The Things I Love!

A friend of mine has been counting down the days until Valentine's Day by listing something she loves everyday. I decided to give it a try even if I am 5 days into my countdown...I will just have to catch up. I think the hardest part is coming up with only 14 things from a list of so many. So here it goes...

Day 1 ... I Love

To listen and watch Zach when he is listening to the i-pod. It is hilarious!

When he listens...all we hear is mumbling then about every 5th word he will sing. He dances all over the place...it sort of takes him to his own little world.

Day 2....I LOVE...
Chili's Salsa

I pretty much will eat all salsas...but there is something about Chili's that well YUM!

Day 3....I LOVE...

Getting Pedicures!!! I love the way my feet feel and look after a good pedi! I find myself looking at my feet alot!

Day 4...I LOVE...

Having creative moments...they don't happen as often but I love it when I get an idea and actually get the chance to make something and have it all work out.

Day 5...I LOVE

the soundtrack from WICKED....many days you could probably hear it's songs streaming from my windows...I can turn it up and sit and enjoy it or I can be singing at the top of my lungs!

Favorite song: For Good

Being Pampered!!

At least once a week Liberty will randomly come up to me and say "it's time for me to rub your feet". Of course I never argue that. This started a few months back and she must see that I am wiped out and just need a little pampering. It started with her just rubbing lotion on my feet and since it has become much more.

She starts by brushing my hair, (which I beg my children to do, because I love it so much!) sometimes she will put clips in it our bows, you know whatever she feels like (today I ended up with her tiara on). Second she will pretend to put make-up on me, pretend to paint finger and toe nails, she puts jewelry on me (yes she finds the most attractive pieces I have! Which usually are gifts that she has given me...for instance the disco ball earrings she gave me for my last b-day! that I have to keep in a very "safe" spot...and she some how finds them.)

Here I am after the jewels, pretend make-up, and tiara were put on...too bad you can't see the lovely disco ball earrings.

Then she tells me to lay down with my feet on a towel so lotion won't get all over my bedding, and she rubs my feet. I usually don't like my feet touched but she does a great job! Seriously. I am totally relaxed by the time she is done. Today she said just before she started, "Mom, this is going to help your fat feet!" I am sure you are thinking ... such a nice thing to say ... but she meant every word of it. She wanted to help.

Here she is starting to rub the lotion.

She is such a nice gat to rub these bricks!

The funny thing is that after she is done rubbing my feet she wants to put shoes on me to complete the loveliness! Well since I only have maybe 3 pair of shoes that fit me right now...it cracks us both up when she tries to squeeze my feet into the pointy high heel shoes everytime. This time she was determined to get my feet into something better than crocs or slippers...she somehow managed to push them into sandals...but notice how far they actually got in, notice the line where my toes usually are. We laughed so hard.

This is when she was trying to push my feet into my fancy shoes! Notice the pointed toe!


Check out the normal toe line on these sandals...she was determined to get them on...but they could only stay of for a few minutes! They were hurting my feet.

Don't ask me where this pampering idea came from but I will say that I enjoy it. She usually has something for me to do while she rubs my feet, like read, or play a game on my pocket PC, but whatever I do...I cannot close my eyes because once she let me do that and I fell asleep...she didn't like that much.

Here I am enjoying being pampered!

Our DEER Neighbors

One of our winter neighbors!


We have our neighbors back. Every winter since we have lived here right around January our neighbors come back...we have anywhere from 3 to 8 deer who live in our backyard. They just hang out under the trees and eat whatever they can find. It is fun to watch them out the window, the kids love it! There have been times that they give us a fright...for instance...standing by the kitchen sink which has a window right above it and haveing something catch your eye and notice you are being stared at by a large deer. Or coming home late one night and making your way up to the door (our garage is detached) and seeing a deer standing right by the door frozen looking right at you. Believe me that is a strange rush feelings all at once. They usually stick around until spring...they wander but eventually come back over the time they are here. Last year they were what brought the cougars down to our community...which they aren't welcome if they do that again this year! We don't want cougars! But for now it is great to open my blinds each morning and look out and see them. Who knows how long they will be here! We shall see!

Here is one with more in it...this was just after the snow stopped falling yesterday. There are 3 but the photo is dark. Sorry.

Craig's Day

Craig and his Dad just after Stake Conference. ( I wish the photo wasn't so dark!)

This past weekend was our Stake Conference. This is something that I always look forward to, our stake is amazing and our leaders a wonderful. It is always an uplifting and spiritual experience and I alway walk away strengthened. This Stake Conference was a bit different for us...a week ago at church our Stake Pres. asked to talk to Craig and I later that day. We went to the meeting and were shocked by a calling that was extended to Craig. He was called to be a member of the Stake High Council. He accepted and I agreed to support him in this new calling. Craig walked out of the meeting very solemn and shaken all at the same time. He feels under qualified and inadequate (which is how many of us feel when we get new callings). He had a week to let things sink in and honestly I don't think they have even now. Sunday came and as we sat in the Alpine Tabernacle awaiting his calling I could see both nerves, excitement, emotion and fear on his face. When his name was announced I felt so pleased with my cute hubby! His lower lip was quivering and I could tell he was overcome with emotion. We were able to have my parents and Craig's parents there along with many members of his family. It was a great experience for all of us. Right after the meeting he was ordained a High Priest by his dad and surrounded by his brothers and my dad. Immediately following that he was set apart as a member of the High Council. It was a day I am sure we won't soon forget. He still is feeling overwhelmed...but I think he is excited to get to work. This will be a change for our family...but we are excited for the growth and experiences that will come with it.

Caleb's FHE

I should have posted this in late December...but I totally spaced it. This was our final week of the kids choosing what we would do for FHE. We had a variety of fun things they all chose. But I must say that Caleb's made me laugh when he told everyone what he wanted to do. If you are from around our neck of the woods you may know this place. For whatever reason Caleb gets a kick out of going there and seriously we have to walk up and down every isle...the treasures you can find at this place are priceless and we seem to get a great laugh out of it.

That's right Caleb chose to go spend a Monday night wandering up and down the isles of Allen's super market in Orem. This place is sort of a running joke in our family because if we need something and can't find it anywhere else we jokingly say "check Allen's they have everything!" Nine times out of ten they do!

We all got many laughs checking out some of the random things like the funny aligator that Zach pretended to tackle down complete with phrases from the crocodile hunter...which I am sad to say that I didn't get a photo of. We saw some crazy yellow piggy banks that still to this day make me laugh. But in all honesty, we really like this store I have nothing against it. They carry all your major grocery needs but they also have some fun and interesting things, that for our family made for some great laughs.

Zach saw these little chests sitting on a table and ran up to them and stuck one hand in and started saying "bump, bump, bump, bump" like Davey Jones chest in Pirates. We all started to laugh.

Liberty and Zach had no problems pulling a sled down off the shelf and pretend that they are sledding down a hill. Check out Zach's expression. Priceless!

When we saw these cool sports goggles I knew that someone would try them on and sure enough they did. Check out Craig's expression. I love it.

This was at the end of the last isle...the kids all found random sunglasses and sat down on the bench used for customers waiting for perscriptions at the pharmacy. I love the looks on all of thier faces.

We ended the night by letting everyone choose an ice cream treat and we took them home to enjoy. Caleb wanted drumsticks, Libby, Zach & I wanted Rootbeer Floats, and Craig wanted ice cream sandwiches. Everyone was happy and we had a night that we will not soon forget!

Great choice Caleb!

Whoa!!!

This morning I had a dr. appointment. After talking for awhile we listened to the heart beat which was speedy and strong. (always what we love to hear!) Then the dr. laid the measuring tape on my protruding belly and I wish I would have had a camera! His face was priceless! His comment was "WHOA! You are measuring 6 weeks bigger than you should be!" I couldn't help but laugh. I jokingly said "I feel bigger than I should be!!" We talked and he was obviously amazed at how big I was. He told me we would do another ultrasound in 2 weeks and see just how big this boy is. So in two weeks we shall see, maybe I will have a February baby after all. I just had to laugh...cause just a few nights ago Craig said (with all kindness and we were joking around at the time) "that (him pointing at my prego belly) has NEVER been that big!" So I will just have to keep you posted as each day this belly gets bigger and bigger! All I have to do if that somehow gets me down...is think of the doctors face and his comment of WHOA!!!

OOoooh! La La! Fancy Nancy Party

OOOOH! La! La!

Libby getting ready to leave for the Fancy Nancy Party! Doesn't she look fancy!!

While at the library a couple of weeks ago I saw a sign for a Fancy Nancy Party. I knew right away that this is would be right up Libby's alley. I picked up her ticket and the wait began. Well the big day finally came yesterday. If you aren't aware of who Fancy Nancy is, it is a new childrens book about a girl named Nancy who thinks everything is better if it is fancy. It is a great book for little girls.

This is the cover of the book. If you don't have it you need it!!!

One thing it said on the invite was "fancy dress" expected. Well, this was no problem for Lib...she and I put together a great outfit. She looked great along with all the other darling little girls there. They did some really cute things at the party, taught the girls some ediquiette and they had jewels and tiara's for all of them. It was really cute and every girl there had a perfect afternoon, feeling fancy. It gave us some great ideas for an upcoming birthday party for Lib.

Here is Libby after being outfitted with acessories provided by the Library. We just happened to be the first people there so it was a nice time to take photos.

They taught the girls how to use their napkins, here is Lib making sure she is doing it right.

Fancy party or not...every girl still licked her frosting off the cupcake before eating it. Every girl fancy or not loves frosting.

Check out the pinky stuck up in the air. They taught the girls that this was the fancy way to drink. I love it.

It was a great afternoon for all the girls involved. Lots of pink, feathers, jewels, flowers and fun. Libby can't wait until her birthday party to invite her friends over for a Fancy Nancy Party. It was a great girls time for Liberty and I.