For reals!

She is not faking this!  I went to the computer to occupy my time while Maggie was finishing her dinner.  After about 10 minutes, I notice that it's been awfully quiet for too long.  Turning the corner to expect to find her playing with her food, I find this!  Totally asleep!  I must have worn her out that day!  

Maggie got tagged!

Eye color: "green" (not really, but she was looking at my eyes when I asked the question)

Hair color: "another color of silver" (her best description of her shiny blonde hair, not bad!)

Fav movie: "Alvin and the Chipmunks and Cinderella"

Fav TV show: "Sponge Bob"

Fav book: "my cake book" (huh?)

Fav place to go: "the zoo"

Fav restaurant: "Old McDonalds and Chick Fil A, too!"

Fav food: "wiggly noodles" (without fail, asks for it EVERYTIME!)

Fav candy: "lollipops"

Fav color: "pink" (of course!)

Fav toy: "Grant's Swiper squeeze toy" (huh?)

Fav song: "ABC's and Twinkle Little Star"

Fav game: "Cherry game" (Hi Ho! Cherry-O)

Fav cereal: "Cheerios and Rice Krispies"

Maggie is the spitting image of me... bossy and sassy!  She constantly keeps me in check.  Whenever I see "undesirable behavior", I know I need to correct what I do and say.  Maggie is a natural born leader, she loves to make new friends and then tell them what to do.  But she's also very motherly.  I love it when she takes Grant's hand or puts her arm around him or cheers him on, "Good job, Grant!!"  She loves to be cuddled, give kisses and hugs and ask for back scratches.  She never seizes to amaze me with her intelligence.  Her latest: after seeing a mini-infomerical on Green Bags, she's been trying to talk Cory and I into getting some so that our fruit doesn't get "distusting with black stuff".  Oh, Maggie!  What would I do without you??  

Maggie tags: Seth, Will, Bailee, Adam and Ryan. 

I could never get enough of...

I got tagged by Heather

1. Maggie's chatter

2. Grant's kisses

3. Cory's laughter

4. my mom

5. being with my grandma

6. Sundays

7. the warmth of the sun

8. pie 

9. LOST

10. corn and black bean salsa

Tag, you're it: Whitney, Amy and Heidi L. 

My latest weakness

**Warning: VERY ADDICTIVE!!

Corn and black bean salsa

2 cans whole kernel corn, drained

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained

8 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 medium red onion, chopped

3/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced

1/4 cup lime juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped (for heat, if desired)

Combine ingredients in a large bowl.  Cover and refrigerate until serving with tortilla chips

Gettin' my craft on!

My friend, Megan, taught me how to make these adorable bags about 3 years ago.  They're super simple and super cute!  Since Cory gave me a sewing machine for Christmas, I was excited to break it in with the bags.  I've made the diaper bag size, the scripture bag size and this was my first attempt at the tote size, pretty cute, huh?  Anyway, I wish I could've kept it for myself but I gave it away to my sister for her birthday.  My next project is to find out where Cory's set designer got the fabric for those shower curtains.  I think they'd make into some cute bags, anyone want one?  

The lovely Lintons

We love it when people come to see us! Come see us, people! Our friends, Steve and Heidi from Utah, came with their two adorable children, Will and Lizzy, and we had a fabulous time! They weren't with us the whole time, but we tried to make the most of their time with us so decided to give them a behind the scenes tour of CBS studios. I brought my camera this time to capture some of the cool things in the backlot.

The Linton's getting braced for the studio tour 

on the back of the golf cart

One of Cory's main sets

Another angle from my favorite kitchen set

My favorite bathroom set... lovin' those shower curtains!

Cory's rendition of Deseret Towers (notice the cinderblocks) 

"Central Park" set from Seinfeld

"New York street" from Seinfeld

This used to be the lagoon from Gilligan's Island.  Cool, huh?

Afterwards, we hit the Griffith Observatory to 

check out the smog over Los Angeles

We showed the Linton's a good time at the famous Bob's Big Boy restaurant.  I think Heidi was a wee bit disappointed by the mediocre American cuisine there.  Steve didn't seem to mind his "Chili Spaghetti".  We tried to make up for it by taking them to dessert at Diddy Reese in Westwood, a scoop of Dreyer's ice cream sandwiched between 2 fresh baked cookies for only $1.50.  The line at this place always goes down the block, but it's worth it!   

 

My dad

Unfortunately, this is a little bit late, but it's been quite the weekend.  I don't even want to get into all the details of that right now.  But it brings to mind a very important point... you know when things just aren't going right and you start to think, "why is all of this happening to me?" and then after awhile you realize that you've been wallowing in self pity to the point that it disgusts even yourself?  Hey!  Snap out of it!  I have a lot to be grateful for!  I have an idea... why don't I start thinking about all the great things and blessings I DO have in my life!  My dad is one of those beautiful things!  There are a lot of rotten dads out there, kids (even adult kids) that suffer because their dads aren't or haven't ever stepped up to the plate.  I just recently heard Dr Laura say, "Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad!"  Isn't it true?  My father always took his responsibility of being a good dad very seriously.  I am so grateful for that.  First of all, how lucky a kid was I to get a good dad who loved me and taught me and took good care of me?  Secondly, now as an adult, I'm still encountering situations in life that leave me up in arms about what to do and I constantly find myself thinking, "what would my dad do?  How would he handle this?"  And you know, it's always the right thing to do!  He has a great perspective on life and I'd be stupid not to listen, even now.  And although his kids are "grown" now, he's still our dad.  He knows how important it is to be an example to us.  Just as much as I know that my kids are watching and learning from me, he must know that we are all still watching and learning from him.  So, thanks Dad... for not just being my father... but for being my "dad", too!    

Father's Day 2008

Whoa!

This is what happens when Grant gets his hair dried by the hair dryer. 

Very funny, Cory!

Our favorite field trip

We've done this day trip a couple of times and I've never posted about it, but I got some really cute pictures this time around so I thought I better share. We catch the Metrolink train and ride it down to San Juan Capistrano where there's this cute little petting zoo called Zoomars. The fun and unique thing about this petting zoo is the bunny pen where there must be at least 200 bunny rabbits and guinea pigs just waiting to be tortured by the innocent grab of children. It's free reign to feed them, pet them and pick them up. It's a hoot for the kids but it gets pretty crazy and I've never seen anything like it. This last trip we went with my friends Carrie and Alison and all our kids!

Waiting for the train

Grant finds a bunny to feed

Maggie finds a guinea pig to hold

 Grant and his buddy, Cameron

In loving memory

I can't believe it's been a whole year... sigh.  In honor of the first anniversary of grandma Joyce's passing, I'd like to dedicate this post to her.  In the week or two before she died, she recited this poem as part of her last Relief Society lesson.  It's quite stunning to me... the message she left us through this poem, especially not knowing that her time on earth was nearing an end.  I know she'd want me to share it with everyone I know... 

How Did You Live Your Dash? 

by Linda Ellis 

I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth 

And spoke the following dates with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years. (1934-2007)

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth…

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;

The cars…the house…the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

That can still be rearranged! 

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what’s true and real,

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger, 

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect, 

And more often wear a smile...

Remembering that this special dash 

Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read

With your life’s actions to rehash…

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?