Can't Think of a Title....

Well, I can't. Guess that means I really have nothing to blog about. What else is new?

Wendy-no problemo, you know you are always welcome here. Glad you had an option. Thanks for your input on the windows. I was talking to Curtis about it and he said he remembered that we were going to go with 3 windows and he wondered why I was trying to decide that again. I have a flea-market brain for sure. It's a wonder I get home given it's undependability. So, I guess we are going with 3 windows. I figure it will be easier to get blinds for them anyway.

Took Soren and Ford to get immunizations today. They were both troopers. Soren only cried on his last of 3 shots. I think by then he thought we were just going to continue stabbing him and he decided to let us know he didn't appreciate it. He is trying to walk everywhere now. It's so dang cute. I can't believe how fast he has grown and how much I love him.
Ford will have some sore arms tomorrow. Probably ought to give him some Tylenol also. He was not too happy to learn that he was getting 2 rather than 1, but I figured I might as well get his HEP A out of the way now and then we won't have to worry about it when he's getting ready to go on a mission.

Well, gotta go corral the girls, they are getting out of control. Sadie has her devotional tomorrow and Fri and I need to go over her parts with her.

Have a lovely evening and I'll chat tomorrow!

window suggestion

Hey Kass, I was going to reply to your quest for window suggestions and then I forgot...so here I am again! If it were me I would do three smaller window...I think that would make more of a statement! The picture window is a good idea when you have a great view to look at and don't want to distract from that! Anyway, there is my two cents...have fun with all the decisions! I wish I was making some decisions right now! I can't wait to be back in a house! Love ya Wendy

Hey everyone! I am finally home from all our travels..and I am tired and have little ambition to accomplish anything today! We talked to the dealership last night and I think our car will be done on Thursday...information we could have used three days ago! But I am glad that all the work and cleaning is getting done on it before we get it. Thanks Kass for taking us in so late and such short notice! We are so blessed with a great family! I wish I would have looked at your sub-floor while I was there...I guess I will have to see it next time. We are hoping there won't be a trip before the 18th! The girls are playing and fighting as usual. Tilly told me yesterday that she needs some time with just me! She is trying so hard to be good about all these changes and also trying to express herself well! I think it is so good that I put Laila in pre-school so that I can have so time with each of the girls twice a week. Today is gymnastics, the girls have fun with that! Well, I guess I should go do something today...type later! Love Wendy

Just me. I guess it is time to put my two cents worth here and two cents is about what it is worth. I didn't know Ben updated by internet site, so I couldn't find my "favorites list" so I couldn't log on. Good thing Karla is only a free phone call away. Wendy and Ben got here about 1:15 or so and the roads were just wet from Price to here. We managed just fine with the girls. they got along really well, just one or two times, they acted just like sisters! Imagine that!
We decorated the Christmas tree and they did a good job, but while Dad and I were watching "Forest Gump" tonight, the lights on the tree just went out. I will probably have to undecorate the whole thing to get the lights off and find out where the problem is. Karl wanted to know if we really needed lights! Of course we need lights!

I am sewing 6 dozen hats for Crowley const. they need them on Saturday and John's Grandfather passed away on Thurs. so they had to go to SLC tonight and come back on Wed night or Thursday, so I am helping them. My new machine does sew nicely. I bought some cheaper thread to start with and I should have spent my money on the right stuff to start with, as I am having to replace all the colors I bought.

I think that I am going to go the Blanding on Friday for their Christmas fair. On Saturday I plan to go to Cortez to work on a quilt for my bedspread. It will depend on the weather.

P.S. Don't forget that I need some Christmas suggestions!

I made more honey candy today and a batch of peanut brittle. I should not make candy because Dad and I eat tooo oooooo much.

Looking forward to seeing all of you before too long. Don't know yet if there will be a Helquist gathering or not. Hope so.

Love, Mom

Well, it's official!! Winter is here!

And I'm not liking it!! I was terrified to drive around today. I'm skeerred someone will crash into my new car. Plus, I don't like getting snow in my new car. Yup, I'm being a car snob. Jim must be wearing off on me or something.

Hey, Stacy! I've been meaning to ask--how's Livvy doing with the meds? Still on them? No good? Just curious.

We put our tree up last night. I was hoping it would get me into the Christmas mood, but it didn't. I'm so not ready for this year. I have no idea what I'm getting anyone, including the kids. I think it might be a smaller Christmas at our house this year, which will be fine. I tend to go overboard anyway.

I need to get back to my eligibility files. They're piling up and up and up!! No rest for the wicked I guess!

Later days!!

SNOW, How are You?

Hey, I was really hoping they would call a snow day today so we wouldn't have to drive but they didn't so Curtis just left with the kids.
Ben and Wendy left at about 7:20. I looked on the UDOT website and it looks like they should have a real fun trip today, snow advisories and snow tires, chains, and/or 4WD recommended, almost the entire way home. I can't believe that the dealership didn't accomodate them a bit more, knowing they live so far away.

Nothing exciting to report, just work as usual. Hope you all have a great day...I'll check back in later.

Howdy!!

Hi, I made a few changes to the setup of the blog. You can now put a title on your post if you want. Nothing exciting going on. Sorry I've been such a slacker with posting. Dinner was great today. Mom did another turkey dinner and Ben & Wendy were there. It tasted sooo good!! I also helped myself to a bunch of the honey candy.

I had to give Wendy a bad time about buying a minivan. We have always said, "I don't know why people think that the minute they get two kids, they need a minivan. I mean, the back seat of their car has enough seat belts." So, I had to tease her.

Not looking forward to work this week. It's going to be so busy. The national office is making us go through about 1500 producer folders and make sure that we have all the correct documentation for making payments. That's a ton of paperwork. Oh well, it'll make the days go by faster.

That's it for now. Nothing else to post about. Love ya!
Karla

Subfloor is on! Yahoo! we can use our back door again after 2 1/2 years. Curtis and Doug and Curtis's dad worked on it all afternoon yesterday. Pretty exciting stuff. Next will be framing the walls, which means that we need to decide what kind of windows we want and where we want them. Can't decide if I want one big picture window or three regular windows close together.....any suggestions? We also deleted the door going out the west side, so we'll have a whole wall with nothing on it. I think that's where my scrapbook desk might end up. Or a nice buffet or hutch. We'll see.

Just waiting around for it to warm up a bit so I can go do my shambling, oh, I mean running. I hope my knees don't hurt too bad today. Going to start counting points again today too.
Way excited for the BYU/UTAH game. I think we can actually win this year. They have looked so good this year, once they got going.

Wendy-sorry for the added stress of visits with Laila's family and such. Hopefully things will work out like you want them too. Just trust in Heavenly Father.

Didn't do Christmas pics yesterday. Trying to decide whether to try to do them today or not. Don't know when else we would get them done, so I better plan something.

Well, going to go get ready to run, have a fabulous day. Love you all!

Kas

Hi everyone! We are still up at Candice's house..we have had a great holiday! It is always fun to get together with everyone. Wednesday just as we got to Salt Lake I got a voice-mail from our caseworker...Alma overdosed last week and has been in the hospital all week...two blood transfusions and so she is sober and feeling regret about her choices and wants to start taking care of things to get Laila back!! STRESSFUL!! Then we went to Jody's so Laila could visit Mikey and the rest of the Uribe clan...that stressed her out! I don't think Laila likes to see Jackie or her girls or the grandparents! She had a little panic attack I guess you could say. Then it overwhelmed her to be with 40 strangers. ...however, considering all things I think she is doing ok. Yesterday she woke up with a fever and throwing up...which I think is from all the events going on! Anyway, so I called the caseworker and we agreed that seeing Alma would not be a good thing for Laila this week. So if she really starts to cooperate over the next week then we will be making a trip up for a visit....yuck!!! Got to go...type later! Love ya

Hey, Happy Day after Thanksgiving! Hope you all had a great day of eating and relaxing. We sure did. Can't believe that we were at Nate's that long, time flies when you are enjoying time with family. I did pretty good not to overeat this year, only one serving of food and a piece of pie, that I wished later I hadn't eaten. My rolls turned out well and all the food was good and there wasn't too much of any of it. I did get up and go do my running before we went to dinner. My poor knees are wondering why I'm torturing them. Guess I need to start counting points again and lose a few so there isn't so much pressure on my knees.
Nothing too exciting going on today. Just trying to clean up a few things around the house, maybe a haircut or two for the boys. I am going to try to take a picture of the kids for Christmas cards and that's all that I have planned. I was going to do immunizations but I'm not sure I want to spend my relaxation day with the kids doing that, so it'll probably wait til next week. I'm just wanting to take it easy and have a fun day with the kids today. Wish me luck.

Type at ya later. Love, Kas

I guess that it is my turn to check in on everyone. I had to defrost the freezer so Wendy could put venison is, so I did a batch of Karla's favorite relish(she loves it in chili) and then I went to Cortez with Dad. That was on Tuesday. I did another batch of relish today. The zuchini had been in the freezer so I had to use it up. I also baked banana bread today, made and apple pie and a pie crust for lemon pie. I will put the filling in it tonight. I also moved things around in the sewing room again. I brought the table home from the store, so I had to re-arrange. That meant moving the computer, printer, etc. I think I finally have things put together. My house is still a mess, but that isn't too unusual.
Daphane is staying with us while Wendy and Ben are away. She is surely easy to tend!
Dad went to Blanding this morning, gave Grandpa a hair cut and new duds for his birthday. 90 years old today. Then this afternoon he took his mule to dry valley. He hasn't come home yet. I hope he didn't get thrown off. I don't know how long I should wait before I really go look for him. It is now 10 after 5 and starting to get dark.

I wish we could all be together, but we'll do another Thanksgiving dinner when Kassie comes in December. I bought a couple of extra turkeys today.

Dad just pulled in.

Please list a few ideas for the younger children for Christmas. I would like to give them something besides money. I think the big kids are fine with money, but I would like to shop for the younger ones. ( at least if you give me some ideas)

Well, I think it is time for supper. The Jazz play at 8 tonight and we like to watch them, so I need to get a few other things finished first.

Talk to all of you later. Love ya, Mom

Stacy I hope you used your best Eartha Kitt voice when you said you were going to hit yourself with a 'hamma'. Couldn't help but think of Emperor's New Groove. Thanks for the recipe. I think I will try to make some this week. Curtis and I will be the only ones to eat it, but hey, what else is new???

Karla, too bad you actually have to work when you are at work. I think I would take any afternoon off I could wrangle. Yuck on having to work on Fri. I'm glad you get to eat food you like this year. I'll bet it's fun with G.O. and Liz there too.

I got assigned to bring potatoes, stuffing and rolls to Thanksgiving dinner. Lori said my rolls had been requested. I was stupefied. I dont' ever make rolls, I guess they must have had one 2 or 3 years ago when I took them. I was going to practice baking all week, but suddenly I find I have run out of week, so tomorrow I'm just going to make some and hope, with all fingers, toes and eyes crossed, that they come out edible. The potatoes and stuffing are no big deal. There will be 36 of us at dinner this year. Glad I have a small house! Not really, I would love to have all of you come to our house for a dinner party some time. Hopefully in the next 19 years our addition will get done and we can make that happen.

Got my Visiting Teaching done, except for one lady who I can't seem to get hold of. I've left messages, but I haven't heard from her. Guess I could just give her a VT message over the phone if that's the only way we can contact her. My next big brain scrambling project is planning for Ford's class's Christmas party. Got to assign people to bring treats and figure out what I'm going to do for activities. If any of you have any ideas, I'd love some. I was thinking of a small gift exchange and 'figure out the Christmas carol' page. Luckily for me, Ford's teacher likes the parties short and sweet. And you don't have to have quite so many involved activities for 7th graders. They actually like to just eat treats and talk.

Well, better head off to bed. So much for a 'vacation'. I have many things on my to-do list.

Oh, yeah, Wendy. I finally went running again and I'm feeling it tonight. Shouldn't wait a week between runs. I think I'm too old for this......my knees hurt today. Oh, well, I'm sure I'll get used to it, and I really want to do this. Coolio on the house plans and girls in preschool. Can't wait to see you all again and watch your growing family. Maybe you just need to give Ben a big box to keep his 'stuff' in that you can put in a closet during the day so you don't have to look at it.....

Okay, really going now. Love you all so much, thanks for blogging so often, it's the first thing I click on every day!

Well, I'm taking the rest of the night off. Things at work have been insane. In the 6 years I've worked there, I've never had this much piled on with such tight deadlines. And to top it all off, I'm PMSing badly--darn good thing Ben & Jerry's pints were on sale when I went to the grocery store tonight. Yum!!

I'm taking tomorrow afternoon off since I don't have a babysitter and I don't get Friday off, I thought I'd take Wed afternoon off. I'm going to try to get some Christmas gifts worked on and some pictures uploaded. Nothing exciting. Jim has the fire in here so darn hot I can hardly stand to sit here and surf. I need my surf time. I don't get to do it at work anymore since I'm busy so I have to try to cram it in at night! HEHEHE!!

Well, wish we could all be together for turkey day, but life happens. I hope you all have a good one and I'll be sitting at Ma's enjoying food I know I will actually like! It's such a nice feeling!

Take care and I'll talk to you all later!
Karla

Me again! Sounds like you are all busy and well! We are going to Mountain Green tomorrow and will come back home on saturday! We have an appointment to meet with the Uribe clan (Laila's family) around 1:30 on wednesday as we got through Salt Lake. We are all doing well here. Today Laila started preschool. She was so excited! She and Tilly go on the same days but at different times. This way I can have some one-on-one time with both girls!
We called our architect and told them to go ahead and print our plans. They called and said they are on their way! I am so anxious to get started! With the winter we are having so far we could start building! ...just need to find a piece of dirt to put it on!
I guess I should go figure out lunch for everyone! Love ya

Hello! Sorry I haven't been on as much! I was so swamped yesterday..I wanted and needed to get my weekly cleaning done but I had a ton of 'putting away' to do before I could even start! Ha Ha, Ben went to SLC and back yesterday and when he got home he could see the floor next to his side of the bed!!! I thought I deserved a thank you since it has been burried for over a month now...instead I got, " where is all my stuff?" I replied, " It took me a while to find where to put all your stuff so I will give you the same amount of time to find it"! He kept asking and getting more and more desperite sounding...I said, "be specific...what do you need?" "I don't know specifics...I don't even know what all was there!"....."my point exactly, you wont even miss it" and then he went on to tell me after driving all day he didn't deserve this! HA HA!! Well, I think after the long days I always have I don't deserve to pick up after him like a maid!!!

There I feel better. Just had to get that one out! Ben is home ...talk later

I wish I had fallen off the earth.....got to go to the traffic referee today and sign up for traffic school. Such fun. It was weird sitting there and watching all the lawyers and such walking by. Kind of surreal, like I was on the set of a TV show. I get to attend traffic school on the 9th of Dec. Hurrah!

Also finally got my Visiting Teaching appts made and Tana to the eye dr. for a followup exam. Made a quick dinner and then we had FHE with the Georges and Fallons. Went to a widow's house and raked up her leaves. Whew! I'm tired, so I'm off to bed and I'll check in tomorrow and hopefully have something more interesting to blog about.....yeah, right!

Nite
Kas

Just a real quick note to let you know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. The new car is wonderful. I feel so special!! :P I'm so swamped at work right now and probably will be for months. We have to redo all of our folders.

Well, nothing else new going on. Type more later
Love ya!!

Hey, finally winding up this day. It was fun having Stacy and Stewart here. The three of us went to the temple first thing and then Stew went off to the BYU game with Corbin and Stacy and I did a little shopping. The girls just played here at the house. I got one phone call from Cambria telling me that the girls were 'misbehaving'. I think she's a bit tired of being the default babysitter. Need to start paying her a bit probably. Anyway, when Stew got back we got the kids pizza and then went to eat at the Spaghetti Factory. We were just heading home so they could get on the road when we happened upon a car near Deseret Towers in the middle of our lane of traffic, sideways, and it was not moving. So we quickly parked and Curtis and Steward ran to help the poor girl who was trying to get it started. She had no power whatsoever, no lights, no hazards, nothing and while Stewart was trying to slow people down, he and the car nearly got run in to. It was really hard to see because the car was dark green and it had no lights so people couldn't see it until they were right on it. So they got it off the road and one other car stopped and helped to jumpstart it. We were going to follow her home, but it wouldn't stay running. So they pulled it back into a parking lot and we took her home. She was a young student and she sure was shaken up by the whole thing. She couldn't understand why people weren't slowing down and stopping, and we had to tell her that it was nearly impossible to see her and her car. She was very grateful for the help and the ride home. Sounds like our fun adventure last year of our alternator konking out on us and the car dying in the middle of the intersection of State Street and University Parkway in Orem. Only the busiest intersection in Utah Valley.

Karla, your new car is FUN! Thanks for the spin around the block. Hope your shopping was successful.

Wendy, how are things? Hope you are hanging in there. You know you can always call if you just need a sympathetic ear. About the running, just the one on the 24th next year. I'm hoping I'll be ready for that one when it rolls around.....my schedule got totally messed up this week. But I'll keep plugging along.

Well, church starts awfully early, so I better go get some sleep. Have a peaceful Sabbath and I'll check in later....

love ya
Kas

Hi Everyone, I don't know when everyone will get this, but I will write anyway. Karla is in SLC getting her new car. Wendy and the girls are downstairs asleep. Ben camped out with the Scouts so they came to have a sleepover. Stacy will be going to Provo to see Kassie, and I will be at the craft fair. Karl went with the SPEAR group to work on the trail at Arch Canyon. Can you believe that the BLM actually asked them to work on the trail! They are usually trying to get everyone to stay away. I didn't know they were going down there or I might not have signed up for the festival. I think they are going to go again on Dec. 2 if the weather holds out.
Yesterdays weather was wonderful. Karl went to dry valley and used the 4 wheeler and trailer to take him around all the fences. He had a really good day. It looks like it will be really good today too.
I shall post again later. What did I hit that made the lettering do Italics? \\Mom

Argh! Another long and unproductive day, spent mostly in the car. How many more months of this????

On a better note, Stacy called today and she is coming up tomorrow and she and I are going to go to the temple together. I haven't been in the longest time and so I'm really looking forward to this. Also looking forward to just spending some time with her.

Got a bit more work done on the addition today. Slow going, but at least it's going. Hope the weather holds so we can get more done quickly.

Well, I'm pooped....good night.

Hey everyone! Me and the girls got to sleep in today! Yeah!! We are just having breakfast! Sounds like you are all doing well! It was fun to go to mom's yesterday and let the kids play. I think we will go back up tomorrow for the Christmas fair...It sound fun to mingle with Cello folk! Yesterday while we were in Cello I drove by the grocery store and Tilly said, "we miss that store huh mom"! Yes we do! Then later I went to buy more buns and meat and it was so nice to go to that store and see people I know and they are friendly!

Well Kass I am proud of you for running! Are you planning on a specific 5K? I think Ben and I are going to train for the 1/2 marathon in Moab in March! I think I can register for the 1/2 and then within two weeks of the race I can change my entry to the 10K if I need to. I think by the time March is here I will want to run that race...I am just not sure I am ready to commit to the training schedule in a few weeks! Carmen and Sam are running it too. Would any of you be interested in joining us! I have exactly the same amount of time to prepare as I did last time and I am in the same kind of shape for starting! So I know all of you could do it! Remember we can always change our registration to the 10K if we chicken out! Think about it before you just say no!

Love ya-Wendy

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's what I want to be doing, but I've been up with Montana while he finishes up some homework. He has been working at it all day...so diligent. Too bad he waited til the last minute to do it. They are studying the Odyssey and he has to do these chart things about the internal and external characteristics of the main characters.....and determine the plot and setting and such. He is doing such a great job this year, I have not had to get on him about homework! And he's happy! What's up with that?

Coolio Karla, on your new car. I did talk to C about your old one but we never came to a decision and you just made it for us. I think that it's more logical for us to get another van rather than a car that won't hold all I need it to. Or, we'll just keep pouring $$ into the Suburban. It hasn't killed us yet.
How fun to get to do the shopping together. I need to start that stuff. Why do I always wait so long?????Oh, yeah, my middle name is Procrastinator.

Went to Hannah's 2nd Grade devotional today. It was all about how God had a hand in the reformation and restoration. How he influenced the lives of people like John Wycliffe, Columbus, the Pilgrims and Joseph Smith. Hannah had a speaking part as a Pre-mortal existence child and then she had a singing part. She did really well.

Actually, all the kids are doing so well this year, I can't believe how much they have learned. Sadie has memorized about 7 poems and scriptures, including Psalms 100. She has another to pass off tomorrow. She seems to have no trouble standing up in class and reciting. Shocked me to death! And because they are all doing so well, I just keep telling myself that my sacrifice of time and $$ is worth it.

Well, Montana finally finished up and I'm going to hit the hay...it's calling my name. Nighty-nite.

Love ya
Kas

Hey!! It's been an exciting day!! The dealership called and my car will be there tomorrow. I sold my old car and they seem happy as clams with it. Jim and I will be going to SL tomorrow to get my car and do some Christmas shopping. This will be the first time in our marriage that we've gone Christmas shopping together. I think it'll be fun!

Had dinner tonight at Mom & Dad's. Dutch oven potatoes and hamburgers--YUM!! Wendy, Tilly & Laila were there. The kids all got along great. Laila fits in like she's been part of the family forever. It's great.

Well, Kas & Stacy, I'll stop in and show you the new wheels!! See ya Saturday!! (that's when we're going home!!)
Love ya
karla

HOW SWEET!

Sure makes it worth all the work, huh, Wend? I'm so happy that things are going well, that you are all adjusting to each other and that Laila feels like she belongs with you. What a blessing.

I also spent most of my day running around. Many errands to do and about 50% of them were futile. I hate when I get an idea and and vision in my head of what I want and then can't find the components anywhere.....GGGGRRRRR! Soren got a whopping 20 minute nap today until he got another 45 min one at 7:00. Yikes!

Stacy-hope you don't think I was pointing my cyber-finger at you about being neglectful in posting....it just got really slow for a few days and when I would jump on in the morning, it made me sad. I was just as much to blame as anyone, but I don't really want to read my own posts. ;o)

Trying to get through the next couple of days before the kids are out for Thanksgiving. Hannah's grade does their big devotional tomorrow and Fri. so I need to get the video cam charged up and make sure I'm there on time to see her. Then on Fri I have to take a pumpkin pie for her class feast and Apple Crisp for Ford's feast. I'll need a week off and I'm sure it will go much too fast.

Trying to do some Christmas gift planning. I have the hardest time with gift giving. Never know what anyone wants or needs. The kids are relatively easy this year, but the others are not. I have a few ideas, but I'm not sure how much time I will have to pull some of them off.

Stacy-I only had to lose the info on one electronic planner for me to realize that I do better with paper. Sorry you got a lemon Palm. Hope you got all your appts straightened out.
I'm not sure what our plans for Sat are. I think I'm free, not sure about Curtis. What time were you thinking of being up here? It would be helpful to know that. I would love to go, haven't been in the longest time. Let me know what time you think you will be in town. Enjoy your hectic week with Stew gone and practice one word for me.......NO! Quit being so nice and overscheduling yourself. Your family needs you more than those nail ladies do! Kay, off my soapbox now.

Have a great day! Update tomorrow at 10!

Howdie! Well, I cannot say that I am borred anymore! Today I cooked 3 different breakfasts, ran 3 miles down at the armory, took the girls to story hour at the library, made two different lunches, tried to take a nap,went to gymnastics twice, cooked homemade lasagna for the first time, mopped the kitchen, bathed the girls, ran to the grocery store and had the girls in bed before 9 so Ben and I could inhale a bowl of ice cream and watch Deal or No Deal! I AM EXHASTED!! However, everything was worth it when Laila offered to say our family prayer..."Heavenly Father, ....mmmmm..thank you for my daddy, thank you for my mommy, and my sisser....amen"! Needless to say I was in tears by the end of her little prayer! What a great day! Love all of you-Wendy

Well, I guess it is my turn to get in a line or two. I'm with Kassie, I miss the daily notes. Karl and I went to the temple at noon today. It was our ward night, but we decided to go at noon instead and it seemed much easier than getting ready tonight. After Dad did the feeding at the ranch, (1 mule) we drove to the seems (down past Marie Ogden's place) to check up on his new horse. All seems to be going well. Zeke hasn't ridden him that much because they have been rounding up cows, but now he will just be riding to check on them, so he can use Karl's new horse more often. We just watched the Jazz play the Clippers. Really close for 2 1/2 quarters, but the Jazz ended up winning by 22 points. The new young players are fun to watch, they are good and they really hustle. We also get lots of rebounds. Now that Ostertag isn't there it is quite different! I plan to do a little more sewing tomorrow, Wendy is planning to trim my hair and do my nails on Thursday, then on Friday and Saturday, it is the Christmas Holiday Fair. I hope it is better than the one in Nephi. I did make about $125.00 bucks, but I spent more than that just getting there and getting home. It is a good thing that I didn't go just for the money.
I think John and Trish are moving the store tomorrow. They seem to be really busy, I hope they are making some money!

Well, looking forward to more blogs, good night for tonight. Love ya Mom

I want to see the new floor coverings too! We are going to get our furniture soon, we finally decided what style and what pieces. Curtis really wants a chair, but we don't have room for it right now, so just the sofa and loveseat. But when the addition gets done and we move the piano, we will get the chair too. This is what we're getting. Very simple, straight lines, almost modern. With our small living room, it was the best option.

I did my fourth run today. It was HARD! mostly because it was cold and I ate a much too big lunch. I need to remember not to eat like that on the days I'm supposed to run. But I stumbled through.....yay me!

Curtis has been home for the last two days due to the lovely weather. I think snow/rain is going to become my best friend. LOL! Not much he can do on the mountain in that kind of weather.

Well, no big news....just a regular old day. Hope you all had a good one. We need to start posting every day, even if nothing major has happened. I miss the regularity we had there for a bit. Love ya

Kas

Stacy

Post a picture of your new floors!! I want to see. To put a picture into the post, click on the little icon toward the right of the new post screen. It looks like a landscape mountain picture. Then it'll ask you to browse for the picture. Go find it, hit the button and SHAZAAM!!!

later

Danggit!! I'm done now. Might as well go pick out the headstone and get it over with...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15702642/

HEHE!!

Glad everything is going good for ya, Wendy. I was going to come down tonight for pizza and wingies but Mom said she had those with you for lunch--bummer.

I thought I'd post a picture of the newest addition to my family, but I'm lazy, and don't want to download a picture, so here's a link

http://www.vw.com/jetta/index.html

It'll be black--and not crunched in on the front. I'm wondering now if I get the guitar they're giving out with sales of new vw's for a promotion. Yup, that's what sold me, the darn electric guitar I can plug into my car's stereo. Vdub in da house!!

Nothing going on here. Just same old boring stuff. Wishing the dealership would call me and let me know when my car was going to be delivered so I can plan a trip up north. Might have to do some Christmas shopping while I'm up there.

I can't believe today was only Monday, and this after a three day weekend. But, I don't have to work Friday so I only have 3 more days this week. I like short weeks. They should all be short. I think I should file a discrimiation lawsuit against the government for discriminating against short work weeks. Yeah, that'll work.

Well, I'm off to bed. I should have gone to bed an hour or so ago, but I got doing a bunch of damn sudoku puzzles and well, next thing I know, it's 11. Well, Hasta la manana--or whatever

HA HA...I got to see Stacy's new floors first! It looks amazing! That tile is great. I am so excited for you! Hey, we are home now and it is so nice! Laila is in heaven here...and Tilly is much happier here too! Got to go see ig they are REALLY cleaning their room! Love ya-Wendy

Here is the new family photo!

Seeing these pictures makes me realize how big Tilly is getting!

Laila is so much fun..she is definately our wild flower!

This is such a sweet picture of the girls! Everyone kept asking us if they were twins!

I can't figure out this picture and text thing...sorry!

I am actually smilling tonight! We have had an interesting day. This morning Ben and I took Laila to visit her aunt Jessica (mother's little sister)! Needless to say Laila did not want to be there, did not care to see Jessica or her son Alex who is Laila's age, and especially would not let me out of her sight! We played for 2 hours with them and didn't say much...it was a little awekward! Jessica was surprised that she was calling us mom and dad after only being with us less than a week...but then again, we are surprised also! Tonight we went out to dinner with Papa, Nana, and all the aunts and uncle's on Ricky's side (except Lee and Jackie's family). Their family is great and so good to us. They are a lot of fun to be with and we feel like family. It was also nice to not have Jackie there! So, the whole reason I am smilling tonight is because with all of her family we have been around...she wants us!!YEAH!! And better yet she and Tilly are getting along better and better all the time! I find myself teaching Tilly how to 'trick' Laila...you know...so she can get her way?! I don't know if it is a good thing or not but it makes them both happy...which makes me very happy!

Kass, I am so proud of you! I deffinately need to run again and now I need that 'ME' time even more! Sometimes having more in the schedule makes me organize and appreciate me time more.

Hey Stacy, it looks like we are going to cuise home sunday night after disney on ice gets over...I think it lasts an hour so we should be on the road between 7 and 7:30...can we stop by on our way or will it be too late?

Karla, I have shared your miracle grow joke with the Crane clan and got lots of laughs out of it!

The girls are being too quiet so I better see what's up! Love ya, Wendy

Hi again! Just relaxing a bit while all the guys are at Mutual. Soren is asleep and the girls are finishing up homework. I'm TIRED!! I did get my 2nd run done today though. Today I ran at the cemetary and it's much nicer, shaded, and no people to see you or cars to come up behind you.

It's a big week in the life of Soren....he got his first tooth on Monday and today he started to crawl in the regular way. He still drops and army crawls when he's in a hurry, but he's got the real deal figured out.

I am concerned about the shift of power also Karla, but I think it won't be as bad as it would be if we had Kerry in the White House. Pres. Bush will just get to use his veto power more often. It is difficult to not be turned off by all the negativity that surrounds campaigning. I, for one, am tired of the ads on the radio and all the street signs. Ick! Time to see and hear new things.

Wendy-Ain't life fun??? Being a mom is probably the most thankless, tiring, and most frustrating job in the world, but by contrast, it's also the most rewarding in the long run. If you can stick with it through all the crappola, I hear the prize at the end is pretty good. Sure makes you thankful for Mom, doesn't it? I don't know how she put up with us sometimes. Stacy, do you remember our Daily Fights and our screaming contests????? When my kids are noisy I just want to grab the duct tape and tape away, Kassie, tape away........
Sorry that things are a bit strained with Jackie, but you're probably right about it making it easier to take Laila and go home. I'm glad you get to head home earlier than planned.
Oh, and on the shopping ? of how I do it.....I don't! I try to not take them with me unless its abolutely necessary. I also have lots of people who share nice things with us and I don't have to shop for them all that much. It IS hard to remember their sizes....."Now who wears what????"

I guess that I'm not going to make it down before Thanksgiving after all. I think I'll wait til around Christmas time, when I'll have more time to stick around. Wont' have to rush back to hang out with the Welchs. Are we still planning to do New Year's at your place, Stacy? I think that would be fun.
Let's make a plan....oh, yeah, what about the Helquist get-together. Uncle Lyle said that maybe the Saturday before would be good. Any of you planning to try to come to that? It would be fun to have you there again!

Well, better go see what's going on in the kitchen. It's getting noisier....you just can't escape the noise in this house. Some times I long for peace and quiet, ,,,,, but only for a minute. What would get me up and going in the morning if I didn't have these fun guys who love me and depend on me??

Kassie

I went thru my trunk--it was an old blue hard suitcase that you had me put in there. Is it for you? Or should I just give it to Mom? Let me know.

Howdy--

Well, I'll be honest with ya-I'm scared. You all know what a political junkie I am, and I realize that most of you don't understand why I would even be worried or bothered by the outcome of yesterday's election and the resignation of Sec. of Defense Rumsfeld today. I can't explain it, I'm just scared for our country, for the world, for everything.

I was watching Comedy Central last night and they have two shows that are semi-mock news casts dealing with politics. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is more left leaning, Demoncratic (no, that's not a typo). and the Colbert Report is more right wing Republican. I really enjoy both shows because it makes you laugh at the stupidity of most of our elected officials. Last night they did an Election day special. After it became apparent that the Dems would be taking over power in the House (oh the thought of Nancy Pelosi as Speaker makes me want to crawl in a hole and hide) Colbert made the following statement, referring to the people in the country who had elected the Democratic majority:

"You’re the ones who made this bed. Now you’re the ones who are going to have to move over so a gay couple can sleep in it. Tomorrow you’re all going to wake up in a brave new world. A world where the constitution gets trampled by an army of terrorist clones created in a stem-cell research lab run by homosexual doctors who sterilize their instruments over burning American flags. Where tax & spend Democrats take all your hard-earned money and use it to buy electric cars for National Public Radio and teach evolution to illegal immigrants. Oh – and everybody’s high!"

I realize it's a bit crass and all, but it seriously fits how I'm feeling right now. I need the touch of humor or I'm gonna cry.

Ok, now Stacy, you can get your eyes back into socket because I'm sure they just rolled into the back of your head with all the political mumbo jumbo :D I'm weird, what can I say?

I got home for lunch today and guess what I saw in my driveway??? I'll post a picture later, I'm at work right now. Peyton, riding a 2 wheeler!!! He was so proud of himself!! Jim took his training wheels off today and said it took about 10 minutes of help and he was off. He's still pretty wobbly, but he's doing it!

Well, I don't know if I have the stomach flu or what, but everything I've eaten for the last day or so has come back up and right now I can't eat--but it's not that violent nausea that you get with the usual stomach bug--I just don't feel that great, I guess. Sinus junk or something.

Wendy, sounds like things are moving along good--I'm so excited for you. I'm with you, I have no freakin idea how Kassie does it. I can barely manage my 2.

Well, I guess I better get back to work and occupy myself so I don't sit and stew over the elections and stuff--OK, you can ALL quit laughing at me now!! I'm serious!! I'm really freaked.
Oh well,

Love ya
Karla

Hi everyone! Thanks for your advice...I have been taking time to talk to Tilly and try to explain certain things before they become a problem! That seems to help a lot. And now that Laila is more adjusted to the household here I don't have to be with her every second! Each day gets better with Tilly! The girls are playing really well together...and when they fight they sound just like sister! What more could I ask for? I tried to explain to Tilly what it is like to be a sister...and that little sisters want to be just like their big sisters! Not what she wanted to hear! I am realizing I probably owe all of you an appology for being the 'little sister'! Laila wants everything just like Tilly. Yesterday we went shopping for shoes, bedding, and Christmas dresses! What a LOOOONG day that was! How do you do it Kassie? The thought of multiplying yesterday by 3 makes me disfunctional! Buying their dresses Tilly would say, " I want the white dress"...Laila whould immediately say "I want the white dress like my 'sisser'! "Then I want the RED dress"..." I want the RED dress like my 'sisser'!" Tilly was so mad by now..."FINE!! I want the PINK dress" ..." I want the PINK dress like MY 'SISSER'!!!" Mindy and I were laghing by this point because we had just spent an hour picking out one pair of shoes and it played out the same way! We love our 'sissers'!!! Thanks for putting up with me over the years! Ben is trying to come up today after work ...if that doesn't work he will be here tomorrow after work! I have to take Laila for a visit with her Aunt Jessica (the mom's sister) tomorrow at 10..I am a little nervous for that so I really hope Ben is here tonight! I had a big fight with Aunt Jackie! She is having a hard time dealing with her own emotions and likes to take it out on me...I wasn't about to take any crap from her so it wasn't pretty! However, Laila has never gone back to Jackie since the baptism...because she didn't want to! So I have had her since saturday and we are going home on Monday! Jackie is impossible to please and she is not my concern so the fight has become a blessing in disguise!

Stacy, good luck with the meds! Two of Mindy's kids have started taking the same meds and it has helped them! It kills their appetite however so maybe watch for that! I can't wait to see the new floors when we come through!

Karla, we miss ya and can't wait to come home to the country! Going through all of this makes me appreciate all of you so much...just thinking about how much I love you makes me cry!

Kassie, you amaze me! I can't even comprehend what you get done in a day and still have your sanity for the next day! I am so worn out and its only been a week! I am a whimp!! I guess that's nothing we didn't all know!

And Mom, thank you so much for always being there for me! I love you so much and coundn't do this without your support!

I am going to go take a shower now and get my cry over with for the day! I love you all! Talk to you soon, Wendy

Whazzup??
Just trying to recover from the festivities of the weekend here. Also had a funeral to attend yesterday so that puts me a day behind in some things. That's okay, though, cause I got to have lunch out with Curtis. That's always a plus!

Hope you all have a great day. I have to run, gotta go to Kindergarten with Sadie today. Cya!

Just a quick note from me before I hit the bed. Liz and I are travelling to Mesa tomorrow to pick up a piece of furniture. We will return on Thursday. I will try to keep my cell phone on and by my side, so call if you need to or want ot. I'll report in after I return. Our love and prayers go out to each one of you. We are so very proud of all of you and what you are accomplishing in your lives and the lives of our grandchildren. May the Lord bless you and keep you safe, physically and especially, spiritually. Love you, Mom

Wow!
There was lots to read this morning and it all brought tears to my eyes. I love you all too!

Stacy-stinky on the cold. I'd be popping Cold-EZ or Vitamin C. I always hating doing nails when my nose was runny and I was coughing. Good luck! Oh, also with Olivia's meds. Let us know how that goes. Hopefully, no wall bouncing!

Wendy-I think Tillly is feeling really left out. I don't have any great advice except make sure you are paying equal amounts of attention. Yah right, like that's possible. It will definitely take her time to adjust to sharing you with someone else. Is Ben with you this week????? Hang in there!

Mom-score on the new chair. We also found our new living room furniture I think. Haven't bought it yet, but I'm anxious to go get it. Uncle Lyle called after we got back on Sat and wanted to know if you were still in town. He wanted to give you some squash! haha! I told him to stick a stamp on it and mail it. hehe! He said he didn't think so. That's pretty cool about Clay's engagement. Kena is too nice!

Karla-How is your neck? Is the therapy working? I meant to ask you and had less time to talk to you than I thought I would.

Well, I am starting my couch-to-5K training program today. Wish me luck. I think the only time I will get to run will be after I get the kids home. I told them today what I was doing and that they had to be responsible and get their homework done without me standing over them. I told them I need time for myself to do this. Montana wants to run the 5K also. He has to do it for his Duty to God.

Hey Everyone! What a trip I am having!!! HELP!! No matter what I do one of the girls is sad! Tilly is really struggling with this and it breaks my heart to see her this way...any advise? Thanks for your support...I am not quite sure how I am doing this. Laila however is doing great! She wants to go home (to my house) right now...she doesn't want Jackie around...and she calls me mommy and Ben is her daddy! So yeah for us,...crap for Jackie...and Tilly heart is broken and I can't sleep so therefore I am a WRECK!!!! I love you guys. Talk later, Wendy

Hi, I have just visited with Wendy and Ben. We are so excited about the events taking place in their lives. Karl went to Salina with David (hauling cows) and arrived here about 6 o'clock. I had a very long nap this afternoon. After we left the church yesterday we went to Bills furniture shop and guess what I found? A green wing back chair (just what I wanted when I got the one at Sam's) so I bought it, and I love it. We just put the other chair out in the sewing room. We found a couch and love seat we like for the sewing room, but didn't buy. I need to concentrate on the upstairs floors and I plan to make a bedspread. Kena sent a book home with me showing how to do the Log Cabin Quilt fast. Now I need to plan some colors and go to the quilt store in Cortez for fabric.

It was so fun to have all of you together yesterday. We love each of you so much. Liz was looking at our Blog and she thinks my girls love each other much more than hers do. I am so proud to come from a family that loves each other. Uncle Jack commented on our family closeness when we were at dinner and I am thrilled that that same closeness has continued into my family. Thank you for loving each other.

Clay is officially engaged! The wedding will probably be in January. Happy for them and especially for Kena, as she needs those children to move out. Maybe with will get LaNells boyfriend to move ahead.

Talk to you all later. Love Mom

It was so nice to have everyone together again. Thanks for inviting us to your baptism Olivia! What a wonderful time.

Wendy-Laila is very sweet and it was fantastic to meet her. So very happy for you all. Tilly, how exciting for you to have a sister! We LOVE our sisters!

Karla, we didn't look in your trunk! I still can't think what I put in there, so you get to go exploring!!

Thanks Mom and Dad for bringing those things up for me. I appreciate it. Sorry I didnt' get to say good-bye yesterday, you left before I got back from the park.

Well, it's been a normal, nutty Sunday here. Just waiting for the time to go to Nate and Lori's for supper. I love having my in-laws here, but getting together every night is making me tired. If they lived here, it would be SO much easier.

Have a wonderful Sabbath and I'll catch you all later.....

Congratulations, Olivia!!!

Today was very nice. I hope you always remember how special it was. I love you!!

Aunt Karla

Happy Day!! We went to court today and everything went well. It was a little nerve racking having Laila's mom and her whole family there! They also transported her dad to be there..we sat with his family! The county attourney was awesome..I am glad she's on our side! She requested that both the mom and dad's rights be terminated...their attourney's requested trial! Oh- well...they don't have a case so nothing to worry about! Trial is on Dec. 18th. Laila will be with us as of the 13th of November...so her adoption will be finalized on May 13th! The county attourney also requested that it become an adoption placement rather than foster...and the judge granted us that! We left soon after...before the mom's family had time to attack us! The dad's "fionce" was there...she is the 3rd girl that got pregnant from him..she is not nice! And we learned today that because Ricky's rights were terminated on Mikey...and will be with Laila...if Kristal does anything to jeopordize the health or saftey of their daughter...DCFS will ask us to take her as well...not to mention the 2 that are missing! We really need to get our house built! Who knows what the Lord has in store for us! We spent some time with Laila today...it took her a little while to warm up to us..she has been having a hard time for the last 2 days..I think she is worried about leaving again. But she eventually warmed up and we had a lot of fun playing and she still told me she loves me tonight when we talked on the phone! After we left she got our picture out and told Jackie we are her family. Keep her in your prayers! I can't wait to bring her down on saturday..hopefully she will feel comfortable enough with me! Love you all, and I will keep you posted! Wendy

GOOD LUCK TODAY
WENDY AND BEN!!!!

It's a RED LETTER DAY!

Yah, the letter is S! That's the one I'm wearing, for speeder. Got my first ever speeding ticket this morning. What a shame, I was going for never getting one in my lifetime. Blew that deal!

Jordan missed his bus and friend-rides today so I had to take him to school after dropping off all the other kids. I was in a hurry to get him there so he wouldn't miss all of 2nd hour and got nabbed on University Ave near Will's Pit Stop. Jordan said afterwards, "I wasn't that concerned about being late, you were." BLAST!!!! So now I gotta go to traffic school and pay the blasted fine. There goes my birthday $$. What a fun way to spend it.

Karla, your kids look so cute. I didn't even take any pictures. I can't believe you said you actually enjoyed it. Are you truly a Barton girl????? Just kidding. I'm glad you had a good time and that your kids did too. Love the layout, btw! I'm getting antsy to do something again. Just need to find time. I think I need to put time into sorting and burning my photos onto CD's though, cause for some reason I'm really concerned about my computer konking on me.

Well, better hit the shower. Don't want to be running late again and try for another ticket taking Sadie to school!

I hate to admit it, but I actually had fun on Halloween this year. I don't know...maybe it's because the kids were old enough to do a lot of it without me holding their hands. Maybe my happy pill was working overtime, who knows? All I know is, I have darn cute kids!!

This is my Little Jack Sparrow. Ignore the brown boots--just pretend they're black.

This is my little She-Devil. She was sick and didn't feel well. Had a hard time getting a smile out of her, but I think she had a great time. She got to go Trick or Treating with friends and not just Mom & Peyton. (there were 2 adults with them

I love this picture. He just threw the football in the target game, and this is his followthru, but it looks like he's having a good ole' belly laugh at someone being forced to walk the plank!!

This is about the best smile I got out of her most of the night. I couldn't get over how grown up she looked. She was exhausted, had no voice, but she was a trooper. Stayed till the bitter end.

And last, but not least, here is my sneaky little pirate, flirting again.

We did have a good time. Hope you guys did too. I'll see you all on Saturday. Oh, here's a little something I've been working on for my wedding album, thought I'd stick it out there and get your opinion on it--tell me what you think about it.

Love Ya!!