I found Weston in the bathroom playing with a razor and matches...
...should I be concerned about destructive behavior?
p.s. although I was wholeheartedly dismayed at finding Weston with these as his choice for playthings, I have to smile when I think about the way he was frantically striking the match at the matchbook cover as I walked nearer to him. It was a hurried, but determined last ditch effort to spark a flame before I got close enough to confiscate the "toys."
Today Weston and I painted. I wiped up little paint smudges and Weston noted that I would be a good housekeeper when I grow up. After painting a delicious looking slice of watermelon, he also suggested I could be a painter when I grow up, too. Doesn't take much to prove to my boy that I have skills.
Photo Taken around 9 am this morning
Photo taken around 10:15 am, the very same day--Hooray!
As she looked in the mirror, Shelby exclaimed sweetly, "Oh! I am so pretty!"
Yep, she is.
Tonight I opened the door to the little closet under the stairs, to put something away in Shelby's classroom. I noticed some trash on the floor, and since I am the resident garbager, I picked up the stray papers and threw them away in her trash can.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something pink tucked in the deep corner of the room...what in the world? No! It couldn't be...
Yep...it sure was--a box of sugar cubes!
Eleven cubes of sugar are missing from the box...I couldn't help but wonder if there is any connection between this and Keaton's inability to sit still this evening?
It is about four feet tall and about three feet wide. It has a door and two windows...and a bit of the girls' charm.
A welcome sign on the front door and an ingenious paper door knob.
A reminder to "Return With Honor"...who knows of the pitfalls that lurk in the backyard!
It has been decorated on the inside with inspiring thoughts handwritten on colorful construction paper. To quote my Kate, "Home: A shelter. A place where one can be loved." Beautiful sentiment...please remember this the next time you are tempted to trip Keaton midway through his sprint to snatch a Keebler cookie.
When people say, "I can't cook" they are really lying - unless of course they really meant to say, "I can't read." However, I am the first one to admit that there is a massive chasm between cooking and cooking well.
Sara cooks well. I read.
With that said, there are a few things that I think I am pretty good at.
1. Grits
I know that grits by themselves are not a culinary challenge by any means. What I bring to the table in the stuff I throw in there. 
Here's how I do it. Start by a good helping of grits in a pot. (I like the Quick Grits, not the instant kind.) Scramble some eggs - mix in with the grits. Brown some sausage, crumble it up - mix in with the grits. Mix in some hunks of cheddar cheese until melted. Add a good bit of butter (by "good" I don't mean appropriate, but rather a large amount), and generously stir in some freshly ground black pepper. Serve on a plate.
Every time I make this, Sara says it looks like "throw up." She is right, but man... it is heaven.
2. Eggs
Eggs are one of my favorite things to eat, and I must say that I really, really like the way I make eggs. Scrambled or fried (with the yolks broken of course). I really like a good fried egg cooked on the griddle right after you take the bacon or sausage off.
3. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
I know there is really not a whole lot that can go wrong with this. But people totally mess it up. I think I like the way I do it because of the "goodly" amount of butter that is used in the process.
4. Beans on Toast
This, along with my grits are my favorites. This one I learned on my mission. It started really as just toast with canned baked beans over the top. Here is how I do them now - starting from the plate and moving up. Two pieces of toast (buttered of course), scrambled eggs, baked beans with a good amount of cumin to spice it up a bit, and topped off with grated cheddar. 
I never said these things are works of art, but I like them.
By the way, shortly after we were married, I offered to cook dinner - beans on toast. I've been off the cooking rotation ever since.
These are not words that ever escape my children's lips.
Case in point:
I ask Weston if he would please throw away the empty box of gobstoppers (that he polished off just a few minutes prior) instead of just leaving garbage on the ottoman.
He quickly replies, "But, Mom, I am collecting garbage. It's my collection."
I ask, "Okay, if it is your collection, you need to keep it somewhere, so, go put it wherever you are going to keep it."
His answer, "I am keeping my collection on the ottoman."
His ploy did not work, but he did win clever points.
All week the girls have been planning a treasure hunt for the boys. They helped them make maps from brown lunch sacks.
They walked to Fresh and Easy (my favorite store) to get the "booty" and hid it all week.
Yesterday was the big day for the hunt. They packed sandwiches, drinks, chips, gum, jolly ranchers, and hershey's kisses in a box and covered it with tin foil. They hid their treasure box in Weston's closet--no digging involved!
Finally, it was time to search...
The boys followed their maps, with some help from their sisters...
...and they found their treasure! The hunters enjoyed a picnic lunch outside AND Keaton and Weston each got a plastic baggie filled with sticks of Juicy Fruit gum. Better than gold any day!
Shelby's artwork was selected to be shown at the District Art Show.
(Ok... so I needed a thousand and 12 words.)
The other day when I came home from work Shelby said, "Hey, let's play kickball."
I was tired, and the couch looked pretty inviting - so I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Sounds good to me."
A quick round up of the 
troops and out to the backyard we went for a 3-on-3 game. Shelby, Katie, and Keaton made up team #1 - the "Nachos." Sara, Weston, and I were team #2 - the "Dead Lemons" (or something like that...).
You know, it used to be that I would look for the fun thing to do, or would seek for the thrill. I looked for only the things that would be worth my time. I don't know if age, wisdom, or arthritis have anything to do with it, but I absolutely had a great time playing kickball - some highlights:
This small event held in our backyard, was most definitely fun, truly thrilling, and absolutely worth my time.
When the game was over, Sara and the boys plopped down on the couch for one of my most favorite things in the world to see...
...crusty, old, builders grade dishwasher. You have served us well, but now you are broken...and I am not sad.
I thought you were cleaning our dishes, but in truth, you are disgusting...
I can't wait to replace you with something shiny and new...but for now, me and Dawn are going to be getting up close and personal.
Kate carries a purse with her every day to school. It is filled with the necessities of life for an 11 year old girl.
Twelve tubes of Lipsmackers, or other various kinds of lipgloss.
A pocket angel, a shrinky dink, a broken pendant, and a worry stone.....
several beanie animals...
and what girl doesn't need a shepherd, three wise men, and Santa Claus to tote around with her all day?
And the grand finale...last week she carried to school in her purse, an 8 pound rock named Asher...
...hey, every girl needs her own bag of tricks!
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh."
I believe this. However, cleaving to one's wife does not in any way, shape, or form require the same favorite restaurants.
Thank heavens.
1. Village Inn - Sausage and Eggs. Scrambled, link sausage, pancakes - with blackberry syrup, and a large milk when it comes out. De-lish.
2. Waffle House - the All-Star Special Breakfast. This is the 
greatest when you are really hungry and need some grits. This is served to you on three - got that - three plates (to be said like Ursula from The Little Mermaid).
3. McDonalds - Big Mac. What else is there to say. Best sandwich in the world. (Yeah, I know... I apologize to my arteries after each indulgence.)
4. The Chicago Hamburger Company - cheese sliders and 
fries with Cajun seasoning and a Diet Coke. Not only is the food fantastic, but the ambiance in this long standing Phoenix tradition is the best.
5. Anzio Landing - garlic pork. Located right off Falcon Field airport. You often will see planes and/or helicopters taking off or landing during your dinner. Also, who can't love a place that gives you Hershey's Ovations with the bill??
6. Lu Lu's Tacos - the #1 special plate. Two steak tacos with rice and beans - all served on styrofoam plates.
7. Ruth's Chris - for a steak there is no better.
8. Elliot's Oyster House - right on Pier 56 overlooking the Puget Sound in Seattle. This is the place I always try to go to whenever I am in Seattle. The Dungeness Crab is by far the best, and worth every penny (especially if someone else is buying).
9. The Training Table - a Utah original. I've had almost 
everything on the menu and it's all good, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the Hickory Burger, Cheese fries (with dipping sauce - unmixed), and a Dr. Pepper.
10. Famous Dave's - The All-American Feast. Served in a garbage can lid, it's a smorgasbord of heaven. Ribs, brisket, corn, beans, oh man....
I snuggled up to Weston this morning as he was waking up. He groggily put his arm around my neck, then suddenly his eyes opened up wide and alert, as he realized he had some vital information to relay to me.
"Mom, Keaton was almost dunna (gonna) run away!"
Curious, I asked, "Really? When?"
He answered, "Last night."
"Why?", I prodded.
"Because, Daddy was being mean, so he was ALMOST dunna RUN AWAY!", he explained. Then he added, with real concern,"Then I wouldn't have a brother anymore..."
I assured him he would always have a brother. To which he responded, "Nope...he almost runned away, so I wouldn't have a brother anymore...", and with sadness, "and I would miss him."
So for every wrestle that turns into a brawl and every tussle that turns into a bite, I know Weston really does love his big brother.
My kids have always really liked coming to my work. We usually have a "Bring-your-kids-to-work-day" once a year. I also try to bring them with me (one at a time) during the summer for a day.
Once in a while I have to run into the office at night - I'll always try to take whoever wants to go with me.
It's not that my work is interesting or cool (at all). They love it for the things that are in an office and not at home. Some examples:
It is fun for me to see them enjoy these things. It makes the days at work more fun - when I see the Crystal Light packets I smile 
and think of my girls. When I see the Foosball table I smile and think of my boys.
Whenever my kids come to work with me they always take the time to draw on my whiteboard. I know that the whiteboard was put here for my use to track opportunities, issues, and items. But I just can't erase what they write/draw on it. Whatever they do stays there until the next time they come in with me.
My Aunt Jean gave me the cast iron pan when we got married. My mom gave me a large bag of aebleskiver mix. Brian and I enjoyed making these for breakfast before General Conference or sometimes on slow weekend mornings. Eventually, the mix ran out and I always intended to replace it, but never did. We stopped making them on Conference mornings. Months turned to years and sadly, my kids had no memory of aebleskivers. Finally, six months ago, I pulled out the pan again and an old recipe card with my Mom's handwritten instructions to make aebleskivers from scratch:
Stir together in order-
I loved reading her hand and remembering the many times as a child I watched her make the golden, round delicacies for our family as a special breakfast. I used to tear them in half and pile on the powdered sugar.
Now, we served them with a fresh raspberry sauce as well as powdered sugar and butter. Now, I make them from scratch the way my mother used to and the way her mother did before. Now, my children pile on the powdered sugar and devour them the way I used to when I was a girl. Now, I am passing on heritage and tradition. Now, I am satisfied.
We had a time for a rare treat this morning - a Sunday walk.
Most Sundays it is either way too hot, or I'm gone during the day. But today was perfect.
Near the end of our walk our Weston was thinking that he needed to be carried. Sara was up a little bit, and I told him to go run to Mom and he'd almost be home. When Sara saw Weston running to her the natural ability to nurture kicked in and she ran to meet him.
Man... I love these guys.
April and October - the heart of spring and fall. The seasons are changing. I like that.
These are also the months that the church holds General Conference. 
I loved Conference as a kid because we didn't have to get dressed up and go to church. It was like a "vacation." As I got a little older I really liked just rolling out of bed, plopping down on the couch and "watching" church.
I love Conference now because like April changes winter to summer, so does Conference change my heart. I've always had this feeling of a change of heart. The people of Lamoni describe how I benefit from Conference very well when they told Ammon that, "their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil" (Alma 19:33).
When I hear our Prophet, apostles, and other authorities of our church speak, it is a total spiritual recharge for me. As a session ends I really feel no desire to do evil, to be the very best I can be. I love that feeling.
I wish it could last for six months - unfortunately it is more like six days. I guess the Lord expects me to learn to recharge my own batteries. I'm glad we have a way to do that.
My Dad really liked to drive. My Mom really liked to go for rides.
Dad taught us boys to drive when we were pretty young, about 12-13ish. I absolutely LOVED when Dad would say, "Bri, let's go for a ride." I would grab the Yellow Pages, and a pillow or two so I could see over the steering wheel.
Dad would drive us to a church parking lot, park the car, and say, "Ok, your turn."
I thought I was the greatest thing ever.
Once I got the hang of it, we would venture to bigger parking lots. My favorite was the Cottonwood Mall parking lot on Sunday. 
Back then the mall was closed on Sundays and, to me, it was huge - I could get that Plymouth Sapporo into 3rd gear.
When I got a little older I no longer needed the phone book or the pillows. Dad also let me drive on the streets a little bit. I could drive down to the church, or over to Albertson's. One of the biggest treats was to drive down to the Ice Berg and get a shake. Blackberry with chocolate chips is what I always ordered. The shakes were always good, but the drive was long - that was the treat.
I always thought that my Dad took the time to teach me how to drive to make sure that I would be a good driver, and that I would understand the rules of the road. Looking back, I think the driving was a distant second to his real purpose. He wanted to spend time with me.
My Dad died almost 10 years ago. I miss him, but I'm am constantly reminded of him by the words and phrases that come effortlessly out of my own mouth. "Ha. That's what Dad would have said."
Thanks Dad, for making me always feel like I could accomplish anything.
I think it's time I take my kids on a ride.
If he is home, he ALWAYS takes care of any and all vomit. The kids automatically go to him. This morning it was Shelby. He sat with her while she waited for the "event" and then held her hair and cheered her on during the inevitable heaves. Seriously, he applauds and praises like it is a great accomplishment! He never shirks the vomit-duty and for that I am truly blessed!
