our {matkin} family

I really appreciate those of you who would like to read my blog. I'm really glad that my nonsense amuses you! HAHAHA! I can't tell you fabulous it feels to know that the whole world isn't able to see what I choose to put on my blog. Did something happen? Yes. Several things have happened, but most importantly, it was just time. Shawn and I had been talking about it for a while now --- as in, several years --- and I'm glad I finally took the plunge and made it private. It really does feel SOOO much better. I really appreciate all the support I've received in making this change. I know it sounds ridiculous, but you wouldn't believe how critical and opinionated some people are about making blogs private. ***eyes rolling***

I know I did this rather quickly, so if you know of anyone who may have missed out or if someone mentions it to you, please feel free to tell them to email me {nhmatkin(at)msn(dot)com} for an invite. There are some who have asked me (believe it or not) who I am refusing, so just be aware of that. Not everyone is "on the inside". ;) I'm not saying, "Consider yourselves lucky," or anything like that... I'm just saying that there are people you may know who are not going to be invited to view my life. You can probably guess that it's those same ones who are making all those needless comments about private blogs. hahaha

Anyway! Thank you all for continuing with me! I feel like my blog can now become more of an open dialogue with you, my friends. I'm sure I'll be posting more frequently --- but I don't want to jinx myself. ;)

We live in a scary world. I used to disagree with people who said humans are born inherently evil... But the more I befriend strangers, the more I see that there are LOTS of evil people out there. Not just the typical disgusting creeps, there are back-stabbing, lying, petty, and trouble-making people out there. No need for any of that. No need at all. So it's time to make some limits on who I allow in my life and my family's lives.

This blog is going private at midnight tonight. Email me if you'd like to be added to the readers list. If you don't have my email --- leave a comment.

I'm really sick today (I hate stinkin' colds when it's hot outside!!!) but for some strange reason, I can't sleep. I'm hoping that doing this fun little tag I received via email from Emily, will help my brain to shut down for a nap. My body needs a nap. uhhhhhgh.

Bucket List
Copy and Place an (x) by all the things you've done and remove the (x) from the ones you have not. Then answer the questions below. Tag your friends .

( ) Been to Europe
(X) Been on a cruise
(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
( ) Been to Florida
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country
(X) Been to Washington , DC
(X) Been to Las Vegas
(X) Climbed a lighthouse
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
( ) Been Sky Diving
(X) Seen the Cherry Blossoms in Washington , D.C.
( ) Flown a plane
( ) Owned a boat
( ) Watched grandchildren grow
(X) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Been to the Kentucky Derby
( ) Been to Key West
(X) Been to a rodeo
(X) Sang Karaoke
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
( ) Seen the green flash at sunset
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to a Broadway Play
(X) Gone to the movies
( ) Owned a convertible

1. Any nickname? Momma, Hey, Sister Matkin, Nattie/Nat (dont' do it!!! hahaha)
2. Mother's name? Rebecca
3. Body Piercing? ears
4. How much do you love your job? I really do love it. I do. I do. I do. I try.
5. Birth place? Phoenix, AZ - St. Joseph's Hospital, room 531
6. Ever been to Hawaii? Yes
7. Ever been to Africa ? No
8. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? no
9. Ever been on TV? Yes.
10. Ever steal any traffic sign? no
11. Ever been in a car accident? Yes
12. Drive a? Mazda5
13. Favorite number? 9
14. Favorite movie? yikes, just ONE?? hmm. "French Kiss"
15. Favorite holiday? Easter
16. Favorite dessert? tiramisu
17. Favorite burger joint? Red Robin
18. Favorite food? comfort food
19. Favorite day of the week? everyday
20. Favorite brand of body wash? Ivory dish soap
21. Favorite smell? Clean Laundry
22. How do you relax? bubble bath, candles and Scrapbooks, Etc. magazine
23. How do you see yourself in 10 years? let's hope for skinnier
24. Furthest place you will send this message? around the world if you look at the blog map
25. Who will post this the fastest? I HOPE EVERYONE!! ;)

Okay, if you bothered to read all that, you should bother to do this tag! teeheehee! Aaahhhh, now I'm ready for a nap! ;)

With "THE BIG THREE - OH" approching soon, I decided that it was time to post an update on "The List". I'm such a failure. I did get more done than I had originally thought when I decided to repost the list... so that's encouraging. I've got a few weeks to make a final push, so time to GET CRACKIN' on this list!

1. Have #3 (yes, we're trying; shhhh!). not happening
2. Complete backyard landscaping. maybe next year
3. Send Birthday cards to all family members in 2009. I've done blog posts, so I'm going to say DONE!
4. Host Vinyl Lettering Party. DONE!
5. Read 5 novels. almost done
6. Attend the temple 10 times (at least!). probably not
7. Finish painting the house interior. maybe, but probably not
8. Organize all closets in house. probably
9. Try Thai food. DONE! (But I still wanna meet up for lunch with you Jance!)
10. Finish Personal Progress. oooh, so close.
11. Finish the den. (lofty! lofty! lofty!) almost done
12. Plan dinner menus well in advance. DONE!
13. Finish Mom's scrapbook. eek.
14. Host 6 card swaps (at least!). DONE!
15. Switch to DirecTV. DONE!
16. Have Trina over. DONE! (Seriously, that's one of them! Isn't that funny, Trina? I'd forgotten that I chose that! :D)
17. Treat myself (and maybe Shawn) to a professional massage. ya right
18. Be 100% on my Visiting Teaching. DONE!
19. Read the Relief Society lessons, even though I'm in YW. i wish
20. Read & Study the Old Testament. again, i wish
21. Start Shawn's Missionary Scrapbook. not likely
22. Complete Lily's 1st Year Scrapbook. so close
23. Nurture my herb garden. DONE!
24. Clean underbed. probably
25. Use Sandra's bread recipe in the family cookbook. DONE!
26. Start a Farly Family Favorites recipe blog. DONE!
27. VOTE. DONE!
28. Utilize blog more as a journal. DONE! (most of them aren't posted for public viewing)
29. Have family portraits taken. eek, maybe, but doubtful
30. Research Grandparents' birthplaces. DONE!

Extra Credit/Alternatives:

Obtain holder for clear stamps.
Get kids to dentist. DONE!
Have my eyes examined. DONE!
Level up on Guitar Hero. I'm fairly certain I did this, sooo DONE!
Go camping twice. one down!

Just a few layouts I've been working on this week. I have THREE MORE to post, but I'm waiting to post them for now. They're cute, so stay tuned!! :)

This is a contest entry for those crazy folks at TodaysMama and Cricut. Be sure to check out Cricut's cool new cartridges and the chance at $30,000 in travel for you and your friends at the Great Gypsy Escape site!

Great Escape Meme
1. If you could escape to anywhere in the world where would it be?
Europe - there's lots of stuff I wanna see over there. ;)

2. What song do you play when you are by yourself in the car?
"Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie

3. If you had a night to yourself, and money was no object, what would you do?
SHOP and {more importantly} BUY!

4. What is your guilty pleasure?
I have LOTS! Cherry Coke, television, internet, scrapbooking, shopping

5. What is the farthest place you have traveled away from your home?
Fanning Island, Gilbert Islands - near Kiribatz (the only time I've ever been outside the US)

6. Last book that you couldn't put down?
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

7. When you want to escape into another time, what movie do you watch?
Pride and Prejudice or Becoming Jane

8. What is your favorite local escape?
Basha's - they have daycare for me while I shop and we get a 10% discount

9. How do you escape on a budget?
I go to sleep.

10. Best food you've ever had while on vacation.
It's been so many years since I've been on vacation, it's hard to remember. :/ When our cruiseship landed on Maui, my dad and I were hankering for some junk food so we walked to the Burger King. It seems crazy, but it's one of my favorite memories with my dad.

Sam and Lily went to the dentist for the first time today. They did AMAZINGLY well. I was really worried that they wouldn't be cooperative, but they were terrific! The bill was a big punch in the gut, but all in all, it was a good visit.

The "Fall Into Scraptember" Online Crop at SC2C starts today!!

There are LOTS of awesome creative challenges and fun games for you to join in as well as OODLES of prizes to be won, INCLUDING a $50 Visa Gift card! Who wouldn't want that??

Head on over to SC2C, join in the forum, and start getting creative! ;)

Last weekend was our Ward Campout and Lillian's first time ever camping! {Just looking at all these pictures, I feel like I have black dirt boogers in my nose and campfire smokey smell on my clothes. **bleck** I love camping! I really do! I just don't like those two things. and the bugs. ugh. the bugs! Three things.} I'm really glad that we went. The kids had an absolute BLAST! We had lots of fun too and it was great to be around members of our ward. Can't wait for next time! :)

Here are the pictures of the wedding I decorated/coordinated for on August 22, 2009.

BUT! First things FIRST!

I have to SHOUT OUT to the lovely and talented cake decorator, Ruth Butler.
She is JUST. SO! TALENTED!!!Can you even believe this?!! The bride and groom found that they had something unusal in common, a love for the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and had originally wanted their entire cake to be themed after the movie. :) After some consideration, it was decided that maybe the Groom's Cake could be that theme, so it was. Ruth made it so awesome... isn't it just INCREDIBLE??!!!

So there we are. Wedding pictures are now blogged, so I can 'put that baby to bed'. It was lots of fun and I really enjoyed it all... but you can imagine how much work and thought process was put into it. So understand what I mean when I say... I'm glad it's over. The happy couple got married - which is the most important part. :)

I received TWO of the best compliments of my life at this wedding:

1. The Grandfather of the Groom treated me like I was his own granddaughter (which I LOVED because I miss my own Grandpa soooo much!) and kept telling me how nice everything was and how proud he was of me! {I'm teary just remembering! I love you Grandpa Hilton!}

2. The Bride told me it was the best day of her life. What more could I want?! I'm so glad it all worked out and that they were so pleased with how everything went. :)