Wonderlandgirl

Update...

2010-12-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

How does life get so busy?? And maybe more importantly, why doesn't it ever seem to slow down? Much as I try to take a breather and not have everything scheduled, it never seems to let up!

It's been so long since I updated the blog I don't even have a clue what I've been busy with! Just working and doing photo sessions and being parents and running a household I guess!

For Halloween this year Sadie decided to be Nanny McPhee:

She hated her moles though. :)
Cydnie was convinced she was going to be a minion from Despicable Me:

so Morgan bought a round tube from Lowes and he was going to make her a costume. Of course, 2 days before Halloween we couldn't figure out how to finish it, so we were frantically looking for an alternative for Cyd. Since I am a terrible friend and hadn't returned last year's costume to my dear friend Hope, we had a backup... if only we could find some Dorothy shoes....

went to Wal-Mart looking for some kind of plastic show I could spray paint, of course - and they had a WHOLE RACK! Of actual Dorothy shoes!! Cydnie was in heaven! And I couldn't belive my luck!

And just as the real Dorothy, she has never let them off her feet for a moment since.

I thought they both turned out fun and they both enjoyed their costumes. We went to the ward trunk-or-treat as tradition dictates and then to the grandparents' houses. Got way too much candy as always!

November -

I took a girls' trip with a few friends the weekend before Thanksgiving. We had sooo much fun. I'm so blessed to have fabulous friends. We went to Time Out for Women, a conference with speakers with messages for women, most are gospel-related topics. Boy, did I need it. Lots of messages about Hope and the role it can play in our lives. And besides from the spiritual enlightenment, there was shopping and much, much laughing. Perfect weekend.

For Thanksgiving I got to host it at my house this year. We fed around 20 people from Morgan's side of the family in our basement. We also moved more couches into the basement for visiting and watching football. I had to work at 4:00 that afternoon so i didn't get to do much visiting or watching TV. Disappointing for me, cuz I'm kind of a talker.

But I enjoyed my time there very much! Love my family-in-law.

At the beginning of October we had a house guest - Morgan's nephew Donovan is engaged and we were having his fiance stay with us. The girls loved it - she was so great with them and did their hair so cute. After a while we decided it wasn't working for our family and she has since made other arrangements but it was fun to have her for a while.

As far as December thus far we are enjoying the Christmas season! We've got our tree up and decorated and most things bought and wrapped. (I'll add pictures soon.) The girls are beyond excited. I love this time of year, other than the cold, which I hate. I love parties though - looking forward to the Utah Highway Patrol party tomorrow night and the Big.Annual.Dudley.Christmas.Party (that causes much stress and anticipation) on Saturday!

Oh and regarding my Big News I mentioned on Facebook (no, I'm not pregnant), I'll give details tomorrow. ;)

The Most Amazing Weekend!

2010-08-01T15:23:00.000-06:00

Get ready for a billion-picture-post! :)

We had sooo much fun with Annie and Jeremy and their kids this weekend! They came out Friday night and we barbequed for dinner and stayed up late getting things ready to run the Green River the next morning. We went down the river with Danielle and Jared Holmes and their kids, our family, and the Barker family. I think we all had a blast. We just went down once and then ate our packed lunch at Little Hole.

After we got home we did quick showers and then a quick photo shoot for Annie's ADORABLE family - thanks again, Annie and Jeremy for putting up with our obsession with your cute family and our cameras. It was maybe my favorite part of the whole weekend! :)

After the photo shoot we went to the derby. It was kinda lame this year, honestly. But we still had a good time. Here is Cydnie learning to dance to YMCA. :)

(Our cabinet guy's car)

We went to McDonald's after the Derby and got happy meals for the kids, then home and straight to bed.

Sunday morning after breakfast we hit the sand bar for one more hour of beach fun. We built the most amazing sandcastle town ever. I'll have to steal those pictures from Annie later.

Thanks again for coming out guys, we had such a blast - I haven't laughed that hard in a year, I think! :)

Collection

2010-07-24T19:35:00.000-06:00

Every kid has a collection right??
I had stickers. And erasers. Neither of those things move.

My girls' collection look like this.

They move, and kind of chirp and smell funny.

To each her own.

What We Did on my Mini--Summer Vacation

2010-07-20T16:44:00.000-06:00

I took a few days off work just to spend with my girls this summer. We did something fun every single day and still left time just to be home and relax.

The first day, Morgan was off work too so we went up to Jones Hole to play in the water and have a picnic. That is some COLD water!! Sadie didn't seem to mind though, which is kind of out of character for her. Cydnie was the one who was too cold to get in. (She was right though. I swore I saw an ice chunk floating in it once. ;) )

We also went to the splash park...

The rest of the days we spent either at the lake or at the Green River sandbar. That place is awesome! Just around the corner from our house, free, and there's never anyone there!! The sand is amazing, too. I've just been too scared to take the camera there. Because the sand is amazing, and it gets EVERYWHERE.

Sadly, I had to go back to work last night, back to the very real world.

But it was way fun while it lasted!

The 5th of July

2010-07-14T10:56:00.000-06:00

Since Morgan and I both had the 5th off, we decided to take a little mini vacation to Provo. Our dear friends are always so sweet to accomadate and this time was no exception. Morgan and I did a little shopping and that evening Annie and Jeremy took us up the canyon in Springville for a little barbeque. The kids played in the creek and got really dirty - which is always a sign of a good time. :)

Ava is sooo cute with this dog!! She pulls her around on that rope and the dog acts like she doesn't even mind. Hilarious to watch!

Us roasting GIANT marshmellows! These are soooo amazing.

Thanks AGAIN, Annie and Jeremy and kids for letting us use the most comfy couch in the universe and for letting my kids kick your kids out of their beds! Ugh!

The 4th of July

2010-07-14T10:34:00.002-06:00

Tradition for our family on the 4th of July is something I look forward to every year! Last year I had to work and it broke my heart a little. :)

This year, the 4th fell on a Sunday, so we altered our tradition just a little bit. (Tradition being, get pizza fairly early in the afternoon and spend the whole afternoon and evening in the same spot at the park waiting for the fireworks.) Morgan's sister, Kimberli brought up her grill and we all grilled our own meat and had pot-luck salads and desserts. It was so much fun. (Plus our steaks were way better than any pizza I've ever had!) I did have to work the graveyard that night, but the fireworks got out at perfect timing for me to change into my uniform and go to work just a few blocks away.

I LOVE spending time with family! We missed Morgan's mom and dad, though, Rosemary wasn't feeling well. Everyone else made it.

We also had a Reynolds Family Reunion that weekend at the park. I thought it turned out really well.

What We've Been Up To...

2010-07-01T18:13:00.002-06:00

Morgan and I have been busy scheming....

We also had the chance to do another wedding this month. We had a blast - the couple was sooo sweet! I just looove weddings. :)

More Birthday Stuff

2010-05-27T04:11:00.006-06:00

So honestly, this year of birthdays did NOT go as planned. I was kinda bummed, actually. If you know me at all, you know I spend A LOT of time on parties. I love it. It's fun for me. This year we decided to have a "friend, kid-party" seperate from the "family party". This isn't a much different plan than usual except for that usually our friend party for kids includes the cousins. I found out this year that that is the only way to go! We love having our cousins come to the kid party! This year was awful, as far as party planning went! The girls had a great time anyway and that's all that matters but here's what happened: (This might be long and boring. Feel free to skip over and just look at the pics!)

We had planned to have the party at the park - the kid party @ 3 and the family party @ 5. At about 10:00 am it was clear we were not going to be partying outside anytime soon. I called and "reserved" the church house for a backup plan. I had a whole golf themed party planned with a lot of fun little games for the kids. Some of those had to be altered due to the fact that it had to be inside, but that was no problem. We loaded up EVERYTHING in the car to go to the party @ 2 and I went to the house of the lady who is in charge of the building reservations to get the key. (This also happens to be my mother-in-law. Very convenient.) The only problem is, she hasn't been issued a key to the building yet. Not very convenient. So I went to my brother-in-law's house to get a key because he is the Elder's Quorum Pres. He couldn't find his key. I go to the member of the bishopric's house to get a key and he's not home. I track him down at the neighbor's house and get a key. By this time the guests will be arriving in about 15 minutes. I get to the church and go to unlock it when I look over and realize someone is IN the building. It's been UNLOCKED THE WHOLE TIME. AUGHGHHG.
I hurry and set everything up and 3 rolls around. No guests. Then quarter after. No one. So I called one of the guests and she said she wasn't going to make it and the only other person I invited was running late as well. I decide at that point there really isn't going to be much point in getting all the kid activities going, as the family party will be starting in a little while. So! Long story short, no one was able to come to the girls' party... (Later Denise and the girls came over and played in between the two parties and the other girl showed up as well. The kids were all very confused as to why there was no party. It was totally awkward and terrible. For me. Not for my girls, really.)

The family party was fun. It's always kind of a challenge to prepare that much food for people when you're grilling it for 30 people on a grill that only holds 8 burgers at a time while at the same time the pressure I feel to entertain everyone. The girls got great things, our family is so generous!

My favorite part of their birthday as a whole, however was this AWESOME kitchen playset Morgan was able to build for the girls. Honey, you're amazing. Thanks for not only putting up with all my crazy dreams but making them happen!

Sooo cute, right! I still have to put the little curtain under the sink but we were hurrying to get it painted and finished enough to give to them on Saturday, on top of all the party plans that I was scurrying around doing for no reason. Anyway, lesson learned! Next year it will be even better!

Big Birthday Bash Adventures

2010-05-26T02:52:00.001-06:00

Phew! May is always quite the month for me. I love to make a big deal out of the girls' birthdays, and they happen to fall in the same week in May. It's so much fun this way, especially because they also have a girl cousin a year older than Sadie who shares the birthday week as well so we squish it all together and have a ton of fun.

Sadie's birthday is first and she wanted to go golfing. The golf course here was closed due to a golf tournament so we loaded up the car and went to Colorado to play their 9-hole course. It was so much fun being together and driving the carts like maniacs and everything but the WIND. Oh.My.the wind. It was the kind that blows spittle out of your mouth and rattles your eyelids. It sucked. And, I will blame the fact that we have no pictures of this day on the wind!

Cydnie's birthday is second and she chose bowling for her activity. Again, we had so much fun being together as a family and in all honesty, Cydnie kicked our butts at bowling (aside from Morgan, who we don't count cuz he has muscles and us girls dont.)

We did get some pictures of this little outing!

Cydnie REALLY knows how to milk the birthday thing. We went to Kmart and it had been raining that day. She splashed in a big puddle and I said, "Don't do that." and she said, "But it's my birthday!" And then when we went bowling I told her to put the bowling shoes on and she put her foot in my lap and said, "You do it." and I said "No. You're big." And she said, "Birthday!" Ugh. Brat. :) I was happy when it was over! I had to remind her, you know tomorrow it won't be your birthday anymore!!

Sadie bowling what looks like is going to be a strike. Plus she's all set for a flood. "My shoes and socks are wet but my pants are bone-dry!"

These are our dorky girls - we love them sooo much! This is their like 4th try and giving each other a hi-five. They finally said, "OK, hold still....one...two....three...hi-five!" hahaha we were laughing so hard.

Serious Problem

2010-05-26T02:10:00.000-06:00

The other day I was in my bedroom doing something and I turned to go back into the kitchen when I realized, I have a SERIOUS attention span problem.

This was all over the floor outside my bedroom door:

From making these:

This was all over the kitchen table:

From making these:

(LOVE THEM! :)) I'll probably be wearing one every day for quite a while.

I had cakes in the oven, on the counter, and still more batter in bowls.

I had this misc mess all over the counter in the kitchen:

Let's see...what do we have here...candy for snacking, mail, library books, and party favors...

Not to mention the literal MOUNTAINS of laundry I had piled inside and in every direction outside of the washer.

With honest-to-goodness Nothing to Show for this mess. Except maybe for more mess. Seriously.

When I went into the laundry room to get some tape, but when I got there, put some more laundry in swept the floor where I could see a dirt pile, turned around and left without the tape, I just started to laugh. I have problems.

Mothers Day

2010-05-10T04:36:00.000-06:00

To recap Mother's Day 2010:

(Sat) Worked til Sunday 0700
0700-0845 - went home, did the girls hair, showered, got ready for church
0900-1200 - went to church (fast Sunday for us, double-whammy) and taught the 5-year olds. .. In the middle of the night the night before I decided how fun it would be to let the kids frost and decorate cookies for their moms instead of cards. Because let's face it, every mom wants a cookie. ...Note to self: ideas in the middle of the night regarding big plans for 5 year olds after no sleep should not always be trusted.
1200 - went home and discovered Sadie had head lice. Spent the next hour combing out and destroying every single one we could find with our eyes.
1300 - went to Wal-Mart ... (is YOUR head itching yet?) and got the necessary killing tools for blood suckers
1310 - stopped at my mom's to wish her a Happy Mothers Day.
1325 - went home and administered hair treatment (I mean, notice this took almost two hours. We combed and combed and sectioned off and combed some more. That kid has a RIDICULOUS amount of hair! ;) )
1500 - cleaned kitchen, emptied dishwasher, fixed dinner
1630 - FINALLY went to bed

so I could go back to work @ 2300 and do it all again tomorrow.

The duties of motherhood don't really take a vacation, huh!

But I wouldn't trade any unpleasant motherly duty for anything! I love being a mom! My kids are the best in the world and they made me feel extra loved on this fabulous Mothers Day! Thank you girls for the wonderful cards and flowers!

We've All Done This, Right?

2010-05-08T01:26:00.001-06:00

Raise your hand if you had a lemonade stand when you were a kid.

Raise your hand if you had an asparagus stand when you were a kid.

The girls came to me this afternoon (the ONLY good weather day we've had in a LOOONG time, it seems) and said they wanted to "stand asparagus".

Me: "What??"

Girls: "You know, stand asparagus. When you sell it to people."

Me: "Oh heck yeah, knock yourself out."

Adi got stuck with holding the OPEN sign because we ran out of tape and it was too breezy to stay there by itself!

Having a little for yourself is writeoff. You know, you just write it off!

They got a lesson on customer service - me telling them to thank the people and tell them to "enjoy their asparagis". They took the business on the road as a door-to-door operation too, but no success with that. We only have 2 neighbors who weren't already involved in the business, and neither of them were home. But! Total made for the day: $8.00!! And that is a fortune 500 business in the making, my friends! And another reason I LOVE LIVING IN JENSEN.... (one cute lady in the ward stopped twice!)

Little entrepreneurs. Women after my own heart! ;)

Sadie's Dance Performance

2010-05-07T05:32:00.000-06:00

Today was Sadie's school dance performance. It was soooo cute! I could not stop smiling watching how cute she was. She was always smiling shyly at us and she was very concerned about standing exactly on the piece of tape designated for her. :) She did awesome!!

(These pictures suck because I forgot my good camera at home. I am grateful I had one though!)

And she hula-hooped like a champ through one of the songs! (She was far away and we couldn't get a picture of it.) When we got home I told her to show me some more of that hula hoop madness and she showed me that she can not only pat her head and rub her belly WHILE hula hooping, she can ALSO do the chicken dance WHILE hula hooping!! I've never seen aything like it! She ROCKS! :)

Cydnie's Beauty

2010-05-03T02:14:00.006-06:00

Both of my girls have so much natural beatufy! I hope they never wear makeup or dye their hair! :)

What I Love About Jensen

2010-05-03T02:12:00.000-06:00

I am so blessed to live where I live!

Here's why:

1. Kids ride their bikes to the bus stop and leave their bikes there all day so they can ride them home when they get off the bus. Isn't that cute? I don't know why I get a kick out of that, but I know the places safe enough to do that are becoming fewer all the time!

2. Asparagus!!

I love picking asparagus with my girls. We all love to eat it - in fact, half of it doesn't make it to the pan! We just eat it raw.

3. Grandma's Farm

It's the ideal situation - I don't have to have a farm and the kids get all the benefits!

This baby colt was born the day this photo was taken!

4. My favorite mountain is the scenery on my drive home.

Okay, this is not the best picture of the girls! Morgan was playing with some new equipment we got for the camera, and unlike Mom he doesn't care what the subjects condition is...ie blue lips, snotty noses!

5. My girls find such joy in all the nature we have out here.

5. The wildlife even more than the plants!! Look at this ADORABLE baby bird!! It's right in our yard. We've been watching the eggs for a couple of weeks now and yesterday Sadie ran in the house screaming like she just won the lottery. We learned that when the mom gets nervous that you're getting near her eggs she starts flailing around and squacking like she has a broken wing. I could not believe how adorable this little fuzzy thing was. The urge for all of us girls to pick it up was nearly impossible to resist! We are excited to watch the other 3 come out and then to watch the little family grow! I wish they would stay forever!

We've also collecting other critters, I guess...

We've had this guy for about a week:

And one of these:

Okay so I probably should've finished with the bird. You know, something a little more cuddly.

A Small Miracle

2010-05-02T01:37:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to share a quick story about work.

Today my fun co-worker and I did a health and safety fair in Vernal. We had so much fun! We made dumb jokes only dispatchers get and laughed way too much. Like when we put out a toy fire truck and a toy ambulance for display and some 2-yr-old kid stole the fire truck! For reals! And we just had a good time visiting with people in our profession who in normal life we have to be ... well, less fun. : ) We also had a great time talking to kids about when (and when not) to call 911 and teaching them what to expect if they ever have to do it.

While we were at the booth, a lady came up and asked if she could ask a question. She asked her question, we answered it, and as she was about to walk away when she said, "You know, I had to call 911 a couple of months ago. My daughter was about to have a baby and she woke up with blood all over." As she continued talking, I started remembering. The daughter, who was 9 months along, woke up covered in blood and called her mom, who was an EMT. I had sent the ambulance and called the hospital to prep for an emergency C-Section. I remember when my shift was over that morning feeling sad. Bleeding that much at 9 months did not sound like it would end well. The next words out of her mouth were amazing! She said, "My daughter and her baby are here, would you like to meet them?" And I said, "OF COURSE!" The mom later returned with her daughter and BEAUTIFUL, healthy 2 month old baby.

This may have been a once-in-a-lifetime happening for me. ~~A lot of calls~~ Most calls do not turn out the way we wish they would. And the chances of me ever meeting another person I talk to on the phone - and knowing it was them - they're small too. And even though it's a relatively small thing, to me it was special. A little reminder of what my job is about!

Some stuff I've been doing

2010-04-23T22:45:00.000-06:00

My "food storage" room was pretty out of hand. Now that I look at the after picture, it doesn't look THAT much better, but at least I know what I have and I know where it is! And that's the point, right?

Before:

After:

We are doing a little better on getting on getting some food storage started - we hit the case lot sale at Smiths. The first thing in the cart? Brownie mix, of course! ;)

I've had this sticker for over a year! It's about time I put it up! I really like the way it turned out.

Freshened up the star because I was bored with it. And I am POSITIVE it won't stay green forever either.

I took one of these classic little cabinets:

And made this to hold the extra toilet paper, bath toys, bubble bath and other crap the bathroom has to store:

I spray painted the outside then mod podged fabric on. I love it!

Also freshened up this old frame with a new coat of white paint and added some ribbons.

I made one of those kids' bow holders that I've been seeing so many of - the girls got a bunch of new clips this last week (Thanks Jada!) and I wanted somewhere to not only keep them organized but keep them from getting smooshed and ugly. I think this little thing will do the trick.

And last but certainly not least: I painted a big tree on the wall in the girls' playroom using this tutorial. I really like how it turned out, but this picture is totally weird! I'm not a good photographer! This is so not the color of the wall AT ALL. I will be adding vinyl birds and a vinyl quote saying as soon as I get them!

Anyway I have been having tons of fun doing dumb little projects! And don't worry I still have a list twice this long ahead of me! :)

Plan for the Week

2010-04-19T06:25:00.001-06:00

Why not bore you all with my plans for the week?

And I really do have another actual post planned with pictures and everything! It's on my list. See?

Projects:

Finish the playroom painting project! Stop putting off finishing it...(you know when you sometimes fizzle out in the middle of a project? It is looking super cute but my arm keeps getting tired. haha)
Go thru the crap in the downstairs catch-all room and throw a bunch of stuff away!!

Goals:

Really play with the girls and set aside time with each seperately.
Read the scriptures!
Be more aware of peoples' feelings and ways I can help them.

Other To-Dos:

Pick up flowers for my mom (Get Well Soon, Mom!)
Get a housewarming gift ready for a friend
Make dinner for an injured family member (Get Well Soon, Alice!)
Take Cydnie for a well-check so she can get her Kindergarten shots!
Buy a hula hoop for Sadie's dance
Take Cydnie for Kindergarten screening
Update the blog
Finish up the refund paperwork for the front porch

What are you doing this week??

It Happened.

2010-03-31T12:52:00.002-06:00

I happened. I turned 30. And you know what? It didn't kill me after all! :)

The beginning of my birthday was AWESOME!! I got to go to the Regional Womens' Conference with the guest speaker Hilary Weeks. Loved it. Love her! We had had an opportunity last fall to see her at the Time Out for Women and it was sooo great so I was so excited that she came to Vernal. And we got to see her for a little bit longer period of time so it was amazing! Made me want to be a better mom and wife and daughter and try a little harder every day.

After the conference though, reality started to sink in and I was afraid maybe my birthday had no where to go but down!

I wasn't too excited to make the big transition so I decided to have some fun with it: We had a geriatric party at my house. A couple of us dressed up - I had on a red/white polka dot chiffon dress w/ knee highs showing under my dress and big white ugly sneakers on. Jada had on this hilarious shirt - it was sooo perfect and Alice, my other sister-in-law went all out as usual. I swear, any time we ask her to dress up I can't even tell who she is when she gets there!! She had balloons on under her bra and I don't know how she did it but they weren't even and everyone kept telling her they were crooked and she kept saying "When you get old things just start falling one at a time.." It was sooo funny. She had curlers in her hair and she had sprayed it all w/ red with Halloween haircolor. My friends also came to support me turning OLD. :)

We played bingo and did a crossword puzzle with clues about old people and their pasttimes. :) We had lunch fingerfoods, jello (in a jello mold..okay it kinda didn't work but it was a good thought!), and cottage cheese and we ate on those tray-like styro plates that look like the ones you would find in a nursing home! We had so much fun.

My favorite part was since we were playing bingo the girls got to play too. They had dressed up in their fancy dresses and participated in my big girl party. They loved it. And I loved having them. They are my sweeties and the whole reason turning 30 isn't such a terrible thing!

Nope, I didn't take any pictures. I decided in the middle of dressing up like that that maybe I didn't want to look like an idiot on such a poignant day in my life....but then I thought, "Oh well!!" But still didnt' need pictures to document it! :)

Our Little Vacation

2010-03-31T12:38:00.000-06:00

We had so much fun in St George this last week! We left last Sunday and came back Saturday. We took the girls down with us and they just had a blast!

The first day was Sunday; we mostly traveled that day - I slept because I got off @ 7 am.

The next day we woke up and hit the golf course! We had so much fun just being outside and enjoying the weather. We just hit balls on the driving range first - both girls were doing really well. I hit some good ones too - I was happy with myself. :) Then we went over to the putting greens and did a game where whoever got the closest to the hole out of the family won. Sadie put us all to shame. She was loving it! Cydnie's ball rolled clear off the side of the hill and she had to run down and chase it for a long time. We were all laughing. Then we told the girls, since there was no one else on the driving range, they could go pick up some of the balls they hit that didn't go very far and we would hit them again. Right when they got over there, the course turned on the sprinklers and sprayed them both. We made them think we did it on purpose. It was hilarious. Later the girls swam for about 2 hours. It really wasn't that warm, but they didn't seem to mind one bit. (I'm sooo mad - I took the camera to the pool twice and still forgot to get any pictures! Dangit!)

(Here's the girls both out w/ their clubs for the first time this year - Cydnie's first time w/ her set since receiving it for Christmas)

Tuesday I shopped around and caught up with a cousin for lunch. The girls swam and swam and swam for about 3 hours! I got in the hot tub and read a book but I wasn't about to swim - it was still too cold for that! Those girls are just crazy. Tuesday my parents came down for the conference too so I got to hang out w/ my mom too.

Tuesday night we went to a fancy dinner with the engineers who designed the plant that Morgan works with. They took us to the Anasazi Grill. It was different and fun. The engineers ordered us a fondue appetizer, and at the risk of sounding exactly like the po-dunk hillbilly from Jensen that I am, it was the first time I've ever had fondue at a restaurant. It was really good! We dipped our veggies in a smokey cheese fondue. Even the girls loved it. (They were gracious enough to let us bring them along, and were sweet to compliment how good they were. To which I replied, "They've been lectured for a solid week about this dinner!") The unique thing about this restaurant is that they bring you whatever you order: fish, steak etc. seared on both sides and then they bring it to you on a hotplate. Then you finish cooking it to your desired doneness. It was very interesting. Actually it was kind of stressful! There wasn't a plate that you put it on when you were finished cooking it, so I was afraid mine was going to get too done! I don't like my steak too done and dry. Plus the plate was kinda small and while I was trying to cook it a big strip fell off, landed on my lap and then bounced to the floor. Right on my new jeans! Dangit! The company made it way fun too. I hit it off with one of the wives and we had a good visit. She had chosen fish and ended up mostly burning it. It was kinda funny.

Wednesday my mom and I took the girls to Pirate Island for the first time. It was really cute. We all liked it. They have water falls and a big screen tv showing a pirate movie and an all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta bar. Plus the arcade. It was really fun. Except for the waitress who had to dress up like a pirate and say, "ARRRRRighty mates!" After we ordered our drinks. Come on. :)

(These pictures turned out horribly because of the dang lighting/new camera difficulties? Not sure what the problem is there...)

Thursday my mom and I met up with my cousin again for lunch, along with her mom. It was good to visit with family we never see otherwise.

That night we went to a steakhouse with my parents and Dean, from Morgan's work. We were all stuffed afterwards. We just went back to the motel. Oh! And we watched The Office and that new show the Marriage Ref. We thought it was pretty funny. And realized our spouses aren't that bad. haha.

Friday we left early and went up to Provo to spend the day and night with some friends - the Barkers there. We went to Carls Jr. for lunch and let the kids play. They have a really big play area. For dinner that night we went to my new favorite place: a Mongolian BBQ!! They have everything you can possibly think of and cook it in front of you - it is sooo good!! Cydnie and I tasted squid. Yeah. I was not impressed but she liked it - she took a huge bite and I bet she was chewing for 10 minutes before she could get it down! Very chewy! :) We had so much fun staying with Annie and Jeremy's family (as always) we watched a fun movie, ate lots of muddy buddies (as always) and yummy cherry Dr Pepper! Thanks again you guys, we love spending time with you!!

I have big plans for these two... just don't tell them! ;)

Does This Seem Weird To You?

2010-02-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

If this is really because you spread germs by pushing the pump to get the soap out... well aren't you just about to wash your hands?~!

Valentines 2010

2010-02-16T09:00:00.001-07:00

We had a low-key Valentines as usual around here. We don't do much in terms of gifts for each other normall, and this year was no different. I always have big plans and no money! But that's okay. We did go out for the annual Stake-sponsored Valentine dinner and dance on Saturday night. I usually love going and this year I don't know if I was just tired or if I was not in the Valentine mood or what. The girls had been naughty all day - we had planned to go to lunch with my parents and they cried and whined and fought and wouldn't clean their room for five hours so we had to punish all of us and not go. That put me in kind of a bad mood, but they straightened up later and we decided to let them go to my moms while we went to the dance. We only stayed for maybe an hour though because I had worked the night before, and had to work at 11:00 again. So we didn't take advantage of the dancing, but I am always happy to go out to dinner w/ Morgan plus it was free! Can't beat that!

Earlier in the week I had some girlfriends over for a Valentine brunch, too. That went off without a hitch, unbelievably! I made crepes with strawberries and other toppings. It was fun, and I think much-needed for all of us. For some reason, we all seem to be under a lot of stress right now. Maybe we feed off each other. :) or Maybe we all have the winter dol-drums. I think it's the latter. But we all had a great visit. (I forgot to take pictures, and I was bummed.)

I was a slacker and didn't make sugar cookies this year! I am really disappointed - this is one of my traditions. I guess we'll have to make, I don't know, anti-groundhog sugar cookies or something. Maybe gory ones. :)

I didn't even do much in the way of decorating, I'm not sure why. I'm telling you, I don't feel like myself! For like a month! I did make this however.

Made it and never figured out where to hang it. :) Oh well. There's always next year.

Well I have the day off with my girls - Sadie is out of school, so we're going to go figure out something awesome to do! :) Have a great day!

It's February!!

2010-02-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Trying to get out of my winter slump. I decided maybe it's just the winter blues?

But I LOVE VALENTINES. I see it as a reason to have a party. Don't you?

******

Cop Theme Party

2010-01-31T04:35:00.001-07:00

I love a party. I love to plan a party. And I love to throw a party. So when my sister-in-law called and said we were going to be having a little party for my brother-in-law, Troy, who just finished POST, oh man my head started spinning! If I didn't only have 3 days and a limited budget, it would've been even more...well, over the top. Someone has to go over the top, right? It's my job. :)

I um, borrowed this tape from an officer who will remain nameless.

Then we made a crime scene.

This is Sadie, if you know her, you can figure out that that was me being silly and I did her braids. Everyone thought it was a bunny. But it made me laugh. Oh I had so much fun!!

What's a cop party without donuts?

And a urine analysis. I drew lines on the plastic cups and we had lemonade. :)

We ate dinner and played cop-themed pictionary. Which I didn't get any pictures of because I was too busy having fun with my family! (I wanted to have an obstacle course with like the tires and a donut-eating contest and then like a target shoot but I only had 3 days! Next time, right?

Warning: Depressing Post

2010-01-29T12:58:00.002-07:00

You've been warned.

I am not sure how to put onto paper what I'm feeling today. It seems I have not been being a very good person. I didn't realize I was hurting someone and it recently came to light. I have been coming across as someone who feels like I am better than other people and have been rude. I shouldn't be as surprised as I am, but I really didn't mean to act that way and didn't realize I was. I want to say to that person if she cares that I am truly sorry. And I want to say to other people who have been offended by my carelessness that I am sorry to you too. I know apologies without knowing what you've done are rather hollow, at least I've always thought so. But I am not kidding when I say I want to know what I am doing and who I am offending so I can set it right. I am completely serious about this - it has been a rough morning for me where I have been re-evaluating my life and my actions and I am not happy with what I see. I even called someone out of the blue and made a complete fool of myself trying to make sure she wasn't mad at me. (Sorry! I just truly want to fix this.)

My first reaction to things like this is to withdraw. In order to fix it, just go away so I don't hurt people. I know, it's a very immature reaction, but we're being completely honest here, so there it is. I basically want to crawl in a hole. But you know what? I needed to hear it. What better time than the beginning of the new year to have this brought to my attention, right? Time to re-evaulate and re-focus on what's important.

If I have offended you, I would love to talk to you about it. Not here. :) Call me, anytime. And I hope that I have opened my eyes and intend to do better.

I warned ya.

How I'm Trying To Be Super Mom...

2010-01-23T06:14:00.000-07:00

In my spare time.

1. Let the kids run wild unattended in Wal-Mart.

2. Make the coolest waffles ever w/ the coolest waffle maker - those flip ones! Truth be told, I had a lot more fun cooking them than I did eating them.

3. Make awesome playdough cookies on a holiday out of school. Let your kid wear the ugliest yellow dress you've ever seen in your life.

4. McDonalds. Duh.

I keep telling my kids not every mom makes playdough cookies. I keep telling my kids not all moms get to take their kids to McDonalds. I keep telling them I'm awesome. I just think, like everything else, it's in one ear and out the other. :)

Reflections of 2009

2010-01-12T05:40:00.002-07:00

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
    This is kind of a cop-out but honestly this year has been so blessed I can't think of a single thing that stands out as the best thing. If you could lump summer all together, that would be the best thing. Lunch every week at the park with my girlfriends and kids, lots of trips to the lake, popsicles, etc. and I got a new car in the Spring!

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
     This question, for me personally would have to be adjusting to my life as a working-full-time Mom. My job has been the hardest thing I've ever done - going back to the work force after 5 years being out of it, having to re-train my brain to learn again, and trying to juggle it all with a balanced home life. Not sure I've figured it out yet, but I've come a long way!

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
     Not so much unexpected, but more fully experienced, the joys of being a mom. The realization of how short time is with them wanting me to be around has, I believe, more fully sunk in and I have tried to enjoy them more. Each of the girls is developing their own very different and fun personality, both of which I can't seem to get enough of. They are so much fun. I don't want to take any of this precious time for granted.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
     Sending Sadie to 1st grade for the whole day! I didn't expect it to hit me so hard. I guess it does come back to my job and the fact that her going to school so long deeply cuts in to my time to be with her. (Even typing this is still going to make me cry! I thought I was finally over it!)

5. Pick three words to describe 2009.
     BLESSED
    STRETCHING
    REWARDING

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009:
    DIFFICULT
    BUSY
    DINNERPARTIES

7. What were the best books you read this year?
     Shattered Silence, (I can't think of what all I read this year. It was a lot!) I read a lot of Phillip Margolin books, I liked all of them.

8. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
     Morgan and the girls
     My parents
     My ward friends = my lifelines!!

9. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
    I just recently discovered some kind of confidence in myself that I am kind of proud of. I feel like I can do anything I really want to do. (A lot of that I credit to my husband because it doesn't matter what CRAZY - and they're all crazy - idea I decide to do, he always stands behind me. Wants me to succeed in whatever I do.) I also credit it to my testimony. I know I am so blessed. I have been reflecting so much lately on how fortunate I am to have the husband and family I have now, to have had the family I was raised in, teachers who always showed their testimonies and love to me and to have ALWAYS had friends old and new who support, love and set awesome examples for me.

10. In what was did you grow emtionally?
      I didn't read this questionaire ahead of time so I have to say, "see above answer." :) If I was supposed to show a different kind of change in #9 it's that I've gained weight, unforunately! Hoping to see that change in 2010.

11. In what ways did you grown in your relationships with others?
       Although I fail at times, I try to be an easy-going person to get along with people. In all honestly, I have never struggled as much as I have this year at this. I'm sure it's just the pressure and added stress I've been under. Recently, however I do believe I've come back to being myself at least most of the time. (I hope my husband agrees!)

12. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?
       Aside from the obvious, mothering my sweeties, my absolute favorite thing is to beautify my home. I have enjoyed doing some crafts the last little while and hope to continue doing those.

13. What was the most challenging area of home management?
       Um, it's all challenging to me! The finances are super bad for me, first off. And the laundry has always suffered. I truly hate it. Those things have always been the case. Always. The thing that hurts me is working full time has taken a toll on the things I used to do. The house was generally clean and usually dusted. Now I am pretty happy if the counters in the kitchen are just cleaned off - not wiped down! Ack! But I must insert here the Morgan is a hero. I always tell him he's a better mom than I am - he works full time too but has no problem keeping on top of the laundry and cleaning most of the house. Plus he is usually stuck cooking dinner for the kids with my crazy schedule. He's a super hero. Don't let him tell you otherwise.

14. What was your single biggest time waster of the past year?
      Facebook. Is there any bigger time waster for anyone?

15. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
       Spending every summer minute possible in the sun with my girls! At the lake or the splashpark or the sprinkler under the tramp. HURRY SUMMER!

16. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?
      It's still very hard for me, but I'm trying to learn I can't do it all. (Phew, did I really just type that?) It's okay to have Morgan help me. (This is really hard.) It is not a comentary on what a bad mom and wife I am if he helps me. (Are you reading this babe?) The next thing I have to learn is that it's okay not to be able to do it all! That one is not mastered quite yet. :)

Cool Stuff I Got for Christmas

2010-01-08T22:49:00.002-07:00

Plus tons of movies, a PINK snuggie (complete with the collapsible book light), and my favorite kind of pink warm warm socks.

Thanks honey, Love ya!

More Glimpses of Christmas 2009

2009-12-24T11:28:00.001-07:00

Christmas Eve morning we decorated MORE Christmas cookies. In our pajamas.

They really wanted to use the Halloween cookie cutters too so I let them do this one:

Here's our Christmas carolers:

This one is Sadie, complete with blond hair and a scarf.

Here is a peek at our Christmas decor 2009

All the stockings were hung...

Here's one of the smaller fur wreaths I made.

These are some of my favorite decorations. The picture didn't turn out great, but they are really cute. They're white and glittery and I bought them @ 75% off from Tai Pan last year. (I love a good deal!)

Speaking of good deals, I can't tell you how in love with this frame I am. I bought it at my new FAVORITE STORE IN THE WHOLE WORLD: Hobby Lobby, which somehow has been kept a secret from me until last month when my girlfriends and I went on a road trip. We went there and I got this awesome frame for 50% off!! Score!

(Side note on the girls trip: I meant to blog about it a while ago, so I'll make a short note about it. Danielle and Kristi Holmes and I went to SLC for Time Out for Women. We had a great time shopping the first day and were crazy and took TRAX to see the late show @ the Gateway. Trax is full of crazy people, in case you didn't realize. We didn't. And it was like 1:00 am when we got off Trax to go back to the hotel, the Hilton. When we got off, we were all kinda creeped and it was late and someone said, (not me) "Let's run!" So I started to run but the next thing I knew I was on the ground. On the tracks. I thought I was about to die. My friends laughed at me. I mean, former friends. Anyway, it was such a cool trip, and speakers at the event were AMAZING. I actually hope to make it a tradition!!)

Sorry about the tangent. In short, Hobby Lobby ROCKS.

I have tons more ideas for next year and I'm HOPING to work on some things during the year this time. But, let's be honest. I say that every year.

Merry Christmas!

Kids @ Christmas

2009-12-22T15:38:00.001-07:00

Last year I really wanted a Snuggie. Yeah, I know, people make fun of it, but I GET it. My hands get cold when I have to use the remote and take them out of the blanket. (Wah.) But this year, I don't go downstairs to watch TV as much, as Morgan put in a nice big TV in our bedroom. Cydnie has not forgotten this, however.

I was trying to persuade her to buy some kind of jewelry from Wal-Mart. "Tell Daddy you want to buy me some jewerly from Christmas." She gets this irritated look on her face and says, "I thought you wanted a snuggie!!"

Hmmm, I wonder what Cydnie got me for Christmas...

Every time I would ask Sadie what she wanted to get Dad for Christmas. Never any hesitation, she would blurt: "A Golf Shirt!"

Well, the other day, Morgan asked what she wanted to get me. And without thinking she blurts, "A Golf Shirt!" That didn't give it away as much as the "Oh CRAP" look she had on her face.

Morgan's gonna be so surprised! haha!

Christmas Cheer!

2009-12-21T09:08:00.001-07:00

This month has flown by, as always! I feel like most of it I have wasted at work. I haven't felt that I've been able to enjoy the holiday as much as I have other years. But we've tried to do fun things together as a family. Here are the hi-lites.

We decorated the tree a little differently this year - I used this pretty ribbon I found at the craft store instead of the red wooden beads I've used for the past 10 years. I was met with resistance, so I'm sure next year it will be back to the good ole' beads. :)

The girls participated in the ward Christmas party - this year (Finally) with no drama from Sadie over it.

All Christmas season, Sadie has been saying she wants new dolls for the dollhouse she got last year. At the last minute on Santa's lap, she asked for a pink camera! Ack. (Because that's what her best friend was asking for.)

Cydnie, on the other hand has been steadfast from the beginning that she wants a Barbie Muskateer doll - the one with the pink sword. (Santa might also throw in the movie for good measure.)

We also had the Big Dudley Family Christmas Party at our HOUSE this year. It was actually very enjoyable. We had a traditional dinner of ham and potatoes and jell-o with desserts. It was somewhat stressful before-hand, but I think it ended up working out okay. And for ONCE my gift was actually opened during the game and people fought over it! It was kinda weird for me. I really just picked it up for myself, not worrying this year about the whole thing. Kinda funny how it worked out.

The next day we had so much food left over that almost everyone came back over for the second day and we had games and more food and watched a movie. I'm glad it went fairly well and I'm glad it's over! :) Although I enjoyed planning it and I thoroughly enjoyed having it at my house, where I could decorate for months in preperation for it.

Unfortunately, I was so busy during the thing that I only got one picture. Here are the smaller kids decorating their gingerbread houses:

In other Christmas news, I have been getting back into my old self and finding fun crafts to do. I took this wreath from Costco,

And added some bulbs to it to make it a little more festive. I like how it turned out. I eneded up hanging it in the stairwell over the family pictures and stockings. (I'll probably take some more pictures around the house later.)

One of my favorite projects this year has been this fur wreath that I found on a blog somewhere. I look at so many I forget where I see stuff! I made the one and had so much left over that I made 1 more in that size and 2 smaller ones. I think they're adorable - they remind me of those little hand warmers people used to wear outside - like while caroling.

One of our favorite new things we recieved in the mail was from my sister. She made the girls new pillowcases with fabric that looks like it's been dusted with fairy dust. But this is even more special than that - it's dusted with Christmas magic. These pillowcases make your dreams dance with sugarplums!

Thanks sis!

Hope you're all having a Christmas time full of Christmas magic, too!

The Spankin' Factory

2009-12-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

We're always talking about the Spankin Factory at our house for some reason. Morgan told Cyd she was getting a box of brand-spankin' new spankins for Christmas and she just said, "Ha! You told me what I'm getting for Christmas!"

Yesterday when Morgan picked Cydnie up from my mom's house he had a few minutes to kill before getting Sadie from school. He asked Cydnie what they should do and she said they should go to the Spankin Factory. Morgan said that was a good idea, but he forgot where it was. So Cyd directed him. Turn left. Turn right. Go straight. They drove around for a good while when Cydnie all of a sudden gasped and said, "Oh wait...I forgot... The Spankin Factory's closed on Tuesdays!!"

What I'm Not Doing

2009-12-07T10:39:00.001-07:00

This Christmas Season I am trying to take a step back and re-focus on the real meaning of Christmas and making sure my kids understand what Christmas is really about.

So. This year I am NOT doing Christmas cards. Okay, I never really send them out but I usually stress about it and try to do it and it doesn't get done. This year I'm not going to try to try. I have the pictures I would send out on here anyway and most of my friends look at this anyway, so MERRY CHRISTMAS. there's your card. :)

I am not doing friend gift exchanges. My closest (in proximity and to my heart) are getting together w/ our families for a fun family dinner in lieu of gifts. (I am so excited about this!)

I am not trying to have the coolest, better-than-the-other-kids-moms teacher gifts. (Sorry, Denise! haha) I am doing something low-key and practical.

I am not stressing over the Big Annual Family Christmas party this year. Yes, I am hosting it. But I am just having fun with it! I am not worried about getting the coolest gift that will be fought over - I bought something kind of unique that I would enjoy getting and am leaving it at that. I have decorated and cleaned the basement a week ahead of time and if I don't have a completely spotless house when my family comes, that's fine with me. We are going to focus on enjoying each others' company - and the food! and just have a good time.

What I AM doing:

I am reading the girls Christmas stories every night at bedtime - the ones about the true meaning of Christmas. I'm not sure it's all sinking in, but I think the feeling is there.

I am trying to spend more quality time with the kids - with the TV off and the computer off and really spend time with the girls. We're playing games and I am playing Christmas music on the piano.

We took the girls out to see the Christmas lights @ Temple Square last weekend - it was so fun. We stayed in the Hilton and walked around downtown Salt Lake. There was a guy playing Christmas carols on a bagpipe under the huge Christmas tree. He was awesome. His bagpipes even had Christmas lights on it. :)We did a little Christmas shopping and ate out at some fun places. The only bummer was, when we got in front of the floating nativity we discovered I had let the battery run down in the camera. Curses! So no pictures of our Christmas in the Big City adventure. Oh well.

Just trying to simplify this year and remember that my kids are only little for precious few years. Trying to make some Christmas magic at our house and make some special memories!

What are you not doing this Christmas?
(inspired by this lady.)

Um, I'm sorry to tell you, but I have the cutest family ever.

2009-11-21T21:41:00.001-07:00

This is Sadie, unanimously voted "Most beautifullest girl in the whole school" by her classmates.

Cydnie, this picture melts my heart! You can still see her dimple, which for a while I thought was lost forever by the dog bite.

Plus! The cool friend named Denise Williams who, not only doesn't call child protective services on my when I send my kid to school with moldy pineapple for lunch, but she takes our pictures for us too!! And she's amazing!

- 911 -

2009-11-19T15:24:00.002-07:00

Warning: Long and Boring post!
Read at your own risk.

I've never posted much on this blog about my job. Mostly because I'm terrible with words; terrible about describing anything with emotion (ask my husband! ha!). And I have never been in any situation that evokes more emotion than this job. I have been there nearly a year and still feel I learn every day and will never be as good as I want to be. I have the normal emotional struggles with being a full-time mom and work a full-time job. Those emotional struggles along with the emotional struggles of what I do and in the environment I do it are literally at times more than I can handle. But I keep seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's the light of "Oh, I think I'm getting this! I love my job!" And sometimes it's the light of "I think I can see myself quitting and being okay with it." And I am not joking when I say these two views alternated DAILY.

I found this little tribute on facebook and I wanted to record it, mostly for myself because it touched me. I wanted to share it because I've never said anything much about my job and wanted to explain what I do but this man does it much better than I ever could.

{A TRIBUTE TO DISPATCHERS

By Chief Thomas Wagoner, Loveland Co. PD

Someone once asked me if I thought that answering telephones for a living was a profession. I said, "I thought it was a calling." And so is dispatching. I have found in my law enforcement career that dispatchers are the unsung heroes of public safety. They miss the excitement of riding in a speeding car with lights flashing and sirens wailing. They can only hear of the bright orange flames leaping from a burning building. They do not get to see the joy on the face of worried parents as they see their child begin breathing on its own, after it has been given CPR.

Dispatchers sit in darkened rooms looking at computer screens and talking to voices from faces they never see. It's like reading a lot of books, but only half of each one.

Dispatchers connect the anxious conversations of terrified victims, angry informants, suicidal citizens and grouchy officers. They are the calming influence of all of them - the quiet, competent voices in the night that provide the pillars for the bridges of sanity and safety. They are expected to gather information from highly agitated people who can't remember where they live, what their name is, or what they just saw. And then, they are to calmly provide all that information to the officers, firefighters, or paramedics without error the first time and every time.

Dispatchers are expected to be able to do five things at once - and do them well. While questioning a frantic caller, they must type the information into a computer, tip off another dispatcher, put another caller on hold, and listen to an officer run a plate for a parking problem. To miss the plate numbers is to raise the officer's ire; to miss the caller's information may be to endanger the same officer's life. But, the officer will never understand that.

Dispatchers have two constant companions, other dispatchers and stress. They depend on one, and try to ignore the other. They are chastened by upset callers, taken for granted by the public, and criticized by the officers. The rewards they get are inexpensive and infrequent, except for the satisfaction they feel at the end of a shift, having done what they were expected to do.

Dispatchers come in all shapes and sizes, all races, both sexes, and all ages. They are blondes, and brunettes, and redheads. They are quiet and outgoing, single, or married, plain, beautiful, or handsome. No two are alike, yet they are all the same. They are people who were selected in a difficult hiring process to do an impossible job. They are as different as snowflakes, but they have one thing in common. They care about people and they enjoy being the lifeline of society - that steady voice in a storm - the one who knows how to handle every emergency and does it with style and grace; and, uncompromised competence.

Dispatchers play many roles; therapist, doctor, lawyer, teacher, weatherman, guidance counselor, psychologist, priest, secretary, supervisor, politician, and reporter. And few people must jump through the emotional hoops on the trip through the joy of one callers birthday party, to the fear of another callers burglary in progress, to the anger of a neighbor blocked in their drive, and back to the birthday callers all in a two minute time frame. The emotional roller coaster rolls to a stop after an 8 or 10 hour shift, and they are expected to walk down to their car with steady feet and no queasiness in their stomach - because they are dispatchers. If they hold it in, they are too closed. If they talk about it, they are a whiner. If it bothers them, it adds more stress. If it doesn't, they question themselves, wondering why.

Dispatchers are expected to have:

-the compassion of Mother Theresa;
-the wisdom of Solomon;
-the interviewing skills of Oprah Winfrey;
-the gentleness of Florence Nightingale;
-the patience of Job;
-the voice of Barbara Streisand;
-the knowledge of Einstein;
-the answers of Ann Landers;
-the humor of David Letterman;
-the investigative skills of Sgt. Joe Friday;
-the looks of Melanie Griffith or Don Johnson;
-the faith of Billy Graham;
-the energy of Charo;
-and the endurance of the Energizer Bunny.
*Guessing this was written a while ago...Melanie Griffith? Barbara Streisand?? Really?*

Is it any wonder that many drop out during training? It is a unique and talented person who can do this job and do it well.}

I am not saying I personally am any of these great things. I go to work every day and I try my hardest every single day and I do get satisfaction from that. Somehow, however, a lot of days go to crap no matter my best efforts. Sometimes the dynamics in the office are, off, shall we say. Sometimes a tragedy strikes close to home and it changes us. I honestly try to take it one day at a time. I find joy in the victories (no matter how small and personal they may be). I also find humor in the smallest things wherever I can. And lastly I allow myself to feel sad whenever I want to! I feel sad for the women who frequently call for violence in their homes. And for the gentleman who keeps calling regarding his mother's fatal accident. But you know what? No matter what overall emotion I leave the dispatch center with on any given night, I ALWAYS have an underlying sense of GRATITUDE for all the blessings I have. I always feel grateful for my husband, because we get along great. I feel grateful for my parents raising me to know drugs ruin your life - I didn't have to figure that out on my own. And I feel grateful for the gospel because it gives me peace in every aspect of my life.

Phew! I really don't know where this post came from. I hope no one had to call 911 for you because you fell unconsious from boredom. I'll post on something not-so-heavy soon! :)

2009-11-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

Sweet Innocence of Kids

2009-11-08T22:09:00.002-07:00

Yesterday Sadie said to Morgan, "Dad, can I have that jar of money in your closet?"

Morgan said, "Why?" (Thinking of course she saw something she wanted to buy...)

She said, "There's a girl in my class who every day she gets a stamp on her hand at lunch (the stamp means you're kid is out of money and you need to send money for lunch). She said her dad got fired from his job and they don't have any more money and the school said she can't get any more lunches from there."

When Morgan told me this story I cried. I am so happy to see her be introduced to the fact that she is, in fact, as blessed as we keep telling her. And I am so proud that her sweet personality shows through and she wants to do something to help her friend.

Of course we will be nurturing her newfound compassion by seeing what we can do to help this friend. And try to be a better example by being more aware of the people around us and their needs.

Thank you, Sadie, for your sweet example. I love you so much.

Dorothy

2009-11-03T10:37:00.001-07:00

We had a fun Halloween this year. We hit the trunk or treat for the ward and then we were invited back to a street in our old neighborhood to trick or treat the old-fashioned way! Well, almost. It was even better, actually. All the homeowners stood out on their lawns or in their garages and handed out candy. Some even haunted their garages and my friend who invited me had a little propane fire place in her garage plus homemade spooky rootbeer to hand out. That's one thing I will always kinda wish I had (at certain times of the year) is a close neighborhood like that. It was fun. Plus we knew them all from our old ward so I had as much fun visiting old friends as the girls did getting candy!

She's not in Kansas anymore.
Man, I get more worried for her to grow up all the time.

The Phantom

2009-11-03T10:30:00.001-07:00

What 4-year-old girl wants to be the Phantom of the Opera for Halloween? What 4-year-old girl can sing every word to the Phantom of the Opera?

Cyd.

Because she's awesome.

Halloween Party

2009-11-03T10:26:00.001-07:00

We had a Halloween "Kid Party" on Halloween morning. We had a house full of girls - just the way we like it. :)
We decorated white masks and made Frankenstein Heads (marshmellows dipped in green candy chips with faces). We also jumped on the tramp and watched a SPOOKY movie. Okay, it was Scooby Doo. The girls and I all had a blast. I love Halloween!

Crazy Hair Day

2009-10-21T09:44:00.000-06:00

Ok, I concede that in this instance, you can't beat Sadie's length for something awesome on crazy hair day!

(Other than that, I strongly encourage her daily to CUT IT.)

Welcome to My Haunted House

2009-10-15T09:16:00.003-06:00

Skulls and skeletons in sand - $1 store.

$1 store broom: I just added some ribbon, of course! I sprayed that pumpkin white. It used to have a ribbon w/ a bow on it too, but it mysteriously disappeared.

2009-10-15T09:15:00.002-06:00

Pretty much everything hanging from my chandelier was purchased at the $1 store. Noticing a trend yet? I love that fake barbed wire. It fakes everyone out it looks so real. Added the creepy bird and a skeleton and it's spookified!

I made those EEK blocks! Look at me go. The first craft I believe I've attempted for like 7 years. I was so happy with it I made 2 and gave one away as the bunco prize.

I spray-painted those pumpkins with awesome silver paint. I painted a ton of stuff with it for Halloween - those cheap plastic bugs, some rocks, and the skeleton under the glass cake cover. It covers like a champ and it looks cool.

The Girls' First Hunt

2009-10-15T09:09:00.001-06:00

I'm going to let Morgan tell this story. I wasn't there, and hunters tell hunting stories a lot better than non-hunters. :)

Look how happy Morgan looks. It melts my heart to see him with 2 of his greatest loves - his girls and HUNTING! :)

Sadie's Day at Church

2009-09-27T14:24:00.002-06:00

Sadie really made us laugh today at church.
Every Sunday when we first get there, I send the girls the bathroom and to get a drink in the hopes they will be able to make it through an entire hour without having to leave.
Today, when the girls returned from the bathroom, Sadie said to me, "Mom. There was a cricket in the girls' bathroom."
I said, "Oh."
Then she said, "Mom, there was a cricket in the girls' bathroom." I said, "Um, was it a boy cricket? What's the problem?" She just laughed and didn't say anything else...

Later she was coloring and she drew this:

I said, "What does it say?" She goes, "It says 'Dad said who Farted?"

Then Morgan and I got the giggles in church until the tears were rolling down our faces.

Then we had like 20 minutes left of Sacrament meeting and Sadie says, "Mom, what should I do with it?"
I'm like, "Do with what?" Then I realize her had is in a fist.

She's still holding the cricket.

Another Little Project

2009-09-27T14:11:00.002-06:00

Yesterday Morgan told me that my dad called last night and told him my uncle had a trampoline he was wanting to get rid of. Sweet!

I asked the girls, "if you could have anything you wanted for a surprise, what would it be?" And Cydnie said, "A KANGAROO!" Um... welll, it's not THAT cool, I guess.

Anyway, that morning we dropped off the girls @ my mother-in-laws' house and drove to Vernal to pick it up. It was one of those old AWESOME ones - you know, the rectangle kind. I was sooo excited! We drove straight to Lowes to buy some paint to gussey it up a bit.

Here it is before:

Then we drove over and picked up the girls from Grandma's house and surprised them!

A great find and we did this all in one morning! Thank you Aunt Raema and Uncle Lloyd! I know this will be loved for generations to come!

A little project

2009-09-27T14:04:00.001-06:00

Here she is before:

I bought her off ebay about 10 years ago and I've always loved her. I just thought she could use a little makeover.
Here she is now:

Sadie's 1st Day

2009-09-27T14:02:00.000-06:00

I know, I'm way behind! The first day was sooo rough ... but only for me! I cried like a baby after I dropped her off but she was just fine. :) Luckily for me, she has one of my best friends for her teacher so I know she's got someone else who loves her watching over her too. Sadie is just getting so grown up and I'm so proud of her.

2 WORDS.

2009-09-06T22:13:00.000-06:00

CAFE.

RIO.

(HEAVEN....OK 3 WORDS.)

Cydnie

2009-09-02T21:06:00.000-06:00

A demonstration of how I may not be holding it all together.

I got home from work today, irritated, as usual. I find it a little hard to turn off my job right away when I get home - I'm hoping that's not a personality flaw but something that will come with time.

I was a little on-edge, I'll admit, when I got home from a hectic afternoon at work and was trying to immediately prepare things for dinner guests. Sadie had already had a meltdown when she was supposed to go to a friends' house after school and had lost her permission slip and they wouldn't let her on the bus. Then Sadie and Cydnie had a fight over a ribbon that ended in hair-pulling. There were already a lot of tears and I had only been home 20 minutes! Cydnie started following me around the kitchen saying, "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, MOM I NEED HELP MOM I NEED HELP MOM I NEED HELP!!" I told Cyd I would do it in a minute - I was busy right then.

After a few minutes she brings me this post-it note with scribbled message on it, sticks it on the counter in front of where I'm working and walks off in a huff. When I get a free minute I went to her room and said, "So what does this note say?"

"It says I wish I had diffwent pawwents because you don't listen vewy well."

Ow. That hurt. I've been a little unstable now for a couple of weeks anyway and it really did hit me hard.

It turned out all Cydnie wanted was for me to put some clothes on her doll. It would've taken me 2 seconds of my precious salad-making time to put them on her and make her feel special.

I've been working full-time now for 8 months and thought I was going to get the hang of it - going to get it all together. Maybe some girls just aren't cut out for all that, huh.

Don't You Wish You Could Go Back? I Do.

2009-08-24T14:29:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I 'member this one time when we had ourselves a white trash party.

2009-08-24T13:42:00.005-06:00

And although it wasn't much of a stretch for me,

It was hilarious.

Sadie

2009-07-18T19:05:00.003-06:00

Sadie was watching one of her animal shows the other day and said to Morgan, "Hey, Dad. Cydnie's a Polar Bear."
Morgan said, "What?"
Sadie said, "That guy said 'Polar Bears eat anything they can find."

So true.

Case in point:
There was some hard yellow plastic in Cyd's mouth the other day and I said, "What is that?"
She goes, "I don't know."
I said, "Then why is it in your mouth?"
*Shrug* "..Thought it was cheese."

A Summer of Firsts!

2009-07-18T17:22:00.012-06:00

STAND BY FOR PHOTO OVERLOAD --- That's what you get when I don't blog for months at a time.

This summer the girls have done lots of things for the first time. We:
Ran the Green River with good friends. It was a blast. I hope to do it again very soon! Thanks again for coming, Barker fam!

Sadie got golf clubs for her birthday - I'm jealous; they're super cute. We all went golfing together as a family for the first time this summer. And once we went to Provo and golfed the mini course and the girls drove the cart for the first time....and possibly the last.

I was carefully directing the cart to the first hole when Cydnie, commenting on my speed said, "What's the pwoblem??" To which Sadie promptly replied, "Mom's the problem!" Apparently Mom doesn't drive as fast as Dad.

First waterfight they started by themselves without asking mom if they could get wet and where nobody cried because the other one got them wet.

I put the girls in dance for the first time! I was completely in love with it but not sure we'll continue taking in the fall due to scheduling problems. Dang job.

First big-girl sleepover! I had 5 little girls @ my house all night. It was a little adventurous, but with these well-behaved girls, it was so much fun.

The girls had never been bowling! What a slacker mom I am. You can see that Cydnie loved it. And she actually did really well. She got a couple of strikes! (With the help of those inflateable lane thingies.)

We are cramming as much fun as possible into our summer. How about you?

Princess Party

2009-07-18T16:50:00.006-06:00

Back in May the girls had a birthday party fit for a princess! We had all the little guests come in their best princess attire and well, we had a ball! Games included Pass the Poison Apple, a crown pinata, and the smash-hit Kiss the Toad (which was a 'spin' on Pin the Tail on the Donkey but involving bright red lipstick and a picture of a toad).

My dad asked Cydnie to come and give him a kiss after the toad and one of the girls at the party said, "EWWW!! That would be even grosser than a toad!"

Who loves bugs?

2009-06-28T17:22:00.002-06:00

I love bugs.

(It's a tick.)

Especially these.

Especially when I find them in my 6-year-old's head.

While sitting in church.

Don't you??

Does anyone know...

2009-06-21T16:57:00.000-06:00

Does anyone know if mosquitos have birthdays??

Cydnie wants to know.

She thinks they do and they celebrate by having fights with big sticks.I thought it was as good a guess as any.

Too many contraptions.

2009-04-17T00:41:00.002-06:00

The other day we were in a restroom and after washing her hands, Sadie walked in front of this, waved her hand and waited.

St George Getaway

2009-04-04T21:48:00.002-06:00

Morgan had to go to St George for a work conference so of course the kids and I tagged along! It was really fun. I got to see a few cousins I haven't seen in years and a cutie-patootie former primary student of mine from my provo ward who's now in COLLEGE! Yikes.

The kids swam their guts out.

They watched movies til their eyes almost fell out.

We all ate wayyy too much.

A good time was had by all.

Couple of highlights of the trip:
Dead silence in the car. Cyd blurts out all proud of herself: "Mom! I know what a jackass is."
Me: "Nice."
Cyd: "It's a donkey."
--Okay too much Pinnochio for that one.

And Sadie has a movie that she loves to sing along with and apparently thinks we can't hear her with her headphones on. She sings like me: can't remember the words so you just hmmjhhshasf and then she blasts like every third word. "sldfkjs STAND UP AGAINST EVIL mskjmmsmjdfkj CHILD OF GOD..." Morgan and I turn down our own music so we can listen to her and laugh. :)

She's Fast.

2009-03-18T04:58:00.001-06:00

She's Fun.

She's Cute.

She plays music loud.

And she speeds like nobody's business.

homemade gifts

2009-02-21T02:59:00.001-07:00

Here's how it works-the first 5 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well-before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. Then come back, let me know you're going to play, and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift! Remember that only the first 5 comments will receive a gift from me, so be quick!"This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!2. It'll be done this year (hopefully sooner than later.)3. You will have no clue what it is going to be.4. What I make, may be strange. Who knows!

I love this idea!!!

Heard of a 6 word memoir?

2009-02-11T00:42:00.003-07:00

I am so loving this idea.

Legend has it that Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Starting in 2006, SMITH Magazine re-ignited the recountre by asking our readers for their own six-word memoirs. They sent in short life stories in droves, from the bittersweet (“Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends”) and poignant (“I still make coffee for two”) to the inspirational (“Business school? Bah! Pop music? Hurrah”) and hilarious (“I like big butts, can’t lie”).

Our newest book, Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak, is a roller-coaster ride through the complexities of the human heart. It's just $10 — bring it instead of a bottle of wine to your next party.

I have a short attention span.
Said to Morgan: new Valentine tradition.
A love note I can handle!
Immediately you start counting the words.
Let me hear your 6word memoirs!
I can't share mine 'til Valentines. (
Sometimes he reads this thing.)

Rushed In, Heart Broken, Love Unattained

Dear me, I'm nothing without you

You send shivers down my spine

I didn't sign up for this

Blind date.. fell in love forever

Life is short. Buy the shoes

Found true love. Married someone else.

Let me hear your love story!

10-14 I had a 10-50

2009-01-31T04:39:00.006-07:00

Well, since I'm such a slacker I have to start from the beginning.

For those of you who don't know I got a new job! I'm working for Utah Highway Patrol dispatching and taking 911 calls. So far I love it although sometimes I get nervous; I want to catch on fast. You know...all the insecurities a new job brings with it.

Last week I had just finished with my overnight shift and was heading home at 7:00 am. I had sent out about 6 wreckers that morning because the roads all over our 3 counties were solid ice due to some rain we had during the day that of course froze overnight.

I have to say I KNEW I was going to wreck before I ever left the dispatch ceter that morning. I just knew it. So when I started fishtailing I just thought to myself, "Oh, this is it. I am really going to wreck." And I stayed quite calm, I think. :) Anyway I went off the road sideways and the car landed on the roof. Glass shattered all over my face and I got some in my eyes and it cut up my hands a little. I had to call my work and tell them I just rolled my vehicle. Looking back it's really kind of ironic. I've never had an accident in my life and I wait until I'm working for the UHP to do it.

Anyway, to keep it short, I was a little scared for a few minutes when I was trapped in my vehicle but once I got my wits about me I pushed out the window in the back hatch and climbed out. A dear lady from our ward was the first one on the scene so when she hugged me is when I finally started crying a little. Then the Highway Patrol officer got there and a bunch of Jensen Emergency responders--I got to meet the people I'm dispatching for in, well, a memorable way. :)

The officer said to me, "This is what you get for calling me out at 5:00 this morning." I have to say that really worked. I've made someone else do it the rest of the mornings! :)

Anyway, everything is 10-4! :) My car, she's dead. But I hated her anyway. (This will really teach me to complain! At least I had a car!) I'll post pics later.

Hope you're all doing well!

Jesus is Boss.

2009-01-21T03:07:00.002-07:00

Cydnie likes to figure out who is the boss of everything. You know, I'm the boss of dad and Cydnie is the boss of her shoes etc.

Then I overheard this conversation between sisters:

Cydnie: Jesus is the boss of you.
Sadie: I know and Jesus is the boss of you too. And Mom and Dad.
Cydnie: Jesus is the boss of the whole world.
Sadie: Ya. Even Mexico.

I Can Never Think of a Catchy Title.

2008-12-06T04:33:00.003-07:00

Things I did NOT do this week:
Keep down my Panda Express lunch.

Tell a lie on a polygraph.

Put eggs in a cheesecake. (Of course, you SHOULD put eggs in cheesecakes, you know.)

Be a great houseguest...again. Man, I have a serious record for these things. (Luckily I have "family" I can stay with who doesn't judge me, at least they don't tell me I'm an idiot to my face. Thanks again for letting us stay and I promise I'll be more fun next time! :))

Got a great picture on my new drivers license. Of course I didn't do that. Dangit!!

Things I may have done this week:

Ate too much Thanksgiving dinner.

Puked on the side of the road...when we were LUCKY! (Sidenote: While I was puking in the canyon on the busiest stretch of road from here to Provo, Morgan took out his binoculars and stuck them clear out the drivers' side window to create the illusion we were looking at something fascinating on the OTHER side of the road. You know, opposite of where is wife was yakking up the Snickers and Dr Pepper she had for breakfast. THAT is modern-day galantry, my friends. A true gentleman.)

Realized the loss of my drivers' license ON THE WAY TO A POLYGRAPH TEST. Nice. This is actually what caused all of the puking because I get carsick and I was looking through my purse for wayy too long in a canyon. Not a good combo for me.

Shopped like crazy.

Had Coldstone.

Took a drug test.

Had a great Thanksgiving w/ Morgan's fam and dessert w/ mine. Every single person in my family was there and we even took a picture of it. NOT that it didn't cost me bribes and much begging. But overall most were good sports. :)

Ate Cafe Rio!! Hip Hip!

Took the kids to see Santa...and here's the kicker: Nobody cried this year! Sadie took some coaxing to even go near him, but as always he won her over and even had her on his lap near the end.

Took the kids to tons of fun activities on Friday. I have to say, by the end I was beat! I had lost the enthusiasm to ring in Christmas and I just wanted to go home and go to bed!

Had houseguests of my own! That always makes my week! My sister and her kids got to have a sleepover with us. My kids were down there literally shaking them awake at far too early in the morning but it made me laugh because I always did that to my sister growing up. Chips off the old block, I guess.

We had a great month full of more blessings than we can even count. We plan to focus on Christ this Christmas and spend a lot of time w/ our little family building great traditions. Share some of your favorites to give me ideas!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Halloween

2008-10-29T00:13:00.002-06:00

Once upon a time, a long long time ago...
when I was a little girl...

Here are my Halloween memories as a child. Please leave your favorite memories in the comment section. Thank you.

1. My grandma gave me a man made out of carrots held together with toothpicks for my Halloween treat. (I know, a what now?) I thought it was so awesome I kept it until it was withered and wrinkly. Much like my grandma. :)
2. I was a carebear for Halloween one year. Not one of those cute store-bought ones, but one my mom made. I have to say, it was pretty awesome from the outside but man! it itched me so bad. Also I had cut my own bangs recently. Off. Those are some cute pics.
3. Once I was trick-or-treating with my dear friend Julie, who was a bride. I was a baby, which was the style at the time. I think we were on our first house when her dress caught fire on a jack-o-lantern and we had to put her out. I forget what happened after that.
4. My mom never let me use a pillow case as a candy sack because it was "greedy." And she wouldn't drive me around to the rich neighborhoods after we were finished with our neighborhood either.
5. After Halloween I would usually play restaurant and make up a menu with the loot I had and sell it to my friends for other better candy. Always the entrepreneur.

I LOVE HALLOWEEN! I am way more excited for my kids to get dressed up in their costumes than even they are, I think!

Mouse Tails

2008-10-28T22:51:00.002-06:00

Today I was pulling out of our "driveway" when I noticed something scurrying across the dirt toward the garage. The garage door was on its way down and I stopped and watched what I realized was a mouse running to get in the garage. It was just like the Indiana Jones scene where he barely slips under the door and then grabs his hat. Only this time I was really rooting for the door to win and crush his guts.

Dang Garage Door. Too slow!

My Baby's One Tough Cookie.

2008-10-12T15:16:00.000-06:00

Long Story Short. I myself have a tiny attention span so I'll keep it sweet. We were at a friend's house last Saturday night and Cydnie tried to hug their dog. The dog bit her across the face. Sliced under her eye and put a puncture wound in the other side of her face. I held my cool pretty well, I thought. I called the ER and my dear friend was the nurse on duty. She said if it didn't look like it needed stitches just clean it out really well with soap and water and put neosporin on it. So I did that. The next day it was looking red around the edges so I really wanted someone to look at it. I tried to get in to both of the clinics here and couldn't. So the next day i finally got in to one and the doctor came in and said, "What took you so long, what'd you do, Walk?"

I swear everytime I have to go into the doctor for some reason other than a regular checkup I get offended. I'm sure it's just me. Would that have offended you? If you tried to get in before that and their clinic turned you away and then said that to you??

Anyway, on with the story. By the time we got in to the doctor, my dear friend's husband who owned the dog had "taken care of the dog so this wouldn't happen again" if you get what I mean and so could therefore not be tested for Rabies. A different doctor had taken over my case by the next day and informed me that since we couldn't test the dog, and knew it hadn't had its rabies shots, and Rabies is a fatal and untreatable disease my baby would have to go through the Rabies series vaccination. Immediately.

So we went to the hospital and they gave her four shots in the face and one in each leg. That scream is something no mother wants to hear and is absolutely undescribable. It was a torture scene. Tears were running down my face as I watched her; there was nothing I could do. She kept screaming, "I'm done! I'm done! That's enough!" and "I want a soft shot!"

Nightmare.

Later that day when I got home, Sadie didn't get off the bus. A new panic. I called the bus garage and they said she never got on the bus. So then I called the school and no one would answer. So I had to drive 10 minutes back into town in hysterics looking for Sadie. I got out and full on ran into the school back to her classroom. And there she was. Drawing on the chalkboard. She had gotten confused about how parent-teacher conference works. She knew I was coming to meet her teacher and thought that meant don't get on the bus. Anyway, both crises are resolved and I ended the day with a party w/ my girlfriends at my house. We had a blast. :)

A New Chapter

2008-09-12T16:32:00.003-06:00

Well, it's been way too long since I've updated. Sorry, guys.

Let's talk about Fall.

Sadie started school!! She gets on that big huge bus and drives away--far, far away. All alone. Yeah, I cried the first day. But only after she left! I told her later, but she didn't see it. :) THEN she got her first loose tooth all in the same week. I had a little meltdown. She's growing up so fast; I just hate it.
Of course I had the classic self-evaluation every mom gets when this realization hits: have I done enough? Have I prepared her to go into the world on her own and know she'll make right decisions? You know what? I feel like I have a long way to go there. I hope I can do better.

A funny thing she said when she got home from school that day: "There was this one teacher...and she was FREAKIN' NICE!" (See what I mean about ... I need to do better??) "Uhh, honey, try not to use that word at school. Or around Grandma."

On the upside, it gives me a little more one-on-one time with Cydnie and that's fun. She's such a kook, we have so much fun. We took the girls to a high school football game (very nostalgic for me, more on that later) and Cydnie was just a hoot. She has learned some of the cheers and we're training her early to be a Ute fan.

Tonight is Homecoming. 13 (!) years ago, Morgan and I went on our first official date to Homecoming so it is kinda fun for us to go and reminisce. Plus Morgan has a nephew who plays so we go to watch him, too.

My thoughts on Fall, as you all probably already know are STOPPP SUMMER FROM LEAVING! SOMEBODY! But it is already too late. It seemed to have slipped away two days ago when it all of a sudden got COLD outside. There are two really great things about fall, though, and I'll try to focus on these: 1. PUMPKIN DESSERTS. and 2. The ability to keep chocolate in your car at all times.

My camera card decided to malfunction today but I'll post pictures soon!

My Apologies.

2008-08-03T18:55:00.002-06:00

PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!!

I seriously hope I don't lose friends over this.
I have read Twilight and New Moon so far. Couple of problems.

1. Mostly since I waited so long to jump on the band wagon, most of the "surprises" have been ruined for me.
2. Morgan.

The problem is, I told Morgan I was reading it. Now he won't quit teasing me!!! Aghhh. And I don't want to defend the series because frankly I don't love it. But I told him about some of the Vampire traits: That it's a myth that they sleep in coffins... Whoa. Who knew he was so touchy about vampires. "Where does that girl get off thinking she can come in and change everything we know about vampires??" Uhhh do we believe in Vampires?? These particular ones don't hunt humans. "What? What do they eat?? BEARS??"

Oh and the most disturbing thing is he thinks this opens the door for me to watch ugly people movies. I've read an ugly people book and now he thinks I have to watch Interview With the Vampire and Van Helsing because I need to learn about what Vampires really are. They sleep in coffins and they can be killed by a stake through the heart or a silver bullet.

He was willing to concede that Vampires and Werewolves are in fact enemies. Okay... and this is of course assuming we believe in said vampires and werewolves.

LET ME JUST SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH I DON'T LOVE IT OR UNDERSTAND THE HYPE EXACTLY, I WILL BE FINISHING THE SERIES. EVEN THOUGH THE RADIO RUINED THE FACT THAT EDWARD AND BELLA WILL BE GETTING MARRIED. (WHICH I KNOW IS OBVIOUS ANYWAY.) HOWEVER KEEP IN MIND I HAVE NOT READ THE LAST TWO BOOKS SO IN THE COMMENTS DON'T ...YOU KNOW DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION I MAY NOT KNOW. :) Love you all, let me know if we're still friends.

And Morgan is "dying" to know: What do vampires poo?? Anyone? Anyone?

(He wants to know if the doctor asks them if they have blood in their stool.
I just threw up a little typing that.)

Girls Photo Shoot + Game

2008-07-23T14:14:00.000-06:00

Here are some of the photos we took of the girls on the 4th. We had such a good time just spending our holiday with family.

MEMORY GAME

I know I'm slow because of no internet but I want to play.
Leave a comment of a any memory you have of me or Morgan or both of us. It doesn't matter if you didn't know me that well I just want to hear the memories! (Pretend it's my funeral. haha)

Then if you want, do the same and I'll visit your blog and leave a memory.

Thanks!

All Work and No Internet Make Alison Go Crazy.

2008-07-16T14:51:00.001-06:00

Ummm.... I miss you all terribly.

let's just do a quick catch-up -K-

The reason I have this song on here is because I've been meaning to mention the class reunion. It was super fun! I was so glad we went; even Morgan said he had an okay time. :) The best part was, I actually did not feel inadequate, really, the way I thought I would. I thought everyone was going to be looking everyone over deciding who was "successful" and who wasn't and I didn't really feel successful. But you know what? After a conversation with a dear friend who shall remain nameless except in parentesis (Hillary), she made me realize success is all relative. And I wouldn't trade anyone for anyone else's life. That makes me a success! :) Morgan and I won a prize (sex dice) for being married the longest. And that is another thing that makes us successful.

Our 4th was fun. We had a great time just being with family and doing our traditions. When I did Cydnie's hair that morning I put two bows on the top of her head. It looked so cute. She looked and the mirror and said to me, "I look like a dog."

My favorite Sadie story lately: She starts telling Morgan some story and then interupts herself and says, "Well, you know how Mom doesn't know a lot of stuff??"

Uhhhhh.... ouch.
We decided it's because of how many questions she asks. It is unreal. Who is that? Where are they going? Well, what's their NAME? "I don't KNOW, Sadie!!" But Morgan makes stuff up. "Oh, that's Bill. He's going to see his grandma but first he had to stop at Sev and get a Pepsi..." Geez.

Lagoon Times 2.

2008-06-30T14:53:00.002-06:00

So we went back to Magoon for our free bounce-back-because-the-power-was-out adventure and here's what we observed.

There are about 3 people who work at Lagoon who are over the age of 12.

The "security guards" are included in that age range and are roughly the width of toothpicks. Every time I saw one walk by I laughed a little. They have a badge that very authoritatively states, "Lagoon Security." You just had to see it.

The 3 people who are over the age of 12 and work at Lagoon creeped me out, actually. It made me wonder why they would want to work there and hope that the people performing assumed background checks were thorough.

There were about 4 billion people there and I kept wondering how much money goes through that place a day.

Greatest observation:
People who work at Lagoon HATE THEIR JOBS.
And they HATE CHILDREN.
And it made me laugh.

I mean, when you think about it, you're a teenager, what would be the coolest place to work?? Lagoon!! Then the reality sets in. All you hear are screaming, sometimes crying children and the click of seatbelts locking and unlocking and that annoying music. You have to get on the intercom and say the same thing every 5 minutes, "Are ya ready kids?? All right, keep your hands and feet inside the ride and have a great day at Lagoon!" It all sounds like a recipe for a breakdown kind of disaster to me.

And I think the most disillusioned people who work at Lagoon have to be the lifeguards. Not only do they have a higher responsibility: ensuring not too many people die, but they were also thinking, "Dude, all ya do is sit around and watch hot girls in bikinis all day and get a tan. Dude! Sign me up!"

And I just don't think they were planning on all those fat people and guys with hairy backs.

Magoon. It's What Fun Is.

2008-06-20T14:41:00.003-06:00

Well, howdy strangers! Hope you haven't all forgotten or given up on me! I still don't have internet so I have to mooch it when I can.

Let me just catch you up a little-I'll keep it short.

3 weekends ago I got to visit my sister in Tooele. That was sooo much fun...well, the visiting my sister part was. The trip overall was terrible. I had to be at a purse booth *trying* to sell purses while the wind protested everything I did and the entertainment was clowns. with chainsaws. Yes, I said clowns with chainsaws. Then I discovered someone else decided they needed my luggage worse than me. I discovered this at like 9:00 at night so then I get to make a trip to Wal-Mart to replace everything. Good times.

Last weekend we went to Magoon. (This is what the girls call it and I don't have the heart to correct them; it's too cute.) We were there all day and had a blast. The girls didn't get scared on any of the rides; they loved them! The power went off for a little while, no big deal, and we get to get in free another day sometime before the end of the month! Score! (Apparently this was breaking news in Utah, that Lagoon's power was off because some people did have to climb down from roller coasters, but we were in the museum in Pioneer town or whatever and didn't have the faintest idea that it was even a big deal. The next day when my mom called to ask about it I had already forgotten that it happened. But that's a big problem that I have.)

In everyday news, my life is blissful in the new home. It's the little things--eating outside, my view of my father-in-law's freshly-cut hay, the cricket serenade at night and just being together as a family. We're catching up on movies *PLEASE LIST ANY GOOD ONES YOU RECOMMEND IN THE COMMENT SECTION* and just enjoying life. The other day I told Sadie not to play with her blinds because every night after they go to bed I hear her blinds go ZIIPP. She said, "But Mom, I like to see the stars when I'm going to sleep. I like to count them." Sweet! Oh, of course you can do that!! :) And then Cydnie came in my bathroom and opened my shower and sniffed it and shut the door and walked away. Cracked me up; I thought I was the only one who loved the smell of my shower. Weird. Last night at dinner out on the deck Cyd said, "I love living here. It's so fun." You said it, kid. it's the little things.

Cue the Hallelujah Chorus, Please.

2008-05-28T13:43:00.001-06:00

A few months ago I stayed overnight with some dear friends of ours in Idaho. She was the sweetest hostess! She made popcorn and brownies and made us feel so welcome even though it was completely short notice. Oh, and let's not leave out what a great house guest I was: I spent the whole time throwing up in her bathroom! I decided I really want to be like her when I grow up. So! Let the visits begin!!

We Failed.

2008-05-23T07:13:00.002-06:00

We have to:
1. But a handrail up in the garage stairway.

CHECK.

2. But a doorknob on the door to the garage. (Oops on our part. hehe)

CHECK.

3. "Weatherproof" the back deck. (Whaa?)

CHECK

4. Call for re-inspect.

CHECK CHECK!!!

No worries. We are happy!

Also our appraisal came back and I hate to sound like a moron but I don't understand it all. What I do understand is that the house appraisal gave us about 50% equity, which, I understand is good news. So yay for that too! We'll probably close in a couple days.

In other news, at the risk of sounding like a 14-year-old, can I just say I was a David Cook fan all along! ...and somehow deep down I guess I wanted Archie to win because I've been rather disappointed the last few days. :) One of then had to lose, though, dangit. I'm glad they both got a car. David Archuleta is cute in that genuinely awkward teen-way. Who were you for??

Important Day

2008-05-21T13:58:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is our FINAL INSPECTION!!!!!!!!!

WISH US LUCK!

The Graduate

2008-05-20T09:53:00.000-06:00

Today is the day about Sadie. I thought it fitting since her birthday is tomorrow.

Sadie is sooo shy. Every time we talked about her doing her part in her graduation (Itsy Bitsy Spider) she would curl up in a ball and start to pout. That is why I was so extra proud of her: She did it!! She needed help to get through it (even though she knew it when it was just us) but she actually stood in front of a LOT of people and did it without me!

I always laugh at the absolute opposite qualities in my kids: everything from the way they look right down to everything they love and yet they are still best buddies. Sadie is kind of a tomboy, actually. You'd never know it from looking at her though, would ya? She is a rock collector big time. There are rocks EVERYWHERE if she's been anywhere near it. In the garage, on the porch, all over in the car, and in my purse. She also loves bugs and worms. She will catch nearly anything and bring it in to me to find a jar. She loves to be outside but she also loves TV and she has a blanky that has to be with her when she is watching TV or when she is about to go to sleep. She has been worried that the blanket isn't going to be moving with us (I have been threatening her because it's the only time she sucks her thumb!). But I won't do that because it would be tramatic and I want them to love their house.

She loves to watch and work with her dad. He is her hero. She will sit and watch him work on the house and ask if she can help him. She also loves to look for deer and other animals with her dad. And deer tracks in our yard. Her daddy is wrapped around her finger, too.

Her new favorite thing is asparagus and she loves to go hunting for it and then she eats it raw right out of the field.

She is so special to us and we are lucky to have our little Sadie bug.

Lalalalala...She's Got the Look.

2008-05-11T11:57:00.014-06:00

I wanted to do a little post about each of my kids. Today is Cydnie.
My new favorite thing to make her do (at this age you make them do cute things just to amuse yourself) is make her emotion faces. I told her for my Mother's Day present I wanted her to make the faces for the camera. (I'm so manipulative!) Here they are.

HAPPY

MAD

SAD

KISSY

SLEEPY

SURPRISED

A couple of quick recent stories on Cyd:
The other day we were talking about baptism. And for some reason my children are petrified of the prospect that they would have to do that! (I'm sure this is due to bad parenting.) Get their faces wet?? I'm sorry, that's asking too much for salvation. Cydnie was repeating over and over in the car, "I don't want to get sanitized. I don't want to get sanitized."

She hangs out a lot at Grandma Rosies. She is so gracious to feed us while we work on our house; we will never be able to repay all that they have done for us. I'm sure this little subject will require a post of its own really soon. Anyway, she was walking in the kitchen where someone was cooking and she gets this forlorn look on her face. "I am soooo hungry.... my mama doesn't feed me."

She was talking about her nursery teacher to my mom and how she likes her and everything. My mom said, "Oh? What's her name?" and Cyd said, "Grandma." And my mom said, "Oh, that's so sweet. Is that what you call her?" Cydnie: "No...that's her name!"

Just being herself.

I LOVE YOU CYDNIE HOPE!

Chelsie + Justin

2008-05-11T11:04:00.000-06:00

Chelsie and Justin's wedding and reception were amazing!! It was so fun to go to the temple with so much family and be reminded of why we are all about eternal families. The feeling there is always wonderful but to go and be reminded of new beginnings was extra sentimental for me. Morgan and I always have a good time taking pictures together even though we tease each other about being a camera hog. (We REALLY need another camera.) Anyway, they had a catered luncheon afterward at the chapel next door to the temple and we all thought it was great.

You will not believe their reception decor unless you were there. It WAS AMAAZING. They spent from Thursday to Saturday setting it up. The whole cultural hall was draped in tulle. A giant romantic tent. It was so awesome! Then they had tons of Christmas lights hanging everywhere. Our pictures do not do it justice. So I left them off. :)

They had GREAT food too--chocolate fondue (are you kidding me?) and cresant sandwhiches. The girls and I did not stop eating all night.

Great job hosting a great party, guys! Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. (I know sometimes it's "a little stressful" for the guests of honor.)

What we've been doing.

2008-05-10T08:58:00.000-06:00

Chels's Bridals

2008-04-30T09:27:00.000-06:00

Sentiments

2008-04-29T10:49:00.002-06:00

I was talking to Morgan the other day about what profound saying I want to have hanging over the door at our new house. After much meditation and prayer, I thought I came up with the most perfect thing:

Dreams Really Do Come True.

I ran it by Morgan and he gives me this long drawn-out eye roll. I start stammering, "You know, about our house. It's about our house." And he goes, "Oh I have a better one for that."

It's About Damn Time.

He's so romantic.

Bras

2008-04-29T10:46:00.001-06:00

I was in the little girls' section at Wal-Mart the other day when I saw this cute little bra with the cutest little brand name: Sweet Nothings.

Then I saw it was my size.

Jerks.

Overheard in the ER

2008-04-27T11:48:00.003-06:00

"Geez!! What happened to HIM? Did he fall off his motorcycle??"
--pre-teen boy referring to another pre-teen boy who was being wheeled in in a wheelchair looking quite in pain with blood coming out his neck and visibly bruising deeper by the minute.

Mom of boy: "Oh, no, I would NEVER let him ride a motorcycle. He got bucked off his bull."

That's how you know what part of the country in which you live.

Which of These Things Did I Do in the Last 72 Hours?

2008-04-27T11:40:00.002-06:00

A. Visit a farm with shetland donkeys.
B. Get food poisoning at Gandolfo's.
C. Drive all over the Wasatch Front looking for a motel that's not full due to graduations.
D. Swim.
E. Pick up a truckload of furniture from a bunch of jerks at a warehouse.
F. Go to a funeral.
G. Stain a door.
H. Learn a new card game.

Answer: all of the above.
Isn't that all just random stuff? Weird.
What was the weirdest thing you did this week?

To Go or Not To Go...

2008-04-23T11:58:00.002-06:00

Allrighty this really dates me but my 10 year class reunion time has come. This brings much anxiety for me for some strange reason. I loved high school. Maybe more than some. I was really sad to leave and realize I wouldn't see those people everday, some maybe ever again. Ten years has obviously been so eye-opening to the high school experience. When I look at high school students now I kinda laugh at the mind-set one has while there. You think you know everyone; you think you know everything and don't want to find out any different. The world revolves around you and your circle of friends--forget family. (Am I alone in this?) Everything was a big deal--wearing the *gasp* same dress as someone else to a dance, albeit that would be embaressing but the end of the world? Probably not. Or worse, not getting asked to a dance!

So although I look back on my high school days with affection, I DO NOT in any way wish I could go back or be dating or be carefree ever again.

Here's the part that brings me the most anxiety:
I don't remember specifics about a lot of things. My mind, maybe thankfully, sort of glosses over things a lot, I think. My concern is, and being back in my hometown I think about this a lot: Was I a nice person? Was I mean to anyone? I'm sure I was at times. Do I want to go and look people in the eye who I may have offended? I absolutely would if I remembered something to apologize for but what if they remember something I don't? Anyone who reads this: if I ever offended you in high school, or if I ever have, please know I either didn't mean to or I was an idiot.

This is one of the things I wish to instill in my children: a love and appreciation for all personalities and to be nice to everyone. You truly never know how your paths may cross again and it would be awful to be ashamed of the way you acted.

So! Begin the discussion: If you went to school with me, are you coming to the reunion? If your reunion has come and gone, did you go? Why or why not? And if your is coming up, are you going??

Sigh

2008-04-22T21:02:00.002-06:00

I'm grateful to live here.
I'm grateful to live here.
I'm grateful to live here...

Wedding Regrets?

2008-04-22T09:00:00.003-06:00

My cute neice Chelsie is getting married (REALLY SOON!) to this cute boy Justin.

I already mentioned them a while ago and how fun I find it to be around googly-eyed-in-love people. Makes me feel nostalgic and remember our own wedding as well as appreciate what I've got!

So I wanted to ask the question: what advice would you give newlyweds? (Not that newlyweds ever want advice, but if they did...) and what regrets do you have about your wedding or reception? (Let's keep it googly-eyed, here, people.)

Here's my easiest one: I would've kept the reception line to parents and us. That's it. I only ever talk to one of my bridesmaids (my maid of honor). The other two, I love them still but we don't really talk. It would've saved a little money and no one going through the line ever cares to learn, "This is my roommate, this is my roommate, this is my friend..." I can see maybe having siblings but that is it. Anyway, that is one of the pieces of advice I always give people that no one wants. What do you think?

#2: I think maybe short and sweet engagements would be best. We fought a lot during ours; it's not a time I look back on with great affection; it was 6 months long. We hardly ever fight now, I don't know what was up with the engagement period. Stress? (How is being engaged more stressful than being the parents of demanding children and owning homes and paying bills??)

#3: My most painful one to discuss even now, nearly 10 years later: not speaking up and getting the photographer I wanted and as a result not having any professional pictures taken at our wedding. (I guess there are two in there. Not speaking up applies to a few other decisions we made.) Pictures have always been so important to me and I have precious few of the one day you get to dress up together and be the star of the show. The ones I have, however are priceless.

What about you?

Mom of the Year

2008-04-20T21:30:00.003-06:00

Here's a little story on why I might not win the Mom of the Year Award.

The other day I lost Cydnie. Twice.

First I was setting up purses at my booth inside a big convention center when she was just all the sudden gone. I mean I was really starting to get nervous searching for her; I thought if she had wandered off in the wrong direction she wouldn't be able to find her way back. Just as I was about to cry, I decided to walk out to the car. There she was. Hangin' out in the car. She got a nice lecture.

Not twenty minutes later we were at my house pricing purses I had just picked up from UPS. I let her play outside and ride her bike. After a little while she came in the house crying. I said, "What's the matter?" She said, "I falled on my bike.... and a boy is chasing me." Uhhh... huh?? Just then the door bell rang. I answer it and this boy is saying she was really really far from our house and he was talking to her trying to help her find her mom and she ran away and came home. His dad was with him and don't worry, he had already called the cops. So a patrol car pulled up in front of my parents' house. Wow, this day is really shaping up to be super. Anyway, the man said he was just making sure this in fact was her house and that we knew where she was. "Okay, well, thank you. And thank YOU, officer."

**Sigh.**

She got the lecture of her LIFE.

I actually ended up telling her about strangers and how some people who might try to talk to you or CHASE you might want to hurt you, not help you. I know she's only two but when the opportunity arises, right?!

Side note in my defense:
There is an empty parking lot next door to my house. The far corner of it looks kinda far away from anywhere so when someone sees her over there, they assume she is really far from wherever she must live. But it's not very far. And everytime I bring this up to Cyd about how those nice people thought she was lost she interupts me, "BUT I WASN'T LOST!!" To which I respond, "I know, but just don't go that far anymore!!!" To which her defiant little attitude responds, "I like to dough faw away."

**Sigh again.**

While Mom Was Away

2008-04-16T10:41:00.000-06:00

You might wonder, "What do her children do while their mother goes to business fairs for two days straight?" I know I was wondering.

And not quite expecting this....

Good one, Dad.

Staircase & Tub

2008-04-16T10:38:00.000-06:00

I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here

2008-04-16T08:27:00.003-06:00

"The swimming pool is down the stairs."

"Inside the house? Oh boy!!"

Yup. I guess our trials of house building are coming a little closer to the end than some.

Let's start at the beginning, shall we?

Monday: Morgan has the day off and we plan to spend the entire day putting stone on the exterior of the house. Problem: for some reason right about lunch time (right when I get there, as always) the stones keep falling off. As you can imagine, this is quite frustrating for him. In an effort to express his anger, he kicks a board. The board is leaning against the solid concrete foundation. By 4:00 he can barely walk. We leave the house and head to the ER to see if it's broken. It's not. That's the best news we'll get for days.

Tuesday: Carpet Guy calls and says carpet is on backorder. This is not the bad news for the day. We stay home ALL DAY playing around town and being together as a family as Morgan has taken the day off work due to his foot injury. We went to McDonald's with the girls and had ice cream cones and just had a really fun lazy day. Should've known we'd have to pay for taking a day off. (And there was guilt involved, don't get me wrong. Morgan made the comment, "It's kinda funny that our house is a ticking time bomb and here we sit.") When it comes time for Morgan to do the night check out at the plant, we all pile in the truck and head to the house to look to see if the rock is still up. Kind of as a joke but who knows, really. I say, "Why don't you run in and measure the shower opening so I can go talk to someone about ordering a door for it?" He runs in while we wait in the truck. Then panic is on his face and he's waving me out of the truck. We had left the hose on the day before. There was a tarp in the window well preventing any drainage and there was A LOT of water against the window and flowing into the house.

Since this story is already long and boring, let's just say we spent the evening differently than we had planned. And we'll also so how blessed we feel that we went in when we did, that it wasn't worse than it was, and that it didn't happen a few weeks from now when we will have had $2,000 worth of carpet + furniture in there. We feel very very blessed.

Want a Free Enema?

2008-04-15T07:56:00.003-06:00

This weekend was the Home and Garden show at the Western Park. I actually had a ball being there. I had a helper so I was able to leave and take care of the kids and I had a special friend watch my kids for a few hours on Friday.

I was lucky enough to be next to the Uintah Care Center booth. I've met these girls before; one of them had a purse party a while back and I enjoyed them very much then, too. But these gals kept me laughing the whole time. The first day, they were having people guess how many bandaids were in the catheter bag--if you win you got to keep the catheter bag, too! They also had a game of golf. If you got a hole in one they would give you a free enema kit. Day two: they were having people register for a free night's stay at the care center. It was hilarious to watch people's faces as they had just walked by 5 booths asking them to register for a free weekend or whatever at some resort. The look on their faces as it dawned on them what they were saying. Most people thought it was hilarious.

The thing that really struck me, though, is their job is a tough one. There is no way I have the stomach to do what they do. They are so wonderful to their patients; I know because one of them was my grandma and another was my great aunt. Both of the ladies at the booth have specific memories of my loved ones and that means so much to me. They believe in the importance of their work and they are able to keep their sense of humor about them. I have no doubt they bring much joy to the lives of those people in the care center and I have so much respect for people who can do those tough jobs.

Thank you girls for teaching me a valuable lesson about love, life and laughing along the way. I hope to be next to you every year!!

Morgan's funny.

2008-04-09T18:28:00.001-06:00

Okay I was going to really post about how I had a great couple of last days and how much fun we had but then I got busy reading everyone elses' blogs and now I have to leave. But after I read Mandy's blog about her husband I had to leave you one little thought Morgan said the other night. (Oh and I'm not allowed to write anything he says on here so SSHHHH!)

While watching Whose Line is it Anyway w/ a guest star contortionist. (sp?)

"Wow, that lady could fart in her own face."

How profound.

My Parents' 50th Party

2008-04-01T09:33:00.001-06:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

It was great and I'm happy it's over. :)

A Modern Miracle

2008-03-29T08:42:00.002-06:00

I saw angels yesterday. Real life angels. Sure, they wore tool belts and called themselves "plumbers" but they were angels to me.

From this day forth I vow never again to pee in a 5 gallon bucket.

Whirlwind Weekend.

2008-03-25T11:11:00.000-06:00

Make a photobook - it's easy!

Countertops!

2008-03-25T08:53:00.000-06:00

We got out countertops in!! It took them FORVER, it seemed. First they were delayed 3 days from when they originally told me, then they took like 6 hours to put it in because it was slightly too large and they had to cut, sand and polish it on location. They would HEAVE it into the house and "try it on" the countertop and then HEAVE it back out to the porch to cut it down some more. Oh and we couldn't communicate with any of the workers themselves, as we don't speak any Spanish. Oh well. Our appliances are all in now so it looks like home. We even ate a picnic lunch there yesterday with stuff from our fridge and we'll probably do that for dinner from now on. Oh and did I mention it looks AWESOME!? I guess you can see that from the picture though. :) I really really want to throw sleeping bags in and sleep there but you know.

We had our first unannounced visitor. As you can see, you may want to call first.

Easter Cynnie

2008-03-19T09:31:00.000-06:00

The Easter Bunny came to our house a little early this year.

In other news, Sadie has had her first crush. The first day the cabinet guys were at the house, she followed this one around and chattered his ear off. If you know our Sadie at all you know she NEVER talks to people she doesn't know very well. She curls up and tries to tuck herself into her shirt whenever she gets embaressed. Well, she noticed everything about this guy and talked to him all day. The next day we went to the dollar store and she saw the candy he was eating and wanted to get it. I thought she wanted to try it so I bought it. (Boston Baked Beans.) We got out to the house and there was a truck there. She said, "Who is that?" I said, "I guess it's one of the cabinet guys."
"Which one?"
"I don't know. Why?"
Then she does the shirt thing.
That made me laugh.
We go inside and she walks over to him with her arm stretched out to give him the candy but her face hiding in her shirt.
Then Cydnie peed her pants (on accident, stupid bucket) and we had to go over to Grandma Rosies to borrow some more pants and Sadie wanted to stay there w/ the cabinet guy!! Uhhh no, get in the car, Sadie. :)

This is a first for us. :)