Beautiful Cactus Flower

We went to go pick peaches at someone's house a couple of months ago.  While we were there we saw the most incredible flower blooming on a cactus.  It was stunning.  I asked the lady about it and she said that the flowers on that cactus bloom only at night, and only for one night.  It just amazed me how beautiful they were.  She gave me a piece of the cactus that she had cut off and told me to stick the end of it in some dirt and water it occasionally and it would grow.  She told me she thought it would be about a year before we got a flower, but just a couple of weeks later this flower bloomed.  

It's hard to explain how big the flower is, but if I spread my hand open, it would be about that size.

The flower has so many beautiful parts to it.  I just loved it. It is hard to get a good picture at night, though.  I'd like to find out what kind of cactus it is.  I can't wait until we get another bloom!

Lots of Awesome pictures

The kids are so funny! I've gotten lots of fun pictures of them lately. So, here are a bunch of random (but fantastic) pictures.

I found these little footprints in the dust on my desk.  A couple of shelves up I found some little fingerprints.  It made me laugh.  I guess I need to dust now that I know how the culprit was that was sneaky the markers off the top of my desk.

Violatte was playing with a magnet set at a friends' house and she made this.  I especially love how she put that taxes are 598%.  It made me laugh.

Luke LOVED going to the dentist.  This is a picture of him with the little suction tube.  He thought it was hilarious how it sucked up his lips when he closed his mouth around it.  He was so good there that the dentist and hygenists all loved him.  In fact, the very first thing the kids asked me as we were leaving was, "Mom, when do we get to go back to the dentist?"

When Mars passed in front of the moon we really wanted to see it, and have the kids look at it.  Jim had the wonderful idea of using his welding mask to look at the sun. It worked perfectly! We went outside and watched it -- one at a time -- wearing his mask.  Our neighbors came out to join us and all looked through it too. It was really fun!

Annalee looked so cute in her little dress with the big welding mask on. It made me giggle.

A few days later, Venus passed in front of the sun. We met Jim at work to look at it and used the welding mask again.  This time I got pictures of Luke wearing it.

This is a picture of Annalee and Chase, the little guy that I watch. She loves him so much and is always wanting to hold him. She is such a sweet girl!

I really loved this moment with Luke and Annalee.  They were playing a game on their Daddy's phone, and sharing so well! They are just too cute sitting together. I love this picture.

As I was going through my camera, I found this picture. Gee, I wonder who was playing with my camera . . . Luke . . .

Idaho Trip

I decided at very last minute to take a trip to Idaho with the kids. (And by last minute, I mean that I decided Friday night at 10 om and left the next morning at 10 am.)

We didn't make it very far.  We had gone about 25 miles when the girls had to go to the bathroom. *sigh* So, here are the kids at Randsburg, California.  Our first potty break.

We had quite a few more after that, but we were able to drive 11 hours that first day.  By the end of it, the kids and I were all so cranky and tired.  We had quite a few interesting things happen that day, also.  I looked out the side mirror and watched as the cover of the rear light fell off on the freeway and the car right behind me ran over it. (Oops).  So, on our trip we had to replace that.  My sister also backed into my van (which is a really funny story), so that as another adventure for us.

One of the things the kids liked the most from our trip was the spray park and the carousel that they have at Porter Park in Rexburg, Idaho.

I wish that I had gotten more pictures, but without Jim there, I was so busy chasing kids around. (Jim had to stay in California for work.)

We also went to a favorite place of mine, Mesa Falls.  We had an adventure driving up there, too.  The van kept overheating. I was afraid I was going to ruin the van before I could find a gas station to get some coolant.  Through a few miracles, we made it. filled up the coolant, and everything was fine.  I was so glad that my mom was with me on that trip! She kept the kids occupied while I worked on the van, and she had ice water for everyone. What a blessing!

So, we got to Mesa Falls, and the kids enjoyed it. It was beautiful as always.

We also had a picnic, had a barbeuce, played miniature gofl, and so many more fun things. I didn't get more pictures, though, because, again, I was chasing kids around. It was crazy.
We loved it, but we are so grateful to be home!!!!

First Day of School, Baby Chase

My sister is amazing and has caught up her blog with all of her pictures from previous years, even. She has inspired me, and although I don't think I can update it to catch up with our lives since we got married, my goal is to past everything from the week on Sundays. So, one goal at a time!

This week the girls started school.

They were both very excited. Their school has a dress code, and they ended up wearing the same outfits on the first day. They are so incredibly cute!!!

I've been watching a darling baby for a while. The girls loved to hold him. This is Chase and Violatte.

Here is another picture of Chase. He is such a happy baby!

Annalee's prayer tonight

Kids say the greatest things in prayers. I always forget what they say before I can write them down, but tonight I paid very close attention as Annalee prayed so I could post it here.  Her prayer went like this:

"Please bless that everyone who is sick can get well -- everyone in any village on the world or on the sun.  Please bless that all the boys and girls who are heaven can come back to life, and that it can be right away when Heavenly Father and Jesus come down.  And if they don't hurry and come soon please let them come to our house instead . . . amen."

Kids' Sayings

The kids have said some really funny things lately that I've wanted to remember.  I thought you all might enjoy them too!

Cookies
At the dinner table I was asking Jim what he wanted for a Father's Day present.  We were having a long conversation as I tried to figure out what he wanted most, not just what was most logical.  Near the end of the conversation, he turned to Annalee and asked her what she thought.
Without a pause, Annalee said, "Dad, you want cookies", and went right back to eating.  We just had to laugh. Of course a five year old would know that a Dad would want cookies for Father's Day.

Bad Guys
We went to a downtown open market thing where lots of stores were open in the evening and we walked around and visit all the stores.  We were having a really good time.
As Jim and girls were in a bike store, Luke and I went into a girls store (one with purses and jewelry and things).  I was just wandering around looking at things and the lady came up to us and asked us if we wanted anything.  Luke looked straight at her and said (loudly), "I WANT TO GET THE BAD GUYS!"
The lady and I both bust up laughing.  It was so incredibly random, but the serious look on his face showed us how sincere he was.  What a funny kid!


Touch of the Master's Hand
Tonight we were watching "The Touch of the Master's Hand" and all of the way through it I was explaining how the story related to us and how much our Savior and Heavenly Father love us.  I also explained how no matter how broken we feel, if we let the Savior help us, we can be healed and brand new again.  It was a wonderful lesson and I just loved the story and how good it all felt as we talked about it.
When the movie ended, I asked the girls what they learned from it.  Annalee replied, "Don't jump off a bridge."  And Violatte added, "And don't use a violin to play with a cat."
Really?  I mean, truly? I honestly thought they had listened.  They had even responded to my questions and what I had said during the movie! I had thought more had sunk in than that!


Feeling Fat
Annalee: Mom, are you going to have a baby?
Me: No, why do you ask?
Annalee: Because you are getting really fat.
Me: Oh.
Annalee: You know, Mom, if you are trying to get fat, the least you could do is have a baby.
Me: *sigh*

My Conversation with Receptionist at Doctor's Office

Me: "I'm here to pay a bill."
Her: "What's the name?"
Me: "Celese Sanders."
{pause while she looks it up}
Her: "Hmm . . . you must mean \seh-lees\."
Me: "No, it's Celese."
Her: "Oh, you spelled it wrong. I'll put a 't' in it for you."
Me: "There is no 't'.
Her: "Oh, you say it wrong then. You mean \seh-lees\, right?"
Me: "No, I really don't. My name is Celese."
Her: "You should put a 't' in it."
Me: "I don't want a 't' in my name. My name is Celese with no 't'."
Her: "Then you say it wrong."
Me:  {Exasperated sound that really I can't write out other than "mgpppfff".}




Yup. That's how the conversation went.  And she was completely serious about it! Wow!

Quote of the Day -- Taxes According to Annalee

Annalee: Mom, What are you doing?
Me: I'm working on the taxes.
A: Oh no!
M: What's wrong with that?
A: Well, I was watching Robin Hood and it says that taxes are when someone steals you're money.
M: {giggles} That's pretty true.
A: (somewhat confused) Daddy said it's true, too, but he didn't laugh.
M: (more serious this time) It's ok, sweetie. It's actually good because it helps to pay for roads and things.
A: Hm. Well, that's kind of what Daddy said, but he said something more about a rip-off, but ok . . .
M: {more giggling}

Quote of the Day -- Said by Luke

Right in the middle of Sacrament meeting Luke was getting restless.  He has been getting more interested in potty training, but he hasn't done much with it yet.  However, he was getting desperate for ideas to get out of sitting still, so when he could no longer stand it he shouted, "Momma, I gotta go potty. . . "  (then for dramatic affect he added) . . ."IT'S DANGEROUS!"