TURNING "GIFTY" EIGHT

Don't let the photo fool you!

My Mother! If you could only here the sarcasm in my voice you would understand. Anyone who knows, My Mother! Can relate to me when I say she is seriously the silliest, goofiest, funny, rhythm and rhyme"iest" mother I know. She could also be known as Mrs. Suess, Mother Hubbard and Mother Goose. She is definitely "Gifty Eight". She is such a wonderfully talented gifted young woman.

This lady just turned a mer 58yrs old. She acts like she's 18. Just old enough to know better, but young enough to laugh at herself and enjoy every moment of the day...for simply the little things.

She loves Bubble gum & Sweet Tarts, Smarties & Lollypops,

Of course Diet Coke with lots of crushed ice,

She's happy go lucky, and a little bit nuts,

She loves Rainbows and Sunshine & everything nice.

She loves flossy teeth and doin' the jive.

I really am lucky, oh yes this is true..

I love my dear Mother, if only you knew.

I am very lucky Todd still married me, knowing full well what he would endure with a Mother-in-law like Suzie. She used to come into "check" on us while we "studied" in my room. She would (seriously) put 10 pieces of dental floss between her teeth and come in just to say "Hi, are you guys ok?" and try not to laugh as the floss blew with her breath. I have pictures of her with Cheetoes in her nose (yes as an adult) And one of the best stories is when my brother Cameron came home from a date late and walked in. She decided to be her "funny self" and throw a blanket over her while she sat in Christians wheelchair in the darkness of the kitchen. Needless to say, like most of the time, she would start to snicker to herself and give it away, before she could carry out her wise little plans. Like crawling down the hall at 11:30 at night to my bedroom trying to "scare me" (out of sheer boredom) of course laughing and snickering at herself the whole way. As if I couldn't hear.

Oh, I could write a novel...this just doesn't even touch the surface.

April Fools Day is her favorite Holiday. Through the years, she's actually made a pretty good name for herself. Not so much with the family, cause we all know what she's up to, even though she still trys to pull fast one's on us, but to the many unsuspecting bystanders she chooses to befriend every year.

She is a hoot and a holler, and the funniest part about it is that she is the funniest to herself. She gets more of a kick from her own antics than anyone. She tries so hard to "crack" Todd. he just won't give it up. He says doesn't find it amusing. But deep inside, he has a real softness for her. He loves knowing he is her Favorite son in law, bar none.

She taught me about moonbeams and stickers and art

how to love everyone, and judge by the heart.

She taught me of make-up and jeans and high heels

she said "enjoy all the little things", while climbing life's hill.

I am so thankful for her in my life. She has been such joy and inspiration to me as well as many many people through out her life. She has a very unique talent of just being herself in this world. For taking life at face value and running with it. I could only hope to be half of what she is in this lifetime. Her strength and perseverance are to be hallowed. Much of that she must have learned from her great Mother and Father.

Oh and one more thing I must add...eek...ugh! I'm becoming my mother!  

We have the same hands, we carry our purses the same way, we say the same things and worst of all, my brothers say so.

However I am soo much more mature than her, and always will be! ha ha ha

SPRINGTIME IN THE PARK

FUN FOR EASTER

  We had a fun holiday weekend.  On Friday night, The Easter Bunny hid a few glow in the dark Easter eggs for the kids to find.  It was fun to see them glowing in the dark scattered across the backyard.

      

On Saturday evening we colored eggs with the kids.  During that we got a call that the Easter bunny had a special delivery for us.  The kids were excited to hear the doorbell ring, and see a plate of cutely decorated cookies on the front step.  The bunny delivered them specially made from Grandma Jami.  She was on her way back down to Richfield and couldn't make it out to our house herself.  The kids just thought that was great.  

 

They were also waiting for Grammy Anne and G-pa John to stop by and say Hi.  When they arrived the Easter Bunny snuck upstairs to the play room while we were all downstairs, and left the kids Easter baskets.  We all went up to see what the bunny had left.  The bunny likes to leave snacks for the kids that they usually find in the pantry.  Crackers and Cheetoes and Strawberry Newtons. (Is that bad?)  Alyssa got a yummi land ice cream scooter & dolly with ice cream lipgloss, and Tyson got a game for his DS.

Sunday we went to church and then took the kids to the park for a few minutes.  We got some great photos while we were there.  It was so sunny with a nice cool breeze.  Perfect.

Later in the afternoon we had Carson, Ang and the kids come out to eat and hang out.  We played some cards and we had an egg scramble for the kids.  It was really enjoyable.  

  Chandlie, Alyssa, Tyson, McCade, Easton, McKenna, Halle   

BECAUSE OF HIM

Celebrating Easter!

I love Him. I speak the name of Jesus Christ in reverence and wonder. He is our King, our Lord, our Master, the living Christ, who stands on the right hand of His Father. He lives! He lives, resplendent and wonderful, the living Son of the living God.

- Gordon B. Hinkley

'CAUSE HE'S THE BOSS

"Mom, just one question.

When I don't want to do something and say no thanks, why do I still have to do it?

but when he (Dad) says no thanks,

he doesn't have to do it?"

- Tyson 6yrs. on wanting Todd to make hot cocoa for Ty & Mom.

.........................................................................................

"Dad, if you're The Boss then how come mom can tell you to go to the store and what to get?"

Todd replied...

"Cause The Boss can still take orders and do things- but when the rubber hits the pavement- then

what I say goes!"

-Tyson 5yrs. Nov. '06

*Todd, Thank you for being the kind of Boss that will take Grocery orders from me willingly when I need you to.  -Love you.

TYSON'S PRIMARY TALK

Tyson gave a talk in Primary today, all by himself. I picked a few stories out for him during the week to see if he liked any of them. Of course he didn't. So finally yesterday, he and I went for a ride together and I went back to the basics. I asked him to tell me what he knows about Jesus. This is what he came up with. I added the last few sentences and we were done. Short and to the point. Alyssa, was in the front row with the Sunbeams and she loved seeing him up there. Grammy and Grandpa came to support too. Thanks, that means a lot!

Jesus Christ

These are the things I know about Jesus.

He is nice. Because He helped create our bodies and our world.

Jesus loves us. I know this because He died for us

so we could live with Him again.

He is our older brother. He is there to protect us.

He will be our best friend if we let Him.

Even if we cannot see Him, I know He is there.

He performs miracles for us. He is our Savior.

I am trying to be like Jesus in all that I do & say, He is my example.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen

Thanks, Tyson!

IT WAS DAD'S IDEA

Morning update to THE SHELL FAIRY...

After the kids went to bed, Todd and I watched a movie downstairs. He found Tyson's good old Rubik's Cube. He thought it would be fun to get the instructions on the web, solve it for him, and try to pass it off as "Daddy did it!"

We finished our movie and headed upstairs. We had told the kids they could fall asleep in our room. Todd went to turn a light off in Tyson's room, and when he came back in, he said sure enough those little kids each had a shell on their pillow. All shiny, and smell'n minty fresh to boot. I said we at least need to write a note or something. We agreed to let them get a coupon for a treat at the gas station. Todd also conceded to his humbleness and allowed the Tooth Fairy to solve the Rubik's Cube instead getting the fish tale glory himself. She will leave it on TJ's pillow.

This morning they were thrilled. Tyson has since been awed with his re-found interest in his old toy. HOW did that tooth fairy know how to solve it? ...magic.

oh, and one more thing...

"Dad, how much money can I get if I move the couch and grab the remote that fell behind it?"

THE SHELL FAIRY...YEAH, RIGHT!

Well this is good.  Tyson is trying to earn points to buy a video game.  So he has been asking us what jobs he can do tonight to earn more points.  Of course we have to negotiate every little thing he does into how many points, and explain why he doesn't get points for the normal things like eating dinner he doesn't like, or playing with Alyssa, or watching a movie.  As if he doesn't know he will NOT get points for this stuff.  Anyway, he has some sea shells that he got from our vacation a few months ago.  He asked how many points he would get for washing them....uh, NONE!  But then I thought it was cute and said he could have a few points for doing that.  Soo, he comes downstairs a few minutes later and says,

"well, ok.  So I just earned $4.30 something cents, and I'm going to put it under my pillow." 

"What?" Todd and I were trying to figure this one out.  How did he go from earning a few points, to a bunch of money? 

"How did you earn $4 and why are you going to put it under your pillow?"

"Well, I just earned it washing my shells, and if I put it under my pillow, maybe I will get something for it."

"Why do you think that?"

"Well, there's a Tooth fairy that comes around!"

"yeah?"

"Well, maybe she'll stop and see my money instead of a tooth and then leave me something fun instead of my money."

Todd says, "Tyson, maybe she'll see your money and take it and give it to other kids for their lost teeth."  Tyson's wheels start turning with a surprised look on his face.

After a moment he replies:

"Well, I know...what about one of my SHELLS!  I could leave one of THOSE under my pillow.  They are shiny, just like a tooth.  Maybe she will like that!?"

"And then what, she will bring you money for your shell?"

"YEAH!"  he says, looking all sly.

"Maybe?" We said...(which means NO!)

Tyson starts running up the stairs and I asked where he's going, he says,

"To polish my shell so it's shinier... with TOOTHPASTE!"

MOM, WHERE'S THE TAPE?

Tyson thought it would be great if he could sleep over in Dad and Mom's room sometime. So I told him this weekend he could do that. Last night, he came in and said he didn't want to wait till Friday, so he was going to come in "tonight". We told him, no it was a school night. He still wanted to. He said I can just sleep right here, it will be soft. Which was on the side of the bed where all the pillows were stacked on the floor. Todd said, "Tyson what if I need to get up in the night and step on you? Go to bed." Todd and I kept talking and TJ came back in the room a second later and asked where the tape was. About about 10 minutes later he sneaks in the room, because we clearly are oblivious to the loud crawling noise and paper rustling. While Todd and I are talking with our backs turned to him, he carefully tries to TAPE a note to the bed sheet. He even goes as far as taping a pencil on the bottom of the paper by the sheet to see if that will help hold the sign up. We finally spotted him after a few minutes and Todd helped him tape the sign to the lampshade to help secure it. We let him chat with us for a few minutes, then he ended up in his own bed.

--Good Try!

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Alyssa went to Tumbling class today and I asked her if she had fun and did a good job. She said "yeah! I am really good at tumbling mama."

"You are? How do you know?"

"Cuz, Heavenly Jesus told me".

----------------------------------------------------

The Little Things She Says

*I told Alyssa to go upstairs & get her blanket & she replied, "come with me, I'm a little bit nervous to go up there by myself." suprised at the word she chose, I asked her what does nervous mean? She replied "It means to be scared." Then I asked her again a few minutes later, and she said "um, it means afraid, Mom." How in the world? I guess it just suprised me she knows the meaning of some of her more descriptive vocabulary choices.-------------------------

-----------------*Running my fingers down Alyssa's cheek I asked "how did you get such a cute round face?" She replied "From the Chocolate."------------------------------------------

*This morning lyssie lou came down stairs and said "hey look, the bananas are turning into chocolate- he he he." I thought, yep...time for some banana bread!------------------------------------------

GIRLIE GIRL

Little Lyssie Lou was so excited to go over to Grammy Anne's and spend the afternoon. They had a little tea party and picnic. Grammy took her to target and bought her a littlest petshop mouse to bring home. She was so so happy. "I wuv my Gwammy Anne" she says.

Alyssa loves to dress up and do all things girlie. My mom say's that's a far stretch from me at her age, I ran around with my brothers, my shirt off and dirt all over. I hated dresses and only wanted to wear my keds to church. I remember that. I think I even wanted to wear boys underwear. Sorry mom. I love having a little girlie girl. She's all things princess, pink, and pretty.

So Thank you Grammy Anne for spending time with her. She loved it. I did too. I was able to enjoy some precious time by myself doin whatever I wanted. It was very nice!

MANNIER...THANKS DISCOVERY CHANNEL!

Tyson: "Mom, I've changed a lot since last year"

Mom: "You have!...? How do you think you've changed? In what ways?"

Tyson: " I dunno. (with his arms stretched in front, both palms bouncing, his little head wiggling slightly side to side) I'm just...more...MANNIER."

Mom: "You are mannier"...(he he he he)

Tyson: "Yeah, I just, you know, like to watch man and woman shows now. Like you and Dad watch. Not just cartoons anymore. I don't even really like them that much anymore."

I walk in the other room to Todd a few minutes later and he says to me

"Did he just say MANNIER? (he he he)

...and so it goes on a Sunday night, when we sit down to catch up on our recording of Smash Lab, Mythbusters, Human Bodies, Cities of the Underworld, How it's made and Dirty Jobs. Can I name anymore of the top of my head? Let's see, what other learning opportunites can we disguise as great entertainment? I love that he eats this stuff up. The information is awesome. It has been fun to see him retain the info, even after a few months he will bring up a random fact, and tell us he remembers it from one of those shows.

RE-DECORATING? WE'LL SEE.

Alrighty, I guess, I'm still shopping. So in the mean time... yeay! back to posting.

RE-DECORATING

Pardon me, I would like to repaint my "wall".
So in the mean time, some of you may happen upon
some funky looking test drives with my template and
background.

FUNNY BUNNY MEMORIES

We came across these the other night.

Just some fun photos of previous Easter memories.

Tyson at 2 yrs. old being caught by Grammy Anne, in the living room on her brand new carpet with his Easter candy. The look on his face in all 3 pictures says it all. I still remember taking these pictures.

Yes?

What?

Really?

Alyssa's first Easter... 4 months old.

And this is how we topped off that Easter night. When we got home, we found out where Tyson's new spot for gum saving was. Great memorie...now! Not so great...then! I love this picture. This is Alyssa's cousin Stockton and her on Easter weekend in Grandpa's Clark's back yard.
I'm guessing Stockton may have "driven" off in the car without her. I can't recall. But love this photo too, with the wind blowing her dress.
OK-- so it's a little over flowing for a 3 yr old kid. What was that bunny thinking?
This little blue bunny in the front of his basket is one that the Easter Bunny brought him when he was 1yr. Somehow every year the Easter Bunny manages to bring it back and put it in his basket year after year. Hopefully he will be able to continue this as a tradition for a long time. Alyssa also has a special one that shows up every year too.