Amanda's day of COLOR!

There is a very large and interesting building just to the south of us here in Spanish Fork.  It is the Hari-Krishna Temple.  Who knew that right in the middle of "Mormonville" there would be a popular Hari-Krishna Temple?  Every year they hold a color fest in which any one and everyone (Dave thinks it's only for the crazies among us)  goes up to their Temple and for $3.00 a bag, you can buy chalk dust to throw at each other.  The chalk comes in every color imaginable and I think it is edible or at least I hope it is... because this is how Amanda and her friends came home looking! 
I'm glad they went.  They had a blast!  People come from all over the place to throw chalk dust at each other and have a good laugh.  In fact, Amanda ran into Jessica Tichener (sp?) while they were there which is amazing because there are literally thousands of people there.
I found out later, on the news, that there were 40,000 people.  The largest crowd ever! 
Dave saw the news footage and asked me what it reminded me of.  It didn't take but a few seconds before I said "Woodstock Baby!"  Awesome, we just sent our daughter to "Woodstock"!  Well at least she only came home colored, not stoned!

Lilly, Grace & Amanda...Colored!

Oh, how I love this girl!

 Amanda still had pink chalk on her neck at church today.  You're only young once.

Our newly discovered intercom system

I've discovered a new way of waking Becca up in the morning.  I call it the intercom system.  Ever since I've had back trouble is has been very difficult to navigate our stairs so I don't go down there unless I have to.  The basement had become the kids domain until recently.  More and more I am braving the stairs and the mess but mornings are still a bit difficult.  I used to go down there to wake Becca up but now this new way seems to be the best way of getting that girl out of bed on school mornings.  
See, her bedroom is directly under our office AND it just so happens that there is a perfectly good vent right there too.  Coincidentally, the other side of that vent is situated in her ceiling.  Soooooo... I call to her through the floor side and she answers through the ceiling side.  What could be better than that?

This is my side of the intercom...

This is her side.

I know what you're thinking...Suck it up and walk down the stairs.  To that I say, NO!
I have been getting down there more and more, much to the kids chagrin because now I make them clean up after themselves.  Momma's almost back in the saddle again.  Yee haw!
I think the kids enjoyed the "mom free" basement zone they had for 2 months, but I'm taking it back! 

Favorite Things!

Last night my ward Relief Society group had a very fun activity so I thought I'd share.  I mean, I love hearing about fun things and I have even been known to "copy" said things.  My theory is...Why reinvent the wheel?  Right?

This activity was all about our Favorite Things.  Each sister was given an instructional invitation and a paper bag. 

Here's the instructions:

1.  Pick your favorite thing.  It could be a favorite poem, story, scripture, book, hymn, treat, recipe, household tip, gadget, song, photo, website...really anything!

Come prepared, in 30 seconds or less, to share why it is your favorite.  Keep it simple, no stress!

2.  Bring, in this bag (the paper bag) or another bag, FIVE of your particular thing to share with FIVE sisters.  For instance, if your favorite thing is a poem that really lifts your spirit, bring FIVE copies of it to share.

3.  When you arrive at the meeting you will write YOUR name on FIVE slips of paper and add them to our bowl of names. 

4.  When it's your turn to share your favorite thing you will draw FIVE names out of the bowl & give those sisters the favorite thing that you brought.

5.  You will go home with FIVE new favorite things and knowledge of other favorite things!  Most importantly, you will know a little more about your Relief Society sisters.

We had such a great time!  A lot of women brought baked goods & the recipes because they love to bake.  Some brought quotes.  One brought eye masks because she loves to take naps.  One brought cotton balls soaked with lavender oil because she loves lavender.  One brought sea shells because she loves the ocean.  One brought a CD of her favorite music.  One brought Cadbury eggs, and one brought 5 passes to Women's Conference because she works on the committee that puts that together each year!

My biggest problem was that I have too many favorite things so it was pretty hard to narrow it down.   It was really fun to hear from different people and hear what they like and why.  This activity would work great for almost any kind of group that wants to have fun and get to know each other better.  

PS.  One of my favorite things is coming to Spanish Fork!!!  Hurray!!!

 

Friends & Cookies

Now that I feel human again, I've been making small strides in cooking/baking.  I'm learning to pace myself so that I don't take any backwards steps.  There are some things I still can't do.  One of them is laundry.  We have a front loading washer (which I regret buying) and we never bought the drawers that go under them to elevate them.  In order to get the wet laundry out, I need to get on my knees and pull it out which is a HORRIBLE thing for me to do.  Needless to say, the kids have been doing all of it.   Dave will be making a box to set them on so that I can actually give the kids a break.  Maybe I'll delay that just a little while longer Hee Hee.


Well, back to the kitchen...I really enjoy cooking and baking.  Last week I made some banana cookies that I got from a dear friend.  They are amazing!  She says they are her most frequently requested recipe and now I know why.  I've had the recipe for a couple years but just now got around to making them.  They are like mini banana bread miracles.  
Thank you for sharing Ms Lori. 

Today I made chocolate chip oatmeal cookies from a recipe that I got from one of my most admired ladies.  She never gives her recipe out but before we moved from Mesquite I hinted around that I would sure love her recipe.  The very next Sunday, she brought it to me and made me promise that I wouldn't share it.  Your secret is safe with me Ms. M.  
I will be taking some of these wonderful cookies down to some new neighbors who just 
moved in from Georgia.  I can't think of a better "welcome to the neighborhood" treat.

Ms. M's perfect cookies

Some of my fondest memories were getting home after school and smelling something wonderful coming from the kitchen.  I used to love it when my mom would make homemade bread or cookies and they were warm and ready to eat.  Nothing says comfort like that.  
So today, our home smell like comfort.


Two things that make cookies delish...First, most cookies don't need to be baked on a greased pan, so don't.  Second, use your timer!  I'm a legendary for always burning the last batch.  Just ask my family.   Why?  Because I get side tracked and I NEVER use the timer.  Today I did and every batch survived!!  Better late then never!

 

Don't look if you're squeemish!

Here is a picture of my beautiful new scar.  I know it looks pretty gross but it's my new badge of honor.
The blue strings aren't there anymore (Dave pulled it out).  It was actually one long string that when pulled, came out quite easily.  The black mark on top isn't there anymore either.  That was left over sticky glue from the bandage.  The brown mark to the left of the black mark is apparently a birthmark.  Who knew?  
My "badge" is about 3-4 inches long and about 1/2 inch wide.  Dave says it is healing very nicely, whatever that means.  I guess it's true but I can't see it.  Thank goodness.  It's a good thing I don't wear bikinis!  
The end...no more pictures or talk about my stupid back!  I promise.

Last of the snowmen 2011

 Things our kids do while we're away...It could be worse!

We had one more small snow fall a couple weeks ago.  Dave and I were out of town but that didn't stop our kids from having a little fun.

Pretty creative I think

I might need to have a little talk with Amanda...

Yup, Jeffrey is hoping for warmer weather.  Notice the swimsuit!

True Grit...

I've been a bit down and out lately because of my back.  Turns out that I had a "very large" herniated disk in my lower back.  L5 & S1 to be exact.  The pain radiated down my right leg and into my foot.  In fact, the nerves were so pinched that my foot and calf are still numb.  Dave and I were suppose to spend a fun extended weekend with some of our dearest friends but instead we ended up staying in the condo doing practically nothing.  We watched a few movies, ate way too much junk food and laughed a little...I was in severe pain when I laughed so I tried not to.

I know that I am blessed to have a wonderful family and amazing friends and this little bump in the road re-confirmed this for me.  I've had so many calls, texts, emails, and other sweet offers to help that I was surprised. Grateful, but surprised.  Dave took a few days off and was so helpful.  Honestly, I couldn't have done it without him.  He would help me with everything!  If he wasn't there, I would have been crawling everywhere or just stayed in bed.  He and the kids kept up on laundry, dishes, dinners, EVERYTHING! 

I wanted to take a picture of my incision but I can't take it myself (my arms are not that long) and I keep forgetting to ask anyone to take one for me.  Actually, I did think to ask one of my kids (Amanda) but it turns out that she gets a wee bit queezy when she looks upon such things.   She discovered this "flaw" this year in her college sports anatomy class.  When the teacher showed a film on an A.C.L repair, she had to leave the room and sit out in the hallway so she wouldn't throw up!  Needless to say, she has changed her career path, drastically.  Instead of the medical field she is now thinking about going into law.  Good choice Amanda! 


It has been just over one week and Dave has gone back to work, the kids are back in full swing with their lives and I am moving around, slowly.  Mornings are the most difficult because I'm pretty stiff and things are tender but at least I'm moving.  The house is way too quiet.  I didn't used to mind that so much when I could stay busy cleaning, cooking, run errands etc, but now it's a deafening sound.  When I was on the pain meds, I could just sleep the day away and have no guilt.  But now all I need is some ibuprofen and I'm good.  I have way too much time on my hands but my body can't move like it used to yet, and my brain won't shut up!  

For a few day there I would cry at the drop of a hat when I think of the people that I miss.  I told Dave it feels like I took a 7 month leap backwards, overnight, to when we first moved here.  Back then, I felt a pain so deep that my body literally ached.  It was all just too much.  Now, one thing is sure, we have moved A LOT in the last 21 years so this was crazy for me to feel this way but I missed Mesquite and the life and friends we had made for the last 8 years.  I missed our ward, our callings, but most of all I missed the one family member that we "left behind".  Our family "motto" has always been "As long as we're together, we will be just fine".  When we moved, I couldn't shake that feeling that we had left someone behind.  We weren't together so how could we be fine?   


But the thing is, we are fine.  All of us are doing just fine.  This last 7 months we've met some fantastic people.  I can't believe how open and caring and fun these new friends are.  Our kids are so happy with the schools and new friends that they have here.  They have been accepted so freely by them it amazes me.  They have a whole neighborhood of friends.  I have wonderful women who I get to serve with and associate with.  Dave has an amazing job with endless opportunities with a work environment that is like night and day from where he was.  And our "lost" member has found herself, happy, stronger than she ever imagined herself to be, with a loving & compassionate eternal companion.  


This experience has made us stronger and for me, made me look at some things with a very different eye.  I've noticed myself watching those of the older generations more.  I find my mind asking things like, "What have they survived?,  How did they cope when their kids started moving out of the nest?,  What aches and pains have they endured?,  but most of all, HOW do you do this?"  I know there is happiness in all stages of life but making the transition is more tricky than I thought it would be.  I look at my parents and all that they have been through 50+ years with 5 kids and wonder how they did it.  Sheer determination, commitment and TRUE GRIT that's how! I don't have to look too far before I am given a large dose of perspective.  So when I feel the tears welling up inside, I just breathe & look around me.  Life is good, pains and all.