Mother's & Daughter's

Art By: Daphne Keskinis

Friday night Josie and I went to the symphony together. We had a fabulous time. We left early so we could do a little shopping and a little eating (mac & cheese at Noodles) before the performance.

At dinner I took a good look at her and she had changed right before my eyes! What happened to the little girl with the pixie haircut? Who is this beautiful young woman that is now taller than me? When did we stop talking about Clifford, The Big Red Dog and start discussing her aggravation with an algebra teacher or 'girl friend' stuff?

This post has been in the making for several weeks now. It started with going to high school orientation. It was then the thought occurred to me (and Layne) we only have four more years with Josie living with us! I know most parents are very partial, but I do have to say...Josie is a joy to have as a daughter and Layne and I got VERY lucky to have her join our family.

I don't know how many times people told me through the years to "enjoy this time". "It all goes so fast". Ya, ya, I know...it's flying by.....as I haul bawling children out of Sacrament Meeting, or clean up a sick kid. Now reality has hit. Time doesn't stop for me to enjoy the special moments so I must take them when I can.

My sister Audrey just had her first daughter this past weekend. Congratulations to her and Lane. Just a bit of big sisterly advice, Aud. Enjoy the time. She'll be grown up before you know it.

Established 1974

As you know, I love my birthday.

What makes my birthday so special this year is that I think I'll be able to remember how old I am all year without having to quickly calculate when someone asks. The years that end in {5} or {0} seem to be easier to remember. These past two years I've had an awful time remembering how old I was.

As usual, someone was sick and puking on my birthday. This year Mitch took a turn. Oh well, I got to do what I do best.

Be the mom.

We were going to go out and eat last night and then get my cake...aka, birthday banana splits (I don't love cake). Then it turned out that we needed to stay home so when I ran to the store last night I picked up everything to make the perfect banana splits. When I got home I realized that I forgot one thing...THE ICE CREAM! You kinda need that. So that got put on hold till tonight.

A great big shout out to all my awesome friends and family. The phone calls, emails, cards, gifts, e-cards, facebook comments...all of it, I loved it all.

I'm so blessed

and yesterday was another great birthday.

Make the Change

It never fails. Someone shows up to church a hour late because they forgot to reset their clocks. It always makes me giggle.

Just a friendly reminder to 'spring ahead' tonight.

Last year I thought it was so funny because even a whole day later Layne had someone come to work a hour late because they forgot. LOL

I love going around and changing all my clocks. I start around 6:00 pm. If you don't know me, or haven't been to my house...I have a few clocks. I LOVE clocks. One day someone commented on my clocks (I have some pretty big ones and all sizes in between.) and Layne jokingly said that he put a limit on my clocks to five per room. Well, I took that as a challenge. The kitchen is done but I've got a couple more rooms to go....

Down & Derby

The long awaited day has arrived.

Mitch won 2nd in the Wolf division,

and 5th over all!

(Average speed: 207 miles/hour)

Long gone are the days of the wooden race track that starts up on the stage at the church. Ours is done county wide (thank goodness they have a concession stand) and the tracks are hooked up to a computer. You get a lot of info with this technology: MPH,1st/2nd/3rd/4th,time. The good thing about that is that the results and who is racing now & next is projected on the wall. So really you have never have to leave your seat once you get there, unless the chips, donuts, or soda start calling your name. And I think they start calling my kids name when they see our van pull into the parking lot.

It has to be a Derby Dad's dream.

Good job Mitch!

They Turned On Me

Onions

Oh, how I love onions. I loved them sauteed, raw, roasted. I love cutting & chopping them. I love them in things. I love them on things. I even have an awesome recipe for a Balsamic Caramelized Onion Spread. YUMM-O! The possibilities are endless with that sweet & spicy preserve.

But, for the past couple days I've been trying to find 'that smell' in my kitchen. Today I found it. There were two past due onions in the pantry. I hate walking into the house and getting a whiff of something that isn't pretty.

Things are looking up here. Hope your weekend smells good!!

Been There...Haven't Done That

Bold the items you have done:

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a Praying Mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Been to the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre

20. Slept on a train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Ran 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 your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself 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

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Cooked over a open fire

47. Had your portrait painted

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

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

72. Tied a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

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 your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

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. Visited Italy

My bucket list just got a little longer.

I tag: Becky P., Chris, Bobbi, Jimi, Shell