Made weak by time and fate,
but strong in will;
To seek, to strive, to find, and not to yield.

Side Note:
The fork. or Also known as "A Dingle-hopper" Reminds me of one who not only had amazing hair (that I would pretend I had as I swam in our pool as a young girl) but also for me represents a young woman who loved learning about everything and anything. Who pushed past barriers and boundaries to find her place in this world. In this industry education is key and you are always always learning. Everyday! And with that requires perseverance to reach goals. The industry of beauty is all about testing, pushing and surpassing barriers and boundaries. This industry is truly SWEET!!!!

Friday, March 14, 2008

Officially unofficial

I just wanted to update you on whats up with me this week. Life has been truly CRAZY!!! If it gets any more crazy I think I'll have a nervous breakdown.... maybe. Ok, probably not.
So here's the scoop. Last week our acre was stolen out from under us buy some evil people who outbid us!!! I had a melt down and cried for 2 days. In my head, we were already living there in our happy new house and everything was great! So the people aren't evil but it makes me feel better to say so. So now we're on the hunt for a new lot, which we found but we had to change our floor plan which is not an easy task. Bran and I are both very particular. So after much debate we've found another that we both love. Now the hard part. Getting a lot. We found some in our neighborhood that the builder is literally dumping. But come to find out, he has decided to sign the lots over to people he owes money to. CRAP!!!!! Mr. Brady the sales guy is going to see if he can work a deal for one of the lots before they all get signed away. Why is this so important you ask? Well we absolutely love love love our ward! We don't want to leave. We are fighting to stay, but it looks like this will be our last option to stay. We'll see how this goes over the next 2 days and for the kicker...(update: we'll be signing a purchase contract on Tuesday! Send prayers)
Baby #4 is officially unofficial. This should teach me a lesson of letting the cat out of the bag too early on. And I think the name "miscarriage" is crappy. It should be called something different. Amber suggests "misconception". Branden says it should be "to be continued...." But knowledge is truly power. When talking to my mom about it, she said "Did you have a good cry in the shower?""No" I told her. " I'm sad but my body knows what it's doing." Although I feel really off. It's weird. So, after I get the low down from my doctor, we'll be trying again. After all "trying" is lots of fun and free therapy for whatever ails ya!!!! So here's craziness and to trying again!!!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Another tag!

I ramble too much and don't have enought pics. I'm slacking and I hope you all forgive me. I will add some new pics soon.
But to fill the void, here is my responce to being tagged.

10 years ago..................
Well I was 17, living Mesa with my Grams and Gramps, but soon to go back to Vegas because Branden unexpectedly comes home from the MTC. ( I freak because I'm unsure how my Dad will react and Branden uses the word "married" enough that I break up with him because "Come on! I'm still in High School and only 17!") Yikes! I feel a bit overwhelmed just thinking about it. That was stressful. We must have been preordained because holy cow did we have a roller coaster ride of a courtship and beginning of a marraige. Good thing we love roller coasters!
But my year of being 17 I also made some IRREPLACEABLE FRIENDS in Vegas. I hated it there but these amazing people came in and made it very worth it!!! They saved me from my misserable self! Thank you Michelle, Eddie, Ryan, Sara, and Urry family. There was also Roger and Kerry, Kristen, Sara's perfect sister Rachel, Jason, Johnathan, and Boonie, Matt, and Charlie. There was also the great Vegas 1st ward, the Demarco's and the elders helped make life interesting. My mom loved to have them over. There was Elder Sanders, Martin, Blankenship, Ellis, Ello Ello, (I'm pretty sure I just butchered his name) and a crazy elder who was always going A-wall. I'm sure I haven't named everyone, but they were all and still are very special to me.
I'll post another question in a few days. I need to go make dinner.
Love Mandi

This is for the Gibbens!

I thought you guys might enjoy these pics. I took these at the home of a friend of my Grandpa Allen's. This huge "game" room was filled wall to wall. This is one of 4. I figure you guys might have a room like this someday. It was truely amazing. Like a museum. When can you get up close and personal with any of these types of animals with out getting eaten!
GRRRR. Scary! This one is my favorite.

The kids loved the elephant. There were also stools made from the elephants feet. I guess the meat from a lot of these animals was given to the locals for their food supply. I thought that was nice considering.
And the best ever......


"You wanna pet my monkey?!"
This one has been blow'n up to an 8x10 and framed with this quote. It is passed every Christmas as a rotating white elephant gift among Branden's family. It honestly was the best white elephant gift we've ever done!

Sausages!!!!

Having a bad day??? We're having a bit of a rough week so we thought we would share some laughter. Just in case Bran's monkey didn't make you laugh....... maybe this will. It makes Branden hysterical. And although we don't drink, Budweiser has the funniest commercials. I am partial to the lizards and miss them. They were hilarious!!!


Sunday, March 2, 2008

Unofficial Announcment

Unoffical just means I haven't been to the doctor yet, but I'm pretty sure 2 home pregnancy tests don't lie. So, here we go again! Baby #4!

I'm suspecting I'll be due around Nov/Dec. Who knows for sure. With Brock, even thought my date of my last cycle was right, the guestimation date (which the nurse did) was 3weeks off! I had to do a "special" ultra sound because the doc couldn't get a heart beat. But there he was.... A little gummy bear. I must have ovulated late or something.

We are really excited. Branden said 2 nights ago... "you know it's another boy right?"
Then last night he asked if I would be disappointed and sad if it was a boy.
I said, "NO! I love my boys." I'm more worried about naming him if it is a boy honestly.

Branden and I had an extremely hard time finding names we agreed on with Brock and to make sure we didn't fuss over it too much, Branden made us name him right after he was born. I said, "Ok Honey, he's here. You go home and rest and I'll see you in the morning."
He said, " I'm not leaving till we name him."
CRAP!!! I wanted bonding and meditation time 1st but he was having none of it. So he chose his favorite name that I didn't veto and I chose mine. Brock Ryan it was and a week later I wanted to change his name. Try saying "Brock" a bunch of times in a row. You suddenly turn into a chicken. But the name works for him.

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I need a girl!!!! :P Ok, maybe "need" isn't the word but we would love a little Turley girl! Or 2 or 3!

If I could plan it just right. I would want this one to be a girl. Then I would need 2 more girls and another boy somewhere in there. That feels right to me. I really want to use my girls names. There are 3 of them and there our absolute favorite names!

Although, with the 1st 3 boys, finishing off with 3 girls would be cute.
James Philip, Branson Theodore, Brock Ryan, Tessa Nichole, Melody Faye, Jessica Louise. And maybe finish it off little Matthew Kent? Awwwww! So fun!!! I love having babies!

All our boys have at least one family name.
James Philip is both Grandpas middle names.
Branson means "son of Branden" & Theodore is a great great great grandpa.
Ryan is Branden's brother Craig's middle name, the name of one of our nephews and I've known a few Ryans in my life, and they are all great examples of good solid guys.
We love names with good literal meaning and with special meaning to us.
Although Tessa Nichole has no family relation, but her inicals tell of the little bit of pyro in Branden."TNT"
I love to sing so Melody is perfect, plus it's really girly, and Faye is a name from my moms "Bates" side... I think. I'm sure I could find a Faye on the Allen side too.
Jessica, the name of the most perfect and adorable babysitter that we had in Usury Park ward. Miss Jessica Packerd was just the cutest and one of the most "got it together" girls. We were very impressed by her and her great family. And Louise is the middle name of both my mom and my mom in law.
I also love the name Michelle because it's the name of my most best friend in the world and the middle name of my sister Stephanie. Melody Michelle would be cute, or Tessa Michelle I really love.
Branden really isn't budging on changing "Nichole" though.
He already has her nickname and theme song picked out.
"TNT Dynamite"
I'm a bit worried about this. I don't need to give birth to a firecracker!!! But if she's a red head, which we would totally love!!!! It would be perfect!
You know whats funny. I have red heads in my mom and sister and other relatives and Branden has brothers and sisters that are red headed, yet how is there only one redheaded grandchild???
Anyways. I just wanted to share the fun news with all of you! Sorry about the rambling I just like to type as if we were really in person chatting. :P
I love you girls!