How long will it last

Archer willingly and I would even say joyfully agreed to wear this shirt. I loved the pilot/co-pilot thing. I am enjoying the dress them alike thing but I know my time is coming to an end.

Madeline

Our cousin Madeline came to visit us this weekend on a spur of the moment trip. We were so excited to spend time with Madeline playing and eating and visiting. Grandma Toni and Grandpa Archie came over for dinner and we played some more.

Ridge really enjoyed himself!

What have I done

Okay, here comes a secret that I need help with. I am hoping that by posting this, I will overcome this problem. I believe that I have saved every article of clothing that Archer ever wore. Thrifty? Maybe. I also saved lots of toys. There isn't anything wrong with handing things down and sharing across the ages however, it can go terribly WRONG.

Here is a picture of Ridge's room where all of the clothing has come to rest and the abundance of toys. I was trying to sort and purge the ridiculous amount of things and I found Ridge and I in the middle of THIS....................

I am still trying to clear this out. I do have to say that I have really gotten serious about getting rid of the clothes and I really want to send the toys out next. I will get this cleaned up!

Minnesotahhhhhhh

I am home from Minnesota and I just wanted to post a few highlights from the Northland. Yes, that is one o' the 10,000 lakes and it is frozen. There are actually people ice fishing.

Mom and I took a day to see the sites around Onamia and the surrounding areas. Onamia has a small population--around 750. I was watching for deer and missed the population sign on the highway! This is the mall. There were about three stores and a food court. April happens to be the off season and so, only the hardware store and a really great girly store were open. I wonder who voted this Minnesota's Best when the Mall Of America is in Minnesota.

Mom and I then traveled through Wahkon and onto Isle. We took this picture just after leaving a quilt shop staffed by one early 20-something male who admitted to making a fair number of quilts in the shop. His mom could even rope him into cutting and piecing a few. I was going to comment on being a great catch for one lucky girl but, one never knows..............

While I was away, there were fun and games at home too. I couldn't resist posting this picture of Emma and Ridge. Rob says this doesn't even begin to show how "sqwozen" they really were. Yes, that is a Barbie under Ridge's arm. I wish I could have just grabbed those little cheeks!

Not just a genius but a wizard

Tonight at scouts Archer made a wizard hat. Before he sat down to do his homework, Archer put on the hat. (Where did the homework come from? He has been out of school for a week and suddenly on the eve of going back to school, out comes the cursive!) Not only did he wear the hat while completing his homework but he let me take some pictures.

Thoughts about Grandma

I have been pouring through pictures and memories of Grandma. This experience with death has been the first for me where I feel such a loss and responsibility. I am a grown up now, I have no excuse to not attend the celebration of my grandma. It is time to put on my big girl panties and cry with the best of them! I know we will spend time laughing until we cry also.

Just some thoughts:
*We didn't get to Minnesota very often. I think we went about every 5 years. I have worked on keeping closer in the last 10 years or so.
*When we were young, I remember the beer route that Grandma, Grandpa, Diane, and Randy ran. After the route there was always work to do. I would love the chance to go into the warehouse. The smell of moist cardboard and forklift fuel just sends me right back to Onamia, Minnesota. There was always plenty of beer on tap at Grandma's house. Interesting that I am a Mormon!
*I loved the idea that Grandma had a basement. I was too scared to go down unless somebody was with. I think that is where the ringer washer was. Grandma had a ringer washer until just a few years back. I was very intrigued by it.
*I remember having to eat some kind of fowl for dinner. I don't remember what it was, probably pheasant, and I don't know if I ate it but, I know I never had that in Vegas! The best thing ever was Grandma's homemade pickles. Amazing! Dad and I tried to make it but, nobody does it like Grandma.
*I miss her.
*Grandma had a way of saying that one small comment that would change my way of looking at a situation. I don't think she was trying to change my mind, I think she was just sharing her thought on the situation.
*Grandma had a self-depricating sense of humor but she was such an example to me of a strong, stalwart, fabulous woman.
*I will miss out phone chats.
*I love that Grandma was so disiplined. We would chat about sewing in the winter and gardening in the summer. Grandma loved the outdoors, complete with hunting, fishing, and ice fishing. Grandma did it all--cooking, cleaning, hunting, sewing, gardening, and ringing the wash!
*It was fun to compare weather updates she would shudder at the heat and I would long for the lazy afternoons on the porch where it is so cool and peaceful the squirrels might come to the feeder, maybe a bird of incredible color, and you find yourself dozing just a bit.
*The view from Grandma's was wonderful--a lake! Go figure, Minnesota and a view of a lake.
*I know she is welcomed home.
*I know I will see her again.
*I am grateful.
Until we meet again...

Our Grandma with the Mosquitoes

Today our Grandma Betty passed away. We wanted to honor the wonderful life she lived and the life she gave to her family. "Grandma with the Mosquitoes" as Archer called her will be greatly missed but in our hearts always.

Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

Alma 40:11-12

I've been tagged

I have gotten these by email, but this is a first for the blog, here we go....

10 years ago:
Rob and I moved back to Las Vegas right after he finished law school. We left Spokane in May, attended my brother's UNLV graduation and moved into a new house all in a week. We also were pregnant in 1998.

5 places I have visited:
*Orlando, Florida
*New York, New York
*Washington DC
*Minneapolis, Minnesota
*Maui, Hawaii

5 things on my to do list:
*make a tribute video of my grandma
*clean out Ridge's room
*organize the craft room
*replenish our 72 hour food
*exercise

5 lifetime goals:
*raise great children
*keep our marriage happy
*serve a mission
*be happy not right
*whatever I am, be a good one

3 bad habits:
*blogging instead of cleaning up
*sneaking treats when everybody is asleep so I don't have to share
*pepsi

5 things you might not know:
*I am a perfectionist
*I have an accounting degree and a checkbook that doesn't balance
*I love pb&j with cheetos and milk
*I don't think I have a talent or talents
*I have refused a cup from Carl's Jr because of the bikini clad woman on it--they brought out a more appropriate family cup

I tag Jana, Lindsey, Lara, Marie, Rebecca, and anybody else that might actually look at our little blog.

Lake Las Vegas

Today Rob and I went to a wedding for one of Rob's coworkers. The wedding was outside in the grass on Reflection Bay. After a short ceremony, we boarded the Yacht Contessa. OOO La La!

We had a buffet lunch and took a cruise around the lake. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. During the cruise, we looked for Celine Dion and her house--we narrowed it down to one of these but they didn't have a heli-pad so, we will have to take another trip out to the resort.

We did find some really great houses but nothing we were ready to trade our home for. We saw these more "modest" homes--each with a private dock and a pool most all the pools had the infinity edge. We laughed that this would be us, the three kayaks tied to the dock next to the neighbor's nice boat.

One more highlight of the day was on the way through Henderson we saw this little roadside restaurant (I guess it qualifies as a restaurant). I am always teasing the kids that we are going to Hot Dog Palace for dinner. We don't know of any actual place with that name but now, I have found it, Hot Dog Heaven. We may just have to take the journey and try a little bit o' Heaven!

It keeps comin'

Good morning, Sunshine! We now have added the stomach flu to our list of fun activities. There is no school on Monday and this could have been a fun weekend to get out and enjoy the park or somewhere fun but, we will just enjoy our own backyard and rest-up. Maybe before she is 7 we will celebrate Emma's birthday and have her open presents. Poor bunny!

A pox upon us

Well, Archer has officially been diagnosed with chicken pox. Yes, he has had the vaccine but, the case is mild-nothing in his throat or mouth. We did find out the CDC now recommends a booster at age 4. We have been told Emma and Ridge won't get it but, I'll believe it when I see it. So, for the next week, Archer will be holed up just a itchin and a scratchin!

We put some calamine lotion on him this morning before the doctor visit and Emma said, "paint Archer!" Yep, we were painting Archer. I'm sure he will be quite the masterpiece before the deal is done. Today is also Emma's 6th birthday and Archer feels just terrible that we can't go out and do something special for her. He is a thoughtful boy.

Marriage

I AM GLAD WE DID NOT HAVE TO RUN TO THE COURTHOUSE (WITH OUR LUGGAGE AND WEDDING DRESS) TO GET MARRIED, IN THE WIND, ETC. AS I RECALL, WE WENT LATE ONE NIGHT WHEN THERE WAS NO LINE, BACK WHEN IT WAS OPEN 24 HOURS. I am so glad we were married in the right place at the right time. Love, Rob.

We are getting some hair

I think we can move on from the two tails on the side. I don't think we can tease the bangs for that full, high look BUT, there is hair to blow in the wind.





Last week during Dancing with the Stars, Emma was watching and said, "Look at that hair, Mom." A few days later we were watching Enchanted and Giselle lets down her beautiful red hair and again, Emma said, "Look at that hair!"
Hold on Em, we are getting there. If we have learned anything lately, it is patience.

For the love of Jane Austen

Take the Quiz here!

I would like to read some of Jane Austen's works. I have seen many different versions of the many movies but I think I should read something.

Isn't he lovely

Is it the hiking boots over the footie pj's or the maraca that make you smile?

Survival Sunday

So it is Conference weekend and we have started rotating our 72-hour kits on Conference Sunday. Last year was very sad, everything I canned tasted like Juicy Fruit. EVERYTHING. That will cure you from cheese and crackers and Juicy Fruit. So, a little wiser, I packed our food in 2 gallon ziplocs and put Orbitz gum (it is wrapped in cellophane) in its own bag. We actually had a nice little lunch. Archer was introduced to Ramen and loved it even when he knew he wouldn't--he's 8!

As if eating a lunch of snacks, out of backpacks wasn't enough, we used our new monkey placemats!

Hound Dogs

Ridge was slightly distracted by Em but he did this a few minutes earlier with head cocked back and the whole bit.

House Husband

This week I cleaned out Emma's room of as many extras as I could bear to part with. In my cleaning, Ridge found the baby that cries and cries until she gets her bottle. (I only have myself to blame, I bought it.) He loves this baby!

While showing me how he takes care of the baby, he went to get the vaccuum and take out the garbage.