The Q Fam

14 YEARS AND GOING STRONG

2010-03-15T02:20:00.000-07:00

Ok so we got a little slide show happy. But since I was in the pictures it was easy to do this one too. This one I got to do with Garth so that was even better. Can't believe it's been 14 years and we have done so many happy things. Happy Anniversary to us! 14 years ago today we sealed the deal in Salt Lake City. You can choose to look or not:-One thing I did learn from this that I didn't necessarily know before is that I have had some seriously heinous hair dos in my life. Glad you stuck with me Dear!

Garth in Pictures

2010-03-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Garth's 36th birthday I give you:

Here's a tip....

2010-02-23T14:13:00.001-08:00

Only way to watch American Idol (or any reality show for that matter) is to DVR a bunch of them and then watch like 5 back to back. Did that last night. Haven't watched a single episode of AI all season. Haven't really even had a desire (I know...so unlike me) but I whipped through Hollywood week which in TV time takes 5 weeks-SO UNFAIR! Fast forwarded through all the drama and just got the good music and the results. VERY SATISFYING! Now if I could only stop being excited that tonight was another show...

My V-day Mix

2010-02-12T15:51:00.000-08:00

Ok It was seriously time to mix up the tunage on my blog. Yeah I haven't been on for awhile but some things just need to be done.

SO Happy Valentines Day all!

Decided to celebrate the day of love with making a playlist of a bunch of songs-pertaining to love in my life. Have always, consciously or unconsciously, documented my life with music and this is a mix of stuff that brings to mind love and romance. My own as well as my favorite books all of which have great love stories. And yes I do make playlists for some of them when I feel inspired to. There are so many good love songs that don't have much to do with my love story but they may pertain to some of the other love stories I know. Good books- good music. This is not a new concept. The movies and tv have been doing it for years right? So I chose some of my favorite love songs from those too. Oh and of course I will be giving you a glimpse into the inner workings of my mind so you can know which is which.
DISCLAIMER: I really only write all of this as a sort of musical journal entry for me. I do not mean to subject others to my many and substantial ramblings so do not feel compelled to continue any further than this.

Yea! On with the show!

(Now these are set to play randomly because I can't stand to listen to the same order but I documented these in order they appear on the playlist.)

Halo-Beyonce: Love me this song! Ever since I heard it the first time on the radio I have thought of Garth. "Every rule I've had you've breakin'." True. "Everywhere I'm looking now I'm surrounded by your embrace, You know you're my saving grace." So nice and also, true. "Hit me like a ray of sun, burning thru my darkest night. You're the only one that I want. Think I'm addicted to your light." Again True. I actually threw this one on my Mortal Instraments playlist too basically cuz I wanted to fit it in somewhere but this in one that started out with my story first.

My Love-Justin Timberlake: Garth once said this was his song for me and you don't say things like that lightly to a person who documents their life in song. I will always remember!

Sparks-Coldplay: This was our first duet we sang in public with him accompanying on the piano. (Ok it was at the ward talent show and the mic wasn't close enough to pick up his words...but what are you going to do?) Completely fulfilled a fantasy of mine. These words are on our wall in our bedroom- "My heart is yours, It's you that I hold on to. Yeah that's what I do." Coldplay is the soundtrack of our lives.

Swallowed in the Sea- Coldplay: This is the song he sings to me when we get in piano sing time moods. (It is completely out of my range or else I'm sure he would make me sing that one too.) This took on new meaning after the summer we went to California to visit Lee and Jana. Jana and I were both 8 months pregnant with Eli and Carmen and we took Emma to the beach for the afternoon while the boys were golfing. Yeah little did we know, they had record setting waves going on. (Should have been tipped off by the people standing on the rocks watching not ON the beach but we weren't.) All 3 of us were literally swept away by a huge wave. They had to peel my scraped up and terrified 6 year old off the rocks above us. We lost all of our towels, one of my shoes, and both cell phones were done for. Jana and I both had huge gashes and welts from the rocks and were soaking wet with sea water. Quite the spectacle I'm sure but Garth immediately thought of this song and now sings it to me. "You belong to me, not swallowed in the sea." !

Storm- Lifehouse: Lifehouse's ballads really speak to me as I have 2 on here that are my quintessential songs for my man. The words on this are amazing and soooo true. "If I could just see you, everything would be alright. If I could just see you this darkness will turn to light." He is and always has been my comfort.

Your Call-Secondhand Serenade: Love this one! Love his voice. I have this on my Eclipse playlist. This song makes me think of Garth every time-love the words..."I was Born to tell you I love you! And I am torn to do what I have to, to make you mine stay with me tonight." Reminds me of when we were dating and he was competeing for my affections. Now he didn't burst into song but he is always so honest this is always how it felt.

Run-Snowpatrol: This one is on the Shiver playlist and fits well for Grace and Sam. Always loved this song though. For Garth- "Light up! Light Up! As if you have a choice!" I seriously married the party and I've been reaping the benefits ever since!

Make this Go On Forever-Snowpatrol: Again. These guys have some great ballads! This is on Maggie Steifvater's (the author) Shiver playlist and that is where I first heard it. This song is more of a breakup song (but who hasn't been there?)but I love the beautiful sentiment.

Kissing Me-Deseree: Yeah I went to the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack! I have ALWAYS thought this song was absolutley beautiful and it is on each (yes I have 4, one for each book duh) of my Twilight playlists cuz the sentiment and the song are perfect for at least one kiss in each book. Isn't this the soundtrack for all sweet kisses? (Answer: Yes)

Your Gaurdian Angel-Red Jumpsuit Apperatis: This is on my New Moon playlist. Wouldn't this be perfect for when Bella is running through the fountain to save Edward? (Again Answer is Yes.)"I will never let you fall. I'll stand up with you forever. I'll be there for you through it all, even though saving you sends me to heaven. Cuz your my...true love."

These Are the Nights-Making April: This song is on my Breaking Dawn playlist. I love this song cuz it reminds me of all of the picture perfect moments I've had in my life! I've always felt like I lived a fairy tale and this song perfectly captures that sentiment in so many moments!

18th Floor Balcony-Blue October: AAAHHH Blue October! So real! This song will always remind me of March 15th 1996 at the top of the tower! BEST DAY EVER!(This is also on my Host playlist. Had to add that.)

Dancing-Elisa: Don't know what it is about this song but it speaks to me. I have it on my Twilight playlist for the big song at the prom. I sing this song at the top of my lungs in the car...much to my kids chagrin, but I love this one! It is SOOOO romantic to me. Her voice, the piano, the lyrics. Just love it.

Breathe Me-Sia: Again, not sure why this song screams romance to me but it does. This one is on my New Moon playlist of course if you listen to the words it's easy to see why. Her voice speaks to me and so do the lyrics. "Be my friend, Hold me. Wrap me up. Enfold me. I am small and needy. Warm me up and breathe me." Been there. Done that.

Gravity-Sara Bareilles: Lovely song! Garth plays this for me on the piano! Love that man! Love that he plays the piano. "Somethin' always brings me back to you. It never takes too long."

Somebody-Depeche Mode: This is the soundtrack for all of the church dances I ever went to (which was ALOT! I loved those suckers!). This calls back a million dreams and thoughts and discussions on who I wanted to marry and my hopes for the future. So glad it all came together. Found my Somebody. I live an enchanted life.

Strange and Beautiful-Aqualung:Garth got really into these guys for awhile but this is the only song that ever spoke to me. I always thought it would make for a good book. Now I have it on my Wicked Lovely playlist. PERFECT!

Falling Slowly-Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova: Guilty! Fell in love with this song when Chris sang it on American Idol. The harmony is lovely and it is now in the piano music repertoire and one day I aspire to make it our next ward talent show duet.

1,2,3,4-The Plain White T's: What is not to like about this song? So sweet and makes me think of my boy whenever I hear it. "I'm so glad I found you, I love being around you. You make it easy."

She Is Love-Parachutes: This is from my Dark Divine playlist. I like the concept and aspire to be called "Love" one day. :)

Falling Away With You-Muse: NO Playlist of mine is complete without a Muse song. Garth and I were driving along the farm roads of Kuna one day for lunch listening to Muse and he said this was the song that makes him think of me. (See I don't forget these things ever!) Thanks babe!

Everything-Lifehouse: Saved the best for last! Of all songs, I think this song captures most of how I feel about my man. Lifehouse started out as a purely Christian Rock band so alot of their lyrics have a double meaning. That is what makes them so perfect. Garth you are my link to the eternity I want the most. I said it at our wedding breakfast and I'll say it again. "You are perfect! Perfect for me!" "How can I be here with you and not be moved by you? Could you tell me how can it be any better than this? You're all I want! You're all I need! You're everything! Everything!"

Book Contest Giveaway...

2009-10-23T13:13:00.001-07:00

Yeah it has finally happened... I am the newest Twilight Mom and also the newest Mundie Mom. Yeah the first one is pretty self explanitory and should not very shocking to most but Mundie Moms is a site akin to Twilight Moms only for fanatics of the Mortal Instraments series...you know the City of Bones series that I read and loved. Yep, I have been stalking the Twilight Moms for about a year or two now so really it is about time. Mundie Moms I just found and they are a great site that not only has forums and info on all things Mortal Instrament but reviews other great books and have been an awesome resource. It has helped me decide which books I see at the books store I should put on my TO READ list and which ones are not for me. They were having a great contest to give away a signed copy of a book called Hush, Hush that sounds awesome! The author is actually going to be at a signing in Utah this weekend and I was planning to make that one of my stops as we were partying it up Homecoming College Game Day style at the Y game. Unfortunately- VERY SICK KIDS (BOOO!) are preventing me from making my so longed for trip. Good news is Mundie Moms are having a contest to give away a signed copy. Interested? Check it out here...http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/10/freebie-friday-hushhush-prize-pack
So now I am off to explore the site further and make a comment or two for real not just in my head!
See ya! That is all.

Completely Random Thought

2009-05-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

Of all the Reality Shows out there... I want to be on Dancing with the Stars! I know, I know, everybody secretly has a reality show that they would like to be on. The Amazing Race, Survivor, American Idol, The Bachelor. OK I don't actually know anyone who wants to be on The Bachelor but you know what I mean. I would LOVE to be on Dancing with the Stars. Ok there is the slight problem of the STAR part and my not-so-inshap-ed-ness and I really don't know how to win votes so I'm not saying I would win but I would have THE BEST TIME EVER and I would work my butt off! So sorry Garth- I may have to just get myself on The Bachelor so I can get in on this Dancing with the Stars action. ObiWon I think it is my only hope!!!!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!

2009-05-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

I love my yard in the spring time! It's been hard to enjoy it with all the wetness that is invading our neck of the woods. I know it makes my flowers grow (even those on the weeds in my not yet tilled garden-Eli tells me everyday..."Look Mom, our garden is growing! Isn't it so beautiful!" Yes son, yes it is.)I have decided to put up some of the pictures I took of my flowering trees to make me feel better! Enjoy!

Did you see the blue skies? Did you see the bees? Yeah it's hard for me to believe those were taken just 2 very long weeks ago! HOW I MISS THOSE DAYS!!

P.S. This music is still kickin!

Whew! Back??

2009-04-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

Ok. March, the month of all months for our family is over! I think I can finally sit down and blog a little about it! March is FULL for us with 4 birthdays, an anniversary, spring break, and stuff! So this year we did mostly family birthdays with no formal parties and we actually had dad (meaning Garth) here with us for all of it!!! Thank you to all of his staff! This year has rocked for us because of you!

OK so Eli turned 3 on March 2nd!

He got a balance bike for his birthday (that is a bike with out pedals to teach the balance of a bike. The concept is if he learns to balance he won't need training wheels when he is ready to pedal. I must admit I am a little sceptical but I will let you know how that works out.) He thinks it is cool!

We went to the park for his birthday and when asked what he wanted for his birthday dinner it was "fries" so we headed out to McDonalds in the rain with some friends just passing through from Washington. He was very up for opening presents this year and was excited about EVERYTHING!

He especially liked the tool set he got

and continues to wander around telling everyone he's "Got a job to do!"

Emma also enjoyed the tool set!

Will had his favorite Eli present too.

After alot of near misses with the bat and a talk about sharing,

Eli was one happy customer!

Emma turned 9 on March 9th!

She wanted Ramen noodles for her birthday dinner! (These are some huge requests here!)And she chose for her cake an oreo ice cream pie because she is not a fan of any type of frosting or cake (as I have said before).

Will liked it!

Alot I think!

Em liked it too but not as much as her "Dragon Hunters" comic book!

Garth turned 35 on March 14th!
He golfed all day with his best buddy Al for his birthday.

Here is a shot of about how warm it was!
Garth Requested NO CAKE as we were caked out! And for birthday dinner salmon and salad cooked by me. I guess I should be flattered but I think the only reason I really ask what everybody wants is so they will request to go out! Come on people, I would request that!!

We celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary on March 15th!
We partied down by driving sans kids (thank you Jenny) to Horseshoe Bend and taking championship ring orders! Thank you Jostens! It actually was a really fun night! On the way home we stopped for Coldstone and had a nice chat. I love my hubby!!!

No pictures of THAT Celebration!

SPRING BREAK!

First 1/2-= sick = Yuck!

Second 1/2=Kids to Grandmas and Garth & I to Wolfcreek in Utah to celebrate with Gwen & Lawrence. Cuz...

I turned 34 on March 28th!

I got everything I wanted!

A pedicure! I love to get little designs on my toes!

Chinese food at the HOHO Gourmet (even the name is cool!), a shopping trip with a built in babysitter (Garth who happily followed Will as he pushed the stroller all over the mall), games till the sun rose (Lawrence and Gwen are people after my own heart), and enough peanut M&Ms to last a lifetime (or at least the weekend)! It was awesome! Thanks guys.

Done!
Ok.I realize that there is a discrepancy between the amount of pictures for the first half of the month and the second half. In my defense...It's just not as fun to take pictures of grown up peoples birthdays.
Needless to say it was a "SWEEEET" month as Eli would say and now we are all a year older! WOOOO! And there is my long awaited post.
MUSIC NOTES: Notice the playlist is now different. Even if I don't blog sometimes I get on here and post a new playlist cuz I love to pull it up and listen while I am doing my downstairs housekeeping. This one is one I found on a Twilight site (shocker!) and I took all the best songs (which are alot I think) and put 'em on. GOOD RANDOM STUFF!

Back to... The Future!!

2009-01-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

Ok! Happy New YEAR!!! It's now 2009 but so many "blog worthy" things have happened in the last few weeks I have to go back to go forward.

On the 17th of December Will turned 1!

I made him a fleece blanket that was not pink. (Explanation: Will likes the fringe on fleece blankets and from day one Eli has refused to share his so Emma shared hers, which happened to be pink. OK for home use but not so masculine for public and Sundays. In short it has driven Mom nuts!)

Here is Will with his favorite person and said boyish blanket.

We had cupcakes which were a hit for everyone...

Emma hates frosting ...notice this is only a cupcake top!

(Pretty picture Em!)

Eli likes only frosting ... Creative

Will was a mixed bag... At first he wan't sure he liked any of it!

Then he decided he liked the frosting and when he got a bite of cake he promptly got rid of that nonsense!

After a few laughs and some coaxing he decided he liked it all!

Next he did a Birthday Dance on his tray! Gross!

We had a great time and he is such a sweet boy! He's a complete MONKEY but he has his Daddy's charm so you end up laughing instead of mad. It only gets more fun as he gets older. We can't imagine our family without him. Love you Will!

HO HO and HO!

2008-12-15T09:04:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everybody!

My Twilight Party

2008-12-06T14:46:00.000-08:00

Ok. So it's been a few weeks since it happened but I couldn't let it just slide by without blogging about it! The night of the midnight release of the Twilight movie (thats November 20th) I had a Scentsy party with a Twilight theme.

It was a blast!!

I was so proud of my decorations I had to share. I mounted quotes from the book on red and white paper and put them up around the room. This one was on the table...

We had a veggie plate for the "vegetarian vampires" and apples with carmel dip (because of the apple on the cover of the book) and black and white cookies.
This one was on the door...

And I made this big homage to the books to go on the wall as you walk in...

We had 4 pages of Twilight trivia and all in all it was uber cool! Thanks to everybody who came, most of which actually came for the Scetsy stuff and not for the Twilight stuff (imagine that)! I would love to do it again and have an actual dinner and then Twilight Jeopardy or something. Anyway I kept all my decorations so if you are ever having a Twilight party...you know who to call.

P.S. Saw the movie with MY Edward the next night and my initial reaction was Yikes! I hated that! (Garth liked it though.) BUT.. upon viewing it a second time and knowing what was coming and what was not, I really liked it. The effects need some more money (ie the running through the forrest on TOP of the foliage-- PLEASE!!!) but other than that I can tell they really thought about alot. Plus it's just plain fun to see one of my favorite books played out. The music was amazing!!! Ok... I downloaded it early and hated it but after puting those songs with a scene I can't get enough! Even Robert Pattinson's songs which were unbearable to my ears, after looking up the lyrics, I appreciate.

For your listening pleasure I have downloaded MY Twilight playlist (for the books) that I made about a year ago and unveiled to the world at my party. It does have an order but I put the tunes on random mostly so I don't have to hear the same thing every time I log on. (Get's very boring) Enjoy!

Trick or Treat Cubed

2008-11-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

So this year was the year I started loosing influence over the Halloween costumes. It's inevitable I know but I just didn't realize it was this year until the actual day arrived.

This year Emma finally fit into the full-body Cheetah costume that her cousin Madison let her borrow. I thought it would be excellent. No buying a cotume for her this year. She was a little dubious about it until I had her try it on and then I thought she caught the vision. She had her best friend Hailey over to go trick or treating with us and I sent the girls up to get into their costumes and this is what came down.
No Cheetahs there!

Turns out she was just placating me but really had no intention of ever being a cheetah. Ok no problem.
Eli ,I had planned on being a train engineer and making a Thomas the Tank Engine out of a box to put over him like he is in the train. However when I got out the costumes that he has worn in the past to try them on Will he decided he wanted to wear the dog costume he wore last year. Again I was stoked! No work involved on that costume! I proceeded to keep asking him during the week just to make sure he didn't change his mind. He hadn't...until we went upstairs to get his costume on and he said, "Mom, I be Mr. (Con)Ducter." Ok- all I had was the hat I had borrowed from my mom but we dressed him up in his navy Sunday clothes and VOILE!

Hip-Hop-O-"Ducter"-us!

At least one child wore exactly what I had planned for them.
Good old fashioned hand-me-downs!

Ahh good times! It was fun though.

As I was looking at our pictures I had to look up pictures of Halloween past and loved to see the kids through the years. Look at this...

Halloween 2006

Eli 6mos.(tiger) and Emma 6 (witch)

Halloween 2007

Eli 1 (dog) and Emma 7 (pirate)

As you can see I'm still trying to figure out how to make this picture thing do what I want it to. If I fiddle with it any longer it will be next Halloween before I post. Anyway I am now using all the Halloween candy as potty training bribes for Eli. TRICKY!! We are on day 2. Hopefully Mom, her washing machine, and carpet can hold out this time. Wish me luck!

OUT!

Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three?...

2008-11-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

Ok people I'm out here!

Amazing! I am part of the Blognation. I must say it feels pretty good! Ok here is my initial post of this all encompassing blog.

First I must say a word about my playlist. I think the playlist feature on blogs is BRILLIANT! Don't you think it is interesting to see what people put out there to represent themselves? Ok maybe you don't, but I do so even though my blog doesn't have much right now BY GOLLY it's got a playlist! A little eclectic I know but I wanted to find songs that meant something to US not just me (and I threw in a few that I liked too).

#1 is "Butterflies and Hurricanes" by Muse--Ok... Muse is amazing. We love this song for the message, and the piano, and the drama of it all! Every time Garth and I hear it we get chills.(That may change now that we hear it every time we are on the blog but there it is) "Change everything you are and everything you were. Your number has been called....BEST! YOU'VE GOT TO BE THE BEST! YOU'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE WORLD AND USE THIS CHANCE TO BE HEARD! YOUR TIME IS NOW!!!! Wow! Love it!

Cold Play- this band is Quintessentially Quigley. (Wow that would make a good blog name.) Just a little history---Garth got hooked on them when he first started with Jostens and he had to be in the office for so many hours. They were very soothing after being in the schools all day. He introduced them to me when we were driving to the Salt Lake temple early in the morning and he played "Fix You" for me in the dark car. I don't know why that moment stays with me but needless to say I got hooked. When we first moved into our home 3+ years ago and got a piano Garth ran out and got the sheet music for every song they had and then proceeded to learn every one! We would sing around the piano every night for awhile and Garth, in his eagerness to share his talent would play for everyone who darkened our door (literally, neighbors who came to deliver cookies, the bishop, friends from college just passing through, everyone)but MADE me sing with him every time. I was proud of him and wanted to support him but DANG!! So sorry to any and all of you who had to endure that little piece of awkwardness. "Viva La Vida" is just a great happy song to start with and all my kids sing along when it comes on. "Yellow" is the lullaby that we use to sing to Eli when he was born and I would cry every time at the miracle of having our little boy after waiting so long. "Sparks" is my song for Garth and "Shiver" is his favorite.
Ok that was A LOT of history! Sorry.

#3 "Lucky"-by Jason Mraz. We just stumbled on this song today and LOVE IT!! It is so great! Words-Amazing! Tune- Groovy. Harmony- Stellar. This is how Garth and I feel everyday for each other, LUCKY!

#4 OK High School Musical- I know, I know. But it had to go on there because A.)Em and Eli both sing it, ("Na na na na, you are a music a me" were one of the first lyrics my son ever sang)and B.)I don't know how they feel but, that is a very true statement for me... Garth, Emma, Eli, Will, they are the music in me.

#5 MUSE again. "Starlight" makes me think of Garth cuz it's my ring tone for him. He put it on my phone and when ever he calls my phone says "I'll never let you go if you promise not to fade away. Never fade away." Um "Map of the Problematique" is just cool.

"Breathe in Breathe Out"-Great song that my sister in law introduced to me and I have loved it ever since. (Thanks Mignon!)

"Hero/Heroine"- ok this one is all me. I love this song cuz ever since I was a teenager I have always thought I lived an "enchanted" life. You know like all the fictional books that I read... stuff just turns out right. It may get hairy sometimes, just like in books, but everything always has a happy ending. Most of my happy endings have everything to do with my own personal hero who I just happened to find and marry. TADAH!!!

OK... name one other blog where you got to listen to the entire playlist before you got to the end of the blog about the playlist. And you thought that line under my blog title was just a clever statement. You should really pay attention to my warnings.