Last Week

I snapped this one with my phone on the way to California. She was so cute sitting there watching the Sesame Street podcasts (I had saved up about 5 for the trip) Do they make little earphones for kids? Mine are WAY too big for their little ears and she has to hold it up.

I didn't take one picture this weekend. Bad Mandi. It was a fun time though. Hit up the store with my Mommy and she hooked me up with a stroller, booster for AL, and a bunch of other stuff that I will be *surprised* about when I open the gift later on ;o)

The baby shower was great. Its her first and they are excited. Jim looked like he was about to pass out though when they were opening all of their gifts. I think he was a little overwhelmed.

The girls got haircuts - Ellie's is so cute...she needed it bad!

Made it to art/music class before we left for Cali. The class is SO lame, but Alison likes it, so I guess that is what is important. Looking for something better next session. Any suggestions?

Realized that Alison is obsessed with the American Doll Girls. (Grandma Ausman has 2 dolls and a billion accessories at her house) I told her she could have one when she can read the books. She told me it would be much quicker if she just asked Santa...good point.


PS: As mentioned before I am not LDS, but I have a lot of family and friends that are...when reading the blogs today, there were a lot of memorials for President Hinckley. There are a lot of things that I don't agree with (but can still respect) but there are a lot of quotes that I read that I loved. Here are a few:
(disclaimer - I have no idea as to the context of what he was saying, I just enjoyed the quotes as they were presented on others' pages)

"The way will be lighter, the worries will be fewer, the confrontations will be less difficult if we cultivate a spirit of happiness."

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." My Favorite ;o)

"Let your children be exposed to great minds, great ideas, everlasting truth, and those things which will build and motivate for good."

"I testify that our prayers, offered in humility and sincerity, are heard and answered. It is a miraculous thing, but it is real."

“Before I married her, she was the girl of my dreams,” he said. “She was my dear companion for more than two thirds of a century, my equal before the Lord – really my superior. Now in my old age, she has again become the girl of my dreams.” In his estimation, if men and women were to do whatever it took to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her counterpart, there would be little or no divorce. “Arguments would never be heard, accusations would never be leveled, angry explosions would not occur,” he said. “Rather love and concern would replace abuse and meanness.” President Hinckley said women are endowed with certain divine qualities and that men should give them the opportunity to express their qualities and talents.