Fashionable

I admit it, I want to be fashionable. I confess I find myself chasing these silly fashion blogs all over the place, trying to figure out what it is that makes some so in touch and others (like me...) so distastefully distant.

I'm starting to pick up on some trends and habits, it's just so weird to wear something that's not "me!"

Here's to hoping that someday I'll get the art down -

Granny Morris

Granny and Dad

Grandpa Morris passed away August 8. I've never known Grandpa Morris without Alzheimer's, so it was wonderful to hear all the stories of his remarkable life. Perhaps the best part of his passing away is the greater love and admiration I've gained for Granny Morris.

:) This is her shooing someone away after she was done talking with them.

Granny Morris is truly a remarkable woman. In her mid 80s she has the vigor that many in their 30s are missing. Each day she goes from one task to the next, working as hard as she can on her daily to do list. Because of a medical issue some months ago, she couldn't use her right (dominant) hand - so she went out and hand painted the hop scotch back onto her sidewalk with her left hand, because that's something she could do without her writing hand! She got in a pretty bad car wreck in the spring (hit a barricade at 60 mph) and walked away with nothing but a few scratches. Granny's doctor has lied about her age before so that he could do surgery on her, because she is such a solid woman she can handle it!

Most impressive, of course, is Granny's faith. She is a stalwart woman with an unshakable testimony. She lives the gospel each and every day, because she knows of its truth and lives with faith. After the family prayer at the funeral everybody got a last chance to say goodbye to Grandpa before closing the casket - she gave him a quick kiss and said "I've already said my goodbyes that other day - you all can take over. I know he's gone to heaven and now all I want is for each of you to help me get there too." And she walked away. That was it. Certainly she misses him, but she knows where he is and that she'll see him again soon.

Granny and Carol - adore both of them

We got to sit with Granny and Bonnie at Aunt Dixie's performance of The Music Man a couple weeks after the funeral. How many other women in their mid 80s go to big performances, first of all, and stay out until 10 doing it? She was great company - so quick, fun to talk to, focused on what really matters.


The more I get to know her, the more I admire sweet Granny Morris.

This is Emily

Actually, I really love her. I sincerely wish she lived closer. I hate not knowing when I'll see her again.

12 and counting...

We were bored yesterday, so after hitting up Menchie's we bought five new trees. :) That makes twelve, and we love them all!

3 Chanticleer Flowering Pears
1 Bloodgood Japanese Maple
1 Kwanzan Flowering Cherry
1 Malus Spring Snow
2 Blue Spruces
1 Norweigan Sunset Maple
2 Canada Red Chokecherry
1 Double Flowering Weeping Cherry

:) From the window, as I type this, I can see three trees. This is so exciting! Trees make such a HUGE difference in the yard. Opa!

Check Out These Dance Moves

I have no idea who taught the boys this, but I promise I hope they dance like this for the rest of their life.

Why We'll Never Fry Anything Again

1. It's not healthy anyway.

2. It made a mess of my kitchen.

3. Yep, that's my arm.

Please bless I won't get sperm-shaped scars...

This Is Family

We hurried back from St. George to make it to the birthday dinner last night - we had everyone there but Matt and Cassie and Julie and Robert. I wanted to give you a taste of my family -

Fat Wyatt:

Lounging after dinner:

Paige showing TJ her slide show:

Anna covered with the animals:

Mason playing in Wyatt's seat (love his face):

Grandma and loving Emma:

Parker and me with my birthday present - he made it all by himself. It's a picture of him 4 years ago taped onto a green pipe cleaner in a vase with rocks he collected in the bottom (including a REAL gold one). He asked if I knew why he chose green - silly me, I thought it was to look like a plant. It's because green is my favorite color. :) What other 6-year-old remembers that?

Paige and Tanner (he made her the same thing). He was SO excited to give it to her it seemed he would burst.

Adam walked in and went straight to the couch (skipping dinner). He did not move the ENTIRE night...

Little Lexi, who, at nearly 18 months, is finally getting some hair. :)

Holly flipping over all the cookies looking for the lightest one:

Tanner learning to dance with us (I'm obsessed with this video):

"Everybody look at Lexi!" Lexi always does this same dance when we sing it to her - a teeter totter sort of step. She's proud as punch - look at that smile.

The boys trying to get Grandpa:

Tanner giving Paige her present (it spilled and he was scrambling to pick it up before she saw it):

Emma giving Grandpa his birthday present (she is waiting for me to take a picture, ha):

Tanner and Mason singing into the microphone during family night (If you can tell, Tanner is singing "I love to see my temple" over and over and Danny is going on and on in the background):

Parker praying (I wish Lainee hadn't started screaming about her Squinkies right when I started recording... :) )