Kendra's Bucket List et cetera...

The Zoo Outing

2010-10-15T16:08:00.003-07:00

I took my Crew to the zoo today and we had a really great time! My kids and I enjoyed looking at all of the exotic animals and it seems like every year a new species is added. The most recent addition is a pair of koala bears. I think Koala's are the cutest little critters and they were definitely our favorite of the day.

Anyway, Kacey was insistent upon "walking." I took my double -sit and stand- stroller along. Basically to haul all of our stuff. You know, waters, lunch, and diapers. The basics. Little Lou rode and didn't mind at all, but I had to ~~force~~ persuade Kacey to climb onto "the stand" so that we could just get through the admissions line. E.T. and Josh were really great helping me keep track of the girls. I have two awesome boys who will be fabulous dads someday!

We paid our fee and as soon as we entered we were accosted by "photographers" who were dying to take our picture. "No thank you," I said, as I politely turned them down. Usually, I tell them that I am Amish. One time awhile back, one of the guys actually believed me and for the life of me I don't know why. Maybe he doesn't know that much about the Amish. {Yeah, I have a serious sarcastic streak that gets me into trouble every now and then. So what.}

Now I could go on to list every detail about our adventure, but that would be completely boring. I hope you are not bored reading this, but if you are that's cool because I'm tired and I have a hard time coming up with dry wit when I'm tired. So instead of a boring dialogue, enjoy some pictures.

These three were fascinated with a bunch of water turtles. And I for once didn't care if they fell in or not. :)

Here is my firstborn. He is the best big brother!

Josh's new mother. He said, and I quote, "Get away, Kacey. This is my new mom."

Quite the comedian, Josh is.

Josh was pretty much begging me at this point to take his picture. I'm glad he enjoyed all of the interesting animal statues.

Is Kacey sitting on a wild boar?

Little Lou was entranced by the pelicans. I literally had to tear her away. I had hoped to capture the pelican better in this photo, but they move too much and my camera is kind of woosey.

My Crew nestled in with the elephants. Wow! They are good looking, aren't they?

Like I said in the beginning, we had a great time at the zoo and we will go back!

p.s. By the way, we saw Marlow and her kids. What a surprise! Her new baby is gorgeous!

A Customer Review -of Being Robbed...

2010-10-13T21:58:00.001-07:00

We bought our Pilot two years ago at Arrowhead Honda in Peoria, Arizona, and as part of our contractual agreement, they were so kind as to throw in free oil changes for a year!

I know, isn't that awesome?

FREE OIL CHANGES!!!!

Ya, right, whatever.

After that first year, I just kept going back because it was easy to do and they were very accommodating to me. I have had a tune up, my rear brakes replaced, numerous oil changes, a few car washes and I have taken advantage of their courtesy shuttle. Unfortunately, I feel like the quality of service has slipped a bit. Usually, they are very helpful and give me what I want. The last time I took my car in for a little work, at the end of July, I scheduled an appointment for an oil change and for a brake check on my front brakes because they were squeaking so much. I waited in their waiting room. About an hour later, the work was done, brakes were fine, but they had given me a long list of items that they said needed to be repaired. This didn't sit well with me. I had never been given a sales pitch by them and of course they wanted to get started right away. Forget about it!

In June of 2009, we replaced a dead battery in our Pilot. We took it to our neighborhood mechanic, highly recommended by some friends of ours. I have dealt with him quite a bit and have come to rely on his expertise and solid business practice. Battery taken care of and a two year warranty guarantee. {Can warranty and guarantee go together?} All was well....

Until a few weeks ago. I was completely baffled when we went out to the car one morning to find that it would not start! We had a guy come over who got it started for us and then had the battery tested. Yep, you guessed it, dead battery. I kept thinking how weird it was that the battery would be dead already, it was still practically new! We decided to drive on over to our trusty mechanic and have it replaced.

I noticed as one of the mechanics was taking the battery out he was examining it. He brought over another mechanic to look at it too. I thought, "That's weird." Next thing I know, the owner is at our window yelling at us that the battery they replaced was not his battery. It was a brand that they do not sell....a brand they have never sold. It was also noted that the battery was an old, used one. The way the guy came at us was like he was accusing us of something....well, it was upsetting! My first thought was that one of his people scammed us, but I vaguely remember seeing the new battery last June after it was put it and it wasn't the same one. Plus, I trust this guy. So we began to realize at some point in time our new battery was switched for an old crappy one, and I have suspicion to believe that it happened at Arrowhead Honda. Why? Because it is the only place that has worked on my car during these last couple of years. It is the only place that has opened my hood except by either My Man or myself.

My Man called Arrowhead Honda and talked to a manager about the situation but the conversation was pointless...I think he should have demanded $90, which was about how much we paid for the battery that was stolen.

Lesson to learn here? Always watch your stuff. Keep tabs on every detail of your vehicle, take time to check it out after you have it worked on, and find a trustworthy mechanic who won't pull stupid crap on you.

It isn't unheard of for service centers to "alter" your car so that you have to go back...cuz they know you will. You can know I won't be going back to that place. Remember, the dealership is called Arrowhead Honda in Peoria, Arizona and they will most likely scam you, lie to you, and/or rob you in one way or another. {And by the way, all three of those things happened to us there.} I will never go back. Not in a million years.

Gut nacht.

I Made Divinity Today

2010-10-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid growing up, my Great Grandma Campbell used to make us a little box full of homemade cookies and candies during the holiday season. This was seriously the highlight of decadent Christmas treats for me. I looked forward to the goodies she made each year. Then of course, the older she got, the more difficult it became to cook for us. And let me tell you, she could cook! She made the best homemade chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles. Once when she invited my family over for dinner, she was in her 80's by then, had gone all out by cooking a ham, a roast, and a chicken. Plus, all of the sides you could ever imagine! I was in heaven to see so much delicious food! I will always remember that about my Grandma. She was a great cook and a good woman full of love for all who has long since passed on from this life.

Since she has been gone one of the things I have missed about her is the holiday baking that she would share with us. One of the candies she would make every year was divinity. It was never a particular favorite of mine, but I distinctly remember it, and thought it would be fun to try and learn the art of divinity making because evidentally it is an art.

About a month ago, I made my first batch, ever, of the fluffy white candy. I thought it turned out decent. This afternoon, I used my Great Grandma's old recipe. I bet she was in Heaven, watching me as I made the candy, shaking her head side to side as I botched her perfect recipe. I'm not sure how much humidity is too much to make divinity. Apparently, the drier the air the better. {I even checked the Weather Channel to learn that the humidity was at 30%.} Maybe my house was too humid, I don't know...it just wouldn't set. I have a couple dozen flat pieces of divinity that are extremely soft and sticky. Oh well. I'll wait a few weeks and try again.

This is what I ended up with...

And this is what it should look like. Boo hoo.

Now that is some divinity!

Let me know if you have any tips for making divinity...or a "foolproof" recipe that you would be willing to share with someone like me. Thanks!

Liquid Gold

2010-10-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

is what I like to call honey.

I recently aquired a good amount of the sticky goodness from my stomping grounds in Southeastern Idaho. I love honey. It is so delicious and there is nothing like it. This honey came to me in five pound buckets, complete with a little dirt and a few stingers. Ya, you heard me right and I can't believe honey made it on my blog. Can you tell I'm a little excited? I can't wait to try it with a little peanut butter on bread!

A few fun facts about honey:

Honey helps burn fat while you sleep. I don't know the science behind it, but I think I'll take a teaspoon or two before bed each night.

It will last forever. I heard a story that jars of honey were found in ancient Egyptian tombs and when tasted they were still good. I am not sure if that story is true or not, but I do know that honey will last forever.

Honey is made by bees after they drink the nectar from flowers. When their honey stomach is full they head back to the hive where house bees suck the nectar out of their stomachs. Then the house bees "chew" it for about 30 minutes and then spit it out into the honeycomb. So honey is regurgitated nectar?

And now for that sandwich....

So I'm writing this post dead tired and my legs are having fits. It's time for bed. Sorry, I tried to be witty, but I think I bombed that tonight. Oh well. Did I mention that I love honey? Oh, okay, good.

The Ice That Fell From The Sky

2010-10-05T21:24:00.001-07:00

During the last two days I have seen several amazing rain storms. I have never seen anything like it in my life for this time of year. This evening, just before 5:00, giant black clouds started rolling in. We decided to pick up some dinner instead of going straight home and we ended up in the middle of a massive thunder storm that threw chunks of ice to the ground that were bigger than a freaking quarter! The hail pocked my Pilot up, stripped trees and bushes of leaves and limbs, shattered windows, toppled trees and powerlines and flooded the streets. And I don't think it is done yet. I am in awe.

I am learning of more and more people that I know whose windows, solar panels, and sky lights are shattered. They are spending the evening cleaning up glass and water. Our neighborhood didn't get hit as hard and I'm grateful for that. Everything is still intact. I'm praying things stay that way. The Phoenix Valley sure has some freaky weather sometimes! Mylanta!

This is a picture of a couple of pieces of hail...next to a quarter!

Sorry, it is kinda blurry.

We were in the car when the storm hit. I had Joshie and the girls. They were all scared to death. Emma was bawling and Kacey was hiding under a blanket. Joshie's eyes were as big as saucers. I hoped the windows wouldn't break and wondered when in the world it would end.

Here is my poor car. Boo hoo.

Can you see the big dent?

When we pulled onto our street there was a beautiful full rainbow over our house.

Followed by a double. The second one is a little hard to make out. I wish I had a better camera to capture this stuff.

Then I turned around to the west and saw the sun coming out of the clouds and I took this half decent snapshot.

I can only think of God's majesty and power. I am still in awe.

A Summary of Our High Adventure

2010-10-05T14:11:00.002-07:00

My kids and I got home from Utah last night. We were gone for four days. Two were spent driving, and the other two in Salt Lake City. Everyone of us, except for the girls, were able to go to at least one session of General Conference. It was a privilege to be able to go and I am grateful that I was able to take my kids. I think they enjoyed it!

The outskirts of the Sea of People.

Temple Square was bustling. There was a sea of people... with hundreds of thousands of conference goers all over the place! It was crazy and exciting all at the same time! I had to push my way through crowds with my Crew right behind me. It is a blessing that nobody got lost.

My parents were so kind as to offer their professional grand parenting skills to babysit Kacey and Little Lou so that I could attend two sessions of General Conference. I was kind of worried about it because my girls can be a bit of a handful. Looking at them, maybe you wouldn't think so...

So, when I arrived at the Hotel, after the Sunday afternoon session I wasn't surprised to find my dad was at his wits end; but he was still able to smile as the two climbed all over him demanding his attention. I didn't think to take a picture of that part, but here is my dad...

I sure love and appreciate him and my mother for their help! I know that my children will always remember the interaction you give/have given them. Thank you for everything!

*******

Here are some pictures from the day. Enjoy!

Buying food on Sunday... Does this photo highlight the irony, or what?

I would have stayed to listen longer, but I was in a hurry. {Looking at the picture right now, I am just noticing the pile of money he was collecting.}

The Conference Center can seat over 21,000 people. In the photo above, I was sitting on the Terrace right up against the left hand wall with my mom, E.T. and Joshie. It was cool to see all the people on every level. I can only imagine how thrilling it would be to sit down on the "stand" looking up to get a full view.

Here I am with my Madre...E.T. is peeking over my shoulder and Joshie took the picture. :)

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir standing in their places before the session started. We could only see the men's section and an embellishment of the women's. What an amazing choir! If you would like to hear a sample, go here.

Overall, despite the fact that My Man was not with us, our trip was wonderful. Some might wonder why I made the trip without him, but I felt strongly that my boys needed to go to General Conference and experience it for themselves. I am very happy that they were able to go and listen to the prophet and apostles speak. I wanted them to have this opportunity while they were young so that they will have these memories to think back on as they grow up. These are the days of our lives, never to be forgotten. Thanks to My Man for letting us go even though you couldn't get the time off.

*******

Here are two things that I learned: 1) I am getting too old to drive 12 hours straight and the only thing that keeps me awake is sunflower seeds. {I'm paying for it today with canker sores in my mouth.} And 2) It doesn't matter how fast you drive, you can't outrun 4 thunder storms.

The Man In The Devil Mask...

2010-10-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

...was really quite frightening wandering around North Temple yelling, no...intimidating conference goers. Now that I mention it the anti-Mormon picketers were really quite nervy yelling vulgarities at us...calling us idiots...trying to provoke us.

I tried in someway to sheild Ethan and Joshua from the verbal abuse by instinctively putting myself between the man and my boys. Ethan reached out and pulled his brother closer.

A group of young adults, singing hymns, could barely be heard over the yelling...reminding me that the still small voice --The Spirit, will always be a constant guide to lead us back to our Father.

Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who is a man of God, leads us. We should follow the counsel of the living prophets. The people in Noah's day thought that the words of the prophets who were dead, was enough for them. They didn't want to listen to Noah, who had asked them to repent or else they would be destroyed. Had they listened to him they would not have perished.

I was sitting in conference thinking about the picketers when Elder Anderson said, "Heed them not!" as part of his talk.

Love the Lord, love your family, keep the commandments, endure to the end.

By their fruits ye may know them. (see Matt. 7:16)

Enjoy a few pics...

My view.

Me, my boys, and my dad.

My crew.

Salt Lake Temple

The Tabernacle

It was a good day and now I'm tired and going to bed.

Good night!

The Day We Got Ready For Sunday

2010-09-26T18:29:00.001-07:00

I forced the children out of bed yesterday morning at 7:00 am. My intent was to fix breakfast until I realized that Kacey had helped herself to two cupcakes and the frosting off a third and Little Lou had somehow found some goldfish crackers. Is it bad I let my girls eat junk for breakfast? I'm pretty sure my boys did not eat anything at all. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now...

I planned ahead and made a list of chores that needed to be done and I gently forced everyone to pick the jobs that they would want to do and then I gently demanded that they get the work done before 10:00. I am quite impressed with my crew. Everyone worked hard and fast and all the chores were done by 9:30! Thirty minutes ahead of schedule. I love a productive Saturday morning...think we'll do it again next week!

Then yesterday afternoon, we packed our fam into our car and sped on over to the Stake Center where a special baptismal service was held. Six children, five boys and one girl, were baptized. One of the boys was my Joshie. He looked so sweet and innocent all dressed in white. He was baptized by My Man. Baptism is the gate that when we enter through it, puts us on the straight and narrow path that leads us back to our Father in Heaven.

We were blessed to have some of our family in attendance as well as many of our close family friends. Uncle Mike, Aunt Emilee, Caleb and Madylnn, Great-Grandma Mary Lou, Aunt Marylou and Uncle Kyle. The Garcias, The Calhouns, The Hunters, Mike and Tyler Morgan, Marge Ogden, Sara Smith, The Wrights, Lorin and Stevie Thwaits, Primary President Anna Ehle and her two handsome boys, The Bishopric and their families. It is a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by those we love and we appreciate you being there to support Joshie.

That evening, my sister-in-law and I went to General Relief Society Meeting. The purpose of Relief Society is to help women strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ, strengthen families and help those who are in need. It was the perfect way to end an eventful day.

And so, I end where I began....except the children were snuggled in bed, the house was still slightly clean, and me exhausted. It is a good thing that today is Sunday because as The Lord explains in Exodus 20:9-10, “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.”

I need my Sunday's!

Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8).

A Random Sample

2010-09-23T15:40:00.001-07:00

I'm not feeling exceptionally inspired this week because I have a statistics class hanging over my head. All I can think about is statistics and how much I do not understand the logic. The only stats that I find interesting are the stats that are connected to my blog. Maybe you have looked at them too...on your blog. You know the ones that show how many hits you're getting and from where in the world. I like those stats.

I find out that when I'm doing my "homework" {ha, ha, yeah right} I find that I understand the concepts, but when I come back later and try to pick up where I left off...I just can't do it. I simply cannot retain this stuff. Any ideas for retention? Seriously.

I thought about writing a chronological list of the things I have to do everyday, but I decided that I didn't want to scare you off. I will say that I spend nearly 3 hours in my car every single day and I'm sure now that you know this your life will be made complete. Right? Thought so.

Remember the divinity that I made a few weeks ago? It turned out okay. I didn't wow myself or anything like that, but it was decent for a first time. Maybe I will try again this weekend...and post pics. Maybe. A funny thing that I learned about divinity is that it seems like nobody knows what it is. There is another blogger, Susan, who has had similar musings. Read Is Divinity Dead?

When I was buying Karo Syrup so that I could make the divinity, the check out guy asked me what I was going to be mixing.

I said, "What?"

His practical idea for the use of Karo Syrup is to add it to strong drinks. A.k.a. alcohol. He specifically suggested Everclear. Apparently, it disguises the aftertaste...but it doesn't matter because I don't drink. It'll kill your liver. (So will fast food, but that's beside the point.)

Anyway, when I explained to him that I was going to make divinity, he said "what's that?"

"It's an old fashioned candy," I replied.

"Oh," was all he could say.

Top that check out boy. I know how to make candy.

The last thing I want to say is this: When I was a little kid, my older brothers had a bow and some arrows. My dad got them a hay bale to shoot the arrows into, but I remember on several occasions my brothers shooting the arrows straight up into the air! Duh! They even let me try! It sure was a good time! How is it that I'm still alive?

We Celebrated Joshie's Eighth Birthday

2010-09-21T21:56:00.001-07:00

I'm curious, does every mother think about the day her child was born on each birthday of her child? Is it cheesy that I did? When Joshie was born, I remember E.T. coming to visit us at the hospital . He was two. He ate my lunch and banged his head really hard on the door knob when he was leaving my room. I also remember thinking that Joshie was like a cookie cutout of E.T. They looked pretty much the same at birth. Not so much now.

Anyway, Joshie had two cakes this year. A basketball one...

And a bunch of cupcakes. (I let Kacey pick them out.)

Joshie had a birthday party a few days before his actual birthday so I made the basketball cake for that and bought the cupcakes for tonight. He sure got spoiled this year!

Turning eight is kind a special birthday for our family because it is the year a child can be baptized and become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So yeah, turning eight is kind of a big deal.

As I mentioned before, Joshie was able to invite a few of his closest friends to a little swim party. I made popcorn and carmel popcorn for a snack.

Joshie loves popcorn.

For his birthday dinner I made taco salad.

Joshie loves taco salad.

The main event for the birthday boy...

Of course!

Opening presents is a blast! His favorite gift was....

Joshie loves it when we fuss over him. Can you see it in his face?

My favorite shot of the day...drumroll please....

Joshie always has the best facial expressions when blowing out his candles. Need a little more proof?

That's my buddy!

Happy Birthday Joshie!

And for your viewing pleasure....

My Man

The Mourning Dove

2010-09-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Unassuming Bird.

...Content to sleep on the ledge outside my window. One of God's creations enjoying its right live life to the fullest,...

Sounds a little corney, but that is how I feel about it, and that is what I think when I see an innocent little mourning dove plopped down somewhere taking a nap.

I Got To My Feet and Stood With Them

2010-09-13T13:38:00.001-07:00

Yesterday during singing time, all of the boys in the Senior Primary were asked to go to the front of the room and sing for all of us. Remember, that these are boys; and boys are all about fun. They could not stand still...they didn't want to stand still. Some were wiggling, others giggling and a few were playing behind the podium. As I was watching them get ready {a not so easy task} a thought came to me that I should go and stand with them and sing with them. So I did. It was a special experience I hope to never forget because standing with those boys I felt the strength of their spirits. These kids are growing up in a world where there are so many distractions of every kind. {I'm sure you know what I mean.} As parents, teachers and leaders our responsibility is great. I don't believe that our callings come by chance. The Lord knows best, He sees the bigger picture and he allows us to work in His the part of the vineyard where we are needed most and where we can do our best work.

Sometimes our callings are tough. We wish we could quit. We wish we could give up. Maybe there is too much to do...school, family, work, etc. Well, I know for myself, when I'm feeling discouraged or when I feel like I can't go on, somehow I find renewed strength. I know people are praying for me and I know people are praying for you. Don't give up. You can't give up. Look toward the Brass Serpent and live. Look to Christ and live. These kids we teach sometimes they try to throw curve balls at us, just love them, and testify to them of the Savior every chance you get. Their Spirits are strong, let's plant those seeds, if we do our part, and are diligent, they will turn out fine. President Monson once said, "We have to save every boy (and girl) one at a time."

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" (D&C 18:15).

Mother's Who Know

2010-09-10T10:25:00.001-07:00

Adapted from General Women's Conference

October 2007

1. Mother's Who Know Bear Children. President Ezra Taft Benson taught, “in the eternal perspective, children—not possessions, not position, not prestige—are our greatest jewels.” There is eternal influence and power in motherhood.

2. Mother's Who Know Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants. They know that if they are not pointing their children to the temple, they are not pointing them toward desired eternal goals. These mothers have influence and power.

3. Mother's Who Know are Nurturers. To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home. Home is where women have the most power and influence; therefore, Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world.

4. Mother's Who Know Are Leaders. They plan for missions, temple marriages, and education. They plan for prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. Mothers who know build children into future leaders and are the primary examples of what leaders look like.

5. Mother's Who Know Are Teachers. A well-taught friend told me that he did not learn anything at church that he had not already learned at home. His parents used family scripture study, prayer, family home evening, mealtimes, and other gatherings to teach.

6. Mother's Who Know Do Less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years.

7. Mother's Who Know Stand Strong and Immovable. Who will prepare this righteous generation of sons and daughters? Latter-day Saint women will do this—women who know and love the Lord and bear testimony of Him, women who are strong and immovable and who do not give up during difficult and discouraging times. We are led by an inspired prophet of God who has called upon the women of the Church to “stand strong and immovable for that which is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord.” He has asked us to “begin in [our] own homes” to teach children the ways of truth. Latter-day Saint women should be the very best in the world at upholding, nurturing, and protecting families. I have every confidence that our women will do this and will come to be known as mothers who “knew” (Alma 56:48).

"There is eternal influence and power in motherhood"

(Julie B. Beck, Oct 2007).

To read or listen to this talk visit: http://new.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/mothers-who-know?lang=eng

A Cool 77 This Morning

2010-09-10T09:28:00.001-07:00

What a glorius morning! The sun shining, the birds singing. The older children quickly getting ready for school with clean clothes on, and teeth and hair brushed. The younger children playing somewhat quietly. Lunches made, scriptures read, and family prayer said, we all jump in the car. Cheerfully. Happily.

I roll the windows down...hair is flying, children smiling. All on a glorious morning.

(I love Norman Rockwell)

And then....

Grieg's Morning Mood came to a screeching halt!

A scream from the back seat.

"Mine! Waaaa!"

A push, a shove.

"No! Mine!"

The two younger children are fighting over a toy.

"For the love of...!"

"SERENITY NOW!"

Windows up, hair lying low, sober children.

Is it naptime yet?

What's the Deal With The Bucket List, Kendra?

2010-09-08T00:41:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a good question!

It's things I want to do.

Wow! Really?

I know!

{Did I just have a conversation with myself? I think I did!}

Most of the items on my Bucket List have not been all that personal. For example, Climb Mt. Everest. I'm sure many of you doubt my commitment to do it. The expense and training will be great. I'm giving myself til I'm 45. I've got to be practical right? I have just over 10 years to condition...learn how to mountain climb, walk across a ladder in spiked boots... I have a long way to go...I've got to get in shape first.

How about that bachelors degree? I've got a few years to go...I'm just a part-time student living a full-time mom's lifestyle. I'm not on Prozac yet...lol. Don't ask me what that means because I don't know.

I think this weekend I'll try to make divinity. Maybe it will end up in My Arsenal...which is another one of my Bucket List Goals...to make a cookbook titled: My Arsenal!

My most important goal that I haven't put on my List {I guess I will now} is to serve at least one person of my family in an extraordinary way {to that person} every day until Christmas. Each act of service has to be something that I don't already do on a regular basis. I figure if I do this it will help my family become more unified...and my hope is that we will all be more inclined to helping and serving one another. We love whom we serve. Make sense?

"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40).

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17, The Book of Mormon).

What goals do you have and what are you doing to accomplish them?

A New Wave of Technology Has Come Knocking At My Door

2010-09-07T08:44:00.000-07:00

Meet my boys. They are learning how to tickle the ivories...ONLINE!

Joshie

E.T.

This is what it looks like during a lesson...you must have a webcam.

Meet my Mom (and a few of her grandkids):

She is their music teacher.

My boys have just started taking lessons this way. The online program that my mom is offering is still in its early stages and so there are a few glitches to work out, but I really like doing the lessons this way. An added bonus is that Grandma Kathy gets to be my boys' teacher, and they are loving it!

The Clubs Weren't Straight

2010-09-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

My Man took me golfing on Saturday. It was my first time and this is what he gave me to work with...

...a broken tee.

Just kidding! I broke that one teeing off at the 8th hole. Are you impressed? You should be.

Here are some things that I learned:

1. It is called a golf course and not a field.

2. It is called a golf club and not a pole.

3. You don't have to hold the flagpole (like they do on pro tournies). You can literally throw it on the ground.

and...

4. I am a horrible golfer. I can't hit the ball straight. I can't even hit it up in the air....and My Man is talking golf lessons and clubs for me. What!?

Maybe we could take lessons together. What could be more romantic?

See the cool ball action?

Don't laugh...my arms are bent...I think I was supposed to keep them straight.

My Man tried to buck me out of the cart a few times. Not so romantic.

Telling me that I did a great job on the course and that he had a really fun time golfing with me...romantic.

I love My Man. He is the hardest working guy that I know. I'm a pretty lucky gal!

FOUR!!!!

The Destiny of a Peck of Green Chili Peppers...

2010-09-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

...is in my freezer. Well, first it was a farm in San Simon {I think that's the name}, then it was Safford where the Chilies were roasted, toasted, and put in a bin. Then were lovingly and tenderly driven the The Valley. Sunday I will slice them and dice them and add them carefully to a chicken enchilada. Thanks Diana! Can't wait!

Let Me See Here...

2010-09-03T09:49:00.001-07:00

Statistics? or...

Laundry?

Hmm, tough decision, I know. I guess I'll try to get both done. A woman's work is never done. Some food for thought...

"Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness."

-Elder Deiter F Uchtdorf

"Every noble work is at first impossible." -Thomas Carlyle

"There is eternal influence and power in motherhood."

-Julie B Beck

And this one made me laugh:

“Work is the refuge of people who have nothing better to do.”

-Oscar Wilde

What are you going to do today?

A Few Weeks Ago...

2010-09-01T17:54:00.002-07:00

...My family and I took a little trip to Southern Utah where we spent a day and a half at Zions National Park with my brother -The Kid Whisperer, his family, and my parents. Then we spent two days at an amazing place called Clear Creek Ranch where we had a grand family reunion in honor of my Grandpa and Grandma Burgoyne. We could not have asked for more. Even the weather was perfect...with cooler temperatures, loads of rain, and plenty of sunshine to keep us happy. Nothing like a good rain, eh?

Honestly, the kicker for me during our getaway was the good look that I got at the Milky Way. I have always been mesmerized by the great band of light up in the night sky and each time I gaze upon its starry vastness I cannot help but feel the immenseness of God's creations.

(It is incredibly hard to find a decent picture online, but you get the idea, don't you?)

Here are some of the highlights of our trip. Enjoy!

My Man took the boys for canoe rides on the pond at The Ranch. They LOVED it!

T.R., the beloved uncle.

Uncle T.R. taking on his nephews in a "little" wrestling match.

And then there was a little pandemonium with some mattresses until Cousin Alan came and broke things up. I guess some of the grown ups didn't approve of their hoo-ha. Nobody got hurt so it was "all good" in my opinion.

Moving on...

If you have been to Zions then you know how awesome it is. The towering cliffs are amazing. You could probably spend a whole week hiking the different trails. Some are long and some are short. Some easy and some are hard. {Ya, I know, who would have thought?} Since we had the kids with us we chose to stick to a couple of easier trails. Our hikes included the Weeping Rock and the Riverside Walk.

View from Weeping Rock....can you see the rain drops coming down? The view really was fantastic! I just wish my camera had captured it better.

Here are five of the seven hiking kids. My beautiful niece and handsome nephew and three of my "cherubic" children.

This is my brother, The Kid Whisperer. He can get any kid to calm down and sit still. A talent that I do not have. He was hauling his cute little wee one and my Little Lou. They were just too tired to go on. He's a good block of cheese...good kid, good kid.

For some reason the song My Country Tis of Thee just popped in my head and I am feeling slightly inspired right now. lol. Have a good one, everybody! And go visit Zions!

My country,' tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;

My Parents posing at Weeping Rock.

land where my fathers died,

land of the pilgrims' pride,

from every mountainside let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,

land of the noble free, thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

thy woods and templed hills;

my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;

let mortal tongues awake;

let all that breathe partake;

let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to thee,
author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright
with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

Splash Party at WestGate

2010-08-30T13:39:00.003-07:00

My Sis-In-Law lives extremely close to Westgate. You know, the place where the University of Phoenix (aka: Cardinal) stadium is. Well, there is a little splash pad in the plaza area that we took our little kids to this morning. They had a blast. I had a blast. There is nothing like getting drenched in cool water on a HOT morning in the Phoenix Valley!

Is this the life or what!?

My Niece. Wanted ME to get wet with her. What an honor and privilege!

My Nephew the pro-splash parker.

Kacey liked the water in her face. I was quite impressed with how this snapshot turned out.

Little Lou just after the water blasted her face. I love the expression on her face.

These are the days of our lives...never to be forgotten. Too bad E.T. and Joshie were at school they missed the party! Maybe next time!

I Like Bare, White Walls....

2010-08-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

...but I decided enough was enough and decided it was time to add a splash of color to my very neutrally decorated living room. I have, er had, a huge blank, white wall behind my couch...and I didn't want to put a boring row of pictures there and thought, "what I need here is a wreath." Making stuff like that is not my thing. I am not good at it at all and when I heard that Brandon's mom, Grandma Stein, was going to be in town (she is staying with my Sis-In-Law, Emilee) I thought that I would ask her, and Emilee, if they would help me. When I asked for their help they both said yes and to my good fortune I ended up with a spectacular work of art. Here is the proof...

The beginning stages. Start with moss...

I did help...I glued stuff down and made executive decisions crucial to the project.

C'est fini!

Doesn't it look great?

Looks good on the wall...

Looks good in a picture with three

of my favorite peeps.

Thanks Grandma Stein and Emilee for helping me make a really pretty wreath! You guys are the best! You are both so smart and talented! Now, what should we make next time? :D

Ode To The Storm

2010-08-27T16:04:00.000-07:00

Two days ago a storm blew threw part of the Valley. It missed our neighborhood, but it wreaked havoc in My Man's sister's neighborhood. Here is My Man helping with the clean up...

Here is my awesome Sis-In-Law...

and a few tiles that were violently ripped off her roof.

My nephew wanted me to take his picture while he was in a tree. See his smile?

And the Genius that I am said, "Hey, think about your daddy coming home tomorrow." And this is what he did...

Totally cute, right? Of course!

Here are a few more pictures for your viewing delight...

E.T. hauling branches.

Joshie hugging a tree.

Kacey

My Niece

WOWZA!!! Little Lou

What's On My Mind...

2010-08-27T14:01:00.002-07:00

So, I caught this weird bug that makes my eyes itch and gives me hot flashes. Why?! I already have enough going on in my life that I don't need hot flashes to keep things real (and sweaty), know what I mean?

And the HOA of our neighborhood is so hell bent on perfection that they decided to "write us up" over our out-of-control tree and bushes. Whatever. So I thought, well let's just hire a guy to come trim them up for us so that we can get the HOA off of our backs. Sounds like a good idea, right? Guess what? {This next part is so dang exciting!} Hold onto your hats, everybody... It will cost us $75 to do a little trimming that, in my opinion, doesn't really even need to be done. See for yourself...

Guess what we get to do tomorrow?

Yep, you guessed it.

I can't wait.

**********

One final thought...

There is a church in my neighborhood that I pass everyday as I taxi my family around town. A statement that was posted on its church billboard caught my eye. {If you have ever read a church billboard then you know that they are usually quite vague.} It reads, "Face your mortality and live heroic." If you want to think about it in a physical sense, I cannot relate to that statement at all. However, I can relate in more of a spiritual sense. Remember the Bible story when Moses lifted up a serpent of brass to save those who would look at it?

As the brass serpent was lifted up on the pole, so Christ also was to be lifted up on the cross. By looking to Him we can gain eternal life. We can look to Him and live...

...even through the menial trials that upset life. {i.e., cold bacteria and HOA's.}

"Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:20).

Just a little something to think about today...and now it's time for me to go...yep, another hot flash coming on.

Peace.

Little Lou, Turned Two

2010-08-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

I have breaking news....Little Lou just turned two! You can't believe it? I can't believe it! Time is flying by....

Goofing for the camera...

Presents...

She has the cutest profile...

A pretty little face...

Lady Bug Cake made by Mommy...

Two candles to light and a

happy birthday song...

All spent with family who we love and cherish...Daddy, Mommy, E.T., Joshie, Kacey, Aunt Emilee, Caleb, Madelynn, and best of all Grandma Stein!!!