Dance Fever

Joshua's choo! choo! Party

2010-10-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

Joshua has been in love with Thomas the Train for quite some time now, so we decided to do a train party for his 2nd birthday.

He's getting so old!!

Our "family picture." Joshua wasn't too keen on staying still so this was the best we got. Mary's open mouth is just a bonus...

Josh LOVES to read, a trait that makes him a definite Stoutner, according Mary. He even preferred to read his new train book to eating cake and ice cream!

For one of the activities we had the kids color pictures of different trains from Thomas and Friends.

Here is the cake that Mary made with help from her friend Erin, very nice.

We kept it a pretty small party, Joshua's first kiss, Lizzy, Matt and Amy's son Matthew, Erin's kids, and Helaman and Lipa's kids.

Matthew's not so sure about the coloring...

The next activity planned was a fun bowling game with pictures of different Thomas trains stuck to plastic bottles. Joshua, however, was too excited about the pictures to let anyone play...

...Lizzy was ready to bowl...

Joshua decided to march right through the ring around the rosie...

And presents....Joshua was not as excited as some of his friends were to open the presents, but he LOVED all of them!

...a picture of Mathoni and Rita...just because we can....

Joshua was so excited with the fire truck toy from Mary's mom that Ben had to put it together while he was on it!

It was a hit with all of the kids.

Joshua knows how to blow out candles (he blew out a few of Mommy's candles on her birthday), but he couldn't quite get these to blow out...

We can't believe our little Joshy is 2 years old already!!!

Cousins

2010-07-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is a tribute to Joshua's cousin Alexander, who left him for Utah.

What is your guess?

2010-06-27T22:18:00.001-07:00

We find out what we are having on the 1st.
What do you think it is.....

Phone number

2010-05-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

I am getting rid of my cell. We are going to keep Ben's cell but we now have a home phone.
You can call Ben's cell for the new number.
look forward to hearing from you
(we actually don't have a phone yet but will by Sat) :)

Almost 18 months

2010-03-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

Joshua loves to play with the sliding back door, he's happy that it's starting to get warm enough to play outside more.

"Oh...you wanted me to get one for you too?..."

Reading (sort of) with mommy.

Ready for church!

On being a imbecile

2010-02-24T21:38:00.000-08:00

I am a imbecile.....
I do things that I think are wrong
I should not be allowed in polite society
I do this often....
Anyone know a cure?
Anyone know how to mature and become the leader I should be?
I often think that if I could just think before I barge out into the world that everything will be okay....
That however is hard to make happen.
For now please if you see me do something stupid and silly just remember...she is not meaning to be that way...
She just is a little rough around the edges.

Thank you,
(This is just free thought, no need to comment)

I have a talented family!

2010-01-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

Check out this apron that My cousin made. They also do bows and kid clothes. They are amazing!
http://never-e-nuff.blogspot.com/2010/01/minnie-mouse-apron.html

Christmas

2009-12-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

Uncle Johnny, Aunt Jenette, and cousin Robby visited for Christmas! This is just a couple of pictures from Christmas, more may follow later....

Joshua opening a present on Christmas Eve...

A tie! and a fun sacrament game...

And you may notice Joshua's new haircut, but it's been a couple of weeks now, almost time for another one!

He walks!...and runs....and destroys

2009-12-27T11:21:00.000-08:00

Joshua has been walking for a couple of weeks now, this is at our friends house, he loves their dogs! One of the dogs loves to play with Joshua ( a little too much) but the one in this video runs away from him, it's cute. Finally video proof of him walking!

The cuteness

2009-12-19T09:22:00.001-08:00

So here is the cutie...Alexander came over to play one day and we went into Josh room to change Josh's diaper. Alexander wandered in and wanted to get into Josh's crib. So I put him in. Josh saw Alexander in the crib and thought that it looked fun....So here they are.

Don't you love the dribble trail?

Josh looks so old in this one. He is not a baby anymore!

Josh says.....DA! DA! and Dank ooooo. (practically the only words he says regularly)

smell good stuff

2009-12-17T23:07:00.000-08:00

For Thora, Mom, and Andrea....and who ever else still reads this thing lacking in content. The first couple of pics are for Thora so she can see the tree and how handy I was with a vase.

So a long time ago I saw a commercial that showed some kids running into a kitchen and there were these oranges on the table in a bowl. The oranges had cloves stuck into them in various designs.....So beautiful (I think that it was a Safeway add or something, I know random)

Well it stuck with me all these years. This year I decided that I wanted to make them. I though how hard could it be you stick cloves into oranges. I looked up "orange clove ball" and waddya know, there were step by step, picture laden how-to's. So I clicked on a bunch and some had you wrap a ribbon around before you put in the cloves, some after. Some said that you should pierce the holes before you put in the cloves, some went so far to say that you should use a ice pick...yeah. Who has a ice pick? Some others suggested that you roll your orange ball thingy in a bunch of spices (one of which was something called orris root?) after you do it, then store it in a brown paper bag with the spices. You leave it there for 3 weeks. Then you can finally enjoy the fruits of your labors, no pun intended.

Well I decided to make it simple.

Step 1. Grab orange

Step 2. Grab whole cloves

Step 3. Poke any ole design with a paper clip, some I put ribbon on some without.

Step 4. Put in bowl and enjoy.

It was really easy and my house smells amazing. You should come over! (I am not kidding by the way...

Here is some pics

2009-12-05T16:50:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Halloween

2009-11-04T14:12:00.001-08:00

Ben and Mary on an average relaxing evening...

Joshua heading out on the town....

And a couple more just for good measure...

Just relaxin....

A year of Awesomeness!

2009-10-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

So here he is...from big to little because that is how it worked out in the loading of pictures. Sorry there is so many...He is too cute! Besides there are some here that you may have not seen before!

Unfortunately he would not take a bite of the cake...He really needed a nap!

Some friends that came. From left to right Keera (you can barely see her) Heath, Grammy Uncle Mark, Tori and Her mom Carol, Dave holding Josh's girl Lizzie, Jen sitting, Spring in profile and my big grey head. Yeah my hair is actually supposed to be brown...oh well

Here we have cousin Alexander, Me frustrated at the icing, Joshy boy, and Ashley my friend Keera's boy.

Josh and Ben "barking" at cars. A favorite pastime of both...

Piano also a favorite.

Wearing the cute shoes that auntie Camilla gave him. Usually the only shoes he ever wears. All the others he can take off.

One of my favorite outfits ever!

Everyone that saw him sucking on this bottle gave me the weirdest looks. You could tell that they though that I was the weirdest mom.

Watching the fireworks in Steilacoom. Really cool this year

Chillin' with the momma

Josh likes to feed himself. Only he wont wear bibs anymore. I have to soak a lot of clothes

Wearing a newborn hat. What a silly boy. He has the best sense of humor!

Starting them young. Grandpa would be proud!

One of my favorite pics of all time! I just love the expression....

First Haircut by Mommy. Now Uncle Mark does them. He is a pro!

I miss this....

Before his first haircut....no wonder everyone thought that he was a girl....such pretty locks

Love the smile! Man his hair was dark

playing with daddy!

So small! so cute!

So true!

She wishes that she could hold all her grand kids in her arms..... What a good grammy!

In his tux. Sorry about the washed out look. My camera was set weird and I didn't know it.

I miss him falling asleep on me....

I love this picture. The feet. The Popeye arms. The parted hair. The cute tummy! The mommy's boy shirt....

Babies are cute when they cry.

one week old!

Still loves his Nana!

First bath

the day it started!

Thank you for putting up with all the photos. I hope that you enjoyed them. I had fun looking through all of them. I can't believe that he is 1! He is so big and active. It will be cool to see how he changes next year...

Cute story of Josh

2009-09-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

So yesterday while I was feeding Josh some applesauce waiting for his dinner to finish cooking he did this. I had some kix on his tray to suppliment the applesauce and so he could self feed. He kept on trying to hand me the kix so I put my hand out and he put the kix on my palm. Then he would close my fingers and open them again and again! It was so cute he kept at it for like 5 min or so. If I tried to trick him he would laugh so much and try to put the kix back.
It is so cool to see his little mind work and grow.
I love this stage!

For Alan

2009-09-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4
Tell me what you think!

The many adventures of Joshua

2009-09-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

Joshua LOVES to play the piano! He's always trying to get to it.

We spent an afternoon at the pool at Dave and Jen's place, he loved the water too

Preparing to float down the river...

More Joshy at the pool...

And just for good measure...

The First Date....Joshy and Lizzie

2009-08-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

So, first of all, sorry all these videos have been so grainy, they were taken with my phone. Anyway, we spent most of today with Dave and Jen Stevens down in Olympia. This is Josh and their daughter Lizzie (two weeks younger than Joshua) playing together in their front room. Lizzie was not very impressed with the way Joshua manhandled her toys, but he decided to make the first move anyway....

Joshua and Alexander

2009-08-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

We were at Spring's parents' house today for dinner. Joshua and Alexander were both playing in the playroom that they have. It's funny how Alexander doesn't even seem to notice that Joshua is there, even when he crawls right over the top of him! Near the end of the video, Alex keeps on looking back at me like, "Aren't you going to do anything about this?"

Joshua versus the banana

2009-08-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

Joshua won...

Father's Day in Washington, DC

2009-06-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

That's a big pig....

2009-06-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

Mary and her friend Stephanie riding the pig

Sir Walter Raleigh made a visit

2009-06-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

Remember (for those of you in Mary's side of the family) When Mom told us that someone important was coming for dinner and we cleaned the entire house and it ended up being a TAPE! One that was called something like Beethoven comes to dinner or something. We had Sir Walter Raleigh over for dinner. Sorta... see below :)

Well not really........Joshua kinda looked like him.

For the first time I made Sunday dinner for us. We have always eaten at Ben's parents house. They are out of town so I made Corn and Gravy,

Mashed potatoes

And Oven Fried Chicken! (thanks Thora for the recipe!)

Here is the whole spread. (Josh had green beans)

This is from a preparedness fair our ward had. I made a dried apple pie. It tasted ok (I don't like apple pie) I had the hardest time making the crust for some reason. Made me want to pull out my hair. I had to throw a whole batch away!

Josh loves to play with the lid of his booster seat.

I love it when he looks at us through it!

Here he is looking though it again

Chewing on a tooth brush Mommy got at the dentist. (don't worry I never used it)

See you have to hold it correctly and then place it on the tooth in 45 degree angle toward the gum and brush in circles....Daddy taught

More bread.

first time it ever looked and tasted good.

pretty flower

nother view

Sitting Bull and other stories

2009-05-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

Ben and Josh in front of the Rhododendron.

I apparently have this macro setting that I am just barely figuring out...

In the box his highchair came in! Peekabo!

With a newborn sized hat on

New high chair that he can't fall out of!

The first time that my bread has looked good and Tasted good! The loaves were a little small though...

Our version of Laundry basket surprise...

I just give him his basket and he is usually good for a little while...

Yay for sitting up!

Alexander loves to have things on his head, even if it is my headband! :) ha ha Mark!

outdoor boy Alexander on another adventure!

Mark cheezing it up

Ben providing shade for Joshy.

Spring

Spring's Cousin Sarah and her Fiance Kelly.

They are starting to play together... but just barely.

Sucking on his thumb he started this after he started to teeth. Needless to say Ben tries to make him stop.

Having fun in the back yard.

Mother's Day Pictures

2009-05-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from Mother's Day 2009:

Ben's Mom Me and My Sister-in-Law Spring (Ben's Grandma didn't want her picture taken)

Me and My baby. We got the Lei's at church I felt really pretty all day with it on!

Ma and her Boys

Alexander didn't want his picture taken either! This is the best we got :)

By the way I finally figured out how to add comments! Thanks Thora!

Some Recent Pictures

2009-05-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

Due to the Difficulty of posting captions (I know I suck at technology) I will just post pics

Joshua Benjamin

2009-04-08T21:43:00.000-07:00

Our little Joshua is getting to be a big boy.

For Tom Browkaw apparently (oh and my Mom)

2009-03-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

My various needs....

2009-02-16T08:46:00.000-08:00

Open up the Google search page and enter "[your name] needs" (substitute your own name), the whole phrase in quotation marks. Report on the first ten things that result.

Mary Needs the Lamb in School
Mary Needs to determine the best day to work her magic. (just you wait and see!)
Mary needs sleep (this is always true!)
Mary needs numbers
Mary needs to win
Mary needs stuff
Mary needs Saving
Mary needs overtime
Mary needs to get out and about more!
Mary needs a bit of independence

So there you go! That is what I need. It is good to know....:)

Scattergories!

2009-02-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

Rules: IT'S HARDER THAN IT LOOKS! COPY AND PASTE INTO A NEW NOTE, ERASE MY ANSWERS, ENTER YOURS, TAG 10 PEOPLE INCLUDING THE ONE THAT SENT THIS TO YOU. USE THE 1ST LETTER OF YOUR NAME TO ANSWER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. THEY HAVE TO BE REAL PLACES, NAMES,THINGS. NOTHING MADE UP! TRY TO USE DIFFERENT ANSWERS IF THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU HAD THE SAME 1ST INITIAL. YOU CAN'T USE YOUR NAME FOR THE BOY/GIRL NAME QUESTION.

1. What is your name: Mary

2. A 4 Letter Word: Many

3. A Boys Name: Marcus

4. A Girls Name: Molly

5. An Occupation: Mathamatition

6. A Color: Mauve

7. Something you wear: Mob cap

8. A Beverage: Mimosa

9. A Food: Marbled cake Yum!

10. Something found in the bathroom: Mold

11. A place: Mozambique

12. A Reason for being late: Monsoon

13. Something you shout: Man!

Knobby Knees!

2009-01-19T16:16:00.000-08:00

Hope you like the pictures!

As seen during Mary's Day...

2009-01-15T16:29:00.000-08:00

Today when I was at the ID card facility getting Joshua enrolled in the military (don't ask I don't know how to explain) I looked over on the wall while the guy input all the information and I saw this....

Reissuance of ID cards will not be done solely because cutomers dislike of their photo

Remember: You are the reason why your picture looks the way it does.

Man I laughed so hard! Ya gotta love the military. They don't even take responsibility for their pictures.

I also saw this on a car:

Wag More bark less

Hope this makes you smile! :)

Love ya
Mary

Oh love that glorifies the Son

2009-01-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

So, this is me and the McCormicks practicing for our song at Matthias' wedding in England, back in 2007. We definitely messed up some spots, but I like it. We sang this song in church today for our closing hymn, that's what made me think of this.

check this out!

2009-01-06T09:22:00.000-08:00

You Belong in 1952

You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Seen today

2009-01-05T13:47:00.001-08:00

As seen on a Florist sign:

Forgiveness is just a Bouquet away...

I thought that it was a lame idea.
So my question to you dear readers is this " would you ever forgive someone just because they brought you flowers?"

I wouldn't. If I needed forgiveness from someone I would do something relating to the problem. For example. If I ruined my sisters shirt I would buy a new one. If I said something offensive to some one I would verbally ask for forgiveness.

Although flowers are nice they are not for buying forgiveness

I am bored and I like these...

2009-01-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

Yes another one of these. Maybe I am just lame, maybe I have no creativity. I just personally really like to do these.

8 TV shows I love to watch: In no particular order
1. Bones (although they have had some themes this season that I don't care for)
2. NCIS
3. The Mentalist
4. Friends (Too many good quotes...)
5. Jeopardy I am such a nerd I love to try and answer all of the questions
6. Chuck
7. That is it. I will include some favorite movies to round out the list. I LOVE love love A&E's Pride and Prejudice!
8. I also love Sahara it has an awesome sound track.

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Panera (Best Sandwiches ever! and I am a sandwich nerd)
2. Sampans
3. Ben's house of Good Food (this is actually my house whenever Ben cooks!)
4. Spring's Gourmet (My Sister-in-law she is an awesome cook!)
5. Olive Garden a perennial favorite
6. yeah that is about it....
7. I guess that I don't eat out that much
8. Actually I do I just don't like them that much.........

8 Things that happened yesterday:
1. I watched Northanger Abbey. I was surprised at how good it was. It reminded me of my over active imagination. I would imagine that I would have behaved much the same.
2. Went Grocery Shopping at Albertsons by myself. I don't like going places by myself....
3. Read a little bit in "Farmer Boy" I love the little house series, although it make you awful hungry with all the talk about food.
4. Did about half an hour on the wii!
5. Called and talked to Thora for a little while. I love my family!
6. Didn't eat any sugar! I am almost done with my week of a sugar fast. Maybe I will take it more than a week....
7. Thought about where we will live when Ben gets out of school
8. Watched Ben watching football. I Hate football (actually all sports)

8 Things I'm looking forward to:
1. Ben getting out of school
2. Owning a home someday
3. Losing weight...I am working on this now
4. The Sorensen family reunion this summer! it will be my first....
5. Joshua's many milestones. He discovered his hands recently
6. Being able to wear real shoes. Cursed toe!
7. Seeing my family again someday.
8. Dinner? okay so I am out of Ideas......

8 Things on my wish list:
1. Wish that Our computer would stop jerking around
2. Wish that I could run really well
3. Wish that I was better at sticking to a budget
4. Wish that when Ben graduates he gets a top paying Job and that they have full benefits and all.
5. Wish that I was a better house wife and cook
6. Wish that while I am at it how about being better organized? :)
7. Wish I was crafty like my sisters
8. Wish for happiness for all.

8 People I'm Tagging: nahhhh I will let people choose what they want to do.

A Two-Part post!

2009-01-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

The first part: (I uploaded the pictures in the right order but they are on here back ward so I will also go backwards)

Some neat and interesting things that happened this year:
It snowed like a foot! that almost never happens, So here is a picture for posterity (and Ben's family that doesn't live in WA)

This a picture from Joshua's blessing day Nov 30th. I love his cute little smile.....

He does this boxing thing a lot. I love my little tough guy....(his father dressed him by the way, hence the no matching)

I got pregnant and had a baby! (not like you didn't know, but it happened to me this year) This is me on my due date. I actually went in to labor on my due date but I didn't have him until 2 days later.......

Also things that I don't have pictures for:

Ben got in to Dental Hygiene school! only a year and a half left!

I got called to be in the YW presidency and Ben to the YM presidency.

That is all I can think of.

Now for the Second part:

I have been thinking a lot about traditions. Like my family for Christmas Eve would all gather and eat popcorn and then we would pass around the "Angel Candle" and say what our gift to Christ would be for that year. Ben's family does a pageant usually on Christmas Eve (not this year the only kid there was Josh and he is too small) They also like to sing songs and read some stories.

This year though we didn't do any of the traditions, my side or Ben's. For Christmas Eve we only had like 6 people at his parents house and no one really wanted to do much. We did have some yummy food and played some holiday games though. Ben and I really don't have our own traditions yet considering that this was only the second Christmas that we have spent with each other and his family.

So other than my inane rambling I wanted to write to you (6) readers and find out what traditions you have for Christmas and Birthdays and any other time of the year....

Love ya

Mary

Lets just say I had no idea....

2008-12-26T21:11:00.000-08:00

Ben went crazy this Christmas. That is the only way I can explain it.
So to begin my story let me take you back......way back. Some time ago we played wii at our friend's house (Steve and Kim Page) and it was so much fun! It had to be the only video game I could actually play (because you don't have to push buttons to make it work.) But I always swore that I would never have video games in my house. It was against my principles! Then they came out with the wii fit and.......I thought hey a way to work out and track my progress with out going to the gym. But it was waaaaay to expensive for my liking. I was willing to wait until the whole thing cost under 100 dollars. Maybe when our first born son left the house or something.
Then I had our first born son and realized that I could never leave the house to exercise unless I wanted to A. wake up before Ben to go run. B. go to a gym and hire a babysitter. or C. wait until Ben got out of school (after 5 most days) So I really wanted someway to exercise inside as I only have two workout videos. I said that I wanted a wii fit, but I meant that I wanted one someday when we could afford it and all.
Ben decided that he would get me the wii and the wii fit for Christmas. I couldn't believe it! It was two much. Did I also mention that he got me the ENTIRE Little house on the Prairie books, That is like 9 books!
My husband spoils me.
Well I guess that it is half for him too. He enjoys playing with it also.
It is really interesting....The wii fit measures your real age. Ben (29) is truly 31 and I (24) am drum roll please.....38!!! what the heck! I need to work on a couple things. Nothing like having a computer tell you that you are a weakling. Even weaker than your husband that hasn't worked out in who knows how long and who loves to eat junk for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I digress.........
Anywho it is now almost 11 o'clock in the pm so I shall be signing off.
Love you all
Mary

Ben decided that

Santa Claus came to town

2008-12-25T22:33:00.000-08:00

Here is Joshua in a outfit that Ben's sister sent to us. We think that he is a very cute santa. Almost makes me want to believe in him....... :)

let me know what you think

2008-12-23T10:19:00.000-08:00

Who is this?

And who is this?

Let me know what you think....

Snow!!

2008-12-22T11:12:00.000-08:00

We love snow. There are more pictures to come for Johnny and Jennie. We measured eight and a half inches at our house this morning.

Randomness is my middle name...

2008-12-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

RULES
1. List these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I was tagged by my sister Camilla (I love you Milla!)

1. I have a guilty pleasure. I love to read celebrity gossip! It is so bad. I am constantly checking MSN's entertainment section to see who is too skinny, who got arrested, who is dating whom, who is pregnant, and who wore that ugly outfit. My sister in law Spring and I will look at magazines together and talk about all of the Celeb's. We are so bad....

2. I still have nightmares. If I watch even a edited scary movie on TV, I will have nightmares. Ben will make me change the channel if it gets scary in the least. He says that I am not allowed to watch such things.

3. When I was little I had (still d0) an Overactive imagination. I would sit in our living room on a couch cushion and pretend that I was on a raft in the middle of the ocean. It was winter and my ship had sunk and I was all alone with my baby. We were cold and starving. Eventually my baby would "die" and I would have to throw it into the ocean. I was very melodramatic about it too, with heaving sobs and cries of "my baby, my baby..." I was a strange child.

4. I know a million random (useless Ben says) facts. I once told Ben when we were on a walk over by some train tracks that the reason that the train sounds louder after it has passed is that the sound waves have yet to travel to you. Yeah I even own a book that is titled "Stories behind everyday things" I love to read those bathroom readers that have strange facts in them.

5. I love to sweep! Even when I was 9 months pregnant and my feet looked like small wiener dogs I would still want to sweep and mop and vacuum the floor. I started to like it when I was in basic training. I loved to see how big of a pile I could get. I also love to empty the filter and the container on our vacuum to see how much gunk that came up off the floor. If Ben gave me a cool vacuum for Christmas I would be forever happy.

6. I never believed in Santa. Ben's family thinks that I am crazy. I just never did. I am not sure that I want my kids to believe in Santa either. Maybe just as a nice story or tradition.

7. I cloth diaper. Some think that I am crazy. I just like them so much more. We just took a trip down to Utah and we used disposable diapers while we were there ( I wasn't going to ask my sister to wash them in her washer, also I would have had to take a second suitcase just for them). I had never had so many leaks, up the back and such! We had to soak like 3 of Josh's outfits while we were there. I just think that they are better... for me that is.

I tag anyone.....I don't have many blogger friends yet that haven't been tagged
I love you
Mary

Here is Ben's Result

2008-12-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

141

As a 1930s husband, I am
Very Superior

http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/">Take the test!

check this out!

2008-12-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

As a 1930s wife, I am
Superior

Take the test!

So I wonder if I maybe cooked dinner and did my hair every day and such would I be a better housewife.....?Ben says that I am a good housewife, but then again he dosent have the same standards as they did back then.Love youMary

How sad is this.....

2008-12-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

Today we had Fast and Testimony. There were many wonderful and thoughtful things shared. The last testimony that was shared was by this Filipino sister. I have always thought that she was beautiful and contained a wonderful testimony that she bore often. Well today she got up and started to share a story about how two weeks ago she left after sacrament meeting and went home and cried (at this point she was bawling). She then asked why we didn't love her and if we didn't want her around then we should just tell her. I started to cry myself. I mean why does she think that we (as a ward) don't love her. Have I ever given her this impression. I felt like I had failed her as a sister. She kept asking over and over why we don't love her. Finally the bishop went up and put a arm around her and she went to go sit down. As she was walking back to her seat the bishop's wife (bless her heart) was sitting behind me, grabbed this sister and made her sit with her. The woman was still crying so was the Bishops wife. I was crying still. I continued to cry for a while, my heart breaking for this poor sister that thinks that no one loves her.

I wanted to tell you all (my 4 followers and whoever else) that I LOVE YOU! I do not ever want you to think other wise. I love you so much. Please if you ever feel like this sister, call me! Call me right away! I love you and I would do anything to prevent you from feeling like her. It broke my heart today and made me realize that I could be a lot more loving to others.
Mary

I guess that I should go to bed soon

2008-12-04T23:37:00.000-08:00

Hi ya'll here I am at 11:39. I know its late. Ben went to bed long ago with Josh. I just can't stop thinking. Thinking about the Internet and all that knowledge and blog checking and news reading and facebook doing that I just HAVE to do. It is like my crack!

I used to only play games on these things. Then I had to use the computer for work. I learned the art of Google. I became a Google addict. I had to research everything! From movies to people to what was that song in that one commercial. Then I discovered that you can look up music videos on YouTube. Ahh new thing to find and learn. Trivia that I could impress upon my friends and let them know that I truly knew all sorts of weird things like did you know that Jimmy Stewart's middle name is Maitland? Yup. Before we found that one out I almost named my first born son James Maitland. (its a family name) Then after discovering YouTube I really got in to checking blogs. Not only my family's everyone that they are linked to! Some of them I even check daily! I don't even know these people! ( I love to use exclamation points, and it is late.)
THEN Ben got on facebook. I always swore that I would never do that. I am too cool to join one of those networking sites. Those are for lame people or something. Well now I am on it and I check it like 3 times a day. Did someone comment on my status? Did they throw something at me? Did they post a freaking picture??? Inquiring minds want to know....

And now I have finally joined the band wagon. I write on a blog. One that my hubby Ben set up. (he has yet to write on it)

What is this world coming too..... Mary is learning to use technology and getting horribly addicted to it I might add. It is my crack!

Let me know if you want to stage a intervention. I'll bring dessert
Love you
Mary

I love these things (sorry)

2008-12-03T23:05:00.000-08:00

I read this on my sister Amy's blog. I love these for some reason. I love to read them and do them. So bear with me:

Where is your phone? it is sitting on top of the TV

Your hair color? some would call it dishwater blond. I would call it dark honey. I live a rich fantasy life :)

Your mother? Probably asleep in Utah right now

Your father? Idaho

Your favorite thing? right now? I love to check stuff online I live for updated posts and looking up movies on imbd. I just love the trivia section

Your dream last night? This is lame...I usually have really involved dreams, but last night I dreamed about my blog....yes it is true and lame sorry I wish it was better

Your dream/goal? To be able to pass my PT test next april....yeah

Your hobby? I love to read and check blogs and all things on line

Room you're in? Family room/kitchen/dining room (we have a small house)

Your fear? That Ben will die or Josh will die. That I will be all alone. I hate being alone

Where do you want to be in six years? I will be thirty Josh will be six and Ben will be hopefully gainfully employed and we will have paid our student loans mostly down. I hate being in debt.

Where were you last night? watched NCIS and the Mentalist and then made Ben go to bed before 11:30

One of your wish list items? lets see is it too much to ask for my family to be here right now? I thought so. I would wish for some new shoes and jeans and heck for Stacy and Clint from What not to wear to outfit me in a whole new wardrobe. That would be awsome!

What you're not? Tired even though it is 11:28 pm yup!

The last thing you did? fed Josh and tried to burp him.

Your TV? playing Frazier it is surpisingly funny. I wish that it didn't come on so late though

Your pets? nada we are both allergic. Does my husband count?

Your computer? is there, on my desk.

Your mood? nonchalant

Missing someone? yes, I miss my family in Utah. I feel so homesick for them right now. I also miss my sister in Ohio and My other one in Spokane.

Your car? in my garage. Hopefully we will be able to fit it in there for a long while to come, stuff really does collect ya know...

Something you're not wearing? Shoes

Your summer? was spent in pregnancy induced lazynes. I did jack diddly squat

Love someone? All the time. I love my Hubby. I love my Son. I love my Family and I love just Love hershy kisses candy cane flavor

Your favorite color? green

When was the last time you laughed? everytime that I watch my sister Camilla's elf yourself! It is too funny! I lvoe to see her little baby's chubby face on a disco dancer. It just hits the spot.

Last time you cried? I was channel surfing and happend to watch Grey's Anatomy when they were operating on this woman and she gave birth but then she died and her husband came in a brought the baby to see her and say goodbye. Then he said "look what we made together" I teared up. It was so sad The baby was so cute and it just made my sad.

Well that was it. I am greatful for your attention and I hope that you enjoyed it.

Talk to you later
Mary

Blatant Hooliganism

2008-12-02T17:55:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Joseph B. Wirthlin

2008-12-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

I read in the news that Elder Jospeh B. Wirthlin passed away last night at 11:30. He was 91 years old.

Only recently had I begun to appreciate his wonderful talks. Probably because I was too immature to understand them. His last talk really struck a chord with me. It was titled "Come What May and Love it"
Here is an excerpt:
"The first thing we can do is learn to laugh. Have you ever seen an angry driver who, when someone else makes a mistake, reacts as though that person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors all the way back to Adam? Or have you had an encounter with an overhanging cupboard door left open at the wrong place and the wrong time which has been cursed, condemned, and avenged by a sore-headed victim?
There is an antidote for times such as these: learn to laugh.
I remember loading up our children in a station wagon and driving to Los Angeles. There were at least nine of us in the car, and we would invariably get lost. Instead of getting angry, we laughed. Every time we made a wrong turn, we laughed harder.
Getting lost was not an unusual occurrence for us. Once while heading south to Cedar City, Utah, we took a wrong turn and didn’t realize it until two hours later when we saw the “Welcome to Nevada” signs. We didn’t get angry. We laughed, and as a result, anger and resentment rarely resulted. Our laughter created cherished memories for us.
I remember when one of our daughters went on a blind date. She was all dressed up and waiting for her date to arrive when the doorbell rang. In walked a man who seemed a little old, but she tried to be polite. She introduced him to me and my wife and the other children; then she put on her coat and went out the door. We watched as she got into the car, but the car didn’t move. Eventually our daughter got out of the car and, red faced, ran back into the house. The man that she thought was her blind date had actually come to pick up another of our daughters who had agreed to be a babysitter for him and his wife.
We all had a good laugh over that. In fact, we couldn’t stop laughing. Later, when our daughter’s real blind date showed up, I couldn’t come out to meet him because I was still in the kitchen laughing. Now I realize that our daughter could have felt humiliated and embarrassed. But she laughed with us, and as a result, we still laugh about it today.
The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable."

This reminded me of my family and how we could laugh at many things. I have so many wonderful memories of my family. I often look back and long for those childhood days. (here i am talking like I am 80) I really do think that my family was able to find the brighter side sometimes. Things that may have been embarressing at the time are now nostalgic and treasured memories.

well I should go now but I wanted to comment about this great Apostle and how much his last talk touched me.
I hope that you will remeber him too.

Don't You Just Love Christmas?

2008-12-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday when my sister-in-law Spring and I were out shopping at the Dollar Tree (hey they have really good stocking stuffer's!) this woman was parking next to us. I had Joshua in the car seat and I was trying to get the door open to put him in. Spring had her hands full with her son Alexander. This woman got out of her car and opened the car door for me. Then she left with the Happy Holidays and God Bless.

I just love it when people surprise you. I have a tendency to get cynical about people. I have lost all faith in Humanity sometimes. It is times like that when I remember that there is some good out there and that I maybe need to spread it around too.

I was thinking that I wanted to do something for someone this year. Kinda like a service project.
Any Ideas??
I would love your input because I am a little short on the creativity (have been for a while!)

Yes We Finally Have A Blog

2008-12-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

Well Ben put this up I hope that you like it. We look forward to talking to you all and reading your comments.
See you soon
Mary