Testing

I am trying to figure out how to enlarge my photos on blogger...

I found a blog that gives very easy instructions, but was wondering if their is a more permanent solution rather than going in and editing the Html with every picture I download? Also I am not thrilled about the result of this enlargement as it seems to just distort the image and makes it look totally unnatural. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THEIR THAT CAN HELP ME???!

p.s A short update on Russell, he is serving in Ceder City and is very busy teaching and baptizing. He is loving his mission and is under the false impression that Utah is Zion!!

Julie's 15!

Julie had a Birthday on March 19th!!

Here are a few fun facts about Julie at 15!

• As soon as she gets home from school she changes into her pajama pants, even if she has places to go... she usually just wears them anyway!
• She is really into taking and editing pictures, in fact the first image in this post is a "self portrait" by Julie. Below is another picture that Julie took. She's pretty good!

She loves her family and has a soft spot for Sam!

She is a girl after my own heart and loves to pore over the great clothes from this place

WOW...Here is some crazy core strength!

On Tuesday I went to a "total body" type work out at the Y. It killed me and I have been hobbling around the with a serious case of lactic acid build up in every muscle in my body for the past two days. However, the real killer was the abdominal portion of the work out. At one point I just laid flat on my back and laughed (until Alysa the work out queen walked by and said something like "come on ladies you won't get a 6 pack from lying on your backs" ) Did I say anything about wanting a 6 pack?? Honestly though I have no abs... they are totally shot and I really need to do something about it. Here is the problem. Two years + ago I injured my lower back while shoveling the driveway. As a result I experience moderate to severe lower back pain most of the time depending on how much and what type of stress I put on my back. I simply can't do most of the common exercises to strengthen my abdominal muscles without putting my back in a compromised situation. Of course a lack of core strength is most likely the real reason for the back injury in the first place. It's a vicious cycle and one that I would love to remedy. Why am I going on about this? Two reasons!

1. I would love to hear any tips/solutions to help with my so very untoned mid section AND...

2. while WATCHING THIS I couldn't help but think about how strong these crazy acrobats are and wondered what kind of work out they were doing to get those rock solid abdominal muscles!!!! (It's a bit long and I'm still not sure what Solid Potato Salad has to do with it but hey, when I can do crazy stuff like this I'll sing about ridiculous vegetable concoctions too?!!!!)

The MOM song!

I realize that I am generally at least 2 years behind the times of "what's new" on YouTube, but i heard this for the first time today while driving to pick up my kiddos from school. Listening, I had a huge grin on my face and when I came home the first thing I did was check YouTube and to my delight there it was. It's been there a while but if it's new to you, you really should take the time to listen. I have said the vast majority of these "isms" at least once or twice in my 21 year career as a MOM. It's very funny and Oh SO TRUE!! If you've heard it a thousand times and don't want to hear it again... have a nice day!!

Laundry...

If I really thought that their were no bigger issues in life to be worried/complaining about I would go on for a few days about my laundry situation... Instead I'll go on for a few minutes in hopes that I can figure this one out before I have real problems to deal with!!

I'm a Tide girl, and other than that it's just what I have always used, I have no real reason for spending the extra money on tide. If any one has any strong attachment to another brand and thinks that it beats my Tide... I'd love to hear about it.

This is my mound of laundry yesterday (monday) morning. I didn't do any laundry over the weekend and the last time I did more than a single load out of desperation was last thursday. I gathered the clothes from all four corners of my household and this pile and the picture below are a pretty accurate representation of four days worth of clothes at the Davidson household.

If it is beginning to sound like I am complaining I am.... NOT!

I only do laundry for 7 as apposed to 9 people now. I no longer have to wash endless loads of spit up upon baby blankets and thank goodness my days of hauling a bucket full of cloth diapers up two flights of stairs (with a baby and a toddler in tow) to wash them in shared apartment/coin washers are a

very distant albeit horrific memory.

What you see here (including the sink full of white socks above) is the equivelent of 11 loads of laundry! I started this task a bit late yesterday as I had places to be and things to do outside my home until about 2:00pm. I knew when I started that it would be a long night...

When Mark got up this morning he said " Hi, how are you? Did you just feel like staying up all night to do laundry?"

Of course not, I hate doing laundry, but the thing is if I don't have atleast 8+ hours of uninterupted time to DO the laundry, it never seems to get done!

I had to go to kindergarten with Sam this morning so here it is 2:oopm the next day and I just heard the timer on the dryer letting me know that my last batch (white socks) of laundry is finished... I guess it's time to go gather it up and start again!!!

My Mom was always very efficient at doing laundry on set days and not letting it pile up and get out of control... What's my problem? Anyone have any suggestions???

8 is GREAT!!!

Dallin had a birthday yesterday and he turned 8!

We celebrated by going skiing as a family and then to Red Robins for supper. Dallin got some fun presents which he kept thanking me for and saying " Mom, this has been the best day of my life"!! What more could a mom want to hear on her childs birthday.

I had fun looking back for a picture on each of his birthdays and here they are... all 9 of them (including the day he was born)

January 9th 2002 Dallin enters the world!

It was a fast delivery and I was so excited and couldn't stop saying "I'm done... I'll never have to do this again"!! Well, we all know how that turned and aren't we glad it did!

January 9th 2003 Dallin's first birthday. All the older kids remember this cake as a favorite.

January 9th 2004 Dallin turns two. Not sure about the "special effects"?

He's pretty cute though!

January 9th 2005 Birthday #3

January 9th 2006 Dallins 4th birthday

January 9th 2007 Happy 5th birthday!

January 9th 2008 Dallin turns 6 and has a Pirate party with friends

January 9th 2009 7 years old.

January 9th 2010!! 8 is GREAT!!!

Turning eight is a pretty big deal and I am so excited for Dallin as he has chosen to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a few short weeks. In true boy form he is even more excited to go to Cubs this next Wednesday and be a part of all the fun that happens there!

Here are just a few random things about Dallin at 8

- He is learning to play the Violin

- He loves to read and is on book 7 of the Harry Potter series.

- He is a great friend to his little brother Sam

- He always remembers to read his scriptures at night.

- He likes to play his new Nintendo DSi but...

- He would rather read Calvin and Hobbs and play Lego!

-He is full of energy and and enthusiasm and we love him very much!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALLIN!

Best of '09

Todays post was inspired by a little creative exercise on Stacy Julians BLOG. I am not a scrap booker... but I read her blog because I really like her positive outlook, amazing creativity and her love for all things colorful. I didn't manage to pick these photos in the alloted 12 minute time frame, but i did manage to stick to just 12, which was way harder than I thought.

So here is the Davidson's 2009 Year in Review!

12 of my favorite photos from 2009

January 09- Sunday evening jam session

January 09- Dallin having a little fun in the snow!

February 09- Russell and his favorite investigator!

March/April 09- Spring Break in Utah " The greatest SNOW on earth"!!

May 09- Maryn's Graduation!

June 09- FHE scavenger hunt!

July 09- Shaina enjoying the lazy days of summer!

June 09- Fathers Day

August 09- Sisters!

September 09- First day of school, for EVERYONE!!!!

October 09- "Obi-wan, Spiderman and Betty Rubble"

November 09- Snow Dog

December 09- Front Door Greeting

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! 2010 Here we come!!!