tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49892598765345219532024-02-20T02:11:00.897-08:00Cindy's PageUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-52545082993884474572013-07-12T11:38:00.000-07:002013-07-12T11:58:15.867-07:00Brain...just shhhhh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I posted this status update today:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5Jsv6wf4UJR7NcFUg-a77liIc6ONvuuRFtNY4v-jLcn3uEUhnDFXLViuf7yMiiY7oxfaILXYlHklPyV0uzcSBgb1oAyNVb8nWz3HLm6uL07BsrvhKXnlNZBQH-lvMOIbCF2jqtU1oyfB/s1600/status+update.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5Jsv6wf4UJR7NcFUg-a77liIc6ONvuuRFtNY4v-jLcn3uEUhnDFXLViuf7yMiiY7oxfaILXYlHklPyV0uzcSBgb1oAyNVb8nWz3HLm6uL07BsrvhKXnlNZBQH-lvMOIbCF2jqtU1oyfB/s320/status+update.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I was going to pull weeds in my yard. It was raining. And I was kind of doing it "because". Because it was cool outside, because the rain would make it easier. Because my yard was more WILD than LANDSCAPED.<br />
<br />
However, the jellyfish was not related. It just popped into my head. I was like, why. Why are jellyfish a thing? And then Why. Why would I think of jellyfish and why they are a thing?<br />
<br />
Because I was weeding soon after this I had a pretty large chunk of time where I really had nothing to do but think. There is a reason I don't do this very often. I thought - when the world was created were there "committees" that worked on certain projects, you know, like church. And so we get the serious animals...the horse, the cow, chickens, fish, birds. Then someone in the sea life department sneezed and the girls were like, gross, and the boys were like, cool - let's make it a thing. And then the sea life department just took a giant leap off the crazy cliff because have you seen what lives in the water. There is some weird stuff.<br />
<br />
Then I wondered how language developed. Because.<br />
<br />
How did people first decide that a certain string of sounds together would represent certain objects or ideas? How do new words evolve? How did some words make the cut? What words never became words. I wonder about the group of scientists sitting in a room developing a special salve that can heal skin disorders and someone says "Let's call it ointment." And was that guy really popular so people went along with it, because that is a terrible word. Who baked a delicious pastry and said "That is so moist" and why didn't anyone say "That doesn't sound good, find a new word." Or did they, but it was so funny that when they retold the story of what a loser the first guy who said moist was eventually the word stopped sounding strange to some people and eventually it just became what we call soft squishy cake?<br />
<br />
Then I went back to animals and the people who name them. And I wondered about the Aardvark. Why does he need two A's. One of them is silent. Is that really necessary? And then I thought about Possums. And Opossums. What is up with that?<br />
<br />
And who decides how a certain string of letters should sound. Why is capacity "ku paa sit ee" instead of the way I said it in my head for 20 years "cap uh city"<br />
<br />
And this whole time my title for this post has been bugging me because that just doesn't look like how brain should be spelled...I disagree with you, language makers. Brane. Because.<br />
<br />
The choice for me. Drug-free...<br />
<br />
<br />
** Post shower update:<br />
1. Why can words that are so unrelated be so similar, for example, testicle and tentacle<br />
2. Do we Bear our testimony or do we Bare it?<br />
3. Are there some words you picture as images when you say them, and some words you picture as printed words. Of the printed words do you picture them that way because they are "concept" words or do you do it because you are "really smart" or do you do it because you are "crazy"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-41987870731729074962012-11-05T12:34:00.001-08:002012-11-05T12:34:12.571-08:00Lemon is my Meth<div>
The other night I went into the kitchen to make some dinner (READ: Get myself a bowl of cereal at 8:30 p.m.)<br />
<br />
When I walked to the counter I saw this!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjbvUDl9phmbUDSa1tVv9UHYvJBJMEQOv4e34hV2hQfQmqkeSE5ELXtYnnVvrfHZtRGASu91DYzjWGkrRGF_pe9eRxWIkZ1Z6FHneGtcB3haFMCs7j_i6LNEifjXRIj1yf_yemvRI2CgD/" /><br />
<br />
I completely lose my ... mind!!<br />
<br />
I am stalking through the kitchen screaming things like "Which one of you little ingrates I gave birth to dared to touch my gourmet lemon pie filling?!?!"<br />
<br />
Back story: About 4 months ago I had a completely irrational craving for
all things lemon, but mostly for lemon pie filling. I could not find a
can of pie filling at any store anywhere.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/images/lemon-pie-filling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/images/lemon-pie-filling.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheap normal pie filling I was looking for</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Finally, in desperation I found some gourmet pie filling, in a JAR! (I know, that is the good stuff!)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="317" id="il_fi" src="http://www.hfsfoods.com/prod_images/a230189-l.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="259" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the actual brand, but I'm to lazy to upload a picture, and this looks just as delicious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
By the time I got the highly sought after jar home, the craving had long since passed and will likely never return, but I now have to keep this gourmet pie filling in stock JUST IN CASE!<br />
<br />
But now it appears that SOMEONE has dared to open my pie filling and THERE WILL BE BLOODSHED!<br />
<br />
I rush to the pantry to verify these disturbing findings and there is my JAR of pie filling ... untouched!! WHAT!?! I don't even know what is going on anymore. The evidence is right here!<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjbvUDl9phmbUDSa1tVv9UHYvJBJMEQOv4e34hV2hQfQmqkeSE5ELXtYnnVvrfHZtRGASu91DYzjWGkrRGF_pe9eRxWIkZ1Z6FHneGtcB3haFMCs7j_i6LNEifjXRIj1yf_yemvRI2CgD/" /><br />
<br />
Then I remembered...someone opened a new jar of mayonnaise the night before to make fry sauce (to go with the healthy dinner Gage (8) made of corn dogs and fries.)<br />
<br />
There is a good chance I will never eat lemon pie filling...or mayonnaise again.<br />
<br />
And I have won the BEST MOM EVER award too many times to even count anymore.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-20377236386362130942012-09-26T14:03:00.001-07:002012-11-05T11:49:11.450-08:00My Own Inception Moment<div>
The History Channel is one of the few channels I have. I am watching a fascinating documentary on Area 51. <br />
Okay, really, it is just someone's conspiracy theory that had enough financial backing to make into a documentary. It has caused me to ponder the following:<br />
If we mastered time travel and went back in time and changed history, would we know or would that just be our history? <br />
Would the current history still exist in our memories, or would this new history just be the history we lived? And if we weren't able to remember the first history, how would we know if this HAD already happened? <br />
What if the life we are now living is just an experiment that someone is conducting to see what different tweaks in history do to change society?<br />
What if deja vu is really just a moment when a previous history is so similar to the new history that we remember living the old history?<br />
What if sometimes the experimenter is in a weird mood and just wants to mess with us so they just throw something random out there for their own entertainment?<br />
What if they laugh when people get really heated over things like politics or what "Cindy Jones Anderson" posted on Facebook today?<br />
How do you think you would go about getting a job as a scientist at the time travel division of area 51?<br />
Who would like to begin a fund to pay for me to have more TV?<br />
UPDATED:<br />
After I posted this I went to my mail box. All of the mail there was for my sister, and it used her maiden name. She has been married nine years. This house didn't even exist nine years ago...or did it?<br />
<br />
<br />
UPDATED X2: The comments section of this post freak me out more than just a little...<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-13661574941959424042012-09-23T21:37:00.000-07:002012-09-23T21:37:58.877-07:00Conversation Between Autocorrect and My Brain<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">**Disclaimer** I know that texting and driving is wrong, wrong, wrong. It is a bad habit and I am trying to stop.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">If someone texts me while I am driving, I pretty much always have to at least read it - unless it is dark, stormy, in tight construction or other various reasons that make me nervous when I drive. If it is something I can respond to in one or two words -- I will</span>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">**insert judging here**</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">As I was driving to St. George I was doing a little texting back and forth with someone and they kept being funny, which of course meant I had to be funny back. After a few back and forth texts, I thought I should remind them that I was actually in the driver's seat and maybe we should save this awesome volley of ridiculousness for another time.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My Text (with Autocorrect helping):</span></span> p.s. I'm stunning</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My Inner Voice:</span></span> No, driving...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Autocorrect:</span></span> I'm drinking</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Inner Voice:</span></span> Closer, DRIVING</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Autocorrect:</span></span> I'm Stunning</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Inner Voice:</span></span> Fine. I am sure I would be stunning when I'm drinking if I was a drinker... </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-14133327601914611052012-09-18T18:48:00.000-07:002012-09-18T18:48:03.581-07:00I Get By With Help From My FriendsI completely intended to do a "what is happening in our lives" post so that you wouldn't think it was all ridiculous all the time around here. But then today the mail came and I got the most KickButt late birthday present ever from one of my most besties of all time, Angie, and I just knew I had to share the craziness.<br />
<br />
Let us begin:<br />
Contrary to popular belief, I do still obey the Word of Wisdom and I have not YET been driven to drink - I know, I joke about it a lot. However, when I do get to the point of driven to drink these will come in very handy:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcZTc24NkCvSzP3ysUu1ov7Pg2aJaDj1bJSUODR6eMsyeCOzvfedpxp4O1XxuAMeFKAul-u1Mx1v11aQyf9rILhM8TEOkI7gIimUubUhLwdzErw9B3FR0Zxdzr7ycQrDh4AfHpJjYTP9W/s1600/20120918_171931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcZTc24NkCvSzP3ysUu1ov7Pg2aJaDj1bJSUODR6eMsyeCOzvfedpxp4O1XxuAMeFKAul-u1Mx1v11aQyf9rILhM8TEOkI7gIimUubUhLwdzErw9B3FR0Zxdzr7ycQrDh4AfHpJjYTP9W/s320/20120918_171931.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capri Sun style alcoholic beverages!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Until I actually do get driven to drink, there is this little gem.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5txDhNbTYDX9l8NAiBPZsAJxeSHSQWDdOo871UL3QY958kmqcCxw1aSkQtNJkVU2UXanmSmInZFE-qlfXYCm3IrfKMg0eYeCHL9T8KBoKc7oiTKmCsmm_hkh48IWGpIaO6PeeJ0QxgYuc/s1600/20120918_171813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5txDhNbTYDX9l8NAiBPZsAJxeSHSQWDdOo871UL3QY958kmqcCxw1aSkQtNJkVU2UXanmSmInZFE-qlfXYCm3IrfKMg0eYeCHL9T8KBoKc7oiTKmCsmm_hkh48IWGpIaO6PeeJ0QxgYuc/s200/20120918_171813.jpg" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn3FL4x6LpjWC1aioIn5PSQQqxo4fSf-TVW4d4OcUYj8k4HZiuKz0IV4-9mpRIGuglhGBcsGLhvU87L9Ua3Kc54BDaBSjBhJGNN56NnDZlFN1_AfsLliPL55h4SwFWJpFTBp1X5uXS946/s1600/20120918_171827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn3FL4x6LpjWC1aioIn5PSQQqxo4fSf-TVW4d4OcUYj8k4HZiuKz0IV4-9mpRIGuglhGBcsGLhvU87L9Ua3Kc54BDaBSjBhJGNN56NnDZlFN1_AfsLliPL55h4SwFWJpFTBp1X5uXS946/s200/20120918_171827.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I know you should be able to click and enlarge, but let me help you out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>7 Helpful occasions to chew this gum</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>1. When you suddenly need to change your mood</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>2. When somebody yell at you and you don't want to listen</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>3. If you are lack of attitude</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>4. When you need to refuse</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>5. When you want to be picky</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>6. When you want to be selfish</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>7. When you definitely want to say "kiss my ___" </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>*chew more than one if you need extra attitude</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I only edited number 7 (although, if you are letting kids read my blog you are a worse parent than me!) The rest of the awesome wording is all credit to the producer of this great product.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Next up:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuomlgkgIuZ1S6lyhFlarj-tFQGDyhehjk_izOkX2VcTM6EQgTpatkOSNHzKHW1Ve7e2m_wEExlQmhcCQs_L6aHC6ZQmb7gRMimf_HuLsAoahY00VU-FQ92CjxGIEdnnKekBjpk4_i40F/s1600/20120918_172013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuomlgkgIuZ1S6lyhFlarj-tFQGDyhehjk_izOkX2VcTM6EQgTpatkOSNHzKHW1Ve7e2m_wEExlQmhcCQs_L6aHC6ZQmb7gRMimf_HuLsAoahY00VU-FQ92CjxGIEdnnKekBjpk4_i40F/s320/20120918_172013.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Okay, this is the nice picture. You can just imagine what the other side looks like - well it isn't as bad as you imagine, but it is still not right.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq3IEcv8GhqkcTa5EkrWqFO_gIqN1jOgGd77a7hFiEmr0u_yCySIKjSLEMAh428b3L9SUBszc7CnvyNjYv28JtCYjbHvAImcVW0Om6mD3WF1bq54EiUoi9NRGgj9Qu0k6M399QK-a6Weq/s1600/20120918_172051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq3IEcv8GhqkcTa5EkrWqFO_gIqN1jOgGd77a7hFiEmr0u_yCySIKjSLEMAh428b3L9SUBszc7CnvyNjYv28JtCYjbHvAImcVW0Om6mD3WF1bq54EiUoi9NRGgj9Qu0k6M399QK-a6Weq/s640/20120918_172051.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
I can't even say that this one is crazy or ridiculous or weird because I have totally wanted one of these for SOOOO very long!! And it is as completely awesome as I hoped it would be. I will never lose my headset again. I am trying to think of a reason to go to Walmart just to use it in public. Although, my sister did point out that she wondered what people passing by in cars must think of it!! It makes me so happy I could....squirt water!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In fact, I love this so much that I am going to share a completely awful picture of me that Courtney snapped while I was driving around the neighborhood. Keep in mind that I didn't get dressed until 3:30, I am not wearing makeup, that shirt is very unflattering, and I have no explanation for how awesome my teeth look.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ6e04itpdnW9YHDNEbvykCXbAW2UDDKwZ4QIYQJR1HV0Q5gl5NAmWdcDSkDD12_JsnPYmidqfKQUObOdGpn_R96NHg5gratOKZjet02iCW-p6NmTyiik1gaPEVZ9IMJx2zv37g9jokIx/s1600/phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ6e04itpdnW9YHDNEbvykCXbAW2UDDKwZ4QIYQJR1HV0Q5gl5NAmWdcDSkDD12_JsnPYmidqfKQUObOdGpn_R96NHg5gratOKZjet02iCW-p6NmTyiik1gaPEVZ9IMJx2zv37g9jokIx/s200/phone.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Thanks, Ang! You made my day! Maybe my week, and my month too, we shall have to see!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-77899526302514457062012-09-14T22:36:00.001-07:002012-09-17T12:35:59.875-07:00My **cough** 20 Year High School Class Reunion<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
My high school reunion is coming up and I really feel like I need to recreate this scene with one of my besties and probably Travis at the reunion. (However, my friends are lame and are refusing to join me - their loss.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wPTUpn9ait8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Of course, I just don't have a prom dress on hand so this necessitated a trip to Savers! Let the good times roll. The Savers nearest me is really quite new and they are still just getting in a good inventory. They only had about 20 "evening gowns". (Although, Courtney started in the lingerie section. Yikes.)<br />
<br />
So I started looking for just the perfect dress among the meager selection. It was like DESTINY. I found the perfect dress for me. (I mean, what are the odds - contrary to popular belief - my waist size has changed just a bit from High School...) And I actually found TWO that I thought would fit. So we headed off to the dressing room.<br />
<br />
The first one was cute, but just not quite what I wanted. (I shared a crappy picture on Facebook, but I am too lazy to upload it here)<br />
<br />
The next one...it was like FATE brought us together. It fit me like a glove...or it would have if I was blessed with boobs! <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Can I say that word on my blog?)</span> But like, everywhere else, it totally fit. I knew I must get it! And it was HALF PRICE. Honestly, could this story get better?<br />
<br />
As soon as we got to the car Courtney started planning how to do my hair. So at 7:00 at night, we started the arduous task of making my already princess-like hair even more princessy. And as I was sitting there getting even more beautiful by the minute I thought "Umm, I need a tiara. Where could I get a tiara?" Immediately I thought of my awesome neighbor, Alicia. I just knew she would totally have a tiara. And she DID! She brought it right over. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Seriously, who has neighbors so awesome that they don't even question you when you ask for a tiara and they come to your house at 8 at night and your daughter is making you some princess hair!!)</span><br />
<br />
Soon my hair was finished and I headed into makeup. Those who know me well know that I wear either no makeup or very little makeup. And here I was practically doing caked on stage makeup at 8:00 at night.<br />
<br />
Then came the <i><b>Pièce de résistance </b></i>(yeah, I googled it) - my beautiful dress. Perfect...well almost. Again, I have no boobs...I was trying to wear it without a bra (spoiler alert, it is strapless), therefore my fake boobs wouldn't stay in (sorry, that is a story for another post). So then I just started grabbing everything from my pajama drawer and stuffing it in there. I may have had two t-shirts and a pair of flannel pants in there.<br />
<br />
Courtney said "No, we need to see your cleavage!" (Uh, DCFS should stop reading ... a few minutes ago.) I got out a really old bra, and put it on the tightest setting. But again, the dress was strapless so I had to have Courtney cut the straps off. Did you know that you get the most support from the straps...so did I but by this time I was in a full mental case craze. Now, I need more support that doesn't show. I had Courtney go get the double stick tape. She came back with the clear packing tape. Close enough. "Okay, I am going to hold my cleavage where I want it, and you put the tape on - making sure it is on the bra and my skin to hold it in place..." <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I can not believe I am sharing this...)</span> The tape completely DID NOT WORK. So I said, "I will hold the dress with my arms just right and that will hold the dress where it needs to be. Now you take pictures and do not get any of the mess that is my bedroom or this house in any of the pictures."<br />
<br />
I feel it fair to note that I have not been in a swimsuit in over a year, so those rocking awesome tan lines are just something we princesses always posses. <br />
<br />
If you have made it this far, I won't keep you in suspense any longer...<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Average Day in the Life of a Princess </h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd0xRRs664N-kyNYVuFlM5C3qeB9VGvlOgz43MntNfL1SGl1711zjeBBExVa2_479KWc06J2I7E2aafBma4haKLyxbj1_i0xgaW14VLg1WPdle0sNB70a6Bt-rsZYGbHTRAMJzYBkPtz_/s1600/collage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd0xRRs664N-kyNYVuFlM5C3qeB9VGvlOgz43MntNfL1SGl1711zjeBBExVa2_479KWc06J2I7E2aafBma4haKLyxbj1_i0xgaW14VLg1WPdle0sNB70a6Bt-rsZYGbHTRAMJzYBkPtz_/s400/collage+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We dust our precious Lladro Figurines. We wash the fine china.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (There may be tape showing...)</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We practice our musical gifts. We keep the grounds.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And a special shout out to all my ""friends"" - Thanks for the heads up on the fact that I totally have </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
CRAZY EYES</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyCDzxbieLiNPJzzLuf6frRaMz1sjWGM_oUQxkoJJyJURpuq84KGP189dpca_ftR3EmOCB5jhBz3TeH9EdPAQNkzW1ZWHOmFNm9mP2SwiQfZb34CF24Q4c-LnZy-ax989-P1NNsskFpgE/s200/eyes+template.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAto26B1f1DagHmSvpLXBQ7XqQ_1789dZ98Fh3WY5D1sP9Zboua5z0xjjKbM4CEUPUgAA13hJ7-OVvwKP48AuamWfODKmWH1z69h4OvCWDTEBUA2aZk_ZnBWME3BvfuIn0UlIK6gSZ9hh/s1600/DSC05163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Someday I will share with you the outtakes of this awesome shoot, but really this feels like enough for now. I will leave you with this - how I normally look. (Kinda - less make up, less curls) I am totally keeping the tiara though because how can you think housework is drudgery when you are cleaning in a tiara?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd_2BHQAG20UFpnFkyACSQbAIInTXJ6qaU-jd5-9XlP0zHjTExo3Kl1LBfWzmK8AuXZMtij8OnW89rmUuac-eGS6Ywl7k3O6tcw9c5hGYiFwpT_Pu3b8HZJv4j4CrM2tYQGpOsddfRZct/s1600/DSC05168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd_2BHQAG20UFpnFkyACSQbAIInTXJ6qaU-jd5-9XlP0zHjTExo3Kl1LBfWzmK8AuXZMtij8OnW89rmUuac-eGS6Ywl7k3O6tcw9c5hGYiFwpT_Pu3b8HZJv4j4CrM2tYQGpOsddfRZct/s320/DSC05168.JPG" width="221" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">**As always - there will be a PayPal account set up for a therapy fund for my kids for when, not if, they need it!</span></h3>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-59429658784271840872012-08-13T20:52:00.001-07:002012-08-13T20:56:04.597-07:00Why I adore the Dollar Store (probably nsfw)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have been in just a crazy bad mood lately. My apologies to anyone who had to be in my presence. (No, really, I am sorry.) I am looking into taking a trip to Mexico to get some Prozac or something. In the mean time, there is the Dollar Store!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My girls needed some stuff for Girls Camp this week and we thought that we could get what we needed for the best price, and quickly. Man, isn't it amazing how you don't even know you need something until you see it, and then you don't know how you ever lived without it.</div>
<br />
<br />
Let's begin, shall we?!?!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5oY6hdPv27humWXwxn2xdPtc00BFsSQQ20RBrkKCQXorAzTHN1OcbtNMLCJaqgOEyI2s8X9ecJkTlKUiKvlPNSrG3Bd6n9PL67mDtx33q_N-3uyf2hwo4QMHT7xHDSgBbsJjqLXgMwq6/s1600/IMAG0818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5oY6hdPv27humWXwxn2xdPtc00BFsSQQ20RBrkKCQXorAzTHN1OcbtNMLCJaqgOEyI2s8X9ecJkTlKUiKvlPNSrG3Bd6n9PL67mDtx33q_N-3uyf2hwo4QMHT7xHDSgBbsJjqLXgMwq6/s320/IMAG0818.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is pretty basic. But it actually is the same active ingredient as Unisom (which is basically a double dose of Benedryl). I don't recommend it unless you can be hung over the next day, but it will get the job done. I am just thrilled that it can be purchased at the Dollar Store. This will be the back up that I keep in my travel pack. Just so you know if you need a dealer.<br />
<br />
Next: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfCso887gU7jg67DR2m86Y17M1RFMdgB5YNn961npv8ArQ8MDG84Pz-59-urDTKd2wYsd2jZQs29HGq_LC0Kiy4w7UnlRW2XNzqboZADJ5RhTXp9XmKQiauytxlYSnw-SuFUOKU9BhOWI/s1600/IMAG0820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfCso887gU7jg67DR2m86Y17M1RFMdgB5YNn961npv8ArQ8MDG84Pz-59-urDTKd2wYsd2jZQs29HGq_LC0Kiy4w7UnlRW2XNzqboZADJ5RhTXp9XmKQiauytxlYSnw-SuFUOKU9BhOWI/s320/IMAG0820.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<br />
What the crud? I have been doing Zumba for a couple of hours a week for a month, and all I needed to bring sexy back was some shoe straps? DOH! Let's see if they work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj5zd0bVdfYow90ehoSrxBBem3cyf2UX1-Omy2jSCNuUMGaqg3AmpV8Rdlp-7fFlXde_0VMm8fa0PrhAd4WYrCye_xlK-lMy9j_T62_iF5C7qSPOpQAKovO9pbNSKA_V5pynXhn35uEs3/s1600/IMAG0825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj5zd0bVdfYow90ehoSrxBBem3cyf2UX1-Omy2jSCNuUMGaqg3AmpV8Rdlp-7fFlXde_0VMm8fa0PrhAd4WYrCye_xlK-lMy9j_T62_iF5C7qSPOpQAKovO9pbNSKA_V5pynXhn35uEs3/s320/IMAG0825.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Wow! That actually is more sexy! No more Zumba for me!<br />
<br />
<br />
What else can we find that we can't live without?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJX00cPel1rrCauBLd1xt8uAUoqky4uG7G7SSjH0OkOvPSwfJZ92a9waV13qh9JrtNumf-fkDG3cGzqGT0bD4ulej1icyvLOA4ign8c9_T58KifqgWMx75KkVkyu6q9tPrJEOXQvg0-H0N/s1600/IMAG0817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJX00cPel1rrCauBLd1xt8uAUoqky4uG7G7SSjH0OkOvPSwfJZ92a9waV13qh9JrtNumf-fkDG3cGzqGT0bD4ulej1icyvLOA4ign8c9_T58KifqgWMx75KkVkyu6q9tPrJEOXQvg0-H0N/s320/IMAG0817.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I am sure these are so much more effective than just baby wipes. In fact, I am so sure of this that I am keeping these in my purse and passing them out at the park because if specially balanced alcohol free wipes are good for my hooha, how much better must they be for small children's hands and faces. I am sure this will make me the most popular mom at the park.<br />
<br />
And while we are discussing hoohas - THIS: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbfFYpRb6hNBk4Yf5VpgdRFfhWHcl_Bl3Crkd32a2OiKVBZRhjB2jFbEmNXcq7HcmaunMEJya-1xWM7wUHvcus-zBDfETtkgMce8idhkxmMkdwm4BLUgni2Xc07U5w_RfBRdO8nvNUa7z/s1600/IMAG0821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbfFYpRb6hNBk4Yf5VpgdRFfhWHcl_Bl3Crkd32a2OiKVBZRhjB2jFbEmNXcq7HcmaunMEJya-1xWM7wUHvcus-zBDfETtkgMce8idhkxmMkdwm4BLUgni2Xc07U5w_RfBRdO8nvNUa7z/s200/IMAG0821.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUamYNgkRWLIl2HrTxRjxgrqSc5cSSoOoqiH4m-gZ5LsRkOg4h1hSTjkT9Y9wZaXESeJCw3F9Rr410EcawVwVr5oNdVzg9vmUHGF7qcq5RArqjsdFhwXv_jqMMpa7S14UHqUya9oPghwR/s1600/IMAG0816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUamYNgkRWLIl2HrTxRjxgrqSc5cSSoOoqiH4m-gZ5LsRkOg4h1hSTjkT9Y9wZaXESeJCw3F9Rr410EcawVwVr5oNdVzg9vmUHGF7qcq5RArqjsdFhwXv_jqMMpa7S14UHqUya9oPghwR/s200/IMAG0816.jpg" width="111" /></a>Who knew there was a cure for Vagi(s).<br />
Just a public service announcement. If your clothes are making you "itchy" get some new clothes.<br />
Also, this is for external use only...you are welcome.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Moving on...please<br />
<br />
I have to give credit where credit is due, and this little gem was brought to me by Courtney.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ONNqP0JvzjrZ4ogy5rnhuXND5iQvPrVaQajPY00asllQ2DyRSPYIhcUnfpCDO1PIndtBRfmCeD-yme1c2A-Cc8u_mG4ci0FkemxxAnA2vtSfcyoPkRkfxiVtyB6s4WUXuIuXBKZubaT1/s1600/IMAG0811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ONNqP0JvzjrZ4ogy5rnhuXND5iQvPrVaQajPY00asllQ2DyRSPYIhcUnfpCDO1PIndtBRfmCeD-yme1c2A-Cc8u_mG4ci0FkemxxAnA2vtSfcyoPkRkfxiVtyB6s4WUXuIuXBKZubaT1/s320/IMAG0811.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
I wish I wasn't too lazy to upload this for you with it a little less blurry, but I am just that lazy. Sorry.<br />
<br />
Courtney may or may not have called these *<span style="font-size: xx-small;">titty calmers<span style="font-size: small;">*. She did. I told her that is not a very nice word.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am sure you want to know if these work. Let's see, shall we.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb2_lH-oBP386vlc2t1xM-RioSQ63lmokA8LK8eh34MlwVMCC4feK75YLqfs1jEk9yOZOon_hYDcAXnV2RQ4uydM7cxVB_rpkLRfGr0zpuYm_0ZMw3dg76i3rlO98JjR4rL7eLwZDDqyM/s1600/IMAG0822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb2_lH-oBP386vlc2t1xM-RioSQ63lmokA8LK8eh34MlwVMCC4feK75YLqfs1jEk9yOZOon_hYDcAXnV2RQ4uydM7cxVB_rpkLRfGr0zpuYm_0ZMw3dg76i3rlO98JjR4rL7eLwZDDqyM/s320/IMAG0822.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Not too bad. Although, Gage did say that they are not "easier to remove". In fact, I think his exact words were "owie, owie, owie." Also, this clever kid found an alternate use.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcATmV38Ck4xKtAu7iNwueHP8aBx6biR-9aUOuer9IhkynVBe7Egqq_CpvUB8yA_zeYkYoWrfJvhF7TPmFVtV_sF4VID1dUXEJbtu2RL0v-iUaZi5K-UKlEMDZ4ZnVgQEvePQFfa3EMeC/s1600/IMAG0826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcATmV38Ck4xKtAu7iNwueHP8aBx6biR-9aUOuer9IhkynVBe7Egqq_CpvUB8yA_zeYkYoWrfJvhF7TPmFVtV_sF4VID1dUXEJbtu2RL0v-iUaZi5K-UKlEMDZ4ZnVgQEvePQFfa3EMeC/s320/IMAG0826.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoot, I forgot to rotate it. Here is that lazy thing again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am setting up a PayPal link for this kid's therapy account as we speak (or as you read).<br />
<br />
This next little number may have changed my life forever:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwkdMjGmMOT9TyqoPlmbh8NOBN0aRK_yjTmTigxIPbAFLQWdIz7Vk8oOKxlaT6SSuiOMVSBsvwJGuERKEutriDEo1lGgGYDXpJrg0YumQgGvIDTwGgcacbUzhEWNmqeyKGce9O7_qGgq4/s1600/IMAG0819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwkdMjGmMOT9TyqoPlmbh8NOBN0aRK_yjTmTigxIPbAFLQWdIz7Vk8oOKxlaT6SSuiOMVSBsvwJGuERKEutriDEo1lGgGYDXpJrg0YumQgGvIDTwGgcacbUzhEWNmqeyKGce9O7_qGgq4/s320/IMAG0819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes!! You can test your kids for marijuana for only ONE DOLLAR!!!!</span> <span style="font-size: small;">I may have exceeded my allotted number of exclamation points for the day.</span><br />
Seriously, how much fun would this be? Let's see, right?!?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xPAxX4gP_SF-7OtRzVa0hdyzBhn1Xy7Cn8vpCIXow6KCyTyPoStOriowVx0FUStA-mMt-orFSak1j_3Dng_20odUZvj3OETaGa0SHWILku_vQFcf1MUG-_7dwjdSjO_wxo9kIYUQnfoc/s1600/IMAG0827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xPAxX4gP_SF-7OtRzVa0hdyzBhn1Xy7Cn8vpCIXow6KCyTyPoStOriowVx0FUStA-mMt-orFSak1j_3Dng_20odUZvj3OETaGa0SHWILku_vQFcf1MUG-_7dwjdSjO_wxo9kIYUQnfoc/s320/IMAG0827.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS0VzyseFu_8VNkMUfgCmVEqDjh4YmENCo_7dcOgPxp8u8bmrdWDiPDy8TDrqBb2I0NWZrtLOPAx3y9FfKUrune-6h_Nsw2OcsCSHvA-ME_hee8IozrRaDsttgPk0G4fKWKSpT2gMVXf-/s1600/IMAG0828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS0VzyseFu_8VNkMUfgCmVEqDjh4YmENCo_7dcOgPxp8u8bmrdWDiPDy8TDrqBb2I0NWZrtLOPAx3y9FfKUrune-6h_Nsw2OcsCSHvA-ME_hee8IozrRaDsttgPk0G4fKWKSpT2gMVXf-/s320/IMAG0828.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
That is Courtney's actual pee. That is on my carpet. I may or may not be screaming and gagging and dry heaving.<br />
<br />
She is, however, "clean" ... for now.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-13184772574700018492012-07-20T10:52:00.001-07:002012-08-25T13:23:08.592-07:00The Mormon Mommy Mafia<div><div><p>This was the first summer that none of my kids were on year round school. I knew that if we were going to have three full months together that we better have lots of activities planned.</p>
<p>I started a Facebook page to coordinate with our friends and neighbors, kind of so they could give me ideas and kind of so that we could hang out with others because who wants to spend all simmer with their siblings.</p>
<p>One of our activities was to drive up the canyon to one of my friend's family cabin. There we could hike, picnic, chat and play.
We wanted to make sure no one got lost on the way so we met at the mouth of the canyon.
As we pulled out of the parking lot together I was thinking that it must have looked like we were on security detail for someone important.
(See crappy picture below, darn mobile blogger.)
To live in my neighborhood I guess you have to drive a light color suburban.
So we chatted, played, ate and grudgingly hiked (only me grudgingly).
Love my neighborhood!
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80xxvWFmSwfRy7V0cvx3Nq7qIwjZtdxm6j2vpbzxrDric2t3yGRJlq-zrh0_nBKIDgVyVS9hXKj7fQvt8VkUk_TtGTsvhhQadU7dFhzqCxuOe5TQaf1fDDsfa6AYhu4sWj3vo9x2qfUrg/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHh6akElJ_FI6o6q_IHJ0gCkSK1oI4NuKTA830DnbfpxeAXXy-cX8UetCWzrnACzephBQH_OFB0ogMa9sowI84RnHLCKijM8aTQ0NfOn-jDThKg-6QllPh3EkVP4BZRS2ENS56QlHlykzv/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyxZAMmkHtdwliFzNB-JvZbtmPSCexMEmKcax_WMEZox5DPWXRPxBQigXH7Whh2BwTdRe1gkYdWjDeakohOcJHSR9CfOuFpk8cJceeKAM8YS_64cg4C1Zwn9qNO71xHAWpDbxFCNMPfrL/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOp2Uh0u_Un0L0vNHWs-kH5dE7GRcTpNTBbkfGntUSiolMMksRFIbFpflT5EkAHaO8NE3WggNXjqWYk6QHRYlVwbmuOhtk2kQGG35mk6_8qlc52farlZ4N1YobU192vzXElcHdWtLrM4mj/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyryjcmXabIt1x_pSMj9rgtrWCdj7dks3SurV25IWmx4EyUVR35OtME7CG1pOBCjYbV26TSnJGF3UyKDf0J_l4RWsSdXlSKfpeV2Jn_QlhtZekmhvB_J91Nwf6PJcCT8Atk_cEV482ePt/' /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-8892968901585133232012-04-17T22:32:00.003-07:002012-08-13T20:55:07.970-07:00General Conference<div>
Gage has between mad at me since October because we didn't watch General Conference.<br />
Before you start thinking I am raising angels, you should know he was mad because not watching conference meant that we didn't have our conference store.<br />
For a few years now I have had the kids keep tally sheets of words they hear during conference. Then they get to choose prizes from the store based on the number of tally marks.<br />
I start them with 10-15 really obvious words and they can add as many (gospel related) words as they would like. (Yes, they have tried adding words like ”the”.)<br />
As they are getting older they are starting to recognize that each talk has a theme and if they find that word early they rack up the points. ”Man, mom. He sure says Temples a lot.” ”Really, sweetie? Isn't that curious?”<br />
I buy prizes in advance, mostly from the dollar store. I have noticed over the years that snack foods and novelty drinks and toys sell for a lot more than yoyos and bubbles.<br />
I have added in older and child specific things like nail polish, too.<br />
I have wondered how long I could motivate them to watch with this little game, but this April we were fortunate to have my cousin with us. She is 26 and was so excited to play along that she even took her tally page when she went to watch one session with a friend! Score! Well worth my $20 investment!<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RmhuSwRTFr3L3-HRGV0xTADnH7O1-wck_2gHCJbGcqVdIZ3iBbUua0QdPuvpEiB_T92IL2IdjToXZSIdDi8jUSt2oh2ZzlPGuFcSlkRWm7eo2GREx0puS1MLF-e_DkVWOzQg1JJneAOe/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXSshGURDpyDniLfUIAb6wdvcK_y1hoo7JGyBFN1LoQBd1ZInmxb3y3kMKnAxlIdh_vdkEIf9vmVNsP2d-qJhUjdBRP__iYwXYjFECf3oAyNiS-vadkJj4UuMISI4wIvweVxP7hKpwRzt/" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-929880897659962472011-12-31T22:31:00.000-08:002012-08-13T20:55:34.962-07:00Christmas in Mexico<div>
I don't know if it is a secret but for more years than I can remember Christmas has not been my favorite time of year. <br />
The rushing around spending money we don't have to buy gifts for people who don't need/want/appreciate them. Then a week off from work and school sitting around in the house with bad weather worsened by the inversion until you finally scream ”Who the crap cares if families are forever, I hate you people.” (I mean, in theory, not practice.)<br />
This year I was dreading it even more because I am missing that special someone who can take the brunt of my misplaced holiday angst and still be willing to be my friend on January 2 when the kids go back to school.<br />
So I decided to go with my most often used coping mechanism, avoidance. <br />
On December 23 at 6 pm I called the kids in and told them we were starting a new tradition of opening a present early.<br />
I made up a certificate that said ”Pack your bags, we leave for Mexico at 7am!”<br />
They were shocked. I totally rocked the surprise thing!<br />
We got to the airport on time and through check in and security with no problems. But then they discovered our scheduled plane had a faulty potty and we would need a new plane. Yay for spending all of Christmas eve morning in the airport!<br />
Four hours later we finally boarded our (direct) flight to Mexico. TV was free until we hit the border, so that was awesome. <br />
Our resort was booked through a vacation brand name, so we had a well organized van system waiting for us. While we were waiting to load in the van, Courtney got her first ever bloody nose. I guess she is a desert girl and her body can't take the humidity. <br />
By evening we had gone to the beach and played in the ocean and promptly decided that none of us really like the sticky icky feeling you get from the ocean. Lucky for us there were four nice pools to choose from.<br />
In our cute little room (that ended up having three singles and a king bed-yay) we read the Christmas story from the scriptures on our smart phones.<br />
Santa found us. He only had room for stockings since we were in a different place on his route, but he wisely brought water toys, floating mats and flip flops.<br />
Being in a tropical location I expected lots of great fruits and such to eat. Not so much. The food at the resort was not exactly fantastic. We pretty much lived on french fries and pasta with alfredo sauce (not that my kids saw anything wrong with that.)<br />
They also grabbed their piña colada and strawberry daiquiris two at a time so they wouldn't have to leave the pool as often.<br />
We decided to venture into the tourist shopping area for a change of scenery. I made sure we all got off the bus at the same time. Then we took off across the street to the flea market. I was across four lanes of traffic before I realized that Gage wasn't with us and I couldn't see him. I left the other three and ran back over. He was still standing by the bus, on the verge of tears. I was pretty freaked. I know about ten words in spanish and none of them are ”my little boy has been kidnapped!”<br />
The girls really wanted to get hair braids so I haggled a good price and left them at one shop to do that while the boys and I wandered around to do their souvenir shopping. After about half an hour I decided to go check on the girls. But I counted my money and I was short. I hadn't set aside enough for the braids, plus I needed bus fare.<br />
While the boys and I had been shopping I meet a vendor who was so excited we were from SLC, Utah because he ”loves the Mormon's.” His wife was Mormon and they had the missionaries over all the time. So I went back to him and asked him where I could find an ATM. He directed me across the street to the actual mall.<br />
I went to where he told me and with great relief swiped my card. Nothing. Again. Nothing. I didn't dare do it a third time, fearing it would deactivate my card. As I wandered around the mall in a state of near panic, Courtney started texting me because they were almost done. I was weighing options like leaving the girls there, taking the boys back to the resort and leaving them. Then bringing money back for the girls. That was probably 40+ minutes round trip and I didn't like that option on either end. <br />
I was seriously about to have a heart attack. Then I saw the (normally) dreaded time share sales booth. I picked a woman, hoping for a little empathy and hoping to not be taken advantage of or robbed, maimed, etc. <br />
She talked to me for almost 20 minutes even though I explained what my (seemingly urgent) problem was, she still needed to try to make the sale. Finally she walked me over to a different ATM and stayed to translate for me. Then she asked me how much I was paying for the braids. She explained that with the denomination of bills I got that the shop would rip me off, so she walked me back to the booth and made change.<br />
She also made me promise to come back and sign up for the presentation after I rescued the girls. I promised. I lied.<br />
(This is turning into a novel. Next time I will blog while I am there so you get it day by day.)<br />
Most of the trip was uneventful. But one day Gage made a friend. They meet at the beach and ran into each other again at the pool. Gage asked me if he could go with this kid to play ds in his hotel room. I said no, but agreed to go to our room and get his ds and meet the kid back at the shaded pool. I left most of my stuff at the party pool where we normally hung out to save my seat. We got his ds and went to the shaded pool. I got him settled at a table and decided to go and get our stuff from the other pool. When I came back, literally five minutes or less later, he was gone. I checked all of the normal places. Then I checked some places we didn't frequent. Then (30 minutes later) I decided to check the room. He wasn't there, but all the other kids were there watching cartoons and eating fries (really, I bring you to Mexico to watch TV?).<br />
I completely lost it then and screamed at them to all go look and meet at the bar in the lobby every five minutes with a report.<br />
After they all left I sat in the room shaking and wondering who the heck takes four little kids to Mexico...alone...without knowing the language...alone...alone. Was I brain damaged? Do I call security? I didn't even know the other boy's name or room number. I didn't know if Gage was with him. Honestly, how stupid was I? Would security do a room by room search of 800 rooms? No one in the history of the planet had ever been as stupid as me at that moment!<br />
Then I decided to pray, then I decided that was stupid and very ”The Friend” (church magazine) of me. Then I decided I didn't care if I was very cliche and primary children-esque I had to find him. So I said a quick prayer and headed down to the lobby bar.<br />
You see, one of the beauties of all inclusive resorts is that the same people are there most of the duration of your trip. One beauty of my kids is they make friends everywhere. So once I sent my kids out to look, they only had to ask a few of their ”friends” and they found Gage in about three minutes in the teen center playing video games!<br />
That kid was so freaking grounded. He never left my sight after that! And there was a prayer of thanks offered. I will never think it is too ”Friend”-ish to pray in the moment again!<br />
Honestly, a few key memorable incidences aside, it was fabulous. Given our unchangeable circumstances, it was the best Christmas I ever could have imagined. I often play in my head what Christmas would have been like had we stayed home (based in fact knowing the weather and options for fun things available to do at home), and I would not have done anything differently. (Except not lose my kid and keep more money in my pocket.) <br />
I would go again every Christmas if I could afford it! (Hint: I am accepting Christmas Trip grants!)<br />
P.S. Do not tell your kids what the ”Don't flush toilet paper sign” is about. For the love...<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPI9eOVt6vB17QqL8bU4cxBxACeQuAAi5HrxUpewlBg-GE-LRQCYN7_si4FqAnxZOkSBaZVDsWvDPbfc9E6IyKPKw6wooRPiXIPL76KfCjVPVAa37bkzekBv7KNGRB-YRk5y7AzleOtVx/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK1tN-aBX-1Ry1gZ0SOURqyUQ2YhLpaUPhy6ltfuq9uSlfWuVwXq5Tto61FCB0XHY7pNyJ7KDj0sXbm8ejMyZK32SOJzdjws35-anqCbj0KssIr1wK3jnqckOXcTicsgucCDhbAIbKjBy/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktYVR1uFm-3YX646bYy5ssrpJsfynr0EjfPA-nRdjSBStPXRGmvt5MGsWZdI_Jy9CUvvltHj3AZnVJjAZT9vBjXWlCcLyyTTiwNoDcbCkwEl4aDo3xmT7J3Ehpdj292xZNHUwMuHjfIge/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOv5dtjteFmTkqR3Hq6WXm5VcqRLlYRE4NhQc6gyW5LtrYOx2xmAwAEVbCBPyshnVylokxFNn2AiVPaRsT1rKPBPuu3lVKj0zfMLN2RN1nYRqaGyMsrmdduEZM2jys-ei-UiBF7-HzC7rm/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbF5huAJbE0hBfTuABtrhtnPARjYq5SNo3d7R373SyXpn8QtJsqwvudqRmN4sfMfsJmFUOr-820pL1zGO9WzTwzGtbDuOTAHcuewDFSw9mORVczegkWV2hc-P3G_wxd2arXO_reimbgxh/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5rqujKEywnW4EPjQ95rGUAXFwm-yJLW6eENqTbUpVJfMSRdB-ne2PZHOUvv2CNiK1wx-1H2nIT1baQImGnyuL_zJpPlIlYFnTBHzSqH9ErYhnhQ2-wQpRLIyqeqEQGWTUGdq_ZDkzSjE/" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-5014151487502326182011-12-11T20:20:00.000-08:002011-12-11T20:37:18.859-08:00Christmas with Daddy<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>I posted this on my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span>, but I am going to post it here too for anyone who might follow my blog but might not follow the freak show that is my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> page.
<div></div>
<div>I got a great idea from a widowed friend to do for Christmas. We took a special little tree up to Jeff and Stephen's grave site. All of us who went wrote our name and the year on an ornament. Then we tied them very tightly to the tree (let's hope they survive the elements!) </div>
<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685093855498421186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvasgcBkId2eMLathjEfEe2BeMbbZR0x2X-TLLTBY3nC9bvBS4RjqekgGCmKxFaITN6w00DSUAbuUhvHkiftnSG5ssslVQWbb7R36ZTx_7lgi0qxMbBhrwNq2h8yTozr7Op3uO8DO4xW4H/s320/DSC04005.JPG" />
<div></div>
<div>If you feel so inclined to visit Jeff this Christmas season, we would love to have you share in our special memories. In the second vase we left behind some bows and some sharpie markers. Please take one and put your name and the year, and if you choose, a message on the ornament and attach it to the tree. (Or feel free to bring an ornament of your choosing with your name and date). Make sure they are attached really well. Then we will go back on New Year's Day to bring the tree home. Next year we will include your memory ornaments on our family tree for Christmas!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685093849153228802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjlA8D8XK1abGBCA2G9DBx4CFwPa9PhN7Gg3xyz5VDd7uv22rjPmYUPEE_gTRxSrz90xiOw6Ijx7tjaG-LPrEOkJbMRdUqbP3WDinQrcXMc19aWV_Rn-wwzowjDm_GrReuqfd3D8xY0ZP/s320/DSC04007.JPG" /></div>
<div></div>
<div>Of course, no visit is complete without a balloon release. (Yes I keep a tank on hand!)</div>
<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685094642699161874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdDVBevNuVKhsYus3jOAAFq5MZ34rV1bLgMCHuCxXUs6OXRuN_1pdmQe-clAwJMhbURxbfzYZhB14oZCw5nrhfZz0hxXtG-mzpvzrlDaWOyVqGfMDzB1U0CvvEfY3c237WEtaClIERvgy/s320/DSC03995.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685094643130112642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk66Bhk4PqdcRe2mFa_ul0pybI8WPW20DyvJAIlsKsi1fvfgOpMIlVV0r3ahl6zG14Hnqyy7ckE3l3hKPJ9YJKw2SdGXttN-dwWsUzaD2mjBerpLbjvbqTF3E9xU8Ff9mPX-M4-Lx9fZi9/s320/DSC03997.JPG" />
<div></div>
<div>And Courtney cleaning the sand from the stone. (Okay, I thought she was kissing it at first too, but she wasn't)<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685094659323009570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Hl0NxbNR8FhZvhKImgHaIEkUCQrD4focLSqpNRTSQHYFExYAjDUT60FHMh-jLEqv9ZDBMMIDP8ft79sttQasJOYirSRVlJHBEAnVFDi7wBaZm7PO6_ieUkB-GbxT1SQIM1bV0o-Pve_k/s320/DSC04010.JPG" /></div>
<div></div>
<div>Thanks for all your love and support over the last two years. We wouldn't be as well adjusted as we are without you all (not that that is saying a lot!) ;)<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685094653590310178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnojSXSVXCdpXD2igZe68crIhTnGHDIII8N6B1FvtnqxqmqyPjNn2lU3fZeP_KOL86Nu4YBbDR_BxJ7qfu5heNvloKrJN-hbjVjtrNLzVTG9RL9Ohj-VmEA9fT3nWBeoGotsYLUjlp7hPY/s320/DSC04008.JPG" /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-65773699757146462652011-11-27T19:19:00.000-08:002012-08-13T20:54:18.707-07:00Thanksgiving<div>
So, we have a tradition in our family for Thanksgiving: We only eat tan things, except for the celery with Cheez Whiz. That is all. Our only tradition.<br />
Becca and I had had all of that (being our only) tradition we could stand so we resolved to do active things this Thanksgiving. <br />
This was our year to celebrate the holiday in St. George, which was fortunate, because the weather there is so much more lovely.<br />
After our excessively carby meal we took the kids to hike the red hills of St George. <br />
(the pictures should be here, but they will be at the bottom until I get to a real computer.)<br />
I think it was later that night (good heck, I'm typing this in July, do you really expect me to remember) we went bowling, which was super misguided because pretty much the whole world went bowling.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNYjFC3LyVxJ99BcSSUy_T6NjtQqrD06ScWfjQI-MczggChJkYoAe2sFjUUDmCgyBqDzLSpxcBFHdfH8ov8ke2ByAVPUC5zl1f6SKjWneJTd84M608_76Ck7ik70cRSEll9FC0Wu7OAKe/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNNYjgNvk3Ko2MBty4Sv2zLohodJ4pIxkDgmt7sYuDK5iMzr-B5pysRGF_Hw2e4BrAtDf9plMQmmycGEASfkN_S2oKp0WElzVDoVmziRnpZCFYYHa6PSA5CtYTKK49PtaddBnc96nk0HV/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b8SiRX5p_6yat34u-axZzRcvBwNY82An2E9Y-5JN-WTgTNTiLvIfQ9v1VCoLFV4Nx-wzaOJth9n-nhKEimLOiKtPUOtNcUn6BtSJPVhJqeyTWYgZ_hEJp_FVYvfWaGeoz3omsjQmIQDm/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk64g_7vxIL3rIv2rcSI9qKpH_8P8_GhLg0roza-_sTuxOwBIVI5lJiO6N98RTheXfAjd6SdnwJjpeV7ee-2Dgwi5zIWwW2EOMko9Fue99pf8hBhZ9tPWofnGp9eJnldIvJJ6RYL497qP/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWuf9MRIgNcWnOupdQlX6S18HvY1hwGw3YLpFprUzIVfAhd-sFqK65Yri9Q8neRPe7p-vydHal_DAwK0pYh5AkbPMzIDDlXlKIaljSNtt0i11K88iXO40Ieu0zFDWAFOjgW53JyXbrr9e/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_vyt5GonUiQph7pYa5hIk5tqOISYhRbxEUKULJzjcF9OfaxXughNkBKUZ_M36ROnxnrZneuYH7U7d8Adhge_5ycAS0wYb6MlvrmBCmPBhdwtKUmVSXJWtcFBlX7PjfsLqPl8CPsDuCoM/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5ON2yGaOPR5fa8dA_dfEDH55IEVPjJQ-z2W63FkbIvke_iuPWOMPreDkIkQAQ9__kDEQ9ZKUPNRKQf00WZBLjFkIZT1MGECzV4u83QIG9a9Fi9O4N_uL-ZCQlGYFeU1zzTSk04m5p9OJ/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBbmy1Fvj22HiOEVo7PiNrsIAtlX82jBBvJ38J-BMB4vvu6F0RzArdlSHo2sZA1eQEurpchq6nJLU0nov9tbK3t9FVvp08M4XmDCfs2iznLGjg3Ping_WDJlT3W-PlqhOkBOwJvItcYeu/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MwRAY_LHlmmHW3GBkgJ1klDCrD-C4F677nF4Em-pwf-AISJCE8RZUxdU1fUv9vxoZu9daXIqe-buzLfd7fxD61k3KLJvwyoCCkOL9dnVD2sbdcOF5GYUEG7auyIeAw038dnHEA5iNA-g/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwo6Y_QnEQOVi16omtpM7D9cdmNlXHXaSG7ug7wj88HueuBe9l0-1dT1IvAdOuXTT97ltpiv2tbmwoT3fWTfWmYy3e88rHIdsYCNPn85qodGsPU_wJHVs2D5RZlLv6z9kCbYFh4FLhSKMk/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEhtJqqV52HxdTPwL9YzRudF0DT5Hjz3tTq00f4KNHyQuBWp8jO0JyoYeiNRyflvAm_4-uq01HSFhh_EWEpjn_UWybT2UlavIeh7I0MFiOpsiCnqttO3WVFUGcrKf1t2_1-D0PyfD60R3/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdu8kV1A6k6qDjngI9t6un5zhEoVWTMpBmkHZQ13ecj8EK7WdlvKpmyLA_xfwltMGwTBdd_SlKh8-nqG9lBhzvvoEOvGG_7NfjAyLGQ-9i7TxI-i8FB7dMgnt08dJCDXLEVcIx8s1epFg/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoyopCVF0x_3FzM-m2xzgDWNtaLb1ibDDtYzbxY2JwD72Wq03JdDxi8tlpgTivxAz_4sElvWhpOGt-JVSKoz2iht-HIdPAwceTKu9PZgf7G23IgIB34aAfoJ9G019n9e-qeTXZrcsHdtL/" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E-ZViNLVSjkX4fAdZfwCo1cQsub9p1VG5MQ3_zY5n4hKYOaPE3qKY3tJwg5AafgdaF5VR125DbbfyX40OVDDo8M-0uldDyWqQ9wv_nlK6UaiKcZScb1gBKjcdTLjwTD3qBlzoc5j80JJ/" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-78634868708417927072011-10-31T18:49:00.000-07:002012-08-13T20:54:43.058-07:00Halloween<div>
Halloween is technically one of my favorite holidays. The more pagan and worldly the holiday is MEANT to be the more fun I have with it.<br />
You would never know I like Halloween based on my photo albums. My kids have at least two costumes each year (made out of crap around the house and clearance items from the previous year) but I never get pictures of any of them.<br />
This year, because the boys are in a very academic charter school they did not get to dress up for school (hallelujah).<br />
I always fix chili and bread bowls for dinner so they start off with something healthy, warm, and filling before the candy (and I always eat it alone.)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-81157237729592365142011-09-30T15:00:00.000-07:002012-04-17T22:21:24.671-07:00Lake PowellWe have talked for about a billion years about getting a houseboat on Lake Powell, but we have just never followed through. This year, thanks to my awesome cousin, Adele (yes, THE ADELE!), we were able to actually go! They have a timeshare on a boat and they just happened to have an opening. It was such a great opportunity that I couldn't say no, even though it meant a couple of days missed from school.
(I don't know if I made mention of it here, but I enrolled the boys in an amazing charter school, that I love, but they are very serious about what they do and they frown upon missing school for just about any reason. They would have completely hated me during the last school year and probably would have kicked my kids out! ;) )
Anyway, I "climbed aboard" with no hesitation at all! The trip was planned over conference weekend (something which Gage is still bothered by. I am pretty sure I have already posted about how I keep my kids engaged during conference. He wants do do the conference store RIGHT NOW!!)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7BkXMPjQuw2gtpd8u1Ryk27y8IEwTLRiZd2sgjWphTrCCJikJqUG2LA0g27O7yPyIm14J6B-k3lju0pBU5b8VI7w-XB0Mw52o-3WdYpdDjldYAbdQNawdyR2bNK00BiGpeIkGSELWvJ-/s1600/IMG_2310.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7BkXMPjQuw2gtpd8u1Ryk27y8IEwTLRiZd2sgjWphTrCCJikJqUG2LA0g27O7yPyIm14J6B-k3lju0pBU5b8VI7w-XB0Mw52o-3WdYpdDjldYAbdQNawdyR2bNK00BiGpeIkGSELWvJ-/s320/IMG_2310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732597481824788658" border="0" /></a></div>I haven't been to Lake Powell since I was probably 14. Luckily Adele and Lynn went out of their way to make sure I followed them from Draper and didn't try to have me catch them along the way because apparently the path to Lake Powell is a national secret, guarded from the unclean masses by a lack of road signs and a complete lack of cell signal necessary for communication or GPS.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik88wOHkB1zddz3Hn930B9U2bGaun4nZR6UZnozbm7pbmEYZnwcjQrMjuRnmcn0n1JOEqBaXDd0RGy2ABn7mV2t3xQBVXWgE3l77yRAiic8fll1UcpvhWBuuGPjIgASV5_ruF9COlGwBC_/s1600/IMG_2312.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik88wOHkB1zddz3Hn930B9U2bGaun4nZR6UZnozbm7pbmEYZnwcjQrMjuRnmcn0n1JOEqBaXDd0RGy2ABn7mV2t3xQBVXWgE3l77yRAiic8fll1UcpvhWBuuGPjIgASV5_ruF9COlGwBC_/s320/IMG_2312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732597487999439826" border="0" /></a></div>We arrived at the boat with our necessary supplies, and probably a few unnecessary ones. I tend to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">overpack</span>. We parked the boat at a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">beachy</span> area. The kids couldn't wait to get in the water. I am pretty sure they only got out of the water to eat and to sleep the entire time we were there.
The Lamb family, and the other family we were with were so very patient with my kids, who haven't done much in the way of water recreation, but who wanted to try every little thing. So they tried the tubes, the wake boards and even a little skiing.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFDcoOk7-cA1_JuKPJZBmuUlDQqON-hqo2LSDzmJQQ5XmfWwAen3czL_vCg-EjE-zQJt0fZif7Mndr68shUYnXdVXf3BRCom1kt3si3OhWp1vm7J4GfEOlS3kmfz2otg93rs4BRRNDIFm/s1600/IMG_2316.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFDcoOk7-cA1_JuKPJZBmuUlDQqON-hqo2LSDzmJQQ5XmfWwAen3czL_vCg-EjE-zQJt0fZif7Mndr68shUYnXdVXf3BRCom1kt3si3OhWp1vm7J4GfEOlS3kmfz2otg93rs4BRRNDIFm/s320/IMG_2316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732597492569492914" border="0" /></a>
<div style="text-align: left;">Adele taught me a cool way to use my sunglasses as a camera filter. Which was extra awesome because I don't even know what camera filter means...
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuJknPSdVB_rk2FDEYw2P1yKv_6aiDEmYcZ1x7w1MqmFJG4PiP8EoV-uq5ltvHFWQ8wCelDYkFUUntZ87ZHBNw3F362yMg4t41Z6FO0oljbZXQE4SxC01ZIty5c7uS5S7mXfMSmoqYyaH/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuJknPSdVB_rk2FDEYw2P1yKv_6aiDEmYcZ1x7w1MqmFJG4PiP8EoV-uq5ltvHFWQ8wCelDYkFUUntZ87ZHBNw3F362yMg4t41Z6FO0oljbZXQE4SxC01ZIty5c7uS5S7mXfMSmoqYyaH/s320/IMG_2332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732597506583728914" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3fdQI5KE3SlFIGXX_m2wlg-WnEjVgUELTayWJJeAKZlFWMlGFcEM8LBk9qDCv0uLBjuw4svtYjvP_zy506sIHvLh4TZTPVhVIa_RmLCggoKNDNnTb-gH2plevUMudXrx-57ThuTzYnuq/s1600/IMG_2331.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3fdQI5KE3SlFIGXX_m2wlg-WnEjVgUELTayWJJeAKZlFWMlGFcEM8LBk9qDCv0uLBjuw4svtYjvP_zy506sIHvLh4TZTPVhVIa_RmLCggoKNDNnTb-gH2plevUMudXrx-57ThuTzYnuq/s320/IMG_2331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732597499551389826" border="0" /></a>
We had lots of beach time.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK89GJMqxpqkvcGmqjLk1PFJqymMtPAPzw8ALG4ydLGUMmEZs3SqKSShvtVIX2Lhyv3bsyRQWw5h5vnjCTMtJekrW5qITSFPP-PA4z4Z2IQL-Fv7qRLBVYLbkHYVjH_mU9l6Rqqp-pCPrz/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK89GJMqxpqkvcGmqjLk1PFJqymMtPAPzw8ALG4ydLGUMmEZs3SqKSShvtVIX2Lhyv3bsyRQWw5h5vnjCTMtJekrW5qITSFPP-PA4z4Z2IQL-Fv7qRLBVYLbkHYVjH_mU9l6Rqqp-pCPrz/s320/IMG_2388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732601443843232114" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsGMjPPZyO4WG0Phy94gAoUk542C9Jfh58l5GOKbawIyvHzQgkSpRyQNY0_q9kGMF5XZT10dCw_qIEQSG4WPm2iJ-tNoOf00SeIj1vpmncGplLBUReswLRZfMZ9MD8tAUaLMHMIiGaUPb/s1600/IMG_2395.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsGMjPPZyO4WG0Phy94gAoUk542C9Jfh58l5GOKbawIyvHzQgkSpRyQNY0_q9kGMF5XZT10dCw_qIEQSG4WPm2iJ-tNoOf00SeIj1vpmncGplLBUReswLRZfMZ9MD8tAUaLMHMIiGaUPb/s320/IMG_2395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732601447224486162" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW0YdLpvmgX2NFnxLvGsNnECNUT9ziyofyNoAUovziCUQ3QVnOZGEd6LoNc-z3uPL80v8M6knNA3fQl247bvNh-KDBKlwapLKGSBBafMYp4QQ6e4yOYPZ7zlWaOB5CkDNyjpJ5NG2eymC/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW0YdLpvmgX2NFnxLvGsNnECNUT9ziyofyNoAUovziCUQ3QVnOZGEd6LoNc-z3uPL80v8M6knNA3fQl247bvNh-KDBKlwapLKGSBBafMYp4QQ6e4yOYPZ7zlWaOB5CkDNyjpJ5NG2eymC/s320/IMG_2380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732601437416037058" border="0" /></a>
<div style="text-align: left;">And lots of various boat time.
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP1ZB2_4UmFqIpUpA_l1IcW5Si9VBqFCV6pw5ek9PS_0ktFK-6Wcbo7gbsjzoy0yzWEaYgi12KKWDOEGDnAXGdlpVn1r2MGm6y-sSnorzF4sRXAgv42e97wfex9OmaSUzR8hEhi8H_9rN/s1600/IMG_2357.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP1ZB2_4UmFqIpUpA_l1IcW5Si9VBqFCV6pw5ek9PS_0ktFK-6Wcbo7gbsjzoy0yzWEaYgi12KKWDOEGDnAXGdlpVn1r2MGm6y-sSnorzF4sRXAgv42e97wfex9OmaSUzR8hEhi8H_9rN/s320/IMG_2357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732601424458085266" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUURLcqpk0o95WTHxKEVIH_YEt9zyWSJGm-qrdgxZqVaWSN8OHrBxngjJjLZtADqtC5N5RDZP6WAURX6JruxooFK8rnGMBq84fg5vgYMH-DZu6ROXzYTUW8dgWfV930QFUnEV6Z8a3TWc/s1600/IMG_2345.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUURLcqpk0o95WTHxKEVIH_YEt9zyWSJGm-qrdgxZqVaWSN8OHrBxngjJjLZtADqtC5N5RDZP6WAURX6JruxooFK8rnGMBq84fg5vgYMH-DZu6ROXzYTUW8dgWfV930QFUnEV6Z8a3TWc/s320/IMG_2345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732601417794177570" border="0" /></a>
<div style="text-align: left;">I was very impressed. The bugs really seemed very <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">unbuggy</span>. The sun was not punishing. The kids all got along really well, even though my kids hadn't really met or spent much time with the other kids.
I took lots of time to myself lying on the upper deck just enjoying nature (no, I did not touch that nasty water, I don't even want to think of the things floating in it!)
Sleeping under the stars was beautiful. I don't think I have done that since Jeff and I were dating and we had a little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">camp out</span> in the bed of my pickup truck.
On the way home we all stopped at a little burger place. I guess we took too long loading up and leaving, or we didn't drive fast enough, or something. But those directions back home seemed to still be a national secret of unmarked roads. But along our journey back to something that looked familiar, we saw some cool things that we want to go back and explore more. So next summer we will be taking a tour of Utah to see some cool sites.
</div></div>
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-12128219895301976332011-08-09T12:20:00.000-07:002012-01-10T21:36:15.759-08:00That Is Just About Enough CampingWe went camping entirely too much this summer. I know that you camping enthusiasts will say that isn't possible, but I assure you, it is. I swear we went every weekend. And I pretty much hated most of it. The list of things I will do for my kids is appalling.
<p>
One of the more memorable trips this year was the camp out with my mom's side of the family. And it wasn't necessarily the camping that was memorable, it was the getting there (and to some degree, getting home.)
<p>
First off,the truck gets about three miles to the gallon and has about a three gallon tank. I have very specific rules about gas stations when I am pulling the trailer. No backing, and no angles to start. Add to that, the beast takes diesel and you start to see that the options are quite limited.
<p>
We were going up Spanish Fork Canyon, and I started with a full tank. By the time I realized that the full tank want going to get me back off the mountain too, I had already passed all the gas stations. I decided to push ahead, get to camp, unhook and go fill up with just the truck. See, I'm a thinker and a planner.
<p>
We followed directions, with Kim and Warren following (or leading, I can't remember and it doesn't matter). We get off the paved road and we are cruising along and come upon uncle Rick. He says we are close, just around a couple of curves and a bridge and we are there. So now we are following him. Going a reasonable speed. He goes around a bend. I swing wide, I always do. Them BOOM it is like a bomb goes off. I gun it, nothing. I hadn't even seen a rock or anything. I look behind me and the trailer is practically resting in the truck. I decide to get out and look. (Rick had continued without realizing I was stuck.)
<p>
A kindly old gentleman and his wife come up on a 4-wheeler (I swear, there is one in every camp area in Utah!) And then Warren comes up from behind me, I must have been leading. And not too long later Rick comes back to see where we are. It turns out I hadn't swung quite wide enough and the truck cleared a ditch, but the trailer didn't. The ditch was about 5 feet deep - and empty, luckily.
<p>
The old man suggests that we put a rope around the trailer and pull the opposite way from the ditch to keep it from tipping further. Bless his heart...
<p>
By this time, there is a huge line of cars behind me. It turns out that there was a ward party up in the area we were headed for. Seriously awesome...this is my real life! I walk away like I had nothing to do with this train wreck. The men decide that we should use the jack (I believe they call this kind of jack a handyman jack or a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">widowmaker</span> jack) and jack up the back of the trailer until the (excessively flat and bent, brand new) tire is level with where the ground should be and then gun it. Sounds fabulous, right.
<p>
Shockingly enough, it totally worked, and there is a super cool reminder forever etched in the back door of the trailer when the jack flew after the trailer as it was gunned out of the hole. And no, I didn't not drive it for that part, I made Warren, he is a trooper and I was super done with my ability to "man up"! We got it out of the road so the ward party could pass, then we changed the tire and got to camp.
<p>
Whew! Now to unhook and go get gas. No, the dang jacks on the trailer won't work. And before you go blaming me for breaking those in the crash, you should know that at some point, during a previous year camp out, Jeff had duct taped the jack together. So it wasn't me, it may have been the straw that broke the camel's back, or it may have been the 10 camp outs we did this summer, but those jacks were not coming down. And I am now running on fumes.
<p>
Rick had also had a flat tire on the trip up so he decided to go and get a replacement tire, and at the same time buy a gas can and some fuel for me. I won't bore you with all the details, but he got a flat coming down the canyon and spent about an hour on the side of the road waiting for AAA. Life is an adventure, and I have had my share for a while.
<p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-53776325882569891222011-07-30T10:46:00.000-07:002012-01-10T20:50:59.512-08:00Grandkids CampAbout a year ago we went to a family reunion at Sally's sister's cabin in the Uintahs. Judy told us about a camp they do every other summer for their grand kids over eight. Sally thought it was a great idea (we concurred). As soon as Jeff heard his mom consider it he started pushing for it, and we both pushed for lowering the age to seven. There is a gap between Gage and the next youngest grand kid of three years, so Gage would be the only kid not invited who would know what was going on (and oh, yeah, the only one of my kids left at home.)
Persistence, whining and guilt, mixed with massive amounts of love and compassion paid off, and all of my kids got a golden ticket to grand kids camp.
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkbOgEc-uAYPz8suF09gyUBonrhoXfWx_ZGNMlPmDdJDaF_SrhWkWO6KGB-SzKCfBc6OPwnhgNVZCPe6JinsteiPkXHrDgCgHo21oZaGQV1xdYeU0BaDQj-vlYxA6fvY8xIzmhvhYhvZS/s1600/278527_2058984126190_1592275633_1996201_7886034_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696228984922929378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkbOgEc-uAYPz8suF09gyUBonrhoXfWx_ZGNMlPmDdJDaF_SrhWkWO6KGB-SzKCfBc6OPwnhgNVZCPe6JinsteiPkXHrDgCgHo21oZaGQV1xdYeU0BaDQj-vlYxA6fvY8xIzmhvhYhvZS/s320/278527_2058984126190_1592275633_1996201_7886034_o.jpg" /></a></p>Aunt Tiff went so that Madison could go (no way was that age getting lowered to 2, but if the momma came, the kid could come!) I am glad she did, because I stole all of these pictures from her Facebook!
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIgptR-5SKBMAjvQOkW-OoO2Fr-Gs4nGIxEyJu-U3AHrePdj6D5iEhv5bG7RiJCuS9xbrj18gWi0dB2pAIHPvUlbAvUx4wLDQsoz9uNuPlmiM52yYtx2jhUaQyI5WxUf1GIbOgt-8gxEe/s1600/278847_2058993366421_1592275633_1996230_4909484_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696229019620843442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIgptR-5SKBMAjvQOkW-OoO2Fr-Gs4nGIxEyJu-U3AHrePdj6D5iEhv5bG7RiJCuS9xbrj18gWi0dB2pAIHPvUlbAvUx4wLDQsoz9uNuPlmiM52yYtx2jhUaQyI5WxUf1GIbOgt-8gxEe/s320/278847_2058993366421_1592275633_1996230_4909484_o.jpg" /></a></p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYhl-UROH6jRbYTMKf0No1FdWVfM7qZ2Lulq-JuFFo2ad5NiCJ2pbT2YiLPh9DC83lDSAuR69n1ZwcSgmeuhARljG9OVTpoxqxQg72LN9v7XmSQCDXlN64v-HF8BqzYVtO0w6kXDuxHWs/s1600/278847_2058993286419_1592275633_1996228_3040426_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696229009296694962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYhl-UROH6jRbYTMKf0No1FdWVfM7qZ2Lulq-JuFFo2ad5NiCJ2pbT2YiLPh9DC83lDSAuR69n1ZwcSgmeuhARljG9OVTpoxqxQg72LN9v7XmSQCDXlN64v-HF8BqzYVtO0w6kXDuxHWs/s320/278847_2058993286419_1592275633_1996228_3040426_o.jpg" /></a></p>
They spent some wonderful time with their grandparents and cousins. They played hiked splashed in streams, and did some testimony building activities. I think they all had a wonderful time (even grandpa).
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7q6IUGgAEVZSFha99H28nsJFZiXV4STY9a0eei28bGereNJaeWYyc1mb3mTISsMTyW7lAIzHJg3BNtptM_nnFdiWlNdMKO7937hHblDiIegLFD03NuVzXfE1jEyltHbfUxkLNmtzilIC/s1600/278559_2059022167141_1592275633_1996348_4269685_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696229003706617730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7q6IUGgAEVZSFha99H28nsJFZiXV4STY9a0eei28bGereNJaeWYyc1mb3mTISsMTyW7lAIzHJg3BNtptM_nnFdiWlNdMKO7937hHblDiIegLFD03NuVzXfE1jEyltHbfUxkLNmtzilIC/s320/278559_2059022167141_1592275633_1996348_4269685_o.jpg" /></a></p>
<div></div>
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUYKMk2dF15DXoDR_ojm4ZZWU9UIHy3Gb6W_XfAIVWU2mDM0hNN4WyhtIpSxriVLV925as8-YphW8JUsRR49-VRcfzqpgxFwjFiUmTrbwR1AVke3v8D_0fQrJATxBGMwHclIwk931iSoR/s1600/278371_2059006806757_1592275633_1996274_3397211_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696228497997283362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUYKMk2dF15DXoDR_ojm4ZZWU9UIHy3Gb6W_XfAIVWU2mDM0hNN4WyhtIpSxriVLV925as8-YphW8JUsRR49-VRcfzqpgxFwjFiUmTrbwR1AVke3v8D_0fQrJATxBGMwHclIwk931iSoR/s320/278371_2059006806757_1592275633_1996274_3397211_o.jpg" /></a></p>
<div>
</div>
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCefblFC8oPj_l1AlQ9JKJodBg9WeNsy__ZAjPEjOTtapdbIbt3rqCvWsDKTiSHGKt9lEkBoScXfI0Hy0Eo2uIaQGFIDNyVIKA1V50ADYgO-t0iwSXM3Llhyphenhyphenkva7lpi0oqo3eXlKHqgVCG/s1600/278371_2059006726755_1592275633_1996272_4786240_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696228483457405842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCefblFC8oPj_l1AlQ9JKJodBg9WeNsy__ZAjPEjOTtapdbIbt3rqCvWsDKTiSHGKt9lEkBoScXfI0Hy0Eo2uIaQGFIDNyVIKA1V50ADYgO-t0iwSXM3Llhyphenhyphenkva7lpi0oqo3eXlKHqgVCG/s320/278371_2059006726755_1592275633_1996272_4786240_o.jpg" /></a></p>
<div>
Here are the kids enjoying nature. Gage might be enjoying it a little too much!
</div>
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzYO5AVu1gyevKi4j3w7MqEUynP_wv5IxHSbm30WFnwstva7jYmPod9EebZdUhIXo_fv8ose-8b7vNzDhtMI2_mg8TXoLx1N_BNEIQRfMEdoYhlJMW6-0CEMdk-Rn1rYIQA3UXk5Vrso0/s1600/278527_2058984286194_1592275633_1996205_3581637_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696228990113753922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzYO5AVu1gyevKi4j3w7MqEUynP_wv5IxHSbm30WFnwstva7jYmPod9EebZdUhIXo_fv8ose-8b7vNzDhtMI2_mg8TXoLx1N_BNEIQRfMEdoYhlJMW6-0CEMdk-Rn1rYIQA3UXk5Vrso0/s320/278527_2058984286194_1592275633_1996205_3581637_o.jpg" /></a></p>
<div></div>
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXz_4kIroEmxdm0NMCAvEGhbJHrEwwsNe252ouqy3Tuabnefpm100ZZSask6ATYF9wOKpzZZ0OgqegpOI0-tR6yE1fLVsH8upx9bpIVPnbvuWjlXYap0SNrQ02kVwm2ENxY8hLZmpaqKP/s1600/278362_2059048447798_1592275633_1996395_6613984_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696228460964019394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXz_4kIroEmxdm0NMCAvEGhbJHrEwwsNe252ouqy3Tuabnefpm100ZZSask6ATYF9wOKpzZZ0OgqegpOI0-tR6yE1fLVsH8upx9bpIVPnbvuWjlXYap0SNrQ02kVwm2ENxY8hLZmpaqKP/s320/278362_2059048447798_1592275633_1996395_6613984_o.jpg" /></a></p>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div>It will be a sad day for these girls if Grandpa ever decides they are too big to sit on his lap.
</div>
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAQ-oSJfDicrTB3Vi5KMfgjpKMxuwwbJtr_750AFWlaGnO-yjaVdB8XvcRQUg-iZhi3o6Q2rCvGFJZTkRzVMu9KlQMZL7t8oDKow4Wcw5PAGXQg4aStgNBhpJsQz-0ZJlrDCUWGSmWIct/s1600/278371_2059006686754_1592275633_1996271_3759614_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696228476384159586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAQ-oSJfDicrTB3Vi5KMfgjpKMxuwwbJtr_750AFWlaGnO-yjaVdB8XvcRQUg-iZhi3o6Q2rCvGFJZTkRzVMu9KlQMZL7t8oDKow4Wcw5PAGXQg4aStgNBhpJsQz-0ZJlrDCUWGSmWIct/s320/278371_2059006686754_1592275633_1996271_3759614_o.jpg" /></a></p>
<div>
Technically, Gage was only six when grandkid camp started, but he was seven when it ended!!
</div>
<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdO2pW2_czrfqXd4bva3wZ_2LlC_7d0FwqR2eP7uTSJuCBWBktZ47fVbh-Buy-qlNK0ni3PISDqqLtjbiB6ve0J5bydzGbNAl2Hh5VCje6Ae03Pf0y2p1NgC0bwM3LkdKFdAdoIz6Fghc/s1600/278362_2059048527800_1592275633_1996397_1791926_o.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696228465535627490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdO2pW2_czrfqXd4bva3wZ_2LlC_7d0FwqR2eP7uTSJuCBWBktZ47fVbh-Buy-qlNK0ni3PISDqqLtjbiB6ve0J5bydzGbNAl2Hh5VCje6Ae03Pf0y2p1NgC0bwM3LkdKFdAdoIz6Fghc/s320/278362_2059048527800_1592275633_1996397_1791926_o.jpg" /></a></p>
<div></div>
<p align="center"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696229177002591570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjZGrFmXaFlpm8GyEOA_74ESKgZIrjsWAnqH54kDtx5mAznSiVUW3Yb5vrJ4ETKucqVACHG75J2bdA_hb144eFR_cgxqFZ52jZKvnfPd8Ez3R7O4vzvvl_BoWbV8-VjBGzSxLzSBGeR0_/s320/280362_2059054927960_1592275633_1996399_6250280_o.jpg" /></p>
<p align="left">
I only hope I have the whining power to make it an annual camp instead of ever other year.
</p>
<p align="left">Children are an heritage to the Lord...</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-64492112050344383882011-07-28T10:58:00.001-07:002012-07-18T08:11:51.055-07:00Gage's Birthday<div><p>Birthday season was filled with lots of indecisiveness and lack of planning on my part (not really different for me, but the fog made it hard to push through.) </p>
<p>The previous year for Gage's birthday we had rented out a neighbor's backyard pool. Those sweet neighbors offered it to us again for his birthday this year. That made it easy. They have BBQ stuff on site, so a quick trip to Costco for some burgers and a few texts to friends and families was all that we needed to do. </p>
<p>This turns in to a bring your whole family party, so I planned for 75ish people. We had right around that number come. Not everyone swims. There is a lot of visiting and catching up among the old people (like me). But the kids have a great time.</p>
<p>They barely pause for eating and they swim until it is so dark we have to turn the dogs loose on them. (Literally, we turn the dogs loose on them. When the last few stragglers won't get out on the pool, we let out the neighbor's labs who love to swim. It scares the crap out of the kids and they are out in seconds.) </p>
<p>Good times!! </p>
<p>Also, we threw in celebrating my nephew, Marcus, at the same time.</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZbNuYVsQGSVGwiO1leWrgFOPjMS1RkdJeTTf9-RY56n0JfwjmG6afnsrU8fvt6ajY2-erIAkjHRe42r26FShARsNbq5rl_QOn7FeEhn5u6zuIIupc4DbSHf-lNmyh1ulYu9XwEcgB4i0/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfiRiKGa8lWPQzOUEF_xEf7YD-cUfOoAX2VXcUAYii8OIIPaVtMSBakmxTCj1oiGR2FT4QiA8xi90L727NBRBToS1SWB3pVP6ioTvTCu5D_tyzwIqPfrDC3ajCvfb_WNTeAoLT8wmNdec/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37XIvuPc_xuaV6xub-ySIidAAzAXVw5LuyiYI12uIsNeY5cvyvhmzgpFu8LxjSnYGDsnmjDClM2iNZ73UL1Kbyh9MFe10KWyUy6tK3xnySOdfWlj2E357y_8g938xKF3_gAlktlKmDt65/' /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-76804790222541008722011-06-19T19:27:00.000-07:002011-12-19T21:25:03.043-08:00My Birthday/Father's DayWell, the title says a lot. My birthday was on Father's Day, which really isn't all that unique, it has been happening every few years for my entire life (yep, all 29 years.) The weird thing is, this year I felt even MORE obligated to honor Jeff (as the father of my children) than I have on all the other years the two have happened to fall on the same day. When this would happen in the past I would tell him that the fact that I was born kind of trumped the fact that he was a father. I mean, if I wasn't born, he wouldn't be a father (at least not the father of my kids). ;)
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div></div>
<div>So this year, I found a way to make it about both of us.</div>
<div></div>
<div>First, a few days before my birthday my awesome neighbors threw a party for me and we had a big BBQ in my backyard. It was really nice, and really fun. Here are some pictures I took.</div>
<div></div>
<div>You're welcome.</div>
<div></div>
<div>On Father's Day/My Birthday my mom came up to celebrate with us. I suggested dinner out in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tooele</span> with my grandma because I figured she might be alone and missing my grandpa, too. (Turns out she forgot it was Father's Day and thought we were just celebrating my birthday, which you know works for me because the world revolves around me.)<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688074025052672898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauQwj9_A2svYJocIirtR3gtJgkGYolUi3jmx1vZxqupDAVkhSTHWSy3wY-0PpP2O0gPhIEKAS6COTpRVoE_LpnNTiGAqbbPvlNaQKEJO-oBXk2uxWS6ojGKQUOLAeTmD3jy4gJiag1sIb/s320/DSC03950.JPG" /></div>
<div></div>
<div>I chose to have us skip church because I may be strong, but I am not superhuman! (I had actually substituted in Primary the week before, and they were practicing their Father's Day song and the leader told them to point to their dad's at the end of the song. Then she had them practice that by pointing to where their dad might be sitting if he were in the audience. When I saw Gage point at the ceiling, that was about all I could take. Kids are awesomely resilient, but their mama's aren't always!)<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688074029344876594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuec_YR56gMHlfbAQw3rcQKY1OIl4396Wv5y-1QbkXZnlgx5kRcmc8CEH13dyTQ4inT48A_GhkPNMBMA6ONBTYOYz9mrabaZJGqwKDSUQzA74tPBoVKdXQSHv2uAbDUf0OlS4Wz74ux9PJ/s320/DSC03954.JPG" /></div>
<div></div>
<div>So instead of church, we went to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">cemetery</span> and did a balloon release. (We were talking about balloon releases in my grief support group and I said "Who keeps a helium tank on hand all the time except clowns and widows.") And we also took the bottle of "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">champagne</span>" Jeff got for completing chemo. It turned out, that bottle needed an actual old fashioned bottle opener, it wasn't a screw top. So after trying everything I could to pry it off, and my attempt to break the top of the neck off by hitting it against a tree, Courtney took matters into her own hands and walked it over to the curb and smashed the top off. It sprayed all over, which I expected, but the kids hadn't, so that was pretty funny. Then I poured it into paper cups, and checked it carefully for glass, and then we had a little toast. There was only enough left after the spraying that we each got a little sip, but that was okay because we all decided it was nasty!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688074047439165586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwSS31pEzRCx0dBugYp-lN_ZOV1H33ZOwT8LjInPkVxeG0zFCnp7JqbugUC7e0BxKftxVUCFDAamEbIQptkjnj3DQFW_W3jiRToRlFXNrd6vg85Y5hsOsYHbIZZA5YIlpF_fyTL2u-89T/s320/DSC03955.JPG" /></div>
<div></div>
<div>Then we drove out to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tooele</span> to have dinner with my grandma, my mom, and Kim and Warren's family. It was delicious. Here are some pictures. </div>
<div></div>
<div>You're welcome.</div>
<div></div>
<div>I decided since I had the tank in the car, and because the balloon release was just me and the kids, that we would do a balloon release for my grandpa, too, so that my mom and Mia (who came up with her) could participate too.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688074050697845330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-1UpyESITDNyGeNVaSIX7kMTwcZOZ5zJ2LPWGF2JWTGLT94WQWr4B_W9nRRPhRoCFNheRP3h6ENUPkAqywxjlmFEqheigOThsg3hpErUcnFKlvf661vgEYtKVn3ITtGpZjCIlB4YKqmu/s320/DSC03956.JPG" /></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div>You have to look harder to see the balloons in this picture, but the sky is just amazing!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688074056570784738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrU1TZEkGyflswpUSigpRxUhWBYd97XpFU0zl6EHQ7rPZ3ZieqvwKfsnv7FNnJH_BIbZjm7bZ551FHegoaateL3jjXkRIriUgnxmfW58Snzf4m1eUrqb0Ap3gVNBQhqYBhyrAESaBGLafY/s320/DSC03960.JPG" /></div>
<div></div>
<div>Much love to all the wonderful men who have changed my life. My dad, my husband, my grandpas, my brothers, my father in law, my brothers in law, and many wonderful friends. And many thanks to all of those wonderful men who are still showing my kids that there are good men in the world who are here to love and support them and be great examples to them. </div>
<div></div>
<div>(p.s. I am actually 37 years young!)</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-55514183171491232602011-05-26T20:05:00.000-07:002011-11-21T20:31:14.669-08:00Things that Happened in May that WERE Jake's Birthday<div align="left">
<div align="left">You see what I did there! ;)</div>
<div align="left">I know we did something for Jake's birthday. And I remember ice cream sandwiches and basketball in the back yard, but I don't think that was the main event...I better check my trusty phone!</div>
<p align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzBKVkFdthTobwcyal0oRHYr0RG__uRMBJre0upDbA_3kVQYCutw5uFWa_rgPykQkdp6dQOi9jH66Fycr1cJw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>
</p>
<p align="left">Oh yeah, Minute to Win It. This is the only documentation I have. No other pictures or video. But let me assure you fun was had by all. (And yes, I do always nag like an impatient hag in the background on all of my videos...geez!)</p>
<div align="left">
<p align="left">All you need for a Minute to Win It party is lots of those red plastic cups and a box of ping pong balls! You can have games for hours with those and a few random things that you will have around your house</p>
<div align="left">
<p align="left">I don't know why, but Jake's parties always seem to grow the largest and the most out of control. Maybe it is a boy thing (or a mom who doesn't set limits thing.) But I have learned to be very organized and this party was actually very easy to pull off. Courtney and Tiffany were a huge help.</p>
<div align="left">
<p align="left">Jake is a great kid. He is a very deep thinker. He loves to laugh. He adores having the attention on him. He seems to be headed in the right direction most of the time. We are so lucky to have him as an important part of our family.</p>
<div align="center">
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3t3aZPRMXaQi5tY2BBCJNGXY3-6oDl9vQvmdsUwmZf-DhBVsU8Z9CcTlMz0IMW44JVJzrwhDAkBxYh5uar9aVXgqZ2Vbu8PN2poaIaZacu7Okib_tPkMfyQZbPeXc-MmuWZD4VruHCET/s1600/226269_10150266904739529_716204528_8991694_8200320_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677671350445967762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3t3aZPRMXaQi5tY2BBCJNGXY3-6oDl9vQvmdsUwmZf-DhBVsU8Z9CcTlMz0IMW44JVJzrwhDAkBxYh5uar9aVXgqZ2Vbu8PN2poaIaZacu7Okib_tPkMfyQZbPeXc-MmuWZD4VruHCET/s320/226269_10150266904739529_716204528_8991694_8200320_n.jpg" /></a>
<p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy 10th Jake!!</span></p></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-60363170137955420302011-05-20T21:55:00.000-07:002011-11-20T22:38:20.279-08:00The Things That Happened in May That Weren't Jake's BirthdayI have been getting all my information from Facebook - but only the photos. I have way too many status updates to sort through to find out what was really going on. But these events were significant enough to inspire me to post pictures, so you now get to enjoy them (probably a second time) for your viewing pleasure:
First up, Courtney got her braces off!!! Yay - it actually didn't seem like that long, and in all honesty I have some questions and I think we may end up putting them back on, but YAY they are off for now. I didn't think to take a before picture until she was already lying in the chair, so this one is really flattering:
<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677325311790819954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFHzKiXlwd0sX7OdPv3elwiBX7oO3GqLjuMsS1HObpm1Oy4XZE6E_tUaMMZa6NoBVhMidg64wthODQFhSP2ZBgjQ0JcqdNa-QGW0WdJ5p7WywtWNGEBXNNlY2djnzlhi6Z7CDqaia6x3p/s320/220086_10150263345984529_716204528_8969111_5544002_o.jpg" />
And this one is in the car after. Isn't she so pretty? (So pretty I am going to go out and learn how to use some of these weird looking assault rifles Jeff left behind...)
<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677325316286751602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxq1tpB2-q3WlpCqhWh5NxmW5WJZiHRFZ86ZxJOnEWQgxiFGf1GM1aZa3GFx525ikCOyz1hvy0JPSCrvKRdVWAQ9-qz4bE4mMMOxqlvrDa9SnjvDPUYtim1u-ASaEVMFzInykwuLdv1OO/s320/240234_10150263346554529_716204528_8969113_2964695_o%255B1%255D.jpg" />
The other "not birthday" May event that I felt was significant enough to merit a post was when the awesome Evan and family invited us to come along on the annual Sand Dunes trip. The date for the large group was up in the air, and no one really knew for sure if it was even going to happen, but Evan said "come with us" even though he had to know that it would be WAY more work for him! What a good sport (and loving, caring friend).
We didn't want to be all excess baggage so we did what we could to get ourselves ready. Courtney felt pretty confident she could put the paddle tires on the little bikes. I was kind of pleasantly surprised (until some rudey pointed out that they were on backward.) Details - she knows the mechanics behind doing it, and for me, for this year, that is good enough.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWLVnSaY7bo8UldnNcC3Fm2OEE18JiKNT51op9GsiMBgneCSdYAQMfX6aEBnONcPsHfhq6k68pIaBqNIyAgv4c7cL2D5hFoxrbDvfI3SKTNzVOA1uFXUFVR4scbI6zREXBdlzU0XsZMW1/s1600/244053_10150269953799529_716204528_9025983_8362412_o.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677325333181416402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWLVnSaY7bo8UldnNcC3Fm2OEE18JiKNT51op9GsiMBgneCSdYAQMfX6aEBnONcPsHfhq6k68pIaBqNIyAgv4c7cL2D5hFoxrbDvfI3SKTNzVOA1uFXUFVR4scbI6zREXBdlzU0XsZMW1/s320/244053_10150269953799529_716204528_9025983_8362412_o.jpg" /></a> I have made it a point on our previous trips over the last 10 years to the sand dunes to never ride. And to be completely truthful I kind of had a secret goal to never leave the trailer except to shower and to make at least one trip in to town. Well, Patty and Evan decided that this kind of behavior wasn't going to cut it this year. They said "You have to ride out to the lake with us". WHAT?!?!?! There is a lake? Who knew? Is it new? No? Awesome! So we loaded up. Most of my family in the Rhino because the 90's just don't have the power for this kind of ride. Courtney and Jake fought over the 400.
I can honestly say - I did not enjoy it. I get my adrenaline by waiting until the last minute to complete a project. Nearly falling off 20 foot drop offs is a bit of an overkill in the adrenaline department for me. On the way back from the lake Patty offered to come in the Rhino so one of my kids could take her quad. I don't know if she really wanted to, or if she just wanted them to shut up. But it was very nice.
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP2C2lSKQUDQpp0nSIWFTpzVVf6vGsX2kiKSZcTg7_TLdVthXk9sGj6FbrX70DVB2HcR0fPajaZXbmXGv_zbAsPanGm5o7k9ZvmIsY1D2YF_4TcD_2d6MYDcEcUsvPxFwkD3xIAdxLEsJ/s1600/240671_10150276753349529_716204528_9088007_1119175_o.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677325315756569842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP2C2lSKQUDQpp0nSIWFTpzVVf6vGsX2kiKSZcTg7_TLdVthXk9sGj6FbrX70DVB2HcR0fPajaZXbmXGv_zbAsPanGm5o7k9ZvmIsY1D2YF_4TcD_2d6MYDcEcUsvPxFwkD3xIAdxLEsJ/s320/240671_10150276753349529_716204528_9088007_1119175_o.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">(Our Family at the Lake) </span></div>
<div align="left">
So I asked her if she wanted to drive and she was like "Really, you would let me." As if that would take some of the enjoyment out of it for me. I was thinking "At least then closing my eyes will be less dangerous." </div>
<div></div>
<div>We all made it back to the campsite safely, and not much worse for wear. </div>
<div></div>
<div>And we do want to say THANK YOU to the awesome Wiggins family for being so wonderful to us on this trip, and really for the whole last year. What amazing friends we have. (Evan even said he was up for it again next year. I would like a prescription for a double dose of whatever he takes!) ;)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-15726449116479098662011-04-29T14:42:00.000-07:002011-11-20T15:42:05.561-08:00Relay For Life<div align="center"></div>
<div align="center">TEAM PARTNERS FOR PARADISE IN MEMORY OF JEFF ANDERSON</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFENKDrDZJrw36HvOQPeFubloUeTutjqnJxObFEcqAUahzBJsKzyfCwsBM6Z8rqAchwdOSF_V4UCAykveSglqN4ik0UvN2ktYMn91Yu3H1dtXHHxwFj7RTLW_5wtuK-cCXOJMJ_5OKSpm2/s1600/DSC03905.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677225072328621906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFENKDrDZJrw36HvOQPeFubloUeTutjqnJxObFEcqAUahzBJsKzyfCwsBM6Z8rqAchwdOSF_V4UCAykveSglqN4ik0UvN2ktYMn91Yu3H1dtXHHxwFj7RTLW_5wtuK-cCXOJMJ_5OKSpm2/s320/DSC03905.JPG" /></a>
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsExppAZw9Z9AuUt_QSuZEiM-WbqtC1af0_dQIXaeiHPD5_NZgM3UFw9sOERkec3Fsy3WlrtKiunAJ0us2M0qgoapaxuErCKkmPnyJWkmqo3SIb0eo11Px97YJ0pYEj6B6XRac4u0Eyqer/s1600/DSC03915.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677225068131874626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsExppAZw9Z9AuUt_QSuZEiM-WbqtC1af0_dQIXaeiHPD5_NZgM3UFw9sOERkec3Fsy3WlrtKiunAJ0us2M0qgoapaxuErCKkmPnyJWkmqo3SIb0eo11Px97YJ0pYEj6B6XRac4u0Eyqer/s320/DSC03915.JPG" /></a>
<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677225059523614034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHGOoEFbb-pfow0kBBOI4EA8iSPPUIcvLysicR634Xujmwc6F0SM6egsWLyEGxZNv6WpQblrv6287AypEVzMAWMPMFEgrouYc73r7aulgEYRqXX5VFQ35p3-sqSB95ojl9ifH-Mjc58Ab/s320/DSC03880.JPG" />
<p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677219457339409762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrmMzcpGuw6yrA1-zTjv9c7gTzsq2hhErdwbWivaIg835odViSI3mCuwBeUR1T0ewgKvK-O8igmnXZHPYl6rh1Aom-F3jxQv0VOdY8RvrxGmjVPp6D8MTd2k6dGE6J6fnghVJ7A4LcAMT/s320/DSC03829.JPG" />We participated in the Relay for Life in St. George. My fabulous cousin Melinda, with the help of my fabulous cousin, Bobby decided that it would be nice to establish a team in Jeff's honor. My girls wanted to run with the team. I was going to bake cookies or something - but this was before I was able to rejoin life. (I baked cookies again for the first time - from scratch - in October). So mostly I drove my kids down, and provided some pictures for their posters and the cute booth they made up. The theme they choose was Partners for Paradise. They had a cute island thing going.
<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677219475238433618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXdUZBqo2J1ZUdbe_8-65-rW0XHoleDeGnM6_IRa5fQzKJ6VknS6OMLRR08gbF7vfDDuwxvRyg-KTD9eaX7VNC2GQ6V900mOJsNh5vIhdvE0x0P9immplrdfczIqsbKCIGrUqQPvGWtTQ/s320/DSC03834.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677225045902423842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsN8q__LNocUnR2FShB6YZMJeGbxAImgIEOwOxsohrTEQZa8IoMI4uqjBcRnfFlNTmmG1c_EjSpGoBPqo1CO9gRBK-xD5P64L2c6LUUkNlHhLo9wOxZKnLa01vkXx41sXeqa_cSV0tsiT/s320/DSC03879.JPG" />It would have been super awesome if the weather had chosen to follow the theme. It was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">sooo</span> cold. And the wind blew non stop. In the end, I wimped out and went to sleep in Adele's nice warm condo. A few brave souls spent the night, and someone was on the track for at least one lap every hour for the entire 24 hours!
<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677219454984246162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDWo9ijphjPRe1iMh6RTktzBzM2pyyv6JhFr_5fdDNtVYUJ2ll0Hfkr3Wtfws74ZkFH1vANHBdJKo7KnChn-JcsEUJVyhXLsb6OWWzHkckb8ZTDEXAuCYLAc0BmYHP9Q_Kz4U0c60vFV6/s320/DSC03828.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677219481655888706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__dQwOjAImDXPbTFusa-OM0OcMHa4EKfGifNUglECHeTMnGPpNYqyAwPokex0ohyBdl-BtQ-UNnWnkIHnBQuciyC9N5C0ZQgVyk6AVBg_yRcaPBj2M__UVFXl85fecnjVbB9L3No3c6kw/s320/DSC03836.JPG" />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jya1vexIJQlb2eavF-ZXyBqVOhWsUxTd6i7DpSEUEyOGgpkvA3EuwH9M5K5T_FZrT336LVaMnUqwELMROjeLtyZgyz9BiOCSNVymQY10Nnk-TlyNbuF8kun2UZuzem-2EXDGruJ8xRpS/s1600/DSC03860.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677222364542742322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jya1vexIJQlb2eavF-ZXyBqVOhWsUxTd6i7DpSEUEyOGgpkvA3EuwH9M5K5T_FZrT336LVaMnUqwELMROjeLtyZgyz9BiOCSNVymQY10Nnk-TlyNbuF8kun2UZuzem-2EXDGruJ8xRpS/s320/DSC03860.JPG" /></a>
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD1FnyQrAovgxSZLFQpzxu_8aNdyxreRsSjuBSLcejRn394tEKE7Tl5ZPZUieg1cJmyxJPez9g4D95EwIwhCo9jCmJSJivft6qzRbaQtuK4c-8YBHivuvlrbUSc96qCZTUfLfl82v6lWD/s1600/DSC03855.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677222359430204146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD1FnyQrAovgxSZLFQpzxu_8aNdyxreRsSjuBSLcejRn394tEKE7Tl5ZPZUieg1cJmyxJPez9g4D95EwIwhCo9jCmJSJivft6qzRbaQtuK4c-8YBHivuvlrbUSc96qCZTUfLfl82v6lWD/s320/DSC03855.JPG" /></a>
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48DVs2LNIP9UINC_q8ktmi5PBNX7zSFHpmweBEriV7ufqtpEfwRfpZsRy8W5C5zpIpXK7r2jCgHriujoxCbNcPhePac0g60VJyTOzRP4gkAhYi7yi306ay07nJvcQT3CH763dg6L1FJrw/s1600/DSC03846.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677222349469384978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48DVs2LNIP9UINC_q8ktmi5PBNX7zSFHpmweBEriV7ufqtpEfwRfpZsRy8W5C5zpIpXK7r2jCgHriujoxCbNcPhePac0g60VJyTOzRP4gkAhYi7yi306ay07nJvcQT3CH763dg6L1FJrw/s320/DSC03846.JPG" /></a>
<div>
I am very excited about doing is again - and promise to participate more fully in some way next year, as I am now back at least among the walking wounded instead of the full on zombie I was at this event!
Thanks to Melinda and Bobby - and thanks to all the other family who came out to support this event in Jeff's honor. The theme was Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back ... We have, we do, and we tried! Now we need to continue to do it so others can CELEBRATE, LIVE, WIN
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirW-Qg-aH9pcJZjpLs-x2LfnaKO00I9RAYOgoWMkX0Jedygov35vl7A2zcnPPr5A3Tfhy8JvDYF8JdUFs3LoDfQXIoEDHbEOsD9DQ326wFAQXaLym-IRjmcXVfrUo8NyhbBL85U3XoM1uw/s1600/DSC03863.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677222368577594546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirW-Qg-aH9pcJZjpLs-x2LfnaKO00I9RAYOgoWMkX0Jedygov35vl7A2zcnPPr5A3Tfhy8JvDYF8JdUFs3LoDfQXIoEDHbEOsD9DQ326wFAQXaLym-IRjmcXVfrUo8NyhbBL85U3XoM1uw/s320/DSC03863.JPG" /></a>
<span style="font-size:78%;">My mom forced me to take a picture as if I was actually participating. So there you go. In Jeff's sweat pants and everything. (FYI - this is the same "Hansen Stadium" track that I will probably mention in a future post - maybe about my courtship story ;))
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEsrEvWDoYDZQ4g-i3m6k_mb_OJBBC_cXMLkk0ZTMokL2E4BLfbl0WqN-2nghrQLiT5RWOSfvc64QYSBfhcCGSFS4ccn2eva8xPCQxk689nI3P4pM4flVsPTYiW0r7a5W5PlTv9kG5YU5/s1600/229089_180781301970814_170965552952389_410478_6827499_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 183px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677216159807497474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEsrEvWDoYDZQ4g-i3m6k_mb_OJBBC_cXMLkk0ZTMokL2E4BLfbl0WqN-2nghrQLiT5RWOSfvc64QYSBfhcCGSFS4ccn2eva8xPCQxk689nI3P4pM4flVsPTYiW0r7a5W5PlTv9kG5YU5/s320/229089_180781301970814_170965552952389_410478_6827499_n.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-85254953707126960012011-04-23T15:42:00.000-07:002011-11-20T16:28:27.371-08:00Easter Campout<div>After a lot of internal debate about if we would continue camping this year, I decided I was strong enough, brave enough, and doggone it...pretty enough to do this. I had a lot of awesome help from some amazing friends (thanks Evan and Dave - not that they will ever read this because guys reading blogs is lame - no offense to guys reading this blog) we got the trailer locked and loaded and sitting in front of the house in the "just pull straight out and stay on the road position". Evan asked me repeatedly if I wanted to at least pull it around the block to get a feel for how the brakes worked and such. I declined. My plan - always go straight, never check the mirrors, just keep going - and never get in a position to BACK anywhere! (FYI - valid plan - totally worked!)</div>
<div></div>
<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677232106873837746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcWN6h5VPRKt_GDNe5NuGZWJIrcSUk1K4KKCAtpxosVlz8ZgBdGtu42aAHIH99haUqezJnGYQsVqbilfXZUEaxuOTI_97WYb6-4GejLgoVdJYRvZWF945vqIMu6NBc7NYPPICfw0wyCqZ/s320/truck+and+trailer.jpg" /> I posted this picture the morning we were getting ready to leave, with a caption of something like "Here is praying that there is a truck driving gene, and that I got it." </div>
<div></div>
<div>And just to be clear, that is not a mini pickup with a little trailer. That is a full size - jacked up - truck with like a 32 foot trailer (or something like that - I forget, and who cares, it is behind me - and I have a no backing policy)</div>
<div></div>
<div>The trip down (and back home) was fairly uneventful. Thus allowing us to have many more camping trips over the summer. However, the complete and overwhelming anxiety every time I pull out of the driveway never did go away. Maybe that is a built in safety mechanism that I should stop trying to medicate away. I did learn to back in to the driveway - and as far as I know, I never did have to back in public (like at a gas station), however, I did have to have a guy come out and watch me once just to make sure that I was clear, because it was a really tight parking lot. I chose my gas stations more carefully after that.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Really, almost the entire trip was uneventful, except for one unfortunate accident that Chad's friend had on one of the motorcycles and ended up with a mangled arm that had to be put back together surgically. I don't have pictures of that (you're welcome) so I will just share a few pictures from the camp out.</div>
<div></div>
<div>
<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 179px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677232103704790866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbi_er89jDCdtFYlWTA9J3jJlk55y9oZ_tdqbDIvPGhz4wmDw1NiOaaXe4-Q6krvx5htSYKTvwCJKNk9XMpLx4rtr3ln6Wp8cgSd6snSlMyZ0ojtzzgrZu5m2fwrjhhluAV6TqEc2s4SU/s320/easter+tent.jpg" /></div>
<div>Even though I go to all the stress and anxiety of pulling that massive trailer down, my kids love to sleep in a tent. Well, this camping trip, sadly, was the last for our tent. By the last day of camp it was duct taped and caution taped together. (Lucky for us, I found one at a yard sale in May for $5!) <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677231899626669170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxgRIUgZ7BcjcwyYhyEk-gHHpmwB4GUh4LgxO1NpfqLFuiiMAE2TUWoAgrcPNyL0l3F9OMUubm2IUR36TW4UKCher8RLFmN5VKYozGPAyTm9c1gjp2UlZg6XzZNTW1QHmPY4vz0w6-QsE/s320/100_2343.JPG" />
<div>No particular reason for this picture except to say that Gage is a fashionista and I am mom of the year!
<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677231893086920322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_RnjeXenbboZhjVXJ2kDlkkI3jwIBjJfbQNKm_8ZgxTxJEOUV7FRxmILu9HOg_2olxQLWkpoY7xTYz6Nnl7Kd8_qNQNbp7uLg9SJcuxLwV0CwdJkGOCn6ZS21iw7T-jHVMHohu8PxddF/s320/100_2340.JPG" />
<div>The obligatory "can we just go pick up the Easter Eggs, yet" picture.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677237931413995522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPziwz7PjuVtQQCCQg-ULy22gsQNNw7pHuthCWhe6GH9xW_tyz1VI34yANAK2jXdYmE8ROciQDBQ39rNOEX3XDl4rzQHf7czxIldT8TVlShSBMDVR86GRGxQVnhMwzA8fwQqokz9_4i2h/s320/100_2333.JPG" />
<div></div>
<div>
<div>Courtney with her super clean face from riding dirt bikes with a helmet. I will take the 5 o'clock shadow look though, because it means they are WEARING THEIR HELMETS!!
<div>
<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677231551182734834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprEBW7oi9SOXx-QVN6T8zm9jDIJlwTwG8EzcuUk3RMZStG3Q7Nb2UUa_SM7irPGo-bkvW_AaZV4nsfYo5a176evk8FmBYg8AAph8k64L3rDlrtDAzyv629F78QDSEhVNcwqLUdQUntbva/s320/100_2316.JPG" /></div>
<div>The dying of the Easter eggs.</div>
<div></div>
<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677231542698554674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_69sS9DkT3fZnR1Tah4edKo2xUo5YLVlCs-sQdDKjBNX77WRHS7Nq6p1SUmN6Uqx5I4pQ3xwud0eUWbAQv7uZXlfroGzxEQWvzsPPGxsaQhiAPzMhRGVW664kmlBqjj6VGDBIGQLrJko/s320/100_2303.JPG" /></div>
<div>The annual "Gathering of trash to make a THE GREATEST HUT EVER"</div>
<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677231538345962802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XdXb1cie7O8hvwCkXpgtxuCSbDCbuQwD24A2JnJfEkvgqJtMVqv8ilC9fTlUiAOLerO1Y4-n8rORgoWuHoDSSDRM5y30AML88DH7ah6aT3LNAUM9ykEtN53oRNIwz2mYipp695qEXLsx/s320/100_2272.JPG" /></div>
<div>One happy camper. (Actually, I can't believe there was a picture of me taken that I don't completely hate. I refused to change clothes or brush my hair the entire weekend in protest of being forced to sleep in the wilderness.)</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677231536206785858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV60EV_pPklDuraPxzCMCenQiukQ-7JfFI5uun9yDEOjWE6gAYIsO0Jfs96tKi5JdvndMkD41-sAfDOHc7Gj5xQXlzi6ucHpiFuIM9K7usb8aLIKZIpDsMOqqwJhjNvxlg1Jl5_6vd9B2l/s320/100_2260.JPG" /></div>
<div>Easter camp would not be complete without collecting caterpillars that then crawl in the trailer and procreate for years to come on all the camping stuff!</div>
<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677232101700139506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7Zhxroe4HGBfrn1OtUHi5yf276UlBsmtH6eFuSwcguHX_VpgwWDH9Ud6MaSKvhm2GID60JfEkMXOhL1z4BevyzHbeGdw8LG3tbiIPl9aze14LOzCs9Y-kvRSJI43S65XeEoGmIw9hGZF/s320/egged.jpg" /> When I got home, my awesome neighbors had "egged" my house!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-39556462665667049852011-04-03T12:51:00.000-07:002011-04-28T14:16:23.463-07:00We Have A TEEN!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFlqe2ms6L2fOPcZQNw_ixLkrtTNxHJoiVi7P_G_ADqu5frca8hDjMhpewFspOfX_yV93CfkicihwhWSSED5sbQQVhdqqDfPCbBpJwyu-r4GbzKMSyOQXcmBOBHGGTvOERqgIETfDPyC0/s1600/DSC03803%255B1%255D"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFlqe2ms6L2fOPcZQNw_ixLkrtTNxHJoiVi7P_G_ADqu5frca8hDjMhpewFspOfX_yV93CfkicihwhWSSED5sbQQVhdqqDfPCbBpJwyu-r4GbzKMSyOQXcmBOBHGGTvOERqgIETfDPyC0/s320/DSC03803%255B1%255D" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600739823692233618" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_Ifphr4MgFe2MkGPy_FRGtih_AGhU4_L_oz8Xu29kAv8sYAlS_D15esTXSI5xC9VHqCMy9hx_EXpC5BqlLLsU_ttrfmw52L5eqGqXese5FAFFtjzeO69kVpgt3iwDzktZFCaFxYqg_MP/s1600/DSC03807%255B1%255D"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_Ifphr4MgFe2MkGPy_FRGtih_AGhU4_L_oz8Xu29kAv8sYAlS_D15esTXSI5xC9VHqCMy9hx_EXpC5BqlLLsU_ttrfmw52L5eqGqXese5FAFFtjzeO69kVpgt3iwDzktZFCaFxYqg_MP/s320/DSC03807%255B1%255D" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600739817840683858" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ni9NDiJgxTwhUnQwze1BQWc-ICo7QSkIe545qBYpOkcacTb0TTKiODEZ8NIJLKQT3xWV8eb5C_Pv4pnYX3pai0QBCQG0q91kFexmRhtB9fb70PBfA46SKJT8dqso4OdGuxRgQpTkKFT_/s1600/DSC03802%255B1%255D"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ni9NDiJgxTwhUnQwze1BQWc-ICo7QSkIe545qBYpOkcacTb0TTKiODEZ8NIJLKQT3xWV8eb5C_Pv4pnYX3pai0QBCQG0q91kFexmRhtB9fb70PBfA46SKJT8dqso4OdGuxRgQpTkKFT_/s320/DSC03802%255B1%255D" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600739811104320562" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8h8iT56Ih8wSiJurbyETcyaReSgw4_xKR43kgmWwhe0pV1Q7FMfELvi3gnEMqA4Pey8garVe7xKQzlxOS-q27UMTGirpbfMeRSq86heJRj98Eisq7jeXjVGBhtmqiDKDQdFmqCYGJ_P7/s1600/DSC03799%255B1%255D"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8h8iT56Ih8wSiJurbyETcyaReSgw4_xKR43kgmWwhe0pV1Q7FMfELvi3gnEMqA4Pey8garVe7xKQzlxOS-q27UMTGirpbfMeRSq86heJRj98Eisq7jeXjVGBhtmqiDKDQdFmqCYGJ_P7/s320/DSC03799%255B1%255D" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600739809861720898" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW2zcwvZAIr4Jy1GIbmFwpWiBSSDxSCxZBRk36LYVdbpp-8lb2heFk3FIxM0u6-SF0wGzb0GZdSbMazC865zKnq-lowc483AtrxKgK3NNxHULseaC7mMl40dDjpeFVYF_RRgf9TP_I9EX/s1600/DSC03786%255B1%255D"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW2zcwvZAIr4Jy1GIbmFwpWiBSSDxSCxZBRk36LYVdbpp-8lb2heFk3FIxM0u6-SF0wGzb0GZdSbMazC865zKnq-lowc483AtrxKgK3NNxHULseaC7mMl40dDjpeFVYF_RRgf9TP_I9EX/s320/DSC03786%255B1%255D" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600739802778842914" /></a>
Courtney's bithday! YIKES!! Anyone know a good, all girl, boarding school?
<p>
Okay, mini melt down over, let's get down to business. I would say that life circumstances caused my lack of planning, but if we are being honest, I never plan a birthday party more than 3 days in advance. It is a personality flaw. (Probably my only one, so enjoy it!)
<p>
Courtney's birthday fell on a Sunday, and by the time I realized it, I had already planned my own party for Saturday, which left her Friday. Which was April Fool's Day. We already used that theme last year - so I didn't want to do that again. On Tuesday I finally made up some invitations for her to give to her friends, so on Wednesday I told her she really had to decide what we were doing. We tossed ideas back and forth and she finally decided on a "Cake Boss" theme.
<p>
We decided everyone should decorate their own cakes. Not sure what the point of that was - we weren't doing any kind of contest, it just sounded like a good idea. This is the point where a mom who was on her game would say - CUPCAKES, let's decorate cupcakes. But I am not that mom, I was going to bake 15 cakes! Luckily my friend/awesome neighbor took pity on me and volunteered to make half the cakes. Then we realized we didn't have the right pans. So after she made a quick trip to Wal-mart for me we spent Thursday baking. Then she was nice enough to come over at 8 p.m. that night so we could frost all 15. (I should tell her that helping me find therapy would be less time comsuming!)
<p>
So Friday was the day of the big party. I planned it from 5-9 so I could have all the kids gone by 10 and be in bed. (Honestly, have I always been this dumb?) It would appear that fasionably late has changed since I was a teen so the first girl arrived at 5 and then they SLOWLY trickled in until 7:30 (I am no Miss Manners - or ever prompt, but really?!?) I have been to quite a few neighborhood parties in the last 6 months so I had a ready repoiter of "Ice Breaker" games. I got the girls started on that and they played those (and seemed to have a good time with it) until everyone arrived.
<p>
At 7:30 we started the cake decorating. (I was afraid Courtney was going to scrap that idea - which would have involved me in a straight jacket being hauled away from our house.) The hours of baking and frosting were rewarded with about 15 minutes of some really "interesting" decorating. Good thing there wasn't a contest. Maybe I should say the theme was Cake Wrecks instead of Cake Boss.
<p>
Then Courtney's friends decided she needed to have a cake smashed in her face (yes, I am looking for new friends for her).
<p>
Whatever, I am a go with the flow kind of person (yeah, couldn't even say that with a straight face, but I am trying to be more like that.) So I let it happen, after I made them move off the cement and on to the grass for easier clean up!
<p>
When the smashing was done, I locked all the doors in the house and said no one was allowed back in until they used the hose to clean off (I said I am working on my "go with the flow" attitude, it isn't perfect yet.) Half the messy girls went to a neighbor/friend at the party's house to shower, the other half showered here.
<p>
That brings us to almost 9:00, party over, right? Yeah, not so much! Another friend/neighbor had let us borrow her Kinect and dance game (BTW - I am a super HOT dancer - if I knew how to load a video I would...not). The kids decided this would be a good time to do this. Just like the arriving, the departing was a trickling sort of affair starting a little after nine. When most of the guests were gone by just a little after 11 - I asked Courtney if maybe her dear friends that were still here needed a ride home. They did! Suprise. So I drove them home - to outer BFE and got to bed at about 11:55 (for the love).
<p>
It is all good. I am sure I am the coolest mom ever and it will pay off someday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-21073547450153698072011-03-20T21:18:00.000-07:002011-03-29T21:40:13.063-07:00Dear Jeff<span style="font-size:85%;">*I asked everyone to share their memories of Jeff by writing them down and placing them in a box at the funeral or by email them to me (it is not to late, jot them down and send them to me whenever you think of one). So I thought it was only fair that I write one too. On the Sunday after his funeral I had the kids sit and write their letters. I joined them. This isn't the letter I thought I was going to write, but it is from my heart - and probably would have been more appropriate for the funeral talk - but you get what you get. I am sharing this with you now as a way to close out these posts. Thanks for your love and support! Now grab a hankie, if you react the way I did when I wrote this, and again when I typed it, and again when I proofread it, there will be a flood!</span>
<p>Dear Jeff, <p> It has been just over a week since you passed away. It has been quite a whirlwind of a week. Some pretty low lows, some pretty great times, and more than one frustrating moment! <p>The last two weeks we spent together were so hard, especially for you, but they were also amazing. You got so much done. <p>The night before the last night we had together was when my spirit really knew or acknowledged you were going. It got you all settled in your chaise lounge to sleep and you asked if the kids were coming home (they had been sleeping over at your parents with their cousins all week.) I said I didn’t know. You said it was really hard not having them around. I said I would go get them. I sensed you were scared that your time was short and you wanted to spend more time with them. When I brought the kids home we set up the video camera and you let them ask any questions they wanted (thanks for that – because you know, I still have to raise them. Having them know you made out with girls at 14 – not helpful!!). You made a valiant effort to be alert, but your body was so tired!!<p> The next day you asked hospice to bring in a hospital bed. I wasn’t sure why, and it seemed really inconvenient, but I was letting you have your way, so I just went with it. You tried to get comfortable in that stupid bed a couple of times, but you just couldn’t. I asked why you just didn’t sleep on that chaise. You said you didn’t want to die on my furniture. You big jerk. That broke my heart in so many ways. <p>That last night after Gabe and the Moab friends came to visit I got you drugged up and tucked in (on the chaise lounge.) Then I crawled in with you to have a chat. I decided to face what my spirit knew, but my mind wasn’t ready to acknowledge. I said “Let’s talk about your funeral. We have been married for over seventeen years and I don’t even know if you have a favorite hymn. You barely thought for a couple of seconds before you said “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” I told you I thought that was a weird song for a funeral, but you never said another one, so I went with it! It turned out to be a beautiful song for your funeral. Then we moved on to the song you wanted for a musical number (we had already discussed the fact that I was speaking – so I didn’t think we needed to go over that again.) You didn’t have one off the top of your head so I suggested two. You picked the one I didn’t want, so I read you the lyrics of both. You decided on the one I liked (funny how that was how it usually worked in our relationship – I am so smart!) <p>While we were talking you asked me to get the video camera. You had already recorded messages to the kids where you sat on the couch and tried to look as alert and strong as possible, in fact you had just finished that a few hours before. I told you there was no place for the tripod (because someone had put a big freaking hospital bed in my living room) and you told me to just hold it. You lay there, weak, tired and with your oxygen on and recorded a beautiful message for me that I will always cherish. You reminisced about our lives together, what a gift, you even remembered things I had forgotten!<p> Then you needed to sleep. You slept for an hour and woke at 9:30. You asked where the kids were. I said they would be home soon. You didn’t feel up to doing much when they got home, so I got out the things to do hand molds with the kids and you were able to do one with each of them. Then we had a family prayer and hugs and kisses good night. I think it was the first time the whole family had slept under the same roof in a week! <p> You woke up again at 4 am and I gave you more meds and lay by you to do a breathing treatment. Your body was just so tired! I kept thinking (but couldn’t ever say it out loud) “I want you to stay with me forever, but if you need to go I will be okay.” <p>After I gave you a drink at 7 am I knelt by your bed crying and repeating those words over and over in my head, but I never did say them to you!<p> I got up to go to the bathroom at 8. I was gone for less than two minutes. When I got back, you were gone. It was like you were just waiting for that quiet moment alone. <p>I gathered the family and told the kids and we sat by your quiet earthly body while we waited for the funeral home to come. But I am sure your spirit was everywhere in that room giving out love and peace. Your dad offered a sweet family prayer before they took your body away. <p>It was like our lives suddenly came off pause and the whirlwind began. We had to go to the funeral home and make all your arrangements. I was a bit of a maniac! I felt like we needed some joking around to lighten the mood. I think your parents thought I needed drugs! I think the funeral director thought my apathy could not have been more complete. Four hours of making decisions I couldn’t care less about and I would say they were both right! <p>Then there were still all the little details. The service program, the pall bearers, the memorial video, the sign in book, clothes for the kids, clothes for me, writing the obituary. It seemed there were so many details. Add to that business things cropping up, I know they could have waited but sometimes it is just easier to deal!!<p> By Saturday everyone had returned to their homes and I chose to stay in my pajamas and watch TV (the TV that had been off for three weeks) all day. That was a good day!! <p>I do okay most of the time, I told you I would. Most of the time it doesn’t seem real, which makes it easier; but then something will happen and I will want to call you (usually I am just being rude), or I will look for you in a room, or I will think about an event or occasion you should be at and I feel myself crumble inside and the tears flow and I wonder again how it can be part of the plan that the two most important men in my life are both gone. I had them each for only about 18 years and I am a 36 year old widow and the world would call me a single mother (a role I will never accept because I expect you to be here all the time to keep them out of the biggest troubles!) <p>I did get to have some amazing experiences this last week also, sweet Tiffany went through the temple and was sealed to her cute family. Madison was so precious there. It was very poignant to think about them unifying their family for time and eternity as we begin the eternity portion of our family. How grateful I was for the choices we made 17 ½ years ago when we knelt at the altar (and you bumped your head on the chandelier, and my Uncle Karl – who sealed us – called you a big teddy bear) and were sealed for time and eternity through the proper priesthood authority. <p>And speaking of being sealed, this week the kids and I, your parents, and my mom had the opportunity to visit Elder Holland. He talked about how we use the word sealed, but really it is more than that – if we live worthily of those convents and blessings it is more like being WELDED together. He also blessed me to know that our kids would be okay; that that they wouldn’t be permanently damaged by having you taken to Heaven and out of their day to day lives so early. That was a great blessing – especially because I wasn’t sure they would be undamaged having me as their mother – even with both of us here! He also told me I would receive pleasure from my grandkids and my great grandkids, so I guess you are going to have lots of time to prepare my mansion in Heaven. I sure hope they have a self cleaning version there! <p>I love you so much and I am grateful for the time we had here together. I value all we learned together and the growth we experienced through good times and bad. Send me back a memory or two of our lives together here and there. I will try to be diligent about writing them down for the kids! I love you for time – and for all eternity (I just wish the space in between didn’t feel so long!) All my love!! <p>Cindy </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989259876534521953.post-75613494246907324112011-03-17T22:31:00.000-07:002011-03-29T14:43:19.079-07:00Families are Forever<div>The day after the funeral was a pretty special day for the whole Anderson Family, but especially for Jeff's little sister, Tiffany and her family. Tiffany and her husband, Bill, were able to go to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Oquirrh</span></span> Mountain temple and be sealed together for all eternity. At that time, they were also able to be sealed to their sweet two year old daughter, Madison. It was a poignant reminder of why I felt so strongly about being married in the temple for time, and for all eternity. As I watched them being sealed I couldn't help but think that my "all eternity" was starting and I was so happy for them that they could know that they had the same promises and blessings.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Not to be totally cheesy, but for those of you of my generation and older I always think of that song "I'll Build You A Rainbow" with the little boy at his mom's funeral saying "Don't worry dad, families are forever!" I know that families are forever and that we will be together with Jeff again one day.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Later that day, our family (the kids and I) and Jeff's parents and my mom, had the opportunity to meet with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (okay as I typed that, it is the first time I noticed the name thing "Jeffrey R" spelled the same with the same middle initial - (sorry that was random)). </div>
<div></div>
<div>Elder Holland is one of the 12 apostles of the Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) church. (The First Presidency (3 men) together with the quorum of the 12 apostles make up the general leadership of our church.) Anyway, it is an honor to have a meeting with such and important and busy leader in our church. We had a nice chat with Elder Holland and we talked about being sealed as a family. He made the comment that sometimes he felt that sealed wasn't a strong enough word. He thought a better description was "welded" together as a family (and I am totally paraphrasing him, please don't quote this with credit to him). But I loved that. Even though we are apart for now, we are welded together. That is a very strong bond. </div>
<div></div>
<div>I feel like I am rambling (like that is different), so I will just leave you with some cute pictures of the forever family that was "welded" together that day!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589620143825872594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6EKKPjwPW3lSi6XXVbQlE7YvGlXIwAqtgO2phyphenhyphenGrichU-dSNVjDKXC5h445JqdGn_KkpF5CUiZ1iqLWFTvasTUtfj9den1NX8zFE-mn0Tw3ePlqIkRln7jlxKaeS734IBa1Nq_lzykEe/s320/DSC03713.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMASRkwRehsfXSAdeH1HwbMkwBoyv1DBYWaSG05bO2CKkzWdnpltEZ1Mo9_vKSK6Q_2J2ex4x9c_PtCnzNRpQ3XilgB5emlXxI16XvLh6EUbCaUHxWXWiUekHjDX5f86uZd9vv2OzGu-z/s1600/DSC03718.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589620157831088322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMASRkwRehsfXSAdeH1HwbMkwBoyv1DBYWaSG05bO2CKkzWdnpltEZ1Mo9_vKSK6Q_2J2ex4x9c_PtCnzNRpQ3XilgB5emlXxI16XvLh6EUbCaUHxWXWiUekHjDX5f86uZd9vv2OzGu-z/s320/DSC03718.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkxjfXzdnKmqvI82gBQUUarL2sYP8CmHuVZlz_tB_08fYF69NLkE3QOL8EzYgeQjAKYILRO2VNKdwT5eS3oe4S_M4JYKdMcL1jNGVslUYbeF9Kjkz0WaCsFXgavBTRWiqbIQNP3Bvkin7/s1600/DSC03716.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589620149689394466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkxjfXzdnKmqvI82gBQUUarL2sYP8CmHuVZlz_tB_08fYF69NLkE3QOL8EzYgeQjAKYILRO2VNKdwT5eS3oe4S_M4JYKdMcL1jNGVslUYbeF9Kjkz0WaCsFXgavBTRWiqbIQNP3Bvkin7/s320/DSC03716.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<div>Oh, and it was St. Patrick's Day, and yes, the leprechauns found us, thanks to a little help from my sister!!
<div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2