something fun

http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741

oooh, i get by with a little help from my friends...

today i was thinking about how i have been so blessed to have such amazing friends. i have friends from almost every place i've lived. i have friends from new york to alaska. really!

i have friends that are so wonderful and stay in touch with me, which is great because i am really and truly the worst when it comes to making phone calls and making an effort to keep in contact. thank you friends!

i have friends who teach me yoga. i have friends that share their yummy food. i have friends that are so funny it hurts. i have friends that encourage me. i have friends that push me and challenge me to do better and be better.

i have friends that know just when i need extra care. i have friends who give and give. i have friends who are amazing examples. i have friends who think nothing of keeping my girls for hours at a time.

a friend from jr high and high school days recently passed away. i had not seen her for years and years. i found out that she had been struggling with depression and other sad things. i wish so badly that i had taken the time to search her out and tell her that she is loved. i wish i could have sat with her and told her that she was not alone in her struggles. everyone has difficulties to endure. i wish i could have told her that i know exactly how she feels when she can't get out of bed and everything feels so dark and hopeless. i wish i could have told her that there is hope.

i love all of my friends, near and far. i am so grateful for your love and encouragement. i wish i had room to post all of your faces here.

please know how very much you are loved by me.

hulse holiday

it's that time of year once again! hooray for afton's amazing idea for a hulse family holiday. hooray that is takes place just when we need a break from the miserable weather. and hooray that grandma and grandpa could join us this year!

here we are waiting patiently, sort of, to go to the waterpark...

and here's cute grandma helping ella swim...

and when grandma and grandpa come, there is always a project...

grandma had a little book to work on, i had a little box to work on, aftie had a little creating to do, and then ella got in on the action the next morning...

and aftie wanted grandma to teach her to knit...

and then there was some snuggling to do... we love grandma and grandpa sooooo much!

who loves HSM3?

aftie is watching high school musical 3 with a few friends today. we thought we needed a little gathering, since school's out for the week.












these silly girls are hysterically funny and keep yelling, "I love this part!" and giggling.












and look who's only 4 yrs old and has the coolest big sister?

a valentine for you!

the first part is the girls checking out their valentines from school, and then ella shares a song they sang at preschool. happy valentines!!!!

8 is great!

tonite we had a great evening for our almost 8 year olds. our wonderful primary presidency put together a great program to help prepare our kids for baptism. the kids sang (sorry for the fuzziness) and then listened to the bishop and others.

each child received a white bag that had a white washcloth, ivory soap, white socks and a journal. these are all to help them remember to stay clean.

they also received a white folder with pre-baptism information, activities and the faith in god program.

here's aftie reading a letter from her folder. isn't she grown-up?

here's aftie's display all set up on her desk.

i just have to say how impressed i am with my fantastic daughter. ryan and i have definitely encouraged baptism, but we've always said that when you are 8 you can choose to be baptized. it's really been her decision. she is so excited and is taking all of the preparation so seriously. tonite i told her that i was so happy she was going to be baptized and that it's a great decision and is the first step to return to our heavenly father. she said "i know that, i learned it in ctr 5." yes, well.

kara is one year older!

see that cute girl on the right in the light brown sweater? that's my cutest sister, kara. kara-beara, kare-bear, twixed -up-min, the impersonater, the comedian, the fast-dancer...and i'm sure many other nick-names that i can't think of at the moment.
let me tell you a little about kara...kara is the youngest of the three beautiful guthrie girls. she has always been hysterically funny. she does a spot-on impersonation of mr. ed (the talking horse), mr. white (our jr high math teacher) and jimmy stewart. oh wait, and bart simpson! bart simpson was always a popular request from her adoring fans.
kara was at one time a cheerleader, a master violinist, always a fan of music and an exceptionally great sister and friend.
kara now devotes her time to her family and friends and work. she apparently is the preferred transcriptionist...and has done some work for less than normal people. she's got some great stories!
kara is a superb wife, mom, sister, daughter, aunt and granddaughter. she is so loving and thoughtful. she works super hard everyday and on top of that, she usually has a great dinner ready for her family in the evening. how does she do it? i don't know.
i love kara with all of my little heart. i have great memories of growing up with this funny and fun girl. we've shared many laughs and many moments of sweetness. kara and i shared a room at the hotel the night before ry and i got married. kara helped me stay a bit more sane than i normally would have been. i was a bit anxious and nervous (just ask ryan) and i am so glad she was with me that morning. she and i have an unbreakable bond. i love her so much.
happy, happy birthday my twixed-up min. i love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!