SNAPCHAT

I know that Snapchat is greatly debated and often criticized, but I have a serious love for it. Sister S and I have THE BEST time with it. I was able to keep up with her life when she was in Logan at school, in Ukraine and in Mexico. I get to see a little snippet of what she's doing and I get to send her little snippets of what I'm doing. It has been a wonderful tool for us to stay connected.

On a way less serious side, it is also a blast to use! They have the best filters and we laugh and play with them all the time. 

I just had to send this one to my sister (she's not on SnapChat, but you can save them if  you want). It is such a flattering filter and I just crack myself up!

Some of their filters are very age-defying- they smooth out my skin and put lipstick on better than I do.

I get to catalog little moments of life that I might have forgotten.

I can send my kids pictures of their newest niece.

Elder D on Harry Potter's birthday.

I can whine about how sick I am while I binge watch Fringe and drink peppermint tea and it only lasts for 24 hours.

Overall, it is definitely one of the most used apps on my phone, and while I know it's not right for everyone, it has a special place in my life right now. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON HIKE

I talked Big C into going up in the mountains on Sunday afternoon. We went up to check on a spot for my reunion, but also to get out of the heat. It was a great way to spend time with family. We did a hike across the top of Blue Bell. That area is packed with memories for us, the strongest one being when Big C went skiing with his brothers and lost one of them in an avalanche. 

Big C reminisces about his brother at the top of the chute where he was killed.

He sat for a while and shared his memories with us. It was pretty amazing for the kids to see the place and hear his words.

Hiking the beautiful trail.

A spike deer.

The view of our little Ephraim.

Afterwards, we stopped and made s'mores.

We used some marshmallows that were at least a month old and they were the best s'mores we've ever had. I think it might be a new thing for our family- let the mallows get old before roasting! YUM!

HOMESICK

My older sister and I went back to our home town for a funeral last Saturday and I can't believe how many good, fun memories it brought back to us. I would pay big money for a time machine to take me back in time for a week. I miss my parents SO MUCH! They were amazing people and I had a great childhood.

This is the apartment we lived in when we first lived in Grand Junction. My parents were building our house and I was 5 years old.

This is the home I grew up in, but it looks a lot different now. When it was built it had three arches in the front and the brick was not painted- it was white with brown trim. But that planter in front is from us and all the trees too. They are so huge!!

While my sister and I were taking photos of the house, the people who live there now came home and told us to come in and see the house. I was so impressed with their kindness and my sister was in tears. It was a very poignant tour for us. We haven't been inside since we moved out 30 years ago.

There wasn't a lot left in the house that was from us (again, it's been 30 years), but we found this floor in the laundry room that is original! haha They let us go everywhere!

These cabinets in the laundry room are also original. They are from our first kitchen in the 1970's, before we remodeled. Aren't they groovy?? 

I know it seems strange to take a picture of a hallway, but I always tell my kids about playing soccer and football in the hallway growing up, so I took a picture to show them. I don't know how many lights we broke, but it was a lot.

This is the bathroom I grew up getting ready in. They painted the cabinets, but otherwise it is the same.

Here is a picture of the intercom system we had in all the rooms. Sooo 80's!

This is the kitchen area and the stairs go up to the master bedroom. The people that own it now have remodeled the kitchen twice since they bought the house in 1989, but the space is the same. My mom's white and yellow cabinets and tiled countertops are history, but will never be forgotten. What a fun trip down memory lane. I'm so blessed to have had such a wonderful family and home to be raised in.

LET THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME

I grew up having timeouts when I was naughty. A lot of times, my mom simply said, 'Go sit on the stool,' and we knew we were being put in timeout (until we remodeled our house and then it was 'go sit on the stairs'- but that's another story). In timeout we would sit on the stool and think about what we had done and what we were going to change. When we were able to tell Mom how we were going to choose better next time, we were able to get off. It allowed us to have some time to calm ourselves down and think. I believe it was a positive experience and that is why I do something similar in my home.

My children 'sit on the stool' too. I don't really use it that often, only if they are fighting or being unkind and won't stop. We have a bar at our kitchen counter and I pull stools out to the middle of the kitchen and have the two that were arguing sit on them. They are allowed to get off the stools when they have sung 'As I Have Loved You' to each other. It has to be done together and they have to look at each other while doing it or they have to start over. It has never failed to work. They are laughing and smiling by the time they are done and the situation has been diffused. They don't even remember what they were fighting about. Definitely an inspired day when that idea came to my mind.

GOTTA KEEP ROCKIN' & DAY 13

I got to go relive my 80's teenage years last night. My sister and her husband had tickets to see Journey, Foreigner and Night Ranger and her husband couldn't go, SO I GOT TO!

We had so much fun! I am sure I was entertainment for those around me, but I was cheering and clapping and fist pumping with the best of 'em!

Night Ranger was even good. I hadn't realized how many of their songs I knew. BTW, I am counting this photo as my DAY 13- YOURSELF WITH 13 THINGS photo. Definitely 13 things in there.

These last 3 photos were taken by a friend sitting up above us. She took this photo of my sister and I. She got some awesome pictures!!

Foreigner was to die for! I LOVE this band! They have been a favorite since I was 12. They ROCKED!!

But there is no one like Journey. Their lead singer is amazing!! I was blown away again and again! Talk about memories... *sigh* We had SUCH a great time! I want to go to another concert!!

SPECACLES

I have needed corrective lenses since I was in third grade and my eyesight has gotten progressively worse throughout my life. I got contacts in 7th grade, but have always had a pair of glasses on the side. My kids make fun of how big they are, but I am sure- just like everything does- they will come back in style.

Here I am in 7th grade with my infamous blue glasses. I was a beauty queen.

This is me (on the left) with my Snow College roommate (who will not be happy with this photo). Again, my kids laugh their heads off at how large our glasses are.

Today I went to pick up these new babies. I like them. They are comfy to wear and I can see really well! I am still adjusting to wearing glasses instead of contacts though. I get really dizzy while driving, but that's probably why the tech told me to wear them for a week to get used to them. They aren't too bad if you can't see how thick they are (even with the ultra thin lenses).

FRIENDS, FOOD & FUN

This weekend I went to Colorado (where I grew up) to hang out with some of my very good friends. I've blogged about my amazing childhood buddies before, so I won't go into that (as extensively) this time, but they were wonderful girls then and fabulous women now. It was a weekend of food, fun, laughs, food, shopping, movie, food, shopping, talking, and food. Yes, we ate a lot.

They had the most yummy chocolate mousse cake I have eaten in a long time. I LOVE chocolate mousse more than anything! It was hard to come home after such a weekend of fun. I am definitely going back soon!!

Here we are on Friday at The Rockslide Grill. We also shopped at the mall and went to a Jazz/Art festival downtown.

C- aka, The Trophy Wife (in the photo with me) does a little spot on the radio and these are free mousepads we got from the station. This is right after we ate at Cafe Rio for dinner and on our way to see Something Borrowed (good chick flick).

The next day we ate out yet again, for breakfast with some friends. Then we went shopping again and got some good bargains at Kohl's.

After that we went... yes, to eat again, at the Alehouse (used to be Gladstones) with another friend.

20 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

Holy smokes! I can't believe it has been that long! Big C and I are getting old, but we're doing it together, so that's okay! I thought I'd do a brief timeline of our 20 years, so read on if you like, or skim through, or just skip it all together. It is more for me than anyone else.

20 YEAR TIMELINE:

• 1991- Married in Manti temple, S was born 11 months later (to the day)
• 1992- I graduated from USU and we moved down to Ephraim.
• 1993- Built our own house, Big C worked for his dad, I taught art at Manti High
• 1994- D born, I became stay-at-home mom
• 1995- Taught art at Middle School in Ephraim, Trip to Southern Colorado without kids

1995- Moab

• 1996- A born, Became a stay-at-home mom again, started annual trips to Denver in Summer.
• 1997- S started kindergarten
• 1998- Took kids skiing for the first time
• 1999- D starts kindergarten, Big C starts kayaking
• 2000- S baptized, Little C born, Nana passes away

2001- Ephraim

• 2001- Start running rivers regularly, A starts kindergarten, I start teaching at Snow College
• 2002- Olympic torch run past Mom's house, D baptized, Trip to Chile
• 2003- Trip to Hawaii (Big C &I), Princess P born
• 2004- First trip to Disneyland, A baptized, Gma Black passes away
• 2005- L killed in avalanche, my first trip to NYC

2006- Green River

• 2006- My mom passes away, D receives priesthood, Little C starts kindergarten
• 2007- My trip to DC, Snake River Trip, Big C starts snowkiting
• 2008- Built roof over patio, A receives priesthood

2009- Ephraim Canyon

• 2009- My trip to Chicago, 1st Payette Rivers Trip
• 2010- Princess P starts kindergarten, S graduates high school
• 2011- 2nd trip to NYC, 20 year anniversary

SCANDINAVIAN COOKIES

When I was growing up I loved these rosette cookies and would pick them as the Family Home Evening treat almost every time it was my turn.

A few days ago, while cleaning out my pantry, I came across the tools to make the cookies and decided I should make them for my family. I have fond memories of my mom instructing me on how to make them. (I even remembered through all the years).

Some of my kids liked them, some didn't, but my husband loved them and ate quite a few. Here's a recipe if you're interested...

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Combine eggs, sugar and salt; beat well. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth.
2. Heat a rosette iron in deep, hot oil (400 degrees) for 2 minutes.
3. Drain excess oil from iron. Dip in batter to 1/4 inch from the top of the iron, then dip iron immediately into hot oil (400 degrees).
4. Fry rosette until golden, about 30 seconds. Rosette will fall off iron as it cooks.
5. Reheat iron 1 minute; make next rosette.
6. Sprinkle rosettes with confectioners' sugar or cinnamon sugar. Yum!

CLASSICS

There are some movies that are just timeless for me. I can watch them over and over and they never get old. Here are some of my favorites:

Such great memories from High School and now my kids love it too. "I want my two dollars!"

Another quote-able movie. "Out of the way, Peck!" is a favorite at our house. The special effects in this movie make my kids laugh. It is also one of the reasons I used to LOVE Val Kilmer...

SUCH a favorite at our house. I need to get this on DVD before our VCR dies. "No more rhymes now, I mean it! Anybody wanna peanut?"

This one I do have on DVD and I am so glad. Even with a mullet, Kevin Costner looks good in this movie. And Alan Rickman is the ULTIMATE bad guy as the Sheriff!

I can watch either one of these versions all day every day. What is it about Jane Austen that I love? GREAT stories, great men, great heroines... maybe? Mmmm, I'm off to watch a movie!

COLLEGE GIRL- PART 2

I can't look at my daughter's photos and not think of my own experiences my first year at the same college. It just doesn't seem like it was that long ago, but the photos do not lie- it was a LONG time ago...

Me (in yellow) with two of my roommates at a Buddy Dance. Love those mullets, boys!

Here I am again (right), with more roommates, listening to my Walkman (probably INXS or New Order). Don't we look stylin'?

This last one is a gem. I can't even remember why we put pantyhose over our faces, but we did and I have a photo to prove it (I am on the right again). Good times in Fern Young A-4! My room-roommate (C) is with me in all these photos. We have way more history than just college. We've know each other since we were 5 years old. It was a VERY fun year! I am so glad I had that opportunity to be in an apartment with these amazing girls who are still my friends to this day.

WESTERNS

I am a sucker for a good western. Everyone who knows my aversion to Country music may find that strange, but it is a fact. My dad made darn sure we grew up with a good appreciation for westerns- especially if they had John Wayne in them. We watched many videos (probably on Beta) for Family Night, staring The Duke, himself. But that was not enough, so we also visited Old Tucson (repeatedly) and Tombstone, AZ.

'True Grit' (the Duke's one and only Oscar role) was one of our favs and I have even made sure my children have seen it (for Family Night, no less)...

... so I knew when the remake of 'True Grit' came out, that I was going to need to go see it. I also knew it wasn't going to be as good as the original, but I had to make sure they didn't ruin it either. I was not disappointed. It was too gory with a bit of unnecessary violence (what a surprise for a western), but I really liked it. The girl who played 'Little Sister' was amazing (and of course, we always enjoy Matt Damon). I approved.

MY FAVORITE JOHN WAYNE MOVIES: (in order)

1. The Searchers
2. True Grit
3. The Cowboys
4. Rooster Cogburn and the Lady
5. Rio Lobo (filmed in Old Tucson)

REDO

It has been a LONG week. I have had a horrible head cold, lost my voice and painted almost my whole upstairs. May I just say how much I hate painting walls? NOT my favorite activity. Anyway, we are finally on the road to recovery-- both my house and my throat.

Here is our stripped living room. I just had to take a photo.

I remember getting new carpet in our house growing up. We came home from Hawaii and it was there. Quite a different experience for my children...

Big C had the kids up at the crack of dawn pulling out the carpet and the pad, hauling it out, getting up all the staples, so I could have it ready for the carpet layers.

And here we are with the new carpet and paint. I rearranged the furniture too, so it has a new feel which is fun. I am still not sure about the new shade of red I chose...

I am happy we are almost done. We still have a bit in the bathroom, so I'll show that when it is completely done, and our bedrooms upstairs. The light is at the end of the tunnel...