Always behind...

I am home sick today from church.  BAD, head and chest cold.  Sick of watching tv and not being able to taste anything and coughing like a bear.  So, guess I will resort to adding a post.  Don't have a clue how behind I really am but suffice it to say that "I am still alive, still getting older and onery".  Could be that time just flies by and watch my kiddos grow up and graduate from COLLEGE?????

And notice her wearing her BYU colors in this picture!!

It really was a great day and we were very proud of our little red-head.  But where did these days go?

Fairy Princess

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who loved Beanie babies and the neighbors cat and anything dragonish.  Then she grew up and left home and wanted to go to the  BYU ball.  So her mom made her a pretty dress and this handsome friend showed up...next thing we know she'll be bringing home -hey, let's not EVEN go there.

More of this....

Happy Mamie holding Claire....well, one of us is happy....

How big is Claire?

Emma stacking plastic glasses....wow, that is one talented girl.  And she can do it really fast...just don't get thirsty.  And tell the maid to get with it-that kitchen is a mess.

You know taking my girls shopping is always an adventure.  Trying on white trash hats that were on clearance just couldn't be denied...and now she is passing that wonder onto her young uns.

Okay, okay, this and that...

Here is the cat getting a ride from her bff...BELLE.  It didn't last long.

 Christmas day with the goof troop...look everybody is smiling.

And then we went  to the airport to pick up Jason, (no, that's an inside joke...)

our other cuties who flew in from KS.  Boy were their arms tired.

We opened presents that night .  Did you see those stripey socks?

My little pony lives on.....and on....

Rachel contemplating something...maybe those high heeled gold shoes....hmmmm.

Then there is Em in her poptart cat pjs.  What a cutie.

Here are the pie eaters in the kitchen making messes.  Hey what is Christmas without a pie or two and then messes to go with?

Getting through the gloomies.

Let us just say that January is NOT one of my favorites.  Growing up in Idaho, it was snowy and really cold and wickedly winter. When we lived in Florida, there was just no such thing.  When Christmas was over, we packed up our light sweaters and then played outside.
We went to the Beach.  We went to the park.  We went to the BIG parks when Family came.  We had lots of family come too....winter in Florida was pretty enticing.  We took all to the orange groves to pick the orange sweetness right off the tree. And then there was the Strawberry festival.  Strawberry fields everywhere and a fair full of street vendors selling shortcakes slathered with authentic shortbread, mashed strawberries, and real whipped cream.  It was heaven in a styrofoam dish.
We biked all over the small bay town, weaving in and around lush fields of tomatoes and citrus.  It was no secret why Florida was such a "snow bird" place.   We learned to tolerate them...those "snow birds".  We just figured out how to live around them.  Our little town increased in numbers of nearly 10,000 when they showed up in late November.  I learned to never grocery shop on Monday morning because of the white haired traffic, and always wait until nearly 7 to dine out to avoid the "early bird" special gang.  And I learned to bite my tongue with so many grandmas around to "help" me raise my children.  There was no limit to the advice I got.
We loved our life there.  I loved the January sunshine so sparkly and peaceful.  I could sit out on the deck and watch the kids swing and just soak up the bug free, low humidity wonderfulness.  But in the back of my mind, I would wonder if we would ever move west.  I saw myself sitting by the fire with a great book, watching the snow coming down.  I didn't see myself, hating the gray days and wishing for a little sunshine.   So, this is a post of reality.  There is no perfect life.  There is no perfect place.  Better just learn to love where you are.
And oh, yes, go and make a cup of hot chocolate.  The weather man says snow.