Macy's One-Day Sale Is Today

Have you been to Macy's lately? EVERYONE is shopping there these days! Check out the stylish hat! This message has been brought to you compliments of your local snowman.

Meet Baby Alice!

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All Hail the Birthday Girl!

I'm a little late posting this, but this week we give honor,praise,and love to a member of our family who is celebrating a birthday. What would any of our lives be without Carrie Ann? We truly hate to think of it.

"There was a star danced, and under that I was born."
Much Ado About Nothing (2.1.320)

Failure, Failure!

We used to be so active! Now we're just so...underwhelming.

Let's Hear It For Gramps G!

Grampa G. is blogging again--go check out his meme blog at ganggreengazette.blogspot.com and learn some things you never knew. Did you know that he was once a pin setter in a bowling alley? Let's give him some good encouragement!

The Second Annual Cousins Party

Here is the group shot from last week's 2nd Annual Cousin's Party. A fun time was had by all and the food was wonderful. Matt and Amber's backyard was once again a perfect spot to visit. We missed all of you who were not able to come!

The Shamu Obsession...

We saw Shamu at Sea World back in June and Mia has been "hooked" ever since...ha, hooked. Anyway, all you have to do is sing the beat to the Shamu song and she puts her hands together and does the "Shamu splash" signal. She brings us her Ocean Life book all of the time and wants you to turn to K, for Killer Whale. I don't care for stuffed animals but as her birthday approached I couldn't resist because I knew how much she would love it. And she did. How gratifying, to find a present for a two year old that they really wanted. Happy Birthday Mia!

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Dancing through life

The girls start ballet and tap next month with Miss Lydia in Mystic. They were trying all their new stuff for Clark. I'm not sure what Abby is doing at the beginning and I spared you the long version of their dance. Does your heart not skip around watching? What is cuter than little girls in ballet outfits?..besides all of your kids :)

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We Love Cousins

You asked for it.

Here's the long story in short . I went from having one kinda part time job to having three. I still teach English out of our home, i got a gig as a English teacher at ILI and I was hired by this immigration lawyer here in Bethesda to help him with music projects he does, kinda on the side as a hobby... more or less.... I set up and plan concerts for some of his clients and friends. right now i am getting shows for some opera singers who are here from Europe. Its what I want to be doing later, so its great experience. The English school is a pretty fun job but they do four week cycles and i just finished a class. now, because of school starting and the other job getting busier, i will only be substituting at ILI for the next little while. So thats the story with me.

Sheaux-boat is doing well. She is working working working. She did finally get her green card, which was a great relief to us all..... so... thats about it... any questions?

Maybe THIS will catch your eye!

This is what I would look like as a Simpson-esque person. I named her Abby, of course. Did I do myself justice?



Here's James:

I have an excellent idea:

Let's change the subject!
Spencer, tell us about your job! That's a pretty big development that probably no one knows about because unlike your older sister, you do not call people and share things...ever. What, are you a guy or something? If your guyness stands in the way of sharing the exciting details of your life, have your wifey tell us all. What's going on with you two? How 'ya doin?
Discuss.

Wake up family!! Look alive, look alive!!

tee hee hee

For Spencer and Sho

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These are a few of my favorite things...

Half of the onion tower is missing... oh, where could it have gone? IT'S IN MY BELLY!

Is it wrong that food can bring this kind of happiness?

Happy Birthday Papa!

I wish I had a big picture of everyone who loves you smiling and singing and bringing you cake--wouldn't that be some picture? We love you!

Charlie's Angels---Eat Your Heart Out

I have been cleaning out things in my study and came across this classic photo. Does anybody recognize these divas? I mean, who needs Diaz, Barrymore, and Liu when you have these four angels who are much much more interesting and smart?

Thank You, Carrie!

We miss you so much already! Thank you for helping us this week. We love you!

who would have thought...?

The boy who will barely dress up for Sunday services and put on a pair of slacks and buttoned up shirt, let alone wear a tie, the one who lives for warmer days and shorts, the same really likes his new suit. A pen and little pad of paper have already been placed in the inside pocket! We are flabergasted! Thank you Amy for introducing such a fun novelty in our son's wardrobe!

Vive la France!

This weekend marked an important event in France and I'll be the first to say, "Vive le France!" Now, I'm not terribly educated in the political currents of France, nor do I know how Chip or Marie-Laure feel about Sarkozy, the newly elected French president, but at risk, I will say that he sounds like a decent fellow. Unfortunately, riots have plagued the election with over 730 cars burned at the last count. Anyway, he claims to be a friend to the U.S., and still got elected!

April Birthdays

Last Sunday we celebrated our 'local' April Birthdays. We wish you could have all been with us.

Birthday reflections...
Whether 82 or 5 the same wonder appears on faces at the sight of the birthday cake.

5 year old


2 more weeks for Lilou to leave toddlerhood... 3 she will be.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...TIMES 2!!!

I don't want to bump Suzie's latest post here so do scroll down and check out the blog below this one, too, but I really do need to recognize that today is the BIRTHDAY of two very wonderful people who just happen to be family members. To the 2 Abbys, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY and we all hope your day is wonderful, magical, and everything you hope it will be. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY ABBY AND ABBY!!! I wish we could all be there in person to give hugs and presents!

This photo needs a caption

What do you think Alice is trying to say to the camera?

Interview With a Princess...

Haley is the interviewer, and Abby is the princess.
Enjoy...

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Press Forward Saints

Last November Clark and I were called as executive assistants to the Youth Conference Trek committee (to his parents who were large and in charge of this handcart trek--working hand in hand with the stake YM/YW presidencies). We had many many meetings, most of which were attended by just one of us while the other was at home with the little people. We were really excited to be a part of this because I've always wanted to do a trek. There was so much planning involved and it all paid off because the event was wonderful...no major hiccups, smooth transitions and a rewarding experience for most involved (there were, as can be expected the normal "renegade" youth who were intent on making a miserable time of it...but for most, the experience was genuine and influential.
We had secured a location about an hour and a half north or so of Houston in the National Forest. Thursday after school the kids began to trickle in where they met up with the leaders and their Ma's and Pa's who were already there, standing by their handcarts and eagerly awaiting to meet their "kids" for the next two days. They had received packets about two months earlier with profile sheets filled out for each one in their group so they were anxious to meet them and get started. As I mentioned in my blog, Clark was the trail boss so he was on a horse the entire time and was in charge of leading the entire group (about 230 youth split into 20 different families and then divided in to 7 companies led by the Company Commanders who were the members of the Stake Youth Committee) and making split decisions on course, etc. based on their speed, time of day, etc etc. Clark had an assistant trail boss and 3 or 4 "express riders" (other people on horseback with walkie talkies spread along the column to keep track of progress and direction--the companies stayed pretty spread out through the days, sometimes not in sight of one another.) I got to be one of his express riders on and off, as much as my rear end would allow. (I wasn't originally planning on being part of the express riders...so I wasn't the most modest of pioneer women...)
Thursday night when everyone was assembled they had a chance to mingle with Joseph Smith as he wandered from family to family and introduced himself.
They were then called to a small clearing where Joseph would address them. He began by saying that it was too late to trek that night so we would camp here (it was about 8:30pm and already dark.) He then gave a 15 minute monologue that he had pieced together from various addresses by Joseph Smith about the Rocky Mountain vision, etc. which he gave word for word...it was truly amazing and moving. His demeanor and inflection was so appropriate as he himself was moved by the words of the prophet. Towards the end of his speech a heckler in the crowd began yelling things to this "Joe Smith" and questioning the "gold bible" and first vision. Joseph remained calm and respectful while clarifying and answering the man's questions. The final words of this heckler were "well we don't want you on our land...come on boys!"...at that exact moment in the woods behind Joseph, 10 torches flame up and out comes a group of marauders ready to run the kids out that night. The handcarts were loaded and ready to go and so Joseph gives the command to move out and follow the lead of the trail boss. The mob followed the youth all the way out of camp with their torches all the while yelling (as much with the Spirit as possible, if you can imagine.) Oh, and I forgot to mention that someone off in the woods shot off a gun 5 or 6 times for added effect, sending the horses into a frenzy (though we were dismounted and prepared for that, it still shook them up quite a bit--my horse, possibly the oldest horse alive, actually trembled the rest of the evening...)
So the youth moved out, pushing and pulling their 500 lb. handcarts for the first time as a family, through the dark, over a steep 4-5 foot embankment and on for 1 3/4 miles through puddles and mud to their first campsite. When they arrived at their campsite they set up tents in the dark and started fires to cook their biscuits and sausage on a stick, a quick family devotional with prayer and off to bed. Throughout the night there were shifts of men and boys on roving duty, or watch. They walked the camp in one hour shifts.
Friday morning started with reveille at 7 and then Porter Rockwell came riding through camp to announce that the prophet Joseph had been martyred at Carthage. They were introduced to Brigham Young who then instructed them to prepare their carts and head off. Friday was a big trekking day...they did a lot of walking. All throughout the day we had heroes placed along the trail. The families would stop for a rest or water break and hear the story of a pioneer that crossed the plains by handcart in the 1850's. The first rigor of the day was what the committee had affectionately named "Mud Bend". It was the driest that it had been ever but still sections of trail completely covered in 3-8 inches of mud puddle that took a considerable amount of energy to push through. We were impressed time and time again with the youth with their energy and approach as most of them would take a running start with the cart to make it from one side to the other (some puddles were a hundred feet long). They continued to amaze us all day long. They walked and walked and walked eventually meeting up with a man named Dan Jones who was one of the relief party asked to stay behind and guard the belongings of the saints as they passed and lightened their loads to make the final way to the Salt Lake Valley. At this point, he informed each cart that they HAD to lighten their load by twenty pounds. We discarded extra shoes, clothes, tarps and whatever else we felt we could. (The extra people like me with random jobs were each assigned to families as Aunts and Uncles, to eat meals and walk with occasionally.) The day was perfect on Friday, not too hot but with a nice breeze, and no rain. Shortly after the Dan Jones stop, a man in an old calvary uniform approached the entire group and informed ALL of the men and boys that they would be joining the Mormon Battalion. We had done this when about half of the carts were down a very sharp turn and even steeper incline. With the men gone, groups of girls were sent back up to retrieve the remainder of these carts and then we proceeded onto the "girls' pull". We pulled through a serene alley of trees and then hit a rather large, long hill. We then continued to pull finishing up about 2 miles without the help of the boys. The boys had been pulled off and spoken to about the Mormon Battalion and then they had a little devotional on the sanctity and respect for womanhood. They all stood along a ridge and watched us come up the hill. At the top they were allowed to rejoin their group and walk alongside for the remainder of the time in silence and without helping. Many husbands cried to see their wives struggle and the young men were walking along with clenched fists just dying to help their "Ma's and sisters".
I was in a family that had the youth from our Stake's deaf branch. They did incredible so I was able to skip up ahead to a group that only had two adults and one youth. I pushed in a bent over position the entire time. I truly think that the adults were much less prepared physically than the youth. With my hands against the back of the cart I couldn't see anything so I watched the ground for two miles and was on constant watch for a grassy place off to the side where I could collapse and not get run over by the next cart. I honestly didn't think that I would make it as far as they had planned (which consequently that hadn't disclosed to even the people on the committee as of that day). But it had its desired effect. We felt humbled and accomplished and stronger spiritually, although we were exhausted physically. We stopped for lunch and then the youth continued to walk that day for another 4 or 5 miles. During part of the trail this day we passed a long stretch of woods where a woman from the Stake was hidden in a grove of trees playing her violin. Come Come Ye Saints and A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief accompanied us along a portion of the trail and was a sweet reminder of peace and reassurance of the Spirit. I rode a horse for the last 3 or 4 miles this day and I'll tell you, I was tired and ready to stop but the kids kept going and going. I didn't hear any complaints at all...in fact, the longer we went the more quiet they became until we finally made it to campsite two at about 6pm. There we began setting up camp again. We had the opportunity this night to trade anything we had with some "indians" for meat. The indians were played by our neighbors (members of the ward) and they were great. I wish I had a picture. Their costumes were borrowed from the man in charge of Order of the Arrow...they were authentic and detailed...they even had their 5 month old with them wrapped in brown material and wearing a leather strap around her head. They drove a pretty hard bargain with their trades. It was a lot of fun. We had a short program that night around a huge bonfire. Brigham Young spoke and then our Stake Young Men's President did a rousing rendition of some pioneer play that led into a fiddler playing some tunes and letting people play and dance (though it was short lived because the kids were so exhausted, all they wanted to do was sleep.)
Saturday everyone woke up fasting. The temperature had dropped considerably that night into the 30's...truly unusual to say the least for Texas in April. They woke up to sleet and freezing cold that morning and met with their companies for a testimony meeting. They also had the opportunity for a family devotional and some solo time to read scriptures and write in their journals. When it was time to break the fast, each family was given one cup of flour. Again, I heard of only one complaint when they were told this. Everyone just started to make do with what they were given when our Stake President came walking into camp as Ephraim Hanks, a rescuer who provided "buffalo meat" to the entire group. They ended up breaking their fast with a filling and warm meal to start them on their final day. They trekked a couple of mile wearing every item of clothing they had to stay warm.
One of my assignments on the committee was to make 20 babies, one for each family. These babies were weighted (anywhere from 6 to 11 pounds) and had to be carried by one of the youth in their family the entire way. They each had a name and birth date attached to them. Their names were actual names of babies and toddlers taken from the rosters of the Martin and Willie Handcart companies.
Along the trail on this morning another sister and myself moved along the column and informed them that it was time to stop as a family and bury their babies along the trail. At first it seemed strange and uncomfortable but it truly struck a chord with many individuals and families as they took the opportunity to consider all of the sacrifices and trials of the saints, then and now, to do what they were asked to do. I watched as almost all of the families knelt in prayer and sang a song. Their prayers were sweet, showing gratitude for the faithfulness of the saints and asking for greater understanding growth of their testimonies through their experiences.
The two days were filled with hymns, and they were especially reverent on this last portion of the trek, knowing that it was almost over. We made it to the final clearing before turning back into base camp. There we stopped and were addressed by one more pioneer story and a short talk from the Stake President again. They had their pictures taken her also and we closed the trek as a group before going over the final hill to meet parents and rides home. It began raining again as we unloaded the carts to leave but the Relief Society was waiting for us with homemade bread and jam...I think its the most delicious thing I've ever eaten.
The trek was such a great experience. Clark and I are so grateful to have been able to been a part. (I hope to receive a CD of pictures soon so we can share those.)

Happy Easter 2007

I'm trying most desperately to post my little "One True Media" movie of our easter but I'm struggling. I might need a little help. Someone call me. It is a darling little show...with music and everything.

Oh, the Birthdays...

Should I beat Grandpa to the punch?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALICE ON THE 5th of APRIL!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JIMMY ON THE 7th!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SHO ON THE 9th!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HENRY ON THE 9th!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BJORN {OSTHED} ON THE 12th!
I'll spare you all my in-laws too...but make sure you begin your preparations for May 1--you know, for little Abby...she likes a big to-do and all.

Quesadillas

Can you guess what song that is (at the end)? Am I just really used to his version? It sounds just like it to me...

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Give a Shout Out to our new blogging homie!

I am pleased to announce the arrival of the newest member of our blogging family: Nicole! I hope everyone gets to know her and love her as much as I do... if that is even possible. I love this girl!

VISIT her blog today!

I pass the baton...

So you know how I like to cut my hair to shake things up a bit, you know, a little change in my life makes things more interesting?...well, I've discovered that with kids, I can leave my own hair alone and easily inspire change in them.
So we took a trip to the salon this week.


Would someone please blog about something interesting?

While we've got the home movies out......

This was the night after Emily and Clark left for Costa Rica--Mia had been in the hospital and was still a little lathargic, but Cubby was ready to play, play, play! She laid herself down on the wood floor and just watched me in the kitchen, so I put the beanbag under her. It was so very pathetic!

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He speaks truth and wisdom...

...he also takes off his clothes at any given, random time...listen to his new word at the end of the video--I'm so pleased!

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Happy Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to our sista-friend's precious little girl. She is already a year old! Isn't she beautiful? Good job, Emily (&Ryan)!

Could they be any cuter?

The answer is no, they could not.
Even thought their parents were living it up in Costa Rica without them, goodies and sweet love notes from Mommy and Daddy awaited them on the morning of Valentine's...and you know how I love to dress the little darlings up. They were so excited to find their valentines--I felt bad for Haley's teacher as I drove her to school that morning because she was already bouncing around the car! Is it just me, or does Haley look just like Emily here???


Oh, and the babies were later getting to their stuff, but they got some loot, some love, and doesn't Cubby look weird? If I could get him to smile normal for a picture, I would. It's not a flattering look. Oh well, happy late Valentine's Day!

you bore me

That's right: I'm talking to all of you. Someone better post here soon or I promise I'll quit blogging forever. And I mean it. (Say that last part like a pouty 8-year-old would.)

I'd post, but I have nothing to say except my back hurts, Taylor is going out of town for 9 days and it won't stop raining. But, you wouldn't want to read all about that.