Dad

It's a day late but I was out of town on Sunday and I still wanted to pay a small tribute to my Dad.  Sports weren't played much in my house growing up, but when I was in the 4th grade I played soccer for a total of one half of a season.  I was certainly the worst on the team.  Though I don't think I have any pictures of my soccer playing days to post, I do remember my Dad going to all my games and cheering me on.  Thanks Dad for supporting me and helping me feel better despite my less than stellar performance.

Phoenix Temple

We are so thrilled that work is starting on the Phoenix temple.  We were out of town for the ground breaking and were unable to watch (boo hoo!).  I've decided to occasionally post pictures of the progress of the temple.  This is our first shot taken a few days before the groundbreaking.  Note the bunny ears.  It was too hard to see through the camera so I didn't notice until now.  Oh well.

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.