*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, I woke up with a migraine trying to happen.  I was feeling nauseated but I knew the head part was about to hit.  And it did. :(  It was there all morning,  but not the full blown migraine yet. I started to put away my Thanksgiving and I couldn't finish. I had to stop and take a Maxalt. It didn't seem to do much, in fact it started to get worse. But thankfully, it kicked in after about an hour.  Whew. I had too much to do to be down with one of those today.  I spent the day putting up my indoor Christmas.  Always takes longer than I plan, but it wasn't too bad considering I had a low grade migraine all day.

I got my treat basket out again for the delivery guys!

Dave didn't get home until 7 pm unfortunately, but as soon as he did we headed to go find a tree.  It's not as fun to do it without the boys but I am accepting the change and just going with it.  We went to Riverdale first and they didn't have much in the size we needed.  They had a lot that had just got off the truck and hadn't opened their branches yet so we couldn't judge the looks.  We decided to go to their lot on 2nd street to check them out.  Nothing.  Great.  Our only other option was Layton.  I thought no, but Dave said to let's just go.  So off we went.  I text Sky on the way to see if they had already had dinner and wanted to meet us somewhere.  He was at school - actually listening to Barry give a lecture at U of U and then doing a deposition with him after.  So I text Sarah.  Carson had already eaten and so we just stopped by and visited for about 30 minutes.  Carson was so full of energy. I wish I could steal some of it.  He showed me his little Christmas tree and we hung out in his room.  He is a hoot. Their place looked so cute.  Sarah has a knack for decorating.  He cried when we left.... :(

   

This night wasn't living up to tradition and so instead of Village Inn, we went through the drive through at Chick-fil-A.  

It was already almost 9:30 at this point and so we were tired and wanted to get home.  We both go in to O town tomorrow and so I will go check out the trees that hadn't opened up yet and Dave will go get one if I can find one.  I better!

dear tuesday, I got up about 5:30 a.m. and got some things done and then practiced the harp.  

I headed to my lesson and Mackenzie came so we could practice our duet.  She missed her health class so she could.  I decided to do the pedal harp so I could get used to the pedals and she did the lever one.  I seriously struggled with the bass notes because there are so many more strings on the pedal harp.  But wow, does it sound amazing!  There is such a huge difference!  I finally had to mark the lower E and A so I wouldn't keep missing them.  I wish I still had good vision because that is also part of the problem!  Aaaagh!   We finally did okay after an hour of practicing but I am still worried I am going to mess it up!  I hope Mickey doesn't regret wanting to do a duet with me!  
I rushed off to get some things checked off my list. I had several returns and some online in store pick ups as well.  I hit Winco, Hollister, Franz, Ross, Sams, Tuesday Morning, Gordman's, Big Lots, Smiths, and the Christmas tree lot to see if the trees that the branches hadn't rested were better today, but I couldn't even see one tree that I liked. Dave was in North Ogden at his dentist appt. and so he ended up going all the way back to Layton to get the 20 footer!  Yikes!  Oh well, we had no other options.  We need to get an artificial one but the size (height) we need are ridiculously expensive.  Someday maybe I will find a good deal.  I am so tired of shopping online right now that I don't even want to look. I wouldn't get one until after Cmas anyway.  He had meetings and I tried to organize all the stuff I bought.  

Look what I found at Sams!  I was SO tempted to buy them, but that would be dumb when I can make them.  They aren't cheap either!

dear wednesday, I got up and headed out into the tundra!  It was only 13 degrees when I woke up and about 22 when I started my run!  Brrrr......    I ran five. 

It is such a busy time of year!  I worked on Christmas and then made macarons.  I did two separate batches and neither really worked.  The first batch were red ones and so pretty, but I over beat the batter because it was too thin and it spread too much so the shapes were not uniform. I sprinkled crushed candy canes on top and that was not a good idea because they melted into these weird formations.  

The second batch I did green.  The feet on those spread out too far and the tops were hollow.  Fail...  

I read up on some trouble shooting guides and it looks like the culprit to that was the fact that just before I was about to mix the egg whites with the dry ingredients, the doorbell rang. It was the SS Presidency dropping by some bread for Christmas.  They stayed at least 20 minutes chatting and from what I read, if you don't immediately mix the egg whites after they are whipped, they will deflate and cause all kinds of problems.  Yep.  Oh well.  I decided I was too tired to attempt another batch tonight and so hopefully in the morning.  Dave only got 10 minutes for lunch and then didn't get home until almost 7 again.  He had meetings right after that. He never gets any down time.

dear thursday, today is a day that will live in infamy!  And not for the same reason the rest of the nation is thinking.  THREE years ago TODAY (Dec. 7, 2014) Dave was called by an apostle of the Lord (M. Russel Ballard) to be our Stake President.   In some ways it feels like 13 years and in other ways it only feels like a year or so.  He does a good job.  I am grateful he has been able to keep up his demanding work schedule this year and stay on top of his calling as well.  

I got up at 6 a.m. and did another batch of Macarons. I was not going to end it in failure!  Thankfully, these ones turned out.  I added sprinkles to the batter and wasn't sure how that would work, but I liked the effect. 

It was FREEZING again this morning!  Even Mr. Cat refused to go out!  I was about to join him in the boycott of that, but I had a busy day and so I had to.  I got in 4 miles....it would have been longer but our old neighbor Betsy (she's not old- meaning she used to live by us) drove by and honked and started to chat.  Since she was in traffic, she pulled over and by the tabernacle and we had a good long chat trying to catch up some.  

I stopped to peek at the gingerbread entries this year for the contest.  I should have entered.  Next year for sure!  I already know what I want to do!  Now to just find the time to do it before the rush begins!  I really am excited to do one!

I was cutting it close to get to my Homemakers meeting, but I managed to get there on time.  Our party was at the amazing house (The Roses') on the home tour that I loved in Kotter Canyon.  It was so much fun!  We had a huge turnout!  Beth has done an amazing job keeping this group going for so long.  Her husband passed away a couple of weeks ago and so I arranged to take up a collection and then I got her a gift card to Alpine Garden's and a framed photo of her and her husband.  It turned out well. I also modpodged a photo of him on an ornament. Some people thanked me for doing it, but not sure how they felt about the photo. I think it was perfect.

We ate and then had our white elephant exchange.  It gets a little heated some years.  I ended up stealing something from Chris and then this new lady stole it from me and then I stole it back. She was going to steal it back but after three steals, it's dead.  So I got it!  She wanted the bath bomb in it and so I gave it to her.  She gave me the "boob job" kit she got in hers.  Two balloons.  Haha.  It was funny.  

Some of the food

My white elephant (for the win!) on bottom left

We toured the house again, and once again I was blown away by how gorgeous it is for such a young couple.  In awe.  Love it.

McKay and Taylor both showed up to do laundry and study. I sure do love it when they just pop in!

About 5:30 Sky showed up.  No Carson or Sarah.  They drove separate because he had to take his car to get fixed.  Carson was asleep.  But about 10 minutes later he burst in the house full of his usual energy and spirit.  I gave him a great big hug and the first thing he said was, "Do you want to play!?"  That's always the first thing he says.  So cute!  But then he gave me a present. He was so excited to give it to me.  It was the cutest and prettiest purple candy cane ornament I have ever seen!  Seriously so pretty!   Dave still wasn't home but he had a Dr. Bear one for him too.  We played for a bit and then headed to see Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the reindeer at Heritage Dodge. 

It was freezing and so we took our own hot chocolate.  The line was long but we ran into Jeremy and Crystal and their two littles Navy and Yasmine.  We all chatted for a while and I held Yasmine.  Carson was not happy about that.  Hah.  Too funny.  He wanted me for himself.  Then CJ came over and talked to Sky.  It was fun for them to see each other.  At one point we ran over and stood by the fire while Sky waited in line for us.  

Justin P. came over and chatted with me.  He works there.  He was very nice.  So crazy to see all my SS kids all grown up and married.  He's a good kid. Then we FINALLY got to see Santa.  Carson was hilarious!  He covered his face with his hands so Santa couldn't see him.  It was so funny.  He wouldn't take his hands down and so I said, "If I come and sit by you, will you take your hands down?"  He said he would so I got to sit on Santa's lap too.  I was going to anyway!  hehe  

Add caption

Dave with his Dr. Bear ornament Carson gave him.

Playing together after

Then the boys all helped get the HUMONGOUS tree inside and set up. This one is a new record I am sure!  They had to cut TWO feet off of it too.

dear friday, I got up and got in three miles.  It was chilly!  I spent most of the day wrapping presents.  I wish I could remember what else I did, but I'm writing this way after the fact and so I honestly can't remember much of today.  

I did take around a birthday gift to one of the ladies I VT.

dear saturday, I woke up feeling really nauseated.  I was afraid I had another migraine trying to burst through again.  I got up pretty early (6 a.m.) and started working on the calendars.  Ugh.  Taylor was here and he was studying his little brains out.  I wasn't sure what to do about my run, but I knew there was no way I could run feeling like I was.  I really just wanted to be in bed, but  'tis the season' and so there was no way.  Too much to do and the time is drawing nigh!  So I kept working on that dang calendar. I finally had to take a break because it gets to me after a while.  Dave was gone all afternoon at church stuff.  We had the Nathan Pacheco concert tonight and I was not sure how I was going to sit through all that the way I was feeling.  Dave said to try and sell our tickets on Facebook. I did.  No response.  I told him I would be okay.  We met everyone at Cafe Sabor.  Those that went were the Hipps, the McCarreys, the Olsens, and the Herzogs.  The food was meh.  I actually ate my enchilada even though I hadn't been able to eat all day. I didn't think my stomach could handle anything but the Advil I took on the way up, kicked in and I started to actually feel a bit more human.  

The waitress had a hard time getting everyone in.  Hah

We headed to Logan High for the concert.  It was so cold in Logan!  I ran into Barbara (a friend from AMI) and we chatted a while and then I ran in to the Cox's. This was all while Dave was parking the car.  We also saw the Jenks.  Anyway, the concert was amazing!  Madelyn Paige was the opening number and she was fabulous. I got a photo with her during intermission so I could send it to Aubrey.  They sound a lot alike to me.  Nathan was amazing!  I have never heard him and so I was planning on not being impressed, but it didn't take long to see how incredibly talented he is.  Wow!  Troy got our tickets and we thought we were paying $78 each for them and so we were a bit unhappy about that since we had never heard of him.  It ended up being $78 for both of us.  That was better.  It was a very good concert.  I am glad I started feeling better enough to enjoy it.  

dear sunday, I wasn't feeling great when I woke up, but a bit better than yesterday and so I got up about 5:30 a.m. and kept working on the calendar.  I needed to get it done before midnight so I can get the 50% discount.  The things we do to save $5-10.  Hah  I got a lot of it done and then made bath bombs for my party tomorrow.  They turned out great.  

I then headed to church.  I was hoping I would be able to last the whole block and I actually started to feel a lot better.  Blessings!  We get a new group of kids for SS in three weeks.  There are about 13 kids!  We got the new list and on the top was the date Jeannie and I were called.  I was called on 10/10/10.  Cool date, but that means I have been in this calling for SEVEN years!  I have never served in a calling for that long before!  I am not complaining, but holy cow!  Jeannie started one month before I did.  We are the oldies I guess!  Holli wanted me to rub her arm as she always does.  She is so cute.  

We were matchy matchy!

I had teacher development during the RS time.  I was starting to feel sick again.  McKay was here for lunch. Dave made us a pork roast.  After we ate, we decorated the tree.  I was starting to feel really sick again and I just wanted to go to bed for the rest of the day.  But, I knew I had to get that tree done.  I strung all the ribbon stuff and McKay put on the star and that made me very nervous.  Not sure how good his balance is and he's a big kid.  I decided I would do the ladder and the high ornaments because I would really be sick if he fell.  We needed Sky here to straddle the window ledges and do it. That was always his job.  I can't believe we let him to that!  It took about 2.5 hours.  Boy, was I glad to have that done!  Whew.  

But I still had miles to go before I slept.  I got back to work on the calendar and stuck with it until it was done.  I clicked SEND about 10:30 pm and so I even had time to spare. There have been some years, when I was right on the deadline.  I was beat.  I was so happy when I crawled in my warm bed.

dear mr. cat, I can't get over how cute you are at times!  I love how you hugged my purple bear and cuddled him in your paws just holding onto him so tight!  

Sleep in heavenly peace....

dear random, a photo of the gorgeous snow this week....

PURPLE blueberry muffin toast!  SO SO SO good!  But please tell me WHY they are called BLUEberries?  They are clearly purple berries!

Recipe for my Raspberry fudge....just so I'll have access to it somewhere if not home.

LOVE this!

*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, today it was so cold!  I really froze for the first part of my run. I ran my route that the pony is on and as I called to him (I call him Buddy) he actually came over to the fence.  He has never done that before.  He must have been expecting some kind of treat.  :)  But I didn't have one for him. :(   My friend Robin has surgery on her arm today.  I took them dinner but had to leave it on her porch because they were still not home from the hospital. 

dear groundhog day!  Dave asked last week why we didn't have any traditions for Groundhog's Day.  I told him I didn't know.  I really don't know.  So I decided to start some.  Never too late to start a new tradition right?  Umm... don't answer that.  I decided we will watch Groundhog's Day (the movie)...

...and I will start making these adorable Groundhog Day cookies I found on Pinterest.  They are so cute.  I took some to the Hollingsworth's and to some of the peeps I visit teach. 

My boys thought they were turkeys.  FAIL!  I should enter these on the Pinterest fail page.  Oh well, I thought they were kinda cute even if they look like turkeys.  I actually thought one looked like an African American Gumby.  Remember Gumby?   

Some woke up to snow and some didn't. ↓

On my run today, when I went by where the pony is, he was not there!  I guess they moved him due to the snow?  Not sure, but he was gone!  I hope that means he is getting better care. So I gave a treat to these guys.....

 It was really cold today! The wind was brutal as you can see by this flag!

We have had a lot of snow this winter.  This tractor was making his pile even higher.

I had a RS Board meeting tonight as well.  Right now I have three callings.  Not sure when I will be released from one OR two of them....but I am okay for now with all of three.  I REALLY don't want to be released from my Sunday School calling.  I love those kids so much. I teach the 16-17 year olds.

dear hill repeats, I forced myself to do some hills today.  My favorite jacket decided to have a zipper issue.  Dang!  

Maybe I will write to their customer service and see if it's as good as Avalanche's who replaced one of my jackets (wrong color but better than nothing) that also had zippers that quit working. 

 I only got in 12 repeats because I had a visiting teaching interview and had to cut it short so I wasn't late.  I was anyway.  Oh well. 

I saw a couple of cute snowmen on my route.

dear birthday lunch for mom and dad, I finally got to take my parents out to lunch today for their birthday.  Me, Sky, and Bryce all met them at Maddox.  It was a lot of fun to just visit while enjoying some yummy food!  I promised myself I would not eat much and so I brought most of mine back for Dave since he was working.  I'm trying to get off the five pounds I gained after I ran my last marathon.  I think my body wasn't sure why I quit running all those long distances since I had been doing that for an entire year and so it has decided to add some weight to the situation.  Or maybe it was all that Christmas Crack I ate over the holidays?  :)

Miami Vice???

Every single one of us ordered the same thing!  Turkey Steak!  Yum!

I had to sneak these in when they weren't looking. Sky does not his picture taken.

I insisted on getting one with him though since I really don't have many.  I got one with Bryce too.  SO sad it's blurry. 

Love these boys!

dear vd decors, I put up my Valentine's Day decors finally today.  I LOVE them! I LOVE VDay!  I also got the Sportsmanship medals made for tomorrow's games.  

I had very little snowmen out this year.  Partly because I have lost a few.  No idea how that happened. I have the boxes (Jim Shore snowmen) that I opened but they were empty. I think they must have melted!

  

dear first harp lesson!  I had my first lesson on Thursday morning this week!  I was so nervous!  I got up really early so I could give my friend Robin a ride to her hair appointment in Honeyville at 7:45 a.m. (in a blizzard!) because she just had surgery on her arm and can't drive.  Sky also needed a ride to Honeyville to pick up his car.  Interestingly enough they were right next door!  As I was driving down the lane to the car shop, I drove into a ditch (culvert!)....yikes....but my car was okay (I hope!).  I couldn't even see the dip due to the snow.  Great!   It had snowed and the roads were really slick.  

I then pointed my car south and drove towards a culmination of a dream I have been nursing for a very long while.  My first harp lesson!  I met Karen in a store parking lot so she could give me Mickey's harp books to borrow for this week until mine arrive and so she could lead me to the teacher's house.  I pulled into my teacher's driveway giddy with excitement and thought to myself, "You are really doing this!"  I went in and waited while she finished with another lady.  As I sat there, the thought kept scurrying across my brain, "You are finally here!  Your heart and soul have waited so long for this moment!"  I sat down on the student bench and we got started!  I had to pinch myself a couple of times.  It went really fast.  She is a great teacher.  I just love her.  She is in her 30's with four little kids.  They are darling.  I was a little surprised how hard the technique (hand position) is to grasp.  I am going to have to really practice!  The way you hold your hand while playing is a bit unnatural and will take a lot of practice.  I have been told that the harp is one of the most difficult instruments to learn.  After today I agree.  I am so grateful I know how to play the piano because that makes it so much easier.  It was very fun though and I am SO EXCITED to learn how to play!  I am actually going to PLAY THE HARP!  My dream come true!  When I got home and practiced a bit, it just felt so right.  It felt like home.  I know that I am supposed to be doing this.  It feels like I have uncovered a part of me that has been buried beyond it's day of awakening.

After my lesson, I met Karen at Tai Pan.  We shopped a bit, we were both rushed, but it was fun.  I was planning on getting back for my Homemaker's meeting, but I figured I would be too late and so I went to Costco, returned some things to Kohls and took advantage of being in the city and ran some errands. 

dear young women basketball games, as soon as I got back from Ogden I headed over to the church for the games.  Andrea was out shoveling snow and so I grabbed a shovel and helped her.  The snow was total powder and so light.   The games were once again a blast.  I am loving this new calling.  I am even getting to know a lot of the girl's names!  Hah  Valerie and I did much better with the scoring this week, but we still have a lot of  room for improvement.  hehe  But it's a lot of fun.  Our problem is we like to socialize and so we end up missing some things. We asked one of the coaches which girl made one of the baskets and she jokingly said, "There are four of you and you are asking me?!"  It was funny, and we laughed because she is right!  Oh well, we have fun and that is what the point of it all is.  The girls are so cute and just have a lot of fun as well.  The medals have been a big hit too.  Glad we did those!

 

dear friday, I got out early on my run.  It had snowed again during the night and the roads were bad.  I should have worn my snow tires (aka Yak Tracks) but didn't and I almost biffed it a few times.  I did my cemetery route and saw some great sights along the way.  

Isn't this beautiful?  Winter may be cold and miserable, but it is beautiful!

And check out these two houses I ran past.  Purple!  Well, okay more like Periwinkle, but still!

Tyson's palm tree was covered in snow!  As was most everything else.  You can't even see the bunny or angel!

I came home and actually remembered to plank. If I miss a day or two, my time goes way down.  I was up to 2:30 last week, but today I only got to 1:45.  Last year at this time I was close to 5:00.  

I put McKay's package together and FINALLY got it mailed.  It was a pain filling out the custom form and after re-doing it about seven times, they told me I did the wrong one!  It cost $93 to mail a 9 pound package to Russia.  I guess considering it is going as far away across the world as I can get, that is pretty reasonable.  I doubt he will get it before his bday, but that's okay.  At least he will get it!  He is in Korea this week and then getting transferred after that, so he has a big week!

I visited with Sky this afternoon.  We talked about my harp lessons and technique and his job and moving and a million other things.  I am really getting sad that he is going to be gone in a couple of days and I won't have this chance again for who knows when.   It's been SO great to have him home!  It makes me sad knowing he will be gone again and I won't see him for a very long time again. Dave got off early but then had to go to surgery.  Once he got back we headed to Ogden to go to Costco to get stuff for the Super Bowl Bash and to eat at Longhorn Steakhouse.  The wait was 40 minutes and so we went to Macy's as well.  Taylor was texting me about the menu for the Super Bowl Bash and informed he was now bringing about 10 people. Um....okay.  I need to get that dang basement ready.  It still isn't finished (I want it finished and beautiful!) and so I don't go down there much but I do want it clean.  As we were being taken to our table, I saw my brother!  We always see them when we go out to eat!  Last time it was in BC!  We chatted a bit and then ate our food.  It was delish!  Love that place.  I really love their steaks and their sweet potatoes.  

dear long run, since Robin had surgery this week I was on my own today.  It was about 18° when I left, but by mile five I took off my jacket and my gloves.  I was really not wanting to run 10 or 11 miles today and so I thought seriously about putting it off until Monday.  I didn't want to be away for too long since Sky is leaving tomorrow and I want all the time with him I can get.  But I knew he was super busy packing and once I got out it was easier to just keep going and it's always nicer to get it over with rather than have it hanging over my head.  So...I kept going.  I saw a lot of cute snowmen.  There are snowmen all over town everywhere you look. 

We haven't had much snow the past few years and so everyone is taking advantage of it.  I ran south of town and found this even cuter snow-gator: 

Can you believe how cool this is?  A teenage boy was out there adding more paint to it and he told me they do a different one each year if there is enough snow.  I will have to check it out every year.

One of my friends posted THIS on Facebook: 

Some people are just so creative.  It is fun to see what they come up.

I found ALL these coins in the high school parking lot scattered in different places.  I have yet to go there and not find at least one coin.

At mile six, the bottom of my left arch started to really bother me.  I just figured that my shoes were letting me know they were done...but it kept getting worse and was really painful. Painful enough that I called Dave at mile 10 and had him come and pick me up.  Hoping it's not a stress fracture or something worse. UGH! 

dear cleaning and cooking, I spent the rest of the day cleaning and cooking for the Superbowl party tomorrow.  So far now, Taylor says there will be 10.  It started with four...then six...now 10.  I am pretty sure the numbers will keep going up.  I made a Texas sheet cake and Christmas crack. I also made a pomegranate cheesecake.  Mmm....  They are really good!  My new ovens are just not like my old ones and every time I bake something, it seems like something goes wrong now.  I had to make two cakes because the first one didn't raise.  The repairman did mess with my settings and so I hoped it would fix the problem but it didn't.   

Cocoa mixture for the cake!  Smells so good!

Then I headed down to the Man Cave to get it cleaned.  Our basement is only partially finished and it frustrates me SO BAD that it isn't  finished.  And that is the reason I try and avoid it.  It's better if I don't go down there because every time I do, I get so frustrated with it.   I guess I will have to hire the finishing part of it out, but it's stuff that Dave can and likes to do...crown molding, fireplace cabinets, etc. and he probably would freak out if I did.  So instead, I just keep letting it bother me.  I am determined to make some serious headway with it before McKay gets home.  The bad thing is we have couches that are totally falling apart.  As in the stuffing is coming out of them!  The boys don't want me to get rid of them because they say they are the most comfortable couches on the planet and they like sleeping on them even more then their own beds.  But, their days are numbered.  They have to go.  NO one has couches that have stuffing coming our of them.  Just us.  The basement has truly been the boys hangout for years and they just do whatever they want down there which is evident in the nicks and holes in the walls.  It needs to be repainted completely.  And it needs new carpet.  We really messed up when we chose the carpet. Dave's bro got it for a good deal for us because he was putting it in his house and so we went with it and it has been the worst carpet I've even seen.  If I could go back in time and do things differently, I wouldn't have moved into the house until everything was done.  That was a huge mistake.  I had no idea it would be 20 plus years down the road and it still wouldn't be finished.  And now Dave has less time, energy, and motivation.  Not sure it will ever be done.  I just would prefer to move.  Okay rant over!  

Sky going through all his stuff and packing and me cleaning out under the stairs.  I should've taken an after photo.  But I forgot.  Trust me, it looked much better.

BUT, I did end up dejunking the stash of storage we have under the stairs.  I got rid of more than 25% of it (my goal!) and so I felt really good about that.  Sky had his stuff scattered all over while he tried to decide what to do with it all...take it, sell it, etc. as he was packing. So it was fun to be working down there together.  I told Sky how much the basement bothered me and how embarrassing it was to me and he said that no one even cares.  I said, "I do!"  He meant all of Taylor's friends that were coming for the party tomorrow.  But he was so nice and even touched up most of the nicks and holes in the walls.  He touched up most of the door frames and it really made me feel better.  Though it still needs a complete repaint job.  Oh well, the boys really don't mind even if I do.  It gives them a place to hang out without worrying too much about doing any damage to it, and trust me a house that raised five boys in it, has seen a LOT of damage to just about everything.  When something would break or get damaged, my boys have heard me say way more than they want, "And this is why I can't have nice things!"  But things don't matter.  They really don't.  Having said that, it still would be nice to have a really gorgeous finished basement where they could bring their friends and I would just smile instead of sigh.

dear superbowl party, #50! Panther's vs Bronco's!

A friend of mine posted on Facebook today, "I know what day the Savior will return. I just don't know what year."  He meant Superbowl Sunday.  He's obviously not a football fan. haha  But I do see his point because after church I worked on the food and did more cleaning to get ready for the party.  The count is now up to 12.  Taylor was here when I got home and even though Travis was with him, I put Taylor to work while Travis played X Box.  His cute friend CJ sent him a text with this photo.

Made me laugh.  He also asked Taylor how the raspberry fudge was coming.  I totally forgot about the fudge! Luckily I had all the ingredients for it and so I made a batch.  It really is the best stuff!  My nephew Weston loves it and hints for me to make it for him too.  I should make it more often because it's so easy.   Here's the recipe:

Raspberry Fudge

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 12-oz. package white chocolate chips
1 7-oz. jar Kraft Marshmallow creme
  2 teaspoons raspberry extract

Combine sugar, butter and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling bail, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Remove from heat, stir in chips till melted. Add marshmallow creme and raspberry extract; beat until blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan lined with foil.  I like to add several drops of purple food coloring and then swirl it into the fudge to get a marbled effect.  Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.

Sky helped me with the set up and I appreciated his help SO much!  He also made chicken wings with his own recipe that tastes just like Wingers.  They were so good!

Taylor's friends started to arrive.  Kolby and Shay (his wife), Ryleigh and Teylor (his wife), and then Cobbley and his wings (not his wife - his mom made chicken wings also).  Then Brad and two really pretty girls that are Taylor's neighbors.  They went to Fremont and know my good friend Kathy.  Then CJ and Olivia came with some yummy cookies her mom made.  We got it all ready to go and called them all up to eat and we had so much food! After they filled their plates, we STILL had so much food!  It didn't even look like there was dent in it.  Oh my, we had enough to feed five times that many.  Especially the pulled pork and teriyaki meatballs. 

They seemed to be having a good time though and another friend showed up.  I invited my parents to come over and help us eat all the food.  They are so awesome and came.  I am sure they were tired and would have preferred to just stay home, but they came.  Seeing Skyler one last time before he leaves was incentive enough.  We watched the game upstairs. We ended up with 13 kids and the five of us.  

I was emailing McKay during the game (details below) and I felt so bad for him that his team lost.  I know he felt bad as well.  But if he had been here watching it, I am sure it would have been worse.  I'm just grateful he is where he is and doing what he is supposed to be doing right now.  And hey, his Panther's made it to the Superbowl with an almost undefeated season. Not too many can say that!  He asked me what food we were serving.  He always planned out the menu for me weeks in advance.  He LOVES the Superbowl party.   

After the game, they all stayed around for a while.  As they left one of the cute girl's named Morgan said to me, "Just wanted to let you know that you have a great son.  He is really awesome!"  I told her thanks and that I had to agree with her.  I thought that was very sweet of her.  I loaded up the boys with food to take back with them being the starving college students that they are.  They were pretty happy about that.  I also packed up a bunch for Skyler to take on the road with him tomorrow.  But we still had a lot of food even after that.  I way over planned.  It's one of my greatest faults. 

I had friend post a question on Facebook asking who everyone was cheering for and what they were serving.  Here is my response:

Cheering for the Panthers for my son (who is their biggest fan) who is serving a mission in Russia. We WERE going to go low key until my college son informed me he's bringing 10 friends! So now we are serving pulled pork, chicken wings, teriyaki meatballs, shrimp, fruit, cheese & crackers, spinach artichoke dip, toasted pitas, 7 layer dip......etc. Texas sheet cake, pomegranate cheesecake, raspberry fudge, cookies, candy crack for dessert.....and I'm pretty sure even with all that that these boys will leave hungry!!

This cracked me up!  Unfortunately the horse at the panther!

Where Bryce watched the Super Bowl

dear mckay, you happened to be emailing right during the Superbowl.  I was giving you updates and you were excited to hear the Panther's got the ball after halftime when they were behind 7-16 (I think).   You would ask who had the ball or what the score was.......and I would give you a play by play but then you must have ran out of time because even though we got your regular letter after, you never responded back to my play by plays.  I'm sure you know by now they lost.  I felt so bad for you because I know how bad you wanted them to win.  But, I also know you won't let it get you down and you will have a positive attitude about it and just focus on your mission.  Here are some pictures we got from last week:

Okay, now that is COLD!  Insanely COLD!

Pictures of frozen stuff INSIDE the apartment!

Stray dogs

Zone Conference

dear random, I think this is one awesome photo of Sky!  I saw it on his phone and asked for him to send it to me but he said he was deleting it.  Then he posted it as his FB profile pix so I snagged it!

Crazy Bryce!  Not sure how he did that stache.

A friend posted this on FB and said she wasn't sure why but it reminded her of me.  I know why!  I am DONE with winter!!!

Taylor posted this.  Apparently he got up to 50 mph!  Injury waiting to happen!

Bryce posted this.  Yes, our turkey friend wanted to come in...for dinner maybe?  Literally for dinner.  Mmm... I do love turkey!

He must have heard me say that! 

Deer AND turkey.  They seem to get along.

Sky's famous taffy... un-pulled.

dear quotes, 

So there!  I am SO grateful I have all of the photos that I have taken and YES, I take way more than most people, but I will never regret taking a photo, but I may regret NOT taking one!  So take more photos!

I actually have this picture hanging in my home (without the caption on it).  Someone posted this on FB  and so I wanted to share.

Amen!  It has truly made me mentally stronger. I have a hard time giving up on anything no matter how tough.  And it's not just because I'm stubborn.  Running has taught me that.

LOVE all of these ↓