Ensign Peak

About a week or so ago, my cute little family went with our Primary to hike Ensign Peak. Neither CG nor I have ever hiked it and since my sister in law was in charge, we thought we would all go on this family bonding hike. Let's not forget that I'm not much of a hiker. But I do have some pretty good pictures to share.

Here we are at the beginning of our adventure.
Here's Lolly taking a little break.
And here I am looking super athletic and hiking with Babs on my back. It's a good thing she weighs less than 20 pounds, huh?!
And here's Lolly taking another break.
Babs is such a good sport!
Me and my girls!
The cute primary at the top of Ensign Peak. I really was there, I just didn't want to be in the picture!
The best way to hike!
And Lolly back to running after a 5 minute break

I, on the other hand, needed a couple of days before I was back and running again!

Friday Favorites-Beach Baby

This is one of my favorite pictures. When I was pregnant with Babs we went to California with my parents. We took Lolly to the beach for the first time and while we were there we saw what we thought was a bride having wedding pictures taken....even in the water. I thought it was a bit odd, but oh well. Lolly wasn't real thrilled with the beach that day and the photographer came over to take a few pictures of her. He had heard her....um...expressing her dislike. It all worked out though because we have this beautiful picture to document the occassion.

Happy Friday Favorites Everyone!

Random Update Post

I have a couple of little random updates that aren't really long enough for a solo post without much more effort from me than I'm will to use. So, I'm having a random update post.

First of all, the contest that I had, like 2 weeks ago, actually does have a winner. CG picked the winner because I seem unable to do it without feeling like I'm hurting everyone's feelings. So, if there are any complaints, send me an email and I'll pass it on to CG, guilt free. The winner of the lovely prize for best name is.......drum roll please.......

JILLYTACY!!!!!

Her name suggestion was MAVIS which is an acronym for Mormon Assault Vehicle In Service...or anything else that uses the initials I and S like In Space! Congratulations Jillytacy! I'll be popping that in the mail as soon as I get up the nerve to take the girls to the post office!

Nextly, we have decided to take our house off the market and just rent it out and, in theory, buy our dream house. So far, we have yet to find anything, but we're keeping our fingers crossed. This should be quite the adventure. We've already rented out th basement and have someone interested in the upstairs, but we don't have anywhere to go. Except my in-laws basement. But I'll keep y'all posted on if and when we'll be moving. And I guess I'll have to change my name to Landlady of Perpetual Chaos. Don't you kind of feel bad for our future renters?!

This is what Babs looked like yesterday morning when I went in to get her up from her nap:

Yeah, I kinda freaked out a little. She looks pretty happy here, but I don't think this is a good way to wake up. Don't worry though because I remained calm enough to take pictures and Lolly was there telling me what to do the whole time.

We were planning on visiting my Dad this weekend, but now I'm not sure if we're going to be able to go. Last night Lolly was sporting a fever of 104.3...after taking medicine. We're taking her in to the doctor this morning so hopefully it's just a virus since she seems to feel fine otherwise and we can still go on our trip. If not I'm going to be really sad, but I will definitely be rescheduling for another weekend soon.

Now, this is more of a question than an update. I've heard of other blogs doing fabric swaps where everyone who is interested signs up and then you get to send some cute, fun fabrics to that person that you think they might like and then you'll get some in the mail too. That's pretty much the only kind of swap I can even think of doing right now and sounds like a lot of fun, but I don't know anyone who is doing one. I would totally do one, but I don't think there would be enough people signing up to do it. Unless you want to. Does anyone know someone who is doing a swap like that? I would do it, but I think you have to have at least 5 people sign up and I'm not sure that I even have that many people who read my blog! ;o)

That's all the updates that I can think of for now. I didn't really get all that much sleep last night with Lolly being sick, but never fear. I do have a Friday Favorite.

Fancy Meeting You Here!

Friday night was quite exciting. Instead of going to my usual one and a half hour long exercise class, I ended up playing hooky with my family. In honor of missing my class, we went out to dinner! I'm such a health nut. Then we headed off to the park so that Lolly could put all of her high octane energy into good use and not into something that would get her into trouble.

CG needed a part for one of our various yard care contraptions and since Home Depot is so close to Old Navy I asked him to drop me off there so I wouldn't have to get dragged into the home owner vortex that is Home Depot. As all of you know, we have had our house on the market for a while and in a vain attempt to make our house appear more "spacious" we packed half of our lives. I thought that I had kept out the next size of clothing for Lolly but have since found that I didn't. Poor Lolly. She's been running around in some less than comfortable summer clothes and midriff baring shirts looking like her mother clearly doesn't know how to dress her child. Or dress ups. I thought I might find some bargains on summer clothes at Old Navy so that was my official excuse for going.

As I was wandering through Old Navy I saw a woman that looked extremely familiar, but just about everyone looks familiar these sleep deprived days. But I decided to get a closer look anyway to see if it was who I was thinking it was. Then I happened to see a cute little girl with little blond curls and was pretty sure I knew who it was. It just had to be one of my favorite bloggers.....the one and only Hairyshoefairy! So, I mustered every ounce of courage my hermit self has and said that she looked familiar and asked if we knew each other. She said she didn't think so, but I was just positive it had to be her! Exposing myself as a total stalker, I asked if she had a blog. Then we started chatting and laughing like we've been friends forever. It's funny how you know so much about someone that you've never met just because you read their blog. Being the prepared blogger that she is, she pulled her camera out of her very cute purse and took our picture. Can I just say how unfair it is to have your picture taken after a long and less than attractive day next to someone who is very photogenic?!?! As a side note I think I need to break out some bronzer or something cause I'm kind of glowing and not in a good way, more of an "other worldly" way.

So we chatted and laughed and talked about how totally odd the situation was, but it was so much fun. CG and Lolly came to pick me and Babs up and got to meet them, too. Have you ever noticed that when you're out in public not looking your best you will ALWAYS see or meet someone and be wishing you had actually brought the diaper bag with you so that you could wash the guacamole off your baby's face and clothing or the ketchup off your toddlers face?! Wait, you mean that doesn't happen to everyone? Just me? Huh.....

We continued to chat until Lolly had totally worn out CG and left him begging for mercy. HSF and I made plans to get together with our kids and said goodbye. We also made a deal...I'll help her with her mantel and she'll help me with my hair. I think I'm getting the better end of that bargain! Then we purchased a new pair of flip flops for Lolly because what girl doesn't need another pair of shoes?! As we were standing in the check out line, we saw HSF come running back in the store looking slightly panicked and then ran back out a minute later. But now we all know about her less than legal hobby! He he. We've all been there before!

My girls and I are totally looking forward to playing with our new friends. Lolly even recognized them when she saw their blog this morning. Thanks not thinking I'm a stalker HSF! I had a great time chatting with you!

Friday Favorites-Color?

I haven't really been able to think of a really good Friday Favorite so I guess that means that we'll go with my favorite color. Pink. I like pink and I'm not afraid to say it out loud. In public even. I like light pink and dark pink. I like lots of other colors with pink. Pink is just a good color. It goes with everything.

That post was deep. A nice deep pink.

Edited to Add:Conversation with CG
Me: Did you read my Friday Favorites post?
CG: Yes. You were half asleep when you wrote that, huh?
Me: (laughing) Yep.
CG: Yeah, I thought so.

A Little Religion To Start our Week Off Right

I thought I would post a little something funny to perk up our Monday. This is our official non-PC joke of the day.

Religious Bras

A man walked into the ladies department of a Macy’s, one of the largest department store chains.

He shyly walked up to the woman behind the counter and said. “I’d like to

buy a bra for my wife”

“What type of bra?” asked the clerk.

“Type?” inquires the man “There is more than one type?”

“Look Around,” said the saleslady, as she showed a sea of bras in every shape, size, color and material.

“Actually, even with all of this variety, there are really only three types of bras,” replied the salesclerk.

Confused, the man asked what were the types.

The saleslady replied “The Catholic type, the Salvation Army type and the Baptist type. Which one do you need?”

Still confused the man asked “What is the difference between them?”

The lady responded “It is all really quite simple. The Catholic type supports the masses, the Salvation Army type lifts up the fallen, and the Baptist type makes mountains out of mole hills.

I wonder what the Mormon bra would be? Any ideas?!

Friday Favorites-Of The Canine Persuasion

Dexter is the last one in my little family so far to be immortalized in a family favorite. Today is his big day. Right now he's asleep on the living room floor on a blanket he knows he's not supposed to be on. I just don't have the heart to wake the big hairy guy up and make him move.

Dexter's fabulousness is best told in pictures.

Here he is when we first got him 5 years ago from the Humane Society.
Cute little puppy.
And here he is doing a little anti-wrinkle cream commercial before his massive growth spurt that I still can't quite get over!

Here's Dexter going after some bubbles on his first camp out.
He looks a little crazy here but it's a good crazy.

Here is CG favorite picture of him. Dexter is a very good sport. He idolized CG.
And the convenience of how he can blend in with the floor is handy.

Even with his redneck lip, he still looks regal.
But, when all is said and done, how can you not love a face like that?!
We love ya Dex!!!

***Just remember these pictures the next time you're thinking about getting a dog. Adopt from the doggy shelter! They need homes too even when we have no idea what kind of dog it really is. OK, lecture over. ;o)

Official Contest Rules

It's official. Along with driving a grown up car I'm now having a grown up contest, kinda, to name said car. So here's some rules I made up while washing dishes last night:

• Leave your name suggestion in the comments section of this post
• You can enter as many times as you like as the creativity hits you
• The more the merrier so if you know anyone who likes contests, send them on over
• I'll take suggestions until Sunday night at midnight (I know y'all will be around here right up until midnight!) so that everyone will have the time get the necessary diet coke, chocolate and sleep in order to come up with something fabulous
  

Whoever wins the contest will get a lovely package in the mail from me. I'm not sure what will be in it but it will be wonderful...I think. Of course, anything that isn't a bill is a welcome sight in my mail box. But if you want one of my bills, I'd be happy to include that in the package! It could be something I made, although I'm not sure that you'd want that. Or maybe something with a theme. We'll see what I come up with between now and then.
Let the contesting begin!

True Confessions...I cut my hair.

Yep, that's right. I cut my hair. Not as in I went to a professional who knew what they were doing and had it cut and styled. No, no, no. That would be too...."responsible". No, being the renegade that I am I decided to do it myself. Last night in my bathroom. After a pretty rough day. While the girls were still not asleep in their beds. It was a brilliant combination.
I didn't cut off all that much....
...just enough to get rid of the shaggy remains of what used to be a lovely A-line bob. And I still haven't decided if I like it or not. Not that there's really much I can do about it now! So I'm just going to embrace it or not look in the mirror too much. As CG says, the difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is two weeks. We'll talk about this again in two weeks and see if that's really true!

Maiden Voyage of the Mormon Assault Vehicle

This past weekend we took our first trip in our new van. CG had some out of town business and he just happened to schedule it right before a long weekend. It's nice when it works out that way. We thoroughly enjoyed the ride, talking about it the whole way there.
Here are the highlights of our weekend. Well, some of them anyway.

Here are the girls at the beginning of our trip. Don't they look thrilled?!

And here they are a short while into our long journey.

While we were in St. George we went to see a dinosaur exhibit.

Lolly feeling rather triumphant.

And sweet little Babs. She was so tired but she was such a trooper.

We also went to a park downtown with a little stream and fountain for kids to play in. It's probably pretty popular, especially when the temperature hits the triple digits.

Lolly, debating the pros and cons of the fountain.

Here's Babs relaxing with her feet in the cool water. My feet are there too.

It was shortly after this that I ran out of room on our memory card to take pictures. And by the time I had erased some pictures so I could take more, the batteries ran out. Note to self: next time empty memory card and take extra batteries. Overall it was a successful and very fun trip and was the first of what will hopefully be many fun trips in our Assault Vehicle.
Speaking of the van, I'm thinking it needs a name. Something clever and funny. Hmmm...this could take some thought. Maybe we could have a contest and whatever suggestion we end up using that person gets a major award in the mail from me. Mail that isn't a bill. Everyone loves that. Of course, it could end up being a battle to the death for all 3 of my loyal readers! I'll let you know when I come up with something brilliant. And for all those who want to participate in the contest say "I".
Clearly it's late and I need to go to bed.

We Have Arrived

There comes a point in everyone's life when they make a certain decision that really, truly makes them officially adults. I think that it's different for everyone. For some it's buying a home. Or it could be getting married or having a child.

For us it is this:


We have purchased our very first mini van. The mortgage, the girls, the dog...they were all just preparing us for our giant leap into adulthood.

We are now officially grown ups.

Lardy, Lardy!

I got this in an email and it reminded me of the stories I've heard of Great Grandma Gibson.

The History of Aprons

I don't think kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half- hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

The only apron I currently have is one I made for GC that says "May the forks be with you". I think it's time for the kind of apron this talks about.