simple

A reminder to get back to that child-like simplicity.

An afternoon that is all about BUBBLES... that's it. Ahhh...

wishes

Just a few more birthday wishes to my beautiful friends! Lauren 2.25.09Jodee 2.28.09 Jackie 3.1.09

I love you girls, and wish you a happy happy year to come!

21 Feb 2009

It's your birthday, it's your birthday, you can party like it's your birthday!

We LOVE Tara, so we had to throw her a bash. It was a pretty significant year for her, so we did what we could to make her feel special. Cowgirl hat, boa, fun presents, huge cake, lots of friends, music, dancing and a walker to help her out at the end of the night! She got hooked up!

Hey pretty girl! Blow out those candles! Kelly decided for one night, this group of friends could be "plan A" instead of the "B list" that we are usually on. Wow! He must really love you bday girl! the ones that are always behind the scenes making sure we all get together and have a good time! 'Designated Dallas' and Amber. Thanks so much for coming! Amber is a little rock star! Blaire and Nick. Photo says it all... Never a dull moment when we are with you guys! wink wink

Good times, so thanks for getting older Tara! It was fun to help you ring in a new decade!

memories

18 February 2006.... 3 years later...

When I think of Stan there are so many little things that come to mind. Little flashes of memories that over time my heart has taken thousands of pictures of. He loved his late night snacks and because I spent so much time over at their home, I often would see him in the kitchen late at night dunking his oreos, or munching on popcorn, or scooping up a bowl of ice cream. I always knew he was eating because I could HEAR his smacking. It always cracked me up. He never forgot to offer some to anyone who was close by though, a sign of his never-ending generosity. In everything he did, he thought of others first. He was a true example of selflessness. I remember all the times he would come home from work or school or a trip and be so excited to share a story, something that had happened to him while he was away, and with all his animation, excitement, and amazing story telling abilities, he would share his experience. He was so descriptive, not only with words, but with body language and motions, I felt I had been there by his side because I could just see the event unfold as he spoke. Stan was so good at seeing the positive in everything. He rarely spoke ill of someone, and if he did, he was quick to apologize or take back what was said. He was so easy to talk to, and so genuine in what he said. He had great advice and was always in tune with what a person needed to hear, and what he needed to share with them. I never doubted that Stan loved me, not only did he show me through his actions, but he told me he loved me, something that not most guys his age are willing to say to a sister in law. He was always willing and ready to help me when I needed him, even if it meant that he was dropping his projects that he really should have been working on. He was never too busy for kindness. Stan was very good at making me laugh, even at the most inappropriate times, like in the temple, during a prayer, during one of dads “sermons”, and in church. The only thing I would have to do was look at him and I would just laugh, and it was not just a laugh, it was always a gut laugh that was not easy to stop. I had so many good times with him just simply laughing. I have such a vivid memory of his tenderness with Hyrum when he was small. He would sit on the couch with him, and Hyrum would have his head resting on Stan's lap, and Stan would just rub the inside of his ear, something that Hyrum to this day still loves. I remember one day about 10 years ago when I passed Stan while driving. He was in his little Wonder Bread mini van, out making his deliveries, and I just waved at him, and he smiled and honked and was so happy in his nice “ride”. He was never too good for any job, he did whatever it took to support his family and make sure they were provided for, and he was always happy doing it. He was a true example of hard work. I remember when Stan bought a used bed from a guy downtown. He went to pick it up, and like usual, he stroke up a conversation with the old man and found out that this man was a veteran from WWII. Stan said that he felt impressed to thank the man for his military service and for what he did for our freedom that we enjoy. He said that the man started to cry and commented that Stan was the first person in all these years that had ever thanked him for that. To me, this is just another example of Stan being in tune and not being afraid to act upon what he felt. If Stan felt fear, he didn’t let it stop him. He was a man of courage and strength and you could just see that in him. To Stan there was never grey, it was black or white, wrong or right, and absolutely no in between. Stan was so proud of his boys and loved them so much. He was so proud of Carmen and loved her with all that he was. Anyone who knew him could easily see and feel the great love that he had for his family. I will always hold him, his memories, and his great example close to my heart, and will forever be grateful to have known him and to have shared so much with him. I will miss him more than I can express, but find comfort in knowing that he is in heaven laughing and smiling down on us. His memories will forever be a ray of sunshine in my life, even if a few tears are shed as they flood my mind. I love you Stan, and I am so glad that I know that you knew that. Hannie

just say no

I told Chal a long time ago that I would post about all the really lame gimmicks that I have fallen for in my lifetime. She thinks it's funny. And it is. We laugh lots about it. But, the sad thing is, I could have a really nice savings account with all the money that I have stupidly put into the following schemes. Don't laugh, cuz I know I am not alone. Hey, Utah is the mecca of MLM. But, wisdom comes with age and experience, (and a really cool husband that is way smart and would kill me if I allowed myself to be succored once again) But, with no further ado. Here goes: Mary Kay USANA Nu Skin Dr. Wallach's Majestic-Earth Minerals Nikken Magnets Uni-tel GreenTeaHP Calorad HerbaLife Isogenix Fruit Plus Squalane-shark liver oil And then there are the most recent that I actually said NO to: Kyani Sxinny water Form,Fixx,Fibe Seven Anyone else up to making me the following promises? Cuz guess what? That list up there... at the top. NONE of them made me a millionaire, but all of them promised they would, and the really lame thing about it is: I gave them LOTS of my money, and I do not own a yacht or a really huge mansion. Nope, I don't. "Our product is the first of it's kind in the world" "We are not a pyramid scheme, we have product" "If you fail in MLM, it is because of your own failure, not the system" "This is the chance to become a millionaire with little capital" "Very flexible working hours, you can do it anywhere, at home, day or night" "With the amount of income you will get, you can think of retiring early and spending the rest of your life on vacation" "Our system is different from other MLM's in the market. In short, our system is unique" "If I can, of course you can" In conclusion, I have learned to just say no.

little sis

RAENIE Happy Birthday to my little sister that has in so many ways been my big sister throughout the years.

I love you Rocko-peeko-traino!

table for two please

dinner in? not typical, so very nice...even romantic...

king crab legs, salad, veggies, and favorite companion...

perfect.

all heart

This is dedicated to all you men out there. Bless your hearts for being so great to the important women in your life, and for making sure they feel extra special today. And, dedicated to all you women out there, for making sure you do the same for your important men, and giving them lots of warm fuzzies for all the fretting and fussing that consumed them in an effort to not make you cry! Happy V-day!

slump

Have you ever felt like you know the world is buzzing around you, people coming and going, doing and playing, laughing and crying, working and working, running and walking....

on and on...

But, you really just want to exist. Nothing else.

I call it winter slumps. And I am completely enveloped in the such.

dutiful sister

It was a beautiful day last spring, I had major winteritis, and it was one of the first days that you could actually go outside without a coat on and not freeze to death.... I long for those days to come again! SOON! I decided to take advantage of the sunshine so I drove downtown, parked, and just started walking. And taking photos. This is one of them. I am in love with so many of the old buildings downtown, especially the churches. I captured many of them but Raenie tagged me and told me to post my fourth photo in my fourth album on my computer. So, there you have it. Now, lets just pray that the weather portrayed in this photo will return again to us soon. Please Mr. Groundhog, bring us good news tomorrow! SLC, UT