Happy Mother's Day

I spent Mother's Day away from home this year. Brooklynn, Isabelle and I went to Columbia, TN with Lorna, Grandma Mavis, Amber and Bruce to stay the weekend with Lorna's sister Gail and her family. It was a cramped 4 hour drive but Bruce and Amber provided much entertainment! I got to attend the Nashville Temple Saturday morning and then go see Emily, Kevin and Amanda (Gail's kids) in a wonderful stage production of the musical "Into The Woods". Amanda played the music for the WHOLE show which adds up to about 40,000 notes on the keyboard...EACH SHOW!!! Emily was ravishing as the lovely, tower-abiding Rapunzel while Kevin did an outstanding job as one of the dramatically, comedic princes. It was a very fun weekend. As you can see from the pictures, they have a large trampoline that Brooklynn was loath to leave. I thank the Palmers for their generosity and kindness.

But, of course, my thoughts were far away at times…thinking of a lovely lady who resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Mom…I truly appreciate you more and more with each passing year. I am thankful for your gentle kindness and (when needed) your bold toughness. I’m thankful that you taught me that everyone falls, but you’re only a loser if you CHOSE to stay down. I’m thankful you taught me to reach for the stars…but even more for helping me believe that I actually could touch them! You’re the BEST! I love you!

Tub Time

My little Bubble-Heads!

9 Months Old...

Isabelle is now 9 months old and has her two, front, bottom teeth in. She enjoys using them on crackers, fresh fruit and...pretty much anything from our plates. She still likes baby food (especially sweet potatoes) but always wants whatever we're eating. She is also finally crawling! Yeah!!! She's been crawling backwards for a long time now, but a week ago she finally learned how to switch from Reverse to Drive. Now she's everywhere and into everything. You can see her teeth in the video and the picture is of her eating a nectarine in her little food-holder-thingy.

Isabelle is now about 16 pounds. I call her "My Little Bean" because she is just so small compared to other babies her age. Most people guess that she is 6 months old. When Brooklynn was 6 months old, she weighed twice as much as Isabelle! Not only are they different is size but most people tell me that they don't think they look alike, either. Of course, I see the similarities...but they definately are different. I look forward to the coming years and seeing even more similarities and differences.

9 Years & Counting...

On April 3rd, 1999, I married my best friend. I often brag to my friends and family how lucky I am because my husband has only gotten better with time. With each passing year he has become more understanding, more forgiving, more patient, more spiritual, funnier, sweeter and hotter! :~) When I was younger, I had several important dreams:

-To marry my best friend

-To marry someone who valued his relationship with Heavenly Father as much as he valued our relationship

-To become a mommy

-To be able to stay at home with my kids if possible.

I am amazed and grateful to be able to tell Russ that he has made all my little-girl-dreams come true. When I prayed to God to send me a friend, I had no idea just how good of a friend He would send me...and for that, I will be eternally grateful!

I love you Babe!

Totally Rad Dude!!!

I've seen this list before, but I just had to post it because...I can say "YES" to every single one of these!!! Can you???

You Know You Grew up in the 80's if:
1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.
2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton
3. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom
4. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"
5. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
6. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head. (unless you were a boy then it was the shaved steps above your ears)
7. On Friday nights you stayed in to watch Full House, Step by Step, and Family Matters
8. You played MASH (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
9. You wore a lot of plastic jewelry.
10. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"
11. You wanted to be a Goonie.
12. You ever wore fluorescent clothing.
13. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
14. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
15. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pailkids in the schoolyard (I used to steal/borrow my brother's "Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom" lunchbox. Sorry Troy.)
16. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
17. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
18. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
19. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
20. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
21. After you saw Pee Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
22. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates. (Classic Skating Rink in Riverdale was THE place to be on Friday nights)
23. You have ever played with a Skip-it.
24. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that. (I had a PINK one.)
25. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.
26. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
27. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
28. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB" (Okay...I admit it...I WENT TO THEIR CONCERT!!! There...I said it.)
29. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By the Bell" the ORIGINAL class.
30. You know all the words to Bon Jovi "Shot through the Heart"
31. You just sang those words to yourself.
32. You still sing "We are the World"
33. You tight rolled your jeans. (Why did we do this??!! It only made big hips look bigger.)
34. You owned a banana clip. (I had one of every color)
35. You remember "Where's the Beef?"
36. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"
37. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

Help...please.

Alright all you digital-scrapbooking QUEENS...I need your input. I've finally decided that the only way I'm going to be able to keep scrappin' is if it's quick and easy (The last page I did was for Brooklynn's 1st birthday!!!)...so I'm going to try going digital!! I have NO IDEA how to get started or what software is best. Any advice, suggestions or recommendations would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

More Easter Fun...

Happy Easter!!!

What a bunch of EGG HEADS!!!

Izzy stayed inside where it was nice and warm.

Ah hah! Found you!!!!

Egg Hunt at Church

On your mark...get set...go!!!!

"Mommy look!! The eggs look just like Christmas lights

in the bushes!!"

Sweet little Savannah making sure Isabelle doesn't get left out!!

Nope! She's not pouting...this was during the closing prayer and this is how she says her prayers so she doesn't have to close her eyes. You know...because it's "too dark".

The Great Escape

What a blast!!! Chattanooga was soooo much fun!! We got there Friday evening where we checked into our hotel and immediately went swimming. I'm not sure exactly how old the hotel was but I'm guessing turn of the century. It was gorgeous!!! Dark wood paneling, marble floors and columns...I was in architectural heaven!

After we got cleaned up we took the electric shuttle to the IMAX theater where we watched a 3D movie called

"Monsters of the Deep". It was very, very cool! But my favorite part was watching the kids dodge 3D "monsters" and try to reach out and touch the fishes that looked like they were swimming right in front of you. It was a long day, so as you can see, by the time we found a restaurant that didn’t have a 60 minute wait, the kids were worn out!

As it turned out, Brooklynn had developed a fever and had apparently caught my "cold" so that night was a little rough for us. By the next morning she seemed fine so we went to the aquarium. This aquarium has 2 buildings. One with "river life" and one with "ocean life".

Although it was very interesting to see all the different fishes, it makes for a long, long day. I think everyone's favorite part was the penguins.

They were so cute!!! You really felt like you were right there with them!! They jumped, dove, swam and played to their hearts (and ours) delight. Brooklynn just giggled and cackled every time they jumped out of the water. It was a lot of fun, but by the end of the day, Brooklynn's fever was back so we hurried home. By Saturday night, Isabelle was coughing and had a fever, too. We took them to the Dr. on Monday and Isabelle tested positive for RSV!!! Aaaahhh!! The Dr. didn’t bother testing the rest of us since we had it first and probably gave it to her. I am nearly over mine and Brooklynn is much better, but poor little Izzy is just miserable. We had to take her to the Dr. last night and they gave her breathing treatments which we are continuing to administer at home. It's so frustrating!!! I keep my kids home and teach Brooklynn to always wash her hands but all it takes is one trip to Wal-Mart or church and BAM!!! Sick City!!! I'm just glad we had a fun vacation in between illnesses. I needed it!!

Fun times...in between illness

Daddy decided to let BIG sister visit Isabelle in the crib one day. They had so much fun that I'm afraid Brooklynn will think she can do this anytime. WRONG! We need this crib to last for at least one more kid...NOT NOW...but down the road. :)

Is this the latest in pioneer-bonnets? Nope, take another look. Lets just say Russ loves to "Pamper" his little girls. :~)