Can you believe it? I know exactly how you feel....

WOW ! It's really happening, I am finally going to make a post. I keep thinking about why I don't update this blog. I think that I can't post with out pictures. So when I go to post I have no idea what to write about and no idea which pictures to post, then I have to figure out HOW to do it all over again. So for today it's just a quick post. It is Thanksgiving day. This is my favorite holiday. Think about it, It makes people think about what they are grateful for. It brings some of those feelings to the surface. I truly am grateful for all the normal things, family, good health, food on our table, our home, having the gospel apart of our lives, technology, cars that take us to places, (like our cabin), jobs, friends..... You get message. I really am grateful for everything in my life. My husband, whom I love so much, my family, and all of these other things. I am such a lucky girl. I really hope that everyone has had a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Love,love, kiss, kiss,

The mom

Sunday Update

Hello. It's time for an update. I'm going to start by introducing myself. Hi. My name is Stacey. I'm the second oldest daughter to Daurene Turpin. I know the majority of my mother's readers are aware of who I am, but I thought I'd add such a sentence for those who don't know my mom well enough to know who I am. I've decided to take it upon myself to update my mom's blog, an event it would seem that has become very popular among the blogging world, and a task I have not done since the beginning of this blog.

I'm going to start with the best part of my mom's happiness. Her newest granddaughter Annie May Merrill. This would be Tasha's second daughter (a fairly good family position if you ask me, though any family position is good). The Merrill family now consists of; Mark, Tasha, Emma & Annie (that is in chronological order by the way). Such cute little girls, my Mom's lucky to be their grandmother, and mother to Tasha.

In Stacey's life, (That's be me) she just moved into a two bedroom apartment, and has a wonderful roommate, Alli. They're both fun girls, and I'm sure they're going to have a lot of fun together (I must add here, that I quite strongly with my mom). Though she's not the biggest fan of her job, she's a tough cookie to stick with it (thank you mom).

Tyler's back home for a short while, and is doing well.

Kindra's back in school and is enjoying it! (that statement may or may not be true, but I thought I'd throw it in to see if she reads this thing). We've just gotten her Senior pictures done, I'll have to post some copies when they arrive. She just got a new phone, the LG Versa and she Loves it! She's such a whiz at learning her way around her new technology. I really hope she can teach me how to work my phone just as well (Rumor has it that my mom is looking at also getting the LG Versa).

Kira is also back in school and is continuing her dances. She sure loves to dance. I'll come into the kitchen and just find her dancing away to a beat only she knows. She's also going through a growth spurt and is constantly snacking late at night.

As for myself, I'm doing well. Kevin has been going to Idaho to help Randy with Harvest. I hope it all goes well, and they finish soon. We've recently gotten our cats Snoopy & Tum Tum collars. Kevin says they've been turned into girly cats. I think they look good. I've just finished a quilt for the cabin. It looks great!

Well everybody, it's been fun posting for my mom, but I've got to sign off and help cook some delicious homemade Chinese for dinner (my mom's been trying new Chinese recipes and so far, they've been delicious). Hope you all had fun reading, and I'll see what I can do to get her to update more. Enjoy the rest of your sunday.

Love love kiss kiss, the second daughter.

I know, Miracles never cease....

I know I know Miracles never cease. I am finally updating my blog. I had a busy summer, what we had of it. Once it got started it was great (meaning half of the month of June was rain). So this is going to be a spotty post. Is that a word? if not it is now. Well here it goes It kind of started on Memorial weekend. Tasha, Emma and I headed up to the cabin. We had a couple of nights to ourselves then Dad, Kindra, and Kira showed up. But while we were there I was in need of new nails. Emma loves her nails done. So I did her nails. I also do glitter toes. (picture of those later)

So then when poppa get here Emma got to go 4 wheelin' ! She loves it!

But something that we forget about when we head up to the cabin, It's kind of on the cooler side. So we had to find something for Emma to wear while 4 wheelin'. Thank goodness I have some extra hoodies in the closet. So we got her ready to go.

I love this picture of Emma asking her Poppa questions. Notice her feet? Tasha didn't even bring her closed toe shoes.(only flip flops) So she had to wear several pairs of socks to keep her feet covered and warm. We all had a great time, We always do..... Being at the cabin is SO wonderful. In fact we are headed there tomorrow. What a great time to go, Fall Break! So I plan on getting some sewing done. Going to make some halloween costumes And they are going to be so cute! I will be sure to post pictures. Boy I bet you can't wait for that one. Well I really need to go and pack for this trip.

Love, love ,kiss,kiss

The Mom

sad attempt to update this blog!

When you read blogs, like I do (and I love them). I tend to get frustrated when my favorites haven't updated. If anyone reads this blog do you ever feel the same way? But now that I have my own blog (thanks to my Stacey for setting it up for me) I have become very understanding of why blogs aren't updated like I want them to be. I know that I should update my blog but I don't' really feel like I have anything to say. Nothing of any importance. So this is my lame attempt to post something.

I will say I have been busy, (so busy I can't even update my blog). We celebrated Mothers day. Which I hate. No worries I wont' go into it. But my husband did do a wonderful job of making dinner for me and my girls. Thanks honey dinner was delish! I will say it was great to have all my children with me at church. Even Tyler came and sat with us, and Stacey was there. That did make it very nice.

We also have been attending wedding receptions like crazy. So fun to celebrate these exciting events in these young peoples lives.

What else, scouts, I have been doing scouts. I am the Bear leader in our ward. I am finally getting back into it and relearning every thing. the boys that we have are really fun and enjoyable. I just hope that the boys are learning something.

Any ways that is about it for it for now.

Love,love,kiss,kiss,

the mom.

Spring Break, Oh Yeah!

Family Picture in April- I mean on top of a mountain in Montana. And the whole family was there. And of course we ran into other people who had the same idea as us. (snowmobiling)So while we were posing, they stopped and offered to take our picture. Which was great. Thank you Sally from Rexburg. The weather was the best and we had lunch in the trees. Played in the snow on snowmobiles! I mean I heard it snowed here at home. So we left town and went to the cabin. And since there was snow we might as well play in and enjoy it. We had a blast.

And in case you were wondering Island Park is Heavenly. That is why we love it so much.

Love, love, kiss,kiss
The mom

Ok I must have nothing else to do.

The game is , you copy and paste it into your blog and bold the ones you have done.
Come on give it a try.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning-not fun
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon-half marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa-someday
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance-rode with Kevin after our car accident/1985
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing Kevin has gone and he is my better half does that count?
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching -Does Sea World count? cause I have done that lots of times.
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood,
65. Gone sky diving-someday
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp-someday
67. Bounced a check-but not on purpose.
68. Flown in a helicopter- I so want to do this.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy-truly believe in this, I have several.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon
80. Published a book no desire.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem -I have sang a song about this. It might be as close as I am going to get.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House-only outside could NOT get tickets, and boy did we try.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club not for long though.
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby-I had 5!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee-too many times to count
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person-No but I really want to!
101. Learned to play an instrument

Ok, I was really was surprised at everything that I have done. And surprised at what I haven't done. What about you. Come on give it a try.

Love,Love, Kiss,Kiss
the mom

WARNING this might be a long one....You have been warned

Guess what I did the other night.Kevin and I went to the opening night of Wicked and was it ever Wicked!!! I loved it! This was my third time to see it. First time in NY, second time was in LA and now in SLC. And I just love it. You forget just how clever it is, and some of the lines are just so funny. The singing ,the dancing ,the costumes, the sets, just everything is so good about this show. Did I mention that I love this show. I could so go again. If only they had more seats available and what a 100.00

buck -a -roos laying around. I am sure that's what I would do with it.

What else have I been up to lately. Well I started to do some sewing again.

This is a monthly sampler that I embroidery. Finally got around to picking out the fabrics to sew around it. I think that the colors turned out nice. Now I just have to pick out backing. It will be good to get this done. and hung up. It is going to the cabin. I have 2 more that need to get done. I am just so slow. Here are several sewing projects that I have in the works. I have no time to be bored.Just look at this. I have cut strips and squares and am in the process of sewing them together. It is going to be a quilt top. So far I have 6 rows done. This is going to be a slow process. And while I sew it together I am doing this too....
I am going through old videos. You know the ones we took when our children were really little. The ones that you take and never watch again. Well I am watching them, the ones when I could get them to sing to me, dance, show off matching outfits. Have fashion shows, twirling, loving each other. Cute smiles, reciting poems, sleeping so peacefully, piano recitals. birthday parties, school programs. Yeah, can feel the emotion of our family when they were little. I loved that time in our lives. Why can't they just stay little. They love you more when they are little you know. They love each other. Life was of course simpler back then. Close neighbors were abundant. Visiting outside while kids rode bikes, jumped on trampolines, playing in the sprinkler, playing with barbies. The little boys wanting to squirt the girls, listing to them scream, having picnics in the back yard, playing in the playhouse. Going to each others birthday parties, celebrating each others lives, not anymore.

Now weddings are happening and new babies are coming. Thank goodness for new babies. We can hold them ,love them, even when we feel lonely they can feel the void. Thank you God for giving us new babies. Thanks for allowing us to have families and living in such a wonderful place.

What else has been going on....

Well this last weekend was conference. And as a memeber of the Church of Jeus Christ we have conference twice a year. I love conference. We listen to our Prophet and the apostles and other members speak to us. Giving us messages that we need to hear. They are guide lines to live by. Helping us to do better. I enjoyed the entire session. To be able to stay home and hear these words. Then these messages will be posted in next months Ensign. Or we can listen to it on the website: http://www.lds.org/. I already have been playing it while I try to get some scrapbooking done.

Lets see I have been trying to do some scrapbooking too. My goal for the year is a big one for scrapbooking. I want to get so much done. Get the pictures in their books and be able to enjoy them. I should try to keep a tally of how many pages I do this year. I use to keep a list of the things that I sewed durning the year. It was amazing how much stuff I actually did sew. I'll work on that tomorrow.

Lets see I also did this....

I got to go to lunch with these two cuties. Tierney and Julane. Lunch at Kneaders is always a good day. After lunch Julane and I went shopping. What a treat to have them in my life. Thanks girls we really should do it again.

Well this is going on way to long. Spring break is coming. Yeah and we are going to the cabin.

We really should be staying here and working on the biggest mess that we have going on in our front yard. (I will take some pictures and post them later). Then you will see what I mean by that.

Well bye for now

love,love, kiss,kiss

the mom

I am so very sad...

Notice anything? Just for the record, I did take a straight on picture that was much better looking than this. Seems like blogger is having problems with this picture.I am making a point here.Now do you see it? While we were out to dinner last night, Enjoying our food and company.
(Alan and Naoma Roe)

Some idiot decided that they needed something out of our car. So they made a mess. Boy were we bummed. And this is what they decided to take.

My new bag. I am so bummed. Thank goodness there was nothing of value in it. Only some knitting. A scarf that was about 2/3 done. I had just taken it with me because I wanted to show my friend Angela (who is blind) it. And it is easier for her to look at it empty. And I was showing her my newest scarf I was working on.

So again I am very sad that it is gone. I want another one. My partner told me she ordered the fabric on line. I might have to do this.

Now you know why I am sad.

Love,love,kiss,kiss

The mom

I did another swapp!

OK i joined a bag swapp. And this is what I made for my partner. I also made a bracelet and a tissue holder. I think that I forgot to take pictures of those. But take my word for it they were cute. Then this is what I got in the mail yesterday. So way cute. Can I just say thank you to my partner. Man she did a great job. I am away from home right now at a dance competition. and I forgot the card with the name and email. So sorry for being so slow and getting my thanks to you. I LOVE IT!

Another view of the cute things that came with it. A tissue holder with some lotion. How did she know? That I would need these things? considering that I live in Utah might have something to do with it. Wow I have to say it again, I LOVE MY NEW BAG! Thank you again, it made my day!!!

Well I need to go and watch my daughter dance. It is her first solo. We are nervous.

I post more later.

Love, love, kiss, kiss

The mom

Here's what I did today

Watched history being made. I sure hope he does a good job. Because I am nervous. But I love our country. And I am grateful that I live here. In the good old U. S. of A.

Love, love, kiss, kiss
the mom

One Word give it a try

One Word
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS USING ONLY ONE WORDIt's not as easy as you might think! Consider yourself tagged upon reading this and post it on your blog if you so desire. It's difficult to only use one word answers.

Where is your cell phone?
nightstand

Your significant other?
hardworking

Your hair?
colored

Your mother?
seamstress

Your father?
gone

Your favorite thing?
home

Your dream last night?
None

Your favorite drink?
icewater

Your dream/goal?
Content

What room are you in?
Bedroom

Your hobby?
Crafter

Your fear?
unliked

Where do you want to be in six years?
cabin

Where were you last night?
Tasha's

Something that you aren't?
Perky

Muffins?
Banana nut

Wish list item?
Cruise

Last thing you did?
Slept

What are you wearing?
PJ's

TV?
Occasionally

Your pet(s)?
cats/dog

Friends?
Abundant

Your life?
good

Your mood?
lonely

Missing someone?
Always

Drinking?
Water

Smoking?
Never

Your car?
SUV

Something you're not wearing?
bra

Your favorite store?
Discount

Your favorite color?
pinkishred

When is the last time you cried?
don't

Where do you go to over and over?
Church

My favorite place to eat?
Out

Favorite place I'd like to be?
Island Park

give it a try,

Love, love, kiss,kiss
the mom

I been thinking.....

I been thinking about updating this thing. But I think that I like to add pictures. But since my computer has been sick...It seems that when I download pictures it will on due a few. Uhgggg!
So I end up downloaded my pictures to the main computer. Which means that I have to use the other computer to find the pictures that I wanted to use to update this thing. wish me luck.

Love, love, kiss kiss
The mom

It's about time I update this thing.

The title says it all. First of all my computer has been sick and I miss her ALOT. My flash drive has not been working so I can't download my pictures off of my camera. You have to hold her just right and press really hard in a certain spot. Therefore you do everything one handed. Which after a while your hand hurts. And I like to add a picture if I can. Now I just hope I can remember how to do it. It's been so long.

First of all How was every one's Christmas? Our's was great. Everyone was here! Oh yeah, talk about fun. For our Christmas eve dinner Tasha suggested Sweet Pork and the works. It was so yummy. I think we have started a new tradition. We had our traditional Christmas eve with FHE. Then of course new PJ's.

Then just a nice evening , all the kids sleep together in the basement. Santa delivers their stockings to them. It keeps them down stairs and buys us a little bit of time to sleep in and then we all gather together and show each other what everyone got and that is when dad and I open our stockings. It really is an enjoyable time. Then we go upstairs and have our gifts. We open them up one by one. You can do this when your kids are older.. It makes the morning last longer. Then we go to the kitchen where Kevin makes Swedish pancakes. Then everyone is off to do what ever. Sleep, call the grandparents, sleep, go see family and friends.




The next day was Emma's b-day. Some how I got wrapped into trying to make a "Cupcake" cake. They do make a mold but it is 30.00 at Target. Just didn't want to do that right now. So Tasha and I were trying to come up with ideas. Well I had an idea and passed it my Tasha and the next thing I know I am doing it. My intention was to make Tasha do it. Long story short it didn't work. Need more time to come up with a better idea. but Tasha did have cupcakes made. I went over and helped frost them. Did a fancy swirl job with sprinkles. Emma was so cute and guess what no pictures. Oh well, happy birthday to you sweet girl who is now two and is talking so much.


Then we headed up to the cabin. So love being at the cabin. We went snowmobiling, played Pac Man. I didn't do very well. But some in the group did. Got some scrapping done. Oh I made my cushions for my couch. It has been about a 6 year project. I will have to post a picture. Later after I take one. It looks great. We went to Big Springs several times. One of our favorite things to do.

We even got to see the moose's. It was great. Then for new years eve the cousins came over and played games and ate alot of food. Then it was time to get the bubbly out and do the count down and jeers. Here's our group.

Well that's about it in a nut shell for our Christmas and new years eve. It was fun and I hope that everyone has a very Happy new year.

I am being kicked off the computer. So I will have to write more later and add more pictures.

Love, love, kiss, kiss

the mom