...bumper stickers!

Can any of you make sense of this bumper sticker ?

EAT BEEF
the West wasn't won on salad.

I completely don't get it. Was the west won on Beef? What kind of Beef was the West won on? Do you mean riding when you say "on"? Is it plainly a 'dis' on vegetarians? Is it funny? Why would someone purchase that bumper sticker, let alone put it on your car...I should tell you it was a very beefy truck and a very beefy man who may work out 23 hours a day! (I know it's not 24 hours because he was at soccer practice for an hour)
If you know this person or have this bumper sticker, I make no apologies, just explain it to me!
My husband and I could not stop laughing and have referred back to it many times since, including this morning at 9:00 am when Jeremy was making a hamburger that included 1/4 pd. of fried cheese that he saw on Diner's, Dive's, and Drive-in's. (I know, I almost threw up!) He is all about beef and cheese for breakfast!

...thought for the day..."the West wasn't won on salad!"

our little David Beckham...

Congratulations Carter on making the USA '99 Premier soccer team!

Tryouts made him a little nervous because he is younger than the other boys and thought they might make him play with his own age, but all the more reason for him to show his moves! We have to laugh at the moves he tries during his games. Our favorite was a perfect "bicycle" in the middle of the field that went clear to the other goal and almost had an assist. What 8 year old dares to even do that? He makes his coaches and us laugh because he is the shortest, youngest and most determined kid out there!

Beckham look alike, with his new haircut? He thinks so!

Here is a little taste of his obsession...he learns the moves on Freddy Adu's website, then practices on his own everyday! He loves Christiano Ranaldo and says he is going to play for Manchester United...and then become a brain surgeon...he's not very ambitious.

Good Job Cart-man! Go Rebel's!

...junior high, schmunior high!

So a few days ago I attended Alec's middle school orientation, and when the principal asked the question "who is NOT ready to leave Elementary" I quickly raised my hand! Although I embarrassed Alec, I want him to know I am certainly NOT ready. Do you know what happens in 7th grade? Lockers, dances, sleepovers, kissing, girl fights, Classic rollerskating, (getting punched at Classic) meeting fabulous new friends, and some NOT so fabulous new friends! Oh wait...that's what happened when I was in 7th grade. Jeremy would include getting pushed and locked inside the lockers, which I completely know is a lie, and I still laugh every time he uses it! I really remember my very first day at Mt. Jordan Middle School, (Mrs. Whipple???) and I am so thankful for my best friend Jamie Smith. I met some of my best friends at Mt. Jordan, but when I think of my first day, and all the days after, I think of Jamie. Luckily she was still there when we made it to high school! When you're 12 and have a friend like that, life as a teenager is more manageable. It scares me to death to think of the things Jamie and I did back then and then it also makes me smile! Alec is lucky enough to have met a great best friend who I adore and hope that they stay friends forever! Lucky for him, (really, me) he will go to a school that only has 50 students in the 7th grade, which is very different from my own 7th grade experience! I believe it makes it a little easier on me. Although the lockers and parties and kisses will still happen at least he will get more attention from the teachers right? I absolutely realize that he will change. I try to convince myself every night that it's OK, he can change and grow up, and I can do this...I can be the mother of a 12 year old. I only cried a little when he was ordained a deacon and I only cry a little every week when he passes the sacrament, and I only cried a little when he gave his first talk in Sacrament Meeting as a young man on Mother's Day. Oh and only a little when he made his own decision to stop playing soccer this year. Mom's cry a lot, that's what we do, and when you go to your first Middle School Orientation you will cry too. And if you already have, you know what I'm talking about. Carter will never be that old so I don't have to worry about going to another one!

...not only did we have bangs and wear blue eye shadow

in 7th grade, we were huge 49ers fans! In your face...

How thankful I am Alec has braces...can you say vampire!

...dances in 6th grade vs. dances in middle school. Kissing dad, and then "not" kissing!

...this is my "smart Alec" 1st Place at the Science Fair at BYU!

...this is his "smart Alec" picture we used for his poster when he ran for 6th grade senator...he won! Everybody loves a smart Alec!

Thank You!

I know that sometimes we forget to say thank you to the people we love. I am definitely guilty of expecting my kids to do everything I ask them just because they live in my house (which they should!). I often forget to say thanks when my husband makes sure the kitchen is clean and dishes done when I get home from work (oh ya, I got a job at The Buckle). One of the most important qualities I would like to pass on to my children is a grateful heart. I remember one of the greatest compliments I have ever received is when the kids dentist told me that he had not met more polite boys, and his assistant came out and said how they made sure to thank everyone. I hate going to the dentist so for them to be thankful for that horrible experience was a surprise to me! I can only hope that as they grow and have experiences away from me, they will continue to have a feeling of gratitude for everyone! And remember to say thank you without annoying old mom there to remind them! I thought this cool "thank you door" would be a great FHE. We put the paper up on the door and wrote a big Thank You at the top. Every time the kids felt thankful to someone they wrote it on the door! We loved what the kids came up with and we can look at the comments now and remember what happened that day. One of my favorites is Carter thanked me for buying his scout uniform because I forgot two weeks in a row and he couldn't believe I actually remembered his third week of scouts! All the people who helped with our fundraiser is thanked on our door so we can remember to be thankful to them always! Even Luke has some very special scribbles at the bottom. It's actually like a journal now. It was up for a long time and there wasn't a lot of room left, so I think we all just stopped writing on it. So today I put a clean "Thank You Door" up, and can't wait to hear about all the wonderful things we get to do for each other.

I have to thank Alec, Carter and Savvy for only complaining a little when you're asked to do your chores, and Jer, I love that the house smells like Pine Sol when I get home from work, thank you! I'll be better about telling you that!

Animal Organization!

This is a little example of what I am talking about when Luke organizes his animals. It happens daily with his toys or anything he can get a hold of. He is so proud of himself when he puts anything in a special order and it looks good to him. He has to come get us and say "come see, come see!" But if anyone messes up even one animal he has to destroy it all! Or in this card presentation Savvy accidentally made two cards touch, and he sordove freaked out...does that mean he has OCD? They have good medication for that, right? No really, we think it's pretty impressive when he can get almost the whole toy box lined up in a straight line! It's not soccer, basketball, or ballet, but it sure is HIS talent for now! I can't believe my baby is 2 1/2, I really wish I could freeze him right now. I remember when Alec was two and was learning all that Luke is right now. Ten years later, I just don't where the time went. I guess I blinked.
I wish I could have a two year old forever!