Merry Christmas 2010

Pictures can speak more than a thousand words . . .

The Influence of a Story

I read this article on msn today and thought it was interesting:

Recession surprise: Teen births hit all-time low

Experts stunned by 6 percent decline in 2009 for girls ages 15-19; birth rate up for older moms ~

The U.S. teen birth rate hit an all-time low in 2009 — a decline that stunned experts say is partly because of the economy. The birth rate for teenagers fell to 39 births per 1,000 girls, ages 15 through 19, according to a government report released Tuesday. It was a 6 percent decline from the previous year, and the lowest rate since health officials started tracking that data in 1940. Experts say the recent recession — from December 2007 to June 2009 — was a major factor driving down births overall, and experts say there's good reason to think it affect would-be teen mothers.

The CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

However . . . perhaps there is another reason . . . just maybe . . .

It may not have anything to do with the economy . . . or who is in the White House . . . or even family planning education in schools . . . my thinking is of a much more "fantastical" nature. 

Twilight became a cultural phenomenon in 2007. By 2009 teenage girls throughout the country were in love with Edward Cullen and the romance between him and Bella. Edward refused to take away Bella's virtue before they were married - despite her attempts of seduction.

Most women (whether we will admit it or not - or regardless of whether we liked the Twilight books) appreciated the message that was sent to the world. We want to be treated with love, tenderness, respect, and honor. Women are worth more than the world wants us to believe we are worth. 

Thank you Stephenie Meyer ~ you may have created an unrealistic expectation of what real relationships are all about - but I believe you just might have helped lower the rate of teenage pregnancies. Good job!

Happy 23 Birthday Trevor

Trevor is 23 . . . YESTERDAY!!!

I profusely apologize to Trevor for his birthday post being a day late.

December is so chaotic that I realized I did not honor him as I should have on

December 18th.

So here is a few of my favorite Trevor pictures . . .

Trevor . . . I love you my strong and beautiful and smart
mountain climbing son.

Christmas Concert 2010

David Archuleta's performance 
was amazing and incredible.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir 
is always glorious  and beautiful.

Michael York's performance was 
touching as well as wonderful.

The gift that the LDS Church 
gives our community is priceless.

*****

 I am also posting one of my 
favorite evening scenes

in honor of Katie teaching me 
tonight how deep my passion 
for sunsets really is in my life. 

~ so many good things to be grateful for ~

Click here to bid

My art Professor ~ Rob Adamson ~ is selling some of his personal art collection.

The above painting is one that he is selling.

I wish I had endless amounts of cash because I would buy them all.

I love his style of painting and so I thought I would share his blog.

I want to paint as well as Professor Adamson some day.

I want to be an artist like him and my Dad.

Check out his blog:

http://robadamsonstudio.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday Grant

Happy Birthday Grant

 Grant was tired and not in the mood for a song and cake . . .

but then Katie and Jeff blew out his candle and let him get a hands on feel for what blue birthday cake feels like . . .

 and it tasted so good that his tears turned to smiles . . .

or he started having a sugar rush . . .

either way it all turned out to be a fantastic 1st birthday.

This is a picture of my favorite babysitters.

Corrie and Cally took care of 
Katie and Troy and Trevor

until we moved from Littleton, Colorado.

Some of my most favorite memories 
are of that time of my life.

I will always think you are the 
two most natural mothers the Lord ever created.
You two and my daughter Katie.

And I love that you are all now 
mothers with children of your own.

Thank you for all the hours you 
spent with my kids while I was Christmas shopping.

Thanksgiving was nice . . . with no furnace . . .

yet the house stayed nice and toasty because of a fireplace or two . . .

which is good because this is my favorite time of year . . .

and I want to enjoy every snowflake that falls . . .

and every minute of looking at this:

In Honor of Harry Potter

Years of the Ultimate Escape From Reality

These are the actual books that have carried me through the past decade.

Except for the first one . . . one of my children has it in their possession at this time.

It all started in the year 2000 when I began reading these unique Children Books to Tanner. 
He was in the 1st grade.

At first I thought they were interesting and very creative.

Each year as we would finish a Harry Potter book, 
I would buy the next one so we could continue the story.

That is until the Order of the Phoenix.

By then Tanner was a prolific reader, and we were still continuing 
to read the HP books out of tradition.

But I couldn't wait until the next night to find out what would happen.

That was when I stopped being a good mother.

I informed Tanner that he was on his own - I was reading this book straight through.

And I did. 
It took me 3 days of ignoring all motherly duties - but worth every minute of selfish consumption.

So as we enter this November week when the 7th movie will hit theaters . . .

I admit to one and all that I will always be a Harry Potter fan.

J.K. Rowling - you gave us a great story that will live forever in our hearts.

Thank you.
And Grant . . . you have a magical world waiting for you to find . . .
and your Nana will make sure that you find it!

goodbye to autumn ~ family time ~ and my favorite photos of grant

oh yeah . . .

Happy Birthday Katie

29 years ago you gave me the greatest gift a woman can imagine.

You gave me the gift of motherhood.

And last year you gave me the 

second greatest gift a woman can imagine.

You gave me the gift of grandmotherhood.

Bless you and have a happy day!

Three generations of Emily - December 1981.
Emily Jane, Emily Kathleen, Emily Kathrine

 Katie - February 1982 

Katie - October 28, 1982

Katie - October 28, 1983

Katie - October 28, 2002

Katie and Grant - 2010
Oh to have those striking green eyes!

Happy Halloween Tanner

October 2001

Disclaimer: Tanner is actually not a fan of Harry Potter.

I am. I thought he looked great as HP!
We had that scarf kicking around for years - 
and notice the Christmas lights that are already on the railing.
Not happening this year.

Autumn is that time of year when every day 

is a spectacular painting that continually changes.

It was the perfect October day.

The third child must somehow always get lost in the photo shuffle . . . 
because I am having a hard 
time finding a picture of just 
Trevor as a youngster wearing a 
Halloween Costume. 

I did find this however . . .

Trevor-Katie-Troy October 1989

He's the one on the left.

Max & Brownies

Max doesn't pose for me often . . .

so of course I had to post 
this picture of him.

Brownies

Mix together:

4 eggs

1 3/4 cups sugar

Mix together and add to egg mixture:

1 cup melted butter

1/2 cup cocoa

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

Add:

3/4 cup flour

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (opt)

1 cup chocolate chips (opt)

Mix together and pour into greased pan.

Bake @ 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes

or until knife comes out clean in center.

Do not overcook.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar or 

ice with chocolate frosting.

Once Upon a time in Littleton . . .

There lived a little boy who 
wanted to be a dragon.

He was very sweet, 
so being a dragon wasn't going to be easy.

His mother figured out a way to 
put together a cape

that would enable him 
to believe he could find the 

fire inside of him to be a dragon.

Troy 1986

Sadly, he never found the fire 
inside of him to be a dragon . . .

but he did find the fire inside of him 
to speak a beautiful language.

So today he is a 
Hot Italian Professor instead of a Dragon!

Grant . . . 

so far my favorite grandchild hands down.

This kid is constantly being watched over by a dog.

Miles, Lucy, Sammy, Annabelle, Gabbie.

They all adore him.

This is Sammy watching over Grant.

She is hoping for a lick of Grant's face - or some crumbs.

This is Grant finally seeing that mysterious black object 
that Nana always seems to be holding in his face . . . but never letting him touch.

Mean Nana. Sweet Grant.
Honestly . . . I want those eyes. Maybe in my next lifetime.
 

I am trying to become an artist . . .

hence the reason I have "painting" as part

of my blog description.

Here is the latest attempt at pastels . . .

and hopefully many more to come.