VISITOR TODAY

Today, Kaiya had a visitor. Yes, a visitor. I have to say, she did call and invite him over. However, I know she did not intend to call him nor invite him. Needless to say, she was very worried about the visitor's arrival. When he arrived, she broke into tears and told him she would never touch the phone again. The visitor probably thought I was a very MEAN MOTHER. But, I wanted to make a point. I have been telling her the phone is not a toy, however, she wants to call Grammy, Granddad, or Dad at work all the time. Today, she called someone besides the recorded operator and she got a visit!! I will let her tell you in her own words!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Yes, Kaiya called 911 today. How do we all feel about that?? Upon telling my mom she was worried I made Kaiya scared of police officers. However, as he returned to his car, I pressed home the point that police officers are nice and if she ever needs help, she can go to a police officer. Yet, also made it very clear we don't use the phone and we definitely DO NOT CALL 911 because then he can't help other people!!!

President Hinckley

Shaking the cane he was told to use to walk with by his doctor! Not sure it got much use as a help in walking - - but he sure did enjoy using it for other things!!!


I was really going to avoid this, but I keep thinking about President Hinckley. The thing I remember most is the fact that he was ALWAYS SMILING that irresistable smile! I will always remember his upbeat moods and his desire of us as a people to seek out the sunshine in life and be optimistic. He had wonderful humor in everything he did. He was able to transcend barriers of distance, faith, belief to let others feel of his genuine love for them and the Lord's love for them.

He will be sorely missed by me. However, when I heard the news my first reaction was, "Imagine the reunion he and Marjorie are having!" He didn't want to live long after she was gone and am glad he can now be with the love of his life. I never shook his hand, and I never talked with him. I only had one close encounter. He and Marjorie attended a production at Sundance Night Theatre while I was attending BYU. A roommate that worked there got me tickets. The Hinckley's only stayed for half of the production. Sister Hinckley became cold and President was worried about her. So, they left at intermission. With all the security, I tried to approach them, but only got about two feet from them. Sister Hinckley had fallen a few steps behind President in the push of security. However, he stopped and waited for her to catch up, then took her hand. It was the sweetest gesture of love I had seen ever. I hope you enjoyed a few of my favorite pictures of President Hinckley and Marjorie.


I have to add, I love Sister Hinckley too. Wearing cardigans was in and having only the top button fasten while I was on my mission. However, a few of the A.P.s (Assistants to the President) wanted to tell us sisters it was inappropriate. Thanks to Sister Hinckley, we warded them off with a picture of her during an interview with a cardigan on and the top button fastened. Our arguement, "If it is good enough for the Prophets wife, it is good enough for us." We never heard another word!!

Rainy Day Fun!!

Ok, it rained all day long yesterday and I couldn't help but let Kaiya go jump in th rain puddles. She has never been just gone out and played in the rain, I always have thousands of things to do. So, here are some fun little pictures of her first time jumping in a rain puddle!!

This video is of rain puddle jumping and of Kaiya dancing. My friend RACHEL sent Kaiya some hair bows and this BIG TUTU. Kaiya loves it, and yes it is called the "BIG TUTU" by Kaiya!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I'm a little bit COUNTRY

Me at 3 years old, I believe.

Ok, so I just got off the phone with a friend calling to see if I had some cowboy boots that I've out grown to borrow. She wants to borrow them because she is going to the GARTH BROOKS CONCERT in L.A. and is leaving tomorrow. Needless to say, I don't have any laying around from the younger days when my feet were the size of hers. So, I made a statement, "Don't go pretend to be all cowgirl because you are at a Garth concert." Her response was, "Oh! Just because your family has a ranch doesn't mean you are cowgirl! I lived on a farm for five years in Minnesota, I am more cowgirl." I quickly replied, "Really, lived on a sheep farm for 14 years, raised sheep, cows, and pig all that time." Her response is, "you don't even like meat very much!"

Now tell me, what does meat really have to do with it?? Just wondering . . . I have to say, I LOVED MEAT, I was the kid who finished off anything left on the rst of the families t-bone steak bones. . . until my first deer hunting trip at 8 years old!! SHORT OF THE LONG - - went with my brother, Colby on his first deer hunting trip, was extremely excited when he shot the deer. I was in the thick of it, until time to gut him . . . I didn't really know what to expect. So, I was holding the hind legs,everything was great and dandy, we had our deer, and the next thing I remember there was all sorts of blue inards being pulled out . . . I remember dropping the hind legs and high tailing it down the mountian and back to the truck. Since then, meat has been a thing I enjoy only when not thinking about the animal it came from. However, I am proud to say I have had bison tacos, bison spaghetti, deer, duck, quail, and all sort of other wild game meat. I just don't like meat in the raw form (handling it) or in the shape of whatever it use to be!! Aka chicken halves.

Back to the COWGIRL, COUNTRY THING - - basically, I think she got off the phone thinking she is more country. But, whatever, 14 years on the farm and two years off the farm, being farm girl in the city versus 5 years is far longer. And I would love to know the number of times she slept in the barn to feed the bum lamb every few hours in the dead of winter, ok early spring. Also, I wonder about the years spent in 4 - H, FFA (let me see the jacket), cattle drives, nights spent in the barn to feed the bum lamb (does she know what a bum lamb is?), days spent hauling pipes in the alf alfa field, chickens raised, time spent on a tractor during bailing time (BORING - - HATED THAT JOB), time locked in the grain shilo, and I could go ON!! Needless to say, I am sure my SMALL number outweigh hers . . . I miss those times!!

I know it isn't a competition, but truthfully, I did come from a small town, I lived on a sheep farm, which looking back I think it was a thing my parents did to give us kids something to do and to teach us hard work. I think my brothers learned more of the hard work part and I just thought it was lots of fun . . . I am sorry, but sheering sheep in the summer, washing them, and getting them all ready for the livestock show is quite fun. I also enjoyed the pigs, PIGS are the dumbest animals ever - - but, they are FUN! I am so grateful to my brothers for all they did in letting me feel included. I must say, I wish I had paid more attention . . . but I enjoyed being involved and always assumed my husband would know the technicals of it all.

SO, on that note, it got me thinking of a bum lamb I bottle fed and it got to the point it would follow me around. So, I went searching for pictures of it and well . . . found some of me during my CRAZY HAIR DAYS - - who is to say my locks aren't CRAZY now . . . but, well you can see the 80's inspiration in these!!! May I also say, my locks got out of control at the time I decided I knew more about my hair than my mom!! YIKES - - bad decision!! I decided on a slideshow, all the FUN CRAZY pictures of me were too much to load! One slide shoe much easier. Enjoy my little bit COUNTRY COWGIRL of me!!! (One side note, let's not talk about my pants being tucked into my boots!! I now realize that was a BAD LOOK!! Good think you have to look careful to see them!!)

It's COLD outside!!

NO! The laundry bag didn't explode in the front yard!!!

Yes, it is COLD OUTSIDE and that makes it a little COLD INSIDE TOO when you don't want a huge bill. I know, I know, all of you in the NORTHERN PART of the COUNTRY are laughing, but 51 degrees outside is COLD for us ARIZONANS!!! Just wanted to share a few SILLY ARIZONA PICTURES!! Last night we had a freeze warning, and with all our warm weather plants, we have to WRAP THEM UP and KEEP THEM WARM!! This is the front yard after we got done covering all the delicate doesn't recover easy plants!! I thought some one might giggle!!


The above picture is of Kaiya getting her hands warm . . . no, those aren't gloves! She found mom's old golf clubs (yes, my golf clubs were pink and purple) and decided the wood covers would make perfect hand warmers. So, despite attempts to get her to trade for gloves, she is walking around this morning warming her cold hands in golf club covers!! Goofy kid!!

Christmas from Great Uncle Cory

Uncle Cory taking Kaiya for her first horse ride!!


My Uncle Cory is the best! He is still a bachelor, I think by choice! Finding a good woman is not nearly as easy as finding a good horse!! Anyway, he is just the best Uncle I could have had and the greatest GREAT UNCLE KAIYA could get. Anyway, he sends her a Toys R Us gift card every year for Christmas. Now, the tradition is to take him with the kids to Toys R Us. However, we aren't LUCKY enough to live close to UNCLE CORY, so we go shop and send him pictures! In the past, I sort have picked. This year, Kaiya did the shopping ALONE!! This is what she picked out and is EXTREMELY THRILLED! She loved giving the cashier her gift card. So, a big THANK YOU to UNCLE CORY!!!

52 weeks of Gratitude

Yes, I think I might be a little behind, only by a week. So, this is an obvious one . . . I AM THANKFUL FOR BEING A MOM!! Now many of you don't know all about this, but there was a period of time there that I was concerned it might not be possible . . . I am not nearly as bold as Julie. But, let me just say there were problems of the physical kind and a few other that led me to think I might never ever be a mom. Kaiya was a TOTAL OOPS baby! Can I say, she is the BEST OOPS EVER!! I am thankful that I was able to experience the JOY of PREGNANCY - - don't hate me, mine was easy! No morning sickness, no heartburn (I was eating spicy food the night before she was born), and just lots of WOW moments!! Anyway, I am thankful to be a MOM!!!

I am especially thankful during those small moments. Like lately, she has been coming into bed early and she will sleep for a little. Then, she will wake up and will start to rub my face, kiss me, rub noses, and such. One morning I awoke to her, "You best mommy e'er" Yes, that translates to, "You the best Mommy EVER!!" Aahh!! Moments like those make up for all the not so great moments!! I love being a mom!! So, here is a tribute to the BEAUTY of my OWN MOTHERHOOD!!!

Then



Now

Randomness

The PINK VEST from GRAMMY and GRANDDAD - - isn't it cute!!!


Just a few random pictures I intended to post a while ago and didn't! Yep! A few of fabulous buys from Hong Kong sent to Kaiya for Christmas from Grammy and Granddad!! I just thought she looked too cute! And well, we have to share with Grammy the wonderful purchases!!! Plus, one of another dress up day outfit! Yes, her new thing is still dress up. She tells me all the time, "Kaiya like dress up." FUNNY!!!

The white furry shrug/shawl is from Grammy!!



SPARKLY DRESS UP FUN!!!

BELATED NEW YEARS

We had a good new years. We went to Cheesecake factory with Tee-tee and Kina. Kaiya loved any slice of meat! Yes, give this girl steak and keep that silly hamburger, cheese sandwich, and all else away from her!! We then came back to the house and played catch phrase until midnight. Yes! What an exciting New Years. I have sort of come to the decision that New Years just aren't as fun as they were when I was single in the same manner. It was fun, but it wasn't the big party with lots of people. Oh well! We had a mock New Year's with Kaiya. Our intention was to let her stay up, but she just didn't make it. So, we did some confetti and noise makers a little early. Here are a few picture from that!!!

Saturday and Potty Training - - YES!!!`

Ok, yesterday was a very productive day. First, I got the Christmas ornaments off the tree, packed, and the tree put away. It was a sad day to see all the fun things go away for another year. However, has anyone ever noticed how much more clean and organized a house fills once you take the tree down? Yep! Maybe it is because our Christmas presents seem to linger under the tree and once it is down, they must find their rightful home. Plus, the tree just takes up so much space that suddenly you have freed up floor space. Anyway, it was nice to get it all put away.

Just after I had it all put away, I had to pull some ornaments out. My mom, the Christmas Ornament collector, has been bringing how Christmas Ornaments from vacations for YEAR and YEARS! It was fabulous because the first year out of college in my own apartment, I had a tree full of ornaments delivered by my mom. They were all my ornaments from the years that had been on our family tree. I swear that is the best souvenir ever, buy an ornament on your vacation, it last longer than a t-shirt, but doesn't take up space like other trinkets. And every year when you pull out the Christmas ornaments, you get to relive the memories. Well, she has been purchasing ornaments from her travels through Asia on her mission. So, I had a few I wasn't sure where they came from and she wanted to identify them via skype video. They have now all had country of origin identified and a waiting being packed up again!

Potty Training - - oh the dreaded events!! We started "potty training" on Thursday. Just put on the panties and have a schedule of hitting the potty every 1.5 to 2 hours. We are doing much better than I thought. We have had three accidents. . . well, two and an intentional! Not bad for 72 hours of no diapers. Two accidents included the NUMBER TWO type potty! That I can see was our first easy thing to do in the potty way back when we first got the potty at 14 months old, not the easiest to do now. She is so excited and I am so excited at the idea of not spending loads of money on diapers anymore. So, we will see how this keeps up. Kaiya is so funny. She does a dance every time as we are leaving the bathroom and sings, "Pee pee in the potty" She sings and sort of skips, once the "chorus" is done, she twirls once, starts to skip again and sing, "Pee pee in the potty" and twirls once again! It is hilarious! I might have to try to sneak a video!!

So, that is the news at my house! I do have to say . . . Julie and Andrea be proud - - the last few post have been less about Kaiya and a little more about me! Yeah!! So, I told you if you stuck around long enough you'd learn about me!! Tee hee!!!

My AMAZING MOM in NEPAL

I wanted to post these picture of my mom because I think she is amazing. Yep! For those of you who don't know, my parents are serving an humanitarian aide mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Asia Area. They live in Hong Kong and help the country directors throughout Asia come up with service and aide projects for their country. Then, they get to go visit each country to train the directors, etc. It has been an amazing mission!! They have gotten to go to Nepal, Mongolia, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and a BILLION others! The past week they were in Nepal doing training and seeing some of the projects that had been completes, were in progress, and such. Here are three picture of her. This says it all. . . here she is carrying a bundle of leaves (food) down a mountain for local goats! Now, how many woman do you know would go to a foreign country and actually help the locals and do such a random thing such as carry this bundle on your head down the mountain?? That is my mom, always looking to serve and to help!!

The 52 Blessings Project

I stole this idea from a blog I blog hopped to. I am not a resolution making person, for the fact I rarely have kept them. So, I figured this would be fun to try, try to find one thing a week to call a blessing!!

About 52 Blessings
Once a week post a photo of something you are most grateful for. This gives us a chance to reflect on the good things we have learned from or that have made us better in our everyday lives or things we just enjoy! I think everyone needs to be more grateful for what they have now days instead of always thinking about what we want! This is one of the things we can do to be more gracious people. It will be like a photo gratitude journal.



Ok, I realize that being grateful for OREO COOKIES and MILK is nothing WONDERFUL and thought provoking, but I have to say I am thankful for them. If anyone knows me at all, they know I LOVE LOVE LOVE OREOS DUNKED IN MILK!! To be honest, I think the reason I have lived to the ripe old age of 29 is because of them, I probably would have starved long ago!! I also have to admit, I eat to calm my emotions!! And well, I LOVE THEM! They are like a calming drug to me . . . total pleasure!! So, I am grateful for oreos! Not only have they sustained me in life, but they are probably the main contributor to my current weight problem! Ha! Oh how I love those cookies and milk!!

Kaiya's Big Girl Bike!!

Here is Kaiya finally having figured out her big girl bike. Opposite of a tricycle, you can't pedal backwards with a big girl bike or it puts on the brakes. It took her a couple days to figure this out. This is video of her first TRUE bike ride!!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com