Insanity Updated

With all the blogs and how easy they are to update, I've switched my link on the insanityinc page to my blogs. Click on "Mindy" to access what was my wedding blog and is now my general blog. Click on "Creates" and you'll get to my art blog. It still has lots of updating to go through, but that's on my list of things to do during the next few months.

Getting Ready for Christmas

This last weekend has been pretty busy. On Saturday, we had about three hours of choir practice. Then Mom and I went to a baptism. And in the evening, we went to the ward Christmas party. Lots of desserts, and Joshua and Henry got to meet Santa.

Then on Sunday, we had our ward Christmas program. For those who could not make it, I put a video on Facebook of me singing my solo: "Would I Know my Savior?" In nursery that day, there were eleven kids.

Today, I made cookie mix. The first batch of cookies is baked. (We need to buy chocolate chips to make some others.) And for FHE, the young single adults helped bag toys at the Salvation Army. There were so many people working that we were done in almost no time. It was still fun.

package inventory

So I know what's where ...

I have received a box from Tawnia, the stockings from Mom, and an envelope from Emily. Emily, you said that it's our exchange gift as well as our card, so I just stuck it in the bag of stocking stuff for the girls and I'll put it in Adam's stocking to open on Christmas.

I put the box to Nathan's house in the mail yesterday (finally) - it should be there by the end of this week. It has our exchange gifts for Nathan and Joshy, and a big envelope for everyone at Mom and Dad's house. That has the moola for Mom and Dad's cruise and for Mindy's wedding gift.

Amanda, are you sending our book exchange here or to Eric's? Where should we be watching for it?

And I talked to Michelle about sending our other book exchange straight to Eric's house, because they also have Stevie.

Did I miss anything?

the Alleluia chorus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU

I don't know if you've seen this little flick on youtube yet, but it is the funniest thing I've watched in, oh, forever. I cry from laughing so hard every time I watch it. Bet you didn't know the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing Handel's Messiah could be hilarious!

Hindsight

So, yesterday, I went down to Salem with Mom and Clarissa. We got hot chocolate for the wedding in lots of different flavors (I plan to try the peppermint white chocolate first). Tawnia, Clarissa, and I unsuccessfully looked in several stores for blouses in just the right shade of blue. And we had a nice little visit with Nathan, Amanda, and those adorable little boys.

Anyway, heading home through the middle of Salem wasn't easy. Mom wasn't sure if she was in the correct lane to turn onto the bridge. And at a red light, a pickup truck started backing up; we don't know why. Mom blew the horn to warn the driver to stop. Then we missed the turn for the bridge because we couldn't get over in time and had to drive around the block.

This conversation followed:
Clarissa: "If we were in the right lane the whole time, we wouldn't have had to deal with any of that."
Mom: "Hindsight is 20-20."
Me: "Unless you're backing up a pickup truck."

giving Jared some flack

Since Jared does not have the comments option on his personal blog, I'll post what I would have posted there here. Is it just me, or does anyone else find it interesting that Jared goes to Israel for 2 weeks - the HOLY LAND, where JESUS lived - and when he comes back, he posts no pictures on his personal blog, tells no stories, just makes a slight mention of it. And then talks about coughing and wheezing and having pneumonia. *sigh*

Jared, when you're recovered from the pneumonia, I hope you will post some stories about what you saw and did in Israel, including Tel Aviv but of course the Christian holy sites in and around Jerusalem. I saw your pictures on Facebook, but there was very little explanation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom! Forty years is a long time, but you made it look easy. I love you and am grateful you're such great parents and grandparents. Laurel, Stevie, Allie, and I are all looking forward to seeing you in Virginia next year. We're sad we can't be there now. I hope everything is going well with you and that you're able to get out and enjoy your special day.

Love,

Eric (and Laurel, Stevie, and Allie)

another blog

Hey family .. I have a new blog. It's a blog for my art. It'll be easier to update than the family website version, and looks a little bit more professional. I haven't linked it to the insanityinc site yet, but I will soon. In the meantime, find it here: mindycreates.blogspot.com. Please go and leave lots of comments .. that's the best part about a blog!

the big ONE!

Happy birthday, Baby Emma!
We love you!

Love - Aunt Trina, Uncle Adam, Summer, and Marnie

2009 gift exchanges

With Halloween done now ... here's the list for the Christmas gift exchanges:

SIBLING GIFT EXCHANGE
Trina & Adam - Nathan & Amanda
Eric & Laurel - Jared & Michelle
Jared & Michelle - Clarissa
Tawnia - Mindy & Aaron
Emily - Trina & Adam
Nathan & Amanda - Tawnia
Mindy & Aaron - Emily
Clarissa - Eric & Laurel

Mindy suggested ANYTHING food related ... cookbooks, cooking utensils with recipes, new dish towels, gift card to a restaurant, even a box of chocolates. (That enough ideas to get you started?) Any opposition to this? Speak up quick, or we're going with food.

COUSIN BOOK EXCHANGE
Summer - Allie
Rosemary - Joshy
Stevie - Bryan
Allie - Emma
Brooke - Henry
Bryan - Summer
Emma - Stevie
Joshua - Brooke
Henry - Rosemary

Happy Christmas planning!

International travel

Well, they finally got my travel arrangements all worked out, and I'll be flying out on Saturday for Israel. I'll be gone for two weeks, getting home on Saturday the 14th.

Marnie's birthday portraits

I don't know who checks which blogs and when ... but Rosemary's birthday portraits are up now on my personal blog. I shot them today because it was a nice day outside. Any thoughts on which one should be THE portrait? Or do you agree with Adam? He really likes the first one in the post.

What's Up with InsanityInc?

Has our time run out again? Are we going to keep it going? What does everyone think?

sibling gift exchange

Mindy's comment on the other post gave me this idea ... she mentioned food. What if we gave our person a card/paper with one of our favorite recipes, along with some kind of kitchen utensil/dish that would be useful in making that item? You could do ANYTHING - a favorite cookie recipe with cookie cutters, an Italian dish with a garlic press, etc ...

Any other suggestions and specifics?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSEMARY!!!!

We hope that Rosemary had a very special birthday. WOW!! Two years old already. We can't wait to see you again. You are growing up so fast. We love you so very very much.

Love always,
Grandma and Grandpa

Christmas planning

Gift exchange again this year? Cousin book exchange for the kids?

Or is this just a tough year for everyone? I am well aware of job struggles for some, major moves for others ... not an easy year on anyone's finances. Even Tawnia and Nathan, who are the only ones who had any semblance of job stability this year, still had big changes with Tawnia's grad school plans and Henry being born. Well, what is life if not a series of changes, one right after another.

I'm good for the gift exchanges and would like to do them again ... but I don't think anyone should feel pressured about it. What's the consensus?

A few words about Family Home Evening

A few months ago, we came up with a new system for our Family Home Evenings. We made up a list of as many ideas as we could think of, and put them all in a box. Every week at the end of Family Home Evening, we take turns drawing out of the box our topic for the next week.

Tonight, after we finished our Astronomy lesson, Brooke pulled out "Video Chat." I realized one small problem with next week - I'll be up in the Dallas area on Monday night. So, we decided that next week we'll have our video chat FHE on Sunday instead of Monday.

Now, we just need someone to be on the other end of that video chat. Any volunteers?

On My Past Week's Activities

This week has been interesting, with family coming and going. Last Monday (or was it Tuesday?), we went on a hike at Silver Creek Falls, with Joshua wanting his daddy to gallop along the trail. Joshua also enjoyed splashing in the creek and throwing rocks at Double Falls. We cut back at Winter Falls, which was a wet patch of rock. August isn't the best time to see the falls.

And there was the family reunion from Thursday to Saturday. There was always someone there for a game of cards or putting together a puzzle. Most of the teenage boys spent the whole time playing video games. I loved zipping around the Puget Sound in Sid's boat. And we had singing and skits on Friday night. I especially enjoyed a song that Sid and Ben wrote about Frands Petersen.

Mom and I are teaching a new Primary class. Instead of the six-year-olds, we'll teach the ten-year-olds. This class is about half the size of the last one. And it makes it easier for me to fulfill my other calling of teaching nursery. They called me so someone would teach a lesson. But it seems like I spent more time mopping up spilled water.

Yesterday, Tawnia and I drove out to the beach and just sat on the sand for a few hours, enjoying the sound of the waves and the smell of the breeze. We walked a bit, but mostly we just read. I put on sunscreen, but I missed a couple of spots, so the backs of my legs and one shoulder got singed.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Sure hope you are able to celebrate your anniversary soon. I know you don't like being apart on your special day but it will be worth it when you're all settled in your new home. Take care and remember that I love you both and I'm so glad you're a part of our family and part of my life.

Love ya,
MOM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYAN!!!

Hello Bryan,
I hope you are having a wonderful birthday. I hear your party was on Saturday. Did you have a super time? Have a great year being seven.

Love always,
Grandma and Grandpa