A Must Read

By now my family is probably sick to death of me talking about this, but I just finished reading Les Miserables and it is FANTASTIC!!! I just had to give it a shout-out so you all would know to go and read this book! Albeit long, really long if you're reading the un-abridged version, it is an easy read. Easy language to understand and one of the best, if not the best story ever written...and I do not say that lightly. Anyone who reads a lot will understand when I say that I cannot pick one favorite book that I have read, but this one is most definitely in my top 5 favorite reads. I cannot wait to read it again! Go read it! :)

The Almost-Finished Dining Room

We are almost done with our dining room! Hooray! Todd did an amazing job with the molding and the painting...and the whole hanging up the pictures and the curtains thing...but I helped, really. Now all that's left is putting in our new flooring...out with the old yucky carpet and in with some nice laminate. (Who the heck puts CARPET in a dining room?!?! Obviously someone who doesn't actually EAT in there.) Our goal is to have this done by Easter when Charlene and Shelton come for a visit.

Now we need your help. Todd likes the curtains, but is having a hard time reconciling the fact that he feels like he is in a movie theater. My theory was that our kitchen is going to be red, so a red accent in the dining room would make the rooms flow. We want to hear from you. What do you think of our red curtains?

Bibbity-Bobbity-Bacon

Anybody got Bacon? This clip is hilarious, but is about 3 1/2 minutes long if you want to watch it.

Look Mom, Paper!

The video does not do Riley's "art" justice, but you'll get the general idea.

Riley's Reward

We have started a new "rewards program" for Riley. When he earns all the cotton balls and fills up his jar, then he gets a prize. This time he earned a trip to Zonkers. It is a fun-filled activity center in our mall full of fun rides, games, and a HUGE play gym area. Riley absolutely loves to go on all the rides...especially the ones that make him dizzy. We had a lot of fun today.

 

 

 

 

To Afghanistan She Goes

Just an update...My baby sister has finally been deployed to Afghanistan for the next 14-months (2-months training and 12-months active duty). So, when you say your prayers , please, please, please, remember Jenny!

Riley in snowshoes...I mean mudshoes

It was 60 degrees here in Kansas not to long ago so we told Riley he could go outside and get as muddy as he wanted. He took us up on it.

Weekend Project

This weekend, we re-painted our dining room and hallway (no more pink walls...yea!) and Todd put up chair rail and pannel molding. It looks so good! All we have to do now is prime and paint the molding white. I'll post a picture whenever that gets done...it may be a while.

 

 

Yummy

Yesterday was fast Sunday, and Todd and I were so hungry and ornery that I knew I had to make something really delicious to get us back to normal. Well, these quesadillas were to die for. I put the recipe on my food blog if you are a fellow quesadilla lover and want to check it out.

 

http://whatsfordinner-sara.blogspot.com/

A Sunbeam

Well, I can't believe that this day has finally come and gone, but Riley is officially a Sunbeam. Todd and I don't think that he is ready for this, but what can ya do? All I can say about yesterday is, it could have been worse. I had to abandon my piano playing in Primary to sit with Riley. He just looked so scared and out of place. He didn't want me to leave his side, and he is normally not like that. So, he sat on my lap for a while and was doing great, but then you could tell that he was getting a little bored (along with all the other 15 Sunbeams!). So, I ended up having to take him out twice because he was hitting me and screaming. (The story of my life).

Then it was off to class. Again, he was doing really well, so I thought it might be safe to duck out for the last 15-minutes of class. I was wrong. As soon as he noticed I was gone, he got up, started screaming, threw his chair and banged his head against the wall. I was listening to the whole thing and just went right back to sit with him in his class. After that, he was totally fine.

So, it looks like I am going to be spending a lot of time with Riley in his class, which I'm fine with. Until he feels comfortable in his new situation, then his mommy will be there to help.

 

Another family picture

Here is the best of our many attempts at a family picture with Grandma Letha. (sigh...)

 

Christmas Eve Party

We had a lot of fun at the Barrow family Christmas Eve party at Todd's Uncle Sterling's house. We ate a lot of great food...especially thanks to Uncle Jeff! Man can he cook! Yum-O! We played a really fun game that Heidi created for us. (By-the-way, MY team won!) Then Sterling read from the scriptures while Riley was throwing tissue paper up in the air and Tanner was trying to eat Sterling's knee. One of my very favorite moments from our trip happened at the Christmas Eve party. When Sterling was done with his reading/discussion, we all knelt down to say a prayer. As I was kneeling down I hear three different people simultaneously start to wail. Uncle Jeff, Aunt Linell and Grandma Letha all got charlie horses at the same time while they tried to kneel down. It was pretty funny to hear the wailing/laughing and to see all the hopping around and stretching all at the same time. :)

 

 

 

 

The X-Box 360

Well, I have to say that the highlight of gift giving this holiday season lies solely with Todd's youngest brother, Mike. He bought Todd, Sean, and Ryan ALL X-Box 360's for Christmas! I think that he has officially earned the "brother of the year" award. Just look at Todd's face...it really says it all. He has been wanting one of these for a LONG time.

 

 

Notice that even though it's not his turn to open a gift, he is STILL holding the X-Box. :)

 

P.s. did I mention that Mikie bought me a Coach wallet for Christmas? Oh yeah, and it's REAL! I almost bought a fake one in China Town in NYC, but now I have a real one. I feel so posh. Thanks Mike!