Best Mother's Day Ever!

I'm the luckiest mom in the world, because I have three wonderful sons who spent the whole day with me on Sunday. We got to go up to the canyon and take some family pictures, so fun now that Michael is home again.

We had a great weekend in Neola visiting with my mom, playing games with my sister and her family, shooting clay pigeons and eating yummy brownies. It is so relaxing to go home and be with the ones I love most in the world. I think it was the best Mother's Day I've had yet.

Yes, we are a goofy bunch, but we have a great time together. Thanks boys and David, for giving me the best gift you could ever give -- you! I love you guys!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

My amazing son won a car last week at his school. He was one of the students nominated by a teacher to be put in a random drawing. The students have to have good grades, as well as participate in various school activities and have good citizenship. Jaron's key was the magic one that worked, and he won! We are so excited for him. All his hard work the last 3 years and even before that is starting to pay off. He puts his heart and soul into every production, every performance and everything he does. Way to go Jaron! (In case you were wondering, it is a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. Way better than what he has been driving.)

Snow Canyon Rocks!

I have a new favorite place on earth, it's called Snow Canyon.

It is down in Southern Utah, right by Tuacahn.

It has petrified sand dunes, red rocks, white rocks, lava fields and other cool stuff.

I love going there and taking pictures with my family.

I don't know what it is about this place, but I feel so alive when I am there.

We got some cool pictures of Jaron doing leaps on the rocks.

We tried all sorts of different poses, just for fun.

This is one of my favorites.

Jaron told me to throw my head back like I was laughing. It looks like I really am, doesn't it?

We really had a wonderful time exploring this beautiful, rugged place. I can't wait to go back.

Missionary Homecoming #2!

We went to the airport on Saturday to welcome home our other boy, Elder Hirschi, who served a mission in Lima, Peru. The plane was delayed, so we were really tired of waiting!

The beautiful welcome home signs we made. I think everyone in the airport was jealous of our artistic talents!

Here they come down the slowest escalator in the world...

It was so great to see Michael and Kenny together again. They were born 6 days apart and have always been very close.

Our boys, Special K and Froot Loops. Together again for the first time!

The Peruvian travellers: Grandparents Carma and Scott Hirschi, Bryce and Jessica(sister) Tibbitts (who did not go to Peru), Dad Karl, Elder Kenny Hirschi, Mom Debbie (my seester),Brother Danny and Sister Nikki.

Welcome Home Elder Hirschi! Jessica brought Kenny Krispy Kreme doughnuts and we brought him a Mountain Dew!

Danny boy is much bigger than his "Big" brother now, so they had to arm wrestle to see who was the strongest. Kenny won, but there was some talk about cheating.

We had fun listening to Kenny's stories of his mission and also hearing him play the guitar. Like Michael, he missed his guitar alot!

All the girls: Jessica, Debbie, Mom, Linda and Nikki. Kenny gave a wonderful report on Sunday and we had an awesome day having all of us together again.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I was inspired when I visited my friend Sonnet's blog and saw some pictures of things that kind of define who she is. I thought I would attempt to do the same, however, I am not a professional photographer like she is, but I am trying to learn! My family is everything to me, so naturally I have to show the temple where David and I were married.

I have a lot of clocks in my house, and most of them don't work. I just love to collect them because they look cool. This one actually does work though!

I feel that my faith is really what my life is all about, so that really is me in a nutshell.

Lilu loves to look out the window and dream about catching another bird. I love watching her watching the birds!

My kitchen is my favorite room of my house. I love Sunday dinners around the kitchen table when all of my children are home!

I love old quilts, new quilts, any kind of quilt! I guess I should learn how to make them, but for now I will settle for collecting them.

My Unsung Hero

It has been 5 years this week since my dad died, March 19, 2004. I miss him so much, and I have been thinking a lot about how much I learned from him growing up. He wasn't a perfect dad, but he was the perfect dad for me, just the one I needed to teach me and guide me into life. Here are some of the lessons he taught me:

1. If you want to have a friend, you need to be one first.

2. Don't complain about your lot in life, just do the best you can with what you are given.

3. Never give up.

4. If you are going to be religious, live it every day, not just on Sundays.

5. No one gets a free ride -- you can have whatever you want, but you have to be willing to work hard for it.

6. Don't talk back to your mother and always help her do the dishes.

7. Pay your bills on time.

8. Life is short so make every day count.

9. The people you should try to impress the most are the ones around the dinner table with you.

10. The richest man in the room is usually the one with sh*# on his boots.

11. The best place in the whole world to be is your own home.

12. If your kids want to order the biggest hamburger on the menu, let them!

13. Don't worry so much, just enjoy life while it lasts.

14. Never stop learning.

15. Education comes in many forms, not just from books.

16. Know a few good jokes so you can always bring a smile to someone's face.

17. Call people by their name and look them in the eye when you talk to them.

18. Cherish, honor and take good care of your parents.

19. Live so that you have no regrets.

20. Never be ashamed to just be yourself.

Some of these things are things my dad told me, and some of them I learned by watching him. We didn't always see life the same way, but I know he did his best to teach me what he thought I needed to know. Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when I was still in Jr. High. He was forced to retire from the Forest Service, and his life was drastically changed from that point on. Still, he lived with dignity, he did what he wanted to do and didn't let the disease stop him. He never complained or asked "why me?". He beat it for nearly 25 years, longer than most. That's why my dad is my hero, and why I miss him so very much. I love you, Dad.

Lessons from a Siamese Half-Breed Cat

This is my precious, her name is Lilu. Lilu joined our family about 4 and a half years ago. She was a stray that some kids took to my mom when she almost drowned in the canal by her house. My mom couldn't keep her because she is allergic, so we brought her home. She really is a part of our family, and I can't imagine being without her. She is admitedly the wierdest cat on the planet, but we love her. What is wierd about her? Well, she loves to get into the shower while it is still wet and soak up the water. She will only let us pet her in the morning, the rest of the day she keeps her distance. However, if you ever need a nap buddy, she will be more than happy to oblige. She knows when it is bedtime and she will usually go right to her room (mud room) when the Alpha male (David) tells her to go there. (Yes, she understands English.) The craziest thing she ever did was one day she was crying to go out the front door. She hates the outdoors, so this was unusual, but David let her out. She sprang from his arms, snatched up a bird that was on the front porch, and was back inside the house with it in about 2 seconds. We chased her into our bedroom with the dead bird (or so we thought) in her mouth. David grabbed her and she dropped the stunned bird, which then started flitting about the room. I screamed for David to let her go again, he did, and she chased the bird around the room until she caught it a second time. David grabbed her again and threw them both out the front door, after which the bird managed to escape again, only to fly smack into our neighbor's house and die. It was like a scene from a bad comedy movie, and if I hadn't seen it for myself I wouldn't have believed it. But at least now we know that house cats CAN indeed hunt for food, even if they have never had to in their entire life!