Whew...that was a much longer break than expected!

Life got crazy here for awhile.

We had so many wonderful experiences the end of April/first of May with the rededication activities for the Atlanta Temple. Our stake was assigned to work the last day of the open house. We waited for Mychel to come home so we could all go through the open house together. It was a day I will always treasure.

         
     After months of practice it was finally time for the cultural celebration the night before the re-dedication. After practicing for hours the day before and another long hot Georgia day of practicing, waiting and finally performing the day of....Will summed up the experience when he said, "I wish we could practice for just one more day!" The blessing of having all of the youth together was immeasurable and then add the opportunity to perform for the prophet. Will took the above picture with his iPod touch....he was that close!

Tornados had ripped through the south just before the re-dedication affecting many in our temple district. Just a day after the dedication we got word that we were needed go to the rescue and help in affected areas. It would be over Mother's day weekend. After having the spirit and blessings poured out so abundantly of course the answer was a quick and resounding YES! The devastation was unimaginable.

Then we had an end of the year band concert....











and a Court of Honor where I became the mom of two life scouts!

Then the arrival of  The Coates twins.

And that was all just the month of May....I didn't even mention the weekly knife making classes and track.

Then the boys first EFY, Youth Conference and LDS/BSA encampment kept us on the go this summer.

 

Before we knew it summer was over and school was starting. I'm so grateful they had a summer full of experiences that helped them put on their spiritual armor in preparation for HIGH SCHOOL! Holy cow...ready or not...here it comes!

Pink Miracle

and I don't even like pink,

but my daughter does.

We moved her stuff out of her big room 

and into her little brother's small room.

It's traumatic to lose your "place" in your home

but she was pretty good about it

One request was to paint it pink and brown.

We only had time to paint a shelf pink.

And the pink paint we had was this:

From another pink painting adventure a few years ago.

Now she wanted a light, more mature pink.

She couldn't find her paint chip to show me the color 

So I just started mixing.

And I came up with this:

After we were done she found the chip

Not bad, huh!

 

I know it's not earth shattering or life changing, 

but it made a difference to us.

 Some may say it's just luck, but I know better.

 

I believe it's vital to acknowledge the tiny miracles, so

Thank you Heavenly Father 

  for our pink miracle.

 

(ps these pictures brought to you by my Christmas present from my adorable husband and angel daughter..he bought it, but she found it for him to buy)

I'm proud to announce...

that this ruggedly handsome man

is the new scout master for the Flat Rock Ward.
Feel free to call him with advice, ideas, condolences ;)

January...let the fun begin

Where to begin...

So far this year I've had a shocking revelation -

This boy

and I have the same size feet!He's 13. I have a confession to make. Since we don't know anything about our boys genetics I used to worry that I could end up with short boys. Please don't hate me. Don't leave me rude comments.
My dad was tall, my brothers are tall...it's my world, ok.
Anyway, Zac's only a shoe size behind so I guess I can check that off my list.

****
While we're on Zac he finally discontinued the diet he'd had our chickens on...
you know "the teenage boy I don't want to do my chores so I'll just say I gave them food and water today" diet. Now they have the proper nutrition our chickens have finally come around. Today we got 8 eggs! We're getting there girls... 17 hens, 1 rooster.
It will be a real party when we get a dozen a day. Now if they can just start paying for their feed I'll be a happy mom.

It is really cool to have my boys, relatives, friends etc come in with an egg they've found.
The smiles are priceless. Gary's older brother Billy was the best.

****

I've been spoiled by Cully. He's sweet, easy, little (as in 2yrs and 23ish pounds), and his parents are the best. Today we entered a new phase...
about 2 and a half hours after he went down for a nap I turned around and found him standing behind me in the kitchen. He's known how to climb out of his pack and play for months, but never done it when he was with me (I told you...spoiled)
I guess all good things must come to an end.

****

Speaking of Cully...his dad, Stephen was able to come to sacrament meeting Sunday. At last count I think he'd lost 30 pounds since his surgery. He looks so fragile to me, but he's here and that's all that matters right now. He says he's feeling stronger everyday. He still can't take anything by mouth...can you imagine. We're getting close to a month since he's had anything to eat or drink besides taking some pain meds.
He says he dreams of fruit.

****

Since I brought food up...our freezer has a fresh supply of deer meat thanks to my super hunter, manly man husband who got a deer this week and processed it himself. Did I mention we're having record lows here?
It was a chilly experience for all involved. I was warm and toasty in the house. I did google, "How to tan a deer hide." so I did my part.I'm not even asking...I just relay the info. (PS this picture makes my heart smile...I hope my dad is smiling from heaven. I know my grandpa Hyde is...he taught Gary how to butcher a dear...many, many years ago. Another generation of hunters!)
Oh, don't even ask about the hat...I have no idea.

****
So how's 2010 goin' for ya'll so far?

New Month, New Living Arrangments

I knew it was too good to be true.
Life finally settled down.
We had 5 fun, blissful days together then BAM one phone call and Gar is on his way to Savannah for the month.
It was nice seein' ya, babe.
Be sure to write!

Look what happens when the I leave town...

I didn't believe my boys when they told me their dad was growing a beard. I don't like beards, normally. To my surprise I gotta tell ya, it's workin' for me! I know, I know..as the boys say all the time...get a room! Gladly :D

This is bad....very bad...

I interrupt my cute St. Patty's post because this just had to be shared. I'm checking email and what do I find but one for my dear, dear husband...at least I think they meant him. My problem is while I think he's awesome and wouldn't trade, sell or barter him for the anything...hmmm, yea I'm pretty sure anything....
I think this is going a little too far:





Dear GARY HERBERT LORD or as I read it:
Lord Gary Herbert (read with british accent)



what am I supposed to do with this...do I tell him someone has promoted him...thinks he's beyond the cat's meow, his true potential has finally been acknowledged? I really don't have the energy for a swelled head right now, but with the status of everything in the world his ego could use a little pumping up. Ahh the dilemma of a loving wife...Advice???

and yes his middle name really is Herbert....after his Uncle Herb....who has moved to Heaven and will hear you if you make fun!

It's all about the MAN!

PSA (public service announcement)

Note:
Do not throw a hissy fit
(no matter how justified it may be)
while carrying a glass of cranberry apple juice
while walking on light carpet

Do be grateful
for friends
you can call
(ok dear husband can call)
at 9:30 p.m. on a Sunday night
and ask to borrow their carpet cleaner

Finally,
be willing to eat crow
when focus of alleged hissy fit
stays up past midnight
cleaning the carpet
even though he has to be up at 6 a.m.

we WiN!

Soooo Close...

We're holding our breath....

If only we were spontaneous, rich and had lots of vacation time....Gary could be on his way to Philly to be part of the celebration (I'm thinking positive)

PHilly Matters...

make that...tWo! down and TwO to GO!

ps Nice job Eagles

Goooo PhiLLies!!!!

One down......only 3 more to GO!

I love today...

It's Saturday, it's cool, it's sunny and we're all home today...

What REALLY Matters...at least according to Zac!

For nearly two years we planned this great last big family vacation before our angel daughter heads off to college. Two weeks together....beach, Philly, family....we're all looking forward to it. Kids count down our departure. We spend 3 days in Philly, do all the historical stuff, tour the city, get to see where grandparents and great grandparents lived. We spend a week at the beach with family we only get to see every other year, lots of cousins, boardwalk full of yummy food, rides etc. Spend three days with grandparent the boys adore. We go to Lancaster and see the Amish. Again, lots of yummy food. Boys were fascinated with their way of life. We stop and talk to an Amish farmer. He invites them in to see the barn and them milking cows. There's a big family party for Gary's mom. They all have a great time. Don't want to come home. We'd been home a few days when a family friend asks Zac how the vacation was...on a scale of 1-10. He gave it a 7! I used all my strength, self control and fear of prision to show him what I thought of this rating or burst out with a "Are you freakin' kiddin' ME! 7!"

Jump to last night. We have a yard full of brown shirted aliens...scout campout! Mind you it's beyond hot and humid here. No one in their right mind leaves the ac for long. It started at 1pm, but 1:15 everyone looked like they'd just gotten out of a pool...a stinky, gross pool, but dripping and drenched. They hike around, catch more bugs than I want to ever know about...all of which are currently residing in my freezer....scoutmaster's bright idea....something about insuring their dead, not just hibernating....ok that works for me, but I'm not going near that big white bug coffin. After dinner Gary made them a yummy dutch oven oatmeal cake etc, etc. About 9pm Zac pops inside for something and I ask...so on a scale of 1-10 how this? 8! He give it an dag gum 8!

I spent about $10 on food and didn't have to leave home...next time they mention going on vacation I'm gonna go buy some marshmallows and call the scoutmaster.

ps You may have noticed the lack of pictures. I sent the camera out with dear husband...who I'm going to refer to from now on as BB. Did BB take even one picture....stinker!

Cycling Matters...really fitness matters!

Well another Tour de France has come to a close. Way to go Carlos Sastre and team CSC, what a great tour for ya'll. Our family really started watching when Lance was on his roll. We still do not understand all the ins and outs of cycling. What we do understand is how tough, grueling, demanding, man, where do I stop, not to mention how incredible these riders are, physically tough, mentally tough, and that diet. Just to compete at that level, climbing up the Alps and then the descents at speeds that are just insane. Have I mentioned the scenery of France and Italy from this years tour, it's just beautiful. What I don't understand is the drug scandals and why certain teams can ride and why some cannot. Like Levi Leipheimer, from team Astana, from what I understand, they were not allowed to compete because of what happened in the past with their team and some of those team members doping. There's a new coach Johan Bruyneel, who coached Lance, new team members, it just does not make sense to a weekend warrior. All in all, we enjoy watching cycling, one of our favorite riders is George Hincappie, seems like a classy guy, humble, and true competitor. Viva la Tour! Gary

Scouting Matters

Zac and Will went on their first boy scout camping trip. They went to Uchee Creek Campground down on Fort Benning. They got to do all kinds of things and worked on numerous merit badges. Such as a five mile hike, swimming, cooking their own meal, canoing, making a fire on their own, and boating. I slept over on Friday night and left Saturday morning. They came home late Saturday afternoon. As you can see they were ready to go and were wore out upon return. They're ready to go again!!!!!! Gary