Day 30: a picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge

OK, I am totally bagging the picture of myself--the camera has wandered again, it is past my bedtime, and I keep looking fat in pictures (I have NO IDEA why, just hand me those Oreo's, ok?).

Five good things that have happened since I started this challenge:

1. I got t0 see or talk to almost all of my siblings. It was MARVELOUS!

2. My dear hubby and I went on an awesome weekend date. We had fun together, and (wise man that he is) ate good food (I am MUCH nicer when I am well fed!), and went to see The Avengers (at the 12:20 showing--12:20 in the afternoon, cause that's how we roll!).

3. I got to go to the Columbus Temple with my youngest sister as she received her endowment. My sweet hubby and I were the proxies to seal his Grandparents together for eternity.

4. LargeBoy went on a 3 week trip, and while he was gone, he went from 1/2 an inch shorter than his mom, to 1/2 an inch taller! When I asked what they put in the water, he told me "concentrated awesome!".

5. My life continued in it's busy, crazy, fun, blessed way. Lots of tiny miracles occurred. We got a particularly gorgeous early spring. I actually got most of my garden planted. Also some mulching of flower beds has happened. My wonderful children spent time with excellent friends. My husband got a new job. Beautiful babies were born. Life is very good.

Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy

Somebody asked me once how I kept going, when SmallDaughter can be so hard to live with. Fortunately, like all other toddlers, she is incredibly cute! And she is also charming, sweet, and hilariously funny! And we have the WonderDog.

This sign is just down the road from my house. All of the businesses in town and the library have hitching rails. We see LOTS of "horsies".

This is VERY old! We were doing a fashion show with my friend who has a vintage clothing store (yes, truly--I sigh, I swoon, I LOVE to try on the fabbity-fab clothes!)

This is also a from a long ago trip to the zoo. So fun!


This is the single most glamorous dress I have ever worn. It is real silk chiffon, and it has about 10 pounds of real jet beads on it. So Fabulous! It was actually the same fashion show as the other one. Just different outfits!

Another thing that makes me happy is going through the files of old pictures on my computer with BigGirl!

Day 5: A song to match your mood

I am adding this little playlist, since I could never choose just one!

The playlist won't load, so here are the songs:
My life is wonderful!
and beautiful
and kind of wierd.
But, in a quirky, creative way.*

However, mostly this morning I am feeling happy and grateful. Yesterday was busy and awesome. In the morning BigGirl went to a 4-H FCS board meeting (FCS is "Food, Clothing, & Sewing" and she is on the teen board, which helps with getting all of those projects accomplished, judged and displayed.

Then we went into town for a birthday party for a sweet little one year old. Miss Sophia has filled our lives with joy from day one! It was our family's turn to clean our church house, so we went and did that--which always makes me grateful for the brothers and sisters who physically built that building (back in the day when the members did the actual labor to build the church).

Finally, we went to a lovely potluck supper, and then, gathered with a group of very sweet Young Women, we watched the Young Women's Broadcast. I was filled with hope & joy!

After that, a spontaneous "sleepover**" was formed and came to my house! I brought home 3 extra young ladies, of more than the usual levels of awesomeness, and an evening of late night hilariosity ensued! Having 3 Drama Queens and 1 Loyal Sidekick, meant that there was a dramatic production staged
and BigGirl's eyeliner-ed on goatee and mustache caused tears of laughter every time someone looked at her!


They are crashed all over the living room.

My Favorite Gentleman has gone to retrieve LargeBoy from an Order of the Arrow "Blues Brothers Encampment".

Life is SO GOOD.

*And, if you are not acquainted with the music of the FABULOUS A Capella group "InsideOut", HURRY to their website at www.insideout-acappella.com and get to know them. And, in my claim to fame--I went to High School with 3 of them. And there may have been a bit of crushing going on (see post on "first love"!).

**We all know that the "sleep" part of "sleepover" is one of the most ironic statements in all the world!

Growth

We are so busy. Yes, I know that we are ALWAYS so busy, but as the kids get bigger, the schedule gets--busier. I did calendaring for the year, and every week is already full. We have the usual stuff--Scouts and Young Women, our beloved Fiber Arts Friends group, Church stuff. And we have the other stuff like Youth Conference, Scout Camp, 4-H Camp, Girls Camp, 2 major hikes with Dad...the list goes on and on. It is exciting to see them grow.

SmallDaughter had her neurologist checkup on her birthday--which meant she had to have a blood draw, poor thing. She was very brave, even though (for the first time ever at our wonderful children's hospital) they had to poke her twice and use both arms. The good thing is she doesn't really comprehend abstract ideas like "today is your birthday", so (even though this is the second year in a row with a Dr. visit/blood draw on the day) she didn't mind. She was very excited a few days later to have a combined birthday party with Grandpa, with LOTS of candles on the cake for her to blow out (with a little Grandpa help!).

This week she got to go see the eye doctor (the specialist at the childrens hosp., who is set up for non-verbal children). Thankfully, her eyes are healthy and we don't need glasses or anything else. I can not imagine the horrors of trying to keep SmallDaughter in glasses!

LargeBoy is making wonderful smells emanate from the kitchen. As much as I miss how freakin' cute they were when they were little--they sure are a big help to have around now!

For instance, a couple of weeks ago, I threw my back out quite badly--which wouldn't have been much of a problem, except my awesome Chiropractor had a heart attack and triple bypass surgery in December. So, painfully waiting for him to come back, life still had to go on. We went grocery shopping while SmallDaughter was at school, and not only did LargeBoy and BigGirl do all of the bagging/loading at the store, once we got home they did the unloading/putting away and sent me to bed with an ice pack! They are truly becoming awesome people, as well as sweet children!

I am happy to report that Dr. S is back in business, and my back is, too!

A little bragging

The kidlets did very well at the fair. In showmanship (which judges their poise and presentation --while holding and showing a chicken!) BigGirl and LargeBoy each came in 3rd, and LargeCousin came in 4th. I am so proud of them! Also, BigGirl's chicken layed our first egg!