Monday, November 28, 2011

Accomplishments

Before I attempt to catch up on an entire summer and fall in picture and word, let me attempt to tell you of another accomplishment.


I have managed to pull off every woman's nightmare. I've seen it done in Hollywood, but nothing in Hollywood is real. No one actually does such embarrassing stuff in real life. I know stuff like this happens, just not to me.

Until yesterday.

I was in a hurry to get to church yesterday. Procrastination from the night before had me all a-flutter to get to the church on time. I paraded in front of my husband, and the mirror, gave myself a semi-passing grade, then flew out the door.

As I barrelled into the parking lot, a quick survey of the scene found only a good friend helping his family out of the van, and a rather shy church member heading for the front door. I rushed to the door, in too much of a hurry to say hello to my friend. I arrived at the door the same time the shy man did. He being the gentleman that he is, opened the door for me. I gushed a thank you in a dramatic flurry toward the chapel. I rushed up to the front, breathing a heavy hello to the handful of choir members already seated in the stand, pretty proud of the fact that I was "on time", which is translated to say that I was late, just not as late as everyone else.

As I gathered my overly dramatic wits about me while setting up at my post at the piano, I chatted with another friend who was already seated in the choir seats. Seeing that I had a few seconds to spare, I headed back down the stairs to put my bag on "our" bench to save it for my family who would come later. Upon turning around, my friend gasped.


The back of my skirt was tucked up in my panty hose.


Crap.


I began doing what most of us do when faced with absolute mortification. I acted all nonchelant as a I reconned my rogue piece of clothing, then mentally retraced my steps from my van to the church to take mental note of the poor souls that had been unfairly mooned on their way to church.

I was instantly horrified to remember some poor choices that I had made that morning. You know thekind. The kind of choices that you feel silly about making, but choices that shouldn't have any consequences, nonetheless. Like when you choose not too shave your legs above the knee,or to wear pantyhose shredded beyond recognition, not really caring 'cause who is going to see up your skirt anyway?

Yeah.


Those choices.


I then thought of my poor friend unloading his family in the parking lot. And the poor unsuspecting do-gooder just trying to be nice, not realizing that volunteering to open my door meant standing behind my bare behind.


I am pretty sure I wasn't imagining things when neither of those men made eye contact with me that morning. Apparently one shot of your bare derriere does an uncomfortable moment make.

Sigh.


When I finally got to go sit down with my family, my husband got a little reproach for not being a better detail checker. He sympathetically snorted and chuckled as I told him my terrible tale. My son just looked at me in horrible disbelief.


"Oh, Mom. I am soooo sorry", was all he could muster.


His was the only genuine sentiment I would receive for the rest of the day.



I have been blessed with such sympathetic friends.




Saturday, July 9, 2011

A Little Less Gross

Wow. If I didn't post for any other reason, it would be having a picture better to stare at than a big hair ball on the floor.

Sorry, folks.

For the last day of school, I got to bring homemade (I know...GASP!) treats to school to share with Chase's class. I found these ADORABLE cookies on familyfun.com.

Uh, CUH-YOOT!! Of course, they were slightly more adorable on line. But, only SLIGHTLY.



Oysters with raisin pearls. Not my favorite, just cute-ish, I guess.





These? Oh, yeah. THESE were my favorite! With every pair of flip-fl0ps, I cooed and gushed. They just kept getting cuter and cuter.





The "beach towel" and brown sugar sand finished out the look.






They were a big hit...to say the least.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

A Little Gross

I was organizing my 2011 pictures and came across this one. Eweeeuuu.

When I got my haircut in January, I cut off 14 inches. No, I was not able to donate it. I still had an old perm in it...which puts a big "don't" on my do.




Just felt like sharin'.

Spring Break

For spring break this year, we stole one of Chase's good buddies and headed to Salt Lake to the Gateway Children's museum. We chose to go on what could arguably be the busiest day of the year for the museum, and the worst day for driving conditions. All that aside, we had a great time. If you have ever been there, you know all of the fun things that they have for kiddles to do;



play newscasters




do the weather in front of a green screen (this was actually quite funny. I about wet my pants at how funny these two (and some random child) were being)





this, whatever this is called






build structures on an "earthquake" plate







fly a rescue helicopter.




Whatever it is we did, it tuckered them out. They slept on the way home...which was kind of a blessing for me as it was white-knuckle driving with the pouring, driving rain.




All in all, we had a great little break from school and work. Chase and I nearly shed tears when we said our good-byes at the school on Monday. Always so dramatic!




All I can say is...




Summer Vacation...here we come!!


Monday, May 16, 2011

Fun Changes

This probably won't matter a hill of beans to anyone. Just thought I'd record it anyway for posterity sake...and for the slight chance that anyone might think it's as cool as I do.

Being a piano player, and being an LDS (Latter Day Saint) piano player at that, means that I will play the piano in church until my dying day. I have had very few opportunities to do much else by way of service (callings) for our church. I have had the opportunity to play the organ, lead the choir, play the piano, lead the singing, direct the children's music, play the children's music, play the piano for the choir...off and on since I was 16. I don't mind it. I enjoy music. And I enjoy serving.

Sometimes, I would like to do more. I have had a few callings here and there that have not involved music...and I have LOVED them.

So, a few months ago, a full-time missionary for our church who was visiting our home put the bug into my ear about serving as ward missionary...which means serving a mission here in our own ward, or neighborhood. I started to get really excited, I mean pants-on-fire-excited about the prospect of being able to do this. On Easter, I got my wish and was called to serve as a ward missionary.

Can I tell you how much I am loving this? My missionary companion, Amy Gray, and I are having the time of our lives. There is SO much to do. We have a mission leader in our ward who has caught fire with the missionary work available in our ward...our bishop (ward leader) has caught the fire...the other leaders of the other groups in our ward have caught the fire. I feel like we get to eat, drink and breath missionary work, without leaving the country for 2 years. What could be more fun than that!

I still have my other assignments as ward organist and choir pianist, but am SO thrilled to be a part of something that I am becoming so passionate about. My parents are both amazing missionaries. They have been for most of their lives. They lead their lives with love, example, and a desire to share the gospel that they love with all they come in contact with.

Uh, can I be like them when I grow up?

This opportunity is a least helping me get my foot in the door to at least try!

Anyway, fun stuff ahead. Just thought I'd share!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Stubborn Streak

Chase and I have been taking some jaunts down Memory Lane. We have been having a lot of fun watching videos of Chase as an adorable little boy. I don't know what my favorite part has been; watching these super cute videos, or Chase's reaction when he says, "Oh my gosh! I was so adorable!"



This video of my then two and a half year old melts my heart. I have played it over and over, and over. It is so funny how it shows that great stubborn streak in my boy.






Finally, after my 101st replay of this video, I finally figured out from where he gets his stubborn streak.



I guess I'm a little slow...and a little stubborn.



Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Feed Me

Uggg. Me want food.







Can I just say how much I love boys? They are different creatures, that's for sure. They are definitely wired different than we women folk. Maybe that is a little of why I think they are so great.

I have to say that I love these boys a teensy extra bit more. The top pics are of a rib fest Jeff did for his young men at our shop, along with our bishop and other YM leaders. Notice the absense of plates.

Not an accident.

We.have.amazing.young.men.in.our.ward. We love them...we are so proud of them.

The bottom pic? When I came out from getting ready for bed, after having sent this handsome cave-boy-born-in-a-barn to get his p-jays on, this is what I saw.

When asked why I was being treated to such a vision, his simple retort was only,

"Well, I was still hungry!"

Ahh.

Carry on, then...by all means.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

St Patrick's

Apparently, I am only comfortable with being a couple months behind in blogging.

One of my favorite things to do for my green-sportin' cutie for St. Paddy's is a fruit (and I use that term loosly) rainbow with a dipping pot at rainbow's end. Chase forgot all about this tasty treat he was to come home to. When he came through the door, he gasped, then said,

"Oh, THANK YOU, Mom! I seriously think I'm going to cry!"

Yeah, I'm good.

And, yes, I do realize that pound for pound, the fruit/chocolate ratio is a little off. Your tears of joy are completely founded, Son.


Friday, April 8, 2011

My Sincerest Apologies, Erma Bombeck

To say that I have been busy lately may be a bit of an understatement. I have had to reevaluate my necessity to have my home in a constant meticulous state. My apologies to any of you who have been in my home lately and felt your skin crawl as you fought the urge to bolt back out the door. But,as painful as the adjustment may have started out, I think I have adjusted rather well. {smile}

Apparently, I have grown too comfortable in my new slovenly ways.

During a week long cleaning spree, Chase and I walked around admiring our handiwork. Chase went in my room, stopped short, with mouth agape, starring at my bed,

"WHOA! Mom! Your bed is so...so...so SMOOTH!"

Yes, Son. That is called a "made bed". Weird, I know. For my next trick, I'll show you how to remove that fuzzy, dusty stuff off of the tables and shelves. Then again, maybe I won't. After all, a house really isn't a home until you can write "I Love You" on the furniture, right?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Driving Momma

It's migraine time again. I seem to have about two weeks on...three or four weeks off. It's getting old. It hurts. It's a serious pain in the...well, head.

The other day, Chase came home from school only to be slightly disappointed, again, to find his otherwise fun Mom curled up in a headache ball. After trying to "sleep" it off for about an hour or so, I was finally able to drag my carcass out of bed so Chase and I could run the errand we were waiting to run.

As we were backing out of the garage, I found myself apologizing to my sweet little boy that weathers my incapacitation pretty well. Mixed in the middle of my apologies was some lovely whining;

"...and I am just really sorry, Buddy. I just can't seem to kick this one. It really hurts."

My sweet little seven-year old pipes up from the back seat,

"Do you need me to drive, Mom?"

Saturday, March 26, 2011

You Saw What?

Chase came running into my room the other day, shouting;


"Mom! That Columbus is totally gone!"


uh, pardon me?


"What is totally gone?"


"That Columbus!"


"Are you saying 'Columbus'?"


"Yes!"


"I'm sorry, honey. I just have no idea what that means."


"You know, that big, dark rain cloud that was sitting over our house!"


"Oh, you mean the cumulonimbus?"


"Yeah, the Cumumublemumble"



After being so cuted-out by this conversation, I tried to start it up again while riding in the car;


"Chase, look at that! It is so big, and dark, and looks like it's ready to burst! What is that called again?"


Chase then shot me a look that accused me of getting my degree out of a cracker-jack box...a look that proves every child's theory that their parents know nothing. Then he stated,


"Uh, a rain cloud."

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

We All Have Our Weaknesses, I Guess

Last night as we were driving home from Parent/Teacher conferences, I handed Chase the 11 box tops that I have been collecting. He said,"11 box tops...that's $1.10 in dollars. Sweet. We just donated $1.10 to my school."

I thought that was pretty fast calculation on the part of his 7 year-old brain. I turned around and gave him that look. You know that look. It's the look that says, "How did you know that? You must be the most amazing, intelligent, fabulously fabulous little boy that has ever walked the planet!"

Apparently, he has seen that look from me a few times. He volunteered,

"Well, I KNOW my money. BUT...I DON'T know how to juggle."


Uh...random.

Well, Little Buddy, I don't know how to make a spoon stick to my nose...if that makes you feel any better.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Sweet 16

I am going to break formation in my chronologies here to wish my favorite team a

GO! FIGHT! WIN!!

We are happy fans right about now. I hope we are this happy in a few hours.

GO, COUGARS!

My dad treated us to the last home game for the Cougars against Wyoming. It was electrifying. Seriously. It was such a good game. The energy among the fans and the team was palpable. It didn't hurt that we won, I guess.

Thanks for a fabulous time, Grandma and Grandpa!




Jimmer Fredette.



Jimmer Fredette fan.




My brother, Clark, and Cosmo




Chase and his favorite Grandma




One of the world's biggest Cougar fans, a super grandpa, oh, and Noah Hartsock.

Seriously, Cougars...make us proud today!!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Christmas 2010

Okay. This is my last bit of journal catch up for 2010.

Finally.

Our sweet friends, the Rawsons, treated us to a trip to Salt Lake on the Front Runner, a ride to dinner on Trax, and another Trax ride to Temple Square to see the lights. What a fun night! I have lived in Utah since 1993 and this is only the second time I have ever been to see the lights on Temple Square.

Yes. I live under a rock.

We had a really great time (thank you sooo much, Rawson family!) We brought along my neice and nephew, Kaylee and Riley. Trax and the Front Runner were a super big hit.







For Christmas, we begged my sister and brother-in-law to come with their two babies. This was a huge thing to ask them since this was the babies first Christmas. They were so fabulous to oblige us. The babies seemed to have an agenda all their own, however. They both brought a stomach bug with them. If nothing else, it slowed down the pace of Christmas morning.





A very excited seven year-old had to wait for three sleep deprived adults to drag their carcases out of bed before he was allowed in to see what Santa had brought him. Once the present opening finally commenced, we would do one round of presents, then have to stop to put one baby to bed, get one baby out of bed, clean up sprinkler vomit, etc. Good times.

Seriously.




We were so excited to share Christmas with them. Who wouldn't be? Are they not just the cutest? I mean, really. The worst part of all of it was when Kirk and Heather announced to us that they had to pull the plug on our fun and took their sick babies home. We were NOT ready for them to go.




We had an amazing Christmas, to say the least. There was such a peaceful feeling in our home. We were so blessed by so many miracles. We have such an amazing family that loves us and takes such good care of us. We have the most amazing friends and ward family that leave us in complete awe. We are truly some of the most lucky people on earth.

Thank you for truly amazing Christmas!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Dear Santa...

Every year, Chase writes Santa. Every year, Mom "sends" the letter...via her scrapbook pile. This system seems to work out fine.

This year, Chase wrote Santa. This year, Chase exercises his independence. Chase puts the letter in the mail box. Mom reminds herself to retrieve the letter later that night when Chase is asleep. Mom forgets. Mom calls friend who works at post office. Mom is comforted when told that a cute little lady sits in the back of the post office answering Santa letters for all the kiddies. Comfort turns to sadness when Mom and friend realize that Chase did not put a return address on his letter. Mom's heart breaks everyday her boy runs to the mailbox...sure that this is the day he would be receiving his letter from Santa. Obvious disappointment follows. Hope returns when friend suggests that Mom write her own letter from Santa for her sweet little boy. Mom pens an amazing letter, obtains a frilly signature from a sweet friend, places letter in mailbox, sits back and watches...

Another round goes to the Momma.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Just Keep Talking

I just wanted to blog a little tribute to my favorite little seven year old, before moving on with the rest of my blogging.

Can I just tell you how amazing I think this boy is? He makes my day. He makes my whole world. I think he is one of the funniest, sweetest, most amazing seven year old. I love him. A lot.

I love it when this boy talks. Most of the time. There are times when I think my ears might bleed from all of the talking that this child can produce. But most of the time, I love it. There are times when I think, "just keep talking". I love some of the stuff that comes out of his mouth.

He amazes me with how quickly he learns. Reading, math, piano, science...he loves to learn. When I compliment him on a job well done, he casually comments, "It's cuz it was 'pie' " as in "as easy as". He has been known to bill himself as a "genius". Confidence is good...right?

He loves big words (I have noooo clue where he would get that from!). He has a knack for making up his own words. Not silly, nonsense words. Words that seem to make complete sense...in their own made up way. The other day, he picked up my fingernail file and tried filing his nails. He exclaimed, "How can you do this to your nails? It gives my whole body the frizzles!" I found myself using the word "frizzles" while telling my husband a story the other day. Works for me.

He makes holidays and special days even more fun. He takes traditions very seriously. He loves to have fun and fun things to look forward to. He is all about having fun.

He doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up. He has heard me say so many times that he can grow up to be anything he wants to be that he is leaving his options wide open. He changes his mind every week. I just listen with an open mind...making sure to give extra excitement to the "better" ideas that he offers{wink}{wink} We had an extended conversation about being an astronaut. Our chat about driving garbage trucks flew by rather quickly.

He gets concerned when he thinks a child doesn't have anything to eat at school. He feels really bad when he thinks of a child going hungry. Food is everything to this kid. He is growing so fast that it takes a whole lotta fuel to keep him going. He planned FHE on Monday, right down to the request for homemade cinnamon rolls for dessert. When he tore into his first hot roll, he deliriously said, "Oh, my gosh. I think I'm going to faint". You're welcome, buddy.

He keeps a Book of Mormon tucked in his bed. He reads it every night. He has been asking us some pretty deep questions lately. He loves the gospel, yet holds on to the idea that three hours of church is a little lengthy for a growing boy who doesn't like to sit still.


He is a pretty fabulous kid. I am biased, I guess.

You can't blame me, right?

Monday, February 7, 2011

Seven? Seven? Did I Say You Could Be Seven?

Seriously. Where does time go? I swear, my little boy was just a baby. I am NOT okay with him being so OLD.

Jeff and I think we are so clever. Hehe. We feel the need to show off our skills every time Chase's birthday rolls around. This birthday was no exception.

We designed his cake for weeks. We put our two brains together and came up with the most amazing battleship cake ever known to man. We made an outrageously large batch of rice crispy treats, a large sheet cake, cupcakes colored in the colors of battleship game markers...then set out to earn our badges of "Bestest Mom and Dad in the Whole-Wide-World".



Pretty fabulous, right?




In the night, gravity set in. Somebody sunk our battleship.

Pft. We planned it that way.

Coolest Mom and Dad in the World.







We had a few friends and cousins over to help celebrate this blessed event. We played human battleship and ate our weight in sunken battleship.


A sweet birthday for a sweet boy.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Next...

...on the catch up....Thanksgiving.


I have absolutely no pictures of Thanksgiving. We were too busy playing Canasta, cooking for the masses, clogging our arteries, and having a good 'ol time. My brother, Jeremy, and his family came to spend the holiday with us. Lots of noise...lots of fun.

That next weekend, we headed to Provo to install bathroom cabinets in my sister, Heather's house. She was so sweet to plan a little early birthday party with my other siblings and fams for Chase. She made gingerbread cookies for the all the kids to decorate, a yummy lunch, and scrumptious cupcakes.











Thanks, Heather!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Good Natured Fun

Our neighbors across the street are some serious Aggie fans. We, as you may know, quite prefer the other blue and white team...BYU.

I honestly enjoy being a Cougar fan in Aggie country. The reactions we get are across the board. We endure a lot of ribbing for our choice of affiliation. But, the rivalry we have with our friends across the street, is my most favorite of all.

On the day of the BYU/Aggie football game in the fall, they snuck across the street and hung their game day "A" flag up our flag pole. We made a paper flag of our own with a large "Y" on it and hung it on their porch. They did to our flag what their team did to ours that day. They shredded it. They returned our work of art in a plastic bag...shredded into a million pieces. Sigh.

Late one night, Chase and I snuck onto their porch and dressed the Halloween witch on their porch in one of my very old BYU shirts. It stayed there for two days before they noticed. They were mortified at how long it had been there.

I was delighted.

On the night of the BYU/Aggie basketball game, they made a basketball player out of my old shirt, slapped the name Jimmer on it, and hung it up our flagpole, and hung their "A" game flag across our front door. I laughed.

I laughed even more when we won that night.

I made posters to string on a line with their "A" flag. The posters read:

"Getting beat by BYU must be such a pain in the "A"

A little on the inappropriate side.

Very much on the funny side.







They were such good sports. They left it up for a whole day so the neighbors could see our handiwork.
So nice.
Such good friends.
Go, Cougars!!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

At It Again

Plodding along in the catch up.

Have I lost you yet? Are you hanging in there?



I just couldn't help myself. I had to make a few more crafts. Just 'cause I was thinking that three totes per season/holiday wasn't enough, is all.

I am truly obsessed.




Sorry about the bad lighting. Still using my dinosaur of a camera.





I loved these jars so much that we left them up through Christmas. We can give thanks in December, right?
Anyway, I thought they turned out pretty cute.
Thanks for humoring me.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Hair

Oh, man. We had a lot of fun with this one.

The day of the Fall (Halloween) party at Chase's school was also crazy hair day. The kids weren't allowed to wear costumes to school, but they were allowed to let loose with their locks. Chase was desperately in need of a hair cut, so we took a few liberties.

You can't tell by this picture, but there is a plus sign shaved into his head. He was so proud, to say the least.



He would not let me shave it until Sunday.
Except for looking like a victim of some kind of an attack, it was pretty cute. I completely admire his confidence. I mean, seriously, how many of us could pull off this look?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Gettin' There

Looking at these pictures of Chase carving his pumpkin makes me smile from head to toe. First of all, last year, he "carved" his pumpkin with both hands completely wrapped in gauze from his burns. Last fall was a tough one.

Second of all, this child has an unusual obsession with sitting on this island. I cannot tell you how many pictures I have of this cutie sitting on this countertop.

He's seven.

He still does it.

I find it very funny.












I have a child that is very comfortable sticking his finger up his nose. It makes perfect sense that a gourd + hole in face = gourd stuck in hole in face. I liked this art display so much that I left it on the porch a little longer than I should have. Looking closely at the picture, you can see it is way past it's prime.




Oh, and I bottled tomatoes for the first time in my life. Don't know how we found the time, but I sure felt domestic. And, might I say...YUM!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Halloween

Oh, I love being so far behind in blogging.

Grrrr.

For Halloween this year, my mom and dad came with my neice and nephew, Anna and Jack. They had been tending these two babes while Kirk and Heather were on a cruise. After a few days, they ended up in Logan. What a treat. So cute!

We threw the babies in old costumes, so Heather could see proof of their babies first Halloween. Other than that, the whole day zoomed past them.

Chase was Toad from the Mario Brothers. Can I tell you....I have now problem with store bought costumes. None, whatsoever. I would looooove to buy Chase a store bought costume. His creative nature needing homemade costumes are kicking my trash! That Toad hat about put me in an early grave. Don't enlarge the photo and look too closely. You will gag at my tremendous costume making ability. Seriously.




The stunning little witch is one of our favorite friends down the street. Obviously, her mother has a good grasp on putting together a stellar costume.




After all was said and done, it did turn out pretty cute. It held up to the pouring rain that accompanied our marathon trick or treating.
I better start planning for this year. Who knows what this handsome harry will have me banging out in 9 short months.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Next...

Flag football.

This kid has been wanting to play football for the past few years. This fall, he was finally old enough.

He has decided that he wants to play for the BYU Cougars so Grandpa can come to see all of his games. Great idea...in theory. This boy would have to take the game a little more seriously to play for real. He had so much fun with football. Too much fun. He was so silly on the field.
His coach was so patient with those silly boys.

Chase has dabbled in a few sports during his few short years. Football has been his favorite, I think.

It will change next week.