WHY BLOG?!?

PROJECT SHARON!!!!

I don't have time to blog...so why do I take the time...I need a journal!!! My cousin Marilyn does a better job of blogging. I love her blogs. I am printing off my blog yearly to have a record of the crazy life I live. It is a perfect way to multitask. So I will be doing some catch up blogging from last years events. I think they call it REPENTANCE!!! Getting behind is not a good idea for me. Have you all noticed how fast time is flying...it is like my life is on fast forward and I need a PAUSE button!?!

SHE SMILES!!!

Have you ever noticed that most of my posts are about Nicole. Yep, she keeps me pretty busy but I wouldn't change it for the world!!!

NIKKI LYNNE...Where did my little girl go?!?

Nicole Lynne McConkie

2011 ALTA DRILL TEAM - LAS SCELLES!!!

Nikki Lynne survived Drill Camp...slept for 24 hours and is ready to go to the mall. We McConkie's are SURVIVORS!!! We also get tranfused at the Mall! Heirloom Photography by Kathy Morgan does the photo shoots. She is a "drillie MOM" and a whole lot of fun. Never see her without a smile and a kind word. More pictures to come but couldn't wait to post these!!!

SPRING BREAK

During Spring Break, Nicole and I flew to Moses Lake and stayed at the Sparks Bed and Breakfast!  Babette has a way of spoiling us and making us feel like we never want to leave. Bryce received his Eagle Award.  I got to take care of some legal matters while I was there.  Nicole got to hang out with some "old" friends.  We went to the cemetary and cleaned Paul's headstone. We were able to help with and attend the Junior Miss Program.  Jeni and Bonnie never skip a beat...they just keep putting out a wonderful program!!!  I miss them but am grateful we will always be friends!  We were then off to Leavenworth for some fun and games.  We randomly were selected as the guests of the day.  They gave us a private parking spot, free dinner and breakfast and a handful of gifts and coupons.  It was just an added bonus to a really fun trip.  We tried on silly hats (which is a tradition) at the hat store.  Nicole and I have so much fun together!

EMPTY NEST SYNDROME!!!

Hatching process....

5 baby birds

Getting Ready to Leave the Nest...

Spring Wreath

Mother Bird guarding the nest several feet away!

Nest in wreath and one bird on stem.

OKAY...I have this twig and spring blossom wreath that a little bird decided would be the perfect place to put a nest.  First there were 5 tiny blue eggs.  Then there were 5 skinny almost naked birds (a few white fluffy feathers randomly placed).  Then they got fat and grew real feathers.  It all happened so quickly.  It is on our front door so that guests usually got a HELLO from an unhappy mother bird.  One day we found a baby bird dead on the doorstep.  Nicole named him Jonathan and we buried him in the flower garden.  Now there are 4 birds scrunched into the little nest. Yesterday, I noticed on sitting on the branched of the wreath.  As I went to take a picture...they (all 4) flew out and up into the sky.  I could tell they had been practicing.  Now all I have is an empty nest and a lot of pictures.  I have been able to put up the summer wreath.  Fun to share the journey with family and friends.  Isn't it all a miracle.  Nicole is at Drill Camp this week and I have an empty nest at home.  Glad she is coming back!!!

Summer Wreath finally in place!!!! 

OFF TO DRILL CAMP

Nicole left this morning for 3 days of drill camp at UVU!  They have matching outfits for each day and Nicole loves that the colors are red and black for the school,  she said they are the sharpest colors and it reminds her of Todays Generation who also use those colors.  I will get more pictures of outfits later...today it was roll out of bed early and get her to the caravan.  Such good Mom's on this team.  They make everything so much fun!!!  We have been told they work the girls hard.  Tonight they perform...I love that it is less than a 1/2 hour away.  They also perform on Wednesday.  Nicole is standing sideways near the middle!  They are riding scooters around campus...they have red, black and white ribbons on them.  The baskets in front are goodie bags for that long 1/2 drive.  I tell ya, they spoil these girls!!!...THREE DAYS to do whatever I want...not really but nice thought!  LOVE SUMMER!!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY KIMBALL

Kim's children and grandchildren came over and gave him Father's day gifts.  He now has a "nook" reader.  He loves to read...perfect gift!  We had homemade carrot cake (yummy!!!).  It was a perfect Sunday!!!

GARAGE SALE

This is Nicole after successfully selling 10 containers of stuff !!!  Anyone want an old slide projector!!! 
Not sure D.I. will even want that one!!! Needed to make $100...made $272...Good Job Nikki!!!

Okay...I am going to say it...I never have liked Garage Sales and today was no exception.  It started at 6 AM and ended at 2 PM.  It actually started the night before with dusting (don't want people to think my junk isn't clean), pricing (low, don't want to haul this stuff back home EVER!) and the loading of the truck!  Just for the record Nicole, EXHAUSTED from way too many activities this week....slept through the prep!  I could have woke her up...but my lesson Sunday is on "Love One Another" and I decided to practice what I was going to preach.  They have these Garage Sales every year...maybe I will develope a love of Garage Sales...probably NOT!!!

Kimball's 62 Birthday!!!

Boy I sure am glad I'm not that OLD!!!  Just had to tease a bit.  I am 58 and my day is coming soon!  You know when you have 18 Grandchildren and one on the way...it is okay to be 58!!!  Kim got a 60" new flat screen and surround sound.  Thank heavens Taylor is helping with final set up.  Wires everywhere.  The subwoofer practically knocks your socks off!!!

NICOLE AND EMPOWER DANCE COMPANY 2011

This last year Misty Peterson left Emotion Dance Company and started her own which is named Empower Dance.  Nicole followed her favorite teacher and so the adventure began again!  It has been a crazy year of hip hop, lyrical, ballroom, ballet, jazz, clogging and modern.  Lots of costumes, lots of competitions, lots of awards and trophies but most of all a lot of growth and new friends.  She hopes to make time to still take a few classes at Empower.

Misty had a premature little guy name TJ a few weeks ago.  He is precious!!!  Misty will always be a part of our family!!!

Nicole is now on the Alta High School,  Las Scelles Drill Team.  They perform at all the games, competitions and it is a very busy schedule.  They are off to Drill Camp at UVU this next week where they will be performing a couple of routines.  I watched the other day and was AMAZED!!!  I don't know what happened to my little Todays Generation Firecracker?!?  The discipline, the technique and the SMILE are all the same but she is all grown up.  Now, as her mother I know...she is still that little girl who giggles when she is happy, cries when life doesn't seem fair and constantly reminds me that she inherited her father's kind heart.  I thank Heavenly Father every day for each of my 6 children and the good lives they live!!!

Miss Nicole McConkie is Driving

Nicole's First Time Driving!!!! Move over...she's coming through!!!

Nicole got her permit this week and passed her written test.  She is taking Drivers Education right now.  IT IS SOOOOO SCARY!!!!  Kimball is her designated Parent to Drive with...he is way more patient than I am!!!  The traffic here is crazy if you are a good driver.  If you are not sure where the car is in relationship to the centerline...it is suicide!!!  Love that girl!!!  She also got her BRACES OFF!!!  The officer at the licensing department kept looking at her funny...then he says...you have the most beautiful smile!!!  That kid smiles from the inside out!!! 

I'M BACK...

I am going to start blogging again.  This is my committent!  I am going to post every Sunday...minimum!  Stay tuned...

Halloween...is about Family, Food & Fun!!!

Well, a busy weekend...family and friends...homemade stew, homemade chili and lots of homemade rolls.  Donuts & Cider for dessert.  LOVE spending time with family.  We are so blessed to have children nearby and ache to be with all the others.  Kim's 5 children are very close.  Heidi's and David's are close.  Stacy often visits from Rexburg.  Tami and Michelle's families are too far away.  We will be going to Tami's in November for Josie's baptism.  You would never know that we had snow.  It is mild and beautiful.  My flowers are still in bloom.  It is just plain PERFECT!!!

DEAD BALLERINA??? WHAT HAPPENED TO PRINCESS?

OKAY...I made the tu-tu. Who would have ever guessed that Nicole and her friends would all be "dead ballerina's". She honestly looks like a good kid trying to look a little scary. I love watching her transition from early morning monster (not a morning person) to a bouncy fun-loving young women. Nicole noticed I wasn't feeling well on Monday and quietly cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes. She didn't say anything...just smiled. It was the best present I could have received. When she gets done it is like brand new!!! Friday is our BIG HALLOWEEN PARTY!!! Nicole will be in costume, tonight for mutual, tomorrow for school, Friday for Sanderson Party and Saturday for Halloween Party with friends. Oh, I love the Holidays!!!

LOTS AND LOTS OF SNOW!!!

SANDERSON HOME-DRAPER-UTAH

BACKYARD ROCK GARDEN AND DINING SET

IT'S ALL MY FAULT...I HAVE BEEN WISHING FOR SNOW!!!  We debated about pulling out ou flowers as they were so beautiful yesterday!  Kim (my gardener & husband) cleared the garden but we left the flowers.  They are peaking out from under a 6 inch layer of snow.  It is beautiful and the sun is shining.  I am sure it won't last bet for today...I will just look outside and SMILE

PUMPKIN FUN!

Nicole's "little miss muffin" (spider on the side)

Sharon's Aunt Matilda!

Sharon's Zoey!

Kimball's Guy

Kimball's guy and girl pumpkins!

Kimball's girl!

The whole family!

Nicole Creating!

Kim's artistic treasure!

Kim & Nicole bugging each other!!!

We had a fun family home evening painting pumpkins.  Thought we would share the results!  Lots of laughter and found out Kim has hidden talents.