My Little Diva, Natali

Natali has always danced to the beat of her own drum and it's super funny. She is a crazy, wild, super loving little girl. Lately she's been soo funny with the way she dresses. Usually I try to tame it for school (in fear that some kid will make fun and trample on her little heart) but I've been letting her "create" more and more. Her new thing to do is layers. I'm not sure if it's because I put a tank top under almost all of her shirts (I'm trying to teach her modesty and I remember wearing undershirts) but she doesn't just do it with her tops. Another thing she's been doing is tucking her jeans into her new PINK Uggs she got for Christmas. It is sooo funny! She always loves to accessorize, too. Earrings, gloves, scarves, the works! I love that she has her own sense of style, it is just too cute! Yesterday she told me "I love that I look so pretty all the time" lol. Not only is she cute, but modest! lol. I took some pictures of her cuteness just so everyone could see!

Funny Kids

I was looking through some of my pictures on my computer tonight and I realized what funny kids I have. They have such unique personalities, yet sometimes I swear they are the same person. My sister Amy and I went to the zoo in November and those were the pictures I was looking through tonight. Some of them were just too funny. As tired and frustrated as I get I could never imagine my life without them.
Though I will admit that going out for a "mommy night" with Amy Kelly the other night was much needed and felt just a little too short! ;) When I was leaving Natali asked me where I was going, I told her for a mommy night... Vanni started jumping up and down yelling "no mommy night, no mommy night. You here." lol. I did enjoy not having to break up fights or remind kids to eat during dinner and a movie that wasn't rated G was so nice! ;)

My Heart Will Heal....

I have no comment on the following story that I read when I was just trying to check my email today. My heart stopped beating. My former love has moved on. Though I am madly in love with my husband, this news was still a shock to my system.


Matthew McConaughey is going to be a dad. The actor's publicist Alan Nierob told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the actor and his girlfriend, Brazilian model Camila Alves, are expecting a baby. McConaughey is excited, Nierob said.

"Got some blessed news," the onetime Sexiest Man Alive posted in his online journal Tuesday. "My girlfriend Camila and I made a baby together. It's 3 months growin in her womb and all looks healthy and lively so far. We are stoked and wowed by this miracle of creation and this gift from God, and so excited for the adventure that will come in raising this child, being a mother and a father and shepherding him or her through this life."

McConaughey goes on to say, "Wish us the best, keep us in your prayers, and God bless evolution".

What more can I say? I guess we all have to move on...

I have issues....

I knew the moment we set up our Wii I was in trouble... I just didn't know how much trouble. I guess I'm a little competitive (competition is not a bad thing)and sometimes I may carry it to the extreme (I've played well past midnight so I could beat Bryant's score on a game). I even find myself telling the kids they can go to the park so I can play and not have to share with them. Can you believe that? What kind of mother does that?!
So, to feed my illness today I bought Guitar Hero for our Wii. I can't tell you how bad I wanted to call my friend to see if she would drop off my kids from school so I could run home and play it... Are we seeing my issues?!

Time Out!

This weekend has been crazy. I'm not sure that I spent much time out of my pajamas. lol. Sad, isn't it? Actually, it was nice.
Friday night (I was out of my pjs then) we went to our friends house, the Anderson's, to have dinner and play games with our other friends, the Burroughs. We enjoyed having nachos then playing Guitar Hero and some kareoke game. It was our first time hanging out with either couple but it was so fun! Bry and I had never played Guitar Hero before... Bryant's first attempt he did really super well... I on the other hand, couldn't get it. I sucked. lol. Now I'm on the hunt to buy it for the Wii. Of course everyone has been sold out for weeks! Depressing! lol
Saturday we did nothing. Literally. We got up late (yes!) and then watched Ratatoee. I fell asleep during the movie. We then had lunch and took naps! It was seriously a beautiful afternoon. We were supposed to go to our Ward social on Saturday night but I was much too lazy to get everyone ready. I know, sad, isn't it? So instead we stayed home and played choots and ladders. The kids enjoyed it!
Yesterday we went to church and I started getting this horrible headach so I went home after Sacrement and slept it off... while I was there the Bishop announced that a sister in our ward who was expecting was having some "complications" and asked that our ward family keep her in our prayers. Being the compassionate service leader I knew I'd hear more. So, this sister was 8 1/2 months pregnant and the baby died. Today she had to go in and deliver the baby. My stomach was sick when I heard. I could not imagine ever going through anything like this. Tomorrow I'm supposed to go visit her and see what she will need help with. Her husband is in the military and is away (I'm not sure where to) but was able to come home just for this week. I don't know what to say to this poor lady. I know that nothing I will say will bring her comfort. It's just a horrible situation.
Along with that, another sister in our ward lost her brother suddenly last week and another sister is having a baby on Friday. There is a lot going on!
I am so greatful that our ward is as helpful and close as it is. I feel that at anytime I could call any sister and ask for pretty much anything and she would do it.
Anyway, that's a brief summery of our weekend. Oh, and I'm planning Jess' bridal shower, so if you know of any fun games... Let me know!!!

Report Card time!!!

Even though my children are in elementary school they still get nervous about report cards. It's cute. Well, today the kids came out of school to report they had been given their report cards. Before I could see them they wanted to ensure they would still get to play the Wii even if they were bad. The funny parts to that are 1)Andy hadn't even seen his yet and 2) Natali couldn't read hers. Not to mention 3) I'm not going to let them play the Wii if they are failing in school. lol. After I explained that to them we drove home and Bryant and I looked at their report cards. I was so proud to see that Natali got E's and S's (excellent and satisfactory) and Andy got A's and B's! The thing that made me smile the most? On Natali's report card her teacher commented, "Natali has improved so much. She is a true joy to have in my class. I can see how much she is trying not to talk as much in class". Nice. Nothing like having a chatter box for a daughter!

Another joyful moment of the day... and a tip to anyone with a stucco house... Bryant and I were trying to figure out how to hang up Christmas lights on our house in December and had read online somewhere that using a hot glue gun worked and the glue would just "pop off" when you took the lights down. The tip also said that this especially worked if you lived in a hot climate because the glue would melt in the summer if worse comes to worse. Great! We live in a place that gets to be like 117 on a cool day in July. Out comes the glue gun. Works GREAT! The lights and the garland look beautiful. UNTIL today. So I'm outside waiting for it to "pop off" when I take the decorations down. I don't think that I would call it "popping"... I would describe it more like "sticking". So I peel off what I can without taking the front of our house down and realize that there are a ton of strands of garland sticking in the glue spots. Super. So tonight I'll be out peeling my house off. Clearly the person who gave the tip should have put NOT to use garland! Urg!

Oh, my 2008!!

I can't believe that we are already into the first week of the new year. Time seriously flies. My kids went back to school today. It was sad. I know that's stupid, but I really did enjoy hanging out with them during the day. Last week was busy. We rung in the new year with a family from our ward, playing games and eating yummy food. New Years day was so relaxing. We didn't go to bed until nearly 3 am (yes, I am a bad mom who lets her kids stay up that late) so we all slept in and just hung out. Played the Wii (seriously, that should be a resolution of mine- to stop playing it lol) watched movies, just hung out. We also experienced our first outing to Chucke Cheeses with Amy Kelly, Abby, and the boys. I can't believe how expensive that place can be! But, the kids had fun and we stayed for nearly 4 hours, so... the next day we went to Anthem and went to this awesome park with Amy, Abby, and the gang. It was so fun, the kids loved it! Friday we had the missionaries for dinner and Saturday we went to Prescott to have Christmas with Amy, Allan and the kids. It was nice spending time with Amy's family. Sunday Giovanni became a Sun Beam!! My baby is growing up! ;) He and his little friend Aaron were so excited, it was so cute! Natali and Andy were excited to go into new classes also.
Sunday was an amazing day for me. I love my ward. I really feel so blessed that we found our house and that we go to the ward we do. I love my calling and I love serving the other families in our ward. I have made so many lasting friendships, and that makes it so nice also. So, Sunday I felt was Joseph Smith day at church. lol. It seemed like every ones testimony was about Joseph Smith, we touched on him in SS, and then our lesson in RS was a brief history of Joseph Smith's life. See, I didn't go to seminary, I was inactive from pretty much the time I was 18 until I was 25. I went to church on and off, but I defiantly was not active. There is so much about the scriptures that I don't know. There is so much about the Gospel that I don't know. Bryant is super scripture and church smart. He answers tons of questions in SS and without a doubt almost every Sunday he is thanked for his participation in Priesthood. So, starting from the basics with me is so exciting. I can't wait to study the life and teachings of Joseph Smith and I can't wait to study the B of M in SS.
After church we had a really good Bishop appointment to start the process so Bryant and I can get sealed. Also, we talked about Andy getting baptized. It looks like he will be getting baptized February 2nd.
Already the start to 2008 has been awesome. I hope that everyone else has been having as much fun as us! Happy 2008!!