Tuesday, December 30, 2008

How?

The day after Christmas Megan, Josh, Hannah, Joe and I went out to the Soden's (a family in our ward) farm. Our ward was doing a service project out there and a potluck afterwards. It was such a warm day....60 degrees....all the snow melted and you just can't imagine all the wonderful mud there was there.....anyway....that's beside point! We had a good time helping make wooden toys...they were also quilting, but we didn't do any of the helping with that....again I get off the point! So, after being there for several hours we drove home....when I got out of the car and into the house I heard Josh yelling that he needed some scissors...I go out to to the van to find this..............
After trying and trying to get that off...how did he do that???.....we picked him up and sat him on the arm rest next to the seat and then folded the seat down so we could get to the bolt in the floor that held the seat belt in. Josh could not find Aaron's socket wrench and there was NO WAY I was going to cut off the seat belt unless it was cutting off his airway, which it wasn't.....so I texted a picture to Aaron and he came home from work and unbolted the seatbelt and Joe was a free man......what were Joseph's first words to Aaron when he got into the back in the van to save him???? "Dad!!! We had chocolate cake for dessert!!!" At least he knows what's really important!

Quote

I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.
Jerome K. Jerome

That's why the laundry and dishes are NEVER done!!!!!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

I have received many cards this year and have them all hung on our front door. I always enjoy reading what people have been up to during the year. I have spent many years sending out cards to loved ones but didn't get to it this year. I didn't even send cards to my family and for that I feel so bad! I'm thinking maybe New Years cards???
In the beginning of the season I thought this year would be gloomy...no extended family....no money.....but it's turned out to be a beautiful Christmas. I have felt more joy this Christmas than I thought possible. I love my family more than words can even express. How grateful I am for them! How thankful I am for my extended family who has been so understanding of our plight this year......no money!.......My feelings for them are so strong and so loving. How thankful I am for my friends...I am so blessed to have so many! There's this line in my favorite movie of all time...maybe you know it....."George, (replace that with my own name) you've really had a wonderful life"...........yes, I've really had a wonderful life!! I know I get down and sometimes I get downright hysterical (my wonderful sister can attest to this)......but when I really think about it...I'm blessed and for that I'm truly thankful. So, this Christmas I am remembering our Savior and what he has done for us....I'm remembering family and friends.....I'm remembering LOVE.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Last Week

Last week was a busy one...it was Hannah's birthday. She had such a nice time opening gifts and eating her pink cake. Thank you to the Scarletts for the fun memory game and thank you to Aunt Jenny and Zane for the Sleeping Beauty doll and movie..she has had tons of fun.
We also had our first real big snow....much to Matthew's delight! He got out there and shoveled our driveway and sidewalk and then did our neighbors too! He also built a snow fort! Matthew LOVES to be outside and even though it's so cold and I can't stand being out there for more than 2 minutes...he can spend hours in that lovely snow!

Megan wanted to make Christmas treats this year....she made chocolate dipped marshmallows and pretzels...they turned out yummy...she had to hide them from the other kids so there would be enough to put on our treat plates...we also made fudge, english toffee, peanut butter kiss cookies, and m&m cookies. It was fun to take our treat plates out to our closest neighbors last night.






I won't embarrass him too much...but it's my job to embarrass him some...so I will only include one of the pictures Josh took of himself after playing with his long hair! He needs a haircut...but he is in the long hair mode again and I will just wait patiently for the day when he decides it's time for another cut (I have faith that this day will come). I actually kinda like his long hair, but it's getting to the point where it's a little too long!



Saturday, December 20, 2008

Thoughts

"I believe that always, or almost always, in all childhood, and in all lives that follow them, the mother represents madness. Our mothers always remain the strangest, craziest, people we've ever met." Marguerite Duras

As my kids continue to grow up I sometimes wonder how it will be when they are out of the house with their own families....I wonder if they will someday look back and think "man, my mom was so awesome!!! She put up with us and she deserves a medal!!! Or will they look back and think.."man, she was a weirdy!!"

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Sudden Death

This morning I was making breakfast for my Seminary boys...home fried potatoes and eggs....anyway, I reached for the salt and pepper in the cupboard right next to the stove and the "SUDDEN DEATH" decided to come flying out at me and bounce off the stove and land on the floor sending "SUDDEN DEATH" spewing all over the floor and the drawer below the oven. For those who don't know Aaron very well...he has an insane liking of spicy food...I mean really spicy. SUDDEN DEATH is a VERY VERY spicy hot sauce made from habanero peppers. Well...I cried a little...due to the pepper in the air....and cleaned it up. YUCK and NASTY! Fast forward to tonight......I made dinner and then Aaron and I went to pick up Zack at the library, we came home and Zack turned on the burner to heat up his dinner... I was sitting on the floor in the living room playing Memory (thanks Scarlett Family!) with Hannah and Joe when I noticed a commotion happening in the kitchen. Zack, Megan, Josh, Matthew and Aaron were standing by the stove yelling...."WHAT IS THAT!!" as they were coughing up their lungs! I realized right away that some of that "SUDDEN DEATH" had landed on the burner....oops! Is it bad that I sat there laughing until I was crying? Pretty soon we were all hacking up our lungs and laughing. We had to open the windows and there's an ice storm going on outside right now! I finally escaped down here to the basement, where the air is clear. As I'm sitting here writing this Joe came down to ask me "WHY DID YOU DO THAT MOM!!" I say, it wasn't me!! It was "SUDDEN DEATH!"

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Happy Birthday Hannah Banana!

Three years ago I woke in the middle of the night feeling that something was seriously wrong with my baby....she was not moving! I wasn't due until Jan 4th. I poked and pushed and still no movement. I was panicked! After trying everything I could think of to get her to move I finally woke Aaron at around 5 and we were off to the hospital. When I got there I was so relieved to hear her heartbeat! Though she was not well....in was time for an emergency C section. I always wondered how I'd feel about a Csection...I have strong opinions in this area..but won't get into that now...but, when it came down to it...I didn't care how she was born as long as she was okay. From the time a C section was mentioned until she out and wisked into the NICU took about 20 minutes! Boy they can move fast! I have never been so scared in my life. I just wanted her to be okay. I can still remember when they wheeled my bed into the NICU and I got to see her for the first time...I think she was about 2-3 hours old. She was so small (6lbs 9oz)...and she looked like Josh. I was so scared for her that first week. She had to have so many tests and had to have I.V.'s...they had to change those everyday because her veins colapsed..she had them in her head, both arms, and both legs..all at different times. At first they were not sure if she would have brain damage...they were not sure how long she was without oxygen. When she was born she was not breathing and she had to be resusitated and was on a respirator for her first hours of life. Our Bishop came right away and Aaron and he gave her a blessing. After one week we got to bring her home on Christmas Eve, that was the best present ever!! There is not one single day that goes by that I am not thankful for the miracle she is. She brings so much joy to me! She has grown up so fast and I can't believe she is 3 years old today. Happy Birthday my beautiful girl...I love you more than words can say!






















Tuesday, December 16, 2008

One Act Update...

I once again didn't get pictures when I really should of...dang it! The high schools here have a competition between schools with a one act play...I'm not sure if they do this in Utah as we never had kids in high school there....anyway, North Star did a play called Dark of the Moon. It was a strange play that has been around since the 40's but I'd not heard of it. It's about a witch boy who loves a human girl and wants to become human. I won't bore you with all the details but feel free to look it up on line if you want to....One of my friends told me that the school would be on the news in Utah if they did this play...LOL..and she's probably right. We aren't in Utah anymore....Anyway, again! Zack got a lead role in the play. He was Preacher Hagler...he was the fire and brimstone kind of preacher and also a bit hillbillyish (the play is based on an old Appalachian folk tale). I was impressed and a bit disturbed by his performance...he was so convincing. A man in our ward went to see the play and went up to Zack afterwards and said "Zack, you were so convincing...I'm glad you aren't really like that."....and I have to agree, it's a bit disconcerting to see your kid acting so....evil, for lack of a better word. Now that I've gone off on a tangent...I know, shocking! North Star won their district competition!!! Yay! Last Friday they went to the State competition where they came in 3rd. They were disappointed that they didn't win but Aaron said they did so awesome (I wasn't there, I had to work :( . So that's the scoop on that part of our lives....I'm so glad the boys will be home now. They have been gone every night since we got back from Utah and they've also been gone all day every Saturday. Josh was a techie for the play...he likes it better behind the scenes. I'm so proud of both of them.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Monster Fighters

The other day I found Hannah and Joe like this....
They were running through the house fighting monsters....I'm so glad our home is now free of monsters....well most of them anyway.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

BABY...IT'S COLD!!!

Our back door (storm door)...the kids couldn't resist.

This morning when I left for work at 430 am...I was surprised with how warm it was outside...50, according to the temp gage in my van....that was short lived!! When I left work this afternoon at 130 the temp gage read 10....10!!!! And that is not even counting how cold it feels with the wind chill......Holy Hannah!! It's too cold! I came home and some of our windows have ice on the inside! I miss California right now. The cold here is just different than the cold in Utah...I don't know if I will ever get used to it. Last week it was cold, 30, but with the wind blowing it feels more like 30 below. Imagine your jeans feeling like ice upon your legs...it's worse than that! We had to go to the store and when we exited our vehicle I seriously considered making a run for it....leaving the little ones to fend for themselves. As it was I picked up Hannah, told Matthew to hold Joe's hand and we ran for the entrance of Walmart like our lives depended on it. And here we are just in the beginning of the cold season...yay!!! (hear the sarcasm?)............Can someone get me my sweater?

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Giving Thanks

We had a lovely Thanksgiving even though I was feeling so bummed we could not be with extended family this year. I decided to make all the good stuff...stuffing, mashed potatoes, Megan made the sweet potato casserole (it was my favorite), we also had jello salad, corn pudding, rolls, cranberry sauce, Aaron made the gravy. I made chocolate pies in honor of the Murray Schafers! We also had pumpkin pie, but Sam's club made that one! It was so so yummy! The kids were good and posed for tons of pictures for me....I'm not exactly sure why Hannah was combing her hair at the table...such is life with a three year old.







On the Sunday after Thanksgiving we got out all the Christmas stuff. The little ones were so excited to decorate our tree...the giant ornaments were made at Sister Scarlett's home....Hannah and Joe love going over there on the days Aaron and I both work and she always does such fun things with them.....thanks Brenda! Every year I love getting out all the ornaments and decorations and remembering how the kids made some of them and how so many of them came from my girlfriend exchange (that I'm so sad to miss this year). Many of my decorations were handmade by thoughtful friends and family. I love getting out the old Santa I made long ago, the Christmas before Zack was born, with my wonderful Sister in law, Michelle. Hey Michelle...along with the memory of the Santa class comes the memory of the bow class we took the same day! That's when Michelle found out what a tantrum I can throw (I can not tie a bow to save my life, and I find that quite unfair!)
Although this Christmas Season is such a hard one for us....being so far from family and old friends......the economy being so bad (Aaron works commission only)........and I'm having my share of break downs...thanks Jenny, Cindy and Rebekah for being there so much for me.......I am truly thankful for all that we have...I'm thankful for my testimony......I'm thankful for my family and for my faith. I'm thankful for our Savior and this time we get every year to reflect on him and his example to and for us. Life is good.....trials and all!


Saturday, December 6, 2008

Don't Stop Believing

I saw this on Nicole's blog and thought it looked like fun...I used my playlist to do it...it's a bit funny and creepy how some of the answers turned out...you should all try it..it's fun.

1.Put your iPod on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT IS!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "ARE YOU OKAY" YOU SAY? Two Steps Behind by Def Leppard

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? More Than a Memory by Garth Brooks

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Paralyzer by Finger Eleven

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? In My Daughters Eyes by Martina McBride

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? Our Country by John Mellencamp

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Desperado by The Eagles

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? You by Evanescence

WHAT IS 2+2? Fire and Rain by James Taylor


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? Jack and Diane by John Mellencamp

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Always by Bon Jovi

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Meet in the Middle by Diamond Rio

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton


WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? The River by Garth Brooks

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? She Believes in Me by Kenny Rogers

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Amazing by Aerosmith

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Faraway by Nickelback

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Blessed by Martina McBride

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Dreaming with a Broken Heart by John Mayer

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? Open Arms by Journey

HOW WILL YOU DIE? When you Believe by David Archuleta

WHAT IS ONE THING THAT DISGUSTS YOU? Across the Universe by The Beatles

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET? Cry by Faith Hill

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? Wasted Time by The Eagles

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED? The Long and Winding Road by David Archuleta

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? Crush by David Archuleta

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? Friends by John Michael Montgomery

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? What Might of Been by Diamond Rio

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? Ships of Heaven by Blackhawk

WHAT MAKES YOU NERVOUS? Last Dollars by Tim McGraw

WHAT WILL YOUR CHILDREN BE LIKE? Imagine by David Archuleta


ARE YOU GOING TO HEAVEN? Billie Jean by David Cook

WHAT WILL HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME YOU KISS SOMEONE? How was I to Know by John Michael Montgomery

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? Only One by James Taylor

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Don't Stop Believing by Journey

Friday, December 5, 2008

hormones

Yes...this will be one of those posts..the one's that may make some feel uncomfortable....but I just have to say it...I've been fighting PMS this week...I hate it, so I try and fight it, but to no avail...I know it's "that time of the month" when..................
1. I talk to my kids through my clenched teeth.
2. I go on these hour long rants on how I do everything around the house and no one helps me and if I have to pick up one more thing off this floor...I'm going to hurt someone!!!
3. I look at my sweet darling little ones and want to drop kick them across the room.....
4. I want to scream at the top of my lungs...and sometimes I do.....STOP TOUCHING ME!!!
5. Every worry seems about five hundred times more upsetting and worrisome than it did last week..........
I'm always so thankful when I finally start feeling more like myself...like today...I'm feeling much better..thank heavens!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

A Poem


I found a poem in Josh's pants while doing the laundry. He told me it was an Ekphorastic poem he had to write for english about the picture above. The picture is of a boy in a Japanese Internment camp..... Here it is...well, I was going to type it out but Josh wanted to type it out himself and in the process he wrote a different poem than the one I found...I told him..."this is my blog and I want the poem that was written on the folded up piece of paper I found in his pants...so, I'm including both...the original and the revised version...they are both good...my boy's a poet!!
Original
The bus leaves, taking the freedom
Leaving no hope
Young children running, trying to have fun
Parents gather them, they are done
One boy sits, rests
He waits and wants
He turns and looks
As the bus rolls away
Slowly, steadily, surely
Rolling away leaving dust
Taking away a lack of trust
Beyond the gate it continues to go
Far away, maybe back home
The boy just sits, rests
Craning his neck
to see through the fence
Watches as the bus rolls over the hill and away
Alone with people all around
The boy sits, rests and silently cries
Revised
The bus leaves taking away the last bit of freedom they had
Children running, laughing, playing
One boy sits, rests
Thinks, ponders
The weeds keep swaying
As the boy turns and looks
Through the fence
Across the fence
Outside the fence
The bus rolls away
Slowly, steadily, surely
Beyond the gate it continues to go
The boy just sits, rests
Craning his neck
The bus rolls away
Taking with it people's trust
The boy is alone
People all around
Sad faces and frowns
The boy just sits
And silently cries

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Name Change

I've been blogging for almost a year now.... Although I still leave my flatiron on sometimes and I have to call home for someone to go turn it off, or turn around and go home to turn it off or call Aaron and tell him to go home and turn it off :)...I just need a change. You know how sometimes you need a new hairdo or a new color of lipgloss....I need to change the name of my blog...I've been thinking about it now for a couple weeks and I just can't come up with anything fantastic and marvelous...so I thought I'd just keep it simple.

Sixth Kid Syndrome

Negligent Mother Stikes Again

Sunday, November 23, 2008

A Visit

I could just kick myself for not getting pictures!! I even set my camera out to remind me and still didn't get any. My dad and Carolyn came for a visit a couple weeks ago. The first night they were here Megan made some cookies and I took them over and had a really nice visit at the Bed and Breakfast they were staying in ( I went without the kids...so quiet!) The second night they came over for dinner at our house and it would of been nice if Hannah hadn't picked that night to become the girl from Exorcist! She seriously cried just about non stop for two hours...and when I say cried, I mean screamed and moaned and her head was spinning in circles and she even threw up green stuff all over me!!! Okay, perhaps there's a little exaggeration there...but it was quite unpleasant, not to mention extremely embarrassing! We had an interesting night anyway. The last night they were here we got a babysitter for "little Linda" and her sidekick "the Hulk" and we were off with the older "Children of the Corn" for dinner out! I have to say it was quite enjoyable. I loved being able to visit with my dad and carolyn without constant interruption. It was also so cool to see my older kids having a good time and behaving mostly perfect. I really just love my dad so much and am so thankful for him and Carolyn...thanks for the great visit!!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Pippeley Poppeley Poop


Hannah banana is entering the lovely age of 3. People speak of the terrible twos...I would much rather argue with a two year old than a three year old....Three year olds have very strong opinions and there's not much you can do to "redirect". I fear I've created a "monster" in my sweet little Hannah. I've given into many of her whims and now we are all paying for this. She likes what she likes and likes it when she likes to like it...period! Some examples.....When she wakes up in the morning and wants to get out of bed...only Mommy can do this..if someone else does it and brings her to mommy...she wants mommy to put her back to bed and get her out again...she will not be civil until it is done that way!......If she is dancing in her seat and we are sure it is the "potty dance" and we take her to the bathroom she will announce "I can't push" and will refuse to go unless it's her idea in the first place.........She wakes at 2am and announces she needs to have her gymnastics outfit on, right now....I put it on her...I needed sleep!!!...she was happy and went right back to bed. This is the stage that reminds me of Bill Cosby when he speaks of the three year old screaming "MINE..MINE...MINE!!!" over and over again...he instructs the 7 year old to just give it to her and comments that she has things of his too!! There is a sweet side too...I guess that's how you make it through the threes! Hannah has this wonderful imagination now...she loves Dora and knows all the characters by heart...she walks around saying "over the doghouse, through the mountains, to the party!" over and over. She also loves all things girlie. She loves to wear lipgloss and have her hair done and wear pretty dresses. My friend Brenda watches the little two while I work, she has two little girls and Hannah is in girlie heaven over there! She has been turned on to Cinderella...she walks around the house saying "pippeley poppeley poop" and "becomes" Cinderella. This morning she told me I was the "Mother God Fairy Mother". I started to sing her the song and she looked at me like I was a kook for a moment and then broke into a big grin and came and gave me a big hug.....I guess I can get through the rough moments when I get those big squeezes...it makes it all worth it!!! And I know I must enjoy these moments because sooner than I know what happened she will become a teenager and I'll miss every second of the Horrible Threes!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Thankful

Jenny :)
sunshine
laughter
kisses
hugs
a good book
music
the Gospel
Matthew's jokes
Josh's massages
Megan's jewelry
Joe's personality
Hannah's cute dimple
Talks with Zack
my parents
Aaron's hard work
chocolate
warm blankets
hot showers
painted toenails
chats with my sisters and friends (you are included in this group, Lia!)
automatic garage door openers
enough room in the garage to park both cars
my van
my health
my childrens' health
ibuprofen
sweats
blogs

Thursday, November 13, 2008

HI HO HI HO, oh you know!


I'm working again, after a nice long stretch of being home with the kiddies. My new job is in the hospital, working in the kitchen. The first few days I didn't think I was going to make it...it's very physical work! But now I'm starting to like it...I like the people I work with, everyone has been very nice. I DO NOT enjoy the dishwashing I have to do...yuck!!! But I will only have to do that two days a week and not all day long...just a for a bit after breakfast and lunch.....but it is quite gross. I like working on trayline...that's actually kind of fun...reading the menu and hurrying to put the items on before the tray passes by....it's fun in a stressful kind of way :) I miss my kids and I'm awfully tired, but I'm hanging in there...When my training is done I will be working every Friday and every other weekend and then two other weekdays which will vary each week. Aaron's job is so slow right now...we are very worried....Have I ever mentioned how much I hate money!! Perhaps I'd like it if we had some! LOL

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Trick or Treat!

Better late than never...here are the pictures from Halloween. We had so much fun celebrating in Utah. We went out trick or treating with Zane, Lauren and Ryan....it was a blast! The kids weighed their candy and all the big kids ended up with 5lbs each. The funniest story they told was about the house they went to where the man had them all stand in the middle of the driveway and sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star so they could each have a giant sized Crunch bar...of coarse they did it...It was worth it!


Megan is Tracy from Hairspray the movie...her idea....I think she looks so darling!


Matthew is a punk rocker. He looked very authentic....don't ya think?

Hannah is our princess...so why not dress her up as one!

It's the Incredible Hulk!

Oh, it's just Joe dressed up like him!


Everyone is so excited to get going!



Josh was waiting for us...Aunt Jenny helped him get ready...this is his last year trick or treating...right Josh?

Zane and Josh...soul brothers!


Death (Zack) has come for Tracy Turnblad!



Joe, Ryan, Zack, Lauren, Hannah, Megan, Josh, Zane and Matthew....let's go already!

Friday, November 7, 2008

A very cool day!

So, while I was in California staying with my mom I got to have one of the coolest days I've had in a very long time.....it was one of those days when things just go right and you just know you'll always look back fondly!

First I got to see my old friend, Steve. We used to hang out in high school. I had not seen him since my wedding....many years ago. He was such a great guy and drove up from San Diego to have lunch. We sat in my mom's backyard remembering old times and talking about our lives now...it was such a great visit!! Thanks Steve!!

Then My sweet Courtney girl and her husband came over for dinner. Before I was married I was a nanny. It came at a cross roads in my life...I know Heavenly Father had a big hand in guiding me to the Simnitt's. There are three kids...Erin who was 6 at the time, Courtney who was 4, and Matthew who was 1. These sweet kids had just lost their mom to cancer. She was a beautiful woman and I know it was so hard for her to leave them. My heart felt so connected to them from the beginning. I instantly just loved them so much. I learned so much about being a mom from them...about how kids are everyday, not just when you babysit for a couple hours on a Friday night. I cried with them and laughed with them and bribed them with ice cream. I sang to them, read to them and played with them. I lost my temper sometimes and then would feel bad and hug them and tell them sorry. Erin was so independent and had her own way..always. I loved that about her...I always knew she would grow into a strong, beautiful woman. Courtney was so snugly and loved hugs. I always knew she would grow to be a smart, lovely woman. Matthew was only a baby and I feel sad to think he doesn't remember me.....From the pictures I've seen he's grown into a handsome young man...and it makes me feel old to think he's in college now. Oh how I let myself become so attached to them!! When Aaron and I got engaged it was such a hard decision to move to Utah....I knew I would miss my little nanny kids...but I had NO IDEA how much!! I cried and cried over them. When Zack was a baby their dad moved his family to Orem. I went down to get Erin and Courtney to come and stay for the weekend at our house....it was so fun to see them. I wish I'd done that many more times......they later moved to Idaho and then I lost contact with them for many years. One day I decided to look them up on Facebook...I found them! I'm so so glad! Courtney is now living in California with her husband while he goes to dental school...Erin is living in Canada interning for a Publishing company. Both girls are drop dead gorgeous!!! Matt is now going to BYU Idaho. I'm just so proud of all of them...I'm so thankful for my time with them and even more thankful for the times to come!




Courtney and her husband, Paul

Courtney and me

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Ocean

Hannah and I got to go and spend a couple days at my mom's house. We decided to go spend a little time at the beach. It was so wonderful...I miss the beach so so so much. My dream vacation would be to rent a place right on the beach and just go everyday...my kids would LOVE it!!!