The Graduate

Scotty had the opportunity to go to pre-school this year. He loved it!! They each had a speaking part at their graduation and many songs were sung. What a fun time we had. Here are a few pics from his big night.

Zing!

OK, so we have tried yet another new recipe and loved it. This is a super tasty garlic butter spread for corn on the cob. Cook the corn the way you prefer - grilled or boiled and then indulge. Mmmmmmmmm-mmmmmm!!!



Garlic Butter:

1 stick butter or margarine, slightly softened

4 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon chili powder - we are wimpy so I used a little more that 1/8.

handful of fresh chives, coarsely chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese

4 fresh limes, quartered

Combine butter, garlic, chili powder, and chives in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside until ready to use.
Cook corn and smear with garlic butter, top with cheese, and sprinkle with lime juice. The picture above is obviously much more heavy on the chili powder.

WOW!!!! This is sinfully good!

Home

This past Saturday was a sad one in our family. Zack's childhood home was burned to the ground. They lived in that house for 23 years. The company that bought the property from the Churches offered to let the Pleasant Grove Fire Department use it for about 6 weeks to train their men. The Fire Chief was kind enough to call the Churches and let us come to see it in it's final moments.


The firefighters did some little exercises inside for a bit and then they came pouring out of the home and said that it was time. They started the fire in the upper west side (Matt's bedroom) and it roared down the hall to the massive balcony that overlooked their lovely living room. Then it went downstairs and consumed the rest. It was so hard to watch. The firefighters said that it took 8 minutes for it to become completely engulfed.I believe that it was at least a 6,000 square foot home that they built all on their own nearly from scratch. So much of their hard work brought so much joy to so many.

I believe that there was at least 200-300 people who stopped by to see it. So many people have been a part of that home. We even had our wedding reception there. Zack didn't want to go at all, but I thought it might be fun for the boys to go see it. Boy was I wrong. The minute we turned the corner and saw the little wisps of smoke, I burst into tears. We parked at the church next door and walked over. The firefighters were so kind and let us go right up to the front of the home.



Zack kept his distance, but finally joined the rest of the family. Everyone kept saying that his emotions were close to the surface - that is a big understatement. All of his memories, the good and the bad, I am sure came rushing back to him. Our sons also shed tears of sorrow, particularly Mikey. When his Aunt Kali asked him what his favorite memories were, he immediately said, "Chocolate chip pancakes". I am so glad that they have such great and warm memories of this home. I have a great sorrow for Scotty and Emily who never will. I think Scotty was too young to remember it. Zack's dad didn't even come. It was hard enough for him to see the enormous plume of smoke from across the lake In Saratoga Springs. To be honest, I am glad he didn't come.

Here is a great close up of the beautiful double sided fireplace we all enjoyed.

Here is the news clip from the fire. It's a bit choppy, but still neat to watch.

I have been going through so many different feelings and thoughts. Today, I am surprised to find that I am dealing with anger and then back to sadness. Zack and I are working so hard to make sure that our children have warm fuzzies about our own home. Thank you so much, mom and dad, for such sweet memories.

How to:

This past week, Tommy had to make an instruction book at school. Here it is:

How to Annoy Your Dad

First, find a hat. Put it on slanted. Then you show your dad.

example:
Next, go to your dad and say "sqweemlesh" about 5 times.
Then, say, "Hey dad, I just texted you!"
Last, say, "Hey dad, I gots a toy and I likes to plays with it's!" Then he will get mad at you!

I'm thinking that we are witnessing the beginning talents of the next Pulitzer?

Recharged!

Well, for our Spring Break we were able to go up to Bear Lake for the entire week. We had a blast! On Monday we ate at The Bear Trapper Steakhouse. It was kind of pricey but the kids thought it was soooo fancy because they brought out their fresh raspberry sorbet to "cleanse every one's palate". The best parts of this restaurant were the fireplaces and that Emily kept growling at the wooden bears.

It was so windy and cold - it looks like I ran into the picture.

We were also able to take the kids swimming numerous times in the heated indoor pool. I really struggled with this due to two things. One, I am terrified of my kids drowning and two, the water was all cloudy and every time some stranger's kid came by me, snot was all over their face. I knew I was just sitting in everything gross a kid could come up with. Ew.

We really enjoyed the rain and snow. I know this sounds weird, but we loved it. We were all cozy and warm and had even anticipated this weather. The boys had a blast playing their Uncle Joseph's XBox 360 and I even played. We rented new movies and had a movie night every night but one. That night we had a Call of Duty 4 competition.

Don't worry, Zack will photo shop me into this picture later.

One place everyone has to visit if they travel to Bear Lake is the KOA grocery store. Odd suggestion, right? They were unbelievable. The first time we stopped in, the electricity went out so their computers were down. The man rang up our items, made a list and just said, "Come back tomorrow, I trust you." WOW!!! We stopped in at least 2 other times and they remembered us each time and even asked how Mikey's foot was. (He had sliced it open on the filter or something in the hot tub.)

Emily kept herself very busy.

On the last day of our vacation, we went down into Logan. I cannot get enough of this place. I literally think about it all day long. It was so pretty and every one was so friendly. Zack and I have always wanted to live somewhere more rural. It was gorgeous!!!I loved seeing the rolling hills of the farms and even the smells were inviting. And yes...I do mean cow manure. Ha, ha, ha!! (but only as long as it is a distant smell)

That night we also were able to visit with a friend of Zack's from his mission. We had a wonderful dinner and we had a great time visiting with the Peapealalo family. They have four gorgeous daughters and our boys had a great time playing with them. Thank you so much guys!

I cannot wait to go back to Logan and Bear Lake!!!

Who are you & what have you done with the real me?

%#*%$ This is the second time I am having to write this post - way to add insult to injury. Grrr...

Anywho...Right now I am dying to go visit someplace warm, beautiful, and relaxing. My friends' posts saying the same things aren't helping either! This is so very unlike me. I usually detest anything over about 72 degrees. However, this year is different and I don't know why. Maybe it's my itchy feet syndrome that I get about every 3 years to go and experience someplace new. Who knows. So, since we have a full week off for Spring Break, we are taking our family on a trip all the way to............Bear Lake. We are going to freeze our cans off.

Why Bear Lake you ask?

We were hoping to go to Saint George, but with all of the high school and college "no brains" going there for their break, everything is either booked or is waaaay too pricey. Luckily, Zack' s parents were able to help us find a nice condo up at Bear Lake that has an indoor pool. Hopefully, we will also be able to make a couple of day trips down to Logan. Other than that, I have no idea of what we'll be able to do. Maybe we could learn how to carve ice sculptures or go ice fishing.

All teasing aside, I am actually very excited. I love going to places I have never been to before and I am looking forward to the week long 'time out". When we get back I will be sure to show off my new tan ;)

Hey, does anyone know if you can rent a wii?

The people we ought to be... once more

A few years ago, I was blessed to have the experience of traveling to Pennsylvania. I was able to visit Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Valley Forge, among many, many other historical places. The Spirit there was as strong as it can be in the Temple. Amazing.

I have such a love for our Founding Fathers. In Doctrine and Covenants 101:80 it says, "I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood."

How wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father directed our Founding Fathers in such a beautiful work!!

So, on that note...I am excited, I am nervous, and I am thrilled to say that I am a 9 - 12er. What is a 9-12er? If you believe that it is vital that we live our lives on principals and values, you too just might be a 9 -12er. First, the principles:

Do you believe...

1. America Is Good.

2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
“The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the external rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” from George Washington’s first Inaugural address.

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
“I hope that I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” George Washington

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
“It is in the love of one’s family only that heartfelt happiness is known. By a law of our nature, we cannot be happy without the endearing connections of a family.” Thomas Jefferson

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
“I deem one of the essential principles of our government… equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political.” Thomas Jefferson

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results. “Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely to give him comfortable subsistence.” Thomas Jefferson

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable. “It is not everyone who asketh that deserveth charity; all however, are worth of the inquiry or the deserving may suffer.” George Washington

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
“In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude; every man will speak as he thinks, or more properly without thinking.” George Washington

9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
“I consider the people who constitute a society or a nation as the source of all authority in that nation.” Thomas Jefferson


Now, the Values:

Honesty - Reverence - Hope - Thrift - Humility -
Charity - Sincerity - Moderation - Hard Work -
Courage - Personal Responsibility - Gratitude



I am confused as to why everyone seems to have forgotten the lessons we learned from 9-11. On September 12th, we all promised ourselves that we would stick closer to what was truly important in this life. However, we are all back to the bickering, fighting, finger pointing, and looking out for ourselves and no one else style of living. Back to our September 10th selves.

I know that I am sticking my neck out by saying this, but I am sick and tired of people screaming about how patriotic they are, but when push comes to shove, they stand around whining and complaining about what's going on with our country instead of taking actions to try to fix it.

Well, I am no longer one of those people. I am now a part of "The 9-12 Project". It is getting larger everyday and it is gaining speed - rapidly (over 340,000 as of today). If you feel that these principals and values are indeed important and worthy of your attention, please join up. It is not a democrat vs republican thing. It is a right vs wrong thing. It always has been. If you would like to get more info and even see what other people around the country are doing click here.


I finally feel like I have a voice and that I am no longer alone in how I feel.

Lost in translation

This was Scotty's first St. Patrick's Day that he could remember. He made sure to wear green and he even had a green party at pre-school. Today, Scotty woke up just so excited. He came downstairs and announced that he had to wear red today because it was St. Spongebob's Day.



Get it ???

Design on a dime

I have discovered that I have an annual tradition. Every time Zack leaves on business, I get to work with huge projects on the house. What he doesn't know...right? I figure, if I can spare him the stress of my craziness, why not?

This was the first one:
My friend and I painted these "tiles" on the walls. We also painted our living room and the other walls in the kitchen. Twice - within two months.



Then, came the demolition of our kitchen: before and after.

This year, I was not nearly as brave or as energetic, so I only sanded and painted our bathroom cabinets and painted said bathroom and our bedroom. I was all set. I had a leisurely 4 days to finish everything.

Then came the call. He announced that his work had finished earlier than expected and he was coming home two days early. Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!! I had yet to paint our room and bathroom at this point, though they had been both primed. I kicked it into high gear and finished everything with time to spare. This could not have been possible had it not been for my wonderful mom and gracious friend who took Emily for me during my panic.
Here is my before and after of my bathroom.



I forgot to take a before of my bedroom. Needless to say, it was a very dark teal-ish green. Gag. Now it is a beautiful, light, calming blue. As soon as I have the curtains up and the new light fixture (someday) I'll post the picture. Anyway...where was I?
Luckily for me, Zack will not have to leave again until October. I wonder what I can think up to do next...just kidding, Zack!


Sort of.

Exhausted

Don't let this cute, innocent little face fool you...


1. Emily starts to talk at 7am and then decides to go back to sleep. Not a big deal if you are able to go back to sleep easily. I ended up laying there for about an hour and a half until Scotty starting causing problems, but that's a whole different story.

2. Emily woke up about 2 hours later soaking wet. Apparently, the little lush had too much to drink at grandma's house last night.

3. Ten seconds after removing Emily's diaper for her bath, she piddles on the floor. Yep, way too much to drink last night.

4. Emily was so cranky that I ended up putting her to bed a little bit before ten.

5. We got to church on time and she was actually in a decent mood until "it" happened. She was so excited to get the water for the sacrament that she nearly grabbed the tray when it was on the row behind us. When it was our turn, she was still standing on the bench next to me. I had one hand around her arm to steady her and as I grasped the water tray, she took a large lunge forward. To her surprise but not to mine, there was no bench underneath her step. As she started to fall, she threw her hands out to stop herself. She grabbed the water tray and it didn't just dump the water, it all splashed upwards and then fell all over the both of us and Scotty. My shirt, skirt, shoes, Emily's dress and shoes, the floor, the bench, and Scotty's pants were all wet. Really wet. The tray had to have been holding an extra gallon or two on the bottom.

She then continued her descent to the ground below and started to cry - loudly. I kind of sat there dazed and seemed to not know what to do next. I clumsily put the tray back together and then I gave her her sip of the sacrament (priorities, right?). Apparently, this made her even angrier. I handed my now empty sacrament cup - which was not empty from me partaking but still empty nonetheless, to Zacky, picked up Emily and stood to leave to go clean up. Little plastic cups tumbled to the floor around us as we walked out of the chapel. So embarrassing. It also happened to be our ward conference so it was extra crowded.
Then as the final "kick her while she's down" moment, I was hoping to get the sacrament when they came out to the hallway, but as I was speedily approaching the lobby, the deacon looked right at me, I held up my hand to signal him that I needed it, and he went right back in.

6. I just can't get enough of her!