Expect the Unexpected....

 

Lookin' good Mom!   Last Sunday, my mom fell and broke her hip.  Not the hip that she had replaced but the other hip.  Whaaaa.   Life has definitely slowed down for her as she is working hard to recover and walk again.  She is sure good to keep trying.  She will be 92 in May and has been so healthy!

Dallin is taking the picture ...it was a beautiful day in Manti.  There were a couple of weddings going on and so it was a busy time in that quiet setting.   After we finished a session in that gorgeous temple, I reflected on the joy and blessings of being able to go to the temple with my children.  It is a gift and makes me very grateful.  I remember when taking the kids somewhere in the car was close to severe torture.  Now it is just fun ....a captive audience and a great time to learn what they are thinking.

Our project for the week was staining the back patio in anticipation of the pergola that will be installed in a few weeks.  We did the garage steps first and I was in horror thinking what have we done???!  It was so ...so there.   It was so red.  We were committed ...paint can was opened and used so we completed the pad and I love it.  So much nicer than cement color. 

Have I Done Any Good....?

Wow...as I lay in bed this Daylight savings morning --trying to "sleep in" for a few more minutes, I reviewed the past week in my mind.  I have been writing a list of what I have done and worked on each day in a calendar.  It is supposed to help when  I write in my journal which I haven't done ....it's a good idea in theory. You look back on your day and when you read everything written down, it looks pretty good.

Welcome Clair Mae...March 7th

9 lbs. 5 oz   20 1/2 " This girl has some chub!

 The highlight of this week with great relief  was the birth of Claire. Natalie is not the only March birthday in our family now.  We are so grateful that Claire is part of our family and that she arrived healthy and strong.
Babies are a miracle.  They demand so much attention and in return, a bit of heaven opens up if we slow down and watch.

















CROSS CUNTRY SKIING AT SUNDANCE
Spring is close by in spite of the rain and stormy weather.  Utah has beautiful days mixed in with snow and rain,  and my tulips are getting taller . For a last hurrah we went to Sundance hoping there would be enough snow to do a little skiing.  It was absolutely beautiful.  The snow was icy to begin with ...great for speed and it soften as the day went on.  

As I backed up to sit in the chair, it sunk into the snow.

Hurray for cross country skiing!

Small and Simple Things

This kitchen light has not worked for many years and not so long ago, I asked Kim if he could fix it.  He took some time on a Saturday and fixed it.  I am so used to not using it, that I forget to turn it on when it is night and I am at the sink.  Last night, when I did turn it on, it just brightened up the area alot.  I thought about small and simple things.  It didn't take Kim that long to repair the frayed wires and it was so nice to be able to use it and I went so long without having that light that I really appreciated it when it was finally fixed.   I thought about what are the small, simple things in my life that I am not taking the time to do that could add up and make a big difference.  There are some that I just don't put in place because I am so easily distracted.  Staying on course would make a big difference!

This is a frozen whole wheat cinnamon roll  It even has some steel cut oats left over from breakfast in it.  It doesn't look nice and symmetrical like the ones you see on Pinterest.  I haven't made cinnamon rolls for ever so long.  The heavy wheat grinder/ bread mixer has been banished to the garage because it takes up so much counter space.  On Thurs. , a rainy day...I had asked Kim which he liked better for his packed breakfasts ( I pack breakfast and lunch most mornings so that he can get that coveted covered parking space by leaving early for work) coffee cake or muffins.   That afternoon, I was thinking how much Kim likes cinnamon rolls and opted for that healthy alternative.  He arrived home to the wonderful smell of bread and cinnamon.  One of my favorite memories of Bryce and Dallin when they were in school was the look on their faces when they would come home to hot cinnamon rolls.  Bryce would always let out a short yelp.  So  Kim was happy to see how in tune I was because his co-workers said to him that very day how much they would love some cinnamon rolls.  I scored big the next day when Kim delivered and I was relieved that I still knew how to make them!

Friday night, Dallin came home to work with his dad, installing a water squirt thing on your windshield so that his car would pass inspection.  They had a great bonding time.  It has been a year since Dallin has had his car.  McKay is still mourning the loss of his car and hasn't forgotten that Dallin owes him a car.  Since it will be a long time before McKay needs a car again, it will give Dallin plenty of time to save up!
Saturday was moving time.  We got up to Farmington early and started loading the UHaul for Layton.  It was a great work out and most of us were sweating even though it was cool outside.  Rain was predicted and we were very grateful that it waited to come until we were done moving.
 Brooke and Whit have a lot of work ahead of them unpacking everything and getting it in place, but they are so happy to be in their new home.

This is the new play room with Winston's room and bathroom across the hall.  It is above the garage.

This is the living room.  Lots of windows which you can't see but you can watch all the people jogging, walking their dogs, and biking on the trail behind their house.  Makes great dining conversation.

Someone called up Kim on Friday night and asked if he could come get a recommend signed.  Kim went and changed into his suit and while I sat downstairs, he interviewed a member of our stake.  It took about 1/2 hour which is pretty much Kim's speed...maybe a little longer since he had no other interviews.  My first thought was a little of irritation that people don't plan ahead but as I listened to how much Kim enjoyed the time and thought about the blessing it is for all of us to be patient and understanding with one another, I forgot about the inconvenience and  was glad that we were home so that Kim could have that opportunity.  Life is a lot like that...attitude determines if we enjoy and appreciate those little things.  They can be an irritation or a blessing.  We choose.  O, those little simple things!

Guess Who's Comin'

It's true!  Loida got her Visitor Visa this week and  now we can make plans for this summer and their visit.  It's gonna be great!

The Tale of Two Women

 The last of my summer onions...not kidding.  They lasted until February and were deliss.









We had a dinner for the High Council this week.  The best part was not the leftovers ...they were good though.  We all took a turn sharing highlights of our experiences in the Stake and it was very sweet to listen to accounts of lives touched and testimonies strengthened as they reviewed the Trek, Stake Conference, working with less actives, and seeing God's hand in our lives.  A sweet reminder of the importance of each person we serve and come to know.  We need to take time to stop and review those things that touch our life and reflect on how we are letting them make a difference in our day to day living.    

This past week we went to see Saving Mr. Banks and I read The Painted Veil by Somerset Maughn.
I have thought about the main character in the movie and the book and saw a lot of similarities.  Saving Mr. Banks was not at all what I expected.  The author of Mary Poppins, P. L. Travers did not have people skills.  She was demanding without giving back in return.  Kitty was also self centered in The Painted Veil.  Both had experiences that softened their hearts but as I dug deeper into the life of author Helen Goff, I was sorry to see the conclusion of "she loved no one and no one ever loved her".  They were speaking about her being a wife and mother ( she adopted a boy).  Her childhood was a pinnacle point of who she became and she never let go ( in the movie). 
I like the movie The Painted Veil much more than the book.  In the book, Kitty never really overcomes the focus on what she wants and cares about.  Even though neither ( Saving and Painted) has a happy ending,( except that Disney got to make the movie) it caused me to reflect on my life and ...what have I done with the time I have had?  A good  question to ask at the end of every day.
 My greatest joy and blessing has been to be a mother and a wife.  I have gotten distracted especially as a young mother.  I remember thinking...but what about what I want to do in life and why can't I do the things I want to do.  Why do my children have to demand so much attention.
 I made sure I kept the house clean, the children clean and where they needed to be, but I forgot a lot of times to step back and just watch who they ( my children and husband) were becoming and relax and enjoy the moment.  I focused on a lot of wrong things. In spite of all, my kids are now great adults. 

Saving Mr. Banks

I got a great email from Bryce's friend, James.  I posted it on tributetobryce.blogspot.com
It has been a great week.   Loved the Olympics--the stories of sacrifice and triumph!

Happy President's Dazy

Winston doesn't play with toys...he picks up whatever and just whacks stuff--like the snow

A beautiful day up past Camus at Whit's family cabin...the snow was a little sticky but still plenty of it!

Dallin and Danielle taking one last buzz around the tubing hill

It was a magical place and day.  Quiet. Warm. Open space!

Last Saturday we went with Kira to see I wasn't sure what to expect but I loved the movie and clapped at the end.  It was a goofy movie but had some great messages.  We noticed lots of equipment digging near the theater and remembered someone telling us that a WalMart was going in there.  No........    It will be interesting to see what Spanish Fork is like in 5 more years.  There has been alot of construction.
The Provo temple started staying open for President's Day for the last two or three years with the past two years staying open later than usual for a Monday.  It used to be our skiing day but we still were able to go to Whit's cabin and tube down their great long hill.   It was such a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun just driving the snowmobiles.  I decided to get brave and try driving one.  I found I felt a lot safer driving than being the passenger in the back!
My tulips are coming up and Spring seems so much closer with the longer days.  If wishes were out there for the taking, I would wish for either longer days or that I would get faster at getting things done.  I mean...where does the time go?  

Good-bye snow and I didn't get to ski much...!

Our cross country skiing buddies are back from Africa and so we planned a great day at Soldier Hollow.  We checked the time and everything to make sure this would be a good day.  We drive up in mucky rainy weather and puddles ...risking life to get there and we find buses and buses of kids.  Whaaaaaaaa.   So we drove over to Wasatch Park which I absolutely love to ski so the day was saved.  Ha.  No paths had been groomed for at least a few days...you couldn't even find the trails.  I did a few good face plants and we headed down the canyon.  We did eat at Shoots which was delicious and Kim got to speak Cantonese with the owner.  Not a complete bust.
February is birthday month for our family.   Natalie still has time to get their baby girl here to join the club! 

One year when I am ambitious I will make a posting of all the German chocolate cakes I have made through the years.  It is a must have for Brooke and Kira.  

We met in Bountiful for a birthday dinner at the Mandarin.  Here is their treat coming out...I just had to include this picture because of the girl's expression.
It was a pretty crazy night ...Winston was soooooo hungry that he cried at intervals.  We kept trying to amuse him and Edie.  Edie accidentally knocked over a glass of water and Dallin had some exciting moments as it poured onto his lap and all over the table.
The food was delicious in spite of the wait and hungry hippoes at our table.  We decided the Orange Glaze chicken was a favorite.  So good.
Then Winston discovered the straws and began waving them wildly about.  We couldn't stop laughing.  I tried to capture it with my phone.

Three birthday girls in a row

 Some times it surprises me what simple things amuse Winston when he shows little interest in playing with toys!




We took Kira to see Cirque Ziva...a group from China that does acrobats.  Dallin was in the balcony and got a great view of the stacking chair feat where the performer was way up high on a stack of chairs.

Later in the month, we enjoyed a dinner with all the Stake Presidents in the Valley at BYU that supply the college wards with leadership.  The meal is always artistic and delicious.  Can you tell what this picture is?  That is our dessert.  It was like a snowball with red velvet cake, white fluffy frosting and encased in a white chocolate dyed red with strawberry swirl and raspberries.  Quite simple but nice presentation!!    I have been sad this year that we weren't going  to see Vocal Point perform.  They are one of my favorite groups to get tickets for each year.  I must be living right at least a little because they were the entertainment after the dinner.  I talked to Bryce R.  afterwards...he used to live in the basement of Dallin's house and is a member of Vocal Point and he confirmed what I thought...a very different group to perform for as compared to BYU students.  VERY polite audience.  It was great anyway.