I'm Back Baby

Sorry I took so long off. I was a bit down after the house debacle and I didn't think anyone would want to read about me feeling sorry for myself.

I'm feeling better now thanks to a lot of loving people showing me that 1. I have a great life just the way it is, and 2. I was acting like a spoiled rotten brat who didn't get my way, you know who you are, YOU KNOW.

I really haven't been up to much this month. My family went to Bear Lake with all my brother's, my sister's and Papa Guy and Grandma Honey. We had a great time swimming, playing volleyball, and four wheeling in the sand. The guys had to have a wheelie contest on the four wheelers, none of them broke anything so I'm happy.

The water was beautiful this year. It seems like every year we have storms that roll in at the same time every day but this year it was perfect.

I understand that the next weekend was pretty bad with wind and rain, sorry about that Ann, Lowell and Rae.

Today is the last day for that cash for clunkers scam. I tried to find a car for my sister, to help her get through college, to no avail. We had $7300 to put down on a $19,000 car and the lowest we could get the price was $15,000. I'm not the best at math but that doesn't add up or subtract to me, how about you? I was proud of Ann, I knew she wanted the car but she walked away. I wish I could have helped her find a good deal.

When I was in my pissed off mood I decided to paint my front room, bad idea. I still really liked my sage green walls with hand painted cream stripes. Now it is all primer white and I don't know what to do. I thought about bright red, you know to reflect my anger, but I didn't think my shabby chic furniture would go well.

Plus the whole reason I decided to paint the room is because an appraiser told me my house had too much personality. I don't think red gets away from that.

HELP! I don't know what color to paint the room. My house is totally destroyed right now. I have boxes that still need to be unpacked and all my front room furniture in the middle of the floor and scattered in other rooms.

My Home teachers came over last night and we all had to huddle in our quiet room to visit. Boy did it get hot in there on top of really stinky (the paint fumes).

My poor husband starts school this week and the one thing he asked me to do is get the quiet room, which is our version of a den, organized so he has a place to study.

He's been such a great guy through this whole debacle. He knows how bad I wanted the house and when we pulled out, and I melted, he stepped up and loved me even when I wasn't very lovable. I sure have a great guy!!!

I guess what I want to accomplish in this blog is to let everyone know that I am okay and I will try to do better on my blogging if for nothing else than for me to focus on something.

Thank you to all my fans, I've always wanted to say that. Thank you for being here for me and I will do my best to be there for you.

No House

Big D and I have decided to pull out on purchasing a new house. We feel it just isn't the right move for our family at this time.

Wow, that all sounds very sterile.

We've been going back and forth on this house for a couple months now. I kept thinking if I just gave Big D time to process then he'd come around, I was wrong. We started fighting, which we never do, and finally I talked Big D into getting blessings to see if that would help.

Lowell gave me one and Brook gave Big D one, by the way that was Brooks first time EVER giving a blessing and he did awesome.

In my blessing I was told to listen to my husbands council as he uses his priesthood to harken unto the Lord. In other words I was told to shut up sit down and quit interferring.

The next night we walked over to the ice cream parlor for some fresh air. I told Big D I was going to give him until the count of ten to make a decision and we were sticking with it.

The count of ten lasted ten minutes. I asked him for his decision and he said he didn't want to do it, and so we're not.

A house is sooooo not worth fighting over in my book. I love having a peaceful happy home and if we move into a home where we are always fighting then it's not going to be very peaceful and happy.

I'm not going to say that I'm not dissappointed, I am. I love the house and now I have to stare at it every day.

I guess I was just ready for a new adventure. I saw this house as a blank canvas just begging me to splash a little Tiffany all over it.

I'm very proud of Big D for making a tough decision. That's one of the reasons I love him soooo much, his ability to do what is right even when it's not the most popular with his wife. What a great guy I married!

I Still Got It

I think I've run out of things to write about. It's funny because I've never been more busy in my entire life, yet nothing to say. I think think has been my worst month for blogging by far. I know I shouldn't be too worried about it because no one really reads my blog anyway.

But am I really writing it for everyone else or am I writing it for me?

Wow, that all sounded a bit whinny didn't it?

Last night I turned off my 5 a.m. alarm. I figured I didn't need to get up that early to go to the gym because Big D has the day off; I can just go in when I get up. Well, I think my dog knew I would never go to the gym if I had that mind set so she decided she needed to go potty at 5:10 a.m.

Since I was up...

Of course I wasn't in the mood to be at the gym so I told myself if I run 2 miles I can leave. As I was leaving, after my 2, I ran into some guys that were leaving the same time. One guy asked me how much weight I've lost since coming, I shrugged him off by saying 'I don't know'. He said he could tell I've lost some weight and I was looking good.

First off I know he full of crap because that was the cheesiest line I've ever heard, but it felt good.

I don't know which feels better, knowing someone has been noticing that I'm even at the gym or having someone hit on me after having 5 babies?

TOFW

I went to Time Out For Women this last weekend. I am addicted to them. This was my third one. I guess if one must have an addiction this one isn't the worst, although it's not good for the pocket book.

At the very first of the meeting they asked us to turn to the people who were there for the first time and tell them this isn't church. After a good laugh we were then asked to write down things we know. Things we know beyond any doubt.

The first thing I knew is that the last time I was at TOFW me and my group took up almost the hole row. I had my two sister-in-laws whom I don't have anymore. This made me feel a bit lonely. But, I still had my mom, Grandma Lovely, and my mother-in-law, Grandma Ellen. We had a great time, but other's were greatly missed. Who knows maybe they will come with me next time.

Some of the other things I wrote down that I know is: I know I am at my most beautiful when I've been kissed by the spirit. It's not when I've bought a new outfit that hugs all the right curves and hides all the wrong ones. It's not after I've spent hours in front of the mirror. It's when I've served someone, when I've followed a prompting to hug a stranger or put my arm around someone at the temple. I feel beautiful when I've done what I know the Lord would want me to do.

Another thing I know is that music can heal the soul. Nine times out of ten when I was brought to tears at the conference it was during a song. And sometimes I started crying just as the music began, before any words were sang. I feel that music is the quickest way for the Lord to touch and communicate with you. It's his way of reaching out to hug you, and me.

I also know that beyond any doubt that when we build others up, we in turn build up ourselves. There is nothing better for my bouts of depression then to think about what I can do for someone else. It works every time. If I just think about someone in need of a service I can provide or visit a lonely neighbor I know that I too can be blessed by it.

The Relief Society motto is "Charity Never Faileth" and I believe that with all my heart. However, it's not just giving stuff to someone less fortunate, it's giving a piece of your heart to those less fortunate. I know that just because I might be the giver one day, there will come a day when I am the receiver. What an awesome motto!

The last thing that I came up with that I know for sure is that tears never fall without the Lord's knowledge. When we are at our lowest and feel so alone, He is there. When we are so happy we can't contain the joy and it comes spilling over our eyes, He is there. When we just need to release tension for no other reason than to let go, He is there. When we are listening to a beautiful song that touches our soul, He is definitely there.

I had a great time at TOFW. It filled my well. I can't wait until the next time I get to go. The great thing is, I don't have to wait until then to fill my well, it gets filled every week at church. The Lord truly has an awesome gospel and I'm so grateful to be apart of it.

Brook and Andy's Wedding Day

What a beautiful day. I was a bit nervous when I woke up to clouds in the sky, I was one of the photogs for the wedding. They asked two of us to take pictures. I think the other guy, Andy's brother-in-law, took the pictures at her first wedding too. I don't know if they were nervous about hurting one of our feelings by asking the other so they asked both of us, but trust me I would've been fine.

I ended up getting a bit intimidated by the guy; he had all this equipment. I felt like with two of us giving commands we were going to be there all day taking pictures. I decided to let the other guy have the show I took a few pictures and then left.

Wow, this post is not about me.

We got to the temple, with blue skies over head, Brook looked so handsome in all white. It made me love him just a little bit more, you'd think I was his mother or something. Never mind, his mother, Grandma Lovely, was gushing she was so proud. At least I kept the gushing in check ;)

Big D and I got to be the witness couple, which meant we had the best seats in the temple, next to the bride and groom. Of course, Big D had to remind me my right from my left.

Lowell and Papa Guy were Brook's escorts and Lowell leaned over to Papa Guy and said, "I heard about the alligator story." Papa started laughing and leaned over to Brook and asked, "Did you hear about the alligator?"

At this point Brook was so overwhelmed trying to take every thing in that he thought there was some sort of alligator initiation in the temple he had to go through. It didn't help when Brook was sitting by Big D and Brook leaned over to ask him if he was nervous because he was bouncing his knee and Big D whispered back, "Yea, because I know what's coming". We got a good laugh out of that one.

After the endowment session we had a thirty minute break before the wedding. It was nice to just sit in the temple and soak in the peace.

Seeing Brook and Andy across the altar from each other was such a beautiful sight. I think they were a bit nervous but they were so cute. You could tell they were so excited to start their new life together.

It was funny when they were exchanging rings Andy got a bit flustered because her ring wasn't going on very easily, she turned bright red and next to her blond hair it was really red. She then tried to put Brook's ring on the wrong hand, but the sweetheart he is didn't tell her until she forced the ring on his finger.

The open house was nice as well, except for the moment when I got a phone call asking why the church was locked. I had the keys and I had just walked in the door at my house when I got the call. I showed up at the church to thirty people in the parking lot waiting to get in. Oops! I felt like a shmoe.

The open house was lovely. I enjoyed meeting Andy's family, she comes from a family of eight kids there's no way I remember all their names. She has two brothers, one I went to school with the other was huge.

It's funny because everyone has their own nickname for him. Brook calls him Little Hulk. Grandma Honey, who knows him because he used to shew her horses, calls him Thor. I've also heard someone else call him Johnny Bravo. I looked forward to meeting the real man behind all the names. He lives up to his names, not that I can remember his real name.

The brother I went to school with got real excited when he heard all the nicknames for his brother. He asked my sister Ann, "So what does everyone call me?" She shrugged her shoulders and said, "I've got nothing".

Brook and Andy stayed with in a ten foot radius of the door all night. They were so anxious to leave. The open house was suppose to be an hour and a half, finally after about the third hour Brook asked what he could do to help me clean up. I just laughed and told him to leave.

At that point I was ready to be done too I still had to drive to Salt Lake. Brook and Andy reserved a room in SLC but then my dad gave them a lodge in Yellowstone. It was too late to cancel either one so we let them choose which one they wanted and my sisters and I took the other one. We ended up dragging my mom along too so we could split the room four ways.

Brook and Andy's Big Day

Brook and Andy have been pushing their wedding date back, I don't know how many times. They've been waiting for her temple divorce to go through. Well, now it's a go ahead for this Friday.

Brook and Andy decided to just set a date and get married either way; if the divorce goes through they'll get married in the temple and if not they'll get married civilly and go to the temple in a year to be sealed.

They really didn't want to have a civil ceremony. Andy felt like it would put a cloud over what is supposed to be a happy day, which I don't blame her. However, they needed to set the date and get married so they can start moving on with their lives. So they set the date for May 15 and prayed the divorce would go through by then.

The good news came last weekend, the divorce went through and they can get married in the temple. We are all so excited for them. They've asked me to take some pictures at the temple, I don't think they really looked at the engagement picture I took for them. Some turned out okay but I wished they'd turned out a lot better. I have to keep telling myself that I'm learning.

Friday is going to be a busy day. Brook is getting his endowments out, then married, pictures, with the finale of an open house. They are going to be exhausted, I'm going to be exhausted.

It is going to be a day that my whole family has been waiting for for a very long time. We all knew that Brook would eventually come back to the church and now he has.

It is so awesome to see the change in him. He is so much softer, don't get me wrong he's always been the biggest softy but now he doesn't have the hard exterior to get through before you saw the gooy insides. He is adorable! I love watching him with his wife-to-be, I've been waiting a long time to see him this happy.

I Can Hear You Now

I wrote awhile ago about seeing an Audiologist about a hearing aid. I've talked to quite a few Audiologists through out my life, well, because I'm deaf. All of them have told me there is nothing they can do.

I let a few years pass then I ask again. You never know with technology these days maybe they've come up with some great new thing that will bring a dead nerve back to life or at least learn to by pass it.

This Audiologist ran a test that no one else ever bothered too before. He said he wanted to try this one hearing aid but he was not very optomistic that it would change any thing for me. I was just happy that someone was willing to try something, anything.

He ordered the hearing aid and said in two weeks he'd call me when it came in. Well, a little over three weeks later he called me really excited. He apologized for things taking so long but he had great news. The owner of the hearing aid company got ahold of my file and was interested in my case.

I guess this guy is a billionaire whose fitted President Bush and celebreties with hearing aids. That part didn't impress me but what did was he thought my type of hearing loss would be perfect to try out his new hearing aid. That is what was taking so long they were building a special hearing aid for me.

It's really quite interesting, my ear is dead there is nothing they can do for that. However, they put this hearing aid in my left ear and turn it up to such a decible that the sound travels through my skull over to my good ear and I can hear.

After getting it I came home and had Bug help me with an experiment. I sat in the middle of the room and closed my eyes. I had her walk around the room and say some thing, I would then point to where I thought the sound was coming from. Without the hearing aid my hearing is ninety degrees off, but with the hearing aid I was right on 97% of the time. And when I was off is was only by maybe forty-five degrees.

That is sooooo cool!!!!

I've also been having the kids whisper in my left ear to see if I can hear them and sure enough I can.

The only down side right now is my head rattles when I wear the hearing aid. My brain isn't used to the high decibles traveling through my head but my Audiologist said my brain will start to compensate for that but it will take awhile.

So I get to test drive this hearing aid for a couple months to see if it makes a significant difference in my life. I am excited and optomistic about my new challenge. I will keep you posted.

Hearing Aid

Most people know that I am deaf in my right ear. Well, the older I get the more frustrating it is so I've been looking into hearing aids. I've noticed that I avoid big crowds because I can't hear anyone talking to me. I feel stupid having to ask people to repeat themselves three or four times. Most of the time I just nod my head and act like I know what people are saying. That tends to back fire when they ask me a question and I actually need to respond with something other than an "Uh huh, or yes or no". Sometimes Big D helps out and whispers in my ear what someone has said, but if he's not there I'm screwed.

Now I avoid all social get togethers because I'm tired of looking and feeling stupid. The only friends I hang out with is my family and that's just because they are all loud and obnoxious. They're so loud I hardly ever have to ask them to repeat themselves.

Most people I've talked to about hearing aids say there is nothing they can do for me but technology is changing rapidly so I keep asking.

A couple weeks ago we went to the Spring Fair. We ran into an old friend whom is now selling hearing aids, which is great for him because he wears one as well.

He was telling me I should come back in and get tested again. He said there are hearing aids that will take the sound from my right side and bring it over to my left ear so I can have a better directional hearing. Right now my hearing is off by 90 degrees.

I went in to get my hearing tested and the guy doing the test, not my friend, came back and said I am completely deaf in my right ear, duh. He showed me a scale of my hearing and said my type of hearing is due to nerve damage which is irreversible. I already knew that.

He did a second test on me, one that no one else has ever done. He told me he wasn't going to do the test because most people, when they have my type of hearing loss, don't react to it.

The test consisted of him putting a mic of some sort on the back of my right ear and a mans voice saying, "Say the word dog", I would then repeat the word I heard or as close to it as I could get. Out of 25 words I missed 9.

He was shocked that I did so well. He said most people just stare at him for the entire test with no reaction at all. He couldn't explain why I heard those words. He confessed he is sceptical that any hearing aid will work for me, but he fitted me for one and he wants me to try it out and see if it improves my hearing at all.

I asked him about the hearing aid my friend was telling me about, the one that brings the noise from my right side over to my left ear. He didn't really know any thing about it because he said my type of hearing loss is rare, but he'd look into it for me.

I know I shouldn't be but I am excited to start trying this hearing aid out. It won't be ready for a week and it's one of those big ugly ones that sit on the back of the ear, but I am fine with that if it helps. I can hide ugly.

Suburban Take II

Five years ago we bought a Suburban. It was a beautiful Burgundy color with really dark tinted windows. It was an extension of our home, and probably the same size.

We owned our new toy for all of maybe two or three months before the gas was killing us. We were so stressed about finances that we were fighting all the time so we decided to trade it in on something a bit more economical for us. That's when we got our mini van but with the hopes that some day we'd get another Suburban.

The Suburban is really the perfect vehicle for us, we believe anyway. It fits our family comfortably and allows us to pull our boat where ever we want to go. Right now we have Big D's Jeep that pulls the boat, but only to close locations.

Our van seems to be breaking down the same time every year, around tax return season. Well, this year after taking it into the shop for the second time in a matter of a month I got pissed and started looking at Suburbans again. The newer models get better gas mileage than our old one did so it's really a matter of finding one we can afford.

What I thought was just some harmless looking has now turned into test drives and offers. After test driving three we've found one that we both really like and it is in the right price range for us. Big D is ready to go down and purchase it right now...

But it's just not the right time.

We've both felt like maybe we should hold off for a bit. The economy isn't that great and who knows what will happen with that. We just got out of debt and need to learn to feel comfortable there before we jump back in.

Big D has decided to use the Suburban as a prize, so to speak, for him getting his MBA. Maybe after he graduates we can go shopping again and actually purchase our dream vehicle. I just hope our kids aren't grown and out of the house by then.

I'm glad with the decision we've made, I think it was very mature of us. Who knows maybe Big D and I are finally growing up. I think our parents will be so proud.

Our 13th Anniversary

Big D and I have been married for 13 years now. What a wonderful 13 years it has been. I pray we have 113 more.

We decided to run away for the weekend, since it was an extended weekend just for us. It's nice when the entire nation celebrates a wonderful day with us. Big D and I take turns planning our festivities and this year it was my turn.

We started our weekend with a nice dinner out with my sisters, yes it was nice to have them with us.



After lunch we dropped them off and went out and about on our own. We stopped at an indoor go kart racing facility. It was super expensive, so we had to do it twice. The computer kept track of everyone racing so it could tell us who won. The first race Big D came in first and I came in third. The second race Big D came in first again and I came in second.



We took a stroll around Temple Square as we were waiting for Monster Jam to start.



It was a beautiful day in a beautiful place.



Temple Square is so peaceful, I love hanging out there. We made it to Monster Jam with time to spare. I loved watching Backwards Bob, it just looked wrong the way he was driving, which made it more entertaining to watch.



The only thing that would be better is if he rolled his truck.



We had to get a shot with the Bull Dozer in the back ground for our boys, they have a little toy of that truck. I am going to be such a cool mom when they see this.



I thought this was a cute Valentine...



even monster truck drivers have a big heart.

Snowmobile Addicts

I know what you're thinking, three weekends in a row they must be crazy. Well, we probably are but we sure enjoy our snow and it has been a good year.

We love inviting people to have fun with us and this time everyone we invited came, surprised us too. Lowell, Brook, Andy, Itchy and all their families all came. Our motto is, "the more the merrier" and we had a great time.



(Bug, Beaner, and Al)

After snowmobiling we all came back to the jeep to warm up some hot chocolate and have some snacks. It's amazing how cold you get when you stop having fun. We were going to go back out but all the kids were done and that's fine, we had a good run.



It's kind of hard to see what is going on here but Brook was heading back to his truck and Lowell tackled him from behind rolling him over the snowmobile and snapping the windshield. Lowell was pretty proud of himself getting the draw on Brook, that almost never happens.



(Brook, Itchy, Big D, and Bear)

Here the guys are checking out the damage to the windshield. You can't really see is here but there is a huge crack that goes from the top all the way down. The sad thing is we just fixed the windshield two years ago from the last "accident". And it took us seven years after that accident before we fixed it. I don't know if our machines have another seven years in them to wait around for a new windshield. Ah, whose kidding, Big D can keep them running, especially since he's not getting new machines this year because I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!



This is Andy and her youngest son, Jay. He's about sixish, I think, and her oldest boy, Teetee, is nineish. They are cute little boys. Blond Blond Blond, like their mom.

Snow Beautiful Snow

It is snowing big beautiful juicy flakes at my house right now. I love love love it! Except, both Big D and I are trying to do homework and the only thing we can think about is going snowmobiling. Darn the snow.



I had to venture out to take a picture of my house in the snow. It is so much more beautiful when it has a thick blanket of snow don't you think? But wait, am I coming or going here? That is the question. Wow, I probably just have a weird foot problem, I need to get that looked at.



This is the house across the street that Big D says I am covetting. Isn't it beautiful? And I'm not covetting it, I just know that some day it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine. I've already landscaped the yard and redesigned the house in my head, but that's not covetting, is it?

My Birthday

I was sick as a dog on my birthday. I was sore from an extreme workout the day before and I had a nasty cold. We had invited some friends to go snowmobiling with us to celebrate both me and Bug's birthdays. I thought I wouldn't be able to go all the way up until the last minute. I drugged up with some Echinacea and Sudifed and got dressed to go.

I wasn't able to play much, I just didn't have the energy. I didn't want to over do it and make myself more sick so I stood on the mountain and took pictures of everyone having fun.



Big D did a great job getting the kids back up the hill. I think every time he came up he had more kids than before. I was shocked the rope didn't snap.



Look at all those smiles, too bad they didn't last all day.



I know you can't see very good because I was on the next mountain over, but Susan, Hailey, and Beaner hit a jump and flew fifteen feet before flipping and crashing. Too bad I didn't get the size of the jump in the picture, darn it.



Needless to say they weren't too happy. I could hear them screaming they wanted to go home all the way over to where I was on the next mountain.



Beaner got a little bit of a fat lip, that was gone before we got home.



Hailey got a few scratches. The funny thing is Hailey didn't start crying until Beaner started. Susan did a good job shielding them from too much damage.



While we were checking on the girls the boys decided they needed a little snack.



It's a good thing they are such good sharers.

I love to see people smile and laugh. I guess that's why after we were done on the mountain I took my mom up on her offer to watch my kids while Big D and I went out. Surprise to Big D I invited my brothers to come to dinner with us. I love being with my family I laugh so hard when we are together. I figured it was my birthday any way I should be with the people who make me happy.

I felt bad for dragging Lowell and Rae out. They'd already eaten so I said they could come have dessert with us. I was so happy to see them. If I could have all my family live with in a mile radius of my house it would be my Utopia. I guess that is a bit selfish of me. I just love them all!

Ding Dong Ditch 2008

We have been enjoying picking a family whose less fortunate than us and being their secret Santa. We look at it as we are so blessed with our bounty we need to help those who may have fallen on hard times this year in hopes that if we are ever in that situation people will be kind to us.

The family we picked this year has really been struggling. The dad lost his job a year ago and decided to take the time to go back to school. His wife was a Realtor but the market went down hill and she lost her job too. They are at a point where they are going to start loosing stuff, his truck, his motorcycle, maybe the camper. They don't have to worry about losing their home because it belongs to her mother and they are renting it from her.

Every year we ask different people to help us out, this year we asked our Home Teachers. They made the mistake of asking if there was anything they could do to help us as they were leaving from their last visit. We said yes and proposed our plan. Come to find out this family is also one of their Home Teaching families so they were gung ho on the idea.

We also mentioned out plan to the Elders Quorum President and he wanted to get involved. He contacted a few other families and asked them to help as well. We ended up with a present for each family member, a family gift, food, and money. I was very impressed with every one's generosity.

We got together for Family Home Evening last night and invited a couple of the families to come along with us. We had a nice lesson about the holiday spirit and service. After the lesson we all loaded up and went over to the house. I had a friend who lived directly across the street so we took the kids and stood in her kitchen to watch the dads deliver our packages.

As the dads were setting the stuff on the porch the dad of the house walked by his big picture window. I don't know if he saw anybody, he didn't open the door anyway. We watched the dads knock and run and the family came out to their bounty. The dad of the house yelled, "Thank You" before he shut the door.

If anything I hope that our kids learned a wonderful lesson; it is better to give than receive. And I pray this family has a wonderful holiday season and is able to find employment.

Some times I wish I had more money so I could help more people, but then I remember, I have sufficient for my needs and I'm still able to give.

Good Deed Elves

I was watching the beautiful snow yesterday and it made me want to get out in it. I am the type of person that has a hard time doing something for the fun of it, but if it's work I have no problem. So I decided to shovel my driveway, that was my version of enjoying the snow.

After I was done with mine I didn't want to stop so I did my neighbors and then her neighbors. I had to come back inside after that because the boys were getting hungry.

As I was making lunch for them I thought of a goofy idea, why not make up some cute little cards and leave them on people's doors after we clear their walkways? I found an elf and wrote beside him:

Merry Christmas! You've been tagged by the Good Deed Elves. Please pass it on.

I picked the kids up from school and told them of my idea and they all loved it. We set out to make some people smile.

First on our list was Uncle Brook, because it was his first day at a new job and he wasn't excited about it.

I had his kids with me so I made them promise not to tell who it was.

That night he came over to pick up his kids and he commented that someone had shoveled his driveway and left a note. He started laughing and said, "It's pretty obvious who did it."

Me, being horrible at playing innocent said, "Oh yeah who was it." I was smiling but no fear I was drinking hot chocolate at the time and I hid behind my cup.

"My neighbors. Their driveway was too so I know it was them."

He came up with a brilliant idea, "I am just going to wait until the next time it snows and I will go plow their driveway and stick the note back on their door. That will show them."

I just smiled and said that would work, it fulfilled the "pass it on" part of the note.

I had made eight little cards. I thought the kids would get done with maybe five before they started complaining, but I was wrong. They did all eight and the only reason we quit was because it was dark.

We got caught a couple times and one lady even gave us $10 to go buy hot chocolate.

I think we all had fun and I hope the kids felt the joy that true service can bring. I know I had a great time, now I just need to figure out something else we can do to leave more note on people's doors.

Summer Grand Finale

We had our last and final vacation this summer. We saved the best for last, so to speak. We really enjoy all our vacations but Bear Lake is something we start looking forward to the next year as soon as we get home from this year.

Bear Lake has turned into a family reunion with my Dad. We try to do every thing we can to get all six of my brothers and sisters there. I don't think my Dad knew it was going to turn into such a coveted vacation for all of us when he started the tradition about seven years ago. It's not every year that all of us get to go, but this year we were all there and we all had a great time. We played so hard that by the time we broke camp for home we all looked like zombies.



Every night around the same time storms would blow in. However, the first night we were there none of us were expecting it. Camp was all set up and ready for us to just kick back and enjoy the rest of our stay. The huricane type winds came out of no where and blind sided us. Every one scrambled to break down the tents so the poles wouldn't snap, we've had that happen one year, and put away anything that would blow away. It was a good thing I brought an RV and Lowell brought a tent trailer because then the rain mixed with the high winds and every ones stuff in their tents got soaked.

Lowell slept nine people in his and I crambed eleven in mine. It was a rough nights sleep with everyone packed in like sardines but we survived. Even Itch survived and he opted for his tent, we thought he was crazy but I think he slept better than anyone there.

The rough night didn't keep us from having a great time the next day. The guys turned into posers as soon as the camera came out. I think they are more dramatic than girls.



Brook looks like a girl prancing through the water.



You don't get much more posed than this, look at those faces.



You can tell this is posed, Brook's looking at Lowell like he's a dink.



Itch is exstatic he caught the ball.



I just want you to know that this shot was Lowell's idea. He got a little nervous when Brook told, "Here I come." Lowell started yelling, "What is he doing? What is he doing?"



What are the odds of this really happening?



Brook was getting a little grab nasty with Big D. I had to make them repose for this shot because I didn't get it the first time before they dropped Big D.

I honestly can't tell you who the biggest poser is. I don't think we have to worry about anyone here being camera shy.



After a little water catch the boys got a little rough with each other on the beach.
Look in the background, they are even posers.



They are setting such a bad example for the little ones. It's going to come back to them if they aren't careful.



Itch thought he'd sneak into this one and get them both.

After we came back from the beach and had dinner we decided to play some football.






Dad even took his shoes off for the game, this is rare footage!

We ended the day with a little Lovens and a nice family picture.




What a goofy looking family!

Twin Falls Temple

What a treat to visit Temple Open Houses and take the brood. I love to listen to how the tour guide describes the different rooms and what takes place in those rooms. It is such a holy place for LDS people that I get intimidated to share with others what goes on there. I don't want to reveal something sacred that I shouldn't.

I think the most sacred thing that goes on there, that I can reveal, and that no one can put into words, is the feeling, or the spirit that I experience when I'm dressed all in white and I leave my worldly cares at the door. Nothing in this world can compare to that feeling of love and importance. I realize I am not a nobody to the Lord. He loves me and knows me as an individual and my cares and worries are not insignificant to him.

Of course I don't get all that from the open house, I get that from regular temple visits. The open house is an opportunity to take my family to see how beautiful the House of the Lord is and it gives them and idea of where Mommy and Daddy are going when we say we are going to the temple.

All the kids had their favorite parts of the tour. Bug marveled at all the magnificent chandeliers and the mirrors that represent eternity in the sealing room. Beaner was excited to be the first to see the next room. Bud enjoyed matching the rooms to their pictures on the brochure, it was like a treasure map to him. Bear loved the baptismal font, He thought it was an indoor swimming pool just his size, Beaner even had to grab his arm before he jumped in. All of them were excited to partake of the cookies at the end.

Big D was happy none of our kids took off running and screaming down the hall, which he knew deep down inside is what they really wanted to do, especially Bear. And I loved watching their faces as they saw each of the rooms in all their magnificence and glory.

All in all the entire family made wonderful memories that will last us an eternity.

Diving Contest

We like to take our boat in the middle of the reservoir and jump off. We decided to have a diving contest and see who could had the best form.



Brook was teaching Bug and Lynn how to dive off the boat. This is Lynn's best jump of the day. Unfortunately she was done after this jump because she smacked her foot on the boat.



This was Big D's dive. I don't know if he was trying to do a real dive or he was taking some creative licence.



Here's Bug with her twist dive. Out of everyone she was the one who came up with the most creative dives. All the others got stumped as what to do next.



This dive by Brook was a bit painful. His back was a little red when he came up for air.



Here is Beaner doing her best dive, or belly flop I can't really tell.



Lowell is the comedian in the family, as you can plainly see. I don't know who won the contest that day, I think they all got perfect tens.



I think Kinnzi is getting used to boating, as long as she gets to stay on the boat. I put her in the water a couple time to cool her off, she didn't approve. After about the third time I took her for a swim she started running to the opposite side of the boat every time I got on or called her name. One of these days when I call her name she is going to jump off the boat and come for a swim on her own. At least that is my goal.