These kids are awesome!

It started very slowly this morning. The first young man had on a white collared shirt under his jacket. I didn't think much about it. Then Trevor walked in in a white shirt and tie. I was confused about what sports season was playing, and I don't remember Trevor playing sports. So I asked him if he had a game today. He said, "No, I'm wearing it for President Hinckley."

I then looked up at the class and noticed several girls in their Sunday best, just as another student walked in with shirt and tie on. Last night as news of President Hinckley's death was announced, youth all over the western United States started texting each other to wear their Sunday best on Monday to school.

The second thing I didn't notice until the end of class. I have a sign-in book for them to sign as they arrive. Every morning I ask a question for them to answer. Sometime it's Are you reading the Old Testament at home? Sometimes it's something silly like Do you like Chocolate or Vanilla better? Today as I wrote down the date, I just didn't feel like writing a question, so I left it blank. At the end of class when I picked up the book, the kids on their own started writing about President Hinckley on the sign-in page.

I was so concerned for my kids last night. This is the only prophet they remember throughout their lives. I knew it would hit hard for them. It was so powerful to see them dressed up for school to show their love for him.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

TWINS: Twice as Nice

Has it REALLY been 21 Years???




Happy Birthday to Jennifer & Rebekah

It's taken me so long just to do a slide show tonight. I wanted it to be just right, but it took forever to find a song. The N'sync songs weren't working...So I've come close getting this ready by the midnight time limit.

This afternoon we went and saw 27 dresses. It was fun. The husbands, Jordan & Dave, owe me for sparing them both this chick-flick. Here's 21 facts about The Twins:

1. They were not born premature and weighed 7 1/2 pounds each
2. Both took dance lessons for several years
3. Jenn competed in gymnastics for 3 years
4. Rebekah took voice and music lessons
5. Both played softball from age 5-17 (on different teams).
6. Bekah played basketball at Kenney Guinn M.S./Jenn was a cheerleader
7. They wore matching clothes until they were about 4.
8. From 4-7 I bought them the same clothes, but they didn't match on the same day anymore. After 8 their individual styles were so different they just had a couple of dresses that matched that they would wear on special days. After 12 they refused to ever wear matching dresses.
9. Their hair styles were named: Top up/Bottom down
10. Inside-out pony tail
11. Braids, one or two. French or inside-out.
12. Pony tail twist.
13. They were in the same class at school until 5th grade, after that they were always in separate classes.
14. They went to different high schools.
15. They had different sets of friends they hung out with. Jennifer was a 'the more the merrier' and was always with a LARGE group. Rebekah is more of a one-on-one type of friend.
16. Both received their Young Women Medallions
17. Both graduated high school early (Jenn as a junior, Bekah one semester early)
18. In 7th grade they both had an assignment to write a special essay. Rebekah agonized over making it just right. Jenn was busy being social and came in at the last minute, dug through the trashcan in their room looking through Bekah's wadded up rejects. Choosing one she thought was just fine, she rewrote it in her handwriting and turned it in. It won a Clark County School District contest with an award. I didn't know anything about what had happened, until they walked through the door screaming at each other: "you stole my paper" "You threw it away"
19. Jenn collects hoodies, shoes, & purses.
20. Rebekah collects recipes & movies.
21. They are two totally unique individuals with equally outstanding qualities

Whenever anyone would say, "twins, double trouble." I always told them, "Oh, I think it's Twice as Nice." Thanks for proving me right. I can't imagine our family without you both.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTTY

We gathered for Scotty's favorite meal tonight: Steak, mashed potatoes, and creamed corn. As he opened the first gift revealing a tie, Matt's comment was, "Oh, yeah, this is that 19th birthday that has all the fun gifts."

Six ties:

One sweater:

Five white shirts:Basketball shorts & home town t-shirt for those intense MTC 4-square games:

Missionary Reference Library:

This evening was certainly quieter than past birthday's for Scott. I'm surprised he didn't ask for a trip to LV Mini Grand Prix. From the time he was 3 up to 17 every year the 'boys' in the family went there for Scott's birthday. It certainly was quieter than last year's birthday bash with 150 of his closest friends.

Drew was excited to come celebrate with Scotty too:

Scott's girlfriend, Catherine, snuck in and decorated Scott's room super cute for the day:

Happy Birthday Day, Scotty, we love you.

(Jenn put up a nice slide show on her blog, and Ashley has a picture of Scott & Charlie I hadn't seen before.)

Banana Clip Ecstasy

This is my banana clip. I mentioned it in a previous post. I cannot sleep without it. This banana clip has traveled to two countries and probably 8 states. As you can tell, it is stretched out and well used. There was a banana clip scare a couple of weeks ago. I woke up with hair in my face and panicked - I reached up and felt only one half of it in my hair. I had those quick succession of thoughts race through my head: What will I do now? How will I sleep without it? Dang, I knew this day would come. Luckily said banana clip was not broken in my sleep, but had just separated. Both halves were reunited, disaster avoided.

Banana clips have been a part of my life since the 80s. I had every color, some with ribbon on the edges. I could french brain my hair down the back, tuck under the ends, then place a banana clip with a ribbon on it around the braid and somehow I thought this looked good. At least everyone else, or a lot of people, were doing it (or had their own equally hideous 80s hairstyles going). I no longer wear my banana clip out in public. But I still use it to pull my hair up while I sleep.

Starting about 10 years ago I noticed it was getting harder to buy banana clips. There was a new line of hair accessories on the market. Target was replacing Goody, with Sucii (or however you spell it.) That brand's banana clip was unacceptable. Too thick, too short, didn't open up wide enough. I thought it was a temporary problem, but slowly noticed - they were gone, extinct. I've searched dollar stores thinking that they had old banana clip stock they were trying to sell off for $1. All to no avail. One by one my personal stock dwindled down. Till there was just one.

Imagine my complete shock and awe as I opened a package from my niece, Amanda:

There, in my hands fell out a BRAND NEW PACKAGE of Goody banana clips. Be still my heart.

Isn't it great when something so simple and inexpensive can rock your world. Thank you so much, Amanda, for knowing how much this would mean to me!

Birthday Weekend

January is known as birthday month around our house and it begins with the two most important people to the clan - Ron & I. This last weekend was just perfect for us. I woke up Saturday morning with really no plans for the day, and it ended up being such a fun time. Jenn & I started out shopping, no sense letting our Kohl's bucks go to waste.


Jenn & Jordan took us out to dinner at Maggianos - it was so good.I LOVE fried onions - and these were the best ever. The whole meal was wonderful (for dinner and lunch the next day!)



In the evening all the kids came over to have cake and sing to me for my birthday. I found a package of birthday fortune cookies on my porch from the Relief Society.

A milestone in the kitchen. The UGLY tall rectangular restaurant-style 33-gal. trashcan that has been a part of our family kitchen for easily 15 years was retired to the garage and replaced with a shiny stainless steel 13 gal. model. Every gift from the kids was just perfect. They all did great to remember this National Family Holiday.

Sunday was Ron's birthday. Ashley held our family Sunday dinner at her house. More presents for Ron and hot fudge brownie sundaes. Thanks, Ashley, it was great.

Thursday Ron & I are shopping for my main gift/new year's resolution. Hmmmm, Ron in a music store - should be interesting. The other days are going to start blending together I'm afraid. Friday is yank wisdom teeth day for Scotty (and ward temple night/dessert at our house), Monday is a doctor's physical for his mission papers. Scotty's birthday is next week. The following week is the girls' birthdays.

Year In Review 2007

I can honestly say that 2007 was bitter sweet. One of our best years and one of our worse - all at the same time. As far as business is concerned, definately the bitter side of things. Revenue down by half and expenses up by 20%, that pretty much explains my sleepless nights. The best part was the hours between the sleepless nights - my family really is awesome!

JANUARY - birthday month for Kim, Ron, Scott, Jennifer & Rebekah. Huge BD party for Scotty. Jenn went snowboarding with AZ friends in Utah as well as trip with Scott and cousins Ashley & Brian.
FEBRUARY - Matt's birthday. We went on a family cruise to Ensanada. Matt & Ashley were denied boarding at the dock :( Found out grandchild #3 was on the way.
MARCH - Jenn moved back from Phoenix. Ron & Scott annual dirt bike ride in Mexico. Charlie was born.
APRIL - Ron & Kim went on a western carribean cruise with friends.
MAY - Charlie's blessing here in Las Vegas. Family all down to Tucson for Brad's graduation from the University of Arizona. Brad also graduated from the LDS Institute.
JUNE - Jenn was never home because she was always hanging out with "we're just friends..." Jordan. Everyone here for Scott's graduation from Shadow Ridge High School. Kara's birthday. Scott went on two-week Church History tour.
JULY - Lake Powell trip #1. Brian Blakely decided to hang out with us for a year. Shark Week with Drew.
AUGUST - Brad & Ashley Birthdays. Hallie was born. Lake Powell trip #2.
SEPTEMBER - Jenn & Jordan got engaged. Drew turned 3.
OCTOBER - David's birthday. Everyone to Tucson for Hallie's blessing. Wedding plans and showers. Brad and Kara came back from Tucson to go to the temple with Jenn.
NOVEMBER - Wedding month. Jordan & Jenn were sealed in the temple.
DECEMBER - All back together again for Christmas.
There it is - our year in review. This next year doesn't seem as busy - yet. Mission plans are underway for Scott. We don't know what's in store for him, or for the rest of us, but looking at how much the Lord has blessed us, we'll all do fine.

GOALS FOR 2008
1. Read more books. 1 down 3 to go for the Christmas & birthday gifts. I'd like to read more of the book club books this year. Last year I only read half of them.
2. Read The Book of Mormon twice. Luckily our RS presidency has started off the year with a 6-page a day challenge, so that will definately help.
3. Some how light my seminary class on fire with excitement. A never ending challenge.
4. Organize my office. another never ending challenge.
5. And the goal I'm soooo excited about is part of my birthday present....and it should be in place in the next week or two - I'll blog about it then.

Adventures in TV buying

Last November just as we were settling down for the night, it happened. The TV we bought for our bedroom on the night of Matt's 16th birthday (I remember because I felt one moment of guilt for buying myself something on Matt's birthday - shouldn't I buy him something, "Oh, yeah, we did." can't remember now his 16th BD present, but there was one and I know the night involved dinner at Planet Hollywood....) fizzled out. 10 years, you've got to expect it sooner or later. It was an evening of panic. (We honestly don't know how to go to sleep with out the "Sleep Mode" button set on 60, 90, or 120 minutes.) Finally we 'borrowed' the tv from Jenn's room. She never watches it. She's getting married soon and we know she won't need it back until she moves to her house in March.

I'm thinking things have calmed down now from wedding hysteria and holiday bliss, and since Scott needs (wants?) to go to Best Buy, I better go check out tvs for the bedroom.

There were only flat wall plazma/lcd types there. What? What happened to buying a regular tv? At a minimum it's going to be $699 upwards to $1500 depending on the brand. I was in shock. I thought a 25-inch tv for the bedroom would be in the 3-400 range. I was not prepared for $699 plus - and on top of that I would have to do major research to figure out plasma vs. lcd. Scott calmed me down and told me not to do any research, just go ask Matt, he'll tell me all about it, more than I want to know.

But I started getting mad. The more I thought about it the madder I got. I'm not sure I understand all the terms. I know there's HDtv where you can see regular blades of grass on the football field, or Paula Francis' wrinckles up close and personal - with a hefty extra price to Cox Cable. And then there's something happening next year where old tvs won't be able to get signals. It's a conspiracy. "Somebody" decided all this new technology was good and to our benefit and now we're forced to pay for other tv sets to watch it whether we want to or not. I'm ranting away to Ron and he's looking at me like I'm crazy -- "Think about it. When we got married we had one phone line coming into the house, not two for a fax machine. there were no cell phones, no internet connection fees, no cable necessary (we got along just fine with 5 local stations and commercials by the Carpet Barn Jeaney), We didn't have to upgrade computers every couples of years. Everytime something is invented - it costs us more and more money. Ron, how can some poor widow on a fixed income afford a new tv next year when this change happens and you have to buy a flat screen $700 tv?" Finally I had his sympathy.

"I just want a normal inexpensive tv for our bedroom." Ron told me he'd check out pawn shops for an old tv for me, and we'll deal with whatever changes next year.

Well, when shopping at Wal-mart, I decided to check out the tv section. The wall was covered with flat screens - but tucked away in the corner was a shelf of real tvs! I was thrilled, it's still possible to buy a real tv. And it will only cost $179.

I'm not out of the tv research mode yet. The big screen downstairs is now on borrowed time so I'm sure there will be a replacement for that in the near future and it will involve some kind of plasma/lcd/mirrored flat screeness. We were on borrowed time as well with the big screen in the loft - which time came to an end. It took Scott about 5 minutes to figure out how to hook-up my projector and now he has wall-to-wall viewing & gaming pleasure. I should probably research wall screens....

Since I remember my dad complaining about how he had to spend more money to buy a color tv set to view NBC "In living Color" my own rantings lately just make me look (gasp) like my parents....