Top Ten of 2008

Truly we have been richly blessed this year and there are a million more things that I could have listed here, but in the name of brevity and not wanting to bore you...here are some of the highlights!



10.
I join with my sisters and sisters-in-law and start a new recipe blog! Although it has made me the laughingstock of my family as I take 47 pictures of each night's dinner, it has been a lot of fun for me sharing some of my favorite recipes and trying out lots of new ones.

9.
In the ongoing saga in our house trying to get organized, Mom and Dad help us go forward in some long-standing house projects!

8.
Crain girls' weekend in California!!! For the first time in my entire life, I leave Glen and the kids at home and go hang out with my sisters in California. We get manicures, eat chocolate, and laugh a lot...something we definitely need to make a family tradition!

7.
Against all expectations, Glen succeeds in getting two of Spence's football games from Sunday to Saturday. Spencer is overjoyed.


6.
It was a long, painful process, but eventually I install a brand new mailbox! My other attempts at home improvement do not prove as successful as this one.


5.
After having her winning essay published in the Washington Post, then getting elected student body president Cami is well on her way to taking over the world!

4.
Aunt Heather makes a surprise trip to DC for a visit!!! Ever since Aitch moved away from Virginia a couple of years ago, we have missed the fancy hair-dos, the wardrobe planning, and the shopping trips. We keep secretly hoping that someday she'll find her way back to the promised land.

3.
Visiting with my Grandma Hepworth , aunts, and many other loved ones in Utah this summer. It had been a few years since we'd made the trip and we were thrilled to be able to see everyone again.

2.
Our sweet little Emma turns 8 and is baptized and confirmed . It's hard to believe that 3 of our children are now baptized. These years are slipping by way too fast

1.
After fifteen whole years of wedded bliss, Glen finally figures out who's smarter.

May your 2009 be filled with joy and peace and laughter!
Love,
Lara, Glen, Spence, Cami, Emma, Adam, & Ellie

Bottom Ten of 2008

A recap of our worst moments of 2008:

10. Sears' conspiracy to take over the world--one rogue appliance at a time.

9. I get voted worst birthday party planner AND worst costume planner in the history of the universe.

8. Psycho neighbor runs over kids' backpacks...then offers them $12 for their trouble.

7. Numerous injuries occur from Glen's violence prone bike rack.

6. I get declared meanest Mom in the universe by my eleven year old daughter...TWICE!



5. I come to the stark realization that NO ONE looks at our preschool blog...ever.


4. Adam goes on a destructive , insult throwing , smirking streak.


3. Our red-eyed gerbil, Lucy(fer), takes the Twilight series a little too seriously when she joins up with Victoria, eschews her vegetarian lifestyle , and traumatizes our family by eating her mate, Fui.


2. Really, REALLY bad week when two people die, kids get sick, and people get mad at me for helping "wrong".

and #1 worst moment of the year...

1. Ellie sets a new family record...vomiting more times in the last year than the rest of my kids in their whole lives combined. Ugh!



Stay tuned for the Top 10 of 2008 coming soon on January 1, 2009 at 12:01am (EST)!

(Don't forget! There's still time to enter the contest [with new, improved clues])

Inquiring Minds and Sweet Contest! (new clues)

Inquiring minds want to know:

What did we end up getting Cami after she got over the whole big dog disappointment?

A bathrobe AND a camera...she's excited, but certain of us [namely my first born] aren't so sure that this house really needed another picture happy photographer. :)

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Speaking of my first born...
he got the exact beginning climbing set he'd bookmarked on the REI website and handed us a coupon for.

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Emma really wanted a Baby Alive doll that actually pees, POOPS, and tells you it's stinky, but it sounded a little too much like a dog to me, soooo....
watch out Simon...here comes the latest American Idol in training with her very own karaoke machine.

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Ellie got a cute, cuddly (much cheaper) Baby Alive doll that performs no bodily functions other than incessant cooing and babbling.

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Adam got the only thing he wanted--Lego kits far above my IQ level.

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And from my sister AnnaLisa....a cute stylin' new temple bag that is about 50 years newer than my previous one.
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So now for the contest...

Guess at what mine and Glen's joint anniversary/Christmas gift is...

Some clues:

1. About 15 years overdue
2. It has something to do with numbers
3. The clue about numbers, while true, may be misleading
4. I need a nap

Leave a comment with your guess and your email address (if I don't know you).

Closest guess wins a new copy "Every Day With Rachell Ray" mailed to their house.
Rule summary:

• Entries must be submitted by Wednesday December 31, 11:59pm.

• Winners will be announced on the blog January 7th.

• If you have inside knowledge you are ineligible from leaving hints.
• Multiple guesses are legal.
  

HOW TO ENTER

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter, complete the comment form with your guess and email address (if I don't know you). To be eligible, entries must be completed and received on or by Wednesday December 31st by 11:59pm (EST). Incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries shall become the property of Golden Seven Archives. Golden Seven is not responsible for lost, misdirected or delayed entries. Entries received by telephone, fax, courier or personal delivery will not be accepted.

CONTEST RULES:

1. The contest is open to USA citizens and of age of majority. Identification must be produced on request. Family of Golden Seven (Kristina, Heather, Pete, AL, Matt, Nate, Tim, Mom, Dad--that means you), its contest sponsor (me), advertising and promotional agencies and their respective affiliates and associates and such immediate family members and persons with whom such employees are domiciled are excluded from this contest. Although please feel free to leave misleading comments.
   
   
2. The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded.
   
   
3. Decisions of the contest judges are final - no substitutions will be available.
   
   
4. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation of his or her name and/or likeness and/or voice/photograph and municipality of residence for promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation, radio broadcasts, newspapers and other publications and in television or film releases, slides, videotape, distribution over the internet and picture date storage) which Shaw may deem appropriate.
   
   
5. In accepting the prize, the winner, and any guest(s), acknowledges that Golden Seven may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using this prize(s)/recipes.
   
   
6. The person(s) whose name(s) is chosen as being the winner(s) of the specific prize will be required to answer a skill-testing question before the prize is awarded to them (Advanced chemistry 401 would be helpful preparation in answering the skill question).
   
   
7. Detailed contest rules applicable to this contest, including contest entry dates, how to enter, and prize value, number and any restrictions applicable to these prizes are available upon request from Golden Seven Enterprises.
   
   
8. Winners and any guests at the age of majority must sign a release form as prepared and accepted by Golden Seven acknowledging their acceptance and understanding of the complete contest rules.
   
   
9. Golden Seven retains the rights, in its absolute and sole discretion, to make substitutions of equivalent kind or approximate value in the event of the unavailability of any prize or component of the prize for any reason whatsoever.
   
   
10. This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, municipal and Murphy's laws.
    
    
11. Golden Seven reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contest at any time without prior notice (like if someone cheats)!
    
    
12. Approximate desirability of prize may vary.
    
    
13. Contest open to USA residents only.
    
    
14. One entry per person, unless you have another guess you'd like to submit.

Holiday Math Problem

What do you get when you add...

five ecstatic children bubbling over with anticipation and excitement...

with eight mismatching stockings (don't get any funny ideas--the eighth one is for Lucy the gerbil)...


throw in a few presents....

and some seriously rollicking times with the missionaries...

and a completely adorable baby nephew who came to visit all the way from Oklahoma (along with his Mom and Dad)...
with some of Grandma Sandy's snowball cookies...
...what have you got?


A very merry Christmas...that's what!!!

I [Heart] the Mailman: Christmas Cards 2008

I always like getting the mail, but starting the day after Thanksgiving I become addicted to listening out for the tell-tale sounds of the mail truck coming down the street. I quickly throw aside all the boring bills, catalogs, and ads and head straight for those handwritten envelopes that can only mean one thing....Christmas cards!

You may think addicted is a strong word for Christmas cards, but alas in my case it is probably an understatement. I run to the mailbox as soon as I hear the truck on our side of the street and if there doesn't happen to be any Christmas cards (gasp!) in the pile, I'll go back outside to make sure I didn't drop anything (seriously...).

To me the perfect Christmas card has a nice newsy letter and a fun family picture. I can't help but feel a touch of disappointment when I get a letterless picture or a pictureless letter. I love hearing their highlights of the year AND seeing if I have more/less gray hair than them.

I'm just as addicted to sending Christmas cards as I am to receiving them. I scout my pictures all through the year for the ONE that could be the Christmas photo. I intentionally do not place the possible candidates on the blog or on my facebook page, so that I can keep it the special photo just for the Christmas card.

Which one would you choose?

Then it's time for the letter. It can't be too long. Or too short. Or too boring. So I sit at the computer and ponder, start typing, delete, and ponder some more...until I've got it. I'll do a WANTED poster. Never mind that it is so long I had to use a legal size sheet of paper...as long as people don't submit my 'novel' to one of the worst Christmas letter ever lists then I'm good.

With the photos and the letters all done, I then forgo all sleep, exercise, and vegetable and I sit with a plate of Christmas goodies (preferably toffee) and I write, write, and write some more. I handwrite the addresses, personal notes, and address updates. And I love it.

[Not on my list yet? Don't mind receiving boring novel-length letters? Leave me your email and I'll add you to my list.]

Does This Mean We're Getting Old?

There are some of you out there that probably still remember us looking just like this...totally young, dirt poor, and in love!




Fifteen years ago today we were starting our life together in the Denver temple...




since then we've been through thick...



and thin together...



I'm grateful for each day of those fifteen years. I love you Glen!

Seeking Sage Advice...

Calling mothers and fathers everywhere...I need your help!

Exhibit A: precocious eleven-year-old girl who knows what she wants in life:

Exhibit B: The Christmas list:

Exhibit C: My personal philosophy on dogs:

She's too old for toys, too picky to let me choose her clothes, and surely would be highly disappointed in only a bathrobe and fuzzy slippers as her only presents. I'm at a total loss.

Any words of wisdom for a poor confused mother would be greatly appreciated....