Life Really Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

Life really doesn't get any better than this. Can you believe Carly can ride Chigger all by herself? Amazing! Total girl of my heart. Oh, and that green leg boot on Cookie?? Hunter insisted on putting it on her to protect her tiny scratch that was bleeding.

Hope you have a great Day!

Lunch with Tina

My friend Tina was in town visiting her family so we went to lunch to do some catching up. I've known Tina since Jr. High School. It was like we had seen eachother just yesterday. It was so fun talking to her. I like those friendships that pick up where you left off, no matter how long it's been. In this case, it was over 11 years.


Me and Tina


Carly with Tina's girls, Ariana and Tycee. Carly made fast friends with them. She asked me when we could go to their house and play. They live in Denver LOL.


I had to throw this picture in because of that little kid in the front.
I asked the kids to sit at the top of the slide for a picture.
"Me too?" he had asked me.
"Sure" I said, laughing.
His mom told him to smile.
He did this.
Thanks for meeting us for lunch Tina! I had a great time with you. Can't wait for the next time!

I've been tagged #6

I've been tagged...#6 The tag is to go to your SIXTH album/file/folder and post your SIXTH picture :


This may look like Fisher, but as you can tell by the date, it's Hunter. He was 2 1/2 years old at the time. He would always fall asleep in the strangest places and on this day, it was here. Thanks Claire! This was fun.
Okay, I tag Heather Jo, Cindy, Melissa, Cara, Natalie, Jessisca and Lisa

Today I am reminded of the worst April Fools Day joke ever than Dan pulled on me

Anyhow, I’ve got to set this up. For anyone who doesn't know, I live on 2200 West in West Jordan. Obviously it's a pretty busy street. When my oldest was still in a baby carrier, I got a very urgent knock on my door. I looked out the window and saw two pretty frantic guys standing there. They proceeded to tell me that they had just seen our 4 horses bolt out of the backyard from our side drive and take off on a dead run heading south down 2200 West. Can you say panicky adrenaline rush? It’s a good thing they were honest guys because I threw the baby in his car seat and left him out front with them while I ran out back to the barn to grab halters and buckets of grain. I called Dan in a panic. He was doing electrical at the time and was clear downtown working on the brand new church building that would eventually be called the Conference Center. He hung up and headed home. I called my mom at work to help me find them as well. I was still driving my orange 1970 chev pickup back then and screeched out of the driveway with baby in tow to try to find them.
I had no idea where they might go
I said a prayer and drove down past 7800 South
No horses
I came back north and I drove down Sapphire drive where I used to live.
No horses
I looked in the fields behind the elementary and middle school
No horses
Yes I’m pretty panicked.
It’s not like losing a dog
Dogs wear tags and dogs usually show up back home.
Finally, I drove on the last street that bordered my old ward
And there they were. Halfway down the street, a white truck had pulled in front of them and there were about 4 or 5 people trying to corral them on some poor saps lawn. (They gave them some free fertilizer and lawn aeration from their shoes while they were there)
One guy was on his cell phone. I waved my arm out my window and hollered “They’re mine!” and he hung up the phone. By this time, my mom had found us and was getting out of her car to help.
We had two that were easy to catch, totally gentle and two that were pretty wild. Thank Goodness we got them all caught. The people the helped were nice enough to help me lead them home and one of them drove my truck with the baby inside. I walked the most wild one home. Her name was “Lucky” only because she was "lucky" Dan hadn’t shot her because she was the one who let the horses out. She had lifted the latch with her lips and was met with temporary freedom. Dan arrived home shortly after. That was the fastest he had ever made it home. He later confessed he had the needle buried the entire drive home.
Anyhow, so that sets the story up
So April Fools Day rolls around the next year and by this time, Lucky and Savannah (The two wild ones) were gone. Sianara (Is that how you spell that?) We only had Chigger and Trooper left. I still have Chigger today. Trooper died a few years ago at riding practice but that’s a different story for a different day. Anyhow, April Fools Day comes around and I’m oblivious to the fact that it’s the 1st. I get a frantic phone call from our good friend Stoney in our warn and he tells me to check my back yard to see if the horses are there because he just saw two bay horses running down Harvest Lane. I look out and can’t see them. The baby is taking a nap and I run outside totally panicked. The side gate is open again and sure enough, when I get to the barn, no horses. And one stall door is open. I swear under my breath (don’t act so surprised), grab the halters, the grain and am on a total adrenaline rush. As I go to leave the barn, up walks Dan, leading the horses. Laughing.Hysterically.Totally.Laughing.Hysterically! He tells me “April Fools!” I tell him how funny it really isn’t and I give him a good smack and then (of course, I am a girl you know) here come the tears. He hugged me and told me he was sorry.
And every April Fool’s Day since, I remind him that I still owe him for that one…
Beware Dan…
Beware…

I blog in cycles

I really seem to blog in cycles. Sometimes I blog multiple times a week. And other times, it seems like forever inbetween posts. I've noticed though- That my entries usually coincide with the times that I download pictures from my memory card onto my computer. I've come to realize that I'm a very visual person. I like to use pictures to help tell my stories.

So, here's the next story. The tale of the little girl who wouldn't give up the Spiderman Scooter to her little brother in return for the girl appropriate Pink Princess one.

Keep an eye on his hand. He didn't go down without a fight...

Finally- After all that shirt pulling, a Spiderman Scooter Victory.

Night with Anita

Heather, Shellie, Marcie, Karen, Anita's Friend, Anita Stansfield, Lisa, Cammy.
I can't believe I haven't written about this yet! As you can tell by the date on the picture, this was taken a week ago. My sister Shellie called to invite me to come to her ward for an Enrichment night with LDS author Anita Stansfield! Heather tagged along with me. My mom and three sisters were there as well. We first met in the gym for dinner. Oh my heck, it was so good! Tender chicken breasts with gravy that was made out of cream of chicken soup, cream cheese and dry italian dressing mix. SO good! They also had a salad that I must get the recipe for :)
After dinner, we went in the Relief Society room and Anita spoke about one of her latest books, "Emma". It's the story of Emma Smith, wife of the first prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Joseph Smith. What a woman of faith she was. After Anita spoke of how the Lord had guided her in her life to be in the right place at the right time to write Emma's story, she left it open for questions of Emma's life. I was moved to tears as the spirit touched my heart and let me know the things that were being said were true. I was touched by the testimonies of the women in the room about how we need Emma's example today. It is evident that Satan has taken a personal role to defeat the Smith family. It's time for Joseph and Emma to find joy in their posterity and to be able to have them eternally. Let us please all pray for the Smith family, that their hearts may be softened, that they can return to the church and let us all be better women because of the great example of Emma Smith.
THANKS SHELLIE!

Thank You

Thank You everyone who came and saw Dan at the Expo! The kids and I spent two fun filled days there checking out all the booths, kids fair, and watching the diving dogs. At the last minute on Saturday, Dan entered Hunter in the Pee Wee Elk Calling Contest and they had to go buy some elk calls at one of the booths. He didn't get much time to practice and didn't place in the top three but sure did a great job. It was fun watching him! Here's a few pictures from the expo:

International Sportsman's Expo

The Outdoors Show is starting today and runs through Sunday.

South Towne Expo Center:
9575 South State, Sandy
Show Hours:
Thurs-Fri Noon-9:00 pm
Sat 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sun 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Dan's got a booth again this year for his Real Estate.


Here's his booth from last year, pretty spiffy :) He's in a different location this year. His booth is kiddie corner from the big fly fishing casting area that's right in the middle. Drop by and see him and enter to win a drawing for one of two $250 Sportsmans Warehouse Giftcards, and let him know if you or anyone you know is thinking about buying or selling a home. Dan's mom, Nedra, also has a display in his booth with some cute and fun stuff for sale like rubber band guns, wooden sling shots, balloon helicopters, necklaces and more.

If you have any questions about the expo, you can call Dan on his cell phone at 801-554-6411. You can search every home listed on the MLS anytime at his site:
danlewishomes.com


Here's Carly from last year's expo. Look at all the fun free stuff she ended up with :)


They've also got a really fun kids fair sponsored by the DWR. They have a bunch of activities for the kids including fishing, archery and general knowledge of wildlife. Here's Hunter at the kids fair from last year. Hope to see your there!

Hope Overcomes Despair

My mother in law sent me this message in an email this morning. It was something I needed to hear and I wanted to share it with all of you. Thanks Nedra! LYTM!

Hope Overcomes Despair
"The scriptures say that there must be 'an opposition in all things' (2 Nephi 2:11). So it is with faith, hope, and charity. Doubt, despair, and failure to care for our fellowmen lead us into temptation, which can cause us to forfeit choice and precious blessings. "The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward. "Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 22

Hunter's 'Worstest" Day Ever

It was supposed to be a simple trip to the Library.
We do it all the time.
I drive up to the northwest side of the library, put the car in park, and Hunter runs inside to collect our holds.
It works out nice.
I don't have to haul everyone into the library, and Hunter gets to put his independence to good use.
That's how it usually goes...
...but not on this day.


This is where I parked my car. This is where I always park my car when Hunter goes inside. See that patch of snow and ice there to the right?
That's a BAD.BAD.VERY.BAD. patch of ice.

Hunter got out of the car,
turned to shut the door just like always,
and in a single instant-
I saw his foot in the air
and he disappeared from my view.
I jump out of my car to run and help him
and it's then I heard his Screams...


"I'm Bleeding!!! I'm Bleeding!!"
And boy, was he ever!
Fire Engine Red
all over the left side of his head
and still gushing quickly.
Immediately the adrenaline is pumping through my veins.
Panic sets in.
My sweet little boy is COVERED in blood.
This was supposed to be a routine trip to the library.
My car is still running.
Fisher and Carly are strapped inside.
And I'm holding pressure to the side of his head with my bare hand.
I don't know what to do.
I leave my car at the curb and hurry him inside.
We find a library worker and I send her out to the car.
Did you know there are NO paper towels in the library bathroom?
Only one of those towels that cycles back up into the holder like the ones in school.


The blood is seeping through the spaces between my fingers and his hair is no longer brown.
A library worker gets us a paper towel and I have him sit on a chair at the entrance.
A guy walks by and tells me I'd better take him to get medical care.
I'm thinking the same thing.
I'm torn on what to do.
I can't get a hold of Dan.
My kids are still out in the running car with the Library Lady.


I have him sit by himself on the chair and go out to the car.
It's still running.
I thank the library lady, turn off the car and she helps me bring the little kids inside.
On my way in I notice a bloody handprint on the door from running him inside to begin with.
She takes Carly, who looks like a little ragamuffin (I wasn't planning on taking her inside, remember?), to the information desk and lets her color.
I've got blood caked on my hand.
Hunter is now pretty calm.
Wow, that's a huge goose egg bud, it's all right, you're gonna be okay...
I'll bet he's got a bad headache tonight.
He's asking if we have to go to the doctor to get stitches.
Still trying to figure out what to do-
It's then that I spot Dan's sister, Heather.
She's inside the library with her 3 kids.
She's a nurse.
She delivers babies.
She see's blood all the time.
What a coincidence-
I watch the kids and she takes Hunter to the bathroom to clean him up.
A different Library Lady brings this red bag out with a bio hazard insignia on it.
She makes me clean my hands off in front of her and put the wipe in the bag.
I tell her I saw blood on the outside of the door.
She makes me put on rubber gloves before she'll let me clean it off.
Like I just haven't had his blood all over my hand 5 minutes ago.
I know she's just doing her job.
She's following me around to make sure the bloody towels get in her bag.
I clean up the door and we tie the top of the bag in a knot and I have to throw it away outside.
Heather emerges with Hunter.
He's all cleaned up except for the blood splattered on his shirt.
The wound is small...
So small I can barely see it.
It looks like one of the freckles he has on his nose.
I can't believe there was so much blood from that teeny tiny wound.
His eyes are dialating, his speech is fine and he has no other symptoms.
Nurse Heather says he'll be just fine.
He gets in the car.
I take these pictures with my cell phone.
He tells me "This is my Worstest Day Ever."
We head home, very thankful to Heavenly Father that he's okay.