Tuesday, January 29, 2008

100th Post...Willy Wonka Golden Ticket Contest

This is my 100th post! Certainly a cause for celebration. (It doesn't take much around here!)

I was inspired first by Rachel when she gave away some loot for her 100th post. Then Natalie gave away some goods for her 1,000th (!) post. It was all so exciting (even though I didn't win) I just had to join in.

I am pleased to announce the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket Contest! Play along, it should be fun. (Borrowing from Willy Wonka a bit here...)

And now, here are your instructions: the day I have chosen for the contest is the first day in the month of February (we're talking Friday). By this day you must (1) leave a comment on this post with your first name and last initial and (2) e-mail your name and mailing address to winwillywonka@yahoo.com.

A chocolate bar will be mailed to you, in which ONE lucky blogger will receive a golden ticket. The winner of the golden ticket will need to post their picture (with the golden ticket) on their blog (or e-mail a picture of themselves with the golden ticket to me if blogless).

The finder of this golden ticket will be given...a lifetime supply of chocolate?...no, but maybe some of this:


You get the idea. Hopefully it will end up looking something like this:


(Direct from Wonka himself)
"I am preparing surprises that are even more marvelous and more fantastic for you...mystic and marvelous surprises that will entrance, delight, intrigue, astonish, and perplex you beyond measure. In your wildest dreams you could not imagine that such things could happen to you! Just wait and see!"

Alright, that just might be a little dramatic but it should be fun nonetheless!

Anyone can enter...friends, family, friends of friends, blog stalkers, people who read this blog but don't leave comments (you know who you are!)...just leave a comment and e-mail your address by Friday, February 1st!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

My Prophet

I just received a call (from my little brother who could barely utter the words) that President Hinckley passed away this evening. I cannot even begin to explain the love I have for this prophet and I really need to let this sink in.

My grandma told me that their stake conference (in Las Vegas) was this weekend and Elder Hinckley (President Hinckley's son) was supposed to be speaking at the adult session on Saturday night but he was called back to Salt Lake and wasn't able to make the meeting. I guess this is why.

Grandma told me a story that was shared that President Hinckely made his own breakfast and lunch and the children took turns bringing him dinner. One night Elder Hinckley's wife took dinner in and told President Hinckley she had brought him spinach and that it was full of iron. President Hinckley reportedly told her he did not like spinach and would rather eat a horseshoe.

I loved his quick wit and sense of humor. I loved that even in his old age (97!) he was full of spunk and got to work. I loved watching him handle the media so skillfully. What an amazing example and wonderful teacher.

I will always think of Gordon B. Hinckley as MY prophet because for most of my life...he was.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Soup and Swap...SCORE!

I am so excited I can hardly contain myself! Look at all this stuff I got for FREE!!!!

Tonight we had a Soup and Swap for enrichment. We brought a SOUP to share (with the recipe) and anything we no longer needed or used to SWAP with someone that might be able to use it.

Here's my loot: Videos for the boys, two pairs of pants for Josh, a food chopper thingy, a spring kind of pan for cakes (don't you love how I don't know what the kitchen gadgets are called?), a plate rack holder that I plan on using for three framed pictures of the boys, AND my favorite item of the night...
..........drumroll please..........
A Pottery Barn Teen camo chair!
I cannot tell you how excited I am. It's almost like Christmas, almost.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Roses in the Winter

God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.
-James Matthew Barrie



I know it's January, but you get the point. These roses from Will (for our anniversary) certainly do bring back memories.



When we were dating, Willie had read about the meaning of flowers and their colors and such.



He brought me yellow roses and told me yellow stood for friendship.



As we continued dating, the roses he brought me started to have red tips (like these ones) until I was receiving red roses, which he informed me meant love. (Such a sly guy sneaking the love in like that!)



So now with this background story maybe you can see why I was worried that he was sending a not-so-loving message when the roses he brought me (which have opened so beautifully!) weren't all red. (Back to just friends with a hint of love?!) When I brought it to his attention, he said they were just sentimental and not to read into it too much. Whew!



For those of you in winter...enjoy these roses.

Monday, January 21, 2008

It's all fun and games

Here's a fun little game Josh and Nathan enjoyed playing tonight. It truly doesn't take much. (Note the work Josh is exerting to make this happen.)
Josh was so good to push him back and forth over and over again across the floor. He is such a good big brother.

It tickles me how happy Nathan is when he receives the slightest attention from his big brothers. I'm as equally tickled when his big brothers pay him a slight bit of attention.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

My Sunbeam

Today was Joshua's first time in primary! (We were sick and then had Stake Conference...) He was very excited to be a Sunbeam...until we walked by the nursery door to go to primary and he changed him mind.

Here he is showing me how to be reverent.Apparently we need to practice a little more. Let's just say there was no painting at our house today.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Future Violent Loners?

Here's an insightful little snippet of the Parents magazine I got today.

"Boys who watch violent TV shows or movies (like Star Wars, Spider-Man, and Power Rangers) between the ages of 2 and 5 are more likely to be antisocial or aggressive at ages 7 to 10, according to a new study in Pediatrics."

Well isn't that just great.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Blog Hog

Jacob figured out how to make movies with his camera and wanted me to post those on the blog. I told him he needed to get his own blog...SO the blog hog got his own blog today. For some reason we can't get his movies to work. Any suggestions?

This truly is his own thing. He wanted it to be blue and would have nothing to do with a creative title. He wanted to call it "Jacob's Blog." He tells me what to type (VERY slowly, which cracks me up...I type transcriptions for crying out loud!) and he types his name at the end.

Yesterday he came downstairs looking like this (yes, those are my glasses and Will's hat!)He said his name was Scooter and proceeded to tell me he dropped his name in a big hole and couldn't get it out, so he had to buy a new one and he chose Scooter. He told me he wished I had named him Scooter when he was a baby instead of Jacob. (He kind of looks like a Scooter with my dorky glasses on. Sorry to anyone named Scooter.)

Poor Joshua is still sick. He hasn't thrown up anymore (thank goodness) but he just lies around all lethargic and has no desire to eat...certainly not my usual Joshua! I hope he'll be back to himself soon and that no one else catches his bug!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

I took WONDERFUL pictures...

and I want you to put some of them on you blog. Please, mom, please (with a hint of whine). Oh, Jacob...Here's his pictures with his very own wording.

This is my pool table.
That is Mom's bed.
I am Hunter.
I am Melanie.
I am silly!

Good Night

Last night (to celebrate our anniversary) we went to dinner...by ourselves. This was the first time we have hired a teenager to watch the boys since we've moved from Las Vegas. On our way home we stopped to rent a couple of movies for the night...

BUT while I was taking the babysitter home, Josh threw up all over the carpet and bathroom. I arrived home to a bawling baby (because Will was frantically trying to clean it all up) and an oldest son jumping on the bed.

Instead of a quiet night and movie, we cleaned up puke and went to bed. Happy eight years to us! (Be grateful there are no pictures with this post.)

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Happy Anniversary...Eight's been great!

It has officially been eight years of bliss and blisters...

...and I wouldn't trade it for anything.


Cheers to eight years and here's to an eternity more!

Friday, January 11, 2008

Through Jake's Eyes

Jake loves the camera he got for Christmas (he took it to school with him yesterday to share and this morning I woke up to him whispering, "Mom, I'm going to take your picture while you're sleeping!") He wanted to share some of the pictures he's taken (no, the sleeping pictures will not be included!)

The camera has some great effects. Imagine how thrilled I was to see the picture he took of me as the devil. I felt a little better when he said it was a "bat"...but not much.
Josh makes a great pirate, arr! Josh has a camera too and they take pictures of each other...and everything else that gets in their way.
This morning I was ready to retire from my new modeling career (It truly is hard work! You have to hold really still so they can line up the pig nose or devil wings and other treasures that can go on the pictures) so I sent them off to take pictures of everything green in our house. Ah, my two photographers!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Just in case anyone was wondering

...we woke up to more snow this morning.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Sledding

The last time it snowed I was on the hunt for a good sledding spot. (Something the boys could handle on their own and something close.) The perfect location...the front yard across the street. Luckily we have great neighbors (Jenny, Xavier, and Kai are especially my favorites) and they agreed to let us sled at their place with the next snow.

Here's Will hauling the boys across the street in the sleds.Jake was the first one down! Wheeeee!Here is Josh enjoying the moment as he got to the bottom of the hill.Kai had a good run too!And as if we were going to let the kids have all the fun...here's Will!And me!Xavier was tricky and went down like Superman.Jenny totally would have been sledding too but since she's recovering from surgery and all...probably not the best idea. Instead she made us YUMMY hot chocolate!


Thanks neighbors for letting us sled in your front yard!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Snowball Fight!

Okay this time it isn't a JibJab. This is real-life snow flinging! I love the sneaky little face Jacob has here preparing to throw a snowball at Joshua.He ran but he couldn't hide.
Jake certainly dished it out.
And got it right back in his face again.
You wouldn't really do this to a young innocent child, would you?
Apparently his father would. (And they both loved every second of it.)
Josh liked the snowballs to be made for him and handed to him.
Then he would strike!
Ahh! Help me! For some reason they turned on the family photographer next!

Monday, January 7, 2008

Snow

We've gotten a BIT of snow lately which naturally brought about...another snowman. Okay, I admit this new snowman (that Dad helped build) is somewhat better than the previous snowman (that Mom helped build).
When Jake woke up and saw all the snow, the first thing he said was, "Now we can build a GIANT snowman!" And that's exactly what they did.
Jake really likes his snowman...a lot. Yes, he is hugging the man made of snow. These are just a sneak peak of more snow pictures yet to come. I PROMISED Jake I'd get his snowman on the computer tonight!