I stand corrected

I was driving in the car today with Haley. When Haley and I are in the car, we like to listen to the radio. Haley mostly likes to listen to songs that girls sing. When a song starts playing she will say, "Is this a girl song, or a boy song?" Today there was a "girl song" playing and she asked me if it was Hannah Montana (she says it Honna Montana). I told her I didn't think that it was Hannah Montana. She then said, "Well it sounds like Honna Montana." We finished listening to the song and the D.J. said that it was in fact Hannah Montana. I said to Haley, "You were right, it was Hannah Montana." Her reply was, "told ya!"

How does a 3 year old get to be so dang smart? Riley and Brynn are past the stage of listening to Hannah Montana. We just don't listen to her very often these days. But I think that we are entering the faze of listening to her again. I just love little girls.

17

Seventeen years ago this Valentine's Day, John and I got engaged. I cannot believe that it has been 17 years. It is just amazing how fast time zips by. First of all, yes, we got engaged on Valentine's Day. I thought that it was too predictable to get engaged on Valentine's Day, so I was definitely NOT expecting the proposal on that day. It was late on Valentine's Day and we had just eaten dinner. We drove home from school to my sister Lori's house. We sat and watched t.v. with Lori and Clay. John froze the wedding ring in an ice cube. As we sat and drank ice "diamond" water, Clay kept chomping on his ice and saying how much he loved to chew ice. He kept looking at me with a sheepish grin on his face. I was trying to figure out why Clay and Lori kept looking at me. Finally I bit into an ice cube and heard a "clank" at the bottom of the cup. I looked down in the glass and.......the rest is history.

I am lucky and grateful to be married to such a great guy, and here are 17 reasons why....
1. John is so patient and kind to me even when I am bossy and mouthy (I tend to get that way sometimes or I should say a lot of times.)
2. John has a way of making ALL people feel important. Several of his patients have told me that they love him and are going to go away on vacation with him. I just laugh and smile (only because they are old enough to be his mom or I would punch their lights out).
3. He is very unselfish.
4. John is a great dad and would do ANYTHING for his kids.
5. He works very hard to provide for his family.
6. John can make a mean Mexican dish. He is a great cook and my family rants and raves about some of the dishes he makes. They refer to him as "Juan-e-lingo".
7. He has a great smile and laugh.
8. He has a strong testimony of the gospel.
9. John likes to cuddle and hug his wife and kids. He is the official "back or arm tickler" for the kids. They feel loved. He is a pro at foot rubs for me!
10. John is very patient with the kids and is great about not "blowing his stack" unlike someone else who shall remain nameless.
11. He puts his family first before any of his hobbies.
12. John is very smart.
13. I liked him even when I knew him as Elder O (scandalous- ha ha)
14. Still gets jealous, and almost down right angry, when someone talks about an old boyfriend of mine.
15. Still likes to take me out on dates.
16. Kind, kind, kind
17. Still makes me laugh

Some old pics of waaayyyy back when...Just love the big bushy hair--Wowzers!

Holy Excitement Batman!

Last night for Family Home Evening we talked to the kids about making sacrifices. We talked about how sometimes we can't get everything we want. We explained to them that we sacrifice, set goals, and when we achieve our goals, we feel very satisfied and sometimes we even celebrate.

We have been out of school for almost 4 years. We definitely had to make some sacrifices during school. I look back on those times and sometimes wonder how we did it. We lived in a small apartment with 4 kids. It seemed like it was impossible to keep it clean because of the lack of space. I still look back and laugh about our food storage. Due to the lack of space, I would store canned food under the couch and love seat. When I needed a can of corn or something, I would tip the couch back and send a kid under to fetch it for me. The closets were very small in the apartment, so...many things were stored under beds. It was hard, but also some of the best times of my life were during school. I miss all my friends that were my "family" and took such good care of me.

Anywho...I will get off this little tangent and back to FHE. SO, we explained that we have met one of the goals that we set and now it is time to celebrate. We asked them to give us some ideas of what we could do to celebrate. Here are their suggestions....

Jace--- "We could go get some ice cream!" (What a great little boy. I just love how he is so sweet and innocent.)
Brynn--- "We could go to Lagoon or Disneyland!"
Riley--- "We could buy a boat!" (Whoa Nelly, you are shooting a little high)

After their suggestions, we told them that in a couple of weeks we are going to go to Disneyland. Brynn just put her hands over her mouth and her eyes teared up. (That is the best kind of "thanks".) She just jumped up from her chair and ran to hug us. Riley, Jace, and Haley were equally excited. This morning the woke up talking about how they dreamt about Disneyland.

I am grateful to have such great kids and such a hard-working awesome husband!!!!

Busy week

We have been busy this week. Between school, homework, gymnastics, Young Womens, piano lessons, etc. we also had dentist appointments, and hair cuts. Haley and I went to "THE Dentist". Haley was fun to watch in the chair. She just looked so tiny in that huge chair. Whenever the hygienist would talk to her with instruments in her mouth, she would just say, "uh-huh". She kept smiling at me like she was so proud at how good she was being. I, on the other hand, did not do so good this time. I cannot believe I have a flippen cavity! What the....! I don't mind going to see MY dentist. I just don't enjoy dental work. I'm a much better patient now then I was as a child. I just remember crying in the dental chair. I'm sure that my dentist just wanted to smack me. Growing up, my dentist was in my ward. Whenever I passed him in the hall I would not smile at him. I didn't even want him to see my teeth. I was afraid that he would spot a cavity in my mouth. (I love the way kids think). I don't mind the shot so much (I'm not saying I love it), it's just the dang drill. When that thing "fires up" I get the chills, my hands start to sweat, and I feel like I could do a back-bend in the chair...which says a lot as I am not very flexible any more. It also doesn't help that it is my husband inflicting the pain on me. I have to concentrate to not reach over and punch him, or move his hand when I am in pain.
Haley feels so comfortable in the office. John bought the practice when she was 4 months old.
What a good little patient.

Haley getting her hair cut.

Riley, Brynn, and Haley after their hair cuts. Riley and Brynn both had several inches cut off. They all look so cute!!

Funny

Mom --- "It's almost time to go get the little farts from school."

Haley --- "No, don't call my friends Brynny and Jacey little farts."

Mom --- "What about Riley?"

Haley --- "Ya, call her that."