Reverse Order

I'm doing things in reverse order tonight. I just checked in for my flight to NYC (via New Jersery, via Philadelphia) but I haven't packed a single thing. Except for my chapstick, that is. I made sure to pack that. That seems backwards to me (checking in before packing) but evidently that's how it works.

On that note, I won't be blogging for the next few days since I'll be doing the "sisters weekend in New York" thing with Erin and Mary. I'm taking my camera, so I'll be sure to post when I get back.

I feel like Sadie from Big Business.

I can't wait to say 'keep the change' to the taxi driver.

dad's day

that's what I like to call it, I guess. A special day, JUST for my dad. A couple of years ago, our family deemed it "Steven Lehnhof Memorial Service Day," which I like too. It's the 12th year anniversary of my father's passing, and our family decided to make it a service day. Today, my family is stocking up supplies to deliver to a local women's shelter. I wish I could be 'home' with my mom to take flowers to his gravesite, but know that isn't always an option. Besides the fact that she's at the bedside of my grandmother who's sick, and worrying about my brother, who's recovering from an accident in Idaho. That's just exactly what Dad would have been doing if he were here, so it's fitting. I am forever grateful for my father's influence on me and others. He is and always will be my one true hero.

Burch Boys playing B-Ball

It's about time I posted some basketball pics, I suppose, since their last game is next week. The boys really had a great time with this, and I can honestly say it's my favorite of all the elective community youth sports organizations. It's inside (warm), it's quick (less entertaining I have to do for the girls), and they love it! Lucky for us, we got Bret and Tate on the same team with 3 or 4 of their friends, and their coaches were friends of Dougs, so it worked out great!! If you're going to put them in sports, this is an ideal setup.

awwwwww....

Upon returning from 'the gym' this morning (that is to say, Curves), this is what I stumbled upon in my bed. I was hoping the lil' dude wouldn't wake up while I was gone, but apparently that was too much to hope for.

I'm off to the school, where I'm feeding 50 teachers lunch today in the form of Little Caesar's pizza, salad, lemonade and cake. Here's hoping there's pizza remaining by the time the teachers arrive and after Abby's been forced to look at it for 20 minutes.

In other, more serious news, my brother Brian was in a pretty bad skiing accident yesterday at Targhee and is in the hospital in I.F. with some broken ribs and a collapsed lung. It sounds like he's going to be alright, but is in a lot of pain and could, of course, use all the prayer we can muster.

Thanks friends.

Scouting Hawaiian Style

Didn't we JUST have a pack meeting?

Well, last night was the Blue and Gold Banquet - Hawaiian style. Bret earned his Wolf badge and while disappointed that he didn't get to be turned upside down again, he was pleased to present me with another accessory to sew onto his uniform. Here are a few of the pictoral highlights.

searching for stars...

Bret and Tate both performed in their school talent show last week.

Here are the glamour shots. Bret Tickling the Ivories (so to speak, since they're only plastic keyboard keys) Tate strummin' his fiddle.

The distinguished (?!?!?) pair.

in the dark...

With as much TV as I watch, you would think that I would have had the slightest inkling that the RACE all-stars premiered last night. BLAST!

Go figure that Rob and Amber came in first. I know most of you despise them, but I've loved them from day ONE. (back on Survivor, that is.) I don't necessarily hope that they win this time (since I'm sure they've got plenty of dinero), but I really enjoy the flava' they bring to the table.

My money's on Kentucky this time, all the way.

Good luck Dave n' Mary. Hope you ain't got nothin' 'gainst gettin' sneaky with Romber, cuz yur' gonna have to, if yur gonna win. Okay then.

carefree, the way to be...

That pretty much sums Abby up in a word. She's the most free-spirited of all our children.

This picture adequately illustrates that, so I thought I'd post it, since I haven't downloaded many of our other recents pics in a while. I'll catch up soon, I promise. Happy Saturday...

luv, luv, luv

I guess this is how we spell love around here:

My belated V-day post. Doug spent the evening at mutual serving the YW dinner, and I spent it carpooling scouts across the green earth. So romantic, me with the smelly cub scouts, Doug with the (fill in the blank) young women. Thankfully he thought ahead, and we celebrated Tuesday night with 1/4 of the crowd at Red Lobster.

a little BAND AID TOOL always feels better...

I just finished these two color/damage repair pics for my Photoshop class. I thought they were worthy of a post. I had great fun with them. They're old pictures a friend of mine (in her 80's I think) from London let me borrow and fix up for her. She was a bit skeptical when I told her I could make them like new. I think she'll be pleasantly surprised.

Color Repair BEFORE:

Color Repair AFTER:

Damage Repair BEFORE:

Damage Repair AFTER:

I had a lot of fun with it. Oh the places you can go with Photoshop!

I've been officially tagged as the overachiever in the class, since I'm almost 1/2 way through the semester-long class and it's only been in session 2 weeks. Maybe I should have signed up for the Illustrator class while I was at it! Next semester, that's for sure!

Dragons on Farms

by one, Bret Steven Burch.

Once there was a girl who's name was Lucy. Lucy liked dragons she thought they were real. Since Lucy lived on a farm, she had a lot of chores. One day she went out ot pick the tomatoes. When she saw a green tomato she was surprised she called, "Pop." Faster than he had ran he ran right over to Lucy, "what in the tarnations is that" he said looking at the green thing.

Small little Lucy siad, "I've read a dragon book and it shows a picture of an egg." "well" said Pa "Lets check it out later." Every day Lucy goes out to the egg. One morning she woke and found a small green dragon. Lucy thought and thought about a name for the dragon. When she finnaly got a good name it was lunch time. Lucy brought the dragon upstairs for lunch. Mom was surprised to see Lucy with a dragon. "Mom "said Lucy "this is Pete, I found him in my room this morning." "I bet you're the only one who has a pet dragon." "You're letting me keep him" said Lucy excited. "I guess" replyed Ma. Lucy ran and gave Ma the biggest hug she ever had before. When Pa found out he wasn't quite happy. As Pete got older he got bigger. The next morning he did something very, very, bad he went on a trip. ALONE. Now Pete did not know where he was. He saw a form that looked strange. He walked toward it. When he got to the thing which appeared to be a mountain.

When he fout out he was lost he growled, "RRRRRGG." When he saw a claw sticking out of the mountain. Now a head was sticking out of it. A spiky back popped out it was Godzilla!!

Pete flew as fast as he could to the barn to escape the fierce monster. When Lucy saw Pete she knew he was in trouble. Then Lucy screamed, "PPPPPPAAAAAA." Pa came running out. The monster was in the yard now Pa asked Lucy, "is that Pete" "no" said Lucy. "That's Godzilla" "what's he doing here is ma frying something" asked Lucy "yep" replyed Pa "the fish I caught this morning." Lucy was thinging about a plan. Five minutes later she came up with a plan. Lucy called "Pa, Pete." Pa and Pete came over to Lucy. Lucy said "I got a plan but Ma's got to give me the fish." Ma didn't want to but to get a monster out of her yard she would do anything. Lucy told Pa and Pete her plan "wait" asked pa "I got a plan, RUNNN!!" "Ok now Pete, here's the fish fly around the monster and drop it in the ocean on the other side of our house, ok" "grrr" growled Pete. Pete went flying around Godzilla and lead him to the ocean and threw the fish into the water. The large menace went to the water. Pete must have really threw it the monster never returned. Now Pete is wordwide in newspaper he's known as the World Saver. The next day Lucy saw Pete on the news, the reporter said "Looks like a magical day Godzilla attacks farmers - dragon saves them. We asked Lucy what happened to Godzilla" "well" relyed Lucy "She problibly lost her breath and sank."

When Lucy went to school she brought Pete with her for show and tell. Everybody was crowding Lucy. Lucy said "please let me in. I want to play with im." "Can I play?" "Sure" said Lucy. Then the whistle blew.

To be continued....

Parfait: What a Way to Start the Day!

This is my new favorite treat for, say...ANY time of the day. I don't know where I was before (probably in the drive thru at McDonalds waiting to PAY $1.00 for one) but I finally realized that I could make them myself. I MUCH prefer my better cheaper variety. I got Doug hooked on them too! What an exceptionally healthy alternative to ice cream. Complete with Lite Vanilla Yogurt, frozen blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and of course Granola. I look forward to this breakfast/lunch/dinner/and/or snack everyday!

Kyle sports a new Style

This is one of the last pictures Liz took of Kyle before she left us on Saturday (sniff sniff) for Utah. (look closely for the mohawk, it IS and ISN'T easy to miss ?!?!?)He always had a special hairstyle after she bathed him. I'm sure he misses it, since I do nothing more than dab his head with a towel and then let it airdry in 47 different directions. This is also one of my favorites of her with Kyle. They had a special little bond. I'm sure he'll go on his mission one day to Brazil and use all that Portuguese she taught him.
We miss you Belle!
I made a lil' video of some pictures of her and the kids during her few months with us. CLICK HERE to see it.