*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 mother nature...I headed out on a five miler to the cemetery and back.  It was pretty chilly.  I hate it when I get used to warm runs and then it turns cold again!  I think Mother Nature has PMS. Getting real tired of her mood swings! If only she were menopausal and would have a few hot flashes.

dear family on the road, Bryce went snowboarding today because Powder got eight new inches of powder.  Then he headed to Seattle with his buds for Spring Break.  So Bryce is in Seattle.  Taylor is on a cruise in the Mexican Caribbean.  Skyler is in Bakersfield, California.  McKay is in Russia.  My boys are all traveling all over the world in places I have never been.  Dave and I (he's on call AGAIN this week!) are just home praying extra hard for everyone's safe return!

Taylor cruising...

Bryce snowboarding and then on way to Seattle

In Seattle

dear cold run, it was really chilly on Tuesday morning but then quickly warmed up.  I ran out west and it was a nice change of scenery.  I practiced the harp for over an hour and actually enjoyed every minute of it.  I am amazed!  When I think of how bad I hated to practice the piano as I was growing up, I am so happy it's not the same now!  lol  I actually look forward to it. 

dear new recipe for this week, since it was a bit of a cold and rainy day, I decided to try out a new soup recipe.  I choose Cheeseburger Soup.  It was really good!  I was surprised how much it really tasted like a cheeseburger!  I liked it as did Dave.  He said it was too bad the boys weren't around because they would have loved it too.  I would recommend this recipe if you like potato and cheese soup because it's similar with just meat and more spices.  I will make this again!

Cheeseburger Soup
 This soup is insanely delicious!

• 1 pound ground beef (I used half ground beef and half sausage) 
• ¾ cup chopped onion
• ¾ cup shredded/or chopped carrots
• ¾ cup diced celery
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1½ cups milk
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ cup sour cream

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in 3 quart saucepan. Drain and set aside.
2. In the same saucepan add 1 T butter and add onion, carrots, parsley flakes, basil and celery. Saute until tender.
3. Add the broth, water, potatoes and beef and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
4. In small skillet melt remaining butter (3 T) and add the flour. Cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly.  I had to add some milk (about 1/3 cup) to this because it was too think to even stir.   
5. Add to the soup and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
6. Stir in the cheese, milk, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat and blend in sour cream.

I omitted the celery (because I was out) and the sour cream (because I forgot) and it was still delicious! 

dear relief society board meeting, we met at Becky's again. I didn't used to look forward to these meetings, but we really have a fun group of women now and so I actually look forward to them.  I have to admit I was on one tonight and couldn't stop laughing!  We were talking about restaurant knock offs and we were talking Olive Garden and somehow we got talking about going into the wrong restroom.....and I shared how I NEVER use the right one there...I always seem to go to the Men's.  Then Heidi shared how she went in the men's at the church when they added the font and even seeing the urinals in there didn't register with her that she was in the men's.  Heidi is a hoot.  She kills me and tells stories so well.  I had the same experience. In fact, I remember thinking while in the men's bathroom at Olive Garden that the man that walked in while I was in there was going to be SO embarrassed when he realized he was in the ladies room.  The joke, of course, was on me.  Anyway, we got talking about embarrassing moments and the rest of the meeting I was laughing about everything.  Funny or not, I couldn't help but laugh.  I was in one of those moods where everything seemed funny.  Once to the point of I couldn't talk I was laughing so hard.  It was definitely not a "bored" meeting tonight.  Good laughs!

dear snow....what?  Yes, I woke up to snow on the ground on Wednesday and it was cold!  But I had to get out early and so I just got out and got my run in.  It warmed up by the time I was on mile two and that was nice!  I even took off my jacket.  Spring snow is never too bad.  It always melts fast!  

This ↓ song popped into my head while I was out running.  It is a Janene Brady song that we used to sing a lot when they were little.  We had it on a cassette tape.  All of her songs were so fun!

It's Spring Again!  
This morning when the sun came up a wondrous thing I heard, 

a whistling, warbling chirping noise, it sounded like a bird. 

And then I saw it flying to its nest high in a tree, 

It's spring, spring, spring again, the bird was telling me!

And later on while playing in the yard, guess what I found?

A cheery yellow daffodil had popped up through the ground.

The crocuses and tulips were alive as they could be,

Its spring, spring, spring again, the flowers were telling me! 

by Janeen Brady

 And there they are!  It REALLY is SPRING again!

Compare the above to this one ↓on the same week!

This was this same week about three years ago!  (It came up on my Facebook memories page but I can't remember the year - sorry!)  But I'm NOT complaining!

And somehow I am still hanging in there with my planking.

dear sista lunch, 

We met at Slackwater Pizza for lunch and it was really a good restaurant! I was impressed.  I was SO happy that Robin came!  She looked really good too!  Jody had taken her to her Dr. appt before and it sounds like she is so lucky to be here.  The doc told her that she was the sickest person in the hospital at the time she was there.  She has a long road ahead of her.  I am just so grateful she survived it!  Close call!  Too close!   Dawn, Jody, me and Bonzo were the only ones that showed up.  But it was a lot of fun.  Dawn is always SO dependable.  If she says she is coming, she is coming.  And she is never late.  I appreciate people like that.  I am not always one of them, so I know it's not always an easy thing to do.  I had the best soup and turkey sandwich. I tried everyone's pizza and it was tasty!  I will go there again.  Bonzo was totally herself and had us all laughing as usual.  They have a pizza on the menu called Cardiac Arrest and she jokingly said she was going to have that.  We all laughed.  When the waitress came and she actually ordered it, I'm not sure if we were all shocked or laughing too hard to care!  She did order it!  And she did eat it!  Brave girl!  Oh my... so hilarious!  It was a lot of fun.  

There it is in writing...Bonzo's Cardic Arrest pizza!

I stole this collage from Dawn's blog (after I did mine). Thanks Dawn!

I gave Bonzo a picture frame that had the letters OMG on it because she is always saying that.  She doesn't say what it stands for (which btw is Oh My Gosh! around here) but she just says OMG.  She's hilarious.  I could NOT decide which photo to put in it and so I printed up a bunch so she can change them out.  

After I had to run and try to find some birthday gifts.  I hit Ross, TJ Maxx and Costco.  I came home and watched Josh Groban on PBS and it was fab!  The Carpenters were on after and so I watched them as I was cleaning the kitchen.  Great musicians!

dear mr. cat, I find it very amusing (and interesting) that whenever I practice the harp, you always run into the room to listen.  One day this week you laid on the couch (which you never do!) and just watched me play and listened. 

Then you jumped up on the piano so you were closer to the harp.  Or maybe it was to be closer to ME!  Hah!  That would be the day! 

It's just very sweet!
Dave was eating something one night and you were very interested and wanted your fair share.  He wouldn't share though.  But I would have!  Doesn't matter because you still like him better.

Playing with the laser.....

  

dear harp lesson...week SIX!  I am feeling pretty good about my progress.  For the first time, I felt like my form was finally where it needs to be with the exception of my thumb.  My thumb is one stubborn little stubby!  He is going to need some special training this upcoming week.  But I still have to concentrate like crazy on my form.  My songs are progressing and I have them all memorized.  That is one thing I have learned about the harp.  You have to be watching your fingers and your form so much that there is no time to look at your music and so you basically have to memorize everything.  At least for now.  Currently I am playing Mississippi Hot Dog, Twinkle Twinkle, I Love You, Lavender Blue, Lightly Row, and Fairy Ring.  I got three new songs today as well.  I am to keep practicing the others each week so I keep the skills I learned from each one.  I am glad she is pushing me because I really want to progress quickly.  She said my form today was the best yet.  YAY!  I learned a lot of new symbols today.  Every week I am surprised how much there is to learn with this instrument and I am only on week six!  But I am so happy I am finally doing it!  I really enjoy it!

dear karen's birthday, after my lesson I headed to Scare's because it was her birthday!  Mickey and Aubrey got to miss part of school to celebrate!  I was so glad!  They are so much fun to hang with! They are the girls I never got!  Karen wanted to eat at The Greenery and so we took off.  Mickey rode with me and we talked "harp" the entire ride.  She has been taking for about 16 months now and so I like to pick her brain.  Lunch was really good. The Mormon Muffins were the best!  I love those things. I used to make them but the recipe makes so much batter (I swear it lasts six months) and so I haven't made them in awhile.  My boys don't "love" them either and so it isn't really worth it.  But I DO love them!  Mmmm.....  Karen and I shared a sandwich with turkey and avocado and it was delish!  We shopped at Rainbow Garden's after and had a lot of fun.  That store is always so fun to shop with friends.  We were laughing and just having fun.  

I almost bought this book last time I was there with the Fun Bunch because LOOK at the title!  And it was on clearance.  I was in a hurry and didn't even look inside it but luckily the clerk asked me if I knew what it was about and when I told him no, he told me it was about reincarnation!  We about died laughing!  He said he has had it returned several times because no one knew what it was about when they bought it. Must have been other purple lovers!  lol

On my way home, I stopped at Bella Me for the first time in almost a year and checked out their shoes.  I tried on some other clothes, but just got me a pair of summer sandals that are so cute.  

dear visit to ma and pa's, I was right by my parents and so I stopped by and visited them.  I stayed for a couple of hours.  It was fun.  We talked about everything.  I absolutely love talking to my parents.  We talked about all my boys and about Dixie coming to visit and about all kinds of things.  I wish my mom felt better but her back and stomach are really bothering her.  She just goes on and never complains. I am not sure how she does it.  But my Dad has been golfing!  Yay!  So happy he feels up to it! They are so fun and such great people.  They listen and don't judge and I listen to them and don't judge and we enjoy each others company.  I know someday I won't be able to just drop by because they won't be around.  I am so grateful I had some time today so I could.

dear long run, I did my long run on Friday this week with Robin.  We just ran around the city.  We got in 10 miles.  We saw an old abandoned couch and so tried to get our photo with it but it was a FAIL!  But we still had fun trying. 

 I got to check out her new counter-tops and cabinets she is staining.  They are looking good!  I also came home with several pennies AND some of her yummy brownies!  Oh, and she gave me a bag of Cadbury eggs to thank me for taking in dinner after her surgery.  Wow!  That was sweet!  Literally!

It was seriously crazy today because pennies were raining down from heaven.  On one of the streets we were on, I found one, then she found one, then I found one...and another, and another. They were every 10 feet or so.  Some in the middle of the street and some on the side.  I found seven and she found three.  It was bizarre!

dear sink leak, ugh!  Under my bathroom sink I discovered a pool of water!  Luckily, I caught it before it really destroyed much, but we still had to use a big fan to dry it out.  I have been feeling an urgency to reorganize underneath both of those cupboards.  This forced me to.

dear dinner with stake presidency, we went out to dinner to celebrate Flint's birthday.  We went to Maddox and it was just the three couples.  Dave too these photos. I had no idea. haha  He was thinking I would need one for the blog.  hehe  I should have just taken one of us all but sometimes, it seems awkward so I didn't. haha  But we had a great time.  I sure do love these two couples.  They are the cream of the crop, that is for sure.

dear saturday, I got out on my run early and Dave was out working on the rental we own.  He found me midrun and so I gave him my jacket because believe it or not, I was too warm! 

I hit another jackpot today!

The weather was just SPRING like today!  I took advantage and stopped to swing for a few minutes!  It really is coming!  Can't wait!

I talked with Sky today for a while about things going on with him.  He has a few new opportunities on the horizon and so I am very excited for him.  He sounded a lot more enthused than the last time we chatted.  He may even be moving back in the fall!  I hope, I hope!  Bryce got home safely from his trip.  So glad about that!  The rest of the day I worked on my lesson for my Sunday School class, my talk I give next Tuesday, and a list for the ward for my Humanitarian calling.


dear dinner at new restaurant, we have a new restaurant in town and so we had to go check it out.  We went with the Singletons.  It was actually good food, but the prices are a bit steep.  It is a more high end place.  I did like the selection on the lunch menu better than on the dinner one though.  But either way, it was fun and tasty!

dear daylight savings time, you are NOT my favorite thing!  At least in the spring.  

Or...To church late be you will.

dear sunday, this 9 am church time makes me scramble some mornings.  I had to hurry and make treats for my class (RK Treats), print a bunch of stuff, copy my humanitarian list at the Library (thankfully Dave offered to do that for me), and make the final handouts etc, for my lesson.  My lesson went okay, but nothing to write home about.  I came home and prepared lunch.  I tried this new casserole. It's like one I used to make all the time.  It was good.   

Taylor arrived safely home from his cruise.  I always breath a sigh of relief when my boys get home from traveling.

   
 

dear irish sayings, a friend of mine posted these great little quips on Facebook and I wanted to remember them so I am reposting here:

You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your father was.

Continual cheerfulness is a sign of wisdom.

The stars make no noise.
You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.
Who gossips with you will gossip of you.
A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures.
The longest road out is the shortest road home.
It is often that a person’s mouth broke his nose.
If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, then you’re lucky enough.
Don’t give cherries to pigs or advice to fools.
A silent mouth is sweet to hear.
It is better to be a coward for a minute than dead for the rest of your life.
Put silk on a goat and it is still a goat.
A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle.
A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.
Don’t be breaking your shin on a stool that’s not in your way.
Here’s to eyes in your head and none in your spuds.
Firelight will not let you read fine stories, but it’s warm, and you don’t see the dust on the floor.
Take the world nice and easy, and the world will take you the same.
Here’s to your roof, may it be well thatched. And here’s to all under it – may they be well matched.

dear random,  

My birthday last year.  My Dad sent this from his phone.  Not sure what I am holding up, but I love Taylor's face.  haha

When I opened my bedroom deck door, I saw these two just chilling.  They didn't even move a muscle when I was out on my deck.  It really never gets old to see them.  I love it!

The turkeys wandering the hood.  Those Toms are getting huge!

When I walked in my Sunday School classroom, I saw this hanging up.  Now we know why they took the photo.
 This one turned out much better than the ones I posted last week.

 Taylor posted some a video of them horseback riding on his cruise.  This is the best I could get.  hah
 Bryce posted this great shot of redwoods I believe.

I got my Easter up a few weeks ago.

dear mckay, we got some photos from the mission president's wife this week that she took at the Zone Conference.  He is looking good!  I sure do miss this kid!

He sent this one... he is at the Zoo...

dear quotes:

Love this!

Most women?  

Oh yes!

Bwhahahahahah!

True True True

I made these quotes, but couldn't decide which format I like best.  What's your pick?

I think this is important to remember.

 Oh my, this made me laugh! 
Because it's so true!

 So make it positive!

 Beautiful thoughts and a beautiful picture.  Those flowers though...

 Do it!

Amen to that!

I hope so!

And last, but not least!
 LOVED THIS ↓

 Author Unknown

My wife does not work
My wife doesn't work!!!
Conversation between a husband (H) and a psychologist (P):
Q: what do you do for a living Mr. Rogers?
H: I work as an accountant in a bank.
P: Your wife?
H: She doesn't work. She's a housewife.
Q: Who makes breakfast for your family?
H: My wife, because she doesn't work
Q: What time does your wife wake?
H: She wakes up early because it has to be organized. She organizes the lunch for the children, ensures that they are well-dressed and combed, if they had breakfast, if they brush their teeth and take all their school supplies. She wakes with the baby and changes diapers and clothes. Breastfeeds and makes snacks as well.
Q: How do your children get to school?
H: My wife takes them to school, because she doesn't work.
P: After taking their children to school, what does she do?
H: Usually takes a while to figure something out that she can do while she is out, so she doesn't have to pack and unpack the car-seat too many times, like drop off bills or to make a stop at the supermarket. Sometimes she forgets something and has to make the trip all over again, baby in tow. Once back home, she has to feed the baby lunch and breastfeed again, get the baby's diaper changed and ready for a nap, sort the kitchen and then will take care of laundry and cleaning of the house. You know, because she doesn't work.
P: In the evening, after returning home from the office, what are you doing?
H: Rest, of course. Well, I'm tired after working all day in the bank.
Q: What does your wife do at night?
H: She makes dinner, serves my children and I, washes the dishes, orders once more the house, makes sure the dog is put away as well as any left over dinner. After helping children with homework she gets them prepared to sleep in pajamas and the baby is in fresh diapers, gives warm milk, verifies they brush their teeth. Once in bed she wakes frequently to continue to breastfeed and possibly change a diaper if needed while we rest. Because she doesn't have to get up for work.

-This is the daily routine of many women all over the world, it starts in the morning and continues until the wee hours of the night... This is called "doesn't work"?!
Being a housewife has no diplomas, but has a key role in family life!
Enjoy and appreciate your wife, mother, grandma, aunt, sister, daughter... Because their sacrifice is priceless.
Somebody asked her... 

You are a woman who works or is it just "housewife"??
She replied:
I work as a wife of the home, 24 hours a day..
I am a mother,
I am a woman,
I am a daughter,
I'm the alarm clock,
I'm the cook,
I'm the maid,
I am the master,
I'm the bartender,
I'm the babysitter,
I'm a nurse,
I am a manual worker,
I'm a security officer,
I'm the advisor,
I am the comforter,
I don't have a vacation,
I don't have a license for disease.
I don't have a day off
I work day and night,
I'm on duty all the time,
I do not receive salary and...
Even so, I often hear the phrase:" but what do you do all day?"
Dedicated to all the women who give their lives for the welfare of their families
The woman is like salt: Her presence is not remembered, but its absence makes everything left without flavor.