My Bday/Arizona Drive/Tim and Bekah!

Today is my 54th birthday!  I like my birthdays.  I have never been age-phobic.  I like to ponder on my life on my birthday.  Do an evaluation.  It has been a really good one.  Not without it's challenges, but I can see my weaknesses and strengths and how I have grown and where I still need to improve.  I have wonderful parents who did the very best job they could do raising me.  Being a parent myself, I know how it feels to make my own parenting mistakes--children do not come with parenting manuals and there is no way to go through raising children except by trial and error and doing the best you can with the skills you bring to it.  So today has been peaceful and one of reflection.  I have set some goals and feel satisfied.

We left at 7am for Arizona.  We have never traveled this route before.  It was quite pretty.  A 2 lane road most of the way rather than a 4-6 lane highway.  All the little Utah towns were darling and quaint.  I wondered how one lives in such a small town away from a big city.  Suburban life is all I have ever known, and I think it would make me completely crazy to live in such a small place.  And if that's all they have known, the opposite would be true for them too.  I like the accessibility of things in the city/suburbs, the cultural opportunities, I can be as visible or as annonymous as I want to be.

The drive also has it's ugly part getting into the desert just like our route on the 15 through Vegas.  And then pretties up again as you leave it.  We made good time and the baby was fabulous.  For being 10 hours in the car he did a great job!  He loved getting out at the gas station stops and feeling the warm wind.  He made such a funny face at it.

When we got to my parents, two of my brother's kids were there.  Tim and Rebekah.  This is their first visit to my parents house since they have lived in AZ.  We haven't seen them since I was pregnant with Christine, 16 years ago.  That is a long time.  I told my mom and sister not to celebrate my birthday.  Even though I never get to celebrate with them, I wanted this to be about Tim and Bekah.  I cannot even express how much I love them and how wonderful, fabulous, marvelous it was to be together after so many years.  There is a division with my brother and our family. It has resulted in a distance between all of us full of heartache and longing.  I have had to make my peace over the years that some things may not be worked out in this life, but I am hopeful that they will through the atonement in the next.  I have faith in and trust in the Lord.  His promises are sure.

We had a great fettucine, chicken alfredo dinner at Lisa's with salad and garlic bread.  Please post the bread recipe Lisa!!!  Robert and my dad got the crib set up.  We are tired and happy.

More Birthday

To Brandon!

What are you doing today?  We know it will be fantastic!

Hugs and Kisses to a great brother-in-law and uncle.

The kids got their apartment all cleaned and settled up with their landlord.  They really enjoyed living there.  A nice quiet walk out, private basement apartment with a lovely view of Utah lake.  The deer would visit them all the time!  John has been so good considering all the commotion of moving, sleeping in a different bed, etc.  He is a very good natured baby.
We had a quiet, little birthday celebration for me tonight, since we will be on the road all day tomorrow.  I just wanted something simple, so we had hamburgers and Natalie and Robert went to the Sweet Tooth Fairy and got some cupcakes.  My favorites:  VaNIElla Squared, Strawberry Shortcake, Coconut, Raspberry Lemonade.  They are sooo delicious!  Duff and Robert had both cars packed up to the brim so all we have to do tomorrow is set the alarm and go.  John has never been on a long car trip yet.  I hope he does well.

Sitting Up Demonstration

John demonstrating the art of sitting up in 4 steps.

He finally figured it out all by himself yesterday.  And now that's all he wants to do, over and over again.

And there you have it!

When he starts to lose his balance, all of a sudden he throws his arms out to the sides, gets it back and keeps playing.

Today he got his first tooth.

Lower, front, left side.

I will say it again:  I am not rodent or reptile friendly!  So tonight about 10:30pm, I am talking to Lisa on the phone and out of the corner of my eye is this dark flash.  I KNEW it was a mouse!  Dang!  It ran from under the piano area to the leather lounger.  I screamed.  Natalie saw it go under the sofa.  I AM MAD!  I am naive.  We are in the mountains for goodness sake.  It is spring, and the mountain 'population' is trying to decide if they are in or out because of the changing weather temperatures.  I KNOW this, but as long as I don't see it, I can choose to ignore it.  Everyone else had gone to bed later on and I was up cross-stitching some Christmas presents (trying to get a jump on the gift giving).  The lights are all on the tv is on, and this @#$% mouse peeks out at me from under the sofa! Hello--aren't they nocturnal.  Meaning they don't like the light and noise.  Shouldn't he have waited until it was dark and quiet and I was in bed too?  And what ever happened to the fact that mice run along walls?  This was out in the OPEN.  I screamed so loud it woke everyone up--sooo sorry! And that guy ran away.  I'm setting out more traps....

Babysitting

Today I got up at 4:30am.  For that 'early' flight.  So by now I have a splittling headache and am running on fumes.  But it's all good!  Robert and John picked us up at the airport while Natalie stayed home to keep the packing momentum going.  Duff and I watched John all day.  Like that was a 'chore'!  Haha.

Cute little blondie.

Duff is working away upstairs and I am on baby duty.  It has rained all day.  Windy and cold.  They say a little more of this weather tomorrow as well and then sunny skies.

We will be on babysitting duty tomorrow too.  They are just about done.  They will load it all up in the moving truck tomorrow.  Then do all the cleaning on Thursday.  Then Friday we head out for the drive to Arizona! 

Birthday

...to YOU, Aaron!

Thinking of you today and sending all our love.  Hope you have a great celebration!

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to Josh and Meredith!  # 3 and going strong.  What a year so far.  What a nice anniversary present passing the bar is!  You are a good couple and you compliment each other well. 

Happy Anniversary to Josh and Meredith!

 # 3 and going strong.

What a year so far, and you've done it like troopers. 

What a nice anniversary present passing the bar is! You are a good couple and you compliment each other well.

Love You Guys!

The Errand-Runner

Last Wednesday, we had one of our RS activities in the evening.  Our guest speaker was Kim G. Her subject was running errands.

Well, actually it was on being an errand runner.

An Errand Runner for the Lord.

I have thought a lot about this.  I have been praying to know what errands I can 'run' for Him.  To recognize them.  To follow subtle promptings.  I wonder sometimes if I listen all that well.  I need to sharpen that skill.  When we think about all the errands we run every day/week, how many include things that God wants us to do? 

I was hand watering the new flowers I planted in my side yard on Friday.  My neighbor's son came out and was loading some things in his car.  He got out of prison about 6 months ago.  I said hi.  We started chatting.  He opened up to me about his parole restrictions.  It came around to the subject of drinking.  I felt prompted to talk to him about the word of wisdom.  Normally I would NEVER do that!  But I kept thinking about the errand-runner message and so I ventured waaaay out of my comfort zone.  We talked about what it might be like for him to not need alcohol to take off that 'edge' he gets.  It was a concept he hadn't thought about in a really long time.  I told him I would pray for him to be successful and that God loves him and he has a new chance now to put his life back in a better way.  He was really touched.  I don't know how it will turn out, but I was wondering how many people could use a reminder that Heavenly Father does love them.  I know I do.

So what 'errands' will I be running today, and maybe I can combine some of 'mine' with 'His'.

Pan Rolls with Herb Topping

We had these with our lasagne dinner tonight.

They are easy and delicious!

Pan Rolls with Herb Topping

20 Rhodes rolls

Herb Topping:
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
6 Tablespoons margarine or butter, melted and divided

--Spray a 9X13 pan with Pam.  Place frozen rolls 4 across and 5 down in baking dish. Space evenly.  Cover loosely with sprayed plastic wrap.
--Let rise 2-3 times original size (approximately 2-3 hours)
--Preheat oven to 375*
--Brush rolls with 4 Tablespoons melted margarine or butter.
--Bake between 10-15 minutes.  Checking after 10.  While rolls are in the oven, in a small bowl combine Parmesan, basil, oregano, and garlic powder.
--After the initial 10-15 minutes (you want them golden in color), brush remaining butter/margarine over partially baked rolls.  Sprinkle with parmesan-herb mixture.
--Continue to bake for an additional 5 minutes or so.  Keep an eye on them.  You want them done, but not burnt.

(loosely taken from the Pillsbury home cooking library.)

Worn Out can be a Good Thing

Our meetings were so good today. I was worn out by the time we got home.  In a good way.  The spirit taught me a lot today.  President Brennan closed our sacrament meeting today.  His remarks hit so close to 'home' for our family.  No matter what happens in this mortal life, any of the losses (and that includes so many different things for every person) will be made up to us if we live the gospel and keep the commandments.

Then SS was fabulous.  Paula K. always does a really good job.  Makes us apply scriptural doctrine to us personally.

And RS was on the Holy Ghost taught by Wendy K.  I have been having many experiences with the Holy Ghost over the past 2 months since I've been working on my 'experiment on the word' challenge from the RS presidency.  I was reminded of a lot of them as Wendy taught the lesson. 

I came home and took a little nap.  I rarely do that, ever.  I woke up and felt refreshed and strong.

Saturday Is A Special Day

Got lots done today!

First on the list, work in the garden.  It has been really sunny and nice this week, but I'm sure we are not to far off from the 'May Gray' that characterized this time of year for us.

Things are coming along nicely.

I love my herb bed this year.

We have, rosemary in the pot, thyme, cilantro, swiss chard, chives, red pepper, oregano, lavendar, and basil.  When you open the side door it smells so good!  And a few marigolds to help keep the bugs out.

A clean garage  always makes me feel really good.  We finally got the rest of the emergency backpacks put over in the other garage with the bulk of our preparedness items. Now they are all together.  We just need to gather some new sleeping bags.  Ours are really old and I think some are falling apart on the inside.

Bath for Darla.

The weekly grocery shopping.

Boys to the movies.

Christine swimming with Addy.

It's the day we get ready for Sunday.

Josh Passed!

It's official...

He PASSED!

The California Bar!

Everything is on the computer now.  They don't send a letter in the mail anymore.  6pm was the appointed time that the information was released.  Josh came straight here after work; Patti drove Meredith over at 5:58 and she ran up the stairs to the bonus room/office.  She and I sat on the couch downstairs chatting with our eyes on the clock.  At 6:03 we heard everyone upstairs yelling and screaming.  We jumped up and ran up the stairs to join in the hugging and congratulations!

They headed to Disneyland to celebrate.

And Josh bought this really big Lego set at the Downtown Disney store that he's had his eye on for a present to himself for passing!

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU DID IT!

(He has loved legos since he was a little kid, and still puts sets together.  One day we'll have to take a picture of his collection when he displays them all in the same place.)

Surf City Wrap Up

The school sports season is winding down.

Summer and fall ball will be here before we blink twice.

Every game the coach brings fabric ribbons for their hair.  They are always random pieces of ripped fabric, but the girls love them.  They tie them onto their lacrosse bags like badges of honor after the games are over.

On the bus for the ride home after winning all their games on the first day of the tournament.  They were singing all the way home.  They were quite high from their victories!

Action photo.

Anxiously waiting for the other teams to finish.  It would determine if they won first place or not.

Hurray!

Los Al beat Foothill and that means the Titans took the tournament!
(Everyone 'blanked' on sunscreen, so we all took home a mighty sunburn too, haha!)