Hunting for Moose!

Who knew playing in a tent in the front yard could be so fun! Actually, I think I knew that.

Bob had been to youth conference and was airing out the tent, so Will and his friend hopped right in. Bob got out a backpack for each of them, a headlight, and a lantern. They played "camping and hunting" all day long. They hunted moose, bears, deer, and the salmon we had for dinner that night, Will had caught! :D

Such a great memory of the day with his friend and his dad.

Food, Friends and The Little River Band!

Last night we had a great time with friends. We went to PF Changs for dinner and then to a concert at the Scera Shell to see The Little River Band...takin' us back to the 70's and early 80's! Bob was completely in his element, harmonizing to every song...unbelievably he knew all the words to all the songs! It had been raining all day so I was a little bit worried about sitting outside for a concert, but luckily it didn't rain on us...we just about froze half to death...it was a fun time anyway.

Traci, Me, Gigi

These are friends from our ward. Brian and Traci Church moved here from California as well as Jim and Gigi Hollister. William's best buddy, Trevor, is Brian and Traci's son.

Sushi?...Ya!

So last night, we had some friends call to go out to dinner and a comedy club...they wanted sushi at this fairly new place called Sushi Ya! in Orem-an all-you-can-eat sushi bar...not my idea of something yummy! I went hoping there would be something like tempura veggies and teriyaki chicken (boring, I know, but I was hungry and I DO NOT eat sushi!) Everyone else got the all-you-can-eat sushi...there were over 40 rolls to choose from! When they brought out this huge plate of rolls, I decided to try one-it was called the Godzilla (spicy, white tuna)! Heaven in a bite! It was delicious to say the least. By this time I had my chicken, but the waiter offered to not charge me for that and I could do the sushi instead--heck yeah! So, I proceeded to try all of them and they were soooo good! Godzilla, Crystal Shrimp, and the Happy Roll were my favorites and you have to put lots of wasabi in your little dish and then pour soy sauce over it and stir and then dip your roll...oh my goodness!. I even tried one with raw scallops on it...go figure...I like sushi! (And Ben, I can't wait to take you there when you guys come later this month!)

This is the Godilla Roll...see the yummy tempura on it and the scallions DELISH!

Then we went to this comedy club in Provo called Comedy Sportz. So funny! I can't wait to take Maddie there...serious fun for the whole family. They don't even allow off-color jokes...perfect for a bishop! :D

Friends and Neighbors

This weekend we had our friends, Darryl and Nannette, from California come and stayed with us for a couple of days. It was so great to see them-we stayed up late (2:30 am...that's late for old people like us) talking and laughing-and eating at The Cheesecake Factory :). Bob has been friends with Darryl since he was a very young boy-they grew up together. And when we were first married, they lived here in Utah, but moved to California about 12 years ago and we have missed having them here. We spent lots of time together with them and their children before they moved. But...they are moving closer...Rexburg. Darryl just got a job teaching accounting at BYU Idaho and will be starting in the fall. We are so excited for them and this new endeavor their family will be experiencing. They will be so much closer and I hope we'll see them more often. However, I will miss the yummy "California treats" they bring when they come and stay with us! :D

One of our neighbors, Doug, had a terrible accident yesterday. Bob and the kids had left for the BYU scrimmage and football clinic, when a neighbor knocked on my door asking for the Bishop. I could tell something was wrong and she told me that Doug had fallen off a ladder from the second story onto the cement. The paramedics, police, and fire department came and took him to the hospital. (Our sidewalks are all being replaced, so everyone's cars are parked in the streets...I'm sure getting those big vehicles in the cul-de-sac was no easy feat!) He broke his pelvis in three places, broke a couple of ribs, injured his lower back, slightly punctured one of his lungs and his bladder is messed up. They ended up life-flighting him to SLC where he will have surgery on Monday. So after our dinner last night at The Cheesecake Factory, Bob and I stopped at the hospital to see them. They seemed to be in good spirits. And Patsy, Doug's wife says Doug is no longer allowed on a ladder!

We love our friends and neighbors!

A Kid Named "Ralph"

So the other day, Will had one of his friends over to play (a new neighbor named David and they have become INSTANT best buds)! These new neighbors have a son Maddie's exact age too which has been so great. The cul-de-sac is buzzing with kids now-I am lovin it!

Anyway, Will and David were upstairs playing in his room on his bed making a tent with his duvet and generally having a wonderful time! They had just gorged themselves on Twizzlers and Reese's PB eggs (the little foil wrapped mini ones) and they were very happy. I was downstairs in the kitchen and all of a sudden, Will comes down to tell me David threw up on his bed and "good-bye, we're going outside to play now"

"What? He threw up. Let me see (yeah right I'm thinking)." As I walk up the stairs, the smell hits me like, you know what they say....a ton of bricks! And I'm starting to think, oh my gosh, he really did throw up! By the time I get to the top of stairs and poke my head in Will's room, I am unable to take it. I look inside, plugging my nose, and sure enough, there on the bed...

THROW UP!

I run downstairs and catch the boys before they leave...they haven't left yet because they're stuffing their faces with more Reese's eggs! I ask...

"What happened?"

(David) "He wiped a booger on my arm and I threw-up"

(Will) "It was an accident. His arm got on the booger from my nose!"

I'm thinking to myself, how am I going to clean this up...I can't!
(Me) "You two run to your house and get your mom to call me--hurry up!"

Pretty soon, David's mom calls and I tell her the situation. I am so embarassed that I am unable to clean this up, but I can barely clean up my own children's vomit! Anyway, she comes over, cleans up the chunks (barfing in my mouth right now), and offers to wash everything. But, I'm not that much of a whimp..."Oh I can wash it myself, I'm sure." So she folds it up so the throw up is on the inside and I take it down to the laundry room. Let me just say, unfolding the quilt, blanket, and sheet (cuz it had soaked through), was very hard for me. I had to tie a blanket around my nose so I couldn't smell it. I guess I am a whimp!

Now, Chelsea (David's mom) and I are friends forever, bonded by puke! (BTW, David had chocolate milk for lunch!) Oh, and his nickname is "Ralph"...really. Apparantly, he does this often :)

Kindred Sprits!

I just finished watching Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea...and a part of me wished I had been a friend of Anne's...I know we would have been kindred spirits! Bob teases me that I dream of being Anne and I transport myself right into the movie-yeah right! :)

A few times a year PBS does those telethons to raise money blah blah blah and I DVR'd Anne and have been watching a little every night for the past few nights...I find myself wishing it would never end. I love the way that movie makes feel...it is so idealistic-I laugh and I cry. The relationship between Anne and Gilbert is so romantic-even though Anne is such a ninny sometimes-it drives me crazy that she can't see her true love right in front of her!

I can't wait for Maddie to love these movies as much as I do...so we can daydream together!

And the soundtrack is one of the best CD's I've ever owned. I can listen to it over and over. It can be ordered online here.

The True Joy of Christmas

Today was our annual cul-de-sac Ladies Lunch. This gathering has been taking place for nearly 30 years-longer than I've been here! I have been for the past 15 years. Traditionally, we make gifts for each friend in the neighborhood, past and present. This has truly been one of the highlights of living here. This group of women is amazing. The talent within the group is beyond words...quilters, painters, crafters, singers, teachers, spiritual leaders, cooks, performers, just to name a few. I am so blessed to have moved here and to be able to call these women my friends-I miss those who have moved away :(

This year we decided to do things a little differently...we chose someone to give service to. It just happened that one of our former neighbors was in need of a helping hand this year-Carol Moore. Carol lost her father this year, started dialysis three times a week and her overall health is not good. We truly felt that she was someone we could help have a Joyful Christmas! We all pitched in by quiliting, donating money, shopping, wrapping and giving in any way we could. The highlight was giving Carol the quilt. Diane and Kathy spent hours piecing this beautiful quilt and we all helped tie it and the party. Giving these gifts to Carol has truly been the best part of my Christmas. I hope this becomes our new tradition.

And of course, the lunch party was at Bianca's beautiful home (that alone can get you in the Christmas Spirit)!

Check out this Pinocchio collection...it is amazing!

What a Wonderful day

Bianca Lisonbee on the Today Show

I just received an e-mail from one of my neighbors about another of my neighbors, Bianca Lisonbee. I am so amazed at all the good the Lisonbees do for others. Bianca is one of those truly wonderful people-talented, thoughtful, giving, compassionate, passionate and on and on. She is also an amazing Gospel Doctrine teacher. I love going to her Sunday School class-she brings the sciptures to life and I am committed to becoming a better person because of the way I feel when I listen and learn from her. And I am so glad to have her as a friend and neighbor.

What I Did Today...

I spent the day making these flower arrangements for my friend Bonita. Her son is leaving for his mission (Warsaw, Poland) on Wednesday. He speaks in church tomorrow and they are having an open house. She wanted some flowers for her house. It is much more fun to make these arrangements with my mom...I had no one to ask if they looked okay. I asked Kevin and he said he thought they looked kind of awkward- HUH? What does he know! I don't know why I even asked him :D. Anyway, I think they turned out great. I just hope Bonita likes them!

I also told her I'd bring over a cake tomorrow...what was I thinking? Now I have to make a cake. And because I'm making a cake for her, I need to make one for us-that means TWO cakes!

Days At The Park

This past week we have gone to the park 3 times...that's a record for me! Last Wednesday, I took William and his best bud, Trevor to the park before school. We took sandwiches, bananas, drinks and cookies for lunch. The park is about 2 miles from the house (one we pass often on our way to Daddy's shop.) We have always wanted to try it because the slides are tall and swirly and there is a lot of climbing stuff. The boys had a great time. Now, every Wednesday, on my day to have Trevor, the boys ask about 10 times "can you take us to the park?"...help me!

Since Maddie's piano lessons are in South Provo, we have to stay down there and wait for her. I wouldn't be able to make it home and back before she needed to be picked up. We discovered a park close to her teachers house about a month ago and now Will knows that on piano lessons day, we get to go the the park-therefore: "The Piano Park".

And then the other day I took William and his two friends (Brady and Coleman/twins) to the park near Challenger School. We were there for 2 1/2 hours! The weather was perfect and the boys had so much fun on the playground and rolling down the hill and jumping off "the cheese thing".

This is the "chesse thing". I don't know why the boys named it that other than to them it looks like a big wedge of cheese! I thought this picture turned out pretty cool! Will is quite the daredevil. This was pretty high up. I wouldn't have jumped off there. And the other boys didn't want to either.