Taking a break at Daybreak

Daybreak has to be one of the best new walkable communities that I have seen. While running on Saturday, Mom and I came across the coolest area in the community so I had to take the kids back to see it. Who would have guessed that the developers would be so kind as to import a beach along the lake?

I told Gabe that I had found the most amazing Spider man playground ever! Thankfully the playground lived up to his expectations. I think we will be spending quite a bit of time there this summer.

I have learned I have a house full of monkeys and we need more playgrounds like this one....and the lake....and the picnic areas......and the running trails.....and the geese......need I say more?

The sweet stink of sweat

It surprises me every year what we have accomplished around here. We started with bare dirt, rocks and weeds and we are well on our way to creating the yard we have envisioned. There is still far too much to do but one major yard project a year is all we can handle - or afford.....



I took a minute this morning to photograph some of the pretty parts of the yard so I don't forget what they look like when it's 105* outside and everything turns yellow and brown. So far we have made some great progress on our "Spring To-Do" list.....I am loving it!


Each corner of the yard has something to please me....a mulch pile, chalk for the kids to decorate, a horseradish plant that scares me and a new little magnolia tree.....

Sophie, the garden cat.....catnip and new little flax flowers starting to bloom....

My favorite purple flowers!! Spring pea plants and purple tulips.....

The cherry tree has blossoms that remind me of little girls fluffy skirts, so full and swishy....

And here is our latest project - the new sidewalk to make it easier to get to the front door, give the kids more places to ride their bikes, give Brett more places to shovel snow in the winter and also give us more places to sit and visit with friends.....Come and visit!!

Planning and wishing and lots of hope....is it Spring yet??

We took the kids to the local farm store......chicks are in!!



How can I ever resist begging spring to arrive by holding tiny little balls of fluff??
Thankfully the employees are used to parents like me who let their kids love all over the little babies (with no kissing of the little birds....) but Marin seriously fell in love with a little bunny that all the employees were carrying around.

We had to convince her that a baby bunny might be adorable now but it would make a yummy little kitty treat once she got it home....

Brett and I spent a bit of time planning what we want in our garden this year. Most years we have too much desire and too many dreams....other years we actually accomplish it! This will be the second year in the new garden spot and I'm not sure what we will end up with. I think I have 40 packets of seeds. Is that too many? He he he!

These are pictures of what a beautiful garden looks like. I'll pretend this is what mine will look like. I usually get huge Hollyhocks and Sunflowers in the middle of my plants which is pretty gorgeous until they block all the sun from the stuff I planted on purpose.

My mission this year is to propagate and grow my most favorite plant.....

My second mission this year is to kill anything that looks like the plant in the picture below....it is looking like it will be a very busy year.

Then after all those....I need some sidewalk, Brett needs a shed, a couple of new garden hoses, move the composters, spray sealant on the deck and arbor.....the list goes on and on and on....
I LOVE SPRING!!! (why is it snowing outside??)

U2 still rocks!

We took Carmen to her first 3D movie last weekend.
We absolutely had to take her to see U23D.
I have seen it twice now and would willingly go back with anyone who wants to go.
It makes me contemplate how a group can stay so consistently wonderful for 30 years...

So look for the new U2 CD tomorrow.....and I am looking for a concert schedule soon. If they come to the US I will be there!! JJ - will you be ready to go?

When the mom is away...

It had to happen, eventually Rhetta has to leave town and leave the dad and kids to their own devices. No, we didn't self destruct, but are amazingly capable of having a great time without a single trip to the E.R. In fact, we even managed to hijack mom's computer for a little update of our own.

First of all, it is more than apparent how much Rhetta does around here to keep us sane, well-fed, clean, and laughing hysterically over her quick wit. Without her, we have to resort to some unusual methods for entertainment...


Not surprisingly for Utah, the weather turned on us with a whiteout snowstorm. After hunkering down for the morning, we all headed outside for some vitamin D therapy and some happy faces.



Gratefully the cousins showed up in time to keep us from getting too relaxed and lazy. The decibel level in the house rocketed up to about airplane level, and smiles were the uniform of the day. Once in a while we got them to slow down and chill for a while, which they did in classic cousin style.

We even managed a Valentine's Day Cookie Decorating Party that had us all tired of frosting (okay, at least dad).

Thankfully, after some coaxing, mild threats, and a lot of giggling, the kids rolled out the sleeping bags for a little (read, very little) shut-eye. I wish I had a picture of the story telling contest with the flashlight under the chin, but let it suffice there are some vivid imaginations in this little crowd.
We missed the mom, but had a great time. Even though we manage just fine on our own, it is so much better to have the whole family together. Yes, we appreciate everything she does, we can't help it. But when the cat/mom is away...

Where do you go for sunshine in the snow?

Soldier Hollow! This was one of the venue sites for the 2002 Winter Olympics with Cross Country Skiing. It's a gorgeous location just past Heber and Midway with a stunning view of mountains all the way around. When the inversion gets to be too much in Salt Lake Valley, it's a wonderful place to get out of it and see the sun.

We met up with the cousins and so our group had 13 people ranging from 5 to 68....woo hoo!! You get a ticket for 2 hours on the tubing hill and you can go as many times as you can haul your tube to the rope tow. The last time we were there, Gabe was 4 and we ended up pulling him in his tube the whole time. I think we got him out once to let the blood flow in his legs. This year Gabe was an absolute trooper! He hauled his tube from the bottom of the hill back to the rope tow every time. Strong work Dude!!

One run down the hill had almost everyone in the family. We bundled all the tubes together (much harder than it looks) and slid down at a pretty good speed....here is the video:

Another run was just our little crowd:

And then Carmen and I decided to do our own video. I was so focused on making sure I had the camera in the right direction and not dropping it - I nearly made myself sick!! I wish I could have caught Carmen's happy laughter instead of my own....oh, she laughed!!

A new year, all the way around!

Not only is it the first week of 2009, but it is also my birthday. I have always loved having my birthday in January. I love having it so close to Christmas and New Years.... so I have decided to write myself a list of things I want to do this year.

I want to keep working out so my body looks a little more like when I was 24. I don't need the size 6 jeans again but I would love to have the same general shape. It was so fun to be able to put on anything in my closet and have it look wonderful. I will get there soon.

I want to wear earrings more...strange but I don't wear jewelery much but I love a fun pair of earrings. I really, really, really love my black pearls (thank you sweetie!). I need to make an effort to wear earrings more often.

I want a new kitchen sink. I know...odd. I am so practical but I really am disgruntled with my current sink. I am tired of getting everything (including myself) completely wet when I use this sink. I want to go back to a simple one basin, extra deep white sink....that's all!!

I want to have a really pretty and functional garden this year. I have had pretty and I have had functional but very rarely have I had both. I want to grow some things that are new and fun but can be canned or dried and used during the winter. I love the look of jars lined up after a long day of canning. Something inside me just sings.....

I want to spend more time laughing. I feel like some days all I do is correct or direct the kids. I want to trust them and have them cooperate and quit fighting....I just want to have more fun with them. That may mean that I don't need to have a clean'ish house....or things put away....but I would rather have everyone help me clean up so we can all have fun.

I want to spend more time in our own backyard. That may mean adding on to our deck this year and moving the grill back but I would love to have the oasis that I am dreaming of in our back yard.....grow little trees, grow!!!

I want to see if I want chickens........I love the idea and the benefits but I know I only want hens. I would love to see the cats react to huge pecking birds in the yard. I would love fresh eggs. I would not love the cost of a fence and trying to find said eggs.....

I want corduroy couches. I have only bought 2 couches in my whole life. One long before I was married and the other last summer at a yard sale....perfect microfiber and a total steal!! I want to buy really yummy tan or brown corduroy that you can just sink into and the cats can't destroy. I can almost feel how wonderful they will be!!

I want to plan a HUGE graduation party for Brett. He has worked so hard and has given up so much to get through school. I am so proud of him, I could almost burst!!! I really want to give all the people that adore him a chance to show him how proud we are of him.

I want to have a wonderful 35th year...so far it is looking AMAZING!!!!