THE BAINNY BUNCH

NEW YEARS EVE 2011

2012-01-15T19:11:00.000-08:00

WHAT A PARTY!!!!
Mandy and the kids came over, we watched movies, BBQ'd lobster and burgers and waited for the ball to drop in New York. The ball dropped at 9p.m. our time, midnight on the East Coast....AND we missed it! The kids were mad but we promised them that we would catch it at 12 o clock. At 12 we couldn't find the NY ball so we watched the local fireworks going off on the strip, drank sparkling apple cider and wished each other happy new year. The kids ran out on the balcony and yelled "HAPPY NEW YEAR" our neighbors were lighting fruit on fire, fireworks were flying in the air and it was all nutty and crazy for about 7 mins. Look at the picture I took of Kami and Niamh....every time the neighbors fruit blew up, the girls started squealing like crazy....it was pretty funny. Finally at about 12:20 the kids started complaining that they didn't get to see the ball drop so we looked for a rerun on CNN and found it. We counted down and wished each other a second happy new year, then Jacob got mad and said "that was dumb, is that all that happens" I asked him what he thought was supposed to happen and he said, "I thought a big ball flew out of the sky...." aha hahaha ahahhahahah!!! I guess they wanted something a little bit more spectacular!

They make me laugh

2011-12-31T22:12:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of a performance I attended, ahem....downstairs....of the nutcracker meets a hip hoppin' Santa. It made me laugh so hard I felt like I had done 1000 crunches.
The kids often put on these "performances" that take just a couple of practices, usually courtesy of director Baili. They always entertaining, sometimes a little long, but fun. Well, they were super excited to get me downstairs for this special Christmas one. Baili and Kami danced around, Baili flinging Kami left and right, spreading both their arms out like they were swans gliding on a lake.
Then Jacob shows up looking like he does in the pictures, boy scout shirt, homemade hat (that I couldn't get quite to his liking), gloves, church pants, & sword? Can anyone say "nutcracker"? He was funny enough to look at and talking through his paper mustache but when he put on some crazy song and started dancing all over the place, I lost it. Tears ran down my face as I tried not to openly laugh out loud and hurt his feelings but seriously........HILARIOUS!!!!
Its probably one of those things where you had to be there to really enjoy the true abdominal effect but if you just glance once more at the first picture it'll give ya an idea of how funny the moment was. He was very much in character. Bless his nutty heart......
......and then...out comes SANTA...aka Ryan with a balloon stuffed under his coat! These kids have way too much time on their hands, I think! Seriously though, they love to create and act and dance and have all kinds of fun. It was very cute and fabulously entertaining.

Things I've heard from my kids recently that seemed fitting in this post......

Driving home from school one day, I mention to Baili and friends that I'm tired of doing housework and chores. Her friend, Lauren, says...."Oh you have the same hobbies as my Mom"

Kami at the dinner table, me in the kitchen...
"umm Mom, I don't wanna burst your bubble or anything....." (pause)
"i don't like your potatoes!" (pause)
"did I burst your bubble?"

and by default Kami got her own room also......

2011-12-30T23:42:00.000-08:00

Bailis New Room

2011-12-30T23:06:00.000-08:00

blogging diarrhea

2011-12-30T22:59:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my Dad on Christmas day and he said.......".I've got it now, I see how you do this blogging thing, you do nothing for weeks and then you blog 5 or 6 at a time" Yep you got it on the nose, thats my MO. It's how I roll.....hee hee! check out all the posts from tonight, I'm trying to get caught up before 2012.

Seriously?

2011-12-30T22:54:00.000-08:00

CUTE!!

A Devine Tradition

2011-12-30T22:16:00.000-08:00

We love the tradition of going to Nana's the day after Christmas. The kids always look forward to hanging out with cousins and playing in the open country air. The boys played some fun game with Gavin & Tyrone's new guns. Baili took pictures and video of the girls and they all chased goats and cats. The adults hung out mostly inside laughing and chatting and eating treats of course! We love Lucas's yearly treat of the family movie with pictures from the year gone by. Good job Lucas....go you! Really, it's so fun to sit and laugh and cry at all the pictures. We had a great St. Stephens day (what we grew up calling it in Ireland)!

The pictures say it all....Merry Christmas

2011-12-30T20:49:00.000-08:00

ok here's just a few words....Skateboard, Fur real Frenzies, New bedroom, Red Hi Tops, Wii Games, Air Hogs Helicopter, Gift cards, Hair Stuff, Ipod, Basketball, Perfume, Clothes, Shaun White stuff, Sewing Machine, Chocolate, Games, Doll, Skel-animals, massage.

Baili Plays Cello

2011-12-30T20:28:00.000-08:00

Baili had a concert at Cadwallader Middle School in December, where shes learning to play cello.

Christmas Cheer

2011-12-23T19:38:00.000-08:00

Meet our family Elf - Lucky! Santa sent him to us this year to keep and eye on the children and report nightly how they are behaving. Each night he returns to the North pole with a report on how the kids did during the day. When he comes back he finds a funny little place to hangout around the house and each morning the kids try to find him. He has made the holiday super fun and kept the kids behaving too.

The boys cub scout pack gathered a huge donation for local homeless kids right before Christmas. We read an article in our local newspaper about some Clark County School District students that are homeless. Some of them only eat at school through the free breakfast and lunch program. Many of them don't have clothes, underwear or coats.
Our pack decided to help and gathered lots of supplies in just a few days. We brought the entire back of my van full of clothes, underwear, hats, gloves, coats and 10 huge bags of food donated by a local union, to Catholic Charities with two days to go till Christmas. I brought some boys along with Jacob and Ryan to drop off what we collected. It was a great experience and I think it impacted the kids to see that other kids really have so much less than we do. On the way home I brought the boys for a treat and look what we found, a wholesale candy store.....Ryan thought Christmas came early...ha ha!

Baili's Photography

2011-12-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

Birthday Roadtrip

2011-12-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

Look how cute these girls are! Baili took three of her friends to St. George to celebrate her birthday with her. We have a family rule of no sleep overs but made a slight adjustment for such a special birthday. Baili planned this for months and was sooooooo excited to stay overnight, hanging out and playing together. We swam at the hotel, ate dinner, shopped till we dropped, did our own manicures and stopped into the temple grounds. When we got back to Vegas all of Baili's friends came over for a party. She is seriously the cutest thing ever....I love her so much. Watching her grow and develop into her own person makes me so proud of her.
Happy Birthday sweetie!

Thanksgiving 2012

2011-12-11T13:44:00.000-08:00

What a fun thanksgiving! Sams parents were in town the whole month of November since Ryans baptism. We hosted dinner at our house and as always Sam cooked the turkey. We actually forgot about getting a Ham until we were sitting down to eat and realized we never bought it :) This year we researched and learned how to brine our turkey to made it super juicy. It turned out great. Everyone brought a dish or two to share and we were well fed. Mandy, Lucas and family joined us as well as Joe, Amy, Lucy and Kevin, Tiffany & kids. Mom & Dad Bainbridge and Kati made 23 total! We played Jacobs "Feast Pursuit" a game he created for school with a seasonal theme.

That night we went black Friday - which has turned into black Thursday night - shopping. We left just before 10p.m. and what a nightmare.....Breathe!!! so in the past, Ive shopped at Walmart & Target and its been pretty pain free. Not this year.....I was not in Walmart for more than 10 minutes before I started to feel claustrophobia and stress. I couldn't maneuver the cart anywhere, couldn't find anything on my list and couldn't breath - at all!!! I called Amy and she, Cecelia and Tiffany had all come to the same conclusion. THIS WAS NOT WORTH IT!!! One of the few times I have left Walmart empty handed....boohoo....tears and snots...not really!
We decided to get a jump on the line at Target only problem was it was 11p.m. and they didn't open till midnight. We got our spot in line, Cecelia and I picked up some hot coco and M&M's and we met two cute twin sisters behind us to chat with. It was fun. When Target opened, we got pretty much everything we all wanted but I vowed there and then that this was the finale for me. It just wasn't worth a sleepless night, standing in the freezing (freezing for us Trudi) cold and on top of it all I picked up an ear and sinus infection that lasted for week. I know I sound like a total negative nancy, but for real, I don't want to forget this next year and head out thinking "ah it'll be fun, worth it, exciting...." NO IT WONT..... bring on the online shopping and realistic 7a.m. Friday morning shopping.

On the Saturday after thanksgiving we took all the kids to a Circus for Eli's birthday. It was a bit cheesy in parts but the kids soaked it up. Some of the shows were really death defying and scary. The elephants were awesome. We had a good time.

Idaho trip

2011-12-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

Sam wanted to take our kids on a road trip to Idaho to see the new construction in Rexburg at our alma mater, Ricks College now Brigham Young University, Idaho (BYU-I). I have to admit I was initially not excited about the loooooooong trip stuck in the van with the screaming, fighting and complaining children but being the optimist that I am....jk.....said it would be worth it. And it was......
We broke up the trip by spending one night on the way up in Provo and then visiting Trudi and fam in Oakley, Idaho. On the way back we had quick visit with Selena & Celeste and families on the way home.
We'd never been to where Trudi, Tyler and Noah live and it was really fun hanging out (......ok and eating and shopping). My sisters have all turned into quite the little homemakers so it was fun to see Trudis projects and go find cute deals at ummmm.....various stores!
The kids loved playing with their cousin Noah, who is soooo cute! We left for the two hour drive to Rexburg the next morning.
Oh my goodness.....how things have changed up there. It was so funny how the kids reacted when we went to have lunch on campus. When we went to school, I worked at The Nordic, the food joint in the Manwaring Center (fondly nicknamed the "MC"). Well now the ENTIRE second floor of the MC is the food court, HUGE with like 8 different options of stuff to eat. The kids were freaking out because they felt so conscious that they were the only kids around. Jacob was hiding behind Sam and I saying through his teeth..."lets get out of here"....... Sam calmed them down by explaining to them that first of all no one cared that they were there, secondly, pretty much everyone was LDS too and was super nice and thirdly because we were Alumni, they had a right to be on campus....it did the trick and they relaxed and had lunch. We walked all over campus, up and down the library, showed them the Snow building where I spent a lot of time practicing piano and taking choir and piano. At one point we opened the door to a little theatre where I used to have choir. Class was in session, I had the kids and Sam stand just inside the door where no one could see us. Immediately the "spirit of Ricks" returned to my heart and I remembered how I truly loved my choir class and learning in the Snow building. Of course the fact that they were singing the national anthem had nothing to do with my swelling heart and leaky eyes!
By the end of the day the kids had decided that they want to attend college in Rexburg. They loved it. Baili was talking about things she could do and Jacob where he would take classes to be a graphic designer. Ryan said he wanted to play basketball there and even got to shoot a ball in the big gym. I know it was a really positive experience for them and that made us happy!

Ryans Baptism

2011-11-05T23:12:00.000-07:00

Look at this handsome kid! Ryan was really excited and ready for his baptism. He has been waiting a long time. He asked his Grandpa Bainbridge to baptize him. It was a really special day. Five other friends of Ryan's were baptized at the same session so there were lots of people. All six kids sang, "I love to see the Temple" All I could think of when he went down in the water was how precious he is and how he was born a whole month early, so eager to come to earth and ready to start life. He has never lost that exuberance! He is a special kid and we love him lots. Great decision Ryan.

The Bainbridges Take Halloween

2011-11-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

I feel too lazy to write about Halloween....lets just say we partied for a week, tons of candy, tons of fun, great time! Glad its over....haha! It's the kids favorite holiday, well maybe its tied with Christmas. Good times!

Staheli Family Farm Maze

2011-11-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

Sam took Nevada Day off work and took the family to a corn maze in St. George, UT. We didn't really know what to expect at the Staheli Family Farm but the day turned out just perfect! They had a bunch of activities for the kids, animals to pet, games to play and food to eat. The corn maze was BIG and we totally got lost. The little kids got tired fast but Ryan led the way and we finally found the center (picture with the flag). Yay...... That night Sam and the boys went back to the SPOOKY part of the corn maze to get chased by ghouls and zombies with chainsaws....SCARY! They loved it. The girls and I went shopping instead!

Jacob is 10 - Wow!

2011-10-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

Jacob said he couldn't sleep the whole night before his birthday because he couldn't wait for us to wake him up singing happy birthday with presents in tow. This has been our family tradition since I was a kid. Our kids love starting their birthday day off this way too.
He was super excited when he opened our gift, a gift certificate to game Xchange where he could buy a Wii game that he has wanted for months. I caught him right when he was saying...."you guys got it"This picture just makes me laugh. After playing with his friends, getting all hyped up, we had cake and ice cream. Jacob was yelling, "sing to me, sing to me...." reminiscent of the phantom of the opera.....still cracks me up. All of the boys at the party are from Jacobs cub scout pack. One of their favorite cheers is the superman cheer..."is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's a bird"....and they splat their hand on their head pretending its bird poop! So they started making cheers about the cupcakes, which is what Jacob requested over a cake, unfortunately one ended up all over Jacobs face.
They were crazy, loud and hilarious. I think they all had a great time.

We Love our Cub Scouts

2011-10-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

Knottsberry Farm, CA

2011-10-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

We celebrated the boys birthdays in California. Had a great time with the kids. Ive said it before but as the kids get older it is really fun to hang out with them. We stayed at Embassy Suites (pictures of that to come), went swimming the night we got there and had a breakfast buffet the next morning at the hotel. We spent the whole day at Knottsberry Farm and had a really good time. The kids loved the rides. We think we like it better than Disney.....gasp! I know Disney is close to many peoples hearts - Lucas - but really, we got a great deal on tickets, the park was almost empty (we went on a Tuesday), and we LOVED the rides. Even the food was reasonable for lunch and dinner.
Ryan and I were definitely the most adventurous although as the day went on, Jacob did loosen up. Sam bought tickets for Ryan and I to go on this crazy swing, the "Screamin Swing" and it was crazy......Ryan was a daredevil the whole day but it swung so high, I dunno what we were thinking. My favorite was the Boomerang....I remember it also being my favorite from my senior trip - umm like 5 years ago....hahah not....that was 1996!

Fall Luau - Oxymoron? Not in sunny Las Vegas

2011-10-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

Our family was invited to a company picnic for one of Sam's clients. It was a super fun, well organized and FREE! They had so many fun things for the kids and us. We had delicious Hawaiian food, ice-cream, sno-cones, pumpkin decorating, dance contests, a rock wall (check out Ryan) and the favorite SURF RIDER!! We had a really fun time as a family despite the roasting heat!

Im HOT right now!

2011-10-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

I'm so sick of WALMART and its monopoly on low prices. It's like you are trapped between their crappy service and getting a deal. Backed into a corner, caught in a cage like a rat, forced to make a decision to shop somewhere else if you would like to do so in peace! I'm so sick of it!!!
They say writing is therapeutic so I'm trying to heal my anger with this post!
Over the years I've had many a blood pumping experience at the checkout of our friendly neighborhood Walmart. And over the years I really feel like I've learned to curb my tongue and control my blood pressure as well as the urge to punch someone in the face. I pride myself on thinking about the poor underpaid cashier and how its not their fault....but who the heck cares anymore, I just want someone to pay for my wasted time.
I know you're dying to know what happened this time and if my knuckle sandwich actually made epidermal contact..................hmmmm! Close but no!
I was in the SPEEDY check out - 10 items or less. There was 4 or 5 people in front of me and all of a sudden I notice we've all been in the same spot for over 5 mins. Start looking around, no CSM, no light flashing.....what's the flippin hold up??? The lady at the checkout was fumbling in her wallet and then proceeded to have a conversation with the cashier, like they hadn't seen each other for months and had tons to catch up on. Eh ok? Look around a little more, nothing!
So I decided (with some reminders from the angel sitting on my right shoulder) to keep calm and just walk up and see if the cashier would like me to go get a CSM (CUSTOMER service manger) because remember service is all about the CUSTOMER and not having them stand around unnecessarily for 10 minutes. She abruptly told me one was called and I felt like Id just been told to go sit in my chair....like elementary school! BREATHE!!!!
Stand around some more, blood beginning to boil, angel on shoulder yelling, trying to be patient but I am IRISH, I am a WOMAN, I am LATE, and I. Am. Going. To. Blow.
Thank goodness for cell phones and the fact that I have the stores number programmed into it (it really is a love/hate relationship). I call the main number and explain to them that I am at checkout 26 for the last 10 minutes and they should send over a CSM. Granted I did this with a loud voice but whatever.....time is money and I already give enough of my money to Walmart.
No sooner is the line moving FINALLY but a cashier that had been wandering around stocking cigarettes (don't even get me started) pops up and opens checkout 25.....ya, the one behind me! SCREEEEAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
Why do I continue to support this ridiculous store.....I dunno, I'm crazy, they are cheaper than everywhere else! I got out as fast as I could bill totalling $2.06 - sigh and awkward laugh - I was proud that I restrained myself with the cashier, from past experience I was afraid someday I might end up being her visiting teacher or she my kids teacher somewhere! She did have the audacity to ask me if I wanted to sign up for a Walmart credit card.....are you smoking something??? I'm thinking of making a shirt that says, "No I don't want a Walmart credit card" so every time I checkout I don't have to be reminded that I already spend too much in this stinkin store and don't want an extra means to contribute to the monopoly!!!
Grr, grr, and more grrr......I'm so mad still.
There is no moral to the story but a tip. Go to Walmart at 6a.m. The chances are slim that you will have someone with a cart full of groceries at the ONE checkout that they have open....although it has happened to me...... but you can usually get in and out, do returns quickly and can pretend that you're sleepwalking if someone annoys you!

Ryans Birthday Party - note the game in the 2nd picture - ha ha!

2011-10-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

Jacob is so creative

2011-10-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

Look what Jacob made out of an Apple. He is super creative! He loves to draw and is REALLY REALLY good. He got an idea from my new favorite obsession (PINTEREST.com). He spent quite a bit of time on this pirate skull. I think his work is amazing!

Things we love to do...

2011-10-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

.....at The Royal, Cancun!
EAT at Spice Buffet. Sooooo yummy! Look at this delicious fruit plate. Gerardo has been the host every year that were visit and he remembers us each time. He is so nice, he always takes my handbag and offers his arm to walk us to our table. My favorite is when he says...."come, my queen" ha....so cute! I was craving Kiwi fruit for days and they didn't have any for serving, I finally asked Gerardo, he got right on the phone and found one for me and brought it in on a plate - seriously!
And...I look really scary in this picture......
PLAY....we love making new friends. These are friends we made from Michoacan and Brazil. They played volleyball with Sam and danced with me. They were hilarious! If you know my friend Haoi My, don't you think Faby (on the left) looks just like her?EAT SOME MORE......It's hard to choose a favorite restaurant but this year we really loved Maria Marie, a French/Mexican fusion gourmet restaurant with yummy food, an awesome ambiance and superb staff.This was the set up during the day for a beach Caribbean night. Isn't it beautiful? Again they had amazing food, a salsa group and dancing all night. We met an Irish couple on their honeymoon and laughed all night at our drunken Argentinian friends.....ah memories!

La Bodeguita Del Medio, PDC

2011-10-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

aahhhh the bodeguita, this Cuban restaurant is my favorite place to dance salsa in Cancun. We visited last year at their old location which had a bigger dance floor, but the atmosphere and music was still the BEST!!! The people are so nice! This year I signed my name on their wall...as you can see EVERYONE signs their name on the wall, and on the light fixtures and pretty much anywhere you can write! Sam says he enjoys listening to the music and watching me dance and having fun.....seriously ask him! La Bodequita was just down the street from our resort on Calle 5 so we went a couple of nights in a row. We did try some other Latin restaurants with music, one was on the beach which was kinda unique, but nowhere is as good as La Bodeguita! Love it!!!!

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

2011-10-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our 14th Anniversary (coming Nov 1st) in Mexico. We love it so much there that after debating about visiting other places, decided why mess with a good thing?Within hours of arriving at THE ROYAL, Playa Del Carmen, the resort had a Caribbean night that was super fun. They had amazing food, a Latin Band and dancers.
Below is 5th Street, which was literally just a few steps from our resort. You can find pretty much everything in this shopping corridor. They have high end stores and then mom and pop shops were you can wheel and deal your price! Our FAVORITE thing to do is get massages. Last year we went to Veronica's Gold and loved it but this year we tried a new place that seriously was better (which we didn't think was possible). One hour massages for two for $50 - SERIOUSLY!!!!! Most of the therapist work at the resorts so they are certified and know their stuff.....it's by far our best thing on Calle 5.
One day we took a long walk along the beach in front of our resort. When we walked for a long time, it was really quite and peaceful with just a few people around. We lay on the sand and could only hear the waves. It was so relaxing. Thinking about moments like this help me slow down. It was definitely a highlight of that day!

Cub Scout Hoedown

2011-10-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

Snakes Dinner

2011-10-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

Kami is learning to read and she is doing REALLY well. This is her new favorite book - Snakes Dinner. She read it about 8 times one night! yayyyy.....

Kami is SIX

2011-10-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

Pictures from Kamis birthday party! What started out as 6-8 friends turned into a rockin' 18, not including our four. She had a great party and got her SMURF cake - which was her only party request. As always Baili planned most everything and made cute invitations. I can't believe my baby is six years old. She is so CUTE!!!! Love you Kami xo

Running with a purpose

2011-09-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I ran the Candlelighters 5k to benefit Cancer research for children in Nevada. We lost one of my sweet young women, Makenzie Hanover, to cancer on Memorial Day this year. I ran this race for her and her family. I referenced loving the amazing feeling of endorphins in a post on my other blog HERE but wanted to write about a different surge of energy and emotion that overcame me as I ran this race with Team Kenzie, who by the way, raised the second largest amount of money for this cause!

Sami (formerly Sister Mose) and her new husband, Ben, came with me. We left our side of town at 6a.m. to drive down to Mountains Edge. Wow, there was a gazillion cars and people everywhere……we actually took a shuttle to the check-in area from where we parked. I’m so glad I had someone to be there with me but I did manage to meet some Dubliners on the shuttle. That was fun to chat with them about Ireland. They still had awesome accents even though they had been in the states for 20 years…..what the heck……I sound totally American….booo!

Anyway, we gathered with Team Kenzie, got our numbers, took a picture and waited to start. The feeling was solemn as everyone I’m sure thought about our dear friend and the fact that she was with us for last years run. She actually participated in her wheelchair. She was the bravest kid I know.

We were off!!! For me the start was tough, I haven’t run much for like a year. I tried to focus on my breathing and not on the fact that the fanny pack I was wearing was bouncing like a balloon on my rump! The first part of the run was a gradual hill (not fun). I had flashbacks to my spin class and Lyla screaming that her grandma could get up a hill faster than us……umm ya! Motivation…….

I got into a rhythm and the next turn had us on more of a flat…YES!!! I grabbed a quick water as I ran and poured the rest on me, ok now I was getting some pacing going. I thought of Makenzie a few times but almost had to push it out of my mind because the tears were coming. I was running for her and for the rest of the kids that face what she faced, I was going to do this and do it well.

Then we went downhill…..ahhhh the wind in my face, momentum pushing me downhill, pressure off my hamstrings and into my quads. I started to gain some speed and could feel that it wouldn’t be too much longer. I saw the 4 kilometer sign and knew it was almost done! Just then a lady passed me that I had seen earlier with our team. I’m not sure who she was but I guessed maybe Makenzies aunt? Thoughts of Makenzie again…… I pulled up next to her and gave her a thumbs up. She reached out and grabbed my hand…we totally had a moment. She told me later that she really needed that right then. Emotion surged through me and I felt so strongly that Makenzie loved what we were doing and was there in spirit for her family and this cause.

We ran the last part of the race together. I felt united with this woman. I thought of my dear little friend and how I missed her. The tears mixed with the sweat and poured down my face.

We turned the corner to the finish line and she said “I dare you to beat me in” we both picked up speed and sprinted across the finish line. We hugged and I totally lost it……not unusual for me. I’m generally super emotional but I was proud of us and proud of Makenzie for HER strength and how she battled this horrible disease. I was proud of her family how they have mustered the strength to survive each day without her. I was proud of the other cancer patients that were there fighting for survival. I was just proud to be part of something amazing!

I kept thinking that day about my recent post on my other blog and how I love that endorphin high when I work out and the good it does for me mentally as well as physically. The thought of how “running for a cause” felt so different and had such purpose, kept coming to mind. Our lives are so complex and we should expose ourselves to many opportunities so we can have such experiences. Service comes in many ways and as we interact with each other during this mortal experience, we bond in ways that could never have been planned.

I guess the moral of the story is to enjoy the journey. Enjoy every minute you have with your loved ones, share experiences that uplift you and build you. Find ways to help others because the payback and memories will be more precious to you than anything in this world.

Sami, Ben & I after the race. By the way i ran my fastest time at 29 minutes.

Never Forget!

2011-09-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

I just remember the disbelief...... Incredible that what I was seeing on the television was real. How could this be? I talked to Sam on the phone. My friend Tori called and came down the street to sit with me and watch what unfolded on the news. It was crazy! Seriously crazy, that this had just happened in our country, land of the free!
My prayers continue to go out to the families who lost loved ones that day. Our country was changed forever. I applaud the heroes who gave their lives that day and the heroes who followed the days, weeks and months after the attacks. May we never forget what happened and how our individual lives were changed that day September 11, 2001.

New Blog - oh yeah!

2011-09-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

If you haven't noticed the new link to the right of our family blog....BLOGS I WRITE.....look now! Ok now you've noticed....lol.
I have a new health/fitness blog and I'm having so much fun with it. I like to write so why not write about things that interest me and share a little info along the way!
Hope you enjoy. THE FLYING ENDORPHIN

Back to School 2011

2011-09-02T14:42:00.001-07:00

We cannot believe Baili is in middle school. 6th grade.....crazy! She was SUPER excited for her first day. I kept asking her if she was nervous (because I was) but she would just say with a big smile, "no, Im sooooo excited"
She has a dress code so she has to wear certain colors. She likes her teachers (she has 6 of them) and is taking Orchestra. Shes going to play cello and maybe volleyball. We went to Smart night on Tuesday, a night the church has for free tutoring and educational stuff (college prep, taking tests etc....). Baili was bored with the orientation but I think she will love going on Tuesday nights and having help with homework. We are so proud of Baili. She is growing into a beautiful, strong young woman.
Jacob just entered 4th grade. He also was super excited. He is again in a class with his best friend Tyson Hancock. They have Mr. Jensen and Mr. K., his first time having male teachers.
So far he loves it, other than the fact they have to haul ALL their books around in their backpacks. He is talking about playing basketball for the school later in the school year. He is doing great with piano and playing Wizard 101 too much :). Jacob has EXCELLENT handwriting and takes his education very seriously. He scored "above standards" in his CRT's, a state test. He is a great example to his siblings and we love him so much.
Look at Ryan, he is so cute! The boys love their hi-top sneakers that they got for back to school. Ryan loves to be fashionable and he looked so good heading off the 2nd grade this year. His teacher is Ms. Spilsbury (Baili's old 2nd grade teacher) who is also LDS. He was excited that his friends, Jordan and another Ryan, were in his class. Ryan is going to take a basketball class at the YMCA and join a league in October. He cant wait. He is also getting baptized in November. We are proud of Ryan, he is a great boy and learning many things. He is great at reading and math.
Kami Lynn......how are you already in 1st grade???? She is growing so fast. Kami's loves her teacher this year, Ms Steward. She is in Bailis old classroom. Shes excited to have "specials" of art, music, library and PE this year. She has a couple of friends in her class and was so happy to see Jenna (below) the very first day of school. Kami was really nervous, she kept saying "I just can't do it...." about going back to school. I thought there would be a meltdown but she was very brave and had a great first week at school.
It was cute, before school started Kami asked Ryan if all first grade teachers give kids hugs when the kids leave for the day.....this was because both Ryan and Kamis' kindergarten teacher, Ms Gehring, used to give them hugs as they left for the day! Kami loves hugs and Ms Steward did give her a big hug at meet the teacher day.....Kami was so happy! Kami is great at coloring and she is learning to read really well.
So the 2nd day of school, I got pulled over at Baili school. Yayy....not! I had started driving through a crosswalk too soon before students were off the street. The school cop was nice, he just gave me a warning and told me to be careful.....phew! What was funny was, as he approached the van, Kami started freaking out saying...."are you going to jail mom?" maybe we shouldn't be watching so many prison shows......lol
Check out the gang from Parkside Estates (above) and check out Ryans face...hahaha!
These are all good kids, we love them.

We love playing in the Ocean - all pix

2011-08-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

I swear we only drink water

2011-08-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

ok as we were leaving, we had the bouncer take this picture (above) but the one below I think he snapped when we were dancing AGAIN instead of leaving.....hahaha! Tiffany, you're a maniac!

On da floor

2011-08-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

This is the eight of us before our venture out on the town. We had originally planned on going into Orlando to hit some dancing but after a day lounging around on the beach decided to drive to Daytona, only 30 mins away. Good plan!!! Tiffany suggested her old stompin' ground which unbeknowns to us had changed drastically over the years....hee hee! We should have known by the "attire" of some of the guest entering that it probably wasn't what we were looking for but after getting ready and driving the half hour we decided what the heck, it'll be fun!
Ummmm, we were litterally the only white people in the place...well joey and I count as half white, especially after they saw our moves...hahaha
We stuck out like nothing else but that wasn't gonna stop us, heck no, our $10 cover was just as good as anyone elses' so off we went and TOOK OVER DA FLOOR, even Sam and Kevin busted a move. It was really fun, even when they gave a shoutout to their - and I quote - "white peeps" ok like that would ever be ok anywhere else....whatever, we danced our feet off and finally bid our goldtooth friends adieu at 2 in the morning.
A quick stop at Dennys back at the beach for breakfast and desert, and Kevins memorable 8 scrambled eggs, plate of pancackes PLUS quesadillas. Did I mention is was 2 a.m.? The guy is a garbage disposal.
Two nights later Tiffany and I decided to check out a brand new Latin dance club that I had heard about when Sam and I went dancing (well I went dancing, Sam was my personal bodyguard..lol) to the Rockin Ranch in Ormond Beach. It was the 2nd opening weekend of THE MIX in Daytona and we had a BLAST!!!!! Some of the people I had met the previous night were there so we hit the floor right out of the gate. It was super fun and pretty awesome salseros to dance with. As the night wore on we sorta hooked up with a multi-cultural group of students from Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil and Egypt. That's one thing I love about Florida, it's so diverse.

Girls Night Florida

2011-08-27T08:24:00.001-07:00

Its become a tradition over the years for us to have a "girls night - no boys allowed" while we're on vacation at the beach. The little girls decorated the condo and kicked us off with a fashion show. We had so much fun this year, eating candy & ice-cream, painting nails, hanging out and watching SOUL SURFER.

Wanna dance?

2011-08-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

Ive been bouncing from gym to gym finding zumba classes here in Florida. I met Yana last year, shes from Russia and is my favorite instructor out here. Her style is a lot like mine and her class is a ton of fun. Shes also a bellydancer. After class we were chatting and a guy came up because he overheard I was Irish. He was in Dublin last month teaching lindy hop and swing. A DANCER - woohooo!!! Turned out Joel also teaches/dances salsa....thank you lucky stars....hee hee! He said we should dance - ummmm ok, dont have to ask me twice! So here's the video.....us in the lobby of the YMCA (no music)! When we were done people asked how long we'd been dancing and if we teach lessons, where they could learn from us....hahaha.....we told them "we just met 5 minutes ago....."

What we've been up to......

2011-08-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

Hanging at the beach & playing in the sand
Ultimate beach frisbee with the brothers....

Gorging ourselves on seafood at "Aunt Catfish"

Spending time with cousins

100% Irish - Half Mexican

2011-08-14T17:31:00.000-07:00

3rd Annual Devine Family Reunion - tons of pics :)

2011-08-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

We kicked off the reunion with a circus show downtown. A clown, some contortionists and SUBWAY for lunch, then to Mandys house for manis/pedis. It was super fun to just hang out, chat and laugh like turkeys, cackle cackle cackle.....lol
Mandy made cookies that were to DIE for....so yummy and I think we ate all 6 dozen. This year we began a new tradition of spotlighting ancestors, which was so cool to hear stories about them and see pictures. I decided to start another blog for our family keeping the spotlights and photos for the generations that follow us.
An early morning stroll (umm trudi tried to tag it a "hike") at Floyd Lamb Park. It was such a nice (hot) morning. We walked around the lake and then had a picnic breakfast. Ryan kept the geese away by chasing them and Nana said it wasn't nice to scare them...lol
After the park we went back to our house for water games and then to In-N-Out for lunch.
We had a SURPRISE that Sam, kids and I had kept from the rest of the family. We drove them to an AMAZING pool that we had rented for a few hours. It was SUPER fun...slides, cliffs, swim up bar, a bridge, volleyball court and relaxing patio with the biggest sectional sofa Ive ever seen.
We finished up with the buffet at the Silverton, where Sam pulled a fast one and got us in through the VIP line so we didnt' have to wait two hours. His good looks seal the deal every time.....
Saturday morning we all attended Mandys father in laws funeral. Garth Abbott was a great man and so kind to our family. We will all miss him dearly and know he has gone ahead to do great things on the other side. After a really nice family lunch we came back and finished up our family spotlights, had a talent show and hung out for the rest of the night.
It was a really good time......relaxing, laughing, eating and sharing some tears together. We're already planning for next year and maybe looking at an out of state location....hmmmm??? YESSSSS!!!!

Fourth of July 2011

2011-08-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

The 8th annual Salsa congress was in Las Vegas July 4th weekend so this year Sam came with me. It was AWESOME!!!! Amazing performances and amazing dancing after, until 3 in the morning. I'm already prepping for next year.....hahaha! You can see my favorite performance here
The last couple of years we've had a new tradition of staying in Las Vegas to celebrate the fourth of July. We have a big pool party and BBQ during the day and at night all the neighbors come outside and share fireworks.
Somehow this year our house seemed to be the center of the party and we had lots of neighbors hanging out on our lawn so we decided to share a desert and soda. It was fun but before we knew it, it was 10p.m and we had to shut it down and get to bed. Here are some pictures of the night.

Pool Parties up the wazooo.....

2011-07-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing we know how to do....its have a pool party! We love it!!! Memorial weekend is when we officially open the pool. This year we had Selena and her family in town. Mandy, Lucas and family came over, Trudi, Tyler & Noah were here from Idaho on their way to Ireland, and Joe, Amy & Lucy. Sam cooked a mean BBQ and we swam all day. The Sunderland kids have grown up with ours and its so fun to get together at least once or twice a year and have the kids get along so well. Our gang is growing.
In years past we've had one big END OF SCHOOL pool party but it gets a little crazy so this year I decided to have a day for each of the kids to invite their friends. It was soooo much better and they could each invite more friends. I didn't take pictures of the boys but here's pictures of Kami and Baili's party!
And alas, the young women pool parties at mi casa.....why stop with just my own kids.

Kicking off Summer

2011-07-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

class of 2022 isn't that crazy???

I have seriously almost given up blogging. What the heck? Summer has been busy ever since the kids got outta school and we've been having fun. The first couple of days were tough trying to figure out how to make it three months with no real structure but once we made a weekly schedule and understood that every day WAS NOT going to be party central at our house, we were good to go.
At the end of school, Ryans teacher, Ms Jensen had the cutest little graduation program ever! The kids went through the whole 1st grade year and what they had learned with songs, poems and skits. Ryan went from being a big ham to being "too cool" to do anything, including singing and I found myself snapping my fingers trying to get his attention and warning him, through grinded teeth to participate.......loving as I am.
The parents beside me were falling off their seats, laughing at one of the songs because Ryan was so "street" and "funky" with his "gangster" hand jesters....yeah that's us...so hood! This picture is when he was "bustin a move" and yep those are antennae on his head.......lol
We found out about a great local deal for the month of June at Primm, NV and spent two separate days out there having free fun. They had rides, free movie and the CRAZIEST roller coaster ever created.....I actually lost my voice for two weeks because I screamed so much. The kids had so much fun we went out a second time and each of the kids brought a friend.

KinderGrad

2011-06-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

Kami graduated kindergarten this year. They did the CUTEST little play EVER. Kami was the "CAT". Nana came with cousins Tyrone and Niamh. Ryan was so sweet and brought Laes for Kami and her teacher (his old teacher) Mrs Gehring.

At the end they sang "Start spreadin the news....."

Touching the Temple

2011-06-10T15:23:00.000-07:00

Our ward challenge this month is to "touch the temple." I think the idea came from the youth TREK TO THE TEMPLE. After our 20 mile walk, the temple president challenged the youth to go up and actually, physically touch the temple, but more importantly to let the temple touch them in their lives.

So the kids and I took a walk around the temple last week. We took these pictures. I told the kids about the tree in the second picture above. When the kids were much younger, actually I think Ryan was the baby, we used to take field trips up to the temple and just sit on the grounds. I remember bringing bubbles for the kids and I would sit them up in that tree and they would blow the bubbles. Its amazing how small the tree looks now, time has flown.

The peace on the temple grounds is almost tangible and I love it there. It brings the important things in life to the front of my mind and all the other things seem less important. It reminds me of family, love and great memories!

Life & Death

2011-06-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

The newest addition to our growing family - ISLA MAEVE ABBOTT. She is so precious and beautiful and I satisfy my maternal needs whenever I get to hold her. This is Mandys fourth baby, bring on the meds....just kidding! Mandy is so calm and organized, she is a wonderful Mom. Isla is a very calm and peaceful baby. She always looks like she wants to say something or is in deep thought, with the best expressions!Our dear, beautiful friend MaKenzie Hanover passed away on Memorial Day (June 30th) after a year long battle with brain cancer. We will miss her but her passing strengthened our beliefs in life after death and knowing that she has gone on to do work on the other side. We had some good conversations with the children about life and death. Jacob said the morning after we found out MaKenzie was gone, "its just weird that someone is here and then gone." The sadness that we feel for the loss of our loved ones is human and real but the knowledge that their spirit continues to live is extremely comforting and gives hope to those of us left behind.We took this picture the last time we got to visit with MaKenzie. Our kids really loved her, as I did. I'm so glad we have this picture to remember how great it always was to be around MaKenzie. The picture below is from YW camp two years ago of MaKenzie and her friend McKenna, both girls used to babysit our kids.

Anxiety No More

2011-06-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

a little pic from a couple of years ago.....ahhh da beach!
Today is the last day of school (hold applause)!!!! I dont know how I feel about it (Bad Mom)!!!

My kids love school and I love that they love school, because I love them to love school. It creates schedule and a little bit of order in my insane life. Its not bad to want that.
Ok, so Ive had a little anxiety about the whole thing, what am I going to do with them? They get tired of the pool after 3 weeks, everyday is party central with 50, 000 kids in my back yard, the house goes to pot, they eat more, they whine more, they dont want to come the gym *big problem because I teach* ugh, just thinking about it makes me wanna sit in the corner with my thumb in my mouth - back and forth, back and forth - hee hee!

SO the positive person inside of me is thinking.....

1. It'll be fun not to have to rush out the door everymorning, with Jacob stressing out because we are late (didn't he get the memo that were always late)
2. I can actually spend time with the little darlings....no sarcasm, they are little! ...ok and darling.
3. We can go to the YMCA to change things up a bit.
4. Pool parties / playdates are rotating things, so they can go to other peoples houses also...breathe!
5. We are all SUPER excited for family reunions at the end of July into August. Devines here in Vegas, Bainbridge in Florida.
6. Oh, free movies at the theatre - although I think my kids might be getting over that now :(
7. Last but not least - GIRLS CAMP will kill a week and might kill me?

So there you have it, it's going to be GREAT!!!!
You should read THIS blog by my hilarious friend Denae and if all else fails, head to Walmart for Benadryl, Darts and a Happy Meal.
p.s. I'm sooooo far behind with my blogging posts, so much to share......coming soon!

Itching to get into Young Women

2011-05-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

The Young Women had a wedding themed mother and daughter activity last week, and look who crashed the party. Baili can hardly stand waiting to turn 12 so she can come to young women activities. Here are pictures of her and her friend, Alexandra in wedding dresses. The guy in the last picture is a life sized board that one of the leaders brought as a joke for the girls to take "wedding" pics with their prince charming....lol

Summers Coming

2011-05-15T19:13:00.000-07:00

Jacob and his friends wanted to come jump in the pool after cub scouts the other day. Even though its been warm lately the water is still a chilly 56 degrees but Im convinced kids dont feel it. It was really fun to watch them jumping on the blue floaty thats supposed to only be used by me, but they were having such a good time, I let them go ahead. Kami jumped in there with the boys but after a while got too cold and came and snuggled. The last picture cracks me up!

Me eyes are burning.........

2011-05-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

from tears leaking out of them all day long!
It's mothers day and I think I cried happy tears for at least 70% of it. I woke up this morning after a long night (a four hour stint with Sam at LETICIAS COCINA with food & salsa dancing last night) to the kids singing to me. To be honest I didn't know where or who I was....hahaha! Aww how cute the kids little faces were.....they crawled up on the bed, showered me with gifts and cards. So sweet and cute! Jacobs efforts to, and I quote "tug the heartstrings", was successful and the leaky eyes began. Breakfast in bed and off to church.
The talks were awesome and the kids sang to all the moms. I ate chocolate - seriously I need to give the stuff up but thanks to "me da" in Ireland, I caved and felt I deserved it on st. paddys day because of my irishness.
Sam and the kids made dinner, yummy marinated chicken and lobster tail. Hmmmm, I dont eat lobster but I guess Sam figured for his once a year dinner, he would make something HE liked. It's ok, afterall I wouldn't be a mom without him? It's a stretch I know.......
We all gathered on the bed and watched EXTREME MAKEOVER, which now I remember why I stopped watching. The eyes are raw from the tears! So cute.......mothers day special.
So now Sam is watching "Sister Wives"..... ya I know.....and if you dont.....it's a show on TLC about a polygamist family WHO ARE NOT MORMON but for some odd reason Sams finds fascinating....this is the man I can't get to watch any movie that's not drama, drugs, cops, or psychological thriller. Go figure?
During the week Baili left me this little note in the mirror of my visor in the van. All day it made me so happy. Every time I saw it I thought of how cute she is and how much I love her and her budding personality. She is such a good girl and does a lot to help me and our family.
I love being a mom, well most of the time. Sometimes its the hardest thing in the world but I wouldn't change that I have the most rewarding job EVER!

Did you know this?

2011-05-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

I have another blog.....GASP.....i know? Ive had it for a while. Its nothing spectacular, I started it a year ago to try to help me get motivated and love to organize my house and life. At times it has helped (kinda like a cheap shrink). Ive added projects Ive done, furniture Ive refinished, crafts to do and other ramblings that Ive had. Like today for instance, you might be a little afraid if you read my post.....I promise I wouldn't really light my house on fire but if you happen to have suggestions or a free maid service I could use....gimme a shout out!
I guess now would be the time to give you the address for this little Internet gem huh? Or I could just let you figure it out.....haha.....jk.
www.projectorder.blogspot.com

Looky Here ....

2011-05-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

I opened up my camera to find a little photo shoot that Baili and Kami had unknown to me, owner of the expensive camera. Must be nice.....gotta get these kids busy doing chores!
Just joking.....its very cute! Note the crossed feet in the bottom center and how she posed Kami in front of the little mermaid backdrop. Baili is very artistic.

Jacobs Pinewood Derby

2011-05-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Jacob came home from scouts one night with tears in his eyes and told Sam and I that he had told his scout leaders he would not be participating in the pinewood derby this year because, quote "we are too busy, my dad has busy season and my mom teaches zumba now" awwww tear! I told him of course he would have a car for the race and there was nothing that would keep us from giving him the time he needed to be part of the derby.

Now, last year was our first experience of making a car together. Jacob drew on his block and then we hacked at it and let him sand it all off. I did make the mistake of putting the weights on the bottom of the carriage so when it hit the end of the race ramp, it sort of bottomed out - oops!

This year Jacob found a design he liked online and got some help from our good friend Val Hancock, who also made Ryan a car while he was at it. He was super proud of how it looked and he did really well in the race.

Easter

2011-04-30T19:32:00.002-07:00

Our house was pretty festive this year with easter decor up a month early and the kids talking about an easter party. We had a young women activity where we made easter crackle frames with subway art in them and two or three easter egg hunts the week leading to easter. Kamis kindergarten class hatched their very own chicks from the egg to the real deal. I dont know why but this seemed like the CUTEST idea everrrrrr!!! Love her teacher Mrs. Gehring. Kami talked about "chirpy" like he was her new best friend and how the class were "chick-sitting" them until it was time for them to go home to their mommies.
I was asked to give a talk on Easter sunday at church (whyyy???) and sang a song with two ladies from my young women presidency. I love how Easter Sunday, like Christmas Sunday, brings the true meaning of the holiday back to the center of the weekend.
On easter morning, the kids ran around the house collecting eggs in their baskets and eating candy. I only caught a few pictures and theyre mostly the sides of the kids heads....hahah.
We went to Mandy and Lucas's house for dinner....it was fun and we all overdosed on sugar!

2nd Annual Priest/Laurel Canoe Trip

2011-04-30T18:35:00.000-07:00

Once upon a Saturday, a group of brave priests and laurels along with four highly trained and extremely fit leaders drove to the land of mesquite and put their floating vessels in the raging river. This particular year the river had doubled in width and had white capped waves here and there, not exactly the calm river they had floated down the year prior.
But this fearless bunch would not be put off by that….in they got and within a minute and a half the first group (who I knew personally)…..tipped and faced sure death in the face, a slight exaggeration but nonetheless super scary! At that point that particular young women leader thought it would have been an excellent idea to bring her wetsuit because the water was a fridged 50 some degrees.
It didn’t take long for the six canoes to hit trouble. About 20 minutes in, the same canoe (that I have very personal connections to) got caught on a beaver dam, mostly because the female leader was trying to convince the overexcited priest to wait for the others……and they tipped……and the canoe started to fill…..and the two were swept away in the darn raging waters.
After minutes of trying to unplug the canoe and get it out of the water, other leaders came to the rescue! In the words of Bob the builder, WE CAN DO IT…… Push and pull and push some more, but the canoe was not moving. Then a wise bishop said “Lets have a prayer” As the five of them stood on the dam, shivering from the cold, the priest offered a prayer for help. No sooner had the prayer ended than the all wise bishop suggested they use one of the other canoes to help pull the submerged one out. Heave, ho, heave, ho…..Who knew that the new beehive young women leader was super strong until she flung herself into the water on one of the tugs and out came the canoe – VICORY! Onward brave souls…….. this one particular new female leader would soon face death in the face herself……
They decided it was best to pull off to the side when certain sketchy areas arose and to try to stay together…….umm but that was a problem because a highly motivated team with the somewhat unfair advantage of three people in their canoe (just joking) had gone ahead without any problems at all. The young women president was worried about them and hoped they were ok.
So as the group stood on the side of the riverbank, the last team came into view. It was the new beehive leader and the highly athletic soon to be priest. “It’s ok, don’t panic” shouted the wise bishop…..”stay the course…..keep your balance” They were drifting left when they needed to be right. In they slammed to what was later described as “the biggest tree in the river”. The female leader was stuck, legs twisteed in the branches and for a couple of seconds, which seemed so much longer, the soon to be priest disappeared. This was the scariest moment of everyones day. All leaders ran into the water…..”Go” yelled the bishop. Then a lifevest bobbed up….he’s ok. PHEW…. They were sure glad they had had that prayer before entering the river!
It seemed like an eternity to figure out how to get everyone back together. With a little work and the lead of the all knowing bishop, the team was on their way again with no alternative because they were at least five miles from the truck with the food……and it had been about four hours since they began their journey!
An answer to prayer came in the form of a random man on some sort of dune buggy who took the battered priest along with the beehive leader to the safety of the highway to find the truck while the rest of the group went on. They soon caught up with the missing three who had been waiting for over an hour on a bank wondering if they had taken a wrong turn somewhere. They too had had some unfortunate events and one of the priests was stuck to his knees in sinking mud. With the help of the trusty bishop and other young men they helped the poor kid out. Will this day ever end…..one tired young women leader thought to herself. But her spirits were soon lifted with the awkward singing of her highly skilled partner, a priest who was now manning the canoe alone because she had lost her ore!
The song ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS…..came to mind and thoughts of the pioneers floated around her head. At least today there would be an end in sight. She was sure by now the two who had gotten the ride to the truck had prepped the food and where ready to greet them with arms full of yummy hoagie sandwiches but alas this was not the case because they had been dropped off at the wrong location and were walking along the scorching hot freeway ……
The stranded two had a prayer and unbelievably the stranger who had taken them from the river, turned around when he got to his home, prompted that maybe he had dropped them off at the wrong location…….a true answer to prayer.
So as the little band of brave canoers pulled their canoes out of the water and sat in the sun for a moment, socks chucked, clothes destroyed with mud, pink in the face and shoulders from the sun, the question posed at the beginning of their journey……”how will this adventure parallel life”…….the young women leader pondered and hesitated to share her initial thought.
A more uplifting one quickly came to mind...........that life, though difficult and impossible at times, is doable with prayer, friends & family, a good bishop and some sunscreen.

Scout Camp - 2011

2011-04-27T21:47:00.000-07:00

Little Funny

2011-04-11T17:08:00.000-07:00

I call getting out of our house, "escaping Alcatraz" because it is near impossible and then once we do finally all get through the door, SOMEONE - usually me - forgets something and has to go back in. I've decided, like my Mam, my casket will have to be wheeled in late to my funeral because I now officially live on "Mormon", "Irish", "Filipino", "Latin" whatever you wanna call it, time! We are always late and I pretty much don't even care anymore, it's part of who I am so just plan on it *sad* Anyhoooo the other morning, tearing off to school, speeding in the school zone (sssh dont tell Lucas) we get to the drop off point and the kids exit the "FUN MOBILE" and Ryan states that he has mismatched shoes on. Not a big deal - I think to myself - knowing he has two very similar vans looking shoes. It's ok, one is black the other has a red dragon on it, dont worry...you're still a good mom, people probably wont even notice! RIGHT??? ummmmm??? As I drove away the white of Ryan's right heel told me that it might be a little more obvious than I thought because he had one shoe and one flip flop on - yay for ghetto!!!!!

Conference Art

2011-04-05T13:48:00.000-07:00

Twice a year we have a weekend of listening to the leaders of the Church speak to the us in a worldwide conference broadcast. I always look forward to spending the time with Sam and the kids. I love hearing the Mormon Tabernacle choir, they are amazing and I always imagine that they will be the welcoming choir in heaven because they sing so perfectly and transmit such a reverent, beautiful feeling as they sing. I also look forward to hearing what the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson and other leaders have to share and teach us. Its cool that they never coordinate talks and no speaking assignments are given ahead of time , as far as the topic goes, and yet there is always one or two common threads throughout the five sessions. This year FAMILY, PREPAREDNESS & CHARITY as well as the welfare system in the church were the most talked about. Many of the talks hit a chord with our family and we are grateful for the role of the priesthood in our home as well as the ability for me to stay home for the children. Sam has been teaching a "Family Finance" Course in Sunday school for our ward and many of the principles that he's already taught were retaught in conference. It's amazing to me how the gospel caters to all aspects of our lives and not just the spiritual. It's also very timely given the state of our national economy as well as our own problems here in Nevada. I'm constantly reminded of the Prophets counsel to "store food, clothing and other necessities" for a time when they may be needed - I need to do better with this......

As the kids are getting older they are doing much better during conference time. It's a long time to expect them to sit quietly and listen. They like to color and draw pictures and I know while they're doing that they hear the general authorities or at least FEEL the spirit. On Sunday, we pitched our conference tent again like last year. The kids love that tradition! Here are some pictures they drew, we have some serious talent in the family...lol. Jacob actually drew pictures of each of the speakers from the first session but I can't find them so I'll post them later. He is a great artist! These first two pictures Baili drew and Ryan did the one of Jesus.

Cheer for Sams Birthday!

2011-03-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

Baili cheers for the Bilbray Patriots and Loves it! Three cheers for Sams birthday - the big THREE SIX!!!!

A day in the life.....

2011-03-28T19:59:00.000-07:00

I guess I was so tired last night I published this post with no content - oops! I was sitting at the pool at the YMCA and literally slouched over, lay on the towels and closed my eyes.......reminiscent of a homeless women, I know, but yesterday was one of the longest days in my life and as I sat there I thought to myself, "how did I get through this day?" Glad that I had of course! The night before I went to bed after one a.m. simply because I had taken a two hour nap on Sunday from 5:30-7:30 (note to self - not the best idea). I knew Monday morning needed to be an early one, but I couldn't sleep so Sam and I watched COPS with a glaze over our eyes.

Monday:

6:15 get up, dressed, off to walmart

6:45 returns at walmart and groceries

7:20 Sams club (we have no milk at home)

8: 35 Walk in the door, home, to find Jacob is sick and probably can't go to school....the day is getting good now!

9:10 Kids late to school, Ryan with a note to Mrs. Jensen that I will be there to help in class as soon as I can because some "stuff" has come up!

9:15 Run to redbox for Jacob who is going to stay home ALONE, Fresh N Easy for minced garlic because im bringing dinner to a friend but they asked for this one particular meal that they thought I made at the ward Christmas party that I didn't, but Im an overachiever so I got the recipe from it's original owner between 8:20 and 8:35 - BREATHE.......

9:30 Drop dvd's and sprite home to Jacob, tell him not to answer the door - RUN

9:40 Get to ryans class.....busy busy, paint 18-20 sunflowers with the kids. If only they knew the kind of patience I exercised at 10:55 as they SLOWLY washed their hands to clean off the yellow paint, "come on man, I need to be somewhere at 11a.m." MOVE

11:05 Arrive at mandy and lucas's for appraisal, act like I live there, eat a banana.....phew!

11:28 Speed to the dollar tree to pick up 18 frames for the YW craft I almost forgot until my presidency meeting on sunday when I remembered in some mad moment I had volunteered, "oh I can do the craft with the girls....it'll be fun!" yayyyyy......

11:45 Pick up Kami from school, home to check on Jacob

12:05 Cut up chicken, begin to marinate. Random lady from Craigslist comes by, after a couple of phone calls and texts, to pick up a tote of Polly Pockets (Im still on the impossible quest to organize and purge my house). WOW - were at a half way point - grab some lunch and off we go to LVAC (gym). Jacobs feeling better and has spent at least three hours playing Wizards 101 - ummm ya!

1:10 Check Kami into playroom, PEE (it has to be done) and go teach class - this is why I love to workout and now to teach, because it is my best stress reliever.

2:50 Oops forgot my van needs to be registered TODAY, call Sarah to pick up kids for me...on my way to get the SMOG check i should have done last week - eeeeek.

3:15 Smog check - CHECK! Gotta go to Smiths - forgot heavy whipping cream for "special" dinner.

3:55 Done at Smiths, got everything but WhIpPInG CrEaM - CRAPola....seriously whyyyy?

4:10 Home start dinner. Kids get in, start homework - kitchen a mess, life a mess.....PEE!

5:15 Text my friend that we will be late with dinner.....wonder if this day will ever end, as Im sure you do- yawn!

5:40 Drop off dinner, had extra for my new neighbor who has taken ryan for a walk with her family (memories of a post from last year about smelling the roses....what roses, dead dandelions is all ive got today...lol)

6:00 after having a nice visit with friend, speed home because I have yet again left kids ALONE, well Baili is 11 so I mean??? It's ok right?

6:10 call Sam, "hey are we still going to the YMCA to swim with kids....im so tired but if you'll swim with them lets go"

6:30 Sit down for 10 mins on my bed - aaaahhhhh!

6:40 Load up kids, towels, flipflops, goggles and off we go

7:05 walking into YMCA - this, by the way, is our new family "thing." I was inspired by my mam who when we were little, "surprised" us one time with a trip to our community pool in Clondalkin. I remember it as a great childhood memory and something really fun we did as a family, so I stole the idea, added the kids to my Y membership and we've been there twice in the last 4 days. The plan is that Sam and I will swim with the kids but not tonight, not when I can barely put one foot in front of the other......I should have gone to bed earlier than 1a.m. last night - curse you COPS!

And that brings me back to the slouching homeless woman (ME) on the bench. The lifeguards look concerned, Sam is motioning something and the kids are oblivious. I'm glad they re having fun and I smile...."I did it....I made it through this crazy day."

8:10 Crawled into bed - goodnight world! ohhh, its Sams birthday tomorrow so I set alarm for 6:30a.m. :)

Kami Lights Up the Stage

2011-03-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

Kami has been taking dance class from Ms Mikel at the YMCA. Her best friend Soso was taking it too. Kami really enjoyed class and loves to dance. They had a dance recital in February at the Nevada Ballet Theatre in Summerlin. Here are some pictures from that night. Kami said she loved the stage and "wants to do it again." One of the numbers, all the Dads had to dance with their girls......Sam was "thrilled" to have to get up on stage as you can imagine, but he remembered all his dance moves and did great!

Floyd Lamb Picnic

2011-03-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

Sam took yesterday off to spend time at home with us. We packed a picnic and brought bikes and balls to hang out and play at the state park around the corner from our house. The weather was perfect! Sam and the kids (minus Baili, who was at a birthday party) played baseball and I just sprawled out on a blanket and took pictures.

Kami was super funny because she had no concept of baseball or how to play so when she was batting and connected with the ball, she flung the bat and ran to whatever base she liked (usually #2) and then she'd run to a bbq grill or some other random thing (that wasn't a base). She was so funny to watch, especially in her little black boots and skirt........lol

Ryan was an emotional wreck because he couldnt resist trying to run to the next base and Jacob always caught up with him and tagged him out. Sam and I were trying to teach him that he needed to stay once he was "safe" but time and time again he took off running trying to get to third base or home and time and time again Jacob would catch him and then the whole park got to hear the meltdown - good times!!! Sam and I were laughing which didn't help.....

For all the drama - and there was plenty - we had a good time. We're going to buy an annual pass to the park because it seems to be our little family picnic spot. It reminds me that the good times dont have to monumental or costly, just being together is what matters.

Enough Already!

2011-03-07T02:00:00.000-08:00

Somewhere in my insane mind, I might have thought to outdo myself this year?

Last year, the rebellious side of me left our Christmas tree up until after Valentines Day - what can I say, I live on the edge, but this year.....I think I outdid myself by not blogging until March! In reality my life is a circus and I have no time.....which is why im sitting posting, finally, at 3a.m.

I have so much Ive wanted to write about, not forget and share with you and ive tried to sit down a number of times but just haven't felt it?

So Ive probably gotta go backwards on this one, which doesn't work for my OCD, however the awesome experiences I've had in this last week are what has prompted me to get back to the blogging world and record some great recent memories.

Saturday March 5th - 4a.m. - yep four in the wee hours of a Saturday morning, I drove over to our stake center on Jones/215. I was late - shocker.....I also had the 48 screen printed T-shirts that the youth and leaders were supposed to be wearing as we departed for a TREK TO THE TEMPLE. Well my thoughts were, "they can't leave without me because I have the shirts...."

It was quite a sight to see 50 people all up, at 4a.m., and ready for a 19 mile walk across the Las Vegas valley. The youth of our ward, under inspiration from our truly awesome Bishop Prince, had planned something that seemed for them "almost impossible", something that would "test them physically" but "unite them as a whole" and allow them to "have a spiritual experience." They felt that walking to the temple from our little corner of the valley would provide them with these experiences and boy did it.....

The first 8 or 9 miles didn't seem like a big deal, we visited with each other, walking two by two. I spent most of my time with a young women who tragically lost her Dad last year, she kept my hands warm by looping arms with me and my heart warm by reminiscing about her Dad.

We stopped at the old Mormon fort - our half-way point - and ate breakfast. At each pit stop a teenager had prepared a short spiritual thought, which impressed me so much as they shared their tender testimonies of how "we can do hard things" and push through trials in our lives. Brother Kilgore played the song, "The Climb" before we left the Mormon fort and the words also touched me. Lines like,

"theres a voice inside my head saying, you'll never reach it,"

"my faith is shaking but I gotta keep trying,"

"Aint about how fast I get there, its the climb"

"Keep on moving, keep on climbing, keep the faith, it's all about the climb"

seemed particularly appropriate for this day. And no, I didn't cry at that point.....Trudi!

We had passed "Tent City" by then, which is in downtown and where many homeless people live. The youth were polite and said "good morning" to people as they passed, which I thought was nice of them. As I think back on that portion of the walk, there was a solemnity about being aware of others misfortune, and I guess a gratitude for the things that we have that others don't.

Speaking of gratitude - I was grateful I didn't wear a backpack *laughing to self* because one of the funny moments along the way was when I looked back as we crossed a street, to see our good bishop (who was wearing a backpack - bless his heart!) with three little girls literally hanging off a loop on his pack! It reminded me of times my Mam would say - which I also say to my kids - I feel like im climbing a mountain and you're dragging off me.....

We were probably at mile 13 at that point and these little 11-14 year olds were struggling......it was cute that they recognized the bishops figure as "father of our ward" and someone that would help them along when they need it. He talked today about how he also felt that way, as he struggled initially and maybe tried to push them off.....hahah! But that he had a sense that in their growing testimonies, they knew that he is there to lead and guide them - Wow - i might be feeling some goosebumps - No tears yet!!! Oh you all know me so well........

We made it through some rough parts of town but never once felt fear or anxiety.....I did hear some Latin music at one point and felt right at home, for those of you who don't know, Im part Mexican or Puerto Rican or Brazilian!

Once we neared Nellis - I was so excited and proud that people might finally realize what the heck 50 people were doing all wandering across huge intersections, two by two. Our shirts read, "TREK TO TEMPLE" and on the back the 13th article of our faith which ill paraphrase as "ENDURE ALL THINGS." I knew a lot of people, Mormon or not, would know what TEMPLE we were treking to, because we were about 3 miles away....YEEEEHHHAAWWWW!

A quick pit stop at the library (umm not for books....bathroom break) and a stretch on the grass of a church building as well as re-taping blisters and stretching legs and such, was in order at this final pit stop. The spires of the temple were in sight and a renewed commitment to "make it" was felt without any words. We were almost there.......

One foot in front of the other until a break at Hollywood and Bonanza.....the Temple was ahead - high at the end of Bonanza.....this hill was gonna be the killer. Bishop gathered us around and said we would walk this last part as a tight group - no stragglers dragging behind - we would make it together! He reminded us of the reverence we should have and feel as we approached the Lords house. I swear to you as I sit here typing, I can now feel that spirit that guided us up the last block to the temple.

I looked behind to see one of my sweet girls at the back....literally at a slant because of the grade. Her face was red behind her sunglasses and she was crying. Her feet hurt - they had for a long time. Blisters and fatigue almost had her quitting.......just then someone said, lets let Natalie come to the front and set the pace! Ok - tears then and now...........

As we slowly got closer to the temple, I looked around saw boys walking in their feet because shoes hurt too much, athletes struggling from pulled muscles, Brother McCook - who has no cartilage around his quads and a bad knee, I saw one of the girls moms, who struggled for the last 4 or 5 miles, push through in obvious pain, I saw a 60-something year old male leader push on, I thought of the pioneers and their TREK - oh how did they do it???

Then I thought of our first morning in Las Vegas, when Bishop Hardy picked us up to take us to our new home in Alamo, but stopped first to take us to this very Temple. Needless to say I couldn't even see anymore, through my tears.

The youth began singing "I love to see the Temple" as we approached and saw a member of the temple presidency and his wife there to greet us, tears streaming down their cheeks. They shook each of our hands before we entered the gate to the temple grounds.....it was like walking from one dimension to another when we stepped onto the Temple grounds. The spirit was so strong, and it wasn't just the end of a long, hard journey that caused the overwhelming feeling that abound. It was the peaceful feeling that abides at the temple, it was the sacrifice that was given and the blessings being felt.

The feelings and experiences on that very last leg were worth every mile, every sore muscle or blister and Im so grateful I got to be a part of it. President May and his wife talked to us and thanked the youth for their willingness to stretch themselves and walk to the temple. They asked us to touch the temple but more importantly let the temple touch us and our lives. Many tears were shed as we felt the spirit and strengthened our testimonies. The reminder of how important families are burned in my heart. This is the point of everything.....Families are Forever....literally, eternal....and the temple makes that possible, which i am so very grateful for.

Valentines Day 2011

2011-02-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

Girls

2011-02-01T19:28:00.000-08:00

Ringing out the old.....

2011-01-02T19:21:00.000-08:00

This years party we had Kevin, Tiffany & kids here as well as Mandy and her kids. Joe, Amy & Lucy joined us as well as Lyla & her girls. We ate Mexican food including Mandys yummy 7 Layer Bean dip which has become an annual tradition. We started off with a little dancing and then watched the ball drop on the East Coast at 9p.m.
A hilarious round of BATTLE OF THE SEXES and then some APPLES to APPLES......who said you need coconut rum to have a good time *wink*

Speaking of rum.....I put our non-alcoholic beverage (SPARKLING CIDER) into the freezer to chill and forgot about it so right before midnight when I opened it, it exploded and sprayed all over my kitchen cabinets............HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Stephens Day - Alamo

2011-01-01T16:51:00.000-08:00

Its so funny that after years of not being Catholic we still refer to the day after Christmas as St. Stephens Day.
We decided last minute to surprise Mam & Malcolm and all the rest of the family that had visited Alamo. We got up there and everyone was gone to church so we hung out and then hid in a bedroom until we heard the cars coming back from church. Mandy came in first and tried to get into the room to change. Sam just held the door tight and didn't' really know what to do. Finally he let go of the lock and we all yelled "SURPRISE".....Mandy just about had a heart attack. Her face was flushed and she told us later that it didn't register right away who we were and she thought we were strangers or burglars or something. Then Nana came in and we did the same with her. It was so fun to spend the day together.

Each year Mandy and Lucas make a DVD of pictures and memories so we sat down and watched that. They always do a great job but this year there was another little surprise waiting at the end of the slideshow - another Abbott on the way - WHAT??? Mandy is expecting baby #4. Isla Maeve is due June 4th 2011. That was an awesome surprise.....

Christmas Day

2011-01-01T09:36:00.000-08:00

Who wants see what Santa brought???
We had so much fun this Christmas. Santa ate his cookies & milk and the Reindeer got the food Ryan had left outside for them. Santa was good to the boys & girls of the Bainbridge house.....he brought bikes, dolls, mp3 players, books, orbeez, paper jamz and much more.
It was weird to Sam and I to get two naps on Christmas day.....it's different as the kids grow up a little...they were happy to play on their bikes and a new video game so it was a lot more relaxed than in other years.
We had a little treasure hunt for the last present from Grandma & Grandpa.....a Trampoline!!! Woooohoo.....check out Baili's face in the last picture. She was seriously so excited - all the kids were screaming. Merry Christmas to all!!

So sweet.....

2010-12-22T14:13:00.000-08:00

My boys are so sweet. Ryan came home from school the day of my birthday and handed me his surprise. A cherry pie. He had spent his own money on it for a birthday present.
On the morning of my birthday when the kids and Sam woke me up (in true devine tradition) each of them gave me a gift and hugs and kisses. Then Jacob said that he had a presentation for me. He pulled out all these things that I recognized from his bedroom. He arranged them on top of a tin box, in a specific way. It took a minute. He held up his Tae Kwon Do Medal and he said...."this represents all the things you helped me LEARN and EARN"

The items on the tin box are all Book of Mormon characters and a CTR (choose the right) guy. It was such a special gift from him. Jacob is so caring and kind. I appreciated that he put such thought into his gift and it meant a lot to me. It brought me to tears.....

Jacobs Birthday

2010-12-22T13:39:00.000-08:00

Jacob requested Buffalo Wild Wings for his birthday dinner and the next day had his birthday party at the Halloween Carnival at the YMCA with a BUNCH of his friends. I can't believe Jacob is 9 years old now!

Ryans Birthday

2010-12-22T12:38:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness.....in all my backblogging, I forgot my boys birthdays....eeek!
Here's some pictures from their special day this year. We always love the "just woken up" picture......especially with these rad glasses. For his 7th birthday Ryan had a party at our home with his friends.

He's comin to town!

2010-12-19T22:14:00.000-08:00

Look what we've been up to....

2010-12-19T21:38:00.000-08:00

Swimming at hotel in Utah - Eli's Baptism
Making our 1st Gingerbread House

One Year Older & wishing she was 12

2010-12-19T20:04:00.001-08:00

Baili cannot wait to be twelve so she can come into young womens at church and be part of the fun things that the youth get to do. But this year she would have to be happy turning 11...which she was!
I can't believe my first baby is getting so old and grown up. Baili has always been a beautiful, intelligent and fun girl but she is also becoming a very cute, sweet and helpful young lady.
This year Baili wanted to have a lot of her girlfriends come over for a party, so......we had lots of girl power at our house December 3rd. Baili had planned the whole party, from food to games. She got so many fun gifts and gift cards. She is still shopping with her Birthday money....haha!

Zumba Certified

2010-12-19T18:02:00.000-08:00

I finally certified to teach Zumba in September of this year. I've taken classes for over three years and LOVE it. Zumba is what introduced me to Latin dance and where I found my love and passion for Salsa music and dancing. Lyla has been telling me to certify for years and so I finally broke down and bit the bullet - I'm so00000 glad I did.

The full day training was amazing and so worth the money that I paid. Jani Roberts - who is a master trainer and had taught a master class I attended last year - was our instructor. She is amazing and so full of energy and personality. We danced most of the day and I was pretty tired by the end of it but ready to conquer the world of fitness and TEACH!!!!

I was hired at the YMCA and teach a basic Zumba class once a week. I also got hired at my gym *Las Vegas Athletic Club* and amazingly got my own class very quickly. I love my Thursday class at W. Sahara.

I'm teaching at some of the local High Schools. I love working with the teenagers and taught the cheerleaders at Shadow Ridge last week which was SUPER fun because they followed so easily. I have appointments to teach the High School dance team in the new year.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-19T17:31:00.000-08:00

We had a small, quiet and uneventful Thanksgiving this year. Joe, Amy & Lucy as well as Kati B and her roommate Liz came for dinner. After a turkey induced nap and some more sugar we had a Rock Band session for a couple of hours. It was really fun and I got the best laughs watching Joey rock out. The kids loved rotating between drums, guitar and of course the mic.

I'm so thankful for everything we have, this great country we live in and the freedoms we enjoy. I'm grateful for a home, food, shelter and the luxuries of life. I'm reminded at this time of year especially, how fortunate I am, compared to some, to have these basic necessities of life.

I'm truly thankful for my family, immediate and extended, and the love we all share......for friends that bless my life and help me along. Gratitude for the gospel cant be expressed in words! No day can be a bad day when we reflect on how much we actually have in our lives.....it dispels any thoughts of "I wish I had......"

Not Sure??

2010-12-19T16:38:00.000-08:00

Its been so long since I've blogged and I'm so far behind I'm not sure where to begin? It's only a week away from Christmas. I guess I'll just go back and post some pictures of some of the stuff we've been doing since November. Life continues on and Ive pretty much accepted that I have a crazy busy life and I just do the most of what I can in any given day and the leftovers get pushed to the next day. The children are growing so fast I wonder if I'm missing out on something, I know someday I will look around and they'll all be out driving and working and dating......and hopefully studying! We definitely have our day to day challenges but I do enjoy being able to visit and talk to the kids like "little adults" now that I am officially out of the baby/toddler/preschooler stage. Some days, however, I do wish they couldn't answer me back when I ask them to do something they don't want to do.
Well I'm gonna get some pictures posted.......I'll start with some pictures from just before Thanksgiving. The kids dressed up as something related to the holiday....Baili was a Native American (well one with a little umph), Jacob was a pilgrim (with a strange looking hat...lol) Ryan was also a pilgrim (my best effort at a vest with five minutes notice before school) and of course Kami....she was a turkey and the attached video is seriously hilarious! Baili spiked Kami's hair to represent turkey feathers....um huh.....and her "gobble" was my best attempt at a turkeys hanging chin.....oh the joy!

I think I forgot this......

2010-11-26T17:21:00.000-08:00

From Kami's first day in Kindergarten. Her good friend Claire is in class with Mrs Gehring.

Our home away from home...............The Royal Cancun!

2010-11-13T19:12:00.000-08:00

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

2010-11-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

(to the tune of Adams Family....) They're creepy & they're cutsie, adorable and ghoulie,

2010-11-07T20:17:00.000-08:00

they're all together smoothy, the Bainny family!
Halloween 2010

Who are the two cuties?

The Candy Corn Witch
YES, He's from KISS
Don't mess with me people, I've been with the dead!
Wanna dance at the SOCK HOP??
Do I ever miss an opportunity to dress up?

I'm FIVE

2010-10-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Good Morning - it's your birthday

2010-10-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

This picture just cracks me up! Kami's wake up call on the morning of her 5th birthday.