UP CLOSE AND A LITTLE TO PERSONAL!

Danny

Libby

Savannah

Annie

Maddi

Ellen

Emma

Connie

Logan

Sandra and Libby

So I was a little close with the night time flash....  It was so bright and a bit shocking so it's funny to see peoples expressions.  Just to point out a few things with this picture.  A. Libby has had this thing on her face since Idaho. (got her a prescription for it) hopefully it will go away soon.  B.  Do you see that big circle on my head.  Yes, that would be from some biting bug.  My guess is that it was a mosquito.  When this picture was taken the horse and deer flies hadn't came out yet.  I tell you these mosquito's are out for some serious blood and I think they took most of mine that night.  I had another one the same size on my temple.  So all of that might have been a little to personal.  but it's true.

So after the bite this is what I looked like for the rest of the night.  And it was still kind of a warm night for a winter blanket.  I will sweat some to keep my blood though.

Fireworks!!! Thank goodness for Dad...

Maddi's Birthday celebration they just couldn't wait until dark.

Not sure who was more excited Dad or the kids!!

Well, Olivia wasn't way excited. She did participate though!

Danny was so excited he got half dressed.

I sure think they are fun to look at and are pretty amazing.

But, I'm the watcher not the doer in this case.

Mom and Emma taking in the excitement.

The Peart girls came over to celebrate with us.

Sparkler fun.

Nothing like running around with fire in your hand..

Danny actually got his shoes on this year.

Last year he stepped on a hot sparkler and burnt his foot.

This kid and the whole shoe thing.  He never wears them.

I told you, Dad was having a great time.

He just puts the Joy in everything.

It was a great day and night and best of all everyone was safe.

So here's to another year of celebrating life, birthdays, freedom, pioneers, and each other.

A PICTURE...

LOOKING THROUGH A LENS

FUNNY WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE

YOU MIGHT THINK YOU ARE TAKING A PICTURE OF ONE THING AND END UP WITH SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT

OR SOMETIMES THE FLASH IS JUST TOO MUCH

SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LOT OF PRACTICE

AND THEN YOU REALIZE THAT THROUGH IT ALL, YOU LEARNED.

FUNNY, HOW IN LIFE LOOKING THROUGH THE (LENS) WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THE PICTURE WE WANT, BUT THAT WE LEARN FROM EACH ONE.  I'M THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF PICTURES TO LEARN FROM AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO SEE.  SOMETIMES IT IS GOOD TO LOOK AT THE THINGS AROUND US.  FAMILY, KIDS, SPOUSE, THE GREAT OUTDOORS, THE THINGS THAT MAKES US HAPPY, OR THE THINGS THAT  MAKES US HURT AND MAKES OUR HEARTS ACHE. IF WE CAN TRY TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS IN THE" BIG PICTURE" THE ONE THAT CAPTURES IT ALL, WE CAN FEEL PEACE WITH THE ALL THE PICTURES.  THIS IS A GOOD REMINDER FOR ME. I STRUGGLE WITH WANTING PERFECTION.  WANTING OUR HOUSE A CERTAIN WAY, WANTING OUR CARS CLEAN, WANTING OUR KIDS TO HAVE THEIR HAIR DONE, AND DRESSED WITH A CLEAN FACE AND TEETH, WANTING OUR YARD TO BE NICE, WANTING THINGS TO RUN SMOOTH, AND SO ON....... BUT IT'S THESE PICTURES THAT OUR A REMINDER TO ME THAT IT IS OKAY, IF THINGS ARE NOT AND GUESS WHAT I'LL NEVER HAVE PERFECTION IN THIS LIFE.  ALTHOUGH I CAN WORK TOWARDS IT, AND THOSE THINGS I LISTED DO BRING SOME PEACE, AND HAPPINESS TO ME. BUT SO DOES THE LITTLE PICTURES, OUR KIDS PLAYING IN THE MUD, OR EATING BLUE ICING THAT'S ALL OVER THEIR FACES, AND OUR HOUSE A COMPLETE MESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE PLAYED HARD I MEAN REALLY HARD.  AND IF THE VANS A MESS WELL IT MEANS THAT THE TRIP WAS MORE PLEASANT BECAUSE THEY GOT TO EAT IN IT AND THEY WERE HAPPY!!!  AND IF MY HAIR IS GREY AND I'M NOT THE SIZE I WANT TO BE.  GUESS WHAT?  IT'S THE WHOLE PICTURE NOT OF PERFECTION BUT OF ALL THE REAL LIFE TRUE DAY TODAY STORIES. IT'S LIFE AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE APART OF SUCH A GREAT PLAN! 

Randolph Resevior Fun

Olivia getting dressed or undressed not sure, but looking prepared

ready to go snorkel and all

Maddi, Annie, Danny, and Savannah

They played and played

Who needs a boat when you have a sagebrush?

Danny drug this around for quit sometime...

Annie, and Danny trying to warm up in the dirt.

Savannah already to hit the waves

Maddi playing in the sand

Grandma Putt, was the driver and the brains behind the days activities!!

Savannah, Annie, Maddi

Trying to get warm, it is still cold here and the water felt pretty cold also.

MADDI'S NINE

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Enjoying the celebration: cousins, swimming in the reservoir, dirt, junk hunting, hot dogs riding in Grandma's ranger, and this was just the first day of two.

Maddi's cupcake cake, and the actual day of her birthday we got to spend this day with Dad.  We got to see a movie, eat subway her favorite and light off fireworks to end the day..

Her first present she opened.  It was actually a letter she made to the family informing us that it is her Birthday!!!

Night time activity

one day you will have proof you could do a cartwheel

To our dear sweet Maddi,

Happy Birthday:   Thanks for being you, Thanks for your great sense of style, for your love of books, for your creativity, for your joy of art, drama, dancing, singing and playing music.  Thanks for your adventure to try new things  ( except for food) although you are working on that one.  Thanks for loving your brother and sister, for teaching them, playing with them and being friends.  Thanks for helping me cook, clean, do laundry, and for using your imagination. I love you and am so grateful that Heavenly Father sent you to us.  Thanks for being a great daughter and being you. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE MY ONLY SUNSHINE.  Love you Maddi, Love Mom

MUSIC CONTINUES TO MOVE OUR SOULS

Maddi leading us in a song.  Olivia and Danny dancing to the song!

(Not sure why these pictures didn't post on the last entry. User error I'm sure)

Olivia playing the song she knows...

Maddi taught her

Madddi was singing and performing I can't imagine where she gets that from?

I'm glad our kids love music like we do.  It's so fun to watch them perform and use their imaginations.  It makes for a great day of entertainment.  Love those kids of ours.  Thanks Logan....

MUSIC JUST MOVES OUR SOULS

Logan in the middle of a song

such concentration

I love it :)

Maddi practicing the piano

it makes her happy to learn a new song

Olivia singing with all her might

Music just moves your soul

It doesn't matter if you sing it, play it, or dance to it

music makes our family happy.

It's great to hear different types of music different instruments

or my personal favorite when the kids make up their own songs.

About anything and everything.  One trip to Evanston and it was just Olivia and I and she sang the whole way about everything she saw on the trip.  It made me reminisce about the days when I would sing to the cows as I kept them out of the haystack while my Dad feed them, or when I would be brush dragging singing as loud as I could over the tractor about anything I could see.  So I guess our kids get it from both sides.  A couple of weeks ago Logan, and Chris sang the Star Spangle Banner in Relief Society.  He has a great voice and I love hearing him sing.  Plus one of my favorite dates since we have lived here was a J Bars.Which is a mechanic shop.  The owner has his instruments on top of his meat freezer.  So you climb a ladder to get to it.  There is about 5 or 6 in their band, and they know how to rock it.  Usually we go and listen but this night Logan played the guitar and I sang with them.  It was so much fun.  I think we both felt like celebrities.  It made for a great night and some really fun memories.  It just reminds me of what a great gift of music Logan has.  He picks up a instrument and plays.  A little practice and he is pro. He is wonderful.........  So whether we are dancing in our kitchen, or front room or singing in the car or where ever we are or playing an instrument.  Music moves our souls and We LOVE IT!!!

Looking at a situation with a new perspective

My Mom donating blood

Logan, THE BLOOD SUCKER, and me

Looking at a situation with a new perspective

This was my first time that I got to donate blood.  I never new the importance of it until 2 years ago when my Dad started receiving blood and platelets. So here is a big hug and THANK YOU to all those who can and do donate!!

DON'T BE A PRISONER

I admit sometimes living here in GREEN ACRES I feel as if I am a prisoner in our own home.  It's either to cold outside, to windy, or the mosquito's will just pack you away.  Not being a fan of mosquito's (I'm not sure if there is anyone, that is) I took the plunge and went out last night to swing with my Mom and sure enough in 5 min I think I might of got bit 50 times ( a slight exaggeration perhaps) but it feels close to the truth.  One of my bites swelled up, that darn mosquito ate my flesh and must of took some serious blood.  Any more bites like that and I might need a transfusion soon.  But I want to choose not to be a prisoner and take what comes.  Just wish all this fogging and airplane spraying would kill them instead I think it just makes them hungrier and bigger;0}

Thankful for the great outdoors

A picture I took while driving somewhere in Id

Dawns Tree

The Id Falls and Temple

The Id Falls Temple

These pictures where taken in Idaho

I'm greatful for the outdoors.  To beable to see the beautiful green moutains.  To beable to smell the flowers and trees and this morning to hear the rain and smell the fresh air. I'm greatful to my parents for sharing thier love of the outdoors with me.  We spent many hours at the ranch, driving in the mountains in our jeep and being together.  I love the sunshine, the stars, and the moon (especially the full one) :) I'm taking this summer and trying to soak in all of this while we can be outside to enjoy it.  I hope that I can teach our kids to apprieciate this beautiful world we live in and to find joy no matter the season....