update...

second day of youth conference....i'm exhausted...we just worked all day...and it was hot!!! had work shops...went to the park for barbecue and had a massive water fight that went on and on..the kids had a great time...did i mention it was hot? while the kids went to the dodger game..we stayed and set up for the serivce project...later on about 10 pm...went to the ward for the dance...kids had alot of fun....they learned hip hop...very fun...looks like they are still having fun..if a bit tired...to say the least...

that time of year

it's youth conference! always a fun experience...well, this year instead of chaperoning...i'm in the stake, so i'm 'working' it...not sure if this is as much fun...actually, i'm quite sure it's not....registering everyone was great...heard lots of complaints...hopefully everyone ended up happy...we went to a gymnastics gym tonight...looked like everyone had fun...and on and on...i think the only benefit of being in the stake is that i get to come home and go to bed...well, i better go to sleep now, because we have speakers tomorrow, the park with water games...the dodger game and a dance afterwards..........then, saturday we have our service project which is really exciting...we have been gathering items from all the wards and are sending things to orphanages in malawi...then the testimony meeting...so...onward we go!

little boys

how do little boys like this:

tommy




turn into big boys like this?



russ
willie...the rockclimbing teacher
russ, clayton, ryan and willie
we had a fun time in denver...tommy has grown alot in six short weeks...russ, ryan and clayton gunn came to denver also...it was fun...the boys went rock climbing on sat...had a great time..kelly and i and the babies went to the mall..they played alot of ping pong....we had a great time...on sunday we went to their ward and had the baby blessing...it was very nice, the baby was really great..he's such a good little boy...kate was a doll...she loves to sing and does such a good job at it...it was a fun weekend.
..kel and baby tommy

my little monkey

so, i was busy today...making these:

i'm going to denver because tommy is going to be given a name and a blessing on sunday...so, i wanted to make my baby some little blankets that were from jojo...so i'm off!

attitude is everything

a little story i heard today:
A lady woke up and had 3 hairs on her head and said "oh good, i'll braid my hair today" and she did and had a great day.
The next day the lady woke up and had 2 hairs on her head and said " oh good, i think i'll part my hair down the middle" and she did and had a great day.
The next day the lady woke up and had one hair on her head and said " i guess i'll wear a ponytail today" and she did and had a great day.
The next day she woke up and was bald and said " i guess i don't have to fix my hair today" so she went on her way and had a great day....
Attitude is everything...how's yours?
(from our mission pres. wife)

thought for the day

if you're not someone's good example,
you might be someone's horrible warning!

Which do YOU want to be?

sweet

isn't this sweet? Kate and baby tommy's feet...

i'm blessed

tonight we had the adult meeting for stake conference which was really good..the main theme was family unity and prayer...one of the speakers...can't remember which one...said that Pres. Hinckley said that if we do one thing...have family prayer..as another speaker mentioned..even if it means praying separately with each child...

just teach your children how important praying is and that we can always pray and know that Heavenly Father is listening...then, i was just reading my niece's blog and what a wonderful testimony of listening to the Holy Ghost...we are so blessed to have these blessings in our lives...

i'm so lucky to have the testimony that i have...i don't know how i would have brought my kids up (they turned out so great because of the church and people that helped me), survived tom's dying, being a single mother, and being alone...without it...

i don't usually tell my thoughts on this kind of stuff on my blog, but, i just was really touched tonight by different things that were said...listen to that still small voice...as the song says...it will guide you....and have family prayer!

wishes and sunshine

wishing you lots of sunshine in your hearts...and hoping that ALL your dreams come true!


these pictures remind of of the songs.....

When You Wish Upon A Star

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

Anything your heart desires

Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do

Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

The sweet fulfillment of

Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue

Fate steps in and sees you through

When you wish upon a star

Your dreams come true


and of course this is one of my favs..
especially when willie nelson sings it...

You Are My Sunshine

My only sunshine.

You make me happy

When skies are grey.

You'll never know, dear,

How much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away

The other nite, dear,

As I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms.

When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken

And I hung my head and cried.

You are my sunshine, My only sunshine.

You make me happy

When skies are grey.

You'll never know, dear,

How much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

wishing and hoping and dreaming....of summertime

as you might notice, i have a new look...it's my summertime look...and i've got island fever...wish i was there right now...so hope you enjoy my island pictures...it's almost as good as being there? well, at least the weather is nice...the pool is nicer...and i've been enjoying it...so, if you can't go to an island...bring one to you....

balloon law

driving home today i was listening to 'jon and ken' on the radio and they were talking about the 'balloon law' that the state of CA is trying to pass...that you would not be able to sell the mylar balloons anymore...plus, there are a few more laws they are trying to pass...like charging 25 cents for a plastic or a paper bag...what's with our state? they try to nickel and dime us for everything...i just get tired of all the dumb laws they pass....seems like they are either trying to get more money out of us or they want to control every bit of our lives...sometimes i wonder 'what are they thinking?' ..let us just live how we want to live! and that's my soapbox for the day!

it's done

'this '
became 'this'

remember this post? well the fireplace is done...ready for some fires...i think it will be a great addition to our yard...we have alot more space for all the parties...it will be great..

adios

World Travelers!!!

going into the airport
waiting in the line 'forever'
another line

ash and katelyn

going to security
today kerry, ashley and katelyn (ashley's roommate) took off into the gray cloudy sky to go to peru! how exciting! they are going for a month and will be working in kindergarten classes...what a great experience...they will be living in the sacred valley which is near machu picchu...they will live with a family so they will learn alot...so adios amigas!

did you see this?

have you seen this yet? we went tonight because the girls wanted to see it before they left...(kerry, ashley and katelyn are going to peru tomorrow)....it was very fun...same indiana!!!

day to day

do you ever wonder "what have i been doing"? that's what i'm thinking right now....

i haven't posted for about 2 weeks and i wonder 'where the time has gone"....i know i've been busy...i went to slc to hear my sister and sister in law speak at byu's women's conference...i was very proud of both of them..they were the best at the conference...then, we heard pres. monson which was a fantastic experience...

on saturday we went to niels moller's big 50th birthday party..

.after the barbecue we went to the sl real vs la galaxy soccer game..

we saw david beckham play which was great...

on sunday i flew to denver to see my new baby..

tommy is a doll...he was so good, so sweet....kate has turned into such a fun little girl...she talks nonstop and says the most fun things...kelly is feeling much better...willie was home from work for a couple of weeks..so great fun...then home again...

and the party has started...

. russ and kerry and many friends were home...alot of fun...i'm not used to having noise in the house anymore...it's great.....

we had a fun mother's day dinner at the saddle peak lodge...yum!!!

then, on mother's day,

kelly invited us down to celebrate...that was wonderful also...

and since then, it's been getting kerry ready for peru,

helping to plan youth conference,

lots of different meetings and such....it's been a whirlwind....especially with the kids around...so, i guess it's been alot of 'this and that'....nothing too exciting...kerry leaves on friday...that will be a big day for her....

so, i guess what i've been doing is 'living life'..

have fun living yours!