Friday, September 12, 2008
The Five
1. I was pregnant with Hannah
2. Teaching piano lessons
3. Living in Garland
4. SAHM to Bethany and Nathan
5. Teaching art lessons
5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. Take a shower in 5 min. or less
2. Laundry
3. Return phone calls
4. Watch the status of hurricane Ike
5. Take care of Logan
5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Chocolate in any form
2. Cookies
3. Candy
4. Fresh fruit...yes I do have a good side
5. triscuts and cheese
5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off house
2. Make home improvements
3. Save money for college and retirement
4. Go on an awesome family vacation
5. Buy a harp and violin for Hannah and Bethany
5 places I have lived:
1. Palo Alto, Calif.
2. Orem, Utah
3. Cambridge, Mass.
4. Houston, Texas
5. Dallas, Texas
Five jobs I have had:
1. JC Penney Portrait Studio
2. Rick Nye Photography
3. Art Teacher Assist. at BYU/illustrator
4. Secretary
5. Nanny
I tag...
1. Shanyn
2. Gayleen
3. Laura
4. Bobbi
5. Ginny
Rules:Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.
Friday, August 29, 2008
100 things
1. I love sunflowers and gerbera daisies.
2. When I was seven, I would draw the inside of the chapel during sacrament meeting.
3. I always knew I wanted to be an artist.
4. I have a fear of edges/ledges.
5. I have dreams about falling off ledges.
6. I fear my kids falling off of ledges.
7. I even fear driving on high over-passes.
8. When I was in 5th grade, I wanted to be a photo-journalist.
9. In high school, I wanted to be a dolphin trainer at Sea World.
10. I was a nanny for three different families.
11. My favorite place to live is in Cambridge, MA.
12. I'm a certified scuba diver.
13. I think I was emotionally scarred for life after attending my 10 yr. H.S. reunion.
14. I played the clarinet in high school.
15. I was embarrassed to play in the band, so I would hide from my teacher during games.
16. I hated the marching band so much that I became a flag twirler. My only way out. I sucked.
17. I won the Z.C.M.I. table setting contest in high school.
18. I have a pet peeve for drivers that don't signal and that go super slow because of the cell phone
19. I LOVE the sound of babies belly laughing.
20. I have enough scrapbooking supplies to open up my own store.
21. I never seem to have enough time to scrapbook.
22. When I do, it takes me two hours to finish a page because I'm such a dang perfectionist.
23. I have two HUGE rubber-maid bins of beanie babies. All new with tags.
24. Someday, I'm going to be rich from selling my rare beanie babies! : ) lol.
25. I love to spend hours in Barnes and Noble. With hot chocolate.
26. I've been to Europe, Jamaica and Montreal. Loved it all.
27. I had a dream that I was going to Texas on my mission.
28. I went to Houston on my mission.
29. I would hide in my closet when it was time for piano lessons.
30. I loved cats when I was growing up. I even had cat bedding & curtains. I don't like cats now.
31. I love Josh Groban. I subscribed to his fan club. I have been to a concert. Die-hard Grobanite.
32. I have been to a Boy George concert.
33. Alan and I went to a MC Hammer concert when we were first married. Too Legit, man.
34. I sprained my ankle jumping from a two story balcony onto a trampoline.
35. I did this to show Alan how he should do it.
36. It's my dream to learn how to play the harp.
37. I can't remember a time in my life that I haven't wanted to lose weight.
38. My favorite calling in church was Primary President.
39. Everyone knows the hardest calling I've ever had.
40. I love being a mom.
41. I love my family.
42. I think I'm going to drive a convertable PT cruiser when all the kids are on their own.
43. I wish I wasn't so sensitive.
44. If I were to ever have anything "done" to my body, it would be to laser my veiny legs.
45. I love to teach art to kids.
46. I always had a dream of running a marathon.
47. I love chocolate in any form. It's a problem.
48. I met Alan in the library at BYU.
49. I asked him to marry me.
50. He made it official on my birthday.
51. We were married exactly 5 months after we met.
52. Logan was born on the day we met...March 24th.
53. I don't like most odd numbers. Especially any number with nine and three in it.
54. I like the numbers 5, 8 and now 7 because of Sarah.
55. I really love photography and I wish I knew/understood more of it.
56. I want to learn how to use Adobe photoshop...I first need to figure out a way to buy it!
57. I went to Harvard. I think people have a hard time believing that. I didn't graduate from there.
58. I took a bus into NYC by myself when I was 19 so I could see the Thanksgiving day parade.
59. I took a bus across the country when I was 12 to spend the summer with my friend in DC.
60. I 'm pretty sure I have spilled food on myself nearly every single meal of my life.
61. I have been engaged three times.
62. I don't think I will ever get over the pain of losing Sarah.
63. I wish I could have a reading from John Edwards.
64. I got my first kiss from Doug Murdock.
65. He's a Dr. now.
66. I know that because I had to take my ds into the emergency room, and he was his Dr.
67. He didn't recognize me. I had no make-up on. 50 lbs. heavier. I was wearing sweats.
68. I stupidly pointed out to him who I was. Brilliant move. His reaction was...well, depressing.
69. I have a recurring dream that my teeth are falling out. It's awful.
70. I think the worse chore is cleaning the fridge. Second would be matching socks.
71. My money never matches my taste.
72. I would pick getting sleep over food every time.
73. I want to go to Tuscany someday, eat good food and paint in the fields.
74. I want to go to Hawaii with our family.
75. I want to own property in the mountains/beach and have rockin' family reunions there.
76. My favorite cartoon strip is "Baby Blues"
77. On my mission, I used to pretend my wallet was a cell phone and drive around like that. Dork.
78. An ideal day would be 72 outside, eat out at an outdoor cafe and go gallery hopping in Carmel.
79. I'm not a morning person...I'm not a night person either. I think I peak at noon.
80. Sometimes, I wish I didn't care so much.
81. I get overwhelmed easily with all the changing and improving that I need to do.
82. I want to make a difference in this world, but I don't know what or how that will happen.
83. I over-analyze things to death.
84. I think marrying Alan was the best thing I have ever done. Period.
85. If I could have dinner with anyone that was living now, it would be Barack Obama.
86. Just kidding. It would be President Monson and Mitt Romney.
87. I want to be on Oprah someday and talk about the issues surrounding stillbirth.
88. I am happiest when all my kids are home safe, sound and happy.
89. My favorite hymn is "I Believe in Christ".
90. I can easily hyper-venilate in scrapbooking stores.
91. I love the style of Pottery Barn and Ethan Allen.
92. I feel very grateful in my life.
93. I always feared we would not have enough food storage when I was growing up.
94. So, I would sneak food down to our basement to make up our families food storage.
95. My ears ring 24/7. I have about 3-4 different sounds going on at the same time.
96. My first real job was at JC Penney's, taking pictures of kids.
97. My shortest-lived job was as a waitress. I lasted one night. Never again.
98. I used to work as a janitor before school started in high school.
99. One of my funnest jobs was as an art TA at BYU.
100. I love to bake, cook and sew... esp. when there is no pressure on my time and I'm by myself
There you go! If you made it through, I'm amazed! Please try it! I would love to read more about you!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
So sweet

Ya, we're tired
First day of school...August 25th, 2008
"Want to come and join me in my ducky jacuzzi?"
Monday, August 18, 2008
New Braces for Nate!
We just got home from getting Nate's braces put on. He was so excited about this and doesn't seem to feel self-concious about it all. In fact, when he was asked what color of bands he wanted, he said pink and black. Huh? He told me he wanted to be different. Okay Dude! I think he looks great in them. He was given a big list of foods that he wouldn't be able to eat...I was pretty surprised at things like pickles and chips. Two years of lots of ortho appts. coming our way!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Our Sunshine
It's all about Logan...and we are all okay with that!!
My first and my last...
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Logan turns 4 months old
Today I set up a little "photo studio" in the living room. Cute little baby. I had him totally nekkid, and he wet all over the backdrop. Ya, I know. What do I expect? : )



Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Church Art Contest

So, it's that time again. Time to be thinking of what I'm going to paint for the next church art contest. I can't believe it has been three years already. This painting was my last entry. It didn't make the cut, but I really had a gut feeling that it wouldn't. Mixed media collage is a little too edgy for the church's taste. I knew that, but I wanted to do it anyway. I love looking at a painting and seeing symbolism in layers. I had this idea for a long time, and I just needed to get it out of my system. Admittedly, I felt the sting when I saw who made it in. Many of my friends that I went to BYU with made it in, and rightly so. Their work was excellent. I have felt very guilty about my negligence over the past several years with my art. I have been so busy with raising a family, that I have not made it a priority to paint. If Minerva Teichert can do it, so can I! I just need to start painting again...every day. I find such peace and joy and fulfillment when I do. Just typing about it makes me smile. I think that is one of the reasons I feel so resentful for having to learn the organ. My heart feels like I should be putting any extra time that I have with my art. But, I recognize that this is what the Lord wants me to do now, so I'll do it. I just need to make sure I find the time to paint, too.
I got an invitation the other day from the church, basically reminding me that the deadline is coming up. I just need to pray for the inspiration to know where I want to go with it.
Sunday, July 13, 2008

This is what I look like on Sunday morning before I have to play the piano for church. No kidding. Today, I wish I had some Pepto Bismal with me, because I had to run to the bathroom during the talks because of the stress-induced cramping. I was fine, once it was all over. Today the opening song was, "Come listen to a Prophet's voice". I didn't know how fast I played it until Alan mentioned that the chorister's hands turned into a fan while I was playing. He only mentioned that so that I would remember to slow down on the rest of the songs.
During the Sacrament, I had to keep playing because they still hadn't finished breaking up the bread. How horrible is that??? Who wants to play a solo impromptu? I had to play the hymn about 4 times over until they finished. My fingers were slipping on the keys, and I could feel myself breathing really hard. With that being said, I know that this calling is "good" for me. I'm learning. I'm growing. I'm changing. I've got a new-found respect for every ward pianist in the church. I haven't even figured out how in the world I'm going to learn the organ. I just need to get through playing the piano. Learning the organ seems just about as possible as if I decided to go and run a marathon next week.
This past year I have experienced some concentrated lessons in faith, overcoming fear and allowing myself to change. At this point, I feel like I have failed miserably at this. I guess that's why the Lord keeps giving me opportunities to grow in these areas. The longer I resist, the longer and more painful the process will be. Somehow, I have to figure out a way to move from dread to anticipation. From hate to love. From fear to courage.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The kids
I wanted to get some "loving" pictures of the kids, and this is what we came up with! These were taken the night before Nathan left for Scout camp. The last one cracks me up of Nathan. The whole thing was just so painful for him! : )
Just for the record, I'm new at this blogging thing, and I can't figure out why/how some of these pictures are placed the way they are...hopefully I will get the hang of it!
New Pictures of Logan
