Nieces & Nephews pics

My parents wanted a picture of my nieces and nephews to send out a Christmas card. here are some of them...

Giving thanks and what not

This week has been so great & I can't believe its almost over. I was off work Wednesday thru Sunday - wahoo!!!
Thursday morning I went to cheer on my sister when she finished her 10k. She did awesome! I totally would have died long before the finish line. Then we went to my parents for Thanksgiving lunch. Then I went to hang out with Marie (she and Travis are in town with the kids). I have missed them so much! I feel like the kids are growing up way too fast.
That night at Midnight Sara and I met up with her friend Mindy at Superstition Mall for Midnight Madness. They were giving away $50 gift cards if you spent $100. It was a madhouse! There were so many people there. So, when the doors opened, I went and got in the line for the gift cards & Sara & Mindy went to spend the money. Thank goodness we did that because by the time they had spent the money the line was SUPER long. We waited in line forever and we all got a $50 gift card - jackpot. Then we went to QT for some re-fueling (if you know what I mean) and we ran into the ladies who were in line behind us at the mall. They were funny, they were asking us what our game plan was and they thought we were so cool because we had a strategy and everything. It was funny. Went home at 2am and were going to meet back up at 4am to go to Walmart for their doorbusters. No point in going to sleep for less than 2 hrs, so I went home and got all my Christmas decorations put up. Then met Sara and went to Walmart. That place was a freak show! People EVERYWHERE! We got what we needed then headed to Target where Marie had gone and we had her pick up the stuff Sara wanted there (excellent choice, thanks Marie!). Then went to Staples which was a piece of cake. We went to Paradise for breakfast and then went home. I think I ended up getting home around 7am. I was so tired. I took a quick nap and then went to hang out with Marie again. Today was Trey's b-day party so I went to that then went to lunch with Marie (Rumbi Grill - THE BEST) then hung out with her and the kids one last time before they leave tomorrow.
Some funnies:
Gwennie was sitting next to me playing with Marie's phone so I sent her a text message that said Hi Gwennie. She was so excited that I texted her. She had Travis text me back. Then the next day when I went over she said, "Ree, remember that one time when you texted me?"
Then she kept asking me how old I was, then she asked Marie how old she was. Then she says to me, "Ree, um....how can you be the same age as my mom but you're not even married?" HA! Good question Gwennie. I wonder everyday how the heck I can be the same age as these married people with 4 kids and not be married myself :) She is a doll.
Tyler LOVES Ice Age 3 and I was watching it with him for a little bit and it was so cute because he kept explaining the movie to me in his little 3 year old words.
Dallin didn't like me at first but he warmed up to me enough to share some fruit snacks with me. He looks exactly like Hunter did when Hunter was a baby. I can't believe it, they could have been twins.
Hunter is getting so big and yet he is still such a sweet boy. He gave me the biggest hug and told me that he missed me so much.
I am so glad I got to see them and hang out with them.

I am so thankful for good friends and family. I have been so blessed to have a friend like Marie, I swear we were friends in the pre-existence. I love her so much and I love her family to pieces.
I am thankful for my sister. Funny, but we didn't really get along that great growing up, but now she is my best friend. Its so fun to hang out and do crazy things like Black Friday with her.
I am thankful for my family. I love my parents. They aren't always perfect, but they have always supported me and been there to give me advise and encouragement whenever I need it. I love my siblings & their spouses. My brothers picked some pretty great girls and my sister picked an awesome guy - good job! And I LOVE my nieces and nephews. They bring a smile to my face just thinking about them.

And on a side note:
I have a new nephew! Alston Alan Rich was born on November 4 & I totally forgot to write about it. He is super cute! Trey is still adjusting to having another kid around, but he's going to have to get used to it.

Halloween

My grandma came to visit again this year for Halloween. I think she likes seeing the great grandkids all dressed up.
We all went to my parents house and went trick-or-treating around their neighborhood. The kids were all so cute! Makayla was Princess Belle, Aiden was Buzz Lightyear, Trey was a cow, and Ellee was a ladybug.
Aiden tried to run into everyone's house.
At the first house after the woman gave out the candy, Makayla turned around and said, "Thanks, you're the best!" Too cute!!

Laugh or Cry?

I almost forgot to mention something about my singles ward. I only recognized a few faces (kids I babysat) and there was this one girl who I recognized but didn't know how I knew her and then I saw her brother and knew instantly.
Her MOM was my teacher in Merry Miss (11 years old) when she was pregnant with the girl who is in my ward! I actually felt her kick as a fetus. I am literally going to church with babies! Hilarious!

New Ward

Well, my decision whether or not to stay in my ward or go to the single's ward became a whole lot easier yesterday. They split my ward and I am not in the same ward anymore. So, that makes the decision to go to the Single's Ward a no-brainer!
Let's keep our fingers crossed that I can find my man in 6 months or less before I flunk out of the Single's Wards for good!

Sheesh...

Its been a while, I know. Sometimes time flies by so fast.
So, my new job...I am an executive assistant for the owner of a communications company. So far I like it. It is like 1 biw-yun times better than BofA so I am so happy to have it. Its a little closer and the hours are better.
My good friend from childhood got married last weekend in Utah. I went up for the wedding. It was awesome. I am so happy for her!!
I found out last night that they are creating a single's ward in my stake (FINALLY)! Here's my only dilemna: I can't leave my Sunday School class because they've all been studying so hard for our "final exam" at the end of the year. If I leave now that will totally suck for them. Then if I do go in January I am going to be kicked out in April anyway. So I haven't decided what I am going to do. But its great that they are finally creating a ward for the young-er single adults :)
My sister and I are making flower clips and diaper wipes cases to sell at boutiques. We have one this Saturday from 1-6...come!!

No Care Act

BofA has this "mantra" called the Know, Care, Act. We know the customer, we care about the customer (PHAH!), and we act on their situation.
Now, we associates like to call it the NO Care Act as in the act of not caring. You like that? We made that up! Anywho...since I have only 5 more days left there - because I did get another job which I will go into later - I have been putting the No Care Act to good use. I am so sick of people calling and asking for help then yelling at me because they are beyond help. Not my fault. Usually I would try to calm them down and apoligize for their situation and explain other options. Not anymore. I am SOOOO done. I now work in the "hardship" department where we can "help" those having financial hardships by reducing payments, etc. Most people who call in are pretty belligerent and don't think they need to provide any information to us because its none of our business. Uh, don't think so MORONS, how can I help if you won't explain the situation.
So...here's a few situations this past week (the week of me not caring).

Me: How has your financial situation changed in the last 6-12 months?
Woman: Well, its because of the economy.
Me: What particular part of the economy is causing you to be unable to maintain your payments?
Woman: Uh, in case you haven't heard, the economy sucks right now.
Me: I understand that, but I need to understand what YOUR hardhip is, not the world's hardship.
Woman: Apparently you can't read or don't watch TV because its all over the news.
Me (the No Care Act is in full swing now): Ma'am, if you want to be condescending and rude then this phone call is over. I cannot help you if you refuse to give me the information I need in order to determine if we have anything to assist you.
Woman: Excuse me?! What gives you the right to talk to me that way?
Me: I was merely stating that if you do not wish to cooperate with me then we have no need to continue this conversation.
Woman: What is your name?
Me: Marie
Woman: What is your last name?
Me: I do not give out my last name
Woman: you mean to tell me that you can have my social security number, birthday, and address but you won't even tell me your last name?
Me: That is correct
Woman: No, you just don't want me to have your last name because you don't want me to get you in trouble
Me: You are absolutely right
Woman: So are you really refusing to help me.
Me: As long as you're refusing to cooperate, yes
Woman hangs up...Victory!

Now, multiply this same conversation by 30 and that's what I do (or did) all day at BofA in this new department.

Also this week I had a similar phone call where she asked me for my first and last name after threatening me that I would NEVER want to run into her on the street. I refused to give her my last name and she insisted I tell her why. So I told her that I have to take her threat seriously and if I were to give her my last name, who is to stop her from finding me. She was so appalled that I would even "go there" she told me she was going to write a letter to my boss and tell her how horrible I am. I asked her if she needed the address to send the correspondence & she hung up. Oh, the satisfation.

Please understand, that I am not intentially getting these people mad. I am just done taking their crap quietly.