A rose by any other name...

Our names can tell a lot about us. Mine says "your parents were big fans of Charlies Angels" it could have been worse, I could have been named after some pioneer ancestor and I could be walking around Jerusha, or Jamestina (remember I had to be a J, because it would have been pretty lame if my family went

Jim,

Judy,

Jenny,

Justin,

Jared,

Jason,

and Allison.
Even nicknames can stick. My freshman year of high school a new girl moved in, but since I already knew an Elisabeth I decided her name would be George. 4 years later no one in our school knew her real name, "George" was on her basketball jersey and in the year book. She will probably never forgive me. So I have decided my habit of calling my children by nicknames should probably end.


Sarah: The Beast: A couple weeks ago some random teenage girl came up to me and Sarah, and said "Oh Hello little beast" You might ask "why do you call her beast?)

I have started calling Jonny either Hugh or Heff. Everyday after school he immediately changes his clothes to this outfit.

Yesterday Ben asked "So, why do you call him Hugh"

Me: hmmmm, welll he dresses like a guy named Hugh Hefner.

Ben: Who's Hugh Hefner?

Me: hmmmm, welll ahhh, he's a ... oh, he's a specialty entertainment publishing mogul.

Ben: ahhhh, (shrugs his shoulders) allright.

Since I really don't want "Beast" or "Hugh" in the yearbook, I need new names.

The force was strong with us

I feel like I have a special connection to the force, after all I was born the same year the first (or fourth as Ben likes to point out) movie came out in theatres. So I was so excited that Jonny wanted a Star Wars party this year for his birthday. There were a few definite highlights.


1. Yoda Soda, if I could re-do my wedding reception I would definitely serve this.

2. Dave's 3 1/2 foot light saber cake.





Darth Vader: You might be saying "Jill, I didn't think you had a Party City in Hamilton to buy that cool cut-out" Oh, you are right, I used the force, and a ficus tree. Only one person noticed the basket where his feet should have been.





I don't know who enjoyed the party more, Jonny or me.

"As cool as me, you wish you were"

In planning Jonny's Birthday Party I have found a web-site that will change you life it is
http://www.yodaspeak.co.uk/index.php It will translate anything you want (we're talking whole paragraphs) into Yoda speak. I decided that I have gift in speaking Yoda. Just to annoy my kids, I have been speaking in "Yoda" all day. You wish you were here, you do.

Water is Overrated

I never drink water. You might be saying "Well, how do you survive without water?" Two words: Grape Kool-aid it is the true nectar of the gods. Any drink that reminds me of my favorite gum "Rigley's Big League Chew (grape flavor) has got to be good. Plus it provides my body with the water needed to survive.

Dave was cooking something the other day and as I glanced in his glass I did not find the normal Pepsi, but a large glass of ice-water. So without thinking through the decision I took a big old gulp. I spit it out immediately realizing it was Seltzer Water. Lesson learned: Stick to Kool-Aid.

Car talk

I think most of our quality conversations happen in the five minutes between school and our house.

Jon: Mom! you are going to be so excited, I get to be the WEED in the school play.

Ben: Did you know that wheat Silo's are the number one danger for kids in Montana.
Me: Really, how do you know that?
Ben: Because we spent today in Tractor and Silo safety classes.

Nate: I think I am going to have to use my fall-back career.
Me: You realize you are only 12 right?
Nate: (ignoring my comment) yea, Obama cut funding to N.A.S.A, I guess I'll have to be a physicist.

It really is my favorite 5 minutes of the day.

Mothers Day Re-cap

Nathans talk in Sacrament meeting
"It was my mom who taught me to :Catch a football
:ride my bike
:play football
:cook ramen
:and that it's a bad thing to use your trombone spit valve in the kitchen"

Dave: hmmmm Do I do anything at home?

Jon: Mom, here is a card I made you for Mothers Day.
Me: Oh Jonny, are those baby chicks on the cover.
Jon: Yep
Me: Turn page, hmmm what is that?
Jon: It's a dragon eating the chicks

Here is Jonny and his friend Jack answering a mothers day question.

15 plus years

Today Dave and I have been reflecting on the last 15 plus years. I thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane to that first meeting 20 years ago.

I would like to say that it was love at first sight as I glanced across the high school choir room and spotted Dave for the first time. However, since I was just thirteen the only person I cared about was Zack from "Saved by the Bell"


I believe this is the first picture of us together.


Fast forward Six years: I love how Dave's glasses are almost as big as my hair.





8 years, 2 kids later


3 more years 1 more kid


2 more years 1 more kid



Poor Dave, he kept saying that this horrible picture would keep circulating and he was right. After all it is the only picture we have to celebrate our 15 years of marriage.


A very happy Anniversary to my sweet husband who after 15 years of marriage I would totally choose him over anyone from "Saved by the Bell"

You can't beat Spring break in Wyoming

I was so excited to leave for a week during our one day spring break. We headed to the tropic location of Evanston Wyoming. While there we did all the typical Spring break things.

:Shlepped through a massive blizzard (Shlepped is my new word. Definition: To trudge through snow muttering how much you hate winter I mean Spring in Wyoming)

:Dyed 168 eggs (that's a lot of protein my friends)

:Played 20 rounds of Charades ( I have to admit, I think I have a natural gift for charades, after all I did get my team to guess movies like "Easter Parade" and "Silverado")

: Watched my broter and Dave's brother play Donkey basketball. You have to ask yourself after being raised in a town with such great cultural events, why is it I haven't found my niche in Montana yet?