Prairie Home Companion

Wowzers...been awhile!

2010-12-05T02:21:00.003-07:00

Hello...anyone still out there? I don't blame you if you're not. :)

Another Musettes concert has come and gone. We just finished up our Christmas Concert for 2010 and it went great....it was alot of fun to do, and I am glad it turned out so well. Lots of hard work by many wonderfully talented people, and I am truly blessed to be involved!!!

Also...HOUSE IS DONE!!! Can you believe it? I know it probably went fast cuz I haven't posted forever huh. We should have our final inspection Monday. We did start moving some things in today in anticipation! We are anxious to be moved in and settled!!! And then...have a some down time to relax. If we are lucky...maybe we can have a relaxing Christmas in our new home. I will have to post some pics of the fun things we did in our house. I love how it turned out!!! And I can't wait to share!!!

Better jet, I am beyond ready for sleep tonight. More later!!!

LAMEST!!!

2010-06-09T00:13:00.002-06:00

typed a blog post...and forgot to post it!!! Yikes!!! Posted now...although most of those things are done...over...finished!!!

1) Concert is over!!! It was FAB!!! All went really GREAT and was a ton of fun.

2) Still awaiting on the house...road DONE...street lights...DONE....recorded with the city....NOT DONE...but any day now! House plans are ready to go and the loan is too! Just got to get the blasted thing recorded and LEGAL!!! This really is going to do me in! I swear!!! Hard to be patient! SOON!!!

3) Kid are out for the Summer!!! Good and Bad...sleeping in is good...kids being bored is bad! Mitch is life-guarding at the YMCA. Good place for him to be. Sydney is doing Summer volleyball, that is good too! Moony is going to be doing some art/painting stuffz...good too. Tyler...well, we are in the works...maybe swim lessons? Lots of Wii playing that is for sure!

That is about it for now!

Check back soon for house updates!!! And....keep your fingers crossed...and your prayers coming!!! :)

It's official!!!

2010-04-29T00:41:00.003-06:00

I have gone from LAME...to LAMER!!! Pretty sure....MOST LAME is approaching quickly. I know...shocking....hasn't been a year yet again and I am writing on my blog. Hopefully more to come.

Things are heating up at our house.

1) Concert week is next week...wow, that came up fast. Week full of rehearsals and dress rehearsals and 2 concerts. How fun is that!!! I am really excited to see it all come together. it is going to be a lot of fun!!! You all better come!!! And 1 reader of you! hehehe...really, it is going to be fun..so you better come! The Musettes are gonna rock!!!

2) We are super close to getting our house started. YAHOOOO!!!! Melissa...can you hear me in Virginia??? The road is almost done, just waiting on asphalt and that won't happen till the blasted thunderstorms taper off a bit. Once the lot is recorded we can start. Plans are ready...loan is ready...and WE ARE READY!!! Everyone is anxious and things have been a bit tense round here cuz I think everyone is scared to get their hopes up. Been dashed a time or two. We are very HOPEFUL!!! Can't wait to keep you all posted on the going's on!!!

3) School year is almost over....so kids are extra busy it seems. Been a good year...but we are ready for a break around here. Even some sunshine would help a tad! Kids are figuring out classes for next year and applying and auditioning where needs be....phew.

Keep checking back...hopefully lots of good news coming up!!!

XOXOXO

Wow....I'm bloggin again

2009-09-20T23:06:00.003-06:00

I was gonna shoot for a year...but just couldn't do it. Call me an over-achiever I guess! Hehehehe. Decided I need to get back to blogging. Been avoiding it for WAY too long. Here's to hoping the new owl background will inspire me! Hooo Hooo!!

Been a long while so I won't catch up all at once....baby steps, one day at a time right? Don't want to chase away any remaining readers in ghost-ville!

If you are still out there??? Welcome back!!!

Been busy...chasing kids. What else would I be doing??? Kids are busy as ever, doing all kinds of activities and doing great at everything as usual!

Mitch is playing Football for Vallivue again this year. Not sure he is loving it...likes to play but I think is conditioning for Basketball. Crazy kid!!!

Sydney is playing Volleyball for the Freshman Team at Vallivue High...yes campers, she is a Freshman. She is LOVING it...that girl....who woulda thunk it. She is a FIERCE competitor. Hates to lose!!! In fact, her team just won their home tourney on Saturday. Twas sweet it was...beat two teams that trounced them earlier this year in league play. Sweet it was!!! She played FAB...she is a setter and starting to hit too. Gotta put her in the stretcher though....see if we can't force a couple more inches out of her!!!

Moon Hee is doing stats for the VB team...good for her and she is good at it. She is a perfectionist kinda gal, so keeping the book all squared away is right up her alley!!! She is keeping busy with school too....loves art and all the fun social stuff that comes with High School. She is a Freshman too...yes...I have 2 Freshman girls! Call me crazy!!! I am!!! If you don't know who Moon Hee (Moony) is...she came on a foreign exchange from Korea. The plan was to have her stay for 6 months and send her home....but we fell in love...and we are keeping her. Hopefully forever!!! Trying to adopt her and keep her for good! She is a sweet girl!!!

Tyler is playing Optimist Football again this year!!! First year in pads and full gear and first year tackling! Kid is a beast I tell you. Besides being bigger than most kids his age...he has an extremely HIGH pain threshold. Talk about a football coaches dream come true right? He loves it and is doing very well!!!

As for us old folks??? Staying busy as ever. I decided to start doing things for myself...still love the kids and do TONS for them, but realized...gotta love me too! So...I am doing some things I always wanted to do!!! I joined a singing group here in town called "The Musettes". It rocks! Well, mostly old ladies...but they rock, let me tell ya!!! We do two concerts a year and practice every Thursday and it is making me stretch and grow and do things I never thought I could! Also...I started taking private singing lessons. Sydney has been taking and has a FAB teacher...so I decided to take too. I have only had 2 lessons...and wow, I have a lot to learn. But...better later than never right???

Well, probably should call it a post and stop for today....more to come I promise!

Hope there are still a few of you left out there...wandering aimlessly in cyberland!!!

Love you...and I have missed you!!!

XOXOXO

Lynette

Made me giggle

2009-02-04T19:19:00.002-07:00

Marital Problems

An elderly gentleman was invited to an old friends' home for dinner one evening. He was impressed by the way his buddy preceded every request to his wife with endearing terms such as: Honey, My Love, Darling,Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc. The couple had been married almost 70 years and, clearly, they were still very much in love.While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said to his host, 'I think it's wonderful that, after all these years, you still call your wife those loving pet names.

The old man hung his head. 'I have to tell you the truth,' he said, 'Her name slipped my mind about 10 years ago and I'm scared to death to ask her what it is!

Hope your February is going GREAT!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-01T17:19:00.003-07:00

Wowzers...2009 already! That sure came up fast. Honestly, I am ready for a new year! Ready for a fresh start on things....and hopefully we can have better "fortune" this year! Would love to get our land developed and get our house built! I am ready to be living in my own house again!!!

We had a pretty mellow new years eve. Mitch went to the Stake New Years party (they made it 14 and up this year...so my girlie's couldn't go), Sydney and Moon Hee went to a party at Madi Bauer's house...and Randy, Tyler and I just stayed home and watched movies and played the Wii. It was good for everyone I think!!!

I am hoping we will all be in bed at a respectful hour tonight....I am tired!!!

Happy New Year all my friends!!! Love you all!!! Best of luck and may all your wildest dreams come true this 2009!!!

Holy December Batman!!!

2008-12-01T15:08:00.006-07:00

Can you believe it is December already? Wow...like where did the year go already! I am guilty of serious blog neglect. I think it is a federal crime I know!!! But...hey I am here now so, upward and onward!!!!

November in review....

Twilight. LOVED it. Went in with fair to partly cloudy expectations and came out pretty surprised! I thought it followed the book pretty well, maybe a little choppy but all in all I liked at alot! I took my darling sweet daughter Sydney who is 13 and has read Twilight more times than she has read the Book of Mormon (sad but true what can I say). We bought tickets to go at midnight and once again I expected it to be a mad house and it was not too bad. We had a lot of fun and DEF some Mother/Daughter bonding time. She LOVED the movie more than air I think...she loves Edward and Emmett and Jasper, ok...she loved them all. It was fun to watch her and all the others like her (13-16 year old girls) getting all giddy and squealing when Edward came on screen for the first time! Made me giggle and reminded me of my youth and my deep unchanging and devout love for Donny Osmond! Yes...I had a poster of him and Marie on my wall and Marie had holes all over her face from where I threw darts at her! Ok...maybe I needed some counseling but at least I am being honest now right? All in all...it was a fun night and a fun movie!!!

Also in November. Mitch turned 16. Ok...how in the H. E. double hockeysticks did I become old enough to have a 16 year old??? I don't get it...last I remember I was like 20. Seriously!!! Argh. Oh well...he is a great kid and we had planned on having a ginormous party with everyone and their dog...doing all kinds of crazy things for the big 16 year old celebration party. About 2 weeks before his bday he asked if he could invite just a few 5-6 friends over to our place and play video games....ahhh, hello??? YES!!! Way easier and cheaper!!! Thought that was all a go...until. About 1 week before his bday, he comes into my bedroom pretty late at night and proposes a new plan? Yikes a 16 year old with a plan...I was sure involved a new car and the answer would be NO!!!! For sure! Anyway...he gets all serious and says..."Mom....I have been thinking. What if instead of a bday party, I ask a girl on a date and you and dad take my date and I on a date...to you know...show me the ropes on how a date should go?" I was like....uh.....YES!!! What a FAB idea. Sometimes that kid really does have a brain!!! So...that is what we did and it was really fun! Took his sweet date (Jacqueline Bauer) and him to PF Changs (super yummy) for dinner and then came back here and watched Kung Fu Panda with all the family. What a super fun first date idea! We had a blast, the rest of the family had a blast...and I hope he and Jacqueline did too! How grown up is that! I think it will become a tradition with the other kids too now! Very fun idea!!!!

Also in November...football ended YAHOO!!! And basketball began...sniff sniff...back to running again. Mitch made the Sophomore team. We were kinda hoping for JV...but all his buds made the SO team too and their coach is a super rock star. So...it should be a great year! Yahoo!!! First game is tomorrow so we'll see how that goes! Wish them luck!!!

Also...in November. My folks stopped on their way home from the Senior Pro Rodeo finals in Winnemuca to spend a weekend with us. I never get them for longer than 36 hours...so we just enjoy the time whilst they are here! :) He had an early Christmas with them which was alot of fun...who doesn't like early presents!!! And...I got to put my trees up! Yahoo!!!! I could leave them up all year round for reals! LOVE THEM!!! Soo...here were are on Dec 1 and my trees have been up for one whole month! Hehehehe. Love it!!!

November was a great month, and now that I see how fun it was I feel bad for not blogging more about it! Oh well...I will try and do better!

Also...I found this super cute lil antique rocking chair on Craigslist and got it for...are you ready??? $35 bucks! What a steal. I LOVE IT!!! And it loves me!!!

Merry December to all!!! Hope your Christmas plans are all ready and you are ready for a fun relaxing holiday season! I know I am!!!

Twilight Trailer

2008-10-30T07:39:00.001-06:00

Tagged by everyone it seems!!!

2008-10-28T15:49:00.002-06:00

8 Favorite TV shows

1. CNN...I am a bit of a news junkie (I know...NERD ALERT)
2. Amazing Race
3. ANTM
4. Heroes
5. Prison Break
6. Mystery Diagnosis (I missed my calling in life I think..they medical shows fascinate me!)
7. Inside Brookhaven (the weight loss hospital)...(I know...it creeps everyone else in my family out)
8. Funniest Home Videos (Can't EVER go wrong with funny animals and multiple crotch shots!!!)

8 Favorite Songs

***Wow*** I can only choose 8???

1. Lady Antebellum "Looking for a Good Time"
2. Due West "Sweet Gravity"
3. Mr. Mister "Kyria"...have to be OLD to know that one!
4. Yaz...."Only You"
5. Dixie Chicks "Landslide"
6. Almost anything by Erasure or any other sweet 80's band....
7. Sydney Parker and Becca Nelson "Somewhere There's a Mountain" Nashville Trib Band
8. Jacqueline Bauer "Firm in the Faith"

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. PF Changs
2. Outback Steakhouse
3. Costa Vida
4. Taco Del Mar
5. Red Robin (yummiest fries ever!!!)
6. Coldstone (does that count as a restaurant?)
7. El Te Nampa
8. Truthfully....anything I DON'T cook!!! :)

8 Favorite Movies

1. Better Off Dead
2. Forever Strong
3. Kung Fu Panda
4. Lord of the Rings (Trilogy)
5. The Princess Bride (Inconceivable!!!)
6. The Sound of Music
7. Hairspray
8. Twilight...when it comes out! I am sure I am going to LOVE it!!!!

8 Things that happened yesterday

1. I slept in!!! Yahoo for no school
2. Took my sweet kidlets to lunch at...Taco Del Mar
3. Took Mitch to an ortho apt!
4. worked on Moon Hee's rag quilt (yahoo almost done)
5. thought alot....
6. went grocery shopping....yahoo....food in the house is a good thing!
7. Took Mitch to FB practice and went back and got him
8. Went to be early....didn't even watch the news! Wowzers!

8 Things I am looking forward too

1. Living in a new house on our property! Hopefully soon!!!
2. My Mom and Dad coming this weekend for a few days! yahoo....early Christmas!!!
3. Putting up my Christmas tree's early....for #2. :) Any excuse will do!!!
4. Mitch's LAST JV football game on Thursday!!! Yahoo....ready for a break from JV football!
5. being creative again
6. deciding what to do with all my free time! Maybe start doing weddings again??? Take photography class with Shandy and/or Kristy???
7. snow!!! I know...you all hate me...but I LOVE the snow!!! Canuck at heart I tell ya!
8. a NEW YEAR!!! Hopefully with more happy times and success' than this year!!!

8 Things on my wish list
1. 50 mm 1 1:8 lens for my Canon 30D
2. Snappy flash for my canon 30D
3. A new house...nestled cozily on a picturesque acre lot overlooking the mountains
4. An acre lot...in a developed sub that we can finally build on!!! Come on...please hurry!!!
5. a NEW to me Suburban. I am not greedy...anything from '04 on!!!
6. a new TV! Ours is on its VERY last leg!!! And I mean that!!!
7. Money to buy a new TV!!! :)
8. for my family to be happy and healthy...and get along with each other!!! PLEASE!!!!

8 people I tag....

1. Shandy
2. Laurie
3. Greta
4. Deanna
5. JeNeale
6. MeKayla
7. Rita
8. Melissa

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2008-10-13T23:14:00.003-06:00

Eh!!! For all you Americans who thought you had the edge on the "Columbus Day" holiday...Guess what!!! You don't! It is actually Canadian Thanksgiving today! Pretty sweet!!! And since we have an Elder...Elder Gwilliam serving here who is from Alberta in real life, we decided to go all out today! We had a full blown thanksgiving dinner! And it was FAB!!! Turkey, stuffing, mashed taters, sweet pa-taters, salad, fresh baked rolls, gravy...and pumpkin dessert! We all got VERY full and it was heavenly! Then we went outside and hit golf balls into the mint field with the baseball bat! Tres magnific!!! It was very fun! Sent Elder Gwilliam and Elder Shuler home with a ginormous serving of leftovers for later!

Also....today is Randy's FAVORITE holiday of the year. I know, many of you have other fav's....like Christmas (my personal FAV), Halloween, maybe even Easter! But no...my sweety LOVES Columbus Day. Why you ask???? Well, let me tell you. He LOVES this day because as a State of Idaho employee he get today off! It is October's holiday! Wahoo!!! And to cap it off, the kidlets have to go to school, as it is NOT a school holiday! So...he gets a nice quiet peaceful day at home. He spent the day working on his boat seats! They are turning out pretty good. I will post a pic when they are all done. Trust me...if you haven't seen his boat...don't get your hopes up! It is a real winner winner chicken dinner! But he loves it. So, I guess that is all that matters!

Ahhhh, thank goodness for great days like today!

Hope all my fellow Canucks...or Canuck wanna-be's had a GREAT day too!!!

XOXOXOXO

I give up...

2008-10-01T15:07:00.003-06:00

I had been trying to post David Archuleta's new video...CRUSH...for I guess this country girl is more computer illiterate than I originally thought! ARGH! I get it posted and then it says the vid is temporarily unavailable? WHA??? Oh well....I give up! So....I guess you are on your own. Try this link. It is such a great song!!! And hello....he is such a cutie!!! If I wasn't almost 40 and married....I would be all over that cute boy! Ok...I just scared myself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yff9nCctMkg

Go and enjoy some David! Decided it was time for something more light hearted than the usual as of late! Hope you like! GREAT SONG!!!

Peace out!!!

Been awhile....

2008-09-23T15:40:00.003-06:00

I know it has been a very long time since I blogged. Bad blogger!!!! I guess I have been stalling. Bad excuse I know! I have been needing to write about being released from my calling (which I LOVED!!!). I guess I have been waiting to write until I could do it without crying, and I have about decided that might be awhile! So....write away!

So, that is my latest news. I was released from serving as the Nampa North Stake Young Women's President. sniff sniff. I guess I kinda had an inkling it was coming, I have been there for almost 5 years...I was called in the middle of November but not sustained till January...so you can do the math. It is not a calling I felt particularly prepared for or qualified for that is for sure! And DEF not something I would have even envisioned myself doing!!! And NOT something I would have even aspired to doing, if that makes sense! Having never served in the Young Women's organization it came as a bit of a shock to be extended the chance to serve in that capacity! And although that made it hard....it also helped in a way. I went into it having to stick to the basics!!! Pray and follow the promptings of the Spirit to know what to do! I feel so very blessed for the chance I have had to learn as much as I did! I really had to learn to trust in the Spirit and to DO the things I was prompted...when I was prompted to do them! I had the opportunity to work with MANY wonderful people in our Stake, both in my presidencies and with the Stake Presidency and High Council! I have learned a new appreciation for the way the Priesthood serves...especially Bishops! There are so many in our Stake that truly understand the meaning of Service! I appreciate so much the opportunity I had to rub shoulders with the WONDERFUL Young Women of our Stake! What an incredible group of bright shining stars! I am excited to watch as they all continue to grow and progress in the gospel.....I will miss so much the chance to learn from them like I have! They have such incredible testimonies and some have had such a hard road to get to where they are! I know for sure that our Father in Heaven is very mindful of them and all they have done and will do! Wow...I just love them all so much! I will miss very much the ladies I got to work with. Especially this last group....we were only able to serve together for 1 year....but it was an incredible year! Never have I had the chance to work with such neat strong ladies! It was so great to be "all on the same page" and be like-minded in duty and spirit. Made the job so easy and fun....wow....don't think I have ever laughed so hard in all my life! Especially at our girls camp this year! Wowzers! Broken kneecaps and all!!! Thanks so much Laurie Nelson, Tara Pugmire, Desiree Lewis, and Jennifer Tolman!!! Love you ladies.....and I know I always will! Thanks so much for supporting and sustaining me! And helping me to be the very best I can be! I LOVE you all!!!!

I know that it is going to take awhile to get over being released! It is not that I am power hungry or anything like that....I am going to miss serving for so many different reasons! It just was such a wonderful experience that has forever changed the type of person I am! I am sooooo thankful for being able to do it!

I am also very excited for the new group of ladies called to replace us! Sister Greta Summers was called as President...and wow...if I could have hand-picked my replacement...she would have been the one! I just LOVE her dearly!!! And she will be FAB!!! Seriously!!! She called a neat group of ladies to work with her too. 1st Coun Natalie Bauers, 2nd Coun Tara Pugmire (she kept her from my Presidency) and as Sec Nichole Aldous and as her Lite Leader Liz Fulmer as well she kept Jenn Tolman as her Stake Camp Director...big job and she does such a great job! They are all great woman who I admire and they have so much to offer! I am glad they get the opportunity to learn and grow just like I did!

I guess...I am moving onto a new chapter in my life! And it might sound crazy...but I think I will mourn this change for awhile! I really wish everyone could have the same opportunity to serve in the Stake. It really is such an eye-opener!!! And a GREAT opportunity!!!

mmmmm, hello and where have you been all my life?

2008-08-31T18:09:00.003-06:00

Since I know you all have been working on your "Boogie Bodies", please make yourself a treat!!! Love ya!!!

Perfectly Peanutty! stole from the "Bakerella blog" I like to visit!

Pretty, peanut butter cookies with just five ingredients:1 cup peanut butter1/2 cup sugar1 egg4 oz. Baker's semi-sweet chocolate, melted1/2 cup finely chopped peanutsThat's my kind of recipe!
Preheat oven to 325. Mix peanut butter, sugar and egg until well blended.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Remove and roll mixture into 18 balls.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
Flatten each ball by using a fork to make a criss-cross pattern.
Bake 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheet and then cool completely on a wire rack.
Melt chocolate.
Dip one end of cookie into melted chocolate and then dip into chopped peanuts. Repeat with other side.
Place on wax paper covered cookie sheet and refrigerate until chocolate hardens.And enjoy!

Jazzercise - Move your Boogie Body 1982

2008-08-22T15:21:00.001-06:00

Be sure to pause the music on the bottom!!!

Saw this on Kris Briggs blog...and had to totally steal it. It made me laugh out loud!!!

If you want a boogie body....get your best jazzercise suit on...and get ready...

TO BOOGIE!!!!

Shake it sugar...do it to it!!!

Breaking Dawn....

2008-08-02T00:52:00.005-06:00

Did you get it? Sydney and I both got our copy at midnight at Walmart. And it only cost us 13.68 each! Swweeeeeet!!! We got there at 11:10 pm and and were 10 and 11 in line. Another Sweeeeet! They only had 50 books and there were alot of women there. It was pretty fun. Saw lots of people I knew and we had a good time. By 12:05...they were ALL GONE! Crazy!!!

Lets hear your story...how did you get Breaking Dawn!!!

Grateful...

2008-07-08T23:04:00.002-06:00

I seem to be overwhelmed with feelings of "Grateful-ness" lately. I am not sure why...not sure if it is a trickle down effect of Girls Camp...being so grateful it went so well and had such a great spirit about it. Not sure if it is because we just celebrated Canada Day and 4th of July...I feel so very grateful to live in such a wonderful place where I am free to live as I choose and practice my religion as I choose...and dress how I choose!!! I also feel so grateful for having the childhood I did. It was soo wonderful to grow up in the middle of nowhere with miles to roam and run free and be naughty...and learn all kinds of things.

I have a friend who is trying SOOOO hard to adopt a baby girl right now...she was placed in their home and the birth mom wanted her back...and it has been a long process and they are getting her back hopefully in a day or two....but watching her and her sweet husband has made me more grateful for a birth mom who was willing to give me up and allow me the privilege of being raised by a Mom and a Dad who loved me and wanted me!!! (it was my Dad's bday yesterday so...probably where that one is coming from)

Also...grateful for being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints! I feel sooo blessed...and have such a rich heritage of forefathers who sacrificed so much for me...as a modern day pioneer! I am soo grateful to be able to enjoy the blessings of the Temple...both as an adopted child, and as a wife and mother! I am grateful for the peace and love I feel in the Temple as I learn and understand the purpose of coming to earth! I am grateful for covenants!!! And for how freeing they are!!!

I am also so very grateful for my lil family. I am soooo blessed to have such a wonderful hubby who supports me in all the crazy things I do...both church callings and otherwise! There have been times where I know he doesn't want to...but he helps me anyway. I am grateful for my 3 wonderful kids too. They are such great kids with such funny personalities...they are truly fun to be around (most of the time). They are so patient with me and forgiving as I learn how to be a mom. It is an ever evolving job and I am sure I will never get it right! Good thing they love me!!!

I guess I am grateful for just about everything right now....I think I will even be grateful for my bed...where I am ready to collapse in just a few minutes!!!

And I am grateful for YOU too, my like 3 blog readers who are loving and supportive friends!!! I tend to have tunnel vision alot of the time...and DEF could learn how to be a better friend. Love you all!!!!

Happy Canada Day.....eh!!!!

2008-07-01T08:35:00.006-06:00

To Canucks everywhere...Happy Canada Day!!! Hope your Canadian Bacon is hot and your Ketchup chips are spicy!!!

Eh!!!

I am going to go and sit on my chesterfield in my laneway. They when I am done I am going to help my Mum clean the kitchen by running stuff down the garberator!!! So there.....

So in true Bob and Doug Mackenzie style....Take off eh!!!!

Phew....June is about over.

2008-06-30T22:54:00.019-06:00

Wow...I can't believe that June is over in like one hour! This happens every year...well at least for the last 4 anyway. Girls camp is in June and seems like time just flies in the month of June.

Our Stake girls camp this year was June 17-20. Us Stake leaders went up on the 16th to get everything set up and ready for the girls to arrive on Tuesday morning. Our theme this year was "Trek"...and we asked all the girls in our Stake to come to camp with a pioneer skirt/dress and bonnet...and to have researched a pioneer family name. We had such a great response before camp that we knew that great things were in store! Our girls and leaders came very well prepared and brought such a great spirit with them...in spite of lots of trials along the way. We had one ward whose trailer jumped the hitch on the way up...and by some miracle...they were all okay. In reality...they probably should have rolled their vehicle...but only damaged the trailer and arrived at camp late and frazzled but all OK...it truly was a tender mercy from our Father in Heaven!!!

We had such a GREAT time this year...every year has been wonderful...but this year was by far our best! Partly due to my having such a wonderful, willing and supportive presidency! They truly have become my best friends!!! My first counselor Laurie besides being a huge part of the presidency was also our camp nurse and that is no small feat let me tell you! She handled her double duty so FAB!!! Especially with the broken kneecaps and all. One patient, Cynthia, was pale beyond help and we all were worried about her outcome but Laur saved her too! Wow...she did a great job! My second counselor Tara, my camp counselor was sooo awesome to do anything we asked...and I think we gave her alot of the hard stuff!!! But hey...she is young and very game...so that is what you get!!! Hehehe! Also...she is sooo tender-hearted and really a kindred spirit with me I think we were separated at birth except that I am like 6 years older than her. Oh well! She is a french braiding specialist and probably braided about 150 heads of hair during the week. She had girls waiting in LONG LINES to have their hair done...and she turned NO ONE away. I think many of those girls had never had their hair done like that ever! It was soo neat to see the girls stand up after she finished and have her tell them how beautiful they looked and see that many of them who previously might not have believed it...truly see that they ARE beautiful!!! It really was such a neat thing to watch! She was soo sweet to do it! My secretary Des was just called about 3 weeks before camp and wowzers did she step up to the plate!!! She jumped right in with both feet and really got us organized and kept us on track!!! She is such a great example to me of dedication....she felt an bladder infection coming on early in the week and knew she was in trouble...but what a trooper...she went against all our begging her to leave...and stuck out the entire week in spite of the major league nasty physical symptoms she had...she stayed! And she really taught me what it means to be dedicated!!! My Stake camp director Jenn was the hugest Rock Star ever! I don't even know how she does all that she does!!! She has a very young family and literally ran circles around us all....broken kneecaps and all!!! Hehehehe! She is a planner to the end and her persistence kept us all going! She has a great sense of humour and really helped us get through the tense times. She thought of things I would NEVER have come up with...and was a great liaison between us as the Stake Leaders and our Ward Leaders! Wow...I can't imagine doing this job without her!!! My lite leader (over the youth leaders) Greta was a SUPERSTAR!!! She is a very tender-hearted person too and handled those 16 and 17 year old gals so perfectly! She truly taught them how to be leaders and how to lead with Christ-like love! Our Lite's were the best prepared we have ever had and they LOVED Greta! She is a great example to those girls and to me! Love her!!!

Besides all my peeps...our cooks were awesome and I think had a great time too!!! That is a huge job and they rocked the house!!! At one point during the night...we heard chants coming from the Kitchen and after paying closer attention...we heard...."CHUG, CHUG, CHUG" coming from behind closed doors. So...we went to inspect and they were shooting whipped cream into each other' mouths. And it was at the persistent hand of our Shirley Taylor...the oldest one at camp. She is a firecracker that one!!! It was pretty funny...especially since earlier in the day all our cooks had been playing round table ping pong. Fun to see them having fun and being spiritually feed too! They did a great job!!!

It was also my Sydney's first year at camp. So after 4 LONG years of being my personal assistant she was finally able to come along to camp with me! She had a great time and it was fun to see all the things that we planned really have an impact on her life too! Wow...what a blessing to be a Mom and a Leader at the same time! Loved it...and LOVE her!!!

We had the best spirit there all week...and maybe soon I will have to write some of my favorite memories from this year! We had 5 girls that are not members of our church up there with us, and I can honestly say...I KNOW they all felt the spirit and left with many questions and answers about the gospel! What a great thing to have happen!

I feel sooo blessed to have been a part of the Nampa North Stake girls camp "TREK" 2008! I am a better person for rubbing shoulders will all my fellow leaders and the GREAT Young Women of our Stake!

Love you all!!!!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Tag....and I was running trust me...

2008-06-15T20:53:00.005-06:00

Cuz Angie tagged me and I tried to outrun her...but she caught me....so her goes!

6 UNSPECTACULAR QUIRKS ABOUT ME

1. I am a perfectionist. And it is a curse!!! Makes me crazy!!! I am gettin worse as I get older too, I am trying not to be...but not doing very well! I will keep trying!

2. I LOVE to make baby quilts. Or any quilts to tell the truth!!! They are so fun to figure out...and then when you start seeing them put together...what fun!!! LOVE IT!!!

3. I REALLY worry about what people think about me. I know I shouldn't...and again...I try not to...but I can't help it.

4. I LOVE people. There is NOTHING more fascinating than just watching people. I am soo bad...I have to sit in the front of church or I don't listen. I just love watching peoples expressions, and trying to figure out what they are thinking and feeling!

5. I HATE HATE HATE when people around me are sad...especially...friends and family!!!! It makes me so sad too!!! Especially when it is something so unimportant that makes them sad! sniff sniff!!! I am sad just thinking about it!

6. I actually LOVE doing laundry. It is just so great to start something and SEE that you are getting it done! It is delightful to have it all done and folded...sitting in the closet waiting to be worn! Ahhhh.......and along with that love...my friend (Melissa) introduced me to the yummiest smelling laundry soap and dryer sheets....makes my stuff smell so yummy. Of course...I only use for my stuff like sheets and towels. Smells sooo heavenly. Gain Joyful expressions...Apple Mango Tango....if you haven't tried it...you must!!! Then let me know what you think!

7. One more...I love being silly!!! And here is proof. This is Friday night after Tyler's baptism...being silly with my Mom! She likes to be silly too!!!

I tag Sydney, Becca, Laurie, and Melissa!!!

Holy Moly!!!

2008-06-08T23:40:00.003-06:00

My baby is 8!!! Where has the time gone! I cannot believe it. He had his baptism interview with Bishop Thurgood today after church. He passed...so I guess we will baptize him this weekend. My folks are coming down for this very special day, and we are excited to have them. Randy's folks are serving a mission in Houston Texas so we will have to send them lots of pictures! Hopefully the family that is in town will be able to make it too!

Tyler is pretty excited about getting baptized!!! Finally something to make him feel like he is catching up to the older kids!!! He is getting soo big...almost as tall as Sydney.

He had a good Birthday on June 5th. We will be celebrating his birthday with some friends in the next day or so! Jang Hee (our Korean student living with us) had oral surgery on Friday and is taking a little longer to recover than he thought he would. So...thank goodness Tyler is very patient and understanding...we will have his party as soon as we can! He is taking some friends to go and see Kung-Fu Panda...then back here to play games and have cake and ice cream! Should be fun!!!

We sure love having Tyler in our family. He has such a GREAT sense of humour and I seriously don't know how he comes up with MOST of the stuff he says! He is sooo patient and loves attending Mitch and Sydney's sporting events and is excited that he is finally getting big enough to do some of his own. He will play football again this fall, and probably basketball again in the spring! He loves going to church and being around his family! We are sooo blessed to have such a wonderfully humoured and super spiritual kids around to keep us company!!!

WE LOVE TYLER!!!

Good Kids

2008-05-22T22:40:00.011-06:00

Ok...so we have been blessed to have a good week in the Parker household this week. I am not trying to jinx us by any means....hopefully it will keep up!!!

Last night Mitch had his track awards banquet. He got an award for breaking the Freshman record at Vallivue High School. The old record was 9'6" and he jumped 11'6". So...he was pleased with that. He also earned his varsity letter for track. Pretty good for a freshman!!! We are super proud of him. He was disappointed he did not qualify for the State meet...but WE are very proud of how he did this year!!!

Sydney has been working all week on a project for Social Studies. Her topic was China. They were given the opportunity to do a 3-D type project as "extra credit" and she jumped at the chance...here is what she made! They turned out pretty dang cute if I do say so myself. I know Sushi is probably more Japanese...but we did find some Chinese Sushi so it is not too far of a stretch! She was tickled pink!!!

ok....and it is not real sushi. They are made from rice krisie treats and gummy worms, Swedish fish and yogo rollers! I seriously doubt I could get her to even come within 50 feet of REAL sushi!!!

Almost Summer....

2008-05-19T22:36:00.004-06:00

Wowzers...I cannot believe that my kids only have 8 days of school left. Where did the school year go? Not that I am too sad though, I am ready to sleep in a bit and let things settle down. Not that summer is totally slow, Mitch has football, basketball, and track camps...oh and he has to get JOB. He has a debt to his Grandpa Reeder (from totalling the 4-wheeler), and needs to start saving for a mission. So....he will be busy. Yahoo! Sydney has girls camp, her first year and she is super duper excited! And probably LOTS of babysitting. She really wants a new IPOD, so she is hoping to wrangle lots of jobs to earn the money! So she will be busy too....Yahoo!!! That leaves Tyler, the caboose! I need to find a couple of camps for him to do...maybe swimming lessons! And probably lots of Wii playing for him. So..hopefully he will be busy too! Yahoo!!! As for me...after Girls Camp...my life should settle down a bit. I will be very much looking forward to June 20th. Hopefully all will go well. We have been planning like crazy, hopefully all the hours will pay off.

Our Camp theme for the year is "TREK". We are focusing in on the Pioneers and Joseph Smith and early church history. With an emphasis on the reason the saints did what they did...which was the Temple. Trying to teach the YW of our Stake that their goals now should be no different. They can and should have the same focus...even though the trials may be different. We are really excited, have handcarts rounded up and everything. The first day as part of our opening ceremonies, I am going to have the girls brand. It will just be a chunk of wood...but it will be our camp logo and something they can take home. I am going to talk about "branding" the gospel onto our hearts! We have soo much great stuff planned....I am getting excited. So far...we have about 100 girls and close to 50 leaders! Phew!!!

A week or so ago we drove up to Camp Glenwood..just to check it out and see if the snow was gone (it was mostly), but along the way we followed the river. It was soo pretty we had to stop and snap a couple pics. This is right by the "Staircase" rapid on the Southfork of the Payette River and it was cruising pretty good! Lots of water moving very fast! Had to include a couple pics of my cute family!!!

Here are my handsome men. Mitch is almost as tall as his dad. Only an inch or so to go. Randy is not digging it!!! Hehehe. Makes me laugh!

the OFFICIAL Twilight movie trailer! WOW

2008-05-05T16:05:00.001-06:00

Holy Wow!!! Be sure to mute the music on the bottm before you start this!

And...be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think!!!

WOW!!!!

Mitch Pole Vaulting

2008-05-02T16:13:00.001-06:00

Vogt Babies

2008-04-29T22:18:00.006-06:00

These are the cutest babies EVER!!! They are so big and healthy. They were born today April 29. Aubri was born at 12:20pm and weighed 8lbs 2oz and was 20.5 inches long! Lexi was born at 12:24pm and weighed 7lbs 2oz and was 21.5 inches long! Mom and babies are doing GREAT!!! They all look sooo good! It was soo fun to get to see them and snuggle on them a bit!!! So glad they are here safe and sound!!!

December is TOOOO far away!!!!

2008-04-21T00:36:00.001-06:00

If you are a Twilight lover, like I am.....then you will LOVE this lil clip! Let me know what you think!!!!

ARGH....Don't know if I can wait that long. August is far enough away for the next book. But to have to wait till December is just pure torture!!! Must come up with something to occupy my mind. Okay...maybe read the books AGAIN!!! Sorry Laur...you might never get them back!

I am Mulan! What disney princess are you???

2008-04-07T15:22:00.000-06:00

You Are Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

"Loomy" week

2008-03-28T15:22:00.009-06:00

Ok...so I got hooked literally at our Laurel Campout. We made these darling little tiny hats for preemies that a gal in our Stake is donating to a local hospital...and they are so DERN cute and easy fast to make, that I cannot stop making them. So far I have done 20 and Sydney has done 2. I decided it is fun to make them while I sit and watch tv...or while I sit and wait for the kids at track or piano....good time killer...and they are so cute...like I said!!!! I have made more since I took this pic...but you get the idea!!!!

Other than that...we have had a good spring break week. The kids are enjoyed sleeping in and so have I. Yahoo....feels good! But it will feel good to get back into the routine again too. We did to go the YMCA the other night...had fun rock climbing and swimming. Jang Hee even rock climbed for the first time. Think he had fun...but his arms were sore the next day!!! We took Ben and Becca Nelson with us too. Becca even climbed! I was pretty proud of her. I didn't get a pic cuz I was belaying her....couldn't get to my camera!!!!

My New Dream Mansion

2008-03-18T22:28:00.003-06:00

We all gotta dream right??? Here are our plans for our property!!! What do you think????

Ok...so not really, but it made me laugh!!!

Laurel Campout.....Phew!

2008-03-18T15:06:00.016-06:00

Patterns Laurel Campout 2008

Doctrine and Covenants Sec 52:14

"And again I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land and he goeth forth deceiving the nations."

Phew...we had our Laurel Campout for the Nampa North Stake this last weekend....March 14-15 and I think I am almost to the point that I can call it a success! Ahhhh, I will try and keep this post mostly positive. I think I can do it!!! To start off, we had planned on going to Donelly to stay and Danny and Greta Summers cabin up there...but the weather took a bad turn and we all decided that it was a risk not worth taking...to drive that far with the winter weather that was at hand. So, we decided to just stay in the valley at Danny and Greta's actual house. The girls were pretty sad at first...but they recovered quickly. Greta did a GREAT job cheering them up!!! She is a good egg!!!

We had tons of stuff planned and pretty much kept to our schedule, except we added a few things as we gained a couple of hours due to not travelling. Our first activity was to do a "heart attack" on the Stake Presidency and Brother Fellows (the HC over us)...we had the girls cut a TON of hearts out and tapped some candy bars to them...and wrote all kinds of notes on them. Then we dressed up as ninjas (not in the original plan but it kinda took on a life of it's own) and set out to do the deed. Our first stop was Pres Jensen's house....all was going well, until Pres Jensen and his family pulled up in the driveway and totally busted us! Pretty funny. Our next stop was Pres Garner's house...and it was dark so no worries there. Our third stop was Pres Buchanan, the Stake President. I told the girls they must be sooo quiet cuz we didn't want to get caught....well they were doing such a great job and being soo quiet that it wasn't any fun...so Sister Summers sneaked up and rang the door bell. Pres Buchanan came and whipped open the door...all the girls screamed and we all took off running. It was pretty funny!!! Our last stop was Brother Fellows and his house was pretty dark as well. The girls had fun....and it was a good time filler!!!

Our next activity was a service project. Sister Summers talked about Bonnie Norske and her sweet lil baby girl. The girls were very touched by her story and very motivated to work on the little loom hats we wanted them to work on. We made the tiny tiny preemie ones...and I think we got close to 35 done. It was something they worked on for most of the weekend!!!

After that...we got ready for bed....but there was NOT much sleeping!!! I will plead the fifth on this part of the night. I want to stay positive remember???

In the morning we ate breakfast and went over to the church to watch the Stake Presidency and High Council play the Young Men of our Stake in a BB game. It was pretty funny....long story short...there was some "rigging" with the scoreboard and the YM ended up winning. Too bad for the old guys!

After returning back to Summers house...we had some guest speakers. Paul and Dessiree Lewis came and spoke to us...and boy did they do a GREAT job! They brought such a strong spirit with them and the girls really loved them....it was good. They talked about Patterns...which was our theme for our Campout!

Then we ate lunch and had our last guest speaker. Lisa Peterson from the 36th ward spoke to us and she did a very fine job also! She had some great experiences and stories to share!!! The girls were getting pretty tired by this point....refer back to the sleeping part and the details that you are missing out on.....heheheehehe.

Our last project was making recipe boxes. We had all the girls bring some of their FAV recipes to share and we had them decorate the lil tin Provocraft boxes with ribbon and vinyl lettering cut in the word recipe.....(thanks Laur and your FAB lil cricket). They turned out super cute...and I know the girls LOVED them!!!

We wrapped up and sent everyone home...and boy were we bushed as a Stake Young Women's Presidency! Phew....overall I think the weekend was a HUGE success. Alot of work....but the feeling and spirit was had there was almost immeasurable! I feel so blessed to have such a FAB group of ladies working along side of me!!! So.....Laurie, Tara, Jenn, and Greta!!!! I LOVE you guys!!! Thanks for being you!!!!

Good Air Jordan commercial!!!

2008-03-12T17:15:00.001-06:00

features Boise State of course!!! and it is Mitch's FAV!!!

I've been Tagged....

2008-03-11T18:03:00.003-06:00

10 years ago: We were living in Maple Valley Washington, Randy was working for King County...I had two kids...Mitch was 6 and Sydney was 3. I had my own business doing the flowers for weddings, which I did from home. Had my own floral cooler and everything. Probably did 4-8 a month. Crazy!!! Sydney was just diagnosed with Celiac Disease....and so was I not long after her. So..we began doing everything "gluten free" Mitch was in Kindergarten. Yikes... I feel soo old all of a sudden!!!

Things on my to-do list today:

1. Go to "Purse" onal enrichment. Mother and Daughter enrichment. Should be interesting!
2. Figure out what Laurie and I are going to do for supper at our Laurel camp out this weekend on Friday night. Fun fun! Any easy ideas???
3. Read another chapter of The BFG to Tyler....stand for the big friendly giant...very cute book
4. Finish reading about Edward....book three...I am dying to know what is going to happen!!!
5. Get some packages ready to mail...one to my Mom and one to my Bro in Korea. ARGH!

What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire: Pay off all my debt...and build a sweet house on our property!!! Pay off my parents bills and get them set up to retire. Pay off my inlaws Parma Company loan so they could retire!! Go and travel. Especially to Korea to visit my Brother and his family! Buy a NEW suburban...mine sucks!!! I am ready for a new one!

3 of my bad habits:

1. I love reading on the internet....blogs, newspapers and obituaries! Takes up alot of time!!! But it is fun!!!
2. I love chocolate and Diet Coke (caff free of course) for breakfast. It is such a bad habit!
3. I am very hard on myself. I cut other people lots of slack...but not myself!!!

3 places I have lived:

1. Cardston Alberta Canada
2. Rexburg, Idaho
3. Maple Valley Washington

5 jobs I have had:

1. Stall cleaner at a place called "Universal Semen Services" I will let you do the math!
2. Tour Guide at a place that housed restored carriages....horse drawn vehicles! Very cool!
3. worked for the Dean of Student Special Services at BSU...and my boss called me Damcanuk. He thought it was funny. So...that is where my email addy came from.
4. Worked in a ladies basement...kinda like a sweat shop...assembling floral arrangements that she sold as hers in a store in the Boise Town Square. When she could not pay me...I demanded she give me her scroll saw...which she did...and I quit!!!
5. Professional Decorator for a company in Utah...decorated Christmas Tree's professionally and for a lot of very prominent people in the church! Cool job! I also made A LOT of things that were used when Salt Lake city was making their bid for the Olympics...they liked my "rustic" style...and I spent a ton of time doing that. So...I like to give myself credit for Salt Lake City earning the Olympic Games!!!

5 things people don't know about me:

1. I only see out of one of my eyes!!!
2. I am adopted and found my birth mom in 1995.
3. I hardly smell anything cuz I broke my nose playing softball when I was 15
4. I still hold the record at my elementary school for the fastest rope climb
5. I know how to barrel race, team rope and break away rope!!!

I tag.....Laurie, JeNeale, and Kristy Grabo!!! So there!!!

Wow...I have some catching up to so!

2008-02-24T00:01:00.005-07:00

I won't try and do it all in one post!

First of all, our Nashville Concert was the bomb!!! Those guys really know how to put on a show! The music was AWESOME and the spirit was overflowing. We had about 650-700 there, I wish more would have come but I can't force people there I guess! Sigh..... It was so much fun being around those guys, they bring such a neat spirit with them and they LOVE what they do! Kinda fun to rub shoulders with people like that once in a while! It was a lot of work but well worth it!!! I know the people that attended LOVED it! And or lil singers rocked!!! Sydney and Becca sang a song in the concert called "Somewhere There's a Mountain" and they did soooo good! They had been prepared for about a month and their hard work paid off! They were well prepared and sounded so good! It was very fun to see them prepare for something big like this...and have it
turn out so wonderful! They LOVED it too!

Seems like we have so much going on lately, it will be good for things to slow down a bit! Mitch finished BB by losing their first game at the district tourney. They played really well but couldn't pull it off and were out! It was ok in the long run. Tyler just had his last BB game today so that frees up Tuesday and Thursday nights and Saturday mornings! Our YW Volleyball season if over too...the tourney was last Saturday! Ended a five week season....so that frees up more Saturday morning time! So....phew...all of a sudden it feels like I can breath again! But not for long I guess...track season just started on Friday and we are hot and heavy into the planning of Girls Camp!

Phew!!!

Wears me out even typing it!

Well, I am tired and ready for bed...so more catching up tomorrow!!!

Night all!

I'm soo excited...and I just can't hide it!!!

2008-02-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

We are only 2 days away from our "Nashville Tribute to the Pioneers"....and I just can't wait. I have had this in the works since July of last year. The group is on their way to Ontario Oregan right now. Just heard from Tony and they are in Mountain Home. So....yahoo, they are close! They have a show in Ontario tonight then a Young Single Adult one at our Stake Center tomorrow and our Stake show on Friday. Things are working out pretty good. I just hope we fill the house. With our Snow Sunday...I was worried that we didn't advertise enough....we'll see. Should be fun either way!

Sydney and Becca are singing a song in the show on Friday, so that might be part of the reason I am so excited. They sound pretty good....and I know they will do an excellant job!

After the show on Friday, we are having a Priest/Laurel meet and greet with the group and that should be fun too. Hopefully they come out and support it like I think they
Better go and finish cleaning my house. ARGH! I hate cleaning!!!

Edited to add....just got home from setting up!!! We got 1000 chairs to fit in the Stake Center gym!!! Wahoo...now I just hope we fill them!!!

Glenn Beck on the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley

2008-01-30T14:16:00.001-07:00

What an emotional Sunday....

2008-01-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

Wow...what a day. We have had a roller coaster of a day....Randy got a new calling in the church today....he is the Stake Membership Clerk. He is pretty excited as he gets to work with the Stake Presidency as a member of their Presidency. I have been serving in the Stake as Young Women's President for a little over 4 years now and I LOVE how much I have learned and how much I have grown...and I am excited that he will now have the chance for that same growth!

Then tonight...we received the sad news that our beloved Prophet President Gordan B. Hinckley has passed away. He was 97 years old. He has lead the church in so many wonderful ways, it will be hard to imagine him not being there anymore. I was pretty saddened as were my kids. We all loved and looked up to him! I was about the same age that Mitch is now when President Spencer W. Kimball passed away and I still remember the details of his passing...and how it impacted me as a youth. I have encouraged my kids to write in their journals their feelings and testimonies about President Hinckley....hopefully it will be something they will always treasure! (Thanks again Laur for the call...I was so glad to hear from someone I know and love, and not from the news at 10. )

He was a GREAT man...and the world will miss him. As will I!!!

Gordon B. Hinckley 1910-2008

As I listened to these words from his last conference talk to the whole church this week, I felt his blessing and thought that if that was the last time he spoke, I would always feel that blessing! "I leave with you my testimony of the truth of these things, and I invoke the blessings of heaven upon you. May the windows of heaven be opened and blessings showered upon you as the Lord has promised. Never forget that this was His promise and that He has the power and the capacity to see that it is fulfilled. I so pray as I leave my blessing and love with you in the sacred name of our Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen."

Holy Moly

2008-01-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

First off...it has been forever since I blogged! Sheesh, the holidays. They came and went so fast I can't believe it!

Second...can't believe it is 2008. I am still writing 2007 on my checks....hopefully soon I will catch on! Yikes!

We had a FAB Christmas and a very fun New Years! We went to Canada for Christmas and had way to much fun....ate way to much good food, and played way to much. It was hard to come home! We went up in the hills and got a real Christmas tree....was pretty fun...very cold so we were not that picky. Ended up being a really pretty tree!!! We took Randy's brother Jeff with us to Canada for Christmas. He just moved back to the big island from Hawaii and has been taking care of the folks place whilst they are on their mission. It was fun to have him along...I think he is sick of us for awhile! Poor guy!!!

We had a fun New Years party. I am still the Stake Young Women's President so my New Years was spent at the church preparing for and carrying out a two Stake Youth party, for kids age 12-18. It was a lot of work to get it ready. We did all kinds of fun stuff...had these huge inflatable toys, Sumo wrestling suits, lots of video games, had a DJ and karaoke, played Fear Factor....and had a TON of raffle stuff that we gave away all night long! The night was topped of by a balloon drop (that took about 5 hours to prepare....phew) and just after midnight we drew for the Ipod Nano. We had about 300 kids there and they had a blast!!!! It was very successful and my own kids had a very fun time!!!

Since then...just been busy with Mitch and basketball, Sydney and piano/voice lessons and Tyler and basketball. Phew. Being a Mom is a busy job!!! I have also been subbing at a couple different elementary schools to bring in some extra $$$. Fun fun!

Here's to a happy and healthy 2008 to all my blogging friends!!!!

Cheers!!!!

The Parker Elves!!!

2007-12-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1135163515

This is pretty funny!!! You all ought to do this too!!!

Merry Christmas...only 24 more sleeps till the big day!!!

Wahoo!!!

2007-11-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

We did some family pictures today....nothing to fancy...just me and digital. I guess they turned out ok. I hate pictures of myself....argh!!! But everyone else turned out FAB!!!

Parker Family 11-24-07

My good looking kids!!!

Mitch age 15

Sydney age 12

Tyler age 7

Gobble Gobble!!!!

2007-11-22T22:20:00.001-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!! What a great day today was!!! Lots of food, lots of family, and lots of football! Who could ask for more!!!

I feel so blessed to have as much love and happiness around me...sometimes I have to take a step back and make myself appreciate it more! Today is a great day to do just that!!!

Randy's folks are on a mission in Houston Texas so we hosted the family dinner...and it was alot of fun. Talk about a good spread of food.....wowzers! I am still stuffed!!! Fun to have cousins playing...and new babies snuggling....and lots and lots of catching up! What a wonderful way to spend the day....together!!!

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful hubby and kids! I could not do what I do without all their help! Wow!!! And it is alot...trust me!!! The Stake Presidency calls Randy...one of my counselors! Pretty funny if you ask me! And he really is! He is such a huge help....can't imagine serving in this busy calling without help and support like him! My kids are great to help too..and they are just good kids! I sure to love them!

I am blessed to have such wonderful friends....who love me in spite of all my downfalls...and there are many!!! I have never been someone whose life revolves around friends...if that makes sense!!! If I don't see you for awhile....doesn't mean I don't love you....cuz I do!!! I know they are all there to help me....when I need it!!! And I am sooo lucky!!! Wish everyone could have friends like I do!!!

I am so lucky to have the gospel in my life! What would I do without it....Wow....what a different person I would be! No need to go there.....I am just glad!!!

So...all in all....I have had a wonderful Thanksgiving day!!!

Bad Blogger

2007-11-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I posted. Sheesh...one would think I have been busy or something! Guess I have been. Alot has been going on lately, in a good way!

My new Presidency is doing FAB!!! We had our Stake Auxiliary training a week or so ago...and it was fantastic! I was sooo tickled pink with how everyone did. Like I ever doubted....I didn't. I knew they would be GREAT! Had more positive feedback this time, than I ever have. So that is a good thing!!!

My Mom dropped over for a visit. She had been in Logan visiting my Grandma Swenson who fell and broke her leg again. (4th time...same leg). They had to do surgery again and repairs with plates and rods. But she seems to be recovering very well this time. So...that is good too. Anyway, Mom can over for a couple days and we had a blast. Got to be silly and do a little shopping and just basically acted like teenagers! (I stretch for both of us...hehehehe....no offense Mom!!!) We went out for dinner to celebrate Mitch's birthday (early....his bday is not till the 15) but that is okay too. Fun to do that!!! Played lots of games and ate lots of yummy treats. Very fun visit. It is always hard to let her leave!!! She is such a neat person and my kids adore her!!!

I have been working on Humanitarian Aid stuff. I have done 3 baby quilts so far and have one more that Sydney are I are doing...well she is doing...I am supervising. She has had such an interest in learning how to sew...it has been fun. Her and I worked on sewing 40 school bags a month or so ago...and it was fun to see how excited she got about it! This quilt has been even more fun. We picked up the quilt kit....already had the squares cut and ready to go...so she just had to arrange the pieces to make her quilt top...and we got to sewing! She is doing a GREAT job. She is quite the lil sew'er. Won't be long and she will be putting me to shame!!!

Been busy and that is good. Less time to get into trouble I guess!!!!!

New Baby in the Family!

2007-10-23T21:27:00.000-06:00

Amy and Chad had their lil baby today. She was born at 1:39pm and weighed in at 8lbs 12 ounces and was 22 inches long! She is sooooo cute and chunky!!! We got to go and see her tonight and all got to hold her. She is one lil baby that does NOT want to be wrapped up!!! She likes to be out in the open!

So meet Kathryn Marie Calkins

a funny from the Salt Lake Tribune!!!

2007-10-22T22:22:00.000-06:00

It wasn't entirely the pumpkin's fault. For a kid, the hours between getting out of school and going trick-or-treating stretch like a congressional hearing.

So, bored and dangerous, Leon and I borrowed a jack-o'-lantern from a neighbor's porch, and a large firecracker from his old man's pickup.

We didn't know how powerful Mr. Krygowski's firecracker was, only that it was bigger than the Black Cats we normally got grounded for using.

The neighbor's pumpkin was the size of a log cabin and just as durable. We figured it would take our combined knowledge of explosives to do it any real damage.

A collection of smaller kids watched the experts from a distance. We balanced the pumpkin on a fence post and inserted the firecracker through its grin. Lighting the fuse, we backed off a few feet and waited for the lid to pop into the air.

The jack-o'-lantern disappeared in an enormous burst of light and noise.

I didn't learn about the size of the explosion until much later. At the time, I only knew that my face had somehow gotten in the way of a slab of pumpkin on its way to Japan.

Ears ringing, Leon and I sat up, covered in pumpkin juice and orange string. He had two loose teeth and my glasses were broken. The audience was gone and the fire department was on its way.

This wasn't the only time I got into trouble with a pumpkin. It took years for me to realize that they're inherently dangerous, particularly during Halloween when a certain lack of decorum is expected.

The following Halloween, I was badly injured in an argument over a jack-o'-lantern, the crux of which was a cat's objection to being placed inside it. Because the cat had attached itself to my head, flight was problematic when the owner of the house (and cat and pumpkin) opened the door to find out what was going on.

I swore off pumpkins for a couple of years. Then I discovered that rolling them down a long hill will cause traffic to drive like crazy to get out of the way - and that cops really hate that.

Dropping pumpkins from high places is also hazardous, but nowhere is it more hazardous than from the roof of your own house and onto the hood of a car belonging to someone who not only can make you pay for it, but legally flog you in the bargain.

When Halloween is over, please remember to bring your jack-o'-lanterns inside. This is for their own good. And mine. rkirby@sltrib.com

Just a funny article that made me giggle today....on a day that I could really use something to make me smile!!! Hope you like it. Reminds me of my malatov cocktail days on the ranch!!!

Sad News

2007-10-22T11:32:00.000-06:00

I got a phone call late last night from a friend in Maple Valley Washington . She was calling to inform me of a lil gal I knew while we lived there...had passed away. She was one of the young women in our ward and I worked many hours with her....she had a pretty hard life!

Anyway...just shortly after she graduated from HS she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer and has been fighting it fiercely since then. Gone through MULTIPLE rounds of chemo and radiation....she has been soooo sick for years. Well, she passed away on Thursday and her funeral was today. I was heartbroken. Flights were $250 and I could not afford to go...so I am moping around the house today. Feeling so sad I was unable to go and help mourn her passing...and tell her Mom...how much I truly loved this young lady! She was dealt a tough card in life...and she rose above it! Her name is Krista and I am going to miss her!!!

Once again.....

2007-10-16T22:41:00.000-06:00

We are fish grandparents. One of Mitch's fish had babies, again. Sadly the Mama passed away during ....fish birth. We have successfully retrieved the babies and moved them to the smaller tank in Tyler's room....that way they don't get eaten.

I know you are all jealous. I lead a pretty exciting life!

Other than that...a pretty uneventful day.

And that is ok sometimes!

Sydney is continuing with basketball tryouts. Nothing like going from one sport to the next. She just finished volleyball on Saturday. They had a tourney and her cute lil team lost their first game and were out. She was sooo sad...as were the rest of the lil girls! They were all crying and it made me so sad. They really didn't play as good as they are capable...and should have won that game hands down. But that is part of life I guess! She struggled most of the day Saturday...then just like that...she was all ok and happy again!

Wish I could rebound so quickly! I can learn lots from her!!!

Mitch has his last football game tomorrow. They are playing for second place in the district! They should win....their quarterback got hurt last week and left the game in an ambulance headed for the ER.....so it might be interesting to see how they do with a new QB who has never throw a pass during a game! Should be fun!!!

I am ready for bed....after all the baby fish chasing...I am worn out!

Dang Kid!

2007-10-12T20:56:00.000-06:00

Phew...glad it is the weekend! I just finished sewing 40 school bags for humanitarian kits for our ward super Saturday that is tomorrow! I thought it would be a good project for my kids to work on...so I had Mitch volunteer to make 10. A good goal I thought.

Well, he found out his friend was making a lot more than 10...and he didn't want to be outdone..so he just took the entire box.

And....brat didn't even touch them. Every time I tried to get him to work on them...he was busy...or he was tired! So, needless to say...it is the witching hour and they are due.

Thankfully Sydney was very interested in helping and knew that it could count for a 10 hour project for her personal progress...so she jumped on board and saved my bacon! She DEF got her hours done! Plus...I got a 10 hour project out of it too!!!

And the boy didn't help at all! And I am still mad at him!

And he owed me big time! For covering his behind!!! Once again!

Anyway...they are done and turned in. Did the best I could...and I am glad they are done.

And...I just finished making 20 cute lil domino necklaces for Sydney's volleyball team for their tournament tomorrow! I think they will be excited! Hope they do good!

Now...I am ready for bed!!!!

Drizzly Day

2007-10-10T14:57:00.000-06:00

I HATE days like today....days that are overcast and drizzly. Makes me want so stay home and stay in my jammies all day long! Which is what I did today!

Yesterday it was like 82 degrees outside...now today....brrrr and raining! The only upside being...Mitch does not have a Football game tonight!

Yahoo!!!

Still have to run and get kids from practice....Sydney has her final Volleyball Tourney on Saturday then she is done. And Mitch has a game tomorrow...then likely he will play in the championship game next week. Then he is done!!! Tyler has two games left...then he is done! I love my kids being involved...but it will be nice to have a breather for awhile!

Phew!!!!

Anyway....here's to sunnier days in the future!

Great Weekend!!!

2007-10-07T22:20:00.000-06:00

Sigh....it has been such a FAB weekend...just had to make note of it!

General Conference was wonderful as usual. My favorite part was when Joseph Wirthlin was speaking about service and brotherly love...and he starting getting really shaky. Russell M. Nelson stood up beside him and steadied him so he could finish his talk. Very moving. I had tears running down my face! Don't think Joseph Wirthlin will be around for much longer!

The weather was so gorgeous today that we couldn't help but head out to our property and "stake" out our possible home site! Made me excited to get out there! I wish it could happen sooner! I want to be out there now!!!

To top it off....BSU played today. We sold our tickets on Craigslist...since we didn't want to go on Sunday. But...we watched it on tv! They won big time!!! 58-0! Wowzers!!!

I am about ready for bed!!! The kids are back to school tomorrow...and it is Columbus day and Canadian Thanksgiving!!! So...Randy has the day off work. Yahoo!!!
I am cooking a turkey in honour of the day!

Yummy!!!

Read the story...then watch the video!!!! GOOD!!!

2007-10-04T17:53:00.000-06:00

Racing Towards Inclusion
by David Tereshchuk
Article courtesy of multi'merica.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America.

It’s a remarkable record of exertion — all the more so when you consider that Rick can't walk or talk.

For the past twenty five years or more Dick, who is 65, has pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick.

At Rick’s birth in 1962 the umbilical cord coiled around his neck and cut off oxygen to his brain. Dick and his wife, Judy, were told that there would be no hope for their child’s development.

"It’s been a story of exclusion ever since he was born," Dick told me. "When he was eight months old the doctors told us we should just put him away — he’d be a vegetable all his life, that sort of thing. Well those doctors are not alive any more, but I would like them to be able to see Rick now."

The couple brought their son home determined to raise him as "normally" as possible. Within five years, Rick had two younger brothers, and the Hoyts were convinced Rick was just as intelligent as his siblings. Dick remembers the struggle to get the local school authorities to agree: "Because he couldn’t talk they thought he wouldn’t be able to understand, but that wasn’t true." The dedicated parents taught Rick the alphabet. "We always wanted Rick included in everything," Dick said. "That’s why we wanted to get him into public school."

A group of Tufts University engineers came to the rescue, once they had seen some clear, empirical evidence of Rick’s comprehension skills. "They told him a joke," said Dick. "Rick just cracked up. They knew then that he could communicate!" The engineers went on to build — using $5,000 the family managed to raise in 1972 - an interactive computer that would allow Rick to write out his thoughts using the slight head-movements that he could manage. Rick came to call it "my communicator." A cursor would move across a screen filled with rows of letters, and when the cursor highlighted a letter that Rick wanted, he would click a switch with the side of his head.

When the computer was originally brought home, Rick surprised his family with his first "spoken" words. They had expected perhaps "Hi, Mom" or "Hi, Dad." But on the screen Rick wrote "Go Bruins." The Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup finals that season, and his family realized he had been following the hockey games along with everyone else. "So we learned then that Rick loved sports," said Dick.

In 1975, Rick was finally admitted into a public school. Two years later, he told his father he wanted to participate in a five-mile benefit run for a local lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Dick, far from being a long-distance runner, agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair. They finished next to last, but they felt they had achieved a triumph. That night, Dick remembers, "Rick told us he just didn’t feel handicapped when we were competing."

Rick’s realization turned into a whole new set of horizons that opened up for him and his family, as "Team Hoyt" began to compete in more and more events. Rick reflected on the transformation process for me, using his now-familiar but ever-painstaking technique of picking out letters of the alphabet:

" What I mean when I say I feel like I am not handicapped when competing is that I am just like the other athletes, and I think most of the athletes feel the same way. In the beginning nobody would come up to me. However, after a few races some athletes came around and they began to talk to me. During the early days one runner, Pete Wisnewski had a bet with me at every race on who would beat who. The loser had to hang the winner’s number in his bedroom until the next race. Now many athletes will come up to me before the race or triathlon to wish me luck."
It is hard to imagine now the resistance which the Hoyts encountered early on, but attitudes did begin to change when they entered the Boston Marathon in 1981, and finished in the top quarter of the field. Dick recalls the earlier, less tolerant days with more sadness than anger:

"Nobody wanted Rick in a road race. Everybody looked at us, nobody talked to us, nobody wanted to have anything to do with us. But you can’t really blame them - people often are not educated, and they’d never seen anyone like us. As time went on, though, they could see he was a person — he has a great sense of humor, for instance. That made a big difference."

After 4 years of marathons, Team Hoyt attempted their first triathlon — and for this Dick had to learn to swim. "I sank like a stone at first" Dick recalled with a laugh "and I hadn’t been on a bike since I was six years old."

With a newly-built bike (adapted to carry Rick in front) and a boat tied to Dick’s waist as he swam, the Hoyts came in second-to-last in the competition held on Father’s Day 1985.

"We chuckle to think about that as my Father’s Day present from Rick, " said Dick.

They have been competing ever since, at home and increasingly abroad. Generally they manage to improve their finishing times. "Rick is the one who inspires and motivates me, the way he just loves sports and competing," Dick said.

And the business of inspiring evidently works as a two-way street. Rick typed out this testimony:

"Dad is one of my role models. Once he sets out to do something, Dad sticks to it whatever it is, until it is done. For example once we decided to really get into triathlons, dad worked out, up to five hours a day, five times a week, even when he was working."
The Hoyts’ mutual inspiration for each other seems to embrace others too — many spectators and fellow-competitors have adopted Team Hoyt as a powerful example of determination. "It’s been funny," said Dick "Some people have turned out, some in good shape, some really out of shape, and they say ‘we want to thank you, because we’re here because of you’."

Rick too has taken full note of their effect on fellow-competitors while racing:

"Whenever we are passed (usually on the bike) the athlete will say "Go for it!" or "Rick, help your Dad!" When we pass people (usually on the run) they’ll say "Go Team Hoyt!" or "If not for you, we would not be out here doing this."
Most of all, perhaps, the Hoyts can see an impact from their efforts in the area of the handicapped, and on public attitudes toward the physically and mentally challenged.

"That’s the big thing," said Dick. "People just need to be educated. Rick is helping many other families coping with disabilities in their struggle to be included."

That is not to say that all obstacles are now overcome for the Hoyts. Dick is "still bothered," he says, by people who are discomforted because Rick cannot fully control his tongue while eating. "In restaurants - and it’s only older people mostly - they’ll see Rick’s food being pushed out of his mouth and they’ll leave, or change their table. But I have to say that kind of intolerance is gradually being defeated."

Rick’s own accomplishments, quite apart from the duo’s continuing athletic success, have included his moving on from high school to Boston University, where he graduated in 1993 with a degree in special education. That was followed a few weeks later by another entry in the Boston Marathon. As he fondly pictured it: "On the day of the marathon from Hopkinton to Boston people all over the course were wishing me luck, and they had signs up which read `congratulations on your graduation!’"

Rick now works at Boston College’s computer laboratory helping to develop a system codenamed "Eagle Eyes," through which mechanical aids (like for instance a powered wheelchair) could be controlled by a paralyzed person’s eye-movements, when linked-up to a computer.

Together the Hoyts don’t only compete athletically; they also go on motivational speaking tours, spreading the Hoyt brand of inspiration to all kinds of audiences, sporting and non-sporting, across the country.

Rick himself is confident that his visibility — and his father’s dedication — perform a forceful, valuable purpose in a world that is too often divisive and exclusionary. He typed a simple parting thought:

"The message of Team Hoyt is that everybody should be included in everyday life."

Team Hoyt - I CAN

2007-10-04T17:44:00.001-06:00

Mom's overture

2007-10-03T12:49:00.001-06:00

2007-10-02T22:01:00.000-06:00

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern.
A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock.
A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything.
No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

Eric O'Shea Truth In Advertising

2007-09-28T13:23:00.001-06:00

Here is a weekend funny!!!

Lunch Date

2007-09-28T12:42:00.000-06:00

Ok...so yesterday I got to go out for lunch with a friend I have not seen for awhile. And boy was it great to get together and catch up! She recently moved and seems like I never see her anymore! She is someone I consider a very dear friend....and I hate that she is not close-by anymore!

Lunch rocked....cuz we went to PF Changs...extreme yumminess....one of my FAV places to eat..cuz they have a "gluten free" menu! It is soo nice to be able to go and eat and know the food is not going to make me sick!

Anyway....it was a very fun lunch...and I think I need to do that more often!!! And not just cuz she paid! (lil brat...you know who you are!!!)

Almost made me feel human again!!!!

2007-09-24T15:54:00.000-06:00

Randy's youngest brother Steven and his wife Kayla came yesterday from Pocatello to bless their new baby girl! It was the first chance we have had to see her...and she is sooooo cute! It was fun to snuggle on her...didn't get to for long cuz there were many relatives waiting in line!

Steve gave her a very special blessing....and she was sooo good and quiet too. She was not pleased about taking pictures afterwards...but she survived!

Her name is Susie Bell Parker (after the Parker's Grandma). What a neat tribute!!! We are sooo glad they came over here to have her blessed so we could be there.

It was good to Steve and Kayla too!

I had fun taking some pics for them.....I love her little hands...and I had made that cute bracelet for her shortly after she was born! And it fit....so that is always a plus!!!

Cute Susie hands!!!

Susie was screaming...and the only way she would calm down was sucking on her Kayla's finger! So cute!!!

Sydney was dying to hold her new baby cousin!!! She even got to feed her a bottle!!!

Even Tyler wanted to hold baby Susie! Not for long...maybe just a couple of minutes! Good thing she was sleeping! :)

Dog-gone Funny

2007-09-14T20:47:00.000-06:00

This is soo cute...got it from a friend! Made me smile! So...get your giggle's out, dust them off and get ready to use them!

Hope it has the same affect on you!!! Make sure you have your sound on!!! :)

That is some mighty fine dancin!!!

2-1!!! VB WIN!!

2007-09-10T19:22:00.000-06:00

Sydney's VB team finally got their first win!!! They were playing East Valley MS at their gym...so it was their first official "away" game! They girls are playing so good....they lost their first game in another close one. They rallied back to win the second game. And won the squeaker in game 3! They were all soo very excited!

It is good to get a win under our belts!!!

Here are a couple of "quick" clips of Sydney helping her team win!!! She is the #1.

Good on ya girl!!!!

I am DONE!!!

2007-09-08T23:32:00.000-06:00

If I see another peach in the near future!!! I just might run away!!!

And I mean that seriously!!!

We picked peaches at the church orchard on Monday...we ended up being able to "glean" after the initial picking for the cannery had happened! We picked 5 bushels...and got them for free! :)

At the time...sounded delightful!

Now...not so much!

I ended up freezing close to 30 gallons (maybe more...I quit counting) Very peachiness!
I made 5 batches of peach jam! Extra yumminess!!!
And canned 20 quarts that I am going to give to a friend! (that shall remain a secret cuz she doesn't know yet) :) And I don't want to ruin the surprise!

Besides that we picked blackberries on Monday too...like 5 gallons! So I made 6 batches of blackberry jam! Extra extra yumminess!!!!

So...I am ready for a break from canning! I know it will be good in the months to come. But I feel all sugary and jammy up to my ear-bones!

Seriously!

Phew!!!

Tyler and Flag Football!

2007-09-08T13:35:00.000-06:00

Finally...Tyler got to play his first Flag Football game! They lost! The other team scored 5 touchdowns..and we only scored 3. I don't think Tyler seemed to care. He was just happy to be playing! He played Defensive Tackle and did pretty good!

He is just happy to get to wear a mouth guard!!!

Cute boy!!!

Go Gem State Communications!!!!

Tyler is the Green one..in the middle of the picture! :)

And on a side note...

GO BSU!!!!!

Edited to add!!!

SNAG-NAMIT!!! DANG BRONCOS!!!

VB Pictures!

2007-09-06T21:06:00.000-06:00

I have redeemed myself as a mother. At least I hope so anyway! (Am I forgiven Mom???)

Sydney had another VB game this afternoon. And...well, they lost again. They were playing a team that was alot bigger and better than they were...the other team won the first game 25-21. The Sage girls won the second game 25-22 and then we lost the third game 15-8.

They played sooo good! So much better than the other day! Sydney had some GREAT sets! And boy do we have some girls that can serve!!!

I took my camera and even remembered to take pictures this time! Phew!

The pic is a little blurry....my dumb camera auto-focused on the banner on the wall. ARGH! Oh well...if you look closely you can see the ball that she just set. Nice high set...on the K in the banner! :)

This is just a team shot...waiting for her team to serve!

See how little she looks?

What she lacks in size she makes up in heart and aggresivness!!!

It is soo fun to watch her play!!!

Stake Youth Activity!!

2007-09-05T22:23:00.000-06:00

Phew...it is over! It was fun and we had a TON of kids there. The Young Women leaders were in charge of the food (surprise surprise) and the Young Men planned the activities!!!

For dinner we had hamburgers, corn on the cob, chips, macaroni salad, potato salad, homemade root beer and ice cream bars for dessert! It was sooo yummy!

We probably had between 250-300 show up. It had been rainy and nasty all day long...but by 6:00 pm the clouds broke and it actually was pretty nice out...and we were able to have our party outside after all!!!

Jared Ricks and the Young Men's group planned the activities...which were a hit. They had four-square, kickball, football, basketball, and a joust thingee....the kids LOVED it! There were happy smiling kids running everywhere! They all went home full, sweaty and tired! I bet their parents loved us!!!

It turned out FAB!!! And the best part of the whole activity...is that it is over! It was fun...but I am tired and ready for bed!

The most exciting news of all...I got a new presidency!!! I am soo excited about the group of women I have working with me!!! They were called last week and sustained just on Sunday. Laurie Nelson is my new 1st Counselor, Tara Pugmire is my new 2nd Counselor, I kept Kris Woodruff as my Secretary and Jennifer Tolman as my Stake Camp Director and I called Greta Summers as my light leader (she is called specifically called to work with the 16 and 17 year old girls....as a leadership training) They are all super talented girls and I am soooo glad they all accepted and are excited to be serving in this way! It will be GREAT!!!

Sydney's first game

2007-09-04T21:20:00.000-06:00

Sadly...Sydney's first volleyball game at Sage Middle School did not go very good! They lost to Mountain Home! She played super great and she is quit the little setter! I was soo proud of her and how she rallied her team mates even when they were loosing! The other team would just bump it right over the net and her team set up each ball. Bump, set, spike! Some of them were not quit spikes....but they have the right idea!

She was disappointed about loosing but I explained that it will pay off when she is playing in High School! Her coaches will be so grateful that she understands the importance of setting up the ball to score!

She only had one chance to serve as she was only playing the front row...but the one chance she had was after they had dug a pretty deep hole and she really over-thought the process and missed! She was sad....but it is only her first game EVER! So, I think she did GREAT!

I am soo proud of her!

She has so much more guts that I did at that age...probably more guts than I have now!

It will be a fun season watching how much they are learning and growing as a team. And to watch how much she learns and gains more confidence!!!

I took my camera...and forgot to take pictures. I am not a very good mother today!

I will work on improving! I promise!

Yahoo for Bonnie!!!!

2007-09-03T17:15:00.000-06:00

My Super Very Cool friend Bonnie just showed me how to do some very cool stuffz to my blog! She rocks! I was not smart enough to do it on my own....I tried and screwed things up big time! But she showed me hot of fix it!!!

Yahoo!!!

Besides being way smart....she is my hair do-er extraordinaire! And I love her...cuz she makes my hair sooo cute!

Yahoo for Bonnie!!!

Love ya Girl!!!

A Boy's DREAM!!!

2007-08-31T20:38:00.001-06:00

Really what boy would not love these shoes...and living here in the Bronco Nation (referring to BSU-land)...these are going to be some hot sneaks! He is sure to be the envy of his peers!!!

We were looking for school shoes for Mitch. He is at that age where he knows what he wants and there is no talking him out of it! He wanted a pair of Nike "Free" runners. They are pretty cool looking shoes and the price tag is pretty cool too! I didn't have the $90 to spend on a pair. Seems like September is the most expensive month of the year. Ok, really December is...but September is a close second!

Anyhow....we were on ebay looking and found these....the dream shoes! We didn't even know they came in this colour...they must have been a custom order or something! We bought them using the "buy it now" option and they were a cool $50.00. Still alot for a pair of shoes...but cheaper than $90.

Welst...the blessed shoes arrived today! And they have been on his feet ever since. Not sure I will ever get them off him!

Sometimes it is good to be the Mom!!!

And yes...I staged them using our BSU pom poms from the Fiesta bowl!!!

He giggled!!!

And skipped!!!!

VICTORY!!!!

2007-08-29T22:29:00.000-06:00

Phew. The Vallivue Freshman Football season opener is in the books...and it goes down as a "W". It was super close game. Our guys definitely outplayed those Caldwell Cougars...but the final score was pretty dern close! 24-21. Our guys tried to loose it in the last minute....Caldwell did a onside kick and recovered it! Don't think I have ever seen that in a HS football game. There was about 2 minutes left in the game and they had to drive 40 yards to score. They got pretty close but on the last few trys our defensive line stuffed the QB big time....making him intentionally ground 3 times in a row! So...we recovered and ended up winning after all!

And now I have a boy that is bouncing off the walls! There is no way he will sleep tonight!!! He plays Tight Endand his number is 83. Its a good spot for a tall, skinny white boy like him. He is fast...and could maybe catch a couple this year...if they started some passing plays!

He is happy with their successful start to the year!

Ahhhhhh, to be a HS Freshman again!

Ugly colour I know...but it is our school colour!!! wink wink...nudge nudge!!!

Now his fish just had babies....there will be no sleeping tonight!!!

ARGH!!!

Old Friends.....are the best!!!

2007-08-23T23:14:00.000-06:00

I just got a message from an online site...that a friend from High School was trying to track me down. How delightful!!! I have thought about her often!!! Wondering what she is up to. She was really my very best friend for awhile! We even lived in an apartment together right after we graduated. Sure, the apartment was in my Grandpa and Grandma Reeder's basement...but we lived there and paid rent...so that counts!!!

She is my friend Karen!!!!

We worked together at the Dairy Queen...back when it was brand spanking new! Even made fun of Scot J Lehr together....and that was upside downright good! Hehehe!

We chased many hours after dark.

Neither of us had a car...but we both had bikes. Egads.

We spent many hours....being.....gazelles...and making fun of my grandma's plastic peonies with Dave!!!

Ate A LOT of mac and cheese! Hey we were too poor for much better...a good day was tuna, cheese and crackers!!!! Yum. Still love that to this day!

Chased around with Rusty puddle jumping at the Lyons Park. Fun fun!

Worked together at the Remington Carriages....before it went all big time. We were in the Charley Cheeseman Ice Arena...even did some modern dancing when there were no tourists to be found!!!!

Good times!!!!

I am soo glad she found me....we are excited to get caught up with each others lives!!!! Can't wait to talk to her on the phone!!!

Ahhhhhh.............

It's the most wonderful time....of the year!!!!

2007-08-22T13:39:00.001-06:00

It is my favorite day of the year. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and Easter...I sometimes even like my birthday and Mother's Day...but today, today is the mack daddy most special day for Mom's all across the valley here! You see...it is the first day of school. I know I can't be alone in my sentiment. Don't get me wrong...I love my kids...absolutely adore them. Love hanging out with them...and doing all kids of fun stuff with them. Loved sleeping in all summer long. But all good things must come to an end for the children! And I am sooo glad to have them back in school.

It will mean the running is cut in half!!! Sure it means getting up early and making lunches everyday...and doing homework every night from you on! But the trade off is soo worth having some peace and quiet during the day! YAHOOO!!!!

They were actually pretty excited to go today! And they should be....talk about cute new school clothes and all. I have a tradition of taking a picture of my kids on the first day of school and it is amazing how much they have grown.

Mitch especially. Guess that is what happens when you start High School. He is going to be playing freshman football this year and is pretty excited about that. Also he gets to start Seminary, and is excited about that too! I just can't believe he is getting so tall and old....makes me realize we will be sending him on a mission in the very near future! Sniff sniff!!!

Sydney starts Middle School today. She is in the 7th grade and is sooo very excited cuz she made the "A" team for Volleyball this year. It will be such a great experience for her I am excited too! She also gets to be an office aide and help her friend Tess at the office for the middle school. She is a sweet lady and I am glad Sydney gets to work with her! She is looking soo grown up too! ARGH!

Tyler is starting the 2nd Grade. He was a little nervous about going today...but still super excited. If that is possible. They re-did the Elementary School boundaries in our District and we got kicked out of a elementary school that we loved....one that I have put many hours and $$$ into. Oh well...so much for loyalty! He was excited in spite of the changes...and just ready to get back into the routine of things I know! He will do must fine....it is me that I am worried about!

Bottom line....we are all glad that school is back in session!!! It will be a fun night hearing all about it from each of my awesome kids!!!!

Success!!!

2007-08-10T18:42:00.000-06:00

Sydney's little party was sooo fun. She had some super cute, super sweet girls over and I think they had a great time. I wanted to post their cute glamour-shots so everyone could see them!!!

This is Madison! Isn't she soo cute!

This is Becca!!! She has the most gorgeous hair and eyes!!! Isn't she a doll!!!

This is Mia....Sydney's FAV cousin! They are such good friends. This girl is HOT!!!

Here is the Birthday Girl!!! I am not liking at all...how grown up she is looking! Makes me almost sad! She had a GREAT day....and is so glad to finally be 12! She can finally go to Young Womens! Phew...it has been a long wait!

Cousins are Awesome!!!!

2007-08-07T23:38:00.001-06:00

Sydney has her favorite cousin Mia here for a few days this week. They have had fun together doing girl stuff...and doing a lot of nothing too! They don't get to see each other but once a year ...so they make the most of it! Sydney turns 12 on Friday. I am still in shock!!! Alas...she is having a birthday party and we are doing a glamour-shots party. So, that includes doing hair and make-up, then doing a lil photo shoot. The girls will then decorate some cute lil frames to take their pictures home in! It should be a lot of fun. Sydney is pretty excited about it! So...today we were practicing by taking some photos. Testing out our backdrop....which needs pressed I noticed in the pictures.....and playing with different techniques for when we develop them. I thought they turned out pretty cute!!! The girls did too!!!

Oh....and notice.....Sydney got her ears pierced yesterday!!! We have tried a few other times but her fear got the better of her. Yesterday, with Mia along for emotional and physical support...we accomplished our goal. And.....my sweet lil girl got her ears pierced without even so much as a whimper!!! And she looks soooo dern grown up...it hurts!!! But isn't she soooo cute!!!

That's my girlie!!!!

And yes...just in case you were wondering....that is a Charlie's Angels pose....and yes those are kittens!!! Just wanted to clarify!!!! In case you were wondering!!!

Crappy Sunday!

2007-07-30T00:59:00.000-06:00

Well, today started of good...but didn't' stay that way for long! We had to be at the church early as Bishop Thurgood wanted to meet with us...well more meet with Randy and I was invited to attend! He was asked to serve at the 1st counselor in the YM Presidency in our ward. He is already a ward missionary...and they are not releasing him from that...so he will be a busy man!

Anyway, we get into Sacrament meeting and get him all sustained and such and head into the sacrament time. Mitch is a teacher so his job is to usher at the main doors into the chapel. Something he has done many times before. No big!

So....halfway through the bread being passed around...we hear this HUGE crash...and I mean super loud. I turned to Randy and said....."Sheesh...that was loud"....and said something to Sydney...and went right back to reading my scriptures...I was deep into my reading. A minute or two later, I turn to say something to Randy...and he is gone. So of course turn to see where he has gone...and I see a big group of people standing at the back of the chapel. I soon realize it is Mitch. I get up and go back to the door...where they have must moved Mitch into the foyer. Turns out, he had a seizure and hit the ground extremely hard...causing the huge crashing noise.

He looked HORRIBLE!!! I mean...really bad. Very grey...and I don't mean a nice heather grey....but that horrid...dead gray. He was pretty unresponsive and pretty dis-oriented...not good. We had a few people out there helping us, and a member of the Bishopric even came down off the stand to help. We decided a trip to the ER was needed. So Brother Sharp from the Bishopric and Randy gave Mitch blessing and I went back into the chapel and got Sydney and Tyler and we left to go to the ER. Took the littler kids home and Randy and I headed in.

They got us checked in super quick....guess teenager having a seizure bumps you up above sprains, rashes and spider bites! They got him settled and did lots of blood pressure monitoring...hydro-static blood pressure tests...they did an EKG...and lots of lab work. They did some neurological tests....just a few. All the labs came back good....good blood sugars, maybe a little low on electrolytes..but nothing for alarm. His EKG was normal and the hydrostatic blood tests showed nothing to panic over. They were not able to tell us why he had a seizure and have asked us to follow up with a pediatric neurologist asap. I will call first thing in the am. See what they have to say! We got home from the ER around 3:00 or soo....maybe 3:30.

I am very hopeful it was a random event...and not a new thing to worry about all the time. It was pretty scary...and not really something I want to do over again! Poor kids...he has had a rough summer. His emotions were catching up with him tonight...I heard him sobbing in his bedroom around midnight...and went in and had a visit with him. I feel so bad. Today was not something he had any control over...but the quad accident and the mishap at scout camp...he probably could have controlled the outcome a little bit. I am sure I will spend the entire night tonight...worrying as a mom...what I can do to make him feel better! He is feeling pretty darn crappy right now!!!

It is late...and my lunesta has officially hit....I think I can go to sleep now....at least for a lil while. I will post more details as we learn them. Cross your fingers with me that this is nothing serious!!!

On a happier note...Randy got home from San Diego and brought the kids goodies....this is what Randy brought Mitch. A Luchador mask. He was very excited and squealed and started prancing around the house...belting lines like...."nipple twist..." and "and-a-squeeze". He was very excited!!!

Love,

Me....a concerned Mommy!!!

We are.......BORED!!!

2007-07-24T18:33:00.000-06:00

Sheesh, we are soo bored we don't know what to do. Randy is gone to San Diego all week long. And we were supposed to go with him, but the $$$ was not there to do it...so we stayed home. So, we have absolutely no schedule, nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to see...we are so boring! He comes home on Friday night, so till then, we will just be chillin at the homestead!

Sydney does have a volleyball camp this weekend...Thurs, Fri and Sat, and I might get Tyler into a football camp that is Saturday afternoon. He is planning on playing this fall...so it would be good for him....plus he would love it! All the other kids have had camps this summer...xept for him. So...it would make him feel special!!! And that is a good thing!

I am sooo bored, I might even scrap tonight. That is pretty desperate. I love to scrap...just haven't for a long long time. Not sure why, guess I have had too many other things going on.

Just some random pictures of Randy....to show him that we love him!!! And that we miss him!!!

Pretty dang exciting uhhhh?????

He Wishes!!!

2007-07-19T15:22:00.001-06:00

Seems like Mitch's only wish in life...is to be able to slam dunk a basketball. He talks about it all the time...dreams about it...draws pictures of it...even had his school pics taken with an afro wig
on.

And yes I had to sign a note saying I gave him permission to have his pictures taken like that...and he was actually upset that I didn't purchase the entire set of pics...ya right! Like I want them. Do you like how his is wearing his "Fiesta Bowl" t-shirt...and orange sweatband and one orange sock and one blue sock! And his BB shoes!!! What a spaz!!!

He ended up getting them for free from the school anyway. And yes he is shocked that I don't have one framed and in the hallway! Pretty funny!

Mitch and Riley Woodruff were slam dunking off of the trampoline. I was instructed to take pics at such an angle...as to not get the trampoline in the shot. He wanted it to look like he really dunking!!! Too funny!

It makes me giggle that he wishes for this. He has such a funny personality. His teachers seems to like him...probably to much...in that they give him too many chances to get assignments done. And give him chances that no one else gets! After he got his pictures...he gave a wallet sized pic" to each of his teachers....and I was shocked to see them hanging behind most of their desks when we went for parent teacher interviews! I swear this kid is not normal!!!

CURSES!!!

2007-07-18T01:12:00.000-06:00

ARGH....I can't sleep. I hate it!!! I take Lunesta to help me fall asleep but my prescription has run out and I am in the hunt for a new Dr so in the mean-time...I am Lunesta-less! Sniff sniff!!! It is not a good place to be. I am going on like day 5 here with little or no sleep. I have a friend who offered to call a new scrip in for me...but he is up at scout camp! ARGH! Laur...when is he coming home? I hope soon!

I have battled insomnia for many years. I first remember it starting at about 13 years old. I remember just laying there...not being able to go to sleep...mind just a going. It is soooo annoying! I hate it! It is definitely something I would change about myself...if'n I could. Along with my weight..but that is a whole different topic!

New Additions to the Family!

2007-07-14T22:53:00.000-06:00

What can I say....I am such a softie when it comes to baby kittens! Sheesh! I went to Walmart for milk and Miracle Grow...and look what I came home with! This darling little girl was with me...and she spotted a family giving these kittens away. And worse than kittens...I am a softie when it comes to my daughter begging and pleading! Her kitty Nemo just ran away...well, he was lead by his testicles I am sure...either way he is gone! And she has been sooo lonely! I just could not say no! So, I said yes...and the little girl we got them from was happy they were going together that she started crying! It was sooo sweet! Her and Sydney were like kindred spirits! Pretty funny!

So...long story short...we have two cats again! We will see how long it lasts. With our cat history...it is almost surely a death sentence. I think we are in the 40's plus...for number of cats had since we got married. It is nearly 17 years...but still! I had the same cat for like 12 years growing up. So it is really pretty pathetic. Hopefully these will last!

Their name are Beauty (a girl) and the Beast (a boy). Sydney named them. Pretty cute huh!!!

Tyler my farm boy

2007-07-11T22:25:00.001-06:00

so for the last 4-5 days I have been unable to add a title to my posts...for whatever reason it is fixed now! Yahoo!!!

I love this picture of Tyler. I took it last summer on a visit up to the ranch! I love the colouring, I love his expression, I love the dimple under his eye...and I love how bare foot and dirty he is! Love it!!! It is soooo good to go to the ranch and be able to relax and let the kids play outside and not have the worries I do when they play outside here. Maybe I am a little over-protective...but I don't want to ever have "regrets" about letting them go out without someone watching out for them! They are kids...totally trusting of everyone and pretty protected really when it comes to the world. I don't know what I would do if something ever happened to them that could have been avoided by something I did or didn't do. That is a lot of pressure to put on myself I know...but hey, I am the Mom!

Anyway, back to Tyler. I love how fun loving and silly he is! There is no doubt, he is the one in our family who keeps everyone laughing! And it is more than his his funny personality! He has been blessed with some pretty amazing talents! He is so tough!!! Seriously, that kid...you have to about beat him to death to make him feel pain. He is physically very strong and huge for his age! Came that way too....he was almost 10 pounds when he was born...it was more like taking care of a 2-year old than a newborn. Anyway....he took karate last year and I worried...cuz he doesn't realize how big and strong he is...he's only 7 after all! But.....karate was soo good for him, the discipline side of it was GREAT! He learned to respect his instructors and his team mates! Besides being physically strong...he is such a softie on the inside. Just a big ole teddy bear...he can have the saddest feelings if he knows he hurt some one's feelers!!! And those blue eyes are sooo good at producing huge very sad tears! He is soooo soft hearted!!! Loves all animals and especially loves his brother and sister!!!

He is a great supporter of is siblings. He has always been the tag-a-long kid. Seems like he has been drug everywhere since he was a baby. Guess that is what happens when you are the caboose! Even when he was a newborn and we were living in Seattle....Mitch was playing soccer and most of his games where in the rain....and along he came....huge umbrella and diaper bag in tow! I have been trying lately to get him into more sports and activities for him...and let the other two kids follow him around for a change! Would be good for all three of them!

Lastly...he is a very gifted musician! Something I didn't even realize about him. Being a boy...quite honestly I might never have know. Thank goodness for his good friend Ben Fife who on an afternoon playing...introduced him to his new musical medium! He could do an entire concert on his own....with a very vast array of music. Probably even play requests!!!! His repertoire is endless! His instrument of choice you ask???? Arm pit farting! And he is good...let me tell you! Very talented! And choices the most appropriate times to share his god-given gift! Yet another reason to love him. He always takes the edge off!

He is such a great kid...smart, inquisitive, sensitive, silly, soft-hearted, arm pit farting, real life farting, can burp like no other, can play a storm around anyone, stands out in a crowd, colours outside the lines, loves his bike, doesn't care if his clothes match, isn't afraid of hardly anything, loves his mama, doesn't get taken advantage of, sooo dang loving it hurts, loves pokeman! No wonder I love him the way I do!!!

SUMMER SWIMMING

2007-07-10T23:46:00.000-06:00

It was so hot today we decided to go to Lake Lowell and do some swimming! The kids had fun just paddling around and jumping off of the dock. Tyler would not jump for the longest time...I could tell he wanted to, but he was toooo afraid! So I went out onto the dock in the guise of taking pictures and asked Mitch if he was brave enough to swim under the dock. Of course he was!!! As he was doing so, I told Tyler to walk up to the edge and watch for Mitch to re-surface! Then, being the mean mom that I am....I pushed him in!

Before you get all angry at me...look at the picture...he had a life-jacket on.

He was pretty ticked off cuz I didn't warn him....ya right. He would have ran away. Anyway....he didn't have a chance to take a breath and plug his nose so he was ticked. But only for about 1 minute. He realized he had lived and it was actually kinda fun...so then he was a jumping fool! I could not keep him from jumping! He had a blast though...so I feel better on the inside for having just abused his trust! hehehe....insert evil mom laughter!

We spent about 2 hours out there....the kids swam and I sat in the shade and read! I know, I am a party pooper...but I don't like the heat! I would love to be tan...but not enough to sit in the sun! So there!

Got home and Randy, Mitch and Ben went on a 15 mile bike ride. They are trying to finish up their cycling merit badge for scouts. They had to complete two five milers, two 15 milers, two 25 milers and one 50 miler. The boys had missed a 15 and a 25 due to a soccer game...but had completed the rest...so the 15 they finished tonight..and the 25...maybe this weekend. We'll see. They are pretty excited at the prospect of finishing a big merit badge like that one! Pretty cool...I am proud of them!!!

Out-Standing in his field!

2007-07-09T21:08:00.000-06:00

I took this picture of my Dad while we where home just a couple weeks ago. We had gone up into the hills to haul a couple cows and calves up and put some salt out for everything in the summer pasture. He is a true rancher and can't just go up and do the few things we had on our agenda....it is so gorgeous up there I can't hardly blame him either. We go the cows unloaded and the salt put out...and he decided to walk over the check the rest of the herd. I snapped this picture of him as he was walking back to the truck...he didn't even know I was taking it.

He is someone who is definitely out-standing in his field. Literally and figuratively!!! He is a true example of "if something is worth doing...it is worth doing well". He exemplifies this in every single thing he does! He has rodeo'd most of his adult life and not just dabbled in it either. He puts his whole heart and soul...most of his time...and sacraficed his body...into this pounding lifestyle! He has calf roped and team roped longer than I have even been around. It doesn't even cross his mind..."if"...he should enter...he just does it! He has trained his own horses all his life...and is such a perfectionist when it comes to training, that people all through Canada and the United States want to buy his horses...or want to ride them at rodeo's and usually end up paying him "mount money" cuz they win while riding his horses! He spends hours and hours training and practicing and I used to loathe it as a child. It could be 20 below zero or colder and we would still have to go out and practice in the indoor arena for hours. Even with the propane heater blasting. you could still see your breath and the snot would freeze to your cheeks! Brrrrrr....and we knew better than to complain!

But all those hours of practice and dedication have definitely paid off! At 62 he is still roping and winning! He just had his bday on 7-7-7 and what better luck could he have than his dream birthday of being at a rodeo and winning on his big day! He won the roping Saturday and Sunday and he and my mom placed in the ribbon roping on Saturday! I am sure in his mind...it was a perfect day!

He has always been such a great example of "striving"....by watching him while growing up and now....it has instilled in me a desire for perfection. It can be a curse sometimes...but I have always known where it came from. Even being adopted...I know it comes from him! I am so glad to have been raised with that kind of example. He is truly someone who is out-standing in his field!!!

YO Mama!!!!

2007-07-08T16:33:00.000-06:00

I have been thinking alot lately...about my Mom! I am sooo blessed to have such a wonderful, caring, fun-loving, God-fearing, mother who is sooo willing to serve in the church and do whatever she is asked! Her testimony is so strong, and I leaned on it for many years while I worked and studied and grew my own! She was so fun to grow up with...besides the usual mom blow-ups...mostly the normal hormone induced fits of rage! Never brought on by my mis-behaving that is for sure!!!

Like the time she sent me to town with my Dad to get some groceries while she stayed home. She needed raspberry kool-aid for some recipe for some crazy church thing...welst...I was about 10 and "ACCIDENTALLY" grabbed strawberry flavoured instead. Un-b' knowst to me of course!

Well, she was not pleased! And upon returning home to the ranch...she promptly made me return to town...via my bike....to get the correct flavour. Oh...did I mention that we lived 7 miles out of town???? On a very hilly gravel road?

Maybe a little extreme for a 10 year old...ya think? Anywho....I was way smarter than her. I rode just past the first hill...out of site from the house and then laid my bike down on the side of the road and laid there pretending to be hurt. Hehehehe. Just waited till the next person drove by and when they stopped to see if I was ok...I asked them to give me a ride to town.

I got the Kool-aid and then sweet-talked my loving Grandpa Reeder into giving me a ride home. He did and he also gave my mother a lecture on proper discipline techniques!

Still makes me giggle to this day! Well...she got her right flavour of Kool-aid after all...don't feel bad for her, this blog is about me remember!!! Ok..just kidding!

My life is filled with memories like this! What a great Mom! She is such a wonderful example to me...she is so kind and loving with my kids...and I think she genuinely likes them! Might come as a shock to those of you who know my kids! She always makes them feel special...and allows them to do things like snack between meals, and stay up till midnight...you know...stuff their mother never lets them do! It always takes me a good week to get them "tuned-up" after we get home from visiting! But...it is worth it....I am sooo very glad they have had the chance to get to know her!

It was touch and go a few years back. She had an emergency hysterectomy which was followed by pretty radical chemo and radiation to treat the Uterine Cancer that had spread through and outside her Uterus! It was such a scary time for all of us....we didn't know if she would make it through. She even wondered at times. I guess that experience has made me appreciate her all the more! I will never take her for granted!!! She is sooo wonderful!!!!

so full of wonder

2007-07-02T14:49:00.000-06:00

Sydney...you are such a nature lover. Our visit to Lake Louise absoluetly thilled you, you loved all the hikes and touristing we did. I think if we lived closer you would be an every Thursday hiker with Grandma Reeder. You loved the Lake, it was so pretty and such clear water and you could see all the way up onto the glacier. You probably could have spent all day there.

The next day we went to Takakkaw Falls. It was a little bit of a drive into British Columbia and was sooo worth the wait. You climbed up on that rock and just sat and starred. And I don't blame you....the falls were unreal. It is a natural waterfall as the water runs off of the glacier...then drops over 1000 feet. The spray from the falls starts to hit you as you approach from several hundred feet away!

I hope you never lose that sense of wonder.....to quote a song....Sydney, I hope you are always so close to your Father in Heaven...and so attracted to the beautiful things of Nature! You are such a sweet and tender little soul...I hope you never lose that either! I sure do love you!!!

Love,

Mom!

Happy Canada Day Eh!!!

2007-07-02T00:57:00.001-06:00

I can't believe I almost forgot.....

Happy Canada Day!!!

May your day be filled with visions of maple leaves and mounted police!!! Eh!!!

Or at least drive by my house and see my neon lighted Canada flag hanging in the front window!!!

Love,

this Damcanuk!

Living and Learning!

2007-07-01T23:37:00.000-06:00

While up in Canada I had one of those life lessons that are not so good....one to not be so proud of! I have always lived my life in a way that I can be blessed with the guidance of the Holy Ghost at all times. I have trained meticulously to hear and follow every prompting....big or small! It is something I pray for daily...and work very hard to achieve! But...sometimes we miss those promptings none-the-less!

Our final day in Canada (Wednesday June 27, 2007)....we had planned some fun memorable things...I had made arrangements to take Mitch and Ben to the Cardston Temple to do some Baptisms for the Dead and we were all looking forward to the special feeling we would have while at the Temple. My Dad had agreed to come along and do the dunking and confirming...a capacity I had never witnessed in my growing up years as he was largely inactive most of the time I was home....so needless to say, I was a little excited to see it! I could not, however shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen! I had felt it for awhile, maybe even a couple of days...but kept brushing it aside and I am not sure why.

We completed our Temple visit and were returning to the ranch to join the rest of the family for Mongolian BBQ and I was looking forward to a relaxing night visiting and playing ping pong! We arrived home and got dinner done and were planning out the rest of the evening when the boys came and asked if they could take the 4-wheelers and go shooting gophers. My immediate response...without even thinking was NO! I was prompted to say no! And I told them no...and they were not pleased! We got dinner cleaned up and they came and asked me again....and I again was prompted "Don't let them go"...so I replied NO again. Again they were not happy. My Dad was preparing to practice team roping and would not be long so I suggested they wait for him to be finished and them He could take them shooting. Being 14, they did not like that option. So, they went behind my back and asked my dad if they could each take a 4-wheeler and go shooting. He decided they could go....but not each on a 4-wheeler, they could go together on one and each could have their own .22 rifle! So, he got them set up and turned them loose. As I looked out the doorway and saw them leaving, I had a sick feeling in my stomach and even turned to my Mom and commented on how I didn't see this as a good idea and I had a horrible feeling something bad would happen! My Dad waved off my worries and told me to let them be boys and have some fun! I felt like an over-protective mother and even felt guilty for having those bad feelings! So, I let them go!

We went and roped and after about an hour, I had another prompting to go and find the boys! So I said to my Dad, "Can we go and look for the boys?"....to which he responded..."For hell sakes, they are just fine" and we continued to practice. We ran 5 or 6 more steers then got the horses unsaddled and all the tack put up and I again said to my dad...."Can we please go and find the boys?"....it was starting to get dark and I was very worried and starting to feel a little panicky inside, realizing the continued promptings and over-all sick feeling I was having. So, he finally gave in and we jumped into the farm truck and headed to the Winder Field to look for them.

We had driven the entire field and had seen no evidence of them anywhere, so Dad headed to the coulee that is home to a very steep ravine and pretty thick brush at the bottom. We were headed North and still had no sight of them...so Dad stopped the truck and I got out to look out deeper into the ravine. For some strange reason, I turned my body and looked back South against some of the terrain we had already looked...and there I spotted the Quad. It was far enough away that all I could see was that it was sitting stopped....in a similar area where Mom and I had broke down last summer when we went to pick Service Berries. It is a pretty treacherous spot and we were not able to drive all the way to it...so we drove to the old gravel pit and parked the truck....but this time I was panicking big time and got out of the truck on a dead run and crested the hill at the top of the gravel pit where for the first time I was able to see the quad close up....and the sight still makes me stomach hurt. I could tell the quad had been rolled, flipped many times over and was sitting precariously about 1/2 down the very steep ravine. I could tell the crash had been violent and had to have been caused by too much speed and NO common sense! I was sick and screamed out loud..."NO!!!!"...to my Heavenly Father. I was praying so earnestly in my mind as I RAN down the hill.....{screaming Mitch's and Ben's names}....to get close to the crash site! I was looking for bodies and blood and was sick as to what I would find! Even my dad had some panic in his voice as he voiced his "Holy @#&*" as we topped the hill. As we hurriedly looked and found no one there...my only calming feeling was...at least they are walking! We found the guns sitting in the edge of the gravel pit, and could see by the tracks in the dirt what they had been doing. The tracks showed they had been dirt-bowling and jumping off the lip of the gravel pit. The last jump, had to have had a lot of speed and was not landed square, as evidenced by the huge gouge marks left in the ground...the crooked landing caused the quad to flip, throwing the driver, then the quad proceeded to roll and flip down the embankment! It was such a scary sight! I don't think I have even been so scared in my entire life! And I can say that very honestly!

We jumped back into the truck to backtrack through the field and try to find them walking back to the house.....eventually, having not found them anywhere, we returned to the house to find them having just arrived themselves. Turns out, Mitch had been driving and was likely showing off to his friend...and had the accident. Their story does not match the tracks....but that is okay because it is plainly evident as to what they were doing. Mitch was very beat up physically and mentally. And rightly so! He has pretty good road-rash up his back and is very very sore...but no broken bones! I feel so blessed as a mother that it was not worse. I know it very well could have been FAR worse! And there are worse things than death....we as a family are sooo very lucky and blessed!

I guess the lesson I learned was that I AM the MOM....and I have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost!!! And I am entitled to use that gift!!! I pray daily for that guidance....so why then, would I NOT have followed those promptings??? I might never forgive myself for the stupid thing I did!!! Even though the outcome could have been far worse, I don't know that I will probably never forgive myself!!! I have promised myself that I WILL NEVER ignore a prompting again!!! It was a hard lesson to learn, and reminds me that I always dependant on my Father in Heaven and that ultimately HE is the one in charge...and everything is His will! And that life is soooo fragile! I will not again take it for granted!

Anyway....here is a picture of the quad after we got it hauled back to the place! It is totalled! And the rear wheels are no-where to be found! They were propelled with such force they might never be found in the bottom of the ravine! I asked my Mom to go and take a picture of the site where he crashed...if she does I will add that picture too!!!

Lastly, I am soo glad to be a Mom, and even more humbled at the responsibility that is overwhelming at times....to get my kids raised and teach them to be the kind of people their Father in Heaven wants for them to be! Sometimes I wonder if I am doing things right!

Summertime and the living is easy!

2007-06-30T21:05:00.001-06:00

We just got back from Canada! Steve was here visiting from Korea with his lil family and we needed to go up and visit. He only comes every 2-3 years...so it is worth the drive. Mitch took his good friend Ben Nelson up with him and they had so much fun playing "ranch style". I am not sure his parents would have approved of all the crazy things they did up there....this pic being one fine example. They were diving off the play hut onto the trampoline which was covered with pillows and blankets. I love how these pictures turned out. Definetly feels like summer!!!

We had a great visit and did some really fun stuff!....We branded some late spring calves...only about 8. My dad was so patient to teach his "city slicker" crew the correct way to do stuff! They were quick learners!!! We even had some rocky mountain oyster eating going on!

okay...so Mitch didn't really eat his...but Ben did! I was impressed. He didn't want to...but he did it! It is kinda of right of passage if you go to the ranch and help brand. It is required! And yes I ate one too....but didn't take a picture cuz it was not my first one! Hehehehe

Ben and Mitch both ear-tagged...and did a good job. I vaccinated, Steve branded, Dad roped and dragged them over, Uncle Ed castrated. What a fun job!!! I think Ben learned alot! And was sore "in certain areas" afterwards! It was a good day!

Phew....it has been awhile!!!

2007-06-03T23:07:00.000-06:00

I feel so bad...I started this blog and then started neglecting it! Things have been a little crazy lately. Now the kids are out of school...and soon Girls Camp will be over and then I can start paying more attention to me for a change!

I was shocked to see that Shandy had posted a comment on here....suprised cuz I hadn't given my blog name to anyone....she is pretty crafty!!! It was fun to sign on and see a comment!

I already fell short of my goal to exercise. Did good for a while...then fell off the wagon...or treadmill I guess! I will do better there too once camp is over! I feel like such a failure! Silly huh!

I am getting excited for the things we have planned for camp...I should have tracked my hours in meetings and planning! It would be ALOT!!! The work will payoff here soon! It will be fun to see what good things come of all our planning!

In another thought.....Mitch is going to be in High School next year. It is really freaking me out for some reason...not because I am old...cuz I don't feel old...but because of what he is going to be going through! I know it will be a tough 4 years on him, and he really is such a tender hearted lil soul! I hope he survives! He is playing football with the HS team...they have a camp all this week....so I am sure this will be a warm up for the real thing! Please keep my lil boy safe and tend his tender self esteem!!!

Better jet...I am ready for bed!!!

Love

Prairie Home Companion!

Phew...what a workout!

2007-03-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

ok, so I have set a goal to exercise everyday! Try and get my meaty loins into shape! I just got a treadmill and I must say I am loving it, I have been doing a walk jog combo and it is starting to feel really good and I am loving how I feel after I am done! This is definetly unchartered territory for me!!! I have never been a big fan of running, the girls have made that a little harder than I would like!!! If you know what I mean....huge tracks of land...et al! I am really looking forward to being in better shape! Seems like everyone is into the groove this time of year...hope I can make it last!

I am also not feeling so overwhelmed with life lately. My calling as the Nampa North Stake Young Womens President is alot of fun...but also a LOT of work!!! Sometimes, ok...most of the time, I wonder why the heck did they call me to do this??? I def don't know what I am doing. I am willing to learn and I am really trying to do my best! It gets pretty overwhelming some times....so much to do! I just made a few changes to my presidency. Had to get a new secretary, not something I was really wanting to do...but for some reason, probably something dumb I said or did, my old Sec just quit coming to meeting etc! It was a hard change cuz I really had grown to love her!!! I really admired her experience, and advice. And I will miss her mucho bueno!!! I am excited about my new Secretary, I think she will do a great job, and I worry about overwhelming her as we break her in! ARGH! Also, I had to call a new Stake Camp Director. My old one had asked to be released...also made me very very sad...and I still am shedding tears over that one....she was a very capable lady who was super FAB with the girls and I thought she really loved her calling! She struggles with feeling she is not capable or worthy of doing such a calling...which is sooo stupid..cuz she should probably be the President and NOT me!!! Alas, the change has been made and I am excited about my new gal. She is young and definetly has lots of energy and good ideas! It has been fun to visit with her and see how similar our philosiphies on leadership and young women are!!! So, that will be a breath of fresh air!!!

That is about it for today....I need to hit the shower!!! I stinketh!!! Heheeheh

later,

Lynette

Here we go...into blog-land!!!

2007-02-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to do this for a LONG time...and just decided to take the plunge. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully I can learn as I go, Wish me luck!!!