MAKING ME LAUGH

Yesterday, the school called to tell me that Camille was in the office and not feeling well. They said she had a toothache. I went to the school to bring her home. When I arrived at the school I looked at her tooth that was hurting. I could tell a permanent tooth was coming in under her baby tooth. I told her hopefully it will feel better soon or we will need to go to the dentist.

She said, "Okay we can go to the dentist but if he says he wants to pull my tooth out then we are LEAVING!"

At 7 years old, she's already figured out the dentist!

Then this morning, Tanner needed to take a cane to school for a play that his class is doing. He brought a cane that Daren received last year for his BIG 4-0. The cane has a horn, teeth and a bottle to hold pills.

Camille tells him, "Tanner be VERY careful with dad's cane at school today. He is going to need that cane in a few years when he gets old. So make sure nobody breaks it." We all just died laughing at the thought of Daren actually using the cane.

WORRIED

So Daren's cute little sister...the one that is prego with her second set of identical twins is in the hospital.

When I think I'm having a rough day, I close my eyes and imagine her plight. Then I realize my day isn't so bad.

She's 24 weeks pregnant today.
She has been in the hospital for the last 2 weeks.
She has no bathroom privileges or shower privileges.
She has 3 little boys at home - ages 4 and 2-year old twins.
She will more than likely be in the hospital until she gives birth. Due in June.
She has a lot of contractions.
She has low blood pressure.
She lives in Maryland and does not have family close by.
She is worried but hopeful.

Cade & Julene-Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family each day. We love you guys! Hang in there!!

SPECIAL NIGHT

We have Ward Conference this Sunday at church. To start off the conference, our ward had a special session at the temple tonight. The session began later than usual and the temple president spoke to our ward family. I was so touched by his comments and felt as though he was speaking directly to me. It was exactly what I needed to hear. I was amazed at how many members of our ward came-over 70 people. Nearly every seat was filled in the session. It was so sweet to look around and see so many friends and neighbors gathered together. I am so grateful for the spirit that was there. I am so grateful to live in the shadows of the temple. I feel blessed to live 30 seconds from a temple. I love the feeling that comes from being a ward family. What a wonderful evening!

BABY BED

Gee, I wonder how the baby

bed was broken?

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Happy Valentines Day to the love of my life!!

He planned such a fun day! The day started with a dozen red roses and we went and had a couples massage. It was so much fun and very relaxing. After the massage we went out to lunch and had a wonderful day.

Thanks Daren for making every day special! I love you!!

GRAPEFRUIT TREE

Growing up in Arizona, we had a grapefruit tree. Every winter year after year we would enjoy fresh grapefruit, lemons and oranges. Even to this day, I love cooking with fresh lemons. They are the best!

Fast forward to now.

Grapefruit trees don't live in Utah, neither do any citrus trees. Every winter with the inversion, cold and snow, I CRAVE fresh Arizona grapefruit. Sure they sell grapefruits at the grocery store. But they taste horrible. They aren't the same as my Arizona grapefruit.

This past week I was blessed to receive a box of Arizona grapefruit! I can't stop eating them. The kids can't stop eating them. When they first came, I cut one in half and was walking around the house making everyone smell the grapefruit. It smelled like home and I started to cry.

Funny how the simplest things like fresh grapefruit can make one homesick for those warm Arizona winters!

WHERE DO THEY COME UP WITH THIS STUFF?

1. This is Tanner's "Doorbell." He found this bell in some toy box in the basement and now it is installed as the doorbell to his bedroom. The kids all use it to notify him when they would like to enter his bedroom. The annoying part of the story is that my bedroom is right above Tanner's and I can hear the doorbell every time the kids ring it. Why he thinks he needs a doorbell is beyond me!

2. Tanner recently turned 12 and is a Deacon in our church. Each Sunday 1 Deacon (a 12-13 year old boy) will sit up in the front of the congregation next to the Bishop and assist the Bishop should the need arise. Well a couple weeks ago, Tanner was not assisting the Bishop and was sitting next to me. The speaker started coughing. The Bishop motioned for the Deacon to go to the kitchen and get the lady a drink of water. Tanner leaned over and said to me, "I want that job. I want to be the ward waiter!" I started to laugh quietly, as to not make a scene during church. Tanner went on to explain, "That would be the coolest job. Wouldn't that be cool if I was sitting up there and the Bishop said...Hey kid...go get me a Coke!" I couldn't stop laughing becuase I could not imagine ANY Bishop sending a Deacon out to bring him a Coke. Daren was shushing me because I couldn't keep quiet. After church I told Daren what I was laughing about. He had a good laugh. Later, in Bishopric meeting he told the Bishop about Tanner's desire to be "The Ward Waiter." Bishop got a good laugh and couldn't imagine himself saying, "Yeah Tanner...run down to the Mini-Mart and bring me a cold drink." Daren said he had never seen the Bishop laugh so hard.

Where do they come up with this stuff?