I am not good yet at remembering to post here as I should. Lots has happened since my last entry. I am not sure where to start...

I have been having some health concerns for the last several months. After many different tests and waiting to get in to see an Internist, I am hoping to have some answers soon. What started all my troubles was some right upper quadrant pain. I thought it might be my gallbladder and so did my family doctor. I had a

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the baptism's of two of my cousin's daughter's. It was a nice afternoon. My cousin's prepared some yummy soups and salads, rolls, and water and it was all great. I didn't eat any cookies, but they sure looked yummy too!

Later, I spent the evening with a few of my female cousin's and my Aunt Patricia. We went to Marie Callender's and had a lovely meal and I especially enjoyed visiting and remincing with them. We then went for a quick shopping trip to TJMax. I didn't buy anything, but I could swear I saw Prince's Grandmother there! (Lady in a purple hat, purple shoes, purple clothing, purple everything!) I also think I heard a baby elephant! :)

It was a fun evening, but short. We decided we had better head for home because it was getting late and was also the beginning of daylight savings time. It was a good thing. I got plenty of sleep, but am still feeling tired today.

My cousin's reminded me yesterday that the scrapbooking expo is coming in just two weeks! I can't wait! I always enjoy going because I get to have some time to do some things that I enjoy doing and don't have any responsibility. I just get to be me and have fun! It is fun to see how creative I can be and discover the inner talents I have been blessed with that I didn't know I had. It is a great time and I am excited I get to go!

You are my sunshine...

My little boy brings sunshine to my life. He was coloring on very small sheets of paper today. He would bring me a piece and ask me to fold it for him. He would go behind me for about 3 seconds and then come back to me and say, “I’ve got a surprise for you!”, with the biggest grin on his little face. He was so excited when I opened up the piece of paper that I had just folded and saw a “beautiful flower” on it, one was a butterfly. Little scribbles mean a lot, especially when mommy posts them up with tape next to her computer. I am so glad to be a mommy!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

My confidence in my husband's romantic side has been renewed. Ladies, there is hope!

Last night, my husband stole me away to the Hilton Hotel and surprised me with a Sweetheart Dinner and a night away from home and all the chaos. We enjoyed horderves, a nice spinach and cranberry walnut salad, rolls, bacon wrapped fillet minon, mashed potatoes, garden vegetables and cheesecake. There was also entertainment and dancing.

When we retired to our room, there were rose petals scattered across the bed, sparkling cider at the bedside chilling, a vase of roses, and chocolate dipped strawberries for our enjoyment. We had a very nice and relaxing evening!

The only drawback was a hard bed and a sore back this morning. Yes, it was from the bed!

If you ever have a chance to do something like this, go for it! It was amazing! I was a bit reluctant at first because of all the things we have going on this weekend, but I am glad that I took advantage of the opportunity for my husband to do something so sweet and special for me. Thank you Sweetie!

On Friday, the 13th, it was Zachary's 15th birthday. We threw him a very fun "Friday the 13th" party with about 11 of his friends. It was a blast! We did a superstion theme and had ladders up, black cats, the number 13, an open umbrella, and little mirrors scattered about. We served sloppy joes, chips, veggies, sodas, ice cream cake, and other fun sugary confections. They played a psychology game, Rock Band, another game-I can't remember the name of it, but is one that has been seen played on Drew Carey. It is the one where you have a host and he/she tries to figure out what is wrong with the party goers at the host's party. You might have one who thinks she is Hannah Montana or another who is some other character and it is up to the host with the help of the audience to try to figure out what is wrong with the party goer (what is their quirk). I probably didn't descripe that very well, but it was a really fun night. They also watched "The Blair Thumb", it is a spoof off of "The Blair Witch" movie. There are also other movies like that: "The Godthumb", "Thumbtanic", "Batthumb". They are pretty dumb movies, but I guess that is what makes them so much fun to watch.

Today Robbie and I played a musical number in church. He played Cello and I played the piano. We played "Our Savior's Love". Rob did a nice job! He was nervous and played a bit soft, but it was really nice. Several ladies came up to us afterwards a bit teary eyed and thanked us for sharing our talents with them. It was a great experience! Once we started playing, the tone of the meeting changed and it was total silence! No babies crying, no talking, just a calm, reverent, peaceful feeling. It was awesome! I was glad for the opportunity to do this. It was a special time for me and Rob and I am certain built his confidence and enabled us to strengthen our relationship as well. Awesome!!!

Busy, busy, busy...

Whew! Time flies!

Christmas is past and we are running full speed ahead into a new year. Already this month, we have lost yet another family member. Our dear, sweet, Aunt Afton passed away on the 8Th. (She is my Grandma Wanda's sister.) I recently learned that she had fallen and broke her hip in October and she just never recovered from it.

I had the pleasure of attending her grave side service in Nyssa, Oregon last Tuesday. It was very nice. I was also able to meet her daughter Jackie for the first time. It was a neat experience. Jackie is beautiful! She is older than I expected, but very nice. She seems like a very elite woman. I also got to meet her son Eric. He seems like a very nice individual; handsome and on top of things.

I've had a bit of tummy trouble in recent months. They are still trying to determine the cause of my woes. Tomorrow I go into the hospital for more rounds of tests. JOY!!! It is not a major big deal, just a colonoscopy. So, today I have to be on a special diet of tea, broth, jello, juice-YUCK! But, I have to do it. It is good that I am going in to have things checked out since my dad had colon cancer and pancreatic cancer. I just wish we didn't have to eat. It is such a pain! There are too many things to enjoy!

When I went to Idaho last week, I had the opportunity of visiting with my family. I especially enjoyed being with my sister, who took the day off work to spend time with me. We had so much fun! We laughed like a couple of high school girls, we did a little shopping, we cooked dinner together, took her daughter's to their activities, and laughed some more. We looked through photographs, talked about her missionary son and college attending daughter and her other children. The time went much too fast, but I greatly enjoyed the time we spent together. I was hoping we'd have more time together before I had to come home, but I hope we can do more together in the days ahead. I had such a nice time being with her.

I also had the privilege of helping my mom with some tasks around her house. I hung pictures for her, rearranged bedrooms and hung some more things, rearranged kitchen cabinets, swept and vacuumed, and visited with her. I wish I had spent a little more time visiting with her, but I was glad to help her get things taken care of that were bugging her for a while. It felt good to help.

I was able spend time with my brother too. We had him and his family over to mom's for sloppy Joe's and root beer floats. Later, we watched a video. He was in a music production in his Stake which consisted of 120 choir members. They did a nice production about Joseph Smith. It was a great tribute to him both in music and word. It was full of his personal history and songs that portrayed him, the man that "has done more for the salvation of man, save Jesus Christ, than any other man on this earth". (I put that in quotes because I need to go and look up who said that but don't want to take credit for those words myself.)

It was nice to visit with him and later spend time with his little girls. We had a sleepover that I am certain was much too late for them, but was fun nevertheless. The girls and my little ones after getting them bed down for the night, decided it would be fun to undo that plan. They made mountains out of all their pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags and then proceeded to jump onto them. The would run from the living room into the bedroom and jump on the pile. It was so much fun! Cute too! Then, they told stories, giggled, cried, and played some more. Just before midnight, we made up their beds and turned out the lights. No sooner than the lights went out, they were out too. Fun!

Though probably my brother was probably a little upset with me for keeping his girls up too late, it was nice to spend time with them too.

I also got to go out with my sister-in-law to a candle party, out to dinner, visit her grandma and sister, and gab a bit with her. It was nice to spend time with her and each of us vent. I was able to visit with her a couple of different times and days while there. It was nice to have a sounding board, but nice that I could be one too. You learn that we are all in similar situations in life; just at different stages. It is a good feeling to know that you are not alone.

I also had a chance to spend a few minutes with the sister missionaries that are living with my mom. They are some of the sweetest people I know. Their hearts are pure and spirits are strong. It was fun getting acquainted with them.

It was nice to get home to my own bed. When I got home, the house was trashed! There were dishes everywhere and it looked like a bomb went off in the family room and my daughter's bedroom. I still have yet to finish up the task of cleaning all that up. I tried "assembling the troops", but they did not "obey orders". They did not seem to like the consequence that were imposed, but I shouldn't have to clean up all that! I was still trying to get the house back together before I left from after Christmas! What a job! I also had piles of laundry to do. I made a good dent in that yesterday but there is still more to do and I also must clean MY room. When someone is coming over unexpected or otherwise, things inadvertently get tossed in my room to be dealt with later. Well, later doesn't come too often. Now my room looks like a bomb went off in it! At least I am spending time to blog today. :) Oh well. I guess my excuse today is to keep as far from the kitchen today as possible since I have to be on a special diet. Someone was right when they said that a diet is DIE with a T. This diet is yucky. Thankfully it is short term.

I better go. Hopefully it won't be so long until the next posting. Since I am new at this, I hope I'll quickly learn better how this works and be more consistent about it.

I hope my readers have a great day!

-TA!