ABCD'S

Clare says the alphabet like this:

ABCD EFGD HIJK LMNOPD QRS TUVD WXYNZD NOW I KNOW MY ABCD'S NEXT TIME WON'T YOU SING WITH MEEEEE!

I plan to post of clip of this later. It is so funny!

Jen's To Do List Can Go To Hell!!!

I have had a bit of time for introspection lately. I have been looking at the places in my life that could use some straightening and smoothing not only for my personal happiness but the happiness of my girls and my husband. Each new year I make an enormous list of the things I am going to accomplish and change, things that on paper seem so very simple, some are difficult but most are simple. Things that maybe to some don't sound like a big deal, but when I don't follow through with these things I feel smaller. Smaller because they were not lofty, smaller because many were lofty and smaller because maybe I told some people that I was going to do them and the truth is, I had every intention of doing them, but just didn't continue, didn't follow through. So this untouched enormous list that has been screaming "You are failing Jen!" is paralyzing me instead of motivating me. So I looked over my list and I decided to chuck it! Tear it up and Throw it on the GROUND!!!

I am not giving up all hope of accomplishing these goals. I am not letting myself off the hook. Instead I am going to pick one thing at a time. Today I chose to try to cut my own hair. BAD IDEA! But I tried it and it was fun and now Paul is coming home early so I can have a professional take a look at it. In a minute, I am going to paint an armoire red. And I don't feel paralyzed anymore. So much of my time is wasted on regretting instead of doing. So no more 5 page to do lists. Just a moment at a time of not wasting my life.

A Sundae Hello

This would have been cooler if I had actually said "sundae" instead of "banana split."

My Monsters

Halloween was so much fun!!!

food assignments

Jer said they want to bring hamburgers and bacon and some sausage. I just thought that I'd let you all know. So if someone wants to bring pancake mix of any other breakfast thing they would want or any sort of side item for the hotdogs let me know or post it on here

And Another

Clare Bear Talking It Up

Yesterday, Clare had a word explosion. These are just some of the words that she is saying right now. The first word she said yesterday was rocket and she walked around the house all day saying rocket. We can only put 90 seconds up at a time.

Family Fun Times

So the camping trip is coming up. I can't wait to see everyone!! We're still planning on going the 10-12 of July. I'm super excited. We are planning on doing dutch oven chicken and potatoes on Saturday night and then I got some hotdogs and chips. I thought that we could do food assignments for the rest if people are able.

These are just ideas but we thought that if some one wanted to get

hamburger patties
buns
breakfast supplies(bacon eggs pancakes or whatever)
some sort of side to go with the dogs & burgers

If there is anything that you want to bring just let me know and I'll assign the rest.

AUDI AND SAM'S WEDDING

The family reunion is coming up and I want you all to come. I actually get to come this year and I'm so excited!Its going to be July10-12. We're going camping and you're all going to like it.

THE NEWTON VERSION OF ASH WEDNESDAY

Here are pictures of Zach's burns and the fire damage in the garage. We feel extremely blessed that the fire wasn't worse and even more importantly that Zach's injuries weren't worse. I don't know if you can tell but the hoodie that zach was wearing saved him from recieving 3rd degree burns on his abdomen. He had light scorch marks on the sleeves of the hoodie that he put out when he rolled in the snow. He could have had burns over 50% of his body instead of 20%.

Recovery will be about a month, and right now he has to go into wound care at the hospital every day to have the burns cleaned and redressed. This is exremely painful and he takes a strong narctic about an hour before going in. Even then he's in a lot of pain.

Thank you all for your kinds words, love and support. What else is family for eh?

pumpkin patch

More Birthday

Birthdays

A Day at the Lake

THE BIGGEST NEWS EVER!!!!

Steve is Pregnant and registered at Target. Cash donations are considered not only welcome but expected.

Three Days Apart

These are some pictures of when Jen came to visit me. The Kids are so cute. Its really weird to have them so close in age. They're so cute

Halloween came early

Kiley is Hannah Montana.
Braiden in a pirate.
Davin is a little frog

Wonderful Wendy Wemories

When I was very young before moving to SLC, I remember being able to sleep in Wendy's room with her downstairs. I remember going through her jewelry box with her and talking about her cousins and about Charlie the garbage man. We listened to the song Downtown on a record player I think. She had such a way of making me feel like her friend not just her little sister. I remember wishing that we were closer in age.
I remember many times walking with Wendy to get her hair done. She probably doesn't know it but I lived for that. We would walk what seemed to be miles and miles and just talk. I don't remember her ever feeling like she had to, I felt like she wanted to be with ME. It always felt good to go with her. I felt treasured.
Of course almost every one of my good memories include some kind of food memory so I must also add that she would sometimes share a slurpee with me. That was a BIG deal to me.

Around Christmas time one year, Wendy grabbed up all of us kids and took us to the mall to sit on santa's lap and take a picture. She bought us lunch and treats and we were there til it was cold and dark outside. I think we took the bus home. She was in high school then. That is a pretty thoughtful thing to do and she was a teenager.
Before we moved back to Rexburg, Wendy let me and Audi come stay with her in her apartment off campus in Rexburg. She introduced us to her roommates and fed us awesome cold cereal and let us watch TV and just hang out. I can still remember the smell of her apartment. I couldn't wait to move out and get my very own apartment and have roommates just like her.
One year for Christmas our family was really struggling and didn't really expect to get much of anything. (By the way those kind of Christmas's are my favorite to look back on). Well anyway, either the day before or the day of Christmas, we found a box on our front porch full of new nice things. Among those things was the most beautiful pink coat a girl of 11 could ask for. That coat made me feel stylin in my 70's hand-me-downs. Not only was it awesome but also warm. I had a paper route at the time and hated to wear my beautiful coat while handling the ink covered papers, but I managed to keep it relatively clean and it lasted for a very long time. Wendy never ever admitted to this but I know and knew that it was her who left that box. I knew it was a sacrifice on her part, I knew that it wasn't easy for her. It was huge for me to see something like that done. And to be on the receiving end of such kindness.

Wendy was a very snazzy dresser and had a perfect body. I was in 6th or 7th grade and could fit into her clothes. She let me wear them. She was happy to let me. In fact, there was a dress that I loved of hers, she must have noticed me loving it because one day she just gave it to me for no reason at all. It was so nice to go to church in that dress. It had shoulder pads, and was navy blue and had white pocadots. For the time period, it was probably the coolest dress I had ever seen and it was mine.

Though Wendy has had some financial struggles, it has never stopped her from thinking about others plights especially her siblings and parents. When her children were very young and money was scarce, she would often bring food to mom and dad. Over the years I have seen that happen many times and it continues today. She shared her meat, any excess of anything she shares. She makes sure that each one of our children get a knitted/crocheted blanket to come home in.

So as I was writing this list, I started bawling realizing how much I took/take her for granted. Wendy sacrificed and gave in every one of these stories. She has a gigantic heart. She tried very hard to help me and I am sure everyone else in our family to succeed and to be liked and to fit in somewhat and to feel loved.

Wendy I love you. Thank you for what you have done for me peronally. Thank you for the person that you are.

The Bum Drum Game

Addie is all about games lately and this evening out of nowhere she made this one up.

Addie: Okay, so...you put your feet on your bum and when you move your feet...someone like plays your bum like a drum.

THE BIGGEST NEWS!!!

JEREMY FINALLY CAME OUT! I LOVE YOU BROTHER! ....celebrating diversity one brother at a time!

BIGGER NEWS!!!!!

I'M PREGNANT!!!

BIG NEWS!

I'm pregnant with twins. Does anyone still read this? Tune in next week to see if this is true.

I love Addie

I put Addie to bed tonight and we had the best time ever. She asked me about all of my favorite things. I asked her about hers. Among many other things, she said that she loves "aminals," and that she missed Porkchop the goat. I told her that someday when we have a bigger yard, Porkchop could come live with us again along with a cat or a dog. She said,"or a giraffe."
Then somehow the conversation drifted to the 'just say no' talk. I covered smoking, drinking, drugs and sex. She then asked about earrings and if she should get her ears pierced. I told her that someday it will be her choice but that I would hate to see her in pain just to look pretty.
She told me that she never wanted to grow up and that she wanted to stay with me forever. I told her that no matter how old she became that she would always be my baby and that I will always love her.
Our conversation was the best we've had in months. She ate it up and I could tell she was starved for it. We talked until she finally rolled over and started softly snoring. I wanted to wake her back up and just talk all night. I love little Addie. I hate that too often I am running all over stressed or trying to get Clare to sleep and then miss out on this awesome little spirit. I am fairly tired right now, so that is probably why I am bawling but man, I am so lucky to be the mom of these sweet girls and I am sad that tonight ended.

Hey guys! I've been super slow to upload pictures of my adventures. Here are a few from our road trip... We drove from Idaho to DC, stopped to explore the miles and miles of corn fields, and stumbled upon the American Gothic House (which can be rented out for $175 per month)!! ...and a few miles away was John Wayne's birth place, may he rest in peace....