Wick & Dilma

Leer has a great uncle and aunt named Dick and Wilma. We rarely see them and the kids don't really know who they are, but Leer and I affectionately refer to them as "Wick & Dilma". A couple weeks ago we went to a family function and when we pulled into the parking lot, I noticed their car and said, "Hey, there's Wick and Dilma!". Chloe, in her pre-teen, cynically-toned, voice asked, "Who's WICKED Dilma?" She didn't understand why we were laughing so hard.

You Be Thelma, I'll Be Louise & Moqui Caves...A Roadtrip

Last Saturday, my dear friend Cindy and I, drove the long 12 hours back to Utah. We talked, we sang, we reminisced, we laughed. There is no one else that can make me laugh as hard as Cindy does. It brought back a lot of memories of all the road trips we'd taken in the past. At a gas station along the way, we even found some of the chocolate toffee covered almonds that were the standard snack we used to eat whenever we would travel, back in the day. They were $6.95 for a little bag, but we didn't care...it's tradition. Just out of Kanab, we stopped for a little culture (and to stretch our legs) at Moqui Caves. The girls had a great time checking out the collection of fluorescent minerals on display there.

All of us

Aubrey, Chloe, Myah

Myah in front of an international money display.

Since it was too dark to photograph any of the fluorescent minerals, I made a video. Probably not the greatest quality.

I Shall Call Her Squishy

The girls and I left Leer alone to study, and took a road trip to Arizona. We finally got to meet Heidi's baby Audrey. Heidi & Jason have waited over 10 years for this baby. I kept asking Audrey, what took her so long to get here and where has she been all this time...but she didn't answer me. What a special baby, though! Totally squishable. I guess it's true what they say, "good things come to those who wait". Myah kept telling Audrey that they were best friends. We miss them already.

Myah & Audrey

Me & Audrey

Heidi, Cindy & Me. These girls have been my best friends for a long time. Heidi since 5th grade & Cindy since 7th. Anyone who can put up with me for that long deserves a medal.

While we were there, we decorated Heidi's plant shelves. This is Cindy, way up there.

Chloe got to spend some time with her friend, Karly, who is Heidi's niece.

Myah Says...

"Mom, did you know my birtday is before Jesus' birtday? 'Cause mine is in Nobember and His is on Christmas....Jesus' birtday should be on Fanksgibing 'cause we're so fankful for Him."

'Twas The Month After Christmas & I Ate Too Much!

'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt.
I said to myself, as I only can"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"
So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Christmas

Ice Skating on Crescent Lake

The kids had so much fun trying to ice skate on Grandma & Grandpa's lake. They did a pretty good job!

Myah

Chloe

Chloe and Myah falling on their butts simultaneously. This happened quite a bit.

My cute nephew Jack

My adorable niece Kate and my BIG brother Josh

I was kind of worried at the thought of letting my kids skate on a frozen lake because I thought maybe they could fall through the ice. Then I found out that the ice is about 16 inches thick. This is a picture of some ice fishing shanties and trucks out on the middle of the lake. I guess it's safe.

My Dream House

After much finger-licking, stickiness and teamwork, we were able to build our dream house over the holidays. Quaint and tasty...what more could you ask for in a house?