Whoa!

Macey's  hair after taking her ponytail out last night...

Da bebe

So do we think these two look alike? 

Macey about this same age:

Book Idea

I was sweeping my floor the other day and realized that that little pile is such a diary of my day.  Pomegranate kernels, garlic skins, weird purple plastic and wire ends from a Thomas project... very telling indeed.  Then I thought to myself - I should take a picture of my sweepings everyday for a year and put it in a book.  I'll be rich.   You can write a book about anything, why not my garbage :)

Cupcakes!

In Mormon culture, Mondays are a day set apart for Family Night.  It's wonderful evening that normally includes some spiritual enlightment, an activity, and a treat!  We went over to Thomas' cousin's house for family night.  Tally and I were in charge of the treat.  We decided on 'decorate your own cupcakes'.

They were a hit.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice!

This is what my sweet baby looked like when I left to run an errand last night.

15 minutes later:

At least Thomas was kind enough to take pictures.

We went up to Highland and Alpine to visit friends last night!  Our first stop was to the Tarbet's house.  My parents and the Tarbet's were neighbors/best friends in college.  They have stayed in touch and see each other as often as life allows.  They are such a great family.  Tara has been telling me I should bring Macey up to see her animals for a while now, and we finally did it!  The lamb above was about 36 hours old when we got there.  Macey LOVED it and thought it was so funny when it cried.

"Stinky Llama face!"

The florescent lights in the barn made Macey's fingernail polish look purple instead of pink.  She was pretty concerned about the abrupt change!

Next Stop:  Alpine

Kristen (in the middle) was my Young Women's leader when I was a junior and senior in high school.  I absolutely love her.  She is one of those people who inspire you to be more than you are.  After living in Indiana they moved in Beijing for work.  I went with my cousin Kaley (on the right) to visit them in China in 2005.  They have since moved to Singapore.  Kristen was in Utah for a short visit and made time to see some of her favorite Laurels, who now have babies of their own!

I thought this picture turned out better... oh well!

Kristen's youngest and my youngest!  Future BYU roommates!

wowzers

Thomas is a nut :)  This is what he did in Photoshop while eating breakfast.  Future blackmail?

The Happiest Wizard Around

Thomas thinks a certain outfit that Henry has looks like a wizard's robe.  So last night he made Henry a hat to match his outfit!  Here is the happiest little wizard around.

Macey is a daddy's girl to the max.  Last night Thomas was working on a project, left to get something, and came back to this:

She looked at him and said  "I'm fixing".

Sunday my sister and cousins cooked us dinner!  Wow, I have a good looking family, and they make a mean lasagna.  I'm a lucky woman.

And our new calling is...

In our church we are asked to serve in various positions.  We actually have no paid clergy... anywho, even us normal people get what we call "callings".  Thomas and I were just called as:

Webelos Leaders!

Webelos are the 10 year old Cub Scouts.  Thomas is the cutest den mother in the ward.

Last Wednesday was our first big day.  We made catapults!  We then built forts out of cups and had a mini war with marshmallows.  Let's just say I love my calling!

Thomas is really excited too! The boys would be excited too if they knew all we have planned!  This week we are working on electrical circuits, not excluding the lemon battery!  Who knew lemons could power a light.  Good thing Thomas is super smart.

                                      

I have a hunch that Scouting will be a big part of my future.  Good thing we are practicing on these kids:)

Service

There is a homeless man who hangs around the library a few blocks away from my home.  I see him more often than I see lots of my friends and definitely more often than I see most of my family.  This man, who I see more often than parents and siblings, is nameless to me.  I've seen him at least a few times a week for the past couple of years and I don't know his name.  I've thought about taking him dinner lots of nights, but have I ever done it? Nope.  I packed him a hot meal one cold night last winter but I couldn't find him when I went to give it to him.

On Sunday someone sent around a sign-up sheet to make sack lunches that would be delivered to the homeless.  I immediately thought of the man that I know from afar.  Here was my chance to help him, through someone else.  I signed up to make 6 lunches.  All week long I've been thinking of ways to make my lunches special... I bought nice lunch meat that I wouldn't normally, I'll add pickles, tomato, and lettuce in a baggie on the side, and homemade cookies are always a plus.  All week long I've been trying to figure out why I am doing this.  I came up with two reasons.  I feel good when I serve others; I will feel less guilty next time I see him.  To feel good and get rid of guilt.

Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk in 1984 about the reasons why we serve.  He names a few selfish reason, a few good ones, and ultimately he said, "our service should be for the love of God and the love of fellowmen rather than for personal advantage or any other lesser motive".  Charity.  Elder Oaks is talking about charity.  How do I learn how to serve with charity as the motivation?  How do you develop a Christlike love for strangers who you wouldn't feel comfortable being alone with? Any thoughts?

Family

I am wanting to be in Indiana today with my family...

My cousin Chase died this weekend unexpectedly.  His viewing is today and they will bury him tomorrow.  He was a Senior in High School.

I'm grateful for a knowledge that there is more to life than our earthly existence.

Keep his family in your prayers because "He who notes the fall of a sparrow surely hears the pleadings of our hearts." -President Thomas S. Monson

Big News

I have started a new blog!

Gastronomy Geek

I've been wanting to do this for a long time.  It is as much for me as it is for you!  Now I will have all of my recipes in one place.

Check it out!

Oh man am I excited...

3 months!

3 months old already!  Where did the time go.

Fffrrrrozen!

Thomas' cousin showed us this sweet hike in Lindon with a frozen water fall at the end.  After you hike the 1/2 mile up, you ride sleds back down the mountain!  We went last Friday with them and then took my family back on Saturday because we had so much fun.

We took Thomas' cousin's kids (Thomas' first cousins once removed :) ) with us when we went back.  We sure love them!

The spray at the bottom of the falls froze into giant layers making a small, windy, cold cave.  If you crawled in a little ways you could see the river below the falls!

Things like this help me to know there is a God.  It's such a simple and beautiful thing.  I think He made this Earth for us to enjoy.

The Bash

My favorite neighbors the Lewis' invited us over for a little B-day celebration!  Emma and Macey helped prepare the meal in Emma's new deluxe kitchen.

Balloons, a sign, and frosty drinks... this was the real deal!

Thomas is such a funny guy.

Macey and Emma loved helping blow out the candles on the white chocolate lemon strudel bars. I'm not sure if it was their blowing or their spit that eventually extinguished the flames.  You gotta love the two year olds!

The hostest with the mostest even held my baby while I sword faught Thomas on the wii!

Thank you so much for making my Birthday great!  We sure love you guys!