Why I Blog

Technology continues to amaze me. It is really amazing what we can do now on computers and phones nowadays! I have never been much of a techno person, unlike Rich, who knows how to do almost everything, and is up to date on the latest and greatest programs, and "thingamabobs." It was he, who kept telling me I would enjoy blogging. I was not convinced at first, but I eventually gave in... and now I am hooked!

Someone asked me the other day? "Why do you blog? I don't get it."

So I thought about and truth is.... I am not sure except for the fact that
~I have always enjoyed journaling, and I use to be a scrapbooker, (when there were 30 hours in a day) and blogging is like a good mix of both.
~It is a fun way for us to stay connected to friends and family who live far away and even those who don't
~I enjoy celebrating the good things in life through words and pictures
~It is therapeutic for me.
~It makes me smile when friends comment
~I have learned a lot from friends and their blogs that I follow, plus it reminds me how much we really do need each other!

Our first experience with online blogging was the website we had set up for Chelsea. Those who left comments will never know the impact they had on our family. It truly lifted our spirits on a daily basis. It was a sad day, when that website crashed, and we lost all the updates, comments and pictures. That was a huge part of our lives, some of which I lived very robot-like, so I would love to go back and read some of those events. I did keep a personal journal as well during that time, but Rich did a lot of updates in the beginning that I never read.
Because of that, I have started to print my posts monthly and put them in a binder. (Thanks to Sarah.)

The next step I am looking into (thanks to Tiffany) is a company that prints your posts and puts them together in a hardbound copy, so you have like a family yearbook. So cool!
What a great way to do personal history.

So I guess those are some of the reasons I blog. :)

ABC's & 123's

Okay so they are way past learning the abc's. ~sigh~ I only sent two kids off to school this year. Mckena started High School, and Shay at the Jr High. I swear it was just a few years ago, they were all home with me making messes, napping and going to the park. Oh wait, that was this summer!

Back to school is always a bit hard for me, but we have fun things to look forward to. Fathers blessings have been given, new goals set, new school year is here... good times!

allysonrandlephotography.blogspot.com

I always love a good contest.
This is my friends sister-in-law and she takes beautiful pictures! She is having a contest to spread the word about her business. So I decided to play :)
I have had a hard time doing an "official family picture" because it would not feel complete. So if I win this contest, it would be a good excuse to just do it!
Check out her blog and you can even enter too! The more you post, the more entries you can have, the more chances to win. Except I want to win, so ya.. GAME ON !! :)

School Pride

Today was 7th grade orientation so the officers and cheerleaders helped out. These two looked so cute in their "gear." I just had to capture the moment~ Go Syracuse!

Changes

Well, tonight we had a meeting to announce the division of our ward boundaries. They moved us into the Canterbury Park Ward. Change is never easy, but always accompanies growth and new opportunities. It is sad to leave ward members who we have come to know and love so well. This ward was truly like family to us, and helped us in our most difficult time. We have some close friends who we dearly love and I hope to keep in touch with.

We were actually in the Canterbury Park Ward before we built our home, so it will be nice to get reacquainted with friends from that ward.

It is amazing to think of all the changes that will take place with callings, visiting and home teaching, etc. But one thing that does not change is the truthfulness of the Church. So thankful for that knowledge, and know that this was an inspired change. So we will trust and follow the Lord that this is where we need to be.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Just humor me with this one!
For Mothers Day I asked for a garden. The kids thought I was crazy and kept asking me what I really wanted, and I kept saying, "A garden!" We have a great area for one, but had a really bad experience with our first attempt at a garden in our first home. You see, we had an expert gardener that lived next door, so we just thought, we will do what he does. (duh?) So we planted a HUGE garden. Bad idea! He was retired, and that was his full time hobby. We were young with 4 kids under the age of 8, inexperienced gardeners, and trying to put in a yard in at the same time. (excuses, excuses) None the less, our garden looked nothing like his! Weeds quickly took over, tomatoes cages tipped, plants died... it was a sad sight!
Throughout the years I have wanted one, but was always brought back to that memory. Although lately , there has been more counsel to grow and harvest a garden, and at our Stake Conference, there was an exceptionally motivational speaker, that made up my mind! I turned to Rich and said.. "This is the year, we are going to plant a garden again!" He kind of looked at me like, "really?, have you seen what the area looks like? That a lot of work!"
But being the wonderful husband that he is, he rounded up the kids and we went to work. The Saturday before Mothers Day, we weeded, tilled, pulled out rocks, garbage, etc and planted a garden. :)It has been so rewarding to care for, and watch our little plants grow. (we did some research this time and learned a few things, amazing what you can do when it is done right) We have enjoyed some zucchini, peas (fresh out of the pod) and a few cukes. Saturday when I came in with the biggest bounty of our harvest yet, I said to the kids, "Now is that a great gift or what?" They still think I am a little weird about my excitement over the garden, especially when they saw me taking a picture of my veggies!Of course, there were no laughs as they enjoyed the first batch of fresh salsa! Huh kiddos, where are the jokes now? I should have placed it in a prettier bowl for the pic, but hey, it was going fast.
So, there ya go. We in no way claim to be experts, but I am thrilled with the garden that was given to me for Mothers Day!

Girls Camp 09

I feel so lucky to be in the Young Women with my girls! I was able to go with Chelsea for all 4 yrs of girls camp, and have been with Mckena and Shayla for 2 yrs. I love sharing that time with them. And thankfully the feeling is mutual (they even said so!)
I love the YW in our ward, we have a bunch of great girls. I enjoy and learn so much from the ladies I serve with, they are wonderful! Not too mention being there with my mom too. Not very often you get 3 generations at a girls camp together.
This years theme was "The Road to Virtue." It was a great camp with all the important ingredients.
It is nice to be home though, in the comforts of my bed, and not having to worry about wildlife creatures. We saw a deer, 4 snakes, smelt a skunk, and heard raccoons!
The guys did the typical guy thing at home, ordered pizza, watched movies, and went to work! Luv ya boys :) Thanks for holding the fort down and especially for letting us come home to a clean house. Now that is support :)