Guess Who...

... has lost 3 teeth in a week's time?!
(Two at Disneyland last week and one tonight.)
Poor boy is going to be living on soup if this keeps up!

Happy Happy Birthday Holly Dear...

Happy Birthday Holly!!

I made this cake especially for you. OK, maybe it's actually a cake from the Charm City Cakes site, but if I had that kind of talent, I'd make it for you. Actually maybe I'd make a cake that looks like fries and fry sauce... or maybe Oreos... or maybe slices of bread...

Well, the blogging tradition seems to be listing the things I know about you-so here I go...


a.b.

c.d.e.
f.g. h.
i.

{a. Holly April 76 b. Holly down front with me and Tami c. Holly in black Halloween 78 d. Holly in black Halloween 79 e. Holly (middle) Aug 87 f. Holly is crazy! g. Holly's high school graduation h. Holly subs for Santa i. Sisters summer 2007}

34 things I know and love about my sister Holly.

1. She is a GREAT mom. She has raised some creative, smart and funny kids! I can't even begin to find the words to describe how good she is with kids of all ages.

2. She is always the life of the party.

3. She can make people laugh so hard they can't stop and start to cry.

4. She laughs so hard that she can't stop.
5. She started laughing once while helping her child give a talk in Primary, which got them both giggling (and while I type this I am laughing out loud- and here come the tears!)
6. Anyone who has ever met her can't help but like her so much.
7. In home decor she is drawn to black and white photos, stripes, squares, circles and this artwork:

8. She has recently discovered a talent and passion for photography.

9. She doesn't really like her picture taken.

10. She married a guy who is the opposite of her in many ways- yet they are perfect for each other.

11. She got married when I was 8.5 months pregnant. Her Ethan was born about 2 months before my Reagan. Her Saroya was born about 4 months before my Kobe. Her Jaleigh was born 3 days before my Jackson.
12. She is very persuasive. When she got pregnant with Saroya, she basically talked most of the childbearing aged women in the ward to get pregnant too. There were 9 babies born at church about 3 months after Saroya!
13. Holly and I emailed top secret pictures to each other of our very pregnant bellies while in the final stages of pregnancy with J and J. (No, I will not post that picture here!)
14. She introduced me to the world of blogs.

15. She sends me emails about sad new stories.

16. Her whole family wears Keen shoes.

17. She been known to splurge and buy herself some clothes from Goodwill.
18. In high school she used to be all about clothes & labels (Guess jeans!), now she's all about nature.

19. She loves camping, hiking, and the beach.

20. She lived in England as a nanny, easily picked up driving on the other side of the road, and got to vacation with the family in Barcelona, Spain.

21. She has always been a "social butterfly". When she was a freshman and I was a senior, she introduced me to other seniors (no one knew me, I'm such an introvert- they thought she was the senior and I was the freshman.)

22. I used to put her down a lot when we were little. Probably in an attempt to make myself feel better since I wished I was more like her, but wasn't. We didn't get along really well until I was in high school probably. I think she has forgiven me.

23. I still wish I was like her.

24. SciFi gives her headaches.

25. She is lactose intolerant... very sad all the things she cannot eat.

26. She is always so willing to help anyone!! When we moved to Saint Louis, she came down to help me paint & fix up the house. Eight months later she came back down to help me get the house ready to sell. When we moved to NY, she flew in to help me move in and ended up sleeping on the floor of our new house (with baby Jaleigh) with only a sheet because the moving truck was days late and arrived the morning she had to fly home. She claimed to have a good time anyway!
27. She is an excellent Young Women's President- and has been for years and years!
28. She worked many years at a Credit Union and earned much praise, but happily gave it up to stay at home with her kids and help her husband get through his schooling.
29. She collects miniature things- like a mini grocery cart, kitchen utensils, ketchup bottles, etc...

30. Favorite food that neither of us can get enough of: Goulash or our mom's spaghetti sauce.
31. She's a great bargain shopper- ebay, the Meijer outlet, Goodwill, dollar stores- and has the patience to wait until the price goes as low as possible.
32. She is a HUGE fan of children's musician Carol Johnson.

33. She is stronger and wiser and more impressive than ever.
34. For her birthday- since she won't get it on time- I got her a Lisa Leonard necklace with her word for the year... "DO" Hope it's a happy day Holly!

I could say more, but she's only 34 this year! Everyone feel free to leave her a birthday message in the comments section!!

52 Blessings Project: Week #8

Grammie G, Aunt Shannon, Jacob, Kyle, Jared, Karly, and Dallin

We were blessed this last week to spend a few days with some far away family who met us in the "Land Disney" (as Greg would say). It was so fun to spend time together- especially fun to see the cousins all picking up right where they left off a year ago. We made lots of fun memories. So great to share rides and parades with Grammie G and Aunt Shannie!! Jacob is so mature & the girls had a blast chatting with him. Kyle and Jared were like peas in a pod with Kobe. Karly has the BEST rollercoaster expressions! Dallin is just the cutest little boy who does not like to wear socks much- or be stuck in a stroller when he'd rather be using his new walking skills! It was cold and wet week, but it didn't matter since we were together again! Thanks to all of you for being there with us- even if it was hard to say goodbye again!

{Thanks for the churros Grammie G!!}

52 Blessings Project: Week #7

A week of vacation from school in the middle of February.

Don't get me wrong- I feel blessed to live in a place where we have 4 seasons. I love winter snow, but this time of the year the cold and snow starts to wear on me. It feels like it will never end- kind of takes the drive out of me and makes me want to hybernate. It'll be good to get away from the regular routines and be with the family for a whole week with nothing else to do but relax, have fun, and be outside in the warm sun! Yea!
See you when we return!

Valentines

{holiday "stacker" from Teresa's Custom Creations- love these!!}

Went to the school today of course. I know Kobe was glad we showed up to his class party.. just not so sure he wanted his picture taken ...

but that's too bad for Kobe since Jackson kept wanting to take pictures with him!

Daddy was the bearer of gifts today. A new Webkinz for each of the big kids

Kobe's... Reagan's.... Jillie's...

and a Mickey Mouse shirt Tshirt for Jack Jack. He loves! loves! Mickey these days but when he saw the shirt he tossed it and said, "Where's Buzz Lightyear?"

Greg got a nifty gadget for me which I will need to learn how to use- but should be very fun...

{What a sweet hubbie :D}

The girls have not had haircuts in almost a year- since they donated their hair to Locks of Love last spring. So, I told them their gift from me was a trip to the salon (well it was Fantastic Sams) for "the works" (which means shampoo and blow dry with the haircut. I know... big spender!) Anyhow they were both excited to make a change... probably inspired by Saroya's cool new hairdo. By the way, Kobe's gift from me is that he did NOT have to get his haircut!

We took the "Before" picture...

And then the "After" pictures...

{Jillie felt her new layered hairstyle looked so grown up she needed to wear some makeup for the picture.}



This one is for Saroya!

52 Blessings Project: Week #6

Missionaries

We have been blessed to have missionaries in our home often. These young men and young women leave their home, family, jobs, education, dating, etc. for 2 years (18 months for the girls) to serve the Lord and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Over the years we have been blessed to know many who have served where we live. They bring the Spirit into our home. They have served us. They bring opportunities for us to serve those they are teaching. They challenge us to spread the gospel. They set a great example for our kids.

I love that they have helped us and supported us in raising our kids in righteousness.

The kids are so excited when the missionaries are coming over. They beg Greg to tell his mission stories (especially the gross ones) from his mission to Mexico. He tells those over and over again as each new missionary visits to the delight of the kids- and the missionaries. (He's a good story teller!)

Our missionaries have come over for dinner, joined us for Family Home Evening, brought "investigators" to our home, invited us to go teach with them, spent holidays with us, attended our kids basketball games, volunteered in our schools, played in the snow with us, became friends with our friends who are not members of our church, watched General Conference with us in our home, shared their talents, and still found time to teach the gospel to our family and many others.

So, my plug for anyone reading, if you haven't had your missionaries over for dinner- DO IT! They need to eat and you need the blessings they bring! :)

{Halloween, Palmyra pageant, returning sleds after using them for "P-day"fun}

{Dessert time!, Our Chirstmas FHE/Party, Christmas Eve at our friend's house}

{Playing games with the kids after Sunday dinner}

{Sharing their message & their talents}