Graduations, Baptisms, and Birthdays, Oh MY!

Jana and her dad.  She received her CNA from PIMA on October 26, 2012

Happy 62nd Birthday Jim!! October 26, 2012

Carson got baptized October 27, 2012



Birthdays

We have had a few birthdays that I have not mentioned. 

Carson is 8 years old (October 5)  He will have a baptism on October 27.  I'll post pictures when that happens.

He loves LEGOS

Brooklyn was ONE on September 25.  I miss this animated girl.

 Hi G'ma



Porter was 9 on August 17.  We got him a BB GUN.

We hope he doesn't shoot his eye out OR follow in the footsteps of G'pa Jim.  (See a memory written by Jim's older cousin Larry below)

"The family was gathered at Grandma's house.  I was about 15 or so, so Jim must have been about 8 and he had a BB rifle.  We all heard this loud scream from the yard and here came Jim busting into the house like the devil itself was after him.  As it turned out, that was close to the truth, because Jim had shot Aunt Pauline in the rear with his BB gun as she was bending over to pick something up from the ground.  Needless to say Aunt Pauline was mad and in her younger years that was enough to make most of us stay clear.  Aunt Pauline was in close pursuit as Jim ran for Uncle Kent (his dad) for protection.  He made it!,  (which I suspect is why Jim is still alive today),  and when Uncle Kent found out what had happened, he tried to be stern with Jim,  but it was difficult as all in the house were trying hard not to laugh (which would not have been wise with Pauline already madder than a wet cat). "

I have a better more detailed story that Jim wrote me when I was dating him and I believe Gabe and Pepper both wrote a version of this story.  I just can't find it. It involves the belief that his Aunt Pauline was a witch and if he shot her with a copper BB he would cure her just like a silver bullet cured the werewolf and dracula in the movies.  When I find the long version I'll post it on here.  It's hilarious!!

And Last but not least--Happy birthday to my Mom whose age will remain undisclosed.  (August 7)

Would you believe 29 again?

What I've Been Doing

Twenty-four years ago I bought this for $25.  That was a huge sum considering how long ago it was and how poor we were.  I agonized over it for several weeks wondering if I had been too extravagant.

Now I feel it was a smart investment. 
My family has enjoyed this Advent Calendar more than I could have imagined.

I have been wanting to make these for our children.  I bought most of the supplies two and a half years ago and started--but never finished.  So this fall I resolved to finish them.  They are taking way longer than I thought but I'm enjoying the process.  When you are making SEVEN it takes awhile.

I changed the THREE things that I never really liked:

1.  The numbers written with a Black Sharpie
2.  The unfinished edges
3.  The way it hangs

This is the end result:

Here is what it looks like on December 24th.

There is a tiny baby that goes in the manger on December 24th.  I had to keep a schedule pinned to the back of the calendar so my children could see what year was their turn.



I got some of my inspiration from here.

I didn't do the felt numbers because:

 a) they were too small and difficult to cut out

 b) I did not want to cut out 273 numbers (39 individual numbers x 7)

c)  See b

I love it. 

The New Way to Iron

This is David

This is an Iron



On Friday nights David and his posse friends get together and hang out. 

They do the usual teenage boy things:

1. Play video games
2. Eat
3. Watch TV and Movies
4. Eat
5. Make fun of each other
6. Eat

But last night they added some new ones:

1. Discuss the meaning of "Mind your p's and q's
2. Have sword fights with wooden yard sticks
3. Go to Goodwill to find an Ironing Board
4. Beg Ask Mom for an old Iron
5. Plan a hike in the Superstition Mountains so they can film themselves ironing

Yes--You read that right.  They wanted to iron . . .

--in the mountains

--on a hike

Its called EXTREME IRONING.  

Maybe if I call his chores EXTREME CHORES he won't whine complain (as much).

(Note to self:  Add "EXTREME" to my TO DO list to make it more enjoyable)

Here is their Goodwill Ironing Board with the documentation of their first foray into EXTREME IRONING. 

On the left it says:

 Dates of Extreme Ironing

9/29/2012 Heiroglyphic Trail (D,H,E) 

FYI--David (D), Hunter (H), Eric (E)

Happy Ironing Everyone!



Happy Birthday to Me

Yesterday was my birthday and now I'm 49 years old.  It kills me to say it.  I never thought I would care about my age.  I haven't in the past.  Somehow when getting old happens to YOU it starts to matter.

So here are a few pictures from the last 5 decades of my life:

One Year Old--1964

3 Years Old-1969

9 years Old-1972

18 years old-1981

26 years old-1989

36 years old--1999

43 years old--2006

49 years old--2012

I wonder what the next 49 years will bring?  Any guesses?

Temples and Mexican Food

On August 25, 2012 Jim and I celebrated 13 years of marriage. 

We celebrated by having most of our family and some very dear friends join us in the Mesa Arizona Temple where we were sealed for time and all eternity. 

In the scriptures it says, " . . .they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever."

Now I have a long way to go before I reach that pinnacle of eternal life but the fullness of joy we felt on this day was best described by Lehi when he partook of the fruit of the tree of life.  Lehi said, "And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit."

It was truly a day full of joy.

Afterward we came to our home and had a delicious meal courtesy of Costa Vida.  They have the most delicious Mexican Food and it was gobbled up. 

My parents also celebrated their anniversary on August 25, 2012.  They have been married 55 years. 

The day was so hectic that I did not get very many pictures but here are a few.

All our Children--Janette, Amanda, Michelle, Jana, David, Katie, and Gabe.  There were NO pictures of David smiling. 

Jana, Janette, Katie, David, Amanda, Michelle, Gabe.  (David smiling!!!  Score)

Gabe being silly . . .



Jana being silly . . .

We had a great time.  LOVE my family. 



North Carolina is for Grandbabies Part Two

Janette drove to Raleigh from Fayetteville 

to spend the day with Amanda and I.

The babies played and we talked.

T would not let go of her "Pocket Dictionary and Thesaurus"

We spent some time at the Container Store.  

It was complete Nirvana for organizational junkies like ourselves.

After a yummy lunch I left with Janette and T to stay with her for a few days.

We did some napping and some shopping and mostly I just watched T do all her amazing tricks like talk and walk and laugh and play and read.

I love that she LOVES to read.  B loves it too but I did not get a video of her.  

T also likes to abuse her mother.  Really, what toddler doesn't?

On Saturday we had a first birthday party for T and for her cousin H who was born 5 days after T.

Ready for her big day

Lots of people came.

    

B and Auntie Janette

This picture cracks me up.  H shoved her cupcake into her mouth and ate it with sweet abandon.  

T surveyed the cupcake before tasting a tiny bite

B quite enjoyed her cupcake.

Once T got a taste she abandoned daintiness and gluttony took over.  Cupcakes are AWESOME.

It was a successful birthday party!!  Thanks for being born T!!!

T spent the next day trying to figure out how her new toy worked.  

Amanda drove down to Fayetteville from Raleigh and spent the day
and then brought me back to Raleigh so I could fly home.  

I had a wonderful time and I was very sad to leave but I was very happy to see

THIS man!!!