I was so cute as a kid! My mom was looking through some pictures the last few days and found these. I obviously was cute at some point, probably the reason my kids are so dang cute.... along with their Dad's good looks! =0)

Question...

If there were 3 people (alive, dead, real, imaginary) that you could have lunch with and discuss things with ... whom would you choose and what would you talk about?


1. My children, fully grown. I would love to jump to the future to have lunch with my children when they are grown. I would enjoy hearing about their lives, understanding their views on everything and know that they felt that I had done the best possible job as their mother raising them.
2. My good friend, Janalynn. We rarely get the time to get together with both our lives so busy. I can talk to her about anything and feel so uplifted when we're done. She's the kind of person that is a "kindred spirit" and even better I can swear a little bit around her!
3. Someone, anyone affected by Slavery. I find the Civil War period very interesting and I think to have a conversation with someone from that time would be so cool. I'd like to know their views of this world and how they found the strength to get through it.

You are given a disposable camera with 8 shots. You're assignment is to use those 8 shots to describe yourself as completely as possible. What do you photograph? What are your reasons?


First would be pictures of my kids. They are the most important thing in my life right now. Next would be pictures of my family, parents for sure. I think I would then take a picture of a beautiful doorway guarded with flowers or a peaceful garden getaway. The beach would have to be in there somewhere with a pair of flip flops. Perhaps a scene of a beach, looking towards the water sitting on a beach chair and off to the side a great big COKE. I would love to take pictures of various couples, hopefully a union of my own someday. The smiles that you get of people together that genuinely care for each other or that are even in the puppy dog stage are so cute. I would have to have my girlfriends in there too, after all friends help shape the people we grow to be. I stopped counting...so not sure if that would be just 8.

Child Labor...

I gave Mckelsie and Jayden an ultimatum the other day... pull weeds (and get paid $2 each) or not live another day. They pulled weeds.

Both of them actually did a really good job and I ended up very proud of them. They did take about 10 breaks each but got the playground free of weeds (for the most part). I almost didn't think that they would follow through but money can make you do the darndest things for sure. Mckelsie has more determination than Jayden but I was proud of them that they stuck with it and got the job done.

Another one of my "Home Projects"

I got a bug and decided that it was time to paint the front door and shutters on the front of the house. Jayden helped for literally 5 minutes and then he'd had his fill of painting. I decided I wanted to do a "distressed" look to both the door and the shutters. I'm not sure I totally love it but I think it looks good. Now I just have to paint the trim moulding at the top of the house. It looks terrible in contrast to the white on the door and shutters. It was alot of work especially in the heat of the day. Thanks to my Dad he gave me the paint and so I didn't have to pay a dime to do it. Those are the projects that I love...no cost! I think that my Dad was just happy because I didn't ask him to help!

My next project.... a gate to keep our new little dog Hurley out of trouble. Sorry Dad! =0)

24th of JULY / Pioneer Day in Utah

Jayden, Adam and Alison playing in a wagon full of water. I think Alison had some dishes that she was washing. What cute KIDS!

I really REALLY think that it should be a "day off" holiday for Utahns. After working all day though we were invited to Dan and Christine's for a BBQ. The kids had a really great time playing games, throwing the football around with Uncle Dan and of course we all enjoyed the great BBQ food. I'm really grateful for my family. I had to get a picture of Mom lounging around with her feet up on the table! It's rare that you see her so "comfy" at someone else's place.

Happy 24th!

Why does life have to be so bitterly hard? There's no end in sight and even so I make myself more upset with knowing that I haven't been able to rise above my struggles. I am trying so hard to "change the way I look at things" but feel utter despair when I am still in the hole. I know that I have done so well with the things that others have dealt but none of that seems to matter when the overwhelming feelings of loneliness, resentment, anger, fear, unhappiness, inadaquecy... all emotions that fill my heart.

Truth Hurts

I have been really down lately. I struggle with keeping my head above water and not beating myself down with my own negative thoughts let alone dealing with the things that I cannot change. Life in general has been extremely difficult and seems to just keep pushing in ways I never thought it could. I allow conflicting statements to enter my thoughts and it ends up encircling about until ultimately it drives me crazy. A vicious cycle that goes round and round.