Holden On

ATM

2009-10-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to save time today by sending my 16 year old to the ATM to get some cash out. I thought I gave a complete tutorial on using an ATM... my pin number, what to push and not to push. My only mistake was forgetting to tell him that if you leave the card in the ATM (after the transaction) LONGER that TEN SECONDS, the ATM will suck your card back in as a security measure. Said card will not be available until after 11:00 am on the next business day. I did not save myself time in the long run. Oh well, another little adult lesson learned for my teen ager. How to work an ATM. I know in their finance required class in high school they learn how to write checks, maybe a quick lesson on the fine art of using an ATM would be apropos?

Boy Humor At Its Best!

2009-10-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

I am still laughing about Aaron's answer to Dog Patch - a girls choice casual dance this month at JHS. His date "double dog dared him" to go to the dance with millions of yummy dog bones around our front porch (well yummy to Roxy, she is still snacking on them!).
So, in keeping with the theme of "Dog Patch" Aaron and I were brain storming an answer to the girl in question last night. I must have been tired, caffeine deprived, or completely off my rocker because what we came up with was "boy humor" at its best.
Here is the story...
When Randy goes to Alaska he likes to bring home small gifts for the kids. Well, in Alaska what is there to bring home to the kids besides wild animal bones, animal fur, parts of animals?? Yes, that year the boys received wolf leg fur and paws. So we have 3 of these things floating around and I thought - PAWS - DOG PATCH - "PAWS"ITVELY - would work perfectly. Aaron knew right where to find that gross wolf part. Haylie was mortified and disgusted that we even had that and horrified that someone would cut of a leg of a wolf. Long explanations followed about how humanely this was done, etc.
Anyway...
The wolf paw was perfect for the answer. It read, YES! It will be "PAWS"ITVELY wonderful to go to Dog Patch with you! It was complete with the requisite cute dog clip art and tied off with a plum satiny ribbon.
But, alas, it was a dried up wolf paw and there is no getting over THAT fact.

Needless to say that the girl in question was quited shocked to receive her answer on her doorstep... and I feel a twinge of guilt for finding this answer so funny. I still am chuckling to myself even now. I blame it on the fact that I am surrounded by this boy humor and that is where I let it get away from me. I should have helped Aaron to sweeten up his answer and I should've kept my mouth shut about that Paw!
After we told Josh about the whole adventure, he was "DUH, I hope she returns it!"
I am sure it is deep down in her garbage can by now.

That's okay, we still have two more.

Reasons for my Headache

2009-09-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

I am not sure why I have a killer headache today, so I have made a list of possibilities...
1. today is day 1 of a 12 week healthy eating plan and no processed sugar. (why do we do this to ourselves?) Knowing this...
2. Yesterday I made chocolate chip cookie dough to send up to Logan for Kylea and Eric (they got half the batch) and I over indulged with my spoon all afternoon long and aren't Sunday afternoons looooong? I never baked a single cookie, but sure enjoyed all that delicious cookie dough!
3. today I started a 4 week boot camp program at 6 am at the gym (again why?)
4. post neck strain from the car accident, sometimes I feel like I have an eighty year old neck - limited range of motion, and pain.
5. last night I stayed up way too late reading the newest Dan Brown novel - page 382 left me horrified (just keep reading through to the end and it will make sense - if any of his writing really makes sense.)

Pick a reason, they all qualify for helping to prolong the killer headache.

Do I really need to have dinner tonight? Is there a headache clause for the kitchen? The oven has been heated up for 1/2 hour and the salmon is defrosted in the sink...just a few more things to do before I can officially call it quits for the day.

Teachers

2009-09-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

I went to parent teacher conference with Aaron on Tuesday night. It was interesting in a few ways. First, six of his eight teachers are men. Usually, it is the other way around. I think that is awesome. I was so impressed with his math teacher and his physics teacher (I forgot he was taking physics. He is such a self motivated kid that sometimes what he is doing slips through the cracks of my scope.) Aaron says that his physics teacher reminds him of his grandpa Fisher. That is a big compliment to the teacher in terms of his intelligence and his kindness. You can't do better than emulate a loving grandpa.
These teachers - in fact all of his teachers - were genuinely interested in Aaron and if he was understanding the class material. I was a bystander while they talked with my son. I enjoyed listening to him talk, it was much more than the teen talk of "yeah, no, okay, sure", but real conversation. I got a glimpse of who he is becoming. It was a very enjoyable evening walking around and talking with him while we waited to see his teachers. For me there is not much to say to a teacher when his class percentage is 98.75% or 108.89%. Just a heartfelt thanks for being a good teacher, for loving to teach kids rather than loving a huge paycheck. I am grateful.

I loved the advice from his seminary teacher. He said to Aaron, "Do your scripture reading first thing before your homework and you will be so much further ahead when you begin your school studies. The Lord will see this and bless you."

Exactly. True.

Life Stuff

2009-09-22T18:54:00.001-07:00

I went to parent teacher conference tonight at Jordan with Aaron. I always try to look nice when I go... so I fixed my hair, clean clothes ,etc (some days that doesn't always happen). While driving there I realize that I did not change my shoes! Not good. I had on the pair I leave by the garage door, my "run outside in the early morning with the dog to make sure she goes pee and poo shoes". Like I said not good. I had been busy with the dog and then running around the house before I left and I didn't change them for my much cuter black flats. I felt like a dork but hopefully pulled off the look okay. Oh well. Sometimes there is just too much going on in the brain.
Maybe my marbles have been jiggled too much...

Last week I was in a car that was rear ended on 3300 South. The young guy was reaching down for his cell phone on the floor of his car and hit us dead on. Okay - there is no call that is that important! I am like a broken record with my kids about cell phones and cars. I have been visiting the chiropractor for the last 5 days trying to find some head and neck pain relief. About this time of night my head begins to hurt, kind of a band of pain from the base of my neck up my skull until it settles right on top of my head. My two sister-in-laws and mother-in-law were also in the car and they are also suffering with whip lash.

I am tired of cleaning up mouse guts from the back door. Our cat is a fanatic hunter and must eat the whole mouse except for the stomach and intestines (as far as I can identify those tiny little organs - yuck)!
I know this is a tribute of her affection for us but, come on cat. Leave the guts in the bushes.

Tanner gets braces tomorrow - another big moment in his life. Tonight he was trying to convince me that his teeth are really straight so he didn't really need them, did he?
I so enjoy my time with him driving to and from school and to practice at night. He is a real conversationalist and we have a great time laughing together. When a really good (OLD) rock and roll song comes on, he just laughs when I turn it up real loud and try to sing along. He always says, "Duh mom, no one listens to this stuff anymore." Really?!! Donna Summers?? Disco forever! Earth Wind and Fire??
He is a good son.
Today he told me he is working on praying every morning and every night. It was like "can I have oatmeal for breakfast and I am praying every morning and night". Love him. If anyone loses anything in this house he is the first one to say "Well, have you prayed about it? You know that really works".

Randy wants him to hit puberty full force and get the testosterone going strong, but I love my sweet boy as is. Some days he will wake up and say "we need to clean this house, I feel like cleaning"!
Nice.

Life

2009-09-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

Those that live in our vicinity know that the exchange student we were expecting did not happen. A last minute cancellation of 77 visas by the state department put the brakes to a bunch of middle eastern kids coming to the US for a year. We were so sad. He was ready to travel in five days when the cancellation came. There was some investigating into some bad stuff with exchange students in PA - so instead of thinking that 99% of all the hosting families are good and honest and will actually feed their students (really, a couple of students were hospitalized for starving - hard to believe), the state department cancelled all their leadership scholarship winners (77) across the board.
Maybe we will be the chance to host him again next year. We did get an invite from Ali's mom to come to Jordan or Qatar anytime to visit... that would be a fun trip!

So - I do have a more organized, dejunked basement now. I probably wouldn't have tackled half of that during the summer if I didn't think I HAD to.

Lately, as if I didn't have anything else to do - I am trying to train our dog Roxy to learn to live within the boundaries of a wireless fence. She got so scared from the training sessions and the required "shock treatment" that she has a hard time getting up her nerve to get outside. I took yesterday and today off of training and will go to the pet store tomorrow to buy some very yummy bribery treats for her.
We'll see how it all goes. I am invisioning a day when I can drive away and wave to her and she will be obedient and not shock herself trying to leave. It can happen!

I do enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon and evening... I need to will myself to get up and fix something to feed the family. Randy left town today for Virginia so my cooking expectations drop a notch or two... I think the kids want spaghetti on Monday and Wendesday before he returns. (Yes, Randy is not a big spaghetti lover.)

Why not?!

2009-07-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

It's only been 3 months... time flies!
We are getting ready for another life changing experience around our home. We will be hosting an exchange student from Quatar for the upcoming school year. Nothing says clean and gut the closets like someone coming for an extended stay in your home. I am talking underbed, top of closet, every outdated school paper, rock, project that doesn't grab my mother's heart is hitting the chopping block of garbage. I saw today that an average american produces around 4.5 pounds of garbage per day - I am over the quota for sure and will be until August 8th.
This has been along time coming - the cleaning, not the student.

Our student is named Ali and he is 15 and will be going to Jordan with Aaron for the school year. I don't have a ton of facts yet, still waiting for the more in depth paperwork. I have always had this on my list of things to do, I was an exchange student myself when I was 16. I spent the summer in Argentina and it was wonderful.
Do you ever have experiences that are so random that you know they are given to you for a reason? This is one of them. It was so random how we were contacted about this student. The original host family backed out last minute so the hunt was on for a host family... can you imagine making those calls? Er, hello? I need to ask if you are interested in taking in a student for the school year - feed him and give him a great experience? Like I said, it was such an interesting call that it just felt immediately right. It took Randy a couple of weeks to "get his head around it", he asked all the good questions that I completely didn't think about. Sometimes my heart races ahead of my head!

Interesting stuff. Never dull around here.

Easy Approach to Food Storage

2009-04-07T12:49:00.000-07:00

I have enjoyed getting into "food storage shape" with this amazing website - www.foodstoragemadeeasy.net! If you have ever wondered about the why, how, or what of food storage, you need to take a read at this site. These ladies (young moms even!) have got the total package with food storage. I especially love the excel spread sheet that I use to figure out my 3 month storage on - it figures amounts automatically for you! Love it and it can't get any easier that that. They have put together babystep checklists that have been emailed out periodically to help with all aspects of food storage. The best thing now is that you can purchase the complete outline in a very fun, usable format. I am excited about this because I love to organize things in binders. They keep things together and are tidy on the shelf. Take a look at their site and have fun getting into food storage shape!

Food Storage Made Easy Binder
What is the Food Storage Made Binder?
Since so many readers have asked to have our series of free email reminders BabyStep Checklists (which you can still sign up for, and will stay free) available all at once, we decided to incorporate them into a useful manual that would help people to be able to organize and store all of their food storage information in one place. The Binder is available for purchase as a downloadable eBook that readers can print and assemble. Think of this book as the best of Food Storage Made Easy’s site in a book.
What is included in the Binder?
Instructions for how to make it cute and functional, exactly like ours!
ALL 26 BabyStep Checklists (no more waiting for the next list!)
100 pages of detailed information about each of the ten BabySteps
Our very best posts, handouts, and extra information
All the spreadsheets and documents you need to plan your 3 Month and Long Term Food Storage without needing a computer
Recipe Appendix including all 33 recipes that we encourage you to try out in the Checklists
Sections for additional research and personal notes to be added in
Cute cover pages and dividers (because you know we have to make it fun)
How do I purchase a Food Storage Made Easy Binder?
To help keep costs down and enable you to get your Binder right away, we have decided to distribute it as an eBook. Once you purchase the eBook you will instantly get access to it via email and can assemble it into your very own personal Food Storage Made Easy Binder. The 100 page pdf costs just $17.
When will the Food Storage Made Easy Binders be available?
Food Storage Made Easy Binders will be available for sale on the afternoon of Thursday, April 9th.

Life moves on

2009-04-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

Life has been good and busy! It seems that I think - I should blog this or that, then life keeps going and the chance gets away from me.

A big part of this 2009 year so far has been enjoying the open house and dedication of the Draper temple! I can see the temple from our family room and love having the visual reminder of what the temple means to me and my family. I have felt compelled to gather my geneology, I always thought that would be for my golden years, but I feel the need to get the names into my computer. I have become addicted to getting those names into my PAF folder and I am loving it. I like to think about who these people were, how they enjoyed their families and lives, what it was like to leave their families and go to a different country.

We had an incredible opportunity to be in the temple for the first dedicatory session and that memory is something that will always be in my heart. Sitting in the temple with my DH and children, it must be a little like heaven. Hearing my oldest son sing so strongly, The Spirit of God was amazing! He is the one who never sings in church, but I know he felt the spirit strongly, it was a powerful song to be singing in the temple and I knew that he knew it. Another memory for my heart. I remember the prophet said after the dedicatory prayer to remember that we were now in a dedicated temple so we needed to act reverently. This was something that Haylie picked up on and was happy about. She said that she couldn't wait to come back to the temple when she was old enough. There are so many wonderful memories associated with "our" temple.

On a different note,

We have expirenced two proms from a boy's perspective (much easier!) with Josh going to Alta's prom and Aaron going to Jordan's prom. Josh and his friends decided to go 80's and wear pastel tuxes - Josh wore lavendar (!). I don't remember lavendar tuxes at my prom in the 80's, maybe my memory is fading, can't say that I really care now anyway.

Aaron was the traditional one for his prom, he wore black. I have yet to find out if he danced any dances besides the slow ones...

I must say that I love my boys, my girls, Randy and I love my life!

Grateful that he loves me, flaws and all

2009-02-06T07:55:00.000-08:00

I remember when Randy and I were first married and attending a married student ward at the U, a Sunday school teacher pointed at the divide in the class and said that over the period of our lives, one half of this room will end up divorced. Everyone laughed, "no way", "not us".

Maybe I am not so accustomed to divorces around my life, but just lately two have shown up in my acquaintances and I have been stewing on their fates. Both of these women are LDS and were married for time and all eternity in the temple. (I know that while this is the correct way to be married, it is not a sure fire protection that trials won't happen in marriage - they do - and the selfish choices of one partner or the other...) One friend said this is not what she had planned in her life. She said, "Look at me, if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone." She is in her early 40's with two kids. Her husband's affair ended their marriage.

Another decided that she had married too young and didn't have the chance to "do everything", so she moved out and left 3 kids to pursue her dreams.

How utterly sad. I don't know if it is the blah winter weather, but I have really been depressed for these two women and the selfish choices that led to the ending of their families.

I understand that life is not perfect, we are not perfect. There are no guarantees in this life to how others will react and choices they will make. Still, I have wondered how two people so in love in the beginning can end up so completely dissatisfied and unhappy. In looking for some peace in my thoughts, I have looked at what has been taught by our prophets. President Hinckley beautifully reminded me that stormy weather hits all of our homes on occasion, but " The remedy for most marriage stress is not in divorce. It is in repentance. It is not in separation. It is in simple integrity that leads a man to square up his shoulders and meet his obligations. It is found in the Golden Rule."

I loved the quote from the Deseret News that President Hinckley used - don't we all wish to be perpetually young and ravishing? I have to say that more and more each day I am grateful for a dear husband that loves me and has loved me for 23 years, regardless of the physical flaws that I so easily see in myself. I think I need to be kinder to myself and my "flaws" because there are many who love me as I am... something we all need to think about.

Read the rest of the talk by President Hinckley in May of 1991.

“There seems to be a superstition among many thousands of our young who hold hands and smooch in the drive-ins that marriage is a cottage surrounded by perpetual hollyhocks to which a perpetually young and handsome husband comes home to a perpetually young and ravishing wife. When the hollyhocks wither and boredom and bills appear the divorce courts are jammed. …
“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.” (Deseret News, 12 June 1973, p. A4.)

Stormy weather occasionally hits every household. Connected inevitably with the whole process is much of pain—physical, mental, and emotional. There is much of stress and struggle, of fear and worry. For most, there is the ever-haunting battle of economics. There seems never to be enough money to cover the needs of a family. Sickness strikes periodically. Accidents happen. The hand of death may reach in with dread stealth to take a precious one.
But all of this seems to be part of the processes of family life. Few indeed are those who get along without experiencing some of it.

I know of no more beautiful story in all of literature than that told by the Master as recorded in the fifteenth chapter of Luke. It is the story of a heady and greedy son who demanded his inheritance, which he wasted until none was left. Penitent, he returned to his father, and his father, seeing him afar off, ran to him and embraced him and fell upon his neck and kissed him.
Some of you within the sound of my voice could recount family sorrows in your own experience. But among the greatest of tragedies, and I think the most common, is divorce. It has become as a great scourge.

...more of betrayal, more of sorrow, more of neglect and poverty and struggle than the human mind can imagine. Millions of those divorced in this nation are lonely, frustrated, insecure, and unhappy. Millions of single parents are struggling to rear families, carrying burdens beyond their capacity to handle. Millions of children are growing up in single family homes from which the parent, usually the mother, out of necessity, is absent much of the time. These “latch-key children” return from school each day to empty houses, where, in many cases, there is inadequate food and only the refuge of the television set. Not only are the children suffering, but all of society is paying a frightful price for their circumstances. As they grow older, the incidence of drugs increases among them. Vast numbers turn to criminal behavior. Inadequately trained, many are unemployed. Some aimlessly squander their lives. Millions have become the “flotsam and jetsam” of society, washed upon the shore by oceans of neglect, abuse, and frustration, helpless to correct their circumstances. Time magazine, discussing the problems of New York City, stated that the most serious is the breakdown of the family. Sixty percent of those in New York City public schools, totalling some 600,000, come from one-parent homes. Comparable studies would doubtless bring forth similar statistics for other large cities in America and most of the large cities of the world.
We are building and maintaining more prisons than we can afford. The costs are enormous, almost beyond comprehension.
In an alarming percentage of the cases of those who are warehoused in these facilities, there will be found in their background a broken home where a father abandoned his family and a mother struggled in vain to handle the overpowering odds against her.

Why all of these broken homes? What happens to marriages that begin with sincere love and a desire to be loyal and faithful and true one to another?

There is no simple answer. I acknowledge that. But it appears to me that there are some obvious reasons that account for a very high percentage of these problems. I say this out of experience in dealing with such tragedies. I find selfishness to be the root cause of most of it.
I am satisfied that a happy marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one’s companion.
Selfishness so often is the basis of money problems, which are a very serious and real factor affecting the stability of family life. Selfishness is at the root of adultery, the breaking of solemn and sacred covenants to satisfy selfish lust. Selfishness is the antithesis of love. It is a cankering expression of greed. It destroys self-discipline. It obliterates loyalty. It tears up sacred covenants. It afflicts both men and women.
Too many who come to marriage have been coddled and spoiled and somehow led to feel that everything must be precisely right at all times, that life is a series of entertainments, that appetites are to be satisfied without regard to principle. How tragic the consequences of such hollow and unreasonable thinking!

There is a remedy for all of this. It is not found in divorce. It is found in the gospel of the Son of God. He it was who said, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matt. 19:6.) The remedy for most marriage stress is not in divorce. It is in repentance. It is not in separation. It is in simple integrity that leads a man to square up his shoulders and meet his obligations. It is found in the Golden Rule.
Marriage is beautiful when beauty is looked for and cultivated. It can be ugly and uncomfortable when one is looking for faults and is blinded to virtue. As Edgar A. Guest once remarked, “It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it home.” (“Home,” in Collected Verse of Edgar A. Guest, Chicago: Reilly and Lee Co., 1934, p. 12.) That is true. I can show you throughout this church hundreds of thousands of families who make it work with love and peace, discipline and honesty, concern and unselfishness.
There must be recognition on the part of both husband and wife of the solemnity and sanctity of marriage and of the God-given design behind it.
There must be a willingness to overlook small faults, to forgive, and then to forget.
There must be a holding of one’s tongue. Temper is a vicious and corrosive thing that destroys affection and casts out love.
There must be self-discipline that constrains against abuse of wife and children and self. There must be the Spirit of God, invited and worked for, nurtured and strengthened. There must be recognition of the fact that each is a child of God—father, mother, son, and daughter, each with a divine birthright—and also recognition of the fact that when we offend one of these, we offend our Father in Heaven.
There may be now and again a legitimate cause for divorce. I am not one to say that it is never justified. But I say without hesitation that this plague among us, which seems to be growing everywhere, is not of God, but rather is the work of the adversary of righteousness and peace and truth.
The strength of the nations lies in the homes of the people. God is the designer of the family. He intended that the greatest of happiness, the most satisfying aspects of life, the deepest joys should come in our associations together and our concerns one for another as fathers and mothers and children.

My goal - each day make an effort to put my husband first when he walks through the door. To do this, I need to be better organized and complete all the daily "stuff" before he comes home.

PS - FYI: I am happily married to the kindest, most patient, sweet, hard working, loving, best dad ever, man in the world (sometimes things have a way of getting spread through family - I am just pondering on my friends, not on my own marriage).

Sneeze, Sniffle, Cough, Cough

2009-01-30T18:18:00.000-08:00

I hate being sick. I have been under the weather with a horrible head cold since Tuesday... I think on of my kids (who will remain nameless) sneezed on my laptop keys and shared their germs. Yuck. I knew today that I just needed to really rest and give myself a chance to get better so... I did not get dressed (still wearing the snowman pj's from last night with an Alta hoodie for when I go outside with Roxy - I did manage to brush my teeth but that is the extent of my beauty routine), drank a lot of water, ate a few whoppers (why? they were just there for the eating!), rested, took the dog out a few times, still in my pj's.

The house is quiet tonight which will help my r and r.

Randy and Tbone are camping out at Camp Tracy -BRRR - I hope they have fun. Lax man is off being social at a HS basketball game, Ernie had wrestling practice, Euphonium lessons and then is off to watch some indoor soccer games. Patch is watching movies tonight at a friend's home. So it is just me, the BIG box of kleenex, the remote, the roxy puppy *hopefully she is all pooped out in every way, that little dog sure poops A LOT!*, and licorice the cat. Sounds like a fun night.

Glad I went to Wal Mart yesterday (fun visit to Logan to see Ky and EJ) and bought 8 pairs of briefs each for the big boys... now I don't have to worry about laundry for at least 8 more days... if I wanted to wait that long...

Good night!

A question I have thought about

2009-01-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

This is a quote from the lesson I am helping to teach tomorrow in Relief Society. I have thought long about the question at the end... I hope to have a good discussion and hear what others think about it.

The parable of the sower shows the effects of preaching the gospel; it also shows that the Savior established His kingdom in the meridian of time.
“But listen to the explanation of the parable of the Sower: ‘When any one heareth the word of the Kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.’ Now mark the expression—that which was sown in his heart. ‘This is he which receiveth seed by the way side.’ [Matthew 13:19.] Men who have no principle of righteousness in themselves, and whose hearts are full of iniquity, and have no desire for the principles of truth, do not understand the word of truth when they hear it. The devil taketh away the word of truth out of their hearts, because there is no desire for righteousness in them." (Joseph Smith)

Why do some people have a “principle of righteousness in themselves,” and others don’t? If someone doesn’t have a desire for truth, is there a way to develop such a desire?

Randomly thinking

2009-01-10T15:06:00.001-08:00

"Pets are humanizing. They remind us we have an obligation and responsibility to preserve and nurture and care for all life." James Cromwell

That said, I must say I am running an animal daycare! I was in a Relief Society meeting this past week and got no less than 4 phone calls...

"Where are you? THE PUPPY GOT OUT!!"

"When are you coming home? The puppy pooped on the carpet!!"

"WHAT DO I DO? THE CAT IS SNIFFING THE PUPPY!"

"I don't know what to do with Roxy!"

These calls came from Tbone - not the biggest fan of animals. A little stressful. Roxy managed to push against the puppy play pen and get out. (We fixed that.)

Sigh.

She is cute, but I find myself waking up in the night to check the time because I haven't heard her cry. Scary.

This morning I was watching "Ratatouille" on TV to stay awake at 6:30 (not much to choose from at this early Saturday morning time - this is a family favorite, go little chef!). I was up at 3:30 with the pup for a moment for a potty break and then had to keep reading my book, there where only a few chapters left. Bad choice.

I am tired today.

I did give my fridge the New Year's clean - the oldest thing I found was expired in 11/2007 (pop out dough rolls). Yuck. Ky and Tbone would be impressed. They are the expiration date freaks in the family. Yes, you are. I have been known to scratch/cover/remove/lie about this particular date in the past... sorry. No one died.

I got the call this morning that our RS teacher for tomorrow has come down with strep, so I will be teaching 1/3 of the lesson with my presidency... a blessing that the lesson can easily divide into thirds. I am actually looking forward to focusing my thoughts on something. Ever since Roxy came from the North Pole I have felt very scattered.

Say Hello to Roxy!

2009-01-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

Not the best picture of Roxy - she looks a bit rabid here.

She is trying to tackle the marshmallow roasting stick cord.

BFFs Forever. No question.

Santa brought a big surprise to our home Christmas morning. Patch received a tiny little puppy around 8 am. Apparently, Santa forgot to leave her on his first stop at our home... she was hiding under his blanket and he didn't see her.

* *you know you have good friends when they offer to help play Santa and keep a new puppy on the first night away from her mother AND put a darling red bow on her neck with a cute tag from Santa AND deliver her to us in a Christmas Blizzard no less. Thanks H and T.

Welcome to our home Roxy! She is a cockapoo, chocolate colored with white tips on her front paws and white on her chin and under her neck. She is so sweet, but in this same sentence she is puppy. I feel like I have blasted back into my baby days - waking up in the night to crys, feeling like I can't leave the house, feeding schedules, getting our house puppy proof... yikes.

And Haylie is back in school.

My life has changed, amazingly.

This too will pass and she will grow up from puppyhood. Her bladder will grow (please), she will sleep through the night and hopefully sooner than later she will get bigger than Licorice (our jealous cat).

One more thought...

2008-12-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

My kids need to get home, I have too much time to write on my blog!

Just this quick post -

Ernie is on his first official date tonight!

He is only 16 years old and 4 days!
(Thanks to a cool Brother-in-law for winter dating ideas - they went ice skating. I hope he doesn't break anything!)

Am I ready for this? (NO)

Where has time gone? (???????)

Do you have the dating etiquette down? (Yes, Mom!)

(I will have to post a fun dating idea that I saved from one of the boys that Ky dated in HS. It is like the babysitting info sheet - just info for the date like cell number, license plate number, parent's name, itinerary, etc. I thought it was nice.)

Do you have any money? (No, can I borrow some?)

Ernie is the rule follower to a T. He is not to have friends in the car with him for the first 6 months after getting his license - and he won't. I don't even have to ask. So, as far as dates go, what to do? Ah, just have the parents drive! Really - it was too cute tonight (and I wasn't driving - read my next post).

No more details - Ernie sometimes reads my blog.

Christmas Cookies with Patch

2008-12-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

Patch and I had a late night baking session - we were the only one's home tonight. I put some Amy Grant Christmas music on my computer to help us get in the mood of the season and then pulled out a new recipe for spice cookies - very yummy - (like a ginger snap, but soft and chewy). Let's get busy!

And then... my beautiful music was interrupted with Ashley Tisdale singing "last Christmas I gave you my heart, the very next day you gave it awwwway..."

WHAT?!!

Patch was laughing and singing for all she was worth. There was nothing else to do but join in and we were loud. The cat looked scared.

Thanks Patch for still singing with me. Thanks for holding hands with me when we walk together outside. Thanks for all your hugs and telling me you will miss me while you are at school. I enjoyed lunch with you last week, you are the cutest lunch worker who ever scraped food... (big smile here!)

Love you. Love you. Love you.

Ky, glad you are coming to visit and that you guys want to make sugar cookies - maybe we will crank up the music and sing some... Back Street Boys Christmas or Neil Diamond Christmas (as long as Dad isn't around!) "I I I I I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." Join in, you know the words - ha ha.

Murmur Not

2008-12-13T21:34:00.001-08:00

I am teaching Relief Society in January and have been thinking on and off of topics to teach. I came across this talk, Murmur Not, by Neal A. Maxwell (Ensign, Nov. 1989, 82). This is a very pointed and direct talk, not one of the feel good kind of talks. But where I am, it is needed. What I really wish I could do is just make some copies and paste it on a door or two or three - maybe all our doors need this talk - just in case.

Note to self: Remember (I forget at times) that we each have our own custom path to walk in this life with perfectly planned experiences and trials to tutor us and while I can't understand what makes some people do the things they do, there IS a plan.

The answer to dealing with all kinds of people is this - love them and pray for them when there is nothing else you can do.
Here it that answer in the scriptures: Mormon 3:12 "...and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts."

Not always so easy. I need an increase in my own faith.

Back to the talk.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from Elder Maxwell's talk:

"...too many of us seem to expect that life will flow ever smoothly, featuring an unbroken chain of green lights with empty parking places just in front of our destinations!"

"Cutting truth does hurt, but its lancing can drain off pride."

Characteristics of a murmurer:

-"The murmurer often lacks the courage to express openly his concerns."

-"While a murmurer insists on venting his own feelings, he regards any response thereto as hostile."

-"Murmurers have short memories. Israel arrived in Sinai, then journeyed on to the Holy Land though they were sometimes hungry and thirsty. But the Lord rescued them, whether by the miraculous appearance by quail or by water struck from a rock. (See Num. 11:31; Ex. 17:6.) Strange, isn’t it, brothers and sisters, how those with the shortest memories have the longest lists of demands! However, with no remembrance of past blessings, there is no perspective about what is really going on.

-Murmurers spend all their time in looking for the evil."Perspective makes such an enormous and constant difference in our lives."

"The goodness of the Lord is attested to in so many ways - mansions await! - yet we ungrateful guests still complain about the present accommodations."Murmuring is contagious, but "being of good cheer is equally contagious."

"Letting off steam always produces more heat than light."

"Murmuring can be another form of mocking God's plan of salvation."

"Murmuring can also be noise enough that it drowns out the various spiritual signals to us... Murmuring over the weight of our crosses not only takes energy otherwise needed to carry them but might cause another to put down his cross altogether."

God accomplishes things, brothers and sisters, “in process of time.” This calls for our patience. Moreover, doing things in process of time is often His way of either preserving our agency or of providing us with needed opportunity. In fact, certain experiences, over which we might understandably murmur, can actually be for our good. (See D&C 105:10; D&C 122:7; Gen. 30:27.) Thus you and I may think God is merely marking time, when He is actually marking openings for us, openings which are sorely needed. Even then, we are so slow to use those openings in order to escape from the familiar cell of selfishness.

"Nonmurmurers are permitted to see so much more."

"Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." - 2 Kings 6:16

"If our lips are closed to murmuring, then our eyes can be opened."

I am not surprised

2008-12-12T20:25:00.000-08:00

Friday night, and I am home alone. It is a wierd feeling.
I just had to put this thought down so not to forget it in the passing of time...

Ernie had a very special opportunity tonight. He was one of a couple young men and their dads or youth leaders to go and clean inside the brand new Draper LDS temple! WOW. I was so excited for him to have this awesome experience. I told him to take a lot of mental pictures so he could tell me all about it.

Besides the fact that he was inside the temple tonight (just in case you are not aware: the temple has not been dedicated yet, so anyone can be inside and soon the open house for the temple will begin with 1-1.5 MILLION people expected to walk through it during the two month time period) which is just a really great opportunity in and of itself, I was amazed at his own thought process in going there and what he gave up to do this.

It is a Friday night - he was asked to clean from 5 -8 pm

He had to leave wrestling practice early with an explanation of why to his coach

He missed the first two hours of a friends birthday party

And the sweetest by far...

He runs up from the basement to leave to clean the temple and he is dressed in his suit!
I said, "Ernie you are going to clean things in the temple, why are you in your suit?"
He said, "Mom I am going to the temple. Don't worry, I have clothes to change into."

That was a lesson for me and a glimpse of who's son this awesome kid really is.
It is the Lord's house and he is helping to prepare it, he understands. I am not surprised.

Bah Humbug!

2008-12-12T10:02:00.000-08:00

Don't get excited, this picture was taken 3/08 in NYC.

Ky and I went on a prewedding trip together.

The cold, hard facts of my morning...

I have been trying to get a few tickets to Wicked... what a waste of time. The Arttix website is down, the phone has been busy for 1 hour! BUT, not to worry, I can go to any of those online ticket scalpers and pay DOUBLE or MORE for tickets. One site I checked at 10:30 this morning had 32 different days/times to already choose from some tickets at $283 a ticket! Whatever!

What ever happened to ordinary people being able to just get tickets without the big mark up?

I have seen the musical twice in NYC, I just wanted to take my youngest daughter to see it. Maybe a road trip in the spring. If I have to pay a hefty mark up, I might as well be in NYC or LA - anywhere but here!!

I AM BUMMED BIG TIME!

(Okay, now that is out of my system, I am much calmer - well, alittle calmer.)

Florida Vacation Pictures

2008-12-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

We went on vacation over Thanksgiving again this year. As you will see, we had as much fun as you can possibly have in the six days we were gone. We brought our newlyweds along and they were grateful for EVERYTHING. As they liked to say, we could always be ________! (Fill in the blank with Logan, in snow, in school, doing homework, working, freezing!)
I don't think any of us will be able to ride a roller coaster again without clapping and chanting, "Tanner in the front, Tanner in the front!" Remember his answer - "Not happening! Not happening!" Good times.
Funny, with all we did we still managed to watch Santa Clause 1,2, and 3 at night. A Clegg family favorite.

Ky, EJ and Patch waiting for a ride (we got good at waiting).

Ernie at Epcot in France. We had to find this tasty French dessert, Mille Feuille, to sample!

Patch had to visit Germany for some authentic German chocolate at Epcot. Thanks to her 1st grade teacher, Miss Benson, for developing this love of all things German.

This is actually the last picture of the trip... bye bye Flordia fun.

Tbone turned 13 on our trip. This picture was taken on his birthday and this is his favorite ride of the day - The Mummy - very intense!

This is where we ate breakfast on T bone's birthday. The McDonalds Bistro (could it really be?)

This McDonalds sported an elevator, a bistro menu with waffles, breakfast burritos and a 2nd floor full of all kinds of electronic games to play. Unreal.

After the dinasour ride - 1st wet ride of the day!

Splashing down on the dinasour ride!

THE HULK!! No one told me the ride shoots you out about 3/4 the way up! Scary!

Ky, EJ, Lax boy and I rode this one. Going over water upside down is not for me (more than one time!!)

Thanksgiving dinner delivered to our condo after a fun play day. Dad carved the turkey and we enjoyed sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans almondine, cranberry sauce, rolls, butter and apple pie. It was tasty and the cheapest dinner of our trip!
Happy Turkey Day!

Ernie rode the Rock'n'Roller Coaster! This was his very first roller coaster and probably his last. Way to give it a try.

Family favorite by far!! This time I am glad to know where to hold on...

Disney World had Magic Moments abounding! Lax boy and T bone got theirs with an ultimate fast pass to all the rides for the day! Sweet! Thanks T bone for giving up your fast pass to Toy Story for Patch to go.

Patch's most magical moment! She was choosen to meet Belle and the Prince at the end of the Beauty and the Beast show! We sat in the VIP Rose seats and then a worker took Patch up to the stage and got to meet Belle and the Prince and talk with them. They gave her the rose and a cute certificate to commerate the moment. You know that certificate is hanging up in her room.

This picture still makes me laugh! Lax wanted to meet Sleeping Beauty so he stood in line with all the LITTLE girls until it was his turn. Sleeping Beauty showed him how to stand like a prince. This was funny!

Another wet ride! Patch loved this one - she went on it 3 times!

Patch in front of Cinderella's castle.

The castle lit up with Christmas lights. The lighting would keep changing so the castle would darken to other colors. It was beautiful.

Turkey legs - yum! Tbone was the all time master at eating these. He could clean his down to the turkey bone the fastest! He ate 3 of these during our trip. EJ said his limit on turkey legs is 1 per year!

Thanks for a great trip... next year ??

Baby It's Cold Outside!

2008-12-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is finally feeling like winter here - and my car is not in our garage! Yuck. I am way past the car window scraping phase (remember apartment living?). Don't worry though because the Alta Lacrosse goals are nice and dry, snow and ice free in MY garage. They are big and heavy otherwise I would have dragged them outside myself. There they will be until after the 2nd and last tryouts this Friday night(10:30 -midnight for varsity tryouts - you just have to be young to do that!). Thank goodness the garage will be free for my car just in time to beat the new snow storm coming Saturday, Sunday AND Monday. I hope the weather people are lying.

Another One Drives Away

2008-12-09T15:10:00.000-08:00

It has happened again! Another child in this family has reached the age of sixteen... and driven away by themselves. Yikes. It should get easier...it should get easier... it should get easier...

Here are parts of the conversations from yesterday and today that have been flying around this house and between cell phones...

"Did you show him where the registration is? Does he know that is what the police will ask for when/if he gets pulled over?"

"DO NOT TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE, TEXT ON YOUR CELL PHONE, ANSWER YOUR CELL PHONE WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THIS CAR!"

"Text me when you get to school. Text me when you are leaving school."

"Be alert, there are crazy people in cars all around you."

"You are driving a killing machine."

"You don't get do overs in car accidents!"

"It is snowing, do you want me to drive you to school instead? " (NO)

"Remember, they are braking for a reason..." (Mom's famous line when driving with a pre-licensed driver)

"Slow and easy, give yourself time to respond to the traffic around you."

"Insurance is expensive!"

"Randy, he doesn't know how to drive on slick roads - there is going to be an accident!!" (This was my freakish chant this morning - 6:00 am - so my dear, dear husband secretly followed our new 16 year old to school. He had to be there by 6:30 for a band concert practice. XOXO to you!) He thought he was driving undetected by our son until I got a text message (after he was at school) telling me that HE had been driving for SIX months and didn't need us (DAD) to follow him to school. So sorry Ernie. We just love you and you probably won't understand our crazy obsession of love and safety until your 16 year old son drives away for the first, second, fiftieth time!

How did my parents survive my driving around town at 14?!!? Yes, it was in Kansas, but not too rural. I did drive to early morning seminary, the grocery store and Hardee's to retreave the necessary diet Pepsi's for Mom.

Happy 16th birthday Ernie. You are dependable, always on time, responsible, helpful - you have always been an adult in a child's body. I can't wait to see what you accomplish in the next 16 years. You have learned to go after what you want to do and this usually demands hard work on your part. Way to go for doing your own thing at JHS - band, soccer, wrestling, PTSA and all A's your first quarter. Congrats on the no tardies or absences award for the first quarter. It is a big deal because IT IS A BIG DEAL. Being where you need to be when you need to be there is something that is hard to do day in and day out. You earned the privileged right to an on campus parking spot as a sophomore, just beware the juniors and seniors. No BFE (beyond fetching Egypt) parking for you!! You are a good friend and a great son. I will miss driving you to and from school and our Friday stops at Sonic during happy hour. Always drive safe. I love you.

Go Utah!

2008-11-22T18:10:00.000-08:00

Heading off to THE game!

Some yelling, some cheering, a few hotdogs and cokes

and a WIN!!!

Wedding reception video

2008-11-19T08:31:00.001-08:00

Here (click on video blog) is Kylea and Eric's wedding reception video. I can't believe that 6 months has already passed since the BIG day in May. I love you both!

Being a mom is a great excuse...

2008-10-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

I saw this on a blog - lightrefreshmentsserved.com and I laughed because these statements are OH SO TRUE!

1. Being a mom is a great excuse. You can buy treats, make treats, have treats on hand “for the kids.” No one will question your pantry stocked with Cocoa-Puffs. (Hmmm - the ding dong 24 pack from Costco?!!? Frozen cookie dough "just in case"!)

2. Kids are a good hobby (? strange word to use, but you understand the idea) because they strip you of pride and make you seem more patient than you really are. You aren’t cool, and your kids remind you of that. You might get a big head if you weren’t constantly told “you talk to me too much” or “your bum’s too big to sit on that chair!” (hypothetically speaking, of course) The more kids you have, the more patient you seem to strangers, when the exact opposite is probably true. It’s just a funny assumption we all make, and I’m okay with it.

Seriously, people do sometimes think that the more kids you have, the more patient you MUST be, not so.
There are times when what I think is funny and "hip" and "with it" and then I go ahead and talk about it with my teens. This action can be met with heads turned in embarrassment and a groaning "Wooowww Mom!" (Ernie does this best and it has become a trademark of his that we all long to copy but never will -according to him!)

Being a mom is where I know I need to be - come what may in this crazy world we live in. Whether it is the tedious job that is done over and over again for these little people, or a once in a lifetime experience that I know was a "you had to be there" thing, I am happy and fulfilled as I watch them grow and begin to take their places as good people in society. I am grateful to have a small part in helping them become their best. Ahh, the perfect thoughts for a perfect day... now back to reality and the HARD, EXHAUSTING job of being MOM.

2008-10-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, I figured this one out by myself. The beach is always the right choice no matter the season. Stay tuned.

Blah background

2008-10-29T07:45:00.001-07:00

Please send me info about where everyone is getting their very cute blog backgrounds. I am in need...

Too Many Thoughts...

2008-10-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

I find myself thinking about things and that I should blog them, but I always (lately) seem to lack the time to sit down and get that accomplished... here I go...

Last week while lying in bed and talking quietly in the night, R told me about an experience he had just that evening. He helps coach Tbone's football team and another coach said to him that he would not be there for the next two practices. He then proceeded to tell R why. He talked about the stress they had been having with their teenage daughter for along time. Nothing was working and she was set to move out and live with her 21 year old boyfriend in 3 weeks once she turned 18. With no other options, they contacted one of the wilderness groups for wayward teens and the next morning at 5 am they were coming to take her. No notice, no warning for the daughter. Handcuffs if necessary. My heart went out to the mother, wondering did anyone know her struggles? I woke up 3 times through the night thinking about this mother and praying she would be okay. I cannot imagine getting to this last resort in dealing with an out of control child.

She continued to stay on my mind and in my heart for the next 3 days - until after sacrament meeting yesterday. I saw a lady who I needed to visit with and I went up to her and asked how she was doing. We began to talk and she told me she had been watching some friend's children over the weekend while they dealt with their daughter out of town. Amazingly, I asked if she was referring to this family and she was. She knows them quite well and I immediately felt such comfort, and recognized a tender mercy in my life reminding me again that our Heavenly Father knows everything about us and how best to help us. I felt comforted that their needs were known by a few others who loved them. I asked my friend at church to give this woman an extra hug the next time she saw her. She did and called me today to share more of this event. After we had talked about this, this woman then began to tell me of the struggles she was having with her own daughter. I never knew what burdens she was carrying around and I never would have guessed. I listened as she talked and then cried. It is not easy to open up and admit things are not going perfectly. I am glad she did for a moment and I hope that I was able to lift up a small part of her burden for a moment.

Needless to say, this has been on my mind. When that happens, I know there is a reason. I have been making calls, seeking others who may be suffering in silence. I write this down only so that I will be accountable for this decision. I don't talk about it to be prideful but to wonder how many of us are in need of understanding and compassion without judgement? I know I have needed it. I am trying to put my own small struggles to the side and concentrate on helping others. Doing this is not easy as opening this Pandora's box identifies a lot of need.

I have added some personal notes from a stake Relief Society leadership meeting that I went to last week (the same day that R told me about his conversation) that would benefit all women. I have also added my favorite quote from President Uchtdorf from the General Relief Society meeting in September:

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers" (President Uchtdorf, General Relief Society Meeting, September 2008).

From the Leadership meeting:
A. We have to be there for each other
· Remember covenants that we made at baptism (mourn with those that mourn, etc)
· We need to talk to each other rather than suffer in silence
· We have to get real and be approachable – we are not perfect, we all have difficult times in our marriages, some have wayward children, many struggles for all of us
· Let go of the "Hi, how are you? Fine! Great, see you later", we all need more

Grandma Kola is dying...

2008-10-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

It has been a sad few days around here. Patch's very old - well she has lived at our house for almost 3 years - and very loved hamster Kola is slowly (very) dying. I wanted Spice man to check this morning to see if she had passed, but no, when gently jiggled, she is still breathing. This has been hard for Patch to watch and she has shed many, many tears during this death watch. We have also had many good conversations about a loving Heavenly Father and his creations for us to love and enjoy. There is a place in heaven for beloved pets. Many tender prayers have been given during this week by my daughter. I am strengthened by her simple faith in a Father who hears and answers ALL prayers.

I can't imagine a more loved hamster than Grandma Kola. She grew happpily plump on the many treats that were left for her in her cage. She took many mini vacations around our house in her ball. She has a fun cage and was able to reside in Spice man's office (that is love!) where she was able to be loved more frequently by Patch and her friends. With the death of her first hamster and now the pending death of Grandma Kola, Patch has decided that she is moving out of the hamster pet business. She said it is too hard to have them die so quickly.

I fear an era is coming to a close and my youngest is growing up in an almost indiscernable way. Who else loves to skip through Pet Smart and lovingly gaze and wish for every kind of creature they house there?

Thoughts on Family

2008-10-03T14:59:00.000-07:00

I copied and pasted these quotes from my friend's blog (thanks Pedaling, I hope you don't mind). They bear repeating as each week there seems to be something else demanding our time and efforts that could take us away from the most important thing - family.

“But whatever the era, whatever the times, one thing will never change: Fathers and mothers, if you have children, they must come first. You must read to your children and you must hug your children and you must love your children. Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House but on what happens inside your house.” Barbara Bush

“To have successful homes, values must be taught, and there must be rules, there must be standards, and there must be absolutes. Many societies give parents very little support in teaching and honoring moral values. A number of cultures are becoming essentially valueless, and many of our younger people in those societies are becoming moral cynics.” James E. Faust
“We should not let their choices weaken our faith. Our worthiness will not be measured according to their righteousness. Lehi did not lose the blessing of feasting at the tree of life because Laman and Lemuel refused to partake of its fruit.” Robert D. Hales

“Each family has its own special circumstances. But the gospel of Jesus Christ addresses every challenge –which is why we must teach it to our children.” Robert D. Hales

“One of the greatest tests for parents and leaders is to love the one who seems to be unlovable. This is tough duty. It stretches the heartstrings and wrenches the soul. When heartbroken parents pray for help, the help often comes in the form of angel aunts or uncles, grandmas or grandpas, good friends and leaders surrounding our loved one. They can reinforce our very message that may put our child on the track we’ve been praying for.” James E. Faust

Time Flies

2008-09-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

The reason for my blog is simply to have a place to record things that are important and not so important to my kids and our family which if not recorded, would most likely be forgotten in the years to come.

So catching up alittle...

Before going to his Eagle board of review. I had to go buy a new scout shirt because his last shirt was like the hulk, straining the buttons and ripping the seams! We are very proud of this son.

Tbone is learning to play the French horn at school. He enjoys it and is glad his teacher is finally not calling him Aaron anymore! When he brings this horn home we marvel at his strength of his lungs and the LOUDNESS of his music.

Walking to school on the first day! We have some new neighbors and friends that Patch and I walk with in the mornings.

Our mountain behind our home on fire in August! Another small reminder that I need to always keep working on being prepared...

Patch and her friend Boo decided to clean Spice man's truck for his birthday gift. They had a great time getting ready with just the right fashion and supplies. Spice man got a chuckle when he drove home and saw these two girls singing and washing away on top of the hood and roof!

The infamous peach pie that I make each year for Spice man's birthday at his request. The crust recipe is my mom's and the peach pie recipe is my Grandma's. It is SO good. Only the shell is baked, so the peaches stay tasting like they were just picked.

Patch and her piano recital. She was not confident in her memorized piece and couldn't get through it without her teacher bringing up her music. Through the remainder of the piece you could hear big gulps of air as she tried to hold back her tears. When she stood up at the end, she covered her face and just stood there and cried. My eyes welled up as I gathered her into my arms and led her from the room. I snuggled her and let her cry. Sometimes that is all you can do. And it is okay. Eventually, she dried her eyes and went back into the recital room. I am thankful for my youngest, resilent daughter.

Out of order, but happy to be going to 4th grade! I am happy that school is a delight and not a struggle for her.

Wish I had something to put on for Ky and EJ. Missing them in Logan, but so glad they are happy, happy, HAPPY! Ky is busy with school - she is in a middle school 6th grade class 3 days a week (8 am to 3:30 pm) and then regular classes fit around this. After 5 weeks with the 6th grade, she will go to a 1st grade class. Keep up the good work!
I wonder when I will stop missing her so much?

Double Eagles

2008-09-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

I am back from blogging vacation...

Hurray! We are celebrating around here. Lax boy passed his Eagle board of review last night, so he is now officially an Eagle Scout. Ernie passed his in August which also was a big occasion to celebrate. The funny thing is that they both completed their projects a year ago, but with the start of school, then an engagement and wedding, I dropped (or stashed away) the eagle ball.

We are planning for the Eagle Court of Honor in October with their cousin Max joining them to receive his Eagle also.

Mom, I got it.

2008-08-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

Today was another first, T bone's first day of seventh grade. I woke him up at 6:10 (ouch!). French toast and the big decision of what to wear behind him, I asked if I could walk with him to the bus stop. He looked at me and said "Mom, I got it."

I looked at him for a long moment and said "Ok, have a great day." In my mind I asked - please, can I just hug you once and sniff your smell - searching for, but knowing I won't find that fresh baby scent or the playful little boy dirt smell, but the current one of cologne (!) and deodorant! Another little man out the door and I am praying like crazy that the world will be kind, he will remember to CTR and will always want to talk with me.

Another bandaid to the heart until it heals, again.

S.S. Gourmet

2008-08-20T19:52:00.000-07:00

I served dinner tonight (8:40 pm) to my football boys after practice. Knowing that T bone has his "sevie" orientation at middle school tomorrow, I thought brain strengthening salmon was in order (mmm, salmon with lime dressing, fresh steamed green beans, red grapes, applesauce and chocolate milk). His response to dinner on the table was "WOW, this looks like S.S. Gourmet!"

I am not sure what that says about the rest of the food we eat since I have never had this title to any other dinner I have made, but I was glad he was so excited to eat. It makes this sometimes drudgery of cooking yet another meal worthwhile when there is so much excitement to dig into what is set out on the table.

It seems like my cooking enjoyment comes and goes in waves... luckily we are riding high on the cooking wave right now. Last night was a "strong 10" which is as perfect as any food will ever get around here - thanks T bone. I made the kids a strawberry watermelon smoothie. Trust me it tastes as good as the name sounds.

2 cups strawberries, cut in half
2 cups watermelon, no seeds
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 cups ice (I used more, I like a thicker, icy drink)

Blend and serve. I froze the leftover for a slushie today for Patch after school.
That easy and that good!

I am looking to try an oriental beef and broccoli in my crock pot this weekend...

Cache County

2008-08-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Ky and EJ have a incredible view of the Logan Temple from their apartment.

(can't remember how to delete photos, so this one stays)

Patch and I traveled up north to Logan to spend a fun day with Ky on her day off. For the first half of the drive, we listened to a book on tape, The Magic Treehouse "Pirates Past Noon". This was a Wendy's Kids Meal prize - finally something worthwhile. Patch was anxious to see Ky and download some of her good music to her new ipod. Being the animal lover that she is, Patch hoped to see "Miss Kitty", the very friendly black cat that lives two houses down from Ky and EJ (luckily we saw her and petted and petted her!). I enjoy getting these two sisters together, the relationship that they have is so close regardless of the 11 year age difference.

We arrived in time to go to lunch at Chilis with the newly weds before EJ had to go to work. There is a new Hobby Lobby in Logan and so we shopped around that very BIG store. It seemed to me that everything was 50% off, so we had to take advantage of the good sales and purchase some cute picture frames. I walked quickly by the Christmas section, that is so wrong in July.

Ky took us to the Logan "mall" and we had a fun time poking around the stores there. We enjoyed sampling the smells at Bath and Body Works, ohhing and ahhing over the webkinz at Hallmark and checking out the latest back to school fashions at AE. A haircut was in order for Ky so we chatted with her while her hair was washed and cut - 4 inches came off!

While she was gone to take some dinner to EJ on his break, I washed up her dishes. Alas, no dishwasher. (When Patch first heard they didn't have a dishwasher she very seriously asked how they were going to be able to wash their dishes. Hmmm. My bad.) Ky said not to worry about doing the dishes, but, hey! their dirty dishes are FUN! Two cute spoons, two cute forks, two cute cups and plates. My dirty dishes are not fun. Too many and too many wander through the house.

Time flew by with watching some of the olympics, getting a Sonic drink, figuring out what wedding pics to choose for her wedding album, grocery shopping, chinese take out for dinner... by this time it was close to 10 pm and I decided to get a hotel room instead of driving home late. I didn't think too much about this but as it turned out, a hotel room, a motel room, any available room in and around Logan was not to be. The international satellite convention at USU was in town (I didn't know!) and all the rooms were taken.

We cozied down on the couch - unplanned sleepover for Patch, she was so excited - in Ky and EJ's apartment and slept the night away. Waking up, I skimmed the Rachel Ray magazine and saw the recipe for Apple scones... sounded good... something Ky had wanted to try... just needed some half and half from the store (and a toothbrush). Ky and I made scones and enjoyed quietly visiting over breakfast. Soon it was time to go... we loved our Logan adventure and can't wait to go visit again.

Glad for family

2008-08-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

I dropped in to pick up some apricots (jam time!) from sister last Thursday. It was one of those days where the wrongs of the world lay heavily on my shoulders. Physically, my feet were dragging and my heart was heavy. So glad I stopped by... she had Five 5 gallon buckets of apricots to can herself and she was with out help. I sat and began to help pop them open and soon became calm with that repetitive movement. I could sit quietly, nice when conversation is not required and you don't feel wierd about the silence, and think and ponder and deal with the stuff churning through my mind. She had her wok out and cooked me up a delicious stir fry with garden fresh veggies that were very tasty.
It was a good ending to the day and I am so glad she lives close by.
Thanks.

Glad the day is over

2008-08-03T20:39:00.001-07:00

Whew, finished teaching a Relief Society lesson today. I feel drained now and mentally 10 lbs. lighter. Tomorrow I will be able to pick up my life where I dropped it in preparation for this lesson (although Saturday evening I was making a batch of apricot jam knowing those apricots were no going to stay good until Monday).

The lesson was called "Living a Christ-Centered Life". This is something that I think about a lot, those refining points of the gospel that can, at times, be tough to hold onto during the week when life is coming at you with both guns blazing. Isn't it true how the teacher always seems to gain the most from the lesson? I did.

Some of my favorite thoughts and quotes...

For most of us, trying to be Christlike is a lifelong process and comes "line upon line, precept upon precept"

At any point in time the changes are almost imperceptible; indeed, many of us worry we are not becoming more Christlike even though we are.

2 Nephi 31:18-21

"Christ knows us and is the source of the Spirit’s promptings. He knows how to help us become Christlike. He knows if the lesson needs to be on faith or love or patience or diligence. The Savior’s power is also sufficient to help us grow from grace to grace and to receive grace for grace until we become perfect in Him." (Elder Bateman, 99)

"To follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and character. The Savior invites us to learn His gospel by living His teachings. To follow Him is to apply correct principles and then witness for ourselves the blessings that follow. This process is very complex and very simple at the same time. Ancient and modern prophets described it with three words: "Keep the commandments"—nothing more, nothing less." (Elder Uchtdorf, 95)

The test comes in practicing what we proclaim. The reality check comes when Christlike attributes need to become visible in our lives—as husband or wife, as father or mother, as son or daughter, in our friendships, in our employment, in our business, and in our recreation.

The Last Lecture

2008-07-29T21:24:00.000-07:00

If you get the chance, read this book. The author, Professor Randy Pausch, died last Friday of pancreatic cancer. I have been following his story since I watched his last lecture that he gave a year ago after he received his diagnosis of cancer and was given 3-6 months to live. This book takes from that lecture plus more that he wanted to leave for his 3 young children to be a sort of "message in the bottle" that would come ashore in time to help them know who he was.

Tonight, ABC had a special about him and his life and family. It was wonderful and he talked (taped in April) about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, especially our children (I really liked how he said to let your kids paint their rooms as they want to and not to worry about resale value), and of seizing every moment.

At times I was overcome listening to him express his love for his wife and knowing now that he is gone and she is left to raise those young children without him. That has always been one of those experiences I hope I never signed on for (as if we could choose what they will be!), I don't know if I would have the strength to bear it with such acceptance and grace as she has. At one point he told Diane Sawyer that Hollywood couldn't make a movie of his life because there is not a Hollywood actress pretty enough to play the part of his wife.

Click here to view his last lecture.

Dog Days of Summer

2008-07-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

The days are long and hot with plenty of coming and going around here. About this time every year I remember to pull out and read the following to help me remember to enjoy this age and stage because too soon it will be over. (Grab a kleenex, you will need one).

Precious Moments Slip By
By: Ann Cannon, Deseret News

You fold another blanket left in the middle of the floor after last night's TV watch-a-thon.

Wipe up a puddle of melted popsicle from the kitchen counter.

Answer the telephone at midnight because someone is calling for one of your kids.

Survey the skateboards and scooters and bikes and other wheeled objects strewn throughout the entryway.

Search (dripping wet) for a clean towel in the linen closet, then remember that one by one, day after day, they've all been left at the swimming pool.

Look at your youngest son and wonder when the last time was that he changed his shirt. Begin to wonder the same scary thing about his underwear.

Glance at the pile of Baseball weeklies by your favorite chair, stacked there in hope that you'll eventually read them and realize nobody (including you) has read anything except the back of a Cap'n Crunch cereal box since school ended.

Walk outside where you feel defeated, depleted, demoralized and done in by the heat.

And then the moment comes - like it always does - where you say to yourself that even though summer is by far your favorite season, it's time for it to end. You start looking forward to the things you won't have to do again until next year - pulling slivers out of tough bare feet, picking up junior high kids from friend's houses night after night, going to the grocery store a dozen times a day because food you thought you had in the fridge (surprise!) isn't there anymore. Swatting houseflies the size of hummingbirds in your kitchen.

Yes, you'll say to yourself the night before school starts, no more sleepovers in the middle of the week! Then you'll remember the scene in the novel "Open House" by Elizabeth Berg where a mother looks at her 11 year old son, wondering how she will break the news that his father has left them and remembering the days of innocence when he was small enough to sit in her lap.

"I don't hold Travis anymore," she says, "not to read to him, or for any other reason, either. I wish I'd known that the last time was going to be the last time. But of course that information would have been as painful as this moment."

Life is full of last times. If you sit on your porch tonight with the moon rising and the night air shot through with the scent of honeysuckle, just like it was those summer nights when you and your girlfriend Gigi slept in her grandmother's backyard, you can try to list them in your head.

The last night before you became your husband's wife.

The last haircut you gave your son before his light fine hair began to darken and turn coarse. The last time he asked you to play "Candyland" with him, and the last time he wasn't embarrassed to be seen eating hamburgers at Hires with you.

The last family vacation you all took to the beach before the oldest cousins began leaving for college.

The last conversation you had on a hot morning in Liberty Park with your girlfriend before learning about her husband's illness.

The last time you walked across a grassy field while the scent of the game that was just played there still lingered.

The last time you nursed your last baby.

Some of these things we prepare for. We take pictures. Write in journals. Mark their passing. Some of them we don't. They end so quietly we hardly notice them slip away until one day something happens and we are suddenly reminded of the thing we no longer have in our lives.

The trick, of course, is to notice. And to love it while it's there.

My goal for today was to deal with the growing piles of stuff on the kitchen counter, but not right now. Now I am off to enjoy a walk around the block with my youngest who wants to become more confident on her bike. I am glad she wants me to come along.

Waiting and Remembering

2008-07-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here waiting for the phone to ring and I can't believe that I just mindlessly ate a DING DONG! I don't even like them, but it was sitting there on the counter and with emotions flaring, I snarfed it down. I am waiting for the phone to ring, Lax boy to a hard hit to his head in a lacrosse game today and on top of the first hard hit on Saturday, he isn't doing well at this time. His counselor is taking him to the ER in Provo and I am waiting. Now I am feeling a bit sick to my stomach, that ding dong was not worth it and just thinking of what it is made of makes me feel worse.

I am sitting here remembering a small blond boy, always going somewhere fast, with the always present scab in the center of his forhead. Driving little trucks complete with sound effects, building tall towers out of blocks, swinging high in the backyard. Pockets full of the day's favorite treasures...

I finally hear from him and he ended up with a mild concussion and needs me to drive down to get him as he can't drive for 24 hours. I am glad to be needed, most of the time 17 year old boys don't really need their moms, except when they are hungry and that is almost always! So I guess I am needed a lot!

Girls Week

2008-07-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

This week is a first for me! Early Monday morning - 6:30 am - I said a cheerful good-bye to all my men and sent them off into the world for the week. Lax boy is at a lacrosse camp (lax=lacrosse in case you don't know that abbreviation), Ernie is at EFY and Tbone and Spice man are together at scout camp. Even better, the drive to scout camp at Bear Lake went right by USU, so the scouters dropped off Ernie and saved me a three hour round trip drive. Sweet and thank you guys! Just when I thought everyone was on their way, the phone rings and a man said that he had found two bags on the main street by our home... those scouter men had driven off with the tail gate down on the truck! I still am laughing at that.

Patch and I are home alone and enjoying ourselves. She told me yesterday "Mom, it is summer, you don't need to clean."

Don't I wish...

I have become slightly obsessed with organizing and gutting kids rooms, finding and washing every piece of dirty laundry in our home, and YES matching all those unmatched socks in a very big laundry basket!

Keep up if you can... still moving Ky out and getting stuff to her married life (watch out, I will be bringing a LOAD this weekend!), Patch is moving from her old room to Ky's bigger room, Tbone is moving out of his shared room to Patch's old room and Ernie is celebrating his own space, finally! Whew! I carted out 3 garbage bags of junk from Patch's room (well, 4 really, but she didn't see that last one... plus a big DI box of old treasures she no longer needs). I feel like I am moving out of this house as most of the accumulated stuff in our home is in those rooms! It is a BIG job, but this week I am up for the task.

I can say (and I don't think I can remember a time when I could say this with many children) that my laundry is completely done. WOW. I wish I had my camera (gone to scout camp) to document this occasion. Not only done, but also folded and put away!

In case you doubt, we are having fun together too! We got our hair cut on Monday and then I took Patch to get a little pedi and mani. FUN! Yesterday, we learned how to make friendship bracelets and played Patch's original game. This is her game... with your toes you have to pick up marbles out of a big bowl of water and drop them into a cup. We tied with 31 marbles each! Today is a picnic at the park and then off to Clairs with a friend to find a fun friendship necklace. Tomorrow, the library and a movie. Not sure when, but we also have on the calendar a High School Musical movie marathon!

Although the house is unusually quiet and stays picked up and I am able to read to my hearts content late at night, I will be glad to soon welcome home, dirty laundry and all, all my guys.

Raspberry Days!

2008-07-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

Look at the lovely raspberries that Ernie and I picked from our patch this evening! This is our first real raspberry season and it is very exciting for me as I don't have a very green thumb when it comes to growing things that can be eaten. Don't they look so sweet and tasty? It is only about 3 cups, but there is wonderful potential as these are the first "pickins" of the season. I am delighted to get this many away from the birds. I am anxiously awaiting apricots on our trees, maybe some apples (again, those birds!) and our grapes are looking very plentiful. My gardening trend for now is plant it once and reap the harvest for years to come. Mmm, maybe raspberry shakes for a late night treat tonight...

All Aboard!

2008-07-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a good friend of mine, Cami. She just entered the blogging world on July 5th. Mother of four and runner extraordinaire! One of the many things I like and admire about Cami is her weekly (without fail) dinner menus. She is such a pro of planning this. For me, I cycle in and out of having a firm plan on this evening ritual of eating. I am so glad you guys moved from Arizona.

Welcome!

2008-07-08T22:56:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to Bryn - a new friend in the neighborhood and a fellow blogger! Yeah! I am glad you moved in to our area and hope you soon feel that this neck of the woods is home. Bryn has a very sweet pineapple door knocker... in the South the pineapple is a sign of hospitality (did I get that right? It is late.).

Yawn...

2008-07-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

For me to be awake at this time of night (11:27 pm) you know that:

A. there must be a GOOD reason to need to be awake
B. there are teenagers in the house (or in this case, who need to come home to the house!)

I Love To See The Temple

2008-07-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

Patch, Tbone and I watched today as the statue of Angel Moroni was placed on the Draper Temple! I always assumed that this part was done towards the end, but maybe they are close to being finished on the outside. The grounds are being planted with trees and ground cover. It looks so beautiful even now with scaffolding around the top. When we got home we went on our deck and were glad to see the golden glow on the top of the temple.

Patch in front of the temple. They are building the fountain behind her.
Notice the little basket to the right of Angel Moroni. There were two men inside of it who were working on small details of the statue. I don't think I would care for that job!

Older = Cooler?

2008-07-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

This morning I dropped Ernie off for an intensely fun week at soccer camp. He was excited to go and play soccer 3 times a day. I waited for him to get all the dorm info and then drove him to his dorm for the week. I thought that would be that, BUT, he asked if I could carry his dress clothes (big dance on Thursday!) for him. Hmm, last year it was a quick goodbye at the car. This year, we walked in, found the correct room and I got a hug and "love you". Unexpected. Nice!

It is a funny cycle, this teenage life. When I think I understand the rules, the next one comes along and the rules change. But, maybe this is true. The older I get, the cooler I get. (I know, not really, but it sounds nice anyway.)
Glad I wasn't too embarrassing today, but all bets are off for tomorrow!

Dent Free No Longer

2008-07-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

Alas, my car is no longer dent free. Ernie was backing out the car to go to church today... and you know the rest of the story. All of a sudden I hear, "Dad, Ernie needs you"! Oh no, that didn't sound good. No one calls for Dad for ordinary run of the mill things, that is my job. Calling for dad is saved for the REAL emergencies. My front side met with Lax Boy's bumper and my car lost.

A few scratches on a car is not a big deal to me, but you have to know the rest of the story as to why we were taking a few private, hyperventilating breaths.

Once upon a time, there was a new car...

I had parked it in the driveway for a RS meeting. My counselor's husband backed out of his garage into the front side of my car (ouch - same side as the newest dents of today). Okay, not my fault, but in a car only 6 weeks from the dealer, not too fun.

Winter comes, and I go to Wal-Mart to shop. Someone side swipes the OTHER front side of my new car - bad enough that the door creaks when it is opened and closed. White paint on red, my husband was seeing red. What can you do? It was a hit and run in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Dear Spice man reminded me about defensive parking at the very back of the parking stalls. I know, I KNOW! Sometimes you just gotta get in and get out.

Fast forward to May. The dents didn't bother me, I KNEW I didn't cause them, but somehow they really got on Spice man's nerves. Something about washing the car, being spring, I don't know, but we decided to belly up and put the money down to get both sides fixed. When it was all said and done, my car looked good, looked new again. I was happy, Spice man was happier.

Until today. Oh dear. Another dent with scratches.

When I heard the news of what had happened, I took a breath and walked out into the garage. I watched my son, head bent over the bumper of his brother's truck slam down his hand on that bumper and shake his head back and forth. I knew he felt as bad as could be. Nothing I could say would make it any worse.

Then I remembered my dad.

I had just backed out my yellow rabbit from the garage and plowed into the green rain gutter on the side of the stairs going up to the front door. Green paint on yellow, some scratches in the paint of the car. I was crying. I was 14 (crazy Kansas driving!)... scary enough as that was. My dad just smiled and said "it's okay, it's only a car and you are okay".

So Ernie, it IS okay, it IS only a car and you are okay.

Keeping with the subject of dented cars...

I highly recommend the book "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. He initially gave this "last lecture" while a professor at Carnegie Mellon. The thoughts he expressed became so popular that he appeared on Oprah and in the Parade magazine. If you don't know, this man is dying from pancreatic cancer and has written this book to help his 3 young children remember him. There is a chapter (the chapters are small - 18) in it where he talks about the time his wife crashed one of their cars into the other one. She was worried about what his reaction would be. After he didn't get upset, she promised to get estimates for the repairs. This is his response.

"I told her that wasn't necessary. The dents would be OK. My parents raised me to recognize that automobiles are there to get you from point A to point B. They are utilitarian devices, not expressions of social status. And so I told Jai (his wife) we didn't need to do cosmetic repairs. We'd just lived with the dents and gashes."

She was somewhat shocked at this explanation. He goes on to say,

"Well, you can't have just some of me, Jai. You appreciate the part of me that didn't get angry because two 'things' we own got hurt. But the flip side of that is my belief that you don't repair things if they still do what they're supposed to do. The cars still work. Let's just drive 'em.

Okay, maybe this makes me quirky. But if your trashcan or wheelbarrow has a dent in it, you don't buy a new one. Maybe that's because we don't use trashcans and wheelbarrows to communicate our social status or identity to others. For Jai and me, our dented cars became a statement in our marriage. Not everything needs to be fixed."

Interesting thoughts. I hope that Ernie understands a car is just a thing. It still runs and not everything needs to be fixed (again). Now if I can convince my husband...

Newlywed blog

2008-07-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

Ky and EJ have their very own blog! Congrats and sorry if I bugged you too much about getting around to it. Think how fun to be able to keep track of your life together as it unfolds each week. Memories of things like having no AC and dates on the married student budget will be priceless in years to come. Love you both, still miss you tons.

Welcome and spread the word to the other fam - get on board.

Lavender Days

2008-06-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

I love this flower garden! Everything in it (except for the lavender) started from randomly cast seeds.

Daisies in our yard - these starts came from my grandma's yard, I love them! This is my favorite lavender, it grows next to my lilac bush off of my back porch. It is a beautiful place.
My raspberry patch - it is getting a bit wild. I didn't get it cleaned up this spring (wedding), so it is more "a la naturel"!
The grape arbor - don't pay attention to those weeds, that is our project this coming week. I have visions of a little stone patio with a bench someday with grapes hanging down from the top...

More lavender...
Love my roses and snap dragons, those snap dragons reseed themselves each year to look better and better.

Another view of my favorite flower bed, isn't it pretty? It makes me happy each time I come up the driveway.
Yes, more lavender!

I could have my own lavender days!

AND...

I didn't know that Utah had their own Lavender Days! It was this weekend (I will plan better for this next year) in Mona, Utah. They have 140 acres of lavender with classes, demonstrations, yummy things to eat made with lavender, even a 5K race through the lavender - that makes it almost doable.
Lavender is one thing that I can grow well because there is not a lot that I have to do to have it turn out big and beautiful. I have the perfect conditions, hot, dry sandy soil!
My yard is in full bloom and it smells GOOD!

That 6th grade country report!

2008-06-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

He did it! I was lucky enough to be able to help with the final touches. T really appreciated my help because he said the he really owed me for my help, even offering to clean out the cat box - WOW! Tbone did a great job getting the information together to give his oral report in Mrs. Rose's class. He was excited to learn all about Spain and he learned (we have no connection to the country, haven't traveled there, no missions, no family traveling there). This report was somewhat stressful as it began before we left on vacation and then he needed to come home to complete it. Thanks to Tbone's Aunt Amy for letting us use her cricuit paper cutter - very cool little machine to make the lettering for the tri fold.
Part of the report requires the student to have some type of food from the country for the class to sample. What foods do you think of when you think of Spain? Exactly. Nothing really leaped out at me except maybe churros from Costco! So, being somewhat creative, we decided on a dessert dish called flan. On the early morning of the report day(6:00 am) I got up and made flan for the class. It turned out really well (it is a favorite of mine) and Tbone said that he liked it too. We should've pulled for an Asian country, the report before T's had a big rice cooker full of rice for the kids to eat.
T bone learned about the biggest food fight in the world that takes place in Spain, more about Christopher Columbus and their interesting history of government. As recent as 1975 the country of Spain finally shed a dictatorship of 40 years. Very interesting stuff. He liked learning that in Spain they celebrate the END of Christmas - with gifts. Four of the five kids have completed this intense project! China, Israel, France and Spain... I wonder what country Patch will choose? Egypt is a current favorite of hers (and sorry Patch, we are NOT going on a family vacation there to see the pyramids).

Newlywed home

2008-06-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

I drove up to Logan yesterday to deliver a small load of Ky's things. It was fun to see their apartment all arranged for their new life together. We bought some flowers and planted the pots that are attached to the front stairway. It looks very welcoming and a huge improvement from the dead weeds that were previously growing in them. Their apartment is one of 4 that are in this old home. It reminds me of my grandma's home - the glass door knobs, the old glass in the kitchen cupboards, the very tiny bathroom. It is hot though, no AC. The previous owners painted everything (literally) so their job now is to use razor blades to cut through the paint around the windows so they will open... they need a breeze in there! Last night they were sucessful in getting one of the front windows opened!
We loaded up 10 cans of leftover paint (gift from the departed renters) and located the landfill where they take paint to recycle. This opened up a nice size closet to organize things into. We had to keep taking a "fan break" since there wasn't any air circulating in the back part of the apartment. Finally, we were done and went out to lunch in a nice, air conditioned restaurant.
It was nice to spend time with Ky and later with EJ when he came home from his very long job interview.

Ky and EJ on the front porch of their apartment. Their apartment is the one to the right in the picture. (Cute flower pots!)
I loved the picture of them above their stove - very much in love!
Notice the paint - their apartment is very colorful. You are looking from the living room to the bathroom door - there is not a door for privacy so they bought curtains for the front windows!
Cute little kitchen!
This is where the kitchen table will go - not a great picture - but I love the arch that separates the kitchen for the eating area. I also love the big window they can look out of while they eat.

Casa Seville Remembered...

2008-06-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

Last night Spice man and I went out for dinner with Patch and T-bone. As I was helping the kids clear their food into the garbage, a man called out to me. He said our last name from Casa Seville. I probably had my mouth wide open, I haven't heard that name in 21 years. Casa Seville was the small apartment builing that we lived in close to Trolley Square after we were married! I apologized to him and said that I did not recognize him. I got Spice man (he was outside getting the car) to come inside to meet him. Turns out, he was the apartment manager while we lived there. I had NO recollection of him, but Spice man remembered well. They played racquetball together and basketball. Sadly, he has been divorced from his wife for 12 years. Kindly, he said that I hadn't changed at all (ha), but he didn't recognize Spice man right off.

Just a funny little ripple of life passing through a Greek restaurant on a warm summer night.

Holden Beach!

2008-06-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

The board walk from our house to the beach... just a hop, skip and jump

over a crab hole or two to the beach!

The newly weds!

Yes, we brought the lacrosse sticks to the beach!

The annual shell contest sponsered by Grandma and Grandpa!

Beautiful endless beach.

Holden Beach is a sea turtle sanctuary, this nest was on the beach next to our beach house - there are 120 eggs in the nest and in 50-60 days a bunch of baby turtles!!

Sunset at the beach

The kids - this may be the Christmas card photo

The newly weds, again! They are just fun to photograph.

Sisters are the best!

We enjoyed another great week at Holden Beach, NC. Pictures ARE worth a thousand words. I never get tired of taking the same pictures each year. It is hard to believe that this was our 14th year going to NC. I love that we have this as a family tradition and that our kids have memories of time together when it is just us, nothing else intruding. I love the familiarity of "going to the beach". Knowing that I will always make chicken enchiladas, that we will play mad games of scrabble, if we are lucky find a sand dollar or two, eat ice cream at Scoops, eat shrimp at Provisions, stay up way too late and sleep in like I haven't done since college days.

Life is GOOD at the beach.

Patch smiling on the boardwalk. Notice the morning glory type of flowers

that bloom in sand. I loved seeing those flowers each day.

Cousins lookin at me!

Home sweet home for the week.

Something interesting going on below deck...

See you next year!

Life's Big Changes

2008-06-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

Why is it so hard to pack up and put away my daughter's (now married one month) room? It was her room for 10 years - we moved into our home on her 10th birthday. Where did that time go to? It was always her room even when she went to college, ready for her anytime she wanted to come home for a weekend visit. Packing up her things was always to be a joint effort but the time was never right to do too much of it before the wedding. I thought today would be a good day to begin. We have been home from vacation for two days, so I am still in the 3 day post vacation days where I don't have to get dressed and do anything too substantial for anyone. I began to sort through things on her nightstand. Little slips of paper with her oh so familiar lists of things to do, her numerous personally burned CD's, samples of lotions and perfumes, loose change, her ticket stub to Wicked in NYC. Her favorite books are on the shelf above her bed and her headboard is a mural of pictures and words from her high school life. I flipped on her CD player to listen to some music and moved to folding the random clothes that had been left on the floor, those hoodies and jackets that aren't necessary yet in her newly married life. My mistake was to take put one of her jacket's to my face and inhale her smell. I sat and cried (no, bawled is a better description here) because I miss her like crazy. I miss that she doesn't know all the funny little things that we are laughing about in the family, who said what, the insider jokes. Am I crazy? Is this normal? I know all the good reasons for her leaving, a great guy, it is what is supposed to happen, but today those things just don't matter.

I made chocolate chip cookies for dinner and the kids are happy and wondering if I am for real. What a day. Maybe I will try again tomorrow, I still have one more day until real life begins again.

DMV, oh my

2008-06-03T19:33:00.000-07:00

Ernie and I spent 3 hours (really) at the DMV today. It was out of control. I didn't think it would be that long - our section number was D381. When we arrived it was D360. I am still kind of numb and brain dead - I left the house with everything I needed for everyone else and did NOT have a book to read. Spice man cleaned out my car and snatched my reading material that I tuck down between my seat and the middle console. Yikes! It was total mind numbing boredom with lots of people coughing and sneezing, not so good. With all the waiting time, Ernie was able to keep reading and rereading the driving manual and he passed the test. That was GOOD NEWS because I do not know how soon I could bring myself back there. I let him drive home from my sister's house in Draper. I feel bad for my kids, I am just a nervous mother when my kids drive, I try not to be, but that is how it is. I envision the worst and then worry, worry, worry while they drive. It is just too stressful all the way around. Good for Ernie day, not so good for me day, but I guess I got good mom points or something. Dinner didn't happen, Wendy's did for the family (sorry guys).

So glad we are going on vacation to the beach on Friday... I can not wait! A terrific house on the beach... fresh shrimp for dinner on Saturday... and I will NOT forget my books to read on the beach.

2008-05-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

Another year end marker... Patch's dance recital.

Glad she loves to dance and glad we have a summer break!

Banana Cake with Caramel Icing

2008-05-25T18:37:00.001-07:00

My mom has been in town and as is our family habit, we like to discuss recipes. I don't know why we do this, but I can remember her doing it with her mother and her sisters still do it when they get together, I do it with my sisters - it is in our blood. The Call Family cookbook invaribly comes out and she gets out her pen to star the really good recipes. We also looked through the current Rachel Ray magazine - Yum-o!
I still have left over blackening bananas from making banana bread so I ventured into making my Grandma Call's banana cake with caramel icing. Okay, this is very good and very, very sweet. You need this one. It is very similar to my friend Pedaling's recipe (click on her blog and look under recipes, there are a lot of good ones there) and now I know why it is their family favorite.

Banana Cake
Grandma Call's recipe

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup mashed banana's (3)
1 cup nuts (optional)
2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla, eggs and bananas. Add flour, salt, baking powder and milk. Add nuts. Spray 9x13 pan with pam. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and frost.

Quick Caramel Icing
Grandma Call's recipe

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter and add brown sugar. Boil for 2 minutes. Add milk and bring to a boil again. Take off of heat and cool. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat well.

I STILL have 5 blackened bananas but they must go into the freezer. This splurge of treat cooking is not good for me.

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

2008-05-25T18:14:00.000-07:00

My guys holding the catch of the day

Lax Boy and Spice Man (ha ha, I need a nickname for my one and only... spice girls, spice man, too similar? Well, it is part of his business name... we'll see what he thinks!) have returned from Alaska loaded with fish of all kinds. They took off the day after the wedding (note to self in future, not a good idea) to go hunting and gathering and work on their man skills.
There is a very nice assortment of salmon, sea bass, halibut, rock fish and red snapper in the garage freezer. So, if you are ever nearby, Monday is fish night at our house and the freezer is always open as it will be restocked in September.
Even though it was a bit rough handling all the after wedding stuff, I was really wiped out physically and emotionally, I did manage some R&R for myself while they were gone. I think I took 3 naps, read 2 books, caught up on my laundry (not R&R, but an evil necessity of life) AND lost 3 lbs! Not too bad.

Did You Know?

2008-05-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

If you ever get those very noticeable white deodorant marks on your shirt, you can use nylons to rub out the deodorant stain? It really works. Thanks to Ky for this tip! This saved my black shirt yesterday.

Banana Bread Baking Day

2008-05-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a cold, rainy day and over ripe bananas, I had to make a good friend's very yummy banana bread. This is a great recipe.

Sheila's Banana Bread
ingredients:

2 cups mashed bananas (about 4-5)

2 cups sour cream

1/2 softened butter - not melted, just a little softened

2 & 2/3 cup white sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

4 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. If you have a convection setting, use that at 375 degrees

Spray 2 nice size loaf pans with Pam and then grease with Shortening, as well.

Combine banana and sour cream. Set aside. in a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar til smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and banana mixture. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; stir in the banana mixture. spread the batter evenly into the prepared pans.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven. or til a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. I like to get the top nice and crusty ensuring that the center is cooked through. You will find that the sour cream in this recipe makes this the most delicious and moist banana bread you've ever had. Also, if your family will go along with it- walnuts would be wonderful added in. My kids think that they don't like nuts. It's fabulous either way!

* I sprinkled a little bit of cinnamon on the top... I love cinnamon!

The Wedding Video!

2008-05-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Click here
to view Ky and EJ's wedding video!

This was so fun to see at the reception. I thought that I have seen Ky happy before, but I was so in awe of the love, joy and complete happiness on her face. That was so wonderful to see.

You can also scroll down the Giant Brothers page and see their date video which is also fun to watch. I can't wait to hear what their kids say about it in 20 years...

Be happy you two!

The Power of Faith

2008-05-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

"It is soul-satisfying to know that God is at the helm, that He is mindful of His children, and that we can with full confidence place our trust in Him."
President Ezra Taft Benson

This one sentence has given much comfort to me as three good people in our ward have just recently be diagosed with some difficult health problems. Even when I don't understand the why, I have complete trust in my Heavenly Father and his plan.

"Faith gives us vision of what may happen, hope for the future, and optimism in our present tasks."
President Ezra Taft Benson

Today, I am grateful for my knowledge that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ.

Another sister-in-law blogs!

2008-05-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Hi Kori! Welcome to the blogging world. I am hoping that my family will slowly, but surely convert to the whole blogging thing... come on guys!

They have only just begun...

2008-05-17T16:19:00.001-07:00

What a completely wonderful day for Ky and EJ. There was literally not a cloud in the sky as the day began...
I especially loved the quiet time that she and I had together as she was getting ready in the temple. It was very peaceful and tender. For me, my emotions of the day were so close that the tears were frequent. Everything that I have felt and do feel for her as my beautiful, grown up daughter was filling up and overflowing from my heart. Looking at her as her eyes filled too; I felt our mother/daughter bond strengthen. I am looking forward now to the new adventure of having a married daughter and the friendship that will continue. This time was something that I will always remember and treasure.
The sealing was beautiful. So tender for them and so spiritual. I felt humbled and so full of gratitude. I loved seeing EJ's eyes glisten with tears and watch his hand tremble as he reached to hold Ky's. It is so wonderful to see how much he cherishes her. I find so much happiness watching how he demonstrates his love for her by the tender way he treats her.
The reception was everything we wanted. The flowers, the room, the music, the food, the wonderful people who came - it could not get any better than it was. I am excited to see the wedding video again. It will be on the videographer's blog next week so I will post the link. I am happy too that the wedding pictures will be available for all to check out next Friday. Even EJ's missionary Grandma in Spain will be able to see them!
Thanks to all of you who came and supported Ky and EJ and our family. It was so fun to see so many good friends and renew those friendships.

Chocolate Paradise

2008-05-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

This was my kitchen table the night before Ky's wedding! Thanks to friends who tied beautiful ribbon bows on 400 boxes of chocolates!

The Bountiful Temple

2008-05-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

The happy couple outside the temple

Saturday evening we were able to take Kylea to the Bountiful Temple. What a wonderful experience for her and for DH and I. I enjoyed the quiet one on one time we had together where we could sit and visit about things that were on her mind. The temple workers were wonderful, so kind and considerate of Kylea. Unknowingly, my aunt and uncle were working at the temple that evening, so that was an extra bonus on the day.
Looking back from the perspective of this day, everything has been worth it, even those hard struggling times when you weren't sure if you were causing more damage to your children than good. Things I thought used to matter don't really matter any more. What matters to me is my family and how I can express my love to them by how I act and serve. It's all about family and how we treat this gift we have been given. I am grateful for my belief in the eternal blessings that come through temple marriages and that families can be together forever.

Sick on Mother's Day

2008-05-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

I spent Mother's day in bed with a head cold - yuck. I have not been sick for so long, I can't remember when the last time was. Of course, less than a week to the wedding and I have a runny nose, stuffy head, sore throat. I am a mess.
DH bought me a beautiful corsage to wear for mother's day. It is my favorite, a white gardenia and smelled heavenly. This is a sweet reminder of our wedding day as I had gardenia's in my wedding bouquet. Being sick, I kept the corsage on the night stand so I could reach over and sniff it through out the day.
Mother's day this year is also the same day as Patch's 9th birthday! It was a good although sniffley day.

Wedding Weather

2008-05-10T08:02:00.000-07:00

Last night at 10:00 pm (after the most exciting Jazz game) I was squished down in my bed with a nervously beating heart, waiting, waiting for that weather report...hooray! According to KSL, May 16th will be sunny and 78 degrees. A perfect day for a spring wedding! That was the last detail that I needed to find out. We are ready and set to go next Friday.
I do still need a pair of shoes, but Ky and I are going shoe shopping Monday at DSW shoes. I have heard it is a fun place with rows and rows of shoes!! My kind of heaven.

Pearl Has Passed

2008-05-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

With heavy hearts we report that early in the morning of May 6th, Pearl the hamster passed away. She was dearly loved by a sweet little girl who treated her as her best animal friend. Pearl came to our home as a result of a kind Primary teacher who needed to find a home for her. Although tiny, she was just like 4 cotton balls stuck together, she gave love and friendship to Patch who loved her completely from the first day. We had come to accept and like that little critter because of our love for Patch. We will miss seeing her sleeping in her little pear house and enjoying strawberries and apple slices. Pearl was gentle and loved being held by Patch and her friends. Pearl is survived by Grandma Cola, her hamster friend in the cage that was next to hers.
Pearl will be laid to rest tonight during a private family service at the Clegg Pet Cemetery. She will rest next to Oreo the bunny.

Alta/Jordan Rivalry!

2008-05-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

Lax Boy playing Lacrosse

The newest keeper at Jordan

With Ernie's big decision to attend another high school next year, we now have a BIG in family rivalry going on. Luckily, Ernie can take the heat that his two brothers LOVE to dish out all the time. Ernie got a keeper spot on the JV team - go Beetdiggers - and has loved every second of everything. He is the low man on the totem pole as far as keepers, but with a graduating senior and two juniors, his time will come. They will have the chance to go to the state playoffs and see if Jordan can take state again this year. A BIG shoutout to him for trying out with his Euphonium (it looks like a small tuba) and making the wind ensemble group.
Lax Boy is heading with his team to state playoffs in lacrosse next week. It will be an exciting time to see if they can take state again this year. He has loved playing middie this season. I have loved watching him want to make some changes with how he looks - now he goes to the gym, eats healthy and has reached his goal to add 10 lbs. A BIG shoutout to him for being accepted to the Jordan Applied Technical Center in the InformationTechnology/Management Training Program for next year. They only took 50 kids of the 125 who applied. I am happy that he will have this great hands on experience. He will still go to HS for the morning and then leave each day for two hours in this training program. This will be a great fit for Lax Boy, sitting in the traditional classroom has never been easy for him. He will have great hands on experiences with a opporutnity to actually go into a business of his choice and learn in the "real world". This program also has the added benefit of of receiving 15 college credits. I love the concurrent enrollment program!

GO HAWKS! GO BEETDIGGERS!

Happy 20th Birthday Ky! 4.23.2008

2008-04-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

I am two days late with this post - the crazy internet was down.

Happy Birthday Ky - you are out of teenville for good! Hooray!
Twenty things about Ky -
1. My smallest baby at 6 lbs 11 oz and 19 inches long. Tiny.
2. Love your thick brown hair. Tried to love it when in 3rd grade you were determined to grow out your bangs...
3. You were never a pink girl, I had to stop buying that color by 3rd grade.
4. You have always loved school.
5. You want to become a teacher.
6. Hooray for the acceptance from the university into the education department. Next fall you are on your way to becoming Mrs. J, 4th grade teacher!
7. Love how you love your brothers and sister. Your patience is endless with them.
8. Love how you call to just talk about whatever - even that crazy mechanic looking at EJ's car, I am still laughing about that one now.
9. When you are sick the only thing that will do is Chicken and Stars AND Sleepless in Seattle. (You can keep my copy).
10. So much fun at all the Sephora's we could find in NY!
11. Seeing Wicked with you.
12. You have learned the fine art of housekeeping (or apartment keeping) and you do a pretty good job.
13. Working discounts at Gap, Old Navy - thanks for sharing!
14. Room service for Diet Coke's and cheese cake. (Sorry DH... we were tired!)
15. So happy you have found your prince - you weren't even looking. Remember when you were little you would sing "Someday my prince will come, chewing grape bubblegum!"?
16. So glad he is a Utah boy (at least for the next 2 years).
17. NOW you will have a middle name, KCJ!
18. Your strong testimony of the gospel. It is so wonderful to see you stand on your own gospel feet.
19. Loved seeing that very special temple recommend last Sunday in your hand - you ARE ready.
20. Glad we are family and glad we are friends.

Where did time go? I never planned on the leaving part of raising kids and this has come too quickly for my mother heart. I may cry in the days to come, just know that they are tears of wonderment and joy because of who you are and the new life and experiences that will soon be yours and EJ's Some of those tears will be from the pain of that final cut of those tightly wrapped apron strings. Thanks for being the first, the example to the other siblings and the light of mine and Dad's life. LOVE YOU.

The Eagle Has Landed!

2008-04-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

The eagle has landed is DH's phrase for getting something important finally done. It was very approriate to use this week as we had a small animal crisis! Pearl, the miniture hamster was on the lam. Again! Not only was this bad, but we have a kitten named Licorice who loves to play with anything that moves... see where we are going with this? DH was out of town during all the high drama and I was nervous I would find and have to deal with a small white mass of hamster guts - yuck. Tuesday night, Patch said Mom we need to pray for Pearl. So, in her very innocent and believing way she prayed that Pearl would be okay and that please could we find her before Licorice? Patch set up the peanut butter trap (seriously, this one works! We have used it when Pearl was loose before...) in my room as she was sleeping with me. The cat was sleeping on the bed and all was kind of well.
I startled to immediate waking mode around 3:30 am when something alerted me that all was not well. The cat was missing from the bed and I could hear her running around in the kitchen. Not good. Looking around the corner, I was very glad to see there was nothing white hanging from Licorice's mouth, but realized that the rodent must be in the pantry as the cat was going CRAZY to get in there with her little paws. I do not do rodents, don't touch them, nothing. So (sorry again for this!) I woke Patch up to help capture Pearl. The cat got locked in my room and she was MAD and letting us know it. Patch opens the pantry door and there is Pearl, just sitting there. She scooped her up with a happy "Hello Pearl, there you are, you little sweet Pearl!" I just had to laugh AND text the family right then as they all knew the drama of little missing Pearl...
THE EAGLE AKA PEARL HAS LANDED IN HER CAGE! (Sorry LAX Boy, didn't know you keep your phone on and so close to you in the middle of the night. Haha.)

I wanted to include a picture of Pearl but Patch is wary of any picture of her hamsters, (yes, plural) as they might die from being startled by the flash. This happened on a very funny Drake and Josh episode...

We've been DOWN

2008-04-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Whew! The internet was down for a couple of days and I felt like that guy on the Today show awhile ago who actually broke down and cried on national TV because he could not go 1 WEEK without his electronic hookups - cell phone, computer, etc. I didn't cry but I bugged the family, so sorry guys!

A Life Lesson Learned

2008-04-23T08:40:00.001-07:00

I just don't get why people turn so mean and ugly at sporting events. Why do parents think it is okay to lose control? What kind of example is that? I wonder why the refs even want to keep doing their job - the pay isn't that great to take the constant emotional throwup they get game after game.
I sat through Ernie's soccer game last night and watched these parents just go at it. There is no use in losing control, bad calls happen on both sides. Kids, and parents, need to learn to just keep playing.

We were disappointed when after a recent lose, Ernie's team shook hands with the other team and then left the field without acknowledging the referee's. No hand shakes, no thanks. There is a life lesson that isn't being taught. DH talked with Ernie about how important it is to always thank people, not just referee's, for their efforts. Last night I watched my son quietly find both the referee's and shake their hands. I was proud of him. He learned something important.

Allowing Time for Change

2008-04-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

Early this morning I found myself in the back parking lot of the Jordan River Temple waiting for two of my boys who had gone to do baptisms. Ernie wanted to take TT for his first time and I thought that was a wonderful idea. With my DH out of town, I loaded Patch (we are off track) into the back of the car at 6:30 am with the boys and off we went. I parked in the way back so no one would wonder why I was just sitting there in my big comfy sweat shirt and pajama pants... Patch slept and I was able to read some uplifting words from Virginia Hinckley Pearce. These are her words and they really hit home to my heart this morning. I love tulips and am excitedly waiting for my lilac bush to bloom soon. Don't we all want to be the non-stop flowering wonder, ha ha!
"I stepped out into the backyard last night just as evening began to settle. I was just doing some taking and getting, turning off and closing down, when quite suddenly I inhaled. The scent of lilacs filled my whole body and hung almost visibly in the air. Everything seemed to gather around me, and I couldn't bear to go back into the house. Walking slowly around the yard, from garden to garden, bush to bush, tree to tree - I looked, felt, touched.
At first there was that quiet kind of reverence and then gradually I started gathering up sticks, tidying up and snapping off. I got a sack and a pair of scissors and started after the tulips that had been so breathtaking only a week before. Tut, tut. Here they were en masse, right in the front yard, stems pointing naked stamens into the air without their beautiful petal dresses. And next thing you know, they will have all of those yellowing leaves! What to do! Aha. I've seen those gardeners who carefully fold tulip leaves over and fasten them with a rubber band. That way, they can be allowed to send the nutrients back down to the bulb and yet passersby aren't offended by their less than spectacular state of being, and gardeners, in turn, can have a continuousely splendid looking garden.
I was just considering this tedious solution to my in-between garden, when I was overwhelmed with nature's metaphor. Nature doesn't work with on-off switches, or at continuously high RPMs. nature is organic. It cycles, it flows. There is an ebb for every tide, a time of retreat and gathering of strength for every time of flowering. This continuous ebb and flow is vital in order to renew the energy required for a continuing cycyle of life. And when it is interrupted, when the leaves are cut before they can become unsightly, the process is short-circuited. The bulb weakens and cannot produce the next season.
I sat down on the grass. Here was something for me. I have trouble with accepting the need for downtime. I want to be a continous switch, a peak producer with no valleys. I want relationships that get better continuously; I want to make cintinuous improvement myself with no temporary backsliding. I want to be able to jump up the minute after I am kicked in the stomach. I just don't want to allow time to recover and take in strength. I want to be a non-stop flowering wonder. And I want every one else to be the same. No waiting around, no retreating, no fallow non-productive times...
We want spiritual maturity, now. We want to be able to forgive immediately, to be submissive without a struggle, to understand without having to quietly study, ponder and live.
I looked at the tulips. And then I looked at myself and this world. It doesn't make any sense. What are we thinking? Instant and relentless isn't the way of eternity.
I've always wondered about the phrase "long-suffering." At first glance it seems to indicate that that being miserable for a long period of time is some kind of virtue to seek after. I don't think so! Then what could it mean? Perhaps "suffering" in this phrase could be interpreted to mean "allowing" as in "suffer the little chidren." Perhaps the Lord sees "allowing time, and allowing a long time" as a sorely needed virtue.
Could we allow time for our children to learn the lessons of life? Could we allow ourselves time to recover from periods of difficulty - time to grieve, time to heal, time to gather strength? Could we allow...individuals time to change and grow; relationships time to change and grow?
I looked at the tulip leaves again, beginning to yellow and wilt, and saw them differently. I can respectfully allow them some time. In fact, I can celebrate while I wait with them. My garden will gently call to those who walk by, "Pardon us, but good things are happening. We are gathering nourishment and preparing quietly for more glory."

Allowing time for things to happen sounds wonderful to me.

Driving home, with a stop to McDonalds, and a stop to the middle school to drop Ernie off, I enjoyed listening to TT's 12 year old words describe the beauty of the temple to his younger sister. This is a good day. I am glad I allowed for this time to happen with my kids.

The bridal portrait bouquet

2008-04-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

Ky had her bridal portraits last Saturday. This was the ultimate dress up day! Hair, makeup, dress! Here is a picture of the bouquet that was used in her pictures. Isn't it so elegant? I love it! It is a mini of what her real wedding bouquet will be. There are white/green hydrangeas, sweet peas, green and white varigated tulips (Love These!), creamy white roses and white ranunculus (they opened to a soft yellow center). Everything was tuxedo wrapped together in a cream satin ribbon. Ky wore her grandma's pearl bracelet. They have a wonderfully close relationship and it was so generous of her to loan this to Ky.
MOST of the planning is over and the fun is really beginning now with pictures and showers. I am ready to just be able to show up and enjoy the party!

My Zen Garden Is the Catbox!

2008-04-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

You know how we get caught up in life and it just runs away with us? I read all these articles about “keeping it simple” and making our life’s more fulfilling and wondered to myself do we ever reach that point where life is simple? Who defines what simple is? Maybe for some, keeping it simple is living life in the moment. Concentrating on what is happening right now. I find myself thinking ahead and not always enjoying the moment. I need to remember to breathe and find joy in the moment I am in. (Note to self: It is TT's last off track time for 6th grade, I need to enjoy these 2 weeks with him. Need to make a double batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and have it for lunch with him!)

This year, instead of New Year's resolutions, I am going to set goals and evaluate where I am in life during my birthday month. Kind of unusual? Maybe, maybe not. I was reflecting on where I am and where I would like to see myself and making the two a reality. That is when I realized that for me, my zen garden is the cat box. The daily repetition of things, both the "have to do" and "love to do" things, that keep me grounded. It isn’t so bad. I have good friends, a family I love, I live in a beautiful state.
Overall not a bad place to be!

Driving, Driving, Driving Day

2008-04-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those days! Driving here and there all day long.
8:10 - left to get someone, she wasn't there...
8:35 - got home to get the call to come and get her, she was there now. (why did I leave the cell phone home?)
10:00 - leave for 10:30 appointment
11:30 - coming home, passed the house where the RS luncheon was starting, FORGOT about this, to go or not to go, make a FAST fruit salad and GO socialize. Had some good key lime pie and it is easy to make.
1:00 - promised Baby (who we will now call Patch - doesn't like Baby name) to take her for some off track crafty things at Michaels and to check out Bday places.
2:00 - home again, drop off Patch, leave to pick up Ernie from school for soccer practice at another school.
3:15 - get home, give someone a ride to where they need to be. Have to buy a bucket of Lacrosse balls - DH forgot that one yesterday.
4:00 - soccer finished early, didn't get the text that there was NO PRACTICE today.
4:30 - drop off lacrosse balls to practice.
5:00 - home, dinner? No way. Pizza night. DH and I are going to Market Street for a late Bday date. Plus, I have my bday coupon! (I know, a coupon to Market Street? Yes, for a free dinner.)
I am hoping to have enough energy to have pleasant adult conversation and not fall asleep on the way there.

Forgot to mention that I received a call to fill a position (Membership VP) on the Jordan High PTSA board for next year - Hmmmm. The only thing I know about Jordan High Beetdiggers is where to find the bathroom off of the main entrance! Who even knows that I have a kid going there next year??!

Don't you love these kind of days? SOMEday I will miss them.

Happy Birthday EJ

2008-04-15T18:25:00.001-07:00

A BIG happy birthday to our soon to be son-in-law EJ! He turned 22 today. Nice to have something else to celebrate today besides tax day. We are all happy to welcome him into the family. Do you ever wonder about those someday spouses that will join the family? Will they fit? Will you like them? Tolerate them? I have always hoped that as the kids got to this step that "the one and only" would fit, like a puzzle piece. Happily, EJ fits just fine into the family. He loves Ky like crazy and treats her so wonderfully. He says he was on the 5 year post mission plan, finish school before marriage... until he met his room mate's friends and borrowed their oil to make brownies... returned the oil...and got a date!
He has great goals for his life, served an honorable mission in the big state of Texas and has a strong foundation in the gospel. We enjoy his humor, he has told SOME (probably not all!) great stories from his teenage years and even mission that have kept us laughing for a while. He can hold his own with three active soon to be brothers-in-law. They keep wondering when it will be okay to finally wrestle him down to the ground?!
Happy day EJ. I am glad to call you son-in-law.

5 random things about me

2008-04-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friend Pedaling I have been tagged. Here goes...
1. Much to the frustration of my family, I leave the pizza out overnight! Not that I eat it cold in the morning, but the possibility exists! Leftover pizza on the counter was my experience growing up and I didn't die.
2. I love all things scented lavender! Lotions, lip balm, oils, linen spray, laundry soap and even cleaning products. I love lavender! One of my fav websites to visit is on the sidebar, Purple Haze Lavender. Someday I will make it to their lavender festival...
3. Is reading cookbooks considered a hobby? Cookbooks and cooking magazines are a favorite read for me. Love the pictures - the food always looks so wonderful! I have been known to by a magazine just for the amazing picture on the front of some incredible dessert. Sometimes I try these recipes, but mostly I just enjoy reading them...
4. I can play and enjoy listening to the same song for the whole day. This drives my family crazy! Sorry guys and gals, but I love this and I love the repeat button on itunes and my ipod.
5. Okay, I will admit that I own the first season to Magnum PI. Tom Selleck was so fine back in the day...

I am stopping at five because it is late and I have back to back church meetings in the morning before the regular block of meetings. Busy day, but a good one.

Today was Ky's bridal pictures. The weather was beautiful and she looked wonderful. I will go more into detail on the next post!

Tea at the Grand - How Lovely!

2008-04-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we were able to celebrate the final fit for Ky's wedding dress! HOORAY! It is SO beautiful and she looks SO beautiful in it. In the spirit of such celebration, we took ourselves, the important women in Ky's life, to the Grand America for high tea. Lovely, just lovely! If you have never done this with your close sister friends, I highly recommend it. We visited, sipped herbal tea and hot chocolate, enjoyed yummy and very fussy sandwiches by fireside with the beautiful sounds of a harp nearby. Don't worry that we didn't have enough to eat... the dessert cart came by after everything else with wonderful things to sample. Delicious! After 1 1/2 hours we left comfortably relaxed and ready to continue on with wedding plans. Go there!

The cat on CATnip!

2008-04-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

I took a sack lunch to TT today at school and was gone for no longer than 10 minutes... enough time for the cat to get on the counter and seize a FULL bag of catnip! When I came home she was fighting and clawing the bag. I was able to follow her path by the dried green trail through our living room. (Notice that her fur is covered in the stuff - she really had a great 10 minutes!) I think she is on a CATnip high!! I picked her up, took her outside and dusted her off so she can chill out. I left the evidence for Baby to see when she comes home from school. It was great to have such a spontaneous laugh today. I needed it!

2008-04-01T11:26:00.001-07:00

Finally, I have arrived to the blogging world! Please stay tuned... this blog will need a lot of refinement as I have time here and there to get to it. The title of my blog tells it like it is - Holden On. I find that each day I need to hold on to what matters most. It is also a play on words with Holden. Holden Beach and other near by beaches have been our family favorite retreat each year for 15 years in North Carolina. The cares and worries and demands of life are left as we go to relax and enjoy our family on a beautiful stretch of beach.

Happy Birthday to me today!

One of my boys was concerned that he didn't have a gift for me. With each new birthday or holiday, I realize that gifts are highly over rated. There really isn't anything that I need. I am thankful for the gifts that I have in my life that come to me daily and weekly and probably aren't looked on by others as gifts to me.

These are the gifts that I cherish each day.
A husband who loves me and works hard each day to do his best and who wants to be home each night with all of us

My children! I am glad for the changes in ages and stages that allow for new interests and abilities. These five never cease to amaze me with their ideas, actions and humor. Love you!

My sure foundation in Christ - He is my strength and my example.