Teya & I had our first funeral services together. Our eight pet goldfish have all gone to fishy heaven: Somewhere where all the worms are big and juicy, the rivers are ice cold, and there isn't a fish hook or a child's hand to be found! We went to the pet shop, and they were only 25 cents each... so the little two dollar purchases lasted roughly two weeks.

Official Cause of Death: Neglect due to an overscheduled weekend of weddings, friends in town, and sisters moving. It was at least four straight days that T & I were away from the house, and when we returned the horrific scene of death was before us. And the horrific smell.
Songs were sung: Give Said the Little Stream, I'm Gonna Go Eat Worms, and Swishy Friends
Railey (our recently deceased dog due to stroke/old age) probably welcomed them into the Land of Passed Pets and showed them what a full life can be like after the Strattons....

After we were finished, Teya wanted to dig the fish up again to make sure they were okay. I convinced her not to. Then she wanted to bury the snail and the rolly polly we found in the garden. When I told her we can't bury them because they're still alive and not dead, she said as she raised the rock in her hand "Okay. I'll CRUSH THEM!"

Kara and Todd's pre-wedding dinner was held in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Aside from taking Teya on the 10 minute trek to the bathroom about ninty times during the dinner and program, the night was quite enjoyable. (T is potty trained now, but I still don't have faith in her "holding it" muscles...)
The creepy dude in the back is Mr. Soon-to-Be, Kara's one and only Todd.
Here's another attempt without the man-face in the background... I like me pretty little sisters and me pretty little mamma;) It was a happy accident that we all coordinated so discreetly and fashionably without any planning.
The happy c-izz-upple.
Now, when Vanessa & I are taking a photo together with just the two of us, I'm 99% sure it's impossible to get a shot where both of us are cooperating in the same moment. We gave it at least ten tries this night before we just settled with what we got;)

This one gives me nightmares. Really Scary Nightmares.
We were both trying to take a picture like in the days of the pioneers where you had to hold a pose and smile, and hold it, and hold it, and hold it, and the eyes start to droop, and the smile starts to fade at the corners, and hold it.....
"Please Teya, Just ONE picture so I can document the fact that we both put time into getting ready and we got dressed up all nice... Pleeeeeeease!..."
Cody and Cohen being as cute as possible! That includes you too Cody, you're cute here;)

I love this picture of all us siblings. It's not very clear, it's not artistic or funky, but it shows us all so well in our lounging state. A glimpse of ALL of us together, even the two "lover boys" and the babies are pictured! Teya peeking out from behind Bubba is, of course, my favorite little face in this shot. Look how genuinely happy she is! Bubba looks ginormous with his legs sprawling every where, he's the youngest and the tallest at 6' 4". We're all holding an article of clothing that Vanessa recieved for her birthday... she can cloth an army with all the garb she scored that night!

I think she's looking at a bug;)

My two younger sisters, Kara and Vanessa, had their birthdays this weekend. Vanessa turning 19 is the youngest of us 4 girls, but she's the tallest at 5'11''. The first words that comes to mind to describe her is a TENDER-HEART and INNOCENT ways. Kara turning 22 is the Bride-to-be in only four days now.... I'd say she has a pretty good week going for her;) The words that come to mind for her are KIND and GENTLE. Vanessa goes by the name "Boozie" around here (short for Booz-Bazz-Bu), and Kara frequents the names "CareBear" or "Bubbles".


There they are together gleefully swaying in the branches, because that's what people do in Utah when the blossoms finally show, isn't it? Filled with rapture and enthusiasm that the snow has finally left...
Vanessa!


Kara!


I'm lucky to have so many sisters that double as best friends, Love you girls!!

Not long after I arrived in Utah was Easter Sunday. Mom does a wonderful job at making it a beautiful, fun, memorable day. I remembered to take a few shots while we were all coloring eggs in hopes of documenting my painfully camera shy family. Our egg coloring turned into a competition for the most creative piece of art. Dad, the only one not coloring and thus the only non-biased judge, would determine who got the grand prize. In the end we were all trying to finagle our eggs into Dad's favor with the things he likes most, so the eggs read things like "Ken Pick Me," "Lynnette is the Sexiest," "USU Football Rules," and other desperate attempts of the sort.
Teya in her new Easter Dress, and my matching garb (Thanks Pam, I got lots of compliments on it;)
Teya woke up from her nap today and said "Mom, I'm grateful!" I asked her, "You are? Grateful for what honey?"
She didn't answer just then, but a gave me great big smile.
A little later my mom asked her again what she was grateful and Teya said "I'm grateful for... my love!"
Grandma asked her "Your love?"
Teya was so excited, she replied "Ya! My mommie's love! I'm so grateful for my mommies Love!"
Oh geeze! I was instantly teared up, Teya is such a TENDER hearted little girl!! That's the first time I've even heard her use the term "grateful." I can't think of anything to say right now that would adequately describe how much joy comes from being Teya's Mama.

Jessica with an innocent smile, and Vanessa with yet another attractive face.
Theeeeere's the real Vanessa, look how pretty! She's with her (really really awesome)boyfriend Devin
MOM! There she is ladies and gentlemen, that's my mom! I would have to say she's the most difficult of all my family to get a cooperative picture of, but WHY?! Look how beautiful she is! No one even believes that she's really 39 because she's so Hot... most people assume even younger ;) What's even more important is that she truly is as sweet, caring, and kind as she looks.
Here he is deep in concentration, hard at work....Cody won the grand prize with his rendition of a cracked, bruised & bloody Humpty Dumpty.