release

they have released me from the library. in a way it's a relief, but at the same time, now i have to socialize...

snow globe

ashley, age 6, on the way to school in the morning.
"someone shook the snow globe!"

ice inside

i picked up michael from school today.

"get your seatbelt done up bud."
michael, age 4, "i need to zip up my coat first.
"so i don't catch a cold,
from the ice inside my soul."

tryouts

elizabeth came home from school the other day with papers with information about the middle school's new play they were going to be doing.
a musical, jungle book.

she shocked me by wanting to try out for one of the minor parts, the baby elephant.
she tried out, but didn't get the part. she did make it into the elephant herd.

the next two months will be filled with play practice.

movies

i went to a movie tonight!
i saw fantastic beasts and where to find them.

very good movie

gratitude

today i'm grateful for lined tights

gratitude

today, i'm immensely grateful for humor!

chicken

elizabeth, age 11, "do you know what chicken butt tastes like?
Feathers!"

lentils

elizabeth, age 11, "even though they are gross, disgusting, and vile."
Referring to lentils…

gratitude

today i'm grateful for when things are complex. it makes me more grateful for the simple times

implified?

elizabeth, age 11, "have you been implified?"

whoops!

What happens when you hide christmas in multiple locations?
Just found 3 gifts that had gone missing!

shauns pj pants, ashley's pjs, and a shirt for shaun.

oh well....

BRRRR! it's really chilly!

violin

elizabeth decided that she wanted to do violin for her elective this year.

i was finally able to get lessons arranged for her. 

she's a year behind everyone else, because she wasn't doing violin last year. it's been causing a few problems in class and during the concert.

she LOVES it!

her's is the one on the floor. not the micro-mini one in her hand

notable quotable

"only when i let go do i see how far i can rise."

-author unknown

gratitude

today i'm grateful for a working furnace

wedding chaos

oh my word! what a weekend! and SO much fun!!!

ok, to start with, we traveled down to ogden tuesday, and stayed with sister #2 for the night.
wednesday, we drove down to provo. i went shopping with sister #3 and mom to grab things for the wedding. sister #3 finally got keys/code to apartment, so we had somewhere to sleep. however, no heat.... and no hot water..... and no beds....
oh, late in the afternoon, we learned that the brunch location was going to be used for a funeral. gratefully, the ward clerk, or whoever he was, found us another location.
thursday, is kinda when the insanity started, or the beginning of the end, i suppose. i baked cakes all day long. we were doing 2 half-sheet cakes for the reception, and needed a cutting cake. in trying to ease some of the stress from mom, i took on that job.
4 half sheets, 2-9 inch squares, and 2-4 inch squares. 1.5 lbs butter, 28 eggs. and all day long!!
we also decided to dip plastic spoons in melted chocolate for use at the hot chocolate bar.
friday, was absolutely packed! the brunch started at 10:30. sister #3, the bride, was 20 minutes late! after the brunch, we put her in her dress, or tried to. the zipper split on us! talk about murphy's law! mom did a quick fix on the way to the temple for pics, and we quickly dressed her in the bathroom at the visitors center. pictures started at 1-ish. sealing was at 4, and she was married! afterwards, we went to chuck-a-rama, cause no one had eaten since the brunch. WHEW!
saturday, we decorated the cakes. 10 lbs fresh raspberries, 10 lbs fresh blackberries, 7 lbs cream cheese, 1/2 gal whipping cream. thankfully, it only took us about 2.5 hours...not 8 or more. the reception was at 2, and we had the happy couple off by 4:30p. the rest of the family did our christmas gift exchange around 5:30.
and then everyone crashed for the rest of the weekend....(if only)