What is her name?

This past week has been filled with many ups and downs and all came with many emotions. I have been sick, Taylor survived a hike up Mt. Timpanogas, Kenny was put on insulin, and Kelton was home sick for two days this week. You would think that would be enough to fill my time and that in the NyQuil stupor that I have been in I wouldn't have noticed much more than our crazy life. I did notice something else and it could just be the cold medicine talking, but I heard something on the radio this week that has just really bothered me.

To begin with, I am a HUGE Twilight fan. Not huge like I have Twilight posters or clothing or anything like that. I am more like the huge fan that just loves the books and enjoys the movies and has read the books and watched the movies more than one time. So, it kind of ticked me off the other day when I heard a little snip it on the radio announcing that they are having a hard time getting all the actors on board to film the last movie because someone had decided that she is worth more money. The actress who plays Alice thinks that she is worth more money because she has made some other movies since starting in the Twilight series.

Let's break this down and really think about what she is requesting. First of all, I would like to point out that I don't even know your name! Not knowing your name could be because you are a new actress, it could be because I'm getting older and couldn't remember it even if I had wanted to, or it could mean that you just haven't ended up in enough trouble yet to be on the cover of US or People enough to have me notice you. Or, it really could be that honestly all you have done is portray a character from a book that a lot of people love and you did such an amazing job being that character that I just know you as "Alice". But, does it really mean that you should get some outrageous raise just because you did a good job pretending?

Who ever you are, you have already made more money than I will ever make and all you had to do was remember a few lines and get all dressed up and pretend to be a cute vampire with an amazing talent. If we think about the character herself, she doesn't flaunt her money or her power in the books and she spends most of her time helping others instead of focusing on herself. If your main goal is money, how did you ever get into character?

My whole point in all of this isn't to just focus on one actor (even though I did single out whats her face that plays Alice), it is to put this whole thing of what someone is worth into perspective. I know the world isn't fair, but I think it is crazy to pay people tons of money just because they are pretty; can pretend really well; throw, kick, or hit a ball, or whatever else we find entertaining at the time.

The people out there who are really making a difference don't get paid or get paid very little compared to our entertainment industry. They think that every person they help is priceless. They have never thrown a tantrum to get more pay before they will help teach a child how to read. They don't send their agent to negotiate terms before they will help a refugee learn how to prepare food for their family in a new country. It's the nurse that will go out to a child's home and comfort her family while she dies in the middle of the night. It is even the husband and father, who is in the Army, that left his family behind to protect our Country so that I have the freedom to write my opinion.

I may not know the names of all of these people either, but they are not demanding millions of dollars to pretend to be a vampire!

Mothers Day 2010

I know Mother's Day was a week ago, but this is the first chance that I have been able to write about this year and reminisce a little about the other mother's Days that have lead up to this one.

I have been blessed to have been raised surrounded by strong women. They have all had the strength to stand for what they believe in; the strength to be amazing mother's, wives, and work full time; they have done all of this with the strength to look at life and be able to laugh at whatever situation they are dealing with and not let it bring them down.

My Mom has been such an inspiration to me. Even when we were going through some of the worst of times, she could make us laugh and find the good in our trials. The best example of this is when we were staying in the women's shelter down town and there wasn't much for us to do. We would look out the window and people watch and she could tell some of the best stories about the people that were walking or driving by. We could sit there for hours listening to her stories. Every time that I call her when I have had a bad day I am always laughing by the time I get off the phone and life isn't so bad. There are so many more things that I wish I knew how to put into words so that I could accuratly express how much you mean to me and how much I love and appreciate you as my mom.

Even here in this picture she is being hilarious. Earlier she pulled some tissue out of her pocket and it just kept coming, we were all laughing about it. Later, when she came back from a trip upstairs she made sure to come with tissue hanging from her pocket. We all started laughing again and I wish I would have caught her a second later when she was swinging her hips and twirling the tissue around. I have to admit that I couldn't get a picture of that because I was laughing to hard.

This Mother's Day was wonderful!

I was showered with presents first thing in the morning. I got the cutest homemade cards from both Kelton and Taylor and I will tell you what else they gave me in a second. Kenny then gave me a beautiful new jewelry box.

I was able to sing with the Primary children to their mother's in Sacrament Meeting and then got to come home and rest.

Later we went over to my Mom's house for a Mother's Day dinner. It has been a long time since we have had a big family dinner for Mother's day and it was so much fun to have everyone around.

Of course it all started with the debut of number 28. It's really sad that as everyone walked in the door they came straight to Kenny and I to ask about our new car. Does no one else ever buy a new car? I mean to just assume that it would be us, maybe we will throw everyone off and not buy a new car for a few years. Yeah, right :) Anyway, I couldn't help but get the ultimate guy picture with all the men in the family standing around the front of our truck with their heads under the hood. The funny thing is that none of the wives in the house even realized that they were all outside gathered around a truck for so long. They were having so much fun inside catching up and it just wouldn't be normal if the guys hadn't disappeared outside and stood around talking under the hood of a truck.

Three of the four boys that were there. I have no clue where Kelton was, I'm amazed that he wasn't out with the guys with his head under the hood too.

This is my amazing sister, Becca. She's not happy because she didn't want me to take this picture while she was buttering the rolls. Oh well, she looked so good that day and I was afraid that I would forget to take her picture later.

She was way sneaky this year and picked up my boys from school and brought them home and helped them make me some amazing new jewelry. I love it. Taylor made me earrings and Kelton made me earrings and a matching bracelet. I absolutely love them, Thank You!!!

Don't ask why the only picture I got of Chris was the back of her, sorry Chris. You have been a wonderful addition to our family and I couldn't have asked for a better step-mom than you. I have learned so much from you. You are the one that has taught me how to not be so sensitive and to let things roll off my back. You let me know that it was okay to open my heart again because you are not the same person as Mom's ex. I know I wasn't easy to like at first, but I'm glad that we both hung in there because it has been more than worth it getting to know you. Thank you for being so loving towards my family and being a wonderful Grandma to my boys.

This is my uncle Kenny and Aunt Fran. I don't get to see them very often and am so excited when they come and have dinner with us. Fran has always been there and helped out when she could for me. I have been blessed to have an amazing job that I love because of her and I will always remember how she was there for me at my Dad's funeral and when Kenny and I were sealed in the Temple. There have been so many times that she has appeared right when I needed her and provided me so much strength and comfort.

Aunt Fran and Helen. My mom was able to recently reconnect with her childhood friend Ruby. Helen is Ruby's mom and also my mom's godmother. It has been so much fun to have her join us lately for holidays and just to get together for dinner. she is an amazing woman whom I am glad to have as a part of our family.

Somehow, I didn't get a picture of my Aunt Donna. She has alway been there and been a strength to me while growing up. I will never forget doing backwards doughnuts in front of the house I grew up in. Donna is so outgoing and fun to be with. I'm sure none of us will ever forget her yelling at construction workers trying to get their phone numbers for more than one of the nieces.

My only Aunt that was missing was my Aunt Elsie. She is in Colorado with her family and I hope that she had an amazing Mother's Day with her family. I also hope that her daughters also enjoyed their Mother's Day.

It was an amazing day and I'm so glad that it gave me a chance to reminisce about all of the times we have shared and everything that I have learned from each one of you.

Thank You!!!

Hard Work

When our boys were little, they called any yard work "hard work". You would think that if they looked at yard work as hard work that they wouldn't want to help, but they do. They both love to be with Dad outside and help with whatever he is doing.

For the last two Saturday's they have definitely been doing hard work. Yesterday they helped even out our park strip and lay sod. We actually have grass in our front yard and most importantly we have grass instead of weeds in our park strip.

Both Kenny and Kelton had already filled the wheelbarrow seven times with dirt from the park strip and they had a good size pile of weeds that they had dug out. They started to lay the sod and finish evening it out as they went. Look, you can even see two of the trees that we planted in the Fall. I'm still in shock that we did everything right and they made it through the winter.

Another picture of Kenny rolling out the sod. I'm still in shock that we don't have a park strip full of weeds.

The Saturday before they spent the entire day fixing our fence in the backyard. The wind had blown it over about 2 weeks before and this was the first time they could get out there and fix it. I still can't believe the weather we have had. They really did have to wait 2 weeks to fix the fence because it kept raining and snowing. Yes, I said snow and yes we are half way through May. I don't want to hear a word about global warming when I'm dealing with snow in May!!!

All three of them were out there all day working and I couldn't help but sneak some pictures of them cementing in the posts.

Slowly but surely everything is coming along and starting to look really nice. One neighbor was teasing Kenny that he would drive past our house now because it is looking so different. I was thinking, "really, I'm pretty sure we know where we live even though there is grass and not weeds now." However, Kenny really did almost drive past our house on his way home from getting us breakfast this morning. Watch, I'll probably do the same thing tomorrow on my way home from work.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to my men that are willing to do what needs to be done to take care of our family and home.

Number 28

Yes Folks, the Lee family has purchased another vehicle. And, yes this would bring us to our 28th vehicle. After much contemplation, I have come to the conclusion that we have a serious problem. It's not like we're Jay Leno here we don't have tons of money and as much as we would love to collect cars; I have decided that I think we just like to test drive for a year or so. In the corner of the picture you can see the bumper of #25. We have amazingly enough licensed that car three times now and it is almost paid for.

I'm really just writting this because it is such a joke in our family that we have gone through so many cars, but none of us knew how many until Kenny and I sat down the other night and wrote them all down and added them up. We could actually still rememer each car, it's make and model, year, and color. we could even remember if they were sold, used as a trade in, and one was even paid off. We actually kept one car long enough to pay it off. It's amazing I know, I mean, who does that?

Now, for those of you that are curious and wondering how we could manage to average almost 2 new cars for every year we have been married, I will list them here for you. This will include all cars that we have had in our possession whether we took them in as homeless cars or if it was a car that was given (or lent) to us so that I could have a car to get the kids to and from school.

Without further introduction and just for grins and giggles (drum roll please), our cars:

1. 1976 Ford F150 (blue); 2. 1983 Chevy s-10 Blazer (red); 3. 1981 Plymouth TC3 (red); 4. 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (gold); 5. 1990 Pontiac Grand Am (blue); 6. 1987 Ford Mustang GT (Gray); 7. 1995 Geo Prism (green); 8. 1975 Chevy Stepside Pickup (this one I don't remember the color, I think it had a couple colors); 9. 1997 Pontiac Grand Am (green); 10. 1964 Pontaic GrandPrix (pruple); 11. 1976 Chevy Blazer (Black); 12. 1984 Dodge Ram Charger (white); 13. 1982 Chevy Caprice Classic (white); 14. 1994 Ford Taurus SHO (red); 15. 2000 Pontaic Montana (white); 16. 1994 Chevy Suburban (Brown); 17. 1998 Suzuki Bandit (black); 18. 1998 Chevy Malibu (white, thank you Mom); 19. 2002 Plymouth PT Cruiser (gray); 20. 1990 Buick (gold, thank you Erin and Ryan); 21. 2001 Subaru Outback (green); 22. 2002 Subaru Outback Sport (gray); 23. 2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 (red); 24. 2004 Subaru WRX (Siver); 25. 2007 Subaru Legacy (blue); 26. 2005 Chrysler Town and Country (gold); 27. 2008 Subaru Tribeca (gray); 28. 2007 Ford Expediton (We're still fighting over the color, but Kenny insists it is Burgandy).

Does anyone out there know if there is professional help out there for people like us? Or, if you have enjoyed the entertainment over the past 16 years, please don't tell us and I'm sure we will start working on number 29 anytime now :)