About those pictures...

Okay, so either me or my computer is retarded. One of us can't figure out how to make the pictures look normal when I post them just below the blogs. So, I've given up. You will now see super-huge pictures of us all at the very bottom of the page. Thank you ahead of time for having the patience to scroll down that far.

The greatest journey starts with a screaming baby...

Well, Olivia went on her first long trip last week, and no, she didn't scream all the way. She was VERY good. My Grandma Kearl died Oct. 9 so Olivia and I flew out Oct. 10 for the funeral. We flew to Omaha (shorter flights) and then drove out to Utah with my parents. Grandma had lost so much weight before her death that I didn't recognize her at the funeral, although she did look very good. During the opening prayer, Olivia decided to fill up her diaper rather loudly. Everybody in the chapel heard it. I was trying so hard not to laugh out loud that I looked like I was having a seizure. The funeral luncheon was great! We had ham, lots of funeral potatoes and every combination of jello salad you can think of. YUMMO! We stayed at my grandparents house and if I closed my eyes, I could still hear Gramps shuffling around in the kitchen muttering under his breath and Granny correcting my aunt's gossip in the living room. All of my cousins and their kids were there and it was so fun to catch up with them. Also, since Aubrey's sister Donna lives in Lehi, she and the kids drove up for a few hours. I got to see my nephew John for the first time. He's just a few months older than Olivia. And, of course, Alyssa and Adalyn were a riot as usual. Olivia changed so much while we were gone that Aubrey forbid us from leaving him again for a week at a time. Not a problem...I absolutely hate traveling without Aubrey. I'm kind of a big baby about it. I'm really lucky to have a husband who is so devoted to his family. I'm home now and getting back into my routine. It always strikes me as odd how life goes on after something like this happens. I've lost three grandparents in a year and had a baby. The circle of life has really become apparent to me. I saw pictures of my grandparents when they were very young. I thought, they were once Olivia's age, then my age. Soon, I'll be their age and Olivia will be my age. My grandparents were once babies, just as tiny as mine. It's difficult for me to imagine myself at 80, let alone Olivia, but life has a way of marching on. Betcha didn't know I was such a philosophical thinker?

I might as well just dye my hair...

So, here's a story you won't believe. OK, those of you who know me will totally believe it, and that is a sad truth. A few weeks ago, I was going around the house making my grocery list and noticed that almost every room had a burned out light bulb and all the light bulbs in the dining room were fizzled. So, I wrote on my list "a ton of light bulbs". Well, upon returning from the store, I immediately set about changing the dining room lights. I flipped the switch (OK, turned the knob...they're on a dimmer) and they still didn't come on. I hollered for Aubrey and told him the dining room light was broken and that he needed to take the switch plate off and check the wiring. "What do you mean?" he says. So, I turn the lights on, and they don't come on. He walks over and pulls the pull chain on the ceiling fan to turn on the lights. Of course the lights turn right on. Yes, the lights were not burned out after all. Needless to say, this has so earned a place in my Blonde Moments jar (yes, former college roomies, I am still adding moments to this jar). I've said it once, and I'll say it again, there is a California beach blonde inside of me dying to break free and I am not ashamed.