I WANT GRANDMA!

Our son did a first tonight. Upon balling and throwing a fit because he could not play anymore games at Ci-Ci's Pizza ( I had to go) be cried at one point "I want my Grandma". I am sure that my Dad is laughing....

GROWING QUICK!

SCHOOL T-SHIRTS

We all wore our Vaughan Elementary T-shirts last week to support our favorite school! The kids were excited to see Mom and Dad in their T-shirts even though we were not quite ready for pictures!

WORKING IN THE BACK YARD....

We also spent time working in the back yard during spring break. We have a few projects that we are working on but it is always important to stop and play!

MOWING THE LAWN....

It's spring time (kind of..) and it's time to mow the lawn. I sure am glad that I have great helpers!

GOOD NIGHT

Now it's time to say good night

Good night sleep tight.

Now the sun turns out his light

Good night sleep tight.

Dream sweet dreams for me

Dream sweet dreams for you.

Close your eyes and I'll close mine

Good night sleep tight.

Now the moon begins to shine

Good night sleep.

Dream sweet dreams for me

Dream sweet dreams for you.

Now it's time to say good night

Good night sleep tight.

Now the sun turns out his light

Good night sleep tight.

Dream sweet dreams for me

Dream sweet dreams for you.

Good night good night everybody

Everybody everywhere.

Good night.

ROLLING IN THE GRASS

JOB FAIR

I went to a job fair yesterday at Allen High School for the Allen Independent School District and it was packed! There were 4 lines of people waiting outside and it took me a half hour to get from the street to the front door in 35 degree weather! Then another 15 minutes to get to Registration. I finally made it into the Cafeteria only to find.... more lines! All this for a part-time job while the kids are in school!

STAR TREK

I am not one to jump on the bandwagon for something just because it is "new" but I am excited about the new Star Trek movie coming out! It looks good and I think that it will be a big success for the Star Trek franchisee like when the they revamped the James Bond Franchisee with Daniel Craig. I liked Peirce Bronson as James Bond and I was not happy with the change until I saw what a great job they did with Casino Royale. If you get a chance check it out at the new Star Trek movie that comes out on May 8th at www.startrekmovie.com.

10 SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL PARENTING

President Benson’s 10 Suggestions for Successful Parenting
Posted: 27 Mar 2009 01:00 AM PDT
“Thinking of the example of his own mother and that of his beloved and faithful wife, Flora, President Benson has offered ten specific suggestions for mothers as they guide their precious children:
1. Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen.
2. Take time to be a real friend to your children.
3. Take time to read to your children. Remember what the poet wrote:You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be— I had a mother who read to me.
4. Take time to pray with your children.
5. Take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening. Make this one of your great family traditions.
6. Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible.
7. Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family.
8. Take time to do things together as a family.
9. Take time to teach your children.
10. Take time to truly love your children. A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love (see Ezra Taft Benson, To the Mothers in Zion, pamphlet, 1987, pp. 8–12; see also Ezra Taft Benson, Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1990, pp. 32–36).”
Thomas S. Monson, “Memories of Yesterday, Counsel for Today,” Ensign, May 1992, 4–5
Topics: Motherhood

BOND, JAMES BOND

In honor of Quantum of Solace coming out tomorrow on DVD I have posted some James Bond top 10 lists:

Villain-turned-good guy tops Bond list
Jaws has been voted the greatest ever James Bond character.The villain-turned-good guy, who was portrayed in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker by Richard Keil, topped the survey of 4 900 film fans.Jaws beat Q, the Head of Research and Development for British Intelligence - originally played by Desmond Llewellyn and in later films by John Cleese - into second place.Gennaro Castaldo, a spokesperson for music and DVD retailer HMV who compiled the poll with getcloser.com, said: "We all have our favourite Bond characters, but you can see why so many of us go for Jaws. Aside from his incredible physical presence, he's got a great name and gimmick, and his stainless steel teeth are so wonderfully villainous.""Ultimately, however, I think we like him because in the end he turns good guy."Third in the poll - which excluded James Bond himself - was Harold Sakata's Odd Job, the baddie from 'Goldfinger', followed by secret service chief M, who has been played by both Bernard Lee and Dame Judi Dench.Making up the top five was Miss Moneypenny, M's personal assistant who was played by Lois Maxwell in 14 movies, Caroline Bliss in two of the spy adventures and Samantha Bond in four. Fans were also asked to vote for their favourite ever James Bond, with Sean Connery's portrayal of the British spy taking almost half of the vote, followed by current incarnation Daniel Craig and his predecessor Pierce Brosnan in second and third place respectively.Paul McCartney and Wings' Live And Let Die from the movie of the same name was voted greatest ever Bond theme, with Dame Shirley Bassey taking the next two slots with Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever.

Favourite James Bond characters:

1. Jaws

2. Q

3. Odd Job

4. M

5. Miss Moneypenny

6. Pussy Galore

7. Goldfinger

8. Scaramanga

9. Ernst Stavro Blofeld

10. Sheriff J.W. Pepper

Favourite James Bond theme songs:

1 Live And Let Die - Paul McCartney and Wings

2 Goldfinger - Dame Shirley Bassey

3. Diamonds Are Forever - Dame Shirley Bassey

4. Nobody Does It Better - Carly Simon

5.James Bond Theme (Dr No) - John Barry Seven and Orchestra

6. We Have All The Time In The World - Louis Armstrong

7. GoldenEye - Tina Turner

8. View To A Kill - Duran Duran

9. Living Daylights' - A-Ha

10. James Bond Theme - John Arnold

Favourite James Bond actor:

1. Sean Connery

2. Daniel Craig

3 . Pierce Brosnan

4. Roger Moore

5. Timothy Dalton

6. George Lazenby

7. David Niven

8. Barry Nelson

LAWNMOWER MAN

So last week I needed to get my lawn mowed for the first time this year. So off I went to Loew's to get everything I needed to tune up the lawn mower. Since I am now at home and watching the budget this was a job for me and I had no idea how to do it. So I found the same guy who sold me the mower a few years ago and asked him what I needed. I had my kids with me so I am trying to talk to this guy and keep the kids off the riding lawnmower and out of the displays. After they had run down the rows 3-4 times I ordered "STOP!!!" and told them to stand right here! So back to the old guy... He hand me all this stuff I need and his give me a stern lecture on being nice to my lawn mower since I have not tuned it up except (for the filter) for the last 2 years. He then gives me a long talking to about leaving old gas in the engine. I asked him what oil filter I needed and he informed me that my lawn mower does not have a oil filter. So after a half hour I had everything I needed and I was ready to tune up old Betsy! So we are in the back yard and I am trying and trying and trying to change the spark plug with no success. Maybe it was because I was using pliers... So I decided to call my father-in-law who is pretty smart with this stuff. The hard part was that they were travailing through New Mexico at the time and I had to relay all my questions through my Mother-in-law. I had to speak very load and slow but I got the inside information on tuning up a lawnmower and I learned that you need a special socket to get it out and then I remembered how to change the oil etc. Now I need to mow my side and front yard.....

TODAY

Today in church they needed someone to read a scripture and say a prayer in Primary which is like kids Sunday school. Our son raised his hand and volunteered to do it. No one asked him, Dad (I am one of his teachers) did not ask him to do it he just wanted to do it. He got up on the stand and the Primary President helped him with the scripture and prayer and he did a great job. Meanwhile I am watching a crying my eyes out. It is awesome because our kids want to be good. They want to learn about God and Jesus and they want to choose the right! We love both of them so much!

SPECIAL BLANKETS

We just need to show off these blankets! Last week we got a box in the mail from our friend, Ursula. She had made these wonderful blankets for the kids and they just love them! Little things like this mean a lot to the kids and to us! We just need to thank Ursula for the wonderful gift and everyone else who have found special ways of helping our children feel special and welcomed. All of you ROCK!

FIRST TOOTH

The pictures do not really show it but our son lost his first tooth. It had been loose for awhile and sure enough it came out while we were swimming at the Allen Pool on Saturday. That night he did not fully understand the concept of the tooth fairy. He was concerned as to when the tooth fairy would come. He went to bed and lost his little plastic bag with the tooth with in 2-3 minutes. I was summoned and I found it behind his bed. I got him to sleep and in less then a hour he came out of his room upset because the tooth fairy had not come yet.

We explained that we all had to go to sleep for the tooth fairy to come and sure enough the next morning he awoke with 2 whole dollars under his pillow! Needless to say just about everyone at church on Sunday knew that he had lost his first tooth and that the tooth fairy left him two dollars!

SAD DAY....

This has been a sad day for Liz and I. We found out this morning that our dear friend, Lisa Ellett passed away at the young age of 35 on Thursday. Liz and I both knew Lisa way before we knew each other. In fact, as the story goes I had meet Liz at a dance and I did not get her phone number! I was wondering what to do so I called Lisa since she knew everyone and asked her if she knew Liz which I figured that she did.... She did! Will you please call Liz and ask her if I can have her number? Yes! So Lisa called Liz and said that some guy wanted her phone number. Liz asked which guy wanted her phone number and Lisa told her that the guy was Dave Anderson and the rest is history! We have not seen Lisa is a few years but recently we were able to reconnect via Facebook and through her brother, Frank. Lisa is a fun sweet girl and she has touched a lot of people. We had a lot of fun with her at YA activities, Date Nites and other crazy adventures that we would come up with! May angels lead you in Lisa and know that we will love and miss you!

Lay Down Burden

By Brian Wilson

So many years spent running away How many times I wished I could stay Too much emotion a hole in my heart Feeling alone since we've been apart And if I had the chance I'd never let you go Just want you to know [Chorus:]Lay down lay me down Lay me down Lay down burden How many things I wanted to do How many times spent thinking this through So many nights spent here by the phone Wonderin'if you felt just as alone And while some things have all been Crazy from the start It's tearing me apart [Chorus] Just remember the way I held you You're always in my heart [Chorus]

BEAUTIFUL NIGHT

Someones gone out fishing Someones high and dry.Someones on a mission to the lonely lorelei.Some folks got a vision of a castle in the sky And Im left stranded, wondering why.You and me together Nothing feels so good Even if I get a medal from my local neighbourhood I wont need a castle, theyve got castles in versailles And Im still stranded, wondering why.Make it a beautiful night for me Its a beautiful night for love A wonderful sight for lovers of love to behold Make it a beautiful night for meIts a beautiful night for love A wonderful sight for lovers of love to behold Some boats on the ocean Were here in this room Seems to me the perfect way to spend an afternoon We can look for castles, pretty castles in the sky No more wondering, wondering why.Things can go wrong, things can go rightThings can go bump, in the dead of the night So let me be there, let me be there Let me be there with you in the dead of the night Make it a beautiful night for me Its a beautiful night for love A wonderful sight for lovers of love to behold Make it a beautiful night for me Its a beautiful night for love A wonderful sight for lovers of love to behold Yeah, its a beautiful night Yeah, its a beautiful night Yeah, beautiful night, beautiful night Its such a beautiful night, beautiful night

By Paul McCartney

PUT IT THERE

Give me your hand Id like to shake it I want to show you Im your friend.Youll understand if I can make it clear Its all that matters in the end.Put it there if it weighs a ton,Thats what the father said to his younger son. I dont care if it weighs a ton,As long as you and I are here, put it there.Long as you and I are here, put it there.If theres a fight Id like to fix it, I hate to see things go so wrong.The darkest night and all its mixed emotions, Is getting lighter sing a song.

By Paul McCartney

MOTOR OF LOVE

I cant get over your love No matter how hard life seems,Theres a light in my dreams Thanks to you.My friends keep asking me why Theres such a smile on my face,Theres a home at my place,Thanks to you. I dont want anything from you,Turn on your motor of love. Motor of love, motor of love. Heavenly father look down from above,I cant get over your powerful Motor of love.I cant get over your love No matter how lost I feel,I know my love is real, Thanks to you.You simply reached out your hand And touched me deep in my soul,I came in out of the cold,Thanks to you.I wont steal anything from you,You give me more than enough.Motor of love, motor of love.Heavenly father look down from above,I cant get over your powerfulMotor of love.There was a timeWhen I was down and counted out,Well I remember I felt so badI nearly threw away,Nearly threw away the keys.Motor of love, motor of love.Heavenly father look down from above,Motor of love, motor of love.Heavenly father look down from above,I cant get over your powerful Motor of love.

By Paul McCartney

PRESS

Darling, I love you very, very, very much,And I really am relying on your touch.But with all these people listening in,I dont know where I ought to begin.Maybe we could hit upon a word,Something that the others havent heard,When you want me to love you,Just tell me to press.Right there, thats it. yes. when you feel the stressDont just stand there, tell me to press.You can give me what I want I must confess,My body needs attention my mind is in a mess,Oklahoma was never like this.Never like this, it was never like this,Ever like this, say was it ever like this? Oklahoma was never like this.It was never like this ...Darling, I know it really wouldnt be a crime,If I say I want to lnve you all the time.But with all these people listening in,I dont know where I ought to begin.Maybe we should have a secret code,Before we both get ready to explode.When you want me to love you,Just tell me to press. press ...Right there, thats it. yes.When you feel the stress,Dont just stand there.Wont you tell me to press?

By Paul McCartney

PHOTO BOY

Years ago I did a lot of photography for fun. I enjoyed finding fun places and things to shoot. I really enjoyed using lighting and angles. I did use color when shooting a friends engagement (remember this is when you had to have film and had to choose which one you were going to shoot) but my love was shooting in black and white. I believe that you can get very creative this way. I have posted a few pictures and I plan on adding more soon. Someday I would like to afford a digital camera like my Nikon FM and my Canon AE-1 so that I can pick up this hobby again.