I'm Thankful

Our big celebration this weekend was definitely something our family is thankful for. Randy's big project was completed Wednesday- just in time for the holiday shopping. It has been a busy year for Randy. And we all breathed a sigh of relief as the kick-off parade ended smoothly with cars rolling down the 7 newly poured concrete lanes.

Wednesday morning, I loaded up the Suburban and we headed down to watched the inaugural drive complete with fire trucks, tractors and Santa. Although I felt a little out of place, we hung out in the tent with all the big wigs eating donuts, drinking hot chocolate, and listening to my man give a speech.

Thursday, we had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with my family. It was great to have them home this year. We had lots of yummy food and enjoyed the time spent with our family.

I headed out Friday with my SIL to do some Black Friday shopping. Randy was curious how the traffic was flowing on the newly expanded stretch of road. It was fabulous, to say the least. Anyone familiar with the road I'm talking about knows just how a typical weekend trip to the said road turns out. Not anymore. Randy had to see for himself and headed out later in the day to check out the traffic flow. He called me and told me at first he doubted many people were even out shopping. Until he reached an unimproved section of road, and saw the typical traffic congestion. And he realized all the hard work paid off.

I am not only thankful that it is done- but that my hard-working husband built a road that makes my weekly trip to Target smooth sailin'!

Works for Me Wednesday

My life is so much easier since I discovered this little trick for organizing your hair accessories:

No more searching through drawers of bows and ribbons. Ahhhhh. What a difference! Thanks BlackEyed Sue!!

Who Would've Thought...

...Hannah would be the first one to pack her bag and move out?

I came home from some PTA stuff today and there she was, packed and ready to go. When I asked her where she was going, she replied that she was moving to Lynn's house because, "They are a nicer family. And I would be the oldest. So people would listen to me."

I told her I loved her, and that it was nice having her in our family, and that we would sure miss her. Then I asked her if she needed a ride and I called Lynn's mom. She wasn't home.

Hannah waited on the porch for a good half hour watching for her to drive by. It wasn't until I pulled out the Hello Kitty flannel I had to make her new PJ's that she came inside. At that point, she simply said, "I'll have to wait until tomorrow to move."

I guess there's something to the whole middle child syndrome after all.

Questions.....

Do I get mad at this? After all, Hannah is learning how to write complete sentences and this does have a period at the end.



How can all this fit in my couch?!!! And if it was in there for who knows how long, and I didn't miss it, can I throw it all away?







Why can't everything in life that is good for you, taste like this? I think I could actually live on these vitamins alone.



Do I look like a bad mom?....not only because he's wearing two different shoes to school, but he's wearing shorts and a t-shirt.....and it's mid-November.

'Cutie Pie' is Open for Business!

I am ready to roll with hair parties. I have a party scheduled this Saturday and I'm so excited! Let me know if you want to book a party before things get too busy! The hair accessories would make perfect Christmas gifts!

Anybody who books a hair party by November 24 gets an extra $10 of hair accessories free! So look at your calendar and see which day works best for you. I am pretty much free Wednesdays - Saturdays.

I'm Gonna Miss This

There are at least two kids in our bed every night. Randy and I end up on the edges of the bed. Although I wake up with a backache every morning....someday, I gonna miss this.

This post has been in the makings for several weeks now. I didn't know I'd be writing it, but after yesterday, I am. I have served in the Primary Presidency for the past year and yesterday, we were released. The people I have served with have taught me so much. The Primary kids amaze me, and my testimony has grown. Hannah and Nathan always took it upon themselves to leave their class to come sit by me and mooch gum or mints or complain of a 'stomachache'. It drove me nuts sometimes that they wouldn't sit where they are suppose to. But now, I realize I'm gonna miss it.


Last month or so, I had an epiphany. Randy and I were in the car driving somewhere. We were both quiet and I was thinking. I have had a lot of responsibilities lately that have really weighed me down. They are all good things- things that I enjoy. Yet all together, they take their toll. So as I was contemplating my many tasks, I began to get frustrated. Then, as clear as I was living it, I had a vision. In my vision (I call it that for lack of a better word) I walked into Hailey's room. It was completely empty. No cute rainbow spread across the wall. No clothes on the floor or books on the bed. Nothing. One by one, I walked into each of my children's rooms and found the same thing. The house was silent and empty. The bathroom was spotless and there was no pile of laundry in the hallway. In this vision, my kids were all grown and gone. It was awful. I realized more clearly than I have ever realized anything before, that I WILL miss this: The dirty walls, endless laundry, toys and books on the floor, baggies of crushed goldfish, and spilled cereal. Dirty toilets, mac & cheese, banana peels and half eaten sandwiches, someday will not consume my day. And it I will miss it.



Last week was another extremely busy one filled with PTA responsibilities, and parent teacher conferences among other things. I was gone a lot and felt I had neglected my kids. Saturday night, I sat, rocking Emma in the rocking chair. I don't do this often, but that night, I needed it more than she did. Sometimes I wish I could abandon all responsibility and just focus on my little ones. President Monson's General Conference talk sums it up all so well.

In case you have your sound turned off, turn it on and listen to the song playing. Yes, I realize it's country, but if you can get past that, it has a message that I love. So despite whatever challenges I am facing, I know some day I'm gonna miss it.

D-Day

Before I ever knew who Barak Obama was, I knew he'd win the office. Not by any grand prophecy , but because he is a Democrat. Even Republicans have become fed up with President Bush lately and Americans were ready for change. So the results of the election should have come as no surprise to me. Although my vote went to John McCain (my first choice didn't make the ballot,) I had a feeling in my gut all along that Barak Obama would win hands down, and I was fine with it. Even this morning as I drove Casey to school, I assured him that it would be OK even if Obama won (he is very concerned that he will not be able to play with his airsoft guns anymore.) But tonight, as I pulled up the news online and saw it in print, tears came to my eyes. A sick feeling deep inside swept over me. What is in store for our nation? For the world? I do not think he has ill intentions, but at the same time, question some of his morals.

Since September 11th, I have not been afraid. I have knowledge of the Last Days and the Signs of the Times. I do not fear. I have maintained for the past seven years that we need to pray for strength to endure. We need to teach and love our children. Focus on our families and worry about the things that matter.

I am calmer now, and rational. I know everything will be OK. I will continue to listen to my Prophet and prepare our little family for whatever lies ahead.

7 Tag

My friend Mindy tagged me...

7 things I can do...(I'll try to NOT state the obvious...)
1- I can touch my nose with my tongue...
2- I can still do a front handspring...after birthing 6 kids (I'm too chicken to try a back handspring)
3- I can ignore pretty much anything....
4- I can beat Randy in a leg wrestle every time...
5- I can fold 10 loads of laundry in an hour....
6- I can do the splits- left or right legged....
7- I can sleep though anything.....

7 things I can't do...
1- I can't dance or do aerobics....
2- I can't hit a baseball with any sort of consistency...
3- I can't knit to save my life....or crochet, really for that matter....
4- I can't seem to keep my house clean....
5- I can't jump on the trampoline or jump rope without wetting my pants...
6- I can't run a mile...
7- I can't get chocolate stains out of my kids' clothes....

7 things that attracted me to my husband...
1- He's funny....
2- He is a hard worker and dependable.....
3- He will listen to me and is willing to communicate.....
4- He is a wonderful dad....
5- He doesn't watch sports....
6- He is supportive of me and anything I want to do....
7- Family is important to him....

7 things I always say...
1- '5-4-3-2-1'
2- 'Seriously!'.....
4- 'come here. right now'.....
5- 'knock it off'....
6- 'buddy' or 'sweetie'
7- 'I love you'

7 things I like to eat...
1- Candy
2- Grand Parisian salad mix from Costco
3- Smoothies
4- Betty Crocker Lemon Swirl Warm Delights
5- seven layer dip
6- Lasagna with Albertson's french bread
7- Pizza from Zucca's

I tag....
1- Blue Polgara
2- Gramma Blue
3- Tumble-Bee
4- Celeste
5- Mandy
6- Heather
7- Tanya