Engine, engine number nine

This post is all about our ninth child. Our adorable caboose (to continue the train metaphor). She is as the song says "a strange mixture of a woman and a child". She is only ten, but sometimes acts much older.

She enjoys dressing up, doing make-overs, and playing with the boys in the neighborhood, especially our next door neighbor (and best friend since she was three), Reed, whom she used to call "Weed".


She has turtles and catches tadpoles and bugs for them, wants a rabbit again badly, but Mom doesn't, and loves our dogs, Jack and Pearl. She loves having a cell phone, handed down from our short-time foreign exchange student. She will happily make me a gourmet salad at the drop of a hat (or plea from me)and enjoys using her play baking oven. She has loved pink, pink, pink all her life, but is beginning to like green and torquoise,too. She likes to climb trees and goes everywhere barefooted. But, she loves to cuddle with Mommy and DaDa still, and that's my favorite part.






Being the youngest has some perks, but also some challenges. Before she was born her oldest brother, 24 years her senior, told me, "You know, she will never really know me." It turns out that he is her favorite and closest sibling.

She loves being an aunt to her three nephews and one neice. And they love her! They come in our door shouting her name.


I wish she could stay this age forever. But, she will grow up and I just hope she can be one of our easier teenagers. We are, after all, getting older. The other day she asked me how old I would be when she graduated from high school. "Sixty-two", I tell her. "Why?", I ask.

"I just wondered if you would be still be alive to do that thing where you made fun of Hayley (the Senior Salute) for me."

"Yes, I'll still be alive when you graduate from high school and when you graduate from college. I'll still be alive when you get married and when you have children. Remember, my mother is almost 87, thirty years older than me, and she's still alive. I'll probably live a long time, too. I may not be alive when your children get married, but I'll watch from heaven, okay?" "Okay."

I just hope I don't look like this at her graduation.

A Taste of Mexico in a border town

This past Saturday our church held its annual Stake Women's Conference.




I sang in the choir along with my daughter-in-law, and our oldest daughter played the flute to accompany one of the songs. It was beautiful. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of that. An amazing woman, Arizona's Young Mother of the Year, spoke to us. Then there were a couple of classes about making our home a more beautiful place both physically and spiritually. Finally, there was lunch and while we ate we were entertained by different people: a group who did Tai Chi, a mother/daughter duet on piano and violin, a young woman who sang a beautiful solo and finally, my favorite, Folklorico Dancers.

On Wikipedia it says:"folkloric dance" in Spanish, is a collective term for traditional dances that emphasize local folk culture with ballet characteristics - pointed toes, exaggerated movements, highly choreographed.

I love the beautiful, colorful dresses, the ribbons in the women's hair and the way they swirl and hold their dresses out. The music is geat, too. These were all older women, I've seen young children do it as well, but they were all very energetic. I love that we get to experience the Mexican culture even though we live in America. Here are some of the pictures I took that day:

Good people

In the backyard, behind our rock wall, on the irrigation ditch side, weeds grow tall and dense. I have hired people to clean it out, had sons chop them down, and burned them. But, they always grow back and are a nuisance.

Last year daughter #3 played on a volleyball team with a young lady who lives not too far from us. We carpooled to practices and games. Her parents are some of the nicest people I've ever met. Our girls now go to the same school and occasionally the mom and I have called each other for last minute help in getting our daughters home from school. But, one of the kindest things by far that they have done for us is that every now and then, without a word, the dad, George, shows up with his tractor and mows the weeds behind our wall. He never asks for anything in return, in fact, won't accept anything and brushes off our thanks.

There are good people in the world. I'm privileged to know many. They help me want to be more thoughtful and giving. God bless George and his family.

The Good News is Out!

Mike became engaged over the weekend to a lovely young lady from Canada. Her name is Emme Skoien. They met at BYU-I a couple of years ago and have dated and had a long distance relationship since then. She has visited here in our home a couple of times and we thought maybe we had scared her off. But, I guess true love won out. They are tenatively planning to be married in March and probably in Canada in the Cardston, Alberta temple, but I'm sure if you're reading this blog, you'll get an invitation with firm details. We can't wait to travel to Canada and meet her parents.

Emme's parents emmigrated from Norway when she was three years old and they still speak Norwegian in their home. She is an absolutely beautiful girl inside and out. We are thrilled that she will be a part of our family. We fell in love with her the first time we met her. And she already has Mike well in hand.


So, just a few more pictures of our new daughter-in-law to be. I love getting children this way. And, I totally stole these pictures off Emme's facebook page. I hope you don't mind, Emme. But, you are undeniably gorgeous and I just had to show the world-well, okay, my four followers and you're one of them.






That last picture was made in Canada. How beautiful it looks. I'm looking forward to seeing the sights there. The girls and I plan to drive up with Mike a little early and fly back. It will be during spring break which is very convenient.
Mike and Emme will live here for awhile while Mike works and finishes his undergraduate degree and I can't wait for the wedding! And Emme likes to bike ride :) so I'll have another exercise partner. Thanks, Mike for having such excellent taste. My sons have all picked wonderful women. Thanks, boys. I told you all when you were young that I would love your wives, and you've made it so easy for me.

Meet Victor

I've mentioned my trainer, Victor, several times. He has changed my life and I will be forever grateful to him and to my landscaper who recommended him (because his wife had begun working out there and loved it). I'm not sure just how old he is, but he seems about the age of my oldest son who is 33. He's very fit and active, of course, but he is also very knowledgeable about physical training. I have a couple of problems-my left shoulder and my knees, and he is always able to change the position of my feet or hands so that I can do the exercises without pain and added injury.

He's a lot of fun and very sweet, but he can be very tough, too. When I go in there dragging because I'm tired, he has no mercy. "Wake up Elaine! You gotta get going." And he encourages my desire to train harder and challenge myself, but sometimes he gets carried away. I've learned to dread the words, "You're going to hate me for this." I gave a gift of two weeks training to H and M, daughters 1&2, for Christmas and in the card I showed them what to expect.


Really, he's a great guy and I owe him a lot-my health, increased strength, happiness and confidence. The only pills I take now are vitamins. From my top weight of...wait, you didn't really think I was going to say it, did you? Anyway, since I began training with Victor two and a half months ago and later joining Jenny Craig(three weeks ago), I've lost 17 pounds; but, from my top weight I've lost 20. So, I'm celebrating, believe me. I need/want to lose 27 more pounds. So, here's another thought for the day, this one from someone unknown to me:

"Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness." ~Edward Stanley

And I can add an "Amen" to that.