Coming soon...

We're spending Christmas Vacation with family and friends in Utah. And we're having a wonderful time! I'll have something new to post soon!

Not being able to smell really...STINKS!!!

Just a quick post to let you all know that I have a new found appreciation for our sense of smell. For the last three days I have been unable to smell, at all. I have this yucky sinus cold so my nose isn't working. Pretty much it's horrible. And because I can't smell, I can't taste. How can you enjoy food if you can't taste? I've been drinking a lot of V8's and eating things that I don't usually but should. I guess its an easy way to diet but I love food too much. It's just no fun at all. And poor little Abbi sat in a dirty diaper too long because I couldn't smell it! Now she has gnarly little bum rash. Boy, do I feel like a good mom. I never realized how much I count on my sense of smell. Do I smell OK? How about these dishes, are they clean, do they smell clean? How about this blanket that Abbi's been sleeping with, does it need to be washed, how does it smell? How about my toast burning in the toaster, can't tell cause I can't smell! I guess what I'm trying to say is I am very grateful for a working nose and I will be even more grateful when mine starts working again!

Ok, I'm done.

Chicago...Chicago

Our Thanksgiving trip to Chicago was a blast! Mostly because we were able to spend time with our family (seriously I was so content just to hang out with everyone and Livi and Abbi had cousins to play with!!!) But we also got to do some pretty cool things while we were there too. We went to this awesome little town called Woodstock. This is where the movie Groundhog Day was filmed. It was so cool and very quaint. We also ventured into downtown one night to see the musical WICKED. IT-WAS-AMAZING!!! Seriously, I was in heaven. Jessica had already seen it so she, very graciously, volunteered to watch the childrens. So, a night out on the town, without my children, with DuVall, (and Dru and Linda/Grannie), to see WICKED, a play I have been dying to see for almost two years....pretty much I was a happy girl.
So thank you to Dru and Jess for such a fabulous vacation and Thanksgiving meal. We were so glad we could be there with you and your kids and Grannie!!!
Here are some pictures from the trip. The one of the Wicked Stage was all I could take before some old, wrinkly, usher told me to put my camera away or else she would take it.

but baby its cold outside...

Well, it's not cold here. At all. But we're getting ready to travel to Chicago for Thanksgiving so the girls tried on their new hats and gloves for daddy when he got home tonight. They also have matching poofy jackets. They look like adorable pink marshmallows.
Freezing cold temperatures here we come!

but armor is for boys...

We had FHE at a friend's house and the lesson was about putting on the Armor of God. Here is Livi "putting on her armor". The kids had fun playing dress up and the lesson was fantastic. (As well as the food and really the entire evening. Thank you "R" family!)
In the car on our way home Livi wanted to know why she had to wear the armor because she thought armor was just for boys. We had a great discussion after that and I think she understands now.

previous post....

Not that I blame any of you for thinking that this is DuVall because this is something he would certainly wear, but it isn't him. It's one of our ward members. I just thought it was funny, that's why I posted it.

our resident "joe the plumber"

ward trunk r' treats are awesome!

a bride and her flower girl...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Protect Marriage

We are down to the wire here for this campaign. Its been really crazy with phone calls and sign waving parties (DuVall has been called all sorts of things and seen many a middle finger lately) and personal letter sending...But certainly well worth it. We are all making a last stitch effort to make sure Prop 8 passes. I know most of you don't live in California but this will eventually be something we will all have to fight for. So I am asking now for a bit of help. We are having a special fast this Sunday so if you would like to participate, wonderful! Also, if you have the means to donate to this cause, even a few bucks will help, please go to protectmarriage.com and donate. The campaign is still in need of some serious funds before voting day. And of course prayer works too! Thanks for all your help and please if you can spread the word to family and friends. This is definitely something worth fighting for.

Love to all!


www.protectmarriage.com

...just call him MR Betty Crocker!

Both girls were sick on Sunday so I stayed home with them during Sacrament meeting and then DuVall came home so I could go play the piano for Primary. When I came home DuVall had made me lunch, with his current favorite, the GT Express 101. Seriously, he should do their infomercial for them. The steak and asparagus and mashed taters were mmm, mmm, de-lish!

Thank you DuVall for a fabulous meal! I am one lucky girl!

The Pumpkin Patch

We visited our local Pumpkin Patch (more like a mini carnival with pumpkins) as part of our FHE this week. Abbi loved the petting zoo, especially the little pig that she followed around for several minutes. (See video below) And Olivia is now our family acrobat. (See video below) Very brave girl if you ask me.

I love this time of year and I know I shouldn't complain about warm weather but I am really hoping things start to cool down so it will actually feel like fall!

Global Warming Rocks!

Uh-huh, that's right. We went in the pool today.

Princess Livi and Abbi cuteness...

Olivia went to a birthday party on Saturday. It was a tea/dress -up -like -a- princess- if -you- want- party. After some serious fashion-female drama this is what Livi looked like on her way to the party. She's a cutie and I love her dearly but I do believe I am in for a real treat come teenage years. Mom, I am so sorry for all the drama I caused when it came to clothes and hair. I do recall you telling me that I had strong opinions at an early age. I believe I am experiencing payback or "what goes around comes around".
Livi had a great time at the party and informed me that the tea was really just apple juice because we don't drink tea, so I didn't need to worry. I love this girl.

Just a few pictures Olivia captured of Abbi in the bath tub. The second one is a common face that Abbi pulls when she's extra happy or trying to be funny. While making this face she breathes quite loudly and quickly in and out of her nose. Real cute unless she's got a cold.



***For those who are wondering about my last post.....Olivia completely forgot about her question (which is BEYOND rare for this child) and I wasn't about to remind her of it. I guess we dodged that bullet for now.

Really....already?

While driving home from Target....

Olivia: Mom?
Me: yes?
Olivia: member' how when after you get married you get a baby in your belly...
Me: uh-huh...?
Olivia: well, um, how does it get inside?
Me: your belly?
Olivia: ya
Me: Well, that is a really great question so lets ask daddy at family home evening tonight, because I bet he knows.

Did he say Moron or Mormon?

So, I am a volunteer for the YES on Proposition 8 Campaign regarding traditional marriage. Since we are voting in November to make this an amendment to the CA constitution we have been making phone calls, informing voters and asking for support. Today I called a man, lets call him Dick*, and before I could even get my "sh-peel" finished he started rampaging about "you wouldn't vote for someone just because they disagreed with you on this issue?!" (This had nothing to do with the phone call, mind you.) I told him that I would not vote for someone who agreed with same-sex marriage. That's when he called me a moron, and hung up the phone.

I didn't even get to tell him to have a good day.



*name has been changed to protect the morally confused.




WWW.PROTECTMARRIAGE.COM

Black eye, Oatmeal, and Gladys Knight

Olivia tripped and her face landed on the corner of a chair. Poor girl looks like she got rocked. I haven't taken her out in public cause it looks so suspicious!

Abbi's first attempt at feeding herself. Most of the food ended up on her and on the floor, not in her mouth. We have discovered that, along with pbj's, cheese, carrots, and chicken, our dog really likes oatmeal too.

So last week at church I noticed a very familiar looking face sitting in our congregation. It didn't take me long to figure out that it was Gladys knight. It was so cool to see her sitting in our sacrament meeting! The only bad thing was that I was playing the piano as part of the musical number. It made extremely nervous to play in front of her. Anyway, after the meeting I was like a little groupie and walked up to her to say hello. I took the girls with me because they are cute and people like cute. Olivia grabbed her attention which made it easy to approach her and say hello. She told Livi how "precious" and "beautiful" she is. Olivia acted like, "um ya, i know". She of course had no idea we were talking to someone famous. Anyway, we said hello and chit- chatted for literally a few seconds before she left the chapel to meet her driver outside. It was so cool! And then that got me thinking...what is our deal with famous people? Why do we care so much about them and why does it feel so cool to see them or meet them? I don't really even listen to Gladys Knight's music, but it was so cool to meet her. I don't know what the fascination is but it was fun to meet someone famous.

Could you be any cuter?!

I was out tonight at a bridal shower so DuVall put the kids to bed. After I got home I went upstairs to give Livi a good night hug and kiss. She was still awake. When she sat up I couldn't help but laugh out loud. And then I ran for the camera.

I will enjoy these years when she digs her curly locks. I'm sure it won't last forever.


(PS. Is cuter even a word?)

This is your birthday song, it isn't very long.

Just a little birthday fun...

New quilt made by Grams T!

This is for you, Mom and Dad! And don't worry mom, your table was thoroughly washed and oiled after the cupcake bath.

It is your birthday, shout HOORAY!

To our playful, sensitive, mischievous, busy, happy and oh-so-squishy girl,
we love you so much Abbi!

Happy 1st Birthday!!!!

In the good ole' summertime...

Abbi vs the hose







What? Doesn't every mom let their kids ride their bikes in their underwear?