I HAVE A TUMMY ACHE

Last night, I was laying next to Sierra and we were chatting. She said her tummy was hurting because she did something naughty (the pains of guilt). I asked her what she did. She said I don't want to tell because you will be mad. I told her as long as she told the truth I wouldn't be mad. Then she confessed while we were at the store the other day, a package of candy had split open and she snuck two out and ate one and threw the other piece on the ground. (the pains of guilt.)I said matter-of-factly, well that wasn't a good chose. She confessed it wasn't and slid under her covers and burst into tears.

I told her it would be okay. She just needed to say she was sorry, feel remorse, and pray for forgiviness. She said, she didn't want to because she was afraid Jesus would be mad at her. I told her Jesus already knew what she had done and he knew she felt sorry, and that he wouldn't be mad.

I thought the issue was behind us and then this afternoon she said during church her tummy kept hurting. I said, "Well maybe we haven't made it all the way right yet. Maybe, we should take some money from the tooth fairy and pay for what we took." She said, "I think that would make it right but I don't want to give away my money." Poor dear. I told her it was all her decision whatever she wanted to do. We will wait and see, but I have a feeling she will do the right thing.

SHE IS SUCH A TEASE

We made frosting. MJ wanted some, Sierra had some. MJ, was pleading in the cutest voice, "Please, Sierra. I have some." Sierra just laughed and held out a finger full and then when MJ calmed down she would plop it in her own mouth. She is such a pain.

P.S. I had my camera out to take a picture of the cake when this scene erupted. I didn't run grab my camera to take a picture of Sierra teasing MJ. I like to give this kind of behavior as little attention as possible. Although it is a great picture of a very typical day around here.

THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING A WIFE

After we finished cleaning CC's bedroom, she decided she wanted to play with her doll house. I was putting clothes away and she turned to me and said, "This prince is trying to decide which princesses to marry. He is having a hard time because they all can cook." I laughed.

NEW LIBRARY

Well, I don't think we are in Fruita anymore. The new library and community center was just finished and it is really nice. Although, I am little floored at how much it would cost our family to join the community center. I am glad to have a new home for our library. My girl loved it and Madison even pointed to one of the new trash cans and exclaimed, "New trash." (We are glad to be back to our regular library outings because it has been closed for sometime and we have missed it. When we don't get a new influx of books our desire to read together wains.) We got so enthralled CC almost missed ballet.

LOST A TOOTH

Well, Sierra lost her first tooth yesterday. (Yes, it was the one that she tried to dislodge earlier. Nate was really upset when she tried to dislodge her own tooth, as you can imagine.) Yesterday, she pulled it out herself at school. She said it bleed a little but she just sucked up the blood. They sent her to the nurse. She was given the little container below to carry it home in. When she showed up at the front door, Darcy brought her home, she was shaking in her boots. She looked up at me holding her little tooth holder and said, "Is dad going to be mad?" I said, "No." She wouldn't believe me so this was the best smile I got from her. Nate came home and put his arms around her and told her she was awesome. Then she lite up and danced her tooth around the house until she lost it. Don't worry, the tooth fairy came anyway. MJ and I have been a bit under the weather. A massive head cold, congestion, diarrhea (not that you wanted to know that), sore throat, unsettled stomach, cough, dizzy, and whinny (which isn't a symptom but just as obnoxious.)

WHERE DO YOUR KIDS PLAY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS?

My children always love to be under foot. Where ever I am they aren't far and they are usually where I can trip. MJ plopped herself down on the rug as I was doing my hair yesterday and played with her little finger puppets we had made Sunday morning. This Sunday we sang this song for the opening hymn at church. MJ loved singing along with word "today." When the song was over she jubilantly rang out over and over again, "today, today." If I covered her mouth she laughed like it was the funniest thing and sang louder. Last week during the prayer over the sacrament this is the one sided conversation she had with her father, "What color is this dad? Blue? Purple? Green? Oh, right.... crayon." We both had a hard time keeping it in.

AUNTIE JENNIFER AND AUNTIE EM

I know you miss your nieces. Here is a little clip to cheer you.

Lots of Love

MJ COLORING

Look at that face, coloring takes intense concentration. Yesterday, Sierrra was talking to MJ in the car. She pointed to the sky and said, "Do you see that beautiful sky? Jesus painted that for you and me and the whole family to remind us to be nice to each other." She went on making several other points about Jesus, but that is the one that stuck.

BABY DOLL

This is what I have been working on today. I have been looking at a really talented girl's blog. She takes pictures of newborns using natural light from a window. I really like the idea and have wanted to give it a try. I have a newborn scheduled to photograph this weekend. Until then I have been practcing with one of Sierra's baby dolls. A little creepy, but fun. Wish my friend Jess was here to coach me. Sigh.

EVERYONE NEEDS A GOOD FRIEND

I am so glad she has Bailey.

TANGELED

I decided I couldn't take another full day at home with my children's creative energy, it always leads to at least two hours of clean up. I took them to see Tangled. We got there and found our seats and then Madison chose another seat right behind us, on a complete strangers lap. She must be missing her grandpa's because he seemed to fit the bill right then. She reached out her arms and he picked her right up and let her sit on his lap. She not only sat on his lap for at least fifty percent of the movie but she narrated the movie to him too. She would say, "Look at that. That's a horse. He'll be right back." She would either mimic a line of the movie, point at an animal, or draw attention to what was happening on the screen. She was loud and I couldn't shush her because she wasn't on my lap. Sierra slumped down in her chair and whispered in an embarrassed tone, "What is she doing? We don't even know him." Sadly, the other fifty percent of the movie wasn't spent sitting by us but on the seat next to him and she was every bit as vocal. I didn't know what to do because once she had her eye on the poor man, no amount of persuading could bring her back to me. It was unnerving and I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure she was behaving and that he was okay. However, I did love every second of the movie. I thought it was really sweet that during the saddest part of the movie Sierra cried. I had to help wipe her tears. I apologized profusely to the man as we left. He said, "It was absolutely my pleasure." I did get a little chocked up by his kindness. I guess we need more grandpa time.

HAPPY SUNDAY

We love Sundays. It is so fun to put on Sunday clothes and do our hair and go to church. My girls love church. Madison loves nursery. From the time we enter sacrament meeting she is asking when it is time to go to class. She has great leaders in there. Sierra is in CTR 5 now. She loves her new teacher. I am the primary chorister. Last week, we were learning a new song. I talked to the kids about caves and told them about echoes. I told them to pretend we were in a cave and I as going to echo the words of the song to them and I wanted them to echo the words back. I cupped my hands around my mouth and told them the words. Then they cupped there hands around their mouths and echoed back. When I asked Sierra how I did she said, "Good but don't cup you hands around your mouth or make that kids do it, that is embarassing." I thought back and considered how many kids were actually following my lead. Not too many were. Won't be doing that gain.

IT IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN

Yesterday Sierra came home from school giving their planned activity for the evening a major endorsement. She was so excited she couldn't contain it. They were having a family movie night in the gym. She kept saying it was going to be so much fun. Nate said he would take her to see Tangled instead. She said, "No." She has been wanting to see Tangled forever. Then he said he would take her to see her Grandma in Utah instead. She has a long weekend and we have been talking about going. She said, "No. I have to go to the movie, it is going to be super fun." Hilarious. If her good ideas in the previous post are still how she feels, this movie is pretty important. We, Nate and I, bantered over who had to take her. I lost. She did have a great time. They sold popcorn, soda, and candy for fifty cents each. We got one of each. She laid out her towel, pillow pet and set up her refreshments between two of her friends, Mallory and Chloe. I went to the back of the gym where I could keep a clear eye on her and still use a small flashlight to read my book, Deeper. It is the sequel to Tunnels. Good book. Sierra watched the movie. She did confess later that although she had a good time, she thought Tangled would have been a better movie than Lilo and Stitch. I agree.

BAD IDEAS

Me: Sierra, do you want to move again?
Sierra: Yep, I want to move to Grandma's house.
Me: You know your Dad will never move to Utah Sierra.
Sierra: Well, I got an idea. How 'bout we take MJ and move into Grandma's house and leave Dad here, and just be a broken family.
Me: Bad Idea.

Yesterday, I went to pick Sierra up from school and locked MJ and the keys in the truck. Ahhh. I tried to tell her how to unlock the door and I am sure she could have if she wasn't fully restrained in her carseat. She couldn't reach the lock. She started to cry. Sierra went bullistic. I went over to the local police officer who directs traffic when school let's out. He said he didn't have a slimjim but he could call a locks smith. I didn't want that. My friend stuck around and helped me out. She let me use her cell phone. I called Nate's office and luckily he was available. He said, "I prepared for just such a moment. Under the car is a magnetic box with a spare in it." I reached under the car and grabbed it. Relief. I hung up. Then I went to open the door. The door wouldn't open. The police officer had walked over. He said, "Are you sure that is the right key?" I assured him it was. It was just a copy of a copy of a copy and would take a little jiggling. I let him try. He jiggled it for at least a minute. The whole time he is jiggling Sierra is screaming and crying, "I have an idea." (Not another idea.) I said, we got it. It is going to be okay but she wouldn't calm down. It finally popped open. I thanked the police officer. Sierra, climbed in and said, "Mom, why wouldn't you listen to me. I had a good idea." I said, "What was your idea?" She said, "We could have walked home and got a stick and put it in the lock and got it open." (Not a good idea.) "Sweetie only keys open car doors." Luckily, it was an ordeal but not too long or pain filled.

Sweetie,
Even though you haven't had the best ideas lately, I love your guts and I think you are so beautiful even with your disheaveled hair.
Mom

LITTLE BALLERINA

Sierra started ballet classees yesterday. She loved it. She said they learned to leap. Then she went to her room and got all the stuffed animals and placed them around the living room and she leaped over them. MJ has no clue how to jump, so she would attempt but it came out looking more like a crippled trying to walk. It as been my goal almost since she was born to get her into some kind of ballet class. I want her to learn poise and grace. There is a nice girl in our stake that teaches ballet in her basement. Perfect. When she put on her leotard she looked down and said, "Mom, I look so skinny in this leotard." True. MJ said, "Me needing go ballet too, mom." I told her not for a little while.

MY FAVORITE THING LATELY

Man, I love this little girl. She is so much fun. She talks in full sentences now and our little conversations crack me up sometimes. She is so gracious and sweet in her speech, always remembering to say please and thank you. She does what she is told. However, she still loves to be held and her life's dream right now is to have her mom sit on the couch and hold her and watch Dora with her. She's good but a bit mischievous and will do anything for a good hard belly laugh from her sister. Yesterday, I went into take a shower and came out with my walls covered in applesauce. She was launching it from her plate onto the walls. Sierra was laughing like it was the most hysterical thing she had ever seen, which only encouraged her more. My kitchen chairs, table, walls and MJ from head to foot was covered in applesauce. Yucky.

HER FATHER's DAUGHTER

Sierra has been asking me every night before I leave her room to tell her a story about when I was little. I don't have a lot of strong memories from when I was a child. I used all those up rather quickly. One night I told her about the first time I saw her daddy. The first time I saw Nate he bore his testimony. He was sitting in the pew infront of us. He was wearing mis-matched socks. It was his little trademark back then. My sister was the first to notice his mismatched socks. I told her, "He is good looking." She said, "Yeah, but look at his socks." Nate dressed to the 9 back then, so his socks were really out of place. Well, a few days later she started mis-matching her socks. Then yesterday she exclaimed, "I am just like my Dad." I laughed, and thought that is why. I know... not too quick on the uptake.

FROM ONE FOODIE TO ANOTHER

Aunt Caroline,

I don't have your e-mail address, so this will have to do. My Uncle has his own website chefbrad.com. You can go there for several free recipes. You can also join his pantry for videos and extra goodies, that does cost money. The pasta recipe pictured is a free recipe under pressure cooker recipes, click here. It is made in an electric pressure cooker. Throw everything in cook for 6 minutes and done. Do you have one? I think everyone should own one. It is like, as a Uncle Brad says, a slow cooker on steroids... my kind of kitchen gadget. They are sold at Costco for around $70.00. You can cook beans raw to done in 30 minutes. We had a bean soup yesterday for Sunday dinner that was fabulous. I threw the beans in raw with some seasonings, left over ham, celery, onion, parsley and left and it was cooked perfectly when I got home. Rice is done in 7 minutes. It is the best rice cooker I have ever owned and I have owned a few. You can throw anything in and walk away and it will release the pressure and keep it warm. Amazing gadget. It really makes me happy. Uncle Brad cooked Kamut in the pressure cooker for the salad pictured. Then he tossed in cucumbers, tomatoes, yellow, red and orange peppers, and green onions. Then he drizzled lemon olive oil and balsamic vinegar he bought here. Of course, salt and fresh ground pepper. Healthy and delish. Wasn't my wedding luncheon the best ever? He truly is an amazing chef.

Love you lots,

Your Favorite Niece Lisa

SNOWGIRL

We built a snowgirl, notice the hair. That is the way we roll around here, all girl all the time. Sierra said she had never had a snowball fight before, so I heaved a ball of snow at her and she heaved one back and then we were done. Notice the amount of snow on the ground, nothing compared to what Pittsburgh gave us last year but we are grateful we got a little... at least she is.

BING

We got curly hair. I put the girl's hair in rollers last night. They slept on them. When they woke we had bing all over their little heads. Adorable. It survived church and it still looks great and I thought Sierra's hair just wouldn't hold curl. I was wrong. Well, again, this may be a tradition. Today was my first day being the primary chorister. Boy, was I nervous. Whenever I get nervous I have to go potty. I had a few potty breaks. I think Senior primary went better than junior, suprisingly. I was more nervous for them. I realized that I need a few voice lessons. There are just notes I don't know how to hit and it is awful. Emily, I know you said I couldn't learn to sing in a day but you could try.... come on.

DO MY HAIR MOM

Yesterday, MJ collected several hair doing supplies and piled them up on the office desk and begged me to do her hair. I listened and put a few rollers in her hair for a few minutes. Look at how well they took. My mother always use to put these in our hair to sleep on Saturday night. I might be starting up the tradition again.

OTHER MOM

Laugh: Yesterday, I was in the bathroom doing my hair. MJ was sitting on the counter watching. She pointed to me and said, "There's my mommy." Then she pointed in the mirror and said, "There's my other mommy."

Last night, Nate and I had an at home date. Guess what we ate. Cafe Rio! Oh yes, Grand Junction got a Cafe Rio. It opened on Monday. Could not be happier!

TAKIN' a RIDE

Every time I hold still for a few minutes my girls think that it is time for a ride. They will straddle my leg and sit on my foot and squeal "Go. Mom Go." Then I walk like a robot across the floor barely inching one foot in front of the other one because they are too big for the game. It isn't much of a ride, but they love it.

LOOK AT ME

MJ was needing a lot of attention today. She kept saying, "Look at me." She was rolling out playdough and stamping it with cookie cutters and it was the most important thing in the world to her that I watch her every move. If I turned my head for a second, she would squeal, "Look at me Mom, Look at me." If I didn't right away she would tug on my shirt sleeve and squeal louder.

7 YEARS TOGETHER

1 eternal marriage
2 beautiful children
3 degrees (2 undergrad and 1 graduate)and three states lived in.
4 cars
6 different places lived; 3 apartments, 2 condos, and 1 houses.
Those who know us well know how strong willed and stubborned and opinionated we both are. Often times we are a very ill fit for each other, coming together less like hand and glove and more like boot and head. Despite all that... we love each other and neither of us could live without the other. Nate is truly my whole world and he means everything to me. My heart still skips when I touch him. I think he is the most handsome man alive. He is the person I enjoy talking to the most. He fascinates me and there is no one I know who has done more with their life. He has truly run the gamut of life. I have always known despite what the world throws at him, he will survive. He is filled with faith. He loves the temple. He would never speak ill of another person. He would never gossip about another person or laugh at another expense. He is good. He is the only person I will ever want to come home to. My body and heart longs to be near him whenever we are apart. I am ever grateful we met and he chose to make me his eternal wife.

FAREWELL ARIZONA and a miracle

We drove for a few hours and then both the girls crashed. I tried to sleep but couldn't. We stopped in Flagstaff to fill up on gas. Then continued on. Somewhere between here and there we ran out of gas. The light came on. We couldn't find anywhere to stop. We found a small town off the main road. We drove into the gas station. We were relieved. The gas station was closed and the pump didn't take credit cards. We circled back to the main road and checked the sign. The next town was 25 miles away. Nate suggested we stay the night. He knows that car and there was no way we were going to make it 25 more miles. We saw two "hole in the wall" motels. He knocked on the office door of both for several minutes. He came back and said, "What are we going to do? It is freezing out there. We can't stay the night in the car." I said, "We are going to drive to the next town." He said, "We won't make it." I said, "We will make it. I have faith enough." He shrugged and headed back out to the main road. By this time we had circled around this small town several times and we weren't just low on gas we were empty. Nate drove on and on for what seemed like an eternity. I knew if we ran out of gas we were in the middle of no where, and we would be in trouble. I also know my Father-in-Heaven is a God of miracles. I have seen several in my life. Even knowing that, I couldn't look at the bright light warning us of the empty tank, I just had to gaze out the window and say over and over again, "Yeah, Lord I believe help my unbelief." After what seemed like another eternity we saw a cop up ahead. Nate flagged the cop down, pulled over and rolled down his window. He said, "Officer we are out of gas. Where is the nearest gas station." He said, "Right there." He point a second down the road. Relief washed over Nate's face. We made it. It was no small mircle, to us it might as well have been the feeding of the 5,000.

GRANDKIDS

Well, after the cooking class we had a full day. My mother-in-law had a little primary meeting with the children and taught them about their ancestors. It was fun to hear the stories. Then we tried to get a group picture but my children were ballistic. We had to leave before the final take. Nate took the girls for a drive. When they got back they were in better spirits, so we got this picture at least. My mother-in-law was thrilled. It is the first time we have had a picture like this in years. A few of them were less than cooperative but they are all in there. We left shortly after. We said some sad farewells. Then drove back to Mauren's and loaded up and made sure our kids were cosy. Then we headed across the great vast back to our little farming community.

COOKING CLASS

My famous Uncle. He teaches up at Education Week every year. His classes are always full. They are almost impossible to get into. He talks about nutrition and the important role cooking is in the home. He says it is his goal to get mothers back in the kitchen. There is a unification that happens when families cook healthy meals and sit at the dinner table and eat together. I agree. There is nothing that makes me prouder than when I am at the dinner table with my little family and we are eating a good meal together. (Although, it doesn't happen every day.) I was inspired to renew my resolve. My uncle is an amazing man. His is a legacy of sacrifice. He would do anything for anyone and has proven it a million times. It was fun to listen to him and eat his yummy food.

TACO SALAD

Uncle Brad coordinated the taco salad dinner night. The food was divine. Oh my. I went early to try and help put things together although my brother-in-law and an Aunt and Uncle and their son seemed to have it mostly done by the time I arrived. I left Nate in charge of the girls. Look below at Sierra's attire. Wouldn't you have wanted to crawl in a hole? Here we are seeing people we haven't seen in six years and here comes our little hobbit. She was wearing an oversized t-shirt from Nate's cousin's closet. Her younger cousin's pants and stripped socks from Nate's Aunt's closet. No shoes. No coat. No joke. (Sock are not pictured) It wasn't entirely his fault though she peed herself because she was playing with her cousins and was laughing too hard. (She comes by it honestly.) But still babe was this the best you could do. Sigh. As you can tell from the pictures below, she didn't mind.


This picture cracks me up. Don't you love the energy.
Mauren and her new husband Bruce, the cousin who got stuck with us as roomies for a week. Poor things... but aren't they the cutest couple.