SURPRISE

I got another tooth! FINALLY one top tooth has poked it's way through, we are now at a total of 3.

And here is the "photo shoot " promised. We had time to kill before Dad came home from clinic so I pulled out the camera, and this is what we got.

(still no official steps yet)

Lou, you are not going to be happy

Dear Celynda and anyone else who cares to read the blog,

I left my memory card in AZ. Please don't be mad. So here are shots from our family photo shoot in February, and I did a "photoshoot" while we were stuck at home all day without a car. The In-Law's promise to upload my pics soon...

My apologies,

-em

heatherwardphotography.com

Give-a-way (pronounced with much expression)

I really can't help myself. Who wouldn't want to win something! see here for details.

Visiting

My apologies to my captive audience. Yes, all three of you will have to wait a few more weeks before I update the old blog. We are in Arizona, soaking up all of the sunshine we can and waiting for a couple of big weddings to happen....ohhh, I am so excited! Surely it won't be too long...

Can't Resist

...contests.

see here for cool details about this giveaway! I want to win a big canvas pic of my fam!

Alexa and Spring Break

We had the opportunity to have Alexa spend her Spring Break with us and we ate it up. I actually pleaded with her (but it didn't take much convincing) to help me get through finals week and national boards, and that she did. We LOVE having Aunt Alexa around. The girls have a non-stop playmate and I have a sis to talk to. Lance did feel a little left out but did jump in on some of the fun, of course in between tests. We played so hard every day she was here that our last morning with her we all had to take a breather and just lounge around the house! THANKS ALEXA!! WE MISS YOU!!

At the Portland Temple

Syds enjoying the Old Spaghetti Factory

At the zoo, before we devoured the delish zoo fudge.

Alexa always requests a trip to the falls. It's so beautiful, and so close; I think I might miss that!

Playing at OMSI (science museum)

Trip to Tillamo0k Cheese Factory, oh so good to eat there!

No Kidding

Please look past those beautiful blue eyes to see the most deadly set of snappers I ever came across. 7 MONTHS and 2 teeth!! I was sure surprised when I got BIT (especially since the other girls didn't get teeth until 10 and 11 months)! Needless to say, she is done nursing. She LOVES table food, and is now successfully taking a sippy cup! YAY!! She still is a very content and easy going little mommy's girl! and we LOVE her!

YOU ARE IN HERE!

Hey guys. I was forwarded this email. Let me just tell you, I was in it under my married name, and my maiden name. They told me other people who resided at my parent's house. I didn't like it, and as much as I love all of my friends and family, I cannot spend hours deleting everyone. So if you care, check it out.

March 20, 2010


Yesterday an Internet friend alerted me to Spokeo. It is a personal database on YOU. It posts your age, gender, home value, home address, length of residence, locator map, occupation, family info plus a slew of other stuff.

I was horrified at this intrusion and lack of privacy, never mind the fact more than half of the posted information was dead wrong. If you want your personal data removed, here's what you do.

Go to Spokeo: http://www.spokeo.com.

Enter your name in the SEARCH box. If you go by several names, check them too. Also, check for the names of your spouse and kids. Every single entry must be individually removed.

Hit Search.

When your name comes up, click on the location that matches. (Prepare to fume!)

This brings up your profile for all to see. ** COPY the URL where your information appears. **


REMOVAL FROM DATABASE

At the bottom of the page is the word PRIVACY. http://www.spokeo.com/privacy.

Once there, paste in the saved URL, your email and the code provided.

Hit Remove Listing.

By return email, they will send you a URL that you must click or paste into your browser to complete the removal process.


SEND THEM A BLAST

If you are irritated by this exposure you may want to pay them a visit via their contact page: http://www.spokeo.com/public/feedback. It's also found under CONTACT in small print at the bottom of the page.

Their website states to allow 1 business day for removal, which since this was Saturday, would likely be done on Tuesday. Instead, our personal information was removed within 5 minutes.

Listening?

Lance: "Em, your book is right here in the couch"

Em: "Shut your mouth!" (looked all day for it)

Grace: "Shut your mouth, Daddy"

L: sounds like someone's got a bad habit

g: you('re) a bad habit daddy!

* NOTE: this post gets quite personal and I probably shared a bit more than I should have (TMI, if you will). Feel free to skip to the next post.

If you have known me for any amount of time you know that I am a pretty faithful person. I live my religion, and always have. I make choices in my life to bring me closer to perfection, and closer to my Father in Heaven. I recently have had so many obvious miracles happen that I fear I need to document them so may never forget the lessons I have learned.

Several weeks ago, I was dreading paying the bills. I knew we were falling short, and that our money was not stretching as much as we needed it to. Lance usually says it's because I hemorrhage money (we are both perfectly aware of my love of a shoppers high). Going on, money (or the lack thereof) was constantly on my mind. I didn't know how we were going to survive the next few months (or better yet the rest of time that we are in school). It got so bad that I was sitting at the computer and texting Lance one day, sobbing...we weren't going to make it. I am so grateful for the still small voice that whispered to me that my Father in Heaven loved me and that he would take care of my family. I decided then, that I need to stop worrying and have a bit more faith. That night I found $20 in my pocket, and I said a little prayer of thanks. I knew I was being watched over.

A few days later I sent a check in the mail for a photo radar ticket. I won't tell who got the ticket, but if you know about my perfect driving record you could probably take a guess who got the speeding ticket. I was a bit upset about the cost of the ticket ($190) and that OR doesn't offer traffic school as a way to get out of it. But, I sent the money (we didn't have) off anyways, praying we would find a way to make things work. About a week later I got a letter in the mail from the circuit court. Great, I thought, now I got one! I opened the letter and just about fell off my chair, and cried. Our check had been sent back. The case had been dismissed because the officer had failed to submit the ticket to the court (but had still sent us a copy of it??!?!). Coincidence? I think not.

Right around the same day, we filed our tax return. Lance works 5 hours a week, he makes very little. We knew we would get a little back, but somehow the money we figured that we were counting on getting back was tripled. WHAT?

I know that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me (and my family too). I am so grateful that he knows all of my fears and lets me struggle over them, and after we did all we could, he stepped in and showed his love to us. I have never doubted my testimony of tithing, but boy has it been strengthened ten-fold!