Little Moments

Rachael got a tiara, some stickers (that are meant to be earrings, but don't tell her that) and a paint-with-water book from the preschool for her birthday. She came home from preschool, opened all the stuff, shoved the tiara on her head, covered herself in stickers, climbed up to the table and asked for some water for the book.

Some days it's great to live with a 4-year-old!

Signs of Spring

Those are my hyacinths popping out of the ground.

Spring is right around the corner!

Naptime

Yesterday afternoon Rachael collected a blanket and a stuffed animal (her usual going-to-bed routine), mumbled something incoherent, climbed in my lap and fell asleep. Too bad for her I'm no good at people napping on me... it lasted about 15 minutes before I put her on the floor. She was so tired, though, that she woke up briefly then fell back asleep.

Ryan is so much better about people falling asleep on him. I take a nap on his shoulder almost every Sunday afternoon for about 20 minutes and he always lets me stay right there. Ah... bliss.

Blog Game

Got this from my friend Jessie...

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! (Though I hope you will!)
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year.
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. I don't even have a clue what it's going to be.
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a homemade gift! It may not be great, but it will be fun!!

If you live in a different state than me, I will mail your item to you.

* * *Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!* * *

After the Rain

On the way to Rachael's ballet class today I saw one of the most striking rainbows I have ever seen in my life. I was sorely tempted to turn around and get the camera gear to take some great shots, because I knew it wouldn't last long, but ballet class wouldn't wait either so off we went. But I am glad that we went to ballet, or else I might have never seen this; and that I always take my point and shoot camera to ballet, because I had a camera in car (which rarely happens).

Visting Mom and Dad

This past week Rachael and I have been visiting my parents in Tremonton. Back in January Ryan booked his last trip to China, which was scheduled to go for most of the month of February. Since Rachael's birthday is right in the middle of February, it seemed inevitable that he would miss it. I found a really great price on airline tickets ($500 for Rachael and I from Lexington!) so I booked tickets for us to go to Utah so we could spend Rachael's birthday with some family. Then, of course, Ryan's trip got canceled just a couple of days before he was scheduled to leave. Having spent the money on airline tickets, Rachael and I went ahead and took our trip.

Another wrinkle was when we discovered my mother would be babysitting my nephew Nicholas for the entire week. He's a cute little boy and I'm glad he was there because I haven't seen him in a few months. This is a picture of my multi-talented mother reading two books to two grandkids at the same time.

These trips are always too short... it seems like we never get to do all the things we want to or visit all the people we want to see, but it's still great to spend a little time with the family.

My Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day Ryan! I love you.

Tagged

My friend Shannon photo tagged me!

These are the rules:

1) Go to the third folder where you store your pictures on your computer
2)Select the third picture
3)Explain the picture
4)No cheating (cropping, editing, etc.)


These are my Tete-a-Tete daffodils blooming in front of our house in Colorado, with the sunset in the background. If you have never grown that particular daffodil, they bloom really early (Feb or Mar) and only grow to 4-6 inches. I love them - I planted some at our house here in KY. Obviously I have not edited this photo. And it was taken with my old Nikon Coolpix camera.

Also I should note that Shannon's photo tag was actually for the 4th picture in the 4th folder, but that was just a random picture of the car I bought that year and not really interesting... so I switched to the 3rd because this picture is more fun.

I'm tagging some of my photo friends: Becky, Carli, and Denisha.

New Windshield Wipers

Because it became apparent after the ice storm that I would need them.

(And new windshield wipers are one of those things that make me say "ahhh... life is good.")

Financial Peace University

Because as much as I would like to ignore it, our budget could really use the help. We have the opportunity to take Financial Peace University classes once a week right now, and although we are only four weeks into the program, I am really impressed with both the program and the changes we have been able to make.

And I'm glad that when it comes right down to it Ryan and I really do see eye to eye on most big picture expenses. It makes things so much easier.

Encouragement

I had an exciting day in Primary. Currently I am filling in as the chorister because we don't have one in Primary, so that keeps me busy. Then last night my first counselor emailed me to say she had a stomach virus and would not be at Primary - the drawback for me is that she was planning to do sharing time. (Honestly, I would rather plan sharing time at the last minute than have her come to church sick. Really!). I still felt like things were kind of under control until my other counselor didn't make it to church, either. So I did singing time, sharing time, and closing exercises all myself. I kind of feel bad for the kids... it's the Sister Ricks show.

I am so grateful for all the teachers that came and our pianist because they were all incredibly helpful and supportive. We have a great bunch of people in Primary and I am so pleased to work with all of them!

Blue Sky and the Car Wash

Ah, finally some nice weather around here. I miss days when the temperature in January would get close to 70. I have to settle for mid-50's around here. But with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky, it will do. I took advantage of the weather and took my salt and road-grime covered car to the car wash and now we are both happy.

The Tree Survived

I wondered if our magnolia tree was going to survive the ice storm. I'm thrilled to see it bounced back - we didn't even lose any major limbs!

Raspberries

Mmmm... my favorite fruit. I found them on sale 2 packages for $5 at meijer and bought six packages. Four are now in raspberry freezer jam, and the other two are on their way to being devoured by Rachael and me.

Good Books

A couple of years ago I read "These is my Words" by Nancy E Turner. It was so fascinating I read the second book, "Sarah's Quilt," and I just recently finished the third book in the group, "The Star Garden."

My favorite was the first one, because I think it is the most compelling story of the three. It's a historical fiction of a woman who lived in the late 1800's and early 1900's, and it is fascinating to see what life was like back then. It's also a great example of never judging a book by the cover; I figured with such rotten grammar for the title there was no way I would enjoy reading it. How wrong I was! It starts with poor grammar but as the narrator's education progresses the writing becomes much better.

Primary Entertainment

Rachael received the honor of being the Spotlight child today in Primary. (Maybe because her mother was easy to chase down.) After the rest of the kids figured out it was Rachael, and all eyes were on her, she pulled a classic three-year-old move and pulled the bottom of her dress up to her chin. We all got to see that she was wearing pink tights today.

It's moments like this when I am proud to be her mother.