Happy Anniversary to me!! (and Lukie!)

Okay, so I'm a slogger! I'm almost always a day late and a dollar short, but I somehow make it! Anywhoo, Happy 8th Anniversary, yesterday!

Luke and I got married in the Bountiful, UT Temple on January 28th, 2000. It was an extremely COLD day, but we were oblivious to the temperature! Michelle was my chaperon, or whatever it is called, and helped me get ready in the bride's room. She is so awesome! She also helped me get ready before we went to the temple, and was late getting there with me!!!

After the ceremony (and eternity out in the cold getting pictures, we went to eat. I was so hungry and tired! Then Luke and I went up to Ogden Canyon to the Alaskain Inn. It was so amazing! Our reception was the following evening, so we had to get up early and get on the road. Yes, I can honestly say it was the best day of my life!

President Gordon B. Hinkley

Like almost everyone else, I have spent the majority of my night and day today thinking about our late Prophet. As a convert to the church, President Hinkley was the first Prophet that I had the opportunity of knowing, and he has greatly influenced my life in many ways.

Today has been a day of reflection--and now I am beginning to realize that Pres. Hinckley's passing is another opportunity for renewal of faith and re-dedication of our lives as we look at a man who has done such a marvelous work.

I remember when Nadine, my best friend, Dawna's mom took Jami and I to the Holt Arena to a bi-regional conference for the church. President Hinkley came, and we saw that he was shaking hands with those who sat behind him. We went back that afternoon, even though we had already heard the same talk, and sat behind the pulpit just so we could shake his hand. Jami had a broken arm at the time, and he told her to get well soon! It was around the time that he was first called to be our new prophet, since Jami and I were recent converts. He said something to each individual. That has made a huge impact on my testimony, and I will always love this amazing man.

Then came the call for each member to read the Book of Mormon. Had I done it before? Yes. Will I do it again? Yes! The promise he gave to each of us, and the blessings I personally and as a family received from this challenge was phenomenal! I will forever be grateful for this man!

We are so blessed to live in a time when we have a living prophet on the face of the earth. How many days have I taken that for granted? I love President Hinkley and his beautiful wife, Marjorie. What amazing people they were and still are. He is someone who will surely be missed, but someone whom I am looking forward to again shaking his hand!

My family's halarious!!!

Okay, so if any of you are wondering where I am coming from, let me tell you a sweet little oops my mom made, and then you'll think I'm normal!
So about a week ago, I went with her to wal-mart. While we were there, she said she needed to turn in her film. (Okay, cuz she still doesn't have her digital camera figured out!) Well, she went in today for a few things and thought "While I'm here, I should go and get my pictures," (no big deal, hu?) Well, she gave them her name, and the lady said that there was a message that the film wasn't in the envelope. "That's funny," my mom thought, "I know I put it in there." As she was thinking this amazing thought, the lady pulled the cannister out of the envelope. It was my mom's travel-size Mentholatum!!! My mom then proceeded to act dumb. "What's that?" She innocently asked. The lady then appologized and said that if they found the film, they would give her a call. My mom said thank you and walked around the corner to then proceed to fill out a new envelope!

Now, the mother-in-law. We went over to visit them on Sunday evening. We we all sitting around the living room laughing, when she told Luke she had a bone to pick with him. The family immediately went quiet, knowing what she was going to say. She went on to inform him that last night she had gone to the freezer and got a roast out. She put it in the roasting pan and let it defrost for lunch today. When they got ready to go for a drive, she put the roast in to cook so that when they got back, they could eat. When they got home, the house was stinky. She pulled out the roast, and opened it up. Then, she noticed that it had a BUM. A roast shouldn't have a bum. She didn't realize it also had four legs, and a bum!!! In September, Luke went hunting for rabbits. He wanted to try cooking one, and taste it. Well, his mom beat him to it, and fed the animal to the puppies outside! She was so mad at him for putting the rabbit in the freezer. (Who wouldn't notice the four legs and a bum?!!!)

When we're helping we're happy . . .

Ahh! She's following in my footsteps! I am a cleaning junkie, and Brooks is, too! She was following me around all morning, and I was cleaning, so I gave her a small duster and she absolutely loved to clean! She kept going back to the same three spots, but there isn't much dust there now! (I dust twice a week, and my house still grows the dust faster than I can clean it!) Anywhoo, I give my kids chores around age two, two and a half, but this little misses just might have a few before eighteen months! She thought she was so cute, too! (She is!!) Colton's favorite chore is to clean the windows (they are messier when he's done), and Carson takes great pride in cleaning his bathroom! (Yes, he is still too young to be repulsed by that!, thank goodness, for right now!) In sixteen years, I will show her that this used to be fun!

Luke had a Birthday, shout horray!

My honey turned 30!! Wow, old man! We had a pretty fun day, too! While he was at work, I went and decorated our house in black and green stuff. Colton and Brooklynn helped a ton (by making the job a whole lot harder!) Here are a few pictures of the dinning room table and when we started blowing up balloons. Then, we picked Carson up from gymnastics and went to check cows. We had a baby boy on Luke's birthday! It's the first one of the season, so now we have a new calf named Lukie! (I named it after him, since it's his Birthday. Luke gets mad when I name the cows names, but it's not hurting anyone, is it?) Anywhoo, we went to Poky to go to the Ag Expo, but it was closed, so we just met mom, dad, and Scott at Texas Roadhouse. Luke enjoyed this day because he got to relax a little more than usual! Finally, Luke's mom made the titti cake for me, and Gretch brought it over while we were gone. Unfortunately, it got destroyed before I could get a picture. It was way cute, though! We'll have another when he turns 40!!! Happy Birthday, baby! I love you tons!!!

Cream Mr. Wheat!!

On behalf of Mountain View Elementary School, I GOT HIM!!! (and Carson did, too!) We had our annual canned food drive the last couple of weeks in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. For each class who brought in double the amount of cans as kids in each class, they got a pie to throw. We did really well, with fifty pies in all! (Considering the amount of kids in the school.) Carson got to throw two pies for his class. He got Mr. Wheat (our principal) on the chest! I decided to step in (it was all set up before) and donate a case of corn to the pile if I could "cream Mr. Wheat!" Not only did I throw a pie in his face, but we put chocolate syrup and sprinkles on it to add a little flair! I was the first one to get him square on in the face! The kids had a blast, and in the end, Mr. Wheat had so much pie all over him that he had to just throw away his shirt! Hey, if anyone out there got a picture of me throwing the pie, please let me know or e-mail it to me (Kim, Nikki, Tracy?)

Heads Up!!!

Just a little heads up . . . Luke's turning 30 on Wednesday! He has to work, and so he'll be home around 8:00 p.m. (if we're lucky), but I'm going to make it as much fun as possible. (At least fun for me and the fam. to tease him!) He doesn't like birthdays anymore (or so he says), and doesn't even want to celebrate. I know he won't read this before, so please shield you kid's eyes . . . I'm going to have my mother-in-law make him a titties cake! The kids will be in bed before I even get it out (they think that we're just having brownies), but I think it will be funny. Okay, so I don't have many gags up my sleeve, but I know she has the titties cake pan, and she wants to make him a cake . . .

Just a little brag . . .

Okay, here it is . . . my new Wii age . . .26!! Luke isn't impressed, but when you think about it, on Christmas I was 74. I don't play too often (maybe 6 or 7 times), and I've done pretty darn good! I don't know how old it goes to (if anyone does, please let me know), but I'm pretty young for the Wii!!!!

It's Snugglin' Season!

For all of you who live in Idaho, you already know this. For everyone else . . . it's C.O.L.D. Enough said. Luke says it's been getting to about -20* in some spots, and that is not including the windchill. Oh yea, and it's still snowing! We have a lot of snow, and it's been blowing a ton! I don't know how many times I've plowed the drift going to our front door, but I want you all to know that I'm officially giving up! Come in the basement until around April! Poor Roxann got stuck in the drift yesterday bringing her kids over, and my visiting teachers . . . it wasn't pretty. The sad thing is I go out at least twice a day to plow! By the way, if any of you care, tomorrow I'm only wearing sweats and a sweatshirt, slippers, and having at least three cups of hot chocolate before 10:00 a.m.! And no, I'm not going outside!!!

We've got . . . the Boogies!

We've officially got it. My kids have the yuckiest boogies this year! It's been going around in our ward, family, and friends, but we have had the luck . . . until yesterday! Brooklynn woke up around 6:00 a.m. having a hard time breathing. She just looks at you and the green stuff runs into her mouth. Today I started getting it, and while Colton and I were playing the Wii, I noticed he was constantly pulling up his pants and then wiping his nose. YUCKY! So far, Mentholatum and a humidifier are what I'm using for Brooks, while I'm drinking orange Triaminic. If anyone else has an idea, PLEASE let me know! Until then, we'll continue to buy tissues in bulk!

The Rexburg, Idaho Temple

Friday night, we had the awesome privilege of going to the open house at the Rexburg Temple. It was amazing! I was supposed to go with the Foster family, but my father-in-law got called into work, my sister-in-law, Gretchen's family didn't come, because the roads were bad, Emily was going to ride with my in-laws, so she cancelled, and Jake and Elaine decided not to drive all the way to Rexburg since they went the week before. SO, I invited my mom and dad, and it all worked out in the end. Luke had to work, too, so I rode with mom and dad. Carson and Colton absolutely love their cousins Sierra and Lyndsey, and Aunt Michelle and Uncle Todd. They met us in Rexburg and went thru the temple with us. It was really good to see them!
Okay, so the temple was gorgeous! (Have you ever been to one that's not?!) There is a wheat theme throughout, and it was awesome. Elaine, my sister-in-law also said that all of the paintings were done by a local guy in her home ward! The kids totally ate it all up, except Brooklynn, who (why did I take her, again?) just wanted to climb the stairs all by herself! Colton said he wants to go see the "dead cow" place again. It took me a minute to realize, the baptismal font, where you do baptisms for the dead! Carson is right on target, saying that he felt like a king in the Celestial Room because of the way it was decorated!
Afterward, we went to Kreggo's Pizza. Thank goodness Michelle called ahead, or we still would have been waiting in line to eat! I'm so grateful I was able to share this with my family. We've been talking about temples for FHE lately, so I hope now they can see a little of what I am trying to teach them. I also hope they always remember this awesome experience!

"Roo" turns a whoppin' one!!

Brooklynn's birthday by the numbers:

1. The age "Roo" turned yesterday!

2. The number of presents mom and dad bought for sister, a fuzzy kitty book and a car. (a girly car!)

3. How many times mom had to suction out her nose because she had so much frosting from her cupcake up inside!!

4. Minutes waiting for daddy to get home so that she could open her presents!

5. Amount of dolls that can fit into this stroller at once! Aunt Gretchen got it for her, and it is so cute watching her push it around!

6. The number of times mom tried to put on my cute birthday crown for a picture, only to have me pull it off! (She resorted to a picture of it on the kitchen table!)

7. How many cupcakes mom actually ate compared to everyone else's 1!

8. The actual time everyone went to bed! (Even mom!)

9. People who called to wish her a "Happy Birthday"!

10. The amount of inches it snowed! Actually, it snowed over a foot, but mom is tired of playing by the numbers! By the way, thank you, Grandpa Foster for plowing out our 1/2 mile long driveway!

Colton is a proud CTR 5!

This last week, we all got new classes, and Colton has now graduated from Sunbeams to CTR 5! He was so proud to get his own ring and necklace that his teachers gave him yesterday! It is hilarious, 'cuz he randomly comes up to you, displays his ring, and exclaims "special ring!" What a dork! He's so proud to be a CTR! Carson loves his teacher. He's got a fun class of kids, too. Diane, a good friend of mine is teaching him this year. Mine and Luke's Sunday School class is still really large. We lost about five kids, gained about four, so we have around twelve active kids. It's also a hard class. I know this from when I was Primary president a year ago. Talk about extra prayers and patience this year! It is fun, however, to see how much these kids have grown.

She's walkin'!!

Okay, so my baby girl isn't just a baby anymore. This Wednesday she'll turn one, and now she's done with her crawling thing! I can't believe how fast she's growing up. (Well, she's not exactly growing! Next to Tyli, she's tiny. She is still in twelve month clothes, and my boys at this age were in 2T!) This last week she's decided that it's faster to walk than crawl, so she finally started walking most of the time. My favorite is to watch her brothers chase her around our kitchen into the dining room, down the hall, and around again. She squeals, and they think it's funny! I kept forgetting to take pictures of her walking, so this morning when she woke up, I hurried and took a few before her bath! Next, she'll be taking dance lessons and gymnastics! She even helped push the cart around Tai Pan yesterday, and loved every minute.

Happy New Year!

Wow! I can't believe 2007 is over! What a crazy year it has been for us! Our lives, again, have changed so much! I can't even begin to write all that has happened to our family this year, but I can say that I know we are truly blessed!

It's crazy for me to think that Brooklynn joined our family this last year! We are so blessed to have three healthy, happy, and beautiful children that Heavenly Father has entrusted to our care. I'm also super lucky to have such a loving, hard-working, supportive husband who loves me despite all of my many, many downfalls. How come am I so blessed?!

Okay, so I am going to share my top five New Year's Resolutions with you guys, just so you can all hold me accountable! There, now the pressure is on you! I know I am sounding a little to religious for some of you, sorry! Like Scott said, "My house is like a bible threw up in it, and we are living it!"

5. Be more patient with my kids, Lukie, and others (family included!) In this is also included to forgive more quickly and not let small things upset me!

4. Actually save some money. Hello! How does a family trip to Sea World Sound?

3. Say "thank you" more often and write tons more thank you notes. Kinda cheesey, but I really need to work on this! Think about it, how good do you feel when you get a cute thank-you note?!

2. Learn to eat with chop-sticks! No, not spiritual, just something I've always wanted to do!!

1. Be a lot more diligent in family prayer, family scripture study, and all of my personal stuff, too! Our main goal is to be through the Book Of Mormon by October, but if we get off course, again, then we will just keep trying! I also want to include in this section to have more meaningful family home evenings. I know, I know, a trip to Lava Hot Springs every Monday Night isn't really teaching kids a whole lot, now, is it! (Of course we're all together, but it's not a very spiritual moment!)

I got the best book for Christmas from Jake and Elaine that is called "6 Events". It is awesome! To learn everything in the book, it says that it should take about a year, so I am also going to be putting a lot of that stuff on my blog for your help as well! I highly recommend the book.

I hope 2008 brings tons of giggles and joy to each one of you and your family! I pray that each one of you embraces all Heavenly Father gives to you this year, and send my love as well!