Can't Wait

Last night we got to go out to dinner with my mom, (who is down from Oregon on a quick trip to see my Grandma), my Grandma, and my brother to celebrate my brother's birthday.

We enjoyed great food, fun conversation, and the luxury of no kids. My brother is feeling old, which makes me really old, I guess! We are all so excited that my brother is going to be able to come to our family reunion in Oregon this summer. My younger sister is planning it and we are looking forward to a hike in the lava tube, a day at the lake, fireworks off the butte, and a few days on the Oregon Coast. My Grandma is coming too! We can all hardly wait!!

Baby Brother

I have one brother...four sisters, but only one brother. He is only five years younger than me, but I still think of him as my baby brother. Today is his birthday and I can't help but embarrass him with some vintage family photos! ( I might embarrass myself too, but I guess that's the price I'll have to pay!)














Happy Birthday little brother! I love you!!

A Mountain and a Truck

There have been two highlights to my day today! First, check out the view I get to see right out my window...when I look at gorgeous Mt. Timpanogos, I can't help but smile at the beauty of this earth and feel reverence at the splendor of God's creations. Wow!!




The second highlight of my day was to watch my husband purchase and drive off in his new truck! He is thrilled and I am too!

Standing Alone

We usually have several tulips grow in our flower bed. This year only one blossomed. But it is beautiful and stands tall and proud even though it is the only one.





One of my greatest worries as a Mom is if I can teach my kids how to make good decisions even if it means that they have to stand alone. I can prepare them and teach them and try to be an example, but when the moment comes...they may have to be as brave and strong as our lone tulip!

Strawberry Jam

Strawberries were on sale today at our local grocery store so I bought a bunch and made some jam. I had so much fun! Not because jam-making is particularly exciting, but because of the memories I relived while I was making the jam.


About nine years ago my Mom, my Grandma, and I had a grand jam-making day. We made peach jam, apricot jam, and strawberry jam. There was not a bowl, spoon, or inch of the floor that wasn't sticky by the end of the day and we made something like 55 pints. It was my first time making jam and so both Mom and Grandma taught me the art. It was an adventure and every time I make jam I can hear them talking and laughing and I can see them clad in aprons, armed with measuring cups and wooden spoons.


It is one of my most treasured memories!

My Thought For The Day

We live in a world full of technology that makes communication easy. Often the hardest part about talking to someone is...what method should I use? Should I text, phone, email...or if I'm feeling nostalgic for the olden days...I might even write a letter.

I've been thinking about those older times and imagining what it might have been like to have lived then...before phones, airplanes, automobiles,etc. My parents live in Oregon and I live over 700 miles away from then. Communication with them would have been so hard- they would have seemed so far away!

My thought today is this:

I am so grateful for prayer. I don't have to rely on technology or proximity. I don't have to worry about cell coverage, fees, an internet provider, road conditions, or airlines strikes. I can talk to Him anytime and anywhere and I know that He can hear me. I can tell Him my hopes, my fears, my dreams, my successes, and my failures. I know that He listens and that He loves me.

A Cherry on Top

The turkey hunt this year was a real treat!!

Just like an ice cream sundae, it was cold and muddy(chocolaty), but it had a cherry on top!

The cherry on top was getting to hang out with good buddies....

Shooting a big tom...

And it's brother...

And it's uncle...

Getting up at 3:30 so that they could be in position at dawn...

Then falling asleep at dawn!

But the best part of all are the life-long memories of hunting with Dad,

good buddies,

and great friends!

Birthday Boy

He thought he would nearly die waiting, but the turkey gang finally made it home and we got to have his party!!

This is the cake he picked out and, of course, he wanted a slice with an eyeball and a cookie!


He had a pile of gifts to open!


Here they are unwrapped. Yep, he is our Star Wars fan!



We had dessert first...'cause he just couldn't wait any longer!!

And then we went to dinner. The birthday boy picked.....Arby's....his favorite because of the curly fries. (Mom thinks Arby's is pretty gross, but I didn't even say one word...I'm proud of me!)

He spent the rest of the day trying out all his new XBox Star Wars games...in fact, that's what he is doing right now!

Five!

Five years ago today we were blessed with our third son. He is a joy, and a special member of our family. He has a tender heart and a loving spirit and our family just wouldn't be the same without him. Today is his birthday, but we're going to celebrate it tomorrow when the turkey hunting gang arrives home. I truly can't believe that he is five...the time has just flown. I am proud of the person that he is and I'm so grateful to be his Mom.

Happy Birthday!

Turkey Update

I thought you might want to know how the turkey hunt is going. The storm that hit here Wednesday and yesterday is hitting Wyoming now, but the white weather hasn't stopped the fun! Last night the Lunch Lady's middle carrot stick got a turkey. This picture is from last year...but pretty close to this year...there is even snow!!

This morning I got a call from our oldest with the news that he also got a big tom. He was just bursting with pride. This picture is also from last year's hunt. I'll post this year's pictures when they get back.

He also told me that their truck got stuck in the mud and a lady in a tractor helped pull them out...sounds like adventure to me!!

Turkeys and Chickens (Pox)

Yep, you guessed it!! Guess who has chicken pox now??? The first night at the hotel as he was changing into pajamas our second oldest discovered that he has chicken pox. Truly, what are the odds?? As you may recall from an earlier post, only 10% of children who are vaccinated still get chicken pox. We must be lucky! ....or something!

More Photoshop fun

It is officially Spring Break! With my husband and older two boys gone turkey hunting it has been a toss up as to what we should do today. My younger three children play really well together and have been entertaining each other very well...which has left me time to play too. I have wanted to alter this photo in Photoshop for some time now and today I finally got the chance. It has been several years since my family has had a chance to have a family picture taken so when my Grandpa passed away a few months ago and everyone came together for his funeral, we jumped on the chance to snap a family pic. This picture was taken in a church foyer. With a little work in Photoshop, I now have a picture for my wall!




This is the original.






This is the new version for my wall.

Easter Fun

We had a wonderful Easter this year. We had our annual egg hunt at Aunt C's house on Saturday afternoon.

As usual, her house was festive....

and beautiful!

We got to play with cute cousins,

eat our traditional creamed eggs, asparagus, and fruit...

Delicious!

and we had a scrumptious dessert!

Afterwards, the Dads hid eggs in the backyard...

they found some great hiding spots!

The kids got to find them and fill their baskets.

The booty! (Our oldest asked if next year he could help hide the eggs instead of hunting for them...he says he is officially too old...check out the look on his face..."Mom, I'm way too old for this kid stuff!")

By having our egg hunt and festivities on Saturday, we were able to spend Sunday focusing on the true meaning of Easter. We are so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, for his life which he spent showing us the way and which he gave for each one of us that we might also rise again.

Turkey Hunt

Pheww!! I can finally breathe! It has been a race to the finish to get ready for the annual turkey hunt this year. After many, many hours of work, they are finally ready to go. I have been busy with laundry, shopping, packing, and searching. The searching part isn't always the funnest, but is a fact of life so I have learned to deal with it. "Where is my pocket knife...flash light...camouflage gloves...hunting boots...turkey call...binoculars?" "Mom, I can't find my wool socks or my belt...the one that is brown, not black!!"

This year's hunt is forecast to be snowy, rainy, and cold so new camouflage that is also waterproof was on the shopping list this year. The camouflage did cost a small fortune, but our boys will be warm and dry in spite of the weather. Our second oldest is especially excited since this will be his first year that he can bag a turkey by himself.

They are headed to Wyoming and South Dakota and will be gone for a week. I'm sure that they will return home with stories and adventures!

Dear Spring

Dear Spring,

Welcome! I am so relieved that you have arrived safe and sound. I know that your journey can be quite turbulent with many unexpected layovers. I must admit that I was quite impatient with you and, yes, even cross in my last correspondence. I do apologize. You were definitely worth the wait.

My children are spending hours outside. Their cheeks are red with kisses from the sun. We have been enjoying the sounds of chirping birds as we wake up each morning. Thanks to your rain showers our brown grass is turning to a rich green. I am so excited to see the flowers in my flower bed bloom...some are getting quite close. Yesterday I spent several hours making 15 pairs of holey jeans into summer shorts. My kids were thrilled and even wore them today despite the crisp morning breeze. I pulled a pair of capris out from the back corner of my closet today. Easter is just a couple days away and we are excited to have our annual egg hunt outside.

I guess what I'm trying to say is: Thank you for coming. You are loved and appreciated!!