10.30.2008

A MisBLUNDERstanding

Here is the lovely pumpkin cookie that Maggie brought home from Preschool today. Here is the conversation that followed:
Maggie: Look what I made!
Me: Nice!
Maggie: Yeah, it has three eyes and nipples.
Me: ???What!??
Maggie: Yep. Nipples on their face when they smile big.
Me: Ahh, dimples....
Maggie: Oh..oh yeah.
Me: HAHAHAHA. Where's my camera?

10.28.2008

Tagged

I got tagged so here is how this works. Post the 4th Pic from the 4th folder in your "My Pictures" folder.

This is a picture of my sisters and myself in 1999 in front of my parents home. From left to right (birth order).Lorianne (#6), Marianne (#1), Dianne (#8), Deanne (#4), Susanne (#5). Crazy!
I figured I might as well post a more recent photo as well. This one was taken this August at Marianne's home in Iowa. That was a FUN night.

10.27.2008

10.22.2008

Watch Out Dianne's Gettin' Crafty!

I finally finished the Halloween Trick or Treat bags I've been wanting to make for the girls. I've had the material for at LEAST a month. I started and finished today. Not perfect, but I did it! Emma was napping so the pumpkin had to stand in for her. hee hee

Program Practice

It occurred to me that Maggie now gets to give talks and such for the Primary Program and NONE of her extended family will ever be able to come see her due to $$, 1200 miles etc. So, I got some video of her practicing for this Sunday. She must have been tired today...you'll see.

10.19.2008

Like Mother, Like Daughter...I Guess..,

Maggie caught me off guard with this one. This girl cracks me up with her varied talents and aspirations. Who's raising this kid anyway? ha ha

10.18.2008

High Aspirations

Our little family was enjoying a "special dinner" (glassware, not plastic, salad bowls, candlelight etc) the other night and Maggie, our 5 yr old, got quite pensive. Then turns to us and asks, "Could you un-sign me up for ballet, swimming lessons and preschool? And could you sign me up for...wait, preschool and...um...college?" As shocked as we were, I managed to ask her through my stifled giggles what college she would like to go to. She quickly replied, "ROCK STAR COLLEGE!"

10.14.2008

What the?!?

It snowed on Saturday AND Sunday. Yes, SNOWED!! Three inches even!! "And the heavens opened up and God said, "I hate you Alfalfa (insert Dianne)". Our last snow was the 2nd week in June. What have I gotten myself into?

Here's our poor Pepper on the deck, so unsure of what to do with all this crazy white stuff.
This was the weekend Israel was putting up the new shed in the back. He was SOO cold. I felt for him, really. Well not enough to do more than hold a couple of screws, make hot cocoa and tend his children, but I did feel bad for him. I'm trying to feel guilty, but I'd rather feel warm.

10.10.2008

I Believe In Love by Barlow Girl

I heard this song today for the first time and I really like it. I don't know that this particular video conveys the message just right, but the lyrics and music are great.

10.08.2008

What Do You Stand For?

I understand that all who watch this will have their own opinions concerning this issue. It could also be that this is a rare situation. But what if it's only a rare situation now? What if we as parents/citizens of this nation allow our children to be taught according to the standards of the world and NOT our God? What happens when school districts/government policies continue to preach their standard of moral behavior while completely bypassing the sacred parental rights and responsibilities we hold to raise our children as we see fit.



10.07.2008

Maybe it's just me...


but, there are days when I feel like I just can't face the world. I just want to shut off all responsibilities outside my home and hide. I want to play with my kids all day without interruption of the telephone/tv OR read books obsessively about adventures I will never have. I want to un-plug from the media/technology and just sit on the cool green grass and breathe in the beauty that surrounds me in nature. Listening to the leaves rustling against one another in the wind, feeling the crisp fall air brush against my cheek leaving it a rose-hue and smelling the apples being processed into sauce or pies brings a peace that "inside" organization just can't compete with. Sometimes it just seems like life could be more enjoyable if I could take more of these moments to reflect on what is around me in the present. Isn't it amazing how taking solace in the brilliant blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds in contrast with deep reds and oranges of the changing trees can seem to make the world stop spinning so fast? The scene magically makes the doctors appointments, the meetings, the outlines, the never-ending responsibilities of life quietly fade into the background. All thoughts/choices become more clear, more real, more hopeful, leaving me feeling evermore capable to face tomorrow.

10.04.2008

When You Really Know a Sister

(I got this from a family member and loved it)

When You Really Know a Sister
by Debra Oaks Coe

When you really know a sister, know her joys and know her cares,
When you've come to understand her and the burdens that she bears,
When you've learned the fights she's fighting and the troubles in her way,
Then you'll find that she is different than you thought her yesterday.
You find her faults are trivial and there's not so much to blame
In the sister that you ridiculed when you only knew her name.

Some are quick to see the blemish in another sister's style,
Some point to all the errors and then cause a great big rile.
As you talk about the failures of the sister you don't know,
You drive away God's spirit and you've no more spiritual glow.
As you learn about her trials and you try her strengths to see,
You'll find you like her better and we'll have more unity.

If we could really know each other and heed our Savior's plea,
We'll do a lot more lifting and be much more spiritually free.
When we begin to understand and we cease to scoff and sneer,
Differences like age and status will always disappear.
You'll begin to find the virtues and the faults you cease to tell,
For you'll never hate a sister when you really know her well.

When next you start in sneering and your phrases turn to blame,
Recall the sacred covenants when you took our Savior's name.
To mourn with those that mourn is like an angel here to be
To comfort those that stand in need is divine I guarantee.
Such understanding and compassion, are not easy to obtain
You must set your mind to trying and from prejudice abstain.

For it's likely that acquaintance would your prejudice dispel,
And you'd really come to like her if you knew her very well.
When you get to know the sister and you understand her ways,
Then her faults won't really matter, for you'll find a lot to praise.
So remember to be Christlike and concentrate on all that's good,
For we all want help and comfort; we all need to be understood.

Please remember: Thoughtless or unkind words can ruin a reputation,
alter a relationship, change the course of a life.

10.01.2008

The Best Neighbors

I love my neighbors! They are so wonderful and would do anything for you. Today, our next door neighbors, recently deemed "Grandma Puff and Pops" dropped off this mini birthday cake for Maggie, because today is her Birthday. How sweet is that?? They even had her name put on it! Maggie felt so special and loved gobbling it up tonight.