Confession Time!

For the last month and a half I have been spending quite a bit of time reading books 1-6 of Harry Potter, anticipating the much sought after and talked about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I feel that everything is getting in the way from completing my goal...my kids, my husband, church, vacations, and friends. You know, all the important things in life!!! I started book 6 last Monday thinking I was going to accomplish my goal, but I have not finished it as of yet because we ripped apart 2 of our 3 bathrooms and tiled and upgraded them. I can't be more excited about my bathrooms, but I have had to put off my goals and ambitions. I still went and bought it on Saturday morning. When I got home, Alan said "Can I read it while you are finishing book 6?" Now he is almost done and I have so many questions that I so badly want to know, but on the other hand I won't ask them or read anything on the Internet. I announced first thing in my Sunday School class that I would not have the name Harry Potter spoken or they would be sent away because I want nothing given away. On the other hand, I have always hated surprises. **Sigh** what to do!?! I will soon be done and this will all be just another moment in time.

Funny Peter Moments

Last week Peter came running out of the bathroom yelling, "Mom! Dad! My eyebrows move!" I don't know that I have ever seen him so excited about a discovery!

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Yesterday I took Peter to Toys"R"Us to use his birthday money and a $3 off birthday gift card. I told him how much money he had to spend, and we began to walk around gathering things that he might like. We checked prices and he came to the conclusion that he wanted a dragon. But he didn't have enough money for both dragons he had picked, so I gave him different options of what he could get. After thinking about it he sat down on the floor and said, "Maybe I won't get anything because I just can't decide.....sigh..." I, of course, melted. So he and I sat on the floor together deciding which dragon was cooler and which could do more things. A sales associate came by, gave me a bizarre look, and asked if he could help with anything. I just said, "Nope...unless you want to make a decision for a 5-year-old." A look of understanding came across his face and he said to Peter, "That's the hardest part." He ended up pleased as punch with his purchase of an Imaginext dragon and fighting knight...and he looked so big getting out his wallet to pay for it! What a sweetie!

It's a ......................

Beautiful profile

Alien face shot

Girl!

Here comes the Bride....

It is so funny to me how you can have so many wonderful memories of a place and then you revisit this place after many, many years and you don't remember a thing!!

I was able to go to Seattle, Washington for 5 kid-free days (I think that was probably the best part! Sorry Tracy) to attend a friends wedding. My family lived in Kent, Washington for about 5 years and I would have to say that my best and most fond memories from my childhood are from there. As a family we did many different activities and explored a lot of Seattle and surrounding areas. We would go to the Pacific Science Center, The Seattle Aquarium, Boeing Family Days (my dad worked for Boeing), Seattle Space Needle, Salt Water State Park, Olympic National Forest, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Underground Seattle, etc.

My friend, Tracy Lambert almost Peterson, and I drove around trying to do some last minute wedding stuff and I didn't recognize hardly anything. There was Lake Meridian that I did recognize, and going into Seattle it looked the same, but everything else was lost. It made me sad in a way, but happy that I still had the fun family memories of what we did.

The Beautiful Bride and Me not ready yet!!

Tracy, Rebecca, Sue

Dale and Sue Lambert,
The Bride's parents who I absolutely love!
The Wedding Party

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Father's Day to you .......

Happy 5th Birthday, Peter!!
Happy Father's Day, Alan!!

Peter was so excited to share this day with Alan! For months he has been telling people that his Birthday is on Father's Day! We decided that since we would be away on this special day that we would celebrate it a week early!

Peter got lots of stuff including Spider-Man (his favorite super hero) lunch box, action figure, and hoppity. He got a soccer goal and a rescue Helicopter (which he wants to fly when he grows up), but I think his favorite was the umbrella. We also celebrated with cake and ice cream in Utah on his actual birthday with the extended family!

Alan got a couple of classic musicals, Trans Europa (a new game) and 2 turtles! He wasn't exactly thrilled to get the turtles but had to act excited anyway because they were from the kids. We actually had a friend ask us if we wanted them and since half of our family is obsessed with turtles, how could we not take them! We named one Testudo after Alan's school mascot. Way to be a good Terrapin fan Alan!! "FEAR THE TURTLE" The other one is still unnamed. Although we think it might be Hercules or Franklin, tough decision. We welcome other good turtle name ideas...

The Drake Fam Reunion

After a long trip, with many events in between, we have returned home to find everything just how it should be:

Our garden overgrown, not with weeds, but the actual plants are enormous, which people don't usally complain about. But when the garden plot is smaller then one of the plants it makes it more difficult.

Our two turtles that we gave to Alan for Father's Day (so that he couldn't complain about having them...Hey, I know how to work the system!) alive and happy and our house didn't stink as much as we thought it would!

Our lawn freshly mowed and trimmed by our good neighbor Grandpa Dan! He also fixed the back stairs, which was a pleasant surprise!!

People taking bets on weither or not we would ever return!

Just some quick highlights from the trip.

1. We got to see my parents new house.
2. We got to meet our almost sister in-law Brittany
3. We got to meet all of the cousins that we had not met yet!
4. We got to go to cousin Isabell’s baptism.
5. We got to celebrate both Peter’s 5th birthday and Father’s Day on the same day!
6. We got to witness little Georgi get blessed by all of her uncles and grandpa’s.
7. We got to see many wild animals up close in Yellowstone, but unfortunately we didn't see any bears (that's all I wanted to see).

All in all it was a good trip and we got to see family and friends that we hadn't been able to see for a long while. Sorry about how many pictures there are, but it was hard to choose just a couple!

Sharing Secrets

This is a HI-larious video that was taken during the Relief Society Birthday Enrichment this year that I have been saving, not knowing whether or not I should share, but now that I have been released I no longer feel like I should hold back! I think that any of these men would be mortified to know that anyone got this on film. It pays to have a camera that has multiple functions when it looks like a regular old camera!!

This is our Bishopric doing a rendition of Swan Lake.

Don't feed the bears......or Giraffes

We went on a trip to Boulder, Colorado over Memorial Day this year for the annual R. Wayne Boss Family Reunion. One of the things we did was go down to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Spring and while we were there we also decided to go to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. I was certainly very impressed with this zoo. They take very good care of their animals and you can get up close and personal (as seen in the video). Watch the tongue on that thing, it just kept coming, and coming, and coming! We had a lot of fun playing with cousins and being with the family.

Follow the prophet.......He knows the way

When Spencer W. Kimball was Prophet he encouraged members to plant a garden. One thing that I am thankful for is my parents always having a garden. Many wonderful memories of just going out into the garden and picking a cucumber, tomato or bell pepper and eating it. Also many not so wonderful memories of hard work shoveling manure, planting, weeding, and canning. But it was always worth it in the end...it all tasted so good; I can still taste them.

I have been married for over 10 years and every year that I have been married I have tried (notice that I didn't say successfully) to grow some type of vegetable for our "garden". Our harvest has always been less then bountiful, and we could never live off of what I have picked (well maybe for one snack). This year my luck might change. I went to a container class that we had for an Enrichment Activity and did exactly as the teacher instructed and she promised that by June 1st we would be able to have tomatoes. On June 1st we could have picked our first couple tomatoes, but we waited one more day. It was heavenly and reminded me of eating the vegetables out of my parents garden.

This year in our small garden plot we planted 4 tomato plants, 1 bell pepper, 1 summer squash, 1 zucchini, 1 butternut squash, and are planning to do some carrots. In the containers we planted 1 tomato, 1 cucumber, and 1 cantaloupe. I am so impressed with our little garden and how well it is doing! We will have to see how it fares through all of our summer travels, but right now it is happy!

New Horizons

Today is the first day of the rest of my life......And I am interested to find out what it is like to live in Maryland without being Relief Society President. That is right, I am done.....finished.....out-of-there! Unfortunately there are so many mixed feelings. I will miss my ladies, and the closeness with the sisters, but I won't miss the administration part of it and all the time and work that was involved. I feel loved and have a feeling of peace, and hopefully that will be enough to sustain me for the time being.

I was called about 4 weeks after arriving in Maryland. Hardly knew anyone. Was not adjusted whatsoever. It really threw me into the middle of things in a not so comfortable way. Now I know (more than I would like to) about everyone in the ward. Rarely get lost while driving and can direct you to almost any sister's home within the ward. I have grown leaps and bounds in terms of my own personal testimony and my faith in Jesus Christ as well as in my leadership skills and how to deal with people.

If I had to name just one thing I have learned during the last 2 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours 5 minutes and 38 seconds, but whose counting! (I am just kidding it was somewhere around 2 years 9 months, but the rest, who knows!) I would say that I have learned to love and see people through my Heavenly Father's eyes. I am convinced that all people need/want is to be loved.

I need to mention/thank the people that I would have never made it through without.............

Alan - My partner in crime, my secretary, my live-in-nanny, my therapist, my fall back person, my lover and my friend. I would have been done within 24 hours without his love and support. It couldn't have been easy for him to always be understanding when I had to go visit someone with a moments notice, or to watch the kids for the 4th night in a row, or to listen to me go on and on about my frustrations, or to know that something was eating at me that I couldn't talk to him about. He just patiently took it all. Thanks Alan, I love you!

President Dennis Windley (former Bishop of the Laurel Ward) - Someone once said, "You were trained by the best!" I truly believe that. It was amazing, how in such a small amount of time, we worked so incredibly well together. Without his support and encouragement I would not have done half of what I was able to do. Thanks Friend, for being wonderful and for continuing to be a huge supporter! P.S. Sorry about all of the Maryland Games you missed on my behalf!

Connie Nielsen (Stake Relief Society President and former counselor) - Always willing to be there as a support and a listening ear. I could always call and know that I was getting sound advice from someone who thinks a lot like me! Plus, it's always easy to feel loved by someone when you're their favorite!!

Gwyn, Michelle (new Laurel Ward RS President), Lori, Karen, Cindy, Lynette, Vanessa, Kelly, Debbie (my counselors/secretaries) - Looking at this list you have to question my leadership abilities........Or wonder how hard I worked people and why I had so many in such a short period of time. They were all wonderful to work with and taught me many thing and helped me live my dreams for the Laurel Ward Relief Society. Thank you ladies, you are awesome!

Becca Tippets - Who is always willing to let me hide out at her place so no one can find me! You are the best!

Hannah, Peter, and Joseph - These are the people who probably sacrificed the most and tried to be as patient as they could be. They were always proud to tell people, "My Mommy is the Relief Society President!" as though that were something to work toward. Today when they released me, my sweet little girl looked at me with tears running down her face and said, "but I want you to be the Relief Society President still!" All I could do was kiss her and nod my head. Then after a moment of us crying together. She looked at me and said, "Does that mean you won't have to go to anymore meetings?" I laughed and shook my head yes and all of a sudden her tears dried up and she just grinned, excited as could be. For most of the things that I have done as Relief Society President during the daytime, one or more of them have been by my side, bringing meals, giving rides, PPI's with my board, visiting sisters, the many phone calls, serving food, presidency meetings, washing eggs, setting up for some event, and the list goes on. I find it amazing how well my children know their way around the church building and know where all the light switches are, or where the library or the clerks office is (what 3 year old knows what a clerks office is??) I love my babies and am glad that I will be just a mom for a little while!

All of my family everywhere! For their love, support and prayers.....I couldn't ask for more. Thanks, I love you!

Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.....

I have never quite understood this song by the Carpenters. I can see the Monday part, especially getting out of bed, but the rain......how can the rain get you down? It washes everything away and makes things bright, beautiful and happy! I Love the rain, it has always made me happy. One thing that I would love to do in my early teens is go out into my parents shed wrapped in a warm blanket with a flashlight and a book. I would spend a couple hours out there listening and enjoying myself.

Today we had an afternoon thunder storm, we were sitting as a family watching the sheets of rain come down and listening to the thunder clap. I couldn't resist the urge to go run out into the rain to wash everything away and to put a smile on my face as well as 4 others. At first my children and husband thought I was crazy when I ran out and began dancing, but for my three kids curiosity got the best of them. They all ended up joining me in the end, although Peter was very timide about the whole thing. I have to say though the rain worked it's charm, everyone was happy for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.

Shhhh!....don't tell

Well, I have been hiding out and have not gotten out much or written much because I have a secret, and if I got out too much I would have to tell people or someone might ask. So what is this big secret that keeps me close to home........?

I'M PREGNANT!!

Plus when you're puking and not feeling good, it's nice to be at home laying in your own bed. I also haven't been feeling quite up to par and don't imagine that I will until long after November 15! We are super excited and can't wait to welcome this new little one into our family. My favorite so far was telling the kids. They are so cute and so excited! This child has never been loved more than at this moment, and is totally and completely part of the family. They give me 2 hugs and 2 kisses if I go anywhere....one for me and one for the baby. They talk to it and are always thinking about it.

My favorites so far of what my kids have said/done:
Hannah - I guess I was sitting there looking a little green and Hannah asked, "Are you having contractions?" I replied with a chuckle, "No" to which she replied, "Are you sure?" I showed her in her body book what a uterus was and that the uterus contracts and not the baby and the purpose of contractions. The picture I was showing her was of just a uterus but in the corner of the page there was a small body with the uterus in it's correct placement in the body. All of a sudden she burst out "THE BABY COMES OUT OF YOUR PRIVATES??" My response "ahh, yes, yes it does." To which she replied "THAT'S DISGUSTING!"

Peter - "Are you going to have to go to the hospital to have the baby?"
Mom-"Yes, I am, and Mom and the baby will have to stay there a couple of days."
Peter-"Who's going to take care of us?
Mom-"Dad will be with Mom while the baby is born and we will have a babysitter come and then after that Dad will be with you."
Peter-"Do we get to come and see you?"
Mom-"Absolutely!"
Peter-"Well, I guess that will be O.K."

Joseph - We told the kids during Family Home Evening that we were going to have a baby. Shortly after telling them Joseph came a crawled into my lap and was just sitting there as he normally does and then all the sudden he jumped down and looked at me in a panic. I asked him what was the matter and he said "I'm squishing the baby!" so he climbed next to me and just held my hand. I of course couldn't speak because I started to cry.

Hannah my curious one. Peter my thinker. Joseph my sweetie. I think the funnest part of this pregnancy will be the three kids I already have. They are so excited and have actually wanted a baby for quite some time. All Joseph wanted for his birthday in January was a little baby! I have listened to "Well, when mom has a baby..." so many times over the last year that I was beginning to wonder. I just hope they are just as excited when it gets here!