At Grandma and Grandpa's House

We always celebrate all family birthdays with dinner, presents and cake & ice cream at my parents' house. The girls look forward to the time with their cousins and ... to the presents. : )

Jessica's Birthday!

Ok, so a little side note first. I've done it ... I've gone digital with my scrapbooking. This post will have a few of my first digital pages on it! I'm still figuring out all the features and getting used to the software, so they aren't officially done. I'm not going backwards on digital ... I will use my supplies for the rest of 2006, 2007 and 2008 that are still not scrabpooked, but going forward, I'm doing digital. I know ... I know ... I said I wouldn't give up my working by hand, but my friends were right! Its time. I'll have to find some other kind of craft to do with my hands when I get caught up so that when I want to get away from my computer and do something crafty, I can. Anyway, here are the first of my posts with scrapbook pages. I won't always post my pages, but if I've got them done I will.

Jessica turned 4 on February 7th. It was a Saturday so kind of a lazy day around our house although we were all awaken EARLY by the balloon singing Happy Birthday! We bought Jess this BIG Princess balloon that says "Today is your birthday." and then sings a little happy bday song. Not annoying at all after you've heard it about 25 times at 6am!! I actually got up and put all of the girls back in their rooms and told them to try to sleep. We had a big day ahead of us!

Later, Karianna stopped by to drop off a gift for her. Jess was so excited.

Karianna gave Jess a whale Webkinz. Jess loves it! That afternoon we went tubing up at Soldier Hollow. I had planned to let Jess open her presents from us when we got home ... but she was exhausted and it was late. She had fallen asleep in the car. I woke her up and asked if she wanted to open her presents and she said NO. She just wanted to go to bed. I was shocked but it was her choice. So, on Sunday after church, Jess opened her presents from us. She really didn't care what she got - didn't ask for anything, just wanted to be 4!

I miss my daddy!

One morning not long after we got home from our trip, I was getting Tay ready for school. Jessica brought Tay's poster down (the one Tay made at the beginning of the school year - all about Taylor). I told Jess that Tay didn't need the poster and it could stay upstairs. Jessica looked up at me with these big sad eyes and pointed to the picture of our family. She said, "but mommy, I miss him. I miss my daddy." She then rubbed the picture as if somehow, touching the picture was going to let her touch her daddy. Steve had only been gone about 20 minutes but Jess had not seen him because she had slept in longer than normal. It was the cutest thing. I took this picture and then let her call him on the phone. Jess really loves her daddy. She is always the first to run to him when he gets home and always gives him hugs when he leaves. She actually does a leg hug with him that always makes us both laugh. She runs up to him and hugs his leg as hard as she can and then just sits on his foot! The little things our kids do that make us smile.

100 Days of School

Every year the kids at school celebrate 100 days of school. The 100th day happened right after we came home from Phoenix. Taylor had an assignment to make a poster with 100 of something on it. My mom helped her make 10 fishbowls and Tay drew 10 fish in each fishbowl ... 100 fish. My mom took this picture of Tay and her poster.

I was really impressed with Tay's fish. Pretty good job. She really is a detail oriented kid though, so if you draw one, she can copy it pretty well. Here is a close-up.

Getting caught up!

Yeah!! I'm working on getting caught up finally! You'll find some old ones below ... but that means recent ones are getting that much closer!! But, no more new posts tonight. I'm exhausted!
With the 2 posts above ... I'm done with January! Now can I get Feb done before Feb ends? I'd love to be caught up again. I feel so out of touch with all of you because when I don't blog my stuff, I also don't read everyone else's! Sorry to be so out of touch. To those of you whose blogs I normally read, I think of all the things I'm probably missing on your blogs. Sorry! I promise to be better about it!

To come:
Jess's bday and party
tubing
V-Day cookies
Snowmobiling & the cabin
Steve's plane
and the paint job!

What would I do without him?

I've been wanting to write this post for quite awhile but wanted to finish December first ...

I am so grateful for Steve supporting me and encouraging me and helping me with my expo booth. He was the driving force behind so much of what I did. And I am so grateful that he believes so much in me and my business. I don't always belive it, but I've got a good business and Steve really sees that and I'm very grateful for that.

Steve drove with me to Phoenix and on the way down and back, we stayed a night in Las Vegas. On the way down, we went to the Belagio and saw the Chinese New Year display in the Conservatory. We've been there early in January before, when they were starting to set it all up, but never seen the finished result before. It was neat to see something beside the Christmas display.

Steve helped me setup for the expo and then got to go to the Cardinals game the next day ... if you know NFL football and the dates of the final 3 games of the season, you'd know that our trip to Phoenix happened to coincide with the 2nd biggest game of the year for the Cardinals. And Steve got to go. He went with his sister and her husband and a friend of theirs. Fun experience for him! It was his first NFL game. Wish I could have gone with him, but it was the first day of my expo.Steve helped me at the expo the next day and then flew home that night. When he came back on Friday of that week, I was exhausted, worn out and just all around tired. We had made plans with Steve's sister and her husband (and a friend of theirs) to go to the Dueling Piano Bar. I really enjoyed it ... some very impressive pianists. And it was fun to just relax but my back was so tight, I could hardly sit. My arm was going numb ... it was probably the worst my back had been in a LONG time. Steve rubbed out some of the tightness that night but then he did the sweetest thing the next day ... he arranged for me to have a massage after the expo ended that night. What a sweetheart. And it was a really good massage too.

And just when I didn't think it got any better for a biz trip, the next night he surprised me again with dinner after the expo at a rotating restaurant in downtown Phoenix. It was GREAT and the perfect way to end the expo!

Then the next day it was the highlight of the trip for Steve ... the Heart Attack Grill eating a Single Bypass Burger served by waitresses dressed as nurses. They don't serve ANYTHING healthy - not even diet soda. There is no lettuce on the burgers and there are bottomless fries made with real potatoes and cooked in lard. Even the bun of the burger was dipped in lard and grilled. It was one very unhealthy meal.

I am so grateful for the memories we have together and for all that is ahead of us. How lucky am I? : )

My Jazz Drummer

You probably all know Steve is a drummer in a band AND that we met when he was playing snare drum on the BYU Marching Band drumline. A couple months ago, Steve got asked by our friend Mike to play on a drumline for some of the Jazz (NBA) games. Its like a reunion for Steve - lots of guys he used to play with at BYU. For me, watching is a reminder of one of the things I love the most about Steve. Its his passion. When Steve does something, he goes all out. When he loves doing something it really shows and I'm not sure if there is anything he loves more than drumming on a drumline. He may not have the "chops" he had when we we first met and when we were first married ... but he's still got i! They play at about 2 games a month during the season. There are enough of them on the line that they don't all have to be there but I'm sure he will be at every game he can. Just an excuse to have fun drumming, and make a little money too. This picture is taken as they are waiting for the quarter break. He's standing next to the usher in the brown vest. And here's a video too. Its about 70 seconds. Just kidding ... it won't upload. I think its too big. Sorry!

New Year's Eve

Another tradition with our friends is gathering at Walkers home for New Years Eve. My parents take the girls for an over nighter and a kids' New Year's Eve Party. The Walkers setup their house with tables for games, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, a Disco ball and dance floor and food galore. Its really fun to just hang out with good friends and welcomeo the new year! May the year 2009 bring nothing less than the best - success, happiness and health for all of you! Yes, I'm posting wishes for a happy new year ... and its almost March! I truly do wish the best for you all!

New Earrings!

For Christmas, Alyssa got her first pair of earrings. She actually got about 15 pairs of earrings including a set of green M&Ms and some butterflies! But, that meant getting them pierced. "Will it hurt?" "How bad?" The day after Christmas, off we went to the store to get them pierced. She was BRAVE and sat very still and patient even when the piercing gun got stuck on the back of her earring while it was attached to her earring in her ear! I had to help the clerk get it unstuck and literally had to use a pick to pop the back off.

But I think the torture of keeping the SAME pair in for 6 weeks was worse than the piercing! She really wanted to wear some cute ones!

Still alive!!

Ok, so I know I haven't blogged much lately (for the last 3 months or so) but I've just been swamped. But I did want to say hello to all of you who still stop by my blog once in awhile. Don't give up on me! I do hope to blog again soon!!

Things to blog!
Steve's trip to California
Snowmobiling at our friends' cabin
painting a room - agh ... just realized I didn't take a single picture while I was painting ... oh well.
Lyssa's science project
and I'm sure there is lots more that I can't think of!

Hope all is well for you!

Steve's Band - upcoming gigs!

Come join Steve's band, Flash Point, at one of their upcoming gigs! We'd love to have you there. Get a group of friends together, go hang out and enjoy the music! Get a little crazy, dance and scream for them too!

Feb 13th - The Deer Hunters Pub in Sp. Fork
Feb 27th and 28th - Wee Blu Inn in Payson
Mar 21st - The Nephi bar
Mar 27th & 28th - Flirts in Lehi

Hope to see you there.

Can't make one of these ... join the Flash Point Music group on FaceBook to be kept updated on all upcoming events, see pictures, be a fan and hear other news from Flash Point! If nothing else, to help get the word out about them!! :)

Had to include one of just Steve! : )

Christmas with the Lindseys

Another past due post!

Christmas night we headed to Steve's sister Karen's house for dinner and playing. Laurie and Ray and their kids flew in from Arizona Christmas night so we all stayed late to get to see them and do our gift exchange with them. Each child gives to one of their cousins. And each couple gives to one other couple. Its always fun to see their faces.

All the little cousins plus Jordan. The older cousins minus Braden.All the cousins! What a group!Present time! With Laurie and her family in town, we all gathered again a few nights later for FAMILY VIDEOS. Old time ones, from when Steve was a baby. We all piled in the teather while the little kids played and watched them. How cool to have videos like that from when they were little. Thanks Richard for putting them on a DVD so we could watch them! Then we had pie! You know ... gotta eat at everything!

Christmas with the Hendersons

This is very late, but I still wanted to post it because this is my record of what happens in our life. And I want to have notes on it ... so ... here it goes. On Christmas morning, after we opened all our presents at home, we went to my parents house for more presents and a light lunch.

Every year my mom gives the girls a porcelain doll. This is something she did with me too, so I have about 20 porcelain dolls from when I was growing up. This year the girls got cute little baby dolls. We put them on shelves in their rooms - these are not dolls they play with. : )
One of their favorite gifts this year is Kappla blocks. We discovered these several years ago at a museum in Durham NC. They are kind of pricey, but they are about the best building blocks ever. My kids and my husband love them! When we first discovered them, my brother and Steve spent over an hour building a tower that was much taller than them. It was pretty cool. These blocks stay at grandma and grandpa's house and the kids play with them every time we go!

We always enjoy spending time with family and it was really fun to have my sister, Nyla and her husband Biff here from Texas. Before they left town after Christmas, they came over to our house to hang out for a bit. Alyssa got to show off her new pogo stick and her recently pierced ears!

Today is one of those days.

Why is it, that on some days I just can't seem to have any patience at all? Today is one of those days. Why is it that I think "I really should be more patient with them" but I still scream ultimatums of "you'll be grounded if ..."? Today is one of those days. Why is it that I plan extra time to play with them and read stories but they don't do anything I ask and thus they run out of time? Today is one of those days. Why is it that sometimes, I just can't get it all done and measure up to be the mom I want to be? Today is one of those days.

On days like today, nights like this evening, I'm reminded of a quote from a talk given by James Faust. He was speaking to the women in our church.

Occasionally, however, you are too hard on yourselves. You think that if your offering is not quite perfect, it is not acceptable. I tell you, however, that if you have done your best, which you usually do, your humble offering, whatever it may be, will be acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.

Today is one of those days, that I have to remind myself not to be too hard on myself. To continue to strive to do better. BUT ... even though I don't quite measure up to what I want to be, even though I scream too much sometimes and I'm not as patient as I should be, even though I'm not quite the mom and person I want to be, even though my offering isn't quite perfect ... I AM doing my best, because I usually do exactly that, my very best. And because of that, my offering, even though it isn't perfect, is enough to be acceptable and pleasing to the Lord. And that helps me, do my best a little more often.

To all you other moms out there ... when you have "one of those days". Just remember, keep doing your best, because that is what you usually do. And that will be enough! And that will be pleasing to our Heavenly Father!

Thanks friends! I love you all for your example and friendship ... because today is one of those days!

My Expo

The expo in Phoenix went well. I didn't add as many new clients as I had hoped on site, but am continuing to add new ones since I got home. It stimulated growth for me again and gave me lots of ideas on areas to improve and expand! I accomplished what I wanted ... to feel challenged in my business again! And I've committed to next year's show as well!

Here are some pictures from my booth!
Setting up ...

Karianna and I.

Me with several directors.Me with NSD Tammy Crayk, one of my clients. I've worked for Tammy for 6+ years now.

NSD Pamela Gruber, me and one of my director clients, Linda Cartiglia.

My baby isn't a baby anymore!

Jessica is turning 4 this weekend! She's growing up so fast. But I love it! I'm loving this phase of my life - no diapers, no bottles, rarely even sippy cups, kids get themselves dressed ... its just a fun phase and we can go and do a lot of fun things.

Today was her preschool special day to celebrate her birthday. Before preschool we took some pictures of her!

Jessica had a special poster to fill out and color to share about herself in preschool. And I got to go in and do a special show and tell about Jessica.

Here is a little about Jessica. She was born on February 7th, 2005 in Orem, Utah. She is the youngest of 3 girls. Her sister Alyssa is 8 and her sister Taylor is 5. She loves her family! She told me her favorite food is sandwiches and bananas and her favorite treat is "white" ice cream. She loves Little Einsteins, the movie Cars, Beauty and the Beast and all the Barbie movies. Her best friends are Paige and Aly and her sisters! She has been to Las Vegas, St George and the beach in North Carolina. She loves to play with Barbies and her stuffed animals. She also loves riding her bike, going to gymnastics and preschool. Her favorite color is purple and yellow. For pets we have fish and a FROG! The special things we took for show and tell were her "blue blanket" (she also has 2 others that she loves - one that is yellow and pink and one that has butterflies all over it), her gymnastics leotard, a picture frame she laced together with a picture of her in her BYU Cougars Cheerleading costume, some maracas (she loves to sing, play music and dance), her big Pony, her baby book, and a Care Bear.

After her show and tell, the class clapped for us. Jessica got to choose how the class clapped - elbows, fingers, shoulder shrugs, wrists, or sign language (waving fingers). She chose sign language. Then they sang Happy Birthday to her and pretended to be candles and she blew them all out (and they all fell over on the floor when she blew). What a CUTE preschool teacher to have such fun ideas.