O Ye of Little Faith!

It happens every year.

I plant my seeds with fear and trepidation.

Am I doing it right?

Will it work?

And then the magic happens!

The peas have sprouted!

Boy, some serious thinning needs to happen in the carrot patch (that's the secret to carrots-thin-thin-thin)

Some kind of lettuce.

And since I'm still a wimp, I transplanted the broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.

See? It works-every year-despite my lack of faith.

First Date, last Child

Scene I: Some oriental nail shop, about seven blocks from home
Time: 7 1/2 hours prior to departure


The day begins with pedicures. Mom agreed because she was sorely in need of one herself. Great care was taken to match toe color with dress color, with gold accents. Mom is miffed because the nail lady forgot to give her the hot stone massage. She gets a $15 card for her next pedicure. She is pleased. Daughter is pleased with her end result.




Scene II: Girls Bathroom at Home
Time: 4 hours prior to departure


Bathing ritual begins. Leg hair must be defuzzed. Hair washed, rinsed, repeat and conditioned. Plenty of mousse applied prior to blow drying to ensure hairdo stays in place.



Scene III: Friend's house
Time: 3 hours prior to departure


Hairdressing begins. Lucky for her, her BFFs sister is a hairdresser. She returns home 1/2 hour later concerned that her hair is the same as her BFF. This just isn't done.




Scene IV: Girls Bathroom at Home
Time: 2 hours prior to departure


Beauty rituals begin. Big sister assures her that she can make her hair look "different." Meticulous detail to attention is taken to apply makeup perfectly.



Scene V: Family Room at Home
Time: 30 minutes prior to departure

Those present: Three older siblings along with some spouses of said siblings, noisy, rowdy response to her grand entrance.


Dress is made suitably modest by artfully draping a "shrug" or sweater to cover the shoulders. (dang near impossible to find a modest dress these days)



Scene VI: Family Room at Home
Time: Arrival of Date!!!
Notation is made of his efforts to match date's dress. Awwww.


The boutonniere pinning. Awkward moments for both youth, trying to get flower to stay upright while mom is taking photos, amidst coaching and silly comments from older brothers and sisters.

Scene VII: Family Room at Home

The wrist corsage applying. This is a less awkward moment, although the comment section was still in full force. (I wish we had had wrist corsages when I was young!)

Final Scene: The pose prior to leaving

Young man is suitably respectful to Dad, promising to get his date home at a reasonable hour. They give one last pose prior to stepping out the door.

"Sunrise, Sunset," from Fiddler on the Roof playing in the background as the scene fades into darkness.

Artistic Genius

P.S. Please go see my Amy's new blog. If you need a mural and you live in Maricopa county-she's the girl for you! (she probably would even ship a painting if you ask her) Amazing! Here:

Photographic Genius

Go see what delicious images my Jen has created! Here

Friday Flashback

Things I would tell the skinny teenage girl on the left, if I could:

Don't worry so much, everything is going to be okay.

Skinniness eventually will be an asset, and yes, someday you will grow b**bs.

Someday you will have a man who adores you and the most beautiful children on earth.

Your sisters will someday develop a great fashion sense and you'll be proud to be photographed next to them. (giggle)

It's okay to be smart, keep studying hard and don't obsess so much about being "popular."

And......I promise, someday those glasses you so despise will be the height of fashion.....really.

Everything is going to be okay.

One Good Man 2009 trailer

Ok-this is my life! How did they do that? Except I'm not a man. I can't wait to see this one.

Things I've Learned this Past Week

Making your own compost REALLY works!

Last summer I added a bunch of grass clippings to the garden, and recently while tilling it up in preparation for our new fall garden, TL told me that the soil in the box that had the clippings in it was the softest and easiest to work. This has fueled my enthusiasm for resuming our composting, (besides the fact that I dearly love our early morning 60-ish degrees)

Don't forget to recharge your camera battery.

Yes, the team photographer forgot last week and the battery died just after the first race (probably because I had been taking so many pictures of my new grandsons)

New babies smell really good.

I've been able to snuggle and kiss the two newest members of the family lots this last week and they are sooooo delicious! I know, I know, more pictures.

If you have sugar issues, don't use juice in your smoothies!

I went to one of "those" dr. appointments last week, you know the yearly one we so love, and received the results of some recent tests I had undergone. (that could be a whole 'nuther blog post topic) So here's the story.....I had been feeling all righteous because of all the nutrition I was gulping down every morning in my green smoothies. Come to find out that my blood sugar was slightly elevated and the dr. told me not to put juice in my morning smoothies, add protein and more fiber, like ground flax. I'm still trying to get used to the taste of my new smoothies.

Listen to your body.

I heard some of the results of those same tests and found out that some of my hormones are completely depleted, you know, the ones that help you function every day. I've been wondering why I've been so exhausted.....now I know. She tells me this is the result of stress. Stressed? Me? So what can I get rid of to eliminate stress? My family???? of course not. My church calling? Nope..... My work? I work hardly enough to make a dent in any bills..... What? She suggested I change my way of thinking and reacting to stress.......Any suggestions out there???? It's been a tough week. So I'm trying to rest when I'm tired, go to sleep at night when I'm sleepy, eat when I'm hungry, eliminate more toxic food, you know, the good stuff like chocolate and brownies and ice cream............

You get answers to prayers at the most unexpected times.

Like listening to conference talks. Bam, out of the blue, here comes an inspiration.

As soon as you think your day is organized, it gets all topsy-turvy.

Ear infections, a meeting you didn't know about, refreshments you didn't know you were supposed to provide, an unexpected bill.....need I say more?

Yes, I heard from my missionary son.

He says the MTC is fun.......ish. That word is SO typically him. Except he's having struggles with his companion. He says he is kinda lazy (I busted out laughing at that sentence) He's leaving for the Alaskan north on the 14th. He says he doesn't like cold. Too late now.

Don't buy Utah peaches at the end of the season.

Bleah.

I can't believe it's already Oct. 7th.

When did that happen?