Cousins

We all know that Brandon and Tyler are

14 yr old dorks...

And that Lauren & Rebekah are pretty

much behind them...
Austin, Jacob & Reilly are typical
10 yr old dorks too...
But I swear! These 2 girls... Meghan & Kayley
have got to be the biggest dorks of them all!
Just listening to them talk on the phone makes me
sad that I didn't get to know my cousins better
when I was growing up. Haha! You the know
the reason... each phone call back then cost
like $10 a minute, so we were never allowed
on the phone. But I am so glad for unlimited calls
because these girls have so much fun chatting with
each other all the time!
We LOVE our COUSINS!

My parents 20th

In 1988 was my parents 20th anniversary. Scary to think about because my 20th is this year!! I decided to have pictures taken of us kids. I don't know if I ever got a final one of all of us together, which, if I recall right, is a really nice picture and I wish my parents would hang it up somewhere in the house... but I did manage to snag these 2 proofs.

The girls: me, 18; Heather, 14; Hilary, 12; Holly, 8

The boys: Brett, 17; Todd, 16; Chad, 10; Scott, 5

Mini Mi

Mimi

Mini Mimi

Can't believe my Mom loved this hairstyle so much! The first picture was when I was like 6 weeks old, and the 2nd is when I am 9! When I posted this on Facebook, we were laughing. I told her when she made me ride the bus with hair like this, I was laughed at. I actually can't believe how long my hair already was since the year before my hair had been whacked off, and I looked like a boy in a dress (Holly... I had to get revenge!).

Bunch of sickies

On Sunday I came down with whatever this is... fever, chills, very sore throat, cough. I figured it was the stuff that Joey had the week before, but apparently it wasn't... as of tonight, Joey & Lindsey both have fevers, and Jacob is starting to cough. I am sure by the end of this week, I will have more sick kids. Will this madness ever stop?
I'm still not well. I think my fever has broke, but I still feel awful. My friend's husband also has it and went to the doctor. They said it wasn't the flu or strep, but it has to run it course. Blah!

I just had to tell you!

As of this morning... I have lost 21 lbs!!! AND it's been 33 days

since diet Dr Pepper has touched my lips!

I think I am a litle excited!!

Happy 43rd Birthday Shawn!

This is Shawn 26 years ago. The year my youngest brother, Scott, was born.

Shawn wanted fried chicken for dinner, but I convinced him that he needed to have lasagna from Sams. I also got him a New York Cheesecake (2nd favorite) because I haven't had time to fix his 1st favorite dessert... coconut pie.

Happy Birthday Shawn!

I love you!!

Relief Society Blog gone

We had a Relief Society Presidency meeting tonight, and our bishop came in for a moment. He told us he had some bad news. "Yikes... what?!" He said that our Stake President got a letter from Salt Lake saying that Relief Societies should not have their own seperate blog... that's what the www.lds.org website was for. So gone is our Texarkana Ward Relief Society Blog. Suzanne did it so cute. I love reading other RS blogs too... oh, well.

*February 2nd-9th Weekly Update*

So since adding myself to Facebook, I have lacked in my blogging (have I said that before?). Maybe if I do a once-a-week blogging, then maybe I can keep you all updated more. Where to start, and I guess I added the pictures backwards, so we will start with today:

I should have done before and after pictures of the bedrooms. Before the carpet man came today and took $305, these carpets were a mess, thanks to Shawn who didn't think that he needed plastic to cover them as he sprayed texture all over the walls & ceilings. I bet next time he does!

This is the after shot of Kristen's & Lindsey's room... so nice!

And the after-shot of Lauren's & Kayley's room... sweet!

On Sunday, we had 3 milk cows delivered to us. Not exactly what I needed in this moment of my life, but they are here. One of them had a calf 2 weeks ago, and the other 2 are preggo. I named them... Bessie, Delsa & Kathrita are the momma's, and Sir is the boy calf. Why those names... well, I felt bad that Shawn or I didn't name any of our girls after their great-grandmothers, so Bessie (my Mom's mom), Delsa (my Dad's mom) and Kathrine & Rita (Shawn's grandmas) all should be proud that we named the 3 next important females after them. We already have started to drink the milk, and my kids do like it. I think Josh is the only one that complained. But what 18 yr old doesn't complain? The kids are learning how to milk, and that will be one of their after-school jobs soon. My sister, Heather, says she is going to send her boys up to learn how... LOL!! The boy calf is going to be called Sir, as in Sirloin, because in a year that's what he will become... lots of sirloin steaks for us (and roasts, and hamburger, etc...). I know, I know!! Gross!! But, Holly... if you ate my chili at Thanksgiving, you ate one of the cows from here! ;-)

I have successfully lost 16 lbs so far. I did get in a small rut on Friday & Saturday when on Friday I ate a 30 carb candy bar (couldn't resist that Heath Bar), and on Saturday I ate an apple dumpling that Shawn brought home for me from work. He has been bragging and bragging about this dessert, and I told him next time he can snag an extra to do so... well, I said that months ago! I didn't need it now. I'm not going to tell you how much I gained, but as of this morning I am back to my 16 lbs lost. I am now the proud owner of a pair of size 14 jeans! Woo-hoo!! I haven't been in 14's since before Joey was born. This morning as I put them on, I can tell that my butt area is getting looser. Great! Great as in yay!!! And Great as in geez... I'm going to have to go buy me 12's soon (oh darn!).

This is just a cute picture of Joey taken on Saturday, the 7th.

Lindsey Lou Who is a little more then 2... she is 5! We celebrated her day on her day: 2-2!

Don't look to close at the cake. It was horrible! But it was the cake she wanted... chocolate cake with pink frosting. I almost threw the cake outside to the dogs because the frosting was so runny (I decided that the frosting needed more sugar, even though it's the same recipe I have always used!). I stuck it in the fridge instead, and wah-la! So (not) perfect for a 5 yr old!
She has fallen in love with this doll, and wants more clothes that you can buy seperate. It really is a very cute, just like Lindsey Lou Who!

I think this is all the exciting things that happened this past week. This week there will be a bit more, so look for an update next Monday!

Happy Birthday Lindsey Lou Who!!

Today she is 5!!

She wants a chocolate cake with pink frosting, and wants ham-ba-gas for dinner.

Like I have said in a previous post, Shawn deleted all my 2003, 2004, & most of my 2005 pictures. I have none of her as a baby on my computer. So, by the grace of Grampa... I do have a few that he had downloaded, but she was 20 months old. Anyone else with younger ones of Lindsey? Here she is in late 2007, early 2008. I couldn't get Blogger to download anymore after this one. I don't know what the deal is today with Blogger!
2006 with Krissy Sue

October 2005 with a Pampered Chef Clip in her hair. Those make excellent barrettes! LOL!!

October 2005 again.

My favorite of Lindsey!!

Happy Birthday Lindsey!!

We love you so much!!

How am I doing?

This is day 19 of not having a diet Dr Pepper, and {drum roll please}... I have lost 12 lbs so far!!

Forgetting to blog...

I used to be good. Posting almost daily. Putting more pictures on. But then I discovered Facebook. And old friends, and old boyfriends... LOL!!! If you aren't on it, sorry that you are missing out!! LOL!!!! {Plus I can chat with my sisters & mom more too!} :-)

FHE

I don't know why everytime I am trying to prepare for Family Home Evening, the spirit just like leaves our home, and the kids are constantly fighting. All afternoon they have been at each other's throats, then of course I am losing patience... WHY WHY WHY? I really do know why. Satan wants us not to have Family Home Evening. He doesn't want me to teach my children the gospel. He wants us to be miserable like he is. But I am determined this year that we are doing it every Monday night. We need this together time, whether Josh or Lauren want to do it or not! I told the kids if we do it each Monday, then on the months that have a 5th Monday, I will take them to Cici's pizza (sorry Chad... we aren't there!). Tonight I am using a lesson from one of the Primary books... I am a Child of God.

Oh, really?

Today Lindsey informed me that she wanted to be home-schooled because Joseph Smith was home-schooled. Maybe that's good enough reason to do it?

Why is Lindsey in her jammies outside? I don't know. I didn't take the picture. Since she has a bow in her hair, I'm thinking this was a few weeks ago when it was nice outside after church on Sunday, but instead of putting on play clothes, she chose her jammies...

I forgot

That when I accepted this new calling, that I would have to teach every 3rd month on the 1st Sunday of the month... and my turn is this Sunday!!

I am not a great teacher. Others are better then me. :-(

He stopped crying!

Like most of my children when they were younger, Joey is attached to his momma still!! So a momma's boy!! Sometimes it's okay, but some days, like Sunday's, I need him to be un-attached! The kid is 25 months old!! He has not enjoyed nursery at all. We tried a few times to leave him, but he would.never.stop.crying! Past few Sundays I have been teaching the 12-13 yr old SS class, and I need him in there. I can't teach because he distracts the teenagers (mainly, his big sister). Last week, he screamed the entire time I taught, so as soon as I was done, I took him out, and wham! Asleep just like that. Wore himself out! Today I put him in, and by the time class was done, he had stopped. I sneakily peaked in, and Big John Saffel was sitting next to him while eating snacks. I motioned for him to come here, and he told Joey that he would be back (Joey was starting to pucker up). Joey did not cry, and stayed in for the next hour without crying!!! Yay!! Can I be happy? Is this the start of a good nursery year? I mean, afterall, my baby starts Sunbeams next January!! YIKES!!! That is just to weird to think about!

New calling

I was released back in August as Relief Society secretary, and put in as Compassionate Service Leader along with still being Ward Chorister. Josh was recently called as the chorister. I was called as 2nd counselor in the Relief Society. Talk about CRAZY!!!!! I think the Lord wanted me to change my view on Enrichment (I only went for the food) because I did not enjoy it. Now I am in charge of it!! I am open to ALL IDEAS!!!!!!!!

Diet 10501

Yes, so I am on diet 10, 501. (I know Rebecca & Cindy... I need to get BODY FOR LIFE, but I haven't yet because I keep forgetting each time I'm at the store!). And really, I am doing quite good. I'm not doing anything special except for really watching what I eat... I have almost cut out all sugar, and for the BIG news? It's been 2 weeks since I have had a diet Dr Pepper!! Did you read that? 2 weeks!! Am I craving one? You bet!! I keep having to text my sister daily that I need one, and she encourages me not to get one... and each time I let Sonic pass! I have saved a lot of money too by not getting any. I am happy with myself for that. I am using my eliptical machine thing 3-4 times a week, doing leg exercises, and just drinking lots of water. Can I see the difference yet? Hmmmmmmmmmmm... some. I can tell that my jeans are about to fall off me, which is good. And the t-shirt I am wearing today is really big now... not super big, but a lot looser!! I am hoping to get close to my desirable weight by June. For 1) 20 yr class reunion (can't be the fat momma with 7 children... I want to be the hot momma with 7 children since I will most likely take the "prize" of having the most children, and have to walk up to get my award...LOL!), and 2) we are taking Josh out this year to the MTC, and on the way back it will only be Shawn & I, so... well... since it's also our 20 yr anniversary... I'll let your mind think! LOL!!!! Shawn wants to start walking again this week on his off days, and I will be going with him.

I have lost 7 lbs so far (maybe another pound or 2 since I haven't weighed for a few days).

I can't wait to get into some new clothes! :-)

Sooooo, tell me what you think...

Should I get contacts?

Whatever Tom...

Tom Hanks, Executive Producer for HBO’s controversial polygamist series “Big Love,” made his feelings toward the Mormon Church’s involvement in California's Prop 8 (which prohibits gay marriage) very clear at the show’s premiere party on Wednesday night.

“The truth is this takes place in Utah, the truth is these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” he told Tarts. “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper, any of the 50 states in America, but here's what happens now. A little bit of light can be shed and people can see who's responsible and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting constitution and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So lets have faith in not only the American, but Californian constitutional process.”

For the whole story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480167,00.html

What's going on...

Shawn has been busy busy in the big girls room. He's got the closet done, and this coming week he will install the mirrored closet doors, that I already bought, but he had the wrong drill bit to install the screws into the concrete. The doors are going to be like the ones in Brett & Cindy's bedroom. In the little cubby, he has the vanity done except for the trim, but it looks nice. He will also get that done next week. He will also start the taping & mudding, and hopefully in 2 weeks I will have the finished room on here minus carpet. We won't get carpet in the rooms until all 3 rooms are done so that it will be cheaper.