moments with kim

Finally!

Finally! A day of spring! I am loving the weather today. Both yesterday and today I have actually felt the sun on my face and it felt wonderful! It reminds me of the Beatles song... "Here comes the sun".. one of my favorites.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I love Sunday. Today we attended our Stake Conference. It was announced that 67 stakes through out all of Southeast Idaho participated in this conference. I enjoyed the conference but most of all enjoyed being with my family and being able to have Darren sit by my side and not on the stand. Take joy in the simple things!

This afternoon I decided to take a few pics of the family. Still working on my goal of telling our story more. I did not edit our touch these photos up in photoshop at all so they simply are what they are.

I told Teagan to smile for the camera. He tends to give me the serious teenage look. The I am so annoyed with you look. I wasn't getting the smile that I wanted so I told him to think of his Dad attempting to dance, and to think of me attempting to cook. He thought both of those ideas were very funny. Speaking of which... I decided to be the little homemaker this afternoon and whip up some chocolate/peanut butter brownies for Darren to take to the family he home teaches. Of course it was a lot of hard work mixing, baking, and following the direction (on the box) that I am sure someone else created from scratch. I turned on the oven, put the brownies in the oven then quickly started to smell the oven. The oven was still on broil from last nights garlic bread! Hence.... the brownies were burnt on the top and still raw on the bottom. Nice.

The boys love when they are able to wear colored to shirts to church instead of the white ones. Michael would like you to note his good looks and sense of style. We often remind him of the importance of humilty. Both of the boys were very excited to be wearing their Dad's shirts and ties today. Hey? When did they become such fine young men?

This picture  makes me smile. No matter how old the boys are, they still love to wrestle their Dad. Ever since the kids were little we have had a family tradition of wrestling. Honestly, it drives my CRAZY! I am a nervous wreck the entire time convinced that they are going to split their heads open or end up with broken bones. As much as the boys try to beat their Dad at at the game they never seem to win. Darren has amazing strength. I am so grateful for a husband who loves his children and still takes the time to "play" with them each and every day. I tell people all of the time that I am raising four children. Darren being the biggest one!

Just another Manic Monday...

I know I am dating myself... do you remember that song? "Just another Manic Monday... Oh... Oh... wish it were Sunday... Oh.. Oh.. " Us girls from the 80's will now have that song stuck in our heads all day. I think about that song often when I feel that life is crazy. I find myself wishing for Sunday because it is the only day I feel I am able to rest, spend time with my family and simply focus on what is most important in life.

First of all, THANK YOU for all of your prayers, e-mails  and concern about my nephew. I find myself watching the clock and waiting for my phone to ring for updates. He is doing much better today. They were able to move him to the regular pediatric floor and are trying to control his pain. Check out Emily's Blog for updates. We have been posting every day so family, friends and loved ones can stay in touch. Oh how I wish I could be in Arizona right now!

Dylan's accident has caused me to think about my own children so much this past week. I have felt so much love for them. So much guilt for all of the times I nag them over trivial things. I am like any other Mom. Tired. Stressed. Over worked. But... I am so grateful that I have been blessed with children. So grateful that every day is a new day. So grateful for "life's lessons". So grateful that my children are so honest, stubborn, loving, have such a sense of humor and remind me each day of how fragile life is.

This picture of Katelyn was actually taken last fall. Oh... Katelyn. I love her with all of my heart. But... I remind people often that she has been a great form of birth control! Don't get me wrong. She is so loving. When she smiles she melts my heart. When she laughs it makes me laugh. She loves to create. Loves to be with Cooper. Loves her Daddy. AND she tends to love to drive her brothers crazy. Seems to think that SHE knows EVERYTHING and tends to argue about simple things like her socks. Has melt downs over the fact that she now hates to wear jeans. Any advice for 9 year old girls going on 16?

Michael takes after his Dad. For the most part he is soft spoken, a deep thinker. He does have a stubborn side to him though. If he is pushed to far he snaps. Oh... how he is like his Dad! He eat, sleeps and breaths sports. He is very competitive but always remains a good sport. So many times through the years I have seen him totally take some one out in a football game, but then be the first one to reach for his hand and help him up from the ground. Both him and Teagan are in track right now. He is doing very well and has taken first in each of his events the past two meets. Michael is very witty and keeps us on our toes.

This is not the greatest pic of Teagan but it is Teagan. He hates pictures of him with out his glasses. This picture was taken last summer at our family reunion at Heise Hot Springs. Teagan is my child I worry about the most. The poor guy is definitely a 14 year old struggling to find his place. He reminds me of myself. He is very self conscious of himself. He is very aware of others and admits to being a big softy. He isn't afraid to cry during a movie. In fact, he has realized that "chics" dig it!  He is very spiritual. He loves to play the piano and his favorite pieces to practice are church hymns. To his dismay he is to much like me. He tends to not have as much patience and is quick to react. Something we both have to work on each day. We have had long, late night, talks... arguments... some end up in tears and hugs... some end up in him being sent to bed! AGH... like I said, I am tired, but so grateful that I can't keep trying. He loves track right now. He has some much strength and is doing very well in his shot put event. Do you spell that event that way? Teagan had his i-pod stolen last week and is devastated. Music is his life. He has a beutiful singing voice but won't admit it!

Ok... long post right? Sorry. I still need to brag about the husband a bit and if I was fair... the dog.  Wait. The dog has been a BAD DOG. He is on my list. And he knows it!

Hug your kids a little tighter tonight. Try not to stress the small stuff at least for one day. Me? I will try to take my own advice!

The power of Prayer

Have you ever been asked what super power you could have if you were given one? My answer has always been that I would choose to fly like a bird. I want to be able to get anywhere I want to quickly. Not have to travel hours in a car. Wait in airports. Never have I wished for such a super power then these past 48 hours. My sweet nephew was run over by a car on Wednesday morning. His is the only son of my baby sister Emily. Emily as at a morning meeting so Dylan was with a sitter. Several Moms were at the park with all of the little ones and as you know, little ones tend to wander and run off quickly. Dylan started to wander over towards the parking lot of the park. Emily's friend jumped up to call him back and before she could get to him a parked car pulled forward and pinned him under the wheel of the car. The next hour was chaos as they were trying to contact Emily, rush Dylan to the hospitol and to make matters worse, his Daddy was in Oregon on his way home from a business trip. We received the call Wednesday afternoon at about 1:00 Idaho time and have tied to the phone ever since. He has a fractured hip, severe road burns and road rash on his stomach, a broken arm and multiple injuries in his hand. Through all of the phone calls, all of the tears, the feeling of being helpless, I have discovered that PRAYER is a amazing power. Especially when it is all you have to offer. My older sister Jen was able to fly in Wednesday night as well as my brother in laws father so they do have support right now with more family on the way next week. Their friends, neighbors and ward family have been more than helpful. How grateful we are for them! PLEASE remember him in your prayers this week.

On a lighter note.... Katelyn got a perm this week! She is pretty excited. I can't believe how much she has grown this past year. Not only in size, but in attitude! Any advice for a 9 year old going on 16? I remind people all of the time that I have twin 14 year old boys, a 9 year old girl, a dog, (spoiled dog) a HUSBAND, we are self employed. Is it a wonder that my hair always look terrible, my make up is worn off, I am tired and honestly need a LONG vacation?

Oh.. and if you are looking for a awesome hair dresser call the ROOT FOREST salon and ask for Jennifer Boling. (I should have warned her that Katelyn would chatter non stop.) Thanks Jen!

Have you noticed the text on my photos? Last night, Shelly Brown taught Digital 101 at the store. Thanks Shelly! I was able to sit and listen to most of her class. I have a hand out. I am ready. I have no desire to digital Scrap. Hello? We are a paper store. But I want to add text to photos. Edit my photos. Create Christmas cards, blog banners, etc. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and need a Adobe for dummies guide but I will survive. Just so you know, adding text to these photos took me about a hour. It is not supposed to take that long.... I am just learning.

Anyway, cute hair huh? Ok... I need to clean my house. I need to do something with my hair today. I need to look in my closet only to discover that I need to go shopping! I have several errands. I have to work the store this afternoon. I am hoping the phone rings soon. Oh.. and I have to teach in RS on Sunday. When will I fit that in?

The BIGGEST ETM Contest ever!

What would you do with a weekend filled with Scrapbooking? A weekend filled with FREE product give a ways, product demos, FREE make and take projects, amazing scrapbook companies on hand to answer any questions imaginable? How about five amazing classes offered by local store owners and industry designers. Then to top it off, you spend the morning listening to Melody Ross of Chatterbox, Inc. speak about the "Power of Women". She will uplift and inspire you to be a better person, to be more creative in your Scrapbooking and to simply enjoy being YOU.

ETM is excited to announce our BIGGEST contest ever! Simply post a message telling me what Scrapbooking projects YOU have been working on. What product lines you are LOVING right now. What lines you are excited to see featured in your local stores. Are you paper crafting or have you started digital Scrapbooking? Are you working on layouts or themed albums? Do you enjoy card making? Convince me that YOU love to Scrap and that YOU would LOVE to spend the weekend with ETM at the Express the Moment Scrapbook Expo and Conference!

In honor of National Scrapbook Day on May 5th, I will randomly draw one lucky Scrapbooker to join us at the ETM Expo and Conference for FREE! Yep... FREE! You will attend the Expo on Friday, June 20th, the Conferece the morning of June 21st then enjoy the Expo the rest of the day June 21st. All you have to do is post! Not sure how to post? Send me a e-mail and I will walk you through the process!

GOOD LUCK!

Wednesday Letters WINNER!

Congratulations Sally! You are the winner of a FREE copy of Wednesday Letters. THANK YOU for all of your posts. Be sure to check back soon for my BIGGEST contest yet!