Eighteen and So Grateful

This is Keith and I eighteen years ago. Don't we look so young? These were our engagement pictures. We were just kids back then. We celebrated out 18th wedding Anniversary on November 7th.

And here we are at the Portland temple after our sealing....

So magical...

Isn't he just dreamy!

For eighteen years this adorable man has been by my side. I am so thankful for my sweetheart. He makes me laugh when I need it. He knows when to listen. He knows when I just need a hug. When we are on the phone he recognizes in my voice when I am having a hard day and when I am having a great day. He knows me so well.

For our Anniversary weekend we got to getaway to Selkirk lodge up at Swietzer Mountain in Sandpoint. What a great treat that was to spend some alone time with him. I brought these pictures and our wedding album with me so we could remember those incredible days when our life started together.

Keith you are my match in every way. You are my hero, my champion, my friend and my love. Thank you for making my dreams come true.

JoJo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOETTE!

I hope your day is magical! You bring magic to me. All day today in your honor I am going to be singing "do the JoJo" and dancing like that too! Thank you for bringing joy to our home. I know living with us has probably shown you an extra side of crazy that you thought was never there in our family but hey we're just keepin it real baby! :) Someday we will have it all together...(maybe). Anyway ...here are some things I love about you:

Your smile
Your style

Your hair
Your flair

Notice the poem form ...yep I am trying to rhyme.....

Your healthy tips
Your road trips

Your rappin ups
Your pudding cups

Your taste in movies
makes me feel groovy

Your piano playing
is amazing...just saying

Your so kind
you blow my mind

Your spirit, your laughter, your joy of the day....
am I getting carried away?

I love you Joette, Happy Birthday!

Deactivating

So today I did something that some poeple might think is crazy and others might say "good for you" ... I deactivated my facebook account...yep I did it. I am having withdrawels from it already though. This morning I was so strong thinking..."Calie you spend too much time on the not so important things that doing this will be so good for you" ... and now... well I am thinking "why?" But I really know why...it's just that change is hard for me and breaking habits are so hard for me. And facebook had become a habit. So really it wont be bad once I break the habit of wanting to go to that facebook page everytime I log on...I am hoping that by leading by example my children will follow and realize they too can break the facebook cycle. :) That there actually is a real friend world out there and that spending time together in person is so much better and that talking face to face can be so much more rewarding. I love my kids and I love my family time...this is going to give me more of that time back. So please feel free to wish me well in my endevor. I am going to need it (my willpower is so lacking).

Blogging? Whats that?

I wish I had something fun and clever for you to read or a great picture to blog....nope...I got nothin! I really want to blog...I just am kind of in a rut with it...I don't feel any writing juices flowing. And yet here I am. I have been facebooking it and feel a little guilty neglecting my blog but what can I say...I am better at one liners than I am at whole paragraphs :)

2nd Day

So we are into the second day of school...already getting morning routines out of the way and everyone going crazy including me :) trying to make sure everyone has everything...rides to school, and bus times, family prayer, notes sighned, noise noise and more noise and Ashlee decides at my moment of breaking to get out her saxaphone and start practicing...now I know what your thinking..."how much noisier can it get than an alto sax" and "moms gonna blow" but I tell you what - when you hear hymns from an alto sax being played it's really kind of beautiful. It was impossible to ask her to stop playing because she was playing Where Can I Turn for Peace and We thank thee oh God for a Prophet and There is Sunshine in My Soul Today. What a great way to find peace in the morning. Thank you Ashlee!

By the way our windows were open....I think the neighbors heard it too! :)

My Summer Music

This is Joshua Radin.... I love his music! It has been a nice addition to my summer. Its very relaxing and I love the soothing acoustic guitar in most of his songs. I love his voice and style. I am sure his music has been out there for a while but I am a little slow...but once I find music and an artist I like I enjoy them forever! He is a favorite. Love him!

I also love all the fun new hip hop stuff thats out like "dynomite" and "California girls" but when I am just chillin at home I can actually think with Joshua Radin playing in the background. When I play the other hip hop stuff I have to stop and sing and dance along. But Joshua just makes me stop and chill and appriciate things around me.

Reasons and advice

I know everything happens for a reason. I get that. But somtimes its hard to find that reason when your drowning in the thick of things happening. it's always far down the road of life that I realize the reason for something happening....it still does not make it any better when you are going through stuff right now. WHY? It should bring me comfort....not feelin it today. I just want to escape and yet I know thats not the answer because the second I come back to reality it's that much harder to face... the problems aren't gone they are just put off.

So if anyone cares here is my advice for today:

#1 if you are going to be self employed ... get health insurance...one day it will pay off.

#2 old cars do break down more than newer ones.

#3 If you think your dishwasher is leaking.....check it out....before you find a leak in the ceiling below it.

#4 if you have 4 kids starting school .... save all summer long for school supplies and clothes especially if 3 out of 4 of those kids are teenagers!

and #5 sometimes consumer reports arent to be trusted as the written law...washing machines that say they are good can still break down... multiple times.

Oh happy day!

Our Summer

Wow it's been a while since I have posted anything. I think so much has happened that I feel overwhelmed anytime I think about posting anything on here. It has been quite the crazy summer. I can't post any pictures yet because my card reader is broken on our computer and the cord that attaches my camera to my computer is lost...lucky me.
I don't even know where to start... I will say this though....Keith and I are now 40! Yep the big 40... The night of July 2nd (Keiths Birthday) our friends threw us the greatest party ever. We were so surprised and it was incredible. It meant so much to us.
The next day (my Birthday) Taylor and Keith go motorcycle riding and Taylor crashes and breaks his wrist and collarbone. Happy Birthday to me! Sitting in the ER all day was not a fun thing to do for my Birthday...I don't recommend it!
So 20 days after Taylor's break....Isaac falls down the stairs and yep you guessed it...he broke his arm. Again, I don't reccommend spending time in the emergency room for fun!
So needless to say our summer has been filled with many different ways to do things with only one hand. Taylor just got his cast off last week and is doing well. Isaac has a few weeks still. He was at a friends house tonight and was in their wading pool and fell in...cast and all...this one is not waterproof... he had one of those on already and he had to have it reset and re-casted because it was healing wrong...that was a nightmare! So if anyone knows what to do for a cast that has been soaked and its not waterproof please send your suggestions to me in my comment box. They would be well appriciated and an answer to Isaac's prayers tonight. He said in that prayer please help mom to not be mad at me for getting my cast wet and help me to not have to have it reset and recasted. Poor guy. That Orthopedic Surgeon left an impression on Isaac...He doesn't like that office very much. :) come to think of it ... I don't like that office much either...I am just about sick and tired of Dr.'s offices, exray labs, and hospitals...and stinky boys cause they can't shower!
Oh the joys of summer! And it has been an adventure thats for sure! I will post more later but for now I am going to bed!
Just like Donny and Marie used to say "Goodnight everybody!"

Handyman!

Keith put in our new microwave hoodie yesturday! We initiated it by cooking microwave popcorn in it...its a little more powerful than our old one we have had since we were married almost 18 years ago...it was only burnt a little bit :)

Thank You My Handy Man! Your Beautiful!

Driving

Well it's official...Taylor is now driving. He passed drivers Ed, Wahoo! He has to drive with us for 6 months and then he gets his official license ...

So this morning I let him drive to seminary... I am not sure my nerves can handle this. He did great at most things.... he just likes to speed up and my heart sped up with every push on the gas.

Welcome to a new chapter on parenting. Wow I feel a little older and by the end of this I am sure way more grey hairs will be popping up. Yikes.



Way to go Taylor!

CTR

So I just watched the cutest thing ever. I have been taking care of my neice and nephew this last week and it has been so fun....except I have been sick from allergies. I always get a horrible case when the cotton trees start blooming and the pollin goes flying. Anyway My kids have been so helpful with these two sweet kids. Aj is 3 and Ian is 1. My kids have just taken them in under their wings and it has been so tender to see. So this morning I woke up and could hardly talk and breath and my nose is running like a faucet so I decided I needed to stay home from church and all of my kids said "can we go anyway and take Aj and Ian"? (all except Isaac...he wanted to stay and take care of me...but he went anyway). So I called Joette and asked if she could take them to church because she is in our ward now...so cool by the way...so she said yes. She pulls up to the house and all my kids are in the car waiting for her and they have Aj and Ian all buckled up and ready to go. The diaper bag was packed full of coloring books and treats and juice cups and Ians favorite stuffed animal. And Joette gets in the car and starts to pull away... doesn't even bat an eyelash that she has 6 kids going to church with her today, oh and it just made my heart all warm and fuzzy to watch them drive off and still go to church even thought I am not going. Keith has to go early for meetings so all of my kids could have just as easily stayed home with me but they all made the choice to go and to take the two little ones also. I am loving them so much right now. And Joette thank you for being willing to step in and go the extra mile for me today. I sing your praises as I play a little Motab to help me keep the Savior in my thoughts this Sabath day.

Twilight fans

So for all you Twilight fans out there...

Stephenie Meyer has a new book coming out on June 5th. Wahoo!

Gumption

You know in the movie Holiday where the character of the old man says to Kates character that you are lacking gumption and that you need to be the leading lady of your life...
Well yesturday I sure wish I could have had gumption. I am so afraid of confrontation that I always just smile and try to keep the peace and put everyone else at ease. Well I think I am going to scream from letting this eat me up...I can't seem to put this behind me.
I just wish for once I could look this person in the face and say "You are being rude! and you need to shut your mouth and stop letting your insecurities show and you are lacking character and tact". This person and I go way back and I am always trying to give her the benefit of the doubt like saying to myself "oh she is just having a bad day" or "she is so overwhelmed by everything happening in her life that she just needs to get it out and express her feelings the only way she knows how" Which is to complain about others who she feels are lacking. I don't think I have ever been in a conversation with this person where she is not expressing her opinion on someone elses faults. It is constant with her and I am so tired of it. I am always going behind this person like with a dust pan sweeping up all the garbage that comes out of this persons mouth and trying to throw it away before it hits anyone elses heart. Always trying to smooth over what she says by making everyone laugh about other things. Trying to change the subject. I was always defending her and I ask myself now..... "Why Calie?" Why not just let her fall on her face in front of everyone? Or shock people with her tactless complaining? Why do I care?

Well no more! I am setting a goal to have gumption! And I will no longer be silent when she offends me or belittles me or tries to make me feel inferior to her "intellect".

Or maybe I should just say "thank you" to her for all the times I came home and got down on my knees and prayed that I could get over the things she said. Because of her I became closer to my Heavenly Father. I had to exercise restraint and patience and try to be a good friend in the face of adversity. Because of her I brought my questions to the Lord and had them confirmed by the sweet spirit of Him who knows how to comfort me in times of trial. Because of that I have learned how to love someone when they spit on you. To turn the other cheek and turn to the Savior.

There I feel better... I just needed to write about it. And maybe I need to have brownies for breakfast more often... nothing like biting into the softness of a brownie and letting your cares float away....(ok I know I have food issues).

The Market on Pike

Isn't this the cutest picture!
Ashlee, Alyssa and Joette in front of the Public Market sign in Seattle on a beautiful sunny spring day.
I am headed here again this weekend...only with my sweetheart and some friends. I will miss Joette and the girls... I will think of you Jojo when we visit Le Panier! Love you

Hello Seattle!

We took a girls trip to Seattle last week for a surprise for Ashlee's Birthday and for Spring break. We had great weather for our walks around town. I was filled with nostalgia as I showed my girls the beautiful city that I was born in. We had a great time wandering around Pike Place Market, shopping at the 3 story Old Navy, eating vegan cookies, sharing a french baguette at Le Panier, watching street performers, trying on hats, rings, hair things, watching the fish throwers, sampling chocolate pasta, gas works park photo shoot, free fudge from Rocky Mountain chocolate factory, Joette's diamond parking secret, climbing the "hundreds" of stairs from the waterfront up to the market, smelling the spices, seeing all the fun cars, crazy buses, honking taxis, strange and interesting artwork, strawberry crepes, Joette's incredible sense of direction, riding in the space needle, watching Alice in Wonderland 3D at the Seattle Science center Imax theatre, Alyssa and Ashlee trying real Thai food and loving it, Joette's Sushi run, and on and on I could go.
When we were walking around town my girls were fascinated by all the diversity in culture and people. It was so sweet to see their faces as they experienced this all for the first time. It was so fun to show them this part of our wonderful world. We stayed with my sister who lives downtown in a condo and they loved living in the Metropolitan area for a few days. We walked to everything and they saw a whole new lifestyle. They saw the Seaport city at its best. I loved sharing this with them.

I love Seattle in the spring its so fresh!

Happy Easter!

To all those that believe have a wonderful magical Easter day! The sun is shining and general conference has been amazing so far. It always is if you listen. I Love this time of year and look forward to conference so much. What a blessing it is to be able to hear a living prophet. May we all realize how fortnate we are....
I look forward to the last session of conference with joy and a little bit of sadness that it is almost over for another 6 months. The music has been amazing. I have cried with most of the songs. I always remember my sweet mother in law loving the music and sharing her joy at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's beauty and harmony. They always bring the spirit so strong to a session of conference. They sang one of Edie Kayes and mine favorite hymns today..."I wonder when He comes again". This song holds a special place in my heart from when I was a little girl and when I shared this with her it was so sweet to hear that she too loved this song. The Choir gave it such a beautiful touch today and I could not help the tears and yet they were tears of joy, renewal, hope and peace! May each of us find that peace in our hearts this beautiful Easter Season.

I wish I wasn't having such a hard time getting motivated to do anything. Especially going back to the gym. Why do I just give up when I miss a few weeks? Why do I go through months of the dolldrums? Its springtime and the weather has been beautiful and I have wonderful things to look forward to and yet I want to curl up in my bed under the covers and never come out. I am sick of life right now and I don't know why. I know I am losing it and recognize signs of depression and yet I feal no real push to go in the right direction. I have no desire to read my scriptures and pray even. And I know that those things are what I really need to be doing right now and I can't even make myself do it. Why? Whats wrong with me...when I know what I need to do and yet I don't do it? Why is it so hard to find the drive to want to do something? I feel guilty because I know what to do to get out of it...and I still don't do it. Maybe I am just tired. Time for a re evaluation of my daily life... re birth... renew... rekindle...re commit... I dont know.


Spark of life where are you?

Ashlee Turns 12

Ashlee my sweet "strawberry girl" Happy Birthday. You are "finally 12". For the last year Ashlee has been reminding me that she is turning 12. She has been counting the days and months for so long. She has been so excited to join Young Womens. No more primary Wahoo! March 3rd was Ashlee's day! I love the month of March and having a baby in March is so refreshing. That is what Ashlee is. She is a burst of springtime...always happy and smiling. She loves to help others feel happy. She loves crafts and playing the piano. She loves to play the saxophone too. Ashlee is never afraid to try new things. When Ashlee has an idea we all hear about it and she always follows through with it. She is a great babysitter. In fact I never see her on Friday and Saturday nights anymore because she is always requested for babysitting. This last weekend she had 3 family's fighting for her time. Children love her.

We love you Ashlee Elizabeth, you add beauty, character, laughter, sweetness, courage, and charm to our family. Heavenly Father gave us a piece of heaven when he sent you to us.

Nevermind

Have you ever thought about that word? What does that really mean? Forget it? Or.... Whatever? Could it mean that? Or does it mean that you never mind when I tell you to do something?
I was going to post today with a picture and started to look through my pics and decided "Nevermind" I don't feel like it today.

HA

Community

My Favorite comedy show! I am always guaranteed a laugh from this show. I think the writers are brilliant and the actors are amazingly hallarious! Watch it I know you will like it! Its on NBC on Thursdays.

Love it, Love it, Love it!

Making Music

I love the focus in this picture. Isaac is now learning guitar. Joette thank you for teaching him. He is learning so well that he is teaching me all he knows. I have tried to get my fingers to make the cords...its not happening. I think I will leave the guitar playing to everyone else.

An incredible transformation is happening in our home. Isaac got this guitar for Christmas and since then the guitars have been a permanent part of our living room decor... this is a good thing because everyone now congregates to them...they can't help it. Its like a bowl of candy to them. I love that they are drawn to the sound of the acoustic guitar. I have always been drawn to that sound. It speaks to my soul.

We have always had the piano and the girls have always played that and Alyssa plays the violin and Ashlee plays the Saxophone-but now the boys are starting to enjoy music in our home more. We have always bonded over listening and playing good music in our home and I look forward to more of that as we add another element. Go Isaac!

Maui 2010

Already dreaming of going back. Still our most favorite vacation spot ever!

Hello 2010

Well hello 2010... just snuck up on me. December was so busy I did not have time to think about a new decade creepin in.
So 2010 what will you bring me this year? Oh how I love fresh starts and new beginings. It gives me energy and makes me feel whole. I think that will be my focus for this year...finding wholness... is that even a word? It is now!

I think the key for me is to find balance with things in my life. I have always been an all or nothin girl... but sometimes that can interupt the balance of things if you are pushing some things and forget about other important things.

Wholness
Balance
Complete
Energy
Love
Forgive
Learn
Remember

All in 2010