TYpicaL Funniness

Saturday, and Leah has a problem. She has been trying to glue on a fake nail and has gotten the nail glue all over all of her fingers and can't get it off. After trying for five minutes myself to get it off with nail polish remover, I turned the job over to Rebecca who loves to be in charge. This was her solution. She soaked the make-up remover pads with the nail polish remover and taped them to Leah's fingers. I thought that was quite clever, but the whole house reeked of nail polish remover.

Don't you love Leah's dress? When we lived in Oregon there was a large community of Russian old believers. They all wore homemade long dresses and if you were married you covered your hair. At the elementary school all the signs were in Russian, Spanish, and English. So of course, Rachel comes home one day with this dress and the homemade slip that they wear under it. She told a girl in her class how much she loves all her dresses so she asked her mom if she could give her one that she had grown out of. RAchel wore that all the time when we lived there (in the house). Soooooo Rachel. Anyway. Thought I would share the little funny things that go on around here.

I finally saw the Grand Canyon!

We're BAck!! It feels like we have been gone forever. Utah was really starting to feel like home. It is too wonderful to be with family. We decided to drive home on a more scenic route and went by the grand canyon. We were all in our pajamas!! Too funny. I kind of saw it through bleary eyes. I seriously slept the entire way home. My family kept me up playing until 2-3am every night. It now seems like a dream seeing the grand canyon. I would like to go back and explore the whole area and hit bryce and zions parks too. Anyway. Lots of fun pictures to share from our trip, but right now we are all starving and need to go get food.

ONe MoreThing!!!

I forgot to mention my other beauty secret!! My sister GLor told me about MDForte. It is a face cleaning system. I am using level one. She said that Dermalogica was good for keeping up good skin but if you need repair work (which i do...) to use MDForte. I have been using it for a few weeks and I really do see and feel a difference. I started with level one. Just the face cleanser and whatever you follow up with. You can buy it on the web. I think I got the cleanser for only $11. You can check it out on the link below.

http://www.skinwest.com/?REQUEST=SEM&ID=MDFORTE&R=cf

ps. we are packing up the kids again and heading out to Utah tomorrow. fun fun. Off to see siblings Kelly, Brett, and Nicole. I did three photo shoots this week and I am dying to share the photos but I have to finish the editing when I get back in August. They all turned out so good!! I love my job. Both of them. MOm and Photographer. How exciting to even say that I am those two things.

THe NEw Me!

At least the new me when I am in the mood to put on make-up, which isn't all that often unfortunately. ha. I have been really curious to try bare minerals. So when I was at the mall with the girls we all went in for make-overs at SEPHORA. I really liked the all over coverage but just with a light powder. The starter kit is only $60 and it comes with tons, and all the brushes. I highly highly recommend getting the foundation primer (prime time). It is so awesome!!! Also to finish it off get Buxom lip gloss. Supposed to plump up your lips. I don't however recommend the mascara (I look like I don't have any on). So there you go. I wanted to share my new find. Oh yah, I almost forgot. If you have dark circles like me definitely get the Stila brand coverup. Goes on like silk, really light, and great coverage. Check it out here! and scroll down to sephora's featured items.

Abbott Family Pics

This was the first photo shoot that I did that I didn't know anyone previously. I found out I had nothing to be nervous about. It was so much fun to meet new people, and get and insider look into their family. By the end of the shoot I felt like I was just another member of the family. Thanks Abbott family. It was so great to meet you. As always just go to my photography site for the rest. Hope you like them!

I'M 14 AGAIN!

Ok so my two nieces are staying with us this week. Talk about living the teenage life again. I don't know if Lizzie and I can keep up. ha ha. We do nails, and swim all day. Shop at target for bras, go to barnes and noble for journals, go to outback for cheese fries and thunder down under. Stay up all night watching movies and making chocolate chip cookies. Sleep in until noon. Ok so they get to do that. I am up by at least 10 am. ha. We are having a blast! We are also trying to be really Spiritual. Lets get spiritual, spiritual, I wanna get spiritual (sing to tune of let's get physical by olivia newton john). We have been reading scriptures, and discussing lots. Talking about living to be worthy of temple marriage and how important that is. Praying, giving talks, writing in journals. It's like girls camp over here. Luckily Jacob is at scout camp! This has been so awesome for Kelsie because she is living with my brother now and can go to church, and have the missionary lessons and be baptized! She gets to go to young womens tonight to do humanitarian service. Friday night to a "late over party, saturday to the pioneer picnic, and saturday night to a youth dance. She wants to go to the temple visitors center in mesa, and utah. How exciting to see her so happy and glowing. We love Jesus around here. It's a good thing. And to my three sisters..... I think I am currently winning in the favorite aunt contest. ha ha.

ps. look at the muscle on Kelsie's arm in the first picture! That definitely didn't come from the Reneer gene pool. ha. so no fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TWINNERS

Here is my niece Kennedy with her twin cousin Addison. Kennedy looks so much like her Dad!! Mike's(her dad) sister lives in surprise and brought over her 6 week old baby. It was like seeing Kennedy again as a baby! Look at how long she is, and she really likes to stretch out! I love the photo on the couch with my wide angle lens. Accentuates their long loveliness. So cute to see Kennedy holding her. She was so sweet with her and just couldn't get enough. What a good mommy she will be. So here they are Glor. Aren't you jealous you aren't here! smile

MaDe my DAY!

My sister Kelly was asked to be a designer for poppy ink. They have the coolest monthly kits etc. Anyway, I looked on the gallery and she had the sweetest layout about me. She loves the picture of me that she took that is on the layout. I think I look really old and wrinkly in it. Now I know how she sees me. As the big (and much older) sister. Oh well, I am ok with that. Thanks kell. To see the layout click here! and then click on gallery and look under kelly mccaleb. oh so special! smile

Laguna Beach

Why people pay the big bucks to live in So. Cal. Gorgeous coast line like this, and the cutest little beach towns to accompany it all along the 101. We went tide pooling all down in here. So beautiful.

TotaLLY WICkeD

All of us at the Pantages theatre in Hollywood! My kids have had all the songs memorized for a long time! so to be able to take them to see it was so great! The funniest was Lizzie saying out loud during the song popular, "I get it!" Of course I had to quickly cover her mouth and explain you can't talk, but so cute. She finally understood why they sang that song.

So Fun

thought i would throw on a few more from the pier. we hit the waves next!

NEWPORT PIER

Me and 6 crazy kids have been rockin CALI! I have so many fun pictures to share. We brought home with us my niece Kelsie. My niece Kennedy is flying in tomorrow. Dave and Jacob are at Scout camp. So us 7 girls are going to have serious girl time!

p.s. click on this picture to enlarge it and check out all of their expressions. It's the best!!!! I think I love Leah's the best!

Happy Birthday Mare Mare!

Rebecca turned 9 today! Here she is sporting her new purse that Rachel made for her. So cute! We played volleyball in the pool as a family, went out to dinner at Macaroni grill (Thanks Haroldsens for the gift certificate). Then came home, opened presents, and watched Black Beauty (one of her presents). Dad, Kathi, and Grandma Judy...Rebecca bought a boy and girl Bratz doll with her birthday money from you. She was so excited! Thank you! and to my friends that I got addicted to tres Leches at cafe rio, I have a new addiction for you. It is the lemon passion at Macaroni Grill. It tastes like a lemon version of tres leches. It is so unbelievable!!!!!! Also, thanks to Sister Burt who brought over a candied party mix on Friday night that is called "addiction". I have been on a non stop sugar high ever since. I can't stop eating it! I will put the recipe on here when I get it. I recommend that you plan on giving most of it away or you will be feeling as sick as I do right now. Anyway, back to Rebecca. She is so sweet and had such a fun day. Her birthday present from us is horseback riding in Tahoe. She lovessss horses of course. Hopefully they aren't suffering from smoke inhalation. I keep asking my Dad if we should still come up with the fire that has occurred. I don't trust him when he says everything is fine up there because I know he will say anything so that we will still come. Well we leave early Tues. fun fun. We are bringing my niece Kelsie home with us and stopping over in so. cal on the way home. I will be alone with all 6 kids then and we are going to hit hollywood, the beach, and see WICKED the musical in L.A. I got cheap (relatively yikes) seats, but I am so excited for them to see it. They have every song memorized from the CD. They can't wait.
So anyway, what a fun family day. It made me nostalgic for the fun days I had with my family growing up. I am so blown away that I have this family of five kids, and get to experience this whole life thing with such an incredible person as DAve. I have the family I always wanted. I remember when Dave and I were engaged. We couldn't wait to just be together every second of every day and never have to say goodbye (or goodnight ha) or part again. And that we could raise a family the way that we wanted to, and have our own little happy world. How cool to realize those plans, and that there is so much more to come and look forward to. I actually sat back a minute as we were all in the pool and watched everyone laughing so hard together, really took it in, and felt blessed.
Happy Birthday my sweet Rebecca Mary. What joy and love you bring to our family every day. And I am so proud of you not getting as grumpy all the time. yah, you heard me right family. I think it is because she is getting more sleep and our schedule isn't as hectic. We really just hang out mostly at home together. So that is the Rebecca update. Gotta go and finish my lesson for Relief Society tommorrow.

*MY INTRODUCTORY PRICES FOR A PHOTO SESSION WITH ME WILL BE CHANGING SOON. BOOK BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1,2007 TO GUARANTEE MY DISCOUNTED (just starting out) RATE!*

Do you RememBEr?

Do you remember this age? So in between. Still a little girl but changing. It is exciting at times, but then so scary at times. Wanting to snuggle in your mom's arms like a baby sometimes and then wanting to really stretch your wings and act older sometimes. That is RAchel. Still such a little girl but a budding young woman. So cheesy to say budding. ha. but so true. Her emotions really fluctuate. She is really affected by things. This book for instance that she is reading. After she finished reading it at 11:30 one night she came down and was sobbing. She wanted to change the ending. The harshness of life was killing her. That was so me (and still is). I want to still be innocent of evil and protected by a parent, and not know of all the bad in the world. That is what we discussed. She was crying the whole time. First about the bad people, and than about the good. She went on and on about how good Brother and Sister Swainston are in our ward. How much she loves them and the feeling of goodness that she has when she is around them. Sister Swainston is her primary teacher, and her husband is in the bishop bric. I understand . i love them too. I could cry about it too. We hugged, and cried and I told her the scripture that always comforts me. Ether 12:4 "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." This is one of my favorite scriptures. This is what keeps me going. The hope of a better world. To be with God and everything will be good and perfect. No more evil, no more contention. Just love, and happiness. So I will keep having faith and always abounding in good works, and creating my own little peace of heaven on earth in my home and as far as I can stretch my influence. I hope I can teach my children this. They have some tough times ahead. It can be hard to be an adult. But for now, I just want to let them enjoy as much as possible the wonderful feeling of being completely safe at home and with their family. Where I can protect them and work on their armor for when they have to go 0ut and face the world.

JuSt BeCause

Some just because pictures. Just because I am a happy mom. I am so loving summer and having all of my kids home. I love seeing their faces and giving hugs all day long. I told Dave as we were all in the pool playing together the other night that I am as happy as I can possibly be. Which scares me. Because does that mean it is all down hill from here? Will they all grow up and it won't ever be the same? I can't bear the thought. So for now I will treasure every second, and soak up their yumminess as much as possible.

Saying Goodbye is hard to do!

Our very special friends and neighbors the Thinnes family are moving tomorrow morning. WE have had so much fun with them over the past two years. They bring alot of energy and love to our neighborhood. It will be hard to not be able to just stop by whenever. They were who I went to first when Dave had a heart attack to ask them to watch the kids. My kids just love Jenny and Brian and their three girls. They feel so comfortable and loved in their home. Both Jenny and Brian have taken the time to form special friendships with the kids, and with Dave and I. Brian really wanted to see Jacob before he left. He said he didn't care when the packers finished tonight he would wait until Jacob's flight arrived from Illinois. So here they are at 10 pm tonight. Thanks for all the basketball, tennis, football, and ping pong games. All the goofing around. What will a summer night be without you!

Rachel loves Jenny sooo much. She loves to go over and just hang out and help Jenny. So hard

Just look at Leah's face to know how much we love Jenny.

Jenny from the block, and Brian from the Office (ha ha). You will be sorely missed. Thank you for your friendship. We will always cherish it!




all the thinnes girls, and Lexi making jacob feel comfortable by all turning to the side so we could get jacob's side of his mouth that has teeth. ha ha
We moved to the neighborhood at the same time and they were our first friends. Nicole and Jacob (like the rest of us) were kindred spirits. Their friendship really helped them make it through a rough transition for the both of them. They always had each other. Doesn't hurt that she's easy on the eyes too. ha.

Getting ready for recital

Feeling oh so cute!

getting down the moves!

I admit it. It is me that loves ballet more than them all. i think it is such a beautiful art form. To be able to move with such beauty. I always wanted to take ballet growing up, but we couldn't afford it. i had to choose between violin, and another activity. I don't regret choosing violin, but is it so wrong to want my girls to enjoy something I appreciate so much? They aren't complaining.

OH to PERFORM!!!

saturday night was the recital for "A Time to Dance". The girls have worked really hard to prepare for this night. For the night when all the magic happens! It was at the Maricopa County events center in Sun City. I didn't even know it was there. It is huge and so nice. The girls were so excited to have their own nice dressing room. To be one of the "older girls" finally. To be able to put on make-up and have multiple costume changes etc. All four girls danced. Rachel and Rebecca had ballet, jazz, lyrical, and were in the final production number. Leah and lizzie in tap/ballet and Leah also had a jazz number. And no, I will not be doing this again for quite some time! Too many classes.

lizzie had to add a pose too!

Their favorite is getting flowers from Dad after the show. It makes them feel so special (in their words). Have I said lately that I love having girls.

DANce CAmp StarTed Today

When you have a daughter like Rachel you don't need to enroll your other children in summer programs. She keeps everyone entertained and busy. Since their dance recital and watching "So you think you can dance" (our total favorite). The excitement about dancing is at a high around here. Rachel choreographed a seriously good routine for Rebecca Leah and Lizzie for family night on Monday. It was contemporary and told a story with really good costumes. Than she decided she was going to have a dance camp. So all the girls spent the night in her room last night, and had a big schedule for today. Below is their schedule that Rachel made and had posted on her wall.When I got up they were already to stretching before their first class. I think Jacob is going to be very disturbed at the total girlness of our household activities everyday after being with a house full of boys at my sisters. ha ha. Yesterdays activity was cleaning out the refrigerator and watching the food chanel for great cooking tips from The Barefoot Contessa. The girls loved it!