Fifty Fine Toes

oKToBeRFeST

2009-09-29T12:08:00.002-06:00

When Dave lost his job and decided to start an event company with a few of his buddies, some of the wives got together and wanted to start something as well. You know, to help motivate the boys by creating some competition! So Katie Clayton had the idea to do a home decor business. I thought that would be super fun, so we started talking about it. I felt that Utah was pretty saturated, but that San Diego was seriously lacking. So we came up with a plan to have a booth at the upcoming Oktoberfest in La Mesa. This is our trial run. If this goes fabulously, we may continue. We have had a few run throughs and they have gone really well. Everybody seems to like our products here in Utah. So we will have to see how it is received in San Diego. We have a website that is seriously under construction but it is www.backhomedecor.com Keep in mind when you check it out that we have been focusing all our attention on getting ready for the fest. The website has maybe 1% of our products. So keep checking for updates.

For those of you in San Diego, please come visit our booth! Bring friends, and have fun! We can't wait to see you all! This should be a super fun weekend!

Take a BITE out of Crime!

2009-09-16T18:32:00.003-06:00

Calling all neighbors!
Missing: Blue Mongoose Bike
Last seen: last night on our front lawn
Color: Blue
Pegs: lucky (Napoleon Dynamite) but yes there are pegs
Owner: is sad
Please keeps your eyes out for this lost bike. We know that together we can fight crime!
Thanks for your help!
Please inform us if you see it around the neighborhood!
Thanks!

Never Forget!

2009-09-11T12:47:00.002-06:00

I was laying in my bed when the phone rang. I looked at the clock and it was before 7 a.m. Dave had already left for work. I thought maybe it was him. When I said hello, my father-in-law said, "are you watching the news? Our country is under attack." I turned on the news and saw that the first plane had already crashed. I then saw the second plane go into the tower. I could not believe that this was happening on our nations soil. I never thought that we would be attacked here. That day will forever live in my mind.

Where were you when the towers fell?

consequence jar revisited

2009-09-11T00:46:00.004-06:00

this turned into

this which contains (drum roll please.....)

these

give your momma a foot rub and paint her toenails

scrub all the toilets

scrub the bathtub in my bathroom

scrub the bathtub in the kids bathroom

scrub the bathtub in the basement

Pull 50 weeds on the side yard

Pull 50 weeds in the Garden

wipe down the cupboards in the kitchen

wipe down the table,chairs and the counters

pick up 10 items and put them away

scrub floor boards in the living room

scrub floor boards in the dining room and kitchen

scrub floor boards in the front entrance and the front room

Clean front bathroom, toilet, sink, mirror, wipe down cupboards, floorboards, and floor

Vacuum the stairs up and down

Dust the bookshelf (take all books off, dust shelves and then put books back NICELY)

Wash walls on the main level
Wash walls on the upstairs and the hallways upstairs

Wash walls on the basement stairs and the basement hallway

Clean out the toy closet, take everything out and organize toys.

Wash all the doors and the doorknobs on the main level

Wash all the doors and the doorknobs upstairs

Wash all the doors and the doorknobs in the basement

Clean sliding glass door inside and out, and the door track upstairs and down.

Wash the wood floor with soap and water on hands and knees

Dust the blinds of two windows in room of mom’s choice

Thank you for your suggestions! I think that I will love the foot rub! I will keep you all posted on how this is received!

p.s. you almost hope they are a little naughty!

good ole days

2009-09-10T00:23:00.005-06:00

My sister Lillian posted this picture on her blog a while ago. I have been looking at this adorable photo for months. Each time I look I get a little teary. You see, this is a picture of my mom and dad, and their four young children. My mom was younger in this photo than I am now. I look at her, in her stylish dress with her necklace, and pumps. She looks so beautiful and so proud of her young family. I look at my dad, with his mustache and shiny shoes. They were just starting out. They had four kids that were so cute! What a good looking family. I think of how, in this picture, at that moment, they had their whole lives to look forward to. They did not know at this point that they would adopt two beautiful little girls, and years later have two more little girls, for a total of eight children. They did not know that in 10 years their oldest son would be diagnosed with cancer, and die two short years later. They did not know that two years after that, that lovely young mother would be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which would change her life forever. I look at her so full of life, and wonder if she would have done anything different had she have known what her future would hold.

Tonight I went to enrichment night, where we talked about being happy. One of the things that was shared was the importance of living in the moment. Taking advantage of the opportunities to enjoy our lives, and our children. I have thought about how important that really is. Life is so short! We have no idea what our future holds. Like that young mother in the picture, my mother, things can change so quickly. Live so that there are no regrets. Let go of all anger, bitterness. Forgive and move on.

When we were down in San Diego one of my best friends sister passed away. She was young, a mother of three the oldest is 13 and the youngest is 9. She had breast cancer that spread to her bones and then through her whole body. Her funeral was beautiful, she was such a good example of living in the moment, really living life. The week before she died she went to the temple and did sealings. She could not walk, but she wanted to be in the temple. It just made me think, we never know what our future holds. Make the most of your todays! I have a quote hanging on my wall it says...

Learn from the past
Live in the present
Prepare for the future

Here is a similar picture of my young family. I want to take the example of the courageous women in my life and learn from them. I want to make every moment count and prepare for what my future may hold. Life is a beautiful thing! Lets be happy!

p.s. don't forget to call your mom and tell her you love her!

nueve-neuf-nove

2009-09-09T08:57:00.003-06:00

summer fun in groups of nine
I know you have all been waiting to see what we were up to for the entire summer :)

summer started with Lauren dancing in the Stadium of FIRE!!! It was so much fun to watch her this year. We really enjoyed our first experience at the Stadium. It was so much fun, and so patriotic. I cried when they brought out all the different flags from our nations history! America really is a great country! The Jonas Brothers were very entertaining as well! We had a group of girls that were sitting in front of us, and they kept turning around to take a picture of the big screen that was behind us. The flash was driving my eyes crazy! Their screams were louder than the fireworks!
We went down to San Diego with some good friends. We had fun on the beach, went to Comic Con, posed with a fake pirate, watched a navy ship pull out of the harbor, and the boys went deep sea fishing!

learned to surf, had a blast boogie boarding, made our own private pool on the beach, camped on the beach for a week with family and friends, Lills loved the water, which made the twelve hour drive worth it (see the little snip-it below), watched many sunsets, this one is from the back patio at my sisters house in Laguna Beach, posed on the beach, and turned a cute little girl into a mermaid.

I just love this picture of Dave, thanks Nathan Petty for taking some awesome pictures of the Extreme Event crew, fell in love with Wicked, went to fan night for the Chargers, Brian and Carrina's wedding, happy birthday to Brad on 9/9/09, lots of baseball games, more posing at the temple, and by the end West just wanted to go home! We had a fun summer! We are glad to be home, and we want you all to do something fun on this special day!

Have a great 9-9-09!

it's a good thing...

2009-09-04T10:00:00.005-06:00

disclosure...the purpose of this post is not to get sympathy, please no "I am sorry..." The purpose is to journal, document the situation for history and posterity, and to see if anyone knows anyone who can help us move forward! Thanks!

On April 23rd Dave lost his job. He worked for Summit Fasteners. He had the job for a little under a year. He felt inspired to leave his Irwin job to take this position that would allow him to stay in Utah. See Irwin wanted him to move to Seattle area. Later we would find out that they wanted to promote him, because they would be dissolving his position, and they did not want to lose him, since he was their top Field Product Specialist. We did not feel good about moving to Seattle. So, he decided to take this job with the local company. He had worked with these guys when he was with Irwin, he had a good relationship with them. He said the owner was like a father figure to him. So there was no hesitation to take the job. He worked there for 9 months. The first month he was there he brought in 10 new clients. The guy who had the position before him had brought in two new clients in the two years that he worked there. Dave was feeling pretty good about his efforts. He continued to bring in new customers and worked hard for this company.

The owner who if you remember he compared to a father figure had all of a sudden turned into this ogre. Nothing Dave did was good enough. He was continually being told that he was not earning his wage. Dave worked so hard for this guy, he never took a lunch, he was always doing deliveries on his way home to save the company a trip. He just went above and beyond for this company. The other co-owner said that Dave was doing awesome, and that these lectures that the owner would give him were just his way of motivating Dave. Well, needless to say this was taxing day after day. Dave started to hate his job. He would never quit, or tell them that he was miserable, that is not Dave's character. I knew, and those that stayed in our home knew how much this weighed on him. April 21nd the owner told Dave that he was going to have to cut his wages in half. Dave came home and we talked about it, we decided that some wage was better than no wage. He went back the next day and told the owner that he would except the wage cut. Well, then April 23rd the owner pulled him in, and told him that he was going to let him go, that it was strictly his decision and that it was nothing that he had done. Dave said okay, shook his hand and got his stuff out of the companies truck, and someone brought him home.

So we counted this as a blessing. He was no longer working for this miserably grouchy man, and we could start looking for a different job. Dave applied for unemployment, and we waited for the approval. He got a phone call a week later from the unemployment agency. The women who was assigned to his case said that he was fired for being beligerant, vulgar and showing signs of anger. Dave was floored. He said are you kidding me? She said no, and that it was her job to get his side of the story before she made any formal decisions. Dave told her that this was simply untrue. He gave her some character witnesses phone numbers and waited. Well the lady called back the next day and said that she does not know what is going on, the witnesses all affirmed that Dave is a nice, even keeled kind of person. She also could not retrieve any kind of paper trail. There was never anything documented that Dave had ever been spoken to, or was warned or anything. So the lady granted Dave his unemployment. Well Dave needless to say was really hurt by the slanderous words that his former employer had used against him. He could not believe that this man would lie, and say these horrible things about him. What little respect he had left for him was gone.

Dave had never been fired from a job. He took great pride in his work and his work ethic. This situation took a toll on his self esteem. It is a guy thing, that who you are is defined by the work that you do and how much money you make, etc. He was bummed that this had happened, but at the same time relieved that he did not have to deal with that disfunctional job anymore.

He has since been looking for a job, but has had no bites. We were not too worried, since we had a nice chunk in savings. Since he lost his job he has placed over 50 resumes out there. So, instead of waiting to be hired, he decided to create his own company. He and three other great guys are starting a Event Planning Business. They are calling it Extreme Event Prodcutions.

So if you guys know anyone who needs help planning any kind of event, please let Dave know. This is my effort to help him get the word out.

Or if you know of any jobs, let Dave know.

Thanks!

Consequence Jar say WHAT?

2009-09-02T14:36:00.003-06:00

You might be asking why is there a picture of an empty peanut butter jar? I am going to turn this into a Consequence Jar. My kids are good, don't get me wrong, but the fact is that they are kids, and well, sometimes they misbehave. My friend Andrea started the consequence jar a while ago, and she loves it. So, I am going to give it a try.

This is how it goes down. When your kids are naughty, after you teach them why what they are doing is not appropriate, you send them to the consequence jar. They get to reach in and pick something out of the jar. Andrea fills it with stuff that she does not enjoy doing, like cleaning the toilets, or wiping off the cupboards. I love this idea!

I need some suggestions! What would you put in your consequence jar?

So much to blog about

2009-08-25T00:26:00.002-06:00

We have been on vacation for a little over a month! I need to do some serious blogging! Someday I might grow a 25th hour in the day!

How do you eat your cake?

2009-06-17T13:00:00.006-06:00

I personally like Lillian's way, just shove your face in it!

What a happy year with this little addition to our troop! We love you Lillian Jane!

Cute Little Easter Bunnies!

2009-04-29T12:39:00.001-06:00

The kids in their Easter duds. What a good looking bunch of bunnies!

Leave it to me....

2009-02-21T09:56:00.002-07:00

Do you know how hard it is to get 5 kids to look good and smile at the same time. Hard, very hard. This picture is perfect, except for ME glorious me!!! Dang blinking!!

This is the next shot. I am amazed at how quickly the camera can capture images. You might say in the blink of an eye! Thanks Mike for taking these great shots. No easy feat getting seven of us to look good! You are a true miracle worker! Check out his photography site here

Sick and Tired!!!

2009-02-20T09:38:00.003-07:00

I kid you not, for the past month we have just been hammered with sickness!!! I can't even believe how hard we have been hit. From vomit to coughing attacks you name it we have had it. I am amazed at how it just goes from person to person. Right now we have the aching coughing sneezing total ny-qul commercial. 4 out of the 5 kids are sick and one out of the two parents are sick. YUCK!!!! We are downing fluids, and getting plenty of rest, but frankly, I am D.O.N.E. done!!! Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!
My greatest wish would be to be able to open all my windows and have the fresh air just sweep the germs away. But alas, we live in Antartica and can't open windows until June. hee hee!!! I think I'll go eat some fresh picked CALI oranges!!! There is a bright spot!!!

Calling all my peeps!!!!

2009-01-13T17:37:00.003-07:00

Lauren, Kathren and I all take dance from Diva's Dance Studio. We love it! It is so fun to move and grove. Our dance teacher works really hard to choreograph and teach us the dances. She also finds ample places for us to perform our hard work for others to enjoy. So we each get two costumes, and about four places to compete. Costumes and competition fees can add up. so our creative, thoughtful teacher has come up with a way to earn money for all these fun things.

She has partnered with a Scentsy Wickless candle distributor. This wonderful lady will be donating her commission on each candle sold by the dancers. So...here is where you all come in... Do you need a present for Valentines Day, Birthdays, Mothers Day, Teacher appreciation day, Grandparents day, Secretary's day, a wedding present, or you just love Scentsy candles, then please order from Lauren and Kathren. Here is how you can...

Check out all the cool products on the Scentsy website at...
www.scentsy.com/aubrib
Or come on over, if you live in the area, and browse through the catalog.

Then when you find all the sweet smelling stuff your nose can handle, call me, or e-mail me what you want.
Make your check out to Andrea Olsen
No shipping charges
All orders and money need to be turned in by Thursday January 29, 2009
Products will be delivered to the studio by the 10th of February, so if you are out of state and want it for V-day, I will be coming to CA before then so no sweat!

Let's help these girls, and their parents, pay for all there competition fees and costumes!!!

Go Team!!!

Two Little LOve Birds...

2009-01-09T01:21:00.004-07:00

Happy Anniversary you hunk a monk!

I love you!

This is an amazing ride we are on! I am so glad I get to share it with you!

TMJ and other nonsense

2008-12-12T16:15:00.003-07:00

Since today is Friday, I thought I would do a little flashback.

You might be wondering, what the...? It is piles of chewed gum. I know, GROSS!!! A while back, we had some friends over to play games. I had bought the large container of Dubble Bubble gum balls. I love Dubble Bubble. And the fact that they were gumballs brought a smile to my face, because when we went over to visit Grammy and Popie, they would always give the kiddos these gumballs. Anyway, that night I decided it would be fun to chew as many pieces as I could and stack them in a gum tower. There were a few at the table that wanted to join in the fun. They combined their chew into one pile in order to smoke me! Since that night, my jaw has had a nice popping that occurs when I open my mouth. Diagnosis TMJ! Needless to say, I will never buy those gumballs again nor will I ever compete against a table full of gum chewing fools. Good Times!

I heart Caroling!

2008-12-10T17:14:00.002-07:00

If anyone feels the need to sing and serve, come to our evening of caroling! It should be fun and a bit chilly, so dress warm!

I love Christmas Jammies!

2008-12-09T16:03:00.005-07:00

I have always had a thing for P.J's for any season. I don't know why I love them so much, I mean no one sees them but us. I just love the idea of the little guys looking cute when they go to bed. Silly I know. It is just one of my little quirks.

Every year on Christmas Eve, the kids open their new Christmas jammies. It is a tradition that we started with Lauren when she was six months old. I love the cute prints of Christmas. So festive and fun.

I was blog lurking...blurking and I came across my friends jammie post. I did not leave a comment there but I wanted to give her a little shout out! Way to go Nicole! I am truly impressed! I wish that I could sew matching jams for my family! I absolutely love it! You are truly talented! What a fun Christmas tradition!

What are some of your traditions?

Did you know...

2008-12-09T10:11:00.004-07:00

there is such a thing as the Utah County Wood Carvers Association? Yes there is! And My hubby entered their last competition and took first and second in his division!
Yay Dave!

We took the kids down to see all the different entries! People are really talented! I am amazed that people can take a block of wood and create such beautiful pieces of art. Dave is a duck carver. Next time you are at my house, ask to see his creations! Crafty...very crafty!

At the competition there was all kinds of carvings, from little figurines, fish, to huge horses.

There was a guy there who makes rocking horses to resemble your actual horse, all you would do is give him a picture of your horse, and six weeks later it would be in your home for your riding enjoyment!

The kids loved riding on them! Which was the highlight of the night for them!

This was my favorite. The details were amazing. Created from one piece of wood!

Hair

2008-12-08T09:39:00.005-07:00

A while back I made a comment that I highlight my hair to resemble the color when I was younger. I did this for years. Going to the beauty parlor every three months, spending two hours in the chair, paying 65+ dollars each visit. And that was with a discount. All for the golden streaks to be placed in may drab and dark hair. I loved having the lighter hair, but the maintenance was a bit menacing.

When I was pregnant that maintenance care was canceled for a bit, due to the strange effect my hormones would have on the color. So when it was time to deliver my babies I would have nine months of root exposure. My true color.

After the birth of Lils, Dave and I decided it would be fun and economical if we dyed the hair with an over-the-counter purchase at Wal Mart. We thought that a dark golden blond would be perfect, not too light. Yet dark enough to not have to maintain that much. We put the dye on and waited. When the time was up, we rinsed and repeated, and dried, to expose the reddish hair. Roots were red, ends were blond. What?

My good friend told me to come over and she would fix it. So we dyed it a darker brown. It looked good for a while, but it faded as dyes do and left behind a mess of reddish roots, and green ends. (brown and blond make green) So I just put my hair in a pony tail, afraid to try anything else. (I just noticed Lillian's face in this picture...hilarious! If you look at my hair close you will see the reddish roots, and the green ends. It looks as if I had spent too many hours in the swimming pool)

So the other night I was complaining about my hair, talking to some friends about what I should do. Dave was eavesdropping and heard how I never wanted to wear my hair down, etc... So the next day he comes home from work early, hands me a gift certificate to a salon, and says your appointment is in half an hour. I was so surprised, and so thankful. I gave him a big hug, left him with all the kiddos, and two hours later my hair looked like this...

What do you think?

What the...

2008-12-04T11:01:00.003-07:00

Early the other morning, Mr. West comes into our room crying. Dave jumps out of bed, and finds this bloody mess. Well being the great father that he is, he walks West into the bathroom, with blood literally dripping all over the floor, and instead of looking for the source of the wound he runs down stairs to get the camera. Nothing like capturing the moment! So at 4:30am my little guy is standing in the bathroom bleeding, while his Dad is trying to document this awesome sight. Then there is me, I was laying in bed barely coherent. It takes me a while to wake up! What kind of parents are we? After the photo was shot, he took care of the problem. It turned out to be a bloody nose. Now to pose a question. What do you do about night nose pickers?

Letterpress Prints Launch!

2008-12-01T00:13:00.005-07:00

www.letterpressprints.com

Send us your feedback.

Thanks

grateful

2008-11-27T22:01:00.004-07:00

I have seen on many blogs "Thankful Thursday" I love reading these posts. They remind me how much we each have to be thankful for.

On this, the ultimate Thankful Thursday, I would like to join the ranks and share some of the things I am most grateful for.

1. I give thanks for the glorious thing called body. Think about how miraculous the body is.

2. I give thanks for the five senses. I love being able to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. I love to see my kids, my cute husband, and the beauties that surround us.
I love to hear the sound of a baby cooing, and the pitter of little feet running through the house. I love to smell pumpkin bread baking in the oven. I love to taste all food. I mean does everything have to taste so good? And touching, who doesn't love a great big hug.

3. I give thanks for family. How thankful I am for moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and children.

4. I give thanks for a testimony. I love that each of us can find truth in our lives, and find so much joy in living what we know to be true.

5. I give thanks for friends. Friendship is such an important aspect of life. Each of my friends (that's all of you) have influenced and enriched my life in such a special way. Thank you for all the good times, and sweet memories.

6. And most important, I give thanks for a loving God who knows each of us, and loves us all so much that he sent His son Jesus Christ to atone for all of our mistakes. I am so grateful for a Savior who makes it possible to feel better when we mess up.

Peace out
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Happy Birthday West!

2008-11-24T20:02:00.004-07:00

Yesterday was our little guys third birthday! It was just the other day that he came to join our family, and now he is so big! We love you Woo!

Celebrate 100

2008-11-14T09:17:00.004-07:00

This is our 100th post! I just wanted to say thanks to all of my blogger buddies, and all of my blurker buddies. I really enjoy this crazy blogging world! It is so nice to reconnect with people. We love sharing our life with friends and family who we don't see day to day! Thanks for making my blogging experience so fantastic!

Here is to 100 more posts! And 100 more, and 100 more!!!

Love to you all!

Uhh-huh Yip Yip

2008-11-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

FLASH

2008-10-31T14:17:00.003-06:00

At the Jaws of the Big Scary Beast at Cornbelly's

Riding with a Witch at Gardner Village

Attending the Ward party, where no one knew who the grown-ups were! And where Dave scared most of the people there!

Our first Halloween in the Ute 2006

We have a Prophet on the earth today--who receives revealation from God for our day!

2008-10-28T15:18:00.001-06:00

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

An Apostle Speaks

2008-10-28T14:49:00.002-06:00

I am voting for God's Plan.

i like this

2008-10-28T10:06:00.000-06:00

Friday Flashback

2008-10-25T00:03:00.004-06:00

Halloween 2004

West is Trained!

2008-10-23T11:21:00.006-06:00

West said, " I don't want to go on the potty train"
get it... Potty trained!
Well, I thought it was cute!

FLASHBACK

2008-10-17T09:35:00.001-06:00

We like big lips and we can not lie!

We found these big wax lips and gave them to the kids. They had so much fun striking a pose with their new lips!

Kayaking in the backyard

2008-10-15T09:08:00.001-06:00

The other day, Dave got out the Kayak. (He wanted to test it in the ponds before he took it out on the big lake) He let the kids use it to go around the pond. They had a lot of fun. At first, Lauren was a little bit scared, but her friend Isabel gave her courage. David took to it like a natural. He enjoyed it the most. Even Kathren and West loved it!

Weather Forcast for Tomorrow!

2008-10-13T21:41:00.003-06:00

I would listen to her if I were you, she knows what she is talking about! And she could get fired if you don't!

I'm not Catholic but...

2008-10-13T16:00:00.000-06:00

They sure got this one right!

Friday Flashback

2008-10-10T09:49:00.004-06:00

We used to live in The Carlton County Club Villas. Sounds nicer than it is. These were Government subsidized apartments. We were really blessed to have lived there, since our rent was based off of our income. So when Dave was in school, we didn't have to stress too much about money. Anywho, I found these pictures of Lauren and David outside the apartment. David had put himself in this carseat, he wanted a chair just like his sister. He was eating a Klondike bar, thus the messy face. He used to do this cheesy grin where his eyes would basically disappear. Lauren is posing with Katie, a little girl that we used to babysit. She looks thrilled. Daycare is hard. It's hard to share all your toys, and it's hard to share you mom. We did the whole daycare thing for four years and I will NEVER do it again because I am running my own personal daycare with my five kids! :)

Baby Blessing Beauty

2008-10-07T23:22:00.002-06:00

These pictures were taken by our good friend Nathan Petty He is such a talented photographer! I absolutely loved all the shots that he took, these are just a few. Thanks Nathan for taking the time to capture this little beauty in her blessing dress!

These pictures were taken July 18, 2008. Lillian was 1 month old.

Piano Lessons

2008-10-07T09:00:00.002-06:00

David decided he wanted to start piano lessons. I was thinking that I could start him off, but haven't figured out when the best time would be. So, I guess he got a little impatient with me, and asked Lauren to teach him. I peaked in and saw this. I thought it was adorable.

shAvIng crEAm mAssAgE

2008-10-06T22:26:00.002-06:00

If you have not tried playing in some shaving cream, I highly recommend it. I immediately experienced a calming sensation, as I put my hands into this foam. Rubbing it in circles all around the table, enabling me to utilize my sense of touch, and smell. I found it so refreshing. Or maybe it was just that Aloe scent.

Enough rambling, my kids loved it and we had a fun time drawing in it and making pictures.
p.s. my table was so clean after the shaving cream rub down!

Watch This!

2008-10-04T11:31:00.002-06:00

It is every parents God given right to teach their children! It should be up to each parent if and when they decide to introduce their child to different lifestyles. If you live in California, this is a must watch, if you don't live in California this is a must watch to make sure we don't ever give up our rights!

Flashback Friday

2008-10-03T21:18:00.003-06:00

Popie, our cousin Max, David, and Lauren, hanging out on the swing. Popie was undergoing Kemo treatments, so he has that Shawn Connery look.

Grammy, David, Lauren, Max and Krista. Grammy is a Doris Day look a like!

David eating at Lauren's fourth birthday. Was he not such a cute two year old!

Lauren at her fourth birthday party. We had it in Grammy and Popie's backyard. Which if any of you have been back there you know how beautiful it is. Such a spectacular view of the valley and mountains, and also the view of the yard is so gorgeous. Grammy works so hard on all her lovely flowers. We borrowed the table's from the church's nursery. We had the kids come in and paint flower pots, then they had lunch, little finger sandwiches and fruit. Then we opened presents. Then we had cupcakes with flowers made from starbursts- complicated process I don't recommend it. We also had dirt pudding with gummy worms. When the kids left, we gave them their flower pot filled with real dirt, and a pretty flower plant.

Lils at three months

2008-09-29T22:14:00.002-06:00

This was taken back in September. She was wearing this adorable outfit that my good friend Lisa gave to her. Thanks Lis! I had to post these pictures because it was really the first time we got her to smile for the camera! I also love the rear shot, because you can see all her rolls on her thighs, and her sweet mullet!
Hope you all had a great Monday!

Friday Flashback

2008-09-26T14:30:00.004-06:00

I was sifting through some old photos and found these. This is David at 2 years old. His Popie had come over and given him this magic sword. He told David a story about the princess who needed to have her jewels protected and this sword was made by the 7 dwarfs in their jewel cavern. Popie brought Lauren a cute princess caboodle filled with pretty little necklaces and bracelets. Popie told David that he had to protect the princess and her jewels. (Lauren was the princess) David sat so still as his Popie told him this story. He was so excited to have this special sword from his Popie. They were such good buddies! The sword would light up and made a magical sound. From these pictures you can tell that David thought he was all that! He is trying to look so tough! I am totally loving the sunglasses upside down! It's like he is saying don't mess! Cuz I couldn't see you if you tried anything! Good Times! Good Times!

Who wOUld of thOUght?

2008-09-18T14:38:00.003-06:00

Hot Tamales and Popcorn! Don't knock it till you try it!

thanks mike for the suggestion

Go and Spread the WORD! pEAcE OUt!

2008-09-15T08:59:00.005-06:00

The proud father, sporting a beanie. This photo inspired the title for this post. You must read it with a little ghetto in your voice.

My nephew Steven Reported to the MTC on 9/3/08. Before he went in, he stopped by our house for some quick hugs.

The kids were excited to see everyone. They miss all the family back in San Diego. Kathren says atleast once a week that she wants to move back there. I find it funny because we have lived in Utah since she was 20 months old. She has no memory of living there, but it is when we go back, and she gets so much love from so many people that makes all the kids miss San Diego when we leave. There is nothing like family!
Thank you all so much for making the effort to come by and say good-bye. We know it was a super busy day, and we appreciate and love you for spending a few moments with us! Steven will be an awesome missionary in Knoxville Tennessee!

Do you Wii?

2008-09-11T11:28:00.002-06:00

We just got a Wii fit not too long ago. I must say, that it is a ton a fun. The whole family is totally into it. There are games that you play that really do give you a work out. Have you tried the hula hoop? Oh my thighs! Granted, I am totally out of shape! So it really feels like a work out to me. Dave has the high score of like 323 hula's. Every time I hula I try to beat his score, but I just can't. I think the whole competition thing motivates you! Also, yoga is awesome! I love that the fit does not let you cheat. You have to have good form! I did the strength training lunges, oh I could not walk down my stairs very easily. I am hoping that this little contraption will help me lose these baby pounds.

Girls Night Moreau Style

2008-09-09T00:10:00.004-06:00

While Dave was having some guy time, the Moreau ladies decided to have some sweet girl time. We went to Wal Mart and found this HSM fleece. We thought it would be fun to watch HSM 1 and 2 and tie blankets as we watched. The Girls had so much fun, and can't wait for another girls night!

Lauren making sure her fleece matched up perfectly!

Kathren making sure her fleece felt nice and soft!

Again, Lauren really making sure her fleece is lined up perfectly, she is such a perfectionist!

Lauren really enjoyed tying each blanket! She was really fast at it too!

Kathren took the scraps and made a nice wrap for her barbie. She is always fashion conscience.

Kathren modeling her soft blanket! She was so happy to snuggle down while watching the remainder of HSM 2.

The girls showing off their creations.

The whole evening was a blast, and even Lillian was wiped out by the end of it!

new kids on the block party

2008-09-08T17:36:00.002-06:00

Our 2008 Block Party was a blast! We have such a fun neighborhood! Thanks to y'all for coming, and for making yummy food, and for playing! We can't wait for next years Block Party!

lOOk whAt I fOUnd!

2008-09-01T13:30:00.001-06:00

piAnO

2008-08-29T18:12:00.001-06:00

Lauren had her piano recital back in June. I just found this precious picture! I love that she will get up and play in front of people.

schOOl is cOOl

2008-08-29T09:02:00.002-06:00

Nothing like scrambled eggs with tabasco ketchup to start your day off with a kick!

"We picked out our outfits all by ourselves" Lauren and David were all excited for their first day of school! So was mom and dad!

Getting on the bus! Lauren striking a pose before she gets on the school bus. She is always practicing to be a fashion model.

David looking ultra confident as he approaches the second grade!

We heart school!

Let's Go a G-N-O!

2008-08-28T15:52:00.002-06:00

I only made it for 1/2 hour, but it was 30 minutes of bliss! Thanks for the food, fun, and Karaoke!

Put a caption to this picture

2008-08-26T17:00:00.000-06:00

Come one, come all!

2008-08-21T17:27:00.002-06:00

Hey You Guys!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

From 3:30-7:00 (we will eat at 5:30p.m.)

There will be a lot of water activities for the kiddos! So they may want to wear their swimsuits!

Bring your own meat, and something to share! (i.e., drinks, dessert, side dish,)

Everyone is invited so come on down!

Ode to the Newborn

2008-08-11T10:37:00.002-06:00

Since tomorrow little Lillian will be 2 months old, I decided to reflect on the glories of the newborn stage. I have really tried to enjoy everything about this stage. Time and 4 other children have taught me that it goes by way too fast. When you are in the thick of it though, sometimes it doesn't go by fast enough. Here are some of my favorite things about the newborn...

1. I love the milk breath, and that milky tongue.

2. I love that they scream bloody murder because they are hungry, and then when you feed them they eat for like 5 minutes, and then fall asleep , because eating is exhausting.

3. I love when they smile at nothing, what do they see anyway? I did not realize that the couch cushions were that entertaining!

4. I love when they laugh in their sleep. So cute to see them laugh, and you know that they are having a really good dream.

5. I love that they grab your finger, I know that it is a reflex, but it still melts my heart.

6. I love the gripper toes. Do any of you know what I am talking about? When they curl their toes so tight. I think it's adorable.

7. I love how they can fall asleep anywhere, and sleep through anything. I wish that I could do that too.

8. I love how they come out soo little and every week they just sort of inflate like a balloon. When Lillian came out she was tiny, her feet were so skinny, and within a week, she just started inflating.

9. I love those quiet moments in the middle of the night, when it is just you and the little one.

10. I love that she could be screaming, and when I pick her up she stops. That is a real self-esteem booster.

Kevin and Tara's Wedding- July 19, 2008

2008-08-07T11:19:00.003-06:00

From left to right- my handsome nephew Kevin, and his beautiful bride Tara going to their reception. My parents with the bride and groom, the father and mother of the groom, my sensational sister, and her hunky husband, Kevin and Tara fresh from there wedding ceremony, exiting the San Diego Temple. It was such a gorgeous day. We had an incredible time being with family and witnessing this sacred event.

So my question to all of you is, Who can resist this face? She's may break a few heart's in her lifetime. Here is one of her first victims. His name is Kamden and he is Kathren's new cousin (2nd cousin actually, and no genetic relation, so it could happen) After Kevin and Tara were sealed, then Kevin and Tara were sealed to her adorable son, Kamden. I love seeing children sealed to their parents. The spirit was so strong, and Kamden was so happy to be with his mom and dad! Kamden got to wear a tux too because it was also his special day. Kathren could not resist him, I mean he looked good in that tux! We caught these two walking and holding hands. No one told them too, they just took that initiative all on their own. I'm glad Dave had that camera ready, these pics are priceless!

The rest are just some of the kids hanging out at the Temple.

San Diego Reunion-08

2008-08-05T18:40:00.003-06:00

While we were in SD we got to see some of our good friends. These are friends we have known for most of our lives. I think back with great fondness on so many memories. How lucky are we that we have had such good friends for most of our lives? Many of our friends drove over an hour to hang out, And one of my friends came 5 days after she gave birth. We had some really good food, and really great conversation. Thank you to Janet for organizing this, and thank you to all for making such an effort to get together! We need to do this every time we come down! And if you ever come to Utah, you will always have a place to stay, if you need one. (I mean with us, of course) Good friends are hard to come by, and especially good friends who have such a history together! We love you all!
p.s. Thanks Nathan for taking this picture! I stole it off of your facebook!

Did anyone else get the 24 flu?

2008-08-05T14:55:00.002-06:00

So Thursday David woke up feeling yucky, Thursday night Lauren joins the party, West felt left out so he threw himself and all his junk all over his bed. We spent the night cleaning and bathing children. By Saturday we thought we were out of the woods. Everyone was feeling so much better. However, not to be outdone by her peers, Kathren began early Sunday morning. Then I joined in Sunday afternoon. Dave got achy, but nothing else. Of course, I did not do anything on Sunday, or Monday, and Tuesday I woke up with a splitting headache, probably due to dehydration. I am trying to clean up, but honestly don't feel like it. I don't even know where to begin. There is some kind of mysterious sticky substance all through my house. Dave made a slushy, and I think that is what the sticky is. It is all over my kitchen, and wood floor. Laundry has piled up in just three days. I just want a good book to read and an Alice (The Brady's maid) to come in and clean my house, and cook food for the kids. Oh well, as they say, the mess will be there tomorrow.

p.s. if we got anyone else sick, I am so sorry! This flu bug was super contagious! so hopefully we didn't spread those germs everywhere!

5 week photo shoot

2008-08-05T12:48:00.004-06:00

My sweet friend Nicole came over and took some adorable shots of the kido's. She says that she just likes to practice, but I think that she has a serious talent, and that these are super good shots! Practice, Smactice, you Nicole, are a pro! Thank you for sharing your talent with us! We love these, p.s. I stole these off of her photography blog, you all should seriously check her out!

SwEEt gOgglEs

2008-07-26T10:52:00.002-06:00

One of our favorite things to do when we are in San Diego is to go swimming! We love to swim at Grammy's, Aunt Lillian's, and Aunt Diane's. Thanks for letting us play in your pool!

Blessing in San Diego-July 13, 2008

2008-07-25T12:46:00.003-06:00

We drove down to San Diego on July 12, Lillian's one month celebration. All I can say is that a new mom should not travel anywhere where you have any one who has expectations. I was still not on any schedule, and it took me forever to get ready to go anywhere.

We had quite an eventful trip, starting with a rat running a muck, and ending with a beautiful wedding. What an adventure!

The blessing was on July 13th in the West Hills Ward. That was our old ward, and all of our family, except Dave's mom and my nephew and his family are in that ward. So we thought it would be convenient to bless the baby there. Dave gave a lovely blessing, simple and sweet. One of my favorite things he said was that he asked the Lord to bless her with happiness. To smile, and laugh. He also blessed her to love her siblings. I am thankful for the priesthood, and for each one of you who stood in the circle to help with the blessing. It was so worth traveling almost 800 miles, to see you all standing up there! We love you all!

Here we are with my parents aka Grandpa and Grandma Hutchings. We are so glad that we were able to make the trip down to San Diego so that my parents could meet little Lillian Jane. (grandchild #27)

This is us with Dave's mom, aka Grammy Moreau. We are so thankful that she was able to come up when Lillian was born, and help with the other kids. That was such a huge relief to us! We are also so happy that she was able to witness the blessing of her eleventh grandbaby!

Our family picture. Five kids! I think that I am still in shock! Life is crazy, but so cool!

The men who helped give her a blessing, Steven Schimpf,my sister Lillian's son who is going on a mission to Knoxville Tennessee, Andrew Moreau, Dave's brother Kevin's son who is going on a mission to Boise Idaho, Kevin Moreau, Dave's brother, Dave, Richard Hutchings, my dad, and Larry Hartpence, my sister Diane's husband. (Kevin Schimpf, my sister Lillian's son also helped but he had to leave early)

The group shot, I just noticed poor Aunt Donna holding both West and Kathren. She is turbo woman! Thanks to all who came to support us!

Steven and Andrew wanted to take a picture because this was the first baby blessing that they participated in! I thought that was so cute! These men are going to make such great missionaries! They are so tender hearted and loving! We are so glad that they were able to help out! We love you both, and can't wait to see you before you report to the MTC!

thrEE wEEks

2008-07-23T16:59:00.004-06:00

We had Mr. Mike Warner of Warner Photography, come over and take a few pictures. He brought us the pictures over, and we loved them all. Thank you Mike! You are awesome! This one is Lillian's impersonation of Thriller!

WeEk thReE

2008-07-10T11:19:00.002-06:00

Stadium of FIRE!!

2008-07-09T09:40:00.010-06:00

Check out the Video Bar on the Right to see the Stadiom of Fire Dancers! The first one is the best!

This year Lauren got to dance in the Stadium of Fire! She was so excited to be a part of this years Stadium, because you guessed it Miley Cyrus was performing! She worked so hard to learn the 7 minute dance routine in one month! What a fun thing to be a part of! I am so glad that our dance teacher (Andrea Olsen with Diva's Dance in Lehi) has been a part of this for the past three years! What a cool experience for all these girls! I guess this year was the largest group of dancers that they have every had..1,300! Wowee!

wEEk twO

2008-07-08T23:19:00.002-06:00

It seems that all this little girl does is sleep, sleep and sleep. I tell the kids that it is exhausting being a baby. And that growing bigger takes alot of work. This week Lillian has found her dark side. She has a super intense cry. She sounds like she is in horrific pain, yet when I pick her up she stops immediately. I don't mind that she wants to be held all the time, cause that is all I want to do. I love holding her and looking at her. She is so fun. Sometimes when I am watching her sleep, she smiles and laughs. I can't help but wonder what or who she is dreaming about. I like to think of her dreaming of her Poppie, or her Uncle Rick, and her time in heaven with them. What else does a newborn have to think about, or dream about? So I like to hold her as she is dreaming of heaven, it's the closest I can get to those who have passed on, those I miss and love. This reminds me of a song from "My turn on Earth" called "Angel Lullaby". It goes a little something like this...

You came from a land where all was light
To a world half day and a world half night
To guard you by day you have my love
And to guard you by night your friends from above.

Chorus
So sleep, sleep, till the darkness ends
Guarded by your angel friends
So sleep, sleep, till the darkness ends
Guarded by your angel friends

There is one standing softly by your bed
And another sits close with a hand on your head
There is one at the window watching for the dawn
And one waits to wake you when the night is done

Repeat Chorus

We are so blessed to have a knowledge of what happens when we die, and to know that life does not end, that there are angel friends to help watch over and protect us. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to watch this little one, who just left that world, and to feel of her closeness with Heaven.

Week oNe

2008-07-07T12:01:00.001-06:00

I am a bit behind in keeping you updated on the baby. She was a week on the 19th of June. She is so good!

Yeah it's your BiRTHDay!

2008-07-02T09:22:00.000-06:00

Four years ago today, our Kathren came into this world! What a special day that was! We were so excited to have her join our family! She has always brought us so much joy! Kathren keeps life fun and exciting! What a blessing she is to us!

We hope you have a great birthday little girl! We love you so much!

Oh STaCie you're So FiNe!

2008-06-30T12:19:00.002-06:00

For the past two weeks, we have been graced with the presence of our fabulous Stacie! Dave went out of town, just a week after I gave birth. Needless to say, I freaked out a bit, and called my super hero dad. He thought of flying Stacie out to help me with the other 4 little angels. So the next day Stacie was on an airplane, and was here to save the day! I can't tell you what a huge help she was to me. Every day she just played and played with all the kids. They totally had a blast! The daily schedule consisted of: Wake up, play Barbies, eat breakfast, jump on the trampoline, play baby dolls, jump on the trampoline, have lunch, play dress-up, play cars, play legos, play, play, play, have dinner, watch a movie with six bags of popcorn, and fall asleep.
I can't thank Stacie and my dad enough! They truly saved the day!
Stace, you were fantastic! Thanks for being my hands, and helping me lift West off the baby, and entertaining all the kids! We all love you and can't wait to see you in a few weeks!

Happy Birthday Lauren--9 is fine!

2008-06-26T01:05:00.003-06:00

Lauren we all love you and are so thankful that you are our first baby! You are such a wonderful daughter, and sister! We are so blessed to be a part of your life!

Introducing the new "IT" girl!

2008-06-17T17:39:00.004-06:00

Lillian Jane Moreau

She is such a good baby! The delivery was awesome. Started at 1:00p.m. and was done by 5:09p.m. One push and she flew into the world! FABULOUS! We are both doing great! More info to come!

It is now officially time to FREAK OUT!!!!!

2008-05-28T14:58:00.003-06:00

I have not been on the blog in a while. I was just not very motivated to let the world know how I was doing. So when I just posted that last post, I saw that the date was the 28th of May, and then I looked over to the side and saw that there was 21 days left until this baby comes, and then I looked around my house, and realized that I am not even remotely ready, I think that my blood pressure just shot up, and I am now hyperventilating. (sorry for that major run on sentence, for all you grammar buffs)

On May 9th at about 5:30p.m., I started having contractions. At first I was not worried about them, I just thought that they were braxton hicks. At 7:00p.m. I told Dave, that I thought we should keep track of these things. So we started and realized that they were every three minutes. So at 8:30p.m. I called the nurse and asked her if there was some thing that I could do to try and stop these. She told me to drink a ton of water, and then take a bath. So I did, and I thought that they stopped, but when I got out of the bath, and started paying attention to them I realized that they were still going strong. At 11:30p.m., I called the Doctor and told him what was going down, and he told me to go the Labor and Delivery, so that they could check me. I did not want to go, but I thought that if I was in Labor, then at least they could stop it, since I was only 34 weeks. But when I talked to my Dr. he said that they would not stop it, and that if I was in labor, I would be having this baby tonight. I have to say, that that freaked me out. So I got in the car, and drove myself to the Women's center. I walked in and tried to make a joke of it all, I was like "Hi, I am here for a tour. They laughed, so I kept cracking the jokes, the next thing that came out of my mouth was, treat me good, cuz I am like one of those secret shoppers. That did not get the same laugh, so I decided to stop, since I did not want to be confused with a mental patient. So, they admitted me, put me in a labor room, made me strip down and put on one of those lovely backless gowns, and put me in a bed with monitors strapped all over me. I laid there being monitored for 2 hours. She came in with a look on her face like, sorry, but you are not leaving. She said, "how are you feeling", I said, "Fine". She said, "Are you in pain", I said, "No". Then she said , "You are having contractions every minute. Let's check you". My heart dropped, I mean Dave was not there, I had nothing ready, I was a bit scared. She checked me, and said that there had been no progression, and that I could go home with instructions to be on bed rest. So I gladly got up off the bed, and drove home at 2 in the morning, and got up at 6a.m. to travel to Syracuse for a dance competition (that I did dance in, shh, don't tell anyone and then regretted it for like 4 days afterwards-cuz I was so sore) Then I spent the rest of the two weeks pretty much sitting on the couch. I only went to church, and Costco, once.

On my birthday, I went into the Dr.'s for an exam, and they checked my blood pressure, and it was super high, so they told me to go back to Labor and delivery and get a stress test, and all the tests for preclampsia. So I was there for another three hours. And the whole time that I was there, my blood pressure was totally fine. There was nothing wrong with the baby, or my blood, or my protein. I came home and vowed that this was the last time I was going to the hospital before this baby is coming. The next day we had all our friends from our old apartment complex come over and we BBQ'ed and played. It was fun. The reason we wanted to do this, was we all came from San Diego. We all lived in the same complex there, and five families all moved from there to Utah. So we wanted to KIT. We had four out of the five show up and we must do it again. I will post pictures, as soon as I down load them.

Last week, when I went into the Dr., I told him that I was officially taking myself off of bed rest, and he said that since I was 36 weeks, that I was out of the danger zone. So, I am now just taking it easy, but slowly trying to get ready for this baby. We are realizing that since I am probably going to be induced a week early, that I really don't 21 days, more like 14, and that is an official reason to FREAK!

Who do you look like?

2008-05-28T14:54:00.001-06:00

I found this website off of one of my BFF's blogs. I thought it was something interesting to try, only I had a really hard time finding a picture of me. The lesson I learned from this whole experience is that I need to have more pictures taken of me. I tend to either take the pictures, or run off and hide because I don't like the way that I look. But I was thinking that if I was to die, or be badly burned or something yucky happen to my face, there would be no real documentation of the way that I look. This picture was taken eleven years ago, and frankly I don't really look like that anymore. So, the moral to this sad tale is to all y'all who don't like to have your photo taken, get over it, and SAY CHEESE!!!

p.s. I don't know who half these so called "celebs" are, but it sure was fun. When I submitted my picture, they gave me about 10 celebs to choose from, two of them were guys. I know that it is not something that I should be proud of, but I thought it was too funny!
Let me know if you guys try this, so I can peek on your sight and see your look-a-likes!

They say it's your Birthday!

2008-05-16T09:49:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday to you!
We all really love you!
We are so glad you're our mommy!
Happy Birthday to you!

We love you mom!

Enter this contest and tell her that you found it from my blog!

2008-05-15T11:14:00.006-06:00

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My friends are having a giveaway for some sweet music. Enter it here, and tell them you found it from my blog. If they pick your entry, we will both win a cool mix!
Rock on!

Dance, Dance, Dance, and have some fun!

2008-05-14T09:55:00.001-06:00

Here are some pictures of the girls and their dancing friends. We had fun at the competitions, but are glad that they are over!

Spring is Springing!!!!

2008-05-13T09:18:00.002-06:00

For those of you who do not live in this beautiful state, we are finally un-thawing, and enjoying the beginnings of Spring! We have had several visitors who have only been here during the Winter, so these pictures are for you guys!

For those of you who do live in this beautiful state, enjoy the warmer weather! I am so happy that the sun is shining! Get out and enjoy it, cuz it will probably change in 15 minutes!

Happy Spring!

Happy Mothers Day!

2008-05-11T22:54:00.003-06:00

I wanted to give a big Happy Mothers Day to the ladies who have had such an influence over my life.

To my mother, I wanted to say that I admire you, and I want to be like you, you are such a great example to me and to everyone around you! I am so glad that I am your daughter! How did I get so lucky? I love you!

To my mother-in-law, thank you for raising such a wonderful son! I am so thankful that he had you for a mother! You have taught me many things, and I appreciate you and all your knowledge and know how! I love you!

To all of you other ladies, there are so many of you that have also had such an impact on my life! Thank you for being there when I need you, and for nurturing me, and helping me. To all my sisters in my family, in the gospel, and who are my friends, I love and appreciate you and all that you teach me! I hope that you had a Happy Mothers Day!

David is 7!

2008-05-08T16:15:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday David! We are so lucky to have you in our family! Here are just a few things that we love about you!

1. You are so helpful! You love to do your chores, and help anyway that you can!

2. You love to read, and are really good at it! We are so happy that you like to go to bed early so that you can read!

3. We love that you love to go to your Primary Class. You always want to be the first one there!

4. You are such a great brother! Your brother and sisters all look up to you!

5. You are a good friend. We love that you have so many friends!

6. You love to play all kinds of sports! We love to watch you play and that you always try your best!

7. You are a great eater! You are always willing to try anything that we make!

8. You are a good swimmer. Your Popie loved to watch you swim! It comes so naturally to you! Maybe you will be a good swimmer like him.

9. You love to sing! We love to hear you sing!

10. We love you David! You are such a special part of our family! We are so grateful that Heavenly Father let us be your mom and dad! Thank you for always trying to do your best!

Here it is....

2008-05-07T10:14:00.002-06:00

the much anticipated, much requested picture of me doing the splits (not very well, I might add), eight months pregnant.

Mama Monday!

2008-04-28T20:54:00.003-06:00

My mom has to sit in a chair most of the time. She gets up to go from point A to point B, but other than that she is sitting in her chair. You might say that her chair is her world. I love this picture because she is so happy listening to her grand kids sing to her. She gets this happy when anyone comes to visit her.

Most of my childhood memories with my mom are of her taking care of people. It all began with her eight children. Making sure they were all where they needed to be. Scrubbing office floors, so her girls could all take dance, and piano. When I was two, my brother passed away from Cancer, he was 18. My mom took care of him. When I was 7 my grandma, her mother, came to live with us. She was getting ready to die, and my mom took care of her until she died. Then my great-aunt came to live with us. She had fallen and broken her hip and could not be left alone, so my mom took care of her for years until she died. She also took care of her father for many months until he passed away. My mom did laundry for an older man for years. She took care of him before he passed away. I look back and just remember her always helping someone.

Now she has slowed down. She can't take care of others physical needs like she once did. However, even with her debilitating disease, she still has a way of helping others. Whether it is a smile, or a big hug (she gives the best hugs) she is still helping others. She helps me by always listening to me, and encouraging me to be my best self. She believes in me, and makes me feel like I could do anything. I am so thankful that I have been honored to have her as my mom! She has set such an example of service and Christ like love that I can only hope to obtain someday.

I love you mom!

p.s. if any of you are near where my mom lives, go give her a hug for me! You won't regret it! She gives great hugs!

Go Earth, Go Earth, It's your day! Get Green!

2008-04-22T21:35:00.011-06:00

In honor of earth day today, I have decided to post a few things we can all do right now to help take care of this precious earth that we have been given!

The first thing is to get...

A Cup of Your Own
Every year Americans throw away 25 billion polystyrene cups and 25 billion individual water bottles, most of which end up in landfills. Instead buy a reusable to-go mug and a bottle that you can refill with filtered tap water. Bring your own (to a coffee shop, a meeting), and you cut down on Styrofoam.

I learned today it takes over 100 years for a water bottle to decompose.

Want a Lick?
A cone beats a cup. Why? "You're eating your silverware instead of using plastic," says Matthew Modine, a passionate promoter of earth-friendly policies. "It's all about consuming less, using fewer of the resources needed to make products and packaging."

Clean Without Chemicals
Natural cleansers like vinegar and baking soda do a great job without harming the planet. "And," Matthew says, "a little vegetable oil and lemon juice makes a great wood polish."

Bag It
Get reusable cloth bags for the grocery store and the dry cleaner. More than 100 billion plastic bags are thrown away every year.

Stop Junk Mail
Every year 100 million trees are chopped down for junk mail sent to American homes. Contact the direct marketing association at dmachoice.org/mps to remove your name from mailing lists of their members.

De-Lint the Dryer
Lint builds up after every dryer cycle, reducing the machine's efficiency. Removing it does a lot to decrease its usually massive energy use.

Shut Down
The average computer left on all day uses nearly 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year, producing more than a ton of carbon emissions. So turn off your computer anytime you're not on it, and eliminate the screen saver function, which uses more energy than the sleep mode.

From What You Can Do Right Now to Help Save Your Planet in the February 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine.

Lets all try to incorporate at least one of these things this week! I think we could all empty the lint after each dryer load! :)

Mama Monday!

2008-04-21T17:17:00.002-06:00

My niece Rach posted this picture on their family blog. This is a picture of my mom, holding Cristian, one of her precious great grand-babies. I love this picture and love my mom so much. I think Mondays should be dedicated to moms. I know that not everyone is a mother yet, but we have all been influenced by so many women, and by our mothers.

My mom is an example of enduring well to the end. She has had Parkinson's Disease (google this if you don't know what it is) for 29 years. She has suffered so much, and is in constant pain, but she still serves, and makes people happy. When we go to church with them, there is a line of people that wait to give her a hug and a kiss and feel of her powerful spirit. There is a young lady in that ward that has Cystic Fibrosis, she wrote an essay on people who inspire her, and my mom was one that she paid tribute too. My mom has such an incredible ability to give love to all! She is one of my heros! I want to try and work on enduring well this week. I know that there are people in our lives that inspire us to be better. I want to challenge you all to think about those examples in your life and think about how we can all endure well.

I will try to not complain, and to reach out to someone else this week who is in need.

What will you do this week to endure well?

What do you think of this?

2008-04-17T19:31:00.006-06:00

"Queenie Kachow Moreau"

A big thanks to all who gave such cute suggestions! We are compiling a list of all of our favorites and will take that list with us to the hospital. When we see the little lassie, we will then determine her name! Feel free to continue to make suggestions. We really do appreciate it!

What's in a name?

2008-04-15T20:29:00.004-06:00

Dave and I have been thinking heavily on what in the world we are going to name this bambino! We have gone back to the original list of unused girl names that we have had since Lauren, thinking and thinking of which will be the right one. Naming a child is such a heavy and huge responsibility and we don't take it lightly. I mean this is what you call your kid for the rest of her life! This is serious stuff! We really like family names. Lauren is the name of one of my Aunt's. David, well that is obvious, Kathren is the name of a great great grandmother, and Thomas West is the name of each of our grandfathers. The only family name that we can agree on is Lillian. That is the name of my great grandmother, and also my sister. We also have the whole EN thing going on with the girls. I don't know if we need to continue this, will the poor girl feel left out if she is the only female in the family without the EN sound at the end of her name? I don't know! And frankly, I can't handle the pressure! So I am calling on all my blogger friends! Help us name this baby! If we choose your name, we will be sending you a lovely prize as a thank you for aiding us in this heavy responsibility!
Some of our favorites....

Dave likes-
Lillian aka Lils

Karen likes-
Lilyan
Maren

Lauren likes-
Lily

David likes-
Annie

Kathren likes-
Violet
Flower

West likes-
Cars
Kachow

Please write what you like, help us name the baby!

sWiMin'

2008-04-11T12:10:00.002-06:00

West loves to swim, he asks everyday if he can go swimmin! We love in door pools! Rain or shine, we can swim, swim, swim!

Kathren giving her big cheezy grin! I love her little swim suit, we got it at Target! It is red and white gingham, the top layer of the suit, looks like an adorable little sundress! Super cute!

David near the end of the two hour swim. Check out his red, RED, eyes! Chlorine is a marvelous thing!

Lauren was out swimming the entire time with her friend Shaylin. This is the first time I saw her, she was so tired from swimming. I love it when they get so tired from all their swimming fun!

SwEEt SlEdding

2008-04-10T12:29:00.004-06:00

When we had our friends from San Diego come and stay with us, they all really wanted to go and play in the snow. Well this was after Easter, and we had had some really nice weather, so snow was really hard to come by. We drove up Provo Canyon and just started looking. We found some at Soldiers Hollow, but we did not want to pay for three adults, and eight kids to sled. So we all got back in the car and headed to Park City. On the way there we saw Jordanelle. We pulled over and found the best hill for sledding! The park ranger at the visitor center came out and we thought we were busted, but all he said was when we got tired and cold to come inside and have some hot chocolate! This was such a great place to play. They had a ton of snow, and we had access to a restroom! What could be better!

This last photo sequence was of David. He yelled for me to watch. So I watched as he slid down the hill and ran right into a tree! Oh the joy!

Where the HECK have I been?

2008-04-09T09:21:00.002-06:00

The title of this blog post has been a reoccurring question that has been on almost everyone's mind. So I thought it only fair that I inform everyone where the Heck I have been!

Explanation #1
When I was a blog-o-holic, I had me a lap top that I could sit on my comfy couch and blog the night a way. Since that computer is no longer, our new desktop is on a small table, and I have to sit on a super uncomfortable chair and frankly being fat and pregnant it just is not very appealing!

Explanation #2
For a week, we ripped up our dining room carpet, and installed hard wood. Yes you read that right, we had carpet under our dining table--YUCK!!! I lived with this for two years, and frankly, could not handle it any longer! I felt like my house was NEVER clean! So our house was in complete chaos for that week, and now we have a lovely floor that makes me so happy!

Explanation #3
For the next two weeks we have had a house full of company! The first guests are our friends from San Diego. The Fagerwold family of five. Two parents, and three children. We had a lot of fun, and will post pictures of some of the highlights! Our next group of company was my nephew Ricky Hartpence, his lovely wife Troy, and their adorable baby boy Hayden. It was so fun for us to have them in our home, and to get to know them and their baby even better!

Explanation #4
I have been a dancing fool! Yes you read that right! It is now dance competition time! All the Moreau ladies are taking dance from Diva's dance studios! We are having so much fun! Last Saturday at UVSC we had a competition that the Mama Diva's were participants in. I had so much fun performing our dance, such a rush, and so fun to hear the crowd scream for you! I even did the splits 7 months pregnant! That was a huge crowd pleaser! Afterwards, people came up to me and said that they thought we were all young girls, and that I was a teen mom :) From far away, I guess we looked young, but when they got up close to us they realized that we were really and truly all mama's! So funny!

I am still alive, barely! I am just plugging away! Thanks to all who have told me that they miss me on this blogging world! I will try to come up with some cute posts to keep all you loyal readers happy and interested!

I wAnt cAndy!

2008-04-08T14:13:00.003-06:00

The Moreau Children have started a small candy store! They want to earn money for missions, and what not. They will have regular hours during the summer, but if you are in the neighborhood, and want some candy, chips, or soda, feel free to knock on the door, and we will gladly accommodate the junk food junkie in you!

The Message

2008-03-12T11:34:00.004-06:00

Our friends, Chad and Wendy told us about this great book. Dave bought it and we both read it within a few hours. It is so interesting. Thanks you guys for the great tip.

If any of you want a good book about life after death, this is a great read!

we fEEd them, and it is cOOl.

2008-03-09T10:49:00.001-06:00

In the back of our house, we have three small ponds. One of these ponds is a natural hot spring and never freezes. The other two, serve as drainage to the spring, and they freeze every winter. The hot spring pond, provides a nice place for the ducks to live. We had about 20 mallards living back there all winter. They became our little pets. Even though they are totally wild ducks, they are super smart, and I must say easily trained. Everyday when I opened my curtains, they would fly over to my backyard, and we would feed them. It didn't start out this way. We have a local duck that is here year round. His name is Edward, and he can't fly. I think someone, long ago clipped his wings, and even if the wings weren't clipped, he is just too fat to fly. So Edward served as a ring leader to the rest of the group. We have been throwing bread out to him every so often, and he being completely tame would waddle over and eat. So I don't know if because he was the biggest, the ducks deemed him their leader, or what but, we would throw out the bread and Edward would waddle over like usual, and the rest of the ducks wised up and would follow suit. Then the ducks would see all of us standing on our landing throwing bread out and they realized they could fly over and beat Edward to the goods. We would see poor Edward running as fast as he could, it was sad and yet, really funny. Finally, all we had to do was open our curtains, and the ducks would fly over and land with a great big face plant in the snow, and eat until they were full, or the bread was gone. This ritual kept me and the kids amused most of the winter. It was a bright spot to the endless gray days.

I'm BACK!!!!

2008-02-25T10:39:00.004-07:00

Dave's G4 notebook (Mac Laptop) died. So we knew that we needed to purchase a new computer. We bought the imac. I love desktops! This computer is way faster, and way nicer! Yeah! The greatest news is that we were able to download all of our pictures. I will be spending the next couple of days backing all of these photos up onto disks. We should have done that a long time ago! I am just so thankful that we did not lose any. phew!

Blogging Withdrawls

2008-02-19T23:27:00.002-07:00

I have not had a computer for almost a week. I am seriously having withdrawls. I had to borrow Dave's work computer just to let you all know that I am still here, and I will someday have a computer to blog again. I don't get to use his computer very much, so I won't be posting as often, and peeking in on all your fun lives will be lessened. Just know that it will be Zion when we can blog again! Pray that my computer makes a speedy recovery, and that they can save all my pictures from it.
Gracias!

V-Day is almost here!

2008-02-13T14:14:00.001-07:00

Some Valentines for my special sweethearts!

p.s. Dave does not have red toe nails, he likes it when I have red toe nails : )
p.s.s. kids photos taken by Mr. Mike Warner

Results are in! And the winner is.....

2008-02-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

Before pressing play, scroll down and hit pause on my playlist, so you can hear the result!

Baby looks good! Thanks everyone for your votes!

Tagged...Again

2008-02-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

This ones from Hannah!
A-Z Tag

A - Attached or Single: attached
B - Best Friend: Dave
C - Cake or Pie: Texas Sheet Cake
D - Day of choice: Any day works for me
E - Essential Item: glasses or contacts, I have to be able to see things! And a toothbrush
F - Favorite Color: pink
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Gummy bears
H - Hometown: San Diego, California
I - Indulgence(s): long, hot bubble baths, and taking naps
J - January or July: July
K - Kids: 2 girls, and 2 boys, and one unknown bun in the oven
L - Life is incomplete without: My husband, kids, gospel, and food
M - Marriage Date: January 9, 1998
N - Number of Siblings: 5 sisters and 2 brothers
O - Oranges or Apples: Oranges from the Moreau's trees, and fuji apples, I love all fruit!
P - Phobias or Fears: the dark
Q - Quotes: "Forget yourself and go to work" President Hinckley, quoting his father
R - Reason to smile: sunshine, my kids laughing
S - Season: I love every season, except Winter is too long. But I do like winter during the holidays. Living is San Diego most of my life, there was no seasons, so now that I live here, I truly enjoy the magic of each season. But if I had to pick one, it would be Summer.
T - Tag Three Friends: I can't handle the pressure of this, so if you want to be tagged, consider yourself tagged.
U - Unknown fact about me: My family and I were champions on the FAMILY FEUD!
V - Very favorite Store: Target
W - Worst habit: I am a procrastinator. I know, I need to repent!
X - X-ray or Ultrasound: This is one of those that you know they were like, what can we use for X. Does it really matter? I am grateful for both
Y - Your favorite food: Chips and Salsa!
Z - Zodiac: Taurus

Heather tagged me with this one about 2 monthes ago.. sorry Heather that I took so long to respond, here goes...

6 facts/habits about me.

1. In my backyard growing up, we had a swimming pool. Every year, my parents would let the pool go, you know during the cooler months, they would stop putting chemicals in it and cleaning it. So the pool would turn into a swampy, mossy, pond. One day, during these cooler months, I was in the backyard by the swampy pool, reading my Sesame Street books to the dog next door. He sat by the fence, as I read to him the adventures of Grover. My sister called from the house to tell me it was dinner time, so I stood up with my books in hand and was walking backwards saying good-bye to the dog. Next thing I knew, I was in the deep end of this swampy mess. My books at the bottom, and me covered in muck. My sister ran out laughing, and took me into the shower immediatly. Needless to say, I never walked backward by the pool again. Oh and I never read to the dog again either!

2. When I was 12, and a Safety Kid, I was invited, along with 4 of my fellow Safety Kids, to travel to Washington D.C. to sing in front of the National Federation for a Drug Free Youth. It was such a fun trip. and an honor to meet the first lady at the time, Nancy Reagan. We toured D.C., and marched in a parade. Then Elder Richard G. Scott's brother picked us up, and took us back to the airport. I will never forget that experience.

3. When I was a Senior in high school, I was Student Body President. It was fun! Since that time (15 years), there has been 6 people in my family (neices and nephews) who have been President as well.

4. I am a total homebody. I rarely get "cabin fever". It seems like there is always something to do at home.

5. I get stressed out, way too easily.

6. I have had three out of the four kids, oh de natural. No epidural. The first one, was with an epidural. The second one, I asked for the drugs when I was at a five, and 15 minutes later, the epidural doctor (I can't spell the correct name of this kind of doctor, and am too lazy to get up for a dictionary) came in and it was too late. So I had no choice with that one. The third, I choose no drug, and the fourth one I should have had one, cuz that one was dang hard. But I guess it became a pride thing. The fifth one, I have to go without an epidural, because, my insurance is where you have to pay 20% of the bill, so I don't want to pay for that. I know, I am crazy! But I do like the freedom of being able to get up and walk around.

spinach DElight

2008-02-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

I have had many requests for the oh so yummy spinach shake receipe. There really is no receipe. It is basically, whatever you have, and whatever you want. I am going to post the way that we make this delicious drink every morning.

First, we put in the SPINACH. We buy the spinach from Costco. We get the organic kind in the plastic tub. We go through this in one week. The bag of spinach, even though it is less money, we could not use it all and would throw almost half of it away. So to get rid of the guilt of wasting, I switched to the smaller amount. Any kind of spinach will do. We put about two big handfuls in the blender.

Then we add a banana. I let mine ripe on the counter, and then I peel them, and put them in a freezer ziploc and store in the freezer. I use the fresh banana's if I have them, but it is also nice to keep some in the freezer just in case you don't have the freeshie's.

Next comes the frozen fruit, any frozen fruit that you like. We like blueberries, and strawberries. We have also bought the fruit assortment with peaches, honeydew, etc. That is yummy too. Basically whatever fruit you like will make this yummy to you.

Lastly, we add the juice. We use orange juice. But you could use whatever juice you like. We have a juicer, so alot of times we add half carrot juice, and half orange juice. Just for added vitamins. Pinapple juice is good too. If you half to watch your sugars, you can use the diet V8 splash, or Ocean Spray makes a sugar free juice.

Then all you do is blend, blend, blend. It should look like one of those Jamba Juice smoothies.

This is about how much one blender full makes. We drink it in these 32 ounce tumblers, and the two kids drink it in these 10 ounce cups. When we make it for the entire family, we usually take smaller portions. We put ours in the 18 ounce cups. And then each of the kids gets a 10 ouncer.

p.s. I promise that you will not taste the spinach. I am one of the pickiest people that you will ever meet, and my pallette is quite happy every morning when I drink this. Even my kids love it!!!
p.s.s. Let me know if you love it, like it, or can't stand it! Or if you have any other questions! Enjoy!!!!

100 Things About Me

2008-01-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

Once again my friend Kami, challenged us all to come up with 100 things about ourselves. I don't think that I will be able to come up with 100 things, but thought it would be fun to try, so here goes...

1. I get highlights to resemble the color of my hair when I was younger.
2. I used to be smart, but now I feel like my brain is mush!
3. I am scared of the dark.
4. I love to sing, and need to do it more.
5. Crafting stresses me out.
6. I would love to be able to craft without getting stressed.
7. I get stressed, because I want to do things perfectly.
8. I think that I am what you call a discouraged perfectionist.
9. I dislike sales calls!!!!!
10. I cannot watch any movies that are suspenseful.
11. My favorite movie to watch is Pride and Prejudice (the A&E 6 hour version)
12. I wore braces, and wore my retainer for 16 years.
13. I used to love doing laundry. I loved that feeling of all the laundy being done. With 6 people in the family, it has been along time since I have had that feeling.
14. I should be 5'11, but because I have scoliosis, I am only 5'9.
15. I love being a mom.
16. I don't love having a mom body.
17. I do love and am so thankful that everything in my body works!
18. I have never tried lobster. (am I missing out?)
19. I love onions! Lucky Dave!
20. I have a genetic defect.
21. It is, that I am missing a tooth. I had a baby tooth, with no permanent tooth underneath it.
22. When I was growing up, I lived in the same house my whole life.
23. I have 5 sisters and 2 brothers.
24. I am the youngest in my family.
25. I played Volleyball all four years of high school, but rarely play anymore.
26. I was on the swim team in college.
27. I have a mole that needs to be removed.
28. I like to cook, now that I have a nice sized kitchen.
29. I miss thrifty's ice cream. Chocolate malted crunch--soo good! Do they have thifty's ice cream here?
30. I love spicey food!
31. I could live off of chips and salsa.
32. I do not like to be alone at night.--see number 3
33. If I could pick a non-existing carrier, it would be a package decorator. You know, like packages you mail. I would love to decorate them.
34. I have rescued the princess many times on Super Mario Brothers.
35. I am double jointed in both of my thumbs.
36. I want to live in a beach house at La Jolla Shores, in San Diego.
37. I do not like winter! It is way to long!
38. I am not organized.
39. When I was a young I was a Safety Kid!
40. I have choked on a hot dog.
41. I have had the heimlich manouevour performed on me.
42. I did not spell that right.
43. I do not like to leave a project unfinished.
44. I do not start many projects because I can't stop until they are finished.
45. I love to collect recipes, but rarely use them.
46. I love clever people, because I can copy them. (giving them the credit of course)
47. I get nervous whenever I have to talk in front of anyone.
48. Tio Leo's is my favorite Mexican Food Restaurant.
49. I love McDonald's fries.
50. I do not have a green thumb.
51. I read all of the Harry Potter books in 2 months.
52. My favorite place for alone time is in the bathtub.
53. I love going to Padre games. (for those of you who don't know-that's San Diego's pro baseball team)
54. I love being from San Diego.
55. I miss San Diego during these cold winter months.
56. I love watching the sunset.
57. I have 22 nieces and nephews.
58. I am having babies at the same time as some of my nieces and nephews, making me a Great Aunt.
59. I would do anything for anyone in my family!
60. I have the best parents.
61. I love to go shopping.
62. Sometimes, I go to stores and put stuff in the cart and then walk out. I do this when I can't buy anything, but still need that feeling of getting something. Pathetic, I know. p.s. I leave the stuff inside the store. 62a. I have never stolen anything : )
63. I wish that I could make friends easier.
64. My first kiss, we bumped teeth. Ouch and EEEWWW. (that was NOT with Dave)
65. My first kiss with Dave was really nice! (under the mistletoe--cheezy, but NICE)
66. I take a dance class, even though I am not a good dancer.
67. I can do the splits.
68. I love to color in coloring books.
69. One of my favorite things about Christmas, is getting Christmas cards. Thanks to all of you who send them to me, they make me soooo happy!
70. I love Ranch dressing, everything is better with Ranch : )
71. I really enjoy Cafe Rio's Salads.
72. I used to have a clean house. I don't anymore.
73. I had a nervous breakdown in my college art class. I only had two classes left, and we had a project to do, I looked at it, and mentally could not handle it I stood up, crumpled my paper, threw it away and walked out, never to return, thus getting a failing grade. That is my biggest regret in my college career. I have to blame it on the fact that I was planning my wedding, and just could not handle anything!
74. I play the piano, "but very ill indeed" line from my favorite movie-check number 11.
75. I tried to learn how to play the guitar. Not so much!
76. I love that Dave is more crafty than me.
77. I love to watch American Idol--does that make me a geek?
78. I drink Spinach shakes almost every morning.
79. I want to be a college student for the rest of my life. I love to learn.
80. Dave paints my toe nails for me.
81. I like to have short finger nails.
82. I do not like to wear high heels. My dad says that's why I don't have shapely legs.
83. I have a freckle smack dab in the middle of my nose.
84. I don't like being pregnant, but I love feeling the baby move. (sorry, but I just felt the baby kick me)
85. I have a hard time making decisions. Especially when other people are involved.
86. I feel safest at the beach.
87. The mountains are beautiful, but they scare me. There are animals that can eat you!
88. I have a pair of roller derby roller skates, and can only skate if I am holding on to a stroller. I still have almost fallen several times.
89. I guess I am not very coordinated.
90. I love jumping on our trampoline. soooo fun!
91. I don't collect anything.
92. I love being LDS (you know, Mormon :D)
93. My favorite calling in the church was primary chorister--so fun!
94. I love playing games, I think boggle is my favorite-- no one will play with me, cuz I am dang good!
95. Someday, I would love to travel all around the world.
96. I have a tape of me singing "God Bless America" when I was two years old!
97. I pluck my eyebrows--and hate every minute of it!
98. I really want a swimming pool in my backyard.
99. I am addicted to blogging, and get my feelings hurt when people don't leave comments-hee hee.
100. I can't get rid of my Donny and Marie barbie dolls, and records. I will always be a fan.

That only took me hours! But man was that fun! Thanks Kami, for the challenge. Anybody else up for it?

Custom Candy Conversation Hearts

2008-01-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.cryptogram.com/hearts/
My friend Kami, found this awesome web site where you can make your own conversation hearts. It is fun! You should try it!

True Love

2008-01-29T09:35:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking alot about love, you know since Valentines Day is quickly approaching. I think one of the greatest examples of true love is the Hinckley's. The following is a letter that was read at Sister Hinckley's funeral.

�My darling,

�It is now more than 60 years since we entered the Salt Lake Temple there to be married for eternity.� I had known you for a long time prior to that.� I knew what I was getting in to and it has all turned out as I thought it would.

�What a treasured companion you have been. Through all of these years we have walked side by side as equals before the Lord. There have been good days and bad days, but the good days have far outnumbered the bad ones.�

�Life, for the most part, has dealt gently with us.� During the Depression, when we were newly married, we were poor and we didn�t know it because we were so rich in the things that really count.� The laughter of happy children graced our kitchen table. The presence of a loving mother blessed our home.� The Lord opened the windows of heaven and showered down blessings too numerous to mention.� He has smiled upon us in a wondrous way.�

�When our children were young, you seldom� traveled with me.� I would be gone for as long as two months at a time.� There were not even telephone calls permitted in those days.� We wrote letters.� You never complained.� How wonderful it was to come home and be held warmly in your arms and those of our children.

�You have been my critic and my judge. You have pushed aside the flattery that comes with public life and winnowed the kind and sincere words of honest and loving friends.� You have held at bay that old fraud of adulation and kept my feet planted on the solid earth.

�How I appreciate you.� Your voracious appetite for reading and your relentless pursuit of knowledge has kept you alert and refreshing throughout a long and fruitful life.� Now we have grown old together and it has been a sweet experience.� We have shrunk in stature and move a little more slowly.� We are more forgetful, but as of this writing we still have one another and that is so good, and when in some future day the hand of death gently touches one or the other of us, there will be tears, yes, but there will also be a quiet and certain assurance of reunion and eternal companionship.

�I love you, dear.

Gordon�

What a Sweet Reunion they have had!