The Teens

Last weekend was Alex's 13th birthday! I showed her this picture of me because I am about 13 years old there. Her first response was, "Do you have makeup on?" Ha Ha! I proceeded to tell her that just because it looked like I NEEDED it didn't mean that SHE was going to get to wear any. Well, maybe some mascara, occassionally! My eyelashes are transparent without it. I strategically married a dark haired man to counterbalance that and it worked!


Here she is with her electric guitar even though it looks more like a banjo!! Let's just say that it will be a cake that we will never forget!


We also played a couple of games. I played a little bit from a couple of songs on Alex's playlist and they had to identify as many songs as possible. We also had them write down the lyrics from her favorite song and the winner with the most words, received one of her favorite CD's. I love iPods! They are so much easier than big, console stereos with vinyl records.


Happy Birthday Alex!

The Ties That Bind

Last weekend my mother and sister came up for our annual "Girls Only Weekend!" Years ago we decided to make it a tradition to get together and spoil ourselves annually! We stay in a hotel, shop, get pedicures or facials and EAT OUT!! In other words, we have a BLAST! There is nothing like remembering when with people who remember and making new memories. Sure, we have the same blood and family but I think the time that we take to spend with each other is the binding glue that melds us together. I am looking forward to including our daughters as they get older!

Some Kind Of Wonderful

Here is Kate's Word Wall. Every week she gets two new words to put up and practice. One night, I came into her room and she had added her own pieces of art to the wall. At first, I didn't realize what it was and just went about putting her and Ellie to bed. However, when we got to practicing the words I just about burst into laughter when I saw what she had taped up. She had placed two panty liner papers in between her words for decoration. Then I thought, "Ugh, where did she get them?" I knew that we had some in the house but were they the same. You never know where Kate will find a particular treasure. Sure enough, she had been in the bathroom and happened upon some paper that conveniently had butterfly's on them, what luck! Needless to say, several guests have noticed the artwork and after wondering why they laugh, she quickly tells them, "I LOVE butterfly's!"

"You Spin Me, Right Round"

This weekend I got to go Antique shopping with my dear friend, Lynetta. This is something that we both really enjoy doing. She really has an eye for decorating and can make old things look very cool. Here we are at a shop with some old oars that we bought. As you can see by the picture, it is FULL of stuff to look at. This is usually a good sign that prices will be low but, you never know what people will consider a treasure.

It is also a lot of fun to consider where these artifacts came from. What story do they tell? The older gentleman that owns the shop is very interesting. He has pure white hair, always has a hat on and always gives his opinion on how we should use our purchases. I Love that about him. He reminds me of Santa Claus. This time he told us that we were just going to be "spinning" in circles with only one oar. We laughed and told him that we were going to use them to decorate. He then mentioned painting them and "hanging" pots and pans from them in the kitchen. We, of course, love that they are weathered and wouldn't change that one bit, ha ha. We didn't mention that though because we love his ideas and input. It always makes the trip that much more fun!

I got the oar for my boys room but I like it so much, we'll have to see if it stays there!

Romantic is......

Over the years Troy and I have figured out a few things: 1. He prefers to buy me nice things whenever possible for gifts. 2. I like to try to figure out some creative way to be sentimental without spending money. I have tried to bring him over to my side many times but to no avail. Why? He is who he is and so am I. So, last night I just came right out and asked him what he wanted for valentines. He responded by saying, "Time...time with you." It brought me back to when we first met and we were getting to know each other. We would talk for hours and it still didn't seem like it was enough TIME spent together. I thought it was very romantic of him to say that after 16 years he still wants....Time!

Summer Relief

Just needed a little change of seasons today.

Five years or Half a Decade

As we were taking the sacrament yesterday at church, we were noticing the new Deacons. Austin, who is currently a Teacher, was also passing and has grown about a foot since he was a deacon. It is so cute AND hard NOT to notice the varying heights of the boys in each class. The change that occurs from age 12 to age 18 is quite phenomenal. They grow up before our eyes. I keep telling myself that Austin won't be leaving for his mission for another five years and that that will not come too soon. But, as the years pass by, the number 5 is not seeming like a VERY long time at all!!!! While I am excited about the experience of a mission, college, etc. I find myself wondering if I am giving my children enough of what they need to go out in the world on their own. I know that if they will just stay close to their Heavenly Father they will be alright.

Our children are also very good at reminding Troy and I to read our scriptures, say prayer and have family home evening. So, in half a decade or 5 short years we'd better have the routine down.

I chose the picture up above because it seems to say it all and it chokes me up everytime I look at it.