Thursday, February 28, 2019

I ❤️❤️❤️to vacay!

I was thinking about some of my favorite trips today. There have been a lot of really fun ones. I think my favorites have been:
#1 Hilton Head! That was such a fun fun trip!!



#2 Ireland with my girls. So beautiful and so fun to travel together!

#3 Israel. Bucket list item and so special and amazing. It was awesome to be there with Rob and Nana & Abba.

#4 post mission (for Papa and Gma) family reunion in Lake Tahoe. It is always a joy to be with family.

Beach camping. Loved it as a kid, love it with my kids!


#5 cruise with my siblings. We laughed the whole time and had so so much fun!!


Trips I am now mentally planning:
  • Return to Hilton Head. Maybe next summer before Ethan leaves on his mission. Maybe with all the kids. Maybe I’ll win the lottery:) or get a real job:)
  • St Petersburg, Russia
  • Alaska Cruise
  • Rome, Italy 
  • London with Rob
I used to really want to go to Africa on a safari but I think I’m over that as a dream item. 

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Youth Temple Night

Busy day. Sort of. The morning was actually lazy. I did some laundry. 


Then I cleaned the car.
Took Ethan and Jacob to tennis.
Took cat to vet.
Picked up Sage and Grace from school and took the kids to the temple.

We had a great night and then went to Jeromiahs after for gelato!



Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Things

Why does Grace use our car as an auxiliary closet? I always find shoes, socks, hair brushes and everything else you can think of in the car. 

Cat loves the color red, and water. He regularly goes out to the pool and plays in the water. He also plays in the sink and joins family members in the shower. Weird cat.

I’m subbing seniors today. They are doing busy work. Our education system is a bit of a mess. Kids don’t learn enough, and they don’t learn a lot of the things that they should. I don’t know who’s fault it is...not in the interest of placing blame but in the pursuit of a solution. Like most things I think it comes down to the family. A lot of learning should be taking place at home. I hear some people complain that the schools don’t teach budgeting, how to do taxes, how to get a job, how to be nice to others. That clearly falls in the family sphere of responsibility. I hear many complaints about time wasted at school and this is true. Again it stems back to the home. If kids came to school ready to learn, knowing how to walk in the hall nicely. Knowing how to sit and listen. How to engage in meaningful dialogue, ect,  teachers wouldn’t have to spend so much time disciplining, finding stuff, shushing students. No teacher dreams of spending their day dealing with unruly kids, unsupportive parents and restrictive policies. They do dream of engaging lessons, excited students, cooperative learning, hands on experiences and joyful learning. 

Families should live close to each other. There it is. I would love to live near Nana and Abba, to cousins and grandparents. To my siblings and nieces and nephews. My grandchildren. My adult kids. I would love to be there to support and love and celebrate and even to struggle and be in each other’s way. If someone has a birthday it should be easy to get together for cake and ice cream. If someone is sick it should be easy to take their kids home for dinner and playing and homework. If someone is giving a talk in church we should be able to go. 

Eberly, Belle’s service dog, is sometimes treated meanly at school. What is wrong with people? I also saw a picture today of a mother elephant with her calf and people were throwing fireworks at them. What the heck?? (and that’s not the word that plays in my head) How can people be so mean?
It is unbelievable. 

Rob is having a lot of work stress. No bueno. 

The weather is nice this week. In the 70’s.

On the drive to school today I talked to Ethan about pornography. Just randomly. Often we listen to the radio. Sometimes we drive quietly. But occasionally I take advantage of the fact that he (or one of his sisters depending) is trapped and just share a random message. The thing about pornography is I think it’s so pervasive. I don’t really think there is anyone who hasn’t seen it at least in passing. I have. I really believe if I have so has everyone. So we have to have conversations about it. We have to know what to do to protect our minds and hearts. 
I clearly remember the first time I saw it. It was in the 70’s, way before the internet and during the era of the “love boat” as pretty steamy stuff.  My family had gone to spend the day with the Anderson’s in North Edwards. There is nothing to do there...like really, truly nothing. We both had large families and they had a smallish home. With 2 sets of parents and Grandma Anderson visiting in the kitchen/ living room and a multitude of younger siblings playing noisily in the house Julie and I went outside. We mainly walked up and down the street talking. Meanwhile Alec and Loren were also sent out (no doubt because they were breaking something inside!) Their play was much more the running around, throwing rocks, variety of kid play.  Eventually Julie and I noticed that the boys were looking at something in the desert. Something that kept their attention and elicited some loud laughter. The kind the alerts the observant that something out of the ordinary is going on. Bring the diligent (nosy and bossy) big sisters that we were we went to investigate. They had found a magazine. Curious we glanced (the girls) the boys studied at the pages. It took just a minute for us to really recognize that this was not good. We lovingly (there may have been some shouting and punching) told our brothers that they, and we, had to stop and we had to get rid of it so no one else would see it.  They agreed (sort of) and a little grabbing of pages later and pious lecturing (by us) and indignant and reluctant handing over (by them) we had a plan. The boys dug a hole. We buried the offending magazine and then stood guard until our brothers found something else to do. 
And many decades later I still remember. That is the insidious nature of pornography. 
I was lucky because it was several years until I saw it again. This time shown to me and Alec and our cousins by our uncle. 
Today it doesn’t take someone showing you, or randomly seeing it in the desert. Kids can and do see it in their devices, on accident, and on purpose, and as easily as can be. Do they know what to do? Do they understand the harm is does? 

Every day I have to make dinner. I am out of ideas. I do feel joy when I see our cupboards full of food, and when a hot dinner is placed in front of my family. I also recognizably feel joyful when I put away clean laundry. I am happy my kids have what they need. That their clothes smell good and that they can look neat and tidy.  It is both a wonderful and an awful time to be alive.

The twins birthday is coming up! I can’t wait to visit. We have a lot of fun stuff coming up: spring break trip to the keys, twins bday trip, Jenna and Emma and Tori visit in April. Good stuff!!

I love all the wildlife we get to see. Sunday morning on my walk with Ziva we saw an otter slide off the bank and into the water. We saw two hawks circling overhead and one dove into the water and came up with a fish. We saw squirrels, a blue jay, a sand hill crane, cattle egrets, a great egret and those little black duck like guys with long necks. I need to look up what they are. I saw an armadillo on the drive to church and Rob and Grace saw a crocodile and lots of birds on their afternoon bike ride. We always report to each other what we see.

Andrea is still recovering with some complications. I pray that she feels great soon.

Every.single.day Grace begs for a service dog. 

Also every day cat catches and rips apart a lizard or two in the house. 

I think I might make cookies when I get home. I need to go heart attack one of our YW this afternoon and invite her to the temple tomorrow so a batch of cookies ought to help sweeten the deal!

My friend posted a thoughtful post about abortion on fb. Asking for people to politely share their perspectives. No replying was allowed. It was very interesting to read the thread. It is such a complex issue. Personally I think it’s wrong. I believe life starts at conception and that it is devine in nature. I can’t imagine a scenario where I would choose that and I have been in a couple that others would have felt justified in that choice. I was a teen mom. I never considered it. I was told by doctors when expecting Jenna that some of the cancer treatment I had just prior, or just as (hard to know) she was conceived could have caused damage. I didn’t consider it.  That being said I know there are some rare exceptions when maybe it is okay. I don’t think we should legislate morality. God’s law trumps man’s. So should doctors and prayerful, thoughtful, educated women have the possibility of an abortion taken completely away from them? I don’t think so. Am I pro choice? No. Not really. 
Again if our families were teaching God’s laws and the people were living them that would fix the problem. Making a law doesn’t fix problems. I don’t think women should have abortions 98% of the time, but when it’s needed I think the law should not stop it. How’s that for a middle of the road, run over by a Mac truck position?
I guess I have a distrust of law makers. They don’t represent my beliefs. They don’t stand up for what is right. So that’s sad and hard. They need to do better. And we need to do better with who we elect and how we make our voices heard. 
*They can decide the speed limit. And to get rid of day light savings if they want. 





Monday, February 25, 2019

B.u.s.y

How can a stay at home mom be so busy? I always ask myself that .

This morning I took Ethan to seminary, well technically I was the copilot since he drives when ever we are in the car together now. Then I drove home.

Next was a little clean up, and a trip to the orthodontist. 
Then the audiologist for me where we learned that I do have a hearing loss but not so bad that I have to get hearing aides.
Then we stopped for a quick lunch before I took Grace to school.
I went to Walmart. Took home and put away the groceries and then went to the high school to give Ethan his tennis stuff before he went to practice.

Next my dear dear friend Tara called and we spent almost 2 hrs discussing everything. She is the best and I love her! it felt like 15 minutes of chatting!

Then I picked up Ethan. Came home and folded 4 loads of laundry. 
Picked up Grace. 
Talked to Hannah.
Walked the dog.
Made dinner.
Got a call from Chelsea, one of my MD laurels! So that was fun. 
Cleaned the kitchen.
Sat with Grace while she did homework.
Talked to Hannah again. 
Walked dog again.
Put away more clothes with Rob. 

And it’s bedtime!!
Oh I also talked to Dani and Tatum and Mom and Anna. I guess I spent a lot of time on the phone today!

Penny Jane lost a tooth!!





W
e got this cute text yesterday! That’s one excited girl!! 6 is such an awesome age and Penny has the best of all 6 year old traits!!! Love her!

Our Sunday was good. Ethan spoke in sacrament meeting and did such an awesome job! I’ll admit to feeling a little trepidation as I waited for him to start. I didn’t know he had a talk, he didn’t ask for help, and we recently had a talk given by one of his friends that was a little too boisterous for sacrament meeting. I didn’t think E would do that but I held my breathe a little. He did great though. Proud momma moment:)

Grace had a big project for history. It was on the book “Fever”, which I just read on Friday so I was able to brainstorm a little with her, which was pretty fun!

Grace and dad went to ward choir practice.

I had a presidency meeting.

After dinner we went to the bishops house. He had a meet and greet with treats for new families in the ward. All the ward council was there and we got to make the treats:). I think that’s an awesome idea. Each new family gets to meet each other and 8-10 other active families. Our ward gets a lot of move ins...and move outs. Anyway it was very nice. Living here often makes me wish that I spoke Spanish or Portuguese. It would make the world broader.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

3 things each

Grace: had a clarinet lesson.
Requested a shopping trip.
Went to the 8th grade dance.

Ethan: played soccer.
Played tennis.
Played basketball.

Dad: went fishing.
Drove kids places.
Cleaned the kitchen after dinner.

Mom: went to the temple for a Relief Society initiatory assignment.
Went grocery shopping.
Walked the dog.


Friday, February 22, 2019

Date night

With this cute girl. Tonight is our stake father and sons campout. Ethan really, really didn’t want to go. Rob thought they should. It was ugly but they went. 
So that left Grace and I to our own devices. She had play practice until 6. After I picked her up she got to pick where we went to dinner.  She chose macaroni grill and it was delicious. It’s very fun to have one on one conversations with the kids and we enjoyed ourselves.
After we went to the pet store, also Graces pick. 

I subbed today at the high school. Yesterday at the middle school and earlier this week in fourth grade.  In middle school and high school I always have lots of time to read. Today I finished my book in the middle of the day and sadly forgot my backup book:(

Fun fact, at FHE this week we played scattergorries.  One of the questions was “things you find in an arcade” and Rob answered asparagus. We did not agree. He said an arcade was a market. We did not agree. He looked it up and was right! (Hate that). Then 3 days later I came across that word in my book! I was so surprised again. So I circled it and sent him a picture to once again say he was right.  He appreciated my acknowledgment but said in that context it means archways. Why did I just now hear those “alternate” definitions?

It was a good week. Now I’m looking forward to a nice weekend. 

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Monday, February 18, 2019

Presidents’ Day

Grace went to the water park with Ashton. Rob had work. (He’s always our good worker). 

That left me and Bub. I wanted him to drive a lot so I hatched a plan that he was agreeable to. We would go to the beach!
It was as nice a day as you could ask for. The drive was good. I only “freaked out” once. He’s getting better and better behind the wheel.

The beach wasn’t too crowded, the water was cool, but not as cold as the Pacific even in June or July.

We walked the Main Street and looked at shops. I love beach junk!, so I had a great time.


Lunch was so good! Best lobster roll ever for me and a wood fire pizza for the boy.

We had a good day together, listening to the radio, talking, walking, beaching.

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Shabbat Shalom

Today was a very nice day. I got up early for 6:30am ward council. Waking up feels a little earlier on sundays even though I actually get up 10 minutes later than I do on a school day.  Still we had a productive meeting. 

Sacrament meeting was really good. Both of the talks were excellent and the musical number was beautiful. Ethan blessed the sacrament, I always love watching him serve the Lord. 
Lastly Sunday school was also good. We have a very talkative class with usually interesting insights.  I really love the new curriculum and have loved how prepared class members are for class each week. 
We discussed the woman at the well, Christ clearing out the money changers from the temple, and Nicodemus. 
When we got home Grace and I made lunch, pancakes and homemade strawberry syrup. Then we had our third hour, which I also love.

Grace and I took a little rest on the hammock in the warm sun. 

Ziva got a nice long walk.


Today is Ashton’s birthday so this evening Grace went over to celebrate with her family. Tomorrow they will go to the Disney water park.

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Long day

Early this morning Luka and I studied together while I ate my oatmeal and as everyone else still slept.
Ethan took a tennis lesson. Since he made the team we thought he should learn to play the game. I think the instructor was really good and gave specific and concise direction to him.

Next on the agenda was a ward picnic. The YW were in charge so we got there a little early. It turned out well. We had a good turn out and lots of people enjoyed the nice weather and visiting and playing together.

Rob saw this gator in the little pond at the park. Usually they are more shy but this guy was headed straight for shore to “say hi”; maybe he wanted a hot dog!

Then Grace and I went to the Magic Kingdom. It was quite crowded today. We did try a couple new desserts.  This fruit waffle was delicious! The Tinker Belle ice cream was very limey and yummy!





Playing with filters in line.


We ended the day at Buffalo Wild Wings with the boys.

Friday, February 15, 2019

Farmers market

I thought I had a meeting this morning but it turned out that I was a month off. It’s on Friday, March 15th not Friday, February 15th. Doh

Honest mistake.


While I was driving there I spotted a farmers market so when I suddenly found myself with two hours on my hands and nothing in mind to do, and out of the house, I decided to stop by. It was very quaint. The weather was perfect, sunny and warm. The goods were fun to look at, and the samples were yummy!


It was right in front of the library as well and before today I still hadn’t got a library card here in Florida. Of course I made a stop and got a card and a calendar and checked out a book.

I feel very content here. The climate suits me, the proximity to the temple is awesome, we are making some friends that I think will become dear to us, and it’s a happy place to live. I am grateful for that.

I came home and walked Ziva. Did laundry. Picked up Ethan. 

This afternoon and evening Grace has solo and ensemble competition for her clarinet so I will go to that and we will get something to eat between sets. 
Grace got superiors for both solo and ensemble. She is a talented girl.
Ethan is going to a dance; and I don’t know but I’d be willing to bet that Rob will go fishing once he finds himself home alone.

So that’s a good day:)

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Valentine’s Day

Cute little llama valentine box, and even cuter little granddaughter. Our days of making cute boxes are over. Grace and I did go to target last night and she bought candy boxes and valentines for some of her friends. 
I also had heart candy boxes and cards for Rob and Ethan and Grace for this morning. I sure do love them, and the rest of our family too!!
Our date plans took a last minute shift. The movie I wanted to see was sold out, and Robs drive home was long and slow,  so we decided to get a pizza and watch a movie at home.  We watched “we are Marshall” which like all true story  sports movies was inspirational and fun to watch. 

I sat by this cute little fountain while I waited for our pizza. The sunset was a brilliant pink tonight. 

I wanted this ring and Rob got it for me for Valentine’s Day. I think it’s fun and sparkly:) 

This morning I went to the temple with Ivanna, Suzanne, Jennifer and Terry.  Then we went to chipotle. 

Grace had rehearsal until 6 and then went babysitting. Luckily she has no homework most nights.
Ethan had tennis practice, which he likes. Most of the boys on the team are Argentinian so he’s improving his Spanish. They also like soccer so they have a lot in common and even play soccer at tennis practice when it’s not their turn on the court. Two pluses in his mind.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Birthday Boy!

Marshall is four!! He is the most adorable, funny, smart kid! 


I love him to the moon and back!!! More than a grandma Trex loves her little Dino!!! So so so so much!


Last night the priests and laurels were asked to attend an interfaith summit on religious freedom. I didn’t want to go, Rob was excited about it and volunteered to come with us. Well I was right. It was awful. For the record I wanted to be wrong. 
We took the laurels and also Taylor (one of the priests with us) and met 2 other boys there. 

Parts were okay. There are these 3 guys with a radio show called the 3 wise guys, they are a rabbi, an imam, and a minister. They were up first and made some comments. I think their show it probably interesting as they discuss their different view points. Then a Sikh leader gave the invocation. Honestly I didn’t realize he was praying until he was almost done but that was fine. 
Up next was a discussion between a senior pastor of the baptist church that was hosting the event and an atheist. Here is where it really went down hill. The atheist was intelligent, articulate and sure of himself. The pastor was afraid to offend, kowtowing and vague. It was very upsetting.
 One question that they were asked was if we have similar values where do those come from? The atheist talked about how all species benefit from good behavior and reward it so it propagates that in its culture and offspring. He said it more eloquently and scientifically than that but that was the gist. Then the pastor was up and he said some bologna about how we can’t really call it Christian values because all good people share them but his “human values” come from his faith, blah, blah, blah. He spoke a long time and didn’t say anything. 
He should have said all people are born with the light of Christ. If they choose to call it that or not doesn’t matter, they are still His children and as such have that in them. He is our creator. Our values, come from Him and the Devine, eternal truths that He teaches. 
I was very upset that in a conversation about how people have religious differences and the freedom to have those differences is important no one was speaking from the perspective of a follower of Christ. It’s okay to say what you believe; you can still allow others to believe what they do, respectfully and sincerely. 

Last up was Rabbi David Saperstein, who truthfully is as much a politician as a religious figure but he was interesting, well spoken, verbose and sincere. I liked his comments but they were long and following the other guys it was too much for me. 

Then we bolted. It was a long night. The best part was probably our conversation on the way home about what it means to be a disciple in a fallen world. 

Is there value in a discussion of different belief systems, learning what others feel and think? Yes. 
Should we work for a world that demands tolerance for different faiths, or even no faith? Absolutely. 
Was this that?? I don’t think so.


Monday, February 11, 2019

sometimes I make a list


  • I subbed at the high school today.  It was an easy day. Pre-Aice Bio.
  • Yesterday we had Becca and Spencer over for lunch. I had planned to make taco soup and brownies for dinner, then when we were at church I knew I needed to invite them to join us so we moved it to lunch time and had a fun visit.  Some of the young marrieds (w/o kids) get together on Sunday nights to do Come Follow Me together and I didn't want them to miss that.
  • Ethan taught our Come Follow Me and did a great job.
  • Last night Ethan and I went to a priest/laurel fireside at Pres. Shill's home.  His house is SUPER fancy and HUGE.  The fireside was fine, not excellent, but good.  
  • Saturday night Grace babysat for the Lyon's kids.
  • Ethan went to the Roddy's house.
  • During the day the priests met at the park and played football.
  • We had BYC yesterday.
  • I had the chance to have lunch with a couple of friends last week.  Ivanna and I had lunch on Tuesday.  They just moved in and we are going to be good friends.  Then on Thrusday I had lunch with Jacque from MD.  It was really fun to visit with each of them.
  • Hannah's been sick :(
  • I sent a little Valentine package to Tatum and Penny and Marshall.  They got it today.  Tomorrow is Marshall's bday.  He won't get his present until later in the week though.  We subscribed to a kiwi crate for him so he'll get a little science project in the mail once a month for 6 months.  I think he'll like it.  We also sent him a Hulk, a hulk book and a pair of Vans.  I can't believe he is 4.  He's such a handsome, cute, smart boy!
  • Andrea is recovering still. Mom and Dad are in AZ and yesterday they got to go hear the prophet speak in person.  
  • Saturday I was opening the mail and I got a little envelope that said lovepop on it.  I was so surprised.  Ethan was standing by me and I said outloud "someone sent me a love pop! I love them!".  We wondered who it was.  Then I opened it and it was from Rob! That was such a fun surprise.
  • The weather has been in the 80's.  It's my perfect temperature.

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Hontoon Island State Park

The girls really wanted to go camping. They begged, so being the awesome YW leaders that we are we made it happen. It turned out that the girl who really, really wanted to go was Lindsey and she moved in December so there is that but they were still excited when we finally got it all arranged. 
We drove about an hour to Delund to the state park and then put all our stuff ( and there was a lot) onto a boat and the Park Ranger ferried us over to the island. 
Here’s all our Beehives: Lilly, Paige and Isabella and Sage.

Unfortunately Rob forgot to pack our tent. Yesterday was his day off and we went to the dmv (for the 3rd time) to get our cars registered and new plates.. When we were done with that we had a couple hours left before we were leaving and I still needed to go to the store. I asked him to pack the tent and the cookstove and his gear. When I got home from the store we made foil dinners, packed our stuff and went to pick up the kids.
 I didn’t check to see that we had everything. 
The last minutes before a trip are always busy. We were dropping off and picking up kids, meeting with everyone, rearranging gear in the various cars and took off for camping. When we got to the campsite he told me he forgot the tent. I guess it’s better that he forgot the tent instead of the cooking stuff but I wasn’t very happy about it. 

All the girls were going to sleep in our giant tent. We were going to sleep in a small one and the other leaders in another small one so now we only had two small tents. 

After we got them set up Lilly said she couldn’t deal with it. I told her, nicely, that the last ferry was gone and we were on the island until morning so there was no other choice but to deal with it. 


We put that aside and had a fun night. We made foil dinners and s’mores. The girls talked and giggled. We sat around the fire. It was beautiful on the island and the company was fun and lively.

Me and my two counselors Shannen and Heather 

We had a devotional and then the girls went to bed around 10.
Nick Zent (our other priesthood holder) had a hammock and he shared the rain fly with us. Rob rigged it up and put our cot and air mattress under it. 

So we all went to bed. 

Here’s what 8 girls squished into a 4 man tent looks like.

The weather was nice. The bugs were not. It was awful. I had to sleep completely covered from head to toe. It was so stifling and hot under my blanket. After a couple hours I went and got our reclining camp chair. I tucked it by the mattress so my legs were on the mattress and my body was in the chair. This let a lot more air flow around me and then when the blanket was over my head it was okay. Sleep was sporadic. To be honest the first night of camping is usually that way though, this was worse.

Off and on through the night I dozed and woke up, dozed and woke up. It got cold, the bugs were fierce, we saw no gators or bears although we saw scat and tracks on our hike the next day. When the sun came up I rejoiced! Yay! The night was done.

We made pancakes and sausage for breakfast. Shannen gave a devotional that was super nice.
Then we hiked. It was muddy and slippery and beautiful and fun. The girls felt very adventurous and everyone got along great both days.

After hiking we broke camp and were home by 3.


Do you see the lizard biting into Danika’s ear?!

The girls had a blast. We all got to know each other even better and it was a great outing.

I will never again sleep under the stars though. Next time someone forgets our tent I’m going to take an emergency helovac ride to the other side and sleep in my car!