Happy Birthday America

I hope you all have a very happy and safe Fourth of July.

I am so thankful to live in this country. I know it isn't perfect, but compared to much of the world we are SO lucky. Some reasons I love the USA...

• I can be whatever I want to be. My husband can change jobs, even careers if he wants to. My children have every door open to them to do whatever they chose to do with their lives.


• I go to bed each night and wake up each morning knowing I am free.


• I am not afraid for my life or that of my family.


• I can travel in my country without restrictions.


• I can openly practice my religion and choose what denomination I will be a part of. What's more, our country as a whole believes in God and trusts in Him.


• I have health care and medical facilities available to me. It isn't perfect, but it exists when some countries have nothing.


• What's more, I have medicine that keeps my family well, when many countries have nothing to protect them from the simplest CURABLE ailments.


• I had my children in a hospital. Without it, Kesley and I would have both died.


• I can vote and make MY voice heard.


• I have enough food to eat and I can feed my children.


• My home is safe and protects me from harm, weather, etc.


• My community has never been shaken with bombings or shootings or any kind of war-like violence.


• My employment is secure and I have health insurance through my job.


• Men and women have equal rights. My husband does not own me.


• I can keep in contact with my family and extended family. I have never been forced to leave them or choose between being with them or being free.


• And finally, there are men and women who risk their lives everyday for MY freedom. Many have died defending this great country and keeping our world safe. I am so humbly grateful for that sacrifice.

Happy Easter

I was up until 12:30 am last night putting together the kids Easter baskets and hiding eggs in our family room (I had to fill the plastic eggs too). How did I procrastinate all that??? My kids wouldn't all come together for a picture, so unfortunately I have nothing to show how nice they all looked for church today. Speaking of church, Scott and I spent most of it in the foyer with Hallie & Audrey. They were both being little pills, so I took them home and put them to nap before Easter dinner at Grandma Bee's & Grandpa Bill's. We had a fabulous dinner though - I have such a great family.

Hallie, Dallin & Audrey on Easter morning

(Kesley wouldn't get out of bed!)

My sweet Easter cupcakes - they were lemon poundcake with lemon cream cheese frosting - YUM!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love Scott.

I love Kesley.

I love Dallin.

I love Hallie.

I love Audrey.

White Christmas

What an awesome Christmas - it started snowing about 3pm on Christmas Eve and didn't stop all night. We had a white Christmas - it's been way too long since that happened! Today is the 26th and we still haven't had our street plowed AND it is supposed to snow more today, in fact there are three more snowstorms in the next 5 days. YEAH!!!!

On Christmas Eve, we had the family over to our home for dinner and opening presents on my side of the family. It was a really fun evening and the kids were bouncing off the walls in anticipation for tomorrow. Scott and I finally got to bed about 1am.

After struggling with Audrey waking up 3 times during the night, the kids woke us up just after 7am and I was sooooo tired!!! My mom had stayed the night, so we all got up and after a brief picture on our stairs:

went downstairs to see what Santa had left us.

We had a great time opening gifts. Scott got me a diamond necklace, some silver earings, perfume, and a tanning pass (apparently I am too pasty white). I gave him mostly clothes and also a framed picture collage of our family – that he LOVED. Kesley got an ipod, but was upset she didn't get a cell phone. She also got a lot of clothes and accessories. Dallin got his new bike and lots of toys to keep him busy. Hallie got a princess table and chairs set, princess barbies and half a dozen other things "princess". Audrey got a radio flyer little bike, lots of toys and a princess doll. Santa even left a stocking for my mom. Browning (the dog that used to be ours, but we gave to my mom to keep her company) wandered around like a lunatic. He always gets weird on Christmas morning - we don't know why.

Later that morning we went to Scott's parents and had a great breakfast and exchanged gifts with his side of the family - only his parents and Nick & Kellie were there this year. After a great afternoon nap at home, we returned to his parents house for dinner and visited with more family. It was a great holiday and I am exhausted. Now today I get to clean up the aftermath, but at least the kids have lots of new things to keep them busy. I'm hoping to not hear "I'm bored" until at least tomorrow.

Merry Christmas 2007!