just what's up?

I really didn't mean to go so long in between blog posts. It's been a busy week with so much going on.

Daffodils are blooming all over town.

I was asked to be the YW girl's camp director this year for our young women at church.

(so fun!)

We baby sat Nya for a couple of days... and took a lot of walks around the block.

Last Saturday night was the YW General Conference Broadcast- it was FANTASTIC!! We went out for yogurt afterward- then stopped to buy hair dye for this Hailey who is going to K.I.L.L. me for putting this picture up on here... yep- I'm a gonner.

The Saturday before that was our sweet Ella's baptism & her grandma made this darling cake!

Trent decided he wants to have his own cooking show on Food Network- after a "chopped night" for the young men & young women at church. His group won- proof he needs his own show! He practiced by making me some fried carrots & potatoes with a side of apple & orange slices while I was taking a nap after school one day. oh boy.

most importantly

this past weekend was General Conference

 and

I was privileged to watch it with this little guy-- and Megan & Tony & Charlie!!!!!

Yep they got here Saturday night & we are having 

the best time ever

Plus-- drum roll please......

missionary Jack comes home in 

2 

more

days

Wednesday April 4, 2012 

he will be home

*sigh*

great day for a rocket launch

 The weather here has been spectacular!

Perfect for 6th grade rocket day. Trent has been looking forward to this for a long time- I have been looking forward to the opening of City Creek & planning on heading there straight after work (I work most Thursdays.) But alas, both days coincided. Again - it was a perfect day for a rocket launch!

Look at this kid-- so happy!

Ya- he has green teeth.

Trent's teacher let the kids paint their rockets or decorate them & trent chose to "paint" his rocket with dry erase marker--- that got all over him & in his mouth when he held it in there for a sec. 

(even though I scrubbed him thoroughly when he got home from school, his face was covered in green by the end of the night- not too worry a good before bed shower took it off almost completely.)

 I can't help but notice how nice the kids are to Trent at school. Every kid in the school knows him by name & he know most of them. He didn't want to put the fuzzy stuff (can't remember what that's called) in his rocket. He asked me to do it & said out loud- I don't want to touch it- one of the boys just jumped in & said here Trent I'll do it for you. Trent is not comfortable with new textures.

 I am amazed with the ability of children to - for the most part- to be accepting of others & their differences. I truly don't think most of his peers even notice his tics anymore.

 Wednesday night was Jr. High orientation. The new kids & parents were sitting on bleachers listening to the principal & watching a slide show on all the many class choices etc. Trent was so excited/nervous he was ticking constantly. Jerking, whistling, grunting- jerking whistling, grunting- repeat over & over not in any particular order.

I whispered loudly "it's okay... I know you are nervous," repeat. Hoping everyone around us would hear me & be sensitive. About 20 minutes into the presentation the woman in front of us turned around angrily & said- ENOUGH ALREADY, YOU NEED TO STOP IT. I looked her straight in the eye & said- HE HAS TOURETTES. She glared at me & shook her head left to right.

 Trent buried his face in his hands, then in my shoulder.

I was stunned - I started to cry. 

It has been a hard couple of weeks here with other family issues & I think that was my tipping point.

My sweet neighbor was sitting above Trent & moved down one bench next to us with her daughter. I made eye contact with her & then started crying more- and more- and I couldn't stop the tears. Trent of course was worried I was mad at him. I just said without whispering- it's okay- You can tic if you need to- she doesn't understand- I'm not mad at you.

After the presentation she just took off walking. No apology- nothing. The gentleman sitting on the other side of us came up to me & patted me on the back. That was so kind & I needed that. We had to go.

 Oh YES

today was the perfect day for a rocket launch.

 I think most people probably don't know what tourettes syndrome is? 

But- I also think if you pay attention you can usually tell when a kid is different? I know I need to get thicker skin. These next few years are going to be hard for Trent & hard for me to watch. I don't know why we have this trial in our life. But- I know that I am learning. It just seems so unfair. We will be educating others as we move on to Jr. High with this sweet kid- I guess I didn't think we would have to educate the parents. But this is how it is.

"Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life."--Thomas S. Monson 

happy birthday missionary jack!

Trent & Nya

Today is Missionary Jack's Birthday

missing you jack

But DO NOT worry all you readers... all 4-5 of you...

Because Missionary Jack will be home in 

19 DAYS.

Yep- we are down to less than three weeks until Jack comes home. 

I have a huge list of TO DO: before the big day arrives.

Today I am hoping to cross off a bunch of those items, we shall see?

***

21 things about missionary jack:

1. Jack is tall~ 6'1" (that's very tall to me!)

2. He is very passionate about history & politics.

3. That means-- he is very excited to be home before the presidential election. 

4. He was a history major at BYU.

5. I can't help but wonder what his major will be after a mission? Will that change??

6. He is extremely patriotic & I would be surprised if he didn't kiss American soil when he gets to his first American stop-- Atlanta, Georgia-- on his way home. Of course the Atlanta airport is pretty dirty. I hope he does it anyway just because there are so many germ-a-phobs in this family. 

(I am anti germ-a-phob - kiss dirt jack!)

7. Jack is one of the germ-a-phobs.... so maybe I will be surprised? 

8. Jack is skinny. He has always been skinny & has tried to gain weight at various times in his life. He has lost weight on his mission & frankly I am worried that when I see how skinny he is I may pass out, fall to the ground, then cry. 

9. Jack has a dramatic mother.

10. Jack wants to own a ranch someday- I know this has not changed!

11. Jack loves horses & I'm hoping he will raise me some organic grain fed beef someday! Sweet.

12. Jack is a calming influence in our home. nice.

13. Jack is super funny & has a dry wit. He is a great writer & we will miss his emails.

14. He is also wise & once told me not to be friends with someone because I would be going down--

 "a slippery slope." He was 17 at the time & that really cracked me up.

15. Jack is named after my dad.

16. Jack loves to read & has read the Book of Mormon at least 15 times since he got his mission call just over 2 years ago.

17. He knows that book so well it's pretty fun to play Book of Mormon trivia with him!!

HA- not really he kicks butt at that.

18. He loves apple pie, junk candy, Mountain Dew--- how does he stay skinny?

19. Jack plays the guitar & wears cowboy boots.

20. Jack is very loyal to his family, religion, college, friends, country... 

21. Jack is a hard working missionary & will be a hard working honest man- what more can a mom ask for?

Love you Jack- happy 21st birthday.

When you get home we will open presents & eat apple pie!

I Spy all finished

Look what I finished this weekend~

Charlie's I SPY quilt!

I can't wait to give it to him in a couple of weeks when he is here.

We will definitely be spying scooters, cherries, letters, stars, cars, bikes, cupcakes... Oh I just can't wait.

For the backing I used some left over squares & an alphabet panel that I have been saving for just the right occasion.

~I love it~

highlights of last week

Last Monday - after a brief spiritual though- we went to

 Basket of Robins

 (that's what Trent used to call it)

 for Family night!

I'm not a huge ice cream lover, but I love to go to Baskin Robins!

I don't know if it's all the choices, those pink spoons, or just great quality ice cream? 

I just love it- we don't go there often... maybe we should more?

 We also made a trip to Target.

 Trent has been working hard for two weeks on a goal & this was his reward.

 Lego Harry Potter for the DS. 

Joy & happiness.

Sometimes it's just plain great to be a kid.

Thursday night we picked up my dad from the airport. He was on a flight up to Idaho to see my brother & got delayed (my sister works for an airlines so he frequently flies standby.)

Lucky for us he got to spend the night & visit for a bit.

Hailey sang & played a song for him---

and he played and sang a song for us. 

Then he told us a really funny story about how last week when he & my mom were on a cruise (they cruise a lot!) they were in the comedy show & George Lopez (the featured comedian) called him up on stage. He sang a song for George Lopez- then later they sang a duet. George- can I call you George?- at the end of their duet pulled out a $100 bill & gave it to him. SWEET!

 My dad, he's a good singer- and he tells that story much better than I do!

Chloe made him some homemade vanilla ice cream.

It was nice to have him here.

oh no!

This week my sweet Megan-- you know my daughter who has given me two beautiful Grandsons-- had a kidney stone removed. blah. 

Then-- instead of feeling better, she started feeling worse.

 Worse & worse-- until Sunday night she was in the ER with a fever of 106!!

106!

She had a terrible kidney infection.

She was admitted. They had a heck of a time breaking the fever. It kept creeping back & up to 106 again. 

After some cultures they discovered that there was Ecoli in her kidney. The kind of Ecoli that is normally found in the human body-- but not belonging in the kidney.

three words...

 MOTHER FEAR OVERLOAD.

or is that four words?

It's hard being so far away for many reasons- but this one takes the prize for the #1 reason it is too hard being so far away. 

Megan spent four days in the hospital.

I am so thankful for Tony. So grateful she married the best guy ever- seriously I don't have to worry so much because I know Tony can handle anything. I am also so grateful for the Relief Society! WOO HOO those sweet ladies jumped right in with meals & helped with the boys- amazing.

What's a mother to do?

Well, I sent a package & prayed a lot.

 I wish I could do more.

presents for the boys

Cadbury eggs & gum for their trip out here in 3 weeks!

I'm so relieved she is home now with her guys.

 Now lets pray they get out here safe & no one is sick.

no big deal, right?

I didn't mean to go so long without posting...

I've had so many great post ideas this week- but then I would run out of time.

My work schedule was different & it just threw me off.

So this post is just a little bit of everything.

What my phone looks like.

The wallpaper? A photo of Jack & Brian the night before Jack left for Brazil.

I made a delicious baked spaghetti that I found on Pinterest one night for dinner.

I've thought of making this before, it's really easy & there in melted cream cheese in the noodles. YUM

(my view walking into work)

Last week at Trolley Square they were filming a movie for ABC Family.

It's a Christmas movie. It was so strange to have Christmas decorations going up everywhere. Customers would come in & ask why they hadn't taken down the decorations yet. Um -- these are new. So weird, since Christmas was like... yesterday, wasn't it?

(my view of filming on my way out from work)

Does the blond girl look familiar?

It's Tori Spelling. 

It's so interesting to watch filming- the sound is all off. The dub the sound in later. 

  

There were loads of "extras" standing around & a Kraft Services truck. 

At work we were wondering if they would've let us slip in line for lunch?

Of course, we were too honest scared to try that! Ha- it was so slow at work with all the commotion- I don't know how other businesses did but it really slowed things down for us! sad

I made buttermilk biscuits & broccoli cheese soup for dinner-

 after we got 5" of snow.

It's been a snowy week!

On Dr. Seuss's birthday, a sweet 5 year old friend of Chloe's made her these "Lorax" inspired trees.

Chloe made two different compound butters to go with almond encrusted French toast for dinner Friday night. Oh boy.. so good.

(almond encrusted French Toast with honey pecan butter)

The highlight of the week was having Johnny come visit!

This is Johnny & I playing on the floor.

(I mopped this week- my least favorite household chore)

Isn't he cute!

He's starting to look like a kid, not a baby- wow. 

He was so much fun & made me even more excited to have the boys (Charlie & Joey) here soon!!

They will be here 5 days before jack gets home & for over a week after. 

Today: I went to sacrament meeting then off to work to teach a class on cooking with citrus. I made this & a few more things... it was so good. You should try this recipe while oranges are still in season. Can I say this week-- I am grateful for my job, that I love it. I am grateful for health insurance- we had several doctors appointments. I am grateful that Megan's kidney stone is out, yes she had a stone & now she is recovering- I wish I was there to help. I am thankful for my sweet heart! we got to meet for lunch one day. Good week.

35

days




Only 35 more days...
YES
I am just a little excited.
I have avoided the computer all day long so that I could finish Charlie's Eye Spy quilt.
It's almost done

oscar party 2012

Sunday night we had a little Oscar party at our house.

We invited our favorite par-tiers-- The Johnson's- of course!

I got carried away in the excitement, lost my phone. This is the only picture of people I took.

I'm ashamed & embarrassed of myself.

After the food was all prepared, I hung up my apron- my phone was in the pocket. I really do love people more than food--- although it isn't a surprise I don't fit in an Oscar worthy dress.

We started off with Italian sodas.

Isn't she pretty?

Greek dips with homemade pita bread- thanks to Karen- this was so good!

I must have missed the photo opp of the pita bread- yum.

Veggies & dip- don't let it be said that I don't appreciate healthy food.

Hot artichoke & chicken dip. 

(oh heavenly day)

Pioneer Woman's BBQ meatballs

I saw her make these Saturday on her new Food Network show. YUM- in real life they did not disappoint. 

PW's Food Network show makes me happy.

 It is the best cooking show ever.

 When I watch it I feel better about America's future, life, humanity, family, and... cowboys. I've considered buying Brett his own pair of chaps- if you know what I mean? Have you seen it? You really need to see it. By-the-way--- she has a new cookbook coming out in March. So far Salt Lake City is not on her list for book signings. Dang it- I loved meeting her last time around. I started blogging just before she did & I've been reading her all along - our blogging success hasn't been quite the same... oh well. I can't help but adore her. She lives in my mother's hometown after all!

Okay, back to the food...

 for dessert we had this INCREDIBLE- Chocolate Cake with peanut butter frosting- again thanks to Karen. I made darling individual parfaits- which I didn't get a picture of. My camera was lost before we pulled them out of the refrigerator.

So- what did you think of the Oscars?

I thought the company & food was a lot of fun- the show was okay too.