Latest Happenings

We had a great Thanksgiving. We went to SLC and had dinner with my parents, my little sis, and my brother and his family. That night, the girls in my family (minus my lil sis Kathryn) went to see Twilight. I actually really enjoyed it. I had low expectations going in, and was pleseantly surprised how much I really liked it. I want to see it again and I am going to drag Mark to come along with me. If Mark had a little more hair that he styled standing straight up and wore a sour expression, I dare say he looks quite a bit like Edward! ;)

We (my sisters and mom) also went shopping on Black Friday. We got a few really good deals, but it was mostly just crowded and made me tired. I bought a new camera. It's just a point and shoot, but I am happy to have it. I really want an SLR and Mark is considering getting one for his office, but I am afraid to have an expensive camera just in case I lose it (like I did our last one :() Plus they are so big and bulky.

The day after Thanksgiving we went back home and that night we took Mark's grandma out to Costa Vida for dinner and then back to Mark's brother's house for pie. Here are some pictures of that event. His grandma is turing 99 in just a couple of weeks!! Amazing, right?

I am just about finished with my Christmas shopping. I am currently thinking of a service opportunity to help my kids get in the "giving mode" rather than the "receiving mode." Helping us all remember the true meaning of Christmas. I'm thinking about making bread and delivering it to some our elderly neighbors, and/or donating a few presents/toys to some sort of cause. Nothing too big, just something that we can make into a tradition each year. I once heard of a family having a service tradition each year. The first year they did it, after all the presents had been opened, the father asked each of the children to go choose their favorite toy or item they received for Christmas. The children had no idea what the father was up to at that point. So each chose their most treasured present. Then the father told them that they were all going to go to this families house that he knew of and they were each supposed to give that present to the family. Wow! I know that would have been really hard for me as a child. Don't think we're going to do that, but I really want to start something.

Six babies!

The following conversation took place yesterday.....

James: Mom, you need to have three more babies.
Me: Really? Why do you say that?
James: Because if you have three more babies that means you had six babies. 3+3=6. And I'm six, six is my favorite number, so I think you should have 6 kids.

Perfect logic, right?! I wonder what he will think when he turns 7,8,9, or 10. Sorry, James. NOT going to happen!

Milwaukee Memories

Today when I was out running, I ran into (pun intended!) an old seminary student of mine! It was one of the Rummler girls (our Milwaukee/dental school friends will know her). She is going to USU and we have seen her a few times since she moved here, but it has been about a year. She has a boyfriend, is going to school, and is planning to serve a mission! It was so good to see her. She even volunteered to babysit for us!

It's been over 3 years since those days in Milwaukee, and call me crazy, I miss those days of being poor students. I also miss Milwaukee, and all of our old friends. It was such an important time of life for us. I remember when we left for dental school, Mark's mom told me the next 4 years would be some of the best times we will ever have. She was right. I look back on those days with nothing but fondness. Our first two boys were born in Wisconsin, and it was where Mark received his education for his profession. I do love living in Logan, and we are very happy here. I wouldn't want to have it any other way. I am just really thankful for those days in Milwaukee. I know I did a lot of growing up there. Ahhh, memories!!! Sorry for the poor picture quality.

Here we are at a birthday party for our friends daughter (the one I am holding)

This is a picture of 2 year old James at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago-2004.

This is me and baby James (he looks like Caleb!)in our apartment in Milwaukee

Here is my handsome hubby doing what he does best!! This one was taken in Logan soon after we moved back.

Lost Camera

I lost my camera. I was scrambling trying to get to Andrew's Joy School Halloween parade and I can't remember if the camera even made it to the car. I am actually afraid it did make it to the car and fell out somewhere. So, no Halloween pictures (the boys were the Chipmunks-Alvin, Simon, and Theodore), no race pictures (I ran my first 10k today-56:37 was my time), and no game pictures either (the Aggies miraculously beat Hawaii and I didn't even get to document it with pictures). I hate losing things, and I do it quite often. Luckily I had downloaded all the pictures onto my computer. I've searched everywhere. If I don't find it next week, I guess I'll go buy a new one. :(