My Online Friends

We had a MOF GWO this weekend.  (my online friends girls weekend out) (MOF is an online board of other LDS women.  We get on everyday and talk, ask advice, and just keep each other sane)  It was a lot of fun!  We went to a cabin and talked and ate and laughed.  Quinn did really well until the ride home; it was pouring and just loud ... he screamed for the last hour of the car ride. 

We had several photographers there, which was fun.  Misty got some great pictures of Quinn.

(isn't he cute?  See how his right eyebrow is lifted?  funny guy!)

DH

Did you know "dh" is an online reference to your "darling/dear husband?" 

I just wanted to say how much I love mine.  He is seriously one of the hardest working people.  What a great dh I have!

He's a peach.  (that's what my mom would call him)  :)

(shhhh ... don't tell him I called him out)

"Take a Picture of MEEEEEE!"

For the Love of Nine

Quinn turns 9 months old this week.  WOW!  What a quick 9 months.  Right?  What is Quinn doing?

• He crawls, but it's still his special "bum in the air" crawl.  But he really gets around.
• He is starting to pull up on things.  If you sit on the floor, he will crawl over to you as fast as he can, and then crawl onto you and pull himself up to standing.  He's pretty funny about it.
• He likes to eat food.  Just not baby food.  Anything smooth and creamy in his mouth will earn a sour face.  He likes just regular food in smaller sizes.
• He says "mama" when he's sad or upset.  He says "dada" when he's playing or happy. (how rude!)  He also says "baba".
• He has started clapping and shaking his head "no."
• He smiles ALL the time, and laughs and is SO happy.  (unless I leave the room or set him down or try to eat without him)

We've been having a fun time with this sweet boy in our home.

School Work

Brielle's Persona (poem):


Soaring toward anyplace I want
I sleep lazily during the daytime
I live in the forest with other creatures
Listening to prey behind my back
I don't need to turn my body


Linzi's Letter to Mom:


Dear Mommy
Thank you for taking care of me!  You are kind, wonderful, and butiful.  My favorite thing that we do together is family home evening, things together, often play outside together, and play.  Love Linzi

Linzi's concert (see below) videos.  She did great! (pause the playlist music on the sidebar)

Sunshine and Rain

Linzi had her school concert last week.  It was about sunshine and rain.  The 2nd and 3rd graders did such a good job!  At one point they were all making the "noises" of a rain storm, and for the thunder they pounded their feet ... Quinn got so startled that he screamed at the top of his lungs, a blood curdling type of scream.  Twice.  It was a little sad, (and slightly embarrassing, not that I could have done anything about it).  Linzi played xylophone for 2 of the songs.  It was nice.

2 sets of grandparents were able to be there as well!

Oh, It's One of Those.

Ever have one of "THOSE" days?  Most days I am happy, content to do my daily jobs, I don't think about where I am lacking too much, I don't think about the things I am not involved in, I don't dwell on the fact that I feel like I don't have a "life" outside of my little family; I just plug along, trying to do and be better.  Then a day comes along, and it's one of "those" days.  I feel emotional, I feel inadequate, I feel friendless, I feel tired and I feel worn out.

Today is one of those days.  I can not even begin to wonder why it has happened.  It started out fine, and then one thing has led to another and I feel like crying.  Maybe it's just one of those times I need to "get in a good cry."  I don't know. 

And now the girls are fighting and I feel like it just adds to the drama of my "one of those days" day. 

The sun is shining, I got to attend a lovely Muffins With Mom this morning for Linzi's class, and didn't have to take any of the little ones (thanks to Matt) ... I should be feeling good.

*shrug*  I guess everyone is allowed an off day.  Today is mine.  I think I will go to a movie tonight.  Although it's always bitter sweet to go to a movie alone ... yes, I get my much needed "alone" time and I get to see whatever I want ... but on the other hand it reminds me that I have no friends. 

*sigh*  I suppose life isn't meant to be perfection. 

Flirty Aprons

People have the cutest ideas.  I love that.

The Creative Crate is having a Flirty Apron giveaway.  You should go enter ... these aprons are SO cute.  (for an apron)  Go here to check it out.

Divine Role of Mother

Watching this touched my heart.  With tears streaming down my face, I thought I should share.  For the link to where I watched it, go to the LDS newsroom blog ... (it's a little squished ... to watch in full view just click the link I posted right before this)

Funny Girls

We had my niece Eliza here today.  The girls have had SO much fun!  They've been playing and running and laughing ALL day.  Which leads me to believe that we need to get these girls together WAY more often.  (Veronique!)

What made me think I could get 3 little girls to all smile at the SAME time in a picture?  (Quinn has just been crawling after them all day, and trying not to get choked every time they pick him up.)

Squeaky Books Giveaway

I love Shannon Hale  SqueakyBooks.com is having a giveaway on some of her books with "cool" covers art.  Her books are great with or without the cover art ... but the covers are pretty unique.

Anyway .. wanna enter?  Go  here.

Another

Aunt Kay died yesterday.  That makes, for our family, 3 deaths in only a few months.  Too many as far as I'm concerned ... but we're "happy" for Kay, if that makes sense.  We can all picture her having a perfect body and mind and happily greeting her loved ones on the other side; a blessed reunion. 

As for me, I am hoping our family doesn't have to lose anyone else any time soon.  We're done for a while I think.

It has been a good teaching time for our children to learn about what death is and where we go after we die.  I think they're starting to "figure it out."  I am happy that we have a grasp of the Plan of Salvation, so we can understand it all.  It makes these passings not sad, necessarily, just thought provoking.  Of course we miss our loved ones who are gone, but we know we will see them again soon.  I am grateful to have that knowledge.

Anyway ... wonder what they're all doing up in Heaven?