Losing Teeth

Kaitlin was late in losing her first tooth but she has made up time fast. She now has three missing teeth in the front. She is fascinated by her teeth. It is so funny -- like a little scientist -- asking what about this and that, etc.

Relay for Life Speech

I was asked to be the guest speaker for the Relay for Life Kickoff. It was a lot of fun. Kaitlin was able to add one or two lines and she really liked that. I got a standing ovation but I think that was more for our "story" of having a 3 year old with cancer and then me having it within a few years than for the quality of my speaking!

Photos promised earlier and "Kids say the Funniest Things"! Moment

I was taking Kaitlin and our neighbor boys to school this morning. Because of the snow, one bus was late and was making all the cars that were dropping off kids back up. We finally got in sight of the school and I asked them if they wanted to walk. I said they would probably get there faster and Kaitlin said, "Yes, and besides I was reading the Cheerios box this morning and it said that you should park your car further away from work and walk to lower your cholesterol and I'm going to lower mine!" I seriously laughed all the way home.

On another note, I am a speaker at the Relay for Life launch tomorrow night! AAAhhh, I am excited AND scared!!!


This is at the church Christmas Party. We had Mr. AND Mrs. Santa Clause this year.

Here are the girls on Christmas Day. Kaitlin is holding her new Webkinz Eagle. I have to say, though, that Miguel and Dori came through again this year with some of the favorite presents. They got Kaitlin a new game called "Scene It" with a Disney theme that the family has played over and over and Carmen got a Leapfrog First Computer that really gets played with a lot. I do not know how they do it! Good job, Miguel and Dori!

Here is a picture of Carmen with a large puzzle that she is really good at and loves to do.

Christmas Spirit

I have to say I had a lot of the Christmas Spirit this year. We had some friends over for Christmas and it was great. There was a lot of work but worth it. I can't find my camera but the girls were really cute Christmas morning. They got excited about so many things.

I did not get a picture of my house all lit up for Christmas and because the day after was 53 degrees Fahrenheit, I have taken it all down. I didn't want to do it with cold fingers! I was happy to have an unusually warm day after Christmas, though. The problem is that it looks so bleak around here in the winter when there is no snow to make it beautiful.

On a side note, Archie and I celebrated our tenth anniversary this year. I cannot believe it has passed so quickly. People who knew us apart couldn't see us as compatible until they saw us together, then they said we just "fit". This is true. I am so blessed to be married to my best friend. Life just works out sometimes.

Cuteness Personified

Carmen was making little notes (she can't write so she told me) that said, "I love Carmen and Kaitlin and Mommy and Daddy and Alix and Kennedi and Everybody!" She made this cute face that I wish I had caught on film and then hugged me. Sticky Sweet!

Kaitlin this morning was teaching Carmen one of those school age chants with hand/arm motions. It was ADORABLE.

December 2008

Well, no pictures right now. But we are having a good holiday season. I go a little crazy around Christmastime. I love it and love to decorate for it, etc, etc. I will take a few pictures of my decorations later. We have been busy, busy, busy.

The one note I will make is that a have heard of a lot of people getting cancer just recently, especially young kids, but it is hard to think about young people going through what I did.

Gingerbread, gingerbread, gingerbread.

All I have been doing for the last little while is Gingerbread. I am the coordinator for Lakeview Ward and, well, I got some good advice to document it all so here goes.....


This is some of the figures the Achievement Days Girls (8-11 years old) did. I think they are kind of cute!


I learned on the internet to put cans on the sides to hold the gingerbread together while the icing dries. It works pretty well.

Here is the finished church. I made the template myself and put the candy stained glass windows in too. In this picture, it is lighted from inside.


It was Mia's idea to do the roof in Big Red gum and she was right. She worked on that part and the other decorations with me. It was fun and one of my few social interactions other than on the phone for the week!

Yeah! Here I am "working" on the house. Actually, the picture was taken after it was mostly done.


The Nativity Scene part of it. Kristen did the figures and I think she did a great job. I did the stable. She did a better job than I did. Too bad her figures have such a mediocre backdrop.


Sister Roberts did this one. I think it is amazing!

Heidi A. did this one. She thought it was awful. Whatever, girlfriend!

Packing it all up to go work on it at the church. It looks pretty good already!

This is the scene before we took it to the Trail Center. I love the cobble stone road Pat, Anna Lou, and Denise did. Do you like my sugar cube fountain?

Carmen loved this little snowman on top of this icing hill where fondant kids are playing. She wanted to "buy" it.

So here is half of the finished product.

Here is the other half of it with snow powdered sugar snow sprinkled on it.

Here is a close up of my fountain. The picture doesn't look very good. I have to admit. I think it looks better in real life. This is before the sugar cube rocks were put in to surround it.