The Sum of 30 Years

Gordon and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary on Sunday. Wow. That was fast; but then again, not. You know what I mean.

Our children hosted a dinner for us, and then presented us with a book full of pictures & memories from each phase of their lives, and letters.

I sat in awe; what did I do to deserve this? They are fabulous kids and I'm so glad I didn't mess them up when they came to me.

On another note, 30 years is quite an accomplishment. I am so grateful that I married Gordon; he has been a wonderful husband. He is wise, generous, and conservative (a good match to my wild side!). When we married, I didn't know just what a guy I was getting; one who would do all of the above plus teach and lead my children. I love him.

I feel very grateful.

The Graduate

James graduated from Boise State last Friday. He graduated suma cum laude and got to carry his college's flag (oh, bother).

We are on a roll - James is the 3rd son and the 7th of the sibs and in-laws to graduate.

To say I'm proud is an understatement.

It is clear now that I gave them all my brains, there's so little left. Ha Ha.

The Ultimate

The ultimate, latest and cute, cute cute pictures of Miriam are HERE.

Random Thoughts for the Day

I can't claim credit for these; I don't know who did them, but they are right on.

1. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
2. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
3. There is a great need for a sarcasm font.
4. How in the world are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
5. Was learning cursive really necessary?
6. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
7. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
8. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
9. Bad decisions make good stories.
10. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
11. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
12. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
13. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this-- ever.
14. I hate it when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Darn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
15. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
16. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
17. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..

Rich is making good use of his Paternity leave......

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/oDNQgJrhg5l4DfrBbwJo

For more pictures of Miriam, go here.

Lady Miriam Arrives

Our first grand daughter was born last Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. She weighed in at 6 lbs. 8 oz.
Her head is filled with blonde hair so soft. She has a perfect face with perfect little features. She looks like a tiny potato bug, rolling into a ball when you try and get a peek at her long toes.
I will try and get some better pictures soon to post.
Welcome Miriam!

Mint M&M's revisited

This post is from April 17, 2008
M&M's - What Have They Done?
Most of you know that I have always had a love affair with M&M's. They are the perfect candy for two reasons. One is that they are the perfect after dinner chocolate fix and two, they are so little that a woman can convince herself that she is only eating a "little" chocolate while consuming a half a bag, and the psyche never even realizes it (but the thighs do....)I have two rules for eating them:

1 - Only one at a time.

2 - Let them melt in your mouth, don't chew them. (Actually, you suck on it until the candy shell begins to melt, then chew the shell and then let the chocolate melt).

I love them all: milk chocolate, peanut, peanut butter, almond center and dark chocolate. I love the holiday M&M's because they are the freshest.But I can't believe what they have done to MINT M&M's. They have ruined my very favorite candy. The highlight of my candy eating was waiting with anticipation for the one time a year I could get them. As usual, I waited this last year until November 1st (the day after Halloween, when they put out the Christmas candy) to go to the store and get my first bag of mint M&M's. Just for good measure, I grabbed five. But much to my dismay, when I got home and opened one of the bags, they were different. For some reason they decided to make them bigger (why mess with a perfect thing?) and the candy shell was about as hard as a tortoise shell. There is no breaking it down to chew on before you suck on the chocolate. As a matter of fact, it was hard.

I never made it through the first bag. (What kind of English is this?)

I tried, but it was ruined for me. The worst part is that I have lost my taste for most M&M's in general. I just don't crave them like I used to. Last month I saw a bag of "raspberry dark chocolate". When I went to grab a bag, I could tell they were the big ones with the tortoise shells. I never tried them.Does the M&M company realize that a major consumer has lost it? I alone accounted for a great number of yearly sales. They are probably sitting in their corporate offices asking themselves, "Why are sales down in Boise, Idaho?" I have the answer if they would just ask......

It is December 2009 now and I have revisited the mint m&m thing again. They are still too big. While I will never get back to the days of buying 10 bags at a time, I will settle for the smooth, minty chocolate that is inside of the disgusting shell.

I love the various candies of Christmastime, from the homemade carmels and fondants to the cherry cordial hershey kisses. The shelves at the stores are brimming with candies that sell only this time of year.

From the looks of it, Christmas is fast approaching.

Looking forward to...

This Thanksgiving I'm looking forward to everything this picture depicts. Hangin' out with the fam. This picture is on Ben's birthday, when he turned 27. Wow.

I love that everyone comes home for the holidays. I love that they love to be together. They are incredible kids and Gordon and I count ourselves so lucky to have them. Even more than the turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberries, rolls, etc; I enjoy the after-time. Laying on the floor doing nothing and talking about nothing and everything.

I am so thankful for family. Mine was somewhat dysfunctional growing up. They are everything I wished for when I was young. And more.

Oh, and I'm thankful for mint m&m's again. But that's another post.

The Legend of Stinky

We like to name our cars. Gordon's truck is 'Big Red', Rich's truck is 'Great White', Jessica's is the 'Mystery Machine' aka the 'Green Wienee', my car is 'Lady Wilson'. James and Suzanne had 'Commando' and now a car named 'Gandolf''. I don't think Scott has named his yet and I haven't heard any names for Ben & Laura's cars.

One of our all time favorite names is 'Stinky'. Stinky began life as a brand new car Larry & Janie purchased. It eventually went through their kids (I seem to remember Amy taking the side mirror off backing out of the garage; correct me if I'm wrong). By the time Rich had his drivers license, it was available for him to drive. Life then consisted of early morning paper routes for Richard and Ben and James and occasionally Scott (if Rich was feeling 'queasy'). Have you ever smelled a car that, over time, has a hundred or so papers rolled in it every morning?

Think somewhere between wet dog and stale bread. 'Stinky' was an understatement, but it fit so well.

He wasn't anything fancy - but functional. Stinky served the boys for a couple of good years, got good gas mileage, and survived quite well....

Until James got his drivers license. He took Stinky for the first time. When he came home and got out, I happened to be standing on the front porch. "What in the world happened to Stinky? His front end is smashed in!"

James' response? "Nothing happened; that's the way it (the front end) has always looked."

For hours he tried to convince us all that we were crazy. Stinky looked totally normal.

Of course, when his father came home, his tune changed and the jig was up. He had rear ended someone while taking Stinky on his first (official) maiden voyage. I say official because James didn't feel the need to wait for a silly thing like a license to drive. But that's another story.

Stinky survived a lot, and although he survived James' maiden voyage, all good things must end and so did he.

Long live the legend of Stinky.

Not Just For Men

During the BSU game last week Jo was working on a bedspread for one of the boys. I could tell the lighting wasn't all that great, so Gordon got his headlamp for her.

So many uses for the headlamp.

After the fact

A little after the fact, but here are some Halloween pics of the fam

This one's not Halloween, but the boys call this black cauldron the "honeypot". They had a great time pushing each other around in it until one of them took a header.

Ski Bunnies

Little Dragon

Two menacing pirates

Fall

A couple of weeks ago, Jo invited me to come along as she and the boys attended the local "farmfest" out in Kuna. It was so impressive. Of course there was the usual corn maze, but this one offered so much more. There was a kiddie hay-bale maze, swings, mini tractor rides, a big tractor ride where you could stop in the pumpkin patch and pick pumpkins, and concessions that included warm donuts.

Among the pictures I snapped, this one was the best. Four little dark pools peaking out from a hay-bale. I can hardly imagine what their little sis is going to look like......

The Regulator

A wagging finger

My dream calling in my church is to be the "regulator". The number 1 reason is because there is such a NEED for one.

Here are some of the duties I perform : (whether in my mind or in action, it happens every week).

*When a speaker goes too long, the regulator produces a cane with a hook and removes them from the pulpit.
*When incorrect doctrine is spoken, the regulator shines a laser pointer right into the offender's eyes, thereby causing him to cease and desist.
*When teachers are excused early to go and prepare their classrooms, the regulator stands at the door to verify if they are really teachers or just trying to pull one over on everybody. Because, hey - that group gets bigger every week.
*If the hymn is being sung too slow, the regulator taps a large plastic wand on the piano until the organist and everyone else gets up to speed.
*If the hymn is too fast.....nevermind. The hymn is never too fast.
*Unless....you are in Relief Society and the pianist, because she is not singing, runs into the next verse before you have finished the last line of the previous verse.
*The regulator makes sure that there are no long or unnecessary meetings. This is a big one and takes a lot of energy.
*The regulator provides a list of those wanting to give sacrament meeting talks. It is populated by those giving closing prayers lasting longer than 1 minute and containing it's own subject matter.
*When the time is up, the regulator stands up and pulls a hand across the throat as a sign to stop. This is especially useful, since the entire congregation sees it too. There's nothing like church peer pressure, is there? (This will have to be it's own post).

*When the third hour is over, it's over. Because we are like sponges, you and I. We are capable of soaking in during the entire lesson, but if it goes even one minute over (this includes the song) the sponge begins to leak at a very rapid pace, replaced by agitation and in some cases, hostility.
*Teach monthly seminars on how our church calling does not define who we are as a person. Nor does our church calling take precidence over other things, like say.....FAMILY.

Stay tuned for part II because trust me, I have only scratched the surface of the need for a ward regulator.

Who are "they"?

Sometimes pet peeves are just on your mind. This morning as I emptied the dishwasher and dumped water down the front of me, it was brought to the fore-front again.

Why do "they" make pan handles, strainer handles; you-name-it handles with little reservoirs on the bottom side of them? I can get the cups with a hollow spot on the bottom; they pretty much have to be made that way, but handles?

I think that "they" need an advisory panel (aka: regulator for anyone who knows my secret, yearned for church calling) to sift out these kinds of un user-friendly things about consumer goods.

Who are "they" anyway?

Who makes towels, anyway?

Has anyone noticed the braided edge of most towels?

I suppose the makers think they are pretty-ing up the towel, providing embellishment.

Pay attention the next time you are drying your hands after washing with hot, soappy water (several times per day, thanks to H1N1). Where do you grab to dry? The middle? No - the end, where the braided part is. There is no fluffy towel there.

When you step out of the shower or bath, what part of the towel do you use?

I am on a quest to find towels with no braided or embellished edges.

In the meantime, grabbing the towel in the middle to dry will have to do.

Just some random thoughts about towels.

Time for the Headlamp

I love it when I open the garage door and there is Gordon working hard, wearing his headlamp.
He and the boys just returned from their weeklong elk hunt in Eastern Idaho at Fall Creek. As I listen to them talk, they mention having their headlamps like it is as every day as carrying your car keys with you. Apparently, they have them in their "fanny packs" and when it gets dark and they are riding their horses back to camp, they pull out the headlamps.

What an image to imagine.

I have a headlamp in my car.

I should use it. I'll keep you posted.

Cease and Desist Order

What makes a blog slug? In my case at least.

I can go for weeks with something to blog about every day and then the seasons change and my blogging dwindles.

True, I am sad to see my favorite season end. But it's not depression; more a melancholy. I always feel this way when we have seen the last of summer.

I love the colors of the leaves changing and try not to focus on what comes next - dry brown branches leading into my least favorite season - winter.

I am trying to make this Jessica's best year ever before she takes off for college next fall. I'm determined that it will be a happy, exciting time for her. But inside, I fret. I think about this time next year. I wonder what life will be like with an empty nest.

But worry is not a productive activity. So I must cease and desist.

I must take my own advice and feed all of the positives in my life. And there are so many. I truly am a grateful soul. I thank the Lord every morning for all He has given me.

I think gratitude is the key to a happy life.

Father and Daughter

Jessica had the honor of being nominated for Homecoming Queen this year. Her proud papa was there to escort her on to the field.

While she wore her blue prom dress (she wore a shorter, different dress for the dance), Gordon fretted much more than she about what he should wear.

He had her convinced all week that he had a tuxedo tucked in the back of his closet and that I had taken it down to the drycleaners. I got to quietly nod my head and try to go along with things, even though keeping a straight face was hard at times.

"You have to tell him, Mom. Nobody will be wearing a tux; not even the boys nominated!"

"You will have to be the one to tell him", I said with a straight face.

She spent the better part of the week trying to subtly convince him that it really wasn't necessary to wear a tux. When he insisted, she told him they made some sort of announcement at school about what the parents should wear (this was a stretch at best).

Gordon replied by telling her that he had put a call in to Alta (the principal) and she gave the go ahead.

Finally, he gave in and told her he had been kidding her all week. It was a good one and we really had her going.

Teasing our kids has been one of the great joys of parenthood.

Notice how nicely his light blue tie coordinates with her dress.

Top 25

Summer seemed like it was going to last forever this year.

And it was.

Until Friday when the temperature dropped drastically and then Saturday when it started raining and hasn't stopped yet.
People say they love the change in seasons, particularly to the Fall. I love Fall too. I just wish it didn't have to push summer out of the way.

So, in a fond farewell to summer, here are some of my favorite things:

Top 25 of the summer:
1. Scott getting home.
2. Going to the cabin right after Scott got home.
3. Scott's homecoming weekend.
4. Seeing all of the family for Scott's homecoming.
5. Watching my boys goof around together, obviously happy at being together.
6. Watching Jess finally having a sibling semi-her age around again.
7. Jess skiing & Scott watching her for the first time & being very impressed.
8. Scott skiing and throwing the rope when the water got rough.
9. Cam and Eli warming up to Scott as though he never left.
10. Ben & Laura moving home to Boise.
11. Helping Ben & Laura find the house of their dreams.
12. Getting slurpees with Jess.
13. Getting our new boat, the Black Marauder.
14. Rich & Jo organizing our Lucky Peak camping trip.
15. James introducing Scott to his bride, Suzanne.
16. Horseback riding with Scott, Jess & Gordon.
17. Skiing for the afternoon/evening at Lucky Peak.
18. The hot, hot sun on my back.
19. Sunbathing with Jess.
20. My summer toasty-tan.
21. Freshly mowed lawn.
22. Flower pots overflowing.
23. Planting, cultivating and working in the yard.
24. My roses.
25. The sunshine!

In the grayness of the winter and in fairness to the seasons, I will post a top 25 of the fall. (A top 25 of the winter? That could be a stretch).