The Hike before the race

We headed to the race in Moab early so that we could spend some time hiking. A friend recommended this hike and we loved it. We crossed the river somewhere around eight times, even though it said we'd only cross it three times. It was beautiful and we loved experiencing the early spring - except for the allergies.

 

Someone who shall remain nameless lost this little stuffed animal on the hike - it decided to go for a swim - our handsome hero saved it!  

Our kids discovered the magic of snake grass whistles on this hike. Oh the nostalgia!
 

 

New Years Eve and Sledding Pictures

Our camera broke right after New Year's Eve. Since then, I've just been using my phone for simple here and there pictures. I was thrilled to pick up a new camera yesterday and find that I could retrieve all of my old pictures still. As you can tell by some of the following pictures - my camera was on it's last leg. Anyways - here are the pics - thanks for the fun memories to all in them!

 

Temples

Most of my friends know that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Recently topics regarding the "Mormons" and our beliefs have been cropping up in the news and in controversial debates. I have many friends who ask me questions about what we believe as well. I found this short clip which touches on the importance of our temples and wanted to share it with my friends.

What is this thing?... and the sugar trail

Some friends invited us over for dinner tonight. Just as we were leaving, our oldest child noted an interesting contraption on our friend's countertop. It had a lid which had been cut from a can dangling from its magnet.
Our oldest child was fascinated and asked - "what is this?" We replied that it was a can opener.
We never realized that she has never seen an electric can opener before as we just use the manual ones. She didn't believe us when we told her and even tried to demonstrate.

On another note, my husband went to the local Costco yesterday to pick up some groceries. I added several food storage items to the list, one of which was sugar.
He picked up a 25# bag of sugar and proceeded to continue to shop. After he'd woven up and down several aisles and across the store, an assistant manager of the store contacted him to let him know that his sugar had a sizeable leak. Apparently he'd left a sugar trail throughout the entire store. The manager's response was that at least he'd been easy to find due to his sweet trail!

Foiled plans

Several years ago, I met two friends. We went through some pretty crazy times together, and found that together, we have an amazing propensity for silliness and fun - as in laughing so hard that I wheeze, and someone almost has an accident.

Unfortunately, the silliest friend moved away, leaving just two.

We decided that we needed a reunion. We schemed and planned. We'd planned to travel to the friend, but it just wouldn't work. So we planned for her to come here. It was working. We planned more and I cleaned and cleaned - all last week. We completely cleared our schedules. She was supposed to arrive on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning, mother nature decided to flex her muscles, brought in a blizzard, and I got the phone call. The roads were closed and our friend had no way to access the airport.

We were devastated and depressed.
However, since we'd cleaned and cleared our schedules - we decided to carry on. We ate some amazing food, watched our bonnet and tea movies (yes - the English ones where the ladies are all wearing bonnets and drinking their tea,) relaxed, and laughed together.

It was pretty amazing while it lasted, yet, tomorrow, I'll be back to cleaning my house again.

Pay it Forward - Giveaway

While life continues with its busy monotony, I've thought about what I could blog about that is new. Not much as time continues its never ending ebb and flow.

My sister in law has been the recipient of service in the last months due to a sickness related to a tough pregnancy and mentioned Paying it forward. She put the challenge out to her readers to do the same.

Here are the rules:
3 names will be drawn from those who leave a comment on this post, and they will receive a handmade gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise. There's a small catch though...Post this same thing on your own blog and then come back and leave a comment telling me you're in. The deadline for commenting is March 16, 2009.

I think opportunities to reach out are all around us, sometimes we just need to look a little more closely - I'm in for the challenge!

Warm Spell

Yesterday I made my way to Denver - it was between 60-70 degrees outside. On the home front, it has been very warm as well. So much that Tuesday I did a 4 mile hike. Unfortunately, it was warmer than I thought and I kept falling through the snow - up to my knees - but it was absolutely beautiful. It is starting to feel like spring. I'm just wondering if it will last and be an early season, or if we will get the usual large amounts of snow that generally come in March and April?

The girls have been intermittently riding their bikes to school again, and are enjoying splashing and rolling around in the mud. The lot next to our house is empty and the other day I caught one of my children in her bare feet sploshing around in the mud on their lot - just oozing it between her toes. While I'm sure it was cold - I could definitely understand her need to get her feet into the dirt. She must take after her mom.

I'm headed out today to snowshoe while we still have some snow before it all turns to mud!

Wild Country

If you read my blog last year, you may have noticed my incessant ranting about the weather. I freely admit that I ranted. That said, I was thinking yesterday about how well I've done NOT even mentioning the weather this year and am very proud of myself - apparently, I've found other things to ramble about.

I also recognize that my attitude has changed in regards to the weather (namely snow.) I live in the mountains, where it snows. Sometimes A LOT. This year (in my humble opinion) has been much milder than last year was, and this year I've been able to begin snowshoeing again. I'm thrilled to say that of the past 8 weeks, I've snowshoed 7 of them. And I love it. We've been lucky, most of the Thursdays have been sunny and not too bitter cold (there was one week that was just awful bitter cold, but we made it.)

So, last Thursday as my friend and I were out shoeing, we went our normal distance and turned around to come back. As we got about 1/3 of our way back, we heard a howl. We pricked our ears and began to scan the mountainside. The howl came again and we were able to distinguish where it was coming from. A coyote. I have had no experience whatsoever with wild animals and didn't know whether we should continue on, or go back. However, my friend had her dogs with us, and she had just recently researched coyotes. Apparently, they shouldn't be out during the day (this one was) and they are often in packs (that's when we should worry.)

Now, on a side note, for years I've carried around mace on my keys - you know, just in case. I've also been teased incessantly these many years for carrying it around with me, as it is sort of big and bulky and cumbersome. But I didn't cave.

I have to say that I pulled out my mace and stood at the ready as we passed the coyote - he was still part way up the mountain, but he wasn't THAT far away, and he sort of followed us. I knew that my trusty mace, and the dogs would protect us. If not, it was a race between my friend and I as to see who would be lunch.

Several years ago though, I read an article about living in the mountains and wild country and a thought stuck with me. It is important to realize that these animals are not living in our territories, rather, we have moved into their territories and built houses, shopping etc etc. We need to respect the plants and animals whose territories we have moved into.

New Blog with my Favorite recipes

After constantly forgetting to send people copies of requested recipes, I decided to dedicate an entire blog to my favorite recipes. While I still have lots more work to do, this at least gives me a standard place to find my recipes when I need them.

Feel free to peruse, try out, and comment on anything.
The address is: www.triedandtruefavoriterecipes.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

It is official - after a night with 104* temperatures, we hung out at the Dr. office and the final verdict became - probably the flu, and positively strep - yes at the same time - how's that for a double whammy?

Sick

We are officially sick at our house. We thought we'd kick it, but all evidence points to the contrary.
On Tuesday I volunteered at the school. I arrived home for my 20 minute break before my lessons started showing up and received a phone call that one of my children had a temperature of 102 - would I please come and get her?
We decided to hang out at the DR. office and her flu test came back positive.

The whole family (except the sick one) received prescriptions for tamiflu and immediately began taking the medicine.
I went to the library that night to stock up on videos and boy - we've seen a lot of Harry Potter in our house. The thing is - she acts totally fine when she's got motrin in her for the fever - she drives me bonkers she's so fine. Then it wears off, and she's not so fine.
Well, she was bummed to miss her Valentines day party at school, but it came and went. And her sister came home on Friday with the same cough, and the beginnings of a fever. Tonight she was hitting the upper ranges of 102 as well. We did the cool bath thing and I started to get a little worried as her eyes started to roll - but I think we're okay. She had a blessing and we are bracing for a rough night and for another week for me with a sick kid at home.

Praying that I and my husband don't get it. I've had the same cough and had a couple of days where I didn't feel so good, but can't decide if it has just been the power of suggestion...

And yes - I'm apparently losing it because I thought that I should maybe post about this twice - I must need some sympathy, or an excuse to get out of my house since I'm obviously beginning to wander around in slippers and repeat things.

Do re-gifted flowers count?

Aren't my flowers pretty?

Someone just re-gifted these Valentines Day flowers to me.
I think my husband might feel relieved cause he's off the hook. The card says - "Just Because,
From, Your husband."

I couldn't stop laughing.

FHE ideas from Preach My Gospel

I was asked to teach a class for Enrichment tonight on:
Family Home Evening Lesson Ideas from ‘Preach My Gospel’
Since I went to the work of reading through and pulling out bunches of ideas, I thought that I'd better post them somewhere so someone may benefit from them.

Family Home Evening Lesson Ideas from ‘Preach My Gospel’
Get Inspired and determine your purpose - what is your purpose of FHE?

Start right - Songs & treats, flexibility & fun – no one likes a lecture or book report

Lehi’s vision. Suggested songs: Nephi’s courage (CS), The iron rod (Hymnal)
Week 1: Using a poster board read through and illustrate Lehi’s dream as found in 1 Nephi 8. Work in teams, or have each family member draw their own element of the dream. Post in conspicuous place, and during the week talk about what each item might symbolize.
Week 2: Focus on 1 Nephi 11, and label your illustration of Lehi’s dream with the symbolic meanings. Set up a rope (inside or out) which leads to a tree/plant which has marshmallows or divinity etc. hanging from it, have each family member follow the rope (possibly blindfolded) to reach the end. Focus lesson on holding to the rod and enduring to the end.
Week 3: Family flag and song. Based on Lehi’s vision, discuss faith, gospel ordinances, enduring to the end, attitudes, and sharing the gospel as they relate to Lehi’s dream. Discuss the story of Captain Moroni (Alma 46) and the title of liberty. Determine what is most important to your family, and discuss and make long term family goals, and identify short term goals which are necessary for reaching long term goals. Make a family flag and a family song as a reminder of the family goals.

Principles and topics. Start on page 30 and break each subject down (30-88.)
Remember it isn’t a marathon – break it down into topics such as:
God is our Loving Heavenly Father (pages 30-34) etc.
The Savior’s Earthly ministry and Atonement
The Apostasy
The Restoration – the First Vision
The Book of Mormon
The Holy Ghost
Etc.
Make sure you prepare beforehand (D&C 11:21.) Study the scriptures, suggested questions, activities, and ideas to figure out what YOU want to teach. Prayerfully determine what will be most important for your family.
As you focus on each topic, use the internet, primary manuals, conference talks, the Friend, church magazines, videos, publications, FHE manuals etc. to search for lesson ideas, stories, songs, object lessons, and games for each topic.
Suggested sites:
http://www.lds.org/hf/display/0,16783,4225-1,00.html
http://ldslivingmagazine.com/categories/show/3
www.sugardoodle.net
http://www.ldssplash.com/fhe/fhe_lessons/family_home_evening_lessons.htm
http://theideadoor.com/FHE.html

Gospel principles video. Have family members be news reporters. Divide into teams and research gospel principles of faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost using the Bible Dictionary and scripture references found in the topical guide. Have each member or team ‘report’ and make a video (or at least present their findings by way of a ‘news cast’.)

Journal Night. Have a Journal FHE. Read some important passages from your journal to your family or from an ancestor’s journal. Have each family member come up with a question, and have everyone respond to it in writing in their journal. Answer the questions in the Personal Study activity on page 18.

Ideas for Study and Application. Use ‘Preach My Gospel’ as a manual, using the activities and suggestions found at the end of each chapter under the Personal, Companion, District and Zone conferences and Mission president headings. Many different ideas, penetrating questions and related scriptures compiled in these sections. Simply modify for your family’s needs.

Blue Box discussions. Use the blue boxes in the text (page 8 for example) – they have a question and a theme. Read the related scriptures together and have a gospel discussion. A great way to start is to try and restate a verse in one’s own words, or use a dictionary to discover words that children aren’t familiar with. Make it fun by having a scripture chase to find each scripture or act it out.

Activity Boxes. Use the activity boxes – full of ideas and applications – make your lesson from these (i.e. p. 22.)

Get to know your scriptures. Learn how to use the Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, Maps, Gazetteer, and Abbreviations

Scripture Marking. Lesson on learning to mark scriptures, page 24

A Picture is worth a Thousand Words. Organize family into groups and assign a chapter from the Book of Mormon. Have each group identify a story, scripture event or teaching that is meaningful from their chapter. Have each group sketch or describe how they visualize this, or their mental image they have formed regarding what they read and why it is meaningful to them. Identify the doctrines found and discuss them. Moroni 10:3.
For a twist, give them a piece of paper and have them make something (origami style) that was talked about in their chapter.

Kids teach. Get children involved in the discussion by preparing beforehand and having them teach the lesson or tell the story.

Missionary Night. Work with kids before the lessons, and have them be missionaries teaching parents and family members the principles.

Size and Time adaptations. Use suggestions found in text (pages 30-88) which break lessons up into small, medium or large lessons.

Word Match & Definitions game. Page 44

Questions of the Soul. Make a list of questions of the soul. See if your family member’s questions are similar to the ones found on page 107. Put the questions in a jar – have someone read out the question, as well as the chapter it is found, and have a scripture scanning race to find the answer within that chapter.

References of Christ. Personal study activity on page 112 (#1)

Sermon on the Mount, Contrast and comparison. Personal study activity on page 112 (#4)

References of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon. Highlighting references of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon activity - page 114 (#6)

Sunday Talks. Practice preparing and giving talks – use page 124 ideas 1 & 2 and prepare talks to give to each other pretending it is sacrament meeting. Practice sacrament meeting behavior.

Personal attributes exam. Pretend that your family has just been resurrected and the personal inventory questions on page 126 are the questions you will be asked at the judgment bar. Have each family member complete the self evaluation and grade themselves, then identify focus areas and record personal insights and goals in their journals.

Cultural Night - Once a month have a ‘cultural night’ and study the ideas, beliefs, foods, and customs of a different culture. Take time to focus on different religious backgrounds

Different religions FHE - explore different religious ideologies and customs. Pages 45-46 give a very brief overview of a few.

Family ‘To be a friend’ action plan. Use ideas from page 167, 215-217. Figure out what you and your family can do to be part of this process. Make fellowshipping goals; put them into action and report back.

One minute messages. Divide the family into teams and put several principles or topics into a jar to be drawn out. Time each family member and give them two minutes. One minute to think and plan, and then one minute to teach the principle.
This could be adapted into a game show with a competition between both teams teaching, and being scored by the judges etc.

Elder Ives Likening the scriptures game. Two contestants face each other and an abstract word is given. The first contestant to figure out how to liken that word to a gospel principle wins a team point. Contestants then go back to their teams, and the teams are given a specific scripture (seminary scripture mastery – whatever, but the same one (Family Feud style)) and a time limit within which they must come up with as many personal applications as possible. Points are awarded for each valid personal application which does not duplicate the opposing team’s answers.

Service lesson by a five year old. 45 seconds talk about the importance of service - that it makes you strong, and helps others and helps Heavenly Father.
Thinking of musical chairs, hand out stuffed bears or animals, one less than participant number. Instead of musical chairs, play musical bears, and while singing a song, pass the bears to each other around the circle. When the music ends, whoever doesn’t have a bear gets to have an on the spot service done for them by the other participants (i.e. backrub, foot rub, glass of water, make their bed etc.) Continue until everyone has had a chance to serve and be served.

Tagged

I generally don't respond to tags but since I've been mentally away from blogging for a while, I thought I would - thanks Lauren
i am: content
i think: that generally I should keep quiet about what I really think.
i know: that someday my house will stay clean
i want: summer to be here
i dislike: lots of things
i miss: the beach
i fear: losing my husband and kids
i feel: like I have too much to do, and I don’t want to do any of it
i hear: wind chimes, a plane flying by and my child turning pages of her book
i smell: like Carolina, one of my favorite perfumes, and I’m congested
i crave: simplicity
i cry: mostly only during movies and books
i usually: mentally debate whether I really want to exercise or not each morning
i search: for peace – I’ve fallen in love with the Book of Mormon again, I get so grounded from it.
i wonder: what life will really be like once my husband is officially DONE with school.
i regret: speaking before contemplating the full effect of my words
i love: life
i care: about those around me
i always: seem to be humming something
i worry: about bad roads
i am not: high maintenance
i remember: details, but not as much as I thought I did
i believe: that I am a daughter of God and that He loves me
i dance: in the kitchen with my husband and with the kids around the house
i sing: or hum constantly
i don't always: make my bed, or clean my house, sometimes I just read
i argue: to explore ideas
i write: all over the place in my scriptures
i win: few battles with my children
i lose: almost any game I play against my husband
i wish: that I was independently wealthy and that I had a housekeeper to clean for me
i listen: mostly to 80’s and Spanish rock
i don’t understand: some people
i can usually be found: busy
i am afraid: of cranky people
i need: to laugh - OFTEN
i forget: to express my love towards my family
i am happy: pretty much overall, just trying to savor each moment

I tag anyone who wants to respond

Harry Potter fest

While our kids had the chance to go to 'learn to ski' two days last week with their school, one of them came home with a nasty cough. She fought it and finally lost the battle, the dr. said something about bronchitis, and her flu test came back positive.
Yuck! We picked up a puzzle she and I have been working on and since she's been reading Harry Potter, we checked out some videos from the library and have been having a Harry Potter fest. I don't think she's missing school very much!
The bummer is that she missed Valentine's Day at school last year as she was at grandmas while we were away celebrating our anniversary. This year, she'll miss is cause she's sick.
Poor thing!

Neglect

It is true - I've totally neglected blogging for a while - due to some other diversions which came up. After finishing my cell phone contract a year ago, I had been thinking about getting a new phone. I did lots of research and finally decided on an LG Incite. While this is a pretty cool phone, I found recognized something important about my self. Mainly, I'm a simple girl who doesn't have the time or energy for lots of distractions. There were some amazing aspects about the phone, but when it came down to it, there were so many bells and whistles to sort through, I could never find the application I wanted without taking a year. I just wanted simplicity, and I learned I really hated the touch screen and the time it sucked from my life.

As such, this morning I sent it back my bells and whistles phone and received my simple phone yesterday. My new phone is an adventure.

While it is a simple flip phone, it has some pretty cool features which include meeting U.S. Military Specifications 810F for: shock, vibration, solar radiation, high temperature storage, altitude, high and low temperature operation, and blowing dust. I'm pretty relieved that my phone will make it through solar radiation! Cheek aside, I'm excited to have a new phone that will do what I need it to without much fuss, and I'm happy to have my life back.

Yes, I said Skijoring

Yep, that IS a horse dragging a skier with a rope through the snow. Here in our little rural mountain paradise, it is one of the highlights of winter. Officially called skijoring, it is quite the trip to watch.

First you arrive about 30 minutes late. You find that all of the snow from part of a field has been scraped off to make some awesome jumps, and so you are mucking around in the mud (wait - I thought it was mud.) You find a great place in the middle so that you can see all of the action, and then you wait for about two hours while the officials realize that the wiring for the timer isn't working. You wander on down to the port a potties, and then later to the concessions stand for a pulled pork sandwich. Back to your observation point and about thirty minutes later, the action begins.

How to describe this sport? I like to think of waterskiing. Except the skier is on snow, going over big jumps, and catching rings on a stick - kind of like jousting...oh, and the skier is pulled by a horse. Snow, by the way, is much less forgiving than a lake - so there are always paramedics standing by to help with the dislocated shoulders and such.

To warm up, the skiers are whipped around, pulled by snowmobiles, and then after they ski, (or jor), they get dragged back to the starting place to do it again.

As a friend coined it - a cross between hardcore cowboys, and dead head ski junkies - the perfect mix!

I have to be honest - this is one of the funnest snow spectator sports I've ever seen - I love it! And our kids - well, they had fun sliding and jumping down the snowbank the entire time.

An oldie

I just found this clip and it is one of my all time favorite songs from a LONG time ago, cause yes I used to be quite the little punk rocker. (Note - to properly enjoy this you should probably pause my music player on the right of the screen.)

When ye are in the service...

Last night as we approached family home evening neither I nor my spouse had anything formally ready. I had asked our oldest to read some magazines and find a story she wanted to share earlier, but had sort of left it at that. As we sat down and got ready to begin, or youngest out of the blue said - I'm doing the lesson tonight! We were very surprised but thrilled at her initiative.
She stood up and talked for 45 seconds about the importance of service - that it makes you strong, and helps others and helps Heavenly Father. It was church talk worthy - I was amazed.

She then gave the three of us two stuffed animal bears, and went out of the room instructing us that we were playing 'musical bears' and we were to pass them back and forth. When she came back, whoever had the bears had to get up and do a service for the odd one out, while the odd one out drew a picture of a service that they could give or do for another person. We played a couple of rounds, and then we found another stuffed animal and ganged up on her. We decided to do a service for her and she got a back and foot rub and her hands lotioned up (back and foot rubs are bliss for this girl.)

What a sweet lesson - taught by such a small child. I forget how important it is to serve others, but what a great reminder!

New beginnings and funky dreams

Waiting for my heater to kick on this morning, watching the snow flutter down in giant white flakes outside my window.

It's been a busy week. My husband started his last semester this week - I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but it looks like the next few months will really be a long haul.

On another note, remember when we finished the New Testament around Christmas? Yesterday I was thrilled to finish the Old Testament which I'd started about the same time as we began the NT. I'm excited this morning to break back into the Book of Mormon. I find so much peace from the scriptures, and it seems like the insight I receive is always tailor made to me and my specific situations - what a blessing it is in my life.

This week I had the chance to interpret some plea bargains at the court. Oh so quickly did I realized that getting state certified for this is going to take a LOT of work. I've been told that to pass the certification exam I need to study 20 hours a week and only 10% pass. For me, the greatest difficulty lies in learning the proper legal jargon - in itself a whole language, and I need to learn it in both english and spanish.

In regards to this week - it seems to have flown by with visiting teaching, private lessons, a career fair, snowshoeing, finalizing my business tax documents, and having the elders for dinner. I fell asleep studying last night and dreamed that Pres. Uchtdorf and his wife came to visit my husband - but I fell asleep on the couch while they talked, and because I was there, they could only chit chat. Before my husband appeared though I chatted with them and then he took my daughter's face in his hands and spoke with her - it was very sweet. It was so vivid, I was kind of tripped out when I woke up.

Today I'm planning on letting that snow fly outside while I clean my house, do laundry and hopefully make some time for some therapeutic sewing!

Three things I learned today

We learn new things everyday - here are three things I learned today.
1. No matter how old you are, or how dumb the prospect, some people will always take a dare.
2. Under NO circumstances should stew meat ever be used in fajitas if it hasn't been cooked for less than 8 hours.
3. It IS possible to beat Liz in Settlers

Fabulous French Bread

I know that I've told several people in the last month or so that I'd get this recipe to them, but I can't remember who they are. So I thought I'd share it with the world via my little blog. Thanks to my friend Luanne for sharing this recipe with me.

I love this recipe, and I have yet to see it disappoint. I live at high altitude, but never have to make any adjustments for it. If you are at a low altitude, you may need to slightly adjust your flour/liquid amounts.

Plan 2 hours start to finish for this bread.

2 1/2 c. very warm water
2 T. sugar
1 T. salt
2 T. cooking oil (I use olive)
6 c. flour
2 pkg active dry yeast or 2 T.

Pour warm water in large mixing bowl, then stir in sugar, salt, oil, half the flour, and yeast. Beat vigorously 2-3 minutes.

Stir in remaining flour until all dry ingred. are completely mixed in, leaving spoon/dough hook in heavy batter. (Now, you can do this by hand, but I cheat and do it with my mixer.) Allow dough to rest 10 minutes then stir down, allow dough to rest another 10 minutes and stir down again. Repeat this process until dough has been stirred down 5 times.

Turn dough onto floured board, knead only enough to coat with flour so it can be handled. Divide into 2 equal parts. Roll each part of dough into rectangle about 9x12 and roll up like a jelly roll, rolling from long side, Pinch edge of loaf to seal the dough. Arrange lengthwise on large cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with corn meal, allowing room for both loaves.

With sharp knife (I use a serrated) cut three gashes at an angle on top, then brush entire surface with slightly beaten whole egg. If desired, sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds. Cover lightly and let rise at room temperature 30 minutes (I don't cover mine, but I keep it in a warm area.) Bake immediately at 400* for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet immediately and cool on racks.

Evening Snowshoeing adventure

 

 

 

 

We decided to do some evening snowshoeing with the kids tonight. We all bundled up, rode the lift to the top of the mountain and watched the sun go down and the stars come out as we hiked around on top of the mountain. Quite a singular experience - even though one of our children told us it wasn't exciting, she sure seemed to like it. Afterward, we rode the local transportation to the local village where we had the famous nachos and enjoyed hanging out together. We also checked out the new water fountain feature. This was really cool. It has fire and water coming out at the same time! Our daughter authoritatively informed us that this is 'waterproof fire.'

Not exactly shorts weather

So I thought my daughter was crazy yesterday when she came home and put shorts on - she said it was hot. Today as I was waiting for my kids to come home - (they were climbing a giant hill of snow and sliding down), I watched a man walk past my house. He was walking his dog and carrying a baby...He was also in shorts.

I'm just wondering where else in the country 40* in January is equivalent to shorts weather? Something just doesn't seem right.

Newly acquired world title!

I am officially the meanest mom in the world - if that was your title, I'm sorry, you've lost it and I am now currently the reigning champion. You'll have to try a little harder next time. Soon I will be publishing a how to book on the subject which you may read so that you can become as mean as me. Hmmm - maybe that will be the title...

I want to know - How the heck do you get your kids out the door in the morning on time?

This morning my kids had 3 jobs.
1. Get dressed (after I handed them some clothes from their drawers)
2. Eat breakfast
3. Out the door by 7:55 am

Somehow only one of my children made it. She even had 5 minutes to get her hair fixed.

The other didn't make it - she was still standing on the heat vent at 7:55. She made it to the front porch at 7:57 with all of her gear piled around her (cause you know, I'm mean and the rule is that they have to be out the door naked or not at that time.)

Last year this child had 26 tardies in one semester. I've begged, I've plead, I've deposited her onto the porch as she is.... I'm just wondering if there are any nice moms out there that have figured this out already. I'm thinking that bedtime will start coming 30 minutes earlier each night that we are late in the morning?

Please comment with your solutions. I can't say I wear my title proudly (meanest mom in the world,) I don't even want it - but I do want on time, good kids.

I can use your solutions for chapter 1, and I'll give you a byline as well.

Political Debut

I have to say that my girls are pretty darn impressive. Tonight we went to a town meeting regarding a controversial proposed development.

They have tried to present this project so many different ways, and everyone seems to keep saying - 'NO, we don't want this - it isn't right for our town.' However, they try to dress it up and present it again. Anyways, it was on the table again tonight. The meeting started at 6:00 and the first 1.50 minutes were REALLY dry - all about the financials and infrastructure - (okay, so it was pretty interesting but not for a kid.) Our girls were GREAT. We'd talked to them about the proposal before attending and shared a few of our thoughts about it, but asked the girls to make their own decision about it - that's why we were going to the town board meeting. They were very interested in attending.

Well - they were SO quiet during the meeting -I wish I could harness their behavior for church! One even fell asleep, and people commented on how well behaved they were.

After what seemed like an eternity, there was a short break and then they opened the floor for public input. I had signed up to speak, and discussed some of our reasons for choosing to live here - the quality of life factors as well as the smallness and intimacy of a small community.

My daughter had also signed herself up to speak and she addressed everyone - the room was packed - standing room only. She talked about how the animals are important to her and that this proposal negatively impacts the wildlife habitat of several deer and elk herds which feed there during the winter. She was nervous and passionate - she did such a great job. As she went to sit down, the room erupted into applause.

I love living in a small town where I have an opportunity to learn how local and civic government works (I've been doing my fair share this past year,) and to become involved and help shape the future of my community. I especially love that my kids are learning to speak out and stand up for what they believe in.

What an awesome blessing that we have the freedom of speech. It will be interesting to see how things turn out. Anyways - I thought it was worth a post. Pretty cool.

Random Thoughts

I sat down with a new music student this morning, he's 18 and has been playing guitar for over 4 years. Apparently he's pretty proficient at the guitar, however he doesn't know how to read any music. He knows nothing about note names, note values - nothing. How can that be? Is that like being able to speak a language but not being able to read or write it? It is a interesting phenomenon to me. I guess I learned to sing as a child before I could read music - is it the same thing?

The annual New Years Eve Party Bash - 2009

Well, I dropped my camera today and I can't get it to turn on now, so I'm thinking it may take a while before I get any photos up.

We decided to host our annual New Year's Eve party again this year. Unfortunately, I found out I needed to go to the dentist to get some crown work done that morning prior to our party. Have I ever mentioned how I really love my dentist? He's my cousin and he's the bomb. He also lives and works two hours away.

Despite my love for my cousin, I really, really, have dental anxiety. He had me come in early just so we'd have 2 hours to get me properly numbed up. I am a historically bad number upper - it takes forever. And yes, it took a very long time and lots of big needles with nasty gaggy drugs in them. Finally, he did what he needed to do and it maybe took him all of 25 minutes. I then drove back home.

I had gotten up super early to make the traditional Buche de noel (yuletide) cake, and to start the beans and the pork roast - we did a 'Cafe Rio' dinner.



I came home from the dentist and laid down because I wasn't feeling so good. Got up, and finished things up - my house was definitely not as clean as I had hoped. I made my meringue mushrooms which looked like this -


And I hoped that no one would venture to my basement. I think everyone was scared after they went down there. It wasn't that it is horrible - it was that my laundry room was pretty darn full and everyone who went to the basement had to pass through my laundry area. Not a pretty sight.

Anyways, we had approximately 25 people come to our party. We did the 'guess whose name is on your back' game while we were mingling and eating. Later, we played the 'Lying' game where everyone tells two truths and one lie about themselves and everyone guesses which is the lie. Ours took on a twist as the first player decided to tell stories to play the game. Everyone else followed suit, and it was fun to hear everyone's different stories. We invited some people who had recently moved to the area who we didn't know well, some who we knew pretty well, and some who have been coming to our annual NYE party for six or seven years. It turned out to be a pretty good mix.

As NYE approached, one friend (who shall remain nameless) went outside and began to set off fireworks. They went VERY high up in the sky and were beautiful. Then he let off some VERY LOUD poppers that went on for a very long time. They also ascended heavenwards. I believe that those fireworks were maybe not very legal. But they were very fun and beautiful. I was waiting for the chief of police to show up at the door and tell me that my cordial relationship with him had been shot. He never came. I was very relieved.

I am excited for this new year. I'm excited about my husband's upcoming graduation, and for spring and summer. I'm excited to have family time, and for the trips and reunions we've planned - bring on 2009!

Christmas 2008

 

Last week seemed to blur by and I can't believe it's already Sunday. My husband came home from work early on Christmas Eve and we all sat around the kitchen table and peeled pears - and then we canned 19 jars of them. We would have gone for more, but ran out of jars and decided to dehydrate them instead (yum - like candy.)

We finished up as a couple of dear friends arrived to spend the evening with us.
Our candle light supper was pretty simple, yet special and enjoyable. We acted out the Nativity, watched Joy to the World, the kids opened their pj's, and then went to bed.
On Christmas morning our kids came into our room at 4:13 am. Holy cow! After some negotiations, around 7:45 our morning got started. I think one of the greatest things about Christmas this year was watching my kids give each other gifts.

One got her sister an alarm clock - I think that was one of the presents that she was most excited about. One got her sister a webkinz - one that she really wanted. They were both just so thrilled with what they'd given each other, we could have probably just stopped there. They were also excited about some hand made gifts they had made for family members. It was their first foray into machine sewing and embroidery and they did almost the entire thing by themselves.

The girls got some sleds that attach to their behinds - they call them 'big bottomers.' They spent a lot of their day outside sledding and playing in the snow. We had so much that my husband just shoveled it into piles along the driveway and the kids sledded down right there. We have a snow cave in the front yard now too.

My husband was able to take Christmas day off as well as Friday, so we've had him around for a while - and we've really enjoyed it! We've really enjoyed just hanging out together watching shows, sledding, playing games, and reading. Simple, nice, and quiet - what more could one ask for?

Christmas tradition - Jerusalem Supper

I'm excited that to celebrate Christmas Eve tonight! Our kids are getting older and it really makes the holidays so much fun. They were so excited to wake up this morning.

I hate that the focus of Christmas has moved from celebrating Christ - his birth, his life, his teachings, his love and his sacrifice, to commercialism and consumerism - I hate it.
Ever since I was very young my family began a tradition of having a Jerusalem supper on Christmas eve - this has become my favorite Christmas tradition. I love this tradition because it helps put the Christ back into Christmas for me.

For our supper we try to eat foods that Mary and Joseph may have eaten. Our menu tonight will include roasted chicken, grapes, dates, figs, pomegranates, pineapple, cheeses, and olives. We eat our supper by oil lamplight (but candles work too.) I love the simplicity of the dinner, and the reverent mood created by the lamps.



After dinner, we read and act out the nativity. We are excited to have two friends joining us tonight, and so we will have more people to play different parts, and then we watch the movie "The Lamb of God."

In a new twist this year, the girls have asked to go caroling prior to our supper.

I'm excited to spend this special evening with them and can't wait!

Christmas can officially begin

As I was reading a journal entry from last year I came across something I'd recorded that my husband had mentioned. It was December and I had played "For Unto Us a Child Is Given" from Handel's Messiah in church that day. After I'd played it, he had sighed and told me that Christmas could now officially begin - apparently it never begins for him until I've performed this piece.

As such, I played it in church last Sunday, and again today at a friend's piano recital as she accompanied me.

We've mailed out our cards and packages, made treats to share with our friends, got some snow, and I think we are officially ready to sit back and enjoy the holidays. Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful holiday season!

We did it!!!

In September of 2007 our stake presidency asked us to begin reading the New Testament. Although our children are small, we decided to take up the challenge and give it a try. It took us until Easter to get through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - talk about timeliness!

Well, tonight, we finished the last two chapters of Revelations and we were all very excited to say - WE DID IT! We read the entire New Testament - WITH two young children - they helped read and they followed along.

Ironically, last Sunday a letter from our Stake Presidency was read, asking us to read Preach My Gospel, so we'll be starting right in on that. Nice timing!

It has been a special experience to spend time as a family each night reading together. We've been able to have some amazing gospel discussions, and we have grown to love and appreciate our Savior Jesus Christ as we've come to know Him together as a family.

What a blessing it has been. If you haven't read it for a while - I challenge you to start now - it will change your life.

Old Christmas tradition renewed

I remember being awestruck and mystified as a child when we would visit my grandparent's home. My grandparents had an old Swedish Christmas decoration that I could never get enough of. It consisted of some angels, candles, and some chimes. When the candles were lit, the angels would begin to twirl and thus the chimes would begin to ring. How did it work? I could never figure it out, but I loved it when grandma got the candles out and lit it up for us.



Several weeks ago I found this same decoration in a catalog and couldn't help myself. It came last night and we lit it up for FHE last night and we were all mesmerized. Yes, I know, elementary physics, but still so beautiful and fascinating.

Thanks grandma for the warm memories and for something I can pass down to my children!

Another year!

Several years ago (I'm not saying how many) I met my husband. He noticed that I had joined our church choir, and so he too joined up. That year we learned and performed 'Otro año mas' meaning - another year has passed. It talks about looking back and evaluating the past year. Is there something I can and should do better the next year etc. A fairly interesting hymn of self reflection to say the least.
My husband still remembers this hymn and enjoys singing it with gusto.

So as I thought about this blog, I thought about the related hymn. We just hit another anniversary - yep another one and we still like each other. We even still love each other. Marriage - what a miracle.

It's kind of funny when you meet the person that completes you and sort of fills in that other half. Where I'm off the walls (yes, me-gasp) he is down to earth. He is patient, generous, and kind, and over the years I've seen him turn in to a very wise man who gives great counsel (generally in the form of - just sleep on it, don't say anything and DON'T write any e-mails or letters about it - wait until tomorrow.) He shares my joys and my sorrows and is my best friend. He's the last person I want to see each night and the first one I want to see in the morning. I'm so grateful and thrilled that he's mine. We share our hopes and our dreams and look forward to the future together.

Although we discussed lots of fun filled romantic anniversary options, ultimately, we ended up sitting in the dentist's chair for our six month exams and then getting snow tires. What could be more romantic you ask? It's true, I was all aflutter:)

As we were in a slightly unfamiliar town, we made plans to go to dinner. After first trying a restaurant which had peanut shells strewn all over the floor, raw slabs of meet at the entry, hordes of people, and a 50 minute wait, then a Indian restaurant that was a hole in the wall, we finally opted for a nice little Italian restaurant complete with candles and twinkle lights. We had a very enjoyable dinner, and then went back to where we were staying and watched an edited version of 'Gladiator.' Yep - there's the reality for you. It just isn't possible for every year to be a tropical get away anniversary. And really - that's okay with me. Just like anything there are ups and downs. Life isn't a tropical island and sometimes you need the dentist and snow tires. The journey isn't really that important - rather, it's sharing the journey that counts.

Here's our self portrait we took from our cell phone at the restaurant.

 

And yes - my dentist is great - check out that sparkly smile!

Something's right

I'm not sure if the sun, moon, and stars are properly aligned, or what it could be, but something is going right. I was amazed this morning.

If you know my oldest daughter, you might know that she has 'porcupine'ish tendencies. She doesn't like physical demonstrations of love. She doesn't hug, she doesn't express her love - she just doesn't. We've learned to accept it. The closest you can generally get is to wrestle with her - that's how she gets the physical love she needs - yes wrestling. Each night after scriptures and prayers I always say - "who wants to give me a hug and kiss goodnight?" She then runs the other direction. However this past week she's been squeezing the guts out of me - that's very new.

This morning as she was running out the door to school, she actually turned around and came back to give me a hug! I about fell over as it is the first act of physical affection initiated by her that I've seen in a LONG LONG time.

She did all of her homework on Tuesday after school - with a minimal fuss, and made both lunches this morning. I'm not quite sure what is going on, but I really like it. Maybe she's maturing - I don't know but it sure is nice. I do acknowledge that by the act of publishing this post, it is likely that things may go in the other direction. However, when something this extraordinary happens, I have to record it!

I'm a winner!

So despite what my brother may say - I got a notice in the mail that yes indeedy, I am a winner! Remember way back when I entered my peaches and tomatoes and jam and all sorts of other things in the county fair? Well, I just won again! I received this in the mail yesterday.


I won the premium prize and I got $15 in coupons for canning stuff.
Even better than that was the timing - I just bought 63 lbs. of pears to can on my new stove.

Back porch photos

I heard some odd bumps on our back porch the last couple of nights. When I opened up the curtains, this is what I saw

Please note that he appears to be sticking out his tongue at me! Why I never...!

The Stove saga

So - last fall (yes 2007) while canning I somehow managed to create so much heat that my internal stove top wiring all melded together. Since then, I've been solely operating on my two small burners. We ordered parts, but they never came in, and when they finally did it was much later, and the roads seemed to be treacherous and then we could never get hold of the guy. Yes - very long boring saga.

Here's the old stove

So just before canning season, I thought maybe we just might need to address the stove situation again. The local gas company (that also does appliance repairs etc) ordered some new parts for us. They found some special burners that are a little more heavy duty and raised up - made specifically for canning so they said and ordered them for me. Along came August, September, October and finally November... and somebody was getting a run around. So here are some pictures of the installation of our new stove. We switched from electric to gas - we're still doing some adjusting, but my husband made cinnamon rolls today on his own and they were beautiful. Who knew a new stove would get him cooking?

We had to drill through our floor to connect to the gas downstairs (yes the kitchen is a bit messy - oh well, it's been worse)


Here's our friend who was willing to work for food and help us out - with his 'red-necked tool' as he called it.


I'm so happy to be able to cook normally again!

I take it back

Well - apparently we weren't actually finished with the bikes - my last posting appeared to be a bit premature. Maybe next week?

Anecdotally

Yesterday I looked at the date Dec. 3rd and realized that my kids were STILL riding their bikes to school - I couldn't believe it! However, today we crossed into the threshold of snow. We awoke to something just barely heavier than a dusting and I believe that the bikes will be put away until the spring. With Christmas three weeks away, it seems like it's about time.

Overdue Gratitude

As I look at the last week - I realize that I am grateful for so many things. Here are a few of them (not necessarily in order of importance):

Health - (especially after the nasty Thanksgiving Day virus that hit my family and I)
Home - a place where I feel safe and loved - my own oasis and haven in the tumultuous world
Family - both my micro and macro. They give me the strength to be, and the freedom to be me. They love for my accomplishments and even my faults (I think) They also help me to laugh!
My freedoms - the opportunity to believe in whatever I want
Employment - there are many who aren't employed right now - my heart and prayers go out to them
Enough - I have food on my table, clothes on my back - possibly much more than many others in the world
Love - those I love and those that love me
Laughter - it keeps the world going, and gets me through difficult times
Friends - those who lift me and pick me up when I need it most
Life - birds, flowers, sunshine, blue skies, green grass and children's laughter
Books - they take me away when I need a quick escape
Adventures - something to dream about
Future - something to plan for
My husband - someone to dream and plan with
Air - clean mountain air to breathe
Stars - to sit on my porch and watch (with minimal light pollution thanks to our town's night sky ordinance!)
Roads - to get around on (when they are open)
Cars - that work
A furnace- need I elaborate?
Children - the promise of tomorrow and their laughter and excitement
Agency - being able to make my own choices and mistakes and be accountable for my actions
Music - where would my life be without it? I'd be expressionless!

I'm sure I could go on and on, but I stop there. Moving along, we had some family come in for Thanksgiving, which we celebrated early on Wed. It was a fairly simple meal, yet enjoyable. Thursday morning I woke up quite early feeling sick (I hadn't felt great on Wed.) and was thrilled when I started to feel better that evening. One of my children got sick Thurs. pm, and my husband the next evening. Needless to say - I am extremely grateful for modern day inventions such as indoor plumbing!
We enjoyed our guests - thanks for braving the weather, and for not being offended when I couldn't properly entertain.

Following are some photos of our dinner. We had the fairly traditional meal - turkey, potatoes & gravy, yams and apples, (candied yams for my brother) cheesy beans, homemade wheat rolls, homemade cranberry sauce (with raisins and walnuts,)and my favorite salad followed later by the pies.

Here we are out for pizza the night before



Dad and the girls hanging out and keeping out of the kitchen that morning



The Turkey




Check out the facial expression on some of these characters!


The pies
Lemon Meringue

Cherry

Emeril's Banana Cream

(Pumpkin - Not pictured)

Afterward






The finished puzzle



Finally - on another much less grateful note:

The Birds - my girls saw these on our neighbor's houses. It seemed too 'Hitchcockish' not to photograph. Kind of eerie!