Pictures~

A good friend of mine took these pictures of Lindsay and I a few months ago. I finally took the disk to Wal Mart and got some developed. Linds was full of energy during the photo shoot, she was very mischief and silly! I think that is why these turned out so cute!

I got a 5X7 of this one...

.......and of this one. (she was totally attacking me!)

And a 8X10 of this one. Gorgeous!

My fun weekend with my big bro~

This last weekend my brother and his daughter came to visit. We had the greatest time. My brother is a super-cool DJ and the music director of a radio station in San Francisco (the same alternative radio station that we listened to as kids!) and also runs a club on Thursday nights. He deals with multiple record labels and rubs elbows with the coolest bands (Blink 182, Killers, Green Day just to name a few). He has hooked us up with so many concert tickets through out the past 10+ years! Anyone from Brittney Spears (way back when she was cute and talented) to Sting to 10,000 Maniacs to Billy Joel and Elton John! My brother lives the crazy, busy rock-n-roll lifestyle and is incredibly good at what he does, so we were honored to have him come to our house along with his 13 yr. old daughter for the long weekend. It was a nice time for my girls to hang out with their favorite uncle and cousin. On one of the days we went to Park City to hang out and have dinner. It was really fun, but too cold for Aaron! He's used to the awesome Bay Area weather.

We had a great time and miss him already! Here are a few pictures from our fun weekend:

Me and my cool rock-n-roll brother, Aaron. We sorta-kinda look alike, eh?

Aaron and the girls.... shortly before they left for the airport.

Lindsay loves taking pictures... so she took this lovely one of me!

I have no eyebrows...

Girls waiting for dinner to come. We ate at the "Main St. Pizza & Noodle" in Park City... no joke, our bill for the 8 of us came to $100! Yea for Park City!

Aaron helping Lindsay with some coloring... what a great uncle!

Random Bear-Bench~ Park City

The girls and their cousin~ Park City

I've been Tagged:

Tagged
The rules of this meme are to answer the questions, tag 5 other people and post their name, then leave them a message on their blog letting them know that they have been tagged...

*10 Years Ago?
10 years ago I had two children, Chloe,6 and Haley, 2. We lived in Loomis, CA in our cute, little 1100 sf house. Gene worked at Trimms Scaffolding and I stayed busy working in Chloe's class and I think I was in the YW's presidency....soon I was called into the Primary presidency. Later on I was pregnant with Natalie who was born in '99. Those were some really good times!

*5 Things On My To Do list?
Sew duvet covers for 2 blankets.
Paint Nat and Lindsay's bedroom.
Finally get a million pictures developed from our digital camera.
Go through Lindsay's dresser and closet.
Go and get the book that is on hold for me at the Spanish Fork library.

*3 Bad Habits?
Pick at/ bite my nails.
Talk way too fast.
Check my e-mail way too many times through out the day.

*Places I have Lived?-
California: Livermore, Vallejo, Roseville, Loomis, Rocklin
Rexburg, ID
Payson, UT

*Things Most People Don't Know About Me?
I am addicted to the 'Today Show'.
Someday *soon* I want to be involved with some kind of animal rescue/ bird rescue program.
I used to belong to Greenpeace!
I voted for Clinton in '92.
I hate my hair.
I miss CA..... just kidding, you already know that! :)
When we move back to CA in 2 years, we want property with horses!

Okay, these are the people I tag:

Danee Dobie
Angel
Holly
Marie
Jeri

A couple of REALLY good movies:

The Bucket List- A very good movie... go out and see it!! Wonderful acting, hilarious at moments, will make you cry....


27 Dresses- Fun girls night out flick! Very funny, made us all laugh... we are all still talking about it... about how great it was!! Fun movie, a very good romantic comedy!


That's it for now. We really don't get out much!

Funeral Services for President Gordon Bitner Hinckley

Gene and I had the opportunity to go into Salt Lake on Friday to attend both the viewing and the funeral for President Hinckley. On Friday we got to Salt Lake and checked into a room at the Howard Johnson Express and then walked over to the conference center. We got in line right at 5 pm and didn't view the prophet until 10 pm! We stayed outside in the FREEZING night air for 3 hours, then waited 2 more inside the conference center. It was worth every moment to be one of the over 60,000 people (my estimate) to view our prophet. It only took 10 seconds to walk past his open casket, but those are 10 seconds I will remember the rest of my life. It was very emotional and very special. He was still wearing his glasses, which was one of the things I remember most for some crazy reason. Anyhow, 5 hours waiting in line for the viewing. We got back to our lovely little hotel and went to bed (no dinner, no food, nothing... but oh well!) We got up the next morning at 5 am to get ready to get in line for tickets to the funeral. We got over to Temple Square around 6:20 am and got in line. At around 7 am they moved us all into the Tabernacle where we waited until 9 am. We were handed our tickets and then we all traveled across the street to the conference center where we waited around 45 minutes outside. We were let into the conference center a bit before 10 and or so where we waited for the funeral to begin.

I forgot to bring my camera on Friday night, but I did bring it on Saturday, so below are a few photos documeting our day.

I just want to tell you all that these past 2 days were ones I will never forget. To mourn the loss of our prophet with so many others was very special. To attend the funeral with his beloved family was an honor. Every second that Gene and I had to wait was well worth it.

The conference center at 6 am.

People lining up for tickets to the funeral. Some people got there at 4 am to get in line early. There really was no need for that, everyone got a ticket. No one had any idea how many people would be in line for tickets....

These guys were handing out hot chocolate to everyone! People were so kind and loving, even at 6 am and in freezing cold weather. Thankfully there was no snow.

The Salt Lake temple at 6:30 am.

We couldn't wait to get into the Tabernacle.

Lining up to enter the Tabernacle. Can you see all those people?

People, people everywhere.

By around 7 am they led us into the Tabernacle where we stayed for about 2 hours. It was so nice to come into a warm, cozy building after being out in the freezing, early morning air.

In the warm tabernacle.

Every flag in Utah has flown at half-staff this entire week. Now that the funeral is over, I think they go back to flying high in the sky. It was actually a very comforting feeling whenever I saw a flag at half-staff. We were all mourning together and also paying tribute to our sweet Prophet.

Thousands of people... everywhere. The conference ushers were so sweet and kind to everyone, at one point we were all being led down some stairs and a kind man stood to the side telling us: "Be careful of the steps! Watch your footing." Even after dealing with thousands of people for the past 3 days, they were all so helpful, curtious and Christ like.

Waiting to go in. This was around 9:30 am or so. Lucky Door 13, that's the one we got to go in.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir warming up. Hey Danee, I saw Tim Wright!

A poor photo, I know. Just wanted to show you the program and the ticket. Gosh, what an honor it was being there.

A view of the choir warming up. Also, a shot of just some of the most beautiful flowers ever. While we were in the conference center waiting to view the prophet, (Friday night), we watched around 15 people setting up the flowers, arranging them, and putting things together. They had a lot of work ahead of them by the time we left at 10 pm.

The conference center filling up. It never was 100% full, but very close.

We stayed in the conference center and watched some of the grave side service. It was being shown on the big screens.

One of several helicopters flying overhead covering the funeral.

What an amazing experience.

Thank you President Hinckley

I was saddened by the news of our beloved prophet's passing last evening. Our family was in the middle of scripture study when Gene's brother called with the news. I had been dreading that moment for a long time now. He was 97 and we all knew he couldn't last forever! President Hinckley has been the president of our church my entire marriage. I have learned so much from him about being a better wife and mother.
He was "the youth's prophet". I have been in young women's for so many years and President Hinckley has guided these kids and has meant so much to them. I feel honored that I was able to attend both conferences a year ago and hear him speak and see him as he waved to the audience with his cane!
Several years ago after Sister Hinckley passed away, I attended a "Time out for Women" in Sacramento and the Hinckley sisters were there to talk about their mother and father. It was such an intimate setting as we were able to ask them questions about their parents and were privileged to hear how their lives were growing up with such incredible parents.
It is comforting knowing that these two amazing people are together once again.

But the world will surely feel the loss of this amazing man, I know I will.

I thank him for being a source of comfort and guidance in my life and the life of my family. I thank him for the incredible work he did throughout the world.

Today my high school daughter and all of her friends are going to school dressed in their "church clothes" in honor of President Hinckley.

Ahhhhhh, glorious sun!

It is a beautiful sunny day. Cold, crisp and not a cloud in the sky! This morning I got up and saw the sun and instantly felt happy and alive! Gene and I got bundled up (it was probably 20 degrees or so outside) and took our dog Jack out for a nice, long walk, something we haven't been able to do in months. I kept lifting my face up to the sun to get all the vitamin D I could get, and Gene teased me since I had a headband on to cover up my ears and sunglasses on, plus a big ol' sweatshirt and gloves.... I told him I was channeling all that vitamin D in through my face and then it traveled to every part of my body.

I have been suffering with some major seasonal depression. Today has helped a ton, also going out to a late movie last night with some girlfriends helped, too! But man! I feel so good today!

Tennis anyone?!