Traditions

Every year we purchase new matching jammies -

The men however, don't participate in this silly tradition, we can barely

drag them away from football for pictures.
Gingerbread House building is taken serious around this family.
First you are assigned a partner, given a contract to sign then told to wear a permit.
Team Brock and Austin

Team Al and Kelene
Team Russ and Michelle
Team Gloria and Monique
Team Jenn and Jason
Team Wayne and Vickie
Team Kristin and Sterling
Total craziness - people steal/eat candy off houses to win in this group

Jason and Jens house with the tootsie roll Angel Moroni

Gingerbread House Ln. with awards given out by the judges

Playmates

This was a game I've never seen them play. After chasing each other around they just plopped down on the carpet and had a stare down. There was no tail wagging, no whimpering, no movements what-so-ever for a good 30 seconds. I would have expected Roxy to get up and lick Austin in the mouth and lose the game, but Austin started laughing first --- GAME OVER!!!!!
Roxy's Reward????? standing on his chest kissing him while he continued to laugh hysterically.

They Are Having Too Much Fun For Living Away From Home

Does she look injured to you?

Always having to carry Kelsey around

Aubre and Kelsey

Courtney, Aubre and Kelsey

Aubre went up to see Courtney and Kelsey at BYU Idaho over conference weekend and had a great time (thanks for the pictures and for being a great sister Aubs). On Sunday my cousin Ron, his wife Loretta and son Scott invited the girls to their house in Sugar City to watch conference with them and have dinner. The girls were able to feed chickens (new experience) and enjoy learning alittle bit more about their family history. Aubre challenged Ron to organize another Family Reunion: summer of 2010.

Always Running

Being a missionary sometimes includes running from dogs

which can be hard work.......

but meeting people like Jeff and Laura Lynds

make it all worth while.

Elder Albert - Jeff Lynds - Laura Lynds

Jeff's Baptism Day

Signed Kobe Bryant card given to Elder Albert
by Jeff Lynds

This Pool Isn't Big Enough For The Two Of Us

When Austin went out to skim the pool this morning he found this

not so welcomed guest. I said to myself, it serves him/her right for taking a dip in my pool without an invitation. Sorry, I don't have sympathy for rodents. Then I started thinking,

OH NO!

there's not enough bleach out there in the world to make my pool germ free. Austin could hardly wait to show his sisters and all I could do is cry knowing my swimming days are done. :-(

Our Date Night Consisted of Food, Food and More Food

Since Russ is Young Men's President in our Ward he was put in charge of getting the food purchased, packaged and in bear canisters before leaving for the 40 mile hike on Monday morning with the rest of the YM and Stake Leaders. He and I grabbed a bite to eat on Friday night then came home and got to work. We started by separating dried fruit into 45 small baggies. Breakfast, lunch and snack all needed to be in separate Big Ziploc bags. Breakfast consists of: 2 oatmeal packets, 2 hot chocolate packets and 1 granola bar. Lunch gets a little better: Beef or teriyaki jerky pkg., 1 pkg. of trail mix, and 2 packets of crystal lite drink mix. Snack time: a baggie of dried fruit, rice krispie treat or cookies. Dinner: An MRE meal and one night ice cream. Fifteen people received breakfast, lunch and snack for 3 days in their Ziploc bags, (I'm not sure who will feed them the 4th day :-0).

After we packaged all the food (with the exception of the MRE's) into the Ziploc bags-



they were placed into the bear canisters. One was placed into Russ' backpack and the rest on Austin's bedroom floor until they left for camp. All in all I think it took us about 4 hours to divide up the food and during that time we spent it talking about how hungry they are going to be while hiking. I hope I recognize him when he comes home :D

Vacation Time and a Surprise Picture Text

I was holding my phone when a text came through from a number I didn't know. I clicked on it and it showed a picture text to which I was hesitant to open. Never knowing what you'll get in the technology world I decided to be brave and I'm glad I did. This is what I got~

It said, "Ur son is teaching my mom Michelle and is doing a good job" This same Michelle is getting married to Pete so Elder Albert and Elder Bakker are the so called wedding planners. Ty asked me in the last e-mail if I had any good ideas cuz "I'm a guy." Boy is he having all kinds of experiences.

VACATION TIME!!!!!!
Courtney with Grandpa in Santa Barbara

Hearst Castle

Kelsey and Austin

Missionaries, Mishaps and Milestones.

Happy Mother's Day

Aubre surprised me and sent flowers to my office

for Mother's Day.

Being that it's basketball playoffs and she knows my Lakers

are in the second round she was also thoughtful in

picking out the colors.

I love my Purple and Gold!!! (flowers of course) hehehehehehe

THANKS AUBS !!!

Cookie Dough Egg Rolls

Someone out there in the cooking world got smart and finally

figured out how to deep fry cookie dough, so this

weekend I gave it a shot. Yes, little 'ole me.

The cookie dough is wrapped in egg roll wrappers then fried in oil.

I rolled them in sugar and served with ice cream and

chocolate syrup.

Let me say the results are delicious!!!!!

Go ahead and try it, the possibilities are endless. :-0

News From the Field

This is Sarah

Elder Albert loved teacher her kids and says the

little girl is hilarious.

Elder Call and Elder Albert on Sarah's

baptismal day.

What did you say?

I can't believe these words came out of my girls' mouths..............

"I LOVE BAKING!!!"

They made homemade banana bread and brownies today.

This is not an inherited trait they got from their mother by any means.

For now, there will be no complaining on our part.

We will just enjoy every minute of it until they leave for college in the Fall. YUM!!!!!

Happy Birthday Courtney and Kelsey

This was their cake they are holding - I promise it's not fire!

"Hahahahahaha, I'm older than you"

The girls took this picture at exactly 2:20 on Feb 28th when Courtney was 18 and Kelsey was still 17.

I now can say Russ and I have survived raising twins. Although, it has been busy, and the last 18 years have been a blur I feel very blessed that these girls were sent to our family.

I'm one lucky mom!!!

Mom Space Face Lift

Out with the old

And in with the new.

For my birthday this year my wonderful friends(co-workers) got me the most fabulous gift ever. Nope it wasn't a purse! They set me up with all new file folders and all the trimmings for a new "Mom Space". That means I got to organize - my next favorite thing to do besides shopping. Thanks friends!!!

I was able to spend a week with my sisters and parents camping in Quartzsite, Arizona. The town has a population of 4,000 people normally but during the time we come in Jan it's swarming with RV's for the Gem and Mineral Show, which is like a swapmeet. There are purses, silver jewlery, antiques, statues and beads. My sisters and I go with no children but bring our spoiled doggies. Daily we dress them up and go shopping, as you can see Roxy thoroughly enjoys this. In the evening back at the motorhome we all play card games with my parents friends that have been camping with them for over 30 years, make jewlery and sit by the campfire. This is a wonderful get away that I look forward to every year.

MTC Elders

Elder Lewis, Elder Urmston, Elder White & Elder Albert were in the MTC at the same time.

"Here is where we live - in Bakersfield, CA and ...

we've been called to serve in opposite ends of the world"