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My brother took our family pictures this year, and I think he did a pretty darn good job. And he is cheap! for the time being anyway. So if you want some cheap family photos for the holiday, let me know and I will send him your way.

I really, really love this girl, but she is my trial. She tests my patience in every way. Looking at this picture you would never guess that this little angel actually colored all over my bed with permanent magic marker.

These are my favorite boys in the whole wide world! And soooo handsome too! Aren't I lucky.

I wish I could freeze time right here. I want to keep my kids little and sweet just they way they are today. I am so happy and know that I am extremely blessed.

A Fish Tale

I found these pictures on my computer and thought I would share a little story with all of you...



One somewhat sunny Memorial Day, a loving family took a trip to the Great Salt Lake. Yes it was kind of cold, and kind of smelly, but we were having fun playing in the salty sand. The sand cathedral was well under way when some of the older boys found something floating in the shallow water. It was a fish. While this might seem rather normal, a fish in a lake, I will tell you it is not. This lake does not have any fish because this lake is a salty lake, much, much saltier than the ocean. And this was no normal fish either. This was a large, smelly, dead, albeit well preserved, carp! Yuck!

Now these older boys were not really keen on touching their rather foul discovery, so they scooped it up in a bucket to show the rest of the family. When an adult mentioned that two other little boys way out in the water might also have an interest in the disgustingly dead fish, the older boys headed out to show them. Now one of these little boys has no fear of creepy crawlies, slimy slitheries, or dead and smellies and reached right into that bucket and picked up that crappy carp and held it over his head. All of the adults back on the beach were mortified and quickly began to converse on the best way to sanitize said little boy, Suddenly, someone yelled out, "I'll give you 20 buck to lick it!" and before anyone could shout NOOOOOOO! that little boy hefted the dead fish up to his lips and gave it a big old lick!

I am not sure if any of the adults back on the beach managed to keep control their bladder as all thoughts of sanitation flew right out the window.

Thanks Cole for some of the funniest moments of my life!

Its not easy being clean

So today I went out shopping with only one earing on and my zipper undone.

I just wanted to say to all you people who were giving me wierd looks:

At least I showered and had on a shirt that didnt have milk stains on the chest.

So there!

Hello Me

Hello, its been a long time since I could recognize you. And, considering what you have been through, you don't look half bad.

Hello toes!

I haven't seen you in a long while.

And you too belly button!

Its good to see you have returned.

Hello waist!

Although you are not quite the waist from before, I can see you struggling to get back. Hang in there! I am sure we can get you back in shape.

Now who are you two?

Have we met? We Have?! Really? Oh, OK I am starting to see the resemblance. So you have grown a size or three, and you also seem a bit LOWER then I remember. Well its nice to meet you but, do you think the old pair will be coming back any time soon? No?

Too bad.

Sheltered

People often say to us LDS members that we live sheltered lives as if to criticize us. But really, is living a sheltered life such a bad thing? I was reading the news today and not one story was uplifting or happy. I read reports of police breaking up a child pornograpy ring, of an 11 year old Hindu girl marring a 13 year old boy, deadly riots in Thailand, police on trial for supposedly torturing suspects, a 23 year old girl missing after going hiking by herself, innocent people dying in gang fights in Jamaica. And I am left wondering which of these stories of the "real world" are supposed to make me regret my happy and sheltered lifestyle. I grew up in a loving home with both of my parents, we said morning prayers and ate dinner as a family. My parents helped me with my homework and my bothers and sister taught me how to ride a bike. We took family vacations and attended church every Sunday. Although my life certainly was not perfect, as really no ones life is, but it certainly was an idyllic childhood full of happy memories. And in today's world such a life certainly is a rarity. And don't we value those things that are rare and exclusive? Why then am I treated as ignorant and simple minded not not having lived a life of strife and turmoil that is so prevalent across the world. I am truly grateful for my parents and the way I was raised. I am grateful for my religion and the happiness it has brought to all aspects of my life. I am grateful for my sheltered life and am very glad to be able to pass that innocence along to my children.

Simple Prayers

Last night we had family dinner at my Mom's house for my Grandmothers 93rd birthday. My grandmother has Alzheimer's and usually doesn't talk much but to mumble a few words that never make sense. But last night she was in a good mood. In the last 3 years I have not seen her that happy, and it was contagious. We were all laughing with the silly things she said. And she would laugh because we were laughing. As is the tradition in our family, whose ever birthday it is says the dinner prayer. Not knowing if she actually could say the prayer or not my dad let her give it a try. She started out, "Our Father in Heaven, Thank you for the birthday of Oliver (my little nephew who was born just 2 months ago. Really it was amazing that she remembered his name!) and then she proceeded to sing "Happy Birthday to you." It was a great prayer. I love simple prayers. The prayers that have just a few words but mean so much. I remember my brother-in-laws prayer for his little baby girl when she was very ill, shortly after his conversion to the church. All he said was, "Heavenly Father, bless Isabelle to get better. Amen" But is was said with so much conviction and knowing that prayers can be answered that there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Lately I have been saying my own simple prayer almost every night: "Heavenly Father please keep our house from flooding." It my seem silly but with everything else going on right now I can not handle another thing. I know Heavenly Father listens to even these simple prayers as he does to any of the most eloquent prayers. I know he listens to my prayers and has on more occasions then I can count answered those prayers. Indeed, yesterday we did have a happy birthday as prayed for by my grandmother, and Isabelle did bet better, and so far my house still has not flooded. I am thankful for simple prayers

I just bought this...

I'm not even going to tell you how much it cost. But darn it! I am worth it. You just have to splurge every once in a while. Besides it is just my reward for all the hard work I'm doing creating a whole other human being.

So happy mothers day to me.
Cant wait until it gets here...