Picture Post

Yesterday a co-worker looked at my blog and complained that there were no new pictures, apparently what I write is not worth reading : ) I do realize I haven't posted any pictures from January, so here they are in no particular order:

Curly and cousin Letty waiting for the train on our way to the Church History Museum. Earlier that day they went to the Draper Temple Open House

Aunt Jeniel came with us to a very snowy free zoo day!

Lou loves to eat, and signals she's ready by getting her bibs.

Yum! Yes I let my kids lick the beater.

Preschool at our house - Making snowman faces

Lou giving her newest cousin a kiss at Oma's Birthday party

The birthday cake Ba and I decorated for my mother-in-law

The matching nightgowns I made for the girls, with Curly's help of course

This is the house / "cage" we made for Curly's imaginary kitten named Seraphina.

I fell asleep playing "Go Fish" with Fisher and Curly. What a boring mom.

Curly takes her new bike for a spin

Enjoying the snow that is now long gone...

Daddy's boots - big shoes to fill

Back to the 90s

Remember Tae-Bo? It was the hip new exercise program of the 90s. This week, my sister, Amberlee and I decided to dig out my old Billy Blake's Tae Bo workout and do it...woah! Sweating and hearing Billy's annoying babble took me back to 10 years ago... I was a junior in highschool and had just started practicing for the "Junior Miss Scholarship Competition." My friends were all doing it and I gave in to peer pressure and decided to give it a try. Before you laugh that I was in a "pageant", let me just say that it was an experience that changed my life for the better. I was also involved in Ski club, and spring training for Track and Field. I took piano lessons and taught piano to a few kids in my neighborhood. I spent a lot of time with my best friends - Jill, Ashleigh, Margie, Melanie, Dave, and Edgar and was dating one of them.

Ten years ago Fisher was attending Ricks College, working as an athletic trainer for their sports teams, (We didn't know each other, though we like to think that we might have seen each other running at the field house), living in the dorms :P and waiting for his mission call. He was called to Helsinki Finland with an earlier report date than he requested, so he left the semester early and was on his way.

I wish I had a few digital pictures to post... but just picture me with long, thick, out of control hair, acne, and perfectly straight teeth after two years of braces. Picture Fisher with a meticulous side part and winning smile. Oh, and don't forget those 90s styles. Ah, those were the days...

How to beat the midwinter blues

Usually after the holidays end I get a little depressed... no more family, no more gift and goodie making, no more parties... you get the picture and you probably know what I am talking about. But this year I have figured out how to beat those blues! You make yourself so busy that you have no time to think about... so busy that you can't even blog. At least that's my excuse for the paucity of posts this month. Though I have been busy and still am, I am just kicking back for a few minutes to say "HI" and see what my blog buds have been up to. If you are wondering what has kept me so busy - here is the list:

- My cousin's wedding (with lots of preparation) finally happened and she moved far away : (
- I finished her wedding video and a digital recipe book as a wedding gift.
- My sister moved in : )
- I worked a lot while Fisher was on break
- Fisher started his new and final internship : )
- We started up preschool and I got to teach the first two weeks
- Curly and decided to make matching nightgowns for she and Lou
- I started an institute class with my sister - yay!
- My parents came to visit : )
- My Provo dwelling sisters came for a weekend
- We celebrated Fisher's mom's birthday.
- We had a Primary teacher training breakfast one Saturday and a Primary activity day the next
- And there's always the daily duties that somehow get done...eventually
Whew!

Curly and Lou have also been busy growing up the past few weeks. I think Curly is finally starting the downhill descent from the terrible two's (now that she is 3 1/2) and has been very sweet and untempestous the past week (though she still has her moments). She started Sunbeams and loves going to Primary. The other day I corrected her for saying "kill" in a negative way. She replied, "But it's okay to say kill when you read Book of Mormon." She has a point...

Lou has learned to say Curly's name and call everyone she likes by that name. It's very cute. Unfortunately she has also discovered tantrums and the joys of dumping food. . . especially when it is well projected into her sister's curly locks.

GO UTES!!!

That is all I have to say!

Merry Christmas to All!

Let it snow! and snow... and snow... was the theme for Christmas this year. We spent a week in Idaho with my family (the Lovell's) and I am not sure that it ever stopped snowing. I think we cleared the sidewalks at least three times a day. We took advantage of the snow and spent a freezing afternoon on the ski hill.

My parents planned a fun evening at the Mountain River Ranch. We braved the terrible weather to enjoy a sleigh ride, delicious dinner and some entertainment. Before the show ended, the roads were closed, so we had an exciting drive home. It's lovely weather for a sleigh ride!The whole gang waiting for dinner
Curly and Lettie weren't fazed by the scarey roads

You know what they say about frightful weather... it makes the fire delightful. Snuggled in the cozy house, we enjoyed Christmas feasting and gift giving. My brother gave Curly a new helmet to go with the "pink princess bike that has a basket" that Santa procured (qoute from Curly). The card on the gift read, "Every princess with flaming hair should have a hat to match." Lou loved the helmet... we think it's cool too.

For the sibling gift exchange we decided to require home-made gifts. This is the magnet board we made for my sister.

And the gift that keeps on giving... My rubber sister performing "the basket." She's done this since she was four... and now twenty years later...It's painful to watch.

On Christmas day we braved the blizzard to make a snow fort and take a sledding expedition to the park. What a Winter Wonderland!

Another Christmas comes to a close and it always makes me sad. I am so grateful for the family and friends who give us wonderful memories to enjoy all year. Merry Christmas!