Happy as a Lark

There is nothing particularly amazing, noteworthy, or precocious about this video. I love it though, because it shows a happy little girl toddling around the backyard, singing, playing, enjoying the good weather...just having a great time. Why can't we all be more like little children?? Grateful for the things we have, satisfied with the way life is, happy and content...



I love you, happy little Sydney!

She's a Model!

Maddie's Young Women group at church had a fashion show this week. They modeled all kinds of modest outfits and had a lesson on preparing for temple marriage.

Maddie wore her favorite school outfit.


She and I modeled together wearing our favorite Value Color - blue. (Oh, the things we do for our children. I would never have thought you could get me on the "runway" for a million dollars!)
(Thank goodness Grandma D. didn't get a close-up shot!)

For the finale, all the girls wore white blouses, black pants, and bright pink accessories.


I'm grateful Maddie has the confidence I lacked as a young woman. I HATED being the center of attention (except on stage in school plays, when I wasn't MYSELF!) Maddie is willing to try almost any good thing. She lead the music in combined YW & Relief Society opening exercises her second week in Young Women. She volunteered to play the piano for YW when she's only had two years of piano lessons. She babysits an infant and two toddlers many Friday nights. She's challenging her orchestra teacher in class to see who is the better violin player. She knows HE is, but the class encouraged her, so she said "why not??" (If any "first chair" player wins a challenge with the teacher, the class gets a party!) She amazes me...I'm so glad she's a part of our family. Life would definitely NOT be the same without her. I love you, Maddie!

She's Got Spirit!

This has been Nevada Reading Week and the schools in our town always celebrate in a big way. Maddie's school, Garrett Junior High, had a special theme each day, and students who participated each day got their "passports" signed by a teacher. Today they will get a prize if their passport is completely signed off.

Monday was "Realistic/Historical Fiction Dress Code" day. Maddie dressed up as Pricilla Lapham from Johnny Tremain. That was especially fun for me, as that was one of my all-time favorite books as a child. Maddie read it recently and loved it too. She couldn't put it down.



Tuesday's theme was "Fantasy, Fairies, Monsters, and Ghosts." Maddie dressed as Princess Pea from The Tale of Despereaux. That is HER favorite book. She has read it five times!



Wednesday was "Poets Past and Present" day. We researched Ogden Nash and Maddie carried these poems in her pocket.


Grandpa is Ashamed

A child need not be very clever
To learn that "Later, dear" means "Never."


The Parent

Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore,
And that's what parents were created for.

The Lama

The one-l lama,
He's a priest;
The two-l llama,
He's a beast.
And I will bet
A silk pajama
There isn't any
Three-l lllama.

Thursday she brought in a current event to share. It was about a blind man who received his sight back by having part of his son's tooth implanted in his eye!!

Today Maddie wore "alien socks," " time-traveler pants" and a "little green man" emerald shirt to celebrate the "War of the World Science Fiction" theme.


I'm so glad she has SPIRIT. It's not easy being twelve and worrying what your friends think of you all the time. I'm happy she has the courage to get involved and enjoy life!

The Powder-Blue Suit

Have you ever seen two little boys more alike??


















Brian was a child of the eighties, and his powder-blue suit tells the tale! (Jeff owned one himself and wore it the first time I met him at Sunday dinner in our apartment. It was his "I'm not a missionary anymore" suit!) When Tyler came down our pew in Sacrament Meeting Sunday wearing the suit, I couldn't believe my eyes! He looked like Brian reincarnated!

But, alas. A boy of the eighties can only do a "pretty smile" for so long. As can a child of the twenty-first century...Like father like son...

I'm so glad I saved the powder-blue suit. Mock it all you want, siblings!!

A Fun Weekend

Amy brought her roommates , Kaylee (from Iowa) and Aleks (from Alaska) home for the weekend.

Neither roommate had ever been to Las Vegas before so they took in all the sights on the Strip. They visited the conservatory and the dancing fountains at the Bellagio, the shops and moving statues at the Forum in Caesar's Palace, and were serenaded on a gondola ride at the Venetian.

Sunday we went to church, had the family over for dinner, visited and played "Apples to Apples" and watched "Father Goose."

Monday they had to drive back to school, but before they left we walked across Hoover Dam.

Living so close to the dam, we tend to take this engineering marvel for granted. It does us good to visit with guests once in a while to remember how incredible it really is! Over 700' high, built in the 1930's, finished BEFORE deadline, and under budget. You don't hear things like THAT anymore! What an amazing piece of engineering and construction it is!

Kaylee took this cute family photo of us on the dam.

The girls made it home safely and it was fun to have them visit!

I am a Nosy Nerd

Okay, I admit it. I am nosy. Or maybe I am just interested in other people's lives. I have saved every Christmas newsletter I've ever gotten. And scrapbooked them.
During the first years of my marriage, when I used to write letters to my best friend from junior high and high school, I saved ALL the letters she wrote to me and kept them in this binder.

Obviously, I still have them.

I also love reading books about real people and their lives.


So I think that is why I love the world of blogging so much. I absolutely hate it that as I get older, my circle of family and friends has gotten so big that it is pretty much impossible to keep up with everyone. These are all people I love so much, that I wish I could talk to each of them every day and see what is going on in their lives. Impossible though. BUT! Pretty much every day I check my children's blogs (not that I don't talk to THEM every day...) and I check the blogs of friends, nieces, nephews (and yes, I admit it-acquaintances!, sometimes even strangers!) about once a week.

Through blogs I can know that my-husband's-brother's-daughter's- daughter Jessica got three stitches in her forehead this week. I can know that my husband's-sister's- son's-daughter Rachel is already lobbying to go to Disneyland at one year old! I can know that my husband's-sister's-daughter's-daughter knows her Gramma Joy WOULD give her cake for breakfast when her mother WON'T (mean Mommy!) I can know the funny things Amy hears in passing people on campus at BYU - things she would probably not think to tell me when we talk on the phone.

I can learn how to cook yummy food like Pioneer Woman. I can see a really funny video of little Charlie biting his brother. I can learn to make a really cool cat from a cast-off sock and glove. Heck, I can even learn what some stitcher in Finland made for her Christmas ornament exchange...(Okay, I know that's a bit extreme. Sometimes I need to set a limit for myself on how long I can follow tangents on blogs.)

I do love the photos, thoughts, and insights I get from blogging. I love that I get to know people better this way.

I know some people think blogging is dumb and self-centered. But. I am a nosy nerd. I love it!

Big Girls

Julie and Madison on their way to Catalina Island Marine Institute for three days - "alone!"

Maddie, Julie, and Ally were "the little girls" for so long; it's still hard to think of them as BIG! However, I must resign myself to the idea that Maddie will be a (gulp) TEENager this year! Julie will turn TWELVE in May and "Little" Ally will be TEN in June. They truly are growing up into sweet, lovely young ladies.

Sending them off "alone" to Sea Camp was still difficult...although they were both so excited they could hardly stand it. I can't wait to hear about their adventures when they get back.

President Hinckley's Funeral

When I heard last Sunday evening that President Hinckley had passed away at home with his family, I hardly even felt a little sad. I was so happy he had gone peacefully, surrounded by those he loved, without pain and with his dignity. I knew he was so anxious to see Marjorie, his sweet wife of 66+ years. I knew he was being welcomed home, to a place where he was loved and cherished. I knew he had fought a good fight on the earth and that it was his time to go. I knew I would miss him, but I honestly didn't feel sad.

Today, as I watched his funeral on TV and listened to the many wonderful things said about him I couldn't have agreed more. President Hinckley was a great man. He was a great prophet. He led the Church in new directions - smaller temples in greater numbers, increased emphasis on missionary work, a greater public awareness through media campaigns, to mention a few. I knew I would miss his leadership, but I didn't feel sad.

He loved people and let them know it. He was sensitive to the needs of others. He exemplified the love of Christ for those around him. His unshakable testimony in a loving God and our savior, Jesus Christ was an example to all of us. I am so thankful for him. I knew I would miss him, but I didn't feel sad.

But, during the closing song of the funeral, as they showed video clips of President Hinckley smiling, going about his business, shaking hands with all ages, shoveling dirt, watching programs, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, showing his love for others...I finally realized that I was sad. I am sad that he won't be here any more for me to enjoy. Sad that I'll never hear him tell another joke in General Conference. Sad that I won't see his smiling face anymore. Sad that I won't see him "waving his cane" instead of using it to walk. Sad that I won't have his love and guidance for ME in MY life. Sad that he is gone and I am still here. Not sad for him. Sad for me. I will miss you, President Hinckley. Thank you for your love and example. Thank you for your service.