Birthday Boy!

Today is Special.

Dillon turns 11.

He can still smoke me at Chess.

He still loves my cooking and thinks

I'm a much better driver than his Father.

I love you for all these reasons and...

your kindness

 your gentleness

your positive outlook.

Your Amazing.

I Survived Spring Break

It was a beautiful warm break.

We bought our first Wii.

I can't decide if it was worth it or not.

You can only play four player with most games.

We have six kids. That equals  loud fighting.

So we made a jar with everyone names. 

45 minute rotations.

It was  Sweet Madness!

The Wii wasn't are only fun though.

We went to the birth place of the

Pony Express, in St. Joseph Missouri.

It is also where  the famous outlaw Jesse James

was shot in his home. 

We went to a  Titanic Exhibit.

Did you know  first class rooms were priced at 103,000.00?

The average home in Kansas City at the time was around 7,000.00

Wow.

We saw  the new movies Tin Tin and Hugo.  We liked

 them both. We also love Ben's homemade popcorn and his projector.

We took a fishing trip with some fun friends the Sorenson Kiddos.

I had a nice nap on the dock in the sunshine.

Then

We took the boat out  on our last play day.

We were so excited to go  tubbing and  swimming.

It was fun, except for the moment we hit a huge

boulder and put a big hole in our transmission.

A nice fisherman towed us into the dock.

Let's just  say the repair will be more than the boat

cost originally.

If you  have a boat, I have one piece  of advise...buy a depth finder.

BUT

We didn't let that  ruin our spring break.

So, we went out to dinner at   The Salty Iquana.

Chips and Salsa always make  life seem better.

What did you do?

Top Ten Thurs.

10 things I have replaced or refilled already today.....


1. The toilet paper roll in my bathroom. Why can't men change it!!!
2. The paper towel roll in the kitchen.
3. The black ink in the printer.
4. The paper tray in the printer....my kids never get it out of the low
     cupboard, just from the printer tray. I guess its more fun.
5. The sugar jar. Where did it go? We only made cookies once this week.
6. The liquid soap in the kitchen. We wash a lot of hands around here. Am I  the only one who can replace it?
7. The windex spray bottle. Do they drink it? I just refilled it.
8. The car with gas. Okay, I'm the only one who can do that right now.
9. The garbage can. I like to have multiple bags in the bottom for an easy change. You guessed it, there weren't any there this morning.


And last,
10. My secret chocolate candy stash, cadbury mini eggs are yummy.

BREATHE

Today is Tumor Ditch Day

It's the day we celebrate Ben's successful 

Brain Tumor surgery.

We are so glad he was so brave five years ago.

I love having him  around and without  a tumor the size of an egg in his head.

What doesn't kill you DOES make you stronger.

This experience helped shape our priorities and family values.

There are only three things worth caring about.

Love God and Family.

Simple.

Today we celebrate the little things!

Five days post surgery, Los Angeles, California.

House Ear Institute Clinic Hospital

March 2007

Happy Birthday Utah!

Our Chocolate Lab, Utah is 13.

91 in human years,

and truly a senior citizen.

We will celebrate with ice cream and cake.

He will celebrate with dog treats and

chunks of beef.

He has had a good life. Even now

he still enjoys a good cat  or squirrel chase.

Mostly, he enjoys the slow life curled up by the fireplace or the front

glass door. He is my most obedient child and extremely

lovable and loyal. He has taught Me

many lessons over the years. I miss him the most

in the mornings when I go out for a walk

and I have to leave him behind. He knows he can't

go the distance anymore. 

I hope he meets me at the pearly gates someday.

Utah we LOOOOVVVVE You.

More from our Artistic Duo...

 Sydney's Work

Sierra's Work

Sydney and Sierra both have amazing talent. I loved finding them both

together the other night held up in Sydney's room side by side,

ipod blaring, working on their latest art work together.

Sweet Memories!

DYI

My friend Gretchen and I like to hit Goodwill  on Wednesday

Mornings sometimes. It's always fun. In January

I saw this piece at Salvation Army for 200.00.

It's in beautiful condition so I decided I "needed"

it. My family rolled their eyes and made giggles. But

Gretchen introduced me to a secret weapon.

This amazing Paint. I'm addicted and in utter love.

 All you need is a brush, paint and wax.

No sanding or removing varnish. Just paint!

 And Wham-Bam-thank you-Ma'am

 This is what you get!  Beautiful.

 Don't you love glass knobs? Me too.

I did have to buy two custom cut glass shelves.

it didn't come with any.

That was 140.00. 

So total cost of the project

Hutch   200.00

Paint, Wax and Brush 60.00

Glass Shelves   140.00

Hardware   55.00

Total: 355.00

Much better than 1355.00

  

Please pass the Tea

We have been sick around here....
Anna last week had a mild fever and cough, didn't go to church.

Then Monday Sydney had a fever and a really awful cough. No School for her
all week. She has been so sick. Her doctor said it is Strain A of the flu. She recommended
rest and lots of fluids. She has had a fever everyday since.

Then Tuesday my turn for the flu.....I was so sick. Fever of 102, chills cold sweats. Yuck.
I went to the Doctor yesterday. I was recommended the same as Sydney. Rest and fluids.
I did get Tamaflu though. I guess it's flying off the shelves right now at the pharmacy. I am
slowly discovering my old self. Just in time too.
Dillon, Easton and Ian all have the chills and Fever. This is not a nice flu bug. In the past we have
gotten flu shots. This year we didn't. It makes me wonder if I made a mistake. Missing a whole week
of school.... It's 4:00 a.m. and I just made the rounds with Advil. Kiddos are all burning up. I'm so grateful for modern medicine.
I hope our sweet nurse, Benjamin doesn't get it. Hopefully we will be back strong in a few days.