Ash as Wendy
Ty as Peter Pan
Tink as, well.... who else but Tinkerbelle!
Here's the crew...with Bree as a mermaid!
The Parentals--aren't they cute? Two little empty-nester lovebirds...
Is my sis-in-law a beauty & niece adorable or what?!? Ty seems to think so!
Bree fell asleep with her hands clasped together like she was saying a prayer. 
2. Speaking of food...If I am at a store and samples are being offered, my cart is sucked in like a tractor beam. It's so totally ridiculous how happy free samples (of any sort) make me. I get excited inside--tingly even--when I'm at Costco and realize that it's after 11 and the tables manned by cute little old people will be enticing me with their goods and wares. (And yes, that is a photo of samples of TOILET PAPER--I do have to draw the line somewhere. Seriously?!?)
3. Blogging (and really, just being able to write in my journal) let's me express the real me better than I can in person. Truly, I am not someone who can think quickly on her feet. If you ask me my childs name, I may give you the wrong child's name. Ask me their birthdate, and I'll confidently state July, when it's really September (and even have her birthday written on the calendar as the 26th when it's really the 27th--what kind of a mother does this?!?). Then I'll start thinking--gee, it seems like we just celebrated her birthday, and realize "Oh! Because we did just two weeks ago!"
My point is that the medium of writing has helped me realize who I really am when I have time to mull over things in my brain, to hash out how I really feel about motherhood on screen and humbly let others in to not only my day to day things, but my thoughts, convictions, religious beliefs & feelings. At times, I am more ME here than anywhere else. Quirky, no?
4. I can't resist kissing my kids like CRAZY. Seriously, this is a problem. I can't stop myself, and if I am being concious of it, I have to bite on the insides of my lips and clench my jaw. This has seemed to teach Ty & Tink, in particular, that personal space is non-existant. I am sorry, especially to their baby sister and cousins who seem to be the recipients of this "gift" I passed on to them...
5. I wish I could explain the feeling of how everything in the world is right when my dishwasher is running, clothes have been washed, folded and put away, & the trash has been collected by the garbage man. Freedom from the chores that chain me to the house! Okay, a little dramatic...
6. I kinda like the smell of magic markers, paint, & even gasoline. Truly explains a lot about me, I know!
(p.s. When I read this list to Casey, he remarked "Doesn't everybody love those smells?" That's my boy. But really--DOES everybody like it in a weird, quirky sort of way? Do tell...)
I tag YOU!
Doughnuts--lots and lots of home-made donuts.
Growing up, my grandmother would have all of us over during Priesthood session to make piping-hot homemade doughnuts. Glazed, sprinkled with cinnamon or sugar, powdered, topped with chocolate. MMMMMMmmmmm...
The boys would come home and we'd share the bounty. Grandfather would then stand while everyone gathered around and each priesthood holder in our family would have a turn mentioning some snippet that struck or touched them at the meeting.
Grandmother has passed on, but this particular tradition has continued on. Even out-of-towners carry on the doughnut-making in various parts of the country (This pic is from my sis-in-law). And I must say, it is worthy of a time-honored tradition.
While the excuse of gathering for homemade doughnuts is wonderful (and beautifully carried on by my terrific aunts), there is nothing like hearing your dear uncles, cousins, brothers, dad, husband and grandfather bearing simple testimonies of lessons learned, keen insight shared, some tears flow, and the warmth of the spirit enveloping our entire family. Truly a blessing that, no doubt, Grandmother is looking in on.
