day 4 - fave book

I never read this book in high school like everyone else in America. When Lily was a baby I found an old copy that our local library was selling. I bought it and read it and it has been my favorite book ever since.

That book is To Kill a Mockingbird. I really really loved this book. I love Atticus Finch - I wish I were more like him. He is wise and thoughtful. He shows such quiet courage that spoke so loudly to what he believed. Plus I love how he is with Scout (his daughter who narrates the book).

I also love The Count of Monte Cristo. It is nothing like the movie that came out a few years ago (which I also really enjoyed only because I had to think of it as a completely different story). I love Edmond Dantes (although for very different reasons than my love for Atticus Finch). Edmond is complex and Alexander Dumas illustrates his complexities so beautifully. As you read you aren't really sure if you should like Edmond so much and sometimes I didn't. But then there are times when I think he is such an amazing character I wanted to be more like him. It was a really interesting book and I couldn't put it down.

There are also some children's books that I love.

I Know a Rhino has long been a favorite in our family. I bought it when Lily was a baby and at one point all of my kids have had it's pages memorized.

Another favorite is I Heard, Said the Bird. The illustrations are beautiful and the end makes me cry every time because it is so sweet (you will read it and wonder why I cry...Lily wonders the same thing). We got it around the time I had Davie (which might explain the emotions).

Just for You is also a great one. It is a Little Critters book, which I just love. I think I like this one in particular because Adam remind me so much of the Little Critter - he just loves his mom so much! It is a sweet book and both my boys just love it when I read it to them.

I have a million other books (adult and children) that I really like as well, but these are my faves!

day three - 20 favorite things

1-Scott

2- Lily

3-Adam

4- Gracie

5-Davie

6-cinnamon rolls (good ones; so basically they have to be made by someone I trust...like me)

7-Utah summers

8-a newly mowed & very green lawn

9-a clean house

10-Christmas Eve

11-happy kids

12-a really beautiful and well-done musical ("Hello Dolly" and "The Drowsy Chaperone" at The Hale a while ago were both spectacular)

13-a great pair of jeans

14-my mornings at the gym (I hate missing)

15-snuggling with the kids

16-BBQ's

17-the morning light through my bedroom window

18-singing show tunes or church music to the piano (something I rarely get to do anymore)

19-mint chocolate chip ice cream served over a chewy brownie

20-miniature golf, batting cages, or bowling with Scott

day 2 - fave movie

This one is easy:

I knew Scott was the one for me when I showed him this movie on our second or third date and he liked it!

A true classic that should be enjoyed by all (even if you aren't a Barbra fan you might still enjoy it).

There are others that would be on my top five list. They might include:

Ever After

Sherlock Holmes

The Music Man

The SpongeBob Movie (I know, I am a total dork - but it is a really funny show)

Despicable Me (one of my new favorites)

My criteria for a favorite movie is usually whether or not I can watch it again and again and not get bored - these all pass the test!

day 1 - fave song

Seriously?! This is like asking a mother to pick a favorite child (which is David by the way...no! Just Kidding; I love all four of my children). It is no secret that I LOVE music - it is a part of my soul and who I am. I have been thinking about this little question now a lot and it is hard to pick a fave, so I will have to make a short list of favorites by genre.

Broadway/Show Tunes: "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" - I love this song; I have always loved this song. It is happy and bright and Gordon McRae looks so handsome singing it as he rides through the fake corn fields. Plus his voice is so dreamy. The other one I love is "As Long as You're Mine" from Wicked. It is just a pretty duet and love song and it gives me chills when I listen to it.

Classic Rock: I can't narrow the field to one so my favoriteS are: "You're So Vain (Carly Simon), "Seven Bridges Road" (Eagles) - I like it b/c I can do awesome harmonies with it, "Killer Queen" (Queen) - I don't know why I like this song; maybe b/c it sort of tells a story and is sort of quirky, basically anything by Simon and Garfunkel but mostly "Baby Driver" & "Keep the Customer Satisfied"

Indie (ie Chill) Music: "Lucky" (Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat), "The Way I Am" (Ingrid Michaelson)

New stuff: "Lifeline" (Angels and Airways), "Sometime Around Midnight" (The Airborne Toxic Event), "Sweet Disposition" (Temper Trap)

Teeny-Bopper Pop: "Naturally" (Selena Gomez)

80's fave: "The Promise" (When in Rome)

Love Songs: "She's Always a Woman" (Billy Joel) - this is the best song, "Morning Lullabies" (Ingrid Michaelson), "Only You" (Yaz - the Richard Stannard 1999 Remix version), "Angel" (Sarah McLachlan), "Hello" (Glee Cast)

Religious: "All Through the Night" and "Homeward Bound" both done by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

So I do have to say that overall, through all the years one song in particular has always been a favorite and that is "I Want to Break Free" by Queen. Lest you think it is because I have a secret hope to break free from Scott you should know I have loved that song since high school; long before I knew Scott. I think it must be my sub-conscience wanting to break free from my deep and abiding love for ice cream...either that, or I like it because it is just an awesome song that can get my toe tapping no matter what!

Try watching the music video on YouTube - I would post it here but it may offend some and I don't want that. It is really really funny! (I don't find it offensive, but Freddy Mercury was a flamboyant, gay man and he is dressed in drag which I know bothers some people)

you're a what!

I'm a Blog Mooch. Yes, you read that right; I said a Blog Mooch. It is a term I coined myself. It means I get online, read all of your blogs, enjoying the fruits of your labors and seldom post anything myself. It seems a little selfish when you put it like that doesn't it. So in an effort to not be a Blog Mooch I have decided to take my friend Heather's (Utah Heather, not Washington Heather) 30 day blog challenge. I like the way she puts it; it is a chance to write more than just a caption under a picture of my kids, which we all know I am very guilty of. Plus you might learn something new about me (maybe I will learn something new about me too). So here is how it is supposed to go:

Day 01 — A favorite song
Day 02 — A favorite movie
Day 03 — 20 favorite things
Day 04 — A favorite book
Day 05 — A favorite quote
Day 06 — A fun fact about me
Day 07 — A piece of art
Day 08 — Something I crave
Day 09 — Pet peeves
Day 10 — A photo of me taken over ten years ago
Day 11 — A photo of me taken recently
Day 12 — Something I bought recently
Day 13 — A talent of mine
Day 14 — Some place I want to go
Day 15 — My celebrity crush
Day 16 — A favorite food
Day 17 — My worst habit
Day 18 — Dream house
Day 19 — My future wedding (**I might have to change this one**)
Day 20 — A hobby of mine
Day 21 — A favorite recipe
Day 22 — A favorite joke
Day 23 — A video
Day 24 — My day in great detail
Day 25 — A favorite photo
Day 26 — A funny (true) story
Day 27 — A child I love
Day 28 — A place I love
Day 29 — A person I love
Day 30 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Oh, and just so you know it will most likely take me more than 30 days to do this and I am still planning on putting pictures of my kids up since I figure that is why most of you read anyway...

a little trip down memory lane...

I love the movie "Chipmunk Adventure" (and have passed that love onto my children - Gracie is watching it right now in fact). When we lived in Taiwan, Renee and I would watch it (with Chinese subtitles on the bottom) and imagine what an awesome movie it would be made with real teenagers. When I saw this on YouTube it reminded me of those memories and I couldn't stop laughing (mostly at the men in their sweater dresses). This is hilarious! ENJOY!!!!

the dog

So if you are looking for something to do in your spare time (HA) you can go to:

http://namemydogblog.blogspot.com/

and help my brother name his dog that will be born soon.

He would probably appreciate the votes and feedback......Just a thought...

butterflies

Listen to this conversation that Adam and Grace had today in the car:

GRACE: Hey, hey Mommy, I wanna be a butterfly when I grow up!

ADAM: You have to be a bug to do that!

GRACE: Nooooo...that's silly.....

Ok, seriously, is that not the cutest thing ever! I just laughed and laughed - it totally made my day.

the time has come

Well I am officially a blogging slacker (what's new)! It has been over a month since my last post. We have had a busy few weeks around here and I am finally starting to catch my breath.

At the beginning of January we got to watch our darling little niece Eden for five days while her parents were in Equador. We loved having her and could not kiss her cheeks enough. My kids were sad to see her go (except Davie, I think he was glad to get his mom back).

I love having a reader in the house. Lily is so good about reading to the kids when they ask. Don't you love Gracie's outfit...

My friend Heather made this hat for Adam when we lived in Washington. Davie discovered it a few weeks ago and will not take it off. Seriously he wears it almost everyday all day, whether we are in or out. I think it is pretty cute!

Oh, how I love these kids! Don't they look like little heathens in their jammies and messy hair...

We celebrated Gracie's fourth birthday on the 3rd! She is so big now.

The Great Purge....I decided that my closet really needed some attention. As you can see below we have a very small closet so good organization is essential. I think between Scott and me we filled about five garbage bags full of clothes and shoes to donate. It felt so good to get rid of it all.

These boys are buddies! I love them...

oh boy....or should i say girl!

Gracie's first day in Sunbeams yesterday could have probably gone better....she basically cried and screamed, "I wanna go back to nursery!" the whole time!

She informed me the other day that she would rather wear diapers (she is actually potty-trained, by the way) and that she would rather be a baby.

I think someone has a severe case of Peter Pan Syndrome!

Sorry Grace; sometime Mother Nature has a different plan for us and that plan involves growing up - I hate to see what her 30th birthday does to her!

Here she is taking her baby for a walk in 20 degree weather. Bunny ears and bear legs are always essential when doing that activity! (I really tried talking her into pants, but it was no use)

christmas came and the goose got FAT!

We have had such a fun (and super busy) December!

Lily had some of her friends over for a Christmas cookie party a few days before Christmas. I made a ton of sugar and gingerbread cookies for the kids to decorate. It was such a fun little party and the cookies I decorated turned out so cute (I can't say the same for the kids').

Thanks to my cousin Alyson, I came up with the BEST and cutest neighbor gift I have ever given! Alyson gives cookie or brownie in a jar to her neighbors every year, so I took her idea and modified it. I have all this Christmas fabric, so I decided to put together brownies in a bag. I made the label and the bags (each bag seriously took me about 4 minutes to make) and put the brownie mix inside. I figured this way when all the treats people get from their neighbors run out and they want more then they can make some brownies! I thought it was a great idea and I plan on doing it every year - so if you are my neighbor, just plan on this from now on...

Scott totally outdid himself this year. This is a picture of him on Christmas Eve - he came in the house with this gift completely giddy. He wanted me open it that night.

He made me a new Santa for my collection! I LOVE collecting Santas - I think there is nothing more cheery and wonderful than Santa. And I love finding unique and wimsical ones whenever I can. See the cute little cone one in front - he made it for me; totally unasked; just because he loves me. I was so happy I actually cried!

As a side note it is super cute - it is made out of metal that he bent in a cone and used rivets to put together. He completely designed it himself. I tell ya...I am one lucky girlie!

Adam and Lily presented the Nativity to us using stick puppets that Lily made. It was perfect.

"The children are nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplums dance in their heads..." The night just before we headed to bed; ready for the wonderous morning of Christmas to arrive. I love the peace and excitement of Christmas Eve night.

Christmas morning!

Lily in her Sunday best for church the next day (I made the girls matching skirts to wear to church the next day - I would have a picture of both together, but Gracie decided to have an accident in her skirt, so they ended up not matching at all that day...oh well).

Christmas was wonderful this year! I loved every minute of it. The kids were kind to each other, they were grateful and excited about what they received and more than that they were excited about what they gave each other. Scott was so thoughtful to me this year and I feel so blessed to have them all in my life. I especially feel blessed that every year we can celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love what this season does for people. It would be nice if the spirit of the Christmas season could last all year, but it doesn't and that's okay; at least we can find goodness in each other and in mankind for a few weeks each year. Doesn't that give us hope that someday we can live like this all year? It does for me. I hope your Christmas was as nice as ours! And I hope that the new year brings peace and happiness to you all. I don't know about you, but I am pretty excited about 2011 (it will be our 10th anniversary this year; woa-hoooo).

late november

Adam is all dressed up for the Harvest Feast at school. Doesn't he look handsome!

We went to Thanksgiving at my parents' house this year. It was actually fun - I say that because usually I am so tired by the time we leave that I wish I had stayed home (tired should be translated to mean "huge headache"). With that many children it just gets really LOUD!

Here is my Dad and my brother Sam.

The "Argyle Twins" - Sam and my sister Michelle.

Davie all bundled up to go on a hike with Scott, my dad, and some of the cousins.

My sisters, Michelle, Renee, and Jen

Davie sometimes has a hard time staying asleep late at night, so I get to do this! I love holding him when he is this snuggly!

The kids LOVE playing in the snow - especially Davie; which I think is weird. Have you ever heard of a baby that likes to play in the cold snow!?

Sledding down the driveway! This is Lily, Davie and Gracie. Adam was trying to go down it like the sled was a snowboard - silly kid!

what can i say....we are a house full of silliness!

Clearly, I have not taken the time to grow up!

Adam and Lily LOVE taking pictures with the camera and since I won't let them go off on their own, I tend to be the subject in most of their pictures. I think it is fun though, it gives me a chance to be silly with the kids...and hopefully when they are grown they will remember these times more than the times I was nagging them to get their chores done!

apparently mother nature has something against my trees! boo....

A couple weeks ago on a Saturday night it started snowing. No big deal right - we live in Utah. Well, it has been an unusually warm autumn and all the leaves hadn't fallen from my two big trees lining the street. I should just tell you now that I am dork - I LOVE these trees. I feel very connected to them. Not only are they beautiful but they provide privacy to our house. Plus the kids climb them and play in their leaves during autumn. They are just great trees. Anyway, as the snow fell we didn't think much of it until we looked out the window before going to bed and one of the big branches off the neighbor's tree (the same variety) had broken off from the weight of the heavy snow and the leaves still on the branches. We kind of figured it would be inevitable that something would happen to ours - but I really hoped we would get lucky.

Then, as we lay in bed, around 11 pm we started hearing the cracking and snapping until all the of the sudden we heard a huge crrrrrack! There is went - one of major limbs of the tree. I felt sick. But knowing there was nothing that could be done I tried to sleep. Scott went out at about 2 am to shake the branches, but it didn't seem to help. The next morning we woke up to this! Branches fallen all over the neighborhood - on cars, in the middle of the street, a small limb on our roof, all over. Scott spend the morning before church helping neighbors get limbs cut up and out of the street and off roofs. It was sad.

Here are some pictures from that morning and then the next day after the sun started shining.

baby grayson

We got to meet my new nephew Grayson a couple weeks ago. He is sooooooo sweet. Lily and I just fell in love with him! Grayson is Scott's brother Darren's baby. Darren and Tia were kind enough to drive up from Provo right after a big snow storm just so I could meet Grayson!