A Harbor in the Tempest

Playing In November

2011-11-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

I snuck up on Clara when I volunteered at her Thanksgiving Feast at school.

She was happy to see me and gave me a big hug.

The kids ate a LOT of crap. It was supposed to be that they brought their favorite treat, but, I think most parents just cleaned out their pantries. I brought cut up fruit - shocker.

We worked on manners, saying please and thank you, for the feast.

Post sugar high. Note: processed mac n cheese (microwaved), cheetos, string cheese...lovely.

I loved this - she makes me laugh.

Josh had a really ugly dangling tooth that FINALLY came out this month.

One of my cool Webelos got his Arrow of Light, 20er, and became our Denner

We went to Thanksgiving Point with The Birds (my friends from BYU)

I think I have 27 different pictures of this cave

Probably as many of the Design-a-Dino

And even more of my kids playing in this sand

Joshua David Totten gets Baptized

2011-11-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

There was a big event this past weekend for my little family. My son made the choice to be baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is an essential ordinance and a commandment of God. I know that most mothers feel this way when their children make big decisions and they are the right decisions. I have felt a great deal of love and appreciation for my husband for holding the Priesthood so that he was able to baptize and confirm our son. I wasn't able to be baptized by my dad, but was fortunate to have wonderful Priesthood holders around me growing up. I was baptized by my Uncle Terry, and confirmed a member of the Church by my grandfather.

As I watched so many of our family members and friends participate in the confirmation circle for my son, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Later I was sitting next to my "brother from another mother", Ben, and he said, "You are very loved." Still later my bestie said, "It was a powerful image seeing all of those men who hold the Priesthood in the confirmation circle. Those will be wonderful examples for him." Then I said a small prayer of gratitude that because both Ben and my bestie happened to move to Utah over the past six months, they were both able to be at the baptism. Then I said another small prayer of gratitude because my niece (who grew up in North Dakota), who gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, was able to be there because she is going to school at BYU. I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost at her baptism when she was 8.

There are huge moments in life to be grateful for and there are small moments to be grateful for, and yesterday included both. To have all of my parents there was a blessing. To have my wonderful friend Ginny and her family here from Colorado was a blessing. They aren't members of our Church, but understood the significance for our family, and they love us so they came. To have shared the baptism with two families in our congregation was a blessing. Their sons are good friends with our son, and we love them. I commented today to the father of one of our boys (who is our home teacher) that I felt like the Spirit was much stronger with the three boys getting baptized on the same day than if they had had individual programs.

It's easy to accuse me of being sentimental, because I am. By small and simple means do great things come to pass. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, who know me, love me, and know what the small things mean to me.

Josh at the temple where Dave and I got married - Mt. Timpanogos Utah Temple

Josh - 8 years old

November 5, 2011 - Josh's Baptism Day

Dressed and ready!

Josh and Heidi

Our little Family - Dave, Heidi, Josh and Clara

Uncle Jack, Ellen, and Aunt Karen

Ben, Uncle Rob and Aunt Jessica

Grandma Nancy, Josh and Dave

Amabuela, Josh and Heidi

Ama Georgia, Papa Kirk, Josh and Heidi

William and Josh - born on the same day!

Uncle Eric showing off the butternut squash soup

Josh and Uncle Curtis

Chef Marty gives out the soup for everyone

Chef Marty made butternut squash soup, roasted pepper soup, and minestrone - all amazing!

The Tottens

Ginny and Josh

Halloween 2011

2011-11-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

The Five Musketeers - ready to hit the streets for candy

Batman and...Witch...again.

A Supergirl flanked by Marios

Clara sliding down the stairs

Ben brought over a big movie screen to set up in the yard to show movies to the trick-or-treaters. It was so fun! We watched Charlie Brown and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Definitely a tradition we want to keep as long as the weather is decent on Halloween night.

Ben with the masterpiece

Where do we go first?!

We had a great Halloween with lots of kids raiding our candy bowl. The kids only went around the block before they saw the movie screen and decided to hang out instead of trick or treat. This made for far less candy (yay!) this year. I love our neighborhood all year round, but it is especially fun to know most of the kids who knock on your door.

Pre-Halloween-Eve

2011-10-31T12:02:00.000-06:00

Halloween is now spread out over 37 days and 45 events. Friday we went trick-or-treating at Dave's work. Saturday we had a trunk-or-treat. Sunday we had a dinner at my aunt and uncle's house with finger foods. The kids wore their costumes to school today for a Halloween Parade, and then there is the big event tonight. These are pictures of the events so far. We will see if I manage to get pictures taken tonight!

Tractor Tippin'

The Five Crazies

Joshie

Children of the Corn

Hanging out at the Pumpkin Patch for FHE

Remind me to wear makeup next year

Clara the Cowgirl

Josh

Carving Pumpkins

Getting the low-down on pulling the guts out

Instructions from Spencer

Clara waits to begin

Tyler busts out his cheesy smile

Deep in the heart of the pumpkins

The Headless Horseman!

Traditional Pumpkin

Trick or Treating at the LDS Church

Josh the Cowardly Lion

Kate as Dorothy

Clara as Dorothy

The Three Musketeers

He has hair!

Clara switches to her witch costume

Halloween Parade at Providence Hall - Clara

Hailee in the parade

Josh waves hello

Kate in the parade

Spencer as Mario!

At Dave's work, they had a spook alley and a row of cubes converted into a Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Oz alley. So cute! There were hundreds of kids and it was chaos. We stuck to one floor mostly for trick-or-treating, but it was fun to finally see Dave's work. We took Kate along with us because she wanted to go, but the Romingers headed out to Arizona for the weekend so they missed out on the fun.

Disneyland 2011

2011-10-23T20:50:00.000-06:00

Waiting for the shuttle bus

Decorated for Halloween!

It's a Small World - my favorite

It's a fake smile - he hates the ride.

It's a real smile - she loves it.

Hanging out in the lobby at the Worldmark

Dave, Curt and Josh

Clara playing on the bench

Josh, Clara and Ama Ancy on Storybook Land

Josh and Clara at Downtown Disney

Mickey Mouse!

The Haunted Mansion decorated for the Holidays

Coming out of the Treehouse

Papa Rick and Ama Ancy with Josh and Clara in front of the castle

Clara on King Triton's Carousel

Silly Monkey

Josh - very focused

Waiting for World of Color

World of Color!

Riding the Carousel again...and again...

Curt, Ama Ancy, Josh and Dave on California Screamin'

Clara gets her face painted.

Cute Girl!

Snaggletooth Josh

Papa Rick and Ama Ancy waiting for the parade

Curt, Dave and Josh waiting for the parade.

Watching the parade

Josh at the Phineas and Ferb Dance Party!

First Day of Kindergarten for Clara

2011-09-06T09:05:00.000-06:00

Ahh, the first day of Kindergarten. One of the biggest first of a child's life! The day has finally arrived. Clara and her bestie, Hailee, changed their minds several times about clothes and decided on these simple blue polo dresses and sandals. I am envisioning flashes of underwear and complaints that they didn't have adequate shoes for recess. Whatever. I knew the clothing thing was going to be a battle, which is why my daughter has been looking rather strange and mismatched for the past year.

Clara and Hailee

The Four Patriots - Josh, Clara, Hailee and Spencer

Clara and Hailee

Hailee, Clara and Gabi wait for Kate (we always wait for Kate)

My babies and my other babies - Gabi, Josh, Spencer, Hailee, Kate and Clara

Hailee and Clara in front of Providence Hall

Clara and Hailee sitting in the hall waiting for class to start

Clara waiting in line for her class. I am pretty sure I looked exactly like this when I started Kindergarten. I can remember how I felt, and that I was a little shy back then. I got a little choked up, but she is really ready for Kindergarten and I know she is going to love it. She's my baby, so of course I will miss her. I realize that this is kind of it - no more kids at home after this year (she will go half day this year) during the day. It will make summers so much sweeter. Just when they start to get fun and interesting and outgrow their tantrums you send them off to school. Oh well - new and exciting adventures and that is what I want for them. I never had any illusions that I could keep them little forever! On to the next phase!

Josh Turns 8

2011-09-05T16:32:00.000-06:00

Today is Josh's 8th birthday. In some ways it has taken forever to get here, and in other ways it seems like he was just born. They say kids grow up fast, and they really do, but, I love Josh as an 8 year old. He was cute to me at every age and I'm just glad I have been able to know him for these past 8 years. While his birthday is today, we decided on Saturday to have a little birthday party for him. Because of our Disneyland trip and his baptism in a couple of months, we made it less of a "friends" party and instead invited our next door neighbors, the neighbors across the street, my mom, and Dave's parents and siblings over for homemade pizza. The kids later watched a movie. There were no decorations or party games or anything. Josh seemed to like it because in the middle of the party he ran up and hugged me and thanked me for having it.

Josh and the RomiKids

Pizza party for his birthday

Dan pulled out Hailee's loose tooth for the entertainment portion

Josh got about 10 cards with money and one really awesome lego game. He has plans for the money that involve Pokemon.

A roomful of people watching Josh open presents

Lauren, Gavin, Clara and Gabi

Cool lego pirate game!

11 kids - when we all moved into the neighborhood there were 5. We've had a busy seven years. I will pay $1 to a random reader who can come close to guessing the ages of these kids. Go ahead - try it. Unless you are Loree, Kristen, Lou, or anyone else who was at the party. Or anyone else who knows these kids. In a nutshell, their height does not match their ages.

We were even graced with the presence of the newlyweds!

This was the best I could do running to Smith's the morning of the party. I figured it was fun and different and since we didn't have a particular theme, I wasn't too attached to anything specific. For his baptism I have my friend Natalie tasked with making cute cookies.

First Day of School - August 29, 2011

2011-08-29T12:19:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time, they were little pipsqueaks - ages 18 months and almost two. They lived across the street from each other and played most days until they were close to three years old.

They got bigger, loved Baby Einstein, sucked their thumbs, and hit each other a lot.

The roped in the neighbor girls to play.

They discovered candy.

They got bigger. They were separated as Spencer's mean parents moved to Arizona.

They got cooler. Started traveling together. Went to Disneyland.

One of them added a little brother to pick on.

They got smart alecky...it looked like it was a possibility for them to be neighbors again. Their nice parents moved back to Utah.

Spencer - First Day of School - 3rd Grade

Joshua - First Day of School - 2nd Grade

Two crazy, funny, silly, smart, fantastic boys

And the neighbor girls...all grown up.

*Except that Kate and Gabi are still way shorter even though Gabi is 3 years older than Spencer and kate is 3 months older than Josh.

Starting Over - School 2011

2011-08-28T20:16:00.000-06:00

And....done. Summer went by that fast. I can't even begin to go back and document this year so I am just going to have to start from scratch and try to keep up again. Tomorrow is the first day of school. Josh is going into 2nd grade. Clara starts Kindergarten in a week after testing.

So that I don't forget too much about this year...

January - Ginny and William came to visit. Played in the snow, went to Thanksgiving Point Dino Museum. My cute Webelos got their Arrow of Light badges.

February - Went with cousins to Las Vegas (Erin, Rachel, Kristen, Ellen) for a girls' weekend.

March - Turned 39 the same day Clara turned 5. Had a joint little birthday party with three neighbor families. Attended a business boot camp with some friends, had fun in Park City eating sushi. Besties came to visit for Spring Break.

April - Went to Virginia for Spring Break for a week and saw many old friends.

May - Went to Grand Junction for Memorial Day. Saw the Circus with the Bultmans. Josh wrapped up First Grade. Marty moved into the basement to start work at Providence Hall. Ben Bennett (good friend from Virginia) moved to Utah.

June - Graduated from the Paid to Play business academy. Round two of the Amazing Race with the Olsens and the Martinezes. Clara graduated from preschool. Went to the Thanksgiving Point Children's Gardens.

July - Hosted and planned the Earl Family reunion with all but one in-law present. 75+ people! Same weekend - bestie and family moved into the basement. Attended cousin Julia's wedding in California. Went to Thanksgiving Point Children's Gardens again with bestie and kids. Attended great-aunt Mimi's 89th birthday party.

August - Vacationed for a week at the Oregon Coast (Depoe Bay). Went whale watching, to the aquarium, lunch with sister Carly and family, Tillamook cheese factory. Rob and Jessica got married! Back to school night for new Junior High and Elementary. First Day of School!

There ya go - if you read it fast it will take you about a minute. We've been mega-busy, like everyone else in the world. At least now if I ever go back I will be able to remember what we did. Thank heaven for digital pictures.

June 2011: School's Out for Summer!

2011-06-08T15:31:00.000-06:00

I realize I have been a giant slacker in the family blogging department for the past six months. I still haven't blogged about our wonderful trip to Virginia. I'll get to work on that. In the meantime, we have SO many things scheduled for the summer that I am going to have to blog almost daily to make sure I don't get behind, so be ready....I think I have one reader left.

School got out June 3rd so right after the final bell we had a picnic at the park with our Summer Adventure Society. My fabulous friend, Melissa, created a group on Facebook and we have weekly adventures planned throughout the summer. We sat at the park while the kids ran around and talked about the school year and how glad we were that it was summer. Then we all went home with sunburns because we all forgot that sitting in the sun means we need sunscreen.

2011 So Far

2011-03-23T21:26:00.000-06:00

2011 has been rather busy so far. So busy that I forgot to finish blogging the rest of 2010. I'll make a mental note to get back to that. In January Josh fell asleep while reading and Clara lost her fashion sense.

In February I went with my cousins to Las Vegas and we ate a lot of chips and Italian food and saw Ka and Phantom. Baby Ellen got her acceptance letter to college and we all celebrated and cried that she is so old now.

There was a chocolate fountain that dripped from the ceiling. That is pure genius.

And some really cool cakes.

And a really cool waterfall.

And statues.

And then some of my Webelos got a bunch of awards and abandoned me to BOY Scouts.

If it was even possible, my kids got cuter and started liking each other on and off for a few minutes on Thursdays.

Then my baby turned 5 and I turned 39 (gasp). Clara got a horse and a pteranodon which is every five year old girl's dream...apparently.

She also got a sign that says, "Princess of Quite alot" from Amabuela. The fact that "alot" is totally and utterly wrong and people who make signs like this should have to have a proofreader just adds to the perverse humor that my family enjoys.

To support my claim of "Meanest Mom in the Whole World", my mom bought me this sign for my office. Josh read it and laughed. Apparently it didn't instill the fear in him that we were hoping for.

So that is life in a nutshell. There are other things like Dave getting a new job, a pending trip back to God's Country for a visit, we still haven't finished painting the stairwell in one spot because I'm lazy and it requires a ladder, and a visit last week with my Bestie that was awesome.

December 19, 2010: Christmas Eve with Cousins

2010-12-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

The Sunday before Christmas we usually get together with cousins for a Christmas Eve-like celebration. We had honey baked ham, rolls, salad, fruit, and pies for dessert.

Then we gathered for singing. A few years ago I made several books of music for my aunt and uncle for Christmas so that they would have them for occasions such as this.

The books have both spiritual and secular music in them.

My cute uncle

Clara was an angel for the nativity and Lucy was Mary

Ava was the baby Jesus

Joseph and the Angel

Josh played Joseph since he was the only boy

Mary wasn't too excited to have the lace on her head.

We agreed that Ava seemed to be just fine wrapped in a pillowcase and that maybe it was a good idea for the future.

At one point, Uncle Gordy put Joseph into a straight jacket mode. That was fun.

We aren't totally sure what Uncle Mike is doing.

Uncle Eric was Nephi...or a Sith depending on how you look at it.

It's a good thing that there were plenty of bathrobes around. Uncle Gordy played the donkey - an appropriate role for him.

After the nativity and reading of Luke 2, Aunt Karen told some stories.

Josh was totally absorbed in what she was saying.

Then we took a picture on the stairs with all of the kids. Charlie wasn't happy.

Erin learned how to take peppermint sticks and stab them into oranges and then drink the juice. It's actually fun and really good and the kids loved it.

I know I am biased, but this little girl is ridiculously cute.

The Little Preschool Program

2010-12-22T09:32:00.003-07:00

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Clara goes to Maestra's for the morning. She hears almost nothing but Spanish while she is there, and is to the point where she understands most of what is said to her. Maestra has been a friend of mine for about 12 years. I lived in her grandparents' house in Virginia with some roommates and we got to know each other well. Imagine our surprise when we ran into each other at JC Penney a few years ago and realized that we were neighbors here. It has been wonderful to see her a few times a week.

There are 8 children in the class and they sing and dance and make messes. It's awesome.

They had to sing all of their songs in Spanish.

Maestra has more energy than any other teacher I have seen, but she is like that in real life, too.

There is only one boy in the class, and lots of little princesses that apparently have quite a few discussions about who will or won't be invited to birthday parties.

For a kid that doesn't have a dog, she sure does SOUND like one!

Clara and Maestra

The Big Preschool Program

2010-12-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

Clara is in two preschools this year - one is the same one that Josh was in two years ago. They had their Christmas program last week and instead of children we watched reindeer.

Clara alternates between really talkative and outgoing and pretend shyness.

Even with a bright red nose, I could kiss these cheeks all day long (and I generally do).

She sang sporadically, although she knows all of the songs because she sings them at the top of her lungs when she is playing in her room.

Nothing like "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on the kazoo.

December 11, 2010: Papa GG and Temple Square

2010-12-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we drove up to West Haven for Papa GG's 90th Birthday. It was low-key with just family, because the bigger party was over Labor Day weekend with friends throughout the years.

After the party, we headed down to Temple Square with Uncle Curt, Uncle Rob, and Rob's girlfriend, Jessica (who we all love). We parked at The Gateway, got some dinner, and then took TRAX over to Temple Square.

Clara

Josh

Strange children

Handcart Pioneers

The Lights at Temple Square

Starting to get sleepy

Starting to get sleepier

The Nativity

The four of us (and a girl in a teal plaid coat)

Love this shot!

Love this kid!

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

Josh had a Thanksgiving Feast provided by a generous donor and so I took the opportunity to go and help out for the party. My big contribution was to heat up the tater tots. Then I took cute pictures of my kid.

The actual day of Thanksgiving we spent partially at my cousin's house and partially with Dave's side of the family.

Ama and Erin cutting potatoes

The kids watching movies

Rachel wassailing

Erin and Eric

Dave and me

Rachel making the rolls

Gordy throwing Charlotte high in the air (she loved it)

Sitting down to dinner

The cousins

Look at those eyes - what a doll!

Dave cutting the turkey

We headed up North to spend time with Dave's aunt, uncle, and grandparents.

Curt, Rob and Jessica post turkey snooze

Cleaning up - Ama Ancy, Aunt Pennie, Uncle Ken and Ama GG

Rob's awesome socks

Dave and Papa GG

Love

2010-12-09T08:14:00.002-07:00

November 21, 2010: Snow!

2010-11-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

We had our first huge snow of the year and it was a doozy. At least a foot of snow! Usually we don't get these types of storms in November.

It's awesome having a kid old enough to really shovel and he loved doing it. I realized that he was wearing sweats because his snow clothes were too small. I had been saving snow clothes for Christmas, however, this type of snow warrants the warm stuff, so I got it out early.

Good thing they both have shovels. They were going to town!

This gives a perspective on how deep it is - up to Clara's knees.

And there is the silver lining. Huge snowstorm, but what a beautiful gift!

October 31, 2010: Halloween

2010-10-31T09:18:00.000-06:00

Because we live in Utah, Trick-or-Treating is done on Saturday when Halloween falls on a Sunday. I personally love this because then we have lots of candy for Sunday. Just kidding. I love it because then I don't have to struggle with whether or not I will let my kids go out to get candy. So last night the neighborhood was out in full force, running from house to house. I stayed home to pass out candy because I had taken the kids out several years in a row and it was Dave's turn. Plus it was cold and rainy. Clara lasted 17 minutes. Josh got back about an hour and a half later.

This picture was taken about a half hour after Josh got home. I think probably 8-10 pieces of candy had been consumed. We have a policy that they can eat whatever they want that night, and then the candy goes away. Since the past 48 hours included a school party, trick-or-treating at Dave's work, a ward trunk-or-treat AND actual trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, our kids are way over-sugared and we are going to be working on detoxing them for the next few weeks.

October 28, 2010: Crazy Hair Day

2010-10-28T15:53:00.000-06:00

Sometime in October 2010

2010-10-23T17:42:00.000-06:00

This month has gone by too fast. That's all there is to it. Here are a couple of things that we have done this week!

Last week the Young Women in our ward had a Fashion Show called "Modest is Hottest". They did a great job and it was fun for everyone that rocked the catwalk. Below are some pictures of peeps in my ward who joined in - including my babies.

Hip Hop G

Brother Aaron

Kool K - one of my Webelos

Our former bishop rocks the 80s. Don't know where the halo bubbles come in.

Webelo W - another one of my boys

Kute Kater Tot

G - the White Witch

The Ribbon Witch and Magician

Lou Lou showing up in full gold pant/vest wearing power!

Our current Bishop and his trusty sidekick

Josh's school held another Fall Festival. My kids were party poopers and didn't want to get dressed up, and we got there an hour late. However, we still had a good time.

Donuts on a string

Love Clara's giggle in this one

Mini-golfing

And of course, it wouldn't be Halloween without Nat's annual Witch Party! I decided to dress comfortably this year because you never know what she has in store.

Fall Break - October 2010

2010-10-19T15:14:00.000-06:00

For Fall Break we headed to Arizona to visit family and friends. We left at noon on Tuesday and drove straight through, arriving at around midnight. Long drive, but worth it to go all in one day. We stayed with our friends, Bob and Donna, who were heading to California for the weekend. We got to play for a little while on Wednesday, and had America's Taco Shop for dinner, which is awesome.

Thursday we headed out to my aunt and uncle's house to play for a while, and then Thursday night I went down to the 'hood to have dinner with my friend Monica. She made me tacos that were divine. We talked for a looooong time and I met her little girls who are sassy and sweet - just like Monica!

Friday was reserved for my bestie and my kids' besties. We made the long drive out to the edge of the world to visit them. Fortunately, my bestie was able to take the day off so we had lunch, let the kids swim, and talked and talked. I am crazy in love with her kids. My kids are crazy in love with them, too. As long as Clara marries one of her boys, and Josh marries her girl, we will be good.

Saturday we headed back over to my aunt and uncle's house to let all of the cousins play. We had a BBQ for lunch and sat around and talked and ate too many cookies. In the afternoon we went home and I took a little nap to get ready for my reunion dinner that night. Pictures from that coming eventually. I didn't take any, but will get them from my friend who is a camera fiend.

October 1, 2010: Genetics Run Deep

2010-10-01T16:59:00.000-06:00

Anyone that knows my family, knows that we are a musical group. Apparently this talent has continued to the next generation. Please pause for a brilliant performance. I tried to record this at the First Grade Talent Show, but my camera messed up so we had an encore this afternoon. He was sandwiched between a tae kwon do display and a violin solo. I couldn't be more proud.

September 23, 2010: Family Pictures

2010-09-23T14:50:00.000-06:00

Until last weekend, we had never had family pictures taken with my mom. A couple of years ago on my birthday Clara and I did pictures with her, but we haven't done the whole Evie family picture. We decided that enough was enough and enlisted the help of my fabulous neighbor and friend, Michelle. She is a photographer and I would highly recommend her! She is SO good with kids and can get them smiling and laughing. We went up to our cabin to take the pictures, which was beautiful as well as having sentimental value!

The Family

Dave, Heidi, Josh and Clara

Amabuela, Clara and Heidi

Amabuela, Josh and Heidi

Heidi

Evie and Heidi

Dave and the kids

Amabuela and Clara

Amabuela and the kids

Heidi and Josh

Clara

Amabuela

Heidi and Evie

Josh

Josh and Clara

Dave and Heidi

Dave

This is what Josh normally looks like.

September 21, 2010: Fire Part 2

2010-09-21T09:36:00.004-06:00

When we got out of church on Sunday, we smelled smoke and saw that there was a fire up on the mountain. No one knew anything about it, but it was on the backside of the mountain, so we guessed that it was coming from Camp Williams. A little while after we got home, I went out on my back deck and this is what it looked like.
I went out to the front yard and took this picture:
We were supposed to go down to Orem for Sunday dinner at my aunt and uncle's house, but decided to wait to see what was going to happen. Around 7:45pm we put the kids down to bed and I went over to my mom's house to see what it looked like from there.

Once I saw flames on top of the mountain, I called Dave and said, "Let's pack it up." If we did end up being evacuated, we didn't want it to be at 4:00am. We took about an hour and a half to go through our house and loaded up both of our cars with pictures, computers, etc. When we were about to leave, it was dark, but we could smell the smoke pretty badly at that point and knew that it was getting a lot worse. The following pictures were taken by friends.

When I pulled out onto the highway and saw the entire mountain on fire I burst into tears. It really looked like entire developments were being burned (I learned later that they were ok) and because it was so dark and there was so much smoke, it was hard to tell where the fire really was. We went down to my aunt and uncle's house and stayed the night there, but I didn't go to sleep until they had lifted the mandatory evacuation for the area around Josh's school. The pictures below were taken yesterday by a friend of mine.

This is from a park down the street.

You can see how close it got to houses. The firefighters did an incredible job of keeping the fire from burning houses. When our governor went home Sunday at 1:30am, he estimated that 25 to 100 hours would be burned. Three were completely burned to the ground. There is damage to other houses, but they should be ok. A few of my friends live in areas that are still evacuated and they can't go back to their houses yet.

Today the fire is 25% contained, but there is a high wind warning at noon. Anyone who has been to my area of the valley knows that the winds we get here can get 40-50mph winds pretty quickly. School was in session today, but I may be picking Josh up early just in case. I'm still processing all of the emotions that went into the past 48 hours.

September 19, 2010: Fire

2010-09-20T01:41:00.001-06:00

Due to firearms training at Camp Williams (in unsafe conditions - high heat, dry area), a huge fire has broken out near my house. This was taken by my neighbor who lives across the street. It is now far worse, homes have been burned, we don't know what is going on because it is 1:40am and the news has stopped reporting. Most of our friends have left, but not all. We left around 9pm and headed down to my aunt and uncle's house. We don't know what we will return to...

September 10, 2010: Josh had a Birthday

2010-09-17T12:21:00.006-06:00

We decided to have Josh's birthday party on a Friday night - pizza and a movie. He was allowed to invite a few neighborhood and ward friends. We started off with homemade pizza, which Dave made and the kids devoured. Then we opened presents, and we followed up with Natalie's cookies and ice cream before watching Ice Age. It was a looooong night (for me) but fun for Josh and that is what matters.

Josh and C - Battleship (we played the next day - so fun!)

Josh with the G-Boys - Big fire truck that makes lots of noise!

Josh with the "Gabers" and "Katers" - Zhu Zhu Pet

Uncle Curt - TRANSFORMER

Josh and J-Man - Another Zhu Zhu Pet (sensing the theme?)

Josh and Clara - Pajamas and jeans (zzzzzzz)

Josh and J - Superhero Squad t-shirt!

Josh and his girlfriend, Ms. Mert - $7

The Party Animals

Natalie's cookies! The theme was "Under the Sea" and these were so good and so cute. She also did Josh's invites and I would highly recommend using her for your kids' parties!

September 16, 2010: Kelly's Stress Reliever

2010-09-16T22:00:00.003-06:00

Poor Uncle Kelly. Trapped in wilds of Alaska. Building kayaks. Living through inspections. How does he cope? Counts the days until he can do somersaults with these cute kids.

September 6, 2010: Rubby and Friends

2010-09-06T17:04:00.003-06:00

There are three fish floating around in there.

Josh has decided to name one of his fish "Rubby". No idea where he got this name. Today we went to Petco and picked out gravel and plants and shells for the aquarium that he got for his birthday. He wanted rainbow neon gravel so we discussed color scheme and the fact that I hated that idea. We settled for blue. Our aquarium hangs on the wall away from hands that like to feed and squish things. A chair is needed to get really close to them. I think they probably like it that way.

Interview:

Phantom Voice in my head: "Hi, Heidi. How do you feel about owning your first pet?"

Me: "Well, it's not really mine and I don't want to take responsibility for it because I can't believe that they LET people have pets. What if they die? I can't take the pressure. If I am this neurotic about fish, we should never have a dog."

Phantom Voice in my head: "Good to know. Why don't you go lie down and have a nice piece of chocolate?"

Me: "That would be lovely."

Josh is thrilled, Clara is thrilled. I feel like I just gave birth to preemie triplets. We'll see how this goes.

September 5, 2010: Josh is Seven

2010-09-06T09:33:00.003-06:00

Lots and lots of sugar sprinkles.

He's still my baby.

Take One

Take Two

September 5, 2010: Becoming a Mother

2010-09-05T08:29:00.001-06:00

Seven years ago today at 4:00am my doctor woke me up to tell me she had decided to go ahead and induce me. I was 37 weeks pregnant with my first child, a boy. I was in no way ready physically to have a baby, but pre-eclampsia said otherwise and the induction was started.

12 hours later I had progressed to between 4-5 centimeters and my son was crowning out the back of his head. My doctor told me that I would need to have a c-section. I was exhausted and terrified, and at that point had been in the hospital for almost 30 hours. There was no turning back, and we were putting both me and my son at risk to go any longer. So I took a deep breath and my husband gave me a Priesthood blessing, and I was taken to the operating room.

I really don't remember much because I had had about four hours of sleep and my body had been going through contractions (pretty hard contractions that I didn't feel thanks to the epidural) for most of the day. I remember the nurse saying that there was no way that I would have had the strength to even get through pushing. I do remember the first time I heard my son cry. I remember a tear slid down my face as husband and my mom (my wonderful doctor had somehow gotten permission for her to be in with us) told me what was happening. I remember my husband putting that sweet little face up to mine as I laid eyes on my firstborn. The feeling and the Spirit in the room was overpowering, even with all of the chaos. He was born at 7:09pm.

I wasn't able to hold him until almost two hours later and my first thought was, "I would do this all over again for you." Which was a far cry from my thought a few hours earlier which was, "I will NEVER do this again!" It's true that you forget, or if you don't forget you at least don't care.

I still feel like I glimpse Heaven when I look into my little boy's face, even seven years later. He drives me crazy and he talks back and he sometimes has moments where I wonder if he will ever stop talking. But those blue eyes and freckles looking into my eyes and saying, "I love you, Mama" will always melt my heart because of what I went through to get him here. He made me a mother, and for that I will always be grateful.

September 3, 2010: Two Weeks Down

2010-09-03T09:33:00.003-06:00

Two weeks into school we seem to have gotten into a routine of sorts. The alarm goes off at 6:30 and after I groan for a few minutes, I get up and go into the living room. Typically Josh is already up and dressed and has eaten a banana or something. Clara stumbles out when she hears us get up and is much slower about things (like her mama). I make my smoothies and put Josh's lunch together (at his urging) and make sure that Clara has something to eat. By the time we get all of that done, it's usually around 7:30. At 7:30 we read scriptures and say family prayers and then we brush teeth, rub OnGuard and Citrus Bliss on feet, and get shoes on.

If I can get any of my cleaning done during this time, I try to. I also holler things like, "Is your aquarium turned off, laundry in your basket, and your room clean enough to walk through?!" The answers are varied, but generally they seem to be realizing that this old mom is not going to give up on the daily cleaning schedule. I have placed the responsibility for picking things up in the hands of Dave, Josh and Clara as much as possible, and then I do most of the actual cleaning, although I leave some of the bathroom stuff to Dave. In general, our house has been substantially cleaner the past few weeks than all summer and that makes me happy.

Every day we drive our neighbors to school and their mom picks the kids up. I'm a morning person (forced, but whatever) and she is most definitely not. So it works out for both of us. School gets out at 3:30 and she picks them up at 3:45. Josh runs to Kate's class and they try to get as much homework done as possible together, so he is coming home with it mostly done. That has been a nice aside for the crazy evening schedule. He comes in the house and I give him an hour of screen time (computer, tv) to relax. Then at 5:00 I generally start making dinner and he finishes up his homework and works on reading. After dinner we read a lot and the TV stays off. It has been nice with the TV downstairs because we don't focus on it nearly as much in the evening. We have been reading The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis and will work our way through The Chronicles of Narnia this year.

Clara started her second preschool and her teacher primarily speaks Spanish to her. She said after about two months she probably won't need to speak English at all because all of the kids will understand her. Awesome. Clara probably won't speak it, but it will give her a head start for the charter school where she will learn Spanish as well. She now goes to preschool every morning and is so tired by the end of the day that she falls asleep often about an hour earlier than bedtime. Bonus.

That's the news - I need to take more pictures, but we really haven't done that much lately!

August 27, 2010: doTerra Stories - Kate and the Hay Fever Episode

2010-08-28T09:35:00.005-06:00

My cute little neighbor has hay fever, and will often have sudden attacks during various times of the year. Yesterday at school she had two attacks - her eyes started watering and became very red, itchy and inflamed. They gave her two doses of benedryl throughout the day, but it didn't really help her. She was over playing after school and had another attack and her mom said, "I don't know what to do. I can't give her more medication!"

I got out my Modern Essentials book and looked up allergies and hay fever. It recommended putting a drop of peppermint oil on the back of her neck, and lavender on her sinuses. She is 7 years old, but pretty little so I used it sparingly. I put the peppermint on the back of her neck and rubbed it in, and then just put a tiny bit of lavender oil on the bridge of her nose. Then I got some wet paper towels and just wiped her eyes a little bit. About five minutes later she said the itching was gone and that her eyes felt better. By the time she left my house an hour or so later, her eyes were almost back to normal. Her mom told me that they kept improving!

I was so excited to be able to help her in such a simple way that didn't involve giving her more medication. I made a mental note to always have the "Basic Trio" on hand - Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint. doTerra makes a basic introductory kit of these three that retails for 28.50 plus shipping. If you would like more information, leave a comment and I will get in touch with you.

August 23, 2010: First Day of First Grade

2010-08-23T11:00:00.003-06:00

Today was the very first day of First Grade for Josh. Which means that he goes to school all day long for the first time in his life. I cried on and off yesterday. Today - no biggie. He was confident, he's ready. He even let me just drop him off so that I didn't get all emotional. Plus I had to go to the grocery store to get more stuff for his lunches this week. I had fun packing his lunch. I am sure that will get old.

Cheesy smile

Cool as a cucumber

It was nearly impossible getting them to stop wiggling, look at me, and smile

Darn, they are cute kids

Josh said to Clara, "See you tonight, Sweetie!" He kept talking to her in a baby voice all morning, reassuring her that he would be gone all day, but that he would eventually come home. She kept looking at him like he was out of his mind. As Ama Georgia put it, "He's a little boy...and she's a teenager."

I'm excited to hear how his first day went, and excited to see what he learns this year. I'm not excited for homework, but maybe I'll just put that on Dave's To Do list.

August 20, 2010: Friday Night Lights

2010-08-21T21:21:00.004-06:00

Friday Night was the opening home game of our new high school in Herriman. I have been excited because the mascot is the same as my high school mascot - the Mustang - and the colors are essentially the same - Crimson/Navy Blue. We thought we were smart to get there at 6:45 so we could "get good seats". This was the line.

This was the line five minutes after we arrived.

This was when we finally rounded the corner 10 minutes later. We got inside the stadium at 7:28pm. The game had started at 7:00pm. We had to sit in the Visitors Section because it was so packed.

That just gave me a good opportunity to take pictures of the home side.

And watch the sunset.

Herriman lost the opener, but they did a great job considering they are a team that has never played together. It was fun to see so many friends and neighbors. Having grown up in a huge city, I love the small town feel here. We are planning a tailgate in the parking lot at the next home game so that this time we can sit on the right side!

August 19, 2010: Back to School Night

2010-08-21T21:14:00.002-06:00

The best thing I can say about Back to School night is that Josh is THRILLED to have his very own desk that he doesn't have to share. A few of his friends from last year are in his class, but he didn't seem to care about that because HE has his very own desk.

First Grade is going to ROCK.

August 21, 2010: In the Meantime

2010-08-21T18:50:00.003-06:00

Today while I was canning this:
And baking this (Zucchini pile courtesy of Cousin Rachel):
And whipping up this for dinner:
Dave did this:
One more side and I can start painting again!

August 18, 2010: My New Cleaning Schedule

2010-08-18T08:50:00.003-06:00

Is that how boring life has become? I need to post a cleaning schedule on my blog? Oh well.

Now that the casa is organized, I obviously want to keep it clean. For me that requires focus and targeted effort. For Dave that requires a list. I made the decision that I wanted the main floor to be cleanest closest to the weekend. I also made the decision that we will not be doing house cleaning on Saturdays. That leaves five days. Break it down:

Monday Basement - Guest Bedroom and Josh's Bedroom: Vacuum, dust, wash linens if necessary. (Josh's room will obviously always take longer than the guest bedroom unless someone has been staying with us which is why I paired them together) Wash Josh's clothes.

Tuesday Basement - Big room and Bathroom: Vacuum, mop, Dust, Wipe down everything, wash towels, wash Dave and Heidi's Dark Clothes

Wednesday Main Floor - Clara's Bedroom and Hall Bath: Vacuum, mop, Wipe down molding once a month, Wipe down bathroom, wash towels, wash Clara's clothes

Thursday Main Floor - Master Bedroom and Bathroom and Office: Vacuum, Dust, Wipe down everything, mop, Wash Dave and Heidi's whites

Friday Main Floor - Family Room, Living Room and Kitchen: Vacuum, Dust, Wipe down Counters, Mop, Wipe down Fridge and other appliances once a month

So there you go - the most visible part of the house is saved for last. Each of these days will take me max about half an hour. If I can figure out how to get up 15 minutes earlier, I might even be able to get it done before I take the kids to school and how cool would THAT be? I am also allowing myself to get started on whatever laundry I need to do the night before so that one load is already done at least.

Let's see how long I can stick with it. Dave's responsibility is to unload the dishwasher, mop the floors, and FINISH THE MOLDING. That is all.

August 16, 2010: Birote Salado Guadalajara

2010-08-16T07:38:00.003-06:00

Dave served his mission in Guadalajara back in the mid to late 90s. He was really skinny before his mission. Then he discovered these babies. These are Birote, otherwise known as of yesterday to me as "Beer Bread". They are very specific to Guadalajara, apparently, and one of his colleagues at work told him the real name because he had been trying to make bolillos. It's in Spanish, and then even converted it is in grams and milliliters, so it took the poor guy a long time to make them.

I call it beer bread because the recipe calls for beer. This was entertaining even in itself, since he doesn't drink beer, and has never bought beer before Saturday night. I asked my trusty neighbor what he should get and he gave me a fancy name (that I ignored because it sounded expensive). Then he said, "You could get Coors Light and be fine." Ahhh, that was familiar. Except Dave came home with Busch something or other. And then discovered that it was non-alcoholic.

Leave it to Dave.

So then he had to go back and ended up buying Budweiser. So we now have a six pack of non-alcoholic beer and a five pack of Bud. Good for slugs and snails...or birote.

These suckers take a long time to make. You have to mix all of the ingredients and THEN let it sit for 18 hours to have enough acidity. He had to count the hours so that it would coincide with coming home from Church. By the time dinner was done and the bread was done it was 9:00 pm. Almost 24 hours later and we had 5 mini-footballs of bread to show for it. Kind of like gardening when you get squash bugs.

Anyway, he forced me, literally sat me down and forced me to try the bread. And I'm on a diet (which I am always on) and it was 9:00 pm and he was asking me to eat BREAD? Is he completely insane?

I got out the butter.

And let me tell you, the calories I am going to have to burn today to make up for it makes it completely worth it. If this bread didn't take so dadgum long to make, I would have him make it for me every week and I would give up my waistline (what waistline?) for it. Instead I think it will just be one of those special occasion breads. Something to look forward to.

August 15, 2010: The Big Clean Continued

2010-08-15T19:26:00.003-06:00

There was nothing to write about this week because I simply continued cleaning from last weekend. My upstairs was all cleaned and organized, so on Saturday I hit the downstairs. Now it is clean and organized. I don't know what to do with myself. I might just start over. At least it gives us a clean house so we can finish all of our painting projects. Dave is going to continue working on the half wall this week (right, Dave?) and after I can a bunch of salsa next Saturday with Rachel, I am going to get back to painting. Even if I can just do a little bit at a time, it will still eventually get done.

Dave went on the Father/Son campout Friday night. He took Josh and his little friend, Ethan. They had a grand old time from what it sounds like. Dave was happy to have some time to hang out with the other guys in the ward because that doesn't happen often. Josh and Ethan ran around with the other kids. Clara went over to a friend's house on Friday night so I could go see a movie with Melissa. Then Clara and I snuggled and slept in my bed - half the night with her feet in my face. Good times.

This is going to be one of those busy weeks. I have made several lists of things to get done before Josh starts school next Monday. I'm a list maker. It keeps me organized. I might even buy a whole turkey and roast it and then have Dave cut off all of the meat so we can freeze it for Josh's lunches. How domestic would THAT be? Not to mention a huge timesaver for me over the coming months. We might crockpot a chicken and do the same thing. And maybe even a ham. Have I mentioned I love my foodsaver? Anyway, that might get done or it might not. If it does get done, you can all be jealous of my organizational skills. If it doesn't get done, no one should really be all that surprised.

Plus, on Thursday, Kacy invited me to go to BYU Education Week with her. I can't pass up an opportunity like that because, well, it's KACY. So my meat making fest might be put on the back burner for that. Like I said, you shouldn't be surprised.

August 11, 2010: The Big Clean

2010-08-11T08:08:00.004-06:00

I know what you are thinking. "If that is clean, then WHAT is dirty?" Let me make my case here, though. A year ago we started a huge painting/remodeling process throughout the main level of the house. I knew it was going to be at least an 18 month, maybe even 2 year process. I know this because I am realistic (sometimes) about who I am, who Dave is, and how lazy we really are.

This past week, mostly driven by anger and hurt feelings, which is when I tend to clean and clean with a vengeance, I went into overdrive on the house. I figured that we couldn't continue with the projects until things are clean enough to do just that! So this is what clean is to me right now. Not perfect, not ideal, but, I threw away about five large black bags of stuff and my trash won't hold more than that so I need to wait until next week to do more. Right now I would say that things are in working order, and most important to me - I know where things are.

This is our bedroom from the doorway. I need to get a new comforter, and I know which one I want. I just don't want to pay for it yet. I'm going for a blue, white, brown theme (if you couldn't tell) and will do splashes of color here and there - pillows, a tapestry on the wall over our bed that used to be in our entryway, etc.

Since Dave works from home once a week, we set up a desk for him in our bedroom. He doesn't use it. Instead, he takes up space on my dining room table. I am hoping if the room is clean he will move back to our bedroom. I know he reads this. The pile of jeans is going to turn into a denim quilt sometime when I am too old to sit on the ground and use it. The rocking chair and the clock were both built by my fabulous brother-in-law, Kelly. The rainbow calendar was from a Kindergarten project.

I am not responsible for the banana peel in the garbage can. That would be the work of my children, who are not supposed to eat anywhere but the kitchen. I find food wrappers in my garbage all the time. I bought this matching dresser for about 1/3 of the price that it originally was because the whole set has been discontinued. Dave and I were discussing today that we still really love this furniture after all these years (6) of having it. That's a good sign. The baby sweater hanging on the wall with the bonnet and lei around it are special to me and I always want them hanging where I can see them in my room. Especially those crappy days when I am wondering if I really have any friends. The sweater and bonnet came from my dear friend Ginny. Ginny is an only child and the bonnet was hers as a baby. When Clara was born she sent it to me because she wanted a baby girl that she would love to wear it. When her son has a baby girl, I will give it back. The sweater she found at a thrift store. The day before I had Clara, I got a huge package from Ginny with all sorts of stuff that was meaningful for our friendship. She's a friend to grow old with.

The curtains need to be lowered, but that ain't gonna happen. The cedar chest was my mom's and was in my bedroom growing up. It stores my sweaters sometimes.

The dumbest thing we did was not get a double sink when we built this house. I don't know what I was thinking that day, and have regretted it ever since. I guess I thought we could just put one in later. Well, six years later, we haven't. Will it get done? Probably when we are getting ready to move because who would buy this house without a double sink? It's annoying.

I gutted the closet and have a huge black bag of clothes to take to D.I. this week. Or next week. Whenever I can get around to it. I love how organized this is now. I can find things.

This is Dave's corner. He only needs a corner. He only wears polos and long-sleeved plaid shirts. Maybe a boring wardrobe, but, if he's happy, I'm happy.

We have too many random t-shirts and when they were all hung up they took up too much space. I got this idea from a house for sale that my mom and I toured in Midway last week. Just roll them! Now I can actually find the ratty t-shirt that I want instead of rolling through all of them. And since they are high up and I really need a stool to get to them easily, I tend to wear my nicer stuff first. Kacy would be happy about that.

This is Clara's lame bedroom. You would think that I would be all hyper about making it cute since she is my little girl and that is what moms of little girls are supposed to do - make their stuff cute. The bedroom is actually a very pale yellow that I hate, and I plan to paint it pink and do beadboard and all that stuff someday (probably the week she graduates high school), but first she has to stop doing this:

Maybe we will do it when she is in school all day and has another creative outlet.

This is the third time I have rearranged my office since moving into Josh's old bedroom in January. I think I have it right now. I plan to get two more file cabinets and shelving units to go along this wall. One cabinet for my business, one for Dave and me, and one for the kids'. That's the plan. I'll let you know when it happens. The pile of stuff in the middle of the room are magazines that need to go downstairs in the magazine piles I have created. Actually, a lot of this stuff needs to go downstairs because that is where I have decided it belongs until I decide on its final resting spot.

This is now where my desk is. I can still see out the window, which makes Lou happy. She even came over to help me move stuff and said that as long as I can see that she is alive, she is fine with where my desk is. The "Heidi" thing on the wall was painted by my dad when I was a baby. The Christmas box under the desk is filled with all of the Christmas cards that I have gotten over the past few years along with pictures. Also cards from Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, etc.

All of my scrapbook stuff is now in this closet, along with the kids' craft stuff. The green boxes (ikea) are full of cds. The big green box was dumped in there by Josh yesterday because he had been packing his stuff up to go to his Ama's house and changed his mind (hence, the reason I can't ever keep the house clean). The white boxes will go in the file cabinet drawers. The purse needs to be gone through and then tossed because the strap broke. The picture on the wall is of my beloved Washington, DC. I miss Virginia.

August 9, 2010: Clara's First Day

2010-08-09T18:18:00.004-06:00

Clara is attending two different preschools this year, the same way Josh did his final year. There is no other reason for this besides my sanity and because she would be bored to tears being home with Josh gone all day. It's expensive, but was so worth it to me. She will go to the same school Josh went to on MWF, and then a friend of mine has a bilingual English/Spanish preschool that is arts and music focused where she will go TTh starting in September.

Today was her first day and she was very excited to go. I wasn't remotely worried about how she would respond. She just hopped out of the car and walked right in. We didn't even go to orientation so it's not like she knew the teacher. No surprises there - she is only shy when we want her to clean her room.

All ready to learn!

Of course, being Clara, she didn't sit down to play with the blocks. She grabbed a dinosaur on the way in from a bin and decided to play with that instead. She loves dinosaurs and animals of all kinds. It's funny how much more confidence I have in her going into this. She has been with Ms. Barbara the past two years and could probably go straight into Kindergarten at this point if they would let her. I'm not bragging that she is smart (which she is), but she has just been taught very well. She knows her ABCs, the sounds they make, how to write her name, how to count to 100, how to recognize her name, mom, dad, Josh, and a few other short words. She knows all of her colors. It is funny to think that THAT is what she will be learning this year, but, she will love the painting and singing and reading.

Dave has started doing Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons which will give her a good start for Kindergarten next year as well. Should be fun to watch what she does!

August 6, 2010: A Bountiful Basket

2010-08-08T10:05:00.002-06:00

We came back from our vacation to a huge harvest.

Ok, it wasn't huge, but it was a start. I pulled out all of the onions. They were a variety of sizes and when I cut into one of them tears ran down my face immediately. I think I will be letting Dave cut these up. Our plan is to chop them, freeze them, and use them in soups and enchiladas.
I have about 1000 strawberries that are coming ripe. These were the ones most ripe so I went ahead and picked them and froze them and put them into a ziploc bag for smoothies. I will probably go and pick them every few days and do the same thing and maybe end up with 5-6 full ziploc bags. Not too shabby since this is our second batch of strawberries this year. We got our first one in June.

We have a ton of green beans coming in as well. These were the longest and most ready to harvest. We had them for dinner, along with others I had picked before we left on our trip. Our tomatoes are starting to come in as well. I planted cherry and grape and Early Girl (that didn't make it other than the one bigger tomato) this year.

Next year I am doing something radical and revamping my whole vegetable garden as I know it. It should be very exciting and a lot of work, but I am up for it. I have mapped it out and will start on some of it this Fall after I pull everything out of the square foot garden. Stay tuned...

Beginning of August: Mid the Way

2010-08-08T09:43:00.007-06:00

We decided this year to spend our summer vacation in Midway because we love it and it's pretty and it didn't require a lot of driving. We drove up on a Friday and then turned around and drove back to Salt Lake for cousin Maile's baptism the next day. Isn't that handy? It was a beautiful baptism. Erin and Gordy spoke and then Gordy baptized her and confirmed her. I didn't plan for my kids to be in white specifically - it just happened.

Josh is the next Utah cousin to be baptized, but that won't be until next year.

We went back up to Midway and napped.

Then we went for a drive. This is one of the views.

This is another view.

And a third view. We want to live here someday.

Then we went to a park, where our kids didn't play on the playground. They just laid by us in the grass.

And sat on our shoulders.

And wandered around a bit.

And then laid back down in the grass.

Then we drove around some more and found our dream house.

With a guest house in the back. We knocked on the door and told them if they ever sell to call us first. Just kidding, but I should have. I might go back and do it.

That night there was a beautiful sky.

So I took a bunch of pictures from the balcony of our condo.

The sky kept changing as we were standing there.

Then it turned gray and we stood all amazed.

One day we went to Rachel's because she has a big huge playset now in her backyard.

It took them a week to build. I got to hear about it via blackberry text.

Rachel spent a whole day in the crow's nest.

One day Rachel came up and played with us. We went over to the Zermatt Resort to feed the goats.

Rachel had to text Mike to tell him about the goats. Apparently he loves goats.

The goats like to eat.

Because the merry-go-round was rented out for the day (no one was on it) they gave us free goat food.

The kids went swimming before we went to feed the goats.

Later we went back and they gave us a free ride on the merry-go-round.

We went to the Farmers Market in Park City. There is a ski lift that runs for free during the summer up to The Canyons ski resort. So we rode that up and back before going to the market. I bought a skirt at the market, but nothing else. We are on hcg and couldn't eat Navajo Tacos.

I really really wanted a Navajo Taco. Oh well. Next year.

July 24, 2010: The Pig Roast #6

2010-08-08T09:24:00.004-06:00

For the weekend of the 24th of July, or as they call it in Utah - Pioneer Day - we decided to go down to Springville. My famous sister, Carly, and her kids were in town from their sprawling farm in Idaho. It's been a while since we got the cousins together to play, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Plus, it was unlikely that I would have to cook because Carly is a gourmet chef (in between swigs of diet coke) and I would rather eat her food.

So we headed down. This picture conjures up thoughts of Snow White for me.

This was in our car and I can't figure out what the streamers are doing in there.

Clara and Hazel on the swings. They play really well together and are just so cute it melts my heart. Plus, they both have old lady names. They will be roommates in college with Ellen.

Holden is mysterious. I adore him and think he is one of the funniest kids out there.

Saturday evening we went to my famous sister Kacy's annual Pig Roast. Christian is the one that does the roasting, while Kacy dresses in cute clothes and works the crowd.

People bring sides. A woman brought carrots and they were popular with Josh. I love the one pocket hanging out look.

This year, instead of at their house, they held the Pig Roast at a pavilion near their church building. It was great because it was covered and didn't require too much prep work.

Christian telling a poor kid that he is only allowed one drink per Pig Roast.

My famous sister in their matching shades. I bask in their glory.

And this little love is Ruby, the baby of them all. I heart Ruby.

August 8, 2010: Now Where Was I?

2010-08-08T09:13:00.004-06:00

After blogging consistently over the summer, I took a couple of weeks off to go on vacation. It was more like a staycation since we never actually left Utah, but, it was still fun and we were in new and exciting places like....my parents' house, and Midway.

First things first, we had a visit from Bon Bon and the Chicklets. We didn't take any interesting pictures (or at least I didn't) other than the evening we spent at cousin Erin's house hanging out. The kids decided to put on a show for us, which largely consisted of Christmas music (in July) and some serious dancing. Josh was in charge of the karaoke machine. He took his job seriously.

Ava and Tucker getting ready for the show

Shy Clara and Uncle Eric

About 20 seconds later

Grace and Megan dancing while Josh looks on and Sarah plays the piano

Bon, Ama, and Tucker watching the show

Then came Maile's solo. Josh and Maile...let's just say the two of them together can equal trouble or the very best of friends. It's a watch and see situation. We're keeping an eye on them.

Uncle Terry and Ava

Miss Lucy finishes things up. I have to say I have a soft spot in my heart for this little girl. She is very quiet, but very loving and always comes and gives me hugs and a big smile.

After the show, we looked at pictures from Gordy and Erin's trip to Denmark and Norway. Now I want to go.

July 21, 2010: All About Bonnie

2010-07-22T08:39:00.002-06:00

I decided to become a doTerra distributor so that I can get the essential oils that I like and that are working for me at a good price, so this morning I drove down to pick up my order. But first, I picked up Bonnie.

Bonnie is my baby cousin (with two kids) and I love her. She is an amazing woman even though I think of her as a little girl. I love to hang out with her because she is so relaxed and funny and has a great sense of humor. I do tend to talk her ear off when I am with her (but I do that to most people). We have kids the same ages - same grades even. She came last summer and we ran a 5K "together" (she was about an hour ahead of me). This summer our ambitions run more along the lines of lounging on the couch and eating.

The kids swam the afternoon away and then we made bagel sandwiches for dinner and my Uncle Terry, Bonnie's dad, came over to hang out for the evening. He was kicked out by the Three Weird Sisters because they were having a dinner with old friends. Our intentions were to watch a movie, but instead we ate popcorn and cookies in the basement. The kids all slept in Josh's room in a massive blanket tent that Bonnie and I configured. Terry said that we were ruining the kids' ability to make tents because ours was so totally fabulous. Or something like that.

July 20, 2010: Lunch with my Posse

2010-07-21T08:24:00.002-06:00

In the past year a really strange (not that we are strange) group of friends has come into my life. We collectively have two things in common - the charter school, and food. The charter school is how we met. The food is what brings us together.

Monday was my friend Melissa's birthday. I love Melissa. She is amazing. She is also a very calming influence for me. And she is very very funny, and also has a good sense of humor (which doesn't always go hand in hand). Melissa and I can talk every day for a week, or not see each other for a month. Doesn't matter. I love that.

We went to Chili's for Melissa's birthday, and I tried to make it a surprise, but she is a bad liar and once we got there, we knew that she knew. Or I am bad at surprises, which is likely as well! Five of us were able to be there and after eating bottomless chips (oxymoron? I would say they definitely add to your bottom) for about half an hour, we ordered. And talked.

The great thing about these friends is that we largely discuss ideas versus talk about people. Don't get me wrong, we are women! Sometimes we talk about people. But, mostly ideas. And these women are brilliant. Scary brilliant. And accomplished. And I always come away from hanging out with them feeling good about myself and the world around me because they are in it.

I love lunch.

My sweet friend, Heather, watched my kids while I went to lunch. When we got home, my cousin Erin came over with her kiddos and we swam for a while and talked. Then my scouts came over and we had our den meeting followed by the boys swimming. Cute of them - they said Josh could swim with them. He has a reverent awe for the scouts, who are about 3-4 years older than he is. I love that he is getting this example in his life.

Josh and Clara slept in a fort that I made (I have most excellent fort building skills) in the living room, and I made cookies for the pig roast this weekend.

I love Tuesdays.

July 19, 2010: Number Nine Reunion

2010-07-20T07:49:00.003-06:00

Any time at least two members of Park Place #9 (1994-96) get together, it's a reunion. In this case it was a ROOM reunion. I moved into Park Place #9 not knowing any of the other girls in my apartment. My plan was to stay for a semester and then move back to Phoenix. The girls changed my plans. That was the most fun I ever had at BYU. Of course, Renae and I didn't get any pictures taken together last night, however, we did get pictures of the offspring.

Matt and Renae are in town visiting and came over for hamburgers, hot dogs, and swimming. It was a warm evening, but once the sun went down it was really nice outside. The kids had fun swimming and we had fun talking and discussing baby names.

Clara and J

Josh and C

I couldn't get K and T to look up at me!

After they were all in their pajamas, they performed the great noodle war of 2010.

All six crazy kids (and another one is on the way!). Total offspring for Park Place #9 so far is 18 going on 19. There were seven of us over the two years and two haven't had kids...yet. :)

How I Got Married and Advice for my Single Friends

2010-07-19T09:00:00.001-06:00

This story can also be read, with my friend's commentary, on "A Single Girl's Moments of Clarity and Chaos".

In late July 2001 after a summer of unemployment (I was consulting part time, but that didn't count when I could lay out by the pool, and have the best tan of my adult life), I was asked by the Institute Director in Northern Virginia to teach a Church History class - starting in September. Then he said, "We'll fly you out to Utah for the CES (Church Educational System) conference." I was in, all in.

That week was a defining week. I floated around the campus at BYU in a spiritual high. I was so excited to go forth and teach and inspire. In a fit of independence, I also decided at the ripe old age of 29 to transfer from the very active singles ward to the very isolating Family Ward. I was welcomed by the bishop with open arms as he said, "Are you here because you are too old, or here because you are sick of the games?"

Definitely sick of the games.

The night before I flew to Utah for the conference, I had ended up going on a date with someone that I had dated on and off for six months. Mostly off. Mostly because I was too chicken to stand up for myself and decide how I wanted to be treated. But I was smitten and we all know what smitten, single, 29 year old girls who are worried about ever getting married do - keep quiet.

I eased into my new life - teaching Institute and attending the family ward where I was quickly called to be both a Ward Missionary and the Gospel Principles teacher. The bishop believed in putting single people to work (the Relief Society President was single) quickly. He was a very smart man. Sunday mornings were spent preparing a 90 minute lesson on Church History as well as a 30 minute Gospel Principles lesson. Tuesdays were spent on exchanges with the sister missionaries. Wednesdays were spent teaching Institute. If I had had any concern that my life would be boring, I was quickly humbled.

A few things happened during the 9 months that I was in that ward. First, shortly after I transferred, I started a new job. On September 10, 2001 in Arlington, VA. The next day was a day that shocked the world. I, like most of the world, became more service oriented and less selfish. I can face it now, as a single person I was very selfish, and very self-absorbed. My thoughts were consumed with the fact that I was not married.

I lumped every guy that I dated into one category: Non-committal.

I'm pretty sure that everyone in my family was sick of me and I know my friends were. However, most of them were in the same boat - trying to figure out how to get out of a single state and into a married state as fast as possible. (Even if they claimed that they weren't.)

And I wasn't sick of dating - I was sick of myself. Sick of who I was as a dating person. Sick of the types of guys that I was attracting since they most definitely weren't the guys I wanted to marry. I decided to start changing myself into the type of person I wanted to be as a dating person, and finally as a married person.

One particular afternoon as I complained about it, my roommate handed me a book called "Men Made Easy" by Kara Oh. I laughed and she didn't even crack a smile. She just said, "Read it." So I read it. And I learned and absorbed and was shocked at how little I had understood about men in general. I had been heeding my dad's counsel about dating, "You have to throw a lot of spaghetti against the wall for some of it to stick." I focused even more on turning myself into who I was supposed to be instead of molding myself into whatever type of girl my latest crush wanted.

Somewhere in the middle of all of this transformation, I met my husband. Neither one of us can remember when it was. I say one particular evening, he says another. The point is, we were not attracted to each other. At. All. And that was because we weren't ready to be.

Until Memorial Day Weekend 2002. Dave got coerced by his best friend into helping my roommate and me move for the summer. I had decided to forge ahead in life and build a townhouse, but it wouldn't be ready until August. Our landlord decided to sell the townhouse we were living in, so we had to find temporary housing for the summer.

I hadn't paid attention to Dave until that weekend. In fact, my roommate had at one time been interested in him, so he was off limits. However, her affections had landed on Dave's best friend so a few weeks later after it was clear that I had the hots for him, she gave me her blessing. During that time, I practiced the methods I learned in the book on Dave. Actually, I still use them and he knows it and thinks it is funny and loves it. I also read the book "1000 Questions for Couples" and started asking Dave a QOTD (Question of the Day). It helped me get to know him in a way I never would have just "hanging out". It made him think. It made me think. It made me more and more attracted to him because I liked his answers. And, fortunately, one day his best friend said to him, "If Heidi liked me as much as she likes you, I would be dating her." Sometimes it takes a hammer to the head.

On July 7, 2002 after a weekend in Utah visiting family for Independence Day, Dave picked me up at the airport. On the way home he said, "I like you. I like spending time with you. I want to date you. I just am not ready to date you exclusively." Or something equally romantic. I said, "Okay." But you see - I had made it clear to him that I wanted to be with someone who could be direct and honest rather than play games. So he was respecting that. I set the boundaries for how I wanted to be treated. And I did not deviate from them. I was fine with giving him the opportunity to figure things out, because I knew he needed to, and it would do me no good to either pout or be pushy about it.

July 19, 2002, eight years ago yesterday, we opted out of going to a free Orioles game. I gave the tickets to some friends who were in town from Virginia Beach. We planned to go to a party that a friend was having, but instead sat on the couch and talked.

He said, "Where do you see this going?"

I said, "I think this is it."

He said, "Me, too. Does this mean we are getting married?"

I said, "I think it does."

And that was that. We got married November 2, 2002 in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple in Utah surrounded by family and friends. Our engagement period was dramatic with outside stuff - moving, illness, etc., but we had laid the foundation for our relationship. For the first time, I could actually say, "That's not ok with me." And not panic that he would run away and break up with me. Seriously - a first.

A year after we got married, I was asked to give a seminar for the singles ward on Dating. They wanted advice on what to do or not do. I laughed hysterically for an hour and then went to work.

1. Get your house in order. Get out of debt. Prepare yourself financially.
2. "Partaking of the bitter cup without becoming bitter is part of the emulation of Jesus." - Elder Neal A. Maxwell. Just because a past relationship failed, don't assume that every relationship will fail. Men are not all lumped into one category. They are different. Don't treat them all like they are the same and they just might surprise you.
3. Be your best self. Take the high road. But, don't be someone you are not.
4. Decide how you want to be treated in a relationship and stick to it. Treat the person you are dating with respect, and be a GIRL. Don't be a buddy unless you WANT to just be a buddy.
5. Don't stalk boys. Don't plan movie nights to get them over to your house so that they can "notice" you. Boys aren't idiots. If they haven't asked you out, they aren't interested. If you have had them over to dinner and flirted with them for two months at ward activities or parties and they haven't asked you out, they aren't interested.

I have now been happily married for 8 years and I still follow these rules. You don't stop dating when you get married. Men still want to be flirted with even if you have spaghetti sauce all over your shirt. In fact, that might just be an aphrodisiac for them.

And in the words of Kristen Oaks, who is the wife of Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "Being single doesn't mean you have to put off being happy." http://www.meridianmagazine.com/books/090514single.html After all, she married an apostle in her 50s.

July 18, 2010: Photo Shoot

2010-07-18T12:03:00.004-06:00

Today we finished Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We may start on the rest of the Little House series. I haven't decided. We probably will. I like the long chapter books that teach good lessons for me to read with Josh. Clara just gets her own book and reads along with us. How young is too young for the first Harry Potter? It will take us about a year to finish because we read these things slowly.

We are headed to Church in a few, but Clara actually let me do her hair so I decided to take pictures. She even let me put the flower in it. Times, they are a changing! This is a girl that doesn't like anything in her hair. She'll probably pull it out by the end of Sacrament Meeting.

Clara with two pony tails and a flower

I think there is a picture of me looking not too totally different than this at four years old.

Josh and his cheesy grin

His freckles have emerged full force with all of the swimming we have done in the past week.

When I said, "Show some teeth!" they took it literally. Still - I'll keep them.

July 17, 2010: Housework = Clean Garage

2010-07-17T19:06:00.002-06:00

Cleaning the garage shouldn't actually be included as housework since it is in...the garage. However, it required bringing things from the garage into the house so I am counting it anyway. When we first woke up we cleaned our main room. If we clean our main room, Mama feels better (I'm the Mama). If the main room is a disaster, Mama ain't happy. So that's what we did.

Then Dave said, "Did you want me to go to Home Depot?"
I said, "Yes, take all three kids."
Dave said, "We don't have three kids."
I said, "I know that. But, if we did, I would want you to take all three."

He only took Josh and left Clara to me. Then I saw my next door neighbor and asked him if he knew anything about electrical work (and I knew he did because he is finishing his basement). He said yes and came in and looked at our GFIs, which needed resetting or something like that. Solved! Dan saved the day! Yay, Dan! :) So I called Dave to tell him that and that I needed a diet coke.

When Dave got home I was cleaning out the garage. I moved the refrigerator over to the other side of the stairs, emptied our big blue 60 gallon barrel of last year's water and then put it in our shed and refilled it, and Dave pressure washed the garage floor. So clean. So beautiful. So not lasting more than a week.

At this point I was dripping with sweat (nice image) so the kids and I got in the pool and floated around waiting for Sara, Woodstock, and Pebbles to come over. They can only swim on Saturdays because they live far far away closer to the Big City. They joined in and we swam a while longer and then Amabuela showed up and swam with the kids and then Dave got Indian Food.

Now, Dave and I are going to a movie to celebrate 8 years since we got engaged (which is Monday). I hope my 10 readers have had a fabulous Saturday.

July 16, 2010: Rachel Rachel Rachel

2010-07-16T16:35:00.002-06:00

Today was ALL about my cousin, Rachel. I love Rachel.

Rachel and her girls arrived around11:30 and we ate lunch. Then we got in the pool and swam and swam and swam. This time we got in and out and got in the shade a bit so that we didn't fry. We had so much fun and it was so nice to just be able to spend the time floating and talking. This is becoming my favorite gig - swimming with one person and her kids so that I get the one on one time. Awesome. Next week - cousin Erin and cousin Bonnie. And maybe I will allow Aunt Donna and Uncle Terry to float, too. :)

Tonight we are headed to Gecko's for dinner. Mexican food. We have a $25 gift certificate along with a buy one get one entree free coupon. Then we are going to get gelato on the way home. Then we are going to watch a movie. My guess is that our kids will be snoring before the opening credits roll.

July 15, 2010: A View of the Garden

2010-07-15T09:16:00.003-06:00

This week from the garden:

I moved the raised bed over so that there would be some shade for the lettuce. It seems to have helped. Not sure what those smaller lettuce heads are doing, but I have been trying to prune to get them to grow. I think this is a mistake of not thinning in the beginning (hey - that rhymes).

My petunias are looking pretty. I actually put the purple plants around the perimeter (alliteration!) of the pot, but they all grew to the center. I love them. I think next year I am going to become a petunia freak and put them everywhere.

Anyone want basil? No, really. Anyone? Because this isn't even my only basil plant! I have never been very successful at growing basil until I put it in this half barrel. Guess I know where it will be every year from now on! See those tiny sprouts on the right? Those are radishes. I grew some in the square foot garden and harvested them last week. Dave was in heaven and wanted more, so I am trying to cram them into spots where they will get some shade. And really - if you want some basil, stop by and get some!

Things have really taken off over the past couple of weeks. My squash and zukes are flowering all over (yay!) with no squash bugs in sight. My onions are getting big. The tomatoes are taking over. Those are cherry tomatoes and there are a ton of small ones all over the plant. A few more weeks and I will be popping them like grapes. I also have harvested some stuff and thrown in new stuff that will be ready for cooler Fall harvesting.

The right side square foot garden isn't doing as well. I think it just doesn't get enough sun. I'm going to pull it out from the wall next year and hopefully that will give it a little bit more. I have lots of ideas for next year. Dave should be afraid.

Don't know what is going on with this little plant. I think maybe it was because I put the pot that disintegrates in there with it instead of unwrapping it. These are my early girls and I have one lonely tomato trying to grow on it. Definitely must need more sun.

This is a lettuce head that I threw in another bed just to see what it would do. It's not even close to other vegetables. Imagine that! I should just put lettuce heads all over the place in my yard. I think it is pretty. It will be almost sad to harvest it. I have to take a salad tonight to book club, so I think I am going to pull leaves from various romaine heads (I have 4-5 in my garden). I feel so....organic.

July 14, 2010: 20 Years

2010-07-14T19:30:00.002-06:00

How do you observe the anniversary of the death of your cousin?

This is a question I have asked myself the past few days. Twenty years ago my oldest cousin, Mark, was killed in a car accident on the way home from a family reunion. My Aunt Karen was driving, and my cousin, Jeanne, was in the car. A deer ran out onto the road and my aunt had no choice but to hit it. My cousin, Mark, was killed instantly. My cousin, Jeanne, was thrown out onto the road. Her knee was severely injured, and her face had a significant amount of road rash, but considering how far she was thrown, her injuries were minor.

At 11pm the night of the accident, July 14, 1990, I was hanging out with my friends, Sara and Michelle. We had just ordered pizza. I was 13 days away from moving to Utah to start at BYU that Fall so we were trying to spend as much time as possible together. For some reason, I felt like I needed to go home. There was no real reason. Metallica's "One" was playing on the radio, which I will always remember. I walked in the door, and the phone rang. It was my Aunt Donna, who asked for my mom. I handed the phone over to her, and then heard her gasp.

The following 48 hours were a blur. I got my mom ready to fly up to Utah, and later my aunt and uncle came over to pick me up so that I could drive up with them. That morning after my mom left, I remember losing it, and just sobbing uncontrollably. My Stake President (and former Bishop) knocked on the door with a copy of the hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints." He had ditched church to come be with me while I cried.

That afternoon I got a phone call at my aunt and uncle's house. It was Jeanne, calling from the hospital, asking when I would get there. She doesn't remember it. She doesn't remember that week much at all, which is a good thing. I told her I would get there as soon as I could. I spent that week being in charge of Jeanne, which solidified an already strong bond from childhood.

We learned many things during the course of the week about the strength of our family. It was a week of sorrow, and a week of miracles. It changed everything for me. Twenty years later I am still more grateful for family than I was before the accident. I am close to all of my cousins - closer than I would have been had it not happened.

Today was an ordinary day. I met a friend for lunch, and we spent the afternoon talking while our kids swam in the pool. I am going to spend a few minutes tonight telling my children about Mark. How he always had his nose in a book. How one time after his mission he had to ask me how to say "door" in English because he was saying it over and over in Spanish. How he wanted me to set him up with all of my friends in college. I will tell them how important it is to always say "I love you" to the people you love, because they might not be here tomorrow. I will tell them that I love them, give them hugs and kisses, and put them to bed. And maybe shed a tear that I didn't get the chance to know Mark as an adult. I bet we would have been close.

July 13, 2010: Tired Children

2010-07-13T15:11:00.002-06:00

This morning we got up relatively early (7am) and the kids watched shows while I worked for a little while. Then we took off to go to the splash park and they said, "We didn't eat breakfast!" Note the new rule kiddos - no tv until you have eaten! It was 10am by then! Natural consequences. Except it made them super cranky for the splash park. Because we were going to be home for lunch, I didn't pack anything but water.

As a result, I got nothing but whining and complaining. So, after feeding them lunch, I put them to bed. They have been napping for 2 1/2 hours (at the ages of 6 and 4). Happy Tuesday.

July 12, 2010: Goodbyes and Swimming at Last

2010-07-12T19:52:00.003-06:00

Today we headed over to Erin's house to say goodbye to the Fargo Cousins. While there, the kids (all 16 of them) put on a Bug Show. We all got free passes good for one person, and we sat in chairs while containers of bugs collected throughout the afternoon were brought to us for observation. There were slugs, ants, roly poly bugs, and earwigs. It was lovely.

Then the kids and I headed home and when we arrived, got in our swimsuits and finally got in the pool out back. The sun was going down so it was a little chilly from the wind, but still just lovely to end the day by cooling our core temperatures! I am pretty sure that we will be required to get in daily at this rate since the kids are relatively proficient at swimming. At least in this deep of a pool. Clara can stand up so it is perfect for her, and Josh was diving for sticks the whole time.

Dave was supposed to take pictures, but he didn't.

I can see that this will be a lot of fun for the next few weeks.

July 9, 2010: Cabin Fever

2010-07-10T10:48:00.002-06:00

Today we met Melissa at the park, but the wind was blowing hard and then it started raining so we gave up and came home. Still - I will always take 30 minutes of time spent with Melissa. She's amazing, beautiful, funny, etc. etc. I'll stop gushing now.

I picked up Dave from work and we headed up to the cabin for the evening. My aunt and uncle are here from California so we wanted to visit. We ate spaghetti, salad, texas toast, and brownies and can you believe I didn't take any pictures?! The cabin is beautiful this time of year - nice and cool and smells heavenly with all of the wildflowers. We will be going up again soon. Dave and the kids went on a little hike down the road to see the beaver dam and the kids discovered a dirt slide that they loved (and I didn't). Next time I will take pictures so that my posts aren't so boring.

July 8, 2010: Massage Wisdom, Swimming Pools, and Trampolines

2010-07-08T11:29:00.004-06:00

Because I believe my massage therapist is brilliant and insightful, I am going to share tips that she shares with me from time to time. Today's nugget is particularly beautiful considering we are currently filling up the pool in our backyard.

One thing I often struggle with in my personal relationships is taking on other peoples' problems and trying to solve the problems for them. In the past six months I have been working on learning how to say, "That's tough." And then give the problem back to the person to solve. Some days I am better at it than others. Some days I allow people to take advantage of me (and then resent it) and other days I don't let them get away with anything.

When I allow people to take advantage of me and get away with inappropriate behavior, I am allowing them into the "swimming pool". I am saying, "Come on in, the water is fine. Stay as long as you want. I'm here to make your life easier, more relaxing, more comfortable." There are certain people in my life that should be in the swimming pool - my immediate family. As an adult, that would typically means spouse and children. If you don't have a spouse or children, it would mean allowing people in that you know will come for a swim and then leave. Or perhaps people who come for a swim, but bring their own snacks to the party.

You decide who you allow into the swimming pool, but then you live with the consequences of how they use your space and how long they stay.

For the majority of people in my life, I should be a trampoline. Trampolines allow for flexibility, but they allow me to bounce the person back out of my space and hand the problems back to them. These are my healthiest relationships. It allows me to help others and show empathy, but it also allows them to figure their own stuff out. You could say that it allows them to "bounce" things off of me.

It's really easy to blur those boundaries and allow someone to jump right off the trampoline into the swimming pool. I am REALLY good at doing that. When I do, my expectations for people soar higher than are realistic. I start to enable bad behavior in order to "fix it". It becomes inappropriate and hard to let go the longer they swim.

It is very difficult to send someone, dripping wet, back to the trampoline. Really - the two are not meant to be used at the same time.

I'm learning.

July 7, 2010: Eight Years of Liking Each Other...and Produce

2010-07-07T09:03:00.003-06:00

Eight years ago today, Dave picked me up at the airport late one night. I was flying back to Virginia after spending Independence Day in Utah. On the way home he said, "I like you, and I want to date you, but not exclusively, yet." I'm paraphrasing, but he had someone else in mind that he thought he should probably ask out before devoting himself to me heart and soul for eternity....To Be Continued.

Below is are updated pictures of my garden. It's too close to the house and I think the stucco is making things too hot. I should be growing jalapenos. Next year I am moving them to a better location. I have harvested some of the lettuce heads over the past few weeks, and now they are growing back again.

The onions will be ready soon I think.

Second round of strawberries

Lots o' basil, a big head of romaine, and kale galore. I put a leaf of kale in my smoothie every morning for extra whatever it is that kale has.

Green beans and more basil. I think we'll be having basil in something tonight for dinner.

Tomatoes are starting to grow, green beans, onions, romaine, and a bell pepper. And more kale.

This garden isn't doing as well, but has zukes and stuff in it. I think it actually has too much shade because it doesn't really get much sun until 10am and by 4pm it is in the shade again. Next year...

My early girl has one lonely tomato. This is compost, peat moss and vermiculite. It should be growing like crazy! I also have used miracle grow on it. Not sure what the deal is.

This tree has finally really taken off. It is supposed to ultimately be a shade tree for our patio and I think it might actually get there by next summer.

July 6, 2010: Ama and Papa GG

2010-07-06T14:11:00.007-06:00

Since Dave had the day off, we decided to head up to Ogden to visit his grandparents. With all of the craziness that we have had the past six months, we hadn't had a chance to get up there. We left around 10:30 and arrived around 12:30 (after getting slightly lost). After having pizza for lunch, we headed over to the pool and took the kids swimming. It was a beautiful day, but the pool was crowded because it was a holiday. We sat and visited for a while afterward, while the kids played with matchbox cars.

They moved to a new condo a while ago and Dave's aunt and uncle decided to remodel the patio. It is absolutely beautiful! It's tree covered so there is a lot of shade, and we spent most of our time out there. Clara was much less shy than she has been in the past as well.

Ama and Papa GG, Dave, Josh and Clara

Papa GG and Josh

Ama GG and Clara

Ama GG and Josh

Papa GG and Clara

Clara and Josh playing by the countertop. They loved the swivel chairs.

Josh's Love Notes

2010-07-05T09:39:00.002-06:00

Josh has started writing love notes - lots of them. I am the happy recipient of a lot of them. This one is the latest, greatest, and cutest.

"You are the cools Mom. I love you Mom you are nis to me. I love you you are cool. You snugl with me. I love you. You are the best mom in the intr wrld. Love, Josh"

I'm tellin' ya - I want to bottle this kid up and keep him little. With his reddish brown shaggy hair, his big blue eyes, his freckles, his crooked teeth. He is exactly the little boy that I hoped I would have and I couldn't love him more. Even when he drives me nuts.

July 4, 2010: Independence Day

2010-07-04T22:41:00.005-06:00

It was a quiet Independence Day for me - I spent the day in bed with my leg up reading because the cellulitis kicked in. I took some antibiotics and put heat on it. Determined not to let it ruin our weekend plans, we headed down to Springville for First Sunday Dinner at my dad and step-mom's house. We grilled a variety of meat, had a variety of salad, fruit, chips, dips, homemade ice cream, etc. etc. It was a food fest! We ate outside on the deck, which was lovely.

Maggie, Sam and Ellen went swimming in the hot tub

We didn't let our kids swim, but they stood by the side and splashed and threw beach balls at their cousins' heads for fun.

That's Kacy in the background. She's a famous blogger. I like to name drop.

Georgia and Glenda - we love having Glenda around. She has been coming for the past few years and it has been wonderful spending time with her and getting to know her.

Believe it or not - it was cold outside (and I don't get cold) so Georgia went and got me a blanket. I loved this blanket. I want one.

I don't think we wear our kids out enough. I mean, it's only 10:30 pm and they were only up until 11:00 pm last night. Geez - life of the party these two. (And yes, that is the bathroom floor. They were supposed to be brushing their teeth, but didn't get that far.)

July 3, 2010: Independence Day Preview

2010-07-04T15:31:00.004-06:00

Since I live in a state that celebrates all Sunday holidays the Saturday before, we decided to go ahead and join in the fun. I slept in a bit, and then went out to weed, where I was bit by a spider of some sort. As a rash spread throughout my lower leg, we realized that I would need to go to instacare to get a round of antibiotics. We were supposed to be at a baptism at 1pm in Bountiful, and it was noon. So my mom came and got the kids and took them with her, while Dave and I went to the hospital. After resting a bit, we drove up and met everyone at a park for a picnic. I didn't take a single picture of it. Sad. But, I repented when I got home. I had made Nat's sugar cookie dough the day before and stuck it in the fridge. I rolled it out and baked it and decorated a few cookies before all of the kids arrived to decorate the rest. I used a different frosting recipe because I haven't been able to master Nat's yet, but I added her super secret ingredient and so it tasted about the same and everyone raved so there you go.

All of the shapes cut out were stars and flags

Clara was anxious to get started. I had to tell her no less than 20 times to wait until her cousins arrived!

Jubilee when she finally got to eat one. This girl has a sweet tooth to rival mine.

The older kids played a game while the younger kids frosted. Then the older kids reaped the benefits and just ate them all.

Cute, Sassy G! Who looks a little bit like the brunette version of another G that I know.

These are all of the kids we had hanging out last night. 14 in all from 3 moms. And only 2 are mine. That's some serious reproducing, eh?

We started off with sparklers and then moved on to street fireworks.

Eric, Sean and Jack enjoying home made ice cream.

Clara just wanted to ride her scooter. She didn't care that much about the fireworks.

Josh - smack in the middle of all of the girls...again. He says that they take turns hitting him or kissing him.

Jack and Kristen getting kid snuggles

And, as always, I have to include a picture of Charlie!

After we finished the street fireworks, we headed over to the cemetery to watch the big ones that the city sets off in conjunction with their festival. We discovered this location a few years ago and while word has spread, it's still a great place to watch - even if it is a little spooky. We took care to sit in an area where there weren't headstones.

Believe it or not, it was actually chilly! Our high for the day was about 82 so by 10:00 pm it was down to about 60 and we all bundled up in coats and blankets.

Clara was about done for the day.

Sean couldn't stop talking about Tutti Fruitti ice cream all night. We hope he gets some soon.

July 2, 2010: Butterfingers

2010-07-02T18:54:00.002-06:00

Today I woke up, watered the plants, got the kids breakfast, did some laundry, and then got a call from my mom that our friend had chopped the tips of three of his fingers off while mowing the lawn and she needed me to go get his fingertips from his yard and take them to the hospital.

Crickets.

Then I yelled, "Josh and Clara! GET IN THE CAR!"

Then we drove over to his house with a ziploc bag, I found the fingertips, and we headed for the hospital. Good thing they just built a new hospital down the road. Good thing I was trying to move so fast that I didn't take too much time to think about it. Good thing I have had enough gross experiences in my life. As my mom put it - I was more freaked out when Clara cut her hair all off than I was getting fingertips from his backyard.

On the way over I called Dave and told him what had happened. He left work right away to go to the hospital to be there to give Curtis a blessing. I also called my friend Rachel, because her husband works close by, and he ran over as well. They waited until Curtis's dad arrived. Dave said Curtis was cracking jokes non-stop about bringing finger foods from now on to parties. Shock will do that to you I guess.

They weren't able to save two of the fingers because the blood vessels were too small. They were able to save his pinkie finger. He stopped by and brought me a butterfinger as a thank you for bringing his fingertips to the hospital. I have a feeling that we will be cracking jokes about this for a long time to come. It could have been much worse, and fortunately he has a good sense of humor about it.

July 1, 2010: Swimming, Lunch, and Harry Potter

2010-07-01T22:04:00.002-06:00

This morning I contacted a friend of mine in my ward about hanging out. We decided to meet at the clubhouse at her apartment complex to go swimming with the kids. I got some stuff done and headed over. The kids LOVED her pool, because it wasn't crowded and they could wear their floatie things and swim to their hearts' content. They are both red faced now. I got burnt in a very strange line on my thigh, which I can't figure out unless it was the sunscreen. Oh well. We had a great time and it was very relaxing.

After swimming I took a catnap, put the kids down for naps, and then got up and headed to Blue Lemon Bistro to meet my dad for lunch. We had a good visit and good food. I went home and started reading Harry Potter 7 again because I really read it in a rush last time and don't remember a dadgum thing about it. Since the new movie is coming out in November, I figure that gives me time to read it and then forget again. I also got some cleaning done and made some ice cream that didn't set up so I have to start over. Darn.

Tomorrow starts the Holiday Weekend - and next to Christmas, Independence Day is my favorite holiday. We've got lots of stuff planned - water games, a baptism, a picnic, fireworks, dinners, etc. etc. so I may not be blogging until Monday or Tuesday. Try not to miss me too much.

June 30, 2010: Stuff

2010-06-30T09:35:00.002-06:00

I saw three movies in about 24 hours. One for a friend's birthday, then a dollar movie, "How to Train Your Dragon" with the kids, and then the midnight showing of "Eclipse" with my cousin, my niece, and about 40 of my neighbors. My diet has consisted of protein shakes and popcorn so if I look strange and malnourished, that's your answer. I'm also very tired from staying up until 3:00 am, but not as tired as I would think.

I also went to a doTERRA presentation last night, which was cool. I'm pretty interested in what essential oils can do for me these days. I'm looking into it further as a way to have a non-expiring medicine cabinet of sorts.

This morning I got up around 9:30 am. My kids were good and let me sleep for a while, but now they are hollering up a storm and my guess is that they are waking up Ellen, who stayed the night last night. Erin and I made her drink a concoction of apple cider vinegar, honey, cayenne pepper, and oil of oregano. She looked green afterward, but she had a sore throat and that was our best solution.

I thought when I got up that I would be too late in booking our timeshare for the first week of August of 2011, but there was still a spot for us and we will be going to Depoe Bay that week and playing on the beach and eating clam chowder at Devil's Punch Bowl. We haven't been to Oregon since Josh was two and I was pregnant with Clara, so this should be exciting. Too bad we have to wait a year to go!

June 29, 2010: Neighborhood Block Party

2010-06-29T09:30:00.007-06:00

Every year for the past about five or so years we have started off the summer with a neighborhood block party. We stick to the same schedule - bike parade followed by a bring-your-own-meat and side something BBQ. We roll out the grills and the guys start grilling while the kids ride their bikes and run all over the place and the women sit in the shade and talk and ooh and ahh over whatever new babies have been born. It's awesome, and a tradition that I hope we are still doing 20 years from now.

This year the food was held at my house and the shade was held at Lou's house across the street. We dragged out our awning and with the help of my fabulous next door neighbor, we set up tables and color coordinated the tablecloths. My kids worked on decorating their bikes and scooters with crepe paper and all was well.

Xanadu....

Josh and the super-decorated bike

Kate

Clara and her bestie, Caitlin

Michelle taking a picture of me taking a picture of her. Her camera is bigger than mine.

Mindy taking a picture of me taking a picture of her.

The starting line for the bike parade. The kids ride around our triangle.

Heidi, Judd and Aliyah

The one shot I got of Josh because he was too fast.

Yeah - no shoes. Awesome.

Lou Lou and Keysha

Jennifer stole Sienna for a snuggle

Scott and Jennifer

Jennifer, Sienna, Barbara, Shelley and Marshall

The newest baby on the block!

Dave the grill master - he wasn't being very social. He said it was too hot.

Myka

Light Saber Wars

Greg and Caitlin

One of these days I am going to go through all of my pictures and put together a big book of block parties. Yeah - one of these days. We had a great time, great turnout, and missed those who weren't able to join us this year!