101 things

At least one of us has done the things in bold...
*EDITED* Roland read through this morning and had a few things to change...
1. Ridden in a train. Roland & Amie
2. Slept under the stars R&A
3.Played in a band/orchestra R&A
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower A
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain R&A
9. Held a praying mantis A
10. Sang a solo R&A
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris R
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch R&A
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables R&A
19. Had a letter to the editor published
20. Slept on an overnight train R
21. Had a pillow fight R&A
22. Hitch hiked R
23. Taken a sick day when not really ill.
24. Built a snow fort A
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Seen the running of the bulls
29. Seen a total eclipse A
30. Watched a sunrise R&A
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person R
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors R&A (does Tooele count?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language R&A (sort of)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Been on a draw-bridge R
39. Gone rock climbing A
40. Received a traffic ticket R&A
41. Sung karaoke R&A
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt A
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant R
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight R&A
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Been a story on the news R (he almost got shot when he was younger)
50. Seen a wild mustang
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain R&A
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater R&A
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business R
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen R&A
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Received flowers for no reason A
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma R&A
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check A (when I was single)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy R&A
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial R&A
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job A (Peppermint Place at age 15)
76. Won a contest R (to Disneyland Paris)
77. Broken a bone R&A
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle R&A
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book R
81. Been in a cave R&A
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper R&A
85. Read the entire Bible or other religious book R&A
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had Chicken Pox R
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous R&A
92. Joined a book club A
93. Lost a loved one R&A
94. Had a baby A
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Been to the top of the Gateway Arch
99. Been stung by a bee R&A
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument R&A


*Thanks for the fun tag Devin!

Where does she come from?!

I have been meaning to get to this post for quite some time but when I picked Lydie up from preschool and found her to be the only child left doing her art project (the hat) I knew today was the day. I cannot take credit for any of her skills, but she really has those fine motors down! She is probably a year ahead of where her sibling were at this age when it comes to coloring, drawing or anything of that nature. I am constantly amazed by her! I'm sure it has a lot to do with watching Eric and Emilie and wanting to be like them. She's lucky to have such great older siblings who teach her so much better than her mother ever could! :)

Everybody needs...

... a little time away!
This past weekend Roland and I were able to get away with some friends to St. George. The weather was perfect and we had a great time going to the temple, shopping, golfing (just the husbands and it was Roland's first time!), hiking, eating, playing games and being with good friends. We were with some of my oldest and dearest friends that I've known since high school. They're the type of friends who lift me up and make me want to better. I always learn so much from them and am so grateful that I am lucky enough to call them my friends.
p.s. we are forever grateful to my family who took care of our crazy kids while we were gone! THANK YOU!

In the top picture we are at the Tuacahn for a concert (don't mind my puffy face! It's hopeless!) and below Roland at Red Cliffs where we did some hiking. It was beautiful!

"Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!"

 

That's what I heard from Eric's room as he was picking out his all-green outfit for school today. And, that's when I realized I had failed! All three of the kids seemed to know that today is a holiday and were dancing around the house with glee. The only problem is that I have never really been a big St. Paddy's Day person and had nothing special planned for my 3 very excited children. The only thing that saved me was that I am teaching Emilie's preschool class today and made some green cookies for it. I offered them one after helping them all get their green on. After cookies they wanted a picture taken in their green clothes. I was then "saved by the bell" because it was time for school. Now, what to do for the rest of the holiday...

A place of love and beauty...

This week we had the opportunity to attend the Draper Temple Open House with our children. It's a beautiful temple and it was so special to be there together. The church recently added this video to their "Mormon Messages" channel on You Tube and I thought it was great. Enjoy...

Un anniversaire très spéciale - Papou / A very special birthday - Papou

Jeudi 12 Mars, mon père va célébrer son 60ieme anniversaire ! Je suis tellement reconnaissant pour son amour et les merveilleuses valeurs qu’il m’a enseignés. Mon père est un héros ! Il n'a pas seulement été un exemple d'humilité et de bonté toute sa vie, mais a découvert la lumière de l'Evangile pour notre famille et l’a inculquée en moi. Je suis tellement reconnaissant pour lui.
Alors papa ... Je t'aime .... Tu me manques et même si je suis tellement désolé du fait que je ne peux pas être avec toi en cette journée très spéciale, s'il te plaît saches que ton fils et sa famille célèbrent leur amour pour toi dans leurs cœurs. Joyeux anniversaire! Nous t’aimons…

Roland, Amie, Eric, Emilie, Lydie et….Charles

On Thursday March 12th, my father will celebrate his 60th birthday! I am so grateful for his love and the wonderful values he taught me. My father is a hero. He not only exemplified humility and goodness all his life but discovered the light of the gospel for our family and instilled it in me. I am so grateful for him. So Dad…I love you….I miss you and even though I am so sorry that I cannot be with you on this very special day, please know that your son and his family love you and celebrate with you in their hearts. Happy birthday! We love you ….

Roland, Amie, Eric, Emilie, Lydie et….Charlie

First signs of...

Even though it's supposed to snow today, I woke up to find a sign of Spring in my bedroom window! Hooray!

*That's basil in the picture.* :)

My mommy-do list

It's no secret that I am not the world's best housekeeper. It's never been one of my strengths (that is not to say that it can't become one, or that I don't have other domestic talents!). It's obvious that is one of the reasons that Emilie was sent to me. In the past week I have heard the following from her:
"Mommy, you really need to clean the coat closet!"
"How come my room is clean and yours isn't?" (sad, but true!)
"This pantry is a mess, you need to clean it up, Mom"
"Hey Mom! I can't even walk in this laundry room, you really need to clean it."
And, when she could take it no more, I found her in the kitchen cleaning out and organizing my cabinets. Today while she was downstairs, I started in on the laundry room and when she came upstairs she exclaimed "Oh Mommy! Are you cleaning up that mess?" What would we do without our kids to help us be better? I love you Emilie Sue!

IT'S A....

...BOY! Little Charles Angelo (aka Charlie) is healthy and well. He did not want to cooperate at first and all we could see was the back of his head and spine. I had to get up and move around and do some jumping jacks and he finally moved so that we could see who he was! We stopped at the store for a little outfit for him and had the kids open it for him. They were so thrilled. Eric didn't know quite what to do with himself. He immediately took the outfit to his room and hung it in his closet (Charlie will be sharing a room with Eric). In the above picture the ultrasound is of Charlie's arm and hand. He is giving a thumbs up just like his brother in the picture below. Yay for Charlie!

I need pixie dust!

My little Tinker Bell decided to grow up today. Lydie started preschool. I don't really know what to do with myself now! 3 kids in "school". She is joining a neighborhood group like her brother and sister have done. She goes on the same days as Emilie so on the days that I am not teaching one of them, I have one whole hour to myself! Incredible. I love my sweet, smart, crazy Lydie Jo!
Ma petite fée Clochette a décidée de grandir aujourd'hui. Lydie a commencé l’école élémentaire. Je ne sais pas vraiment quoi faire avec moi-même maintenant! 3 enfants à "l'école". Elle se joint à un groupe du voisinage comme son frère et sa sœur l’ont fait. Elle y va les mêmes jours qu’Emilie sauf pour les jours ou j’enseigne l'un d’entre eux, j'ai une heure toute pour moi-même! Incroyable. J’aime ma petite, intelligente, amusante Lydie Jo!