House of Ten

Our guests arrived Monday night at 9:30. I was totally wasted, but everything was clean and ready for them. We sat around and talked for awhile, then headed to bed around 11:00.


Landon, Peter and Spencer are camping out in the family room during their trip, so they got to stay up late playing Guitar Hero. Whitney pleaded her case for staying up late as well, but lost the argument and went to bed in our room when we did.


In the morning, Landon, Peter and Spencer entertained themselves outside for much of the day playing soccer, football and light sabers. Larry, Dani and Isabella went for a walk up to the temple.

I let Landon stay home from school, but sent Whitney because she wouldn't have ended up playing with the kids the way Landon did. She gets to do fun stuff and miss school when with her Utah cousins, so it evens out.


Daniela and I had to go to Costco, but were able to catch lunch at The Blue Lemon first. When I got up to get some utensils I ran into blogging beauty Crystal! I was so excited to see her (dang no self-portrait!). I always expect to run into her around town, yet never do so the one time I wasn't expecting to see her...there she was, woohoo!


Daniela and I were so thrilled to find Red Velvet cake at Costco, because Gifford had specifically requested that for his birthday dessert. This was the best tasting, time-saving $9.99 ever!


I spent much of my afternoon with vegetables...this is something I NEVER say or do. I was making a salad to go with dinner and then washing a bunch of the snack vegetables I'd bought for their visit.


Lori showed up while I was doing this, and could smell our garlic, rosemary pork roast cooking before she even got in the house. Daniela prepared the pork roast and red potatoes, so our house was garlic-filled and tasty.

I love that the kids all played together before dinner.

Who knew light sabers could unite all ages?

Gifford was 2 when Randy and I got married, so this freaks me out a bit.

I roped everyone into taking this self-portrait.

We played a painful game of Pictionary later in the evening. I was tired, had a headache, and had Landon for a partner, so that was a rough combination. (Landon and I were never on the same page.)


Randy and Whitney ended up being the victorious team and seriously kicked our butts with their excellent drawing skills.

**Do you like Red Velvet Cake?
Do you ever look for bloggers around town?
Do you use garlic very often?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I think my bedtime needs to be earlier.

Five for Friday--More Miscellany Edition

1. Last Sunday morning I made Miracle Bread and Michelle's Ranger Cookies in a fit of domesticity and aromatherapy. (You guys know she has a food blog right?)


2. Sunday evening we had Gifford over for dinner, but then I had to leave for a fireside so I really didn't get to visit with him much.


3. The amazing fireside was taught by our brilliant blogging friend April and her sister Rachael. It was all about girls and body image issues, and was quite powerful. Michelle and I had planned to meet there and sit together, but there was such a huge turn out that we weren't able to find each other until after it was over and we both made our way up to the front to meet April.


4. I bought and received the replacement hose for my vacuum this week and am loving it! It is so great to be able to get in all the nooks and crannies again. I never sweep, I only vacuum so I use my attachments every time. I can't believe I've been without a functioning hose for 4 months! (I ended up buying the generic hose on Amazon.com for $28 and got free shipping.)


5. The kids don't have school today and Whitney was sooooo happy to have a birthday party for her best friend Madison to go to today at 1:00. I remember being so excited for birthday parties, and am experiencing a bit of that myself because tonight is our book club overnighter and Collette's birthday celebration, woohoo.

Speaking of Whitney, here is a funny conversation we had this week while snuggling in the cozy.

Whitney: Do you want to play the animal guessing game?
Me: No.
Whitney: I'll go first!
Me: What did you do at recess today?
Whitney: Played on the monkey bars! Maddie literally went 4 centimeters in the air!
_____________
Me: Come here, let me attack that zit. (Yes, she had a zit on her chin already.)
Whitney: No way, you do one zit then you'll do them all.

**Do you experience fits of domesticity or
do you always feel that way?
Do you still have your Christmas cards hanging up?
Do you use your vacuum's attachments?**

Comment Window Tidbit:

Sometimes it's nice to have no plans at all, but other times it's great to have fun plans with friends, I'm just glad I feel like having plans today.

Modern Day June Cleaver

I slept unbelievably great last night, which I think was due to the cooler air coming in through our open window. I curled up in the cozy and didn't move (which is so rare for me since I'm a notorious thrasher in my sleep) so I woke up feeling great and ready to take on the day. (I love it when that happens!)

I had to realign myself several times when the pull of the computer took over (I'd find myself sitting in the computer chair wondering how I got there), but I'd made a list of things I wanted to get done today and I gave myself computer time as my reward at the end of it all (hence I'm finally posting at 9:34pm).

I listened to the final 2 hours of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" while I worked, and ended up feeling so in love with that book. We read it for book club a couple months ago, but I had rushed through it and hadn't savored the letters so I missed some of it. But listening to it was great, especially because there were different narrators for each of the characters, complete with their British, American and Scottish accents.


I spent the morning doing a thorough dusting and vacuuming (under couch cushions and such), cleaning the bathrooms, and putting out the Halloween decorations. I usually wait until the middle of October to start feeling fallish, but since I was moving everything to dust it seemed like a good time to set things out.


I wisely decided to make the cookie dough before mowing the lawn, because I knew I'd feel wiped out afterward and would talk myself out of making the cookies. Kristi called, so we chatted while I got all my ingredients out, then the mixing went quickly when our call was done.


I spent over an hour mowing the lawn and listened to "50 Success Classics" while I worked. I find mowing the lawn very enjoyable, especially when it's not too hot outside, but I was glad I'd made the cookie dough ahead of time because my gimpy foot was hurting a lot afterward and I know I wouldn't have wanted to stand in the kitchen for a long time.


The kids and their friends were so happy to come home to freshly baked cookies. I felt like June Cleaver as I handed them their warm cookies. Of course, I was NOT wearing a dress and pearls...more like track pants and a t-shirt with wet hair and no make-up on. Oh well.


I helped Whitney with her math homework (which is always testy for us). She seems to think I should explain the problems thoroughly enough that all she has to do is write the answer. She's got the wrong mother for that.


I finally put Larry & Dani's family photo in a frame on our photo wall (I've been meaning to do this for over a month).


I took Landon and Parker to flag football practice and helped coached. At one point I was playing Quarterback and after doing a hand-off, foolishly decided to run. The other coach threw the ball to me, I caught it and then took off running (probably not very fast) and literally saw stars as my gimpy foot strained. As I fell to the ground thoughts of being an invalid in Paris flashed before my eyes, but once again after standing up and stretching it a bit it felt strangely better, like I'd snapped something into place. I was so relieved! That was a close call.

Fall is coming! The mountains are turning orange!

Gifford came over for dinner tonight and Randy grilled some chicken and made some very tasty, spiced red potatoes. (We tried to have a better dinner than usual because Gifford was coming, maybe he should come more often.) He's living on quesadillas, so we couldn't very well serve him those even though that's on our menu quite often.


We taught Gifford how to play our no-name game using Skipbo cards, and Randy had a rare moment of glory by being the big winner.

We also had a surprise visit from the Elder's Quorum President and one of his counselors. I felt like such a champ being able to offer them freshly baked cookies while being surrounded by the smell of our good dinner. I told them they'd come on the right day because this sort of thing doesn't usually happen around here.


This is the first load of laundry Gifford has done in the month he has been at BYU! Can you imagine that? Look how tiny this pile is? Apparently he has a lot of clothes and a lot of underwear, so he can go for a long time without washing things, but still.

He fit all of his laundry into this tiny bag! Boys!?

**Do you sleep great when the weather gets colder?
Do you listen to music or books when you clean?
When was the last time you made cookies?
What does your "June Cleaver" uniform look like?
Can you imagine not washing clothes for a month?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Do you ever look in the mirror and frighten yourself? Why are some days better than others in this regard? I'm having a scary-looking day for sure.

Five for Friday--Good Times Edition

1. Landon finally received Adam's old iPod and got it all synced up with our music library; to say he is excited about it would be a serious understatement. It was so nice of Adam to give this to him!


2. We had our first visit from Gifford, the hoochie coochie college boy, last Saturday. I asked him about a million questions about his new life at BYU. I know there will be an adjustment period for him (he's not used to be surrounded by so many Mormons!) but luckily he really likes his roommate. While going to the pantry to get him some AAA batteries for his calculator (he couldn't find any on campus) he mentioned that he forgot to buy baggies and stuff like that. I had been feeling awful that we hadn't given him anything for his high school graduation yet, so this was my chance to redeem ourselves and help him at the same time. I hooked him up with baggies, foil, press-n-seal, refried beans (he wanted them), a huge thing of peanuts, toilet paper, and Scrubbing Bubbles. I love it that he was so excited about all of it. If we'd have given him all of that stuff back in June he wouldn't have thought it was lame, but now after being on his own and poor for 2 weeks he is!


3. Whitney spent Labor Day learning how to sew thanks to my mom. She came home with these 3 adorable, little pillows (I've claimed the blue one because it's so soft) and was beyond thrilled with her new skills and resulting creations.


4. This is what I had for lunch yesterday, Homestyle microwave popcorn (my favorite) with Skittles mixed in. I devoured it.


5. Last night Lori and I headed to Freakin Eagle Mountain (driving into the sun as it set and moving in very slow traffic) to attend Amie's "Favorite Things" party. I have read about these parties on various blogs, but had never been to one before. We all brought 5 of our favorite $5 items to swap (by drawing names) and came home with 5 favorites from someone else. It was brilliant!


These are the goodies I came home with, a jackpot of stuff from coupon savvy Amie which included a new eyelash curler (yipee), Crystal Light and a cute container to make it in, Air Wick scent stuff, plus refill, and a big, glass dispenser with dish soap in it (she put us all to shame with this bounty of goodness). I also got a package of Allium bulbs that I'm very excited about, one of Melinda's darling Halloween banners, a Sonic gift card from new blogging friend Linda (woohoo), and 3 new combs and a bag of bobby pins from hair dresser Heidi. It was quite the score!


I felt lame because I gave a green cup with pebble ice, a stack of quote cards, a Uniball smooth writing black pen, a package of mini tissues and some bite size Twix candy bars. Theoretically I thought these were good items, but they didn't appear as great next to all the great stuff I got, dang it.

**Have you ever been excited about baggies & foil?
Who taught you how to sew?
Do you love soft fabrics?
Do you hate driving into the setting sun?
Have you ever been to a Favorite Things Party?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I slept so great last night except for the couple times Randy and I ended up facing in the same direction. His man cold has caused his snoring and exhaling to become toxic!

Hoochie Coochie College Girl

One of my great aunts once said, "Oh you're just a hoochie coochie college girl" to my sister Lori and it has stuck with us because it's just plain funny.

I felt like the fat, gimp-footed aunt of a hoochie coochie college boy today as I accompanied my nephew Gifford to Heritage Halls at BYU today. From the moment traffic came to a complete stand still off University Parkway I was excited. The surrounding cars were all full of garbage bags stuffed with bedding and clothes just like ours. I have been thinking about all the exciting possibilities this time of life has for these new students, and it's just plain exciting!


Trying to park was crazy, but we found a place to unload and had him unpacked and set up within 30 minutes! Boys. I can't imagine any girl being unpacked and set up in 30 minutes time! He didn't even bring any pictures from home!

{click on photo to enlarge and enjoy}

Memory Tidbit: I was all about decorating my dorm room back in the fall of 89' (oh my gosh, it's mine and Michelle's, Kristi's, Jen's, Stacy's and Nikki's) 20 year anniversary of moving into the dorms and I didn't even think of that until this moment). I loved my wall of goodness so much that I used to joke with my roommate that we should switch beds so we could sit on our bed/couch and look at our side of the room.


After getting Gifford (he was named after his great grandparents' last name) all unpacked, we went to La Dolce Vita for a super tasty lunch. As we finished I said, "This is the kind of lunch you think about later and want to do all over again." (Is it wrong that I'm quoting myself?)

I didn't know how the farewell between Gifford and Daniela was going to go since I knew she was emotional about leaving her first child at college and then having to fly back to Illinois. But since there was no place to park, and since we were in a hurry for her to catch her flight they had a quick goodbye and a hug and we were on our way. She ended up telling me that she did her crying weeks ago while she walked the dog; I thought there was something rather noble and poetic about that.

**Have you ever taken anyone to college?
Did you decorate your dorm room?
Do you think starting college is exciting?
Would you do your crying before, during or after?**