Constant Growing Amazement

Checking In

2012-02-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

This has been a kiddo-sitting week....and a week of the flu. Kudos to all the teachers/custodians/aides who get to/have to clean up during this season. I had one sick one here...and another losing her cookies at school, so I had her the next day. Everyone is well today. Whew! Except Brandi who pulled something at work and ended up at the Dr.'s. This is what she shared:

(Hurt my back at work today, I know, I know!!) My doctor visit went something like this:

Doctor: So I guess you are done with work for the day...

Me: I guess so (beyond irritated that I am at the Dr.'s office and not at work)

Doctor: So I hope you don't have plans for the weekend!

Me: Plans?? No, my kids are going with their dad to Mesquite this weekend. For the WHOLE weekend! First break in 6 weeks!! I soo didn't have every single minute of the next 72 hours planned out, a 3-page to-do list, as well as a zumba class, skiing, a dinner and play, surprise party, gno shopping trip, a pedicure, etc. etc.

Doctor: (Speechless..........awkward pause.....) so would you like a shot in your buttocks to help with the pain?

(that did make me laugh out loud. Me laughing, not Brandi!)

I do love having David home. After picking Addi up from kindergarten, I was meeting my BFF from elementary through HS- Debbie- in Springville for lunch (post-birthday)this week, David took Addi horseback riding in the gully (we live next to a 800- plus acres equestrian park)....she did 5 miles on her own horse (she just turned 6.) So proud of her...some lady was walking the gully doing weird arm flashing exercises and actually spooked the horse and Addi went off. She cowgirled up and got back on her horse...and the clueless lady went on her exercising way.

Planning a Valentine's Bucket at my house next week. This is fabric that I found for the tablecloth. I love doing Valentines with red, pink and green. Hoping to do lunch out in the cabin and I've got creative juices flowing. Too many ideas, too many projects. Yesterday when I was checking out at Hobby Lobby, the cashier said, "I want to go home with you- you have way too many fun things here!" (can I say, one of the things I love about Hobby Lobby is that they have religious music playing! Although they had a funky sax playing Come Thou Font- which is one of my favorite hymns- but I've never heard it played quite THAT way! And that In-and-Out Burger puts scriptures on their packaging. And no one is freaking out.)

I don't think I can last until the November elections with the dang phone ringing, easily 6 times a day with computers asking my opinion or tooting someones' horn. Enough already! Today I even got grouchy with the computer.....and felt pretty foolish when I hung up.

Made a Chocolate Cola cake the other day for neighbor meals. It tastes like a funky Texas sheetcake...with a Cola chocolate fudge frosting. Definitely a winner. I've seen online that this is an old Southern recipe...and most call for mini-marshmallows as well. The recipe I used didn't call for them...but if you've made this cake before, are marshmallows a must-have addition?

So, after months of testing and years of trying to figure out what exactly is going on, our little Annee (age 11) was finally diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. This has been a trying time for B and T. No one ever wants a rough road ahead for any of our kiddos....but it is times like this that we need to circle our wagons and get informed (thanks to those who have shared information. B. is a little overwhelmed with the road ahead but information is good- and when everyone is breathing in and out, things will get figured out. ) Tanner adopting Annee was a highpoint of this past year....and I think it is a tender mercy, that Annee- who is passionate about horses- got a new grandpa (3 years ago when they married) that is a cowboy. I found this quote this week that spoke to me-

We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday's burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it. -John Newton

Check It Out

2012-01-31T08:24:00.001-07:00

What in the heck? Check them out on the cooking blog. Cooking makes me happy!

Name Dropping and Other Droppings

2012-01-30T09:44:00.001-07:00

There are so many things I want to write about last week but today is a Chubba Wubba day so I don't really have time. And I'm sooo sorry I haven't posted the crock pot recipes and a few other wonderful recipes I've tried lately. But hopefully soon. I'll let you know.

Instead, I'll just drop a few names (for your attention!) If you missed Cheri on the Martha Stewart Show, you can see it here. She's a doll.

http://www.marthastewart.com/875751/upcycled-t-shirt-dress#ooid=htNjFlMzopZ6j0nGBO9lftdjyYkmhro5

And this one is funny. Ben's Susannah is always dropping wonder bombs. Like Alfie Boe actually dressed up like Santa and came to their house. (If you don't know who Alfie Boe is yet, check him out. I was totally hoping he would show up and sing happy birthday to me. Didn't happen. Ben knows he would be my favorite son if this happened. Maybe when truly I am 100!) So, we were talking the other night and my mentioning Robert Redford (and skinny legs) the other day came up....and bomb. "Robert Redford actually gifted us a year of diaper service when I was born." WHAT???? She just says it so matter-of-factly. I just shake my head. I can't wait to see "what else?" It's a story. I'll tell you it when I see you if you ask....

That's all. That's all I have to offer. I realized last week I forgot to post butters. Actually, butter. One butter again. But after a week of birthday eating, I smacked two back on my hips. They are not very flattering and I'm tempted to make some popcorn to go along with them. Oh-Oh! Chubba is in the walker and making faces ..... and noises....and straining. I guess Susie's not the only one dropping bombs! (sorry, Sus- that was just a metaphor! xoxo)

Today

2012-01-29T08:26:00.001-07:00

Happy Pinterest Birthday!

2012-01-29T07:56:00.001-07:00

I LOVE my family! We had the best, best, best time last night. Since today is my birthday (on the Sabbath) I chose for all my kids and spouses and David and I to have dinner at Texas Roadhouse last night. My girls were all so darling...they had a Pinterest party for me. All their gifts were from ideas I had pinned on my boards! I LOVED it! (and because I am getting slower, it took me forever to figure it out!) I got a picture of all the kiddos wishing me a happy birthday drawn on their feet, a black tablecloth with white chalk to draw on place settings ...and darling jar of colorful cupcake papers, a Mountain Dew (I heart everything that you Dew...), cake bites, a darling Sundae in a soda glass...(it's a Sundae Bath....smells delicious!), scarves plus a pinterest how-to tie them guide. Even the balloon jar was pinterest!

Of course, when you are at Roadhouse and you have a birthday, you get to ride the saddle! In my family, I cannot have a birthday WITHOUT someone in the fam bringing up the time when the kids were probably all school age. We had gone to the Sizzler (those were the days)...and the kids said it was my birthday and just before they came and sang, I went outside and stayed in the car. They couldn't believe that I would DO that....but truly, it WASN'T my birthday (like a week before or after).
So now, of course, I hop up on that saddle. I have no pride anymore and I certainly don't want to hear about it for another 100 years! Love you, love you, love you family.

Ben and Susannah brought me home and we had a great visit since all the rest of the guys had Jazz tickets to see Jimmer play. It would have been fun to see it...I guess it was quite the game and Jimmer is BELOVED here! (Jazz still won!)

Facebook

2012-01-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, friends post things on Facebook that I want to remember so I thought I'd copy a few of them here.

Josh Wright (wonderful pianist- love his family) wrote this:
Ha ha -just saw a 4 year old girl and her mom walking down the hall of the music building.

Mom: "so, what did Mrs. Z say about your LACK of practice?!"

4 year old: (in a casual tone) Actually, I did quite well with my lack of practice.

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From daughter, Brandi:

Each Friday I get to take Parker to breakfast before school. This morning as we headed into Jamba Juice, "Beat It" was blaring. So naturally I had to show him a few of my moves, including the moonwalk. :) The Jamba employees loved it, my 13 year old.....not so much!!! It was MJ, what's a girl supposed to do?

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Last night T and T came over with kiddos to watch the XGames on ESPN to see if Torah was going to ride or not. Jake posted this picture. Torah really didn't think she would compete (which she really didn't, although she rode)....after just losing her dear friend Sarah Burke this week. She said she would take a run for her friend but her head just isn't into the half pipe right now. You could tell she wasn't competing...just doing her runs. Always her beautiful smile. We love her. If you can't be at the top of your game, when doing something dangerous, you need to realize that. She did.

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One of my high schoolies, Teri, that I love, posted this thought:

Go quietly and work on your own self-awareness. If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.”

~ Lao Tzu: Hua Hu Ching ("Classic on Converting the Barbarians")

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Then cyber friend Ann (Nebraska) posted a Youtube of Steven Sharp Nelson, another local musical prodigy. He plays the cello, the piano, the guitar and percussion....always phenomenal. If you watch it, then click on the bottom of the picture to take you to the link that shows how they made it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_362210&v=DRVvFYppU0w&src_vid=e9GtPX6c_kg&feature=iv

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My niece Lisa is moving from Colorado back to Vancouver, Washington. (They moved to Colorado from Vancouver just last year.) She is my darling niece of the "gingerbread" caramel fame...and who used to own the home (dang! why did they sell it) with the secret rooms that I freaked about. Anyway, she sent me a picture of them driving along the way. Yay! they are this far! Booooo they didn't stop.

So, she has posted their progress on Facebook and finally they are in Boise. One of her friends posted this in response to her posting how exhausted they all were:

"Either you are riding your bicycles to WA or you drive like a 90 yr old. It's a road trip, not a career choice."

(I thought that was very funny!)

******
And then another friend posted this thought which I know I have posted here on my blog before, but I thought it was appropriate. The other day a friend shared with me a story about "an ex-mother-in-law" who combined with aging issues was out of control. I remember thinking about it later....when I had to meet "someone"....after another particularly difficult situation he seems to orchestrate. As I was driving to meet him, I had to do A LOT of self-talk, remembering what my mother always said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Good advice. Nice is always better. And if you can't be nice, be quiet.

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. "One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. "Th...e other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Make Over!

2012-01-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

My office is the little corner of the kitchen to the left. I have sat there...for years, writing this journal to my great-great-greats. Although I loved to be able to turn on the fire and be nice and cozy, cozy has been driving me crazy. Where you see the pictures, sat my PC AND my hard drive...and the printer was underneath...and I'd have to do some crawling to get under there....and truly, there wasn't enough room to sneeze. David has a nice office and I thought maybe he'd let me come in there with a desk next to his...and we could have this wonderful bonding time. Not so. He moved two saddles in there with stands. I now know where I stand.

So I have been playing around with different ideas. I decided that I could use my computer area to hold hard-to-store kitchen stuff like crock pots and rice cookers and big clumsy pots.

I then found the below desk with bookcase and another piece of the desk configuration.

I already have this darling red built-in hutch on one side of our dining nook. I took the new pieces to http://www.shabby2chicdesign.blogspot.com/ here in Sandy (love, love, love Meggie!) and had her paint the new pieces to match my other hutch. The kitchen table used to run parallel with the window but there is plenty of room to turn it out.

I love my new work area. I can sneeze. I can stretch out if I want to. My printer pulls out. I'm happy. Clappity-clap-clap! (that's a "if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" in case you couldn't tell...)

What Some People Think...

2012-01-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

I found this picture on pinterest. I would totally give the credit but I couldn't find it when I went back to look.

Just things...

2012-01-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

~Just sitting here this morning in agony. Toothache. Remember the tooth I went to the endodontist for months ago, who gave me the funny scrunch-up-your-face stress exercises? I told him "I thought" I needed a root canal...and he said "if you think you need a root canal, you don't. When you do, you KNOW it!" Well, guess what. I KNOW it now! Appointment in the morning...which means ice-packing it today.

~tonight was suppose to be our Bon Appetit dinner with the Cooks. We were hosting. Choosing the menus when Valene is the best cook I know is hard. We have been cooking out of the Bon Apetit magazine but we decided we were getting behind on the magazine (I love magazines but just can't keep up with subscriptions.)....so we just decide on our own what we want to cook. I decided that I am doing all recipes from Pinterest. From my "Gotta Try This File." I called Valene this morning to tell her about my tooth, my face, my ache...and we're going to reschedule.

~and I'm anxious about tomorrow. Our sweet friend (one of my best friend's sons) is finally getting out of prison. Ten years. TEN YEARS! We are so over-the-top happy and over-the-top scared (of what the media can do)......and yet, what could be worse than the last ten years? I'm yellow ribboning their home in the morning...and neighbors there are yellow ribboning the street where he will come home. I've shared little about this situation but let me say, he is one of the finest young men I have ever known. He was serving a mission, and doing a service project....and then was involved in a terrible accident that caused, among other things, a brain injury. Which then, months later caused erratic behavior/judgement....which resulted in serious consequences. Ten years. Let's move on...

~busy trying to plan a trip to Disneyland with all our families and kiddos except hubby. He is not a Disneyland fan. Trying to find rooms matching every one's schedules (donut!) I used to be good at organizing these things but not so much any more. I need a secretary. Anyone need a job?

~Brandi gave me a most thoughtful Christmas present. She secretly (while we were on our cruise) took a box of my pictures (I have boxes and boxes) and had them put on cd's. She had about 1500 pictures done! I think this afternoon while I am ice-packing, I'll go down memory lane. With having them like this, then I can go through them and organize them and delete the ones I do not want. VERY excited.

~I also have a makeover project that I have been doing. I haven't had my camera for a week (I'm an addict and have almost had to join a 12-step program with it)...but hopefully I will get it today and can share tomorrow. I LOVE it!

~ we got SNOW! Wonderful snow! Alta got about a dozen inches one day and a couple of feet another day this week so poor Ben is shoveling his head off. (He and Susannah manage a condo complex between Alta and Snowbird.) (and they pray for snow, as we do, so no one can complain!) It actually rained more here in the valley, although we are covered with wet snow...and of course, the wind was showing off which means....tree branches down. Again. The giant willow in our front/side yard had better start singing its swan song ....because in the spring, it is becoming a lawn sculpture. Truly. I'm done.

~and another heartache this past week. Sarah Burke, an accomplished freestyle skiing (halfpipe) was in a terrible accident a few weeks ago (in papers everywhere) and she died this week. She was the instigator of getting skiing halfpipe (I don't know if it is called that) into the next Olympics and has won 6 gold medals at the X-games. Google about her if you haven't heard. She is really good friends with Torah and Jake (she does what Torah does on a snowboard, but on skies.)....and it has really done a number on all those who love her. (read some at http://sarahburkeski.com/

~and lastly, Cheri, from http://www.iammommahearmeroar.com/ is going to be on Martha Stewart this Thursday- Hallmark Channel at 10:00 am. for those who live here. I'm not sure what time it is at other places. She tells about the taping on her blog which is fun to read about. We are SOOO proud of you, Cheri! (Cheri serves as the Primary president in our Ward. i.e. the children's services.)

~I thought this posted this morning...and here I still am...although I have done several appointments, including STANDING IN A LINE FOREVER to renew my driver's license. The picture looks absolutely horrible...so I asked the cute young man helping me if I could have "do overs" with the picture...and he said, "I think it looks great!" Ha- so I said, "So I guess that's a nice way of saying no!" No do-overs. I get to look like the dork I am for 4 more years. It's bad enough turning another year older this week!

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. ~Elwyn Brooks White

Heartaches.

2012-01-23T09:18:00.003-07:00

Heartaches. Two people that I love have cancer issues. It is such a hard, hard thing. My heart is aching and praying and praying some more. Several other very close people are going through really, really hard stuff. Sometimes it is hard to breathe. The last two weeks I have been teaching "the tree of life" lessons in Sunday School. Lehi spends much time not knowing where he is going, traveling through a dark wilderness. We all have those. This is a dark, dark wilderness. Such a personal journey (personal for all those who love and care as well.) God speed. And peace. And courage. And hope.

Life is simple, it's just not easy. ~Author Unknown

J. and The Birds

2012-01-20T09:13:00.004-07:00

Because I posted about friend J.'s fabulous make-over cottage yesterday, I just wanted to remind you of a "J and I" experience.

http://constantgrowingamazement.blogspot.com/2011/03/funny-friends.html

Not a Bean War Cottage

2012-01-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

I think I'm going to start a new little "cottage" area on my blog. We all need to retreat at times.....and after I posted about my Bucket friend's cottage, a little cottage war started. Not really. But here is the story.

First of all, my friend J. She doesn't like her name swirling around out there. She is one of those people that showed up in an unusual and miraculous way in my life.... and continues to inspire and delight and humor me. She's changed my life in such personal ways I cannot even share. We used to spend time eating gelato at Bella Citta until Bella Citta closed down this year. (Bella Citta's gelato was better than any I found in Italy. Truly I ache for it.) We would sit in the car and talk and talk and analyze and talk. And she has fabulous insights (and truly shocks me with unconventional at times) and, I can say, I adore her.

Although she has many quirks. We won't go into all of those. I'm saving some of the juiciest for the "novel" I'm going to write some day. People will say, "I can't believe M. can even come up with a character like that in her novel!" And I'll just smile because I know "the character" is really J. but J. won't sue me for slander...because, as I said at the beginning, she doesn't like her name "out there."

Today's cottage begins with this.

So absolutely cute and adorable. (Cute and adorable just go together.) I loved to see J. cruising around the Granite area on her pink scooter. One time I spied her and chased her down...and we sat in the middle of the road, again, talking and talking...until finally a grouchy lady told us to move it. Heck, the grouchy lady surely could have pulled around us, up on the sidewalk, through some peoples' lawn and shrubs in her car ...and not made a such a scene....

I regret that once J. asked if I wanted to ride behind her on the pink scooter to go get yogurt. I made up some lame excuse but truly, what I was most worried about was.....what if my "butters" would hang off the rear end ? (both the scooters and mine...)

And now I regret it since Bella Citta isn't there and now the pink scooter is gone as well.

J. decided she needed a retreat. And she, like my Bucket friend, S., had a storage shed in her backyard. I don't think I have the first picture but it started off looking similar to this without the pathway cut:

J. actually traded her pink scooter for help in re-doing her storage shed into her own personal retreat. Look how adorable. (And cute. I didn't want "cute" to feel left out this time.)

J. calls her cottage "Casa De Milagro." I immediately (you know me and my great language skills) thought "You named your cottage the house of beans?"Well, I vaguely remember that Robert Redford starred in a movie called The Milagro Bean Fields or something like that. But since the movie was rated "R" and I don't see "R" rated movies...I thought Milagro was like pinto or garbanzo and, I don't know, it seems exactly the kind of name that friend J. would pick, just to be different.

But not so. And of course I should have known. Milagro means miracles....and that is what friend J. is in my life. This little cottage in her backyard is her house of miracles. She has a group of "brainiac" friends (another looooong story) that meets regularly there (of course I'm not a brainiac...since I am a blond.) and it has been an oasis in the calm and storms of life. Of J.'s and many others.

I love this little corner of her cottage because it just speaks J. See all those Indian flutes standing on the desk? J. took up the flute last year....and goes to, I don't know, tepee gatherings (she's gonna kill me after she reads this....so I might as well tell you that she's actually walked over hot burning coals. Who does that?) and she says that she can go out in this sanctuary and play her flutes all she wants without any of her family begging her to stop.

I can't wait for spring to come so I can sit in one of the yellow (my favorite color) chairs out front...and sip raspberry lemonade...and listen to J. play her flutes....and then have her share all the thoughts inside of her that touch my soul....

and think, wow. I'm a lucky human "bean" to get to have this milagro friendship!

(and not to take away from this wonderful cottage, but once when I was going skiing at Sundance, I was sitting in the car putting on my boots and I looked up....and there was Robert Redford. Just a few feet away. Just him and me. When he was in his prime. Like his "The Way We Were" prime. But my first thought wasn't "Oh my gosh! There's Robert Redford in his prime!" Instead it was, "Oh my gosh! David's legs are so much cuter than his!")

2012-01-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

One measly butter is all I have to post this week. When you look at a pound of butter, it actually looks like a lot....but when you step on the scales, it seems like NOTHING! But never fear, I'm still dedicated. I'm still in this game. I'm committed. How you doing, cuz?

Today is Creative Cooking. We're doing it twice so the working gals can come tonight to a tasting table. I got up at 5:30 this morning to get all the crocks going.

Last night I did Brandi's yummy Italian Chicken. Right now I have Thai Chicken and Cashews, Chicken and Black Beans (I've already posted that recipe on the cooking blog...it's a favorite!) and a Chocolate Cake that looks and smells like a killer. I wish it were a killer of pounds instead of adding them on. Valene (who isn't even in our Ward....just my dear friend) is bringing Crock Pot Lasagna. Monique consented to do a Scalloped Corn with Cornbread topping recipe that I found. Debbie W. is doing a soup and Artisan Bread.

Whew! I was just getting out the stuff to do Orange Chicken a few minutes ago (I made it this week to try and liked it)...but then I said, "Enough already, Marilyn. Just STOP!!!!" (I actually did the Cafe Rio pork the other day and have it in the freezer AND a Caesar chicken in the refrigerator that I tried....really, I make myself nuts....)

Last night was a date night with David, Kirk and Cathy. We had Jazz tickets and Cathy and I voted to go back to the Blue Lemon (twice in a row...I don't think we'll get away with it again Thursday!) We played the Clippers and it was a kill. Go Jazz! Fun night.

My house smells so yummy right now but I'm ready to go back to bed. I might have to take a little nap this afternoon. I thinking I'll be dreaming about this chocolate cake. (Did I mention it has sour cream, chocolate chips and chocolate pudding in it? And I'm making fresh whipped cream for the top....) (Do you see why it is a "butters battle?")

2012-01-17T06:15:00.000-07:00

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King

A Cottage of Love

2012-01-14T18:49:00.001-07:00

Friend Sheron from my Bucket group has always dreamed of having a backyard cottage for tea parties. Her husband overheard her say that one time. He decided to create one for her! Below is the 20-year-old storage shed they had in their backyard.

This is what he transformed it into! (Note: the windows are from Ben Behunin, the potters' remodeling project.) Don't you want to go here? Doesn't it look like it could be in a magazine?

Don't you want to curl up inside with a book and read and have Sheron serving you amazing food and drink? (She always does. Remember the tea party she hosted for Bucket one time. http://constantgrowingamazement.blogspot.com/2008/06/mad-hatters.html ) (I loved re-reading about it. How about those polka dot cups?)

I don't know whether I'm more moved by her beautiful cottage OR the fact that her husband created for her this dream!

(thanks sweet friend Sheron for allowing me to post this! xoxo)

Woof!

2012-01-14T12:42:00.005-07:00

I wish it were sunny outside so I could go out and see if these butters would just melt away.

Totally frustrated.

Just ate a whole can of olives. WHO does that?

Recently read a quote: Do not reward yourself with food. You're not a dog.

Woof!

How's your day?

Funny!

2012-01-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

Today is my Chubba Wubba day.....so when I saw this, I really laughed. This kid (by photographer Jarod Knoten. (the sign- quickmeme.com) is FABULOUS! (go to Jarod Knoten's phtpgraphy to see the picture this picture came from.)

Totally Spaced Pepper Jellies!

2012-01-12T12:01:00.003-07:00

Totally spaced one of my neighbor/friend gifts I did. Remember all that pepper jelly I've been making? Apriot and also Mixed Berry. I put a jar of pepper jelly and a brick of cream cheese in a bag, with a tag showing how to cut the cream cheese like a tree....with a box of Wheat Thins. On the back I gave a few ideas on how to use pepper jelly. Over cream cheese for an appetizer. On grilled meats as a marinade. Mixed with vinegar and oil for a salad dressing. Or, do as I do. Pour it over a brick of cream cheese and get out a spoon and snarf the whole thing down.....

Hence, my saga with butters.....

Remnants of Christmas

2012-01-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

Tuesday after Bucket I had to run by Libby's to pick up something and she still had her Christmas decor up. I had seen before but had forgotten her "window trees." I think they are wonderful. She actually has 7 of them in windows. She takes a small artificial tree and bends all the branches forward so it is flat on one side and decorates it, hangs it in a window. When she travels (and they have traveled A LOT)- she always buys one ornament for a souvenir. As you can see, she has quite the collection from all over the world! This year they put numbers by each tree. (see last picture) and gave each of the grands a sheet with different ornaments to find. They would have to then write down the tree where they found the ornament. She said the kiddos loved it! Kind of a Where's Waldo with ornaments. This would be a great idea for all those boxes of ornaments we've collected throughout the years. (She doesn't undecorate the trees...just wraps them in plastic and unwraps the next year. That's MY kind of decorating!

Since I'm sharing remnants of Christmas, I'll put in my neighbor friend gifts I did this year. Actually I do the holiday dishes every year. I find a cute set of paper plates (I love Holly Lobby since they have darling dishes and they come in service for 20!) and add the tag that says, "Holidays busy? No time for dishes? Use these instead with our love and best wishes!" It's a gift everyone could use during the busy season.

Holiday Dishes

I found a sparkling Pear cider that I loved this year and thought it would be cute to put a partridge in a pear tree tag on them.

Partridge in a Pear Tree

And lastly, this picture didn't turn out so great but maybe you've seen the picture on Pinterest. Our RS did these for birthday gifts last year and I've always loved mine.

Grateful Hands

I'd love to hear what you all did this year (or in year's past.) I love the tradition of our neighbor gifts....and look forward to greetings we get throughout the holidays.

Can't believe it is over. It's sad. But wait! Valentines is coming up! Valentines! Valentines! So excited!

Scintillating

2012-01-11T13:01:00.001-07:00

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.” C.S. Lewis

Yesterday was a "stellar" day. It started off with trying two new crock pot recipes that I left cooking all day, then hurrying to our RS Pearl of Great Price class. Always wonderful discussion. A few things I'm pondering in my heart I'll share at another time. I love these women. I love the things I learn from each of them. Then Bucket at Annette's home. It was over-the-top wonderful. Annette loves stars and that was her theme. Look how cute the star bowls are! We had two kinds of soup, spinach salad, homemade wheat bread. Since we are studying the Book of Mormon in Gospel Doctrine this year, she asked us each to bring our favorite Book of Mormon scripture to share. It was so beautiful and we'll mark in our Bk. of Mormons who's favorite is whose....and it will be there the rest of our lives. (I have in one of my old scriptures a note by the scripture "Oh that I were an angel......" marked as Donald's favorite (actually Dawn Duvall Martin- one of my high school friends.)

Annette made this for dessert and I thought it was such a great idea. She dipped waffle bowls into melted white chocolate, then dipped them in crushed peppermint. Ice cream and hot fudge filled the bowls. I thought they were so pretty! I didn't eat it since I'm doing butters

but I DID eat the star cookie that was the favor.....since I am a sugar cookie fanatic! We won't talk butters here since THEN I remembered that it was GNO last night as well. (Bucket was a week late due to the holidays.) We all met at Salt Lake Burger (has a good grilled chicken salad)....and talked and talked for hours. (It was a no-host.) Not a good day for eating low carb but it was a great day. My emotional and spiritual buckets were filled!

I came home to kiddos. Brandi's 3 girls, still off track for another week, are spending two nights. Gracie and Hallee are taking ski lessons today and tomorrow (a great school package that includes 4 2-hour lessons, equipment and lift tickets) at Alta. Thankfully David is here (he's rethinking retirement since I keep having jobs for him to do)...so he ran the girls up. (It takes about 20 minutes to drive up the canyon to Alta ski resort, 15 to Snowbird.) Addi stayed with me and since T and T are in Mexico for a little vacation, I have Sadie and Nash for two days. (Just days. Tenille's sister Heidi is doing the tough duty! All 4 plus her two ...after school and nights. Whew!) This morning we've gone from Kid's Dance Wii to Barbie Mermaid (Sadie has about a 10 minute attention span- sounds like me) and now they are coloring and making puppets and I'm making them Popsicle stick airplanes. Sadie has to change princess dresses every few minutes. Things are crazy noisy fun.

I hope my kiddos grow up with wonderful, personal memories. I'm sure one of Annette's love for stars roots back to her childhood...with a tender experience with her dad. Her dad taught her (and they recited together often) this wonderful childhood nursery rhyme in more sophisticated terms. See if you know what it is. (And teach this to your kids and kiddos! It's darling!)

Scintillate, scintillate, globule vivific,

Fain would I fathom thy nature's specific.

See

Loftily posed in ether capacious,

All day

Resembling somewhat a gem carbonaceous.

Wahoo! Butters!

2012-01-10T14:30:00.001-07:00

I have been packing them around but they are gone! Unfortunately they have many, many lard relatives lingering around (my waist, mostly!) but watch out! Here today. Gone tomorrow. Well, maybe next week. Or the week after!

Today

2012-01-09T08:36:00.000-07:00

~Woo-hoo! I'm going back to art today! After hosting class for about 4 years, and with my kiddo schedule, I had to put away my brushes last April. But I think life might settle....someone else has agreed to host....I actually sketched my picture already .... it's a new Santa so I'll be WAAAY ahead of the game next December! I've missed my painting buddies as well.

~then our monthly VT luncheon at the new Brick Oven in South Jordan. Love Brick Oven from college days in Provo.

~then maybe car shopping (for me) with David. I am not a car shopper...I could care less about styles or makes of cars. I only have a few things I insist upon- the most important being that it can't be gray or white since I can't find it in the parking lot. Even so, last time he brought home a gray one. I said, "Well, it looks like you have a new car!" And it has been. I have realized that this new car will probably turn out like my Ipod. He says it is mine but it really is his. We'll see how this goes.....

~since I've started this, I've been to art and been to lunch. Both wonderful. Santa is all based and looking good. Lunch was salad....of course....since tomorrow I am posting butters! (How you doing, cousin?)

~(I'm home now and hubby's not...maybe he's out looking for "my" car. If you see me wandering around in the grocery parking lot for years, you'll know what color it is.)

~Everyone keeps asking how D. and I are doing with his retirement. He's still been under the weather (for weeks now) so it isn't like it would normally be. But his ex-secretary gave him a bag of cowboy stuff for Christmas and we've been making our way through it. She included the series Lonesome Dove. We've been watching it together several hours each night. We never saw it on t.v. and it is totally the epitome of a guy-flick. In chick flicks, people fall in love. In guy flicks, everyone you love gets killed. Between that and The Hunger Games, I've been shot up for life.

~I've been experimenting with different crock pot recipes for our next Creative Cooking. Yesterday I made a Thai Chicken with Cashews that was yummy and also Wild Rice with Fruit and Nuts. I'll post recipes after Creative Cooking (January 18th at 11:30 at Lor Bromley's home. Then a tasting at my house that evening for those that can't come during the day.) If anyone has wonderful crock pot recipes that they love, please share with me. Soon. Thanks!

~Loved a comment yesterday in Relief Society. We were talking about making worthy goals for the new year and Paula Alvarez said she was going to throw her anchor out in the morning. She recently heard a talk that said that fisherman always go out and throw their anchor first....then when they are secure, they can go about their business. She likened it to starting the day off....reading our scriptures and having prayer....anchoring ourselves...and then we are secured for the day. Love that. Loved it so much I thought about having anchor as my new word this year.

But I'm thinking "mercy." Mercy has so many meanings....both the mercy we receive and the mercy we extend. Today during lunch we talked about the need to be quick to forgive but also quick to not take offense. And, of course, the mercy of God....manifest by His great love for all of us. I found this quote that I love:

The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. (The Merchant of Venice) (William Shakespere)

2012-01-07T09:45:00.002-07:00

Finally. Finally. Finally. A skiff (my parent's word) of snow! We can't even call it a "real snow" but it is still going so there is hope- I was just happy today to wake up to some white. Last year was a record snowfall year and this year, not so much. Last night, David and I and Kirk and Cathy went to the Jazz game (we beat Memphis Grizzlies) .....and Cathy and I were wearing sweaters. No coats. In January in Utah. It's unreal. Sad unreal. Our resorts need tons! Our kiddos need some sledding. In a desert, snow is our lifeline.

Fun date last night. Dinner at the Blue Lemon across from Temple Square. My pear and gorgonzola salad was so delicious, I dreamt about it last night. (that's what happens when you are doing "butters." You dream about food. Not quite as satisfying!)

Remember when I posted awhile ago about cute Cheri that lives in our Ward/neighborhood with the moustaches? No, Cheri doesn't have a moustache....but she made a cute printable for Christmas about moustaches. Well, she's getting ready to head off to New York ..... she's going to be on Martha Stewart at the end of the month! How cool is that! (And bummer, I saw that Martha is going to be cancelled at the end of the season. I don't really watch her...I just like knowing that she is there. And I especially love and use her website all the time.) (and I'm really sorry when I remember back many years ago, whenever I would see her picture, I would draw a moustache on it. I appreciate her so much more now. (wow, this conversation has come full circle-moustache to moustache.)
(go to Cheri's website- www.iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com to see all the fun things Cheri does!)

Yesterday was my Chubba Wubba day. (Today is Tanner and Brooke's 3rd anniversary! Wahoo!) How much has changed in the many months of watching him. Although he's always been a good baby, he wouldn't eat or sleep or drink at my house. He wouldn't cry as long as I was holding him....and because he is such a big boy, I'd end up having to ice my shoulder after he left! But now? He finally started crawling and he loves eating and I strap him in his carseat and put him in our closet (a walk-in) and he actually naps. I don't have a high chair so I put him in a walker to feed him and he takes a bite, then rolls around the kitchen floor, then comes back for another bite in a minute. He just makes me laugh. I have the whole house barracaded since he's here, there and everywhere! I love his giggle. He has 8 teeth. He's 10 months old. I just can't understand why the chubby on his legs looks so cute on him and not on me.....

I'm behind on my New Year all ready. I'm still putting away Christmas and I haven't updated my obituary (snort!) and I haven't chosen my "word" for the year. My word has been "felicity" for the past two years. I didn't accomplish it but hopefully I'm more aware. If you have chosen a word, please share with me. I need one to concentrate on. I haven't done my year in review. I haven't made New Year's resolutions. Got to get my rear in gear. (I used that expression since last night in the car, I shared how I had gone through an old scrapbook and found a letter I didn't send to an old roommate. I laughed throughout the letter because of terms of expression.....everything was "hairy." Did you ever use that word? Meaning complicated or frazzled or? Kirk always uses the words, "Good grief!" My brother always says that. In the letter, I also used the phrase "that's the skinny." And "this" is the skinny for today. (not talking about butters!) Nothing big or exciting but I love 2012 already.

Odds and Ends

2012-01-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

~thank you anonymous B. from Florida. What a kind way to start the day. (it posted back on the entry you were reading at the time.) Family is truly awesome!

~to J.- Some of our kiddos on are year-round school, some are on traditional, and one set is home schooled. The tracks actually belong to the year-round school. The reason why they do this is because they can serve 25 % more kids than traditional. Everyone has most of July off. Then every 3 weeks one of the tracks go off (and another comes on)....so three "tracks" are always going. They tell you at the first of the year what track you are on (ours call them A, B, C or D track) with the schedule. In my daughter's area, it is high growth and they can't build schools fast enough so this helps. They only do this here for elementary. When my last two were in elementary, they were on year-round. I loved it. While the older kids were in school, I could have more one on one with the younger kids. We took ski lessons and did fun things. However, year-round plays havoc with working mothers which I wasn't sensitive to at the time. Working mothers rely on high school kids to help watch kids during the summer vacation and when your kids are off track 3 weeks in January (like Brandi's now)- that makes it a little difficult. Thank goodness she has wonderful friends...and, of yes, kiddo grammies. Does that help? Make sense? Each school method has its pluses and minuses.

~the answer is The Hunger Games. 3 books in about 1 1/2 weeks! Whew! I am exhausted from getting shot at and starved and blown up by pods. It was like being in a video game (and a violent one at that.) (hard to believe a girl wrote that!) Other than the violence, I enjoyed the books. Obviously. But now I'm taking a break from fiction. For awhile. I just don't have discipline to stop. (and I was definitely on Team Bread Boy.)

~Butters started yesterday. Anyone in? (for those who don't understand me and my metaphors, butters means dieting. I keep track of all the pounds of butter that I lose. To me it is a clearer image. Cousin Sharon and I are going to rally each other on. If anyone else wants to participate, I'll post butters on Tuesday mornings.) Sometimes it is good to have a butter buddy.

"There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." -Denis Waitley

Christmas Pictures!

2012-01-04T15:57:00.004-07:00

These I love. Each year the kiddos go to the same Santa (what will we do when he moves "elsewhere?") Isn't he wonderful?

First is Chubba Wubba (Peyton Max) and Annee. I've mentioned this before but before Tanner and Brooke were married, Annee went to the same Santa each year as well! It was meant to be.

This is Travis and Tenille's family- Baby Sadie isn't too happy. She's probably not happy because I keep calling her baby Sadie too!

Here are Ryan and Marci's kiddos-

And Brandi's minus Parker.

I love you Santa! May you be here forever!

New Stuff

2012-01-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

~first of all, Blogspot has totally changed their format of posting and I'm illiterate on what is going on and so I growl. A. lot.

~Niece Mal got on a shuttle last night and went home to her real life. We're just her pretend life. Yesterday we took Brandi's kids plus Parker's buddy to Tin Tin. After I put my finger to my temple and pulled the trigger, I survived. One redeeming thing from this movie (besides incredible animation) is the new phrase, "Great Snakes!" I'm using this one in the future. I love it. The show? Not so much. But I think some of the kiddos did.

~Mal and I were watching some Red Box rental. I said, "This reminds me of when Barbie went to Paris for fashion design. This same thing happened." Mallorie looks at me with this quizzical expression. I said, "What? Everything I've learned,I've learned from Ken and Barbie."

~I have kiddos off track for almost 3 weeks so my "normal" won't be normal for quite a while.

~Nature Grams, if you by chance are reading this, I heart you. I'm so sorry about your ankle. I thought we were writing 2011 off and starting off a great new year! But your healing will be a great start. You missed the "donuts" I was planning on bringing you today! DONUT!

~Yesterday on the program at Church was this thought by Charles Dickens: We are bound by every rule of justice and equity, to give the New Year credit for being a good one until he proves himself unworthy of the confidence we repose in him. Today our sweet RS religion class started again. I love these sisters. It is such a wonderful, safe place to learn and discuss. Today, one of the things we talked about was that when we rely on Christ, we can do good things, be filled with light, have our burdens lifted (not taken away)...even though we may be in the middle of a storm. In otherwords, we need to be active, not reactive. We will prove (or not) that 2012 WILL BE AWESOME!

~this past week I have read and read and read. That is 3 books. Back to back. I don't know what is real or unreal. If you know what I am talking about, please respond. Don't tell others what it is. Just give me a clue you know. Or say clueless.

A New Year

2012-01-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

It's still a holiday so no time to write....but I wanted to share a few things.

~So, Saturday I sent David off to his tru luv, a team roping competition in Farmington, Utah. These ropings can last all day, all night....so I reminded him when he was leaving we had a New Year's Eve date at 7:30. I totally expected him to pull in at 7:29. But he showed up around 3. I was very surprised and figured he must have not done well (to not advance) but he said no, he hadn't even entered. There were 500 teams entered which meant the roping would have lasted well into the wee hours. Crazy! David said, "There are an awful lot of cowboys in Farmington that think you must really be something since I came home instead of roping!" lol (so maybe I AM his tru luv....)

Niece Mallorie is here so we are playing a lot of Hand and Foot and just hanging out. This morning she is going to go watch BRandi's girls until I can get there (I had a friend call that needed a ride somewhere) and then Mal and the girls and Parker and a friend are going to see TinTin. Is TinTin the same thing as RinTinTin?

~Anxious for normal to set back in. Classes start again this week. Try to get the house put together. So ready to move on from 2011. 2012 is going to be GREAT! (we are about as happy as we choose to be.....happiness is a choice....we can do hard things.....look on the bright side.....what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.....this too shall pass.......show off your smile!......be not a glass that is half empty or half full but look around for someone who is thirsty.......Can you tell I'm doing positive affirmations!)

~Today IS the day I update my obituary. (I know, that's nuts!) While Mallory is here, I'm making her work with my MIL to get hers done. I think it is a important thing to have DONE. Son Ryan told me this week he's changing mine. He's such a pill. And since he is such an archeology fan, when I saw this cartoon on Facebook, I loved it! (When Ryan was little, he'd say when he grew up, he wanted to be an archie-ologist.)

Cowboy Up!

2011-12-31T09:10:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was my hubby's last day of work being a trial attorney. Today it was like sending him off to school (I actually sent him off to school many days- he was just starting his Junior year of college when we got married, then 3 years of law school.) Today is his first day of his new job......team roping. He's off to Farmington, Utah with his new hat and his worn spurs. (His "I gotta get to work" made me laugh!) How you can not be happy for the guy!

Drum Roll!

2011-12-30T10:35:00.001-07:00

~Today is David's last day of work! Yahoo! Let the new adventures begin.

~Today my oldest kiddo turns 13! Parker! Parker! Parker! Love him!

~Today Somoa is skipping Friday. Poof! It's gone. They want to be like other folks. So they went to bed last night and woke up to Saturday. But employers have to pay everyone for Friday's work, even though no one is working since the day was skipped.....I know, I know, it's complicated.....

~So READY for this past year, these past 2 years to be over and done. Like Somoa, I just want it skipped. Breathe in. Breathe out.

~Just got back from picking Mallorie up from the shuttle. She's putting on sparklie Opi nail polish. She's ready for "boy" talk. She loves her Aunti M. I see movie popcorn (and a movie) and peds in our future. Yes!

2011-12-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

Horsie Gone

2011-12-27T23:15:00.001-07:00

Remember when I told the story of niece Mallory (she's coming on Friday! Yeah- to play! She misses me!) when she was a little girl. She had a puppy that she loved and drug with her everywhere. She LOVED that puppy. But one day when Mallory wasn't home, the puppy got outside and got ran over by a car. It was gone. Mallorie's mommy was beside herself with the devastation task of breaking the news to Mallory. You know as a mom how "horrible" these experiences are. Mommy Angie finally pulled Mallory aside and told her what had happened, Mallory shrugged her shoulders and said, "Puppy gone!" - then ran outside to play.

Puppy gone has become a family symbol. Sometimes I have thought "puppy gone"...and other times I've realized I'M the puppy gone.

We lost another horse the day after Christmas. I thought David would be all distraught....but he was like, "Well, one less horse to feed." (You see, it wasn't like David picked Booker out. Scott Tillotsen actually just showed up with this retired racehorse....and a female at that.) David and mares aren't great pairs. When people ask me how many horses we have, I look at David first to see what he is going to say...in case a horse or two has shown up that I didn't know about. I usually said 4 1/2 horses. We just had 1/2 of Booker. And now we have none left of Booker.

Horsie gone. Who knows why. Hope it doesn't spread. (Our vet was out of town.) Hope whatever it was doesn't affect one of the horses I love. One of the horses the kiddos love and adore. One of the horses the Scouts love to ride.

She wasn't even sick the day before.

Can I just say, I hope David doesn't call a truck and have them winch me up and away. You know David and mares.....

Glad the kiddos took her carrots and apples on Christmas. David gave her two portions of grain. If someone snuck in a bite or two of chocolate, I think she might have died happy. I like to think she did anyway.

Girl's Night Out

2011-12-27T09:42:00.015-07:00

Last week I hosted Girl's Night Out. After decorating the cabin for Brandi's friends back in October, I knew for sure I wanted to do the same for my girlie friends.

The cabin doesn't have any electricity which means it is COLD (thank goodness for a roaring fireplace) and dark...except for candle light and lanterns. Luminaries led the way to the cabin.

This is one of the food tables (without the food.) (These pictures were "after the fact.")

We had lots of good food!

Hot wassail

Pear cider

BBQ Water chestnuts wrapped in Bacon

Artichoke Dip with Chilies and bread and crackers

Blue cheese Grapes Balls

Brie bites in Phyllo with my Pepper Jelly

Honey Walnut Shrimp from Asian Star

Lettuce Wraps from Asian Star

lots of chocolates and goodies for munching (everyone was too full for the caramel pudding cake so I sent some home with people.)

This was a fresh centerpiece for the food table. Can I just say that "real holly" should be deemed a lethal weapon. I still have a wound in my finger!

I decided on paper goods for ease in clean-up.

The Monarch cooking stove was covered with candles.

Emily Walton (Valene's daughter) came and helped me decorate again. I hauled all my Santa's out and Emily worked magic with the garland and lights.

I think my funky metal tree finally found a home. I tried to sneak this one off on my kids a few years back instead of a "real" Christmas tree and you would have thought I committed a crime.

I love this tree.....

One of my Santa paintings looked perfect for my Santa theme. He's one of my favorites that I have painted. This year, no Santa. I'm hoping next year will be a year for painting again. This year I've needed to be a grammie.

The hanging Santa's were the party favors. Loved them. Love my friends. Loved the night.

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

Showers and Marshmallows

2011-12-26T21:44:00.008-07:00

Even though the holidays are busy, people still get married, people still have babies! I went to two beautiful showers in the past 2 weeks.

The first one was a bridal shower. I loved the Winter Wonderland theme that friend Debbie Stowell did.

The favors were baskets of cookie cutters.

But I especially loved the beautiful wreath that we attached advice to. What a thoughtful gift as well!

Then I went to my long-lost-cousin's daughter's shower.

Have you ever seen such a knockout cake for a baby shower! I was blown away! (and yes, it WAS edible!)

They gave away darling hot chocolate jars

with peppermint marshmallows! I'd never heard of that before! Darling, darling shower.

And speaking of flavored marshmallows, I just made hubby and I some hot chocolate. Brandi and the kiddos gave David a new slingshot (of course it had a horse carved on it) and GIANT marshmallows and also caramel marshmallows to shoot in it but the caramel marshmallows went straight into our hot chocolate. Ummmm-good!

“Learning can only happen when a child is interested. If he’s not interested it’s like throwing marshmallows at his head and calling it eating.” – Barbara Lamping

Merry Christmas From Our House to Yours

2011-12-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

The end....which was just the beginning....

(Merry Christmas everyone!)

Lazy People

2011-12-24T12:43:00.002-07:00

Brandi told me a quote this morning that she heard....to make me feel better. I think she saw it on Pinterst and it said,

"Organized people are so lazy! They refuse to spend all those hours looking for things."

Yesterday I was high-five-ing myself when I finished the grocery shopping and the present shopping and all the deliveries and was home in great time. The sun was shining, the air crisp and I have felt "so on top of things" this Christmas season which brings me peace and joy.

All I wanted was to get in my jammies by dark (5:00 here!) and watch Christmas shows and wrap presents.

I got out all the bags for the kiddos Christmas jammies and, being a little smug, since I bought them all in October- waaaay ahead of the game- and started putting tags and sizes in the correct bags.

One nightgown gone. I remember taking one out of the bag and showing it to Tenille and her sister Heidi to see if it was "okay."

Who knows WHERE IN THE HECK it ended up...certainly not in the bags with all the others.

Truly it could only be in 4 rooms. I've searched and searched and searched. There was nothing peaceful or joyful about it.

I tried to make it into a scavenger hunt. I like those. And this is what I found:

A TON of kiddos things. I have a new lost and found pile that EVERYONE is going through when they come tonight for snicky snack dinner.

I found a wedding card for Brooke and Tanner. They have almost been married for 3 years. Yes, he still has "stuff" in his closet. The wedding card had a $50 gift card in it! (I hope there isn't an expiration on it!)

I found a book of Forever stamps. Just in time for holiday card sending. Except this is the first year ever I've not sent Christmas cards. Somehow that just didn't happen. But I LOVE reading all the ones we get and especially seeing everyone's pictures! The mailbox is a treat every day.

I found a Christmas present I got for my MIL last year. Yahoo! Guess what she is getting this year!

I found my mom and dad's "hats" they wear when they come (in the guest closet.) Now I'm really homesick for them....

No nightie.

So I had to hop in the car, this morning and head to the store to see if possibly/fingers-crossed/can't believe it would be there/and in the right size/whew! the traffic!

The store was closed. Had to go hang out in another store until the first store opened. Can I just mention that I always wonder at Christmas time (or anytime) why Target has 24 cash register lanes and only 5 open. Walmart had 10. Yesterday at Shopko, they had 3 open with about 12 lanes. AT least 6 people in a lane.

Just wondering.....

Not that I'm complaining. I received my Christmas miracle. The nightgown. The size. Last one. I'll take it.

With time to spare. And I was able to do some errands for Brandi and scored on them. (I even made it to Costco. On a Saturday. On the day before Christmas! Crazy!) And now, although I don't think I'll get in my jammies, since it is 1:00 p.m.- I'm going to find a Christmas movie and wrap presents. And drink some Cranberry Mist. And feel some peace and joy.

Love the season. Love the reason.

When I'm sure my kids won't be on this site, I'll post our nativity. I loved how it turned out. (I wish I were smart enough to do a music slide show here.)

I hope everyone is breathing. I hope everyone is happy. I wish I were a lazy person that never had to search for anything.....

life would be so calm...

The Cattle Were Lowing....

2011-12-21T14:05:00.003-07:00

Lowing-
1. To utter the sound made by cattle; moo.
2. To cross your eyes and make funny faces.
3. Make grandma laugh.

You get the idea....

Retirement

2011-12-19T08:54:00.006-07:00

So.....the big news of the weekend.....the big news of our lives.....the culmination of what I knew was coming all year....

David has retired! Although he has a practice that lawyers dream about, he's walking away to put on his spurs. Really. He's going to cowboy now.

(I am leaving this blank space for you to read my thoughts into it. Some things are better left unsaid. Lol. )

David started clerking for Snow, Christensen and Martineau while in law school at BYU. They were one of the top firms in Salt Lake so when they made him an offer right out of law school (and we were too poor with two kiddos to look anywhere else) he accepted. Eventually he was taken under wing by a senior partner, Merlin Lybbert, and ended up doing what he does, making partner after 3 years. For almost 30 years, David has been the main malpractice defense attorney for the University Hospital. He also does the same thing for PIE...which is the insurer of 90 % of the dentists in the State. When people meet him, they have a hard time thinking he is a trial lawyer. He is soft spoken and not arrogant. He doesn't fit the mold. But in his 30 years of doing this work, he has never lost a trial for the hospital , the docs or the dentists he has represented. I think that is pretty darn amazing!

Friday was David's firm Christmas party....and they surprised him with a tribute. Most of our family was able to be there. (Little America)

It was pretty tender. I don't think David realized how hard it would be to leave all the people he works with there. Since he is on so many of the firm's boards and committees, he actually has to do a little work until the end of the year but other than that, he's packing his things. Friday night we were invited to the managing board of PIE....directors and dentists from throughout the State (at the Garden Room at the Roof.....even better than Little America!)....and again, the most amazing tribute. After the director spoke and honored David, then the chairman popped up and said, "I don't know if you all really know what this guy has done for us. He has saved us millions and millions of dollars." and then he went on and on about his integrity and what an amazing man he is.

He is.

I truly am happy that he is going to get to do all the things he wants to do now. Because he has worked so hard for our family, I have been able to do all the things I love...and our kids were given many advantages. We've had a great life.

When we went to Las Vegas, Laurie had a sign for us in our room...."Retirement. Twice as much husband and 1/2 as much money." Well, HALF of that equation is awesome!

(I remember before we got married, I used to hoard pineapple under my bed because I knew that we'd never be able to afford to eat pineapple once we got married. I think I'll pick up a few cans today at the store......)

After David had been in his career for awhile, he made the comment that in a way it was a little frustrating knowing he could never be at the top of his profession....since time wouldn't permit. It is hard to really be at the top of the game, be a great husband, a great dad and for us, to serve in the church. You just "can't do it all."

A few years ago, we were in Scottsdale, Arizona and David was being inducted into this prestigious legal organization. They invite the top 5% of trial attorneys in the nation to join (after investigating you for two years, interviewing judges and attorneys who have worked for you....reviewing your cases, etc. It's a pretty big deal.) I thought as he walked on stage, "You know, he's done it. And with his family and integrity intact."

I'm proud of him.

Cowboy on!

Some say Mustache. Some say Moustache.

2011-12-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Loved Addi's concentration making mustaches. We made them for all the kiddos today. I think I'll take mustache pictures for our Christmas card this year. (by the way, did you know you could spell mustache, moustache?) (go ahead, you can....)

A darling girl,Cheri H., in our Ward and neighborhood is a big time blogger. She has a mustache/moustache fetish (well, her little boy does) and she's done a cute giftie with them. She has a free printable so check it out!

http://www.iammommahearmeroar.net/2011/12/neighbor-gift-idea-santa-staches.html#more

What Do You Want To Be?

2011-12-15T21:23:00.003-07:00

This was an article published in the New York Times about my friend, Lynda's son- named #1 DJ in America recently.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/fashion/a-200000-a-night-dj-known-as-kaskade-is-really-ryan-raddon-a-mormon.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Holiday Cheer

2011-12-15T13:49:00.003-07:00

This morning I had Chubba Wubba for a little bit. Guess what! He's almost 9 months old and FINALLY began crawling! I thought he was going to walk before he crawled. This morning was a hoot with him scampering everywhere, checking everything out. I would wrap, he would unwrap! Love him!

I picked up Addi from kindergarten and we have the day together today. I think we'll make Santa mustaches. NO ONE can be sad when you are making Santa mustaches. Right???

Yesterday

2011-12-15T13:42:00.005-07:00

My neighbor, Norma, died yesterday morning. Peacefully. Thankfully. But so hard on those left behind.

It was the beginning to a very hard day (except for a delightful visiting teaching luncheon at Nordstrom's Grill).....

and David thought I was totally losing it last night....I'd cry and then laugh so hard because, really, when you're playing Wack a Mole, sometimes it is better to laugh. Then cry some more.

Whew! Sometimes life takes the wind right out of your sails, doesn't it?

You can't run away from trouble. There ain't no place that far. ~Uncle Remus

Snow Day

2011-12-13T08:37:00.007-07:00

We have been needing snow and praying for snow (well, actually, just my son Ben who works up at Alta/Snowbird has been praying for snow...) and it is dumping this morning! Of all days!

I have class this morning, (and if it stops snowing)I'll pick up my writing friend, Carolyn, to drive to Santaquin (way south of Provo) for lunch with Linda. We usually get together about every 3 or 4 months but this time is has been forever....and I still don't have a poem to share. The topic was "shoes." So not there. So not inspired. I would probably be more enthusiastic if I didn't have to wear peasant shoes....

Then I'll hurry back...as friend Sophia is coming to town. She acts like it is really to see me but truly it is because she is picking up her daughter, Liza, from the airport at 8:30 tonight. So we will do some Christmas shopping at Gardner Mill while we visit and eat fried green tomatoes at Archibald's.

Okay, truly, it needs to quit snowing. I have things to do...

Yesterday was a full day but I loved getting lots of things checked off my list. Monday meals went smoothly except things are still so sad next door. They don't think Norma will make it to Christmas. She's in a semi-comatose state. I know death would be the greatest blessing for her but it is such a heartache for her family who just lost their dad.

Last night I finally got to plug in the tree for the first time. I had taken all my extension cords out to the cabin and didn't have one for the house. FINALLY it seems a little more festive here. I just haven't got my decorating mojo going on. I think it's time. I think it is past due. Party next week.

Sunday night we went to a Christmas fireside with Josh Wright and his family. They are all so talented. Check out his amazing music on Itunes. His cd hit #1 on Billboard this year. (I don't know what category.) Besides winning piano competitions all over the world, he has a wonderful ability to arrange songs and combine songs within a song in the most delightful way. Loved hearing Jordie, Jared, Lindsay and Savannah play as well. We miss these guys since they moved away a few months ago.

It's a wonderful time of the year and yet, life goes on. Within our own family we still deal with heartache and worry and health problems and finances. So when a friend of mine posted this on Facebook today, I knew it was just the laugh I needed.

Carry on!

Playing Catch-Up

2011-12-12T08:39:00.010-07:00

Every day is a list of things (it's called December) but before I head out the door I wanted to catch-up on a few things. First of all I mentioned last week at Karlin's for Bucket. Each month at Bucket, the hostess prepares amazing food. We are all a titch "foodies." So when Karlin was dishing up the main dish, we were all intrigued. "What IS it," we asked. Karlin deadpanned, "Cheetos Chicken." (She laughed...."Sorry it's not gourmet but this is what my family eats. Cheetos Chicken.") (and I still don't know how delicious it was since I was in flu-recovery and being very careful what I put in my mouth.)

Of course, that didn't stop me from sampling dessert. Karlin made this wonderful dense "almost flourless" (it has like 3 T. of flour) cake. It was pretty and delicious.

Wed. I was starting to feel better which was well since I had a plane to catch. Watched Chubba Wubba in the morning then Brooke took me out the the airport (thank you!) David had already been there for 3 days....we went to the rodeo on Wed. night. It was cool because it was Pearl Harbor Day and they were showing footage of the attack. They had given out flags for everyone coming into the arena...and had the navy band and all the branches of the service represented including two Pearl Harbor survivors. What a wonderful, tender way to remember this day.

The rodeo was wonderful, as always. We stay in Henderson at our friends', the Barnsons...who have a cantina just for us. (we think.) Son Ryan and business partner Steve Dalley were in Vegas on business....and Ryan got MGM to comp us $160 tickets (each) for a showing of KA on Thursday. In all the years of going to Vegas, I've never seen one of the Cirque shows....and I was blown out of the water. Truly amazing! (David, of course, thought it was weird...) (thanks, Ryan for AMAZING tickets!)

Got home Friday night, after stopping at my MIL's house in Hurricane. Had to do some repairs there (anyone know of anyone who wants to buy a home in Hurricane?) and then headed home.

Saturday was Rylee's Christmas dance performance. She's such a ray of sunshine!

I spent all of Saturday night working on my Sunday School lesson....we're ending the New Testament (sigh) and I was teaching Revelations (quiver!) Had some neat experiences with it but the time is a clinking and I need to boogie. It must be December!

I wanted to share something funny Steve D. (Ryan's partner) said. He called his wife to check on everyone and his wife said his little boy, age 4 confided, "I don't know how to keep my brain from thinking naughty and sneaky things!"

Naughty and sneaky! That cracks me up!

(and speaking of catch-up, GotShoes, if you see this, email me your address....mdwillpoet@msn.com. Thanks!)

Once you begin being naughty, it is easier to go and on and on, and sooner or later something dreadful happens. Laura Ingalls W.

Tis the Season

2011-12-06T19:51:00.008-07:00

~yesterday morning I had Chubba Wubba for a while, then picked Addi up from kindergarten and we spent the afternoon together. Last week, our visiting teaching group met for lunch at Mimi's...and I saw where they had a $25 family meals to go with the choice of 10 entrees. What a deal! I decided that would be perfect for Monday meals since I've been a babysitting, decorating, trying to clean, getting behind Dec. fool. I dished them up and delivered....

~my next doors had more chaos going on....I won't go into details but just more heartbreaking craziness. I came home emotionally exhausted.

~then it hit. And it hit HARD! Food poisoning???? I mean IT HIT! And then, as I'm heaving my guts out (sorry, too graphic, I know)....I realize that maybe I just served my two families poisoned food! All night long (and it was a looooong night), I was so dang worried about if my families would be awake in the morning.

~can I say everyone survived....I guess it was the flu....but now I'm worried the kiddos will come down with it. David actually left for Las Vegas on Sunday and I'm going tomorrow and here I am SICK! The reason I didn't go with him was I didn't want to miss Bucket Christmas today at Karlin's.

~I called her and told her I was sick. But then started to feel better. And ended up going (see how selfish I can be...now all my friends will probably get sick as well...)

~and it was amazing. As always. Can I just say I love these women....different ages, different stages, all just wonderful. Karlin's mom died this past year...and she said she wished she would have had a written list of all that she "believed" in. She asked us today, to bring a list of 10 things we "believed" in...and share them. She gave each of us a lovely frame with Believe at the top...for us to frame our lists. Lots of heartfelt moments today. Several people mentioned the lessons that come from adversity, the power in learning we can do hard things, the blessings of family- that we "believe" in family. A great day. (despite some continuing achiness...)

~we also exchanged our little gifties. It is always a treat. I love these women. (did I mention that?)

~tomorrow, Las Vegas here I come. It's a favorite thing that David and I do every year. It's "his" thing that I get to do with him. No one has lived until they've been to the cowboy boutique (several in huge convention centers)...and see how many "what in the hecks?" one can do with barbed wire. I head right to the massage chairs and get my Dansk's polished and then head back to the massage chair people again.

~not really. But I'd like to. David likes to spend time looking at horse trailors with "live-in" quarters. I just smile and pat his head and say "maybe with your next wife, sweetie."

~I loved the First Presidency Christmas devotional on Sunday night. A wonderful boost of the spirit. One thought that I gained is that we sabotaged our own Christmases by our expectations. I know I do. I expect this wonderful, caring, holiday greeting card kind of peaceful and spiritual Christmas experience. Then, when reality hits, we crumble. I know I do. So I'm already doing self talk. The kids have planned to get together, and take food to a drop off to the food bank, then go out for a little holiday dinner together. (Instead of exchanging gifts.) I have volunteered to have all the kiddos (14 under 12...but who's counting....) during that time. The plan is to take new nativity pictures. I've already told myself it is going to be CHAOS. But I'm going to use this as an experiment to see if I can breathe during the middle of the storm.

~and you know how I love the kiddos. Reigning them in will be impossible, I know.

~but then this happens.....

And somehow I know everything is worth it!

"Sometimes it seems that our efforts to have a perfect Christmas season are like a game of Jenga ... each of those little wooden blocks is a symbol of the perfect Christmas events we so desperately want to have. We have in our minds a picture of how everything should be - the perfect tree, the perfect lights, the perfect gifts and the perfect family events. We might even want to re-create some magical moment we remember from Christmases past, and nothing short of perfection will do. Sooner or later, something unpleasant occurs & the wooden blocks tumble, the drapes catch fire, (he told the story as a young boy actually doing this...) the turkey burns, the sweater is the wrong size, the toys are missing batteries, the children quarrel, the pressure rises; and the picture-perfect Christmas we had imagined, the magic we had intended to create, shatters around us. As a result, the Christmas season is often a time of stress, anxiety, frustration and perhaps even disappointment. It is through opening theirs hearts and minds to the spirit of Christmas that people are able to recognize the wonderful things happening around them, directing their attention to the sublime, he said. It is usually something small & simple; we read a verse of scripture, we hear a sacred carol and really listen, perhaps for the first time, to its words, or we witness a sincere expression of love," he said. "In one way or another, the Spirit touches our hearts, and we see that Christmas, in its essence, is much more sturdy and enduring than the many minor things of life we too often use to adorn it."
It is through those moments that the Spirit touches individuals' hearts and they are able to remember that Christmas is really about the Christ.
"We should offer Him our love," he said. "We should give Him our willingness to take upon ourselves His name and walk in the path of discipleship. We should promise to remember Him always, to emulate His example, and to go about doing good.
"We cannot offer Him the gift of perfection in all things, because this is a gift beyond our capacity to give; at least for now. The Lord does not expect that we commit to move mountains. But He does require that we bring as gifts our best efforts to move ourselves, one foot in front of the other, walking in the ways He has prepared and taught." (Pres. Uchtdorf)

Hallee's Day

2011-12-05T13:17:00.013-07:00

Just wanted to post pictures from Hallee's baptism day.

Just before the baptism, Parker gave a talk about baptism. He did a WONDERFUL job (and mentioned when Gracie got baptized two years ago, Hallee was so excited and said to her "Gracie, I could baptize you because I have the pre-school!") (priesthood) Then Brandi gave thoughts on the Holy Ghost and what it means to have this gift in her life. I don't think there was a dry eye. Hallee, the room was filled with all your family and so many friends that love you. What a special day this was!

David was honored to baptism Hallee and Glen, her Grandpa Campbell confirmed her.

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers

Opps!

2011-12-05T12:58:00.003-07:00

I gave you the wrong address for Lizzy's creations. Here is the right one:

http://www.mycuteheadbands.blogspot.com/

Check it out!

She has darling hats and scarves and legwarmers and....all sorts of fun things!

Monkey Hat

2011-12-04T16:19:00.009-07:00

Just wanted to put this hat out there.....sock monkeys are the rage. Lizzie, one of Brandi's best friends, crochets girlie headbands and all sorts of funky hats. I thought this one, on her little guy, was just the cutest! Here is her site if you are interested in checking it out!
the correct address is- http://www.mycuteheadbands.blogspot.com/

Hallee Babe

2011-12-04T09:38:00.004-07:00

I thought this little girl was going to pop yesterday at her baptism. It was such a beautiful day. Amazing spirit. Amazing joy.

Crock Pot Creamy Chicken with Black Beans

2011-11-30T21:15:00.002-07:00

Found this easy and yummy recipe on Pinterest and tried it last night. Both David and I loved it. Check out the recipe on the cooking blog:

constantgrowingamazementcooks.blogspot.com

Randomness

2011-11-30T09:00:00.007-07:00

This morning is full of totally random thoughts....
~I have been hauling tubs and trees up from the Christmas closet downstairs all morning. Half of them I have been carting out to the cabin. I'm hot in the house, then go outside in the cold. A storm is supposedly blowing in today so I thought I had better hustle. I have Girl's Night Out in December so I'm taking all my Santa decor out there. Nativities in the living room. Kid's Santa pictures overly covering the dining room table now (and I've received two already this year. I can't wait to share them (when I fix my scanner. Grrrr!) And snowmen in the kitchen. If I weren't having a party, I think I would put out the nativities and the kids pictures and call it good. (I don't know when my Christmas delight was replaced by Baa-Humbug. I think when the little kids moved out.)

~I went on Saturday to Valene's and spent the morning making Christmas yummies. It was fun and productive.

~And I've been cooking up a storm. My Monday meals keep expanding. I took a meal to a family yesterday that is moving. I really don't know them well, haven't had a lot of association but "moving" sets off memory bells for me. We moved once...and although we have a million friends and neighbors, for some reason, that time, no one showed up to help. I ran into an old friend, honestly someone I hadn't seen or talked to for over 10 years...and when she asked what was up and I told her we were moving, she said "Plan on dinner being delivered on Sunday." I told her she didn't have to do that...and she said, "Exactly."

~We've had a lot of people moving in and out of the neighborhood recently and it always grieves me. I'm not good with change and even though I don't have intimate interaction with all of them, I just like knowing that they are there.

~3 pans of yumminess done for my daughter. Sitting and waiting to be wrapped.

~Internet shopping rules! I love click, click, click (while in my fleecy pj's) and every day something fun shows up at the door!
If you love Internet shopping, clap your hands! Yeah!

~I love my kids giving me Christmas ideas. A-hem! JUST SAYING!

~can I just say that the Cherub tomatoes (like cherry) at Costco right now taste JUST like they came off the vine. They are THAT good

~next week I'm flying to Las Vegas for a couple of days with my hubby (and Lynn and Laurie Barnson.) It is that time of year again...National Rodeo Finals. David will drive down earlier but I'll fly down after Bucket on Tuesday. Always a fun trip. (Pam, are you going and when? It seems like you always go earlier than us.)

~Totally don't like Brussels Sprouts. Or liver. Just saying. When I had my neighbor and her daughter over for holiday cooking, I asked what their traditional Thanksgiving dinner consisted of. (This is the adult daughter of my neighbor who died and her 14 year old daughter.) She said her dad always fixed fried turnips! Now that's a new one! (they are missing Don so much, their hearts are breaking.)

~I think I'm growing my hair out. For having a short attention span, I seem to keep hair-do's for ten years before I'm ready to move on. This one has lasted 11 years. I'm beyond due. I don't think extensions would do since my hair is only about 3 inches long. I'll probably cave since I need to get a new driver's license next month.

~I had helpers come and rake up leaves. Over 40 bags and leaves are still falling, plus the dumpster is full. I see a trip to the dump in my/our future!

~Hallee Babe gets baptized this weekend. Have I mentioned (only a million times) how much I love her? Been trying to gather pictures (on the computer) for a slide show for Brandi to put together. I stopped when I had 100 Hallee Babe pictures....

~where in the heck does time GO????

~some people's lives are so hard.....my prayer list so long..... my heart gets so heavy. Doesn't it just seem everywhere? Or do I just know too many people. And love too many people?

~I love Christmas music so much and I'm afraid I'm getting so many "favorite" songs, I won't be able to listen to them all. It's funny how some songs come and go. I made the comment how years ago a writing friend said if she heard "Oh Holy Night" one more time, she was going to scream. I've noticed that this year, every time I turn something on, I hear Ave Maria. Andre Bocelli, then Celtic Men, then Barbra Streisand. I'm not ready to scream...it is just interesting. But I did hear one yesterday that I loved. Rachael Lampa. Itunes it. It really is beautiful.

~so, in a humorous vein, my friend Sophia recently posted about her husband's pathetic belt. It is duct taped together and she can't believe he wears it out in public. Then he declared it is his secret weapon....in a flash he can take it off and swing it around his head! She just rolled her eyes and asked him how old her was...and truly, how many villains had he seen that he had to swing his belt at. He replied, "that's because they see my belt!" Since "pepper spray" has been in the news (shoppers spraying other shoppers to be first to get a Black Friday deal...and police spraying college students in the "Occupy" sit-ins.)....I thought about what secret weapons I have. I used to sleep with a cactus plant by my bed when David was out of town....but I've given up the cactus for a pair or scissors. (That way I can wake up safe WITH a new hair cut!) And when Mallory lives here or Brooke comes, and they go for a run or walk in the gully, if they are alone I made them take a corn on the cob pick. Now THAT is a weapon!

~my niece Mallory, who lives in I-Dee-Ho, but occasionally lives with us and visits often bringing all her besties and boyfriends, has a pinterest board called "Thing That Remind Me of Auntie M." That makes me feel so loved! So I found a pin for Mallory. When I saw this, I immediately thought her her! (and thanks, Mal, for making me feel so special!)

One Reason Why I Love

2011-11-28T08:03:00.003-07:00

Yesterday I taught the Sunday School lesson on 1 and 2nd Peter. (as I mentioned in the previous post.) I asked the class what they knew of Peter ( alot since we are nearing the end of the New Testament) and what he meant to them, then and now.
I shared about recently being in Rome and at St.Peter's Basilica Square. Many think that this is the burial spot of Peter...and this shrine/then later church was built over the spot. What I had forgotten was that many years later, when the Basilica was falling apart, is when the Catholic church started selling "indulgences" to pay for the restoration....which caused an uproar within the church...and eventually a German priest, by the name of Martin Luther....wrote a letter of outrage .... and that became the beginning of the Reformation and the beginning in the Protestant movement. So Peter not only had power in his life, but also in his death.

I shared a personal story that I shared here about 4 years ago but want to repeat again since it goes along with one reason why I love Peter in the scriptures. Here it is:

"Sending a child on a mission is a little scary. When our first son, Ryan, received his call to Guatemala, I was concerned about his safety because on the Internet I learned the country was still in a civil war. And just before he was getting ready to leave, a well-meaning friend called to tell me that since her daughter was also being sent to Guatemala, she had been doing some research and found that a large number of missionaries were getting malaria in Guatemala and that the Church wasn’t giving them the necessary medication to prevent infection. If I was stirred up before, I REALLY was concerned about my son’s safety then! I called all over Salt Lake to see if I could find some pills to send with Ryan before he left. They don’t have malaria in Salt Lake so I was out of luck. Finally I found a source in Florida. I had really worked myself into a tizzy until David said, "Marilyn, you need to stop this and turn our son over to the Lord in faith." Of course. Why hadn’t I thought of that! So I did. I sent him in faith. About a year into his mission, he contacted not just malaria but den gay also and was deathly sick in the hospital for a couple of weeks. When I found out, I was angry. Heavenly Father knew that I was worried about that and I turned him over in faith and He hadn’t taken care of him at all! I really felt like Heavenly Father had let me down. Luckily, although I was mad at God, I continued to read my scriptures.
(that's an important key here.)

One night as I was reading, I just opened the book and a verse jumped out at me while the scripture taught me verbally in my heart and mind, truth. The scripture, as it came to mind was, "Why do you weep because you suffer for my sake? How much better it is that you suffer for my sake than you suffer for your sins." ( like I said, the Spirit spoke it to my mind. What the scripture really said was 1 Peter 3:17) What an incredible thought. Bad things happen to good people all the time and there is much suffering in the world but there is a difference between "righteous" and "unrighteous" suffering. How much better it is that if we suffer, it isn't through our wrong doing. (I later learned the Church doesn’t give the missionaries malaria medication is because the government has asked them not to. If the missionary was to get malaria, then there would be nothing to treat it with.) What an important lesson the Lord taught me. How thankful I am that even though I wasn’t happy with the Lord, I continued to read my scriptures so I could received his comfort, personal revelation...and forgiveness."

Quotes from Lesson

2011-11-28T07:43:00.006-07:00

Yesterday I talk on 1 and 2nd Peter in the New Testament. I have grown to love Peter so much in the past few years as I've read and re-read the New Testament. In Peter, he tries to buoy the members of the church up, reminding them of who they are and of Christ's atonement for them. Then he tells them that hard times are coming. (This is during King Nero's time in Rome and thousands of Christians were killed, including Peter who was crucified upside down...at his request, because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Christ.) He said that you can hold your head up in the middle of the storm basically because of your faith and hope in Christ. Several people in the class asked for additional quotes or thoughts I shared in the lesson. If you read here, here they are. If I left out ones you wanted, let me know. (these are thoughts about having hope and patience and learning through our sorrows.)

We may not be able to fix the whole world, but we can strive to fix what may be amiss in our own families. Tolkien reminds us:

"It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule" (The Return of the King [1965], 190).

The following story was told by Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone:
"Many years ago I heard the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France. King Louis had been taken from his throne and imprisoned. His young son, the prince, was taken by those who dethroned the king. They thought that inasmuch as the king’s son was heir to the throne, if they could destroy him morally, he would never realize the great and grand destiny that life had bestowed upon him.
"They took him to a community far away, and there they exposed the lad to every filthy and vile thing that life could offer. … For over six months he had this treatment—but not once did the young lad buckle under pressure. Finally, after intensive temptation, they questioned him. Why had he not submitted himself to these things—why had he not partaken? These things would provide pleasure, satisfy his lusts, and were desirable; they were all his. The boy said, ‘I cannot do what you ask for I was born to be a king’" ("The King’s Son," New Era, Nov. 1975, 35).
Bishop Featherstone goes on to remind us that we are sons and daughters of a King, children of God and that knowledge can help us shun the vile things of the world.

One night, late at night, Kent Richards, a member of the Seventy and a former surgeon by profession, was lying in a hosital bed, this time as a patient and not as a physician and over again he tried to understand the pain and adversity he was going through. As he pondered, he came to understand that during His mortal life Christ chose to experience pains and afflictions in order to understand us. Perhaps we also need to experience the depths of mortality in order to understand Him and our eternal purposes.

　
President Henry B. Eyring taught: "It will comfort us when we must wait in distress for the Savior’s promised relief that He knows, from experience, how to heal and help us. … And faith in that power will give us patience as we pray and work and wait for help. He could have known how to succor us simply by revelation, but He chose to learn by His own personal experience."

Continue in Patience by Pres. Uchtdorf
　
When I was 10 years old, my family became refugees in a new land. I had always been a good student in school—that is, until we arrived in West Germany. There, my educational experience was a significantly different one. The geography we studied in my school was new to me. The history we studied was also very different. Before, I had been learning Russian as a second language; now, it was English. This was hard for me. Indeed, there were moments when I truly believed my tongue simply was not made to speak English.
Because so much of the curriculum was new and strange to me, I fell behind. For the first time in my life, I began to wonder if I was simply not smart enough for school.
Fortunately I had a teacher who taught me to be patient. He taught me that steady and consistent work—patient persistence—would help me to learn.
Over time, difficult subjects became clearer—even English. Slowly I began to see that if I applied myself consistently, I could learn. It didn’t come quickly, but with patience, it did come.
From that experience, I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort.
There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T08:44:00.018-07:00

Thanksgiving this year was one of our best. (I had kiddos 3 days this week and I put them to work. Thanks Addi, age 5 for helping me shop and make the Indian headbands and Rylee for painting the clothes pins and helping make the mashed potatoes! I had Nash and Boston help me clear the pumpkins out of the cabin- think basketball into the garbage can- so all was fun. Tenille worked on the games.) Everyone was here except for Ben's Susie who was working Ski Patrol at Alta Ski Resort. Thanks to Pinterest, Tenille made the cutest vegetable tray. All the food was wonderful (and I kept jumping up and down that everything was ready with hours to spare and dishes done.) Loved being with everyone. The kiddos loved the games. Well, Parker (age almost 13) and Josh 11 weren't interested in donning their Indian headbands for some reason but did get involved in the games when candy was involved. This is the cute Thanksgiving game I told you about a few days ago but that I couldn't get the picture to upload. Keep it in your Thanksgiving idea book- I loved it.

We also did a Turkey Walk. Tenille had numbered pumpkins taped on the floor, music was played and when the music stopped, a number was drawn from a bowl and the person standing on the number got a prize (I don't know who in the world I am explaining this to since EVERYONE knows how to do a cake walk!)

Just a wonderful family time together. I didn't get to talk to my folks since they went with my brother to their cabin (house) for a week. We had some moments of terror at our house. We were sitting around visiting when my MIL, who was sitting on a bar stool, just keeled over backwards and hit the floor, her head hitting the corner of a wall. We were terrified and she was so totally out of it that we were all getting ready to take her to the emergency room. Brandi was here monitoring her vitals and it was DARN SCARY! But before we got her out the door, she perked up and has been fine every since. I was scared when she was sleeping so late this morning but she feels fine, can't remember any of the incident...and her head doesn't even hurt. It is unbelievable since she really took a fall. So thankful she's okay.

Pat and Casey came at the end of dinner and visited for hours. Love them too. Casey and Marci treated us to some fun singing.

So, today is Black Friday. It would have been bleak indeed if something happened to my MIL but instead it is a rejoicing day. I'm not a Black Friday shopper....just an Internet shopper and I feel on top of the game with what needs to be done. December is already filling in and I want it to be calm. Love the season. Love the reason.

I teach tomorrow on Peter in the New Testament so it has been awesome reviewing these scriptures since we were just in Israel and Rome and at St. Peter's Basilica (where many claim that Peter is buried.)

Love the scriptures and the peace they bring me.

To December I say, bring it on! (and today begins "gingerbread caramel making...")

"It is impossible to feel depressed and grateful at the same moment." Naomi Williams

No, Martha Cancelled

2011-11-24T06:00:00.001-07:00

Maybe you've seen this traveling email (thanks Laraine for sending it to me!) but I thought it was perfect to share today!

Dear Family & Friends,
I know that you were eager to accept our family's invitation to Thanksgiving dinner when you found out that the famous Martha Stewart would be joining us. However, due to scheduling conflicts beyond her control, Ms. Stewart finds that she is unable to grace our table this year. With that in mind, there will be a few minor changes regarding the meal and decor, as outlined below. Please be aware of them, and adjust your appetite and dress appropriately.
Thank you
1) Our driveway will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminarias. After several trial runs and two visits from the fire department, it was decided that, no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.
2) Once inside, please note that the entry space will not be decorated with swags of Indian corn and fall foliage. Instead, we included our dog in decorating by having him track in colorful autumn leaves from the back yard. The mud was his idea.
3) The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Since this is Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the paper SpongeBob dinner plates, the leftover Halloween napkins, and our plastic cup collection.
4) Our centerpiece will not be a tower of fresh fruit and flowers. Instead we will be proudly displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper and pine cones. The artist assures me it is a turkey, albeit one without wings, legs, or a beak.
5) We will be dining somewhat later than planned. However, our daughter will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure she will be happy to share every choice comment her mother made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims, stuffing choices, the turkey hotline, and, especially, her husband. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 7:00AM upon discovering that said husband had only remembered to pull the turkey from the freezer at 6:00 AM, and that the thing was still hard enough to cut diamonds.
6) As an accompaniment to our daughter's recital of these events, I will play a recording of Native American tribal drumming. Curiously, the tribal drumming sounds a great deal like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, but that only enhances the holiday appropriateness. If our daughter should mention that we don't own a recording of Native American tribal drumming, ignore her. She's only nine; what does she know?
7) A dainty silver bell will not be rung to announce the start of our feast. We have chosen to keep our traditional method of assembling when the smoke alarm goes off.
8) There will be no formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony, we will ask all the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room. Next door. And I would like to take this opportunity to remind our younger diners that "passing the rolls" is neither a football play nor an excuse to bean your cousin in the head with bread.
9) The turkey will not be carved at the table. I know you have seen the Norman Rockwell image of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. Such a scene may occur somewhere in America , but it won't be happening at our dinner table. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in the kitchen at a private ceremony. I stress "private", meaning: Do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children, or older, helpful grandparents into the kitchen to check on my progress. I have a very large, very sharp knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win the battle. When I do, we will eat.
10) For the duration of the meal, we will refer to the gravy by its lesser-known name: Kraft Cheese Sauce. If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or makeup of the Kraft Cheese Sauce, smile kindly and say that you know the answer, but it's a secret that can't be revealed to them until they are 18.
11) Instead of offering a choice among 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and dog tongue marks. You still have a choice: take it or leave it.
That concludes our list of alterations. Again, I apologize that Martha will not be joining us this year. Come to think of it, she probably won't come next year, either.
In case you wanted to change your plans I am sending this now to give you plenty of time to make other arrangements.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

This afternoon I'm having someone that needs a friend to come over and make most of our dinners together. I'm thankful I can be here for her. She cried and cried and hugged me when I got home from our trip....it was nice to be missed. I'm thankful for my husband and family. Thankful for a normal life. Thankful for a Christ-centered life. Thankful for wonderful friends.

I loved the opening prayer in church on Sunday. A woman I adore from Brazil gave the prayer in her beautiful broken English and said, "Our hearts are full of thankful." I loved that. They are. I am.

Rome

2011-11-23T06:00:00.007-07:00

After touring in Italy for a few days, we met up with our travel group in Rome...where we had a meet and greet dinner, then spent the next two days touring Rome. (The sign on the dining room said "Welcome to the Bountiful Travel Beffet." Beffet was their attempt at translation of buffet! We had a good laugh over that. One of the restaurant managers actually came up to us before we were leaving and asked us to correctly translate some of the items on their menu. I shouldn't have told him the correct term of buffet since "beffet" brought us such great pleasure.)

I've tried to remember my favorite Rome experiences and will share just a few.

The first might seem odd when compared to the others. More exciting than hearing about the gladiators and chariots and seeing the cathedrals....and on and on....

1. was the DRIVING in Rome! CRAZY!!! I was pinned to my seat on the bus, shrieking with all the enthusiasm of a terror ride at Lagoon (our local amusement park.) It is a total free-for-all with buses and taxis vying for position (not in any kind of lanes) with motorcyclers darting in and out. The roads are NARROW and filled with pedestrians and everyone is driving FAST! It was exhaustingly fun! (I was excited to see a bus named after our daughter. ) Pedestrians truly take their life into their own hands.

2. The Colosseum. I have dreamt of the Colosseum since I was young....not from gladiator movies....but from a short story I read when I was a young teenager. If you have never read Roman Fever by Edith Wharton....you might. It was sensuous reading for that time....and I've never forgotten it. It is the story of two best friends and one love interest. A major part of the story is a clandestine meeting in the Colosseum, late at night

Below are two pictures of the Colosseum. It was the largest amphitheatre in Rome. It could hold 50,000-87,000 people (depending on who you are talking to) but what I thought was fascinating is how it was designed that in the case of an emergency, the people could exit in a matter of minutes. (okay, here is a little trivia I can't resist sharing. Lately I have been interested into the meaning of words and names....and the passageways that allowed this quick exit is called vomitoria- which is Latin for rapid discharge. Guess what English comes from that same word....) During it's heyday, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests, mock sea battles, animals hunts (the inaugural celebration killed 9,000 exotic animals in just a few day period) and executions. The huge productions were usually put on by politicians as a way to sway votes (they would entertain and feed people for free.) The basement layers are visible where they housed the animals and gladiators. All that very interesting but I was still caught up remembering the forbidden couple meeting in its corridors....sigh.

3- one of the next highlights had to do with the Spanish stairs. Not because I cared a bit about the Spanish stairs (but our guide thought we needed to see them.) The Spanish stairs were actually built and designed by the French to a French cathedral...but the Spanish embassy to the Vatican is next to it so people always refer to it as the Spanish stairs. (They are about 135 steps. Seemed like what we walked in Todi to find pizza.)

The reason why the Spanish stairs was a highlight is because of the older man below. His name is Gene, from Oregon and he was on the tour alone. He latched onto us the first day...and was constantly asking us to take his picture. At first we thought it was funny...then we became very attached to him and protective. He was quite delightful but hard of hearing....so he was constantly missing directions or instruction (and actually missed some of the tours because of it.) After a day of touring in Rome, he asked our local bus driver/tour guide why we hadn't been to St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican. (Apparently Gene didn't hear we would be touring St. Peter's and the Vatican all the next day.) He said to the bus driver, "I think people would rather see St. Peter's than a bunch of old stairs!" David and I thought that was so funny. (I've been sad thinking of all the pictures and video he took without someone at home to look at all his adventures. I asked him once what was waiting for him at home ...and he said "lonliness.")

4-One of my VERY favorite sites was the Pantheon (meaning to every God.) It really was built to honor all Gods (saints and mythological gods as well.) It was built over 2,000 years ago and the dome is breathtaking. It is the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome (142 ft. high) and it has a hole, called an oculos in the top. That hole is the only source of light in the building and creates kind of a backwards sundial. When it rains, it rains down through the hole and drains in the floor of the building which has a gentle slope with drain holes. The cathedral is actually dedicated to St.Mary and many martyrs are buried there. The painter Raphael (of Ninja Turtle fame) is buried there as well. Absolutely beautiful.

floor drain in the middle of the beautiful marble floor

(I didn't take pictures of the artwork since I am a little skiddish about picture taking in museums. Remember how I was snapping pictures right and left in Paris....in the Van Gogh exhibit...oblivious to the "no picture taking" signs. There is a funny story about Gene snapping pictures in Egypt but I can't tell that now since I'm talking about Rome.)

and finally, 5- St.Peter's Basilica and the Vatican. The Sicilian Chapel was over the top, the artwork unbelievable, the crowds suffocating (and we were there "off season").....but the icing on the cake was this. It was on my bucket list. Something I never thought I would ever see.

Pietà- by Michelangelo. Years ago I used to be in a small poetry writing group with fabulous women. One, Nancy Hanks Baird- wrote a poem about this statue and the passion and love between a mother and her son. (the statue is of Mary holding Christ after the crucifixition.) Standing before the statue...remembering the emotion of Nancy's poem....was just surreal. (When Michelangelo finished the sculpture, he overheard someone giving credit to another sculptor....which made Michelangelo promptly carve his name across Mary's sash on her robe. It is Michelangelo's only signed sculpture.)

I would tell you more but already the tour guide is saying, "Hurray up. We have to hurry. There isn't time to see everything. There isn't time to dally."

Rome in two days is a whirlwind. No time to dawdle! (I DID love Rome but you know me and cattle. I'm a "non-herd" person. I wanted to "moo" a couple of times.)

Thanksgiving Game

2011-11-22T08:34:00.002-07:00

For some reason, I can't get the picture to come up for this darling turkey feather game for Thanksgiving. You can print off the colored pilgrim turkeys, laminate (heart be still....you know I love laminating) (actually the designer put in on chipboard and modpodged it. Modpodging doesn't give me the same thrill as laminating...) You have clothespins, painted, for the tail feathers and when you roll dice, you put the clothespin on that number that you rolled. The first person to fill their turkey's tails wins. Have treats or coins (my kiddos like) for winners.

http://www.theidearoom.net/2011/11/thanksgiving-gameturkey-feathers.html

Todi, Italy

2011-11-22T06:00:00.003-07:00

We began our trip, flying to Rome....first class. I can't complain. It was marvelous. Very spoiled.

When in Rome, we found our rental car, crammed in our luggage (always a trick) and headed to Umbria, a province of Italy. Why Umbria? My sweet neighbor, Arlene, gave me all her travel books when she heard last year we were going. At the time it was going to be exclusively an Italy trip. One of the beautiful books she gave me was a book entitled One Hundred and One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy. We picked one.

Todi, Italy. Todi is a wonderfully preserved (one of the best according to the book) medieval villages on the top of a hill. It is completely walled and we felt, as we walked around the cobble- stoned town- like we were on a movie set. It was quiet and peaceful. We stayed in a quaint hotel-the Fonte Cesia (built in the 1600's.) After we figured out how to keep the lights on in our room (if you've been in Europe, you'll understand)...and David figured out how to not pull the emergency cord (that we didn't know was an emergency cord) ( the front desk frequently called to see if we were okay)in the bathroom....and we finally found an open restaurant for dinner (they close after lunch until later for dinner)(we walked for hours)- we all would have been happy to stay there. Forever.

The roads in the villages are narrow and steep and winding (as are the roads in the valley.) Moving the car from "here to there" was always an adventure. We're talking narrow! We traveled to the accompanying village of Orvieto and we thought for a minute we were dead. (Think narrow enough street the doors of the car can't open on both sides at the same time. Faced straight downhill. Car stalls. Big time.) The book should have been warning enough: "At one time, the path to Todi was a perilous one. Arriving from Orvieto it was necessary to cross the Pontacuto Bridge, so steeply arched that it posed a threat to every carriage and cart. The bridge no longer exits, but legend has it that it was presided over by the devil himself, who stole the souls of passersby. It is said that the Archangel Michael destroyed the bridge, once again securing the journey." Well, THAT explains a lot!

You might wonder why I am now showing two pictures of the same narrow walkway. There is a reason. One is up. The other is down. It looks like a flat path but nothing is flat in Italy. There are probably 100 stairs that we walked down, looking for a restaurant. When we got down at the end...nothing. There was no where else to go but up. Up the 100 stairs. The restaurant was at the top, where we began. No worries. It wasn't open which is why we just passed it by. Either that or we're total idiots!

The artwork of this artist (I'll have to go look at my notes) was throughout the Forte. David thought it was crazy but of course, I was drawn to its funkiness. I especially liked this picture since we played hand and foot the entire trip.

Dov'è il bagno

2011-11-22T05:45:00.001-07:00

I could do an entire post on "the bathrooms of Italy, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt." I will spare you the gory details. One picture will suffice. At least this one was clean. Maybe. Hope so. Can I just say it is a man's world.....

Post Halloween Mummy

2011-11-21T05:12:00.006-07:00

I received this darling sarcophagus mummy (can you tell I just got back from Egypt) filled with treats just before leaving for our trip. It was so over the top....

because it was delivered by this designer-dressed-mummy. (OOMS- Our Own Martha Stewart) (I wish you could have seen how fabulous this costume was...)

She had an important announcement to make!

Thanks, OOMS! You are amazing as always and totally made my day. (night.) (and excited for A. and N.!)

And since we are talking about mummies, one little party game that we've played is called "Unwrap the mummy." You take a small figure (like a plastic doll or Spiderman figure) and start wrapping it in toilet paper. Keep wrapping. Occasionally I would put a piece of paper that said, "Get a candy" or "Tell a joke" or "Sing Jingle Bells like a pig.." (I'm writing this at 5 am. What do you expect! lol. My time clock isn't ticking right yet!) Then continue to wrap, inserting papers along the way. When the mummy is as big as you want it, it is ready for play. Have the people in the game take turns rolling dice. Maybe two and when that person gets a double, they can unwrap the mummy until they find a treasure note. They either get a treat or have to do something. The last one to unwrap the mummy gets a big prize. Like a cruise somewhere. Kidding.

You might wonder why I'm telling about the mummy game AFTER Halloween. Well, it is part of my travelogue. We learned quite a bit about mummies in Egypt... all fascinating but what I was surprised to learn was that when they wrapped mummies, occasionally in the wrapping they would put tokens or amulets as charms of good luck or protection. So my mummy game isn't off the mark too much! And also, just so you know, King Tut is really pronounced King Toot. Your kiddos will love to know that!

Home Again. Home Again.

2011-11-20T07:50:00.007-07:00

(note: fun Thanksgiving idea that I am NOT going to do. It makes me happy enough to know that someone else did it.)

Home Again. Home Again. Jigglie Jig. That would be what happens after an 11-day cruise PLUS many other days of touring. Enough said about THAT!

I love coming home. Our time clocks are totally out of wack and the sleep patterns nuts. I went to bed at 7 o'clock last night and then was ready to be up at 2. Crazy! Crazy!

I'm anxious to journal our trip but wanted to say I'M HAPPY TO BE HOME! Oh, did I say that? I missed the kids and kiddos terribly and just want normal. That being said, the trip was full of amazing sights and thoughts and cultures. I should have started the journaling process this morning when I was up at 5:30 but instead I've been working on Thanksgiving. Yesterday I thought I'd sleep all day (since we got to bed at 2 without real sleeping on the plane) but I wanted to get a few errands done. Travis called in the morning saying he was doing a bagel run for us since he knew we wouldn't have any food in the house. That was so sweet. He's an awesome kid. We came home to snow but we love that, so that's great. I ran to Hobby Lobby to get paper goods for Thanksgiving, picked up TWO postal boxes of mail from the post office. The postmaster said, "Welcome home." I even did a grocery shop (including turkey....a HUGE Butterball for almost nothing with a promotion Smith's was having). What I WASN'T expecting was to hear Christmas music playing when I was getting my nails done. WOW!!! Now, I'm totally one for early Christmas music but this shook me. We left at Halloween (which I didn't really get to do either) and come home to Christmas. Talk about a mind set change! Probably one of the the biggest delights is that Tenille did my Christmas books for the kiddos while I was gone. They are DARLING! And Christmas jammies are all bought....just need to make jams for baby Peyton. (If any of the kids are reading this, I need Christmas ideas now. Yesterday. Tomorrow for sure. Links for the computer are especially nice. (love that about you Ben and Susie!) I have Girls Night Out in December so that means I WILL have to decorate. Need to get in gear.

Today is Halle Babe's birthday. It's a big one- she turns eight and will be baptized in December. This little girl has always held my heart (Brandi reminds me that she screamed constantly as a baby...and that I had to drive up to the University Hospital where Brandi worked, for Halle to nurse. I don't remember much of that. I just adore this little sweetie. (I came home so anxious to see them and they are off in Boise at friends- playing for the girl's birthdays. Gracie's birthday was a few days ago (and SHE is a darling-darling as well!) Can't wait for them to come home today.

Found a darling favor for Thanksgiving to make plus a fun kiddo Thanksgiving game I'll post tomorrow. Anxious to go to church this morning (I'm on empty)- glad all the folks were healthy when we got home (we're picking up David's mom in Layton today. She's been gallivanting in Idaho while we've been gone.) I've already got dinner ready for today (amazing what you can do when you get up at 5-ish)....hamburger soup and the rolls are raising. The fire is going. It is good to be home.

Thanksgiving is Almost Here

2011-11-20T06:36:00.004-07:00

Short Update

2011-11-13T01:23:00.003-07:00

Just a little hi and bye. So far we've done Rome, Turkey and Cyprus.

Then two days in Israel and yesterday in Eygpt. I couldn't put Israel and Eygpt in the same paragraph as Turkey and Cyprus because there is no comparison. It was a heart-be-still the whole time in Israel...the garden of Gethsesame, the garden tomb, Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee (boat ride), Nazareth , the Jerusalem center and on and on. Can't wait to share thoughts and stories. Our guide in Israel was amazing in addition to our personal guides. Yesterday we landed in Port Said and drove to Cairo. 22 million people. The crazy driving has been almost worth the price of the cruise! But the pyramids, the camel rides, the street vendors, the Sphinx. Our guide was Islamic and it was so fascinating to hear "the other side of the coin" and the heartache yet hope he feels about his country. More about this man later. Learned so much about Islam (Islam and our LDS faith are very close in tenants.) and was impressed by the goodness of this man. Today we are in Alexandria and made the decision to not do the tours today. Five straight days has been wonderfully exhausting and we wanted to just lay back one day. Actually we have two straight days at sea beginning tomorrow but between the touring, all the thoughts and information in our hearts and heads, all the EATING, all the games playing with Kirk and Cathy.....we could be done. But then we would miss Venice at the end.

This little post isn't so interesting but mostly a note to our family that we are alive and having an amazing time. xoxo Your mummy from Eypt (and grandmummy.)

Almost Turkey

2011-11-07T06:54:00.003-07:00

Not only is it almost Thanksgiving but tomorrow we reach Turkey! Our time in Italy was marvelous. I'll tell about it when we get home. Computer time is .75 a minute! Our first two days at sea were ROUGH. 12 foot waves. Have I mentioned how I get carsick on the way to the store sometimes? But life is great. Tomorrow we visit Turkey. I can't wait to see what trouble I can get into there. But I WILL leave you with this tidbit. I DID get my leg hung up on the metal turnstile at the entrance of the Collisium in Rome. The attendant was QUITE impressed and I don't think he had ever see someone do that before. It is so interesting being me.

To my family- LOVE you all! Ryan, David Hadlock is fabulous, as of course, and is Donald Parry. David's behaving himself quite well. We've only gained a few pounds. (ha!)

Annee's Horse Show

2011-11-03T06:38:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday was Annee's Halloween horse show. This girl loves to ride (hard to tell since she won't smile for pictures!) The horse show was a costume party besides the drills. Annee wore her witchie costume (the hat looks hilarious sitting on top of her riding helmet) and her horse was a cat (her other grandma made the horses cat ears.)

David was so excited when he saw this zorse. (cross between a zebra and a horse.) He totally forgot it was a costume party. (I wonder if the paint is permanent.)

I loved this unicorn. I especially loved the wild look in the unicorn's eyes. It was like, "What'chu talking about, Willis?"

But, of course, our favorite is our Annee Witchie...next to one of her best buds who was a bee while her horse was a flower.

Annee took home a couple of ribbons, we got to see her first horse show (and the weather has definitely turned cold!) Fun!

Kiddos Halloween

2011-11-01T06:25:00.000-06:00

Wanted to share some of the kiddos and fam Halloween pictures.

This is Chubba Wubba....just want to eat him up!

Gracie! What?

Rapunzel.

Rapunzel and the Bride of Dracula.

Brandi the Witch stirring her wicked pot of cotton candy.

Tenille's family has a wild costume party each year. This year T and T and the girls were all from Alice in Wonderland. The boys didn't want anything to do with it...Boston is a Motor Cross racer and Nash is Batman.

Didn't get to see my kids that live down south. Send me some pictures!

Trip

2011-10-31T10:08:00.004-06:00

I can't think about it being Halloween since I'm not "doing" Halloween this year. Mal came for the weekend and she was so sad that I didn't have any of the "stuff" up. I have been taking a few treats around and did the s'more treats for the kiddos (not all delivered) but I'm missing a Halloween parade and all the fun stuff tonight. I hope I can get my list completed so I can enjoy seeing the kiddos dressed for all the fun.

~let's just mention that when your husband agrees that you need an Ipad.....and then he freaks (not really) when you want to buy a lime green protective cover (I came home with gray. GRAY!!!!).....and then he's downloading and downloading....for ME, I thought....and when I asked him to download Angry Birds...he was an angry bird (not really but he did roll his eyes)....and did I mention I went off my hormone cream and now we have a flock of annoyed birds (well, one annoyed bird.) .....and then "someone" was starting to act territorial over MY Ipad....and finally he said, "I don't think this is going to work." Really???? Just laughing. Some birds aren't meant to share...

~my list keeps GROWING instead of shrinking. But I can do anything in a day. Well, except lose two sizes. Can't do that.

~ We fly to New York, then to Rome. We've rented a car for a couple days of touring (that should be interesting....I remember a driving escapade in Germany where all these people were agitated and pointing at us. Just because we were driving in a foot traffic only zone! And David spoke German so we could understand a few things being said.)

Then touring in Rome Thursday and Friday, the ship leaves Saturday. The Norwegian Jade.

Two days at sea, then Haifa and Jerusalem, Israel. (heart be still!) Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Nazareth, Jordan River, Mt. Carmel. Day two will be the Temple Mount, Mount of Olives, Dome of the Rock, Garden of Gethsemane. Garden Tomb, Western Wall, Dome of the Rock. Two heavenly days. Our guest lecturers are Donald Parry from Ancient Script. department at BYU and Dave Hadlock. My brain will pop with happiness.

then two days in Egypt-the Great Pyramids and the great sphinx and the camel rides. We will learn to walk like an Egyptian. (old song, now you won't be able to get that tune out of your head!)

Alanya, Turkey- more ancient theaters and lots of historic places where the Apostle Paul taught. The recent earthquake was on the north eastern side, we'll be on the west.

Cyprus- castles and picturesque villages, catacombs and mosaics.

Back to Rome and more rental car adventures. We are driving to Venice and spending a few days (I'm sure D. thinks he will be watering skiing on the canals.)

Trip of a lifetime. With bestie friends. Can't wait. It is worth missing Halloween for!

Cell Coverage

2011-10-27T14:27:00.006-06:00

The other day my cell phone was ringing. Ringing and ringing. I could hear it in the house but my ear couldn't quite put where the ring was coming from. It sounded like it was coming from everywhere. I'd walk there. I could hear it. I'd walk there. I could hear it. Twenty minutes. (some of us just aren't as quick as we used to be.) I must have called my cell phone 10 times. I was crawling around the floor. Looking under cushions. Moving my purse (where it usually is) into the other room to see if it was there but I just couldn't find it.

Back pants pockets. Can't believe I put it there...

(getting closer to 100 than one is driving me crazy!)

You know that saying (David always says...and thinks he's so funny.) "Why is it we always find something in the last place we look?" (answer: because then we stop looking...)

And speaking of phones.....

David and I went shopping the other night and got ME an IPAD. I'm truly trying to get into the 21st century and not get left behind. David says it's mine but I think he thinks it really is his but who cares. Niece Mal came for the weekend (and to take Grandma to Idaho. My MIL, not me...) and she said, "Aren't you going to hate that your computer is smarter than you are?" Not QUITE sure she was being complimentary... (she just pointed out on Facebook where I had a whole bunch of messages I never knew I had....since I didn't know where to look. So. I guess she is right. Both she and David think it is funny that now I want/need/have to have an iphone. Just so I can play Angry Birds. My kiddos ALL play Angry Birds and I don't even know why the stinkin' birds are angry!

Sweet Dreams

2011-10-27T08:30:00.004-06:00

~today is the anniversary of one of the most wonderful days of my life. It's Brandi's birthday. She is my only daughter (although I do have WONDERFUL DILs that are my daughters and a few stray nieces that are my daughters.....) Happy Birthday! Sweet dreams. (inside joke!)

(picture taken by CameraShy in Lehi...where YOU get the copyright!)

I Hate Being Green

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

Life is so dang busy....each day I make up a huge to-do list....and carry most of it over until the next day. I just tell myself...hang ON for just a few more days. One week. Then....heaven!

But before I go taking off, I really do what to share some (not so good in the picture taking department) pictures from last week. This is what my husband loves more than me.

I am usually a crabby second fiddle.

I guess I'm just jealous I can't run out of a shoot anymore.

Not that I ever ran out of a shoot but David pretended I did. You know. When we were first married. I did NOT know what a heeler was. I DID learn what a tooth going through the front lip felt like.

No worries. We have grandchildren now. And then, the steers. You know those 10 steers we rent, then feed for 8 months and then give back, all fattened up.

If you look real close, you'll see David with tears in his eyes. This is his last roping with these steers. The real steer daddy wants them back. So David and his buddies roped and roped and roped. I tried taking pictures but clearer pictures meant I would have had to climb over this fence in front of the cowboys. I do have a little pride. If I can't shoot out of the shoot, I can't shinny over the fence like I used to either. So I took faraway pictures. But I could see the tear in David's eye.

What you couldn't see was me jumping up and down (which is why I kept cutting off cowboys' heads!) I was saying, "Bye steers! Have a nice trip home. We don't have to feed you anymore. Ca-chinga! We don't have to smell your....well, steery smells. Don't have to have your steery flies flying around. I know you love coming here to play but guess what! Play date is over! It's time to go home. Don't let the barn door slap you in the rear on your way out."

Just so you know, I don't LIKE being a jealous woman. I know it doesn't suit me. Green isn't really my best color. But I truly don't like playing second fiddle to a steer. Ten steers.

But they are gone. Did I mention they are gone? In case you didn't know, they are gone! Oh, happy dance. Happy. Happy. Happy. (I feel so childish....)

Jealousy is nothing more than a fear of abandonment.

Losses

2011-10-25T17:10:00.006-06:00

I just wanted to mention here in my journal, that our sweet Susie (Ben's tru-tru luv) lost her dad in an accident this past Friday. Ben and Susie were in Idaho climbing (without cell coverage) ...and thankfully Susie had to go into town to post an online test on Saturday....and got the news. Our hearts are so heavy- for Susie, for Ben and their entire family. Susie was lucky to be raised in a great family and I know that she'll feel this loss forever. (If you live in the valley, there was a lovely obituary in today's paper for David Bone.) When these sorrows happen, it does make us all realize how vulnerable we are with those we love and reminds us to make sure we never take each other for granted. Susie, we mourn with you this great loss. With love. M.

Parker Goes to Work

2011-10-23T08:05:00.001-06:00

There! I did it! Made the mobile pictures bigger! (truly I have half a brain...)

Old Halloween Repost

2011-10-22T08:00:00.002-06:00

(Thought I would post this Halloween meme from two years ago. I think memes are a fun inclusion to your journals.)

What is the best prank you’ve ever pulled?
When I called my dad at his work to "announce" something. My parents always got nervous with my "announcements." Dad was at a work place and everyone heard. I didn't mean for that to happen. He said, in shock, "You aren't?" I wasn't. It was April Fool's Day. I was pretty sure he was relieved....

What’s the best prank anyone ever pulled on you? So many. I have really funny friends. One of my funniest is when a friend let me walk around town with a large Tootsie Roll plastered to the back of my pants...not in a good position! We were on a road trip and got out to stretch our legs in a quaint town. As mean as she was to let me walk the town like that, I find it really, really funny!

What’s the most “real” frightened you’ve ever been? I had an "other worldish" experience in high school that reminds me why I don't play around with Ouija boards or other black magic stuff. But truly, when I "misplaced" my children occasionally. Lost children used to send me over the edge!

What’s the most “fun” frightened you’ve ever been? The Indiana Jones or Space Mountain at Disneyland when they were new. Or that mouse one in the dark. Not really a mouse. What is that ride called? The Wild Mouse? Or the HUGE Zip Line in Costa Rica in 70 mile an hour winds.

Since Halloween costumes frequently require make-up, what’s your best beauty tip? Keep the lights out at all times. You can look really thin then.....

Share a specific memory of Trick or Treating? I loved the kids experiencing Halloween. It is just sooo exciting! I love all those knocks on our door. But we have a no-knock door now....
And I had a wonderful date in college where we went treat or treating. It was the most fun date. And this isn't trick or treating, but my very favorite thing was our school carnivals. They were magical!

What keeps you awake in the middle of the night? Worrying about those I love.

What creepy thing scares you the most…mice, spiders, bats or something us? Share an experience of one of these. Once a bat was in our house. Of course David wasn't home at the time and I was running around screaming and swinging the broom and finally went next door to get Penny's husband, Tom, who rescued us, as always. I don't like mice but I don't freak out about them anymore. Not since falling in love with Stuart Little. I plain don't like spiders. But bats I've made friends with. They used to freak me out at Lake Powell until I realized that they eat all the mosquitoes and bugs. They are our little friends.But I still don't want them in the house....

What was your favorite Halloween costume ever? When I was in my 30's and could fit in the teeny tiny Ga-linda witch costume of my friend.

What’s your favorite fall food? How do you prepare it? I love soups of all kinds. My family's favorite soup was potato cheese soup with bread sticks. I made a batch of it on Sunday.

Were you a candy hoarder or do you eat it all up on Halloween night? I have a wonderful sister-in-law that gets a box of See's chocolates for Christmas and can make them last until Easter. I'm sooo not that way. I don't hoard but I don't eat it all up on Halloween night. I actually eat it long before Halloween! (which is why I now buy Skittles or Starbursts or things I don't care about.)

How old you do you think is too old for Trick or Treating? Whatever makes you happy. No age is too old for Treating. So long as you are being nice and delightful....no mean kids or creepy old people....

Speaking of ghosts, is there an ancestor that you’ve never met but feel a connection to? My Grandpa Darley died when I was a tot but I know he's watched out for me my entire life. I've always felt a connection to him.

What scents remind you of fall? pumpkin and spices of cloves and cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Also that nutty smell of outside. Wet leaves, dirt.

What would people be "surprised" to know about you? That as much as I love friends and people, I feel lost in a crowd. I feel very lonely in a group of people. "Who do I talk to? Who will talk to me" panic.

Do you have any phobias? What if I didn't have a full social calendar? Yeow!!! Not really. I would probably say snakes. And I especially don't like them showing up at my weddings in the yard.

Speaking of potions, what’s your favorite home remedy? My prescription for anything that ails me is to take a bath. It isn't unusual to take two a day. I have a LOT of things that ail me....And my sweet DIL Marci is getting me hooked on Essential Oils. I burned the whoopee out of my thumb with a glue gun a few weeks ago.....a huge glob of hot glue had to be ripppped off my thumb. Marci had me put pure lavender oil on it......I didn't even get a red spot and not a titch of hurt. Nothing. Like it had never happened. I'm a BIG believe in lavender oil.

On your worst day, are you more of a witch, a vampire, a ghost? I would be a ghost. I don't think I'm ever a real witch. I don't like blood at all but I guess if Edward would like me or bite me, I'd go for vampire. Just Edward in the books- not Edward on the screen. So not into Edward on the screen. But probably I would just stay in the closet where good ghosts belong. I'd rather boo-hoo alone when I'm grumpy.

If you could have a bottomless bucket of Halloween Treats, what are three things you’d have in it? Butterfingers. Banana Laffy Tafffy's. Will a caramel apple fit? I like almost all treats but Skittle-ie kinds of things. With treats, my answers would change almost daily. You know I have a short attention span. Tomorrow it would be 100000 Grand, Almond Joy's....and more caramel apples. I prefer apples with just the caramel.

What’s your favorite “scary” movie? The Birds when I was a kid. The Sixth Sense when I was a middle. As someone closer to 100 than one, I would say that movie where Jodi Foster's child disappears on a plane. I don't do scary in case you couldn't tell.

Pick a costume and tell us why:(here are your choices)Male: Michael Jackson in Thriller OR Indiana Jones OR a Mad Scientist OR Barney- totally Michael Jackson. I REALLY want to learn to moonwalk. Brandi said she'd teach me.

Female: Scarlett O’Hara OR Dolly Parton OR Amelia Earhart or A Witch
Well, I'm NOT a Scarlett fan. Dolly and I have little in common (if you know what I mean...) except we laugh. Not so Amelia either but you know me and witches! I heart nice witches. Witches with bling. Not evil witches.

If you could “wiggle your nose” and have an instant “material” wish, what would it be?
Plane tickets somewhere wonderful.

What’s your favorite thing about Halloween? everything

Your least? Anything occult. Blingie witches are not occult.

If you could cast a spell to change one thing about you, what would it be? It would be better self control. If I had self control, if I were disciplined, my whole life would be different!

Parker Goes to Work

2011-10-21T09:28:00.005-06:00

Parker got to go to work with David this week. He slept overnight so they could hit the trail early. Parker went with David to court for a hearing. Probably got into David's candy jar his secretary keeps filled. Sat at his desk looking mighty official! Our little boy is growing up!

(the trouble with mobile uploads is that you can't get them any bigger. Is that true? Is there something else I can do?)

Auction

2011-10-20T21:36:00.004-06:00

So, how much do you think this picture is worth? Gracie is screaming, "I can't see, Grandma! The sun is in my eyes!" And I'll telling her to buck up ...if I can climb a ladder, she can surely open her eyes IN THE SUN for one little second.

That's when I dropped the camera. You'd think from Gracie's expression it was coming at her. Not so. She could have cushioned the fall. We wonder where all the drama queens come from in our family. (I'd blame it on my husband but too many of you know him and my nose would start to grow.)

Thanks for sweet offers of loaning me your cameras. I found the name of a reputable camera place today and will take in my camera tomorrow for a lookie look. If they can fix it in a week, great! Otherwise I'm going shopping. Truly, no one should ever loan me anything. I am not to be trusted. I might drop it from the great pyramid in Egypt or from a camel somewhere (I heard that it is $10 to ride a camel and $100 to get off) or leave it in a gelatto place in Rome or it could fall in a canal in Venice. It might be confiscated in a Turkish bath (guess where) or take a dip in Galilee. I AM SO EXCITED!

(and Voila! are you home from Tibet already? Valene told me she didn't think you were back yet. lol. You really need to check in with your family. I can't wait to hear more about your adventures! Your pictures are amazing! And your commentary was pure poetry. I want some ash on my nose for bad dreams but I'm with you on the yak butter tea! Whew!)

Tonight was a fun Relief Society activity...a service auction. The tables were decorated to the hilt (western.) I would show you pictures BUT I DON'T HAVE A CAMERA. (okay, enough of the whining. We wonder where the kiddos get it!) Everything was darling. You filled out a survey when you arrived....all sorts of crazy questions with points- like, if you fixed your family grub tonight (dinner), if you've ridden a horse this year, if you've sat around the campfire and had s'mores this summer, if you wore boots tonight, if you had hairy legs, if you said your prayers today, etc. You added up your points and then used those points to bid on services that we all shared. Someone crocheted a hat and scarf, someone donated computer lessons, someone donated homemade rolls, some babysitting, some pedicure certificates, a custom floral arrangement for the holidays, a facial, a loaf of homemade banana bread. It ran the gamut. I made a large batch of corn chowder and a key lime pie that someone went home with. I was lucky to win a custom photo book.....which will be perfect for the little boys for Christmas. I just have to supply the pictures. My mind is already going on it. Fun, fun activity. The auctioneer was a riot (she really does that for a living.)

Tomorrow is our neighbor's funeral. David's speaking. I miss this sweet man already.

I had the girls overnight again last night and needed to run them to different places today. Gracie was going to a party that needed an inexpensive white elephant gift to exchange. We got a pumpkin and I drew a face on it (with Sharpies) ....and poked holes in the top and Gracie put suckers in all the holes (so the suckers were the pumpkin's hair.) It's an easy and fun little way to do pumpkins (and without guts. You know me....) I'd show you a picture of the pumpkin, but, well......

More Halloween Stuff

2011-10-20T07:36:00.002-06:00

Just a few more pininterests of mine.

Halloween suckers from Martha. Love this display.

How clever to put a mask on pumpkins. Idea from www.goodhousekeeping.com

How cute to have little bats to pass out. But would we be doing it for the kids or for the moms?

I loved doing s'mores with Easter peeps for the kiddos and heart be still! I saw the ghost peeps today! (this picture from www.southernvogue.com)

Love these spider net nachos. The net is piped sour cream. Idea from

www.womansday.com

This Halloween treat is perfect for friend Sophia! Every time we are together, I'm trying to get her a freaky bird. I can't remember when that started but I think she needs to keep one in a jar.

Another of my favorite sites is www.bethproudfoot.blogspot.com I've mentioned her before. She has fabulous free printables. Love these witchie hats made with black wrapped Hershey kisses.

Okay, so I'm not doing Halloween this year. But I DID have a huge Boo-hoo moment. I've been watching kiddos. I had a visiting teaching lunch too so I took Chubba Wubba for his first grammie/Chubba outing. We did great but packing him AND the car seat was almost too much. Trying to maneuver into a booth, I noticed some young moms' watching me. I explained frantically, "This is my first outing." They laughed and said I was doing good! Then Brandi's three girlies and I were busy the rest of the day. I decided I wanted to do chalk drawings on the sidewalk and take their pictures underneath them. I know that probably doesn't make sense but I saw it somewhere. I was up on a ladder to REALLY do a good job....and DROPPED MY NEW CAMERA! MY NEW CAMERA THAT IS/WAS GOING ON A BIG TRIP IN A WEEK!!!!!! My camera is gone. Can I just say "Donut" REALLY,REALLY LOUD! If that isn't the biggest BOO-HOO for Halloween, I don't know what is!

Different This Year

2011-10-19T08:05:00.002-06:00

You know how I love Halloween. I love dressing my chandelier, love decorating the black hutch, love everything about the dining Halloween table. This year? Nada. Nothing. Not going to happen. Mallory couldn't believe it when she came a few weeks ago and saw nothing done. For someone who LOVES Halloween decorating, I'm okay with it. It's easier to go to all that work if you were going to have a party or luncheon but this year, I'm not up for either of those. Brandi had her GNO party out at the cabin and that satisfied any party urges for me. Plus, we leave town the day after Halloween and I don't want to come home to cleaning up and packing away. So I will just indulge myself with "gazing" at wonderful Halloween ideas that I thoroughly intended to do this year. I'm a Pininterest junkie (thanks to Vickie Scott) and I've tried to share sources of each idea as best I can.

I love this candy jar! Just a work of art! (redcouchrecipes.blogspot.com)

And I think I could whip out these darling candy sticks - (I couldn't find the source. Nicole Hill?) LOVE THEM!

Martha stewart, of course. Life doesn't get better than pickled brains.

Martha, Martha, Martha (Stewart) I love this ice bucket. LOVE the look. However, I do have an aversion to the insides of pumpkins. I don't like cleaning them out. So, if you are going to have a party, please do this and invite me. I will jump up and down. But I don't think I'll do it myself. Although it is wonderful.

I do love these little fanged pumpkins. They really make me laugh. Martha S. is at it again.

I've heard of reindeer poop but Ghost poop is pretty funny as well. Kiddos might like it.

(cantstopmakingthis.com)

I really like this pumpkin blackboard with the Halloween countdown. No guts to handle! Dang! I forgot to write down the source but it is probably Martha. Again. That woman!

And this image from flickr.com makes me laugh. Makes me want to bite their little necks!

All I Want

2011-10-17T08:34:00.001-06:00

Brooke

2011-10-17T08:20:00.003-06:00

I've been remiss in family birthday tributes. Hit and miss is my middle name these days. But yesterday was DIL Brooke's birthday. She's Tanner wifie, Annee and Chubba Wubbba's mommie, a PTA (ha! PTA- I never realized that...she's a Physical Therapy Asst.), a DOG lover (they have a bloodhound, Bella that can HOWL and smell dreadful after being sprayed by a skunk at our house).......we love her! Happy B-day belated, Brooke!

Out My Front Door

2011-10-16T19:37:00.009-06:00

Just wanted to share some pictures of the view out of our front door.

Witchies 2011

2011-10-15T07:39:00.019-06:00

Here are just a few witchies I found floating around at Gardner Mill. We met at 10:30, then after a few pictures, had lunch at Archibalds (with some fried green tomatoes and avocados.) I haven't received Tenille and Ashlee's pictures yet. Can't wait to share.

Piece of the Moon

2011-10-14T12:47:00.001-06:00

I posted the other day about being afraid I was going to lose a piece of my moon. Don passed away this morning. I know heaven will be brighter. My heart is happy for him, so sad for all of us.

The Costume-2011

2011-10-14T08:06:00.000-06:00

It began last year when I ran onto this orange skirts. They were on sale and I knew I could stash them away for witchies this year.

But you know me...I get bored easily and always find something cuter and over-buy but I loved these glittery jobbies (Target) and had to have them as well.

My mind is always swirling and I knew exactly where this was going. My mind is always swirling (I know I just said that) but truly, I usually have no clue where I am going....

but on this project I did. I put the two skirts together, pulled up the hem on one to expose the other and voila! Custom witchie skirts!

I got plain black long sleeved shirts and black leggins. It is often cold at witchie days. We found these hairbows at Quilted Bear. I sewed a hairbow onto each shirt (without swearing....you know, the reason I don't sew...) and I thought they looked great.

All they needed was their witchie hat...and their clothes all bundled up for delivery.

Such a silly thing that brings me happiness. Just wait til you see how the kiddos turned out! (I'm posting this a little late since my computer has been down. Awesome son fixed it. I'm ready to edit witchie pictures now. Oh happy day!)

Need I Say More?

2011-10-13T06:40:00.001-06:00

Chubba Wubba

2011-10-13T06:00:00.002-06:00

When I was in McCall Idaho a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in the car while Peggy was pumping gas and I observed a family coming out of the convenience store with goodies. Mom and Pop and two boys. One of the boys was about 9 or 10 and could NOT STOP squishing his hand under his arm making tootin' noises. He was running from person to person in the family, right in their face, doing his prank, squishing, trying to get a reaction, totally out of control and showing off his "skills." Some random kid was sitting outside the store and the squishie kid had to run up to him and do it as well. Everyone was just ignoring him. Immediately I thought of the difference of my own kids, my own kiddos. If it was/is pretty, my girls love it. They dance around and sing. If it was/is gross, the boys jump on it like a trampoline.

Enter Chubba Wubba. I love, love, love this little (ha!) boy. I thought he looked so cute playing with his toes.

But then....No! No! No!

This darling little boy that won't take a bottle or binkie....loves sucking on his toes???? That is just WRONG!

He looked at me with a surprised expression on his face.....

Get used to it, Grandma. I'm a BOY!

Peyton Max- almost 7 months- 21 plus pounds-4 teeth-already stole grandma's heart. He's all boy.

CameraShy

2011-10-12T10:47:00.003-06:00

Just a little note that the family picture I shared with you the other day of Brandi's family was taken at the new CameraShy photo shop in Lehi. Okay, MAYBE your pictures won't make me melt like sweet Hallee Babes...but I bet they will be wonderful. I can't wait to take the whole family there in January (I'm thinking for my birthday.) What I love about CameraShy is that you get the cd of pictures and all copyright. So I can post here....and here.....and there....without violating anything. Sweet, huh?

Pieces

2011-10-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

BFF Cathy has kiddos back East. Little Piper is about 2 1/2 and her mommy has been teaching her about the moon and stars and all those things that mommies teach. Recently Piper asked her mommy if they could go outside and see the moon. Her mommy pointed it out to her and Piper replied, "Mommy, the moon is missing some pieces."

I loved hearing that tender story...and reflected on it yesterday while chaos reigned in the home of people I love. I'm afraid that I'm losing my neighbor....one of the families I take Monday meals to. He's an angel of a man. 80 something. I can't even tell you the effect this man has had on me as he is so patient with his wife (who has had health issues forever and now either has Alzheimer's or dementia and so isn't always present.) He's just good and kind and grateful. That kind of wonderful. Don has struggled with different cancers and in the last year, we suffered right along with his stomach cancer and chemo. He rallied so well through it but in the last few months he is going downhill fast. The other night he stroked again. I'm really afraid that when we leave on our trip in a few weeks, he won't be here when we get home. His family around him continues with drama. I won't go into details but yesterday was a hard one. My heart is grieving. We tree-farm with Don and I've told him a million times he's not going ANYWHERE until all these thousands of trees are sold. He just laughs. He knows it isn't really about the trees.

I'm afraid a piece of my heart is going to go missing....

Ready or Not!

2011-10-11T06:19:00.001-06:00

It was fine when it just started up in the mountains above us. I could live with that.

But nooooooo....it wasn't content to stay there. This was our house on Monday.

I went to pick up kiddos and driving on the lane to our home, the leaf-snow-laden tree branches were so weighted down...it was like a car wash driving through them!

But thankfully my sweeties know what makes me happy and they got to work.

I guess the snow isn't so bad after all. (All snowmen were melted to a clump of carrots and scarfs by the end of the day.)

Two Chocolates Three Vanillas

2011-10-10T09:17:00.002-06:00

My sweet Brandi's family!

Your love is like a song ...that goes on and on and on......

Charm Girls

2011-10-09T21:40:00.002-06:00

This is dedicated to my high school girlies, the Charm girls. Kind of our theme song. Love them dearly!

Constant Growing Amazement

Checking In

Check It Out

Name Dropping and Other Droppings

Today

Happy Pinterest Birthday!

Facebook

Make Over!

What Some People Think...

Just things...

Heartaches.

J. and The Birds

Not a Bean War Cottage

A Cottage of Love

Woof!

Funny!

Totally Spaced Pepper Jellies!

Remnants of Christmas

Scintillating

Wahoo! Butters!

Today

Odds and Ends

Christmas Pictures!

New Stuff

A New Year

Cowboy Up!

Drum Roll!

Horsie Gone

Girl's Night Out

Showers and Marshmallows

Merry Christmas From Our House to Yours

Lazy People

The Cattle Were Lowing....

Retirement

Some say Mustache. Some say Moustache.

What Do You Want To Be?

Holiday Cheer

Yesterday

Snow Day

Playing Catch-Up

Tis the Season

Hallee's Day

Opps!

Monkey Hat

Hallee Babe

Crock Pot Creamy Chicken with Black Beans

Randomness

One Reason Why I Love

Quotes from Lesson

Thanksgiving 2011

No, Martha Cancelled

Menu

Rome

Thanksgiving Game

Todi, Italy

Dov'è il bagno

Post Halloween Mummy

Home Again. Home Again.

Thanksgiving is Almost Here

Short Update

Almost Turkey

Annee's Horse Show

Kiddos Halloween

Trip

Cell Coverage

Sweet Dreams

I Hate Being Green

Losses

Parker Goes to Work

Old Halloween Repost

Parker Goes to Work

Auction

More Halloween Stuff

Different This Year

All I Want

Brooke

Out My Front Door

Witchies 2011

Piece of the Moon

The Costume-2011