tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66111236040363882362024-02-21T08:29:49.035-08:00Live, Love, and LaughLive well, Love much, and Laugh oftenCharity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-31570528055888972762009-01-25T19:30:00.001-08:002009-01-25T19:35:42.545-08:00New Blog addressI have set up a new blog address. All my new postings will be on it so if you want to keep up with my little snippets, thoughts, and updates you can find them on <a href="http://charitysreflections.blogspot.com/">http://charitysreflections.blogspot.com/</a>Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-75155281387591029442009-01-17T23:13:00.000-08:002009-01-17T23:55:06.034-08:00A lesson in humility<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Accepting help has always been a problem for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think I need to do it myself; I want to do it myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But this life isn’t about doing it by yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We need help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have a Savior who can do what we alone cannot do.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I struggled with the idea of letting others come to my house and help me de junk and organize and catch up on what I have fallen behind on, I realized I needed help although I wasn’t so anxious for the help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is that way with the Savior he is willing to bear our burdens if we will let him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How hard it is to give up our weaknesses to him so that he might help us find strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Letting others be aware of my weaknesses and shortcomings is quite humbling and scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Humbling in that I know I can’t face this trial alone and need the help of friends and scary because I feel so vulnerable to have others see me “in all my glory”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But what is funny about that, is that is humbling as well, to know that I am still loved despite my shortcomings, wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This has been a real lesson in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Despite what we have done or what our weaknesses might be our Savior loves us and is willing to help us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How eternally grateful I am for him and for such selfless and caring friends.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thank you to all who have given of your time and prayers and thoughts and service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is in you I find strength and through my Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I truly appreciate all that has been done on my behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You all are so kind and I know the Lord will bless you for your kindness and generosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I treasure your friendship and love.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-64687904882574006032009-01-06T16:40:00.000-08:002009-01-06T16:51:27.312-08:00Hooray for New Beginnings!Despite the rhyme eight is great, 2008 just was not my year. I am looking forward to a new start filled with opportunities and blessings that come through enduring adversity. I know for me 2009 will be filled with many challenges but I am grateful for good friends, the support of family and the love of the Lord. I am also grateful I can close the book on 2008 and look forward with hope to 2009 and know it is a new beginning.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-74695889045415174332008-12-23T09:10:00.000-08:002009-01-06T17:36:25.702-08:00Scared to death<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">I love watching CSI shows, but starring in one is not on my top priority list. Last night, or should I say early this morning I had the most horrifying experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was asleep in bed when my five year old, Ariana, came and got into bed with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She told me that she had a scary dream and I told her that she was safe and that God’s protecting angels were round about us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We just started to doze off when I heard a loud bang.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It sounded as though someone or something had hit our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I sat up and again heard the noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This time it seemed somewhat more recognizable like gunshot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My dogs were barking like crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I got out of my bed to make sure that the house was securely locked and found that I had missed the back door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As I was looking out the glass door into my backyard I saw a flash of light and smoke disappear into the air directly in front of me above the toddler slide just opposite of the picnic table in my backyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My whole body was quaking with fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who was shooting at my house and why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I quickly went to the phone and couldn’t make it work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Where was my cell phone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I couldn’t think, all I could do was pray for my safety and the safety of my children and that my phone would work so I could call for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Again I tried to use my phone and this time I was able to call 911.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It seemed like it was forever before the police came to my door even though I was on the phone the whole time with the 911 operator.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While I was waiting I heard two more bangs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I could see the police patrolling the neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally after they had finished investigating one officer came to my door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I let him in and took him to the backyard where I had seen and heard the noises.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He discovered exploded plastic bottles and debris right where I had described.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He relayed to me that it appeared to be dry-ice bombs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have never heard of such a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Two other officers joined him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And just like they do in CSI one officer put on plastic gloves and collected the evidence and put it in a bag. They informed me that a few weeks ago there was an incident at a Walgreen’s involving dry-ice bombs and a lady was injured and hospitalized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lucky for us we were only scared to death and not injured or sustained any damage to my home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I suppose my home is an easy target but nevertheless it was a bit unnerving and now I will make sure I never miss a lock or window before going to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And perhaps I should cut down on the CSI shows they don’t help with my run away imagination in times of fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sleep would have totally evaded me if it weren’t for the power of prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How grateful I am for the blessing of being able to communicate with our Father in Heaven and feel of his comforting arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I also pray for justice and that the culprits are caught and that their days of vandalism and terror are brought to an end.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-37812501956576463782008-12-17T19:46:00.000-08:002009-01-20T09:46:56.049-08:00Lemons? How about poop?<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKAJg1TDa9YawB6n5IlQJnKEHfilq_0kvf4Mqd6I4tzhRXWtkmjsvTwqmnOWxvXKybuMtNBpFSucR1Ahbchou0Ydeitg67vkHIGu77Yow8lql4WzwJrdF7sGc6UN6F6kOi9umyQaU1B4M/s320/j0402073.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293432735485250802" /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, what do you do when life hands you a big heaping pile of poop?</span></span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;">I told a friend that I felt like I just got handed a big bowl of poop and she says now make something with it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I thought for a minute what can you do with poop?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, I thought you can plant flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So that’s what I said, “I’ll plant flowers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have thought about that comment for some time now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And you know we can do one of two things we can make something with what we have been dealt or we can sit there and it let stink up our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have encountered some very challenging circumstances in my life currently.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>None that I truly imagined I would have to deal with, feared perhaps maybe, but never truly believed I would actually be going through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It has been difficult dealing with the stench but I have been pressing forward planting tiny seeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have hope that from this experience I will be rewarded with a beautiful bouquet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know I have a lot of work ahead me but it is my faith that pushes me on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and the lessons we are taught.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There are many scriptures that come to mind about cultivating seeds to grow but the scripture that stands out is found in Moroni that relates to faith and how we receive no witness until after the trial of our faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now it is hard to have faith that something good could come from a pile of poop but if we exercise that faith and plant a seed and cultivate it will grow into a beautiful flower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As we see that growth we receive a witness of our faith and it becomes knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know the Lord is my strength and is carrying me through this trial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am so grateful for all those who have heeded promptings to stop by and offer a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on or have made a phone call to check on me. I love the Lord and know I am not alone and it is through the errand of angels he meets the needs of his children.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-59629678177407271412008-11-27T06:19:00.000-08:002008-11-28T16:05:20.652-08:00<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Happy Thanksgiving!</span></span></span></span>Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-74828067451259491972008-11-17T13:16:00.000-08:002008-11-17T14:02:21.173-08:00"For crying out loud"Okay, so this is what you do when you have a lot of crying going on in your house and you feel like following suit. First you make the announcement there will be no more crying because this is not a crying party. Second, you announce that we are having a dancing party and then turn on some dance tunes and dance, dance, dance. Smiles are bound to emerge. Then you look in the fridge and find some week old pudding left over from FHE and put the kids at the table for edible art. Let them go to town painting their pudding masterpieces and then feed them. After all the mess making is complete clean up the transformed bunch and put them to bed for a nap or if they don’t nap put on a movie for some quiet time. Oh the peace of quiet!!!<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCLTFIntvV_YfWVvOPChnfi6aYRVsYRx3Q-eUtKRFIBGXn4uguBWTgiQmQgDJ9c3MSMK0WoS6iMGHtgOpzK9UI2iUqTPIGqat1ScoPOFmqLOPXLmbQxpB_q_ztt4m1gDbCS262kN5iZb_/s1600-h/DSC01719.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCLTFIntvV_YfWVvOPChnfi6aYRVsYRx3Q-eUtKRFIBGXn4uguBWTgiQmQgDJ9c3MSMK0WoS6iMGHtgOpzK9UI2iUqTPIGqat1ScoPOFmqLOPXLmbQxpB_q_ztt4m1gDbCS262kN5iZb_/s320/DSC01719.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269744676241570178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoXq34sHCICM9z0qYjG9ia7XYuphrurl-Xbkq27X7Wg_dnKX08Ff3ZVBmyMzYhZufU3ERuAxZQ-kR11Sho7D89g1-L-Tyipl9eTKU2_zIJ60QATrD_sSxlHCZBBeddoriDR-ccdVxIDff/s1600-h/DSC01727.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoXq34sHCICM9z0qYjG9ia7XYuphrurl-Xbkq27X7Wg_dnKX08Ff3ZVBmyMzYhZufU3ERuAxZQ-kR11Sho7D89g1-L-Tyipl9eTKU2_zIJ60QATrD_sSxlHCZBBeddoriDR-ccdVxIDff/s320/DSC01727.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269744664252111730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZYCe1jiN8_K8W2EF-8XgK13Vlnp_120oY61u2UvLncu5uZ3dwkKEC2lM_n_JbewmBN_qjYhnQ39S5JDhcmOm5TLUiUB7Lues175sam8n5eVSPwPLYeZ4qR0RL3fqbUvvRf4F8JJN1gi-/s1600-h/DSC01732.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZYCe1jiN8_K8W2EF-8XgK13Vlnp_120oY61u2UvLncu5uZ3dwkKEC2lM_n_JbewmBN_qjYhnQ39S5JDhcmOm5TLUiUB7Lues175sam8n5eVSPwPLYeZ4qR0RL3fqbUvvRf4F8JJN1gi-/s320/DSC01732.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269744659757684818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik74Z2svIZzFeKlakT0Gl2IhxoKDXp5wC0jmE6diPkHeo0vhpKSVuoHnRZro4k1aYR3NKThoMpKN8_F_fQHVlZwln7LC_MVhyphenhyphenRip8cG2p86q-tuC5hdGgRfBebwiQ5TIK5F8DOzToFnxpF/s1600-h/DSC01740.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik74Z2svIZzFeKlakT0Gl2IhxoKDXp5wC0jmE6diPkHeo0vhpKSVuoHnRZro4k1aYR3NKThoMpKN8_F_fQHVlZwln7LC_MVhyphenhyphenRip8cG2p86q-tuC5hdGgRfBebwiQ5TIK5F8DOzToFnxpF/s320/DSC01740.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269744655130335474" /></a>Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-21294420776907327612008-11-17T09:11:00.000-08:002008-11-17T09:16:26.960-08:00Pity Party, wanna come?So often I feel that life is one giant competition and I am always on the losing team. The comparison game is the worst, ‘cause I can always find someone who does it better. Today I am just feeling defeated. However in sitting here writing this I am reminded of the poem, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Race</span>, and can hear the words “get up and win the race”. I love that poem and thought I would share it and perhaps in reading it, will find the resolve to stop throwing myself a pity party.<br /><br />THE RACE<br /><br />by Dee Groberg <br /> <br /> “Quit! Give Up! You’re beaten”<br />They shout at me and plead<br />“There’s just too much against you now<br />This time you can’t succeed”<br /> <br />And as I start to hang my head<br />In front of failure’s face<br />My downward fall is broken<br />By the memory of a race<br /> <br />And hope refills my weakened will<br />As I recall that scene:<br />For just the memory of that short race<br />Rejuvenates my being<br /> <br /> <br /> II<br /> <br />A children’s race - young boys, young men<br />How I remember well.<br />Excitement, sure! But also fear:<br />It wasn’t hard to tell.<br /> <br />They all lined up so full of hope<br />Each thought to win that race<br />Or tie for first, or if not that,<br />At least take second place.<br /> <br />And fathers watched from off the side<br />Each cheering for his son<br />And each boy hoped to show his dad<br />That he would be the one<br /> <br />The whistle blew and off they went<br />Young hearts and hopes afire<br />To win and be the hero there<br />Was each young boy’s desire<br /> <br />And one boy in particular<br />Whose dad was in the crowd<br />Was running in the lead and thought<br />“My dad will be so proud!”<br /> <br />But as they speeded down the field<br />Across a shallow dip<br />The little boy who thought to win<br />Lost his step and slipped<br /> <br />Trying hard to catch himself<br />His hands flew out to brace<br />And mid the laughter of the crowd<br />He fell flat on his face<br /> <br />So down he fell and with him hope<br />He couldn’t win it now -<br />Embarrassed, sad, he only wished<br />To disappear somehow<br /> <br />But as he fell his dad stood up<br />And showed his anxious face<br />Which to the boy so clearly said:<br />“Get up and win the race”<br /> <br />He quickly rose, no damage done<br />- Behind a bit that’s all -<br />And ran with all his mind and might<br />To make up for his fall<br /> <br />So anxious to restore himself<br />- To catch up and to win -<br />His mind went faster than his legs:<br />He slipped and fell again!<br /> <br />He wished that he had quit before<br />With only one disgrace<br />“I’m hopeless as a runner now;<br />I shouldn’t try to race.”<br /> <br />But in the laughing crowd he searched<br />And found his father’s face;<br />That steady look which said again<br />“Get up and win the race!”<br /> <br />So up he jumped to try again<br />- Ten yards behind the last -<br />“If I’m going to win those yards,” he thought<br />“I’ve got to move real fast.”<br /> <br />Exerting everything he had<br />He regained eight or ten,<br />But trying hard to catch the lead<br />He slipped and fell again!<br /> <br />Defeat! He lied there silently<br />- A tear dropped from his eye -<br />“There’s no sense running anymore;<br />Three strikes: I’m out! Why try!”<br /> <br />The will to rise had disappeared<br />All hope had fled away<br />So far behind, so error prone;<br />A loser all the way<br /> <br />“I’ve lost, so what’s the use,” he thought<br />“I’ll live with my disgrace.”<br />But then he thought about his dad<br />Who soon he’d have to face<br /> <br />“Get up” an echo sounded low.<br />“Get up and take your place;<br />You were not meant for failure here.<br />Get up and win the race.”<br /> <br />“With borrowed will get up,” it said<br />“You haven’t lost at all<br />For winning is no more than this:<br />To rise each time you fall”<br /> <br />So up he rose to run once more<br />And with a new commit<br />He resolved that win or lose<br />At least he wouldn’t quit<br /> <br />So far behind the others now<br />- the most he’d ever been -<br />Still he gave it all he had<br />And ran as though to win<br /> <br /><br />Three times he’d fallen, stumbling;<br />Three times he rose again,<br />Too far behind to hope to win<br />He still ran to the end<br /> <br />They cheered the winning runner<br />As he crossed the line first place<br />Head high, and proud, and happy;<br />No falling, no disgrace<br /> <br />But when the fallen youngster<br />Crossed the line last place,<br />The crowd gave him the greatest cheer,<br />For finishing the race<br /> <br />And even though he came in last<br />With head bowed low, unproud<br />You would have thought he’d won the race<br />To listen to the crowd<br /> <br />And to his dad he sadly said,<br />“I didn’t do too well.”<br />“To me, you won,” his father said<br />“You rose each time you fell.”<br /> <br /> <br /> III<br /> <br /> <br />And now when things seem dark and hard<br />And difficult to face<br />The memory of that little boy<br />Helps me in my race<br /> <br />For all of life is like that race<br />With ups and downs and all<br />And all you have to do to win<br />Is rise each time you fall<br /> <br />“Quit! Give up! You’re beaten!”<br />They all shout in my face<br />But another voice within me says;<br />“GET UP AND WIN THE RACE”Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-56158053651452265992008-11-16T20:10:00.000-08:002008-11-16T20:12:59.926-08:00TaggedMy cousin Shannon tagged me with this one<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Things I was doing 10 years ago</span><br />1. Being an “in love” Newly Wed<br />2. Attending college<br />3. Working full time<br />4. Making plans to purchase our first home within a year of being married<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Things on my list to do today</span><br />1. Help my kids write in their journals<br />2. Get caught up on my laundry—it never ends!<br />3. Make dinner<br />4. Plan my week<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Things I love about my husband</span><br />1. His willingness to work hard<br />2. How supportive he was during each of my labor and deliveries-I went natural for all of them<br />3. His clean shaven face—this is my attempt to get him to shave his goatee<br />4. That he is Mr. Fix It <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Jobs I've had</span><br />1. Operated my own preschool out of my home<br />2. Unofficial Assistant Billing Manager for Native Air (Air Ambulance Co.)<br />3. Janitor Supervisor @the MTC in Provo (college job)<br />4. Morning Food Service @the MTC (college job-- I don’t remember the title)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Movies I've Seen more than once</span><br />1. Ummm….way too many Disney movies--when you have kids once is not enough<br />2. Grease<br />3. Pursuit of Happyness<br />4. Lord of the Rings<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Places I've Lived</span><br />1. Las Vegas, NV<br />2. Terrell, TX (it is near Dallas-‘cause I know there aren’t many out there who know where this is)<br />3. Provo, UT<br />4. Several cities in the California Arcadia Mission, La Canada was my favorite<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Places I've Been</span><br />1. Hershey & Gettysburg, PA<br />2. Orlando, FL<br />3. San Diego, CA<br />4. Hawaii<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Places I want to visit</span><br />1. Niagara Falls<br />2. The Sacred Grove<br />3. Any amazing beach resort in Mexico <br />4. A European tour <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 TV shows I watch</span><br />1. CSI/NCIS<br />2. Lost<br />3. Heroes<br />4. Pushing Daisies<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Things you may not know about me</span><br />1. I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints<br />2. I was my high school Mascot as well as a cheerleader<br />3. I once got to fly a plane… well sort of; it was more like holding it on the horizon <br />4. I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 21, who does that?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 People to be tagged for this game.</span><br />1. Tammi<br />2. Melissa<br />3. Stephanie<br />4. ShaeleneCharity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-61923615140695205432008-11-14T12:16:00.000-08:002008-11-14T15:37:07.157-08:00A picture is worth a thousand wordsI got tagged to pick the 4th picture in the fourth file of my pictures library. This is what I came up with.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaTwe0ClxNncHMnU_ueGYf91RDn-H8YQwmDL6KcXfogJVkN_m53ZU8FQa-vJmodndlAX_NLjjKTTqJLTe3-7IIBXhL4ssD6-4VvgTBFT3KOD1Gocwc41Pjm7hvfMG7f_BwISHU2az9KWo/s1600-h/HPIM0059.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaTwe0ClxNncHMnU_ueGYf91RDn-H8YQwmDL6KcXfogJVkN_m53ZU8FQa-vJmodndlAX_NLjjKTTqJLTe3-7IIBXhL4ssD6-4VvgTBFT3KOD1Gocwc41Pjm7hvfMG7f_BwISHU2az9KWo/s320/HPIM0059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268610725906224658" /></a><br />This was taken at my grandparents home, in Las Vegas, close to four years ago. We went down to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Looking at this picture brought back a lot of memories. And I couldn't just post that picture of my family without posting my grandparents' picture as well. So here it is<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlOnpgD8fgHDC1E652esQlqVT2_dfuxPUTqQuk-_NtLhf8g4u0jEDzjg5B8AXABMwB8Vmw_c2LqBvhgLErHJGwnfSVYiD3-funqlMUJyKn6RhcS5H2vvxg2UQ7M25Jgyt_M9vEpi9ZneN/s1600-h/HPIM0066.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlOnpgD8fgHDC1E652esQlqVT2_dfuxPUTqQuk-_NtLhf8g4u0jEDzjg5B8AXABMwB8Vmw_c2LqBvhgLErHJGwnfSVYiD3-funqlMUJyKn6RhcS5H2vvxg2UQ7M25Jgyt_M9vEpi9ZneN/s320/HPIM0066.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268613941830429170" /></a><br />the reason we traveled to Vegas. I love these people! They truly are an example to me of what love should look like after fifty years of marriage. I love to watch them interact.<br /><br />I tag Alicia, Anne, Shannon, Tracy, and anyone else that is intrigued by this invitation. Thanks Allison it was fun looking to see what picture I would come up with and getting to take a stroll down memory lane.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-61465539811806177052008-11-05T19:10:00.000-08:002008-11-06T05:32:28.434-08:00The insanity of morningsAs if mornings aren't crazy enough let's add a little comic relief to the mix. It was one of the mornings when I hit the snooze button at least three times, but shouldn't have because of all the things I needed to get done. Well, that's how the day started with me being tired and running around trying to make up lost time. I was expecting company so not only did I want to have my house clean but I had the usual morning rush of getting the kids off to school as well as cleaning up a kitchen that was a mess from the night before (which I am just sure no one else is guilty of). So there I am loading my dishwasher like a mad woman, fixing children's hair in between, reminding children to hurry and eat and brush their teeth (so they can get to the bus on time) and getting the children I babysit settled when I knock over a glass and it shatters all over the floor. This was just not the opportune time for such an accident. I didn't have time for this. So this was my thought process, "just finish loading the dishwasher and start it, then get the kids off to school and contain the other children at the table, then clean up the glass." Sounds like a good plan, right? Well, it would have worked except that when the door bell rang from one my daycare kids I took off my rubber gloves and laid them on my gas stove. Rushing back to put my thoughtfully laid out plan into action. I stepped on a piece of glass, lost my balance and fell hitting the stove with my hand and turning on the burner which then immediately set my rubber gloves on fire. So I had to put out the fire and then remove the glass from my foot and send the kids off to the bus. What a morning and oh the aroma of burnt rubber, it just filled the air. So here's to crazy mornings and finding the humor (after the fact, of course!)Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-77379770704001199072008-11-02T22:11:00.000-08:002008-11-02T23:22:42.930-08:00Opportunities for learning all around usWe will live in a fairly rural area I would say. Quite often there is a rodeo going on just down the road from us and right across the street from the subdivision we live in there are crops growing year round. Right now cotton is being harvested. We have taken advantage of learning about how cotton grows, what it looks like, to even checking out the great big bails of cotton. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uAIfpbTnT3ecaOEH8Oq71jClFrnoQ__E6jUPphM9QyxperVahjmwmmWvx5cVkmatgf73ScKq9xjd87Jqa9cvKaw1HC4OSBs9mEPEvE8qmMKidCQ344Dz-ZpALVBW4p8gTzV5ftCgjFvm/s1600-h/DSC01469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uAIfpbTnT3ecaOEH8Oq71jClFrnoQ__E6jUPphM9QyxperVahjmwmmWvx5cVkmatgf73ScKq9xjd87Jqa9cvKaw1HC4OSBs9mEPEvE8qmMKidCQ344Dz-ZpALVBW4p8gTzV5ftCgjFvm/s320/DSC01469.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264315763469650834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kGp8lxC-2h8mFnqYWwazxGRjhkAFZGeG0q4W9sSR2eZ4nCaJ7I27WRAmTqrJBgnPOpOd0Dv_Ubv3XFxCMvUuMgKQvp8AxtYMzJs-B7adkezyqfqCp7KahEqUMQCsYfkVgithm1Wp_aIR/s1600-h/DSC01473.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kGp8lxC-2h8mFnqYWwazxGRjhkAFZGeG0q4W9sSR2eZ4nCaJ7I27WRAmTqrJBgnPOpOd0Dv_Ubv3XFxCMvUuMgKQvp8AxtYMzJs-B7adkezyqfqCp7KahEqUMQCsYfkVgithm1Wp_aIR/s320/DSC01473.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264314186671820610" /></a><br />Finally after living here for over three years I stopped by the rodeo on the way home from Daniel's T-ball game and we watched some team calf roping. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1B395PaD1vhqko_nQPYe1KdqhORu1j9DjhrGdwx4tFfuj09LwMs4qOwB-rISeeHRoV8-SLH_HPHQyVbNezv-7gqGZZYlQPlIhV8nGYkR_D19vleWE8SGqfSE2L-ajDDM3WZSRS18-XdkM/s1600-h/DSC01444.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1B395PaD1vhqko_nQPYe1KdqhORu1j9DjhrGdwx4tFfuj09LwMs4qOwB-rISeeHRoV8-SLH_HPHQyVbNezv-7gqGZZYlQPlIhV8nGYkR_D19vleWE8SGqfSE2L-ajDDM3WZSRS18-XdkM/s320/DSC01444.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264317401397406850" /></a><br />However, the highlight for the kids was to pet some horses and feed them some hay. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8R-26CRfp09y947wiqOc0e3grNqgNcnmZwu3jzDp3kG6TvIqYfdoI40duAkcWFL8AOb36SCpcorJXAHICCBKuMO3BjTArygvf6j8ZIQOsVf7ZExrhiJjg6iVuPfBIcOloR3ShyFg7KsLX/s1600-h/DSC01465.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8R-26CRfp09y947wiqOc0e3grNqgNcnmZwu3jzDp3kG6TvIqYfdoI40duAkcWFL8AOb36SCpcorJXAHICCBKuMO3BjTArygvf6j8ZIQOsVf7ZExrhiJjg6iVuPfBIcOloR3ShyFg7KsLX/s320/DSC01465.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264318506204645826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIxkpzMIjjf_yDYUgV6e0i05YSgChUIn6I4EOGZYngJLpKk4Bx5tC6nuwnbiupkSd4TWDZvyv4rPd4U7mjbrYBIj1qrmMUKFJ78AZr0kUdI3gH4y96Iqtf-vTjgPLtxFYAFF1m6NifxcO/s1600-h/DSC01433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIxkpzMIjjf_yDYUgV6e0i05YSgChUIn6I4EOGZYngJLpKk4Bx5tC6nuwnbiupkSd4TWDZvyv4rPd4U7mjbrYBIj1qrmMUKFJ78AZr0kUdI3gH4y96Iqtf-vTjgPLtxFYAFF1m6NifxcO/s320/DSC01433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264318501553024402" /></a><br />There are so many opportunities to learn and marvel at all this world, God created, has to offer us. We just have to take the time to take advantage of them, which I am guilty of not doing enough. Life through a child's eyes is so much more fulfilling because of the pleasure and wonderment they get out of simple things.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-58203298150316944202008-11-02T20:57:00.000-08:002008-11-02T23:25:36.721-08:00Fall ActivitiesThis fall I only have two in sports. Carissa is playing soccer with her friend Bailee <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0VueXUJyOpN5cEhmOKuVlyBmBczfgYZp6oEkP8gw88uGb2Dd-9Z0pzVOS_BdaBsbijoJoezeu6bn9su16uPSepKcje8IJPJep6EG-oHJDSl30bbGBQiolQPIFsCQfhhTCNg1VzHPpXfX/s1600-h/DSC01175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0VueXUJyOpN5cEhmOKuVlyBmBczfgYZp6oEkP8gw88uGb2Dd-9Z0pzVOS_BdaBsbijoJoezeu6bn9su16uPSepKcje8IJPJep6EG-oHJDSl30bbGBQiolQPIFsCQfhhTCNg1VzHPpXfX/s320/DSC01175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264301813553019490" /></a>and Daniel is playing T-ball with his friend Trent. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnR4eQpKRSY_KNFaAldYsmmLQljPiMRKww9pINd96hkm6Ha__i102TeG5tc_HFB9hSefI9pKlHyrXtWC5xp9cfRcprrXRA5uQEp_vuurFrlK6ZtbK0ClxGOeT2KOMqenXmHwD9-2MztQR/s1600-h/DSC01198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnR4eQpKRSY_KNFaAldYsmmLQljPiMRKww9pINd96hkm6Ha__i102TeG5tc_HFB9hSefI9pKlHyrXtWC5xp9cfRcprrXRA5uQEp_vuurFrlK6ZtbK0ClxGOeT2KOMqenXmHwD9-2MztQR/s320/DSC01198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264302551983894626" /></a> In the Spring I am going to have to let the other two do something. I figured with not being able to rely on Keith to help get kids places (being so busy with work and school) I had better not over schedule myself. Although I do have 3 of the four learning how to play the piano. We have a morning routine with each of them getting in a 1/2 hour practice. Which I might add is not always done pleasantly, but is getting done. My kids really enjoy school. Ariana was especially excited to go to kindergarten. Just recently all three got awards this first quarter and were so pleased that Keith was able to make it to the assembly to see them get their awards. We are so proud of them!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtkEPfIwgpvDhHDMlb0CV_Spi6Zf-J42r_S_5XTTyFlYGyYe-iqC8ss4cGlQayBkemUlqFLXdYnL8kHWA9ypurJm4Y92WxuAU7tHthfZNOXLDtsPAlYcM6nvr-NbVHlauy8bBoNtFJTQG/s1600-h/DSC01279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtkEPfIwgpvDhHDMlb0CV_Spi6Zf-J42r_S_5XTTyFlYGyYe-iqC8ss4cGlQayBkemUlqFLXdYnL8kHWA9ypurJm4Y92WxuAU7tHthfZNOXLDtsPAlYcM6nvr-NbVHlauy8bBoNtFJTQG/s320/DSC01279.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264303821320219442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCTCD_dUXOtMa0jz3erhJvpUR22QNCk1Kky3wuiAfNznzx8SUZwG2nHYXsv1L5Ajo9nWrv6Gf2xBdn467tkceERz-oF_YpBUs8HULpUpi2jdI4n5E9unmSQOitqsa1JA9EvZg_1jLnyd3/s1600-h/DSC01272.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCTCD_dUXOtMa0jz3erhJvpUR22QNCk1Kky3wuiAfNznzx8SUZwG2nHYXsv1L5Ajo9nWrv6Gf2xBdn467tkceERz-oF_YpBUs8HULpUpi2jdI4n5E9unmSQOitqsa1JA9EvZg_1jLnyd3/s320/DSC01272.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264303816271409698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IHB34UJLt8ZEtOHcnKzh2Hj_dUj44PuQdNr8iDOc6ecxWrWm5yglxu_M__A-skXET8PlYRPyGuQCa954FoPG6fjP8GUVSt-TTfyqjS7GbAhMfUdEQvfQPDdT6lKsN2HAW-pvw_uqrqXc/s1600-h/DSC01286.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IHB34UJLt8ZEtOHcnKzh2Hj_dUj44PuQdNr8iDOc6ecxWrWm5yglxu_M__A-skXET8PlYRPyGuQCa954FoPG6fjP8GUVSt-TTfyqjS7GbAhMfUdEQvfQPDdT6lKsN2HAW-pvw_uqrqXc/s320/DSC01286.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264303815819801394" /></a>Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-91111520893814124182008-11-02T19:52:00.000-08:002008-11-02T20:35:22.664-08:00Halloween PicsBefore it gets too far away I am going to post the kids' Halloween pictures. Trick-or-treating was a highly anticipated event. However Austin fell asleep (like he did last year) and I had to wake him up as Keith had to work that night so I could take my other children. Austin was not very happy about it. Putting on the costume took quite an effort and there was no way he was walking. In fact the whole trek he sat in his stroller, even while at the door gathering treats. We did manage to get some "trick-or-treat"s out of him and "thank you". <br /> Carissa dressed up as a veterinarian<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkq6vA4DyW-eOBiZ62hmZYeyBE2BUnM_jHu2Cc4NNjSceAs4grIzqiVEv7IY3rZXdftP1HaW-YB0HI9uhNlDzInU6vRr5zhs4z3AF3e-j9M7vEvtEptusZ81Nd1vjAqbJLyltj0_WGGaz/s1600-h/DSC01399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkq6vA4DyW-eOBiZ62hmZYeyBE2BUnM_jHu2Cc4NNjSceAs4grIzqiVEv7IY3rZXdftP1HaW-YB0HI9uhNlDzInU6vRr5zhs4z3AF3e-j9M7vEvtEptusZ81Nd1vjAqbJLyltj0_WGGaz/s320/DSC01399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264278143244194130" /></a><br />Daniel was a mummy ( as if you couldn't tell)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupMQ8wNX0o9WEO_Pror3a6oIdepjtkO_MVUjTKhffrjGqpqxhH6kWJcsbmxvdDPs13aFJqP7E4HgkxQp9NsE_CO5B0OmlkyjuxpBZeK8UCoU-_L0gWKcqSMxtp9MqbqJDskpyeGAUTt6q/s1600-h/DSC01390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupMQ8wNX0o9WEO_Pror3a6oIdepjtkO_MVUjTKhffrjGqpqxhH6kWJcsbmxvdDPs13aFJqP7E4HgkxQp9NsE_CO5B0OmlkyjuxpBZeK8UCoU-_L0gWKcqSMxtp9MqbqJDskpyeGAUTt6q/s320/DSC01390.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264278144340830546" /></a><br />Ariana, the cheerleader<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNoHSUm6sxB2H_bi5c4QcLqtD8E4BthnLrZVfRObu-dK5Vne7s8aav8HaupZu36L9tSjVOJzOU5GB1q62jnxnENVtD3dbt6rx4r2a8oItaUMDt1lTrkDOBw0k6ur-gs7QP5msiSMXAXAJ/s1600-h/DSC01395.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNoHSUm6sxB2H_bi5c4QcLqtD8E4BthnLrZVfRObu-dK5Vne7s8aav8HaupZu36L9tSjVOJzOU5GB1q62jnxnENVtD3dbt6rx4r2a8oItaUMDt1lTrkDOBw0k6ur-gs7QP5msiSMXAXAJ/s320/DSC01395.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264278148182157602" /></a><br />And Austin the irritable ol' pirate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPuljLFVEnTs8sOkvOdC1i1AdBcohW1-EfAtupvwOyz9G82Usg-eFMhlTGTDuAlxVV_smQIAPpMSL-0d0mitEEsxLCNe138L3KFLzlL1YPGqLTLjdcCMTumdAov4h0pHT4Dtjn37Qb7-T/s1600-h/DSC01384.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPuljLFVEnTs8sOkvOdC1i1AdBcohW1-EfAtupvwOyz9G82Usg-eFMhlTGTDuAlxVV_smQIAPpMSL-0d0mitEEsxLCNe138L3KFLzlL1YPGqLTLjdcCMTumdAov4h0pHT4Dtjn37Qb7-T/s320/DSC01384.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264278155276059890" /></a><br />I do have to tell a cute story about Austin. Originally Daniel wanted to be a pirate so Austin wanted to be a pirate too. Well, Daniel decided later he wanted to be a mummy. Needing to pinch pennies I thought I could put the costume together with a torn up sheet. So a couple of days before we did a trial dress up to see if I could make it work. As I was wrapping Daniel up and the other children were oohing and awing about Daniel being a mummy. Austin then announces he wants to be a daddy for halloween. The kids say to him "you mean a daddy mummy" and he says "no, I want to be a daddy." So I say "well lets wrap you up like a daddy." I no sooner get started than he says, "Take it off, take it off!" I unwrap him as he is helping to get out as fast as he can. I then ask him if he wants to be a pirate instead and he says "no, I just want to be a kid" and runs away.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-38869161159031598892008-11-01T22:03:00.000-07:002008-11-02T20:39:16.819-08:00Explaining difficult thingsIsn't it a sad world we live in when we have to explain to our children about homosexuality and abortions. It makes me so grateful to have the church in my life and that I know about Christ's teachings and the purpose of life and families. Tonight I overheard my children having a conversation about how Barack Obama thinks it's okay for girls to marry girls and boys to marry boys. Then I heard one of them say that it is because girls marry girls that babies are killed in the mommy's tummy. I had to correct their ideas and explain things that I never imagined having to teach to my children especially being so young. We talked about how Heavenly Father wants babies to grow up with mommies and daddies and how life is special and every baby deserves a chance to get a body and have a family. We also talked about how it is important to vote for good leaders, who believe the same as us about right and wrong. I am glad that my children feel they can talk to me and ask questions but it also makes me sad that I have teach my children about such things. I can see now, more than ever why it is important to have Family Home Evening and build good relationships with your children. The family is truly under attack and it is up to us to strengthen our families individually and teach our children the importance and sanctity of families. I am so grateful for living prophets who teach about the importance of families and how to strengthen them. How blessed I feel to have such knowledge in times like these.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-25726020631064032752008-11-01T13:09:00.000-07:002008-11-01T23:45:50.639-07:00It's November already?I can't believe how fast October flew by. There is much to say and so little time. So I'll just share a little bit at a time. My precious angels don't afford me much alone time for posting without some sort of disaster lurking or a fight on the horizon. Although, I have come up with a pretty effective solution to fighting in our household. I told my children I did not like the sound of fighting and bickering or whining so if they found it necessary they were going to have to sing because I only wanted to hear pleasant sounds. This is now the Mair House Musical. (I am forever making up songs to my kids about all kinds of silly things especially in the morning when I wake them up, so they are used to hearing singing in our house on a daily basis). So now when I hear them fighting, I say, "Wait, stop, I need to hear singing. Now, go!" Which is then followed by silence and a lot of smiling. I try to help them out by giving them an example of what I want to hear, by singing to them whatever they were fighting about for instance, "I want the lego, give me the lego." Not one of them has sang yet. I told them that if the fighting was so important then they could sing about it, I guess none of their fights have ranked high in importance. As I said is has been pretty effective because the fighting immediately stops.<br /><br />Now on to the recap for October. Austin turned three on the 2nd, which was celebrated with the immediate family. He absolutely loves Lightning McQueen. And had to have a Lighting McQueen birthday cake. Be it known, I do not have any cake decorating skills or training so this was quite a feat for me. In the process I learned you cannot make red icing with liquid food coloring. You have to use paste which I did not have. This knowledge came after several attempts with food coloring and a phone call to McCormick. So Lighting Mcqueen was dark pink with lots of red sprinkles. At least my little boy was able to recognize him when I was finished. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SG_Ogk_NvO7NBCxKMkS4RwPkZ5F9w4PJfWBLt1RgYKtHVIRAsDbmqzM-2PaPcKdIMH3xv__kNXzaIjDGFQhH9_ASEmzcGaISieTmBYUPxZYG2z12M-yHZgKIF6RsywJIeqEMKpUGNeJi/s1600-h/DSC01212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SG_Ogk_NvO7NBCxKMkS4RwPkZ5F9w4PJfWBLt1RgYKtHVIRAsDbmqzM-2PaPcKdIMH3xv__kNXzaIjDGFQhH9_ASEmzcGaISieTmBYUPxZYG2z12M-yHZgKIF6RsywJIeqEMKpUGNeJi/s320/DSC01212.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263802776157166738" /></a>We, then had a Cars birthday party the following Saturday. Including my kids and cousins we had 21 little ones running around. We started out by making a license plate to wear and then divided up into groups to play a few games. We played musical cars, pin the winner on the race track, tractor tipping (bowling with tractor pics taped to the bowling pins), and red light/green light (which did not fair so well, the little guys would run even when I held up the red light and said red light-- oh well, what can you expect of two and three year olds) and finished off with the piston cup race. We then took a pit stop and had some tires (cupcakes) and motor oil (root beer) or gasoline (apple juice). It was a good time.<br />A continuation of the recap for the month gone by, to come later.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-31631298843695490892008-10-30T14:52:00.000-07:002008-11-01T15:14:33.760-07:00A failed promise with a resolve to keep moving forwardSo I didn't keep my goal to post on Sunday as planned, but I did help my kids write in their journals. I have been trying to get in the habit of helping my kids learn to keep a journal (at least a weekly one.) This has been our Sunday activity for the last month. I am hoping that it will be a lasting activity. So often I have all these grandiose ideas that end up falling by the wayside or never get implemented. However, I am trying to simplify and enact or at least follow through on some of these grand ambitions in perhaps a not so grand fashion. My sister, Linett, once told me (while we were in college together) that it was far better to do something simply than to have great intentions that never get done. So here is my simple post. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuW4P-PbJmX2vGpwP373W-HMmArZ583tdDIlfuTaVRCaY8O6uylDcc-02U3aJV3Z-C6yFX8-5SZhfSERublJyx83wte4tNRGE_FywIHNFF2xuzTbvv_Jb1ZE28MHPEIT8VA8ahpIWVYRX/s1600-h/DSC01355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuW4P-PbJmX2vGpwP373W-HMmArZ583tdDIlfuTaVRCaY8O6uylDcc-02U3aJV3Z-C6yFX8-5SZhfSERublJyx83wte4tNRGE_FywIHNFF2xuzTbvv_Jb1ZE28MHPEIT8VA8ahpIWVYRX/s320/DSC01355.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263074497054038242" /></a>I took my son, Austin, and the two children I babysit to the library for story time. Today they got to dress up, so we had a pirate, a fairy princess, and a witch. They listened to a Halloween story, sang a song about a spider, made a paper jack-o-lantern and finally paraded in their costume to trick or treat for some stickers. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTGncYPzERoOczxSL24Nl97rkRYFeUlEBy0xRf9bOU5rqBDKTHhO-t09GZbD3PIPngey2hd4fG2_FpsOseja9SCiNu1MFL89VMplfxqcDWuHQATP9qUDfM26rpGGa7BWrOCRMcXD-ry_5/s1600-h/DSC01374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTGncYPzERoOczxSL24Nl97rkRYFeUlEBy0xRf9bOU5rqBDKTHhO-t09GZbD3PIPngey2hd4fG2_FpsOseja9SCiNu1MFL89VMplfxqcDWuHQATP9qUDfM26rpGGa7BWrOCRMcXD-ry_5/s320/DSC01374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263151753096962626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptJiJEBsOunXus6JQiCnbKZPsozD-7KqNxhTiyad92UrXr5TGcFKrqeJFYsPlIlh4fKjbmZHHYjqbYmrem_U0rJCBmyjvc6E8f1jD9DOZPZwDPZ74BegG-bJtVdhxbdwrIaRNZO-isQpa/s1600-h/DSC01359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptJiJEBsOunXus6JQiCnbKZPsozD-7KqNxhTiyad92UrXr5TGcFKrqeJFYsPlIlh4fKjbmZHHYjqbYmrem_U0rJCBmyjvc6E8f1jD9DOZPZwDPZ74BegG-bJtVdhxbdwrIaRNZO-isQpa/s320/DSC01359.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263151748227480610" /></a>Of course, we didn't make it back to the car with all of the costumes intact, that would be too much to expect from a three year old. Needless to say our pirate will not have his eye patch for Halloween. Although it was very unlikely that he would have worn it anyway.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-17611103026753226232008-10-21T13:20:00.001-07:002008-10-21T16:47:50.006-07:00It's been a whileWell, it's been a little while since I last posted and this Sunday I am going to give the low down on the Mairs. I thought I would just take a minute and get into the fall spirit and revamp my blogs look. To be honest I've been down in the dumps and and am now pulling myself out and getting things organized and setting small goals. So posting this Sunday is one of my goals. I have missed the blogging scene. Looking forward to sharing thoughts and experiences.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-26411220782892441732008-08-15T15:13:00.000-07:002008-08-15T16:34:54.165-07:00What a precious baby<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzg3aFH0qVZ7mvniCwnuuQzKaRLEEOSDN1fmjC6yRQGAnWCfWAwQw-SBkbSfTjrlI-CqhJtojg-zTRvsMh0zhnKGXy_UKbuTYxXd9vYr3o4UNFk4UE7ZstLbMuCItFac9Ker2wE8_iPQa/s1600-h/I__Photographs+2008_029+-+2008+Eddie+B_100NCD70_Eddie+B062.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzg3aFH0qVZ7mvniCwnuuQzKaRLEEOSDN1fmjC6yRQGAnWCfWAwQw-SBkbSfTjrlI-CqhJtojg-zTRvsMh0zhnKGXy_UKbuTYxXd9vYr3o4UNFk4UE7ZstLbMuCItFac9Ker2wE8_iPQa/s320/I__Photographs+2008_029+-+2008+Eddie+B_100NCD70_Eddie+B062.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234891839857548050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5htoA3ii2YYySxIwA_PCtGWX4CdelCuZRbhe6NJFjvfILEQCtOokcWKN7buT1Exv2T7eiHFuwtmmjOikpUgIPXselm-DCZfvob-yX4pD04r26CK2tVIOlKqHrpTKKHGfAAw67Ha5-TANj/s1600-h/009_9.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5htoA3ii2YYySxIwA_PCtGWX4CdelCuZRbhe6NJFjvfILEQCtOokcWKN7buT1Exv2T7eiHFuwtmmjOikpUgIPXselm-DCZfvob-yX4pD04r26CK2tVIOlKqHrpTKKHGfAAw67Ha5-TANj/s320/009_9.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234891849167640818" /></a><br />Here he is, my nephew, Edward Bradshaw Hazelwood the 5th! Welcome to our family, we love you!Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-23672510070717332102008-08-11T15:22:00.001-07:002008-08-11T20:39:34.662-07:00Prayer, what a wonderful blessing!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-i4V50N5SoBHp2OlMlGuDwFPFQtGwHBl_ZOjR9H_Kl_E84bXz9Ah4I32I6URvld1hM2Q75M4EOjdRSoQEg2v7c_Xqp29MSoC5Xdw3YOD4IOd6vYtO-f-p1POzTh71yLQeGlZ12WL0r0A/s1600-h/dont-forget-to-pray.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-i4V50N5SoBHp2OlMlGuDwFPFQtGwHBl_ZOjR9H_Kl_E84bXz9Ah4I32I6URvld1hM2Q75M4EOjdRSoQEg2v7c_Xqp29MSoC5Xdw3YOD4IOd6vYtO-f-p1POzTh71yLQeGlZ12WL0r0A/s320/dont-forget-to-pray.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233392803922322450" /></a><br />I just wanted to take a moment and express my gratitude for prayer. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father, who has given us a means whereby we could communicate with him. Although I may never understand all the reasons and purposes for the trials each of us face, I do know that we can find peace, comfort, and strength in the midst of them. There is such power in prayer. Just recently, my sister, Linett, had her first baby, a boy. He was about 4 weeks early, in comparison to his due date. Everything was wonderful when he was born into this world. We were so happy and excited for her new little family. However the very next day he was having difficulty breathing and was having seizures and it was discovered that there was bleeding in his brain. He was immediately flown to the Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. For three days there was not good news. I poured my heart out in prayer along with so many others on behalf of my sister and her husband and especially their new precious little one. Finally, on the 4th day we received good news. The baby was breathing on his own and was able to eat and keep the food down and the seizures were under control and the damage to the brain was not as great as was thought and that there is great hope for full recovery being he is so little and his brain is still developing. I know this 180-degree turnaround was the result of prayers being heard and answered. My sister has since been able to bring her new bundle of joy home and he doing well. I am just so grateful for all the miracles God grants us, both big and small and that He hears and answers our prayers. What a blessing it is know that in this vast universe He hears our simple and humble prayers and cares enough to respond to our petitions. I know there is a God and that he truly does love us. And I am so thankful we can speak with him and feel and see his hand in each of our lives.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-7586833667082371242008-07-22T20:39:00.000-07:002008-07-22T21:38:35.335-07:00Ahh, the rewards of accomplishing a goal!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgyFAui2saxHZ8V8Q00l3ngHrh8d9Ynhw3DSSDxsd8n5AHz_KMY4_xrVn_YPHk6Gg3z0QYA53cQpZF1vAfTfFSFIckyY7yXpsY8uqf_vPU7Q-eoVcCLTkB8VaSH2pkVe0XKbQuFhvloQ9/s1600-h/HPIM0870.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgyFAui2saxHZ8V8Q00l3ngHrh8d9Ynhw3DSSDxsd8n5AHz_KMY4_xrVn_YPHk6Gg3z0QYA53cQpZF1vAfTfFSFIckyY7yXpsY8uqf_vPU7Q-eoVcCLTkB8VaSH2pkVe0XKbQuFhvloQ9/s320/HPIM0870.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226053021156218626" /></a><br />Well, my kids began the public library's summer reading program the beginning of June. The goal was to read 30 hours in order to get a one day pass to the local water park plus a few other little incentives along the way. But the great motivator was the water park. Fitting in the reward was a bit tricky between dentist appointments, planning a last minute trip to California, and starting my baby sitting job, today was the only day to enjoy the fruits of their dedication. And did they have fun!!!! We spent nearly the whole day there. I must say I was proud of my kids for accomplishing their goal, of course the younger two had to have mom's help especially Austin, as Ariana can read easy readers. But reaching a goal, is reaching a goal whether you do it it a lone or with help. I believe getting in the habit while young will greatly enhance one's life. As a missionary I saw how effective goal setting can be. And boy, is it awesome when you accomplish your goal!<br /><br />The slides were a big hit!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJXERK7f7rU6blOMJ3NM9yWx9XeR6ywb09DldcKaChluQTKi2lGTS9h8Gcv3BDnAlEDPBiPrwkyIXRlyiEMVj09R8cwigMnqHdDwJjcr5mGzx_Xm1vALN1XtSTiSRPXi5m8bAMwFDMLmX/s1600-h/HPIM0896.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJXERK7f7rU6blOMJ3NM9yWx9XeR6ywb09DldcKaChluQTKi2lGTS9h8Gcv3BDnAlEDPBiPrwkyIXRlyiEMVj09R8cwigMnqHdDwJjcr5mGzx_Xm1vALN1XtSTiSRPXi5m8bAMwFDMLmX/s320/HPIM0896.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226063216448790914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl3FNnymCuhShei8LSXncdUWeK8kBa_hGH-fUm_O71-tRiDsCT-GIxUxORosTm4kr0bstUOQ9478WSP4Q5ghY4osYxRSCajOh3TXuC7HK4PUTddECbttE6RM5xP2ckwNvFLnK-LMjh-bf/s1600-h/HPIM0901.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl3FNnymCuhShei8LSXncdUWeK8kBa_hGH-fUm_O71-tRiDsCT-GIxUxORosTm4kr0bstUOQ9478WSP4Q5ghY4osYxRSCajOh3TXuC7HK4PUTddECbttE6RM5xP2ckwNvFLnK-LMjh-bf/s320/HPIM0901.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226063222959191362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlsGvCXKItQhL_8j7_AYuu1e1qnynXgEGCogF79zbBFBrfkzltNrlnZ18tKYJKTD9DlBh3vf97cikDbH4Be6_AF5oVi4qPf73vJu9tgzlqM85JASu9Ynrjp6L9O0B10_gQSLh1Xqv6zxm/s1600-h/HPIM0854.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlsGvCXKItQhL_8j7_AYuu1e1qnynXgEGCogF79zbBFBrfkzltNrlnZ18tKYJKTD9DlBh3vf97cikDbH4Be6_AF5oVi4qPf73vJu9tgzlqM85JASu9Ynrjp6L9O0B10_gQSLh1Xqv6zxm/s320/HPIM0854.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226062444454995410" /></a><br /><br />Lounging in the wave pool<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8zQeWlgHvgwbfOhapUz-uFIlWCrVReAR8pLv5JeKQapPdiqv9kT31HvzEoj_VerJiM9aLpubkcWosxMsjWRqzPAhec4-9D2KwPG2lBONPh80dMxi9h7wV9zJiwDXWsw-itJ59sng3coq/s1600-h/HPIM0879.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8zQeWlgHvgwbfOhapUz-uFIlWCrVReAR8pLv5JeKQapPdiqv9kT31HvzEoj_VerJiM9aLpubkcWosxMsjWRqzPAhec4-9D2KwPG2lBONPh80dMxi9h7wV9zJiwDXWsw-itJ59sng3coq/s320/HPIM0879.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226064126225745506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU4k5pde9G6VcNLfI-JU38R4_2tQeNfb6JLHZYv1O0JeRJSQeCuOs_6zKS-F4E15NdnFcsiqgxj70n8SgglXaIXSg6whSvUuswmHoH8j-HFNzREE039eku8ZDVUfsHbM4vUd3yBjn-vYC/s1600-h/HPIM0875.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU4k5pde9G6VcNLfI-JU38R4_2tQeNfb6JLHZYv1O0JeRJSQeCuOs_6zKS-F4E15NdnFcsiqgxj70n8SgglXaIXSg6whSvUuswmHoH8j-HFNzREE039eku8ZDVUfsHbM4vUd3yBjn-vYC/s320/HPIM0875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226064129867607970" /></a>Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-42963698748916346062008-07-20T14:39:00.000-07:002008-07-20T21:18:55.694-07:00Braving a trip alone<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwZFPJ6ZId2iCoNHn_65MS1KS3JjyF9FEHncipHSDlZdsgiv_kqL2LJSFhHcdm5gFy4kGro6X5Iq6IiNcXKcSvAR87s2iTtMIEyCH27BbTvtTkyzK8vlJnN-Z-xesc1cWJlpQdblaUpuc/s1600-h/DSC00817.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwZFPJ6ZId2iCoNHn_65MS1KS3JjyF9FEHncipHSDlZdsgiv_kqL2LJSFhHcdm5gFy4kGro6X5Iq6IiNcXKcSvAR87s2iTtMIEyCH27BbTvtTkyzK8vlJnN-Z-xesc1cWJlpQdblaUpuc/s320/DSC00817.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225236566870094098" /></a><br />So I decided with Keith's crazy schedule, if I wanted to go places and visit family I would have to go without him. This was stepping out of my comfort zone a bit to drive to Las Vegas alone with my four kids. I did it and survived! We stayed with my grandparents. So not as to overwhelm them with the joys of 4 children we visited the Lied Children's Discovery Center and the Museum of Natural History and planned to visit with my aunt and brother. We had a lot of fun. I was surprised that it wasn't as difficult as I imagined. Although I did have one scare while at the Silverton Casino. We were in the Bass Pro Shop (pretty impressive store-It looked like we just stepped into the great outdoors with a waterfall and all.) We were heading over to the Casino to view the giant aquarium when Daniel and Ariana disappeared from sight. Talk about panic!!! We just came down the stairs from the second floor and I turned to the side of the stair case heading to the exit of the store and entrance to the casino when I looked behind me to only find Carissa as I was holding Austin's hand and had the camera in the other hand. I had just had a conversation with Daniel near ending the flight of stairs. I asked Carissa "where is your brother and sister?" Her reply was "I don't know." I scanned the immediate area around the stair case and then ventured a little bit further, frantically looking and calling their names. No answer and no sign of Ariana or Daniel. Fear consumed me, where could they be it was only seconds from when they were last behind me! I headed back up the stairs thinking maybe they dropped something. No, they weren't on the stairs. I wanted to cry at this point. While on the second floor I looked down onto the first floor scouring everywhere when I spotted them heading in the opposite direction of where we were headed. I knew if I tried to run down the stairs with my other two I would lose them so I did what any panicked mother does, yell! I yelled their names so loud that everyone, I mean everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me. But I didn't care because I had found my children and they heard me. It was a moment of joy and relief and then anger. I didn't know whether to hug them or spank them, so they got both. After that everyone had to hold hands and after viewing the aquarium it was straight out of that scary place. Thank goodness my brother met me soon after that. That was the only scary and unfortunate event and that was plenty. Aside from the moment of terror I would do it again, just not the casino.<br /><br />This how I wanted to contain them after the casino incident<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNi8VEiCh46zISIniddXU59SBvKyE6PJ-32rrBdC9sMZNbYz5IUzPAbuCTPp3GPSenzFt3SJZvmwAgvm56ewhsm1-vm91eTNIhrcllvWShBNk5sjEA52vlVK_PtbaLrKIficoJ_-Sq7UpQ/s1600-h/DSC00736.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNi8VEiCh46zISIniddXU59SBvKyE6PJ-32rrBdC9sMZNbYz5IUzPAbuCTPp3GPSenzFt3SJZvmwAgvm56ewhsm1-vm91eTNIhrcllvWShBNk5sjEA52vlVK_PtbaLrKIficoJ_-Sq7UpQ/s320/DSC00736.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225229101282507282" /></a><br />The aquarium at the casino. The kids loved watching the stingray swim up and down along the glass.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmLCSxPM-9Mae1EhcYVklrb3xARUYumEjGCZED640DGjL5oRy7kJEP02F5V8D02EliJZUhonJc9Vu348xojG4zQcKU7zIAwRZ7esAsVw0HfY-X0THNm91CmUCTOnm7Pd4tBu6vZIA_rWP/s1600-h/DSC00916.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmLCSxPM-9Mae1EhcYVklrb3xARUYumEjGCZED640DGjL5oRy7kJEP02F5V8D02EliJZUhonJc9Vu348xojG4zQcKU7zIAwRZ7esAsVw0HfY-X0THNm91CmUCTOnm7Pd4tBu6vZIA_rWP/s320/DSC00916.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225227501924190066" /></a><br />Science can be gross. We got to learn about how bugs help scientist solve crimes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcyTTpAJyRLSGol_-8DLwvPPN1jvJM1z3tf__RHCYbU4d7XBVm9seromQjx8sCufZGeCO4N_UbA_72NymFv7PY8jOw93lh3vLLVhnlKNLPXV8D56rqrNYS4C_OlH9HMHdqjB4RnRvqb_Q/s1600-h/DSC00890.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcyTTpAJyRLSGol_-8DLwvPPN1jvJM1z3tf__RHCYbU4d7XBVm9seromQjx8sCufZGeCO4N_UbA_72NymFv7PY8jOw93lh3vLLVhnlKNLPXV8D56rqrNYS4C_OlH9HMHdqjB4RnRvqb_Q/s320/DSC00890.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225231888883363634" /></a><br />Just playing in the water or learning how to change the flow of water?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iDYm3Qf18wS1VI_9sp3_pz_NHHIuuVrTMtHQwb_91BcClxaEPsf8lhCYuI6YXsseXKLhD5sx8XoNVF8lRQYHHqP5UXEFa6FTy6mdJSDpM1-io-ixrwj4-GYkVwY0RPwWXMI8FauQs-U4/s1600-h/DSC00734.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iDYm3Qf18wS1VI_9sp3_pz_NHHIuuVrTMtHQwb_91BcClxaEPsf8lhCYuI6YXsseXKLhD5sx8XoNVF8lRQYHHqP5UXEFa6FTy6mdJSDpM1-io-ixrwj4-GYkVwY0RPwWXMI8FauQs-U4/s320/DSC00734.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225233900404272370" /></a><br /> Finding fossils<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU8QYe_4ripf-0kYE23ZIGiJxfjl-enMW66ARDgXcwcfqXsIWU0kwo_tupVt9uKb_pXdJJF_w7aodu5DzxwRAH7XNeVUD3OooA_pockW74DPRWkIRYciwM2wYcPKiMIvGAvo-HLxCHiXk/s1600-h/DSC00831.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU8QYe_4ripf-0kYE23ZIGiJxfjl-enMW66ARDgXcwcfqXsIWU0kwo_tupVt9uKb_pXdJJF_w7aodu5DzxwRAH7XNeVUD3OooA_pockW74DPRWkIRYciwM2wYcPKiMIvGAvo-HLxCHiXk/s320/DSC00831.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225243791626955986" /></a><br /> Can you pull your own weight?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nUJyfHCf6SwgTHhuX8iM7_9qIp4VNYLTPQc5Huw_ksHvbFI87sjwbbxrRxFm_mPs6T-eQWhoz3uSdYV3dS0p7SsI0uBkBHP0rSBmQJZy-PvZfi___6tF3aAorhj-aFapQg1PMkHtP0BL/s1600-h/DSC00669.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nUJyfHCf6SwgTHhuX8iM7_9qIp4VNYLTPQc5Huw_ksHvbFI87sjwbbxrRxFm_mPs6T-eQWhoz3uSdYV3dS0p7SsI0uBkBHP0rSBmQJZy-PvZfi___6tF3aAorhj-aFapQg1PMkHtP0BL/s320/DSC00669.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225240262956174178" /></a> <br /> Showing off piano skills to great grandma<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUjnN2LrTohq28koxG1Cjt8SAeJ4bmjMkULTwW9_3zz9MWB_d3YsuKsfds1iS4omGBXcTKhKOcCwrTcGNNhSFtfzoWg_6V0_9C-bbOAPpjRucaj80NJmz0rJSpV0biNb8fWAFLNBpqob2/s1600-h/DSC00954.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUjnN2LrTohq28koxG1Cjt8SAeJ4bmjMkULTwW9_3zz9MWB_d3YsuKsfds1iS4omGBXcTKhKOcCwrTcGNNhSFtfzoWg_6V0_9C-bbOAPpjRucaj80NJmz0rJSpV0biNb8fWAFLNBpqob2/s320/DSC00954.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225241728709649122" /></a><br /> Barbecuing with Uncle Ben<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKa1jkPhXz6anaTAJlG971W7T8pH9dx5LpXmkV6jdhO_o5qDIeEyqk2qnP2WwRTnYsyWkadBoDHib_FB7__mcFy-vt6UBUe1TqWToWmmo0-pYZx2fqYHpe71zxaZul8C4T2mYZJrvTvHC/s1600-h/DSC00931.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKa1jkPhXz6anaTAJlG971W7T8pH9dx5LpXmkV6jdhO_o5qDIeEyqk2qnP2WwRTnYsyWkadBoDHib_FB7__mcFy-vt6UBUe1TqWToWmmo0-pYZx2fqYHpe71zxaZul8C4T2mYZJrvTvHC/s320/DSC00931.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225242889934192994" /></a> <br /> The kids and my grandparents<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFSYl20ohuNie8HsRIeONYSP0jTgiljovUXA78FznRfC45YWPa-OAVYqaE6DIzHt6udL36tC4wm8O-BLmXWCdy5TBZjvL5iTPpJny4PNHxdVBf1sXpL72dv8EsNBG1HNH6gpSJi0cnIBG/s1600-h/DSC00973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFSYl20ohuNie8HsRIeONYSP0jTgiljovUXA78FznRfC45YWPa-OAVYqaE6DIzHt6udL36tC4wm8O-BLmXWCdy5TBZjvL5iTPpJny4PNHxdVBf1sXpL72dv8EsNBG1HNH6gpSJi0cnIBG/s320/DSC00973.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225246703157614050" /></a><br /> View at the Hoover Dam, Can you believe how low the water is?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUboX1pmQ0O2K7Gfrx2IZBrQLEFw6SRY8QHqOAK4u9jKewjZV4yhQA82o6xyLQOOAl3QAMCScLdwg-fF4zxcaDPVsnjBbdIXUow0z80HyjZAwuvGNL0kyfhy_dgfJ7HpDuTMxKY-beL9_G/s1600-h/DSC00985.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUboX1pmQ0O2K7Gfrx2IZBrQLEFw6SRY8QHqOAK4u9jKewjZV4yhQA82o6xyLQOOAl3QAMCScLdwg-fF4zxcaDPVsnjBbdIXUow0z80HyjZAwuvGNL0kyfhy_dgfJ7HpDuTMxKY-beL9_G/s320/DSC00985.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225244789479464994" /></a><br /> Progress on the road over the Colorado River to bypass the Dam<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4ibsoimIbvEaXBFY877a9OMfprpchSeO8B9kcpfIHLKhv37hJGdhLPUfwfT8jfOpoqup8aesD6oiEqfpiWu66o5BxzuFP-alh-pur0iNhXWLHY3DINWesNJycr9Zw7lAJmWL7jUw32i0/s1600-h/DSC00992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4ibsoimIbvEaXBFY877a9OMfprpchSeO8B9kcpfIHLKhv37hJGdhLPUfwfT8jfOpoqup8aesD6oiEqfpiWu66o5BxzuFP-alh-pur0iNhXWLHY3DINWesNJycr9Zw7lAJmWL7jUw32i0/s320/DSC00992.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225245869651898818" /></a>Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-63368394296441825652008-07-05T22:09:00.000-07:002008-07-05T22:40:02.294-07:00The ForthFor the fourth we just hung out at home while Keith slept the day away as he had worked the previous night.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjAwl_4aYirNFC5PDrGYZy1gIhD9BPO4CHc_1G4291zC_UuU7DnpvfpiBWUdTzMSPPBhwkuhZr0tMXoQcljZ1pxbQDeb179bgJTAGCBWQ3J6CZfoiDA0oL49GHMXPw-k49y6J_ny0JyUH/s1600-h/DSC00556.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjAwl_4aYirNFC5PDrGYZy1gIhD9BPO4CHc_1G4291zC_UuU7DnpvfpiBWUdTzMSPPBhwkuhZr0tMXoQcljZ1pxbQDeb179bgJTAGCBWQ3J6CZfoiDA0oL49GHMXPw-k49y6J_ny0JyUH/s320/DSC00556.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219769903359857218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBQ5YY-lC50veVtmNP-Xze6D_81M2O1T1u_vsp-VdgSjtwfK3K7yGxvvOb0F77jXff6ydwlp4bKz1__KWTWDL_bHLlerZH7qpa62HhDs1N-Wv9GKUY-Zt6lcso2A2XdZtSw3PeD7LRH6q/s1600-h/DSC00570.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBQ5YY-lC50veVtmNP-Xze6D_81M2O1T1u_vsp-VdgSjtwfK3K7yGxvvOb0F77jXff6ydwlp4bKz1__KWTWDL_bHLlerZH7qpa62HhDs1N-Wv9GKUY-Zt6lcso2A2XdZtSw3PeD7LRH6q/s320/DSC00570.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219769912755977346" /></a><br />The kids helped me make our annual 4th of July Star Cookies.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJKEjW-_h94lweii08glE5Mn-7vVSptMMm3ZFjV_ZU2lNZLgENAPkcpExO-hUsJnXbKSqKrTswpYkq9I6F6r29DChj5aodfUXQHxhe-5ocLB0COADWz7A6Ujuv_cr7WxqIjqvaXhP0hwD/s1600-h/DSC00604.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJKEjW-_h94lweii08glE5Mn-7vVSptMMm3ZFjV_ZU2lNZLgENAPkcpExO-hUsJnXbKSqKrTswpYkq9I6F6r29DChj5aodfUXQHxhe-5ocLB0COADWz7A6Ujuv_cr7WxqIjqvaXhP0hwD/s320/DSC00604.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219769921092380898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj797OpB7PJcf4OqZvyiMyJ6UP7dG-pLlZWBDZ53wlnYrCxQ1MR4xEBMVTvo8x0IxwoBTL7Hvht7h7MI9-YpwO62UBTT6AhGcCkmbC650JiMQh8BtsZwgkkSz-8VT1OBP8HXOiiLRXdtup4/s1600-h/DSC00605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj797OpB7PJcf4OqZvyiMyJ6UP7dG-pLlZWBDZ53wlnYrCxQ1MR4xEBMVTvo8x0IxwoBTL7Hvht7h7MI9-YpwO62UBTT6AhGcCkmbC650JiMQh8BtsZwgkkSz-8VT1OBP8HXOiiLRXdtup4/s320/DSC00605.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219769923925598002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJquAdGT4gWpX0Ec8LRwQiGvZ9M7-ktVKbed3KkJOAloejNIrIK3xFD6U_F78ZkVWquFdsSuaTIL3jrqxcOzf-IUsSSY2aJ534Qlx0-4ZNww1fA8hVmF-RibD4bkTXv-nBPf01p5Hc5Wg4/s1600-h/DSC00606.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJquAdGT4gWpX0Ec8LRwQiGvZ9M7-ktVKbed3KkJOAloejNIrIK3xFD6U_F78ZkVWquFdsSuaTIL3jrqxcOzf-IUsSSY2aJ534Qlx0-4ZNww1fA8hVmF-RibD4bkTXv-nBPf01p5Hc5Wg4/s320/DSC00606.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219769930073519842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMbUhyphenhyphenWOcYhVRMg3BrKcWPDpZ1WLbHxMQxh0CSPpPxU59c31DoQhn9PG0957fN2xuKQnLsrpckxBgvhld9J7JDgDumHBPAS8FzSKwKrVZ0l_0dXHfWZ7FHYLBfUIC2_JLZjWZLAO4R_C8/s1600-h/DSC00610.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMbUhyphenhyphenWOcYhVRMg3BrKcWPDpZ1WLbHxMQxh0CSPpPxU59c31DoQhn9PG0957fN2xuKQnLsrpckxBgvhld9J7JDgDumHBPAS8FzSKwKrVZ0l_0dXHfWZ7FHYLBfUIC2_JLZjWZLAO4R_C8/s320/DSC00610.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219770530813615106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa0K5yClU-aZV8dYD8l9YvFtS6LddWuj-cY-VksaU8CQh4Llc-F84BqokEliGxanyUeSOEFU0nuD5rQq3GrX8sCaN4OSyIlgFbfns4Br9R1kkvVTyQAQOUlf3zR5VXwaNC9IgUsOSjTpJ/s1600-h/DSC00617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa0K5yClU-aZV8dYD8l9YvFtS6LddWuj-cY-VksaU8CQh4Llc-F84BqokEliGxanyUeSOEFU0nuD5rQq3GrX8sCaN4OSyIlgFbfns4Br9R1kkvVTyQAQOUlf3zR5VXwaNC9IgUsOSjTpJ/s320/DSC00617.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219770536982727730" /></a>Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-58649004784443645862008-07-05T19:07:00.000-07:002008-08-11T17:34:04.678-07:00Catching upWell, I am not good at this blogging thing yet. I haven't figured out when to do it that is convenient or how set it up with all the cute stuff that everyone else has. That aside I am going to make a renewed effort since I first set it up in Dec! So first things first I have to catch up on what I we have been doing for the past 6 months. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9nJfYwCPsoTYgEaxjXOsUUT62-q67_LpY6tfeWeChq1H_YMV18kbOGgsii0UHi5RdNQQoFvQUAsFzXi2jPihL2-0Lk9F1ciKJ5nk0TM-CGthy1AhCBKfBnT87gkZWwYki5MnO1L5IDve/s1600-h/HPIM0803.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9nJfYwCPsoTYgEaxjXOsUUT62-q67_LpY6tfeWeChq1H_YMV18kbOGgsii0UHi5RdNQQoFvQUAsFzXi2jPihL2-0Lk9F1ciKJ5nk0TM-CGthy1AhCBKfBnT87gkZWwYki5MnO1L5IDve/s320/HPIM0803.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219746130409046482" /></a> Well, Ariana turned 5 in January ( oh was she ever excited because she thought that meant that next day she got to start kindergarten and go to the ever anticipated Mrs. Baker's class--what a sad moment when she learned she had to wait for another 8 months). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48glniXbluW7vLgAVHnHA7Y35TfIVWSke3fIFBXpeX1B24anadnQOT9HqzGVhRQ_o59OfgLOk_t7H_H2koDgYvsZmldUfaLCvEefJWpx7wfevxRNUS73WU9hG3QkXzI5nsBA9MNRd-4C9/s1600-h/DSC00255.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48glniXbluW7vLgAVHnHA7Y35TfIVWSke3fIFBXpeX1B24anadnQOT9HqzGVhRQ_o59OfgLOk_t7H_H2koDgYvsZmldUfaLCvEefJWpx7wfevxRNUS73WU9hG3QkXzI5nsBA9MNRd-4C9/s320/DSC00255.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219746133212588242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcbhQ_xRSFC6bCAdxET0qZLFpybxnTwVc6thNs7-cV_I53rsPwn3dKHBZ8kBAcgSMhZ48PrnVwCZ6xLWRj6-Hzwp6i5TMEM5eJTrw25OhguzJ93oFqubYP-KFDJuC3XxmYjkG93scsHXk/s1600-h/DSC00259.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcbhQ_xRSFC6bCAdxET0qZLFpybxnTwVc6thNs7-cV_I53rsPwn3dKHBZ8kBAcgSMhZ48PrnVwCZ6xLWRj6-Hzwp6i5TMEM5eJTrw25OhguzJ93oFqubYP-KFDJuC3XxmYjkG93scsHXk/s320/DSC00259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219746140783248386" /></a>Carissa turned eight and was baptized, how special that was for her. She is such a special little girl with an amazing desire to do what is right. I am so proud of her. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk3Ul7tMrO8lcK-HJBtFlvv3_D-Ck2Qii_GV8UPwJoHB_M9ufSWfrgttgHBJKrXC86ywMNB0N-iG3EsFhcK4HGK1U38p27DGyL7xgSuqQlMYCGmqPaWVla9mlfsfEZFvCLT7LmdPMA8lN/s1600-h/DSC00333.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk3Ul7tMrO8lcK-HJBtFlvv3_D-Ck2Qii_GV8UPwJoHB_M9ufSWfrgttgHBJKrXC86ywMNB0N-iG3EsFhcK4HGK1U38p27DGyL7xgSuqQlMYCGmqPaWVla9mlfsfEZFvCLT7LmdPMA8lN/s320/DSC00333.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219746144232340386" /></a>Daniel turned seven and has to test his limits all the time or maybe it's me he is testing to see if I will follow through. I am notorious for threatening to take away a privilege if the children aren't obedient. And it certainly stinks when I have to follow through. Like when I kept asking for a week for Daniel to clean up his room. Finally I didn't know what else to do to motivate him so I thought if I threatened him with no birthday presents and no birthday celebration with the family that he would rush to get it done. WRONG!! (we celebrate as a family on the actual day of the birthday and have a party with friends on the weekend of the birthday) I think I was more heartbroken that I had to follow through than he was, after all I had a nice evening planned and had presents I was excited to give him, but I had to be true to my word. But I tell you what when I asked him the next day to pick up his room or he was in danger of missing out on having a celebration with his friends he got his room cleaned. But that lesson has not been a lasting one, because we have to repeat the losing of privileges. Also I have been trying to potty train Austin and he is by far the most difficult of all of my children. My girls it was a matter of 1-2 weeks and Daniel took about a month before there were no accidents but Austin will do great for a couple of weeks and then decide he doesn't want to do it any more and will throw fits about sitting on the toilet. I have to admit it is getting better, meaning that he is more consistent about going and I battle maybe one day here and there. But I am going on 4 months now that I have been consistent with him and well he runs the show. And I thought I would be done with this toilet training business. (My girls were two and Daniel was two and a half and Austin is 2 and 9 months--Experience isn't always the greatest teacher!)<br /><br />As far as activities go, Carissa had her dance recital. She was in two dance classes, ballet and rhythmic gymnastics. Ariana had her "Stepping up" ceremony from preschool and we had piano recitals for Daniel and Carissa. Our family went camping when school ended for the kids and Keith and we have taken trips to the children's museum and the wildlife museum and gone swimming. So I believe that will catch me up to the present. Now hopefully I can update more regularly and consistently.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9jBwNYC1iyb3wFLxEzCBm8WDmhH_zQ1LU2CiHc7S0dPEis-T5QK-Nmg2e5lM5AtzltxcHJfAUeu9BPAXTq8JkNmP7deE3hJwFMWxehegcSvef9HB5djEEqsu87Z-1ezNByeNOh0zyoKT/s1600-h/DSC00404.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9jBwNYC1iyb3wFLxEzCBm8WDmhH_zQ1LU2CiHc7S0dPEis-T5QK-Nmg2e5lM5AtzltxcHJfAUeu9BPAXTq8JkNmP7deE3hJwFMWxehegcSvef9HB5djEEqsu87Z-1ezNByeNOh0zyoKT/s320/DSC00404.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219746145562238402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMBMIzgvdAHfCCxuzwmJWoxd9Z0hDvyBUnKuN52sB9ICvoz2kY_935TpJup8o8CJBkvGzFO604hPctw-kzeTWserOD8HS33Dv8LhqpKergZPLQNpHfwIycX_K5pMjieK1Jv4HqIA6zOvM/s1600-h/DSC00436.JPG"><img style="float:right; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2FQwjxPeJUu2ghzH9FZkFALzkbWxcGtw_wrjZH3PCXliezcek0n4dUQMdMx9NSxDsvm0xBDWOpPezXg3M-AsJaYnGHyjBG0rM3wXKFVUpsTIZ_F5rh8j9ENRnf_Sfxdxxdn4j2jhNfpS/s320/DSC00304.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219755671846705730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJig2IrDTFICp604GISGtgNKiRIx9WOjOTagWKWwQCylMYRJY8PqV7mnotWrp6_v4cglkH3amgPC1TsvSUowOQqXpdUrue6AuAOz551Db0hZzCx4bPcTxrRSf4x9EP3a_VzeOk0TqfMIKu/s1600-h/tucson+trip+june+2008+035.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJig2IrDTFICp604GISGtgNKiRIx9WOjOTagWKWwQCylMYRJY8PqV7mnotWrp6_v4cglkH3amgPC1TsvSUowOQqXpdUrue6AuAOz551Db0hZzCx4bPcTxrRSf4x9EP3a_VzeOk0TqfMIKu/s320/tucson+trip+june+2008+035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219755674240305778" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44uaQbNITYcc4soaP0T3QUoPUSE9I9VM06bZ0aKzBJyaXC1VZaqeyhyc3uZYAWzJwlWr1oeElM-i8_El_R3Kp6aDKRvGWtdZ9_b_DJYZnPuhuvEyJg3lg9ixjN9pR88bf8PJ_hYZPjbVi/s1600-h/DSC00529.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44uaQbNITYcc4soaP0T3QUoPUSE9I9VM06bZ0aKzBJyaXC1VZaqeyhyc3uZYAWzJwlWr1oeElM-i8_El_R3Kp6aDKRvGWtdZ9_b_DJYZnPuhuvEyJg3lg9ixjN9pR88bf8PJ_hYZPjbVi/s320/DSC00529.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219778459666235602" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpBQmmqgxS0DlZkziLomb7cODhGMmrKBfOIcrx_ktMnfKGUiAX61_uy0IF01z_AZ4Nhe9uyeaqyeEAsiXHlr7kCdyFhra9fD-_TUJSmH6-q_nNbRrfH-A0c0yW5cStzKPxF1QZf0f5sPo/s1600-h/DSC00358.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpBQmmqgxS0DlZkziLomb7cODhGMmrKBfOIcrx_ktMnfKGUiAX61_uy0IF01z_AZ4Nhe9uyeaqyeEAsiXHlr7kCdyFhra9fD-_TUJSmH6-q_nNbRrfH-A0c0yW5cStzKPxF1QZf0f5sPo/s320/DSC00358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219755685062059122" /></a>Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6611123604036388236.post-22693078034530273152008-05-07T09:49:00.000-07:002008-07-05T23:18:37.104-07:00The start of something newKeith started as a full-time student in January. He has just completed his CNA and PCT classes and has received his certification. He began working at Tucson Medical Center in April. He will begin taking summer classes at the U of A in preparation to begin the nursing program in the Spring of 2009. We are officially on the journey of Keith to a new career in the medical field. At the moment Keith has ambitions he will become a doctor. That is a long way off. I am thinking that stopping at a nurse is okay with me or even a nurse practitioner. New journeys can often be scary and this one seems to carry it fair share of fear,at least for me.Charity and Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527556424587374102noreply@blogger.com0