What's a "Book"?

In an effort to reconnect as a family we have instated this ban.................


This was easier to instate than I thought it would be! There were no tears, no arguments, no pouty faces until I suggested more time for some of these..................

I am the only one in the house who enjoys reading. It is so relaxing. I tell Sami it's just like watching t.v. only the images you make up in your head.

We have also decided to start having family game night. We all love to play board games. A couple of nights ago Sami's best friend slept over and the 4 of us played Uno. It was so much fun. The 2 girls and I ganged up on Shawn and he never won a single hand! Poor Shawn is always so outnumbered! He is a good sport.

We bought a very inexpensive temporary kitchen table until after summer vacation when we can afford a nicer one. Last night was the first night the 3 of us had sat down at our own dinner table since Sami was born. It was nice to have an actual conversation over dinner with my family instead of with the television.

I am looking forward to spending real quality time with my family. And also of kicking Shawn's but at uno again on game night!

They grow up to fast.........

Exactly one year ago I took this picture of Sami and her best friend Christabella selling Girl Scout cookies.

And today I took this picture of the two girls.........

I can't believe how much of a difference one year makes. They are becoming young ladies and have broken out of that little girl stage. It makes me happy but also a little sad. Sometimes I wish I can put little moments in her life in a bottle and fasten the lid down tight so they can't slip out. Before I know it, it will be time to tell her goodbye. So for now she has to deal with me taking lots of pictures. Keepsakes that I can hold and look at when the time comes for us to let her venture out on her own. Unless she forbids me to take anymore!

Hot dogs arent just for baseball games....

You know that saying "The 3rd Times The Charm"? It is used for many various situations. I used it while in a Wienersnitzle restaurant while visiting Utah. One of my sisters favorite places to eat! When we lived in Utah there was only one in the area. Every time she'd come to visit there was always a trip scheduled to visit this blessed Hot Dog Heaven!!!! I must confess it is one of my favorite places also. When we first moved to Washington I was sad because there would be no more chili dogs. Imagine my excitement while exploring with my mom one afternoon & we came to the most beautiful red and yellow building you'd ever see! I was like a little kid jumping up and down in my seat! Of course we had to pull over and sample some of the yummy cheesy goodness (but very bad for you and only a once in awhile treat!) stored inside. Back to the reason for this post! While filling ourselves with chilidogs; (You did not want to be in the car with my child afterwards! Oh wait I wasn't! Sorry Uncle Scott!!!! All the way to Temple Square!) I asked the 3 girls to make a silly face while I took a picture this is what happened......




They looked so funny that Shelley and I were laughing I and couldn't hold the camera still. The first picture came out blurry. But then on the 2nd picture......




my 2 nieces Michelle and Donavan were laughing so hard at each others faces that they couldn't stop!



Finally on the 3rd try I managed to hurry and snap a clear picture!

SLEEPY HEADS!!!!!

Traveling makes you sleepy. Especially if you travel in the worst possible way. Driving. I absolutely hate to drive when we are traveling. I would much rather fly and get there faster but someone is afraid of flying! Not me. I love to fly. My favorite part of flying is the take off. For most people that is the scariest part. Because my other half will not step foot on an airplane I am doomed to a life of endless roads and barren hills seen from the inside of a cramped rental car. (Hey at least it isn't the "Black Bomb"! awhh the "Black Bomb has thankfully gone on to another world apart from ours. But that in itself is another story for another time!) Though I hate to drive to our destinations I love the time I get to spend with my family. It is impossible for me to sleep in the car. I try every time we take a trip. Others passengers don't seem to have the same problem I have..............!

Pretty funny I know. My favorite part of this photo is the person sitting in the middle! This kid can sleep anywhere! She slept pretty much all the way to Utah in December and all the way home. Check out her expression and the hoodie over half of her face! Her cousin Donavan sitting next to her was probably thinking "Well if she is going to sleep the whole way and not talk to me I might as well sleep too!"

Half way to Utah I was really getting bored so I took out a notebook and started writing a story. I wrote a couple of sentences and passed it to Sami. She'd add a little and pass it on to Donavan and then my sister Shelley. Shelley's parts were always funny and it was hard adding to the story after she had her turn! It was a silly story all about the girls and our dog kia. Some day I will type it up and add some drawings of kia and the kids and have it bound for them to keep. It was fun doing this until the girls became bored and found other means of entertainment!

Those are Jolly Ranchers in their mouths! Who knew Jolly Ranchers could be so much fun until................

They get sleepy and fall asleep again! The Hoodie Gangsters aren't so tuff when they are asleep are they!?!

Especially not when you wake up and mom pulls your hoodie strings so hard you loose all but your eyes and half your nose!

Even though I can't sleep in the car and I hate to drive while traveling I wouldn't trade it for flying and miss out on all the fun we have and crazy things we do along the way.

Nail Art

For Christmas we bought Sami this Nail Art book. She loves it. It's pretty cool and it comes with its own polish. The polish is not high quality and peels off right away. Next time we will have real nail polish to use!

There are so many choices in this book that Sami had a hard time deciding which one she was going to use. She couldn't make up her mind and kept going back and forth. Finally I told her she should do the snowmen like I was. By the time she made up her mind I was almost done!

She had to help me paint my left hand! I don't like painting my nails so I am not very good at it!

The finished product! I think we did a good job. It was really nice spending time with Sami. It seems life gets so busy we forget to take out time to just sit and talk and have some silly fun! If we hadn't this time we would not have realized we have the same fingers! Love ya Sam!

Christmas and the 4 legged Crew

I know it isn't Christmas any more but the Happy New Year still applies so Happy New Year from the Wendts and their 4 legged crew!

I wish you a Merry Christmas,

I wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

snowball express!!!!

I know my last post was a while ago and also about my dogs but today it snowed and was to icy to make it to church so I decided to take the dogs for a short walk. Today was Molly's first experience in the snow and she loved it! She kept eating it and acquired a few snowballs on her legs! She was like a kid in a candy store jumping up and down tail wagging! I hope it snows again tomorrow. So does Sami. She is stuck at her friends house and has already been sledding! I think she is hoping there will be no school tomorrow. I wish I could take Molly sledding! Maybe tomorrow!!!!!!!

Poor baby needs a haircut!