It's My Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!! This is my birthday present I bought myself yesterday - YUMMMMMMMMMM! Just thought I'd share - he, he, he, he, he.....

My Grandpa Allan

On Friday, my Grandpa Allan died at the age of 96. Although I'll miss him so much and Cedar City and Cedar Mountain will never be the same without him, I am so happy for him to be back with Grandma and out of pain. He was so lonely after Grandma died, and I know he's waited 4 1/2 long years to be with her again.

I am so grateful for the Gospel and for my knowledge and testimony that death is not the end. I know I'll see Grandpa again.

I've also realized listening to my kids how many memories they have with Grandma and Grandpa and I'm so glad! You don't think you're kids are really understanding how great you think these people are, but they do and they love them just as much! Every one of my kids (except Talin) has pictures and memories with their great-grandparents, and even Lafe has special memories with them. I'm so glad that we all have such great ancestors and examples before us.

Gardening

This weekend I went out to try and turn the garden and I ended up getting it all planted plus some flowers in the front yard! It's rained several times this month, so the dirt was really easy to turn, so I just kept going. We planted 3 grape tomatoes, 3 regular tomatoes, 2 tomatillos, 2 artichokes, and 4 strawberries. That's all they had in plants and all I had time for, so I'll have to get the seeds in the ground later.

My neighbors (and ward, since we live across from the church) may fall over that we actually planted something in our front yard! Soon after we moved in all the shrubs died or were just big weeds, so we took them all out, but couldn't afford at the time to replace them. Then, we weren't sure what we wanted to do because the big trees are pulling up the brick edging. But, I decided I just want it to look better! So, I put in new flowering shrubs ( daisies and hibiscus) and then lots of flowers! (tulips, snapdragons, and pansies) Hey, it should be Spring here soon!

Tagged, again!

Can you believe I got tagged again? Six thing you may or may not know about me:


1. I have a HUGE chocolate addiction!

2. I actually like Hannah Montana and High School Musical, too. I'm sure I'll eventually get tired of it like Erin and Ethan, but for right now it's fun.

3. I eat ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc. with my spoon upside down - I don't like freezing my top teeth! Not really that weird, but it's something to write!

4. I have a lot of gray hair that I color to keep from showing (which you can see right now because it's been a while!) I started graying really early - I think I found my first one in high school, but I know I was pulling them out in the dorms freshman year in college!

5. I first knew of Lafe about 22 yrs. ago when we were in 7th grade, and we knew each other and were good friends since 9th grade. He took me to our Junior Prom with the intention of taking my best friend to our Senior Prom, but by the time Senior Prom came we really liked each other and he asked me again.

6. I have a fear of driving on bridges - o.k., this came about when we lived in Missouri. I used to drive over to Quincy, Ill. to get the kids pictures taken at the Sears there (we didn't have anything but Walmart) and so I'd have to drive over the Mississippi River. One day, I had the thought that all I'd have to do is turn the steering wheel a little bit and we'd all be in the river - SCARED ME TO DEATH! Ever since then I have to grip the wheel and try to think about something else because I'm afraid I'll do it - kind of like I'm afraid my hands will just let go when I'm doing a zip-line.

So, now I tag Lori and Shannon.

Kite flying

O.k., I don't have a picture - but remember those kites on Monday that wouldn't fly? Well, last night we had a good breeze and the kids convinced me (grudgingly, I might add) to try and fly the kites in the church parking lot across the street. Well, after fixing Erin's and letting me do the string on the girl's, we got 4 kites up all the way! (Kelcie's has a hole in it - many tears :( ) It was sooooo fun and the kids just loved it. In fact, tonight Ethan was looking for wind so we could do it again. Definitely advantages to living across the street from the church! A motorcycle guy went by and gave us a thumbs up - Laura thought that was great.

TAG!

I've been tagged, so here's my report:

4 "people" who email me regularly:
1. my father-in-law (stories, thoughts, political things)
2. "Highland Highlights" - ward newsletter
3. "Bountiful Baskets" - love it!
4. Lots of shopping sites with all their "specials"

4 places I would like to visit:
1. Germany/Austria again, only with Lafe this time
2. Jerusalem again, only with Lafe this time
3. NW US - Redwoods, San Francisco, Oregon, Washington with the family
4. Yellowstone with the family

4 favorite restaurants:
1. Garcia's
2. Texas Roadhouse
3. Red Lobster
4. Cafe Rumba - which is no longer there - boo,hoo!

4 things I am looking forward to in the coming year:
1. Camping with the kids
2. My birthday night with Lafe - overnight!
3. Watching my kids grow and enjoy their favorite things
4. When is cools off again - I'm planning ahead, it's Arizona!

4 things I am not looking forward to in the coming year:
1. The HEAT!!!
2. Erin going to Jr. High - I'm excited for her, just not sure if I'm ready
3. Not being able to ever have the house clean!
4. The HEAT!!! - hey, it's Arizona!


So, now I tag: Kelli Herlevi, Melissa Richards, April Francom, and Cindy Thomas - GO!

Park Day

Yesterday, everyone was home for President's Day - even Lafe - so we went to a park to have lunch and fly kites. We had so much fun, even though the kites wouldn't fly - not enough breeze. But, here's a picture of me and Talin to give you some perspective of how big my almost-11-month-old is. He's as big as many 2 yr. olds. He is VERY heavy - in fact my back was out yesterday and it's got to be from putting him in and out of the carseat that's in the middle of the seat! Maybe I need to move him to the side now.

Bananas

Sunday night I tried giving Talin bananas all cut up on his tray instead of feeding him one by one. This is his solution to trying to pick up those slippery little guys: We laughed and laughed!

Sunday Afternoon

I had to take a picture - typical Sunday Afternoon! Lafe can actually sleep through this! The kids love it - as you can tell. BTW - he's laying on the foot of the frog I won at our Family Reunion this weekend - woohoo!!!

A Day in the Life

I was feeling like I was running everywhere today, so I thought I'd make a list and see.
6:15 Wake up to Lafe leaving for the hospital
6:17 Wake up kids
7:02 Leave to take kids to school (early band) - they all have to go to band when Lafe is on-call
7:30 Shower
8:30 Feed Talin real food
10:00 Take Kelcie to Dance
10:10 Put Talin down for a quick nap
11:00 Pickup Kelcie from Dance
11:30 Lunch
12:00 Try to get in gear and get something done - Kelcie, Talin, and I clean Laura/Kelcie's room - they have too much stuff!
1:30 Erin and Jamie come home (on the bus - yeah!) - REALLY Early out for PT Conferences
1:45 Pick up Laura from a friend's house (went home from school with twin friends)
2:00 Put Talin down for hopefully a longer nap
2:30 Pick up Ethan from Intermediate Band
3:05 Take Laura to Dance
3:15 Try to take a nap (Mom, MOM!)
4:15 Pick Laura up from Dance
4:30 Take Ethan to the Band Repairer for his Sax
5:15 Home now (horrible traffic) Try to think of something for dinner
5:45 Give up and go to Panda Express
6:30 Found out my neice is getting MARRIED! WOW!
6:50 Walk Erin to Mutual (Church across the street - yeah!)
7:40 Read with Laura - doing great!
8:00 Start bedtime routine
9:00 Trying to finish bedtime routine
9:15 (Reading my post over my shoulder) Ethan: "Mom, I feel sorry for you", Me: "Why?", Ethan: "Because you're totally booked!"
9:16 Thanks, Ethan - I feel better now. Contemplating ice cream because I've already ruined trying to lose weight today - AGAIN!
Between 10-12 - Lafe will come home from working urgent care at their office - I wonder if I'll be asleep.
I'm sure you ALL can relate.

Raspberries!

Yesterday, I got 4 cases of raspberries for a great deal! (same price I paid in the summer for 1) So, last night I made 4 batches of jam, 2 batches for freezing, I'll make a pie today, and we'll still have tons to eat! So fun! I just love looking at my jam - it's so pretty! When I made some last summer the kids just LOVED it, so I thought this would be great! 4 cases is a lot more than it looks!

Valentine Surprise!

Our kids are SOOOOOOO sweet!!!! They decided last week they wanted to do a Valentine surprise for us, so they got their money together and had me drop them off at the store for 15 min. Then, they locked us in our room last night for an hour to make us dinner. Isn't this just so cute! They did such a great job! They made pink ramen noodles, pink egg-drop soup, lemonade, and salad - all by themselves! They bought the cute tablecloth, plates, napkins, cups, chocolate candy, and little cheetah. Love those great kids!

Fit City - Month 2

Alright, February was the City's Largest Fitness Class. They did Zumba - have you ever heard of that? It's like Latin dancing fitness - it's good and fun, but I'm not very good at shaking my booty and shimmying..... :) Lafe and Ethan just didn't do it, Erin tried it for a minute, Jamie and Laura LOVED it, Kelcie tried so hard, and Talin slept (phew!)

Uno - ATTACK!

Talin loves buttons, and he found this game the other day. Kelcie had been playing it with Daddy, and he thought the little "ding" was cool, and then when it would spit out cards he laughed and laughed! On my other kids I probably would have stopped him right at first, but he was happy and not hurting the card, yet, so I let him play. It was so cute to watch him enjoy it.

Honor Band

ERIN made Honor Band!!!!! Hooray!

New Prophet

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced this morning that the sixteenth President of the Church and Prophet of the world is Pres. Thomas S. Monson with Henry B. Eyring as 1st Counselor, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf as 2nd Counselor. Just reading the announcement brought tears to my eyes because I just know they are men of God and are called to lead us right now. I have such a love for these men - they are wonderful men.

Superbowl Sunday

Today is the big Superbowl here in Phoenix - I'm so glad it's on the other side of town! All we've heard about that last few nights on the news are which parties are going on and which celebrities are here and what parties they will be at - AHHHHHHHHHH! I really don't care. We're probably one of the least excited people in the valley about this whole thing. We were laughing the other night, though, because we have the big Superbowl this weekend as well as the FBR Open Golf Tournament, and it's supposed to rain! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!!!! People plan these things and come to Phoenix in the winter just for our beautiful warm weather, and it's going to be chilly and rainy! And, to top it off, next weekend is supposed to be gorgeous - 70s and clear. Although, I might sneak a peak at the half-time show ONLY because Kelcie's dance teacher is in it - but, maybe not.

Kidneys and Puppies (not related)

Busy day today. Lafe's brother had a kidney transplant this morning from his nephew (live transplant) and all went well. One of those days that is emotionally draining and full of the Spirit even though everything was fine and you knew it was good. It was harder on Lafe, but we're really glad it's finally done and now we just hope that it will for sure take and not reject. What a neat thing to save his life!
On a totally different note, we have a visitor dog on a romantic venture in our backyard - don't worry, it's on purpose. We're breeding again - onto another adventure. I sure hope it's a lot better than last year (two week old baby, trying to sell puppies, they all get mites and have to wait for the medicine to come from Australia because I got the cheaper one online and it didn't say it was coming from that far!, and then finally selling them all - Ahhhhhhhhh!). Anyway, we're using a different dog this time because my brother's dog ran away, but he's beautiful so we hope they make really cute puppies.

President Hinckley

President Hinckley passed away last night - I think the message of his passing traveled faster around the world than ever before. Pres. Hinckley is the only prophet our kids have known, being put in when I was 3 month pregnant with Erin. I've always loved how he made us feel good about what we were doing, and yet also had a way of letting us know when we needed to do more. I loved his sense of humor and cannot believe all he accomplished in his presidency of the church. When I heard I have to say that I had such a feeling of joy for him knowing that he was rejoining his wonderful wife and how joyful that would be.

It's Raining!!!!!

It's raining! I know that's not too exciting to some, but here in ARIZONA it can be kind of rare, so we celebrate! We came home from church and the kids all got in comfy, warm clothes and are enjoying the afternoon. Maybe I'll have to bake something - I always loved coming home from school on rainy days to baking cookies or bread - mmmmmmm! As for Sunday afternoon, I'm on the computer (obviously), Lafe is asleep (right next to the computer), the kids were watching a Sunday movie and trying to keep Talin happy when he woke up so he wouldn't wake me up (sweet, huh?). Now, Talin is trying to get Daddy, Erin climbed in with Daddy, and Jamie is doing those bead craft things. Ethan's thinking about Pinewood Derby, and I don't know what Laura and Kelcie are doing :) Once again, we are all LOVING the RAIN!