Quick Post

Okay really quick cause the junk going around has finally hit me and i am exhausted! So tonight when we got home from wood chopping we pulled into the back yard to find a skunk. " So pretty" said Abby. "So stinky" said me!

Enrichment Madness

Okay this will be quick.(I HOPE!) I am totally wasted and it's not even 8pm yet! It's been a busy week.
Mon...JOB INTERVIEW don't know the outcome yet or if I will even take the job we'll see.
babysitter's husband ended up in the ER so I found a new babysitter. thanks Nancy!
Went wood cutting
Tues...Walked and did regular Mom stuff, helped tend kids for 2 friends, Reading under the
stars night at the primary school
Wed... Mad Dash to Walmart for most of you this isn't a big deal. For me it means an hour
drive just to get there. I needed stuff for the Super Enrichment day and my friend who
was going to get it broke down on the way! So after going on my walk and reading at story
time AND running to the school to arrange for Abby to go to a friends after school,(thanks
Aimee!) David, Rachel, & I drove across the mountain and back. Winslow & the big kids
cut wood while I stayed home with the babies and did medical billing.
Thurs....Playgroup, then RS presidency meeting at my house... so of course i tidied house. and
then we had the meeting outside on my lawn. The weather was in the 70's and gorgeous!
Spontaneous lunch with the girls at the new mexican resteraunt, yummy deserts!...thank
you Shane I needed that! Sue, Natalie, Shane, you are sooo fun!
More wood cutting as a family. Then tried to get as much organized as possible for RS
Saturday. Made phone calls etc.
Fri.... RAN AROUND LIKE A CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CUTT OFF!
Dropped off b-day stuff for VT, dropped off Abby's homework folder at school. (where the principal stopped me in the parking lot to tell me of my daughter in his office this week. there's more to the story hopefully i can tell all the funny things she did this week later!) Ran to the hardware store, and to like 5 other places to arrange for RS stuff. Thanks again Shane for taking the kids. 1/2 day of school so the big kids came home, had mac n cheese for lunch and then I loaded every one into the van and turned on a movie. The kids were marvelous for the next three hours as I ran around running errand after errand. Including going to the bank 2 times because I forgot the paycheck at the house the first time! Dropped kids off at Primary Activity day. Ran to set up the RS stuff at the Stake Center. Shane what would I do without such a fantastic RS PRES> you are the best! Back to our building to make copies of instructions. THANKS Sue! Picked up the kids. Put gas in the truck. Home for dinner. THANKS Winslow for the awesome grilled chicken. Off to the football Game!

Sat.... What a crazy day. Spent all day at the Stake Center doing crafts and helping direct others with the crafts we were in charge of. Thanks to ALL of you who helped. Ran home, fed baby, off to the company picinic. (where i was freezing dressed in a skirt so i could run back to the stake center for the RS broadcast.) RS broadcast...wonderful as always! And then home to a happy husband and kids! WHAT A CRAZY WEEK!

now i must go to BED! can I say I love my soft pink sweats and striped warm socks! Fall is here on the mountain!

All in a days work

Today's events. Fun day. Skipped our 4 mile walk. I miss that but David has a cold and it was a little too brisk in the mountain air.
Worked on decluttering my kitchen. You can finally get into the cabinets above the fridge. Hurray.
Grocery shopping...actually not so bad with just 2 kids. Rachel is a big help. Came home to unload and just as I brought David and his carseat in, Winslow called for a ride home. Pack back in the car and drive to the hospital...not that far down the road, but Winslow's lunch hour is short. Had a yummy lunch with Winslow and we tried to convince Rachel to eat her chicken nuggets. Then he headed back to the hospital.
Made phone calls to find a sitter for Monday.
Did some blogging and found long lost friends. HURRAY.
Read a chapter in John Grisham's non fiction book The Innocent Man. I am captivated, Winslow thought it was dry.
Abby came home and we chatted about school and fun things.
Tried to take video of David rolling over. (he's barely 3 months old!) But I couldn't get baby and camera in sinc. Now I need new batteries!
Then Jacob came home and of course Rachel ran out in her shirt and panties to the bus stop. ( part of the danger of potty training.)
Then we got ready for our Family Fun Night. If the kids do their chores all week then we have a movie night at home or go to the football game if it is a home game. They are loving it, and it has improved the atmostphere in our home. Hurray for inspiration and a loving husband who gently helps me to be a better mom.
Got a call for our truck load of wood and Wins and Jacob went to deliver it. Have to do something to earn all that money for GA$ to grandma's. I can't believe how expensive that is!
Cleaned up the kitchen with help from Rachel while Abby gave David a bottle for snack. He's such a big eater!
Worked on the finances. (Way easier with a new version of Quicken.)
The kids are happily watching the old Disney film In Search of the Castaways. And I am typing one handed with David in the other hand.
Such is a typical day at our house.

Bella Bella Dancerella

This is my Abigail 2 years ago. I love that all girls no matter how tough want to be the ballet princess.

Here is Rachel and G. I love these girls. They had fun dressing up as ballerinas Rachel is always asking to play with G. They have such a good time together. We go walking together most days of the week and they laugh and giggle and share snacks in the double stroller.

Ward Auction

Okay So we had a little too much fun at the ward auction fundraiser. We bought brownies and cupcakes, babysitting and this frog! I love it. We let Rachel do the bidding on this one. It reminds us a lot of Bryant's Frog. David already loves it, and the kids love giving it to him. Fast asleep with his froggy.
Ever wonder what High $ cupcakes look like. Wonder no more. We spent $24 on these cuties. Abby just kept raising her hand. She wanted them bad! They were tasty. But definitely pricey!

Sisters

Abby is such a good big sister. Rachel and Abby do have their quarrels but they also have many sweet moments. The girls were watching Narnia and Abby said to Rachel, "Come snuggle with me so you don't get scared." Rachel snuggled right in and then fell asleep!

I love to see the Temple

Last weekend we had a wonderful opportunity to meet Lisa & Richard and Ian, Evelyn, Tess, & Julie at the ALBQ New Mexico Temple. (please do not ask me to spell it I will get it wrong!) The kids had a wonderful time walking around the temple grounds. They loved the gorgeous fountain. Winslow and I have had the wonderful opportunity to be inside this temple. The Celestial room is gorgeous and we are anxious to go again once we can leave little David!

After the Temple. We went out to lunch. YUM PIZZA! And then we had fun at the bookstore, Target and the park. What a great day!

Ever Have one of those days

So today was one of those days. Days when i am thankful for Tylenol because the dog barked ALL NIGHT and I have a nasty headache. All the kids were late for school. Rachel refused to take a nap. Mt Washmore tooke over the living room. the baby wanted to be held, and the house was comming undone faster than I could keep up with it. I need a long hot shower and a few moments of peace to myself. but its not to be I guess. I am looking forward to tomorow and hopefully some relief from today!

blessing day

I can say that my husband is most attractive to me when he is exercising his Priesthood power. I love to know that he can give our family blessings. He is amazing to me and I am so grateful for him. David's blessing day was wonderful. We had so much fun with family arriving Friday night and into Saturday. We enjoyed Second Breakfast with Pancakes and amazing Peaches. My mother in law brought gorgeous flowers from her garden. We had some excitement when we realized that we didn't have anyone from the Bishopric there to preside. (We didn't realize that they had already given us permission to go ahead without them.) So we had to track down the 2nd counselor at work.(Bishop and the 1st counselor were out of town). So we got permission again. But during that time the kids got to sing with Lita (gma McNeill) at the piano. She said it was her favorite time. We had yummy yummy food at the park. Our Park is great. everyone said they were jealous. Yeah we know! All of our valley relatives were chilly. Then we enjoyed time at our cozy house. I am sure it was bursting at the seams with all those people. Kara, Mom, & I played Ticket to Ride. I got second. One of these days I'll win. Then later Janiel, Kara, and I stayed up way late talking. Poor Krissy looked tuckered out. We are so glad she came! It was definitely an awesome time.

Daddy and David
Richard, Winslow, David Richard, and David. We love that our little guy is named after his grandpas. They are amazing men and we are proud to name our son after them.
All of the Minson grandkids together at once. No small feat to get them in a picture together!
Baby Mary Sue was also blessed that day. We were so glad to have joint blessings!


Tami's twins Becca and Sara. What exciting twins they are!

At the piano with Lita

BEST FRIENDS

Okay, so those of you who know me know I have many friends because I love people. But I have had 3 immensley close friends (other than my husband and my mother) who I would deem best friends. People who know me inside and out. They know me happy, sad, angry, and at my best and my worst. These three girl friends are friends I cherish. Memories of the time we have spent together are priceless. I will share a little of my relationship with them with you (in no paticular order.) The first is the first one I ever had. Friends since we were three. We were friends even when our families moved. We were roomates in college. We shared so many joys, and so many sorrows. She was with me and held me when my brother passed away and we sobbed together. I cried for her when her precious angel girl left this world for the next. I watched her shinning face at her wedding reception. She graciously let me into her home at an unearthly hour to announce my engagement. She put up with me when we shared a room at college and I talked in my sleep. I could go on and on.
The next was a friend in highschool who I carpooled with. She drove and I was always running late. Somehow she put up with me long enough. We had just graduated and we attended an institute class together. I don't know how it happened. But she became a best friend. We laughed and ate icecream together...and of course there was Space Ghost. he he he I still laugh at the memories. Again laughter and tears and joy. Some of it too private to share with others, but I remember the moments of leaning on eachother to get thru. She knew before I did that I would marry Winslow. And I never would have without her approval. How can I forget Homecomming Night eating pizza in the football stands. She called it then "Here comes your boyfriend." I wasn't so sure in that moment, but she knew it. And she knew I would marry him. SO GLAD I DID! I couldn't have survived so many things without you!
The next friend is a kindred spirit that has helped me so much as a mom. Our kids are close in age and we have just always had fun. We always laugh together. On the phone, at the park, where ever. When we talk, we laugh. Somehow everything is happy when I am around this person. We have shared hard and sad moments too. She's kept confidences and loved me even when I am a total dork. And she and her husband helped lead us to the wonderful place we call home.
I know this is long, but this is partly a journal for me. I am trully grateful for all my friends and the influence they have had on my life. I am grateful that this weekend I got to spend time with two of my very best friends. Both of whom I had not really expected to see. One tracked us down at the town park! The other we ran into on the mountain. The Lord was listening to the prayers in my heart that I might get to spend some time with these awesome girls who are so dear to me. I love your guts guys!

family pictures

here are a few pics we took the weekend we blessed David. What a cute family. I love my kids and my husband. How blessed we are!