This month is such a special one...

May is the month for birthdays in Geoff's family. Geoff has two brothers, a nephew and his Dad with birthdays within 5 days of each other, and then add a niece just a few days later with her birthday, and now a new nephew at the beginning of the month who was just born this year. We had Geoff's parents and brother over last Sunday for dinner to celebrate the birthdays, (Dad's was the day before, on Saturday, and Steve, my bro-in-law, had his birthday on the Friday before) so it was just a great big party... or something like that!! :0) We also celebrated that Mom was home from New Zealand. (we never did anything for Mother's Day with her) She had been gone for 5 weeks to visit her family and friends there.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUGH, BRENT, STEVE, PARKER and VANESSA! And we are glad you are here, TANNER!

Grandpa Morgan with Jackson

Grandma Morgan with Natalie
Grandpa, Jackson, Steve and Staci

40 things you probably already know about me and my sweetheart...

My Grandma called me the other night and said, "I noticed you haven't posted anything new on your blog for a while, and was wondering if you were sick or something." The truth is, I am not sick. Believe it or not, I feel pretty good. I just started on this Anti-Inflammatory foods only diet, and it seems to have helped the lymph nodes in my neck, and especially behind my ears where they were so big, to shrink a little bit. I think there must be some correlation between the lymph nodes and the amount of dizziness and ear pain I feel. It is a really strict diet, but after a few weeks I will be able to gradually start eating certain foods again, and see if the symptoms come back. I am also on some medical drinks to help with inflammation, and nutrition. Anyway. The point is, I am OK... just have a pretty monotonous life, and wasn't sure what to post. So, here is a bunch of information on Geoff and I, in case anyone doesn't know all these things already.

1. Geoff and I didn't play any "games" when we met. We were honest and up-front, and because of it, we knew we were going to get married from the beginning. We met on Oct. 1st, and got engaged on Oct. 30th of the same year. I swore I would NEVER do that kind of thing, and used to make fun of people like me!!

2. Geoff and I met on LDSchat.com (I think that is what it was called). I really didn't know what I was doing, but was just trying out this new thing called a "chat room" that everyone was talking about, and he found me. I didn't know you weren't supposed to give the person your phone number right away. We only "chatted" for about 10 minutes, and that was the end of it. I haven't been in a chat room since.

3. Right after we got done chatting, we talked on the phone that same night for 8 hours. By the end of the phone conversation we knew we had to meet.

4. When I first saw Geoff standing at my door (in Flagstaff... he drove down to meet me) I felt like I was being reunited with my best friend who I had missed for so long.

5. Geoff and I were married in the Mesa temple on January 14th 2000. It was 84 degrees that day.

6. I never liked any seafood until I married Geoff. I tried it over and over, and now I like it a lot. Geoff LOVES it, by the way.

7. Geoff grew up with all brothers, and I grew up with mostly sisters (one brother), so there were a lot of things Geoff didn't know about girls, and a lot of things I didn't know about how boys act around their brothers, when we got married.

8. Geoff and I were both the first in our families to get married, so we didn't have any nieces or nephews until our siblings starting getting married.

9. Geoff is an identical twin, and on more than one occasion I have held his brother's hand or turned and called him "babe" because I was just looking out of my peripheral vision, and thought it was Geoff.

10. For about the first 6 years of our marriage, Geoff and I traded what side of the bed we slept on almost every night. There was no "side" thing. Now, for some reason, I almost always sleep on the right side of the bed... we still sometimes trade though, just because.

11. We both like to have one foot out of the covers when we sleep, and we like to face away from each other when we are sleeping, so we criss-cross our feet that are in the covers to make sure that person knows we love them... and so Geoff can warm up my cold feet!

12. Geoff never had a peanut butter and honey sandwich until he married me. He never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich until has in High School. His mother is from New Zealand, and didn't want to be that "typical" American mom, so she never made it for her sons. Not once.

13. Our first kiss was in my car outside of the Olive Garden restaurant in Flagstaff.

14. Geoff had several girls who liked him in High School, but always felt it was a waste of time to date anyone seriously before his mission. He never really dated much, so his family was really surprised that he was the first one married of the brothers.

15. Geoff is a really good singer. He likes to sing a lot of random songs, and does great "opera" in the shower, but doesn't perform for anyone. I love that about him.

16. Geoff taught me to play pinochle when we were first married, and now it is one of my favorite games.

17. Geoff doesn't like to give a lot of personal information out to people (you know, like in this post) and I always give too much personal information to people.

18. We both procrastinate things.... except of course getting married.

19. Geoff grew up playing soccer all of his life, and made sure to have me check out his nice legs when we met. They are really nice!


20. One of my favorite late night snacks is cereal. Geoff had never had cereal for anything but breakfast when we met, but now it's his favorite late-night snack too. He says my sister Melissa was the one he first saw eat cereal at night though, so he gives her the credit.


21. I always sleep cold, and Geoff always sleeps hot, so the covers thing is hard to figure out.


22. Geoff works really hard! He never complains either! He will get maybe 3 or 4 hours of sleep, and never complain. I am thankful for how hard he works to get through school.


23. Geoff has been to 9 countries (if I remember right) and I have only been to 2. (I don't count Mexico because I wouldn't even get out of the car.... we just kept saying "Dad, this is scary!! Take us back to Texas!)

24. Geoff's uncle Rex is married to Sherri Hiatt, from Mt. Airy, North Carolina, who is MY Grandpa Hiatt's double first cousin... I think that is the relation. Maybe it is Sherri's Dad, and Grandpa are double first cousins. Anyway, funny, because that is a connection on Geoff's MOM's side, and being from New Zealand, you wouldn't think there would be a connection.

25. My Dad took some of Geoff's uncle Rex's classes (He was a professor at BYU) when he was a student at BYU, and my dad remembered that Rex was married to Sherri Hiatt. He also remembered that Rex was a great professor.

26. The first time I met Geoff's cousin Julie (visiting from N.Z.) she told me she had just been down in Mesa (when I told her I was from there) and said she had been staying with her good friends the Clements. They are my Aunt Diana's parents.

27. One last connection, is that Geoff's aunt (on his Dad's side) is married to a Robison. We figured out that we are related distantly, too. Like 3rd cousins.

28. For meeting on line, we sure have a lot of connections.

29. My Dad told Geoff when he was talking to him about marrying me, that "if I were marrying my cousin, I would just get her a ring at a pawn shop." Just FYI... WE are NOT BLOOD RELATED AT ALL!" Well, maybe through Noah.

30. My favorite kind of shrimp is coconut shrimp, and that is the ONLY kind Geoff won't eat. He hates coconut. Also, the only thing I don't like in all food, at least that I've tasted, is Blue Cheese dressing. That is Geoff's FAVORITE dressing. One of my faves is thousand island, and Geoff's hates it. Funny.... we never have to share anything.

31. We are both night owls and not morning people.

32. Geoff likes "Law and Order", and I don't.

33. Geoff and I have only left our kids overnight twice. Once, when Jackson was a baby, for a few days and for one night in 2006. We really need another break.

34. I am older than Geoff by 13-1/2 months. Geoff likes to tease me in between November and January, because I am two years older for that time. He has more gray hair, well, at least that can be seen, so who cares about age. I am sure I caused most of those gray hairs.

35. I always liked boys that graduated in the class after mine the best. That is when Geoff graduated.

36. Geoff and I went on the "Big Shot" ride on top of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas a few days after we were married. If he had really known how much I hate rides like that at that point, I am sure he would never have suggested it. I was willing to do anything for Geoff at that point. I am still willing to do almost anything... just not that!!

37. I get really car/sea/plane/motion/ sick. That is why I hate roller coasters so much. Geoff loves them.

38. Geoff also is a huge movie buff, and I am definitely NOT!

39. Geoff is a certified scuba-diver. I think that's cool.

40. My cousin Lincoln's wife, Anjane', came up with a list of 100 things about them, and then challenged anyone else to do the same. I don't think I could do even one more, so I am stopping at 40. Actually, this is not about Geoff or I, so the list is really 39. Hope you enjoyed getting to know frivolous things about us.

I'm going to sit right down and write myself a letter....

I was talking to my good friend Becky the other day on the phone and she told me that she was going through some old boxes and found a box of letters. She found many letters from friends, including several from me while we were apart at college, and while I served a mission. She told me how fun it was to go through the box and just reminisce. I am sure that if you are at least my age you have somewhere in your possession a box of letters.... don't you? So my question is, what happened to the letter? I know it has been taken over by e-mail and messaging, but I have to say that in my opinion something has been lost. I remember back when I was about 14 or 15 I had a bunch of friends in Snowflake, thanks to my cousin Wendy that lived there and introduced me to people. Of course nobody had cell phones (I still remember when my friend JoLynn's dad bought one and it was "the talk of the neighborhood"... and as big as a brick!) I remember a few times asking my mom and dad to let me call some of my long distance friends on the phone, and sometimes I would pay for it myself... but most of the time we wrote letters. I remember receiving several letters a week from friends, written in their own handwriting, and filled with pictures and sometimes other things. I even got a roll of 100 stamps that year for Christmas.... I am not kidding... and I was excited.

Less than 9 years ago when Geoff and I were dating and engaged, we sent each other letters. We both had a computer, and e-mailed each other too, and of course we talked on the phone everyday, but the letter was just so exciting and unexpected! I loved knowing that something that was in Geoff's hands, that he actually wrote, was now in my hands. Besides, you can't spray perfume on an e-mail or seal it with a kiss!

Don't get me wrong... "I love technology" just as much as the next guy... well, maybe almost as much, but how can something that has been around for thousands of years all of a sudden become obsolete? I say, "Long Live the Letter!"

like mother, like daughter?

I was just going through some old pictures of me... and I mean OLD, to scan in the computer (finally getting with technology) and I came across one that reminded me of a picture of Natalie. Tell me what you think....

Just thought this was a funny video. Last night my kids were supposed to be getting ready for bed... they were half way there, but then I found them doing this. They had no idea I was taping them, but Natalie looked at me a few times. I love how Natalie just joined in with her own little tune. That is pretty much her... dancing to her own beat!

Warmer Weather... yipee!

It was warm a couple of days ago, so we decided to have a little water fun! Who can blame us after such a long winter?!

Natalie had her swimming suit on backwards!

Don't you love how green it is getting!!?
Watch for Natalie's great fall!

My lesson not yet learned...

You know, I am so blessed! I have been struggling for quite some time now with my health, and feel pretty bad a lot of the time! I have been feeling sorry for myself, and especially sorry for my kids and husband that they have to have a sick mother/wife. No kid should have to have their mom start to cry when they ask if they can just have a bedtime story... and then tell them "No, I am so sorry, but I just can't do one more thing... please just go get in bed!!" So much of the time I try to do all the normal things even when I am in pain, but some days I can't do them!! I can hardly even function with the things I have to do, muchless any extra things. I can't remember even a single prayer that was said by my husband or kids in the last couple of years that didn't ask Heavenly Father to help me get better. Well, I just guess that I am supposed to be learning something from this trial, and I am not done learning it yet. I know that I have learned a lot already, though. I have never really had chronic pain before, and never understood what people who do are going through. I have learned a lot of compassion for others with pain and suffering. I know it changes who that person is. You can not judge anybody, because everyone is dealing with their own set of trials. I wish that was the lesson I had to learn, so the Lord could take this trial from me, but I think the other lesson is one that can't just be taught that quickly - I think it is the lesson of patience and being long suffering. Now, I think I have learned that, but in all reality there are so many people who struggle with pain and trials far worse than mine and they never get any relief from them until they die. I can now look on death as more of a blessing, rather than a curse for those people in pain. I have learned a much greater reliance on the Lord and what He can do to help me. I could not make it through a day without Him. I remember feeling this same way about 10 years ago, when I was going through more of a spiritual sickness. I needed Him in a completely different way then, and He was there. I am amazed at how quickly I am filled with the spirit and with peace when I cry out to Him in prayer! "I cannot say the smallest part of which I feel!!"
This is one of my favorite poems that I learned from my Dad as a young woman. I never really understood it as I do now:

Pain stayed so long I said to him today,
"I will not have you with me anymore."
I stamped my foot and said, " Be on your way,"
And paused there startled at the look he wore.
"I, who have been your friend," he said to me,
"I, who have been your teacher -- all you know
Of understanding love, of sympathy,
And patience, I have taught you. Shall I go?"
He spoke the truth, this strange unwelcome guest;
I watched him leave, and knew that he was wise.
He left a heart grown tender in my breast.
He left a far, clear vision in my eyes.
I dried my tears, and lifted up a song --
Even for one who'd tortured me so long.

One lesson that I feel my kids have really been learning through all of this is a greater desire to pray. Last night I was feeling pretty bad. I had been crying a lot yesterday, and of course my kids are always right with me, and so they see so much of the bad. Last night when Jackson was saying his prayers he said, "Please bless Mommy that she can get feeling better. I am so thankful for her and for all she does and for all Daddy does, and I love them so much." I just started bawling right there, because he prays with so much thought, and his prayers fill me with the spirit! I don't know many little kids who pray like that! I truly am blessed.... and even when I think I cannot go on, I have to remember all the Lord has given me! I have a loving husband who is so patient and kind to me. He never seems frustrated by all that I can't do right now in my life! He listens to my endless complaints and cries and somehow lifts me up through all of this! I don't know what I would do without him. I also have so many caring family members and friends. I appreciate the concern and prayers that they have sent my way. I feel almost silly writing all of this down because I feel like I am trying to get attention to what my situation is, but I just had to write to remind myself that I am blessed. I also wanted to thank everyone who gives me the support I need. Thank you all so much!

The joys of chasing children in the halls of the school...

Last week I went to my first, of what I am sure will be many, school programs. Of course, attempting to take my children with me was a huge mistake! I saw maybe 30 seconds of the entire program and the rest of the time tried to keep two hyenas dressed up like little girls quiet in a dark room filled with hundreds of people trying to record the whole thing for future "torture". I spent most of the time out in the halls of the school trying to keep the girls quiet out there because school was in session. It was only an hour long, but it was a crazy long hour!!

In this picture you can see that Jackson had a little bit of "stage fright". He has never done anything like this before. And, there were A LOT of people out there in the audience!

And in this video you can see what happened when I tried to tape the "beanbag boogie". I ended up with about fifteen 8 second clips of the program. Then I would look up and have no idea where my Staci was.

This is Staci lying on the floor in the hall of the school...hey, at least she wasn't moving for 10 seconds.

After the program Jackson wanted his picture taken with his two best friends. This is Jackson and Matthew. They are only 3 days apart in age, and in the same primary class. Matthew has morning kindergarten, though. They are hoping to be in the same class next year.

This is Jackson's other best friend, Ammon. They are in the same class at school. I am glad he has some good friends.

Finally, after the program was over, I took the kids out to the school playground to play for a few minutes. Natalie proceeded to lose her shoes. We never found them.

Brrrr....

We had a blizzard today... so HAPPY MAY! I think the high was 42 degrees, too! Where is the warmth I remember from days past? The craziest thing is I never know how to dress from day to day. Well, my guess is I'll be wearing jeans and a t-shirt with some kind of stain on it from one of my kids' grubby hands...but honestly, I would at least like to know if I should bring a sweater with me when I go somewhere.