Random

So I guess my blog has been on the fritz? What the heck? I'll add some fun random pictures, as I often do. Here is an exciting Yahtzee game!I need a photography class -and/or a better camera, as EVERYONE gets washed out, or lost in the light. Any experts have some tips for me???? Nah, we didn't let Mia play, but HEY, NANNY! Pikachu is alive and well at out little Pokemon house. He played Yahtzee too, and was quite vocal every time we asked Ella to "roll nicely"...

Here I am, watching the madness -and watching Ella kick both Lance's AND my butt.

More interest, still no fun for baby. Sorry! Am I mean?

Spaghetti dinner! Here's where the real fun begins....

It's a rare picture when I get the girls with eyes open...

Mia gets her revenge... If you can't roll dice, why not make a spaghetti mess?

Good stuff!

The lovely Ella. Here is the ever-adorable Mia-stare when Mickey Mouse comes on. Note the accessories? The kid LOVES hats and scarfs -she's her momma's girl! BTW, don't bother trying to get her attention during this show. It's next to impossible.

Here I am all up in her grill, and she still won't look away.

She does get up and go from time to time, though. I'll tell you, it's GREAT that this kid is starting to walk more!!!

Headin' To Draper

This afternoon we're taking a family excursion to Draper, Utah to tour the temple before it's dedicated. I don't talk about religion much, mostly because this is a public forum and it's very very personal to me. I will talk for a moment about why I have faith.
Faith, by definition is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. The beauty of which, means I have absolutely no need to ever defend it. When my brother John died, something happened in me that was so subtle; it took a long time to understand it. Where I have seen some crash in despair, where I had seen others writhe in agony and utter grief at such a “complete loss” –it was not the case with me. The sadness and pain I felt was not for John’s loss, but for my own. I wouldn’t see him for the rest of my mortal existence, however, it wasn’t forever. As I processed what had happened, and moved through the motions along with my family –none of which was easy- the gratitude for a belief that our lives are not over at mortal death was nothing short of profound.
The missing piece that I figured out so much later was that I truly had NOT questioned anything that I’d already had a testimony of. At that time, I decided that everything else that I’d questioned or “taken issue with” with regard to my faith didn’t matter. The very fundamentals were what could have been called into question –but they weren’t. This means to me, that the details aren’t as important as I thought they were, and consequently, I accept it all. This is not because it’s easier or because I gave up searching –it’s because the beauty of faith was revealed; that if I already knew John lived and I will see him again, then I take on faith with as much conviction that the rest of the teachings of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints is true too.

Girls on my bed

So this first picture would have been a LOT cuter if my lil' camera wasn't be-smudged with baby-love. I thought Ella looked SO pretty in the shot, even though she looks to be in a bit of a dream-like mist..........

Seriously, folks! Aren't they adorable?!

Late Valentine Weekend Post

The weekend was full of events. The first was the huge Monopoly game that Scott and Candace joined us for. This is the new electronic version with higher prices and debit cards. It was good times, but a good reminder to myself and to Candace that we don't really like Monopoly...

The winner, my hubby. He's such a twerp. He had the two big props -different names in this version (normally Boardwalk and Park Place) and I went out owing him $20 million in rent.

Here's Candace exploring the "this game is starting to BITE" idea...

Scott: the magical banker.
Kids had a great time!

Later, we went to the in-laws for some Valentine Cookie decorating! Mia enjoyed the candy!

How cute does Ella look here decorating the cookies? No, I didn't get a picture. We'd had a LOT o' Valentine cookies by then! :)

Here's my sweet Father-In-Law taking some home-movies of the fun times. He got a particularly funny clip of Aneesa (Ella and Mia's cousin) and all the missing teeth in her mouth!

* * *

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENNY!!

Valentines Day is also a GREAT celebration of the little love in our lives, Benjamin -Mary & Allen's beebee. He's such a doll.

Here's my cute Ella gettin' ready for some Valentine family dinner love!Sarah and Rach: mid-Valentine family dinner love!
Here are Dave and Lex. Yes, I belive this picture was posed -a terriffic set-up to capture the delight of the moment. Look at the expression on Lexie's face?! She's demonstrating some of the anticipation of the delicious dinner as well as the excitement of watching Benny eat a cake! Dave is more artfully posing as "thirsty man: me want cup, not sippy".
Here's the proud Mommy! Excellent job on the birthday party, Mary. We had a GREAT time!

thoughts

Some days there is something inside of me that wants to scream and tear away from my life for just a few moments. Sometimes the regrets about terrible decisions I’ve made in my life become overwhelming and I almost grieve a loss of something I never had. In a way, my heart is broken from so much of the wrong influence I’ve let in. In some ways, the perspective I have on life and whatever judgment I unconsciously put on others and myself becomes meaningless.

I have the sincerest faith in the profound meaning of one life here on earth –and the unexplainable effect it can have on others –the butterfly-effect, if you will. I think that when it comes down to it, it’s hard for someone to come to terms with the reality of their own significance, and insignificance at the same time. The balance within me doesn’t come from any doctrine, or any one particular influence. I believe that it comes from the compilation of my experience both in this life, and whatever it was in the previous life that led me to be placed here: in this date and time. I believe that from the knowledge gained –from the lessons learned – from the pieces kept in my heart; this is what makes me who I am, and okay with what I have become.

MeeMee

I had a rough Valentines weekend, as you can see in this picture -I haven't been feeling on top of my game AT ALL lately. Just a few days ago, after working with Mia directly to say "Mommy" instead of "Mama", she started saying "MeeMee" -and it's the dang-cutest thing I've ever heard in my whole life! She says it all the time now, and is also taking 5 or 6 steps at a time! We've had a mini-blossom in her growth with language and movement, so we're celebrating!! Love you my little mini-meemee!

Dizzy?

My poor Ella! After Lance walked Ella to school yesterday, she told everyone that she was dizzy. Miss Kristie (one of the teachers) said that she looked at her, and saw that she was reaching for something to steady herself, and was going down! Ella proceeded to sleep on Miss Lynn's couch during school. Right as school was ending; she woke up and told her teachers she wasn't dizzy anymore, and started playing. I picked her up after work (an hour later), and she was pretty normal for the rest of the day.
Bless her little heart, I have NO idea what's going on -and it's definitely NOT the first time this has happened. My best educated guess is something to do with her ears (equilibrium), as she has fought ear infections her whole life. I HATE anything that pulls her away from being her normal bubbly and energetic self. I love my Lala.

Valentine Prep.

Yesterday Ella and I decided we needed to get a move-on with the Valentine's Day party coming up in Preschool. We baked delightful cookies -Ella was a HUGE help with her little helping hands in EVERY aspect of the entire baking process. Oooooo the flour mess still makes me cringe a bit... My friend Erin came over to help, and she kept me sane with me little OCD brain going nuts! Check out the final product!
Oh yes, even though Valentine's Day is a pink holiday, we have DINOSAUR Valentines!

Such is life with my crazy little non-girly 4-year-old!

...email from Lance...

"As I finished feeding Mia her oatmeal I picked her up from the high chair placed the front part on the table (well Becca's makeup case). Put the unused portion of oatmeal on the table. Then I turned to take her in to change her butt I heard the high chair piece start to fall, in slow motion it continued to slide down the make up case and toward the oatmeal. Oh no came out of my mouth, do I lunge for it, thinking of the 40 pound baby on my left side I wasn't sure i would be able to stop my momentum. Do what you're gonna do I thought. Just then inches away from the bowl of oatmeal it was stopped by the high chair, whew crisis averted. I turned to take Mia in and change her and that familiar sliding sound started a few more inches plop goes the oatmeal, but hey it landed right side up, and then the the high chair front followed hit the bowl flipped it up. So after i cleaned the oatmeal off the fridge and floor I felt I should share this moment with you, I don't blog so there ya go. Love you all Lance"

Trophy Husband?

So the other day, I decided to let Lance know how wonderful I think he is, when all of a sudden, I hear: "THAT'S BECAUSE I'M..................."

TROPHY HUSBAND!!

Yeah, he purchased the shirt himself. Classic. :)