Winter Weather Advisory

i LOVE living in a place that experiences all four seasons. fall is by far my favorite, followed by spring and summer.  and even winter has it's perks - white Christmas's, sledding, snowmen, hot chocolate, bundling up to go outside and snuggling together inside.  i really enjoy it all.   

that is... until i read something like this warning from the national weather service, issued to our area for the next several days:

"... CRIPPLING WINTER STORM EXPECTED TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY...

* ACCUMULATIONS... SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF OF 12 TO 18 INCHES ARE LIKELY. LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE.

* WINDS... WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWEST AND INCREASE TO 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH ON TUESDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THIS MAY CAUSE WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. 

* IMPACTS... EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS FROM THE HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATION AND EXTENSIVE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW COULD LIMIT TRAVEL FOR DAYS.  BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW AS WELL AS AN INCREASED RISK OF DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES DUE TO THE ICE ACCUMULATION WILL LAST INTO WEDNESDAY.  

*PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THE RAPID ACCUMULATION OF SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTREMELY DIFFICULT... IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY... MAKE SURE TO EXERCISE CAUTION. BEGIN YOUR TRAVEL WITH A TANK FULL OF GAS... AND CARRY A WINTER STORM KIT WHICH INCLUDES A SHOVEL... FLASHLIGHT... CELLPHONE... AND BLANKETS OF EXTRA WARM CLOTHING."

let's hope it clears up enough that the girls and i will survive when dan leaves on thursday, for five days in new orleans! 

Today Is Dallin's Birthday

he would be 26.
and i miss him every single day.

we've kind of made it a tradition to celebrate dallin and my dad's lives by doing things they loved on their birthday.  my mom made a list of things that dallin enjoyed or that remind us of him.  feel free to join us in remembering him, but more importantly, in enjoying and celebrating this life we've been given, just like dallin would be doing if he were here. 

Ways to remember Dallin:
-have a Pina Colada or Purple cow
-serve someone/reach out to someone who needs a friend/remember someone
-play a game (like Rummikub or Crazy Rook)
-throw a frisbee
-tell someone a story and don't leave out ANY details
-volunteer at the Happy Factory, or, volunteer somewhere else
-listen to cello music, or, listen to the song Pachelbel's Canon
-say "I love you" and hug someone (but not awkwardly!)
-watch Nacho Libre or Finding Nemo
-attend the Temple
-eat Hawaiian Haystacks
-make a sandwich with everything on it, especially red onions
-think about him, look at pictures of him
-SMILE!

when i think about how much Dallin accomplished and how he influenced so many people in the 23 years he was on the earth, i am humbled.  he was an incredible friend and brother and example.  i am grateful we can be together after this life, reunited as a family.  i like to think he's cheering me on - "come on marie, you can do it!" 

Dallin - We miss and love you.  Happy Birthday. Love, Your Sister

Proudest Moment Yet

 

{rr photography june 2010 - she's looking up at me.  one of my favorite photos ever.  }

madison was a flower girl at kamber's wedding.
it was a big deal for her. and me.
i wasn't sure if she'd walk down the aisle by herself.
but she did.
and i was so proud. so, so proud.

yesterday topped it.
she walked up slowly and sat with dangling little legs and hands grasping the edge of the chair.
a little self-conscious smile curled up in the corners of her mouth.
my heart was probably pounding as fast as hers.
and then, after weeks of practicing, it was finally time.
she walked to the podium, climbed the steps, pulled down the mic, and said to everyone in the primary room:

"my favorite scripture story is in the Book of Mormon.
it's when Jesus appears to the Nephites, and asks the children to come to Him.
then He gives them a blessing, and angels surround them.
this story helps me know Jesus loves me too.
in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." 

unprompted. unaided.
then she walked calmly back to her chair
and turned around with a big grin,
waiting for mom and dad's seal of approval.
i gave her the biggest smile and thumbs up i could.
on the way home from church i got to explain happy tears.

my little girl, just a few weeks into being a new sunbeam, was willing and confidant and brave.
she's growing up and i'm in awe as i sit back and watch who she is becoming. 
i am one proud mama.

Pillow Fight

 every night after dinner madison asks, "what are we going to do that's fun tonight?".  we let her think of an idea and having a pillow fight was the winner.  the girls were knocked to the floor over and over again and couldn't stop giggling.  madison could hardly stand up; she thought it was so funny.

check out the ever growing baby bump.  i'm afraid it looks much larger in person and while standing.  cheers for being half way done though!

 madison ambushed dad.

 and dad retaliated.  look at that concentration.  

somehow grace got buried in the mix - just her feeties sticking out.

and she wasn't so happy about it.

(it was actually really funny - poor girl)

tonight i am grateful for a husband who:

makes it a priority to eat dinner, at the table, as a family

eats what is served even when a new recipe doesn't quite pan out

feels it's as important as i do, that our girls eat a healthy, well balanced meal and try new things

gets down on the ground and plays with his girls

motivates us to be better friends and neighbors by reaching out 

bathes the girls, gives eye drops and steroids, brushes teeth, reads books, scriptures and has family prayer with them, even when i'm not there to help 

and then sings primary songs and puts them to bed

waits up for me to come home from 4 hour presidency meetings (it was 12:30 am) 

because he wants to make sure i'm ok

pillow fights are just the beginning of how good it is around here.

Nap Time

** it does a body good **

AZ Christmas Break

***once again i'm behind. it's now been four months since we traveled to AZ so this will have to do***

after a loooong day of traveling we finally arrived in AZ and got to spend 10 days there visiting friends and family.  the girls were so excited to see grandma and grandpa skinner and their aunts and uncles!  it makes me feel lucky to have married into such an awesome family - not everyone has it so good!  we headed to dan's parents house and the girls were all set to open another slew of presents.  they were given such cute clothes, disney princess barbies, books and stuffed animals, littlest pet shop animals, more dress up clothes and jewelry, and that's only what i can remember off the top of my head. it was like christmas morning all over again for them and they got spoiled - to put it lightly. (thank goodness we brought an empty duffel bag with us to take all the goods back home in. :)   

madison even scored her very own marc jacob's skirt from aunt lindsay. 

we especially enjoyed the blue skies and sunny weather and made it a point to spend plenty of time outside.  grandma and grandpa skinner's new trampoline helped with that.

one of the cutest things ever was when grandpa skinner wanted to take the girls to build-a-bear to pick out their very own stuffed animals.  we left the four of them (g&g and the girls) alone in the store and came back at the end to see what the they had chosen.  apparently grace knew immediately which outfit she wanted and named her dog princess.  it was attached to her hip for weeks after this trip!

 

madison and grandma working hard on the "birth certificate" or something like it.  she chose a rabbit, dressed like a fairy, with red sparkly shoes and named her dorothy. :)

the finished products. 

we celebrated new years eve playing games and i think i might have fallen asleep early.  new years day, we drove out to usery mountain park for lunch and some hiking.  it was chilly but we chuckled seeing people bundled up with scarves and gloves and big jackets.  if only they they knew how cold it felt in MO... :)

our annual pass to the phoenix zoo hadn't expired so we ventured there one day and you can't beat free.  it was perfect weather too!  grace loved brushing the goats (her choker is actually a candy necklace) and hugged a bunch of them on the way out saying "i think this one needs a hug too!".

madison showed off her milking skills and knew exactly what she was doing since we saw our land lord's cow get milked twice a day for three years, while living lehi.  

a trip to the zoo would not have been complete without a ride on the carousel.  grace was in heaven.

not pictured but worth remembering:

*hannah and chris flying down to visit for a few days.  we went to nielson's frozen custard, ned's crazy subs, visited with shane and kamber, had a cousins night at g&g farnsworths, played games, and had so much fun.

*we met for lebaron family pictures where 80 something of the 95 people were present.  it was fun to see how much the family has grown.  

*while we were getting ready for pictures i had a coughing fit and felt something pop.  it ended up being my tailbone and it was excruciating!! it put a damper on the trip for sure and every time i coughed after that i felt like an old lady.  i tried narcotics for the pain and they made me sooo sick to my stomach.  diagnosis - probably a fracture and nothing fixable but i did carry around a donut to sit on for a few weeks. four months later...it still hurts!

*it happened to be our 7th anniversary while we were in AZ so after family pictures we took advantage of having willing babysitters and headed to the cheesecake factory.  dan didn't love what he ordered and i could hardly eat from being in so much pain from my tailbone, and madison was up during the night with a stomach bug.  it was an eventful anniversary to say the least but it's fun to look back on and laugh.

*one night we gathered with the woffindens and miner's for dinner and catching up.

*we attended Monument ward in lehi both sundays and it was SO GOOD to see everyone.  i wish we had been able to spend more time visiting with everyone there. i was also surprised to see how much it really felt like home still.

*we had an adult night out with dan's family and left the girls with their favorite babysitter - brittley.

*we enjoyed some quality mexican food - tia rosas, costa vida, and fili bertos.

*we went to the temple with dan's parents, grandparents, sister lindsay, and dan's uncle (who was also my dad's young men's president) performed the sealings.  it was such a sweet experience and one of my favorite things from the trip.

*the other best part of the trip was having an early ultrasound and finding out we're having a little boy.  it was fun to share that family and get a head start on the shopping.  a huge thanks to aunt diana and uncle eric for making it possible!

after 12 days of fun we flew back to the winter weather waiting for us in MO.  keeping this spunky little girl occupied for a four hour flight was an adventure in and of itself!

i have to admit, i was not gung ho about traveling over the holidays and spending christmas away from home.  but of course, and thankfully, it ended up being wonderful to go back to az and spend so much time with family.  the girls especially loved being surrounded (and spoiled) by so many people.  we are grateful to be part of such wonderful families!   

Preschool Co-op

("fun day" at parker's house today - they don't usually get a movie)

mon-wed-fri

six kids

five different houses

circle time

lessons

crafts

snacks

and playing

its the perfect arrangement

(i teach every 6 weeks)

and madison loves it

making homemade popcorn at our house for snack time - missing cohen

dress up and face painting - blurry pic from facebook

play time in our backyard

the boys

and the whole group, minus lauren...plus grace.

she can't wait to be part of it next year.

Four of Us

it is a new year. we are home. and we are happy.  this holiday season was filled with family and friends and will be documented at some point in time. 

its been rewarding to slow down after all the festivities and spend time with my girls again.  i tend to be at the bottom of the totem pole when extended family comes around and while it's great to have a break, i really miss the daily menial tasks of being a mom.  now we're back into the swing of things with a full week ahead.

this weekend has been wonderful.  my facebook status last night read "baked potato bar with AZ navel oranges for dinner, games with the girls (remember don't break the ice? it's awesome), dancing to music in the kitchen, chocolate lava cakes for dessert, books and then to bed. i love friday nights at home - it's just what the four of us needed!"

this morning started with barbies and bouncing little girls in our bed until we reminded them of all their new toys in the next room.  that bought us a few more minutes of peace and quiet.  we stayed in our pjs well into the afternoon.  we took down, organized and put away everything Christmas.  grace seemed pleasantly surprised when she asked if we'd put the tree up next year and i said yes.  then the girls ran around the coffee table for a good twenty minutes until they were hot and sweaty.  

dan put in one of my country mix cds and all of a sudden i was back in high school, when i first heard and learned most of the songs.  back when the dixie chicks were a little more respectable. :)  alan jackson came on with a favorite, "chattahoochee", and that took me back to my preteen years. look at all that has come about and happened in since then. wow.  
 
this year will be a good one.  i'm determined to make it as good and even better than the last. we have a big transition ahead of us - becoming a family of five.  dan and i will be outnumbered by kids.  i hope we'll be ready.

in the meantime, we'll enjoy life with the four us and see what 2011 has to offer!