Horn of Plenty--LDS.org

Okay, so I am home from Church today with my two little kids who are a bit under the weather.  Since it is Sunday, I won't be running around and tidying (hurray!), so I decided to stop by LDS.org and have a look around.

It's been a while since I bopped around the site as I am no longer in the Young Women's program, so imagine my surprise when I found that you can do the entire Personal Progress program online!

• "Each young woman can link to all of the scriptures, track her progress, submit her plans and report when she is finished with each step as she earns her Young Womanhood Recognition award and medallion. Plus, she can keep her journal securely online and print out the entire book (including her journal) when she is finished."

Then I was amazed to see that there is an Official Radio Station of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--called the Mormon Channel and that you could listen online to Scripture Stories for Primary Children, stories of Church History on the Legacy Program, the Church News, and much, much more--not to mention links to Mormon Messages, the entire Gospel Library.  The list truly goes on and on and on. 

So, hop on over and take a look!  And if you aren't a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but would like to know more, check out Mormon.org. You can ask questions via Live Chat, ask for Missionaries to visit you, or even watch a little Mormon TV.

Happy, happy Sunday to you all! 

A Royal Wedding!

“The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton. The wedding will take place in the spring or summer of 2011, in London. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course. Prince William and Miss Middleton became engaged in October during a private holiday in Kenya. Prince William has informed the Queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton’s father. Following the marriage, the couple will live in north Wales, where Prince William will continue to serve with the Royal Air Force.” 
Prince Charles
I guess I need to get my dress!
Oh, and just for the record, the Queen now has a Facebook page. Follow the Royal Happenings here.

Steffi's Sweet Sixteen

I can't believe that my little girlie is 16 years old!  

I vividly remember the day she was born.  

She is a light around here.  She is so funny and so compassionate.  I love her with all my heart.

Happy Birthday, Steffi-Bug!!!

(And yes, to those of you who know her birthday wasn't this week--it is a belated posting of her birthday-because I am awesome like that!)

Family Tradition--Breakfast in Bed

Followed by Monster Gifts (happily designed by Maddy)

Cookie Cake (topped with Canadian Smarties)

All she wanted for her birthday was to see her favorite band.  PARAMORE!  She took her sister Maddy and her best friend, Emma.

Emma and Steffi

PARAMORE

PARAMORE

Breast Cancer Awareness

Ribbon Splash by Aur(or)a on Polyvore.com

Nicky's First Gig

Our Bishop and his wife sell musical instruments. They needed a pint-sized model for their latest product. 

The Cello Chump. (great name!)

Nicky models it below:

Oy!  I am tickled!

Check out more of their stuff here.

School Days

First Day of School 2010

Maddy is a Senior!
Steffi is a Junior!
Lilly is in 2nd Grade!
Nicky is in Kindergarten!

A Little More Like Cary

Because I promised a post...

I saw an interesting blog post recently. Was it interesting strictly because Cary Grant was the subject?

Yes. No. Of course not! How shallow do you think I am anyway?  Don't answer that.

The post was cool, though.  It was counseling all men to strive to be a little more like Cary. 

ahhh...

Now that is cyber advice that I can handle. 

Here's the link.

I'm Not Dead Yet

I know that it has been a long time since I have posted, I mean really posted anything. Time gets away from me as I keep up with my 4 kidlets (2 big and 2 little), and as I study. Did I mention that I am studying to become a Medical Transcriptionist? Well, I am. And it dominates a lot of my time. Time that I don't have after running the kids around, doing laundry, planning delicious meals (did anyone see where the # to Little Caesar's went??) etc. And, truth-be-told, I like to hang out with my kids--since they are home from school, and all.

So my days this summer have been pretty cool so far. Some chores in the morning, swimming, and watching NCIS. I guess I lived under a rock, or was watching something else, because this show is awesome and there is LOTS of it. Yeah, me!

But it has been brought to my attention by Steffi that she misses my blog. Wow. She reads my blog? I think that she might be the only one who does, but alas I mustn't let my reader down!

So, don't throw me into that cart. I'm not dead yet.

The Perfect 'Gotcha!'

~Special thanks to Michou who sent this little diddy by email~

Janet's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement - not even her parent's nasty divorce.

Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear, and would be the best-dressed mother-of-the- bride ever!

A week later, Janet was horrified to learn that her father's new, young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother! Janet asked her father's new young wife to exchange it, but she refused. ''Absolutely not! I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it,'' she replied..

Janet told her mother who graciously said, ''Never mind sweetheart.. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day.''

A few days later, they went shopping, and did find another gorgeous dress for her mother.

When they stopped for lunch, Janet asked her mother, ''Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it..."

Her mother just smiled and replied, ''Of course I do, dear. I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.''

gotcha!

Sometimes words just make me laugh. All of a sudden an english world won't sound so anymore, and I will bust up.

Today it was a spanish word.

Gigante.

Say it in your head. Say it aloud. Now say it in your best Antonio Banderas accent!

See. Told ya.

Gigante.

Ba hahahahah!

Swanky Pear

My sweet friend Summer has a new website.

Go check it out!

Got Gum?

I have recently been informed by my high-school girls that sharing gum in school is kind of like a drug deal.

Yes. You heard right.

Evidently gum is the hottest commodity in school
(back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I was in school, gum was most definitely NOT allowed in school--even at lunch--which leaves my kids incredulous)

When sharing gum, it is not uncommon to palm it to a friend, pass it under the table, and to use phrases like, "Don't tell anyone you got it from me." Seriously.

You see, gum is expensive. The sticks are few. Everyone wants it. And NO one believes it if you say that it was your last piece.

STRIDE: The Contraband of Champions.

Snow Day--part 3~ The Final Chapter ;-)

And here is the final installment of

Snow Day 2010

Fort Worth, Texas.

(the cast and characters are the same)

Mind Your Mother

It's not that I am a tree hugger.

I like modern conveniences very much.

I do, however, firmly believe in being a wise steward over our earth.

I recycle.

I donate.

We eat leftovers.

I go through phases of buying natural products (why can't these things be cheaper??)

I appreciate the beauty of the earth and really want my kids and grandkids to enjoy it, too.

So, that being said, Happy Earth Day.

Mind Your Mother by Aur(or)a on Polyvore.com

Snow Day--part 2

My sweet kids armed with the only type of sledding equipment we could find--
wakeboards!

Stephie and Nicky having a ball! WooHoo!

Maddy and Lilly--Chillin' Sweeties.

Snow Day--part 1

I am very late in posting about our extraordinary Texas snowfall. It was a blast. School's were closed, roads were closed, and we had fun, fun, FUN!

When kids grow up in Texas, snow is an extremely rare occurrence. Random flakes sprinkle the grass and kids run outside making 10-inch snowmen.

This year, however, was quite a bit different. A snowfall worthy of snow angels, snowmen and sledding!

Here is Nicky amazed at the snowflakes.

Lilly, too!

Getting into the fun!

What do we do! Run and yell. ;-)

A happy, happy Snow Day.
February 11, 2010.

He Lives

May we all have a wonderful Easter Day and glory in the fact that Christ Lives. He really Lives.

Click the link below for video.

He Lives

Twiggy

Twiggy by Aur(or)a on Polyvore.com

I have always loved Twiggy. 

I used to pretend to be Twiggy. 

When I was twiggy myself, it was much easier than it is now.  haha

I once remember doing a photo shoot in a graveyard in London, Ontario for my friend who had a college photography class. 

I think that I was draped over a tombstone. 

How does cool at 17 seem so macabre at 40-ish?

I also remember doing many, many photo shoots for my roomate who had a photography obsession. 

Sometimes I stumble upon those pictures.  I will have to scan and post someday.  But for now, you will just have to use your imagination.

Sugar Pie Pantry

It's late. 

It's been quite a day.

I am wasting a few minutes blog-hopping as I wind down.

Have you ever been to Sugar Pie Farmhouse?

You HAVE to check out this pantry.

And I normally don't get excited about pantries.
(well, that might not be true--but this one is still amazing!)
 

A Mormon could make some serious use of this pantry.  

Don't you think?

Click here.

Sugar Pie Farmhouse

Laundry Mountain

We are back from Arizona--what a wonderful trip!  Photos and video clips soon.  

Right now I am facing a laundry mountain.  With a little help from my new fave detergent, life is bubbling along.  Tranquil Lavender.  Yum. 

Ice Cream Quiz

See, I told you I could be tough. ;-)

You Are The Godfather Ice Cream

Someone crosses you, and they'll end up with a scoop of this in their bed

What Flavor Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Are You?

Keeping a Record

"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep a record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh you memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another until they represent a lifetime of special experiences." Gordon B. Hinckley, 2006

All You Need is Love

Crazy sometimes what a flash will do in a dimly lit restaurant.

Dinner and a Snuggle at Buca di Beppo

Nanny McPhee

Lilly has had this little tooth.

We named it Nanny McPhee.

For obvious reasons.

(If you don't know my reference, please go rent the movie. You will be ever-so-glad that you did.)

Nanny can even do tricks!
Press play.

Nanny was yanked by Daddy. Poor Nanny, cute Lilly!

Busted!

You know those times when as a parent you are out-of-the-blue BUSTED in the eyes of your 6-year-old? The big brown eyes get bigger, brows furrow searching yours for truth, and then... the slight nod of, "...oh, I see how it is."

{And no, this has nothing to do with the Big Guy in the red suit.}

It has to do with cereal. And reading.

I am a fan or reading. I really am. But sometimes when our little darlings start to read--we get busted.

It all started out one morning, when I rattled out the cereal choices: Cheerios, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Rice Krispies...

Lilly picked Frosted Mini-Wheats and tried out her new-found rite of passage. Reading the cereal box.

"Frosted Mini-Wh--...Spooners???"

(See above for facial expression)

Then came my explanation-- "Well, you see, these are supposed to taste LIKE Frosted Mini Wheats, and I think they taste better-- it is just that a different company makes them."

She ate with skepticism. Her world just got a little less rosy. Oh, why doesn't Malt-o-Meal advertise??

(and for the record--they DO taste better)

Nicky turns 5!

Family Tradition--Breakfast in Bed

Family Celebration--Jenga

Sugar Cookie Cake

Nicky collected all of his dinosaurs to decorate for his
DINOSAUR PARTY!

Daddy made him an amazing
DINOSAUR CAKE!

Laci (cousin), Lilly, and Blaise (cousin)
Partying it up!

Ready for Cake

Nicky and Tiffy
-aren't they a cute couple?-

I just can't believe that my Little Man is 5 years old!

This fall he will start Kindergarten.

Who will hang on the back of my chair and play with my hair when he is off counting and gluing?

I think that I will be up at the school-- A LOT!