home remedies", "internet shopping, like ebay, craigslist, and freecycle" , and "food storage stuff". A few weeks ago, when announcing the activity, the sisters were asked to bring an item they had purchased at a yardsale or had found and exceptional deal on at a retail store. The handouts were "Price is Right" tickets. So...our SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN featured items the sisters brought with them that night. The Barkers Beauties hand selected which items would be part of which showcase, then the contestant had to determine the total amount that was paid for the items.

Our showcases, which included some great stuff, totaled $19.50, and $12.00 respectively.

EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A GREAT TIME! Thank goodness for Jennifer Jackson and her committee! Thank goodness it is her calling and not mine! THIS ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!!

Seriously! When do people with children find time to update their blogs? Cute stories. Cute pictures. Cute blog layouts! I'm jealous! When do you find the time? I only have a husband and a hemorrhoid that flares up everyone once in a while and I can't keep up! (Picture not included. You're welcome!)

SO MUCH has happened in my life in the last two weeks that there is no way I can catch up. And because I hate BULK BLOGGING almost more than I hate forwarded emails, I will attempt to update one story at a time, more frequently*.

*Don't hold your breath

The good ol' BSA has an annual
GOLF OUTING FOR SCOUTING.
Although Ian would much rather
be a participant in the event,
I MADE him be a volunteer. We were assigned Hole 4,
par 3, slight up hill, 187 yard, over the lake, pin placement in center of the green,
a sporadically gusty breeze to the right, forest lining the right, sand trap to the left.
There was a 40 foot circle drawn around the pin.
For only $5, a golfer could double his money if he hit the ball into the circle.
I was the attractive carnival caller/money collector at the tee box.
Ian was the handsome circle monitor on the green.

Ian also was a self-appointed caddy to any golfer who wasn't looking for caddy advise. He had plenty of time in between teams to read the greens with the balls he found in the trees, which were many. So, there I am all day, thinking I'm so cute, asking all these men to hand over their money to participate in the "HIT IT IN THE CIRCLE" game! It required a bit of coaxing/flirting to get the money, batting my eyelashes, flashing my mother of pearly whites, and exposing my witt and charm. Three hours, and about 140 participants later, another volunteer shows up to relieve me for a 5 min break. With wide eyes and a pointed finger at my face, he yells,

"WHOA!!! You have a HUGE mosquito bite on your chin!! It's so big! WOW, I've never seen anything so huge before! Doesn't that hurt? Oh my gosh, it's GIGANTIC!"
I reach up to check the validity of his proclamation to the world and, sure enough, my chin was nearly numb by the sheer pressure of the swelling! IT WAS HUGE!
First thought: How long has that been there and how many people saw it!?!?
Second thought: I'm not cute at all!! Who was I kidding!
Third thought: Were the golfers giving me money to play the game OR did they think they were donating to my future plastic surgery to remove the growing tumor from my chin!!?!?!?

To the Club House STAT!

With the Michigan breeze thrashing through my hair, I furiously sped off in my golf cart reaching speeds of nearly 3 miles per hour! After driving through a few sand traps, I drove right into the camouflaged swamplands near the 17th faraway. I prayed, "please little golf cart, please don't get stuck. Not here. Not now." I started to bounce up and down on my seat, hoping to free myself from the swallowing mud hole. Mud was flinging in all directions, including up my back, from the spinning tires. At last, I reach the Club House to assess the damage!
GOSH! I'm already board of my own story! This is taking forever to tell!
See! I hate to blog!
I quit!
Blah, blah, blah, we had a great day.
The end.

Columbus Ohio 07

This is just the beginning of our fun!
Just you wait for more pictures and stories
about our adventures.
In the mean time, enjoy this fantastic picture of us!
We are a mighty good-looking bunch if I do say so myself!

CHECK LINDSAYS BLOG!!!
I'm a new Aunt!!
YIPPIE!!!

Grand Haven

TULIP FESTIVAL IN HOLLAND MICHIGAN

A WEEK AT SHANTY CREEK

On our self-guided tour around Michigan, we stayed at a great place called SHANTY CREEK.
Shanty. Shanty. That's kinda fun to say. Shanty. Oh, I gotta take a Shanty. Would you like some more ice cream. Sure! But just a shanty! Anyway, Shanty Creek is in the "mountains" of Michigan. It's right in the middle of two beautiful golf courses, and is the local ski resort. It was beautiful.
We had a wrap around deck that faced the 17th green. Ian was in awe! Until he turned and saw the peculiar rock on the wall of our deck! Hmmmm....shanty!

BIKES, HORSES, AND YOUR OWN TWO FEET ARE THE ONLY WAYS OF GETTING AROUND MACKINAC ISLAND

As much as I know you all will miss seeing the horses,
I decided to update my blog.

Ians parents came to Lansing to visit us.
Lansing - not so pretty.
The State of Michigan - BEAUTIFUL!!
So for a week, we toured the state!
First Stop: MACKINAC ISLAND Craig and Diane at the Grand Hotel.
Famous for many reasons.
The Grand Hotel, not Craig and Diane!
Although I've heard Diane is famous for her
Christmas morning blueberry muffins,
and Craig for his ability to build stairs.

Mackinac Island is where the movie
SOMEWHERE IN TIME was filmed,
starring Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour.
Diane, Ians mom, was one Janes nurses
when she was pregnant with her twins.

From the island, you can see the Mackinaw Bridge
which connectsthe Upper Penninsula
to the lower state of Michigan.
The Great Lakes are surprisingly beautiful!!

We found a great place to stay for three days
with our timeshare up in Bellaire Michigan.
It was perfect - and huge!
You can see the sunset reflecting off of the sliding glass door behind us!

C and D 07

IAN'S PARENTS CAME TO TOWN.
GUESS WHERE WE WENT?

HAIRSPRAY!!!

NYC O7 is this weekend! I am so totally excited!!!

While there, I plan on seeing a Broadway Show.

Maybe WICKED, or LION KING, or MARY POPPINS...

But then I've also heard such great reviews about

HAIRSPRAY!

From the looks of the PROMO FLYER...

it's gonna be GOOD!!!!

100 YEARS OLD!

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660211376,00.html

I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't stop reading the Deseret News Online.

I think I would have liked this guy!

http://www.legacy.com/DeseretNews/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=87147839

GLOBAL WARMING???

BULL!!!

It's SNOWING in Michigan!

There is NOTHING warm about it!!

GLOBAL WARMING????

I'M ALL FOR IT!!!

10 YEARS AGO...

10 YEARS AGO TODAY, I RETURNED HOME

FROM SERVING MY MISSION IN

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

It might have been the hardest thing in my life up until that point...

but dang, I sure looked good doing it!

Perm and all!

To enjoy this picture in person, please visit the ENSIGN, November 1998 Issue, Page 80.

But don't tell Nalani you think it's me. She wont believe you!

RED ALERT! RED ALERT!!

YOU MUST PROCEED TO
LINDSAY AND KEITHS BLOG - NOW!
DO NOT DELAY!!!
Well, you might want to go to the bathroom first...
because you just might end up peeing your pants if you dont!

I can't do it!!!!

Besides, MAKE ME, my other favorite phrase just happens to be, I CAN'T DO IT, I DON"T KNOW HOW! And Ian absolutely loves it when I used any and all of those lines! But it's true. I can't do it! I can't remember everyones blog addresses and thus my links are incomplete. I don't want to be responsible from hindering people from spying on other peoples lives...that they've never met...but are now totally invested in the daily happenings of total strangers! So don't be mad at me.

DID YA MISS ME?

So, did ya miss me?

IT'S OFFICIAL - I quit SODA!

I am not going to drink any more soda this month!!

Good bye Dr. Pepper that I loved so dearly with a bag of pretzels. I will miss you.

Good bye Rootbeer, that shared nearly every pizza with me! I will miss you.

Good bye Diet Coke/Cherry Coke mix! I'm sure my love for you will grow stronger every day that we're apart!

Farewell Mt Dew, the one who got me addicted in the first place by running across the street to get .25 cent refills at Craigos Pizza in 1993

Until next month, my dear carbinated friends!
(btw - You better get you Visiting Teaching done today, it's the last day of the month!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER (and best friend) MILES!!!

10 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ME:

1. I come across really reserved and quiet, but deep inside, I've got a cackle of a laugh that can deafen even the very deaf. Actually, it's so loud, the deaf might actually hear it. Don't worry, I don't use it very often. Like I said, I'm really reserved and quiet.

2. I have amazing will-power. If I see a chocolate cake, I WILL eat it, and not just one piece. I WILL eat as much of it as I can get away with without it looking like I was the one who ate ALL of it. And if I get blamed for eating it all, I WILL deny it. See, that is power!

3. It's been said of me over and over that I can't sing very well, but the truth be known, I'm pretty darn good! Just ask anyone at Miles' Work Christmas Party. I was the only one who was NOT drinking, but I'm the one who got up and started singing! Now you might be thinking, "where were Miles and Ian to stop her?!?!" Well, Miles was accompanying me on the piano, and Ian was trying to adjust the spotlight to make sure it was entirely on me! That's right. I am now a singing legend in Columbus Ohio! Well, at least to an intoxicated audience!

10. I am the most loyal person you'll ever come across - in work, and in friendships. I believe myself to be loyal, honest, trustworthy, thrifty, brave, hungry, loyal, honest, faith, choice and accountability, good works, and integrity, one nation, under God, loyal, and finally, honest.

There you have it! And just maybe, just maybe you learned something new about lil'ol'me! My name is Natalie.

Is it an UPDATE you're waiting for? Just wait longer!

It's a Christmas Miracle!

We spent Christmas as Miles and Toms house this year. Only, Tom was out of town visiting his family in NY and Ian was visiting his family in UT. So I was just ME & MILES on Christmas morning. Well, since we wanted to wait for Tom and Ian to open up Christmas gifts, we were left with only one thing to do Christmas morning: we prank called a few of our family and friends with Christmas Carols early, early in the moring. You know that had to be a real treat for whoever stumbled out of bed to answer the phone! Yes, we sang, then hung up, then laughed because we thought we were so funny! Ah, a Christmas to remember!

THE YEAR OF THE FOOL!

"Son, is that a panty on your head?"

There's nothing like doing FOOLISH things just to make people laugh!
That sums up the New Years Party with the Schroeder Family, bringing 2006 to a close! We foolishly ate way too much pizza, drank way too much ...soda, ate way too many Hersheys Nuggets, made and ate homemade icecream with all the fixin's, we tried to potty train a 2 year old before the year was over, we found pure joy in a box of knee-hi nylons, gave markers to children under 4, had an eyebrow plucking session, built a city around a train track, watched a bit of football, and we completely sugared up a 4 year old GAGE, and a 2 year old TALON, and expected them to act like angelic children while depriving them of sleep until after 12:00 midnight while waiting for the ball to drop! Needless to say, our night was full of fun and laughter and tears, most of the tears from too much laughter!

Here's to the NEW YEAR! I'm hoping 2007 is full for the same, if not more FOOLISH things! Goodness knows, I enjoy a good laugh! After Ian finally put Gage down, believe it or not, Gage asked Ian to "do it again"! Hilarious! Pizza from Zion Pizza Party!
(Take note: New paint color on dinning room walls. Do you like?)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDSAY!

WHO IS READY FOR SNOWBOARDING / FIRE SEASON?

"My Boys", Luke and Issac, came over for another slumber party with Ian and Mallie! Ian had all of his snowboarding stuff out in preparation for his trip to Utah. Because we (luckily) haven't seen much snow this year, the snowboarding boots became Fireman Boots, and they loaded up in their very comfy Fire Truck Recliner, and Ian spun the two Firemen around until I was sick for them! I do love a good party with my favorite 4 year old and two year old!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Since we don't send out Christmas Cards, we decided to post our Family Christmas Picture for all to see! Obviously, picture time is a big ordeal at our house!
HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!

Picnic in Sunny Arizona ... in DECEMBER!!

70 degrees in AZ in December!

Whitney, Elliot, Stella, Lindsay, Keith and I had a picnic on Saturday in sunny Arizona.

We played a very competitive game of 500 with a frizbee and football. Obviously, my efforts could not be matched by my competetors!

When I finally reached 500, and it was my turn to throw the football, I found that my once good throwing arm could no longer throw the distanced I once measured in 6th grade. For some reason, no one thought it was fun to stand less than 10 feet in front of me, so they made me kick the football to them instead.

Have I ever mentioned the ribbon I won in Punt, Pass, and Kick in 8th grade? That's because there never was one.

MY BEAUTIFUL SISTERS!

I'm back in sunny Arizona to spend some time with my baby sisters Whitney and Lindsay. Being here in the sunshine makes me wonder if I should actually return to Michigan. I mean, seriously, Ian only has a year left. I'm sure he'd be fine without me for just one quick year!!! This picture was taken last March for Sisters Week in AZ when we all came to help little Lindsay after her 3rd Open Heart Surgery. Now that her 4th and last surgery has been a success, we just might have to think of other good reasons to get together.

I went with Lindsay to get an echocardiogram on Monday. The Tech performing the echo kept complementing Lindsay on the condition of her heart, telling her that from her perspective, it was hard to tell that there was ever any defect. She kept saying, "It's amazing!"
Yes, it's true - inside and out - my sister Lindsay is amazing!