Creativity Channeled

As a little girl, I loved to draw. (Yeah, that's me in that awesome yellow coat!) The only problem was that I drew on everything...walls, dressers, cabinets. My mama finally put her foot down and told me I was no longer allowed to use the walls and furniture as my canvas. She must have been very adamant because I sure listened. I drew inside the drawers instead.

Kate seems to take after me in this arena. She's creative. loves to draw, but keep the pens and pencils out of reach! Kate has made a pretty picture on many a wall and table. And floor.














However, her favorite place to "cawah" is on her arms and legs. Yeah! I think it's fabulous when she finds a Sharpie right before we are getting ready to leave for the day.


Kate's latest is "do homework" at Ian's desk.

It's about the cutest thing I ever did see, especially since she's drawing on PAPER!

1 year of blogging!

I've been blogging for a year! My reasons for starting a blog were:

1. To keep (something like) a journal to make me feel like I'm fulfilling that "Family History responsibility"
2. To post some pictures and happenings for my mom
3. I could be cool like my other blogging friends


366 days later, here are some things I've discovered about blogging:

1. I've stayed in better touch with friends than ever before...especially those who also blog.
2. Many have been inspired to start their own blogs
3. I've been writing and taking more pictures...it's a creative outlet! I'm all about creative outlets.
4. Lots of people "spy" on me...they read but don't leave comments or have their own blogs.
5. I like being funny! And my life is pretty funny!
6. I'll NEVER be as cool as Jessica Romney
7. Ben is 2 cool 2 blog
8. Who knew I'd really like getting a Bloggie Award?
9. I've learned a lot about computers and HTML and such
10. I can actually stick to doing something for a year!

Thanks to all you readers out there. Love you. My fans....keep the comments coming!

Wacky Week in Review

Monday: Rained all day. Decided not to go to Disneyland as planned. Just chilled inside.

Tuesday: Weather much improved. Went to Disneyland with Spencer (Ben's bro), Hillary and Miles who are staying with us for a long vacation.

Wednesday: It's getting warm.
Thursday: My birthday. The weather is warming up nicely. I got a new *pink* bike. Jake and I go for a ride around the neighborhood in our PJ's.
Later, we all go for a ride on the big, orange waste-of-tax-dollars balloon in the new Great Park of our city. I have to say, it was kind of fun.

Went to Claim Jumper for dinner. Their portions are huge. Their desserts are even more huge. Have you seen the desserts? My favorite is the I Declair: a giant sized eclair that looks like a small poodle. My cell phone stopped working so no one can call me (on my birthday!), but I get a new one I really like. The best part is the color: heather grape. Love it!
Friday: It's getting hot. My bro Ryan comes for a visit and we head for the beach to cool off a little. That night all the boys go to the Stake Fathers and Sons camp out. It's actually not much of a "camp out." The only thing between the tents and the freeway is an In-N-Out. Where, of, course, they eat dinner. Every year. They also make a fire in a portable fire pit and make s'mores. (Last year the fire was actually in a wheelbarrow which caught fire because the handles where made of wood!?)


I digress...Hill, Kate and I had a fabulous GNO: ate at Chipotle and Yogurtland, then watched two very girly, but only okay movies: Becoming Jane...which should be changed to Becoming Depressed, and 27 Dresses, which was actually pretty hilarious.

Saturday: It's stinkin' hot! Our day was packed with sports, volunteering, guests and 2 parties. I seriously thought I was going to melt...or explode. The best part of the day was getting into the cool pool at our hosts for the fab Brazilian party we went to! Thanks Matt and Tonya!

Sunday: I can't believe how hot it is in MAY. Things seemed to heat up AND get busier as the week progressed!

I'm ready for another rainy Monday with NADA to do.

What makes a mommy a mommy?

My darling child Jacob drew this cute picture at preschool of himself and mommy happily playing Wii together. Apparently he needed a way to show which is the mommy...

Happy Mother's Day!

Before and After...or Just After!

I like to paint furniture. It's been a while since I have braved a painting project with three kids, but here it is, my latest makeover.
I got a hutch on Craiglist for $12o from a real OC housewife in Coto de Caza. ( No, I don't watch that show!) It was built in the 1950's in Vermont. Nothing really special about it, but it had potential.

You'll just have to imagine the "before" picture. Old wood split in several places, flaking varnish, and a slightly musty smell that said, "You can just leave me in the garage." Which I did.

About two months, some serious gluing and sanding, two coats of primer, some more sanding, two coats of off-white paint, one coat of burnt umber glaze and a topcoat later, it looks like this:

It holds some dishes, my place mats, tablecloths and all our games. I'm really happy how it turned out!
(Thanks for your help Ben-honey and Benny-B.)

Anybody want a Peanut?

I just got back from a visit to Denver. I took The Princess Bride with me, which is what I am currently reading for my Book Club.


I find it full of romance, high adventure and humor. Especially Fezzik's rhymes. Limes.
So back to my trip. Dip. Mindy and Matt, my dear friends from our stint in SoJo, UT, just had a baby, little Tessa. It's girl number 3 for them. Tessa is a cutie pie, as are her sisters. I love these girlies. Whirlies.


Who can resist this little imp? Chimp.

In the short time I had there we managed to squeeze in some fun stuff. Enough. First we went to Helga's, an authentic German restaurant, where we ate Schnitzel and drank Spezi (Coke mixed with orange Fanta) and enjoyed a festive band night along with a slew of old German folks. I got this free *beer* glass. Pass.


I slept in the cute blue and white guest room in a comfy bed...it must have been because I slept until 9 am!!! Okay, it was still 8am PST but it sure beats 6:15 at home! Shalom.
We went to some garage sales and Mile High Thrift. Snow Drift. Really it snowed. Blowed. Didn't find anything *fabulous*...but did score some cute shoes for Kate, ribbon, a Bundt pan and a Baby Ben Clock that turned out to be a little fast. Blast.
It was a great time, except the part when I threw up on the plane. Pain. No, I'm not pregnant, I just get really motion sick when I fly. Why?
The best part was coming home to 90 degrees. Geez! I kid you not. Hot.
Now back to reality. Normality.

Savior of the World

Ben was recently in a production of Savior of the World, a musical produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (available on the church's website, lds.org) for any Stake to perform. It was really amazing. He had rehearsals for about 2 months, 4-5 days a week on average. Somehow we got through it! I am not a fan of single motherhood. But it was all worth it to me because of one sweet experience.
My children and I decided to surprise my husband with lunch at one of his Saturday 6 hour rehearsals. We also wanted to see for ourselves what dad has been up to at all this time at Savior of the World. We sat down to watch the second act, just as the stone was rolled away from Christ's tomb by angels and somber music filled the room. The angel choir sang, as did Mary Magdalene. The Savior spoke to her. I noticed that my oldest son, who is seven, was crying a little and trying to hold back more tears. I asked him if he felt sad and he said no. I asked him if he was feeling happy and warm inside and he said, yes, but that he also felt like crying. I had one of those defining experiences, telling him that he was feeling the Holy Ghost, that what was being represented on stage and the music he heard were of God and that what was being presented on stage was true! Jesus is the Christ, He was resurrected and loves us! Since then Ian has been able to identify the Holy Ghost and his testimony of the gospel has grown much. I will ever be grateful for this experience and Ben's participation in this production.