I spy........

Something red.........





Something glass.........




What do ya know! Is that freshly canned strawberry jam? Where did that come from? Oh, I remember. My SM called from the grocery store and told me that strawberries were a good price. He asked if I wanted some to can jam to which I replied that of course I wanted some and would he get me a ton!!

My SM always does exactly what I ask him to. He bought "a ton" and brought them all home. There was only one thing I could do when I saw all of those strawberries exploding from every corner of my kitchen. Fall back on my old tricks, "catch the flu", and go to bed!

What do ya know! It worked! I went to bed and my SM looked up how to make jam on the Internet and went to work making us strawberry jam. When he was finished miracles of miracles I got better and I am now enjoying fresh strawberry jam on fresh homemade bread that he also figured out how to make off of the Internet.

Dang I'm good......!

Spring has sprung!

My family in MT are still "enjoying" winter. This morning when I went outside I thought it would be real nice of myself to take some photos of spring beauty and send to them.



Give em something to look forward to you know? Cuz winter can seem really long in MT.



Especially when you have family in states that are a little further south that keep bragging about their warm temperatures and all of the pretty flowers and blossoms that are showing forth their splendor.




Not that I would do that. That would be mean. In fact, it would never even cross my mind to rub something like this in. It isn't like they can help that yesterday they woke up covered in snow and I woke up to such a display of color.



I'm just sharing the love you know! It's all about love. Breathe in...breathe out....can you feel the love?



I've always been the peacemaker, the gift giver in our family. It's what I do! I'm not bragging or anything it just comes naturally to me. I see something beautiful and I want to share it.



I eat something scrumptiously death by chocolate divine and without even thinking about it I want to call my family and let them know what I am eating that is so incredibly good! Some think I'm rubbing it in but I think they have a really negative outlook on life. I'm just sharing. I'm a giver!




It is hard being misunderstood all of the time but being the peace giver I feel that if I just keep on giving eventually everyone will see that I'm just full of love and have absolutely no intention of making my family jealous that I have such beautiful spring blooms in my yard while they are still brown, grey, and mud.



It must be so difficult waking up day after day to grey skies and brown grass.



All of the branches of the trees looking like gnarled freaks of terror in a horror movie scratching on a poor hapless soul all alone during a stormy night.



Flower beds with the remains of last years skeletal remains scattered about on a bed of mud.




It gets downright depressing!



So family in MT cheer up my lovies. Someday you can have such beauty in your yards just like me.




In the meantime, I'll just keep sending you my love filled photos to tide you over.



Because I love you sooooo much and want you to be happy. Cuz I am so nice that way. I spend each and everyday thinking of ways to brighten your day and awash you in my love.




Or, if these photos are killing you..........



You could just come and visit me and see for yourselves!!!!!! I mean, I don't want to pressure you or anything but it has been awhile and your sallow skin could use some rosiness. Not that I care. I'm okay with sallow and I love you no matter what you look like I just know that if you spent some time in the sun and among fresh flowers you'd be so much happier. I promise, I'm only thinking of you. I realize it comes across to others who may be reading this that this is all about me, and my needs, and wants, and selfishness but they don't know me like you do do they? They don't know that there isn't a selfish bone in my body. I'm innocent! They probably read this and thought I was being a snot nosed sister/daughter and was trying to rub in my yard banquet. Sniff! Snort! Never!

Take a number.

I was gonna blog today. I was going to blog a deep thought provoking post. I was sitting here, fingers poised above my keyboard, ready to type those thoughts which would change the universe when, tap tap tap. Some little something was tap tap tapping my side. I looked down and saw this little one.




Only he wasn't asleep and he needed something. He wants me to read to him. So you'll have to wait cuz my baby and I have some "Thomas the Tank Engine" to discuss and if you don't think these discussions aren't deep.......then you've not talked "Thomas" with my baby. In other words....we're gonna be awhile so take a number and I'll get back to ya.

Words of wisdom....not mine by the way....but I like em.

This morning Levi was late for school. I sent his siblings on so they wouldn't be late and later walked Levi to school. As I was walking home I was thinking of the things I wanted to get done today. Notice I said, "wanted". Before this whole West Nile mess I would have said, "needed" to get done. I'm learning. I'm a slow learner but I am learning. I am no longer the self imposed task master that I used to be. It is amazing how much more enjoyable life is when you slow down and take a moment to look around you.

One of the things I thought about on my way home was my blog of course. Did I have any interesting thoughts to post, photos, etc. and I came up blank! Nuttin' in my noggin'.

I plunked myself down and was delighted to see that my sister who I love gobs and gobs had written a post on her blog and after reading it I say, "AMEN SISTA"!!!

So, my post today is: I would encourage you to take a walk on over and read her blog post for today. You won't be disappointed. Side note: The joke about Karsten......that's her husband. :) He has a great sense of humor.

I'd like to propose a toast.......

With melting oozing butter all over it......





With a steaming cup of this........





In bed........

Cuz it's SATURDAY!

I do not believe in encouraging the natives to be uncultured swine.

Over spring break we took the canoe out. Getting the canoe on and off the truck is always a bit tricky. It is a good thing we have teenagers who can help my SM as I sit in the truck and make sure all of the snacks don't go to waste. Then again......sitting in the truck with my "birds eye view"........



Teenagers! They think they are soooooo funny!



I'm glad I'm super mature. Someone needs to be in this herd.

Off with his head!......proceed with caution.....it's gruesome.

Dearly Beloved. We are gathered here today for and in behalf of Russ. Good ol' Russ. Happy ol' chap that he was.



Day after day since Easter he has sat here on this kitchen counter smiling even whilst knowing he was in captivity. Taunting the mother of this household.

Days went by...a week.....and still he sat as the mother kept telling her son, if she saw him there one more day she'd "take care of him". Yet still....he sat......until yesterday. The evil chocolate thirsty mother could not handle the taunting smile another day so when her son came home from school she dug into the bottom of her dirty barrel of nasty tricks and told her son, "If you do not eat that bunny he will MOLD! He will go moldy and then you will have wasted his chocolaty life!"

The son, being soft hearted and not wanting Russ to suffer any longer did what only a strong loving soul could do. He took Russ out of captivity, handed it over to his evil mother, and then turned his back not able to watch what was about to take place.

A rage of horror escaped from the evil mother's lips as she asked her son incredulously, "you mean all this time you have not wanted to do this yourself? Russ has sat here for OVER A WEEK taunting me and I the loving mother that I am have thought that YOU were saving him for your own......only to find out that you in a moment of WEAKNESS are staying away from sugar because you actually listen to your school teacher that told you not to eat sugar during TESTING TIME?"

"Ohhhh, lamentation of my wretched soul......what have I produced.......no son of mine could ever betray me thus........"



"OFF WITH HIS HEAAAAAAAD".





Please know that Russ went quietly. He was loved......to death. May he rest in peace(s).

Philosophical thoughts........sort of........

I've made this statement before so it isn't new but my new theme is: "Come what may, and love it" taken from a giant among men who has passed on to the next life but left me with an incredible gift. In our church twice a year we are blessed with being able to sit for an entire weekend at the feet so to speak of living apostles of our Savior Jesus Christ and partake of their wisdom and counsel. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin gave this talk and considering where I was at in my life at the time, (flat on my back in bed after having brushed with death itself) this talk really hit and sank home.

Since hearing this talk and trying to take it to heart my life has changed for the better. Being forced to slow down, taking each day, and moment at a time will do that to a person.

We see and hear the saying, "Live, Laugh, Love".......something to the effect of that and I used to think, "well ya, that would be nice but I'm in a bit of a hurry here. Got kids to feed, places to take them, things for them to do"! Well, when you're forced to put on the breaks, stop, and take stock of the price of each and every move you are going to make that day all of a sudden things I thought were important aren't so much anymore. Many things became too expensive time and health wise.

So, my apologises if you come over and things are looking shabby 'round here. It may just be that I had the option to buy a clean kitchen that day or a day spent reading with my kids........looking at the mess.....you know which one I chose to spend my energy on.


Live like there's no tomorrow. Sing like no one is listening. Dance like no one is watching. Laugh like you've never heard the joke. Love like you've never been hurt.

"Dat ting" is so darn cwute!

Grandma bought my baby a new suit to wear to church. (Yes, I realize sports socks do not go with a pin stripe suit but when you throw cow boy boots over the tops of em no one knows. I know this from personal experience! Sports socks do not go with dresses either.)




He was all excited......



until we put on the tie. He did NOT want to wear "dat ting".

It's a Levi thing.

He loves ropes. He has several and if he can't find his own he'll find one. Even if it's the neighbors.....doesn't make a difference to him as long as he has a rope.



He loves to wear his fishing vest to church.......



And fill it full of things like this.




He loves to carry around newspapers for days and days and days........



and show us the pizza and soda pictures on the back over and over and over again.

A little of this.......a little of that........

As I stated yesterday, it is spring break and we've been having a bit of fun.



We've been playing several of these.....




We went here....




Any idea where "here" is?.........




Here's a hint.......



We went to this place.......



Where we walked with dinosaurs.....




Where this native picked this beast's nose....




And this native got hungry and started to see ice cream cones in everything......




Where this native felt knee high to a grasshopper......



Dentistry was considered by this native......




And these two little natives were busilly shoving their pop tarts in their faces lest any of these hulking creatures came to life and snatched their little breakfast of champions out of their little fists........



We haunted this place.......




Aren't they just adorable....




This native decided she wanted to earn the scout patch that you can get here at this museum.....girl, shmirl........that wasn't stopping her........



This native suspects "foul play".......




Ooh gwose.....was heard through out the entire museum when this native saw the two headed snake.....



What is snow during spring break if you can't throw some of these......as this native waits for his unsuspecting daddy to walk out the front door......




Who then retreats to the safety of the truck........



Still aiming to get his daddy......




But misses.......



Hovering around each other playing this.....




Building and playing this with the younger natives.....




Knocking a soccer ball around on this......




Grandma came to visit.......




And brought some of these........

Not pictured was the roaring fire that we snuggled in front of while reading.....the cookie dough that we sat around with spoons and dug into....the movies that we watched......the yummy food my SM has been making for us......the laughter and memories....of the year that we were "snowed in" during spring break!