Book Club

10 years of books. 1o years of meeting once a month. 10 years of laughter. 10 years of secret pals. 10 years of support. It is amazing the way our lives have changed in that time...but certain things remain the same-Our friendship, our love of books, and fun.

I cant list all the moments, or even close to all the laughable moments, but I will mention a few that I won't forget.

-The first annual book club Olympics
-Coughing up Diet Coke all over Jillys bed
-The MoonCrest Lodge
-Orange Slushie
-Murder Mystery Night
-Pinkie Blankets
-Cherie telling us she swore she had "special powers"
-Heidi jump roping in Roberts
-Musical Chairs
-Mashequa
-"holding the pose"
-Trying to scare Darci and Jilly
-reading book jackets and adding blah blah blah
-Scrapbooking
-Lying to Dana for a full year..that was hard..whew (secret pal)

I am a lucky girl :)

This is how we roll ;)

I REALLY don't know what it is about the Baxter children and the dreaded Christmas Photo. I usually make them dress up in semi matching outfits and try to get this perfect picture of the kids where all four of them look well...perfect.
This year call it insanity, call it laziness, call it reality check..we did our pictures in sweatshirts, and winter hats. Some inside, some outside and made the coolest collage photo.

This is just two of the pictures, there were others..This was probably my favorite picture of the card :) We ended up with a super fun picture that kinda summed up the wackiness my kids.

Saturday :)

We had a rare Saturday. No tournament..Carter had some basketball, but only because he manages 7th grade girls (can anyone say ulterior motives?..it rhymes with smirls) I ran errands, worked on my dining room table-I am refinishing it, made yummy soup and got ready for a super fun craft night. We made to most adorable Valentines packages. It was fun to have a night out with friends.

I sometimes forget how lucky I am. I get caught up in the day to day, and forget the blessings of small town living. It is easy. Friends are the same people you have known forever. Your "nights out" consist of sitting at the good old Heart Mountain Clubhouse with a super cool group of ladies.

I left with a bag full of awesome crafts and a heart full of contentment :)

resolution..smesolution

Ok..so I guess I am incapable of posting more than once a month. I have thought of it 900 times- things I needed to say, wanted to say, pictures, events..blah blah blah. The past month has been a tough one. It is probably better I didn't post during this time. The whole thing would have been a big giant complaint. Complaints about why parents can't see that their children mirror their behavior, complaints about bullying, complaints about administration, complaints..no one wants to read that much negativity. In fact, I emailed Megan and told her my February resolution was to stop posting on Facebook about all the drama ~ Happy thoughts only. The truth of the matter is, I cant change the situation. I can change how we as a family handle it.

I have countless emails unanswered, 50 phone calls to return, and a million projects to finish. I guess I have decided to put my big girl panties on, and get back into the swing of things instead of being completely occupied by this WHOLE situation.

Right now, this is on my fridge

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. ♥ So love the people who treat you right. ♥ Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Christmas

I have so many pictures and videos from Christmas. This one is my favorite. Christmas morning getting ready to head out to mom and dad's. :) The season was SO busy this year. Partly because we decided to put in new counters, paint all the cabinets, etc..it left little time to relax, but I am so pleased with the progress. I will post pictures of that soon! Back to Christmas...all the kids choir and Christmas programs were awesome. I love seeing them up there singing. It was fun because we have a great digital camera/high def video camera now and I got to record them all. We spent Christmas eve with Josh's parents and Gma B.We first opened presents here as a family and yes..the kids are spoiled! We went to church, had yummy food and then they opened some more gifts. We were all up much too late, but there was no way I was missing MUSH at my parents. I wait for it every year and Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without it. Dad read the story of the birth of Jesus (as always) from the bible and then they got to open more gifts. We left mom and dad's went to Baxter's for lunch and then back out to my parents for supper and super fun game night!! Whew, I am tired just writing it all down. It was an awesome Christmas and I loved every minute of it. I am blessed beyond measure.

Resolution

So, I have been such a slacker on my blog. I have two drafts that I started and NEVER finished. My new years resolution is to do a better job keeping up on stuff. I just told Jamie "I am so far behind I decided to make a fresh start and try harder from now on" If I would download the pictures off my camera more often it would help..Or maybe I will have a blog with no pictures. lol

This year I am doing my best to take better care of me..relax more, enjoy more, laugh more..and let some of the little things that I turn into big things..go.

15

Paige is 15 today! I still remember waiting for her to make her arrival into the world. (it was long) I remember her as this amazing 2 year old who knew everything and believe it or not HELPED when her brother was born. I remember her going to preschool for the first time, kindergarten, middle school..now HIGH SCHOOL.

I am blessed beyond measure with Paige. I say it often,but she is an amazing and abnormal teenager. Not that there haven't been hard moments here and there, but wow...She is so cool!

15 years lived, 15 years of joy (mixed with a little pain), 15 years of laughter (mixed with a few tears), 15 years of blessings...

So today I am writing the 15 things I love about Paige.

1. She loves the Lord with a passion and purpose. Knowing the right things to do and choosing to do them.
2. She is loyal. She will not change her mind about you..she gives people more chances and more forgiveness than anyone I have ever met.
3. She is a good sister. She loves her brothers and sisters and takes an active role in their lives.
4. She is funny..OH MY GOODNESS is she funny! She makes our days better EVERY DAY!
5. She is herself...all the time.
6. She is an amazing daughter. She knows me, knows the things to say, ways to help, and ways to make my life better
7. She sings.
8. She sings like no one is listening.
9. She cares about those she comes in contact with. She sees people for who they are and knows each one of us has value
10.She is passionate about life. I know for a fact that the Lord has HUGE things planned for Paige. I see it!
11. She wants to make a difference in others lives. She wants to go on missions trips, she wants to lead youth ministry, she wants to use her gifts and talents
12. She is talented in all things "ART"
13. She is an incredible story-teller...actor..
14. She is able to laugh at herself and not take herself too seriously
15. She is Paige.