Hmmm

I'm not sure what strikes me so much about this picture, but I really like it.

Portraits

After playing with the neighbors

They had lots of fun creating a cardboard play house, that they thoroughly decorated. As you can see they get into their work.

Beautiful Blue Eyes

I don't know how long babies eyes stay blue, if they are going to change. But Abigail's eyes sure are a bright blue now.

Hiding Vegetables

My Cousin gave a recipe that hid zucchini in meatloaf that her daughter ate. Now I've come up with a recipe that my kids AND husband ate with raving complements and there was spinach on it!

BBQ Chicken Pizza



Normal pizza crust topped with: BBQ chicken pieces, steamed spinach, diced tomatoes, green onions, mozzerella and provolone cheese.

I Pre-baked the crust for 5 minutes, added the toppings and cooked for another 5 minutes at 525 degrees.

Mmm Mmm Good!

I can sleep anywhere!

A Year Ago Today

I'm not sure what to say, but I am being reflective. One year ago I watched my dad die. It had been a long four-year battle with brain cancer. There were so many blessings and miracles during the fight that we all knew, and felt that the Lord was strengthening my Dad and my family during his illness. I had always felt Dad wouldn't die until he felt ready, and that was true. His passing was at home with the whole family gathered around. We loved Dad, but we all felt it was time too. The funeral was wonderful. It really did help us to see so many people who cared for and were friends of my Dad.

I can't help though but think of what's happened in the last year. That Abigail was born. Mom moved. Spencer is expecting his first child, Sarah her third. Ashley was baptized. There will be so many more family events, so many more grandchildren that he will never know in this life. I know that the only way my children will know their Grandpa is through stories that I tell of him. It is a great responsibility. He was an adventurer, a scout, a gardener, a builder. He loved his wife. He loved to learn, he owned several books about identifying the birds, trees and flowers around him.

My Dad seemed to loved me individually. That may have seemed hard sometimes, having eight daughters. But he seemed to know each of our strengths and weaknesses. He would always encourage me in my dancing and my music. He really seemed to enjoy my logic, how a came to different solutions than him. He helped me navigate through some hard relationships.

I love my Dad and can't wait to see him again.

Laundry Motivation

I asked Lily to fold her laundry. This is a new chore for her. She was whining, saying she didn't like to do it, blah blah blah...

So I offered to trade her, I'd fold her laundry, and she could fold mine, Dad's, Eve's and Abigail's.

It actually worked, she said she didn't want to trade and stopped complaining. A couple of minutes later she was even taking pride in folding well and said she liked doing her laundry!

The Pink Eye Fairy strikes again

A New Milestone for Lily

She has a loose tooth. So soon I get to start posting pictures of cute toothless grins. She is growing so quickly. We've taken the training wheels off of her bike. She is getting the hang of reading. It's crazy, and making me feel nostalgic.

Getting Healthier

Our Stake President (regional church leader) has been encouraging us to take better care of the bodies we have been blessed with. To encourage this further we've had a fireside on how to train for a 5k and challenged the whole Stake to lose 125,000 pounds together. It's about 10 pounds a person. So I am trying to do my part. I am still very weak and pudgy from my last pregnancy. I've been trying to be more active, and eat healthier. I haven't gone on a diet, just trying to have less sweets and more vegetables.

Anyways, yesterday was our first Stake 5k. I didn't train, but I figured I should be able to at least walk the whole thing. I made it, to the end, and I was last! I came in very last! Someone has to be in that position, and this time it was me. Not that I was trying to be very quick, I did push a double stroller for half of it. But I'm thinking I need to get out exercising more.

I look well traveled!

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I look like I've been to most of the country. Alot of the states I've just driven through. I've driven across the country more than I'd like to admit. I have lived in six different states.

I found this fun link on Amber's blog. I just wanted to join her coolness.