Looks what happens when Mom trys to eat lunch by herself...

Is anyone else drawn to the little red stickers that are strategically placed on items at Target? Yes, you know the ones. Those silly little stickers that let you know that an item is now 15%, 30% or maybe even 75% off at Target.

Brooke and I were wasting time at Target today while we waited to pick up the three others from piano. Brooke is like her mother and just wanted to buy something. We came to an endcap where there was some Crayola sidewalk "paint" on sale - yes that little red sticker indicated that these items were 30% off! Only $6.98. Who could pass up such a bargain? I knew it would provide at least an hour of entertainment for Brooke and Erin. Since the summer days are getting quite long and it's hard to fill them, I went for it. I also purchased some veggies and chicken for a salad for my lunch.

When we arrived home the girls immediately tore into the sidewalk paint. They went outside to enjoy themselves and didn't even ask for lunch. Ahhhh, I thought to myself. I'll be enjoying lunch in front of the computer while I catch up on my email. I was halfway done with my salad when I was beckoned to the front door by Erin's voice. I would have never dreamed what I would see next.

More paint on the sidewalk or bodies?

Don't forget the hair!

Darn those little red stickers!

4th of July Celebration

We had a great 4th of July this year spent with friends and family. We had two families over Michael, Suzi and kiddos and Joe, Celeste and their kiddos. We started out the evening with a yummy BBQ, brats, burgers, beans, potato salad, chips, dip and salad. The meal was topped off with a GREAT new recipe I tried from The Barefoot Contessa which was posted here on Pioneer Woman. It was sooooo good. You can't beat cream cheese frosting and fruit!

It wouldn't be the 4th if Rex didn't support the local Scout troop and buy enough fireworks for the entire neighborhood. Nope, just wouldn't be the same. A sample of his purchases.

The kids had a great time watching the fireworks. So many of them this year had really loud popping noises. It was so cute to see Eleah and Joshua cover their ears to keep the sounds out.

Of course, sparklers are a must. And we were so happy to have any burns this year despite the fact that we had nine kids running around.

What a fun night. We were up until after ten once we watched the city fireworks and the kids crashed in their beds as we tried to fall asleep as the neighbors lit off what they had purchased.

Dance Recital

Last night was Erin's dance recital. Wow, even Michael and Jacob commented on how much Erin has improved since last year. She performed in a group hip routine, a ballet routine and then a solo hip-hop routine choreographed by her teacher for talent night at Aspen Grove. We brought one of Erin's good friends Jamie along with us and Aunt Suzi and cousins Kourtney and Amy came as well. After the recital we ate dinner at our favorite restaurant, Vietnamese Cafe. Way to go Erin! Enjoy the pictures.

Bear Pose

We were trying to say family prayers tonight and Brooke was off in her own little world ignoring each one of the requests for her to kneel down by the couch. Here is the exchange that followed.

Rex: (in a slightly loud voice) Hey do you want me to call you A.D.D? (please, please don't take offense)

Erin: What does A.D.D. mean?

Brooke: Friend

Her little personality really shows in the following pictures taken after Erin's dance recital last night. You may be wondering if Brooke was in the recital considering her attire - no, that's what she choose to wear. Yes, no shoes.

We didn't pose her in a single one of these shots. Each one was self-created! The final shot is "bear pose". Brooke says it's from her kids yoga video. There were even some breathing techniques that went along with it.

Back in the Saddle Again

We just got back from our Family Visit trip early this morning. I don't have any pictures of our fabulous reunion with the Norman cousins (I left the photography up to my mom and hopefully she'll burn me a CD) and then we drove to Durango, CO for the cattle drive with Rex's family. It was lots of driving, but having the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with the kiddos was great. Erin was a pro at riding a horse which shocked both Rex and myself. After getting the cows in we were able to eat lunch and enjoy our beautiful surroundings on horseback.

I came home with a stomach bug which was quite a bummer, but I'm feeling a bit better this evening.

Enjoy the pics!

Brooke riding Wave.

Erin riding Jett.

Two baby cows who were separated from their moms. A baby cow will go back to where it last saw it's mother and wait for her. So cute - for a city slicker like me.

Giddy-up!

Thanks Michael for you're great photography! Sorry I don't have a single shot of you...

Mom and Erin gallop back to camp.

Speed Scrap at scrapmatters.com

I joined a "speed scrap" at http://www.scrapmatters.com/ tonight. (You can check it out here: http://scrapmatters.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=35) It's so much fun. Every ten minutes for one hour they give instructions on how to create your digital page. Here is what I came up with tonight.

Here are the instructions I had to follow:

**FINAL INSTRUCTION BELOW**

7.00pm - First, choose your photos... as many as you like. They can be black and white, colour, sepia, blended.. whatever you like.

7.10pm - You must have your photo / photos framed AND they must be on an angle somehow.. not straight. Choose whatever method of framing you like, and as many frames as you like.

7.20pm - Choose two background papers and arrange them on your page. Plain or patterned, or both.. no more and no less than two.

7.30pm - I want to see a button on your page somewhere. You can use more than one, but I want to see at least one

7.40pm - I also want to see a single inital on your page somewhere (like someone's first inital from an alpha set or something). E.g. on mine I used an N for Natalia. 7

.50pm - Journaling - keep it to a minimum. I only want to see a sentence or two, no more than a paragraph.. keep it nice and simple. Journal your page now.

8.00pm - Embellish and title your page however you like. Don't forget to include a date, and save your layout!

Changed

I don't really know how to begin this post. I feel so full of emotion today. Our ward's Fast and Testimony Meeting was filled with the Spirit. I held back the tears for some of the meeting and let them roll down my cheeks for the rest of the meeting. I didn't have a tissue. My girls looked at me inquisitively. It wasn't the first time they have seen me cry in the last few days. Brooke asked if I was sad. I shook my head. With a grin she said, "you're happy?" Yes, I'm happy and thankful because of what I KNOW.

Sidney (12) a young girl from our ward died in a car accident Memorial Day weekend on her way to to Utah. Immediately when I heard the news I saw her beautiful face in my mind. I saw her smile. I saw the way she responded to a question in Sharing Time - many times literally bouncing in her seat because she knew the answer. I can't recall a time when I didn't see her smiling. She loved life.

Rex and I went to the funeral on Friday. It was absolutely beautiful, from the gorgeous program (made by her dad) to the many pictures of Sidney hanging on the walls of the church to the precious talks and musical numbers. I left the memorial service changed. I want to be better person, a better mom. I know I posted earlier with a poem when a friend of ours died - when I read that poem it resonates deep within me, but it didn't change me. Sidney's memorial service changed me. It's so hard to put it into words, but I came home to my kids sitting on the couch watching TV changed.

Then today after church I talked to Sidney's parents. I was nervous - my emotions were so close to the surface and I wanted to be strong, but the tears wouldn't stop. I wanted them to know I loved them and as I stood there crying - THEY taught me. They strengthened my testimony that families are forever, that this life is just a portion of our existence. They showed me that through our darkest hour Heavenly Father carries us so that we can continue. Jeff said that as he and Cassie have talked this last week about their time with Sidney neither one of them have any regrets.

No regrets. That's why I'm changed. My family is THE most important thing in my life, but is that how I've been living? Sometimes. Today I begin living differently - because of you, Sidney.

Sidney (bottom left in the blue and yellow) at Primary Activity January 2007