Fickle Mistress

The weather forecast for today was 97 degrees and sunny with a 20% chance of rain, instead we got 85 degrees, sometimes sunny, sometimes crazy windy with drizzle, then back to sunny. So obviously it was a perfect day to be at the pool.


We had already planned to meet up with Amie and her kids, so even though the weather was being weird we braved it. The kids didn't mind at all, so it was really Amie and I that experienced the elements from our chairs on the cement.


It was pretty comfortable most of the time, but when the sun came out it returned to the sweat-making, skin baking, summertime weather we expect while at the pool. I only needed to walk through the fountains once to cool off, then had Landon drip on me a few times.


After an hour of sun, it looked like this. The good thing about this was that the pool wasn't crowded at all.

My wind-blown look.

The kids were good to play together some of the time, then in couples the rest of the time.


The boys struck super-hero poses with a little help from the wind.


Ah, the return of the polka-dotted beach bag. I love it that a whim purchase at Target years ago turned into a beloved part of our summertime gear.

Riveting video.

**Is Mother Nature a fickle mistress in your world?
Have you gotten much pool time this summer?
Can you believe this was my first trip to the pool?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I think I went from ivory to bone colored today. I'm such a white girl!

Miscellaneous Monday on Tuesday

We found this display of quarters with this note from Landon the other night. We gave him the money back and told him to save it for his mission, but he was just trying to be generous. How sweet is that?


This is what the laundry room floor looked like after one of Whitney's tissues went through the wash. $#@! Of course, the tissue bits were all over the clothes too. Ugh.


Landon has been taking my camera to snap random photos a lot lately and this is one that I found on there today...a sprinkler rainbow.


Miss Whitney made muffins yesterday and wore my cute apron. She forgot to add the eggs until after she had already put the blueberries in, so we thought the muffins might not turn out right (the batter looked super eggy) but they were great. (We've been using eggs from parents' chickens.)


Landini is back to mowing the lawn (after a couple week's break when he was so busy) and seems to enjoying zoning out with his ipod while he mows. I can totally relate and must admit that I miss mowing the lawn sometimes, except when it's really hot.

Ever seen a tissue-box car before?

I felt so much better yesterday that after doing some house cleaning and taking a shower I went outside to read. I eventually "encouraged" the kids to join me (Whitney was reluctant because she has decided she hates all bugs) and we had a most enjoyable time reading alone together. I lasted way, way longer than they did and ended up staying out there for 4 hours!


I had to keep moving to dodge the sun (even though we have excellent shade trees) and because I had to keep going inside to change loads of laundry, but it was an excellent way to recoup after being sick and in bed for 4 days!


This morning I found the kids having an action-figure war of good vs. evil. Landon has a huge inventory of action figures but tends to favor the same few so most of these don't get played with on a regular basis. I couldn't help but think how happy these guys must be to finally get played with. (Toy Story 3 on the brain.)

**What's going on at your house?
Do you ever read outside?
Have you seen any rainbows lately?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Last night, by the gleam of my headlight I spied a black spider next to the wall in our hallway. As I took a step forward to confirm it's spiderness (as opposed to lintness) its eyes reflected the light of my headlight! Ewwwww, creepy! I turned around and went back to bed. Spider-1 Me-0

A Swing and a Miss

Last Tuesday was Whitney's last day of softball, she had both a practice in the morning and a game that evening.


I sat in the car and read during her practice because my attempts at helping her bat haven't been fruitful. It appears that she does indeed hear me and her coach, but processing and applying that information are two different things.


My parents and Andrew came to her game that night and Andrew brought some friends along.


My dad spent some quality time on the phone for work (he's a mortgage broker so times are tough) but I enjoyed seeing him in his dress clothes with sneakers.


Whitney got 3 tries at bat and had significant improvement with her stance and swings, but she didn't get a hit.

It has been so frustrating trying to help her throughout this season because I know she can do it! She has got power and skills, but lacks the belief in herself. I always come away from her games and practices wondering if this is what Heavenly Father feels like with us because he knows what we're capable of and that we're the only thing standing in our way! I wonder how many areas of my life are just like this?


She played 2nd base during this game and did quite well and caused 2 outs.


Andrew chose to sit on the rough asphalt in the sun, rather than in the shade with us.


It was nice for Whitney to have a fan club there to cheer her on even though things didn't go the way she would have liked.

**Do you wonder what areas of your life
you're keeping yourself from succeeding in?
Ever chose to sit on hot concrete
when shade was available?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I'm feeling better! I'm back to cleaning, woohoo, I couldn't stand it anymore.

Sunday Thoughts

Last Sunday, Landon gave his final talk in primary (cue tear). He wrote it all by himself and wouldn't even let me check it before hand because he wanted me to be surprised. He did a great job and proved he is ready to move out of primary and into the Young Men's Program in about 6 weeks. I can't believe he's almost 12 and have no idea where the time went.





I was nowhere near having this kind of testimony when I was his age!

**Thoughts??**

Comments Window Tidbit: I think I'm on the mend, but am still congested and weak. I went to Sacrament Meeting then came home so that I wouldn't contaminate the kids in primary (it's a hands-on job) and so I could rest some more.

Creative Friday--She's Well Again Edition

This Creative Friday post is about last week's gathering (June 18th) and has been in draft form all week. The irony of its title is not lost on me as I sit here with my clogged head, sore throat and mouth breathing self trying to post something before slumping over with a whimper.


After going weeks without a self-portrait because of Michelle's illness, she was finally feeling and looking back to normal.

I brought Taco Amigo for our lunch because Michelle wasn't all the way back in action.


Michelle had some of her gorgeous roses on the table as a centerpiece and aromatherapy.

She had one last bag of Cadbury eggs in her stash.

We didn't see much of the boys since they played outside and downstairs, but Whitney was on a sleepover with her cousins so that meant Eva hung out with us for awhile. She made a picture of 7 dinosaurs for me to give to Whitney.

I wondered once again why I think I can work with Mod Podge. Seriously, I am such a sticky mess when I use that stuff even though I always have baby wipes nearby to keep things under control.


Michelle had a hugely successful day assembling sets of her gorgeous Paris Colors cards to send as blogger birthday gifts.

Oh how we loved seeing these stacks of happiness!

I made a bunch of photo cards using the rose photos I'd taken at Michelle's house the week before.


I wore duct tape on my heel that day (and collected some dog hair in the process) because my gimpy foot has produced a terribly cracked and beat up heel that pains me greatly! This is not an attractive look, but it definitely helps (thanks for the tip Rebekah!).


Michelle was kind enough to send the rose centerpiece home with me!

**Do you have Mod Podge issues?
Have you ever worn duct tape on your heel?
Do you like roses?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Enough already, I'm sick of being sick! I took Nyquil last night and then couldn't sleep!! What in the world?! I was awake until 4:00am. I'm a wreck.

Coughy Cougherson, That's Me

Cough, sniff, cough, cough, cough, whimper repeat.

Comment Window Tidbit: Michelle came and picked up the kids so that I could whimper in peace today. That's a different kind of Creative Friday for sure. She also brought these books and supplies for me.

Better Than I Thought

When faced with this day I felt many emotions, some of which were, annoyance, pity, determination, optimism, pessimism, and whinyness. (Please consider that I was only in day 2 of what appears to be a rough cold.)

• Alarm was set for 7:19am, I pressed snooze and didn't wake up until 8:22am.
• Presidency meeting at 8:30am (#$@!) until 9:30am.
• 15 minutes at home for some Instant Breakfast and a bathroom break.
  
• 9:45-11:15 I took Landon to band, read at the park, then drove him home.
• 11:15-11:45 I showered and got dressed!
• 11:45-12:30 Stopped at Wal-Mart for Dayquil and ice for the cooler (not pebble ice), dropped Landon off at Michelle's house, picked up Whitney and a boy from church from Art Class.
• 12:45-1:45 Frantically got ready for Day Camp (i.e., pack a lunch, put on make-up, wrangle Whitney to get her stuff together, this time flew by way too fast).
• 1:45-8:30 Go with the Activity Day Girls and 3 other leaders to Day Camp for some sweaty fun.

My day ended with a cool shower, Taco Amigo for dinner with a fresh cup of pebble ice (courtesy of Randy) and some quality time watching So You Think You Can Dance with Landon. I'm amazed that this day went as well as it did, but I'm still glad it's over!

**Do you mentally prepare for busy days?
What has gone better than you thought it would?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Is it possible to unhinge your jaw while yawning?

A Good Moment

I found myself at home alone today after Amie picked Landon up and took him to Seven Peaks for the day, and after Whitney was invited over to Madison's house for the afternoon. I immediately called Cafe Rio, then came home to watch Sense and Sensibility (I'm in Jane Austen mode lately) . Glorious.

**What would you have done?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I caught Whitney's cold. #$@! I'm not enjoying the brain rattling that's going on when I cough.

Celebrating with Cheesecake

Today is my mom's 62nd birthday, and since we already celebrated with the whole family on Saturday with a combination Father's Day/Birthday party, tonight's dinner was a girl's only affair.


Could there be a happier sight upon entering a restaurant? I think not.


Lori was showing Robyn how to set her phone up to do predictive texting (is that what it's called?) and I thought this photo would be historically significant because of Lori's iphone and Robyn's cell phone.

Sidenote: At our family party on Saturday, Adam basically said that everyone should have an iphone no matter what the cost. Right. We poor folk won't be getting one any time soon.


We spent way too long pouring over the ginormous menu. We don't go there enough to have any favorites (except for Amy because she lives closer than we do) so we were clueless. We all finally decided on our meal choices and were thoroughly happy with what we ordered. Lori, Amy and Mom all got chicken dishes, Robyn got pasta and I got a burger.


We embarrassed my mom thoroughly by having the servers sing to her when they delivered her cheesecake.


They spelled her name with a C instead of a K, but how could they have known? She ended up being very happy with the White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake she ordered after asking our waiter what the "nuttiest" cheesecake they had was (she's part squirrel).


I ordered the Vanilla Bean Cheesecake and took a bit of ridicule about it. After I said something to defend myself my mom said to Robyn, "It looks too plain to me too." What can I say, I'm a purist!

Our post dinner self-portrait.

We went into the mall to check out the new Sephora store. I bought an eyelash curler because mine had broken just the day before, and if I don't curl my eyelashes they stick straight out and never look done.


After visiting Nordstrom and hanging out to talk for awhile the mall closed and we ended up getting locked in! What the?! There were several other groups of people locked in as well and we had to find a security guard to let us out. What in the world, it was only 9:20 and they hadn't made an announcement or anything. Good grief.

**What's your favorite kind of cheesecake?
Have you ever gotten locked in the mall?
Do you curl your eyelashes?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I got to read outside today for about 3 hours and it was glorious!

Sunday Thoughts

We had a great Relief Society activity the other night which involved chocolate fountains, treats for dipping, a fun game called "Fast Friends" and then gathering to hear 4 speakers talk about things that make their hearts happy. I was asked to speak (for 5 minutes) about how the Gospel makes my heart happy, and the other four speakers talked about how Music, Service, and Humor make their hearts happy.

I had been thinking about this topic for over a week, but didn't type anything up until about an hour before the event. I felt totally comfortable with my feelings on this subject and even told the woman who asked me to speak that she could have asked me that night and I would have done it (though it probably would have been a bit scattered).

I didn't end up looking at my paper and ended up only covering a few of these things before I shared the experience of Landon's service project decision and resulting transformation. I hadn't planned on doing that, but felt inspired to do so and tied it in with the importance of fulfilling our callings, giving service and finding happiness in doing so. This is what I wrote...

How The Gospel Makes My Heart Happy

I know where I came from and where I’m going. Everything I do in my life is built around this knowledge. When I feel pangs of jealousy about where I am at this stage of life compared to others, I just have to remind myself that more than anything else I am blessed with a strong testimony of the gospel, and that the material stuff doesn’t really matter.

The knowledge of Christ’s atonement gives me comfort and allows me to repent over and over again for the mistakes I make. Knowing that He knows every pain, frustration, heartache and sorrow I have ever felt allows me to keep going despite the strong desire I sometimes have to quit.

I find joy in fulfilling my church callings because I know I am working for the Lord. My heart is filled each Sunday as I greet the kids coming into primary and as we sing those wonderful primary songs. My spirit feels lighter and my perspective shifts back to where it should be again and I feel recommitted to live the gospel more fully.

I also find joy in reading the scriptures (or in spending time in the scriptures each day as Sister Beck says) and know I have been blessed with strength because of my obedience in making this a daily habit. I have come to the point where I really enjoy reading them and don’t see it as an obligation, but more as a way of putting on the armor of God so that I can face the things that come my way. I know that my ability to cope with life’s stresses has increased greatly as a direct blessing from this time spent in the scriptures.

Serving others by participating in ward activities, compassionate service opportunities, and visiting teaching has taught me over and over again to be thankful for a healthy body that allows me to work to help others, a comfortable life that allows me time to help, and an overall desire to look for ways to serve. I have seen my children benefit greatly from participating in service projects and know that serving others is one of the keys to happiness.

The gospel makes my heart happy every day. I don’t know how other people manage their lives without it, I really don’t. I have a heart full of love and faith because of the blessing of the gospel in my life, and I am so thankful for that.

**Thoughts**

Comment Window Tidbit: I tend to think it goes without saying (and yet, here I am saying) that I include flower photos with a lot of my Sunday Thought's posts in an effort to include a picture with the post rather than not having one. Plus, I really love flower photos and have lots that never get posted.