VP of Parenting

Yesterday I posted this on my Facebook 'status.' (whatever 'status' means...silly thing.) Anyway, it said,

"Today my six year old said, 'Mom, I love you. You're the greatest mom ever. Even though sometimes I hate you.' Yeah, it's been one of those kind of days."

I tell you. Being a mom is just WAY more work than I ever bargained for. Emotionally and physically.

He told me this because he told a lie today, and got in trouble. Oh the lie was minor, but at our house and lie is a lie. And must be dealt with. (No TV for a week, or soap in your mouth. He got the TV this time...don't feel too bad for him. We only watch TV on Friday evenings and Saturday, so it's not like it's that horrible.)

Anyyywhooo...As I was saying. It's hard to be a mom. (forget about bein' a kid! now that's easy :) He said he hated me because I send him to time out sometimes. I gently reminded him that for every action there is a consequence, and he's aware of this.

"I know. And once I felt bad. Like it was my fault. But usually I'm just really mad at you. It makes me hate you. BUT, I know you're trying to teach me a lesson and teach me about responsiblity. But it still makes me mad at you."

What can you say to this?

At least he knows why and see's that I'm just doing my job, here.

Sorry.

It's in my contract of parenting. Line 436, PP 7; it states:

"Make children hate you by discipling them. Make up whatever dumb rule there is to worsen the situation at all costs. An annual review of how often your kids mad at you will take place, at which time your manager will discuss a raise and promomtion."


I should be a VP soon.

Sweat-hoggie Pits

Is it really fair that I’m a sweat hog? Really? Because I don’t think it is.

Now I love the “sweathogs” from “Welcome Back Kotta” (Kotter), but do I have to be one? I love them so much I named my 1982 big blue Suburban I drove to high school, “Vinny” – affectionately, after Vinny Barberino.

But, it’s bad. I’m a sweater. And not the nice, soft, fuzzy kind. No. I’m the, “Is that a giant sweat ring on her shirt” kind.

I started wearing two shirts in junior high; ‘just in case I sweated through one.’ Yeah, guess what, smarty? Yep. Two shirts only make you hotter, equaling, more sweat.

At stake dances, the dessert of my youth, my hands would sweat like a faucet. Each Saturday night, as I’d wait and wait and wait for that cute (and certainly tall) boy to ask me to dance – I’d spend most of the time inconspicuously wiping my hands. And FOR SURE before the last dance, I could be found in the women’s restroom soaking my hands under ice cold falls of water. AND THEN I’d hold them above my head for as long as I could, so as to lose blood and make them cold. (it’s a pretty picture, huh?)

Arms up?! Sweat rings!! Ahhh. Friendly tip: Raise arms in the stall, this way no one has to see you AND your armpits aren’t exposed.

Did all this work? No. Of course not. But boys still asked me to dance; at least most of the time. And generally, not the cute ones I was swooning over at the time. But, I still had a great time. Sweat and all.

Oh, don’t stop there my trusty friends. We haven’t even talked about the feet. Oh, no we haven’t.

Due to the very warm summers of ‘the bubble’, I have broken my own rule. The poor people in the shadow of these mountains. My feet SWEAT. During my years in the Northwest, I didn’t wear sandals. (this was the rule) My feet were so sweaty, they’d slip out all the time. I’d have sweaty dirt rings on my feet. Yeah, it’s classy. (hence, the rule) I think, that I think that my socks soak up the sweat, so better to be sock footed than bare. (?) Weir-dough!

Luckily! And I say that gingerly, luckily, I’m not particularly stinky. (crossin' my fingers here) I smell like a lot of deodorant, hand lotion and normal foot odor. (While there may be readers out there that think otherwise; I’d appreciate it if you let me live in my fairly odor free dream. It’s bad enough as it is.)

So, how does a girl live with her elbows plastered to the side of her body? How does she eat food with her arms limited to an ‘elbow to wrist’ length only? How do I hang onto the monkey bars when I am crossing them? How do I put my feet up and enjoy without being embarassed? Easy. I don’t.

I gave up. I’ve been to doctors, tried eating different foods, lost weight. Most of my ‘formal’ dresses were adorned with the ever classy, “arm pit guards.” (Seriously, these are layers of paper, think the consistency of the dental napkin, they’re round and sticky on one side, and they’re awful. It's like wearing a baseball sized sticker under your armpit all night. Newsflash to all you mothers thinking of making your daughters wear these: If you think sweaty arm pits are bad – try crunchy rustling while making ANY movement at all. It’s bad.) At any rate, anything you can think of – I’ve tried. The solution, you ask?

There is none.

Sorry.

Just don’t look. If you see sweaty arm pits on me; ‘sorry.’ That’s just me. Shake my hand and it’s slimy? Yep, it’s just me, “great to see you again!” my sweaty palms say. And my feet? All my shoes look super gross thanks to lots of wet feet. Yep. Here we are, all two, hot and sweaty size tens. How do we look?

I’ve never been one to hide the real me. So, here is the ‘real me.’
Aren’t I attractive?

Wait ‘til I tell you about my warts…

*oh yeah - none of the above pictures are mine. I don't take any credit for them, and if you want to know their legal orgins, google for sweathogs, Vinny Barberino, sweat, feet and hands. Now, nobody sue me. Okay?

Family and Food

With all my whining about living in Utah, I can't complain about my family being here.

It's so fun to have family dinners, now and then.

And we very often have visitors. As this is the Mecca for Mormons, most people come through every few years -at least.

My brother and his kids came a couple of weeks ago. And it was nothing but cousin fun!

Fun in the yard.

Trouble in the dirt.

We had a wonderful time. What a blessing to have so many cousins for my kids.

For those who weren't here: We missed you!

Lego Fun

Do have little boys? I do. And they love to build. What did people ever do before legos? Heaven help me! I don't want to know life with legos!

During break, my boys spent day and night creating. Above are some of my favorite things. You know how kids imitate? Wow. That's all I have to say. It's a good thing I'm a pretty decent person, because I'd hate to have them imitating worse than this.

Top Row: Pocket knife, Iphone, Wii controller

Bottom Row: razor, TV remote, another pocket knife, two flip phones, (not sure the next two), and another Iphone. Somewhere they made tooth brushes as well.

I love my boys. They bring so much joy into my life. I love how they LOVE to snuggle, cuddle, hug and kiss. I hope they always do. AS LONG as it's to me!!

Or, after they're home from their missions, they can hold hands with another girl. (ha)

Sneak Peak

Remember how I told you I'm a craft snob?

Well - I have other snobbery's as well.

Like projects, paint colors and the like.

This weekend I FINALLY got started on the front room overhaul. I painted, which means I mixed a bunch of paints in my garage to get the color I liked. (maybe it's not snobbery, it's just cheap. And I can do it just as good, for a lot less money)

So with the perfect shade of blue/green/robins egg/1970's bedroom...up on the wall.


I started.

It started like this. Just a projector and a pencil.

Then some paint.

Now, I'm not quite finished. But here is a tiny peak at what my walls are becoming.

Funny thing is.

I really don't mind if others don't like it.

I have been living in 'bland' and 'neutral' for years. As a renter, then as a home owner - 'just in case we have to sell.' Well, as far as I can tell, I'm gonna be here a while. So why not make it my own and get comfy?

One thing about it; I can always paint over it.

More to come later. The full wall.

It's delicious.

Be still...

I am writing this more for than myself than for anyone. I need it these days. But I hope it can help you too, in some small way. It is taken from an email I wrote to a loved one. It is from notes I have taken over the last couple of years, that have impacted me for life. I think I felt a need to post this because I don't want to forget. To forget that hard times come, and that I am loved. And so are you.


I know that no one wants to be like Job. No one. I know I don’t . He had it all. Everything. All the riches of the world, respect from men and rulers, and it is said that he was “complete.” Meaning he “holdeth fast to his testimony.” He was righteous, charitable, loving and loved the Lord. Yet, the Lord tried him. Tried him more than one can imagine.



In all of this, he stayed strong and true. Everything, including his family, was taken from him. ALL turned against him. It says his breath was foul and his skin stunk. He was repulsed by all. But…in all of this he says, in Job 23, (vs.3) “Oh, that I knew where I might find him!..” (still turning to God, even after these horrible things) And later, in vs. 10 Job says, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Gold. The most precious of matter on the earth. Each of us will come forth as Gold. Because the Lord knows “the way that you ‘take.’ He knows what is happening, he knows our trials and the woes of our hearts. And he knows, that we will be true, and come forth as gold.



Gold, though, is not easy to come by. It has to be ripped from the earth; drilled and blasted. It has to be sifted, and melted at intensely high heat. Then, after all of this, it has to go through more to be made into something beautiful. Smashed, pounded, and heated more, before it is of use.



If we are to become this ‘gold’ Job speaks of, it will not be easy. It will hurt. It will take all that we have. It will be as though we are being ripped, drilled and blasted to the center of our beings. Remember, though, no trial is wasted. Not one. Each one gives us more strength, hope and insight. Patience, faith, gratitude and humility. These trials make us more worthy to be called, Children of God. Through these horrible times, the Lord is giving us the education we came to earth to get.



Through the blessing of the Atonement, we are promised that we will get everything back. What an awesome promise. That every last tear we shed, will be returned. That every ounce of heart ache, will be like it never happened. We get to take the knowledge and experience, but leave the pain. Remember, that all that Job had was taken. But remember also, that is was returned two fold. Twice as much as he had before, when he had it all? Think of his blessings. He remained true, and withstood the trials. And so will you.



Elder Holland spoke to us once in the adult session of our Stake Conf. His message changed my life. He spoke of “the long nights in our lives.” He said that we will all have those times, some longer than others. Sometimes, it will seem like we’re waiting by the window at three a.m., waiting for the sun to come up, for a very long time. Sometimes that “night” is days. Sometimes its months or years. But, in the end, as promised by the Lord; the sun always comes up. He told us that “we agreed to come to this earth. So see it through.” He asked us why we think that we shouldn’t have to feel just a tiny piece of what the Savior felt? That if we really want to know Him, we will have to know some of His pain. “We’re going to have to walk where He walked, if we are going to say we are Children of God. How grateful can you be if you’ve never felt a little of the Atonement?”



“Make your offering. Keep the faith. Pay the price and you’ll get your broken heart back.”



He talked about, that in these tough times, “just hang on.” He quoted Virga (?) “Endure, and save yourself for days ahead.” Elder Holland said, “When you say you can’t go on – you do. You are stronger than you thought.”



He said, “When you want to cut and run, these are the times you must remain most faithful. You need the gospel more than ever. When there is a storm in your life, you need a Master Helmsman more than ever. When it’s the darkest – you thank heaven you have a boat – and you stay in it.”



The last thing I wanted to write to you about, I also heard yesterday in this meeting. The lady spoke about necessary and unnecessary pain. That there is pain that the Lord gives to us. Oh, we don’t like it. Not at all. But we can’t control it. Things happen, and we have to react the best we know how. This is necessary pain.



Then there is unnecessary pain. Things like sin, and our reaction to the Telestial world around us. Pain we bring on ourselves, the kind where no blessings are attached. The kind of pain that we blame others for, in turn, causing more pain to ourselves. Sometimes, instead of dealing with necessary pain (things we can’t control), we heap unnecessary pain onto ourselves.



There comes a point when we have to say, “I can’t do anything about that.” And move forward. We have to separate other peoples actions that are causing us ‘unnecessary pain’ and move on. Realizing that how we handle the necessary is what really counts.



And in the end, we pray. We pray for blessings to pour upon us. For miracles to happen. For our prayers to be answered the way we want. The way we think is best. And, we remember, … "but if not.” But if not, be strong. But if not, hang on, and know that the Lord hears you, knows you and loves you.

“..be still, and know that I am God.” (D&C 101:16)

Should we call it 'Winter' Break instead?

Sometimes, there are things I can’t think about. If I allow myself to go there, I get a little craziness in my head. Actually, there are many things like this in my life. But right now, I’m talking about ‘All you can eat’ buffet restaurants.

I know, probably not what you were thinking. But it’s true. And the craziness, you ask?

The germs.

Yep. The tongs that the man with the missing teeth used, the person scratching themselves walking out of the bathroom, that really heavy woman coughing over there. You see them? Oh yeah. It makes me loose feeling in my limbs.

This is why, as a general rule, I don’t go to above said locations.

But, once in a while, (like I can count on one hand how many times I’ve been in my almost 35 years) I wind up there.

Yesterday was one of those days. Grandpa stopped by for a visit while grandma is out of town. One thing led to another; next thing you know the whole fam is at Chuck-A-Rama, grandpa’s treat.

And treat, it was.

Walking in, I have to hide that part of me that ‘freaks’ every now and then. I swallow hard and repeat in my mind – “every thing will be just fine…” Luckily there is hand sanitizer at every buffet ‘station’ . Much to my chagrin, I seem to be the only person taking regular, full advantage of my gooey clear friend.

This is the time I remind myself that going with grandpa to Chuck-A-Rama is one of those memories that very well in fact be imprinted on my children’s brain as “one of the best days of my life.”

Believe me when I say; They were not disappointed.

By the end of round one, Samuel had food all over is face and hands. Ready for more. Think of a teenager with all the food you can muster. He ate like a 16 year old, and was proud of it.

It only took Simon one full plate of pizza, bread sticks, muffins and French fries, before he was holding his head saying dreamily – “My dreams have come true.” While Samuel repeated several times, “This is heaven.”

Oh, my. What have I created?

Roo on the other hand, made lovely artwork of her plate. She didn’t eat much, but enjoyed her chocolate milk, and crazy mix of fountain drinks.

I haven’t had sugar, wheat or eggs in six weeks. (sans Hawaii) So I ate meat and salad. Mmm. Grandpa and The Scoutmaster did me proud though. When I asked Peter how the desserts where he said, “Oh horrible.” Trying to make me feel better. But I was looking for great detail to fill my cranial pallet. “Sorry.” He said, “I mean they were delicious. Melt in your mouth…” That’s better. (while I ate my sugar free jello block)

Baby ate whatever he could get his 10 chompers into. Mainly mashed potatoes, french fries, corn and green beans. You really do gotta love a place where every single food desire can be met in one location; well, most any way.

I think operating the hot cocoa machine and the ice cream machine, by-them-selves, where the highlight of the night for the littles. Or their mom saying, ‘you don’t have to finish that.’ Maybe it was, “Do you want something else? More m and m’s on your ice cream sundae?” Basically, the night of fat, gluttonous Americans, was their dream come true. I’m not sure how much they ate, but they had plates mounded high and a selection they’d never seen the likes of before.

We rolled ourselves out into a slushy, snowing evening and off to bed. Only to awaken to this: A foot of fresh snow! On April 16th?! Out of the house by 7:45 am, back in by 8:30 and asking if they could go to Chuck-A-Rama again today!! Uh, no. But oatmeal and hot cocoa from home sufficed. Now back in their make shift camping beds in the family room for a morning movie.

Who doesn’t love spring break?

What the!?

What was that about sun burns, running through sprinklers and bathing suits?!

Oh ,well.

It will be hot soon enough.

I actually really love Spring in Utah.

It's like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.

(thanks, Forest)

So much for day three. Wii Bowling, fitness and fun. More beads and spending time indoors.

I love my family.

Not avoiding Spring

Spring Break – Day two. Day one was full of glorious sunshine, some spring yard maintenance, and slight sunburns on my young en’s after a run through the sprinklers. Don’t you love spring-sunburns? I remember them all to well. A few hours out in the yard, on those all too scarce sunny Seattle days. I loved them.

Today though, the sun has hidden her warm face. The kids have watched at least two movies, did their homework, pearler beads (no idea how to spell that, you know what I mean), played legos, given wet-willies, and are now out in the overcast-ness of the afternoon.

I - have avoided today. You know this about me. Right? The great avoider; then full steam ahead? I’m just about ready for full steam ahead…Just as soon as I check hotmail, facebook, various blogs, spend a couple hours reading http://thepioneerwoman.com , catch up on my own blog, snack in between each of these, and CURSE!! Why am I STILL so fat?! Arghh. Oh, I better check my email again…

Yes, a good second day of spring break. Mt. Saint Laundry is really showing it’s ugly side today. Good gracious, someone save me before its internal rumblings stir and it explodes all over the house! Run for your lives!

Okay. I guess the time has come. I really do have to get something done today, it is 4:57, p.m. Oops. The day is quickly slipping through my fingers. I did ‘avoid’ by playing legos with Si today though. It really is therapeutic. AND, that counts for quality time, right? I hope so.

An Aloha Easter

Easter looked like this at our house today.

Then in looked like this.
With a bit of this, from Chubbles.

And before we left for church; this.

'Aloha' means the breath of life.

We thought that each of us wearing something, "aloha" would be a nice way to dress for church today. The kids wore their shirts, dress, and shell lei's. Peter wore his Kikui nut lei, I wore a Kikui nut bracelet and my flip-flip necklace. Did you know that 'Ohana' means breath of family? So today we were an Aloha, Ohana. Were you?

Of course you were.

After church we had a small Easter egg hunt in the yard, just us. They love to hunt for anything.

Naps and and a rest, then food with loved ones.

One Roo out like a light the whole ride home.

Littles to bed, and scriptures with the bigger two.

Tonight scriptures consisted of conversations of the Atonement, Mary coming to the tomb, a miraculous Resurrection, and The Savior of the World.

I love to learn and teach with my children. I love to feel the spirit as we talk, read and pray.

I love Easter.

Aloha.

Meet Krista! Birthday Blog

Meet Krista! Yes, I know, I know. It's a couple days late, is this new? NO.



Krista was born April 7, and is four years older than me. As you can tell by the closeness of Mindy's birthday blog, they are one week shy of being two years apart in age.

Krista is the middle child in our family, number three of five. But the oldest of 'the little girls.' Geoff, a boy. Elise, the first girl, and nearly three years older than Krista. Then Krista, Mindy and I - all about two years apart. As you can see here, we all got the same things each year for Christmas, only in different colors. (We're all wearing Cupie Doll jammies here)

AND, all three of us had the same hair for quite a while. Nicholas Bradford, from 'Eight is Enough' really set the trend in our house.

Krista looked out for the younger girls, both for good and bad. She wasn't what I would call nurturing, but she did help wheel me inside on my blue tennis shoe roller skates after I broke my arm going down our REALLY steep driveway. Does that count as compassion? (Just kidding, she loves us and we know it)

Here our hair ALL changed, again. Perms, perms perms! Nice. See, Elise has the sweet sweepy 70's - do. And the three youngest; all in curls. Or rats nests, not sure. But at any rate, we look awesome!

My dad only has one son, so the rest of us have tried to live up to meeting his expectations where we can. Krista was far more athletic and smarter than the rest of us. More than once she's been mistaken for a boy. Hmmm. Wonder why? (See, I have to jab at her BECAUSE she's always been smarter and thinner than me - sorry.)

Ah yes. The obsession with Princess Diana. Check out this hair! Oh-la, la! This is prom, her junior year. She went with Dan, who's knees buckled, and he fell, every time he rode an elevator. He may have wanted to mention this before she agreed to go the dance a top "The Space Needle" in Seattle. That's a very long elevator ride, good thing it wasn't her high schools prom.

Krista is the classic middle child. So much so, that her 16th birthday was quite similar to the movie, Sixteen Candles. Her older sister was getting married, her parents forgot about her birthday and late in the day, gave her friends money to give her a party. I'm pretty sure there was no 'hot guy' waiting outside, for her though. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

I love this picture, because it shows what so very many meals at our house were like, usually Sunday's or when we had company. We always sat in these same seats, in the 'formal' dining room. Mom and Elise across from the girls, where you can't see in this picture.

I think we all spent quite a bit of time being jealous of Krista. Like I said smart and thin were always something we each wanted more of.

I seriously was afraid of her for a long time. I thought she would certainly leave me somewhere on purpose. She made fun of my chubba-ness and teased me quite often. Oh, we loved each other, but not until we were adults did we become friends.

Another thing said about Krista WAY too often was, "she always has to take it one step too far." This is in regards to anything crass or dirty. She's VERY funny, and loves to go too far. More than once she and I have wet our pants laughing too hard. Of course, she's grown up a lot, and is much better control; for the most part. (haha)

Her wedding day. Krista married the nicest, most fun guy around. She is very lucky to have him. They are, in fact, complete opposites. But this makes them a fantastic team. Sometimes I think she wishes she'd married someone more like her, but really? Do you think TWO of you could occupy ONE house? Ivy is clone enough. There's no room for more. I think you make a great pair.

Just had to throw this little diddy in.

See here? That's Jeff gettin' fresh on camera. Don't try and pretend you don't like it, Krista. You see, SHE can always go one step too far - but not others. Just kidding - she's laughing too.

Couldn't pass this one up either. Sorry. Hubba-hubba, he's a keeper!

Krista, giving the ever famous 'chin tilt' so as to hide any traces of a double chin.

Krista is an amazing mother. She has given everything she has to each of her three children. Here she is with Micah, now almost 17. She loves them all so much. She encourages each of them to be the best at whatever they choose. Even if they are wanting to be her opposite, a cheerleader.

Happy Birthday! This was ten years ago. Please enjoy the glimpse of her sweet blue astro van parked out front. Sah-weet.



So, there aren't many pictures I have between here and there. Life goes on. Krista is a wonderful friend. She and I have become very close as adults. Oh, there have still been a few times she's tried to scratch my eyeballs out, (haha) but in the end, we always love each other.

As of late, Krista has been working on her pre-req's for medical school. Did I mention she's smart? It's a huge amount of work and a complete change in their family's life. But she's doing fantastic, Jeff is supportive and the kids are doing well. So, hopefully by this time next year she'll be in medical school and it wont be long until we can call her - 'DOCTOR Walker.'

These are her most recent pics. Here she is with two youngest, Ivy and Kate.

And this was just last week in Las Vegas. At her favorite event, a national cheer competition. Okay, it's not her favorite. But it is Kate's, and like I said - she supports her kids. (Kate's team did a great job and came in second!)

So, there you have it. Krista in a nut shell. (better than a nut house, huh?) She's fun and loving, a fantastic mother and friend. I love you to death.

Happy belated birthday, Krista!

I'm hurrying..

***Krista's Blog is in the works!!! Very busy, stressed, and what not. Both of us, that is!! Stay tuned, I'm already a day late, why not two?!***

Mindy's Birthday Photos

If you missed Mindy's birthday blog from last week...check it out here.

If you want to see the pictures that go with her post, keep going. They're some pretty good ones.

Elise, Teresa, Mindy and Krista. 1978 or 9? (Someone will correct me;I'm sure.) Please note Mindy's 'head tilt'. And notice how almost ALL of the other pictures have this 'tilt' as well. It's her "Beauty Queen" pose. (Remember, birthday blogs are for laughing, not crying.)

Whoa Nellie!! Check out our hair. (all of ours) Yikes!! We're in Phoenix, AZ here. It's March, and President Reagan was shot while we were here - on Mink's birthday. Please notice the awesome outfit Mindy is wearing. Everyone else has long pants on, and is fully clothed. She's eight, BUT has her purse! (...still got it!)

Oh yeah baby. Mindy ordered this SWEET dress/sweatshirt from our elementary school office secretary. I think she must have had a catalog or something. In true Mindy fashion, she befriended this woman, and the lady loved her. I think she was friends with the playground ladies as well. At any rate, 'Lookin Good!' (No comment on me, please)

Tah-rench coat!!! Yikes! Looking very cool though. (sweet couches mom - eeek.) Yes, that is me pouting in the back ground. And for the record, gold carpet is not 'neutral.'

I think this is the first and last time any of us kids ever touched "our" dog, Susie. Woof. She was really my dad's dog. She fetched ROCKS for crying out loud. And, I'm not kidding. They were always hot and slimy, and she'd drop it, sit their and shake until you threw if for her. The farther the better. Come to think of it, in seven acres of VERY wooded terrain, that was a pretty awesome trick. Sorry, Susie - should have been nicer to you.

Please note Mindy's earrings and necklace, purchased in Hawaii. Let me note, that the one thing Mindy was dying to do when "we went to Hawaii" (yeah right, like that would ever happen...) is to open an oyster and get the pearl out. She wanted to get a ring made for Claire. I'm pretty sure Mindy had one too.

I forgot to tell this great story of how she worked for a lady that owned a little mink farm, when she was maybe eight or so. (who knew what an eight year old was doing to be called work, but I know her, and it was more like keeping the lady company) At any rate, for payment the lady gave her a mink ring. It was this puff of mink, like the size of a fluffy cotton ball or something. I was very jealous and thought it was really cool and expensive. Can't you just see her, with her purse on, lip gloss, porky pig book bag and her mink ring. I think the name MINKY really goes back much further than I originally thought.

Pretty sure this picture doesn't need a title. I love looking at the counter and all of my childhood memories. "Yes, kids. That's called a Rolodex. Say it with me..." The Ernie cookie jar the Krista dropped and broke his head, I've never known it without glue. My dads change jar, mouthwash by the sink, nail polish remover on the counter (Mindy's, no doubt). Oh, home. *sigh*

Mindy and Krista, sometime in high school.

Are you still seeing the 'head tilt?' Grandma's funeral. She's an adult now. I'm just not sure where all the in between photos are, but these are still fun.

If you knew Mindy during child birthing years, you would no doubt have seen her like this: Nursing a baby. She LOVES babies. We joked that she would probably try to nurse mine while I was in Hawaii. She is sweet and loving and giving, as I already jabbered about. But she is most giving to her family.

Minks and Ports at Primary Children's Hospital. Pretty sure he was the chubbiest baby they've ever had in the NICU. I just couldn't leave out pictures of her and her kids. She gives everything to them. Okay, and you too, Brian.

Still tilting her head. I think this is a cute picture of her.

She doesn't.

Too bad - sorry.

Happy Birthday Minks, I love your guts!

Thirteen Years

Anniversary.

Thirteen years.

Still love him.

Lots.


I designed, printed, and assembled our invitations. (with the help of loved ones) I know they look like everyone else's now, but they were the 'first of their kind' in 1996.


The Seattle Temple is still my favorite temple. But isn't everyone's the one they got married in?



Yes, that is ALL my real hair. And yes, lots of people wore such large glasses. Big must have been in.

My colors were Forest Green and Ivory, of course? What else was there?
My brides maids where my sister Mindy, Katherine, Amy and Maile.
Peters groomsmen where his friend Matt and nephews, Nathan, Aaron and Paul.
We were married on a Thursday morning, and our reception was the following evening at the Kirkland Stake Center. All of our families were there, both sides. We had a wonderful wedding and reception.

Through all of the ups and downs, we are still happily married. Here's to hoping for many years to come.