Another Year Down

Yesterday I turned 35. Thanks to my family and friends I have had an amazing 35 years. Just like everyone else I have had many ups and downs, but choose to focus on the positive and hopefully improve the future.

We were down at Mom and Dad's last weekend and before we left they gave me some birthday money. I haven't figured out yet what to use it for. Maybe some earmuffs and a scarf. Shortly after receiving the money, Camille gave me this...

I suppose it's no secret that I love chocolate and apparently Starr is aware of my addiction. Thank you Starr, Landon & Camille. Money and chocolate. Does it get any better?

Yep, it does. Saturday Glenn took Maggie to play in the snow, but came back a few minutes later and said they were going to Wal-Mart to get a sled. When they came back they had also gotten me a birthday cheesecake. Oooh Yeah!

Then on Sunday we had to go to Salt Lake to take care of our cell phone problem and while we were there we stopped at Temple square which is one of my favorite places. Unfortunately we couldn't stay until they turned all the lights on because we didn't want to drive through the windy mountains in the dark and on snowy roads.

It was so cold that we took a minute to go into the assembly Hall.

I love how the snow piles up on the bare branches of the trees. I love snow. I don't like playing in it or driving in it, but I love how it makes everything look. I like watching the snow fall from the comfort of my house wrapped up in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate. That's my idea of nice winters day.

We went from the Assembly Hall to the North Visitors Center where we got to see the statue of Christ.

When I see the nail prints in the hands and feet it reminds me that my sins put those marks there. Each one of my sins helped pound the nails in his hands and feet. I am so grateful for Christ's sacrifice for me. I can be forgiven for all the wrong choices I make. I can be whole again because of his love for me.

Zoe and I got the chance to chaperon Maggie's field trip today. The first graders got to go see the movie Bolt. We all had a great time. On the way home from the movie I decided to go have lunch with Maggie at her school. When we were done with dinner we finally had the cheesecake and I got to blow out my candles. It's been a good birthday week. Thanks for the gifts, calls and facebook posts with happy birthday wishes.

Maggie, Kitty & Hakayla

"How old are you Mom?"

"35"

"Whoa, that's a lot. That's bigger than 100!"

Thanks Maggie! That makes a Mom feel good!

Good Morning!

Yeah right! We were all woken up this morning to the sound of Maggie throwing up in our bed. Apparently she and I got whatever it was Zoe had the other day. Luckily for us it is Glenn's Friday off. Unfortunately for Glenn it is his Friday off. He has been doing a great job and keeping our puke buckets cleaned up and taking care of Zoe so Maggie and I can lay around and groan. He makes a fantastic nurse and maid!

Stories

This is a little conversation Zoe and I had the other day...

Zoe - Weh ishee
Me - Where's Maggie?
Zoe - I oh shee er! (I don't see her)

Before Thanksgiving we went to check out the park by our apartment. It was a pretty cold day so I stayed in the truck while Glenn played with the girls. Maggie went across the monkey bars (with a little help) and was so excited to have accomplished such a big trick. Zoe would go down the slide, run over to the truck saying "Mom, mom, mom. I did it!" She was so proud of her self she just couldn't help but tell me about her newly acquired skill.

On November 22 we all piled into the van and took a ride to Salt Lake to meet Glenn's Dad. He was on his way from Las Vegas to Burley so we arranged to meet in Salt Lake and give him some items they had put on our moving truck, but were unable to get to before they had to leave.

There are railroad tracks close to the freeway for most of our drive and we saw a couple of trains that day. One in particular caught our attention. I first noticed that it was very long. Lots and lots of the same cars. Red cars. So I point it out to the girl's. Zoe was fascinated because she loves trains and she just kept saying "choo choo, choo choo". I commented on the red cars, "Maybe it's a Christmas train on its way to Santa!" Maggie replies, "Oh, maybe he has to go a little farther to get to Santa". Then Glenn said, "It's the 'K'-line train. You know because Kris Kringle starts with a K". Maggie didn't hear Glenn's comment and she asked, "Was that really the Christmas train?". I replied, "It was the 'K'-line train. Do you know what Santa's real name is?" "No", Maggie said. Then I tell her, "It's Kris Kringle. With a K". With total awe Maggie says, "Ah, It really was the Christmas train!"

Too cute! How did I get blessed with such cute girls?

A Very Belated Birthday

Since we were in the middle of our move around the time of your birthday I was too preoccupied and actually forgot all about it. I am so sorry! Now that it's been over a month since the big day I am finally getting around to posting this. I do hope that you had a good day and if you have pictures please post them on your blog soon (computer issues permitting of course).

You are the...well I'm not quite sure how to phrase it...oldest, longest lasting friend I have. We have known each other since the 8th grade. That would mean that we met each other in 1987. Twenty one years ago. GASP! I can not believe it has been that long. But here is photographic evidence that it's true...

I don't think I have any from the 8th grade, but here is a selection from our 9th grade year.

Signing yearbooks on our last day of 9th grade

Tina

Debbie

Jennifer

Debbie, Tina, Jennifer, Bret, Joanna, Sam, Necia

Necia, Debbie, Dara, Bret, Sam

You must really want to be a princess. Two Halloweens and you were a princess both times.

Here are a few random shots of you...

Just a few choice selections from your visit to Utah

It's been a great 21 years. I hope we get at least 21 more!

Totally Gross

I know this is not the kind of thing people like reading about, BUT I can't not write about it.

We got home yesterday afternoon from our fun weekend in Provo (pictures to come later) and after we got everything unpacked and put away we were a little bored and needed something to do. Usually we would just turn on the TV and that would be our evening, however, we still have not gotten cable set up so we are without regular TV and we have pretty much watched every DVD we have at least 10 times since being here. So I suggested that we go for a little drive. During the last couple of weeks after dropping Maggie off at school, Zoe and I have driven around town to see if we could find anything interesting or new. One day last week, while Glenn was out of town, we found a park where they have a herd of Bison and in the next field there is an Elk. There are walking/biking trails along the Bear River and a playground also. So we drove to the park and Glenn and the girls got out of the car to see the Bison and the Elk and we drove around the park for a few minutes. When we were getting ready to leave, Zoe started making an odd noise. We turned around and she was covered in vomit. Lovely! It kept coming for a few minutes and of course it was all over her, her car seat and clothes. It was freezing outside so we took off her coat, cleaned her up the best we could and put Glenn's sweater on her for the ride home. Maggie was totally disgusted and did not want her sitting next to her or to use her blanket. What a nice big sister!

When we got home she seemed fine. We got her bathed and jammied, she ate pizza and went to bed. No more issues...until this morning. I was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and getting breakfast put away and she came in gagging and threw up again. YUCK! At least it was on the kitchen floor and not on the carpet. Now the reason I had to write this is because it's the first time that Zoe has really been sick. She's almost two and this is her first vomit session. I thought that was pretty good. We had lots of yucky messes with Maggie in her first two years. Maybe Zoe is taking after Glenn who very rarely gets sick. That would be fantastic!

I really don't like having sick kids, but at the same time I really do like how they are all cuddly and calm. I love to hold and rock my kids. Especially when they are sick and need the extra attention.

I hope that no one else gets sick. I sincerely apologize to everyone we were around on Saturday. We had no idea what was coming!

A Birthday Shoutout

Grandpa Blackburn in charge of entertaining the salt and pepper twins.

"Stop horsing around!"
Playing with some of the many stray cats we've had
You've always been such a helper

Meeting Tanya for the first time

I didn't remember that the angel attacked baby Jesus

Cute!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDI! (It's been a fun 30 years)

Snow

Our first snow has arrived. Well, the first snow that stuck anyway. When I opened the blinds in our living room yesterday morning to show Maggie she was so excited. I walked back into the kitchen to work on her breakfast and could hear her whispering. I peeked my head around the corner to find her looking out the sliding glass doors at the snow. She was also talking to her reflection on the window. She was saying "yes! now I can build a snowman. Yeah!", and other things that I can't remember at the moment. It was too cute and I hope that she really does get to make her first snowman soon. She has been very patiently waiting for this dang snow. Just get here already!!

Little Issues

I am just wondering what I should do with this? How do you decorate or even tolerate these wallpapers? I would like to at least put a valance in our kitchen, but what would go with this?

I don't really care that much about the bathroom, because we don't spend much time in there, but still...it's pretty bad.

I can't find anything in Wal-Mart (our only store) that even kind of goes with these ugly excuses for walcoverings.

ANY ADVICE?

Even Lower

Before we left for our Thanksgiving break our gas prices were at $1.43.
Very exciting!

When we returned we found it had dropped again. Yeehaw!!(Zoe uses this expression often)

It's funny how a little thing like falling gas prices can make me so happy.

Even lower after lunch :)

Back Track

I keep forgetting to do this update. Glenn found out that the Black Cat fireworks plant really did explode. It had help from vandals that got inside, but it did blow up. I was actually right!