Isn't HE so lovely...

So, I'm running around on Sunday (like most Sunday mornings) trying to get myself ready, dress three children, keep them clean and dressed until we can make it out the door, feed them sometime in between all this fun, pack the 'activity' bag for Sacrament, grab my scriptures, put my phone on vibrate (so I don't disturb anyone at church~since I already have children to do that) and maybe grab a granola bar to stuff down so I don't get that icky "I didn't eat anything feeling" while at church. During all this Lance is trying to find some things he can help me with. I have him check a couple of things and then he starts loading all the bags into the truck. We are running around to leave at least 20 minutes before the meeting so that we can get our VERY back row, left corner chairs. (This spot minimizes the noise level my ducklings inflict upon the ward.) So, Lance has all bags now loaded and starts on the loading of the ducklings. I do my usual call out to him to check if he is ready... yes, I must still do a check list even with him. It amazes me how every week during this check list he has missed one or two things and yet, he only had to dress and prep himself. (hmmmmmmmmmm) So, I run into the bedroom to grab my purse and I look up and see this:

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He claims that he was wearing it all morning. (at least an hour) I did not see it at all. He wasn't one I had to dress or do his hair... so I just didn't notice that my husband had dressed "pretty" that morning. He then went into a fake, "You don't look at me..." thing. Fan-C had stuck it on his head and he left it to see if I would notice. *Sigh* Sorry, I guess that is one I will have to add to the 'Sunday check-off' list -"wallet, phone, silenced, keys, pretty pink hats removed...."

The Moral of the Story is...

Don't bet against the DUCKS!!!

I think my brother-in-law Kevin learned this, the hard way.

He had to stand at a very busy intersection ducked out in Duck gear (pun intended) and hold a sign made by my sister. For an hour he stood in the FREEZING cold with rain falling and walked back and forth proclaiming the duck victory. The people of our fair town responded... lots of honking, yelling and one guy stopped and said, "Well, I guess you better not bet next time, eh boy." Kevin was a great sport. Family and friends came out to witness and document the event.

GO DUCKS!!!!

One side... and the other side...

The blurry part says... "I lost a Civil War bet."

Stanley Tree 2008

Our tree, almost nine feet tall, smells wonderful, looks beautiful and all is well... as long as I don't touch it. Once I make contact my nose is a runny mess & my eyes itch.. oh it is lovely. So you would think, well the tree is up and decorated, my awesome hubby has taken on the 'watering' duties... no more worries. Yeah right! I have all these little bulldozers running around and the tree is always somehow 'in the way'. *Sigh* But, I love the lights and I love just to sit and stare at it. Christmas is all about the music and lights for me. My ducklings have been learning the true meaning a lot this year... our 25 day count-down to Christmas has had different activities and movies and books every night... this year I am leaning away from Santa and snowmen and focusing on Christ. It is amazing what these little people comprehend and how much they really retain.

So from Mommaduck, Daddyduck and the Zoo Crew...

Merry Christmas to you~~~~

A taste of the wedding

Okay, so I haven't gotten my camera downloaded... BUT, looking through my pictures I don't have any of the bride and groom. You see when they were 'on display' I was busy running back and forth from the kitchen and prepping food and trying to keep stuff rolling. So, I have pics of the set-up and decorations but none of the couple. I took these off her facebook page. Sorry they are so small but, you get the idea. I promise to post by this weekend. I have a ton to catch up on ~ so it will be a feast or famine situation.

The couple...

Sayin' the "I do's"

Catrina, Charlie and parents...

Victory smells so nice!

Can you smell it?!?! Isn't it wonderful!!!!

Civil War 2008

Ducks crushed the Beavers, 65 - 38

It took away the Rose Bowl dreams for the Beavs... sorry guys!

Awesome game!

My bro-in-law (major Beaver fan) made a friendly wager with my younger brother and now must stand at a MAJOR BUSY intersection, two weeks from now, and wear Duck gear and hold a sign proclaiming his love for the Ducks! Oh, there will be pictures... maybe even a video. I will definitely post it~~~

Christmas Lights ~~~~

Turn your speakers on...
I love all the lights that come out this time of year. We have a home close to us that does this to their home... I LOVE IT! Enjoy!!!

Drum Roll Please......

Okay, here are a couple "before" pics.... showing how long it was:

And now here is the final product...
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TA DA!!!! SUPER SHORT AND 'HOLY COW' BLOND....

The color is : Vanilla Bean... mmmmm... yummy!

Thank you to everyone who gave me their two cents... I'm happy with the 'do'...

My head feels so light and I scared myself when I went to the store tonight and saw my hair color in a window when I was walking by. Hee hee... ;o)

Congratulations kids~~~

My 'little' bro-ski, Charlie just got engaged last weekend to Catrina Stefanek. They are planning a date in January/February-ish to be sealed in the Portland Temple. HUGE props to these kids for 'doing it right'.

We are so excited to have Cat join our family...

Costumes... finally!

Yes, I am a little slow in getting my camera downloaded to that I can post Halloween costumes...

The Tank wanted to be an elephant...

Here is Belle (from Beauty and the Beast). She wanted this one posted to show her "make-up"...

Tiny-T was my pink leopard...

The costumes survived two trunk-or-treats and now are in the dress-up bins.

The Tank wants to be a Lion next year... we'll see.

Let's talk hair... (cont.)

I am holding the vote on two other sites as well... here are the replies for their voting so far... I'm going to make my decision soon... If you want to vote, scroll down check out the pictures and leave me a comment. Thanks!

cehymas

Posted: 11 Nov 2008 10:31 PMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
I vote for #1. It looks more versatile.

ctr2002
Posted: 11 Nov 2008 11:06 PMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
How about this one?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/top10/06/256_mohawk1.jpg
in purple... ;)
ok, ok, ok...
I vote #1 for you and #2 for me...

snoopy8385
Posted: 11 Nov 2008 11:36 PMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
oh that is a hard one because I love the way the color shines in number 2 but I think for me the upkeep would be easier on 1. Sorry, no help here. Or you can go all out with CTR's great find. Might scare the little ducklings though.

forman
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 05:07 AMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
#1

mom2three
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 07:57 AMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
Hmmm...I guess I'm the lone dissenter. I like #2. My dd has had her hair cut both ways and I wouldn't say either one is really that much harder to fix. I like texture though...so that's just me!
(But both are cute...so you can't lose either way!)

verily
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 08:50 AMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
I like #2 the best also. They are pretty similar in style, so you can try one look and if it isn't totally what you want, either cut some more and get the other, or let it grow out a bit. The hairstylist in me looks at your features. If you do the shorter cut, it will accentuate your lower cheeks and lips. If you do the longer one, it will accentuate your chin, or your neck, depending on how long you go. You just need to decide which are your best features and which do you want your hairstyle to highlight. hope that makes sense.

rixie
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 09:02 AMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
I don't know what everyone else has voted, but I thought #2 was more flattering. ; )

mcteri123
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 09:08 AMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
I like 2 also!

marneep
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 12:29 PMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
How much time do you want to spend on your hair.. what kind of hair do you have? That makes a big difference. For me #1 would take a lot longer to do because I have course wavy hair, it doesnt lay smooth and pretty like that without a lot of work..
I like #2 better also, its a bit more sassy!!!

wnabamama
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 01:02 PMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
Ok so maybe it is just the stylist in me, but I just love #2. It is sassy, upbeat, and fun. It is something that will take more work with all the layering, but I think you could get the hang of it. I actually think a little auburn highlighting would be great, too.

kandyh
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 01:11 PMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...
I like number 2 best also. But a word here. It has less to do with the cut and more does the cut fit your hair type. I have been a hari model and have hair that grows really fast. I have VERY thick hair (LOTS of it) and my daughter has verythin hair. We could never wear the same cut. I have hair like Meg Ryan if she has wore that sytle my hair will do it and I have probalby had it cut like that. Years ago I had a punk beofre punk was cool for a hair show.The color will also depend on your skin tone and if your colorist knows how to make it look real. And I know nothing about how to cut only to sit and get. LOL But I do get my hair cut often and colored each time with every other time with additional hilights and low lights. I sometimes just tell my person the mood I am in and she will cut and color. I ahve been going to her for a long time. I trust her. Do you trust your person?

walkermom
Posted: 12 Nov 2008 03:03 PMSubject: Voting for mommaduck's new hair...

I like them both, I think no.2 fits your personality the best.

Let's talk hair~~~

Okay, so here is my hair sort of now... It reaches well past my shoulders and is GRAY stripped, not just a gray hair here or there... I'm talking full sections with no pigment left.

So, I want a change.

I want to cut and color my hair.

I know the color will be leaving my hair dark with light browns weaved in,

but I need a vote on length.

See pics below...

Please remember... the color in the photos are not the hair colors I am choosing...

Photo #1: Slight A-line cut with bangs that taper down to frame the face. Not too short and lots of layers (my thin hair needs all the help it can get.)

Photo #2: Also a slight A-line bob BUT, lots shorter. I love how they colored her hair to really show all the layers~

Okay, so leave me a quick note letting me know which one you like or that you don't like either.

I'm open to all comments.

Let the countdown begin...

Only 51 days until Christmas...

"It's the most wonderful time of the year...."

Mom, what is he running for?

Okay, so the elections have taken their toll on our household. Last week for FHE we talked to the ducklings about the candidates and the issues that we were voting for with this "historic" election. After discussing who Lance and I were voting for and why (of course in simple little duckling terms) we drove to the elections office and turned in our ballots as a family.

Since then, every commercial that comes on I have said, "UGH, I've already voted!" I wish we could enter a number and let the TV know that it can skip those advertisements since we have already voted. But, we endure.

So, yesterday, I'm working in the kitchen and I hear Fan-C say, "Be quiet! We've already voted!" I started to laugh. She was talking to the TV and the five million ads they run in between the five minute cartoon segments.

So, skip to this afternoon. I'm roaming around the LDS.org site and I bring up an article on President Monson. Fan-C wanders into the room and says, "Mom, what is he running for?" I said, "Fan-C this is President Monson the prophet." She says, "Oh, yeah! Do we support him?" I told her we do. She continues, "Who is he voting for, McCain or Obama?" I told her I didn't know, but that he would be voting for the best candidate. She then asked why we don't have to vote for the prophet. Insert quick lesson on how a prophet is called of God. Fan-C then sums it all up, "Why doesn't Heavenly Father just assign our next president?" Oh sweet girl, that would be wonderful and a whole lot less annoying.

Annual Family Pumpkin Patch Adventure

Okay, I have been fighting this program and I can't get my pictures to load in the order I want... so here we go on a journey that is all out of order and willy nilly. Enjoy!

Fan-C enjoying her ride out to the pumpkin patch.
I am feeding the goat (where are it's ears????) since the Tank wouldn't go near the goats after I bought all the goat feed. He wanted to just throw it at them...

Here's Kimmy... she comes down for our annual pumpkin patch visit with the whole family. We became close friends when she moved in as one of my roommates after I got home from my mission. I love you... I miss you.... ;o)

Whoa! Two pictures in a row that mommaduck actually exists! Wow! Look pumpkins in the background, my proof I was indeed there.

This is the other hayride carrying the other half of our family out to the pumpkin patch. We were headed back in...

Grandpa with my niece helping Tiny-T and my niece carry their pumpkins back to the trailer.

My "little" brother, Charlie carrying his load and strikin' a pose.

Hunting for the perfect pumpkin... the weather was perfect!

Grandkids loading into the hayride (see, out of order) with Grandma and Grandpa.

Here we are at the annual family pumpkin patch trip.

The Tank wanted to go up front and check out 'Sally, Nick & Bonnie' (the horses), but he was a little nervous (see his smile) so Grandma and Fan-C stood with him.

Nice 'View' - eh?!?

Once we all choose pumpkins, then we head over to my sister's house and have a BBQ. It is an annual tradition that we all look forward to.

Baby Hopkins makes an early debut!!!!

Lake Bryant Hopkins arrived early~~~

He was born today at 1:02pm.

Weighing in at 7 lbs. 1 oz.,

21 inches long.

Mom and baby are doing great...

Camryn said she couldn't believe it was really HER brother

and then she asked Lauri if she could take him home tonight.

Camryn climbed on her mom's 'soft' bed.
Look at Lauri, can you believe she just gave birth to a baby
like a little over four hours before this picture?
She is doing great~
Here are all four!
Keven was waiting on the other three and all of a sudden says,
"Lauri, we have four freakin' kids!"
A song comes to mind, "Back to life, back to reality..."

Daddy and Lake... he has big hands and feet~ gonna be built like Daddy.


Baby Lake and his first visitor... Aunt Stephanie
He was really quiet and mellow, 'calm before the storm'.

Congratulations Keven and Lauri!

I'm Wishing...

Just wishing I was there... even if it does have clouds~

The beach is one place I feel really close to my Heavenly Father. Walking along the sand and talking, crying or singing out loud to my Heavenly Father and not another soul in the world can hear a thing over the roar of the waves. I love the wind on my face. I look at all the water and all the miles of endless beach and I stand in awe. *sigh*

This too will end, right?!?

When Fan-C turned three years old, oh my goodness, she became this little person that tried to 'rule' our home. I referred to her as a terrorist. Someone trying to force their will on our family. She turned four and I had my sweet cute girl back. Really, like a light switch, my Fan-C girl was back.
The Tank turned three and he too took off into the land of trying to become the new and improved terrorist of our family. I endured the year with a lot of prayer, Cherry Pepsi and the calendar countdown to his fourth birthday. His birthday came and went... the light switch never flipped. He is still STUCK in this mode. Bringing us to today...
Stake Conference. I love Stake Conference. I love the messages, seeing old friends and getting to catch up with everyone and see how big their little ones are getting. I got to see the opening prayer, the opening song, stake business and then the satellite feed began and that was it. The Tank freaked out and I left to a classroom with him to help him become reverent again. Once he was ready we went back in where he proceeded to flip out again. I grabbed his coat, my scriptures and purse and headed for the truck. I stuffed him into Tiny-T's toddler car seat which was a challenge since he was trying to crawl out the whole time I'm trying to adjust the straps to get him in. I chose this car seat because he can't reach the seat belt release and would be stuck in it. Now, this whole incident involves him flailing around and SCREAMING at the top of his very powerful lungs. The poor neighbors to our Stake Center probably thought a cat was being skinned alive. So no message, no visiting with people and a four year old screaming at me for two hours while I played 'soothing' piano music and tried to read my scriptures. The light switch will go off right?!? He will morph back into my cute little man again one day, right?!?
(Please note that my little Tiny-T turned three during this time also. She, staying true to course, has taken on her role as the newest terrorist... so I have TWO right now... and Lance wonders why I am literally going gray overnight...)

Yeah, don't let the innocent smile fool you...

Tag... Your IT!!!

Elise tagged me...

7 random things about me

1. I don't like plain chocolate. I like peanut butter and chocolate combos or white cake with chocolate frosting... BUT, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting sicks me out. Plain Hershey's chocolate bars... YUCK! I can't even do chocolate ice cream in ANY combo.

2. I love to ORGANIZE events. I love to plan, coordinate help/supplies/food, set-up and then execute the event. Not a big fan of clean-up (but, then who is). I have done weddings, receptions, baby showers, birthday parties, sorority events and dances.

3. I love to go on vacation but HATE to travel. So, get me there quickly and I will have a great time and then get me home quickly. My version of hell would be to take a traveling road trip where you spend a week getting someplace and then spend another week traveling home. UGH! No Thank You!

4. I'm allergic to mushrooms. So, this makes dining out an adventure. I've had waitresses go into the back of the kitchen and search the labels of sauce mixes for dehydrated mushrooms. Note: Marie Callendar's is a nightmare restaurant for those with this allergy. I don't like munch-n-mingles (potlucks) for this same reason. If I can't GUARANTEE that is it mushroom free then I can't eat it.

5. I am comfortable speaking, singing, acting, teaching... in public. I LOVE large groups. I don't have a phobia of this. (I'm hesitant to post this, my luck I'll be getting a speaking assignment for sacrament next month.) I like to speak but, Lance not so much and since they usually ask you as a couple... I don't want to wish this on my dear husband. Once upon a time I was going to move to Utah and sing in a traveling opera company... but I chose to stay home and then Lance proposed.

6. My kitchen-aid mixer is something I would pack in my handcart if I had to pack a cart. I just couldn't leave this behind... is that bad?!?

7. I HATE shopping. Get in-get out-get what's on the list. Maybe I would like shopping a little bit IF I ever had a budget that would allow for some real shopping. I can't just walk around a mall and 'window shop'. So boring. I just get frustrated wanting that 'bigger budget' ;o). So, I just make my list and get it done. I am DONE with Christmas shopping by Halloween. I like to have the holiday season to do fun things with the ducklings and not be stressing out over gifts and shopping.


I tag: (yeah, I don't understand the linking thing sooooo...)
Whomever wants to spend a few minutes telling me weird stuff about themselves.
You know you want to ... do it!!!!

Happy Birthday Fan-C

Okay, I can't believe that Fan-C is SIX already! I remember her being two years old at a cousin's baptism and begging to be able to be baptized and explaining to her how she would have to wait six more years and now we are down to TWO!

Fan-C has been thinking of all her cousins when choosing her cake for the last two years. They always want the flower or balloon from the cake... so she has been choosing these 'scored' cakes enabling EVERYONE to be able to have a flower. That is so nice Fan-C.

We don't have a home large enough to accomodate our large families and we don't have a budget to rent or go to a 'public' place sooooooo, we borrowed the church's gym. Tons of room for the kiddos to run around and play and plenty of 'seating'... ;o)
She was very grateful for the gifts she received and Thanks You were prepared and mailed the next morning... Hoppa and Grandma Lillie got her a princess Barbie with extra outfits. She has been in heaven for the last two days changing this dolls clothes every five minutes.
Let the ATTITUDE begin.

Seriously, I thought I had until the age of nine before this kicked in... she is so 'advanced' for her age. GREAT!!!! (said sarcastically)

MAKE UP!!!! Mommaducks sends out a BIG 'thanks' to the three sets of Uncles/Aunts who have supplied her with such items.

Really, thank you for choosing neutral light shades. She and her cousin have been glamming it up ...