Pictures?

Okay, I am sad to inform you that I forgot my camera with all the pictures from Spring Break in Philadelphia! Larry let a crying Baby Bennett play with the camera and we left it in his carseat. Now what will I blog about? And, to top it all off, my magnolia tree in the back yard is FULL of buds and will be absolutely beautiful in the next day or so, and I won't be able to post a picture of it.

We had a great time in Philly and NYC. I think it is about time Amanda updated her blog though. Landon and Addie are coming to visit this weekend. YEAH!! I will be glad when everyone is back in Indiana where they belong!!

New York, some of my favorite things

The window at Macy's. They had several windows with different colored flowers made into dresses. I thought this was amazing.
This was a big basket of flowers at the Broadway entrance to Macy's. It was their Spring Flower Show. It truly was breathtaking.
More flowers.

This is a close-up of the basket from the second picture. It was the Macy's building from long ago. Again, amazing!

As always, I didn't take the time to take lots of pictures and now that I am out of New York, I am wishing I had more pictures. We had a great time.

Some funny pictures!

This picture was right after Amanda was born. The only reason it is on here is because of Uncle Bob in the background. He still makes that same face!


This is Larry when he was a baby. I think he looks a little like Landon. Anyone agree?

This picture was taken right after Amanda was born with Elder Almquist from St. George, Utah.


Girls, I am sure you will think this picture is funny. Wasn't her name Sarah Muller? And the missionary with the hat over his mouth? I just remember funny things about her.






Yeah, James is asleep, in a chair, upside down.

I don't think I had ever seen this picture before. Do you girls remember it? I hope you can tell me that you FORCED Brad to wear pantyhose. He looks like he is having fun.

I went through one whole plastic tub of pictures today and sorted them. Sorting is hard. Like the picture of Amanda, Sarah and Brad? Which pile does it go in? Amanda's? Sarah's? or Brad's? I don't know. Maybe it would be easier to let you kids all fight over it when I am dead!

Siblings...... and???

If I remember correctly, Amanda was supposed to be house-sitting for our Relief Society President and she and Sarah went in the house and played on her exercise equipment. I don't remember what was so funny (other than Amanda being upside down) but they came home in hysterics.

Amanda and Sarah in our quarters in Texas. Amanda, the toothpick with Brad.

Sarah and Hannah in Nauvoo

Amanda and Sarah, Christmas in Germany.

Amanda and Sarah again, in Portsmouth, Ohio. Amanda was nominated to be Homecomming Queen.

Sarah and James. This was in Ohio but I don't know the occasion.

Amanda and Brad in our quarters in Texas. The new bunkbeds. If I remember, there was a New Kids on the Block poster above the top bunk. Alas, this is why I don't worry about Hannah's Jonas Brothers obsession.

This is Uncle Bobby, James, Sarah (with her butt in the air) and Amanda while we lived with Granny in Ohio during the Gulf War.

I am going on vacation Thursday so you will only have a couple of more days of these wonderful pictures before I have to take a week long break. I know many of you will be disappointed but please keep your complaints to yourself. It takes a lot of effort and energy to keep a blog like this going, thus the needed vacation. Thanks for all your support.

My new found love.... PICTURES

Okay, yesterday Sarah needed some pictures and as I was serching for some, I came across some funny family pictures. It makes me want to somewhat organize my photos. Then I had this great idea. Since I don't have funny quotes from my kids to post every day or anything exciting to write about, I thought I would start posting pictures and tell the stories. Sorry if this is too boring for some of you, I do the best I can. The picture above was taken at a church party in Germany in '81'. Larry's scarecrow type clothes crack me up!! I don't think he has worn a flannel shirt since this, and with a long john shirt underneath.... NEVER!
Brad's birthday party in Texas. I made Ninja Turtle headbands for everyone and they went on a big scavenger hunt around the neighborhood. The funny thing about this picture is that Brad was 6, that means Sarah was 10 and Amanda 12 (or close to it) and the head with the stripped shirt is Sarah and the blue shirt with the big hair is Amanda and they are still wearing their masks! This cracked me up.
Still the same party, just a better shot of Amanda.
This picture was taken at Granny Helen's house when dad was in Saudi. I think it is hilarious that Sarah is holding James like that. And don't miss the typical Brad face...... Never a dull moment with those kids.
Who would have thought that it would have lead to this? This is Grampy in 2004 with baby Maya and Baby Landon. We are so blessed!

Memories....... light the corners of my mind

Sarah asked me to send her a picture of her as a baby for RS on Thursday and as I was searching for pictures, this is what I found. I thought it would make Sarah and Sarah's day to see these again.
Our mini-mission week was a huge success. We ended last night with a fireside from the mission president and then I had signs throughout the church to 'baggage claim' and then dividers in the gym to make a long hallway and at the end we had invited family and ward members to come and hold up signs like they were getting home from a mission. We had ice cream Sundae's and it was all a huge success. I love it when a plan comes together.

I think my blog will tell everyone what I have been thinking about he past few days. It has been so nice here that Hannah has been outside and the neighbors have all come out of their winter hybernation. It is great. Grampy started draining water off of the top of the pool. I think we are going to try to get it opened before Thunder but it will still be freezing cold, I am sure.
I can't wait for summer!
Our mini-missions are actually going great. I love it. Hannah said this morning that she has really liked it too. Brad isn't as serious as the rest of us but he is still doing it. I memorized all of D&C 4 and Larry is jealous and has been carrying around the card MY mission president gave me so he can try to get it down. I feel so incredibly proud of myself. I thought I was too old to memorize anything.
Tonight is date night. Yipee! We are going to the temple with some other couples and then out to dinner. Brad is watching Hannah. I hope he does something fun with her so she isn't tempted to watch TV. Maybe I will make a treat today and they can take it to the old people that live in the towers (retirement building).

One funny thing and one not so funny...

I forgot to blog about my dream night before last. I woke up this morning and thought about it again and started cracking up so I knew I needed to share it. I dreamed that Sarah came to visit and she was so excited that she got her hair cut. She loved it. When she pulled in the driveway and got out of her car, she had a haircut just like mine, only it was - bigger. It was real pooffy and it made her look like an old woman. I am cracking up just writing this. I hope you can imagine what I saw in my dream. It was funny!

Second, not so funny. We are loving the mini-mission. I am so amazed at how strong the spirit is in our home without TV, radio, computer, video games, etc. I love it. Hannah even noticed it. I would recommend it to anyone who reads my blog. Try to do without the TV and stuff for just a few days. It is amazing how close you can feel to the Lord. I am even falling asleep at night listening to classical music. Anyone that knows me, knows that I usually HAVE to have the TV on to fall asleep.

Sarah, stick to straight hair! :)

I forgot to post the pictures of our weekend snow storm. We didn't have any snow to speak of last winter but we have made up for it this year. This is on Friday, we ended up with about 8 inches or more. Brad was out shoveling the walk and as he would shovel, a wind would blow a whole bunch of snow off of the roof, right onto Brad. It was funny. My mom and I were cracking up. Brad is just walking around to the front of the garage in this picture. I will try to post two more pictures but blogger is being stubborn right now.

Mini - Mission

I am sure I will have a bit of a boring blog this week (why be different from any other blog?) because the whole family is on a mini-mission with the youth from church. We are cutting out TV, music, radio, computer, movies, etc. You might wonder how I am getting away with blogging? Journal? I also use it as a way to keep up with the girls and feel it is time with family, different from surfing the net. I will not surf the net.

Yesterday was a wonderful day. We came home from church and without the TV, Hannah and I worked on YW Personal Progress. She started looming a hat for Maya (it is a surprise), we read scriptures, had a family over for dinner, Hannah made cookies without my help, I showed Hannah how to knit (she wasn't interested in learning), Hannah delivered cookies to a blind lady we go to church with and to a family that was home sick today. It is amazing how much you can get done without TV and music to distract you. I love it.

I actually thought about how cool this would be to do as a family. I just had this idea but thought, why do we have to wait to do it with the youth? Anyway, anyone who reads this might want to give it a try. We also have to serve people, study Preach My Gospel, get up by 6:30 to bed by 10:30, exercise, eat 5 fruits and veggies a day, drink 6-8 glasses of water, and tons of other stuff.

Okay, I am off to see what I need to do today.

Blogging without Pictures

I guess it is okay to blog without pictures. The pictures just make it more intertesting. So, my rampage for the day is.... I went to a girls camp meeting last night. It is CRAZY here. I was the only one who hadn't been to camp here and they talk in a foreign language. They call the girls Kits, Kats, Dits, and Dats and there are some other acronymns that Ican't remember. Instead of saying 4th year, 5th year, 6th year, ect (like the handbook does) they use these Kits and Kats stuff. I had to ask what it all meant, Kounselor in Training, Kounselor already Trained, Director..... How crazy is that? They have done this same camp stuff for over 25 years (there was a paper written up that some lady brought it here from California) anyway it is quite crazy and NO ONE messes with it. The one good thing is that the girls basically conducted the meeting and are really involved. OH YEAH, and each person who goes to camp gets a 'camp' name that they use at camp meetings and at camp. For instance, one lady was Dreamboat and that is what everyone calls her, instead of Sister Johnson or whatever. I guess I will get my name on the Thursday at Camp. I guess I have to make sure I am on my best behavior so I will get a good name, I would hate to be known as Farter or something like that. Wish me luck. No wonder I hate girls camp!

Landon went to his house :(

Landon this morning. "I don't want to go to my house, Nana!"
So, he goes and gets his blanket "that Nana made him" and his bucket of toys.
"What you doin' Nana?"
"No! I don't want to talk to mom on the phone!"

So, we drove to Indy to meet Sarah. He cried off and on the whole way there. He wanted to stay at my house. I was sad but last night he said he missed his mom. I want him to remember the visit with fond memories instead of remembering that he missed his mom. It was great to have him here for a short time. I think I will sleep well tonight!

Extra Blog

Isn't there a rule about blogging too much? I thought I would post a couple of Landon thoughts since he is going home today. He misses his Mom.
Landon: Nana, my bum jumped
Nana: What do you mean?
Landon: My bum jumped.
Nana: Let me see your bum.
Landon: (turning around) See. It can jump.
Nana: I can't see it. Show me.
Landon: (climbing on the back of the couch and jumping onto the cushion) See? Landon didn't jump, my bum jumped.

Makes perfect sense, I guess, being as he knows HE isn't allowed to jump on the furniture.

Landon: I need a banbaid.
Nana: Why?
Landon: Hannie put a heart on my hand.
Nana: Why do you need a banbaid?
Landon: So I can't see the heart. (I was going to ask him about washing his hand but he had it all figured out)
Landon: Spank Hannie!


Okay, true love...... I was eating my nightly ritual of Raisin Nut Bran and Landon shared with me. The only problem with sharing with Landon is every bite he takes has to have one of those delicious raisins in it. I got the bran flakes (thank goodness for a slivered almond every now and then. Landon doesn't like those) and Landon got the Raisins. He was happy. Who wouldn't be?

Nana's aren't prepared!!

I am so mad!! I got Landon all pumped up to go to the Children's Museum today. We get there at about 10:30 and I find out that on Tuesday mornings, members get extra long time in the Kids Zone (none of that 40 minute crap. We were in there until 12:30!) . We are having a great time and all of a sudden I thought, I can blog about this but...... I FORGOT MY CAMERA!!! I even put the battery in the charger today so I could take it with me. It didn't help that dad was home working today and had me folding brochures and proof-reading emails as I was walking out the door. AND.... that Landon decided we needed an umbrella to walk to the car, that was parked in the garage, and he couldn't get the umbrella through the garage door. Oh well, back to the picture problem. There happened to be a woman walking around from the museum that took our pictures while we were playing with Legos and they will be posted on the internet in 48 hours. I will post the pic then but I won't blog!

The weather was beautiful today so Grampy took Landon outside while I worked on Hannah's big reading project. We had to get a few pictures. Sarah was right, he came home from church and had his church pants down around his knees before he was even inside the door. I talked him into pulling them back up and going upstairs to put on his pajamas, which he wore all day long. He loves PJs, just like his mom. The funny things he said today was: 1) I turned his PJ shirt right side out and he wanted to do it. He got mad at me and I tried to change the subject and asked if he wanted to make cupcakes. He said, "NO! I want to do my shirt myself." I went downstairs and started making cupcakes. He came down and started playing on the laptop in the kitchen (pbskids.com) and when he asked what I was doing, I told him making cupcakes. He said, "I want to make cupcakes." I told him that he told me earlier that he didn't want to and he said, "I was mad at you when I told you no but I am not mad at you now." 2) When we were leaving church I said, "Come on Landon, let's go home" and he said, "NO! I don't want to go home, I want to go to Nana's house."

I know there is another one but I can't remember it right now. Maybe because Landon ran, non stop, all day and I am pooped and it is only 9:30. I can't wait to go to bed tonight. He went to sleep in the little room off of my bedroom tonight. I sat by the door and read my scriptures and he was asleep in about 5 minutes. Hopefully he will NOT wake up at 1:30 and complain about being hungry, and I won't have to go downstairs and get him a big glass of chocolate milk and a Fiber One bar and then go downstairs a second time for another big glass of chocolate milk before he falls asleep again in my bed. Yep, that was last night. Being a Nana is both great and tiring.