Mamma Mia, Here I go Again. My, My, How Can I Resist You?

Isn't this the greatest picture ever! I love the outfits!!

I've always loved loud music.

I have occasionally forgotten to turn the radio down after I've been in the car alone. When we get back into the car and the kids hear the volume of the music, they snicker.

My absolute favorite things is going to concerts. I'm not talking the quiet, sit in your chair and clap polietly variety.

I love the loud music,

crazy fans and the beat of the drums and live dancing.

I've been to some great shows: The Police, Sting, Culture Club, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, . The Barry Manilow concert was a show with tons of people on stage with costumes and choreographed dancing. The Pet Shop Boys concert was a bizarre performance. The Duran Duran concert was a dream come true for me, amazing! One of my all time favorite groups is ABBA. I have never seen them in concert, so we're doing the next best thing for an ABBA fan. Thanks to Heather who decided to go in Vegas instead, we've got tickets to

Mama Mia.

I am so excited!!

I'm starting to gear up for the big day! Anyone else enjoy a live performance??

Reclaimed and Put to a Good Use!!

Have you ever changed the furniture layout of a room in your home and it just made your day? I absolutely love doing this. Some say this because I am unsettled, but I figure it's a great way to clean under things and find the lost puzzle pieces and legos and get rid of the dust bunnies (luckily, I never find any like these.) I also love using old objects in new practical ways. Just before Christmas I used an old window frame to make my family a weekly calendar. Prompted by the fact that I forgot to take a dessert to a funeral, (I felt horrible) I needed some way to see and not forget our weekly schedule. You can use magnets and dry erase marker. I love this because it's using this window in a practical way, and I haven't forgotten anything since.

This old toiletry suitcase was found by my mom while going through her aunt's things after she passed away. It contained love letters her huspand wrote to her while he was away serving in World War II. Sounds like a lovely, romantic story.(I think I was blushing while reading the letters though- some were a little spicy, especially reading them in front of your parents.) It now sits in my entryway.

Brent made this picture frame from the wooden fence we took down. He is very proud of his efforts, especially because he saw a similar one at Craft Warehouse for over $50.

I got this Family sign from a friends craft show. It's made out of a cabinet door. It sits above our Portland Temple picture.

This cool piece was given to me by Jan. I know there is a fancy word for this piece of wood above a door, Ballistrade maybe, I'm not sure- but it's now a shelf in my piano room.

What shall I do with this? It's not really old, but I like it.

I've Got Two Things on my Mind!!

Inspired by Sarah's goals and resolutions for the coming year, I have finally narrowed it down to the most important thing for me to accomplish this year. There are thousands of things that I can work on, but I've got to focus. My goal is to complete the Book of Mormon, with Brent, following the Sunday School reading schedule. I'm not talking a quick through passing lightly over the things that seem confusing, I've done that. My goal is to get a real time line, doctrinal understanding so I can follow the council of my Patriarchal Blessing and come to "pay particular attention to the Book of Mormon, the most correct of all books." I'm going to take it slowly and take notes and write down thoughts and ideas. That's it. Sounds easy enough.

Next. obviously of less importance is the night we have been waiting for.

Tonight is the Night

Name another show that we can all watch together as a family. With the exception of a few individuals that get a lot of bleeping out (the A.I fans will remember the large lady in the yellow feather outfit- my boys still talk about this one) it's a wonderful show and

The Spurgeon Family loves it !!!!!!

It is only one of two show we watch (Extreme Makeover-Home Edition being the other.) My favorite part is probably the kids anticipation of it and the fact that we watch together, it just makes me smile. Any other American Idol fans out there?

This is my England!!

No, the picture up top underneath our name is not the Sacred Grove, it's England. This has inspired me to present a virtual tour of one of my favorite parts of England, Yorkshire. One of my favorite shows on TV is The Today Show when Matt Lauer does the "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" I love seeing foreign lands and how the people live. Enjoy the photos.

This is one of my favorite authors. James Herriot (James Alfred Wight) wrote of his experiences as a country vet in Yorkshire. I read his books growing up and his life has been made into a tv show and even a movie. He has even written a series of books for children.

The younger man shown with James Herriot (below) is Christopher Timothy, the actor who plays James in the TV show and movie. They are seated in front of the house where James lived while practicing in Yorkshire.

The picture at right is York Minster.

It is the largest Gothic Cathederal

in Northern Europe. The history of

the city of York is seperated into

seven periods:

Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, Medeval, Stuart, Georgian and Victorian.

A wall surrounds the city of York. Much of the wall dates back to Roman times and was built as a military fort to deter invasion.

This picture (above) is of Mickelgate Bar, one of the forts along the wall. Traitors were beheaded and then left hanging from the wall for several years.

This thatched cottage ,named Partridge End Cottage in Assington, Yorkshire, is available for rent. It sleeps 8 and is surrounded by open fields in the back and orchards across the road. Anyone ready for a vacation? These final pictures of the Yorkshire Dales make me smile. These are probably what you think of when you picture England. James Herriot said:

"I think the exact moment when it dawned on me that Yorkshire was a magical place was when I pulled my car off the unfenced road. It was surrounded by a little stream, and I looked back over the swelling moorland to the great wooded valley of the Swale where it curves on its approach to Richmond. I gazed at the scene in disbelief. There was everything here: wilderness and solitude breathing from the bare fells, yet a hint of softness where the river wound along the valley floor. And in all the green miles around me there was not another human being to be seen. I was captivated, completely spellbound."

(I feel like I just did a history report for my Social Studies class, but I love England and wanted to share part of it with you.)

Canvas Art

Thanks Michelle for expressing interest in my whimsical art projects!!

This is such a fun project! It's easy, INEXPENSIVE, and the possibilities are endless. I saw a piece of canvas art at Nest Feathers and I absolutely loved it!! You can make them any size. The one at Nest Feathers was humongous, this one is about 11x14.

1. decide on a theme

2. collect pictures or photocopies (color or B&W) ribbon, wrapping paper, fabric, scrapbooking paper, etc.

4. lay out your design

5. decide on a background (can be paint or paper)

6. mod podge your papers, etc.

7. when you are happy with your work, finish with a all over coat of the mod podge (available in matte or gloss finish

I made this simple canvas for Britton's room.

This is a great project for kids. Kenley made a canvas for an art project she had to do for the Piano Festival she participated in.

My next canvas project:- a large piece for our new Family Room using beautiful paper and scrumptious color!!! (stay tuned)

Never too young to be accountable!!

Yes, it was cute to see him washing off his handy work, but did it have to be permanent marker?

First, a little catch up

This is our 2007 Christmas picture. I love this picture! I took about 20 photos and ended up using the first.