The North Family

Double Digits

2011-10-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

Luke is ten! It hardly seems like it's been ten years since I held my first little newborn baby so fresh from heaven. I love my little Luke, and even though he is a big ten year old he still sits in my lap and gives me hugs every now and then. I am so proud of him. Here are ten things that I love about Luke.

1. He tells me his opinion about everything. Every. Thing. I have a blue shirt with a little bling on it and cool designs. Every time I wear it Luke lets me know he hates that shirt. It makes me laugh and wear it more often. :)

2. Luke is very smart. He brought home all As last week on his report card. He is doing very well in school and has been responsible with his assignments this year.

3. He tries to do the right thing. I know that he will tell me the truth, not just about whether he likes my shirt or not, but about other things, too.

4. He is friendly. He tries to include the kids around him in his activities.

5. Luke likes to make things. He is obsessed with origami at the moment and has earned the nickname "Origami Man" because he makes his friends transforming ninja stars, ninja stars, fancy stars, boomerangs, cubes, frogs, birds, balloons, and spinning tops. He even made an origami Yoda once.

6. He is obedient (most of the time).

7. He is helpful. If I am in the middle of something and ask him to watch Natalie or Rylan, he helps me out, usually without complaint. He sets the table for dinner, helps with the dishes and helps mow the yard. He is also good about reading to Rylan and Natalie.

8.He gets excited about little things. He switched his school binder yesterday to a lighter version and was so excited about how much lighter it was. It's was a little thing, but I loved how happy he was about such a small convenience.

9. He tells us he loves us.

10. He is kind.

I feel so blessed to be the mother of such a wonderful son. I love you, Luke.

This year his birthday fell on a teacher work day, so he got the day off school. His friends Isaac and Seth came over during the day. Later that night we had a family party. He requested pesto for dinner and chocolate molten lava cakes for his cake.

Grandma and Grandpa sent him a very nice new fishing pole and some tackle.

We gave him a remote control helicopter.
Natalie wore her dress inside out and backwards for the occasion and sang Happy Birthday the loudest of all.

For Crissy

2011-09-23T15:17:00.001-07:00

Today I got a message from my cousin, Crissy, "I keep going to your blog thinking something new will be posted, but alas, nothing new. :) How are y'all?"

Crissy, and all others who think we may have dropped off the face of the earth, this is for you. I have been a blog slacker lately for sure.

This morning Natalie and I attended Nursery Rhyme Time at Rylan's school. On this day all the kindergarteners dress up like a nursery rhyme character. Rylan wanted to be Yankee Doodle. He brought his little stick horse to school and wore a cowboy hat with a feather.

When he was getting ready this morning he was very concerned that he would be the only kid dressed up, so he must have felt a huge relief when he saw everyone was in costume today. (Does he really think I would play that sort of prank on him?)

Mother Goose shared some stories and games like jumping over the candle stick and three blind mice chasing the farmer's wife (one of the moms).

Rylan got to paint the spider from Little Miss Muffet, which he created from a tracing of his hands.

All this time Natalie watched contentedly from her stroller. I was amazed. She LOVES hanging out with the kindergarteners.

Then the three little kittens lost their mittens, but luckily the kindergarteners helped them find them. For this game they spread gloves and mittens all over the ground and the boys had to race the girls to pair them up and put them in a box.

The next game was a Humpty Dumpty egg race.

Then a picnic by the playground. Natalie was still hanging out in her stroller eating celery and carrots (smothered in dip of course, but still AMAZING). This is highly unusual behavior. I think she may be getting sick.

I finally let her out to play after lunch and she quickly found our little neighbor kindergartner, Addison, and followed her around like a little puppy. Addison was very sweet and welcomed her with open arms. I was impressed with how everything turned out. I heard Natalie in the backseat on the way home talking about Humpty Dumpty so the morning left an impression on her, too. She just walked past me with a handful of pepperoni she heisted from the fridge . . . that's more normal behavior from my little Natalie.

A Major Award (2)

2011-07-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

Followers of our not too frequent blogging may recall Luke winning "A Major Award." It's way back in the archives but it's a good one. Anyway, we have a family tennis tournament coming up with Meghan's family and nominated ourselves to create the award... and here it is in all of its life sized glory!

I know, I know, take a number as I am sure these will be going like hot cakes.

Happy Independence Day

2011-07-04T20:53:00.001-07:00

I Have to Pee!

2011-05-15T06:47:00.001-07:00

Sunday was my birthday so on Friday night we went out to dinner as a family to celebrate. Right after the appetizer came out Meghan reached across behind Natalie, who was standing up, and realized she was not wearing a diaper. These days that is not a terribly uncommon thing as we have been potty training her and so far all she has caught onto is the part where she takes off her pants. Anyway, for once Meghan had no spare and when I ran out to the car there were none there either. When I had left the restaurant Meghan was talking about fashioning a linen napkin into a diaper so I knew she was sweating bullets and hopped into the car and ran to a nearby grocery store. When I got back with my carefully concealed diapers my bench seat was still dry and my entrée was still hot. Disaster averted, for now.

This morning I was giving Natalie a bath for church when I heard Rylan yell, “I have to peeeeeeeeee!” He ran in the bathroom, flipped up the toilet seat and got to his business. He peed on the floor, the bathtub, my leg and finally for good measure a tiny squirt in the toilet. He was mortified and not sure what his reaction should be since I was cackling so hard my eyes were watering.

I guess this is the year of urine. Happy birthday me!

Winners

2011-04-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

The hospital puts on an annual 5k race called the Magnolia Meltdown to raise money for “Just Have a Ball,” a group dedicated to reducing childhood obesity through encouraging activity. I was in charge of all of the advertising and all of my staff volunteered for the event. Meghan took Natalie to a young woman’s conference and I took the boys with me to the race.

They had fun in the kids area while we got all set up and I took pictures but they were both psyched to participate in a kid’s one-mile fun run after the adult race was through. When the gun went off they both flew down the course ahead of most of the 50 kids that were participating. I thought, “They are going too fast, they will get burned out long before the race is over.”

At 8:52 Luke was about the seventh person to cross the finish line.

At 9:56 Rylan was about the fifteenth.

They were so excited to have done so well but imagine their surprise when later it was announced that Luke had come in first for the 8-9 age group and Rylan had come in first for the 4-5 group.

They were both excited but Rylan’s smile was a huge and the whole way home he gloated about his gold medal and kept asking if I had ever won a race like him (he was very happy to hear that I had not). Ah, the spoils of victory.

Eating Mudbugs

2011-04-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

Please note, the following post contains many incomplete sentences. Meghan wants it to be known that this is offensive to her and she had nothing to do with its writing.

Our neighborhood is brand new and last weekend we had our first social to get to know everyone. In most parts of the country this would consist of grilling hamburgers or hot dogs... Not so in the South. Here they often do crawfish boils. I have never eaten crawfish (Andy) by itself so I was curious about the process. Here is what I found out.

You buy crawfish in large, partially frozen bags. Place them in a container and add water. As they unfreeze they start to move around. Rylan was not sure what to think about this.

Pick up unfrozen crawfish and try to gross out girls or get dogs to eat them whole.Rinse and drain several times to get them lively and clean. Add salt so they vomit up stomach contents then rinse and drain one more time. Mmm vomit.

Boil them all in a large cauldron borrowed from your local witches. Add spices, potatoes, onion, sausage and whatever else you may have lying around.

Once cooked throw them all on a big table with handy holes for tossing out the uneaten parts. Crack off the tails (and claws if large enough) and suck out the meat. Throw out the the torso. Supplement meal with aforementioned foliage and other meats.

Chow down on homemade ice-cream and cookies.

The New House

2010-12-24T15:46:00.000-08:00

Rylan's Christmas List

2010-12-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

1. iPhone
2. iTouch
3. Jet Pack

When I told him Santa was not bringing iPhones or iTouches to 4 year olds this year, he opted for the jet pack.

Day 50: Thanksgiving with Family

2010-11-24T21:27:00.000-08:00

Tonight ends my fifty days of Thanksgiving project. We spent the day cleaning our house so it could be shown to a potential renter and ready for family arriving tomorrow. It is our first year to host Thanksgiving in our home, and we are so excited to have Andy's parents and his brother Nick's family arriving in the morning. We put on some Christmas music and got the turkey in the brine, the sweet potatoes ready for the oven, layered the salad, and made a variety of dips. Preparing the food was fun, satisfying work. I am thankful to be spending Thanksgiving with family. I have many things for which I am thankful, but my family is my greatest blessing. I feel very blessed to have a wonderful husband and three beautiful children. I'm thankful for my in-laws who have accepted me as part of their family and always made me feel loved and welcome. My parents and my brothers and sisters (all six of them), and all my extended family have made my life very rich and happy. I am thankful for their company, their support, and their love.

Day 49: Cars That Work

2010-11-23T21:39:00.000-08:00

We've been having some trouble with Andy's Honda Civic Hybrid. We have loved this car and it has given us no worries until now. The problems began when it randomly turned off while he was driving home one day. Luckily he was in a spot where he could pull to the side of the road. It started up again and worked fine afterward, but we were baffled about why it did this. A couple of times he had the car on accessory listening to a book and had it go crazy with every light on the dash turning on and blinking when he started the car like it had suddenly become possessed. One time it would not start after this happened, and I went to pick him up. About the time I got to him it did start, and I followed him home. In both of these instances, the car seemed to work fine the next day. No codes were coming up. Yesterday the IMA battery light came on while he was driving home from work. When he checked the code he found it was the code for cells deteriorating in sections IMA battery. Since these batteries are not cheap (about $3,000) we were more than a little concerned this was happening when the car only has 39,000 miles on it. Andy took the car to the dealership this morning and this afternoon we found out they will completely replace the IMA battery, update the software, and fix a few other things all for the diagnostic fee of $105. We were so relieved to hear this would be covered by the warranty and recalls. In our research to figure out what the problem could be we read many horror stories about these things not being covered. In many instances people reported that the dealership updated the software but did not replace the battery and their gas mileage went down to around 30MPG. I am so thankful tonight that this will all be covered. Cars that work are a great blessing. Sometimes I forget how inconvenient it is to have car problems until something like this happens. Situations like this help me to remember really quickly what a great blessing it is to have a dependable car.

Day 48: A Property Manager

2010-11-22T21:59:00.000-08:00

Tonight we met with our new property manager and our house should be listed for rent tomorrow. Because renting our house here is a big concern to us, we are thankful we found someone we feel comfortable with to take care of things while we are away. I feel relieved to have this process set in motion, and I'm sure I'll feel even more relieved when we find a good tenant. As we sat down with him tonight I felt like everything would work out. I am so thankful to continually feel that way about our move. I have been amazed as I've watched all the pieces fall into place, and I am so thankful that things have been working out so far.

Day 47: The Primary Program Is Finished

2010-11-21T18:12:00.000-08:00

Many times during the last month I have wondered if our primary program would come together on this day. I am thankful to report that it did, thanks to the help of the kids, parents, teachers, and lots of Heavenly Help. The kids did a wonderful job singing and saying the parts they wrote themselves. I enjoyed hearing what they learned at church this year in their own words. Luke sang the last verse of "Follow the Prophet" with some of his friends. He also helped play the hand bells. Rylan told everyone that he serves his family by drawing pictures, which is completely true. We love his drawings. The last of the various drafts for this program were just delivered to the recycle bin. I wish I could say this gives me a clean desk, but that may have to wait until moving day.

Day 46: Drive In with Friends

2010-11-20T21:50:00.001-08:00

I'm going to miss the drive in when we move to Mississippi. Even though it was cold, I'm thankful we went to the drive in one more time with our friends before leaving Las Vegas. The boys and their friends piled in the back of Martin and Angie's truck with pillows, blankets, and popcorn. They looked very cozy. We watched Megamind, a hilarious animated film about rivaling superhero geniuses from outer space. Rylan told us on the way home that he wants a watch like Megamind so that he can change into superheroes and fly. I want Tina Fey's Roxie character's figure, but I think my movie candy intake foiled that plan. There is also the slight problem of me being human and not a cartoon character. Details. We had a fun night bundled up at the drive in.

Day 45: What Is a Picnic?

2010-11-19T06:43:00.001-08:00

I am learning that the best moments with my children are the spontaneous ones. Rylan has asked to have picnic every day this week. The weather has been gorgeous, but we haven't made it to the park for a picnic. Before preschool he said he was hungry and asked if he could eat a hotdog bun. I had just cleaned the floor, so I suggested we get a blanket and eat on the grass. He was excited about this because it was like a picnic. Within minutes Rylan, Natalie, and I sat contentedly on a blanket while Rylan doled out pieces of bread to us. It occurred to me as I was sitting there enjoying time with my kids that everyone was happy. We didn't need anything to accomplish this other than a hotdog bun and my willingness to pay attention to them. I am a planner, so a picnic to me involves a lot more than bread on a blanket. For Rylan it was a picnic if he carried the bread outside in his penguin lunch bag, which he proudly did, and we all ate it together. I get wrapped up in all the details of planning things, which I strangely enjoy. Often I get distracted from determining what the simple goal is for my kids. I forget our expectations are different. Kids are experts at having fun; they don't need a lot of stuff or planning to have a good time. I don't either. I am thankful my kids remind me of that.

Day 44: My Polite Boys

2010-11-17T21:43:00.000-08:00

This morning Rylan and Natalie were playing outside. Natalie fell down and started crying. I looked out the window and saw Rylan help her up and give her a hug. Later I watched him hold her hand and escort her up the stairs to go play in his room. I thought the way he was looking after his little sister today was so sweet. Later I took all the kids with me to the bank and to the store, which can sometimes not go so well. Both Luke and Rylan ran to open the door for me before I even asked. When Rylan had to go to the bathroom at the bank, Luke didn't complain about going with him. I don't know what made them especially thoughtful today, but I was thankful to see them all getting along and being considerate. One of my favorite things to see is my kids being kind to each other.

Day 43: Getting in the Holiday Spirit

2010-11-16T22:46:00.001-08:00

I've missed decorating for holidays lately. We were in Mississippi over Halloween weekend, so I didn't put up any Halloween decorations. Since we have company coming for Thanksgiving and a Primary party later this week (hooray!), I thought it was high time I pulled out the fall decorations. I spent a very enjoyable part of the day making a centerpiece for the table our friends, Kellie and Chad, lent us for the next couple of weeks. Our little four top will not accommodate our company, so they hooked us up with something larger. We didn't want to buy a table because we will have to move it in a month. I am thankful to have friends in the used furniture business and that they were willing to come to my aid. My friend, Bracken, loaned me some of her cute Thanksgiving decor for the party later this week, and now I am a ready host for Thanksgiving. I am so glad to have some fall decorations up, and even more thankful to get to spend time with family and friends before we move far away from them. I am going to enjoy having Thanksgiving in my home just before the inside of it is completely packed away. It's the last time things in my house will be in their rightful place this year.

Day 42: Shoe on a Stick and Other Fun Games

2010-11-15T21:01:00.000-08:00

We have a few family members with birthdays this month, so tonight we sat down to write them some birthday wishes. We asked the boys to draw a picture for each person. Luke brought us this picture of Aunt Chelsea. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but I had to post this because I thought it was so funny. This picture was inspired by a classic Chelsea game known as "Shoe on a Stick".

A few years ago Chelsea lived with us while she was working in Vegas. I came home one day and saw Chelsea chasing Luke (who was about Rylan's age) with a shoe on a stick. Luke thought it was the best game ever and he still remembers it. He reminded us tonight of some other games he and Chelsea used to play like "What's That Smell?" A game where the lucky contestant closes his eyes and guesses what he is smelling . . . a smelly sock, a dirty diaper, a cupcake, whatever it may be. This was also one of Luke's favorite games. He played it tonight with Rylan for old time's sake. Rylan thought it was great, too.

Some families have traditions of family meals, others of playing football in the backyard after dinner. Thanks to Chelsea, we have "Shoe on a Stick". I am thankful for our traditions however strange they may be. Now if you'll excuse me I have some children to coerce into getting ready for bed. Where did I put that stick?

Day 41: Sunday Naps

2010-11-14T22:04:00.000-08:00

One of the best Sunday activities is taking a nap. I don't get a nap any other day of the week, but on Sunday I always fit one into the day. I am thankful for a day of rest. it makes the whole week better.

Day 40: A Date with My Honey

2010-11-14T01:21:00.000-08:00

Andy and I got to go out on a date tonight. We went to eat at BJ's and then saw Unstoppable, which was really intense. I will never look at trains in quite the same way. I am thankful that we got to go have fun together tonight. It was nice to have a night out.

Day 39: A Nice "Caprize"

2010-11-12T22:43:00.001-08:00

"Caprize" is Rylan's word for surprise. News that Andy was bringing home a surprise had him asking, "Daddy, what's the caprize?" incessantly as soon as Andy walked in the door. We loaded all the kids in the car for the great unveiling. After a stop at Sonic for dinner we headed to a parking lot with a nice strip view and passed out the food. They were really confused when Andy got out of the car and started strapping something to the back of the front passenger's seat. Giant smiles lit up the boys faces when they realized the surprise was an iPad. We all got in the back seats and watched Space Chimps 2. We had a nice time. Rylan was so excited he wet his pants, which is sort of funny now, but wasn't really at the moment. Apparently he didn't want to miss any of the excitement. We wanted to test out the view from the backseat before choosing a mounting system for our car. We've been wanting an iPad for a while and with a 30 hour drive ahead of us next month we thought it was an opportune time to buy one. It will work great as a movie player since our car is already wired for it and we can use it for lots of other things, too. Tonight I am thankful to be writing my post from this sleek little device I've had my eye on for a while. I'm glad we got to have our own mini drive-in tonight with the kids and a fabulous view of the Las Vegas strip.

Day 38: A Strong Foundation

2010-11-11T22:33:00.001-08:00

I've been concerned about Mississippi house foundation problems. Apparently foundations in the Jackson area are prone to cracking when ground conditions change because of drought or heavy rainfall. After some conversations I've had recently I learned that a post-tension foundation can really help out with expansive soils like Yazoo clay, which is common in the Jackson area. I wasn't sure if our new house had this type of foundation; it's not a question I thought about asking until very recently. I was thankful to find out today that it does have this type of foundation. This was very happy news.

Day 37: Snuggling up with My Kids and a Good Book

2010-11-10T22:08:00.001-08:00

This is one of my favorite things, especially when my kids are all just-out-of-the-bathtub clean. Natalie has started bringing me books throughout the day. When she hands me one she expects me to stop what I am doing, sit down, put her in my lap, and read the story to her. If I put the book aside, she says, "No." She picks it up and hands it to me again. Knowing this can go on for awhile, I've found the quickest option is to read the story. It only takes a few minutes. Rylan usually comes in and listens, too. This happened about ten times today, and I think it was one of the best parts of the day. These were far better moments than coming downstairs and finding bologna scattered all over the floor (these feel really gross when stepped on). Better than finding that Rylan decided to draw on the banister (luckily in pencil). Better still than the moment my marble chess set pieces got shattered by a rogue exercise ball one of my children threw across the living room. It was an exceptionally destructive day at our house. I'm thankful I got to snuggle up to my kids and read today. It was a time safe from disasters. It helped me remember that they are my favorite kids and that I do love them even when they are crazy and destructive.

Day 36: Homemade Pizza

2010-11-09T21:46:00.001-08:00

Eating dinner together is very important to me. This is sometimes difficult to accomplish depending on the week night. Tonight, however, we ate the best homemade pizza together. It was delicious. I'm thankful we could all sit down together for a good meal after a busy day.

Day 35: Mississippi House

2010-11-08T21:44:00.001-08:00

Today I got the pictures and list for the fixtures, counters, and flooring for the Mississippi house. I wasn't expecting to be able to choose any of these things, but since our realtor is awesome, she went to the store and took some pictures for us. I spent a very enjoyable part of the afternoon deciding some of these finishing touches. I am so thankful things have worked out with this house. I'm excited to see it all finished.

Update: Melissa asked for pictures. Here is what I have so far.

This is what the outside of the house looked like about the time we saw it. They will sod and landscape the yard, put a fence up in the back, and put up a mailbox for us. It will have shutters, too.

The granite in the kitchen will look something like this. It's Santa Cecelia. The appliances are stainless steel.

This is the floor for the living room and formal dining room. They are heart of pine with finish similar to this. I LOVE these floors.

This is the back splash in the master. There will also be a strip of this around the shower and whirlpool in the master. This tile will be in the showers and around the whirlpool.

This is the tile in the kitchen, laundry, eating area off the kitchen, and all the bathrooms.

The cabinets were already in when we saw the house, but we asked if we could get a glaze on them and the builder agreed to pay for that. This is a white cabinet with a chocolate glaze. This is the picture I gave to her; hopefully they look something like this. Fingers crossed.

This is the carpet. We chose the shaggier one on the right.

That's it so far. I wish we would have taken pictures when we walked through it, but we didn't. It's going to be a beautiful house. I'm really excited that it's all working out.

Day 34: Visiting Grandma Jo

2010-11-07T21:46:00.000-08:00

This morning we drove to St. George to visit Andy's Grandma Jo. She will be 101 next month. We love her, and we wanted to be sure we visited her before we move to Mississippi. This seemed like the best day to make the trip.

We had a nice visit and watched part of the New York Marathon with her. She was fascinated by the 45,000 runners starting the race. We asked her the farthest distance she has ever run. She told us that lately going from the couch to the bathroom seems like the farthest distance she's ever walked because it is getting so difficult and painful to move around. Then she smiled and said, "But everyone takes good care of me. I'm glad I can still go that far." I love how she always ends on a positive note.

While we were there, some of the young men from church brought the sacrament to her. We all participated in taking the sacrament together; there was a good feeling in the room. I didn't really think Rylan, our four-year-old, was paying close attention to what was going on, but later tonight I walked downstairs and saw this on the kitchen table.

Rylan was mimicking the young men who blessed the sacrament at Grandma Jo's. He walked over to me and handed me a little piece of bread and then gave one to Natalie. I thought it was sweet that he wanted to do this. It actually ended up being a good teaching moment for discussing what the sacrament is and why it is important to take it after we are baptized. We also talked about having the right authority to bless and pass the sacrament and how not just anyone can do this. He had never seen the sacrament administered anywhere besides a church, and I think he thought we could do this at our home whenever we wanted, which isn't the case at all. I'm thankful that we all shared that moment together with Andy's grandma and that we were able to visit her today.

Day 33: The Little Engine that Could

2010-11-06T21:01:00.001-07:00

Rylan asked me to read The Little Engine that Could tonight before he went to bed, so I think that is why this is on my mind. Saturdays are busy, tiring days lately. I sometimes feel like the rusty old engine in that story that says, "I'm so tired. I must rest my weary wheels. I cannot help so little a train as yours over the mountain. I cannot. I cannot. I cannot." I identify with this train. By the end of the day this is where I'm at, especially on days like today.
Thank goodness there are two of us because without Andy's help Saturdays would seem insurmountable. Soccer, tennis, cub scout Olympics, the Silverman race, a baptism, and all the essential stuff in between--it gets tiring. At the end of this day I am thankful that we thought we could do it, and we did. Everyone got where he needed to be. We had a fun time doing all these things we enjoy even though they wear us out. The kids are tucked in and this little engine is done for the day.

Day 32: Piano + Christmas Music

2010-11-05T22:33:00.001-07:00

I'll start tonight with the story of a second grade girl who hated taking piano lessons. This girl often went to her lessons having not practiced at all during the week. She also begged her mom to let her quit taking piano lessons. Shocking, isn't it, that this little girl was me. Eventually my mom gave in and let me quit, saying those famous last words that mothers like to say,"You're going to regret this."

I didn't really regret it until about high school. I attempted to teach myself, and I got proficient enough to stumble through sacrament hymns at church when there was no real pianist. I wanted to get better so I took lessons one semester in college. I didn't make a lot of time to practice, however, so I didn't improve much.

Years went by without playing at all. About two years ago we purchased a piano so that Luke could take lessons. This began a reintroduction to my long lost instrument. I'm glad We've been getting reacquainted.

I decided to take lessons this year from Kim Talbot who also teaches Luke. Some weeks are better than others for practicing, but it has been very helpful for me to be accountable to someone. Today I made some time to sit down and begin learning my new Christmas music in earnest. Christmas music is my favorite, and I enjoyed sitting down and playing my pieces this afternoon. I am thankful to be learning to play the piano better and for the time I was able to practice today. It was so enjoyable to sit down and play Christmas music for a while. I wish I could go back and talk to my second grade self. I'd yell at her and tell her to practice. Since that is impossible I'm just going to be thankful I'm not putting off learning to play any longer.

Day 31: My Primary Kids

2010-11-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

For the first time in my life I have been assigned to write a primary sacrament presentation. As I considered different methods of tackling this, I decided to have the kids write their own parts. They were provided with a writing prompt that related to one of the monthly themes. I wasn't sure how this would work out, but I thought it would be great if the entire program was in their own words. Today I was compiling the little scraps of paper they've been handing me the last couple of weeks into a logical sequence. It made my day to read their sweet testimonies and experiences in their own words. I am so excited for the program later this month. I love my primary kids, and I am thankful I get to hang out with them on Sundays. I love seeing them learning and growing.

Day 30: Kindness

2010-11-03T22:07:00.001-07:00

This morning I unpacked the boys' suitcase from their stay at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Their clothes were neatly folded and clean. Wendy, Andy's mom, had washed all their clothes for me so that I wouldn't have to do as much laundry when we got home. I am thankful for her thoughtfulness.

Later this morning I got a call from a man in Jackson, MIssissippi, who found our earnest money check on the sidewalk as he was taking his trash out. Somehow it fell out of our realtor's folder. We had been looking for it, and I was just about to put a stop on the check when he called. I thought it was kind of him to track down our number and let us know our check had been found.

I am thankful for kind people. I hope I can pay their kindness forward by being helpful and honest. It makes the world a better place when people are kind and thoughtful.

Day 29: Home

2010-11-02T21:27:00.001-07:00

I am thankful to be home after a long day of traveling.

Day 28: Time with Andy

2010-11-01T20:41:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for days like today when I get to spend the day with Andy. Even though these days are usually filled with exhausting adventures, we always have a good time. I'm glad to be with someone who can make me laugh while we are working to get things done. I am so thankful for my husband.

Day 27: Church is the Same Everywhere

2010-10-31T21:12:00.001-07:00

Today we visited a different ward. I am thankful that LDS churches are the same wherever we go. I can go to a different ward congregation down the street, across town, or across the world and I will listen to the same sacrament prayer, learn the same principles, and feel the same Spirit. The people are different, but they have the same friendly, welcoming demeanor. I'm thankful to feel I belong whether I am at church with old friends, new friends, or family. I know many people who "shop" for churches and congregations, trying on many for the right look and feel. The Mormon faith doesn't work this way. One ward fits all. I am thankful to feel welcome and comfortable at whatever ward we attend. I am thankful for friendly people who treat me kindly because I am a person and a child of God, not for any other reason.

Day 26: A Place to Live

2010-10-30T20:59:00.001-07:00

Tonight we signed an offer to buy a house in Mississippi. I am so thankful to have a housing option in the works.

Day 25: Grandparents

2010-10-29T23:03:00.001-07:00

My in-laws live on Halloween dream street. Everyone in their neighborhood decorates to the nines and the streets get blocked off so that there is only foot traffic. Whole candy bars and spook houses abound. Last year they gave out over 800 candy bars. This year they gave out 1000 bags of fruit snacks. They open their door at about 5:30 and don't close it until the candy runs out. There is a steady stream of kids up their walk all night long. Our kids have been wanting to experience this cool craziness, so this weekend they get to visit Halloweenland to trick-or-treat in style. I am thankful for grandparents and for the attention they give our children. I love how they get into the holidays.

Day 24: I Can Finally Tell My Secret

2010-10-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

Let me first say that I am horrible at keeping secrets. I can never surprise Andy for Christmas or birthdays or anything because I get so excited about whatever it is that I end up ruining the surprise. I have no poker face. I am very transparent. I do try, and I guess you will have to let me know how well I did with concealing this little surprise. It has been SO DIFFICULT to keep quiet, and I am thankful tonight that I don't have to keep quiet anymore.

The news is that we are moving to Mississippi.

There it is, I've said it. Andy gave his official notice at work today. Last week he accepted a job as the marketing director at St. Dominic Memorial Hospital in Jackson, MS. We are moving in mid-December. After a lot of deliberation and prayer and waiting, I can say that I feel really good about our decision. We've been watching for a job in the South for quite some time, but this is the first one that has felt good from the beginning. When Andy told me he had been contacted by a recruiter for a job in Jackson, MS, I knew that somehow it was going to work out. It just felt right.

Admittedly, not everyone would be excited to move to Mississippi, but it is home to me and close to all of my family. I am very excited to live near them again after more than ten years in the West. It has been hard for me to see my family only once or twice a year. I have LOVED living in Nevada and living close to Andy's family. I love them, and I feel sad that we will be moving farther from them. We have wonderful friends here and it will be hard not to have them close by. It was difficult for Andy to give his notice today because he loves his job here, his coworkers, and the hospital. I am thankful he is willing and excited to make this change.

Lately I have been consumed with working out the logistics of a cross-country move. We have been house hunting and will hopefully wrapping up that piece of the puzzle soon. A variety of moving companies are coming next week to bid out the job of moving our stuff. The part that keeps me anxious and nervous is finding a renter for our home here. It is not a great time to sell a house in southern Nevada, and we have decided it will be best to keep our house here for now. It is not easy for me to have so many unknowns all at once, but that is part of the adventure and part of life. I am thankful for the inner voice inside that helps me feel calm in spite of having so many question marks flooding my mind.

This is nearly the halfway point for my Fifty Days of Thanksgiving project. In some ways it has been more difficult than I thought to write every day; in some ways it has been easier. This little challenge has definitely helped me focus on the blessings in my life. Little blessings that may have gone unnoticed stay in the forefront of my mind. I feel like I'm looking for the things that make me happy and being more conscious of the good moments in each day. I don't know who reads this, but to those who do, thank you for being a part of our lives and our journey. I appreciate your comments and your support, and I'm glad I could share my exciting news with you tonight.

Day 23: Trunk or Treat

2010-10-27T22:55:00.001-07:00

Trunk or Treats are one of the best ideas ever. Tonight I was thankful to go to one at our church and to see my kids all dressed up in their costumes. Luke was a mailman, Rylan was Batman, and Natalie was a fairy princess. We also ate candy for dinner and spaghetti for desert.

Day 22: Freedom

2010-10-26T23:36:00.001-07:00

Today has been liberating in three ways. I turned in my final project for my Dreamweaver class. I felt a great amount of joy and relief when that was finished. Second, the giant baby gate that has been a barrier to our staircase the last year came down today. It feels great to have a clear path to the stairs and one less thing to bang my leg against. Third, I voted today. This made me thankful for the right to vote and also thankful to get off the list for solicitation. No more robo-calls, no more door visits from every cause under the sun. Freedom is a wonderful blessing!

Day 21: Nine Good Things about Today

2010-10-25T22:22:00.001-07:00

1. I got to play tennis this morning.
2. I got to talk to my sister on the phone. I have two amazing sisters! I am thankful for Melissa and that she is feeling better.
3. My friend, Angie, took Rylan to her house to play after tennis. I got home and got to work on a project that is due tomorrow in complete silence while Natalie took her nap. That was really nice.
4. We had a successful soccer practice. Andy was able to help and all the boys improved by the end.
5. My friend, Kellie, brought us cute Halloween cupcakes.
6. Luke's Halloween costume arrived.
7. We ate dinner together.
8. Luke finally finished his homework.
9. I am going to sleep in five minutes.

Day 20: Evenings at Home

2010-10-24T21:42:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite ways to spend an evening is playing games. I love games, especially when I win. Tonight we played Lego Minotaurus, a game Luke got for his birthday. The board is made of Legos that form a labyrinth. The goal is to be the first to get two of your Lego guys to the center of the board. The Minotaur can capture the Lego guys, and if he does, they have to go back to start. You can also add Legos to the board to block people or make them reroute. It gets very cutthroat, and it's a lot of fun to play with boys. Rylan has no mercy with the Minotaur. He won tonight and was so excited. I am thankful for nights we get to stay home and play a game together. It's even better when we make and eat cookies, too. We need more nights like this. Our schedule has been crazy lately. I really enjoyed being at home tonight and spending time together.

Day 19: People Helping People

2010-10-23T21:52:00.001-07:00

Time Out for Women donated about 300 hope kits to the Shade Tree Women's Shelter in Las Vegas today. These kits, which included items such as hairspray, lip gloss, and shower gel, aim to help women at the shelter feel more at home during their stay. The items for the kits were donated by women in attendance and were assembled during the lunch break today. Each kit also included a hand-written, personal message of hope. I am thankful we did this together.

Women's shelters play a vital role in helping women and children flee from abusive circumstances. I am thankful for people who give their time, money, and talents to help them operate. Andy was part of a group that remodeled several apartments at a Henderson shelter. They wanted the women staying there to have a place that felt like a home instead of an empty apartment. They remodeled the kitchens and bathrooms. They painted and decorated the rooms. When they finished, the apartments looked amazing. It took some time, but it was time well used. I am thankful to see people helping other people cheerfully and willingly.

Day 18: Beautiful Women

2010-10-23T00:03:00.001-07:00

Tonight I had the opportunity to attend Time Out for Women. I volunteered to help at the event with my friend, Kristen. As we were unwrapping and repacking boxes of tote bags I noticed all the women filing through the lobby on their way to the auditorium. As I watched them coming in I was struck by how beautiful they were. When I sat down for the evening's event I thought about how amazing it was to be in an auditorium full of women unified by faith and hope. I am thankful I got to spend an uplifting evening with two of my best friends. I am thankful to have beautiful women around me who are examples of courage and strength.

Day 17: Dinner Conversation

2010-10-21T22:32:00.001-07:00

What does Batman have to do with beheaded chickens and guillotines? I really cannot explain other than to say they were all connected to our conversation at the dinner table tonight. However strange the course our conversations take, I am thankful to sit down with my family at the end of the day to discuss interesting things while we eat.

Day 16: Rain!

2010-10-20T21:19:00.001-07:00

Rain in the desert is a wonderful thing. It brings cooler temperatures, waters the thirsty landscape, and infuses the air with the smell of chaparral. The last few days we have had lots of rain and lightning storms. It's been wonderful. I am so thankful for the rain.

Day 15: No Cavities

2010-10-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

This morning I took the boys to the dentist and they had no cavities. I am very thankful for this. Sonicare for kids is a great thing. Now, if I could only get them to floss every night . . . that would really be an accomplishment.

Day 14: A Mellow Child

2010-10-18T22:28:00.001-07:00

Natalie drove all over town with me on all sorts of errands today. I'm probably going to jinx a good thing by writing about this, but she was so good. She could have easily derailed all my plans, but she was a trooper through every stop. I am thankful for my little easy going Natalie. She makes me smile at least a hundred times a day.

Day 13: Sleep is a Good Thing

2010-10-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

I sat down to write this post and glanced across the room to see Andy on his knees beside the bed, snoring. He fell asleep saying his prayers. It has been a full weekend for both of us. I am thankful that my husband prays every night (or at least attempts). I am also thankful to be going to sleep after a long day.

Day 12: Second Chances

2010-10-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

When Andy and I first moved to Las Vegas we had been married less than two weeks. We worked as interns at the Las Vegas Valley Water District for the summer. That summer I had my first desert experience. Having grown up in Mississippi, southern Nevada was in many ways the exact opposite to the South, at least aesthetically. It seemed completely barren when compared to all the green in Mississippi. It hardly rained. Instead of wide open spaces, everything was close together. It had a flashy new feel instead of the historical feel of the South. When I made comments about what I thought were unattractive stucco houses with little rock yards Andy would just smile and say, "The desert has its own kind of beauty."

Though I thought we would never live in Las Vegas again, we moved back a few years later because of a good job opportunity for Andy. We both had a good feeling about moving back, and I trusted those feelings even though I wasn't overly impressed with the city the first time around. The second time around I fell in love with the Las Vegas area. I am thankful that I gave Las Vegas a second chance because I have met some of the nicest, greatest people I've ever known while living here. My children have great friends and wonderful teachers. Nearly everything we could ever need or want is nearby: friends, schools, parks, church, recreation centers, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and some of our extended family. The weather is wonderful once the extreme summer temperatures pass, and even when it's really hot there are lots of fun things to do. I have realized that Andy was right about the desert having its own kind of beauty. I love the mountains, the rocks, and the palm trees. I love the ample supply of sunny days, the lovely smell of the chaparral when it finally rains, and my beautiful brown stucco house with a little rock yard.

Second chances don't always turn out well, but I am thankful our move to Las Vegas did. I am learning to be more willing to give things a try when I feel good about them inside, even when on the outside the beauty or the advantage cannot be seen at first. It is a blessing to see beauty in many forms. I am thankful I gave Las Vegas a second chance, and I have been blessed because I did.

Day 11: Good Starts, Good Ends

2010-10-15T22:55:00.001-07:00

Today began with a game of tennis. Every Friday morning I play doubles with my friends Claudia, Nancy, and Celeste. I love playing tennis, and I am so thankful to have friends to play tennis with. They help me improve and we have a good time.

Today ended with chocolate covered strawberries and apples, courtesy of Andy. I am thankful for Andy's thoughtfulness and willingness to share delicious desserts. In between the beginning and the end was exhausting, but I am thankful tonight for a good start and a good end to a busy day.

Day 10: Sometimes It's the Little Things

2010-10-14T23:20:00.001-07:00

All the laundry is washed, folded, and put away.

Day 9: Miracles

2010-10-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

The last Chilean miner was rescued tonight. I am thankful for people who never give up. This story in the Kansas City Star tells about sacrifices the 33 miners made during their 69-day confinement. It is an amazing example of teamwork, courage, and selflessness.

Day 8: Continuing Education

2010-10-12T22:27:00.001-07:00

I get songs stuck in my head VERY easily. All I need is one word as a prompt and for hours I'm humming the song. It's really annoying. On Tuesdays I always have that song "Whoa ho dreamweaver, I believe you can get me through the night-ite . . . " and those are all the words I know.

The reason for this unfortunate occurrence is that on Tuesday nights I attend an Adobe Dreamweaver class at UNLV. Though I am not such a huge fan of the song my brain associates with it, I really enjoy the class. Tonight I am thankful for opportunities to learn new things. I also am thankful to have that song out of my head.

Day 7: Missionaries

2010-10-11T22:07:00.001-07:00

My brother-in-law, Cody, is serving a church mission in the Philadelphia area. Every Monday we get an email from him. We love reading about his adventures in the city and though sometimes we are a little concerned, we know he is very happy and that he loves being a missionary.

When he arrived to his area a couple of weeks ago, he saw two sets of tally marks posted in his apartment. On one side there were sixty marks; on the other there were eight. He asked what the marks were tracking. His companion told him it was a tally for mice in the apartment. In the five months he had been living there he had trapped sixty dead mice and eight alive. That is a snap shot of Cody's living conditions.

What is interesting to me and is how happy and positive Cody sounds in every letter despite his rigorous schedule and what would seem to be less than optimal living conditions. He loves going out on the streets and hugging drunk people. He loves telling people about the Savior and helping them find their way back to God. He is focused on helping others and unconcerned about material things.

Tonight we all wrote Cody letters and the boys drew pictures for him. We read today's email from Cody to the kids. I am thankful for Cody's example to our family. I am thankful for missionaries. My parents learned about the gospel from two missionaries who were Cody's age when I was about two years old. Everything that is good in my life is related in some way to their willingness to serve a mission and my parents accepting what they taught. I am thankful they found my parents and that my parents listened to what they had to say.

Day 6: Happy Birthday, Luke

2010-10-10T22:02:00.001-07:00

Luke turned nine years old today. I found an entry from my journal about Luke's birth, so for tonight's blog I'm going to take a look back at our lives nine years ago.

Luke Evan North was born Wednesday, October 10, 2001, at about 4:00pm. He weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 21 inches long. Needless to say, Luke was an exceptionally large baby. His original due date was Sept. 28, so he was twelve days overdue when Dr. Judd finally said I could be induced.

Now Luke is three and a half weeks old. He likes to listen to music and to be held. He loves to eat, and he loves vibration. In fact, the past few nights he's slept in his car seat on top of the washing machine or the dryer because the noises and vibrations they make put him right to sleep.

Luke is already known for having a bit of a temper. When he gets upset it sometimes takes awhile to calm him down. His face, his whole body, gets really red. He cries and screams as loud as he can and waves his arms and legs about. When he is upset he lets us know.

The first time I changed his diaper in the hospital he started throwing one of these tantrums. He peed all over his little rolling crib, luckily missing me. Since we've been home he's sprayed me several times, one time all over my last clean pair of pants just before we were supposed to leave for his two week check-up.

It's nine years later and my little Luke is not so little any more. We've conquered the sleepless nights, tantrums, and potty training. He's moved on to throwing spirals, playing soccer, and building radios. (He got a snap circuit set for his birthday and built a radio tonight.) I will always be thankful for my Luke. I still look at him and wonder how I got so lucky to have such a wonderful, good son.

Day 5: A Win!

2010-10-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful that Luke's soccer team won their first game, making us 1W 1L for the season so far. They defeated the Jedis 4 to 3. I was so thankful to have my first win as a coach. The Ghost Hunters played well and were fun to watch. Rylan scored two goals in his game this morning. We had fun cheering for our boys today.

Day 4: If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say . . . Go Look at a Book

2010-10-08T23:33:00.000-07:00

When you have three kids, a date night is an especially wonderful thing. I’ve always loved to go out with Andy, but now that we have less time together during the week I appreciate dates more than ever. Tonight we dropped our kids off at our friend’s home (we do a babysitting exchange every other week with some friends . . . another blessing) and headed to the movies.

The funniest part of the evening, however, came at the end. We decided to go to Borders to get a birthday present for Luke, who will be turning nine on Sunday. We picked out the gift, paid for it, and realized we needed a way to disguise it since we were about to pick him up from our friends’ house. James, our cashier, offered to wrap the gift for us. We both walked over to the wrapping area, and he got to work.

I glanced at Andy who was watching James. It was all I could do to hold in my laughter. Andy was twitching and had a look of anxiety on his face. Then I looked down and saw the reason for Andy’s anxiety. At that point Andy looked at me and saw my eyes bulge in shock. James was smashing the paper into little wads, folding it over, and using copious amounts of tape. Andy got so agitated from watching that he just turned and walked away, feigning interest in a book on a table a few feet away. It was all we could do to refrain from jumping behind the table to take over the job. Seriously, I was standing there thinking about what he would do if I just said, “Um, let me just finish that up for you.” We let him finish and then he proudly handed us the packages with a look of triumph.

You know someone well when you know exactly what he is thinking and feeling in a single glance. I’m thankful to know Andy that well. Andy and I both have mothers who are conscientious gift wrappers and apparently they passed on their OCD on to us. Thankfully, they also taught us that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you should go look at a book. I’m thankful we got a good laugh out of our reaction to a sub par (but free) wrapping job and that we could spend a fun evening together.

Day 3: Good Luck, Councilor

2010-10-07T12:36:00.001-07:00

Luke was recently elected to the student council. A student councilor (as he refers to himself) has one major responsibility: get to school at 8:20 on meeting days. Easy enough, right? Luke announced earlier this week that he had his first meeting on Thursday and told me he would be fired if he wasn't on time (they don't mess around, lol). I promised him he would be on time for his meeting.

He has been worried all week about getting to his meeting on time. Since getting there on time was important to him, it was important to me. Today I was thankful to drop him off at school when promised, his crumpled piece of paper scribbled with ideas safely tucked in his backpack. I can't wait to hear all about his meeting when he gets home.

Day 2: Dancing Queen

2010-10-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

This morning I went to aerobics class. This isn’t just any aerobics class; this is a dance class that requires some fancy footwork at times, at least fancy to me. I consider myself lucky if I can make it through the day without acquiring a bruise from running into something. Though I have not won any awards for my coordination, I have a great time! It’s not everyday that I get to dance in sync with women of all ages to rap and hip-hop. There are a few older ladies in the class who have some serious moves for their age. I sometimes think back to my show choir days when I could sing and dance at the same time. There is no way I could sing during this workout, at least not on pitch. When I start feeling discouraged about getting older I look at the ladies around me, some twice my age, and I think, “I’m still young, but I want to be dancing like them when I’m sixty.” I’m thankful for my Wednesday morning dance sessions.

Dancing is something we like to do at our house. My kids (especially Natalie) love to dance. The other night we had the music on before bedtime and we were all dancing in the living room. When we finally got the kids tucked in a little later (dancing is not the best activity for winding down kids), Andy sat down at the computer. Before I knew it Alan Jackson’s “Remember When” was playing through the computer speakers. This is one of our songs. He took me in his arms and we danced in the loft to the sound of our boys still chattering in their bedroom. I looked at the messy desk beside us and kicked the toys away from my feet and thought, “This is happiness. This is what matters.” I hope when I’m sixty I can still dance to that song with Andy. Maybe when we are both one hundred we will hobble to its rhythm with the support of our walkers. That would be just fine with me. It is a lovely blessing to dance with the people we love.

Day 1: Fever in the Morning, Fever All through the Night

2010-10-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

It wasn't a fever of love; it was the real thing. When I went to get Natalie from her crib yesterday morning she was very hot with fever. Pee from a leaky diaper had soaked her pajamas and snot was smeared all over her face from her runny nose. She was a mess! I spent the next little while giving her medicine, giving her a bath, and getting her dressed. I fixed her a cup of juice mixed with water, and I held her for a long time coaxing her to drink little sips from her cup. I felt her hot little body nestled in my arms and looked at her dozing off intermittently so soon after waking up for the day. I was worried, but I knew the fever would break and she would be okay.

And she is. By lunchtime yesterday she was a normal temperature again and feeling much better. Currently she is walking around the house getting into things. She keeps bringing me bottles of shampoo from her bathroom and laughing like it’s the biggest coup of the day, since the bathroom door is normally closed. (This little girl has an obsession with toilet paper and toilets in general.) So today I am thankful that Natalie is better. I’m thankful that fevers in most cases are minor and easy to control and not the severe illness or death sentence they once were. It’s a blessing to feel that my child will be okay when she is sick and to know what to do to help her. Even though she is a mess-maker, I'm glad she's back to doing what she does best. I love to hear the patter of her little feet as she wanders through the house curiously looking for a new mess to make.

Fifty Days of Thanksgiving

2010-10-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

As I listened to President Monson’s talk on Sunday I felt the need to have a more thankful heart. I’ve been thinking of ways to do this the last couple of days, and I’ve come up with a plan. Since I am horrible at updating my blog (the last post was nearly two months ago) but I love writing, I am challenging myself to blog about something for which I am thankful each day for the next fifty days. Before the carving of the turkey on Thanksgiving Day I will carve out a little time to myself to read what I have written. I hope that during the next fifty days I will be more aware of the blessings in my life and remember to give thanks for them.

Interviewing Grandma and Grandpa

2010-08-13T17:13:00.000-07:00

Luke earned his heritages belt loop and pin for cub scouts this month. As part of this, he interviewed his Grandma Wendy and "Grandpa Corndog" via Skype to find out what their lives were like when they were about his age. Andy and I learned a few new things, too. Here are the questions he asked and the answers.

1. What was it like at school?
Grandpa -- Remembered learning how to spell and learning about flags
Grandma -- Liked recess the best, walked to school each day, wore bell bottoms sometimes

2. What was your favorite thing to do?
Grandpa -- Rode his bike around the valley (way farther than Luke is allowed to ride), explored to desert searching for snakes and animals
Grandma -- Played "Mother May I?" and on the swing set in her yard

3. What was your favorite toy? Did you make it?
Grandpa -- Slingshot
Grandma -- Barbie

Grandpa made the slingshot out of the lining of his shoe and a rubberband. Luke wants to make one now. :)

5. What was your favorite food?

Grandpa -- Spaghetti and Sloppy Joes
Grandma -- Her mom's chili and rolls

6. What city and state did you live in? Where were you born?

Grandpa -- Las Vegas, Nevada, born in Salt Lake City
Grandma -- Las Vegas, Nevada

7. What was your house like?

Grandpa -- Trilevel house with a basement
Grandma -- Small house with a big yard

What to do with a Turtle or Tortoise

2010-08-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Emeril for this wonderful recipe. I cannot wait to try it out!

Ingredients

1 1/2 pound turtle meat
2 3/4 teaspoon salt, in all
3/4 teaspoon cayenne, in all
6 cups water
1 stick butter
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup chopped onions
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1/4 cup chopped bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped celery
3 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup chopped green onions
4 hard boiled eggs, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
2 tablespoons chopped hard boiled eggs

Directions

Put the turtle meat in a large saucepan with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne and the water. Bring to a boil. Skim off any foam that rises to the top. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer the meat to a platter. Cut the meat into 1/2 inch dice and reserve the liquid. In another large sauce pan, combine the butter and flour over medium heat, stirring constantly for 6 to 8 minutes to make a dark roux. Add the onions, shallots, bell peppers and celery. Stir occasionally and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the vegetables are slightly tender. Add the bay leaves, thyme and garlic, cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the turtle meat. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the Worcestershire sauce, the remaining salt and cayenne, the turtle stock (about 6 cups) lemon juice, and sherry. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the parsley, green onions, and eggs and simmer for 45 minutes. Garnish with green onions and chopped eggs.

A New Obsession

2010-08-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

I will now diverge from my iPhone obsession and expose a new one. For months I have been wanting a desert tortoise for a pet. As pets go, I can't think if a more suitable one for our family. A tortoise is a completely outdoor animal, hibernates half the year, is mess-free, doesn't require much in the way of care, and is cute and entertaining for my children. That's about my speed for pets these days. I have enough to clean up without adding a dog or cat to the mix.

Earlier this summer Rylan took swimming lessons from a lady who had several desert tortoises in a little shelter in her backyard. After class each day he had the best time looking at them and watching them eat lunch, which was served just after his class. His teacher told me that if we built a habitat for a tortoise she knew a lady who had several of them who would give us one. We had to have a habitat built first, though.

I came home that day, looked up the plans, and was ready to build. However, we quickly ran into a problem. Not everyone was as eager for a tortoise as Rylan and me. Though I am ready to bend our no pets policy for a backyard tortoise, Andy is not. With this explained, you will understand why I was excited to find a tortoise had made its way into our yard on Thursday morning.

Rylan and I want to keep him badly. His name is Thomas.

Luke's opinion on the matter varies. He had a lady with a large desert tortoise visit his class this year and he loved the tortoise. She told him, however, that there is a fine for picking up a tortoise because they are a protected animal. He is convinced that if the tortoise stays someone will be at our door assessing a hefty fine. He also believes that he should have a pet he is allowed to pick up.

With no "official" home built for him yet Thomas is free to roam where he may at the moment. Still, he has visited for a couple of days and I am hopeful he will stay longer. He loves to nap underneath the verbena that trails from the edge of the planter. We've given him a little water dish and fill it each day. Rylan has tried to feed him dandelions, but we have yet to see him eat one. Rylan checks on him frequently and gives us updates on his every move. He has several hiding places because of this loud shadow he has acquired and we've lost him several times. I hope our cute little visitor sticks around until we can make him a permanent, escape-free home, but until then we are glad to watch him explore our backyard.

Andy believes that I somehow orchestrated the arrival of our cute little friend, but I promise his arrival is completely coincidental to my wanting a tortoise. I think it is destiny. We were meant to have a tortoise in our backyard.

A Post from My iPhone

2010-08-06T15:35:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Tess challenged me to post from my iPhone. Being new to the smart phone scene, I wasn't sure how to do this. Yet I knew it could be done, so I accepted the challenge. The app I am using is BlogWriter Lite. Though I had some issues signing into my account at first, it suddenly started working about 30 minutes after I loaded it onto my phone. If I use this in the future I will need to speed up my typing skills. This is definitely not the fastest way to blog, but it is yet another thing this phone can do. Tess, you are an awesome phone mentor. I miss you. Say hello to Jasper for me.

Fun, Sexy, and Efficient

2010-08-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about myself. This post is about our new iPhone 4s. Clearly they are sleek, stylish, sexy, fun, cool, smart, and far better at multitasking than I am. If only I could be as awesome as this skinny little device. It's a phone, a camera, an ipod, and a DS (according to Rylan). Both phones arrived yesterday and are already beloved and nearly inseparable from both me and Andy. When we do put one down, it quickly becomes inseparable from one of our boys.

Luke and Rylan have been waiting for our iPhones with as much (or more) anticipation as Andy and me. Luke has come home from school everyday asking, "Did the iPhones come?" Rylan has asked first thing in the morning as though he expected them to arrive mysteriously in the night. He told me one morning, "Mommy, I saw the iPhone in my dreams last night." How can I not laugh at that? Everyday for the last 13 our boys have asked if the iPhones came. Yesterday I could finally say, "Yes!"

How did this all come about? How did my husband convince me to purchase such an expensive phone? And also one for him? He is very persuasive, but the truth is it didn't really take a lot of convincing. He called from work a couple of weeks ago and announced that the scroll wheel on his Blackberry was not working and he had taken the phone apart, cleaned the wheel with a can of air he had in his office, and put it back together. It was working, but for how long he didn't know.

He liked his Blackberry Pearl because it was small enough to fit in his pocket without feeling bulky. It could also connect to the enterprise server at work and deliver messages instantaneously. Only two types of phones are allowed this privilege: Blackberries and iPhones. T-Mobile doesn't sell the Pearl anymore and we no longer get a discount there. But we do get a discount at AT&T through Andy's employer. That made the iPhone service through AT&T, even with all its extras, cheaper than Blackberry service through T-Mobile. We do have to pay for data service for my new phone, which makes it $25 more, but I think it is $25 nicer than my free Samsung. We also had to buy the phones. They've come down in price since their release, though, and they are really cool.

At any rate, with that justification supplied how could I resist? I couldn't, and now I am the owner of a fabulous new iPhone and I love it. How long will it be before my text messages don't end with "This phone is so cool"? How long will Luke be completely ready for school on time just so he can have a few minutes with this cool toy? How long before Rylan breaks my phone and I am forced to revert to a two-year-old personality, throw a tantrum, and forbid him to play with my toys any more? Only time will tell. As for now, I'm having a little separation anxiety. I think I better end this post and go check on my iPhone.

Funny Face

2010-08-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

Natalie is a sweet, loving little girl. Which makes it all the more funny when her silly sense of humor shines through. Check out one such magic moment I happened to capture the other night. Honestly, I have no idea what she was doing but her facial expression was hilarious.

One Cute Little Red One

2010-07-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

Andy asked Rylan to go outside and see if there were any more tomatoes ready to pick. He came back in and said, "There's just one cute little red one like Natalie." I think Natalie has been given a new nickname. I like cute little red one or even tomato way better than naterpants. :)

Saftey First!

2010-04-12T12:52:00.000-07:00

I asked Rylan earlier today if he would like to sharpen some dull pencils for me. He loves to use the pencil sharpener, so I got an enthusiastic yes from him and he went to get the sharpener off the desk upstairs. When he came back downstairs he was dressed like this.
Any excuse to wear the apron and goggles he got this weekend was a good excuse.

I went to play tennis Saturday morning and came home around 11 to an empty house. Andy arrived later with the kids who were carrying little wooden baseball games they had made, proudly dressed in aprons and goggles. Andy had gone to Lowes to pick up a saw for Luke's pine wood derby car and noticed that a kids' woodworking class was about to start. The boys wanted to make something, so he put them in the class and they each got a free apron and pair of goggles. Rylan wore his almost all day on Saturday while he worked beside Andy and Luke making the pine wood derby car and later as he helped in the yard. It was so adorable.

Clark County Fair

2010-04-11T21:56:00.001-07:00

Rylan had a Twist and Shout performance this weekend at the Clark County Fair, so we all made the trip up to Logandale to watch. It was the kids' first time at a county fair, so it was fun to see their reactions to all the activities during the evening. Here's Luke gawking at the rides when we approached the midway.
Before hitting the rides, the kids played some games with their friends. Mini golf, ring toss, blocks, puzzles, hula hoops, etc. were at various stations in the kids area. It was a hot day! I love this picture of Jett drinking water as our friend Jared squirts it from his bottle. The camera focused on the the stream of water, so the droplets really pop out .
Next stop, the animals. There were roosters, rabbits, pigs, chicks, ducks, snakes, even a monkey. Here is Luke posing in front of a huge mother pig and her piglet. We later ate this pig's relative in a pulled-pork sandwich that was delicious.

Also on display, butter molds. First prize went to this beauty, a butter udder.
Our kids had never ridden on a Ferris wheel, so we couldn't leave without doing that. Andy rode with Rylan and Luke while Natalie and I waved from below. When they exited the ride and came running up to us yelling, "That was awesome!" the old mastercard commercials came to mind. Admission to the fair: $7, Tickets for the Ferris wheel: $3, the look on their faces at the top: priceless.

Rylan Strikes Back

2010-04-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

I didn't know April Fool's Day was a day Rylan knew about; we haven't discussed it recently and he hasn't mentioned it. Whether his prank this morning was incidental to the day it fell on or a planned attack I'm not sure, but it was apropos. Earlier this morning I heard Luke screaming and crying downstairs. "Mooooooom! Quick! Rylan . . . " He sounded really upset. I ran to see what was wrong. They had been outside climbing a tree in the backyard and I thought one of them had fallen and broken an arm or worse.

When I got to Luke, he was standing just inside the backdoor, completely drenched. There was a big puddle of water on floor below him. "I was in the tree . . . Rylan . . . hhhose . . . sprayed me!" Luke explained through his sobs. What I was able to piece together later was this: Rylan told Luke he was going to water the tree so that it would grow taller. Luke thought this was a logical enough reason for Rylan to be using the water hose and so he stayed in the tree, unsuspecting of malicious intent. Then, bam! Rylan attacked. Luke scurried down the tree while being blasted with water, shouting for Rylan to stop the whole way down. Rylan did not stop. By the time Luke reached the ground he was traumatized from the whole ordeal of descending the tree while being sprayed with cold water. Plus, he was freezing.

Poor Luke, I think what upset him most was being bullied by his four-year-old brother. Rylan got sent to his room and then apologized, so they are friends again. They are currently side by side on the couch, a bag of Starburst jellybeans between them watching Over the Hedge. Ah, the bonding power of candy. It was hard to get too upset with Rylan. I thought it was such a funny and appropriate joke for April Fool's Day, even though I don't think that is what he was celebrating.

Herica Tunin and Dal Hoen

2010-03-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

This afternoon while we were eating lunch with the kids we started talking about cousins. We asked them if they could name all of their cousins on both sides. They could not, but they got most of the sixteen. Luke asked Meghan to name all of her cousins so Meghan rattled them off. When she was done Rylan informed her that she had forgotten one of her cousins.

“Who?” asked Meghan.

“Herica Tunin,” said Rylan in a slightly reproachful tone. Really, Meghan should have known that.

“Is Herica a boy or a girl?” asked Meghan.

“A girl and she is your age. She is big like you,” said Rylan.

“What does her hair look like?” asked Meghan.

“She has a pink shirt,” said Rylan.

“Oh, but what color is her hair?” asked Meghan.

“She has hair like Natalie, but green,” said Rylan.

“What does she look like?” asked Meghan.

“She has a dog named Dal Hoen. He is big and looks kind of like a goat. He is also named Wilson and he died,” said Rylan. He went on to explain that the dog died because Papaw Coondog shot it.

Long story short, Meghan has a cousin she did not know about with reddish-green hair and a pink shirt. She is big like Meghan but is also 7 (we later learned) and like her dog, Dal Hoen, her vitality is also somewhat in question. So, Herica, if you are still out there please send us a note, we are very excited to get to know you. After Rylan finished the story he matter-of-factly informed us that he was going upstairs to make an annocular.

Natalie Shortcake

2010-03-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

He Ate It and Liked It

2010-03-11T19:01:00.001-08:00

"They" said it would happen, but I doubted until I saw it tonight with my own eyes. I have been continuously putting broccoli on Rylan's plate for a long, long time. I seem to remember him eating it at some point, but it has been months, maybe a year, since he has touched the stuff. "That makes me throw up," he tells us each time he finds it on his plate. I read somewhere a long time ago that if you continue to introduce foods your kids don't like, they are more likely to eat them eventually. With this nugget of advice in mind, I always put everything on my kids' plates at dinnertime. We try to get them to try everything, even if they say they don't like it. We don't make a huge production of it, though. If they won't try it, that's fine.
I saw it work tonight. I was cutting up the broccoli for dinner and Rylan stood beside me, watching. "I don't like those trees," he told me. "They make me throw up." "That's fine," I said. "I like broccoli." Then he took a piece from the bowl, ate it, and said that it was good. I'm not sure what prompted him to give it a try, but I almost fell over. He ate another piece and then another. He met Andy in the garage when he came home from work and said as a greeting, "Hi daddy, I like broccoli." According to Rylan it is a grown-up thing to eat. "I didn't like broccoli when I was three, but now I'm four and I like it." Whatever the reason, I am glad. Now, if I could get Luke to eat spinach and mushrooms. . . .

A Coversation with Our Wii Adict

2010-03-07T12:47:00.000-08:00

Rylan: Mommy, can I play the Wii?
Me: Is your room clean?
Rylan: It is, but I don't want you to look at it.
Me: Well, when I can look at it and see that it's clean, you can play the Wii.
Rylan: Mommy, let's start over . . . Can I play the Wii?

I guess he was hoping for a different answer the second time around. I love that kid.

Pressing the B Button

2010-03-01T21:45:00.000-08:00

While we were eating dinner tonight, the subject of soccer came up. We were talking about Luke's soccer skills and what a good player he has become. Rylan piped up and said, "I'm really good at kicking in soccer. You just have to press the B button." Apparently Rylan plays the Wii too often. Wouldn't it be nice if we could access athletic skills at the touch of a button? In Rylan's world you can.

Confidence

2010-02-28T20:22:00.000-08:00

He wasn't assigned a solo in his Twist and Shout performance, but that didn't stop Rylan from approaching the mic and singing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" at the top of his lungs. His groupies continued to dance in the background even though they looked a little confused by his extemporaneous display of singing skills. This unpredictable child made the audience laugh and then scan the crowd for the parent desperately making hand signals for him to step back from the mic. Because we were all laughing, however, he was only encouraged to continue his solo. Who would have thought that his first gig at a venue with microphones could inspire such boldness?

Earlier this week Rylan was assisting me in the kitchen. "You're a good mixer, Rylan," I told him. "Yeah, I know," was his reply. I had to smile at his confidence. Confidence has been on my mind this week as I've watched members of my family accomplish a variety of tasks. Natalie, our ten-month-old crawler, has been testing her legs and balance by pulling up on nearly everything within her reach. We watched her pull herself to standing position this weekend aided by a case of diapers on the living room floor. The look of excitement on her face was priceless. She seemed to say with her eyes, "Wow. I'm doing this!" The excitement of succeeding in her goal could not be contained to her face alone, and her whole body began to rock back and forth. In spite of all this movement she managed to sustain her balance, though fatigue set in eventually and we had to help her off her perch because she could not figure out how to reverse her motions to get down.

Yesterday we held our first non-family photo shoot. Our babysitter, Ashley, needed some head shots to apply for modeling jobs. She worked the magic convention a couple of weeks ago and was approached by a few people interested in giving her future work, but they all requested head shots and portfolio pictures. Andy enjoys photography and thought he could help, so we all went out to Lake Las Vegas for his first official photo op. I love how Andy is not afraid to try new things, and I believe that is why he excels at many things. Has he ever taken head shots before? No, but I think these turned out great. It also helps to have a beautiful person to photograph. Ashley was a good sport about adjusting positions and being patient as we tried different angles. These are our favorite shots.

I watched Luke cook his first meal of macaroni and cheese this week. He measured everything out by himself and even made some for Rylan. He was a great help to me around the house this week, vacuuming, helping with yard work, and keeping Natalie and Rylan entertained. As he worked he looked confident, and I'm glad to see the smile on his face when he does a good job.

A little while ago I listened as Andy spoke to the youth during a combined meeting at church. He told a story about going to Wet n Wild as a kid and being intimidated by a huge water slide called Der Stuka. He climbed to the top many times only to come up with an excuse to descend the stairs because he was too scared to slide down. Finally he felt he could no longer tell his buddies he needed to go to the bathroom or check on something down below without exposing his fear. He took the plunge and overcame his fear by finally going down the slide. He went down again and found it easier. Then he went again and again, until it really wasn't such a big deal anymore.

The GRE has become my Der Stuka. I am registered to take it on April 20th and the math section intimidates me . It has been a long time since I've taken any math and though it is slowly coming back and I've learned all of it before, it's not as fresh as I would like it to be. I want to feel more confident, but the courage is slow in coming. I know the best way to improve my performance is to review each section of my Bob Miller Math Study Guide, but it is not particularly enjoyable, and I am great at finding excuses to put my book down.

Bob and I have spent a great deal of time together the last few weeks. The other night I thought I would wow Andy with some of my new found math knowledge. "Do you know why there are 300 degrees in a circle?" I asked him the other night. "No," he said with a smile, "I don't." He let me finish my whole explanation of the early Babylonian calendar before saying, "Now what circle again has 300 degrees?" Then it hit me that my whole plan to impress him had backfired. "Oh, 360 degrees, yeah. Wow, why did I just say that? I think I should probably spend some more time with Bob . . . " The whole thing was pretty embarrassing. It didn't help when he tried to help me redeem myself with what should have been easy questions. "Well, how do you find the area of a cone?" Blank stare. "A sphere?" Uh mm. "What is the definition of an isosceles triangle?" Yikes, this is worse than I thought.

What makes us confident? I marvel at my children who approach the unknown with alacrity. Their eager and cheerful readiness for each new experience is an example to me. We all come into the world feeling confident. Most of us were surrounded by a cheering squad that reveled in our baby steps and triumphs when we were young. Then competition sets in, or maybe it is something else entirely, and the accolades we once heard so regularly are drowned out by competing messages .

I recently read The Help. There is a part in the book where the housekeeper notices that the child she cares for is constantly nagged and pushed by her mother. She feels she needs to balance this, so she whispers in the girl's ear everyday, "You smart, you kind, you important." I was touched by this and it has made me reevaluate the things I say, especially to my children and to Andy. They need to know that they are amazing and wonderful and that there is no one else like them in the world. I am thankful to have a husband who, in all areas besides math, compliments me often. His encouragement often motivates me and gives me courage to try things I would not readily pursue otherwise.

He listens to me play the piano and encourages me by saying, "Wow, you are sounding so much better." He goes with me to the tennis court to hit and could say many negative things about my swing, power, and overall ability, but he doesn't. He patiently hits the balls back and tells me I've improved. Life is such a balancing act. It is difficult to find time for everything that needs to be done. Progress with many things comes slowly.

I'm glad Andy doesn't complain when our house isn't as clean as usual because I was finishing a school assignment or catching up on some reading. If he knows I will be home late, he finds something for dinner and has it waiting for me when I come home. I watch him diligently working at new things like building bookshelves and learning to play the guitar and it makes me want to try new things, too. What would I do without this man of mine? He gives me courage. I think courage can be found in the accumulated benefit of small things: the words of support from the people we love, the little acts of kindness that make it easier to try, small steps that feel easier to take after the newness of taking them wears off. Maybe nothing is really hard, only new.

A New Use for Feet

2010-02-25T11:48:00.000-08:00

Field Trip to Shark Reef

2010-02-25T11:27:00.001-08:00

Last week I went with Luke's class on a field trip to the Shark Reef. The kids were so excited! I loved how enthusiastic they were during the presentation before touring the tanks. Experiencing the field trip was much more interactive and memorable than the usual walking audio tour. As a parting gift we got two passes to go back. Maybe we will plan another trip during track break.

Everyone wants to answer this question . . .
Chris volunteered to dress up as the crazy sea animal with many adaptations.
The finished product . . .
Looking at sea specimens . . .

I think everyone was brave enough to touch a sting ray in the touch pool.

Restaraunt Reviews

2010-02-21T22:04:00.000-08:00

We've tried some restaurants in the last few months that I think are worth mentioning.

Crazy Pita Rotisserie and Grill
This is a great place to eat at The District. Their rotisserie chicken, which is used in all the chicken pitas is amazing. It reminded me of the chicken my Papaw Johnson used to grill with cumin and other spices, only this was really, really moist. There is also a great vegetarian menu.

Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana
Another great place in The District. The crust is amazing. There is no way to duplicate it without their oven. It's a thin, chewier crust. We all gave the crust five stars. We had the Settebello pizza and the pizzas from the kids menu are quite large.

Whole Foods Market
Andy took an afternoon off last week and the weather was gorgeous, so we took the kids and headed out to Town Square. We got some sandwiches to go at the Whole Foods Market and had a picnic in the grass before heading to the playground for a little while. I never think of eating here, but they have great food and all the sandwiches were very, very good.

Yogurtland
To me it isn't the best yogurt in the world, but I like it. There is something very fun about yogurt buffets. The boys love to pick out their toppings and make their own concoctions with many varieties of yogurt. There is always a line, but it cycles through pretty fast.

Sirio at Aria Hotel and Casino
We haven't frequented many of the fine dining restaurants so plentiful on The Strip, but we did try this place over the weekend and the food and service were excellent. Andy had gnocchi and shrimp with a basil pesto sauce, and I had spinach ravioli with a sage butter sauce. Both were fantastic. I really want to try to make a similar sage butter sauce. I have a sage plant in my herb garden that I would love to use more. I can't remember what the dessert was called, but it was a cream, custard type pudding, cold and smooth, with a great flavor I can't even begin to describe. A raspberry sauce with whole berries was poured over the top and it was garnished with mint. It was really, really good. Also, the tables were cool. The tops were made of wood, but treated with some sort of glaze that made them look and feel like marble. The effect was really interesting and beautiful.

Heidi's Deli
There are few of these around town and they have great sandwiches. Better than Port of Subs, Subway, etc., and about the same price.

My Champions

2010-02-21T21:56:00.001-08:00

I must give credit where it is due . . . Andy is very good at Connect Four. He shows no mercy even when playing Rylan, and certainly none when playing me. Luke is also very good. I lost quite a few times in our tournament tonight. As the boys were going to bed, Luke looked at me and said with a smile, "Better luck next time, Mommy."

Big Plans

2010-02-02T12:20:00.001-08:00

When I have my teaching literacy class during the week, my children get to hang out with their friends for part of the afternoon until Andy picks them up after work. My children look forward to this day with great anticipation; they absolutely love the time they spend there. Rylan asks everyday if today is the day he gets to go to Dalin's house. On Sunday Luke showed me this picture, drawn primarily by his friend Ashton. She gave it to him at church on Sunday. These "blueprints" are for the fort they plan to make this week, and I can't wait to see the finished product.

They make their fort using the bunk beds. I love the drawing for the items inside: DS, DS, laptop, couch. What more could a kid need?

I'm sure Luke will "feel free to add more" because he is always willing to give his opinion about everything. This is one of the qualities I love most about Luke.

I love these kids and their big plans. Today they are planning forts; what will they be planning in twenty years? I feel caught in the dichotomy of parenthood. I want my kids to stay young forever because I love them just as they are. I want to see them grow up because I find so much joy in each new thing they do. There is no choice in the matter of them growing, but I do wish time would slow down a little bit. I think most people have a period of their lives they wish would last forever. For some it is childhood. Others may choose the high school years or their time in college. I've enjoyed parts of all these times, but my pick if I had to choose would be this time. I am really enjoying this time in my life and I wish it would last longer than I know it will.

Holy Cake and Ice Cream, Batman, Rylan's 4!

2010-01-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

Rylan turned 4 years old this month and wanted to celebrate with a batman party. He and his preschool friends celebrated in masks and capes. We played Mr. Freeze dance to some old school batman tunes and batman, batman, joker (the batman version of duck, duck, goose). We had a little batman training camp, bombed batman with balloons, and searched for a hidden batman with flashlights. Later the joker stole the birthday cake and hid it, but we found it, and the celebration continued. Thanks to all those who helped make Rylan's fourth birthday special.

Tenley, Hannah, Andrew, Rylan, and Adam just before we left for preschool. Most of them wore their capes and masks to preschool so Miss Joy would feel protected. I think she did.
Sawyer and my friend Kristen in the background with Natalie. Kristen helped me with the party, and I think everything went more smoothly with her help.
Rylan poses before blowing out the candles. Sawyer is in the background providing extra light because he is just that kind of hero.
Rylan, Sawyer, and Tenley
Hannah eating the frosting first. She's my kind of cupcake eater.
Hannah, Dalin, and Rylan posing in their capes and masks.
Rylan, opening Hannah's gift, with her assistance. It was a batman guy with a bat cycle . . . needless to say, Rylan was excited about this and all his presents.
Hannah aka Bat Girl
Andrew in his mask and cape
And my favorite of all . . . bat baby. I couldn't leave Natalie out of the fun, so I made her a little mask and cape, too. This is her posing with her bottle; even bat baby needs nourishment.

Family Pictures

2010-01-30T16:08:00.000-08:00

Over the Thanksgiving holiday we took pictures with Andy's brothers and sisters at a very picturesque spot in St. George. The kids had fun exploring near the beautiful red rocks.

Rylan, Abby, and Luke checking out the red rocks . . .
and the sand.
The idea was to pose in the same manner they were forced to as kids. Andy was very adept at this.
Our attempt at a family picture . . . Why must I always squint? . . . The answer to this and other mysteries of the universe to come at a later date.
My cute sisters-in-law, who never squint . . .
Maybe the secret to not squinting is wearing sunglasses.
Rylan hugging Abby with all his might
Cousin Abby, Dustin's daughter, with Rylan, Luke, and Natalie

Nick and Tamsin, soon to be mom and dad to my little North nephew. He should be arriving very soon.

Travis and Chelsea

More on Mississippi

2010-01-30T14:38:00.000-08:00

So much for the New Year's resolution to be a better blogger . . . only kidding. I know better than to make a resolution like that. I had to laugh when I was listening to the news this week about the pope urging members of the clergy to blog. This announcement on the news program was followed by some advice for the church leaders from a professional blogger. The first tip for successful blogging? Blog at least once a day. It's a good thing I am not a professional. It's been almost a month since we went to Mississippi to visit family, and I'm just now posting the rest of the pictures.

My dad and me. We had just come in from the cold (hence the head warmer accessory my dad is sporting) to get warm by one of Coondog's famous fires.
Andy, Natalie, and me

The kids sitting on the pier.
I love this picture of the boys in the canoe. Meredith rowed them around the pond for quite a while.
One of the highlights of this trip was getting spend time with some good friends from my high school days, Stacy and Beth. We all went to different high schools since we lived in different cities, but we spent many weekends together and wrote to each other (snail mail style, this was before the broad use of email). Beth and I first met at girl's camp when we were beehives. Now we are all grown up with kids of our own . . . how does time pass so quickly? Our kids played together at the park while we caught up. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to see them while I was in Laurel. It's nice to see friends when lots of time has past and have it feel like it hasn't been long. We all just picked up where we left off. I've always felt that is the sign of a good friend . . . but I'm sad for all the things I have missed. I hope it's not so long until I see them again.

Stacy, Beth, and me. Beth is holding her little girl, Kylee. Stacy is expecting her second child.

Luke with Stacy's daughter, Thalia

I wish I would have taken more pictures. I didn't get any of my siblings or nieces and nephews who came on New Year's Eve. I didn't take any pictures of the house Starly is remodeling or any of my new niece, Brooklyn. I didn't take any pictures of the white dragon on the tennis court and we played many times while we were there. I have no pictures of my aunts and cousins or of my parents together. When we returned I looked at my camera in disbelief . . . I don't know how I forget to do these things. But at least I captured some moments. I have the other pictures in my head and moments from our trip still surface in my thoughts each day. I am so thankful for my family and friends. I feel very rich to have such wonderful people in my life.

Visiting Family

2009-12-29T13:56:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed visiting my brother Lee's family in Birmingham during our Christmas vacation. The kids climbed trees, rode bikes, roasted hot dogs outside, and I got chased with a threatening can of silly string. Andy and I also were schooled in Rook, which may have been a direct result of contamination from the previously mentioned silly string. We ate a delicious Sunday dinner and got to try Wendi's famous chicken and rice and Lee's biscuits.

Wendi poses next to her new oven, a screaming deal she found on craigslist.

Lee and me

Kristen, Wendi, and Lee

Lee, just after making a batch of biscuits. When we were kids Lee had two main specialties, buttermilk biscuits and pancakes. These are still his specialties and the biscuits were delicious. Doesn't he look so cute in his apron?

We all got to meet Lauren, who is just three weeks older than Natalie and completely adorable and adventurous. I loved watching them parallel play. Luckily we left before Lauren could teach Natalie how to crawl. I think she did influence Natalie in sitting up for a longer period of time. Norths always thrive with a little bit of competition.

I love this picture. Natalie looks so astonished that Lauren is eating the ball. A little later Natalie sampled it also.

David looking deep in thought

Kristen and Ashlee

Scotty's Castle

2009-12-07T17:40:00.001-08:00

Within Death Valley there is an old castle that was built in the 1920s by a rich couple from Chicago, Al and Bessie Johnson. Scotty was the caretaker and the rumored owner, so that is why it became known as Scotty's Castle. The park now owns the castle and all the furnishings, which are original to the castle. We took a tour after the race, and it was really cool. I've always thought the inside of a castle would be very cold and hard; but, as my brother Starly would say, this castle had the cozy factor. During the depression some of the rooms were rented out to travelers. Albert Johnson, an engineer by profession, designed waterfall features throughout the place and a solarium to take advantage of the sun's heat in the winter time when they lived there.
It isn't filled now, but back in the day this was a swimming pool/mote in front of the castle. The basement has windows that were designed to look into the pool.
Standing on the bridge over the mote at the entrance of the castle.
One of the living rooms
An awesome spiral staircase
The courtyard

Death Valley

2009-12-07T17:01:00.001-08:00

We took a trip to Death Valley this weekend because Andy was running the Death Valley Half Marathon. He ran a great race. We are proud of you, Andy!

Death Valley has only a few hotel options and most of those were booked because of the race. We stayed the night at the old Amargosa Opera House. We appreciated the quaintness and history associated with the place, but the beds were terrible. Natalie got the best sleep of all of us in our suitcase. It made a nice comfy bed for her and she really seemed to like it.

While Andy was running, the kids and I explored some nearby Death Valley sites. I decided to take them exploring after we stopped at the gift shop for hot chocolate and Luke could tell me nothing about Death Valley except for the items for sale in the store. I was worried that he thought Death Valley was a gift shop. He had his eye on a pocket knife with his name carved on it. He told me he needed the knife as a souvenir to remember Death Valley. I told him I would buy him the knife if he could tell me ten things he saw in Death Valley that had nothing to do with the gift shop. I was unsure if he would be able to do this because he was so fixated on asking for the knife. It took him a little while, but he managed to notice some other things as we walked around. He had a list of ten things by the end. One of those things was the small solar plant at Death Valley, which we visited on our adventure.

Natalie enjoyed the stroll.

Thanksgiving

2009-12-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving in Hurricane. Yum! We were stuffed after all this delicious food.
Rylan liked the olives the best. I think he ate 23 of them!
Natalie after her first Thanksgiving meal.
Luke preparing to eat olives. There is a technique to this, after all. They taste better when they are eaten off the fingers.
Cute Chelsea. We are glad you and Travis came for Thanksgiving!

My First Cub Scout Pin

2009-12-07T16:51:00.001-08:00

Luke pinning on my first cub scout pin.
Luke playing a game after pack meeting.

Bugs and Birthdays

2009-12-06T09:47:00.001-08:00

My sister Chelsea and my dad both have birthdays around Thanksgiving. Chelsea does not often get to come to Thanksgiving and since she was coming this year we all decided to do something special.

Many years back Chelsea would go around singing a song called "Jugs" which was an adaptation of a NOFX song and not something I will publish here. We took the lyrics and came up with our own tune. Soon we had a music video birthday present for Chelsea and dad and we thought we would share it with you. Enjoy.

Recent Books

2009-11-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

I was on goodreads today putting in some books we recently read and noticed there is now an "add to your blog" option. I think that's a pretty cool feature. Maybe it's always been there and I never noticed it. I was excited to find it today and thought I would share my thoughts on a few recent books.

Gleam and Glow by Eve Bunting

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Eve Bunting is one of the best writers of historical fiction. She has a gift for taking complicated social issues and relaying them in a story that is child appropriate. Many of her books have been springboards for conversations with my children about treating others with respect and dignity. Gleam and Glow are two goldfish that a family leaves behind in a pond when fleeing their home during the Bosnian war. When they return to their home five years later, it is in ruins. The children run to the pond to check on their fish and find they are thriving and have multiplied. Seeing this, the family finds hope and begins to believe they will also thrive again. It is an inspirational book inspired by a true story. In the author's note she says that she wrote the story "for people everywhere who have been forced from the lives they have known, and who find hope in the most unexpected places."

Where Is the Cake Now? by T.T. Khing

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a fun book all in pictures. It has no text, so it's great for many different levels. I had Luke read the pictures and write a story about what he saw. Since there are many different stories that can be told with the pictures, it is a fun and creative activity. Rylan enjoyed tracking the cake. There is at least one other book in this series, so I will probably look for it next time we are at the library.

Say Cheese! by Lauren Child

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
We've seen the television show, but Tamsin got us interested in the books. The pictures and text are fun to look at and read and the stories are always funny. This one is about Lola getting her picture taken at school. Despite her efforts to stay clean, she gets very messy before the photograph is taken. She still has a great smile, though. It's just how pictures usually go in our family!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this book again last week. It is one of my all-time favorites. Atticus Finch is my hero. I don't know that I can say I am the same outside my house as I am inside, but reading this book makes me want to try harder to be that way. I want our boys to grow up like Jem -- digesting, thinking, and figuring out the things they see in the world that don't seem right. Maybe it seems altruistic, but I believe we all value many of the same things when the traits that outwardly define us are stripped away. I love the last few lines where Scout tells Atticus she finally saw Boo Radley and he was real nice. Atticus says, "Most people are when you finally see them." I also love the part where Scout and Jem are discussing different types of folks. Jem says the way he figures it there are four kinds and proceeds to name the categories he sees. Then Scout replies, "I think there is just one kind of folks. Folks." This book reminds me to be less judgmental and to try to "stand in someone else's shoes and walk around in them." There are many problems that could be solved if we all did this a little more.

A Major Award

2009-11-18T21:37:00.000-08:00

The other day we received a call from the PTA president of Luke’s school that informed us that Luke had won an award for a picture he had painted. Apparently the children were asked to take a photo, paint a picture or write a story that depicts what “beauty is.”

Luke’s painting of a vase of flowers received an honorable mention and he was told he would be honored at an awards ceremony. The whole week he wondered aloud what sort of award he would receive for his efforts. When he finally did receive his award he held it and in admiration said, “I give it a 98%!”

Luke's Baptism

2009-11-07T20:46:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has already happened. Luke was baptized and confirmed tonight by Andy, and we had a great time visiting with family and friends at the baptism. Luke's grandpa gave the talk on baptism and Luke played Book of Mormon Stories on the piano. Thanks to all who came to share in this special event. We are proud of you, Luke.

Mia, George, Luke, and Rylan

More Memories

2009-11-05T20:21:00.000-08:00

Where were you born?
I was born in Provo, Utah, Dec 4, 1909, in my Grandmother Bean's home. My father came from Nephi to board and room there. He and my mother met and fell in love.

How old were you when the depression started? What was the most difficult part of the depression?
I was about 20. One couldn't buy fabric to make clothes. We had to have coupons for sugar and gas. We traded tobacco coupons for sugar. The worst of the depression was the lack of jobs.

Have you always had bathrooms inside the house?
When I was born my parents lived with my grandmother in Provo. She had a bathroom. We moved to a ranch in Nevada when I was three. [I had] no bathroom until I married in 1932. Cornell built a small home in Alamo. We were the first to have an inside toilet and bathroom.

How many years did you work as a school teacher? What grades did you teach?
Three years I taught. The first year all grades were in one room. The next two years I taught third and fourth.

How many dates did you go on at BYU?
I never did count, but I never did sit home crying. There were movies to see and lots of dances.

What was the first motion picture you saw? Who did you see it with?
My mother went to Provo to have a baby in 1918. The three oldest girls saw a movie while there. I remember it cost .10 each. I can't remember what the name was.

The First

2009-11-04T20:29:00.001-08:00

In each life there are countless firsts. There is the first day, the first smile and the first step. Each first is magical, in its own way, but there is one first in which an infant finally bursts through the goos, giggles and gurgles to make something cognitive. In that moment attentive parents rejoice for their little one and the baby realizes by the reaction that a connection has been made. For many babies that is the moment in which their own private universe of thoughts finally begins to flow forth and brighten the world, slowly at first but gradually faster and faster.

That moment happened the other day for our little Natalie and, drum roll please, her first word was… “Da-da!” For those of you uninitiated in baby language that is “Daddy!” Okay, many of you may jump in here to say it was just a fluke or gas, you know a bubble in her tummy. Well, she has been saying it constantly now and here is a little known fact; that makes it three for three for old “Da-da.” Not that it’s a competition or anything…

Costumes

2009-10-31T20:30:00.001-07:00

Luke's mummy costume won first place at the trunk or treat. He wasn't too happy about the oatmeal on his face because it made it hard for him to eat pizza and candy, but he liked the costume. He also liked that his friends didn't recognize him right away. He does look very different.

There are over 200 safety pins in this costume. Andy made the pants and I made the top Wednesday night while we caught up on episodes of The Office. He held up the pants and they looked like one of those ruffly Mexican fiesta dresses because his pinning was so precise. Mine was a total mess. I wish I would have taken a picture of this. It was hilarious. We were crying we were laughing so hard. I guess the best time to make Halloween costumes is late at night when you are delirious and everything is funny.

Rylan was a Power Ranger.

Pumpkins

2009-10-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

This one was for Rylan . . .

Luke carved this one mostly by himself. Way to go, Luke!

This is my very first attempt at a face. Meredith, you will appreciate this one. It's Dwight Shrute.

Gramazine 90

2009-10-24T23:36:00.000-07:00

About a month after Andy and I started dating, he invited me to spend Thanksgiving with him and his family in Las Vegas. I was a little nervous about going on a road trip with him since we had only been dating a short time. It is a six-hour drive to Las Vegas from Provo and it probably sounds silly, but I was worried about what we would talk about for six hours. I decided to go with him, and despite my reservations, it was a great weekend and we had lots to talk about during the drive. I loved his family, and still do, and I even got to go to a family reunion and meet the extended family. I mention this whole story because before we went to the family reunion, which was also a sort of birthday party for his Grandma Jo, he told me he wanted to get her a birthday present. We tossed around a few ideas and came up with a gift. We decided to give her a jar with strips of paper in it. On the strips of paper we wrote questions we wanted her to answer about her life. Along with jar we gave her a notebook. In the front of the notebook it reads:

GRAMAZINE 90

An invigorating medication for the soul. Gramazine 90 has been recommended 2 to 1 by doctors. This life remembering medication should be used as a potent reminder of your youth and to give inspiration to others.
Directions for use:
1. Draw two slips a week (or as needed).
2. Read the slips.
3. Open accompanying journal.
4. Write appropriate response.
5. Return to Andy North upon completion of the prescription.

Caution: This prescription may cause some side effects and should not be used while operating a vehicle. Some of the side effects are: euphoria, flashbacks, and happiness. Over dosage may cause cramping in the hand and brain. Use at your own risk.

Well, unlike most patients, she took her medication faithfully and completely. The summer of 2000 we were newly married and living in Las Vegas for the summer while doing internships. One day after work we went to visit her and she pulled out the completed notebook and returned it to us. Each strip of paper from the jar was neatly glued to a page in the notebook with her answer written underneath. We eagerly read all the stories she wrote to us that night, and we have kept this notebook for 10 years. I saw it today when I was looking for something in our bookcase, and I felt I should post some of the stories she wrote in celebration of her 100th birthday later this year.

What was school like when you were young?

All eight grades were in one room. We had to walk 2 ½ miles on a dirt, rocky road to get there. I loved it. First we sang fun songs, then each class took turns having their lessons. One half-hour recess each morning, an hour for lunch, and another recess in the afternoon. On our way home by 4 o’clock. We could listen and learn from other classes.

What was your house like when you were a little girl?

It was one room about 12’ x 20’ under a weeping willow tree. At the side was a screen house where our beds were. In the winter canvas was let down over the screen to keep out wind, rain, and snow. We cooked, ate, and lived in the saloon. (She drew a picture of the house and saloon next to this entry.)

What were your chores while you were growing up?

I started to milk cows and ride a horse at about 7 years. Had to be up at 5:00 to get cows from pasture. Milk ten, change clothes and off 2 ½ miles to school. Home to herd sheep until sundown, milk cows, be in bed by ten. In the summer, during the day, we cultivated corn, helped load hay and hoed weeds, but always it was milk cows night and morning. We hated trying to get the smell of cow from our hands when getting ready for a dance.

If you had it to do all over again what would you change (if anything)?

I’d say “I love you!” more than I did. You can show your love by giving, but people need to be told, especially your mate. I’d still marry the same person and have the same children.

There are many more questions and answers, so I’ll try to post some more later this week. She has such an interesting life and so much has changed over the century she has been alive. When I first met Grandma Jo, she immediately reminded me of my Mammaw Goza, who I loved very much. She is a petite wisp of a woman, and she is very friendly and determined. She just has a way about her that makes her nice to talk to. We visited with her last month and though she looks very well for her age, the years are taking their toll and it is harder than it used to be for her to have a conversation. I know she will not be with us much longer, but I am happy to know a little more about the life of someone who has influenced Andy’s life in such a positive way.

Our Little Princess

2009-10-18T17:01:00.000-07:00

This morning I got Natalie all ready for church in her pink dress. She looked adorable, as always, and was smiling really big. Rylan came into her room and saw her all dressed up. Now, whenever Rylan speaks to Natalie it is about 10 octaves higher than his normal tone, so for those of you who know what that sounds like this will be even funnier. He starts playing with her hands and feet, leans in and says, "Eww, Naters, you wook wike a pwincwess. He he he . . . you wook so cwute. He he, Ew Naters, you wook wike sweeping bootie. Eeee, Eeee . . . !" Luke and I were laughing so hard, and poor Natalie has been called sweeping bootie all day. What an awesome princess name.

Unhappiness is . . .

2009-10-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

finding mashed up pop-tart crumbled and stuck to the carpet in your kids' room.