Laugh Mommy

FRUITA LOVE

2012-01-24T17:33:00.002-08:00

Yes, they are playing pick-up sticks with spagetti noodles. Can you guess what we had for dinner last night?

SAD

Sierra went to computers today. I guess they were talking about social networks. Sierra volunteered that she was on facebook. Her computer teacher said, "No child should ever be on facebook." She worried that she had done something wrong. She worried she had disappointed her teacher. She looked sad when I picked her up. She cried all the way home. I tried to explain to her that she wasn't on facebook. She said through her sobs, "But I am on facebook." It was hard to explain to her that having your picture on facebook is not the same as having a facebook account. Poor thing.

SILLY

Last night we were sitting around the kitchen table and Sierra said, "Mom you don't have to read me a story or anything tonight. I am going straight to bed." I said, "Wow, what brought this on." "Well, because tomorrow is Wyatt Wednesday and I can't wait! I am going straight to bed so tomorrow will come faster."

(Background: Sierra asked the other day, "Can I have a Fruita love?" I said, "What do you mean?" She said, "Well, Andrew will always be my Pittsburgh love, but can I have a Fruita love?" I said, "I guess so." She said, "Well, then Wyatt is my Fruita love." I said, "Okay."

On Sunday Wyatt's mom asked if I could watch him on Wednesday.)

Back to the kitchen table last night... "Do you know why I am so excited Mom?" "No." "Well, I am so excited because I used to chase Wyatt on the playground, so he runs every time I get near him. Tomorrow he can't run so I am going to tell him, Wyatt I don't want to chase you anymore I just want to be with you."

I don't know what I am going to do with that little girl and her crushes.

SNOW AGAIN

2012-01-24T08:05:00.000-08:00

The girls were so excited that it snowed again.

Sierra has been saying it is the "worstest" winter of all time because there has been hardly any snow.

They wanted to make a snowman but the snow was too powdery.

Surprisingly, despite all the playing in the snow Sierra was on time for school.

She was really motivated this morning.

She wanted to play in the snow with her friends.

Conversation with Madison on the way home from dropping Sierra off:

Me: Madison do you want to go over to Sister Trevenan's house, so mom can work on Sister Kay's quilt?

Madison: Can I take my Ba Ba?

(Seriously? I bought her a sippy cup because it was the only way I could be sure she would stay hydrated while she had such a high fever. It took three days and she is absolutely addicted again.)

Me: It isn't a Ba Ba Madison.

Madison: Oh yeah, a sippy.

Me: So, do you want to go?

Madison: Does she have milk?

(Seriously, I should have never bought that thing.)

Me: We have milk.

Madison: Will you take it to Sister Trevenan's house in a grocery bag?

(Then she giggled like crazy.)

Me: No, we can just put milk in it before we leave.

Madison: Grocery bag, isn't that so funny mom?

Talking to a three year old always interesting.

MY LITTLE SWEET HEART

2012-01-23T10:47:00.000-08:00

She has had a high fever for three days.

BANTU KNOTS

2012-01-19T08:20:00.000-08:00

My friend sent me this link. I was in love. I think they are as cute as a button. The girls were sliding around in the bottom of the tub like wet slimmy fish this morning for about ten minutes after they should have been out. There wasn't any water in the tub just two little naked bums. I kept begging them to get out, but no. I didn't have time to really do Sierra's hair, so I bantu knoted it. I am so excited for her to get home and take them out and look at her cute curls. However, I am not naive I have been this little ones mother for too long. The likely hood of her coming home with her little knots still in tact is slim at best. The luxurious curls I envision may never be realized.

MADE A PILLOW FOR THE COUCH

2012-01-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

I made this pillow this morning. I found the the vintage piece of fabric at the church in a box of old polyester fabric. Sister K has been drooping by stuff. A set of old curtains and some batting that was cemented together when she vacuum sealed it. I made a pillow and then covered with the vintage fabric. I am in love and it was free. The only price I paid was walking around in my pajamas all morning with make-up smeared across my face because I haven't washed it since yesterday. I only had a couple people stop by. I may have resembled a mad scientist. Oh yeah, and maybe I stink a little and it is noon. I better go take a shower and brush my teeth. Wasn't it worth it though? Look at the pillow.

SANDRA BOYNTON

2012-01-16T22:27:00.001-08:00

A few pattern's I ordered from vogue arrived today . I am in love. I hope I get up the guts to tackle them soon. I have some old vintage sheets I am going to use. I am hoping to find an old lace table cloth for the dress on the left. Ahhhh. You can do it too, come and join me and sew something for Easter. If you are afraid, let me know and I will let you keep me on speed dial.
The girls have spent the afternoon on crayola.com. You can turn yourself into a coloring page. They love it.Last, but not least one of my all time favorite authors, Sandra Boynton. I can't begin to say how much I love her work. You know how sometimes a book just speaks to you. Well,this is my all time favorite book she wrote. It spoke to me at a time in life when I felt like the hippopotamus. I think it is hard to be the hippopotamus, but I also think it is important because it teach us charity. For all of you who have felt like the hippopotamus, or helped a hippopotamus, or just cheered a hippopotamus on, you must own this book. Also, watch this video, if you aren't a mom you will laugh. If you are a mom, you will laugh harder. It is a Sandra Boynton song! Yeah, for great writers.

ME

2012-01-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

I hate taking pictures of myself. I can't even begin to say how much. I feel like a total goof ball and I crack up when I preview them. I can't imagine what is going through my mind when I pull the faces I do. However, this blog is my blog and least I forget, I guess I must put a picture of myself up every once and a while.

I have submitted one of my children's book to five agents as of this evening. I wish I could post it here. I know you would love it, it's about Christmas. However, I can't... but I promise when it gets published I will blog endlessly about it until you are all sick of it.

I found out who Cristi is. She is my best friend from high school's little sister. I am excited to make the dress for her little girl and for Sierra. I can't wait to get started.

Today, I have been really grateful for my life. Nate and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary a few weeks ago and I am grateful for all eight of our years together. They each have been difficult and wonderful for different reasons. I have learned from each. After, eight years of marriage I have learned three things....

-They say, "Don't let the sun go down on a argument." It is a dumb saying. Go to bed and sleep it off and everything will be okay in the morning.

-If you are having a problem in your marriage talk to your Father-in-Heaven more than your friends and family. He will give you better advice and more comfort.

-Don't let anyone tell you that marriage isn't work. Anything worth having requires work to get it and an amazing marriage is no different.

I had a special experience over Christmas break I got to go to my grandparent's house and dust. I know it sounds dumb but it was one of the best moments of my life. I was dusting there living room and watching them. They were holding hands on the couch and resting their heads against each other. I just knew in sixty years I want Nate and I to look just like the two of them. I want us to be that close. I don't care what movies and novels say about what true love is, what my grandparents have, that is true love. The butterflies of youth just aren't as glamorous to me anymore as the rock hard devotion of old age. As I watched my grandparents together, their story became my new favorite love story.

CRAZY HAIR

2012-01-15T16:17:00.000-08:00

I did the girls hair in sponge rollers last night thinking I would save time, but I spent so much time trying to tame it this morning I think it was a wash. However, I did think she looked cute enough to be the perfect charicter for a children's story book. I seem to be thinking about children's literature a lot lately. I hope you had an amazing Sabath. We sure did.

AND THERE GONE

2012-01-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

I woke up yesterday and took Sierra to school.
I went with her.
I volunteered in her classroom.
There is a strange smell in a first grade classroom.
I did some organizing for the teacher and left.
The car didn't start.
I tried again and again but no.
It was cold and I didn't have a coat.
I called Nate and asked him to come get me but I had the car seats and he had Madison.
I called a friend, she was at the school with some other women from the ward.
She said she would take me home after we went out for breakfast.
We picked up Madison.
We ate yummy food and I told them of the latest children's book I am writing.
Then I went home.
The house was locked tight and I didn't have a key.
Nate was out fishing.
I sat all my stuff down including my nook and searched for a key.
Nothing.
My friends saw I was stuck and swung back around. They invited me to hang out with them.
I got to their house and realized I didn't have my nook.
They went back and got it for me.
I went to Home Depot with my friends, how else was I going to spend the day?
Nate finally returned my phone call and said to use the garage door-opener in the broken down car.
Duh, why didn't I think of that.
Where has my mind gone.
I went back to the school. It was time to pick of Sierra. I got the garage door opener. It was freezing.
We walked back to the same friends house. (Who has been way over used since she met me.... poor thing... should have never said hello.)
I got a ride home with the girls.
We did the night time routine; dinner, books, prayers, scriptures, brush teeth, and to bed.
I started cleaning the house that I never got around to because of my crazy day.
I started up the laundry and then I get a phone call from my brother that is coming to see us, "Lisa, we are broken down. Can you come get us? We are in Green River."
Yes, the car my brother borrowed to come see us broke down. (What is up with us and cars?)
I said, "Sure."
Nate had gone to bed. I know that sounds bad but he had a hard day too. I didn't expect them to breakdown. I didn't want to wake him up, so I unloaded the fishing stuff out of the truck and went to the gas station and filled the truck with gas.
I then get a call from my Dad, "A good person stopped and helped them. They should be okay now."
I got a redbox movie and went home to enjoy the rest of my night.
I start my movie and begin folding laundry and the phone rings.
"The car broke down again, go get them." It is freezing and they have a baby.
I get in the car and I don't care if I speed I just want to rescue them but the dang car won't go over 60mph. Stink.
I get there. We come home at 2:00am.
Nate worked on my brother's teeth all morning, which is why they came. He is an angel.
Phillip, my brother, gets out of the dental chair and they have to head back.
Because today is the best day for Dad and my other brother to come pick up the broken down car, and we can't take them back another day because we don't have a car that will fit six people.
Anyway, it has been a really crazy twenty-four hours for all of us.
Nate is driving them back to Green River to get a ride back to Utah with the towing brigade.
Good-bye. Glad you came. Sad you couldn't stay.

WINNER WINNER

2012-01-13T17:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I wrote the names on pieces of paper. She shook it up and drew our winner. Truth be told, I don't even know who Christi is. I mean I know a few Christi's but I don't know which it is. Whom ever was comment number three on my pretty post, you are the winner. Send me an e-mail with your daughter's age, her waist measurement, and her measurement from waist to knee. My e-mail address is lcmcknight@gmail.com. I am excited! Also, dress number 5 won the contest so this will be the dress I will be making. Yeah!!! For you losers out there, don't worry we will have another contest in the summer... if this one goes well.

SETTING the RECORD STRAIGHT

2012-01-10T15:42:00.000-08:00

About two months ago, no maybe longer than that, I was walking back from school with Sierra and Madison. I told Madison she could ride her Diego bike. On the way back she had a major melt down half way home. Sierra had gotten in front of her. She hates it when she is not in the lead. She was crying and screaming. I thought I will just let her throw a fit and keep walking. I thought if I get far enough ahead of her she will follow. I was about ten feet in front of her and this woman from across the street yells, "Lady, help your daughter. I know she road that bike all the way to the school. You can't make her ride it back. She is too little." She was mad. She didn't appreciate my parenting style. She didn't really know what was going on. I wasn't about to yell across the main road to explain the situation. It was easier at this point to let Madison have her way. I walked behind her and pushed her all the way home.

FAST FORWARD. Today, I was walking to school to get Sierra. Madison was riding her Diego bike again. The same lady was walking with her son to the school. (I didn't know it was the same lady.) She decided to strike up conversation, "You make her ride that bike to school a lot." I smiled. She said, "I guess it is good excercise for her." I smile. Then she said, "The other day she was riding and had a melt down and you just kept making her ride that bike." (Then I knew it was the same lady.) I didn't hold my tongue. I set the record straight. I said, "She had a melt down because her sister got in front of her, not because she was tired from riding. She begs to ride this bike to school every day." The lady was nice after that and made small talk the rest of the way to school. I was glad I was finally able to set the record straight.

A LOST TOOTH

2012-01-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

{I don't think I told any of you how Sierra lost her other tooth. She is missing both her front teeth now. It is so weird to see her with them both gone. She refused to let anyone pull it even though it was barely hanging on. Finally, Nate came in to me after I fell asleep. He was so excited. He said, "Honey, I did it. I got it out. She didn't even wake up." I was so relieved. It really had been a pain in all our sides for sometime and maybe that is a testament to what a good dentist he is.}
The only thing I can do with this little girl's hair is round brush it. And the miracle is, she holds still every Sunday while I do it.
Sierra loves giving Madison horse rides around the living room. I am so glad they have each other.

TORTILLA's for LUNCH

2012-01-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

MJ and I made tortilla's for lunch. If you would like the recipe click here. It is really messy when I let my little MJ help but she loves it to pieces. She loves to sprinkle flour on the counter, so they won't stick when I roll them out. She loves to hand me the little balls of dough. She loves to watch them puff up. It is a fun activity to do with your kids and you will get something absolutely delicious to eat. This recipe will make 16 tortilla's, so for my family. For a family of four that is typically enough tortilla's for two meals. Enjoy.

There are three things I am most passionate about in life and I hope to dedicate more time to each of them on this blog. One modest fashion. Two cooking. Three reading to my girls. Every other week, we go to the library and bring home a huge stack of books. Ever once and a while, we come across ones we love and ones we don't really love. I am going to try and do a children's book review of our most favorite book of the week here. Remember Reading Rainbow?

Plantzillia, by Jerdine Nolen
I love this book. It is funny and clever and it is especially fun if you read the letter's from the parents in the voice from the babysiter, on the Incredibles. Especially the voice she gets near the end of the movie when she is talking about Jack, Jack. The illustrations are so cute. It would be a great book to read to your kids before they get ready to plant the garden for spring. So, go and pick up this book from your local library today. (Wasn't that last phrase perfect? I sound like I could be on Reading Rainbow.)

BRINGING BACK PRETTY

2012-01-05T10:17:00.000-08:00

There is something that has concerned me about raising little girls. I feel it when I see Sierra shaking her little bum. (Call me a prude.) I feel it when I see other little girls her same age wearing Minny skirts. I feel it more now that she has out grown the children's section at Target and is now moving into a new phase where classy is less accessable. I want her to be classy. I especially want her to wear classy dresses during her Tween and Teen years. I want her to be pretty and not hot. This article has put into words how I have felt for a long time.

You didn't know I could sketch, did you? Well I can sew too. Click here. So, in an effort to bring back pretty I am going to make the dress that gets the most votes for my daughter Sierra. The pictures are numbered like you read left right, up and down, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. VOTE. In March I will post a picture of her in her new dress.

It gets even better. I will make two dresses. I will draw a random winner from the votes on this post next Friday and I will make the dress for their daughter too. She can be any age from 6-14. The project will be done by the end of March just in time for Easter. So vote!

PAPER DOLLS AND PLAYDOUGH

2012-01-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

Sierra has been creating like crazy since we got home from Utah. She was so happy to be back with her presents. She has been making paperdolls out of the felt grandma sent her. She has been cutting and designing like crazy.

WE HAVE A SUNBEAM

2012-01-01T15:08:00.000-08:00

What happened? How did it get to be 2012? How did Madison ever get old enough to graduate from Nursery and become a Sunbeam? Ahhhh. I sometimes think I could still pass for 18. I know hillarious.

WEEK after CHRISTMAS

2011-12-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Day we went to Church. The girls didn't want to leave their toys, but we finally got out the door. I didn't get the memo about the time for church being changed. I was suppose to sing. When we showed up the meeting was half over and the program didn't say when my number was, so I thought I had missed it. Luckily, I hadn't because I was doing a duet and I am sure the Lily would have been a little caught off guard.

Directly after church, Nate and I loaded up the car and headed for Utah. Nate dropped me off and headed for California. He wanted to spend the week fixing our car with his friend who is a mechanic, it wasn't my idea of a vacation.

However, my vacation plans were all but destroyed by a bug from (a word I can't say.) It ravaged our home knocking off about three of us at every day. First, Jennifer, Derrick, and Emily. Then, Michael, Tamara, Kimberly, and Sierra. Then, Mom, Phillip, and Kate. You were holding your breathe waiting for your turn. I of course was last. Yeah. There was always someone in the bathroom with one end or the other in the toilet. I am only just starting to feel better and it has been a few days. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

There were a few highlights of the trip though.

1. Cleaning my grandparents home. They are both ill and I was there with my two older sisters and my mother. There was such a sweet feeling in their home. I watched my grandparents as they both held hands and feel asleep on the couch as they watched us dust around them. My heart was so filled with love for them and the beautiful life they have both lived.

2. Loving each of my nieces and nephews, even Kate gave me a few kisses. I have always been "scawey" to her. I am glad to have jumped that hurdle. I loved seeing my girls play with their sweet cousins. I don't think I saw Sierra the whole trip. Her and Emma were thick as thieves. Madison said to me "I am so excited to do beads with Tessie Sue." This is the first visit they have played with each other.

3.Going to the Temple with Emily. The lady at the front desk referred to me as her mother a few times. I corrected her and said she was my sister. She is only six years younger then me. Cracks me up. Do I look that old?

4. Going to lunch with Inez. She is applying to go to Oxford. She is an amazing artist. I would give anything to have her work hanging in my home. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I need to commission her to do a piece before she leaves because I will never be able to afford her work when she gets back. We had some great conversations.

5. Going to dinner with my Aunt Ruthie and my Grandma and Grandpa and my Uncle John and his wife. Ruthie and I weren't really apart of the conversation. We laughed about it. It was them and us. However, I did get their attention when I talked about having or not having more children. A topic they are both interested in. I did tell them I am in the processes of negotiating with the man of the house. I think he is going to let me have ten more, so we can have an even dozen. The power of persuation my friends. ;)Laughing!

6. Playing Sequence with Skywalker and Kimberly and Tamara. He is Tamara's boy and it was fun. Although, I felt sorry for the poor boy. Him against three Craven women, if he can survive that he can stay.

7. Making Gumbo for the whole Craven family. It was mostly for my brother-in-law Neil he served his mission in the south. I think a few of them actually liked it and that is huge. The Craven's have their staples and they don't venture out much.

8.New Years Eve at Jennifer and Derricks house. There was pizza and a huge salad. Karalee and Benji made fresh salsa. We played some more Sequence. Nate showed up halfway through the evening and we packed up and headed home. I read Pride and Prejudice all the way home. I love that book.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-25T14:06:00.000-08:00

I was so excited about Christmas this year. I put some real thought it to what I bought the girls and I knew it turned out perfectly when the minute Christmas was over they sat down at their little table and chair and used their imagination as they played.

All Sierra wanted was art supplies and she got enough to supply a small preschool.

Madison got blocks and a couple puzzles.

They both got a baby doll and their table and chair set.

My mother-in-law put them together a tupperware container full of felt, so they could create. They loved it.

I made their pajamas. It was my first year sewing pajamas and I have no idea why I haven't done it before each pair took about an hour and they loved them. It is by far the easiest pattern I have ever made. It is McCall's pattern number 5965. It has a pattern for boy pajama's too.

SNOWFLAKES AND GUMBO

2011-12-22T23:45:00.000-08:00

I have had a great last two days here is a random list of the things we have done....

A cute litttle girl from our church came over to sew some barbie clothes for her little sister. We had a good time together.

I went over to the Trevenan's to work on the K's quilt again. The girls played with a little farm set on the floor while we quilted.

Madison keeps calling mango's, flamingo's it cracks me up.

I found the perfect gift for my family. They are going to love it. It is mostly for my mother...she is going to love it. Sierra was putting some finishing touches on it today.

I am almost done sewing two beautiful pairs of pajamas. I guessed on the size of one and I pray it fits. (I don't know why I have bought them all these years. They are so fun to make.)

I made gumbo for dinner it was so good.

I and the girls cut snowflakes.

Sierra stayed up and watched the Incredibles with me to celebrate no schools for a few weeks.

I and Sierra finished reading Mary Poppins. We are both sad to see it end.

Sierra has spent the last few days teaching Madison her letters. She prints worksheets off the computer. It makes me smile. The printer ran out of ink. She told Madison, "That's okay, Santa will bring us some more."

CHRISTMAS CAROL TO THE HOSPITAL

2011-12-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

I can't tell you how much I am loving Sierra lately. She woke up early this morning and cleaned her bedroom without even being asked. It made my day. She is such a good little girl and has a such a strong sense of right and wrong and I love her for it. The picture below is her with her new bestie Amanda. She has become really good friends with her since Bailey moved. I love that she shared her coat with her. I love even more that they are both missing the same tooth. They went over to the hospital and caroled through the halls. There were a couple of old people there who were grinning from ear to ear. It was as if the who's down in whoville had gathered, and I was touched by the spirit of Christmas. I did shed a little tear, a little one. I love Christmas.

A PROJECT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON

2011-12-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

I made a friend and she is awesome. She shared her talents and I am blessed. Sierra only wanted art supplies for Christmas. I thought, what goes well with art supplies for a big gift. I thought of a number of things and then settled on a chair and table set for her bedroom. I spent hours online and nothing was right. I ran into a friend at the library who said she was going to do the same thing for her children and Lily said she would help her build one. However, she changed her mind and bought one instead. I went from the library to Lily's house and asked if I could take her place. I know bold. She was so sweet and said, "Absolutely." I spent a few days at her house and this is the result. I painted the table ivory white and the chairs ballerina pink. I love it. I am so excited for Christmas!

CANYONLANDS

2011-12-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

The girls, Nate, and I went for a hike around Canyonlands on Saturday. The girls had a blast. They loved being out in nature and the two short hikes we went on were perfect for them. The earth is seriously amazing. I am always in awe at how it was formed and how vast it is, this particular canyon seems to go on forever. After winding around looking at all the hot spots in Canyonlands we went to Moab for dinner. We stopped in at Pasta Jay's. It was really yummy. If you ever find yourself that direction I recommend it. There wasn't a single bit left on any of our plates. This will probably be our last little family trip for the year. Nate is on a crusade to see all this area has to offer because he is actively looking for another opportunity and we may not be here in this little town on the edge of Colorado for long.

LOST ANOTHER TOOTH

2011-12-18T19:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, on the way to Canyonlands Sierra lost her third tooth. Three of her front teeth have been hanging by a thread for over a week now. I guess we will see if she looses another before Christmas. I am pretty confident she will.

ADOPTION, THE CUTEST COUPLE EVER

2011-12-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

I love these two. I can't even begin to express how much. This is a picture of my oldest sister and her husband. I took this picture of them at my little brother's wedding reception. Don't they look so in love? This is candid and so genuinely them.

Sadly, they have been unable to have children. They have been through multiple procedures and spent countless hours hoping, praying and not yet realizing their dream. I got a special phone call from Jennifer the other day and she asked me, "What should we do?" I felt a little humbled because she is my big sister and I am the one who goes to her seeking advice. I said, "Put your paperwork in for adoption, because you don't know why your Heavenly Father has lead you down this path. There maybe a little baby out there that is meant to be apart of your and Derrick's life that wouldn't have been able to if you had of conceived in a conventional way." We both shed a few tears and she hung up the phone. A few weeks later the process was complete.Click here to see.

I am writing to say that if you know of anyone out there who has made the difficult decision to allow their baby to be adopted to please send them to Jennifer and Derrick's profile.

This is Jennifer asleep with Sierra when she was a baby. I love this picture and think it is so precious.
This is a picture of Derrick with Madison. She loves him. I named my her after Jennifer. Madison's name is Madison Jennifer. I love her name and I pray ever day that she will become like her.

I pray that Madison will be bold in standing up for those who are too shy to stand up for themselves. I remember one day standing awkwardly on the school grounds and some bullies coming up to I, Jennifer, and my other sister Michelle and saying, "Give us a cigarette or money or we won't let you pass." Jennifer told them they would let us pass and she took our hands and pushed passed the bullies.

I pray that Madison will inspire and encourage people the same way Jennifer has. I remember Jennifer deciding to go to college and encouraging me to do the same thing. After a small attempt at taking a few classes and working full time, she insisted I could work full time and go to school full time. She signed me up for a full semester of classes and said, "If I can do it, you can do it." I was scared but I believed her. I would have never graduated from college without her encouragement.

I pray that Madison is as compassionate. I remember calling my big sister and bawling several times because I have been in distress and her running to my aid. One time in particular, I was eight months pregnant and our neighbor had threatened my life, she was crazy. I didn't know how I was going to find a place and move before our lease was up. (My husband was going to dental school and didn't have a lot of time.) She bought at ticket and was there in a few days. We found a place and moved. It was like a whirl wind. Nate and her moved us and then she spent the next few days putting my house together, decorating it, and making it feel like a home.

Then as dental school drew to a close we were out of money and had no way of paying to move out here to Colorado. It took one phone call. She said, the money would be in our bank account within the hour. It was. It took us a while to pay her back but she never mentioned it and whenever I did, she said, "Take your time, I am not worried about it."

I pray Madison loves putting a smile on other people's faces and blessing their lives the same way Jennifer does. She has been like a fairy godmother to my children. She has sent them packages, taken them shopping at the Disney store, taken them to soccer games, had an endless number of parties for them at her house. She loves them like her own children and they are eternally blessed to have her as their Aunt.

Derrick is every bit as sweet and compassionate and kind and generous as my sister. He has added so much laughter and happiness to our family since Jennifer married him. We are truly blessed to have him in our lives too. Madison loves him so much.

Please forward this link on to anyone who could help them.

PINKY PLEASE CAN I GO OUTSIDE?

2011-12-13T07:25:00.000-08:00

The girls have been waiting for this day for a long time. They have insisted that Santa can't come unless there was snow on the ground and they have been looking, watching and waiting for its arrival. This morning when they woke up they peaked out the window and were so excited. There is a good chance the snow won't wait till Sierra comes home from school, so I bundled them up and went outside with them to make snowballs and snowangels. The sun was rising on the horizon as the girls were running across the new fallen snow, its peach and pink glow filled the sky contrasting the spoted white ground. These are the moments that make being a mother so magical.

TEACHING A CHILD TO SEW

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

Sierra wants to learn how to sew. I drew her name on a piece of fabric and had her stitch it. Learning how to stich in a straight line and how to avoid a needle is the first step to sewing, so it is a great exercise. She loved it and even had her sister help. She kept saying, "Madison do you want to learn how to knit?"

CHRISTMAS PARTY

2011-12-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

There is a little Christmas tradition in our church to have reenactment of the nativity by the children. I can't begin to say how precious I think it is. It is one of my favorite Christmas time events. They also sang to us. We also had a huge breakfast fit for a king. There was this Mexican quiche that was so yummy. I have to get the recipe. If I do, I will share. There audience was also really cute. She will be in primary in less than a month. I am sad. My baby is growing up.
This little brass band played really well and preformed a few fun Christmas numbers.
These were my breakfast contribution, so yummy. You can get the recipe by clicking here and here. I left the almond extract out of the cupcake recipe. I added a 1/2 tsp of raspberry extract to the frosting and topped with a raspberry. They are so yummy.

I LOVE MY LITTLE GIRL

2011-12-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

We are dancing to Christmas music and Madison is loving it. She is laughing and laughing. She says, "Again, again." I love these moments with my little girls. I wish I could put them in a bottle and inhale them whenever being a mother gets hard, because it will be again, but right now it is pure joy.

PATCHING HOLES IN KIDS JEANS

2011-12-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

I have repaired my kids jeans in multiple ways. This way I think is the cutest and the most durable.

1. Seam rip the sides of the jean. Notice the way the jeans are put together because you will want to put them back together the way you took them apart.
2. Cut out the bad section.
3. Find an old pair of jeans that are beyond repair. I also keep denim remnants from when I cut jean pants off into shorts for the summer.
4. Use the piece you cut out as a pattern. Add an inch to the top of your pattern for seam allowance. When you sew the piece back in use a 4/8" inch seam allowance.
5. Sew piece back in. Sew most complicated seam first. This is typically your inside seam.
6. Walla, good for another year, or another child.

YUMMY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2011-12-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

Don't you want one? You can get my recipe by clicking here. Madison helped me make them. Then she read me stories while I made dinner.

She said to me today, "You are my mommy, huh? But some people call you Wesa, huh?" I said, "Yes, some people call me Wesa, but I am still your mommy."

I AM A MORMON AND I LOVE THAT I AM!

2011-12-04T13:32:00.000-08:00

I was born to a family that belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was officially baptised when I was eight. I didn't understand then how much that simple decision would effect my entire life. I love that every Sunday you will find me here. It anchors me and gives me direction in my life, direction I desperately need in this every changing and shifting world. The peace I gain from my faith is what makes my whole life happy and it is what gives me the confidence I need to raise these two beautiful, crazy, silly, smart, little girls.

FLASH FROM THE PAST

2011-12-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

This is my sweet Sierra in 2008. Isn't she the cutest? Don't you just want to pinch her frost bitten checks. I was rummaging through all my old photos for my sister. She needed some for a project she is working on that I am really excited about. I fell in love with this picture again. It reminded me of a picture my friend Darcy took of Sierra this summer. No matter how old she gets, she will have those same eyes. I miss my two and a half year old Sierra but I love my six year old Sierra.

A WINTER WALK

2011-12-02T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today I felt like the best mother when I suggested Sierra practice her spelling words with the bathtub crayons. I got to bath her and she got to learn to spell simultaneously. I don't have many creative moments like, so I had to share. She got all 13 words right on her spelling test!
MJ and I went for a winter walk to break up the day. I asked her where she was headed to she said, "Californ-e-a." She saw some plastic candy canes in someone's yard and say, "We can't pick them." I said, "No, we can't." She said, "But we can lick them."

THE TREE HAS PROGRESSED

2011-12-01T20:32:00.000-08:00

Remember this post from last year? Well, I went thrifting again today to add more pieces to the Christmas tree. I love how it is progressing. Next year, I will spend a few more dollars and it should be complete. I love it!

I felt so blessed today when I was thumbing through some of Sierra's paper's from school and one of her assignments was to complete this sentence. My favorite place to be is___________? She wrote... home. I can't tell you how if filled me to read that one simple word. I love our home too.

ON OUR WAY HOME AGAIN

2011-12-01T20:27:00.000-08:00

There is nothing more refreshing than my late afternoon walk to pick Sierra up from school. The weather has been perfect here. I have only needed a jacket. A lot of my the tasks I do in a day take place in my home but to have an excuse every day to get out of the house and breathe in fresh air isn't just good for my body it makes life enjoyable.

LOST CHILD

2011-11-30T20:26:00.000-08:00

TODAY we...
-Went on a walk around Snook's Bottom with Sister K. We had a good conversation.
-We went to Sister Trevenan's house and looked at the quilt. We just admired it up on it boards. She is going to teach me how to cross stitch a pillow case. (I know how to cross stitch but don't tell her, she needs a friend and I think we could be good friends.)
-I picked up Sierra and lost MJ in the processes. I have never been so scared in my life. I was shaking. She has never left my side. She is a the cling-on...especially in crowds. I turned around and she was gone. I knew someone had taken her. I was screaming and shaking. Sierra's first grade teacher was helping me look for her. She was even shaking. We were scared. She was missing for at least ten minutes. The longest ten minutes of my life. She headed to the car on her own. They found her wandering around the parking lot. She was fine and happy. She said, "I just went to find the car but I couldn't." Sierra was praying and crying while we were looking. Sierra said to MJ, "Don't ever go in the road without Mom." She said, "I didn't go all the way in the road, just a wittle bit." I was so relieved to have her back in my arms. I discovered that maybe there is an independent little spirit in there.
-We went to Sam's Club to pick up toilet paper among other things and my two girls giggled all the way through the store and not cute giggle, out of control giggling. Bitting each other and laughing. Saying potty words at the top of their lungs and laughing. I wanted to hide.
-We ended up at Darcy's home. She showed us her cute home and her fun vision for it and we dreamed and clicked around on Pintrest, while our girls played together.
-I ended the day on Sierra's bed reading her Mary Poppins. I have never read it before and it is really the cutest, sweetest, most wonderful children's story ever. We are halfway through and enjoying every word together.

VINTAGE QUILT

2011-11-29T19:06:00.000-08:00

Sister Kay's Grandpa's "other woman" Emma made this quilt for her when she was a teenager. It was just a quilt top made out of all her old clothes. Today, we were on a mission to quilt it together. We got her mother in on it. We went over to her house. Madison discovered all these vintage toys. There was a Dr. Dolittle lunch box in perfect condition from when the movie came out in the 70's. I fell in love. I wish I was a theif because I would have stolen it, and it would be mine. Also, her mother has boxes and boxes of fabric from when her mother worked at a grocery store that carried a fabric line. You could have shown me a vault of money and I would have been no less coveteous. I wanted to steal that too. Do you know of a robber for higher?

WHINY PRINCESS

2011-11-29T19:00:00.000-08:00

Monday, MJ wanted to try on every dress up in the house. The house was a little chilly and I didn't understand why she wanted to. I told her she needed to put warm clothes on. She threw a fit. She threw a fit bacause she was "hungry" after I made her a waffle and gave her a bowl of canned peaches. She threw a fit after I turned off her show. I finally hauled her into bed with me and made her take a nap with me. We slept till 1:00 in the afternoon. I don't know when I made her lay down but it wasn't too long after I took Sierra to school. We must have both been exhausted. We both went to bed at 9:00pm that night. Yeah, for a good nap that didn't effect bedtime too badly.

WINDOW ART

2011-11-29T15:27:00.000-08:00

My sister's bought window paint and let the girls go to town on Grandma's windows. It was so messy but the girls loved it.

Other fun things that we did over Thanksgiving weekend.
1. Made stockings with cute appliques on Friday night with my sisters.
2. Bought a cupcake from the Sweet Tooth Fairy. I have always wanted to try one. I have to say... I wasn't that impressed. Go Oakmont Bakery!!!
3. Went to the temple.
4. Sat with my Grandma Hair while she taught me a little about how to do Family History work. She is doing a class in February. It is a week long and I am thinking about taking it.
5. Went to Creativity and painted a mug with Nate. He designed another fish bowl.
6. Got to hug both sets of grandparents, my Uncle David and Aunt Sheryl, my favorite and Aunt Ruthie and my siblings.
I LOVE MY FAMILY.

THANKSGIVING

2011-11-29T14:22:00.000-08:00

Yummy food and a great family. Who could ask for anything better? The thing I missed the most about Thanksgivings in Pittsburgh was not spending them with my family. I have the greatest family ever. We try to coordintate it so that all of the siblings will be at their in-laws and then at my parents house on the same Thanksgiving, so every other year we get to be all together. This year was an in-law year, so we should have been with Nate's parents but Nate couldn't get enough time off of work, so we had to go to my parent's house. I heard Nate's parents had a blast and we wish we could have been there. However, it was fun to spend Thanksgiving with my grandparents. I always wonder if it will be the last holiday we get to spend with them and I am so grateful for everyone.

DRESS FOR BABY AUDREY

2011-11-18T10:33:00.000-08:00

Project 1, done!

MJ's TURN

2011-11-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

I am in love!

THE CUTEST THING EVER!!

2011-11-18T07:49:00.001-08:00

Nate made Sierra a hair accessory. He went to Walmart and bought headbands and barrettes and secreted himself away for a couple of hours and came out with this. I thought it was the cutest thing ever. Sierra squealed.
Her cute outfit came from a family in our ward. I love it! I thought she was so beautiful today for school.

A PROJECT and A HELPER

2011-11-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

I am working on getting organized. Once I am organized I will be able to start on few projects that have been on my mind. Look at MJ, she is sporting her blessing dress. I did this to Sierra when she was three too. I don't remember either of their dresses being big on them when they were little but I love that I can still do up the buttons when they are three, maybe a testimony to how skinny they are.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

2011-11-09T21:47:00.000-08:00

I have never done one before. This year maybe my first year. Wish me luck. These are the family pictures my friend Darcy took this summer. If you want to recieve one, send me your address. lcmcknight@gmail.com.

HALLOWEEN DAY

2011-10-31T20:43:00.000-07:00

MJ, Sierra, and I went with a few of her friends to trick-or-treat on main street. MJ got her first lesson in trick-or-treating. She loved every minute of it.
Today was an eventful day. It was Sierra's teacher's last day of school. She decided to stop teaching and be home with her baby Bridgette. Sierra will be getting a new teacher this week. I have been a little nervous, but I hear her new teacher will be just as amazing. We will see how the transition goes in a few days.
Also, it was her best friends last day at her school. She is moving to a new home and will be going to a new school. We are really sad about that too.
She had a awesome time trunk-or-treating at our church. Then she decided she wanted to come home and pass out candy. She set up station right in front of the door. She opened the front door and shut the screen door in front of it. She placed her chair right in front of the screen door and put the bucket in her lap. She just stared out at the pathway up to our house. She sat like this for at least twenty minutes until her daddy caught her. He said she was being creepy and she needed to shut the door and wait till the trick-or-treaters rang the door bell.
I hope you had a Happy Halloween too.

BARBIE and a KITTY

2011-10-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

BARBIE! I know, I am in love too. Don't think I am going to let her take it off. She will be sporting her costume at church every Sunday until she grows out of it. I just think she is so cute.

Just in case you think I didn't dress up... I did. I love Halloween

KITTY CAT COSTUME

2011-10-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

In my brain Halloween should comprise of little girls in overly frilly dresses. They can be a princess, a fairy, or even a cute witch. There are only so many Halloweens and one can't be wasted on being something unfrilly like a kitty cat. Apparently, that held true until Madison came along. She asked really sweetly if she could be a kitty. I caved!She loves prenteding to be a cat. The mask has been around for a long time. I had to make her something, it is my favorite sewing holiday, so she got a tail. Don't worry.... Sierra will hang true because she understands what her mother knows, Halloween is about being beautiful and in a dress. She even looked at me confused and said, "Why does Lu want to be cat?" I am confused too but this girl dances to her own beat and that is okay. However, I am glad Sierra sees things my way, she is going to be Barbie. Pictures coming.... SO EXCITED!

P.S. Madison hasn't taken her costume off in two days and is obsessed with being a little kitty. It really does warm my heart and it makes me reconsider my ridged ideas of Halloween.

MORTIMER MANTIS

2011-10-23T22:08:00.002-07:00

She loves bugs. She found this Praying Mantis on her walk with her daddy. She let it climb in her hair. It liked being there, so she gave it a ride home in her hair. I have to admit, when I saw it my first instinct was to flick it out of her hair, but I just said, "That is so cool." She can't get enough of moving things.

SHE IS 3!

2011-10-23T22:08:00.001-07:00

I love this little girl! She is the sweetest thing alive. Here are somethings I want to remember about MJ at 3.

-We call her Madison or Lu.
-She says, "Your welcome." It is so stinking cute. If you say thank you for anything she does.
-She is still a Kling-on. Her favorite place to be is beside her mother with her arms around her neck.
-She doesn't like to be around people she doesn't know.
-She is so quick to giggle and her laugh is so contagious. She is constantly laughing when her sister is around. It makes church really hard.
-She loves to read. She insists on reading to me every night before she goes to bed.
-She loves to sing. She sings around the house all the time.
-She is very obedient. She will do anything I ask her to do, when I ask her to do it.
-She says the kindest things to all of us.
-She is Sierra's little cheerleader. She is always telling her how amazing she is and telling her she can do anything.
-She loves her daddy. She gets more excited about pulling in a big fish than he does. She will dance on the shore. She will insist on holding the fish before it can be put back in the water.
-She never let's us forget to pray or read the scripture power.
-She hates having her hair done.
-She loves getting dressed herself.
-She is constantly giving me kisses.
-She loves putting together puzzles.
-She loves her grandparents and constantly asks to see them.
-Her favorite show is Go Diego Go!

BIRTHDAY

2011-10-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

Madison's birthday. She wanted a Diego party. I drew a little Diego scene on some paper. She insisted we needed confetti, ballons, birthday hats, candles, and cake. We got it all. We had hamburgers and french fries for dinner. She loved it. She got her present earlier in the month, so we just had a little dinner party.

BIRTHDAY FISHING EXCURSION

2011-10-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

Nate wanted to take MJ fishing on her birthday. She really does love to fish. She gets so stinking excited about it. She spent more time with her boots in the water than she did fishing. Sierra and her giggled the whole time. They waded out in the water and found long pieced of grass and tied to fishing line to the ends and pretended like they were making their own fishing pole.

The morning of her birthday was spent at Super Saturday. I signed up to do a really beautiful picture of the temple. She came along. Nate and Sierra were off on a Daddy daughter campout and weren't back. Luckily, while we were waiting for my picture to dry, we found out they had kid's crafts there. For a couple of dollars Madison made herself a plate and a frame. She has so much fun doing it.

SWIMMING LESSONS

2011-10-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sierra has been enjoying swimming lessons. It has been so fun to see her learn how to really swim. She is great and will do whatever her instructor tells her to do. She just jumps in and does it. In the spring she will take another class that will actually teach her how to do the butterfly stroke and the back stroke and the breast stroke. It has been so fun to see her progress. I told her that at the end of her class she gets to go jump off the diving board. She is so excited.

GINGERBREAD GIRL

2011-10-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

Sierra did a little play again this year with her school. They have such a great Music teacher at the school. She works so hard to put these little productions together. Sierra has been so excited for this little play. It was called the GingerBread Girl. She rehearsed with Madison all week. She would teach Madison all the parts in the the play. The two of them have been singing the lines around the house all week. Madison and I were so excited to actually see the play we had been hearing so much about. We went in the afternoon to watch her perform and then Daddy got to see it with all of us that night. At first Sierra just wanted to go and see it alone with daddy she said, "You saw it this afternoon and it wouldn't be fair if you got to see it twice." Then she changed her mind and decided we all could go.

BEAUTIFUL DAY

2011-10-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

Today was a beautiful day. I forgot to photograph it, so all you get are my words and this cute picture of the fall leaves.

My girls have been wild since they woke up this morning. They have either been screaming, laughing uncontrollably, crying, getting hurt, or teasing and sometimes all five things at the same time. I feel like I have left order and I am now residing in an insane asylum. It has been like this for three days. I had to get out of the house.

I took the girls to MUNCHIES. It is a little hole in the wall restaurant in our little whole in the wall town. It serves hamburgers and fries... I know awesome comfort foods. I sat down and ordered a large guacamole burger and I have to say it was better than a long nap and good book. It was really calming.

Then I took the girls to a state park. Sierra rode her bike around all the trails and Madison followed her in her Diego bike. Then they went and played on the little playground they have there. It wasn't long before they left the playground and started exploring a nearby pond. They started catching small minnows with their bear hands, and when I say they, I mean they. Little Madison was chasing minnows in water up to her knees, while wearing her snow boots. They were both covered in mud and water. They built a little minnow castle from sand on the shore. The castle was complete with walls and a moat. They flooded the moat with water from the pond and then placed their minnow in it. They were laughing and throwing mud at each other when the state park ranger came over and informed me that, and I quote, "High levels of e-coli have been found in that pond. You can let your girls play in there, but I wouldn't recommend it." Great. We went home.

We stopped by at the Sister K's farm. I was glad to see her. It has been too long. We are going to work hard on Monday. I am glad. We are going to do grape jam and strip the tomato plants. Yeah.

SICK KIDS

2011-10-14T16:19:00.000-07:00

Sierra was sick on Monday and Tuesday. She threw up at school. It was embarrassing for her. They had the whole class leave the classroom and go out to recess, so someone could come in and clean up the mess. The nurse came down and got Sierra. She said it was a little embarrassing. The nurse has shirt she gets from the thrift store for kids that have accidents like these. Sierra got a new shirt. (New to her.) She was really excited about the new shirt. It is really cute on her.

Yesterday, Sierra had swimming lesson. Madison didn't like it one bit. She didn't want to wait on the side of the pool while Sierra swam. She wanted in the pool. She put her little hands on either side of my face and said, "I needing go swimming right now." I said, "But you don't have a swimming suit." She said, "I will swim in my nudee." I laughed. She wouldn't calm down. I finally had to take a walk with her and get her some skittles out of the vending machine.

Later that evening Nate came home sick, I know ridiculous. Madison brought her daddy a blanket and wrapped it around him. He said thank you and she said, "Your welcome." Then she said that daddy needed one of her stuffed animals and ran to her room and got him one of her stuffed animals and tucked it in with him.

Around 12:00pm, Madison woke up and told me she threw up. I made her a bed on our leather ottoman and put it next to our bed. A few seconds later I hear her vomiting again. I took her and put her in the bath tub. She acted just fine and then vomited all over in the tub. I actually have a picture of it but decided not to include it. (You can thank me for that in the comments section.) I started on the laundry and cuddled her up in a blanket and laid her on the couch and turned on conference for her. I climbed on the couch with her around 1:00am. (The reason why we didn't go back in Madison's bed is because it was still wet from wiping up vomit. The reason why we didn't go lay in my bed was Nate was taking a computerized sleeping test to see if he has sleep apnea. I think Madison had already thrown the test off enough. So, we slept on the couch.)

GO DIEGO, GO!

2011-10-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

She has begged for this bike for a solid month. I told her she could have it on her birthday. I should have done an unbirthday for her a month ago. The weather is changing. It is getting cold. I broke down and bought it for her today. She is the happiest girl in the world. I asked her are you sure you don't want a barbie bike, or a dora bike, or a princess bike, or even a pink bike, nope, she wanted a Diego bike. Happy Birthday MJ! You have brought us so much joy in the last three years I can't even begin to say how much we love you.

CRICKET HUNTING

2011-10-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

Well, you know Mr. Lizard, or as MJ calls him Mr. Wizard has to eat, so we went hunting for cricket's for family night. My favorite picture is the last one, Sierra is dancing and singing, "La, la, la, I got a cricket."

CONFERENCE

2011-10-03T19:36:00.000-07:00

I love conference weekend. We played conference bingo for candy. The girls loved it and really paid attention at least through the whole first session of conference. We made our conference doughnuts, a family tradition. We invited a few families over, only one family made it. I am secretly glad. It is fun to have a lot of people over but it is really fun to just have a few. I love Amanda Sparks. She cracks me up. It was fun just hanging out with her and her husband. We watched this video and laughed our silly heads off. I know absolute blasphemy. I shouldn't laugh, but it's just funny.

FISHING ROD

2011-09-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

MJ was singing, "My fishing rod. My fishing rod. I can pop you. Pop. Pop. Pop." She was pretending her bubble wand was a fishing pole.

MY SONG IN THE NIGHT

2011-09-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

Today was the primary program. The children sang beautifully. I wasn't nervous. They have rehearsed and rehearsed the songs and all of them knew each word by heart.

Being asked to serve in a specific responsibility is so common in our church, I sometimes take for granted how neat it is that I am the primary children's chorus leader. I love listening to those sweet children sing. I truly feel over come with the spirit of our Savior each Sunday as I hear the children put His words to music.

Our stake has started a choir and asked a few ward members to participate. We will be inviting the entire community out to listen. They are having a complete orchestra. Our director has an amazing resume and is very talented. It has been a long time since I have be a part of a choir and I have forgot how much I love it. I truly love music. The video is one of the songs we are singing. It has been in my mind and heart all day. It has uplifted me.

PRIMARY PROGRAM REHERSAL

2011-09-23T21:17:00.000-07:00

I am the Primary Chorister of my ward. I love it. I know there was a time when I tolorated children that weren't my own but I love these kids, so much. They have all found a special place in my heart. They have all worked really hard to learn all of their songs and parts for the program. I am so proud of them. I am excited for Sunday!

DIVING HOME

2011-09-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

On the drive home Sierra was teasing Madison mercilessly and wouldn't give up. Madison was screaming in defense but eventually, gratefully she crashed. Michelle threw us together a bunch of snacks, so the girls were full. My favorite parts of the drive were..

Being in the canyon and seeing the new fall colors breaking through the green.

Stopping for gas and buying my girls peez dispensers to play with and having them both say, "Thank you so much, Mom."

Singing with Sierra at the tops of our lungs as she played the Tangled songs over and over again on the DVD player and having her get so excited about how were improving. She said, "Mom let's buy a stand and sing for people. We will charge a quarter or it could be free, but I bet some people will pay a quarter." Then we sang the chorus and she said, "We are so good we don't even need lessons." Then she giggled and punched the air." I loved her excitement. She was planning what we are going to sing at this stand. We will sing some rock, like the Tangled songs. We'll sing some Jesus songs and some classic songs like, Twinkle, twinkle little star.

Stopping at a look out point to stretch. I was feeling sleepy. It was beautiful to look out over the dessert and see its rich beauty, with its flaming red rocks and white rock hills.

TESSIE SUE

2011-09-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

I love this little girl. Isn't she precious? I went to her home for the soul purpose of helping my sister give her some space of her own. It thrilled my heart to hear her say, "This is my room." and watch her sit on her bed while we put the finishing touches in it. She is so stinking cute.

NEED MORE SPACE CHEAP, USE THE UNFINISHED BASEMENT

2011-09-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

My sister called and said she needed more space. She has five kids and they live in a three bedroom home. She has one living room. I casually suggested that she use a room in her basement and make it into a living/bedroom space. We brainstormed about it and she asked how much do you think it would cost. I said, "$500.00." She said she would think about it. Then she called the next day and said, "I have had a vision.. I think it will work, will you come and help." Of course I said yes, because I love projects. When I showed up the room looked like this. We chiseled all the chunks of cement off the wall. Then we used filler to fill in any large holes.
We then painted the floors and walls. We did the walls an almond white and the floors a chocolate brown. To paint cement floors you have to apply acid to etch the floors, apply a bonding product and then paint. Even with all the steps if we dragged furniture across the floor the paint came up, so if I did it again I would apply something over the paint, like a lacquer. However, this floor was covered mostly with carpet padding and a large carpet remnant, so a few dings weren't noticable.
We hung upholstry fabric on the two walls that were made of 2 by 4's. We got the fabric at the thrift store. It was a killer deal. We covered both walls for $35.00. We just cut the lengths of the wall, sewed them together and stapled the fabric to the 2 by 4's. We pulled it tight and it looked like wallpaper when we were done.
I wish I had a picture of the full room, but here is the same corner pictured above. This is my sweet Tessie. We made her headboard using this tutorial. We made the curtains from $1.50 a yard fabric we found at Walmart. It was the perfect color and feel. We also picked up some yards of fabric for the pillows on Tessie's bed. We found an old lace table cloth at the thrift store and made the bed skirt. Anyway, it was beautiful when it was done. I was afraid it would look hodge-podge and homemade, but it really did look shabby-chic when we were done. I loved our fabric walls so much I thought to myself, you know I maybe falling in love with wallpaper again.

P.S. The quilt on the end of Tessie's bed is the one I made for Tessie when she was born. It is my own made up applique pattern, another thing I love to do.

Before I close, I have to say all things are possible with your Heavenly-Father's help, because we prayed every step of the way and we had small miracles happen at every turn. It is the only way you can create a room in six days, with seven children, and a very tight budget. We were truly blessed.

P.E. is the BEST

2011-09-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

I walked Sierra to school this morning. She was so excited. She said that today is P.E. day and she loves P.E. She said last time they got to play three finger tag and her teacher growled at them.

She said the time before thatthey walked in the gym and the P.E. teacher said, "Go pick out a hula hop." She went over and picked one up and the P.E. teacher said you are all gofers quick hop into your hole. She was so excited to go to school.

I know the boots aren't that condusive to P.E., but she insisted on wearing them she said they remind her of riding on Sunny (a horse) with her grandpa. Then she said again, "Next time no one is riding with me or holding the reigns." She thinks she is a cowgirl.
MJ pulled this out of the trash today and said, "Why did you throw this away? It is my favorite. I love it." A deflated balloon that has been hanging out in my closet for close to a month? Hilarious.

BOTTLING FRUIT

2011-09-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

Exhausting, I am headed to bed!

MY MJ

2011-09-09T15:39:00.001-07:00

I am laying on my bed reading The Help. MJ walks in the room in her skivies, with a giant wad of toilet paper in her hand. I am half paying attention to her until she shoves the toilet paper into my face. It is covered in poop. She say, "Mom, I wipe myself and it stinks and it is a lot and it is poop." Too much information. I think I could have gone my whole life without that moment.

Today, I was walking by as she was watching Diego. Diego says, "Are you strong like a jaguar?" She replied, "No, but I will be when I get big."

She wants a Diego tricycle for her birthday. I have shown her a dozen bikes but she wants a camo-green tricycle with black wheels. She loves Diego. I think she may have a slight addiction to that show and could watch it all day.

(My friend Jenny's little boy. We went for a walk this day.)

PEACHES

2011-09-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

I, Darcy and her friends went to go pick up peaches. It is canning season. I haven't canned peaches yet, but I guess there is no time like the present to learn. I was going to pick up five boxes of peaches. They were out. We drove to every fruit stand along the road to find someone who wasn't out at the same price. We had to have peaches that day, because when a girl is in the mood to can she must start now. If she waits a day, she may not want to anymore. Despite an amazing tour of every peach stand in the area, we were out of luck we have to wait till tomorrow.

GRAND MESA in COLORADO

2011-09-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

We went for a drive up to the Grand Mesa to go fishing. I wasn't in a good mood. I went to run an errand and came back to an empty house. I thought Nate had left me. I was sad. He didn't, he just went to get gas but it set me off. Poor guy. I was mouthy all the way up to the Mesa. When we got to the top I think Nate wanted to drop me off and drive back down alone. Luckily, we got a call from our friends who were driving through and decided to stop of at our home. They texted us they were waiting on our front porch. We laughed and headed home. It was a beautiful drive home the Mesa is litered with wild flowers this time of year.

SALLY's BAPTISM

2011-09-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

(Sister K's granddaughter)

Sally, Sister K's future daughter-in-law was baptised on Saturday. It was so much fun to see someone so amazing and so ready become a Latter Day Saints. Her baptism was beautiful. Her fiance baptised her. The were both dressed in white and it was so beautiful (I can't think of the right word but it was more than beautiful.) to see him receive her in the font. There was an amazing BBQ in her honor afterwards. The food was divine, but it always is on the farm.

Carrie and amazing girl baptised a week early with Kyle and Sally, from left to right.)

(The missionaries who helped.)
(The yummy food you wish you could have eaten.)
(Brother Bob, aka the man who bought my girl's barbies, isn't he precious?)

GIRL's NIGHT

2011-09-05T17:38:00.001-07:00

The girls love it when Nate goes fishing over night, we always do a girls night and watch a little girl's movie. The girls wanted pizza, so we did a yummy, healthy pizza. Then after the movie and pizza we all climbed on mommy's bed and read books and then cuddled up in one big ball and went to sleep, which sounds more adorable and snuggly than it really was, but the girls loved it.

LEARNING TO ROLLAR BLADE

2011-09-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

Sierra got rollar blades for her birthday. She wanted them. (I was tired of her always slopping around in mine.) However, she opened them and tossed them to the side. She never put them on, despite constant encouraging for close to a month. (All of her cousins around the age of 10 wanted to try them. I think that is the age I should have bought them for her.) Yesterday, I woke up and said, "Today we are rollar blading to school together." She was scared but we had time. I held on to her and we skated to school. It was sloppy and we fell twice, once in the middle of a busy intersection, but we made it. On the way back, I brought the stroller and it was a lot better. She says she loves it and she wants to always ride her skates to school. So, this maybe the new way in which we travel to school.

CHILDERN GROW UP

2011-08-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

The world turns and children grow up. I am seeing my babies turn into little girls. Look at my MJ. She is riding on the stroller the way Sierra used to when she was born. MJ is as old as Sierra was when MJ was born. She is growing up. (Sniff. Sniff.) My friend let me borrow her baby today. I need a little boy. I keep saying it. Isn't he the cutest thing?

Him and MJ were talking on the way to pick up Sierra from school. This is how the conversation went....

MJ: My daddy is going to take me on a boat in the black water and paddle, paddle, paddle.
Kale: My daddy.
MJ: NO, My DADDY.
Kale: My daddy.
MJ: NO, MY DADDY (Yelling)

Later...
MJ: I am going to sing a song. I am going to sing my song, Twinkle little star.
MJ starts to sing.
Kale starts to sing.
MJ gasps. (He wouldn't dare sing my song.)
Kale starts to giggle.
He really is the cutest boy.

BABY AUDRY

2011-08-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

Isn't she gorgeous? I got to hold her! I am still so excited. I wanted to keep her, but she had to continue her journey on to Utah. Can you imagine giving birth and moving all in the same week? My sister is a trooper.

SHRIMP DINNER

2011-08-29T12:11:00.001-07:00

I typically fry shrimp but Nate wanted something more healthy. I served this over brown rice. It was divine.

Ingredients
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons red wine
1 teaspoon of white vinager
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

Directions
1.In a large bowl, stir together the garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce, red wine, and vinegar. Season with basil, salt, and cayenne pepper. Add shrimp to the bowl, and stir until evenly coated. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring once or twice.

2.Place olive oil in the skillet. Toss in shrimp and mixture. Toss until shrimp are pink. Then serve over brown rice. Yummy.

CHILD's PLAY

2011-08-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day walking next to this bush since school let out last year and we had to do the traditional collecting of buds. Sierra picked a handful and put them in the stoller. I am not sure why they have to come home with us. Once we walk through the door the buds collected are forgotten and I am just stuck cleaning out the stoller the next day. I tell her not to, but she disreguards me and continues as if it is a chore she must complete.There is something magical about it, that is meant for children only and is not meant to be understood by an adult, especially not a tidy one.
The fisherman was gone to the Black Canyon today. He looked tired as he walked through the door. Hopefully, he got some much needed man time on the crystal clear waters there.

CRACKERS & JAM

2011-08-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

Crackers and jam are a favorite snack at the farm. It really isn't anything I would have ever thought would be good together. Sister K handed me one the first time we spent an extended amount of time there. I took it graciously but I thought, what an odd thing, to put jam on a cracker. However, it is so incredibly yummy. Today she brought out fresh cherry jam and handed my a package of crackers. I am certain I cleared off half a stack of crackers on my own. The jam was so incredibly yummy.
Sister K. tossed the chickens some crackers. They rushed through the farm like a great wind, moving like they were one solitary mass. Mr. Pantaloons (see the rooster to the right.) is the leader of the mass. They began to peck at the ground eating up small crumbs. Brother C. glanced at them, calling them the Mexican Maffia with a broad smile across his face. Brother Bob is Sister K's father, and tends to a plot of land on Sister K's farm. He is the dearest old man. He could be my grandfather. He teaches us so many things. On Saturday, I got a timid phone call from his wife. She said, "Brother Bob came home with a ton of barbie dolls from a garage sale. He thought the girls would like them. I don't know if you allow your girls to play with barbies. Do you? Can you call me back?" How sweet of him to think of my girls. Sweeter still for Brother Bob's wife to be concerned about whether it was appropriate. Thinking about their sweet generosity to my girls tugs at my heart. All the barbies were practically new, and he picked them up a pile of clothing too. So, so sweet. I miss my sweet CC it wasn't the same being at the farm without her. I don't like this all day school thing. (I am making a mad face a very mad face.)

GREY PICTURES

2011-08-24T15:29:00.000-07:00

This is what I am talking about people. I finally figured it out.... sigh. Back to blogging. When I updated to the new editor my pictures turned grey. Then I tried down grading it and they were still grey. I updated it again and started looking for a different solution. Today, I downgraded it and it fixed itself. Sigh. I know it is subtle and I am OCD but I am glad it is finally fixed.

FIRST DAY o' SCHOOL

2011-08-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Sierra is now a first grader. She exclaimed today, "I like my new teacher the same as Mrs. Durst." This is a huge compliment because she loved her kindergarten teacher so much. Bailey her friend that lives one street up from us is in her class. I thought it was beyond adorable watching her hold hands with her little friend on the way home.
Now it is just me and MJ. MJ played so contently with her dolls today. I had this major working out goal, which is why in the picture below I am still wearing my sports bra, but it didn't happen. Tomorrow...there is always tomorrow.

MR. SNUGGLE PANTS

2011-08-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

Sierra caught this fuzzy little guy at Sister K's farm while we were mending fences on Saturday.

She named him Mr. Snuggle Pants.

She rubbed off most of the snugly from his mid-section, due in part to her overzelous love and in another part, due to her desire to watch him squirm his body out of the tight confounds of her little fist.

Eventually, only his tail and head were left snugly.

I am still not quit sure where he has left to.

He was last seen on kitchen table in front of Sierra's unfinished sandwich.

In true Lisa fashion I decided to finish it for her.

Mr. Snuggle Pants was hanging to a piece of lettuce.

Thinking of how close I came to eating Mr. Snuggle Pants, still gages me.

Shortly after the "I almost ate a caterpillar!" incident. Mr. Snuggle Pants disappeared.

I am sure his rotting body is somewhere in this house and I am just as sure that I will happen upon it one day.

And this thought sadens me, because he really could have been a gorgeous butterfly.

There are so many creatures that have met their demise in this little ones hands, she is constantly loving them to death.

FEEDIN' CHICKENS

2011-08-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

I and girls went to the farm yesterday.
We found some ripe cherry tomatoes, a ripe cucumber and a couple ripe green peppers and a mammoth size zucchini... I am wondering which ward member will be the new owner of the mammoth. It is a Latter-Day Saint tradition to share those with your neighbors.

Sierra was feeding the goats and cows weeds.
Angel, a really mean nasty goat was bucking and fighting with the other goats.
Sierra was giving her a swift tongue lashing, telling her to knock it off and be nice to the other goats.

Sister K let Sierra feed the chickens.
She thought that was fun.
The two white roosters pictured below are going to meet their demise later this week.
I want to know how to take a live bird from the farm yard to the kitchen table.
I know morbid but I want to.
Sister K is going to teach me how.
I am very excited.
Don't worry... for those of you that are intersted there will be a step-by-step tutorial posted later this week. (j/k)

SHE GOT A SHINER

2011-08-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

Neither of us knows how, but it looks awful.

Every day it seems to grow darker in color and it looks like she got into her mom's makeup, and decided to give herself some smokey eyes... but never finished.

I asked her, "Where did you get your ouchie from?"

She smiled and said, "Mom, I don't have an ouchie."

THE SECRET GARDEN

2011-08-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

CC and I have been reading the book the secret garden together.

I have never read the book before, but I have seen the movie. I thought it would be a good book for us to read together.

She has loved every word of it. She always begs for another chapter. I usually give in.

We have been reading two chapters a night.

Last night, she wanted me to read a third chapter. (My voice had given out from doing all the character voices and I couldn't read another word.) She begged me to finish it tomorrow.

I said, "The whole book."

She said, "Yes, the whole book."

I told her we would see. We are only half way through. I was certain she would forget it about by morning.

She did.

She is playing with her little sister. They have played so cute this morning together. I haven't dared disrupt them and push them out door to run our errands, so I am just sitting here watching them play.

FAMILY

2011-08-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

I went to a friend's house to be crafty.

I am crafty in some ways but not in this way.

We made letters that spelt FAMILY.

Apparently, the fisherman had a different plan for my letters.

MUD

2011-08-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

I think children should play in mud.

They should be covered in it from head to toe.

Sierra took these little boys over to her favorite spot today.

We have been babysitting them for parts of the last two days.

She showed them how to smear mud up and down their arms and all over their legs.

She caught them bugs that hang out by the irrigation ditch.

She showed them how to make mud pies.

Brother Bob was concerned about MJ.

She doesn't like to participate in the same sort of play that her sister does.

Sometimes she gets anxious at the farm and won't let me put her down.

He built her a little Noah's arc set out of wood and hand painted the pieces.

She was so happy.

She spent at least a half hour sitting at this picnic table with her play pieces, arranging them and making up conversations.

UP AT THE RANCH

2011-08-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

I left CC in Utah and Nate and I brought MJ home alone. (We were meeting up for my family's family reunion the following weekend.)

She was a very lonely only child and was far more demanding than she usually is.

She loves her CC and she kept saying how much she missed her.

I don't know how we are going to survive when CC is in school all day.

I thought about how demanding CC was right before MJ was born. Then she finally had someone to play with and distract her.

I think MJ needs a friend.

Aren't these babies the cutest thing? They are the newest addition to our family. My sister Michelle's fifth child and my brother Phillip's first. Oh, I love them.

I was eating them up at our family reunion.

I wanted to steal them both and take them home with me.

The ranch.

It is owned by my sister's husband's family.

We go up once a year to play. (I haven't been in four years.)

There is horseback riding, four-wheeling, and a pond with a zip-line and a rope swing.

There is natural wild life and a farm animals and the beautiful desert foliage.

There is movie night under the stars and a game night in front of a large stone fire place.

And most importantly it is a fisherman's dream. There is a river and several ponds.

The whole ranch sits against the back side of Bryce Canyon National Park.

The girls had so much fun.

It was CC's birthday at the same time.

I decided to do a little party for all of the kids.

We had a tea party.

I made all the girls pinafores and necklaces.

I bought a china set at the thrift store along with a tea pot.

We collected wild flowers for the center of the table. (Sadly, they were wilting by the time the party started.)

I made Tyler a cape with a bow tie and a mustache so he could feel apart. He was so cute.

CC was a great host and talked to everyone in an English accent. It was beyond adorable.

Told cost of the party 10.00$. However, it was a lot of work.

China Set = $5.00

Tea Pots = $4.00

Sheet to make all the Pinafores = .99

All the children loved it.

CC's birthday wish.

Ride a horse.

Check.

Favorite Parts of the weekend.

Holding baby Lydia and baby Claire.

Watching a bug crawl across Tamara's eye as she asked, "Is there something in my eye?" Yuck!

Riding the four-wheeler all the way up into Bryce Canyon.

Playing cards with my family in front of a roaring fire.

Seeing Sierra's face as she was riding the horse and watching her afterwards talking to him and petting him.

Watching Jennifer and MJ (her name sake) riding four-wheelers together.

Watching Benji catch fish. (He would snage them by there eye ball and then release them. There are a lot of one-eyed-willy's in that pond now.)

Climbing up on the platform to use the rope swing and looking down at the drop into the cold water and being scared to death. (Yes, I did jump but it took a minute to get up the courage.)

REUNION

2011-08-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Picture by Bonnie)

We took a little trip two weekends ago to Utah.

I bribbed Nate and told him if he would drive us he could go fishing in Idaho.

He did. He loved fishing in Idaho.

Maybe... someday... we may end up there or maybe we will be here forever.

Our main purpose for the trip was attending a family reunion. It was held at the Heber Valley Camp grounds.

It was beautiful up there.

The food was very yummy and I had a few good conversations with Nate's cousins.

We were suppose to spend the night but I wasn't brave enough.

We headed down and spent the night at my parent's home.

BOOKs

2011-07-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

Nothing warms my heart more than seeing CC reading to MJ.

Nothing. Nothing.

I love hearing her read this book in particular.

And listening to MJ giggle at the parts she thinks are funny.

The library is one of our favorite places to visit.

One of the greatest gifts, I think America has given its people is the public library system.

You can learn anything you want from a book.

I tell my girls that all the time.

I encourage them to find books about new subjects they are interested in.

They love it.

SPLASHING IN THE RAIN

2011-07-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

It was raining hard this afternoon.

The gutters filled and spilled into the street.

Sierra and I ran up and down the gutters until we were soaking wet.

I am glad I have this girl to remind me of the simple pleasures of life.

MADISON FACES

2011-07-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

I love Madison faces.

Yesterday, we went on a picnic to the park.

Sierra rode her bike without training wheels. She was excited and proud.

We took a box of cereal and some milk and paper bowls and spoon.

They loved eating and playing.

On the way back home Sierra crashed.

Afterwards she said that it was worse day ever and we shouldn't have come to the park.

She did skin her elbow pretty bad.

Don't worry it got better...

We went to the thrift store and found a full china set for five dollars.

We are excited to use it for an upcomming tea party/birthday party.

Then we got snow cones and the snow shack.

We stopped off that the red box on the way home and bought Tangled for five dollars.

I thought it was quit the deal since all my DVD's are scratched anyway.

I was suprised it didn't skip at all, so it is settled I will do it again.

I almost finished Emily's blanket.

I have to send it off to my sister tomorrow.

Then I went to Sister K's farm and planted herbs and made jam perserves.

All in all, a full day. It was perfect day.

SUMATION of A RANDOM WEEK

2011-07-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

There was a garden party with all of women in my church.

A women with a beautiful backyard hosted it.

We all dressed in pink.

We talked about books we had read and had wonderful food.

Kelly made this ice cream that came from heaven itself.

I love Maxine in the picture below she is the one on the right.

She always has a cleaver story or a funny joke to tell whenever we get together.

She carries sunshine where ever she goes.

Darcy invited us to the Grand Junction Fun Fest.

You can see MJ playing in her sunglasses.

MJ has a rough time in crowds.

She wanted to be held the whole time. She wouldn't participate in any of the fun.

She finally got down after one of the dental booths gave her a sucker in the shape of a tooth.

(Sucker Dentists...kind of an oxymoron don't you think.)

...but I didn't complain I was just glad to have her out of my arms.

I have an amazing friend that came to Grand Junction on the local train.

She brought her daughter along with her.

It was so fun to see her.

She is one of those unique people that makes a print on your life that you carry always.

She has taught me so much in the six years I have known her.

We went antique shopping and out for lunch at one of the local coffee shops.

We played down at Sister K's farm.

We were going to take the girls to a little tea party.

There is a local shop her painted like a castle. The little girls get to choose out a white pinafore and a hat to wear for the occasion.

They serve tea and dessert.

Sadly, you had to have reservation a week in advance.

Luckily, they let us come in and look around.

There was a vintage clothing shop attached to the tea shop.

I was looking around because I love vintage clothing.

I told the owner I have dreamt of designing vintage modern clothing since high school.

She said, if I would design a line of six to eight pieces she would throw me a fashion show, around the holiday season, in her shop.

Although we are Grand Junction not New York and her shop is small and quaint, I was excited.

Hey, it would be the start of a portfolio.

Remember this dress.
Sigh... and then I think about all the work... maybe.

We watched the Red Riding Hood movie. Lame.
We talked about life, she encouraged me to make a bucket list.

BLACKBERRIES

2011-07-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

I love this little girl.

We picked blackberries today at Sister K's farm.

She was eating them faster than I could pick them.

Can you tell?

Sister K had an appendectomy yesterday.

She was hobbling around holding her side.

I kept insisting I would pick the blackberries alone, but she wouldn't have it.

CC loves playing in the irrigation that runs past Sister K's yard.

I brings joy to my heart to watch her play in it.

I use to play in irragation ditch when I was small. (At my grand parents house and at my Aunt's house up in Lewiston.)

Her favorite part is digging the mud up and piling it on the side of the ditch and molding it.

She makes me laugh.

She is always covered from head to toe in mud when she is done.

She loves it.

I just throw her in the tub when we get home.

My girls are now clean.

No more hiding at the farm.

I have to clean my house. Sigh.

EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE

2011-07-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Well, here is a sneak peak.

Emily insisted she wanted one.

I am going to get a picture of all the blankets I have made this year and do a post on it later in the summer.

I love applique.

Something quarky about me.

I especially love doing baby quilts.

SWIMMING FUN

2011-07-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

We had a new family in the ward over to swim in our tiny pool.

We had a good time.

The children were very sweet and well behaved.

I hope if I ever have that many children they are as well behaved.

Speaking of which...
CC did wake up this morning and said she had a dream that she had a little brother.

I thought it was sweet.

Speaking of CC...

She was helping me get a bowl yesterday to put the cut pinnapple in.

She chose one of my large glass ones.

She tripped.

The bowl shattered in about about a trillion pieces, when it hit our hard tile.

Then she landed on the shards of glass.

I picked her up and asked if she was okay.

She looked fine.

I grabbed the broom.

Two seconds later I looked at her, and she was covered in blood.

Her face.

Her arms.

Her knees.

Luckily, none of her cuts were deep, but there were a lot.
I think MJ was screaming more than she was.
Nate had to comfort MJ, while I bandaged up CC.

PICTURES

2011-07-11T16:03:00.001-07:00

I am hating blogger. When I upload my pictures they become pixilated and de-saturated. I am beyond frustrated. Does anyone know why?

Thanks,

Me

CAMPING ON THE MESA

2011-07-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

We went camping up on the Mesa.

We had a beautiful valley and pristine lake all to ourselves.

It may have partly been do to the thunderstorms, rain, and blood sucking mosquitoes, but the girls didn't seem to mind or their father.

I will keep my opinion unexpressed.

Late into the evening, after the sun had long set the girls were having giggling fits.

I couldn't calm them and decided to let them create whatever mischief they may as long as they kept it in the tent.

I went to the fire and read my latest book, the biography of Cleopatra.

Nate got back from the lake and opened the tent and dived in the middle of the girls and told them stories of his scouting adventures as a young boy.

They loved it and I am sure they will never forget it.

GROSS, I KNOW, BUT SHE LOVES IT

2011-07-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

Here is Mr. Lizard, with a nice tasty treat.

CC and her Dad caught him in the desert. They bought a home for him and now he is CC's pet.

CC collects grasshoppers from Sister K's farm to feed to Mr. Lizard.

She shrieks with delight when Mr. Lizard eats his supper.

Yuck!

Here are some fun pictures Ryan sent me of the man trip this last weekend.

Fun, huh?

4th of JULY

2011-07-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

CC was so excited to see Ryan. She insisted she had never seen him before.

He reminded her of all the times he and Nate took her to the zoo in Pittsburgh.

She still couldn't remember. She said she needed a pictures so she wouldn't forget again.

Ryan said he and Nate had a great time fishing. He came back exhausted. Ryan said they packed a weeks worth of vacationing into two days. Even after they got back, Nate wouldn't let him sit on the couch to rest. He wanted him to go out in the desert and shoot something or drive up to see the Monument. Ryan begged me to turn on movie to distract him.

Nate wanted to be sure he had a good enough time that he would come back again.

He promised he would.

(He loves showing off his state and especially the fishing it has to offer. I am sure if anyone else wants to come and play he would love to have you.... Michael, Phillip, Derrick, Neil, Spencer, Brandon, Paul or Mike.)

The girls had a fun forth of July.

Funny thing about MJ....

She ran into my room in the morning and I told her we were going to have a party. She said, "A happy birthday to me party?" I said, "No, a happy birthday to America party."She said, "Oh." I asked her what we should buy for the party. She said, "We need hats." I thought it was funny that was the first thing she thought of. She also wanted a cake and balloons. We didn't do hats or balloons, but she did get a flag and a cake.

Funny thing about CC....

She asked, "Mom why do we have a party of the 4th of July." I said, "To celebrate our freedoms and give thanks to all those who died fighting to preserve them and to give thanks to those even now who fight to preserve the freedoms of our country." She said, "Is that why I keep hearing guns and explosions? Are they fighting right now." I laughed and told her no, those are just fireworks.

HAPPY SUNDAY BEFORE THE FOURTH

2011-07-03T13:44:00.001-07:00