Inspiration

Today's "Quote of the Day" reminded me of my DEAR friend Diane's mom...

Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.Margaret Thatcher

Every time we left Di's house (which was where I mostly left from between the ages of 13 and 18), she'd say, "Be a lady."

I have been known to use that line from time to time with my chicas.

Winter

Sunday the heavens were confused. Between trips to sweep the satelite I shovelled slush and fretted over the flood in my new window well (all stayed dry inside :).

But, Monday morning Mother Nature had made up her mind to make things pretty again. This is what greeted me on my daily morning trip to the dog potty.

Our willow tree hung about 3 feet lower with the weight of the slush, ice, and snow.

What Did I Ever Do?

I got an early Birthday gift from my sweetheart last evening. OOOOOOHHHH BABY! I'm going to look so good in this coat!

What kind of husband gets such a smokin' hot coat for his wife's 25th birthday, you ask?

The kind who has spent the last 6 weeks cleaning out and reorganizing his master bedroom closet. This is what the process looks like...

Shoes.

Shoes.

These boxes of shoes are currently stationed behind the door of our bedroom until the shelving is completed in the closet.

There are approximately 30 more boxes of collectible shoes in storage elsewhere.

My husband the clothes/shoes hound.

Look What I Got!

It never hurts to mention your fondest desires on your blog! Kari, of the Sarah's family Kari's, the sweetest girl you ever did meet got me this for Christmas. Thanks for the memories this conjures!

P.S. Ladies, of the Sarah's family Ladies, I so enjoy our Wednesdays. You are so welcoming and I love sucking the wisdom, talent and fun from you. Wish you were here chick!

Vacation Home

We make the 1 hr 45 min (3.5 hours if you drive like my parents), trek to Cache Valley often. From the moment I walk in the door I am completely incapacitated. In my subconscious I find nothing to cook or clean and two bend-over-backward glorious grandparents. That's all it takes to keep me nearly unconscious for 2 to 3 days. Sometimes it's embarrassing.

My children, on the other hand, find 4 acres of pure joy. In the Summer it's sliding down plastic coated grass with the irrigation water, in the Winter it's sledding. Even Chloe has decided to get in on the action. (Georgia arrived for 5 min. of the action before returning to her sanctuary: A room with a vhs player and evey disney movie known to man).

See Isaac's position? When we got on the real tobogans (which in NC is the hats they are wearinig???), we took off to the neighboring hay field for a longer run. I noticed toward the end of the ride Isaac would try to stand up, surfer style. So, Grandpa and I coached him on how to do it from the top of the hill (I'm sure his father wouldn't approve), and I'll be darned if that boy couldn't snowboard!!! He is absolutely incredibly talented - that kid! Guess what I hope he's getting for his birthday? If I can talk my darling into it we can get a customized one from Board of Provo and maybe a few lessons at Sundance.

I got my $$ on Isaac for the Heissman, the Master's trophy, the X Games Gold, the Olympic Gold, etc.

There's More Than One Way to Skin a Banana

This seems to run in the family...

Ask my bro and sis-in-law about the unfortunate conoli accident of '05

Christmas Recap

I've just downloaded the Christmas pics.

No time like the present ;)

Mr. President

Today we watched the inauguration of the first African American President of The United States. My kids didn't understand the significance (they also think I'm Indian, don't feel bad Mr. Obama), but I hope someday they tell their kids that they stood while he was sworn in and while the National Anthem played, and they bowed their heads while prayers were given in his behalf and ours.

I must say, he was very distinguished and spoke with passion and intelligence (something we've been lacking for a few years). Let's hope he retains some of the wisdom that we all prayed for this morning.

And now, what you've all been waiting for. Or at least what the Today Show thinks you've all been waiting for...

What Michelle Obama wore to the inauguration ball. Seriously? Who cares?

HomeSchooling Highs

I wrote an entry here on our homeschool experience thus far if you're interested

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:

Miss Mae has decided to grow up all in one week. She now waves, calls Jason "dadadada", and gets herself into crawling position. The icing on the cake, she plays peek-a-boo!!!

Toured the Draper Temple with my family.

We had 1 incredible day of homeschool (and a couple of okay ones). I'll detail next post.

I got the most fabulous car.

Got to go to a movie, have bookclub, and a cooking class with the girls this week.

Discovered the secret to ridding my house of "pet odor".

The Bad:

Mae has decided to grow up all in one week.

Discovering my old car wasn't worth much. 173 k miles, go figure.

Had to remove lots of "pet odor".

The Ugly:

"pet" stains

My mii (no, it's not ugly, it looks JUST like me). I guess I thought it would turn out more Hiedi Klum-ish as I chose each of my features. The more I progressed, the more it mirrored me and it completely freaked me out :) It was crazy! To make a long story short, Liv and Isaac thought I was nuts as I laughed (hysterically), and cried at the same time. Now that's some self discovery! (anyone else have an insane reaction to thier mii?)

Before I Forget

I just have to say that nothing, nothing in the world is sweeter than when I am holding my Mae and she holds me back.

(and if I were really "a photographer", I'd have a photo to prove it)

Photographer...where?

While entering my children (sans Liv) in a cutest kid contest (vote here), I realized I have NO recent, nice pictures of my children.

I have to write this down so I'll be embarrassed and fix the problem.

Wait. Who's "a photographer"? Who's husband has purchased her a very nice camera? Hold up. Who's got decent(ish) access to a studio and lighting? hmmm. Isn't it the cobblers children without shoes?

I'm all over it. I'll prove it.

Meet Chloe

Santa dropped off Chloe to the Cowboy Grandparent's house (via a Rupert, Idaho breeder).

Grandpa told Liv that one of her boxes was making a funny noise. So he told her he'd shake it or throw it down the stairs and see what happened. "On second thought," he said, "It sounds kinda like a goat."

So, she fought her way out of the box apparently (I went up to Idaho and picked her up), and here she is. All 20.9 lbs of her.

She is adorable and sweet and perfectly lazy. Exaclty what this family needed, another Mae.

Don't you love her pearls?

Liv relishes being a mom.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

And so it begins. The first gb&u post.

The Good:

Tomorrow we'll be home.

Tomorrow we'll be home.

I get to clean my house.

We start home school.

I get to pick up the math curriculum I bought from the post office.

Miss Chloe (you'll meet her soon)

Our first Wii tourney (thanks mom and dad!)

The Bad:
I have to put away Christmas and unpack before I clean my house.

(I'll be shopping for these tomorrow)

We start homeschool (I'm a little worried).

The Ugly:

Miss Chloe (you'll meet her soon. Proof that you can be so ugly you're cute)

The bills that I have to pick up along with the math curriculum I bought.

The bathroom that still needs tiling.

The crusty pile of snow that we'll be shoveling through.