A Lot To Think About

I got a book in the mail from a friend, it touched me that she thought of ME when she read this, she thought I'd really be moved and oh have I been. I had to read the whole book right away. I get like that about reading, but because of the intensity of the book I just really had to get it this one over with. The book is called Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust. It is this incredible woman's unfathomable experience of survival and faith. It was inspiring, and spiritually educational. God lives, and she has proven it.
Previously to reading this book I saw Hotel Rwanda, when it was in theatres and I walked out of it a wet sobbing mess. WHAT??? How did I not know what was happening? How did the good old USA not prevent it? I felt ashamed, knowing I was 15 at the time and so self absorbed that when I heard what little news there was, I paid little attention and laughed that there were people who called themselves Tutsi (in my naive spoiled American mind all I could think of was tootsie rolls).
This book puts so many questions in my mind. The next few days are going to have to be spent in serious reflection. How she has moved on after experiencing such tragedy is unbelievable, but I understand it is her faith and relationship with God that has made it possible. I feel a little blown over, like I have just experienced the horrible acts that took place and need time to heal myself.
Not that I just gave a very positive review, you're probably scared to read it if anything; but seriously consider it. I think as humans we need to connect like this, begin to understand how we are all children of God and not so different.
Here is a link to find the book.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/002-4442028-9973611?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Left+To+TEll&Go.x=11&Go.y=5

The Mad Hatter

That's me! I tried to do the fleece hats and they rock! This was donated fleece so its kind boring, I tried to mix it up a bit. This is the BEST service I have ever done! Yay! Now I can make hats and I am sure I would have never tried this on my own. I should attempt to learn the tassel that you can put on the top of the hat. I just wanted to get them done to hand in tomorrow.

Julia and I made our third set of snow people yesterday- they're so cute. Once I was out there I couldn't believe how DEEP the snow was! I also saw some poor kids tracks where our sidewalk should be so I started shoveling and became a bit obsessive about it. I had a major backache afterwards, and the beauty of it all...its the weekend so no kids will be walking to school AND it SNOWED AGAIN today!!!

Date night was FUN! Cussed Colorado for their TERRIBLE traffic and ridiculous amounts of people that go out to eat Friday night, Saw the Queen, then stopped and got some Cucumber rolls on the drive home. LAUGHED SO MUCH!!! Didn't worry once about the girls (THANKS Kristen and Darrin!)

A Safe Blog, no polotics, opinions, or rants

Ryan fixed the camera or computer or whatever was going on so I now have a little picture diary of my week. Wanna see...
Sunday- Lauren was all ready for church in this KEE-UTE outfit. I am just in love with jean skirts right now. Maybe b/c Lauren is shall we say more petite than Julia was, Julia was soooo rolly polly squishy wishy I didn't dare constrict her gut with any thing jean.
They were so adorable, too bad church was canceled. I mean I only go so I can show off my cute kids.

Monday- my list was accomplished! Playing in the snow was fun, until Lauren bit it and had a face full of snow. Poor kid, as if learning to walk isn't hard enough, I put her on ice! The best though was letting the girls "help" me make the rolls for dinner. Julia saw the hook for the bread dough, grabbed it, and raising it up proclaimed, "I'm Captain Hook!" Cracked me up!!!! She is so cute and funny!!! The rolls by the way were, sooohoooo good! The recipe is here. OH MY GOSH I JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO THE LINK THING ALL BY MYSELF!!!! I AM SOOOO SMART!!!! Seriously I have wondered how all you computer savvy people were doing it, then like revelation it just came to me! WHOA!!!!!

Tuesday- Julia went to school and made this funny little penguin hat! Hello sooo funny! I promised to let her make Lauren one and I made one and we played penguins, but that was yesterday so I am getting ahead of myself.

Also on Tuesday I took a picture of Lauren in one of the bigger hats I made. Help me title this photo..

A) How long do I have to wear this?

B) Seriously mom, you have to take my picture in this?

C) This is as much of smile as I can muster in this hat.

No but really I like my hats, they may not be Italian imports, but whatever, they're cool, in a "I'm a homeless baglady" kind of way, don't ya think?

I really love this picture of Lauren, you know kneeling on her changing table on the second floor of our house, looking over the wall. Safe Chanel, real safe!

SO I have not taken a picture yet today, can you believe it?? No, I am so out of control! Can you imagine my scrapbooking? ("crap" booking as Julia innocently calls it) Because I am anal and have to scrap like every picture I take, IT is out of control. Eye Yai Yai!

So tomorrow is DATE NIGHT!!! HOLLA!!! remember back to the "My Numbers" blog? Date night was 13 days away, and now its finally here!!! Japanese food baby!!! And The Queen OR the new Jennifer Garner movie?? Can you tell Ryan is letting me pick the movie?

BY THE WAY- Have you seen the preview for the Jen Garner movie???? Is her NIPPLE not totally showing when she's holding up the wedding dress to her chest??? I'M dieing here!!!!!! SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL YOU'VE NOTICED!!!!

Ok did I just write this whole blog in the voice of a Jewish New Yorker???

I love controversy***

Just kidding, take a deep breath...
Yesterday was filled with quite a few thought provoking issues
1) Oprah's topic: Stay At Home Moms VS Working Moms
2)The State Of The Union
3) Keep the island in the kitchen table or remove it and have more dinning space

So lets start with Miss O. I think the thing that defined it all for me was when the working mom said she felt guilty, but.... Uh yeah! The guilt is your natural intuition "something" is not right. Which I thought the "Dr." on the show had great insight to..."Guilt and having remorse, regret, is really in our lives to teach us not to torture us," she says. "You want to learn, 'What did I need to do that I didn't do? How did I neglect my needs or neglect my child?' … You can experience deprivation as a mother and thinking, 'Oh, my gosh, I'm ruining my child.' When your child, if you are attuned and connected to them, feels full and empowered." I mentioned mom guilt in another blog, and I have that when I know I have cleaned more than played, talked on the phone more than read books, blogged more than played games. I do learn from that guilt and try harder to be better the next day. In the VT message there is a quote by Sister Parkin about becoming an instrument in the hands of God, she says "show by your attitude that you are finding joy in the journey". The mom who works because "it fulfills her in away that staying at home never could" needs to FIND JOY in the journey. Not everyday is going to to be easy, fun, and fulfilling, BUT the whole of the staying home experience is something you can not get anywhere else, for any amount of money, or at any other time in your life. Now moms that have to work, I feel for them, the statistics Oprah showed that something like 91% of the working moms wished they didn't have to is sad. Of course that lends to what does "have to work" mean. We sacrifice around here, but NO cell phone, cable, bigger house, nicer clothes is so worth watching Lauren toddle around chasing Julia, picking Julia up from school and scooping her in my arms, swaying back and forth with Lauren in my arms to get her to take her nap, convincing Julia eating the crust of the bread will make her strong, watching Lauren "talk" to her baby when she's in her crib and then checking on her little angel face sleeping curled up like a bunny. I love this time of my life, but have plans for when the girls are grown. My world will not collapse when my kids are off to college, I want to do something for the world then ... politics ... mission ... who knows whats in store.

That leads us to The State of the Union. First I have to say I LOVE NANCY PILOSE. She has such class (or maybe its just perfected political B.S.ing) to announce it was her highest pleasure and great honor to introduce President Bush. I really admire her earnest effort in being bipartisan and wanting to work with Bush. So anyway I was so very very confused as I listened to the dear President talk about promoting ideas of alternate fuels to reduce "global climate change" (can he really just not say the words 'global warming'?), coming up with a health care coverage idea (although I did not understand it b/c it involves all the tax deferments which makes me wonder if it really would help people who have no insurance because they can't afford it.), and an immigration effort that would allow immigrants to come and work on a temporary basis (although the rest of his immigration ideas pertaining to the illegal immigrants in the country now were vague) he sounded like he KNEW what the country needs, so what the heck has he been doing for the last 7 years??? Oh yeah being cocky b/c he had a Republican majority and "spending his political equity" (or whatever that ridiculous comment was) , destroying the middle east, and executing a psycho, good job Bush Man. And as far as his Iraq surge plan, come on, NOBODY but McCain is excited about that, especially military FAMILIES. Would it absolutely kill him to be diplomatic about this? So maybe Bush isn't a complete moron, but as I heard on some show, " there are two kinds of ignorance- simple and willful, Bush exhibits willful", and that folks is why I do not trust him.
Now the last straw that will probably keep you from being my blog friend- Do I keep the island in my kitchen table??? I mean we bought that table b/c it was a square and it is soo cool. If we take the island out it becomes a smallish rectangle that doesn't even command a second glance. There really isn't a lot of room in our "dinning" area. I pushed it up against the wall to make more room and it works for now, but man I think we should just buy another house, and there you have it, the real controversy in our home.

***blame this all on my digital camera that won't upload my cute pictures and give me a reason to do simple craft and kid blogs.

confession

I think I mislead all you good people...I did NOT make the hat Lauren is WEARING, that was a gift from my aunt who got it in Italy, you are all way way way too confident in my hat making abilities, I don't think I can even post a picture of what I made now that you thought I could make Lauren's hat. YIKES!
So I have SweetTart hearts in a valentine bowl upstairs and CAN NOT stop eating them! It doesn't help that Julia takes handfuls to "feed" her stuffed animals and then I go around picking them up (and putting them in my mouth).
My goals today are...
make Chicken Pot Pie before noon so I can have dinner ready when Ryan gets home, so we can have FHE.
Take Lauren's little slide outside so they can slide into the snow- Oh how I wish I could do that with them!!
Read my scriptures.
Plan FHE.
Stop eating SweetTarts.

CANCELED

church.
whoa.
cool.

Fat, Fluffy, Flurries

Our 5th straight weekend with snow, but this kind was different, very fluffy and light. I was excited to go out in it and thought Lauren would enjoy it too (Julia was napping). She was sooo cute!! She really liked walking around in it and wanted so much to touch it, but her little hands would have frozen off! I taught her to stick her tongue out to catch the flakes, it was really adorable!

I'm completely obsessed with making my little hats, they're so fun and cute!!! I was supposed to reupholster the window treatments in our front and living room, but got side tracked- next weekend I suppose. Right now they're UGLY horse pattern, I got a solid navy blue fabric on mega sale- hope it works. I want to find the star wallpaper I had in Vegas for this kitchen too and complete the whole Americana look in this house. Guess all these politically heated blogs got me feeling all patriotic, a little psychotic, but mostly patriotic. hahaha!

Oh and check out the First Presidency's Message in January's Ensign if you haven't yet, it's really good. I have had a lot of good spiritual "happening" lately, little moments of learning, like tomorrow I am teaching another ward's primary b/c of Ward Conferences, so I will have the eight year olds and the lesson is all about John the Baptist and being foreordained. I learned that means you have been chosen to do a great work for the Lord, but you don't have to do it once you're here because you have your agency. That blew me away, I never knew the later part of that, make so much more sense now. I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!

You asked for it Mark...

I found this exceptionally well informed website (don't laugh if you've know about this forever and I am just THAT Internet lame) www.wikipedia.org it's basically an encyclopedia. But after a challenge from a man that I hold in the highest regards wanted to know WHAT accomplishments Clinton, Obama, or Edwards have had that "qualify" them to be President I went searching and man am I glad I did. I think more than ever I am loving Hillary. She has DONE soooo much!!!! Here are some highlights (in pink) I thought were pretty good qualifications and they don't even touch what she's done as a Senator..
Departing from the traditional role of the First Lady, Clinton was directly involved in policy-making during her husband's presidency. She headed the task force that proposed the Clinton health care plan, which was not enacted by Congress, and initiated the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Adoption and Safe Families Act. Her prominent role has been at times controversial, and generated debate on the changing status of women in America.
In 2000, Clinton was elected into the United States Senate to succeed Daniel Patrick Moynihan, becoming the only First Lady ever to run for public office and the first female senator to represent New York. She was re-elected in 2006. As senator, she sits on the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging. Although she has not stated her intentions, Clinton is widely seen as a potential candidate for president in the 2008 presidential election.
As First Lady, Clinton won many admirers for her staunch support for women's rights around the world and her commitment to children's issues. She initiated the Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997, a federal effort that provided state support for those children whose parents were unable to provide them with health coverage. She also successfully sought to increase the research funding for illnesses such as prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health. The First Lady worked to solve the mystery behind the illnesses that were affecting veterans of the Gulf War. She initiated and shepherded the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, which she regarded as her greatest accomplishment as First Lady.
Clinton hosted numerous White House conferences that related to children's health, including early childhood development and school violence. She fought for nationwide immunization against childhood illnesses and supported an annual drive to encourage older women to seek a mammogram to prevent breast cancer, coverage of the cost being provided by Medicare. With Attorney General Janet Reno, Clinton helped to create the Department of Justice's Violence Against Women office. She was one of the few international figures at the time who spoke out against the treatment of Afghani women by Islamist fundamentalist Taliban that had seized control of Afghanistan. One of the programs she helped create was Vital Voices, a U.S.-sponsored initiative to promote the participation of international women in their nation's political process.
Clinton performed many less-political activities in her role as First Lady. With a lifelong interest in regional American history, she initiated the Save America's Treasures program, a national effort that matched federal funds to private donations to rescue from deterioration and neglect, or completely restore, many iconic historic items and sites, including the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner and the First Ladies Historic Site in Canton, Ohio. Clinton initiated the Millennium Project with monthly lectures that both considered America's past and forecasted its future. One of these lectures became the first live simultaneous webcast from the White House. Clinton also created the first Sculpture Garden, which displayed large contemporary American works of art loaned from museums in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden on a rotating basis.
Okay, so she totally is amazing!

Now Edwards. First I wanted to see what the law suit thing was about. He made millions in a way that I don't really understand other than he could have given a lot of that money back. I'd be the first to agree that would have been great of him to do, but it was completely legal that he kept it and says he was looking out for his assets, so whatever, I'd probably do the same. Here are some "qualificational accomplishments"....
In Congress, Senator Edwards quickly emerged as a champion for the issues that make a difference to American families: quality health care, better schools, protecting civil liberties, preserving the environment, saving Social Security and Medicare, and reforming the ways campaigns are financed.
As a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator Edwards worked tirelessly for a strong national defense and to strengthen the security of our homeland. He authored key pieces of legislation on cyber, bio, and port security.

Edwards supported the expansion of the H-1B visa program to increase legal immigration into the United States. Edwards generally supported expanding legal immigration to the United States while working with Mexico to provide better border security and stop illegal trafficking.
Edwards and law partner David Kirby earned the Association of Trial Lawyers of America's national award for public service.

Now Obama. He is a go-getter! And check out all the Republicans he works WITH.
Obama sponsored 152 bills and resolutions brought before the 109th Congress in 2005 and 2006, and cosponsored another 427. His first bill was the "Higher Education Opportunity through Pell Grant Expansion Act." Entered in fulfillment of a campaign promise, the bill proposed increasing the maximum amount of Pell Grant awards to help needy students pay their college tuitions. The bill did not progress beyond committee and was never voted on by the Senate.
Obama took an active role in the Senate's drive for improved border security and immigration reform. Beginning in 2005, he co-sponsored the "Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act" introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Obama later added three amendments to S. 2611, the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act," sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA). S. 2611 passed the Senate in May 2006, but failed to gain majority support in the U.S. House of Representatives.In September 2006, Obama supported a related bill, the Secure Fence Act, authorizing construction of fencing and other security improvements along the United States–Mexico border. President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform."
Partnering first with Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), and then with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Obama successfully introduced two initiatives bearing his name. "Lugar–Obama" expands the Nunn–Lugar cooperative threat reduction concept to conventional weapons, including shoulder-fired missile and anti-personnel mines. The "Coburn-Obama Transparency Act" provides for a website, managed by the Office of Management and Budget, listing all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward, and providing breakdowns by the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract. On December 22, 2006, President Bush signed into law the "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act," marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor.

So go read about these individuals yourself and see if you don't find them worthy to be considered. A good friend of mine here is CO said the other day, "they're all crooks. And they must all be crazy to WANT to be President", truer words were never spoken. We will not find a perfect President, there are no perfect people, but this country has deviated so far from where we were 8 years ago, I want to see a person who can get us back on track become President. We owe it to the world to make up for has been done, we owe it to ourselves to protect our own country, we owe it to our future to take care of what is being neglected now. And I promise to consider the Republicans running, I haven't closed myself to that possibility, I just haven't heard about any fore runners yet.

Keeping it Fresh

With all the snow still hanging around, thought I'd do something to celebrate it... snowman pancakes!!!! Chocolate Chip Eyes and Buttons, mmmmm! Dropped Julia off at preschool and went to our RS's "craft corner" we learned how to make fleece hats and use a loom to make hats. I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!! I love making these hats! I guess the Humanitarian Program for the church is in need of hats and scarves, I LOVE doing NEEDED service and also learning a new skill. Happy Day! I love Relief Society!!!

Soo Many Choices

I hear all the time at church, "...and so we know we are meant to be here in Castle Rock." Yeah let me begin that sentence for OUR family, "The Democratic National Convention will be held in Denver in '08 and so we know we are meant to be here in Colorado". Holla!!! That is so exciting! I LOVED going to the Kerry rally last election season with Michelle, it was soooo thrilling, so the DNC I can only imagine. I BETTER GET TICKETS!!! As much as I hate being thought of as a party line voter, I most definitely fit the bill. I will say however, I foremost want what is best for our country and our world, and would vote Republican if there were ever someone sincere enough from that party to vote for. Saying that, know I seriously would have voted for Ronald McDonald in '04, that red curly head dude has more sincerity in his big left shoe than Bush has in his whole creepy body.

I haven't heard much about Repubs planning to run BESIDES the lovely Senator from CO, Tom Tancredo, PLEASE! That man is the most blatantly racist Senator I have ever heard speak. He actually said he doesn't think CO should allow full day kindergarten to Hispanic children because the cost would be too great and unfair to white children. Yeah dude, I want you running the country.

So here it comes... HILLARY??? OBAMA???? EDWARDS????? So many choices, what is a good old Democrat to do? Could two pair up for a P/VP bid?? That would be ideal. I like Edwards/Clinton best, but could go with a Edwards/Obama. Clinton/Obama sure, but honestly I don't think this country is progressive enough to vote for a female/black combo, one step at a time.

Hillary, lets just acknowledge, can definitely rub you the wrong way, but I have to say I love the idea of a woman President, and lets be honest if we're going to have a female in the White House don't we need a tough broad like her? I believe she wants to make the world a better place. Being involved in politics for so long she has the best idea of what it takes to get things done, but does that also lead to corruption? There is her colorful past, I mean forgiving Billy Bob, that took some strength. But all I can say is I like her, always have, I'd vote for her.

Obama, love his enthusiasm, his "face of change", that he opposed the war from the very first vote. Does he have enough experience to do the best job? I don't put too much weight on experience, I mean Bush did it for 8 years, how hard can it be? KIDDING!

Edwards, he's had my heart since the last primary. I like his down to earth, hardworking, strong values persona. I LOVE his wife. He looks the part and I still remember the debates in 04, he was sooo right on target!

Now I am sure I haven't persuaded any of you, especially the 99% of you Republican readers, I don't think that was my reason for posting, I'm just excited. Excited for a NEW president, I have waited so long. If you must respond, be nice, I get agitated easily. (HOLLY)

my numbers

0- the temperature outside right now!!!!!!
4- hours before Ryan is back from volunteering at the Society of Hispanic Engineers. (ok laugh now! He's neither Hispanic OR an engineer!)
7- the number of articles of clothing I just "shouted" in hopes of salvaging Lauren's wardrobe.
8- the number of Sunbeams I have to prepare to teach tomorrow.
10- I'll be lucky if I have this many minutes left to blog, Lauren needs her nap!
13- days before Ryan and I are going on a date!!!!
100- this post! wow 100!!!!
600- dollars my kidney stone cost!!

yeah 10 was way too much expectation!

I FOUND PICTURES!!!!

I guess I haven't looked at my camera in a while but I found some sledding shots that I just died laughing at! Here's a looksie... Lauren's First Sledding Expedition with Dad. That I caught her covering her eyes is HILARIOUS!!! I had no idea, the sun was shinning so I just snapped it- so glad I did!

The sledding hill in Castle Rock is so PERFECT! Just look, it's like a Christmas card cover. These were all taken on New Year's Day. Ryan was so super proud of Julia, she'll go down that huge hill all by herself and just flies! She loves it! She hit a jump one time and flew out of the sled- I could have killed Ryan- but she was fine, not even upset, she's definitely got her Dad's adventure genes. Lauren, eyes covered, that's all Mama!

Here are some of the journals

all my BESTEST ESTES friends got for Christmas. It felt so good being creative and making something I thought you'd each like and that depicted your family personality. No two were made the same, just like each of you, so unique and wonderful, adding so much to my life!

A picture of yesterday- serenity- juicy healthy serenity.

Serenity eaten.
LAUREN'S QUILT! Not the best picture, but ooooooo I couldn't wait to post this- I LOVE IT!! I love that it is so her too, very different from Julia's, sweet and girly, with a little splash of fun!

RYAN DO NOT READ THE FOLLOWING...

Ok and finally I got these outfits today! Ahhhh!!! I LOVE THEM!!! I can't wait to put them in them for a picture appointment I have in Feb., that will be Ryan's V-day gift, well the one I can blog about- woops did I just say that?

Little jean skirts are the bomb! Wish I could wear one (and look cute). I used an Old Navy GC I got for Christmas,I am the worst, I never use my GC on myself- I did get a pair of jeans though, so its all good.

This was fun, hope you enjoyed!

I want to remember

how cute it is to walk behind Lauren as she toddles behind Julia to their bedroom to go to bed. Lauren says, almost under her breath, "nigh-nigh" as if resigned to the inevitable.

how Lauren flops into my lap to read the books she picks out. Her absolute favorite is Good Boy Fergus. She was wrapped up playing with little animal toys tonight and when I said, "Lauren want to read Fergus" she got the biggest smile and came walking over so fast.

how I will let my children do just about anything to keep them busy when I want to get something done, for example Lauren got to take every article of clothing out of my dresser drawer this afternoon so I could get a few rows of her rag quilt clipped. And she got to rub yogurt all over her face and head so I could make chili and talk to Holly on the phone tonight.

that Julia is so silly at three. She loves pretending. She loves Lauren (especially being able to squirt her in the bath tub with a rubber duck). She loves watching America's Funniest Videos and reenacting them. She loves learning the First Article Of Faith and when she's done saying it she says "period" at the end.

Vail, Sunbeams, NonGoals

Saturday we headed up to Vail, CO to visit friends that have a home up there. I was really excited to see them, see Vail, and see what a home in Vail would be like. All our good intentions flew out the window once we hit mega traffic. We were going 10mph FOREVER! It took at least an extra hour and a half to get up there and with two little ones it was challenging!!! The scenery all the way there was breathtaking though so that helped. Pine trees all along the mountains, so close together and dusted with snow, it was incredible. Ryan and I only had one scuffle where I attempted to lock him out of the car and drive away, lucky for him he runs faster than I can climb over seats. Ahh, I love that man.
SO Vail was everything I expected. It is soooo charming, like a Swiss Alps village. Skiers everywhere, neat shops, little places to eat. I really would like to come up in the summer, since I NEVER want to ski EVER again. Ryan on the other hand is DIEING TO GO SNOWBOARDING! He's never been, but I am sure he'd pick it up in a heart beat, that skater kid of my youth. He wants to take Julia for her birthday- WE'LL SEE!!!!
Our friend's house was...HUGE...GORGEOUS...INVITING to name a few. I don't want to be too over the top about it because they certainly are not. They're such nice down to earth people, but seriously this house was right out of Life Styles of the Rich and Famous. We felt like it was such a neat experience to stay there. Julia was loving the high life- you know a plasma t.v. in her bunk bed was quite the treat. It was a fabulous time, besides trying to get Lauren to sleep in a strange bed and with a mega diaper rash, I think the altitude dehydrated her and she couldn't stop pooping. Poor babe.
Sunday we came home from the mountains and went right to church. Julia's first day of Sunbeams! We are so excited she's in Primary! Finally this year we'll enjoy the Primary Program (is that terrible to say?). She did great, I am one of her teachers, which I love getting to see her, but I don't like teaching her because I don't want to always pick her but she thinks, "hello, you're my mom PICK ME!". We had to leave early b/c of Lauren's rash, she'd gone through her last diaper, Julia was very very disappointed. She loves her other teacher Sister Walker and didn't want to miss getting a drink of water, but we had to go.
So the New Year has started out pretty amazingly! I am inspired by my fellow bloggers to make goals. Yet there is a part of me that is so resistant to doing it this year. Certainly I am still sure my main resolution will be to focus on the environment- RECYCLING, REUSING, using the new light bulbs ALL over our house ( we have some already and I love them), bringing my own bags to the grocery store even though I reuse the stores, it would be better to bring my own, take shorter showers (that will be hard, but since I take one like every other day [or more- gross I know!] shouldn't I be able to indulge when I do get one???) There are other things that need attention- praying ON MY KNEES, scripture reading and family scripture reading, SAVING money, cutting out sugar (AGAIN), being more active (I'm not even going to say workout, frequent blog readers know my track record).
There I did it, I wrote goals. Now I am marching upstairs and reading the scriptures!!!

Todd-alicous!

That's how I describe having Dylan, Candace, and Sadie at our house!! It was so fun having them HERE!!!! When friends, (who are more like family), come and live with you for a couple days its the coolest. Our girls all had fun playing together and I had the best time going out with Candace for ice cream, (no the 20 degree weather doesn't stop two women from getting ice cream. woo-hoo!) Girl talk in the parking lot of Cold Stone and continued in my garage was so refreshing. I LOVE CANDACE! I love her insights on things, her sentimentality, her HONESTY, her humor, her spirituality. I love how we connect and am privileged to have her friendship. Is this weird now? I mean she's one of like four people who even read this blog and here I am gushing, thats ok, everyone needs to know they're loved, adored, modeled after, yadda yadda yadda....

So where are the pictures??? I only took one and its really bad, maybe she'll post a couple snow pictures of the girls, we yet again did not take a picture together- why? I don't have any pictures with my friends. I guess I want that unposed kind of in the moment picture, like that will ever happen, who would take it??

Ringing In 2007

Happy New Year!It was such a fun night here in Colorado- our first New Year's not in Vegas. We had some families from our ward over and played games and ate ate ate. We promised scripture reading and a testimony meeting since it was on Sunday, but somehow didn't get around to that. :)

Julia had a blast playing with all the kids and we had a hilarious time playing Pit. I got a kiss from my love and went to bed reminiscing how amazingly wonderful 2006 was. Ryan asked how could we top it, I could only think to say, "with 2007".