Here are my cuties last year at Halloween!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
Here is our Wizzard of Oz gang & their favorite character quotes!
Kate - Dorothy "We aren't in Kansas any more!"
Clair - Glenda the Good Witch "Are you a good witch or a bad witch"
Bowen - Cowardly Lion "Growl"
Posting Pumpkins
We carved out pumpkins Monday for FHE. The girls loved designing and then letting daddy carve. Stephen's parents came through town and stopped by for a few minutes. the girls were so excited to show off their pumpkins. Stephen's mom commented on how much she liked Kate's pumpkin's square nose. Kate said, "Well, actually it is supposed to be a rectangle. My dad carved it the best he could!"Bowen kept trying to eat the pumpkins...so I finally just took a carved piece and let him take a big bite. He totally grossed out and spit it out and then let it alone! Clair just wanted to scrape the insides out!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Flashback Friday
I have a good friend that does "Flashback Friday" on her blog. She always posts true flashback pictures from her past. Since I don't really have any, I thought I would only flashback a few months. A couple of months ago Brooklyn spent the night at my house on a Saturday night. I wante dto try sponge rollers in her hair for church the following day. She was such a good sport. I forgot to get pictures once the curlers were taken out. I think next time we need to try smaller rollers. Then weeks later...Joel and Brit needed to go to HEB. I was preparing for a work trip somewhere, so Brooklyn and Jack spent the evening at my house. They were good as gold. They just laid in my bed and watched TV while I packed. They stayed like that the whole time. The only draw back was that Jack loves to have blow-outs in my presents. Needless to say this time was no different. When Joel came to pick them up I noticed Jack had left a nice little surprise on my sheets. Lucky for me Britni washed my sheets while I was out of town. Thanks Jack and thanks Brit!
Happy Flashback Friday!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Only 49% and NO other Countries!
I am boring!!!! I need to go north for sure!!!! I also need to go out of the country! It was fun to see it on a map though..thanks Em!
create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide
create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Where have you been?
create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide
I saw this on my friend's blog and I thought it was really cool. I've been to 64% of the US.
create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide
Sadly my World travels are pitiful. I've only been to 4% of the countries in this world. What's wrong with me? I'm going to start to travel more...this is just not acceptable. :)
Can you tell that I am 1) bored and 2) trying to avoid doing work? It is so cold here in MN...and I am not a fan of the cold.
Are you sure he isn't a little Spanish!?
I tried Kate and Clair and couldn't get a match...so I tried darling Bowen. He was a "Morph match" for the World Tennis Champion Juan Carlos Ferrero. I personally don't see it, but hey does the internet lie?
We get this alot...now we have the Proof!
Very often when out with Brooklyn someone comments about how much she looks like the Olsen twins. Well...the proof is right here. She was a "Morph match" by 74%. That is pretty good. You see for yourself...I personally think she is much cuter than any of the Olsen twins.
Bring it ON!
I saw this on Uncle Don's family blog. I thought it was funny and I'm a little bored in my hotel room, so this is what I do when I'm stuck in Minnesota in the freezing cold weather! Too cold to go out in.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Mustangs and Monterey
Well, I arrived in Monterey, CA on Wednesday night. When I got to the rental car counter they presented me with the keys to this lovely candy apple red Mustang Convertible. It was a beautiful car and I loved driving it. I have to say I was surprised at how comfortable it was. I forgot to take a picture in the daytime. I could seriously see me owning one of these some day. I loved driving it!
Fun pic
Just wanted to Thank Mimi for watching Jack during the Football game! We appreciate all that ya'll do for us! Thanks so much. These are just some fun pictures we took after the wild and fun game last night!
Friday, October 12, 2007
GE Family Day
Kate and Clair were so excited for this fun annual event that we really missed in Atlanta!
One of the first things she said when we told the kids we would be moving back to Greenville was, "Oh good, we can go to family day!" (They didn't do that in Atlanta.) Greenville Gas Turbines does it up right! 
You've got the carnival rides and the carnival games and the carnival food! Free cotton candy, salt and vinegar fries, snow cones, and funnel cakes...who wouldn't love it! :) 
The girls loved trying lots of rides...and wanted to ride some that boring old mom said, "Absolutely NOT!" Bowen got his first taste of cotton candy, from his sister Kate...he loved it. 
Bowen also got his first taste of root beer float, from his sister Clair...he loved it. 
Bowen got his first taste of funnel cake from me...he loved it. The only thing he didn't like is waiting in line for his sister to ride rides! He ate an entire snow cone...by himself!
One of the first things she said when we told the kids we would be moving back to Greenville was, "Oh good, we can go to family day!" (They didn't do that in Atlanta.) Greenville Gas Turbines does it up right! You've got the carnival rides and the carnival games and the carnival food! Free cotton candy, salt and vinegar fries, snow cones, and funnel cakes...who wouldn't love it! :) The girls loved trying lots of rides...and wanted to ride some that boring old mom said, "Absolutely NOT!" Bowen got his first taste of cotton candy, from his sister Kate...he loved it. Bowen also got his first taste of root beer float, from his sister Clair...he loved it. Bowen got his first taste of funnel cake from me...he loved it. The only thing he didn't like is waiting in line for his sister to ride rides! He ate an entire snow cone...by himself! Kate's Party
Here are some pictures from Kate's Ice Cream birthday party! It was a lot of fun and the kids LOVED the chessy games!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Happiest Place on Earth!
I am no longer deprived! (Remember how we used to say we were deprived b/c we'd never been to Disneyland and mom/dad would say, "Oh yeah...so deprived, we've only taken you all over Europe!) Still there is something about going to Disneyland. I've now officially been to Disneyland and it was great. A coworker and I spent yesterday at Disneyland. It was tons of fun. We rode rides, saw some shows, ate some food, watched the parade, and basically got in touch with the child within. It was lots of fun. I really enjoy my friend Ann, but we both agreed that going with little kids would have made it all the more fun. I know Ros' girls loved DisneyWorld and I can't help but think Brooklyn would just go wild. The lines weren't too bad, but longer than I expected in October, in the middle of the week. THe longest line we waited in was for Splash Mountain. We waited about an hour and were just about to the front of the line when they announces they had a log jam and didn't know when it would be up and running again. We were a little disappointed. I didn't make it to Space Mountain...my co-worker said she'd wait while I did it, but didn't care to do it again. I really am not one for going on those rides alone...so I figured I wait and do that another time. There were also Mormons everywhere. I don't know what was bringing them out of the wood work...but I saw tons of BYU hats, shirts, etc and other signs of Mormons too. Because it was October they had evberything decorated for Halloween. It all looked so darling. Mickey, Minnie, and all the other characters carved out of enormous pumpkins. It was a truly happy day at the Happiest place on Earth! I think my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Can't wait to go again!
Monday, October 08, 2007
On Being a Mother
This is kind of long, but it is a great read. It is just what I needed today...rough day and no reinforcements for a week and a half! I hope this helps someone else!
On Being a Mother
I'm invisible.It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.I'm invisible. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please." I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going - she's going - she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we ha have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
On Being a Mother
I'm invisible.It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.I'm invisible. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please." I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going - she's going - she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we ha have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Brooklyn's Confusion
Okay so Em got Brooklyn this really cute sundress from Hawaii, but Brooklyn BEGGED me to let her wear her hat and mittens with it. For anyone who doesnt keep up with the weather here it is HOT!!! She looked ridiculous, but thought Em would get a laugh at least.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Hawaii was gorgeous!
OK...so I'm finally home for a week. I can breathe a little (I'll be in CA all next week) and I can post a little. Here are a few pictures from my Hawaii work trip. I stayed on Waikiki, which is very touristy, but lucky for me I was there during the month when they get the least amount of tourists. I was beautiful and I could seriously see myself living there. The weather was perfect every day, not too hot, not too cold. Sun, beaches, and palm trees...do you need anthing else?
One of my favorite parts of my trip to Hawaii was on Thursday afternoon. My co-worker who was born and raised on the islands took me to Pearl Harbor. What an amazing place. We watched the movie about that day and then took a Navy ship over to the monument. What a humbling experience! When people talk about that generation being the greatest generation they are really down playing it. Anyone who doubts it needs only visit that place and those men who are listed on that wall will atest to it not just being the greatest generation, but also the noblest! Just thinking about my experience there brings tears to my eyes as I write this. We don't understand sacrifice like that generation did. On the Arizona alone (which is where the monument is directly over and also the metal circular thing sticking up in the water) there were several sets of brothers and I read about 1 set of twins that both died. The picture of the smaller wall of names contains the names of the men from the Arizona that survived Dec. 7th. They have since died and been laid to rest at sea, right there with their fallen comrades. The most recent was in 2006. Anyone who goes to Hawaii should try to make a trip to this very sacred place in our Countries history.