Happy Mother's Day Grandma Lou

2 hours later we felt like we had been drug behind a tractor for a few miles. Portrait Innovations (who are normally great) were a little short staffed and there was no one to "entertain" and they were also running behind. On top of that our appt. time was 4 pm which can be a sketchy time for kids anyway (even if you have a huge bag of snacks). But we ended up printing the last picture because it is hilarious and my Mom loves it! It is very "real life." In a few months time maybe it will be a fond memory for the rest of us ;)




Thankfully some of the individual pictures (which were done first while we were waiting for the big studio) turned out better so we were able to do a nice collage to give to her with the crazy picture :)

Purple Blanket Babushka

Meadow's favorite purple blanket in the whole world goes with her all over the house and most car rides and definately to Doctor appointments to relieve the stress. It gets washed at LEAST once a week because it is so well loved. She loves to drag it around, ball it up into a bundle, wear it like a shawl or a scarf, peek through the holes and hide under it. To quote Ms. Meadow "awwww, nice blankie."

"Our Beautiful Garden"

Almost overnight it seems, a hundred or two dandelions have blossomed in our yard. This morning we went outside to go for a walk and Parker exclaimed "Oh! Look at our beautiful garden! Look at all of the beautiful sunflowers! They are everywhere. Can I sit right here and look at them?" ;) Everything is more beautiful through the eyes of a child.

Great Film!

We saw Lars and the Real Girl last night and LOVED it. Highly recommend it to everyone. That's all I'll say. :)

Tagged Again

A-Age: 33. Isn't that supposed to be lucky or something?!?!?

B-Band listening to right now: none

C-Career (plan): Busy Mom

D-Drink or Smoke: Neither

E-Easiest friend to talk to: The ones I have known the longest.

F-Funniest moment of your life: Geez, I think there are too many to single out one. I love the ones that make you so weak you can't stand up and the ones that make the entire pew shake at church. You know what I am talking about Heather Crenshaw. The two that came to my mind first: One time Karissa and I were shopping together for our husbands for Valentines Day and planning things out loud and asking opinions about things and walking up and down the "Valentine Isle" and all of a sudden Karissa, mid-planning, said in an angry voice "Neal better get me something for Valentines Day or I'm gonna kill him." And I COULD NOT laugh any harder or stand up. Then at a Singles Conference at Church during sacrament I was sitting by Heather Crenshaw and someone passed her the bread and she picked up a piece with a long crust on it and when she went to bite it the crust fell away from the rest of the bread and she bit into air and accidently made a snorting noise and I COULD NOT STOP shaking the entire bench so I had to walk out before I exploded.

G-Gummy bears or gummy worms: Worms. Have you ever had a gummy worm war?!? Dip them in water so they get sticky and throw them at eachother. It's great fun!

H-Have a significant other?: Yes

I-In love: I should hope so. Yes

J-Junk food you like: Everything really but my favorite is potato chips

K-Kids: 2, 1 boy, one girl

.L-Longest ride ever: Distance Wise: When my family moved from Washington State to Vermont. Pain Wise: When I rode in a tiny car with 4 other people and my second cousin from Rexburg to my Grandparents house in Burley and I had injured my knee and it was swollen and throbbing and there was no room to straighten it out. I thought I was going to die. Turned out to be a torn ACL.

M-Man/woman you love the most: Gredge, my children

N-Names for your kids: Parker Elliot (Elliot after Greg's Mother's Maiden name) and Meadow Claire (Claire after my Grandma Claire Williams)

O-One wish you have now: Three more wishes

P-Phobias: Spiders, ticks, I also don't like to sleep in total darkness

Q-Quote (favorite): At this stage in life "Cleaning a house while children are growing, Is like shoveling snow while it's still snowing."

R-Reasons to smile: Sweet Children, being loved

S-Sleeping hours: unfortunately I probably average around 6 because I stay up too late doing the things I don't get to do during the day. I've got to fix this.

T-Time you woke up: Today 6:30 because I had a terrible dream and then couldn't go back to sleep.

U-Unknown fact about you: I went to Russia on an exchange program for gymnasts. It was so awesome. We were there during 'White nights" and it never got dark the entire time we were there. The darkest it ever got was twilight, that nice evening light. I learned alot and it made me really grateful for all of the luxuries back home.

V-Vegetable you hate: Cauliflower

W-Worst habit: putting things off until later

X-X-rays you’ve had: Knee, foot, ankle, chest, teeth

Y-Yummy foods: Southwestern eggrolls from Chilis, italian, mexican, indian, fruit, cheese cake

Z-Zodiac sign: Pisces

Who I am tagging!: Anyone who reads this and would like to play/participate!

Highlights of Harris Lake Earth Day Celebrations

Mechanical Bull Ride!!!



Cotton Candy





















Bluegrass Band



Alternate Fuel Racing Game



Checking out different fish caught from Harris Lake





















Wally Pog the Frog





















Hay Ride

Something we learned...


The Long Leaf Pine Ecosystem is endangered (Different from the Lob Lolly Pine which is very common). There are not very many long leaf pine forests anymore. They are a fire dependent species because they grow at a much slower rate than other trees and grasses and often die out because they don't get the water and sunlight they need. They are naturally fire resistant and wild fires burn out the other grasses and trees so that they can thrive. Harris lake had a hay ride that took us to a long leaf pine forest they are creating. It was pretty neat and is alway open to the public. They said you can often see wildlife and deer back there. The trees were planted about 12 years ago and the Park has have burning cycles that alternate every couple of years until the long leaf pines reach a certain height and are out of danger.

Happy Earth Day!

Officially, Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22nd, but the celebrations start this weekend. It looks like the stormy weather will hold off Saturday and let us all get out and celebrate, learn how to protect and reflect upon this amazing planet we call Mother Earth.

Harris Lake County Park is excited to be hosting their 8th Annual Earth Day Celebration! Its a family friendly festival at a beautifully scenic park. The celebration will highlight fun activities, kids crafts, educational exhibits, food vendors and live music. You can view Native American artifacts, check out an electric bucket truck, play some disc golf, see plenty of live fish, insects and animals and even take home a loblolly pine tree.

Durham will be celebrating Earth Day in style with an eclectic mix of live music, storytelling, delicious food, a climbing wall, and lots of hands-on environmental activities. The festival will highlight green products and electricity free entertainment as well as an Earth Art Market and a Public Art Project.

If different species is what you are looking for, you will want to head to the North Carolina Zoo. You are cordially invited to join the Zoo's Party for the Planet this Earth Day. Click through for the schedule of all the fun events from music and face painting to recycling and a can exchange.

Downtown Raleigh will host the Planet Earth Celebration at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The event will feature live bands, sustainable shopping at the Green Bazaar and Boutique, kids activities from the Scrap Exchange and Marbles Museum, and the NC Sustainable Building Design Competition.

A Celebration of Art and Nature is on tap at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Join them for the unveiling of newly installed works of art, and explore new Park trails. Enjoy musical performances, storytelling, guided tours, children's workshops, and more.

Buried in Laundry

The good news is that it is great fun for the kids to play in. It is the folding and putting away part that I get behind on. There always seems to be something more immediate that needs to be done like the dishes, sweeping, toys everywhere etc. I need to devise a new plan. What are your laundry routines like? Help! :)

Pretty Pretty Princess

I painted Meadow's toenails for the first time ever this morning. She was very interested and sat really still and let me dry them with the hair dryer. She was very pleased and happy to show them to daddy.

A good one

Daily Gems
Living in a Such Way as to Make Life Good
---------------------------------------------------

" 'Life is good, if we live in such a way to make it so.' . .
'A good life' comes as a result of the way we do things, of the
words we choose to say, and even of the kind of thoughts we choose to have.

". . . 'Wanting to' is the determining factor which
leads us to lay hold upon the word of God and be happy. Perseverance in
making correct decisions is what leads us to happiness."

Topics:
happiness, determination, lifestyle

(Benjamín de Hoyos, "True Happiness: A Conscious Decision," Ensign, Nov. 2005,

Breaking Dawn

For all of the Stephanie Meyer fans out there...Amazon.com has the 4th book in the Stephanie Meyer series on sale and discounted for pre-order so it will show up at your door on or shortly after the August 8th release date. Woo-hooo! 117 days to go! ;)

They make great pets

Our new pets, "a rainbow colored great dane" (there was a great dane on Sesame Street this week) and his puppy sister got tired and thirsty from playing fetch with Greg so he got them some water.

The Gong Show

With special guest panel judge Meadow Winters! At 7:20 this evening Meadow started to fall apart so by 7:30 we were on our way upstairs to sing some songs in the rocking chair. On our way up she was calm and there was no protesting as we sat down in the rocker. I started to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle..." when I was interrupted by an emphatic "NO!" so I started a different song "I often go walking in Meadows of... again "NO!" So this is how it went for the next 12 tries. Sometimes I got out just one word and sometimes I got out two sentences before the "No!" It became a challenge and it was hard not to laugh. Finally I got through an entire rendition of "How much is that doggy in the window" and "Baby bumblebee." Yeah!!! :)

Wonder Twin Powers Activate

"Form of Superman and Wonder Woman." Parker had his adnoids out today and we had fun with our matching bracelets. He was a super brave boy and everything went really well. He has been enjoying lounging around on the couch (except for the very sore throat part), watching his new Hercules movie and occasionally wandering into the kitchen for popcicles and ice cream. Hopefully he will not get sick so often and be able to breathe better at night with these out.

I quit adult ballet

While I'm updating I will tell you all that I decided to quit my adult ballet class. In 5 weeks I have only been able to attend once. Greg has been traveling for work and then we went out of town for Easter, and things just kept coming up. Also I just got called to YW and am there Wed. nights, plus teaching gymnastics two nights a week, and it felt like I would be gone too many evenings. So I will postpone the dancing for a while. Maybe they offer Grandma Ballet classes. ;)

Eye update

Had some inquiries about the eye so I thought I'd post a new picture of the healing process. I have to go back in May for a steroid shot (helps the scar heal quicker and makes it flatter) then the surgeon is going to cut and re-stitch part of it so I'll post a newer hopefully better looking picture of the eye after summer. Until then we'll call it "Shabby Chic" and it's a great excuse not to wear any make-up. Very liberating :) If anyone ever needs the number of a great plastic surgeon just let me know, he's fantastic.

Preschool Easter Party

Waiting in cubbies until the Party started (notice Meadow, luckily someone was absent. She was so proud to be with the big kids)


Greg was a hit in the kitchen area as all of the little ones loved pretending to pour things on him and kept piling food on his lap.

Easter Greatness

We had a great time in Hickory (Greg's hometown) over Easter weekend. Three egg hunts, some cake decorating and eating (Gluten-free of course) at Great Grandma Margaret's (Memaw), and an all around fun time with cousins and friends. Thanks for the pics Kelly :) Parker also got a little framed picture of Christ from the Sunbeam Teacher in the Hickory Ward which he loves and proudly displays on his night stand.

Greg returns from Saluda, NC

Bed and Breakfast the film crew stayed at







View from the back porch








Watching the sun rise during breakfast








A lovely hike








Filming some waterfalls










Thought I would post some gorgeous pictures of where Greg has been all week! Don't we feel so sorry for him having to go there for work? ;) I decided I am going to start a list of all of the places he has to take me back to since he got to go there by himself...to support all of us. ;) It was a shoot for the show "Our State" that comes on on UNCTV. Great show about places in NC. Saluda, population 600, is just outside of Asheville. I know Greg would want me to say that he did have to lug some very heavy equipment on the hike and many of the shoots he goes on are not this exciting :)

Top ten things to do when your husband is out of town for a week

I can post this now because he is coming back today (March 14th) :)

10. Let the house go and the laundry pile up.
9. Stay up late every night so that when you go to sleep you are too tired to care about the noises the house is making.
8. Order two large pizzas and eat them all by yourself throughout the week.
7. Paint the bathroom upstairs because there is no one to talk to after the kids are in bed and it helps with #9.
6. Stock up on your caffeinated beverage of choice to use when exhaustion sets in from staying up late every night.
5. Rent a romantic movie and snuggle up with your blanket.
4. Stay busy.
3. Keep the phone near by in case he calls in the evening so you can have another adult conversation.
2. Keep the phone nearby during the day so the kids can talk to him after they start wondering "when is daddy coming home?"
1. Practice your patience.

Let's go fly a kite

Today Greg took the kids to the Kite Festival at Bond Park in Cary. When they got home Parker flew his owl kite again in the front yard. The Kite Festival happens every March and there are anywhere from a hundred to three hundred people out flying kites. It is fun to watch and the wind really cooperated this year.

Just because it's cute

The lesser evil

So we got our VW Passat used from carmax a few years back and have found that VW Passats have alot of electrical problems (the mechanic also said they see alot of them in VW cars in general). Not usually big things, but annoying things that cost money. First, a couple of years ago our dashboad lights started randomly working and not working and a year later our tail lights stopped working and now the most recent problem is the blinkers don't work. At all. So we haven't gotten them fixed yet and the other night I was coming home from work at 8pm and was almost to our neighborhood and a pickup was coming up on me fast and I automatically turned on my blinker (which didn't work of course) and started to turn and the driver rolled down the window, flipped the bird and shouted something I couldn't hear but got the meaning of. So, I can see why the driver was annoyed but thought to myself - really do we have to flip the bird and yell? He could have just honked or something. Anyway, Greg suggested I should start doing the manual turn signals out the window with my arm when I have to drive that car just until it gets fixed. Then my automatic thought was - I think I'd rather get flipped off. hahaha. Would people even know what I was doing or pay attention? Hmmm, which would be worse, getting flipped off or doing manual turn signals out the window with your arm? That is this weeks poll....