"Lipping Lizzards"

Annie, Sandy, and Mr. Warbucks (PTC Production)

We were able to go on a field trip this week and see Annie at the Pioneer Theater Company.  We completely enjoyed the play.  The actors did an amazing job.  I was so impressed with how well they all did and especially with how well all the children did.  I grew up watching the movie version of Annie with Carroll Burrnett. I love that movie.  I love the music.  As a child I don't remember some of the songs that were in the play being in the movie but I loved the songs that were in the play and they added so much to the story.  I also never thought anything about the movie other than it being about an orphan who is always positive.  As I waited for the play to start I read the background about Annie and had a much better idea about the messages that were in the comic strip and later the radio show.  Watching the play I realized how political the message is. I also realized how similar 1933 is to today.  This was the perfect time to perform this play.  

I want to congratulate everyone for doing such a wonderful job in the play and for singing all those songs just how I remember them from my childhood.  I'm glad we had the opportunity to see this play and have it remind us that even though our economy is bad this Christmas season that we are still so blessed.

Lights on Temple Square

I had this wonderful thought the other night, lets go as a family and walk around downtown and look at the lights.  If any of you watch the Middle, you have an idea how as to how our family night out went.  It all started out by there be no parking anywhere near Temple Square.  I mean No Where!!  None of us can walk very far but we started out by walking a couple blocks just to get to our destination. As we headed toward the lights I realized that we may have just chose the worst night to see the lights.  I'm pretty sure every Young Woman's and Men's group in the Salt Lake Valley was there with us.

While we were surrounded by beauty, we were also surrounded by youth groups that were loud and running wild.  What has happened to the youth today?  I wish I could exclude my own children from that thought but they were soon included.  Before too long, I would have to include myself.  It was so crowded by the manger scene that we were all squished together. Squished together with loud talking and singing youth. After I took my first picture (the Temple above) the batteries died in my camera.  I had forgot to pack extra batteries.  Now all I had was my cell phone, yay.  While trying to get the camera safely tucked away with the lens still stuck out, Kenny accidentally elbowed Taylor in the  mouth.

None of us do well with crowds.  That simple statement could even be an understatement.  As we were walking we had a couple walking right behind us (like, right behind us) and next to Taylor.  This couple was having a conversation about someone they knew and before I knew what was happening I could hear Taylor behind me saying things that went along with their conversation only in his best sarcastic tone.  They would say something and then I could hear Taylor respond with "Reallllly" or "Oh thaat is soooo greeaaat."  I quickly moved us over out of the way and let this other couple get by us and then just gave Taylor that REALLY look.  We were off again.

We headed toward the South part of the Square and Kelton was busy telling us how cool the display is in the visitor's center. It is about the Temple and he was so excited to show us and tell us all about it.  I had said that we would go in there on our way back through so he could show us.  I think we were starting to enjoy and settle down a little while we were in a less crowded area.  It was so pretty looking at all the lights and the Temple and was fun seeing all the families and tourists taking in all the beauty.  For a few moments I was excited to think that we had saved our family outing and was going to enjoy the rest of our night. Haaa haaa haaa, that is really how naive I am.

As we made our way onto the Main Street Plaza I could hear a little comment from behind me (It would be nice if we could just have one normal family outing.  When are we going back to the car?)  That was it!! All that peace, love, and anything else nice crap went out the window.  There were no lights before me anymore, the night was done.  I was done!  I was able to take a few more pictures with my phone and then when Taylor asked me where we were going I quickly let him know that we were heading back to the car.

We slowly made it back to our car safely even though  we timed our leaving with half of the youth groups. More yelling, singing, and general ughhh. My next wonderful thought was to stop and get us all Peppermint Hot Chocolate from McDonald's.  Big mistake. Huge mistake.  We sat for over 15 minutes waiting for our drinks while we watched (not kidding) 10 cars leave behind us with their food.  Kenny finally went in and got us our drinks. I told him we should have got our money back but he just wanted to leave.

In the end, we made it through as a family and enjoyed some very weak hot chocolate as we made our way home.  We did enjoy many beautiful images and some priceless moments together.  No matter what, we are a forever family and it may take that long to figure out how to put together a family night that we can all enjoy :).  I do know that we love each other and can now look back at our night out and laugh hysterically about what happened and talk about all the beautiful things we saw.  I guess that makes this a success.

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This really did take a few twists and completely threw me for a loop at the end.  I am still slightly bewildered as to why this book is under the horror section.  I think I have read more suspenseful books in the Juvenal section.  Not to say that this was bad, I just don't feel that it should have been considered horror.  It was more suspenseful than anything and it did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing. In the end it was a good quick read that did keep me on my toes.


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Triage by Taylor

I was laying in bed yesterday reading while I was waiting for the boys to wake up.  Taylor woke up first and joined me in bed and was petting Maggie.  After a few minutes Taylor went to get up and we heard a joint pop.  He looked at me and then said, "who was that?" I wasn't sure but told him that it wasn't me (I hadn't moved, in fact I hadn't moved for a very long time).  He started to check Maggie over and was gently rubbing a few of her joints on her legs where he had been petting her.  Then he moved to her face and checked her eyes. Taylor then announced, "her pupils are reactive, she is fine!"

It took everything I had to not laugh.  Instead I told him that I was glad that she was okay.  What an absolutely priceless moment!

X-Wings in the morning

While driving Kenny to work the other morning (Monday) I told him to have a good day.  Kenny's reply was that he would try.  Before I go any further you need to know that he has successfully turned me into a Star Wars geek.  So, my reply was, "do or do not, there is no try."  Ya, I know, but give me some credit...it was 6:30 in the morning and I was in horrible pain from my stupid back.  Kenny didn't even miss a beat. He quickly replied that he "would drop an x-wing on me."

It is a really good thing that x-wings aren't real.  It is also a really good thing that we don't have any at home, my boys quickly reminded me that all of their x-wings are in storage.

I'm still trying to decide which was funnier...the boys taking the whole x-wing part so literal or that Kenny said he wanted to drop one on me.  The scary part is that most of our morning drives are that random :)

The Hunger Games Trilogy

Disturbing, that was my first thought when I started reading The Hunger Games.  How could anyone come up with the idea of having children fight to the death.  By the time I was done reading the first book I was not going to keep reading but everyone was so in love with these books that after some constant nagging I finally picked up the second and third books.  I can't believe how good they ended up being, still disturbing, but good.

I can't even begin to understand how someone can have the imagination to come up with such a story and then to make it into three books.  They built on each other so well that you have to finish all of them and find out how it ends.  I am still in shock at how each character developed and how much I fell in love with each of them.  I knew who I wanted to win and by the end I knew who I wanted to spend their life with Katniss.  I was not disappointed!

Now that I have finally listened to my son and cousin, I am glad that I read all of the books and was able to visit this other amazing Country that could treat their citizens so cruelly.  I am purposely not saying much about the story because I don't want to give anything away.  These stories are too good to let anything slip. It would be to easy to say one little thing and then it would give everything away.  If anyone wants a really good story to read I would highly recommend these books.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am so torn as to what to think about this book. I loved the story and the characters and their stories.  Each character is so unique and amazing, It's been a while since I have read about so many different people with such a wide variety of personalities and backgrounds.  I really had a hard time with the first about 5 chapters. I thought I was reading something close to a porn. I couldn't believe how explicit things are described and the detail that was used. I should have quit reading at that point but I loved the characters so kept reading. I'm glad I finished the story and found out what happened with everyone. I just really wish that I could have not read the inappropriate parts. Some of the people that read this before me had just said that it was the way things were. Even if that is how things worked with the circus back then I would rather have had the story skim over it instead of being so detailed.  I was amazed at how the circus worked and how they would acquire new people and animals. I was also amazed at how they would get ride of workers when money got tight or if they didn't like the person. The circus world is definitely its own world. Their world is one that has social classes and scum just like any society.  In the end, after I get past everything, it was a very interesting and entertaining read.


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Thank You!!!!

Our flags we got at the Veterans Day Parade

I love this Country and am so grateful for all the people who are willing to serve and protect all of us. We were able to attend a Veterans Day Parade and see all the different groups of officials that protect us.  There were veterans from all of the wars including people dressed in costumes from the Civil War.  It was such an amazing way for us to honor all veterans from the time that our Country was founded.  I don't think I have ever thought that far back before.  It put things in perspective on how many veterans we have and that we are so blessed to have such valiant people sacrificing their lives, time, and families so we can live in America.

Thank You to all our:

Army

Marines 

Air Force

Navy

Coast Guard 

Police

Fire Fighters

Homeland Security

and anyone else out there that is working hard to keep us safe.

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this one as much as the first book (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).  I am now affectionately calling these my smut books.  The mystery part is amazing and of course, like the first book, lots of sex.  It is an adult book though :) I am amazed at how the plot will twist and turn and even though you know who didn't do it, you have to pay attention to learn who is behind everything. I have completely enjoyed seeing how the characters have developed and even when I get upset with them for not talking with each other openly I know that that is just part of the whole development.  I can't wait to read the last book in this series!


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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked the story and how it all unfolded. I love reading mysteries that can just suck me in and pull me through...I never have time to wonder who did it because I'm just enjoying the story too much.  I did however have a problem with some of the language and content, but the story was so good that I was able to overlook most of the language and the content was part of the story and what had happened.  I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read it. If you are sensitive to language, this might not be for you but if you can overlook it it is a great read.


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Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! It was so much fun to read about how much life has changed and yet how many things are still the same for women and mothers.  I would suggest this to anyone who likes to just get sucked right into a book and become a part of their lives.


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Showing Gratitude

November? Already?!

Out of all the different times of the year, this is the time that we usually spend focusing on the things that we are grateful for.  I like seeing how so many of you are doing a post every day on Facebook and sharing the things that you are thankful for in your life.  I seem to have very little computer time any more, my boys have taken over.  Besides that, I would forget to share something everyday.  From here until Thanksgiving I will be pretty busy, so I thought I would make a list of things in my life that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for:
1)   My life
2)   My husband
3)   My children
4)   All of my family
5)   All of Kenny's family (just in case someone out there might think they weren't included in #4)
6)   My faith
7)   Prayers and Priesthood blessings
8)   A home to live in
9)   Food to eat
10) A reliable car
11) All of our season's and the amazing weather and plants that each brings.
12) Modern medicine
13) Our Maggie dog
14) The Scriptures
15) Enough money to pay our bills
16) Shriners Hospital and Dr. Carroll
17) Did I say my children, they crack me up!
18) Good friends...most of which we have had since high school.
19) My Dad and my Mom...they both taught me so much and continue to
20) Kenny's Mom...She has taught me so much since we met
21) My sister...She is so strong and independent and has a motorcycle (jealous!)
22) Books...I would be lost without my books
23) Christmas and Easter....my favorite holiday's for so many reasons.
24) Health Insurance....that is after the deductible has been met :)
25) Did I mention my husband...He deserves to be mentioned many times after our last summer
26) My freedom and this amazing Country that I am blessed to live in
27) Having my children in their charter school
28) My education
29) A husband who can fix just about anything...did I mention him already?
30) My amazing support system which includes my family, friends and ward family. Without whom I would be lost.

Most of these are in the right order but some could be rearranged and placed higher.  If I could (which I could, this is my list) I would list everything as #1.  There really isn't a good way to place any of these in order of importance since they are all important and mean so much to me.

While Driving

While I was driving to pick Kenny up from work I was looking around and noticing some of the things around me.  As I drove I wished that I had a camera attached to me or my car somehow so that I could capture the things that I saw.  Instead, I found some pictures that are close to what I saw or remind me of how the things I saw was almost from the past.

Being in the city (okay, suburb, but still the city), the picture below looks like the freeway as I merge on in the morning when taking Kenny to work.  Always busy and crazy and for the most part not to bad to drive in other than the few (or many) idiots that decide they also need to drive to work.

This is what we woke up to this morning.  The first real snow storm for the season. It always seem that no one can remember to drive in the snow for the first couple big storms.

As much as I love a bright sunny day...I love seeing a dark sky bringing in a storm.  I am always amazed at how many different colors and shades of grey, blue and black you can find in storm clouds.

While driving one day I saw a small group of boys that were playing baseball in the grass in front of a church.  It reminded me of when I was a child and even the stories that my mom and uncle will share about their childhood.  When all the kids would gather in the street for an impromptu game of baseball or kick the can.

Our last home had a front porch that we would sit on and visit in the evening.  We would just enjoy sitting there in the quiet and catch up on the day or plan for the weekend or visit with neighbors that were out walking and would stop to say hi.  I love seeing families sitting on their front porches and visiting while I drive by.  It is one of our requirements for our next home, we need to have a front porch again.  That is Kenny's request, mine is to have the rocking chairs that are in the picture below.

I think this has to be my favorite part of my day.  On my way home from taking Kenny to work and again when we are on our way home in the evening, we have a view of the Jordan River Temple.  As we come down Redwood Road and just as we hit the top of the hill right before 7000 south we have a perfect view of the Temple lit up.  What a perfect way to start and end my day.

There are so many things that I see as I am driving around town and wish that there was a way to capture them just as I see them while I am driving past them.  There are so many images that brighten my day and make everything wonderful.  I don't always notice just the nice things, I do notice the people driving drunk and texting and just plain distracted.  I'm not perfect either, I have been known to line bump :)

Focusing on the good is always so much better!

Halloween 2011

We had a good Halloween this year. We went out to Grantsville to Grandma Susie's and made sugar cookies and had dinner with most of the family.  Kelton had fun taking charge of the sugar cookies for a while and then disappeared into the front room with the other boys to watch football.  I took pictures of the "boys" but they came out to dark.  We even took our Maggie with us and Karen and Trevor had Bones and they even got along for the most part.  It was Maggie's first outing. She did okay but we need to work with her some more, that was a really long ride with her.

Kelton and Taylor did end up dressing up and going trick or treating with their friends.  It was only the second time for Kelton to go on his own with friends and Taylor's first time to go without me watching over them.  Now that they are old enough to go on their own I think they are too old to be out trick or treating. They did go trick or treating at their Grandma Shauna and Grandma Chris's work and got tons of candy that they added to later when they went with their friends.  They had tons of fun and even at the end of the week, they still have candy.

Along with the traditional activities, we also added in some spooky movies. We watched The Changling (1980), corrupted them with Paranormal Activity one and two and we have Watcher in the Woods coming for this weekend. I guess we are still celebrating because I have another movie on Netflix and after that we will be adding in Poltergeist (there should be no more questions as to why we have a therapy fund for our boys).  We also added in Thriller.  The boys loved Thriller and the more I think about I can find more things to like but it just wasn't what I expected, I expected more.  

Kelton and Grandma Susie cutting out cookies.

Carrie and Audrey doing dishes.  Audrey was a big helper!

Cookies!  Kelton made one that "was shot" and Carrie had made some chocolate marble dough, yummy!

My Cowboy

My Greaser

I love these two boys!!!

Grace

Our lives here have been a little crazy and until I knew what some the craziness was going to come to I haven't wanted to write about it.  On top of that, one of our computers decided to die on us and with 2 children in online school I never get anytime to get on the computer unless it's after everyone has gone to bed.  I'll catch everyone up on all that we have done but I just have to quickly write about my day.  To understand my day I need to take you back 2 weeks.

It was decided that I needed to have an overnight sleep study done to see if I have sleep apnea.  I shared some of my concerns with family who have had sleep studies done before and they told me not to worry.  Needless to say, my worries came true only they weren't as bad as I thought they would be.  I showed up at my appointment time and when it was my turn to get all "hooked up" is when those worries were realized.  I had wires down my clothes, attached to my head, my face, my neck, my double chin, my chest, my legs.  I also had sensors that were wrapped around my tummy and chest.  I was afraid because the paper said that they could place sensors in my nose and or mouth.  I was told that it wouldn't happen, but to my surprise, I had not 1 but 2 sensors placed in the opening of my nose.  It wasn't too bad, it was like going back to wearing oxygen.  By the time I was done I must have looked like one of the Borg. It's the best way I can think of to explain what I think I looked like.  All I could imagine was when the Borg are attached in their little holding cell thing and they are plugged in and there are all these wires everywhere.  I think I've been watching too much Star Trek.

After waiting for 2 weeks I went into see my doctor today.  It has been an off day and I was barely able to squeeze in a shower and dry my hair before I had to leave.  I thought that I was lookin' pretty good except for the fact that I never got to do my make up.  I even had on my oh so cute denim high heel sandals that have an open toe so you could see my blue toe nails. For some of you, to clarify, these are not the blue and white checked high heel sandals that I wore for family pictures and fell in the middle of the road in.

So, here is the good part.  Picture it, me running late (nothing new so far).  I open the door to the very quiet waiting room and as I step through the doorway I stepped to my side.  My foot moved but my shoe stayed where it was, it liked where it was.  I start to tumble and fall but amazingly I catch myself on the door jam with my lightning fast reflexes (haha).  There were only 2 women in the waiting room and they both looked up and just as quickly looked back down.  I could hear some giggling at the receptionist desk and I was kind of giggling myself.  As I walked up to the counter the lady asked for my name and as I answered her I also said, way to make an entrance there.  She kept doing her job and then asked me what I had said, I repeated my name.  She said no, before, oh my we weren't laughing at you there was something else going on.  Uh Huh! I told her it was okay because I was laughing at myself.  When it's that obvious that you just fell into a room it's really hard to hide what you just did.

Not just anyone can enter their doctor's waiting room with that much style and class and pull it off.

Yep, just call me Grace!!


By the way, I do have sleep apnea and will have another sleep study in 2 weeks.  Really! As if being an uncoordinated Borg with Fibromyalgia and RA isn't enough, now I have to add another diagnosis to my ever growing list that makes me the freak that I am.  There is no way I'm going to ask what else because I could end up with multiple surgeries in one day again :)

The star Spangled Banner

I absolutely melt every time I hear this man sing.  I love how Trace Adkins sings and overall his deep voice.  We saw him in concert a few years ago and it was amazing.  In fact that was the concert that we have been to. I think I have almost all of his CD's and almost lost 2 of them when we sold our car, they had fallen underneath one of the seats and was almost lost forever.  Trace Adkins sings about normal everyday stuff and has many songs that praise your everyday hardworking man and our Country and soldiers.

A couple weeks ago I had heard that he was going to be singing the National Anthem at one of the college football games and I missed it. However, today on Facebook they had a link to him singing the National Anthem at the 2011 MLB World Series - Game 2.  He sounds amazing and so of course I have to share this with everyone :)  I still am amazed at how low his voice can go.

Here is the link, I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.

Trace Adkins singing The Star Spangled Banner

An Award!!

My friend Jaymie who writes dancesdishesanddreams awarded me this along with several other people.  I love reading her blogs.  She has 2 blogs, her other blog is becomingwhatibelieve.  Both are amazing to read.  Jaymie is working on earning her English degree and has been teaching reading to children.  I just think she is amazing. 

The rules for this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave the award to you.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Send it along to 15 other bloggers and let them know that you've awarded it to them. 
(I wish I followed 15 blogs and had the time to enjoy them but I don't 
so I will share this award with as many as I can)

Seven Fantabulous Things About Me: 


1- I enjoy cooking and baking. Finding new recipes are always exciting.


2- I love to write.  Being creative and sharing my life and thoughts is therapeutic.


3- I have been married for 17 years.  


4- Embracing my limitations is hard but it has taught me how to look at life differently.
I am able to enjoy all the little things better.


5- I love to laugh and have fun.


6- Family is the most important thing in my life.


7- Living frugally is like a game for me.  Making things from scratch for my family brings more
joy for me than I ever thought it could.


namebrandmomingenericjeans


kgreenfamily


coalcreekfarm


My Family


sincelastweekwithglenandshelly


theivs


theworldthroughtheeyesofme


waveatthebus

Due to my poor editing, I can not explain why half of the links are green (the right color) and why half are black.  Thanks for bearing with me :)

Sacrifice

My cousin shared this on Facebook today and I had to share this with everyone.

I don't think people truly understand the cost and sacrifice it takes for us to be able to enjoy our way of life.

Thank you to all who are brave and willing to serve our Country!!

Saturday at Temple Square

We were able to spend today together as a family and took the opportunity to visit Temple Square.  We first went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building where they have the Legacy Theater and watched the movie that they are showing right now.  It is Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration.  It was amazing to watch all that he went through so that we can enjoy the blessings that come from our loving Heavenly Father.

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is so beautiful.  It used to be a hotel and then a few years ago the church went through and did a big makeover and changed it into more of a very nice reception building.  It also has the theater, several dinning rooms, some different restaurants and a family history center.

The front of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

This is the inside of the lobby.  I love all the chandeliers.  When we went today they had a wedding display in the center of the lobby where the flowers are in the picture.  It was so fun to see the wedding dress and read some of the stories.  We enjoyed watching the movie and it was nice to share in seeing so many people in there that were touched by the spirit.  It was one of those inspiring moments.

After the movie we took the boys over to the Salt Lake Temple so we could do Baptisms.  This was Taylor's first time going to the Temple and Kelton has always wanted to go to the Salt Lake Temple.  It was a moment that I will always remember and one that I would never have imagined possible when I was younger.  I am so happy that we were able to go as a family to do Temple work and to enjoy the blessings of the Temple that come from keeping our covenants that we have made.

Taylor and Kelton in front of the Salt Lake Temple

In Rememberance

I just learned from a blog that I read and follow that today, October 15th, is a day set aside for parents to remember their sweet babies that they have lost.  She said it much better here: http://theworldthroughtheeyesofme.blogspot.com/

I had no idea that there was even a day set aside for this.  In honor of my only daughter I would like to take a moment to remember her now.  She would be 16 years old right now.  That means she would be old enough to drive, date, and if she is anything like me, moody.  We would be planning for her 17th birthday that is coming up in December.

I am so thankful for the knowledge that I will be with her later and be able to spend all eternity with her.  Without this knowledge I think it would be devastating (even more than it was) for both my husband and I to move on.  It is still hard all these years later.

We will always love you Laura and you will always be my baby girl.

Wheeler Farm Field Trip

I haven't mentioned how much I am loving having the kids home and having them be a part of K12.  We have gone on field trips before on our own but today was our first official field trip with K12.  I was of course running late.  I was worried about being late but it ended up working out perfect because I was able to meet some wonderful moms and their boys.  If we had been on time I wouldn't have been able to meet moms that I could click with so quickly.

We started with a get to know you game where we had to introduce ourselves and then answer a question.  Other people were getting easy questions like what was the last book you read.  My question was, "what person, living or dead, would you like to meet?"  How do you narrow that down?  Of course I stood there like a moron trying to think of something.  I finally answered that I would like to meet Laura Bush....who knows, she is someone I would like to meet but there are so many other people I would like to meet as well.

Each of the boys had to then introduce themselves and answer their questions.  Kelton was asked what his greatest fear is and Taylor was asked what is the worst job.  Kelton is afraid of heights and Taylor said that the worst job is picking up dog poop.  We have been picking up lots of dog poop lately, it must be his favorite part of walking Maggie.

They had a craft activity for us to do while we waited to begin our tour of the farm.  We were to make friendship bracelets.  I messed mine up so bad, it is a mess. Taylor's looks really cool and of course he made his with the Panthers colors.  Kelton refused to make a bracelet, I guess he's too old for this stuff now.  So I gave him the job of texting his dad for me.

Finally....we get to go on the tour and we are heading toward the barn.

They gave the kids "hay rides".  There was no hay but they did get to go for a ride in a wagon that was pulled by a tractor and saw the majority of the farm.  I almost can't believe that they are old enough to just go off on their own.  

After the tractor ride we got to start our tour around the animals.  We saw piggies and rabbits and horses.  They also had chickens and turkeys and sheep.  When we got to the goats I couldn't help snapping a picture of this little bearded fellow.  He is so cute and I guess rare.

This cute little pony is named Snickers.  Taylor just fell in love with him.

We then moved onto the cows and went into the milking building.  They had signs up on the walls that described the different cows and how much it took to feed them.  I was amazed to read how much hay and grains they eat every day.  I was also shocked to find out that they still milk the cows there by hand and that it takes on average 500 pulls to milk a cow.  How does anyone last that long?  

This is the holding area where the cows and goats are milked.

 Our guide explained that the cows and goats have their own milkers and if someone different tries to milk them they will throw a fit.  She said that she tried to milk a goat that wasn't normally hers to milk and it kicked her repeatedly.  She also said that goats are the worst to milk.  Who knew?

Our last stop on our tour was to meet the blacksmith.  He was really nice and patient with all the children (there were a lot of younger children).  He explained how to heat the metal and then shape it.  He made a chain and then started asking the kids how many chains he would have if he connected two little chains he had.  It was fun to see him sneak that math into his presentation.

This was our guide through the farm.

I tried several times to get the boys to pose for some nice pictures, but them being boys, that didn't happen.  I didn't even bother adding the other pictures of them.  I took one of Kelton in front of one of the old wagons and Taylor was inside the outhouse.  They wouldn't smile for nothing.  I thought this one had turned out but they are both pulling faces.  I still like this picture of them but I don't think it will make it as something I would want to give to the grandma's for Christmas.

It was so nice to go and have the boys interact with some of the other kids that they are in school with.  I also got to meet their science teacher (they have the same teacher for science, she teaches for both the middle and high schools), Taylor's history teacher, Kelton's geometry teacher and the High School Principal.  It is really nice to be able to put a face with a name, not so sure they had the same feeling since I am constantly emailing them with questions.

On the way to our car Taylor suddenly asked for the hand sanitizer.  My boys never ask for that, what, you want to "wash" your hands?  I think they might have been switched on the hay ride.  They always tease me about the big bottle of sanitizer that I carry in my purse and now they couldn't get to it fast enough.  I couldn't help laughing.  I've turned them into such city boys :) What makes this really funny is that we didn't even pet or touch in any way any of the animals.  

We were able to end our morning adventure by having lunch at the park with Kenny.  I thought I timed this picture better, sorry guys.  We got to indulge with Jimmy Johns.  I now hate other sub sandwich places, Jimmy Johns has ruined me.  I then went to McDonald's for drinks because they are cheap and so are their apple and pumpkin pies.  We also got to be entertained by the guys at a table behind us that were drinking.  The park rules state that you can't have alcohol on the property, but they were having a nice little Friday afternoon party back there.  I think the rules said that your dogs had to be on leashes and there was a lady there with 2 dogs that had leashes on but she just let them run wild with their leashes dragging behind them.

This has been such a fun day for all of us.  We got to meet so many people and make some new friends.  There was some really good people watching.  Most of all, there was lots of family time.

Monday Morning Breakfast

After I dropped Kenny off at work I thought it would be nice to run to Wal Mart before the crowds hit.  It was  just after 7am and the parking lot was almost empty.  Unfortunately, this just gave me more room and didn't feel rushed by people so I wandered.  

Wal mart has done something so insane...they have fresh donuts under the warming lights right by the cash register.  Insane for me, I can't walk past warm donuts.  I turn into our new dog and start salivating (or as Kelton calls it, turns into Homer).

As you can see below, they jumped into my cart.  Someone better give me a Gold Star...I only bought the box with 6, normally I would have gone all out, without a second thought, and grabbed the box with the whole dozen!!

I quickly became mom of the year when I told the boys they could have donuts for breakfast.  As Kelton went to open the box he looked down and noticed that listed as the first ingredient was...wait for it.... no, I don't think you're ready yet....okay.....DONUT!  

Go figure, you would think that people would already know what was in the box but I guess you have to make sure you list everything.  You never know, you could open that box with the clear cellophane lid and find .........

I'll let you finish that and I would love to know how impossible you can make it.

Forget Not To....

I have pondered on the post that I posted earlier today and decided that even though I still agree with what I wrote that it was just so serious and negative.  A change of perspective was needed.

Looking through some of my pictures I kept coming back to this picture that I bet most of you have seen on Facebook.  It is from a talk given by President Uchtdorf during the General Relief Society Meeting.  The entire meeting was so uplifting and positive and I left feeling that I had the whole world in front of me and I could do whatever the Lord needed me to do.  For days I kept singing in my head the primary song "Nephi's Courage".

I love that someone put this picture together, it is perfect!  There is no way for me to fully express the joy and love that I felt and continue to feel when I remember this talk.  There is no way for me to sum up President Uchtdorf's talk and do it any justice.  I have added the link to his talk below.  I hope anyone who reads it is able to feel of their Saviors love for them.

http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/forget-me-not?lang=eng

Leaving the sidelines

When I was younger I loved politics.  I loved to get up on Sunday and watch all the political shows like Meet the Nation and because I knew it all I would have great debates with the T.V.  Now I'm older and realize that there is much that I don't know.  I have a family now that I need to protect and at the same time educate as to what is happening in our Nation.  I know that I have voiced my opinion here many times and even though when I started this blog I thought it would be just another cute place to update and record our little life, I can't leave it that way.  I have way too much going on in this little brain of mine and I will no longer fret over my postings and if they might offend.  There are things that need to be said.

Growing up with parents that were from the Vietnam era, I heard stories about people protesting.  I heard how our citizens didn't support the government (and unfortunately our soldiers).  People back then were not afraid to stand up and protest when they saw something that was wrong.  They were willing to get out there and march and rebel against a government that was not working for the people. Let's go further back to when our new little Nation was ruled over by a corrupt government that was across the ocean.  People then also stood up and had to not just protest but fight against wrong.  

Fast forward 30is or so years and we have a group of people running our Country that are, most likely, just as corrupt or more so now.  I already wrote about Kelton and his volcano theory, now we have people protesting and becoming a part of OCCUPYWALLST.  On the radio this morning they said that it is not just college students any more, that there are middle age adults joining who have lost their jobs.  On CNN's home page it shows a story that the unions want to join in with OCCUPYWALLST.

Part of that same story that I was listening to on the radio said that we also have an OCCUYSLC group.  They are planning a march for tomorrow evening, however, their web site does not have the time or location on there yet.  The radio story said that it was to begin at The Capital and move to Pioneer Park.  I put one of their flyer's above.  For the first time ever, I am pondering being part of a true movement instead of saying that I'm too busy with my family and others are taking care of it.

How can I sit by any longer knowing how many of my friends that have lost their jobs this year. My neighbor who has a college degree but makes minimum wage.  Our own income has dropped, sometimes by as much as $800 a paycheck.  Our government doesn't have enough money to run our Country and threaten to shut down.  If they do that, I know several people who rely on their disability, their SSI, they are government employee's, and they are enlisted in our armed forces.  How can I sit by and see/or know of people who are working hard and all they might get is an IOU instead of a paycheck.  Other threats have included taking away our military's pension and their low cost health care.

I can no longer sit silently when I see how all of this is affecting my neighbors.  Our ancestors were probably just as nervous as I am now to stand up and say enough is enough.  If our government has enough money to give billions in hand outs to banks and other lending institutions, why can't they cover the basic day to day operations of our Country?  If we have to cut healthcare to our low income citizens, how can we continue to  fund 2 wars?  Oh, that's right, we are giving our soldiers IOU's!  Unless, our government can take out another loan and put us further in debt, all we watch the bickering and drama that will take place just so they won't have to follow through with the threat of shutting down.

It is still my responsibility to research out this movement to make sure that the rebellion they mention on their flyer is to stick with the peaceful movement that was started on Wall St.  It is still my responsibility to educate myself as much as possible with the truth and not just what is being fed to us in the media.  Then I can move forward with knowledge in hand and leave the sidelines.  It's my time to have the same strength that others have, to not allow myself to sit by and watch things fall apart around me.  All those people before us who have fought, protested, and gave their lives so we could live in this amazing Country, I feel, would be ashamed of where we are now.

The lava is really starting to boil!