Me & My Girls!

I've done a lot of posts about the girls in my family for the simple reason that we rule the house! (Our dog is even a girl, Miss Majesty, aka Maggie) However, I will be posting about the boys in the family. I'll be getting pictures of them as soon as my nails are dry and they get done with all the chores! ;)

Bethany & Rhett's Prom

Thanks Daunine for helping Bethany with her hair! It looked beautiful!

Bethany & Rhett - don't they look great?!

Thanks especially to Suzi for helping with Bethany's dress at the last minute! You're the Best!

For more news about her Prom experience, go to Bethany's blog!

More Pic's of Family from Kyle's Funeral

Darling Darbi

EEK! says Emily as she watches Judy preparing her camera

Quite the Cutie Kennedi

Marvelous Maci

Amy & Emily - Always Enjoying

Pic's of Family from Kyle's Funeral

Mr. Sammy - what a handsome boy

Sammy, Dallin, and Natalie - I wish she enjoyed being with her kids & family more

Grandma Melton - loving her cake, not loving the photo op

Judy, Natalie, and Cameron - even though we can't see him

Judy in her natural state of being - ready for picture taking

Seminary Update

Tomorrow is the last official day of Seminary. (Friday, the teachers will be serving a big Pancake Breakfast) As I think about this, (the last day, not the pancakes) it brings tears to my eyes and pains to my chest. I have come to love these Fifteen 17-year-olds with all my heart! I have enjoyed them so much for several reasons. Here are a few of them:

They were always there! During the four weeks I taught, and out of 15 students, there were only a total of 5 absences - Amazing!

They did every little thing I asked them to do - they were completely obedient. Even when an activity seemingly had no point, they did it - How Pleasant!

They are strong kids; I watch in awe as they go about their day doing all that is required of them. I have complete respect for them and their job of "Growing Up" - Great Potential!

They made me LAUGH - I was well entertained - Who Needs Reality TV?! :)

From the very first day, they were no longer Sister Crossman's kids; they became mine. As I think of the fact that they will be studying the life of our Savior, and his apostles, in the New Testament next year, I can't help but begin to mentally plan lessons that would be geared toward this class specifically. Then, I realize they will be someone else's students; I'm not OK with that. I want to stomp my feet and pitch a fit; whining that "These are MY kids! I want to be their teacher next year! I want to be the one interacting with them as they study our Savior Jesus Christ!"

Heavy Sigh...

How blessed their teacher will be next year! I pray it will be ME!

P.S. 4:30 a.m. DOES exist!

Congratulations....

...to Dawnae & Allen! Their baby boy was born today! I'm so happy for you Dawnae! I can't wait to hear from you...I'll give you 4 months!

Myth or Reality?

They say she doesn't exist. They say she is a myth. They say she is not real because there are no credible sightings of her. Well, as her official paparazzi, I'm here to tell you she's as real as they get; just hard to capture in pictures! Meet Lauren! She is my 2nd daughter. Contrary to the attitude portrayed in the photo below, she is the sweetest girl around! But the truth that is portrayed is her quick, dry wit. She is HI-LAR-I-OUS!!! She can get us all laughing till our belly's ache with her comebacks and body gestures!


Lauren is very pleasant to be with. She is also as loyal as the day is long - and then some; especially toward her twin sister Ashley. When they were little, if Ashley was hurt or sad, Lauren was right there doing anything she could to cheer her up. She could not stand to see her crying. In fact, as an infant, she never really cried until Ashley cried. If she loves you, she loves you deeply and forever. As a toddler, this characteristic was portrayed by her hoarding all her favorite toys in one spot, usually the mini-trampoline. She would sit next to them, not necessarily to play with but to protect.

Her empathy towards others allows her to capture emotion in her art. One day she drew the face of a girl. She showed it to me and I was truly moved by her drawing. Yet, she didn't care for it and ripped it up. The next time I saw the picture it was in 4 pieces and I asked, "Lauren, why did you rip this picture?" She exclaimed, "I don't like it!" I showed her how in each of the four pieces of the girls face, she was able to show the expression of 4 different emotions that when the pieces were put together, caused the viewer to feel deep emotions and connect with the picture. She said that was why she didn't like it. She thought this was a weakness in her art. "That, my dear, is raw talent many artists work a life time at accomplishing!". She simply smiled, and still occasionally will draw a picture or two - which can only be viewed by the public as often as she is - rarely!

Lauren will be completing the 8th grade and promoting to HIGH SCHOOL! And she, too, will be going to early morning seminary. When this is mentioned, she replies with an eyeroll - a different-than-hilarious kind of body gesture! :) Everyone likes Lauren. Not just the boys, either. She is going to have such a great time during her high school years, and she will be a great asset to her school and friends! She is simply FABULOUS! I love her so much!

Meet My Ashley! She's One of My Original Cute Chicks!

A few weeks ago, my girls and I went out to the Getty Museum so I could do research for a paper. We all love it at the Getty, and that is where these pictures were taken. However, our day at the Getty is the subject of another post.

Ashley is my 3rd daughter. She is awesome! And I love her very much! She is a survivor with a very strong will. Thank goodness! It was this willfulness that kept her alive on several occasions as a very sick newborn. Because of her weakened lungs the first few years of life, she had difficulty breathing during long periods of exertion. But that never stopped her... it just slowed her down a bit. For example, while Trick-or-Treating at age 2, she walked up and down the hilly streets of our neighborhood filling her purple plastic skeleton with all the sweet treats offered her when all of a sudden she simply sat down. Why? Well, she was tired and had gotten all the treats she needed. She was done. Consequently, so were the rest of us. No amount of coaxing, pleading, or bribery (she had all the candy she needed) would get her to move! Her dad carried her home so she could catch her breath and enjoy the rest of her Holiday.

Nowadays, Ashley's "will" presents itself in her independence, her outlook on life and in her own sense of style. Case in point, Bart and the kids took me to the Norton Museum for my birthday a few years ago. When we were viewing the sculptures of ancient peoples, Ashley walked around the room with her hands on her hips, then proceeded to explain how the exhibit should have been laid out to make it more visually appealing through the utilization of the large picture window looking out on the garden. And you know, she was quite right!

Ashley has always been a conscientious student. And in a few short weeks, she will complete the 8th grade and be a true blue 9th Grade FRESHMAN!!! Watch out HIGH SCHOOL! Ashley can hardly wait to get to the 9th grade campus!!! (We have a 9th grade campus and a main campus for the 10th, 11th, and 12th graders) With the beginning of High School, Ashley will also attend early morning seminary. However, that doesn't seem to be a part of her conversation as much as high school is... Because of my very loving motherly nature, I just say, "Too bad Missy, like it or not, you're going!" :) I'm very excited for the next few years of life for my Ashley! She is going to be a great asset to her school and friends, and she will have a Great Time! I Love You, Missy! Go Get 'Em!

Growing Fast!

This is one of my babies at 9 days old - one week after the pictures in the post below. Look at those tail feathers!

And this is her wing span! Amazing rate of growth!!! I feel like I can see the chicks growing right before my eyes!

She already does not like to be held. So sad! But it is really fun to watch her and her sisters growing so quickly. By next week they will have to be put into a different housing unit other than the plastic storage bin they've been in.

They will be ready to start laying eggs at the age of 19-22 weeks; which for these girls will be in September. (There is a small chance that one of them will be a boy) I have been told by three different "authorities" that Americauna Chickens lay colored eggs. The first told me they will be blue, the second told me they would be green and the third told me they would be yellow. I can't wait to find out what color they will be - or if they will be a combination of colors.

My Six Chix!

Two Days Old

Notice how they are furry with very little "buds" of feathers for their wings and tails. You can see the "buds" on the back yellow chick the best.

I'm Waiting...

...For:

Wendy Day to invite me to her blog.

Jayni & Ben to come home from England.

Dawnae Z. to have her baby boy and post some pictures.(no pressure my friend, I Love You!)

Amy Bowman to start leaving comments on blogs.

Aunt Lana & Uncle Mickey, et al. to come down to Cali.

Grandma's Birthday!

MY FAMILY TO BELIEVE ME ABOUT THE SEXTUPLETS!!!

Cats? Dogs? Bunnies? Chicks? What is that all about?!

With having 4,000 family members, I thought at least one of them would call me to see how I was doing and offer to help... FINE! WHATEVER! I'll just take care of these babies by myself thank-you very much.


OK, JUST KIDDING!!! I have six baby chicks! They are so very cute! Have I taken any pictures of them? Of course! Where are the pix? That's a good question. Some are from my digital but aren't being accepted for upload. Some are being developed at Costco...more waiting.

SO, as soon as possible I will have pix of my chix! In the meantime, I will be watching "Pride & Prejudice"...who doesn't love Colin Firth?!

It's Official...

...Sextuplets for us!

I Wish I Could Say It So Well

Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments; love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O, no, it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Please invite me...

...to your blogs! Jayni, Jenna, and Jessica I feel so left out! My email is micalanne@hughes.net.

Oh My Heaven's To Betsy!

I LOVE Seminary! I have the BEST class of 17 year olds anyone could ever ask for!

But...

I AM SOOOOOO TIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

In Memory of Kyle Preston Hessey

Yesterday was my brother-in-laws funeral. He passed away Monday, May 6th. All of the family that live in the area was there, and Steve & Natalie were able to fly out to be there.

Unfortunately, I lost my digital camera battery charger, so I had to use my "Old Timers" film camera to get pictures. I will post them as soon as I get the film developed....but don't hold your breath, I'm not quick about that kind of stuff. Do you feel my pain Katie Marie?! However, Judy has some pictures posted her blog if you just can't wait to see our lovely mugs.

It was a very sweet service. It is good to know Becky has great support around her. We love her very much.