Happy Birthday Cheryl!

Today is Cheryl's birthday - Happy Birthday Cheryl!

Cheryl was just a baby when Doug and I were married - so we have had the opportunity to watch her grow up, and we must say she has grown up into a beautiful, talented woman!

Cheryl is extremely smart and could have gone to school to become anything she wanted, but her main job now is that of wife and mother - and she is good at both!

Cheryl is my lifesaver with my blog - the cute design is by her and whenever I have a problem - I turn to her.

Hope you have a wonderful day Cheryl. We all love you down here in Mesa and wish you a very happy Birthday!

Here's Cheryl with Jana

On her wedding day - Beautiful!

Manti Temple

Traveling up US 89 through Utah takes you past a lot of small towns - ones most of you have probably never heard of. But, I bet most of you have heard of Manti. We stopped and got a look at the temple.

Jason had to jump the fence and run up the hill. He then had to roll down the hill. He said it was the funnest hill he ever rolled down!
Of course, on our way home we had to take pictures of the Temple with the new snow - and while it was still snowing!
Another view.

More snow?

Before leaving for the Sunday afternoon session of conference - Jason took a few pictures. This is the Suzaki that Debby and Gary use to travel in - when they don't want to get wet or dirty.

This is a view from their balcony. Isn't it beautiful!
Now, Monday morning, as Doug and I were getting ready to leave - this is what we saw outside. It had snowed overnight - 6 inches!
Here is the Suzaki now!
This is a picture of another snowstorm heading our way from the valley.
When we got down to the parking lot - this is what we saw. More snow covered trailers and vehicles.
Here's Debby and Gary - and their snow monster truck!
Here we are - first time our vehicle has seen snow! Good thing we brought it instead of the car!
It's still snowing on us!

Debby and Gary said they got at least 6 more inches of snow after we left. It doesn't look like they will be driving their car up to the cabin anytime soon!

Thanks again you two for letting us stay!

Snowtime Fun!

Can you believe all this snow? This is what we say while staying with our friends, Debby and Gary Black in Mt. Pleasant, Ut on our trip to General Conference. Debby and Gary live in a cabin all year long. In the winter (and obviously part of the spring) the only way up to the cabing is on snow vehicles. Behind their cabin is a big Boy Scout ranch - which is where the first picture is taken. We had permission to go snowmobiling on their property. It was a new experience for Jason and Kendall, but they sure did enjoy it. Thanks Debby and Gary for letting us stay at your cabin and for a great time!

Here's Jason enjoying his turn.
So is Kendall.
And the big kid - Doug, who loves his toys - and Gary's toys.
Here's Doug and I going out together.
Jason patiently waiting for his turn.

Mikel's Family Party

Sunday night we - finally - celebrated Mikel's birthday (only 8 days late!) Thanks for being so patient Mikel. It's hard to find a time when our whole family can be together - which is usually always on Sunday nights.

Here she is opening her presents - with help from Carson (and EmmaLee playing on the floor by the chair - waiting for the paper!).

Her Haul! (Hey - she asked for her own ironing board and iron so she can have it in her room!)
The cake with 20 candles!
Trying to blow out those 20 candles (she didn't do it)
The cake! Can you tell what it is? You can't tell it's an Ipod or mp3 player? Not even with those earphones?

Carson's door?

Since I am on the subject of Carson - here is some more about him! He found Oscar's doggie door - or should I say - he figured out he can go out Oscar's door. He's been playing with the flap for a couple of weeks, but Friday he discovered that he can go through it too! Kristi caught him on camera Saturday going through the door - Thanks Kristi!

It's a good thing it our back yard is all fenced in! I'm not sure how much longer he will fit through the door - as it is the smallest of doggie doors since Oscar isn't very big!

Now what do I do?

Today is my day to babysit EmmaLee. I had both Carson and EmmaLee asleep (I thought) when I sat down at the computer to put pictures on the blog. Well....I could hear Carson in his bed moving around. Since he had only been in there for barely 1/2 hour - I though, he'll go back to sleep - NOT! He started to really scream, so I went in to get him. There that little stinker was with his legs straddling the top bar of his crib, hanging on for dear life. He had started to climb, but I didn't expect this yet! (and no - I did not go get the camera. Safety first!) His crib is as low as it will go. So - where do I put him now to sleep?

Here are a few pictures of Carson. He does love to climb. Loves to get on the fireplace and dance - or just try to climb into the fireplace! If the chairs aren't pushed in at the table - he's climbing on them, and learning how to push them out to climb on them. If he isn't strapped in to his highchair - out he gets. He loves to have his chair next to the table - so he can climb right onto it. He likes to dance on the table!

Dancing on the table at my birthday party. He loves to have an audience. I have the cutest vidoe of him dancing - but haven't figured out yet how to put it on the blog.
On the dining room chair. Notice his shirt? That's from the Carson river of drool. He can't have a dry shirt - and hates to wear bibs. So, he gets his shirt changed quite often! By the way - this is only after having the shirt on for a very short time!
This is just him getting into his toys in the family room. Loves to dump them out. Notice the red toy container - it's almost empty too. Loves to pull the toys all of it too!

Slacker

Yes, I admit it - I have been a slacker on getting my blog updated! And - I even have a lot to add, but no time to do it! We went to conference in Salt Lake (which was amazing), stayed with friends and played in the snow- lots of it, Mikel's birthday party, baseball games, well - like I said - a lot of stuff and lots of pictures! Here it is - 11 pm and I am beat (which is unusual since I am generally wide awake and up till at least midnight or 1 am!) So - I promise - I will post tomorrow - hopefully, quite a few posts! Happy blogging everyone!

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged (which I am finally getting around to doing)

Post 7 random facts about yourself. The Rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Hmm - well, I guess it is time to tell you the 7 random things about me - then tag 7 other people (are you afraid it will be you? Just check at the bottom of the page to find out!)

Figuring out 7 random things was harder than I thought it was - but here they are:

1. I love to play card games - especially Rook and Rage. So does Doug - but it is very hard to play with 2 people - you need 4 (at least 3 for Rage). Our regular Rook and Rage partners moved. (thanks alot Debby and Gary!) So, we are looking for other people who play. Let us know - we would love to have you over! (Jeremy and Jo just gave me a new set of Rook cards for my birthday - we are going to teach them to play, but others are welcome to come over too!)

2. Popcorn - I love to eat popcorn. In fact - our whole family does. We are popcorn fanatics. We love to pop our own corn - with an actual popcorn popper - oil, not hot air. Fattening I know - but it is so much better popped in oil and putting on your butter and salt. YUM!

3. I hate being late for anything, especially church and big occassion things (legacy from my dad). But, it seems no matter how hard I try - I am late too many times. It is hard getting my family out the door on time, too many of them march to their own drummer. However, I keep on trying, and trying, and trying........

4. I write poetry and sometimes short stories (used to anyway - on the stories). I don't show anyone my poetry - or at least most of the time I don't. Probably, because it isn't that good - but I still write it.

5. I hate not feeling organized in planning my time and my kids time - such as who has to be where and when, when family events will be (reunion, birthday parties, etc.), meetings, sporting events, whatever it may be - I need to know the earliest time possible. I have too many kids and activities to just go with the flow. If you want me or my kids somewhere - you better let me know WAY ahead of time or we might not make it!

6. I love to socialize, but my husband doesn't, so we often are at home or off by ourselves. (Doug doesn't mind being with a few people -but not large crowds) So, if anyone wants to go to the movies, dinner, game night, etc - let me know. I will be sure and arrange mine and Doug's schedule to make it (let me know early please - I hate to not be organized!)

7. I love rollercoasters! The more they twist and turn, upside down, whatever - the better.

There are my 7 random things.

Now, I get to tag 7 people. (I am suppose to but their link too, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet!)

Tagged are:
1. Jo (hope you still love me)
2. Lisa (hope you do too!)
3. Angie
4. Molly
5. Cheryl
6. Jana
7. Chalyn

I know some of you have been tagged before - but hopefully, this one is a little different and you don't mind doing it! (besides - I don't have that many people to choose from)

Happy Birthday Lisa!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful sister, Lisa!

I wish I could be there to celebrate it with her, but since she lives in Ohio and I don't, I'll just have to send her these birthday wishes.

Lisa is so beautiful, talented and smart. She is a wonderful mother to her 6 kids.

She has wonderful singing voice and plays the viola in an orchestra where she lives.

She was always top of her class in school - and is always learning and studying about new things.

Lisa is always willing to listen to me when I call with my problems - but also just to talk and laugh together - or just to say "hi". I couldn't ask for a better sister and friend.

I love you Lisa. Happy Birthday!

Here she is with me and my mom last November (my oldest sister Pam is on the very left)

At My mom's house last November - with Doug, Kristi, and Mikel - and Vaughn at the computer.
(Since I don't see Lisa very much - my pictures of her from my digital camera were scarce)

Happy Birthday Mikel!

Happy Birthday Mikel! She is 20 years old - can you believe it? Hasn't she grown into a beautiful young lady! I remember holding this tiny baby girl with tears of gratitude.

Mikel is a wonderful person, beautiful inside and out. She is very loving, helpful, and always willing to help out when needed. She is so talented in many areas. She loves to cook and bake (making alot of the birthday cakes for the family). She is my right hand - I don't know what I would do without her. In fact - she is like another mother to Carson, who adores her. She is so good with kids - in fact, she is always being asked to sub in Primary. Mikel is very smart and is going to school to be either a high school math teacher or in accounting. We are all so blessed to have her in our family. We love you Mikel - and I, particularly, are so thankful for the person you are and that I was blessed to be your mother. Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to me! I like birthdays - not the getting older part, but that my family pampers me! I didn't have to do anything on the day we celebrated my birthday (which we did on Sunday). Doug and the kids fixed dinner, made the ice cream and cake, cleaned up the kitchen afterwards - and even let me have a nice nap after church (while they did all the other stuff!) The food was great, the company (kids and all) was even better, and the presents were wonderful. Thanks all of you. I love and appreciated it!

Here I am with the cake Mikel made for me - it is a cow! Isn't it cute! She did a great job.

Reflections of Christ

As I told in an earlier posting - The Mesa Temple each year has an Easter Pageant on the life of Christ. This year, in conjunction with that pageant, the visitor's center had a photo display called "Reflections of Christ" with many of the participants of the pageant as models. It was amazing.
The photos are on this website in a video presentation. Take a few minutes to watch. It will touch your heart. Turn up the sound. There is beautiful music to go along with it! (There was also a video at the Visitor's Center talking about the photo shoot. It was filmed as they went along with them - which really added to the seeing of the photos!)

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html