Out Like A Lion

Well, it's the last day of March and it definitely went out like a lion. We had slushy snow all day yesterday, but it was too warm to stick. This morning we woke up to see about an inch of snow covering everything outside. Lauren groaned, and Auburn said, "See we might get to go tubing still." (I think she's been secretly praying for more snow.) I was groaning when I had to chip the ice off my windows so I could get the girls to school.

Brook and I have been going through Auburn's room and the toy room to clear out the clutter. I honestly don't know how many bags we've taken out either for the DI or the trash can. It was a lot though. Lauren's room is next on the list, but hers won't be quite as bad since I cleared it out a month or so ago. Auburn's had been growing for a long time. She would usually just clean up the main space and shove things under the bed or around the perimeter of the room. It feels so good to get rid of things you don't need! Auburn said she would like to stay in her room for 100 hours since it was so clean. Stuff just weighs you down. I've got a long way to go, but we're off to a good start. We starting the cleaning, now we're just waiting for Spring to stick around.

I had to take a picture of Auburn's slippers before they went into the trash. She really loves these slippers and wore them a lot. As we were cleaning, she tried them on and her foot fit into them like the stepsister's feet in the glass slipper. Her toes were bulging at the front and they were stretched tight. They had holes worn in the bottom, so we had to get rid of them. Kathy gave them to her a long time ago, but I can't remember how many years she's had them. Thanks Kathy, she really logged a lot of miles in them.

Flashback Friday

I've missed posting the last 2 Fridays, so here's the pictures I meant to post. Our home computer died so I've been using Brook's laptop. I needed to go use my dad's scanner since taking pictures of these pictures didn't work out too well.

Here's me kissing the real Blarney Stone in Ireland. You have to been over backward while the guy make's sure you don't fall. The Blarney Castle is about 13 stories high and this is at the top. I don't think I would do that now...I'd be thinking of all the germs, but I'm glad I did it while I was there. Sometimes you just have to go for it while you're there because you don't know if you'll ever have the chance to do it again. I had heard of the Blarney Stone before, but I thought it was a big rock out in a grassy area. Boy was I wrong. Supposedly when you kiss the stone you are blessed with the gift of gab or eloquence. It must not have rubbed off on me...well maybe the going on and on part.

I love the sign! It says, THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR KISSING THE BLARNEY STONE. REMOVE ALL LOOSE VALUABLES BEFORE DOING SO.

Here's an old Easter picture taken in Alabama. I think it was the spring before we moved to Michigan. We probably came up from Florida for the holiday. I love this picture of me with Grandma & Grandpa Gregson because it's the only one I have with them that I know of. (Actually I found one more, but Tad & Nick are in it too.) I have a better copy that I doctored with photo shop. I took Aunt Alene & her red outfit out so it isn't so distracting, but it's on the home computer hard drive. Hopefully we'll be getting it back today. While I was searching for some pictures I found some cute ones of Brooke at the Williams reunion and an Easter picture when Summer was little. Everything is on slides so I'll have to have my dad help me get them scanned too.

I Left My Heart....

Just wanted to share a few of my favorite pictures from our San Francisco Trip. It was a really cool city. Much better than I thought it would be. We got to ride the cable cars, visit Fisherman's Wharf, check out the Aquarium, take a bay cruise to see Alcatraz & the Golden Gate Bridge, shopped in Chinatown, see the city from Coit Tower, and just enjoy the time together. We had a similar experience when we went to San Antonio. Didn't have high expectations, and were pleasantly surprised. Have you visited anyplace that you really liked?

Beauty Secrets

Sometimes you don't mind using the no name brand, but sometimes you got to have that specific one. I was thinking of this in the shower yesterday and wondered....what are your favorite 'beauty' products? Here are some of mine:

Shampoo: Anything that smells good... Pantene, Dove, Biolage

Conditioner: Same as above

Soap: Tom's of Maine Lemongrass Soap

Body Wash: Bubble & Bee Lemongrass Rosemary

Face Wash: Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash

Handsoap: Softsoap Naturals (Milk & Honey) or the white one... can't remember the name

Deodorant: Tom's of Maine Apricot or Lemongrass (are you seeing a pattern here...I love lemongrass)

Foundation: I hate to wear it, but if I do I like the whipped kind that feels really light (mousse)

Eye shadow: I usually buy Covergirl

Eye liner: I love Covergirl Perfect Point Plus black/brown

Mascara: Avon washable waterproof mascara black/brown - It's waterproof when you need it and washes of in the shower with soap without pulling out your eyelashes.

Blush: Covergirl - haven't really tried much else

Lipstick: Avon Glazewear- I love the wands...not sure why

Lipgloss: I liked Bubble & Bees Orange, but I think I'm allergic to beeswax now. The deodorant & lotion stick made me break out in a fierce rash

Tampons: Kotex brand

Pads: I avoid them at all costs, but Kotex if I have to

Lotion: Bath & Body works had one called Basil something, when I went to get more it was gone :( Aveeno has one that feels really good on your skin...Fragrance Free Soothing Relief Moisture Cream, I 've got skin like a gator

Gel: Aussie Brand

Hairspray: Aussie Sprunch Spray - I love the smell

Body Spray/Perfume: Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena

That's all I could come up with...if you have more feel free to add to the list. I gotta know what makes you guys so beautiful :)

Easter Pictures

Here's a few of our Easter pictures. We went to Grandma Glade's Saturday afternoon to dye eggs and have an Easter egg hunt in the back yard. Grandma let the kids dye 44 of the eggs that she had been saving for Easter. We just had our kids, Mel's kids and Greg this year for our egg hunt.

They found most of the eggs pretty quick, but it took them a long time to find the prize egg. They looked and looked and finally Grandma gave them a clue, even though we told her she shouldn't. (Grandma's are such softies :) -I probably shouldn't talk because I can vaguely remember my mom and Aunt Ann helping me find the prize egg when I was a little girl. I don't know if it was once or twice, but I remember it being in one of those large pantyhose eggs. - They looked past it so many times, but finally Erin found it in the rock garden in some long grass. She was excited since this is the first time she got it.

On Sunday we had Easter dinner with everyone but Jared's family at mom's. Everything was going pretty well until I called Jane 'pumpkin'. Auburn was so upset and started to cry because I usually call her that. She gets pretty jealous sometimes. Thankfully she had a change of heart and came back and held Jane. She said that Jane was 'little pumpkin', and everything was o.k. again.

This isn't on the subject, but what did you like to get in your basket and what didn't you like. I didn't like to get jelly beans...you know the old ones, not the Jelly Belly beans. I also didn't like these candy eggs that had a color candy shell with a sugary soft inside. They were about the size of a brazil nut. I did like the Hershey's kisses and Reese's peanut butter cups. Hope you all had a nice Easter!

Tag, you're it

**one word only
you’re feeling: content

to your left: clutter

on your mind: spring

last meal included: garlic bread

something you find it hard to do: dancing

the weather: lovely

something you have a collection of: coins

a smell that cheers you up: watermelon

a smell that can ruin your mood: fish

how long since you last shaved: 3 days

the current state of your hair: bedhead

the largest item on your desk/workspace right now (not computer): quarter map

your skill with chopsticks: stinks

which section you head to first in the bookstore: kids

…and after that?: history

something you’re craving: clean house

your general thoughts on the presidential race: enough!!!

how many times you’ve been hospitalized this year: zero

a favorite place to go for quiet time: library

you’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: librarian

something that freaks you out a little: snakes

something you’ve eaten too much of lately: truffles

you have never: skydived

you never want to: skydive

Spring Has Sprung!

It's finally here! It is officially spring, and my crocuses are blooming! I love it when they come up every spring. A sign that winter is over, even though it snowed yesterday, and the popcorn should be popping on the apricot tree soon. One of my favorite things to see in the spring is a tulip tree. Have you ever seen one? It is the most beautiful tree when all the blossoms are blooming. Someone up the street from us have one and I love to drive past and see it. I love tuplips too, but they haven't quite come up yet like they are in San Francisco. We went to San Francisco last weekend and the tulips were gorgeous. Sorry to go on about the flowers, they just make my heart happy. It looks like the weather today is going to be really nice. It makes Brook long for the golf course, and me long to be out walking and taking the kids to the park.

My Cool Brother

I wanted to share this story because I thought it was sooo cool. Nate taught Sunday School to 12 & 13 year old kids (I think) this past year. In the fall he was talking to them about the Book of Mormon and how they can have a testimony of it for themselves. They didn't have to rely on their parents testimonies. One of the kids in the class was kind of being a smart aleck and said, "So what will you do if we read it?" It ended up that Nate challenged them to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, and if they did, he would shave his hair into a mohawk. Some of them jumped right in and took the challenge. Nate said it gave him incentive to read too since he regretted not reading when Pres. Hinckley challenged us all to read. One girl was having trouble because she has dyslexia. Another girl hadn't really read and then read it in a week or two at the end. She told Nate that she read it, and he didn't really believe her, but since she said she did he counted it. Her mother told Nate that of all her children, her daughter could have because she was pretty smart. She started asking her mom all these questions about the BOM that she didn't understand when she came to it. The parents were so grateful to Nate for giving the kids the challenge. Well, they all ending up reading so Nate had Debbie shave his hair into a mohawk. He had been growing it out for a few months. They spiked it and sprayed it blue. He was embarrassed walking into church, but during testimony meeting some of the kids & parents bore their testimony. Then Nate did so people knew what was going on. He had been given a lot of strange looks. I think kids appreciate when one of their leaders cares enough about them to do something like that. He's awesome and such a great example to me!

Seeing Green

I love St. Patrick's Day! It's fun to see people wearing green! My favorite color is green & I like to see all the shades of green that everyone wears. I love hearing Irish music and seeing SPD parades with bagpipers, drummers, etc... I love Irish dancing! (I secretly wish I could dance like that & play the bagpipes) When I was little my mom made us a dinner with all sorts of green things. I actually wrote it down because she also gave us a journal that night for FHE. I tried making the green dinner one time, but it didn't work out too well. Somehow my kids didn't think green mashed potatoes & gravy looked too appetizing. Go figure! Mom says we have Scot-Irish blood and I believe it. When I hear Scottish or Irish music it really gets inside of me. (I also have this thing for men in kilts with the jackets, knee socks, sporran, etc...) Lauren was sick today, so she stayed home from school and watched cartoons for most of the day. She was feeling a little better later so she helped Auburn & I decorate a few cupcakes that we made with GREEN EGGS from mom's chicken. I know, I'm obsessed! I can't help it!

Humble Pie

Kids have a way of putting you in your place real quick. Auburn got pink eye, I'm assuming from school, and she needed to have drops put in her eye. She was so nervous and couldn't hold still because the drops sting a little when they go in. After several attempts to get the drops in I was so frustrated and ready to pin her down. Auburn said, "Mom, can we say a prayer so I won't be so scared?" Ouch, why didn't I think of that instead of getting so mad? So we had a prayer, and she was still a little nervous, but we got them in. The next time she got really scared again and I got frustrated again. (Didn't I learn my lesson the first time?) Auburn asks, "Can we say a prayer?" It took a while, but we got them in. Since then though, she lays right down and we get them in fast. The faith of a little child is amazing! I wish I had so much faith. We had a little boy in primary that told us, "My teacher said we could pray to know if Heavenly Father loves us. I did and he said yes." It made me cry! I love kids! Yesterday the girls wanted me to come out and watch them on the neighbors playground. I was trying to look up something on the internet, so I told them I would in a few minutes. Auburn said "We're going to have friends and we won't want you to watch us anymore." Lauren said, "I don't know what she's talking about." Was she telling me that they were going to be growing up soon so I needed to take my opportunity with them now?! She was sooooo right! They ran, jumped and played on the swings. I'm glad they still want me to come and play with them. Unfortunately it won't last forever.

The Birds & The Bees

Am I the only one that is extremely tired today? I don't know if it's the time change or what?! Wait...Summer, I guess you don't have to deal with the crazy time change though. You are so
lucky! It seems that Arizona is the only smart state in that regard. Anyway, Brook & I went to a fireside tonight commemorating the 200th anniversary of Samuel Smith's birthday. They held it in the tabernacle in Salt Lake. I wasn't sure that I wanted to go because I was feeling so tired today, but I'm glad I did. Ardeth Kapp and Elder Ballard spoke tonight. I could really feel the spirit. My mom & dad were exhausted so they didn't want to go. Mom said they would watch all the grand kids so the adults could go. I couldn't figure out how watching 9 kids could be good for 2 exhausted grandparents, but she volunteered. (I think dad was hoping to take a nap instead of babysitting.) When we got back, mom said she had to have a talk with Auburn about the birds & the bees. I was wondering what the heck happened while we were gone to warrant that conversation. Well, Derek had had an accident, so mom was getting him cleaned up. Auburn must have been around to see what was going on and wondered why boys look different than girls. (mom couldn't remember the exact terminology she used) She told her that girls had to sit down to go to the bathroom and boys didn't etc... etc... I think that's about as far as it went so I told mom it sounds more like an anatomy discussion instead of the bird's & the bees. WHEW!!! Come to think of it....Mom never gave me the bird's & the bee's talk, so I shouldn't have been too worried about her giving it to Auburn. :) It reminded me of Lauren, after seeing one of her boy cousins going to the bathroom because they hadn't closed the door, asking me why they had "one of those little wooglie things" My girls have been sheltered from the exposure to 'wooglie things' since we don't have any little boys around our house. She sure can come up with some interesting names for things. Do you remember her calling rubber bands, 'doing doings'? Life would be boring without my girls. A little less stressful, but definitely boring!

Flashback Friday

Do you ever look back on your old journals to see what you wrote as a kid or teenager? I used to have an awesome Humanities teacher in high school. When she took the roll, she would ask us a question of the day. It was so interesting to hear everyones opinion. Once she asked if we were to win an award, (like an Oscar, Tony, Grammy, Nobel Prize, etc..) what would we want it to be and for what category. I remember I said that I'd like to win an Oscar for Best Actress. She also had us write a critic journal. She would play a song, show us a picture, give us a small item, or have us look at someone. Then we'd have to give a critic about it. I remember that we learned about Dante's Inferno during the year. Towards the end of the year she asked us to list things we thought would be in heaven, purgatory, and hell. Some of my opinions are still the same and some are very different. It made me laugh to see what was important to me as a senior in high school.

Heaven: Modern Music, The Gap, J. Crew, forest green, navy blue, burgandy, Far Side (comic), Real Life (comic), cotton underwear, flannel sheets, potato anything, beef jerky, fruit, peanuts, thermal underwear, flannel clothes, jeans & tees, no makeup, subways, crazy bread, orange juice, Trolley Square, Banana Republic, 4 Runners, Mercedez, Porsche, monkeys, Simpsons

Purgatory: ladders, birds, wall flowers, Elvis lovers, track team, Mervyns, school, Toyotas, crayons, Layton Mall, Ponderosa, F.M. 100, purple

Hell: Country music, hard rock, Foxmoor, Copper Rivet, orange, yellow, red, brown, lime green, lipstick, fish, macaroni & cheese, Cathy (comic), silk underwear, silk or satin sheets, spandex, nail polish, cover up, blue eye shadow, mayonaise, eggs, fried pork rinds, pork anything, head cheese, buttermilk, football players, Newgate Mall, black leather, El Caminos, Saabs, Wranglers, cats

Oh, the strange life of a high school senior!

My Crazy Girls

My girls really keep me on my toes. Some of the things they come up with blow me away. On Saturday the girls wanted to watch a Mickey Mouse DVD, but it was dirty on the back. Lauren asked me to clean it off for her. I asked her to run downstairs and grab her eyeglass cleaner so I could wash it off. She said, "Why don't you go get it?" (I'm thinking, "Excuse me?") I said, "Why don't you go get it?" We kept going back and forth and started to laugh a little because it became so ridiculous. Finally Auburn said, "Fine, I'll go get it!" When Lauren realized that Auburn would have to go into her room she piped up and said, "Oh no, I'll go get it!" When Lauren was out of earshot, Auburn came over to me and said, "See, that's how you do it." What a little character! She makes me laugh! Auburn is our little peacemaker. She doesn't like to hear people fighting.

Here are a few pictures of the girls. I decided to make them pillowcases this year for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's day. They liked them so much they're already talking about the cases they're going to get for Easter. What have I started?! No, actually it's been pretty fun. I'm not sure how many I'm going to make though. The funny thing was that when I made the Valentine cases for the girls, Brook asked where his was. I couldn't believe it?! He felt jilted for not getting a pink pillowcase with hearts on it. Well, I went to the fabric store and found some fabric with hearts and glitter on it. When he'd wake up in the morning he'd have glitter stuck to his forehead. :) What we do for our husbands. Do your husbands ever feel left out when you do things for your kids?

Here goes nothing!

Well, I finally decided to give this blogging thing a try. Thanks for the idea Summer and Brooke! I think I'll start by answering Brooke's tag.

1.WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No, my mom said she named me Charity because we needed more of it in the world. I always wished I had a more normal name, especially when I was younger. I still am self concious about telling people my name for the first time. I wonder what they think of it.
2.WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I think in church during testimony meeting. When people cry it makes me cry.
3.DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes
4.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Peppered turkey
5.DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes… 2 girls
6.IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I'd like to think so
7.DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? too much I'm afraid
8.DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9.WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I have once when I was in high school. I don't think I will again though.
10.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I'd rather have a hot breakfast, but I do like Life Cereal and Honey Nut Cheerios with bananas
11.DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Sometimes
12.DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? not right now, but I started going to the gym last week. We'll see what happens
13.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Neopolitan - 3 flavors in 1
14.WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? eyes - I like to look at people's shoes too
15.RED OR PINK?Red for decorating - Pink for wearing (red with red hair doesn't work)
16.WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I always wished I could have had braces when i was younger
17.WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Our family in Alabama & Germany
18.WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Dark blue jeans and grey & black striped socks, no shoes
19. WHAT'S THE LAST THING YOU ATE? a bagel with cream cheese
20.WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Sense & Sensibility
21.IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? definately green
22.FAVORITE SMELLS? orange or lemon cleansers, garlic cooking, steak cooking outside, roses like my grandma used to grow.
23.WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My mom to get her update on American Idol
24.FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I can stand to watch some tennis, basketball or soccer, but not for long
25.HAIR COLOR? Red
26.EYE COLOR? Blue with golden flecks
27.DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
28.FAVORITE FOOD? Most things with mushrooms or garlic - no seafood
29.SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings - I'm a sucker for them
30.LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Sense & Sensibility, before that, Becoming Jane - yes it is an illness with me
31.WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Black
32.SUMMER OR WINTER? I love when the snow is falling. It is so silent and calming. Why is it that it always seems warm when in falls? I love the activities during the summer though. No school or homework!
33.HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
34.FAVORITE DESSERT? banana cream pie
35.WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU READING NOW? New Testament with family, Book of Mormon on own and a WWII novel called, Saboteur
36.WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Nothing, it's just solid black
37.WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? the end of The Biggest Loser
38.FAVORITE SOUND? When my girls are playing and laughing together
39.ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?Beatles
40.WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Germany
41.DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can make my ears squeak and I can sit with my legs crossed and then spin on one knee. I should go on Letterman's stupid human tricks ;)
42.WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Florida

Thanks again Brooke! I'll post some pictures tomorrow