Camping 2009 Scrapbookin' pages....

To escape the horrid Arizona heat...we went up to Payson to enjoy cooler weather and fresh mountain air. Hah! And people don't think we have forests out in the desert....The family enjoys doing the camping thing (except me....Anna)...

I suffer in silence...

NOT!

My cooking abilities....

Last night as we were sitting down for dinner...my sweet husband made a comment...
"Dinner made...two nights in a row! Yes!"...
"uh...yeah...."...I was speechless (somewhat)
The kids were happy chowing down on my delicious meal...
Stroganoff with noodles....yummy...

For our FHE dessert I made Crispy Oatmeal cookies...They're oh soo good...(I'm eating one as I type away...) I had a very happy family...

That evening I was thinking of how my cooking abilities have improved over the past 14 years. Prior to getting married at age 21, the only thing I could make was Chef Boyardee from a can..(gag) My parents divorced when I was a teen and I chose to live with dad, so all the cooking was done by my him. We had a variety of 4 dishes he knew tasted good and were somewhat nutritious...Thanks dad! My mom wasn't much of a cook...she was always asked to bring a salad to family functions...if you ever talk to Brent...ask him to tell you the scrambled eggs story...All I have to say about that is...I dodged that bullet...

I have to brag for a moment...I have the most fabulous mother-in-law in the world! After Brent and I were engaged, she was kind enough to ask if I wanted to learn how to cut a whole chicken. As I stared at the little germ beast I almost started to gag...was I actually going to have to touch the slimy thing...yes...eww....

"Linda, it's slimy...I don't know if I can do this..." I said (Brent gave me strange look)

"Anna, you can use a paper towel if you want...that might help...now you need to remember to get the guts out of it...you don't want to cook the bag that's in there...okay?" Linda said.

"ewww....this is soo gross..."...I think I had a tear trickling ...I tried to be the brave soon to be wife...more gagging sounds....

"Can't we just buy chicken that's already cut up and skinned? I know they sell them...I've seen them at the store..."

"You could, but they're a lot more expensive...triple the price" Linda said.

"We'll be buying the whole chickens Anna...we'll be really poor while I go to school"...brent said..

"oh" was all I could muster up. Will I really be poor and have to cut up whole chickens? ...I wanted to cry...

Once we were married and moved into our apartment in Provo, Linda paid us a visit from California. I'm not sure what the occasion was...but I was excited to see her again...
For breakfast I broke out my handy dandy cookbook I got as a wedding gift...
Scrambled eggs...hmm...how hard could it be to make...the instructions were simple...yeah...I could totally make this...I'm such a great wife and daughter-in-law...(were my thoughts...)...
Oh no! I don't think scrambled eggs are supposed to be swimming in butter! I put too much butter! sniffle..sniffle...I swear the recipe said 4 Tablespoons of butter! Ahhh!!!! More sniffles...Don't cry Anna ...I say to myself...

In comes my super hero mother-in-law Linda...Yes!.....

"I can make breakfast Anna...don't worry...things like this happen"...my super hero said...she's so nice....I'm so glad I married into such a fabulous family...

I remember thinking ...what must she think of me...does she think I will starve her poor son by him not wanting to eat my cooking? Poor Brent...I almost killed his mouth with my chili just a few months prior...and it came from a CAN!!! I tasted the can version, then I thought I'd give it a little more punch by adding chili powder to it...hmm..like 2 TABLESPOONS (maybe more)...

After we got married, we lived with Natalie (Brent's sister) and Paul..and cute little Davis. We lived with them for about a month since our apartment was still being occupied. Long story. While we lived at Nat and Paul's....Nat always made great dinners. I remember her asking me to help out with her chicken taquitos. All I had to do was spray the pan with Pam. That sounded totally easy. I started spraying...I wanted to get every bit of that pan covered. (I never came in contact with Pam before)...It was like I was spray painting the pan. It was dripping.
"Oh...Anna...it just needs light spraying" Natalie said...she was so sweet about it....she became my favorite sister-in-law that moment. She's so patient with me. I don't think I was asked to spray a pan again...I wonder why? ...Nat was my second super hero in the kitchen..

Staying at Nat and Paul's helped me get a glimpse of how a family should be... something that was somewhat foreign to my newlywed self...I don't think they know how big of an impression they left...I feel it a blessing that we were able to stay in their home...that I was able to get a hint of what was to come once we started our family...they will forever hold a special place in my heart.....here I go again...gettting sidetracked....

Well my cooking abilities have greatly improved since my newlywed days...I can't say that I love cooking (especially dinners)...but I can say that I adore baking. Pies are my specialty actually...Cookies are my second best...but where's the presentation to that?

I now have an eleven year old that loves to cook. She loves to help out and I should be better at including her in preparing meals. I don't want her starting out as cooking being a foreign ability as I did. Perhaps...

We'll work on that this summer...

Can it really be our 14 year Anniversary????

Yes!....

As I sit here typing thinking of the many years we've been together...it's hard to imagine my life without my eternal companion. Who would have thought two teenagers working at Little Caesar's pizza would meet their future spouses there. We even got to go to each other's prom!

When we first started going out..(I thought to myself)...This is the man I'm going to marry...

I remember the day he proposed to me...It was a beautiful day in February...the day after my birthday...we were up at the Lick Observatory in Mt. Hamilton...he went on bended knee and asked me if I would marry him ( I was teary eyed)...and of course I said ..."yes"...

As we were driving down the mountain...I asked my fiance to pull over...I'm not sure if it was nerves or if it was motion sickness...but I....yes......threw up...(luckily he pulled over with perfect timing)....I will never forget that day...ever....

The day of our wedding was picture perfect...June 10th 1995...Oakland LDS Temple. That was the day I was married to my Eternal Companion Brent...for time...and all eternity...

Seeing both of my happy parents and brother outside the Temple ...waiting for me... showed just how much they loved and supported me...I will be forever grateful for their support...it must have been so difficult for them not to see their only daughter get married...yet they were so happy to be a part of my special day....

As I think about the past 14 years...I think of the love and patience my sweet husband continues to show me...the happiness and sorrow life brings us...the two wonderful kids the Lord has blessed us with...and the great peace of knowing that we will be ....

....together forever....

Wilbur

Who doesn't like Wilbur from Charlotte's Web? He's pink, adorable, and lovable....

About a month ago, I went to Joseph's class to observe. I love looking around and checking out the paintings and drawings kids have displayed in the classroom. It's always interesting to see what projects they're working on.

As I was observing, I came across the paper bag drawings the kids had of Wilbur...One of Joseph's classmates came up to me and asked if I wanted to see Joseph's picture. I said "sure"....
To my horror...this is what MY son drew...
Isn't this Creepy! Where did he get this idea from? We are VERY careful in what our kids watch and even their video games...When I asked Mr. Joseph why Wilbur looked different...he replied..."I wanted him to look different and scary." What's with red eyes and fangs dripping with blood???

When Joseph's classmate showed me this version of Wilbur...he said..."Joseph's mom...Joseph's Wilbur is REALLY scary"....

What must his teachers think of us??????

....being a Cub Scout wolf leader....

I've been a Cub Scout Wolf leader since January, and it's been fun....
I will not post names of the boys I have, since some parents may have access to my blog....

Yesterday our meeting was on having Good Character traits....

One of the questions was how can it be difficult to tell the truth when you've done something wrong...

Cubscout A said "Yeah, it can be really hard sometimes. Like the time I got an F on some schoolwork and got a red marker and changed it to an A"..."my mom got upset with me"...
"or the time when I was playing with a ball in the living room and hit my mom's favorite vase...I tried to glue it before she came home...I told her a bird came in the house and broke it"..."she REALLY got upset with me...but I ended up telling the truth...she was glad I finally told the truth"... (yeah..I'm sure)

Cubscout A can be quite entertaining to have around. I'm sure if his parents knew what he tells us, they would absolutley DIE..... I know I would....

When I was first asked to Cubscouts, I have to admit I was not thrilled...

But now....I really enjoy it...having six 8 year olds in my house can be challenging but I really enjoy it! I'm so glad Cubscout A will be with us for a while...he's such a crack-up!

BTW- I will never divulge who Cubscout A is! Never!

Am I almost a dog killer????

I opted to not walk the kids to school this morning. The sun was blazing hot and I refuse to be drenched in sweat. This is the time of year I absolutely loathe living in Arizona. It's MID MAY and it's 110 degrees! C'mon!....As I was loading the kiddos into the car, our dog Copper gave me the saddest look. "Too bad dog....no walk today...."....(more sad eyes)....

"Mom...Copper looked sad"....said Mr. Joseph...
"I know, but it's too hot and you KNOW how I hate to be yucky and sweaty" I replied.
"Poor Copper...."
"yeah...your dog has a rough life" I say to Joseph....

Once I came home my dog still gave me the sad eyes with his ears tucked back...
C'mon...who could resist feeling sad for the little creature...

"Fine! We'll go for a little walk to the mailbox..."....I had a few bills to pay...
Oh happy dog again....

I had no intentions on killing my dog, even though he drives me mad with his constant barking at absolutely nothing in our back yard...I'm sure my neighbors know just how much I hate it...why can't that bark collar zap him a little harder the more he barks..if it were up to me, I'd up the voltage..but NO...ours doesn't have that option...bad dog...So sorry....I can go on for forever regarding this matter....okay...back to my posting....

With leash in hand, my dog trots and sniffs everything...stops at every bush and tree to do his business...

Ahh...we're at the blue box...(mind you, we're just 2 blocks and a half from the house)

As we start heading home, Copper is no longer trotting...he's barely keeping up with me....I have been told by my sweet hubby that I walk extremely slow...and that walking with me can be quite painful...I blame it on my 5 foot petite self...okay...???

Anyhow, my dog is stopping at every bush and tree to lay there and pant.
By now I'm NOT in the best of moods...I'm super sweaty and I forgot my shades. (Remember blazing hot and super bright Arizona sun)...

"No stinkin' way DOG...we're going HOME!" I say to my panting dog...(I'm sure if there were people around me, they'd think I went mad)....lucky me...no one was there....

Copper gets up and walks to a tree, then collapses...heavy panting...white saliva surrounding his mouth...

"Get up DOG!!!!!!!!"

No movement.

Great...I have to carry this 18# weiner dog...a sack of sugar would have been easier...

By the time I get home, I'm sweaty, grumpy, and utterly exhausted....

I put the dog down (he needs to go on a serious DIET)...he runs to his water bowl (yes I said RUN) ....grumble...grumble...grumble...he drinks the whole bowl and then collapses and falls asleep for 3 HOURS!

I kept checking on him to make sure he didn't die on me...what was I going to tell the kids when they got home to NO Copper???....

Well in the end the dog survived. Is that good or bad news?...depends ....

So if that dog gives me the "I'm so sad, take me on a walk look again"....I'm sooooo NOT going to be fooled...

BTW....I'm picking up a new shock collar tomorrow and I don't care how much costs!

My tender morning....

As many of you know, I'm going back to school.... Some days are a blur to me...At times I don't know how I manage to juggle being a wife, mom, student,....and other duties. Big sigh...

This morning I ended up driving the kids to school this morning so that I wouldn't be late for my Final exam. As soon as we pulled up to cul-de-sac next to the school Alycia bolted out the door. Joseph took his time to make sure he had everything he needed, I wished him a happy day, and reminded him to make good choices. I waited a little longer to make sure he made it to the playground before I left. He stood at the bottom of the hill observing an ant hill (I"m assuming)....He stood there for a good 2-3 minutes. I thought for sure that I'd have to get out and escort him up to the playground... Finally, I see Alycia run down the hill...she talks to him...and helps him up the hill. She was so tender with him....

I broke down and started sobbing in my car....

You see...Things have not come easily to Joseph...and still don't...He has made such great progress in the 9 years of his life...but still continues to struggle in some areas...

As I witnessed this sweet exchange between siblings, I was overwhelmed by this tender expression of love and compassion. Alycia has been such a blessing in our lives...

As I was driving to school I thanked my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to witness this...I'm so thankful that I was able to see that my daughter continues to show Christ like love towards her brother.....