Igloo... Almost.

The kids and I decided it was time to finally go play in the snow today. We bundled up and managed to stay outside for 45 minutes. We were trying to build an Igloo, but only ended up getting about halfway done. It's more work than I thought. I built a bench into and the kids had fun sitting there for a while watching me work.

I know, I know, I know.

So yes, I am aware of the fact I havn't posted in a long while. I just havn't had that much to say. I am doing the single mom thing right now... No Mark and I are not having problems, he's just working in St.George a lot so I am doing pretty much everything by my self. Plus, It's really hard for me to sleep at night when he's gone so I drag all day long sometimes. The kids and I are definately sick of winter. The other day Maddison was in a "Time Out" in her room for hitting her brother (for the umpteenth time) and when I went up to talk to her after her time out was over, I asked her why she was being so mean to Wyatt and she responded, "because I just want to go outside, I hate being in the house all day." What could I say, I totally agree and It makes me grouchy too!

18

The high for tomorrow is now 18, not 19. As if 19 wasn't bad enough.

19

Can I just say that the only reason I hate living in Utah sometimes is because of weeks like this. The high for Wednesday is going to be 19 F. (Yes that's at the warmest point of the day.) Don't talk to me about it. I'm grouchy.

Pictures

Thought I'd finally get some of these pictures posted.

Maddison's Horse "Fiona" aka Butterscotch: From Santa


Wyatt finally got some dress up stuff, and maybe some inspiration???


I hardly ever post pictures of my sisters, but I love them very much!!


My mom and her friend Sylvia would kill me if they saw I posted this, but it's just too funny to resist. They got these last year at a thrift shop so they could show their festive spirit on New Years Eve!


Little Snow Bunny.

Trust Fund for Brandon and Carter Ragsdale

I just got word that a trust fund has been set up through Wells Fargo Bank. Donations can be made to the "Brandon and Carter Ragsdale Trust Fund" at any Wells Fargo branch. I'll have more info as it comes.

Kristy Palizzi Ragsdale

Many of you may have heard the devastating News about my friend Kristy who was shot numerous times by her husband in the parking lot of our church on Sunday. Here is the link to the Deseret News story which I am told by her mother is the most accurate article that has been written, it is taken straight from the police report which consists of her mother's testimony who was the prime witness in the murder.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695242028,00.html

I was able to spend some time with Kristy's family last night at her home here in Lehi and wanted to share a few things that I feel her family would like others to know. First of all, they do not feel like it was Heavenly Father's plan for Kristy to leave this earth so soon, however they know that Kristy is with her Father in Heaven now and that she is okay. They have felt the presence of many angels in their home, including Kristy and are doing very well right now considering the circumstances. They know that they will get through this.

The message Kristy's mother would like all to hear is that what happened to her daughter was an act on Satan's behalf and that there is a war going on between Christ and Satan and in this case, Satan will not win. She is determined to only let good positive things come of this situation and repeatedly said "If you want to honor Kristy, serve others, because that's what she did."

We have a great ward Family here in Lehi (which consists of two different wards that were split in April) and we are recieving a ton of support from each other and from the church. I know that we will all get through this.

If you want to help, there are several things you can do to help.
1. You can pray for both Kristy and Dave's families, and especially her two young boys Brandon, and Carter. (Brandon is 3 1/2 and Carter is 18 mos.)
2. You can donate money. The family is trying to keep Brandon and Carter in their home (they return home soon) they want life to remain at routine and normal as possible. However Kristy and Daves home is an expensive one and they are trying to figure out a way to continue paying the mortgage so they can stay there. There are several ways you can donate. There is a fund being set up at a bank in Lehi today that will be taking donations, I'll get you all that info when I get it. Investools in Draper has set up an education fund for the boys, I am sure they would take contributions, or you can send money directly to the family. If you want their address, contact me and I will get you the information.

I'll keep everyone posted as I learn more details. Just remember this family in your prayers please.

We're on our way....

For my Seattle Buddies... We'll see you soon. For my Utah Buddies, See ya in a week!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Maddison has a mexican resturaunt curse!

So I don't think I had started my blog yet this summer when Maddison fell into the fountain at one of our favorite little mexican resturaunts. She was throwing pennies into the fountain, and ran out, so she was reaching in to retrieve some of the previously thrown in pennies and fell head first into the fountain. It was pretty funny, but Maddison wasn't laughing. I had to run next door to the Dollar Store (thank goodness it was right there) and buy her a cheap shirt to wear during lunch. Maddison is hypersensitive to being wet. If she gets even a little splash of water on her she freaks out. She is the type of kid who changes out of her swimming suit when it is wet into a dry one then goes back out to swim. She'll lay the wet one out in the sun to dry so that at any moment that she is not in the water, she isn't sticky and wet. I think she was 3 before we could even convince her to play in the water with other kids. Up until that point she would freak out if she got even a little splash on her.

So Yesterday, we went to see my neices' dance recital (Sydney and Rylie), and after about 14 of us went to a late lunch at one of my favorite Mexican resturaunts, Los Hermanos. (I'm sure some of you have been there, we were at the one in Lindon) At the beginning of our meal, our waitress brought our drinks out and as she was passing one of the drinks out spilled a little on wyatts sleeve. He got a little upset but calmed right down, and I said to the girl, "that's okay. Of my two kids he is the one you want to spill on, not my daughter!" Everyone knew what I was talking about because they have all been witness to Maddison's major freakouts when she gets splashed on or wet. If it had been her, we would have been modifying her clothing in every possible way to make sure that no wet part was touching her skin.
As we were all finished eating, this same waitress was bringing out some more drinks at our end of the table. Maddison was sitting on my left and Mark was sitting on her left. The girl was standing directly above maddison with a tray of drinks and low and behold, the whole thing tipped and two or three drinks worht of diet coke, coke and sprite dumped all over her. She was absolutely drenched from head to toe, literally. Even her shoes we sopping wet. She immediately started freaking out, which, I can't really blame her for. So I grabbed her up and took her to the bathroom. Stripped her down and put my coat on her. The poor waitress came into the bathroom, she was college age and I could tell she felt horrible. I thought she was going to start crying. She told me that it was only her second time serving. Poor girl. All the employees were so nice and did their best to make Maddi feel better, they gave her a pink t-shirt and if she wears it when she eats their she gets free ice cream. They also gave us half of our meal for free. It was okay in the end, but I think Maddi needs to be extra careful when eating out at Mexican resturaunts in particular.

I'm definately in a productive mood...

So I think I mentioned that I made Maddison's Halloween costume this year (cheerleader). It is the first article of clothing I have ever sewn. I was so encouraged by how easy it seemed to be to sew her costume that I just jumped right into "seamstressing" (Note the word "Stressing" intentionally added on there) I decided to sew Maddi's christmas dress. It turned out cute and about two sizes too big. She's so excited to wear it though, I think I'm gonna just have to let her wear it this year, and next year, and probably the next year after that!
(Oh by the way, she's convinced it's her wedding dress. Brown? I hope not Maddison!)