Jack and Lisa- II

Prom Night 2010

Hunter actually asked a girl out to prom. He said he had a nice time, but dating is too expensive. That's why he's says he's never going to have a girlfriend! Wes is rubbing off on him.

Here's Hunter and Megan- I hope that's spelled right...

Hunter cleans up pretty nicely. (OK he's looking awfully grown up- I can't believe that he graduates next year!

Here they are with the whole group. What cute dresses! Some of the girls wore Keds! Too funny-

Here's what Hunter picked for shoes. Pretty slick!

Dax is Three!!!

Dax had his third birthday party last weekend. I can't believe how fast this little guy is growing up. We love Dax for obvious reasons, but here are a few things that make him extra special:

He gives great kisses.

He's an awesome dancer- We call him Action Daxen

He's always laughing at the funny things he does.

His hugs make us smile.
He's nice to everyone and loves to share.

He's an artist- Ask Rikki about midnight art!

Dax and his cheese smile.
Renny and his cheese.

The annual magic show by grandpa- a few of the tricks I figured out. Getting a little slow with the sleight of the hand grandpa!!!

Rikki bought these really obnoxiuos party horn favors. They went right to the garbage as soon as we got home.

Dax had lots of fun presents to open. We got him a tee ball and a mitt. Dawni and Shawn got a bat for him. They were a hit until he opened the Buzz Lightyear remote control spaceship from Tara. (That's what he's holding in the picture with Dawni) He loved that- it fit nicely under the sofa and he thought that was really cool! Both Dax and Renny ran around yelling "To Finity" after that.

Cake Faces!

He picked a SpongeBob cake. I know- I didn't make it. I've not been feeling up to anything lately- BURNED OUT- BUMMED OUT- STRESSED OUT-SPRING FEVER- I'm not sure which.
This little guy was one of the party goers. He had such cute sad eyes. I just had to get a picture! I believe his name is Dillon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAXEN- WE LOVE YOU!

Only When Wes Goes...

While Wes is gone, Hunter and I get to do a few things that usually don't happen when he's here.

We can eat chips and cheese for dinner and it's OK- We like to melt Velveeta, salsa and chili together- Yummy!

I can read an entire book in a few hours without interruption...

It's the novel that the movie Precious was based on. I liked this book just because it makes me appreciate what I have. It's a very graphic (and disturbing) book and it's very sad-but it does have a good message about self worth.

And we made our favorite cookies that Wes turns his nose up at. We ate them all before I took pictures, but here's the recipe. They're better the second day...

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c butter

1 c brown sugar

2 eggs

1 T vanilla

1 t almond extract

1/2 c sour cream

1/3 c water

2- 3/4 c flour

3/4 t salt

3/4 t soda

1 (8oz) bottle of maraschino cherries-chopped

1 (12oz) bag of chocolate chips

1/2 c slivered almonds (optional)

Cream butter and brown sugar. Beat in eggs, vanilla, almond extract, sour cream and water. Add dry ingredients. Stir in cherries, chips and nuts. Drop by heaping teaspoon- Bake at 350 on lightly greased sheet pan for 10-12 minutes. Makes 5-6 dozen smaller soft cookies.

To top of the Wes is gone event- Ryan got sick. My kids always wait until Wes is gone and I'm at work to need to visit the doctor. After a throat swab- which he was very good for- and a stamp set to appease the sick child- we got to go pick up this:

Ryan has strep for the first time. I guess I'm pretty lucky. He's my first kid to get strep-EVER! Let's just hope we can keep Katelyn and Hunter healthy. Hunter has a big date this weekend-Jr Prom!

Lisa and Jack

I was priviledged to take engagement pictures for Lisa and Jack this week. Here's a few of my favorites:

Super Star Katelyn

Why is it that kids always wait until the last minute to remind you about little things?

I've heard them all- like...I need my book order money TODAY

My library books are due...TODAY

I need twenty dollars for ____ TODAY.

Or my favorite of all...I need a super star poster IN THE MORNING...

Katelyn reminded me that she needs a superstar poster Monday morning- at 7:00 pm on Sunday as I'm dropping her off to Debbie's to spend the night. (Wes was out of town and I have to get up at 3:30 am to go to work). Like my friend Marty says- they're cute in self defense...

So here's my quick hour and a half job on Katelyn's 2010 Superstar poster. Thank goodness I have Hunter to drop it off to her in the morning...

I wonder how many years we get to do superstar posters in school...???...

What Little Boys Learn on the Farm

I was cleaning Ryan's room the other day. A huge pile of stuffed animals was in the corner of his room AGAIN. When we moved here, I put most of there toy treasures in the storage room- which will be the play room as soon as I get around to organizing it. Ryan and Katelyn insist on pulling EVERY stuffed toy out into their rooms that they own. I'm getting ready to pack them all up and send them to the DI!

Anyway, I was sorting the pile of stuffies to take the no so favorite ones back to the storage room and what do I find at the bottom of the pile shoved in the corner against the wall???? A pile of stuffie fur!

At first I'm a little peeved to be cleaning up this mess- Ryan knows better. He knows that scissors are off limits and that we do not destroy toys. He also knows that I don't like to clean up messes. I start looking for the poor stuffies that are likely going to the trash after this stunt. Here's what I found (and could match up with the pile of fur in the corner using my household CSI skills).

You see, what he has done he learned with his Dad and Grandpa on the farm. He trimmed the bridle paths on his horse stuffies- all eight of them. It was hard not to smile...

Heartfelt Tribute

My sweet Mother-In-Law passed away just over a week ago. We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for the privilege of having her with us for as long as we did and for the plan of happiness- We know we will be with her again.

It just seems right to add a few things that I admire about her.

She NEVER complained...she had every right to, but I never heard a complaint from her about anything.

She always had a smile on her face.

She was always happy to see me.

She loved the gospel and we watched many BYU devotionals together.

She loved spending time with her family and it didn't matter what we were doing-

Disneyland vacations- her favorite ride was Soarin' Over California

Family dinners

Horse races

ball games

She loved doing puzzles and spent hours completing variety puzzle books.

She loved flowers- all of them. One of the first things that she would mention when we'd visit were her beautiful flowers that her friend brought her every week.

She had a great sense of humor. I occasionally saw that side of her. After Wes and I were engaged, I was in the kitchen with her while Wes and Reed did chores. She asked me when we were getting married. I told her I wasn't sure. She let me know that she hoped it was soon because she was getting tired of doing his laundry. When she was able to come see our new home just before we moved in, she said something really funny- and I think I'm the only one who knew she was joking. When they wheeled her into the library- and told her what room it was before she went in- they turned her toward the bookshelves that make up the entire wall. She looked right at the shelves and asked just where the books went. Hysterical!!

She was a FANTASTIC cook! (Self made I later learned) Some of my favorites that she made were:

Homemade bread- she made THE BEST!

Chocolate Chew cookies

Chocolate Cake- she always cut out the middle of the cake for Wes.

BBQs

Jet Oven chicken and Parmesan potatoes

Revel Bars

Rolls

and she taught me the best way to make turkey steaks!

She loved all of her step grandchildren as much as her blood grandchildren. As a matter of fact, I don't think I ever heard any mention of "step". They were all her grandkids and she was so proud of each and everyone of them. This means so much to me. A few years after Wes and I were married she let me know that we better hurry and have some more grandchildren for her while she could still hold them. She was so excited to find out we were having twins! When she finally got to hold them, her face glowed!

She was able to see each of her children become grandparents and held each of her great-grandchildren. The same glow was on her face each time.

She was always more concerned with others than herself.

She always served others. When Wes and I were dating, I remember spending the night multiple times at their home the evening before horse races. Reed and Yetta always left with the horses before I got up. Without fail, she always fixed something for Wes and I to eat. She left pancakes or she would cut a bowl of peaches for me to have (she loved them as much as I do). I'm sure this was not easy for her to do, but she did it because she loved us!

She loved old movies and love stories. Some that I watched with her were:

An Affair to Remember

Sabrina

Paint Your Wagon

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

She was always kind.

She had the courage to create her life story for us. The nice people from hospice helped her do this and we have it on DVD. What a special treasure it is.

She and Reed have the sweetest love for one another. It is a treasure, true, unconditional and eternal. I know that's how Wes and I are too. I am so blessed to have a husband that grew up in that kind of home. I am his treasure and he is mine.



A few weeks before her passing, I was able to spend a few hours with her. She told me that really soon she would be able to get up and come to our house. She knew that they'd find a way for her to do so. She also asked me if I wanted anything of hers. I refused and she still was insistent that I choose something to take home with me. I finally got up the courage to tell her what I had wanted to for a very long time. I told her that I already had the one thing that meant the most to me and that was greater than any other thing that she could offer. I told her that I have her sweet son as a husband and that she had done a wonderful job raising him to be the great man he is. She was a perfect mother.