Guess what we got in the mail this weekend? Keith's diploma! After all of the nagging, begging, pleading and crying he has officially graduated from Pima Community College! I am so happy to have that piece of paper! If only to have something to show for all of the torture (on both our parts) over the last nine years. Selfish huh? But it's done! Hallelujah! Maybe I'll frame it and hang it in the office, like he's a doctor or something.
We went out for Frosty's to celebrate (thanks Grandma for the free coupons, we're cheap!) It was kinda funny that we chose the coldest day so far this year to get ice cream. My kids were freezing. Oh well...proud of our papa!
14 October 2012
06 October 2012
A Temple for Tucson
On a scale of 1-10, how excited am I that Tucson is getting a temple? 150! So, so, so, so, soooo EXCITED! Yes, I know I don't live there anymore. And yes, I know that the Phoenix Temple already under construction is merely 15 minutes from my house, but still! In my heart, Tucson will always be home to me.
I remember sitting in the Stake Center when the Snowflake, AZ temple was announced. It was sort of a shock that Arizona could have two temples. It seemed a privilege only Utah and it's large LDS population was worthy of. And that's when the buzz started, at least for me, about when a temple in Tucson would be announced.
Years later when the Gila Valley temple was announced, the speculation became fierce as to why Tucson had again been passed over for a temple. Not enough full tithe payers, not enough worthy priesthood holders. Our Stake Presidency encouraged us to become temple workers in Mesa to prove we could staff a temple in Tucson. We needed to show the Lord that we had the committment and were willing to sacrifice for that great blessing.
I wrote in my journal the day the Gila Valley Temple was dedicated in May 2010 how grateful I was for my Arizona pioneer heritage. Many of my ancestors had settled that land and built the Church up there. I recorded the words Pres Eyring spoke about the new Bountiful Temple strengthening and changing the whole LDS community in that region. How faith, hope and charity had dramatically increased. And I longed for the day Tucson could receive such blessings.
Then new temples were announced in Gilbert and Phoenix. Five temples in Arizona, and yet, not one in Tucson! It was heart wrenching! And quickly becoming a constant topic of conversation. Just earlier this week my mom shared how her stake council had questioned the lack of a temple in Tucson, bringing up dangerous road conditions along the freeway to Mesa as evidence that it was their time.
And now, here it is! The announcement of a temple in TUCSON, ARIZONA! One of the happiest days of my life. Not even joking. All day, every time I think of it, I tear up. It's just that AWESOME! I cannot wait to walk through it, to see my mother's dream of becoming a temple worker come true there. Such a huge blessing. I am so grateful! So, so, sooo grateful, and SO EXCITED!
I remember sitting in the Stake Center when the Snowflake, AZ temple was announced. It was sort of a shock that Arizona could have two temples. It seemed a privilege only Utah and it's large LDS population was worthy of. And that's when the buzz started, at least for me, about when a temple in Tucson would be announced.
Gila Valley Temple
Years later when the Gila Valley temple was announced, the speculation became fierce as to why Tucson had again been passed over for a temple. Not enough full tithe payers, not enough worthy priesthood holders. Our Stake Presidency encouraged us to become temple workers in Mesa to prove we could staff a temple in Tucson. We needed to show the Lord that we had the committment and were willing to sacrifice for that great blessing.
I wrote in my journal the day the Gila Valley Temple was dedicated in May 2010 how grateful I was for my Arizona pioneer heritage. Many of my ancestors had settled that land and built the Church up there. I recorded the words Pres Eyring spoke about the new Bountiful Temple strengthening and changing the whole LDS community in that region. How faith, hope and charity had dramatically increased. And I longed for the day Tucson could receive such blessings.
Then new temples were announced in Gilbert and Phoenix. Five temples in Arizona, and yet, not one in Tucson! It was heart wrenching! And quickly becoming a constant topic of conversation. Just earlier this week my mom shared how her stake council had questioned the lack of a temple in Tucson, bringing up dangerous road conditions along the freeway to Mesa as evidence that it was their time.
And now, here it is! The announcement of a temple in TUCSON, ARIZONA! One of the happiest days of my life. Not even joking. All day, every time I think of it, I tear up. It's just that AWESOME! I cannot wait to walk through it, to see my mother's dream of becoming a temple worker come true there. Such a huge blessing. I am so grateful! So, so, sooo grateful, and SO EXCITED!
16 September 2012
Random Awkwardness
I am socially awkward. I believe that has previously been established. However, I wanted to provide another example. Going out intimidates me so much that for days leading up to any social outing, whether it be book club, a baby shower, or a large family dinner, I brainstorm things to talk about with people. I'll stay up til the wee hours of the morning thinking of TV shows we have in common, how I must ask about home improvement projects or inquire about a common friend's health or whatever. But you know what? It never helps! I inevitably end up sitting next to someone in awkward silence making paltry observations about my kids' behavior. Then I come home and beat myself up because I forgot everything I wanted to say. Like how grateful I am that my mother-in-law ground all that wheat for me and we've been baking pizzas, and waffles, and apple crisps with it all week. Or how I saw the blog photos of my friend's latest DIY project and it looked fabulous. It's exhausting. I guess I need to start bringing notes with me. Which I suppose leads me to the question, what do you think is worse: reading from a topics of conversation list or chatting about my kids' potty training schedule?
09 September 2012
What I Did This Summer
I was really looking forward to summer this year so I could get some projects done. Don't get me wrong, I love a routine, but having to be at drop off and pick up for two kids at specific times, and plan preschool co-ops and Primary lessons each week didn't leave much time for me to do the stuff I wanted to around the house. So I was super excited for school and other activities to be out and have the freedom to do whatever, whenever.
Here's a few of the projects I got crossed off my to-do list. (And since I am not one of those cool DIY bloggers, I don't have any before pictures, only finished products, sorry.)
Repainting my son's dresser:
When I found out we were having another baby I stole an old dresser from my parents' house so we could use it in my son's room and give his to the baby. We removed all of the dated hardware and sanded it right away, and then it sat in the garage for months waiting for me to paint it. I finally looked up some DIY blogs in June and got to work. It was quite the drama. Of course my son picked red which is the hardest color to paint because you have to do so many coats. After two layers of primer and five coats (that's an entire quart) of paint it finally looked decent. Only I was afraid the color wasn't quite right so I did one more coat in a different red I had lying around. Big mistake! The dresser turned purple! So then I ran to Walmart and bought some spray paint and primer in one and had to do two more coats of that for it to be okay again. I then tried to spray a protective finish on top but it kept squirting big drips instead of a fine mist so I finally gave up before I ruined it.
Drama number two came with the new hardware. I measured the holes to be 2.5 inches. When I went to Home Depot all they carried were 3 inch drawer pulls. I figured I must have measured wrong and bought the 3 inch pulls. I got home to discover that I had measured correctly, the holes were 2.5 inches apart and my pulls wouldn't work. The DIY blogs mentioned filling the old holes with putty and redrilling new holes, but I didn't want to do that since I had already painted the dresser. So I returned the pulls to Home Depot and asked for help locating the right size. They don't carry any in 2.5 inches. And neither does Lowe's or the specialty cabinet store they referred me to. So I searched online and found a great product at a great price. When we went to install them, they were too short! Keith measured the holes and they were 3 inches apart. What the heck! Turns out some of the drawers were 2.5 inches and some were 3. So irritating! I tried and tried to find pulls that were the same style and came in both sizes but to no avail. We finally ended up buying the stupid wood putty and drilling new holes. Thankfully the new pulls were wide enough that they covered the old holes so I didn't have to go back and paint AGAIN.
Anyhow, this is how it looks in his room. It used to be the same color as the mirror above it. I haven't decided whether I am going to paint the mirror yet or not. (And yes, the mirror is hung a little too high. That's what happens when Daddy asks the kid where he wants it hung. I think he wanted to be able to look at himself from the top bunk!)
Baby's Bird Mobile:
Here's a few of the projects I got crossed off my to-do list. (And since I am not one of those cool DIY bloggers, I don't have any before pictures, only finished products, sorry.)
Repainting my son's dresser:
When I found out we were having another baby I stole an old dresser from my parents' house so we could use it in my son's room and give his to the baby. We removed all of the dated hardware and sanded it right away, and then it sat in the garage for months waiting for me to paint it. I finally looked up some DIY blogs in June and got to work. It was quite the drama. Of course my son picked red which is the hardest color to paint because you have to do so many coats. After two layers of primer and five coats (that's an entire quart) of paint it finally looked decent. Only I was afraid the color wasn't quite right so I did one more coat in a different red I had lying around. Big mistake! The dresser turned purple! So then I ran to Walmart and bought some spray paint and primer in one and had to do two more coats of that for it to be okay again. I then tried to spray a protective finish on top but it kept squirting big drips instead of a fine mist so I finally gave up before I ruined it.
Drama number two came with the new hardware. I measured the holes to be 2.5 inches. When I went to Home Depot all they carried were 3 inch drawer pulls. I figured I must have measured wrong and bought the 3 inch pulls. I got home to discover that I had measured correctly, the holes were 2.5 inches apart and my pulls wouldn't work. The DIY blogs mentioned filling the old holes with putty and redrilling new holes, but I didn't want to do that since I had already painted the dresser. So I returned the pulls to Home Depot and asked for help locating the right size. They don't carry any in 2.5 inches. And neither does Lowe's or the specialty cabinet store they referred me to. So I searched online and found a great product at a great price. When we went to install them, they were too short! Keith measured the holes and they were 3 inches apart. What the heck! Turns out some of the drawers were 2.5 inches and some were 3. So irritating! I tried and tried to find pulls that were the same style and came in both sizes but to no avail. We finally ended up buying the stupid wood putty and drilling new holes. Thankfully the new pulls were wide enough that they covered the old holes so I didn't have to go back and paint AGAIN.
Anyhow, this is how it looks in his room. It used to be the same color as the mirror above it. I haven't decided whether I am going to paint the mirror yet or not. (And yes, the mirror is hung a little too high. That's what happens when Daddy asks the kid where he wants it hung. I think he wanted to be able to look at himself from the top bunk!)
Baby's Bird Mobile:
Umpteen years ago I found a cute bird mobile online. Only it cost $60 and was made out of paper.
I figured I could make something similar only out of wood so it would last longer. Fast forward to my pregnancy with my fourth kid and I finally decide to actually do it. I had my dad and husband cut the birds out of thin wood left over from my brother's adventures in building his own longboards. I sanded and primed them sometime in the ninth month of my pregnancy and then, you guessed it, they sat around for months and months. Shortly after the New Year I broke them out and slowly began painting them. It wasn't until the baby was nearly 10 months old that I finished painting them however. And then I had a heck of a time trying to hang the flighty things. I ended up cutting two birds out of the mix because I just could not get the mobile to balance. But I am pretty happy with how it turned out. And the best part is, this project cost me NOTHING! I used only materials I had on hand. Awesome huh?!
My other big projects of the summer were sewing some curtains for the family room (and they turned out pretty cute if you ask me, but I don't have any pictures, sorry) and painting the girls' rooms. My big girls share a room. The previous owners painted an accent wall pink and then let the girl run wild and paint whatever she wanted on the closet and bedroom doors. Who paints doors?! It is so ugly, especially all the I love so and so graffiti. Drives me nuts. Anywho...we used the leftover gallon of pink they saved in the garage and mixed it with some leftover white from our other house and painted the whole room one color. I LOVE IT! And once again, it was a FREE project. It will look so amazing once I hang all the stuff on the wall and get some curtains sewn. Oh, and repaint the doors. They are still as ugly as ever. Last but not least I painted the baby's room aqua. (See above pic of the bird mobile.) Now don't tell my mom, because she came up and helped me paint both rooms in two days which was AMAZING, and don't tell my husband who was upset that I actually went out and bought paint for this when we have so many leftover gallons in the garage, but I don't love this room so much. The color is pretty, but it's just too dark for the stuff I was wanting to put in there. I should have gone with the safer light color but I was trying to be daring. I don't know whether to revise my decorating scheme or repaint. Either is a pain and will take up time and money I don't have so for now I wallow in my indecision.
20 June 2012
Four weddings and a funeral
Nov 2011
One month after having baby #4 my youngest sister got married:
the happy couple
My sibs, and yes, we're weird
my cute little family
Right after this picture my three year old threw up all over the steps.
That's why she's not smiling.
That's why she's not smiling.
Dec 2011
Six weeks after my sister's wedding, my brother got married:
"I do!"
Newlyweds front and center, siblings surrounding
my cute little family again, still not smiling though no longer sick
Mar 2012
Three months after that wedding, my other brother got married:
"Cheese!"
Aren't we cute?!
And here's my family all dressed up.
The kids are finally smiling, but I look like one tired mommy!
Maybe because the baby screamed so hard she vomited the entire two hour car trip...
Apr 2012
And one month after my last sibling was married off, one of my roommates from college got married:
This was a little mini vacation and reunion all rolled into one because I got to go out of state completely childless (WOW!) and see several friends from BYU, as well as my sister-in-law and her family that I hadn't seen for almost three years. So fun!
May 2012
In May our beautiful Gran Marie passed away. I am so grateful for her strong testimony and example. And for the Savior she loved that made eternal life as families possible.
XOXOXOXO
04 April 2012
Yes. Yes, she is
This is the conversation I overheard today.
J: Why did Mom cut this?
C: I dunno, she's kinda weird sometimes.
J: Yes. Yes, she is.
C: Yes.
J: Yes. Yes, she is.
J: Why did Mom cut this?
C: I dunno, she's kinda weird sometimes.
J: Yes. Yes, she is.
C: Yes.
J: Yes. Yes, she is.
01 April 2012
April Fools
This is no ruse, I am actually updating my blog! My parents spent the night at our house last night and reintroduced my kids to April Fools' Day as soon as they woke up. I've been listening to tales of bedwetting, scorpion discovery and fantastical magic powers ALL day as a result. Thanks a lot Dad!
It did spawn a little journey down memory lane however. I remember as a kid, every year, without fail, my dad would tell us a peacock was in the front yard. By upper elementary I didn't even bother to look anymore, so he had to come up with other stories about bobcats or hot air balloons to try and trick me. Then I started pulling stunts like cooking cottonballs into the cornbread muffins and trying to sneak Kool-aid powder into the shower head.
By college my roommates and I were pulling pranks on apartments of boys we knew. After I was elbowed in the face during a particularly rough game of basketball in the pool, we told them I had broken my nose and had two black eyes. The guys brought over ice cream the next day to apologize. When they saw me in full health it became an all out war. They snuck into our apartment and removed all the lightbulbs. We knew right where our emergency flashlight was so it didn't even phase us. But soon thereafter, we broke into their apartment and deposited hundreds of goldfish in every vessel we could find. The sink, toilet, and bathtub were all full of them. I don't recall that going over too well...
Anyhow, these days I'm relegated to such tame tricks as serving meatball cupcakes with mashed potato frosting and colored salt sprinkles for dinner. And of course our traditional strawberry lime "fools" for dessert. But my kids think it's fun and that's all that matters right? What do you do for April Fools' Day? Or what pranks have you pulled in the past? I'd love to read about them (and garner ideas for next year)!
It did spawn a little journey down memory lane however. I remember as a kid, every year, without fail, my dad would tell us a peacock was in the front yard. By upper elementary I didn't even bother to look anymore, so he had to come up with other stories about bobcats or hot air balloons to try and trick me. Then I started pulling stunts like cooking cottonballs into the cornbread muffins and trying to sneak Kool-aid powder into the shower head.
By college my roommates and I were pulling pranks on apartments of boys we knew. After I was elbowed in the face during a particularly rough game of basketball in the pool, we told them I had broken my nose and had two black eyes. The guys brought over ice cream the next day to apologize. When they saw me in full health it became an all out war. They snuck into our apartment and removed all the lightbulbs. We knew right where our emergency flashlight was so it didn't even phase us. But soon thereafter, we broke into their apartment and deposited hundreds of goldfish in every vessel we could find. The sink, toilet, and bathtub were all full of them. I don't recall that going over too well...
Anyhow, these days I'm relegated to such tame tricks as serving meatball cupcakes with mashed potato frosting and colored salt sprinkles for dinner. And of course our traditional strawberry lime "fools" for dessert. But my kids think it's fun and that's all that matters right? What do you do for April Fools' Day? Or what pranks have you pulled in the past? I'd love to read about them (and garner ideas for next year)!
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