Family Valentines

Our moms are awesome. We have been receiving some great Valentines. From the Hewlett's we got a dragon kite with a 6 ft wing span which should be fun to try out at the beach. We also received a package from the Speths that contained treats and JDs favorite hoodie that was left behind when we visited Utah. We love our Valentines and our moms.

Countdown to a Utah Christmas

Ever since I was little my mom has always given us advent calendars to count down to Christmas.  She even made a home made one for my sister Christie filled with Trident chewing gum, mints, etc since she was allergic to the chocolate in our calendars.  This year she sent my sister and I advent calendars not counting down to Christmas, but counting down to when we would be flying home for Christmas.  The countdown consisted of a string of lights along with Christmas Trivia Cards with the date and how many days remaining written on each one.  So fun!  We are really excited to be with our family in December.

Mum's Day

The Girl in a Whirl by ‘Dr. Sue’ (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!

You could do what I do

If you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;

I bake,

I upholster,

I scrub,

and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;

I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their classrooms!

I sew all they wear!

I drive them to practice!

I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;

I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano!

I bless with my talents!

My toilets all sparkle!

My checkbooks all balance!

Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;

I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)

I’m taking a class on the teachings of Paul,

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all .

I track my bad habits ’til each is abolished;

Our t-shirts are ironed!

My toenails are polished!

Our family home evenings are always delightful;

The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully, too.

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;

I know all the names of each youth in my stake!

I read to my children!

I help all my neighbors!

I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;

My visiting teaching is done the first day!

(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.

It’s the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;

I seek each “lost lamb” on my Primary roll.

I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all .

I write in my journal!

I sing in the choir!

Each day, I write “thank you’s” to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!

My kids get straight A’s!

And their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;

I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

I go to the temple at least once a week;

I change the car’s tires!

I fix the sink’s leak!

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;

I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-years’ supply;

My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard;

’tis good if you do them;

You can if you try!

Just set goals and pursue them!

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!

If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It’s easy!” she said

and then she dropped dead.

I know, kind of a goofy poem, but I like it.  And while not all of these things were done all the time growing up (which was the point of the poem in the first place, that no one can do it all), it is amazing to see how amazing moms are at doing so much.  I am grateful for my mom and all the sacrifices she has made for me and for the example she has been to me of service, of a job well done, and being kind to those around me.  She is amazing to say the least. Happy mother's day!

Costco H'orderves

I have a habit of stopping by Costco on my way home from work on Thursdays. I usually get the same few items in rotation as needed: gas, bread, and milk. There is an extra reason for stopping by Costco too though: SAMPLES. Yes, I am one of those people who go around trying one of each sample with no intent to purchase anything more than my bread, or milk, or the gas that I already bought. Yesterday I was talking to my sister who works in the eye department and guess who comes up? My mom! She was there to eat samples too! I was very excited though I really don't think she taught me this habit. We proceded to each buy our one item but not before trying: beef sirloin, cheese, chips, BBQ chicken wings, salsa, chocolate pomogranite bites, and other assorted h'orderves most likely to get poor unsuspecting individuals to invest more money into their Superbowl celebrations, but not us, one item each and quite content after extreme light snacking.

Ogden 5K

I had a blast this morning participating in the Ogden 5K with my mom. We enjoyed the river walkway, the trees, the river, getting in front of pig tail girl (a girl who was 'run/walking' that we kept passing by just walking because she would run by us and then start walking slowly right in front of us and it was driving me crazy), and taking pictures all along the way. It was also a good revelation to my mom that I do not have a 'flat' lung anymore. What a great, fun, and beautiful way to start the day!

Happy Mum's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I found it only suiting to honor my amazing mom on such a fun holiday. My mom is one of the coolest people I know. I don't know of many mothers who are willing to drive their kids to California for a surfing competition and rock concert on the beach-Switchfoot Bro-Am-, drive her daughters to the Rock Springs Wyoming Fair to see the same band play, and ask for the lead singer to put some sunscreen on her nose (pictured above, Jon Foreman of Switchfoot), go with us to competitions in Alaska, Portland, Florida, sponser Tennessee, and help with the projects that got us there. Take us on such trips as Fish Lake every year, California, Oregon (multiple times), Florida, Lake Powell, Wyoming, and the spontaneous state trips. Let me paint my wall green despite her fear of color on walls. I have learned much from my mom: never be late, always be on time, always take a water bottle with you even if you don't need it, don't be afraid to go somewhere new or try something new, learning is fun and important, go to college, math is hard even for adults, check the weather at least 10 times to be fully prepared (I have dubbed her the "Weathermom"), finish the jobs you agree to do, how to appropriately and satisfactorily clean a bathroom including a scrubbed sink/tub, how to make peach jam, service is important, fulfilling callings at 110%, don't get sick (and if you are try to hide it or she is freaked out), you have to learn to cook even if you hate it, make lists, and this list could go on for awhile. I love my mom so much, she is awesome, and I am super blessed to have her in my life.

Sparrows in the Dryer

I was on the way to my parent's house to meet up with my mom for lunch. On my way, I get a text from my mom that reads: Help! some critter is in the vent by my dryer! help its big!

I get to the house and my mom is armed with a butterfly net. I asked her what she thought she was going to do with a butterfly net.....apparently that is the best way to catch a bird. I opted for a pillow case. After Bandit escaped the dryer (so named since my mom initially thought there were some really noisy robbers in the house when she got home from her walk) I scooped her up in the pillow case. We took Bandit outside and let her out of the pillow case, she circled the field a few times before calming down. What a funny adventure!