Ok, so I have been really bad at blogging this summer. We have been super busy and hardly home, but I got this in an email today and thought it had some pretty good advice so I thought I would share.

This is simple and true!
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44.. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.."

wedding

So, this is pretty much the first day I have been home in like 3 weeks! The trip down to Kev and Chanda's wedding went pretty good. The ride down was really not bad at all, we left Thursday morning. Lauren came with us, so that was fun. Hailee really enjoyed some company in the back seat. We drove through the Yellowstone Park to Idaho Falls. The park was really pretty except for there were like NO animals out. We saw like 6 buffalo and 2 elk... I was a little rainy, so maybe that is why none of them were out. We saw lots of different license plates from different states though. We stayed with Craig's aunt Marcie. It was SO nice!! We got there and went to dinner, did a little shopping, and went back the house. Dan and his family came over for a few hours. It was really fun to visit with them. Friday morning we got up and did a little more shopping. At around 2 we took off and headed for Richfield. We took our time and had a pretty smooth trip until we hit Salt Lake at 5.... rush hour. That seemed to take forever, but we finally made it to Richfield around 9.

Saturday morning we just hung out at the hotel until it was time to get ready for the wedding. It was overcast when we got up. We got to Salina for the wedding and it was kind of sprinkling... but it cleared off enough to get through the ceremony and part of the dinner. Then, it started to POUR!!! I took Hailee and ran to the car. We just hung out there for a while. After all of that it cleared off and was actually rather nice for the reception. It seemed like a long day, but we are happy to have Chanda as an offiical part of the family finally! They are perfect for each other. Despite the weather is was a really nice wedding.

Hailee wading in the little stream and Marcie's. Her favorite part!!

The happy couple.

Kev was tired of having his picture taken!

My mom made Hailee this dress for the wedding. It turned out SO good. She fell asleep right before the ceremony. By this time she was puddle jumping in it...

Any by the end of the night she was laying in the wet grass. Her dress was filthy! It came clean though, so we are glad for that.

What a week!

We have had quite the week at our house... I feel bad being the first to post this because it isn't my news, but Becca had her baby Monday night. We were so excited for her, it seems like we have been waiting for forever. I'll let her give all of the details. Anywho, I was over in Burlington Monday night after cleaning all day for my cousin Branden's reception/open house til' late. Then, Becca finally had the baby, so I planned to go back first thing Tuesday morning so I could ride up to Cody with Mom and the kids to get a peek at the baby. I had also left my car in Burlington Monday night and drove my Mom's home because mine was scheduled to be serviced first thing Tuesday morning.

Anyway, after a long afternoon in Cody we finally made it back to Burlington. I just stayed the night at my Mom's so I could help with the kids. I slept in a room with Brac, Breanne, and Hailee... needless to say, not a whole lot of sleep. Hailee whined a couple of times in the pack n' play, Brac was talking in his sleep for a good part of the night, and Breanne was in bed with me; need I say more. Today mom sewed on Hailee's dress for Kevin's wedding and I wrangled kids. I went out of Becca's for a couple of hours to try to clean up a little for them. For as long as I was there, I didn't get a whole lot done. All I can say is it is A LITTLE better than before I got there.

Becca came to Mom's after they got home cause Eric had some things to do. So, we all got to sit and hold the baby while Becca rested. He is such a sweet baby! I felt bad leaving, but I had to get home. We are leaving first thing in the morning to head down to Utah for Kev's wedding. We will be traveling to Idaho Falls tomorrow. We are going to stay at Craig's aunt Marci's house. It is a little out of the way, but it will be nice to visit and also break the trip up for Hailee. Friday sometime we will head down to Aurora and the wedding is Saturday. Hopefully on our way through Ogden we will be able to stop and see Cailee for a little while!!! This will probably be one of our only trips this summer, so we are cramming a lot in. I am looking forward to it.

I am bummed about not being able to be at home. My other sister Jaime is actually scheduled for a c-section tomorrow morning, so we will miss that too. I feel bad for my mom, there is a lot going on at home, hopefully she can keep up and everyone survives the weekend! But, I suppose I should start packing. Wish us luck!

A few pictures

Here are a few pictures taken over the last month or so. The ones with all of the kids were taken yesterday.

Well....

Sheesh, it's been a whole month since I have posted anything and I still feel like I don't have a whole lot to say. May has been an extremely busy month for us. I don't feel like I have been home a whole lot. Craig was out of town for almost a whole week helping his dad do a couple of parking lots down in Riverton, so Hailee and I went and hung out in Burlington for most of that week. I really enjoyed getting outside to do some work in the yard and just do outside stuff without worrying about Hailee running in the street or something!! Oh how nice it would be to live out of town! Other than that we have just been going to graduations and all kinds of stuff.

Memorial Day was pretty uneventful. Craig has to work 2 holidays a year and he drew Memorial and and the 4th of July this year. So, Lauren and Leanne jumped in the car with Hailee and I to ride up to Cody. We met Dave, Suz, and Jake at the park for some chicken and a little play time. After that we just came home and got ready to have a little bbq over at Winterholler's. Not too much exciting otherwise. I am afraid our lives aren't going to slow down anytime soon. Next month we have Melinda's wedding and Kev's the next weekend in Utah. We are sure enjoying the nice weather though and hope it keeps up!!

So mad!

Yesterday my mom and I (and Hailee) planned a trip to Billings. I had some major shopping on the agenda. I also had to take my ring in to have it looked at. The other day I noticed a really bad catch in it by the diamond. So, that same day while I was sitting in the car waiting for Craig I pushed on it a little...it slide. That freaked me out, so I immediately went inside and took it off. It is under warranty because I have been really good about taking it in once every six months to have it checked and cleaned. In fact, I just had it in there in Feb. We get to Billings and go to the mall first in case it takes them a while. I give them my ring and the two ladies study it for a minute. They figure out on of the "slide things" on the side is worn and the gold smith is going to have to fix it. Then, she tells me I am going to have to pay for it!! I was like, "well, isn't it under warranty?" She tells me no, the warranty doesn't cover that. So I asked her what would have happened if I had lost the diamond? They would have replaced it just because it was checked in Feb., but I still would have had to pay the $60 or more when they replaced the diamond to fix the setting. I thought it was little ridiculous and paid the money. I had better not happen again, if I have to pay for something else like that, I might be even more unhappy!

Anyway, it was a long day in Billings, and I spent too much money, but I am glad that I got all of that shopping out of that way. I suppose that is what happens when you put it off for so long :) We were in Billings until 5:30 waiting for them to finish with my ring and we had left Lovell at 9:00... so it was a super long day! We're glad it is over, Hailee especially, she was really good but definitely ready to be done by the end of the day.

post...

I realize it has been a long time since I have posted anything. It must be a combination of not having time and the fact that there hasn't been a whole lot of exciting things going on. We spent most of the week before Easter helping Becca move. I am glad it was her an not me. I was exhausted after a few days, I can't even imagine how she felt being 7 months pregnant!! I moved when I was 8 1/2 months, but Mom and Becca pretty much moved me while I was at work, bless their hearts! Anyway, she is officially all moved and we got the house here in Lovell cleaned last week, so I am sure she is relieved to be done with that part. I don't envy her for having to put everything else away now... It's hard to help do that.

Easter was a lot of fun. Saturday we went to my aunt Terrin's for an Easter egg hunt and picnic. Hailee mostly just enjoyed being outside, ALL DAY! She found a few eggs and ate the treats out of them. Like I said, the highlight of the whole weekend for her was getting to be outside in the nice weather. Sunday morning she ate way too much candy before we went to conference. After conference we had a yummy dinner at Dave & Suz's. I do have a few pictures, but they are on Becca's camera. I'll have to get a hold of them and post a few one of these days.

Well, that is our story for the past few weeks. Hope everyone else is doing well. We are LOVING the nice weather and intend to enjoy it all week!