I've Been Tagged...Now You're It!

TAG #1
1. My husbands name is: Darrin
2. How long have you been married? 8 years in August
3. How long did you date? hhhmmm, we met in April, went on our first of June and was engaged 3 weeks later. I KNEW from our very first date that I was going to marry him and fell in love that very first night! Mind you: Darrin I weren't the "normal" Mormon newly weds in marrying still in college and unable to rent a car on our honeymoon...like most young married couples. Darrin was 26 and I was 24 1/2.
4. How old is he? 34 in July (currently 33)
5. Who eats more? Toss up lately. With Darrin's flu/illness and my hyperthyroid, it's about equal. Not good!
6. Who said I love you first? Darrin, definitely.
7. Who is smarter? Darrin without a question.
8. Whose temper is worse? Me without a question
9. Who does the laundry? I do.
10. Who does the dishes? I do.
11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Darrin
12. Who pays the bills? Darrin, though, we got two late notices in the mail this week because Darrin's been so busy that he forgot to send the bills through bill pay. Good thing for Microsoft Money, keeps us in check! If you don't have it (or Quicken) strongly suggest something to help balance your finances.
13. Who cooks dinner? Definitely me. If I suggest that I am not in the mood to fix dinner, Darrin calls out, which isn't always what I want. I would still like a home cooked meal, but just not have to fix it. Hello, Jamie Oliver cooks, why can't Darrin? :)
14. Who drives when you are together? Darrin
15. Who is more stubborn? Toss up-it depends.
16. Whose parents do you see the most? My parents now that they live in Utah. They live only 25 minutes away.
17. Who proposed? Darrin
18. Who has more friends? Depends on what you consider a friend...
19. Who has more siblings? Darrin does. He has 6. I have 4, though I have more nieces and nephews than Darrin.
20. Who wears the pants in the family? Do I have to answer this question?

TAG #2A: The rules of the game are: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 (or however many you want) people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

#1 What was I doing 10 years ago? Exactly 10 years ago, I was serving an LDS Mission in Southern France. I was living in a little ville just outside of Aix en Provence called Salon de Provence. I was serving with Soeur ("sister") Bourne, who was just transfered to my area.
#2 Things on my To-Do List Today: Same as everyday. Exercise (run exactly, training for the SLC Half Marathon in a couple of weeks) and then take care of my munchins.
#3 What would I do if I were suddenly made a Billionaire: Pay my tithing; pay my taxes; build my dream home; set money aside for my children; take my parents on a really nice vacation/sabbatical; buy a home in Spain-so beautiful; visit James and V every Spring and Fall; buy Darrin a classic/vintage cello; take an all inclusive trip to Disney World with my children; and liposuction!
#4 Bad Habits: clean freak, nutty about washing hands and dirty feet (yuck!), love to drink diet coke and eat popcorn in bed.
#5 Places I have lived: California, Texas, Hawaii, England, and Utah.
#6 Jobs I have had: Nanny, NextPage, NuSkin, Novell, CGG London, and Real Estate Agent.

I would like to tag the following: Corrine, Cheryl, Chandler, and Tricia.

When I Grow Up, I want to be a...

... A Snake! Jack has been learning about occupations at pre-school this past week. So when I opened up his back-up to find this drawing, I was a little confused as to what he wanted to be when he grew up. So I asked Jack and he replied: "A Snake and mom, my name isn't Jack, it's Jackson." I stand corrected, Jack no longer wants to be called Jack, but Jackson. Yes, he is Jackson Darrin Allred, but to me, he will always by my little Jack. ~March 2008~

Genealogy

A little girl asked her mother, 'How did the human race appear?'

The mother answered, 'God made Adam and Eve and they had children and so was all mankind made.'

Two days later the girl asked her father the same question.

The father answered, 'Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved.'

The confused girl returned to her mother and said, 'Mom, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?'

The mother answered, 'Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his.'

Easter Dinner 2008

Easter Sunday
(23 March 2008)
We invited the Ford Family Clan over for Easter dinner chez nous...
We enjoyed a ham dinner with various salads, rolls, roasted potatoes, deviled eggs, lemon bars, and strawberry shortcake. Of course, we enjoyed the company; there's always plenty to say with this much family. Fortunately, the weather was beautiful and so we could eat outside in the warm sun. If only the summers were this nice here in Utah! I bet they are in Seattle though...

Easter Morning 2008

Sunday, March 23, 2008: The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released the following Easter message: "At this wonderful season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Of all the victories in human history, none is so great, none so universal in its effect, none so everlasting in its consequences as the victory of the crucified Lord, who came forth in the resurrection that first Easter morning."

Yes, the children received easter egg dye boxes. Saturday (yesterday) was so very busy-heck, this whole week was nuts-that we didn't have time to dye the eggs. So our project this week is to boil and dye Spongebob and Princess eggs for Jack and Megan to enjoy.

This day is actually significant in the Ford/Nelson family. Today is my grandparent's anniversary, as well as my late Granddad's birthday (Robert Alton Nelson). When I asked my Granddad why he got married on his birthday, he told me that there could be no greater gift than that of marrying your Grandmother.

HOA Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, March 22, 2008-Every Easter, our HOA puts on an Easter breakfast and an Easter egg hunt for all the children. The children just loved looking and putting the eggs in their buckets. (Yes, our Easter Bunny gives our children new sand buckets and shovels, silly, but fun tradition.) We had just as much fun as we did last year, though this time, we actually walked away with some eggs. This year, Jack and Megan looked for eggs with their best buds: Austin and Aubrey Jensen!! Oh my gosh, is that me in the fat jeans...Ok, diet starts Monday!!! I can't believe how fat I have gotten and I even ran 11 miles this morning. Good thing Spring is here: BBQs and salads...

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Everywhere you go, everywhere you look, you can find planes, trains, or cars around our house. Oh, Lightening McQueen, Mator, or Thomas might have something to do with it, but this was my latest find-all his cars and trains lined up in the kitchen, underneath the cupboards surrounding our island. This is our little Jack, though, and we surely love him.
Sunday, March 16, 2008

We have cement...

We are slowly finishing off our stamped concrete work and cement pad in our backyard...all 1500 square feet worth! We still have the power wash and sealing to get done before it's an actual patio to enjoy for the summer months, but we are almost there. It will be a relief once this is behind us. Everything about this cement has been a headache...including the actual cement company: Frontline Cement (aka Shiloh Jackson ["owner" if you could call him that] ). Talk about the biggest SOB!!!

My Sister from Texas Comes to Utah!

My sister, Corrine, came to Utah with all 4 children for a visit. We spent the day chatting while the children were enjoying the last cooler (but warmer for us) days of winter. (Unfortunately, we got snow just a couple days later...AGAIN!)

Designs in Floral

In every family, there is always another family that you spend your summer vacations with, grow up with, go to BYU with, have children with, etc... Cheryl Smith Wetzker is one of those. I have so many childhood memories of her and her family. Cheryl has become this talented artist. She makes pictures all with pressed flowers! It's amazing (see below). The first time I saw her work was a couple of years ago, while her parents were visiting my parents out here in Utah. I finally asked her to make some artwork for my children and this is what she has done for my little girl, Megan. Can't wait to have it framed and hung in her room!! She is also doing one of the Bountiful temple for us too. (Cheryl did the Salt Lake Temple for my sister and the Oakland Temple for my mom. [She does do special orders, like the picture below and the Bountiful Temple for myself.) So very excited for the artwork to arrive. I wish I had a little bit of her talent, but in the mean time, I will just admire the pictures she done and think of new ones for her to make...

The Bountiful, Utah Temple
(Darrin and I were married there August 19, 2000.)

To see more of Chery's work, go to the link below. You will be amazed-promise!

http://www.designs-in-floral.com/

Cheryl Anne Wetzker

Warrenville, Illinois

Designs in Floral: Pressed Flower Art

Email: cherylanne@designs-in-floral.com

For All Thos Serving Our Country-Thank You!

First year cadets at the Air Force Academy are allowed to leave the Academy without penalty up through the end of first-year Christmas break. Those who came back were assigned to write a paper on why they chose to return.

Here is one young cadet's masterpiece, which has begun to be widely publicized...

Why return to the Air Force Academy after Winter Break?

So after our sunburns have faded and the memories of our winter break have been reduced to pictures we've pinned on our desk boards, and once again we've exchanged T-shirts and swim suits for flight suits and camouflage, there still remains the question that every cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has asked themselves at some point: Why did we come back? Why, after spending two weeks with our family would we return to one of the most demanding lifestyles in the country?

After listening to our 'friends' who are home from State or Ivy League schools chock full of wisdom about how our war in Iraq is unjust and unworldly, why would we return? And after watching the news and reading the papers which only seem to condemn the military's every mistake and shadow every victory, why would we continue to think it is worth the sacrifice of a normal college life?

Is it because the institution to which we belong is tuition- free? Anyone who claims this has forgotten that we will, by the time we graduate, repay the US taxpayer many times over in blood, sweat, and tears.

Is it because the schooling we are receiving is one of the best undergraduate educations in the country? While the quality of the education is second to none, anyone who provides this as a main reason has lost sight of the awesome responsibility that awaits those who are tough enough to graduate and become commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force.

I come back to the Academy because I want to have the training necessary so that one day I'll have the incredible responsibility of leading the sons and daughters of America in combat. These men and women will never ask about my Academy grade point average, their only concern will be that I have the ability to lead them expertly; I will be humbled to earn their respect. I come back to the Academy because I want to be the commander who saves lives by negotiating with Arab leaders... in their own language.


I come back to the Academy because, if called upon, I want to be the pilot who flies half way around the world with three mid-air refuelings to send a bomb from 30,000 feet into a basement housing the enemy... through a ventilation shaft two feet wide. Becoming an officer in today's modern Air Force is so much more than just command; it is being a diplomat, a strategist, a communicator, a moral compass, but always a warrior first.

I come back to the Air Force Academy because, right now, the United States is fighting a global war that is an 'away game' in Iraq - taking the fight to the terrorists.

Whether or not we think the terrorists were in Iraq before our invasion, they are unquestionably there now. And if there is any doubt as to whether this is a global war, just ask the people in Amman, in London, in Madrid, in Casablanca, in Riyadh, and in Bali.

This war must remain an away game because we have seen what happens when it becomes a home game... I come back to the Academy because I want to be a part of that fight.

I come back to the Academy because I don't want my vacationing family to board a bus in Paris that gets blown away by someone who thinks that it would be a good idea to convert the Western world to Islam.

I come back to the Academy because I don't want the woman I love to be the one who dials her last frantic cell phone call while huddled in the back of an airliner with a hundred other people seconds away from slamming into the Capitol building.

I come back to the Academy because during my freshman year of high school I sat in a geometry class and watched nineteen terrorists change the course of history live on television. For the first time, every class currently at a U.S. Service Academy made the decision to join after the 2001 terror attacks.

Some have said that the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan only created more terrorists... I say that the attacks of September 11th, 2001 created an untold more number of American soldiers; I go to school with 4,000 of them. And that's worth more than missing a few frat parties.

Joseph R. Tomczak Cadet, Fourth Class United States Air Force Academy

(U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) had Cadet Tomczak's essay read into the Congressional Record, and at a meeting of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors he presented Cadet Tomczak with a framed copy of the essay.)

St George...Here we come!!

Friday, February 29, 2008-We packed up the car and headed to St George for the weekend. We needed a break from life and all the snow... The winter blues surely have gotten to our family and so our neighbor that I serve with in Primary suggested the Hilton in St George (her family just got back the day before). We loved the idea and decided to go. It was beautiful and the most perfect weather-mid 70s. The first thing we did when we arrived was put on our swimsuits and head for the pool. Jack and Megan are such water babies; they didn't even like getting their pictures taken only because it took up swimming time.


Saturday, March 1, 2008-We got up early (not unusual with our little children) and headed to Snow Canyon to hike, climb on rocks (Darrin and Jack mostly) and sit in the sand dunes, to allow Jack and Megan to build everything and anything with their buckets and shovels. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves that they didn't want to leave. Surprisingly, with the warm sun, we got burnt! Plus, mom and dad (Darrin and Aly) were getting tired. So we headed back to the Hilton to swim more...










Sunday, March 2, 2008-We drove to the St George Temple to visit the grounds and visitor center. This is truly a beautiful temple. It reminds me a little of the Hawaii Temple and the London temple combined-don't ask why, but it does. Jack was fascinated with the Jerusalem display, talking about the life and crucification of Christ. It was awesome. One our way out of St George, we stopped by the Winter home of Brigham Young. We started the tour, but abruptly left, as the children couldn't stand not touching things and Darrin and I no longer had the patience to constantly mind them. Regardless, it was a great mini break at such last minute. We will have to go again.