What we've been up to...

The weekend got off to an early start. Ailey and I met my mom, Jayme, Kaiden and Kelley for lunch at our favorite lunch/coffee spot...The Rockwood Bakery. This is one of my favorite places to go. Tyler hates it. He claims he always leaves there hungry... you can't get filled up on pastries, salads and hot chocolate. I beg to differ. The kids love going and so do I. When Kelley first moved here and was job hunting we spent many a lovely afternoon sipping hot drinks and eating tasty things. Kelley and I arranged to meet up a bit early and we had a great time chatting and catching up on things.

Mom, Kristin, Kaiden, Ailey, Kelley and Jayme...hanging out at the Rockwood.

It was fun to visit with everyone. Ailey felt like a "big girl" and Reilly was quite perturbed that we had to go while she was in school (Kameron could've cared less). But they had fun because Dad picked them up from school which was a special treat.

Saturday was a busy day. We got up early and decided to head to the park...the whole family...including Mrs. Beasely. It was gray and drizzly but we figured we live in the Pacific Northwest and we might never leave the house in spring if we wait for dry weather. The kids and Tyler had fun running around and playing. I decided to go for a "run"...I use that term VERY loosely!! I am not a runner...I pretty much hate it...but I am trying to kick things up a notch in my exercise routine. Tyler is suddenly a the work-out king and I am trying to keep up with him. I usually go to the gym several times a week but running on a treadmill is vastly different from running outside.

After that Tyler and I went on a little "date". I had YW stuff every night this weekend so we decided to run errands together and go out for lunch...how romantic huh? I was excited about going to our new favorite lunch spot...The Staggering Ox. Lucy recommended this place a while ago and it is now a serious addiction.

They have the BEST sandwiches in this tubular type bread...called a "club foot" and then you pick a sauce that they pour over the sandwich. We have gone many times and are still having fun trying different sandwiches. On Saturday we got the "Slam the Taliban" (or something like that) and the sauce we picked was called "Camel Spit" (a cucumber dill sauce). Our favorite sauce is called the "Blue Horsie" which is a bleu cheese and horseradish combo. It is so good. As we were scarfing down our sandwich (yes, we split one...I didn't want that hideous run to be for nothing!!) Tyler said "I hope you have SERIOUSLY thanked Lucy for telling us about this place!!" So here it goes...THANK YOU LUCY!!

After that we felt we could go on to phase II of our "date" the dreaded Wal-Mart!! It was hideous and horrible but a bit better that it was just me and Tyler...no kids. We then ran a few more errands and headed home. I had to be at the YW General Broadcast/Dinner that evening.

Sunday we went to church and then I had Standards Night at the Stake Center for the youth. It was really good. Our stake president is the most amazing guy. We are so lucky to have him. I came home with a great new catch phrase for Reilly..."Modest is hottest!!"

It was my sister-in-law's birthday on the 14th and I forgot to post a little something about her...Sorry Lori!! I always wanted a big sister growing up and she more than fits the bill. She is loving, funny, supportive, and caring...her biggest flaw is that she lives all the way in Arizona!! We miss you and love you!! Happy Belated Birthday!!

Lori and Tyler...too cute!!

Exciting news...Tyler's step-brother, Forrest, just got engaged! Congratulations!! The bad news is he is getting married in Las Vegas right when we were going to Utah for our family vacation. I guess we are going to have to cancel those plans.

Worries and stress...worries and stress...

Ok...things have been a little stressful around here this week. I am glad I have found the blogging world. I can now "stress read" rather than "stress eat". Last week I had one of the young women confide in me about a very serious situation and request my help. It has forced me to dust off my psychology and social work skills...skills that are much like CPR...you hate to use it on someone you know. So this past week has been full of worries, stress, phone calls, and prayers. How I miss the Activity Day Girls (my previous calling)!!

Tyler also had his check up with his doctor this week. Things look good. We are still waiting for some final lab work. Sometimes I almost forget Tyler has diabetes (he has since he was eight) ...ok...I guess I never forget it but it isn't always at the forefront of my mind. Except when it is time for Tyler to have another check up. Then the worry begins. Thankfully Tyler takes really good care of himself and his appointment went well. His A1C was the lowest I think it has ever been which is really good news.

Then to top the week off I have had to call poison control twice for Ailey!! CPS is going to be knocking on my door. My kids have all gone through this stage. Suddenly between 2 1/2 and 3 years old they decide to eat something odd. Ailey is in the throws of potty training. It is her life... it is her passion. She will do anything for an M&M and a sticker. She also loves to wash her hands...all the while singing "Happy Birthday to Me" for maximum cleansing. Anyway for whatever reason...maybe the soap just smelled too delicious...I have no idea...she decided to eat some. I'm sure it tasted awful and I highly doubt she ate more than a very small mouthful but the label said to call poison control IMMEDIATELY!! The soap she ate was antibacterial and contained some alcohol...which was the danger. She would've had to eat a LARGE quantity to have any serious issues. But I was informed by the very knowledgeable operator that this is quite a problem in prisons. The prisoners will chug hand soap and hand gel to try to get drunk. Who knew???

Then the other day Ailey decided to eat some Desitin...thankfully not dangerously toxic...she would've had to eat a large quantity for it to be dangerous. I think she took a small nibble...I mean it's really no longer in use so why not eat it?!?! :o I am now on a first name basis with poison control!! My hair is turning gray by the minute! Now I can add THIS to my worries...why is my kid so WEIRD??

Leprechauns, Bonners, the lake and polar bears...what a weekend!!

Celebrating St. Patrick's day started on Friday and ended Sunday night. Kameron came home from school all excited because they had gotten to eat green eggs and ham at school. He wanted to have "Green Eggs" for dinner too. We did. FYI: that was the first time I have ever made "green eggs" and they look truly revolting but taste great. We don't do the "green" milk because as a kid my mom did this and somehow the milk turned sour and it traumatized us all and led to me, Stac, and Kelley NEVER drinking milk again! Next year I will have to try Andrea's green banana milkshakes.

I mentioned to the kids that Dane was going to try to catch a leprechaun that night...great idea from Kristi Brooke's blog...I thought our kids (especially Reilly) wouldn't go for it. I was WRONG!! Reilly immediately set out to make a leprechaun trap all the while giving me very subtle and sometimes not-so subtle winks of the eye. Kameron was already planning what wishes he wanted the leprechaun to grant him when he was caught: a big screen TV and a monster truck. Ailey was just excited because Reilly and Kameron were excited. They decided that shiny pennies would catch the leprechaun's eye and tempt him into the trap. All piggy banks were opened and only the shiniest pennies were chosen. The kids decided that leprechauns were extremely tiny...so a VERY small box was chosen and decorated. The way the trap would function was pure Reilly...no physics or science was used...but hey we're trapping leprechauns for heaven sakes!! So I said not a word. Here is her design:

The idea was for the leprechaun to climb the Lego stairs, step onto the unstable platform, greedily grab for the coins and fall pulling the trap down on top of him. Well...alas...that wily leprechaun took the coins, tore up the house, put up shamrocks, and left a microscopic note saying "HA HA! You can't catch me!"

Tyler and I also dyed the water in the toilet green (again another great Kristi idea). Kameron got up, checked the trap, freaked out about the house, and then had to go the the bathroom REALLY bad! He started yelling from the bathroom "That leprechaun peed in the toilet and didn't even flush!! There is DISGUSTING leprechaun pee in here!!" Tyler and I were in hysterics over the "leprechaun pee"!!

We then headed up to my mom's house. We had a fantastic time! I love going up to her house. She lives in such a beautiful place. My mom and I went shopping at our favorite store in her town...it also now has a little cafe...we had a great lunch and some mother daughter bonding time. I explained to Reilly that even grown-up women like to have their "Mother/Daughter Days". My mom got the kids some awesome kites and they had fun flying them. We ate some great food and relaxed. My mom also just purchased a new vehicle and we had a great time driving it!! :)

Views from my mom's deck...you can see Canada from her front porch...it is gorgeous!!

Ailey was helping Grandma fill up the bird feeders with bird seed. The kids had such a great time running wild!! The next morning we went out for breakfast at our favorite weird little pancake place... J.J's Cookshack...the buttermilk pancakes can bring tears to your eyes they are so DELICIOUS! Then we were off to the lake.

It was a GLORIOUS day at the lake because the ice is breaking up...and moving out...there was some open water around the dock! Yay! Spring is here.

See the water with the ICE just beyond the dock...perfect for SWIMMING??? If you are INSANE!!


Tyler and Kirk...before the plunge...I'd like to point out the extremely attractive swim suit Kirk is wearing...it was my grandpa's!!. Tyler keeps a swimsuit at the lake all year for just these kinds of things. I had the "pleasure" of videotaping and documenting these two fools!!



Kirk and Tyler after...Do note the ice behind them...they were feeling quite smug that they were the first in the lake this year! Excuse me...Tyler was "officially" the first in the lake this year. For our extended family being the "first in the lake" is a high honor. But it used to be "in by Memorial Day", then in was "in by Mother's Day". These two are grinning like fools to be "in by St. Patrick's Day"...they have set a family record. There is also great honor in being the "last out". That prize is also held by Kirk, Tyler, my Uncle Dennis, and my cousins Jaymon and Kellen who took a swim 6 years ago at Thanksgiving!



Kameron and Reilly...having fun...yet staying dry! Reilly would've probably jumped in too if I would have let her!

Dane and Ailey watching from inside the house!! Dane didn't catch a leprechaun either!! :(

We celebrated Stacey, Kelley, and Tania's (my cousin) birthdays. We had a big family dinner. We had a traditional St. Patrick's Day meal of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, lots of other good things and our favorite family drink: Green Punch. The kids were bouncing off the walls by the end of the night on a major sugar high!!

It was a gorgeous night out at the lake. After all the partying and feasting...the kids headed outside to listen to their echos on "Echo Beach" and to skip rocks!

We had a great weekend!!

Night on the Town

Last night the company Tyler works for had a catered dinner and then tickets to a free screening of the new IMAX movie for their employees. Yay! A night of family fun for free! It doesn't get better than that! We had a great time! They had a quick meeting inside the theater and then drew tickets for a cash prizes. I won $20! (I won $20 last year too) Reilly got to help draw the tickets and read off the numbers. She loved it.

The dinner wasn't too bad. A pasta buffet, garlic bread, Caesar Salad and dessert. The kids thought it was fabulous! Ailey looks CRAZY in this picture. She has a horrible cold and has a very chappy nose. She was walking around with her little "face stick" to rub on her nose and upper lip. But this picture made me laugh...crazy kid eying the Diet Pepsi!!

The movie was fantastic!! We are HUGE IMAX Fans! We go to see all the IMAX Movies. This one was really good. I highly recommend it. My very favorite was the IMAX movie that was playing last summer that was about Ancient Greece. That one was absolutely amazing. I saw it three times. This one is very interesting and made me REALLY miss the South. Both Tyler and I left wanting to hop a plane for the Southern States and hungry for some Cajun food!! The kids really liked it too. (Even Ailey) There was some great footage from the perspective of an alligator. The kids loved it.

Here's a little synopsis:

HURRICANE ON THE BAYOU takes viewers on a breathtaking tour of one of the most vibrant places in America, the Louisiana bayou and the city of New Orleans, a place overflowing with life, music and natural beauty. Here, in the region's bountiful coastal wetlands, alligators, humans and other wildlife have lived in harmony for centuries. Tragically, these wetlands are eroding into the sea at the speed of one acre every thirty minutes, leaving the entire region more vulnerable to major hurricanes. HURRICANE ON THE BAYOU offers an emotional portrayal of this environmental calamity and the staggering effects of one of the most devastating natural disasters in American history, Hurricane Katrina.

Here's Ailey on her favorite "ride". Reilly is now too big to go for a spin on the mini-merry-go-round but Kameron could still squeeze on!! Afterwards we went over to the mall and I spent my winnings on a pair of cute shoes from the Gap that were on sale and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream!! We had a great night!

The Weekend







We have had a great weekend. Lots of fun things going on. The weekend got off to a great start on Friday night. Andrea invited me to sub for her Bunco group. The only women I knew were Andrea and Carolyn. I meet some very interesting women. They were all moms from my kids' new school (we opted into a new school this year...we actually live in the boundaries for another elementary but we were VERY unhappy with it). We have had fun learning the in's and out's of the school but we are still very NEW!! These women were TREASURE TROVES of information!! I was like a happy little sponge soaking up all the info and advice. I had a great time. Thanks for thinking of me Andrea.






The next morning dawned bright and early. It was the YW/YM's turn to clean the church. This hasn't turned out so great in the past. The first time only one girl showed up; the second time ZERO girls showed up; this was our best turn out yet...three girls out of approximately 20!! All the leaders were there and we had our husbands and kids in tow. I like having our kids come and help out. I like them knowing that the church just doesn't clean itself and that we all need to pitch in and help out. (They were very excited about coming...well...we did bribe them with chocolate milk!) Lucky for us Carolyn brought Krispy Kreme Donuts and the YM leader brought donuts as well. We had the church cleaned in about an hour. Some how Carolyn and I got assigned the job of cleaning the restrooms...the men's and the women's. While we were wiping down urinals (disgusting) Tyler came in to do the trash. He was teasing us about our FABULOUS assignment!! Carolyn and I were laughing that it was too bad that neither of us had our cameras because it would've made a great picture for our blogs!! :)


Afterward Carolyn invited Reilly and Kaitlyn H. over for a play date with Ally. She must have been high from all the cleaning fumes...particularly that fabulous multi-purpose green air freshener ;)...because when we went to pick up Reilly there were two other kids playing there too. Reilly's best friend from school lives right behind Carolyn and she had let Caitlyn P. and her little sister come over too. She had quite a group. Carolyn, you are amazing and SO SWEET AND NICE (to quote Reilly!!)



After that we took a little day trip to Couer D'Alene. I LOVE Coeur D'Alene. We had some errands to run and afterward we drove down by the resort and watched the water for awhile. "Our" lake still frozen over and it did my heart good to see some open water!! How many more days until boating season?? :) I wanted to stop at a few thrift stores in town. Coeur D'Alene has the best ones! I didn't find anything for Sisters Creed but I did find some great stuff for me!!








I got a 5-tray dehydrator...new...never used with manual, a silicone mini-heart-shaped muffin pan (new...never used), three mini-heart-shaped spring form pans (new...never used) and a picture of the temple (I am going to put it into a cute frame and hang it up in the girls' room...something to strive for...I'll have to get one for Kameron too). I got all this fantastic loot for the GRAND TOTAL of...$20!! This seriously fills me with such glee! I have been wanting a dehydrator for along time. Now both Stac and I have one and we can dehydrate to our hearts delight! (We are nerds...we love going and picking fruit, gardening, canning, and now dehydrating!) Yehaw! And...the bakeware...don't even get me started! It was a good day for junking!!



We came home and had plans to go see a friend who was performing in a melodrama. But Tyler decided to ditch me and go on a "man-date" with my brother!! This is becoming a regular thing. After all our "Sisters Weekends", Sisters Creed stuff, Dining Divas, "girls days" etc. Tyler and Kirk were feeling like they needed a little group of their own...they wanted a guy's "movie night". Tyler and I have vastly different taste in movies and so there are lots of things he would like to see that would be completely mind-numbing for me to have to sit through...enter Kirk...he likes the same movies as Tyler. John is also an honorary member of the "Man Movie Night" but he hasn't been available so the past few times it has been Tyler and Kirk on their "Man-date" which Jayme and I find EXTREMELY amusing and mock them about. "Do you have to sit with a seat in between you?" and "Are you secure enough in your manhood to share a a bucket of popcorn?" Apparently they are because this is becoming a regular thing, and like I said, I was ditched for their movie night. Luckily for me I am bought off easily. All it took was a "chick flick" (The Break-Up) DVD rental and Linnie's Thai take-out! :)

Today we had a nice day after church. Tyler fixed Kelley's computer for her...we had FHE...and made cookies with the kids. (Stac...we made your Arizona Sugar Cookies.) That's about it for the highlights.

This week looks busy but fun (yay...book club!) So I'd better finish that book!

Oh yeah...IT'S DAYLIGHT SAVINGS baby!! The most anticipated day of the year in the Northwest!!

EVEN STEVEN...Happy 30th Birthday Kelley!!

Kelley in Kindergarten

In my family we are all about keeping things even. We like it that way. What I do for one I will happily do for all. On the subject of making things even. Growing up I developed an amazing skill. I can divide anything...a candy bar, a can of pop, a stick of gum, anything into 5 even pieces. It is baffling that I had/have such a hard time with fractions. My grandma E. is to blame for this...she started it with her 5 kids...and it continued on with us. When it was one of our birthdays as kids, my grandma would send presents to all of us (smaller and less exciting than the birthday kid's present...but presents all the same). She didn't want anyone to feel bad or left out. Tyler thought this was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. When we had Kameron my mom talked about starting that up with her grandkids too. Tyler said "no way". Kids will be ok only getting birthday presents on THEIR birthdays. He thought that kids needed to learn that in life things aren't always even. But I LIKE things being even...it's the only way I know...so stay tuned for exciting birthday blogs in August for Kirk and Jordin too! :)

Onto the birthday girl...Kelley. Have a VERY Happy Birthday!!

Kelley and Kris...then

Here are 30 odd yet lovable things about Kelley:

1.) Kelley is a WONDERFUL sister!

2.) She is an amazing aunt!!

3.) Her nickname is "Smelly Kelley Jelly Belly".

4.) I call her "Nells"...I don't recall why.

5.) When my mom was pregnant with Kelley she had a lot of preterm labor and ended up on bedrest. The doctor prescribed alcohol as a way to stop labor and my mom was told to drink alcohol while she was on bedrest. Her drink of choice was vodka and orange juice. After lots of worry Kelley not only didn't arrive early...she was late...and the chubbiest of all of us. Kelley came into the world partying and soused on Harvey Wallbangers! (This could explain alot) ;)

6.) When she was little she couldn't pronounce her name correctly for QUITE a long time. She pronounced her name "Cow-Lee". If someone called her "Kelley" she would correct them and say "No! It is Cow-Lee".

7.) When Kelley was in Kindergarten we were trusted to get ourselves off to school as our mom had to be to work early at the hospital. Stacey and I were in charge of getting Kelley ready...BIG MISTAKE! We would dress her in hideous outfits and do her hair in horrifying ways. We would tell her how "pretty" she was and off to school we'd go. After awhile her teacher...Mrs. Lambert... informed our mother about this and Stacey and I got in BIG TROUBLE!!

8.) Right after that Kelley got a cute short pixie cut!

9.) She is the most stylish of us sisters--Jordi might take umbridge to that--Stac and I just live in flip-flops and capris. If I ever go anywhere fancy I always raid her closet!

10.) She has the BEST shoes ever!! Lucky for me we wear the same size.

11.) She is an amazing cook! She is famous for her appetizers. I request every year for my birthday that she make her mini-eggrolls. They are DIVINE!

12.) Her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. She gets VERY testy if people refuse to say what they are thankful for or don't want to toast--don't cross her. ;)

13.) She was hit on by Montel Williams...he was quite persistant.

14.) Kelley is very blunt and noisy--She asks all the questions Stacey and I want to know the answers to but are too chicken to ask.

15.) She doesn't like dessert or sweets...FREAK!

16.) When she was little she had a disturbing crush on "Boss Hogg" from The Dukes of Hazzard and she used to kiss the TV whenever he came on. (Must run in the family...when Stacey and I were little we had disturbing crushes too. I loved John Denver and Stacey loved Phil Collins!! )

17.) She takes her neices and nephews for special "one-on-one" days with Aunt Kelley. They do all sorts of fun things and she spoils them rotten. They love it!

18.) When she was little Stacey and I convinced her that if she took a lock of our hair and squeezed it as hard as she could it caused us excruciating pain. It took her a long time to catch on! :)

19.) She gets all the good celebrity magazines and shares them with her sisters.

20.) Once on a date Kelley went over to her date's house. He had a dog. Kelley asked him what his dog's name was and he replied "D.O.G". To which Kelley said "Ooohhh! Deeohgee...Is that Indian?" HAHAHAHA!! (one of my ALL-TIME favorite Kelley stories)

21.) She is fun to travel with...it's fun to ride together when we go to the lake or to our mom's house. When we do she usually rides with us and we make Tyler climb in the back (where he goes instantly to sleep) and we chatter non-stop.

22.) She is afraid of spiders and cats.

23.) She was very briefly my boss at a care facility that we worked at (she begged me to work there because they were short-staffed)...this caused her no end of joy and amusement...ordering her "big" sister around! :)

24.) She loves to call and annoy me during "Dancing With The Stars" (a do not disturb time at my house...I love that show) and will say "Oh...am I disturbing you? Are you watching Dancing with the Stars ?"

25.) She is very sensitive and tender-hearted. She is a sympathetic crier.

26.) Kelley and I invented the highly raunchy game that we play while laying out on the dock (when there are no children around) called "Do-able? or Not Do-able". This causes us no end of amusement. This game is right up there with our family's other invented games: "Whose your husband?" and the very popular (since moving to our area) "Find the pretty people".

27.) She has "elf" ears. I do too. It is obviously a sign of great beauty and intelligence! (Isn't that right Tiffany??) Sorry Stacey and Jordi! :(

28.) Kelley loves to rearrange rooms. She calls herself a "restyler". She loves to give us all suggestions on how best to "restyle" our rooms.

29.) She feels she has "amazing" hairstyling skills and begs her sisters to let her experiment on us (she has ZERO training or experience). She begged me for months to let her cut me a few "wispies" (face-framing layers...I think). I refused. Stacey allowed her to color her hair...very brave!

30.) She "claims" she is too busy to ever read my blog!! Maybe that's a good thing! ;)

Kelley and Kris... now

Happy Birthday Nells!! I love you VERY MUCH!! Have fun on your trip! Oops! I have one more picture on Kelley's birthday post than I put on Stacey's. Don't be offended, Stac. I love you just as much! Should I delete one of them so you guys will be even?? ;)

To Blog or Not to Blog...That is the question

It's been one of those weeks...blah...blah. Nothing too exciting. A lot that is just plain annoying. So to blog or not to blog has been MY question and I guess I have chosen not to blog as it is now Thursday!

I tried to pull myself out of the blahs by reviewing my New Years Resolutions...maybe that wasn't the BEST idea. But I actually do feel like I am accomplishing something. For example out of my 57 goals I have already accomplished about 8 and a few others are partially accomplished and will take the rest of the year to finish. But I do feel like I am making some progress like for instance goal #38 "Attend Ward Functions". I know most people don't have to actually make a resolution to attend church socials but I do...I HATE them. Why you might ask? I really don't have any reason. They just bore and annoy me. They bore and annoy Tyler. You just stand around, eating usually unappealing food, and making small talk. (You also can hang out with your friends...yeah...I know...still hate them). I would much rather spend a Saturday evening out doing something FUN!! I have talked to several friends about this and they view these ward socials etc. as something fun and a great way to socialize. Maybe if your expectations of fun are extremely LOW! ;) I blame my upbringing. I didn't grow up in the church and so these don't really hold any appeal for me...I include Homemaking/Enrichment in this same dull category. But now we have kids and they get REALLY excited about things like Corn Feeds, Chili cook offs, and Ward Fairs so we have very begrudgingly started attending. So in January I decided I needed an attitude adjustment and set resolution/goal #37.

I have now attended two ward functions...The Relief Society Birthday Dinner and our Ward Fair. WHADAYA KNOW...I actually had a great time at both. Even though one look at the pathetic R.S. dinner I wanted to turn around and walk out...so drear. But I attended anyway. I did have to leave early as I received a frantic call from Reilly who thought she smelled smoke...it was just our neighbor's fireplace. The Ward Fair was actually a great time! You can't go wrong with Fair Food and Fun! Tyler refused to attend and stayed home and hung out with Kirk and Ailey. I took the kids by MYSELF (one small step for (wo) man...one giant leap for mankind)!! We had a fabulous time. Who knew? After hearing all about our fun escapades Tyler was very jealous!! (I think he just hated missing out on the pie eating contest) :)

OK...I also have a NEW appreciation for people who work really hard to plan church events on small budgets and hope that people actually show up!! Everyone needs to be supported...I have been humbled this past month. ;)

Oh-- I have been meaning to blog about this since Christmas. My mom gave Kameron the BEST gift for Christmas. It has seriously provided HOURS AND HOURS of entertainment. Reilly loves it too and is begging for her own set. Has anyone heard of K'Nex Building Sets? They are awesome! The kids have built some amazing things...so many I had to stop taking pictures. So if you have any birthday parties coming up I HIGHLY recommend K'nex!!

This is the set we have...but there are lots of others. We are now K'nex collectors! The kids (and Tyler) are addicted!

Kameron and his Wind-Up Ferris Wheel

The Tilt-A-Whirl...there is a little wind-up motor in the set that makes the "rides" go around and around. These are just the mid-level models. Reilly and Kameron are now on an advanced level and make things like Formula cars and Space Shuttles.

Happy 32nd Birthday Stacey!!!

Kristin and Stacey..then

Today is my sister Stacey's 32nd birthday. Happy Birthday!! I love you Sissy! I thought I would list several things that I love about my sister:

1.) She is a WONDERFUL sister.

2.) She is a loving wife.

3.) She is a FANTASTIC mother.

4.) She is a loving aunt and adored by her neices and nephews.

5.) She is a fabulous hostess.

6.) She is the best cook in our family next to our mom...yes, I did just really write that even though it pained me! ;)

7.) She gets all the good cooking magazines and passes them on to me and Kelley.

8.) She is the peacemaker in our family--She makes sure everyone in our family "plays" nice.

9.) She couldn't say "Kristin" when she was little and called me "Cuckoo" instead and for far too long...don't say that she was right either!!

10.) She has a HORRIBLE middle name...I don't know what the parents were smokin when they picked it...just like Lucy she picked a "fake" middle name...Ann.

11.) Her favorite color is green.

12.) She has thick luscious hair and likes to remind me that mine isn't luscious and is thin! :(

13.) She brags about the thickness of her ponytail.

14.) She slept with a ratty old sock monkey made by our grandma until she married John that was named "Monkey Doodle".

15.) She was a very messy eater as a child. She would make our Grandpa E. sick to his stomach if she was at the table. Even a popsicle required that our Grandma E. make her a "special" bib...she would cut a hole in a garbage bag for her head and two for her arms. You've come a long way baby!!

16.) As a child she could do a very frightening and disturbing "monkey face" and liked to do it in all family pictures.

17.) In elementary school she used to request that I sing all the songs from Xanadu to her at night to help her fall asleep--HA HA-- and DON'T DENY IT!!

18.) My 4th grade class HATED her after she killed our class snake. She wanted to carry it and after much begging she was given permission. She FREAKED out...whipped that thing around her head like a lasso and threw it across the room. It hit the wall, had a seizure, and died.

19.) She was extremely loud and argumentative as a child. We thought for sure she would become a lawyer--sorry Carolyn!!

20.) She turned out to be a very calm and even-tempered adult. We all wonder where the REAL Stacey has gone!! :)

21.) She went through a very serious "Madonna Stage" in 5th and 6th grade.

22.) When in an argument with her sisters she would BELLOW louder than anyone else and would always get her way just because the parents just wanted her to SHUT-UP!

23.) She also liked to club people in the back...she is famous for it!

24.) She once borrowed my very favorite shirt and got a big greasy BUTTER stain on it that I am still EXTREMELY bitter about!!

25.) She used to be called "Elephant Ears" because she used to lurk around me and my friends and try to get me in trouble.

26.) Once in front of me and my friend Naomi, she smiled an evil smile and threw herself into a huge mud puddle, ran in the house and told my parents I threw her in...I was grounded.

27.) She dated thick-necked and red-necked Texas football players all through high school.

28.) She is an avid reader. She reads everything before I do. She likes to mock me about how long it takes me read a book. That's what three kids will do to you. I'm lucky to have a coherent thought at all...but that's an english major for you!

29.) She named her son Dane after a character in one of our favorite books...Thornbirds.

30.) She is extremely BOSSY!! Especially on road trips with me and Kirk...isn't that right??

31.) She is freakishly strong--if you need help moving call her--don't call me or Kelley...but you could call Jordin as she is also freakishly strong just like Stacey.

32.) Stacey and I met Tyler the same day and were vying for his affection. The minute I turned my back for five seconds she was sharing a piece of cake with Tyler!! Stacey was available... I was dating someone. I had to double my efforts and kick the "Kristin" charm up a notch. We waited by the phone for a week to see who Tyler would call and ask out. It's a good thing he called me...Stacey and Tyler are too similar...they need me and John to add drama to their lives!

P.S. Don't ever ask Tyler about that first meeting...his head swells up ten times it's normal size...and he feels very manly. It's nauseating!! ;)

What I'm already to 32!! But I could go on for days with interesting and odd Stacey stories! Stacey is also an addicted blog reader!! I have been trying to convince her to start her own. Stacey...don't you want to get even with me in June!! :)

Have a very happy birthday!! I love you very much!!







Stacey and Kristin now...we need to take more picture of ourselves...this is one from Christmas!!

New Beginnings

Last night was our YW New Beginnings night. Let's just say I am glad it is over!! After all our planning and preparation I was a bit let down by the night. We did not have a very large turn-out. We were missing about 10 of our 20 girls. Of the 10 girls that came two of them came with out their parents. We have a serious problem in our ward. It is a SEVERE lack of parental involvement with the youth. I have a hard time understanding this... If you are active in the Church and want your children to gain a testimony of the gospel why don't you support them in their youth activities. Many of our non-supportive parents aren't the ones who are "less-active" many of them are our VERY active albeit slightly lazy parents. The parents don't want to provide rides to Mutual; they refuse to drive their daughters to camp or to help at all with carpooling; they don't want to pay for camp; they don't want to plan their daughters Young Womanhood Recognition Nights; they don't want to attend any of their "special nights"; they don't want to help them with their Personal Progress. They basically don't want to do jack crap! It is very frustrating to us as leaders.

The last YW Presidency had even less parental involvement than we do. They planned a whole YW In Excellence Night (The biggest YW night of the year) and had a fashion show. Not one parent showed up...even after invitations, reminders, and reminders of the reminders. (Just like we did!) but since all the girls were in the Fashion show and the leaders were running things behind the scene... they had an audience of zero. Sad!



So we were nervous for our first big production as a presidency...our YW In Excellence Night last November. But our "Night of Stars" had a HUGE turn out so we expected the same for New Beginnings. No such luck! But we did have fun preparing for it and it bonded us as a Presidency because we were so silly!!



Our theme was Personal Progress University which I explained in great depth in a previous post. Everything had a collegiate theme.

Here is our YW Presidency: Camry was "The Torch" our school mascot, Valynn and I were guidance counselors hence the nerd glasses...Valynn was supposed to be "nerdy" too but for some reason didn't dress up...Jayni was the "President of the University"...She was in a lovely polyester suit from Goodwill and ratted her hair up into a beehive (no pun intended) :)

As for my glasses I dug them out of some old college stuff. They were a DI purchase for a skit Tiffany and I did at BYU. We were Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World. I was Garth and found those "sweet" glasses. We did it all in French so it was actually "Le Monde de Wayne"!! ;) For one picture I told Jayni to take off her "crazy" glasses and look normal and she sheepishly told me that they were her REAL glasses...gulp!

Here is our GIGANTIC poster...courtesy of Tyler! We look a bit better in black and white but that poster was HUGE!! Brother Bowen from our ward peeked in to our event and saw that monstrosity and didn't recognize anyone except me and thought it was a real poster from high school and wanted to tell me that I looked exactly the same!!! HA HA!!

But we were not to be out done by the Bishopric (with Brother Ruckhaber filling in) and their "championship" team! We filmed them for one of our "commercials" for our video presentation...and that ball never got ANYWHERE near the basket!! It was hilarious!

Here is our table for our "mixer" afterwards. Costco cake (which had QUITE a slope to it...what's the deal Costco??) and our lovely red "Kegger Cups" as we called them when I was younger!!

Here's our lovely "yearbook" poster...that was a huge pain to get pictures of all the girls...including our less-active ones. We braved blizzards, irritated parents, annoyed girls, pitbulls and scary parts of town for this beauty!

Camry and one of our advisers or "distinguished professors"...Amy !!

More girls!! The one with cake is Reilly's idol, Hannah! The girls seemed to have a good time.




The WONDERFUL Sister Geren from the Stake YW Presidency. She was our "Dean" and she was hilarious!

I am just glad that it is all over!! Thanks Andrea for your support! You are awesome! Thanks for coming and taking home some cake!! ;)