In Love

Maddie is in love.

With the country.

With the people.

With the weather.

With the culture.

OK.. not the food, so much.

She had the trip of a lifetime.

I can tell the Philippines touched her heart and soul.

She is determined to go back.

I hope I can go with her because listening to her stories makes me 

wish I could experience this wonderful country with her and other loved ones.

Better start saving my pennies.

This is the room on the top floor of the Department of Education building.

They slept on mats on the floor.

 Oh so very comfortable.

Maddie said she was usually so exhausted it didn't much matter.

This is the view from the top of the Department of Ed building.

On the roof was their "shower" and also where the ate every morning.

The bucket for the bucket shower is on the left.

The typical morning fare is on the right.

Maddie stated she would never eat rice again.

She refused to eat the spam that was also served.

I can understand--they boil it, not fry it.

She did love the mangos!

All of their crap all neatly lined up.

I wish I remembered what these brooms are called.

They loved cleaning with them so much that she brought several home with her.

I hope that means she will be cleaning my house!! 

Of course, there will be more to come!  

She is a girl after my own heart and took hundreds of pictures.

Can't wait to share them.

Thank you to all my friends and family for making this trip possible for her.

We love you!

And WE LOVE THE PHILIPPINES!

still fun even with no theme...

Yes.  I am the lazy mom with NO THEME for her child's party.

Let me rephrase.. 

I had a theme...

It was "If you want a theme, find another family because there will be no theme this year because I might be committed to a mental institution if I have to be creative or plan some elaborate birthday party that will be worthy of 59 repins on pinterest."

Ya, that was the theme.

(This party was the day before Maddie left for the Philippines.  Needless to say, I was slightly overbooked.  So in the now famous words of President Uchdorf, if you find yourselves wanting to judge just.. STOP IT.)

My daughter was happy with the scraps that I threw to her on her birthday.  We took 5 of her friends and Luke and his buddy to Jungle Jim's.  I realize that it may not be for everyone, but for our 7 kids, it was perfect.  There was no literally no one there except us and they were able to run from ride to ride with no waiting.  Perfect for my impatient children.  We rode rides, we ate cupcakes and opened presents.  Love my little princess soooo much!! I can't tell you the joy that she brings into our lives.

My favorite of all of the hundreds of pictures I took.  I love Sadie and Bella's face.

I think they went on this ride about 12 times,

Screaming that horribly loud girl scream that makes you want to poke out your eyes.

They even got Todd to go on it, which is a feat because he has to get in all sorts of unnatural positions with his lower extremities to fit on amusement rides, especially ones made for 7 year olds.

She also got to go to dinner with her favorite of Maddie's friends, Gabe.

We went to Red Robin and had a great time.

(Notice all 3 boys with their FLAT hats.  Seriously. Such studly nerds.)

Grandma and Grandpa Rasmussen also took her to dinner at my kids all-time favorite,

"Olifsgarten" or Olive Garden to you and me.

Such a lucky girl! 

And a lucky family to have such a fun girl.

Sadie Grace, Age 5.
Our little princess, FOREVER!!

SHE IS 1/2 WAY AROUND THE WORLD!

For those who care to follow Maddie on her adventure:

The blog is: http://www.philippinesgrahamsymad.blogspot.com

This is Maddie's duffle.

It weighed exactly 50 lbs.

Maddie could not lift it without dislocating her shoulder.

Poor, poor Maddie.

These are Maddie's clothes.

We had to spray every item that was going to touch

her body with an insecticide.

Such fun.

This is Maddie and Jada at the airport.

Aren't they adorable?

 Maddie is funny.

I am sure she will love that this is on my blog.

I think this is most of the group.

Notice all the blondes, and then there is the Ashby girls.

Maddie is going to look like the native Philippinos after she gets her tan on.

Maddie...looking nervous.

But, I happen to know that it was mostly excitement.

No tears from me or her at the airport.

I am so happy for her and a bit jealous that she gets this amazing experience.

Please visit the group's blog and comment (if you have something to say).

I am sure they will check the blog as often as they can.

It is going to be an experience of a lifetime! Thank you all so much for supporting her!

Adventures with my cat lady

My dearest cat lady invited me to the Kelly Clarkson concert.

I went, mostly because it is always an adventure with my cat lady.

Just gotta love her..

Our first adventure confirmed to me that the church is indeed true.

As we were driving to the concert, a stupid teenager cut me off.

I, of course, was bitter.  

He was speeding and driving aggressively and I didn't have my gun loaded.

(kidding!!)

AND THEN!!!

Just like Superman, we spotted a UHP officer up ahead.

He quickly righted the wrong and pulled the little creep over before he killed someone.

I was so incredibly happy.

I know it's wrong, but I don't care.

THEN!

We arrive at the venue.

(Don't you love that word? I do... venue)

We park, get out and gasp in horror.

The car parked next to us has a very large dog in it.

What kind of MORON brings their dog to a concert?

We looked in the car to see if there was water.

No water.

AND, another large dog.

What kind of MORON brings 2 dogs to a concert??

So, we left a nasty note and went in to party.

I wondered about my two canine friends the entire time.

Of course, we waited after the concert to see what a 

true MORON looked like and what their face looked like when they 

discovered our nasty note.

They looked like morons and it was too dark to see their moron faces

as they read our note.

Kind of a bummer..

And this is the fabulous stall that I had to use because I had not peed in about 10 hours and I couldn't wait one more second.

Yummy..

And this was my view for much of the concert.  Notice she is the only one standing.

So cute. 

This is us after our fabulous night with Kelly.

She really does have an amazing voice. 

And big hips,

but I digress..

Sadie Grace and Ms Maddie

We got to celebrate with our cute little imp

Sadie Grace this weekend.

She is now 5 years old.

I can't believe my baby is 5 years old.

And yes, I still call her my baby.

I can see how the youngest gets stuck with that label.

Both of these girls are my babies and they are growing up 

WAY TO FAST!

I look at these baby girl princesses and I wish and hope for their health and happiness.

That the 5 year old grows up knowing she is loved and that she loves herself.

That the 17 year old has faith in herself and Heavenly Father 

enough that she can let go 

and fly!! 

I have faith in you, Ms. Maggoo.

I adore you Ms. Sadie Grace.

Is there anything more precious than children?

And our daughters... wow... future mothers and wives and leaders.

My girls will someday soon be those things.

But through all of the birthdays and craziness that is life..

through graduations (seriously?)

and marriages (ugh!)

and tragedies and triumphs..

I know that they are MINE!

My baby girl princesses.

And as a final note...

Maddie is leaving for the Philippines in about 94 hours.

She will be half-way around the world.

My beautiful, 17 year old daughter...

half-way around the world.

In case of emergency, I would be contacting the US Embassy in the Philippines.

I am trusting the most important thing (part of my family)

to a few lovely people who I don't really know.

But, I know Heavenly Father will be with her and the other teens going with her group.

If I didn't have complete faith and trust in Heavenly Father and his protecting care,

I could never send her on this most amazing adventure.

I am so excited for the experiences she is going to be gaining.

I am so nervous for her to be gone.

She will be gone 17 days, but I know that those 17 days will be packed with

hundreds of smiles, feelings of heartbreak and gratitude...

Many lessons of service.

I hope she gains more appreciation of her life and this wonderful country that we live in.

The 17 days that I hope will impact her life for her entire lifetime.

This picture is Maddie practicing one of her assignments.

They will be responsible for teaching in schools for an entire week.

They each have lessons that they were assigned and it was fun to watch Maddie go thru a few of hers with Luke, Sadie and Zania.

All I can say is "YOU GO GIRL!"

BUT, THEN... "Hurry home Girl!"