57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 16 - Sept. 19

So I'm quite a bit behind, but instead of bombarding you with a whole bunch of entries - I decided to just start from here and continue on...

DAY 16: A PICTURE OF SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES YOU

When I read the topic for this day, one person really jumped out at me. It is Eric's mom, my mother-in-law.

From the get-go she was always trying to help. Once Eric and I made the decision to get married she did all she could to help us get to that point. They gave us a place to live (their basement) and charged very little rent.  

I've watched how each of her boys can easily talk to her about the going on's in their lives and she offers advice (when needed) without criticizing their choices. She's never judged a person harshly outloud (I'm sure she's human and she's thought things many times). 

After living with them for a year or so, I got more of a glimpse of the person she is. It didn't really come full throttle until we ended up living back in the basement of their new home (after Lex was born) for awhile that I really got to know her.

She is the greatest Visiting Teacher a person could ask for. She constantly makes sure the ladies she visits are doing well and takes time to visit with them and take meals at times they need it. I remember one time when we thought Nathaniel might decide to grace us with his presence and so we were staying with her for a couple days. During this period she not only cared for me and my family, she made a meal for one of her ladies as well. She NEVER stops. If she can help someone she will.

She's come after the birth of Nate and Ailey for a couple days just to help me get into the new swing of things and she cleans my house and keeps the family fed. While on vacation 2 summers ago I watched her and her mom constantly serving everyone else. They were both on their feet pretty much from sun up to sun down.

I've seen her strength of character lately with issues surrounding the family. She is so easy to talk to and I love that I can go to her whenever I need someone to vent to.

I always heard stories of how mother in laws are the awful, horrible people and that so isn't the case with me. I was so blessed to have Shirley in my life and I pray that I can be the same type of person to the girls my boys choose as she's been to me.

And yes, there are very few pictures of the 2 of us together - one or the other of us is usually behind the camera!

What Happens Next...

It's Hangman Time!!!

This past Wednesday the Scouts had a Pack Meeting and the theme was Careers.

On Monday Eric got roped into being one of the 'presenters'. (It's not a good thing when you have friends that are Scout leaders) Well Eric then decided to rope me into this presentation in a way as well.

Now for those of you that don't know, Eric is a computer programmer. Right now he's currently working with the State for the unemployment benefits website. He does A LOT of behind the scenes work and while most of us would think his job was super boring, it's super important to those people who are looking for work and want to get paid in the interim. Explaining all that to kids would be boring though, right? Right. So Eric went with programming a game of Hangman!

He was able to do it in a day and a half. So where do I come in? Eric had me do the graphics. Seriously? I'm really not that great of an artist, but I was happy to help my husband and when he had faith in me, I knew I had to do it. Here's the graphics I made (with a bit of help from Paintshop):

So the way Eric explained his job was that he'd show the kids the game, let them play a round and then he'd show them all the coding that went into the game. There were a few kids that really got into it.

While Eric was stuck behind a table showing off 'our' game, I got the task of keeping up with Nate & Ailey. Well before I knew Nate was gone. (I was pretty sure he went with his buddies) Lex was of course going around with his scout buddies, Shaylyn took off with her friends and Tanis had Young Men's down the hall. So I had Ailey tagging along with me.

One of the Scout leaders asked me to take her camera and start taking pictures. I happily obliged. We had some Sheriff's come and show their vehicles off and the kids had a blast with that. I took a few pictures of the Scouts outside with the cops and then noticed Lex coming out. I ran back inside to get my own camera so that I could get these pictures (it better be the ONLY time I see Lex in a cop car):

-- This lady actually lives 3 doors down...I've never really met her, but I like that she's so close and she was super, super nice! --

It was a good night all in all. Not sure that Lex really learned anything, but I think all the kids had fun. Here's a few more random pictures from the night:

-- A lady in the ward was trying to be nice and tell Ailey not to run with a sucker in her mouth - it scared Ailey... --

The hangman game was so easy a 2 year old could play it... (Of course, it worked nicely to have a touchscreen monitor handy...)

What Happens Next...

Labor Day

So I was transferring photos from my memory card to the computer and realized I had never transferred the photos from Labor Day - which also meant I never blogged about it. I'm telling you, with the things that have been going on in my body lately - I'm losing my mind!

Let's talk about Labor day now, shall we? It was only 2 weeks ago...

Because I was such a wonderful person on the 24th of July, I decided to be a better person and give my hubby the chance to go shooting on Labor Day since I foiled his plans on the 24th. Eric invited my BIL, Cody, my little brother, Logan and my soon to be BIL, Mark.

Cody was going to be out of town, so it was just Eric, Logan and Mark. Well we got to my Mom's around 12:30, so the guys could go around 1:30 or so. Well the day just wasn't panning out for Mark and he didn't get to my parents house until around 3:00.

It all worked out though and the guys went shooting, while the girls helped my sister, Kami with a few wedding plans. I had so much fun being involved with some of the planning and helping my older sister out. We started to get hungry so most of us ate and decided the boys could eat when they got back.

We had fun visiting and then around 7 or 8 we decided to go for a walk. I love taking walks on summer nights. There's something so peaceful about it. I just wish my body would be in a better position to do so.

Anyway, here are some pictures of our Labor Day:

Just Hanging Out

Outdoor Antics

Night Walk

All pictures were taken by my phone and well, you see what you get...

-- Little M. was throwing a fit because Grandma started holding Ailey's hand...Thankfully the fit didn't last long and little M was just as content holding Ailey's hand. --

What Happens Next...

Music Shuffle x3 (I think)

I know, I know - I've neglected the 57 Day Photo Challenge for a week now.... I haven't given up. Let's just say that life really likes to keep me on my toes or in my case - laid up in bed. UGH! I will post more about that adventure in the future...

So because I'm bored and I want something to do, and I'm resisting the urge to go back to the couch or the bed, I decided to do another Music Shuffle whilst I do some digi-scrapping. And I like to make things interesting so I've found quite a lot of fun questions this shuffle will answer. YAY!!!

SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR LIFE

OPENING CREDITS: Mother Knows Best - Tangled Soundtrack
- Guess it kind of fits...

YOUR MOM FINDS OUT SHE'S PREGNANT WITH YOU: You Look Good In My Shirt - Keith Urban

SLIDESHOW OF HER PREGNANCY: Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down

WHILE SHE'S DELIVERING YOU: It's Over - Matthew Morrison
- Well, if you don't take the lyrics literally it makes sense.

YOUR FIRST BIRTHDAY: Complicated - Avril Lavigne

YOU GROWING UP: I Can Do Better - Avril Lavigne
- Hahaha. Anything you can do I can do better!

YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Hello - Lionel Richie

MEETING YOUR FIRST FRIEND: Stronger Than I Am - Lee Ann Womack

YOUR FIRST DAY OF MIDDLE SCHOOL: What Do I Do Now - SHeDAISY

MEETING YOUR FIRST CRUSH: A Boy Can Dream - Matthew Morrison
- I suppose if the 'movie' concentrated on the the crush - the song would work.

YOUR FIRST KISS: Can't Stay Away From You - Gloria Estefan
- Oh this just makes me laugh.

FIGHTING WITH YOUR PARENTS: Love Is A Battlefield - Brooke White
- Eerily perfect for this topic.

FIGHTING WITH YOUR FRIENDS: Because Of You - Kelly Clarkson
- Again, eerily perfect.

BREAKING UP: Where Is Your Heart - Kelly Clarkson
- Wow, 3 for 3...Let's see if it keeps up.

YOUR FIRST DAY OF HIGH SCHOOL: Imagine - John Lennon

YOUR SWEET SIXTEEN: I Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock of Seagulls

YOUR EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY: Independence Day - Martina McBride

YOUR GRADUATION CEREMONY: Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder

YOUR FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE: Serenade - Jim Brickman

YOUR FIRST COLLEGE PARTY: Addicted - Kelly Clarkson

MEETING YOUR TRUE LOVE: Start Me Up/Livin' On A Prayer - Glee Cast

GETTING MARRIED: I Thought You Knew - Keith Urban
- Wow, what a way to start out a marriage...

FINDING OUT YOU'RE PREGNANT: What About Now - Daughtry
- Very interesting...

HAVING YOUR FIRST CHILD: Faster Car - Keith Urban
- Hehehehe...

GETTING OLD: What Dreams Are Made Of - Lizzie McGuire Soundtrack
- Perfect fit!

YOUR SPOUSE GETS SICK: From A Distance - Bette Midler

THEY DIE: If You See Him, If You See Her - Reba McEntire
- On some levels this song works, on others - not so much.

AT THEIR FUNERAL: Dreaming My Dreams - The Cranberries

YOU END UP IN THE HOSPITAL: We Are Young - Glee Cast

YOUR DEATH: Sweet Caroline - Glee Cast

YOUR FUNERAL: Gunning Down Romance - Savage Garden

PEOPLE'S THEMES

MINE: The Winner Takes It All - Meryl Streep
- Actually the lyrics are pretty appropriate for my life.

YOUR BEST FRIEND: Last Kiss - Pearl Jam

YOUR FIRST CRUSH: I'm Still Standing - Glee Cast

YOUR MOM: You Won - Keith Urban

YOUR DAD: Happy Together - Donny Osmond
- That's funny cause that song is pretty much my mom and dad's 'song'...

YOUR SIBLINGS: Mary, Mary - The Monkees

YOUR WORST ENEMY: My World - Avril Lavigne

YOUR SIGNIFIGANT OTHER: I Wanna Be Sedated - The Ramones

YOUR FIRST CHILD: Won't Let You Down - Keith Urban

YOUR FIRST GRANDCHILD: Thnks Fr Th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy

What Happens Next...