sweetnsassy6

Everyone should have a Brynn

2012-01-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

Brynn's a great kid to have. She's mellow, gets along with everyone most of the time, and practices with minimal complaining. What did she want for her birthday? a pogo stick. And for dinner? $5 pizza and homemade snickerdoodles. She's pretty low-maintenance for the most part but she can be particular when it comes to style. We had to go to all (3) stores in town before she could settle on a pair of shoes.

Brynn had a few friends over for a chocolate fountain, some games, and a movie night.

Her friend made her this birthday cake.

I

I was looking through Brynn's scrapbook/journal and found this excerpt from when she was 4 years old.

Tonight I tucked Brynn into bed and said,
"Brynn I love you more than all the sugar in the world.
Brynn--I love you more than bunnies.
Me--I love you more than unicorns.
Brynn--I love you more than rainbows.
Me--I love you more than marshmallow clouds.
Brynn put her arm around my neck, pulled me close and whispered, "I love marshmallows more."

Here are some of my favorite photos of her.

The L-list: Favorite New Purchases

2012-01-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

This is what we woke up to. A different kind of beauty than last week's post for sure.

Well, you know I'm super nice and generous and everything and if I were Oprah I'd give all readers everything listed here. But how about a drawing? Leave a comment before Tues 12pm and one LUCKY WINNER will receive --a Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer. For reals--I'll mail it to you --or if you live somewhere warm, I'll personally deliver:)

Congratulations to Megz the winner!!!

Here is the L-list.

Best Lip Balm Ever and it comes in a myriad of shades. It's like gourmet chapstick with a hint of color. That's what I like, just a hint of color. Your lips will love it too.

Kai Pure Komanchi high carbon steel knives (29.99 Costco)
They say if you don't have a good knife set you must not be eating a lot of fresh vegetables because if you did eat a lot of vegetables and didn't have a good knife you would be so frustrated you would go out and buy one. Yes, I read that somewhere--cutting board too. That was me for a long while--though instead of going out and buying one I was just frustrated--for years, even. That's why when I finally saw this very pretty set with THAT price it was was seriously the tenderest mercy. I brought them right home and have been loving them ever since--lightweight and so sharp I've sliced my fingers several times--the cello ones even, darn it. Just goes to show that I'm eating my veggies:)

Yummy--like peanut butter only chocolate hazelnut butter. Mix the two together and you have something divine. The girls like them mixed with chex or rice krispies. I like it for dipping pretzels. Warning: addictive.

Roku --This little box (around $60) enables us to stream Netflix onto our TV--It's takes the convenience of the internet and makes it comfy--especially if you're watching with one of these...

Microsherpa/Micromink reversible throw ($20, Costco) This is the wedding present I bought that never made it to the couple. It was soo soft and lovely I couldn't stop stroking it. It must have like imprinted on me so I had to keep it. $20 later and I'm living in luxury.

Benefit Cosmetics: Thank goodness the ladies at Fashion Island Mall whisked my sister and I away for emergency makeovers. How else would we have known what we were missing?! I love the foundation (29.99) It's very lightweight and is the perfect shade for me. I love applying it with the feathery soft brush too.

Wallflowers from Bath and Body Works ($12 but they have sales all the time)
I love these because even if my house isn't clean it SMELLS clean!! How cool is that! My favorite is Sea Island Cotton. The smell of it also tricks me into thinking I live in a beach house --one with clean linens blowing in the breeze.
If I were a diva this would be my signature scent--although it looks like they have some exciting new ones I'm going to have to try like Bahama Fizz?! and Tikki Beach?!!

Laguna Beach

2012-01-18T12:31:00.000-08:00

Of all the places on the California coastline, Laguna Beach is my favorite. It has nearly perfect weather all year long. When the sun is shining, the water reflects the most brilliant shades of blue. You can easily walk to shopping, dining, beaches, tidepools, the park. It's why I'm so glad my mom now lives here!! AND so glad she wants us to visit!! She has settled right in to her new life and she says she's never been happier. You can believe it too because she walks around with the biggest grin and very often gazes heavenward whispering, "Thanks, thanks, thanks."
This is a stark contrast to where we were a year ago, at my dad's bedside, as he passed away.
My mom has a great network of friends and neighbors, the church members have stepped right in to befriend her and take care of her needs, driving her to dr. visits, etc. It was nice to spend some quality time with Mom/Nana and experience a little of her world last week.

This is basically my mom's front yard. You walk out her apartment, across a residential street to the park, walk down some stairs and this is what you see.

We enjoyed remarkably good weather our first day--for which I was gazing heavenward and whispering "thanks." We had this little beach area all too ourselves--It must be winter to everyone else?!

Happy as a clam

Kate turned all mermaid on us.

Gotta love the view from Nana's apartment. We stayed in a hotel nearby. It was perfect. We just had to walk half a block to visit Nana every day.

Taking it all in; Laguna Beach

Exploring at low tide. We found anenomes, crabs, and mussels

We saw a bride get her picture in this exact spot later in the day.

Nana took the girls for a day on the town. Ever wondered what happened to some of those candies you grew up with--think Garbage Pail kids? They have them all at the coolest candy shop in town, The Candy Baron.

Beach yoga
I went for morning walks with my Mom along the trails of Heisler Park. One of the highlights for me was watching a pod of dolphins gracefully making their way down the coast.

Beach treasures

Cannon kept pointing and saying to anything on a leash, "there's a wolf!" Apparently dogs are all the rage here. There are more of them then children for sure and they are all very well accessorized. We met every breed imaginable, including a few min pins, which is what we'll be getting in a few weeks. When we'd stop and owner to ask about their dog they were so excited to share their tips and advice from nail clipping to training.
Cannon also pointed out all the pelicans, calling them "pteranodons." We didn't think that was too far off.

Glorious sunsets.
If you asked Adrie, she would tell you her favorite part of the trip was the hotel hot tub. Somehow with all that beach activity we still managed to get in the pool and hot tub every day. We have never slept better!

Sunday dinner by the sea. We went to Nana's LDS church with her in the morning. The people were overflowing with warmth and generosity. It seems that Nana has landed herself in the perfect ward for her. They LOVE her here and they were so excited to meet more of her family. I loved looking around at all the beautiful people. Brandon got a book during his Elder's quorum lesson signed by the author, the teacher, on becoming a successful leader. I got to meet the author of one of my favorite blogs, "Wordofwisdomliving.com" who happens to be in the ward. One of the youth that gave a talk looked like the front page of the GQ surfer edition. The meeting house had an amazing view of the ocean. I even had a view from the toilet of the women's bathroom--which made me want to stay a while!

Our last morning, we said our goodbyes and drove to Huntington Beach and walked on the pier. The girls picked out Shark tooth necklaces and Cannon got an "orca" he calls it, and it actually is. It was overcast and a very cold and whippy wind had us high tailing it back to the car. Good thing too because had it been otherwise I might not have ever wanted to go home!!
Can't wait to do it again!

Day Trippers

2012-01-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

One of the best presents we got for Christmas was from BD's parents. They started a tradition last year of sending some money with the suggestion of taking the family out for dinner and then to the bookstore. What a great idea! A gift with an experience! WE had a lot of fun with this last year in SLC. This year we headed to St. George for the added benefit of SUNSHINE!
When we visited Harvard campus last fall I was thrilled to see a bookstore on every block! Where we live we have to go 2 hours to get to bookstore! A bit of a sad commentary but I guess that's what makes this experience a real bookstore adventure for us.

After enjoying a delicious syrupy meal at IHOP, we headed to a Big Vault of Books, (with our windows down the whole time so as to get maximum sun exposure.) Once there, the kids were off and running. Cannon was first to pick his book and it's no surprise that he got, DINOSAURS: THE WORLD'S MOST TERRIFYING CREATURES. He has been relishing each vividly illustrated page ever since.
Adrie didn't have a hard time choosing hers, RAPUNZEL'S BOOK OF SECRETS. She has been giddy about filling in it's pages with her favorite foods, special friends, and birthday wishes. She was especially excited that it came with a lock and key to keep her curious sisters out.
The rest of us took a lot longer to decide. Brandon perused the Psychology section but didn't come away with anything. I hovered over a few options, Household Spanish Phrases? a beautiful classic? How to Become Vegan? Then Brandon and I saw this title and decided it was the one, THE CHILDREN YOU WANT WITH THE KIDS YOU HAVE. We couldn't wait to get started so I read it to him on the drive home, over the yelling in the backseat.
Kate got a big book of PRANKS, GAGS, AND PRACTICAL JOKES, complete with props. She couldn't wait to get started either which is why everyone got sprayed when they clicked her new camera and finger snapped when they reached for a piece of gum. It has given her TONS of great ideas. Like rearranging her sister's room, short-sheeting the beds, and disconnecting the valve on the toilet so that it sprays water when you flush. (Oh wait, that one was from her cousin Parker) What fun:/
Kate almost convinced Brynn to get the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EVERYTHING NASTY. But Dad saved the day, and just in time too, because we were at the checkout. He handed her a collection of CALVIN AND HOBBES. It was just what we all needed, to lighten up.

The day didn't end there. There was still sunshine to be enjoyed. And it was warm and heavenly. We picked up some cousins and enjoyed the rest of the daylight at the park.

Thanks to the parents for the gift of a bookstore adventure!

The Magic of Christmas

2011-12-26T21:01:00.000-08:00

With Christmas on a Sunday this year we had to start extra early! We have 9:00 a.m. church services and as much as we would have liked to play hooky, just this once, we couldn't! We were in charge of the Christmas program. Brandon did a wonderful job leading the choir. I sang in it. The kids managed miraculously on the front row bench. Intermingled with music were a couple of short but beautiful messages about the Savior, his life and mission. We just had the one meeting and it ended a little early--yay! You're welcome fellow Saints--I do what I can as music director:) After church we zipped home, got into our pj's and relaxed the rest of the day.

The girls trickled upstairs around 5:30 a.m. and got right to work rifling through their stockings.What goodies: yummy lotions, bubble baths, chocolates, and motorized toothbrushes!

Brushing teeth has never been so exciting at our house.

Then it was present opening time:

Cannon was in prehistoric heaven with his menagerie of dinosaurs.

Adrie got the American Girl Itty Bitty Twins....and HOW did Santa know that she wanted the Latino ones when she didn't even show him the picture at the family party?! He really must be magic. She also loves her new fuzzy puppy pillow/blanket set and Narnia DVD.
Brynn spent all day whizzing through the house wearing most of her presents--spiffy rollerblades, shorts, a watch, even the fuzzy socks from her stocking. She also loves her new furry blue blanket that she also wore while skating.Kate's favorite presents were her basketball and football. She is also wearing some presents.

But the highlight of her Christmas was opening a box with a collar and a picture of...

The new puppy that she will get as soon as it is fully weaned!!! (a min-pin or mini pinscher) Santa must be real because Kate has been begging for this moment ALL YEAR to her stubborn and unfeeling parents.

She read on the internet today that this breed will want to play with her outside AND snuggle in her bed. She can't wait to get started!!

Santa surprised me this year with a ping-pong table. Our basement is now complete.
Christmas Eve Traditions: We had a candlelight dinner with ham, potatoes, and orange rolls. The only thing I forgot to buy was sparkling cider but right before dinner the doorbell rang. It was our neighbors wishing us a Merry Christmas with a bottle of cider bubbly. How perfect is that.

We read the Christmas story from the Bible and acted out the Nativity. The kids opened their presents from each other, a new tradition for us and definitely a keeper.

Christmas really is magical with kids. I'm glad I know some. Merry Christmas everyone!!

Santa Came Already?!!!

2011-12-23T12:12:00.000-08:00

Lucky, lucky kids!! Santa came with loads of gifts to visit the kids at our elementary school. He came in by a small plane (saving the sleigh for Christmas) and the kids took a field trip to our little airport to watch him fly in. Very exciting. See those Eagle Scouts seated there in the picture?? They banded together from all over the state and picked our school kids to be the recipients of some early Christmas presents from Santa himself!! What a day! And the kids wondered why some of their teachers were bawling?!

This is our church Christmas party with dinner and a program. See Adrie holding the silver star?The other girls are somewhere in the comfortable back of the crowd and Cannon is on my lap waving to them incessantly and trying to wrestle away the camera and snap his own photos. (those didn't make it on the blog) After making that silver star painstakingly with layers of tinfoil I was horrified to come upstairs later in the day and find that Cannon had unwrapped it! How fun for him. Is there a sarcastic font for that last sentence. Anyway, I rewrapped it and we made it for the show in time. I'm just going to go ahead and say it, stars aside, "ward parties can be stressful." There, go ahead and quote me on that.

Adrie and Brynn had their gymnastics show-downs. They also had their violin recital. Our teacher combined with another teacher in the area and we were told that it would just be a few kids. This is what our kids were planning on so when we walked into a church and saw the cultural hall FULL to the back you could hear the panic in Adrie's breathing--like a woman in hard labor. It took a miracle--Dad playing his violin along with her--but she made it up there to pluck her song "Jolly Old St. Nicholas." Brynn and Dad did a good job on their duet "Away in a Manger." 50 (groan) students later and we could go home and relax.

Here's the family party. It was great. We just showed up and volunteered for parts. Had a short and sweet program and a good dinner and lots of visiting. That's the way I like 'em.

Pictures from the Light Parade on Main Street.

Today the kids are out of school. We're headed to W-mart for the second time today, taking the kids to get gifts for each other. They drew names and did 5 jobs for me to earn the $5 to buy their presents for their beloved siblings. We'll open those Christmas Eve. Tonight we are celebrating Joseph Smith's birthday with pizza and root beer floats. Brynn is requesting we make salt dough ornaments. And I wanted to fit Hanukkah in there--at least a game of dreidel--but man there's just too much fun and too little time.

Santa is ready!! There are a few presents under the tree....the excitement is building fit to burst!!!!

Chestnuts, anyone?

2011-12-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

What would Christmas be without roasted chestnuts? Totally normal. We've never had them. Have you? What's weird is that we had a chestnut tree in our front yard growing up. We had fun collecting them after they would fall to the ground. I always thought they looked so pretty with their shiny brown swirly wood like patterns. We never thought to eat them but we found out that they made a spectacular popping sound when cars ran over them. So, we would make lines of them across the road. Then we'd hide in the bushes, waiting for the next unsuspecting car to drive by. I can still remember Mr. L pulling his shiny black Mercedes over to the side of the road to see if the damage was as bad as it sounded. Ha! funny.

Anyway, back to the present. We tried roasting chestnuts last night--tried, being the key word there. They were terrible. It was one of my brilliant Chrismassy ideas gone bad. I'm going to blame it on a bad batch. Not that I'm going to try my luck a second time. Those things are expensive! Forget it. We'll stick with our roasted pine nuts.

Oh well. We had some other Chrismassy successes. We went to the Light Parade. Everyone complained about being freezing to death. (So dramatic.) Really, parades in the dead of winter, at dark, are just a parents way of getting their kids to beg to go home, get in their pj's and get right to bed. It worked!

I played in the community production of the "Messiah." Love that music and it's message.

Brynn and Brandon played a violin duet in church of "Away in a Manger." They did a great job. And speaking of violin Brynn passed off Suzuki Book 2 --that takes like a year so don't be shocked when I tell you her reward: a remote control monster truck--really, that's what she chose tonight at the store with Dad. Too bad they forgot to pick up some batteries for it...

We sang carols at the Senior Center--which again brought out the complaining--and the parental reminders that Santa is watching....

We put up the Christmas stars in our front windows. Tonight we got out the gingerbread house kit from last year's clearance. That was $2 well spent. Cannon was very very proud of his creation. And that seems like enough for one week, eh.

In conclusion, I want to share a happy tidbit from the front page of the news today. I just loved this:

(Kmart, Michigan) An anonymous woman approached a Kmart customer service counter and asked to pay off someone's layaway balance...She picked three contract tickets and handed over $500 and signed the receipts, "Happy Holidays from a friend." ...It made the local news...Since then, copycat do-gooders have been popping up all over the United States. One lady who had her $180 ticked paid off said, "It's the best gift that I ever received, and it's the gift of believing in people."

Super Duper Saturday

2011-12-04T12:33:00.001-08:00

What a lucky day for me. I won the candy jar at the family party by guessing the right amount! AND I got to play my cello for the Julie B. Beck conference.
These are my string quartet friends. We had the wonderful opportunity to play for the president of the largest women's organization in the world--the General Relief Society President of the LDS Church --as she came to speak in our area. We played prelude and the musical number--all Christmas songs--our favorites. Sister Beck thanked us publicly and voiced the lifetime hours of practicing that it takes to create that kind of music--Wahoo! There's a pat on the back!

There were a few questions/concerns I had in my life before going to this conference. Some I had prayed about and others were just ideas floating in my mind that hadn't made it to the prayer stage yet. Sister Beck answered them all in her talk!!! That is the truth of the gospel right there, people. You ask the Lord for wisdom and he sends it. Often, in the form of another person.

Sis. Beck had an interesting format. She asked for 6 questions from the audience, "We're not leaving until we get them so start standing." As people stood up they were handed a microphone. Questions ranged from "How do I get over feelings of inadequacy to where's the most remote place you have been with your church work?" (Sri Lanka) She then spent the next while addressing all those issues and others in between with the scriptures, and with her own life lessons. After all that, she invited 3 people to stand and share what specific thing they had learned at this conference that helped them. Remarkable.

I was so richly fed with wisdom, the time flew by and before I knew it, it was time to go. We had a family party to get to. But more on that later. Let me just share some of the things that I took to heart:

1. All of our ancestors at some point left their countries and came here to America for a better life. Imagine how scary to be a foreigner trying to fit in. Reach out to the hispanics in the community. Start with "Hola." Reach your hand out and say "Mucho gusto." Then lean in and give them a kiss on the left cheek.

She made us practice.

2. This life is not the dream. This life is to PREPARE for the dream.

3. The Lord works in councils--marriages, families, wards, etc. Be an active contributor to these councils by sharing ideas, knowledge, skills. Speak up, already!!

4. Visiting Teaching has the power to contribute to the Lord's work exponentially. She shared a humorous example of some clueless but well meaning visiting teachers who dutifully gave their 30 minute lesson while the house fell to shambles. Gone are those days, Ladies!! Get to know your new friend. Find out what kind of help she needs and HELP her!

5. If you get an idea to to good---DO IT--NOW!! That is how the Spirit works.

6. Secret to success? When you wake up in the morning roll out of your bed and onto your knees in prayer. Next, spend some time in the scriptures. Then make your bed--you are not getting back in it for the rest of the day! Lastly, get dressed. Take the time to make yourself presentable. After all that you are symbolically saying to the Lord, "Okay, I've done my part. I'm ready. What does the Lord have in store for me today?"

Okay, there were many many more gems. I could have feasted on her words all day but like I said, I had a party to get to--

The H. family party that my kids have been looking forward to for weeks because of all the fun prizes, cousins, and the chance to see Santa!!

Brynn asked for roller blades--not the kind that are plastic and noisy when you ride down the road like she already has--but the ones that are smooth and quiet and make you go fast like her friend's.

Adria brought a picture of the itty bitty twins from the American Girl catalog (she wants the Latino ones)Kate wants a dog. Preferably a husky. Hmmmm What's Santa to do about that?
Cannon wanted nothing more than to stay put and NOT sit on that jolly guy's lap. What is this craziness anyway?! We already knows he wants dinosaurs. Big ones. Lots of them.
Group singing, prizes, reading of the Christmas story.
Cousins!

A brotherly quartet sang for the program. Sounded awesome!

And, a little out of order, on the photos, but this is what was happening earlier in the day, instead of morning cartoons. A FULL, FULL, FUN, FUN day!

Thanksgiving Foto-Fantastico

2011-11-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

You know what I loved about Thanksgiving this year? Everything! It was great having my mom, both my sisters, and all their kids! They came by plane they came by car, from NYC to CA, we convened here in central UT for a very very happy Thanksgiving!!

Everyone pitched in to help and make this the best Thanksgiving ever. Because everyone had to travel to get here, I purchased all the food. But, I didn't do all the work. No way! Everyone took an assignment with a partner and then got to work--chopping veggies, mashing potatoes, assembling casseroles, jelling jello. The kitchen was the hub of activity as couples rotated in and out, grabbing their ingredients and recipes and getting their dishes mixed and guess what? They all turned out fabulously. But, that's no surprise. What did surprise us was how much fun it was to be cooking, creating, and working together.

Time to feast. Ladies first.
The kids table.

We had 26 people--just perfect for us to go around each table and beginning with the letter A, say something we were thankful with that started with that letter. It was a great way to learn something about everyone. Ben had X. He was grateful for Xtended family. Little Quintin had K. He was grateful for Kate.

I couldn't believe how lucky we were to get AZ weather in UT in November. The kids could play outside and we could enjoy fresh air. (and snap a few photos of it all) This is my sister Shannon with her kids and their very significant others. I think they all chose wisely.

Youngest to oldest.
After the feast we went to the park for a big ol' football game and some goofing around.

My sister Rayanne with her kids and their kids.

The kids followed Ben around like he was the Pied Piper.
Like mother like daughter.
Three generations.
Topher and Joanna

My favorite--family game night. Ben started it off with a stand-up comedy routine. Here Sami and Kate are taking a turn entertaining us with the group game, "hitchhiker."

Collaborating, Strategizing, Networking

My sisters and I wowed everyone with our karaoke performance of "Addicted to Love." Notice there was no one around. A Wii Dance competition followed. That brought everyone back.
The best laughs of the night came from the guys dancing to Tik-Tok. Look for it soon on YouTube:) I love this photo of it. No way did the night end there!

What the photos don't show are the ones who battled with the whole county for Black Friday deals at Wmart, the kids falling asleep watching movies, the indoor camping scene in the basement. Girls got the beds in the bedrooms and boys camped on air mattresses in the family room. Some of us stayed up late, late, late talking and laughing. Do I dare say 2:30 a.m.?
The adventure continued the next day with ATV rentals and exploring the mighty web of trails in the surrounding mountains.
Any Black Friday sales on these?
Now entering Fishlake National Forest.

It seems like someone gets injured every time we mix 4-wheelers and family so we felt extra grateful this year that nothing major happened. Mud splatters yes, and maybe a minor rim bending collision, but no bodily harm, just pure fun. We took turns riding then warming up with hot chocolate back at the house.

The little guys.

Loved every minute of it of the whole weekend. I was so happy to be surrounded by some of my favorite people. They're all gone and they left the campground better than they found it in more ways than one. We'll do it again in 2 years. Happy Thanksgiving to all! Now it's time to put up the Christmas tree!

Brandon

2011-11-19T20:27:00.000-08:00

Boston Temple 2011

The other day I was listening to the radio when I heard these lyrics,

"How wonderful life is, when you're in the world." It made me think of Brandon. I don't know what I did in heaven to deserve him but I sure am grateful that I get to be with him forever and ever.

He's a great husband and father, honest, kind, helpful, funny, all that good stuff but you already know that. In honor of his birthday, here are a few things about him that may surprise you. They surprise me!

He can remember the lyrics to any song or jingle that he's ever heard. Yah--get this: the tune for that old commercial for "Big Red" (gum) popped into my head the other day so I started humming it and filling in a pathetic few of the words I remembered and then Brandon chimed in and sang the whole commercial in it's ENTIRETY. Can you do it? Here's a little sample:

Give your breath *___ ____ ______ with Big Red!

Why does it still surprise me? He's been doing this for years. Pick any Christmas song, any song from the '80's and I'm telling you-- he can access it plain as day from the filing system in his brain.

Also, filed away in his brain are a lot of interesting vocabulary words, 50-cent words we call them. He can just pull them out and sprinkle them into his daily conversations. Not in a hoity- toity way-- he does it with ... what's the word? I'll have to ask him. He's a walking dictionary/thesaurus, a great writer, speaker, thinker. I think he could write some really great Presidential speeches.

I think I've mentioned this one before, but it here it is again. He has a sniffer like a hound-dog. However, instead of barking and chasing after that smell, he will describe it perfectly in words. Next time you're wearing one of your smelly lotion potions go on over and let him take a whiff. Sure enough he'll get it spot on, "Fresh mowed grass with a hint of barbeque sauce." That's what he'd be wearing, anyway.

He does mow our lawn and he does make great barbeque burgers. That is about the extent of his culinary skills so let's move on.

He's a good listener. He can listen to people ALL day and then come home and listen to ME and then tuck all the girls in and listen to THEM. Let's just say, when I put the girls to bed-- I come back upstairs a LOT sooner.

What's he reading? The Book of Mormon, and it's companion study guide, the biography of Thomas S. Monson, and the DSM Manual for treating Eating Disorders and Anxiety.

I think it's high time for some light fiction, don't you?

Patient as I'll get out, he can watch any televised sporting event, including golf! He can even sit in the cold for hours to watch a football game (like he is tonight, at BYU stadium). I wouldn't last 5 minutes before heading to the nearest warm and friendly mall!

All it takes for Brandon to be happy is to have homemade ice cream in the freezer. Bonus if you add a night at home with the whole family and nowhere to go. It sounds geriatric. But that must be why he has me--to add some spice, a little adventure, and to keep him from going to bed at 8 pm.

He knows the answer to any God/who we are/what happens when we die question anyone could ever have, and he answers them so humbly and eloquently. I really should take him on more plane rides. He's my Bible dictionary, my Topical Guide, Index and everything in between. Wanna know where the sword of Laban is? or What the purpose of the temple is? or if you could hie to Kolob? He'd know just what to say about all of it-- and he'd be able to sing you all 5 verses.

Life is good with Brandon. He's constantly surprising me with new abilities and fun-ness. He keeps me grounded and makes me laugh often, which sure makes for a more pleasant life journey. I'm glad to be on that ride with him for ever and ever.

Happy Birthday Love!!!!!!!!!

*long lasting freshness

11-11-11

2011-11-11T07:45:00.000-08:00

Souvenir shirts from our trip to Mass.

11 Random Thoughts or Events of the Week:

Kate played her first basketball game with her city league team. This is her first time ever playing basketball. It looked like it was everyone else's too. The parents and coaches were shouting from the benches in desperation, "SHOOT the ball!!!" What a complicated sport. Ref's were calling fouls and traveling and other calls I don't know the meaning of. I wondered if the girls did and if not maybe they'd be better off playing something more simple-like. Red Rover perhaps?
Brandon hasn't been able to play ball or do anything active because of some weird foot thing he's had for a few months now. We thought it was plantar fascitis which is a pretty common ailment, and it was for one of his feet but his other foot keeps getting worse. He finally went to a podiatrist, who recommended an anti-inflammatory and rest. Hasn't done a thing so he may be looking at some steroid shots to the area to see if it helps. If you wake up in the morning and your feet don't hurt when you get out of bed, be grateful!
I am grateful for the fridge and generator we inherited from my mom's big move. It was frightfully weird to go to the old house and see it sitting empty and forlorn. It made me sad for awhile, to think that I'll no longer have that Salt Lake connection. Those weekend city getaways were my life blood and now it's like one of my arteries has been cut off!! BUT, now I just have to reframe: it's not cut off, it's only been replaced with a new BIGGER artery: California! Here I come, cuz...
If I only have 50 years or so left to live, I want to spend them on the beach!!
I have to shake my head when I go pick up my 1st grader from school and see a giant sign that reads "We chain up drugs." This is a K-2 school. What good could spending a week on drug free campaigning do for them except to plant the idea that there actually are drugs. My 5th grader complained to us at breakfast about having to go to the DARE program. What is DARE? our 3rd grader asked? That's when Dad gave this definition: DARE is when you miss recess to learn about drugs you'll never do.
iPad or iPhone? Just because I was the last person you know to get a cell phone doesn't mean I don't love having all that technology at my fingertips. I think I especially need those handy verbal reminders "pick up your child from school today." or "library books are due." Just for fun we could add, "Say NO to drugs." Brandon is suggesting the calendar as a cheaper option.
Had to stop myself from decorating for Christmas last weekend?! I think it was the snow flurries in the air but I seemed to forget that there is life before Christmas. It's called Thanksgiving and it's the best holiday of the year and we're hosting it...
I'm trying to round up ATV rentals because that's what my family is excited to do when they get here!! Bonus if I can find some horseback riding too. Believe me I can find horses a-plenty. It's finding the owners and seeing if any of them want some tourist business, that's tricky. Other than that we'll try for some football, karaoke, maybe some Wii dance. It's gonna be great.
You know that saying, " Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?" Well it's true and it's why I'm taking a break from running (which makes me feel old and creaky) and replacing it with yoga ( which makes me feel young and awesome) So far so good. When it's sunny I bundle up Bud in the stroller for some speed walking. We always have to stop to look at the horses a-plenty or throw rocks in the stream. Bud was surprised to find the last time that the rocks skidded and came to a stop right on top of the water instead of landing with a splash! It was frozen over!
The Chinese acrobats came to town. I took the girls to see their show. We were wowed by these perfect specimens or humans doing unbelievable feats of flexibility, balance, and strength. After the show, my friend summed up my feelings perfectly when she said, "Don't you just feel like a big useless blob now?" I think "amoeba" is the word she used and YES! I did feel like they put any of my yoga moves to crying shame.
Happy 11's everyone and Happy Veteran's Day. Any random thoughts of your own?

HaLLoWeeN

2011-11-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

It occurred to me the other day how lucky we are to live in a place where we can still do the traditional door to door trick-or-treating . It is afterall, one of the highlights of kid-dom. We had a great holiday full of parties . Each of the kids were happy with their costumes and bonus! 2 of them were recycled from last year. Bud wanted to squeeze into his baby alligator costume, and he did for the church party, but then I convinced him to go with the more roomy skeleton. Maybe it was the amazing weather, but we had way more trick or treaters than I could have expected. Last year we handed out around 100 pieces of candy. This year I bought 150 (and didn't even eat it before because it wasn't chocolate.) We ran out at 8 p.m.!! That was a good excuse to get in the car and go visit our old neighbors and the "Halloween House" which should win a national prize for most amazing display of death and spooks ever!! Fog was even coming out of the house...

Amazing. Anyway...

Here it is. This year's Halloween crew

Some things are better in multiples, and you know you can't just have one M&M

Spidergirls and their sidekick Bones

Dividing up the booty

Kate and Cuddles, the monster we created to scare away the trick or treaters. Obviously, his effect was the opposite.

Family Party featuring Caramel apples, Monster Mash with Megan, Spooky story by Dad. Ghoulash for dinner, Carnival Games and to top it off a hayride through the Haunted Fields.

I thought this year's family party was the best yet. The new addition of the haunted fields was completely thrilling, even with 3 little cousins piled on top of me, one squeezing my finger the whole time.

Does it seem like Christmas with all the parties going on? We had a church party. I helped with Kate's school party. Last week we went to Fremont Indian State Park for their Halloween extravaganza. We came home with about 10 pounds of candy and nightmares from the too spooky walk through the woods (teenagers with chainsaws, need I say more.)

Family Night pumpkin carving and salted buttery roasted seeds for a treat.

Let's hear it for a last Hurrah for Halloween. Now I can't wait to get outside and un-decorate!

Seeing Orange

2011-10-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

It just wouldn't be Halloween without a trip to the
pumpkin patch. Made it on the hayride, picked and paid for the pumpkins, and hopped in the car just in time before the rain came in earnest.

Kate found hers in the bargain bin..

Goodbye to the House I Grew up In

2011-10-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

If you were only given 18 months left to live how would you live it? Sell your house, and move to the beach so you could spend your days relaxing, walking, writing some music perhaps, or working on some of your writing projects? That's exactly the prognosis my mom was given at her last Dr. visit and this is exactly what she plans on doing about it. In selling the house she will have the financial freedom to live her dreams, and I think that breathing in that ocean breeze will give her a few extra good years.

The house you see pictured is the house I grew up in. My parents (that's my mom in the photo there, doing the "goodbye dance") lived in it for 50 or so years and raised 6 children here. At one time or another it has been home to several foreign exchange students, a few grandchildren, multiple cousins, an uncle, various people my mom found on the street and probably a few people I don't know about. Both my grandparents died in this house. And if it weren't already packed to the gills at any given time, my mom would add always squeeze a few more in for Sunday dinners or holidays. Thank goodness it was surrounded by a huge yard. That's where I found refuge. We (the grandkids, the internationals and I) played soccer, football, and volleyball out in the front yard, basketball in the back. The yard was host to a few family reunions every year for potlucks and races, and the annual neighborhood Easter egg hunt. We jumped from the garage attic window onto the trampoline and slept on it in the summer nights. We built forts under the trees and miniature cities in the sandbox, with some flash flooding from the hose.

This is the last time I'll see the house like this. It has been sold and will follow the neighborhood trend of being demolished to make way for a new McMansion.

I spent a couple of days at the house, helping my mom prepare for the big move. We unloaded closets, organizing things into piles --and that's when I wished the house could just spontaneously combust---while we were out to lunch, of course. What to do with all that STUFF?!! That is the question.

If there are a few lessons I've learned from this literal CLEANING HOUSE experience they are:
1. THROW EVERYTHING AWAY, CONSTANTLY.
2. LABEL EVERY PHOTO, or just throw them away.
3. DON'T LEAVE IT TO THE NEXT GENERATION TO WRITE YOUR FAMILY HISTORY. DO IT NOW! KEEP IT CURRENT! cuz no one wants to get stuck with boxes of un-labeled photos and untold stories. Comprende?!

It's why I like this whole blog thing. I can write a post once a week or so and after awhile publish it into book form and VIOLA!-- Family journal, history, with photos complete and concise.
My kids will thank me some day, if they ever find out what could have been :)

New England Trip: 30 of the 300 photos I took.

2011-10-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

This was our visit Brandon's old mission/visit the parents on their mission/14th wedding anniversary trip. The first we've taken just the two of us since pre-kid days!! Maybe that was why it felt like the stars had aligned to make this a most wonderful trip. We flew into Boston and had a couple of days on our own and the rest of the trip we joined Brandon's parents for some first-class hospitality. So much history, so much color, so much family bonding, so much fun!!

Day One: After flying into Boston, we rented a car and drove an hour south to our hotel in Plymouth. First impression: coast on one side and forest on the other--I'm in heaven!-- And I'm loving that thick New England accent, "pahhk the caaahr in the garaaage ovah theyre." or something like that.Couldn't be Thanksgiving without Chief Massasoit.
Onboard the Mayflower.
Plymouth Rock. Then it was off to Plimoth Plantation to learn about the Pilgrims and the Indians.
Wampanoag Indian village.
Pilgrim village--all the workers are in character. Pretty fun. This guy said he was a surgeon, not by license, but by necessity.

We found this old cemetery nearby and thought we were so cool finding a hidden treasure of old old graves from the 1700's! Turns out we would find lots more of these on the trip.

Then it was back to Boston to return our rental car and take a taxi to our hotel in Cambridge.

This was the view from the 15th floor! Thank you priceline.com for a 3-star hotel at a 1-star price:)!
We walked from our hotel, along the Charles River, and joined all the smart college people for dinner at Harvard or Haaahvard Square.

Day 3: Happy reunion with the parents. They came and picked us up at our hotel. Then we took the hop-on, hop-off trolley around Boston for some sweet sight seeing and walking the Freedom Trail!!!

Old North Church. It was near this spot that we had a missionary experience with the parents. An elderly gentleman approached us, saying he was "drawn to us." We got talking and he said he would like one of those "gold bibles." Mom got his name/number and sent the info to the missionaries to follow up with him. He also complimented Mom C. on the way she wore her hair. He had worked in the movie business, so he knew what he was talking about.

Dad reading the good word inside the Old North Church.

Bunker Hill monument. Brandon and I climbed all 294 steps to the top and our calves were sore for the next 3 days. Other sights along the trail: Paul Revere's house, Fanieul Hall, clam chowder at Quincy Market, Graveyards, U.S.S. Constitution, etc.
Day 4: We all enjoyed some service and worship at the Boston LDS Temple. Beautiful in every way!!!!

Went back to Boston to finish up what we didn't do the first day. Also hit Lexington and Concord. Busy, busy!!
Brandon wanted to go "where everybody knows his name."

Boston harbor cruise
BOSTON!!
Devouring the famous canolli's at Mike's Bakery , and waiting in the line down the street, to get them. Totally worth it!
Concord: House of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott.
Walden Pond.
Lexington.
More fun to tell the history of the battle when you're dressed up colonial-like, and more fun to hear it that way too. Lexington and Concord were so full of history. The drive follows the route of Paul Revere's Ride. We also passed Ralph Waldo Emerson's home and Nathaniel Hawthorne's. Would have definitely liked to spend more time in Concord.
Day 5: Sunday: Went to church with the parents in the Ludlow chapel. It was great to match faces to all the names we hear about from Mom and Dad C's letters. Church is true here!! Only they pronounce the prophet's name "Munsen." We spent the afternoon on a walk through the Holyoke State park, a wooded wonderland.
Side view of the parents' home in Granby.

Front view: What a great house--150 years old, full of hidden nooks, and creaky wooden floors.

Day 6: Sharon, Vermont, birthplace of Joseph Smith. Took 2 hours to get here and the drive was a feast for the eyes GORGEOUS!!! Fall in all its' glory.

The visitor center had a wonderful new movie about the life and mission of Joseph Smith. It was so well done. I felt the spirit just being there and the movie was so powerful. What a man!!!! I believe!!

We took a trail through the woods to see the remains of his grandfather's home. There was beauty all around.

It was great to have one on one time with the parents!!Even getting stuck in sluggish traffic, seemed like a blessing to have extra time to visit with them!! We made it to Yankee Candle Factory before it closed.

Our last day was a bonus. I somehow had thought all along that we were leaving Tuesday and it wasn't until I was on the plane looking at our tickets that I realized we weren't leaving until Wednesday!! Bonus indeed! Our extra day we spent shadowing Mom and Dad doing their daily mission routine. So fun. We started with a walk around the (3-5 mile) block. Look at these colors just down the street and all around!!! Fall decided to show it's best colors right before we left.

The congregational church across the street. This is the parents' front room view every day. So pretty!
We took a little drive to survey the damage from the tornado in Monson, pronounced Munsen, of course. Did a little shopping at Atkins market which was a treasure trove of fresh produce and fun treat souvenirs for the kids, like Vermont maple syrup cookies and candies.

We went to Institute class in the evening and played volleyball with the young single adults.

Had a great time getting to know them and helping them get the ball over the net:)

Mom and Dad took us to the airport early the next morning. The kids are glad to have parents again. They survived under the good care of my mom and niece. Cannon gave me a kiss and said "you're the best mom!!" Loved that. Glad to be home and glad for a trip that couldn't have been better.

Sher-rific!

2011-09-28T21:55:00.000-07:00

Today is Sherie's birthday. I am fortunate to have gained her as a sister-in-law by marrying into the C. family. She does this amazing thing where she writes nice bios about her sisters and sister-in-laws on their birthdays and she does a great job! Now it's her turn.

My apologies for not having a clearer photo -but I think her cute pixie-like-ness still shows through.

When I first married and gained this whole new big family of amazing people, it was Sher who made me feel right at home. She was comfortable to be around, easy to talk to. Even though our family get togethers are very large, Sher has always been good at making a point to visit with each person individually. I don't know if she means to do that. But, I can sure come away from those events, feeling like I had some good quality time with her. She makes people feel important that way. Like, Jesus, seeking the one, in the crowd.

Sher is warm and friendly and is quick to share a smile and a compliment. She plays the flute and the piano. I remember a time when she strummed a guitar and sang along to a duet she had written. I can still hear the tune and something about "standing in the kitchen." It was a good song and I hope she performs it again. She is a gifted poetess. Her spirituality and love for gospel and family shine through in her writing. She likes to read good books and she has passed that love on to her 6 brilliant children.

She is one of the most down-to-earth people you could ever meet. With her husband Derek's work, she gets opportunities to travel to exciting destinations. I think Sher enjoys these trips somewhat, but she is far more content to be at home with the people she loves.

One new thing I've learned about Sher this year, is how gifted she is at seeing the good in people and expressing it in words, as she has done in the birthday blogs.

I sure have enjoyed reading them. So here's back at you Sher! Happy Birthday!

Country Time Fun

2011-09-25T19:56:00.000-07:00

Events of the last week:
The infamous BYU game. BD took Kate and they had a jolly old time. At least the sunset was nice, eh?
Our corny family. You know you're a redneck if you send this as your family Christmas photo.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

We thought it would be nice to share some family time at the local corn-maze/hoe-down extravaganza, so here are the photos.
You can make up your own caption for this one above.

Fun things to do with hay.
Hay slide.
Mechanical Bull. Bd didn't even stay on long enough for a picture, neither did I...something about our center of gravity...but the girls did pretty well.
Waiting in line for the Redneck Roller Coaster
This is it. It kept breaking down, so we never actually got to ride it. Eat my dust!
The train worked.
More fun things to do with hay. After getting a lot of hay in our shoes and running through the cornmaze, but not far enough to get lost, the girls convinced us to share some ribbon fries and then some funnel cake.

Dictionary time: FUN-l cake: A delicious deep fried, powdered sugar-topped confection you have to try once every 10 years.

Personal Confession: This was my 3rd this year. (Thanks to that layover in Chicago--they know how to make 'em!)

This is Brynn playing in the Utah State Fiddle Competition, right here in town. We didn't know what we were getting into but it was a pretty big deal with some pretty big cash prizes. We're glad we came because Brynn took 3rd in the 0-8 age category. Shucks I'm a proud mama. She won herself 25 bucks and a trophy/frame. She's very happy about the money part.

She played Devil's Dream, Kiss-me Waltz, and Red Wing. The guitarist was her accompanist.
Fun to read sideways, isn't it?

In the evening we went to the Old Time Fiddlers concert where all the 1st place winners in each instrument performed. What a show!!! They say the violin sings and the fiddle dances. We sure got some serious toe-tappin' entertainment.

Another Personal Confession: I love fiddle music, bluegrass, folk, all of it. I love fiddles, guitars, banjos, and mandolins. I'd love to play any or all of them.

We also had the annual ATV Jamboree in town. We don't have ATV's so we don't participate but people come here from all over the world, Europe , NY, to be able to ride our great trails.

Idea! We should house-swap with them for the week!!!

That's all I got. Here's to another week of Country fun.

SURVIVOR:Gooseberry

2011-09-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

Pronounced GOOZ-burry with a Sevier County accent, Gooseberry is a beautiful campground in the Fishlake National Forest. It's an overnight field trip, adventure-camp, a rite of passage for every 3rd grader in the area. If you didn't grow up here you might think it strange to take a class of 8 year old kids, keep them overnight in the mountains, and scare the pants off them with a fireside telling of the legend of "Annie Bangs," the crazy lady who haunts the campground... It's weird really, but it's what we do. I went up as a parent helper and except for miserable sleeping conditions it was a pretty great time.
After a bus ride up to the campground, we all had lunch, and went on a nature treasure hunt. We found animal tracks, animal homes, and explored the stream.

Later the whole grade was divided up into groups and sent in rotation to different wilderness classes. I loved this part! This is education at it's best. Somehow, instead of 15 or 20 like the others, my group ended up with only 3 kids! Lucky us. I lovingly called them my Navy Seals, my Elite Special Forces, the Gifted and Talented, the Cream of the Crop.
FORESTRY: We learned to identify all the trees in the area from aspens to firs to spruces. Then the kids got to measure diameters and heights of the trees using some awesome tools. We had another class at the stream where we learned about water pollution and what makes a healthy or unhealthy stream.
The policemen and dispatch presented to the kids and Smokey the Bear came. This is Brynn's class.
Boondoggle and other crafts.
2 other moms convinced me it was WAY better to sleep in a tent than in the stuffy cabins. That might have been true if it wasn't FREEZING cold, and if our air mattresses didn't deflate in the middle of the night. Oh well, we're tough. We took this picture because we set up the tent ourselves, no instructions, no men. We're women and we're awesome like that.
"Once upon a time there was a little family that lived up here in the woods...TRAGICALLY the family didn't survive the winter...but where was little Annie?...they searched and searched but she was NEVER FOUND... BUT THEN campers started noticing things would go missing...especially RED things...ESPECIALLY right here in this campground.... THERE SHE IS!!!

And if the kids weren't already about to pee their pants, there appears a freakish lady in a red flowing dress, with crazy white hair, running through the trees. She darts back and forth as the kids point and scream. Then she gets closer and actually GRABS kids and takes them with her....where they are never heard from again. Okay not that last part but she does grab and release. One kid yelled, "I PEED MY PANTS!"

After all that it's--Time for bed! Sweet dreams everyone!! Especially you kids who don't have parents up here with you!!! Hope you're not wearing RED pajamas!!!!!
More classes the next day. FIRE and ATV safety.
The kids learned about prehistoric life and then tried their hand at atlatl throwing. We learned about ecology, habitats. In the wildlife class we learned to identify different animal tracks and how to use your 5 senses to appreciate the beauties of the forest.

Our special ops team found Annie Bangs hideout.

Brynn with her 2 neighborhood friends. We had a great time and we're glad we all survived the infamous 3rd grade field-trip to Gooseberry.

Sweet Home California

2011-09-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

I really should be from here. My parents USED to live here, back when they were first married with just 1 or 2 kids. They had met at BYU and moved out there to start my dad's career. He had a really good job with Shell Oil Company. They had a house. My mom would walk a few blocks and spend the day with the kids on the beach. What's not to love? That's how my mom felt but darn it, my dad started to miss his Utah roots. They left it all and came back to Utah (my mom kicking and screaming.)

Ah well, we can't change the past but we can certainly visit as often as possible. Growing up we probably took roadtrips at least once/year. I remember every time, sitting on the beach and crying because I didn't want to leave. Why do I love it so? Again, what's not to love! Water, sand, and sun, and that warm happy feeling that you're home.

So this trip, #321 or so, was fabulous, fabulous. We thought instead of taking two days to drive the whole coast to our favorite beach, we could just fly there directly and spend the time there! That is how our SF coast trip turned into a last-minute Laguna Beach trip. (It's fun to be spontaneous like that when it's just you, your mom, and sister and you're flying stand-by.)

We did all our favorite things like eating creme brulee and watching the amazing sunsets, shopping at Bardot's, early morning walks on the beach and swimming. I never mean to get soaked that early in the morning, it just always happens.

And we added some new things like Balboa Island and Corona Del Mar.

We met some wonderful people. One of which we found out was my mom's cousin!!! Wouldn't it be sweet to have a big ole' family beach Thanksgiving:)

My only low was checking out real estate and finding out that I can't LIVE there.

Unless... (I've been thinking)

I or Brandon invent something even more amazing than those Snugglie blankets you watch TV with.?
I or Brandon write a best-seller (that would have to be Brandon.)
I supplement our income by becoming a world famous brain surgeon
I or Brandon join the Coast Guard.
We put in an early request for a mission?!
Or California could just fall into the ocean and we'd be the new coastline...

Ha Ha. But yay! I'm feeling gladness from having a wonderful time and being back with my husband and kids again!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-09-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

A special delivery arrived yesterday. No way has anyone ever been more excited for grass than me! The kids? Maybe. At least they showed it more with their tumbling and skipping. I am dreaming of all the benefits that come with bedding down the dirt: picnics! clean floors! volleyball! slip-n-slides! races! no back-breaking weeding! What it boils down to is LESS WORK and MORE FUN! Mowing it even counts as fun, if you add a pina colada. Lucky for us this kind of grass is a special slow-growing, lower maintenance variety.

It required some heavy labor putting it in but our kind neighbors helped-- a few sweaty, dirty hours later and Presto! Instant yard just in time for my birthday. (amazing how 4 years can count as instant.)

I thought that staring out the window and soaking in the green sight would be a perfectly lovely way to spend the day. Maybe I'd bring a book out so I could glance up and into the green after every few pages and enjoy the surprise again and again.

It's been a good day of well-wishes and birthday messages, and if that AND green wasn't enough I also got presents! Brandon gave me a GPS sports watch that tracks mileage, pace, and heart rate for walking/running/biking. What a great gift! I'll be able to run longer and faster than ever with my new awesome gadget! Brynn is going to mop the floor for me today. Cannon gave me a birthday hug. Adrie agreed to go to school willingly and un-whiningly (which she did!) and Kate gave me a coupon for a 30-minute foot massage! Perfect pampering after that brute labor yesterday.

My cup runneth o'er. I came across this scripture the other day which seemed to sum it all up.

...and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.

(Helaman 3;25)

The local radio station called to tell me I won a birthday cake! Astonished beyond measure.

Life is good. Brandon and I are going to Boston in a month which I am SUPER duper excited about. Travel IS my drug of choice. So just when I thought life couldn't get any better my sister called--

"I've got 3 days off and a buddy pass for you. Where do you want to go?"

FOR REALS?!!!!!!! Add beach to the travel and I'm on a serious high!

Our plan is to fly to San Francisco then drive down the coast, stopping at all the best beaches along the way then fly home out of L.A. or San Diego, wherever we end up. PCH 1 here we come!

All Good Things Come to an End....

2011-08-24T15:31:00.001-07:00

I don't really believe that title, but we were having a REALLY GOOD summer and now it's over!

Today I sent my three girls to school--all of them--all day.

This photo captures all the feelings of the first day, no?

So, it's just me and little Bud at home now. He was pretty weirded out from being abandoned by his little mothers. We filled the day by cleaning his room, going to the library, reading all the books we brought home, and painting with watercolors on giant poster paper. It was only 1 pm and as if on cue, some neighborhood friends showed up to play. It's a great life, I know.

So just to wrap up the summer, here are a few of the other things that have happened.

Kate's team won with 7 goals on their first soccer game. Kate scored 3 of them! She looks so much bigger this season out there on the soccer field. I don't usually yell so much at games but it was so exciting! Coach Dad was pretty proud too.

Dad ran a 5K. He hates running but he makes it look easy. He can just not run ever-- and then show up at a race and take 5th or 6th?? It just reaffirms to people like me (who run faithful as death every other day) that life is not fair.

While we're on the subject, my running partner is out of commission (pregnant.) So, I had to find some new running friends and lucky me-- I found the perfect ones (literally, they're about as close to perfect as you can get)--President Monson, Dieter F. Uchtdorf --the whole gang! They do all the talking and I just listen but that's okay because they have a LOT of gems to share.

It actually makes me excited to get up in the morning and get out there because I can't wait to hear what they have to say! I even find myself running a little longer just so I can finish a talk. Yes, thank goodness for iPods, arm bands, and LDS General Conference downloads.

That spiritual boost had proved perfect timing, because little did I know how much PUTTING in YARD WOULD BE SUCH A TRIAL AND TRIBULATION!! Trying to install a sprinker system has certainly not brought out the best in me.

It takes:

patience (uncheck)
diligence (uncheck)
brawn ( uncheck)
brains-- esp. the kind that can look at crude diagrams and figure out what they mean (uncheck)
high frustration tolerance (double uncheck)

We tried phase one of sprinkler system for date night and it didn't go well at all!

Thankfully, "NeighborMan"came to the rescue. What I lack in the above character traits was hopefully made up for in GRATITUDE to have someone who knew what they were doing help us out. He had all the above qualities plus a passion for "installing sprinkling systems" (too weird to even make up) PLUS a boundless supply of energy which kept him working and working with Brandon...until midnight. He didn't stop with the sprinklers, he also filled in the trenches and set the timers. My job was the sprinkler heads:) Our whole yard was finished in record time--it's SOD-READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't be more excited and grateful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It will be the best birthday ever when the truckload of fresh sod arrives...so come and party barefoot in our backyard!

On the Road Again

2011-08-15T14:52:00.001-07:00

A chance to see cousins always makes for a great weekend getaway. We were excited to meet up with our NJ cousins on their trek out West.

Our first annual marshmallow shooter party. Too bad I couldn't aim for nothin' 'cause it sure looked fun to pop some uncles in the head with those fluffy little pellets. Cannon's tummy was more stocked with ammo. than his gun.

Next on the docket was the parade, and boy it was a HOT one.

A garbage can provided the only scrap of shade around. My favorite float was the one handing out ice cold bottled water.

We don't usually get to join cousins for their birthday parties so it was great to be able to join Anika for hers. It's no wonder she wanted to go skating for her special day--she is really good

and fast on those skates.

Brynn was looking glassy-eyed by the end of the party. She was spiking a temperature of 103 so it was time to pack up and make a quick exit.

I think it's time we stayed home for awhile so the sick one can rest and the rest can work-- on this...

YeeHaw! You Better See it to Believe it.

2011-08-14T14:33:00.001-07:00

It was time, this week, to get on down to the County Fair! I think it's the most exciting event in the county and it's the only time I really want to wear a cowboy hat and ride the daylights out of a horse. (Actually I always want to ride a horse, so just the cowboy hat part.)
We were entertained by a hypnotist, some guys doing some pretty awesome bike stunts on half pipe's, and some hands on farm-activities. We walked around to see all the exhibits and the blue ribbon livestock.Kate won a blue ribbon for her chocolate chip cookies. They really are the best darn cookies you've ever had and I ain't lyin.
Then it was Rodeo time.
When we first moved out here we went to (my) first rodeo. To say it was a culture shock would be an understatement. Maybe I lived a sheltered city life but we certainly never did anything like this. Yeehaw! You better see it to believe it.

I don't know what I was so shocked about?! Now that I have kids of my own of course I'm going to let them get their chance at chasing a wild (domesticated) animal in an arena for a chance at some cash. Brynn's the only one of our girls that wanted to sign up for this year's "Little Cowboy Rodeo" She got down and dirty and got herself ribbon off that cow, worth $1.00.

Brynn also really wanted to try Muttin' Bustin' this year. That there is how you hold on to sheep for dear life. Even though I warned her it was not as easy as it looked (I pretended to know) she was sure she had what it took. Her confidence payed off because she was able to hang on there until the announcer told her it was time to get off. And wouldn't you know she placed in the top 6 of her age group. ( She also came home smellin' like... mutton.)
Well, that's it for this year's county fair folks!

Snowbird in the Summer

2011-08-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

My sisters and I gathered from our various locales to join my mom in celebrating her birthday!!!

We loaded up a selection of fruit tarts, cream puffs, tiramisu for the best birthday cake ever from our favorite bakery and headed for our favorite mountain getaway, Snowbird.

Nowhere in UT do the mountains feel bigger than in Little Cottonwood Canyon, with it's staggeringly tall pine covered mountains and giant slabs of granite. Huge drifts of snow remain even in the middle of summer. There are waterfalls cascading down those sheer cliffs and meadows full of wildflowers. You can feel the temperature drop as you drive up the canyon. It was nice to get away from the city heat and escape to the mountain coolness.

Brandon was on-call so he stayed at home with the older two and I took the younger 2with me for the weekend. My sister stayed overnight at Snowbird and we all met her up there to celebrate.

It being a Sunday, we went to to worship at the local LDS branch. We gathered in the main lodge with about 50 other tourists, had a song, prayer, the Sacrament then a 10 minute gospel doctrine lesson and a 10 minute testimony meeting. Bing Bang Boom, all that worshipping pared down to one-hour?! Loved that and I'm gonna be suggesting it to my bishop :)

After church we had brunch in my sister's hotel room and then went exploring. We booked a tram ride which took us all the way up to, what felt like, the top of the world. There was still snow!! Hence, the snowball fight title and you can be sure we had one heck of a fight. We basked in the glory of the view from all sides then hiked down a bit. Adrie and cousin Courtney opted to sled down the snowy short-cut where we made it to a tunnel in the mountains, whichled us to the chairlift, which we took to get us down the rest of the mountain. It was a thrill to ride down the mountain and take in the breeze and breathe in that smell that I remember from childhood--the smell of Snowbird-- wildflowers warmed in the sun with a hint of pine. We spotted 2 moose way down below us which was very exciting even from far away.

Back on land, we got lunch and explored some more. I took Adrie and Bud on a "bear hunt" through the forest to a river and a pond. It was time to wrap up the day when we realized we were very sunburnt!

I think my mom had a great birthday. I sure did! We returned to her home to find dozens of birthday messages on the answering machine, a few little gifties tucked inside the screen door, and a few visitors after that bringing treats. My mom loves her neighbors and they love her. I guess that's what happens when you live in the same neighborhood for 50 years. She really gets to know them and keeps up her tradition of inviting any new family over for Sunday dinner.

Nana feeding the ducks and geese at Sugarhouse Park.We stayed one extra day so we could see cousins from Virginia and we're glad we did!!

I Heart H20

2011-07-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

I love the water. I love to be in it, on it, or right next to it where the waves lap on the shore. I love all water sports, although it's been years since I had the chance to enjoy them...So I had to HUG, HUG, HUG my friend when she invited us to go boating with them. We had a super fun day!!!

The water at Piute Reservoir was unusually calm--smooth as glass, in fact and perfect conditions for us to try out a few firsts.

Brynn's first time knee-boarding My first time wake-boarding.Once the wind picked up and the water got choppier, it was time for the tube.No mercy for me and my teenaged friends. We had were having the ride of lifetime, screaming the whole time until we got flipped off.
My arms were so tired from hanging on for dear life that I couldn't even lift a drink to my lips--still can't. Good thing I drank plenty of lake water!Our church youth group showed up later in the day with another boat, some kayaks, and a water weenie.When we weren't on the boat, the kids had fun playing on the shore. They collected a plateful of crawdads. They chased a couple of lizards and saw a snake. With their lifejackets on they could walk out in the water and float around out there.The water level was extra high this year so that some of the trees and bushes were submerged, with just their leafy tops showing. This made for some fun kayak maneuvering.One last ride, this one a little more gentle.

Yep, I think we could do this every weekend. Anyone want to go in with us on a 26 ft. sooped up Sea Ray with accessories?

Only in Utah

2011-07-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

If you are not a UT resident you may not want to read this. While you were working at the "Daily Grind" we Utahns were celebrating!
The Days of '47 were underway with parades, fireworks, and general merrymaking of the masses in honor of the pioneers who settled this valley. We made a road trip so we could be with family and celebrate in the epicenter of it all.

Days of '47 Parade in Salt Lake City
I haven't been since I was a wee one so this was a treat for all. We scored big time--front row seats and cloud cover the whole time! The people next to us had camped out all night and they let us sit with them! SCORE! We were next to the FM100 booth which was doing the announcing and giving out free otter pops and other goodies. SCORE AGAIN!

Brynn got this. She wore it proudly.
We saw the Prophet! The Governor! Santa! Giant horses, marching bands, clowns, and floats whose artistry blew our minds. Warm feelings of patriotism washed over us every time the flag went by.

Sunday: We attended a broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's "Music and the Spoken Word, Pioneer program." It was a really incredible experience to hear the "greatest choir in the world" live! They performed their amazing arrangement of "Come, Come Ye Saints" and showed images of the pioneers in the triumphs and trials of their journey. Where is the Kleenex when you need it??

Strolling Temple Square. This is where we were married almost....14 !!! years ago!!!

After church we headed to one of Salt Lake's treasures, Red Butte Gardens and had a picnic.Little man Ethan (below) just had surgery last week to repair a "lazy eye."I love this place. It is acres and acres of my dream backyard.
Walking to church. It's always nice to go back to the "home-ward" I grew up in. As we were saying the Young Women theme, "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us..." I looked around to see several women that were MY Young Women leaders growing up. So cool. What great ladies.

During the weekend we enjoyed hanging out at Nana's, running through the sprinklers, tossing the football, building forts, and eating sugar cereal for dinner. We rocked the neighborhood with nightime fireworks, and slept out on the tramp. I slept inside and that is probably why I didn't contribute to the family's running total of 38 mosquito bites! My poor itchy children!
We saw Mr. Popper's Penguins (really, really fun show) and went shopping at Sugarhouse.So, even though we have made this drive like um...niner TEN million times, this was the first time we stopped here--at the animal petting zoo in Scipio. It's awesome. You can chase alpacas, get pecked by emus, and shove goats away from the exit door on your way out! Then you can lather your hands with sanitizer and get a treat at the DQ next door. Our car was overflowing with ice cream. Next time we'll try the mini cones.

All in all a great time and in case you didn't get enough of the hair...

Big Family...Big Reunion!

2011-07-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

Jumpin' Jacks karaoke hot dogs fireworks skits
5 Love Languages by Brandon otter pops slip-n-slide
Talent Show family singing devotionals
BBQ Spanish Fork River Trail treasure hunt
aunts water fight outdoor movie ice cream cones uncles
Harry Potter Premier puppet show cousins Tang
Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works.

We missed the parents this year (on a mission) and the NJ sister and family, but we rallied and had a great time being family.

Big Rock Candy Mountain Whitewater River Rafting

2011-07-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

The title says it all.
It was thrilling. We got soaked. High adventure.
You should come over and do it because the water level is higher than ever this year.

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of lemonade
Come a'tricklin' down the rocks...

There's a lake of stew
and of root beer (and rattlesnakes) too
You can travel all around them in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.

Videos: Patriotic Part 2

2011-07-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

I love a guy who can sing and dance!

Here is Brandon in this year's production of Field of Stars--which by the way--is a musical about the founding of our country. It is written by a very talented lady in our town and would make the founding fathers (and Glenn Beck) so proud!

Three years ago, Brandon was riding his bike to work when this lady (who was also in our ward) stopped him and gave him a part in her musical right then and there. You just have to say yes to Sister Thompson, so that's how he made it to the stage. How's that for casting?! Brandon started the first year as Paul Revere. The next year he was the Preacher. This year Mrs. Thompson wrote special role to sync the play together and make it more concise and understandable. She knew just who she wanted to play this important role--Brandon, and that is how he became the Schoolteacher. "I kept hearing him saying the lines as I was writing." She told us later. So, this part was especially for him and he really did a great job with it. Adrie joined Brandon and became the littlest crew member. She loved every minute of it.
We're feeling more patriotic than ever around here. Enjoy the clips!

Feeling Patriotic: Part 1

2011-07-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

Our Independence Day celebration was fabulous. Not just because we had heaven-sent cloud-cover during the entire parade and a rainstorm to cool us off in the afternoon. We ended up spontaneously sharing the day with our good friends and neighbors. We had them over for homemade peach ice cream and fish (read on) and they had us over for a fruity flag cake and hotdogs.
We had an American Idol Wii Karaoke Competition. Wish I had a video of us all doing the Bohemian Rhapsody. We had SO much fun we vowed to make it a 4th of July tradition.
We finished the day with sparklers and the nightime firework display.

Brynn was very excited to ride on a float in this year's parade. We were NOT going to participate in that annual kids fish grab thing at the park but we just happened to be there at the park eating sno-cones, when the mayhem was about to begin. Adrie and Brynn fought their way through the crowds and came out with a couple ofTHESE! A friendly citizen hanging out nearby gutted the trout for us and gave me instructions on how to COOK them on the grill? So we did!
It was so disgusting and adventurous all at the same time that we just had to try it. Now we know what it tastes like to catch rainbow trout and cook it--it tastes like a river with a lot of dirt.

Saturday's Children's Parade down Main Street

My mom came down to see Brandon and Adria perform in our local patriotic musical, "Field of Stars." They did a fantastic job which I will save for the next post.We took my mom to our favorite little mountain get-away, Maple Grove. Brynn stalked a trout in the stream and after a few attempts actually CAUGHT IT WITH HER BARE HANDS. Pure craziness, but look how proud she is. This one we did NOT eat. She threw it back and we watched it slowly recover from shock and wriggle back to freedom.God Bless America!

7 Days, 4 Kids, 1 hotel room

2011-06-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

It's time again for our annual tag-along-with-Dad-for- a work-conference-trip to the big city of Salt Lake City where things like escalators and elevators provide the simplest of joys for our kids. While Brandon spent his days at the U. of U. being educated in the latest addiction therapy techniques, the kids and I packed in the fun, and I mean PACKED IN THE FUN. I'm tired!!
And oh, I learned some things on this trip too.

DAY 1: FATHER'S DAY
Hugs for a great Dad!! Brandon gave an excellent talk in church about Fatherhood. Adrie gave an excellent talk in Primary about Baptism. The General Primary President of the Church was visiting for all of it and that made things extra exciting.
Lesson #1 I couldn't have picked a better Dad for our kids, than Brandon.

We had Sunday dinner then headed to Salt Lake where the excitement of being in a hotel erupted in endless bouncing on the beds.

DAY 2: MT. OLYMPUS PARK
After our hotel breakfast buffet, Brandon headed off to his conference. The kids and I headed off to join family for some fun. Boy was I glad to unglue the kids from Disney channel dramas and get out of the hotel!

I don't know what the real name for this park is, but since it has a stupendous view of the city to the West and an equally stupendous view of Mt. Olympus to the East, well, that's what we're calling it.

DAY 3: THANKSGIVING POINT: MUSEUM OF ANCIENT LIFE
Silly me, I thought all of Cannon's dreams would come true if I took him to meet some of his real live (in dead form) dinosaur heroes. He was totally freaked out! And then when they jump out at us in the 3D IMAX movie?!!

raaargh Lesson #2: I don't care what it costs, at the end of a hot day, nothing makes kids happier than an ice cream cone

After finishing their treat, and with a bit of a sugar-high, the girls just had to scale the big iron tower that adorns the front of the park. There I was with videocamera in hand, just admiring their monkey powers like the proudest mom in the world when an employee scolded them for getting too high. They got down and ironically we all piled into our minivan in the handicapped parking spot. I really hoped somebody would start limping in front of the on-lookers. Even my mom (who is actually handicapped and the reason we get to park there) glided effortlessly over.

GILGAL GARDENS: This little treasure is tucked away in a neighborhood near Trolley Square. A resident turned his garden into a backyard memorial of his favorite scriptures and when he died, it was opened to the public.There were stone pathways weaving through flowerbeds inscribed with scriptures and verses to hymns, monuments to the Priesthood. Can you guess whose head that is on the sphinx? Each sculpture had a story behind it. Fascinating!

Lesson #3: When creating a backyard sanctuary, think outside the box.

I was so impressed with the place, I took Brandon after our dinner date. He thought it was pretty cool too. It was fun to be back in the neighborhood of the U. where BD and I spent our happy first couple years of married life. We decided on a Vietnamese restaurant.

Lesson #5: Spring noodle salad with lemongrass-- Vietnamese food is really good.

Day 4: ANTELOPE ISLAND/ THE GREAT SALT LAKE
When I flew to Florida last month, I sat next to a chatty lady on the plane who wanted to know all about the Great Salt Lake, what's it like, what is it used for? Sadly, even though I grew up next to it I was completely ignorant?! She was visibly disappointed.So FLASHBACK -- - AND LET'S REPLAY THAT PRECIOUS OPPORTUNITY--

TO THE LADY ON THE PLANE:
The Great Salt Lake is a wonderful natural resource that we here in the Salt Lake area are very proud of:

it's 5 times more salty than the ocean!
it's that way because it has no outlets
in fact, you can go out there and actually float in it, almost effortlessly. Really, we tried it, and it was awesome!
Antelope Island is home to a huge herd of bison, and many different species of waterfowl like pelicans.

handful of brine shrimp.
Really, it's just like a day at the beach-- except stinkier, and with tiny brine shrimp swimming in your nether parts--also swarms of biting gnats, and no palm trees, just a few giant roaming buffaloes for shade.
Yep, you should totally go there :)

Would you also be interested in learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, of which I am a member?....

Okay back to the present...

Lesson #6 After another long hot day, nothing makes Nana (my mom) happier than gourmet chocolate.Day 5: SEVEN PEAKS SALT LAKE WATERPARK:
My niece watched Cannon so I could take the girls. She surprised us by packing our beach bag with snacks. What a dear. She's always doing nice things like that.

Fun to ride the waves with the girls.
There wasn't a slide those daredevils wouldn't go on!

After all that fun and sun it was nice to go back to the hotel and reacquaint ourselves with Dad, have some dinner, more bouncing on the beds, and of course enjoy the pool.Lesson #7: It doesn't really matter how many fun activities you pack into your vacation because all the kids really care about is swimming in the hotel pool.

DAY 6: CARS 2 GRAND PREMIER
We checked out of the hotel and my mom treated us all to the earliest show at our favorite theater (they have kettle corn--which was the best part of the movie for me), Then we headed South to visit family.
We had some good quality time with Brandon's sister's family and his brother's family. So many cousins to play with! When it was time to head back, and we were driving home we couldn't help thinking. Our families are awesome and that leads us to our last and most important lesson:
Lesson #8: Time spent visiting with family is the best time spent of all!

Raising the Flag

2011-06-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

When my dad died 6 months ago, a very nice person gave me some money to buy something that would help me remember him. I knew exactly what to get. A flag! Here it is in honor of my Dad who would have celebrated his 80th birthday today, Flag Day.

To everyone else, Flag Day in and of itself, was a great reason to celebrate. A very patriotic mother in the neighborhood organized a children's parade around the block. I thought that was a super idea. Happy Flag Day everyone and Happy Birthday Dad. We're thinking of you on this day!

Summer of the Monkeys--literally.

2011-06-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

We joined some great friends for a day in the mountains. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

We followed the stream until it shattered into a hundred tiny waterfalls. Some of the boys were reeling in rainbow trout and showed us how it was done. This would have been a great chance for Kate to fulfill #7 on her summer list but she was too busy doing this....to bother with boys, tackle and bait.

Oh the primal joy of swinging from the trees!

After hours of exploring and swinging, with the occasional plunge into that icy snow-melt, we had dinner around the campfire, a program and sticky s'mores. What a super fun day.

Swinging was so much fun we did it again later in the week, only this time in town at our favorite "vine tree" park.

It was the perfect place for a picnic and reading. The kids loved climbing and swinging in those majestic drippy trees and running barefoot through endless stretches of green grass.

With all this tree-lovin', it seems only right that this month's read aloud would be Summer of the Monkeys.

Summer Bummin'

2011-06-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more beautiful than settling down with a good book and then looking up to see all your kids doing the same! 3 quietly reading girls in various spots in the living room--it's like honey for a mother's heart!
When Cannon saw what was going on he got a book and wedged himself between 2 of his sisters, although, his reading wasn't exactly quiet...

Now take this scene and flip it upside down and shake it like a game of Boggle. Earlier in the week, when I presented my marvelous summer reading and job schedule the place erupted with shouts of protest, tears of complaint, "I thought summer was supposed to be FUN, " and so on.

Much to everyone's surprise (especially mine) once implemented, our schedule made for a pretty darn good first week of summer. A trip to the library was key and then it went like this:

Family scriptures, prayer, jobs and practicing done before 10 a.m. (thought that was pretty generous time-table except that now they're waking up at 9!)

Each of the girls takes a turn choosing and preparing lunch at noon. While eating, I read aloud. This week we started and finished STONE FOX, only Brynn had to finish it for me because I was sobbing. Beautiful story.
After lunch silent reading. Kate set the timer for 20 minutes the first day, but the beeping was ignored. The girls read and read and read and we didn't have to set the timer for the rest of the week.

Some of Brynn's favorites this week: The Chocolate Touch, and Frindle (which Kate recommended)
Adrie finished Sarah Crewe, Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Kate has been reading junior fiction murder mysteries and Cannon? He likes the same books over and over, We're going on a bear hunt and Clifford the big red dog.
I am finishing up The Read Aloud Handbook which I just want to HUG for inspiring our summer reading program. LOVE THIS BOOK.

We'll need another read-aloud selection this week and I don't think I have the emotional stability for "Where the Red Fern Grows."
Do you have any memories of being read aloud to in school or at home? What were your favorite reads?

Besides reading the days away, here's what made the list of summer goals.
Adrie

play Super Mario brothers

Brynn

go to the swimming pool
watch Rio
go ice skating
play Wii
do Jymnastics
go to Lagoon
go to 7 peeks
go to Disneyland
go to Florida
go to the beach

Kate

go to a BYU game
go to Disneyland
go to Disneyworld
have a sleepover with Anika
make homemade suckers
go to Lagoon
go hunting
go camping
go fishing
ride bike to Taco Time
save up money

We're looking for foster parents to fulfill Kate's 7,8, and9. We're also accepting donations for Brynn's #9 and Kate's #3. I think the rest might have a chance.

Moving On

2011-05-29T19:15:00.001-07:00

Oh it's hard to leave the beach (post), I know, but it's time to cover some of the other exciting events happening at home.

Brynn participated in her first gymnastics meet.

She overcame her fears and did a fantastic job.
She took first place all-around in her division and has been invited to move up and on to the Junior Olympic team. All that means is:

1. I'll be able to live out my dreams through my child. (not quite like Violet's mom from the newer Willy Wonka movie, but I am wearing a jogging suit--yikes.) (I had to quit once I got to competition level because of a wrist injury. )

2. We'll now be sacrificing all of our time and money to the gymnastics gods.

If no one else, Brynn is VERY excited about this. Her enthusiasm has rubbed off on Adrie, who can't wait to start her beginner's class next week.
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Random shots from the meet. Kate got a job writing down and flashing the judge's results, which made the event go by much faster than it otherwise would have, for her.

Also this week, the kids finished school. Kate is the only kid I know who is upset about this. She wrote a nice note to her teacher saying, "I wish you could be my teacher every year." So cute and I agree, her teacher, Mrs. Hovinga, was outstanding.
To celebrate we went to the carnival.

This is Brynn -- alive and well enough to want a candy apple--after riding the Gravitron.

Planes, Trains, and Convertibles

2011-05-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

Where would you go if you had a free round trip plane ticket to anywhere in the continental U.S.?
New York City?
Me too! We should totally travel together.
What if you got as far as Chicago and found out your plane would be delayed for 4 hours because of heavy rain in New York. What if you found out it was going to be 60's and rainy all week there? Would it change your plans?
What if you looked over to the next gate and saw a flight leaving for Ft. Lauderdale, Florida?
What if you asked the people waiting to get on that flight what it was like there and they said, 77 degrees, sunny, and gorgeous white sandy beaches." Where should we go and how does one get in such a predicament? That's what the people we were asking wanted to know. My sister (I want to hug her now) works for the airlines (the one that gives pita chips) and so she and my mom and I were all able to fly standby. To further tip the scales we found out that all three of us, because we're on standby, might not make it on the last flight out to NYC and would therefore have to spend the night in Chicago. The flight to Ft. Lauderdale? totally available. We took it!! Our trip to New York ended up here:

Moral of the story: Always pack a swimsuit!

DAY ONE (not including the day of flying): FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
No regrets about flying to Paradise! All the things they said were true! We explored the beachside shops, ate coconut mango tilapia, and lounged on the glorious white sand. My mom asked a nice homeless man if he would please watch our purses while we went swimming. She had given him some chocolates out of the mish mash ziplock bag of snacks she carries everywhere for just such occasions. Shannon and I marched off, clutching our purses, to the nearest flock of safe tourists, and my mom finally caught up. The beach here is way different than in CA. No waves, the water is WARM, you can walk out 50 yards and still SEE the bottom. How reassuring?? sort of. My sister (bless her heart) was a little PARANOID about possible creature encounters. When I told her there was a fish right next to her, and swimming between her legs, she practically walked on water to get out of there. A few minutes later it was my turn. There we were enjoying ourselves in the water immensely when I see this large (6 foot?) black blob under the water gliding straight toward us.
I SCREAMED and using my fastest water polo strokes, sped to shore running safely on the beach. WHAT WAS THAT????? My sister was close behind, and all she could wonder was, "Why did you leave me out there to die?" Another lady on the beach came running over to us. She had seen that "thing" make it's way down the beach and didn't have time to warn us. It was a manatee. A manatee? the gentle fresh water giant? What was it doing in the ocean? She explained that they sometimes get lost and find themselves in the ocean. This one was probably trying to find it's way back to the fresh water channels that throughout the city. Our fear turned into hysterical laughter. My sister, however, was still mad at me for fleeing the scene without a last hug.

As if we hadn't had enough nature encounters, we went swimming again later in the evening. I was laying on my back floating, when all of a sudden, an ugly fish head came flying right towards my face!!! Aackk.. Once again the water polo swimming came in handy, and all the people on the beach were able to have a good laugh, especially myself.

DAY 2. We rented a convertible and drove South to the Florida Keys.

Unfortunately we took the wrong freeway and ended up on a very long detour through MIAMI.

The above picture says it all.

Miami feels like a foreign country. You go into the gas station and only see and hear Spanish--loved it! One thing I like about Latino guys is they're not afraid to yell "Hey Honey" and other things when they see three ladies driving along in a convertible.

My mom did not sit in the back the whole time--don't worry! She wanted to lie down back there and "rest" for awhile.

Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go to...

Except for taking forever, the drive down the keys was awesome. Check out that water. You are driving on a highway with the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It was seriously torture for me to see that water and be stuck in the car. I wanted to get out and swim so so badly!!. I finally got our chance when we made it to Key West, the southernmost city in the U.S.

We took the Conch (pronounced Konk) Train tour through the city and learned about it's Cuban and Pirate history, and saw Hemingway's house.

3 things you have to do in Key West:

1. Watch the Sunset. It's the only place on the East Coast where the sun sets over the ocean.

2. Eat Key Lime Pie. It went from being my least favorite pie of all time (besides mince meat) to my new all time favorite pie. That's how good it is down here. Somebody find me the recipe!

3. Experience a Nude Beach. NOT! I finally found a place I would not want to live. It is just a little too "free and open" of a society down here. There are clothing optional signs. I'm still have a sour taste in my memory from seeing a naked man lounging on his balcony.

If we'd had more time I would have liked to try Cuban cuisine. Also my sister and I would have loved to rent a kayak and explore the reef.

Mom was anxious to get back to the mainland. She was sure that a hurricane could strike at any moment and wipe us off the map. So, it was back on the road to Ft. Lauderdale--on the right road this time.

DAY 3 EVERGLADES:

Before our flight home we took an airboat tour of the Everglades. On board with us was a most unique family. They looked like a picture right out of Colonial America--A man and wife with their teenage son. We found upon asking, that they were from Pennsylvania, Amish country. They were every bit as interesting as the habitat we were in.

They seemed to be having the time of their lives on the boat and were so cute and curious about every little thing. I hope they are not planning to go to Key West!!

The Everglades were teeming with wildlife: fish, birds, turtles, frogs, insects, and ALLIGATORS--too many of them--too close to our little boat. Luckily that boat can speed when it wants too and luckily there is so much other yummy food around that alligators are not really interested in eating us. We were warned NOT to stick our hands in the water because of water moccasins (one bite is deadly) and some slug that can give you a scary-awful infection. No more info needed for me but of course my mom has to defy the rules. She reached in there to nab a yellow water lily.

The "after the tour gator show."

We said goodbye to our Amish friends and the alligators and took a shuttle to the airport.

It takes a force stronger than the tide to pull me away from the beach. Especially one like Ft. Lauderdale's. That force is love for my husband and kids back at home.

So it was back to reality. Our flight was so full we were lucky to get on. I had to sit in the back, in a middle seat next to a VERY large black man. He said he was a professional firefighter, but I would have sworn he was a professional linebacker. We had to snuggle for that very long flight to Phoenix, where we dropped of my sister. Then my mom and I headed back to SL. Phew. Lots of peanuts and pita chips later, I'm glad to be back home with Brandon and the kids again. I would have a huge long list of people to thank for making this trip possible, but first and foremost is Brandon who allows me to let out that itchy travel bug every so often.

Y oh Y

2011-05-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's a wonder that Adrie complains so much about going to dance every week when she does such a great job on the stage! She just had her dance recital last week and we enjoyed watching her hip-hop moves. She looked so much older to us up there under the lights. This is Adrie's last dance recital, probably ever! She is ready to turn in her tap shoes and give gymnastics a try like her big sister.

Earlier in the week we took the kids out of school and made a trip to BYU for the final week of the Carl Bloch art exhibit. My mom met us there and went through it with us. Ahhh! Breathtaking, life-size original paintings! It was like standing in the room with Jesus, the paintings were so vibrant and real! I don't know if the kids appreciated the experience as much as I did, but they sure liked the nose pencil sharpeners they got from the museum gift shop. I bought a booklet of the Carl Bloch prints. Looking at the prints though, in no way does justice to the originals. It's like this-- (when I get started on one of my brilliant analogies, BD rolls his eyes.) Seeing a print of a painting is like looking at the body without a soul. It's a good reminder of the original but it lacks feeling and energy and light. Thanks for not rolling your eyes.
Anyway, we had a great experience and then headed out to show our kids the campus where their parents met and fell in love 13 years ago....
Enjoying spring blossoms and the reflection pool outside the Museum of Art We loved walking around the beautiful BYU campus. Everyone thought our kids were adorable, even when they would dart in front of them, or stall in the doorways, or suck water from the drinking fountains. We couldn't have agreed more.

50 points if you can recognize this building...
We totally re-defined the kids' definition of library when we took them to see BYU's magnificent under-campus structure! Wowsers. BYU bookstore paraphernalia We stopped in for a surprise visit to see Dev. Doesn't he look surprised?

Brandon and I both have lots of good memories from BYU, especially dating each other so it was fun for us to be back and enjoy it all over again in a day.

Women's Superpower Conference

2011-04-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

This weekend I joined my mom and 18,000 of my closest friends for BYU Women's Conference! Talk about re-charching the batteries! I'm on a spiritual high--not to be confused with a BYU mint brownie high.
No longer am I going to be the crabby mean mom, the naggy complaining wife, the slacker visiting teacher. Heck no! I've returned a new woman. That 2 days of inspired counsel and motivation--and mint brownies-- were just what I needed to become the amazing woman I was meant to be.

Here are some of the notes I took:
Keep it Small. Keep it simple. Give it Time. During adverse growing conditions, trees slow down and FOCUS on the ESSENTIALS. (Virginia Hinckley Pearce)
When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold. Count your many blessings money cannot buy. Your reward in heaven nor your home on high. ..Count your many blessings see what God hath done. (Hymn #241)
The only person I need to be better than is the person I was yesterday. (Barbara Thompson)
Live the "As If" principle. Treat everyone "As If" they are your best friend (Kathy K. Clayton)
Nurturing, Teaching, Influencing; These are our SACRED DUTIES as mothers that can't be delegated.
Mine is a home where every hour is blessed by the strength of Priesthood power.(Julie B. Beck)
Besides motherhood, visiting teaching can have the greatest influence for good. Be a friend, visit often, be prepared to make sacrifices, and don't let the "mists of busyness" distract you. A good home teacher brings a toolbox because no woman will turn away a man with a toolbox in hand. (Bridgette B. Server and Mary Ellen Edmunds)
Some lesser known phrases from the church manual's definition of abuse: constant criticizing, belittling, inducing feelings of guilt. (Lolly and Russell T. Osguthorpe)
Retire early, wake up early, get adequate nutrition, exercise, scriptures and prayers.
We could learn a lot from a drip irrigation system: steadiness in small things done consistently is the key (Susan and David A. Bednar)

During breaks we walked around campus and inhaled fresh blossomy air! (except on that day we had to wear coats--and darn it I was wearing such a cute shirt underneath)
This is my dream backyard. Isn't it lovely? I think if I could just pick up my house and put it in the neighborhood across the street I could totally live here. BD could ride his bike over to campus counsel stressed-out students and teach a class or two. I could skip over and audit all the classes I wanted. We'd go to plays and concerts and ball games. You could park at our house for women's conference (cuz it's CRAZY in those parking lots) and when your kids went to college they could rent a room in the basement! You could fund all our BYU study abroad trips! Just a thought??!!!

Thursday night we were THOROUGHLY entertained with a stellar line-up. Performances were by David Osmond, Hillary Weeks, Jenny Oaks Baker (never knew the violin could be played like THAT!) Josh Wright (never knew the PIANO could be played like THAT!) Cherie Call, April Meservy, Vocal Point, Kirby Heybourne emceed and said we all smelled so good.

And I know this is getting lengthy! You've probably given up but I just have to mention this one FREAKY moment and ask if this has happened to anyone else. I looked over a few rows and saw my TWIN! Seriously this girl had my same hair, cut and color, same profile and was wearing my same jacket. I kept staring, bewildered, and in a moment of pure freakiness I felt like I was out of my body WATCHING me from a distance. Hoooooly weird-- What is in those brownies?? Shouldn't we have taken our pictures together??? Yeah, that would have been pretty freaky for HER! (Plus she'd probably think SHE was the cute one.)

Anyway, it was a great time and I'm just going to throw in this photo of my nephew (aka little brother) and his little guy,both of whom we haven't seen in years! They weren't at women's conference ! Phew! No! They were back at mom's house and visiting from AZ, My other nephew was visiting from NYC. Too bad I didn't get a photo of him. Just picture a totally handsome, totally available good Mormon guy who just graduated with his MBA and just landed a great job in Manhattan. Woohoo. (Call if interested and I can totally hook you up.)

It's great to be a mom and wife again!!

Easterfest

2011-04-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday was not at all relaxing but it earned an A for fun and busy. The girls woke up to dresses and candy. Some of them almost didn't wake up to anything...but more on that later. Brandon led the choir for our Sunday Easter program and taught the EQ lesson. I led the kids musical number and the congregation, and taught a roudy class of 6-7 year olds. Between the music and primary gear, I think I broke some kind of church record (and almost my clavicle) for heaviest bag. Next time I'm bringing a wheeled suitcase! Scratch that--next time I'm going to say NO to something. (I'll practice it this week.)

We had neighbors over for ham and potatoes after church and our old neighbor friend came over later in the day for re-heats. All added to the festivities of the day.

Cannon sporting his Easter accessories and some Attitude.

Of course, the annual family egg hunt was a blast. The pictures say it all.

COUSINS!!!

Random shots taken by Kate

Candy, chocolate, and new clothes aside, we tried to incorporate the REAL meaning of Easter by reading and sometimes acting out the events of Jesus' last week.

Palm Sunday: Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem
Monday: Jesus cleansing the temple and overthrowing the tables of the money-changers.
Tuesday: Parables. We talked about the Widow's Mite
Wednesday: No record for this day. We talked about the Parable of the Ten Virgins
Thursday: Last Supper, Garden of Gethsemane
Friday: Crucifixion
Saturday: Jesus Teaches in the Spirit World
Sunday: RESURRECTION

Doesn't it sound like the perfect agenda for family togetherness and love? Maybe, in your house, but in ours every time we'd break out the scriptures, that's when the fighting would start. Most of the kids had their turn for time out during one lesson or another. By the end of the week, Dad said the Easter bunny wouldn't be bringing baskets until we all learned the REAL reason for Easter.... Some of them had to make up some reading on their own time. It worked, or at least the Easter bunny erred on the side of generosity. We extended the movie, Narnia:Lion Witch and the Wardrobe over a couple of nights and watched it as a family. This may be our new Easter tradition because there is no better way to explain the Atonement and Resurrection so vividly... and best of all there was more snuggling than fighting!!
Happy Easter 2011!

Ready, Set, Hunt

2011-04-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

The 1st annual neighborhood Easter egg hunt was underway this weekend.

Eggs were found-- high and low.

Friendships were forged.

Outdoor games were in full swing.

With the lovely weather, it was a recipe for a perfect afternoon.

Living the Dream, Baby.

2011-04-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

My neighbor was recently surprised to find out that I blogged.
"You have a blog?" he asked.
"Yes." I said.
" What do you write about?"
"My AWESOME LIFE!" (obviously)

Here's what's been happening recently in my awesome life.

My 3-year old who potty trained himself? Easy come. Easy go.
That boy completely UN-potty trained himself. As of the last week he has marked his territory at our neighbor's house down the street, our neighbor's across the street, and several areas of our own house, with a high-traffic area of the kitchen being his favorite.

I went to a free seminar on how to make money at home. I figured I spend enough time on the computer that I might as well make some money, right? Medical transcription sounded like the perfect job for me to do while Bud's over peeing at the neighbor's. And, I already know a lot of lingo. BD says we have other ways to fund our vacation fund.

Friday, we rented, Unstoppable. While we're watching the train run away, he turned to me and asked, "Could you please stop gripping my clavicle." (Looks like he'd be good at medical transcription too :)

BD spent a day home dividing his time between the bed and and the toilet. Adrie had her sick day, and mine is today. I don't have any oils for that ailment but I think Gatorade is awesome.

In better news, I had an awesome dream. I must have been in a Zumba class because there I was in front of a big mirror in a class of people in all shapes and sizes, and even ethnicities. (I guess I have multi--racial dreams.) Anyway, I was surprised to look in the mirror and notice that I had a CUTE TUSH! It was so hot I thought, I better watch out. This is in stark contrast to some of my other body-image dreams where I look in the mirror and discover that I'm horribly obese. "How did it get to this and how come nobody told meeee....," I wake up screaming. I'll take the cute tush dream any day--or night.

Actually, I did go to Zumba class. (My behind was almost as cute as in my dream.) That was a super fun, sweat drippin' down my neck--eww, party! I'll be signing up for more of that.

To complete our awesome week BD and I went to comedian/performer Jason Hewlitt. I laughed like a drunk. I'm sure all the prom dates sitting by us were like, "Sheesh, this lady needs to get out more often." But, man, when somebody does a perfect impression of SLOTH from Goonies, or of Stevie Wonder, or Michael Jackson or any 80's rock band, that just strikes my funnybone. Ahhh, it felt good to laugh. You can check watch his promo oh YouTube. here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENwmxThIfkI

Okay, I'm going back to bed.

AMEN!

2011-04-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah! What a wonderful weekend of feasting on "the word" (and on treats.) We watched the 181st LDS General Conference with family in Salt Lake City. It was Spring green when we drove up and Winter white when we drove home. Such is April in Utah. Here's the good news...

The church has grown to 14 million members across the world.
160 Temples dot the earth with 3 more announced in ID, CO, and CANADA.
LDS Humanitarian services sent 70 tons of supplies to Japan after the earthquake.
Over 50, 000 missionaries serve all over the world (Wohoo to Mom and Dad C. in MASS)

A sprinkling of notes I took from 2 days of inspired counsel...

Use the Sabbath Day to worship, take the Sacrament, rest from labors, minister to others and do some personal introspection to repent and correct our faults. * Look to children as our examples; they are the first to love and the first to forgive. Don't just casually observe them, BEHOLD your little ones * Turn feelings of sympathy into ACTION * Death is part of life * Do not let our fears displace our faith * Answers to prayers do not always come when we're on our knees, they come when we're on our feet. Tithing will keep your name on the rolls of heaven * Happiness = a Christ-centered home; selfishness, greed, and pornography are destroyers of families * When sheep are lost, lambs will follow * DESIRES dictate PRIORITIES which shape our CHOICES which determine our ACTIONS * Kindness is the essence of greatness * Hearken to the promptings of the Spirit then heed them * It is usually through others that God meets our needs * If we handle them right, our afflictions will be consecrated for our good * Be kind to the poor. Visit the captive, minister to the sick, comfort those that mourn * The spirit of revelation is available to all who seek it. ASK in FAITH, BELIEVING and ye shall receive * Make whatever sacrifices are necessary to attend the temple regularly.
And lastly, I love this one:

Preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words.
--St. Francis of Assisi

Why don't I live here?

2011-03-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

We're baaack... from a little vacation to one of our favorite destinations! Why do I love you so much St. George???
You have all my favorite stores within a 10 minute radius! Brandon can do a little golfing while I can shop to my heart's content. What about the kids? You have the awesomest pool ( it has a waterslide) and the coolest park around (apparatuses enough to make you seriously dizzy.) And for the whole family? You have nature spectacular. Last time we did Zion's. This time we hiked the petrified dunes of Snow Canyon where the rocks are so red and the skies are so blue and SUNNY! Okay, the trip could have been a little warmer but 60 degrees and rain sure beat the 30's and snow that we would have had back at home. Besides all that fun we had some good quality bonding with my mom. It's thanks to her that we can come and spend a fun week in a condo.

I'm not sure why we don't live here??
This lady does (in the winter) and the name of her house? Casa Mariposa, as you can see they have a thing for butterflies which I will explain in a minute. This lady was my neighbor growing up in SL. I grew up with her daughter, my same age. Tragically, her daughter was killed in an accident at age 20. While our family was planning my wedding, their family was planning her funeral.
Her daughter loved butterflies, hence the yard accent. It was good to visit with the family and share memories.

Other awesome people live here too--like my BIL and SIL!
The former was able to join BD and watch the BYU game on cable. Even I watched it--faint. That Jimmer must be awesome because I could have been shopping. Cousins were able to play together. If it hadn't been raining we would have got in a game of Pickle Ball on the outdoor court. ah well, next time.

Anyway, as much as I love being on vacation, it is nice to be home again, even if it is 30 degrees and snowing! I've hopefully treasured up enough sun to get me through.

Feliz Cumpleanos to Cannon

2011-03-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all and Birthday #3 for Cannon
Cannon has been dreaming of this day ever since he saw me put the Mack truck in the cart while grocery shopping a few weeks ago. He would see it in my closet and say, "That's my birthday Mack." Well, he finally got to open it! And he scored a Mater to go with the rest of his collection. He has been one happy boy all morning long.
We sure didn't expect to wake up to this weatherCannon in a birthday outfit. It's a rough rhino just like him.

He had a few friends over today for some green cupcakes and green milk.
Green food coloring + new toys + 5 little people = HYPERACTIVITY

What would life be like without Cannon? It really turned my world upside down to have a boy after 3 girls. He is everything everyone warned me about. He climbs, gets into things, tackles when you least expect it, likes things that go like trains and cars, drinks toilet water, and is fascinated with potty humor. He is 100% BOY. He is our comic relief, is so affectionate (in a rough sort of way) and we all love him.

3 more things about Cannon:

1. Spanglish is his primary language. "Mom look there's a vaca (cow)" or Can I take a bano (bath) I want JUGO POR FAVOR (juice please) He somehow knows to use regular English with everyone else and save the Spanglish for the natives at home.

2. He is not a homebody like BD and the girls. He likes to go go go to the store to the park to see the horses down the street. If anybody is going anywhere he has to tag along, even if it's just to get the mail. He could hop from friends house to friends house all day long and be happy as a clam. He keeps asking when we can go to Adam's to play trains and Adam lives a day trip away. Given his need for speed and his international language abilities, we hope he'll consider a career as an airline pilot, so we can go go go too.

3. Finding a boy name that BD and I could both agree on was hard! He shot down all of my suggestions?! Sometime during pregnancy, I must have mentioned my 8th grade crush because BD decided that was a cool name. We didn't know anyone else with it and it went well with our last name. Glad to finally have a winner, it was much easier to pick a middle name. We went with Brandon's which is Duhn (pronounced doon), after his Danish ancestor.

This song is from CARS. It is the one Cannon requests every family night.. we don't really ever know the lyrics but we try...

Kate the Great

2011-03-03T18:41:00.001-08:00

Kate turned 10. She had a wonderful day and the party hasn't even started yet! Tomorrow she will go to the skating rink with a few friends. They're going to pretend I'm not there watching so they can be cool pre-tweens.
Here are some fun facts about Kate...

1. As you can see in the picture she is a BYU and sports fan. She is turning into the perfect son for her dad. Just tonight Dad was teaching her (in the house) how to throw a perfect spiral. For her birthday she got what she wanted: BYU football paraphernalia.

2. Kate is very responsible. She is the best oldest child a mother could ask for. Sometimes I think she's more responsible than me. She does a great job helping her younger siblings and is the very best babysitter. It's thanks to her that we have worry-free date nights!

3. Kate likes to play practical jokes. Whether it's hiding in ambush and scaring one of her sisters half to-death, or sneezing spaghetti noodles out of her nose, she likes to go for the shock value.

4. Her favorite cuss word is "poop." If you want to cuss her out call her a "girly-girl."

5. Kate can draw very well, certainly better than either of her parents and the evidence can be found all over the house. She might draw mustaches and tattoos on the people in the obituaries. We might find a scrap of paper with football player running with a ball or a girl with spiky hair and heels in the corner of her homework page.

6. P.E. and recess are her favorite subjects. (Definitely a kid after her dad's own heart.)

7. Since she was little she has always been trying to think of ways to get money. She has sold the neighbors cookies, lemonade, rocks, crafts. She does all the planning, prepping, and baking and then recruits Brynn to do the soliciting. Once she and Brynn went around with a box selling some of their old toys. They made a few dollars and then turned around and spent it when the neighborhood kids started selling their old toys. What does Kate do with her money? She usually invests in a couple big bags of candy. One to eat herself. The other to "pay" her sisters to do her jobs. "25 skittles to clean my room, anyone?"

8. If Kate had her way, we would move to Hollywood so she could pursue a career in Acting. I'm all for it if it will pay the mortgage on our beach house.

9. Kate is our "miracle baby." After 20-ish hours of labor, Kate's heartbeat stopped. I was rushed to the O.R. for an emergency c-section. The scariest experience of our life followed. As the medical crew was frantically scrubbing up I prayed and prayed. I had a feeling of peace that everything would be okay but then I worried , "Is that an okay that she's going to live or an okay that she's going to die?" I couldn't imagine going through all that anticipation and sickness of pregnancy and then not coming home with a baby.
By the time they got Kate out she was not breathing at all. Her Apgar scores were low and she was basically lifeless. The doctor would have sent her by air-med to a bigger hospital but couldn't because of a huge snowstorm. I was under full anesthesia during the delivery but Brandon wasn't. Thank goodness his parents were there with him. Brandon and his dad and the doctor gave Kate a Priesthood blessing. A few minutes later she cried! And cried and cried for the next few hours! To everyone there, this was nothing short of a miracle. You can imagine how grateful I was to wake up and find out that she was not only alive, but she the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. We have been extra grateful for Kate ever since and for the healing powers of heaven.

10. Brandon chose the name Kate and we gave her the middle name of Sharon, after her "nana," my mom.

SWEET! Wheat Treats

2011-02-24T18:26:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you mix a wannabe health nut with a sugar junkie?
Some really great whole grain treats!

Here are my favorite all natural, whole-grain, recipes with yes...some sugar:

Granola Bars (thanks to my friend B. R. for this)
2 cups oats
3/4 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup seeds (I use half flax, half pumpkin)
1 cup nuts, crushed (I use half almonds, half peanuts)
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
4 T. butter (I use coconut oil--yum!)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. real salt
8 oz. dried fruit (I use one handful each of dried blueberries and dried pomegranates)

Mix first 4 ingredients in a baking dish with sides. Toast them in the oven for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees, stirring every few minutes.

Prepare a 9x13 pan for granola by lining it with waxed paper or plastic wrap, sprayed with nonstick spray.

Put sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and salt in saucepan and bring to a simmer stirring constantly.

When grains are toasted mix everything in large bowl: the grains, liquid glue, and dried fruit.
Mix well. Dump into prepared pan. Place another plastic or wax sheet over the top and PRESS HARD all over the granola.
Let cool (30 min. to an hour). Carefully turn the granola over onto a large cutting board. With a large knife cut your granola into whatever size bars you like.
You can wrap them individually in plastic for lunches or just put them in an airtight container. They will last for a month or so in the cupboard--unless you eat them first.

I Loooove these--much better than anything you can by at the store--my kids like these too. Adrie calls them "candy bars."

And now for my very favorite cookies:

Great Harvest Cookies (thanks to my niece for finding this--they taste as good as the ones I grew up with from the G. H. bakery)
2 cups wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar (can be reduced a little)
2 eggs
1 1/2 T. molasses
1 T. milk

2 cups oatmeal
1 cup raisins (optional but good)

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix together and add the oatmeal and raisins.

These are fun to eat when they're big just like at the bakery. Drop 1/4 cup sized (or smaller) onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, 350 degrees. Do not overbake--they are best moist and chewy.

Adria Laura

2011-02-18T12:04:00.000-08:00

Adrie turned 6 the other day! She had the most funtastical day ever. Actually, it was a whole week of fun with all the Valentine's parties going on. Her special day started with Cupcake Krispies cereal in bed, some boola boola present finding, and her party...
Adrie got roller-blades for her birthday. They only had green ones in her size and luckily she thinks they're very cool. She wears them from the time she gets up to the time she goes to bed...so it's been taking a lot longer lately to get her chores done.
Adrie thought it took FOREVER to get to 1 pm when her party started. She invited a couple of her favorite friends for a fun afternoon. They got their hair styled at the college. CUTE! Brynn got out of school early to come with us per Adrie's request. We had to go somewhere to show off their cute do's so we went to McDonalds for Happy Meals and Playland. This was the only birthday party I've ever put on where I was able to sit down and get 20 pages of a book read! Loved it!
We had homemade mac-n-cheese for dinner (another recipe from Taste Buds) and the above pictured cake, which Adrie had planned on eating all by herself because it was "so small." Two mouthfuls of frosting later she decided she it might be okay to share with the rest of us. We watched Alpha and Omega which was a lot better than I thought it would be. It produced enough laughs from all of us--especially the 6 year old.

Adrie is a super cute and fun girl to have. I get to spend a lot of time with her because it is only her and Cannon at home now. Here are 6 fun facts about Adrie:

1. She's just so cute. She has these perfect lips, kissable cheeks, and sparkly blue eyes that make her my little doll. She likes to ask me what her name would be if she were an Indian, and I always answer "Jewel Eyes."

2. People assume Adrie is as little as she looks and then they're amazed when she opens her mouth and starts to talk. She corrected the hairdressers when they thought she was four. "Actually, I'm six."She learned to talk at an early age. One day when I asked her what she was doing on the computer she said, "I'm building my vocabulary." She explained to her friends recently that it wasn't "proper" to toot.

3. "How many more days until dance?" is Adrie's FAQ. She loves her class, especially now that they are learning some hip hop. She loves to dress up and is very confident on the stage.

4. Adrie is absolutely TERRIFIED of cats and dogs-- and actually anything that moves--even flies. If any of the above were to approach you would hear a scream that would be more consistent with someone being murdered. Therefore she mostly stays at home...good thing she likes to read....

5. Adrie also learned to read at an early age and has been ever since. We can't get her to bed some nights because she is so into a book. Lately she's been poring over the Book of Mormon and we certainly can't tell her to stop reading that and go to bed.

6. I had a friend named Adria growing up and thought it was a beautiful and unique name. I always wanted to name one of my girls Adria Laura but I couldn't convince Brandon on the first. When our 3rd girl came along I thought I might have another chance. Before we went to the hospital we'd narrowed it down to Allie or Adria and decided that when she was born we'd see what name she looked more like. (I know that might seem like a weird concept but I just like to see my babies before I can commit to a name.) Obviously, we thought she looked like the latter. We call her Adrie for short and it seems to be just the right name for our pretty princess.

So Romantical

2011-02-16T08:59:00.000-08:00

So Brandon came home from work yesterday and said the most magical words to me. He could see I was in the kitchen, busily whipping up a recipe for dinner (from Taste buds are the Best Buds.) And that is when he said those magical words, "What can I do to help?" Did you catch that?

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

I swear there is nothing more romantic to woman who's swirling around a kitchen of chaos with 3 pots going on the stove, a sink full of dishes, and a house full of children and their friends. And I mean it when I say those words were magical. I felt lighter, practically weightless, just by hearing them. He cleared all the paperwork off the table so Kate could set it and we could enjoy our sweet n sour chicken dinner. He had one very grateful wife!

We went to the Jon Schmidt piano concert last night. It was fabulous and inspiring as great performances are. When I was growing up, my mom took me to all kinds of wonderful cultural events. She was the neighborhood will-call lady for anyone's extra tickets. The symphony, opera, ballet, theatre? If someone couldn't use their tickets they knew my mom would! Sometimes she would get so many she'd be trying to give away the giveaways. I usually ended up accompanying my mom to all these free concerts and I was happy to do it. (My Dad was more of a football/trucks/big guns kind of guy.)

Anyway, I love going out for a night on the town and I'm happy to support whatever entity is willing to bring some Art and Culture to our community. We actually purchased our tickets in advance , but ironically a friend called that afternoon offering me 2 free ones.
I'm just so glad Brandon will go with me! He likes football and any other sport that can be played or televized but he also plays the violin, and he's up for a musical once in a while and that's why he's my Renaissance man, who also knows the meaning of true romance which brings me back to my point...

What's my point? If you want to get crafty (and I know Megz will) you could paint a sign in your entryway. (cc can use her new vinyl machine) Forget, "Live Laugh Love," or "Happily Ever After," What can I do to help? is the phrase that's gonna work some magic in your home. If miracles happen, maybe even the kids will start saying it...

SPeCiaL

2011-02-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

What a funny word: special. As long as you pronounce it with a sweet innocent tone, that is the word that sums up a few events of the past week.

First:
Brandon won a gold medal in the Special Olympics Unified Sports. Huh? That means that he spent a couple of days in the big city playing on a team of athletes with disabilities. Unified means it's a team of 10 athletes, 3 of which are non-disabled. (like Brandon) Got it? So anyway, this was a volleyball team. And they won the gold medal for their division. It's a pretty awesome addition to our trophy case:) AND of course a very cool experience for Brandon. You can ask him about it sometime.

Next:
Brynn was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by her Dad. What a special day for her and all of us to share that together. She has now made a promise to

"mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places...

...Ye have entered into a covenant that ye will serve Him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you."

I love those scriptures and it was good for me to be reminded to live up to those covenants that I made when I was 8 years old.

My mom could not believe that Brandon's family members had driven from all over the state to join us for Brynn's special day. It kind of made me look at the situation with new eyes and realize, Wow! That IS awesome!! And this is the kind of commitment we see at every family event. Family is the most important thing. That is what I have learned from being in the C. family. They really live that principle.

We had lots of food and lots of visiting at the house after.
The basement was rockin' with a Wii dance tournament. You can see by my random photo shots that all the kids had lots of fun--although Cannon wasn't sure he wanted everyone playing with his toys, that were suddenly very special to him. That last photo is Connor and Porter--yes that is Porter in the platinum wig!

My Bonnie Brynn

2011-02-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

Brynn celebrated her 8th birthday last week. What a fabulous day it was, starting with fruity Trix in bed, and ending with a late night party with friends.
Brynn was excited to get some smokin' hot pink rollerblades. Now she can derby with the best of them.I went to Brynn's class to pass out treats and read a story, "Bony Legs." They were so cute, and except for a few random comments like, "Brynn is so nice" and "you're pretty," they were really good at listening to the story. Who couldn't love 2nd graders?!Brynn invited a few friends (the siblings sneaked in) over for a build-your-own-ice cream sundae bar and movie night with Shrek Forever After.

It has been a joy to have Brynn in our family. She is the peacemaker in our family, and she can be pretty darn silly too. Here are 8 other fun facts about Brynn.

1. She has a musical laugh. Ever since she was a baby, I have loved her giggles that sound like a bubbling brook.

2. When we chose Brynn's name, we were looking for something that would go with the middle name Bonnie, after her very wonderful grandma. We thought the name Brynn would be perfect. It was fun and different but not weird and we didn't know of anyone else by that name. Ironically, we now live on a street with 3 Brynn's--all different spelling variations but all the exact same age!

3. Call it picky or particular, Brynn is very selective in her sense of style. She has to have her hair just so and outfits. She might say a shirt is cute, but she wouldn't wear it because it's "not her style." She needs to go into fashion design. She will dream up all kinds of outfits and accessories that she would like, and that unless she learns to sew, might never "materialize."

4.Brynn quickly obeys. She is every mother's dream. If I tell her it's time to practice, she might grumble for a minute, but she gets out her violin and gets busy. If the house were on fire, and I told the kids to run, she'd probably be the only one to make it out in time.

5. Brynn has a natural ability in most every sport she's tried. Her favorite is gymnastics. She wants to be BYU cheerleader. (That would be the only draw for me to attend a game -- or okay if any of your kids were playing AND they weren't covered up in all that gear so I could actually recognize them, AND if the games were like 30 minutes instead of 3 hours in the freezing cold and...okay back to Brynn)

6. Brynn was born by c-section, and she didn't come out easily. The doctor kept trying to pull her out and she kept wriggling out of his grasp. It finally took 2 doctors pulling to weasel her out, and when she came out she screamed--that wonderful newborn kind of scream that lets you know you have a healthy baby and brings tears to your eyes like a faucet that you didn't even know you'd turned on.

7. You know how after they're born you get to see your baby for a second but then they whisk her away and do whatever they have to do with her? Well, after what seemed like a long time of all that plus stitching me up etc. they finally handed me my pretty pink baby--and I looked at her and my first thought was, "I don't think this one's mine. She doesn't look anything like me. Actually, she looks a lot like the lady in the room next to mine that just delivered."
Yah, the nurse and Brandon, ended up convincing me that this was , in fact, mine, and Obviously! Anyone who sees Brynn now could tell she is definitely mine.

8. When I was about 6 months pregnant with Brynn, I was saying my usual prayers, when I had this warm feeling come over me that this girl that would be joining our family was a very special spirit from heaven. I've always been grateful to remember that Heavenly Father really loves Brynn.

We love her too. This weekend she will be baptized a member of the LDS church and be able to receive all the blessings that come with that. Congratulations, Brynn!

Tribute to Dad

2011-01-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

To My Dad
Ray Pack Nielson
June 14, 1931 - January 14, 2011
Thank you for leaving me a legacy of hard work, integrity, humor, and faithfulness to God. You endured to the end and I know you are now experiencing the joy that comes from life well lived.

It was a wonderful and spiritual experience to be with my dad as he passed away. I couldn't see but I could definitely feel the presence of other people in the room with us. I didn't know who they were but it seemed that they were patiently waiting to help my dad transition to the other side.
My dad had a heart attack about a year before and his health declined steadily from there. He lost the ability to walk in the Fall. A week before his death he was put in a care center. Then it was decided that there was nothing that could be done to give him any quality of life. His IV's and oxygen were removed Friday. My mom and 4 of us 6 siblings were able to be with him for those final hours. We took turns holding his hand and sharing our favorite memories of him --like wrestling on the living room floor and shooting guns at the family ranch. Over the next few hours his heart beat slower and slower. His breaths became more labored and fewer. Then, he didn't take another and then he was gone.
I had the immediate sweet feeling of relief come over me. I embraced the thought of him flying up to heaven with angels, not as an old man, but as the handsome youthful athletic man that my mom married, and SMILING. I can count only a handful of times I saw my dad smiling, growing up. I think by the time I came a long he had endured a lot of hardships, especially financially, and his life didn't turn out the way he probably hoped. But, I picture him now smiling, and realizing that he stayed true and faithful despite the ups and downs of life. I feel like he's watching over me. In a way it neat to realize I have an ally on the other side, pulling for me. I know I had them before, but now I can put that smiling face with the idea. It makes me want to live a little better, be a little kinder, and live up to the example he set for me.My dad's viewing and funeral went really well. It was a happy friend and family reunion. Have you ever had refreshments at a viewing. Only my mom would make a bazillion batches of fudge and insist that everyone take a piece on their way out. During the funeral program we all learned a whole lot about the man that was our Dad. I think my siblings would agree that we were SHOCKED to hear stories from his childhood friend. How come Dad didn't tell us he was expelled from school 4 times? And that he led the cops on a car chase through the country roads of the Uintah Basin? We had to laugh at the description of my dad standing in the back of pick up truck, shooting out the insulators of the telephone poles, while the truck was moving, and hitting every one of his targets. Even though my dad rebelled against Man's Laws, he never rebelled against God's. His best friend testified to all of us kids that he never knew my father to ever take a drink or smoke, be immoral, or even swear. He served a mission to Texas/Louisiana, went to BYU, graduated in Finance, and married my mom in the Salt Lake Temple.
Brandon and I played a violin cello duet, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." Looking back I'm glad that I was able to participate in the program in that way. A few days before, I had sliced my finger on an apple cutter and Brandon had re-dislocated his pinky. Luckily his pinky wasn't super necessary for his playing but my sliced first finger was. I almost bowed out but decided to put on lots of neosporin and hope for the best. It worked out and I'm so glad it did.

Being with my brothers and sisters made me realize how awesome each of them are. We don't get together very often because everyone is spread out from coast to coast. We know now where our rebellious streak comes from-- not just our mom!This is me, Auntie Laura, with my nephews and nieces. They're actually more like my brothers and sisters. I guess I lucked out that way, being the WAY youngest of the family.
Leave it to the little ones to show us how to cope with the death of a loved one--lots of hugs and life goes on.
I'll miss you Dad and think of you when I see all the flags waving in honor of your birthday on Flag Day.

Couch Potatoes

2011-01-09T18:54:00.001-08:00

The big event around here is that we got a couch for the basement. The first thing the kids do after school is run downstairs to sit on it. We've all been spending a lot more time down there, playing Wii on it, reading on it, or just sitting and running our hands over it. It has sure spawned a lot more movie nights. I'm afraid we're turning into a family of couch potatoes.

In other news, the kids are now all in music lessons. Brynn is keeping up with violin. Kate has tried everything to get out piano (or any other instrument) but we finally found the right match.

WANTED: Therapist/Musician to teach emotional 9-yr old to make peace with the piano.

We found our man in Brandon, who will also be able to add the fatherly love and fear factor. He got the inspiration for his first lesson from Larry H. Miller's biography. In it there is a story called "The Five-Dollar Job, " where this boy goes to do some yardwork for an old lady and she explains to him that nobody has ever done a five dollar job. This, of course, sets him off for the challenge and through hard work, diligence, and numerous attempts, he finally achieves the 5-dollar job. Kate and Brandon have talked about he story and now have some plan worked out where Kate can earn money according to how well she practices. If there is any kicking or screaming, gnashing of teeth etc. she will owe us! This could fund our early retirement.

Adrie, on the other hand, is so excited to learn the violin, she has been begging us every day to teach her something new. She has learned the proper handling of the bow and the violin and has just worked up to running the bow across the strings. Screech!
I love her enthusiasm and hope it lasts forever.

Great Cuts, Great Reads

2011-01-05T14:41:00.000-08:00

Cannon went in for a haircut the other day and while he was admiring his new look in the mirror, the stylist asked me a great question, "Read any good books lately?" She probably didn't know what she was getting into. Okay so, Cannon only had a little bit of hair and I had a lot to talk about. I only mentioned a couple of picks to her but then I remembered-- I have a blog! YOU readers are going to get the full account. Here are my favorite reads of the last few months:

1. Jane Eyre
Loved this book! Thanks to Ms. Bronte for a decades worth of romantic quotes to use inside my Valentines cards, and some of them in French!
Reading that inspired my next pick...

2. The Berlitz Self Teacher: French
I thought learning French would be easy; Isn't it just like Spanish except with way more letters and completely different pronunciation? Yah!--Exactly why it's not easy at all! I'm only on "Lecon 5" so don't expect me to have any conversations with you. But I'm going to keep at it because I just read...

3. Do Hard Things
This is written by teens for teens and I think for everyone, on not succumbing to the cultural plague of low expectations. We can do better! Learn more! Overcome our fears! Live the life that God wants us to live! Have I inspired you? The book inspired me. This next 2 books are about people that overcame HARD things...

4. Joan of Arc
Mark Twain considered this his finest work. I agree! (if it's out of this or Huck Finn) 12 years of research make this an outstanding resource for learning about one of the most amazing characters in history. It is beautifully written.

5. The Glass Castle
This is the true story of a girl who overcame a childhood with some very "eccentric and nomadic" parents (to quote amazon's review) Oddly compelling...I would recommend it to those who are curious about how other people live and the social worky types. (you know who you are.)
After that you might need some therapy of your own so here's the next book.

6. The Anatomy of Peace also The Bonds that Make Us Free
These were life changing books for me. The first is more succinct, in a nutshell, while the other one has a lot of stories of people to illustrate the point. " They both really gets into the science of relationships and how to make PEACE with everyone in your life-- from the guy who just butt in front of you to the guy that you married, even world peace--it hopes. Just a caution--don't read it at the same time as your spouse unless you want him to quote it against you, "So honey, it's sounds like you are in the 'better-than' box today?

7. The Richest Man in Babylon
If the above book is the best book on relationships then this is the best book on Money and Finances! It takes place in Ancient Babylon and through some cool parables and stories it shows you some common sense approaches to living well. But what are riches without health to enjoy them...hence the next couple books...

8. The Seven Pillars of Health; the natural way to feel better for life
Life Changing, seriously. This book is packed with info. from drinking water, to supplements, to coping with stress, living foods vs dead foods, chemicals and food additives to avoid. You'll definitely be checking labels after reading this.

9. Word of Wisdom; a Modern Interpretation
Another life changing book for me.
I'm obviously on a health kick lately, going to classes, etc. But during all of it I decided to check with the ultimate health code: the word of wisdom as found in the scriptures. After reading, I had to ask myself and Brandon who happened to be nearby, "Are we really living this?" There is more to it than just avoiding beer?! BD kindly deferred all my questions to this resource. The book is out of print so you'll have to check your grandma's bookshelves or find it online. The whole version is available for download if you google it. In case you think I'm going a little crazy in the health dept. I am. I also just ordered In Defense of Food. Now, are we ready to kick back with some good old fiction or what?!!!

10. Hunger Games
Looks like my photo disappeared but you know what it looks like. You've probably read it already and wasn't it such a thrill of a read?! If I'd had my way I would have finished the whole series in 3 days. But, as it was, I was constantly interrupted by requests for food, clean clothes, and other mommy duties.

11. Pilgrim's Progress
This one has been around forever--and not just on my bookshelf. I have my book club to thank for suggesting we tackle this one together.
Here is the whole gospel plan of happiness put together in a fun to read allegory. It was probably more entertaining to the pilgrims who didn't have TV to compete with. Brandon would tease me while he sat watching Alias, "How's it going with that Pilgrim's Progress? he he he" Well, I'm proud to say that I finished it AND enjoyed it. Actually I think it would make a great musical. And-- if I want to apply what I learned in Do Hard Things, I might just write one! In French!

Fit Christmas

2010-12-26T08:54:00.001-08:00

Christmas started at 2:00 a.m. for us. Anybody else beat that?
Okay, it wasn't present opening time. It was flooded basement time. Brandon had to move the furniture out of Kate's room, rip up the carpet and pad, and then go outside and bail buckets of melted snow out of the window well. (Thanks hun, for letting the rest of us sleep through all that.) Kate did wake up but was allowed a 30 second view of the goods Santa brought. It was enough time for her to count up how many each person had and figure out which box might contain her new hot pink cell-phone...

Present-opening actually began when the sun came up. (What a blessing when you can make it that late in the day huh?!) There were clothes, and shoes, stockings full of treats and jewels. The box that was supposed to contain a cell phone? Flannel sheets.
When all the presents were opened from under the tree, I observed out loud that none of them were from Santa? We knew he must have come because he ate the cookies and left stockings?! Curious. Dad chimed in that the only reason there wouldn't be presents from Santa is if someone didn't believe in him....everyone's eyes went immediately to Kate.
OR maybe Santa put the presents somewhere else??! The girls immediately went tearing through the house from top to bottom. I had to remind them of the garage because there they were. Three brand new girl bikes all in a row.
A derby started outside on the street. Our girls with their bikes racing against the neighbor girls with their new skates.
Between riding bikes and playing Wii I'd say the kids had a pretty fit Christmas!
I on the other hand, made caramel sticky buns and ate them. Brandon took a nap.

Cannon slept through all the present opening. So when he did wake up it was like having his own special Christmas. He spent a day of bliss roaming from his new ride 'em cowboy horse to his new collection of Cars. He packed them around all day, to dinner, to the bathroom, upstairs, downstairs. He had to recruit help each time because that is sure more than he can carry!

We spent a couple of days before in Salt Lake City! Great place to be at Christmas even if the snow was mysteriously all melted away. We saw and loved the movie Tangled, went out to eat, visited my Dad in the hospital (he's there with pneumonia but recovering well.) Also got to spend time with my mom and played games with family. We shopped at Barnes and Noble, which Adrie declared, "The BEST BOOK STORE EVER!!!" Was it the enormous amount of fun books , the escalators, or both? Brandon picked a book called, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living!" He explained it was to help some of his clients but I think he means to highlight the best parts and pass it on to me. As for me, I couldn't decide out of the Field Guide to Birds or Atlas of the Human Body. I ended up with a map of the world.

Adrie got a book that came with a necklace, Cannon got one that came with trains. Maybe my map should have come with a plane ticket. Brynn and Kate chose to share a boxed set of "Candy Apple Girls" chapter books. Thanks to Grandma and

Grandpa for the wonderful gift of book shopping!

Entertained the whole drive home!

Favorite Products of 2010

2010-12-21T20:10:00.000-08:00

1. COCONUT OIL--extra virgin, organic, cold-pressed only. This is an all natural, whole body moisturizer, and it smells lovely. I put it on after the shower and it makes me feel like the tropical princess I was born to be! Plus I can lick my fingers after-ha! Amazing health benefits when eaten as well. Eat it plain, fry with it, add it to smoothies. It's one of those SUPERFOODS.

2. DEE'S CEREAL: I think this is the "pulse" that Daniel in the Bible ate to make him so amazingly healthy. It's made of ground up wheat, brown rice, oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, raisins, flax seed, corn, cranberries, bananas, oat groats, barley, oat bran, garbanzo beans, and spices. A little goes a long way with this stuff; it is very filling. I like to mix in a tablespoon of coconut oil and some honey with it.

3. REDMOND CLAY: This is a local company that harvests and packages this as a natural cleanser and detoxifier. It can be used internally and externally for myriad purposes. Sprinkled on dry it can heal bad cases of diaper rash. It can be mixed with water to treat hives and bites. Taken internally in a glass of water, it can help with digestive problems. When Cannon had rotavirus this was the only kind of water he could keep down.

4.. REAL SALT--Same local company. It was voted #1 best tasting salt in the taster's choice awards. Unlike the stuff at the store, it's not been bleached or stripped of it's natural nutrients--it's real salt!

5. BOUNTIFUL BASKETS: So glad to have this food co-op in our area. It's like Christmas in the form of produce every week at our house when we pick up our order. You never know what you are going to get except that it will be a variety of half fruits, half veggies. That is the fun of it. We've tried and liked stuff I never would have bought at the store: eggplant, spaghetti squash, persimmons, plantains. And some things we didn't like: brussell sprouts. We've had the most deliciously ripe pineapples, mangoes, pears, and grapes we thought we were eating dessert first.

I always order the nine-grain bread in addition. It makes delicious toast and sandwiches. We have pretty much entirely converted to this bread and I don't think we'll ever be able to eat white again!

6. LED OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS TREE: Let me just explain--we believe in Christmas but there is no way we are climbing up our steep roofline of peaks and gables and attaching Christmas tree lights every year. Brandon could fall and injure his body or worse his brain. We rely on his brain to provide for our family. Why not be festive the easy way! I found this online at homedepot.com. It stands over 5 ft. tall and when you plug it in--viola! It puts on an amazing light show. (I think it's the best show on the street--not that I'm competitive or anything :)

7. ESSENTIAL OILS: I have just started learning about these the last couple of years from friends and I have only scratched the surface on some of the incredible benefits of herbs and oils. We have one blend we use to calm crying kids at night. We use another at the onset of colds/ sore throats to prevent further sickness. I like to put orange oil in my water because it's so refreshing and it helps you absorb water better. We use peppermint for headaches and mint brownies.

8. TREE TOUILLE: Do you see the ribbon like netting cascading down the tree? I don't know what to call it except a lovely accessory to any Christmas tree. I found it at a local decorating store. It comes in rolls, in a variety of colors from brownish gold to bright green to this traditional red/green mix. You just start at the top, roll it down, and nip and tuck it around the branches in a haphazard fashion. I think this was the makeover our tree needed this year. With the extra touch of glitz and oomph, she feels ready to walk down the red carpet. Cost? 10 bucks!

9. LE MYSTERE RENAISSANCE BRA: All I can say is, Hallelujah! I feel like a woman again.

Christmas-gram? Sounds yummy. I want one.

2010-12-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

It seems like we've been having a lot of fun lately (wouldn't Cannon agree :) Probably you are too. It's Christmas!!

We had a family party where we were able to visit with extended family and sit on Santa's lap.

We had our ward Christmas party at the church. I didn't take pictures but you can imagine Kate and Brynn dressed up as angels and dancing on the stage for baby Jesus, Adrie crawling across the stage on all fours wagging the lamb ears on her head, Brandon singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" in a male a-Capella quartet, me playing some Christmas tunes with my string quartet.

Not all that was going on simultaneously of course. Imagine Cannon, again not having fun with all the hullabaloo.

This weekend we went to the Light Parade on Main Street and had hot chocolate and donuts with Santa after. *Note to self: never drink hot chocolate before bed even if it is super-diluted. I was up all night with a cocoa buzz.

Tonight is our local production of the Messiah and I get to play in the orchestra.

I imagine I'll come crashing down off my cocoa high about that time.

Brandon and I saw Narnia 3 and later this week we'll go the the Forgotten Carols concert.

The girls have watched Elf, Christmas Carol, made gingerbread houses and written their letters to Santa...

Adria wants a new bed (our kindergartner is still in a toddler bed?) with an Eeyore fuzzy blanket. (Do you think Eeyore is a good role model?)
Brynn would like her very own bike that was never ridden by a big sister. It would be a mountain bike that's hot pink. Also it would have tires that never go flat.
Kate would like a cell phone and lots of cash.

Yeah-- how did we go an American Girl doll last year to that?!

And, what does Santa do for the kid who wants to grow up too fast?

Top Ten

2010-12-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

Cannon's in that stage where he's figuring out the language. He's got nouns and verbs down and now he's experimenting with adjectives and adverbs: I ate a snack TONIGHT. I put a TINY poo in there (the potty--THANKfully.)
He is in the process of potty training, ahem, himself. At least he started and now I'm supposed to follow through. We bought some Diego unders for him. He doesn't like them at all --too snug? He prefers diapers, fresh ones that have only been worn for a few minutes.

Anyway, his potty training is at about a 60 percent success rate right now and poo and pee and some other things are some of his favorite conversation pieces. Here are some of our favorite quotes from Bud:

10. "Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle run awaaay."

9. "I like pumas and horsies."

8. Everything he sees me do, from buttering toast to peeling an apple is, "AMAZING!" "Good job Mom!"

7. "I SO handsome!"

6. "Daniel was a lion in the Latter Days...follow the prophet, follow the prophet..." (sung of course.)

5. "Mom! I wanna flush your pee!!"

4. "I'm hungry. I need ice cream."

3. "Mom, I'm tiny. You're so BIG!"

2. "I wanna go to worky wif you Dad. " and "I want fifty dollars."

1. "I saw a poop-horse wif Dad!" That's right. We don't know what this means either. Apparently he had a very specific memory of seeing a horse poop? wif Dad? He likes to tell this to anyone who comes over. He also likes to shout it into the intercom so everyone can hear it again again. I guess it's his punchline because he pauses after as if waiting for the roar of laughter from his audience. We did laugh--the first few times...

*Thanks to my talented neighbor for taking these pictures !

The Three R's

2010-12-04T12:48:00.000-08:00

1. RECITALS Adrie danced on the stage at Christmas Tree Lane with her troupe of swirling snowflake princesses.

Brynn played on the stage at Christmas Tree Lane with an ensemble of vivacious violins.

2. ROLLER SKATING

We all went to try out the new local skating rink--lots of falls and fun! Ouch!3. READING
Sometimes I too just want to skip all the festivites and plop down in the beanbag by the fire and read all day... But I guess that's what January's for.

A Gathering

2010-11-26T18:14:00.000-08:00

This year we enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday with the C. side of the family in sunny St. George. The men talked sports

The women shopped the ads.

Kids ate pie for dessert, and dinner, and breakfast, brunch and elevensies. Cannon just ate the cream on top.

Trevor and his vegetarian turkey--frui-turkey would be more accurate. We have him and Weston to thank for the fine napkin folding. We enjoyed a beautifully browned turkey hot out of the turkey fryer. It was too bad little Adam went out and touched the still hot fryer, burning his hands--not severely --but enough to cause him a lot of pain and screaming for the afternoon. Poor guy and it was only his 2nd Thanksgiving.

Dads doubling as playground equipment.

T and I made our plans and headed out for the Black Friday sales. I never thought I could freeze in St. George but standing in a line outside the bigbox at 3 a.m. was FREEZING! We didn't get there earlier enough for a big screen or even a 3-dollar sandwich maker but we were still able to make a significant dent in Santa's shopping list.

Brandon and I headed back after the insanity had dwindled for some birthday shopping. He hit the big 40 last week and I think he's better than ever.

Before heading back home we stopped at the cool euro-park where the kids got out and played. I would have taken pictures but I was passed out asleep in the van.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

p.s. a photo of our race. Brynn ran her first 1 mile race and did great! Brandon ran his first ever 5K just for fun. He just tumbled out of bed that morning and decided to see how he would do at age 40. He did great and easily passed me although I in contrast, have been pounding the pavement about 12-14 miles/week for the last 2 years!? 3 cheers for 3 sweaty ... folks.