Mom

I took some cake decorating classes a few years ago with really one purpose in mind.  To emulate my mother.    When I was a kid my Mom took a cake decorating class.  I really think it was only one class, and then kept practicing at home.  That was one thing I really admire about my mom.  Her willingness to develop new talents---gardening, cooking, painting, cake decorating.  She learned them all.  I especially remember the cake she made for my eighth birthday.  A three tier cake.  Wow!  I felt like a princess getting such a fancy cake.  It was the highlight of my birthday party.

Thanks Mom for making me feel so special.  And Thanks Mom for being someone that I want to be like.

It's All about Me--Take Two

Last year on my 30th birthday I attempted to make a list of 30 things about me.  I didn't get very far so I put some more thought into it and now I have a few more this year.  Without more delay . . . .

Little Known Facts about Me

6.  I prefer cottage cheese to ricotta in lasagna.  I know cottage cheese is a substitute that you are only supposed to use if you don't have ricotta, but I think ricotta is too dry.

7.  I bought my first ever pair of earrings at age 30.

8.  I used a flash drive for the first time just a few months ago.

9.  We can't have any more kids.  Most of you probably know this one or have at least guessed it (since my youngest kid is 6 years old).  We've known for a few years.  We cried about it, now we are getting on with life.

10.  I went rollerblading for the first time a little over a year ago.  My goal was to get good enough to take Buddy on walks rollerblading.  A few months later I went down a path at the park.  There was a slope down and I got going too fast and the only way I knew how to stop was to run into railing at the bottom.  I scraped up my arms, bruised my ribs, and got a giant ugly who knows what on my shin that apparently still hasn't healed up completely because I still have the mark on my leg over a year later.

I haven't gone rollerblading since that day.

Don't judge me.  I'll get back on that horse when the scar on my leg goes away (or my emotional scars, whichever one happens last).

11.  Going out to Italian or French restaurants is kind of boring in my opinion.  If you want to impress my taste buds think Indian, Thai, or Mexican.

 12.  I love cilantro!! If a dish has cilantro in it I probably love it.  That might be one of the reasons I love Indian, Thai, and Mexican food.  They all use cilantro!

Tune in next year for more random facts about ME!

Much Ado About Carrots

A few weeks ago there was a pack of fun sized candy bars on the counter.  Alan noticed them before school and of course begged to have one.  I told him he could have one in his lunch.  On our way to the bus stop however Alan realized that he left his lunch box at home.  I told him to run and get it and if the bus came I would ask the driver to wait.  Well the bus came, and waited, and Alan still wasn't back.  I told the bus driver to go on ahead and I would take Alan to school.  Of course as soon as the bus started to leave Alan rounded the corner, the bus stopped again and Alan ran to catch up.

Alan took much longer at home than was needed to grab his lunch which was right by the door.  Being Alan's mom though, I was pretty sure I knew what took him so long.  When I got home I confirmed my suspicions when I saw that Alan hand snuck more candy bars.

I smiled pleased with myself.  Not because Alan had taken extra candy, but because you see, the day was April Fools Day.  The night before I had taken the candy bars out of their wrappers, replaced them with carrots, and resealed the wrapper with double stick tape.  So all Alan had managed to do was steal himself some extra carrots. 

Sometimes being a mom is really fun.

Mr. Hot Wheels

Alan made his first pinewood derby car this year.  I think it went as well as anyone could hope. He won a few races, he lost a few races and had a lot of fun.  Next up . . . learning how to button his shirt.

Outside my house right now.

Having a lemonade stand is kind of a right of passage isn't it?  Except this isn't a lemonade stand.  It's an orange stand.  Originally he wanted to sell the tangerines that I had bought at the store, but later it changed to the oranges from the tree.

He has all the signs of a great childhood, Sitting in the sun, faithful dog looking on (faithful because he is tied up), and really nice neighbors who take pity on our kid.  

Oh, and I've giving free cookies to whoever buys an orange from my son.  A thank you gift from me for making my child's day.

Traditions

Picture is from 2009.  Drawing by Alan of President Monson.

I was at a Relief Society activity recently that mentioned planing traditions.  In my experience traditions can not be planned.  We've tried a few in our marriage but they really didn't take.  Traditions in our family seem to just happen.  General Conference was this weekend and we definately have a few traditions for General Conference.

Our first tradition is one that I'm sure we share with many others.  Cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  I made them once for conference, and the kids have never forgotten, and always insist on the cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  In fact for the last month Hyrum has been telling his Primary teachers about the cinnamon rolls every week for a month.  The secret to my cinnamon rolls by the way, brown sugar, instead of white.  And don't even think about serving them with out cream cheese frosting.

Our second tradation is our Reverence Tent.  A few years ago there was a story in the Friend Magazine that told about a family getting ready for conference.  The had studied about King Benjamin in The Book of Mormon and how the people had come and set up tents to hear him speak and the kids in the story decided to set up their own tent to hear the prophet speak.  Our kids love this tradition.  Really any excuse to build a fort is good for them.  We never have to remind them but every conference we have a fort set up in front of the TV.   I'm just glad that they look forward to conference.  Never mind that half way thought conference Alan is loudly declaring how boring it is.  At least the six months between conferences is long enough for them to forget the boredom but remember the fun things.