Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Plague House Re-visited...

"COUGH!!!"
"CHOKE!!"
"GASP!!"
"WHEEZE!!!"

We have the "Martian-Death-Flu" at our house!!!
...and it's EXTREMELY contagious,
'cause now I have it!!!!!

...and I feel REALLY
ICKY!!

Quarantine everyone!!!
Break-out the hazmet-suits!
AND THE LYSOL
AND THE HAND SANITIZER
AND THE ANTI-BACTERIAL SOAP!!!!!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Plague House!!!

"COUGH!!!"
"CHOKE!!"
"GASP!!"
"WHEEZE!!!"

My girls are sick...

We have the "Martian-Death-Flu" at our house!!!

ICKY!!

Quarantine everyone!!!
Break-out the hazmet-suits!



My poor babies...

Friday, February 24, 2012

Not a day goes by...


that I don't think of him... 9 years ago, today...we lost our beloved Daddy. Last night, as I was thinking about the significance of today, the words to a song by "Lonestar" came to my mind... I'm paraphrasing them, but it seemed to fit how I'm feeling, so I'm sharing with you.

"Not a Day Goes By"
Got a picture of you, I carry in my heart
Close my eyes to see it when the world goes dark.
Got a memory of you, I carry in my soul
I wrap it close around me when life seems cold.
If you asked me how I'm doin', I'd say just fine
But the truth is Daddy, if you could read my mind...

Not a day goes by that I don't think of you
After all this time you're still with me, it's true
Somehow you remain, kept so deep inside
Oh Daddy, not a day goes by..."

We were truly blessed to have such a good father. He was a man of honor and duty. He lived what he believed and taught us to do the same. He loved our mother and taught us the value of love and marriage and keeping both together. He worked hard and taught us how to do that, too. Oh, but he knew how to play and tease and joke. His was the whacky sense of humor that we've all seemed to inherit. He LOVED people. He loved meeting new people and finding common ground. At his funeral it was said of him that "Dad never knew a stranger". That's because within 5 minutes of meeting him, you didn't feel like a stranger anymore.



He wasn't perfect, but he was
the perfect Daddy for me.
He was the first man I ever loved
and I love him still.


Thursday, February 23, 2012

Jackie and me...

One of my favorite things of all time is being with Jackie...Jackie and her friends, Jackie by herself...just Jackie! She is spunky, funny, smart, out-spoken, opinionated, and one of a kind! She makes me laugh and keeps me young. I love my Jackie!

One thing we've shared over the last two years is our orthodontic treatment...whoo hoo! Talk about a 'fun' way for mommy-daughter bonding!!! hahahahaha At this point in our treatment, we each have EXACTLY two more appointments. We both go in on March 20th for another adjustment. Then on April 16th I get my braces off (just in time for my birthday, which is the 17th!!!). Jackie will get hers off on April 18th.

I have spent all of this morning and early-afternoon with Jackie. If I had to get my teeth worked on, I couldn't have been in better company!

Thanks, J!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

These are a few of my favorite things....


AND

(Amanda passed her driving test!!!)

Monday, February 13, 2012

Will You be Mine?????

Even if you are NOT into it, you have to admit,
the ways people celebrate Valentine's day
are as different and varied as
candied hearts...


From timeless and old-fashioned...

To punny and corny...

From traditional...

...and sweet...

To downright weird...

The methods may differ,
but the message is the same...


...and in my case...
being married to the love of my life...
EVERY day is Valentine's Day!!!


Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!!!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Reflections...

By "Mormon-culture" standards, I was practically an "Old-Maid" when I got engaged at the ripe-old-age of 24. It seems laughable now, but my poor Mom despaired that I would ever get married. I had actually graduated from college and was starting a career at that point in my life. Oh, the HORROR!!! *that's heavy sarcasm in case you're wondering* ...Poor Mom.

Needless to say, she'd managed to put quite a lot of pressure on me over the years, which didn't make life very pleasant. Coming home from a date to be interrogated on why he wasn't "the one" was not fun, to say the least.

I finally got to the point where I asked myself the question: "Could I live a happy, fulfilled, interesting, righteous life, whether or not I EVER got married?" Of course the answer to that was a resounding "YES!!!!" It was an incredibly liberating feeling to have that epiphany. Poor Mom could never understand why I thought that way.

Fortunately for her peace of mind, and the joy of my life; Kevin (whom I'd known since High School) and I fell in love and got married. The road that led me, or I should say us, to that point was not always easy. But it was SO worth the wait. We both got there because we kept Heavenly Father as our partner in every aspect of our lives, and followed where He led us.

We got engaged 24 years ago, today. Looking back, I can see how everything in my life before that day was leading me to that point. I can also see how everything since that day has led to greater and greater happiness. Not to say there haven't been bumps (or even MOUNTAINS) in our path along the way. But doing things the way Heavenly Father directed us; made everything worth it.

(Engagement photo)

Kevin often tells the story of when he told his dad that he was going to ask me to marry him. His dad said, "Son, if you marry Annette, you'll never be bored!". Kevin says truer words have never been spoken because in 23+ years of marriage, he's never been bored...and neither have I.

Thanks for asking me, Kevin! I'm SO glad I was smart enough to say "Yes!"