Just Call Me Grace

O.K., So you know the warning labels on ladders...they apply to EVERYONE! I thought they were for those OTHER people who were complete idiots, not ME! I have been painting and some of the places where I have had to paint were very high and above my stairs. I borrowed a ladder that goes on stairs to make it easier. Well, in my 5 minute briefing with a 15 year old showing me how to use it and in my mind going (ya, ya, ya I got it, I've used plenty of ladders before), I guess I failed to hear that all joints must be LOCKED. So with my paint tray in one hand and roller in the other one, I climbed up to the top. Just as I stepped on the top stair I felt a slight slip, I thought that it was my imagination, quickly I realized that it was a reality and the ladder collapsed, paint and my body went flying. I landed on top of the ladder, with the ladder on top of my feet. It must have been a very graceful scene. Ben came running in to see if he needed to call 911. I thought that I had broken my foot, but luckily I did not, I just got a really attractive foot for a few weeks.
This picture doesn't give it justice, but my foot is swollen and completely bruised at the base of my toes, black, blue and yellow are the favorite colors of the month. Ya, just call me Grace and looking at this picture reminds me that I need a pedicure!!!

New Friends

I got to meet some new friends. Aren't they so dang cute? My friend Juli (and her husband John) live in Seattle and I get to stay with her and her cute family once a year. These are their latest additions, James and Jenny (yes that is right, JENNY-after me:) although she is lots cuter than I ever was, but she does resemble me a bit, right???) They are such good babies, it was fun to hang out with them.
I have a little namesake...wow who would have guessed? Can't wait to see them again, hopefully this summer, right John and Juli???

Sisters Trip

O.K., so any of you with sisters know that your sisters can be your best friends. I feel really lucky because mine are. 14 years ago we went on our first sisters trip and we have been doing them ever since. We have been all over the U.S. and a couple of trips to Mexico. This year we went to Orlando. It was so nice to get out of the snow and enjoy a few days in warmer weather. On Saturday, we went to the temple. It was beautiful. We thought about all those who were able to go to President Hinckleys funeral that day, so we decided that it would be nice to spend some time in the temple.
This was me spending a little bit of time in the shops at the airport, waiting for our other two sisters to arrive from Arizona. I think at this point I was either missing my boys at home or just too excited to get to the theme parks....who knows?
This was a picture of the pictures that they take of you on the rides to see if it would work, who wants to spend $10 on this photo, not me!!! This was on the Hulk, we really liked this ride, can you tell?
We made it to Cocoa Beach just before dark, but who says you can't lay out and catch some rays in long shirts and long pants at 5:00p.m.? I think we caught some KILLER rays!!! All in all the trip was too short and too much fun. We laughed more than anything (cause we are WAY funny), and ate WAY too much. We are lucky that we all get along so well and that we love to be together. Sure do love my sisters!!!

Winter

This past weekend we decided to take a trip to the ranch. The boys didn't have any games, so at the last minute we jumped in the car and drove to Bicknell. This time of year is the reason that I couldn't live there in the winter. It is so dang cold-the wind blows and so I sit inside trying to get a few projects done, but mostly I sit by the wood-burning stove and read a good book while my husband braves the cold and does projects outside, (silly Dan). My boys ride the motorcycle and go-cart until their hands are about to fall off, then come inside to do some of their favorite activities.......Luke (aka Luke Skywalker), can't get enough of the Star Wars series that we keep down at the ranch.....Do you think he is close enough to the action?
I was curious when everything was quiet so I went looking for my children. Then I walked into the pool room and saw this scene....what could all four of my boys be doing?
Oh........they were all envolved in very intense game boy games, even my youngest, and people wonder why we don't get a Wii or Game cube etc. My boys would turn into robots.
This is what we came home to on Monday. I got stuck at the foot of our driveway trying to plow my way through a couple feet of snow, somehow my minivan just didn't cut it, go figure. It took us awhile to dig out. FUN STUFF!!!

True Love

Joe and I had a very interesting conversation the other day after school. I asked him how school was, and he said "fine, but recess was GREAT!" So, I, of course, asked about recess and his response was, "Mom, you are going to think this is WAY too old for me, but, I am in love." As I probed, he continued to tell me this story. "I was at recess and Lizzy, (a name we will be hearing a lot of in the near future), came up to me at recess and asked if I loved her and I said 'yes' and she said, 'me too'. Mom, I love her and want to marry her." I was trying to keep a straight face, because if you know Joe, he relates things in a different way, I love to hear him tell stories. He continued to tell me that, "dad was right....the girls are all over me, well....one anyway. Ben will not even believe it." He went on to tell me his real feelings as we went to my sisters house. When we got to her house, he was beaming and told her the same story, and at the end he said to her, "well, it looks like you're going to have another granddaughter." What the heck? What kid says that? We were dying. Joe is in love!!!!

New Year

This is what our New Year has started off like. LAZY!! Notice anything wrong with this picure? This is Dan and my bed, but where are we??? This is how every morning on this holiday vacation started off like. One by one, the rugrats would get into our warm bed with us until there was no longer any room and we would get pushed out of bed. We enjoyed the time off of school, work etc. I feel that the holidays went by too quickly and was one big whirlwind. Now that the kids are back in school and Dan is back at work, I feel like I am getting a little bit more accomplished. I am getting back into the routine etc. I still wish that we could all sleep in again for a little while longer.

Merry Christmas

These are four happy boys on Christmas Day. Josh's big present was the 'Go Diego' backpack that makes lots of noise and sings all kinds of songs. He has such a groovy dance that goes along with the music that I recorded on our video camera, but unfortuneately I don't know how to download it to the blog. Luke got a 'power ranger' phone (that cost $20) and he loved it until he saw his best friends 'power ranger' phone (that cost $2) and said he wanted one like his friends. He still loved the gameboy games he received. Joe got a helicopter and some art stuff. Joe is happy with anything and everything, to him this was the "best Christmas EVER". Ben got all of the accessories for a Gameboy DS. He was thrilled. His DS will be coming in February after he is finished with his 1 year without candy deal. We had a nice Christmas. I love getting together with family and friends.
Christmas breakfast (compliments of Dan the chef)....Fresh squeezed orange juice (shipped straight from Arizona from my sister), bacon and eggs, and toast. Love Christmas morning breakfasts!!!
Christmas Eve, we went to my sister Lindas house. We had a yummy dinner and then, as tradition has it we act out the nativity. We have had the baby Jesus for many years now and I think that we will have to retire our parts so that someone else can have the opportunity to play Mary and Joseph. We are hoping for someone to take over, we need some new babies, if not, maybe we can handle it for another year. Cutest baby Jesus you have ever seen???
Absolutely adorable wisemen singing "We Three Kings".
Here are some handsome shepherds abiding their flock, waiting for the angel to appear. We also had some REAL talent by Austin playing the guitar and his girl-friend who played the violin. We played the bells and sang Christmas songs. We love this time of year. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and enjoyed the spirit of the season.