Who am I?

Eight things in a Sack:

This paper bag is plain, as you can see

but, inside it can hold a treasure

or solve a mystery---You may hold the key.

The mystery is...What makes you who you are?

We sincerely want to know.

What makes you special, like a shinning star?

WHO AM I?

Bike Bell: Enjoys playing outside

Crayon: Loves arts and crafts

"Choose the Right": What she believes

#1: First born

Dog: Has one dog and loves all animals

CD cover: Enjoys all music

Shell: Newport Beach is a place we visit every year

Smarties: She is a very smart girl and loves candy

Mickey Mouse: Disneyland makes her happy

This is MACKENZIE JOY in a nut shell.
This homework assignment was kinda fun to find objects that represents her.

I think she really thought about it and found the perfect things that are 100% her.

There is no one else I want her to be.

She is perfect just the way she is.

Another Summer is over...

...and another school year begins.

I have to admit,

I enjoy Summer.

I enjoy the lazy mornings with no schedule and staying up late.

I am not ready to give up my Summer.

BUT...

School is here to start.

Nothing like waking up before 8am to

get two girls feed, dressed, hair done, and backpacks ready...

just in time to snap a few pictures to stop time for just a moment.

Welcome to another school year: 2010Mackenzie is excited for her 4th grade year.

She gets up before the alarm, and is dressed and has eaten before I even come down the stairs, and is ready to hit the bus, where she will meet her friends. Within the last year, she is becoming more social. She is excited to have a man teacher and ready to push herself to learn all she can, but not excited for the homework.


Delanie couldn't be more opposite.

Delanie had mixed feelings in starting 2nd grade.

She has to get waken up every day, which is a chore in itself. She don't want to eat, nerves are starting to hit. She can't decide what to wear and when she finally does, she can't find her shoes.

She is also waiting til the very last minute to leave the house and seems to forget something.
She does love her friends, but enjoys being at home as well.

It will just take a bit of time for Dalanie to feel comfortable and the being shy and nerves will all go away and the Delanie that I know, will not stop talking or wanting to learn.

Here's to a new school year.
You two girls will do great!
Make your Dad and I proud.

8 is Great!

It's hard to believe that Delanie is 8.

Where has the time gone??!?!
In honor of her and of her special day, I am going to share 8 reasons what I love about her.

1. Her caring heart.

You are always wanting to help and make sure everyone is happy.

2. Your example to others.

You try to do what is right and are a good sister and friend. 3. Your personality.
You being You: Shy and a bit Spunky. Carefree.


4. Your creativity.
You are always coming up with pretty pictures and the little notes you leave on my bed.
5. Your talents.
The way you sing really loud while wearing your headphones or the cartwheels you do in the living room.

6. Your laughter.

I wish that I could bottle it up and becoming rich on it.

It is pure happiness.

7. Your style.

How you wear tennies with a skirt.8. Your cuddles.
You are never too old or big to cuddle with me. Never. Ever.
Lanie, You are a beautiful girl.

You make me proud in all things you do.

I am lucky to have you as my daughter.

Happy Birthday to you....and many many more.

May all your birthday wishes come true.

Love me some counrty livin'

Who wouldn't love to get a "Welcome Home" from Bessie, the family's pet cow.

*On main street in Small town USA*

*There is no other place that I want to call home.*

Chalk up another year.

11 years... but who's counting.

I am!

When you are married to your best friend and have a constant companion when life throws at you high and lows...
...that is something to celebrate.

Dan and I today celebrate 11 awesome years of marriage.

I am not saying that we know everything about being married or that we are pros, but we do enjoy spending time together, love each other, and can't wait to spend even more years together.

Whether we are going on a mini vacation, dinner/movie, or even a trip to Target, we enjoy the moments we get together.

I know that I am the more difficult of the two of us.

We really don't argue, most of the time (okay, all of the time) I start it.

Dan is patient.

Dan is loyal.

Dan makes me feel special.

I am lucky and I know it.

What the two of us have:

is Special.

is Real.

is LOVE.

See, I told you it is time a time to chalk up another year and celebrate it with the one I love.

Not your typical drive-in movie.

The kids have their "cars" ready and off to the drive-in we go.Today we had a primary activity at the church.
You guessed it.

A drive-in movie with popcorn and treats.
I was honestly surprised on some of the "cars" that some of the kids brought.

We had an awesome turn out with kids and adults.

In fact, I think these kids have to be the best primary kids there are...I am not bisas or anything, they just happen to be the kids that I teach and have taught last year.
They are proud of the tickets they have earned to get candy to eat while watching the movie.

A BIG thank you to the Primary Presidency, who did an awesome job at planning a fun mid-morning activity for the kids.

Going up...

...the mountain that is.

Time has come again for the grand kids and Opa (who is 73) to climb Mt. Baldy.

I don't know who gets more excited, the kids or Opa.

See, every year since Opa was 12 (expect for the years on his mission) he has made it a goal to climb the mountain.

He enjoys it so much, that Opa has invited the grand kids on a annual mountain climb.

The kids know that there are Gatorade's and real silver dollars waiting for them at the top of the mountain, a little reward that Opa gives the kids.
They race to see who can get to the top first.

There is a lot of laughs with the cousins, a sack lunch, a few falls and tears, a couple bloody noses (the air is so thin) and a lot of memories made.

My kids enjoy it so much, that they talk about it everyday and ask to go again before the "next" time.

I have a secret to share, more kinda like a confession. I have never climb the mountain...So, hear me now.

***I PROMISE to climb that mountain NEXT year***

Till next August...here's to the kids going up and conquering Mt Baldy this year with no complains and no one being carried.

I don't know if I can even promise that for next year, BUT I will climb it.

Promise.

YeeHaw.

...That is Cowboy talk for, "We are ready for some Fun."

Coalville was the host of this "country-loving, animal smellin', small town USA, dirty dust in the air" Rodeo.

Something about all of that makes us feel at home.

The kids and Opa pose for a picture.

The older girls picked out those darling hats as their "Rodeo Treat" and all Carson and Cassie wanted was the licorice rope; which was gone in 8 seconds flat.

*There score was a combined total of 92-that makes sense only if you know rodeo scoring.* Here was one of the funniest things that I have seen in a long time.
Kids from the age of 8-12 ran around the arena, chasing 3 cows with ribbons on their tails.

The kid that could get the ribbon off, became $20 richer.

It was pure awesomeness.

Coalville, you didn't let us down with the rodeo and fireworks.

We all had a fun time, even if we did get eaten alive from the bugs.

You better believe that we will be back again next year.

Till then..."Happy Trails to you."
(that is cowboy talk for, Take care, till I see ya again.)

Coalville style.

Leave it to me...

Tonight, Dan and I were going to run a few errands for Delanie's upcoming birthday/baptism. Target and Justice was on the agenda.

We pull into the Target's parking stall and Dan turns off the car.

I open my door, put my feet on the ground and realize...

I have NO shoes on my feet!

I left the house, got into the car, and got all the way to Target with NO shoes.

What was I thinking...I wasn't.

Dan enjoyed a good laugh on my behalf.

I was just plain dumb.

Thank goodness Old Navy was in the same parking lot.

Dan goes in, buys me two pairs of flip flops for $5, and saves the evening of running errands, but my dignity was not.

Sometimes, Dumb Just Happens.

Awesomeness.

Today is August 9th 2010.

In other words...

08-09-10
AWESOME.

It is so awesome, that today's date will never happen in history again.

See, today is full of awesomeness.

Mark your calendars and live in the moment...a day like today only happens ONCE...and you get to live it and enjoy this historic day.

Awesome.

Tired.

With the early mornings and the all day outside playing, it finally has caught up with Carson.
It is only shy after 5 pm and he is already out.
What more can a boy ask for; a comfy chair, a soft pillow, and his cozy football blanket...
Sweet Dreams Little Man...You are one tired (and worn out) kid.

mirror mirror on the wall...

...who's the fairest one of all?
NOT you, that's for sure.

You are mirror.

You are now the fairest one of all.I told you the next project we would be using black paint...AND some wood.
I LOVE LOVE how with some simple molding, (2 different pieces to be exact...a 5 inch and a one inch) liquid nails, a saw, BLACK paint, a weekend, and a handy husband can turn something drab to WOW!
Something of this size of mirror in a store would cost a pretty penny, but $90.00 later, we got the prettiest mirror of all.
***(I wish that I could take the credit for thinking of this on my own, but I'll give credit where credit is due. I came across this blog called http://showandtell-sausha.blogspot.com/)***
Genius.
I know now it is only a matter of time till the next project is calling my name.
Bead board is next.
Stay tuned.