from the senate to the solar system

Yesterday was such a busy but great day.

I got up early & went with Karrie to PTA day at the legislature. I always love going to these things at the capitol. I just love being at the capitol & seeing all that is going on.

It's fascinating to me. Here is the senate floor. Karrie & I went into the House of Representatives for an hour or so, then to the Senate to see what was going down. After that we went to a class on what the PTA is supporting/not supporting as far as bills go. Interesting.

I wrote a note to my representative stating my point of view on a couple of bills & sent it in to the floor.

Pretty cool stuff!

One of the things I love most is the incredible art & architecture of the capitol building.

Oh, it is beautiful! Here is a shot of the ceiling in the Senate chambers.

It is really stunning & I love to walk around all that marble.
You just can't take a photo that does it justice.

Because of traffic & snow- (yes it snowed 2 inches... I told you we've got a while to go of this winter stuff) Brett drove us up & dropped us off, then picked us up early. We live really close to downtown. It only took 15 minutes but still- thanks honey :).

{Trent- The Native American Program}

We left early, before lunch with our representatives because

HOoray

Trent had his third grade Native American program.

I wouldn't miss that for anything!!

funny thing- Trent left the house with a white button down shirt & church shoes on. When we got there- he was in his tennis shoes & undershirt...? he said "that shirt was too hot & the shoes are uncomfortable" (just in case he had put his tennis shoes in his backpack)- hmmm, boys-
Lucky for me I have such great friends- Kristy saved us seats in the front row, right in front of the little, big guy. He was not too thrilled about his part in the square dance- dancing with a girl in the third grade is pretty much the most embarrassing thing ever. The cool dance to be in was the Bear dance...you know- all boys, with arrows, mimicking killing a bear, well not really but- you know? Of course, all parts in programs are important, but dang it's hard being a kid.

Later that night-

It was time for our monthly scout field trip.

This month I planned a REally special trip.

We went to the U of U observatory & earned the observatory patch.

It was so much fun! SERiously!!

I had six boys- again Brett came with me- and we went up to the top floor of the physics building on the University of Utah campus to the observatory. Up there a couple of Physics majors (astronomy minors) met us & showed us the brilliant night sky.

I unfortunately forgot to tell the boys to dress warm. BIG OOPS.

They nearly froze to death, but had a lot of fun anyway.

It was an unusually clear night with an amazing view of Venus right next to the moon. Through the telescope you could even see the craters on the moon. We saw a nebula, Beattle Juice, the big dipper, seven sisters- I think brett & I enjoyed it as much as the scouts.

That little sliver of white on the left is the moon.
The pictures here are not too good... but you get the idea.

Lucky for the boys I had some blankets in the car.

It was a Great but busy day.

I think those kind of days are my favorite-

even though I am glad it's over.

My front yard- the garbage heap

The weather has just been Fabulous here lately!!

REally warm & spring like. Cruel really, when you consider we have a bit of winter to go. This morning I went to take the dogs for a walk & brought my camera along. Brett was leaving for work & said- "You're taking your camera? Great!"- I think he is happy to know I am pulling out of the slumpy winter blues I have been in. It didn't dawn on me until later, that it is nearly impossible to take pictures while walking TWo dogs- Especially these two crazies.

I am trying to teach Bronco to heel (he is learning surprisingly fast) & reteach Max. Max has forgotten all walking manners with the addition of the young pup. I managed a photo which shows exactly the crazy behavior I am trying to avoid.

Now that the weather has brightened a bit & I am out walking -

Everyone in the neighborhood is finding out about our new pup too. I have had a couple of people say- "you have two dogs?" with this look of shock & surprise-

like they are thinking...

you seem like such a normal person at church & around the community?

I always find myself saying--"it's not me- really- brett is such a dog lover. I have no choice. It's him- I just go along with it... I really have no choice..."

I sound like an idiot.

I came home & looked around the yard with absolute shock & surprise of my own.
Our house faces north, so the front yard rarely sees sun. The snow takes forever to melt on our side of the street. You won't believe what the blanket of snow was covering!trent's blue sled...

multiple pieces of wood from trent's projects...

trent's plastic snow board...

trent's mini skateboard...

two shovels...

and a Christmas tree-

okay, okay- the Christmas tree- we knew it was there on the side of the house.

It's from jack & his hooligan friend's treeing escapades.

Every year the teens in our house "pick up" (steal is more like it - not that anybody cares) old Christmas trees off of people's curbs around town & then "tree" someone? "treeing" is when your doorbell rings, you go to the front door, no one is there... except for a dozen old Christmas trees. this tree got left behind & jack has promised to get rid of it for a month. For some reason the teens (jack & brian's friends) think this is absolutely hilarious. There have honestly been times when the boys & their friends have picked up trees all over town & we've had dozens in our back yard hiding until dark- when they mysteriously appear on some one's doorstep. In one night those trees have been known to visit several unsuspecting people. Family after family get treed on one night. All the same trees. The whole process is about shock value. Once you've been treed & your dad gets all ticked off - they take them to another door step.

don't panic- it's all in good fun- at the end of the "treeing" season they drop them off at the dump to be made into mulch.

All I can say tonight is

It's a good thing tomorrow is TRASh day!

holy moly
this is down right embarrassing

-It's a good think I went out & noticed all this mess-

*have you ever found anything out in the yard after the snow melts?

*have you ever put a Christmas tree on the curb- then wondered where it went?

You can thank me later

do you think it's too early?

Today I went looking for some card making supplies with Lori.

Look what I found instead...I have wanted one of these little trees forever.

Especially the one from Pottery Barn-

(but didn't want to pay the $70- ridiculous)

Hurray for Hobby Lobby's version!!

Do you think it's too early to put out EASter & Spring decorations?

I've got Spring Fever-

BAD.

Look how big this guy's getting.

He's almost six months old & on his way to get some shots here in this picture. It's funny how dogs get into the parking lot of the humane society or the vet & just know something's up.

He's doing so much better now

-NO accidents for a couple of weeks-

wooo hoooo!!

He won't be any bigger than Max- we think.

He has a sweet disposition, but he's still really puppy hyper.
Lots of walks help & that's what I need so I suppose it's a good thing.

*do you have spring fever?

*when do you put up spring decorations?

a whole lot of nothin'

1. I walked the dogs today.
2. last week was a hard week.
3. It's finally warming above 40 degrees & we are hoping the old snow in our yard will melt before it snows again.
4. I hate old snow- but love the new stuff.
5. Trent has a program this week. He has a one sentence part with the word "intricate" in it.
6. He doesn't want to say intricate.
7. It feels like I haven't gotten anything done for a week.
8. I am driving the ballet carpool & donating blood this week.
9. I am also spending one morning up at the capitol. I love being at the capitol when the Legislature is in session.
10. Hailey is now writing music with a friend- it's really good!
(I'm not being prejudice- it is good!)
11. I am hoping she lets me post a video.
12. Jack is applying for on-campus college housing soon.
13. He turns 18 next month - when did that happen?
14. Brian has been gone for 465 days.
15. He should be home in 265. No - I am not counting. What makes you think that?
16. I talked to megan on the phone for an hour or so this morning. she is good :)
17. I sent a whole lot of good mail last week & it helps with the winter blues.
18. It feels like spring is just around the corner!
19. I can't think of anything to make for dinner.
20. If I don't have dinner planned in my mind by mid morning-- it's not good.
21. I lost my pedometer. already!?
22. I made it to church yesterday & subbed in primary :)
23. I am taking my scouts on a big field trip this week.
24. It's nice to be busy- again.

crazy

It's been a couple of crazy days around here.

Last night was the annual cub scout Blue & Gold banquet.

My in-laws drove in from out of town about 5 minutes before we were to head out the door & set up. It was a crazy whirlwind of dogs barking, uniforms being thrown on & copies being printed out at the last second... as they walked in the door. Oh well- that's life.My boys & I were in charge of a couple of games. We had an opener, plus a group activity - trent is handing it out the opening game here at the door. Everyone was trying to name all 50 states. Hard to do... but not for these guys. I wish I would've taken some pictures of trent here in his uniform with his grandparents!? What was I thinking? I guess it was all the commotion.

(Grandma & Grandpa had driven all day- they are here to visit for a couple of days. We were getting pounded with snow- 8 inches. Luckily the snow was coming from the south so they missed most of it until the got with in an hour of our house. I was nervous all day knowing they were on the roads...)

These dinners are not reverent type, fancy affairs.OH NO... after the prayer the boys hit the food like a pack of hungry beasts. I tell you what- my two semesters as a REcreation major at BYU- before I dropped out are really paying off ;)I was also was assigned to bring a plate of cookies but thought mini cupcakes would be cuter & so easy to make- I was right about the cuter part. One cake mix makes 3 1/2 pans of mini cupcakes. There are 24 to a pan so that means 3.5x24= 84!! I was thrilled to have so many, but then it took a while to decorate them. I had some white dipping chocolate leftover from Christmas, melted it & dipped each cupcake in it, then placed an m & m on top. They were really easy & so darn cute! I stuck them in the cold garage until the chocolate set up & they were great. NO messy, sticky frosting and that little bit of crunch from the candy coated top- YUM! If you make them plan a little more time that you think- not because it's tricky--- there are just so many of them! Tonight Grandma saved the day!

Trent had an assignment to decorate a plain paper doll into a Native American for a special Native American program next week in school. I normally love art type projects, but an art project with Trent is over the top difficult. He really doesn't want to participate. Grandma used to be a kindergarten teacher & is all over this kind of stuff. He didn't give her the hassle he would've given me... HURRay for Grandma!

with some help from Chloe & every art supply we could dig up from around the house...

Mission accomplished!
I cannot tell you how happy I am that this project is done.
Brett & I had a meeting at the Jr. High for Hailey's musical theater class, Jack was running off from rugby practice to help with an Eagle project & it was youth night at church- oh my.
(I didn't realize this paper doll was fuzzy- If I get around to it I will post a better picture of it tomorrow.)

It's been a busy two days...

I'm heading off to bed!

president's day shocker

So for President's day we stayed home & caught up on a lot of stuff around the house... sounds boring I know but- since I've been sick we were really behind & we are having company this week. Not too exciting we cleaned & cleaned & you know- vacuumed behind couches-zzzzzz The fun part is that after all the work was done we ordered in Chinese food!

**warning**

(You may want to sit down when you read this next part)
Apparently EVERY FAMILY our kids know order pizza or Chinese food all the time! Even weekly- Sometimes twice a week!? We are the only ones eating home cooked meals- the horror.

It's like child abuse.

-I had NO idea we were such odd balls-

The big kids watched a movie & me & this guy....

played our favorite game!
-He won-
GREAT DAy!

*do you order pizza or chinese once a week?

annual Valentine dinner-

It's tradition at our house to have a special Valentine's day dinner as a family.

I always try to make something really fancy & decorate.

It's a lot of fun.This year- with Valentine's day being on a Saturday- we had our dinner today after church.

It wasn't the same.

We didn't have balloons on each chair & the food was good, but not fancy. I made manicotti with asparagus & french bread. My kids LOve asparagus. We did have special drinks & a fancy dessert.

I guess it just wasn't the same because...

I AM SICK AGAIN!

-dang it-

I got a cold just after Christmas that lasted for weeks then turned into a sinus infection, went on antibiotics for that & they didn't work- long story shorter- I'm on a new dose of stronger antibiotics plus a decongestant. I've missed church two weeks in a row now.

I made the manicotti - then layed down for a second- next thing I knew everyone was coming home from church so they helped with the rest of dinner.

it feels like someone parked a truck on my face.
Brett said last night that my face is a little swollen just above my cheek bones. I have sneezed over 1000 times which is followed by a quick run to the bathroom before I pee my pants. Sometimes I don't make it.

I want to know-

if I pee my pants when I sneeze can I stop having zits now?

It just doesn't seem right to have both issues

I'm wondering if Sundays will ever be the same?

happy valentines day

creative thursday- felt cookie edition

This week for creative Thursday-

(Wow I LOVE my Thursdays...)

We met at Janae's with lots of projects in hand-Kristy brought yummy chicken artichoke pizza, bread sticks & brownies.

And- surprise- Karrie brought us all a valentine treat!

Our own bag of her fabulous carmel corn & a scooby doo valentine :)

I was sUper productive & made valentines for all of my scouts-

then worked on these-

Felt Sugar Cookies

I have made dozens of them this past two weeks-

I love them

You can make some too- here is the tutorial

I got the idea from one of my new favorite blogs-

Pamela Susan.

Pamela Susan's blog if Full of lovely things

she makes jewelry & lots, lots more ... she's amazing!

Check her out here!

really good news!!

It's a really great day here!

**JACK**

after waiting for months to find out....

GOT ACCEPTED TO BYU!!

GO JACK

GO COUGARS

things I have learned this week & the last couple of weeks---

* whenever cleaning the bathroom- don't set the lysol spray next to the hairspray.
* my head is now 99.9% germ free.
* I live in a zoo- (I supposed it was a good thing to spray myself- at least I didn't disappear?!)
* just when I think my puppy is potty trained...
I always step in it.
* missing church is not good for the soul.
* winter blues linger with me no matter how good my-
before winter blues set in- intentions.
* snow & ice is better than rain & mud any day - if you have two dogs.
* or a hyper nine year old boy.
* wiping dogs feet all day long is my job, whether I like it or not.
* I would rather clean the painted floor than change it- so I am not going to complain about it anymore.
* after reading michelle's post on progress--- I wish I would've picked a new word of the year. I've been thinking about that post ever since.
* I can try again- I bought Another pedometer yesterday. $4.99 at target. My third. The first one trent broke... the second broke when I fell & broke my ankle.
* I really love a snowy day~ really love it- maybe even more than my old favorite... the rainy day! this surprises me.
* sending good mail is better than getting it (kind of- in a different way?)
* I sent 5 packages & 7 pieces of good mail already this week- so I know these things.
* creative thursdays always seem farther away than just one week.
* it's important to me & I think to the human soul to have something in life to look forward to.
* there is a group of older gentlemen who meet at Target every morning to drink coffee & talk. I LOVE seeing them. I think they must be happy- especially since they wear cowboy hats.
* Next time I am there early I am going over & talking to them.
* seeing an older gentlemen with a Korean War Vet hat on makes me teary, happy & proud.
* saying hello & thanking him for his service & telling him my dad was there too- priceless.
* I have a serious sugar & chocolate addiction.
* the worst part- I don't want to be cured...

spt - I love it when you...

Get up at 6:30 AM & take the girls to piano lessons for me.

Because- trent got up at 3:00 AM & couldn't go back to sleep because he was

"bored."Or when you get up (the next day) & get me ibuprofen at 4:00 AM

because my hands hurt so bad that I can't sleep.Or- come home from work & bring me an early Valentine's present... new bottles on order - for my sand collection.

The store I usually get them from doesn't sell them anymore... which meant you searched all over the internet to find them.

I love that

I love you

family night

In an effort to keep up with my goals this year, plus to get back on track after a not so spiritual Sunday- we had a great family night last night. The lesson:

Putting on the Whole Armor of God

from an old FHE lesson I made when Megan & Brian were little.

Those lessons & my little FHE club- have proved to be worth all the effort over & over!!

Some friends & I- 10 of us, if I remember right? Would meet every ten weeks & exchange lessons we had made & put into manilla folders. Everyone would make 10 identical lessons then when you went home-- you had 10 different lessons. I love these lessons. They bring back so many memories of Family nights & good times. We have used them so many times! Sometimes I forget that Trent & Chloe need them too- they were too young or not around to hear a lot of them. We got out of the habit of truly meaningful Family nights when Trent was younger-(it was so hard, we still did it but sometimes quickly & always interrupted... severely interupted to put it lightly) We still have interuptions- it's still not easy- not everyone wants to be there- or participate...

But it does help to have great treats!!

I found the recipe here

they look really great in my thrift store find-

50 cent fancy dessert cups!!

*HOoRay for Thrift Store finds*

wii fit??

today I didn't go to church-

Trent woke up last night barking like a seal, which meant one of us was staying home. Brett was already dressed & up after going to an early meeting- so I was staying home.I set up the humidifier & got a ton done- honestly worked too much for a Sunday.

It's just so easy to do when I'm home with a sicko.

Trent set up the wii- & went at it... not too sick?

(did you notice- hailey got her hair cut?- cute stuff)

After finding out that he is just right on weight & a little off balance he went to town & was loving it between rest sessions, chicken noodle soup, & apple juice breaks.

The rest of us played a game of Apples to Apples- hailey won.

the wii fit has already proven to be a ton of fun!

Jack & the girls loved it. I may try it tomorrow when no one is home?
Later after everyone playing on & off all day- after the kids went to a fireside & dad to another meeting... I was getting some good mail ready & looked up to see this.





too funny!

saturday cub scouts

Today I got up before everyone else...

YES Trent & Brett were still asleep (that never happens)

to go to 4 HOURS of cub scout training.

Did you read that right?

FOUR HOURS

It was VEry informative & I learned a lot. Having been a scout leader before & having 3 boys- I already knew a lot about scouts, even still I learned some valuable things.

The #1 thing I learned (well, I already knew this-) is people who teach cub scout or any scout training are very serious about it- VERy SERIOUs about it. I'm talking borderline nutso.

Anyway, although I am glad I went, it kind of threw off my day.

I came home & took a nap. {hailey is the new proud owner of a driver's permit!)
Later that night Hailey drove us all (chloe was bbsitting & jack was with friends) to cafe rio to get pork salads. I can't remember the last time I ate here- it's been tooo long. I missed you.

Hailey is a pretty good driver- really!
Here's trent & I in the back... being brave- Brett is really good at taking our kids out to practice driving- I am not. I will hope they don't hold it against me. It brings back memories of my dad teaching me how to drive. We only had stick shift cars & he would mumble under his breath - well, hell, there goes the transmission. Whenever I think about it I laugh out loud. so funny!

After cafe rio we rolled on into Barnes & Noble. Oh how I love that place! I could wander for hours, but not with mister hyper here- who kept running down the isles whenever he found something. Oh boy. We went over etiquette in a book store- again.

On our way home we stopped in Target- JUST TO GET MILK.
Wandering around for a bit.... look what they had in stock-


Not the bundle- just the wii fit. Every time I go to target they are sold out. I thought they were tonight but just before we were leaving the electronics section I saw a worker putting one in the case- this one was in the stock room & no one had put it out yet. There were two more & they would "surely be gone before the end of the night"
So we bought it!
Happy day- Now I get to stand on a pad that tells me I'm overweight- and mocks me with a little fat girl- why did we buy this again? I'm NOT getting on it-

* how was your Saturday?
* are you a chubby wii?
* Have you ever had cafe rio?
* are you over the top into scouting?