Valet Parking

Today is my sister, Shannon's birthday! She is a lot of fun and the one in our family that has introduced "us" (meaning siblings and parents) to the finer things in life, for example: Skycap, Spa's, Nice restaurants, Nordstroms and Valet Parking. Now, at first we usually put up a fuss because we did not grow up with a lot of monetary things and neither did our parents. So, our upbringing was very simple and we made due with what we had even if that meant sitting on a bucket because there was no passenger seat in our car (Pinto) or using a screwdriver to turn our car on and off or using pliers to turn the TV channels (you know, before remotes). So Shannon has had her work cut out for her. Her persistance usually pays off though and we end up being enlightened and realize how nice it is to indulge every once in awhile. However, on one such occassion, I felt otherwise.

My two sisters and I had gotten together for a girls weekend in Seattle and Shannon had set up a reservation to eat at the Space Needle. We were very excited and running a little late. I was also driving because I live here. Anyway, as we pulled up to the building, Shannon persuades me to use Valet Parking because of it's convenience and time factor. Well, as we pull up to the valet in my dusty minivan that has the words, "Wash Me" written on it, my sisters jump out and I look down where my keys are supposed to be hanging out of the ignition and remember that because of ignition problems and money, we were using not a key but, yes, a screwdriver to turn our car off and on. Talk about Dejavu! We all just started laughing hysterically and the valet was standing there with the strangest look on his face. I was so ambarrassed. He could not understand me either. So, I just gave him the screw driver, showed him what to do and told him to lock the door with the key. I did not know if I was going to get my car back after our lunch or not. I didn't want it back! We just took off running and didn't look back, ha ha!

Happy Birthday Shannon! Can't wait for more adventures this year! Love you!

16 and Counting!

Today is our 16th Wedding Anniversary! The older I get the quicker it goes by. Anyway, I feel so blessed to have the relationship that I have with my husband. I am very happy and feel that we compliment each other very well.

Here are my top ten reasons of why I love my husband:

10. He's punctual! (This translates to: he organizes himself accordingly to make sure that we are all ready for church on time when I have a meeting, etc.)

9. He gets up at 3:45 a.m. every morning to provide for us and never complains!

8. He is Clean! He doesn't get overwhelmed when the house is a mess like I do. He assesses the damage and gets to it. I am learning this...... slowly.

7. He does a mean gorilla impression! (Not many people can SUCCESSFULLY pull this off, I only know of two who can, the other one is a friend of mine.)

6. He can drive a car in SNOW... even when chains are required and people are being turned away. This used to scare me but, I have learned that I am grateful for his years in Canada!

5. He is a Cutie Patootie! I would say Hottie but, that will gross my kids out!

4. He is more Crafty than I..... after I attempt something crafty, I usually beg him to come in and give it the finishing touches and sure enough, Perfection! (Don't bring it up to him though because he will play dumb, ha ha!)

3. He can dance and WILL dance with me! Very important to me.

2. He is a GREAT Father and Husband! He is always thinking of ways we can become closer as a family and couple.

1. Troy has a strong testimony of the gospel! He is also a faithful priesthood holder. I am so grateful for his knowledge of the gospel and for his strong conviction of the Savior and Joseph Smith. I know that because of these things we are closer as a family.

Thank you Troy, for 16 wonderful years, I love you!

Snow Day!

After dreading the first day of getting the kids back to school and officially ending the holiday, we were granted one more free day because of the weather! Yay!!!!!! Troy even got to come home early. We took down some of the Christmas decorations and went sledding. I'm always excited about an activity that will entertain multiple ages!




Alexis in her element!


Austin catching some air.




We found another spot where there was a fire and was invited to take part. Troy and I are donning our stylish, winter gear, ha ha! Must Update!

Hot Chocolate and Sledding = ?

When it comes to snow, Alexis is planning forts, snowhills, sledding, etc. To say she loves the snow is an understatement. The girl stays out in it all day and into the night! In a recent questionnaire, she answered that she prefers the snow to being hot. She even relented going sledding with me the other day because she had missed the trip with all the kids. Here she is throwing snow at me. On our way home, I asked her if I was a fun mom now and she said with a smile, "hummmm, if we stop by Starbucks and get a Hot Chocolate!" The girl is smart!


Here she is with her cousin, Monique in their snow fort they made. You can tell by the picture that it is dark and the sun has gone down.


This is a shot I took in the car, on the Snoqualmie pass. We were traveling over to Fall City for Christmas. It was so beautiful, I couldn't resist taking a picture.

My year in a nutshell

Here's a little survey I stole from my friend, Carrie.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? Surfed from a boats wake

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolution and will you make more next year? Kind of and yes!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, a few of my beautiful neices!

4. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? humm, more organizational skills!

5. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory and why? my families birthdays, Nov. 4 (election) and the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley (I will miss his forthrightness and humor).

6. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Putting together the Primary Program

7. What was the best thing you bought? My jingle bell key ring from Leavenworth!

8. Where did most of your money go? to food and bills

9. What song will always remind you of 2008? Imagine

10. Compared to last year, are you happier or sadder? HAPPIER

11. What do you wish you'd done more of? study the scriptures, exercise

12. What do you wish you'd done less of? spending time at the computer

13. Did you fall in love? more like over and over again (love you Troy)

14. What was your favorite TV program? Chuck

15. What was the best book you read? The Book of Mormon and Breaking Dawn

16. What was your greatest musical discovery? Connie Talbot and David Archuleta of course! Sweet kids with great voices!

17. What did you want and did you get it? I wanted to find my lost wedding ring and yes, I found it!

18. What did you do on your birthday and how old are you? I spent it with my family and I turned 39.

19. What was your favorite film of the year? Australia

20. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? seeing more of my siblings and parents

21. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? very casual: jeans, jeans and flip flops (as long as possible)

22. What kept you sane? Troy always does

23. What political issue stirred you the most? Abortion

24. Who did you miss? Stacy, the Clares, the Candlands

25. Who was the best new person you met? Well, I didn't meet her but I heard her speak at a convention and I really liked her, Hillary Weeks/a new blogging buddy, Adele

26. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "Live your life with arms wide open."

Christmas Past and Present

This is my sister, Stacy and I on Christmas day, 197?. We usually got a variation of the same thing and loved it! However, one Christmas Eve, we just couldn't sleep. After laying in bed with our eyes wide open (well up into the wee morning hours) and several trips to our parents room, our mother finally decided to take us into the living room and show us what we got. We weren't quite sure how to take that but, one thing was for sure, we were not getting any sleep until we knew. And SLEEP was the one thing that our mother just happened to want. Now, I know this sounds extreme but, we had older siblings who were very out of the excited stage and we also had a certain tradition in our home every Christmas morning before gifts.

We always held a testimony meeting in our parents room. So, with seven children and two parents, you can imagine how long and how short some of those testimony's were. However, we did not know any different, it was what we did on Christmas morning. The only family testimony meeting we ever held during the year. Looking back, I think it is one of the things that has kept us close. My own little family has adopted that tradition and they do not know any different either. In fact, I think they look forward to it just as much as I do. Thank goodness my kids can sleep on Christmas Eve, though.


I had to show this picture because Troy is actually putting garland on the tree. He'll help with the lights sometimes but then he lets us take over. Yeah Troy! He even put our outside lights up just a day after Thanksgiving!


Last year we had a "MOM" tree and a "KID" tree but this year we only did one so, I relinquished my decorating to the kids. It was a lot of fun and our neighbor down the street even joined us. I will be sad to have to put everything away in January. However, it will be nice to have snow to preoccupy me.

Flying Jingle Bells

Here is the first snowfall of the season in front of our house! It just started coming down in big flakes, beeautiful! I love the warmth of the summer but, there is something to be said about the first snowfall! Maybe it's the way everything looks so clean and pure or the way it just FEELS more like the holidays or the fact that I grew up in the desert and wore shorts all year long! Never quite experienced the whole, "White Christmas" thing until I moved away. I came home that night at about 10:00 p.m. and the kids were still playing in it.


The following night was our Ward Christmas Party in which the Primary presented a Talent Show. Here I am as the MCee. I asked a couple of other people to do it, who I thought would be great at it but did not luck out. It was a lot of fun watching the kids perform.


Here is Luke in the green, as an Oriental influenced, ninja, shepherd boy, so we were told. That's what happens when your mom isn't inclined to sew.


Alexis and Monique did a skit using balloons that they came up with on their own. I thought they were very cute and very brave. Way to go girls!


The last number of the night was, "The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" made up of several of our very own Moses Lake Fairies. Kate and Ellie enjoyed getting their hair put up like a ballerina (shocker) and twirling around on stage. I want to give a shout-out to the Mom of the Year, Jessica C. for staying with the girls and dancing with them. Some of them WOULD NOT perform without an adult with them and Jessica stepped up to the plate! Yay Jessica!


Ellie and Santa! One of our few children that hasn't screamed on Santa's lap. Before Santa came in, I gave all the nursery and sunbeam aged children each a jingle bell bracelet (like the one in Ellie's hand) to shake while we all sang "Jingle Bells." I had pictured this in my head a couple of times before that night and thought it would be so cute. I didn't consider the strength and boredom of some of the boys and decided not to turn around when one of them sent theirs flying across the room at some unbeknownst bystander. I also couldn't hide the grin on my face as I thought to myself, "NOW, it is officially one of the most memorable Children's Christmas Programs."