R.I.P. Darth Vadar

We had to say good bye to our black goldfish, Darth Vadar on Sunday morning. We woke up to him floating around on the bottom of his bowl. I think good 'ole Darth Vadar was the longest pet we were able to keep around. Sadly, I can't even remember when we got him but he did have a friend named Goldie who died about 3 days after we got her. So we are now officially pet-free (just the way Alex likes it). I'm sure the kids will talk him into some kind of pet again...but thats the big question what kind of pet to get? Anyone think they have the perfect idea for a pet, let us know.

Happy Birthday Megan!

Megan turned 9 on Saturday--Feb. 2nd (she likes to say on Groundhog Day). Anyway, I can't believe I have a 9 year old and that she has been baptized for a whole year already. Megan is such a joy to have as a daughter and I wanted to write down a few of the reasons why I love her so much:

• Being the first born, it is because of Megan that I became a mother. After holding her for the first time, I truly understood the meaning of unconditional love.
• She always tries her best! Whether at school, sports, church assignments, whatever it is she has this desire to always try her best.
• She is a very loyal friend. If you're a friend of Megan's, you will be for life!
• She is very obedient. This quality mixed with the one about doing her best makes her a teacher's dream to have in class. Every teacher she has had this far in her young life has made it a point to either tell me or write me how much they love having Megan in their class.
• She somehow tolerates her brothers--trust me its not always easy but I can tell you they do love her.

So here's to our little "meggy moo-moo" -- Happy Birthday, I love you!

Thank You, Kari

As you can see, I have a fun new header for my blog. This is from my talented and beautiful cousin Kari! Thanks so much...I told her I'd start blogging more once I had a cute header so now I'm ready to go! More posts to come...

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!