Misc

Here's what we've been up to the past few days:

I canned 12 quarts of tomatoes.  This was a first for me, and I found it quite easy!  In fact, I think they're easier than anything else I've ever canned! 

Morgan's science experiment, gone wrong!  We followed the directions, but some how the pan caught on fire!  Our house smelled like smoke the rest of the night and my pan didn't look so hot!  Now I'm face with the fact, that I have to help him make another funky apparatus, and figure out how to keep the pan from catching on FIRE!  Yikes, and yuck.

I tried to capture all of the smoke that filled our kitchen, really there was a ton of it-- even the fire alarms went off.

We had a Valentine's party for our kids! We invited a few other AZVA families, and had so much fun! We kept things simple:  made sugar cookies and exchanged valentines. We've been busy, but have enjoyed learning new things. I love teaching my kids!   Yes- even though it's challenging at times, it's so rewarding!

The Sonoran Desert Museum

I've heard this museum was good, and it was!  We had so much checking out the snakes, fish, and scorpions.  The kids were so excited!  They were running from one exhibit to another, we could hardly keep up with them!  We only had an hour to check things out, so we went ahead and purchased a one year membership, since it only cost $50.  If we would have paid for a day's admission, it would have cost us $51.75.  You know your family's large when the year membership fee is less than the cost of a day's admission!

This is just a snipet of what we saw:

I thought this was a "real" lizard at first.

A Gila Monster, it's very poisonous.

One cool clubhouse!

A roadrunner.

The Past Few Days

The past few days have been so busy, so I decided to stay off the computer for the most part.  My dad is moving to UT from VA, and he stayed at our house yesterday.  He arrived around 4 am.  He had been on the road for a couple of days- I was worried he might over do it, and fall asleep at the wheel.  He also was towing his van on the back of the moving truck, which really concerned me because one wheel of his van, slipped off the dolly during one point of his trip.  He made it, so the time which he arrived really didn't bother me. 

It was so nice to see him!  It's been about two years since we last saw him.  I made breakfast for him (puff oven pancakes with fruit- thanks Amy for sharing this yummy breakfast recipe) before we went to church.  He slept while we were gone, and then we ate lunch together and spent the day relaxing and chatting.  I sure love him, and I thought it was cute how he really got down on the kids level and listened to them.  Sarah gave him hugs all day, and Morgan told him one joke after another!  All of the other kids loved him as well, but it seemed to me that Sarah and Morgan were the most comfortable with him.

We had to take some pictures, but I was bummed because Christian fell asleep, so he missed the family shot.

Christian sleeping while we took the picture.

Dad and I, boy to I love that guy!

One last "good-bye", I sure don't like saying that word.  Hopefully we'll see him soon since we live so much closer now.

Talents

Tonight I'm thinking about talents and/or gifts. I truly think it's amazing how we've all been blessed with different talents, gifts, and skills. It sure is fascinating how we're all so different, and it's wonderful when we share our talents with others, it makes the world a more beautiful place to live in.

This evening I had the privileged to use a talent that God blessed me with, singing. I'm not perfect, but I enjoy it!  I was able to go to our Stake choir practice with my son Morgan, who's voice is coming along quite nicely. I really like the fact that we can go together, and I love that he's not too shy to share his voice! It's funny to walk into the chapel together because he's so much taller than me! I feel so short standing next to my 13 year old!  I actually think he looks more like a 15 year old.  His favorite song that we're singing is, "Anthem of Praise." I don't have a favorite, they're all lovely!

We had quite the turn out tonight! I really love it when there are so many people to sing with, it's just so powerful, and beautiful! I was lucky, and sat right next to the grand piano.  Our pianist is AMAZING!!! She's the choir director's daughter, and she is ON IT! Seriously, she never misses a beat!  I think she's probably headed towards becoming (if she's not already) a concert pianist!

I also sit next to a lady who's in her late 60's, and has sung in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She has a beautiful voice, and is fun to sit with! She has so much energy, I can hardly keep up!

 She taught me a neat trick. She said, if you have allergies (which I do),  all you have to do is buy some peppermint oil, dab a bit on your tongue, and then sip some water.  Supposedly it will clean you out!  She's does that before she has to sing high notes. I think I'm going to have to try it out, since we're singing some really high notes, and I'm struggling to reach them.  It's bad.

I'm grateful that my Mom noticed that I like to sing and that she made me sing all those silly songs in our ward talent shows when I was little.  I remember her making me sing a song from the King and I:

 “I Whistle a Happy Tune”

Whenever I feel afraid
I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune
So no one will suspect
I'm afraid.

While shivering in my shoes
I strike a careless pose
And whistle a happy tune
And no one ever knows

I'm afraid.

The result of this deception
Is very strange to tell
For when I fool the people
I fear I fool myself as well!

I whistle a happy tune
And ev'ry single time
The happiness in the tune

Convinces me that I'm not afraid.
Make believe you're brave
And the trick will take you far.

You may be as brave
As you make believe you are...

I know she thought it was the funniest thing to see me sing this song on stage, when she knew, that truly--I was afraid.  I think there's a whistling part in the song (if I'm remembering right), that was so hard to nail-- I'm so not a whistler!

 Anyways...Mom, if you're reading this, I MISS SINGING WITH YOU WHILE YOU PLAY THE PIANO!!!  We sure have fun when were together!  Thanks for helping me develope a love for music! 

Oh, and just so you know, she went to EVERY performance of mine while growing up, and even played for my Juries in college.  We make a good team!

A Sigh of Relief

Ever since this ward change, my main concern is how well my kids will adapt.

I've been anticipating Morgan's YM's activity all week! I realized that he would be attending for the first time, without having the opportunity to meet the other Deacons in Sunday School.

We made sure to get there early. Aaron took him in and met some of his leaders! They were very nice, and made them feel comfortable.

Aaron said they were playing dodge ball, and that Morgan had seemed pretty excited about it. He also saw some other boys there that Morgan already knew from Rita Ranch ward.

It was a success! When we picked him up, he looked happy! He told us he had a great time!

Whew, what a relief! He said he thinks he's going to like being in the Vail ward! I think we will too! ;)

All in a Day

It was a great day! Definately different than what I had planned.

Planned: Clean, clean, clean. Laundry, laundry, laundry. Lunch with friends. Play a bit with the kids. Declutter and organize parts of the house. Clean some more. Plan FHE. Dinner. FHE.

Unplanned: Shopping for several hours, looking for bedding. I thought my Dad would enjoy sleeping in a room with a decent bed when he comes to visit. We found a good deal at Ross and Home Goods, which makes me very happy! Took the kids to Game Stop. Morgan and Madison really wanted to download the Pokemon character Shiny Pichu, and since the kids cleaned the house so well while we were out, we agreed to take them.

What I actually accomplished was lunch with friends, one load of laundry, no cleaning, found the perfect bedding, picked up dinner (pizza), FHE, some Facebooking, blogging, watching a movie with the hubby, and some personal scripture reading.

I'm hopeful that tomorrow will be more productive as far as cleaning goes, although we have some work samples that need to be submitted to K12, so we'll see about that!

Today, I am most grateful for my dear sweet family, and wonderful friends! I love days like today when everything may not have gone as planned, but in the end, I felt refreshed by my aquaintances and loved by my family. Today was a great day!

Answers

After a week's worth of anticipation, we finally know what ward we're in.  We will be in the Vail ward.  I have a lot of mixed feelings right now with this change, but I know this is a good thing.

 I already had a friend call me tonight and she welcomed me in the ward!  I can't believe how much this small act meant to me!  She was so sweet!  I am looking forward to meeting new people, and my kids are as well.  We do feel a certain sadness, because we cherish the friendships we've made these past 18 months.

 One thing that really makes me happy, (NOT) is the fact that we still will be meeting at 8:30 AM, only now we have to drive farther (about 30 mins.)!  With the large family that I have, getting to sacrament on time, just might mean that I won't be worthy to partake of the sacrament once I get there!  JK

 As a side note, I have to admit that I am a little afraid to attend the new building.  If you remember the post about the javelinas and the stake center you'll know why-- yes, we'll be attending the stake center.  My friend, Aimee, told me that there were times when she would have to run to her car, carrying food from a dinner, for fear that she might be attacked by one .

 She also, so generously, shared with me this precious information last week:

 Me:  "Did you know that Brother Hilton saw a snake in the men's bathroom?"

Aimee:  "Well, it was probably a rattler."

Me:  "A what!?!"

Aimee:  "A rattlesnake." (she's talking in a calm voice)

Me:  "Are you serious!?!"

Aimee: "Yeah, they're all over the place!  One time I was buckling my kids in the car when I heard a rattle and saw a snake slide under my van.  I had to go in and ask a guy to help me get the rattlesnake out from under my car.  He came out with a broomstick and a bucket."

Me:  "Really?"

Aimee: "Yep, and you really have to be careful when you walk in the entrance to the stake offices because they like to hang out there."

 I just couldn't believe it!  I thought how dangerous and scary is that!  What if some poor little, unexpecting child decides to play in the bushes!  My imagination really started to get the better of me, and now I am seriously frightened!  So if something happens to me, just know that I love you guys! Hmmm, maybe it's time to get the will in order or go inactive!