Short Update

Wow - you know it's been awhile since you posted when you can't remember your password to log on!

It's been a few busy weeks.  My brother Jeremy was married to a sweet girl, Mandy, in the Denver Temple.  They planned the wedding and open house around General Conference so that my parents could be there.  Almost the whole family flew to Denver for the Wedding and it was wonderful.  I was already so happy for them, but when my dad walked in the temple wearing white the tears really began to flow.  He was able to perform the marriage and sealing.  What a special moment for our family.   

On a sadder note, a sweet family friend was killed in Ogden last week.  Derek was the boyfriend of our niece.  He was awaiting his mission call that would be coming this week.  He and a friend were hit by a car full of gang members that were fleeing the police in Ogden.  Derek had stayed at our home this summer and our family had fallen in love with him (especially Princess).  He was just a really good kid that you could not help but love.  Our sweet niece is having a difficult time, but is focusing on earning money for her mission sometime next fall.  Our thoughts and prayers are with her and Derek's family.   These things remind you, once again, of the important things in life.  

Little bits of truth

Me (to Princess):  "Why are you so cute?"

Princess:  "Because Heavenly Father sent me to you.  He really loves you, so He sent me to you."

Does it get any better than this?  

My Sweet Boy

Big is sandwiched between a lot of girls and often gets way too much input from sisters.  Sisters, especially teen/preteen ones, sure give a lot of "advice" about clothes and hygiene - something a 9 year old boy really doesn't care about.  So, it's nice when Big can get away and excel on his own.  

This weekend was his first track meet as a member of the Tustin Equalizers.  He's had a hard time finding an organized sport that he loves.  This summer he ran a couple of 5Ks and decided that running is something he really likes.  After he started wearing running shoes/clothes everyday for school with the hope that they would run the mile in PE, I found a track club he could join.  It's been a few weeks and he just keeps getting faster each time.  This is a little hard on my ego.  Just last July we ran a 5k together and I told my friends to go ahead, that I was going to take it easy and run with my son.  Three weeks ago we ran a 5k and I couldn't keep up with him ( I ran my 2nd fastest 5k ever).  Last week he took me on a run through Peters Canyon and up "Big Red" (a killer, steep hill).  Besides having to wait for me at the top and bottom of each hill, I could hardly walk for days after while he was fine.  OK - done lamenting.  

Anyway, yesterday he ran a 6:22 1500 meter race which is a 6:55 minute mile.  I am excited to see how he will improve as the season progresses.    Here he is with his two ribbons:

And while I am bragging about Big, let me include a few other things.  He loves crawling under the house (eek!) to help his dad with home repairs.  He has actually been a real help to his dad fixing the air conditioner and moving cable.  

He's also really creative and makes cool things out of lego, wood, etc.  For the Boy Scout Blue & Gold dinner, he was supposed to bring a collection and also decorate a cake.  He decided to bring his coin collection and decorate his cake like the coin collection.  He cut little pieces of yellow fondant into circles.  Then he used a toothpick and copied the design from his coins onto the fondant coins.  It was so cute, I wish I had a better picture.  

Lastly is a picture of Big removing all of the baseboards in the Family Room, Dining Room & Entry.  As part of our remodel (see earlier post), we decided to update floor boards.  Ken showed him how and then left on a business trip.  Big spent the next two days between school & activities removing the boards and nails.  He did such a great job and saved me a lot of time.   

I always try to remind him how grateful I am that Heavenly Father sent him to our home.  He is a good boy who wants to do what is right.  It's not easy being outnumbered, but he sure makes the best of it.  

Oh No!- Girl Scout Cookies

So - my effort to eat healthy in anticipation of the LA Marathon in May was going along great.  Until . . . . Yes - the dreaded Girl Scout Cookies.  Don't get me wrong.  I love Girl Scouts and their cookies.  Heaven knows my living room was filled with those dreaded boxes several years in a row while my girls peddled them to my friends and family.  But, they are so darn addictive. 

So, as our cute neighbor showed up with the four boxes we ordered (her sweet mother bought from us many years in a row, so I owed her), I started thinking, "How many of these boxes have I ordered?"  I know one daughter asked if she could order from a friend at school.  I think another neighbor came by.  I know a couple friends' daughters called on the phone.  I guess everyday will bring a "surprise! " 

What am I going to do with these things?  

Let everyone go at it for one afternoon, get sick and then be done with it?  

Freeze them so I am tempted every time I open the freezer? 

Just give the money to the girls and let them keep the cookies?  

Donate them to a food bank?  The last is probably the best option, but will I really get them there or will they tempt me in the car while I drive around town?   

Girl Scout cookies - love 'em, hate'em

Puttin' on the Ritz

Elementary School Talent Show + 22 kindergarteners + Puttin' on the Ritz = Adorable!!

It was a lot of work, but a group of us moms put together a dance for the school talent show. Princess and 21 other kindergarteners were the hit of the show.  The kids were so excited, it made every minute spent teaching the dance and making the costumes worthwhile.  Princess wore her costume for several days afterward.  I love being able to stay home so that I can do fun things like this with the kids.  I am so blessed.  

A Real Love Story

Happy 90th birthday to my beautiful Grandma Fernith!

She's hardworking, loving, kind, & generous. Even into her eighties, she could outwork most of us grandkids.  My uncle finally hid the chainsaw to keep her from trimming the trees (this was just a couple years ago).   As a child, I loved spending the night in her home.  There was always chocolate in the drawers and fun 50's teen novels to read (from her days as a school teacher).  I loved her beautiful blue jars in the window sills and warm plums from her backyard trees.  My cousins that lived near her really worked hard, but I think I got off easy (sorry!!).  

Best of all, is when she would tell us about meeting grandpa.  She was a local Arizona girl.  He was a handsome Italian boy from Boston.  Below is one of my favorite pictures of him (he's in the middle).  I LOVE the white shoes and sunglasses.  

They met at a USO dance in Arizona while he was in Arizona for desert training.  She was wearing a beautiful black dress with fringe that swayed when she danced.  He was in his army uniform.   She caught his eye; he walked around her once, and they feel in love.  That night he told her that she was the girl he was going to marry.  

Soon after, grandpa was sent back to the east coast for more training.  He got a furlough for eight days and they arranged to meet.  Grandma traveled on a train by herself from Arizona to Chicago where she met her handsome Italian.   They called the mission home and asked to be married.  A young missionary by the name of Marion D. Hanks was a witness.  

Soon after, grandpa's unit was sent overseas where he served as a medic.  Grandma stayed home, anxiously waiting for letters and listening to the radio for news.  It was a surprise when she received a call that Grandpa had been baptized at a stopover in Hawaii.  He had waited to tell her that he had been studying the church until he had a testimony.  

I love them both dearly and am so grateful for the influence they have been in my life.  Grandpa passed away before I was born, but I feel like I have always known him.   They truly had a great and real love for one another.  This love continues to bless our family.   Thanks grandma & grandpa!

Just a few reminders

I love being a mom

It's everything all at once:  Crazy, fun, tiring, good

Kids always remind you of things that are more important than calendars and schedules:

Sometimes you need to play until you are so exhausted you can't move

Laughing really is the best medicine

Pajama days are the perfect

 remedy for a serious case of "fakeitis"

Love really is what it's all about (especially when it's your cute little cousins)