Fancy Nancy

Kaylee loves loves loves Fancy Nancy, so we are going to have a Fancy Nancy birthday party for her. Here's the invitation I made for her.

Homecoming 2009

This past weekend was really hard for me. Hard...meaning...emotional. Justin, my oldest went on his first date and dance.  He went with a very cute, sweet and modest girl.  Her name is Kaitlyn, she's 16 1/2 as well and it was her first date and dance too.

Justin was suppose to pick her up and then come back to our house so I could get pictures of them, but he says he "forgot" so I had to get this off Kaitlyn's facebook wall.  At least I have this one picture!!  Aren't they cute together!!

Having my oldest go out on a date and a dance made me feel OLD.  OMGoodness, I have a child old enough to go on a date.  I'm so glad he didn't do this when he first turned 16!!  At least he waited until he was almost 17 :-)

Justin wasn't sure he wanted to go to Homecoming at first.  But he's liked Kaitlyn for a couple of years.  They've been texting each other off and all during those two or three years and he knew how much he liked her so he finally told me that he was going to ask Kaitlyn to the dance. 

Justin got a teddy bear and some gummie bears and wrote a note that said "I couldn't "bear" going to homecoming without you.  Will you be my date?" or something close to that.  On Saturday he drove it to where she worked and had Preston run it into her.  He waited and waited and waited to hear back from her.  He was too scared to text her because he didn't know what she was going to say.

Monday was a holiday which meant no school and he still hadn't heard anything and he was beginning to get worried.  He got even more worried when he read a post she had put on facebook about not being able to find a modest homecoming dress.  Justin thought for sure he had waited too long to ask and now she was going with someone else. 

During our family night the door bell rang.  Of course all the younger kids run to the door and open it.  There stood a Sheriff.  He asked for Justin.  Justin went to the door where he saw that it was the same Sheriff that had pulled him over a few times on the dirtbirk.  The sheriff asked Justin if he drove a black Toyota Tacoma.  Justin said yes and at that point the Sheriff asked him to step outside. 

Once outside the Sheriff explained to Justin that his truck had been reported for reckless driving.  He asked Justin a few questions and then said "Before we go any further I need to read you your rights."  Justin's face dropped, it almost looked like he was going to pass out.  "You have the right to remain silent.  You have the right to take Kaitlyn to the dance".  Of course Justin didn't hear that at first.  He was in too big of a shock that he was being arrested.  It was Kaitlyn's way of responding with a YES to his request for her to go to homecoming with him.  She got him REALLY good.

For their day date their "group" went to Fat Cats which is a bowling alley.  They had lots of fun.  They took the girls home to get ready and then they all met and went to Teppanyaki for dinner then over to the dance.  After the dance the group came over to watch a movie in our backyard.  It was FUN for them....but for me............

I sat and worried the whole time wondering if I had done my job.  Did I raise him right?  Did I teach him how to treat a girl with respect?  Did I teach him how to be a gentlemen?  Did he hold her door open?  Did he help her into and out of the car?  Did he pay attention to her?  Was he rude?  Did her burp at the table?  Did he dance with her or did he just stand around?  Did he compliment her?  Did she see him as a good kid?

It's now been three days and I'm still worried about it.  I guess I'll never really know because I wasn't there.  I've hopefully done my job though.  I wonder if I will ever stop worrying about this kind of thing?

Never too old to learn

I've really been struggling this past month. I'm usually able to push through things and not let them affect me but I think the saying "The straw that broke the camels back" came true in my case. It was just too many things all at once and it broke me down and threw me into a depression.

While feeling low and silently needing help to pull me out of this, I realized that instead of people coming closer and trying to help, they kept their distance. They avoided being around me and including me on things. This of course made things worse for me and made me feel even more alone.

I finally hit my lowest point and cried for hours. After I was done crying I got on my knees and prayed. I prayed for help, for understanding of what I've been going through and for peace. I was blessed with those things for which I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for.

I've realized now that I might have had to go through so many trials in such a short time so I could learn a few things. Those things are 1) My Heavenly Father truly loves me and that if I turn to him he'll be there for me to comfort me (not that I didn't already know this but it's funny how fast you can forget) 2) I will always keep my eye out for those that might be down and make sure to be there for them. I feel that I do this now, but I plan to try harder to find people that need help. 3) I do have some great friends that really do care and do try hard to cheer me up, even when their lives are crazy too (julie)!!! I love you

French Braid

So I was never taught how to french braid and sure didn't ever french braid my own hair so now that I have a little girl I've been waiting and waiting until the time came that I could french braid her hair. Well it finally happened about two weeks ago. It's not great but I did it. I hope to get better with practice.

Need Help

Ok all my Utah friends. I know nothing about Utah, at least nothing fun. Kimball and I are in charge of the family reunion (gathering) next Summer. We can plan for 3 to 6 days of time and I have no idea what to do and where to go.

We have always gone up to Kimball's aunt and uncles cabin for a couple days and hang out at Bear Lake. The problem is we currently have around 27 people and the cabin is ONE BEDROOM and ONE BATH with the smallest hot water heater ever. Anyhow we've outgrown it.

Do you have any ideas on what we can do? Where we can go? Please hit me with all your ideas and the details for it.

Thanks!!!

Mother's Day

I LOVE being a mom. My kids might drive me crazy and at times I want to just get away from them but I truly love my kids. They bring me so much joy.

My kids have always written me some fun notes at different times during their lives but this year I got one that truly brought tears to my eyes. THIS card, I'll keep forever.

It says:

Mom,
There are so many things in this world that we have, but don't need. But one thing I will always need is you. You are the best mom ever. I think I could live without food more than I could live without you as my mom. You are such a giving person. There are no words to describe how good you are to me. I want you to know that I love you so much and don't want to lose you.
Love Josh

How sweet is that! I feel so loved.

Baking Bread

I love baking bread. I try new recipes all the time because I'm trying to find the "perfect" loaf. I've found good ones but I don't know that I've found "the perfect" one yet. I'll keep trying until I do. I'm also trying to find the best roll and bread stick recipe. If you have any, please send them my way. :)

Getting recipes isn't my main reason for this post...it's about SLICING homemade bread. I hate the mess my kids make when slicing themselves off a piece. I hate that it's awkward to use homemade bread for sandwiches because the bread slices are different sizes. Please Please tell me there is a better way to handle the slicing of the bread. How do you do it? Please Please share cause all the crumbs on my kitchen floor is causing me to not want to bake bread ever again.

Love Homemade Bread....Hate the mess!!