Why "Martha" sucks!

For those of you that call me "Martha", here is why I should be "de-throned."

I SUCK! To all of the thoughtful people who sent me a lovely Christmas card, thank you, and I apologize for not sending one in return. I meant to do it, really I did. I mean to do it every year. It still hasn't happened. So to all those that I know are just as stressed as I am, and still manage to send lovelies, I hate you, wait, I mean I LOVE YOU ALL! I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! This includes everyone who dropped off all the great Christmas goodies at our door. I suck even more! Please don't think I don't appreciate you, because I do! I feel awful for not scheduling the time in my Christmas season to bake yummies and drop them at your door. So in place of avoiding you at every cost, and looking away in humility so our eyes don't meet, I offer this sincere apology. Especially to Sue, who was so sweet to get me a great little crock-pot. When I called from the door, "another freaking crock-pot!" a few minutes later I thought, that came out wrong. I meant it to sound like, "Yay!!! Another great crock-pot!" You see, after our fun little night, I went and got another one too! And a few hours later, your gracious gift arrived at my door! I really do appreciate it, and one can never have too many little crock-pots! A sincere thank-you for crock-pot #7. (2 large, 4 small and 1 mini. I am planning a crock-pot party for sometime in January, so everyone get your recipes ready!) (how many times can I say "crock-pot" in one post?)

Another reason I suck. I have been forgetting my laundry lately. I wash it, and forget it's there, so I have to wash it again to get out the "sour" before I dry it. I have washed the bathroom rugs 4 times now, which is why, Sue, when you were here for dinner, I had no bathroom rugs. I must look like a hillbilly. I didn't even realize it until I opened the washer the next morning and found them there souring, and washed them, again. Crap. I just remembered I washed the dish towels yesterday, and they are still in the washer.

So there you have it. I'm selfish and forgetful. I don't deserve the title. And my Christmas decorations will probably be up until Valentine's Day.

March of the Toys

We just got back from Amberlyn's winter dance recital! She did great!

Here is my pirated video. Sorry it's a little shaky, I will get the professional one on when it comes in! The sweetie who took her time joining the rest of the group was a little darling named Savannah. I love the end when Amberlyn pushed the poor little girl next to her to shoo her off stage!

Amberlyn is the one on the right. She's the tallest one!

I've been TAGGED!

I've been tagged by my friend Jen. I'm supposed to go to my picture folder and blog about the 4th picture in the 4th folder. My picture folder has lots of folders in it, so I had to add an extra "4th". It's Denver, March 25th 2007, trying to see if he can fit both hands in his mouth. Look at that little bald head! He loved that swing! Today is his 2nd birthday by the way!



Then, just for kicks, I went to this years folder and picked the 4th and 4th. Amberlyn "fixing" her bike with daddy's tools. I think he was washing the car at the time, or something in the driveway. There was nothing wrong with the bike, she just wanted to be like dad!



I tag Afie & Mary!

Halloween (finally)

I know it was nearly a week ago, but here's Amberlyn and Denvers costumes!

They were Minnie & Mickey! We went to the ward Trunk or Treat! We ate dinner there, (who ever thought chili and costumes went together was.....) then shopped all the trunks. Amberlyn is an old pro by now, this being her 5th year out, but Denver on the other hand.....He was apparently tired or something, because he kept trying to lay down in the middle of the street. I showed him how to hold his bucket and go say "Trick or Treat" to the ward members. They handed him a treat, and I tried to show him how to put it in his little orange bucket. He thought I was taking it away, and had a meltdown! After a few times of this, he began to figure out that he still had his treats, they were just in the bucket. It soon got dark, and we had been to all of the trunks, so we went to seek other treats.

We went home, parked the car in the driveway, and headed over to our friend Mary's house, to make the rounds as a group. By the time we got there, I was done with Denver trying to sit in the street, so we borrowed a stroller and headed off. I pushed him to the next house, lifted him out of the stroller, and took him and Amberlyn to the door. Minnie Mouse knocked, and a sweet stranger emergred with a bowl full of candy. I told them to say Trick-or-Treat, and Denver's version was something like, "Tikk Teet!"

He was handed a treat, and suddenly, it clicked! He was so excited to show me! I told him to put it in his treat bag, and he ran down the driveway to the stroller, to be toted to the next treat bearing house. From then on, he always had to see the candy. He would either take one (or 5) from the bowl that was extended to him, or intercept the goodness mid-drop, to examine his prize. We only went down a street or two, then I was DONE! We headed home to count our treasures!

Denver was excited with his haul, and immediatly settled on an orange Tootsie Pop, with the wrapper still on. Here they are, with Denver trying to open his treat!

What a fun Halloween!

Don't forget to VOTE!!!

I VOTED TODAY!!!!!
Don't forget to get out and let your voice be heard! I voted for McCain!
*I didn't vote for Obama because of his association with known terrorists.
*I didn't vote for Obama because he wants to tax me 23% on the profits of the sale of my home.
*I didn't vote for Obama because from the time he was elected into the senate, and the time he announced his presidential candidacy, he only logged 142 days of political work. That's less than 5 months. You couldn't be the manager of McDonald's in 5 months!
*I didn't vote for Obama because he doesn't take his family to church on Sunday, because they feel that Sunday is family day. This is according to an interview with Michelle O.
*I didn't vote for Obama because he supports partial birth abortions.
*I didn't vote for Obama because the sight and sound of the man physically makes me nauseous!
These are the things that are important to me!
Vote For McCain!!!!!!!

Schnepf Farm!

Well, we had our annual pilgrimage to Schnepf Farm! The kids had a blast! We opted not to have the kids wear their costumes, because, well, it's a farm, and farms are dirty. We went the day before Halloween, and we wanted to keep their duds clean for Trick-or-Treating.

We arrived at the farm around 4:30 pm. After loading kids in strollers and making sure diaper bags were sufficiently packed, we entered DisneyLand. Well, it may as well have been for how excited the kiddos were! Amberlyn and Wywy had to stop and get their faces painted! Ghosties

for both this year!

After they were all painted up, we headed off to the pumpkin patch to find the biggest bestest one! We actually already picked pumpkins at Apple Annies in Wilcox, AZ,

but it was fun to play in the patch with their cousins at Schnepf.

After pumkpin hunting, we were off to the hayride! We rode on a tractor pulled, straw filled trailer,

and even got to get off to pet the deer!

After the hayride, it was time for the rollercoaster! Amberlyn was brave enough to go, only if mommy went with her. She was a trooper, and quietly endured the 3 times around the track. She loved it, but didn't want to go again. (don't worry, it's a kiddie coaster!) Next it was time to ride the rockets! Amberlyn and Wywy shared a ship, and went flying as high as they could around the world! Denver rode the Honey Bee with daddy, while the older two were on the rockets.

Then it was mommy and Amberlyn's turn,

then Lynne and Wywy had their turn!

After the Bumble Bees, we wanted to go on the train, but it had derailed! It would be at least an hour before it was fixed, so we went to the races. Go Kart races! They have individual karts, or family style ones! We had a blast! Where can I get one of these?

Next was the petting zoo! Denver got to go in and pet the baby goats.

Amberlyn didn't like the smell, so she waited outside with dad. Then was the carousel, and next they kids played on a pyramid of straw bails while we waited for the train to be fixed.

It was finally our turn for the train, we raced over as soon as it was fixed!

The school class that was supplying the actors to make the train ride "spooky" never showed up, but that was fine with us, the kids just wanted a fun train ride. After a few stops at the gift shops for penny candy and candied almonds, we left the farm and stopped for dinner at Burger King (cheaper than dinner on the farm) while we waited for the firework show to start. A short display of colorful sky rockets was the perfect way to end a fun night on the farm!

We had a blast, and would love to keep it an annual tradition!

How the crap?!?!?!

Well I put Denver down for a nap, and a few hours later, heard him through the baby monitor. He was awake. I heard what sounded like him banging on the door, but figured he was snaping the chair rail on the wall. (he has pulled it loose.) A minute later, I heard, "This is unit eighty eight, we are in route! Over!" No, he hasn't suddenly became an ambulance driver, it was his toy ambulance, he had pushed the buttons on it. This had me confused. How did he reach the toy on the floor, from his bed? Click play to find out!

Yep! He sure did! I think it's time for a toddler bed, what do you think?

I WON!!! I WON!!! I WON!!!

Hooray, hooray!!! I won a giveaway!! I won the doll giveaway on MyTinyStar! It was for a doll created in the likeness of whoever I want. I decided to surprise Amberlyn for Christmas. I sent a photo of her to the lady who is going to make the doll. I didn't have any recent, cute pictures, so I dolled her up and took her outside for a mommy photo shoot. Here are a few of the results.

Dinosaurs in my Washer

Sometimes you just have to laugh at life. Sometimes it's a totally random thing that reminds you that you are a mom. Like when you find a dinosaur in your washer.

Sometimes the randomness just makes you laugh. Other times it makes you stop and think. Once in a while it will make you cry, sometimes tears of joy, sometimes tears of sadness, sometimes tears of stress. Hopefully, the random things you find in your washer, or bathtub, or bed, or even your life, will cause you to stop and think, and love, and cherish.

I encourage you to laugh at the dinosaurs in your washer.

A great giveaway for NieNie

Check out this great giveaway and silent auction for the Nielsen Family!
my tiny star: Update! Nie Nie Auction and GIVEAWAY!

Handbag GiveAway

Check out these cute handbags! They are doing a giveaway! http://www.handbagplanet.com/

Good ol' plastic

Jamison is sitting on the excercise ball in the kitchen. Amberlyn wants him to hold her doll.

Amberlyn: "Here, hold my dolly on your lap."

Jamison: "Are you sure? I might drop her on her head."

Amberlyn: "It's okay. It's made out of plastic."

RazzBerryPie Boutique: IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME#links

Check out the latest giveaway over at RazzBerryPie.blogspot.com!
RazzBerryPie Boutique: IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME#links

Your thoughts on birds?

Do you think birds have laws? Is it against bird laws to fly really low in the middle of the road and dodge my car by inches? I wonder if there are little "teenage" birds daring their buddies to do this. Like, "Hey George, I dare ya to play chicken with that black car!" And George is all, "What'll ya give me?" And his buddy is all, "Absolutely nothin!" Then George decides he's cool and misses my windshield by an inch.

Do they have little birdy police? If Officer Feathers sees George do this, will he get a ticket for J-Flying? Is the Officer gonna tweet George's parents and tell them? Is George gonna get grounded and not be able to fly with his buddies for a week?

What about curfew? Are George's parents waiting up for him? What happens if he comes back to the nest late?

Your thoughts?

Why I HATE T-Mobile!!!!!

I HATE T-MOBILE!!!!!
I purchased a phone with them in December of 2006, as a Christmas gift for my brother. The salesman LIED to me to make the sale! He told me that as soon as my brother turned 18, we would be able to transfer it into his name with no problems, and no credit check. I have been trying to get it switched over to my brothers name for almost year and a half! Every time we call them to do it, the "customer service" people tell me one thing, and tell my brother another thing. They keep giving me the run around. They said they don't transfer services without a credit check. I went back to the original salesman, and he blew me off!
I inquired about a different type of plan which would eliminate the hassle of the credit check. They said I could do a special plan, and even told me what to tell my brother to say when he called. When he did call, they told him that that was not something they did, and he still wasn't able to transfer the service to his name.
I would like to cancel my service with them, and they want to charge me the full cancellation fee, despite how many times they have lied to my in the past year and a half!!!
Again, I HATE T-MOBILE!!!!!!!

The Hideousness that is my morning! (Double Whammy!)

AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! is the only thing I can say as I run my fingers through my hair, in desperation! What a morning! And it's not even 9:00 am!

First of all, I could NOT fall asleep last night. I think part of it was that I think I am getting a cold, and I couldn't breath very well. I tossed and turned until about 1:30 before I decided that this was ridiculous, why stay in bed? So I got on the computer, blog stalked, and other various things. I went back to bed and just layed there, begging the Sand Man to sprinkle me with fairy dust or whatever it is he does. The last time I looked at the clock, it was well past 4:00 am. FINALLY! The sweet slumber of sleep! I vaguely remember Matt kissing me goodbye. Then came the crying. (No, not Matt) That blasted baby monitor! I could hear Denver whining. Soon a full fledged cry erupted. I begrudgingly stumbled in a little after 8:00. By his cry, I could tell that he had taken his diaper off, again. I had no idea what was about to transpire! I opened his door and was slapped in the face by the stench of ......um........unpleasantness. DENVER GRAYSON SMITH!!! Oh yes, the full name was definitely in order!

Not only was his dirty diaper off, it was on the floor. And he had touched it. (eeewwwww) And it was not only on his hands, oh no. I was lucky enough to have walked into a freaking free for all. It was in his bed. On at least 2 blankets. On his crib rails. It was still on his behind. It was IN HIS HAIR!! It was FREAKING IN HIS HAIR!!!!! Do you hear me?!?! He had grabbed it and then played with his hair!!! It was not a bit of a smudge either, it was a clump of nastiness stuck and caked IN HIS HAIR!!! (I think I just threw up a little just reminiscing.)

After the obvious cursing (in my head) and desperate pleas and threats, I carefully put him on the changing table, only to discover that the dry, caked on stickiness was a bigger job than a few baby wipes could handle. I whisked him into the bathroom to wash him off.

Okay, what normally happens when you turn the faucet at your house? Water comes out, right? Ummm...not so much. After a short blast of sputtering water, it stopped! Yes, it stopped! NNNOOO!!!!! I tried the bathtub. No luck. I stood him in the tub and told him to stay put as I ran around the house frantically checking every faucet we have! (because it couldn't possibly be all of them)

Mind you, I am not good in a crisis. I always think I will be calm and level headed and know just what to do. But it never really quite works out that way. I become hysterical. So if any of you are thinking that if you are in the middle of a catastrophe, and you can just call me and I will kiss it and make it all better, I am just letting you know that in my heart I would love to be the calm and collected helper, and bend to your every need, but the reality is, I will most likely freak out.

Back to the water. (or lack there of) I grabbed the phone to call Matt and ask him why he had turned off the water. As I was dialing, I thought that maybe some prankster had turned it off during the wee hours of the morning. While I waited for the ringing on the other end of the phone, I had a thought. I grabbed my robe and went to the front door. The ringing began as I opened the door, where I found a note stating that indeed a prankster had turned off the water. It was signed by the water company! Well those dirty rotten...!!! Of all the crappy mornings!!! (literally) I can't believe they would actually turn off my water! Don't they know that I have kids! Aren't they mind readers?!?! Don't they know what has become of my morning?! Don't they know that I need my water?!? With no warning!!!

(Okay, in all honesty, there is probably a bill in the mailbox, which I have failed to check in probably the last 3 weeks. Our mail has probably been returned to the post office by now.) It really was an honest mistake, I sincerely thought that I had paid that bill. Actually, I had, but when I scheduled the online payment, I couldn't find the actual bill, so I paid what I thought was due. Apparently, I was wrong. If they had knocked on the door before proceeding with such a drastic measure, I would have gladly given them a check! Or at the very least, I would have been able to assess the situation earlier, and have them just give me 5 minutes to wash the nastiness off of my child!

Matt answered and I began my hysterical rant, aggravated by the fact that I have had only 4 hours sleep, and I don't feel well. I don't even remember what I said, but by this point I was crying. He mentioned something about the neighbor's hose. I gave him the number to the water company and went to gather supplies, and my now naked offspring, who had managed himself out of the tub, and was now streaking through the living room. (please don't sit down!!)

I had Amberlyn find me a towel as I drug (dragged?) the end of the neighbor's hose through our back fence. I hosed the child, lathered him with antibacterial soap, and scrubbed him down. He howled from the cold hose, made worse by the good breeze we had going. I rinsed and dried him, wrapped him snugly in the towel, and carried him back into the house, wailing at him to please stop taking his diaper off!

I got him dressed and Matt called back to say that it was taken care of and the water would be turned back on sometime today. At their convenience. Please, oh please come soon! I have blankets to wash, teeth to brush, toilets to flush, hands to wash, a shower to take.....

Denver just poured RED Powerade on the carpet. And I have no water to clean it up with. Yes, I am crying again.

I need a Dr. Pepper.
Copious amounts of Dr. Pepper.
And a truckload of chocolate.

Mr. Helpful

So yesterday was Monday, which means it was mopping day. I got out the mop and bucket, filled the bucket with water and cleaner, and carried it into the kitchen. Denver confiscated the mop. When I wrestled it away from him, he said, "Well fine mom, then I'll just go get my own mop." Okay, since his only words consist of cowd (cold), mimi (binki), neenee (LynnE), and leeeee (please), (well there are more, but they are few) he didn't really say this. But the look he gave me said it all as he set off to find his little red toy mop.

I started by the back door, and Denver soon emerged, with his pitiful little plastic mop in tow. He wasn't about to let me go at this alone. He dunked his tiny mop into the bucket, lifted it out soaked with water, and splashed it all over the floor. My kitchen soon looked like the floods of Katrina or Gustav. But, water dries, and hey, he was having a good time!


With the floors thoroughly soaked, it was time to use the water to actually mop the floor, you know, spread it around and clean up the spots? Ummm...not so much. He was content to keep my feet covered in cleaning water, with the in and out of the bucket routine. I eventually convinced him that he could do it, and Matt got a great video. My favorite part is his cool sunglasses!




Can you see how drenched the floors are?

1st Day of Preschool!

Here's Amberlyn & Wyatt at Mrs. T.'s house after their 1st day of the new school year! They had Mrs. T. last year, and they love her!

(ya, ya, I know it's now September 2nd. I'm a procrastinator...what can I say.)

At least I don't have to worry about her growing up to be a hostage negotiator

Dinner-(Which, by the way, was supposed to be roasted chicken, but apparently the bird had gone bad (very, very bad) in which case we settled for mac n' cheese with cut up hotdogs and a side of frozen veggies.)

Amberlyn: "Let's race! De-eee I'm gonna wi-in!"

Denver: "uspbpltthhh"

Amberlyn: "One! Two! THREE!!!!....(big bite of macaroni) I WON!!!!"

Denver: "BLUE!" (very proud of himself for recognizing the blue plate)

Amberlyn: "Denver, I'm gonna win again!"

Denver: "dddaaaAAAA!!!"

Amberlyn: "Deeeee, I beat you!! I'm done with my macaroni!!!"

Denver: "shshshllleeewwwwwpppp" (slurping sound)

Amberlyn: "Mom, can I have more macaroni?"

Me: "Eat three bites of vegetables, then you can have more macaroni."

Amberlyn: "How about one bite?"

Me: "Nope, three."

Amberlyn: "How about four?"

Me: "Okay, four."

Apparently the negotiation skills have not yet been mastered. (or learned)

arggrghhhrrrAAHHGGRRAA!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's how I feel about my sewing machine at the moment.




Wait... Let me rephrase that.


Hmmm...not quite right.....HERE we go!!!









There. That's better.

Clothing: Optional (apparently)

Well Denver has somehow figured out how to undress himself. I dress him in the morning, and a few hours later he comes in wearing a shirt, AND NOTHING ELSE. Little streaker. I am constantly trying to get his diaper and shorts back on him. And HOW is it that he manages to get his diaper off with his pants still on??!!?! Luckily, no little puddles have shown up, yet. (I just jinxed myself, didn't I?)

A few nights ago, he was crying in the middle of the night. I went in to check, to find him wearing his pajama top as a cape, the tummy part on his back with the sleeves around his shoulders. He had taken it off (how?) and was apparently trying to put it back on. No such luck, hence, the crying.

As I recall, Scooby did the same thing at about the same age. The neighbors would call, and tell us that he was outside, naked. I guess being a wienie waver isn't the worst thing Denver could have gotten from his Uncle. But then, he's only two.....(heaven help me...)

Now you see it, Now you don't! (oh wait, there it is.)

Amberlyn usually likes broccoli. (I know!) Denver actually loves broccoli. (How did I get this lucky?!) But last night for dinner, we had beef stroganoff and, yup, broccoli. Denver devoured his. The child has been a bottomless pit lately, I think he's gained 5 pounds this month! Amberlyn on the other hand, always needs coaxing. Unless it's mac n' cheese. Of course, she inhales the processed, sodium filled, starch in a box, but get her to eat a home cooked meal!

Sorry, I'm rambling. Back to the broccoli. She had finished the stroganoff and was suddenly too full to eat her broccoli. However, the child will do almost anything if it's a race. So I told her I bet I could clean the kitchen before she finished her broccoli. On Your Mark, Get Set...GO!!! Away I went to load the dinner dishes into the dishwasher, put the leftovers away, and wipe the counters, the whole time, commentating my play-by-play, as to hurry her up. I told her I was almost done, all I had to do was sweep the floor, when she suddenly shouted, "Done!"

I went to the table ready to praise her for eating her vegetables! Sure enough her plate was empty! However. Denver's plate, which had been empty just moments earlier, was now full of broccoli. Sneaky little..... "But mommy, Denver wants it!" (ya right) I, of course put his plate in front of her and had her finish it up.

RazzBerryPie Boutique Giveaway!

Check out my latest giveaway! It's on my new blog! Sign up here! RazzBerryPie Boutique: Giveaway!#links
The goody will be revealed this Friday!

Things I LOVE! (not really)

* I Love when I drop my nice clean, folded laundry all over the floor on my way to the closet to put it away.
* I Love when my 21 month old son decides slurp his water, milk, otter pop, (whatever) off. of. the. floor. (or sidewalk. yay.)
* I Love when I hear a crash followed by a scream because my 4 year old daughter has declared "couch jumping" the next Olympic sport.
* I Love when my DH tells me at the last minute, "Oh, by the way, I'm working tonight," and I have to (oh, excuse me, I GET to) take my animal children with me to Young Women's or other various activities.
* I Love being impaled by legos when I sit down to help my son put on his shoes.
* I Love when my daughter tells me she ate all her breakfast and put her bowl in the sink, but 3 hours later I find a full bowl of soggy cereal, shoved behind the cookie jar.
* I Love when someone forgets to close the bathroom door, and my son finds new toys. Such as the toilet brush. and the plunger.
* I Love that my daughter manges to fall off the kitchen chair, even though she swears she was "just sitting there", and doesn't know how it happened.
* I Love that my son just found a piece of last night's dinner that the broom missed, and in my process of trying to fish it out of his mouth, I will now need 7 stitches. (okay, not really. but that kid has sharp teeth.)

Why my 4 year old makes me laugh!

* So while Nicole was here last, Amberlyn was playing with a blanket and baby Thomas' car seat. (He was not in it.) She seemed to be having trouble with something. I asked her what was wrong, and her exasperated reply was, "I'm trying to build a bridge, and I'm getting SO frustrated!" I didn't even know she knew what that meant!

* We were working outside the other day, and Amberlyn came in to get some water. After a nice big drink she says, "This is SO refreshing!"

She loves me, She loves me not!

So, when Nicole & Logan were visiting, Nicole stopped by one evening for a night of girl talk & games. Grampa came later to pick her up that night, and as Aunt Nicole and Grampa were leaving, Amberlyn said she needed to tell them a secret in their ear. Grampa leaned over and Amberlyn whispered, "pspswshwspsps" and said "Don't tell anyone your secret!" Aunt Nicole was next and got the same "pspswshwspsps" followed with the promise to not tell anyone her secret. I was next in line. I leaned over and got the same "pspswshwspsps" and the same promise. I then told Amberlyn that I needed to tell her a secret. I leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I love you!" She got a very cute happy look on her face. She said she needed to tell me another secret. I leaned over, ready for her to proclaim her love for me. Then she whispers in my ear, "I love my Dad!"

And the Winner Is....!!!

Congratulations to.....Stacey Morgan!!!!!! Please email me so I can get you your new necklace!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Our "Helper"

So, I heard the rattling of silverware, and could tell that Denver was getting into the dishwasher. Then I heard another clang and could tell he was getting into the silverware drawer. I walked in, and he was "helping". He was unloading the dishwasher for me! He had emptied about half the silverware basket in to the drawer for me. Granted, it was the wrong drawer, and since he can't reach the inside very well, it was all just thrown in.
Of course, I had to grab the video camera!

GiveAway!!

Okay, here goes! This is my 1st Giveaway! Up for grabs is this great Jasper coin necklace, strung on a gunmetal chain. The necklace measures 18", the coin measures 1-1/2".

************************************************** **************************************************

To enter the contest, just leave a comment to this post. (Just one please. Anonymous, people will be ignored.) I will announce a random winner on Sunday, August 10th at 10:00 p.m. Arizona time. (Currently Pacific Time.) So you have until then to enter!

Good Luck!

Check out some other great finds on my website, RazzBerryPie!

Oops!

Our Y.W. activity last night was water games. I was running late and didn't have time to change into my swim suit, so I just changed my shorts and headed out the door. One of the games was to put on wet shorts and a wet t-shirt over our swimsuits, run to our team, take them off for the next person to put on and so forth. Well I got the clothes on, ran to my partner, took the shorts off, handed them to her, took the shirt off, started to hand it to her, looked down and realized that my own shirt had come off with the other one!!! There I am, standing in front of the young women in my g's and bra! Worse yet, the young men were having their scout activity across the parking lot!! Luckily they were involved in a knot tying race, and I don't think they saw. I wrestled my shirt away from the other one, tried to use the ramada pillar to block myself from any boy eyes, and quickly put my shirt back on. It ended up inside out, but I didn't care, at least it was on!!! I hope I don't get a call from the bishop, wondering why I was shirtless at an outdoor Y.W. activity! At least it wasn't a young women/young men combined activity!

Swim, Swim, Swim!!!

Amberlyn & Denver are both enrolled in swimming lessons! Amberlyn took lessons last summer, and has started up again this summer, she's a little fish! This is Denver's 1st session, and he's loving it! The first day or so, he couldn't believe that I would leave him with someone else and it broke my heart to listen to him cry. The tears only lasted a few minutes, then he figured out it was just like a giant bathtub, splash splash splash!

Amberlyn can jump in the deep end and swim to the other side!

She can swim from one side to the other too!

A Great Sunday!

Today was a milestone day! Denver is officially 18 months old, which means he is old enough for nursery! Here are some pictures of him before church on his first day!

He was a champ! He hardly looked back. There was another little boy crying his eyes out, which had concerned Denver some. I thought he would soon break down, but he pulled through, and found a great firetruck to play with. (Thank heaven for windows in the church doors for mommy to spy!)

I had taken him with me to enrichment last week, where he went to the nursery with the other kids. He cried a bit and I had to go love on him for a few minutes. Of course, it was way past bed time. But I think it was a good transition, because I think he knew if he needed us, we'd be there, and weren't going to abandon him. We did have to take him out today, due to a dirty diaper, (then it turned out there were none in the diaper bag, so Matt had to run him home to change him.)

It was a big day for Amberlyn too! She was the "Spotlight" in Primary today! The Primary counselor had called me last week to get all of Amberlyn's info. I was able to sneak in the back, and had my camera, so I took a video of the surprise. She was so excited to find out the Spotlight was on her! When Sister Sivert is referring to grama's farm, it's Nonnie & Poppie's (Becky & Paul's) "mini" farm. I had told her she has chickens and goats, and sometimes horses. (They were babysitting the neighbors.....mules?) And at the end, when the teacher asked "Do you know who else loves you," she was looking for the answer "Heavenly Father", but Amberlyn's answer was 'grama', and 'grampa'! (Yes, she knows she's loved by all!)

Here is the video. You can see her hand up if the front row, but there is another little girl behind her, so it looks like her hand is up. Amberlyn is sitting next to her teacher in the red dress.

SORRY!! THE VIDEO WOULD NOT UPLOAD!

New Baby! (No not mine)

Here are some pictures and a short video (he's a baby, so he really just sits there licking his lips) of my newest nephew! Thomas Rust Berry was born to Logan and Nicole, on Tuesday, April 22nd, at 8:10 pm England time (12:10 pm AZ time). Weighing in at 8 lbs 10 oz, and 21-1/2" tall, this baby boy was not so little! But he's still very cute! Logan's email address is ltomberry@gmail.com and Nicole's is naberry333@yahoo.com if anyone would like to send a congrats! They are currently stationed in Mildenhall, England, but will be returning to the states as of July. (yay!)

Dance, Dance, Dance!

Daddy turned on the music and they danced their little hearts out! Denver's arms swinging and feet stomping was so cute! Amberlyn's boogie was pretty cute too!

Kids in the snow

We went up to Show Low for the weekend. There wasn't any snow there, but we saw lots on our way up there. I told Amberlyn that we could stop on the way back. When we got to Forrest Lakes on our way home, we pulled over to the side of the road and walked back a little. I accidentally parked next to a dead cat, and didn't realize it until we were already out of the car. I told Amberlyn not to get close to it, and just don't look at it. (Ya right.) She was very curious. She wanted to know what happened, how, and what was in its mouth. (There was nothing in its mouth, it had been there a while, and it was it's jaw bone sticking out. Truly disgusting.) We played in the snow for a few minutes. When she asked for her jacket, rather than spending 10 minutes digging it out of the car, I opted to talk her in to leaving, saying we would come back another day, with coats, hats, gloves, and Daddy, and we would make a snow angel. She still wanted to know about the dead cat. I tried to change the subject. A few minutes later, "Mom, tell me about the dead cat." I tried my best to explain that he was in the road, and didn't get out of the way fast enough when a car came. I figured this was as good a time as any to explain the whole "Spirit & Body" thing. She seemed to get it. Anyway, here is a camera phone picture of the kids first time in the snow!

Gordon B. Hinkley IS the Prophet!

So last Sunday after dinner, we had Family Home Evening. (Matt works lots of Mondays, so we do Sundays) We went over Amberlyn's primary talk for our lesson. We told her that Nephi was a Prophet just like Adam (she's been singing 'Adam was a Prophet' constantly), and Joseph Smith, and now we have a new Prophet named Thomas S. Monson. She said, "NO! The Prophet is Gordon B. Hinkley!" We had told her that he had died, but I guess it didn't register. We told her again that he went to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus, and now we had a new Prophet named Thomas S. Monson. She again replied, "NO! The Prophet is Gordon B. Hinkley!" We again explained that he died, just like Uncle Scooby and Otie (Nonnie's cat), and now he lived in Heaven with them. Our new Prophet is Thomas S. Monson. Her insistence came again. "NO! The Prophet is GORDON B. HINKLEY!" We told her that she was absolutley right, Gordon B. Hinkley WAS the Prophet, but he died now and lives in Heaven, so we had to get a new Prophet. The new Prophets name is Thomas S. Monson. Apparently that wasn't good enough because once again, her voice was heard. "NO!" THE PROPHET IS GORDON B. HINKLEY!" Matt finally told her that we changed the Prophet's name to Thomas S. Monson. That seemed to be okay with her.

Amberlyn's Primary Talk

Amberlyn gave her first Primary talk! She did very well, and spoke clearly and loudly! Here is a copy of her talk.

















For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. (2 Nephi 4:15).

Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet, loved the scriptures. He spent time reading them, thinking about them, and teaching them. Nephi knew that the scriptures would bring happiness.
Just like Nephi, you can have the power of the word of God each day by reading the scriptures.

Scripture power! Keeps me safe from sin.
Scripture power! Is the power to win.
Scripture power! Ev’ry day I need
The power that I get each time I read.

We are blessed to have the scriptures. As we read them, we will learn what the commandments are and how to keep them. We will be reminded that we are children of God and He loves us.

A few of my digital creations!