ONE OF MY FAVORITE'S

I had seen this quote years ago and loved it and just came across it the other night looking through some old Christmas books of mine. I thought I'd share it with you.

This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.
-President Howard W. Hunter

San Fransico Trip

Alex and I went away for the weekend to San Fransico. We left the kids with my parents and we had such a great time! It was great to be together--just the two of us! We were able to meet up with some old friends while there. We went to Tiffany and John's to meet their twins and remember old times and then we were off to see Brett and Kathryn for dinner. We had such a great time, laughing and remembering our days in Glendale together. We rented bikes and biked all around the city, across the Golden Gate Bridge and into the city of Sausalito. What a great city! Then we were off to Alcatraz, which was the favorite of Alex's. It was super interesting and there are a couple inmates still missing (which made it all the more creepy and exciting). We had fun doing some shopping in that great city of shopping. I've never seen such a HUGE Old Navy! It was fun to have all the high fashion stores together with chain stores so we could mingle in and out of whatever. Our last dinner was a recommendation from Alex's sister Courtney. She said we HAD to go to Tomasos's. This is a little restaurant in the strip-club area of town ( a little sketchy). It ended up being the most fun ever. We were told by the hostess that you have to try their pizza and lasagna (what they are famous for)--she was right...the best pizza we have ever had. We even met some people there and we ended up sharing food with them. Too funny! It was a great trip. We loved every bit of it and can't wait to get back.

Check out my Slide Show!

WE'RE IN A HOT ZONE!

Last night Alex and I came home from a fun YW Board Christmas party and all was okay until Megan came down at 11pm... she had thrown up all over her bed. I went up to clean it up and put her in the guest bed and then went to bed. I started to feel sick and didn't know if it just had to do with the smell and clean up of her throw up but NO, it turns out I really was sick. Pretty soon, she came in again to inform me she threw up again on the guest bed (she missed the bowl...entirely). Next thing I know Alex is up throwing up. Poor Megan got hit the hardest, she threw up the entire night. We ran out of clean beds so we made her a bed on my bedroom floor and so we had the fun opportunity to hear every single time she threw up. Anyway, we all stayed home today and I'm hoping we'll be better tomorrow. Chase and Zach had flu shots and seem to be doing okay. (I guess there's something to be said about getting one of those flu shots!)

Oh, by the way Zach peed in his bed last night so pretty much I have tons of sheets to do yet don't have one ounce of energy to do it. The joys of motherhood!

TAGGED !!

Well I guess my time is up, I've been tagged with this particular tag by Rebecca, Kelly and now Jessica...so I'm goin' for it.

RULES:
1. List the link to your tagger and also post these following rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird, etc.
3. Tag 7 people at the the end of your blog also leaving the links to their blogs
4. Let them know they are "TAGGED" by leaving a comment on their blog

THE FACTS...strange or not ~

1. I used to talk in my sleep and I've been sleepwalking on an occasion. I would wake up doing some really random things. The absolute worst was one time I began to climb on a dresser near my bed and then whole thing fell over--including the fish bowl. It was such a mess. I always wonder what could I've been trying to do--climb Mt. Everst!

2. I've been known as the "capital queen". That is someone who knows all 50 states capitals. Impressive, I know. Although, I don't think I can claim to be "capital queen" anymore.

3. I LOVE cookie dough and really any kind of dough (cake batter, brownies, banana bread, you name it and I'll at least give it a try)! I think I may love the cookie dough more than the actual cookie, either that or I'm so stuffed on cookie dough I can't bear to eat one more thing.

4. Once when I was younger I got busted for riding on my 16 yr old neighbors new moped and I hid in a closet (don't ask why). I guess I got tired in there and fell asleep under some blankets, my parents started looking for me and searched everywhere calling my name but I didn't hear them and they ended up calling the police. Eventually one of their friends (who came to help look for me) started going through the blankets in the closet and found me there asleep. I think my parents were both happy to see me alive yet so stinkin' mad they could barely talk to me.

5. My dream vacation is to go on an African safari. I think that would be so awesome!

6. I never remember meeting Alex for the first time. We grew up together and he's always been a part of my life. He's seen me though all the stages of life, including the dorky, awkard junior high stage.

7. I've never colored or bleached my hair. One time (about 5 years ago) I tried to add a few highlights and not one person noticed...therefore I figured I'll save my money and use it on something else...like shoes.

Okay, so I don't know who has done this or not but I don't think I've seen this tag by Annalee, Julie, or Jenny! So I'd love to see what you have to say!

HALLOWEEN

Another year of pumpkin carving, candy, costumes and witches brew. We had a fun Halloween this year and completly exhausted our kids. Here's a few pictures of the kids in costume:

Chase with his pirate make-

up on Making "witches brew" . Alex does this every year with the kids and they love it!! This year it was Root Beer witches brew.

Chase as a pirate

Zach as Darth Vardar

Megan as "Hermoine Granger" from Harry Potter

Fun with The Jewells

The Jewell's came for a weekend visit. We had a lot of fun with them and glad they came to see us. Here are a few pictures of our weekend together:

Zach & Sabrina "helping" make a cake

At one of our favorite places--Ruby's!

all the cousins (& Alex)

Way to go Alex!!

Zach & Chase waiting for dad

After the 26.2 miles

We returned home from our weekend trip to St. George where Alex ran in the marathon there. This is his 3rd time running this race. He had his best time ever at 3:46:18. He had a pretty good run (except for some stomach problems in the middle of the race), the weather was perfect and he was able to run with his friend, Cory until mile 17. We all had a good time cheering on the runners! Brad and Kelly (Quinn, Ansley and Holden) came with us and we had a lot of fun, as we always do when we're together. It was a quick trip but we did find time for Cafe Rio and to take the kids to see the temple.

I NEED YOUR HELP!

Ok, so my little angelic son Chase decided to pour himself a glass of milk while I was up blow drying my hair. I came downstairs to find 1/2 gallon of milk all over my rug in the family room. I got all the milk up that I could, washed with water and soap. My house stunk so terrribly bad for a couple days but I kept trying ... so now my house doesn't smell like sour milk anymore but if you stick your nose down on the spot in the rug it is a horrible stench! I've tried baking soda, alcohol (read that on on-line), club soda. Any other ideas????

Chase as a Girl!!

So I thought this was so funny. We went to Disneyland the other day with family and my niece picked out this Sleeping Beauty wig for her gift that day. We tried it on Chase and couldn't stop laughing. So I guess I know what he may look like with long, blonde locks!

Happy Birthday Alex

Alex with his biggest fans on his b-day

Zach got him a new measuring tape

Happy Birthday Alex! He turned 38 today and doesn't like it when he turns the even numbers (I have no idea why) But anyway, luckily he's got a young face and is young at heart since he's getting a little nervous about approaching the 40's. A better father for my children I could never have asked for -- he is kind, loving and always patient with them. He is also a great husband, someone I plan to grow old with (of course he'll be growing older faster than me--haha!) We love you!!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Well, we made it to Day One! Megan was very nervous and couldn't eat breakfast but couldn't wait to get out of here fast enough to "get the show on the road". She started 3rd grade & is in Mrs. Morgan's class. She is most excited about learning cursive handwriting this year. She said after school, "I love 3rd grade!" Lets hope that lasts all year...



Zach was also excited about going to day one of kindergarten. (although he called my mom to say he got his high school teacher's name) We got to school a little early and showed him where Megan's room was, she happened to be at recess so he got to talk and see her for a minute. As we walked over to his classroom, I suddenly felt the "death grip" on my hand and he was pulling me away from the class. I was thinking...oh boy, this is not going well at all. He said he wasn't going in and that he would "watch through the window." I finally coxed him in and then he did really well. That was a scary start, though. We'll see how it goes tomorrow! He's excited because he met a new friend named Jack and he likes him because he has the same name as Jack Sparrow. So as long as everything relates back to pirates we'll be doing good!

His teacher also had Megan for kindergarten asked me if he would be a teacher's pet like Megan was and I laughed and said "you tell me in a couple of weeks!"

1st Day of School

Zach-- ready to go!



Lauren, Lainey, Megan & Nicole

FUNNY COMMENT BY ZACH

As many of you know, I struggled and struggled with Zach & potty training (mostly the poo-poo part). So I don't know why but these past couple of weeks he has been having some "accidents" in his underwear. I don't know if its just thats its summer with lots of stuff going on and he dosn't want to take the time to go poop or if he just ignores all warning signs until way too late! In any case, it happened again today and I was pretty frusterated so I told him he would have to be in a time-out for the entire day if it happened again. No beach, no swimming, no play dates, no movies, etc. I ushered him back into the bathroom for "cleaning up" when he came out a minute later and said "mom, do you think I will be out of that time-out by Christmas?" I had to laugh, too funny!

SHE DID IT!!!

Back in February when Megan turned 8 we told her she could get her ears pierced. She was pretty excited about the idea until the time came and then she decided she wasn't ready. But, yesterday driving in the car she told me she thought she was ready to get them done. Last night we had to go to South Coast Plaza to return a rug (a whole different story for a whole different time). As luck would have it a Claire's was right next to the Pottery Barn (where we were). So I showed Megan that she could get her ears done right then and there. She jumped at the chance and went for it! We all got to watch and she was very brave. So, now she gets to wear these earrings for a long 2 months and clean them 2/day. By Halloween you'll get to see her in a new pair of earrings!

Check out my Slide Show!

MOONLAKE RESORT

We were off for a family trip with all of Alex's siblings (minus Courtney who we missed having there) to a "camping" trip in Utah. Our first stop was at the Granny's Drive In in Heber for milkshakes. This is were we all met up and then headed up in the mountains together. It wasn't a true camping trip in that we had little rustic cabins, a small bathroom with a shower, a fridge, sink and stove. That's my kind of "roughin' it". The kids all had such a fun time being together with their cousins. We went hiking, the kids all went fishing with Uncle David, we went out on the lake in some paddle boats and kayaks, horseback riding, we even saw a pretty deer walk into our campground! Luckily, we never saw a bear! The lake is super cold so we didn't really get into that but the kids loved playing at the waters edge and the boys especially loved all the mud! Each night we had a bon-fire and sat around the fire laughing and talking. Zach's favorite part was adding more wood/paper plates/ leaves/whatever he could to the fire. It was a great trip!

Zach & Parker's Pirate Party

Here are a few pictures from Zach and Parker's Pirate Party. We had lots of fun getting into the "pirate" mood. We walked the plank and had a cannon ball toss and then the most exciting part was when Jenny--our local pirate payed us a visit! She came totally dressed in pirate costume and face painted skulls and crossbones (& mustaches) for all the kids. The kids loved her!! At the end of the party, the kids got to go on a treasure hunt and ended up finding the "golden booty" (aka their goody bags). All and all it was a fun party.

Check out my Slide Show!

Zach Turns 5!!!

Wow! Zach made it to 5 and I as his mother, made it with him! Its truly been a journey. I have to admit, I will never forget seeing him for the first time...it was love at first sight for me. Zach is my 100% boy (except when he dresses up like Vanna White or in Megan's clothes)...he keeps me constantly running and on my toes. Here's a few things I will never forget:

1. Calling 911 not once but twice (the police came over) we probably have a red flag by that phone number

2. Throwing shoes over my back fence (not just his shoes, but his friends too)

3. Convincing Miss Laurie I was pregnant (when I wasn't)

4. His love for ALL animals - he probably should have been born on a farm

5. His passion for the American Flag (we couldn't go anywhere without a flag with us)

6. Putting a BB up his nose (& then lying about getting it out)

7. The time he took a leap into the swimming pool at his first swimming lesson and sank to the bottom. (he screamed the entire first week of lessons after that)

8. A million or so pair of underwear I went through to get him potty trained.

9. Taking a record-breaking 8 months to get adjusted to nursery

10. His overall love of all the tiniest things in life!

Myrtle Beach

We headed across the country to Myrtle Beach, SC for a family reunion in June. We met up with all the Lorscheiders and stayed at the beach for a week. We had such a great time. All 25 people (plus and minus a few on any given day) stayed in the same house!! No one even got thrown out. We spent a lot of time in the water (warm water is sure easier to get into then our cold California ocean). We also went swimming a lot in the pool, went mini-golfing, built sand castles, rode beach cruisers right on the water, and even touched alligators at the Alligator Adventure Park there in Myrtle Beach. It was a great vacation. Great times...great memories!

Dance Recital

This is Megan's first dance recital with her friend Taylor. They did a jazz routine to a Hair Spray song. We loved watching her perform and we were sad that Alex wasn't there to see her. He'll be there next time for sure!!!!