My New Favorite Show

Has anyone watched this show??

I am so loving this show!  I know that Geneology is nothing new, but I think that this show is shedding a whole new light on what an amazing experience tracing your family tree can be.  I have been working on my family's history for the past year or so now, and have found it so rewarding.  I was lucky enough to have a distant cousin of my Mom's do the research for my Grandma's side of the family.  My Grandma had 10 brothers and sisters, and I have a book that is about 3 inches thick that contains the information of all of those people.  One of the lines is traced back all the way to 1040!!!!  Seriously crazy stuff!  My dad's side of the family is another story.....I don't have very much information on them at all.  My dad died in 2003, and before he passed, I got some information from him...but not a lot.  So, researching his ancestors will be all up to me.  And let me tell you, this show is motivating me to do that.  It's hard work, and actually very fun.  But what happens, is you start searching for someone and you think you'll only spend a few hours on the computer, and before you know it, 8 hours have passed!  But once you find someone, you feel like you've uncovered a buried treasure.  I love it.

Happy Birthday Caitlin!

Today is Caitiln's 11th birthday.  She's 11 on the 11th.  Her Golden Birthday. 

Caitlin is our "Bonus Child".  After years of struggling to get pregnant and to stay pregnant, we had given up the idea of ever having more children.  We had Courtney & Connor and we were content with being the parents to one little boy and one little girl.  And, since I was "infertile", birth control was not needed.....or so we thought.  You can imagine our surprise when we found out that we were pregnant with Cailtin.  This was just a mere 11 months after the birth of our IVF twins.  We were excited, scared, and frankly, really freaked out that we had conceived on our own!  I was watched over very carefully during my pregnancy given my history.  And the pregnancy went along just fine.  Caitlin was born three weeks early - on purpose - and was a healthy, happy baby girl. 

She has added so much to our family and she has been such a blessing to us, and those around her.  I know that Heavenly Father sent her to us knowing that she was a perfect fit for our little family.  She is so fun to be around, and seriously cracks us up most of the time.  She loves to learn, and is always finding new things to do to find her niche.  She loves the gospel, and is so eager to learn and grow spiritually. 

Caitlin is, and will always be, a bonus.  What we had before her was great, but she was the Bonus that made our family complete and perfect.

I love you Caitlin!!!! 

Happy Birthday!

What a Kid

The other day I was helping Connor write his Patriot Speech for school.  While I was typing his speech, he turned to me and said....

"Mom, you are pretty."

"Thanks Connor."

"No really Mom.  YOU ARE PRETTY.  I'm sitting her looking at you and you are really pretty."

"Awwwwww! (tears in my eyes)  Thanks Connor!" followed by a big hug. 

What a kid.

Brain Overload!!

My mind is racing!  I have so much going on in these next few months. 

First, this week is Caitlin's birthday!  She'll be 11 on the 11th - her Golden Birthday.  And it seem like kids' birthdays are never just a one day event.  It's like a FOUR day event!  Thursday is her actual birthday, so I'll be bringing her lunch at school, and then cooking her favorite dinner that night (spaghetti).  Friday, we'll be taking her OUT to dinner for her birthday, and then Saturday are her TWO parties - her "friends" party at the bowling alley (can't wait - I love to bowl!) and then the family will come over Saturday night.  I'm going to be exhausted Sunday.  I'm going to attempt to make sugar cookies with ROYAL ICING for her "goodie bags".  I'm not a fan of shaped sugar cookies because they NEVER turn out right, but I'm going to try once again.  They'll be "C" shaped with pink icing.  Wish me luck!!!

This is one of my FAVORITE pictures of Caitin.

Next, is MY birthday.  My 40th.  Unbelieveable.  I remember when my Mom turned 40 and her friends threw a big party for her.  She got a t-shirt that said "40" on it.....and I thought she was SO OLD.  And now....that's going to be ME!  And Hugh follows me just 13 days later.  But, you know what, I'm excited.  I don't feel 40, and I don't think I look 40.  I feel better than I have in YEARS.  (I'm thinking 4 days a week at the gym have helped with that....hmmmmm, maybe there is something to this Working Out thing.)  And I know one thing....I don't ACT 40.  Most of the time, I act like a silly teenager.  (Just ask Charlee Howe.....she says when Wendy and I are together we act like a couple of 17 year olds.  Hey, that's a COMPLIMENT....I think).

The day after my birthday is our 2nd Annual Camp Fundraiser at church.  Last year, we raised over $2000 with our dessert and service auctions.  Awesome!  It was so much fun, and I'm really looking forward to it again this year.  What a great way to celebrate my birthday....with my ward family - ESPECIALLY the AMAZING Young Women. 

Paige & I at last year's fundraise.  I Heart Paige.

Just a few days after that, I'll be heading off with Wendy to the Big Apple!  My fourth trip to this FABULOUS city in the last four years.  It's Hugh's birthday present to me, but really, I'm just tagging along with Wendy.  This trip is for HER as it'll be her first time there.  I can't wait to experience it with her!!!  It is such an amazing place to visit.  Not to mention, we'll be staying with Barton, and I haven't seen him since his accident last year. 

The Brooklyn Bridge from last years' trip.

And, right after we get back, I'll have just one week to finish the preparations for my and Hugh's 40th birthday party!  Since our birthdays are so close together, we can never throw each other a party.  So, we are throwing one for OURSELVES.  It'll be a New York City themed party (shocking) and I'm having so much fun planning it. 

Soon after that will be the end of the school year (wow! - I'll have two kids in Jr. High next year!!) and then off to Girls' Camp!  A week later will be Bonnie's baby shower.  Soon after that is Emmi's 1st birthday.  Hopefully, we'll fit a vacation in there somewhere!  Hugh & Connor will head off to Scout Camp at the end of July, and then school will start mid-August!  Holy cow!  I'm tired now.

Potato Salad

Ok, I just watched this from NieNie's blog.  I thought I would be watching a 4 minute song about Potato Salad, but it's more than than.  And now I'm just creeped out.  People should NOT be this flexible.  Take a look.

Ok, the "freeze frame" of this video is a little suggestive, but I promise, it's clean.

 

Start Day of My 40 Random Acts of Kindness

Today is Day One of my "40 Random Acts of Kindness".  I have no idea what will come my way today, but I'll be keeping my eyes and heart open!  I hope you will participate with me, and do at least one RAOK in honor of my upcoming birthday!!!  Just one kind thing....that's all I ask.  And then leave me a comment, or facebook me, or email me, or even text me.  I'm going to keep track of what I'm doing, and what you are all doing, so I can blog about it.  I'm so excited!!

Random Thoughts

Don't really know what to blog about, so I'm just going to post a few things that are floating around in my brain.  There's a lot of room in there, you know.....

• I'm turning 40 soon and for some reason, I'm really excited about it!  It helps that I will be in NYC just after my birthday, and that trip is followed by a big birthday bash that Hugh and I are throwing for ourselves.  (He turns 40 thirteen days after I do....that's right, I'm a cougar.)  I think I'm excited because I FEEL good.  I'm happy.  I love my husband and kids.  And I still feel like I'm in my 20's.  The grey hairs are coming in, and my body is starting to creek a bit, but that's ok.  I can live with that.
• I love the show "24", but I have to say, I'm just not as in to this season as I have been in seasons past.  And the blond girl who works for CTU bugs the crap out of me!!  I think it's the worst story line in the history of 24!!
• I can't wait for GLEE to come back on in April. 
• I hate headaches.  I've had one all day.
• I love it when Connor sleepwalks.  Just now, I heard him in his room (he's been asleep for 2 hours). I went in there and asked him what he was doing, and he said he was looking for his football helmet.  Uh...it's in the garage, where it always is.  Connor swears he wasn't sleep walking though.  Yea, right.
• I'm so tired of hearing about Tiger Woods.  He's a pig.  And I just heard one of his many mistresses on the radio this morning.  She had done a Press Conference to say that she felt that Tiger owed her a face-to-face apology. Uh...really?  She KNEW he was married when she was sleeping with him.  So why does HE owe HER an apology? Maybe SHE owes Tiger's WIFE an apology.  That seems more appropriate.  But seriously, so over the Tiger thing.  
• I want to clean my house from top to bottom.  Every cabinet, every closet, every drawer.  But I can't find the energy to get it done.
• My husband is H.O.T.!!

Ok.  That's all for now. 

A Letter

Dear People Who Move to the United States, Most Specifically The Lady Who Works at Dillards at Arrowhead Mall:

Welcome to our lovely country.  I hope you enjoy your time here as much as I love living here.  But, could you please do me a favor?  If you going to come to my country, and work at the establishments that I visit, would you please learn how to speak the English language?  I would appreciate it so much.

Thank you.

Youth Day at the Temple

Ok, I'm way behind on this post.  Our youth went to the temple on January 9.  I went with the Young Women, so I have no pictures of Connor, who was there with the Young Men!  Next time, I'll need to stick around so I can take picture of them both.  Anyway, it was a beautiful day and a wonderful experience.

All of our Young Women.

The girls took my camera and went around and took some gorgeous pictures....like these two. Seriously, so pretty!

Look at this cute bride and groom!  Courtney stopped them and asked if she could take their picture.  Then, when she was taking the picture, THEIR photographer got behind Courtney and took a picture of Courtney taking their picture.  I loved it.

And then in contrast to this beautiful young couple, was this sweet elderly couple.  Aren't they adorable?

Random Acts of Kindness

I just read the most INSPIRING blog post!  This woman, Robyn, turned 38 recently.  And to celebrate, she spent an entire day doing Random Acts of Kindness.  She really went all out.  I just read through each one and had tears running down my cheeks by the end.  So, in honor of my upcoming 40th birthday, I'm going to follow her lead and do 40 Random Acts of Kindness to celebrate!  And, I want you to participate!  I'm not asking you to do 40 RAOK....just do ONE.  And tell me about it!  Leave me a comment and then I'll blog about your random act. 

Ooooh! I'm so excited!!!

Start Date:  2.26.10

Side note:  This woman is an Event Planner.  And you know how much I love a good party!  So, I'll be visiting her blog on a regular basis.  She also happens to be a former classmate of Wendy's.  Rad!