Leu Gardens

Mama, Linda, and Joanna

Today, Joanna Ebanks, Linda Evans, and I went to Leu Gardens...for a "sisterly" outing...Oh...my...the gardens and stroll through BEAUTIFUL garden settings were so ENVIGORATING...What an INCREDIBLY GORGEOUS piece of property...I am only posting a FEW pictures from our romp through the gardens...but, I wanted to share...a part of my day...(I took over 30 pictures...and I am only showing these few) We had SO MUCH FUN!!! All three of us LOVE GARDENS, GARDENING, and BOOKS...so we had a GRAND TIME, together!!!! (smile)

The Babysitter

Abraham is "watching" Nathan, while the rest of us were trying to get dinner ready...so we could feed the missionaries....Hmmmm....wondering...who was "watching" who? (smile)

Incredible Hulk

You know your Dad....has a twisted way at looking at things....We were at a Goodwill store, the other day...and he saw this "Incredible Hulk" fist....Had to have it...He said..."it was for our grandchildren"...Hmm.....It does "talk" when you "punch" someone....(smile) This morning, they had to try it on Nathan....

Florida Nostalgia

I saw this and thought of the many times we had a run-in with a spider, or have them run across us if we grabbed something it was on. I am glad we lived where, even though the spiders were large, their legs were smaller. I enjoy living in a more temperate climate where such of God's creations are smaller.

Too bad the person didn't get a shot of some of the spiders from our home, but I like the caption. :)...such memories.
Does this give you the willies? I remember when living in Utah, Dana Jones found a tarantula on the side of the road, picked it up in an empty Oil filter box and brought it to our home. I don't know if this is my memory or I was so scarred - not scared -scarred by the experience, but he let it crawl up his arm. Like I said, this may be a horrific conjured up image I conceived, but it has stuck.

Be grateful you live in America. Cambodia and other rainforests, like Brasil, have these babies crawling around. And to make matters worse...well, these bad boys are on the menu for dinner - yum.Deep fried spider snacks have Cambodia back in the news. First eaten by starving people out of desperation during the Cambodian civil war of the 1970s, fried spiders have become one of the most popular snack foods, a national delicacy and have caused quite a stir in the culinary world -sounds very similar to caviar's background. I guarantee this will never be mixed with fudge. When people fled into the jungle to get away from Pol Pot's troops, they found these spiders and had to eat them because they were so hungry. Seasoned with garlic and salt they are fried in butter until crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside and served piping hot. Bon appetit!

Emma Smith - The Prophet Joseph's Wife

Tonight, Garvin and I went and saw "Emma"...I have LOVED Emma...as long as I can remember...I have always felt a "kinship" with her....Don't know why the deep feelings I have...but, they have always been there...(she, too, is related to our Mayflower ancestor - John Howland)...I LOVED this "movie"...Your dad felt it was more of a "documentary"...but, either way...your LOVE for Joseph, also...should be even more "endearing"....What these two individuals did for the "kingdom's" sake...was extraordinary....I can't get it off my mind...I have not gotten tired watching this YOU TUBE on Emma to a song written about Emma...If you have not watched it...please, take a couple of minutes...We have been given the privilege to be baptized into Christ's true church...and we owe a great deal of gratitude to two remarkable individuals...who helped make all what we part take of....possible....Here is the link to that wonder YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaH_OKPO-zs&eurl=http://www.ldsmag.com/youtube/080626emma.html

Squirrel Psychology

Added 2 more:

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."
Improvise!

Be obedient to your superiors
Mom - I know how much you love the squirrels chasing away the birds and eating the seed you put out. So here are a few pictures to enjoy:

Be the best in all you do; find the hero within.

Patriotism and Freedom means sacrifice and dedication

"Leverage, it's all about leverage."
Exercise your body and mind.
Be attentive when someone else is talking.
Take time to play with friends.
Defend your family, tree, and food storage.
"Strip yourself of envy..."

(Disproportionate lunch time. )
When sharing, give to others the bigger portion...
Always give thanks...

So Joel and I had our "Dark Knight" date, since we cant afford to see all the movies we want to see we sat down and each chose one movie that the other would take to, I chose WALL-E and Joel chose "The Dark Knight" so I bought tickets on-line to see it on IMAX which movies will never be the same for me now after seeing a movie on IMAX and then I took him to PF Changs, when he took me home I went to my room and found these BEAUTIFUL flowers from Joel, he had Alisha buy them and stick them there as a surprise....arent they just GORGEOUS? I have the most amazing boyfriend....

The Lost was Found(:

Ok for Sarah and Moms benefit I am writing here in the family Blog. Yes we are still alive and keeping very busy, but here it goes(:

My story for the week. Last Thursday July 17 our oh so three year old Seth decided he wanted to go play outside. As I was cleaning up breakfast, dishes, food off of the floor from the twins etc, it was now time to change the three diapers. Seth , Michael and Matthews. Low and behold where is Seth. Yes we are blessed to have a fenced in back yard but it is only a blessing if it keeps in the kids. Seth is all muscle and all + boy and he can scale the fence with no problems. Needless to say Seth was not where he once was. EEEEEEKKKKKKK. Where is Seth? As I send Adam and Emma upstairs to check in closets, under beds, in the bathrooms, everywhere I double and trippled my checking of downstairs. Still no Seth. So I start outside.....of course Josh calls with a question from work and got more then he had expected(: So being the newer family still on the block here I am scrambling everywhere screaming out for Seth figuring maybe he will hear me yelling his name and come running.....oh was I wrong. SO I back track and check my neighbors house since she does have a couple of cats. " May be he is in her house?" NOPE wrong again. Now I have her helping me out. SETH! SETH! asking people I saw but to no avail. All this time praying to find Seth and that he will be safe and come home to us safe and sound.

I had totally forgotten at this point that I had set up a play date for the kids. So here drives up a friend and her little one. All she hears is me telling Josh that if we dont find him soon I am going to call 911. Ok now we have more help in the search for Seth. By this time I have fallen apart 2-3 times, pull myself back together and keep on looking for him. Just as my neighbor and I cross the streeet into another culdasac we hear a horn. My friend found him.....WHERE? Good question. Thank you for asking(:

Down in another culdasac that I had gone down 3-4 different times (cause there were a bunch of kids playing) but couldnt find him and no one said they saw him. Well of course not cause he blended in with the other blonde kids and there was a farwell party going on so no one saw my dear Seth go on in and started to play in this house.

What a way to meet some new neighbors but to crash a party. SO here we are at my front door and as I am sawing under my breath I dont know if I want to beat him or hug him my neighbor' starts laughing at me. Well Seth helped with the choice. After looking for this "Big Boy" for about an hour the first thing out of his mouth when he sees me was " go away from me mommy" Boy does he know how to touch his mommy's heart...

So after all of that and probably more then you wanted to read, Seth is now safe at home and still being loved as much as I can give so hopefully he wont do this again.

There are many lessons to be learned form this experience I am sure but for now I am just truely grateful to my Father in Heaven that Seth is safe back home with us where he should be.

I hope you all are doing great and may the Lord bless you every day(:

YES, I'M PREGNANT!

Well, apparently no one in this family reads my personal blog except for mom and dad. I hope by now everyone knows I'm pregnant and I don't get any more phone calls sounding all surprised and I get a "how come you didn't tell me!" Good heavens, its been on my blog forever! So, just so you all know and remember, I'm adding my little baby meter on here so you guys can know when the baby will be born. I hope that satisfies everyone!

For Holly, Sarah, Jenny, and Angel

As I started to clean up my office...and going through MOUNDS of papers...I came across...an "Announcement of the birth of our "6th" child"....I thought you could RELATE to the CARTOON!!! (smile) I want you ALL to know...The CARTOON was a reflection of my life at the time and I truly got a hearty "LAUGH" when I saw it....So, you see, we have MUCH IN COMMON (smile)...I LOVE YOU ALL...and want you to know....that you are ALL EXCEPTIONAL young women....God BLESS YOU....in the most challenging role you will ever take on in your life...but, will bring you MORE JOY...than any other role in life......(being a "wife" can be wonderful, also)...I love EACH of our GRANDCHILDREN...Wish I could be more of a part of their lives...

Sammy Time!

That is the only way to have twins!

His first time in the pool and he LOVED it.

His first time with Great Granny and Grandpa Joslyn

Happy Birthday to.....Mama!

Happy Birthday Girl!!!! (hmm...OK...at "58" I am not likely to be called a "girl"...but, still I am a girl!!!! (smile)

Cutting the CAKE!

Angel bought PLENTY OF CANDLES for the cake...but, I wouldn't let her put them all on the cake...didn't want to ruin the cake....the candles would have melted all its WAX before they could all get LIT UP!!!! (smile)

Blowing out only ONE candle...(to save the cake!) (smile)

Angel made me this FLAG CAKE!!! Isn't it INCREDIBLE!!! LOVED IT!!! Homemade FROSTING!!!! (smile)

MY FEET...AFTER THE PEDICURE!!!! (smile) It felt SO GOOD...to have my feet worked on!!!! Thanks, ANGEL...I will never forget it!!!!

Caleb gave me this AWESOME...books - QUOTES from Ronald Reagan!!!

Linda Evans gave me this "slow cooker" cookbook...Only 5 ingredients to make an awesome meal!!!!

When we came home from St. Petersburg - Abe had all the candles lit in the house for my birthday!!!!

Joanna Ebanks gave me these BIRD FLASH CARDS!!! LOVE BIRDS!

Angel cleaned up and straightened out the panty!

I had a GREAT BIRTHDAY...Angel spoiled me.....Wonderful phone calls...emails....Received 2 books....BIRD flash cards....LUNCH....BREAKFAST....DINNER (different day)....and wait till you see my TOES!!!! My first PEDICURE...compliments of ANGEL!!!! (smile) That was so FUN!!! Oh...and one of the neatest part of my birthday....was that Angel, Jared, and Abraham cleaned up the DOWNSTAIRS....rooms (except my office, of course - that is going to take a millenium to get this in any kind of order)....and the GRAND FINALE....Grandchildren singing "Happy Birthday"!!!!! (smile) Wait till you see my birthday CAKE...Angel made an "American FLAG" cake!!!! (smile) THANK YOU...to YOU ALL...for making my day...so INCREDIBLE!!!!

Jenny - Operation - Visit - Sammy

Sammy visiting his Mama Jenny in the hospital

Papa Garvin singing to Sammy

Papa Gavin getting a kick out of poor Sammy's attitude

Sammy and his Daddy - Dave

Garvin and I had the great opportunity...to stay in Bradenton...this past Thursday and Friday...Jenny had her operation on Friday...removing her gall bladder...They did a NEW procedure...She was the "3rd" on the EAST COAST to have this new procedure done...They found 3 LARGE stones and several others...She did well...though...she will need to take it easy...for a couple of weeks.....

FACIALS!!!! it is so hard to smile!!!

He is so good looking....

Here is the update of Joel and I, I get to meet his entire family today and boy am I nervous!!!! other than that we are doing good, Punkins knows when he will propose and with what ring and how much it costs!!! all I know is that we will be getting married this fall...so prepare you guys!