I Do Love Costco

Can you say, C o s t c o?  That is where we spent a good portion of our afternoon.  $950 later, we came home and put it all away.  That takes pretty much the rest of the day with that amount to divide and sort. We hadn't been since in-between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We won't have to go back for a few more months now.  Mother Hubbard's cupboards and freezer were bare.

Tomorrow we'll start getting prepared for Easter dinner.  I made the rolls yesterday.  I always feel so good when I've accomplished that and they are all formed laying nicely frozen in the freezer ready to make my dinner occasion easier by just setting them on a sheet pan to rise and put in the oven at the right moment while all the other foods are being plated.

Oh.  And Tulips.  Costco had the most beautiful Tulips.  I got two bunches:  white and pastel pink for the table on Sunday.  They are still closed up tight and will be perfect by then.

A Nailbiter

Thursday's p.s.:  Aaaaaah!  It was a nailbiter until the last second on the clock.  The game ended in a 9-9 tie.  I like me a nice victory decided earlier on in the game so I can enjoy the playing.  Only if we are the winning team though, you know.  I want to say that tonight the teams were pretty evenly matched and that is also a good competition to watch.  Back and forth, back and forth.  Christine played very well.

Daily Q

Question:  Is there a book you've secretly been itching to write?  What is the title and subject?

Answer:  Yes!  I don't know what the title would be, but the subject would be on mental illnesses and the negative stereotypes of them.  How they factor into careers, religion and the associated sociality, wrong perceptions and functionality of people who have them.  I hope it would change things culturally in those arenas.  

The Easter Ducks

Lisa and Natalie took John to have his Easter pictures taken with the ducks.

They put the bucket down and the ducks popped up and surprised him!

These pictures capture him well.

A two year old boy for sure!

Daily Q

Question:  What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday night?

Answer:  I'm kind of a homebody.  I like to stay in, have a good dinner and watch a movie.  On occasion I like to go to an informal dinner like Mexican at SuperMex.  Maybe out to a show.  Now that the sun is up longer, a walk on the beach is nice.

Pepperdine

Shaun is trying to decide on a law school.  He and Duff drove up to Pepperdine today for their tour.  They enjoyed it very much and there is no doubt it is a gorgeous campus.  Right on the ocean in Malibu.  Richard met them there and walked them through.  He is a law professor at Pepperdine.  (Meredith's dad).  Decisions, decisions. 

I wrote out the Easter menu today and made assignments.  The weather is so pretty lately.  Beautiful days with bright blue skies and white puffy clouds.  Pleasant during the day and cool at night.  Perfect California Easter weather.

I made a decision myself tonight.  I didn't attend the RS activity.  I've been gone so much between church, travel, and lacrosse, that I just needed to be home.  Duff went and watched the children in the nursery.

Daily Q

Question:  Do you like your name?  Do you know what it means?  Does it have a family history?

Answer:  YES, I like my name.  It is Greek, and means the moon personified, or mythological goddess of the moon.  My nickname, Cindy, means light.  Yes, my name has a family history, but my parents didn't know it at the time.  My great-great grandmother's name was Cynthia Ann Dines.

Looking back now,  I kind of wish my parents would have called me Cynthia.  I think it is really pretty and looks pretty written out.  And I always wondered why Cindy was spelled with the i first and then the y last since in Cynthia the y comes before the i.  I think Cyndi is a better spelling.

Allie and Christine and Haagen Daz

Tonight we played Mission.

This is most always a rollercoaster.

In our ward, we have 3 different high schools and home schoolers.  We root for everyone when they're not playing us.  Make sense?

Here are the two goalies for tonight's game.

Allie, for Mission, and Christine for Tesoro.

YW friends together.

Both girls played great games. Tonight Tesoro won.

The Laurel class and leaders came to watch the competition and cheer the girls on.

It was a good night.

On another note:

Ainsley had her two month check up today.  She had 2 shots and an oral vaccine.

She is 10 lbs. 9 ounces and grew an inch. (At her one week checkup she was 5lbs. 3 ounces.)

The pediatrician told Meredith that Ainsley is enjoying her Haagen Daz diet!  Haha! I thought that was very clever.  

Daily Q

Question:  What was your favorite birthday so far?  Why?

Answer:  I'm not age phobic, so this was a little tough for me to answer.  Here's what I came up with so far:

• When I was 16 my mom threw a surprise party for me.  It was really and truly a TOTAL surprise!  All my friends were there and I had NO clue.  She pulled it off well.
• When I turned 40, Duff threw a surprise party for me.  Our friends and neighbors down the street hosted, and boy was I surprised.  I had a smidge of a hint during the week, but dimissed it.  Well done, dear!
• One year on my birthday, my mom ended up in the ER.  I already had plans to lunch with some friends and they gave me the option to stay home near the phone.  I decided to go anyway--my mom was 100's of miles away and there was nothing I could do.  It was out of my hands.  I think it was a growing up moment for me.  I had a wonderful afternoon, and since there was nothing I could do for my mom long distance but pray for her, I learned to focus on what I could control and let go of what I couldn't and knowing the difference.  Looking back, it made me feel more adult and learn to compartmentalize emotions.

On Tap

Just trying to get back on track and on top of things since being gone.
Lots of laundry and lots of dishes and unpacking to do.
Getting back on schedule with Christine.
Shaun has picked up a lot more hours at work, which is a blessing for him.

On tap this week:

• Lacrosse practices every day.
• 2 lacrosse games.
• A trip to Pepperdine to tour the law school and campus.
• Stake Baptism.
• Getting ready to host Easter Dinner.
• Laundry, Cleaning, and Yard Work.
• Relief Society Activity Night.

Daily Q

Question:  What tends to 'bug' you about the opposite sex?  Why?

Answer:  Men don't ask enough questions or ask for directions.  On the road, at doctor visits, etc.  Also, it would be nice if they could multi-task better.  Don't wait to have something pointed out to you or until you've been asked.  Look around and figure out what needs to be done.

Sunday Conference Spring 2012

I am really pretty tired.  However, it has been the best day and I caught myself smiling and feeling very happy and content.  I'm home, it's conference, and the kids are all here (except for Nats and Rob and John, sad face).  We had our conference quiche with fruit.  The messages were good.  All's right with the world.

 Meredith made her first cinnamon rolls ever, and they were great.

She made 3 dozen and even put raisins in the last pan for Duff and Mike.

The rest of us aren't big raisins-in-the-rolls lovers.

 Ainsley had a 'blow-out' and ended up getting another bath.  This time in Gramma's kitchen sink.  Aunt Nie assisted.

 Then she happily napped through afternoon conference.  (haha--starting early)

Such a cutie.

Hard to believe she just turned 2 months already.