Dear Jimmy,

Dear Jimmy,
Whenever Lucas does this face I laugh out loud because it reminds me so much of you. When I think of you, I get a mental image much like this. It is as if you are trying not to smile or something and you do this with your mouth and your nostrils flare. The flaring nostrils must have something to do with that sixth sense you both have for locating ANY sugary snack in the house.
Your adoring sister,
Lisa Marie

10 on Thursday: childhood memories

10 favorite childhood memories

1. The drunk guy named Walker who walked his horse down our street once a year, letting it drink from his can of beer. My dad would always go out and engage him in conversation because he thought the horse was such a beautiful Morgan. Here Dad is riding one of Uncle Ross's horses.

2. Getting excited every chance I had to go to Jayne Weight's hair salon to get my hair done. I was fascinated with her shampoo bowl and the sprayer that could spray anywhere. Before I had my license, I cut her hair once.

3. Winning the 3-wheeler from the sports talk radio show when I was nine years old and trading it in for a 4-wheeler. I was in the bathtub and Jimmy kept knocking on the door, telling me an old guy wanted to talk to me on the phone. My parents were away and I thought it was a trick to get me out of the bathroom. When I finally got on the phone, the guy said they were going to put me on the air to announce that I won and they wanted me to act surprised. My kids tease me now and call me "the jackpot mom" because I win whenever I enter a drawing at school events, work functions, Chuck E Cheese, basketball games, you name it.
4. Hiking to the top of Mt Timp with the Weight family and other neighbors. We would race to see who could get to the top first.

5. Playing mom to Laura and Nate when I was off track. I would do their hair, get them dressed, and walk them to Maverik for a treat. Mom was PTA president at the junior high and it was not on the track system.

6. Skiing at Sundance on the weekends. I loved that we had the opportunity to go skiing at so many different places when I was growing up.

7. Going to Hamburger World for Family Home Evening. I loved that place and would get so excited about going there.

8. Going to the BYU barber shop and throwing pennies into the fountain at the Wilkinson Center. I loved making wishes. I also enjoyed getting jaybreakers there.

9. I hated getting shots. I couldn't stand the smell of a hospital or doctor's office. When it was time for me to get my kindergarten immunizations, Mom didn't tell me where we were going. But when we got there I recognized the clinic and ran off. I remember Mom chasing me through the parking lot. It is ironic that I married a man who wanted to be a doctor.

10. The house at 536 West. My family moved in when I was 6 months old and moved out six months before I was married. There were a lot of kids in the neighborhood and it was a great place to grow up.

10 on Tuesday

10 inventions that have made my life easier

1. The Wheel. Isaac says, "Many people think the wheel is the most important invention."
2. Cell Phones. I do not use mine very often, but there is peace of mind knowing someone can get a hold of me in an emergency.
3. Hair Color. Think of how boring life with be with most people having mousy brown or gray hair.
4. Internet. Thanks Al Gore! I get countless delicious recipes offline several times a week.
5. Airplanes. Having not lived by family for 10 years, it is great to see them even if it is only on occasion.
6. Digital still and video cameras. As a family we have a lot of fun looking at pictures and home movies.
7. Cordless Phones. It makes housecleaning so much less painful to be on the phone while doing it. I can't imagine being tied down near a phone jack.
8. Front Loader Washing Machine. I am able to get large amounts of very dirty clothes well cleaned quickly.
9. Debit Cards. It is not too hard to remember how time consuming writing checks is. Many people still do it at my grocery store and it seems like I am waiting FOREVER for them to fill in the check. I am grateful I can just swipe my card and be on my way
10. Treadmill. It is a very rare day when I am able to go anywhere by myself. Having the chance to to burn off some calories and steam in my own home is amazing.

Our new Home

This is where we will calling home a month from today. We will be here for two years. I am very excited to move to Indiana and overwhelmed with all that I have to do this next month to have a successful move.

The weather last week

The size of these rain drops were unbelievable.

Last week started off with beautiful weather then essentially torrential rain,

then snow,

and a beautiful sunny Mother's day. Ariel was fascinated with all the change and continued to venture outside when nobody else would.

10 things I learned from my mom

1. Importance or desire to look nice. My mom always wore dresses with her hair and make-up done.
2. Desire to be a stay at home mom. The role of an excellent homemaker always looked like a worthy career and lofty goal.
3. How to fold towels nicely.
4. The love of travel.
5. The importance of family, making it a priority by devoting everything to it.
6. Documenting my family history through journals and photos.
7. How to sew.
8. Develop talents and hobbies and have projects to stimulate the mind. Sometimes I have found myself in the middle of something big and crazy like sanding, caulking, priming and painting the exterior of my house with two little boys under foot. I think, my mom has done crazier things. She wired our basement. I can do this.
9. Goal to be a gospel scholar like her.
10. Where there is a will, there is a way. She supported me in any activity that I had a strong desire to do, i.e. skiing, snowboarding, hair school, sewing, semester abroad in La Canada, getting a college degree.