Phones...College (Not)...Pets (dog or cat that is the question)

Where do I start today? Lets see...how about the dreaded teenage cell phone account! I can feel for you Al! Cell phones....what a racket! Emma's is confiscated right now because of slipping grades. I would lay down some conditions to go along with the phone if I were you. Emma is now getting serious about doing her homework because she is going through with drawls! What kind of job does Kayla have to support her phone habit anyway? You are getting her started on it and then expecting her to pay for it in 6 months....with what moola?? I wouldn't allow her to take it to church or YW during the week because the girls are so disrespectful with their phones during lessons and activities they have no phone manners. Good luck with navigating teenage land!!!!!! It only gets better!

Tanner is the biggest procrastinator in all this earth!!! It is college application time and the deadline is looming HUGE right now. The problem is, to get into any respectable school you can't wait until the deadline you have to get your applications in the first week or two when the schools start to accept the applications not the last two weeks before the deadlines! Tanner has got it backwards....and now I am not sure if he will even get into any of his choice of schools. Only time will tell. He always loves to save things for the very last day of the deadline no matter what it is for.

Now lets talk pets! You need to just give into it Al! Aren't we willing to do just about anything for our kids happiness?? I am mean you just gave into the pressure of teenage bugging about cell phones and those things can do much more damage then any cat or dog will ever do in your house! Have you heard about all those kids in Utah and other places for that matter that share special pictures over their cell phones?? And you are worried about a little dog poop! Lets keep things in prospective. Let Lauren nurture her love of animals in a very good way...getting a little kitty won't hurt anything and they are better then dogs when you have to go out of town they don't have to be babysat like dogs. They are much better to potty train and they are calm and peaceful like you! What is the hang up about cats???

Okay I hope I haven't brought anyone to tears today!! I love all you who read my blog and may be having spasms right now. I know you can do it!! Just take some deep breaths and know that you can survive all things! I hope you all have a great Christmas...I will be missing you all on that special night of visiting with the family that is out on parole.

I say this all in joking...I know that what ever you decide to do about pets will be right for your family!

Love you all

fall pictures

I often go with the missionaries to teach the investigators. Sister Alki is from Japan and she is the best!! I will miss her when she returns to Japan.

This is the day I highlighted Emma's hair. It is always fun to spend 2 straight hours with Emma talking while I do her hair!

Elle had a fun skating day with her school on Halloween. Instead of having class parties they take the school to the local ice skating rink and party!

Christmas Is Coming The Goose Is Getting Fat And Lots of Parties Are Coming!

Can you believe I have already done 20 posts?? It is almost Christmas...14 days and counting. I have almost got all shopping done! I love Christmas with all the decorations and smells and glad tidings! I am going to miss my family this year but we are planning on a really fun Christmas Eve with the missionaries and some families in the ward that we are close to. The great thing about living outside of Utah and away from all those Mormons is your ward really does become your family.

We are planning a huge party for next Friday...probably 30 or more teenagers will converge on my home and it will be great. I love the youth of the ward and all my kids friends. We are planning on caroling and then lots of games and food afterwards to warm up.

I just got done Christmas decorating my friends house. It was beautiful. I love to decorate and especially Christmas. We are doing an exchange...she is going to give me massages...hour for hour. I already have put in 10 hours that means that I get 10 hours of massages!! If you even know me a little you know that I think I am getting the best end of this deal! But of course Ann thinks she is getting the best end. I love massages, I am always trying to get Tanner, Scott, Emma and even Elle to give me little shoulder rubs or feet or anything! My family is tired of me asking so they are just as happy that I made this little trade out!