Few things are more fulfilling to me than seeing my children enjoying each other. I dropped them off for school the other day--the first time since the first day of classes--and I was so pleased to observe them going to class together, side by side, walking and running and walking again. They were icons of childhood and innocence and friendship.
I told them so over dinner that night. "I'm so glad you two are friends," was the way I put it. They both looked at me, confused.
"Daddy, we're not friends," Laura explained patiently, "we're brother and sister."
What a great opportunity--a real live teaching moment! I launched into an explanation of how my brother Ryan and I were the same way, yadda yadda yadda, and then when it came time to leave for my mission I realized how much I'd miss him, yadda yadda yadda, and I knew that he and I were best friends.
I sat back, very pleased with myself--what a great father! How lucky these children to have me!
The kids waited to make sure I was done, looked at each other, and then back at me.
"We're just brother and sister," concluded Cole. Laura smiled at him and agreed heartily.
"Well, even if they're not friends," I tell myself, "at least they're allies."
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Pleased as punch
the kind with gingerale in it. So a couple of months ago I emailed a group of gals asking them to join me in the women's distance 5k. I did this last year on a whim having never ran more than a mile and that was in high school with an Army Colonel on my heels to make sure I ran it. So if I hadn't sent the emai l I don't think I would have even participated. I hadn't trained nearly as much as last year even I am probably in better shape....no laughing...thanks to MJs aerobics classes and good ole byutv aerobics. And if MJ and MA hadn't been going I still probably wouldn't have done it. So I ended up going and I ran for over a mile and a half w/o stopping. For me this is HUGE! I couldn't believe it. I beat my time from last year by 5+ minutes. I was elated, even thought I finished behind the speed walker, she was walking pretty darn fast!
The interesting aspect of this is that twice this past week I was reminded of this...
"and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper", (Hel 4:13). Leading up to the race I was like okay I know I can finish it no big deal, but the night before I got nervous. Could I finish it? I wasn't sure I could w/o help. All that night and the next morning I kept praying and repeating to myself you can do all things through Christ, do not rely on my own strength. As I ran that first mile and half, it could of been adrenaline, which I contributed it to at first. I choose to believe it was something more divine. As I've had to give it some thought I recall feeling like I was barely putting forth effort. Any of my neighbors who have pitied me as I trained would attest there was some serious effort before I reached a 1/4 mile. I know that my prayers were answered over something seemingly insignificant to the world, but to a Father worthy of His effort to help His daughter. I am blessed and pleased at punch!
Congrats MJ and Mary Ann I'm certain you guys were helped as well :)
The interesting aspect of this is that twice this past week I was reminded of this...
"and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper", (Hel 4:13). Leading up to the race I was like okay I know I can finish it no big deal, but the night before I got nervous. Could I finish it? I wasn't sure I could w/o help. All that night and the next morning I kept praying and repeating to myself you can do all things through Christ, do not rely on my own strength. As I ran that first mile and half, it could of been adrenaline, which I contributed it to at first. I choose to believe it was something more divine. As I've had to give it some thought I recall feeling like I was barely putting forth effort. Any of my neighbors who have pitied me as I trained would attest there was some serious effort before I reached a 1/4 mile. I know that my prayers were answered over something seemingly insignificant to the world, but to a Father worthy of His effort to help His daughter. I am blessed and pleased at punch!
Congrats MJ and Mary Ann I'm certain you guys were helped as well :)
Friday, September 19, 2008
6 Quirky Things
I was tagged ....
six quirky things about moi
1. I have weird sayings I'll spit out at random times. I can't think of any now but often Brandon is laughing and saying what did you just say and never really makes sense.
2. I always want to know what people are going to eat or have eaten. I really don't know what I get out of that, but it's a question I often ask if it's near eating time or they've just gone to dinner. If Brandon has gone out to lunch with his coworkers and they've gone to a restaurant I like, I'll ask what everyone ordered.
3. If my feet get chilled at night I'll be freezing when I go to bed, even if it's the dead of summer.
4. I can remember my friends' phone numbers from high school and weird random facts that are of no importance. What to get at the grocery store w/o a list is not so successful.
5. I sometimes have sympathy for inanimate objects. Seriously certifiable.
6. I like cafeteria food. I have fond memories of my elementary school lunches and when I was pregnant with Laura I was craving it so much I called the closest school to see if they would let me buy a lunch, can you believe they wouldn't? They thought I was crazy too. Since I know have kids in school it's just not what it used to be.
So I tag...
1. Shelley W.
2. Harmony (D.R.)
3. Tricia P.
4. Kim S.
5. M.J. Blimes
6. Jodi W.
have fun :)
six quirky things about moi
1. I have weird sayings I'll spit out at random times. I can't think of any now but often Brandon is laughing and saying what did you just say and never really makes sense.
2. I always want to know what people are going to eat or have eaten. I really don't know what I get out of that, but it's a question I often ask if it's near eating time or they've just gone to dinner. If Brandon has gone out to lunch with his coworkers and they've gone to a restaurant I like, I'll ask what everyone ordered.
3. If my feet get chilled at night I'll be freezing when I go to bed, even if it's the dead of summer.
4. I can remember my friends' phone numbers from high school and weird random facts that are of no importance. What to get at the grocery store w/o a list is not so successful.
5. I sometimes have sympathy for inanimate objects. Seriously certifiable.
6. I like cafeteria food. I have fond memories of my elementary school lunches and when I was pregnant with Laura I was craving it so much I called the closest school to see if they would let me buy a lunch, can you believe they wouldn't? They thought I was crazy too. Since I know have kids in school it's just not what it used to be.
So I tag...
1. Shelley W.
2. Harmony (D.R.)
3. Tricia P.
4. Kim S.
5. M.J. Blimes
6. Jodi W.
have fun :)
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
BRP's 35
35 random facts about my 35 year old husband.
1. He is the best teacher I know, he knows how to explain things and takes the time to do it.
2. He's a fast runner.
3. He loves cheesecake.
4. He's from Idaho.
5. He has the same shoes from his mission.
6. He's the oldest child in his family.
7. He likes to go snorkling.
8. He adores his family he grew up with and the one he lives with now.
9. He likes to garden.
10. He's interested in time lapse photography.
11. He likes soccer.
12. He hates mushrooms.
13. He's a bit of a pyromaniac.
14. His favorite meal would be steak and potatoes, just like a good Idaho boy.
15. He's a writer at heart.
16. He sleeps so quietly I wonder if he's still alive sometimes.
17. He can fall asleep anywhere anytime in any position within seconds, seriously.
18. He started working at the age of 13.
19. He saved $10,000 before he left on his mission, and brought money back home.
20. He started driving at the age of 14.
21. He plays the piano, oh so well.
22. He played the trombone in high school, we still have it.
23. His favorite color is blue, but he likes red a lot too.
24. He won't eat food if it's too late at night...weird huh? :)
25. He loves Olive Garden's salad and alfred0 dipping sauce.
26. He's a good cleaner.
27. If he uses something it always, always goes right back to where it's supposed to...such a foregin concept to me.
28. He doesn't like to ski.
29. He loves to go canoeing.
30. He loves music.
31. He loves chips and salsa.
32. He does not like the beach.
33. He's an eagle scout.
34. He's a perfect gentlemen.
35. He is loved immensely by many.
Happy Birthday Sweetheart,, YOU ARE THE BEST!
1. He is the best teacher I know, he knows how to explain things and takes the time to do it.
2. He's a fast runner.
3. He loves cheesecake.
4. He's from Idaho.
5. He has the same shoes from his mission.
6. He's the oldest child in his family.
7. He likes to go snorkling.
8. He adores his family he grew up with and the one he lives with now.
9. He likes to garden.
10. He's interested in time lapse photography.
11. He likes soccer.
12. He hates mushrooms.
13. He's a bit of a pyromaniac.
14. His favorite meal would be steak and potatoes, just like a good Idaho boy.
15. He's a writer at heart.
16. He sleeps so quietly I wonder if he's still alive sometimes.
17. He can fall asleep anywhere anytime in any position within seconds, seriously.
18. He started working at the age of 13.
19. He saved $10,000 before he left on his mission, and brought money back home.
20. He started driving at the age of 14.
21. He plays the piano, oh so well.
22. He played the trombone in high school, we still have it.
23. His favorite color is blue, but he likes red a lot too.
24. He won't eat food if it's too late at night...weird huh? :)
25. He loves Olive Garden's salad and alfred0 dipping sauce.
26. He's a good cleaner.
27. If he uses something it always, always goes right back to where it's supposed to...such a foregin concept to me.
28. He doesn't like to ski.
29. He loves to go canoeing.
30. He loves music.
31. He loves chips and salsa.
32. He does not like the beach.
33. He's an eagle scout.
34. He's a perfect gentlemen.
35. He is loved immensely by many.
Happy Birthday Sweetheart,, YOU ARE THE BEST!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Food
We have a love/hate relationship. I love to eat it but hate to see it sit on my hips. I'm going on two weeks of no desserts, that's not to say no sugar, but no cakes, chocolate, ice cream and such. I most likely am a sugarholic, if it's in the house I'm going to eat it...I eat it to get rid of it quick so that I don't eat it. Like that logic? Some things I've learned is that I have more self restraint than I thought. I've been pretty good. Well, really good...I've made it through a baptism with elcairs and lemon cupcakes, a chocolate cake fixed for dinner with the missionaries, a birthday party with browies and ice cream, a painting party with that chex, chocolate powdered sugar mix, Melody's blogging about the hot now sign being on :), and a wedding cake with raspberry filling. I've found that I want the cakey stuff less as time goes on and that apples and bananas taste good when not being replaced with little debbie's. I haven't cut out anything remotely that might not be defined as a dessert, like banana bread that is oh so good but probably shouldn't classify.
The other thing I'm doing is charting my meals on www.mypyramid.gov . I love that it graphs out what you've eaten. It's the longest I've charted my meals. I love change what can I say.
Now with all this effort and preparing (just barely) for the 5K this coming week and aerobics. I've lost possibly one lb. But I know these things take time and I feel better on the inside. You know how you start working out and it feels like your body has made this huge transformation and well not really, that's where I'm at. The clothes still fit the same...ah well. I at least feel better and am proud of myself so far.
Now for more of the love for food and real reason for this post was to say I went to my cousin's wedding on St. George's Island that I haven't been to in evidently years and it was beautiful. I'm going to take the kids there in the next couple of weeks during the evening..it was gorgeous, the sand dunes, beautiful. The best part besides the nuptials was the food....yummy good. It was catered by this company out of Port St. Joe named Provisions and it was scrumptious. They served mini crab cakes with some kind of good dipping sauce. goat cheese something or other with grilled pita triangles. baked brie with pecans and brown sugar...I only had one small helping of this but my goodness so good. yellow honeydew that I didn't even know existed...was wonderful. roastbeef, herb turkey, ham and little rolls and horseradish for the roastbeef, you should never have roastbeef w/o horseradish in my opinion. Little eggrolls with the red spicy sauce. Cherry tomatoes stuffed with chicken salad and a cheesy artichoke dip that was amazing. I love weddings!!! and food :)
The other thing I'm doing is charting my meals on www.mypyramid.gov . I love that it graphs out what you've eaten. It's the longest I've charted my meals. I love change what can I say.
Now with all this effort and preparing (just barely) for the 5K this coming week and aerobics. I've lost possibly one lb. But I know these things take time and I feel better on the inside. You know how you start working out and it feels like your body has made this huge transformation and well not really, that's where I'm at. The clothes still fit the same...ah well. I at least feel better and am proud of myself so far.
Now for more of the love for food and real reason for this post was to say I went to my cousin's wedding on St. George's Island that I haven't been to in evidently years and it was beautiful. I'm going to take the kids there in the next couple of weeks during the evening..it was gorgeous, the sand dunes, beautiful. The best part besides the nuptials was the food....yummy good. It was catered by this company out of Port St. Joe named Provisions and it was scrumptious. They served mini crab cakes with some kind of good dipping sauce. goat cheese something or other with grilled pita triangles. baked brie with pecans and brown sugar...I only had one small helping of this but my goodness so good. yellow honeydew that I didn't even know existed...was wonderful. roastbeef, herb turkey, ham and little rolls and horseradish for the roastbeef, you should never have roastbeef w/o horseradish in my opinion. Little eggrolls with the red spicy sauce. Cherry tomatoes stuffed with chicken salad and a cheesy artichoke dip that was amazing. I love weddings!!! and food :)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Fay & FHE
I didn't get pics of Fay, it did rain a whole lot, but nothing terrible here. Brandon's coworker from India who lives on the other side of town said it rained harder than she had ever seen and apparently it rains a lot in India. We just got a good washin and family fun. It's rare we get a day to just do nothing. The kids and I cleaned the house real good Friday so Friday evening we hung out and on Saturday everyone got to pick a game. I think Hannah's was ring around the rosie, Cole and Laura's was charades, they both love that...I think choices fizzled after that, but we played a new game I found in the back of the closet, not that we lack for board games but it's called hit the deck and Brandon, Cole and I had fun with that Saturday night. We ate good, had ice cream after bed time Friday night and a huge brunch on Saturday morning thanks to our chefs, Brandon and Laura. Hannah went down for a nap on Saturday afternoon, Brandon and Cole played Legos while Laura and I painted nails then we put on Star Wars and I had a long nap It was so much fun. Sunday the weather cleared enough to go to Stake Conference then we hung out and that evening we had thunder which hadn't accompanied the rain the previous days and every time it thundered Hannah screamed out, Rain guys, rain and we had to recognize it or she wouldn't stop. The child talks more than all of us put together...seriously.
Tonight for FHE we had some small successes and more laughs so I thought I'd document it ;). Cole conducted and didn't whine, he selected people for song and prayer and there were no complaints. Everyone spoke their turn during family business even if it was to say they had nothing to say. Laura gave a lesson from the friend that she chose, with me whispering in her ear - it makes it go longer, but it's important to her to "do it". It was about a boy who was turning eight and and his friend's mom said he couldn't be friends with a mormon. So he's talking to his mom about it. His mom reads John 1:5 and talks about Joseph Smith seeing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the other occurrences he had. He eventually prays to know these things are true and gets a warm feeling and hugs his mom and knows that he has to do hard things like Joseph and as his little brother's come bustling in his room he says "Shhh, I don't want this feeling to go away." And Brandon said I think I can feel that here now too and there was no doubt about it...the kids didn't say a word...and that's saying something. Then for closing song Brandon got to choose the song and he chose Love is spoken here cause he loves it and we sang it the best ever, with Hannah chiming in on "here" at the end. Brandon had the activity and said since Hannah doesn't get to participate very much in FHE we would all choose a song that we know she'd like. He started with If you're happy and you know it and to say the least the kids were not excited about this activity. Laura did join in and chose Hannah's very favorite the alphabet song. Then I suggested ring around the rosies and everyone loves this one, even grown up Cole (eh and the other grown ups too) and we laughed our heads off. It was the best. Our home feels full of love and peace...a great weekend......We're sorry to interrupt this highly irregular showing to bring you back to reality. :) Ah well, it was good while it lasted.
Tonight for FHE we had some small successes and more laughs so I thought I'd document it ;). Cole conducted and didn't whine, he selected people for song and prayer and there were no complaints. Everyone spoke their turn during family business even if it was to say they had nothing to say. Laura gave a lesson from the friend that she chose, with me whispering in her ear - it makes it go longer, but it's important to her to "do it". It was about a boy who was turning eight and and his friend's mom said he couldn't be friends with a mormon. So he's talking to his mom about it. His mom reads John 1:5 and talks about Joseph Smith seeing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the other occurrences he had. He eventually prays to know these things are true and gets a warm feeling and hugs his mom and knows that he has to do hard things like Joseph and as his little brother's come bustling in his room he says "Shhh, I don't want this feeling to go away." And Brandon said I think I can feel that here now too and there was no doubt about it...the kids didn't say a word...and that's saying something. Then for closing song Brandon got to choose the song and he chose Love is spoken here cause he loves it and we sang it the best ever, with Hannah chiming in on "here" at the end. Brandon had the activity and said since Hannah doesn't get to participate very much in FHE we would all choose a song that we know she'd like. He started with If you're happy and you know it and to say the least the kids were not excited about this activity. Laura did join in and chose Hannah's very favorite the alphabet song. Then I suggested ring around the rosies and everyone loves this one, even grown up Cole (eh and the other grown ups too) and we laughed our heads off. It was the best. Our home feels full of love and peace...a great weekend......We're sorry to interrupt this highly irregular showing to bring you back to reality. :) Ah well, it was good while it lasted.
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