Happy 25th Birthday Nicole!!!

Today is my little sister Nicole's birthday. She is now the BIG 25! (Wow, that makes me feel old!!) We celebrated yesterday at our house with the family and ate some of Nicole's favorite food...lasagna and pumpkin pie. Instead of making "real" lasagna, we made a Rachael Ray "fake-out" lasagna which was soooo much easier and faster to make. (Basic idea: cheese filled ravioli, cooked & layered in a baking pan with meat and spaghetti sauce, topped with cheese.) Watching Nicole open presents is soooo different than Brenda opening them...Nicole took FOREVER to open, making sure she got every piece of tape and wrapping paper off before tackling the box. (Brenda on the other had rips stuff off so fast and throws it so that she can quickly get to the gift inside. I think she has opened things in under 8 sec. before...now we use LOTS of tape!) Some of the things Nicole got for her birthday: a few necklaces, a book, a picture for her room, and her 1st ever BSU T-shirt! (she's never really asked for one and I just realized this past week that she was the only family member w/o a BSU shirt...she was VERY surprised!) Below are pictures of everyone, except Parley who was sick and opted to stay home to avoid getting the rest of us sick.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLE!!!

The Birthday Girl

We just love the camera!

I'm not sure I know who this goofball is...

A rare picture of Dad

Mom actually smiling!

What a CUTE sister picture!!!

My Angel

Since the conference edition of the Ensign has come out I've been enjoying rereading the talks that were given at conference. I haven't felt good the last few weeks and when I start to get really bad I start feeling down and a little depressed. So to combat my down feelings, I've been trying to do more to have the Spirit with me, have more faith, and try to think positively (kinda hard when you really don't feel good). The other day as I was reading the talk given by Elder Holland entitled "The Ministry of Angels" I was overcome. In fact, I was crying so much that I couldn't read it...so I did the next best thing, I listened to it on the Internet so that I could still cry my eyes out. I loved how he talked about how there are angels still among us, even in a time when the world seems so "dark and dreary." Angels are still sent to help us as they have been throughout the ages. He reminded us that we should be filled with faith and that the Lord will always be there for us. Then he went on to talk about how "not all angels are from the other side of the veil, some of them we walk with and talk with-here, now, every day"! I was once again reminded that I have so many angels in my life that help me every day. One of those angels is my husband. (I do have other angels that are worth mentioning, but I'll save that for another day)


My Angel Husband

I love Curtis SOOOO MUCH! He loves me for who I am as a person. I love the way he tries so hard to provide for me and our family. He wants me to be healthy and have the best medical care that I can get. He makes me laugh when I'm sad or depressed, to help me to feel better because he knows that Laughter is the BEST Medicine! He stays awake with me for 2 hrs in the middle of the night when I'm coughing and am having a hard time breathing (and then goes to work all day while I stay home and sleep...) He feeds me lunch in a hospital bed when I have to be flat on my back. He holds the bucket when I am throwing-up (That is true love right there!!). He prays with me, reads scriptures with me everyday, and makes sure that we have Family Home Evening every week. He honors his priesthood. He makes me want to be a better person. He values my input, my opinions, and my ideas. He listens to me when I need someone to talk to. He helps with ALL the household chores and does the outside ones as well (usually without my help). He supports me in what ever it is that I want to do. He will watch a Disney movie or a chick flick instead of some sporting event because he knows that's what I like and want to do. (Don't worry, I watch sports with him too...) There are so many other reasons why I love Curtis and why he is my angel. But the number one reason is: Curtis is my Best Friend to whom I'm married to for Time and ALL Eternity! I love you Curtis!!!!

Happy Birthday Brenda

Yesterday was my sister Brenda's birthday. She turned 17! (My baby sister is 17 now...holy cow!) On Sunday we went over to my parents house and had dinner and let Brenda open her presents. Of course all she wanted was a BSU shirt...or anything to do with BSU. Her presents included 2 BSU shirts, an Idaho license plate w/her name on it, and a BSU blanket & pillow covers. She was SOOOO excited! (side note: it may look like we spoiled her, but she had to earn the money for the bed stuff by helping do chores around our house. It took her about 4 months to earn enough money for it, but she did it!) After opening presents she immediately tried on her shirts and then wanted to put her new blanket on her bed.

On Monday, her birthday, Sam and I went and bought a small cake and the store and some balloons and took them up to the high school. We delivered the goodies to her in her classroom (the resource room). You should have seen the look on her face...she was on cloud 9! At the end of the day she was able to share the cake with all of her friends in her class. This will be one birthday story that she will talk about for a long time...Happy Birthday Brenda! We love you!

The Birthday Girl

Finally getting to blow out her candles
(her favorite thing to do at any birthday party)