Things We have done

Alison, Brian, both

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise - dinner cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish Community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - at a rock gym
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Many of these things we have done together. Brian says that he has done more because he is older. Sounds legit to me! Anyone else game?

Swimming in February?

I know it sounds crazy to be swimming in February, but the temperature Thursday was 90 degrees, today it is high 50s. How do you tell your kids no when it really feels like summer? The water temperature was 61, warmer than I thought it would be.

Carson put his feet in and thought it was cold, but that didn't stop him from jumping in.


When he got out he started crying. Not because it was cold, but he forgot that he would go under the water. It really surprised him. He didn't jump in again. Just splashed and played.

Mason never jumped in, but he did swim quite a bit. I was surprised that he got soo wet. It's not his style.

This is their friend Matthew. Even though he didn't have a suit on, it didn't stop him from playing along. He got wetter then he was suppose it. But they all had a blast! Now we really want summer here more than ever.

I did it!!

I finished my apron Wednesday night. Hooray!!! My whole family thinks I'm insane at how excited I am to have sewn this. It's a big deal to me.

The next morning I realized that I didn't put on the rickrack. So back to the machine I went. So I guess I didn't really finish it until Thursday. That's ok. I'm still very excited about finishing in a timely manner. We are going to make a skirt next, so we can learn zippers.

Don't look too close, Nikko(I consider you an expert), or you might see mistakes. But I did learn form them. Isn't that what mistakes are for!

School carnival ...

Every year the elementary school has a carnival. I think the funds are used for playground equipment. Being how their school opened this year we could really use more equipment. Karlee especially thinks we need more. She would like swings. I agree with her, it's not a playground unless there are swings. We had a pretty good turnout. Luckily another mom volunteered to take care of the carnival, so I didn't have to even though I am the room parent. I think we had a parent to fill every half hour slot. In Mason's class it was another story. Besides the room parent running it, I was the only other parent that volunteered to help. I'm getting rather irritated with these parents. I do understand how busy life is. I don't do PTA, or the fundraisers. But come on, half an hour to fill in at the carnival. Oh well, I'm glad I'm able to help. All of the kids love the carnival every year. Mason and Carson loved the bounce houses the most!

Carson loves to play golf on Wii, so of course he had to to try. Overall it was a successful day, once I got over my bad attitude. Sorry about that.

New Carpet!!

We had Empire Today come out last week, the 19th, to talk about carpet. We decided to do the whole house. Wa hoo!!! Thanks Bri! Then they told us they could do it next day, just like they advertise. We were shocked! So that afternoon I started to clean out closets and haul things out into the garage. Brian and kids worked most of the evening, since I had already scheduled visiting teaching appointments. That night we had it all cleaned out, except McKinzie still had to finish her room in the morning. It felt like we were moving. We were exhausted! Since we have a waterbed, we slept on the floor. I think I am still recovering. Friday morning they arrived at 9:40 am. I believe their were seven guys here. They were going to do the entire house in one day. Yea!! All finished at 5:30 pm. and it looked great. They moved the furniture which really saved a lot of work for Brian and myself.

Carson had a lot of fun playing in the bedding. There were times he even jumped off the couch into the blankets.

This carpet is my favorite. We put this color in the living room, dining room and the master bedroom. There are times I want to sit in the room and stare at it.

Then yesterday morning I notice "this"! Not cool!! The carpet is coming out in pieces. The backing is still attached to the floor. Come to find out we need to replace all of this style. It is all bad, the entire roll. The guy came out today and agreed that is needs to be replaced and it is scheduled for next Friday. Luckily there isn't much for us haul out, but we need to empty our waterbed again. Yuck!! I think we will empty it early in the morning, then put it back together ASAP. We don't want sleep on the floor again. Our fingers are crossed. The upstairs carpet is fine. I know carpet makes a big difference in a house, but it is still amazing at how much better the house looks. It looks NEW. We love it. Now one more week. This time I think I will test the carpet before they take if off their truck. Just in case.

Happy (late) Valentine's Day

I know I'm late. I guess that's what happens when life happens. But I wasn't late with my family. Isn't that what really counts? Brian sent me roses. As traditional as this is, he can never go wrong with roses!

For preschool this last, week the boys decorated cookies to give to their families. D was sick so it was just the boys. L wasn't too sure about getting his hands dirty to make cookies. Although, they both loved putting sprinkles on.

The pink was L and the purple was Carson. I'm not sure who used more, possibly Carson.

We had an ice cream party for Karlee's class. I came into class the week before and the kids volunteered to bring the toppings and whatever I needed. They were great. I've been to many class parties, all of them. And this was the first time that not one parent showed up. Yes, I know there is a woman on the left of the picture. She is a Mom, but did not stay and help. Just came and talked with the teacher. I was surprised and disappointed. I wasn't able to go to Mason's class. I've never missed a party. I didn't get one picture! Needless to say I was a little ticked. We have one more party left in April. I guess I better start getting something figured out so I can get some parents involved. Luckily I will only have Mason in elementary school next year. That will be great!

Sailing...

I've been meaning to post this for weeks. One Saturday a friend called and asked if we wanted to go sailing. WOW!! Of course we do! Unfortunately Brian was sick, but the rest of us went. I felt bad that Brian couldn't go, but the rest of us had a blast (if you couldn't tell from the smiles on our faces). Mason stayed in the cabin most of the time. He felt most comfortable there.

Karlee hung out all the way in the front. She made Brother Killingsworth nervous with her confidence.

We just hit some choppy water and Gretchen was able to get a great shot of Bailee.

Carson wants to be as big as the rest of the kids. He had to try the top of the boat too.

This is Bailee's friend M, it worked out by chance that she was able to come along.

Gretchen took the camera a couple of times. It was nice to actually be in the photo with the kids. I'm usually the one behind the camera.

Mason got brave and ventured out on top. It was great!

Gretchen is amazing in so many ways. Thanks for a wonderful afternoon. We had a blast.

Dare...

Last week I had a friend basically dare me to go without Diet Coke for 5 days. She recently tried to stop and could only make it 5 days and admitted that she is addicted. I laughed at her. Easy I thought. I didn't agree on the spot, but as I thought about it I thought it was a piece of cake. So Monday I started, easy. Tuesday, doing great. I even text her and told her how easy it was. Thursday afternoon hit. I was irritated, short tempered and ready for the kids to go to bed. So I started wondering if I was "addicted" to Diet Coke. I will admit that I drink it partially out of convenience, besides the fact that I love the taste. I often have it with lunch, mid afternoon I often have a soda, sometimes in the evening. As Brian and talked about it we still think it's more of a habit than an addiction, I never felt shaky or had headaches. Today, day 5 ... I made it! Still, in the evening I struggled at times with all the noise. After work tonight, Brian asked me how I was doing, then told me now that I made it I should have a soda. He wanted me to feel better. He noticed too. Maybe I do have a slight addiction. I think I'm going to cut back. I don't want to give it up completely. I love it too much!

I don't know why the picture is soo big. I checked the small box. You've got to admit that it does look refreshing.

Pilobolus

Many many months ago we got this email about Pilobolus. We had never heard of them before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cBqzI7uSOw

After we watched the dance behind the screen, we were hooked. So COOL!!

Last week Brian and I went to see them at the Bass Hall. It was interesting. Out of the four dances only one was behind a screen. Still very cool. We sat in row V, and I made the comment to Brian during intermission that about 10 or 12 rows closer would be perfect. The dance after the intermission, WOW. Let's just say, I was grateful to be in row V. Any closer and I would of been able to count the freckles and hairs on the men's bodies. There were four and they were only wearing G-strings. Both Brian and I didn't know what to think, other than we were glad that we were in row V. I will admit the control and strength they had was amazing. There were times that they were skin to skin to skin as they moved slowly and controlled across the stage. It was a new experience of the "arts" that's for sure.

Dear Ziggy . . .

Our cat, Ziggy, was born late November 1996. He died this morning at about 9:50. He has always been a large cat. These past few months I could tell he was losing weight. He also would think twice before he jumped up on anything too high. He was old and feeling his age. Friday I really started worrying about him. He was moving very slow and would lay around in places he has never rested before. Like he didn't have the energy too move any farther. Last night I held in my lap and when he got down he was struggling to walk. This morning was more of the same. Before school Karlee sat by him and pet him while she read her book. Brian was with him before he went to work. When he was taking his last few breaths McKinzie, Carson and I sat by his side petting him as we cried.

There were times he really drove us crazy. He was bulimic, no kidding. I have cleaned up more vomit from him than all of my kids put together. If he slipped out the door at night, when he wanted in, he would meow at our window until Brian or I would let him in. At 2am, it is rather irritating.

When he was only a few years old, we lived in the country in Colorado. We had a cat/dog door. In the evenings he would bring in large moths and let them loose in our family room so he could chase them. He would jump from one couch to the next until he caught it again. He would play until the moth gave up. He also would bring in humming birds and let them loose in our living room. When he was finished "playing", there would be little feathers everywhere. When we realized where they came from it broke our heart that a humming bird just lost his life. He loved the chase.

His most favorite place to sit lately was with us. When we would read scriptures in the morning he would walk around trying to decide who would be most comfortable to sit with. He would almost always choose Bailee.

When we firsts brought him home, he liked to sleep in my hair. That only last for a short time until I convinced him sleep at our feet. Which is where he slept most nights. He loved sleeping on our water bed, day or night. I would often find him sleeping on the kids. There have been a few times I found him in the crib with the baby. He loved the warmth.

Ziggy will be missed.

Note: I know he's a pet. No one is more surprised than I am at how sad we are all taking it. I knew the kids would be sad. But I thought Brian and I would handle it different. I was wrong. I take back all the negative things I have thought about people and their pets. They are a member of the family.