"Fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"

This has become your Dad's new motto, although it is really a very old pioneer motto. He is very involved in anything that has to do with becoming more self-relilant. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "It is work and thrift that make the family independent." LaVerl believes that too. Here is muffins he's baking in his sun over for breakfast. If the sun is out, he uses this little oven to cook his food. If its cloudy, he cooks it on the woodburner. No microwave for him!! We've had fun baking bread too.

This old wheelbarrow was at Roosevelt, pretty battered and worn out. Your Dad just couldn't bring himself to throw it out, so he 'fixed it up' instead. He found a really solid piece of oak and made new handles for it, put on a new tire and painted it. He's so proud of his "new" wheelbarrow!

He's having fun discovering lots of new ways of cooking food. This is a 5 gal bucket rigged up to heat food using only twigs and sticks. It works great and cheap to make!

LaVerl is really into all this stuff and I'm glad because I don't have to worry about anything. We are really prepared for whatever may be coming. He is so amazing. He has started our garden seed right now in little planters, we are getting fresh milk now so I can learn to make cheese and yogurt, and he lays in bed thinking about making soap and a hundred other projects.

He's quite the guy and I sure appreciate all he does for our family.

Fun with grandkids!

I got to spend a week at Bret and Becki's helping out a little, it was really more like a fun vacation for me. I got to play with Kingston and hold my new little granddaughter lots! She is adorable. Here she is just after she got her little ears pierced! She didn't even cry! She's in one of the little coccoon things that Becki made for her to keep her wrapped up tight!

OOPS!!!! Sorry, I thought I edited this, but I wanted a close up of London !

Becki wanted to make London her blessing outfit, so we worked on that one day. We were excited about how cute it turned out! Its a little big now, but she won't be blessed until May 10th! when everyone is in Mesa for Tami's big day!

So this is Kingston. You can see why I'm so nuts about this little boy! Becki's sister sent her these shoes that squeak, he was so hilarious in them. He loved making noise with them on!

Grandparents again!

Meet #4 grandbaby! This is London Ily Crosby with proud Gma!
She was born Feb. 19th! (sorry, I'm a slow poster!)

Bret and Becki with their new little bundle of joy! (You can

check out their blog for lots more pictures!)

Here's Gpa, he thinks she's pretty cute!

Dishonest people make me sad

Once upon a time my Mom and I bought a car. This car has been a pain in my (more in my Dad's) hind end since that day. My car and the rain are not good company. The air intake on my car was "modified" by the previous owner and is about 2" off the ground so every time I go through a puddle my car dies. Well about 3-4 weeks ago it rained in the valley. I was leaving Barrys house and went through a big puddle. I know better, but it was late and dark and....OOPS! So my car is indefinitely DEAD DEAD DEAD!! Kinda sad story. Why do I tell you this? I tell you this because this event set up the cascade of sad events to follow.
Stranded for a week with no mode of transportation, Barry felt sorry for me and let me borrow his brothers XR-8 Mazda (a real fun nice car).
I study pretty late some nights and got home about 12:30 Tues morning. I had a hand full of school related objects binders, lap top, and huge back pack, went in the house got ready for bed....
Well Tuesday morning I woke up to a big MESS. Some one had broken out the drivers window of Barrys brothers car and decided to make my things now there things and stole some my favorite temperal possessions. Let me tell you, they hit the jack pot that night. They got a $400 coach purse, 2 ipods, a nikon digital camera, my wallet, credit cards, driver license and social security cards and $200 worth of clothes still in the bag I bought them in with the tags still on (yes, I know I know don't leave that stuff in the car). I spent the duration of the morning and into the afternoon filing police reports, canceling CCs, calling social security administration and tracking all the places the had already tried to use my CC. They must have been hungry cuz I bought them $37 dollars worth of Jack in the Box. The next few days were spend finding out that these mean individuals tried to open 3-4 accounts using my identity..... AHHHHH what a nightmare!!

Moral of the story: Don't ever drive in the rain!

Really Really Good Looking

I just wanted to remind everyone how ridiculously good looking your brother is. So Natali is a really good photographer and she is going to take Senior pictures for people here so she wanted to take some shots she could put up as examples so I was a poser for a day. I think I am going to send these in to Abercrombie or something. haha. Natali did a good job on the pictures and I just did what I do best... nothing. Well I hope you enjoy the pics.

PS - If you want to print out an 8x11 let me know and I will send you the high quality file of it ;)

Doggy Door

Little Lady London

London Ily Crosby was born on Thursday the 19th of Feb. 2009 at 5:45pm. She is perfect!

The perfect day!

All this talk about WEDDINGS made me realize I never posted any pictures from my perfect wedding day! We got the CD back from our photographer with about 500 pictures to choose from; they initially took about 800 and cut out all the bad ones! Sooo, I have had a fun but challenging time picking my favorites. Here is just a taste of some of the ones we got back- let me know which ones you like best! 

the colorful wall we went to after the temple

My Hubby is hott! 











Looking at these makes me want to get married again! So much fun! Yay for weddings! 

Marriage.. that wonderful arrangement...

A dweam wifhin a dweam....

So.. as most of you know Ryne and I got engaged on Friday.. the thirteenth (dun dun dun)

It was the most wonderful, perfect, happy day!

 I will tell my side of the story, but you will have to hear Ryne's side too because is it pretty funny. So I woke up Friday morning to my room, bathrooom, and stairs covered in rose petals and three roses placed in different locations throughout my house, they all had a little slip of paper with a line to a poem he wrote for me. Then I went out to my car and it had rose petals all over my dash and another rose. Then I went to the gym and when I was leaving, the girl at the desk gave me a rose too. Through out the day in all my classes some random person would bring me a rose. I felt so special:)!  So by this time I was so excited to see Ryne and tell him thanks for all the surprises. He told me he was home from work, so I went over  so his house and he said he had my Valentines present for me. He then preceded to give me a new set of scriptures which i really needed- he is so  thoughtful and observant. Then we packed and  ready to go to Provo for the weekend, and I didnt expect anything else because he had already done so much for me that day. We then left for Provo.  We stopped in Fillmore for some gas and I mentioned I needed to stretch out my legs, so I didnt think anything of it when he asked if I wanted to stop at the park for a walk for old times sake (where we used to meet when he lived in Provo) So we were walking and I wasnt really paying attention so he pointed out a vase with a rose in it in the middle of the path, and then there was a trail of rose petals down to a little table. (See photos)  I was somewhat confused because I didnt think it was ours- i thought some one else had set it up for their Valentines day! I even told Ryne not to touch the rose! haha But come to find out it was for us and he got down on one knee and asked if i'd marry him! It was magical! Of course I said yes, because I would be crazy not to. We drank some hot cocoa and just enjoyed the moment. I am still quite giddy about it. I know I said over and over I wasnt going to get married for a long time, but when its right, there is no use running from it! Ryne is so incredibly incredible. I feel so happy and am excited for May! As soon as I know details of dates I will let everyone know! I love you all!

100 things about Barry Lawrence Keime...

Hey everybody this is Barry and I am attempting to write 100 things about myself. Lisa got this idea off another blog and is excited to try!

1.I was 2 feet long when I was born
2.I weighed 11.5lbs
3.My parents named me Barry because they wanted to call me Elder Barry when I went on my mission.
4. I am #8 of 9 children
5.One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is play the guitar.
6.I own an insurance company called Russo and Associates.
7.I love to travel and go new places. I would go somewhere new every weekend if I could.
8. I have lived on my own since I was 16 years old.
9. I have twin sisters
10.I got my middle name from my grandpa.
11. I got jumed by some crazy guys in Prague while on a tour of Europe in an back ally at night time. I hate Prague.
12. I scored the highest out of everybody on the Propery and Casualty exam. My score was in the 90's.
13. I drool.
14.I snore (so they say)
15. When I was an infant people thought I was a girl cuz of my long curly eyelashes and curly hair.
16. I once fell off a horse and broke my L arm and as a result had sugury.
17. One time I threw a cinder block up in the air and it came down on my head. (ask me details later).
18. I went to Animas High School. My football team had the winningest team in the country for 9 years. 9 straight state championships. over 70 straight wins.
19.I have broken my right foot twice.
20.I LOVE to wakeboard.
21. I love to go boating and summer time fun!
22. My favorite fastfood restaurants are Jack in Box and Sonic.
23. I still eat at Jack in the Box even though I almost literally died of food poisening from eating there. (its a love hate relationship)
24. I was once upon a time almost going to be neighbors with Lisa (awkward).
25. On my 10th birthday I was trampled by a horse.
26. I could talk politics, ecomonics and religon anytime anywhere anyplace.
27. I served my mission in the Dominican Republic. I had three areas my entire mission. 11 months 9mo and 3mo.
28. On my mission in Nagua I got bit by a spider just below my elbow and my arm swelled up from my fingers to my neck and shoulders and my skin began to rott away. I have the scar to prove it.
30. I got dengay as well. Dengay is know as "bone break fever" because every bone in your body hurts. You get it from mosquitos.
31. I too, pooed blood on the mission. ( That pretty much covers the mission)
32. I have really short friends. My two best friends are 5'5. I am 6'4.
33. I weigh 245lbs
34. I spent my first date with Lisa in the emergency room till 4 a.m. (NO wonder why she didn't want to date me.)
35. I have known Lisa 6 years.
36.I have never had the chicken pox. Nope. true story.
37. I have a passionate relationship with recees pieces peanut butter cups.
38. I wear contacts. I like to wear them all the time. this includes sleeping and the lake. As a result of the above I actually KILLED my cornea. I was in a lot of pain and my roomate Jon decided to play doctor and sprayed high powered water in my eyes and they swelled shut. I spent the day being guided like a blind man from appointment to appointment. It was pretty painful as you can imagine. Lisa took care of me though.
39. While playing sports in H.S. I ripped all the muscles and crushed a nerve from my knee to my big toe. I lost all feeling from my knee down. I couldn't move my toes or lift my foot.
40. I don't like ice cream but I buy it for Lisa.
41. I was in a play in high school that I can't remember anything about. (repressed memories)
42. Lisa makes the best pigs-the-blanket.
43. For my entire life my food pyramid consists of cereal, quesadillas and anything microwaveable.
44 I have not drank soda in 6 months. I over came an addiction to Mt.Dew and Dr. Pepper with help from my bishop.
45. I hate folding clothes. so i don't. It drives Lisa crazy.
46 I use my bathtub as laudry basket.
47. I hate waking up early. so I don't.
48 I have a shoping cart in my garage. no reason why. its just there.
94. I'm lisdexic
50. I struggle greatly keeping my eyes open for pictures.
51. If it has a motor I like it.
52. If it has pedals I hate it.
53. I read the Ensign in the bathroom.
54. I am addicted to Ebay.
55. In third grade, I cheated on my history exam. In fourth grade, I stole my uncle Max's toupee and I glued it on my face when I was Moses in my Hebrew School play. In fifth grade, I knocked my sister Edie down the stairs and I blamed it on the dog... When my mom sent me to the summer camp for fat kids and then they served lunch I got nuts and I pigged out and they kicked me out... But the worst thing I ever done - I mixed a pot of fake puke at home and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa - and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, this was horrible, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. I never felt so bad in my entire life
56. I can sleep in the same room as Chad no problem at all. Another's snoring is my signal that I need to also be asleep.
57. I love sleeping in the attic every time I go to Eagar.
58. The best concert I have been to is Jimmy Eat World.
59. The worst concert I have been to was Creed.
60. I like to leave lights on in every room I go in.
61. I only recycle when my regular trash bin fills up.
62. I like sports of any kind.
63. I am grateful for my beautiful girlfriend. She is so good to me.
64. I love the way she painted my walls and I don't ever want her to change them.
65. I have tons of clothes, yet I wear my favorite pair of jeans a lot.
66. Things I want to do before I die are visit every continenant and race in the Baja 1000.
67. I want to serve a mission with my wife when we are old.
68. I am rebuilding a 1968 jeep willys. I like cars.
69. My favoirte class in college was my bowling class.
70. I was 2nd in state in the High Jump.
71. I don't wear jewlry.
72. I read the news paper every single day.
73. Lisa and I like to watch House on tv.
74. I hate onions and mushrooms
75. I forgot to add milk, cheese and sourcream to my food pyramid.
76. I could sleep ANYWHERE. The weirdest place I have fallen asleep is inside a cubboard in a kitchen.
77. I like to drink hot chocolate. To spread my love for hot chocolate I bought Lisas fam. Hot chocolate machines
78. I broke my tail bone snowboarding. That was a painful day.
79. I have never swore in my life (in English).
80. The only thing that is better than meat and potatoes in meat and meat. (lisa is rolling her eyes)
81. I once memorized the Constitution.
82. Lisa thinks i'm handy. I guess I'm handy to have around.
83. Every time it rains and Lisa drives I can count on a call from her that her car died. I have to save her.
84. I am NOT a germaphobe!
85. I am NOT a neat freak.
86. I am NOT OCD
87. I am pretty much opposide from my girlfriend Lisa
88. I watch sports center when I get dressed in the morning.
89. I voted for Barak Obamah. Hope and Change 2009...... no, i didn't.
90. I do not own anything pink. In fact everything I own is blue or grey.
91. I love it when Lisa punches me really hard. Jk. it hurts.
92. I am now reaching for facts about myself. You are welcome to stop reading
93. I have met Steve Nash. Charles Barkley and Jason Kidd.
94. I was the science fair GRAND CHAMPION. thanks mom.
95. When I was little I couldn't say my R's
96. One thing I like to do is shoot. I must say I am a good shoot.
97. I have white trash ambitions to hang a dead animal on my wall at some point in my life.
98. The first time I got arrested was in 8th grade. Me and my friend were in a park shooting quail with pelet guns and some old guy thought we had shot guns and the police surrounded us with-in minutes.
99. There were two other times.
100. I am the kindest most considerate, thoughtful, wonderful, spiritual, unselfish boyfriend in the world.

Proud Parents!

Milea's little dookie in the potty...and she's not yet 2!

Kaemon bearing all using a standup urinal

We are a hap-pee fam-il-ee!

Nephew LOVE

I love this little family!!
This kid is a crack up!!

UFC fighter ear

My normal ear.
Not so normal ear.

This is totally gross....Sorry!
My ear started bothering me on Sunday and turned out like this by the end of yesterday!! The weirdest things happen to me sometimes. So My differential diagnosis was a spider bite, swimmers ear (but I don't swim, just take showers) or UFC fighter ear from all the UFC fighting I do in my spare time. But decided it just couldn't be those and decided it must have come from me wearing EAR PLUGS at night. I have been wearing them so I can sleep better in a noisy house. ODD. Very ODD. I finally decided to call a real medical professional my brother the DO and ask him. I'm going today to the doctor to get it drained!! LOVELY!!!