TIPS FOR 2009

Got this picture-list in an email today...thought it was fitting....

1. Don't get into trouble.
2. Aim for greater heights.

3. Stay focused on your job.

4. Exercise to maintain good health.

5. Practice team work.

6. Rely on your trusted partner to watch your back.7. Save for rainy days.
8. Rest and relax.

9. Always smile when you boss is around.

10. Nothing is impossible

Bailey

Also affectionately known as Bailey-Dog.

He was a cuter than average pup, about 8 months old, when we got him. He tore through everything that wasn't nailed down in the garage, chewing and hiding stuff with puppy glee. Of course my husband, still to this day, doesn't believe that Bailey did the normal destructive puppy stuff, but since the dog is his baby, I will let him think that.

Oh, yeah, I mean it. After our first 3 kids, he brought new animal(s) home, right after we brought home a new baby.

With Rachel, it was a llama. Never mind that we didn't have the property to keep it, so we had to board it. And of course he had to get the llama a friend, and then decided that he liked them so much, that when we did get some land a short time later, he bought and sold close to 100 of them over a 5 year period.

With Noelle, it was pygmy goats. Of course they were cute. But a herd of 35 that someone wanted to get rid of?

Please!

With Tanner, our youngest, it was cattle. Specifically, baby bottle calves.

But this is a tribute to Bailey. And we got him right after Isaac was born in 2000. He is a purebred black lab, and trained to be a duck hunting dog. His parents are both champions. But that's not what makes Bailey special.

He is special because of his intelligence. He has an excellent nose, and can retrieve ducks like nobody's business. I don't know a lot about duck hunting, because I don't go on these wet and cold adventures - that's what the boys in my family do - so my husband and Isaac have a great time with Bailey, and that's what matters.

He is special because of his good personal hygiene. He always gently lets us know when he needs to go out, and since we have a few acres, he has his place to go. I have never found any of his poopies in the lawn or driveway or anywhere other than outside of the landscaped areas of our property. Good dog! I can count on one hand the times that he has had an accident in the house, and that's only because he was sick.

He is special because of his kindness. This dog has always been so gentle with the kids, even as a pup. The little ones can pull his ears and tail, climb on his back, push him, prod him, etc, and he never gets upset.

He is special because of his protectiveness. He is a Big Dog. Sometimes people think he has some Rottweiler in him, because his head is so big, but he doesn't. This can make him look somewhat threatening. And it comes in handy when strangers pull up in the driveway, and are afraid to get out of the car when they see him. . . . we just chuckle with our friends because we all know he'd never hurt anyone.

But Bailey is showing signs of slowing down; getting old. So sad that a dog's life span is so short. We feed him good food and let him stay inside now, especially during the cold winter months. We all love him, and hope he stays around for a good long time. . .

Good Bailey Dog!

And this is my #4. If you want to know what I'm talking about, go to this post! And then read some more! You'll be glad you did!

Umm, Maybe I Should Just Slow Down!?!

I was opening my bills the other day. . . and now you know the rest of this story just can't be about something good. . .

. . . when I noticed on my car insurance bill that there's an increase of $89 semi-annually, with a nice little phrase that I don't recall exactly, but for sure was a polite way to say "now you gotta pay thru the nose because you can't control your foot"
You can guess, yes, this was because of a ticket that I had gotten sometime in the previous six months. For speeding. To be fair, I hadn't gotten a ticket in more than 3 years, so you could call me reformed. More likely, you should just call me Lucky.

Because, anyone who knows me, even a tiny little bit, knows or has heard that I tend to drive like I have a ten-pound anvil weighing down my foot.

This stems from the little (I think my husband made it up) -known (true) urban myth about Utah drivers.

I haven't lived in Utah since I was 4. (Pretty sure I didn't drive back then) However, I was born in Utah. It must be in the water. I'm sure my mom drank plenty of it during my gestation.

Let me explain the myth.

LDS women, especially those who have any number of kids and have been married a while, have a lot of meetings to attend. Church, school, and community, those meetings can really add up.

And when you have kids, whether several small, or, many in a vast age range like I do, to prod along and get ready to go with you, it seems that time nearly always is in short supply.

So when we (you can include yourself if you are LDS or a woman, or not; your choice) get behind the wheel of a car, we have to get where we are going in about half the time that it really takes, if you drive the speed limit. And any children who grew up in a household such as this, naturally learned to drive like this. So you have streets and especially freeways full of people driving like bats out of. . . well, you know.

That's my husband's theory, anyway.

Now, to be fair, LDS women, and Mormons in general, try really, really hard not to break laws. It's in the commandments somewhere, I think. We are so good at it, that little things like traffic laws go fairly unnoticed.

If you've ever been to Utah, I think you know what I mean...

Weekend Wafts of Wackiness

Leprechauns and Laughs

Written by Noelle because... (click here)

I don't know what's with the St. Patrick's Day background my mom put on here. It's not for almost a month! It's like spending all your money before you go to the store! Seriously, I'm sure every one's going to be tired of the St. Pat's day background before it's even March 17. Me, personally, I'm still in Valentines Day mode. I don't know why every one's in a rush to celebrate leprechauns! What's so special about 3 foot people wearing green prancing around fooling you into sliding down the 'mystical' rainbow to find an empty pot! I'm not even going to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. That will show the little gnomes! Who is this 'Patrick' person anyway! For all we know he could be a crazy person or worse, a democrat!

"I love you donkey! St.Patrick's final words.

This morning, for some reason Tanner put underwear on his head and kept saying "underwear hair." After that he probably put it on his face, because I heard him saying "underwear face." He'll probably be calling himself Captain Underpants before long. I have truly insane little brothers. Does anybody have a couple straitjackets I can borrow? Or a padded room?

Okay, funny fact: Tanner and I were trying to make a show that I could put on my weekly blog. Of course he wouldn't listen to the director (me). He said he wanted to do "what he had in his mind." So he did this superman thing saying " Oh no! There's a fire! I gotta save the day!" then jumping off his bed for 5 minutes strait.

I was trying to get him to do a spoof on a commercial. You know the one with the voice recorder? " Oh no, I forgot where I parked my car!" said the old lady who was a terrible actress. My sister Rachel and I, every time we see that commercial, always mimic the old lady by saying " Oh no, I forgot how to act!"

He he I thought of another funny commercial. Try to guess (in a comment) what it's a commercial for... "It's the most sophisticated thing you will ever pee on" says the big booming voice. : D

I'll be here next weekend! : D

Blankety-Blank Bloggers :~P

Out of all of the blogs that I follow (and the number has gotten ridiculous - I am a serial reader of all people-generated computer-hosted word) and types of blogs that I follow (I love GiveAway blogs - check this one out) my favorite blogs are written by the people that I know and love (or written by people that know and love someone that I know and love). It doesn't matter if they simply post a picture and include a brief sentence about it, they are the best!

I do love witty, sweet, sensitive, sarcastic, and/or informative blogs, but (though I love them; did I mention that?) they really don't bring the same anticipation to me when I see a new post awaiting that the Friends & Family posts do.

Not to say that my friends and family's blogs are not witty, sweet, sensitive, sarcastic, and/or informative, because they ARE, but you know the blogs I mean - those one-in-ten-thousand who win those really cool blogger awards...
Recently, I had a friend admit via blog that she is, basically, intimidated by those bloggers out there who can write a whole laugh-so-hard-your-sides-are-going-to-split story about what happened while grocery shopping that day. She even went private momentarily - I don't know if that was why for sure - but I know that if I couldn't read about her every-day happenings, I'd be really sad! (She is a great lady with an awesome family, I might add).


So, even though I so enjoy reading the blogs of virtual stangers (all are written by people who I am pretty sure would be great friends, if we ever had the chance to meet) that are listed on my sidebar, if they don't post pretty much once a week, I will take them off. They will vanish. (just from my sidebar, of course. I don't have those kind of powers :~D)


Ouch, I know, for sure. But I gotta clean out the cobwebs once in a while, ya know. You can't fault me for that, can you?

~And then there are those bloggers who I would/could/should consider friends now, because of the magic of the blog-world. They are those who I have things in common with, who I can relate to, and email a comment back to them when they leave a comment or ask a question, or vice-versa. I will hold a spot on my list for sure, cuz I know they're coming back ~

And if you do disappear from my list, chances are I am still 'Following' you - in the blogger sense, of course, not in the creepy stalking way...

if you are a friend, family member, or otherwise known to me personally, your blog will stay on my sidebar forever, come rain, shine, or complete computer meltdown.

Until you delete you blog completely. You may not have written a single thing since the last 24th of July, but your link will stay on my blog-scape until your blog-screen comes up empty, as blank as a fresh sheet of paper. . .

In the meantime, I will be waiting with great anticipation for your next update!

REVISED!!! My First Giveaway! The Easy Way: Just Copy and Paste!

I posted this giveaway a couple days ago, but I feel a slight change to it is needed....see bolded areas

We love you and how will we show thee???

A Giveaway!

What a perfect way for ME to show YOU my love.

The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me, my choice, for you. (I know... a little scary, but maybe fun? Huh?)

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.

2- What I created will be just for you.

3- It'll be done by the end of March.

4- You have no clue what it is going to be. It may be a story, poetry, picture, but it will be something I will make and give or mail to you. Who knows...not you, or me! :)

The CATCH?? Oh, the catch is that you must copy this post and re-post it on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who respond to yours.

The first 5 people who leave a comment telling me their favorite color and holiday, and, if you want, anything else that is pertinent to your personality will then win a handmade gift by me!

Oh, and be sure to post of picture of it when you get it!

So! leave your comment and copy the main part of this post and put it on your blog!

And thank you to those who have already left their comments!

Weekend Wafts of Wackiness

Aprons, Irons, and Delici-o-so Cookie Dough-oh
This post is written by Noelle, because...(click here)

All weekend I was thinking about what I was going to say on this week's post. I didn't worry about it so much after Madi and Savannah spent the night on Friday. On Saturday we did some hand sewing. I decided to copy Madi's idea of making an apron. I got everything done except the tie strings. After that I probably bored them to tears by watching this ridiculous cartoon, Johnny Bravo, because we couldn't think of anything else to do (sorry). Anyway, I forgot all about it until Sunday.

My mom decided to make some snickerdoodle cookies (delicious:D). Then I thought of my apron. So I decided to sew on the ties. When I was finished I showed her my apron and she said "You should do your blog about your apron". So here I am, with those delicious cookies. :D

Delici-o-so cookie dough-oh

So we made the amazing cookies and yes, they were definitely delicious, more than I had imagined. mmmm cookies

First things first, I needed some pictures before I could start my post. I took a couple but my apron didn't exactly have baby smooth skin. My mom told me to iron it. My excuse not to was that irons scare me. I mean just look at that menacing shine. I conquered my 'fear' and ironed it anyway.

After that I put it all on here. That became my post. Then I typed all this.

Then I typed this.

Then I typed this...

p.s. My apron is much cuter in person, or in apron since it's not a person.

p.p.s. Happy Valentines Day!:D

p.p.p.s. Sorry my Happy Valentines Day! is late.


p.p.p.p.s. Sorry about all my p.p.p.p.s.'s.

Oh, Crappy Day. . .

Have you ever had a day where you just feel like you look like crap? And so you feel just crappy, too?

Today for me is one of those days.

(I realize that this is a frivolous complaint - there are many people out there with much bigger problems. . . Heck, I have much bigger problems that this. . .however, this is the one that I feel like writing about right now)

Getting older really stinks big time. For so many years I never really aged much, always had people comment on how I looked like my teenage daughter's sister, not her mom, or how they couldn't believe that I have 7 kids. My dad is almost 68, and looks younger than most 50-year-olds, so I must have his youthful genes. . . but. . .

Lately I have been feeling like I have been ageing really quickly.

~Like how it is super hard to lose pesky pounds I have gained over the holidays. . .

~Like how my hair is showing more and more gray as it grows out between visits to the salon. . .

~Like how I have less and less of it than I used to. . .

~Like how I have wrinkles on top of wrinkles now. . .

~Like how I have to shake out my sore muscles when I stand after sitting for awhile. . .

~Like how I feel like an Extreme Makeover 'Before' photo. . .

~Like how I think my husband has become a compulsive liar when he tells me how beautiful and sexy I am (and for the record, I have NEVER seen myself as sexy for one single minute). . .

~Like how people I meet are no longer surprised when they hear I have teenagers. . .

~Like how those same people are no longer surprised when they hear I have grandkids. . .

. . . all of it really tells me that I am looking my age.

And then there are the conversations between my friends - some of them women a bit younger than me - about health issues, specifically about peri-menopause. Talking about weight gain, hormonal irritability, and increased/decreased menstrual flow. I don't like talking about that stuff, mayby because I never really felt the need to before, and I certainly don't want to now.

But I know- it is inevitable.

Hey, for sure, everyone ages. Everyone who manages to stay alive, that is :~P So why do I feel so guilty, like I am letting people down - my family, my friends, even strangers - just by getting older?

Makes no sense to me. . .

I should be grateful that I have my health, and I am. . .but. . .

Must be one of those hormonal things. . .

And I'm sure it has everything to do with the fact that there have been a couple other people that I hadn't seen in a while, and had been startled by how much they had aged. . . I just don't want to put any of my friends and loved ones through that trama. . .

So I continue to try to do my best to take care of myself and stay healthy, to

eat healthy (I need to do better at that, for sure!)

exercise (I love to exercise, but I find that I need to stretch better, watch how I move, etc, so I don't hurt myself - rats!)
and I know that I need more rest, but who has time, chasing after kids and grandkids? Today I have them, all day, with no backup from my husband, who works from home, or my teenage daughter, (who home schools)

So mealtimes, carpooling back and forth from preschool (Tanner) and Scouts (Isaac); all up to me today. I know that I have done it before, when I had a whole bunch of little ones

but I was YOUNG then.

But you know what? Today, trying to stay on task, keep to a schedule so that everything can be accomplished, I managed it all OK. I knew just what I needed to do and did so, calmly, without worrying that I was forgetting something important.

Like I had experience doing this stuff.

Because I do!

Lots and lots of Experience.

Oh, crap.

I betcha I have some wisdom now, too. . .

Weekend Wafts of Wackiness

Noelle's Busy Day

This post is written by Noelle, because...(click here)

The votes are in! Last week I had a poll to see if you wanted me to get my own blog or facebook. Well, here are the results. Three yes's :D, two no's :( and four people said I should post weekly on my Mom's blog :O.

So I will be here every weekend on either Saturday or Sunday until I am sixteen. When I turn sixteen, in five years, I will have a blog of my very own. I will probably forget all about blogging by then, along with everyone else, though. My posts will be titled Weekend Wafts of Wackiness.

Now on to my post. We made heart shaped sugar cookies on Friday for our ward primary activity. Some of you may be wondering who the people in the picture are. Left to right are me, Savannah, Michaela, Madison, and Isaac. And behind us is Tanner. We were all very messy because we had to roll out the cookie dough in flour so we could cookie-cut it into hearts. It was a lot of fun. It was also very hard, but well worth it. The cookies were very delicious!:D

Pile 'O Cookies

For our activity on Saturday we all wrote down our names on a piece of paper and put them in a basket. We would find out what that was for later.

We made care packages for some kids in Africa that had some snacks and a note or a picture. After that, we put all the left over stuff in a bag. Sister Anderson pulled out names from the basket one by one. We got to reach in the bag and pull something out. Here's the catch, we had to give whatever we pulled out to someone else. In the end we all got something. It was a lot of fun.

My Bag (with Bob the Tomato on it)

After we all went home, Rachel, my mom, and I went to a Mary Kay make-up party. We got to use this kit called Satin Hands which felt amazing. We all got to try some face cleanser and put on some bea-u-tiful make-up. We did something called Kiss Personality where we all put on some lip gloss and kissed the back of a piece of paper. Our personality was judged by the shape of our kiss. I was a Lucky Charmer. It said I was a fun dinner guest, had a child-like nature that sometimes gets in the way, and that my friends say I am lucky. The funny thing is that Laura Dale and I got the same one. If you know Laura then you'll understand why that's funny. She's hilarious and outgoing, and I'm shy and clumsy. I guess I'm going to be like Laura when I'm older. Sweet! =D

Awesome - A Preserved Moment in Time

Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by layers of snow that react to different conditions

Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with meltwater and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.

When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a green stripe. Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.

The water froze the instant the wave broke through the ice. Water freezes the instant it comes in contact with the air. The temperature of the water is already some degrees below freezing. Just look at how the wave froze in mid-air!!!

That's what it is like in Antarctica where it is the coldest weather in decades

Isn't this amazing??

Nature is amazing!

Antarctica Frozen Wave Pixs

**These pictures were sent to me via email. But I don't wish I had been there to take them. . . can you blame me? **

AND

please check out the post below. For some reason, it wouldn't update on the bloglists...thanks