7 Random Thoughts for Annie

Annie, this is for you and anyone else who may be interested. 1. I really love rap music. However, I really don't want my children to listen to it. So when we moved to North Carolina, and I was so sad to be leaving one of our dearest friends - Ben Pike, I decided that in honor of him I was going to start listening to country. He once told me that he started to like country music while living in North Carolina. So as we drove across the country to our new home in January 2005 . . . I began the transition. Now I too like country - and think of Ben every time the radio is on. Although, I also listen to many other types of music as well. Thanks Ben! 2. I have a passion for furniture. While most little girls spent their childhood dreaming about what their wedding would be like - I was pouring over my mother's Ethan Allen catalog. Dreaming about what baby furniture to pick out, which buffet looks best with which table, which bedroom set looks most elegant and what color comforter should I have someday? Anyway, I also love to refinish old pieces of quality furniture. A few years ago Dakota helped me turn a headboard and footboard into a really beautiful bench. It was so fun and every time we work on projects together I realize that he is truly my soulmate in every way. I love the balance his personality offers to mine. 3. I want to compete in a golf tournament someday . . . maybe in my forties. 4. I begin to miss my little babies about 30 minutes after they fall asleep. In the morning while I have my "Charlotte" time, my heart aches for them to wake up so that we can play again. 5. I would love to turn our garage into a photo studio and zillions of photos of people. I probably need to follow Jen's advice and take a photography class first. 6. I could eat chocolate chip cookies 24 hours a day. I could also swim 24 hours a day (but only if the temperature is right). I long to go camping and hiking again with my most loved boy and our friend Ben and anyone else who would like to join us. I love to play little tricks on Dakota and tickle him until he falls out of bed. I always have to watch a movie at least twice - once to sleep through it and again to actually watch it. 7. I feel like I need a vacation about every six weeks. I have no endurance to just go on with life. I love to take little brakes and forget that there are things that need to get done, places to be, and other people around watching me and my silly family. On the other hand, I thive off of a routine and schedule. I need structure and a clean house. Don't forget that chocolate chip cookie that I need either!

My Favorite Girls

Here is one more of my favorite pictures, of my two favorite women in the world (sorry it's slightly blurry). But who can't keep from being filled with cheer and smiles when looking at these two beautiful girls. I love them both very much. I am very lucky!

Tribute to Charlotte

There have been many observations that there are not enough pictures of Charlotte on this website. I absolutely agree, and I take full responsibility for such a gross let down. I personally think I need to document more what an amazing companion and mother Charlotte is in our home. She is the crowning jewel in our family. Our lives are happy and blessed because of our fortune to be under the wings of such a deeply caring and devoted woman. There is none better in my eyes. Sadly, Charlotte is the primary photographer from 8:00 - 6:00 each day and there aren't many great shots with her in it. I am resolved to pick up the camera more and focus more on the center piece of our family. Until then, here are a few shots I could rumage up. Even Chorlotte took half of these. See how amazing she is!!

My Sweet Little Boy

Happy Birthday Bently!!

My sweet little Bently, I can't tell you what a pleasure it has been for me to watch you grow. I can't believe it has been 3 years! You are getting so big!

You have grown into a boy who loves all things truck, train, boat, and plane. You also love balls, especially basketballs. There are some boys in our neighborhood who play basketball and when we walk by you want out of the wagon so that you can join the fun. You are getting very good at throwing . . . everything!

You love your dad and he loves you too! He is a great person for you to look up to and I am very thankful for that.

. Bently we love you! These have been the best three years of my life and I thank you and Keira for every moment that we've had together! I look forward to our wonderful journey together! Happy Birthday!!

Hot Summer

This summer was hot. And when I say hot I really mean HOT - and I enjoy hot. But we are talking hot as in every single day during the month of July and August were over 100 degrees! That is simply too much for samity. And so sometimes we had to take little breaks . . . and this is what we chose to do! Absolutely Delicious!

What the Rain Brought In

Earlier this spring we had a day of really hard rain all day long. While I was cooking dinner I looked out the window and saw this turtle walking across our deck - so I grabbed him and stuck him in the bathtub so we could have a little adventure after dinner . . . and boy did we ever have an adventure! It looks like Bently has found a new friend - sort of. This is after about 45 minutes of talking about the turtle and having me hold the turtle. Bently finally decided he was brave enough to touch. Keira on the other hand, gave the turtle a swift salp across the back and decided that she was definately done. There was no getting her even into the same room as the turtle. Our poor little friend was terrified I am sure! He decided to take refuge in one of Bently's toys. Shortly after this we took the turtle back outside and let him go - all parties were very grateful the event was over! This video is after about 15 minutes of seeing the turtle. Still very unsure!

Oh, Oregon

In August we made the trip to Oregon and Washington to visit our family. Despite the fact that I do love to tease Dakota about the weather up there . . I will readily admit that I love the place. How can I not - the sweetest family is there, beautiful landscapes, amazing parents, blackberries, fine music, good friends and lots of fun to be had by all. I love paddle boating - especially when I can have my niece Peyton come along!

Wow, Dakota!

Really, I can't hold up to the incredible musical talent found in this family. But I've decided to give it a try!

And the best part of the trip . . .family.

Nauvoo Reunion

This is the handcart we pushed for three miles.

In June we had a family reunion in Nauvoo, Illinois with my mom's side of the familly. It had been two years since I had seen most of them so I was SO greatful that they made the sacrifice to drive all the way to Ilolinois for our family reunion. I cherished the week that we had all together - for they never happen often enough. Mostly there is nothing at all in Nauvoo except for a lot of historic Mormon church sites. We all camped together and had a wonderful time during the week. At the end of the week, we gave up the primitive life and headed to a nice hotel 30 miles away. The hotel, appropriately named "Fun City", was amazing! There was a full indoor and outdoor water park, laser tag, bowling, go carts, an arcade, restaurants, and so much more. From here on out no trip to Nauvoo will ever be complete without stopping at Fun City! This is most of the Stucki clan! I sure do love you guys!! The most handsome man in the world with his little girl. Here are my little prarie kids walking, and walking, and walking . . . just kidding! We took a little trek with handcarts while we were in Nauvoo which was an incredible experience! It was much harder than I anticipated but well worth the time and effort. However, unlike most pioneer children who had to walk across the plains, mine only took about 10 steps and then decided that this activity was not for them. Nor did they ride in the handcart that we had to push/pull. They were carried by loving grandparents, aunts, and unlces.

Recommitted

I MUST CONFESS. I stalk all of your blogs and am feeling very depressed about my "talents". I hope Dakota won't read this (which is a moot point because he will, as he is very supportive - one of the many reasons why I am in LOVE with him) because I complain about this to him without end. But really, as I observe your lives I am in awe of all that you can do! Some of you plan amazingly CrEaTiVe activities for you little ones and inspire them to go beyond their potential, some of you draw beautiful cards depicting emotions and events in your life EVERY week, some of you have made quilts that make me gasp and have a sweetness that often makes me weep, and some of you photograph everyday people like they are runway models, and there are others whom I love and admire greatly because of their support and patience. Incredible!! And what is it that I have to offer the world - what is it that I do from day to day that makes me me? Well, I am not sure. But really I love my life! I am so proud of my children and husband, I love this world and all the people in it, and I have a desire to offer some talent of mine to make this world a little better place - to make people smile or giggle a little. SO, until I find what that little something is . . . I am going to recommitt myself to posting weekly on my little blog here. It may not be exciting - but thank heavens for that! Exciting isn't always good anyway. So long for now, and I will see you much, much more often around here.

Now You're It!

My friend Liz "tagged" me (oh how I love Liz). So for her here is a little more than you wanted to know about me. Jobs I've Held: Paper Girl in my neighborhood for a very long time, Ice Cream scooper at Baskin Robbins - yum!, Clerk at Jewelry Store, Editor of Creative Marketing on BYU campus, clerk at the Flower Basket in Provo, Lifeguard at Seven Peaks in Provo, UT, secretary in Non-Student Employment Office at BYU, administrator for TDSN here in North Carolina. Movies I Watch Over and Over: Pride and Prejudice, Benny and June - anything with a happy ending. Nothing too scary please. Places I Have Lived: Provo, Utah (twice) - St. Joseph, MI - Cary, NC I Want to Visit: Michigan is always a great choice! Other than that anywhere with people I love. Also anything exotic . . . and warm! Places I Have Visited: Mexico, Europe, Malad Idaho as well as Idaho Falls, National Parks, and most of the United States of AMERICA! Shows I Watch: None - but if I had a tv I would definately watch Dirty Jobs. Favorite Places To Eat: Ponderosa (for the sheer memory!), Anywhere with Girlfriends, and anywhere without our children with Dakota. Websites I Visit: Blog City!, Photography websites, Craigslist I Tag: Kate Butler Jen Newton Ellen Stucki Tara and Taylor Randall Corlista Yech

What a BAD mother!!

This blog is a representation of my bad parenting. A few days ago I was shopping and saw a child (not an infant, a child - as in 3-4 years old) fast asleep in the bottom of a shopping cart. How cruel! Go home and put your little one to bed - she is so tired! You do no need to be looking at curtains this instant! So I go to thinking, "What kind of parent lets their child just fall asleep anywhere? Can't the parent see that clearly the child is tired - and if so, why not go home and place them in their bed?! Their nice comfy bed! And to say the least about a schedule!" So just as I was having these thoughts look what happened - I guess I was asking for a good slap in the face. It's just that Bently, for some unknown reason, slept in until 10:45 so I thought that maybe he wouldn't need a nap. That way we could put him to bed a little early and have him right back on schedule. Seemed like a great plan. So while I was out working in the yard, Dakota gave Bently a snack while he finished hanging sheet-rock in the laundry room. Apparently Bently had begun to whine a little and by the time Dakota went to see what was wrong this is waht he saw. When Dakota called me over to see, I was crushed. Even looking at this picture now I feel horrible. My poor little boy is fast asleep, with his backpack full of toys on, face first, on the cold hard floor.

First One In

On our camping trip the boys all decided to take a dip in the lake. Bently was the first one in and then quickly relinquished back to land. He later got brave enough to follow Ben and Dakota in and had a lot of fun splashing around. Swimming is one of the only activites that compares with throwing balls . . . right boys? We girls stayed ashore and took pictures of our cute boys. Thanks for the moral support Kalli and Keira!

Camping at Lake Jordan

Our very, very, VERY dear friends Ben and Kalli came to visit us and we had the time of our lives!! Although we are not as exciting as we use to be, we really love to be with such great company. . .we miss you both so much. Thank you with all our hearts! STAY BACK - - he's mine! Kalli got a run for her money with Keira around. Keira immediately took a very strong liking to Ben and clung to him all day every day. Thanks for being patient with her guys!