Hat Day

Today was "hat day" at school. Tomorrow is the long awaited "pajama day". Abby has been SO excited for tomorrow for weeks!

Something unexpected has happened, however, and so Abby and Halle will not be going to pajama day. Ben has a relative who passed away last week.

What did the girls say when we told them that we needed to go out of town?

"Family is A LOT more important than pajama day!"

"Well said" I thought. What sweet girls!

Gwen's Getup

Before I had kids, I was one those people who would go to the grocery store, see frazzled moms with their "unkept" kids who were dressed in the craziest clothes or costumes, and say to myself, "my kids will NEVER look like that!"

And when I had my first child, whenever we went out in public, she had matching clothes on and was not allowed to wear costumes out unless it was Halloween.

But then I had more kids . . . and my perception changed a little.

Now (and for the last several years) I let my kids pick out their own clothes "most" of the time. And yes . . . sometimes we wear costumes to the store! I actually love it now . . . what a fun phase!

Yesterday, before breakfast, Gwen was already dressed . . . in this! We ran errands, and she liked what she was wearing. I think she will have a great fashion sense when she is older!?!

1 o'clock

We just switched to the 1pm church time.

In the past, I've never liked that time because it interferes with naps.

I NO LONGER feel that way! It was getting SO hard to get everyone ready and out the door by 9am.

Happy New Year to us!

24 Hours?

Gwen was sick first (on Sunday)

The next afternoon (yesterday), Halle was sick.

A half hour later, I was sick!

I called Ben hoping he could come home from work to be the mom . . . but he was laying on the floor in his office sick too.

Luckily Ben made it home . . . but barely . . . I think there may still be something to clean up in our driveway.

Then Austin was sick.

Abby then had to join the sick club too.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

Did I Know I Had Just Met My Future Husband?

(Me, Winnie, Sunshine & Leah in London, January 2000)

Absolutely not!

10 years ago I had just graduated from BYU . . . not married . . . which made me a little old to be single by BYU/Provo, Utah standards (hahaha!). I had just returned from a week long trip to London with some girlfriends. I had just started my first "real" full time job at an insurance company in downtown Salt Lake.

10 years ago TODAY I met Ben

We met at a fireside

He played the piano (impressive)

He had straight teeth (very important)

He was handsome

He was polite

I thought there might have been a connection between us

He wanted to put on a musical fireside featuring HIM, with a stake choir backing him up with"oooh's and aahh's" (too bad, a little too "confident" for me)

I didn't think I would ever see him again . . . and that was okay

Isn't life funny?

Science Fair

Abby brought a paper home from school a few weeks ago about the science fair at her school. Apparently, only kids in 5th and 6th grade "HAVE" to do it. But she really wanted to do it too. She already had her project picked out! Making crystals (sugar rock candy kind thanks toCyberchase!)

She was really nervous about turning in her project, and was really HOPING she would WIN! No such luck this year . . . but she had fun and it was good practice for when she "HAS" to do it in a few years. Actually, she came home last night asking me what she should do for her project next year. Luckily, we have a whole year to think of a good one!

Shout Out for Family Vacation Ideas!

I am looking for fun family vacation ideas! If you have one . . . please let me know!