Comfort

A relaxing, calm Saturday. Grocery shopping, tidying, watering, getting the garden plot ready, put the rototiller together. I think I'm going to like Duff's new toy just as much as he does!

We had grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup and Lipton Chicken Noodle soup for dinner. My friend gave me this whip for tomato soup. My mother-in-law always had one and I loved it. I had one at one time to make egg gravy with and eventually it broke and I could not find another one. It is one of the best kitchen tools EVER.

What a nice comforting meal to end the day!, and thanks, Jams, for the springy whip!

Engagement Pictures Arrived!

Well, the last piece of the puzzle came together late yesterday when the engagement pictures were delivered on the front porch. So now we can start addressing wedding invitations.

Here it is. Steve did a great job. Well, he is a GREAT photographer, but they are a handsome couple too!

(If you happen to see the 'dandruff' on the picture it's because I need to dust my scanner!)

It's BERTA'S Birthday!

Happy Happy Birthday Berta Dear!
Happy Days Will Come To You All Year,
If I Had One Wish Then It Would Be:
A HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY To You From Me!

Yay! to my dear cousin, Reeeeberta! Today is her 'celebration of the beginning of mortality' day. She is really my dad's first cousin, my second cousin, but we are closer in age than she and my dad. She is a first rate woman in every aspect. I'm grateful for her example of life, testimony, and womanhood. She is a very good photographer, mother, teacher, grandmother, nurturer, writer, computer guru. She loves unconditionally and tackles what life throws at her head on.

Hope you have a fabulous day surrounded by those you love and who love you back!

(p.s. I 'borrowed' this picture from her blog...)

Love Ya, Auntie

Today is Auntie Dolene's birthday. She passed away 3 years ago. What a fun lady! She took her nieces and nephews to see Santa, buy donuts, spend the night, and go see the Christmas lights. She was one of the main reasons I went to college.

Auntie, you are loved and missed. Watch out for us and send us help when we need it from above

'Tis The Season

This year there are so many weddings! It has been really fun to watch all these kids grow up and start the next chapter of their lives. What a busy year so far and the summer hasn't even started yet!

January 12th--Chelcie Clawson and Bronson Wright
February 9th--Mike and Adrianne
March 1st-----Wade Millward and Daphne Stidham
April 19th-----Fernando Mladineo and Diane Jenkins
May 9th-------Kyle Nielsen and Hillary Scott
May 10th------Corinne Miller and Matthew Bos
May30th------Dana Davis and Chase Hathaway
June 21st------Lyndi LeSueur and Ian Wright
July 12th------Robert LeSueur and Christina Bobik
July 18th------Kennedy Koelliker and Christian Clayton
July 25th------Natalie and Robert
August 8th----Chris Dallies and Casey Burnett
August 16th---Matthew Koelliker and Dani Garnder
September 12th--Jill Klein and Ben Beckstead
??????????----Lacie Gregson and Zach

WoW!! And those are just the ones we already know about!

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE------!

HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY!

Today is Memorial Day. It is when we remember and honor those who fought and died for our country. It is also a day when many people remember their family members who have passed on by going to the cemetaries and cleaning their headstones and placing flowers at their graves.

We are going to bbq and have our traditional flag cake and homemade ice-cream. I'll report back later with pictures and the details. But until then: what do you do for the holiday? Tell us about any traditions you have and special foods you celebrate with.

It has been a gray and cloudy and cold day. Certainly not like other Memorial Days where the usual is the kids swimming. We just hung out together and relaxed. Mike and Adrianne came in the afternoon. Josh had to work all day preparing a case that's going to trial soon. Natalie worked on her cross stitch picture that she is determined to have done by the wedding. Shaun and Duff did some WOW. Christine made breakfast for us all--her special pancakes. We watched the other Indiana Jones movies.



The homemade ice-cream churning away. We are pretty plain--just vanilla. But the beauty of that is you can add w-h-a-t-e-v-e-r y-o-u w-a-n-t!!!! We've had several freezers over the years and we think White Mountain is the best one. Perfect every time!

One of the very best parts: the paddle coming out before it ripens! Even as adults, we all have to make sure we get our spoonful!

Pork ribs straight from the bar-be. We also had fresh fruit and an Italian pasta salad loaded with veges. I used my new julienne tool on the zuchinni. It worked like a charm and so much faster than cutting it all by hand into match stick pieces. Strawberry lemonade to drink!

And last but not least our Flag Cake. We use the recipe from the Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten). It is a spongey, sour cream cake with cream cheese icing, blueberries and raspberries. It makes a full 1/2 sheet pan, but this time with fewer of us together, we halved the recipe and put it in a 9 X 13 and it worked great. So this is our 'mini' version. Christine pointed out that I forgot to put the stars on. And yes, I totally forgot!

Adrianne curled up on the living room couch and was lost in the new Stephanie Meyer book, HOST. Christine finished her's on Sunday and said she cried during the last two chapters until the end. I'll have to get going on that one and see what it's about!

We are so blessed to live in our country and enjoy the freedoms that so many men and women fought for us to have.

God Bless America!

Mamo Minnie

Saturday was my little German Grandma's birthday. She was born on May 24, 1912. I always could remember that because 1/2 of 24 is 12! She was an itty-bitty of a woman in stature but a strong woman in spirit.

She joined the church as a teenager. The day of her baptism, the local town folk came and threw rocks at her and the other family members wanting to be baptized. The missionaries cancelled the service. They went to a family home near a river. At midnight, they snuck out to the river and the baptisms were performed in the dark of night without interruption.

At 17, she left her homeland for America and the draw of living in Zion. She met my grandfather who had done the same thing. They married and went back to Germany to live and raise a family. While there, World War II broke out. My grandfather had to leave immediately as he had been born a Polish Jew. Mamo (as we affectionately called her) was alone in her mid 20's with a 5 year old, a toddler, and a baby. She moved quickly from place to place as the Gestapo suspected she was a spy, having once lived in America. She spent one night on a park bench with her little ones. The next day she went across the street to a hotel and asked if she could just sit in the lobby for a while. The desk clerk told her he had been expecting her and that she had a benefactor who had paid for a room and food for she and her children for the night. She never did find out who that was, but was grateful for an answered prayer.

The missionaries helped her and her children escape. They had arranged that each day she would take a walk in the park, (different from above), and they would whistle the hymn "Do What Is Right". That is how she could identify them. When they reached her she would hand them her child and they would go in opposite directions. She repeated this every day until on the 4th day they took her with them. They hid them out and then got them on a ship for America. The next day, the Gestapo came to the house she had been staying at for her!

I admire her courage at such a young age. I don't know if I could have been as strong and resourceful.

Mamo loved to gamble. She loved Las Vegas and the nickel slot machines! And she was good at them. She could watch, and had a sixth sense when a machine was going to pay off. She had one last trip to Jean, Nevada at the Gold Strike in September, 1997. She passed away the next year. She had a twinkle in her eye sitting at those machines in her white sweater, Sass shoes, and black handbag. (We met up with her and my parents and Auntie Tia and Uncle Bob while we were all caravaning to Utah)

Love To You Mamo. Thanks for all your love and life.

Happy Birthday to Shelly!

Happy Birthday to my cousin, Shelly McGee! We had such fun growing up. She and her sisters had these triple bunk beds. We have so many memories of them. They lived in the local mountains and we would go for weekends. It was fun anytime of the year, but winters in the snow were a treat. Auntie Tia would make homemade chili and we would love the cool apple cider with it which made for an 'oderous' night with all the girl cousins later on. Much laughter with the aroma!

Sunday

Duff had NO meetings today at all! It was really nice to have him home. We went to church together, came home together. Woo Hoo!

Shaun's teaching partner couldn't be in class with him today, so he asked if I would team teach with him. We had a good time. He is a really good teacher and the boys like him. He really knows his stuff!

We had a relaxing afternoon and evening. Quiet and just us. That hasn't happened in--I can't remember when!

Natalie started the Temple Prep classes. She has already taken the course once in Provo, but is doing it again since July 5th will be here soon! She and Robert are burning up the phone lines from west coast to east coast, but they are both 1/2 way through their externships. The time is going by faster than they thought.

Christine is getting to be really a good cook. She ALWAYS wants to be in the kitchen trying and helping. She made the gravy today for our roast beef dinner and it was just as good as I could do. She made brownies for dessert later in the evening. Mighty tasty! Way to go Miss Chris!

Josh is on his way home from Palm Springs with Meredith and her family. It is a Peterson tradition to spend Memorial Day weekend in Palm Springs. They have been going most of Mere's life. They have a lot of fun things they look forward to. This year the whole family was able to be there with spouses and grandbabies. They planned to take a family picture with everyone. Josh has to work tomorrow (ahhh, on the holiday...) so he is coming back tonight. Mere will drive back to AZ sometime tomorrow. This time apart because of jobs is hard, but they are troopers and will make it through. 4 more weeks!

It Drops 3 Times!

Today is Indiana Jones Day. We got up early for a Saturday morning and met Mike and Adrianne, Nic and Brad, and Gary Miller at Regal for the 9:30am showing of the new Indiana Jones movie. I loved it! All of us did. I loved every part of it. What a good way to start the day/holiday weekend.

Duff was driving so fast and crazy to get there on time, because Mike kept calling us and telling us how long the line was that true to my nature I ended up car sick by the time we got there. So 1st stop--the concession stand for some popcorn and a Dr. Pepper! It did the trick and I started feeling better by the time the previews were done. I HATE that sick feeling. It seems that the older I get the easier I get motion sick. Sheesh!

Then Mike and Adrianne took Shaun and Christine home and Duff and I and Natalie went to the Irvine Costco since we were 1/2 way there. We usually go to Crown Valley so I wasn't used to the layout of this one, but we still got everything we needed, plus a few extras. Hey, it's Costco, right!

Then we came home and the guys unloaded the car, I tidied the pantry and fridge, and Duff defrosted the garage deep freeze. Then we put it all away. Boy it looks nice and feels better.
Shaun and Christine made dinner for us all and it is simmering away on the stove. Sunday Gravy. It's the best homemade pasta sauce ever from the Sopranos Cookbook. You can get the recipe on line too. Nats and I are off to the scrapbooking store to get pens to address the wedding invitations. Here we go!

Oh, What A Feeling---- (sing to Lionel Richie's song)

1) Everything is so beautiful outside this morning. Amazing that it was 100+ at the beginning of the week and right now it is rainy, cloudy, windy, and 52 degrees outside. BUT, I have as many windows open that I dare and am relishing this spring storm!

The colors just pop under the May Gray--greens, purples, pinks, yellows, whites. The dirt is dark, deep brown from the rain and I just love how that looks and smells. The leaves on all the trees are rustling and the wind chimes on both patio covers are adding to the concert.

We've had quite the storm going on yesterday. After I got home from Jamie's, I got so cold I had to put on a sweatshirt and socks. Oh, What A Feeling!

2) The french bread loaf just filled the house with baking heaven aroma. AND it was very tasty. There is not one piece left. It just hit the spot with our dinner and before and for toast and jam this morning. I watched that whole DVD in one sitting yesterday wrapped up in a blanket and devoured each segment. I liked learning new things. Oh, What A Feeling!

3) Got the Thursday laundry finished. Enough said! Oh, What A Feeling!

4) Natalie picked up her wedding invitations last night from Donna's. They turned out SO NICE! It was giddy fun to open all the boxes and put together a sample of what we are sending out. So fun to see her and Robert's names on them. It is 8 weeks from today! Oh, What A Feeling!

5) Memorial Weekend starts today. Ahhhh. Relaxing days, bbq-ing, Flag Cake, addressing wedding invitations, family, remembering our veterans who gave their all for us to enjoy what we do, corn on the cobb (I'll need to be buried with an ear or two!), homemade ice cream, movies ( I want to tivo The Patriot. It is one of my favorite movies and I want to buy it, but can't bring myself to do it because it is rated R, so I watch it on tv during holidays like MemDay.) This year I want to try and get to the Inglewood Cemetary to bring flowers for my grandparents graves. Oh, What A Feeling!

6) Off to help a friend make a Red Velvet Cake for her son's birthday tomorrow. That is what he requested. She has never made one before. It will be fun to work together! Oh, What A Feeling!

Bosch vs. Kitchenaid Mixers

Bosch versus Kitchenaid!

Please weigh in on what you have, how you like it, what you wish you had and why. I've had a kitchenaid for 20 years and really like it, but Jamie used her Bosch today and I was quite impressed. What do you think??????

Bread

This morning I went over to Jamie's house and we made bread. She and her sisters, sisters-in-law, and mom met for their annual mother daughter retreat and they went to a bread class. It is called Pantry Secrets and it is in Utah. The bread is done in 1 hour start to finish! You have to see/do it to believe it. It was amazing.

In about 10 minutes the dough was completely made, formed, and in pans rising for 25 minutes and then in the oven for 25 minutes and out.

She let me borrow her DVD and I came home and watched every part of it. You can do at least 50 different things with this recipe. You can do white, wheat, 1/2 white 1/2 wheat, you can add oats, grains, etc. You can make rolls, bread, braids, pizza, calzones, cinnamon anything, bread sticks, etc. Each recipe makes 4 loaves, so she let me take one home and now I have French Bread to have with my Italian Ravioli for dinner tonight!

You can check it out online at http://www.pantrysecrets.net/ I'd like to attend a class next time I'm in Utah. Jamie also told me that the ladies who hold the demonstrations give you pointers for how to incorporate this into your food storage. Now that's a two-fer!

Does Your Dog Smile?

Last night we went to Mike and Adrianne's. We took Darla with us. She is so loved/spoiled that poor thing doesn't know she's a dog. When we got there she was so excited to see them she was smiling and wiggling all over. She sat on Josh's lap and had a smile on her face the whole time.

When she is really excited and happy, she gives us what we affectionately call 'teeth'. Her lips actually pull back and her teeth show! It is the craziest thing. She knows everyone in the family regardless of how long someone is away. When they come in the door she knows their voice, smell, etc.

I have been trying to get her to 'give me teeth', but she is wiggling so hard I can't get a good picture of it. Suffice it to say, she is a happy girl and we know it by her smile!

Happy Birthday To ME!

Today is my 52nd birthday! I can't believe I'm that old. I don't feel like it most days. That's good!

I've had a great day so far. My talk last night went well. I'm glad that is done. Today I tidied up the kitchen, watched GMA and saw the DWTStars winners and heard all about the show last night. Got phone calls from my parents and sister, Lisa, to send birthday wishes. Then went to lunch with Patti at El Torito Grill. I had a yummy Santa Fe Enchilada Stack. I have to say--that the Corn Cake is so good. I love the honey-ish taste and the texture. Instead of chips and salsa when you arrive, they make homemade flour tortillas and serve them hot to your table with honey butter or two different types of salsa. They are indescribable. I could just have those for a meal!

We had lots of good conversation. I have known Patti since we were 8 years old. After all these years we can just pick right back up where we left off. Before we knew it, two hours had gone by! We passed up birthday dessert at the restaurant for a trip on the way home to Golden Spoon.

Right after I got home, my visiting teachers came over with a card and gift and a nice visit. I love my visiting teachers. We have a new program going on in our ward where we pair a Laurel with their mother as a partner and they visit teach one sister in the ward. Janis and her daughter visit me. Our appointments need to be in the afternoons or evenings to accomodate Kristen's school schedule, but I am willing to do that. The program is proving very successful in helping the YW transition to RS. It is helping the girls to build relationships with women. Janis is a great example to her daughter and Kristen has learned to make the appointments and give a pretty great lesson. I'm glad to be a part of this new program.

The rest of the family is on their way home, and Duff and Josh are picking up Super-Mex for dinner so I don't have to cook. Then we are dropping Christine off at YW and going over to Mike and Adrianne's for cake and ice-cream. Adrianne called this morning and invited us to come and celebrate my birthday at their place. I was really touched and I'm excited.

***I'll come back later and fill in the rest of the day***

Okay--Super Mex was super delish, as always. Right in the middle of dinner 3 of my neighbors came to the door and started singing Happy Birthday through the dining room window. They brought me a BIG candy bar with a homemade wrapper with my name on it and for the ingredients was a list of qualities they admire in me. Wasn't that nice? So creative too.

Then we went over to Mike and Adrianne's for cake and ice-cream. Adrianne made an angel food cake with Auntie Coy glaze on it that was the perfect compliment to a great birthday. She's got that down pretty darn good too. 1/2 way there I realized I forgot my camera. I've got to just put it in my purse!

THANKS EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE MY DAY SO HAPPY AND WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CALLS, CARDS, POSTS, SONGS, LUNCH, DINNER, DESSERT. I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE A PART OF MY LIFE. YOU HAVE EACH INFLUENCED AND TOUCHED ME FOR GOOD.

I LOVE YOU!

Brandon Has A Birthday Today

Today is Brandon Caldwell's birthday! Hey, Brandon--have a fabulous day and enjoy every minute of it. We love you and send our best wishes for you today. What are your plans???

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday Dear Brandon--

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

And many more.....

May Gray Is Baaack!

Oh Hallelujah! The 'May Gray' is back this morning. Translation: If you wake up to cloud cover, even though the sun will come out later on, it will be a cool, nice day. The opposite would be if you wake up to the sun here, it's gonna be warm/hot.

Might sound corny, but it's a true indicator of SoCal weather.

I am actually watching the fog roll in from the coast. It is thick, gray, and almost has a texture to it. The leaves on the wisteria and the trees are gently blowing and you can feel the change in the air.

High to only be 77 by the late afternoon. Yeah! Yesterday it was close to 100 again.

Everyone is gone and the house is quiet so I'm going to go and work on the talk I'm giving tonight at the end of Enrichment Night. I've got the nerves going again. I am never comfortable with public speaking.

Go Kristi! Rah! Rah!

Okay, I am hooked on Dancing With The Stars. It just goes back to my high school and college days when I danced. I've got to try and find my BYU ballroom pictures. I know they are somewhere! My vote all along has gone to Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas. I loved watching her when she did all her skating. This was one of my favorite dances they did. The rhumba to the song 'Say' sung by John Mayer. (I am also a John Mayer fan.)

Tonight she scored 2 perfect scores of 30 points each. The results show is tomorrow night. I will barely make it home from Enrichment Night in time, but thank goodness for Tivo!

I got the house all tidied up from the weekend and laundry done. Watered my very thirsty flower pots in the yards and followed up on phone calls. We had a delicious bbq main dish salad for dinner. Christine is practicing her violin songs to pass off tomorrow. I love hearing the music in the house.

Josh got a job today. He and Mere are VERY excited, relieved, and happy. Now they will both be employed for the summer and earn some much needed money to get them through his last year of law school. He starts tomorrow already! A law firm nearby.

Shaun was out job hunting today too.

'Tis the season...

Pictures Added!

See: 'What A Day', below.

Dan In Real Life

Duff, Nats, and I put the movie back on yesterday morning and watched it since I fell asleep during it the night before. I really liked it. I thought it was very funny and real in a lot of ways. We actually watched it several times later on and laughed pretty hard.

I don't think we'll do a talent show, but maybe some karaoke or DDRevolution is in order for the next full family time at Cougarhaven!

Breanna Has a Birthday Today!

I got a gentle reminder from a very cute 9 year old today in one of my comments about Josh and Meredith's anniversary that it was her birthday today TOO!

Breanna is my cousin, Kurt's, daughter. She is a sweetie. She is also very good already on the computer as she knew how to get to my blog and post a comment! So here is your birthday song from us!

"You've had a birthday shout HURRAY!

We want to sing to you today.

One year older and wiser too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to YOU!

We hope you had a very fun day today and had your favorite dinner and favorite cake!

Happy Birthday Aaron---

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday to You--

Happy Birthday Dear Aaron....

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Here's hoping your day was great! We thought of you today and send our love and best wishes. P.S. I even put your song in your favorite color: R-E-D!

Love Ya!

HAPPY 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, JOSH AND MEREDITH

Happy Anniversary to Josh and Meredith!

May 18, 2007

Newport Beach Temple

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints

CONGRATULATIONS!

We love you both so much and are proud of you and your lives.

We're so glad you're part of our family!

It's Done

Taught RS today. The lesson was on the Everlasting Priesthood. I think it went okay. There was so much information it could have been done over 2-3 weeks so I went with the spirit I felt and the comments sisters made to determine which direction to go. There was a lot of participation, which I appreciated and it always helps to round out a lesson.

I went out to cut some roses from my yard this morning to use on the table, and they were all yucky. It went from cold to hot so fast they just looked bad. So Mere graciously lent me her anniversary bouquet from Josh and they graced the table nicely.

In hind-sight now, I wonder if it could have been smoother. If the transitions could have been better. I guess after you do anything like that you see it more clearly than before it happens.

I learned a lot regarding the priesthood that I didn't know before. I am grateful for the experience to substitute. It's been a waaaay long time since I've done that in RS. I am thankful for the fullness of the gospel and that the Priesthood is restored to the earth today with all the keys. It is a blessing in my life.

What A Day!

Meredith was up and out of the house early, Natalie and Christine in tow. Off to Heidelberg Bakery to pick up the wedding cake topper for their anniversary. Klaus, the owner, has a great tradition of making the couples a fresh cake top layer for their first anniversary! So no icky year old frozen confection. It's part of the wedding cake package he offers. They also picked up some great pastries that both our families enjoyed for breakfast.

Hotter than a bugger! 100+ outside. I'm not ready for this yet! Meredith and Christine walked down to the pool and spent the afternoon swimming and sunning.

The lake. Yes, that is snow on the mountain. Amazing, isn't it? Even we can't believe it every year. See, even we SoCals get snow! But we also get to enjoy the green during it and don't have to shovel or drive in it! Any takers???

It was a fairly quiet and relaxing Saturday. We needed it after a full-speed week. A friend called and needed to talk so I picked her up and we strolled around RSM lake for a couple of hours. It was gorgeous. A little breeze blowing, so green, trees all filled out, ducks swimming and then lazing in the shade. By the time we were done, she felt better and we had gotten some exercise in to boot!

Leaving for their anniversary date!

Not 'THE' lifeguard station (Mere has those pictures) but you get the idea. Pretty romantic setting, huh?!

Even though their real anniversary is tomorrow, Josh and Meredith celebrated tonight. They got fish tacos on PCH from a hole in the wall joint that they went to on one of their very first dates. Then went to 'their' lifeguard station #4 and cuddled in to watch the sunset. When they got back home here, they reinacted cutting the cake and we all got to enjoy some delicious white with raspberry filling and buttercream icing even decorated in the same pattern that their wedding cake was!

Such a good husband--Josh got Meredith these pretty flowers when he picked her up at the airport!

Cutting the cake. And might I just add, it was DE-LISH!

The first year anniversary gift is 'paper', so Josh got her a gift card to Golden Spoon, her favorite. She gave him two tickets to the BYU Homecoming Game in October.

We bbq'd burgers and had chili with them and watermelon and cantalope. It hit the spot.

Going over my lesson. I'm nervous!

Fresh Eyes

Well, I don't know how I missed posting yesterday, except it just got away from me!

Got Natalie and Duff out the door to work. Christine out the door for school. When I was making her lunch, I randomly looked at some things in the pantry with 'fresh eyes'. I've been having that experience often lately--observing different things that are ready for a change or need some attention.

I am a chocolate chip 'nut'. I order in mega-bulk each fall from Guittard. Like 60 lbs. personally after I've included all my friends and neighbors. It freezes well and is freshly made and soooo delicious. Several years ago, I got these modular mates from Tupperware to keep my 'working' chips in my pantry so I didn't have to go to the deep freeze so often. They are in a corner of my square pantry. Yes, I've been going to the freezer and forgotten about the ones in the pantry! They were probably 5 years old. That is BAD, on my part and the chips part! haha!

On the other hand, I've been keeping my bulk rice and baking cocoa (which I also buy in bulk--2 1/2 lbs. for $5 vs. $4.69 for 1 cup of hershey's in the store) in old glass mayonnaise jars with the lids lost. W-H-Y?????

So I promptly emptied them all, threw out the bad chocolate, put the old glass in the recycle trash, washed the modular mates, put the rice and cocoa in those and a 5 lb. bag of mini-chips (which I do use regularly) and reorganized that shelf in the pantry. WOW--what a difference!

I've been thinking a lot about this lately--not just with physical things, like closets and pantries and garages. But with our life. Do we take the time to clean out our minds and hearts and spirits or do we let them get cluttered and too full of 'junk'? I've been calling it the 'clean and purge' for the last several months as I've been tidying things around me. I've come to the conclusion that we need to 'clean and purge' on the inside too. So I'm examining.

Okay--on to the rest of the day!

Meredith and I went and got the weekly shopping done. It was fun to go together. I had one cart and she had another. She picked a lot of the produce for me while I got other items and got some great stuff. I really need to make a Costco trip. I just lament having it so far away--well a good 25 minutes. My sister and parents have one 10 minutes away and it is soooo convenient. Except that if mine was that close I'd probably be there too regularly! Catch 22. Along with the weekly food and necessities, I was able to scout the adds and pick up some things for the food storage too. My most exciting item: match-lite charcoal for a fuel source. It was a price that couldn't be passed up. I've been thinking a lot about fuel sources. With the dutch ovens and that, along with the camp stoves and their fuel, we could cook.

I went over the RS lesson I will teach on Sunday. Boy, I've learned some new things about the priesthood. Very exciting. I'm nervous as heck to be teaching RS--I think I'll just look at the sisters as little children maybe that will help.

Mere picked up Christine from school and had J.T. with her. He is 5 now and cute as can be. They got Golden Spoon on the way home and then stopped to get their swim suits and went to the Peterson's for a swim, since it is still crazy hot!

We had divine shish-kebobs for dinner with rice and a salad both loaded with lots of veges--red peppers, red onions, mushrooms, zuchinni, pineapple, etc. Adrianne and Mike came over and ate with us too. Mike stayed to watch all the BBall games with the 'guys' and Adrianne was meeting a friend for some already planned girl time and took home the recipe for the Texas Sheet Cake and Frosting. She was making that for later. She likes to try new things in the kitchen and does well with them. I sent her home with some cocoa and lemon juice for the recipe.

Meredith rented Dan In Real Life. None of us had seen it. It was really cute except that I fell asleep half way through it. Natalie, Me, Christine, and Meredith had all gone for a walk earlier in the evening and I conked out on the couch! Nats and I have mapped out a 2 and 3 mile course in the neighborhood and have been going each day. So I'll have to watch it again.

I love these times together. We all certainly have our challenges, but try our best. The economy is a killer lately with Duff's line of work. Mike and Josh too, but we are there for each other. That is what counts. High School Musical has a good theme: We're All In This Together!

Sparkling Clean and Misc.

Yesterday I cleaned my top oven. I have a double oven but I use the top one the most. Probably because it is a convection oven and the bottom one is a regular one. Well, I guess truthfully I use them both. Anyway--this is the first oven I have ever had that is self-cleaning. I just press the buttons and it cleans itself. I have a quirk though that I always take the racks out before I turn on the clean cycle and clean them by hand. I don't like how they get dull from the hight temperature and then squeak when you slide them in and out. So I set them out on the patio and spray them with Easy-Off and then scrub them in the kitchen sink.

I did the racks this morning, and the oven looks so awesome. I showed it to everyone as they came home from work and school this evening. It sure makes you feel good to get that stuff done!

All the wedding invitations are now ordered. Yahooie! This is getting pretty exciting!

We made Chicken Broccoli Casserole for dinner. That is just one of the best flavors in the world, don't you think? I learned from my sis, Lisa, to use fresh broccoli instead of the frozen. It works so much better. You don't get that watery stuff on the bottom. Interesting thing: I call it Chicken Broccoli Casserole and she calls it Broccoli Chicken Casserole. How did that happen when we grew up in the same house? I layer mine: broccoli, chicken, sauce, and she mixes the chicken and sauce together and puts it over the broccoli. That's the beauty of a recipe: everyone can put their own spin on it and make it unique to them.

Meredith arrived safely. She came out for her and Josh's 1 year anniversary this weekend. It's hard to believe it's been a year already. She got tomorrow off and took a 1/2 day today. They don't have any big plans, (no moola), but what they do have planned will be fun for them. Sounds like some fresh fish tacos in Laguna and some Martinelli's on the beach at sunset will fit the bill!

It was crazy hot today. Who would have thought that just Monday it was raining and COLD! I got so busy with livin' life, that I completely forgot it was Christine's school open house tonight. Gosh, I feel bad. I think she forgot about it too because she didn't say a word about it either. Oh, well.

Grandpa's Doctor's Visit

I just hung up with Grandpa. He and Gramma went to his doctor's appointment for his test results from last week. Here is the scoop:

• He has Stage 3 CKD. Chronic Kratinin (sp) Disease. Stage 5 is when dialysis begins. In the last 3 weeks from his initial diagnosis his levels have gone from a 1.7 to 1.9, which the doctor says is kind of fast, especially considering that 18 months ago he was a 1.2


• The ultra-sound shows a blockage in the left kidney. They don't know what it is, so he sees the urologist tomorrow where they will use a scope and go up and try to determine what the blockage is and what they can do about it. The blockage is not allowing the urine to eliminate properly and it balloons causing a back up.


• Friday, he goes in and has a CT scan so they can make further determinations.


• The goal is to stop it at Stage 3. This disease can't be reversed, but hopefully they can arrest it at this point so it doesn't go any farther.


• He goes back again on June 5th and June 13th for more blood work-ups.


• He has to go on a strict low/no cholesteral diet. It effects the kidneys. Who knew? You always associate that with the heart, right? Also, only Tylenol. No Advil, Aleve, etc. Bad for the kidneys too.

He sounds good, a little nervous, pre-occupied. He is a trooper and will tackle this head on. Keep him in your prayers and thoughts and send all your love through the miles!

Computer Tuesday

Wow! Most of my day today has been on the computer. I need a neck and shoulder massage, badly!

In the morning I was taking care of all kinds of paperwork for the cabin. All the monthly bills are sent here directly to us, so that part is easy. But we now working on the 2nd basement down remodel of the game room. We are adding a bathroom and small kitchenette (from a closet), repainting, and some new flooring. It will kind of be the 'man cave' for the guys! The kids and I have been collaborating with Nicole on a 'surprise' for a certain someone for that room. It will be awesome, but it takes computer and paperwork time.

Then I spent ALL afternoon and evening/night on the computer with wedding things. Finalized wording and spacing for the invitations, etc. and then the BIG part: guest list with addresses. I had done it one way for the boy's weddings, but Michon shared an xl program she used for Corinne's wedding that she got from Allison for Kyle's wedding and it was soooo complete. But that is TOTALLY Allison: super organized. I am not at all comfortable with xl. I just haven't really used it, but I was determined to 'give it a go'. Josh was nearby and he was a great help. I went through Michon and Allison's lists and kept all the people we have in common, so I learned how to 'delete'. Then I printed out the boy's guest/address lists and added from those, so I learned how to 'insert'. Josh helped me add a column for the inside envelope names. I learned recently that there really is a proper way to do those. There is a column for the luncheon/dinner, shower invite, shower gift, shower gift thank you sent, sealing invite, wedding gift, and wedding gift thank you sent. I hope it works as well for me as it has for them!

I finished just in the nick of time for DWTStars. Of course! Again, no surprises with the elimination tonight, but next week for the finals it could be any of the 3 remaining dancers. My votes are going to Kristi Yamaguchi. She is my favorite.

Hasta!

Rain, Earthquakes, and Mega-Laundry

1) It has been so cold and rainy today. Warm weather is coming later in the week, but when I got ready to go for my walk this morning, I 0pened the door and it was wet, heavy drizzle, and the cold just went right through you. I shut the door and went and got in the shower instead. I guess it's good for the fertilizer that the grass got last week!

2) China had a HUMONGOUS earthquake. It was 7.9 on the Richter Scale. The news has been reporting the death toll which is now officially at 12,000 with plenty of large aftershocks, some of them 5.9, 5.6. Those in and of themselves are BIG earthquakes, let alone aftershocks. The pictures are sobering. Arms and hands of dead children buried in collapsed school rubble just make me get weak. You can see the terror and vulnerability on and in the faces of the Chinese people.

I have a phobia of earthquakes. I HATE them. And here I live in 'earthquake country'. Go figure. There is just something about the earth shaking uncontrollably that unnerves me. Kind of like air turbulance. (and yet I fly all the time too....)

3) Today was the day of MEGA laundry. Being the NICE and WONDERFUL mother that I am, I did everybody, who has been traveling, laundry so it would be all caught up while they unpacked and got settled in for the summer. 14 loads! Now we start the assigned days for the summer. Me: Monday and Thursday. Josh and Mere: Tuesday. Natalie: Wednesday. Shaun: Friday. This includes: washing, drying, folding, ironing, putting away, sheets, and towels and rugs from their bathrooms. This way it is always on track and there isn't dirty laundry spilling out of the laundry room all the time. Yes, this is the ideal scenario. I hope it works! hahaha

They will each have an assigned day of the week to cook dinner as well. That includes: planning, shopping, cooking, cleaning it up. I've 'heard' this works when you have a bunch of adult children move back home. Any words of wisdom from those who have/or still are going through this phase???

A friend, Pat P., who went through this for several years told me they had a weekly meeting each Sunday afternoon for 30 minutes to evaluate the previous week: what worked, what didn't, if they needed to trade days for dinners, laundry, etc. It was only 1/2 an hour so they got right down to business. They all agreed up front that it was the parents house and they got to decide the 'rules' in exchange for the opportunity to stay there and save money.

So, please--I need lots of suggestions and experience here to help guide us! Please comment those who are/have been on the parents end and adult children who have been on that end.

Thanks!

Grandma's Plate

Here is the very cute plate Patti brought me the other day for Mother's Day. Click on it for a closer look. No grandbabies yet, but one day!

Here is the poem that goes with it:

Recipe for Happy Grandkids

2 cups good stories read

1 cup fun games played

2 tbs. Grandpa's piggy back rides

1 heaping cup of hugs

Pinch of sweet threats

Dash of the giggles

Mix all ingredients together.

Yield: Endless servings of fun and love at

Camp Grandma!

Thanks Patti. Happy Mother's Day to you too!

Mother's Day Happenings

It's been a really nice Mother's Day.

I woke up to the aroma of Duff and the girls in the kitchen whipping up some bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns which they brought me in bed. I opened cards.

Duff was off to meetings. They were re-organizing some leadership in the AC ward today. The girls and I got ready and went to church. Duff joined us briefly for Sunday School class and then 1/2 way through left for the Bishopric change in the SM ward. At least he wasn't gone all day and was able to come home after SM ward was done. That was a nice Mother's Day happening!

The family pitched in and helped Duff with dinner. Baked potatoes, bbq steaks, corn on the cobb, asparagus, Hunter sauce. It hit the spot! Adrianne popped a pound cake in the oven and sliced up strawberries for dessert. All the kids cleaned up the kitchen lickety-split. We sat around the table and played Sequence in teams. Mike and Adrianne won, then Shaun and I did. It is one of our family's favorite games. And don't mess with me when you play it! I am very competitive at board games!


The Koellikers were out on a walk and stopped in. It was fun to visit with them and especially Matthew who recently got engaged too! All the kids were talking about rings: what kind, where to buy, different styles, etc. Wedding, wedding, wedding! Exciting conversation. It was fun to kind of hang back and watch them all in this new season of their lives. The chatter in earlier years was about school, sports, clothes, dating, grades, movies. Now it is moving toward new waters!
I rarely have all my kids home for Mother's Day, so we were sure to get a picture! It is at the end of the day and we are all a little on the worn out side. But we are all together, right?!

I got some delish fruit and nuts from Josh and Meredith from Harry and David. Can I just say that I LOVE pears. I always have. Mike and Adrianne gave me a precious frame that says 'Mom' on the bottom and it has a picture of Mike and I together on their wedding day. Since our anniversary was earlier in the week, they gave us a framed picture of them on their wedding day and one of US on our wedding day!

Josh and Shaun had been in Utah squaring away some things for Shaun and they drove home yesterday and arrived just before dinner. That was a great Mother's Day 'gift' too!

Fabulous Mother's Day 2008! I love all of you so much, and a big thank you to my hubby for putting together such a nice day. You deserved the nap!

Birthday #2

Okay--Today is also Danielle's birthday too! Same day, different side of the family! But we send all our love and happy wishes for a fun day of celebrating.

You have a birthday,
Shout HURRAY!
We want to sing to you today.
One year older and wiser too--
Happy Birthday, (clap) to YOU!

Happy Birthday Mike M.!

I just had to 'borrow' this from Jenn's blog for Uncle Mike Muaina's birthday today! He is the BIG 5-0 today!

Happy Birthday To You,

Happy Birthday To You--

Happy Birthday, dear Mike,

Happy Birthday To You!

We hope you had a great day and even treated Sue to a great Mother's Day!

Happy MOTHER'S DAY!

(Jeaneen and Sigie with Natalie and Grandpa at Natalie's college graduation)

Happy Mother's Day to my sweet mother, Sigie. What an amazing woman. She is full of love. She is full of mercy and compassion. She is a fabulous cook. She has creative talent in her head and hands. She loves music. I always knew and felt loved by her.

It has been a bittersweet day so far with Jeaneen not being here. It was a little empty not getting a card/gift for her this year. Duff commented this morning that it was weird knowing she wasn't there to call with happy wishes today.

Thank you to these wonderful women who have loved me and helped shape my life. My own mother and my mother-in-law. I am grateful for their love and examples.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the other mother's in my life, my sister Lisa, my sister Sue, my cousins, dear friends. I love you all very much. Thank you for your examples and strength. Have a wonderful day!

'Tis The Wedding Season!

Today is Aaron and Bethany's anniversary. They have been married 6 years now. Gosh, it seems like yesterday. We wish you a great day and a lifetime and eternity more!

Christine, Natalie, Brooke, Codye and I went to the Heidelberg Pastry Shop for a wedding cake tasting and to place Nats order. (See if you can pick out what she ordered??? and comment. Click on wedding cakes, and then pictures of wedding cakes. Clue: it is totally her!) It was really fun. Codye was an unofficial 'cousin' today. The 5 of us sat around this little bistro table and the owner/baker brought us out about 7 different flavors to sample. We each had our own plate and fork. I was politely cutting the samples into 5 different pieces so we could practice our 'good manners', but we ended up just cutting off our own taste with our forks. It was at 10am and none of us had had breakfast and were too hungry. It was hard to choose, but she finally narrowed down the combinations she wanted and which layers would be what and which fillings would be in each one. It is quite a process. If you remotely know either Robert or Natalie, chocolate and almost every combination of chocolate is included! And speaking of good manners, they all went out the window as soon as I knocked over my large glass of ice water all over the place. Talk about embarassing! The girls had a good chuckle as I was profusely apologizing to the owner while we were negotiating the price/deposit! (side note: Josh and Meredith and Mike and Adrianne got their cakes here too! and every slice was GONE)



Just a note about the bakery: it is the quaintest place. Small, European, the ceiling is tin with ornate patterns in it. You feel like you've been transported to Germany. Whenever I go there, it takes me back to my childhood. The pastries that I grew up with and baked goods from my mother, aunties, and german grandmother. The accents of the bakers who work there. If I need a special dessert and am not inclined to make it myself, this is where I will go. Ahhh, so good! There was a bakery like this in Westchester near my grandparents house that we would go to on Saturdays with my grandma. It smells the same and I love it!


We were so close to the Original Pancake House, that I treated the girls to brunch. What fun we had together! We asked for Kyle to be our waiter. I'd much rather he have my tip than someone else.

Brooke and Codye left about 5pm for the airport to turn in their car and check in for the flight home. Love those gals! Thanks for coming!

At 6pm, we went over to the Miller wedding reception. It was beautiful! Her colors were green and brown and all the flowers were white. Very striking. Corinne looked gorgeous and they were very happy. It's nice to visit with so many friends we don't get to see regularly.

The wedding season is upon us and it is a BIG one this year. 10 from our ward from now through the middle of September and more from other wards and families we know. It is exciting to see these kids growing up and becoming adults and beginning the next phase of their lives. It kind of makes you think back on your own courtship, wedding, and life lived so far.

Congratulations to them all!

Friday's Relationships

Lots of errands. Wedding stuff and Mother's Day stuff. I worked with Donna today on the wedding invitations. We have it all done except for a few details I still need from Tammie, Robert's mother.

Fun with the family tonight. Mike and Adrianne came over for dinner. I haven't seen them in a couple of weeks, and it was just like a breath of fresh air to walk in the kitchen and have them at the table. I had some RS visits to make and they took longer than I had anticipated and when I got home, I found that they had all pitched in together and dinner was done, and everyone was sitting down and were happy to see me when I walked in. What a great start to the Mother's Day weekend!

Brooke and Codye spent the day in Newport Beach and then Fashion Island shopping hoping the sun would come out and they could catch some rays and work on their tans. Unfortunately, it never happened. This time of year the weather/sun is so unpredictable down here. It won't even out until mid-late June. But after that watch out--sun and warm weather until October! We never know if Halloween will be boiling hot or freezing cold.

We had a good visit with everyone, watched some tv, Adrianne helped me set up an email account for RSVP's for the wedding and talked some more.

I had some experiences today that caused me to reflect on the great blessings of relationships in our lives. Marriage, children, family, friends, etc. God knew we needed each other in our lives. We need to love and nurture others just as we yearn to be loved and nurtured. I am grateful for the relationships I have in my life. I want to be an instrument in God's hands to return the favor.

Fell into bed and slept like a baby!

And Another One...

What a busy day! Shaun left this morning at 5am for the airport (Duff took him) to catch a 7am flight for Utah. Josh also took a 7am flight out of AZ and they both met up at the SLC airport. Went to Provo, got the truck, registered it, went to Shaun's apartment, assessed, did a few things and then headed for the cabin. They will drive home this weekend in time to be here for Mother's Day.

I am having 'cabin withdrawals'! With everything going on down here, we haven't been there since Jeaneen's funeral in February. I still have Christmas garland on the mantle and staircase that needs to come down! Of course, the boys had to give a full update on how the remodel for the game room is coming along. Everything to be changed has been demoed, re-constructed, and is ready for the next phase of putting it back together. The new bathroom down there is sooo needed so everyone doesn't have to keep running back up to the next floor. It sure helped that there was an 'empty' room already plumbed! Likewise, the little closet kitchen will be nice for snacks and drinks for the same reason. It is still amazing to me that we could fit a mini-kitchen into a closet!

They just had to call again as the sun was setting over the mountains to let us know how gorgeous it was. We are SO incredibly blessed. Many people will never have/experience what we have been blessed with. It is truly a gift from above. We try to be as generous as we can with it. It is our family gathering place. There is a 'peace' there; a renewing feeling.

It is interesting. In a lot of ways we are still very uncomfortable with where we are. It often seems like we are still the people who live in our small 1400 square foot 45 year old house in north Orange County. I guess we are after all. People think that if you are 'comfortable' financially that it solves all your problems. HA! Money may alleviate some things but all it really does is present a whole different set of circumstances and problems to overcome. People get jealous of you, have unrealistic expectations, always have a hand 'out', don't think you should ever have a heavy heart or a trial. You also worry A LOT about if you are giving enough, doing enough with what the Lord has allowed you to have. Am I doing enough philanthropically? fast offerings? temple building? Perpetual Education funding? keeping the kids grounded? It can become 'burdensome' in it's own way, if that makes sense.

The food storage I ordered arrived! WooHoo! I am excited to have it. We now have close to 9-10 true months of storage. I think we should get another 55 gallon water drum to add to what we already have for water supply.

Had a vt meeting with the RS president. It is an ever changing thing!

Patti P. dropped by with some more books from Lunetta's move, and brought me the sweetest Mother's Day present! (Patti is Meredith's mom, and a dear friend for 45+ years!). It is a Grandma's Cookies Plate. I'll have to take a picture and post it on here. It is really CUTE! No, Josh and Mere are not 'expecting', but it is for when we do have grandchildren. She always finds the cutest things, that Patti!

Brooke and Codye are having a good vacation. They have enjoyed two days of Disneyland so far. They are pulling all dayers there, and are ready for jammies and bed by the time they get back. It has been fun visiting with them.

Natalie has weathered her first week without Robert. Only 5 more to go now. She is doing an externship here with a private firm and he is doing one with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. He flew out Saturday morning. See, we told both of them it would go by fast! She has had long days at the law firm, but she finished the project they had her do this week yesterday and they liked it enough that they are going to submit it to the client/court without any changes. She was pleased.

Duff is at meetings. They reorganized the stake presidency two weeks ago and he was retained. It is bittersweet. The relationships with the previous presidency were very dear and he will miss them, but is looking forward to building friendships with the new brethren.

Off to bed!

MAY'S PROVIDENT LIVING

Hi Fam-i-ly!

Check out the new goals for food storage for this month on the side bar. May is the time to focus on First Aid.

Remember: you don't need to get it all right now, but at least START by getting 2 things a week and putting them specifically in a separate place for your emergency preparedness. Next year in May you can add to it! This is do-able!

We will be blessed if we are 'on the path'.

Love to you all--

Mom and Dad

Wet Wednesday

Well, it is another cold and drizzly day. Looks like our April showers are continuing into May! Everything is just continuously damp. It sure is making things nice and green!

I have been working on the wedding plans today. I had a nice chat with Robert's dad, Mark, and a great conversation with his mom, Tammie. What nice people. I got the order in for a personalized temple envelope for Robert and Natalie and for wedding day hankies. They will be really nice. We have an appointment for wedding cake testing and ordering on Saturday. We are using Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe. Meredith used them and so did Adrianne. They do a phenomenal job on the cakes.

I really haven't felt all that good today. Achey, scratchy throat, tired, a little tummy ache. I don't know if I'm still trying to recover from all the trips recently or if I'm coming down with something. Christine came down with a bad sore throat and cold over the weekend and now Shaun started in on the sore throat today. Holy cow! I hope it doesn't go through the whole family!

I was asked to teach the RS lesson on the 18th. It is on the Everlasting Priesthood. I read over it today. It is a great lesson, but so much material. One of the longer chapters in the manual. I'll have to prepare all of it and then go by the spirit.