Flash Back Friday- Frankfurt Germany

This is a picture of Randy street preaching in Frankfurt, Germany (2000). The missionaries used to climb up on crates and yell out to the crowds of people in the marketplaces. Ever since his return home he has been trying to go back and walk those beautiful streets. We have tried a couple of times to plan a trip to go, but something always comes up that prevents us from going.

Yesterday airline ticket prices plummeted. We found round trip tickets for only $400. So we took the big plunge and we are going back to Randy’s mission. He is so excited. We couldn’t pass up the prices. It won’t EVER be that low again so we decided to jump on it. I figure it is the perfect graduation present for him. We are going in May right after graduation and right before we move. I have barely been outside of Utah let alone traveling in Europe. If anyone has any great travel suggestions I would appreciate it. I don’t even know where to begin.
I do know that I need a passport...quick...really quick. We spent all day yesterday getting a new birth certificate for me. (my original is packed in storage) and applying for a Passport. The only place that lets you get a passport without an appointment is Tooele County. I walked all over the county building looking for my friend Annie(She works there). I couldn't find her and people were looking at me strangely for peeping around every corner. I'll have to go back and search for her again. The people in small towns are really nice. Every person I talked to was very helpful and courteous. I can't wait to move to a small town.

PS- Still waiting on the lender to be approved for our home loan. I HATE the wait. Crunch time!!! We close in 1 1/2 weeks.

I would call this nesting except I am NOT pregnant...just anxious to decorate a house

I still have sick kids. We pretty much stayed cut off from the world for the weekend. Since we were spending so much time indoors Steven pulled out the paints and the canvas. I asked…well forced…actually sat on him and begged him until he had no choice but to oblige to my request to paint a picture for Claire’s new bedroom.


I hovered over him all day thorough his creative process. I was wetting my pants with anticipation to see the finished product.


The finished product…..

SOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!!!!! Haven't you always wanted a jellybean tree???

***Leave him a comment for me to puff him up a little with some good old pride.***

It is okay Steven. You can be proud of you masterpiece. Even though it is filled with purple….and not a robot or a skull or Abe Lincoln. ( I promise I will post about Abe Lincoln on a different day. It is a whole other story. )


He also let Brad test out his creative juices. You can tell this painting was influenced by the testosterone dripping blood that runs through his fischbone blood.

Since we were being all artsy and crafty, I put together this for Claire’s bedroom. I just wanted to showcase her beautiful middle name. She was named after my Grandma Ada. I loved her. And I love my daughter. She is so beautiful just like her name.

Good nights mean good mornings

I have been trying my best to be a good guest in this lovely house. Sometimes my kids get a little hyper and crazy in the mornings. Kari works late thus she is not up at the crack of dawn like my children. I have tried all kinds of activities to hush them in the wee morning hours. I found the perfect solution…


…Brad will play out on the deck for most of the morning. He loves to be outside and it contains the noise to the outside. It is perfect.
Now I am just waiting for the neighbors to complain about the noise. Oh well, we can cross that bridge when we get there.



I swore when I was a teenager that when I had kids they would never have boogers on their face or nose. That is like so disgusting. How could a mother just let their kids be boogey smeared? It so grossed me out.
Time has sure mellowed me…Go ahead Claire…be as boogery as you want. I don’t care….If I have to hear you cry out every time I wipe your cute little nose I will be torn in two.


I took Claire to Dr. Shakula’s yesterday and she has ear infections, sinus infections and bronchitis. Poor little girl. We have had a few rough nights. That expression is raw emotion. No acting. That is how she really feels. The boogers are real too…no theater makeup.

Happy Belated St. Patty's

For St Patty’s day I went with my friend Jes and her kids to Discovery Gateway. The place was packed. It was unquestionably something I did for my kids and not my own gratification. After packing a giant diaper bag to last me the whole day I realized while driving I left the camera at home. Thank goodness Jes packed an even bigger diaper bag with her camera in it. Not only did Jes take the pictures she sent them to me too!! What a good friend. Brad’s favorite part was building a block house and letting it get knocked down by an earthquake. We spent a good 20 minutes at that exhibit. Claire loved everything she ran and ran to each thing with a huge grin.

Clean Bill of Health

Brad had his Kindergarten checkup today. Everything looks good. I was so proud of him when he got his shots. He was so excited to get “way cool” band aids. In fact when he got in the tub tonight he was devastated they fell off. He told me before hand that he didn’t need to cry. He was going to be way tough like his dad. When the nurse was ready he wrapped his arms around my neck tight and told the nurse he was ready. (Seriously it was so cute.) I whispered in his ear that he could say ouch in my ear if he wanted to. He made it until the last shot and he cried for only about 5 seconds wiped his tears and said “Thank you” to his nurse. (I taught him right…always say thank you to your nurse. She still has a needle in her hand) He really was so tough. As soon as he got in the car he wanted to call both his grandmas to tell them about his band aids. Brad is still off the charts in height but still way low on weight. No matter what we do we can’t get him to gain poundage. So next time you see him, please offer him a cube of butter to suck on.

Just for the record: Brad was 47 inches tall and weighed 45 pounds. How would it be to be more inches than pounds??? I will NEVER know.

Dr. Shakula went through a random list of the routine health questions. When he got to the “Is he having any problems with urinating or having bowel movements?” I said not unless peeing all over the toilet is a problem. Brad peered over at me and started to snicker. Soon it turned into a belly laugh and he was giggling uncontrollably. Then Dr. Shakula and I started to roll. We were not laughing at my stupid joke just laughing that Brad got such a kick out of it. Seriously though I think I need to start putting cheerios in the toilet bowl again. I swear he pees everywhere besides in the toilet. Does this ever get any better???

Brad's Birthday Party.

For Brad's Birthday we had a small get together with our family and a few of our close friends. Since the weather cooperated we decided to have it at the park. We ate lunch and the kids played on the playground. It was good to see Brad with some of his friends. Since moving he has not been able to play with them for a while. He was so excited to see some familiar faces.

I was so busy helping Brad open presents that I neglected to notice the babies digging into Brad’s cake. I am glad someone noticed to snap a few pictures of them devouring as fast as they could before being shut down.















Brad you are such a special sweet boy to your dad and I. We love you dearly. You have brought so much joy to our life. We can't imagine life without you. Happy Birthday!!!

Too much time on our hands...

Since we have 1 o’clock church, we have a lot of time to try to fill in the morning. Brad came running in to my bedroom and said “Mom bring your camera, Uncle Steven made me a fort!!! How cool is that!!!!” Thanks Steven for being my son’s source of entertainment for the morning.

My SON has contracted my SWEET TOOTH disease

Remember when you were little and your ice cream sundae was as big as your head. I can’t believe he finished it and had room to lick the sides!!!

I have no more nails left to bite.....

Hold your breath…..We put an offer on a house!!!! I don’t want to jinx myself here but I am too excited. They have accepted our offer and we are just waiting on the underwriter to approve financing.
It was built in 2007
3,200 square feet
0.40 Acre lot
We were there on Wednesday for the inspection so I walked around the home capturing every corner of the house on camera.
Here are just a few of the things I LOVE about this home.


The jetted tub in the master bath...right next to the double sink and walk in closet!!!


The big huge pantry. If only I could afford the groceries to fill it.


The lovely Knotty Alder cabinets. And the DISHWASHER!!!! Oh how I have missed having a dishwasher.


The only room in the house that I don't want to repaint.
(This could be Brad's room. I say "could" because again I don't want to jinx myself. )


The bay window and vaulted ceiling in the master bedroom.


The huge back yard!!! So many possibilities.

After I felt satisfied with the camera I handed it over to brad to be the photag for a few. It literally entertained him for an hour. Here are some of the things he thought were noteworthy.


First things first a self portrait. He took about 10 of these. He could not get enough of his cute mug.


The view from his "could be bedroom" window.


The garbage can. He must sense that he will be on garbage duty for the next 15 years. He thought he better get acquainted now.


The last fruit snack from the one little bag that mom brought. Silly mom...she thought that one little bag would last for hours. What was she thinking.


And the best part of the house is Sammy...NEXT DOOR DOG. I don't know who drooled more Brad or Sammy. They are already best friends.

Keep your fingers crossed and a prayer in your heart. I have fallen in love with the home, the neighbors and the neighborhood. I even love the smell of the cows.

It’s my party and I’ll smile if I want to!!!!

Brad turned the big 5 yesterday.

Randy and I both had the day off to celebrate so we told him he could do anything he wanted. Of course he didn’t choose a quite day at home to have leisurely thoughts and activities. He said “I want to go to that place where a kid can be a kid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Did you detect the tone in his voice? He was just a little excited.





After eating very pricey cheap tasting pizza, 50 tokens in the arcade, and dancing to the creepy electronic singing puppets, we were all tuckered out.




Happy Birthday Brad. We love you so much and look very fondly on the last 5 years. Can’t wait to see what this year holds for you.

Pretty in Pink

Saturday the boys went golfing so the girls decided to lounge and have a PJ party at home. We ate junk drank junk and watched sappy girl movies. I painted Claire’s toes. I even forced Kari to let me paint her toes. I have some fantastic women in my life. And Randy has some pretty sweet gentlemen in his.