Yay! Pics!

I am finally figuring out how to make my new camera work with my new editing software- I am slow- but I do eventually figure things out. My goal this year is to put a pic with every post. So these are to catch up from the last few that didn't have one!

Sierra the chipmunk. Just had the wisdom teeth out. Justice is making fun of her.

Christmas Eve party at Grama Laura's.

Trying out the new mic & keyboard! We love it!

~Nutcracker '08~

~Me and SiSi~

Baptism Preview

Justice had his baptism preview today. The stake puts on a program to hopefully ease the anxiety of these 8 year olds to be, and shows them exactly what will happen. They showed the kids the font they will be baptised in, and let them all walk down into it. It did not have water in it at the time. They could see the line where it would be filled up to and could determine from that how high it would go to on them. They had someone show them with an older child exactly how they would hold their hands and showed them how they would be laid back into the water. Then they went back into the dressing room and saw the closet full of white clothes that they can choose from. It was very touching to see these wide eyed sweeties so curious and anxious to take this next step in our church. I tried to make sure that Justice had all of his questions answered. I want him to know that this is his choice to be baptised. He wants to do it and is excited. Once he turns 8 he can also start Scouts- which he is super excited about. His birthday is not until Nov. so we have a lot of waiting to do-which Justice is not very good at! Montana was very cute about telling him how it was when she was baptised. She had a giant smile on her face. They would explain something and then she would look at him as if to say "It's going to be so awesome, you will love it!" Justice asked me what it feels like after you are baptised. I told him that it makes you feel very happy. You will have done a really important thing that Heavenly Father wants you to do. I'm so proud of my kids!

58/100

The idea is that you highlight in bold the ones you’ve done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched an amazing lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

I tag all of you!

Voices

My good friend Amy talked me into joining a singing group called Voices. We were in A Capella Choir (Madrigals) together during High School and have so many fun memories of it. I thought I would give it a try. It will be fun for me to get out and hang with adults and perform a little again. Plus I can get my singing voice back in tune. My family actually can't believe I was ever a singer. Everyone in the group is really good, and they can all play and read music. I am pretty much just a singer by ear- I can read a little but I would like to be much better. So I have a lot of catching up to do. It went pretty well for our first practice today. We are going to learn 13 songs for our singing Valentines. We sing pretty much all day on the 13th. We go to people's work and deliver sweet songs from their honey! I am excited. Let me know if you would like a singing Valentine for your honey!! We also do a spring program, and of course Christmas performances. I have lots of practicing to do and hope I won't embarrass myself or the group!! la, la, la, la, la!!

All by myself

Ahhhh. I am sitting in the quiet,alone,for a few peaceful hours. The kids are back in school. Eric is at work. I am working on laundry and dishes and listening to the peaceful hum of the machines. No cartoons or westerns blaring. This is so rare. I am enjoying it way too much. Kids will be home in an hour and then it's rush, rush, rush from lesson to lesson. From one end of town to the other and back. Then quick dinner, baths, and of to bed. Then perhaps a cuddle moment with my husband on the couch. I should be at the gym. I should be doing homework. I should be running errands. But not right now. It's just me and my Calgon moment. Oh crap, the phones ringing. Back to reality!

Justice was right

I was taking the kids to see "Bedtime Stories" last night and I was going a little fast. Justice as he always does, was telling me to slow down. I told him to hush and let me drive. Two seconds later, the flashing lights in my rearview mirror told me I should have listened to my little one. So now I have to go to traffic school-pay a fine- and we were late for the movie. I promise to listen to my little safety monitor now.

Off with a bang

Midnight struck and we all celebrated in our own way. I was at work. Sierra was at a party with friends. Eric and the kids were shooting confetti fireworks at the house. We called each other and celebrated on the phone. Not the best- but it marked the occassion.
I am really excited about this year. Instead of making a long list of resolutions that I know I won't keep ,I have instead made a theme for the year. Nurture. I want to be better to myself, and better to my family. I want to do the things that really matter. I have building blocks in mind. We are building our children into adults. I want to teach myself and my children the things that are truly important in life. I want to create honorable memories. I want to have fun and be healthy. I think of nurturing every morning. Too often I put myself last- I even put my children and husband on the back burner because of pointless things that need to be done. I hope this will bring us closer as a family and make us all just a little bit happier!! Happy New Year everyone.