missionary photo

In this week's missionary email-

Look what came- a picture!

This is Brian with his most recent companion Elder BAscar. Elder BAscar requested Brian send this picture home to his friends- who are girls. I guess he really likes American girls, thus the look on Brian's face. To quote my missionary- "Elder Bascar looks a little like sylvester stallone, when he saw me in pictures from home he nearly flipped over my friends who are girls. He likes blondes, he's a real goof ball."

so there you go... funny huh?

disappointed

Last week I started on a downward slippery slope that increased speedily until I totally crashed this afternoon. You see I come from a long line of complainers, sorry family, but you know it's true. I've been trying not to complain as much as I normally do (much, much harder than it sounds.) So in my attempt to be positive, look on the bright side, be like sis. monson & sis. hinckley-- I just made things worse for myself- oh what was I thinking? (I am really good at complaining, maybe I should just learn to embrace it.) Hearing how they never complained a couple of weeks ago at conference has really done a number on me. I keep comparing myself over & over in my head- then worrying about my list of to do's, etc. I just need to face it, I just have a lot on my plate. I guess feel so blessed that I don't want to be ungrateful.
Anyhow- last week I had a doctor's appointment. (The start of my downfall into my sad state.) I don't go to the doctor unless I really have to- not my best trait- so you know it was getting pretty bad. You see, I have been having pain in my hands off & on for years. They swell, or hurt in the mornings, or on cold days, after big sewing projects, etc. Well, lately they just hurt all the time and they hurt a lot. I can't sleep at night, favor my right hand & avoid jobs where I need strength in my hands. So I went to the doctor & ya she told me I have arthritis & gave me anti inflammatorys. She told me I need to take them everyday for a month with food, then we'll see if that helps. That should help for a couple of months & hopefully I will just have to do this monthly RX only a couple of times a year. I guess she didn't know that I have been going to Weight watchers for 7 weeks, have been really careful & lost 11 lbs. She obviously didn't read my mind to know that I am in a fragile state, any minute just about anything could set me off. Something inside me just snapped. Of course I didn't want to complain- but honestly it scares me to think as I age it might get horribly worse.... so I just started eating.
Yep, the old cooking me & over eater me came back- thinking she would make me feel better.
If it's possible to gain 11 lbs. in 5 days I just may have done it. Tomorrow I have a weigh in day but I am taking a pass & starting over. I hope. Maybe.... oh boy- I feel sick.

birthday boy

Last night we had a little birthday party for my nearly new son in law, Tony.

(10 more days until the wedding!)

Tony's birthday was last week, but because of work & finals we celebrated a little late.
Megan says tony is a meat & potatoes kind of guy so we had roast, mashed potatoes & roasted asparagus. he also loves chocolate- my kind of guy- so we had a layered chocolate dessert. Megan made him a chocolate cake last week.

Twenty four!

Oh, to be young again.

Tony is a great guy. We are so happy to be adding him to our family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONY

*would you want to be 24 again? Not me...

blogger moms cook

If you haven't yet... check out blogger moms cook.

I added this recipe today!

Tomato Basil Soup- Yum

a really long post... about a beautiful day

A couple of weeks ago, my sweetheart called me & asked me what I was doing on April 19th. He then suggested we come here-so we planned a special day away to enjoy the gardens & spend some time alone in the middle of our very busy month.Because of our wild spring weather, the tulips were not all up. The daffodils were & some of the tulips. It was all beautiful none the less.

Here are some - aren't they gorgeous?!


After walking part way through the gardens we stopped & laid on the grass. It was a very windy day but warm & it was nice to be outside without freezing.

While we were sitting in the grass talking this little boy ran over & was so delighted to find a patch of gravel. He started playing & throwing it. It was so funny to watch from a distance. Brett said- laying on the grass without our own kids throwing rocks was worth the ten dollar admission. Agreed.

I am sad to say that living on the opposite end of the valley, this is the very first time I have been to the gardens here. I loved it. There is so much to see. These fountains were one of my favorite spots.

Brett was so curious to know if anyone has ever jumped right in on one of the hot summer days we get in July? Tempting, I'm sure.

It's amazing.

I have always wanted to be a serious gardener. Being allergic to just about everything outside- has made that difficult.
Not to mention...

I don't really ever go into the sun. Maybe that's why some of you say I don't look 40? I really avoid sun. It bothers me. I swear I can feel sun wrinkling my face after just few minutes. Even with sunscreen & sunglasses I am miserable in too much sun. I guess it's my Seattle upbringing.

The mother of the gravel lover offered to take a picture of us. She was really cute like her little guy.

Chloe would love this a little secret garden behind doors.

Here is what was inside.

I loved the daffodils- everywhere. They have just about always been my favorite flower.

The waterfalls - stunning.

My next favorite place-

Beautiful.

We ate lunch at the restaurant there.

Tomato basil soup & bread.

Chicken fried steak with garlic mashed potatoes & grilled vegetables. A turkey, bacon, avocado sandwich with marinated vegetables. Oh my goodness - the food here was amazing!

Luckily we got dessert in the deli to go. About 2 hours later I was so glad!

After our adventure at the gardens we went here.

Male paradise.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of all the guys at the gun counter. It reminded me of ladies waiting at the fabric cutting counter at JoAnn's fabrics.

This place is a serious haven for the outdoors man in your life.

They sell about a billion different fishing poles.

My favorite place in Cabela's is the aquarium full of native Utah fish. My kids love this place & will be so disappointed they couldn't come.

On the way home we went to visit a couple Brett home teaches who is in the hospital recovering from back surgery. We looked around for my very favorite bakery in SLC & found it. I hadn't been there forever & couldn't remember where it was. Brett of course knew where it was.

Can you believe this place?? Oh my gosh- It would've been better to never find it again.

We went in to get the sweet couple a treat.

I was dying... wishing I wasn't full or on a diet - HA -

After taking a couple of pictures, Brett remembered the gentleman, who just had surgery, had diabetes. We decided we better not get anything.

I'm sure the people working there were thrilled to have us come in, take pictures then leave.

WEll it was a great day!

When we got home- the house was still standing, the kids had done all of their chores... it's a modern day miracle.

I really want to go back when the roses are in bloom.
*do you love gardens?

*and bakeries?

*what did you do today?

breakfast by trent

This morning Trent came in our room at 5:30 AM.

Brett explained- it's Saturday- we're sleeping in... go back to bed- your own bed- No don't get in our bed- No do not get into bed next to your mother.

Fast forward to 6:30 when the whole process started over again.

Finally he went downstairs & watched Tom & Jerry- his favorite show, of course.

Fast forward to 7:50 when he came in exclaiming

SURPRISE- I MADE YOU GUYS EGGS FOR BREAKFAST!

Oh my- what in the world- run down stairs...

What a gem- who knew?

Thanks for breakfast T- rent.

impromptu lunch meeting

Yesterday was a real treat. The blogger moms - who all double for Community Council moms, got together for a little impromptu lunch meeting to discuss some serious glitches in our upcoming fundraising concert. I called WEnde & KrisTY & said- hey what you doin'?- knowing full well they were for sure working on gift baskets & ... eventually going to lunch.
I quick jumped into the shower & funny thing, before I got the chance Karrie called me- so I of course called Janae. We all dropped everything & met at the local new place & ironed out- (as much as we could) the big mess that has now come up.

This little guy is SO GOOD! I can't get over how he just goes with the flow- what a sweetie. We had the best ever chips & salsa & he was right in there eating them with us. Every now & then he would say-- hot! I've never seen a kid who loves spicy food as much as this guy.

If I have to have to be involved with a major break down two weeks before a HUGE, already scheduled, major, community fundraising event, not to mention my daughter's wedding... I'm glad that I at least have to go through it with these guys.

Who have all by the way, stepped up & taken on too much of this job- just so I can have my own breakdown with the now very emotional job of preparing to marry off my first born.

Everyone told me planning a wedding would be hard. I didn't think it was too bad- until just lately it hit me-

I'm planning my daughter's wedding.
Holy crap- what in the world- when did this happen?

Wasn't she just going to kindergarten like yesterday? I swear we just barely sent her off to college, was that really 3 1/2 years ago? Where's Brian to make fun of me & make the situation light? Did I do everything I was supposed to raising her? Is she ready for this? Isn't she too young? Am I going to be a grandma? Oh gosh, let's not go there.

I just want the whole day to be absolutely perfect. Is that too much to ask?

This a lot of pressure for a non perfectionist like myself.

I helped with a PTA district Volunteer of the year luncheon yesterday. I was in charge of table decorations, food, invites- actually I was in charge of everything... but I had good help. I don't normally EVER agree to do table decorations because I am seriously not good at that... anyhow I was so thrilled with how these turned out that I am posting it!

I bought a flat of mini daffodils for $10- then pulled them out of their little places & put them in a white cup. Then I wrapped cute tissue paper around the bottom & tied it up with white string.

I put three on each table & let the guests take them home. They turned out so darling & they are so springy. Can you believe how cute these are? Daffodils are my favorite flowers. They really brighten my world this time of year.

rugby jack

Yesterday was a really, really busy day for me. The best part though was after all my business I got to go to jack's rugby game. Just me & trent. Everyone else had places to be & I was NOT going to miss this home game! Jack is in black on the right. Ya- with that funny cap on. It's called a scrum cap- I think. It's to protect him from something called cauliflower ear- which translates to: my mom will literally kill me if my ears are protruding massively off the sides of my head in my sister's wedding photographs, so I wear this cap.

He's somewhere down in the middle of this with his head between two guys thighs?
(Another use for the scrum cap is apparent here.)
I really don't understand rugby- yet. Even still, I had so much fun watching this game. It's the first time I have seen a whole game (so sad.) Trent was his typical nightmare public self. He wanted to go to the park way, way over across the field & of course I wouldn't let him so basically he spent the whole 1 1/2 hours splitting his personality between begging sweetly, screaming how bored he was, hitting me with his outstretched jacket sleeves, complaining, & telling me he hated me- oh ya screaming that too- then back to begging sweetly.
Wow that was fun. Not.

They lost- which is a real bummer. Especially since the won on Saturday- I was at the wedding shower- & jack even scored!

Do you like their t-shirts?
Viking Rugby... freaks of nature.
I'm so proud?

Jack for some reason has an overwhelming desire to do something dangerous. Is this normal? Do all boys have this? He seems to have it in his blood- thicker than my other boys. If I could scan... I would scan a picture of him riding steers at the junior rodeo a couple years back.
That just plain ticked me off. I had specifically forbid him to do that- then dad said he could. I wouldn't even go watch until he had done it a few times, then I went very reluctantly. I was kind of like public trent, but alas that attitude did me about as much good as it did him- none.

Can I just say...
This kid is so good lookin!

Jack & Seth

I took this picture from the car since it was so cold.

Seth- one of his best friends since 2nd grade- Seth is just plain family.

Seth is warming his hands- why you say- because it was absolutely frigid cold! In fact it was snowing hard on the drive over. It was windy & 43 degrees. The sun did come out after the game started. So much for spring. In typical Utah fashion we are going to go straight from winter to summer.

I've decided, the best part of rugby is the short shorts. Not that I know enough about the game to really make that judgement yet, but they just crack me up. Of course these guys wear under armor with them, not that I blame them. But, these short shorts just take me back in time.
* have you ever watched a rugby match/game?

*do you have a danger loving son?

*head wedged between his teammates thighs? sick really...

spt- what was I thinking?

I've been a mom for going on 21 years now...

I have cleaned up all kinds of messes, over & over. Floors have always been the biggest pain for me. The pitter patter of 16 feet can spread a lot of dirt around.
So what was I thinking when I painted my kitchen floor white & off white? Ya it looks good in the picture but it's so NOT GOOD. It is always dirty. Really dirty. I sweep it, scrub it.
It's always dirty.
Duh...
IT'S A WHITE FLOOR-

(NOTE TO SELF- next time you get the bright idea to spend days on your hands & knees painting a floor, paint it dirt color)

*do you know what I can put on top of my painted floor to make it easier to clean?

*have you ever painted anything white?

*I am glad I did this before painting my kitchen cabinets white, which is what I would like to do... or maybe I should paint them white with dirt colored specks?