If you know me.....

If you really know me, you know that I love to be cozy in one of my cozy robes (I have a small fetish for robes). I am not a morning person. If I could, I would always spend every morning this way, at home, cozy of course, with a cup of hot cocoa. I especially love to have that hot cocoa in this particular mug. I bought this mug at a very wonderful place to me, and to my family. The place is the little store at fallen leaf lake. A place I will always love. Let me share with you why.Fallen Leaf Lake is one of the many small lakes in the Lake Tahoe area. We go to Lake Tahoe at least once a year. My Dad lives there and before my parents moved there in 1989 we went to Tahoe almost every summer for our family vacation. Tahoe is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth. It really smells good there too. How could it not, look at all those pines. There are so many places in the Tahoe area that have become our favorite spots that we have to visit every time we go. This is one of them. It is a small one way tiny road that takes you to this lake and until recently there have only been homes there of families that have passed them down for generations. The old store wasn't this big new fancy building pictured above. The old store on the lake that we used to come to is the one that Meg Ryan in city of Angels goes to buy some things right before she is killed (sorry if you haven't seen the movie. I am afraid I just ruined it for you. ha). I am not complaining about the new one though. We always come and get an ice-cream and sit on the porch and enjoy the beautiful, and peaceful view. We than take a look at the falls that are nearby and walk around. If it is hot and earlier in the day we may plan an afternoon of it, and I read a book while the kids play. Although I rarely can keep my attention to the book. Watching my children in this magical place usually wins out. Pure joy for me. Let me share some of the things that I see.

This i love.

soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Ladd

Is she not gorgeous?! If you remember the Maloy family shoot. This is Petra's mom. She is getting married. A love connection made in our own ward. She is so happy!!! That makes me very happy! Congratulations to the two love birds!

My Leah Love

Pictured above is one of the nuttiest, and funniest kids you will ever meet. My daughter Leah. She isn't trying to be funny. In fact she often gets upset that we laugh at the things that she says. She takes life very seriously and tries very hard, I think that is a part of why she is so funny. She is always talking seriously about things and these things usually have a letter or two wrong in them. Examples from the last few days are vinder instead of binder. She is going to "fade out" which meant faint. She announced at dinner that she learned a new word "steadecki". We couldn't figure out what she was trying to say, and told her that wasn't a word. She than explained, "you know, when your hair is sticking up after you rub it?" She meant Static-y. Which isn't a word for something that has static either, but we understood than what she meant. She just hears things differently. And the list goes on and on. Everything is off by a letter or two. Above she is singing her heart out at Christmas time in her own world wearing her absolutely favorite shirt. She tries to wear it every day. Also above is a letter that she wrote to me at church last sunday. Do your kids do this? During sacrament meeting my kids are sending me non stop notes. Usually about how much they love dave and I. I guess that shows they are feeling the spirit. smile. I think this one in particular is so precious. It shows her serious thinking as well. She is very serious about the gospel as well. She tries to run Family home evening every week. She always has a lesson planned, and ready to go. Crack me up. Leah is also very fond of food. This morning I heard her asking Dave at 9:30 am for a sandwich and chips. She had already moved on to lunch. Food is very important to her and she loves to eat healthy. She is very devoted to the cause of stopping diabetes since she had an assembly about it in school. She has been talking about it for months. She is always wanting me to donate more money to the cause. I told her we are fighting diabetes by eating healthy. I mostly love Leah's pure heart. You can see it in her eyes. I hope she never loses her desire to do what is right. I love this girl.

HappY VaLenTines Day!

I had a very happy day. I am just so grateful for all of the love that is in my life. To celebrate and remember that love I bought this festive bracelet from Target. I just couldn't resist. I can't wait to use it in photo shoots. I have alot of fun ideas I want to try with it. Coming up this month. I am going to dedicate my blog to sharing the things that I love both big and small. I am pretty sure that the month isn't long enough to share all the things, but I am going to try. Today I am sending love out to you, my fellow bloggers. If someone hasn't told you today that you are unique, special and wonderful give me a call. Celebrate the wonderful person that you are and your individual ability to give love, and touch the lives of others. We often don't realize how much we give. I think of one of my all time favorite movies "It's a wonderful life". It couldn't be truer. We actually have a great power for good. It is so amazing. So if you ever start to think that you don't make a difference, remember that thoughts that we don't matter, and what we do doesn't matter do not come from our Heavenly Father, but from someone who does not want us to be happy. HMMmm.... who could it be?.... let me think....Could it be Sa-TAn? ( I love the church lady skit from Saturday night live). All this to say, I love you and happy Valentines Day!
ps. Ms. Heidi Hill your note arrived today in the mail and it meant so much to me. It made me cry. The seemingly little things really do make all the difference. Thank you so much.
p.p.s. I forgot to mention ( and I promised I would) that Rebecca took the picture of me above. She is so proud.

p.p.p.s. Thank you Natalie for talking with me for an hour in Costco today. ha ha. I really love talking to you, and I appreciate your friendship so much. Thanks for the advice, it soothed my soul.

Tomorrow's forecast

I just want to announce that tomorrow the high is going to be 77 degrees. Aren't you so jealous?! I better get to bed now so that I can enjoy it. smile.

Rebecca's photo shoot

Rebecca needed some special time with mom on saturday. She decided that she wanted me to do a photo shoot of her. We decided that Rachel would be her assistant and picked out outfits for her and did her hair, helped with props etc.. We had so much fun. We just drove around and stopped at places I have been wanting to try out. Here are a few. I found a new place too to try. Those will be coming up probably with the next kid, or maybe rebecca again. Leah is requesting the next photo shoot. but which of these above should I put on my photography blog? I love doing different looks with one photo and than I can't decide. I still need to edit a bunch more too. But when you aren't a paying customer you are put on the back burner. ha.
p.s. I just added a few more to my photography site. fun fun.

Love is a beautiful thing.

There is nothing more beautiful than a woman in love. And no man more lucky than the recipient of that love. Here are the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Ladd. More pictures to come.

Playing around

wanted to share some of the fun editing I am doing. I don't know how to make my pictures bigger on blogger though. Can anyone help me?

Savoring this

Nothing warms my heart like seeing my kids help one another. One of Lizzie's new year resolutions was to learn to ride her bike without her training wheels. I know, I know, she is 6 and Rachel taught herself at three. But she is the baby. I guess I shouldn't tell you her other goals are to learn to tie her shoes and read. ha. Anyway, Jacob volunteered to help her and they made plans for the next afternoon. It was the cutest thing ever. Jacob made her feel so important to have such a serious goal. Lizzie's face says it all. Pure joy and satisfaction. Jacob ran right along side her the whole time encouraging her. AAHHHH. The moments we savor.

UGH!

I feel sick. I forgot to vote, amongst other things. I mean, I really feel sick about it! It really is hard to live with myself sometimes. ugh. I did remember to make my kids lunch, wash a load of whites so I have underwear (dang, I need to go put them in the dryer), help take dinner to a family that has sick kids and one in the hospital, visit a woman who needed friendship, and a million other little things. But I didn't remember to go and vote. I am so ashamed. This is even worse than the first election that I was able to vote in. I had just turned 18, and I was so excited that I got to vote. I studied all the candidates, all the issues, and marched ready with my list down to vote at my neighbors house. What a sense of pride I felt. Especially since I had really done my homework and was making such educated and well thought out choices. It wasn't until about a 1/2 hour after I returned from voting that I realized that I hadn't voted for a vice president, among other things. I realized in all of my nervousness and excitement I had only voted on one side of the ballot. How ridiculous i felt, but not as ridiculous as I feel now. And this is how I realized it. DAve walks in at 7:05pm and asks, "Did you vote?" In a panic, I ask when the polls close. Dave in his normal calm and cool manner replies, "At 7pm." UGH!!! a million times over. The only thing that would make me feel worse right now is if someone calls or comments and says that the polls were open until 8pm. In fact, please don't even tell me if they were. Poor Mitt. I am sure my one vote will have made all the difference. I think maybe I need to go to the doctor. I left my car running with the keys in all through church (ok and one other time this past week). JUst commit me now!!!!!!!

Are you happy?

I just wanted to say that I am happy.
Happy that I went to church today and felt the spirit so strong.
Happy that I am surrounded by people who are trying to be better every day and love and serve others.
Happy that my children are all healthy, and full of sparkle, love, and light!
Happy that they love to help others too.
Happy that my husband does things like... help the kids do their school projects , and reads them scriptures every night.
Happy that I have a 13 year old boy and 12 year girl that are my best friends and they love to spend time with me and the rest of the family.
Happy that a 19 year old boy in our ward who hasn't come to church in years came today and gave his testimony and related how his life is changing since he has started to read the scriptures and pray.
Happy that I beat Jeff Wellman at Settlers of Catan (he can't stand it and keeps calling for a rematch. ha ha)
Happy and continually grateful beyond words for the ease of life that I enjoy compared to so so many in this world. I think as Americans we sometimes take for granted things like a home, food, clothing, education, and so many freedoms. We sometimes just feel entitled to those things.
Happy that I know about the gospel of Jesus Christ. That I know that I am a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father, a God. That he loves me more than I can comprehend, and is interested in my daily life. Talk about self esteem builder.
So tonight, I just feel really happy. I don't always you know. Sometimes I feel really sad, and overwhelmed. But it is really hard to be unhappy when you are grateful. So I challenge you to write down all that you are happy about. I think we all could write for hours on that subject.
Well, in a half hour the slumber bowl starts. You may be wondering what that is. It's when a bunch of people come over at 12:01 monday morning to watch the super bowl.
So, I am also happy that I have a husband and son who want to keep the sabbath day holy, but still know how to have fun!

New Favorite!

It may not look like much, but this little bottle brings me alot of delight. It is called fun flock. I have never bought a scrapbooking kit from a kit club before but I love Tara Whitney and she had designed her own kit for a club. Everything in it looked wonderful and unique. I had to indulge. In the kit came this fun flock that I have never used before. It is the same idea as glitter, where you put down glue and it sticks to it, but it has that fuzzy raised look. those are my favorite with rub ons etc. for scrapbooking. Here are some of the pages I did with it.
The star I free handed with glue and poured the stuff on and it looks like a raised rub on. Ok so it doesn't look perfect in the picture, it is better in person I promise. I like the sewn on polka dot fabric too.

the heart is done in the flocking here. I used rub ons that have a similar look. Love it. You have to try it out. I would love one in every color please.

Stevens

It has taken me a few days to figure out why I couldn't upload more pictures. I finally overcame my technical anxieties and did it! So some images from the Steven's extended family shoot will be up on my business website soon! check here

My Heart Hurts

My heart hurts because I will miss hearing the voice that has become so familiar to me as the word of the Lord. President Gordon B. Hinckley the prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints passed away yesterday. My first thought when I heard the news was happiness that he would be able to be with his wife who had already passed on and whom he missed so dearly. But as it sunk in and I felt the spirit , the tears started to come. I will miss his optimism and humor. I will miss his love and encouragement. What a life well lived. I started to think of my own life. How am I living. I realized that I had a lot to change, and that brought many more tears. The Holy Ghost took advantage of my humility to inform me that I needed to repent of many things. While I hate that feeling, it hurts. I know it is necessary in order for me to change and grow, so I have to be grateful for that. I thought it quite interesting that it was the death of our dear prophet that would bring on a change of heart for me. That even in death he has helped me draw closer to my Heavenly Father. I can't help but think of their sweet reunion. I can see it in my mind. His being welcomed back into the brotherhood and fellowship of all the prophets that have gone before him. I wish I were there to experience it. Don't worry, for the first time I am not anxious to leave this life. ha ha. Usually, I am anxious to leave this sin filled world to be with my Heavenly Father. Today, I feel strengthened to stop wanting to move on, and get to work, while it is my turn to work. I feel renewed energy to love and serve others. To give my life as our dear prophet did to loving and serving the Lord. My turn isn't over yet and I rejoice in that. So while my heart hurts, it is also filled with a great gratitude and love for the life of a man who gave to me a great example of how to live with great love and joy.

PS. My sister has some of the greatest quotes from President Hinkley here. I would love to hear yours

Someone is 30 Today!!!

and 30 is so HOT right now!
You are the best mom and wife. Such a Martha, but cooler. ha ha


I am sure you will have a fun day with Grant to entertain you!

and the cutest kid around to hang out with.


If I could give you anything for your birthday it would be hangin out with mom today. Of course I get to come too. a day filled with good food, mom stories, and laughter. I love her smile in this picture (she is hiding her braces). I know this will make you cry, but I want you to remember how much Mom loves you and thinks you are the greatest!!!! She misses you more than you miss her. She wishes she could be there for you, and spoil Cate along with the rest of us. But she knows you are in good hands with Grant and all of us.

Kelly, I love you, despite your gambling habits. ha ha. Laughing with you helps me not miss mom so much. I appreciate your layed back nature, your humor, and style. You are the kind of sister and friend everyone wishes they had. I am so blessed to have you and your family in my life!!! Have the best birthday ever!!!!! PS -be sure to check the mailbox today. You know I am a good gift giver!!!!!

One Lucky Dad

We all bundled up last night in the chilly 55 degree weather, to cheer on our Daddy! He was playing football with his work team. He was the oldest one out on the field, and the best player by far in our opinion. He also had the whitest legs. That's our Dad! We love him more than anything! Besides Mommy and Jesus of course. (wink)

Fiber Update

we are definitely living the high fiber life. In fact Jacob and Rachel's favorite saying right now is(that they think is so clever), "I'm poopin' like a rock star!" They make me laugh. As promised I am going to share my absolute favorite whole wheat pancake recipe. They are so incredible that you feel guilty. Like you are eating a dessert. Our favorite is to add blueberries. If you like you can use sugar free syrup, or pure maple syrup. To the ones above I added some buckwheat, hence the darker color. Although that is pretty close to the normal color anyway. So here it is...

-8 cups whole wheat flour (I freshly grind mine. Again you can add different grains and substitute a couple of cups of the 8 total). You can buy different grains at Sprouts, or of course many other locations. If you don't have a grinder, buy a whisper mill or borrow from someone. It is worth it!

-1/3 cup baking powder

-4 tsp. salt (try the brand "real" salt, so you get your trace minerals

-2 cups shortening (hmmm, could be why they are so good).

-2 cups powdered milk. (Have you ever heard of "morning moos"? It is very good.

Mix all ingredients together with a pastry blender. The attachment comes with most mixers (I reccommend the Bosch). If not the old fashion way would work. This makes a pretty large mix that I just put in a gallon zip loc. To make up a batch use 2 cups of the mix, 1 egg, and water to batter consistency. Batter should be thin. You want to heat up your griddle as hot as it can go. This is the key to good pancakes, if they are cooked to long they get rubbery. Grease up the grill however you want. Than pour it on. At this point you can just drop on top anything you want. You can have berries frozen in the freezer and just drop them on frozen. Than you flip them pretty quickly (bubbles forming in batter). OOh they are so yummy just hot off the grill. This recipe is such a great way to get your family starting to eat more fiber. They will never know they are eating 100% whole wheat. I promise. Every kid I have ever made them for, just can't get enough. So try them and see.

Also if you don't make your own bread you can still buy bread that has fiber. So many don't, even that say they are whole wheat. check the back. This one below is good. It has the consistency of white and isn't too dark and is high in fiber. My kids don't complain. Another one that I like better that is really soft and yummy is at Sams club in a two back. I believe it is Aunt Hatties as well. I need to go get more. It is really super good. I love other kinds better, but for kids that don't like wheat, these are great.

Good Luck, and here's to you being on your way to "ppopin' like a rock star". Go ahead sing it like the song party like a rock star. You know you want to. ha

something new!

I have been wanting to try some new locations that I have had my eye on. Do something more funky. I always have ready models so yesterday Rachel and I headed out for some fun together. I don't think I have ever taken my kids out around here and done a photo shoot. I need to do that. I couldn't get Jacob to come with me. He is next! I have some fun ideas. I love the smiling tin figure in the background. Love the colors. and of course love my model the best! We got lots of cat calls from people driving by (we weren't in the best area of town. ha ha).

Other fun things I am up to are......
Redocorating and updating the kids bedrooms. i can't wait to share. They are turning out soooo sooo cute. Rachel was wanting to add high energy bright colors, more teenager. I think these pictures will work in her room. Ikea was definitely the place to find fun accents for cheap too! This kind of thing is top on my most fun things to do in life. I spent alot of yesterday cleaning out bedrooms. How do kids do it?! How is it possible for me to take out hefty bags full of trash and goodwill? I really need to do this more often. Less is definitely more. You find really neat things at the bottom of kids drawers too. Jacob's collection of notes from girls is always entertaining. And now I know where all the girls ballet slippers have gone! It was like Christmas for Rebecca just moving her bed and finding all kinds of treasures. See, we are still in the Christmas spirit over here. Decorations and all. It is starting to get embarassing though when poeple come over. ha ha.
This morning I started a new violin student. It was so much fun. I don't have time in the afternoons to teach kids (for obvious reasons), but an adult during the day. PerFECT! So, I am doing my goal of always having one student. There are so many great things to do in life. It is so hard to pick and choose. My viola and cello (and violin for that matter) are just gathering dust. I need to work some time into my schedule for music. I need to start taking piano again. I really could be more productive I am sure of it!! What a laugh. I am really enjoying getting up with Dave to read and pray. Makes a big differnce, and so does exercise for me. I can definitely do better in the eating dept. Since I ate chocolate yesterday and for FHE dessert lemon blueberry cheesecake. But seriously, how could I pass up lemon blueberry cheesecake I ask you? Moderation. I still lost weight this week, and my goal is only a pound a week. Very doable for even me!
Well, I am off to cozy my daugher who is home sick, and make some lunch. Have a great day!

The comfort of a true friend

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort, of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts, or measure words---but pouring them all right out--just as they are--chaff and grain together--certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them--keep what is worth keeping--and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.

Dina Marie Mulock

This poem was sent to me today by my dear friend Nancy. She loves poetry and most of my favorite poems are ones that she has introduced me to. Thanks Nancy for being this kind of friend for me. Ti voglio bene.

My favorite this morning

(click on the picture to see these eyes up close. Wait until you see them in color!)
Whenever I am editing a photo shoot I get so excited! Each image is my favorite, until of course I edit the next image. I just love doing this! I am especially drawn to children and their beauty. Their eyes just draw me in. I love eyes. My favorite pictures are when they are the focal point. They really are the window to the soul. And children's souls are so pure. Added to their purity are other things depending on the child. In some there is sweetness, in others compassion. Others are sparkly and spunky. Others serious and sincere. I love them all. They are all perfect and beautiful in my eyes. The love that children radiate is one of the most wonderful things on this earth. Keeping that purity is the hard part.
One of my dearest friends, Nancy has 6 beautiful children and she is one of the best moms I have ever seen. Her oldest boy and second child has autism. He can not speak and is pretty much in his own world. Every time I talk with Nancy on the phone she has new "Grant stories". They can not take their eye off him for one minute. I am so filled with compassion for my friend when I speak to her and I can't help but say, "How do YOU DO IT?! I don't think I would be so happy and patient like you are." Her reply is always the same. "Are you kidding? He is the only child of mine that I don't have to worry about. He will make it for sure back to Heavenly Father." In other words, he will keep that purity that I am talking about. (Isn't she awesome!!!! I love you so much NANCY!) After hearing of her recent struggles with him, (they are comical if it isn't you dealing with them) I said to her, "Just think of after this life when Grant is whole and perfect. What joy you will have and what gratitude he will have for you. " When I told Dave what I said, his comment was, "When they see who Grant is, and how he changed their life and kept them on the right track they will probably be thanking him." All I have to say is, "where would we be without an eternal perspective? How would we deal with all the difficulties in life?" I am just so thankful that I do know about the gospel of Jesus Christ and that the Holy Ghost truly has confirmed to me that without a doubt it is true. That we really did live before we came here. We are the sons and daughters of a Heavenly Father that loves us beyond anything that we can comprehend. That this earth was created for us, to gain a body, to have these experiences, and to show our Heavenly Father that we will obey Him and have faith. I just can't wait for everything to be perfect again. I like perfect. I like everyone being happy, and everything clean and perfect. A mix between "MONK" (have you seen that show?) and Pollyanna. ha ha. Anyway, I just started out wanting to share this picture that I love above of Darla's little nephew and than off I went. Can't wait to show the rest! So have a perfect day! I think I will. I got up and read scriptures with Dave and prayed, was a nice mom for my kids this morning. Went to a kickbox class and I just called Dave and got permission to go to IKEA!! (in other words permission to buy some things). WOO-HOO! I told him that I like this scripture thing. It softens him up. Makes him weak to my beggings. ha ha.

Happy New Year

Ok so I am a tad behind. I still haven't shared my favorite Christmas pictures. I just sent out the last of my Christmas cards yesterday, and my Christmas decor is still up. What can I say. I am taking the keeping it Christmas all year very seriously. Another thing that I am taking seriously are a few new goals. I am finally ready to share them. I am finally ready to be held accountable I guess. So here it goes.

1. I HAVE TO START GOING TO BED AT A DECENT HOUR. I have no more excuses. I have plenty of time to myself during the day, I don't need to stay up late. Than just maybe I will be able to function before 10 am. I have gone to bed early the past 2 nights, and I feel fabulous this morning. I am filled with hope that I will be able to stick to this. Change my wicked ways.

2. Lose 15 pounds by May 1st. Dave turns 40 and we are going on a southern Carribean cruise (wanna come?) I have gotten out of my habit of exercising as regularly as I usually do, and getting older doesn't help either. I started a women's support group with my ward called SET (Sisters enduring together, ha ha). It is for weightloss/healthy living. We have met twice and it has been very motivating and exciting.

3. Read scriptures and pray with Dave every morning. See you don't have to be perfect (or anywhere close to it) to be a Relief Society president. I have never been able to do this. Mainly because of my evil late night ways. The being sick pregnant and have five kids didn't help either. But again, I really have no excuse now. My baby is 6 and 1/2. I can't believe it!

So there they are. For all the world to see. Maybe I should add taking down my Christmas decorations. I think I need a support group for that. ha. Wish me luck!

I like this.

"Two wolves live inside each of us," the old Indian said to two young men who had come to hear his wise counsel.

"One wolf is evil and destructive and hurtful," he continued. "The other wolf is good and kind and caring."

The two young men waited for the elder sage to speak further and, when he didn't, one finally asked: "How do you know which of the two wolves inside us will grow to be the strongest?"

The old man was waiting for the question. He replied in a voice heavy with meaning: "Whichever one you feed the most."

Just another reminder to me that it is my choice what I become. It takes a concentrated effort to overcome what comes natural. If I feed myself the crude and perverse stuff of the world, that is what I will become. There is so much good to be had. I am trying to develop an appetite for what will make me stronger spiritually. I need to think on this. What do I need to change in my daily diet. What am I feeding myself? Food for thought. Both wolves are so cute here though. I think that's how it can be even more deceiving. The world is making bad look good, and good look bad. and just so you know, i didn't take the picture of the wolves. ha ha.