BriteCloud Creations

Glasses

2012-01-25T17:33:00.004-06:00

What is cuter than a pair of glasses for a toddler or baby?! A shadowbox of glasses worn by that same toddler into young adulthood.

Since Nathan got his first pair of glasses at three years of age, I have been planning to make a shadowbox. I wasn't able to keep every pair that he has ever had. When we had to have a pair replaced that was still under warranty, the eye care company would require you to give them the original pair back. But I did hang on to the ones that I could. The first pair being especially important to me. I think I surprised everyone that I could hang on to them these 13 years. Or at least no one knew I was keeping them.

Nathan's eye health has been very poignant for me. When he was less than a year old he loved reading books and would look at his books nose-to-page. We just thought it was a mannerism he had. But even strangers would comment that perhaps he needed glasses. So in order to "shut everyone up", as I told my Mother, I took him to an optometrist in League City, that my Dad went to for years. Nathan was 12 months old. This optometrist was a very talkative doctor and seemed he wanted to visit with his patients more than anything else. I think he just thought I was being an over protective first-time parent. He did a few cursory tests with Nathan and sent him off with a clean bill of vision. To my relief, when people would comment on his looking so closely at things I would tell them that yes, he had his eyes checked, and that's just the way he likes to look at books.

Fast forward to Nathan at 3 years old, now with a newborn sister and an 18-month old brother. Nathan went to a Montessori school in Clear Lake and one day the director called me in and told me that she thought Nathan had a lazy eye. And that perhaps he was having trouble with his vision. She pointed to a few behaviors that clued her in. One being that when he would enter a room he would stop and assess before venturing further. Another being that he would often ask to have things taken down from the shelves, but when they would have it to him it wasn't what he thought it was. And lastly, she thought she had been seeing his eye wander. I sat in her office and cried. It did all seem to make sense. The director had had a daughter with similar problems when she was young. She gave me the wise advice that I should find a pediatric ophthalmologist, rather than an optometrist. That advice proved to be priceless!

I had to wait two months to get Nathan in to a pediatric ophthalmologist. It was agony for me! Once it had been pointed out, of course I saw what she was talking about. And I couldn't stand knowing that he wasn't seeing clearly and yet he had to wait to get it corrected. But once we did see the ped. ophthal. she was wonderful with him. We left with a strong prescription for new glasses. We had the prescription filled at a local eye store and they put a rush on it when they saw what a strong prescription it was and they realized it was his first pair.

It took him a while to get used to seeing the world differently. We had to take "breaks" from the glasses. I remember trying to get him to keep them on when we got home. I walked him up and down the stairs holding his hands to keep him from grabbing at them.

But he did get used to them. And you know what? The first time I ever heard him sing was a few weeks after his first pair of glasses. I think it freed up his heart and mind; being able to see.

Would you believe me if I told you he slept in his glasses for many, many years? How about if I told you he still does.

Meredith

2012-01-14T14:31:00.003-06:00

This is Meredith, my niece Charlton's new baby. Isn't she a sweetheart!? When Charlton was pregnant with her first daughter, Mackenzie, I began crocheting this little christening gown. The first one I made was for Chloe, and I swore I wouldn't make another one until Charlton had a daughter. (Although I did break that promise and made one for my dear friend, Jana, when her daughter Katie was born. Unfortunately, I mixed thread lots and ended up with a finished product with obvious differences in color. What a shame!)

Anyway, I had the dress about 75% complete for Mackenzie's first Christmas, with the intention of finishing it. Then life happened, we moved, and Mackenzie outgrew it. But I held onto it, as well as the guilt I felt for not finishing it in time.

Then, lo and behold, Charlton found out she was having another girl! What a wonderful surprise for so many reasons, this little dress being one of them.

So now I am thrilled to present both finished products; Meredith and her keepsake gown. Although Meredith is the most prized of the two, hands down!

Meredith - 2012

I still have the one I made for Chloe. And to be honest, I actually made it when I was pregnant with Beck. So it was even more special when I actually did have a daughter to give it to.

Chloe - 1999

It's happening....

2011-12-18T16:44:00.006-06:00

Watch out Utah.... the streets may or may not be safe! Nathan is learning to drive. With a lot of pushing and prodding from Steve, Nathan has gotten his learner's permit and is being ~~dragged~~ taken for a driving lesson today. Steve is very excited! Nathan, not so much.

I do think that Nathan will warm up to driving when he realizes the independence he can achieve with that little plastic driver's license.

Until then, he just has to put up with Mom taking pictures and Dad's enthusiasm. Maybe it will catch on.

On a Whim...

2011-10-20T18:22:00.004-05:00

Chloe and I made an impromptu drive to Cascade Springs on Sunday. It still boggles my mind that this beautiful area is right in our back yard. I was so glad to get some pretty pictures of my pretty girl. Oh, and the scenery was really nice, too.

Antelope Island

2011-09-14T23:59:00.003-05:00

On September 4th Steve and I celebrated our 19th anniversary. We went to Salt Lake City to spend the night. Since it was Sunday, and we are in Utah, there just isn't much to do on that day of the week. Most things are either closed or they close early. So we didn't really feel like we got to do much that first day other than eat out. But we did happen upon a local independently owned theater called "Brewvies". They let you eat and drink in the theater, which was kind of fun for a change. We saw the movie "Our Idiot Brother" and were pleasantly surprised by how funny it was.

The next day we decided to go further north past Salt Lake City into Layton. There is an Indian food restaurant there that we wanted to try. Turns out it was on Antelope Island Drive and we thought we might as well take advantage of being close to Antelope Island and make the trek in that direction after eating.

We were so glad we did! It is a beautiful island with herds of Bison roaming freely. There is a 7-mile causeway leading onto the island. The water is different on one side from the other. But it is all the Great Salt Lake. The wild sunflowers were in bloom all over the island. And it was a mild pre-fall day. It was really beautiful.

A few pictures from our day.

A New Person

2011-09-10T15:56:00.002-05:00

This is little Meredith, Charlton's (my niece) new baby. I crocheted the little hat and diaper cover. Charlton took some sweet pictures! Of course you can't go wrong with such a sweet subject.

Just Because...

2011-09-01T09:48:00.004-05:00

Just because I was thinking about when Chloe was little, just because Charlton just had another daughter, and just because it got me started going through old pictures. Just because of all of those things I thought I would share this sweet picture of Chloe, I think she was 3 or 4 at the time.

In the Moment...

2011-08-01T23:00:00.009-05:00

Don't you hate it when you do that thing of being "in the moment" and don't want to ruin it by pulling out the camera and making everyone pose? Well, that's pretty much how our visit with Granny and Papa went this past weekend.

We had a great time with some sight seeing of scenic routes (which included an emergency bathroom pit stop in the good ole outdoors for me). Wouldn't you know after said emergency stop I passed several public parks restrooms on the way out of Mirror Lake Highway. And wouldn't you also know that after not knowing where to stop for a picnic, with tables, we pulled over and found a shady spot and had a tailgate picnic. Only to pass a scenic picnic area about 1/4 mile after we were done. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

All of that didn't matter. It was the company we were seeing most of all. It is refreshing and rejuvenating to be with family again. Enjoy the pics that I did take.

More than a Movie...

2011-07-18T00:43:00.017-05:00

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 2001

Looking back, I can't believe it's been 10 years since the first Harry Potter movie was released. Tonight our family said goodbye to Harry Potter as we watched the final movie.

It's been more than a movie series, it's been my children's childhood, most especially Nathan's. He read all of the books, and of course has seen all of the movies numerous times.

Most of the movie releases over the years have been in November, which is his birthday month. So we've had lots of Harry Potter birthday movie nights. Over the years Nathan has been told many, many times how much he looks like Harry Potter. The first time we saw Dr. Earle the first thing he said to Nathan was, "You know you look a lot like Harry Potter?" Yes, we know.

This is Nathan in 2001 when the first Harry Potter movie was released. There is a resemblance to Harry. Especially when he started wearing round glasses.

Nathan in 2002 when "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" was released. (Notice the new, round glasses?)

Nathan in 2004 when "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" was released.

Nathan in 2005 when "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" was released.

Nathan in 2007 when "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" was released.

Nathan in 2009 when "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" was released.

Nathan in 2010 when "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I" was released.

Nathan in 2011 when "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II", the Finale was released.

I can't help, as a Mom, but draw parallels to the character's age progression and maturity and Nathan's maturity and progression. I look back on how carefree and happy the younger Harry Potter was, and so was Nathan.

And I watch as Harry Potter has grown and become a young man, and well, so has Nathan. In one part of the final movie they cut back to a clip from the first movie and there was the sweet little boy, Harry. My thoughts instantly went to Nathan at that age, seeing that movie. I could have wept (and maybe I did a little) for the loss of that young boy and his loss of innocence about the world. Sometimes I miss my little boy. I know I still have him, in an older form, but I still miss the young bright, eager eyes when the world had the possibility of magic. When he didn't have to worry about evil and hurt and pain. When he wasn't in the fight of his life to find out who he is.

Goodbye Harry Potter, we will sorely miss you.

P.S. I love you, Nathan.

Cascade Springs Surprise

2011-07-10T14:44:00.004-05:00

Look in the distance in this picture. Yep! That's a moose. What a surprise when Steve and I went for a walk in Cascade Springs. This little moose was out for her own walk. Drinking in the cool water and eating the crisp, green vegetation. Our first moose siting!

It was on the local TV news recently that yearling moose(s) were being forced into the city to look for food. They were too old for their Mothers anymore, but guess they didn't know where else to go, so they were showing up in neighborhoods, and even on the streets of downtown Park City. I had a customer at the store show me a video of one in her neighborhood that was eating the flowers in the beds.

I think the same must be happening here. This looks like a yearling out on its own, as well.

Yep!

2011-05-25T12:03:00.003-05:00

Can't believe that Nathan had his first date last weekend! It was sort of a blind date, double-dating with another couple. His best friend, Austin, has a girlfriend. And it was her best friend that Nathan met.

I thought it was sweet that Nathan wanted to have his first date at home. They planned their double date, buying the cokes and planning what pizza to order, a week in advance. And planning what movies to watch.

Unfortunately, I had to work that evening, so I didn't get to meet the young lady. But Steve was here. He said they must have had a great time since he heard lots of laughter. Of course Steve made his appearances in the basement occasionally.

When I got home from work the date was over. I hugged Nathan and whispered, "Did you kiss her?" He replied in his low voice, "yep." "More than once?" I asked. "Yep," he replied. I surprisingly exclaimed, "Nathan!" Meanwhile Chloe was overhearing and she was bouncing up and down on the couch, clapping her hands and said, "Nathan! I'm so happy for you!" And she was! It was such a cute moment.

So those of you with young children, this is what it feels like when we say they are growing up overnight! Suddenly a whole new world of possibilities and worries has opened up. And I got this frenzied feeling of, "Have we taught him everything he needs to know about making the right decisions?" It feels like having a baby who is suddenly, unexpectedly walking before you have gotten the house baby-proofed.

So we plan to let this bloom slowly. Right now they are talking on the phone everyday. They may have another date on Memorial day. I've already let him know that there will be no car-dating until he's 16. (She's already 16 and driving.) We are setting boundaries and rules which we weren't really ready to set. Prayerfully making decisions.

But I love watching these kids grow up! They are such interesting people. And their talents and strengths are shining through.

Elephant-Shaped Cake Pans

2011-05-06T00:26:00.005-05:00

I have never felt so whiny about anything in my life, as I have this new job of mine! I know everyone is sick of hearing me talk about it. One day I am feeling hopeful and enjoying it, the next day I am depressed and miserable about it. Most days I vacillate between the two extremes throughout the day. I feel like I'm becoming bi-polar over it. LOL

One of my lower points was Wednesday afternoon when I was the closing manager. My first time to be closing manager without another manager there in the evening to answer any questions I might have. I had one employee's husband call in sick for her and 30 minutes later another employee called in who couldn't make it to work because she rides with the aforementioned lady. All of this on the night when everything had to be recovered perfectly in the store because the Zone VP was going to be in the store the next day along with all of the District Framing Managers who would be holding an all day meeting in our store. Panic much? Yes, I did a bit (or a lot!). I was able to find one person who could come in and cover one of the shifts. Huge sigh of relief!

Meanwhile, I answered a call to the store from a customer wanting to know if we carry elephant-shaped cake pans. I put her on hold, then over the headset asked an associate on the floor to check to see if we carry elephant-shaped cake pans. In short; no, we don't. I let the customer know, with my apologies, that we don't.

When I hung up the phone I looked at the other manager sitting next to me in the office and said, "You know, it really is just about 'do you carry elephant-shaped cake pans.' " That's all the customer is concerned with. They don't care if you are burdened with preparations for corporate visitors, staffing problems, or lack of sleep. It all just boils down to elephant-shaped cake pans.

So I've spent a bit of time this week reminding myself that's it's just about elephant-shaped cake pans. No one's life is in my hands, I'm not making decisions that will affect the global economy, or the welfare of a nation.

Maybe I can handle the cake pan dilemmas of the world.

.

Outgrowing me...

2011-04-15T00:25:00.002-05:00

Wow, it hurts when you realize your kids have pulled away almost further than you can reach. I didn't know I should have cherished that last cuddly moment. Or the last time they looked at me like I was their hero.

Intellectually, I believe it will come back around. This is the natural order of things... this "growing up" they are supposed to be doing. One day they will again come to me for advice, look at me with admiration, believe the things I tell them.

But today it hurts. Today it feels empty.

And then I start looking forward to seeing them blossom and shine. I wonder who they will meet in a job, or a relationship, who will see the potential in them that I see. What talents will rise above all others? Who will they love, and who will love them? I'm looking forward to those answers.

It's not over. God isn't finished with us yet.

Throw!

2011-04-06T11:59:00.004-05:00

Over the weekend Steve and Chloe switched rooms. She was in the basement and Steve had a bedroom upstairs for his office. Well, Steve had coveted the basement room since we looked at the house. I suggested he "make a deal" with Chloe for the switch. In exchange for her room, she gets a World of Warcraft account. (Yes, my girl is a computer gaming nerd, and I mean that in the sweetest way.) What chance did she have with two brothers and a Dad who are into it?

So I made her a "welcome to the upstairs" throw, using the colors of her room. This bedroom was previously painted in a very bright chartreuse green, not our favorite shade, but it matches her decor better than it did Steve's.

This was called a 5 1/2 Hour Throw, using size Q crochet hook and three strands of thread at a time. I have decided it's called a 5 1/2 Hour Throw because of the amount of time I spent untangling the three lines as I crocheted. What a horror! But I like the end result, and it went quickly when I wasn't tangled up.

Welcome upstairs, Chloe!

This morning

2011-03-30T13:39:00.005-05:00

For awhile I was keeping my camera in my car so I could be ready when I see a perfect Kodak moment (or should I say, "Canon Moment"), but got concerned about it being stolen or damaged. So this morning when I saw this beautiful view while taking the kids to school, I had to run back home and get my camera and go back out.

I love when the clouds hang below the mountain tops. This view is just across the street from where Steve works, less than a mile from where we live. An elderly man was out walking his HUGE yellow lab when I stopped. He asked me what I was taking pictures of. I pointed out the clouds below the mountain. He said he thought maybe I was taking pictures of these two big birds that were in the field. I told him I wouldn't know anything about that.

When I got home Arya had a very close encounter sniffing my hand for about 3 minutes from where I petted the dog. Funny, that.

Did you know? Followed by: Wouldn't you know it?!

2011-03-21T15:18:00.006-05:00

Did you know that you can be born without permanent teeth buds?

A person can have the buds for a baby tooth but not for the replacement permanent tooth. Beck has one such tooth. Just a fluke. The baby tooth can stay in for 5o+ years without having to worry about replacing it.

But, wouldn't you know, the one tooth that got infected over the weekend, was Beck's baby tooth without a permanent filler. We took him to the dentist this morning and it had to be pulled. Now we will have to get an implant in the near future to keep his teeth in line. Guess that's probably cheaper than braces, which thankfully, he doesn't need.

But wouldn't you just know it!

.

Home Made

2011-03-03T23:16:00.002-06:00

Nathan has a cooking class this semester. Although I hadn't planned to have pasta for dinner, that's what the assignment was. So we went in all the way!

Now I remember why I don't make pasta from scratch. It was a lot of work!

Nathan has never even cracked an egg before, so this was a lot to take it for one recipe. But he did great!

Kneading the dough was hard for him at first. Putting his hands in all of that egg and flour was pretty foreign.

Not many pictures between the kneading and cutting. It was, like I said, a lot of work, for both of us. So here are the final cut strips.

They were a bit on the thick side, but I was just impressed that they resembled fettucini!

Now to throw them into the boiling water.

Draining. Please don't look at the counter "fallout" from all of the previous kneading, mixing, etc.

Pour it over the sauce.

Toss.

Enjoy! And guess what? It was good! Nathan even liked it. And he never eats spaghetti! This could be a way to expand his diet.

Open your eyes, take a look outside....

2011-02-23T17:19:00.003-06:00

All I have to do is step outside the front door to see this beautiful view. It's a blessing.

And the winner is....

2011-02-20T08:05:00.000-06:00

Who will win the dishcloth????

Chloe helped by doing the honors of drawing a name...

Congratulations, Rachael! Email me your address and let me know if you want the pink or the green dishcloth. (Or message me on FB.) Thanks everyone for playing! I'll do another drawing soon.

Lipstick Holders & Other Crochet-y things...

2011-02-20T00:37:00.003-06:00

Isn't this a cute little lipstick holder? I made a bunch of them and am selling them here on Etsy.

While you are on my Etsy page, check out the rest of my items. Also selling some crocheted dishcloths. One of them is shown below.

Pillow Reveal

2011-02-18T22:07:00.002-06:00

Well, it's not that exciting, but here's the finished project I told you about in my previous post. I've never made a pillow for myself. So here's a first! The pattern for this pillow is from The Royal Sisters. Check out the complete site, so many pretty things!

Krafty Kitties - A New Blog!

2011-02-15T09:52:00.006-06:00

Hey everybody! I'm excited about a new blog I am starting. I love how icrochet works and I wanted to create a similar area, but with pics of our kitties getting in on our crafting action. Here's the first link... help me create more! If you have a pic of your kitty and your kraftiness, share it here at http://www.kraftykitties.blogspot.com I hope you enjoy it!

This is Arya laying on a creation I haven't shared yet. I still need a pillowform to complete my pillow. This is the back. I'll show more pics when it's finished!

Giveaway!

2011-02-15T03:02:00.003-06:00

I spent a little bit of time this evening watching TV and crocheting these two dishcloths. Leave a comment and I will choose a random winner on Sunday, Feb. 20th. The winner may choose the green ruffle dishcloth or the pink tulip dishcloth. Click here for the free patterns to make your own green ruffle or pink tulip. Comment to win!

Crocheted Rocks?

2011-02-13T18:29:00.004-06:00

I saw samples of river rocks with crochet surrounding them and was enthralled! I literally dreamed about making some.

But where do you find rocks when everything is covered with a foot of snow for months on end? Well, someone, who shall remain nameless, might yoink a couple of them from alongside the road at a person's farm while her daughter cringes from embarrassment in the car.

I'm nothing if not a good example to my children. Anywho... don't you just love the delicate lace against the rough stone? I'm still enthralled. And there may be more to come!

You might be wondering what pattern I used. I just started with a doily pattern and after a few rounds (based on the diameter of the rock) I began making the scallop chain stitch pattern and then decreasing a couple of rows until down to single crochet stitch all around. In other words, I sort of made it up as I went.

Adding another one....

I've fallen victim...

2011-02-11T15:03:00.003-06:00

Steve came and picked me up for a nice little lunch today. He caught me right as I was cleaning the last of the 4 toilets that we have. I could hear him come in the door. I heard the footfalls ascend the stairs (I was in the basement). Then descend the stairs (I was still in the basement). Then a smattering of steps to and fro. And just as I finished rinsing the tub I began climbing the stairs to meet him halfway. "Were you following the trail of my nonexistence again?" I asked him. He happily replied that that was exactly what he was doing.

After a bit of the usual discussion of where we should eat, we did what we always do, and got in the car anyway, not knowing where we were going to end up. We ended up where we often do, at The Galleria. Spaghetti and salad for $6.95. And it's good! We ate and enjoyed a bit of conversation here and there. We discussed the perils of making the trip back to the car over the icy parking lot. We buckled up and headed for home. I looked at the dashboard of Steve's car and exclaimed, "Two o'clock already?!" Those four bathrooms took longer to clean than I realized, and I must have spent way too much time online before that. Only one hour before all the children get home and my day starts over again.

Oh well, only one thing to do... sit down and check Facebook and browse some crochet-related websites. That must have been about an hour ago. And I just looked at the clock on my computer and it was 2:02. What?!

Dangit, I've fallen victim again to the man who never changes his clocks when daylight-savings time rolls around.

Thanks for the extra hour, Steve.

He giveth and he taketh away; in this instance he taketh and then giveth.

Wedding Dress Crocheted

2011-02-08T10:01:00.003-06:00

No, I didn't make this dress, but I think it's worthy of sharing. Look at this beautiful wedding dress that the bride crocheted herself. Click here to see more pics.

Cool Dude...

2011-02-07T21:36:00.003-06:00

Being the cool dude that he is, Nathan wanted some fingerless gloves that lace up. So I created this crochet pattern for him. I think it turned out pretty good! Now Chloe wants a pair. Then Steve wants a pair that don't lace. Guess I'll be busy filling those orders. :D

New Etsy Store...

2011-02-04T01:41:00.003-06:00

No, I'm not 50 yet. This is just a sample cupcake pick that I made to list in my new Etsy shop. I will be selling personalized cupcake picks. There are a couple of other samples below. You can click here to see them all.

If you've never visited Etsy before, it's a wonderful place to go and get lost for awhile. It is a place for artists, artisans and just plain crafters to sell their handmade goods. You can find the most unique things! I can get lost for hours when I start looking at the items.

So since I am mostly homebound during the winters here I am trying to find things I can sell online to make a little extra money. This is a start. I haven't seen anything like it before, so that's always good (I hope!). Link me to your friends if you'd like to help me get the word out.

I will be adding more as the days go by.

When Slouchy is a Good word...

2011-01-28T15:41:00.003-06:00

This is my friend, Kelly Walker. We've been very close friends for 31 years, we met in college and have known each other since we were 18. Wow! Kelly lives in Nashville, TN. (He's the reason I lived in TN for 5 years when I was 24-29 yrs. old.

Kelly is very cool and "with it". He is a very talented artist, graphic designer and illustrator. We were both art majors at ACU. I knew he could rock this slouch hat that I made for him. He is a trendsetter.

He was excited about the hat and took these pics when he received it and put it on FB. Funny!

Really funny!

For the pattern to this hat, check out April Draven's Etsy shop. She has a ton of cute patterns!

Flowery!

2011-01-27T13:26:00.003-06:00

I just finished this cute little purse. I have been loving this blog. It's iCrochet. Click on any of the pics of crochet projects and it takes you to the person's blog. You can find free patterns, great blogs, and patterns to purchase. This purse is a pattern that I purchased from Bella McBride's Etsy shop.

I've been toying with the idea of creating some of my own crochet patterns.

I'll let you know what happens!

Crocheting Up a Storm

2011-01-24T15:04:00.002-06:00

When the weather is cold I love to crochet, and sometimes to knit. Above is an afghan that I crocheted for Tom and Marsha, my sister and brother-in-law. They were so kind to use their frequent flyer points to fly Chloe and me home for my Mom's 70th birthday. This is my way of saying thank you.

And when Christmas came around we didn't have much of a budget for gifts, so I tried to make things that people could use.

I made this "puppet scarf" for Mackenzie. She actually liked it! I was afraid she might be scared of it. Click here to see more of Charlton's post on the scarf.

There were other things I made, but I don't have pics of them. I'll try to do better at documenting what I make.

Like a rhinestone cowboy....

2011-01-13T17:18:00.002-06:00

This is Randy. He is a neighbor of my parents. He came a' visitin' while Chloe and I were in Texas. This is his pretty girl, Blue. His other horse is named Red. He is nothing, if not original.

Here's my Dad with Randy and Blue.

Blue was so patient and courteous to just stand by while the men visited and I took pictures.

Why do I say Rhinestone cowboy? Well, my Dad quickly pointed out to me Randy's Mr. T starter kit around his neck and Randy added his own flair by taking off his gloves and showing me his blinged out fingers. A gold and diamond ring on every finger. He's flashy that way.

My Mom says that Randy's wife is as plain as he is flashy. Funny, that.

I love being in Texas where your neighbors can come a visitin' on their horses on a balmy, overcast, winter day.

Chloe's 12th Birthday

2011-01-06T00:15:00.000-06:00

Chloe's 12th Birthday

2011-01-06T00:14:00.000-06:00

Freaky sight....

2011-01-02T23:43:00.003-06:00

I was driving home from Park City today and looked over and saw this beautiful buffalo standing and grazing on top of this little hill. The owners also have two zebras. We see them almost every time we drive past, but this was just so majestic looking.

I wonder why they have a buffalo?

A Year Ago Today

2011-01-01T01:38:00.002-06:00

A Year Ago today Chloe and I flew to Utah to start our new lives here, while Steve and the boys were driving the moving van.

What I didn't know, a year ago today:

1. I didn't know that the one cat (out of 5) that we brought with us would die of cardiac arrest just a few weeks later.

2. I didn't know how blessed I was to have a church so close to home.

3. I didn't know how hard it would be.

4. I didn't know we could live in such close quarters and be fairly comfortable.

5. I didn't know how good it would be for the kids to start over somewhere else.

6. I didn't know how nice everyone was going to be.

7. I didn't know how hard it would be for Steve and I to get used to depending on each other again. (He lived here 6 months before we all moved.)

8. I didn't know how much I would miss my Mother. (But I had a pretty good idea!)

9. I didn't know how hard it would be to live in an area where the weather isolates you.

10. I didn't know how easy it would be to find a church and love the people there. (If only it were closer!)

11. I didn't know how much I loved a quiet, dark room when I go to bed, until I had to share the bedroom as Steve's office and his long hours of playing games into the night.

12. I didn't know how quickly the kids would grow and mature.

13. I didn't realize that I wasn't ready for them to mature that much!

14. I didn't know I would love the mountains and scenery as much as I do.

15. I didn't know how unimportant so much "stuff" is.

There's still a lot I don't know. Such as what the year 2011 will bring. But here are some things I do know:

1. I do know that God is always with me, wherever I go, wherever I live, whatever I do.

2. I do know that being together as a family is enough.

3. I do know that when I am lonely and missing my family I can call, I can text, I can Facebook. And when I really need to, I can go visit.

4. I do know that even through these hard times Steve and I do love each other.

5. I do know that even though the kids are getting older, I am still their Mom. And that's pretty important in their book, and mine.

So when I think back to that first day in 2010 I have an image in my mind, probably one I will never forget. Chloe and I got to the townhouse and then went to get something to eat at Wendy's. As we sat down with our trays I looked across the table at her and thought, "What are we doing here!?" I cried. I didn't know what to expect, I was scared.

But guess what, we made it.

2010 Blog Recap

2011-01-01T01:00:00.004-06:00

Below is the first sentence of the first post for each month of 2010. It's nice to look back and see what I was ranting or raving about. Or just wanted to share. (Nice for me, anyway.)

January 2010: I will never catch up with this blog!
We had just moved to Utah on January 1st. And it was too overwhelming to think of trying to catch up with the previous months. So I did what we always tell people who want to start scrapbooking: start with where you are. You can always go backwards when you have time. It's good advice!

February 2010: It occurred to me the other day that some of my favorite things lately are what I got for my birthday.
Don'tcha just love birthdays! Especially when you get really cool gifts!? BTW, I'm still rockin' the white coat, white boots and white watch. Just this evening a gentleman came in the store and told me how cute my boots were. LOL! Sort of took me by surprise. Also, BTW, my next birthday is just two weeks away. I will be in the final stages of turning 50.

March 2010: Since we moved I don't have my craft room anymore. So I've been trying to keep my hands busy doing things that don't take up a whole room!
Well, now I have a craft room again. And I'm still spending more time knitting and crocheting than crafting. I even made most of my gifts that I sent back home.

April 2010: I decided we needed to do something on the last day of spring break.
I don't even want to think about all of that coming up again! It's hard to keep everyone occupied. These kids just want to be on their computers. Well, look at that, here I am on mine, too.

May 2010: At least I am hoping and praying that it's a step in the right direction!
Career Step was what I was blogging about. I started the online Medical Transcription program. I am halfway through and have until April 20, 2011 to complete the course (without paying for additional access). Turns out I got a job at Archiver's the month after I signed up. And then there was the summer when I just couldn't concentrate on it with the kids home all the time. So I am quitting my job next week and devoting full time to completing the course.

June 2010: Well, I am really breaking the rules here!
That might surprise some of you, but I am a rule breaker, at heart.

July 2010: Since I didn't buy any fireworks it was nice to sit outside and watch the neighbors light theirs.
We miss our neighbors at the townhouse. We loved the little twin boys who lived next door. And I missing hanging out with Barb and Anissa. It's just not the same when you aren't neighbors anymore.

August 2010: What a fun B&B my parents stayed at in Woodland, UT.
That visit from my parents turned around my whole attitude! It was so healing to be with them here, in my new state. And I didn't feel like we were so far apart after all. As I've told anyone who asks; it was the perfect visit! Loved every minute.

September 2010: Each year Midway, UT celebrates "Swiss Days".
Midway is always celebrating something! Now that we've been here a year I don't feel like the newcomer anymore.

October 2010: We are so excited about our upcoming move!
And for good reason! We are loving this house. It is so pretty and so comfortable, and so big. Thank you, God!

November 2010: So 15 years ago, on the 15th of November, our Nathan came into our lives.
Yea, he's pretty special. He told me today, "You need to start your own business. It will be really good for you. I don't know how, but it will. And I will help!"

December 2010: You know how parents are always saying, "It seems like just yesterday..."? Well, there's a reason for that.
Wasn't it just yesterday that I posted that?

Happy New Year to you!

December 20th.

2010-12-20T11:11:00.004-06:00

Last night we had near torrential rains, high winds and sleet. This morning the sleet turned to snow and it was once again a winter wonderland.

On my way to the mailbox.

Can't you feel the cold?

Across the street.

First Date???

2010-12-17T13:47:00.001-06:00

I thought it was cute that Chloe shared this with me. Growing up too fast!

In Concert

2010-12-17T09:49:00.003-06:00

Chloe's first band concert was last night. She was so excited (and so was a certain Mom)! She was almost as excited to wear her new dress.

And of course there must be curling of hair. (Charlton, I think she looks like you in this picture.)

And Mom following her around with the camera. She was gracious enough to let me take more than a few pictures.

You could tell these kids had practiced and prepared. Each squeak and squawk was met with loving smiles from parents. It's really amazing how far they have come from picking up the instrument for the first time just a few months ago.

It happened overnight...

2010-12-13T05:20:00.002-06:00

You know how parents are always saying, "It seems like just yesterday..."? Well, there's a reason for that.

Tonight I realized that I have witnessed two of my three children cross this invisible thresh hold into young adulthood. And you know what? I think it happened overnight. Each of them were different ages when it happened. Maybe because one is a boy and one is a girl. You know how girls mature earlier than boys. But overnight I realized a distancing, fewer hugs, more eye rolling. And it's all a part of growing up and away. I try not to take it personally.

It's funny. I realized when my kids were babies that from the time they are born it's just a series of events that leads to this moving apart from the parents. First it's standing, then crawling and walking. Then on to something with wheels that takes them away faster than their little feet ever could. Then it's school and events and friends and relationships. Driving, dating, college..... I'm not even there yet.

It doesn't seem very long ago that Steve said in exasperation, "Will there ever be a bedtime when someone doesn't cry?!"

Yes. We have lots of those now. Well, at least the kids aren't crying. There may be a parent crying every now and again, remembering those days of sweet voices, special bedtime books and songs. Lots of hugging and lots of questions to answer.

Now they know all of the answers.

As my Mother used to tell me, you can always have friends, but you only have one Mother. And I do, and there's not a person on the earth who could replace her. I want my children to feel that way about me, too.

So it seems someone else grew up overnight.

Me.

A little of this, a little of that...

2010-11-27T06:02:00.003-06:00

Just a little "catch up" with a few pictures I've taken here and there. Seems like I spend more time Facebooking our life than blogging it.

These are drawings that Beck has been doing. What I love about his drawings are that you can feel emotion in them. Steve spends quite a bit of time teaching him techniques. For instance, he encouraged him to "really get in there" with his hands using the charcoal pencil. Steve bought Beck a sketch pad that he now carries everywhere with him. I love to see him using this outlet. And I think he could be really good.

Even though I was driving, I couldn't pass up taking a pic of this beautiful view I had on the way to work one evening. Just breathtaking!

And I know I already blogged about our trip to Stampin' Up! when Marsha and Mother came to visit, but somehow I left out this great picture of us. So thought I would add it in.

And lastly for today's post, I wanted to share this picture. This is the view I see from our house every morning. I feel blessed to live in this beautiful area. I've noticed that I think of the mountains as living beings. Almost as if they have a soul, or each have a personality of their own. I feel like they show me different sides of themselves all of the time. The way the clouds hover or cling, the way the snow cascades over their landscape, the changing colors... it all seems to tell a story. Feeling a kinship with the beauty around me.

15 on the 15th!

2010-11-16T15:03:00.002-06:00

So 15 years ago, on the 15th of November, our Nathan came into our lives. Don't all of us Moms say this; "I can't believe it's been 15 years!" But it's true. Now Nathan is old enough to get his learner's permit to drive. In a year he will be driving. Freaky! Weird! Watch out world! He even has a car already, thankfully it's still in Texas at Granny & Papa's. Steve saved his Camaro for Nathan. We got it when Nathan was 4 months old. The day we got it Steve said he wanted to save it for Nathan. And here we are.

A teenage boys' dream come true! Xbox 360 Halo Reach game. And what's more fun than sharing it with friends?

Friends Austin and Larry came over and brought their Xbox controllers and the guys had a 24-hour marathon of game playing.

According to all of them, it was a great weekend! Happy birthday, Nathan!

Another trip to the airport...

2010-10-27T10:36:00.007-05:00

To pick up two of my favorite people in the world! My Mother and my sister, Marsha. I feel so blessed to have seen my Mother twice in the last few months. And it's such a compliment that Marsha could work out her busy schedule to come and visit us. It was so good to have the "girl time" together.

After leaving the airport, we made a direct bee-line to Riverton, Utah to visit the Stampin' Up! headquarters. Marsha has been a demonstrator for about 7 years. I was one for 5 years. It was such a treat to get to see where it all happens!

The offices were so beautiful. Looked a lot like a campus.

Inside the atrium everything was open and airy, and of course beautifully decorated. Who would expect anything less from SU!?

Looking down from entry level was a fountain surrounded by tables for employees breaks.

In the "Inspiration Room" were lots of... you guessed it.... inspiring projects. What I loved about this room was that I realized I had seen it before, over and over. This is where they shoot the photos for the catalog!

Look at this adorable "chandelier" made from ribbon and punched paper flowers.

This beautiful wreath was made from scalloped circles.

Here's a closer look.

And a cute, cute, party table.

There was even a room with sewing inspiration.

But what we were really excited about was getting to see the Distribution Center.

When we entered the lobby, Marsha told the receptionist that she is a current demonstrator and just arrived from Texas. Before you know it, the President's Adm. Asst. came and found us in the Inspiration Room and gave us a tour. Now that's appreciation for your demonstrators! We were so honored and thrilled.

Look at this floor full of product! Turns out it is the discontinued items and it was being prepared for an employee sale the next morning. My friend Carrie who works in the call center at SU! told me that each employee was allowed to bring one guest over the age of 12, to help carry your purchases. Can you imagine what mayhem there was the next morning... especially if you have to bring a helper!

More discontinued stuff. I just wanted to jump over the balcony and run off with a few boxes.

More discontinued.

This is the automated "picking line". Each order has a barcode on the box. When the barcode is read it will kick the box off the line in the area where the product is. The picker will then add the items (a red light flashes on the shelf where the item is, along with the quantity to be picked) and the box is sent on down the line. So cool! This was a Friday afternoon, so everyone was gone for the day. I would have loved to see it in operation.

The whole conveyor system kept reminding me of the Disney movie Monsters, Inc. Remember when the doors were retrieved from the miles of conveyor belts?

This pic shows the product stacked on the shelves. The middle boxes are product to be unpacked.

Next, we went to the Idea Room. This is the employee "think tank". There were lots of comfy chairs, a fooseball table, cool rugs and throw pillows.

Our tour guide, Amy, took some good pics of the four of us. She was so sweet.

I loved this look down the atrium. Such beautiful offices.

Halloween Flashback Friday

2010-10-22T00:11:00.003-05:00

Seems like the boys were Ninja, more years than they weren't Ninjas! Just an easy costume to pick out, and they loved having the swords. I loved this little Indian costume of Chloe's!

My little pumpkin Beck. His first Halloween, he was 4 months old.

Flashback Friday

2010-10-15T17:25:00.004-05:00

After visiting the Halloween store with Chloe today, I thought it would be fun to flash back to some of my favorite Halloween moments with the kids.

Chloe at her school party.

Cancer, schmancer!

2010-10-12T01:06:00.004-05:00

I am so sick of this greedy, epidemic monster called cancer! I am angry over the lives it takes, over the sickness and the ugly transforming power it has over the lives of those I love. Not a one of us has enough fingers and toes to count down all of the people we know who have been blighted by this oppressive illness. I am ANGRY!

My dear friends Steve and Mandy are struggling. Mandy sent me a picture of Steve she took yesterday. He had a stem cell transplant a couple of months ago and is fighting leukemia. I can't even see him in the picture. He is bald, emaciated, pale. Where is that bright look in his eyes? How can that be my dear friend? They have left their home, children, jobs and everything that is comforting to save his life at MD Anderson. They have each other. And that is enough for them right now.

I find myself wondering who is next? Me? My children? My husband? My family? It's like Russian Roulette, but all of the chambers are filled.

Dear Lord, I know you can bless us even through the worst of situations. This life is a vapor, but you know that we hurt and we are human, and get stuck in what is now. Please bless those I love who are fighting this horrible disease. Please show me what I can do to be a blessing in their lives. Please help me to understand and accept that this world is not perfect. There is disease, hatred, ugliness in every corner. Help me to shine your light. Help me to go beyond the anger and the hurt and make a difference. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Movin' on up....

2010-10-10T01:34:00.003-05:00

We are so excited about our upcoming move! This will be our new home as of October 28th. The front of the house doesn't face the road, but you can see from the pic below that the side of the house does.

Once again, by a fluke (like how I found my job), I did a search on the internet without giving it much thought and found this house listed. It is 3-story, 5-bedroom, 3.5 bath. And the price was too good to pass up. It is only 4 years old. The owners are needing to move to Park City where they both work. They are from Russia and came to America 12 years ago. He works for the Olympics designing and creating Luge (sp?) tracks and he is a trainer for the Luge athletes. I am happy that they are very laid back about find renters. And they are lucky to have found renters they can trust. We signed a contract before leaving when we saw the house.

These are the things I am SO looking forward to about the new home:

Beck will have his own room again.
Steve will have an office again. No more gaming until 4:00 in the morning while I am trying to sleep.
I will have a craft area!
We can bring in all of the things that have been stored in the garage since January.
There are two living rooms.
It is on a quiet street. Our portion of the street is probably not used except by the neighbors.
I won't hear big trucks passing by in the mornings. It sounds like they are driving right behind my head where we now live. It took me months to get used to the sound and not wake up every time I heard one. Although, I am still aware of their passing.
There is a big, pretty kitchen.
There will be room to get away from each other!
And room to all get together.
And here's a good one: no yard to take care of! It is maintained by the HOA.
The only thing across the street is a beautiful view of the mountains and the lake.

I'm sure there is more I could add to the list, but those are the biggies for me. I have to say though, that I am proud of how patient we have been with our situation we have now. We didn't want to settle for a place that didn't have everything we were looking for. That's big for us, since Steve and I aren't big on patience about things we want.

I'm hoping we won't have to move again for a long, long time. Maybe this can turn into a rent to own situation. The couple seem very easy going about everything. They haven't even cashed our check yet, which is a good sign.

So that's our latest news. Looks like we are here to stay, but I already kind of figured that out. I still can't believe we live in Utah, but it is becoming home.

Flute Prodigy?

2010-09-30T13:50:00.002-05:00

Three weeks of band 2x a week and look how much she has learned! Chloe is enthralled with her flute and practices constantly. She started private lessons this week and we were told she is very advanced for a beginner. (And remember, she is also learning to read music at the same time!)

Way to go, Chloe!!

I played the Alto Saxophone and Oboe in school and Steve played the drums, so we are so happy to see one of our children taking an interest in music.

I can't wait to see her improvement as time goes on!

Just an update...

2010-09-30T13:49:00.000-05:00

Just a little update... Karen (see post immediately following) had her babies last night. Sophie and Olivia are doing great, and so is Karen!

Baby Album

2010-09-19T17:49:00.003-05:00

This is Karen. She is expecting twin girls anytime now. She is on bedrest (notice the wheelchair she had to sit in to be able to come to her shower). Karen was married to Sean. He died of leukemia three months ago. They were married for two years and these are their first children. It's been so hard for her and their families. Her Dad is an elder at our church.

I wanted to make something special for her and her girls, so I made these little albums. I was happy to be able to put a smile on her face. Timbra was kind enough to take pictures (and throw the shower). I had to leave for work before the gift opening began, so I was happy to see this pic of her with the books. I hear she really liked them. :)

Up, up and away!

2010-09-17T12:57:00.004-05:00

This is what I saw when I was taking the boys to school this morning. I took this pic from our back patio. About once or twice a week I will see balloons. Such a beautiful site against the mountains and the clear sky.

18th Anniversary

2010-09-13T00:13:00.006-05:00

So you might be asking yourself what a marble sculpture of Jesus has to do with our 18th Wedding Anniversary. Well, here's the long answer... Steve and I went to SLC overnight on our anniversary. I surprised him with a night away. I had arranged about 6 weeks in advance to have our neighbors watch Chloe. And I asked around for suggests of nice hotels and made a reservation at "Little America". On Sunday before we checked out we made sort of a last minute decision to visit Temple Square in downtown SLC.

I'm so glad we did! It turned out to be one of the highlights of the weekend for me. The following pictures of sculptures and paintings are from inside the North Visitor Center. The rest of the pics are from the grounds at Temple Square. Let me just say, the grounds were so beautiful and well kept. And the water features were very pretty. I just loved every minute.

The globe above is surrounded by Bibles from all over the world. After getting home I realized that I don't know if these are actual bibles, or Mormon scriptures. I think they were bibles, though.

Artist's depiction of Adam and Eve.

I became so emotional looking at these beautiful, huge paintings depicting Old Testament and New Testament stories. It's just not often that I come across anything so lifelike about the Bible. The painting above depicts Isaiah foretelling the coming of Christ.

God calling to Samuel.

The Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus choosing his disciples.

Inside the Mormon Tabernacle. This is a HUGE organ, and this is where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings.

Just a sculpture of family. I thought it was so pretty.

This water was flat and still. Suddenly it began to get shallow and I wondered why I hadn't noticed those pipes before. Then the fountain started. I couldn't believe how high it got. (See below, view from other side as fountain got higher.)

The offices of the LDS church.

The original tabernacle construction in the mid-late 1800's.

These are the grounds of the hotel where we stayed. Everything was in bloom, and so pretty.

Inside the hotel lobby.

Our big night out at Melting Pot. It was the first time for both of us to eat there.

The cheese fondu was wonderful!

Before dinner we went to the outside mall in SLC. They also had a very nice water feature that the kids love to play in.

And lastly, the first picture I took of our trip: the bathroom. It struck me so odd not having a separation in the floor for the shower. I had this odd feeling that I might accidentally get confused and pee on the floor instead of using the toilet. Weird, I know! The shower worked ok for me, the floor was tilted enough that the water drained without causing puddles all over the bathroom floor. Didn't work so well for Steve, I think because he is so much taller. He left puddles all over. I think I will stick with the good old walk-in shower, myself.

So eighteen years have come and gone. We had a great weekend celebrating!

Swiss Days!

2010-09-03T22:39:00.003-05:00

Each year Midway, UT celebrates "Swiss Days". The settlers were from Sweden and they loved Midway because it reminded them of home. Hence the name "Midway". The whole town has a Swiss influence. You can see lots of homes with painted murals and designs. The one below is a business building.

Notice the little guys breaking their backs holding up the frame of the roof?

So Swiss Days is all about eating, shopping, and entertainment. Nathan got this huge snowcone.

Here's a sampling of some of the booths.

Of course there must be entertainment.

One of our best finds was getting to meet the author of a new book "Crystal Moon World of Grayham". He was very friendly and interested to hear what Beck thinks about the book after he reads it. He is a native Utahan.

Which booth did I head to first? It rhymes with Pecan Pie and Ice Cream. Oh heck, it was pecan pie and ice cream. And I mean a "slab" of ice cream! Yummy! Of course there were all sorts of Swiss meals... Swiss Tacos, Swiss Burgers, Kratwurst, and so on. We had a fun time!

Downtown Midway has looked so pretty this summer with the hanging pots in bloom. Well, the plants are in bloom, not the pots, but you know what I mean.

The Cooks' Last night in Utah

2010-08-11T22:53:00.003-05:00

What a fun B&B my parents stayed at in Woodland, UT. We spent the last evening there with them and chased chickens, enjoyed the cool August evening (jealous, my Texas friends?!), and watched a beautiful sunset.

Pictures follow:

Today's Outing

2010-07-31T00:16:00.004-05:00

We are really enjoying having Granny and Papa here! And they are loving the scenery. And enjoying the family. Just 2.5 days left. Gonna enjoy every minute together!

Bridal Veil Falls Park.

Tuesday's Friday Flashback...

2010-07-20T17:30:00.002-05:00

...or something like that.

I was looking through my photos and came across this picture of Chloe and the boys from about 8 years ago. I love the look on Chloe's face on the bottom photo. Pretty typical of her reaction to her brothers bothering her.

Cascade Springs

2010-07-19T20:15:00.005-05:00

This is what the end of the day looked like. Chloe was tired.

Chloe and I and Anissa and her three children went on a nature walk to Cascade Springs. We packed lunches and fully intended to find a shady spot and picnic at the Springs. But there are new rules now and no one is allowed to picnic. Too bad. There were lots of people there and the springs were pretty.

We ended up driving on down to the river by Bridal Veil Falls and having a picnic under a shade tree there. It was fun.

Can't quite put my finger on it....

2010-07-08T12:51:00.003-05:00

....but something just isn't as happy about this new job as my other jobs. I hate to complain because I am thankful I could even find a job in the area that I love (scrapbooking). But after working for two independent stores and now working for a mega corporate store, it's just not the same. It's like the joy has been sucked out of it.

Plus (and don't tell anyone this), I don't really feel like a supervisor.

All of the ladies I work with are nice. A number of them are college students. There are a couple who are around my age. But I just don't like the division of management vs. non management. I suppose it's necessary. Someone should be accountable for counting the drawers from the registers; can't have everyone with access, I guess. And then there's the checking of purses before we leave the store. Gotta love that element of suspicion/distrust that we must work under. To be fair, even the manager and assistant manager must have their bags checked. Oh, and the patting down of coats when the weather calls for an extra layer.

Which brings me to... wasn't this a scrapbook store? I seem to be distracted by internal procedures and such. But yes, I think there are customers who enjoy scrapbooking. But it seems I am more preoccupied with staying within the rules and regulations.

When I met the district manager for the first time, last week, she asked how I was liking it. With my brightest smile I told her I was enjoying it, everyone is very nice, "but it's a lot more corporate than I am used to." Does that sound like complaining? I hope not. I told her I was trying to bring the "homey" into it. (Did I just make that word up? "Homey"? I mean more of a personal, at-home sort of feeling.)

Anyway... I've had just one great, fun experience with a customer since I have worked there. I wish there were more of those.

Can I wear my management hat sideways? Sort of be on the fence, if you will? I guess not.

Maybe here's the real kicker... I don't work enough hours a week to feel like I am on top of what is going on. I still feel "new" even after two months. I miss being the go-to person when there are questions. I don't like feeling as if I don't know the answers. Maybe I just need more confidence. Maybe I can pull off this manager thing, too, with more confidence. Seems I only feel in my element when I can help a customer... and isn't that really what it was about all along?

Friends with Benefits....

2010-07-04T13:36:00.003-05:00

Fireworks benefits, that is! Since I didn't buy any fireworks it was nice to sit outside and watch the neighbors light theirs. We weren't allowed to have fireworks in the city but out here in Utah country, it's the thing to do! There must be one firework stand on each corner of the main intersection in "downtown" Heber. Plus, they are being sold in the supermarkets. And still I didn't get the hint.

Since the 4th fell on a Sunday, all of Utah is celebrated on Saturday the 3rd. Well, that leaves us "sinners" who will still celebrate on the 4th anyway. So we just got on extra celebration in. Then come to find out... the biggest celebration of all is right around the corner! July 24th is Pioneer Day in Utah, the founding of the state. I've been told it's an LDS (Mormon) celebration, but my Mormon friend told me it's considered that because the founders were LDS. So I guess we can celebrate it any old way we want, for whatever reason. So MORE fireworks to come!!

Parker and Roy, the 4-year old twins next door, just love Chloe!

Cloudy with a chance of Scrapbooking...

2010-06-30T17:13:00.002-05:00

This is the beautiful view I had on my way to work a couple of weeks ago. I love to see the clouds below the mountains. I don't really remember the weather that day, but it must have been chilly and rainy, I notice the people in the photo above have on coats.

One more time!

2010-06-30T00:12:00.003-05:00

When Chloe was 3 we were at the mall and she saw a young girl getting her ears pierced. I think she liked the attention the little girl was getting so she said she wanted to get her ears pierced, too. I took advantage of her being willing, even though she didn't really know what was involved. So she sat in the chair and didn't seem at all worried about what was coming up. And suddenly, CLICK, both ears were pierced at the same time. There was a look of surprise on her face as one huge tear rolled down her face. And then it was over. As time went on, she didn't like sleeping in her earrings and she cried when I would change them. So we just let them grow back. I was afraid she would never want to get them pierced after that.

Well, lately she has been considering getting them pierced and this weekend she was ready. She and I went to the mall in Murray and found a Claire's. By the time we got there she had already talked herself out of getting it down. I was determined NOT to push her. I told her we would just see how much it costs, see how they do it and then we would have the info for when she was ready. And that's what we did. But we did stay in the store and look at earrings and after about 10 minutes of that, and seeing what she would be able to wear eventually, she was ready to get it done!

Friday Flashback

2010-06-25T22:11:00.003-05:00

Three in a tree. This beautiful tree was in Nancy and Phil's neighbor's backyard in Clear Lake. Steve spent a lot of time playing in it when he was a kid.

Two down... One to go...

2010-06-23T02:06:00.003-05:00

June 17th, Beck became a teenager! Now we have two teenagers, and one to go... ::pausing for prayers for strength:::

I think Beck had a hard time believing he was going to be a teenager, too. Those things can sneak up on a person.

Per Beck's request; a triple-layer chocolate cake with chocolate icing and chocolate chips. It was good! (If I do say so myself.)

He was so happy to have the new Super Mario Galaxy II Wii game! He got an even better present a few days later when we could all go shopping together. He got a 22" TV that also doubles as a computer monitor. He's been enjoying some lazy summer days since, laying in bed and watching TV. (What have we done!?) But hey, isn't that what summers are for when you're a kid?

Happy Birthday, sweet Beck. I'm looking forward to watching you become a young man.

Sick about it...

2010-06-17T15:03:00.003-05:00

I am sick about my hard drive crashing! Did I backup my photos I have taken since we lived here? No. I did not.

I keep trying to make myself feel better about it using the fact that I upload my faves to FB and blogger, so I have them there. But still. I don't even want to think about what I lost. When will I learn???

What I have learned is not to let son #2 play on my laptop anymore. This time last year was the "step on the laptop, crack the LCD screen" incident. And this hard drive crash was from him being angry and slamming the laptop shut. He was/is remorseful, which is good, but I gently told him that I'm not ready to risk it being broken again. He understands.

Good thing is I have a backup of my other photos, pre-move.

In the news...

2010-06-10T15:32:00.003-05:00

Chloe and friends from school raised money for the local animal shelter. See column 2, last paragraph to read further. Chloe is in the top row, last one on the right.

Proud of our girl!

My View for the Summer

2010-06-09T22:16:00.002-05:00

It's Hot Outside! (or, "How do you get those boys out of the house?!")

2010-06-06T23:16:00.003-05:00

Steve, Chloe and I went on a trail walk today near Bridal Veil Falls, outside of Orem, UT. It was the first really warm day since we have lived here. Lots of people out picnicking, tubing in the creek, etc.

Friday Flashback

2010-06-04T11:01:00.000-05:00

Well, I am really breaking the rules here! I am adding three pictures that are not related. Don't scold me. But I feel the need to "spread the love" with the Friday Flashbacks. Above is Steve's Dad, Phil, wheel barrowing the boys in their backyard in Clear Lake. They live in Georgetown, TX now. Our kids have had the best grandparents!!

Also at Mom & Dad's house, the kids (Nathan especially) would want to bring the blocks out everytime we went to visit. Even the last time we visited they got the blocks out. Sometimes we just need traditions, don't you think? Steve would always build magnificent creations, Nathan and Beck got really good at it, too.

And last, but not least, one of my favorite pictures of Chloe. She was not quite three yet. But she was actually playing on the computer, using the mouse, and still had a pacifier in her mouth. Did we start 'em young, or what!? That's what you get when you are raised by a nerdy Mom and Dad. (And I mean "nerdy" in a loving way.)

Friday Flashback

2010-05-28T01:30:00.003-05:00

Beck graduated from pre-school. He is left-handed and when they did the Pledge of Allegiance he put his left hand on opposite side of his chest.

Friday Flashback

2010-05-21T10:16:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite pictures of all times! Look at those two cuties! Beck was 4, Chloe was 3. I love her curly ringlets and I love his tan little body. Plus, it was a rare moment of getting along!

A New Job!

2010-05-21T10:10:00.002-05:00

That's right! I got a new job yesterday! My first thought was, "God really does take care of me, why do I doubt?"

You know I'm all over the scrapbooking scene. But I didn't think I would be able to find something I could do here close enough to Heber. But I did.

Archiver's is a national chain of scrapbook stores. Really beautiful, big stores! And this time around, I am going to be a supervisor/manager. Cool. It could lead to bigger things. There is room for growth.

I start training next week. It's a part-time position, which is perfect since I am still working on my Medical Transcription Training program.

Thank you God. And thank you to all of you who have been praying for me during my transition here. I know it has made a world of difference.

Friday Flashback

2010-05-14T11:07:00.002-05:00

When Chloe was 4 she went through a stage of drawing the same image over and over. I love these pictures of how she lined them up taking up the whole living room. She now tells me this picture comes from a worm ball that she saw outside. And each of the faces is a worm. You just never know what's going on inside those little heads!

New Friends

2010-05-12T13:37:00.006-05:00

I had my first "girls' day" since we moved to Utah. I have made some new friends from church. Jerri and her daughter Katie. Jerri and her husband David have been so gracious to my family. They had us over for lunch after church one Sunday and Jerri and I have kept up with each other over email during the winter months that kept me from attending church regularly. After trying a few times, we finally were able to get together and spend the day doing what most girls love to do; shop, visit, and eat lunch out.

Jerri took us to a really fun site called "Gardner Village". It was a polygamist compound in the late 1800's. There were 12 wives and they each had their own home. The main business was the flour mill. Below are pics of the water wheel, still working. The compound has been turned into a restaurant (in the main building) and the smaller buildings are shops.

Katie looking at the water. There were some large Koi in the pond, but they didn't translate well on film. The ducks, however, were very photogenic.

It's so nice to have new friends and be able to start making new memories. It helps make it feel more like home.

Semi Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T13:34:00.004-05:00

There is an iPhone App called "Hipstamatic". It allows you to take pics with really cool lenses and films like the old Hipstamatic cameras used. Love this pic of Chloe drinking from her straw.

Friday Flashback

2010-05-07T18:23:00.002-05:00

A visit with my grandparents in Arkansas when Chloe was about 5 or 6 months old. It's the only time Grandmother got to see her. But Chloe and Granddaddy had a special bond. When he moved to Alvin a few years after this picture, and after Grandmother passed away, she loved to visit with him and called him Gordon (his last name). He loved to have her sit in his lap.

I think Chloe looks like the little Gerber baby in these pictures. She was an adorable baby! (And still is adorable.)

Step in the right career direction...

2010-05-03T15:57:00.003-05:00

At least I am hoping and praying that it's a step in the right direction!

Back in the day, before children, I was a graphic designer. I began working at an advertising agency when designers were still doing paste-up on drawing boards. Type was still set by typesetters and sent over in what were called "galleys", long columns of type formatted per the graphic designer's direction. A computer was something that the front office had to print and create invoices and correspondence.

I remember seeing my first Apple computer. It was like a miniature refrigerator. A vertical rectangle with a small screen. Wow! That thing was cool! There was buzz around the design room that we could actually create lines and boxes and use them on layouts instead of having them typset. What an invention!

I got to be the one at Conway Advertising to go to a PageMaker 1 orientation. The things this software could do with type were astounding! In the future, you might even be able to scan and print photos that were high enough resolution to use in print. It was exciting. And I was right there, and teaching the other designers how to use it.

But you know what? When you stay away from your industry too long, it just keeps chugging right along without you. And that's why I don't have a career in Graphic Design anymore. It has passed me by without even a sidelong glance goodbye.

So I have recently taken a step for a new career. Medical Transcription Editing. I've done transcription before in offices, so that's nothing new. But this is a field that will always be around. And now it has advanced to include "editing". Why editing? Well, as transcription software has evolved, so have its users. Many in the medical field record their patient notes and then it is translated into text by the software system. But that can never replace the good old human brain. These files still have to be edited by a human to correct mistakes that the software is not able to "think through". There are still a large portion in the medical field who do not use the speech to text feature and need transcriptionists for their files.

April 20th I signed up for the Medical Transcription Editing course through CareerStep. I have a friend from home who is taking it, and she has a friend who took the course and has been working as a transcriptionist. So in a round about way, I felt it was a reputable company.

Since April 20th I have put in 76 hours of work. The course is designed to be completed in 4 months if you work an average of 40 hours a week. I am planning to stick to a schedule of 35 hours a week and should be completed by the end of August.

I have learned so much already! Anatomy, pathophysiology, medical terms, root words, prefixes, suffixes, a brushing up on my rusty grammar and punctuation... and hours and hours more to go.

The last half of the course is transcription of actual reports. Yikes! I'm excited to get there, but also wonder if I'll really be able to do it.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to. And that's my goal. I want to be able to make a marked contribution to the family's finances. CareerStep also helps to find you jobs and they have a 90% placement rate. Woohoo! Plus, I can work from home.

Wish me luck!!

Friday Flashback

2010-04-30T22:07:00.003-05:00

I've been enjoying Charlton's Friday Flashbacks, so thought I would start doing my own. I love this picture of Steve and the boys. This was right after we moved in to our home in Pasadena. Nathan was 2 and Beck was 8 months. Chloe was yet to come.

I love that Beck still looks the same now as he did as a baby.

Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, UT

2010-04-26T23:36:00.004-05:00

Beck, Chloe and I spent Sunday afternoon visiting the zoo in Salt Lake City. Beck was hoping for an aquarium, so was I, but they didn't have one. That was o.k., because we enjoyed the zoo and the animals.

We also enjoyed the Dipping Dots ice cream. And who can refuse the cotton candy? Fresh.

This monkey was really soaking up the sun!

Beach Trip

2010-04-20T15:49:00.004-05:00

I decided we needed to do something on the last day of spring break. It's hard to get these boys outside and away from their computers and other screens. So we headed to Jordanelle State Park, where Chloe and I visited just last month. At that time it was covered with snow and the lake was partially frozen. On this day it was a warm 73 degrees and the lake was all liquid.

I was so excited to get some good pics of the boys. Seems like I can never get them to be natural for photos. I love this one of Nathan.

Chloe decided this looked like a plug for the lake. So here she is pulling it.

Beck enjoyed all of the rocks. He carried this rock for a long time so he could bring it home to show Dad.

Exploring Utah

2010-03-28T23:01:00.004-05:00

Today I decided to explore more of Utah. We've been passing the ski lift off of Interstate 40 for months and I've been wanting to take the ride. Chloe and I went today to check it out. We got to ride for free since it was the end of the day. She was scared, but bravely told her brothers how fun it was. I loved the scenery and the eerie quiet as the car slowly ascended and descended.

Who looks scared? (She wasn't really ::that:: scared.)

One of the slopes.

This was the top.

A villa from the top.

Skiiers heading back up. See their skis sticking out from the side?

I also wanted to be sure to get some pictures of the lake as it was thawing. So beautiful to see it half frozen and half water. We took the turn in to Jordanelle State Park and made our way down to the beach. I've never walked through the snow to get to the beach and see the water frozen on the shore. Quite a site.

Near the beach. You can see the water in the distance is no longer frozen.

I love this picture of Chloe. There was driftwood all over the beach.

There were large cracks in the ice shelf on the shore. You could see that it was breaking away as melted. The sand was full of pebbles, and sort of muddy from all of the runoff.

Somebody got new glasses!

2010-03-11T00:25:00.002-06:00

Chloe had her first eye exam this week. She was complaining of headaches everytime she read. So here she is with her new eyes. Doesn't she look cute!? She said today that they are helping.

I miss my Mommy!

2010-03-11T00:02:00.002-06:00

It's been hard to be away from my family. Has it really only been 10 weeks?! Seems like years, really! Thank goodness we can email and text and phone without worrying about long distance charges. That tides me over most of the time. I can sort of "pretend" that it's just like when I lived nearby and we just didn't have the time to get together. But even then, I needed to see my parents at least every couple of weeks. Going longer than that was just too long.

When I was 24 I moved to Tennessee, as a young, single adult. I knew three people there. I started a new job, made good, lifelong friends. I lived there for 5 years before moving back to Texas.

But this move has been harder for me. I think it's because I have children now. I don't have the distraction of a job. And the responsibility of the whole family is easier to bear with extended family nearby, I think.

Or maybe it's because those deep roots are more painful to dig up than the shallow roots of a 24-year old.

Maybe it's harder because I'm older and don't feel as invulnerable as most 24-year olds are apt to feel. When the kids have a bout of missing a certain friend, I like to say, "Well, I miss my Mommy." It sort of helps to put things in perspective, I think. It's my way of saying, you know what? You still have me and Dad.

So Mother, finish drying your eyes, after reading this and feel free to check those airline availabilities. Anytime now would be great for a visit. We miss you all!!

Step Back in Time....

2010-03-08T23:53:00.002-06:00

When I was little I remember our parents dropping us off at the local theater in Pasadena, TX. By "us" I mean my sister, brother and me. I was young enough that I didn't know you couldn't put pennies in the drink machine. But not so young that I didn't know the manager was irritated at me for putting pennies in the machine. Can you imagine today dropping three elementary kids off at the movies by themselves? I'm sure someone would be arrested or at least questioned if it came to light. Times were different.

But if you fancy going back in time to when there was only one movie playing at the one-screen cinema in town, come visit us in Heber City, UT. Actually, we have two, one-screen theaters. I think they are owned by the same people. They are about a block and a half apart.

And do you remember when one of the theater workers would make announcements about what was playing and what was coming next to the one-screen theater? Yep. They do that here, too. Only now it's updated to ask you to turn off your cell phones.

Each theater plays once a day during the week. Avon is at 7:30 p.m. and Ideal is at 6:30. They do offer a matinee on Saturdays, as well. Pretty easy schedule to keep up with, I'd say.

Knit, Purl, Single Crochet, Double Crochet, etc, etc.,

2010-03-01T19:56:00.004-06:00

Since we moved I don't have my craft room anymore. So I've been trying to keep my hands busy doing things that don't take up a whole room! I've always wanted to learn to knit, and I've finally gotten it down pretty good. The dishcloth above is knitted. I did finish it by the way.

Then I started feeling guilty about not finishing Mackenzie's christening gown I was crocheting in the tiny thread. I was almost finished, and then life got hectic, and now she has outgrown the gown. So I found the pattern for the little dress (above) here . She has some cute patterns.

Charlton was sweet enough to take some pictures when Mackenzie tried the dress on. Such a great feeling that it fit perfectly!

Did you notice the little socks that I crocheted a trim to match? Well, that all got started when my sister said, "You should get Rhonda to make some beaded socks for Mackenzie." I had totally forgotten about making beaded socks for Chloe when she was little. I even sold them on Ebay for awhile. So that was my new mission.

I bought a pack of 10 pair of socks, loaded up on miscellaneous beads and went to town! Below is the package of socks that Charlton got for Mackenzie today.

The bottom pic is my favorite pair that I made. Click here to see an adorable video of Mackenzie "trying out" her new socks.

So that's part of what's been keeping me busy these days. I miss my scrapbooking and my scrappy friends. I miss the local stores where I worked and shopped. But this is the best I can do for now. I have to keep my hands busy somehow!!

Closed on Sundays

2010-02-15T13:55:00.004-06:00

One of the most annoying things I have found about living in such a small town is the need to drive 30 miles in either direction to find a craft store. And if you know me, you know I am crafty.

I don't really mind driving 30 minutes to Orem or 30 minutes to Park City or 60 minutes to Salt Lake City. BUT, it's not the number of miles, it's the miles in the number.

Sometimes severe weather interferes with my plans. Sometimes I drive through it anyway because I just have to get out.

However; these conditions never change. For a Texas girl who is used to driving in flat, heavy, Houston traffic a 6% Grade would normally mean that I failed a test. In Utah, however; it means watch your speed! Keep your foot near the break! Don't look at the beautiful mountains and by all means, watch for ice! And lots of praying that the tires are in good condition.

Or how about this one? To be honest, I found this Utah sign on the internet, but I can just imagine trying to get to Michael's or Joann's and going through this stretch of road each time. A crafter's nightmare!

And sometimes it seems like this. Looks like I'm not the only one who feels that way.

But I digress. The point of this post was "Closed on Sundays". So, keeping in mind the road conditions and variables, of course I would check to see if Michael's and the other crafts stores were open before driving the distance. I looked online. Looked up the specific store we were headed to. "Sundays 10-7" is what it said. Right there on the internet! The internet is the place we go to get the information we need. It has to be right! But. it. was. not.

I'm not up for the trip again today. But guess what. I am going to have a nice little chat with the manager next time I go. And maybe soon "Closed on Sundays" will be listed in their stores hours online.

The Girl

2010-02-15T13:48:00.003-06:00

This is Arya. She's our new girl. We adopted her from an Animal Rescue down the street from where we live. She is a sweetie! We're not really sure how old she is, but I think she is about 1 1/2 years old. She still has that kittenish playfulness.

When Dusty died Steve was adamant that we weren't going to get anymore pets for awhile. Maybe a long while. I understood. But I had a talk with him a couple of weeks later and told him how Chloe, Beck and I NEED a pet. It's something that makes up who we are. To Steve's credit, he listened, and said that if I felt that strongly about it then we could get another cat. That is selfless love. He put his own feeling aside. Thank you, Steve.

I'm dreaming of a white..... Birthday?

2010-02-02T11:51:00.003-06:00

It occurred to me the other day that some of my favorite things lately are what I got for my birthday. And guess what, they are all white! The beautiful coat above is from my parents. I got it before we left for Utah. It's from Land's End and it's down filled. So lightweight and so comfortable. Thank you, Mother and Daddy!

What's a long coat without a pair of boots? I got these for myself. And they are the best things ever! They are waterproof, warm and cozy. And they are naturally narrow, like my big feet. I wear them almost everyday. Couldn't make it here without a pair of boots.

And this is what I am really excited about! I have been noticing the past year or so that women are wearing these white ceramic band watches. I think they are so smart looking. And I love the big face of this watch. There are lots of brands, but this Michael Kors is exceptionally well made. Thanks to redeeming my Chase reward points for an Amazon.com gift certificate, combined with my birthday money from Steve's parents, this little baby is now mine. Thank you Mom and Dad!!

So that's my white birthday. Seems like I pick a color each year and take off with it. Last year it was aqua/teal and browns. Maybe this year will be shades of white.

What colors are speaking to you lately?

Ice Castle

2010-01-29T22:53:00.003-06:00

While Steve and I were taking a new route to his office we passed these. It was in the front of a Resort and Spa in Midway, UT. They call them "ice castles" and I believe they let people walk amongst them. They are created by sprinklers up high that are constantly emitting a low flow of water that of course, freezes in these temperatures. Pretty.

Saying Goodbye...

2010-01-24T21:32:00.005-06:00

Valentine's Day, 2005. Steve came home with a little gift for me. He was wearing his jacket and told me to look inside the sleeve cuff. I peered in and saw two little glowing eyes staring back at me. He had brought me an adorable little Persian kitten. What a sweet little thing he was! We put him on our bed and the kids asked, "Is he real?" Nathan said, "He's so cute I can't hardly stand it!" And he was. Just a little ball of fluff. When he walked his fur dusted the floor, so I named him Dusty.

He was always so gentle. He would look at me and slowly close his eyes and meow, although usually no sound came out. Which made it even cuter. We all loved him. He put up with a lot of cuddling and being held. He always played with soft paws, even as a kitten. He never used his claws.

This past summer was rough for all of us. Steve left for Utah while we stayed behind. The cats ended up outside. Dusty disappeared for a few days and when he came back he was in the garage breathing heavily. Never before had he growled, but he growled when we tried to pet him. We took him to the vet and he was treated for pneumonia. We couldn't spend the money on xrays. He got better. But his breathing continued to seem labored.

When we moved Dusty was the only one of the four cats that we brought with us. He had a special place in our hearts. Steve and I took him to the vet on Friday, Jan. 22nd. Dusty had stopped using the litter box and we were still concerned about his breathing.

The vet took him for xrays and when she showed them to us it was astounding. His diaphragm has been torn and all of his intestines were in his chest cavity. The only things in his abdomen were his kidneys and his colon. It is amazing that he lived that way as long as he did. Within minutes we had given them permission to operate, but not to take dire measures to save him if he didn't have enough tissue to build a new diaphragm. I asked to see him one more time before they took him in to surgery. How do you say goodbye when you don't know if it's the last time you will see him or not? I petted his head and laid my face on his. I told him to be good and took a long look into his eyes.

Steve and I went to lunch while we waited. It was only about 30 minutes later that we got the call. Dusty had gone into cardiac arrest while they were preparing for surgery and they couldn't revive him.

Goodbye Dusty. We miss you when we turn the corner and you aren't there. We miss seeing you curled up in the corner or on the bed. You were beautiful and sweet. We hope you have an eternal ball of yarn to keep you busy and happy.

Walking on water...

2010-01-19T00:49:00.003-06:00

Well, frozen water, anyway. This is the lake, frozen about ten inches thick across the entire surface. I have been so intrigued by seeing the ice fishermen setting up their tents or sitting on their chairs on a frozen lake of water. Why type of fisherman does this ice fishing attract? It seemed like there were all ages, male and female. If I were to guess I would say it attracts a larger variety of people than regular "unfrozen" water fishing does.

I wasn't sure if we sure attempt walking on the lake without a guide of some sort, but it seemed like any Tom, Dick or Harry, was just traipsing their way out on to the lake. Sitting for hours. Some were even playing hockey. I didn't try to investigate what was going on inside the tents. I assume that was for the serious, die-hard fishermen who didn't want to be distracted by all of the silly goings on about them. Or maybe they just wanted to keep warm.

Of course there were open holes in the ice from the previous fishermen. You can't expect an 11 and 14 year old to just let this block of ice sit quietly by. No. It had to be plunged back to it's icy home. I'm sure by now it's all frozen over again. But it sure does give you a clear view of how thick the ice is.

We lost Steve about 20-30 feet in. He already has a mild phobia about the kids being around water. I guess the combination of ice on top of said water was too much for him to handle.

Meanwhile, after I asked a couple of locals about the safety of the ice, we let caution fly to the wind and became a part of the Heber lifestyle. What was really fun was the 2-3 inches of snow covering the ice. It made a nice walking surface. There was no sliding or slipping. Unless you were Nathan, running wildly across the lake and "sliding home" as it were

It still boggles my mind that when I was here in October it was a beautiful lake.

Nathan is so funny. He and Chloe loved the lake and wished we had brought out poor excuse for a sled that I got at King's for $12.00. Next time, I promise.

Unfortunately Beck wouldn't have anything to do with this whole lake thing. Even to the point of refusing to go. We missed him.

Snow a little deep for you there, Chloe?

Taking the time to cry...

2010-01-17T01:12:00.004-06:00

In the midst of packing and throwing out and closing on the house and everything else that had to be done, I didn't take the time to cry.

This is what me, Chloe and Beck have been crying about lately. Piper and her sweet kitten. Piper's kittens were born on Dec. 2nd. She had three and we lost one on the first day, and the second on the second day. But this little sweetie above, was always strong and got what she needed. We watched her get bigger everyday, her eyes open, her ears open, and we even saw her playing for the first time. I don't think there's ever been a kitten that has gotten more love than she did. We held her a lot! She didn't cry for her Mama, she just slept on us. And Piper was sweet enough to share her with us. Truth be told, she was probably grateful for the breaks. As much as we loved this little kitten, we never did try to name her. Sure, names were tossed about here and there, but nothing ever stuck or felt right. That's just as well. She will always be "the baby" to me.

We had four cats. And you can't have four cats indoors in a townhome that is half the size of the home you left. The big cats, Spike and Gray, went to live in Alvin on the farm at my parents. I was happy and content to see them go there. Sure they won't have as long of a life, probably, but maybe we'll see them again.

Then there is Dusty, the Persian. Steve especially has a strong connection to him. So we chose to bring him with us to Utah.

What happened to Piper and her kitten? We tried to find a home for them both, since the baby wasn't weaned yet, at 4 weeks. We found two people who wanted the kitten, but not the momma, and that's understandable. So we ended up taking them both to an animal rescue shelter in Alvin. I pray they have found loving homes.

So now I'm taking the time to cry.

Whether or not it's a blessing, we don't have many times in life when we know "this is the last time" about things. About being with someone or talking to someone, or holding something you love. So maybe all of my goodbyes are wrapped up in Piper and that sweet baby of hers.

The World's Most Perfect Salad

2010-01-12T21:38:00.003-06:00

While I was shopping for mattresses in Park City, UT last week I took a lunch break at Redstone's and this is what I ordered. This was the world's most perfect salad. No, I'm not exaggerating. It was so good that I took a picture of it while I was eating alone. After only one taste. Here are the ingredients: grilled shrimp, grilled sweet potato spears, juicy sweet/tart red grapefruit, pistacchios, goat cheese and warm spinach. There was a light dressing which I have no idea what it was made of, but it didn't overpower. It. Was. Perfect.

I called my Mother and told her I wished I could box one up and send it to her.

The Road to eDoc

2010-01-12T21:23:00.005-06:00

I love the 5-minute drive to Steve's office. There is a nice walking trail, but I won't be walking it anytime soon. I don't feel too bad about that since I never see anyone else out walking in 5 degree weather, either.

This day Chloe and I left early to pick up Steve so we could have some time to take pictures on the bridge. I was hoping to get a pic of the beautiful sunset but that day it was too overcast.

January 5th, my baby is 11.

2010-01-11T16:38:00.007-06:00

Since we have moved it has brought in to sharp focus for me how little time we have left to shape and influence our children. I guess because right now there's no ho-hum, same as always, days. Everything is new. There isn't the cone of protection around the kids anymore now that they are in new schools, away from our support system and trying to build a new routine. Maybe it comes down to feeling vulnerable to the world around us.

Here's my baby. Chloe turned 11 on Jan. 5th. She is growing up to be such a sweet young lady, full of compassion and concern for others. She loves animals, and is an expert on any given topic concerning them. Even if she has to sort of make it up as she goes. :::wink, wink:::

We got her a nice, grownup digital camera. She loves taking pictures. Now maybe I can get my camera back. haha!

Here she is reading her card from Granny.

We went to a really good Mexican place here in Heber City (yes, in Utah!) for her birthday celebration. It's right in front of Steve's office building. Gloria, the owner, knows Steve from his frequent visits during the last six months. He has eaten many a meal there alone, and with work friends.

What we didn't know was that on Tuesday nights they have a clown to does face painting and balloon animals. She made Chloe a flower hat which was really cute.

She also does things for the "older" children in the restaurant. Hello Kitty, per my request.

We love you, Chloe! And I can't wait to watch you grow and mature. You are so sweet!

Starting Now.

2010-01-10T20:32:00.010-06:00

I will never catch up with this blog! Too much has happened! We sold our house, Steve and the boys drove a U-Haul truck from Pasadena, TX to Heber City, Utah. Chloe and I flew with Dusty, the cat. A maiden flight for each of them. The kids started a new school, Chloe turned 11, Steve turned 45. We moved to Utah. That one sentence alone could take up months of blogging! So let me start with what I have ready to share...

The first day I drove Steve to work, after we all arrived in Heber City, this is the view that took my breath away.

Let me set the stage here, I was wearing my long down coat that my sweet Mother got me for my upcoming birthday, my tall snow boots, my crocheted gloves and what else.... a nightshirt underneath. In the 2 minutes it took me to snap these few photos my hands became numb and my legs felt bitter cold. Lesson learned.

That same day I had to register the kids for school. Nathan's school is new and beautiful and has an amazing backdrop.

But before we got to go to his school we had to go to the health department and make sure they had all of the necessary shots. Turns out they each had to get 3 shots. As a Mom of 3 I have learned a few tricks over the years: get them in the car first, make sure they are buckled up and the vehicle is moving, THEN tell them they are going to get shots so they can start a new school, which they didn't want to do to begin with. Well, that worked out. We even got free H1N1 shots from the state of Utah. Thank you, Utah.

Across the street from the health department was this monstrosity on the side of someone's home. What happened here? The kids thought they saw a treehouse underneath, but how would that create this mammoth ice formation? Now I wish I had asked someone at the health department. Oh well.

Change is gonna come 'roun real soon...

2009-11-21T22:59:00.002-06:00

Well, I can honestly say, this time last year I never imagined we would be packing and moving to Utah! Every year at Christmas time I reflect on where we were the year before and where we might be in the year to come. This one, I didn't see coming!

Today I am full of relief and excitement because the first couple that looked at our house want it. We will be having inspections this week and closing right after Christmas. What a blessing! I repeat, what a blessing!

As I told Steve, I would rather stand naked in front of all of these looky-lou home buyers, than have them enter my home and look at every room. He knows I am not joking! The anxiety level for me was hitting the roof... on top of getting sick the last few days. But thankfully God has taken care of it all and now I can just focus on getting us packed.

What a blessing!

Steve, Beck and I will be driving the U-Haul truck with all of our belongs to Utah. We plan to leave around the 28th or 29th of Dec. Nathan and Chloe will stay with Granny & Papa (my parents). They will all 4 fly out shortly after we arrive in the truck. And then we will all be together in our new home. Excitement!

I am also so happy that my parents will get to come to Utah and see where we will be living. That will help all of us, I think, with this transition. I think Southwest Airlines will become my new friend in the months and years ahead.

OH! And let's not forget the most important thing of all... Steve's boss and the recruiter met Friday to negotiate Steve's new full time position at the company. We haven't heard yet what the offer is. I hope we know soon.

So all things are coming together. Thank you so much to those of you who have prayed on our behalf, and I know there are many of you. God is good.

Melancholy baby...

2009-09-13T00:25:00.003-05:00

"There is melancholy in the wind and sorrow in the grass" (Charles Kuralt).

Melancholy... a thoughtful sadness. I don't know if it's the change in weather, missing Steve, working a long day, or all of those things combined, but melancholy is what I feel tonight. Seems like everything I have been reading or looking at tonight has brought up sad thoughts. But it's a sweet sadness. One that makes me thankful to have memories of those I love. Missing Grandma Ruth tonight and my Grandmother and Granddaddy Gordon. Wondering what legacy I will leave behind for my family. I often wonder if I will live to see my granchildren. I hope so. Although, if I do, I'm going to wish I had taken better care of this body I am in. As Mickey Mantle said before he died, "If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself.".

A customer I have known for several years came to the store today and told me she recently found out she has breast cancer. She doesn't yet know what her treatment options are. She was upbeat and buying things to make a pink, princess theme breast cancer album to chronicle this journey she is about to take. It makes me think of the line from a song I hear on the Christian radio station, "We are all just one phone call from our knees."

Aren't we though.

In the time it takes to draw a breath our lives can change. I think I'm sitting and waiting for the change tonight. Wondering what it will be, and when it will come.

I'm ready to hand it all over to God. I don't have the power to change situations beyond my control. I can't control where Steve will find a job. If Steve will find a job. I don't even feel like I can control the things I am supposed to be able to control. For this moment I am just going to "be".

Alone, I will never be enough. With God, everything is possible.

Belated Hello...

2009-09-01T18:43:00.003-05:00

It's taken me awhile to post this, I guess it was a little too painful to post after Steve went back to Utah. But I did get a few pictures when we met him at the airport on his arrival, and I"m ready to share them.

Nathan wanted to act like it was no big deal, until he actually saw his Dad. Then he couldn't hide his happiness any longer.

Then came Beck's turn. There was no hiding how anxious he was to see his Dad. They have a very close bond.

No pictures of me and Chloe greeting him, since we were the ones with the camera. But below is a pic of three very content family members. Enjoying time together, doing the things they love to do.

Moved to tears

2009-08-26T23:04:00.002-05:00

I just want to say that I was moved to tears today by my young man, Nathan. He has matured so much recently. Today when I got home from a long day at work, I had a headache. I was cranky and tired. He asked me if something was wrong. I told him my head hurt. He told me to go lay down, that he didn't like to see me feeling bad.

As I was laying in bed I realized how he has taken up the role recently of watching over me and his brother and sister. His Dad has been gone for almost 3 months. Nathan is almost 14.

In the last couple of weeks this is what I have seen from him:

He has helped Beck learn about Junior High school. He showed him where his classes are, he showed him how to open his locker. He told him how lunch works.

He said he was thinking about changing his schedule so that he would have the same lunch as Beck.

He has tried to appease Beck when Beck was having meltdowns in the evening this week. He offers to let Beck watch him play on the computer. Beck loves to do that.

He hugs me when I feel down. He pats my back. He doesn't complain when I ask him to do chores. He drops everything when I ask. Did I mention he doesn't complain??!

He plays and acts silly with Chloe. She adores him! He invites her and/or Beck to spend the night in his room. They consider that to be a special invitation.

I love that boy. And I want everyone else to see the good in him. When we are in public he often looks glum and is very quiet. But that's his insecurity showing through.

I am so proud that at almost 14 he still hugs and kisses me. Not in public, mind you, but at home, where it counts and has the most meaning.

Did I mention that I love that boy? Because really, I love him.