The Greatest Man

Greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was...buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

Double Digets!!

Isn't it crazy how time flies?? 10 years ago today, I became a mom. Buddy was born at 3:30 in the afternoon. The hospital papers say he weighed 8 lbs 10 oz. But his birth certificate says 8 lbs 9 oz. Anyway - he sure was a cutie!! It sure doesn't seem like it was 10 years ago!!! He is still VERY tender hearted and doesn't ever want anyone left out and doesn't want to hurt feelings. He exceptionally knowledgeable about animals. He's had such a difficult time with his back, but we got him into a very good chiropractor (that is VERY reasonably priced) and he's going SO much better. He's like a new kid. He also got braces in March and had them off in October. He now wears a retainer and likes that much better! He starts Webelo scouts today. He received his Bear award a few months ago. He enjoys scouts and that couldn't make his dad prouder! It must be in his blood! Tonight he has chosen to go to Nickel City to celebrate his birthday. So we'll be meeting the rest of the family there for some fun. We love Buddy so much and are so grateful he's apart of our family!

She's thoughtful!

I was laying in bed yesterday morning and Noodle came in and asked me to "draw" a name out of her bowl. So I did. I drew Lewlew's name. At breakfast Noodle told us we all had to make "something homemade" for the person we drew. I have NO idea where she came up with that idea, but I love it! Interesting enough, the kids each drew and adult and an adult each drew a kid. It worked out evenly - since we have 3 of each living here. But Noodle quickly informed me that she didn't include Maggie because she didn't think Maggie would make anything. Not could make anything, "would" make anything.:) She cracks me up.

Can it be??

It can't possible be 5 years already. I checked the birth certificate and did the math. Then I had Bret and my mom check my math. Yep, Lewlew is 5 years old today. It's almost unbelievable to me. I see pictures of her when she was 3 and I think that is her today. Where has the time gone?? She is very excited to not be 4 anymore. She woke up very happy today (not a surprise - she's a morning kid). Everyone she has talked to, she has been VERY excited and louder than usual. We are going to "McDonald's with the slide" for dinner tonight. As for me? I've know this day was coming and yet I still shed a few tears. I can't really pinpoint why I'm emotional. I guess it's a combo of a lot of things. *A good friend of mine has a friend who just lost their 3 year old to inoperable brain cancer. *Lewlew wasn't supposed to be my baby. *I feel like the time is going by so fast and I'm missing so much. *Not only are my kids getting older, but so am I! *We are moving into a new era of our lives and I'm not sure I'm ready to leave this one. However, there are advantages to having older younger kids. Camping is SO much easier! Going to the store, or anywhere for that matter, is much easier and faster. They can all put on their own coats and shoes, etc. NO DIAPERS!!!! I do have almost 2 hours to myself Tues thru Fri. Sometimes that's not such a good thing, but most of the time it is. They are bigger helpers now - but not as much as I'd like them to be :)
To summarize, it doesn't matter how I feel, Lewlew is still 5 today, Austin will be 10 in a month and Emma will be 8 in 4 months. Time still moves on. I am grateful for all of them. They truly are my blessings!

30 Day of Graditude!

30 Things I'm Thankful For - in NO particular order:

1. Moden Medicine

2. My house

3. Central heating- that when I'm cold, I can turn up the heat instead of hunting around in the snow for some wood to burn - like the Pioneers. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a wood burning stove.

4. Central Air - so I don't have to suffer in the summer.

5. Our health

6. Bret's jobs

7. Extended family

8. Our eyesight

9. Our hearing

10. Our perfectly working bodies

11. Diet Coke

12. The USA/Freedom

13. Indoor plumbing

14. Our vehicles

15. The cabin

16. Joseph Smith and family

17. The Pioneers

18. Electricity

19. YM/YW Program

20. Scouts

21. Primary

22. Bestie

23. Maggie

24. My mom

25. Buddy

26. Noodle

27. Lewlew

28. Hubs

29. The Gospel

30. My testimony

Latest Craft...

I finished this quilt top, shams and curtains last summer. All I had to do was hem the quilt and the curtains. It took me a year to do that - but alas, it's finished.

Missing Teeth

A couple of weeks ago, Noodle lost her first tooth on the top. She pulled it out and is excited that she can still whistle!!

Lewlew lost her first tooth on 1 Nov 2010. It was really wiggily and I reached in and out it came. Super easy! She was excited! It got loose all by itself. So she lost her tooth due to natural causes - no dental reason. I keep thinking she's too young but I guess every child is different!

My too cute girls. Their outfits are similar so they wanted a picture. Don't ask why Lewlew has puffed out her chest. But anyway...

Halloween 2010

Buddy is NOT a Halloween fan. He doesn't like to dress up, he DOESN'T like to paint his face and sometimes he doesn't like to go trick or treating. So this is what we came up with this year:

Buddy is "Animal Control"

Noodle is a "Cat"

Lewlew is a "Puppy"

They were able to miss the rain and go trick or treating and brought home WAY too much candy! But they all had fun - even Buddy.

Buddy made this great tool box at scouts! He received his Bear Scout last month! And when he turn 10, he'll be a Webelo!!

Lewlew and school

Lewlew started school in September and has been like a sponge! She loves learning and she's absorbing SO much. She writes her ABC's ALL the time. She sings the different ABC songs ALL the time. She knows all of her letters and their sounds and most of the numbers! It' been fun watching her become so smart! Here she is cutting out a Halloween thing.

She colored this all by herself at school and then cut it out at home. Notice how she colored it symetrical.

Apples, Apples, Apples

So I went visiting teaching the other day and one sister said she had some left over apples on her trees if either of us was interested in them. The thought of fresh apple juice provoked me to take her up on free apples. So the kids and I picked a box full of apples. I've spent the last 3 days canning apples. Oddly enough, a whole steamer full of apples only yields about 2 qts of juice. Then I had all of these steamed apples left over. I didn't want to just toss them so I had the grand idea of running them through my strainer so I could make apple sauce and apple butter. Wow, I had a lot of apple pulp! All in all, I have 8 qts of apple juice, 7 qts of apple pie filling, 12 pts of apple butter and 11 pints of apple sauce. I was going to do some apple jelly from the juice, but once I was finished with the apple sauce, I was too appled out! Maybe next week I can make a batch of apple jelly!
As luck would have it, chicken has just come on sale. Just when I've had enough canning for a while, the chicken I've been waiting for is now on sale. So I guess I'm not quite done with canning!
Meanwhile, I still have laundry to do, a bathroom to clean and a sticky kitchen floor to mop. But not tonight, I'm too tired. :) We did, however, get our garage cleaned out! My kids are on Fall Break so they helped me with the garage. Buddy has been a great help with the canning too. But they were all tired tonight and said they'd be glad when school starts again. "Being home is too much work!" That was my goal!

First day of school

I know I'm WAY late posting this - but here goes:

It's that time of year again. We got the back packs cleaned out and clothes all set out and ready for the first day of school. Buddy and Noodle started on Aug 25 and Lewlew started on Sep 1. This will be a crazy year for our schedules. Buddy goes from 8:00 to 2:15, Noodle is 9:15 to 3:30 and Lewlew is 12:40 to 3:30. Then on Mondays, early out day, Buddy goes from 8:00 to 1:25, Noodle 9:15 to 2:40 and Lewlew 12:10 to 2:40. CRAZY. I had a little paper on my fridge for the first few weeks because I couldn't remember if I was coming or going!

Buddy on his first day of 4th grade. His teacher is Mrs. Spencer.

This is Noodle on her first day of 2nd grade. Her teacher is Mrs. Slade. Noodle's hair on the first day of school. This is Lewlew on her first day of Pre-Kindergarten. Her teacher is Mrs. Solorzano.

They go to Suncrest Elementary but I'm thinking of trying to transfer them to Orem Elem. next year. I don't know - we'll see how things go....

The Things They Say...

*On "Good Luck Charlie" someone owns a business called "Bob's Bug Be Gone." So every once in a while me or Noodle or Buddy will just randomly say, "Bob's Bug Be Gone." Lewlew says, "Bob's Be Ga Gone." Totally CUTE!!! *Whenever Lewlewwants more water in the bathtub or more milk in her cup, she says she wants it "bigger." "No, I need it bigger." Totally CUTE!!! *The other day Lewlew picked her nose and looked at me and said, "Ewe, it's a bug." We usually call them boogies - so Lewlew called it a bug! Totally CUTE!!! *Noodle is my "Simpson's" natzi. She keeps me informed of anyone who is watching or has watched (even for 2 seconds while channel surfing) it. Except she calls it "Simsims." Totally CUTE!!!

24 of July

I can't believe how fast the summer has gone. I don't even know what we have done, but it seems like just yesterday was the last day of school. Now the 24th of July is over and school is just around the corner. Manassa holds a celebration the 3rd wknd in July to celebrate July 24 - Mormon Pioneer Days. Utah celebrates on July 24th - no matter what day it is. (I'm sure if it's on Sunday, they make other arrangements.) So this year, the girls and I dressed up as pioneers and went with Bret and Austin to the annual fireman's breakfast. It was yummy!

Afterward, we just hung out. About 2:30 we went to Tom and Bestie's and followed them to a hill near Tom's brother's house. There we helped set up a HUGE slip and slide. There were lots of people. We ordered pizza and had drinks and LOTS of fun and Great conversation. We did this last year and it seemed my Austin and Avrie had more fun last year. But this year was fun, too. There were more people this year and more older "kids" this year. Hubs was able to join us toward the end which was SO much fun for our kids.

Then we came home and had a light dinner and just hung out with the kids. We were all pretty tired. So as we laid in bed, the kids already asleep, we could hear the fireworks. If we had known they were just down at UVU, we would have gone outside and watched them. Instead we just went to sleep.

We Adopted!!

Yes we did!!! On July 3rd we adopted Maggie. She's quite tiny and she's very sweet. She fits in quite well with our family. Hubs and Buddy wish we could have gotten a boy so they wouldn't be outnumbered, but they're happy with Maggie. Already it seems she's been with us for years! We love her and are so glad she's apart of our family!

Eclypse, Pledge, and Weeds

Last night Bestie and I went to the 12:01 AM showing of Eclypse. It was so fun. There are some really weird Twihards out there. There was this one lady and her friend who saw Twilight in the theater 50 times and have seen the DVD more than 120 times - they stopped counting at 120. The one friend made an 85 question quiz, a word search, a crossword puzzle and a "how many words can you make out of:" "Bella and Edward" "Team Jacob" etc. It was rediculous. Not to mention they are probably in their 30's and 40's. It was almost creepy. We enjoyed the movie and the story. I'm glad we went. It's sorta our tradition to see these movies on the midnight showing, but some people are getting too obsessed and that's a little scary sometimes. As for the movie, I liked it. I thought it was done well and followed the story pretty good. What did you think of it? So it was Noodle's turn to dust the living room. Usually we use the fluffy duster, but this time she asked if she could use the "spray stuff" and a rag. So I let her. Nearly half a can of Pledge and a VERY soaked rag later, she was finished. I guess the good news is everything is generously coated with Pledge. It's funny now - not so much when I realized how much she used! I haven't weeded for 3 weeks. Super BAD on my part. So tonight our family weeded for a couple of hours. If we can do it again tomorrow night, we might have most of the weeds. Boy, they sure get a head of you fast!

Good Things to Come

My cousin posted this on her blog and I love it so much I had to post it on mine.

Bestie's Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Bestie!! 50 and still going strong!

WOW!!! 50 seems sorta old, but it just doesn't seem like you're this old! (Seriously!)

Here are just 50 of my favorite things about Bestie:

~She likes to talk and we talk everyday - sometimes for just a few minutes, sometimes for hours - literally

~She's a great organizer and decorator

~She's ALWAYS willing to help - no matter what

~We think so alike - sometimes it's eerie

~My kids call her "Super Aunt Val"

~No matter what she's been through, she always rises above

~She has SUCH a strong testimony

~She is a Wonderful example

~She has great advise

~She's humble

~She's forgiving

~She LOVES my kids

~She's a Terrific mom

~She's cute

~She's one of the busiest people I know, but amazingly she always has time

~She's generous

~She's thoughtful

~She's patient

~She's smart

~She's sassy

~She has style

~She's willing to do or try almost anything

~She's not judgemental

~She has amazing endurance

~We are great friends even though there's a gap in our ages

~She doesn't act like she's 50 - but then when I think about how old her kids are and some of the things she's been through, she is very much 50.

~It seems like we've been life-long friends

~She's a great wife

~She's good at whatever she does

~She does nothing half way

~She's has inspiration and is inspiring

~She's an answer to prayer

~She always looks put together - One time I stopped by her house and she was just getting out of her car from doing yard work for her mother-in-law. She was sweaty, but her hair and make-up still looked good.

~She's SUCH a great sister - she has weird family dinamics, but that doesn't stop her from being a great sister

~She has great recipes!!

~She usually attends the temple once a week

~She's sentimental

~She does great nails

~We seem to never run out of things to say

~She's happy - there have been numerous times when we have laughed so hard our stomach was sore the next day

~She's fun

~She has great hair

~She's a great Primary President. She's always on top of things

~She collects Raggedy Ann and Andy

~She likes and has an eye for antiques

~She has an AMAZING voice. She sings so beautifully pure. It's really hard to describe unless you've heard her.

~She is content with what she has

~She's a mover and a shaker - she's fast. I'm still a little amazed when I watch her clean or something. It's done before I can even get out the broom. She runs from point A to point B and hurries once she gets there - but when we are doing a project, I never feel rushed. It just gets done quickly.

49~She almost ALWAYS gives people the benefit of the doubt.

~She is the best friend ever. I don't know what I did before we met or what I'd ever do without her.

Have the best birthday ever - you certainly deserve it!!! With much love.....

2010 Summer Vacation

We went to Idaho on Sunday and came home Tuesday. It was overcast on Sunday when we got there and pretty cool. We woke up to rain on Monday so we decided to go to the Museum of Idaho. There we saw some neat things, like dog and wolf exhibits, and stuffed wild life. But the kids favorite part was the 1800's room. There was a miniature cabin with dress up clothes. Noodle dressed up as a pioneer and Lewlew cooked and tended the babe. There was also a full sized tee pee that was kinda cool.

When we came out of the museum, it wasn't raining so we decided to go to Bear World. It was GREAT!! We saw rare while elk, a brand new only minutes old elk calf, 2 day old twin deer, 3 grizzly bears, about 20 black bears just to name a few. It was so cool. I've never been so close to a bear before. And they were SO active! We were watching a bear take the tire cover off the jeep in front us. Then we looked behind us and there was a bear leaning against our car. When we went through the second time, there was a bear standing against both sides of our car. It was so cool! Everyone loved it.

The hotel we stayed at had a great view of Idaho Falls and the I.F. temple. It was beautiful to look out our window and see the temple. All in all, it was a great vacation. The kids got along very well and did well traveling.

When we got home, we saw that our garden had been invaded by weeds! The kids and Ashley helped weed a little bit. But I was out there about 3 1/2 hours! But now our garden looks like a garden.

So now we're getting back to normal and to our routine. It's going to be a long summer with not much to look forward to. But we wanted to go to ID before it go way too hot. So I'm planning on taking them swimming, and to Summerfest this weekend, and we can go on picnics and bike rides. I also want to take them up to Temple Square and the Capitol Building. We've never been to the Capitol Bldg. I don't know if that will be interesting or not. But I've heard that Temple Square has a new model of the SLC Temple. So that might be kinda neat to see. I also want to take them to "This Is The Place" Park. There's lots to do up there. So I don't think this summer will be boring or long after all! I'm sure it'll go way to fast.

Funny things they say...

CAUTION: This is one of the "you had to be there" moments. I'm just documenting it for journal purposes...

Bret: "Avrie, it's time for bed."
Lewlew: "Bed, shmed!!!" Takes off running.

When Bret told me this I seriously laughed out loud. The funny thing is, I say things like this all the time to the kids. "Mom, can we have a treat?" "Treat, shmeat. We don't need treats!" But I say it in a joking way. It's funny to hear Lewlew say that. I guess you had to be there...

New skirts

Click here to see a couple of my latest creations....

Yard

So I mowed our lawn today. I really don't mind mowing lawns (except my in-laws. I didn't mind mowing their lawn until I saw a snake skin. Then someone slipped and told me they had seen a snake in their yard. When I confronted Mister about it, he said he killed that water snake. I still think there is at least 1 snake still roaming around their yard. That did it for me. I cannot mow their lawn. 2 years ago, I got all siked up about mowing their lawn for Bret for Father's Day - he usually mows their lawn. I got all the way to my car and couldn't go. I just couldn't bear the thought of running into a snake. Ok now back to my original thought.) The lawn looks so good freshly mowed. It looks SO much better than it did when we first moved in. And I'm impressed with us - that we made such an improvement in our yard. But that stupid weed eater/edger I cannot bring myself to running. I'm afraid of it. Now, let me be clear. I only want to edge up against the swing set and around things that the lawn mower can't reach. So it's not that much, but I am so afraid of it. So sorry, Honey, I have failed you once again. I will really try to get beyond my fear and master the edging. I will try.

On another yard note: I have planted grape vines and I think the wild grass is crowding them out. I have pulled all of the grass around the vines on my side of the fence - so I can't do much more. Hopefully they'll pull through and flourish this year!

The garden is coming along. A BIG FAT HUGE THANKS to Mister for all his hard weeding!!! One of the reasons I started a garden was to teach my kids to work. And that is work in itself. This summer I could prove to be the meanest mom on the block - but my kids will learn how to weed.

I have a HUGE quilting project under way, so I can't spend as much time as I'd like in the yard. Which is a bummer because these temperatures are perfect for yard work. But all in good time I guess. If I have to sweat buckets this summer, so be it. I have to get my inside project done.

Hope all is well with you all.

Sick

Lewlew had a rough night last night. So this morning I made a doctor appointment for her. While we were waiting in the office, she seemed to be doing a lot better. I was getting bugged, because I just wasted a copay and my time to bring her in for nothing. Then the rapid strep test came back VERY positive. I was REALLY glad I went in when I did. Had I waited, I probably wouldn't have taken her. So now she has a sore leg, but will hopefully feel better soon. On this same note, I will probably have strep next week. The doc gave me a rx for an antibiotic but I would have rather had the shot. But hopefully this will keep me from getting full blown strep. Let all fast and pray I don't get strep AGAIN!!!

Emma Smith

Emma Smith is one of my VERY favorite people. I have such a love and admirition for her. I found this song and LOVE it. It's so perfect for Emma. I also love what the guy says at the begining. Enjoy....

Spring???

Where is Spring? Has anyone seen it?? I thought I saw it a couple of weeks ago, but now I'm not sure.

I don't think I'll be planting my tomato plants outside this Mother's Day. The news guy said that our average daily temp in Feb. is in the 40's. Today, the high was like 48. UNBELIEVABLE!!!

I keep vetoing the cold weather by wearing sandals and Capri's. But then I just end up cold. This weekend is supposed to be nice so maybe Spring is on the way. The thing is, it's so late in the year, we won't get spring. We'll go straight to summer and then have flooding because of the snow melting so fast. It's always something right???

Hmmmm

Interesting...


Moses said to the children of Israel, "Pick up your shovels, mount your asses and camels and I will lead you to the Promised Land." Then about 75 years ago, Roosevelt said, "Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses, and light up a Camel, this is the Promised Land." Now Obama has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of Camels and bankrupted the Promised Land.



Dear Lord,
This year you took my favorite actor, Patrick Swayzie. You took my favorite actress, Farah Fawcett. You took my favorite singer, Michael Jackson. I just wanted to let you know, my favorite president is Barack Obama.
Amen


Just sayin'......

Random thoughts

***"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Just give hope a chance to float up - and it will too."

***"A child can fall down and hurt himself, even if his dad is right there beside him. That doesn't mean his dad allowed it to happen. But the child knows with a Father's unconditional love, the Father will pick up the child and carry him and try to heal him. The Father will cry when the child cries. And the Father will rejoice when the child is well. In all the moments of my life, Heavenly Father has been right there beside me. The truth of God's love is not that he allows bad things to happen, it's his promise that he'll be there with us when they do."

***"I got more love in my heart for that man than any body ought to be allowed. Sometimes love isn't fireworks. Sometimes, love just comes softly."

***Life is different now. It's not about wants, it's about needs.

***"If you can't find anything to be thankful for, be thankful for whoever invented the toothbrush." - Marjorie Pay Hinkley

***I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long perfectly manicures fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someones garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived." -Marjorie Pay Hinkley

Talent???

Last night was our ward talent show. Noodle and some of her friends did this little dance to the song "Peanut Butter and Jelly." It was SO cute!! (Noodle is in purple.)

There were several people who signed up and then didn't show up - so we had some time at the end. Lewlew said she'd like to sing "Popcorn Popping." So they threw her in at the end. The way Lewlew and I sing this is: at the the end, we sing "It wasn't really so, but it seemed to me" really slow. And then we sing really fast "popcorn popping on the Apricot tree. Wooo!" It's fun.

At the very end of the video, you'll see a boy doing push ups. He's in Kindergarten and his impromptu talent was doing 100 push-ups - and he did!! His little arms were just shaking.

2nd Place

Buddy went to our Stake Pine Wood Derby last night. He placed 2nd! Yippee for you!!! If you look closely, you'll notice that Buddy got braces - a little over a month ago. The first month he had orange and just last week he got blue.

"Last Song"

Last night I went with some friends to a late showing of "Last Song." Not a bad Nicholas Sparks movie. Liam was yummy to eye candy. Miley, ehh, she was ok. Her tooth kept bugging me. Seriously, I've never noticed her tooth all the times that I've watched Hannah Montana. Maybe because Hannah Montana isn't on the big screen. I don't know. But it bugged me through the WHOLE movie. So did her pouty bottom lip. That's always bothered me. But it really did last night. Nicholas Sparks is not my favorite, but this movie is definitely one of "his" better movies. 2 people we went with have read the book and said the book was much better. But isn't that always the case???? So, have you seen it? What did you think???

Born to be Southern

When Noodle was little, she'd answer questions by saying (with a southern accent) "Aaa dooo." Instead of saying "I do." She'd say a few more words with a southern accent. I don't know where it came from, she did it for a long time and it was cute! Okay, so hold that thought. So I bought "Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock (such a GREAT movie) and the kids and I watched it the other night. Ever since, Noodle has been calling me "Mama" with a light southern accent. So with one word she has her southern accent back. I'm sure it won't last long, but it's cute while it does!

ER

So I spent a few hours in the ER very early this morning. Lewlew had croup and couldn't breathe. The doc gave her a steroid and a breathing treatment. Then he wanted to see how she could breathe after the treatment wore off - about 3 hours! Because the treatment has epinephrine and of course because of the steroid, Lewlew didn't go back to sleep. And I, of course, hadn't yet been to sleep. It was quite eventful. The only magazines were "Popular Mechanics" and "Sports Illustrated" - can we say BORING!!! So Lewlew and I played like we were driving, we sang LOTS of songs, we had a pretend picnic, we tried to sleep (no success). It was quite interesting. Finally at 5:30 a.m. we got to come home. She's doing better today, but I just noticed her cough is sounding rough. But hopefully with the steroid last night, we'll have a better night. I think a scout should do an Eagle project and collect things to do for people in the ER. Like games, pictures to color, puzzles, etc. That sure would have made our stay easier. Not that Lewlew was difficult, but it would have been nicer to have other things to do. Of course, I'm sure at bigger hospitals, they do - but not at the little one we went to. I'm glad she's doing better but the humidifier will be on 'high' in her room all night.

Happy Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Noodle!!!

Today Noodl turns 7. Noodle loves school and is doing very well in 1st grade. She is so much fun to be around. She has such a random personality. She's cute and she's a great friend. I love to go shopping with just her and I. It's like I'm shopping with myself at her age. And at the same time, she seems so much older. We love you Noodle and are SO glad you're apart of our family!!

Yesterday I took donuts for her class and last night she had a pajama party with the girls in her Primary class. Can we say DRAMA??? Any way - it was still fun. We played games and then they had their nails painted. Then they decorated pillowcases that I made. I took their picture when they first got here and then ironed the pictures onto the pillowcases. Then they ate pizza and cake. And at last they watched the "Hannah Montana Movie." That's when the drama began. Someone hurt someone else's feelings, someone isn't being nice to someone else and on and on. Nothing major, but annoying. I just left them alone and let them work it out - which they did very effectively. At about 9:00 I took the girls home.

Today we just hung out and played. This afternoon we went to a baptism and then went out to dinner at "McDonalds with the slide" with our extended family. She loves the play place. It was fun. She got lots of fun things and had a GREAT couple of days!

Happy March

And since I missed February, Happy belated February!

Hallelujah!!!

My sewing machine is up and running!!! And it didn't even cost as much as I thought! Yippee for me!!! I am, however, going to cut back (no pun intended) on my sewing so I can focus on scrap booking. I'm REALLY behind and I don't want to be. So I'm going to finish all of my pending projects - well most of them - and then I'm going to SCRAPBOOK.
Thanks to all who offered sympathy during this difficult time. :)

The Name

So we've decided on a name. It all depends on who you talk to. My mom says "Irma." Noodle says "Ruby." Mister and Lewlew just say "Grandma's car." Buddy has no opinion. I say "Howard." So there you have it. Not real exciting or uniform - but it's named.

Our Inheritance

Like a year ago, our truck died and I refuse to put more money in the piece. So then we got the scooter. Bret's drove the scooter to work all spring, summer and fall. Then one night when he was on his way to his mom's, he felt like something was wrong with it. It's been parked ever since. Since then Bret's been using his dad's truck. Well we couldn't keep it forever so we finally gave it back. (BTW - Thanks Eric for letting Bret use it for as long as he did!) So since Bret gave the truck back, we've just had the van. It's really inconvenient but doable. The worst is when I need the van, I have to take Bret to work and then remember to go pick him up - it's a lot of running around. So then about a month ago Grandma died and the family has been going through and divvying up hers and Grandpa's stuff. Well, we got their car. It's a 1991 Buick Le Sabre with 70,000 miles on it and completely immaculate. I don't think it was any cleaner back in 1991. Anyway.... So now I need help naming it. Any and all suggestions will be considered and there might even be a prize for the winner. Now back to the car. Several months ago, my cousin posted on her blog about the car she bought. Her and her hubby needed a new car and couldn't find one in their price range. Then her bro-in-law called her from out of town and told her he had a car for her. An older model Lincoln Town car. Of course she didn't want it - it's HUGE. But it was in their price range and they really needed another car. So they bought the car and now she loves it. Well that's kinda how I am feeling. I feel so dumb driving it, but I'm thankful for it. It's in better running condition than our van and more reliable - which is a relief. But it's totally an elderly person car and I can't help giggle when I drive it.

As you can see there is even a trash can with a trash can holder that Granpa made so the trash can wouldn't tip over.

Now, what should we name it???

Happy January

That is sparling cider, by the way....