It's almost VAMPIRE weekend!

It's almost here!!!!!

Tomorrow night, a bunch of moms  (including me) are getting together to go to the midnight release of "Breaking Dawn" at Barnes & Noble.  I can't wait!!  I'm going to make my t-shirt with the "Team Edward" iron-on before tomorrow night (the one I got in my special edition of "Eclipse").  I'm anxious to see the reactions on their faces when I show up wearing it.  Heehee. I even laugh at myself, but it's all in good fun! (Secretly, I think  they will all be jealous, if they don't have one themselves . . . )  I know I'm insanely jealous of Margene's  

"I (heart) Edward Cullen" t-shirt.  I tried to get her to ask her MIL to make me one, but it didn't happen. *sigh*  Oh well.  I'll try to be as cool as her and make my own, second-rate one.

Check out the Barnes & Noble coverage on this big event here.  There's a few videos of Stephenie Meyer on there that were interesting to watch.

leggo my gecko

We have discovered that we have lots of Geckos around here.  At least I think they're geckos.  In a matter of 2 days, we've seen 3 and caught 2.  They're kind of pretty: orange with orange spots and stripes on the tail.  They like to hide out in our garage and by our back door.  Here's a few pictures of our geckos.  It was hard to get a good close up . . .

After playing with the geckos for a while, I finally convinced Allison and Sarah to let it go "back to its family."  That usually convinces them.  Here some cute pics of playing with it and letting it go.  Even Kimball was interested in the "release."

Allison's picture

 Allison drew this picture today.  It's a picture of the ocean . . .  2 dolphins are jumping above the water.  Under the water on the left is a mermaid, and along the ocean floor is a rock, and lots of coral.  I don't know about you, but I was impressed! Not bad for a Pre-K little girl.  :)

Birds, bowls and baby

Yesterday, we were at church, working in the Nursery actually, when someone opened the door & popped their head in . . .  looking directly at Matt, they asked, "Do you own a BMW?"  (That's never a good sign when someone comes looking for you regarding your car in the church parking lot.)  

Anyway, Matt responded, "Yes." 

"Well," they said, "there's a bird in your car."  

Stunned silence followed . . . .

So, Matt went outside to his car to check it out.  You see, we now live where the outside temperatures are reaching over 100 degrees everyday (all day practically), so Matt's way of alleviating some of the baking heat in the car is to leave his sunroof open.  Sure enough, a

 Mocking bird had gotten inside his car through the 6 inches he left his sunroof open.  (I thought it was hilarious that it was a "mocking bird!! Isn't that funny?)  Funny, because this MOCKING bird couldn't get OUT of Matt's car once it found it's way in, and it pooped ALL OVER the inside of his car.  Poor Matt. I guess he won't be leaving his sunroof open anymore . . .

Kimball is really reinforcing the "boys are sooo different from girls" idea right now.  He's starting to balance on his own while standing, and is taking a step here and there, before falling down.  My girls never tried to walk this early -- he's only BARELY 10 months. He also LOVES to climb on and into things.  My girls NEVER, and I mean NEVER opened cupboards and played in them.  They never tried to go down the stairs head first.  They also never tried to climb out of their high chair, and I'm sure there are other things he's doing that they never did.  Here are a few pictures that I took of him from my phone yesterday . . .  He's in the cupboard where I keep all of the "kid cups, plates and bowls" as I call them.  That way, the kids can get them for themselves.  I guess that includes Kimball now . . . he likes to open up the cupboard, pull out all the stuff and climb right in.

And in case you're wondering, Yes, I Do clothe my baby, but, if you'll remember, it's over 100 degrees right now.  It's pretty hot inside too, so sometimes we're a little slow getting dressed in the morning.

Warning!!

This is a warning . . . the post below is LONG.  And just in case you're wondering .  .  . yes, it took me forever to do.   I hope Matt enjoys it as much as I did creating it.    

THE BIG #10

Last friday was our 10th wedding anniversary.  I can't believe it has already been that long. Time flies when you're having fun (and raising 3 kids). Here are some pictures along the journey so far . . .  

A trip down memory lane  

Sundance Canyon @ Elizabeth's wedding

"Top of the World" - Moab, Utah

Lake Powell Jeepin' trip

Remember when we almost rolled off this cliff? 

And how much of a pain it was to get our jeep BACK on the trail?

Provo Canyon with the Petersons. 

 We just found out I was pregnant, but then I miscarried.

Graduation from Nursing School.  What a relief!

Your Graduation from BYU.  And you didn't even want to go . . .

Our first "new car" together, totalled after only 2 weeks.

2002 Winter Olympics, Women's halfpipe.

  Remember how awesome these chicks were?

Bryce Canyon, Utah.  I was about 7 months pregnant with Allison

Lower Black Box, Utah with the Driggs.  Just getting there was a disaster with the flat tire. We kept inflating the spare with a bike pump!  Then the Cherokee's front axle melted and we had to be rescued by your Dad.  Oh, and I was 5 months pregnant too

Remember the biting flies??!

Hiking and camping in the Uintas.  So beautiful and peaceful.

Our first little baby, Allison

Allison's MASSIVE BLOWOUT diaper. 

Remember how annoyed you were that I went to get my camera  & took a picture BEFORE helping you with this mess?!  I told you one day we'd laugh about it . . . 

 Crazy Daddy and your little girl.

Hiking/jeeping in Southern Utah.

We swore that having kids wouldn't keep us from doing fun outdoor stuff.

Your graduation day from MBA school.   

It was SOOO hot during commencement inside the stadium.

Off to Topeka Kansas for your first job with Payless Shoes!

Our first house in Topeka Kansas.  

Now that we lived in HUMIDITY, you said a camper with AIR CONDITIONING was a must.  We found an awesome deal on eBay.  We were so excited!! 

Our first camping trip in the Midwest with our new camper.

Allison was 1 year old.

Our first trip to see some Church History sites.  

This was taken at Haun's Mill. Fall was a perfect time to be there.  

No humidity.

Sledding during the Miner Family reunion at the Ashton's Cabin in Sundance

Disneyland together.

Your ankle, after you fell down the steps.  It hurt so bad and looked even worse.

Our second daughter, Sarah, is born in Topeka Kansas. 

We were both so excited for another little girl.

Sarah's baby blessing at the Ashton's parents house.

We decided to get a boat, and it was a blast!!

Sarah was only 6 months old when we bought it, 

and she "slept like a baby" everytime we went out on the boat.

Taking a swim in the water.  It was soooo warm.  

Like a bath.  Sarah didn't mind at all.

Bike riding with Sarah & Allison.  

Candid family photo at the pumpkin patch in Topeka.  

They had the best pumpkin patch!

Disneyland with the girls.  

We got to meet ALL of the princesses and get pictures with them.

Our second house - in Kansas City, Missouri.  

You got a new job with Helzberg Diamonds.

Remember all that back-breaking work we did to put in the landscaping??! 

 We swore we'd never buy a new construction home again.

DisneyWorld with all the Craner siblings and spouses . . . and NO KIDS!!!

Another family camping trip.  

Notice Allison's hair -- she chopped it herself.

Wakeboarding at dusk when the water is smooth.

Sarah riding the tube with me! Our kids are so brave.

Reading with Daddy after a day at the Lake.

The pumpkin patch in Weston, MO.  We went with the Fulton's this year.

Disneyworld this time with our little family! 

We got such a good deal on this trip.  We discovered "the dining plan" 

and we'll never do Disney without it again.  

Kimball is born in Liberty, MO.  We get a boy this time! 

My epidural didn't work so well this time, but the pain was worth it.

Our FIRST Christmas at home with our own little family.  

It was awesome!

   Remember the cookies you made with the girls?

A sad, sad day.  You sold your Jeep after 10 years. 

(It still ran like a champ.)  "We'll miss you little jeep"

Fathers Day.  

Our visit to the Winter Quarters Temple Visitor's Center, 

while you were working in Omaha, NE for the week. 

The girls dressed up like pioneers during our tour.

The Winter Quarters Temple, where we are reminded that 

Families are Forever.

And here we are now, in Katy, TX . . . eating ice cream, swimming a bunch to beat the heat and awaiting the upcoming 2008 Hurricane season.  Hope we survive!

What a wonderful and memorable 10 years it has been.  

 Looking forward to many more years and memories ahead . . .