Monday, January 26, 2009
I AM a patient person, but . . .
I am so glad that moving this week means we won't have to wait for Walmart traffic anymore! There are usually more than two cars coming out and more than two cars wanting to go in, all while I/we want to turn left. Why is their parking lot always so full? It's my least favorite place to shop, and it is not the only store with low prices.
Friday, January 23, 2009
After some cleaning, VACATION pics!
{disclaimer: this is going to be a long post.}
This was where we stayed, in the casita (little house) behind Aunt Sandy's house.
Too cold to swim.
Saturday
We had a late breakfast at Denny's, explored Snow Canyon State Park, and got Panda Express for dinner because we couldn't find anything else we both wanted. Also that night we played the card game Up and Down the River (similar to Zing!) at cousin Brandon's house with him, his wife Val, and Sandy. (I was shocked that I ended up winning.)
Sunday
Went to church with Grandma (where we were the only ones under the age of 50 or 60) and had lunch and relaxation time at their house. Poor Grandpa is recovering from a foot injury. After a delicious dinner at Aunt Sandy and Uncle Chris's, D put Shboogoo to bed in the casita and we all played Apples to Apples for a couple of hours. Brandon and Val and their boys left before we started playing it; again, we didn't get any pictures of them. Nobody played the Steinway. I definitely should have.
Jordan, Heather (3 members of her family and a friend not pictured), us, Sandy, Chris
Monday
Breakfast at Fairway Grill, a slow walk through the neighborhood, and lunch with Grandma and Sandy -- and a terrible server -- at Cracker Barrell. After that, we saw Skyler and his wife and daughter (forgot to take pictures), then let Shboogoo take a nap in the car like we had to do Saturday. I bought myself some new sunglasses that I love. We were finally hungry enough to bring take-out from Mr. Cebollin back to the casita. While our tummies were full we read books and watched a little TV.
Shboogoo handed her dad the crayon box and said, "Here ya go. I put my food in there."
Tuesday
Short walk/run for each of us, leftovers and a pomegranate for breakfast, watched President Obama's inauguration, saw the St. George temple grounds, ate at In-N-Out (tasty but not the healthiest). Guess who didn't sleep at all during the trip home? I'm so glad she finally napped starting at 6 pm back in her own room.
When we got out of the car I saw this plant and immediately thought of this lovely shot.
Squishing her cheeks was her own idea -- a quiet, fun one that didn't frustrate us like the no-sleeping idea.
This was where we stayed, in the casita (little house) behind Aunt Sandy's house.
Too cold to swim.Saturday
We had a late breakfast at Denny's, explored Snow Canyon State Park, and got Panda Express for dinner because we couldn't find anything else we both wanted. Also that night we played the card game Up and Down the River (similar to Zing!) at cousin Brandon's house with him, his wife Val, and Sandy. (I was shocked that I ended up winning.)
Sunday
Went to church with Grandma (where we were the only ones under the age of 50 or 60) and had lunch and relaxation time at their house. Poor Grandpa is recovering from a foot injury. After a delicious dinner at Aunt Sandy and Uncle Chris's, D put Shboogoo to bed in the casita and we all played Apples to Apples for a couple of hours. Brandon and Val and their boys left before we started playing it; again, we didn't get any pictures of them. Nobody played the Steinway. I definitely should have.
Jordan, Heather (3 members of her family and a friend not pictured), us, Sandy, Chris
Monday
Breakfast at Fairway Grill, a slow walk through the neighborhood, and lunch with Grandma and Sandy -- and a terrible server -- at Cracker Barrell. After that, we saw Skyler and his wife and daughter (forgot to take pictures), then let Shboogoo take a nap in the car like we had to do Saturday. I bought myself some new sunglasses that I love. We were finally hungry enough to bring take-out from Mr. Cebollin back to the casita. While our tummies were full we read books and watched a little TV.
Shboogoo handed her dad the crayon box and said, "Here ya go. I put my food in there."
Tuesday
Short walk/run for each of us, leftovers and a pomegranate for breakfast, watched President Obama's inauguration, saw the St. George temple grounds, ate at In-N-Out (tasty but not the healthiest). Guess who didn't sleep at all during the trip home? I'm so glad she finally napped starting at 6 pm back in her own room.
When we got out of the car I saw this plant and immediately thought of this lovely shot.
Squishing her cheeks was her own idea -- a quiet, fun one that didn't frustrate us like the no-sleeping idea.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Let's go on vacation tonight
what I see outside when I am at home in January:
frost, buildings, snow, dirty snow, inversion
what I see outside when I am in St. George in January:
red rock, clean blue sky, cacti, palm trees, many stars
We have been wanting to see some family and friends who now live in the St. George area. The problem was having enough time in our schedule. When my husband told me he had an extra night off work I said, "let's go to St. George tonight." It was one of the best decisions ever. He didn't have to take any time off work, gas prices are low, we stayed at a relative's, and it was such a nice break.
(Our last vacation together -- well, the last real vacation for either of us -- was in April 2007! I'm not counting our travels for the military or pioneer trek because they were hard work, or the all-in-one-day trip a few hours north for a funeral.) We got there at 3 am and went to sleep, and then had three and a half days of relaxation, with no set plans.
I will have the pictures in a separate post after I edit them.
frost, buildings, snow, dirty snow, inversion
what I see outside when I am in St. George in January:
red rock, clean blue sky, cacti, palm trees, many stars
We have been wanting to see some family and friends who now live in the St. George area. The problem was having enough time in our schedule. When my husband told me he had an extra night off work I said, "let's go to St. George tonight." It was one of the best decisions ever. He didn't have to take any time off work, gas prices are low, we stayed at a relative's, and it was such a nice break.
(Our last vacation together -- well, the last real vacation for either of us -- was in April 2007! I'm not counting our travels for the military or pioneer trek because they were hard work, or the all-in-one-day trip a few hours north for a funeral.) We got there at 3 am and went to sleep, and then had three and a half days of relaxation, with no set plans.
I will have the pictures in a separate post after I edit them.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Something to post about (a little book review)
One of my resolutions for 2009 is to read 30 books. (There are some I began last year but didn't complete yet. I think I completed 13, not counting children's books, which is still probably more than in any year before.) There are many books on my want-to-read list.
If you haven't read Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, it should be on your to-read list. I loved it. If you have read it, what did you think?
Tonight I finished reading it at 7:00, came out of my room still crying, and held up the book to explain the tears to my concerned husband. Then I headed out to my book club that discussed it a little. I really like the author's unique style and the characters. I should probably learn more, as sad as it is, about the time period and The Führer. But it's hard to know what else to say about a book this good.
Seriously, read it.
If you haven't read Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, it should be on your to-read list. I loved it. If you have read it, what did you think?
Tonight I finished reading it at 7:00, came out of my room still crying, and held up the book to explain the tears to my concerned husband. Then I headed out to my book club that discussed it a little. I really like the author's unique style and the characters. I should probably learn more, as sad as it is, about the time period and The Führer. But it's hard to know what else to say about a book this good.
Seriously, read it.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Scripture Sunday: Haggai
{ Happy first anniversary, Elisa and Josh! }
While looking at the Old Testament books on lds.org today, I tried to find a short book I randomly read recently, and read a different random book instead. I really liked some of the phrases/verses in Haggai about the importance of having a temple, a house of God. These are some of the parts I liked in the two fairly short chapters (I removed the verse numbers):
In the second year . . . came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. . . . Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. . . . Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God . . .
Also, I found information (here) on the Draper Utah LDS temple. It will be open for public tours starting this week. I am excited for all the people of other faiths who will get a taste of what it's like, and maybe feel the Spirit for the first time. The Draper Temple dedications will take place March 20 (the day I received my endowment in '04 and found out I was pregnant in '06) through March 22.
Our Heavenly Father's plan and laws have existed longer than this earth has. He has always commanded His children to build temples. To me they are about the worth of each and every soul, whether living or dead, and his or her salvation. I am so grateful for the peace and other blessings the Lord has given to me through the temple ordinances. As long as we're faithful and obedient, my husband and I can be together for eternity! Thinking of this is one way I feel the great love of my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ.
While looking at the Old Testament books on lds.org today, I tried to find a short book I randomly read recently, and read a different random book instead. I really liked some of the phrases/verses in Haggai about the importance of having a temple, a house of God. These are some of the parts I liked in the two fairly short chapters (I removed the verse numbers):
In the second year . . . came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. . . . Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. . . . Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God . . .
Also, I found information (here) on the Draper Utah LDS temple. It will be open for public tours starting this week. I am excited for all the people of other faiths who will get a taste of what it's like, and maybe feel the Spirit for the first time. The Draper Temple dedications will take place March 20 (the day I received my endowment in '04 and found out I was pregnant in '06) through March 22.
Our Heavenly Father's plan and laws have existed longer than this earth has. He has always commanded His children to build temples. To me they are about the worth of each and every soul, whether living or dead, and his or her salvation. I am so grateful for the peace and other blessings the Lord has given to me through the temple ordinances. As long as we're faithful and obedient, my husband and I can be together for eternity! Thinking of this is one way I feel the great love of my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Christmas and the End of 2008
I just noticed I've published 100 posts! This is number 101. I hope you have liked reading my blog as much as I have enjoyed yours.
These are pictures showing the rest of our family's December fun (well, the times when somebody had a camera).
Some of the kids sat on the floor to watch The Nativity. The sisters next to Shboogoo, plus the blonde to the left of the girl wearing red, hung out with Shboogoo the whole time.
We gave her 3 wooden cars bought here and wrapped in individual boxes, Bee Movie, Tibbar's Everyday Big Board (I am still a SimplyFun consultant), a dress she can wear later, and her stocking stuffers. I think that was all. Her grandparents gave her a lot.
Shboogoo played with Sarah's two kids and Bobbi's son.
These are pictures showing the rest of our family's December fun (well, the times when somebody had a camera).
- Ward party, December 13th
This is the chair Santa sat in once he came. Shboogoo had gone up on stage to sit here a bunch of times. She liked him and the candy cane he gave her. She loved going to lots of parties.
Some of the kids sat on the floor to watch The Nativity. The sisters next to Shboogoo, plus the blonde to the left of the girl wearing red, hung out with Shboogoo the whole time.
- Watching one of the many snow storms
- Body Worlds, December 22 (we went with Grandma Nene, Shauna, and Uncle Aaron)
- Loving the new blocks, in her Christmas dress, after Christmas Eve dinner at Nana's
- Christmas morning at our own home was both exciting and peaceful. Watching our girl run out to the tree and really "get it" this year was so fun. She had been saying every day, "Santa be coming! I open presents on Christmas!" [but with her own pronunciations, of course.] We didn't want to take more pictures, but I promise D was there!
We gave her 3 wooden cars bought here and wrapped in individual boxes, Bee Movie, Tibbar's Everyday Big Board (I am still a SimplyFun consultant), a dress she can wear later, and her stocking stuffers. I think that was all. Her grandparents gave her a lot.- Roommate reunion, December 30 -- Bobbi, Sarah, Annika and I hadn't all been together since we were roommates in 2002.
Shboogoo played with Sarah's two kids and Bobbi's son.
- New Year's Eve -- No pictures, but D had a good night delivering pizzas while Shboogoo and I had a lot of fun at my friend Anne's party. Shboogoo was up past midnight and then the three of us didn't wake up until about 10:30 New Year's Day.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Professional Photos
First I want to recommend that if you read this through Google Reader, you click over to my blog itself. I changed the header and a few things in the right column. I have a poll that is still open. I'd appreciate those of you who have my last name on your blog (on your blog list) removing my last name; just using my first name instead. Most of you have already done this.
The lovely new header photo was taken the week before Christmas. I was glad I found the photographer, who is related to an old friend of mine. We really like Tim's work and had a lot of fun having him take pictures -- mostly candid -- of us outside. The day after the photo shoot he gives you all the pictures on CD (for us this was over 450 pictures!), with a lot of the good ones edited, and you can print whatever you want. Check out some more of the photos Tim took:
See the snow falling?
The lovely new header photo was taken the week before Christmas. I was glad I found the photographer, who is related to an old friend of mine. We really like Tim's work and had a lot of fun having him take pictures -- mostly candid -- of us outside. The day after the photo shoot he gives you all the pictures on CD (for us this was over 450 pictures!), with a lot of the good ones edited, and you can print whatever you want. Check out some more of the photos Tim took:
See the snow falling?
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