A Dress called Laura

I have a friend named, Carrie, who is the next Martha Steward/Tim Gunn....seriously....She is one of the most creative people I know. Well, it pays to have talented friends, for now I am famous...

Read on...

My Brother...1979-2009

My dear, wonderful, talented, loyal, uncensored, favorite uncle to my children, ethical, meticulous, master chef, athletic, gentle, strong, intelligent, humorous, charitable, caring, amazing brother passed away today...Words cannot express my loss...Words cannot express my joy in the gospel hope...

Running way to fast...but enjoying each step!

Last week was crazy--but I survived! I was talking with my mom the other day, and I was telling her that despite how crazy life can be, I would rather be REALLY busy, than REALLY not busy. When I have deadlines, projects, goals, kids, husband, callings, LIFE, I feel energized...even when I feel like I will collapse from it all!
I find inspiration from people who beat the odds...Those people who have special needs kids, and do it with a smile on their face. Those people who have beaten cancer, or any other violent disease. Those people who are always positive, despite what life may give them. Those people who are forgiving to all, and who show true, charity. Those people who are sincerely humble, who don't recognize how strong they really are. Those people who have an ugly past, but are making a beautiful future. Those people who show unconditional love, even when the world tells them to be selfish, and cruel.
I find it is all in my perspective...if I search for the bad, that is what I will find...but if I search for the good, I find abundance.

Running way to fast...

I think I have too much going on.......Work is 30 hours a week.....My business is around 5-10 hours a week....Am in charge of the Teacher's Dinner tonight for Parent Teacher Conferences...Thinking about going back to school to get my Special Education certification at BYU that is a year intensive program....Stake Trek this year, not to mention I'm speaking tomorrow night, and in November at Stake meetings, not to mention all the other BILLION Stake meetings deemed "necessary"....Family? Kids? Husband (who is he?)

Did I mention I ran out of one of my "crazy" meds, and have been too busy to pick it up?

Break over....flying back to work!!!

Talented Friend with Words

Though it's still too cold outside for my liking---life is GOOD!! LOVED my friend's blog entry for today about "Keep Going." We all determine the course our lives take--including our happiness!! It will take work, but it is always worth it in the end!!! (and yes, she will be a famous author one day!) Go Melissa!!

"Keep Going"

The Taj Mahal and Ella

The above is a picture (thank you, Simon) of what I probably looked like when my daughter told me she had to make a model (at least a foot tall) of the TAJ MAHAL....

THIS, is the Taj Mahal...
Too many swear words and a lot of sweat and tears later, Ella (she didn't swear) and I finished the framework...(the teacher said this could be a "bonding" experience....yeah...)
We had to buy an additional board, because the model was too big for just one....
post wood details...
pre-white paint application...
The delicate art of styro-foam placement...
The gold details...
Doorway details...
This is how much four rolls of paper towels look, after taking away the center pieces for towers...
And...
We...
Are...
Finished!! Ella did a great job, and I did not go crazy!!

The Art of Grass-Sledding

What to do on a Sunday evening? Go Grass-sledding!! These have been one of the best purchases for our family! We've had them for the past 6-7 years, and they just get better and better! (We've only had one broken bone injury! It was the kid in the picture above--he just "goes" and thinks later!)

Form...
technical merit...
doubles...
FUN!
The Hill...
the wind that day...
fast...
faster!
Everyone hauls their own...
up the hill...
blue team...
boys team...
Dad starts doing things that made me say, "You shouldn't be doing that!!"
Son does things that made me say, "Great form!!"
exhibit B...you haul your own!
"this damn camera!"
Daughter does things that made me say, "GO GIRL!!"
Dad trying not to make what I said come true, by hopping off at the last minute...
oh well...
Speed-masters!
No...he's "wiping" his nose, not "picking..."
Oldest kids RULE!!
Oldest kids ALWAYS RULE!!
"Mom in the sunset" by daughter...
"Dad's goofy grin" by daughter...
the Daughter...
our "muscle man!"
our best shot...
the end(s)
Bliss!!

Airplane Graves

After the memorial of my brother in law, we decided to take the kids to another graveside of sorts--the airplane graveyard/museum in northern Utah. We had a splendid time, and I had some fun with my iphone--which incidentally takes REALLY good pictures!! Enjoy!!

One...
Two...
Three....BLASTOFF!!
Simon has not wanted to pose for pictures more than he did at this museum!!
Exhibit A....
My beautiful kids!
Growing up too fast!
Youngest?!
Two peas....
Exhibit B....
My amazing kids!!
Exhibit C...
Darling!
More of my fabulous kids....
and more....
So handsome...
too old....
so stinking CUTE!!
They survived the climb into the cavity of this plane--I'm sure we were not suppose to be inside, due to the amount of debris and sharp objects that my kids encountered inside!!
18 years, and STILL TOGETHER!!
Exhibit D...
Booty Silhouettes...
Smiles.....
Daddy daughter moment...
My boys....
HOT blade....very very HOT blade...

We will miss you, David. It was a lovely day.
xoxo