FLASHBACK FRIDAY - On Tuesday

I have been really bad about doing my Flashbacks the last few weeks. So here is one that I think is adorable. This is on Christmas Eve 1998. Cameron was 4 (almost 5), Mallory was 10 and Michael was 12 1/2. I can't believe how much time has gone by. This was 10 years ago exactly. Enjoy your kids because they grow up so fast. Merry Christmas Everyone!

10 MORE DAYS! OH NO!

Okay, I am officially going to freak out because I have only made a dent in my Christmas shopping. And that shopping was done by my sweet, wonderful, and most loving daughter Mallory. She has taken pity on me. I don't know what I would do without her. Troy and I made a list last night but the list isn't going pop off the page and go do the shopping for me. Troy is going to have to deal with it and take me in my handy dandy wheelchair and see what we can get done. If it weren't for my darn legs, I could do so much more. Oh well, I do what I can. I hope that everyone else is farther along in their shopping than me. One of these years I am going to be done before Thanksgiving. (like some people I know, Laura).

Happy shopping and wrapping and everything else you need to do.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY

We had a family Christmas party with Troy's family and all the Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc. And there was a very special visitor that came to the party. Yep, it was Santa. Look closely and Santa might look a little familiar. Sadly, Santa's Aunt told him that he might not need much stuffing for his suit. Sad..... but he just laughed, (ho ho ho). Enjoy these few pictures of Santa and the kids. (Michael didn't go because he had a Basketball game) Mallory was Santa's helper for the evening and did such a good job.

Isn't he cute?

Cameron just loves Santa!
You are never too old sit on Santa's lap.
Cameron led the whole group in "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
before Santa left . . . Santa loves Christmas carols.

My Impression of Twilight

Okay, I really liked it. It had a few scenes that were a little weird but overall I liked it. I am going to see it again tomorrow with my friend Angie. I heard that it is even better the 2nd time. I went with some friends to see it because my dear, sweet husband would NOT go with me. He had no desire to see it. I even told him that I would go see 007 with him if went with me. But that didn't work. It is better to go with friends anyway. Troy would have laughed or slept through the whole thing. He isn't the "romantic" type but I love him anyway. We did go and see 4 Christmas's on Saturday and that was cute. So, there you have it. Whether you care or not, that is my opinion of the movie "Twilight". Now I can't wait for the next one..... :)

HITLER'S REACTION TO BYU LOSS

Sorry to all of our BYU fan friends out there but this was just too good not to post. I stole if off of my niece's blog. Her husband is a die-hard BYU fan. Way to go Jeila!

WHAT A DISASTER!

We hope that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. We had a great Thanksgiving and as always we all ate too much and we were all ready to go to bed at 8:00. Last night (Thanksgiving night) we went to visit Troy's parents and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and take them some pie and some "Pretzel Jello" (which is Claudia's favorite) and we were gone for about an hour or maybe an 1 1/2 hours. Can't remember. But anyway, when we came home we heard a shower of water in the basement. Cameron ran downstairs and there was a huge leak of water (about 4 feet long) just gushing from our the basement ceiling. The only thing it could have been from was the dishwasher. We had just put a load in before we left for the in-laws. The basement floor was flooded, the ping pong table was starting to warp, the couch was soaked and the ceiling looked close to falling down. Actually it did fall down during the night. So, we had disaster clean up come over this morning and do what they could. We have fans running downstairs to help to prevent mold and our insurance adjuster won't be able to come until Monday. So, we had quite an evening. I am including a few pictures of our cute little "disaster" of the basement. (It could have been worse if we had stayed away longer. (Why do these things always happen when nobody's home?) But since it is Thanksgiving, I know that we need to be grateful that it wasn't worse. We really do have a lot to be thankful for. The timing for this isn't the greatest but at least we are all healthy and doing well.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 1997

Michael and Mallory were taking piano lessons from Delores Petterson and she was having her piano recital at the church in the Relief Society Room. I wonder if that is the same piano. (Probably) Anyway, that was 11 years ago and I look much younger but Troy looks about the same. What is up with that? (Check out the "Bowl" hair cuts on the boys)

I dont' know where Michael was for this Photo Op

Michael wasn't happy with me for making him take
piano lessons but he did a good job anyway.
Needless to say, he quit a few months later.

Mallory actually liked piano lessons and she took
from Delores until she retired and went to work
full time. Then later Mallory took lessons again
from Angie Cassity.

Cameron was extremely bored at this recital
and couldn't wait for it to be OVER!!!
Needless to say, he never had the desire to
take piano lessons EVER!!! I wonder why?

And now sadly, and after all the money we put into piano lessons, not one of the kids can play exceptionally well. Michael can play a few songs he learned on his mission and Mallory can play the songs that she memorized from her recitals. So tell me, where did we go wrong? Never mind, I really don't want to know where we went wrong. Sad Face :(

Flashback Friday

Okay, I know that Halloween is past, but I came across these pictures and I just had to post them. We all could use a good laugh right?

Don't Ask.... 1987 (Sorry Troy)

Pebbles & Bam Bam 1988

Halloween Pictures (A little late)

Halloween this was eventful. Troy and I made our traditional Spudnuts and they turned out awesome. I'm sorry if any of you didn't get any. They go fast. (Really, Really fast!). The pictures below are of our family and some friends who stopped by in their fabulous costumes. I had to share them. After this blog, I can start worrying about Thanksgiving stuff and then before you know it, we will be worrying about Christmas stuff. Did you know that there is a radio station that is already playing Christmas music? Come on people! What is up with that?

Michael and Troy making the Spudnuts!
(Michael didn't last long, he had places to go!)

Scott & Laura Smith and Alivin the Chipmunk

BJ and Zane (Bob Marley)

Two Polygamist Sisters looking for a man!
(Angie Schroepfer & Holly Keiler)

Cameron as a 1980's Basket Ball Player

Mallory is a "Little Devil"
(far stretch from her real personality, JK)

Michael imitating his boss at work
(Sorry Brad, he really does love you!)

Flashback Friday - 1987

This is a picture of me, my mom and little Michael. My parents were living in Boise, Idaho at the time and we went up to visit them for a weekend. I love these pictures of my mom with my kids because Michael was 2 1/2 when she died and Mallory was only 3 months old. So she didn't have much time with them. She really loved all of her children and grandchildren.

WAY TO GO "UTES"!!!

We had some friends over tonight to watch the game and eat hot dogs and other goodies. I was late getting home, (got hair done) and so Troy ate my hot dog. When I had him go out to cook me one, he came back in with a sheepish, uh oh, look on his face. He left the package of hot dogs outside by the BBQ and our cute little dogs Abby and Lucky ate the rest of them. (about 6 or 7). I was a little disappointed because I am a very picky hot dog eater. I only like certain kinds of hot dogs because honestly I don't know what is in them. Anyway, Mallory was at the store so we had her bring some home. They weren't even close to being the same thing. Poor me..... Anyway, the game was awesome and the "Utes" won! With all the screaming and yelling at the TV, they better have won. It's amazing to me that the men keep yelling at the tv knowing that the little people inside the tv really can't hear them. What is up with that? Someday, I hope that this will be explained. Michael was lucky enough to get a ticket to go to the game from a friend. He had a great time and of course he was wearing "Black Out" black.

EXPERIMENTAL LAYOUT

Okay, as I mentioned before I am trying to learn Photo Elements so that I can make my own digital scrapbooks. So, this is a page that I made without much help. I think it turned out pretty good. So, this is why I haven't been blogging much...I am trying to teach myself photo elements. I know some of the basics thanks to Laura and my sister, but there is SO much to learn. But I am enjoying the process. I am just impatient and want to know everything NOW!

HALLOWEEN Flashback Friday

Okay this is a real flashback for Troy and I. It was our first Halloween married way back in 1984. These masks use to scare my nieces and nephews. It was awesome! I already know without you saying it, it is a glimpse into our future....... sad. :( HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

Old Man Troy 1984

Old Lady Wendy 1984

Ninja Michael, Princess Mallory, and Bumble Bee Cameron 1994

Isn't Cameron adorable?

Beautiful Princess Mallory
Scary Ninja Michael
Scary Pirate Michael and The Bride Mallory 1995

Enjoy your kids now because they grow up so fast. Halloween was so fun for them and when they got home from Trick or Treating, we always had to check their candy (and take out our favorites) and then the kids would eat a little bit and never look at their bag again. So many times I found their halloween candy bags still full in the Spring the next year hidden in their closet or a drawer. What a waste!

I'VE BEEN DISTRACTED

I need to apologize for neglecting my blog lately. I have a new hobby/challenge. I am learning how to use Photoshop Elements. Trust me people, it takes a lot of brain cells to get this all figured out. So, after the help from Laura Smith and my sister, I am hoping to come up with some really cute scrapbook pages. (If only they had this program 20 years ago when I had a younger, fresher brain). I will post some of the pages I get done. This is the page I made at Laura's house. It turned out kind of cute for my first one. (I misspelled Troy) In my defense, I was using a laptop. It's cute anyway..... isn't it?

MY BIRTHDAY DINNER

We went to Asian Star for my birthday and it was soooo good. If you haven't been there, you must try it. It is awesome Chinese food. I had a great birthday even though my children gave me grief about being 44. Yes, they reminded that I am halfway to 88 and halfway from 22. They are such darling, wonderful, and precious children. (Is it too late for me to take them to a hospital and drop them off, no questions asked?) Just wondering.... Enjoy the pics.

I don't think Troy knows how to have a real smile when there is a camera near. I guess the photographer needs to quit telling him to say "MONKEY" and with his hearing loss, he thinks he is suppose to look like one..... (ha ha)

Picture of young Joseph Smith from Mallory and Michael.
Cameron gave me charms for my charm bracelet but I didn't
get a picture of it. Sorry Cam. Troy gave me Photo Elements and
we didn't get a pic of that either..Sorry Troy. Love you!

Complimentary Birthday Cheesecake....Cameron ate most of it.
Look at the way he is looking at it.

Group shot taken by our waitress... Good Times with the Family and Friends.

Yearbook Pics

I came across this website off of my nephews facebook and I thought it was hilarious so of course I had to try it. You will get a laugh out of these. Michael, Mallory and Cameron might not appreciate it though but I do. Enjoy!

"BIFF"

"PEGGY SUE"

"SPORT"

FLASHBACK FRIDAY - FEB. 7, 1999

This was Cameron's birthday Party at Jungle Jim's. He turned 5 and he had an awesome party. You will probably recognize Zac Rigby in the yellow shirt, Cameron is in the middle and Mallory is next to Cameron.

Zac, Cameron, Mal, Becky Shumway. Across the table is Cassie Croall and Preston Akagi (Cam's cousin)

Zac and Cameron

Mallory and Becky