Family Pictures



This picture ended up being our Christmas card photo. Of course I haven't actually sent my Christmas cards out, but I have many good excuses.

Call me if you want to hear any of them.

Anyone who knows me, knows that to say I don't like dogs would be an understatement. So when my friend's pooch jumped up onto my lap while she was snapping our photo, we all had a pretty good laugh. Notice out my hands are pulled up away from the dog but both of my daughters are petting the furry little creature. We considered sending this out as our Christmas picture just for the shock value to people who know me well!

 

This one was my favorite but I got out-voted. I like less-posed pictures.
And I love Keeks in this picture. It is SO her!



Merry Christmas and a

Very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!

Wow. That was romantic.

.
Tonight hubby came in and said, "I love you". Now this is not terribly uncommon. He often tells me he loves me. In fact, every day. But he's a teaser and silly and often doesn't say it with that real serious tone. So when he does, I always take note and wonder what suddenly made him say it....like that. So I asked, "Why do you love me?"

He paused a minute and then said very seriously....
"I see God in you."

My heart is melted. In a puddle. All over the floor.

It doesn't matter that he borrowed that line from a movie. Afterall, the movie was a 3 hour romantic/musical/foreign/comedy. The fact that he watched it with me was pretty awesome. The fact that he remembered and used the best line in the movie on me...even better.

Grrrrr

.
Me- "Will you please print this letter out and go find the dog who barks incessantly and read him my letter....preferably in a loud, angry voice?"
The hubby- "what dog?
Me- "The dog that barks all day long. Haven't you heard it?"

The hubby- "no."

Me- "Ha. That one. He's barking right now. He's always barking"

The hubby gets distracted and leaves the room.

So....if anyone else wants to go find 'incessantly barking dog' and reprimand him for me and teach him some manners about how to behave when someone is trying to recover from back surgery, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Dear dog who barks incessantly,


Do you not know that I already really dislike dogs in general (blame it on my Mother) and that by barking constantly, you are not helping my feelings about you and your kind. I already think it’s disgusting that you lick and slobber on people. Don’t even get me started about the fact that you poo on people’s front lawn and just leave it there!!!! You then take that bum that just did its business (without being wiped) and lay it down on someone’s carpet or couch. Seriously?!?


Can you not understand that I’ve been through a lot in the last week and that I could use a little peace and quiet? Do you not care that my pain medication amplifies sound tremendously and makes it sound like you are standing on my bed (with your dirty behind no less) barking in my ear?? Arghhhhh!

Do you really think that your big problem of having a little white furry bunny hopping through your back yard is more pressing than me getting a little rest after back surgery for pity sakes?!? I mean it!!! What about your life is so traumatic that you must sit and bark about it all day long? If anyone has reason to be barking it’s me for crying out loud and you don’t hear me doing it now do you?!?! So cut it out. I’m serious. I’ve had with you and your barking. Man up or move on out.


P.S. I think you smell really, really bad when you’re wet and I hope you’re happy that you’ve ruined any chance my children ever had of having a pet….EVER. All of this grief and annoyance from “man’s best friend”…HA!
.

Out of the Mouth of Babes...

.
Kee Kee's prayer this morning....

"Heavenly Father, thank you for this day.
Thank you that we're a forever family.
Please bless this food.
Please bless my Mom's back a hundred, thousand, million, gazillion, bazillion, GOOGOLPLEX times to get better!
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
.

Happy Anniversary To Us!

Pistachio crusted Mahi-Mahi, rice pilaf, steamed veges and aioli sauce:
$18.95

Flat Iron Steak with Bourbon Pepper sauce, steamed veges & garlic mashed potatoes:
$16.95

Unbelievably tasty hot chocolate with whipped cream:
$3.50

Three juice blend:
$3.75

Buy one get one free dinner coupon:
-$16.95

Romantic anniversary dinner to celebrate 18 years of wedded bliss with a man who appreciates that dinner will taste better to me if it's half off:
PRICELESS

2010 Back to School Dinner

Sunday night was our annual

Back to School Dinner and Fashion Show

I washed all the back packs from last year and convinced two of the four girls to use a back pack we already had (reduce, reuse, recycle baby!) The girls who reused a back pack got $5 in spending cash. They were thrilled and so was I!

.

I love that Kee-Kee's backback is almost as big as she is. It's a hand-me-down from Mak.

.

Nana, Papa & the Fam.

The Menu:

Turkey, Oven roasted potatoes, salad, sauteed green beans with almonds, rolls and

cinnamon crumb cake for dessert. Yummy!

.

Our family theme for the new school year

(suggestions given, votes taken, majority rules):

.

"Live so that those who know you,

but don't know HIM,

Will want to know HIM,

because they know you."

These girls can make it happen!

.

The grand finale:

.

'Father's Blessings' from Daddy and Papa to help them start the new school year.

A perfect way to start the new school year.

.

THE NEXT MORNING...

Dani's 8th Birthday Utah Trip

.
Years ago, I heard a talk about establishing righteous traditions for your children. Out of that talk, arose this tradition....

Each daughter gets to go on a trip to Utah to see our church semi-annual General Conference closest to their eighth birthday with Mom and Dad. This year was Dani's turn. She turned eight in February and got to go on her conference trip for April General Conference. The girls get to go again when they turn 12 but that trip is a Mommy daughter trip.

Because the older girls tell the younger girls about their trips, we can't get away with skipping any steps. Believe me, I've tried. So, the trip must include:

• Flying on an airplane to Utah
• A room at "The Little America" hotel
• Tours of temple square
• At least one meal at the Lion House
• A new set of scriptures (w/your name engraved) and a CTR ring from Deseret Book
• Swimming at the hotel pool
• A late night snack in the hotel's restaurant
• Lots and lots of treats
• Getting your ears pierced at the mall (although Dani chickened out at the last minute and opted for clip-on earrings)
• Eating at 'The Garden' on top of the Joseph Smith building
• Pretty much being queen for the weekend
• Getting to order drinks with your dinner (a big deal in our family)
• Going to two sessions of conference and being in the same room as a living Prophet of God. Yes, seriously cool.

Waiting to take off.

.

Dani insisted on pulling her suitcase AND mine. Being the sensitive and tender hearted little thing that she is, she's always very concerned about me hurting my back.

.

One of the special parts of the trip is going to pick out a CTR (choose the right) ring. Here, she's getting Grandma's advice to see what she thinks about this CTR ring.
.

While our family back at home was enjoying an earthquake, we met up with cousins Brady and Connor on temple square.

.

Lunch in between conference sessions at Nauvoo Cafe.
.

Riding the "trax" to the conference center sporting her new "dangly" clip-on earrings.
.

Lounging on the bed at our hotel.

.

Catching a little shut eye while we watched the last session at the hotel.
.

.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture. Father and Daugther walking hand in hand with their scriptures. It doesn't get any better.
.

Dani with her Nana who was also in town for conference.
.

This is Utah's idea of Spring. Honestly! We froze our buns off.

.

An awesome trip with our sweet little Dani Bear. We love you Dani.

Modest is Hottest!

Spring has sprung. It is still cool and crisp in the morning but the daytime temps have been 70-80 degrees. Yesterday was toasty! Kee Kees came home from school and told me, "a girl at school was wearing a shirt without ANY sleeves, not even spaghetti straps Mom, it just had a rope around the neck!" (I think it may have been a halter top)

She then said emphatically, "just because it's HOT doesn't mean you have to dress immodestly!!"

Thankfully she didn't say that to her classmate, but we're glad to know wear she stands on the matter! We're trying to teach our kids standards of modesty while emphasizing that different people have different standards and we shouldn't judge.

This little girl knows where she stands when it comes to fashion AND modesty!! (She walked out in this outfit and said proudly, "see Mom, I made it modest by putting a shirt on underneath".

"I Will"

I made this DVD to show at our church young women's "New Beginnings" program last night. This is a slideshow of pictures we took on a sunrise hike with the girls. They all signed a banner pledging to "Be Strong and of a Good Courage" (Joshua 1:9 - our 2010 theme) in the coming year. I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty awesome! I have 32 of the cutest girls ever who truly stand STRONG everyday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for:

Her,

and her,

and her,

and her,

and him.



Happy Thanksgiving.