7th Folder, 7th Picture

Ahhhh. Let me introduce you to an important member of the family. This is Squishy Bear. Squishy Bear joined our family when Grandma and Papa Macdonald gave him to Kate for her first Christmas. And he has been a constant companion ever since. Okay she doesn't carry him around, she is 8 you know. But when she was younger he was certainly a good buddy and still is her main squeeze at night. There was only about 2 months when they were seperated. We accidently left him in Utah and we had to wait a bit to pick him up. You should have seen the reunion this was. I hope she misses her Mom that much when she leaves for college. :o) But he is famous and we had him "pose" for a picture for a school project. So here he is in all his glory. Isn't he cute? And now my "tagging" is complete. And what a fun way to document a treasured childhood friend for Kate. Thanks Carla!

Watch out Mommy!

Today Ellie was pushing the stroller at the girls' school. She believes the stroller is for her to push NOT ride in. Anywho, we started to walk over a huge drain that was covered with a grate. Ellie looked down and started to get worried. She gingerly walked over the grate and said, "Be careful Mommy. Don't fall down. Don't fall into the pot."


Oh no, we don't watch movies with princesses, mean step mothers, apples and pots. Never.

Speaking of Wishes

You will never guess what I got for my birthday. (NO CHEATING! Don't scroll down and cheat. Just guess!) Clothes? Shoes? Jewelry? Breakfast in Bed? Good guesses. And a few of those really did happen! (I even had my order taken for breakfast. YUMMY!)

But this is big. I mean BIG. Not a little gift. Not your ordinary gift by any means. Now as I say all this I hope none of you get offended. Your birthday presents, cards and well wishes were extremely thoughtful and super appreciated by me. I said on facebook, that I had never gotten so many birthday wishes before. I mean it! It was such a fun day. But back to the guesses. I mention this gift because it goes above and beyond nice. It was super generous!!!!! My sister Jill and her hubby Colter won something in a raffle. They were so excited! I mean how many times do you win a raffle? Once in a lifetime? ANYHOW, they could have taken what they won and sold it. Colter is in school still, they could have used the money.

But this shows the class of people that they are.

They sent it to me for my birthday.


Jill wanted to make sure it was okay with me, so I did know it was coming, but I kept it a secret from Darin and the girls. I had Darin open it. I have never been so excited to have someone else open my present. :o) We are in the car at the post office. I just couldn't wait. Someday I'll get the video on when I figure out our camera. Kate was screaming, I was excited and Darin was shocked!

Jill, Colter, Grant, Clark and Cora, Thank you so much. We have had so much fun! And what a truly charitable thing to do. We love it. Love it, love it!! We had wanted a Wii for so long! You made our WISH come true! You are like the fairy godmother! Biddi Bobidi Boo! THANK YOU!

Can you see WHY I had to mention this particular gift??????? I knew ya'll would understand.

Wishes

I have to say that I am a huge fan of wishes. Love them. I love throwing coins in fountains and making wishes. I still remember always wanting to throw coins in the fountain in the center court of Westridge Mall. You know all you PHX 21sters, the old fountain in center court. Ah those days. I don't do it as much. Mostly because I don't run in to many fountains and secondly, I need every penny I can save to scrounge together just enough to buy a Whopper Jr every six months. But my feelings for wishes still exist. I am big on candles and wishes at birthdays. Once a year, you get to close your eyes, make a wish and then blow like crazy! How fun is that? I love granting the wishes of my family when I can. There is something magical about it. Now that I am older, wishes kind of mix with prayers. Wishes are your hopes for something. And when I wish it tends to run into prayers. Who else grants us our dreams, but a loving Heavenly Father? Well I know they are often granted through those around us, but aren't our hands His? And who else but God, helps us so fully when wishes don't come true exactly as we had planned? And who else but Heavenly Father helps us to see that our wishes came true in ways we couldn't see on our own?
I have a few of my wishes to share, I hope you don't mind. I wanted some of you to know that I have a few wishes and prayers for you!
-For Colter, my hard working BIL. Prayers for you as you finish your dissertation and as you seek a position somewhere across this great nation. May you have guidance from above! And may my secret wish for family to move closer come true!
-For my nephew Kyle. He was baptized on Saturday. I thought of you all day Kyle. I should have called. May you know you are loved by us, and may you always remember your very special day!
-For my young women. I don't think any of them read this. But there are a few of you that I know need extra prayers. My wish is that you know you are loved.
-For my Abby. She once told me that noboday likes her. May you always know sweetie pie, that you are oh so loved by oh so many. Hang in there! You are a beautiful little lady.
-Birthday wishes for Bob, sorry we missed your day. Did you hyperventilate trying to blow out ALL those candles? Hee hee!
-Wishes for my sister Shelley and her hubby Darren, as they go to sell their home. MAY IT SELL!
-Prayers of gratitude that you weren't hurt Darren!
-One last wish. for greater patience. I hope someday that I can say I am doing better. Even if just a little.

Love to you all, those who read and comment and even wishes for those who don't. :o)

Are we funny or what?

Sarah, loves the movie Annie. I let my kids watch it a month ago. I hadn't watched it since I was a kid. I walked in during one of the times they were watching it (AGAIN) and was surprised that I didn't remember how racy it is! But I have to say, it still has incredible songs! Anyhow, Annie often says "Leapin' Lizards" in the movie. One night, I told Sarah a story and her reaction to the punch line was "Leapin' Smokers!" :o)

We went hiking for my birthday and had a great time. We managed to forget the hiking pack to carry Ellie. But I think it would have been a waste anyhow. She was all about doing it herself! (No surprise there eh?) Here are some of our favorites from that day.

Ellie:
"No Daddy don't help me. I a hiker."
"No Mommy. I a good hiker. I go hiking!"
"Help me Daddy. (her rare request for help) Thank you Daddy. You a good man."

And other cute sayings:
Ellie: "Daddy you a man."
Daddy: "Yes I am. What is Mommy?"
Ellie: "Mommy not a man. She a woman."

After waking up from her nap, Ellie found Kate in her room after coming home from school.
Ellie: "Katie! You came back! I love you Katie." A big hug followed!

Ellie: "I am go to school too. I be an owl too."

Other quick notes of interest:
Kate had her first piano lesson. She was on cloud nine. She was so excited the she practiced as soon as she got her hands on a piano, which happened to be at the Church while I set up for New Beginnings! Not once, all week, did I have to ask her to practice. YES! Love it!

Abby prays everyday for rain. It is so cute. She gets so excited when her prayers are answered!

Sarah and Abby went to the dentist. NO CAVITIES! Yipppeeee! What made me laugh though was they got battery powered toothbrushes for Christmas. They got cheapy ones from the dentist. They came home and THREW away their nice toothbrushes. I was like WHAT??? Abby, "Well we got new ones." I made them fish them out and we washed them. I know gross. At least the garbage had been emptied. There was no way I was throwing them away!LOL!

Sarah loves butter. I just found her with the whole tub. She had knocked it off the counter accidently while trying to eat it. Butter everywhere. GRRrrreeeeeeasy! Ewww! Why???? Tell me someone. I want to know.

Abby and Sarah both wanted to know how old I turned. You should have seen their horrified looks when I told them. What are they going to say when I turn 40? :o)

Okay I'll quit. I just want to remember so much of the everyday. What life was really like. And now for the answer. Are we funny or what??? It is WHAT for sure!

Can it Be?

I shouldn't complain. I read other blogs where people are suffering from burns, children needing heart transplants, cancer etc etc. But, can I complain a little? I just did our taxes for last year. We spent $9,024.53 on medical costs last year. Can it be? 9 thousand dollars gone. I guess I can be grateful that we are alive and kickin'. What a blessing health is. But what an expensive one. Healthy, but poor. That's what we are. :o)

A Powerful Bond

Sarah and Abby

Don't these pictures just make you smile? I didn't even pose them. They were doing whatever they wanted. It was so funny. I hope they will forever feel this way about each other and their other sisters. I know that I cried on the way home from the airport after dropping Emily off. I love my sisters SOOOooooooo much. I miss being with them. One of my life wishes is that Kate, Ellie, Abby and Sarah feel that same bond. Families are what it is all about!

Now don't let me leave you out Seth. Thank heavens you were in the mix. Who would have protected us? I still remember when this big old huge boy liked me at school. He was TALL! I am sure my memory makes him even taller, but I do know he was double my size. I was scared of him. I was a first grader and you were in sixth grade. You told me that you would protect me from him. I think you even went up to him and told him to leave me alone. I still remember he was waiting right by the old crosswalk by the bike rack and you were there with me. I never forgot that. Brothers are so important too. Now that I am sitting here reminiscing, maybe we do need a boy in this family after all! Errr, um, maybe Darin/Daddy will have to do. :o)

Back to my other thoughts from two paragraphs ago. I love my twins. We went to Walmart and every corner we turned, people made comments. Every once in awile that drives me insane. Yes they are twins. Yes that is why they are dressed the same, look the same, act the same, and no I didn't have two children so close together that they look the same. LOL! But yesterday was one of those days that it just made me smile. And say a few thank yous to Heavenly Father for sending them, each one and yet, at the same time. What an experience it is. Aber and Sarah Jane - You are loved!

Auntie Em, Auntie Em

Looking gorgeous wouldn't you say?

She's ready guys! :o)

Aunt Em, how we love you so
You make us smile and laugh
Our hearts are fuller
When we are near to you.
Oh how we miss you so!
Adventures we had with you,
Ones we won't soon forget.
What an example you are to us
For your heart is as pure as can be
Thank you for coming
For bring such light and happiness
Our days were brighter while you were here
And now we send our love to you
While the miles keep us apart.

We love you Emily!
We can't wait until we meet again . . . .