Parade of Homes 2009

Ahhh it's that time of year again. The season of million dollar homes being showcased to us mere peasants. I love the Parade of Homes in all it's gaudy splendor! I have to remind myself, "When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm eating beans out of a can, I'll simply remember my favorite things and then I won't feel so sad!" Here are a few of my favorite things...

BATHROOM SINKS (ALL KINDS)

Beauty and the Beast

Copper farmhouse sinks and red metallic

Playrooms with mini tunnels

Bathrooms concealed by doors that blend into the wall, complete with a vase.(vahhhhzzz)

Pools, big pools

Mini-pedicure rooms

Laundry rooms with recliners (I can so imagine myself, doing laundry, curled up with a book.)

Mini-kitchens, snack bars with more metallic red countertops and chrome. (look close)

Harry Potter passages

Zen wisdom from a cat

TOTAL home gym's, complete with a rockwall, putting green, two story exercise room, full-size basketball court, and full-size racquetball court all in the basement. I would charge my kids a membership fee.

*disclaimer: sorry random strangers for being put on the internet and sorry so many of my pics turned out not so good

The Red Piano

Okay so I need an Elton John Red Piano, minus the Elton John. Now that I am teaching piano lessons, please don't laugh too hard, I think this is a neccesity. Wouldn't you want to learn to play the piano on a red, grand piano? "If you practice really hard, I'll let you play on the RED piano today."

Jed and I were lucky enough to get free tickets to his majesty's show at Ceaser's. (Thank you Brennan, Christal and Michelle.) The piano playing, live, truly is awesome and Elton still rocks but I still can't understand the giant inflatable boobs that came down during one of the songs. I've always wondered what some of the words were to his songs, the words aren't really "she's got electric boots..." what he's really saying is: "she's got inflatable boobs." It was a one of a kind experience.

Happy Birthday Jed

Highlights of the celebration...

Jed is now 27, we were able to use the 2 and 7 from my cake on his, talk about recycling. Anyway, we had a quiet familial get together with an ice cream desert. Oven catching on fire=no dinner for birthday celebration. (That's another story.) Pinata in the rain=soggy, worthless mess. I've spent a decade celebrating birthdays with Jed. The very first present he ever got from me was a GI Joe flashlight ($1 from Wal-Mart.) Other gifts have included, jumping from boxes, pinata's (in the MTC), electronics and children. This year he got his main gift 3 months ago, Jack, the gift that keeps on giving.

I love that Jed and I have been able to grow up together. He always makes fun of me for being older than him but really we're pretty lucky to be close in age and share the same life experiences together. Happy birthday Jed.

Jack's Newborn Pictures

Here are a two of my favorite pictures I had taken of Jack when he was one month old.

Growing so Fast

Can you tell who's who?

Bath time angry face

Post bath happy face

Jack's blessing day January 4th

T & T

T&T You may be wondering "what is that?" Trials and Tribulations of course, the words that are so bad I have to initial them. I have yet to post a spiritual thought yet, maybe because I'm too busy ranting at politicians or birds but I felt very touched by this quote today as I picked out a quick story to read in the Ensign. It puts T&T into a whole new light for me and a little light bulb went on over my head as to the realization of why people say the word joy simultaneously with Trials. So here is the quote...
"Always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he requires them to endure present privation and trial, it is that they may escape greater tribulations which would otherwise inevitably overtake them. If He deprives them of any present blessing, it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by-and-by."
-Elder George Q. Cannon

Festivities

All of our random Holiday Moments...


Jara in her new church dress from Grandma Wheeler, she calls it her "rina" (ballerina) dress


Jara and Jenna playing football on New Year's Eve. Jara and Jenna have spent every New Year's together.

Jack still likes to be cuddly.

Jack smiled and cooed all Christmas morning while we opened presents.

Jack and Ella-what a difference only 4 months can make. They are plotting against Jara already!

Jara and Grandpa calling Bingo numbers on Christmas Eve. Everyone won but my mom, the planner of the event. Jordan won makeup he was kind enough to trade to me.

Jara tucking in her baby. If you zoom in you will see "baby" nestled in the blankets.

What happens when you are given treats as you are driving and you throw your diaper bag on the seat. Ooops!

What I found in the shower one morning. This plastic goat keeps appearing in strange places.

The girls singing vocals for guitar hero. Yes, it was that bad. Ashley and I should have let Sublime die with the Suzuki in '99.

Jara chowing down on pizza at Jordan's b-day party, she's actually using a fork.

Jed and his spawn.

Jed and his hedger. I will update when he has groomed our plants into elephants.

Jara and her kitchen. She was so excited when she saw it Christmas morning she covered her eyes and fell to the floor.

What too much Guitar Hero can do to a 2 year old. Now that the holidays are over Jara's rock star era has ended.