Timber

On Wednesday our Lilac Bushes went from looking like this

To looking like this after six long hours and a lot of sore muscles

I think Mark's claustrophobia was getting the best of him.  And I don't think these bushes have ever been cut back.  They were probably 14 feet high with lots of little starts at the bottom.  I didn't get a picture before Mark started thining out the bottom, so the first picture already had a bunch of stuff removed from down below.  He started the project and then found out this probably wasn't the right time to trim them, but he just could not stop.  So he took a day off work to get them done.  Of course I could not let him do it alone, so I pitched in and helped.  And our sweet neighbor helped out too.  We had to ask permission to go in his yard to reach some of it and he came out and helped us load up the truck and trailer, thanks Karl!  It took THREE loads to the green waste dump to get rid of it all.  Now lets hope the grass doesn't go into shock from suddenly seeing the sun again.

We found the bird house again in all our trimming.  When we moved it we did not know this exsisted and didn't discover it until the Spring after the snow had melted away.

Sorry to the other 3 neighbors behind us who probably hoped it was the Chinese Elm on the other side of the yard that was coming down when they heard the saw.  It is probably 40 feet high and dumps trash on the yard in Spring AND Fall.  But when the first bid we got to remove it came in at $1800 we have kept looking around.  Now no one will even come bid on it and they haven't even seen it.  I'm afraid one of these days Mark is going to rent a lift and we may end up replacing everyones fence when he is through.  That could cost more than the original bid.  So if you know of someone who likes to cut down trees for cheap, let us know.

School's Back, YEA!!

Yes, my kids have really started school.  Everyone else has posted, but I guess I haven't gotten around to it yet because John doesn't start until Sept 2, so it doesn't seem real yet.  Now don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but I would make the worst homeschooling Mom ever.  I can barely help them with their homework sometimes.  Jessica has started 6th grade math and when she has me correct her homework I've already had to ask her how she figured out some of the problems so I can even correct them! So I'm very glad to have school back in session.

Here are the cute girls on their first day.  Jessica is starting 5th Grade and Ashley is starting 3rd Grade.

Jessica has decided to run for Scholar Council Secretary

And Ashley is going to run for Scholar Council Member for 3rd Grade

Any chance I can go and stuff the ballot boxes???

And I love this picture of John.  He was in his school uniform for his Kindergarten Assessment. 

I think he looks so serious and smart here.

Hard to believe he is starting Kindergarten on Tuesday morning.

Anyone want to go out and celebrate with me?

Lesson Learned

I've been meaning to write this ever since it happened, but I finally have a moment I can think and write.  Saturday morning our Stake (A group of congregations or wards, generally about three thousand to five thousand members in five to ten congregations in the LDS Church.) had an Activity Day for all the 8 - 11 year old girls.  So I took my girls along with several of the neighbor girls over to the Stake Center and figured I would just stay since technincally they haven't released me yet as Activity Day Leader. 

They had 4 outdoor activities set up for the girls.  I was asked to help with the 'Blind Ball Retrieval' game.  The girls were divided into two groups and one girl was blindfolded.  Then the other girls in her group had to direct her to where the ball was in the field and direct her to put it in the basket and then the next girl would go.  I was in the field and would throw the ball out once the girl was blindfolded.  As I stood there it was interesting to hear the girls try to direct the one blindfolded.  Sometimes she would follow directions exactly as she was told and sometimes the girl did what she thought the girls meant, even though it wasn't what they wanted her to do.  Often the girl would get close to me without ever knowing I was there.  At first it was really hard for me not to help her out especially when she was way off track.  And sometimes the girl would be right over the ball and had no idea where it was.  I wanted so much to reach out and help her or give her some direction, but I had to just stand there and watch her struggle.

As I stood there I started thinking about our Heavenly Father and how this must be how He feels.  So often in our lives we are wandering around blindly and He is right there, if we would just ask.  But if we don't ask He has to stand there and watch us struggle.  He wants to help us so much.  And sometimes we ask and think we know the answer we want to hear and we go in that direction when really He meant for us to do something else.  At that moment in time, standing in the hot sun in the middle of the grassy field I felt my Heavenly Father's love for me so strongly.

I know these activities were put together for the girls to learn something and to be together, but it was me that walked away with a new understanding.  Thank you!

Happy Birthday Mark

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Mark, happy birthday to you! 

Since I can't carry a tune, I thought this would be the best way to sing Happy Birthday!  You can all sing it in your head in perfect harmony!

Our good friend Lori already beat me to the blogging punch of wishing Mark Happy Birthday on her blog.  But she is more talented than me and added cute pictures to our picture so be sure and click on her name to see her post.

Apparently August 20 is a popular date.  There are 3 other bithdays today in our neighborhood.  So Happy Birthday to Becca M, Luke C and Leslie M.

Since I already put baby pictures up for Father's Day I'll spare you anymore.    But apparently I haven't taken many pics of my cute hubby lately, because I can't find many.  Here is one that was taken while he was hanging up clothes in the laundry room.  He is always amazing to help around the house.  He is an amazing man and I'm so glad he is in my life.  I LOVE YOU!  Here is to many more!

Leaving Primary, Boo Hoo

I never thought I say that I'm sad to be leaving Primary (children's group in my church) but it has happened.  I was always afraid of Primary callings.  In fact the one time I remember telling someone 'no' was when I was asked to substitute for one of my kids classes.  I had no idea how you could fill the time and keep the kids involved.  I've never been a get down on the ground and play with the kids kind of mom. 

After about six years of some pretty tough and responsible callings I was excited to be moving into a new ward where no one knew what we could and could not do.  When the Primary President was the first one to stop by our house and meet me I got a little worried.  And a few weeks later Mark and I were both called to teach the Sunbeams (3 year olds).  I quickly learned that is the best spot in Primary.  Between snacks, bathroom breaks, coloring time and drinking foutain breaks the time went really fast.  And I figured since Primary wasn't really my thing I'd be in there for years to come until I learned what I should really be doing!  So I just decided I'd like it.

I got a little more worried when they switched me to teach the 8 & 9 year old class (Ashley's group).  Mark taught the 10 & 11 year old boys for a few months before being called as a Counselor in the Elder's Quroum.  But after a few weeks I started getting the hang of how to teach the kids and fill the time.  For the most part they have been really good.  A week ago I wrapped up my lesson and it went so well.  The kids were great and I felt like they really learned.  And I've loved having a reason to study the Book of Mormon better and getting to know those stories better.

And along with teaching Primary I've had the chance to do Activity Days with the 8 - 11 year old girls during the week twice a month.  Both Jessica and Ashley were in the group and they have loved helping get things ready. 

So I was shocked when after class last Sunday Mark said a Bishopric member wanted to talk with us.  I had no clue why.  I thought it was odd they wanted to see us in person if they were only going to ask us to talk or something.  They really didn't want to add a third calling to my plate, did they???  And Mark would not get pulled out of the Elder's Quroum??? 

Nope, I'm back in Relief Society and this time as the Education Counselor.  I'm excited to be able to get to know more sisters in the ward, but I can honestly say I'm sad to be leaving Primary.  It didn't help that my girls had tears in their eyes when they found out I wouldn't be teaching them anymore.  And my co-teacher said she was really sad when they announced the new changes on Sunday too.  I'm so glad I've had almost a year in Primary to discover it isn't the big bad experience I thought it would be.  I feel like a traitor to be leaving them.  But I guess that is what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is all about -- changes, serving and growing.

Update to Thoughts of the Week

Amazing how a good shower can make you think better.  I'm now ready to work for the day.  But for those who don't know what I was talking about in the last post for securing your dressers and bookshelves to the wall . . . here you go.  I think you can buy them at Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Walmart or any place that has child safety items.  Here is a link I found online and since I borrowed their picture I'll give them the credit.  It is at My Precious Kid.  You just screw them into the wall and on the dresser and then tighten the zip tie.

I also forgot I wanted to mention this incredible recipe I made this week.   Found it in the Martha Stewart Living magazine as the Cookie of the Month.  I think this is the first time I've ever made a recipe from the magazine.  But how could you go wrong with a title of No-Bake Chocolate and Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars and a picture that looked like THAT.  Hey and if they have Oatmeal in them aren't they healthy?  Luckily I gave away half the pan or I would have eaten them all myself.  My favorite comment on them came from Mike W at Thanksgiving Point.  He told Mark he thought they were against the Word of Wisdom.  I could not find Chocolate Wafers so we bought Oreos and removed the cream and just used the cookies.  I had a few helpers that took care of the cream for me.  Wasn't that nice of them.  Click on the title of the recipe to be directed to the actual recipe.  Warning these are addictive!

Thoughts of the Week

John's lesson learned this week -- You can't climb into the bottom drawer of your dresser AND open the top drawers of your dresser . . . it all comes tumbling down. 

It also became my bad parenting moment of the week.  The other morning I was in the laundry room (okay laundry hall) hanging up clothes with both the washer and dryer going when I start to hear John scream from his bedroom.  Have you heard the story about the boy who cryed wolf?  Well I didn't go running to say the least.  John's normal voice is pretty much a scream.  I could hear him calling for his sisters who were in their bedroom downstairs and I assumed they were playing some game with yelling through the furnace vents.  Yes they really do have toys, but they still come up with these games on their own. 

Anyways, I finally went to put away clothes in the bedrooms about the time Ashley decided to find out why John was yelling.  We both walked in to see John in the bottom dresser drawer trying to hold up the dresser so it would not crush him.  Now this is not our normal pressed wood cheap dresser.  This is the one and only dresser in the entire house that is made of REAL solid wood.  For the last 10 years in the townhouse it was always bolted to the wall so the kids could not get hurt.  No one EVER tried to climb into it.  After the move we figured the kids were now old enough and Mark's phoebia of putting holes in a brand new painted wall made it so we did not child proof it to the wall, Oops.  The moment defintely sobered me quickly because had he been two years younger or a little smaller I realize he could have easily been crushed by the dresser.  So please, please, please get those little kits at the store to bolt your dressers and bookshelves to the wall, especially if you have BOYS!

Anyone else feel like doing nothing today???  This is the second time this week I've felt like this.  Monday I opted to spend the afternoon at the pool so I didn't have to feel guilty about doing nothing.  But sadly, we have no punches left on our Scera Pool Punch Card.  I loved that card, I love swimming and I love getting tan (remind me of that in a few years when I have skin cancer!) 

But today the school pants that need hemming are starring me down, so I guess if I want to enjoy having the girls back in school next week I'd better do something.  Two weeks after that all THREE will be in school in the mornings, yippee!  Maybe that is enough motivation to get me in the shower and get me moving.

Have a GREAT Day!!!

This IS the Place

Saturday was a fun filled day for our family.  After spending the morning doing my Team Meeting (had to do business) we then headed up to Salt Lake.  Jessica had been so disappointed at the end of the last school year when their field trip to This Is The Place Heritage Park got cancelled because there were not enough drivers.  So we thought it would be a good summer activity.  With one week left before school starts we figured we better get started.

We stopped at the official monuments before entering the park.  I was afraid we were in for a long afternoon when John was already pouting before we really got started.  But things did improve. 

Question of the day was is this really the same monument that was erected in 1947, or have they added to it since then.  It is so large and tall that I didn't think it could have been the original one.  But from what we've read and asked it really was what was put there in 1947 to commemorate 100 years since Bringham Young entered the valley and stopped his carriage at this spot and said "this is the RIGHT place".  Somewhere in the years the word 'right' was dropped.  And Mark had more faith in our ancestors that they could erected such a huge monument in 1947.  They've added lots of little monuments off to the side since 1947, but the big tall one is the original.

After entering the Heritage Park, we started out on Main Street where the kids got to card wool.  Then Ashley and John both enjoyed an old fashioned shave.

All the kids got to try their hand at applying ink and making an old fashioned newspaper.  Then the whole family learned the Virginia Reel.  John took this very seriously and always wanted to be the head couple.  I think it was the favorite part of most of ours day.

John's favorite part was riding the minature train.  Though he also loved the big train that takes you around the park and kept asking over and over and over again about when we could get on the train.

As we were leaving the park we ran into Rosemary from our old ward along with her daughter from Idaho, Nancy, and Nancy's daughter.  I love Rosemary and miss her dearly and should really call more often.  We worked together in the Ward ever since Rosemary moved in.  And for the last 2 1/2 years in the ward she was my right hand man as my Secretary and then my Compassionate Service Leader.  I would have never survived without her.  We think way too much alike and she always makes me laugh.  And I think Nancy and I would be best friends if we lived closer.  We always had a good time visiting when she is down and we both love her mom!

As if 4 hours in the hot sun was not enough for the day we then headed over to our friends house in Kearns for Miami Dinner.  We always have it at their house in August because it is Kearns days and their house backs up to where they light off the city fireworks.  So after good food and visiting we got our own private fireworks show.  Or at least that is how it feels when you are lounging in the backyard with just 3 families and the fireworks are literally going off over your head.

It was a long day, but we sure had a lot of fun.  This was our good bye day to summer.  Now we have to get serious about getting ready for school!

We must be doing something right

Like paying our tithing.  After the whole school uniform find just when we needed it so much I didn't feel like we could expect anymore financial rewards.  But as you saw from my post yesterday the van was going in for repair and I was expecting the worst.  It hasn't stopped fast in traffic for awhile and we thought it was leaking brake fluid.  I thought we needed new rear brakes.  Didn't want to even think about how much it was going to cost and what else they were going to find and how we were going to pay for it. But with school starting and carpool beginning I didn't want to be responsible for someone else's child in my car if my brakes were going to fail.

Sav Mor Auto just called and they said the only thing they could find a problem with was the rear brakes were out of alignment.  The only charge is a service charge, YIPEEE!!!! 

Now for the new dilema . . . how to pick up the car.  We used to live less than a block from the repair place, so I always just walked.  Now we are a mile and a half.  My mom is out of town (who is usually the go to girl for eVeRyOnE in half of Utah Valley) and incidently the reason she is already out of town.  Who knows when Mark will be home.  Yesterday he worked from 6:30 am until 1:00 am and had to be back at 6:30 am this morning for the big fundraising event they are doing.  I'm sure I could call a Visiting Teacher or neighbor and they would be happy to take me, but is it really necessary.  I had planned to be without a car the entire day.  But I did get that new gel seat for my bike yesterday, I just need to install it.  But can John make it on his itty bitty bike that far?  Could be painful, but isn't that why I got a bike, so we could have family outings.  So I guess if I'd stop stalling by blogging and getting my work done that I need to then maybe we'll bike over and pick it up. 

But one more time I just have to give thanks again to the blessings of paying your tithing.

P.S.  Within 30 minutes of posting this my sweet visiting teaching companion called and said they were just leaving and she would be happy to give me a ride.  Thanks Kristin!  You no longer need to worry if John is passed out on the side of the road with his itty bitty bike.

What does this mean?

What does it mean when . . .
you are having a really bad day, nothing is going as scheduled (and for a "Thinker" personality this is a big deal), the schedule keeps changing on an hourly basis, you spend way more than you want to at the grocery store, and you know the next day is not going to be much better (because you are taking the van in for repairs that will cost who knows what) and your child brings in the mail and there waiting in the pile is a letter from the local mortuary wanting to know if you are prepared for the inevitable??  Ugh, like I needed another reason to want to crawl under a rock and hide for the day!

Breaking Dawn!!!!

As you can tell from Mark's FIRST EVER Post on my blog, I've been a little busy this weekend.  But I'm back now and recovering.  The much anticipated release of Braking Dawn has come and gone and I've finished the book.  My Dental Hygienist and friend, Summer, introduced me to the Twilight books last August, just after the 3rd book was released.  We were in the middle of moving and remodeling, so I was going to gradually read the books.  Well, once you start Twilight you can't put it down.  So within a matter of weeks I read through the first 3 books.  I just love the way Stephenie Meyer writes.  And the love story between Bella and Edward with a little bit of Jared is just incredible.  Her books are the only books I've every reread and enjoyed just as much as the first time. 

I've never done a midnight release of a book.  Not even for any of the Harry Potter books.  But because Christy and I were already going to be out late because of seeing Pride & Prejudice we figured we might as well get our hands on Breaking Dawn as soon as we could.  Being the bargainer I am I had to check out all the stores and figure out where we could get it the cheapest and easiest.  It paid off and we SCORED!  Borders had it for 40% off, but we didn't get our name on the list in time so we were going to have to wait behind everyone that had wrist bands.  Then I noticed in a Smith's Food and Drugstore ad that it was the featured book of the week and it would be 40% off.  So after the play we headed over to Smith's and there was no line at 11:15pm.  We asked around and they said we needed to wait by the customer service desk and they would bring them out at midnight.  Our friend, Jenn Z, joined us.  People quickly started joining us in line.  The ladies around us had been to both Borders and Barnes & Noble and said the places were packed.  One had a wrist band and her number was in the 600s.  She had stopped at Smith's to get something else and had overheard us asking and could not believe it.  By the time midnight rolled around there were about 40 people in line.  My receipt shows my purchase was at 12:02am and we were out of the store by 12:03 and we only paid $14.66 with tax!  I love it!  And we had a great time waiting with all the gals around us in line. When we drove by Walmart at 12:30 am the line was still out the door, across the length of the store and had started to go down the side of the building.  And they were all waiting outside! 

The next 24 hours of my life was spent reading the wonderful book.  I got a few hours of sleep in there, but why waste time.  Mark took the kids to see his parents and spent the day in Santaquin, thank you, thank you, thank you!  I was excited to go to church to discuss it with the one person I knew had finished it already.  Where were you Cara????    I loved the book and can't wait for Midnight Sun to come out.  In the meantime we'll count down to the movie release of Twilight on December 12!!!!

Pride & Prejudice: A Musical

Friday night my friend, Christy, invited me to go with her to see Pride & Prejudice: A Musical at the Scera Shell.  Christy introduced me to Pride and Prejudice this year, I know, I've been behind times in my reading.  We watched the movie, the Keira Knightley version, earlier this year.  I then had to read the book.  So I was excited when her husband didn't want to go with her to see the musical.  It was opening night at the outdoor theater.  I'd forgotten how fun it is to see plays and shows at the Shell under the stars.

And it was extra great because my cousin's wife, Jenny, was playing Mrs. Hurst.  And her three cute kids were also in the cast.  And Jenny's brother and his two kids were in the cast. And my second cousin, Michelle's, two kids were in the cast. 

They did a great job for opening night.  There were a few technical problems, but I really enjoyed the production.  It is playing through Aug 16, so go see it and enjoy.

Yes she is still with us

OK Mark here.  I feel obligated to post for all of those who have grown accustomed to my wife's blogging addiction and daily post.  Just in case you were wondering she is still with us.  Although she has only been sighted once or twice in the last 24 hours, she just needed some alone time with Edward.  I guess I better clarify before anyone gets the wrong idea.  The only thing recently that Christine has been more obsessed with than blogging, chocolate, or coupons is the impending release of Stephenie Meyer's new book Breaking Dawn. 

She was one of the brave throng of fans who ventured out last night at midnight for the release of the book.  I know she read until at least 4:30 in the morning and has come up for air at least once or twice.  Last time I saw her she was just past half way through.  What does this mean to each of you you might ask.  Well, until she is done you can assume there won't be any regular posts, and she may not even make it to church tomorrow (just kidding).  She is so amazing the rest of the time I guess we can put up with one or two days -of neglect ;-) Happy reading to all of you fans and I am sure things will return to normal again soon.

Mark