Goodbye, Travelers!

My mom left today and took my three oldest with her, for 3 weeks. My dad is a tour guide for Elderhostel and he gets to take his grandkids with him, every once in awhile.

They are headed to a National Parks Tour this week (Zion, Bryce Canyon and an Indian Reservation). Next week they got to Lake Powell and a Ranch. Emma and Josh have been on both trips before and they prefer the Ranch. While there, they do zip-lines, paint ball, rock wall climb, ride quads and have lots of adventures. The third week they'll be in St. George at my parent's house. I think they spend most of the time in the pool.

Rachel is going for the first time. I'll be praying really hard that she is brave and not too homesick! As I sit to type this, Katrina and Ben are feeling the effects of having a SMALL family. I think they'll miss the big kids, but have a good time~

Girls Camp 2008

Going to Girls Camp is one of my favorite things in life. It is so fun to spend a week with all your girlfriends having spiritual experiences AND A BLAST, while enjoying God's beautiful creations! Our theme this year was "We are Daughters of our Heavenly Father."

Here are all 120 girls and 40 leaders that attended camp this year, in our matching shirts!! There are 9 Wards/Branches that make up our Stake. I think I mentioned before that my calling/assignment at church is as a member of the Stake Young Women's Presidency. Our Presidency is in charge of activities where all the girls from the 9 Wards are involved. We're over Girl's Camp, Youth Conference, Monthly Dances, Trek and we train all the Ward Young Women Presidencies, as well as rotate speaking assignments in each ward on a monthly basis. It's a very fun calling that I hope to have for a long time!

We love pulling pranks at camp. We don't love cleaning up pranks pulled on us, AS MUCH. This is the Stake Leaders Cabin after the Youth Camp Leaders (YCL's) GOT BACK AT US!

On the last night of camp, the Bishopric from each Ward/Congregation came to visit. This photo shows all the girls (and leaders) that came, from our Ward.

These are MY girls, the ladies from the Spanish Branch (a Branch is a Mini-Ward, only smaller!) They were YCL's this year and did a great job conducting all our skits, sing-alongs, and morning gatherings. They also helped all the younger girls get "certified" (learn outdoor survival skills). I love you Brenda, Maribel, Bella and Yuridia!!

The last day of camp is full of spiritual activities. The girls all go on a SOLO HIKE with their scriptures, letters from home and journals. They find a peaceful place, down by the lake, to study and ponder. I love this photo of my friend, Charise. She is a wild and crazy gal, probably the funniest skit actress, but she has a deeper side. She loves her Heavenly Father and knows what is important in life. Love you, Charise!

This is a great photo of Sister Bean, by the lake! She's reading a letter from her parents (or Bishop) about how special she is. Camp truly is a glorious place to feel Heavenly Father's love for us. It is so gorgeous there!

I got to spend some time with my friend Denise (the other counselor in the Stake YW Presidency) and her daughter, Danielle. Danielle just finished her first year at BYU and came up to speak to the camp girls about how their choices effect their future life. She was a powerful speaker and I was very proud of her.

Another friend, Heidi, and my sister-in-law, Tiffany, were in charge of all the crafts for the camp. They did a great job with the crafts and decided to participate in the skits and craziness of camp, too. They were a hit! Tiffany looks especially cute, with her 7 1/2 month pregnant belly!



Don't forget to pause my music at the bottom of the page!

My good friends, Jen and Mandy were also there. They had a big job, being in charge of the YCL's. There were 15 of them (the girls on the front row of the group photo, in black shirts)

Emma came up for one afternoon and brought 2 friends, Sam and Ali. Emma's really looking forward to next year. She can't wait to spend the whole week at camp!

Hillary, our babysitter, with Emma and Jenny, our Trek "Big Sister" with Emma's friend, Ali. Jenny is the oldest girl in my Trek Family. As I write, my thoughts are disappearing about camp, and my brain is wrapping itself around Trek Preparations. We leave in 10 days for that! Damian and I are the "Pa and Ma" for 9 kids. We're going with 150 other kids, and 40 leaders to Washington, for a 4-day Pioneer Handcart Trek. What a busy, fun summer!

My 12th Anniversary

I love being married to Damian. Our marriage was the best decision I've ever made. I am thankful everyday that he loves and cherishes me. He is the best friend I've ever had and I look forward to spending the rest of eternity with him!

Plus, he's a hottie, so that's always fun. This is my ALL TIME favorite photo. He was on his mission in Spain, about 20 years old and obviously caught in a "HU?" Look at those full lips and gorgeous eyes. And that hair is to die for. And he's mine, all mine!

A Dozen Years of FUN!

Tomorrow is my 12th Anniversary. I've composed a little number poem about it, for Damian:

1 Perfect Wife
2 Handsome Boys
3 Adorable Daughters
4 Cities Lived in
5 Different Dogs
6 Bedroom House
7 Figure Income (Wishful thinking!)
8 Years Until Retirement (Ha, ha, Another Joke!)
9 Nieces/Nephews (Until August!)
10 Various Cars (That I Care to Remember!)
11 Years of Parenting
12 Years of Wedded Bliss!

No Country for Old Men

Cormac McCarthy wrote this thriller, No Country for Old Men. It was pretty clean, as far as swearing goes, but thematically, it was disturbing. What else can you expect from a book about a drug war with a sociopathic hit man as a main character? I used to love reading John Grisham books and this reminded me of his style/elements.

No Country for Old Men was made into a movie that won 4 Oscars last year (rated R) . . . I bet it's a good one to "Clean Flix!" It was what it was . . . I don't know how anyone can write more about it than that!

As for me, I'm soaking up the sun, singing campfire songs, watching crazy skits, eating yummy camp food and missing my kids (but only a tiny bit) at Girl's Camp. Check back on TUESDAY for pictures!

Off to Girls Camp!

Today I'm leaving for 4 days at Church Girl's Camp. I'm thrilled because I really don't have any responsibilities this year, besides hanging out with all the girls. I'm a counselor in the Stake Young Womens Presidency (we oversee 9 wards/congregations). Our President won't be there so the other Counselor and our Camp Director are in charge. Hopefully they can do any disciplining and putting out "fires!" and I can just laze about. Hopefully.

The Stake YW Presidency and Camp Director are "Charlie's Angels" and we have skits to go with that. Hopefully I'll get some photos/videos for your enjoyment, later. There are about 110 girls coming this year, ages 12-18, plus about 35 women. It's a fun, loud, crazy party, up there at the lake. I'll probably work on my ditties to sing at the flag ceremonies, a lot. This is my time to shine as class clown and overall obnoxious lady. Wait, that is what my normal life is about!

This year, Emma gets to come up for one afternoon, as an 11 year old. She is THRILLED and has been packed for a week (her swimsuit, towel and lip gloss!) I can't wait to see her interact with all the Young Women. I'll post photos of her next Tuesday, OK?

Last year, I was a co-lifeguard with my friend, Christie D. This year, I didn't get ENOUGH certification and we had to hire our lifeguards! (I am only Pool Certified and the state changed the laws, at the last minute!) My cool life guarding costume will sit in the attic until next year, when I've upped my certification, to Waterfront (Lake) and Water Safety Instructor! And just so you know, those red shorts say "Guard" across the hiney and my shirt says, "Trust me, I'm a Lifeguard!" I'm very serious about my job. And my coolness factor. It's the only cool outfit I have, according to my kids. I might start wearing it to church, if they don't start being nicer to me!

I've written some extra posts that will publish when I'm at camp. That's how OCD I've become about blogging! I never thought I'd be a journal writer, but I finally am . . . in kind of an exhibitionist way. I'll be thinking of you when I pull pranks on other cabins tonight at midnight!

Grandma is HERE!

My mom arrived yesterday! It's been great having her here, she's really fun and my kids adore her.

She's sewn 3 bonnets for the trek, vacuumed my house and cleaned all the kids bedrooms.

And did I mention the laundry? Check! Did that too.

She babysat while I did errands and took Josh to Piano. Tomorrow I leave for Girl's Camp and she'll watch the kids during the day.

She's promised not to feed them soda for each meal, like my dad did. But she wouldn't commit to 'No Ice Cream'. She flat out refused. And the kids all cheered and gave her a standing ovation.

She's playing games with them now, they each get to pick one. The video shows Ben's choice, the older kids are choosing board games. So that should take at least 2 hours!

HIP HIP HOORAY For MOM!!

Please don't ever leave me again.

WHAT? You're going home on Monday?

As long as you take over 50% of my kids with you, you can go.

WHAT? You will?! GREAT! And can you keep them for 3 weeks, at least?

YOU CAN??!! You're the best mom in the whole world!!

(Don't forget to pause my music, to enjoy all the screaming and laughing!)

Scary Circus

A few years ago, we took our kids to a mini-circus and it was really fun. So we tried another. This circus was smaller than a mini. I think it was the size of a flea circus. And it was bit scary.

No, I'm not talking about the scary audience. These people are my relatives.

The kids didn't seem to mind the second rate acts, or the fact that we had to leave the tent to view one of them. When one man almost fell to his death, they laughed. Aren't there laws prohibiting acrobatics with no mat underneath?

Turn my music off at the bottom to appreciate the wind in this video. As the blindfolded man slips, his son yells to him and the audience collectively GASPS!! You can hear me saying, "That was the time I almost lost my Dad, on the Circus Guinea Pig Wheel!" Please forgive me, I was practically wetting my pants in fear and I lost my hilareous edge.

There were basically two performers at this circus, not counting the Shetland Pony that could jump over a low stick. "Orfalinda" could do the flip bar, suspended in the air. She was also the Hula Hoop Artist. She danced seductively in her leotard, and tossed the juggling implements to the other performer, too.

And she was practically naked. As you can see, the boys seemed really riveted to her performance.



"Fernandito" was a confusing clown, a juggler and a contortionist that could fold himself into a box. Aaron asked me to video that interesting performance, so turn my music off and be as thrilled/grossed out as I was. The kids liked his fire-juggling act, and I was grateful it didn't burn the tent down!

As you can tell, from the contortionist video and the acrobat video, we picked the worst seats in the whole tent. Mostly, we watched "Orfalinda's" behind and the underside of the Giant AIR Slip and Slide. The Shetland Pony and Clown didn't even come near us. Maybe we didn't really mind, all that much.

The cotton candy, popcorn and snowcones that Uncle JusTea bought were the highlight of the evening.

Each kid was handed one treat and they all swapped/shared with each other. That worked pretty well and no fights broke out. I was very proud.

I have to admit, I had fun shooting Tent tinted photos.

I also witnessed TWO fun events that had nothing to do with the circus:

FIRST: My niece Mary has mostly avoided eye contact with me, since birth. She used to cry if I talked to her! Since I've been teaching her swim lessons in "The Big Bath" she has begun to like me. She even agnowleges me OUTSIDE of the pool. She sat on my lap and that was a FIRST.

SECOND: During the intermission (between the Hula Hoop Girl and Second Juggling Act) there were TWO special performances in the ring, by the Idiart Kids. All the cousins went out and danced to the freaky circus music until the scary Popcorn Man asked them to stop. I didn't get any video, I was watching the Popcorn Man like a hawk. He was the scariest part of the circus, for sure!

Important Summer Plans

The kids and I have made lists of our important plans for the summer. School has been out for two weeks and we're getting into the SUMMER GROOVE. We've written down GOALS to accomplish during the next 2 months of summer. We've committed to do these things and enjoy each other. I'm really going to enjoy Katrina and Ben, when my oldest three leave town for 3 weeks, with Grandma, next week!!

Mom:
1. Teach swim lessons 2x a week
2. Organize my scrapbooking room!
3. Get myself & "kids" ready for The Handcart Trek
4. Workout every day, WITH my kids!

Emma:
1. Read all of Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest books
2. Earn $200 more for school clothes
3. Learn to play 3 hymns/primary songs
4. Be mom's assistant for the 3-4 year old swim class.
5. Get in shape and eat healthy!

Joshua:
1. Take art lessons with Jen
2. Do 3 summer reading programs (read a lot!)
3. Hang out with friends (swimming at Drake's)
4. Learn to waterski/go on our boat
5. Compile my memory book (K-3rd)

Rachel:
1. Read lots of chapter books
2. Have one friend over a week
3. Do the Barnes & Noble reading program
4. Go to the Waterslides!
5. Do church aerobics with mom!

Katrina:
1. Take swimming lessons
2. Check out books with my NEW library card
3. Do the Barnes and Noble program
4. Learn to ride a two wheeler!

Benny:
1. Learn how to swim!
2. Go to the waterslides and go on the boat!
3. Do hot dogs/marshmallows & go camping w/ Daddy!
4. Learn to ride a two wheeler, like Nina.
5. Watch Spy Kids 3D with those cool glasses.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

My mom is the best mother anyone could have and I'm so thrilled Heavenly Father gave me to her! She is barely 20 in this photo and I'm 4 days old. Damian was born the day this photo was taken!

Mom was so busy growing me, delivering me, and loosing all that baby weight in 4 days, she didn't have time to cut my dad's hair for the photo. She's an incredible woman, but Dad, you've got to do some things for yourself, sometimes!!

OK, now I'm 6 months old and she still hasn't had time for Dad's hair/mustache. I sure kept her busy with my cuteness, didn't I? My mom is so adorable, I love this photo!

I posted this shot on Mother's Day, but it is my all-time favorite! Jonathan, Myself, Mom and Briana, picking wild poppies outside of Valdez, Alaska. My mom looks so peaceful. She's 10 years older in this photo and has 5 kids. She was such a sweet, nice, smart mom. She could run faster, color better and play piano/sing prettier than anyone else's mom, that I knew.

Happy Birthday Mom! This may be the 15th time you've turned 29, but people are still asking me if we're sisters, and WHICH ONE IS THE OLDEST, so I think you've aged well! xoxoxo

You Know it's Summer When . . .

~The scissors are in the "Open" position, AND sticky, from Otter Pops (And the empty wrappers are all over the house and yard). Hasn't anyone ever heard of the TRASH CAN?

~You get to enjoy the aromatics of sweaty, stinky boys . . . WHY EXACTLY DO THEY SMELL LIKE WET DOGS?

~The seats in the car are wet ALL THE TIME, from trips to and from swim lessons. Although, it smells clean in the car, from all the chlorine!

~There are empty cups all over the counter . . . Where's my sharpie so I can label one cup per kid, FOR THE WHOLE DANG SUMMER?!

~The front and back door are both WIDE open, and you can't find anyone to blame . . . DO WE REALLY NEED TO COOL YARD?

~You enjoy the crickets/frogs singing at night . . . if you can hear them, it means all the children are asleep! If you can't hear them, QUICK . . . PUT THOSE KIDS TO BED!

Thank you Kari, my blogging hero, for most of my material for today's post!

Goodbye, Sister Aselya!

The kids and I are very sad. We are loosing a good friend. Aselya from Kyrgyzstan is leaving to go back to her Country. She's lived here a year as a foreign exchange student and has become our favorite babysitter. She will be missed.

About 18 months ago, a Foreign Exchange Coordinator called me and asked if I would host a girl for the year. I said, "No" and refered a few names. Ultimately, some friends of ours hosted Aselya. I wish I would have prayed about that decision, instead of quickly saying, "NO." I think MAYBE the Lord would have helped me have the confidence to host a student and we could have had Asel. That would have been one of the best experiences of our lives. I know her host family believes that is true about their year with her. And in all seriousness, I'm not saying that because she would have helped me with the kids. I truely believe she is a very loved Daughter of our Heavenly Father and she would have been a wonderful example to my kids and myself.

Asel is a dream come true. She is kind, sweet and totally cleans my house everytime I leave her alone with the kids. And I have over 5,000 square feet for her to clean! She tidys all the kid's room, cleans the living room and does the dishes. She's not of our faith, but I can always count on her to read scriptures and pray with the kids. She is a very special girl and we will always miss and love her. Asel, if you ever read this, you are always in our hearts and prayers.

Josh used to have night terrors, when Asel first started babysitting for us, and I forgot to explain that to her! One night, when I came home, she told me that Josh had started crying and yelling in his sleep, a "really bad nightmare" and she just held him and rocked him until he went back to sleep. For about 30 minutes. She's that gentle and loving. And smart. She wasn't scared or anything.

We crashed the party that the girls at church had a for Asel. We all hugged her and said our goodbye's . . . I hope she keeps in touch with us! I hope she comes back to visit, too!

Asel calls us, Sister Sarah and Brother Damian (I think to delineate between all the Brother and Sister Idiart's in our ward/congregation) and so I say: Goodbye my dear, dear friend, Sister Aselya!

My Favorite 80's Tunes

I've changed my music . . . I couldn't listen to Reggae anymore. It was making me cry, wishing I was still in the Bahamas. Now, I may start crying and wishing I was still in the 80's . . .

Back when my hair was big . . . And I could listen to heavy metal without getting a headache (maybe my hair protected my ears?)

Back when my waist was smaller than my bust. And my hips were smaller than my shoulders.

OH, BOO HOO!! I WANT THE 80's BACK!

Scratch that. I just want my figure back.

Which brings up another subject. My friend Jen (of http://www.jensart.com/ ) is now my personal trainer. As if being a full time artist and mother of 4 isn't enough, she leads me in hour long workouts 4 days a week. (2 other friends lead me 2 other days a week.) So, I'm working out 6 days a week and watching my food like a hawk. So if I don't get my body, from the 80's back, I will be a candidate for a tummy tuck. At least, that's what I'll tell Damian.

So, if you want to know why I chose all these songs, read on. If not, go do something more worthwhile with your time. I know I'd probably pick my toe-nails rather than read the rest.

Only You: This is a newer version of Eurasure's song, from the movie Napoleon Dynamite. I didn't know Damian in the 80's, but every time I dreamed of who I'd marry, it was ONLY HIM (and sometimes Troy, to be mentioned later). I dedicate this cheesy song to my true love: The Big Cheese-Meister, The Barry Manilow Cheese-of all Cheeses: Damian. (You might not believe it, but he was the cheesiest guy at BYU . . . someday, I'll scan a note he gave me after a date our freshman year and you'll laugh your head off!)

We Belong: My BFF in the 80's, Emily, had the 45 record to this song and we listened to it. She also had Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler, but that song is a little LONG. Both are so DRAMATIC and I wish I knew the words so I could sing them REALLY loud in the car and make my kids roll their eyes. It's one of my passions in life. Making them roll their eyes.

When Did Your Heart Go Missing? This song is current. It sounds like an 80's song and I really love it. So don't give me a hard time, you hard-core 80's fanatics. I can do what I want, it's my playlist.

It's Raining Men: This is an 80's remix by some washed up Spice Girl. I first heard it a few years ago at my Jazzercise class. Beca, my instructor and BFF's favorite line was: "I'm gonna rip off the roof and stay in bed!" Mine was, "I'm gonna get absolutely soaking wet." Ha, the silliness of it makes me laugh out loud!

Time After Time: Who doesn't love this song from the 80's? Classic. I also love Crazy for You by Madonna, but didn't include it.

A Little Respect: I really got into Eurasure in college (in the early 90's.) A girl on my floor of the Freshman Dorms had a car and we bought ski passes to Sundance. We had a ski class once a week, but would head up to the mountain a lot to work on our spring tans, flirt with all the ski bums and conquer the moguls. We listened to Eurasure EVERY time in her car, so ALL Eurasure songs reminds me of that spring at BYU.

Friday I'm in Love: I first loved The Cure in college and this is their BEST song. I love it when one of their songs plays during a movie (especially popular during credits, it seems!) because Damian gets all psyched. He only knows the words to songs by The Cure, The Police, Peter Cetera, Duran Duran, Boyz2Men and Prince. He's so cute. And stuck in the 80's music.

Cool Rider: OK, this is really sung by Michelle Pfeiffer (Grease 2). The movie is dumb, but I LOVED this song in 1986 (6th grade) . . . when hot TROY FENNER moved to my neighborhood and would ride up and down the street on his dirt bike (Hence the love of the song about a Cool Rider!) With his hair feathered on the sides, and a way cool mullet, he ROCKED my world.

And I'd sing this song, vacuuming the living room, watching out my windows for him. Mom, did you ever wonder why I liked vacuuming so much? Or why I'd quickly stop vacuuming to run out and sweep the front porch or pull weeds?

My Italians, Part DUE

My 18 year old, baby brother, Eric is in Italy right now. He'll be starting college in the fall and can't make it to our sister, Briana's wedding, so he's getting to know our new brother-in-law and nephew, now! He'll be there for a month and hopes to have many Italian Adventures!

Already, he had a day layover in London and he figured out how to tour the city, ALONE!

And he took lots of pigeon pictures . . . and one of a Freaky English Duck that might give me nightmares, tonight. Just look at those claw thing-ies and that wicked, curved beak! Eww!

He also saw Big Ben, or as some of us call it, "The clock Peter Pan flies by, on his way to Neverland." I've always wanted to fly by that clock!

I wish I was there to see him in action! Here are pieces of recent letters he's written, and photos he's sent:

"Ciao, ciao! It is wonderful and very, very beautiful, here. Sem is very nice to everyone, he seems like an excellent man. It is kind of refreshing to see someone who can just relax and not be stressed, ever. "

"Well, our future nephew-in-law, Luca, is completely adorable, he is always off the wall, ha ha! He teaches me Italian: "Viene, viene, tengo questo, mio cavallo." That's about all he ever says, "Come, come, I take this, my horse," Ha ha, he is so hilareous. All he eats is Nutella Spread on bread and biscottis/cookies. I can't get over what an adorable little guy he is!"

"Briana gave Luca the little book you made him on Shutterfly and he carries it everywhere pointing at everyone's pictures saying, "Questo? questo? questo? (who is this?)" He is quite adorable, I think you will love him instantly when you come down. He walks around speaking Italian like its nobody's business, ha ha, he is quite the teacher. I learn a lot of words from him. I'm putting up more pictures of all of us and of our beach trips so I will send those to you as soon as I get them all uploaded."

"I went running and I love it. I saw some hotties on the beach, I wanted to say, "Le marre è malta bella" (The sea is very beautiful) but I didn't have the guts. The rain stopped after the first night and it is gorgeous. We are going to the beach to play with Luca. The beach I can walk to is full of lava rock with a lot of tide pools. It is beautiful. There is an artificial beach with sand which is where we take Luca and where the babes suntan, ha ha. Well, I love you and have been reading my scriptures everyday morning and night. This trip makes me so anxious to go on mission, unless I go to the U.S. ha ha, just kidding, I will go wherever Heavenly Father decides I should go. Well, it is really awesome here, Love you, Arrivederci, Eric"

I can't wait for his next installment with photos. I love this digital age! And I love you, Eric!

Tribute to my Dad

This love letter has been long overdue. I love my Dad. He means the world to me.

Damian and I went on a trip a few weeks ago and my Dad came up and watched our kids for us.

For a week.

And the kids were all still alive when I got home.

And they asked me for soda and ice cream with every meal, "like Grandpa gave us!!"

My Dad is interesting, fun and loud. But he's also tender. This is my adorable nephew, Matthew (Paul's son) with his Grandpa Gary!

While Dad was babysitting at my house and I was on the beach in the Bahamas, his own Father passed away, in Utah. Dad flew back, just in time, to speak at his own Dad's funeral. I was fortunate enough to have a layover in SLC, on my way home from Florida. I didn't get back on the plane, but stayed for 3 days in Utah and was able to go to my Grandpa Goold's funeral.

It was the first funeral I'd attended for someone I knew. I'd only gone to funerals to play the piano, and always for people I didn't know. And I certainly didn't look in the caskets! I've always been a little freaked out by death.

I didn't think I'd be emotional. Even though I loved my Grandpa Goold, he was old and he was sick. I was happy that he could be released from his mortal body and move onto a happy, healthy place. I was repeatedly overcome with emotion at seeing all my family and feeling of their love. It's a shame that people come together better for the dead, than they do for the living! I was touched by the military honors paid to Grandpa, for his service in WWII (My Dad and Matthew are in the right corner of this picture.)

Those that spoke about Grandpa moved me to tears at their love and respect for him, but my favorite speech was given by my Dad. He loved his own Father very much and he did a great job communicating that love.

You can't understand love fully until you are a parent, I think. You can't fully appreciate your own parents and your Heavenly Father, until you bring life into the world. THEN, you understand the sacrifices your own parents made for you. And the amount of love they have for you. Being a parent brings you closer to God than anything else, because you are more like Him in the moments you succeed, than any other.

I want to tell my Dad, on this day, that I think he's a wonderful Father. He has taught me about love, service and sacrifice, and in doing so, he's taught me about my Heavenly Father. Thank You, Dad!

Lastly, Thanks Dad, for teaching me the value of a good friend. You've been a true friend to me and my little family . . . and to Mom . . . thank you for that example. I've watched you and your High School buddies, Mike and Brent, my whole life. It was so fun to see them surprise you and show up at Grandpa's funeral. I love how loyal you are to each other and how you have supported each other through the years. And I loved having Brent for a Dentist. Some little girls have crushes on their teachers. I crushed on my Dentist.

OK, back to Dad . . . I love you! Thanks for everything! xoxoxo

Father's Day, 2008

Today, the kids woke up and worked on gifts for Daddy, while he was at a church meeting. He came home and cooked everyone French Toast (I know, I was supposed to do that!) while we made videos for Grandpa Goold. Please excuse the bedhead hair (Rachel has syrup in hers!) and the mismatched PJs! (Be sure to "Pause" my music, at the bottom of my blog, to enjoy these videos!)



The Idiart Combo: Josh on piano & Rachel singing!



Emma practicing German on G'pa . . .



Benjamin being obnoxious and disrespectful . . . Oh, I am so proud.



Rachel and Katrina being cute, like always!

Damian has been begging me to buy him a WEIRD GIFT for 12 years and today, his dreams finally came true!

Picture his dream . . . a pewter school bus, small enough to hang on his wall with 13 little windows. Through the windows, our kid's school pictures peek out.

His childhood neighbor, Diana DeRenzi, had those bus frames and he has talked about/coveted them since I told him we were pregnant with Emma! Diana has a son and daughter and I bet those two buses were very cute on her wall.

We have 5 kids and now, 5 buses!! Tonight we'll draw up some plans to expand Damian's office into a mini-bus barn. To each, his own.

My Baby can BABYSIT!

Miss Emma took a 7 hour babysitting course at the Red Cross Headquarters today. She's been watching her cousins every once in awhile, and her baby brother/sisters (this does not include Josh, he babysits himself!) She is very responsible and good with kids . . . and she tries to tidy the homes she tends at, when the kids go to bed. She plans to babysit for families doing church/temple work for free and I'm proud of that decision she's made.

I hope she'll be very busy babysitting, earning money, just like I did at her age. I did it for books, but she'll do it for her expensive fashion habits! I also hope she and the Red Cross will form a wonderful partnership . . . that she'll become a Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor to put herself through college, just like me, too.

Eliza and I took Miss Rachel shopping for some new swim suits today and had a great time. We also bought the girls matching outfits for their upcoming cousin picture. We've taken the two of them to the photographer every year (except one) and they love that. Seven is such a fun, giggly age. We walked all over and of course, I always walked faster than them, like a mother that needs her ADD meds. I was talking and turned around and Eliza was doing "Talky Hands" at me behind my back. She made me laugh and then I lectured her about hurting my feelings. She's so funny and spunky. And I bit her on the nose, too.

Rachel is going to miss Eliza so much, when she goes with my parents for three weeks this summer! I think we need to talk Eliza's Utah Grandparents into going on an Elderhostel Trip with my parents/kids next summer . . .

Temple Date Night

Tonight, Damian and I went on a date to the Temple. We performed baptisms for relatives on his mom's side. Usually baptisms are performed by teenagers, but tonight we were with a group of adults doing temple work for their deceased family members. It was really special.

This is the baptistry in the Rexburg, Idaho temple. The following picture depicts the baptistry in the Nauvoo, Illinois temple. The twelve oxen, with the baptismal font on their backs, represent the twelve tribes of Israel. In the temple, we all change into white clothes. I love how everyone looks the same there. We are all symbolically pure, clean and equal before the Lord. It's beautiful imagery.

I learned that the stained glass in our temple was made in England by the same company that made the stained glass in the Sistine Chapel. The beautiful chandelier in our baptistery is made of Alabaster. I googled a similar chandelier and it was selling for close to $6,000. My church spares no expense in these beautiful temples. We call the temple, "The House of the Lord." There are 126 temples in operation all over the world and 14 under construction. Temples offer the members of my church a special place to worship, to leave the world behind and step into a beautiful, quiet, holy place. A place where we can be closer to our Heavenly Father and our elder brother, Jesus.

I am so thankful for the temple and the blessings it brings to my life. I'm so glad I only live a mile away from my temple! I'm always at peace in there and I learn so much each time I go. I'm so happy that through the temple I've been promised that I can be with my family forever.

I'm grateful we had the chance to be baptized for Damian's family, tonight . . . we believe the ordinance of baptism, by one with the proper priesthood authority, is essential to returning to live with our Heavenly Father, and his son, Jesus Christ. I believe Damian's ancestors can choose whether they want to accept the work we did for them tonight, and I hope they do. I can't wait to meet them all, when we pass to the other side, and tell them how thankful I am for their wonderful GREAT Grandson, Damian! And, I can't wait to laugh at all their weird last names, to their faces. I got plenty of mileage out of their names tonight, those Basques have goofy names, let's face it!

Summer Swim Lessons

Summer has officially started! Yesterday, my friends opened their pool and they're kind enough to let me borrow it for swim lessons.

Picture a bunch of bloodshot eyes . . . the smell of coconut lotion . . . Can you see that we're all totally exhausted? You know, the best way to tire kids out is to force them to hang around the pool for 2 hours a day! The time spent shivering . . . the sun . . . it all wears them down to little, quiet stubs.

I'm re-living my glory days as a 17 year old and teaching lessons 2 days a week. Of course, back then, I made $18 a hour and now, I'm doing it BASICALLY for free. Also, back then I looked good in a swim suit and now, well, we just won't go there. Now, more than half my class lives WITH me and calls me "Mom", but I'm OK with that. I'd rather they see me in my swim suit than the general public, anyway.

I love cracking the whip on my kids, my nieces/nephews and a few friend's kids. I have 4 classes, with a total of 18 students. One friend is swapping swim lessons for piano lessons (for Rachel and Emma). Another will be giving Josh painting lessons, in exchange for swim lessons for her boys. I'm stoked about my sweet deals and thrilled to be off-loading my kids on someone else a few hours a week!

I'll post some video of my kids swimming, soon!

My Italians, Part UNO

My ONLY Sister, Briana, is an Expatriate (or Expat, for short). People misspell this "Ex-patriot" (sometimes intentionally). It means she lives in a different country than the one she was raised in. The word comes from the Latin ex (out of) and patria (country, fatherland).

Briana has quite the adventurous spirit and has been an Expat. for many years . . . in many lands: Ireland, New Zealand, and South America. This will be her final home, I believe. She's met her other half and plans to marry him this fall.

This series of posts will be about MY ITALIANS. My baby sister and then . . . her wedding to my new Italian brother-in-law . . . (yes, I'm going to Italy for it!) and then, about my little Italian nieces and nephews . . . the first of those, her cute four-year old stepson.

This cute BABY is Briana, showing one of her many talents! She's got it GOIN' ON! She can cook, play piano like a dream, organic garden, learn new languages, weave, knit, raise bees and goats! And look at that naturally curly hair! She's dang cute.

I spent 2 hours talking to her last Thurs. morning. She has free long distance and called me from Italy. She is so in love and happy with her fiance, Sem and his son, Lucca. I can't wait to meet them both.

The last time we spent much time together was at Daniel's mission farewell (Jan. '07). The next time we'll be together is at the wedding in September. As you can tell, she and I are surrounded by 5 goofy brothers . . . Oh, the pains of being raised with so many boys!

My parents try to blame ME for the way they all act, but I think it's admirable that Briana and I turned out halfway normal, AT ALL! The boy's influence was much worse on US, than ours was on them!