two posts at 12:45am

I typed "Cristi needs" into the Google search window and here are the top 10 answers:

Cristi needs...

...caffeine, lots of it. (If you ask me to my face, I'll just deny it.)

...this and that yet you may find your donated items for sale by her. If you go against her she will scream and cuss you like a drunken sailor. (Secrets out, you better back off!)

...a photo to post. Send Cristi a photo ... (Don't make me beg.)

...Cristi got a new phone and needs your number! (Google can foretell the future?! hint, hint)

...a donated vehicle so I can take care of my children. Hi my name is Cristi and I am a 33 year old female seperated (sic) from husband with 3 children. (I truly hope Google CANNOT foretell the future.)

...to satisfy everyone's needs to the best of my ability. (I'm working on this one, cut me some slack- sheesh.)

...to reject this theory, since she seems to be commited to the conclusion that all representation is linguistic, and all language has the fuzziness and flexibility that you attribute to the strangely attracting words, but not to the conceptual cores. (Well, that's a good argument, I'll give it some thought.)

...to realize that she has two beautiful daughters to live for and she needs God in her life to see right through a man like Danny. PRAY. (Finally, someone understands me!)

...to work on the "THUMP" sound. (Uh-Huh. My sound effects skills are sorely lacking.)

...recommendations. I am heading to Miami in March and am trying to pick restaurants for 4 dinners. (I am SO surprised, thanks for the trip everyone! And send me your restaurant recommendations ASAP. I've gotta get planning!)

I got this idea from my friend Becca, who did this on her blog.

Copy and paste the words. Bold the things you have done...

Copy and paste the words. Bold the things you have done...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run .
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone .
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Don't get any crazy ideas, it was a FISH!)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone (Maybe the last person in America who has not!)
99. Been stung by a bee

i'll eat you up

could these boys get any more scrumptious?!

history in the making

Whichever side you may be on, I think we can all agree that this has been a historic election. My hope is that President-Elect Barack Obama and his administration will be able to help "heal the divides" in this country.

From Barack Obama's election night speech:

"In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too."


And from McCain's election night speech, which I thought to be very gracious and respectful:

"Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt, many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight that I will do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face,"

"I urge all Americans who supported me to join not only in congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and honest effort to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences."

optimus pete, jack the lion, and scarecrow ben

The best part is when he makes the transforming noises and then "transforms" into a ball all curled up on the ground. Gets me every time. He's very good at sound effects. When I try to make the sounds, he says, "No mom, that's not how it sounds!"

This is what you get when you ask 4-year-old Pete to smile for the camera!

Ben pulled off his patches and refused to wear the hat, but got the hang of trick-or-treating real fast.

Jack was also reluctant to wear his "hat," but in the end he obliged and enjoyed holding out his bucket to take candy from strangers.

This is a picture from our ward trunk-or-treat. We were going for a theme. If only we had a tin man!

october

Oct. 17-18, Camping at Natchez Trace State Park with the Nelson's, the Robison's, the Mizukawa's, and the McNiven's.

Peter, Clark, and Brody.


Wade and Pete took an early morning walk to the nearby lake for some "happy" photos.


My silly Pete.


The lake and the boy early in the morning.


Later in the morning, we all walked to the playground for some kid-friendly fun. Here's Jack playing around.

Ben loves camping too!

Oct. 14- Bellevue Fire station with some friends from the area. These are a great bunch of gals and their kids. We had fun learning about fire trucks, sitting inside one of them, hearing the sirens, and watching the firefighters climb the ladder!

dad and the boys

While I was gone last weekend, Wade took the boys on a bike ride at the Ashland City Trail. Just Dad and the boys.

Ben

Jack, Ben

Jack, Ben, Pete

Jack

Pete

David Marshall Springer

Last week, my brother Davey passed away tragically in Lehi, Utah. I was able to make a quick trip to Utah for the funeral over the weekend. Many of you may have known him and I would like to share the obituaries with anyone who is interested.

From the Salt Lake Tribune, which you can also read here for a few weeks:


David Marshall Springer 6/5/1985 ~ 9/28/2008 On Sunday, September 28th, David left this life and returned to the loving arms of his Heavenly Father. Although his passing will leave a big void in the lives of his family and friends, we know he has left the pain of this life behind and gone to a much better place. Nevertheless, it will be hard to replace his ever-present smile and caring love for those he held dear. But this winter when the snow flies, and in subsequent winters, all who knew him will smile and know he is happy that the powder is deep and the slopes will be well groomed. He is survived by his father, David Springer; mother, Julia White; grandmother, Carol Springer; Grandma Pat; aunts, uncles, and cousins. Funeral services will held on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 at the LDS Chapel on 2150 North Point Meadow Drive, Lehi, Utah at 5 p.m.


From Lahontan Valley News in Fallon, NV:

This is to say farewell to our son, David Marshall Springer. Born June 5th, 1985 in Denver Colorado, he left many who loved him on Sunday September 28^th at the vibrant age of 23. He was a talented skier, artist, photographer and animal lover. Davey was always a loving son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, grandson and friend. Davey leaves many family and friends in Utah and here locally. His brothers, Todd & Brad Hellyar, his sisters Cristiana Van Horn & Corrine Christian fondly remember their years together growing up here in Fallon with fun and craziness. Davey spent all his school years here in Fallon, except his Senior year, he graduated from Lehi High in Utah.

Davey had many years of pain & difficulty making choices. How do you sum up a life in just a short paragraph? He is loved and will always be loved. He gave love to all even thru the pain of his life choices. A memorial will be held in Lehi, Utah on Oct. 2nd at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel on 2150 N.Pointe Dr. 5:00p.m. We will say farewell for now, and he will say hello to all his family in Heaven. Your words or thoughts can be forwarded to his Mom, Leslie Beach & Carl Cardin at beach@cccomm.net. She will pass them along to his father David Springer and birth mother, Julie. It was an honor to have him call me Mother. A hole is left in our Hearts.

1/2 marathon update

Well, the 1/2 marathon update is that there will be no 1/2 marathon. At least not for me, in October anyway. I just haven't been able to prepare the way I'd like to and time is running out. Plus I didn't get registered in time and would now have to pay double the price!! The good news is that Wade says he'll train to run the Music City 1/2 marathon with me in the spring. I plan on running some sort of race, maybe a 10k, in the next month or two, and continuing to run regularly. I've also started adding some upper leg strengthening exercises that will hopefully prevent any more knee pain. I will run 13.1 miles yet!

last hurrah

Summer IS still in full swing here in TN, but Fall is quickly approaching. The first few leaves have fallen and the temperature has been turned down a few notches (thank heavens). I'm looking forward to Fall, and with summer on it's way out, I didn't hesitate when Pete asked to play in the sprinkler today. Here are the boys having a blast in our backyard for the first, and maybe the last time this year.

Jack giving me the "Mommy, I think there's some water in my nose" sign.

Ben giving me the, "I'm cold and I'm ready to go in" sign.

Pete, on the other hand, would have stayed out all night.

Farewell summer (almost), hello Fall!

PS- don't bother clicking on the images. I am without my photo editing software, so these are large!