What I've Been Doing.... Not Blogging

I have really missed blogging these past few days. It feels like a month since I have written a post. Honestly I really love blogging but this week something had to give. Spring is a busy time at our house every year. Because this is my journal I am going to list some of the things I have been doing the past several days.

Wednesday...

I left sick Trent home with Chloe & met Megan at a wedding cake taste test where she ordered the most delicious, beautiful wedding cake.Very exciting. I have been on a diet (haven't been mentally ready to blog about that yet) so tasting wedding cakes was divine. After the first bite I swear I don't remember anything. It's like I woke up 3 minutes later & all the cake was gone. Most wedding cakes don't taste so hot- not Megan's, it's incredible- she wanted a cake that everyone would want to eat. I can't wait to blog about it after the wedding.

Thursday...

Chloe & Caroline had a recital. Karen & I took them. Brett was out of town W-F.
Hailey was supposed to be there but she is in Annie Get Your Gun at the Jr. High & the director wouldn't let her out of the costume check. She of course wasn't disappointed- 14???? Oh ya I sewed a bunch of cowgirl fringe on her costume. It's really cute.
I sent tons of good mail. Really like 40 pieces! The missionary had sent home over a dozen letters for me to send to friends. It was so fun for me to think of them all getting his letters. I wrote a page explaining to them how to write him back. The pouch rules have changed.
Plus I sent a late Easter package to Megan, Tony & the missionary.
Thursday night Celebrity Apprentice, which has been my favorite show this winter, was on & we knew Trent was not sick anymore! He was loud, annoying, & drove us all crazy. We have been watching the show- Jack, Hailey, Chloe & I all season- of course he picks the finale to really act up. Bedtime came not soon enough. Back to the show- I love that TRace Atkins!

Friday
I had lunch with Sky & Lori.
Picked up fundraiser posters & started hanging them around town.
The wedding florist canceled. *^%$%#@!!
I addressed many, many wedding announcements.
Brett came home about dinner time.
Chloe had 6 friends over for a late night.
Trent had 1.
We ordered 3 pizzas- the kids only ate 1 1/2.
(Being on a diet is Hell some days)

Saturday
Trent, Brett & I went to a beautiful baptism & lunch! It was great Kristy!
Brett went to Jack's rugby game. It was freezing I stayed home & worked on primary music. Brett back, we went around town hanging posters again.
4:30 leave for the conference center & go to the annual Young Women's Conference- which was amazing! Oh what a joy to be there in person. I loved it.

Sunday
The Easter bunny came a week late. Since we were gone last week. So smart!! I hope he comes a week late next year. Not only did we have a spiritual Easter- he must have saved 50-75% on basket fillers. NICE
We went to church late then after went to a missionary farewell- Brian's good friend Derrick-who we love. I could hardly write out his card through my tears. I really love this kid.
After dinner Brett took Jack to instacare to have them look at his thumb which was pretty banged up from Saturday's rugby game. I was kind of hoping that would be the end of rugby this season- man I'm bad. But it's not as bad as he thought.
Monday morning
I'm waking up to drive early piano lessons to this. Yep 3 inches of snow. Global warming- my rear. We are having record cold & snow. It's freezing!
Spring where are you?????

*do you have to let something go on busy weeks?
*is it snowing at your house?
*did you watch Celebrity Apprentice?
*Trace or Pearse?
* would you want your boy playing rugby with a bunch or brutes?

Great Mail

The door bell just rang & look what was at my door...

Our first letter from Chile & with a Good Mail Label!!

I am so surprised by the label.

Thank you Jill, that was so sweet.

I am sure she must have sent them to him in the MTC. I had no idea.

I love these labels

Order yours here!!

Our missionary is doing so well- I will post an update soon.

Someone's Got a Fever

Yesterday I got a call from the school. Trent wasn't feeling well. I talked to him, he said he had a stomach ache, his arm hurt & he had fallen down so he also had a headache.? That sounded suspicious to me so I told him to go back to class I would check on him when I came to volunteer later that afternoon. A bit later his teacher called the house, I wasn't there. I guess she asked T for my cell # but he couldn't remember it.

(I filled out the emergency paper at the beginning of the year, I don't know why she didn't check that.)

Anyhow, to make a long story short- they finally got a hold of me, I went & picked him up- he had a fever. I felt so bad- I walked him home & on the way sang the telephone number learning song (bright music) that I used with all my kids to teach them our home number, no one was around- but he looked straight up at me & said- MOM, you're embarrassing me!
I just had to laugh. This is progress for our Asperger kid. Embarrassment is an emotion he just didn't get- that is until his mother started singing to him out loud & outside.

Spring REcess In St. George

Friday morning we got up & into the car for a long weekend trip to St. George to visit my parents who moved there last June. We don't have spring break this year, just spring recess- Friday & MOnday off- lame. I can't believe it has taken us this long to get down there. But then we all know this has been a busy year at our house.We haven't been on a real family trip since Brian left. So... it was kind of nice just having four kids & max in the car.

They watched movies

While I napped & Brett did some work on the phone.

The view on the way to Southern Utah isn't too exciting but we decided it is way more exciting then on the way to Wyoming where the other Grandparents live. There are lots of little towns with fast food & rest areas.

Best of all in Beaver, Utah there is a cheese factory. Brett used to always stop at a cheese factory on family trips so we stopped here for some ice cream, baby swiss & sharp cheddar for Grandpa.

They had it all- and samples. Yum!

Trent was thrilled to see that they sold Jack Link's brand beef jerky!!

(notice the thrilled look on his face?)

We love Jack Link's commercials & watch them on Youtube all the time. So funny.

These two cuties were waiting for us!

After lunch we went to an art show downtown. It was great. There were local artists, live music & more.

St. George has the most beautiful historic district with a lovely water place for kids to play in. Trent who of course, threw a big fit & didn't want to go- loved it.

Chloe & Grandma made a hat in the kids craft area.

Cute stuff!

Trent was soaking wet before we left. It was at least 75 degrees. It felt GREAT!!

It has been so long since we have had nice warm weather- we LOVED IT.

Grandma & Grandpa have a pool house.

The kids had a ball.

While Grandma practiced for the Easter Sacrament meeting Trent kept her going sneaking over...

and hitting...

keys that shouldn't be played. (notice the tiny fingers on the bottom left of the photo?) It's a good thing Grandma is a good sport.

We played cards with them both. They taught us a new game called Golf. As you can see- we're all hooked.

Saturday morning after shopping - we found wedding clothes for Hailey, Chloe & Jack- score- we went to Zions National Park. It was gorgeous & so much fun.

We parked below the park & took the shuttle in to see everything.

The shuttles were great. They had a taped tour you listened to while watching some of the most amazing scenery on the planet.

Riding the bus was a big thrill for Trent.

Seeing sights like this in person was a thrill for the rest of us.

Of course the tour guide had many interesting facts to tell that kept Trent in constant amazement.

The kids, Brett & Grandpa hiked up to the three pools.

This is the lower pool.
Grandma & I stayed down below where the most amazing thing happened. I ran into my good friend, one of the amazing cooking blogger moms who I go to lunch with every month, Karrie. I had no idea she was going to Zions- nor did she have any idea I was going. She is so sweet & had brought me two boxes of girls scout cookies just the day before we left- thin mints & samoas, our favorite. I didn't get a picture of them because they were gone so fast. I didn't have my camera with me since Brett had taken it up the hike. What a great surprise.

I wish these pictures did the park justice, they just don't.

It was magnificent.

These cliffs are well over 300 feet high. I wish I remembered some of the facts... I do but I bet I would get them wrong so I am just a little too nervous to type them out.

We saw a climber- crazy. He/She was just a little speck way up the cliff- AMAZING.

I bet it's really fun to be there when all the leaves are on the trees. I think we had a better view with out them.

View from inside the bus- I loved the huge windows, there were even window's on the roof so you didn't miss any of the spectacular view.

My folks & I.

Now you know where I get my good looks!

(jack trying to look rowdie like trent- he turned his hat so they would look like brotha's)

We had the best time.

It was a real treat to get out of the winter weather (only 48 degrees in our town) and get to spend some real quality time with Grandma & Grandpa.

The ride home wasn't too bad. We left the wedding clothes, I guess we had to leave something.

Severe bed head kept us laughing the whole way back.

some of the highlights I didn't get pictures of...

Easter Sacrament meeting at G & Grandpa's church.

Delicious Easter dinner & card game with the WEaver's friends from growing up in Seattle who live down here too.
Thanks for such a great time MOm & DAd. We'll see you next month for the wedding open house in Cedar City!

*do you have spring break or spring recess?

*have you ever been to Zions?

* do you like girl scout cookies?

*learn more about Zion's National Park here.

Bridals

Yesterday I went to Orem to learn how to tie a corset on my daughter, then learn how to help her put on her wedding dress. We were preparing for today...

We met the photographer downtown.

This whole wedding stuff is surreal for me.

It was really fun to be in the distance watching, occasionally adjusting her slip.

I stopped into the Lion House & bought rolls for the photographer.

This guy came with us. He put his arm around me when the tears came. Happy tears. Tears that are in shock wondering, when did all this happen?

She is going to be a beautiful bride. I feel bad that I have been so busy lately. Until today I really hadn't thought through the fact that my daughter is really getting married. It's exciting. It's fantastic. He is a lucky guy. Maybe it's good to be busy.

Before we left for home we ran into these. You can't tell from the photo but they are miniature daffodils. My very favorite flowers are daffodils. Tulips were coming up everywhere. They are about 2 inches high- by the wedding day this place is going to be gorgeous!

Mother of the bride??? I'm speechless.

*do you love daffodils?

* have you ever had REAL Lion House rolls?

(by the way you should've seen the photographer's face when I gave him the rolls- delighted!)