The Russ and Sheila Richardson Family

Military Moments

2012-02-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

...here is an update on Taylor. He is doing real well. He is in his 4th week of basic training. There are 3 levels of training. Red, first level, white, second level and blue, third level. He just started the white level. He earned 30 minutes phone time. It was so good to hear his voice and find out he is doing great. They have divided his platoon into groups and assigned squad leaders over each group. Taylor is a squad leader. That alone tells me he is trying hard and has made a major attitude adjustment. Way to go Taylor!! He has also been called to be a priesthood instructor in the Ft. Sill branch. He loves it. We will be attending his basic training graduation in March. I am very excited to put my arms around my son and tell him I love him!

I know what you are all thinking, "Why such a serious face?" in his picture. Come on, give him a break...it's the army! Would you smile if you had to stand in front of the mirror and take your picture with your cell phone? He looks like a real soldier. Just remember that he is learning how to annihilate the enemy. Not much to smile about when you think of it. We are proud of him and the hard work he is doing.

PV2 Taylor Richardson

All in a hard days work

2012-01-04T19:24:00.000-08:00

eating and stareing at your fingers sure takes it out of you

Uncle Sam Wants You!

2012-01-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

I remember as a child seeing billboards that were all about trying to convince people to join the army (1960's). They all said, "Uncle Sam Wants You!" with Uncle Sam's finger pointing right at you. Well, it is hard to believe that one of my own has answered that call. As of January 3, 2012 Taylor is a soldier in the United States army. He will train as a medic. This is a huge thing for a mom to wrap her head around but perhaps over time I will get used to it. Then again, maybe not. For sure my prayers will be intense.

The first picture is the recruiter that came to pick Taylor up. Nice guy. The next pic is some of us that came together to wish Taylor well. We will miss him...for now. He may be back in 2 or 3 months before he leaves for the medic training. Young men that take this big step are one of the reasons we continue to enjoy our freedoms and privileges. Thanks soldiers!

Happy Birthday Bethany!

2011-11-29T17:05:00.001-08:00

There is nothing like a fun birthday surprise. Russ and I recently made a surprise visit to Wisconsin to help Bethany celebrate her birthday. She had no clue we were coming to see her. If you want a good laugh take a look at the video.

Melanie Teresa Richardson

2011-08-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday August 23rd our family welcomed Melanie Teresa into our clan! What an adorable little bundle of joy Judd and Caitlin have presented us. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz.

Below you will see Melanie as she poses with her grandpa, mom & dad, and uncle Taylor. We all stand in line to hold her. Soon enough she will be joined by 2 cousins (Heather & Doug's daughter due in early Feb. and Jordan and Nichol's baby in early March).

There are not too many things in this life that are sweeter than a brand new baby!

Travis' Research

2011-08-21T21:14:00.001-07:00

For the past several months Travis has had the opportunity to work on a research team for ASU. He has gone to Ft. Leavenworth twice to do the research and they are hoping to go to West Point. Here is an article that was published in the Ft. Leavenworth Lamp that explains what the research project is about.

Ouch! Now There's a Pain That Lingers!

2011-07-22T14:35:00.000-07:00

Stay doggie, stay away from me!

That is probably what Brigham was thinking yesterday when the neighbors dog decided to take a bit out of his back. He was riding his bike past their house and the dog ran after him, jumped up and sunk his teeth into Brigham's back. Can you see the bruising around the wound? He probably could have used a couple of stitches to close it up but he opted out of that. Sure hope our next post isn't a picture of Brigham getting rabies shots. Don't worry the dog had it's shots (or so they tell me).

Look at our Nook

2011-07-14T18:01:00.001-07:00

Okay, so while I was away playing in Wisconsin, Russ was at home building a little nook for our computer. For those of you that are familiar with our casa, it is located where the family bulletin board used to be.

I just love the little light he installed that shines down on the work area.

This is the view from the hallway by the bedrooms.
And here is our master builder. Nichol you are right, Richardson men can build anything!

Max the Cool Cat

2011-07-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

Today Max got a cool treat! With the help of a special brush created for pets, he lost 10 pounds...of fur. Well, it looked like 10 pounds of fluffy fur.

Taylor was the guy that made it happen.

Ahhhh, that feels delicious!

...and here is the nasty results. The best part is that nasty fur

won't be on me or in my house.

Thanks Taylor!

Zippty "Zoo"dah

2011-07-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a little peek at our trip to the zoo in Madison.

Below is a picture of my favorite sight at the zoo. It is a black swan. So many lessons could be learned from this swan. Maybe someday I will share one or two of those lessons. Such a cute pic of Drake and Ivy. The "rooster" and the "chick". What a great fit.
How about this one: Drake and Brigham.
Brigham's head seems a little big for the hole!

Who doesn't love the penguin exhibit?

These flamingos or mingos as Ivy called them were very beautiful.

So that was our day at the zoo. We took our animals (whoops I mean kids) and went back home.

Just Another Fun Day!

2011-07-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

Three strikes, you win!

Another fun day in Janesville! Bowling for $1 a game is what I consider fun. Total we bowled 18 games. Now that was a blast. Drake put us all to shame with his great scores.

Who could resist this sweet little face?

Drake enjoying his lunch

Silly boys!
Lunch was greasy but we enjoyed it anyway.
Tomorrow will bring more fun and you can view us enjoying our trip and the cool(er) weather. Just stay tuned here.

Rock Aqua Jays

2011-07-07T08:11:00.001-07:00

If you look up in the top left corner of this pic you will see 3 skiers who just flew off the ramp and did a flip. It was awesome. These and the other 50 skiers were members of the Rock Aqua Jays that perform in a river in Janesville. What a great way to spend the evening. We had a great time watching their performance. If you ever visit Janesville in the summer I recommend this event!
P.S. Now for the good part. One of the boats that pulled skiers had 3 engines each with 300 HP. That is a total of 900 Hp and it was FAST and LOUD. Just my style.

DINOsaurs

2011-07-06T08:05:00.001-07:00

Tuesday we visited a dinosaur museum that has the largest collection of meat eating dinosaurs.

I wouldn't want to be attacked by this guy

or this guy

Trying to get everyone to pose for a picture can be a beast of a task!

Brig and I enjoying a moment.

Jelly Belly Fun

2011-07-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Jelly Belly Factory in Kanosha Wisconsin

Here is the little train we road in around the factory which was really a warehouse full of jelly beans.
Here is a picture of Elvis created from Jelly Beans.What would a trip to the facory be without visiting the candystore. We ate so many JB's we all felt gross!

When Grandma Comes to Visit

2011-07-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

If you check the map just above Rockford you will see Janesville WI.

That is our destination! Brigham and I will be visiting Bethany and her clan for the next week. We are so excited!!

I promise to post pictures of our adventures.

So, stay tuned to this blog to follow our fun.

Welcome Home Annie

2011-06-27T08:33:00.001-07:00

It seems like Annie has been gone more than she has been home this summer (lucky!). She returned last night from Snowflake (again)

where she was helping with her nieces while their parents were away.

It sure is quiet when she is not home. And who is going to keep Brigham

in his place while she is away? Good thing she is back!

We love you Annie.

Music to My Ears

2011-06-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

I love beautiful music and today I heard some I couldn't resist.

We found this beauty at a garage sale! The price was right . . . $75! That was the steal of the day, maybe even the year. And to think I wasn't in the mood to go garage selling!

Is There a Doctor in the House?

2011-06-24T12:34:00.001-07:00

Ben graduated June 3, 2011 from A.T. Still University with his MD. We are so proud of Ben and Briana for enduring this long journey...which isn't over yet. How many doctors do you know that have graduated from medical school with 7 children (2 born during school)? We love you and hope to visit you soon in your new residenc"y" in El Paso TX.

P.S. Ben, I really wanted to post a picture of you from Halloween but I love you too much to do that!

Am I Too Wordy?

2011-06-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I despise blogging? Oh yeah, I love to read them but I don't enjoy creating them. They can be so time consuming. Well, I have had an epiphany (one of my favorite words) regarding blogging. I am just to dang wordy. As I blog I tend to put way to much into my posting. So, perhaps if I back off I will not hate it so much. I want to tell a story about being too wordy but it would be too wordy. Maybe some other time.

Although I hate myself in this "old" picture, I love the rest of the folks. So Enjoy...they are good people. Brigham and Annie are twice that size now.

Our Visitor

2011-02-20T12:04:00.000-08:00

Never in my life did I think that I would be the hostess in my home to a General Authority from the First Quorum of the Seventy. Elder David F. Evans was our visiting authority for our stake conference this weekend. He asked if he could stay in our home and of course we were delighted. We had to do some rearranging to make a place for him to sleep but as always he was so gracious and grateful. It is so special to have such a humble servant of our Heavenly Father as a guest in our home.

Elder Evans has served as a Bishop, Stake President, Mission President in Japan and as an area authority also in Japan. He told many interesting stories from his life and shared with us details about his family. We had such a wonderful time visiting with him.

We have had a few other General Authorities stay in our home and each one brings a special spirit with them. My favorite thing is listening to them share stories from their church service or tell about their personal knowledge and relationship with the prophet. What a great privilege it is to have them in our home.

Finally...

2011-01-29T14:37:00.000-08:00

Well Gram has lived in her house for 4 years and today the outside was finally painted! Hurray for Seville Park Ward High Priest Quorum. They wanted to do a service project and gram's house was the one they chose. I have posted some pictures. They were also kind enough to paint my school. I am so thrilled. I have before and after pic's of my school but only the gram's house after it was painted.

This last picture is our wonderful Bishop (on the ladder) and a member of the Quorum that came to help.

The Rug

2011-01-29T14:16:00.000-08:00

The other day Russ found this rug in a vacant house that he was preparing to list for sale. It is in perfect condition. He brought it home and put it on the floor in the family room. I thought it looked great as it broke up all the blue in the room.

Later in the evening Annie came by and announced that she didn't like that rug one single bit. Russ and I responded by telling her we liked it and it was going to stay put. "Well", she said, "just wait until my sisters see it!"

Well I guess the statement about the "sisters" was supposed to make us want to jump up and drag that rug out to the nearest bonfire. Poor Annie, she really did get stuck with old fashioned parents. Maybe someday she will look past our lousy taste in rugs and love us inspite of our age. After all age is just a number!

The Coupon Escapade

2011-01-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

Friday I bundled up my coupons and decided it was time to head to Fry's and see what this coupon frenzy was all about. I really didn't have a ton of coupons (I am a newbie to couponing). I tried to plan it out so I would be organized and not have to crisscross the store a dozen time. I swear I was in The Hotel California where "you can check out but you can never leave". It was making me so nervous carrying those coupons around and searching for just the right products. It is a really time consuming ordeal. As I finally headed toward the front of the store to check out I started sweating wondering if the moment I opened up my envelope to dump out the coupons, the floor would open up and swallow me! Everyone hates couponers...especially me. I held my breath as I waited for someone behind me in line to throw a rotten tomato at my head. Fortunately, the floor didn't open, no one threw a rotten tomato at me and I quit sweating when the cashier finally announced that I had saved $199.71 (I promise it sounded like she was shouting it over the intercom). I still spent more than most couponers do in a year but I had lots of items without coupons too. And, I lived to tell this story. I guess I might try it again next week, if I can get up the nerve!

Wake up All You Bloggers!

2011-01-23T08:04:00.000-08:00

The following statement is not intented to focus on my own family but rather bloggers in general.

I know many of you will consider me a hypocrite and you would be right! I really love reading other peoples blogs but I seldom contribute to my own. What is up with that?

I get so out of sorts when I check someones blog and they haven't blogged in a month (and in some cases months). PLEASE...can you put something new so I can enjoy keeping up with you and your family. Thank goodness we have enough family members that someone generally contributes to this blog every week or 2.

So, why am I whining about such matters? I guess it is because I have been looking at some new blogs lately and I really enjoy the good things I have read. In some funny way I am inspired by the good I see in others through their blog. I get to take a peek at good families, loving mom's, families having fun together, trials that people cope with (especially those that make mine look like a walk through the park), fabulous food ideas, new babies arriving, weddings, well you get the idea. All kinds of things. I wanted to make a New Years resolution to blog at least once a week this year. Oops! Looks like I already failed since it is the 3rd week of January.

Thank goodness everyday is a new day and I get to start over. Forget the New Years resolution...I think I will just start today. Consider this my new beginning to blogging more often. Hope you find me here next week!

Love to All,
Mom

P.S. I almost deleted this post because I didn't have a picture to go with it. Just seems like a picture makes it more interesting. But I resisted and posted anyway. Maybe you will see a picture next week.

Look it has my eyes!!!

2011-01-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

Well I know how excited women get about that first ultrasound picture so here it is.

I can't believe it!

2011-01-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

That's right! Our baby boy is a sunbeam. Ok so he really isn't a baby but it is hard for me to believe! Today was a little weird for me but we got through it and Cooper L-O-V-E-D primary. Our Primary Presidency did a really good job of trying to prepare the kids that would be moving up into primary. They started taking them into singing/sharing time about the middle of November and they went each Sunday. The first Sunday Cooper had a hard time because he was sitting there being really reverent like they asked him too and when it was all said and done and his Aunt Nichole didn't pick him to help with the songs, he melted. But luckily that has been the only problem. Last Sunday we started helping him prepare also by telling him that he would have a new teacher and he would get to go to primary. We were always positive about it and he was getting really excited. So today I prepared him a little bit more by telling him that in his new class he wouldn't have playtime and snack time. At first he seemed a little leery but then when we got to church he was perfectly fine. At one point during Sacrament meeting he said,"Momma do I get to go to my classroom with the toy cupboard?" When I replied ,"No" he didn't even blink and he just smiled and said, "Oh yeah, I get my new teachers!". I was so thrilled that he was OK with that! Once we got to primary, I took him to sit by his teachers and then hurried out since I wasn't sure if he was going to take a cue from any of the other kids and start crying as their parents brought them in, so I just watched him from another door and he did great. He had no problems and I am ecstatic! He loved it and I hope he continues to love it. But for me it is still strange!

2010-12-19T18:10:00.000-08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

RAINY DAY PEOPLE

2010-12-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

Caitlin and Kennedy got stuck inside the house while it rained and it sure didnt stop them! They just opened our costume chest and there was plenty of fun inside.

Happy, Happy Birthday Heather Dear!

2010-12-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

{Because it's her birthday I opted for this picture instead one of the incriminating ones I have. Heather would rather I avoid anything that involves weed whacked hair, spoons or blue leggings.}

I tried to hack into Heather's personal blog in order to post this there, but apparently she changed her password on me. What the!?

I just had to give a little birthday shout out to my sister. Today she is 31 years old and for the last 10 or so of those years we have been best of friends. I wish I could say we were always best friends, but sisters will be sisters and we wasted a lot of time growing up fighting and not getting along.

I am so thankful for Heather for a number of reasons, but one my very favorite reasons is our ability to laugh together. We laugh constantly together and it always brightens my day.

I love that we are so close and I love that we talk about anything and everything. Sometimes we call each other just to get a little help with dinner ideas and sometimes we call each other just to vent our frustrations. Not a day goes by that we don't talk at least once, but usually two or three times.

I am so grateful for her and for the friendship we share. Happy Birthday H!

Cookin With Judd & Caitlin

2010-11-29T18:18:00.000-08:00

Heres a few silly pictures of one of our best meals, Spicy Chicken Sandwiches! YUM they were good

Giving Thanks

2010-11-26T16:33:00.000-08:00

I am so glad that I remembered to take a few pictures at our 2010 Richardson Family Thanksgiving dinner. We had a wonderful and delicious dinner. Bethany and her family are in Wisconsin presently so they were the only ones that weren't with us. We missed them but we look forward to another Thanksgiving when we can all be together. We had to set up 3 tables to have enough places to put everyone. As I watched my family enjoying the great food as they laughed and talked, I realized my family is my joy! I appreciate the goodness I see in my children and the loving bond they have for each other. What more could a mom ask for?

The first picture is the table we set for the young ones (6). Next is the table for adults (16). And the last one is the older kids table (4). This didn't include the 2 babies we also had with us. I have a lot to be thankful for and it all starts here!

Horsey Ride

2010-10-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

There are some things our sister needs to be a part of.

Bethany, you may have missed our annual Halloween party tonight but Dad wanted to be sure you got to see our crazy brothers in action.

Hyde Russell Hales

2010-10-24T11:16:00.001-07:00

"I'm not so sure about all this nonsense."

Hyde Russell Hales. Born on Saturday, October 23, 2010, at 8:18 am. He is 8 lbs. 7 oz.

The Moment We Have All Been Waiting For...

2010-08-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

The construction on Edustar Preschool has finally been completed. School begins this Tuesday. What a beautiful classroom! I am so excited to begin teaching my little students about the world around them and giving to them skills they will use all their lives. Take a peek at our hard work:

Here is a corner to corner view

Front of the school

Check the next post for more pictures.

Pictures for Your Viewing

2010-08-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Edustar Preschool

Every good preschool classroom has a 32" flat screen TV.

This is half of my work/storage area

This is the other half of my work area
This is my corner of the room. Don't you love the flowers Russ gave me?

This is our group learning area. I love this rug. It was my gift to the school.

Students library. I love books!

Froggy wall. He tells us the weather for the day. He sits right above the reading bench.

Each star will have a picture of a student inside.

I can't help but love this room. It has a really good feeling inside. I am excited to begin teaching my students all about their world and giving them skills they will use for life!

Mercy!

2010-08-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

Dad got this card from Flint's dad and thought it might be fun for everyone to see. We all have a pretty good idea of the blood sweat and tears that went in to the MD behind Flint's name. We are proud of Flint and Bethany for their tenacity and willingness to do whatever it takes to stay on the path the Lord has prepared for them.

It's a girl

2010-07-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

This morning at 7:09am Kobie and Jared welcomed their third child into their family. What a sweet and tender baby she is! Kobie was amazing and truly blessed thru her labor and delivery. She was amazing in every way. We are all so pleased to welcome this little angel. She has yet to receive an official name so we anxiously await. Kimber and Addie are excited to have a new baby sister. Way to go Kobie we love you!

Part I --- Preschool Construction Begins

2010-06-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

Today is June 28th and it is the first real day of construction on my preschool. The first thing that had to be done was foaming of the roof. Below are some pictures of what took place. Tomorrow workers will be here to pour the floor. They will actually be poring over an existing floor. It is going to be so nice! This is so exciting! Let the fun begin!

This is how it looks up on top of the roof . Below will be my preschool classroom.

Here is a view from the east side.

The two men on the roof are the guys that do the actual foaming. They have a big hose that shoots foam on the roof.

This is the view from the south end of what will be my classroom. Parents will pick their students up from a door that will be located on the southwest end of the room.

Preschool Preparations

2010-06-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that I will be opening a preschool (not to be confused with daycare) this fall. There are so many things to do to get ready. Well, today I went preschool shopping. It was so fun! My problem wasn't what to buy, it was what not to buy. I did end up putting a few things back but I am happy with what I purchased. I spent about 1/2 of the money I had set aside. That means another trip to Lakeshore Learning. Now that store is a teachers dream store. It has everything and then some. We will start construction very soon. We have been so blessed! Things have come together better than I could ever have imagined. Let the fun begin!

Happy Birthday Slade!

2010-05-25T06:12:00.001-07:00

Sunday May 23rd Slade Russell Evans finally made his appearance into this great big world. He weighed in at 9 lbs. and is 21 and 1/2 inches long. He is adorable. He gave his mom quite a long labor but we are all happy he arrived safely and that he is healthy and strong. Heather was such a trooper. Fortunately, she is also a determined mom and was certain she wanted to have this baby at home. Thank goodness for Mary, her seasoned midwife. Mary knew just what to do and when to do it and after 4 hours of pushing Slade finally came. Doug is a proud dad and Kennedy is a loving big sister. The Richardson's are happy to welcome Slade into our family!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to our Mother! What a great day to celebrate your wonderfulness and all that you have done and do for our family. We cherish your example and dedication in all you do.

When I think of being a mother myself I find myself quite often saying or doing things that I swore I would never do, after all that would be too much like my mother. But, I have come to find that mother does know best.

I remember quite vividly when I was in fourth grade I had been excluded from a birthday party that the girls in my class had been invited to. When I arrived home from school that day I remember crying in your arms while you tenderly listened to my aching heart. I remember that you made me feel so special and that the party wasn't such a big deal after all. That has always made a lasting impression on me to know just how you valued each of us children.

To this day when I feel that I need to seek the council of my mother or her loving advice I know I can always turn to you and you will offer a listening ear. I value what you have to offer me when it comes to life experience and how to go about the things I do.

My wish is you have the very happiest Mother's Day and always remember how your 10 chicks love their mother hen.

What a Ride!

2010-04-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, dad and I decided to drop everything and take a ride to Safford to see Taylor. We had a great visit as we took a tour of his living quarters. However, the best part of all was the Beast ride Taylor took me on! I have been on more Beast rides than I care to mention but it has been long enough that I had forgotten how rough and bouncy it was. The Beast can really get with it. I am not sure if it is the driver or the engine power that determines the intensity but for what it is worth it took my breath for a moment. There is nothing like a good Beast ride to remind me why I love driving a cushy ol' Suburban! Thanks Taylor!! I had a fun time.

Our New Puppy!

2010-04-28T15:38:00.001-07:00

Isn't he cute?

This is Doc our new puppy! Doc is short for Doc Holiday from the movie Tombstone. We don't have the Doc yet, but we'll get him in a couple of weeks after he's grown a little more.

The Way I Create

2010-04-20T16:59:00.001-07:00

I've made a blog for all my crafts. Go ahead and check it out! thewayicreate.blogspot.com

Happy Easter!!

2010-04-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

This year since Cooper is getting older I decided I wanted to start some traditions. So Friday during the day I got all of our eggs boiled and Cooper and I waited until Travis got home so we could dye Easter eggs as a family. We had lots of fun. I love that Cooper is old enough to participate in things like this!

Here are my two favorite guys! Look how handsome they are!

Cooper L-O-V-E-D dying the eggs

He was so proud of his creations!

Here are all of the wonderfully colored eggs. I boiled WAY too many eggs but I didn't want it to be over in two minutes! Now lets hope I can figure out what to do with all the left over eggs!?!

On Saturday in between sessions of Conference we hosted an Easter egg hunt. I was able to convince Travis to let us have it at our house. (Thanks Honey, I know you had a lot of homework!) So the Easter Bunny hid all the eggs out in the park area by our house and the kids had so much fun! We had Cami, Jeremy, Heather, Doug, Ben, Briana and all of their 12 kids.

After the hunt we had subs, chips and drinks to complete the festivities. We had so much fun. Thanks to everyone for coming!

On Sunday we had a quiet day listening to Conference and teaching Cooper the true meaning of Easter and then we had a good ol' fashion Easter Dinner that I made. This is the first time I have ever made a real ham and rolls (thanks to Mom for teaching me how to make bread!!) and I have to tell you it was really simple and I loved the fact that I was able to make all of it! So even though we had a million left overs I was proud of myself!

I hope every one had a wonderful Easter.

The Fam

2010-03-12T14:19:00.000-08:00

Really?

2010-02-08T16:33:00.000-08:00

Kennedy loves to draw and is always asking for more paper to draw on. So the other day I got her a pad of paper so she could draw until her heart was content. After a little while she brought me a drawing and said "mom, this is you" I said "really?" She replied with "yes, that is how your hair looks and that is the baby".I guess a child's perspective on looks differs from an adult. For now the photo is kept in her room so she can see it. What a great reminder to do my hair everyday!!

Cousins are so much fun

2010-01-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

Last Friday Bethany, Briana and I decided to take the kids to The Arizona Museum of Natural History. Allie was supposed to join us but Cooper was ill. The kids had lots of fun but I admit my favorite part is seeing them all together. Drake's birthday is in June and Devin & Kennedy both celebrate their birthdays in September. Yes, that means those little ones are only months apart from each other in age. How fun to be able to spend time together and have playmates who are not only your same age but belong to your family?
We asked the each of the kids their favorite part of the day and Drake said his was seeing the dinosaurs. Kennedy of course said her favorite part was the gold! They have a small area outside whre you can pan for gold and she thought it was heaven. Devin said he liked the waterfall. Every so often there is a large exhibit that had a waterfall/thunderstorm that would go off and the kids just went crazy for it.

Bethany, Briana and I thought it was so funny to watch the kids on the tv mirror image. They could go behind the screen and become projected into the show that was playing. Thank heaven Bethany didn't get any photos of me behind there.
But, I think the best part was seeing Briana, Bethany and I stand around the crocodile exhibit for 20 minutes trying to determine if the crocodile was real or not. It never moved and it never even blinked it's eyes. As soon as we turned to walk away I saw it move and hollered to Bethany. Of course when she came it inspect it was back to it's frozen state.

For now I just feel lucky Ben has gotten to do a good majority of his medical schooling here. We hope he will be able to continue. As for Flint, its been fun having them here for the past year but it looks like they will be moving again this summer. We will miss them but the fun times we get to spend together make it all worth while.

Before and After

2010-01-19T04:50:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun to give the world a view of the before and after of Judd and Taylor's bedroom before Judd got married and moved away. The first photo is the room before the move. I don't know what kept the room from being condemned but some how those boys dodged a bullet.

Then Caitlin took on the task of keeping order in Judd's life. Good luck Cailtin! Now for a view of the room after Judd moved out.

Taa Daa! It's like magic. Clean up and a room appears from the rubble. Well, Jordan you may want to choose this over the shop...because the boys have been in there too! Love, Mom

Sealing the Deal

2010-01-10T18:43:00.000-08:00

We don't want Jordan to feel completely left out, so here are a few pictures from Judd and Caitlin's big day.

Now that is trashy

2009-12-23T13:12:00.001-08:00

Since Queen Creek doesn't recycle we have trash pick up twice a week. It's kind of nice in my opinion. Every Tuesday & Friday Waste Management comes to pick up our can. Well, yesterday was pick up day and Doug took the can out to the road before leaving for work.

Today I went to the side of our house where our can is kept and it wasnt there. I thought it may be outside the gate and looked to see if Doug had not pulled it into the backyard. With trash in hand I looked around puzzled wondering where our can went. A while back Doug installed cameras on the outside of our house. These have come in handy for several things but I thought I would check the video from yesterday to see if I could find where our can went. While watching the video I could see the garbage mans truck come to a stop in front of our house, pick up the can and dump it contents into the truck. He gave the can a little extra shake and there went our can! Yes, straight into the truck with all the other trash. I watched the video as the driver pondered for about 5 minutes what to do then he took off. So, I called Waste Management to see if we could get a new can delivered before Christmas. The representative asked if I knew what happened to the can. When I told him we both laughed! He said maybe the driver was unaware it fell in. I informed him that the driver was fully aware! Maybe next time the driver could be a little more proactive and call the main office to let them know we are in need of a can since he drove off with ours!!

Happy Birthday to Heather

2009-12-17T18:15:00.000-08:00

I know this is a little late but I wanted Heather to know that we were thinking about her this week.
Heather you are one of the most giving people I know and I feel blessed to call you my sister. Thank you for all you have done for our family and for the love you share. We hope your birthday was full of happiness and love.

Aunt Annie

2009-12-10T08:44:00.000-08:00

Just one reason we love her.

Enjoy!

2009-12-03T16:15:00.001-08:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Thanks a lot family

2009-11-30T19:00:00.001-08:00

So i am glad we really document important things that happen in this family. Things like births or partys. But something has either slipped through the cracks or is considered not that important........JUDDS ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!! YAY! He holds the record in the brothers for the longest time courting a girl among the brothers. :) no hard feelings family.

Giving Thanks

2009-11-29T15:51:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving 2009 was a pleasant event at our home this year. Good food, good company, and lots of good conversation. Here is a view of what took place.

We ate outside. What a beautiful day and family!

Caitlin and Judd's first Thanksgiving together.

Kimber relaxing after dinner.

Sorry Heather but this was the only picture
I had of dad and the "shirt". The shirt had to
have a place here somewhere.

Ben and Briana

Lacie! Isn't she cute?

Barbie Girl

2009-11-28T07:31:00.001-08:00

Doug and I thought we would enjoy a dinner out as a family last night. Being a planner and knowing Kennedy can get anxious at a restaurant I told her to pack her little backpack with things to do. You know crayons, paper busy stuff. She did really good and was very well behaved. About half way thru the meal the people next to us were laughing and just getting a kick out of Kennedy in general. I of course monitored what she was doing and they just seemed to be enjoying her. It wasn't until they were really laughing that I looked over to see what she was doing. To my surprise she packer herself a Barbie. Maybe next time I should inspect the backpack first. The Barbie she was dancing across the pony wall was naked!

HI!

2009-11-16T07:58:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would throw some random pictures on the blog since it has not been updated in ages. Here we have some Smith Farm pictures that I took and my bowl of macaroni and tomato!

Cruising!

2009-11-15T10:54:00.000-08:00

So does it really matter that we have been back from our cruise for almost 2 months? It is never too late to have a happy memory. So with that said I thought I would share a little of our adventure. We sailed out of San Diego and our first port was Catalina Island. We opted to stay on the ship that day since neither of us had any burning desire to see the Island.

The first picture is our ship the "Elation. Next you will see Catalina Island. Not much to look at.

The next day was totally a day at sea. We loved the ocean breeze and the beautiful view. We ate, and sat in a variety of places to enjoy different views, and we ate, took naps, ate, visited with other passengers, ate, I read a book and a half, and did I mention we ate? Well, we did! The next day we stopped in Ensanada Mexico. This time we did leave the ship and walked into town. I had a blast looking in all the shops. I am not sure it was the highlight of the trip to Russ but he never complained. I loved the sights and the smells. The people were very friendly (of course they wanted us to spend our money in their shop)! It was a great trip. We ended up back in San Diego after enjoying 5 wonderful days on the ocean. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Next time I want to choose our destinations. Okay, and they have to serve Molten Chocolate Cake or I we will have to find a new cruise line. It is a must for me!

Reading with a view

Mean, nasty seagulls.

Chocolate Molten Cake

Most handsome man on board!

Trick or Treat?

2009-10-25T21:04:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening the Valencia (single YA) ward had their Halloween party in our front yard. It was a lot of fun with costumes and food galore. Those YA can think up some real creative costumes. Speaking of costumes, Judd and Caitlin won the couples award for best costumes. They came as Jedi Knights. Caitlin furnished the clothing and Judd furnished the light sabers. They make a striking (ha, ha) pair don't they?

Happy Anniversay

2009-10-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to our wonderful parents.

Mom and dad met after dad moved down from the ranch where his family was in the Aravipa Canyon to live with his older brother, who happened to live down the road from the Stanford family. This is how dad came to know mom. While on his mission, mom wrote to dad and even hand made him a tie and sent it off to him. It didn't take long when dad returned home from his mission for the two to decide to marry. On October 19, 1974 mom and dad were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti Temple. They made their first home in Bluewater, New Mexico where dad worked in a mine. Four months after being married mom was expecting their first child and who wold have even imagined 9 more would follow?

As each of us children grow older and wiser we admire and love our parents more and more each day. Their example of marriage and what is ordained of God is a true blessing to us children. I have never heard my mother call my father by his name or my father likewise. They always refer to each other as "Hun" or "Honey". They have had a date night once a week every week for as long as I can remember. Dad always calls mom his girlfriend and as kids we were always telling mom and dad to stop kissing it was gorse. Dad always brings mom flowers each week and I have never heard either of them share a cross word with each other. Family has always been their priority. The relationships that the married children have now reflect the example set by our parents and their love for one another and family.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad we love you very much!

Road Trip Fun!

2009-10-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend Judd Tanner and Taylor had a little road trip. We all went to the ranch and back. in one night. I wouldnt recomend this to anyone with the slightest amount of brains in their noodle!

Judd wanted to go hunting so he loaded us up and we left at six.

And got home at twelve. Not a total loss. I think i have a permanant stomach cramp from laughing, and we had alot of good times. Not to mention that my back tire has skunk wrapped all the way around it!

FUNTING

2009-10-03T10:20:00.001-07:00

This one is for Jordan! Remember when we bought a sprite and ended up winning four free ones? This is the place! Judd Tanner and Taylor went to the Ranch to check it out (Big let down) and stopped to talk about old times at the places we could remember.

We got a Sprite, and Cactus Cooler for old times sake.

Fun with Kennedy

2009-09-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

Last Friday Cooper and I went to Bounce U with Heather and Kennedy. It was so much fun! Cooper and Kennedy had a blast with bouncing and playing Air Hockey. Enjoy the video!

Thanks Heather for inviting us!! We always have so much fun with you and Kennedy!!

Golfing

2009-09-14T09:05:00.001-07:00

From left to right: Elder Weston, site director, President Hemingway, Elder Duncan, ME!
That was what I did last p-day, it was fun!

Happy Birthday Kennedy!

2009-09-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th birthday Kennedy.

Check out a special birthday wish on Doug & Heather's Blog.

Rise of the Hunting Bears

2009-08-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

OK so this one is for Jordy. This post is to show the HB and the new sounds that it puts out. And boy oh boy does it sound better than a stinky bean fed uncle on the rez.

Here is the other new sound that comes out of it. Dont worry about the roar of the engine. That music will drown out EVERYTHING else.

did we find are man

2009-08-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

today I was looking on craigs list under lost and found and i just had a feeling to look under lost dog I found this you tell me is this our long lost Charlie

Brigham

It only happens once a year

2009-08-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

As I was thinking about you on your birthday today I wanted to wish you a very happy birthday. Originally my post was to be a list of all your great qualities, achievements and characteristics. But, I kept coming back to what we as your children often forget to say...thank you! So mom this is a happy birthday wish with all the thank yous' you deserve.

THANK YOU FOR

Always making dinner and encouraging us to have dinner as a family each day.
Teaching us to be savvy with our money and make wise choices when it came to spending.
Having fun treats ready for us to snack on each day after school.
Taking us to the doctor or the dentist even if it meant we had 8 cavities.
Encouraging us to have and make good friends with like values.
Forcing us to love our siblings, somehow now that all makes sense!
Making us share rooms with each other even when the other sibling was a messy roommate.
Letting us build all kinds of dangerous forts in the backyard.
Allowing us to have animals that smelt, ran away and caused more problems then they were worth.
Teaching us to pray and believe in a higher being.
Loving our father in a way we we saw each day.
Showing us how to set goals and reach them.
Taking us to dinner even if everyone stared at us like we were from Colorado City.
Sacrificing so we could go on trips like Disneyland (twice)
Teaching your girls how to cook, clean and sew...priceless skills.
Letting us sleep in your room when we were scared of the thunder or a man at the top of the stairs.
Letting us sneak some popcorn and black licorice on our way to bed.
Taking us to our grandma and grandpas so we could spend the night.
Teaching us that what others think doesn't matter when you do what is right.
Sharing your birth experiences with your girls in a way that was special and educational.
Helping your boys complete their Eagle Scout even when they wanted to quit.
Counseling your children to be good and do good.
Making your children acquire good grades and a job in order to get a drivers license.

Most important mom you have always been there. What a bunch of lucky kids we are to have you. Having a child is lots of work but having 10 takes someone special. We hope your birthday is a special one!

American Leadership Academy

2009-08-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

School will begin Wednesday August 5th. I can't believe it is already that time. My classroom is finally ready to roll. It was a lot of work and I have lots of people to thank for all the help I received. You know who you are! The room wasn't much to begin with but it is functional now. Take a peek!

The red door on the right is my room. It is room 102. Above is Heather helping me start to sort through all my junk. The truck picture is Brigham and Judd unloading all the crud, and I have a lot!

And here is the finish product. We had our official "Meet the Teacher" night and everyone seemed pleased with the results.

Where is the staple remover?

2009-08-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't resist this picture. I had never seen staples up close and personal. Yuk! They have since been removed, but I thought everyone might like to see what I saw.

The longest scar is about the length of my index finger. The other 3 are small holes they also made. I am not sure what the holes were all about. I thought the scar would be much longer. Now if he can just get past the itching we might be home free.

Dad Gets Surgery!

2009-08-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

Here is the post I have been trying to get to. It's all about Russ's hosptial experience. Do you think they have the right idea about advertising their name. Check out the area above the bed. The accomodations aren't so great and the food is... well hospital food is what it is. No salt, no seasonings, no flavor. They do send the "chef" to your room to take your order. I think that is to help you feel like your getting some special treatment. Good try but it still tasted like hospital food. My favorite picture is the one of Dr. Ben. Is that picture a sign of things to come?

I didn't take any pictures during the ilium episode. It was just too stressful. We are grateful to all the visitors that came and for all the care and concern everyone showed. The prayers, fasting and numerous blessings really made the difference.

It's too bad we had to go AWOL at the end. There were many great Dr.'s and nurses that took good care of Russ but when it was time to go home, even that didn't matter. We had to do what we had to do. Just remember, "There is no place like home".

Gross Hair!

2009-07-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

I though I would post this just so you could see what kind of people I see regularly. This dude's hair was so heavy that it made his head tilt when he walked. It probably has bugs in it and all kinds of nasty stuff.

Hill Cumorah Pageant

2009-07-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

You can probably guess which one is Joseph Smith and which one is Mormon. These are the guys that I got to proselyte with at the pageant. Who would have ever thought that Joseph Smith would be my companion? Cool eh?

Finally, our big day has arrived!

2009-07-20T07:24:00.001-07:00

As I look at the this blog I realize I need to give it some attention. Well, this isn't going to be the day for that, but I do have some things to add as soon as I find time. Today is our families big day! Russ is finally getting his long awaited disk replacement surgery. If all goes well, he will soon be a new man. I would just be happy with the same ol' man I knew a year ago. This has been a rough road for him and hopefully we will soon reap the benefits of his patience. The surgery will take about 4 hours. He will be up on his feet within 24 hours. Ouch!! If he is a good patient he will be home by the end of the week. Bethany is here to take over the household duties and Kobie will take over when she leaves at the end of the week. Heather is going to be my waiting room partner today. We had a big family fast yesterday and I know that Heavenly Father will bless this surgery to go well. The surgeon will be guided by the Spirit and he will wonder what is happening. His skilled hands will do their job in an amazing way. He may need to think about this when it is over. Maybe it is his segway to learning more about the gospel. You never know. So, off we go to another adventure. When this is over and Russ is recovered if you want to talk to me you will find me on a beautiful beach watching the waves come and go in San Diego California!

Remembering Shirley Lines

2009-06-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

Travis, Allie & Cooper

It was with a heavy heart today that we received the news that Shirley Lines, Allies mom passed away. We knew this day was coming but it didn't seem to make the news any easier to hear. I thought that since Shirley and Alvin gave our family such a wonderful gift (Allie who in turn gave us Cooper) that I would like to pay a little tribute to her.

Things I remember about Shirley Lines:

You always knew when Shirley was present. Her contagious laugh and her happy countenance were always fun to be near. I remember when I called her to get acquainted when Travis and Allie became engaged. I couldn't help but like her right from the get-go. Her gregarious personality made me comfortable right away and I knew I had found a friend!

The Lines tribe all came to town for the wedding. We had a dinner the night before the wedding and what a crowd we had! It was such fun. It isn't often that the Richardson's meet a family that is as large (or in this case larger) than we are. Everyone seemed happy to be there and it was as if we had known each other forever. Shirley taught her children well. Like her they are happy and ready to have fun. I don't think Shirley ever met a stranger in her life. What a great gift!

Shirley was a very hospitable person, always ready to serve, always ready to welcome others into her home. Russ and I went to Boise for Travis and Allies open house after they were married. Shirley was happy to see us and invited us to stay at their home which was already full of family members. Although we stayed in a hotel, we ate at the Lines home and enjoyed every minute of being there. It was just like being at home!

When Cooper was born, Shirley came to stay with Allie while she recuperated. I was so impressed that she would take the time to be with her daughter for a whole week. I knew how busy she was and this was a sacrifice that spoke volumes about her love for her daughter and new grandson. I stopped by and visited with her while she was in town and we ooed and awed over how precious Cooper was. I knew I was going to have some stiff competition as a grandma!

Russ has commented several times that Shirley and I were like sisters. We shared many things in common including our large families. It isn't often that I get the opportunity to talk to someone who can understand the challenges of having so many children. It is a sisterhood of sorts and we were lucky to share it. I often thought, "If only Shirley and I lived closer to each other. Wouldn't that have been fun?

Shirley and Alvin came to Arizona last January (or there about) to enjoy their family and friends at a gathering they put together. We had the privilege of attending and basking in the Lines family goodness. I had just received the news that I needed to have a breast biopsy to determine if I had breast cancer. When Shirley heard the news she pulled me aside and very lovingly said, "You will be just fine. Everything is going to turn out good". She was so certain and it turned out she was right. She gave me hope even when she lived her own life in such uncertainty. Thank you Shirley for the hope you give each of us, thank you for your great example of faith, and thank you for sharing your sweet daughter with our family. We will see you again someday.

New Family Blog!!

2009-06-17T18:27:00.001-07:00

Yay! I finally started a family blog!
http://allinaboysworld.blogspot.com/

2009-06-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

Anthony's Baptism

2009-05-26T07:48:00.001-07:00

The baptism went super well this weekend! Just look how happy everyone in all of these pictures are! That is the Alessi family. They are the ones that found Anthony. They are really awesome. Just last year they found a guy and baptized him too! They really know how to spread the gospel.

And my hairline is receding a little too. ;)

No Bones Broken!

2009-05-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

Well, a picture says a thousand words. Just what you see is what you get. While I was at the park, I was jumping over another missionary. The one time that I decide to get a picture, I don't jump high enough. So I totally face planted it in front of 6 missionaries. So much for the pride of doing something other people can't because aparently I can't do it either!

Father Dear We Love You So

2009-05-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

So, I looked for a long time on my computer to come up with a photo of dad where he had his trusty mustache! You see when we were kids dad had a sweet handlebar mustache that we all loved. Dad would come home from work and after greeting mom would always play with us kids. We loved when dad would come home and we could go out to his truck and snack on his leftover soda and peanut patties. We had lots of wrestling matches, water fights and rides on the motorcycle with dad. When dad shaved off his moustache all of us kids cried. You would have thought someone died. But, it was a part of dad we all loved. That was

so long ago its hard to even imagine dad with a moustache.

We have such a wonderful father! Anyone I talk to who knows dad always says "is he really always happy?" the answer is easy, yes. He makes the best of anything and any situation. His compassion for others and service is something I admire as do my other siblings. Dad is a good friend and when he gives his word its like gold. You can always count on dad for mentoring or just to have a good laugh. Dad is a wonderful cook and a history whiz! He always tells the best stories and most of all he loves his family.

Happy Birthday Father!!

For Jordy's Viewing Pleasure

2009-05-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

Jordy, we thought you might like to see some pictures of Judd's return. You have to know that Bug took the pictures and from where he was standing it ended up only being the backs of everyone. Either way, enjoy!

Wait for it....wait for it....
Ahhhh.....home sweet home

The name is Richardson

2009-04-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

Dad informed me that Ben and Briana's new little bundle of joy is only the second girl in the Richardson family (Russ & Sheila) to carry the Richardson last name. I guess she has a lot to live up to but I am sure she can do it. Ben and Briana are wonderful parents and she will be very loved.

She finally made her appearance into the world on April 8, 2009 at 7:17 in the evening. She weighs in at 6lbs 15 oz and is 19 1/2 inches long. She is just so cute! I love her. I guess I get attached to all the babies where I get to be a part of their birth.

Briana did wonderful and she was such a great laborer. What a gift she gave her little baby girl. We are all just holding tight for this little girl to be named. We will keep you posted.

Oh, Ben also informed me that this little one is Grandma and Grandpa Richardson's 200th in posterity!! Wow.

Pictures of Cooper

2009-04-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

We have been wanting to post some pictures of Cooper for Judd and Jordan but it just never happened. So these pictures are for you Judd and Jordan. I hope you enjoy!

At Christmas time all of my family came to Arizona and we had family pictures taken. These pictures really show Coopers personality. He would not sit still! The photographer was trying to get all 18 grand kids to line up against the wall but Cooper decided he didn't want to, so this is the result!

Buffalo Bills Stadium!

2009-04-06T08:13:00.001-07:00

Is there a way to rotate pictures on this thing? Is so please let me know how. Anyways this is the famous Buffalo Bills stadium. I got to sit in the coaches chair and yes, I got a picture by T.O.'s locker. If you know who he is. I didn't before this picture. I just know he is famous.

Nicko-dee

2009-04-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Heather and Doug got this signed copy of fine tunes for Dad while visiting with the Sneezy Boyz... Nicko-dee..... I quess our tribe is their biggest fans off the rez.... Nicko-dee.... Jordy-Kake would have loved to be there to talk to Ricardo. Heather said he has not been on a diet....Nicko-dee... He did say that if asked they would have loved to play at Mom's graduation party!...Nicko-dee

P.S. This was actually posted by Russ

Mustache's and More

2009-03-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

Did you ever wonder what Jordan would look like with long hair? Or what Judd would look like with a handlebar mustache? Well, here is your chance to see. Thanks Taylor for giving us a glimpse of something we should never hope to see in real life. Don't get any ideas Judd!

Sunset on Erie

2009-03-23T08:06:00.001-07:00

Just tilt your head to look at the other picture. This is such a beautiful lake! I could not resist to take some pics!

Oh Buffalo!

2009-03-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

Well here I am in Buffalo I am in a old man's study in our ward. I am sporting an old polish war helmet and the next is for dad, a .458 win mag round.

for jordy

2009-03-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

does this gun look familiar?

tanks a lot!

2009-03-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

Gettin' Down & Dirty

2009-03-19T15:58:00.001-07:00

When Brigham is given a job, he really gets into it! These are photos of him on the day we started our family garden. Russ accidently ran over the water pipe with the tractor and broke it. Well, it was Brigham to the rescue. He was eager to help fix the problem, but in the process he got kind of dirty. Ya just got to love the dirty smiling face. Way to go Briggly!

Briggy's Sweet Skills

2009-03-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

I am not sure how many of you know this, but Brigham is a pretty darn talented photographer. He has a great eye for poses and a is really creative. For a boy who is not quite 12, this is quite impressive. Whenever he is around he likes to use my camera so later when I go and look at the pictures I usually find a few surprises from him.

Notice the aperture on the one below? He managed to get the background all blurry with just me and Kimber in focus. You generally have to know what you are doing to get that!

Good work Brig!

Happy Birthday Allie Cat!

2009-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Allie- happy birthday! You are such a great sister in law! I am positive that you and Travis were meant to be together. Not only are you a great couple but there are very few people in this world who can survive life as a Richardson if you weren't born as raised as one.

(The same goes for Briana.)

Thank you for everything that you bring into the family...laughter, love, Cooper, happiness, optimism, Cooper, creativity, style and so much more. Oh, wait...did I mention Cooper? (I just love that kid. He plays one mean game of Don't Eat Pete.)

Hope it's a happy one!

SUNSET SHOTS

2009-03-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

well me and Elder Clawson just couldnt miss this opportunity of such a SWEET shot. so we had to take a few pictures

Enough is Enough!!

2009-03-11T19:26:00.000-07:00

Have we had enough health issues yet? Dad and his multitude of problems...back pain, kidney stone, heart surgery. Brigham with a broken arm. Gram with her health issues. Now me of all people with a broken foot. Did I ask for this? I don't think so. You are probably wondering what I did to break my foot. I wish I knew. It started hurting on Tuesday and by Wednesday I was really in pain. I went to the Dr. and it took him less than 5 minutes to give me a diagnosis. A stress fracture! Yuk! I have to wear this black boot for 6 to 12 weeks. Where do I go to get the designer version anyway? Will I miss a day of school? No way! I will even be there for our zoo fieldtrip on Friday. I will just have to sit and watch (Dr.'s orders). Yeah, and he also said (I kid you not) no cooking, no doing dishes, laundry, mopping, etc. Keep the foot elavated. He said read a book or put on your favorite video. Hey Briana can I borrow that vampire book? I think I am going to have lots of time to read.

MEET CLAWSON

2009-03-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

so the family got a dog charlie. well i got a new companion ELDER CLAWSON. he is cool. i like the big posters he brought in. they rock!

Meet Charlie

2009-03-02T04:33:00.000-08:00

Meet Charlie! He resembles a Minpin, but in reality he is a mutt. He weighs in at 3 pounds and is full of fun. We love him...okay I love him. He is a dream come true for me. Thanks Taylor for locating Charlie and helping me live my dream of having a little dog. He is just right! I have included a short video of Annie playing with Charlie. Sorry it isn't more eventful. P.S. Grandma has the sister to Charlie. Maybe later I'll post a picture of Charlie and Maggie together.

Happy Year Mark to me!

2009-02-23T08:04:00.001-08:00

I celebrated my year mark with the greatest treats ever! Popcorn and M&M's and some cream soda! It was a great refresher and motivator! YUM! YUM!

Hello from Buffalo!

2009-02-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

Here is what Elder Hathaway I look like as of two days ago.There was a really bad wind this last week and it caused a little damage to the apartment complex. I thought it was so cool. I wanted to go play on the fallen tree when I saw it. I realized that I wasn't a little kid anymore so I resisted.