Amazing Grace

This is what happens when Grace gives you a makeover...
This is what happens when Auntie Di gets to use her skills...
Grace
Hanna

Shoesday

My niece Grace in her metallic peep-toe slingbacks.
My metallic peep-toe slingbacks purchased from...

Missionary Monday

Jordy had dinner with a family who own a pig farm. He had his first HAMburger. Made from fresh pork. Can you say culture shock. His favorite food is sausage so I'm sure he liked it.

The Land of Lakes

We are off to Minnesota. The place I grew up and became who I am. I'm hoping for a good thunderstorm or tornado watch while we are there. In Minnesota you eat bars and hotdish, not to mention cheese curds and Nut Goodies. You pledge allegience to the flag, said with a long a, and carry your groceries in a bag, same long a. You drink pop with the gals in the neighborhood. I love that place, esspecially in the summer. Mall of America, here we come.

Fashion Friday

Twisted Sister

My seriously cute sister-in-law Angie took me to this fab shop in Alpine Utah called Dear Lizzie.

We got cool bracelets from this edgy jewelry company I was introduced to, by my uber chic friend Tawnya. Twisted Silver is fun and trendy. I think it is essential to have jewelry pieces with your kid's birthstones. I have earrings with each of my kid's birthstones. This new bracelet has a grey pearl to remind me of Jordy, my June boy. I bought a peridot piece when Evan was on his mission. It makes me happy and it is better than doing a count down of the time he is gone. I can't do the count down. I just live for the mail and phone calls...Christmas, Christmas. Chant it with me now.

The Only Child

Pros of being an only child

• You get all the attention
• You have your pick of bedrooms
• You don't have to continue to grow up in a boy's locker room
• You don't have to share a car

Cons of being an only child

• You get all the attention
• Those rooms are empty, it's too quiet
• You miss your stinky brothers
• You have to share your wheels
  

The New Do

I did it.
Please ignore the saggy neck.
Just call me Cyndi Lauper.
Some people go bungee jumping, white water rafting or sky diving to get their adrenaline rush. I cut and color my hair. It's CRAZY cool. Today at the mall, I was pointing out all the other fierce hairstyles and my daughter says, " Yeah but, they're much..." I knew it was coming..."younger than you." To that I say, If Cyndi Lauper and Betsey Johnson can do it...they're much older than me.

Shoesday

pewter ballet flats
My friend Sunny and her fierce silver peep-toe ballet flats.
Beautiful, minature fashion. Hers are way better than mine. Seriously! Fermez la bouche!

Missionary Monday

Jordan has arrived in Idaho. He is serving in Kuna, Idaho. This is President and Sister Yardley with Elder Jordy. It's so reassuring to see him in one piece, looking so good. He even buttoned his suit coat. He listens to his Mom. He lives with a couple and the woman makes breakfast for him every morning. It's better than home. I don't do that stuff. He's livin' the life in Idaho. This is a really bad picture of a picture. I think that's his halo glowing in the middle.

Payback

I must be doing my job, because I have properly embarrassed these two. Read the comments on my last post. Evan said my inner cha-cha is "disturbing." They have embarrassed me plenty of times. Payback stinks.

Fashion Friday

Katie copied my haircut. Trying out my cha-cha color.

I have an alter ego. I call her my inner cha-cha. She thinks she's a rockstar. She likes edgy haircuts and wants me to color my hair with three colors, cherry red, brown and platinum blonde. She wears false eyelashes and gold lipgloss. Three years ago I had spikey hair because of her. It was cool. My son said, " Can you please not spike your hair when we go to the MTC!" It's funny when your kids are more conservative than you are. My inner cha-cha talked me into getting my ear double pierced on my mission, an assymetrical haircut in the 80's and my gladiator sandals. I've gotta go, my inner cha-cha is calling. She wants to play.

Thank Goodness It's Thursday

I love Thursday's, because it means Jill comes. Jill is my massage therapist. She does relexology. She helps me with pain management, circulation and relaxation. Plus, she throws in talk therapy for free. Jill is good at her job. Though she's a small woman, she could make a grown man cry.

Pool Day

stock photo

We have a summer activity calendar in our ward (congregation.) Every week day there are things planned. Today was pool day at my house. These are my rules for pool day.

1. Swim diapers are required. We don't want another incident like the summer of 2001 when a kid pooped in our jacuzzi. I had to drain and refill the spa.

2. Go ahead and pee in the pool. It's better than pee on the bathroom floor.

3. Eat your goldfish on the grass. Soggy snacks on the pool deck is gross.

4. Wear flotation devices. I don't want your kid to drown.

5. Swim at your own risk. Please don't sue me if your kid drowns.

See you next week. I like to have pool guests. Otherwise the pool just sits there empty, looking good.

News Alert

At 5:41 this morning I was woken up by a phone call from Elder Naylor. He called from the Salt Lake City airport. He's on his way to Idaho. He sounded happy and cute. Is it possible to sound cute? I gave him a hug and kiss over the phone. Look out Idaho! Only five more months til I hear his sweet voice again...

Shoesday

Teen toes. Kalen went home with the essential San Diego footwear. Everyone in my family has a pair. They are leather, can get wet and have arch support. They last forever. The only down side is that they require breaking in. I made Brynn break mine in for me. Alas, I can't wear them now...maybe next summer. Kalen was excited when he started to get the sweaty toe marks.

I have a rant about mandals. A mandal is any sandal with a buckle worn by a man. This type of footwear should be illegal. Flip-flops are acceptable. Only babies, toddlers and possibly pre-schoolers are exempt. Particularly heinous is the fisherman mandal. Please be advised. They hurt my eyes.

Missionary Monday

This will be a new feature on my blog. What can I say.
In his first letter Jordan told us that he had done some service. He got to clean the Lord's porcelain.

He goes to Idaho on Tuesday. I've already sent him two packages and the third is in the planning stage. I love the flat rate boxes. I've also sent lots of cards and letters. I want to start his shrine this week. I already have the bulletin board. I'm trying to keep myself distracted.

Happy Stuff

My neighbor's roses. I like to pretend like they're mine.

My Sis calls these Disneyland flowers.

Double Calla Lily. A first for me.

These are my favs.

No, the Hydrangeas are my fav.

Gorgeous Gardenias.

Ok, this little pink Calla Lily is my all time fav.

Yum!

Magnificent Magnolia.

Friday Fashion

Target style. A couple of weeks ago Alison issued a challenge to photograph yourself wearing your Target fashions. T-shirt and shorts by Target.

Happy 49!

He likes to make a splash.

Fourth of July 10k...father-daughter bonding.

Happy Birthday Tom! Next year you will be half a century!

T- triathlete

H- happy

O- organized

M- marathon man

A- athlete

S- stud

Special K

Celestial smiles

Visiting his Dad's "ghetto High School"...his words, not mine.

The homestead. This is where I had my wedding reception. Those palm trees really need to be trimmed.

This boy has skills.

My nephew Kalen has been visiting. He fills up the space Jordan left behind. He's a great kid. Isn't he cute?! I love teenagers. They are fun, amusing and there is always something going on. I want him to stay...his Mom might let him.

Shoesday

I'm so dizzy!

I have a freaky, fainting thing called neurocardiogenic syncope. If you know the Wiggles, it's the same thing Greg Page has that caused him to retire. I faint so often that my kids just step over me when they see me laying there. So, today was one of those dizzy days. I ended up on the floor in Sunday school. I wish I had my camera. It was not a full blackout just a grey out. I like to shake things up in Sunday school. Luckily, my friend Tauna was there to make sure I didn't flash anyone with my dress flying up and she even fixed my hair when I got up. She's a good friend. I was that lady who made church exciting today.

Church makes me sick. Those tiny tiles in the bathroom make me dizzy. Then the whole no food for three hours. I do bring snacks. I'm probably the only person you know who's on a high sodium diet. The fainting thing is boring but, it rocks my world, literally.