THANK YOU

"How do you make the words 'thank you' seem more important than anything else in the world." That said, Thank You for T.

WHAT'S IN A WINK

Dear babies: So, today I was thinking about all of the great winks that I have seen. The thing is... that you just don't see people wink much any more. Over the years, I have learned that a wink tells someone that you love them and you are thinking of them - when you can't be near them, touch them, or tell them out loud that you love them. I think the master of wink was your Dad. Thales would be across the room and make eye contact with a quick wink. If he wasn't snuggling with you or if he didn't have his arm around you or his hand on you, then he was winking at you. His wink always said I'm thinking of you, I love you, and I'd love to hug you. I tried to find a picture of Thales winking, but had no luck. All I could find were pictures of him snuggling or holding each of you - and me. It was fun to look at those pictures and remember what a "touchy" family we are. I miss the winks. I did manage to find one of his earlier winks. And, I thought I send you one of mine - just to let you know, I'm thinking of you, loving you, and wishing I could hug you. Love Momma

Life is Water Polo

Life is water polo - after school that is. Life is grand. Life begins at 5am and ends hopefully by 11pm. Life is lots of school and lots of work. Life is homework. But most of all life is obedience. What makes our life so perfectly wonderful is knowing that our Heavenly Father knows us. He answers our prayers. He watches us as we follow the Prophet - right down to the first prayer in the morning and last one at night. I can't adequately describe how wonderful it feels to love being obedient and feeling the blessings that come from the simple acts that He has asked us to do. Yep... I am still a blessed woman!

HERE'S TO YOU MATTY - The Real Deal

1980's Style

Yep... Ray-ban COOL - Love Mamma

GOOD FRIENDS - part I

Traci and Claudia

When I woke up this morning I was thinking how much I love my girl friends. I'm thinking best-type friends, not acquaintances, but people who really know me and still like me. Now, I don't have bunches of them. In fact, I could probably count on my fingers and toes the total sum of my friends. But I must say that the friends in my life are the most talented, gifted, loving, intelligent, supportive people I have ever met. I decided to take my camera to school with the intention of taking pictures of all these "important to me" people. Now, they're not all at school, but a vast majority of them are. After taking just one picture, I realized the magnitude of this "little" project. Thus, I see that I must make this a "parts" post. You know, Good Friends Part I. So, at 6:30 this morning, I got one picture taken - of Traci and Claudia. Can you imagine going to work everyday and getting to see such happy, perky, positive, people at such an early time of the day? Aren't they beautiful! (It's true - inside and out!) They make me laugh, they pick me up when I'm down, they let me vent, they share their thoughts with me, and they do nice things for me ALL the time. I think it's cool how the older I get the better the friends get. It's like I'm finally grown up enough to have the best of the good, better, best. -V

WATER POLO

Katie playing hole-set.

Katie on defense.

Ashley - post game - 2 points - JHS 19/Beyer 2.

Katie (and Hannah) - Pre game - 4 points - JHS 5/Beyer 8

Well today was "water polo day." This event happens twice a week from August until Veteran's Day in November. Now, that's just game day. The other three weekdays are consumed by practice from 2pm until 5:15pm. And... can't forget the weekend tournaments - all day Friday and Saturday every other weekend. Katie is captain of the JV team this year (following in Ashley's footsteps) and Ashley is playing on the famous JHS Varsity Girls Water Polo Team, under the even more famous Brent Bohlender. Needless to say, water polo is a big thing at JHS and in the Raynor house. For me? I'll be grateful when they are both on the same team again (next year) AND when I no longer feel compelled to work until 5pm just to pass the time while waiting for practice to end. I do find that I get: all my work done, scriptures read, errands completed, sore ears from wearing my earbuds too long, and that I can repeat the same playlist 4 times in one three hour period. Maybe one of these days I will learn to be more productive "creatively" during water polo. :-) PS: Next time I'll try to get a picture of Ashley actually playing... her game just moves way to fast for me...

Impressed!

WOW! Mom manged to put up 12 postings in two days, pretty impressive. Maybe I am no longer the Tech. Queen in the family. I guess we don't have to post again for about 6 months...Awesome! -Katie