Beware of Blogs!

I asked my first grader to say something about blogs on Halloween. This is what I got. Just TRY not smiling...

You HAVE been warned!

Happy Birthday Sister!

I miss you.

She made our matching dresses.

She took me on her motorcycle.

(so sad about the water damage to this photo)

Donna, me, Rhonda

Donna's wedding.

I'm the flower girl.

To read more about my very special sister go here.

I'm a bad aunt!

Russell and his wife Heather

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUSSELL!

Russell Talbot is my nephew. He is the youngest son of my sister Donna. I love him so much. He has always been special to me. He was born when I was serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sri Lanka.

Russell was also a great friend to my own daughters throughout the years. Whenever we would go to Malad, Russell would lead the group on a number of farming adventures. Such a good guy. Such a good man. I miss him.

Why am I a "bad aunt"? I realized that I don't have any pictures of this guy. It doesn't mean I love him any less...it just means I'm a bad aunt.

Russell is now married with a cute little family of his own. I'm proud of him. I know for a fact that his mother is proud of him too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUSSELL! Please forgive me for my lack

of photos.

A talented mechanic!

(pssstttt.....I need you to come work on our bad cars. I'll feed you!)

Russell handing the truck keys over to LeAnna's son Kade.

Why?

If I Had More Time In a Day...

I'd sew a lot more quilts.

Here is my latest that I just finished. It was super easy. It was a new technique. It was so, so, so much fun to do.

Front

Close Up

Back

Binding

(The date on these pictures is totally wrong. I'll be taking care of it soon)

If I had some extra money laying around...

I'd move to Park City, Utah.

I'd buy more books.

Lots and lots of books.

I'd buy my artist husband any painting he wants.

I'd buy a few caramel white chocolate apples.

I'd pay for an entire week at this condo in Park City.

Our daughters bought us one night for our 12th anniversary after

Terry said (in a forlorn, longing voice):

"I don't care what we do for our anniversary.  I just want to spend time with you."

(perhaps I'm working too many hours)

I'd donate some money to said condo to repair this heavy iron fireplace covering

that fell off the wall...on to ME...causing a huge bruise that didn't disappear for over two weeks.

I'd buy this man anything he asked for in addition to the painting.

and, of course,

I'd buy lots and lots of shoes and handbags!

Happy Anniversary to my love.

It was my lucky day when I met him 12 short years ago.

Our Date With The Best Photographer In The Business

On September 28th the girls and I had our portraits taken by Mr. Justin Hackworth...one of Provo's finest (if not THE finest) photographer.  We had a blast.  It is always so hard for me to look at photos of myself.  There is the "me" that I see in the mirror everyday.  There is the "me" that I see in snapshots of myself.  There is the "me" on the inside that I know and usually keep secret.

Then...

there is the "me" that Justin told us about.  It is the person that others see.  The "me" that is sometimes hard to look at and realize is truly ME.  You may recognize me in these portraits but I don't necessarily see me that same way.  Am I making any sense?

Anyway, take a peek.  If you need a good photographer and even if you don't please check here.  Not only is he very talented, but he is extremely personable and funny.  What more could you want?

(Always laughing behind my back!)

I like to call this one "Canadian Gothic".

I cannot even begin to express how much I love these two.

Just strollin'.

The following series of pictures were taken of the girls laughing at me.  

I don't know why seeing your mother moon-walking 

should be so hysterical.?.?.?

A Rainy. Perfect. Sunday.

LDS General Conference.

I fed the twins 

(and Terry, Erika, Tyler, Melissa1, and Melissa2) 

my famous homemade lasagne.

I love rain.

Did I mention the rain?

I canned some homemade zucchini relish 

using my Grandma Leavitt's recipe.

Delicious on a slab of cheese.

I thoroughly enjoyed this weekend.

Accident Prone

I realize that it is time for me to admit that I am one of those people 

who are just plain and simply,

accident-prone!

On Thursday I decided to wear a pair of my favorite shoes to school. 

They were so cute and fashionable.  I love wearing them.

Here they are. 

There is nothing like a child's honesty to bring me back down to earth from "Big Headed Heaven".  I was promptly told by several students that I was wearing 

"Witches Shoes".

They were right too.

They turned out to be evil!

As I was walking down the hallway before lunch ended, I kind of slid a bit.  Then I was in a full on skid down the hall.

Rather than just falling down (Like I should have)  I braced myself several times. 

In the process, I ended up with a broken heel and a very, very painful upper thigh and buttocks.  I was sent to the worker's comp doctor since it happened at school.

I've been on some muscle relaxers ever since.  I don't remember ever having this much pain with a pulled muscle before.  Luckily, I have the weekend to recover!  Thanks for everyone's well wishes.

The offending shoe

The broken heel.

Sadly, I threw them away in the garbage!