I'm moving!!

Hi friends. Blogger and I are no longer technologically compatible. Please come see me at my new blog...
www.mindycaldwell.typepad.com

The Gospel of Twilight

I am borrowing this from my friend Brittney's blog. It's just too funny (and seemingly too true at times!). Those who know me well know that as much as I enjoyed reading the books simply for fun, I am dumbfounded by the extreme fanaticism they have caused in so many people. It just puzzles me. Anyway, my personal opinions aside, I couldn't resist sharing this spiritual thought:

Celebrate Ability!

Check out this video that a friend sent to me. Hopefully it will brighten your day as it has mine! Good work Dylan!

Out with the old, in with the new...

Shortly after we moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1997, we bought our first computer, a Dell. It wasn't top of the line or anything, but we loved it and it met our needs.

We moved that computer to our second apartment in Richmond. Then to our first home in Indianapolis. Then to our home in Kaysville. Then to our rental home in Mountain Green. Now here to our new home.

When Rachel was a baby, she crawled up onto the computer chair and scribbled all over the bottom of the monitor with a pen. We were slightly annoyed, but said, "It's okay. We'll get a new computer in a few years. No big deal."

I have been looking at those scribble marks on my computer.....for 10 years.

I don't know why the new computer never got purchased. My husband and I don't really use the computer for much other than internet bill pay, email, web surfing and random socializing. Steve doesn't use the computer for his job other than email. We have never had a laptop. It just wasn't high on our purchase priority list.

I realize that many people don't have a computer. I don't want to sound ungrateful for my old Dell. But I have been ready for a new computer. We designed this nice little space in the kitchen of our new home for a computer, so it could be in a central location and we could more closely monitor our kids' computer activity. I think I have already mentioned that the Dell is in a very inconvenient, far-off place of our home, but we didn't necessarily want to install the old, clunky computer here in our new computer space.

I am so excited to be posting my first blog entry right here in my kitchen, with the beautiful mountains reflecting off of the sleek screen of our new Apple iMac. It is so amazing and has so many cool features that I don't know what to do with myself.

The best thing about this computer is that it was a surprise! I wasn't feeling well a few evenings ago and I told Steve and the kids that I wanted to lay down for a half hour or so. I came walking out of my room 30 minutes later, and there was the computer, right where we designed it to be, already installed and connected to the internet. I squealed and jumped up and down like it was Christmas all over again!

Now the challenge won't be feeling out of the loop because I never get around to checking email or the web, but knowing when to "pull the plug" when I've spent too much time on the computer (curse you, Facebook).

Thanks Steve! I love it and I love you.

Happy New Year!

2009 is here. The holidays were great. Emily is almost over her pneumonia, so everyone's feeling pretty good. We are all going to Mexico in a few weeks!! We finally got our Christmas decor taken down yesterday. Our cat is still alive. The Utes are #2. I'm hosting my eighth (and final...for awhile, anyway!) party in 5 weeks tomorrow. American Idol is starting. I shaved my legs today. I saw a very large bird outside with a dark body and a white head, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've even seen a bald eagle this year.

Pretty good start.

Hi everyone. It's me, Emily.

My Mom was just mentioning how busy things have been, and how she is overdue to post on her blog!! So I said, "Don't you worry, Mom, I'll take care of that for you." So here I am. Hi. Just a minute...I have an itch on my finger...

So where was I? Oh yeah. I'm helping my Mommy. She's been busy getting ready for Christmas. Are you ready for Christmas? What did you say?? You aren't ready?

Boy oh boy, you better hurry. There's only a few days left, I think. So...
Oh no!! Here comes my sister Rachel. She has that look...I think she's coming to tickle me...AAAAHHHHH!!!!!
Geez, Rachel! I love you but sometimes I don't WANT to be tickled. Hmmmph.

I know what will cheer me up! A little jumpety-jump on the trampoline. Excuse me for a sec...

Whew, that made me tired. I think I'll take a rest...

Rest in peace, little Tiger

I was leaving my neighborhood to go Christmas shopping when I noticed a dark lump on the road way up ahead of me. I just knew it was Tiger. I had seen him in the garage just an hour or so previously! We would open the garage side door once in awhile to let the cats explore our yard a bit, just so they weren't cooped up in the garage all the time. Tiger was always the more adventurous one of our two kitties. He just ventured to a busier road this time and met his end. I immediately turned the car around, went back home to tell Steve, and Steve quickly collected his body and buried him in our backyard. The kids were at school. We told them in the afternoon. They were all so sad, but Julia has taken it the hardest. She is so tender. We are happy to still have Sugar, but we will miss Tiger.