Pigs must be flying!!

They have to be...because I spied my six year old doing the unthinkable earlier this morning. She was cleaning the toilet...AND NO ONE EVEN ASKED HER TO!!

If you knew this baby in the family you would completely understand my sentiment.

Ah...there is hope after all...:)

I am The Flag of The United States of America

My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop some of the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am secure.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is little higher, my colors a little truer.
I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am honored, I am saluted.
I am loved, I am revered.
I am respected, I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was in the trenches of France and in the Argonne Forest.
I was there on the beaches of Normandy, Guam and Okinawa.
Korea and Vietnam know me.
I was there.
I led my troops.
I was dirty, battle worn, and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me and I was proud.
When I was torn into strips
and used as bandages
for my wounded on the battlefield,
I was proud.
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent
at the grave of their faller son or daughter,
I am proud.

I have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped to set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
I have been soiled, burned, torn, and trampled upon
in the streets of MY OWN country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle, it hurts.
But I shall overcome, for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness
to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY
LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN
LONG MAY I WAVE.

Author Unknown

A Small Slice of Heaven

This my friends...is exactly that. It is built literally on a mountain top on rocks and stilts. The views go on and on and on. It is truly a special place.

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending our family's Ladies' Retreat on Palomar Mountain down in the San Diego area. There were no kids, no TVs, no radio, and for some of us, no cell phones...no interruptions. Pure bliss, I tell you!



I neglected to take my camera on this trip...didn't want to feel like I was working...and now I regret it immensely.I wish there were words to sum up how I felt about the cabin and the whole retreat in general. It was a much needed break from real life and I want to thank a certain favorite sister-in-law for making this possible. Can't wait for next year!! :)

(photo credits go to Jerliyn)

Happy #15 Anna!!!

I bet you think I forgot to blog this, eh? Well, I didn't. :)
I have been thinking all day long about what to say about my sweet little girl that isn't quite so little anymore.

You were my first. I remember like yesterday the day you were born. To this day I wonder sometimes what our Heavenly Father was thinking entrusting me with you, to be your mom.

Anna, you need to know a few things...
First, I am more proud everyday of the beautiful young woman you are becoming. I admire your strength and determination. I admire your outlook on life and that you know you have a voice in this world and I admire your ability to use it. I admire your testimony and am greatful for the influence you have in our home. You are a choice spirit that your Heavenly Father saved for this time and place for a reason. He knew the world you would be coming into and He knew you could handle it. You are special. I can't wait to see what kind of a mother you turn out to be...a pretty darn good one if right now is any indicator.
I am proud to know you and call you daughter.
Happy Birthday sweet girl. I love you more than you will ever know.
-Mom


p.s. Sorry about the not so updated photo...I knew you would just love that I put it on here. You know what I always say...its like the shoemaker's kids going without shoes. :)

Now what do we do?

Well...its Tuesday today. "Yeah, so what", you say.

To some Tuesday is just that...Tuesday. To most there is nothing special about it...just the day after Monday...and the day before Wednesday. But not around here.

Tuesday around here is TUESDAY!!!!!

What's so special about Tuesday? Um...Hello!!!! AMERICAN IDOL!!!!

Oh, that's right...the AI finale was LAST week. (sigh)
And now the let down begins...

Yes, I know...we are junkies. Complete, bonified, certified junkies...of AI that is. I even get to call it AI...no long drawn out name here...I get to use its nickname... cuz we're tight like that. We fell in love half way through the first season and by the time the big showdown between Ruben and Clay took place, it was hook, line, and sinker all the way, baby! (Clay was totally robbed!)

Many may think we're a little nutty...and in all truth...we are. And its true, the show is a tad bit corny sometimes. But it is the one show our whole family can watch and enjoy together.
And believe me...we enjoy it!

Anyway...I guess this is good bye till next season.

Hurry up already, would ya?!

Disclaimer: If you are afraid of heights this isn't gonna help any!!

I have to say...I am always up for a good adventure...and a scaredy-cat I am not...but this...well, watch for yourselves! :) (keep watching...the first minute or so is tame)

I can tell you what we WON'T be doing on Memorial Day weekend

I pulled into the driveway today (I seem to be doing a lot of that lately) and the kids come tearing around the corner from the back yard saying "Mom you gotta come look at this!!"
So I follow them around back and up the deck to check out what they are so excited about...I open the BBQ and find this...


It seems incredible that this little production has been taking place right on our own back deck with the rest of us none the wiser. Of course I warned pain of death into the kids that they can't touch the eggs or the nest...I hope we haven't done too much damage already by opening the BBQ.
The small feeling of excitement I felt made me feel like one of the kids. I have to say...I think Someone upstairs knew I needed a special pick me up this week. I can't wait to see how this one turns out.

It is so overrated!!!!

What is overrated, you ask?

The answer to that question is.........DRIVING!!!

Remember the days when we were young and impressionable? The couple of years prior to our sixteenth birthdays...the years spent being jealous of the juniors and seniors' (and the occasional older sophmores) cars parked in the school parking lot? We dreamed of the big day when we were old enough to get behind the wheel ourselves. We daydreamed of the make, model, and color our car would be...imagining our parents might actually give in and buy us that car on that magical day. Of course for most of us, that dream was quickly shattered and reality was flashed in our faces.

Reality for me was an old 1978 Ford LTD. The words Big Red and Tuna Boat readily come to mind. It was an aquired taste for sure, but eventually I loved that car...it was uglier than sin and HUGE...but I kicked you-know-what in impromtu races everywhere I went. The eight miles to the gallon pretty much sucked, but at 16 and 17 and even 18, who was worried about gas...there weren't any other bills to pay, so worry free it was!

Well, as much as I still appreciate cars and all their handy conveniences...I am so sick to death of driving I could throw up right this minute!
I have spent the better part of the last three weeks in...you guessed it...MY CAR!!!!

Gone are the days of getting excited to drive to the store for just a gallon of milk...being more than happy about picking up my younger brother from wherever...they are Gone...Caput...History...Finito!!

I knew what I signed up for when I chose to have five kids (not really, just saying that 'cause it sounds good)...but now I know what people are talking about when they say...just wait till you have older kids that can drive.

One year, eighteen days and counting! :) (I will live to regret that statement...but for now it sums it all up nicely)

I knew there was a reason I liked my job.

I think with every job comes ups and downs. For the last six months or so I have been feeling more downs than ups. It seems I have been in a funk and just haven't been loving my craft. I have even questioned whether I should continue at what I am doing. Well, this week changed that. I took one of my favorite shots to date and now remember why I started all this in the first place. Just thought I'd share. :)
(the image low res so it would'nt take too long to load...sorry)

Kacy tagged me...ok, fine...I'll do it.

10 YEARS AGO
Ok, ten years ago. Am I really supposed to remember ten years ago? I can't remember yesterday as it is. I'll give it a try...
10 years ago I was here in good ole Provo...missing Cali like crazy...still not adjusted to the cold weather(yes, I had already lived here for like five years or so, but you know the saying...you can take the girl away from the beach but you can't take the beach out of the girl)...whatever...really bad phrasing.
Anyway, here in Provo with 3 kids and a husband, working part time a Nu Skin. Man, do I miss the freebies from working there.

5 THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST
1.Finish painting the baseboards.(you don't really want to know how long they've been taped off just waiting.)
2.Finish cutting in the paint in my room. (this one is even worse...I won't give you a time frame, cuz then I'd really look lazy.)
3.Pluck my eyebrows. Did I tell you this was the story of my life already?
4.Lose weight...so what else is new?
5.Take new photos of the kids. It's quite sad really...the ones up now are already a couple of years old...you know the saying...the shoemaker's kids go without shoes.

5 SNACKS I ENJOY
1.Well, apparently Spaghettios. I really thought they'd be gross after not having any for years. Kacy was right...not so bad.
2.Funyuns. My kids have re-introduced me to a lost love from the past...thanks guys...cuz I needed yet another "healthy" snack added to the mix. (ya, know...onions are vegetables.)
3.Colby Jack cheese. Enough said.
4.Bananas. But don't try and feed me anything "banana" flavored...blech!
5.And saving the best for last...Dr. Pepper! Enough said with this one too.

5 FOODS I LOVE
1.Funeral potatoes...hands down the best dish ever served at any church functions.
2.Mom's roast
3.Mom's lasagna
4.Mom's soup
5.Pretty much anything my mom or anyone else besides me cooks. :)

WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WERE SUDDENLY A BILLIONAIRE
Pay my tithing and make a huge fast offering donation. With the rest...make sure everyone I am close with is debt free. Oh...and I would buy a Mini Cooper.

5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED
1.American Fork, Ut
2.Richardson, Tx.
3.Torrance, Ca.
4.Oceanside, Ca.
5.Rexburg, Id.
6.Springville, Ut.
7.Provo, Ut.
Yes, I know that's more than five...but that is all the places I have lived.

FAVORITE QUOTE
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." - Robert Frost

I now tag Gerb, Tricia, Krysta, Jenna, "Yolanda", and Carrie! :)
(If you've been tagged with this one recently, you have my permission to ignore me!)