Kelsey in Indy

Aaron and I are SO excited! Michael Kelsey is coming to Indianapolis again this month! We just saw him in concert this past January and it was awesome! His concerts are very entertaining! He said I am the crazy lady in his audience... I wonder if he'll remember me on April 18th if I hoot & holler again. =)

If you've never heard of him, Michael Kelsey is a local guitarist/singer/songwriter from Lafayette, IN who sounds like a 5-man band when he's up there all alone... he uses his guitar in ways I've never seen before... Genre? Um, a mix of acoustic rock, blues, funk, soul, pop, and folk all wrapped up into one.

Check him out:
MichaelKelsey.com
MK on MySpace

Consider this your official invitation--who's coming with us on April 18th?

Fri 4/18
Robert Park United Methodist Church 7:30pm
all ages show $10
401 N. Deleware St.
Indianapolis, IN 317-635-1636

Growing Like a Weed

Vicki is growing up way too fast. Seems like she is 9 going on 16.
Besides the fact that she keeps getting taller, but not any thicker, and it's getting increasingly more difficult to find pants long and thin enough for her... here are several evidences that she is growing up way too fast for me:

• She no longer orders "Happy Meals". She gets the Value Meals now, complete with larger fries (although she prefers a baked potato), larger drinks and more chicken nuggets. Although she sometimes still gets envious of Bridget's kids' meal toy, Vicki is a growing girl and needs more food than they provide in the little kid meals.

• She often can't hear me because she has her MP3 player earbuds in her ears.

• Dora is for babies and Barbie isn't very cool anymore.

• It's all about fashion.

• She'd rather hang out with her friends than her family. =(

• One day I was giving her a hard time for making a big deal out of something very silly and I said something to her about how she needed to act like a big girl, like the First Grader that she is... She looked at me like a total idiot and reminded me that she is in fact in the Third Grade! Where have I been the past two years? I think it's kinda like how I've gained 70 pounds but still picture myself as the "thinner" version of me until I see a photo of myself...

• When we go grocery shopping, she no longer asks for candy, but the Teen Bop magazines instead. I don't like this.

• On that same note... the ballet & princess posters and the watercolor paintings are being overshadowed by the Teen Bop poster pin-ups... let's see, we've got Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, the High School Muscical cast, Avril Lavigne, Jonas Brothers (YUCK), Jason Dolley... Well, at least there's still a lot of Disney Fairies all over the place--there is still hope!

• She uses "Teen Spirit" deodorant. And she takes showers instead of baths.

• She knows how to do things on the computer that I do not know how to do... like Video Chat with her Grandma in Florida and IM (I know, I know... gasp! Elaine doesn't instant message?! Nope, never got into it. But, who knows what the future holds... a few years ago I didn't understand the purpose of a blog, either!)

I Heart Aaron

I love my husband. I think I got the best one in the world. Of course no one is perfect, but I think he's as close as they get.



Here are a few of the many reasons I love Aaron...

• He makes me laugh.

• He is a wonderful father to our girls.

• He knows how to make me feel better.

• For a boy, he is incredibly thoughtful. ;-)

• He knows how to make me happy.

• He is silly when I need to be reminded not to take the world so seriously.

• He puts up with me, even when I am not easy to put up with.

• He is my best friend.

• He's a cutie.

• Even after twelve years, I still get "warm fuzzies" when he kisses me. =)

• He works hard for us and wants me to be a good mom.

• He's a good man, a good Christian--he's a good example to me and helps me want to be a better person.

• He's SO supportive. He's very laid-back and has gone through a lot of my "whims" and passing phases and still loves me when it's over and I've moved on to something else.

• He's in it for the long haul. He knows marriage is not often glamorous with everything that comes from two totally different species living together and trying to make it work and the crazy things that having kids and aging and hormones does to our poor bodies... yet he knows we have something worth fighting for and is patient with me and loves me for who I am even when I don't look so hot.

• He's smart.

• He rarely gets lost.

• He often helps around the house, and more importantly, he never complains when I get behind on housework.

• He takes very good care of me and our girls.

• Some things just get better and better with years of practice... ;-)








These pictures of flowers and goodies show what my sweet husband came home with yesterday for me... I was having one of my days where my confidence was low and I just didn't feel great, and he came home early with the most beautiful vase of flowers, a bag of Milano cookies and mini cans of my favorite indulgence drink, Dr. Pepper. How sweet is that? Just when you think they don't really hear what you are saying, they go and surprise you like that! I love my husband. I really have the best husband in the world.

The Girl in a Whirl

The Girl in a Whirl
by "Dr. Suess" (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano! I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!

Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)

I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all!

I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished!

Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully, too...
It's easy to do all the things that I do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!

I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each "lost lamb" on my Primary roll.

I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all!

I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write "thank you's" to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak!

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!

It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

"It's easy!" she said

and then she dropped dead.

Album Review: Colbie Caillat

Okay, so now all of a sudden my blog is reminding me of my many journals... an enthusiastic start, then after a few pages, the rest of the book is blank. LOL! I honestly have not had much to talk about. Vicki and I are getting over strep throat. Two weekends ago Bridget had the flu. We're all ready for spring, that is for sure. So, no fun pictures to post and no exciting news to report or journal about.

The most exciting thing I've done this week is purchase my very first ever digital album! I've dragged my feet on this--always felt I must have the CD and hard case in my hands to make it real. Well, while Aaron was working his weekly late shift yesterday, I spent a few hours searching iTunes for some fresh music to put on my iPod. I purchased a little more than a dozen songs from people like Maroon 5 and John Mayer and then new people I'd heard of courtesy of the YW I am privileged to work with... like Taylor Swift and Fergie (my husband rolls his eyes at the latter)...

But today I was checking out Colbie Caillat (I'm not even sure how to say that) and I really like her sound. At first I was only going to buy a handful of her songs, but there were several more that I was pretty sure with some familiarity, I would really enjoy them. See, I'm difficult to win over with pop music... I rarely like something the very first time I hear it... I have to hear it on the radio a few times, or hear someone else play it a few times, then it becomes catchy and familiar and I want it. Sadly, people I could have really enjoyed, like Jewel, got overplayed and I lost interest. Avril Lavigne is still one of my favorites, but probably because she doesn't get played on the radio quite as much... but to be honest, I'm getting sick of my same old playlists and needed some new music to listen to.

Anyway, I had about 7 of Colbie's songs on my "definite" and "maybe" list, then heard the track that was a "bonus", only for those who purchased the whole album... So, at 99 cents a piece, it made sense to get the album for $9.99, so I decided to take the plunge and buy my first digital album! No regrets here--I just hope I don't over-play it and get sick of it, LOL. She's great! And I always have more respect for singers who play instruments, and even better, write some of their own music (which is why I love Avril so much). I love the sound of Colbie's voice and the pace of her music. It's fun and relaxing all at once. Her lyrics are cute. The popular song "Bubbly" is so cute. "Kinda tough getting older" (the bonus track) sums up how I've been feeling lately. My other two favorites at this point are "Magic" and "Realize". I love the harmonies and her low voice. I would love to just sit and watch her play guitar and sing live.

So, I think I give Five Stars to Colbie Caillat's album Coco... it's a good thing my first digital album is one I like!



Random thought here... I'll probably always remember my first digital album just like I will always remember the very first CD I bought as opposed to a cassette (Chicago's Greatest Hits) and first DVD as opposed to VHS (X-Men). Okay, anyone reading--TAG, you're it!--tell me your first CD purchase and first DVD purchase! =)

President Hinckley

I came across this really cute picture of President Hinckley the other day while looking for other stuff online:



I love President Hinckley. He was such a cute old man, always waving that cane and making people smile. And what an example to me... he served the Lord until he died, he truly loved the people he served and wanted us to be a happy and righteous people.
I will miss hearing him speak at General Conference next month.
But, I'm so happy for him to be reunited with his dear, sweet wife.

Said he: “ ‘God be with you till we meet again’ … , my beloved associates. I have sung those simple words in a thousand places across the world … with love and affection. I have sung [them] in English when others sang them in a score of languages. I have lifted my voice with those wonderful and simple words on memorable occasions on all the continents of the earth. I have sung them in bidding farewell to missionaries, with tears in my eyes. I have sung them with men in battle dress during [times of] war. … In a thousand places and in many circumstances over these almost numberless years, I have raised my voice with so many others in these words of parting. God bless you, my dear friends.”