*Monday Memos*

*MONDAY MEMOS*

   

 (If pictures are too small, just click to enlarge) 
Weekly recap of my rather crazy, insane, but fun and rewarding life!

dear monday, yesterday my computer was almost completely full and so I got in Picasa to delete a bunch of photos to free up some space and it flashed a window saying I was low on disk space and it was going to free some up.  The next thing I know Picasa is gone!  Just like that!  There was an error signal and I couldn't get it to open any of my pix.  Well, I finally got it to open but everything was gone!  10 years worth of stuff GONE!  

I almost cried. But I really thought Sky would be able to recover it all and save the day like he always does, so I stayed positive but still had that feeling in my gut this was going to be bad.  He told me he was pretty sure he couldn't restore anything this time and it was gone gone gone. He is trying to convert everything over to Amazon Prime photos and I do not want to. I want Picasa. From talking to others I know there is nothing as good as it as far as editing photos, collaging, writing on them, and all the other amazing things it can do. Google no longer supports it and so when this computer is dead, I will have no choice but to find something else but right now I just want it back. I was near tears.  I am so distraught about it all.  I can't even tell you.  I fear I have also lost a ton of photos as well.  I had them so organized in Picasa and there is no way that will happen in a new program without hours and hours of time.  I am so upset about it.  This may seriously be the end of my blog. If I don't have a great program to edit photos in, then there is no way I can keep doing this.  

Sky and crew showed up earlier than I planned today because Carson had to have his Kindergarten shots.  We built his tent and had fun playing in that for awhile and then I called Grammy and told her they were here because she wanted to see Chayden again before he left.  She came up and we went to McDonald's.  

Carson was having a hard time walking because his legs were sore.  He was kind of sad today.  He has been lately.  Not sure why.  He will tell me sometimes he misses his Dad and Grandmas and cousins in California.  Poor little guy.  He has my whole heart.  Or as he tells me, "Jodi I love you with all of my hearts".  Yes, plural.  He is so dang cute.  Grammy came over for a while and hung out a bit. She is a total hoot.  After she left I practiced the harp for a while because Carson was tired and watching a movie.  Later, we did some smoke bombs, snappers and snakes and saw the prettiest deer.

I had to make a fast dinner because Dave took Chayden wave running in Mantua.  Sarah said she thinks he likes having someone who likes him as much as he likes them, meaning Carson loves me the most.  Haha  Probably true.  Carson and I watched The Wizard of Oz.  He calls it The Lizard of Oz.  And the tin man is the metal man and the munchkins are the chipmunks.  Sometimes he calls chipmunks flipmunks.  Too funny. When Dorothy sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow, he cried. He said it was a sad song.  I kept falling asleep but he would wake me up when I did.  He finally fell asleep about 11.   He's going to be beat tomorrow.  Oh, we got Scratchers to come inside the house this morning.  He acted like he lived there but was anxious to get out.  He's so pretty!

Mr. Cat and Scratchers together. Mr. Cat ran him off after a cat fight that I had to break up. Fur was flying everywhere!

dear tuesday, I got out early on my run and was able to get in four miles.  I hurried and showered and got ready so I could take Carson to the Pioneer Day parade in Ogden.  It was his very first parade!  Sky, Sarah, Chayden and Dave were all fishing in Bear River and they took his carseat and so I had to borrow one from Julie.  They are so nice to loan me whatever I need whenever I need. It's so nice to have great neighbors.  We went and got Grammy and then tried to find a good spot but ended up in the sun.  The shady side had NO room.  We were super hot but had an umbrella.  My poor mom actually sat on the curb with us for a bit.  She was unable to get herself up though and so I had to lift her up from behind and I messed up my back again.  Groan. I know better than to do that.  I think it's in a different spot this time because I had pain shooting up my back all day instead of down my leg like normal.  Great. Just great. Carson was so cute though.  He was pretty hot as well, but was able to get some candy and had a lot of fun.  He is the sweetest little thing.  He still had a hard time walking because his shots yesterday made his legs so sore.  Poor little guy.  He wasn't his usual happy self today.

We grabbed some pizza and I had fun entertaining them doing the Magic School Bus.  Grammy is a riot. He giggles and giggles at her. She IS entertaining!  We took Grammy home and Sky was there waiting for us with Chayden and Sarah. Chayden was heading back to California today and so we told him goodbye. He told us all about the four fish he caught this morning with Dave.  It was the first time he has ever caught a fish.  They caught all catfish and came home and Sky fried them up for them and he loved them. It was nice of Dave to take him.  

I ran a couple errands and then headed home and organized my cake decorating drawer.  It has been bugging me for a while. 

AMEN TO THIS!!!

Katelyn brought Foster over in his booties and hat.  Too funny!

dear wednesday, today I worked my shift at the temple.  We were really busy. I feel bad I can't bend or twist, but I can't so I try to be good about it.  It was fun as it always is.  I work with some fun people.  I ran to the grocery store after to get a bunch of veggies to make the cabbage veggie weight loss soup so I can get off about four pounds before the cruise.  My body is doing the dang thing where I can eat nothing all day and I gain weight.  Ugh!  So frustrating. If I'm going to gain weight, I at least deserve to enjoy it and eat crap.  Nope.  It's the hormone thing going on and I am frustrated.  I made the soup and Taylor is a fan. He likes it.  It is pretty tasty.  

My macaron recipe

It was fun having him here all day as I worked on the macarons.  I had on Rain Man the movie (the PG version) and it was nice to have something on while I worked on these cookies.   I was VERY discouraged after my first batch because the feet spread.  I wanted to cry knowing I had to make SO SO many.  I tried again and the second batch was better but not much. I decided I better look up some bakeries and get them on speed dial because I was not going to be able to keep making failed batches.  Instead, I decided to pray.   I told Heavenly Father that I know I am allowed to pray for the help of angels and that I was in a fix and I had given it my best shot and it wasn't coming together and I wasn't doing it for me but for someone who deserved to have perfect cookies for their special day and then I asked for the help of any angels who were skilled in macaron making.☺ I had faith they would help me and the next batch was a success!  I was so thrilled and so grateful! I can't even tell you how much pressure was lifted from my shoulders.  

Smooth bottoms

But, I did mess up the color a bit on the tan ones and so I kept making more and more batches and they kept turning out!  I spent TEN HOURS working on them and I only got half of them done.  These things are the finickiest cookie as well as very difficult to get it all right. I would guess the success rate is around 20% if you want a perfect cookie. Whew, I was so relieved! I thanked those angels who helped me (because I KNOW I had help!) and went to bed exhausted but happy I am halfway done.  

Love the feet!

dear thursday, I got in about 5 miles today but mostly walking.  I hurried home and got busy on the macs.  I was praying that they would work as well as they did yesterday but the first batch wasn't quite up to par and so I asked for my macaron skilled angels to send their amazing help again and viola, the next batches turned out amazing and near perfection.  I was so grateful.  I just didn't have it in me to have to keep having failed batches.  I was already pretty tired of making them after yesterday.  

I put on Mama Mia and watched that and then Footloose. I needed some live, hopping music to keep me alert.  Haha And I did hop and dance.  I got them done earlier than I hoped and so made the filling and got them all filled.  YUM!  That is all!  They are actually heavenly. I filled them with coconut flavored buttercream and orange swirl.  TASTY!  

So happy they are done and that they turned out so cute.  I charged $1 per cookie which is a killer deal really.  You would have a hard time finding them that cheap about anywhere else.  And mine are larger.  I keep reminding myself that when I look at how small they are and feel guilty for charging that.  Anyone who has made them understands that they should be $5 a cookie to even make any money on them (I think the average is $3 each) because honestly, I spent about 20 hours making 10 dozen.  And then the cost of supplies.  I am pretty sure I made about $4.50 an hour if I did the math right.  So, just like wedding cakes, you don't do it for the money.  Whew, I am glad that is done!  And when you consider each cookie has two parts, that is 20 dozen I had to make (before sandwiching them).

I also made dinner for Dave's parents.  I used the cabbage soup and thickened it and put it over steak and viola....Swiss Steak.  It was yummy!  They also got macarons.  Imagine that!  Hah I went to bed and turned on Mama Mia again. Love that music!

There is steak in there underneath.

dear friday, got in almost 5 miles of running today.  I have found that now I really don't want to run. Not good.  So I am forcing myself on my good days when my back feels okay.  My hips have started to ache since I lifted my mom and I'm sure that is just recessed back pain because that is when it started.  Look what I found while running....  I fear he has been abandoned.

I came home and got ready and while I waited for Carson to arrive I cleaned and mopped and got in a lot of cleaning.  When he got here, he was so cute and happy.  He totally has the cutest personality.  He makes me laugh and I make him laugh.  We are kind of made for each other because we click.  Haha  We played "Guess Who" for a while. Taylor helped him out and it was hilarious.   He loves to kiss me.

We then did some craft pictures and then I delivered my macarons to the reception house while Taylor watched him.  The house is so gorgeous.  It's an elderly couple's house that lived in our ward while they built it and it's spectacular, the yard in particular.  

I went and grabbed some Arbies for Taylor and Bryce so they would have food before they left for the 311 concert.  I was so sick of being in the kitchen that I did not want to cook.  They took off and then when Dave got home, we headed to the Sutton/Thorton reception. Before we even got inside I had two people tell me they heard I made the macarons.  Before I left, about 10 different people came up to me and somehow knew I made them.  Cute Megan (the bride) thanked me for them and said they were perfect.  They did look pretty cute on the table.  We talked to several people and then got some treats and enjoyed the glorious yard.  I would love to live there.  It was spectacular.  As we were leaving we ran into Leslie Capener and Nick.  She is as funny as ever.  We had Carson overnight because Sky and Sarah went to a concert.

dear saturday, I got out but only got in about 4 miles because I had to get back to tend Carson since everyone was working today.  He was still asleep when I got home.  He helped me make Amish Bread and then he did some pictures and played doctor. I was his patient. He came with me to run some errands and I bought him a Paw Patrol watch at Shopko. How do you resist those brown eyes?  I got him a Frosty at Wendy's because he has never had one.  He loved it.  We got home and BBQ'd burgers. Sky and Sarah were here and the rest of the boys were home too.  It was another hot day.  Sky had me, Sarah, and Taylor try to figure out these mind games.  We each figured out one.  Then we had Dave try. He ended up getting them all eventually.  

 We made slime!  It was soooo pretty!!

Shenanigans

dear sunday, I made Funfetti cookies for my Primary class.  They were yummy.  Super easy too.  Just add two eggs and 1/3 cup of oil to the Funfetti cake mix.  Doesn't get easier than that.  So we are loaded with sweets right now. Macarons, Amish bread, and cookies. When it rains it pours! I might as well open my own bakery!

Carson made potions and then he rubbed my feet.  Ahh...that's my favorite.  It only lasts for about 5 seconds but I will take what I can get!  We headed to church and we had our class time first.  Molly was substituting for Cheryl.  Sam was getting a bit out of control and so Julie took her for a bit.  She fell asleep on me during sharing time.  That time is so hard for littles.  I talked to Bonnie and Brad for quite a while after church.  When I got home we ate dinner and then played games.  Sarah kicked our trash in one game. She is really smart.  Then we played Quick Wit.  Dave and I used to play that with the Berkheimers in medical school all the time. It was fun to play it again especially with all the boys.  I was in heaven having all the boys here and everyone of them playing. I treasure times like these.  I just love my family.  They are all so much fun to be with.  I know these times won't last because they will all be off on their own soon with their own families, but for now, it's so nice. 

dear random,

This is my ornament for this year.  I loved the quote on the back.