Brenley- 80's chick!

The kids have been watching "Full House" lately, or as Brenley likes to call it, "Michelle". She thinks Michelle is hilarious. She saw Michelle wearing a side pony like this, and had to try it. So she talked Rachael into doing it for her, which wasn't difficult. And you thought the 80's were long gone!

My Mom's Home!

(the older grand kids made this sign at our last family dinner)

And we are glad she is back, for however long we get her. And, good news, she still speaks English! I was a little afraid she had gone totally German on us because she liked it there so much, but she came home and fit right in!


We picked mom up at the airport late Friday night, and took her to Tantrum so Callie could do her hair. The hair stylists in Germany are just not the same and cost a lot more money. Saturday morning she got released, and then got to give a talk at Saydee and Janee's baptism.



( Mom and a smattering of sisters)
And of course, you can't have a homecoming without a big (or huge) family party! We were all there, with our families, except my oldest brother who lives in Utah and couldn't get away.

My poor mom! How hard it must be to return to AZ after 18 months away in the dead of summer! Luckily, she will be off to the beach tomorrow.


(cousins lined up to be bounced sky high. Rachael's turn!)

(Russell and Tiffany) (The Ginge always knows how to party!)


(Bren behind the little waterfall hangin' with dad) (Zan having fun!)

One thing I can say for our family is we eat well when we get together! We had good food and great fun. Now I can't wait for CA!

He's gone.

Heavenly Father called Kanon home at 7. His transplant was successful but his little body couldn't handle the treatment. He was such a fighter and gave it all he had. We will miss his sweet smile, and his sweet little angel spirit. His family still needs our prayers.

Prayers for Kanon

This sweet baby is Kanon. He is the son of our good friends, Brian and Jenny. Wendell was best friends with Brian in High School, and I have known and loved them both since Wendell and I started dating. That's more than 13 years ago.

Kanon is being treated for the same rare disease that took the life of their last sweet baby, Kohen. He has been such a trooper so far. He has gone through a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. Jenny has been in Tucson with him for over two months and it has been hard. Her husband and three kids have stayed here, where they live.

He is being taken off of his machines today, and is not expected to make it. I have cried and cried for this sweet family and have struggled with what I can possibly do to help them.

The only thing I can think of is to solicit prayers on their behalf. They both have great supportive families, and I know that they are being prayed for daily. But I think every little bit helps.

Jenny is so strong, and has had such a great attitude. Check out her blog, and you will see how super humanly brave and humble she has been. She knows her Heavenly Father loves her, and loves baby Kanon . (The same goes for Brian too. Jenny is the one who writes the blog, so I have more of an insight into her thoughts and feelings, but Brian is doing an awesome job with the kids, and is down in Tucson with Jenny and the baby every chance he gets. He is an amazing father.)

http://bjmehlberg.blogspot.com/

There is nothing like looking at something like this to make my own problems seem insignificant.

I hope you will join me in praying for this sweet family. Jenny asks only that Heavenly Father's will be done. She is such a good woman. I pray that her family may somehow have peace. If it is Kanon's time to go, I pray that his family may feel the support and love of every one around them, and their Heavenly Father. I pray that their three children will be able to deal with the loss of yet another baby.

If anyone has gone through a similar experience, or has any ideas on how we as their friends can help ease their burdens, please let me know. Thanks.

very surprising

84 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/

Click on the above link totake the test. I still don't know how to do links without just posting the actual address. A little computer illiterate still.


0-24 - Very Poor (Failure)
25-41 - Poor
42-58 - Average
59-75 - Superior
76+ - Very Superior

This was very surprising to me, because I told the truth! I don't make a good dinner every night. I am unwilling to wake up early to make my family a hot breakfast. I use slang and profanity(sometimes). I wear pajamas instead of a nightgown, and sometimes cook in them. If I cook at all! I think I may have gotten a lot of credit for having many children. And it is possible I complain more than I said I did. I have a hard time lying when people ask how I am feeling. If you don't want to know, don't ask!

Sorry, I am reminding myself of Mrs. Bennet on Pride and Prejudice when her brother asks how she is doing. "Ah how are you Fanny?" "Oh very ill, very ill indeed. But then I never complain!" ;)

Twilight series again. Appropriate for 11 year olds?

Rachael has been bugging me to let her read Twilight. It doesn't have cuss words, and is pretty tame.

But I am not sure it is appropriate. It kind of paints a very vivid picture of extreme infatuation. Kind of like those first feelings you get with a first boyfriend? Only stronger. Possibly too vivid.

And it doesn't really fit our standards. I would rather my children not think it is O.K to spend the night with a guy, even if "nothing bad" happens. And she does kind of ask him about sex. And you kind of get the feeling they may be "doing it" if it weren't dangerous. I have a sister who doesn't even think the series is appropriate for adults. So what do you think? O.K for 11 year olds? Or not? Hmmm....

This explains just perfectly how I feel right now. And since I am in the process of going through my Jane Austen books right now (some of the very very few books that are worth reading more than once. Or twice. you get the picture.) I thought it was appropriate.

I copied it from a girl I went to High School with. I won't mention who because she kind of strikes me as a private type of person.(I feel O.K looking at it because I have commented, so she knows I am there. Theoretically. I'm not sure if my ideas of blogging etiquette are correct or not.) Of course she is super talented, and the colors and sentiment and everything fit her whole new blog layout. I can only copy it and stick it in a post. I don't have the talent to find quotes, change colors and fonts and everything, and make it fit perfectly into my own blog. So I plagiarize.

Back to the quote. Inelegant is a very polite way to state how I am feeling these days. This may be too much information, but I tend to walk around my house with my shirt pulled up over my big huge belly. I feel like I have a huge built in heater, and I do anything I can to make myself more comfortable. I keep a spray bottle by my bed to wet my feet at night so I am cool enough to fall asleep. I am pretty sure that if I didn't have kids, I would walk around in my underwear all day. Why do we live in the desert again? ;)

This is kind of what I look like on a day to day basis walking around my house. Except this is right before I had Brenley, so picture my belly a little smaller, and the rest of me a little fatter;) My MIL will be horrified when she sees this. She thinks this picture is disgusting. I'm pretty sure most of you have had something like this type of huge pregnant belly, so you won't be offended, right? ;)

Twilight Series

• MTV
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• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

I have been contemplating rereading these books for a little while. I have resisted because, frankly, I am useless enough as it is lately. Give me a fun book to read, or three, and I am COMPLETELY useless. I have no self control. I read until the book is finished. I envy those girls that can read for a 1/2 hour or hour before bedtime and be done with it. I am not one of those girls. My friend Crystal has been known to have the self control to not read her book until her house is clean, and sometimes she will only read it while she is on the treadmill. Not me. The kids and the house go to pot until my book is done. Since the house and my kids have pretty much gone to pot because I have been so sick, I figure, why not. I might as well be entertained while I am trying not to hurl, right;)

It is not the best writing around. They are like candy books. Nothing but empty calories. You don't really learn anything from them. (I like to tell my husband that I learn something new with every book I read. That is why I am so good at Trivial Pursuit;) These books, not so true.) But the story is compelling as well as entertaining. And who isn't fascinated by vampires? (yes, I loved the series "Angel", Good vampire plus hot guy equals quality T.V. The same is true about this new Twilight movie, I'm sure of it;)

Now, who was it that I borrowed these books from a few summers ago? Be expecting a call!

Light sabers!

I found this picture and couldn't resist! We are going camping in California this month, and this totally reminded me of all the little boys in our family playing with their light sabers in the grass. No, my kids and their cousins are not sqirrels, but it still fits!

Can you tell I am dreaming of California and the beach? Everything reminds me. "soon I will be getting out of this horrid heat!" ;)

summer Movie Fun!

(Some of the older cousins. It can be so hard to get the boys in a picture!)




We have really enjoyed the summer movies this year. It is kind of hard for me to get everyone out of the house by 9, because I have been having such a hard time sleeping lately. I usually try to stay in bed as late as I can so I don't end up conking out in the afternoon when the kids need me and I have to drive everyone everywhere. But the kids have enjoyed being able to get out of the house at least once a week, so it is worth it. These poor kids don't get to have much fun while I have been so sick!





The older kids all take off when we get there so that they can sit with their cousins that are their age. They have seen many of the movies, so it is pretty much a social thing for them. So it is pretty much me and Bren the whole time. She likes to sit with her little group of baby cousins and play on the stairs, dance to the music, and create mayhem in general. There are only little kids and their moms there, so I don't really worry so much about causing a distraction.

(Bren, Zan, and Booker dancing to the music, and laying down on the stairs. These babies really know how to pay attention!)

Even though these kids generally fill up on popcorn and candy at the movies, there is always room for Krispy Kremes! You know how I can be about conserving gasoline, so since the theater is right next to the only Krispy Kreme in the area, we just have to take advantage of it!


(Kids in the back seat. Bren's mouth full of donut! )

Memory Lane!

This was on my friend Angela's and Julie's blogs. I decided to participate in theirs, and it looked like it would be fun to do too. No pressure;)

Here are the directions:



1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!



2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments

Kindyl's production

I know this is old, but I had forgotten to take my camera with me this night, so I had to e mail my neighbor to send me hers.

The third graders at Kindyl's school did a patriotic musical production at the end of the year. (like Kindyl's red white and blue scarf?) Kindyl's class all wore red, another class wore white, and you guessed it, the last class wore blue.

It was a fun production, and Kindyl had a great time. She was very proud because she was the only girl in her class to be picked for a special duet (which turned into a trio. Two boys.) They had special tryouts and everything. We have had Kindyl in voice lessons, and she loves to sing.

It was a fun night for the whole family!

(Kindyl and our cute neighbor Brittany)

Happy 4th of July!

Some input. please.

I read an article in Newsweek this week about therapists that have been advising their patients to blog. Blogging is good for your mental health, apparently. Since we all know that I always need a little help with my mental health, I have decided to blog more often. And my cousins have been a good influence. It has been so fun to look into all of their blogs and reconnect with them.

So I need a little advice. Since I have been so sick I haven't really been out much. I am kind of a social recluse. Since I don't get to see and talk to real people very often, I thought I would ask for advice on my blog. I know it doesn't really get seen by a lot of people, but it gets seen by the people that count, right?!

Braces: I had planned to get braces back on as soon as I stopped hurling. I figured, if I am already going to be fat, I might as well be fat and ugly all at the same time.

My teeth have always been my best feature. O.K, really my only good feature. Your teeth never get fat;) I have yet to have a cavity. They are naturally strong, and thanks to the miracle of orthodontia, they are usually quite straight. I noticed a few years ago that my bottom teeth were going a little crooked, so I got new retainers and my brother in law, Dr. Garn, shaved down the sides and tweaked the retainers enough to put my bottom teeth basically in line. At the time, one of my front teeth was longer then the other, so he shaved it down. Unfortunately, when my teeth started to go into alignment, the short tooth came up front and started to look longer, leaving my shaved tooth too short. And another tooth is looking shorter too. And I have a bottom tooth that is pushing a top tooth forward.

If you couldn't follow that logic, basically my teeth have more problems then a tweaked retainer can fix. I need braces. But only for about six months. So, should I get them on now even though I am still barfing and miserable? Might as well since I am fat and miserable anyway? Or will the pain from the braces be enough to put me over the edge? Should I wait and get the braces on after the baby comes and things are back to "normal"? From what I have seen, adults with braces are way bigger wussies then the kids are. They whine and complain about the pain and even lose weight(yeah!)

So, in your opinion, should I do it now or later? Any one can chime in, even if I don't know you.

Baby names: I am having a hard time with cute baby names. I remember asking my mom once why she named me after herself. She said something about having so many girls, she couldn't think of another girl name!(yes, I realize she was probably kidding) I am starting to see how that is possible. I have already used the girl names that I like. I need a really cute one to kind of take the sting out of having one more girl. I need something a little different. Here's what I am thinking:

Some may be a little too boyish. Like:
Emmerson
Avery
DeLaney
Ainsley
Chayse

There is one more too, that I loved, but I have a good Friend with a boy that name, so I am not allowing myself to think about it anymore. Out of respect. What do you think, are these too masculine?

Some I love but I think may be too plain/normal.
Violet
Dehlia
Rosie
Alie

What do you think? Sometimes I don't tell anyone the names I am thinking of, because frankly, I don't care if other people like it or not. Some names you learn to love when you love the person that is named it. But this time I need some input.

Do you have any cute/unusual names in mind? The name Brenley wasn't in any name book when I named her, so what other cute names are out there that aren't in the name books? I would love to hear them. Thanks!