It's just a naked person! May 2007

At our elementary school in Texas the art teacher had a "Meet the Artist" gallery night for the entire school. Every student (about 800) decorated a poster-sized portfolio and placed all of the artwork they did throughout the year in it. Each grade's portfolios were displayed in different rooms throughout the school. Sydney took me to find hers. She loves art! Her drawings and projects were really well done. (Of course I might be a teeny bit biased).

Rick went off with Spencer to find his. As he walks in the room he notices a group of parents and kids at a table laughing at one of the portfolios. He said to himself, "please don't let that be Spencer's, please don't let that be Spencer's." Rick asked him to find his and Spencer made a beeline straight to it. Here is what he found:

We asked Spencer what was up with his drawing and he replied, "It's just a naked person!"

On the way out the art teacher was in the middle of a conversation with other parents. When her eyes met mine she immediately burst with, "I know, I know! I didn't catch it until right before it started! I thought of adding a fig leaf but ran out of time. "

New Additions to our Family

As we all know,

bunnies and puppiesneed clothes,
hugs,
internet access,more hugs,
and a nice cardboard box to live in.

As much as they beg when we walk the mall we never let Sydney & Spencer go in BuildABear. Rick surprised them (and me) by saying they could today! Tiffany & Dason were at EFY and I have a feeling missing them had something to do with this. :)

What really happens at the Y..

This was the latest update we received from our daughter. Let me preface this with even though it may give you another impression she really is a bright, responsible, amazing woman who has a playful side... i.e. she is always the first one outside jumping in rain puddles with her 8 & 9 year old siblings. I guess now the BYU boys have taken their place.

Copied and condensed without her knowledge:
Time to address the rumors of a boy...
There was potential, but then I got really bored/annoyed.
The end.

On Wednesday the guys found out I had pepper spray, and they voted that Dallin should be the one sprayed. Well, they tried his arm and the results weren't extreme enough for them, so he decided to spray his hand and lick it. If you can't see it, his tongue is bright orange.
Much better. This then inspired them to order a taser (what's with guys and pain?) from a website I found. So in about 4 business days, I should have some awesome videos to upload. They all want to try it on themselves.

We beat Wyoming so badly on Saturday it was boring. I left early, realized that I had locked myself out of my dorm, and went to Heritage to chill with some guy friends (one of which looks like Cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day Off). They found out I had brought my wii, so they demanded that I go get it. Which I did after I interrupted my RA's nap. We played Super Smash Brothers, and after Kyle went undefeated for 20 rounds in a row, we switched to Mario Kart. It was fun. I went home before midnight, hoping to get some sleep... But at 10 I got a call saying there was a gallon chugging challenge going on at Heritage at 10:30.

How can you pass up an opportunity of watching 6 guys vomiting a gallon of milk?

It was nasty.

They used trash bags and held them up when they were finished... So much milk... It smelled rancid.

The bags spilled a couple of times... Let me say, I'm glad I'm not living in Whitney Hall... ugh.
Later tonight I should be going to family dinner at the Jex's. Anne makes amazing rolls!
That's about it for now. I'll try and keep up with this.

Look Out Ansel Adams!

Rick mentioned he was jealous that I got to spend time with our good friends the Renikers this summer. Without thinking I said, "Why don't you go out there for a long weekend?" Next thing I know the flight is booked and I'm on seminary duty.

Dave introduced my hubby to the hobby of photography a couple years ago. So they spent every day of this trip getting up at 3am (yes 3am) hiking in the Colorado mountains trying to capture the perfect sunrise or landscape photo.

My favorite:

Yes he really did take this picture!

Now that Rick has acclimated to Florida even with 5 layers of clothing on he froze his tushy.

Slushies for sale! Only a dollar!

This afternoon Sydney and Spencer set up a "slushie" stand with their friends who live across the street. Sydney invited her best friend from school, Emily (wearing glasses), to join the operation. They had everything planned from marketing to managing the revenue weeks ago.

The inventory was transported via Step 2 wagon to their friends' house on the corner while I was inside the house on the computer for a couple minutes.

Checking on them a little later I walked outside to see Spencer holding a large whiteboard at the gate entrance hollering "Slushies for sale! Only a dollar!" Furiously searching for a camera that worked, I ran outside and got a couple pictures of them in action.
After the photos I asked how much they'd made so far and they said, "$16 and one guy gave us $5". To think, I sold lemonade as a kid for 10 cents and was beyond thrilled when one person gave me a quarter.

Spencer, Bubblegum & The Realtor

(August 2007)

The final walk through for our house with our realtor was less than an hour after I picked Sydney and Spencer up from school. To kill time I took them to get a hotdog and a treat at Target. Spencer picked a package of BubbleYum bubblegum that had 4 full packs of different flavors.

When we get to the house he tries to sell a pack to our realtor for $2. She is so sweet and tells him.. "Sure, but you'll have to wait until we are done because I need to get my purse out of my car." We continue on with the inspection. In a couple minutes Spencer shows up with her enormous purse that he had fetched from her (locked) car. She chuckles and hands him two dollars. As she is putting the pack of gum in her purse he asks, "Can I have a piece?".

First Day of School 2008

Sydney and Spencer were so excited for the first day of school! They were dressed and had fixed their hair before I woke up, hence Spencer's faux-hawk.

Sydney is now in 4th grade and Spencer's in 3rd.


A couple weeks ago Spencer asked how long before school began. After I answered him he replied, "I wish it started tomorrow." Sydney piped in with a "me too!" What?! I guess I'm the only one not ready for school to begin.


This is Dason's first day as an 11th grader. I can't believe he's a junior in high school! Rick took him (& Tiff (don't ask)) to seminary at 5:30am. Rick said it was too dark to take the traditional pictures then. So I took these the moment he walked in the door. Even though the school had posted the wrong bus stop on his papers and he'd just walked over a mile home, he was in good spirits.

     
Tiffany is now in 13th grade. :) She started her first day of classes at BYU as a freshman on September 2nd. Tiff asked a girl she didn't know to take a picture of her on the first day for me. How sweet was that! It turns out she was doing the same for her Mom and asked Tiff to return the favor. This story actually made me sad because this is the first year that Rick & I weren't there to take the picture and it's also the first time she and Dason weren't in it together. She doesn't look too upset does she?

Is the Y ready for Tiffany?

I had the opportunity to take Tiffany out to BYU and help get her situated in the dorms. Even though she ended up with a pretty good sized room we quickly realized she had more stuff than she had storage. So, it was off to Target for the fourth time in three days. Thank goodness for my discount.



(Jenna found Tiff on facebook and has alopecia areata like Julie).
She had a great time participating in all of the new student orientation events, finding herself another part time job (Target is too far away so food service at the dorm cafeteria will be her career for the next few months), spending time reading at her new favorite place, the library, and attending her first BYU football game where they walked away with a victory over Northern Iowa 41-17. Tiff even took me to her favorite pizza joint with the best breadsticks in the world.



We are excited for her to start classes on Tuesday. Good luck and we already miss you!

August 2008 Tiff's 1st Pair of Glasses

Tiffany & Meredith

We were surprised that Tiff's vision has been good for so long. However, she recently joined the ranks of those needing a little clarity...hee hee. Her eyes are only off by a quarter step for near-sightedness. To her, the tiny prescription makes a huge difference.

About 10pm that night she ran into my room squealing like there was an emergency. There wasn't. She was overjoyed because from her room all the way to the end of the hall and through the kitchen on a shelf at the back of the pantry was a box of cereal and she could read the words "Raisin Bran".

Yesterday's Close Call

Running late to church, I quickly loaded my toothbrush with toothpaste. As I am about an inch from putting it in my mouth the tube catches my eye. It was Rick's anti-fungal foot medicine!

(Debbi, this one's for Bailey).

Chronicles of Sydney & Spencer

I could hear Spencer talking and looked back to see him playing in his own world. It was so cute I had to get a picture.

It's blurry because he was moving, I was moving, and the car was moving. Not bad for one hand though. :)

He realized I took a picture and was embarrassed. All was forgiven when I gave him the camera and told him they could take pictures documenting their time in the car.

She hawd!

Sydney at 80 miles per hour.

There is a picture from our time with the triplets that I didn't post where the girls were feigning surprise. It cracked me up that Spencer mimicked them perfectly.


There are more pics of Spencer because he lost interest in the camera (DS was calling his name) and Sydney took over as photographer.

Even though we spent many many hours in the car this summer, the kids kept their adventurous spirit and were fantastic to travel with. We had an unforgettable summer and fell in love with the open road.

Chilling in Granbury

When we arrived in Granbury we were three days shy of being gone for six weeks. Being with Grandma and Grandpa was really comforting and peaceful. It felt like we had never left Texas and had made it home.

Swimming

Sydney in mid-air. The face she's making cracks me up.

Spencer who is normally a camera hog was hiding from the camera under the raft. Sydney taking a break looking content.

Quiet Time

The kids were quiet and that usually means trouble. After a short search I found them sitting in the rocking chairs enjoying the view and each other's company. Definitely a Kodak moment.

Chocolate Pudding

It wouldn't be a trip to Granbury without eating Grandma's chocolate pudding. Spencer couldn't be talked out of using the large spoon he's holding. I don't think it was small enough to scoop the pudding. Thank goodness Sydney is, shall I say, less stubborn.

Peas in a Pod

Doesn't fall from the tree I thought he did--

Going through pics for this post I found this gem. It made me laugh out loud. I always thought Spencer got his sense of humor from Rick. Little did I know Grandma's got game too. :)

We had such a nice time being with family! I am so lucky to be blessed with wonderful in-laws and am grateful to be one of the few people that can say that! Jim and Peg, thanks for taking such good care of us we really enjoyed our stay!

A Quick Visit

After spending the day swimming we stopped by Carrie's house before heading to Granbury. She and Brad were busy packing for their trip to California and let us intrude anyway.



The kids loved playing with Sam and Presley and didn't want to leave. They have really missed living near their cousins. California this summer - Florida next summer. Right Carrie? hint hint!