Nie and You - mark the date....

I'm not missing this - you all in?

Don't know who she is?

She's my inspiration.

Make her yours.

Sugar.....aw... Honey Honey..... Somethin' sweet to think about today

............DAYS..........

as immortalized at the right of your screen today

Elder Hillary has

THIS MANY SPRINKLES LEFT

mmmmmmm......

get the candles out quick!

Love you Ryan!

We love Mommy Yesseree.... We're wondering about Daddy.... can't you see.... I think that's how that song goes... This title has nothing to do with my post....

It's interesting to me how much I talk to my kids daily on Facebook.  It's such an obsession - but a sweet one at that.  I am reminded of their humorous side - their devotions - their fears - their sadness - their loves.  I randomly remember when they were younger (after I was the meanest mom in the world to them - made them do their work, practice their piano, and homework)  what kind of relationship I would have with them when they were older.  Now one is 26, one 25 and one is 22, and the baby will be 21 soon, I have been blessed with the experiences of life, and the occasional reminders that I got my wish.  Then again - it's not something that I particularly did - wish I could take credit for that in every way - but rather - who they are, who they have carved themselves into being.  I see that bits and pieces of their hero's coming through in their personalities.  I see the things they avoid because they recognize consequences.  I feel the tremendous amount of love they are capable of having, but rather give it away - their cups empty at night, because God fills them up for the next day.  I have seen buckets of tears, and the arms of the comforter ample in their lives, because of the kind of lives they lead.  I love that they have tempers, and get all screamy at times - and I'm reminded that so do I.  I acknowledge that where there are many personalities in a family and at times things can get touchy, but a phone call and a sweet reminder of the love we have for each other, is sufficient to fix all the woes of the day.  I witness compassion, and trials, and failures - because that's what builds character.  I rejoice in the massive amounts of years piled up behind their schooling,  and remember the endless pencils and pens thrown at the wall in frustration, and the looks in their eyes while wearing a cap and gown from their college graduations.  Because those were the standards they set for themselves, and conquered.  No one can take that away - ever.  Now we are starting to pass those things on to grandchildren, some here, some waiting to come, some in the 'I had better be ovulating in November' stages, and some that the last thing on his mind had better be reproducing...until he returns from his mission.  I amazed at how God found just the right person for them to marry - after all this time separated - they found each other, they promised they would in heaven and they did.  Somewhere out there is the next Mrs. Hillary and we all can't wait to see who the baby of the fam marries, then we'll love her just as much as we love Bethany, Ryan and Mike.  This morning I held up a picture of my grandfather - William Clair Bowen, he left us many years ago - but I asked him, "Grandpa - you always wanted to cut my ears off with your pocket knife - and you called me Pinkie, because no Bowen had ever had red hair.....but am I doing ok in your eyes?"  Instantly - and almost freakishly, a picture of my children fell from my magnet board to the table I was working on - the picture posted at the right of my blog - my favorite picture of my children.  How silly of me - I'm not doing ok in many things - but being the luckiest mom in the world?  Heck - I hit the jackpot.  The best gift my children can give to me.... is.... pass it on, all of it - don't leave anything out.  You are all Crack Spiders in my eyes.  Loff you.

Dear Santa....

You know those Relief Society Good News Minutes?

Can't wait 'till Sunday so I'll share now...

Guess what I'm getting for Christmas?

I think he's excited too....

December 22

I must have been very very good in 

Santa's book this year.....

(unless he's read my blog and then we're in trouble)

I know this particular Elder has been!

Let's just freakin' start setting the tree up now ok?

I love My Daughter in Law's Brain Dump

I was so cleansed by Bethany's Brain Dump post that I thought I would do my own.  I love how she included good, bad, frustrating, crazy, funny, and great advice.  All of those will not be found in my post - because let's face it - she was a State Sterling Scholar in English.... and I'm from a small town in Utah with a dialog all of it's own - gads.  I do have a few thoughts - so if my medication will allow me - I'm going to try to focus.

HEAVEN SAKES.... would people quit dying in my ward?  We use to have a birth a week - and now we are losing them from the other side.  I know things come in threes... but fours?  I always sign up for Potato Chips for the luncheon - I don't burn them, or over flow them in the oven. and they are always edible.  I get the wavy one's because there are more chip per chip - I think.  I liked the other option this week - five dollars for flowers.  Can't burn that either.  Please everyone stay alive for at lease another week. 

GADS.... facebook - it's really getting on my nerves.  Some people are creative, and fun and others have so many hidden agendas that make my head spin.  I'm not sure what to comment on - the creative, or the agendas!  I have recently LOVED that comments about my grandson - those make my heart smile.  I struggle with those that want me to join something... I want to feel special - but then I see that I'm one of 4000 invited.  I'm a loser baby so why don't you.... wait - that's Matts! (:   I do love hearing what's in people's heads though - it's like spying.  

YIPEE.....I put a skirt on today for church from last like 3 years ago - (since Mervyns is no longer in my life - I'm recycling more often than I want to) and it was loose.  Freakin' hours of bike riding - I guess are good for something besides greasing up my leg, biting the grass on the side of the road when I crash, and sweating like a dog.  Yipee... I shall celebrate with chocolate.

YeGADS - (different than Gads).... I called my 81 year old mom last night - at 11:30 PM.  I was in between jobs (no I'm not a hooker) and she's ALWAYS up until 1ish or so.  She told me that it had rain all day.  I said - Mom - it's been a beautiful day all over the state of Utah!  She said - no - I could hear it raining in the side of the house off and all all day long!  I didn't dare even go outside it was so bad.  Thinking... thinking... thinking.... "Mom..... did Eric have the sprinklers on today?"..... 

EWWWWWWWWWWW...... I plant tomatoes - they are now squished into a pulp and slowly cooking in my big metal pot.  I would like to dump them on some dead man's toes - I hate tomatoes (but I do have 4 fresh bodies.... remember.....)  As much as I can't stand the smell - it also reminds me that I'm doing that thing that my mom did, me gma did, and my great gma did.... (probably at 1ish in the morning) and it feels kinda good to know that.  There are some lost arts in the world... canning... at the top of the list.  In the dead of winter, when I make my curry that not one of my kids will touch... I will be grateful that I have tomato goo to dump into it.  When I make my stew, because I don't have anything else but the kitchen sink to put into the stew - I have a quart of tomato juice.  Just to make it Martha Stewart - I put a bay leaf in it - kinda looks like a cockroach, I like it.

AWWWW..... This weekend I was able to be with both of my girls.  One has a roundy tummy, the other has two other roundies.  They can sit at the counter, eating french toast, burping...., and I love them more every time I see them.  Mandy locked her keys in the car so Ryan had to get his brother Kevin to bring him all the way up from Provo with the keys... Ashley was on her 15th workout - but we called her and said - PARTAE - and she dropped everything and came over.  Basically it was a great way to see each other.... and a sweet way to get rid of most of the syrup in the house.

DARN.... I miss my grandkids.... I almost beat up a woman in the store the other day because the two grandchildren in her cart were Andy and Em... well they weren't but to me they were - and I didn't see why she should be able to drive her cart down the toy section and laugh and giggle with them.... I miss them...  Usually I have a solution for my sadness.  To tell the truth - I sat down in my dungeon basement Saturday morning and cried where no one could see or hear me. That big sobby cry that makes your nose tingle.  There is no answer here.  I surround myself with their pictures.  I rejoice that they have amazing parents that are raising them so sweetly.  I giggle at the Andy posts because I have had that same exact experience, and he's 26 now.  I hope they have 20 more.... is that ok Bethany?  They are beautiful - and loved.

I'm fortunate in the fact that when I look in the mirror - each worry line, every single identifying age spot, each long hair growing from my chin, each split end, every extra pound, both sweet sets of crows feet next to my eyes, the crown that needs to be replaced in the upper right side of my mouth, the turkey gobbler wafting in the wind under my chin, and the deep crevasses/not cleavage located on my treasured sinking chest.... makes me unique, and strange at the same time.  Brain Dump - does a mind good, I guess - I don't know - I can't remember.  Is it raining outside?

The marvelous world of 30

When Mike joined our family - he was excited to turn twenty-sex,

yes you read that right.

After that - he was twenty-sex for 4 more years.

It is time, for the Thirsty Thirties to arrive.

I remember those days - 20 years ago.

For his birthday this year the Military (for the third tour) flew him first class.....

to a planet far far away (I especially like the

naked flight attendant preparing the food cart)

where he was booked into a first class hotel

and no doubt received top care, clean green towels, and

assorted crawling appetizers...accompanied with random

wake up calls, and random.... um.... flyovers...??

As if leaving this beauty...

wasn't hard enough?  But then to turn 30 alone

in a sand bioch place - with no Motorcycles or a La Costa in sight?

That's hardly fair.

(and because I can't spill the beans about your

gift that should arrive shortly - I will not comment

on how I tried to make this day a tad better)

(along with my friends)

(many many friends)

(tee hee hee)

I love our soldiers.

I did not bring Mike into this world 30 years ago,

but when he became Ashley's husband...

he then became my son.

I am grateful for the concept of eternal families.

On our planet here Mike - we are lost without you.

We are constantly turning off the news on TV,

 we kneel in prayer more, we have to trust more.

Yet, with each passing day we find the kind of courage you

have every single day becoming the comfort of those answered prayers.

You have a strong family - your dad would be proud of

the man you are today.  I love that your mom Pam taught you

the lessons of life that included love, service, and although you

tower over us and knock down my door frames with your

guns.... she taught you tenderness.

I love that Ashley met you for the first time,

and was smitten - and that was that.

Happy Birthday Michael

Today - I'll think of the fun times and let those rule my thoughts.

Come home safe and make me a 100 pretty grandbabies.

And I'll get the video camera ready... (no...Mike - I'm talking

about for the grandbabies.... dirty soldier boy...)

Play safe now... and please don't light your candles

with a blow torch again ok?

We love you

Mikhole daWkstadder

The diagnosis is in... and it's not good.

Strange but true - I now and then actually think things through.

Mr. Hillary and I rode our Harley's up to Snowbird last night.

This morning we rode to Lehi on our Bicycles.

This is my train of thought..... 

ROAD BIKES

TOTALLY Structured....

Constantly gripping the handlebars

Helmets

Water bottles

Sissy Cloth gloves with pads

Padded butt pants (oh so sexy)

I-Pod on shuffle

Nod your head to other bikers

Average 15-20 MPH - depends on the heat

25-30 Miles in record time - depends on the Tylenol

No gas required - unless you had beans the night before

Clipped in so that if you fall, you get road rash
Pimping just the right Biking store on your Jersey

Bugs land on you - and then sting you

Get constantly dodged at by idiot drivers

Burning massive amounts of calories

Shot blocks and power bars - Power aids

Enjoy passing anyone with a U of U Jersey.

(I love that last one)

HARLEY'S

(this is actually my bike)

(Can you hear Free Bird in the back of your mind?) Going 75 MPH down the road, no helmet, leather gear from head to toe, dodging at cyclists, I-Pod on Stained, Stopping for a cold drink anywhere you want, or pulling out a cold drink from your ice filled side bags, if you fall - you just die (none of this moaning around on the road), 180 miles on a sweet padded seat not built into your pants, no shaving required, looking around at the scenery, dawning a pair of wings on your Harley Shirt, getting gas at the local taco stand or.... stopping for sliders at the Timp Harley shop, taking your hands off your beach bars to give a another Harley rider the 'Peace Down, Happy Trails' sign, sticking your nose up at donor bikers (bullet bikes - and yes Matt I still love you), after dark - turning on the headlights for more fun, swallowing the bugs faster, getting your picture taken at the stop lights - because Mr. Hillary's bike is like a rock star, not burning even one calorie and not feeling bad about it at all, and passing U of U jerseys... (how did that get in there?)

Diagnosis:  I'm Bi-Polar

Yo numba 5....

TODAY - IS NUMBER 5

for Matt and Bethany!!!

(No not kids - but someday!)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

I LOVE THESE TWO!

Bethany and Matt have been together since the beginning of time - we loved life even more when Matt fell in love with her.  I mean she was practically a Hillary before she was actually one!

1.  Loved Matt

2.  Loved Disneyland

3.  Loved Music

4.  Way cool parents (ok hers are better than his)

 ... and I'll just skip down a few....

60.  Knew there would be a motorcycle one day...

61.  Was accepting of our poor table manners.

62.  Realized that one day she might have a little ditto of Matt.

63.  Understood that she would have to have at least

one more to make up for the ditto....

and the list goes on.

When I fall in love with my in law children - there is no longer a fine line between their families and ours.  We all become just one.  The Stimpson Family knew that Matt was marrying up - and yet they still allowed him in.  (JK Mae - we love you too)  There is a quality of love between them that they promised to have for each other 5 years ago when they were married in the Jordan River Temple.  The sweetness between them, has only grown.  There is a great respect between the two of them.  It's obvious that we can all learn from them, and their love for life is contageous.  They are Masters Graduates... they both have sweet sauce jobs (a great blessing these days).  They are active in their church, and in their neighborhood.  They have built a beautiful home and have filled it with 2 beautiful beautiful babies.  I think that everyday I learn more about how to be better by just knowing them.  When that first born son is born - you worry about someone stealing his heart away, but I never ever had to worry about that.  I'm fortunate to be the co-owner of  the name Mrs. Hillary with Bethany.  Congratulations you love birds - smooch and smooch and smooch.

I love you both almost as much as I love Pirates of the Caribbean,

or Splash Mountain, or the Haunted Mansion, or ..... those

really good corn dogs at the little trolley by the market place

on Main Street Disneyland... 

RRRRRRRRRRRRR is for Rah!! (I think)

Or 'really?'

or RIGHT ON!

Oh Happy Day

For your Anniversary,

I've prayed that the Utes...

run out onto the field tonight....

and they're dressed in blue.

Go Independent Cougs...