More EGG- Stravaganza pictures

Ella made Easter hats for a everyone, Tessa really liked wearing hers.

At one point we looked around and all the kids were on the porch while we were out in the grass-a complete turn-around.

Dying eggs with granny was fun but right after this picture Granny begged for help-she was out numbered and knew it.

I loved this picture because it shows the bubbles.

The Bunny Pudding-Thanks Rachael

Please don't share-The Big Bad Easter Germs

Germs, how can Easter have germs?

It's not hard I guess. The Sortors had some nasty bug the week before, but everyone seemed fine on Saturday. Even Sunday was ok--who knows how many people might have been exposed on Sunday when the "well" went to church. there is nothing we can do about it now, sorry world!

Beck came down with it on Monday, she was so very sick! Imodium seemed to help but she was miserable.

By Tuesday Dave, Lexy and Phoebe had it. Dave had class Tuesday night and had to leave in a hurry. They still are not well but still moving. They are providing the lights for the BATC fashion show tonight and tomorrow. It's good money but a lot of work. Noah is supposed to be in it. He didn't really get sick yesterday, I hope he holds up.

Both Lily and Tessa came down with it on Monday so Rachael stayed home with them on Tuesday. Tessa would not let go of Rach. About 5pm Tessa had a seizure. She even turned blue. They tried CPR but her jaw was locked and they couldn't anything to help her. It ws very scary. Sarah happened to be there (The Lord knew what was going to happen and took care of things!) and she was able to stay with Lily while Tessa and Rachael went to the hospital in an ambulance. The girls babysitter, Sister Lake felt impressed to call about the girls right after the ambulance left. Hearing the situation she dropped everything and went to the hospital to be there for Rachael. Seuao got off early-thanks to the fire on I-80 that took out the electricity at his job. So he got to the hospital fairly quickly.

It was all related to Tessa's high temperature. They were able to bring her home that night. Today Lily is no longer throwing up and both girls are getting some energy back.

Don't worry, we couldn't leave Benji out. He got it too and Mary, his Mom. stayed home with him yesterday and today. Now it appears Mary may be coming down with the same thing. If there is one place you do NOT want someone with the flu it is in the operating room-where she works.

Bottom Line, I don't believe I will be making the trek down to SLC this week. I was going to help with Child care as it is Spring Break in SLC schools and out and the child care providers seem to think they should spend some time with their own kids. (I am being sarcastic-of course they should spend time with their children--it's just inconvenient or would be is they weren't all sick.

The Family Egg-stravaganza

The Family Egg-stravaganza

The Kiddos
(l-r Phoebe, Noah, Tessa, Ella, Lily, Mia and Benji)

The biggest party of Spring was last Saturday, thus avoiding the Easter/Conference weekend. Pretty good planning we thought, the grass wasn't green yet but the rain stayed away and outside time was pretty good.
For fun we had bubbles, dyed eggs and decorated foam eggs. We didn't get to the pin wheels but that is ok. The table and four chairs (with an umbrella) I purchased at Sam's on Saturday was a hit!
We had a real nice picnic lunch in the livingroom. Rachael prepared it, shaped sandwiches, fruit salad, veggie chips, apple juice and bunny pudding for desert--so cute!!

The 4 two year olds, Noah, Lily, Tessa and Mia, hunted 90 eggs. Ella had her own treasure hunt, Phoebe (9 mo) observed while Sabrina (7 mo.) napped.

Great Granny's Chick in the Basket of Candy

Granny brought her famous chick basket full of candy-there just wasn't enough in the 90 plastic eggs. She also provided the dressed eggs for early brunch/munching.

For the adult lunch Beck made her luscious egg.sausage casserole while I purchased the fruit tray.

Dinner was the combined effort of all the families. Ham and Turkey, noodles alfredo, rolls, glazed carrots and asparagus followed by strawberry shortcake. Yummmm!!!
Beck was really tired during the day but no one was sick. Beck's kids had been ill the week before but they were better. Unfortunately germs were shared too.

Politics-do it or don't complain

If not us, who will run this country?

Once again, like it have every other year for the last 36 years, I attended the mass/Caucus meeting for the Republican Party in the district in which I live. We had a really good turnout. the populace seems to be upset about politics in these United States.

The core issue seems to be the reelection of Sen. Bob Bennett. He has many opponents, 13 I think, but it is hard to tell who is behind all the negative campaigning. This year looks to be headed in an interesting, formerly unexplored, political territory. I like it!!!

It is really hard for me to listen to people complain about elected officials if they can't give up an hour every other year and voice their opinion about who is running. It's even more frustration when they don't vote. No excuses guys, VOTE--at least! Dad has voted absentee or early for 9 years now. If you really want to vote you can find a way.

If you don't know who to vote for well, call me and I will tell you who I am voting for and why. If you choose to trust my judgment--well. good for both of us!

I am so glad I live in these United States! I am scared about what will happen with this Health Insurance Bill signed into law today--but that is just more reason to stay involved and become educated! Another thing I can do better now that I have more time :)

Kim Wins! WOO HOO!!

For you that do not know Kim, she is the daughter of our friends, Dave and Julie Nelson. She has been battleing Leukemia since last July. She recently finished her last chemo treatment and finally her cell count has come up from 1 to 200 in just a few days. Which means she will soon be coming home andDONE with this horrible challenging trial. She has been a real trooper! She got down to 96 pounds-but never let the pain and puking get the best or her. For more info you might want to check out her blog at http://www.kimbattlestheredrobot.blogspot.com/

I am just so grateful for her recovery. she is a great, great young woman!
Thank you Heavenly Father!

Time to Blog-Released as RS President

Now I remember what I used to do, back in the Pre-RS era. That would be twq years ago when I was called to be the Relief Society President.

Being the RS president is always a big job but this was even more than the usual. The wards in our stake were rearranged and my one block, with two blocks added from other wards joined the four blocks left of the old 15th ward. Yes, I know I live in Utah-where wards are just blocks but still there were on the average 180 sisters and more than one-third of them were single. We had to start completely over-all visiting teaching . . .it was a real job! And then trying to get people to know each other, golly. But, we did it, of course with the help of the Lord.

So, for the last two years most of my waking hours have been dedicated to the 15th Ward RS. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. I got to know so many wonderful people. I had the opportunity to serve-like never before. it was great.

The two weeks ago, I was released. No notice, nothing, I was simply told 45 minutes before our last meeting. Upon reflection I believe it would have been much easier if . . .we don't need to go there. In the Church, there is no appeal process. What is done is done. but that brings me to the conclusion, now I have time to blog. Now I will be spending my time assisting people that need employment, the Ward Employment Specialist.

The Worst Dinner Ever

I thought the roast sprinkled with Cocoa would be the worst dinner I ever served but no. I seem to be trying to out do myself lately.

The latest and most successful attempt to create the absolute worst dinner ever occurred Saturday night.

Observing Dad's new saying, I thought we would eat whatever he wanted AND "what the cupboard could afford." Ok, the only redeeming feature of this awful event was that Pat chose it. How about creamed chipped beef on toast? I was good with that. We have had the dried chipped beef in the cupboard for (years) a long time. I had the dish often as a child and had fed it to my own children through the years so, no big problem.
First I checked out all my favorite online sites for recipes and found a few that looked good. One added a little brown sugar, hmmm OK. So I started. The recipe called for two 3oz packages fo beef. I had a four oz, bottle-OK.

They are not equivalent! Mine was the dry-very very very salty stuff. Obviously not what was intended. I added the sugar but in the end it was just horrible. I ate about half of the toast out from the under the stiff (almost dough like) mess but Pat was hungry. I ate at least 3/4 of the frozen peas I made ot go along with it--just trying to do something about all the salt. Pat ate on, one bite at a time. UGH! Finally having eaten less than half of his first serving--he always wants seconds--he gave up. I believe he said something like, "I think I'm full" He was so kind, never said a word about how bad it was. He knew I knew, I made that known with every bite I took!

Believe me, oh please, believe me it was the worst dinner ever. I even bypassed the refrigerated leftover "but never eaten" delay and threw it away! Now that is something I can be proud of-I just threw it away! I doubt I ever eat creamed dried beef again. And that is ok with me. Unless someone else cooks it, of course.

It's a beautiful thing-Freedom-the real reason we visited Home Depot

It's a beautiful thing- Freedom

For weeks I have been waiting for the bill from Home Depot to arrive.

On December 23rd I caved in and purchased a snow blower. We have lived in this snowy world for over 20 years--without a snow blower.
We have shoveled a LOT of snow! the last big snow fall before Christmas resulted in some pretty bad back pain for Pat. Now was the time, we were going to join the legions of snow blower owners (the angels of our neighborhood). But who has an extra $600 two days before Christmas? Certainly not me!

So, I opened a credit account (to save 10%) and charged the big Christmas surprise! That was before i knew about the trip Pat got for me. One of the employees even delivered it for me. I covered it up and put a bow on it-or meant to. I was so excited for pat to see it, and use it!
It didn't snow the rest of the Christmas holiday.
It has only snowed twice--enough to use the blower--since then.
it's like insurance. If you have it you don't need it. If you don't have it you will need it--snow seems it will never stop!

Back to the story.

The bill finally came. I could hardly wait to get down to the store and pay it off! Maybe that is why I forgot to ....see the previous blog.
Needless to say, I paid off the snow blower. And I feel so free. I just hate things hanging over my head. If I didn't get it done in time I would have to pay all the interest and I wasn't sure when my 90 days would be over. I am free again. Free to save for the real "Best
Christmas Present Ever" the trip to Florida.

Thanks Dad-for the trip and eating the horrible meals I have made lately (saving money to pay for the snow blower.)

Remember, Don't Get Caught With Your Pants Down

Remember, Don't Get Caught With Your Pants Down

I can honestly admit I have no idea where that saying came from but an experience I had last Friday made me realize it is very true!
Granny and I were walking into Home Depot. I grabbed her a basket and rolled it to her. Then I grabbed one for myself. We always bring baskets back into the stores. I think it is because we don't feel so bad about leaving ours outside when we leave. The problem began when I turned around to get my basket, my pants fell down-down passed my knees. OOOOOHHHH!!! and they were back up. Whew, I looked around. Granny was laughing so hard-it didn't feel so funny but I guess it really was funny to her.

NO PICTURES HERE!

When I looked at the waist band I realized they hadn't come down by accident. Well it was by accident but I had forgotten to zip and button them. Oh my! it was a really cold and yucky day so their weren't many people around. I was so very relieved. Evidently I had washed my hands, walked out of the restroom, picked up my keys and purse, walked out to the car got in and drove to the store and nothing went wrong, no evidence of such an oversight at all.

Later I challenged myself to uncover the hidden message in my experience. I have been doing that more lately-trying to see what the Lord is trying to teach me. Let's see

1. Always button and zip your pants! You might even want to check! Ok, literal but a good lesson to learn.
2. "Always wear clean underwear"-remember the caution your Mother told you about going to the hospital. Maybe she was right, except you might find yourself at home Depot and not at the hospital. Just a thought!
3. What ever you are hiding. . .you'd better beware. At any moment, just an innocent lapse of memory could reveal that which you never intended to reveal! The confessions of a State Legislator on the last days of the Legislature (the day before) came to mind. Inappropriate actions 25 years ago had taken another good man down.
4. Thus the real message, just don't do anything you wouldn't want your world to know or see.

Then you won't have anything to hide.

I think that is what my brain looks like.

What does my memory look like?
I can't remember. Did I ever know?

As I age I realize my memory isn't what it used to be. There are things I wish I could remember. And. of course, there are others I wish I could forget. I guess it may be a blessing that we can't remember what it is we forgot. As long as it doesn't come back to bite you.
The only real way to be sure is to truly never do anything you would not want everyone to know. I am sure I learned this lesson before but I don't remember.

Lists are good!

I like to make lists. They make me feel like I actually accomplish something. So this week I made a list. and completed all but one item and more. Considering how under the weather I have been it was truly amazing. I should make more lists!

Here was this week's list (and I really did not do a thing until Wednesday)
Exercise (the one thing I did not get done)
pick up pills from Shopko (I had to do this twice--4 prescriptions in one week--UGH)
Write Thank you notes
mail thank you notes (yes this needs to be a separate item, I have many many letters writtenn but never mailed)
Clean off the table
Clean the kitchen/do the dishes
Finish the car seat covers (but now I have another one to make)
Dollar Store-gift bags 2 baby 1 male birthday
Deliver Car seat covers
Turn in County tax letter
OOPS-
one more I didn't get done, finish plaques to give to Stake RS presidency

But not on the list but completed
Get speaker for marriage enrichment workshop
finish the Book of Mormon Woo Hoo! I honestly do not know how many times I have read it.
And I attended the monthly Employment meeting

Not bad!
Next week I will go exercise-if I get over this yucky stuff
I will go to Rachael's RS Birthday party. Greg Olsen, the artist, is speaking
Celebrate St Patrick's Day (how could Pat's wife not)

Less than 4 weeks until Florida! I may be the whitest person to ever visit Florida-how long does a spray tan last?

A change in Role

Not the best picture-but it is me-with my hair pulled back

I will have lots more time for blogging now that I have been released from being the Relief Society President.
I must say I was shocked, dismayed and saddened by the release. I was really enjoying the opportunity to serve. I never complained, that I can remember. I did get a bit frustrated with some people. You know the kind, they don't listen, they don't follow through, they continue to complain. If not to you eventually about you. I am truly grateful for the 2 years I had. I am eternally grateful for all the many many people that stepped up tot he plate and served with me. I never really knew an Elders Quorum President could make such a difference.

Logan ERS center (next to DI)

So now I have been called as the Ward Employment Specialist. In our Ward this is a tough job. We've had people in this position over the past two years but virtually nothing has been done. Brother Wise was just getting started when he left. But the ones since then have not even been willing to attend Welfare meeting to find out who needed their assistance.

I attended a training on Saturday at the LDS Employment Resources Services for over 2 hours. It is amazing how the employment search methods have changed and improved over the years. With competition for jobs the way it is it boggles the mind. Once again I am gratedul that my sweet husband has been abale to support our family and I have not had to worry about employment over the years and I am available to serve others!

The future is ahead!

March 10 and I am sick again

What is up with this being sick???? Well it makes time to blog anyway. I have already been to the doctor and started the antibiotics again--along with the coughing . . .i am on the road to recovery!

Time to think

I read on a friends post about funeral conversation . . . it reminded me. I was once at a funeral for a 80+ year old woman. She had been nothing but kind to our family. She was a large woman that always had smiles, hugs and a place on her lap for David. One of her family members decided to be "honest" and mentioned her affair (some 55+ years) earlier. Good grief! There is a place for honesty but come on. Tact would be not to mention it at all. My (always socially correct) husband says "don't miss an opportunity to keep your mouth shut!" See I do listen, I just do not always think faster than I speak.But I am still trying.
I am so glad I get to fondly remember a fine-although imperfect-woman, like me (imperfect, of course, not the affair). I am sorry her family could not forgo the opportunity to spoil the memory of a life time of faith and love with a long past mistake. May we all think before we speak-especially at a funeral!