It happened!

I've been waiting for it and this morning we woke to gusty and cold winds! Some broke out the jeans again and for others, capris were fine. Hopefully it won't last long (especially the wind). We have been enjoying our warm weather. (Though I could do without having to turn on the air conditioning in March!)

Sugar cookies

I like chocolate chip cookies. Occasionally we put butterscotch chips in some of the batter for certain family members who really love that. But it isn't just the chocolate. I love that you put it all into a bowl, mix it up, plop it on a pan, bake and eat. Sugar cookies are a pain. Not only do they take a long time for the dough to be ready but then it makes a mess on the table while you spend a good deal more time cutting them out. When they are finished, you spend more time frosting and on many occasions, decorating them. (Is my laziness showing?!?! How embarrasing.) Needless to say, it has actually been years since I have made sugar cookies. But I made some dough the other day and as I sat Keddi and Shinara down at the table (Tersa and Mardi, who have participated in sugar cookie making several times in their lives, were at school) I realized that this would be their very first experience. They are almost 6 and 4. Are you really doing something wrong when your children haven't had this experience before these ages?!? Don't get me going on the fact that not one of my four children have been to Disneyland yet!!!

Pretty Keddi

When Keddi gets out of bed in the morning, she usually makes a bee line for the bathroom.... to fix her hair. Like Tersa she took an interest in doing her own hair at a very young age and likes to experiment with different, inventive, styles. Usually a headband goes in or clips. Here's one of the latest. I wish I'd taken pictures of more of her creations.

Lolly and Gumpy

Don't ya just love when people come to visit? Especially grandparents!?! Lolly and Gumpy were here from Wed. night until Mon. night for a convention. They stayed with us Wed. night and much of Thursday and then we saw them again Sunday and almost all of Monday. On Mon. Gumpy (or Pinky as Keddi calls him???) helped Joel begin to build the new mantle for our fireplace. He always helps us move along our renevation projects when he's here. We enjoyed their visit, were unhappy about their leaving and can't wait for another visit!

By the way, we did not give Gumpy his name. One of his other grandkids did! Sometimes Shinara forgot and ended up calling him grumpy (but he's really not) and of course Keddi called him Pinky several times.

The big switch

O.k., every new season there is this big ordeal of having everyone try on the new seasons clothing. Boxes and clothes all over. This was one of those weekends! Friday was barely tolerable in jeans and long sleaves and by 11:00 Sat. morning, I had to break out the shorts and short sleaves. (High 70's low 80's.) Gotta love it. Here's the thing. I never put away all the previous seasons stuff because I always seem to jump the gun! Every time I do this it seems that in a week or two we have anywhere from three days to a week of the previous seasons weather out of the blue! So one drawer still has winter clothes in it, Just in case!
Here's one you probably never got to see. I threw this picture in from last year of the two older girls and some friends 'cause I like it.

Happy Birthday Connman!

Connor James Wilson (dubbed Connman by me when he was still very little) turned four and we were invited to his pirate themed party so everyone (except mom) dressed the part. Joel got them all to say "Eyi matey" and growl in greeting him. (Which he kind of backed away from as though they were crazy.) We played at a park ,which at times was windy, but had a good time. Mandy had a fabulous spread for dinner, as usual and it was nice to visit. At the end Mandy gave out the party favors she'd put together and the older girls dressed up in that stuff so I took another picture. (They did'nt make hats out of their new skull covered bandanas!)

Shinara's first Primary activity

My baby is in Primary now and we are having a very difficult time convincing her that this aspect of growing up is as great as some other things she still looks forward to getting to do! Sunbeams is not all it was cracked up to be and Joel still sits with her through opening excercises. (Mom thinks it's time to nip that in the bud!) Anyway, she got to attend the primary activity a week or so ago. It was a missionary theme. Dad taught in the Receife, Brazil mission which was mistakenly thought to be a Portuguese mission. Oh well! Shinara was called to the Guatemala mission with the others in the picture with her. Keddi was called to a Brazil South mission and the older girls were called together to a stateside mission but I didn't go with them so I don't remember which it was.

Spring has sprung

We have lived in Vegas for almost eight years now and it never ceases to amaze me that the trees begin to bloom in February! I took this on Sun. Feb. 25th. It surprised me too because I'd been in bed for a week and then all of the sudden (it seemed) things were blooming!

I'm baaaack

I returned to my mommy duties Monday morning in full swing. We left the house at 9:30 in the morning and didn't return to it until 2:30!! Not fun. But the girls all behaved fabulously and were quite helpful in the stores as I moved about at turtle speed. (The reason it took so long.) I was pleasantly surprised that I did not feel completely exhausted Tues. morning but deccided that a couple more errands could wait until Wed. and I'm glad I did because by 2:00 I felt so tired I could not function. We ran some more errands yesturday and visited a pet store for the girls and another nap was essential by the time we returned. So, I'm not 100% yet but certainly better than I expected. For some people, I've heard that this string of flu affected them for 7-10 days with residual fatigue for a week or more after that! Be careful with this one! Sleep and fluids- don't cheat yourself.