Ben's Train Park Adventure

Yesterday, I took Ben to a birthday party at the local Train Park. All his friends were there and most of mine . . . it was a fun afternoon! Five of my nieces and nephews were invited, too. I acted like a psycho photographer, but only managed to freak one kid out.

This is my amazing friend, Kristi. She is about 9 months pregnant and the mother of 3 boys under 5. She looks like a supermodel, with children draped about her (and inside her). Apparently this baby is a girl. I'll believe it when I see her.

The moms really liked the train. Most of them went for more than one ride!

Then a couple daddy's showed up, on their lunch hour and the kids really liked that!! This is Aaron, my brother-in-law, with Noah and Mary, Ben's cousins.

Ben enjoyed the frosting on the cake. I didn't let the bald cake go to waste, though. I don't want to be too skinny for my trip to Italy at the end of the week!

Ben clapped for joy, when the train man said they could have ONE MORE RIDE. Marcus, my nephew, held onto his cousin, Mary, to keep her safe on the ride.

I love their little faces, so happy with anticipation for the three tunnels they would scream all the way through!

Damian's sister, Allison and her two cuties (Noah and Mary) enjoyed a few laps around the park on the train.

I caught Miss Pie (my niece) singing "Stinky, Stinky Diaper Change, Boy my sister smells so strange!" (to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) Over and over and over. She was very intense about her performance. Until she noticed me taking photos of her.

This is the hand of her stinky baby sister. I doubt anything that perfect could make something stinky, but Pie swears it is so.

Another niece, Elise, and her blue, blue eyes, delighted me with her smiles. I tried rubbing the jelly off her cheeks, but some stuck hard and fast. She's the perfect end to this post, with or without the jelly.

I didn't get any photos of the birthday boy, but HAPPY DAY to you, Ashy!

RS Gen. Broadcast

My mom and I went to the Relief Society General Broadcast on Saturday night. We met up with my mom's best friend from Valdez, Jeanne W. afterwards. I haven't seen Jeanne for 14 years and I've really missed her! She has always been a second mom to me. We've kept in touch by phone, letters and emails over the years, but now that she lives in Utah, I hope we'll SEE more of each other!

The conference center was packed. It was AWESOME to be surrounded by ALL women. Did you know the 21,333-seat Conference Center auditorium is believed to be the largest theater-style auditorium ever built? The second-largest, the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico has about 11,000 seats. Anyway, when all the women stood up to sing, the wonderful accoustics overwhelmed me!! There is a lot of power in Sisterhood, I tell you! I almost wanted to get out my video camera and record it to show you. But I was having too much fun singing my heart out, with my 21,000 sisters in Salt Lake City. And the Prophet. He was there too.

You can listen to it Here, if you missed it. It's available in 59 different languages. My favorite talk was my President Utchdorf. He made fun of his own cooking and made us all laugh about some of the differences between men and women. He said something profound, though:

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness; but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair, let us feel the silent prayers of others around us and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers."

I really loved that!! My cousin, Lana, posted her notes from his talk on her blog, if you're interested in them before the General Conference talks are published online next week, click here.

Blair and Heather's Wedding

My beautiful cousin Heather Mellen was sealed to her sweetheart Blair on Friday. The ceremony was beautiful, with the sealer offering lots of good advice. Heather's dress was lovely, her shoes were divine and her flowers were very pretty.

Logan was sunny and warm, the temple was peaceful and I enjoyed teaching my mom some conversational Italian on the drive up (that I had learned the day before!) We had some great times in the temple cafeteria, too!

I took lots of photos of the flowers at the temple, I want to landscape my backyard just like this!

I adore Heather's family, her dad has a great sense of humor, her mom is so loving and I have many fun memories playing with my Mellen cousins.

My Aunt Marilyn, second from the Right, on the top, came from Idaho. I loved picking her brain about my camera. She's my photographer HERO and I bought a matching camera like hers but have never really had much "training." She showed me a few quick tricks. It was great!

I loved seeing my grandparents . . . they really are just soooo cute!

Heather is my closest cousin on my mom's side. I love her a bunch and kick myself that I haven't kept in touch a little better with her, these last 10 years . . . we actually live close to each other. I'm hoping we spend more time together in the next 10 years, as she starts her family.

Blair's niece, Nicole was so helpful and sweet to Heather's niece, Paige.

Little Paige was a fun photography subject. I loved her golden Farrah Fawcett hair and her chubby little biceps. You know I love biceps.

Heather has two sisters. These are their husbands and little boys. My cousin Jenny (Paige's mom) sewed all the ties and vests for the wedding party. The MEN were all very debonair in their duds.

She also made little Paige this adorable purse to match all the ties. So cute! She's sending me the pattern and I'm going to TRY to make some for my girls, to match their dresses for my brother Michael's wedding. Or maybe I can pay Jenny to do it for me. Are you for hire, Jenny?

The reception site was gorgeous. It was in the shadow of the temple hill, with a little stream running through.

Paige's big brother was checking out what was UNDER the bridge!

Miss Paige (with her cute nails) loved the cake. Although, not as much as me. I had two pieces!

It was a wonderful day and I'm so glad I got to be part of it! Love you and Congrats, Heather! Welcome to the family, Blair!

Briana and Sem's Wedding Announcement

The Mysterious Benedict Society

This was a great children's book and it has a sequel! I'm in Logan, UT for my cousin's wedding TODAY and I enjoyed reading the sequel on the plane, yesterday!

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart is about a bunch of smart kids who have to band together to stop evil. They come from all different walks of life, but have some strange similarities. It's wholesome, mysterious, hilarious and sharp. It ends well, with all the characters finding happiness. It's quirky and really fun.

One of my favorite parts comes right near the beginning.

"There will be no talking!" boomed the pencil woman, who entered just then, slamming the door behind her. She strode briskly to the front of the room, carrying a tall stack of papers and a jar of pickles. "If any child is caught cheating, then he or she will be executed - "

The children gasped.

"I'm sorry, did I say executed? I meant to say escorted. Any child caught cheating will be escorted from the building at once. Now then, are you all relaxed? It's important to be relaxed when taking such an extremely difficult test as this, especially considering how long it is and how very little time you'll have to complete it."

Making Wedding Invites!!

As you know, I'm making my sister's wedding announcements. It has been a very fun process and I'm really proud of the results. They are all officially mailed. Thank you Katrina and Rachel for helping me Sunday afternoon. I loved the intensity and seriousness of your assistance (especially in Rachel's face as she SQUEEZED the eyelet setter!!)

Thank you, Allison and Tiffany, for hand cutting each photo (450 total!)

Thank you, Allison, for hand addressing each envelope.

(I know, I know, Mom . . . I lied. I told you I was printing them on the computer, but that was never my intention! I wanted them to look like a calligrapher had written them each out!)

Thank you, Wendy, for helping me put the pieces together, at the last dance we chaperoned together. Yes, I will help you make YOUR daughters invites, when the time comes!

Thank you Damian, for printing the return addresses. Thanks Aaron and Damian for doing all the paper clips . . .

Thanks to Emma and Josh for adhering all the stickies and then putting the photos inside each invite. It took 10 people to make 200 invites, but they turned out beautifully. I will post photos of the actual invite on Saturday (by then, most people SHOULD have gotten them!!)

List of 200

Damian's cousin put this on her blog and I thought it was so fun. The idea is to highlight the things you have done out of the 200 items on the list. The things I have done are in purple!

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of
The Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit
at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your
ancestors (My children's ancestors!)
35. Felt very happy about your life,
even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland (I flew over it, drooling out
the plane windows, does that count?)
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
(Is Mother Goose a Superhero?)
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie (I was filmed to be in
the documentary about my brother!!??)
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to
defend someone - verbal not physical
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played
with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant
that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to
another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
(No, but if I ever get a car that can go that fast, I will!)
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted
more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about
something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
(it wasn't JUST because of me, but I did help!)
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after
inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone w/out
sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that
you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to
someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place
to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood
or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people
asked for the recipe.
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you
into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you
on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something
other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter (HU??)

I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to do this, it's fun!! Especially you, SUE Q!!

Our short-lived pet, HOPPY!!

I found this cute little frog on my cabinets yesterday. Apparently, the joys of "country life" include frogs in the kitchen! Immediately, the older kids ran to wake up Benny, and help him tame his new pet.

The kids confiscated an old cookie jar and put the frog inside (not the best home, with no air holes!) Then, they all went to school, leaving me, Benny and HOPPY.

Ben and I took off to do errands and brought the frog/cookie jar along. Ben just didn't want to leave HOPPY behind . . . frogs get lonely, you know. First, we lugged the HOPSTER over to show Ben's cousin, Mary. I think Mary's mommy was a little freaked out!

Then, we took OL' HOPPY downtown. Nothing was open at 9am, so we walked around our little town collecting different leaves to give THE HOPPINATOR, as a snack! Then, we lugged the jar to the post office, the scrapbook store and the library. Ben really did look cute holding his awkward glass jar. He really wanted to "make a cage" out of his fingers and hold HOPPY, but I reminded him that THE HOPMEISTER had pooped on Josh. Josh dropped him and Ben wasn't willing to take the chance!

On the ride home, Ben said, "Mom, I really wish HOPPY could jump inside your laptop and play around on WEBKINZ. He would really like the trampoline and food I have in my house (online)."

We came home and made HOPPA-LAMMA-DING-DONG a little swimming pool and then waited for the big kids to get home from school. They arrived, bringing their cousins, SpideyHulkMr.Incredible and Rachel's Bosom BFF. Spidey and Ben let HOPPY go. Ben was worried that his froggy mother might miss him.

I sure am glad the dog didn't eat HOPPY. At least, not in front of the kids!

20 Worst Habits: PART TWO

Let's continue with my 20 Worst Habits. Just in case you didn't get enough last week.

Or maybe you have totally lost your mind.

Alrighty then . . . to continue:

15. I have no self control when it comes to sweets and chips. If I eat one cookie, I have to eat the whole plate. Forget the mini-candy bar bags sold around Halloween. I buy them thinking I'll allot myself one tiny bar a day. Then, I eat the whole bag! I just try not to buy anything sweet. And I hardly ever bake.

14. I eat WAY TOO FAST. I finish dinner and some of my kids are still deciding if what I cooked is palatable. So we play a game . . . they take one bite, I take one bite. Remember? I have 5 kids, so you can see where some bad tasting recipes end up . . . on my BUTT.

13. I don't immunize on time. My kids are all up to date a week before they get kicked out of school. I just hate shots. Not the actual shot, or the theory behind immunizing, don't get me wrong. I just am so annoyed and bothered that I have to take time out of my life to go to the doctor. Too bad you can't immunize by email! Katrina really did ALMOST get kicked out of kindergarten, last year. And Ben had to miss his third day of Pre-school last week to get shots. They told me he couldn't come back unless he was caught up.

12. I am pushy in one area of my life, my kids education. I request teachers every year and about 20 moms call me to ask who I'm requesting and who they should request . . . and how to do it. Sometimes I help them write the letter, word for word. Apparently, I've earned a little name for myself (it might be a swear word for some teachers!) Watch out, TEACH! If you cross me or my kids. . . you'll be on my blacklist and be messed up for life. This is on my "Worst Habit Lis" because some of the Elementary School Staff still bring up the year I got my request in late and used my husbands official Law Firm Stationary. In hindsight that was a little over the top, and they don't let me forget it!

11. My other "High Horse" is my kids moral upbringing. I am a Crazy-Media-Nazi-Mom.

The kids can't watch any shows or read books with characters that are older than them. No Harry Potter, No Twilight, and other inappropriate books for kids under 11. This really limits the Disney Channel, even 'Zach and Cody' have girlfriends now! They can't watch PG-13 at all and many PG movies are out.

Their Internet use is HEAVILY monitored and they have to use my email address. They rarely go play at friends houses unless I know the parents very well and have noticed that they have similar standards. I do let them invite any friends over to our house, but I watch "NEW" kids like a HAWK!

My kids do not attend sleepovers, outside of our extended family. They can stay for "Late-Nighters" and I come pick them up between 9 and 10pm. I am letting Emma have her first sleepover for her 12th birthday party. Next March. She's so excited she has it all planned 7 months in advance. I think this is part of the "Worst Habit List" because my kids hate me for all the above reasons. But I don't care. Hate all you want, Mamma ain't bending the rules.

Now friends, go forth and IMMUNIZE. And then eat a whole bag of my personal favorite: Salt and Vinegar Chips, in my honor! Until next time!

My BYU Roomie!

My BYU Roomie, Genny is about to have her first baby. G, you are the cutest, BULGIEST pregnant woman, EVER!! Just looking at photos of her tummy growing makes me grin, and then my back starts to hurt. I'd better go put my feet up!

I took a little road trip to attend Genny's baby shower a few weekends ago. I finally got to meet G's BFF, Melissa (MO). Melissa was someone I'd been wanting to meet for about 15 years and we had a really fun time together.

We played a classic shower game, "Guess the Pregnant Belly Measurement, Using Your Whits and Toilet Paper Squares." I always win at this game. Really, I do. What to know my secret? I am really putting myself out on the line, for the greater good of Baby Shower Participants everywhere, I tell you.

This shows one woman's guess, but she was 2 squares off. She isn't privy to the info that I'm about to share. Oh, and please note how tan I look in this photo.

Drumroll please . . . My big winning secret REVEALED!!

I just measure my own waist and add ONE square. That's it. The secret to success (If you are as wide as me). I know, I shouldn't admit that my waist is the same size as Genny's since I haven't been pregnant in 4 years.

I'm just keepin' it real, friends!

Here is my winning guess held alongside the one used to ACTUALLY measure Genny's girth. Oh, and my hand, clapping for myself in the corner. I love winning. Even if I have to admit I'm still the same size as a pregnant woman.

Just another photo of myself, too bad I didn't flex my huge biceps for the camera.

Do you see how the sun glints off my hair, highlighting it naturally? That's actually a little orange squarish shape, dark hair all around it. Like a strange patch/dye job gone bad. I tried going "Ghetto" and had my hair done before my cruise at the beauty school. I have these strange orange blobs all over my crown.

Again, just keepin' it real. I need to get into a decent beautician before my trip to Italy next month! OK, back to Genny.

She received this adorable hand painted chair/toothbrushing stool from her wonderful Mother-in-Law. I enjoyed seeing the love Genny's family has for her and the upcoming baby made manifest. She also has great friends that love and support her. She married the PERFECT man for her and I love seeing them together. I am so happy for my dear friend and all the blessings the Lord is filling her life with. I can't wait for this new baby to be born. My prayers and thoughts are with you, Genny! xoxoxo