blessed in abundance

Real JOY

2009-06-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

I registered Aiden for swimming lessons during a three-week block in May. I was excited for him to start lessons; he did well last year and loves swimming in the pool when we've stayed at hotels.

So the first day of lessons was more than a nightmare. When the lesson started about 30 kids flocked to the pool and the leader assessed each child to determine his or her swimming ability and assigned them to a class based on their skills.

Aiden immediately tightened his grip around my leg and refused to get into the pool. I thought for sure he would love it; this pool is a heated pool with bath tub warm water. But he refused to get in.

All the other kids around us were splashing and swimming and having a great time. Why was my child scared to death? I couldn't figure it out because he loves to swim. After 15 minutes of trying to get him into the water and all of these latte-sipping moms staring at my screaming child I decided to just go home.

Thomas and I figured we had to change our strategy. Aiden has always been a little hesitant to try to new things, in new places. So we talked with him, we came up with an incentive of his choosing, and we got him totally pumped for the next lesson.

A few days later we arrived at the pool with a happy little boy who was stoked to go to swimming lessons so he could get a Slurpee at the Sev. But when it was time to get into the water his little hands just found their way around my neck and there was no way he was letting go.

It was like a nightmare all over again.

Luckily, we got him in the pool. I finally just handed him off to his teacher, James, who had to PRY his fingers from off my neck, and I walked away and right out of the pool and watched from afar through the outside fence.

He had the biggest scowl on his face; how I wish I had a camera! I could tell he was having fun but trying SO HARD to not let a smile crack through. He finished the lesson and from there it just continued to get better.

Each lesson got easier and by the last two classes he was a completely different kid in the water. I couldn't believe it. He was like a little fish.

I can not even describe the JOY I felt when he was bobbing around in the water, submerged his head under the water, and then shot out of the water, looked right at me and gave me a thumbs up and a huge grin from cheek to cheek. I was thrilled that he had earned this new-found confidence that HE COULD DO IT!

(And I hope all those latte-sipping moms noticed it too!)

This little guy went from being rigid and stiff in the water, to feeling totally comfortable submerging his face in the water, blowing bubbles, comfortably laying on his back, and completely going under the water without plugging his nose. Huge strides in just a few weeks!

While I was sitting at his last lesson and watching him bounce around and then quickly glance over to send me another thumbs up, I couldn't help but think of our Heavenly Father and how proud of us he is when we accomplish a goal, or make it through a challenging situation.

Just like I KNEW Aiden would love swimming, and just like I KNEW he could do it...I couldn't do it for him. He had to discover it on his own and it took him a while to figure that out. But once he figured it out he was awesome.

I think our Father in Heaven must feel like that sometimes. He knows we can do whatever he asks us to do, or whatever falls on our path. Sometimes we make it harder than it needs to be. And sometimes we forget who we are and what we can accomplish with His help.

How grateful I am for teaching moments like this! And even more grateful that even though swim lessons started out a little rocky, they ended on a high note. :)

Thumbs Up!

Follow Through Pays Off

2009-06-15T23:25:00.000-07:00

Around the first of May I was wondering where April went. Now, it's already the middle of June and I'm wondering where May and June went. Time flies fast when you don't want it too.

A few months ago Dr. Tom attended the Western Psychological Association conference in Portland, where he did a big presentation. (You may remember an earlier story about me accidentally shaving all of his hair off the night before he left.)

Aiden and I were lucky to tag along and our family enjoyed a few days away from the chaos that has encircled our house lately.

One afternoon Aiden and I went to the conference area to hook up with Dr. T. While waiting around A spotted a little table in the hallway with a dish of mints. He walked over and plucked one out of the dish. Then, quickly grabbed two more and started to walk across the hall and back to where I was standing.

I asked him to put a few back, as it was polite to just take one. Being the cute four year old that he is, he didn't listen and kept in walking. So I asked him again, to please put a few of them back. And then I told him that we wouldn't leave the hall and go find Daddy until he put them back.

I stood there and waited.

He finally paused for a second and then turn around and put the extra mints back.

I didn't think much of it, and we started to walk down the hall when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I spun around and this woman said to me,

"You are the most awesome mom."

Shocked, and wondering if she was actually talking to ME....I'm far from perfect when it comes to being a Mom. I'd say I'm a 6.2 on the Mom Awesome Scale...Surprised by her comment I asked her why she would say that.

She then explained that as a psychologist she meets with families and troubled teens daily, and that so many parent/teen problems are formed because parents never followed through with things they asked their children to do. And as they got older the kids knew they could push the boundaries.

She said, "I wish parents could see how simple it really is to just do simple follow throughs when kids are young. Do what you say you're going to do and your children will respect you."

She thanked me for being an example of how easy it is to follow through and dashed off to another meeting.

I must say, she made my day. Being a Mom is not an easy job and there are plenty of things I wish I did better or paid more attention to. And sometimes, I don't have the patience to follow through.

But this conversation changed the way I looked at the kinds of "threats" I make. Now, I've tried to elevate myself to a better level of parenting and one of the things I do is make sure I follow through with everything I say I'm going to do.

I also am more cautious about the things I say. If I really am going to throw away all of those ^&^* toys that are dumped out and strung around my house 11 times a day, then I must throw them out. Otherwise, it's just an empty promise and Aiden knows I'll never actually do it.

Just for the record in the last month I have thrown away toys and fed Aiden babyfood for dinner. (You don't even want to know that story!)

So my thought for today: sometimes it's hard to just give in and not stick to our guns when it comes to following through with punishments. But if it means a better behaved child with fewer boundary challenges in the future, it's definitely worth the effort.

On another note - we loved Portland. What a great city!

80s Nostalgia

2009-05-07T17:38:00.001-07:00

My sister Kera sent a thoroughly entertaining email yesterday. The subject line intrigued me so I opened it, even though I had a million other things to get done right at the moment.

"The best 80s email ever" made me laugh. It caused me embarrassment too, surfacing thoughts like, "I can NOT believe I did that."

I identified with every single item on the list. And I can't say that is a bad thing, because well, that's how it was back then. So just for the record, I thought I'd reminisce about the 80s on a real personal level just in case my kids need to know how "cool" their mom was "way back when."

And because I have a haunch that many of you, my awesome blog readers are also products of the 80s, I'd be delighted if you leave a comment about anything you identify with on this list. It'll be fun!

You Know You Grew Up in the 80s If:

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.
Why, why, was it cool to say this? It sounds so lame now.

2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton
Gotta love Will Smith.

3. You know that 'WOAH' comes from Joey on Blossom

4. If you ever watched 'Fraggle Rock'

5. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
So I loved watching the Smurfs on Saturday mornings. I can remember hearing my mom come down the stairs... I knew that was a bad sign 'cause when Mom was coming down the stairs she always said the same thing, "Kids, it's time to turn off the TV and do your jobs. Your list is upstairs on the counter." Sure enough, my mom was the awesomest list maker ever. Every Saturday she lovingly made each of us a list with our assigned Saturday jobs. Why am I telling you this? Well, because I don't really remember watching anything that came on after the Smurfs because the TV was turned off by then. :)

6. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
Even better was a french braid across the back of your head and THEN the pony tail on the side. Totally killer.

7. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.

8. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
I loved these and owned one in every color. Had some pretty hip belts and leggings too. Also, "units" anyone?

9. You played the game 'MASH'(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
Hours, and hours and hours baby.

10. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
This is real-life story. I was in the 6th grade when this fad was part of my life. I wanted a jacket so bad. All of my friends were collecting buttons and pins to put on their jackets, so it was absolutely essential that I have a jacket for all of my buttons and pins. One night while the parents were out, I searched through our coat closet until I found an old, greasy demin jacket that probably belonged to my dad. I ran it through the wash several times, trying to get it clean and get that nasty farm smell out of it. When it was as good as it could possibly get, I was proud to call it my very own jacket. Sure, it was more than the wrong size but I didn't care; now I had a cool jacket for all of my pins. Thankfully, Grandma Delma gave me a new jacket for my birthday a few weeks later. Now that I think about it....how embarrassing. My mom was probably mortified that I wore that jacket to school every day.

11. You know the profound meaning of 'WAX ON , WAX OFF'
Star Theatre, right side, sat on the heaters against the wall with Cody. Our Moms had been bagging and freezing corn all day and let us go to the movie on a school night.

12. You wanted to be a Goonie.
Well, I didn't want to be a Goonie. I was kinda freaked out by the deformed guy in the dungeon.

13. You wore fluorescent clothing. (Some of us...head-to-toe)
You betcha, with parachute pants.

14. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off, his cheeks shifted and his nationality became questionable.
Very sad. But his music still rocks.

15. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.

16. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pail Kids in the schoolyard. The only things that stand out to me at recess were trading Garbage Pail Kids and playing marbles in the spring. My mom made me a cute purple sack to carry my marbles in.

17. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
Loved em

18. You still get the urge to say 'NOT' after every sentence.
Annoying. Why did we do this?

19. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
So crucial to a friendship back then. And by the way, bracelets are tonz better than just saying BFF. Thanks to my sister Jennie, she had a little factory going in her bedroom, making all kinds of bracelets to seal friendships together forever. Any color of thread. Making up her own designs. This girl was amazing! (She still is amazing! :)

20. You owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
Oh, how I loved "jellies." Claudine and I would get on our bikes and ride to K&J's to pick out our favorite ones. The summer was when I had three pair - clear, blue and pink...could wear them with anything, every day. Awesome.

21. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying 'I know you are, but what am I?'
Another embarrassing one. My family will attest that before I was "Fayrene" I was Pee Wee's impersonator.

22. You remember 'I've fallen and I can't get up'

23. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates. Absolutely. The quality skating rink in Redmond was on the finest quality for skating entertainment, well, kinda...compared to 49th Street Galleria.

24. You have ever played with a Skip-It.

25. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
The boom-box, an essential for a teenager who loved Tiffany, Madonna, Debbie Gibson, and listening to Fisher and Todd on the KISN Morning Show.

26. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.

27. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
Actually, I think Ricky Schroeder was hotter. But, the all-time hottie on my list was Jake on Sixteen Candles. Hottie in a plaid shirt in front of the red Porsche. Yowza!

28. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.

29. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool... and don't even flinch when people refer to them as 'NKOTB'
You better believe it.

30. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on 'Saved By The Bell,' The ORIGINAL class.
The original Screech was the best.

31. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
And you're to blame...you give love a bad name. My first "rock" tape was Def Leppard - Hysteria.

32. You just sang those words to yourself

33. You still sing 'We are the World'
I loved this song! I remember singing to it while a bunch of us were all piled in a car...no seat belts mind you...and driving to the Snow College swimming pool for a birthday party.

34. You tight rolled or french cuffed your jeans. And still debate on which is the right term!
This was an essential fashion must-do. I prefer to call them rolled cuffed jeans, in case you're wondering.

35. You owned a banana clip.
You better believe I did! This was something I used DAILY for years.

36. You remember 'Where's the Beef?'

37. You used to (and probably still do) say 'What you talkin' 'bout Willis?'
The funny thing is, I said this to Aiden about two weeks ago. His response was, "I'm NOT Willis, Mom."

38. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

39. Your hair looked like this for at least one school picture!

I do have evidence to support the fact that I did have hair like that. When I was leaving for my 7th grade band concert I walked out of the bathroom and my mom said, "You're not leaving here with your hair like that." The end result was some tears and my mom trying to run a brush through my matted, sticky, ratted hair. I'm not looking forward to having teenagers. Oh, the trauma of the bangs to heaven era.

What happens when you're stressed

2009-04-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

Want to know what happens when you're stressed to the max and have too many things on your line?

Well, I'm sure there are a lot of things that could go wrong or escalate a usually not-so-serious something.

My day started at 6:30 am with my office phone ringing. Thank you Mr. Client, for returning my phone call during non-business hours. And it was non stop all day until I finally finished with work at 8:40 pm. Had a few moments with Aiden before bedtime then off to the store to pick up things for Thomas, as he's leaving in the morning for a convention. Come home, get the house picked up and then get summoned into the bathroom to assist Dr. Tom with a hair cut.

In my tired state I completely misunderstood his instruction. He asked me to use the clippers to straighten up the neckline. But instead, what did I do?

Yep, you guessed it.

Turned that puppy on and started at the neckline and ran it all the way up his head with no guard on.

Now my hubby is bald....like REALLY bald. Have you ever seen how close clippers cut to the skin without a guard? I mean, the dude was balding but now it's really, really bald.

Perfect; just in time for his big presentation tomorrow. I want to cry.

I'm going to bed.

Balance

2009-04-13T23:36:00.000-07:00

Hello My Dear Friends and Readers,

I have not forgotten my blog address.

While it's true I actually had to pause and *think* about my password to get onto this page tonight, once I paused to think about it my fingers just hummed across the keyboard like something old and familiar, like driving around the 'S' curves when its dark and knowing exactly when to slow down or accelerate.

Or, like that instinct all mothers have when the house gets really quiet and you just KNOW your kids are into something they shouldn't be in. It's that third eye, that intuition we're inherently blessed with.

I've been thinking a lot about balance lately...that balance that is so necessary to feel good about life, to feel good about what's happening at home. That balance that makes life seem more complete. My experience has been that whenever I pour a lot of effort into just one side of the equation that everything seems to be less fulfilling...more stressful...less content.

I don't like feeling that way.

So in an effort to try and maintain some balance in my life I've pulled back and I've had to center myself again.

The truth is, lately, I've had a huge project land in my lap. The hugest, most ginormous, most challenging task of my professional life. It was too good to not step up and take on the added responsibility. So as of late I've found myself working twice as many hours.

And as a result I've come to that point where I've had to evaluate that balance thing and make sure that my efforts at home aren't over shadowed. Because I work from home it's so easy to just lose myself in the details that command my full attention and then some.

So if you're wondering where my blogging voice has gone....well my friends, it's not gone. It's just a little bit more quiet these days. Quiet in a sense of making sure I keep that balance of family, spiritual growth and physical strength in check and balance with my work schedule.

I am excited to tell you all about this project. I can't talk about the details quite yet..... But I will be able to soon. :) I can't wait to share it with you.

In the mean time, here are a few pictures from our Easter Weekend. If you were reading my blog a year ago, you might remember my post about "rolling eggs," and my desire to keep this tradition alive.

Well, I never could find a dirt hill around, so I decided we would have to do this tradition "Seattle Style."

And Seattle Style we did. So we headed over to one Seattle's most notable parks which is actually fairly close to our house. We rolled eggs down the grassy hills and flew kites. Aiden loved the kites; I have a feeling that we'll be hanging out at the park a lot this summer.

New Things I LOVE

2009-03-05T22:55:00.000-08:00

There are some things in life that aren't that important in the big picture....but I must say there are some things that just make my day a little better. My step a little lighter. The crumbs in my fork, knife and spoon organizer less noticeable. The dust on the carpet floor boards a little less dusty. You get the picture.

So recently I've discovered a few things that I just really, really appreciate.

Pandora - this is an awesome website if you love music. You type in a music genre you like, or your fav album and the software creates a continuous playlist of similar music for hours of listening enjoyment.

A few weeks ago I typed in "Jump Van Halen" and can I just say the tunes keep rolling out that I love. I found myself rocking out tonight while working on a little project in the office; all of my favorite 80s Big Hair band tunes filled our home. How can that not be bliss! And the best part....it's free.

MSN Calendar - so can I just say that Dr. Tom and I have been discussing for about a year what we could do to get better organized. This free calendaring system has saved us time and time again. We love it and I'm so glad we found it. It's super easy to use since we both have hotmail email addresses. We view one calendar but all our different categories are marked with different colors:

Thomas school calendar

Thomas church calendar

Social calendar

Kristyn calendar

Birthday calendar

Holiday calendar

And we can add more if we want. In addition, each night we add in our daily to-dos. We can send us email reminders for to dos and items on the calendar. And the best part is just knowing what time is available.

For example, the missionaries called a few days ago to see if they could drop by this week. I said, "Just one minute, let me check my calendar." All I had to do was log in and see if Thomas had entered anything that would conflict with their visit. The day was open and we set the appointment. No more having to check with Thomas first and then call them back.

I'd say our marriage is at a whole new level. We're TOTALLY SYNCED now!

And finally...

Matrix Shampoo and Conditioner. Yes, the good kind direct from the salon. Over the last while I have tried to cut back on a lot of expenses so we're saving more and spending less. As a result I strayed from my regular brand, which was hard to do. I'm really brand loyal when it comes to cosmetics and personal care products.

As you may know, salon shampoos and conditioners aren't exactly cheap. So I tried some "in the middle" brand. Didn't like it. When I couldn't stand it any longer I went and bought something new. I've liked the brand's hairspray for a long time, but I'd never tried their shampoo/conditioner, and I hated it! My hair felt dirtier after washing it than before I washed it.

And let me just say, there is nothing worse then feeling like you look like a witch; that your hair is gross and stringy or full of static and limp. And might I add that I just know those crumbs in my utensil organizer are so much more noticeable when I have a bad hair day.

So after weeks of bad hair, I gave up and went and bought what I love. And there's a reason why I love it. My whole outlook on life has changed thanks to good shampoo.

So my dear friends - my words of advice to you today is to discover something you love and enjoy it to the fullest. We all deserve to spend our days and moments being happy because there's certainly plenty out there to fill our lives with gloom and frustration.

So enjoy life today. Find something that's simple or inexpensive or not time consuming and let it put a smile on your face because....you deserve it!

Begging For Visitors #1

2009-02-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

I am certain, there are three things that our family loves.
1. Oreo cookies
2. BYU football
3. Visitors

Yes, we love hosting company and having visitors come and see us. And we may not have a home that is ideal for hosting a lot of company, but, it works.

You see, the thing is, that we live in this incredibly beautiful place, with so much to do and see in a very close perimeter. And I was looking at the calendar the other day and realized that our time here is going to be over before we know it!

Next summer we'll be packing out and going someplace. I don't know where yet, but we will be packing up. And let me tell you, it will be much more desirable to come now...rather than coming to see us while we're packing. I WILL put you to work if you show up.

But of course we would much rather have you come and enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest with us! So over the course of the next little while I'm going to post some great adventures...things to see, places to visit, beautiful scenery to enjoy.

And we *hope* that you'll be enticed enough to come and visit us before we move, because I know sometime it takes months of planning ahead to make something a reality.

So, here you have it, our Begging for Visitors...Adventure #1

The beautiful Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

If you love flowers, gardening, and tulips in particular, you are going to love this festival! It runs annually, this year from April 1 to April 30, but our experience is that more flowers are in bloom towards the last two weeks of the festival.

And of course, the best part is bringing home a huge bundle of fresh flowers to enjoy for the weeks to follow.

And if you think this is gorgeous just wait...there's more to come!

Family Project Complete!

2009-02-11T22:56:00.000-08:00

Last year we tried something new in our family. We came up with a family theme, and the purpose of the theme was to help us focus on a certain aspect of living the gospel for one year.

Our theme was "Fully Invested." I know, I know, we can not take any credit for coming up with that theme. I have to give all the credit to Bronco Mendenhall, and Thomas was the one who pushed for that theme. I figured I had to give in, in order for him to be supportive of the family theme idea. At first when I brought up the idea he rolled his eyes.

But, it was a good experience and so we decided to do it again this year. But this time, we decided to piggy back with our stake and adopt the stake theme as our family theme, which is:

"Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places"
D&C 101: 22

So for the past few weeks we've been discussing what it means to Stand In Holy Places, and one thing led to another, and pretty soon we had all kinds of ideas of what we could do to reinforce this concept in our family during the year.

The best part is that it has involved Aiden and he's learning about the gospel and it's so enjoyable as a parent to see him get excited about gospel principles.

The thing is, there are many ways we can "Stand" in Holy Places. For several days we talked about places where we can be holy...where we can be kind and polite, where we can worship and express gratitude for our blessings, and where we can choose the right and where we can be an example.

We made a list of these places and then took an afternoon and visited each of these places, snapping photos along the way. Then, for FHE this week we assembled all of the photos onto a poster to hang in our kitchen as a reminder of all of these places where we can "stand."

The best part was when we were at the temple. We took Aiden through the first set of doors and let him look through the second set of glass doors into the temple foyer. He was so fascinated and wanted to go inside. I could sense his understanding, as simple as it was, that the temple was a special place.

With pride, Aiden has looked at our poster the last few days when he walks into the kitchen for breakfast. As a parent, I hope we're teaching him enough, and that he'll be prepared to go to school in a few years and be exposed to different philosophies but "stand in holy places."

I hope simple things like this help to reinforce with him, his divine destiny and the importance of our Heavenly Father's plan for us, and why it's important to make good choices.

Here's a photo journey of our family's list of places where we can stand and be holy:

Seattle Temple

Can you believe that gorgeous blue sky??!
It was such a beautiful day, and unheard of this time of year.

This picture represents we can stand holy "wherever we go"

At the playground

At preschool

On campus

At the bookstore

At our friends' houses

At home

At church

And the final product.
Tah Dah...

I Need 101 Soup Recipes...Help Wanted!

2009-02-08T22:53:00.000-08:00

I talked the fam into going shopping with me last week and we went to University Village, one of my favorite little shopping centers where we live. My mission: to use the $100 gift card at Pottery Barn I received for my birthday.

So I really love PB furniture, but it's ridiculously expensive and my little gift card wouldn't go too far in the store. But, I was in need of center piece for my dining room table. And can I say that I was a little disappointed. I don't know. Call me crazy....maybe I'm losing my sense of decorating style. There wasn't much to choose from and I didn't think the mushrooms or white ceramic frogs were my thing.

But being the thorough shopper that I am, I sauntered to the back of the store and browsed through the kitchen/tableware department and found some gems...like this fabulous soup tureen.

I'm actually quite excited about this. It is something I would never just go out and buy for myself. So now I've got my tureen in my cute little hutch and well, now I need to start making soup so I can use it.

Which, is the inspiration for this blog entry.

My goal: to gather 101 soup recipes so I'll never run out of soup to fill my tureen. I've got a few tried and true recipes myself, but not 101. So this is where you come in.

I'm requesting that everyone....friends, family and blog lurkers...I invite you ALL to email me your favorite soup recipes. And wait, there is something in it for you. Read on.

Question: What's in it for me?

Answer: Well, I am going to compile all of the recipes and will email you a PDF file with ALL 101 recipes.

Question: Why 101? Why not just 23 or something?

Answer: I know, I know. I've set a high standard for myself. I'm aiming for 101 favorite soup recipes because this blog entry is my 101st entry. Too bad I didn't think about gathering recipes on my 23rd entry, huh?

Question: Do I get a prize for the best recipe submission?

Answer: Honestly, I thought about this. Because I'm feeling generous this weekend I thought it would be fun to award a really cool prize to someone for the best recipe. BUT...then I thought about the HUGE amount of soup I would have to sample in order to do this. Frankly, I am not that big of a soup fan to eat soup for the next 101 days. So, no single submission will be singled out. But, I will gladly email you a PDF booklet of all submissions, and can't everyone use a new idea to add to your weekly menus?

Question: Can I forward your invitation to someone I know who has a great soup recipe or someone I know who would like 101 Soup Recipes?

Answer: Absolutely, positively, Yes.

If you're interested, please email me your favorite soup recipes to onebrilliantgirl@gmail.com (Please note, this is not my primary email address, so don't "add" it to your address book if you want to email me on a regular basis.)

Deadline: Please send any recipe submission by February 15th. That's one week. :)

I hope to hear from you soon...I need your help to meet this goal!

Not Interesting

2009-01-30T22:04:00.001-08:00

Hello Readers.

Yes. I am still here.

Still "chugging along" as Aiden would say. Still wondering what happened to my zest for blogging. I think it's somewhere deep inside and is just dying to come out again.

So first, I give props out there to all of my blogging peeps who are consistently consistent. Oh how I desire to be like you!

This is actually my 100th blog post. But you wont' see any contests or special rah-rah's in this post. I was thinking it would be more exciting to have a big celebration on like the, oh, 107 post or something. So, you'll have to stay tuned in three more months at the rate I'm blogging these days.

But actually, now that I think about it, I just haven't felt like I've had a lot to write about as of late. For example, I didn't really think you'd be all that interested to know that I've been doing some reading up on our ancestors and discovered my Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle Luther Tuttle had gold teeth that he would put over his real teeth. One night he accidentally threw them in the fire and they melted. Who would have thought I'd have a relative that had something in common with Flava Flav.

I didn't think there was much to say about Aiden's latest comment to me when he's mad. He says, "Mom, I don't like your attitude!" Hmm. Wonder where he's heard that.

Or, I thought I'd spare you the gory details of our family outing to Chinatown, where we decided to celebrate the first day of Chinese New Year with our friends for dinner. It ended up being more authentic then I think any of us planned for. Our waiters could barely speak English and the "house" order of Low Mein had a variety of disgusting ....I don't know, maybe squid or something beyond disgusting. We didn't touch it, so I can't say for sure.

And I'm pretty sure it would be of no interest to anyone that I was released as a Gospel Doctrine teacher and am now preparing for sharing time this Sunday as a counselor in Primary.

Plus, so many other things to write about like the fact that I lost my drivers license. The last time I remember seeing it was in Thomas' hands at the airport. I'm a little freaked out about it; who knows who found it or where it is.

Or the fact that Dr Tom and I joined the "Resolutionary Challenge" with some friends. We try to accumulate 10 points every day, and whoever has the most points at the end of three months takes all the money we put into the kitty. I'm enjoying the challenge, but wish I was more consistent in some areas.

And I'm sure no one wants to know that I'm a huge Miss America fan and was so excited to watch the pageant this year. In fact, I went to a Miss America party and watched it with all of my girlfriends. The bonus, was the girl I thought would win ended up winning. And I am in love with her! She shows cows at the Indiana State Fair. She's my kind of girl.

I was thinking you would not find it interesting one bit that Aiden's cowboy boots that his Nannie and Grandpa gave him for Christmas are practically GLUED to his feet. He takes them off to sleep and take a bath and that's about it. One thing I've noticed - people at the grocery store smile at him a lot more when he has his boots on versus just regular shoes. Go cowboys.

You also probably don't want to know all of the details about my experiments with trying to bake with whole wheat I've ground with my own wheat grinder. My bread tastes like cardboard about a day after it was baked.

I guess, though, even though a whole month has come and gone, it was still 31 days of happiness and good things happening in our family. We're blessed. We're healthy. We're pursuing our goals. We're trying to be better parents and spouses. We're learning together. And for that, I'm grateful.

Backfire

2009-01-13T21:00:00.001-08:00

A brilliant plan that Dr. Tom and I came up with backfired on me the other day.

A few months ago Aiden was introduced to a new seasonal sidekick; his own personal Elf named Bernard. Bernard is a magical little guy who hung around our house and his only job 24/7 was to observe Aiden.

If Aiden was obedient and happy and did good things then Bernard reported this to Santa.

If Aiden was naughty then Bernard had to report this to Santa too.

It was one of the best ways to help keep him on task that we've ever used. All we had to do was mention Bernard's name and he whipped right into shape. Disobedience immediately did an about face and we instantly had a happy, willing and obedient child at our side.

Well, after Christmas was over Aiden asked if Bernard was going to still be around. We told him that Bernard needed to go be with his family and with Santa at the North Pole for a while, but that he would check in every once in a while.

So that brings me to how this whole brilliant parenting idea backfired.

A few days ago I was running an errand. Actually, was turning in the final forms for an Airforce scholarship Dr. Tom is applying for. While we were walking back to the car Aiden got distracted by a dirt field with all kinds of rocks that are perfect for throwing. Since there wasn't anything in the field I let him throw rocks for a few minutes.

After a while I told him we needed to get going and he just ignored me. I reminded him to put his listening ears on, but still, no response. After several reminders I told him that I was getting in the car and leaving. I continued to be ignored.

So I got in the car and started it up and the second he heard the engine turn over of course he started running toward the car.

Well, he eventually ended up in the car and as we were pulling out of the parking lot this was our conversation:

Aiden: Mom, what is Santa's phone number?

Me: It's 1-800-SANTA

Aiden: (pretending to dial on a phone) 8801 Santa. Hi Santa. This is Aiden. Yes, take away her clothes. Okay. Bye. Mom, you are on the naughty list. Santa is going to take away your things and your clothes.

Me: Why? Why did you ask Santa to do that?

Aiden: Because you left me and that was not nice.

So, now I guess it goes both ways. Parents, if you use this type of discipline in the future be aware. It could backfire.

Memo to Dad, Thomas, Alan, Adam, Jake & Trav

2009-01-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

MEMO

To: Dad, Thomas, Alan, Adam, Jake & Travis

From: Onebrilliantgirl

Re: Hearts

Men: I just wanted you to know that we were not terrified or intimidated by your tactics and cunning secret combinations to steal away our rightfully deserved Hearts victory.

Us ladies will give you one win so far. But only the one, and it was only because of LUCK on the last hand that you took the first game anyway.

So we just wanted to let you know that we've documented the score sheet, and it will be preserved for the next time we're altogether, when we will meet 'round the table for another game to determine the Champion of Hearts.

Be prepared to take your little man club and go down to your Bunker Room where you can lament your next loss. We are afraid that Dirty Dora and the Bent Waldo could possibly haunt you for years to come.

Long, Unsensored, Uncut Review of Christmas

2008-12-31T22:51:00.000-08:00

So Christmas was....incredibly wonderful this year. And the best part was just spending time with family. After two crazy weeks of late nights, epic card games, a-mazing food, a stellar New Year's Celebration and being at home for the biggest newsmaking event of the year when the ward boundaries were split - we were ready to stuff our suitcases until every single one of them was at the weight limit and we were ready to head home.

The best thing and the hardest thing about going home is trying to fit everything in during a short period of time. But here's a quick recap of the good times...

Building snowmen and playing in the snow. What a treat!

Bowling! The kidos almost beat the adults.

The BEST Christmas Pageant EVER. Here's the lovely Mary and Joseph heading into the Manger. The Rude Inn Keeper can be seen in the background.

She's an Angel, what can I say!

And here are our two little sheep, hovering over the babe in the manger.
The First Family of Christmas. I'm seriously an attractive wiseman so I was thinking we should have it be our photo for next year's Christmas card. :)

Aiden and his pirate ship. Ahoy me harties! He was one happy pirate on Christmas morning.

What an amazing Nannie. Always making special one-on-one time for the Grandkids. This year Nannie and Grandpa took all of the kids to a movie. Now why don't we live closer???

Always someone to play games and pay attention to the kiddos. It was SO GREAT to have Jake and Trav home this year, after spending Christmas in Iraq last year.

The Nannie of the Year, reading stories to the kiddos at bedtime.

She Always Made Room

2008-12-20T21:44:00.000-08:00

Last year, on December 7, Thomas' mother and Aiden's Nana passed away after fighting with the dreaded disease we call cancer. We missed her terribly at Thomas' graduation this Spring and the family reunion back home in Canada just was not the same without her.

And as the anniversary of her death approached this year we talked as a family of the things we could do to remember her and celebrate her goodness and her wonderful life. This is important to me, because I'm not sure how much Aiden will remember about her as he grows older, and future children that join our family will only know their Nana through our memories and the things we teach them about her. So I feel it's important that we do all we can to preserve those memories and do all we can to make sure our children know their Nana.

One thing I quickly came to learn about Nana was her love for Nativities. She was a collector; having hundreds of nativities on display, her most favorite out year-round. Everyone in town knew that Jolayne collected Nativities. She was even featured in a local newspaper a few years ago with a nice story about her collection.

But the important thing to note, and what our children should always remember about Nana, was that she not only collected Nativities, but she was the perfect example of someone who always made room for the Savior in her life...always.

The busy inn keepers didn't make room for the Savior. But somewhere in Jerusalem was a cold and probably smelly stable that turned into a makeshift delivery room to welcome the King of the world. Nana wasn't like the busy inns and inn keepers. No matter how full her life was, she always had room for one more good deed, one more person to serve, one more grandchild to make smile.

Two stories to prove my point.

I remember her telling a story of a time when she and Grampy were living in Edmonton. They had a little VW bug, a few kids and not a lot of money. Her visiting teaching route took her across the entire city and nearly a full day to complete all of the visits. But she faithfully completed her assignments and visits each month, making sure the sisters she visited felt uplifted and knew that she loved them. It wasn't easy financially. It certainly wasn't convenient hauling the kids around. But she made room for visiting teaching. Always room to serve others.

And of course I'll never forget the first time I met Thomas' family. I was young and stupid and in love, of course. Thomas' sister was leaving on her mission and so Thomas was going to be at home for the farewell. Perfect opportunity I thought, to go visit him and meet the family. So I show up at 2 in the morning dragging my friend Jeni along with me. Every room in the house was taken, but being Nana, she found room for us. Now that I think about it, the last thing she needed was two extra bodies at the house that weekend. Her plate was already full with other family visiting and trying to pull off a successful celebration for her daughter. But she made us feel welcome amid the chaos that was all around. She always made room, always.

The picture at the top of this post is with Aiden holding a stocking. It's a special stocking because this once belonged to Nana, and she gave this to Aiden. This stocking will always hang at the hearth with our stockings and is a reminder of our Nana and the real reason we celebrate the Christmas season.

If there's one thing our children learn about their Nana, I hope they know of her enduring love for Jesus Christ, and her daily desire to serve Him. Her love for others permeated everything she did whether it was in her garden, in the sewing room or in the kitchen.

She always made room for the most important things in life. How blessed we are to have her example to follow.

And the List Goes On and On and On..

2008-12-09T22:13:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here slowly drifting off to sleep listening to one of my most favorite Christmas songs wondering why the Christmas season just can't be what we so often sing praises for it to be...calm, silent, and a little bit more calm.

Tomorrow is December 10th and two weeks before Christmas. I just barely made a present shopping list two days ago. It's hardly seemed like the Christmas season is upon us, I blame that partly on the fact that Aiden has conveniently misplaced my Christmas CDs. I caught him playing football with them - a bunch of discs lined up on the carpet. Some were the Huskies, some were the Sooners, and the losers were the Utes. :)

Anyway, let's just say I'm having a hard time getting into the swing of things this year. But, maybe it's because my list is so long I haven't had time to enjoy the peace and calm of the season yet.

Point in case, here's my highlights for today:

1. organize speaking parts for Spanish recording tomorrow

2. contact 8 voice talents and get their recording appointments booked

3. find translator to help me make phone calls because 7 voice talents don't speak english

4. call back 7 voice talents to get appointments booked

5. track down 500 Spanish speaking leads for phone drills

6. track down more Spanish speaking leads and had to literally search the planet for them...ended up finding a vendor in Australia.

7. listen to tracks 5 and 6 in new CD audio. review studio edits to make sure they are correct.

8. get aiden dressed. teech brushed. hair combed. boy he needs a hair cut...not sure if i can brave it out, trying to let it grow out.

9. make aiden's lunch while coordinating with a lead interviewer so we have more leads to call

10. take aiden to school

11. listen to more audio tracks and review studio edits

12. reply to graphic designer and copy editor and explain why I haven't replied to their emails

13. listen to more tracks on the CD. make additional editing notes for studio

14. pick up aiden from preschool

15. play football with aiden

16. get aiden a snack

17. play pirates and treasure maps with aiden

18. take aiden over to the neighbor's to play

19. hop into a conference call, coordinate a million things that need to be discussed

20. go pick up aiden

20. ahh. take a break for 30 minutes and visit with Tracey. THANKS Tracey. I needed that!

21. finish coordinating final recording appointments for tomorrow's session

22. finish negotiating a three-city event tour in Australia

23. call Tim. (the boss) Discuss the lead emergency and make a battle plan

24. research Florida area codes and determine which area codes generate the most leads

25. add area codes to lead system so we can get more leads

26. write an email introduction for a lead autoresponder

27. boogie with aiden for a few minutes. what can I say, the kid likes to dance

28. get aiden ready for bed

29. story time

30. make dessert for mom's group tomorrow

31. chat with Nat on the phone

32. chat with Mike the choir director on the phone

33. chat with Kera on the phone.

(please note all three of these calls were like back to back. hand up and the phone would ring about a minute later)

34. email recipes for family Christmas book

35. coordinate a few details for mo and tim's christmas present

36. while coordinating details for mo's present get side tracked and decide to write this blog.

And, this is what still needs to get done before I can shut my little weary eyes tonight:

37. finish writing the narration for the choir christmas program. four more sections plus the conclusion left to write. must finish before choir practice tomorrow night.

38. pick up this poor neglected house

40. finish working on mom's christmas present

41. finish making the dessert for mom's group tomorrow

42. wash the dishes.

Well, it took me 15 minutes to recount today's happenings. Could have used that time to pick up the poor neglected house. Oh well. I've missed my blog. And speaking of my blog, my goal over the weekend was to write down my thoughts of my beloved mother in law. Tomorrow hopefully..it's an important post and I want to be in the right frame of mind to write it.

And did I mention there's still presents to buy, Christmas cards to address, stamps to buy, packages to mail and good grief..we haven't even hung our stockings up yet.

Oh the joys of the Christmas season. Point in case why it's so important to just take a step back and truly reflect on why we celebrate this holiday, and think of Him, who is the ultimate source of peace.

So for the next 15 minutes, my list is going to be thrown out the window and I'm going to clear out the mind clutter and focus on real peace. Ah....the kind of peace that renews, and strengthens and focuses me on what's most important in life....

p.s. and the by way, if you read that ridiculously long to do list you rock.

We're Moving...

2008-12-01T22:21:00.000-08:00

We're moving to the Oregon Coast. Well, at least I'd like to think that we are.

After returning from a little Thanksgiving trip and spending quality time with our awesome friends, the incredible and wonderful Johnson family, I am prepared to pack up the ship and head down the coast and just plant myself there on the beach with the rocks and the sand. It was fabulous.

I actually do not have any time tonight to even start reminiscing and typing up a blog. My to do list is pretty much long and depressing at this point. (Can I just say I hate playing catch up after coming home from vacation?) But instead of hammering away at my lengthy list, I am just naturally drawn to the keyboard on quiet night.

It was a sad day this summer when our good friends loaded up a packed UHAUL and headed down south, so we were really looking forward to a road trip to spend Thanksgiving with them. We've never really had to travel on the "most traveled" weekend of the whole year, and now I know why.

But, we enjoyed a great turkey feast on Thursday, and spent Friday touring through the Redwoods in No. California and beaches along the Oregon Coast. Now I know why the coast was Tawnya and Kerrie's most favorite vacation spot.

I love this place and I am seriously looking for anyone who wants to join us for a beach house stay.

It was a prefect weekend, and we are go grateful to the Johnsons for being the perfect hosts. We loved every minute and can't wait to come and visit you again soon!

I couldn't narrow down which photos to share, but feel blessed...you're only getting a few of the more than 200 photos we snapped along our adventure.

And I'm serious about the beach house. Who's interested?!?

Being in the presence of these trees made me feel so small and insignificant.

Standing inside of a tree stump Cutest picture ever

Birthday

2008-11-25T22:48:00.000-08:00

Being Aiden's Mom has brought so much joy and happiness to our home, and into our lives than I thought was possible. I am always reminded of this at night when he's soundly sleeping and I go upstairs one last time to tuck him in.

So that's why I was so excited to plan and organize Aiden's fourth birthday party. Since pirates have been his 'thing' lately, we prepared for a whole bunch of little pirates to come and tear our house apart for a few hours....and that's exactly what we got!

But, after a few advil and an ice cold Dr. Pepper, and Dr. Tom's help to clean up mashed frosting in the carpet and to find little army guys scattered all over the house we are back in business and ready for another round of birthday celebrations tomorrow.

Here's a few pictures of Aiden on his very special day...

Fairy Godmother

2008-11-20T15:36:00.000-08:00

To many, this time of year is all about Turkey Bowls, falling leaves, and at our house, birthday celebrations and BCS rankings.

But for me personally, well, I always think about my prom dress.

I'm sure you're wondering why this is the case, since proms are always in the spring. Yes, that is true. But for me, I bought my prom dress the week before Thanksgiving. And I loved that dress, oh yes I did.

Now, before you all get on your high horse about how it's totally lame that small town Utah folk buy big, poofy prom dresses in November (before they even have a date, mind you!) let me add a little bit of evidence to defend myself. You have to understand where I'm coming from.

I grew up in a little town, and one of the most prominent businesses on Main was Lila Lee's. A boutique dress shop with an entire basement full of gowns and formals. I'm talking wall-to-wall sparkles, poofs and ruffles.

When I was a little girl LilaLee herself would give me a call in November and let me know that all of the dresses had arrived. So I'd hop on my blue Schwinn bike with the daisy-banana seat and white wicker basket and peddle myself right to the store.

And she was always waiting for me, greeting me with, "Hey kid! How are you today?"

I'd first stop by the cash register and check out all of the earrings hanging on the little racks. Oh, how I wanted to wear those long, dangling earrings. But Mom said I was too young to wear them.

And then, I'd follow LilaLee down the stairs and into what felt like my own little princess closet. She'd turn on the lights just right and then walk me around from rack to rack, showing me all of the new formals and dresses that had just arrived for the upcoming prom season.

So naturally, when it was my Prom, I didn't know any different; I'd been going down to the store every November since I was in the second grade. So to buy my prom dress in November was, well...normal.

The funny thing about the dress I chose is that before I started trying on dresses I already had my mind made up that I was NOT, under any circumstance, going to buy a big, poofy dress with ruffles. Nope. No way. No how. I wanted something red or royal blue, and was hoping for the latest mermaid style. I'd even put my order with Lila over the summer so she could be on the look-out while she was at market.

There were a few red and blues on the racks that I tried on. They were okay, just okay. And then Lila pulled out a pale, aqua dress with the most delicate crystal bead work on the front. I frowned and reminded her again I didn't want a dress with ruffles. Especially this one with poofy sleeves too. But she said, "Oh, what's the harm. You've been looking at dresses your whole life. Just give it a try." So I marched back to the corner dressing room and put on the dress.

And when I stepped up onto the platform and looked in the mirrors, I'm telling you, it was magical. I was sold. I loved that dress. I loved it, I just loved it! And the decision was made.

Years passed by, and I still found myself going to the store again and again to watch my sisters and cousins pick out the perfect prom dress. And even after I graduated from school, every now and then I'd stop in and Lila would take me downstairs to see the latest fashions.

Unfortunately, this year she was forced to close the store. If this car hadn't been in my way, I could have taken a better picture and you'd be able to see the sad sign in her window that says, "Thank You For Your Business."

A gasoline leak at a gas station up the road contaminated the surrounding soil, and the fumes ruined all of her inventory.

A sad day for a phenomenal little-town business that truly is a prom dress institution.

When I'm home for Christmas I hope to make one last stop at the store and take a few pictures with LilaLee.

After all, she is a big part of my Thanksgiving memories and the wise woman...my very own fairy godmother... who knew which dress was the perfect one for me.

Survey and Random Things

2008-11-18T22:20:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have those days pass by and nothing "blog worthy" happens? Well, life around the Bore Train Station has been pretty busy but uneventful lately....uneventful except for these few little details I thought I'd just throw out there for the world to ponder with me. So here they are.

1. Survey
I had to get glasses. When you have to "zoom in" on documents and emails to read them, it's time for a visit with the eye doctor. So question: are the frames too dark for my fairest of fair complexion? Leave a comment if you care to opine.

2. Smoke
So last night I was making dinner. I put some squash in the microwave. I love butternut squash during this time of year. A little dab of brown sugar and it's good to go. So anyway, I had my squash in the microwave and was busy working on our main dish when I started smelling smoke, like something was burning. In the commotion, Dr. Tom came home and we briefly had salutations and welcome home greetings. I continued working on dinner and the smell got worse. I asked Dr. Tom if he could smell it. He thought it was the pepper, garlic and salt that Aiden dumped on one of the stove plates. I thought that sounded like a fair answer and turned the burner off and used a different one. Pretty soon the smell was so strong it was burning my nose. And in that second I turned and looked at the microwave. Smoke was blowing out of its vents!!! Sadly, I fried my squash. The plastic melted.

My kitchen still stinks.

Disappointment.

3. Sickening
I witnessed a full-on, live, lesbian kiss tonight. I'm sick to my stomach just writing about it. I went visiting teaching tonight. And let me just say, it was a heck of an effort to coordinate a night when everyone could get together. So my partner and I went to our first stop, and the person wasn't home. While we were walking back to the parking garage we passed two girls in their 20s who just happened to conveniently embrace and lock lips right as we approached them. I was close enough to hear their lips smacking.

(Awkward Silence)

For one of the few times in my life I believe that a brief little summary is all that needs to be said.

I Hope He Remembers...

2008-11-10T22:15:00.001-08:00

You know how we're encouraged to write down important things so that our posterity will have our words of wisdom and know all about us?

Well, here's a few things for my posterity, specifically Aiden, to remember about his Mommy...and Nannie.

This past weekend my Mom came for a visit. I told her all I wanted for my birthday was for her to come and visit and help me with a quilt for Aiden's bed. So finally, my birthday present arrived on Thursday.

At first Aiden was a little shy around her. He was excited to see her, but just a little hesitant. When Nannie asked if she could help him put on his pj's he replied, "No, only my mommy can do it 'cause she's THE coolest."

Honestly. My heart was filled with joy. My son thinks I'm the coolest. But, Nannie was a little disappointed. She flies all the way here and this is the Nannie treatment she gets. Not too fair.

Well, the next day Aiden finally warmed right up and wanted Nannie to help him with everything. When we got back from shopping he said, "My Nannie is the most awesomest Nannie."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

So what is it I hope Aiden remembers? Well, to start off with, I want him to know how incredibly awesome his Nannie is. She's talented. She's patient. She works hard. She taught me how to do laundry, clean toilets, plant a garden, bottle peaches, and sew a straight seam. She lugged five young kids to church for 12 years while my Dad was a counselor and then the bishop; and we were on time most of the time.

She owned a dance studio and my life has never been the same since I was part of the Country Cousin Cloggers and learned the Clog Down at Clog Camp. She made me practice the piano every day, even when I didn't want to. She wouldn't let me sleep in and never let me watch cartoons long enough on Saturday mornings. She rounded up three Cabbage Patch Dolls for Christmas gifts back in the day when you were lucky to just get your hands on only one.

She is the lifeblood of our family and has a sincere desire to do good, be an example, and serve others. When I look at all she's done and who she is, I quickly realize I have very big shoes to fill.

So Aiden, yes, your Nannie is the awesomest. And, somewhere along the way....like say in... oh, 10 years from now I hope you still think I'm the coolest. Then I'll know I've at least done something right along the way.

Thanks Mom for the visit. Let's do it again soon!

Life. Liberty. Happiness.

2008-11-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

Good things are worth a lot of work and effort. And, good things are worth waiting for.

This is something I've always known, but has recently proven to be true once again in my life as Dr. Tom raised his arm to the square and became a U.S. Citizen.

The process took a lot of work, effort, time and money (can't forget that one!) but now looking back at all of the events, all of the details, all of the worrying...in the end, it was worth it.

When we arrived at the Immigration office Aiden and I waited in the auditorium, where the ceremony would take place while all of the applicants went through a check-in process. There were over 100 people who received their citizenship, originating from 29 countries. As they walked into the auditorium I wondered what sacrifices each of them had to make in order to be there with Dr. Tom on that special day. Some probably had greater sacrifices than us.

My thoughts drifted back to the first day we went to the Immigration office in Salt Lake, not knowing what to expect. We were applying for a green card, a travel visa and a work permit. We left early in the morning hoping to be one of the first people there, but once we arrived, the parking lot was already full and the office hadn't even opened yet! I guess everyone else had the same idea we had.

We were finally able to get into the building and had to "take a number." We were literally hours from being able to take our turn. We noticed a sign on the wall that said they only accepted cash or money order. Well, we weren't the kind of folk to just have $700 cash in our wallet, so we had to leave and go find someplace where we could get a money order. After searching for 40 minutes we finally found a place that would issue us what we needed. Luckily we got back in time before our number was called.

And of course we'll never forget the denial letter we received a few months ago. Although it was a set back, Heavenly Father blessed us with peace of mind and we knew that eventually we would get it sorted out. That experience reminded us of His ever-watchful eyes that rest upon us and His open ears that hear our prayers and desires.

So on October 28 as Dr. Tom pledged allegiance to the flag, it was nothing but pure satisfaction and happiness to be there, after years of work, effort, submitting applications and waiting in long lines.

But what has just occurred to me is that now, the real work begins. Sure, it took a lot of work to get to this point. But, being an great American Citizen doesn't happen by doing nothing. Work is still required in order to make a difference. Effort is still required as we serve in our communities and neighborhoods.

One of the great things about this country is the promise it provides to every Citizen. The pursuit of life. The pursuit of liberty. The pursuit of happiness.

All good things that take effort to achieve.

Congratulations Dr. Tom. I am honored to stand by you and help you pursue life, liberty and happiness. Together, we still have much work to do in the years ahead.

Aiden being bored, waiting for the ceremony to start.

Ahoy!

2008-11-02T21:32:00.000-08:00

Well, I survived teaching from Isaiah today. And although I am grateful for the time I invested in studying the scriptures, it feels good to break out the lap top and blog away.

The last two weeks were a culmination of some great family time. I can't think of another time in the last few years when, as a family, we have had so much fun together. Here's a little photo journey of what we've been up to lately.

We spent an afternoon at our favorite garden nursery, which was all decked out with a Fall Festival. The coolest part: vegetable racing cars!

Here are Aiden and Daddy making some racing cars. Right below are the finished cars, getting ready to race. Aiden's car beat Dr. Tom's every time.

(Editor's note: You may have noticed that pretty much every picture of Dr. Tom shows him sporting BYU clothing. I promise, he has other clothes. It just so happens that he wears his cougar gear on game day, and well, we've been busy on Saturdays lately. Dr. Tom, thanks for hanging with us even on game day.)

Aiden was so proud of his sweet-potato car. In fact, we kept it around the house until it started to stink. That's how popular it was.

The Bore Train also participated in the Stake's Trunk or Treat party this year. I've decided I LOVE the concept of trunk or treat. You're in a parking lot with people you trust. Kids are safe walking from car to car getting candy, and it is so fun to see creative minds who decorate their trunks. Our little pirate was so excited to participate, and set up our own trunk decoration...

Dr. Tom made a very cool pirate flag which was hoisted up in our trunk. I had envisioned fog from dry ice billowing out of the trunk, but our dry ice didn't work out so well. Regardless, we had a great time, and Dr. Tom received many complements that he looked very similar to Johnny Depp. When we got in the car to come home Aiden said, "Well, that was fun, family!"
This next picture was taken on Halloween day. It rained all day, so I was prepared for pretty crappy weather. But it actually turned out to be perfect when it was time to head out. Aiden has wanted to be a pirate all summer long and has anticipated Halloween for weeks. It was so much fun because it was the first year he's really been excited for and "into" the holiday. Whenever anyone would ask what he was going to be for Halloween he would say, (in a "piratey" voice) "A pirate!.......with a hook." And when he would say hook he would curl his pointer finger like a hook and hold his finger over his eye. He told a stranger in 7-11 that he was Captain Black Jack Sparrow.

We had a blast trick or treating in the dorms on campus. The students love the little kids and really dote over them. Then we headed to a great Halloween party for the evening.

With all of these good times behind us we're ready to take on the month of November - Aiden and Dr. Tom's birthdays, Thanksgiving with the Johnson Family (can't wait!!!) and relief from all of the political commercials, which is what I am most excited about.

Next blog post - Dr. Tom's Naturalization Ceremony. Stay tuned!

Blogging Hiatus

2008-10-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Blogging Friends and Non Blogging Friends who read this blog.

After an almost two week hiatus I can almost start blogging again, and boy do I have some stories to tell!

Several months ago I was called to be a Gospel Doctrine teacher (at our church). This has been a calling that has caused me to stretch a bit, but I am grateful for the experience. Anyway, this next lesson is based off some chapters in Isaiah so I've been using my free time in the evenings during the past two weeks to get educated on all kinds of things like Gentiles, roots and branches, lengthening cords and strengthening stakes, the House of Israel, etc, etc. My studying hasn't left any time for blogging.

So, I am looking forward to sharing some great stories and events with you real soon, and catching up on what's been happening in your lives too!

Until then, here's something to make you smile.

Thank Goodness for Neighbors

2008-10-17T12:18:00.001-07:00

In order to appreciate this story I have to set the stage for you.

Last week I got a parking ticket. I went to pick Aiden up at school and parked in an "unmarked" crosswalk. Unmarked? Shouldn't that just basically mean non-existent? I feel like I had plenty of good reasons to be there; it was unmarked for heaven's sake, but that's not the point of my story today.

So basically up here in Queen Anne there are little narrow streets and there's never enough parking. That's how it is by our house as a matter of fact. Houses around here don't have driveways, which was really weird to get used to. Everyone just parks out on the little narrow streets. So narrow that it only allows for one-way traffic. If I'm coming up the hill and someone is already coming down the hill I have to stop, pull over (or hope to find a place to pull over) so the other car can get by. Then I can proceed. Oops, I'm getting off track...narrow streets are also another story for another day too.

So anyway, I just paid my parking ticket yesterday. And when I came home last night there was no place to park...grr...all these students who park on residential streets!! So I slid the car into a spot at the end of the street, right on the corner. "Could this be an unmarked crosswalk," I asked myself?

There was a sidewalk there, but there wasn't a sidewalk on the other side of the street so I thought to myself, "There's no way this can be a violation of parking in an unmarked cross walk. There's not a sidewalk on the other side of the street."

Does that seem logical to anyone?

Well, apparently it's illogical to Seattle City.

So today I was at my desk. I had showered this morning and was dressed, THANKFULLY. No make up yet. My hair was in that semi wet-dry phase, you know? Starting to dry into that frizzy/straight combination. No elastic or clip was easily found so I did what any inventive mom would do...I took a hair pick, pulled my hair back and stuck the comb through the hair to make it all hold together. And oh ya, one more thing. I didn't remove my mascara last night so it "melted" down my face in the shower today and as Dr. Tom put it this morning, I had "black fangs" running down my cheeks.

So this the state I was in when I heard a knock on my door. And of course, it was at the worst time possible. I have been trying to get a very busy client on the phone for three weeks now and just a minute before the knock came, I finally had him on the phone.

I went to see who was knocking. If it was the Schwan man I was just going to pretend like no one was home. But it was my neighbor, Tracey. I pointed to my headset so she could see I was on the phone. She mouthed "ticket" to me and pointed down the street to my car.

At this point she had my full and undivided attention.

Rats! Could this be any worse as far as timing goes? I finally get Alberto on the phone and now this is going on. I swing open the door and spot the parking cop down by my car, getting ready to whip out his little electronic device from his hip to give me a ticket. Dang it.

I just missed the last 30 seconds of whatever it was Alberto was trying to tell me. I jump into the conversation and say, "Hey, I've gotta go. I'm about to get a parking ticket. Let me call you back." I ripped the headset off my ear, threw it into the kitchen and went running down our pokey, rocky sidewalk in bare feet to try and catch this parking clown in time. (Can I just say I am so glad I had a bra on this morning!)

As I hopped down the sidewalk trying to avoid stepping on the pokey pebbles I remembered my current state. No make up, semi wet hair pulled back with a pick, and the most embarrassing part, black fangs streaking down my cheeks.

I think just the sight of me must have immediately said to Mr. Cop, "Please, have compassion on this freak show."

Luckily, I was able to talk him out of giving me ANOTHER ticket since I was just busted last week for the same violation.

So Tracey, I am giving you the "Good Neighbor of the Day Award." Thanks for saving me an extra $38 bucks. Now, I've got to figure out how to get Alberto back on the phone....I hope it doesn't take me another three weeks!

Real Entertainment

2008-10-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago we went out shopping in search for a few Halloween items. And the best find of the whole night was this very hip, red sequin cowboy hat at our favorite thrift store, Value Village. Can I just say other than our life insurance policies, this rockin' hat has been the best investment with our money all year and it was purchased at a fraction of the cost of the insurance. Yee haw!

Along with the purchase of this red bling, we have discovered Aiden's desire to do performances with this hat and that IS real entertainment.

Let's Get Rocked

More rockin' out...

And Dad couldn't be prouder...

Sunday Drive

2008-10-13T22:08:00.000-07:00

So we decided to do something wild and go for a little Sunday drive yesterday, and snapped a few photos along the way to share our little journey with you. So instead of seeing fall leaves and sage brush, let us introduce you to the Kitsap Peninsula.

We started out by heading down to Tacoma, where we dropped by to see Stadium High School. (It's the cool castle-looking building in the background.) You might recognize this as the high school where "10 Things I Hate About You" was filmed. Dr. Tom wanted to check it out because it was going to be a luxury hotel for the Northern Pacific Railway, but due to financial circumstances somehow ended up as possibly the coolest high school ever with a super cool football field. Plus, we can't say enough about the view overlooking the Sound. I'd go to high school all over again to hang at this place.

Then, we continued on over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. After crossing we were officially on the Kitsap Peninsula.What you see in this picture are the second and third versions of the bridge. The original bridge was destroyed by wind in 1940 shortly after it was built. I guess that with the construction of the second span it is now the longest pair of suspension bridges in the world.

Continuing on our way, we stopped at possibly one of the most charming little towns around. In honor of DorkVomit, (you know who you are :) , who served his mission in this quaint little waterfront town, we decided to check it out. The pic at the top of this post is of Gig Harbor, and it's easy to see why this is a place we could call home. Next time we come to visit we're going on another day when we can shop in the cute little antique shops and boutiques and eat lunch down by the sailboats on the water.Next on the stop was Bremerton, home of a US Navy shipyard. This was the part of the drive where Dr. Tom got really excited. It turns out the Bremerton Navy Yard is home to essentially a graveyard of old ships and four decommissioned aircraft carriers. And for all of us non-military-, trivia people, that basically means that this is a like an old folks home for big, old ships. Dr. Tom thinks we're going back to explore this more. Maybe I'll just drop him off here and spend the afternoon shopping in Gig Harbor.From here, we hopped onto the Bremerton-Seattle ferry and headed back home. It was a beautiful ride, and we headed back home with the sun setting in the west over the water.We tried to capture a picture with the evening sun sparkling off of the buildings downtown. It was windy and freezing, so we didn't capture a great photo....it was too cold! And we have to send kudos to the 10 year old kid who snapped the pic for us.

So our little Sunday adventure turned out to be a definite repeat. We hope you'll come visit us soon so you can join us next time!

Why?

2008-10-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

WHY can he wake up on Saturday mornings without an alarm clock, but needs me to push him out of bed the rest of the week?

WHY does this remind me of watching cartoons on Saturday mornings as a kid?

WHY is it so exciting to see where the "College Game Day" show is broadcast from each week?

WHY can't we just watch one game? Why do we have to watch many games, even if we're not fans of the teams we watch?

WHY do we watch all of the games and THEN watch ALL of the replays and highlights, from games we've ALREADY watched, on two or three different sports shows? Isn't it the same stuff?

If anyone can explain this to me with logic that is reasonable and understandable I will be forever grateful to you.

Compliment

2008-10-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

Out of nowhere today Dr. Tom told me this as he was getting ready to leave for the day...

"Before I met you I probably would have worn black shoes, a blue jacket and a brown belt. But look at me. Today I chose a brown shirt with a brown sweater, a brown belt, brown shoes AND I chose the tan jacket because that would complete the ensemble."

Hey, I'll take that as a compliment! You know how sometimes you feel like everything you say goes in one ear and out the other? This is living proof that some of the things I say are actually considered.

And I'm not bragging or anything, but he did look pretty hot when he walked out the door.

And Dr. Tom... just for the record...I would still love you even if you walked out the door with an "unmatching ensemble."

Afternoon Entertainment

2008-10-09T22:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to his Dad, Aiden has recently become a number one fan of watching airplanes come in for landing.

The first time we did this, he only wanted to sit in the car and listen to the big roar as they would fly right over us. Dr. Tom tried pulling him out of the car but it was a little too scary for some reason.

So on Thursday when Dr. Tom got home we went for a little drive and ended up back down at the airport per Aiden's request. We waited and waited and planes weren't coming in and that's when we discovered they were coming in from the south instead of the north.

And as luck would have it we found the perfect little road that was directly under the flight path. We were able to park the car and just watch the planes as they thundered above us. It was quite chilly so Aiden and Dr. Tom would just pop their heads up through the sun roof right before the plane came over.

You know, it ended up being a fun little excursion and we're excited that Aiden is finally showing some interest in something else other than trains!

I Heart Flannel Sheets

2008-10-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

Dr. Tom kept saying something about needing new sheets. I listened, but I didn't really "listen" if you know what I mean. Since we're trying to be more financially smart with our money I'm trying to minimize our "wants" and only spend for "needs."

So when he told me that our sheets were worn thin by his feet I thought, "Yeah...we can wait a while."

So you can imagine how surprised I was when only a few days later he lovingly reminded me once more with a little bit more urgency. That's when I checked them out and what I found was a huge HOLE that had been ripped open by his toes.

The hole was big enough that I decided that the need for sheets was upgraded from want to need, so we bought us some new sheets....some new flannel sheets.

And can I just say that I LOVE them. When I climbed into bed last night they were so soft and surprisingly warm and cozy. I've had flannel sheets before; how did I ever let them go?

So I can't say enough about my new flannel sheets. I highly recommend them if you're the kind of person who hates getting into bed with cold blankets and sheets during the winter months.

And speaking of sheets, we bought an extra set for our Aiden too. When I went to tuck him in tonight he was already snuggled up in his blue flannels. Here's how our conversation went:

Me: Aiden, are you still awake?

Aiden: Mommy!

Me: I just came to tuck you in.

Aiden: (reaching his hands up and wrapping them around my neck as I bent over to give him a kiss.) Mommy, I love you.

Me: I love you too. Now, let's go to sleep; you have a busy day tomorrow.

Aiden: Mommy, will you stay here with me in my bed?

Me: For a minute. Now close your eyes.

Aiden: Mom, I need to tell you 'somesing' special. You make good cake. (He helped me make zucchini cake yesterday.)

Me: Thanks, Aiden. I'm glad you like the cake. Let's close our eyes, okay?

Aiden: Mommy, I need to tell you 'somesing.' You stink. You need to have a shower.

Well, I didn't think I needed a shower, but I think it ruined our little cozy moment!

My Job

2008-10-05T12:04:00.001-07:00

When Aiden has to go potty at our house it's like announcing it over a loud speaker. No matter where he is or what he's doing, and no matter where I am or what I'm doing he manages to run through the house yelling, "Mommy, I need to go potty!"

And he does this, running around and yelling this until he finds me, and I stop what I'm doing and follow him into the bathroom. If I don't follow him he dances around in front of me until I obey his command.

This is something we are, for obvious reasons, trying to work on. The funny thing is that he is just fine and completely independent when he is at another house or at preschool. It's just potty time at home that for some reason, requires personal attention.

So today, after he called out his warning and made the request for me to follow him into the bathroom I walked into the bathroom with him and said, "Aiden, you're such a big boy. You go potty all by yourself at preschool. I don't understand why you need me here when you go potty....why do you need me here?"

And, here's his classic reply...and imagine a very independent, confident three year old telling you this.

"Mom. Your job is to... Wipe. My. Poop."

So there you have it. I'm glad I've been upgraded to Pooper Scooper. I feel so fortunate to add this to my list of duties.

First Day

2008-10-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

School started this week at SPU and it got me to thinking about my first day of college. Yes, the picture above is me and my roommate, Laurie. Yes, my hair is big and my bangs are tall. I already know it so you don't need make any snide remarks about it if you leave a comment.

Since we live close to campus and all of the dorms, our quiet summer ended when the suburbans and vans ascended onto campus with parents coming by to drop off their kids and all of their stuff. Cars now zoom up and down our street and most days it's hard to find a parking spot on our street with all of the student traffic back.

I got in the car and drove down past the school the other day. I had to stop several times for students crossing the roads and I couldn't help but think back to my first days at Snow College....some of the best days of my life. I so loved going to school there.

I remember how excited I was to start school. I loaded everything in Jammin' Blue and didn't look back. I went home every so often, but it was only to grab some toilet paper or do a quick load of laundry. I remember my mother feeling bad that I didn't even come home over General Conference weekend, and now, I would give anything to be home over General Conference weekend, and truthfully, close enough to swap some toilet paper every now and then too!

I often think of the poor people who lived above us. They probably never got any sleep. We were obnoxious and noisy, usually staying up until 4 in the morning. I don't know how I did it back then.

What a great time of life! College days. I look back on them fondly with so many great memories. How I wish every once in a while I could revisit those days back at good old Mountain View Apartments. Now, there would be a whole book of blog posts with stories and memories.

Hmm, I'll have to think about tackling that at some point.

Do You Pass?

2008-10-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

Okay.

Grab a pencil and paper and take this quiz.

Read this sentence outloud: Today is a beautiful day.

Write out this sentence: He wanted to talk to his boss.

Answer these questions:

1. What do the stripes on the flag represent?

2. What do we celebrate on July 4th?

3. What are the first 10 Amendments of the Constitution called?

4. Who elects the President of the United States?

5. What is one of the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment?

6. How long does the President serve?

Very good. The answer key to this little quiz is at the end of the post. You can check your answers there.

If you passed this quiz with flying colors, then you too would be able to pass the U.S. Citizenship Test, just like Dr. Tom did today.

As you may remember from this post, we ran into a few hiccups regarding his immigration process. Thankfully it was resolved quickly and the process moved forward just as we had hoped.

Dr. Tom is going to attend a ceremony to be "naturalized" on Tuesday, October 28th. We are so excited to attend with him and celebrate him becoming a U.S. citizen. If you want to join us on this special day let me know.

Answer Key
Read this sentence outloud: Today is a beautiful day. - If you could read the words you pass.

Write out this sentence: He wanted to talk to his boss. - If you can write this sentence you pass.

1. The 13 original colonies of the United States
2. Independence Day
3. The Bill of Rights
4. The Electorial College
5. Possible Answers: Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of the Press and the Freedom to Petition.
6. One term - four years

Are 3 Year Olds Really This Smart?

2008-09-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

The missionaries invited Dr. Tom and I to accompany them in teaching an investigator tonight, and this meant that we needed to find someone to watch Aiden while we were doing this. I called to see if Aiden could go over to play with his best bud Jordan.

When I told him he was going over to Jordan's house this evening he was really quite excited. He wanted to go over right then. It was only about 10:30 in the morning and I told him he would need to a wait a while, because we were taking him to Jordan's at 6 o'clock.

A few hours later I just happened to walk through the living room and catch Aiden in action. He had taken the clock and changed the time (one of the hands were pointing to the six.)

He then said, "I changed the clock to six. Now it's time to go to Jordan's house!"

Truthfully, I don't know if I should be amazed at the intelligence this little three year old has, or be a little freaked out that we have a little schemer on our hands.

P.S. Today was a beautiful day. Sunny, oh the glorious sun was abundant today. I think I appreciate it so much more because I know those days are going to be scarce pretty soon. We also enjoyed a beautiful walk along the ship canal this morning, and, THE BYU is ranked #7. Saweet.

Rock Star

2008-09-23T23:52:00.000-07:00

Several months ago Aiden was always requesting to ride in Dr. Tom's car whenever we went somewhere. Turns out he wanted to ride in Daddy's car so he could rock out to his music.

I guess we could say we've got a little rocker running around our house. His favorites at the moment are:

* We're Not Gonna Take It (Quiet Riot)
* Pump It (Black Eyes Peas)
* Let's Get Rocked (Def Leppard)
* In the Navy (Village People)

Personally I was thrilled that he likes Def Leppard. Like mother like son.

His singing (or I should say yelling) just cracks us up and we've made several attempts to film him, but the second he detects rolling tape he clams up. Luckily, we were able to catch him and he continued to perform for us a little bit. The photography isn't that great, but you'll get the idea.

Peace out!

Suga

2008-09-23T23:33:00.000-07:00

Today Aiden said he needed a snack.

He went into the kitchen and came back with the canister of sugar. This is what happened next:

Aiden: Mom, I'm just going to eat this yummy sugar, okay?

Mom: No, let's not eat sugar. Let's go find another snack for you.

Aiden: Wait, Mom! Hear about this...How about if I have some sugar and you have some sugar and we both have sugar. Then it's a GREAT idea for a snack!

Aiden, how sweet you are.

Thumbs Down, Puyallup

2008-09-23T23:14:00.000-07:00

We ponied up and went to the Puyallup State Fair last week. And the only good things to say about the fair experience was in this order:

1. We got a front row parking spot

2. Excellent corn on the cob

3. Very cool "hobbies" exhibits

4. This picture. I was surprised at how cool it turned out because I just pointed the camera and snapped without looking in the view finder.

I've set a mental reminder to not go to the fair on a Saturday next year. Too crowded. Too many people. Too many people waiting in line for rides. Too hard to push the stroller through crowds of people who walk slower than tar. Too much traffic. Too much whining...Aiden refused to eat everything but blue cotton candy.

Plus, Thomas was ticked at me because I had made plans to go on a Saturday afternoon without consulting the football calendar first. So he missed the televised BYU-UCLA game. He was a real honey to put on a smile and come with us.

Since it wasn't a knock-out day that's all I have to say about it. So dear reader, if you're looking for a laugh or some kind of rhetoric, I'm just sorry to say you won't be getting that today.

You can't make something better than it was when it wasn't that great.

Grey Clouds

2008-09-21T23:43:00.000-07:00

The grey clouds have started to roll in.

And I think they are affecting my ability to think straight. It has to be that, otherwise, I just don't know what to blame my forgetfulness on.

A few days ago we had to have exams for a life insurance policy we're working on. We were out the door first thing in the morning and drove to the appointment. I walked into the exam room and the nurse asked for my ID. That's when I realized I forgot my purse, and had to reschedule the appointment for the next day.

So, the next day arrived. This time I made sure I had my wallet and purse and drove back up to the exam office. I arrived, and made a big deal about remembering my ID this time. I went back to the exam room. The nurse asked for my ID, and I gingerly opened up my wallet and started to look for my ID. Didn't see it the first pass through. But sometimes it hides between a few other cards, so I pulled out all of my cards and went through each one of them, one by one.

No ID.

Great. And what was even worse, was that I had absolutely no idea where my driver's license was, since I'd obviously been driving around for weeks thinking it was in my wallet!

The nurse said a passport would work too, and thankfully I knew where my passport was, so I decided to give Dr. Tom a call and see if he could bring it to me. And that's when I realized I also forgot my phone.

Completely embarrassed, I walked back up to the front desk and asked the secretary if I could use her phone to make a call. I mean....who has to ask to use a phone these days? Everyone has a cell phone...except for me. So I call Dr. Tom and explain the situation and lucky for me, everyone in the front office hears my conversation. So embarrassing.

Luckily Dr. Tom saved me; he happened to know where my driver's license was. He brought it up and I was able to proceed with the exam.

But the forgetfulness doesn't end there.

Later that day I needed to run a few errands downtown and the only time I had to get this done was around 4 pm...right at the beginning of rush hour. We got in the car and made our way downtown amid all of the traffic. And because there are so many one-way streets to took forever to make our way to where we needed to go. We were nearly there when I realized I forgot my purse, and Dr. Tom forgot his wallet...so we had no way of paying for what was needed.

Great. Our forgetfulness really paid off this time. We spent all that time getting downtown and had to just turn around and come back home.

I hope my two days of forgetfulness was just a one-time incident or I'm in big trouble for the rest of the rainy season which is about to come upon us. I snapped the picture at the top of this post earlier this evening. For a short while this afternoon a little bit of sun broke through the clouds. I hope it's a good sign that my ability to remember isn't going to be cloudy all winter, and that it will break through like that little ray of sunshine.

In the Bushes

2008-09-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

Today we welcomed "back to the fold" seven trains who had been missing for four months.

Whenver we asked Aiden where his missing trains were he would say, "In the bushes." At first we didn't quite get what he meant until one day we saw him chuck a train out the window.

The flowerbeds outside of our house have quite a few, overgrown ferns and for a little train it would certainly seem like a jungle to get thrown down there.

Dr. Tom had been cleaning out one of the flower beds when he discovered one train, and then one more and before we new it, his gardening assignment tunred into a train resuce mission.

We washed them all off and lined them up on the counter. Aiden was over at the neighbor's playing so we called him to come up and see the surprise on the counter.

And let me just say...he was one very excited little boy. When he recognized the trains as ones he hadn't seen in quite a while he was completely estatic. He pointed at each saying their name, then grabbed Madge and said, "I need to hook Madge up with her truck" and away he ran to find Madge's other half.

So welcome home Diesel 10, Chinese Dragon, Toad the Brakevan, Molly's tender, Gordon, Madge and Duck. We're glad you're out of the bushes.

Love, Serve, Smile

2008-09-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today marks the three year anniversary of my Aunt Michelle's death, and although it's only been three years it seems so much longer than that. No doubt; I miss her influence. I miss her advice. I miss her creativity. I miss seeing her at church or just dropping by while I've been visiting at my parent's house.

And sometimes its hard to think about how long I'll have to wait to see her again; most days it seems like a really long time.

But on days like today I try to think of her and the things I loved so much about her. All of the reasons why I admired her so much. The gratitude I felt for her example and for being so involved in the things that were important to me.

One of Michelle's most enduring qualities was that she was genuinely interested in the happiness and success of everyone she knew. Lately I have been thinking about the first time I saw her after we found out the cancer had come back. I stopped in at the Quilt Shop she was about to open. I walked in the door and she was standing at the counter trying to figure out how to use the cash register. It was a bitter-sweet moment. So exciting that the shop was about ready for business; something she had dreamed about and of course made a reality. Decorated so cute and so "Michelle." At the same time, my heart was so heavy, and not really wanting to face the reality of what was to come.

That afternoon, I drove her home from the Quilt Shop. We were talking about plans for the shop and some of the things she wanted to be able to do. One of her ideas was that she wanted the shop to be a place for talented quilters to display and sell their quilts. Her philosophy was that there were so many talented ladies who created beautiful quilts, and needed a way to share them with others. We talked about experimenting with selling quilts online and a few other ideas.

After our visit she got out of the car and walked back through her arbor and into the garden. The memory is still so clear in my mind. And all I could do was fight back the tears as I watched her walk back through her beautiful flower beds, picking a few flowers as she went along. It was the last time I saw her able to walk on her own.

Here was a woman who had developed a business plan and created a dream about having a quilt shop, and one of her main focuses for the store was to allow other women to share their skills and talents and to create an environment where their quilts could be enjoyed by others.

She was selfless. She was always so positive. She had a gift for making everyone feel special and appreciated.

And the best way that I can remember her is to try to be more like her.

So, I'm going to wipe my teary eyes one last time, throw away this pile of used tissues and put some new mascara on. And then I'll try to do what she always did best....love, serve and smile.

Wheat

2008-09-14T22:23:00.000-07:00

So lately I have felt a strong desire to get our family's food storage in order. We are not completely unprepared in this department, but there's still A LOT we could do to be even more prepared.

So we've been working on a plan, which I am going to detail in a second. But first I must say that the events brought on by Hurricane Ike's visit to the good people in Houston really got me thinking about being prepared and following instruction.

For example, an evacuation order was given. There were thousands of people who ignored the warning and stayed. Not only did they put their lives in danger, but now they're stuck there without power and other necessities for weeks. Didn't anyone down there learn anything from Katrina, Rita or Gustav, which were all quite recent disasters?

I saw one story on the news where a father chose not to evacuate and when the storm was about to hit, his kids grabbed a marker and wrote their name and social security number on their arms in case they were lost or swept away by all of the water. It's one thing to ignore the warnings, it's another thing to ignore the warnings and NOT be prepared for what is to come.

In his Presidential address this morning, President Bush said the government was preparing one million meals PER DAY for those who are stranded or stayed behind. ONE MILLION meals.

That's a lot of food, people.

And we, the tax payers get the opportunity to now foot the bill for all these people who were not prepared.

So when Mount Rainier blows its top, an earthquake rocks the Sound and we get a double whammy with a tsunami as well, the Bore household will be prepared with flashlights, blankets, and yes, wheat. We will be prepared.

Why wheat, you say? Well, because it will store for up to 20 years and I've heard it's really healthy. My only problem is....I have no idea how to cook with wheat.

In fact, for a recent Enrichment Activity, our ward had some demonstrations with different ways to use wheat. My contribution and ...the ONLY way I know how to use wheat:

These darling Wheat Grass Flower Pots

Yes, this is the only way I know how to use my wheat in storage. It's cute and quite functional. I plant the wheat and let it grow. Then throw in a few flowers and it's an oh-so-cute gift for a friend, someone I visit teach, or a cute little table decoration or centerpiece.

Someday when our cell phones and Internet are down, there's mass chaos where we live, and our food supply is tainted, my little wheat grass flower pots could surely brighten up any mood and give me something "crafty" to focus on. But, they are NOT going to save my family in an emergency.

So, here is our family's Learning of the Wheat Plan:

1. Buy more wheat and add it to our food storage. (write the purchase date on the boxes.)

2. Buy a wheat grinder

3. Collect recipes that use wheat berries and wheat flour

4. Experiment with the recipes. Try and use at least one recipe a week

5. Use our wheat on a regular basis

6. Expand our long-term storage with other items and experiment with new recipes and learning how to incorporate those foods into our weekly menus.

Not only will we be eating healthier, but I'll feel much better knowing that we are truly following the counsel of the prophet and building a full year's supply of food to sustain our family so that we are prepared for any unexpected event that will come our way.

And for a mother who likes to be in control, and is an obsessive planner and organizer, having got a hold on the wheat situation will definitely make me sleep better at nights.

I'm pretty sure that Dr. Tom will not lose any sleep over this, but that's okay. I'll let him take his turn losing sleep when we have teenagers. :)

P.S. Congratuations is in order to my darling Mother, who has been working on her blog! Great job Mom, it's looking great and I can't wait to see what you put up next.

Good News Minute

2008-09-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

Lots of good news at our house today.

1. Kera has her blog set up. Happy, happy day. You have to check out the video at the end of her first entry. Makes me miss Jake when I hear him laughing.

2. Dr. Tom surprised me with tickets to see Phantom of the Opera for our anniversary. We are going to the show tomorrow! My husband rocks!

3. Dr. Tom received notice from the Immigration Office. They reopened his case, approved his fingerprints and his date has been scheduled for the FINAL interview.

This is the best news of all.

Thanks to all who kept Dr. Tom and the Immigration folk in your prayers. They were answered.

First Day

2008-09-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

Aiden came bounding down the stairs this morning. His instructions were clear:

"No time for breakfast today. I need to quickly get dressed so I can go to Preschool."

Our little guy was so excited to go to school this morning he could hardly concentrate on anything else. Since he's a little shy I was hopeful there wouldn't be any tears when it was time to part.

But tears were not on the agenda today, thank goodness!

It was so fun to see his excitement and energy as we bounced out the door. He would hardly sit still for a few pictures, trying to get away and go stand by the car.

When we arrived at the school there was a woman standing in the garden nearby. Aiden looked at her and yelled with complete excitement,

"Today's my FIRST day!"

With a big smile on his face we walked into the Preschool. And he was completely at ease and so anxious to go in and start playing with the other children. I was immediately at ease, knowing we made the right decision and that it'll be worth every darn penny. (Preschool isn't cheap up here. Let's just say choose between preschool and a car payment...and we're going to one of the cheaper schools around. Unbelievable.)

When I went back to pick him up, he didn't want to come home. I'd say his FIRST day was a huge success!

Six Surprises

2008-09-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

For anyone who is married, you know that there are always some surprises about your spouse that for some reason, were never discovered when you're dating. They are only revealed after you've been married and you slowly discover them one by one...

While it's true Dr. Tom and I have both had our share of discoveries in this department, there happens to be a list of good surprises....things I never would have known, even we would have dated for years. Pleasant surprises, they are.

In celebration of six wonderful years here are six wonderful surprises I've learned about my dear husband:

1. Dr. Tom is a perfectionist when it comes to folding laundry. You'd think he'd worked at the GAP for 50 years. Everything is so neatly folded and compressed tightly so it doesn't wrinkle or unfold. I love looking into a laundry basket with perfectly folded clothes. And you should see my linen closet with towels, every single one folded to perfection. Impressive!

2. Dr. Tom makes a mean macaroni and cheese. Yes, it's out of the box but he has a way of making it taste so much better.

3. Now I knew he was smart, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Thanks to him, I can actually have an intelligent conversation about politics. I think his next endeavor is to get me to speak intelligently about psychology. That might be a stretch.

4. This is a guy who has an enormous amount of patience. I guess that's why we're good together; he makes up for all of the patience I lack.

5. I knew he was good with kids, but there's nothing that compares to watching your husband interact with your own children. Watching Dr. Tom interact with Aiden has brought me more joy than I could ever express in writing.

6. I knew his family didn't have a dishwasher when he was growing up; but little did I know he'd be my continuous little dishwasher now. I guess all those years of practice is paying off. Our little cottage lacks an electric dishwasher and he's done an incredible job keeping up with so many dishes. Our kitchen is almost shining thanks to him.

Dr. Tom, you know how much I love you. Thanks for being you and for being mine. I look forward to the days ahead, discovering more of your hidden gems. Happy Anniversary.

XOXOXO,

Onebrilliantgirl

Oh It Was Sweet...

2008-09-06T21:05:00.000-07:00

It was a family affair at Husky Stadium on Saturday morning. Yes, we were all there. Thomas had been counting the days down for weeks. He taught Aiden the Cougar Fight Song and had Aiden ready to shout out the Rah Rah Rah's on cue.

So Saturday was a big day for the Bore Family.

I've always been a BYU fan. I'm not a true blue fan like Thomas, but consider the Y my team. And I've been to a lot of games, but when they ran out onto the field I can not express the excitement I felt. I was surprised at how excited I was.

So I guess that's what happens when you live in Seattle for a few years and don't go to any football games and suddenly find yourself sitting among a whole bunch of Mormons, which inspired a notes and observations.

1. When we lived in Utah we had season tickets. We sat in a group of THE strangest people. The fans behind us were always making fun of the fans in front of us. The fans in front would always turn around and glare at the rude fans behind us. Would someone please explain to me why Mormons make fun of other Mormons? It was nice to sit in between people who were friendly with each other.

2. No Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree. Instead the band played "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Tequila." (UDub had a really great band.)

3. No opening prayer. Only at BYU...

4. I love the Wasatch Mountains, but who can argue with the view at Husky Stadium. Looking out over Lake Washington on a sunny day. It was PERFECT for football.

5. No matter where you go, there's always a Cougar fan with too much enthusiasm who designates himself as the "yell leader" and gets the cheers going. I crack up when I see this. (and I'm not making fun of another Mormon here. I just get a kick out of it :)

It was a great game. And what made it even better was, my team won.

Go Cougs!

Dear Aiden...

2008-09-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Aiden,

Tonight you fell asleep with a dirty face and you dozed off so quickly I didn't even get to sit in our reading chair and read stories with you.

I wanted to be able to tell you a few things I didn't get to tell you before bedtime tonight.

Today, you were as good as a little boy can be.

You listened. You obeyed. You were a great helper all day. You ate everything on your plate at dinnertime. You were a good friend.

And before we ended the day I wanted to tell you how much I love you and how much I appreciated you being such a good boy today. But alas, you feel asleep much too soon for that.

So sweet, sleeping Aiden...know that you made my day. I'm so glad you're mine.

Love,
Mom

Breezeway

2008-09-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

While waiting for my turn to board the airplane last week I noticed the airline was making a really big deal about its "Breezeway" line.

"We're now boarding flight 1011 with service to Salt Lake City. For our elite customers, please use the Breezeway at any time. We're also boarding zones six and seven at this time...."

So what's the big deal with the Breezeway, I wondered? The bottom line is that you've got the boarding area. They have simply rolled out a little rug. Not a fancy rug. Not even a red velvet carpet. Just a plain blue rug that looks like any other rug you'd find in a post office, a bank or a school.

So they put this rug down and separate it from the rest of the boarding area with a rope and stanchion and THIS is only for the elite customers. Like, does it really make passengers feel that much more special because they get to walk across a post office rug and hand the attendant their boarding pass?

My boss only flies first class and I know for a fact he doesn't buy a first class ticket for the perk of walking on a post office rug before he boards the plane. He lays the cash down so that he can ride in comfort. Recline his chair and sleep. Have enough leg and elbow room to sit comfortably and work while en route.

My boarding zone happened to be in zone two, and they started with zone eight, so I had quite a while to just sit and observe this. And you know what? No one walked on the post office rug. They all used the regular line. And that's when I got to thinking about the fact that I don't need a rug to make me feel special, loved or appreciated.

I already know what I need to know...

I am surrounded in love by a fabulous husband and son. I'm a daughter of a mother and father who have been my greatest cheerleaders and a granddaughter of four grandparents who are my loudest cheering section. Above all, I know I am a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father and that true joy and happiness in this life are based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

No rug or special boarding privileges will ever compare to the happiness the gospel brings and knowing who I belong to.

We're Happy Because...

2008-08-27T22:49:00.000-07:00

We're happy today because...

Onebrilliantgirl: Got a great haircut today! Tried a new stylist, and you know how stressful that can be. But she was a cute gal and did a great job.

Onebrilliantgirl: Jennie and Natalie FINALLY have blogs! So happy....Check em out...

I've been trying to recruit them to the blogging world for a while so I'm so excited about this. Nannie Diane and Kera are working on blogs too. Good times ahead.

Dr Tom: Only one more night's sleep and it's time for college football to start. Note: This is the best time of the year for Dr. Tom. Some of you might remember this post from last year. Yes, it's that time again.

Aiden: Jackson's mom came over to do some visiting teaching and he was so excited to have a visitor that suddenly it wasn't time for a visiting teaching message, it was time for show and tell. Everything was on display, including hauling in his scooter from outside, turning off the lights in the house and demonstrating the blinking lights on the scooter.

Dr Tom: The suspense is almost over. McCain announces his VP pick soon.

Onebrilliantgirl: It's almost time for college football to start. Now I will have Dr Tom around on Saturdays to do all of the laundry. He can watch games in the morning as long as he does ALL of the laundry. And that's a more than fair trade off in my book.

Aiden: Got to go to the park today and play. One day this summer I told him we were going to the park and he told me,"Mom, the park has to have a slide, sand and swings." So, everytime we leave for a park we are reminded the park must have a slide, sand and swings. More recently, we've been instructed that the slide MUST be orange and green.

Onebrilliantgirl: I finally wrapped up Tim's travel itinerary, sent design files to our partner in Europe, mapped out the design strategy for a new brochure, and finalized all of the booth details for the convention this week. A culmination of a lot of work over the past few months is behind me! I'm finally caught up and I'm ready to head off to the annual USANA convention, where my boss and the truly BRILLIANT ONE, Tim Sales, is delivering a keynote address.

Now...off to Utah for a few days...

Be back soon!

My Picks for V.P.

2008-08-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

Can I just say I will be so glad when all of this election stuff is over. Don't get me wrong; I understand the importance of the campaign season and won't ever forget that having the right to vote is a blessing. It's just that I get so tired of the bickering, the speculation, the criticism. Enough already; let's just all roll up our sleeves and get to work.

The latest news is all about V.P. picks. Who will it be? Everyone has their own opinion and their own strategy. Well, this got me thinking about my own strategy. So here are my picks for V.P. if I were running for president. They are, in no particular order:

Jeni

My friend and kindred spirit. This girl is smart and clever. She's got an impeccable eye for fashion and style; first-class in everything she does. She's creative and unbelievably talented. If I ever needed a business partner, she would be THE person I HAD to have. One of her most enduring qualities is that she is angelically good and celebrates the goodness in life every day.

Bret

My Uncle Bret is an excellent choice simply because he's the guy that can make a friend with anyone.

I can just imagine him walking into a room at the United Nations, and walking up to Ahmadinejed (President of Iran), shaking his hand and saying, "Hey, you wanna check out the lint in my belly button?" Seriously! He would do this and everyone would love the U.S. and want to be our friend because of his jolly outlook on life.

If there was anyone who could get the leaders of Russia and Georgia or Syria and Israel on a cruise ship together, he would be the one to do it. One of his first items of business would be to do something like organize a Harley bike ride for all of the heads of state, and everyone in the U.S. would probably get a fiberglass flagpole for their front yard.

Miss America

Who wouldn't want someone who is beautiful, talented and intelligent to be their second in command?

I've always been a huge fan of of Miss America, so it's only natural to have her be one of my VP picks. And don't worry, I'd be sure to screen her closely...only the intelligent ones would be considered; and not a disaster like the girl from South Carolina. Who can forget her famous, convoluted answer:

"I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our children."

Michael Scott

Just look at this guy; how could he not be a serious contender for VP? He's fiercely loyal and at the end of the day he will always do his best and leave everyone satisfied.....at least that's what she said.

And the last pick on my list....

Dr. Tom

Is this allowed? At first I wasn't sure but then I got thinking about the fact that Hillary pretty much ran the White House when she lived there, so why not let my hubby do his part?

He's smart, he can golf, he's hot, he can do laundry, he can wash the dishes, he knows military strategy AND he's Canadian. (but not for long! :) A BORE/BORE ticket might really rock.

So, there you have it; my short list of top picks for my vice presidential running mate. I spent maybe 15 minutes thinking about it. It's really just this simple. No polling, no media commentary, no extensive interviews.

Just wise thinking.

Now, if only the "real" guys could make the selection process that easy.

Our Trip...By The Numbers

2008-08-21T23:25:00.000-07:00

So we were in Canada all last week for the Family Reunion and Stephen's Wedding. Here's a few numbers that pretty much sum up the trip.

$3.92: The cheapest price of gas per gallon

I was thinking, how pathetic that we were so OVERJOYED to find a gas price under $4.00. The cheapest gallon of gas was found in Sandpoint, Idaho. Cute little town with a lot of charm. And, also the hometown headquarters for Cold Water Creek, one of my favorite websites for skirts. Cool!

4: The number of times I said out loud, "Thank you, Minivan."

Why is it that minivan drivers are completely oblivious to everyone else on the road and happily but slowly pull right out in front of you, causing you to slam on your breaks? I swear, if I EVER have to drive a minivan I will not succumb to this type of behavior. I will not! I will not!

27: The number of times I had to sing "Donald's Duck" with Aiden in the car.

....Quack, Quack, Choo-Choo-Choo, She's my little quackaroo.... Yes, I think I have listened to the Thomas CD one too many times. Guess we'll have to replace it with Scripture Scouts for a while and give us a break.

32: The number of miles per hour I was driving over the speed limit when I got pulled over.

It's been 10 years since my last speeding ticket, I'll have you know. And, for the love of pete. It was in the MIDDLE of nowhere, on an Indian reservation for heaven's sakes. I didn't even realize I was driving through a town when I got the red.

67: The number of mosquito bites on my ankles, feet, arms and neck.

177: The amount of money I had to pay the Province of Alberta for my speeding ticket.

This pretty much sucked. That's all there is to say about that.

1,353: The number of miles we put on our car for this little journey.

And I must say, it would be one of the greatest road trips ever if there was a freeway the whole way. But once we're into northern Idaho it's a two-lane highway all through the mountains. Aside from getting stuck behind minivans and campers, this is one very beautiful stretch of highway.

Infinity: The amount of FUN we enjoyed with the family.

As we started driving away to come back home we looked at each other and said, "What a great family to belong to." I had to put infinity because, how can you put a limit on the love and memories shared with such great people. Aiden absolutely loved being with his cousins. He kicked and screamed when it was time to go. I thought that was a good sign of a great family reunion. We're already counting the days down to our next trip to the north, but next time....we're taking a radar detector with us.

Aiden with Keira and Emmy.

Having fun at Wally's Beach

Cheryl & Stephen

Kat, Kimberly, Abby

I Teared Up Over This

2008-08-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

Aiden shared his first talk in primary today.

I was sitting in the back of the room and his class had not come into the room yet, so when he came in he didn't see me. He walked right in and sat down on his chair, just as reverent and sweet as could be. He folded his arms during the prayer and held so still. Yes, I was peeking.

Sitting there, singing one of my favorites, I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus, his legs not quite long enough to touch the ground, his feet were swinging back and forth while he sang. And it hit me. My baby was old enough to give a talk in primary. And that's when the tears welled up and rolled down my cheeks.

Aiden is a shy little sweetheart, so I had to help him get through the whole thing, but he stood up at the pulpit with me while I shared the talk and he was able to muster out at the very end, "Amen!"

Of course, he had no problem marching up to the pulpit and grinning for a picture after everyone left the room and Primary was over.

We displayed this picture as we shared Aiden's first talk:

This is a picture of me and my Grampy.
He likes trains just like me.
When he was 21 he was baptized.
He was the only member of his family to be baptized.
My Grampy is a good example to me.
He goes to church.
He honors his priesthood.
He reads the scriptures.
He prays every day.
When I am eight, I can follow the example of Jesus Christ and my Grampy and be baptized and confirmed a member of our church.
I will be able to show my faith by following my Grampy's example.

Aiden, I love you and am so proud of you. Your Grampy exemplifies Christlike attributes in everything that he does. He is a good example for you to follow and learn from as you grow and gain life experience. Always remember how blessed you are to have Grandpas who are concerned with the things of the Lord, who are faithful in everything they do and who love you and want you to always follow the Savior.

Wedding Weekend with Floods and a Troll

2008-08-05T17:20:00.000-07:00

My baby brother is married. It just seems like yesterday when I was at the hospital and watched as my mom was rolled out of the delivery room and I saw this new baby brother lying on her chest. And now...I find it hard to believe he's old enough to be the man of the house.

Travis and Meagan were married in the Manti Temple on Friday, August 2 and it couldn't have been a more perfect day. For a minute I thought it was going to rain a little bit and secretly I was glad...at least someone in my family would have been able to share the sorrow of a soggy wedding day with me.

But alas, they were saved from rain and so only I can feel the pain of a wedding day with abundant rain. I can't believe that's what I think about after all these years. I just can't let it go.

Anyway, the day was perfect and I am elated that Meagan is now one of my sisters. She's the perfect person for my brother, and now that she's part of our family it feels complete. I'm so lucky that both of my brothers picked such talented, beautiful and wonderful wives that we love and are so happy to embrace into our family.

The kids enjoyed lots of time with Nannie Diane. Here they are reading stories before bedtime. They loved having Grandpa fix them alphabet pancakes for breakfast. My Dad is still the best alphabet pancake maker around.

And of course, we can't forget about our little flood. The little rascals flooded the front flower bed one afternoon. I went outside to find the entire front flower bed completely covered in water, with a cascade of water falling over into the windowsill. It was nearly full of water when I found it. We had an emergency bucket party and had to scoop the water out before it flooded one of the bedrooms.

We later found out the kids were going over the neighbor's house and flooding their garden and yard as well. Oops. Since we didn't have an electric fence to keep them in the yard we got the next best thing....a Troll. My brother has a camo suit he uses for hunting and it was the perfect thing to disguise him as a troll. One night the Troll came out and scared all of those kids and they didn't go back over to the neighbor's yard the rest of the week. In fact, the Troll was our obedience bribe all week. Those kids whipped right into shape when we said the Troll was coming to get them. If you need a Troll in your neighborhood, let me know.

But the late nights-no naps-flooding frenzy-wedding party week came quickly to an end all too soon and now...can't wait until Christmas to be home with them once again.

Jennie, Gaven & Sharlene

Jalen

Words of Wisdom, by Aiden T. Bore

2008-07-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

Recent conversations with Aiden...

At the dinner table
Me: Aiden, would you mind sharing some of that water with me, please?
Aiden: No, Mom. Children don't share with Mommys.
Me: Who do children share with then?
Aiden: Only Daddys.

In the car when I'm cussing at a driver who went out of turn at the 4-way stop
Aiden: Chillax Mommy!

In the car when I'm mad at Thomas because he's not paying attention while driving
Aiden: Daddy, say sorry to Mommy. Now, Mommy, say sorry to Daddy.

Outside on the sidewalk with the hose and water running down the sidewalk
Me: Aiden, why don't you come in and eat dinner.
Aiden: No, I"m too busy to eat.
Me: How come?
Aiden: I'm watering my garden.

At the dinner table. Thomas is helping Aiden say the blessing on the food
Aiden: ...saying the prayer
Aiden: silence
Thomas: Aiden, are you going to finish the prayer?
Aiden: I CAN NOT say long prayers, Daddy. Too many words.

Any place where Aiden has toys or something to keep him occupied and he doesn't want me to bother him.
Me: ...not saying anything, just lingering around by him
Aiden: Mommy, I don't need you. Go back to your work.

Laying on the floor in the family room having a family sleep over
Aiden: Talking, talking, talking. Won't stop talking. (hmm, wonder where who he gets this from.)
Me: Aiden, it's time to go to sleep. Stop talking and be quiet.
Aiden: More talking
Me: Aiden, let's zip our lips shut. See, zip your lips like this and throw the key away.
Aiden: A few seconds of silence
Aiden: Mommy, I can not zip my lips. My zipper broke.

While hiking around at the beach
Aiden: Mommy, I'm hungry. I have no energies.

Going for a walk past Stells, our favorite burger joint and the church that Aiden's friend, Maggie attends
Aiden: Watch me, Mom. (pointing to Stell's business sign)
Aiden: S-T-E-L-L-S spells...Stells!
Me: Yes, Aiden that spells Stells. Very good job. You know your letters!

Aiden: Stop, let's spell the letters, otay Mom?
Me: Okay, you tell me what those letters are.
Aiden: F-I-R-S-T
Aiden: F-R-E-E
Aiden: M-E-T-H-O-D-I-S-T
Aiden: Spells...Maggie's church!

Walking up to me with one side of his pants pulled down past his hip, exposing the back side of his hip
Aiden: Look Mom, I'm testy.
Me: You're what?
Aiden: I'm testy Mom!
(I have no clue what he's talking about.)
The next day, he does it again. Still, no clue what he's talking about.
The next day he says it again. This time I clue in. He's saying, "Look Mom, I'm sexy."

When Aiden doesn't want to do something he'll often say it's too scary or he's too scared. We try to reinforce that he is brave and that he can do it. This is a product of our teaching.
Me: Aiden, will you come and help me husk this corn?
Aiden: No. You brave Mommy. You do it all yourself!

We were playing at the park and Aiden was not being obedient. When we got home he had to sit in timeout. We had a little visit afterwards and talked about why it's important for children to obey their parents. I told him if he didn't obey, I would have to send the tickets for A Day With Thomas back and we wouldn't go.
Me: You don't want me to send the tickets back, do you?
Aiden: Nope. I will obey indeed....and listen!

Our friends had a baby recently and we watched their son for a few days while they were in the hospital. Aiden and Issac had a great time. After Issac went home we were talking about how Issac was a big brother now.
Thomas: Aiden, would you like Mommy to have a baby in her tummy?
Aiden: (looking at Thomas like...are you crazy?) Silly Daddy. You can't eat babies!

Reading stories and getting ready for bed
Me: Aiden, guess how much I love you.
Aiden: Mommy, I love you 40 weeks much!

Our handsome little guy is getting so big and growing up so fast. Conversations like this tug at the heart and are a reminder of how precious children are and what a blessing it is to be a mother.

P.S. We have to give a shout out to our friend and photographer Jen, who recently took these adorable photos of Aiden. You can check her out at The Perfect Pic.

The Secret to Obedience

2008-07-23T23:54:00.000-07:00

Last week Aiden was almost perfect at being obedient, being a good helper, sharing his things and doing what he was told the first time we asked him.

Why, you ask, is he such an angel child? How did we get so lucky? Let me guess...you're thinking we are miracle parents and want to know the secret, don't you?

Well my friends. The truth is we can't take much credit for anything, really. We are not miracle parents at all. In fact, we're pretty average I'd say. But I will let you in on the secret.

A Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine.

Yes, this event was our bribe for a whole week and let me just say it worked like a charm. Aiden waited with much anticipation all week to attend this glorious event. He knew he had to obey and behave and the minute we threatened to send those tickets back he snapped to it in a flash.

I'll admit, I'm a little sad that I don't have something to bribe him with this week. But, he had such a fun day. As a parent it was just as exciting to see his enthusiasm for the one thing he as LOVED since he was just a baby.

When we first arrived it was like he was in shock, there were so many trains and Thomas the Tank Engine characters that he couldn't focus. Running from one thing to the next and then back over and over again.

The highlight of the trip was taking a ride on some coaches, pulled by the one and only Thomas, the cheeky little engine.

I keep wondering if Aiden will ever get bored of trains. But for now, they are still his passion. He knows all of their names. He memorizes some of their lines from the DVDs and then when he plays trains he uses those lines in his play conversations. He carts those little trains around everywhere we go.

We had a great day with Thomas, but now that it's come and gone I'm wondering...what's the next thing I can use to help him learn obedience with a smile. :)

Favorite Summer Song - #1

2008-07-23T22:27:00.001-07:00

Finally, a minute to wrap up my most favorite summer song series.

This song has to be the all-time best summer song ever. Why, you ask? Well, it makes me feel like I'm on vacation every time I hear it. Or better put, it makes me WISH I were on vacation every time I hear it.

Specifically on an island somewhere with a lemonade on one side, a Stephanie Meyer book in my hand and a laptop near by only to be used for the purpose of blogging. No phone. No responsibilities. Just me, and the sun, my lemonade and my beloved Edward.

That's what it's all about, baby.

I first discovered this song on the Mr. Deeds Soundtrack. Thomas gave it to me as a gift the first year we were married, and I must say it was a surprise. While it's true I usually know every last thing I'm getting for Christmas, he picked this out all on his own. And I was quite excited about it; there's so many great songs on it.

So while we were thumbing through the songs we heard this little number. I can still remember Jake commenting on the song and how it made him wish we were back in Mexico. You see, a few years prior to that my Mom surprised us on Christmas morning with tickets to Cabo...one of the best Christmases EVER...by the way.

And being the talented bloke that Jake is, he whipped out his guitar and started strumming the tune to this song, "Island in the Sun." So of course, I think of Jake too sometimes, in between thinking about that private island and Edward Cullen.

But for now, here's a few snap shots of our summer fun so far. There's still two more months of Northwest sunshine, so...two more months of summer adventure. Hip, Hip!

Eating chocolate covered strawberries

Visiting the Zoo

Playing with friends at the International Fountain
Just Playing and Having Fun (what Aiden asks to do daily)

Playing pirates at the park. The stick is my spotting scope.
Mormon Miracle Pageant

During the show, Angel Moroni stands on the top spire of the temple.

Aiden saw this and asked, "Look! He's standing on the Ramemupton!"

Playing with "fully invested" friends

Getting Goosebumps

Our Rugby Star

Playing with more friends

Our child hates to wear his shoes.

Exploring Port Townsend

A fun day to the Peninsula with best friends

Rugby Rugby Rugby

2008-07-18T21:41:00.001-07:00

So I figured I'd make one of my infrequent posts and admit one of my great blessings, which is being able to play rugby on Saturday mornings. Now this is not the full-contact scrum, ruck and maul type rugby where I'd end up bloodied, bruised, missing teeth and needing ACL surgery...I play an less violent touch form of rugby. This link explains the basic concepts, though we play a variation of those rules which I'll explain. http://www.touchrugby.com/what_is_touch
The way we play is teams have 6 touches to score. Think of a touch as being similar to downs in football. Like rugby, you can advance the ball by running, kicking or passing it backwards to another teammate (or the opposite team if you like...not recommended though :)) You score by crossing the try-line with your hand/body touching the ball touching the ground. That is a hard one to pick up when you are used to playing football and only the ball needs to cross the plane. Another hard thing to pick up is not being able to block for another teammate, thats cheating you know.
The idea is easy enough...you want in on the secret to playing rugby? Lean in close and I'll tell you. DO NOT EVER EVER EVER DROP THE BALL, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT DROPPING THE BALL. There I said it. That seems easy enough eh? Oh and never run out of bounds. Or throw the ball forward. Or start within 5 metres of the line of scrimmage when on defence. They are all bad bad things. Dropping the ball when on offense is like kicking a defenseless kitten, it's just in poor taste. Plus your team loses possession. But, what if you drop the ball and pick it back up because it only bounced once on the ground? Well then all bets are off and you can keep possession! I mean its only fair after all. The one bounce rule is freakin awesome I must say, you see it can catch the opposing team off guard and you can gain a great advantage.
Once you get the hang of the little intricacies of the game it is absolutely a great game to play. If I only had the natural athletic talent, then I could really wow people. I did have one great move once. You remember how when you have the ball you can run or kick it? and you remember the one bounce rule? Well I was running with the ball and I needed to get past a defender so I sort of pooch kicked it just past him, used the kick to catch him off guard and ran past him, caught the ball on one bounce and was off to the races! Well, until he caught be about 15 yards later. You see I do not have what people call break-away speed. I have what people call break-down and cry speed. It's not a pretty sight I'll grant you, but I'll take glory anyway I can.
Another nice thing about touch rugby is for all the intense running, you do get breathers now and then. You can see here it looks like I am getting a nice rest because I am defending the field far away from where all the action is.
I even had time to dress up for the occasion!
By the end of the game, I am usually dead tired, well I am dead tired by about 20 minutes into the game, but thats another story.
I have now been playing rugby for almost a year now and I actually love getting up at 7am for my weekly stress release!

Okay, you can really see me in action in the pic to the left. I am the goofy one in green looking like he is lost.

You Screwed Me Again...Costanza!

2008-07-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

The title of my blog post is one of Thomas' favorite lines from Seinfeld, and is certainly fitting for the blow we were dealt today.

Six years ago, about a week after we were married, we got in the car early one morning and drove up to the Immigration office in Salt Lake so Thomas could apply for a green card. We walked into a room and sat there for eight hours with a whole bunch of people...none who were Canadians and I'll just leave it at that. :)

Now, six years and over $1500 later we are one step...well, now we're two steps away from Thomas receiving his U.S. citizenship.

About this time last year, Thomas FINALLY reached the point in the application process where he could apply for naturalization. We sent in the money and paperwork and received notice that we would hear back in about 248 days.

The 248 days passed and we followed up in June, wondering what was going on. We were assured that everything was fine and they were back logged, and we should hear for sure by August or September.

Today a sweet little letter came in the mail from the Immigration office. We were so excited to open it, knowing for sure that there would be a date listed for the final interview.

Instead the letter started out with:

"This notice informs you that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has deemed your application for naturalization abandoned and denied."

Yes, my friends, the news doesn't get any worse than this. Our excitement quickly turned to shock, then anger, and then frustration. We rolled up our sleeves and went to work.

Apparently, Immigration Services sent a letter last September requesting Thomas report for fingerprinting. Only problem is we never got that letter. Trust me, I would remember getting it and would not forget to set up such an important appointment.

I am most bugged that no further attempts were made to re-contact us, or at least, when we followed up with the Immigration Office during the last few months they COULD HAVE let us in on this little problem.

So, where does this leave us you ask?

Well, the first step is to appeal their decision. The paperwork is going to be sent out tomorrow.

We have contacted our Senate and Representative offices already and dropped paperwork off at each office this afternoon.

Now all we can do is pray that this will all work out swiftly and promptly. This is critical because Thomas wants to do his Internship with the Air Force, and in order to even talk with a recruiter he has to be a Citizen. And in order to do the Internship, he has to start talking with the recruiter this fall.

So, we're only asking for a miracle to happen in the next few months. Hopefully with the right connetcions we can get this turned around quickly so Thomas can meet the internship application deadline.

One of George Costanza's enduring characteristics is that the poor guy always seems to get the raw end of the deal. Sometimes I feel like that happens to us too! Oh well, I guess that builds character, right?

Wish us well, keep the incompetent people who run the immigration office in your prayers, and if you happen to have any connections into the US Immigration Office or the Seattle Field Office...you're my new best friend.

Favorite Summer Song - #2

2008-07-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

Die without a what?

Not only is this song one of my most favorite summer songs, it's also one of my favorite all-time songs, thanks to my cousin, Randon. (pictured above, and aren't his little guy's dimples to die for? so cute!)

Shortly after I graduated from BYU I ordered an upgraded stereo for my car and had it installed. Nice little present for myself and first big purchase.

And let me just say, that first purchase after college is very significant! So exciting to actually have some cash to spend on something fun after years of scrimping and saving. It was a glorious moment.

I specifically wanted something that would pump out a little bit more bass, and my new stereo was just the ticket.

I loved driving around at dusk with the windows rolled down and this song playing; the bass in it is so soothing, it's a great kick back and relax summer night song. Now I know what you're thinking....I was NOT playing this loud so that everyone at the intersection could hear my tunes! Not my style. But, when the windows were rolled up or I was in the driveway, the volume cranked up significantly.

But anyway, because "Die Without You" by PM Dawn was one of my favorites it eventually ended up on a CD of favorites that was playing at Lake Powell.

We were sitting at the table, probalby playing Rummy. Afterall, what else is there to do at the lake inbetween floating sessions? Randon was sitting across the table from me. And we were singing along to this song when Randon chimed in at the chorus saying "Die without a shoe....."

He kept saying it and I thought he was just being funny. But it turned out that was really what he thought the song said...."Die without a shoe."

We got a good laugh out of that one. When I hear this song now, I think of two things.

1. I think of warm summer nights enjoying good tunes.

2. I think of Randon, and what a great cousin and friend he is and without a doubt, I now sing...

Die without a shoe...

almost every time.

For Moms Who Need More Sleep

2008-07-10T00:34:00.000-07:00

This is what I felt like this morning when I woke up.

Here's why.

Time: 3:00 AM

Aiden: (In a whiny voice and standing right next to me, his face next to mine while I'm sleeping) Mom....I had an accident.

Me: (Thinking to myself) I have no idea what time it is, but I can not open my eye lids. They are too heavy. Maybe if I just lay here and not say anything he'll just go back to sleep.

Aiden: Mom...I need you. I need new jammies.

Me: (Still silent) I am too tired to get up. Maybe if I just lay here long enough Thomas will get up and help him.

Aiden: Psst. Mom. I getting cold. I get in your bed, k? Mommy, wake up!

Me: Finally get out of bed. Too tired to go upstairs and get new pajamas. Walk like a zombie into the hall and turn on the light so I can rummage through a clean laundry basket in our room to find some pajamas.

Aiden: Mommy, turn the light off! Its hurting my eyes.

Me: Aiden, I have to have the light on so I can find you some dry pajamas as you requested.

Finally find what I need and get Aiden's clothes changed.

Aiden: Mommy, I sleep in your bed. I so tired.

Me: Aiden, I'm tired too. Your choice is to sleep up in your bed or right here on the floor by me. I'll make you a special, cozy bed.

Aiden: No, I just sleep here. That a good idea, Mom?

Me: No, Aiden. It's a bad idea. There's no room for you in here. Mommy just gets grumpy.

Aiden: Please Mom. I just stay here. Otay?

Me: Fine. Let's just go to sleep. I need you to scoot over though, there's no room for mommy.

Aiden: No Mom. I not scoot. I too tired.

Me: Aiden, please. Move over. There's no room for mommy. My big butt is hanging off the bed.

Aiden: I can't. I not brave enough.

I pick Aiden up and move him over. He scoots back.

I finally give up and just try to make myself comfortable and get some sleep before my alarm rings at 6:15.

Now, here's the final point. I'm telling this to Thomas. He laughs and says "Well, next time you should just wake me up and I'll move him over."

So here's the question of the day.

Why do Dads sleep through EVERYTHING?

Love this!

2008-07-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

Can I just say that I love this picture?

Since my brother's return home from Iraq they have spent the summer just hanging around not doing much. When they feel like it they go to the farm and help my Dad. They've also been helping Grandpa Jack with the sheep herds. Here they are helping move them up on the mountain.

If you're wondering about the final two spots for my Favorite Summer Songs...stay tuned. They are soon to appear.

Possibly Moving to Canada.....

2008-07-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

So our holiday wasn't even HALF as fun as Alison's. In fact, it was really just kind of blah.

Our lame weekend started on Thursday night. Thomas decided we needed fireworks to really enjoy the festivities. To which I agreed. He returned home with two big tubs full of them. Aiden was ecstatic. We went outside and lit the first one. Watched the fuse burn and then nothing. Lit a second one...nothing. Lit a third one...still nothing.

Brought them in the house and noticed they aren't fireworks at all; just stupid noise makers. You don't light the fuse...you pull it. It makes a popping noise and out comes shredded paper.

Seattle has no tolerance for fireworks; so the stores can't sell REAL fireworks. How stupid is that.

On the morning of the 4th Thomas was up and out the door at 7 am to play rugby. He's been begging me all year to come watch him play so I finally decided to go. However, Aiden went to bed late...so late in fact I'm not even going to tell you what time it was for fear you'll think I'm a terrible Mom! So I had to drag Aiden out of bed to go to the rugby field. Felt guilty about that.

Got home, rushed over to the Stake Pancake Breakfast...which was over already. Decided to go find a Dennys or IHOP...couldn't find one. By this time it was 10:45 am. Aiden bless his heart was trying to be good but was starving, tired and insisting on pancakes for breakfast. Found a McDonalds, but they had already stopped serving breakfast.

Great, now what's our plan. Phone book had an IHOP listed not too far from where we were at. We made our way there and couldn't find it. Went home and made our own damn pancake breakfast at 11:45.

And to make matters worse, my family left for Lake Powell today, so I had that to sulk about too.

Thankfully, the day did improve. We finished the day off with having some friends over for a BBQ and then went to another friend's house to watch the fireworks. That part was actually fun...Seattle has two big fireworks shows and we were high enough on a hill to see both - the show at Elliott Bay and the big display over Lake Union.

Next year, the 4th of July better improve or I'm moving to Canada.

Fav Summer Song - #3

2008-07-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

The reason why this next song has captured the coveted #3 spot is because it reminds me of HOME, and so many good times growing up in a little town.

It seems like every time I hear this one, my mind thinks of home, the people I love, and the many memories I share with them. Here's just a few...

- No one is a better captain of the Sea Clusion than my Grandpa Jack. Here he is all decked out with his swimming suit and boots. No Tevas or Birkenstocks for this cowboy...even at Lake Powell. :)

- Irrigating with my Dad in the early evening hours. There's nothing like this! The fresh, crisp air...the smell of freshly cut hay...the sound of water trickeling down the furrows...the hiss of sprinkler lines off in the distance. Peaceful.

- Dragging Main and hanging out at Lunds Drive-In.

- Early morning cheer practice.

- Playing cards with Grandma Delma at Lake Powell. By the way, all of my Grandparents are 80 and are still going to Lake Powell with us. I hope I'm as adventerous some day as they are.

- Water fights and other mischevious things at Lake Powell. One year we were at the Marina and one of my cousins put some Alkaseltzer in the water for the carp to eat. They swallowed them right up and pretty soon fizz and bubbles started pouring out of their gills. It was hilarious until a park ranger came by.

- The 4th of July celebration at good old Gunnison City Park, where everybody's in the parade and my Grandpas fry the hamburgers every year.

- The Sanpete County Fair. Demolition Derby. Mutton Bustin'. 'Nuff said.

- Weapons Carrier rides and nigger toe fights in the mountains. Okay, so I'm debating whether I should have even said that, since I know it's not policitcally correct. But, that's what we called them and I'm not changing the name. After all, this is MY blog. So if you're unhappy about this one send me a comment about it.

- Working on 4-H projects. I think my 4th year sewing project is still waiting to be finished in a closet somewhere.....

- Summer nights just hanging out on the deck at my parent's house. Love it.

If you're made it this far, thanks for reading along. Have a great 4th of July and an awesome summertime! :)

Fav Summer Song - #4

2008-07-02T23:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun story...

One of my favorite all-time college adventures started late on a spring night while hanging at home with my "Grs" at Mountain View Apartments. Isn't it funny how most great adventures in college start late at night?

Anyway, there we were sitting one night just minding our own business when there was a knock on our door. And in walks a guy named Stu. He simply says, "Hey ladies. Wanna go to Powell?"

We thought he was joking...he was that kind of guy. We joked around about it for a minute and then he said, "You think I am kidding, but I'm totally serious. Look...look out the window and see. We're READY to go!"

So we all peeked out the door and looked out on the road and sitting in front of our apartment was....a truck, followed by a big ski boat, and another truck pulling a trailer of wave runners.

Holy crap! He wasn't kidding. So 10 minutes later and after I'm sure a few squeals we marched out the door with our bags in stow, ready for a complete impromptu trip to Lake Powell with two guys we kind of knew and several we didn't know at all.

I remember walking out the door and seeing the look on the faces of our good neighbors in the apartment complex....they were wondering what we were up to. They could obviously see the trucks and boats out there. What in the heck were we doing on a school night with four strangers!!?

Buh-bye little Mountain View friends I thought...we're outta here!

We put our things in the back of the truck and were on our way. We left Ephraim at 11 pm and arrive at the Lake around 4 in the morning. I don't remember exactly where we slept, but it must have been in the truck, because when it was light outside we went and found the houseboat and moved on in to get that PAR-TAY started.

"Sweet Nectar" is what it was; at least that was one of Stu's coined phrases of the trip. That, and this song...Cecelia by S&G. We played this tune many a time, and that's when I got hooked and decided it needed to be a permanent Lake Powell summer song, no doubt.

This boat was totally pimped out with the nicest things. Plush carpet and furniture, big screen TV, gourmet kitchen...this boat rocked. I wish I had a scanner so I could upload some of the pictures...they are absolute gems.

We partied (in a good, wholesome way, of course :) for four days watching movies, fishing, and taking a few dips in the water...it was still pretty cold in April.

I'm not sure if I love this song because it's such a fun song, or because of the memories associated with it. I'd have to say it's mostly because of the memories associated with it. I love my Grs...we've been bosom friends ever since our college days, and I'm so grateful to have them in my life!

To my peeps...MC, Emily, Mer and Amy...I love you all so much. Thanks is in order to Glen Dickman, the owner of the houseboat for hosting our little spring get away...and thanks to my Grs, for this memory and so many others!

Yay! for the Garden

2008-07-02T00:23:00.001-07:00

Look at this beautiful produce from my little garden! Carrotts and Swiss Chard were served at the dinner table tonight!

Favorite Summer Song - #5

2008-07-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

This cool cat is my Uncle Jed.

He rocks. He's smart....he works for IBM, but he's definitely not your geeky computer programmer type that has long hair in a pony tail and wears tube socks with Teva sandals.

He's as cool as they come...in so many ways! Who else can do the Stray Cat dance, do the "Blind Man" off the back of the houseboat, come up with the most creative home-made Christmas gifts every year, say the Pledge of Allegiance for a "talent" at the family Christmas party, and create the coolest Batman movie ever back in the day with those silent movie projectors...even before the day of VHS video recorders!?

One year at Lake Powell Jed took Cody and I out for an early morning ski. There's nothing like it...jumping into the water and getting that shock from the cool morning water.

There's nothing better than skiing on water that is like glass and then cutting across the water while you're cruising down through a red-rock canyon. Ahhh. Heaven. (Yes, in case you're wondering...I was a great skier not so long ago!)

So one summer we were out for our early morning ski and Jed popped in a cassette tape. (Yes, this totally dates me and makes me feel so old! Cassette tapes? They sound so ancient. I was probably about 13 around this time.)

And we rocked out to "Bad Medicine" by one of my favorite 80s bands, Bon Jovi. We listened to it over and over again, and decided to call it our water-skiing theme song. For years to follow we made sure we had the theme song with us when we went out in the boat.

I think one of the reasons why I thought this was so great was because my Dad has never been a fan of loud music, so whenever he would take us out in the boat he hated having that "junk" playing, so we had to keep the volume low. And what fun is that? Like, whatever...Dad.

I loved that Jed would rock out with us and blast the music loud. And that memory...of early morning water skiing at Lake Powell runs through my mind when I hear our theme song of 1988.

Tomorrow's song...get ready for a story about one of the craziest things I did in college. I can't wait to reminisce!

Favorite Summer Song - #6

2008-06-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is where it gets fun. Most of the songs from here on out, I had a hard time deciding which one should be ranked next. And, just an FYI if you didn't know this already, if you turn your speakers on you can hear each of my songs playing. :)

One of the best things about living in a small town and being close to the mountains is the endless possibilities of summer fun up in the hills....camping, fishing, 4 wheeling, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, dutch oven cooking, firecrackers in the campfire, fixing breakfast, waking up to the sound and smell of campfire, making home made ice cream, playing cards. Oh, and did I mention I LOVE eating breakfast in the mountains?

My family fixes a mean breakfast when we're camping. Fresh hash browns, eggs, pancakes and, my personal favorite, crisp french toast. Mmmm, Mmmm. Delicious.

Back in the day, when I wasn't really tied down to anything but my job, I took a little camping trip with my friends Kerrie, Steve and Rick. I brought them down home and we spent a weekend up in the mountains. While we were driving around looking for a hidden fishing spot, this song started playing.

Now, I must mention that Steve's Pathfinder was nicely and amply equipped with a high-end sound system, so the bass on this song sounded incredible. I just remember driving along the bumpy, dusty road trying to find this fishing hole while we jammed out to "Steal My Sunshine" (LEN)

And little did I know that years down the road, this little guy would be MY Sunshine.

I love the melody...it sure makes every summer day feel like a happy, sunshine day.

So now, whenever I hear this song I think back on all of the good times up in the mountains.

One of my favorite memories was camping at the Ranger's Station. When we were little, we would leave the camper at the Ranger Station. Our favorite spot was parked right up against a little hill, and there were so many great places to build huts and forts. One time I remember it raining and hailing so hard that water and hail were racing down our little trail and into our camp. Cody and I were all wet and when it stopped raining we built a fire to dry off. Our socks were hanging from sticks next to the flames. We both got a little too close to the fire ourselves, and singed our little eyebrows and eyelashes right off.

I loved being able to sleep on the bunk of the trailer, and listening to my dad chop wood early in the morning. And, I love this pic of my Dad.

So much fun! Hope this song brings a little sunshine to your day today!

Favorite Summer Song - #7

2008-06-27T22:09:00.000-07:00

As July 5 approaches, I am trying very hard not to think about it.

You see, it's going to be a very depressing week next week when everyone in my family leaves for Lake Powell on July 5. And to make matters worse, both the Dyreng and Madsen families are going to be there around the same time. It's really depressing.

But, setting those feeling aside, Lake Powell has given me many, many great summer memories, and in fact, you'll find over the next few days as we finish up the summer song series, that many of my stories are associated with this great place.

I wouldn't want it any other way. After all, it's been our favorite vacation spot since I was 8 years old, so of course there are lots of memories and stories to tell!

My #7 favorite summer song is Last Kiss by Pearl Jam.

Now, listening to the lyrics on this song can get a little depressing, actually. But it's the tune...the music that I have always loved, from the first moment I heard this song.

I think I was driving around in Dallas, actually, when I heard this song and I thought to myself, "I have got to get this!"

About a week later I was at Lake Powell and I remember popping this into the CD player while we were catching some rays on top of the house boat. When the tune started, my mom recognized it and was pleased to say, "I know this song...!"

You see, Pearl Jam just did a remake of a classic from my mom's generation.

And us kids thought it was so cool that our Mom was actually listening to, and ENJOYING (that's the key word here, people) music from Pearl Jam.

We listened to that song over and over again on that trip.

So thanks, Eddie Vedder, for spanning the age gap and creating a memorable bonding experience with the parents.

Favorite Summer Song - #8

2008-06-21T21:39:00.001-07:00

Today's favorite summer song is a fun little jig that reminds me of Canada.

Last year we went for a visit to Thomas' hometown for the annual Bore Family Reunion. The reunion coincided with "Stirling Days," which is the town's little summer celebration. One of the activities at the celebration was the "Family Dance."

I'll admit - I was a little skeptical about going to the Family Dance. It was late at night...what parents with common sense would allow their kids to be out that late at night.

But oh, I must say, I was completely surprised when I arrived. Let me tell you, the village of Stirling might be small in number, but those people know how to party. And the best part was that families were out there dancing in the street together. Parents. Kids. Grandparents. Friends.

It was the coolest thing. And this song started playing...

The Last Saskatchewan Pirate
(Arrogant Worms)

And let me tell you, Canadians know their music. This song started playing and the crowd went wild. It was the first time I'd heard it, but it obviously was a favorite for many people there. It was the song that picked up the energy of the entire event. People were singing and smiling and for the people who weren't out on the street dancing yet, it got everyone moving.

Unfortunately, we lost our camera last summer and all of my pictures from the reunion were lost forever. But I do have one picture that goes along with this memory. Here's all of us Bores, sporting matching family scarves...we kind of look like pirates a little bit after three days of camping in tents!

So after hearing this song at the Family Dance, it quickly became a favorite, both for the fun little tune and because of the great memories associated with it.

Arrgh!

Favorite Summer Song - #9

2008-06-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

The Summer Song I've selected next on my list may catch you by surprise. It's not your typical, let's get rocked, party-it-up song.

But the memories I associate with this song are summer-related and ever since I combined the two together, this music has become a favorite.

After celebrating our marriage at an open house in Canada, Thomas, myself and my paretns went on a little trip. We first drove north and went up to Calgary and spent a few days in Banff National Park, and then started southward again and part of our journey took us through Glacier National Park.

I can not express to you the absolute magestic beauty of this place. Have you ever been to a place and took pictures and when you got home those picutres weren't nearly as beautiful as what you saw and experienced in person?

That's what it was like at Glacier National Park. At every turn I was mermerized and amazed all over again. The beauty of the tall peaks...the hundreds of waterfalls next to the road with the spring water splashing down the granite stone...the aqua color of the water that sparkled in the sunlight...

And while we were driving through the park we listened to music by John Williams. The combination of this incredible scenery with his music was like being in my very own private IMAX movie theater.

So my #9 song on the list comes from John William's Greatest Hits. There's two CDs full of beautiful scores and music, but this particulr song is one of my favorites.

It's the theme from Jurassic Park.

Ever since our trip to Glacier, I love to put these CDs in when we're on a drive and no matter where we're at - in the deserts or the mountains - I look out over the land and marvel at this beautiful world that's been created for us to enjoy.

All Time Favorite Summer Songs - #10

2008-06-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, June 21 marks the first day of summer. If I didn't KNOW it was June 21st I'd have a hard time believing it was summer since we've seen less than three days with temperatures over 75 degrees. No joke! We're welcoming in summer this weekend with temperatures in the 60s.

But anyway, I decided that it would be appropriate to kick off the summer season with something special. I briefly considered including the Fremont Summer Solstice Party as part of our kick off since it's close to our neighborhood....but since they have a NUDE BIKE parade I decided that it probably wasn't really for us! LOL Craziness.

So instead, I've cooked up a list of my Top 10 Most All Time Favorite Summer Songs. Yes, for the next 10 days you are going to be entertained with my most favorite summer songs, complete with a memory associated with each one.

So here goes Song #10....

Achy Breaky Heart
(Billy Ray Cyrus)

I am completely embarrassed that this song is even on my list, but hey, I have to be completely honest in this, and at ONE TIME...many years ago....this song was THE ONLY song on the radio!

I was 15, going on 16. And I spent my summer going to early morning cheer practice, practicing my 4-H demonstrations and ...drum roll please...working at my Dad's farm driving a 2.5 TON drumptruck.

I drove that baby like it was my little White Ford Escort complete with hot pink pinstripes, hauling freshly cut hay from the fields back to the silage pit at the farm yard.

The boredom was tremendous, so the only thing I had to keep me going for eight hours every day was good old KMTI radio. Since that was the only station the truck's radio would pick up I didn't have much choice but to like Country Music.

And it was during this particular summer that Achy Breaky Heart was #1 for weeks and weeks, and I LOVED this song! I waited on the edge of my seat, while hay swirled all around me, listening for this song on the radio.

Just listening to it again tonight after, oh, more than 10 years brought back all of those memories of flying down the dirt farm roads, back and forth all summer long listening to this song. If you turn up your speakers, you'll be able to hear this gem playing at the top of my playlist. :)

It was a winner back then....and that's why it's earned spot #10 in my list of All Time Favorite Summer Songs.

8 "Little White Tornado" Facts

2008-06-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

I was tagged a few weeks ago and am finally having a moment to write a few things down. So here it goes....eight random things about myself.

1. When I was little, my nickname was The Little White Tornado. Apparently, I had a lot of energy and used it to run from one room to the next making all kinds of messes. The "white" part comes in because I had that tow head blond hair...except for summertime, when it had a greenish tint from the chlorine at the swimming pool. Yuck!

2. Someday I would love to learn how to do Riverdance. I love everything about this style of dance - the costumes, the music, the sound their shoes make all in unison, the straight lines the legs make in the dance moves. I wonder if I could get Thomas to be my partner and take lessons with me. Ha ha! Here, check it out:

This video is excellent, but it's a high-res video so it takes a minute or two to download. The little bit of extra time is definitely worthwhile.

3. I really would love to have my own business. I've been thinking of something I could do that would allow me to use my creative talents and abilities and have the potential for a great product that would be in high demand. I've got a few ideas in mind....

4. Someday, I would love to volunteer at the Church Office Building for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City and work there as a VIP Host, welcoming and escorting dignitaries around the church property and local area.

5. I love music. All kinds of music. I love to have the music blasting when I'm cleaning my house and when I turn on "Pump It" by Black Eyed Peas early in the morning I really get moving.

6. I just checked my frequent flyer miles statement and was totally blown away that I have accumulated over 70,000 miles! That's enough for almost three round trip tickets anywhere in the US. Wahoo!!

7. Don't ask me why I did this....but when I was in the 3rd Grade I CHOSE to stay home from a trip to California and Disneyland with my family because I DID NOT want to be absent from school and miss out on learning how to write in CURSIVE. Of course, cursive writing is highly overrated....I wish I would have known that back then!

And the final random thing you may not know about me is....

8. Many years ago, President Hinckley and his sweet wife, Marjorie were staying at my Grandpa & Grandma Dyreng's home. President Hinckley was there on assignment for a Stake Conference and my Grandpa was the Stake President at the time. My Grandma invited the family up to her house for dinner after the Sunday meetings, and well, the first thing I did when I arrived at Grandma's house was run into her room and into the bathroom to put on make up. (This was my normal routine.) So I went marching in through the bedroom door and there to my astonishment was Sister Hinckley, standing there in her slip...Oops. Guess I should have knocked, but how was I supposed to know!?! I guess that was part of that "Little White Tornado" syndrome I suffered from back then.

And in case you're wondering....Sister Hinckley was very forgiving. :)

Half Time Report

2008-06-18T19:44:00.000-07:00

Thomas received his Master's Degree on Friday, June 7. I was excited about this accomplishment but it wasn't until we were participating in the graduation ceremonies that I really GOT EXCITED. I'll explain why in more detail below.

The Master's Degree is really just a half-time "Good job...but we still want more money" degree. We still have two more years to go with course work and then a year long internship. So we're really three years away before Thomas gets his PhD. But it's attainable and doable, and those next two years will probably go by just as fast as the first two have.

The day started out in typical Seattle fashion with grey skies and rain. We first went to the hooding ceremony, where Thomas graduate advisor, Dr. Bikos, "hooded" him.
We then went to the Ivy Cutting Ceremony, which is a tradition at SPU. Back in the 1920's some sophomore students planted a few ivy plants as a gift to the school. When they graduated two years later...and not realizing how quickly ivy grows here in the Northwest...those same students had an official "ivy cutting" ceremony and had to cut back the ivy plants they had planted two years earlier because the ivy had completely taken over the building.

The school now holds a symbolic ceremony every year and graduating students stand in a circle holding long vines of ivy. Professors go around and cut off pieces of ivy and give to each graduating student as they are "cut away" from the University and leave campus to "grow" and contribute out in the world.

On Saturday, we attended the main graduation ceremony at Qwest Field where the Seahawks play football. I must admit, I did not want to go to this. It was going to be a four-hour ordeal where you watch hundreds of students march across the stage to get a diploma, it was outside and cold and rainy. Being the selfish person that I sometimes can be I tried to talk Thomas out of it.

But by darn, he's worked hard to wear that graduation robe and he was going to use it! I couldn't not change his mind. So, I had to go.

To make a long story short, I got lost trying to find a house where I was meeting the babysitter who was going to watch Aiden. So late in fact, Thomas had to meet me at the baby sitter's house and I didn't have time to go home and get a jacket, snacks, or anything to keep me entertained for several hours. I was a little grumpy to say the least.

We arrived at the stadium just in time to hear horns heardling in the graduates. The best way to describe the music was completely triumphant. All the graduates filed in and when I saw Thomas out there all of the sudden my eyes filled with tears and I conveniently forgot that I didn't want to be there.

Instead, all I could think about was how proud I was of him. His determination and dedication to go the long haul and get an advanced education. How incredibly blessed we are to be able to attend graduate school. How worth it it's going to be when he is finished and is able to help people and make their lives better. And then our eyes found each other. I could see a big smile on his face. I was totally overwhelmed with gratitude and the tears just kept on coming.

It was a very happy moment and that's when I felt guilty about putting up such a stink about going to the graduation. I was glad we were there. I needed it, because half time is better than starting at the beginning and it helped me see that two more years is definitely doable.

So now I'm focused on the goal, on the prize. I'm ready to keep going...even if I hate it that my washer and dryer are in a yucky basement. Even if I really hate not having a dishwasher. The ending is going to be a happy story and for now, we'll just enjoy the journey and make the best of every day.

Congratulations, Thomas on a job well done. The next three years will be even more intense than the first two, but I know you have been blessed with gifts that will help you be successful in your educational goals. I'm proud of you. Now, let's finish the game. :)

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

At this very moment while I write, I'm sitting at home....my parent's home and am so glad that I was able to be home to celebrate Father's Day. So while we're all sitting here watching The Office, Season 2 "Drug Testing" I thought I'd toot my horn and talk about how great my Sweetie Thomas and my Dad are on their special day.

However, Aiden just approached me and said, "Mommy, I have an idea....Let's take turns." (You see, he wants to watch a Thomas DVD.) I said,"Great idea." And he replies,"Great! It's my turn first."

So, I'm gonna have to finish this later....Aiden...you're up buddy!

(((two days later)))

Okay, so I was gone longer than I thought. But I still wanted to be sure and brag about Thomas and my Dad.

I know I've mentioned this is many earlier posts, but Thomas really is a great father. In fact, on our way back to the airport yesterday we had to stop at Costa Vida so I could get my favorite pork salad and a water. (Seattle has nothing that compares.) Aiden was playing around in the kids room while we ate and Thomas finished first and said, "I'm going to go play with Aiden." And off he went to go play in the kids room. My sister in law replied, "He's a good dad, isn't he?"

Absolutely. He's patient, he's kind, he's smart. He knows how to relate so well with kids. He is sincere and genuine. Never jealous or arrogant. Always supportive and appreciative. I love him!

And, Father's Day wouldn't be complete without expressing my love and appreciation to my Dad. One of the things I have always admired about my Dad is that he's really easy to talk to, and no matter how bad things get, he always has a way of smoothing things over and making you feel okay, even when things are tough.

I consider myself really blessed to have a Dad that really tried his best to make sure his children were happy and successful. We worked together as a family and we played together as a family. Here's a brief highlight of some of those funny memories with Dad.

* We loved to go for jeep rides in the mountains. We'd pile in and go, and every time without fail, at some point in the ride, my Dad would pull right up to the very edge of the road, next to a cliff or steep edge and we'd all scream like crazy. Only after we cried and begged he would put the jeep in reverse and back away.

* We had a lovely brown and black couch with great big cushions and when he would tease us he would say, "Who wants to be put behind the couch!" He would then scoop us up, take the cushion off and put us down in the couch. Then he would put the cushion back on the couch and sit down on us. We would cry for help and act like it was scary and rude. So he'd get us out. And as soon as we got away we'd taunt him and tease him until he put us back in the couch all over again.

* How awesome he was to never miss a dance or piano recital for all of those years. I'm sure it wasn't his most favorite thing, but he was always there to support us in the things that were important to us. And, he still is there to support us now.

* So I've never quite forgiven my Dad for this one, but I did learn a valuable lesson and that's worth something. When I was in the 8th grade I was grounded for a whole quarter. I had a busy quarter with dance lessons, Nutcracker rehearsals, piano lessons, early morning speech & debate class, and an advanced algebra class. With everything I had going on my grades slipped and I missed the honor roll by .13. So close, but not good enough. I was grounded until I got back on the honor roll. I was not happy about this at all but my Dad wouldn't change his mind. I finished high school with consecutive honor roll and high honor roll grades. I learned how to try harder and since life is always going to be busy, I have to learn how to balance all of the good things in order to achieve success in everything I do.

* And the last little memory I want to reminisce was about my Dad's green truck. It was the coolest truck. A 73 Green Chev that had a loud muffler and a cool spotlight device. The spotlight was on the roof of the truck, and just above the rear view mirror was a handle you would use to move and adjust the spotlight. Very cool. But anyway, when I was in the 6th grade I was working on a report about ancient Indians and petroglyphs. There happened to be some petroglyphs up in the White Hills, east of town. Dad took Erin and I up to the White Hills to do some research. We lasted for about 10 minutes and got bored and went back to the truck. And that's when we decided to drive it, and that's where I first learned to drive a stick. Out in this bumpy field, full of rocks and sage brush Erin and I were flying around, bouncing all over the place while my Dad climbed around in the hills looking for petroglyphs. We had so much fun and I'm sure it wasn't the best thing for the truck. When my Dad came back he didn't say a word except for, "Did you have fun?" I answered positively "Yes" and was so glad he let us spin around in his truck for the day.

I've got many more to write about, but I'll save them for another day. Now that I'm grown I'm so appreciative for the person my Dad has helped me to be. Thanks, Dad, for all of the sacrifices you've made, the patience you've had, and advice you've given, and the love you've shown. I love you!

Wanna taste of this?

2008-06-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

This piece of art is a graham cracker with chocolate frosting.

Yes, at one time it tasted really good. The frosting actually came from the kitchen of a my good friend, Julie, who is a professional baker extraordinaire and knows how to make killer cakes and frosting.

And just a quick side note on that. I went to Julie's place to help decorate some cupcakes and learned that, for my whole life, I have not been putting enough frosting on my cupcakes. You must have at least two inches of buttery goodness stacked on top of that little cake. Anything less than that is not good enough, and that comes from a cake chic expert. So, for those of you who make cupcakes, just thought you should know that. But anyway...

I am so embarrassed to say this, but we found this graham cracker delight stuck DOWN in our couch today. Two immediate questions:

1. How in the heck did this get stuck down in there without the frosting oozing out? I mean, look at it. Aside from the fact that you can see the fat from the melted butter, this still almost looks good enough to eat. Only problem is that it's got to be at least two months old.

2. What other treasures are lurking down in my couches!

So, instead of being able to post pictures from the graduation today, I guess I am going to have to use that time to go clean out my couches.

Maybe I'll have time to post graduation pictures tomorrow. And who knows, maybe I'll find more treasures in my couches to talk about. :)

Homecoming Pics

2008-06-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

It was a happy ending to a year-long deployment in Iraq and now we have lots to look forward to...Lake Powell, Travis and Meg's wedding, and I'm sure plenty of cabin trips, 4-wheeling adventures, card games around the kitchen table and evenings out on the deck.

Here's some pictures to celebrate the joyous homecoming!

Dad with Meagan and Natalie. My brothers picked such cuties!

I don't think they were excited at all, not one bit. :)

Anxiously waiting for the boys to arrive: Mom, Meagan, Natalie, Kera

Even Aunt DeAnne and girls, Kelsey, Emily and Katie came up for the late-night party. (And a shout out to new cousin Brian too, Kelsey's husband)

Long-Awaited Embrace

The happieset moment ever.

And if you're wondering what's up with the moustaches...At the request of Jake, Travis and Dyreng cousins Brad and Paul, everyone was challenged to grow a moustache in celebration of the return home. Pictured here: Cousins Dave, Brad, Paul, Travis, Jake, Adam, Dad

So great to finally be home!

Proud Grandparents

Home At Last!

2008-05-30T22:42:00.000-07:00

Jake and Travis touched down in Utah at 11:30 pm last night! We are so glad they are home. I'm dying up here, not being able to be there and relish in this moment with the rest of my family. I should have some pictures real soon to help make it real to me.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause. it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Unending gratitude is felt for my brothers, their comrades and the many other men and women who serve in the armed forces. Your sacrifices and hard work will not be forgotten!

Missing You

2008-05-28T20:27:00.000-07:00

I just need to give a shout out to Thomas. It's the end of the quarter. He's been pretty stressed and busy with loads and heaps of work to get done before graduation next week.

Thomas was gone all day yesterday and Aiden was in bed long before he got home. And he was up and out the door before Aiden woke up this morning. Aiden was missing his Daddy today.

We took a few minutes to walk over to campus and go see Thomas while he was presenting a "poster presentataion." After working on a research project this entire year, he analyzed the data, put it onto a poster and participated in a little information fair where students showcase what they've been working on.

When Aiden saw Thomas he ran directly towards him with arms outstretched.

He wrapped his little arms around Thomas neck and wouldn't let go....for minutes. It was the most heartwarming thing. He's missed his Daddy and was so happy to see him.

Sometimes LAST is BEST of All

2008-05-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

We have been overly blessed in abundance today. Thomas FINALLY received word about his practicum (internship) for the next year.

After several interviews and stressful weeks of wondering if he would ever receive good news, we were overjoyed and blessed with the news today. In fact, he was so excited that he told me the great news, forwarded the email from Dr. Goodwin to me and ran out the door to class. It wasn't until this morning that he realized in the excitement of the moment he forgot to reply back and let Dr. Goodwin know he accepted the position!

Thomas will be doing a lot of neuro psychological assessments (personality tests, IQ tests, intelligence tets) for a psychologist in the forensics field. Basically, he will be adminstering these tests for people who are involved in a trial. On the judge's request people may need to have tests performed for evidence in the courts. Thomas will be the one to administer these tests.

Things were starting to get a little gloomy after several interviews and no offers. All of the good ones were taken and we were starting to worry that Thomas would have to pick up the practicums that no one wanted...like having to take a ferry over to one of the islands and work out of an office there...making for really inconvenient commute several times a week.

But our prayers, patience and dilligence paid off. This practicum will be a convenient drive (thank goodness, since we're over $4/gallon up here), quality experience, and...it's a PAID practicum! None of the practicums offered on the list this year were paid. So even though Thomas was the last person in his class to get a practicum, I think we definitly hit the jackpot with getting one of the BEST spots of all. OH, and did I mention that when Thomas went in for his interview Dr. Goodwin said that he really preferred a student with more experience and was going to open up the practicium to other school...wanted to keep his "options open." We've been praying no one else wanted it!

I couldn't help but think about how exciting this really is going to be. While Thomas will still be going to school two days a week, and working with his research group for one day, he's going to be in an actual clinical setting...WORKING...for the other two days. Finally, after ALL these years of school it's like we're getting one step closer to the goal. One step closer to working in a professional environment. Truly, this is exciting.

I'm so proud of him for being persistent and dilligent and staying positive, even when I was discouraged. We discuss his goals and the direction he wants to take his dissertation and future research and career and I'm so impressed with his vision thus far and excited with the possibilities ahead of us.

My Own Angels

2008-05-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

Growing up as a kid, there were only two things in my reality about Memorial Day. First, school always got out the Friday before Memorial Day. And second, it was the day we went to Manti for the Tuttle Reunion.

But over the last few years and even few months, it's become a more meaninful holiday, in remembrace of those who have passed on to a more peaceful place where they can watch us from up above.

With that on my mind, I've spent today thinking about three special women who have been an important part of my life and have left a forever lasting impression on me.

Nana (Thomas mother) passed away this past December, and this past Mother's Day was lonely without her here. She was a woman of many talents and gifts and was blessed with a wealth of knowledge. One of my most favorite memories of her was actually this past fall. She and Grampy where here to visit us and we spent an entire week. One night Thomas and Grampy were out and she and I sat on the couch and just talked and visited about everything while she helped me sew the bindings on some table runners. We talked about marriage, men, maps and being married to the Bores. We talked about being mothers, gardening and serving others. It was an incredibly memorable conversation and one I will always remember. I will alawys feel like I didn't get enough time with her; that there was still so much I could have learned from her. What I did learn is priceless.

One of my best friends, Kerrie Blue Thompson, passed away suddenly and unexpedtedly in October. Her funeral was on my birthday, and so it was a gloomy birthday indeed. Being Kerrie's friend and roommate was an adventure every day. We had so much fun in the prime of our life! Trips to the cabin, camping, road trips, staying up until the wee hours of the morning talking. She had to be at work at 6 am, and I always wondered how she did it. She could get up at 5:30 and be to work by 6 looking absolutely gorgeous.

We would spend many weekends down home and she was part of the Dyreng and Madsen families. We always hoped that we would drive by a car with hot guys and hook up with them while driving on the freeway. But even after making all of those trips back and forth we never even passed ONE car with hot guys. We loved signing together, especially in the car. Our all-time favorite was singing to the Dixie Chick's "Wide Open Spaces." One time we were signging to the top of our lungs on the freeway and the car in front of us could see through the rear-view mirror. Yes, they did make fun of us, but we didn't care. We were having fun!

She was a true friend...a bosom friend.

And the third special lady in my life is my Aunt Michelle, my mom's sister and my second mother. It's been almost three years and I still think about her every day and miss her influence in my life. I have memories of her starting as just a little girl. I remember thinking I was soooo cool being able to sit out on the grass and sun tan with her when I was only three. I remember a conversation she had once with my mom. She was telling all about a date she had been on the night before. She went to Spanish Fork on her date. I sat there wondering in amazement how in the world she went all the way to Mexico and back in one night. We would sing Air Supply songs together, after it was released on cassette tape.

When we went school shopping we ALWAYS stopped at her house on the way home and had to haul in all of our bags and give a full "show and tell" demonstration with our new school clothes. She fixed my hair and make up for the first Prom I went to. She always had good advice and a listening ear and she was the perfect example of unselfishness, forgiving others, and making people feel special and important.

I know Nana, Kerrie and Michelle are all in a much better place. A more peaceful place doing important work. I miss their influence in my life, but know that I will see them again someday. I'm just grateful that my life was touched by three remarkable women and the best way to honor them is to continue on with the lessons I learned from them.

Why 8 pm is my favorite time of the day

2008-05-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

Eight PM is Aiden's bedtime. That's why it's my most favorite time of the day.

Everyone says that age two is the bad age, you know, the "terrible two's." But I beg to differ. Age 3 is much more difficult. It's like the terrible two's on steroids. Two possible reasons for this:

Reason #1: They are smarter by now and use more thinking and logic. (Notice I did not say A LOT of logic. Just some logic...more than when they were 2.)

Reason #2: They know how to get around...open doors, get into the fridge, climb up the counters without a chair or stool. Basically, they know where to find things.

I'm not sure what was going on today, but it just didn't end. Well, it actually started yesterday. Unfortunately I didn't document it, but just image an entire tube of brand new Diego blue tooth paste squirted all over in your bathroom sink. Big blue snakes, as Aiden put it. Didn't have time to clean it right then because we had a doctor's apointment. I shut the door to deal with it when I got home later. Now, here's the learning lesson...toothpaste dries out. So by the time we got home it was sticky like honey and took FOREVER to clean up. I smelled like bubble gum the rest of the day.

When Aiden snuck the chocolate syrup out of the fridge at lunchtime today and gave himself a generous serving to dip his hotdogs, carrots and apples in, I grabbed the camera and decided to make the most of the situation.

While I was getting dinner ready I thought he was in the office with Thomas. Nope, he was in the bathoom, completely unsupervised for...I have no idea how long. He was completely naked from the waste down; he must have been going potty and got distracted.

And it didn't end there. At dinner time he wouldn't eat his chicken cacciatore. He said, "It's not good to kids, Mommy. It only good to Daddys." Instead, his milk was spilt all over the table.

I'd had enough. I was hoping for an early bedtime. While we were cleaning up dinner he ran out the door, yes, lovely in his pjs and rainboots. He was down on the sidewalk in front of our house waving at the cars going up and down the street when I caught up with him.

And doing somersaults, too.

My good neighbor, Tracy, saw me outside and came over to return his UNDERWEAR he left over there earlier in the day. Yes, my child was underwear-less for hours this afternoon and I didn't even know it. No wonders he didn't have any underwear on while playing in the bubbles. He didn't have any to put on!

So while Tracy and I are talking I turn around to see him stripped down and going pee on our front lawn. At this point I was too tired to bother. So instead of stopping him I whipped out the camera and snapped a photo.

It's a good thing days come to an end. It reminds me of what Miss Stacy told Anne Shirley as they were walking home from school one afternoon:

"Tomorrow is always fresh, without any mistakes in it."

I'm hopefull tomorrow will be better.

Houston, We Have Lift Off!!!

2008-05-22T00:10:00.001-07:00

It's the news we've been waiting to hear for weeks.

The boys left Iraq today and will be home in about a week. Truly, the Lord has answered our prayers and has watched over and protected them in abundance. There have been several things that have been factors in their departure. It just seemed like one thing after another.

The troops coming in to replace them were in Kuwait when chicken pox broke out. So all traffic stopped and no one could leave Kuwait until the virus was quarantined. Then, the company that provides the flight from Kuwait to the US went backrupt, and so there were expected delays in leaving Iraq until it could be figured out. And, to top it all off, right now is the windy, sand storm season. When the storms are too strong the flights are cancelled. When the boys were going into Iraq their trip was delayed by several days because of these storms.

So we've prayed and prayed that the weather would be tempered and they would be able to leave without any delays.

Truly, we have all been blessed to see how the Lord has blessed our family and my brothers in every way possible.

Celebrating Mothers Day for 100 Years

2008-05-11T23:52:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 100th Anniversary of celebrating Mother's Day. Of course, I had big plans this week to feature the most 10 influential mothers in my life, but where did the time go?

Maybe if I hadn't been locked out of the house yesterday I would have had some time to write about my top 10 mother's list. Feeling bad and guilty becuase I didn't have the time to follow through with my idea, I had to laugh when my dear friend Emily (and a great mother as well) emailed this great little poem...all about mothers. And it really put things into perspective for me and gave me a few things to smile about.

So to all those mothers and women out there that feel like somedays you don't measure up, I hope you find this as enlighting and enjoyable to read as I did.

The Girl in a Whirl
by 'Dr. Sue' (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.

I always keep al l the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano! I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!

Each week every child g ets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)

I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,

I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished!

Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully , too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!

I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!

(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each 'lost lamb' on my Primary roll.

I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,

I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write 'thank you's' to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires! I fix the sinks leak!

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!

It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It's easy!' she said and then she dropped dead.

The day I got locked out

2008-05-10T23:29:00.000-07:00

I locked myself out of the house today.

It was nearly the most perfect day ever. We got up, got the work done around the house and then Thomas took Aiden to a birthday party. Then, they spent the day out doing Daddy and son things so that I could have the day to just do whatever I wanted!

It was the most perfect Mother's Day gift ever.

After doing the grocery shopping I came home and wanted to quickly put them away and then water the garden so that I could spend the rest of the afternoon sewing. I stepped outside to water the garden and when I tried to get back in the house the door was locked. And so was the front door and all the windows.

And of course, there was my phone sitting on the kitchen counter. The neighbors were gone...I had no way to get in touch wtih Thomas. Great. Now what?

It was later in the afternoon; Thomas and Aiden had been gone for over five hours. I thought for sure they would be home soon. So I sat there on the porch and waited. And waited and waited.

When you have nothing to do but sit...with no distractions whatsoever, it's amazing what you can think about. Such as:
- How come some airplanes that fly overhead are really loud and others are very quiet

- How long is it going to take for my trailing flowers to spill out over the containers and look absolutely gorgeous

- When is Thomas going to be home..what is he doing right now

- How do those squirrels know how to walk across the power line like that? Amazing!

- It's amazing how many beautiful things there are in this world when you slow down and just observe and listen. I could hear all kinds of birds and bugs buzzing around me

- I can hear my phone ringing inside the house. It's Thomas. I wonder what he wants. Wish I could get to it.

- What are we going to do for dinner?

- Kara is going to be staying with us this week. Better think of some fun things to do to keep her and Aiden entertained.

- Stupid squirrel! It's digging in my garden. Get out!

- Is it my turn to teach the lesson in nursery tomorrow?

- Where is Thomas!?! It's getting cold.

Finally, after two and a half hours Thomas made it home and let me in the house. I didn't have any time to sew, but I did enjoy the afternoon just sitting and thinking and pondering life and what I'm doing to make the most of it.

~~~
I know I have mentioned this before, but I am so blessed to have such a great husband. I picked a good one, I do believe. I can not express how much it meant that he would hold off on his school work (because it's piled up high right now) and take Aiden for the day so I could just have some free time all to myself. I love that he loves spending time with Aiden. He's such a good, patient Dad, and it's evident because Aiden loves him so much.

Thank you Thomas, for letting me be "free" today.

A busy day

2008-05-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

Today was such a nice day outside, and we started working in the yard. We tore out some bushes and huge overgrown fern plants so we would have some room for our garden. We're experimenting wtih container gardening. We're growing lettuce, bok choy, swiss chard, squash, carrots, onions, beans and tomatoes.

Aiden was such a good helper. He was completely content to just play in the dirt and mud and I can tell we're going to be spending a lot of time outside this summer.

At the end of the day we were completely wiped out. I was laying on our bed with Aiden, telling him some stories. Thomas crashed on the bed with us and in a few minutes we were all half asleep on the bed together when Aiden whispered, "Tell me more stories. Mom, you be the princess. Daddy, you be the snake and I'll be the train conductor. Read it!" And he wanted each of us to take on those role and tell a story. It was so totally random and so funny. We laughted about it and then fell asleep.

~~~
I'm so excited about having a garden! I'm excited to see how much of a green thumb is in me. Hopefully Aiden will leave it alone and not dig and play in the dirt, as he was so interested in doing today.

Men and Multi-tasking

2008-04-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

Is it even possible?

I didn't think it was until recently. I had to go to Orlando for work and the company paid Thomas to come with me. We coudln't pass up a few days in sunny Florida witih all expenses paid, so we packed our bags.

Our trip to Orlando was quick, we worked many hours and enjoyed spending time together, especially going to a restaurant and being able to eat without Aiden crawling under the table, catching crayons as they fly from one side of the table to the next, picking up the little salt and sugar packets a million times, and keeping the child from peeking over into the next booth.

We did have a nice time. But, it was on this trip that I discovered that men do have the capability to multi-task. This is a picture of Thomas doing just that.

Our bathroom had a nifty little swivel TV, and what would you know - he watched the basketball game, shaved and did his business all at the same time! I think this TV was his most favorite part of the whole trip.

Maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up too much. Perhaps as better term for this new-found skill is "selective" multi-tasking. But it's a start.

~~~
Seriously, we had such a good time together and I was so gald that Thomas was willing to come with and help me. I was also grateful to my parents, who came and watched Aiden so we could leave for a few days. But the ultimate best thing about leaving was coming home to Aiden. I missed that little guy, and there's nothing better than walking through the door and hearing little footsteps through the house and seeing a smiling face, open arms and then getting a great big hug.

Handing Out the Goods

2008-04-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

My brothers have spent almost a year over in a dessert. In the summer it's hot, with temperatures over 120 degrees. They live in pods, guard prisoners, and deal with black-out sandstorms. But one of the highlights is being able to serve others.

Wives and children of prisoners can visit every Sunday. The soldiers in the 145th started receiving so many packages with candy and other things that they didn't have room to store it anymore and so they started giving it away to the children on visitation day.

Pretty soon the boys would write home and request that we not send them anything, but instead, send things they could give to the children. The pictures you see here are Jake and Travis handing out toys, socks, and candy to Iraqi children.

I've been thinking a lot of selfless service lately, wishing I spent less time at the computer and more time serving others. What great examples my brothers are of serving others selflessly...even these children who Travis calls "future terrorrists." Isn't it interesting that even in a place where they are in less than desirable circumstances, they still find some joy...and it comes from serving others.
~~~~
Charity is the true love of Christ, and there are so many people I know who truly exemplify charity in so many ways. My friend and neighbor has offered to watch Aiden for me a few hours every week so that I can work uninterruped during my weekly conference call. I was so appreciative of her offer to do this for me; it's warming to know that there are good people everywhere that the Lord puts in our lives to enrich and bless us. I am so blessed to have such angels in my life that love and support us while we are away from our families.

Paradise...

2008-04-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

This is paradise.

My mother recently spoiled us girls and took the daughters and daugher-in-laws on a little trip to Las Vegas. All I can say is...it went by too fast.

We stayed at the Lake Las Vegas Resort. It comes highly recommended. I love that place. We had such a great time together. The best part was doing what every mother and woman wishes for ... relaxing in the sun with a good book and a few treats.

Okay, so we got lost a few times and kept driving in circles trying to get back on the freeway with six of us jammed in Jennie's car. But hey, it was a great time and I think we'd all do it again in a heart beat. Not so sure if our husbands would agree to that or not. :) But we sure would.

Thanks, Mom, for such a great time.

~~~
I'm so glad Heavenly Father created families to have mothers and sisters. My life would certainly not be complete without my girls and best friends. And I'm so, so blessed to have two sister in laws that we just adore and are such perfect matches for my brothers. I love you all so much!

My New Favorite Thing...

2008-04-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

So this is my latest favorite discovery. "Touch Tint for Eyes" by Clinique. And I highly recommend it for anyone who doesn't have a lot of time for the full make-up regime, but still wants to feel "put together" for the day.

I've found on days when I'm just busy around the house doing Mom things that it's easy to not put my make up on, and then I look at myself in the mirror and get depressed.

I love this becuase I can quickly put a little on my eye lids and it gives me a little shimmer and a little color. It's quick and oh, so soft. Love the texture. Add just a little blush and mascara and I feel like a new woman!

So if you need a little something to brighten your day and make you feel like a million bucks while you're folding laundry this little number comes highly recommended.

~~~

I am so thankful for a loving husband who is going to be Mr. Mom for a weekend while I escape with my Mom and Sisters this weekend for a little get away. Thanks, Thomas, for being such a champ and a good husband and father. I love you.

So Glad That Wasn't MY Child

2008-04-11T22:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since we've had a nice, warm sunny day, so we decided to visit the zoo, along with a million other people who also had the same idea. We went with our dear friends, the Goff Family and it was a much needed outdoor activity for Aiden's friend Hyrum, who sadly broke his leg a few weeks ago. :(

While we were walking along a sidewalk there was a huge group of people crowded around the edge of the sidewalk, so of course we had to get in on the action and see what was going on.

What was going on, was a peacock had his feathers in full spread and was just standing there, strutting his stuff, letting everyone enjoy the magnificance of his spendor.

Aiden ran right up to get a good look, so of course I had to follow right behind hoping to snap the perfect picture. I didin't get the picture I was hoping for, but while standing there, from somewhere behind me this huge stick came flying out of nowhere and hit the peacock right in the gut.

I was close enough to hear it make contact with the peacock. And then, remember that huge group of people who were watching? Yes, they were all still watching and in unison I heard a huge gasp. "Ohhhh!"

And then a moment of silence.

Unbelief that someone would chuck a big stick at such a beautiful creature.

And then this mom yells out from the crowd, "Connor, did you do THAT?.....Did he just do that?" And within a second I see this Mother dart out of the crowd and take her child and have a little teaching moment.

"We love the peacocks. We don't ever throw anything....the peacock is our friend..."

Two things about this funny little story.

1. Isn't is such a relief when someone else's child does somehting naughty? I think we all get our fair share of embarassing naughty plights with our children. I was just so happy that it wasn't my turn today!

2. And if it was my child who threw the stick...I'm not so sure I would have yelled out in front of ALL those people, "Connor, was that you!?" and draw attention to me..but then again, I had sympathy for her. I've been in her shoes before and I'm sure my next turn isn't too far away.

~~~
I am so grateful for Aiden; I love being his Mom. He's developing such a cute personality and a little tender heart. While in Home Depot today he wanted to pick out some flowers for his primary teacher. He caught the eye of many as he marched through the store, carrying his pot of flowers. I was touched by the his sweetness and thoughfulness for his primary teacher whom he so much adores.

Southern Style Barbecue with a twist

2008-04-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

So yesterday after I got done with my class where I learned how to score the WAIS-III intelligence assessment and taking apart my stopwatch to remove the beep for when I actually have to do the testing; Kristyn finished a conference call that her boss was doing and asked where we should go eat. Now, I have been searching for a great barbecue place here in Seattle that has good food for not alot of money. We've been to two other places and one was decent the other looked like it had been just converted from a Chinese restaurant and still kept the same staff with predictable results...so I found one place that had great reviews overall so I suggested we try it. After forgetting that Greenwood Ave is on the opposite side of Aurora Ave than I had thought and getting Kristyn mad at me for "taking the scenic route" we arrived at the restaurant. I knew by the exterior that it had to be some good food, because it looked about 3 days from being shut down by the Health Department! We arrived and I had to walk in front of the building to see if we should actually go inside and I saw an empty place with just a big ol black dude sitting at a table. I go back and tell Kristyn we should go inside and so we park the car and walk to the restaurant. As we walk up I remembered reading that it's cash only so we need to go to the ATM at the Walgreen's next door when the guy walks out and says "I keep seeing y'all walk past...do you want to eat here?" Now bear in mind this guy has no front teeth with his big toothless grin and MASSIVE gut hanging out. It was truly love at first sight....that and the delicious aroma of some frickin huge steaks out being barbecued on his outdoor grill! They were seriously an inch thick and looked fabulous. So we get inside and the place truly is a dive, but Otis (the owner) is a real gem and took a fancy to Aiden. I ordered the "Hook up" named for when regulars walk in and tell Otis to "Hook me up" I normally has 3 rib racks, a bunch of chicken and some Louisiana hot links. Kristyn ordered the ribs when Otis came out and said that today he was making steaks instead of the ribs because the Safeway across the street had a good deal on them and when that happens he "passes the saving right onto my customers!" With the price being 13 dollars for the meal, Kristyn mentioned how it seemed a little expensive, that was when we saw all the food they brought out...my goodness. You could feed a small army with the beans and rice and hush puppies Otis brought out. Plus the steak. The steak was absolutely fabulous. Let's just say that there is still 3 piece of the BBQ chicken in our fridge along with some of the steak pieces and the hot links, and some more beans and rice and this is after both Kristyn and I ate more of the steak last night. The man knows how to pile it on...plus he gave me another hot link free "because if you're having a beer, you'll need another hot link" as Otis put it. The man is a charmer, the food was massive and pretty good. I think I have found a special place for when the Bore Boys come to town...

PS A thought for today about one way I have blessed: I am very fortunate to be able to have great classmates in school, I get along with pretty much all of them and I know I have made some lifelong friends here!

Update on the Brothers

2008-04-10T15:13:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking about my cute,patriotic brothers today.

And can't believe they only have about one more month in Iraq. In some ways the past year has drug on, but in other ways it's flown by and I can't believe they are going to be home soon. It doesn't seem like that long ago when I made a picture movie of their training in Texas...and now it will soon be time to put together a movie of them coming home! Yay!!

Every day when I look at their pictures I am so overwhelmed with gratitude that they have been kept safe and that they have been able to serve together. I'm thakful for their sacrifices...living in little "pods" out in the middle of the desert. Eating military food. They live in a big compound completely powered by generators. Jake said a big sand storm blew in a few weeks ago and at 2 in the afternoon it was so dark they had to turn on the big lights. Can you just imagine that? Me and Grandma Delma would hate living there; we'd probably have to dust the furnitue daily with sandstorms like that. And then I think about super scripture women like Sariah....traveling in the wilderness for years. You know she saw her share of dust storms too. Gotta respect the great women of the scriptures....makes my complaining about not having a dishwasher miniscule. But anyway, back to the brothers. Amid their small living quarters and not-so-ideal situation they obviously seem to make the best of the situation...

They guard a prison compound, and for obvious security reasons there aren't a lot of details we know. But one thing Jake has shared with us is that the children and wives of the detainees come to visit their fathers/husbands, and as they leave, the Soldiers greet the children and pass out little gifts and surprises. (By the way, Jake, what is up with the mustache!)

Thanks to good people back here in the USA, they have boxes and boxes of things to pass out to the children and wives. Recently, we sent a box of socks, stickers, necklaces and coloring books...and I hope they brighten up the day of a small child who doesn't have the influence of a father at home (even if he is a bad guy).

Jake and Travis, thank you for all that you're doing. Can't wait to have you back home soon.