I Heart New York

Walked up to 80th and Broadway and got bagels at H&H. Courtney sat in the Dino the dinosaur...child's...thing that moves back and forth when you put a quarter in it (what are those things called anyway?)for old times' sake because she rode it every day for nearly 18 months straight. And we glanced at the old apartment and mom got very sentimental.

Walked from the west side over to Central Park and wandered through the park to 5th Ave. Had fun perusing FAO Schwartz and were grateful we didn't have all the money in the world so we didn't own every toy in the world. Fun to look and fun to leave. Walked down 5th Ave and enjoyed all the Christmas decorations. Shopped at Abercrombie (that store rattles my nerves and I'm pretty tolerant and not that old) and found some cute stuff at H&M.

Ice skated at Rockefeller Center and ate lunch on the 8th floor of Saks. Walked over to Times Square to check out shows -- bought tickets to Lion King.

Walked down to Macy's and now Courtney understands why I sighed when she asked if we could shop at Macy's. It's 8 stories tall and a full city block long and wide. The place is enormous and is as crowded as Disneyland in Summer. And I don't go to Disneyland in the summer. The up side is I didn't have to push a double-stroller and push my way onto an elevator on this trip! It was crowded but fun to be together and Courtney did find one cute sweater.

Shoved our way onto the uptown subway at rush hour and ended our DAY back at the hotel to rest for an hour before dinner and the show! The weather warmed up in the evening so we didn't need our longjohns or ski socks or umbrella (only actually rained on us for a few minutes as we walked through Central Park).

Ate Chinese at Ruby Foo's then took a taxi to Times Square. You'll never believe there was actually a Charmin Toilet Paper store where you could use the restroom and sample various Charmin brands of tp!! After sampling we went to The Lion King and ended up loving it even though we weren't sure we would. Finished off the night with a Sundae at Serendipity.

We love New York!

Christmas Scents

Fill a teapot with water and add 2 cinnamon sticks, 15 cloves and the peels of two Clementines. Bring to a boil then simmer all day! It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!!

Christmas Giving

Today...
1) Found a check for $100 on the ground when I got out of my car at the shopping center. Was able to Yahoo People Search the addressee, call her, and get her address so I could send it to her.

2) While just getting into my car after buying groceries downtown, a homeless man asked for money to buy a doughnut. I had just bought a pack of 6 doughnuts but really only wanted one. Tried to give him the package but he only wanted one also. He then asked for change because he wanted to buy a bus ticket and a hamburger. I only had $2 and all the change in my cup holder. Enough for a ticket, but not enough for a burger.
He thanked me kindly and then counting the money said, "How many dollars did you give me?"
I said, "Two."
He said, "There's actually three here. Let me give you one back."
Of course I told him to keep it and get something to eat. But I was struck by his honesty. Interesting, isn't it?

Christmas Cheer

As seen in the neighborhood, driving home from my Dad's Christmas party. Laughed so hard I cried and then made Dan turn the car around to go back and take a picture.

I Need This!

Think how awesome it would be to be walking down the street and whip out this baby when your phone rings! Classic! A great April Fool's too!
Wireless Phone Receiver by Yubz as seen on urbanoutfitters.com

Good Memories

I copied this from my friends blog who chose not to tag anyone, but invited anyone who wanted to, to play. The invitation is extended to you... Copy and paste into your blog. Highlight the things you've done.

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars (Nights on the trampoline as a kid -- good times!)
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (been there though)
18. Grown my own vegetables-- zucchini, tomatoes and peppers
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant -- No, but I bought a stranger and her daughter a pedicure
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance -- rode with my child being transported.
47. Had my portrait painted -- Does my dad's pencil drawings during Sacrament Meeting count?
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business -- Michelle, should we count selling hand-painted rocks door-to-door?
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar or escargot
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job -- I prefer to call it "downsized."
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating -- the turkey on pioneer trek -- not fun.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Been to a foreign country

A Little More Trivial...

This weekend I enjoyed the midnight showing of Twilight (Yes, I loved it AND my dreams of Edward all night long). Did not enjoy watching BYU lose to the Utes. But did enjoy Coldplay in concert that night. Did not enjoy being sick with some stomach bug that has now been passed on to Courtney and Dan. But am happy that the Book Fair is over (that I was in charge of). And that sharing time is over so I'm off the hook for 4 more weeks. I'm looking forward to cooking Thanksgiving but am a little afraid of the pies. My Christmas cards are addressed and stamped and ready to go with the help of Nicholas and Christopher who were amazing lickers and stampers -- quite seriously! Very impressive work from the 7 and 3-year-old! Hoping licking so much glue doesn't turn their stomachs and give them what everyone else got. NOT happy that Mac makes it so difficult to have 2 different iTunes libraries, but am happy that my Christmas music is now in it's own little file to be opened at only the right time of year. Did enjoy listening to the Messiah today, breaking the "no Christmas music before Thanksgiving" rule in my house with the excuse that we've got to get familiar with it again before the Sing-Along next Saturday. Not looking forward to impending snowstorm over Thanksgiving. Although by then I might change my mind.

More Thanks for Anonymous People

The next anonymous person I'm thankful for is the woman who found my 18-month-old nephew on the street while I was supposed to be watching him. There are really not a lot of details to make a good story and truthfully, it still haunts me and hurts to think about.

I was babysitting Jaxon while my sister was in town. She had gone to a meeting. All the big kids were outside playing and I was working on the computer (and, quite honestly working on the class calendar for the month -- not surfing the internet) and supposedly listening to Jaxon play in the other room. Several times I felt I should check on him but put it off trying to get a few more items completed on my project.

My doorbell rang and I opened the door to a woman holding Jaxon and of course I immediately knew she'd rescued him and I had horribly neglected by responsibility to my sister. She asked if he was my child, and in my shock and gratitude I stumbled out an explanation of Yes, kind of. My sister's. I'm babysitting. I thought I could hear him. Where did you find him? Don't answer that. Obviously farther than the safety of my home or even my yard. I thought he was right here... I thought... What if...? Thank you! What's your name? Thank you. I'm so sorry...

She was kind and the mother of children. She knew how fast they can get out. She was happy to help. It can happen so fast.

So again, no judging. No ill-will. Just kindness and understanding. She handed me "my" little boy and was on her way. She rescued Jaxon, she rescued me.

The Third Thing

Another group of people I'm thankful for are all those I've passed while riding my bike uphill who cheer me on. There's the super steep hill by Sev at the Canyons that took several weeks to become comfortable getting up. One day 3 riders all passed me (going up!) and simply said, "You're doing great!"

On three different occasions as I've ridden up the hill at 30th East walkers coming down the hill have said, "Great job!" or "Wow!" or "You can do it!"

Finally as I came up a little but somehow very tiring hill on Wasatch Blvd., a young girl in her soccer uniform leaned out of the window of her dad's truck and gave me the big thumbs up and shouted, "Way to go!" That last one made me laugh because as kids we were always pulling mischievous stunts in the car or shouting at people we drove by. (Remember when we wrote "Help, We've Been Kidnapped" on the inside cover of "Kittens for Kim" and held it to the window as we drove on the freeway?!) So this little girl was probably goofing off or dared by her friend or maybe she really was filled with a lot of good-will, but it totally gave me a boost!

So thanks to all the high 5's I've been given while out doing something hard! It's all these shows of support by complete strangers that confirm for me that the world is a good place, that people care about each other and that we'll try to help each other the best we can.

More Thanks Giving

My college years were filled with lots and lots of fun. We played pranks on our roommates, ran wild through rainstorms, stayed up late laughing, generally had great roommates, worked hard in school, supported each other in difficulties, took lots of goofy pictures, spent a fortune getting them developed in "under an hour," and made lots of friends. I feel strongly that every child should live away from home and get to be independent in college. The experience can't be duplicated.

But with independence comes a greater measure of responsibility--mostly in the form of paying for it. I put myself through school--tuition, books, housing, life--the whole deal. I think I give myself a lot more pats on the back now than I ever did then. Back then it was just something I did. My parents couldn't afford to help me out--it was my responsibility and I didn't think twice about taking it on. I was having such a good time it was worth it.

That being said I had some lean months. And one such month didn't seem to be getting any better. It was the start of the semester, which meant purchasing books and supplies. I was due to receive a Student Loan, but it hadn't come in yet. Luckily my birthday is in September and my awesome roommates bought me groceries for a birthday present!

I was working, of course, but don't you remember how you got paid a week or two after the end of the 2-week work cycle? Back then 2 weeks was eternity and $25 was a million bucks. Finally on Sunday, my roommates encouraged me to ask the leader of our church congregation for help. Right after the meeting he approached me first and asked if we could talk. "I felt inspired to ask if there was anything I could do for you," he said.

I explained my situation--I was out of money and wouldn't be getting paid for another week. My student loan hadn't come in yet and I needed to pay my share of the apartment bills. I'd used up all my money on books. "How much do you need, he asked? Would $100 cover it?" Even now I want to cry at what $100 meant back then and with gratitude for his generosity.

He came over to my apartment and gave me a $100 bill that evening. Just gave me a high-five and then shook my hand--quickly sliding me the money and leaving. He acted like it was no big deal and never treated me any different.

We've had our opportunities to help others who needed $100 or some other amount just as important to them. And each time I give, I've always thought of when he gave to me. And I'll be forever grateful.

I'm Thankful

A couple of days ago I was driving past a large Albertson's shopping center. 20 years ago it was only one large house on many acres of land. On the adjacent street small, older houses with large yards or small farms lined the street. A shallow irrigation ditch ran along the road -- probably a couple of feet wide and less than 2 feet deep. Now most of the houses are gone and a nursing home, office building and apartment complex have been built there instead.

My senior year of high school I delivered papers along this street, sometimes driving our family's small Honda and sometimes driving a very old, very large, Buick stationwagon. One of the houses still remaining is an old duplex. One snowy day at 5:00 in the morning 20 years ago I was driving the Buick to deliver the papers. As I tried to turn into the driveway of the duplex, the stationwagon slipped in the snow and we ended up in the ditch. Although not deep, it was impossible to get out.

Given the early hour, I hesitated to ask for help. But what else could I do? I was too far from home to walk back so I needed to use a phone. I timidly knocked on the door and a young woman answered with her husband right behind. I quickly explained and in an instant her husband said not to worry. He had a truck and a chain (!!), and before I could respond his boots were on and he was jumping in his truck. He towed me out, got my car on solid ground and I was back to my paper route.

Before I knocked on their door I worried they would be annoyed. I knew they'd be tired. I worried they wouldn't be home. I thought they might be mad. I wondered if I'd get a lecture. My hair was a mess, I was in pajamas and a sweatshirt--I must have been a sight on their doorstep. And then to have our giant Buick nose first into the ditch in their front yard. Of course they'd have excuse to moan and utter a frustrated or nasty comment or two. And then even when I did call my dad--what could he do? I was pretty sure he wouldn't call a tow truck. So we'd have to think of friends who might be able to help. How do you get a car out of a ditch? And how long would it take? I might be inconveniencing them all morning.

But instead, there was no complaint, no negative remark. They helped me out and sent me on my way. Unfortunately, I'm sure I never gave them a note or a gift. But I've never forgotten and hope I'll respond in kind. This Thanksgiving season they are one of the people I'm remembering and to whom I give Thanks.

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch...

...his feet sank into the snow. He walked with his toes pointing in, like this. He walked with his toes pointing out, like that. ...

Nicholas and a friend put on their snow clothes to go play outside today. Wondering if they'd need my help riding the sleds or building a snowman or who knows what, I waited.

When they got outside Nicholas called to his friend, "Let's make tracks!" Such Simplicity! One of my favorite books is "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats. I love having a three-year-old!

November

Could anything be better than having Halloween on a Friday? And then having Daylight Savings the same weekend? That was really the best. AND THEN... snow today to usher in the Holiday Season! I think I'll include Thanksgiving as a Holiday festivity this year and embrace an early Christmas since we actually have two weeks off of school to celebrate (for the first time in 4 years -- obviously a bunch of crazies plan the School District calendar!!). Usually I don't allow Christmas music until after Thanksgiving... but with the snow, we just might have to break tradition!

More Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

The Once In a Lifetime Perfect Costco Day

Thought I'd hit Costco on Monday to get steaks for dinner and see if by chance they sold elephant costumes. When I pulled up, the VERY first spot in the parking lot -- the closest possible you could be to the carts and door -- was available. Does that EVER happen?

I found my steaks, loaded up on fruit and other grocery and frozen items and SKIPPED TP, paper towels, water and diapers!! Didn't need any of that stuff for the first time ever! I had LEFTOVER space in my cart! THAT never happens!

Check out lines were short, boxes were available and total bill was under $250. THAT'S never happened either!

Skipped my cart to the first parking space, tossed in my few items and once again very much appreciated that I didn't have water to lug into the car and then to the garage and all the other light, yet bulky items that take up so much space--like TP and paper towels. And of course knelt down in the parking lot and gave thanks that I didn't have to buy diapers.

FINALLY, the cart return was right next door to my car. I smiled at the man waiting for my spot and passed on the good Karma to him as I pulled out. Perfect day at Costco. Don't even mind that they don't have elephant costumes.

P.S. If you still love bottled water and ignore the landfill arguments, preferring to focus on the wonderful world of recycling plastic bottles into who knows what, you can buy water from Office Depot and have it delivered (FREE delivery for orders over $50) to your home--directly to your garage or wherever your storage facility may be. At $7.99 for 24 20 oz. bottles, it's more expensive than Costco. But there are alway $20 off coupon for orders of $100 or more. So it comes to about $5.75 a case. And that is worth the extra .75 a case to have it delivered and not have to haul it into your cart than into your car than out of your car and into your garage 15 times!!!

Current Conversations

This is the conversation I'm overhearing right now from my 7-year-old:
Christopher: I've learned a lesson -- you should never get drunk.
Friend: Why?
Christopher: Because you go crazy.
Friend: Who did you learn that from?
Christopher: My friend who got drunk.
Friend: Who's the friend who got drunk?
Christopher: _____ (I'll keep him nameless, but he is also 7. However, I really don't think he's ever been drunk.)
And now the voices have faded away and I can't hear anymore.

Pumpkin Carving

My favorite night of all the year... at least I try to get excited. And it never is really as bad as I keep thinking it's going to be. Lots of newspaper makes for an easy clean-up and Dan gutted Nicholas' and helped Christopher. We made Marty gut his own this year, which DID NOT make him happy. He wouldn't let me take his picture because I think he was about to puke -- seriously, gutting the pumpkin nearly sends him over the edge. I don't think this one is cut out to be a doctor. As for me, I also bailed on sliming through all the guts to gather all the seeds. I've been pretty dutiful in the past in getting those seeds, washing, drying and roasting them. And the OCD side of me can't let even one seed go to waste. I have to waste 3 minutes separating slime from one single seed instead of just taking the easy ones and not bothering those covered in goop. But I liberated myself this year and I don't have an ounce of regret!







Rebekah sent us a great carving kit and I fell in love with this cute spider web. And then I remembered I'm no artist and my pumpkin's about 2 inches thick and soon realized this was WAY over my head. So I wonder how long this will sit on my counter or if I actually finish it... Happy Halloween!

Spiritual Boost

I just thought this was a must-see. A few things I noticed... In 8th grade I wore the same glasses as the lady back-up singer. Also, I was impressed by how rock-n-roll adventuresome the guitar back-up gets as exhibited by his not wearing shoes. Crazy wild!

Random Photos of My Life

When a 3-year-old makes popcorn by himself...

I keep thinking that maybe I can bring it back to life...

Obviously on one of the many rounds of scootering around the house someone had to make a pit stop...

BYU 59, UCLA 0

Our first game of the season couldn't have been more perfect -- lunch at Brick Oven, beautiful weather, great seats, the whole family and an unbelievable trouncing of UCLA!

Nicholas Makes My Day

I've been getting a lot of hate talk from Nicholas lately thanks to his being three, having three older siblings (going to actually blame it on the two older brothers) and now having access to cable where I've caught him watching Spongebob and that damn (yes, I mean it!) show, Fairly Oddparents as opposed to Clifford, Arthur and DragonTales.

But today at lunch:
Nicholas: Mom, can I move the chairs in the shape of a square?
Me: Sure!
Nicholas: Oh! You're a fun Mommy!

Such little things, such big rewards! (Although tonight when he was in watching iCarly instead of getting pj's on and I turned off AND unplugged the TV, he told me he hates living in this house. Can't wait for the teenage years!)

Yes, I Do Like Change, But...

On Sunday, my 2nd counselor in the Primary Presidency got called as the Young Women's President. She took my Secretary with her. The wonderful part is my daughter will now benefit from these amazing women. She absolutely loved her previous teachers and leaders -- they were wonderful examples and the girls could feel how much they loved and cared about them. And now her experience as a Young Woman will continue to be enriched by these new women who I know will love them just as much and have additional experiences to share with her.

Of course I trusted that the new leaders called would be wonderful. But I didn't realize I'd have to "let go" of these two women who I've learned so much from and relied on so much and who I've enjoyed a new friendship and bond with over the past year. And it's been really hard. I've alternated from a thrill of how much they have to offer my daughter and the other young women to tears the next minute because I will really miss working with them. I like change, but this one's been hard.

While I'm on the subject of spiritual things, Dan, Christopher and I attended the baptism of several of his friends on Sunday who turned 8 this past month. Christopher wasn't that excited to go because it meant putting his Sunday clothes back on and sitting in a church meeting for another hour. But we thought it would be fun for him to support his friends and also see what a baptism is like since he'll be getting baptized in April.

When the meeting started, the Stake Primary Leader talked about baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost and mentioned, "You will feel the Holy Ghost when you're choosing the right." She said, "You may even feel the Spirit right now." And Christopher whispered to me in the most matter-of-fact way, "Yea, I do. Right now I feel warm right here near my heart. And mom, I felt this same feeling earlier today. Today when I paid my tithing I felt this same feeling."

Back to School

I've survived the craziness of the first week of school and have really enjoyed the second. Nicholas has his first day tomorrow (Friday -- weird) and he's so excited! I'm excited to run some errands -- because what could be more exciting than returns at Target and the mall, dropping off printer cartridges to be recycled at UPS and purchasing crafts to decorate the classroom door for Spirit Week? Too bad I can't squeeze Costco into my 1 hour of by-myself-idness (1 and 1/2 hours will be taken up by exercising and showering) or it would be a perfect errand day.

In other exciting news, I've been making zucchini bread and everyone has been loving it. (Sometimes I am so surprised by my kids!) Our garden had tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini and we've had tons of everything. I'm feeling pretty good about my first attempt at gardening something other than tomatoes (the tomatoes reseed themselves every year and grow themselves -- what can I say, they obviously like living in our yard)!


And finally, I'm posting pictures of our new office. It's like those dreams where you find another extension of the house behind a door you never knew was there. Except we always knew the door was there, just didn't like crossing over into the depressing chaos. Now it's heaven. I'm also including a photo of the piano sans striped carpet that I knew wasn't right the minute the guys put the piano down. But asking your husband and brother-in-law to lift a grand piano back up so you can remove the carpet isn't a wise thing to do. Dan's refused to move it since then, soooooo who lifted it and moved the carpet? Oh yeah...I'm an Adair!! And Marty got roped into rollng back the carpet while I lifted in return for not having to practice. The last photo is of the striped carpet now under the kitchen table and it looks great!



Now I'm heading upstairs to sew boy scout patches on a uniform. Nothing too eventful, but I really do love my life.

I'll Spare You The Photo

Yesterday I came downstairs and found my camera case sitting by the front door. It was empty.

I tried to remain calm as I asked all the kids if they'd used my camera.
Nick said: "Oh, yeah. I did. It's in my room."
Me: Can you show me?
Nick: Yeah, sure. (You have to hear him say "sure." Sooo cute!")
We run upstairs and fortunately my camera is on the floor of his closet, unharmed.
Me: Nick, this is Mommy's camera. You need to ask me if you want to see it.
Nick: Well, Mom, I went poop in the potty.
And sure enough, he took 8 pictures to prove it.

Summer Day

We spent the afternoon at the pool and my Dad's wife and boys came too. It was a perfect summer day hanging out in the shade with Diane eating peanut butter pretzels and the kids playing in the water with friends.

Late this afternoon I had to stop by the school to pick up a list of new students because I'm doing the school directory this year. In walked the principal from an all-day meeting -- a meeting for a program that my PTA commission is over. Last year she'd asked the commissioners to attend this monthly meeting. However, when I agreed to work in this commission this year, I talked to the principal (who I also consider a friend after working together so much when I was PTA President) and said I wasn't that excited about this particular program and didn't feel I could justify taking family time to go to these meetings (the previous commissioners said all the other schools principals attended anyway so I felt justified in not attending). She understood where I was coming from and agreed to attend the meeting and I would help in another way.

What I realized when I saw her today was this: I had spent the day with my kids at the pool. If I'd had to go to that meeting, my kids would have spent the day with a babysitter. Nick had enough of that a couple of years ago when I was President. Good choice, Angela.

Musings

Just taking a moment from reading Breaking Dawn to blog instead. Only 50 pages left, but the laundry needed to be changed and I just hate when the washer gets done but I forget about it and 20 minutes go by until I remember. I prefer catching it a minute before its finished and pulling the clothes out of the dryer so I'm all ready for the washer when it finishes up. When I catch it just right I feel very successful -- like I haven't wasted a single minute of possible laundry time. However, when I forget and 20 minutes or an hour go by, I am not happy when loading the final load... "I really should be done by now. If I hadn't forgotten and wasted that 20 minutes, this load would already be in the washer..." Perhaps I have a bit of washing and drying timing OCD.

Speaking of laundry, my sisters told me that Dawn takes grease spots from clothes -- even after they've been dried. Dan gave me an opportunity to test this theory when while eating dinner at our local amusement park, he loaded his pockets with foiled pads of butter for everyone's corn. One butter...pad...escaped his notice and melted in his pocket. I didn't have any Dawn handy and because it's summer, very limited time to shop for dish soap or anything else. So I tried Mela-Magic from Melaleuca. However, I accidentally dried his shorts after the first washing. (Even after telling my sisters and mom how awesome I am at laundry because I put a little "Alta" magnet on the dryer whenever I've got something in the washer that shouldn't be dried. And it reminds me to get it out.) After the errant drying, the spot was significantly lighter but not gone yet doomed because I'd dried, right?!. But Noooooo... I spotted the spot with more Mela-Magic and let it sit overnight and Guess What -- it worked! The stain is gone. So now I've treated all the t-shirts and we'll see if those spots come out. It would be especially gratifying because I'm forever spilling on my t-shirts and that would be fabulous if a shirt wasn't ruined by one little misplaced spot.

Tomorrow is the neighborhood breakfast. And by neighborhood, I mean all the people who live in the geographic location of our church boundaries. So if you live one street over from me, even though it would seem we live in the same neighborhood, it's not YOUR neighborhood breakfast. You're having yours on another date.

The other day I saw tons of cars on the circle one street away from our home. Out of curiousity I convinced Dan to drive up and see what was going on. As we got to the top of the circle I suddenly remembered seeing a flyer sitting on the church pew for the previous congregation's neighborhood breakfast and that was what was going on. "Turn around! Turn around! Someone might see us! This isn't our neighborhood breakfast -- it's theirs!!" Panic and ducking ensued. Wouldn't it be great if we hosted a REAL neighborhood breakfast -- and several wards sponsored it -- so we could really get to know our neighbors and not just the ones that live on our side of the street in our ward "boundary?" Who do I talk to?

Finally... Only two more weeks left of summer. I will be sad to see it end. I'm not ready for bedtimes, alarm clocks, homework, carpool, kids gone all day, PTA, less daylight, cold weather. This year I will try to appreciate early Fridays now that I don't have a child who needs to nap.

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

We just returned from THE FUNNEST trip to Pagosa with my brother and sisters and their families! It took me a couple of days to actually appreciate being home -- I just wanted to be with everyone in such a beautiful, fun, no-cares environment forever! I am copying Sheree's highlights of the trip because she did such a great job of remembering everything! Thanks Sheree! My new banner photo on my blog is one of my favorite views in Pagosa. Someday I'll actually get a family photo with that gorgeous background! For now the memories suffice!

Highlights of the trip:

Sitting around the campfire every night
Riding in the Jeep Willy--No seatbelts even, the kids loved it.
Hiking to Box Canyon and swimming in the river
Reading on the porch
Good music
Hiking to Williams Falls--beautiful!
Lots of games of Hearts, War, and B.S.
"I Like Big Butts!"
The little boys and all of their antics
French braids
Tie Dying shirts for all the kids
Putting together a little duathlon
Riding the four wheelers
Painting rocks
Fishing
Beautiful runs and lots of excercise
Afternoon rainstorms
The kids Magic Show
Monopoly
Lots of bug spray
Kids playing Haunted Mansion and Carnival
Great food
Building a trap and catching a chipmunk
"Take me to the River, Throw me in the water!"
Hummingbirds
Arm Wrestling--Bekah rocks!
Bocce
Going to the General Store in the Jeep
Oh and the memorable Mtn Biking adventure!

Echo Tri, Year 2

The Echo Tri was awesome this year! Last year the swim really freaked me out -- read last year's post here -- This year I participated in an open water swim clinic which was really helpful in giving me an opportunity to get comfortable swimming in the lake without the race day adrenaline. I took the whole family up the next week and they kayaked across with me as I swam. It was GREAT! So I was really looking forward to this year's Tri. It was a lot of fun and I was so happy that I actually enjoyed the swim. I beat my time in each event too. Dan is always so great to get up at 5:00 a.m. and drive us the hour to the race. But Bekah even got up as well. Then, Surprise! Mom and Sheree showed up too. Thanks Fam!!! You're the best! Great photos are courtesy of my mom who never goes anywhere without her camera!! Thanks Mom!