~Have you ever noticed that freshly folded laundry clothes stay really warm, and sometimes even several hours later, when you reach into the laundry basket you could swear that there is lingering warm feeling?
~Have you felt that tingling, bubbly feeling in the back of your neck which preceeds a grumbling in your tummy?
~Have you ever noticed how wonderful sun-warmed pine needles smell, reminding you of care-free summers spent camping in the woods?
~Have you ever spent the day lounging in the back yard watching your kids laughing as they run through the sprinklers while reading a really good book?
~Have you ever noticed how pure and sweet your toddler's breath smells right when she wakes up from her nap?
I know this is really random, but it's just what I was thinking about today. How about you?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Things I wish my husband knew...
After 17 years of marriage (this month), heaven bless him for being so patient with me, but there are still a few things I wish my husband knew.
1. If you soak a dish for 20 minutes and it doesn't get any less crusty I doubt that another 24 hours in cold, slimy water is going to get it much cleaner.
2. When you put a brand-new dress on a toddler you need to check inside for the attached diaper cover and detach it from the dress before getting the toddler dressed and taking her to church.
3.When you wipe down the table you must actually scrub at the dirty spots. A cursory "running a wash cloth over the table" just doesn't do the job. It just gets crustier and stickier until you put some elbow grease into it and scrub it all off.
4. A fairy doesn't come make the bed every day. If it's made it's because I
made it. Maybe you could do it every so often.
5. Pizza is not that amazing.
6. In conjunction with # 4, the blinds don’t pull themselves up and down morning and night. People can see inside your house at night when your lights are on and your blinds are up.
7. A two year old needs someone to brush her teeth for her. A seven year old also needs help every once in a while. They don’t have the dexterity to do it all by themselves until they are at least 8.
Now I have to say that my husband is getting better at some of these things, and at least he tries. Thanks for 17 fabulous years!
1. If you soak a dish for 20 minutes and it doesn't get any less crusty I doubt that another 24 hours in cold, slimy water is going to get it much cleaner.
2. When you put a brand-new dress on a toddler you need to check inside for the attached diaper cover and detach it from the dress before getting the toddler dressed and taking her to church.
3.When you wipe down the table you must actually scrub at the dirty spots. A cursory "running a wash cloth over the table" just doesn't do the job. It just gets crustier and stickier until you put some elbow grease into it and scrub it all off.
4. A fairy doesn't come make the bed every day. If it's made it's because I
made it. Maybe you could do it every so often.
5. Pizza is not that amazing.
6. In conjunction with # 4, the blinds don’t pull themselves up and down morning and night. People can see inside your house at night when your lights are on and your blinds are up.
7. A two year old needs someone to brush her teeth for her. A seven year old also needs help every once in a while. They don’t have the dexterity to do it all by themselves until they are at least 8.
Now I have to say that my husband is getting better at some of these things, and at least he tries. Thanks for 17 fabulous years!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Our Fabulous Trip to Italy
Wow! All I can say is wow! The weather was amazing, the people were fun and the sights were incredible! We took off for Rome on May 17th and after 12 hours on a plane we landed in Rome and proceeded to find a train, a subway and then walk to our hotel which took about 4 hours from landing. We didn't sleep for 48 hours and then did that same thing on the way back. But even for all the hectic time traveling there, it was still wonderful!
I have never walked so much in my life and my feet have never hurt so much! We walked from sight to sight ALL day long and then rested our weary feet for a brief night's sleep and did it all again the next day. We walked at least 40-50 miles in all.
We saw stunning ancient Roman sights, amazing Tuscan wine country, a beautiful Medieval castle, and countless incredible pieces of art and I even got hit on by a brazen Venetian waiter! Botticelli's The Birth of Venus truly moved me. It was a trip I will never forget!
I have never walked so much in my life and my feet have never hurt so much! We walked from sight to sight ALL day long and then rested our weary feet for a brief night's sleep and did it all again the next day. We walked at least 40-50 miles in all.
We saw stunning ancient Roman sights, amazing Tuscan wine country, a beautiful Medieval castle, and countless incredible pieces of art and I even got hit on by a brazen Venetian waiter! Botticelli's The Birth of Venus truly moved me. It was a trip I will never forget!
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Sunday, May 1, 2011
Our favorite things about Hawaii
Seeing the Laie Hawaii Temple.
Eating Shave Ice at Aoki's! Yummy!
Finding sweet-smelling plumeria flowers everywhere and putting them in our hair.
Body-surfing the big waves in warm Pacific waters.
Snorkeling at Sharks Cove and Olivia looking cute in her swimsuit!
Playing in the Dole Plantation Gardens.
Ahhh the breath-taking scenery and cool turtles at Turtle Beach.
We can't wait to go back!
Eating Shave Ice at Aoki's! Yummy!
Finding sweet-smelling plumeria flowers everywhere and putting them in our hair.
Body-surfing the big waves in warm Pacific waters.
Snorkeling at Sharks Cove and Olivia looking cute in her swimsuit!
Playing in the Dole Plantation Gardens.
Ahhh the breath-taking scenery and cool turtles at Turtle Beach.
We can't wait to go back!
Friday, April 1, 2011
On Mothering
Some people just don’t get it. Some people think that you can command your children to be good and so it shall be. Some people don’t realize the effort, stamina, energy and strength it takes to just make it through the day while you are raising children.
You see, it’s constant, non-stop, never-ending diligence to make sure that your children grow up (hopefully to be happy, well-rounded individuals that contribute good to the world). We are constantly watching with relentless vigilance and unwavering love; and those are the easy parts! As mothers we are always on guard, making sure they don’t run in front of a car, preventing them from poking their eye out, watching out for strangers, helping with homework, taking them to their various activities, not to mention breaking up fights with siblings. It’s exhausting!
So when you see a mother by herself with her 4 children please, oh please, be kind to her! She is out, doing her best, battling the world, trying to make sure her kids aren’t too loud, too bothersome, too rude. She is also looking out for every possible danger to prevent a mishap, and she is usually doing it ALONE!
I am writing this because someone was unkind, thoughtless, and selfish. Someone thought more about sitting quietly by themselves on a Seattle Ferry than letting an exhausted mother with 4 weary children rest their tired feet near her (which was the ONLY available seat inside). I, after hearing how tired this other woman was, told her that I was equally tired and that a kind smile would go a lot further than a look of vehemence.
My mantra: Be kind to everyone, for everyone is fighting their own battle.
You see, it’s constant, non-stop, never-ending diligence to make sure that your children grow up (hopefully to be happy, well-rounded individuals that contribute good to the world). We are constantly watching with relentless vigilance and unwavering love; and those are the easy parts! As mothers we are always on guard, making sure they don’t run in front of a car, preventing them from poking their eye out, watching out for strangers, helping with homework, taking them to their various activities, not to mention breaking up fights with siblings. It’s exhausting!
So when you see a mother by herself with her 4 children please, oh please, be kind to her! She is out, doing her best, battling the world, trying to make sure her kids aren’t too loud, too bothersome, too rude. She is also looking out for every possible danger to prevent a mishap, and she is usually doing it ALONE!
I am writing this because someone was unkind, thoughtless, and selfish. Someone thought more about sitting quietly by themselves on a Seattle Ferry than letting an exhausted mother with 4 weary children rest their tired feet near her (which was the ONLY available seat inside). I, after hearing how tired this other woman was, told her that I was equally tired and that a kind smile would go a lot further than a look of vehemence.
My mantra: Be kind to everyone, for everyone is fighting their own battle.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Making Play Dough
Who doesn't love squishing their fingers into something soft and pliable? Almost no one! Especially not curious toddlers. Three cheers for play dough! Here's how to make your own:You will need:
1 c flour
1 c water
1/2 c salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 T oil
food coloring
Mix the dry ingredients then add the oil, water, and food coloring. Heat in a pan on the stove top until the mixture forms a ball. Let it cool briefly and then knead until it is soft and cohesive.
Then let the fun begin!
What a great way to have lots of fun on a rainy day!There is also an edible version which I have never tried since it would send my other children into anaphylactic shock. Here it is:
Edible Play Dough
1 1/2 c peanut butter
1 c powdered milk
1 c powdered sugar
Mix together until it becomes clay-like. Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Journal Pages
A few years ago (actually probably more than a few) there were some journal pages in the Friend that you fill out each month. We started filling these out way back then and now we make up our own. This is really great because each month you have at least one easy FHE lesson ready to go. We just type up 5 or 6 questions that pertain to that month and print it out and then the kids fill it in or we write down their answers for them. Around General Conference time we might ask questions about the prophet or something they learned. In the summer we ask about what they have been doing and what they enjoyed the most. We ask questions about their friends or what activities they are doing or their favorite foods. They really enjoy it and so do we!
Recently we found some of these old journal entries and spent an FHE reading over them and laughing about the cute things everybody said. It's amazing how you forget about the little details of life after just a couple of years. This is a great way to keep some family history and have fun at the same time.
Recently we found some of these old journal entries and spent an FHE reading over them and laughing about the cute things everybody said. It's amazing how you forget about the little details of life after just a couple of years. This is a great way to keep some family history and have fun at the same time.
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