A Great Photographer...

If you're looking for a great photographer and you live in Lincoln, NE, I have someone excellent to recommend!

Becky Anderson Photography

Becky took Marley's one year pictures with a white background and cake. I posted some on my blog, but if you missed that post, check the photos out at Becky's Blog by clicking here.

Becky also took Marley's pictures when she was about 15 months. They turned out SO cute! Click here if you want to check those out on the Anderson Photography blog also. Do it!

Becky is very professional while also being fun and creative. She has scoped out great locations

for children photos, family photos, and senior portraits. She also does wonders with infant pictures, so cute!

Well, I'll let her photography blog tell you the rest. Go check it out! And make an appointment!

I Met The New Neighbors!!!

I met the new neighbors on my third try. I went up and knocked on the door twice, two different days, no answer.

Today I went up and a sweet young girl answered (18 or 19 years old). I had Marley in my arms and a plate of sugar cookies we had made the missionaries help us frost. Then another young girl came to the door from the living room. I said, "Hi! I just wanted to come meet you and welcome you to the building. We're your neighbors, right below and I'm Becky and this is Marley. And my husband is Nathan." They seemed really happy and surprised. They shared their names and I said, "You're Christmas decorations look great!" They said, "Thanks!" And I said, "Ok, well, if you ever need anything, come on down!"

One problem, (or not) I hadn't showered. No makeup. Honestly, I didn't expect anyone to answer the door again,but I had to try one more time because the cookies will be a week old on Thursday.

They prolly think I'm a lazy stay at home mom that never showers. Eh. Oh well. I do hope they come down and need some help with something sometime. You know like, they need some baking soda or an egg, or a cup of sugar, or they need their car jumped! I have jumper cables!

I hope they don't come and ask for money. I ain't got none of that!

"Get that corn outta my face!" What's that from???

Primary, Callings, and My Testimony

I am the secretary in the Primary, in my ward. When I was called, I'll be honest, I was a little disappointed and I had a lot of apprehensions. I didn't see myself as being "good" with kids. I also thought I would miss Relief Society and I do, but I am loving Primary.

With that said, today, Primary was hard! I won't go into details, to protect the innocent, but one of the sisters in the presidency cried. I wanted to cry. By the end, I think ALL the adults wanted to run to the bishops office to ask to be released. I'm 99.9% sure none of us did.

This got me to thinking about callings. I am so grateful for those people who accept a calling no matter what it is and then do their very best to fulfill that calling. We were taught, in our home growing up, that you never turn down a calling and then you do all you can to fulfill that calling. I am so grateful for that example.

I have a firm testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the same organization that was established by Christ when he was on the earth. I am so grateful for living Prophets and Apostles. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet that has been called and set apart to lead the World! I had my very own special and sacred experience to get that confirmation, because I asked. You can ask and know too.

I am grateful to live my life with the knowledge of the plan of salvation, it truly is the plan of happiness. Knowing where I came from, why I am here and where I am going helps me everyday. Having an eternal perspective helps me love more and I am so grateful for that blessing.

I love the Book of Mormon and the Bible. I am so grateful to know God's dealings with His children. I'm grateful that he follows patterns so we can recognize truth. He truly is the same yesterday, today and forever.

I am so grateful for this month that we have to reflect on the birth and life of The Savior. He is the ultimate example of love, patience and kindness. I want to be like Him! I know he paid the price for ALL OUR SINS. He is the only one that can truly succor us when we are sad, lonely, in pain, in need, and imperfect. He knows us better than anyone which, makes me SO grateful that he is my mediator and advocate with The Father. I know that through Jesus Christ we can become like Him and we can return to the pressence of our Heavenly Father. He lives and because He broke the bands of death we will all live again. What a glorious and perfect plan.

Thanks for reading my blog. Blogs are funny because people blog for many reasons. My reason is for my family and friends that I live too far way from. I like to be silly and tell funny stories. I like to be dramatic and blow things out of proportion. But, this post is so that you never forget that I know who I am. I know God's plan. And I am doing my very best to follow Him in faith. (sorta just quoted a primary song, but it's true!). I am so grateful to have an eternal family....oh! I could go on and on. I am so blessed and so grateful.

Amen!

Christmas Tree: Real of Fake?

Sorry for posting so late in the day. I had this written yesterday, but I was using Nate's computer and my computer has all the pictures, so I couldn’t schedule it to post. Then today we had a crazy cool Primary Activity, so I was busy with that all morning. This afternoon I went to quilting class and after that I had to finish planning Sharing Time for tomorrow. So, I been busy!

Here is another post as promised. Complete with pictures! (I have til midnight! Ok!)

Marley took a Santa ornament off the tree and as I was about to get mad at her and tell her to stop touching the tree! The Santa ornament gave me a kiss right on the nose. I couldn't get mad at her after that, after all, Santa must have wanted to give me a kiss. Who am I to deny Santa and what kind of mother would I be if I berated my child for helping Santa?

The History Of The Nathan Freitas Family Christmas Trees:

Our first Christmas (2006). We had only been married for about a month and we had decided we weren't going to get a Christmas tree. We were living in an apartment in P-town, which had a pretty small living room, so there wasn't much room anyway. However, my mom felt sorry for us, or something, so she bought us one. It was the most pathetically decorated tree ever.

We got one box of mini ornaments as a wedding gift and we had each gotten “our” Christmas ornaments from our mothers but, it still wasn’t enough to fill one side of the tree.

Oh! There were Christmas lights but we only had one strand and it was the smallest strand of lights that ever was made. It only filled one quarter of the tree, and by one quarter I mean, we only put them on the front of the tree and they still only filled the top half of the tree. I’m sensing that you don’t believe that we had a pathetic tree. Alright here’s the evidence.


Our second Christmas (2007), it's hard to believe, I know, but we were living with my parents, so their Christmas tree was our Christmas tree. It was beautiful! (No picture, sorry.)

But that Christmas we also made our way down to Salina and Lynette's tree is so cute! That was the first year I had seen it, so of course I took pictures!

A closer look. So crafty cute!

Our third Christmas (last Christmas) we didn't get a Christmas tree. We left L-town for Utah, right after finals so we didn't really see the point in getting one. We still got our Christmas decor out and cluttered it around the apartment. It was nice…but, let us face it, a lot of Christmas décor is clutter, albeit beautiful and meaningful, but still clutter. (This next pic is of Marley of course, her first Christmas morning, in front of my mom's tree. She looks really interested, doesn't she?)

Marley and the Nut Cracker.

And this year, we have decided to stay home and have our very own Christmas. In that case, DEFINITELY needed to get a tree. We had the great debate and when it came down to it, we found that we could make a wise investment by buying a fake tree for the price of TWO real Christmas trees. After a couple of Christmases a fake tree would save us mula.

We hounded the ads for the fake Christmas tree deals and it came down to the dreaded (at least in our family) Black Friday. We narrowed it down to three trees, one at Shopko, one at Home Depot and one at Lowes. We have one rule about Black Friday in our family...NO WAY are we getting up early to go SHOPPING!!!! So we decided that we would sleep in as late as we wanted, which is pretty much up until Marley wakes up, and then we would head out after breakfast.

We headed out around 10 or 10:30. Risky I know, but what is NOT risky, when it comes to shopping on Black Friday? First stop Shopko and it was still really busy...very long line and TONS of people getting in each others' way. We made our way to the back of the store, found the six foot tree from the ad and found they were all sold out. However, we weren't crushed, the tree in real life was a disappointment in it's lack of size (didn’t look 6 feet) and luster (it was a drab green).

We waded through the mobs and made our way to Home Depot. We found the tree from the ad and I was INSTANTLY in LOVE, as soon as I saw it in its reality. It was pre-light which was one of our musts and it was a whopping 7 feet tall, and it looked it! It was a healthy green color and also had some perma-decorations - red berries and pine cones. It was SO cute. I think it was designed and decorated using complicated algorithms of mathematical equations because it was PERFECTION!

To our dismay....they were GONE!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

For one second I had wished I had gotten up at 4AM and waited in line for Home Depot to open its doors so I could run like a mad woman to snag one of these trees of perfection. And then I came to my senses and thought....maybe they will sell the display?

I left Nathan and Marley to guard the display and I RAN to find a Home Depot employee. I quickly found one and he said they were selling the displays. He called another employee over to help him disconnect it and load it onto a cart but first he went to get a flat bed cart for us. While we waited for him to return a woman came over and asked the guy, there to help the other guy, "So, these are all gone?" He said yes. Thankfully she didn't ask for the display, I really didn't want to see if the Home Depot employees were in the mood to see a fight for who was more desperate for the tree. I would have laid the smack down on that lady. After all it was Black Friday and it was the tree of perfection. See for yourself.

No ornaments yet, and the lights are off, yet it already looks perfect! All decorated and the lights on!

Marley helping with the decor.

Me decorating and the back of my messy hair. You're welcome!

Isn't it pretty.

We love you all!

What would you doOOOoo for a Klondike Bar?

The first and last time we had snow was October 10, the day of my relay, go figure.

We have had really nice weather...until yesterday, and it got fooshnicken cold really fast. We had some snow flurries but no snow yet.

We read in the paper that November was warmer than October. Weird.

I'm not complaining though. I was SO grateful that Fall held on so long. It's December 4th and it's just starting to get cold and snow...it has been a dream come true for me.

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Did you know that John Tesh has a radio show? I couldn't remember the exact phraseology they use for what the show is all about, so I looked up their site and it says, "we're all about providing the latest news on all of the topics that affect your life. " It's on at night here in L-town and I really only hear it on Tuesday nights when I pick Nathan up later than usual. But, I do hear some interesting things. Once he quoted a study done by BYU...and I was like, "Yeah! That's my Alma mater!" The study was done in collaboration with Toronto University, but it sounded like a study BYU would do. "People Tend to Be Fair and Generous When They're in a Fresh-Smelling Room." Totally funny and yet nice to know! I linked the title of the study to Tesh's radio site so you can read the little blurb he gave.

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One more interesting thing I learned on Teshy's show. There is a new eating disorder and they have come up with a term for it. Orthorexia. It's an obsession with healthy food! Not all experts acknowledge it as a real eating disorder, but I'm no doctor and I have to say, it wouldn't surprise me.

Food is a hard thing. We HAVE to eat! And that's why I think trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight is hard. It's not like quitting smoking - quitting smoking is HARD, I'm sure, but if you don't smoke, you aren't going to die. If you quit eating, "cold turkey" you WILL die. So, losing weight or working to maintain a healthy weight can demand SO MUCH disciple and will power! And since it does, I'm not surprised that that discipline and will power can be taken to the extreme in being obsessed with healthy food.


Anyway, that's my two cents.

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Is it weird that sometimes I get the Klondike ice cream sandwich theme song stuck in my head? It's catchy! And that's good advertising...or maybe it's not since I think I've only had 1 Klondike bar in my whole life.

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Have I already told you this?

It's not weird that when I see a cop behind me, with it's lights and/or siren on, my heart jumps into my throat, and I get really scared that it's pulling me over. Then when I pull to the right and it passes to pull over someone ahead of me I think, "Yea! That's what you get for breakin' the law!" Weird? Or normal?

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What about this? Have a I told you this before?

It's not weird that whenever I see a fire engine or ambulance flared up and screaming down the street, my heart swells in patriotism. When I think about it though, it is weird. And I can't remember if I felt that way before 9/11. But, when it comes down to it, I can feel good about people risking their lives to save others' lives. Right? They're doing a good thing...so, my heart can swell all it wants.

We're the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything!

First, Nathan slaving away at the sewing machine.
He made Marley's faux boots and pirate wench belt.

And then some hand stitching. (he's amazing!)

And, Pa-Duh!!!!

Captian Jack Sparrow and his little pirate wench princess!

I made Nate's faux boots (after I watched him make Marley's), and faux leather vest. We bought the wig.

I also made Marley's little pirate compass vest, skirt, and head scarf/bandana thingy.

With all the swashbuckling pirate shinnanigans, the pirate princess zonked out.

But not before she got a lot of pirate booty.

We found the cutest little witch at our ward trunk or treat.

The cutest little witch we've ever seen.

Ok, if you are wondering where all the pictures are of the Queen Pirate Wench....Captain Jack Sparrow was slacking on his duties and did not ensure she got photographed, as he has been strictly advised in the past to make sure the Queen gets some camera time.

Oh well, we'll probably be pirates for Halloween for the next 10 years and my costume was good but it needs some improvement. Next year we'll add a little som n' somin'.

Oh! The Cap'n was reading over my shoulder and says he DOES have a picture with me in it. Someone at the school took it, because, that's right we Nathan and I won the adult best costume prize and Marley won the child's best costume prize. LOTS of BOOTY!!!

Ok, so last year, there were TONS of people dressed up for Halloween because it was on a Friday and they had the party ON halloween. This year, the party was Thursday, TWO days before Halloween and hardly anyone dressed up. So, we might have been winners by defalt. Marley full-on won most original child costume last year. Remember?

Oh well.

It's not the best picture but, it'll do.

The best part of my costume was my skirt, which you can't see and my hair, which you can't see very well. On the other side I have beads hangin' down. It was fun! Next year Nate and I need big frilly blouses and I need a wench belt, like Marley's.

We love you all!

'Cause this is THRILLER!!!!

Get ready for the cutest pictures of the cutest toddler dancing to....you guessed.

"You try to scream

But terror takes the sound before you make it..."

"They're out to get you
There's demons closing in on every side"
"That this is thriller

Thriller night

'Cause I can thrill you more

Than any ghoul would ever dare try

(Thriller)

(Thriller night)

So let me hold you tight

And share a

(Killer, diller, chiller)

(Thriller here tonight)"

Honestly, I didn't know most of the words in that last little part. I'm glad I know now, and can sing the right words. From now on.

These pictures are from a Stake Youth Activity, on Halloween.
The youth in our stake dance a modified Thriller dance at every dance and activity. Me and Marley LOVE IT!!!

Oh and Marley loved this little table that was just her size.


Though Marley hasn't seen the Thriller video yet, she has seen this PLENTY of times. From one of my favorite movies, 13 Going On Thirty!



The End.

Stay tuned for some pictures of Nate and Marley in their costumes!