Funny Avery

This is what Avery looks like on any given day. She usually has so much fun that by the end of a long session of princesses, her hair is a wreck, and her smile is sparkling!

Yesterday I had a conversation with the Primary leader about the following: It seems the person who was going to give the talk didn't show up and so the leader asked if anyone would like to bear their testimony. Avery jumped up and down in her chair and shouted (the primary leader didn't say she shouted, but how else can you hear a little girl in the din of primary unless she shouted?) "I will I will!" So she was lead up to the little pulpit and the primary leader asked, "Do you need any help?" Of course Miss Independent responded that she did NOT! So Avery turned to the microphone, leaned in close and said...."TESTIMONY!" How's that for smarts?!

BurningQuestion of the Week #4

Now that I no longer qualify as a girl, and have joined the ranks of people described as women, I figure it's about time to buy a pair of high heels. That's right ladies, I've been a mom for seven years, and an official woman for much longer and have yet to own some heels. Wedges yes, heels nope. Mostly this is due to the fact that I prefer comfort to fashion, but it is also due to the fact that they are somewhat impractical and the budget has no room for impracticality (is that a word?) Something about them just seems ultra feminine and pretty. I had also sworn in my teen years never to become a purse girl, but you just can't deny the attraction to this purse. The shoes are $210.00 and the purse is $75.00. Oh my word. So while I won't be buying either of these items any time soon, I decided to have a little fantasy shopping spree, and here is what I bought. Only in my fantasy these are both the perfect shade of deep red. It was tons of fun, and now it's your turn.

I bet your glad you checked my blog today! Because I'm going to give you $500 dollars to spend! The only rule is this: Absolute selfishness is a must! Oh stop feeling bad, no thinking about the new ipod or the tickets to the big game your hubby would love or the new shoes all your kids could really use, or the trampoline, disneyland passes or other things that would really technically be someone else's idea of a great way to spend some cash. Don't even let your mind stray to the less fortunate. I'll give them some fake shopping too. This is purely hypothetical. Just a imaginary pile of cash that you can only spend on your self, cause if you are the kind of women I think you are, there are lists of people and things that your money goes to first. That's just how us women "roll" for lack of a better term. So here it is the Big Q?

Burning Question of the Week #4: If I gave you $500, with the stipulation that you can only spend it for purely selfish purposes, what would be on your reciept?

Now stop feeling bad!!! I know you, just let go of the guilt it is only pretend. Let's see your list.

I forgot my favorite picture!

We had an "ice" trip!

Avery and Katelyn in the ice tunnel


This little cabin is all ice! So cool.
This picture doesn't do the hieght justice, it was a wild ride!

Mt. Mc Kinley, by Mike
Kids and McKinley
More Majesty
Jace in his TWO snow suits, (i'm a tad paranoid)

Quinton in the tunnel

We had a wonderful time on our trip to Fairbanks to see Geoff and Annelisa's family. We were well fed, and gloriously entertained. Annelisa is one of the best cooks I know. I feel like she gave us a great vacation instead of us giving her a great break! It was an awesome weekend. Ask her about her famous chocolate cake sometime, it was divine! We took the kids to the Ice festival, they called it the ice park. These are pictures of the slides (I should have taken more) and tunnels. Only one picture of Quinton because he was having so much fun I couldn't keep up with him. Mt. Mckinley was out in all her glory on the drive up. The pictures don't do her justice, the majesty is awesome! You know you've had fun when 3 little girls are crying at the end. Jace was very warm and fell asleep attached to daddy. We can't wait to do it all again next year!!

Burning Question of the Week #3

Stress!!! Sometimes I just have to get out all the negative junk that chokes up my life and just breathe. I just need to take a second, And sometimes a good book is just not enough. I feel the need to punch something, or just run, or yell at a horrible person about how horrible they are, or shoot the tv with a big shot gun. But all those things are immature, and ridiculous....maybe even a trifle odd. What to do?

Oh boy do I have the cure people. Remember those stomps in college. The ones where everyone basically wore work out clothes and just danced 'til ya had to go home and shower for all that sweating you just did? I have a mommy version of that. I just turn on a little Billy Idol "Dancin with myself" and just dance like no one is watching! (Okay no one is watching me when I do this, except my kids, and they are the only ones who will ever have the privilege.) It is ridiculous, also somewhat immature, but it is hurting no one (unless my arm flails and I wack one of my kids, I guess I can't be completely uninhibited.) and I feel like one of those ladies on a hoodia commercial, totally detoxed. You can't help but smile when your done. Plus I'm sure I burn at least 100 cal. which means I can afford another stress reliever, chocolate, later on.

So the burning question may seem kinda dumb, but here she is:

Burning Question #3: What is your "dance like no one is watching" song?:

I'll be adding these to my playlist, I gotta relax you know.

Don't Open the Tree E-mail from Me

Okay, if any of you got an e-mail that said I want you to plant a tree or something DONT open it! It is some scam that hijacks your address book and then sends everyone on your list an e-mail that signs you up for this mamasource website. You may have already sent one and don't even know it! Sorry for the inconvenience. You can read more about it here.

2 tags and i am it.

I have been tagged simultaneously. They are both kinda long tags, so I decided to smoosh them together. If you get bored, I'm really sorry, you can only take so much Maggie. It's like saying a word over and over and pretty soon that word just sounds weird and foreign. I really like weird foreigners however.

Here goes:
1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:06
2. What do you usually have for breakfast?Whole Wheat toast with peanut butter
3. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Do we listen to CD's any more? I have no time to pick my own music since I live with a music junky, we just got finished listening to linkin park's shadow of the day, good song.
4. What kind of car do you drive? Blue 2003 Chrysler Town and Country, I am so a soccer mom.
5. Favorite sandwich? Turkey with artichoke pesto from Panera Bread (i miss you so)
6. Favorite item of clothing? my new runnin shorts, but only because i need some serious style help. this means you tris, and ang.
7. If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, where would you go? Hmmmm Beach in........ Australia.
8. What color is your bathroom? White. With my crisp white towels.
9. Where would you retire? Clear Creek, UT.
10. Most memorable birthday? 15 when we climbed on top of wagon wheel and threw water balloons at everyone who was 16 and cruising main!
11. Favorite sport to watch? March Madness Baby! You will all be filling out brackets. more to come on that later.
12. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night owl.
13. What is your shoe size? 7 1/2 (that is such a boring question)
14. Pets? No. NO. NOOO.
15. What did you want to be when you were little? A Lawyer
16. What are you today? The best mom ever.
17. What is your favorite candy? sour grapefruits
18. Your favorite flower? These red and yellow daisy looking things mike picked for me on the mountain once.
19. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Quinton's 8th b-day
20. What are you listening to right now? Mike watchin' Sienfeld
21. What is the last thing you ate? Cherri gummi candies
22. Do you wish on stars? Yup.
23. What faith are you? I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. ("I know who I am. I know God's plan. Da-da-da-da-da-da" Sing along with me.) I left this the way em wrote it cause I loved it.
24. Who was the last person you spoke with on the phone? Primary president reminding me that I paid 4$ for a box of girl scout cookies I will never eat.
25. Hair Color? Brown
26. Name of your favorite school teacher? Ms. Barton in High school, Steve Peterson in college, My dad in Elementary.
27. Chocolate or vanilla? Double chocolate
28. When was the last time you cried? sorry some things are just for me.
29. What is under your bed? A big sterilite container filled with fabric. I have a fabric buying problem.
30. What did you do last night? Oh brother.
31. Favorite smell? Rain
32. What are you afraid of? That I will get saggy jowls on my face. and that you will all know that I am vain.
33. How many towns have you lived in? Monticello, Ephraim, Provo, Cedar City, Fishers IN, Louisville, KY, Lawton, OK and my new residence. eight.
34. Do you make friends easily? Nope. Every time we go somewhere new, it takes me a while to find friends (with an s) I usually find my one good buddy and stick with them. I think i get friend lazy.


ABC tag

A: Attached or single: Married
B: Best Friend: Mike
C: Cake or Pie: Hmm. Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake
D: Day of Choice: Thursday (come on it's Lost night)
E: Essential Item: Jace's Binky
F: Favorite Color: Orange
G: Gummi Bears or Worms: sour worms
H: Hometown: Monticello, UT
I: Indulgence(s): Brownie Pie
J: January or July: July. the fourth of july is my fave.
K: Kids: Four. 3 mellow boys and 1 crazy girl!
L: Life is incomplete without: Family
M: Marriage Date: May 7, 1999 (not the 9th michael)
N: Number of Siblings: Three. Two sisters and a brother
O: Oranges or Apples: Oranges
P: Phobias or Fears: It used to be spiders, until Mike caught this GIANT wolf spider on the floor in Oklahoma, and put it in a jar and made me stare at it up close until I wasn't afraid anymore, wait, that just made it worse, never mind.
Q: Quote(s): When Life hands you lemons stick 'em in your bra, it can't hurt, it might help!
R: Reason To Smile: George talkin' about Bosco on Sienfeld. BOSCO!!!!
S: Season: Fall
T: Tag Six: Trisdan, Haley, Angie, Jessica, Nicole, and Annelisa. ( you can just pick one of the two or smoosh 'em)
U: Unknown Fact about Me: oh brother again. I love Project Runway.
V: Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: Sorry animals, you are all so tasty.
W: Worst Habit: Being Afraid.
X: X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds
Y: Your Favorite Food: Garden fresh tomatoes.
Z: Zodiac: Libra

So there it is, if any of you made it through all of that, I commend you. And I pity you.

How to buy Art

I am so excited!! I just found out that the church's website has prints from the art museum for sale! There are hundreds to choose from. You can find the link here. The prints are very good quality, and like everything in the church much cheaper than buying it other places. I'm dancing for joy!

Burning Question of the Week #2

Field of Poppies c. 1886 Claude Monet

I love Art. My dear ole dad is an art teacher. I still remember the art history lessons he gave all his sixth graders (including me) that lit the flame of interest in me. I took art History again in college as well as drawing and pottery classes. I loved them so much, and discovered something very interesting about myself. I stink at art. Don't feel bad, I'm sure that if I took more classes and practiced and studied and worked hard enough, I could perhaps produce something of some significance, but that bridge has burned, I am the CEO of my home now, no time to learn a new trade. And I am totally at peace with that, I mean we can't have it all right? Which brings me to the question at hand.

#2. If you could wake up tommorrow the master of some specific talent what would it be?

Mine would obviously involve lots of canvas, brushes, acrylics, clay, a kiln and lots of glaze. In 2001 Mike and I had occasion to visit Washington D.C., we only had a few hours on the mall and could only afford about 30 minutes in the Smithsonian. Mike was so kind as to let me spend every precious minute in that huge place, parked in the Monet exhibit staring at brilliant brush strokes. I'll be grateful to that forever!