A Few Updates

We had a great time in Phoenix.  It was perfect timing to go on vacation since my kitchen was still unusable. 

Saguaro cactuses pervade the Phoenix area.  I was surprised by how many there are.  This one is behind the house. 

 We had some fun in the pool.  It was a little chilly because the heater is not working but we got used to the cool water. 

Tenny doing her Little Mermaid impression.

I wish this pool was in my backyard.

There is a wall to the North of their house and this lizard kept running back and forth on it and then would do some type of push up motion.  It was funny to watch him. 

Shelley and I went to the Mesa Temple last Wednesday.  We went in the temple and it was sunny.  We came out in the middle of a rainstorm. 

It was nice to see all of the palm trees. 

We also visited Carefree.  It is this fun little town with an old West section and a fun shopping area which we hung out in.  Had lunch at a great little grill al fresco. 

Lots of cool cacti in Carefree.

I had a great time in Phoenix.  It was such a nice relaxing vacation.  It was fun to stay in a house but still feel like you are somewhere new and exciting and on vacation and  with such great weather. 

 The granite was installed this morning along with the hardware.  Josh and Stacy and family came over tonight to help me start putting things away.  I am rearranging some things.  It will take me awhile to remember where I put everything.  This picture does not really do this granite justice.  I love it and it is beautiful.  You know how sometimes when you choose things without really knowing how it is all going to look together.  Well that is what I did about a month and some ago.  I love how this all turned out.  The kitchen does indeed look bigger.  Now I just have to get the sink and dishwasher plumbed and then start on the lighting and painting and blinds.  I will get it done eventually.  I hope to have everything just the way I want it by July. 

The granite has a lot of movement which is what I picked it for.  I can't wait to have this all behind me soon.

Now I have to pick just the perfect shade of blue and beige for the walls.

The Remodel Has Begun

It is 9:30 Thursday night and the guys that came to tear out the kitchen are still here.  I thought I would post while they were fast at work.  It is taking them longer than expected.  Something about the tile being put in extremely well.  Who knew?  My house is going to be covered with dust because they are using power tools to pull it up.  I cannot hear myself think.

Whit and Les cleaned out my remaining cupboards on Wed. night  I came home from work and all the work was done.

Dang tile.  The guys told me this tile was put in and meant to last a lifetime.

The kids wanted to climb up to their favorite hiding spot one last time.  My new cupboards will not allow them to do this. 

I had to run to a stake leadership meeting tonight so I Josh came over to the house while they were tearing out.  They seem like a decent crew.  I probably trust them to be here without anyone else here.  My look at this ugly room.  You can hardly recognize it.

The appliances had to move to the dining area.

This is the tormenting tile.  I was talking to the guys and second guessing my decision to tear it out.  They told me that I did make the right decision and that maybe they made the wrong decision to be the ones to have to tear it out. 

My house may be in shambles but at least my yard looks pretty.  Well it needs to me mowed but there are at least pretty flowers in bloom.



It Wouldn't Be Easter Without an Egg Hunt.

So of course with Easter Weekend coming I wanted to do an Egg Hunt of sorts.  I wanted to be a little creative with the hunt this year.  I think for the older kids just finding candy on the lawn has lost its excitement.  I decided to spice it up this year with individual egg hunts for each child, treasure hunt style.  So yesterday I had to come up with 25 hiding places in and around my house. 

We started with the ceremonial picture of the line-up.

Then each child was given either a drawn hint or written hint as to where they need to go for the first Easter treat.  Maren had to start by going to my "treasure chest" aka my jewelry box that she had to unlock with the key.

Essie had to start at the "fridgerator" that she is holding upside down.

I wrote little riddles for the boys to figure out where their treats were hidden.  And Hannah got a mix of pictures and riddles.  So instead of tears and tantrums we had 5 kids running every which direction to find their treasure.

Hannah searching the rhubarb

Essie finding her stash behind the new yard ornament.

Trying out all the candy.

At one point Essie had all of her candy out of the basket and had to try at least a taste of everything.  She loves her sugar and chocolate.

Arden and Essie comparing tongues, not sure why but there you go.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and happy Easter.

Spring is Here, At Least in My Yard

My life is rarely blog worthy but I notice that I have not posted anything since December and I see that Lizzy has managed a blog update so it must be my turn to update too.  The weather has been so mild this month that Spring has come early.  I actually had my daffodil bulbs coming up in February.  Now my yard is definately in bloom. 

I have not used my camera for a few months.  I got out and did some yard work this morning and thought it might be nice to snap a few pictues. 

There is something about blue and yellow together.  One of my favorite color combos.  I should really be able to smell the hyacinths in a day or so.

I don't have a forsythia bush in my yard but thankfully my neighbor to the East does.  I love the look with the white fence. 

When I bought these daffodil bulbs it was under the impression that the centers would be pink.  It never happened.  My soil is probably not acidic enough or something crazy like that.  This year I can enjoy them instead of being annoyed with them. 

I was going to thin these lily's again but Hannah talked me out of it.  The foilage is a nice green.  It does look good in the bed, for now anyway.  They will soon take over.

I just ran across this picture in my computer.  My yard definately looks different from when I bought it.  It was not very inviting when it looked like that.

So back a few months ago when Jonas would call me on a nightly basis he would always ask when we were going to go on a trip.  He wanted to go with me and no one else and wanted to fly.  We had a few conversations and then I didn't think too much about it until I got this letter from him in the mail reminding me of his plans.  It's a keeper.  Although I am afraid he is going to be disappointed in me.  I am not taking any big trips this year because I am going to redo my kitchen instead.  I have my cupboards, countertops and flooring picked out.  Wish me luck.  It is going to be crazy around my place for a month or more while this all gets done.  I have not scheduled it to be started yet.  My guess is that I will get the cupboards ordered this week.  I hope to at least.  I can't wait.  I have this picture in my mind of what it is goint to look like.  I hope it will look even better.  Then I will definately have something to post about.

Preparing for Christmas

I just spent a fun weekend with Jenny and her girls and other family members doing Christmasy things.  We were able to go to the Nutcracker and then spend a fun evening downtown.  Lots of people had the same idea.  Who thought that we would have to stand in line to get into the Lion House Pantry, not I.  It was fun and very cold seeing the lights.  And now all the guests have gone home and I am sitting here listening to a little Mo Tab along with David Archuletta and really getting into the Christmas mood. I am trying to decide what sort of treats to make my visiting teaching sisters and neighbors.  Which brings me in the mind of other Christmas plans.  Jenny and I were talking this weekend about plans for Christmas.  We started talking about some of the things we wanted to do and menus.  I am going to send out an email so will those who will be coming down for Christmas check out their emails so that we can start making some plans and arrangements.  I told Jenny I would help out with this and send out the info.

Looking forward to the Holidays!

First of November

 I am sure that most of you have received your letter from Nancy in the mail.  I of course have been thinking of her non-stop since I found out.  I was able to find a blog that she and Paul are doing.  I read the story or as much as they have posted and just cried thinking about how scary it must be to go through something like that.  I am also thinking of my sweet Visiting Teacher who is battling bone cancer that has metastacized from her breast cancer.  We visited her on Sunday and found her upbeat but fatigued.  Then a few nights later we were visiting another sister in the ward who's husband is dealing with stomach cancer and having his stomach removed.  He was wretching in the bathroom while we were there.  It was agonizing to hear him.  Then I got the letter from Nancy and now today I am thinking about Mom on her birthday and how she would have been 82 but for the cancer that took her life.   I went to my knees tonight to start my fast and asked the Lord "what's the deal with cancer."   I did not receive an answer.  I do know that in all the suffering and tribulations and loss we are made stronger.  Maybe that is "what's the deal with cancer"  I emailed Nancy and she just called me and we spoke for about an hour.  Considering all that she is going through we were still able to have a laugh and have a good talk.   I added her blog to my blog list.  It is called A Bump in the Road.   I went back to August to read the whole story.  It is quite the journey she has found herself on. 

Today I flew to the John Wayne Airport in O.C. California to join Morgan, Andrew, Zack and the girlies on vacation.  After picking me up at the airport it was planned that we should go to Newport Beach and take in the sights and smells.   And smells there were.  I love the ocean but it always takes me a few minutes to get used to the smell.   We walked along the pier and ate lunch at Ruby's Diner at the very end of the pier.  

At the end of the pier by the diner there were all of these Asian fisherman with their stinky bait.  We decided to tough out the smell and eat outside anyway.  We had a lovely lunch that was only slightly ruined when I discovered bird poop on my shoulder and supposedly my face.  That was a nice surprise.  I thought it was raining, it was raining seagull bird poop.  NICE!

Here is Leah enjoying her lovely caramel malt that she saw on the menu and insisted on having.  It was yummy.  

We enjoyed a fun day on the beach and Morgan got some great pictures that I am sure she will post. 

After leaving Newport Beach we hopped on the Balboa Ferry.  It holds 3 cars and any other pedestrians, cyclists, etc. who want to come aboard.  It was a quick ferry trip but still fun today.  Balboa island is full of fun little beach houses that are probably worth millions.  After that we wound our way to Anaheim to find our hotel.  We had a good taste of some nasty rush hour traffic So.Cal. style.   Andrew was patient and got us safely to our destination.  Tomorrow will be a big day.  It will be our first of 3 days at the Happiest Place on Earth.