Time flies when your having fun

Lately I have been thinking about how fast life is moving and that my age is moving right along with it. A few things have brought this to my attention. The other day my oldest was talking about dancing with boys. I told her that in a few years she can go to stake dances and really dance with boys (other than her dad). She told me in a very dramatic tone..."mom, I will never dance with boys". I jumped on that one so fast "Really," I said, "never...you will never dance with a boy?" She told me no way, and that if she went to dances she would just go with her girlfriends and dance in groups. I asked her if I could get that in writing and so she sat down and wrote this out for me. I was so happy to have this little document that I had to share it with you. It makes me laugh, because I know it will never last, but I will always have it neatly folded in my sock drawer, just to remind her how sweet and innocent her 11 year old ideas were. The other funny thing about this is that she wrote off to the side 1-16 y.o meaning she wouldn't dance with a boy from age 1 to age 16 and then about 5 minutes after she gave it to me she came back and scratched it out and put 15. She was already second guessing herself. I decided to quick hide it before the age went down anymore.

So, my next reminder that time is moving fast is that again my oldest, was looking at graduation announcements and saw that one of the girls in our ward is graduating from PHS and getting an associates from CBC. She wanted to know how to do that and so we talked about the running start program and I thought, wow, she really is planning ahead, but then my next thought was, no, that is right around the corner. SLOW DOWN! My little girl is growing up to fast.

I really have been anxious about how fast this time with my little family is going. I get scared sometimes and wonder if I should have another baby so the time doesn't end so fast. But, then the feeling that comes right after that thought is, just enjoy the time you have with your girls, and so that is what I am trying to do. The time with them is so short and when it's all over I don't want to look back and think anything but, man, that sure was fun! Enjoy every moment.

A dog gone crazy afternoon

The other afternoon while on the phone patiently trying to upgrade some service with my satellite company, I heard some screams from the backyard. At first I ignored because I have girls and girls scream...a lot. But then the screaming grew louder and my gut told me something was wrong. I ran outside to find a young yellow lab pouncing on my young girls and biting at them. We do not own a dog, if any of you know my #2 daughter you will know why...the child was born with fear of dogs. Anyway this k9 friend had wandered into our backyard apparently had wanted to play along with the kids, but his 100 lb plus frame was a little intimidating for my girls and he scared them and they started screaming. The dog must have sensed their fear and in turn, started acting up. When I appeared on the scene, he had my little 6 year old by the hood of her sweater and was flinging her around while she is screaming bloody murder. I wedged my adrenaline filled body between her and the dog and tried to get him to release his grip. He would not and I started to panic. I didn't know how I was going to get my little girl away from this dog by myself and I could tell the dog was getting more and more worked up. The dog was pulling on the hood of her sweater so hard that it was choking her and the fear on her little face was one of the worst things I have ever seen. I told my oldest to call 911, because I needed another adult to help me get this dog off of us. Finally the dog let go of the sweater and we ran in the house and shut the door just in time...that dog didn't want to give up. I had to explain to the 911 operator that I had panicked and that we were all OK (except for emotional trauma, that will likely be with my #2 daughter now for life who never was even outside but watched the whole event screaming from the sliding glass door.) and I was sorry to have bothered them. She said that she still had to send out an officer, and so after a report to the Pasco Police I sat down and tried to relive in my mind what had just happened. I am amazed at how our bodies react when we see our children in danger. The amounts of adrenaline that ran through my body for that 5 minute episode must have been high, because my body shook for an hour after that. My muscles in my arms were sore all night because they must have tensed up so tight. All of this trauma over a stupid dog. I'm so glad my girls were all OK, only the sweater was ruined, but it made for great stories to call grandma and grandpa and aunts, and uncles and neighbors and random people who stop at our house and anybody else who will listen. Phew! I'm tired just thinking about it again!

the poor little pink sweater, drenched in dog drool and ripped apart.

the "rug burn" around my brave little one's neck after being yanked around by a dog for 5 minutes.

Happy Birthday to you!

To my dear friend Whitney...I hope your day is fabulous! We have many great memories together and I wish I could find the box with better pictures than this one, but, thanks for all the great times we had growing up. They are unforgettable! I was hoping to find us on top of Mt. Adams or writing love notes at Ohanapakosh, or watching northern lights out on the trampoline, but all I found was us, showing off our fantastic physique! Happy Birthday!

That is one huge hair scrunchie I have around my arm

A message in the night

This past weekend, my littlest girl had a stomach bug. She was sick Saturday night and unfortunately didn't make it to the bathroom. Needless to say it was a shining moment in all of my moments of being a mom. However, my next littlest girl was very worried about her little sister and very concerned that she might get sick again the next night, so after she was tucked into bed, she got out, found a piece of paper somewhere and a trusty purple crayon and wrote this little message. I found it the next morning, and had a good laugh.



What made me laugh so hard was 1. my littlest girl can't read and especially not the highly sophisticated writing of our dear left handed girl 2. The placement of the note...it was left right in the doorway of their bedroom, right where a large deposit had been made the night before. 3.If you were sick, would you take the time to look down and read a note on the floor? 4. who else would you go to...Dad...yeah right! My left handed wonder is a very thoughtful sister and although I got a good laugh, it also reminded me of how much she is concerned about others.

(translation: go to mom, Love Rebekah)

Happy belated birthday to my favorite 9 year old

Valentines Day thoughts

My valentine's day was a good one. I have learned that the years that I have felt the most awful after valentines day were the ones that I only thought of me and what HE was going to do for me, and not the other way around. Valentines day is not just for women. Although, I have a hard time thinking of what to do for him, it always makes the day so much nicer when I think of him and not me. And he does not require much, most men don't. They are happy with simple things.

Valentines day is my favorite holiday! I don't know if it's because of my last name, but I love it. Some of the highlights of this year were making packages for my brothers and sisters and their families, making valentines with my girls for their class parties, coming up with a good idea for Chad for a gift, getting calls from sweet little boys in Yakima thanking me for their valentines. I think what touched me the most this Valentines day was the cards that Chad left on the counter Saturday morning for his girls. The cards he picked out were so thoughtful and fit each girl so well. I had no idea he was getting them cards and it just made me think all that googley lovey stuff about him. He also left me a very sweet and funny card with a dozen roses. We ended the day with a dinner date to Red Robin with Nate and Staci. It was so fun. I'm glad that I have family so close and even more that they are who I love to spend my valentine date nights with. It was a great day.

The weekend before valentines day our ward had a daddy/daughter dance. It was so cute to watch my girls get their best dresses on, want me to fix their hair in beautiful updo's and curls. They had a great time dancing with dad. I think Chad might have held the record for the most girls in primary at one time.

thank you to grandma for getting the hairdo's started. This activity took place an hour after Chad and I pulled into town from a little school conference/getaway trip.

Tea Time

Recently I have had many invitations to social gatherings. Most of them take place right in my own living room. I get handmade invitations, I am waited on hand and foot, I get to eat dessert first and never any vegetables, and If I spill, no one judges or gets mad. I took a picture of our last party. The table decorations were thoughtful and beautiful. My only complaint is the lack of leg room, but the company makes up for it.

Our waitress is the one in the back with the cute apron on.

And just so we wouldn't forget who made this whole party possible, she left her picture as a subtle reminder

some pictures, even though most of you have seen it in real life

Well, I have totally fallen off the blogging band wagon...who knew it went so fast? I have a few pictures of the house and so I will post them today. A small recap on the last few months of my life. Lived with Bill and Carolyn for a month...thank you, thank you, thank you. Moved in to out new house officially the day after Thanksgiving. Lots of family time during Christmas vacation. All of my brothers and sisters were here, many games played, many puns attempted, a few laughs achieved. The big day...Dallin and Ashley's wedding...absolutley beautiful. A perfect day, even though it was 10 degrees. Christmas...everyone was happy, especially me, Chad surprised me with the dining room table and chairs that I wanted. Love it...and him. Now, back to school and finding my new routine in my new home. The beautiful bride and her handsome man!

Christmas morning with the loot!

My Christmas present. It is so nice to have a table that ALL of us can sit at for dinner.

The living room

Another view in the living room, sorry these were taken a while ago, so sorry you have to see Christmas decorations still...I really have taken them down.

One of my favorite things about the house. I love the way Chad did the staircase. It turned out just how I wanted and I didn't even tell him what I wanted, he must read minds.

one side of my kitchen. See that double oven. Love it. Best choice I made in this kitchen.

The other side of my kitchen. I love everything about it, the countertops, the great cabinets, the kitchen faucet that I gave Chad a hard time about at first and now I love. It turned out better than I planned, thanks to a patient and very hard working husband. I am spoiled.