Adventures With Shadow: My 4 1/2 Month Old Puppy

Shadow does not like the car very much.  At best she tolerates it.  I am trying to get her used to it so I took her with me today to pick up the girls from school.  When she and I got to Lily's school, she barked like the crazy dingo she is and the hair on her back stood up in a Mohawk all the way down to her tail.  On our way to get Rebekah, she roamed the van and ate all the flotsam and jetsam she could find.  Who needs their car vacuumed?

After getting Rebekah, Shadow decided she wanted to sit in my lap.  She isn't the tiny thing she used to be.  She is 30 pounds of lean muscle, hair, and sharp nails.  As I maneuvered  my arms around her to accommodate her on my lap, she got scared and much like a mountain goat going up a steep cliff, Shadow tried to climb up me.  Except instead of a goat, it was Shadow, and instead of a steep cliff, it was my boobs.  She even was able to wedge one of her back paws INTO my bra, THROUGH my shirt.  That is talent, folks!

Her paw pushed so far down my bra as she tried to climb higher that when I finally pulled her foot out, I felt something snap.  Shadow tested the limits of my bra's cup-size and the under-wire in my bra lost. 

Shadow: 1         My Bra: 0

Now I gotta go buy a new bra.  Yes, I have other bras, but they are for working out.  I only had one good bra... well, I used to.  So, if you see me tomorrow before I get a new bra, don't laugh at my uneven lopsidedness.

Orchestra Field Trip

Yesterday was Rebekah's Orchestra field trip. They went to Canyon View to hear the Utah Symphony perform.  I volunteered to be a parent helper.  I am grateful Rebekah still likes having me around. :)

The conductor that was there was David Cho.  It was fascinating to watch him conduct.  I really enjoyed watching how his conducting actions and jerky movements made his straight, shoulder length hair bounce.  My inner child wanted to walk up onto the stage and touch his hair.  Thankfully, my outer adult was there to stop her.

David Cho did well at explaining to the children the different parts of the pieces they were going to listen to so the kids would learn how to listen to this type of music; to also help them become better in their aspirations.  Each song they played was wonderful and healing to my soul.  One of my favorite parts of all the pieces was during the last piece: the mere tintinnabulation of the triangle.

While the strings and woodwind instruments were playing their parts, it felt like a delicious hunk of cheesecake - so sweet and delicious to my ears.  And when it felt as though my heart was full of contentment, the triangle made its simple tinkling noise.  That tiny triangle, so seemingly insignificant, and only played a handful of times throughout the piece, was like water - so refreshing; lightening up the substantial beauty that was the rest of the piece.  The triangle cleansed the palate of my ears. I walked away from the field trip with a spiritually fed heart and mind.

My Girlies

Over the past two years, both my girls have suffered from weird symptoms.  We have visited the doctor so many times, I have lost count.

After many different tests, and my insisting to the doctors that something *IS* wrong with Rebekah, they ruled out all sorts of stuff.  It wasn't until last week that her gastroenterologist was finally able to diagnose Rebekah with something called Abdominal Migraines.  For the next two months, we are treating it with Extra Strength Tylenol and Phenergan, as needed.  If after that time, she is still suffering, then her gastro will decide on a daily pill for Rebekah to take.

Lily's pain started in her ankles.  After enough of a specific doctor pacifying me but not helping find the reason for Lily's pain, I took her to a different doctor.  We finally got some answers.  Lily had some blood work done, and it came back that she does have something going on.  She has some sort of joint problem (possibly Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus) and has an appointment with a rheumatologist on March 18.... which can't come fast enough!

I will update more as I find out more information.
Prayers are appreciated!! Thanks!!

Orchestra Recital

On Wednesday, October 13, Rebekah had her orchestra recital.  She is in the beginner class and a lot of the kids in her class had never even touched an instrument.  Rebekah takes piano so she knew some basics but never touched a cello before.  I was so proud of her.  She did a great job!

 Rebekah and Lily

Rebekah practicing.

She is not playing here (note the bow is not in her hand).  She just posed. 

Silly Lily.

 Serious Lily.

Pawgers and Mawgers.

 Justin waiting for the recital to start.

Justin looking at the program.  The cool design on the front was designed by one of the students.  It is a guitar tree. :)

Nate just waiting out the whole thing.

Lily was playing with Nate's hair.

 My beautiful Bekah.

This is Rebekah's class.  Her teacher is the person two people behind her.  She is a fantastic teacher and I am very grateful for her.

Rebekah amazes me with her budding musical ability.

The girls and I were watching something we had DVRed and then live TV came on and it was recording "The Stand" and I told the girls to not watch while I picked a different DVRed movie because it is scary.  Rebekah said, "Oh, is it 'Corn of the Children?' " I love my girls!

July is Almost Over

It is crazy that July is almost over!!  This month has FLOWN by.  Between preparing for camp, attending camp, celebrating Bill's 40th birthday, going on the road with Bill, reorganizing my house (still in the process), trying to squeeze workouts in at least 3 times a week, and the Tupperware party last night, the whole month is gone.  The cool thing is that tomorrow is Sarah's baptism (my cousin's daughter) so the end of the month is ending with awesomeness! 

Today I am babysitting an adorable little baby named Lyla.  She is 7 weeks old and so itty bitty!  She seriously looks like she could be one of my own babies! 

In a few minutes, Rebekah's best friend (Alison) is picking her up to take her on the ward camp out.  I am bummed I can't make it but glad they offered to take Rebekah.  The reason we can't go is because I won't be home in time to be ready for Sarah's baptism.  So instead of camping tonight, the rest of us are going over to the Gerber's house and having breakfast for dinner.  Soooo excited! I am making buttermilk syrup and coconut syrup.  Plus french toast, bacon, and maybe some eggs.  Bonnie is making waffles. Yum!

Once again, my heart it filled with gratitude for the Lord's hand in preserving Bonnie's life.  She is one of my best friends.  Yay for Priesthood Blessings, faith, and prayers!

May 10, 2003

I just made it through another anniversary of Adam's death. I don't think the work "anniversary" is appropriate for occasions such as these. "Anniversary" is something that is supposed to be a happy time. Either way, this year I think I did ok. I had my moment about a week before and so when the day came, I was either ok or numb.

As for my girlies, they each had their own, separate moment of grief. Rebekah's was a few days before his death date. Every year I never tell my girls what day is getting close - why would I want to torture them? But somehow, like clockwork, they each have their moments around the same time of year. Just a few days before May 10, I tucked the kids into bed and then went to my room to play on the laptop. About ten minutes go by and Rebekah is at my bedroom door, bawling. I scooped her into my arms and we cuddled on the bed. Through her racks of sobs, she said, "I miss daddy." I just held her and let her cry. It was hard on me because there was nothing I could do to make her pain go away.

Then May 10th comes along. Like I said, usually I don't remind the girls what day that is, but we got some flowers in the mail and they wanted to know why my mom sent us some. Plus they wanted to know why I told them to give Mawgers (Patti) extra hugs at school that day. (She works in Lily's classroom) So I finally told them. They seemed ok until bed time. Lily had me hold her while she cried and cried. Rebekah was ok since she had her moment a few days before.

Lily got hit twice though. You see, for about a week before the day, Lily said she was feeling sad but kept saying, "I don't know why I am so sad." I didn't feel like telling her.

Both my girls may not have known before the day why they were feeling down, but their little spirits knew what day was coming up even though their brains didn't.

I still can't believe 7 years have gone by. Thankfully it doesn't hurt as much as it used to. There are those moments when I feel the sting of being reminded that I went through the most difficult thing in my life. But then I feel the relief of knowing that I made it through that time of my life and became a stronger person because of it.

Baking With My Girls

It was high time I taught my little cookie-munchers how to make the cookies they so happily devour. Today was Early-Out day which means that they are home a full two hours before they normally are. Since it was just us three, and the boys needed a treat to take to mutual tonight, I figured it was the perfect excuse to bust out the flour and get some cookies made.

I decided to start taking pictures just after the girls and I mixed the butter and sugars.


Lily is wearing my Christmas apron I won from the RMEF banquet this year. It is from the Hunter-Cowan store in town.
Rebekah is wearing the apron I made Bill a couple years ago.


Mmmm, look at that sugary-buttery concoction!


Lily usually does really well at cracking eggs for me when I make pancakes.


Lily didn't mind cleaning up the eggy mess.


Lily pouring in the eggs, while Rebekah pours in the vanilla.


Switching the mixer to on.


Now it is time for the flour. Rebekah is checking for bay leaves in the flour. You see, I keep whole bay leaves in the flour bucket and it keeps the weevils from invading my flour. I only need to add a few in this huge bucket and I am bug free!


Lily with a plastic butter knife to level the cup of flour.


Ok, my turn!! I am wearing the apron that my mother-in-law made for me.


I should know better by now than to hand over the camera to the girls when I am teaching them how to cook.... ok, so I posed for this picture... But still. :-) I am explaining to the girls what baking soda does for cookies.


See, this is me explaining how the cookie puffs up. I told you I was explaining baking soda! :-)


Rebekah adding some flour.... small amounts at a time.


I LOVE the look on Lily's face. When she was pouring the flour into the mixer, it made the flour poof up and drift everywhere. She didn't care for that much.


I let the girls pour the chocolate chips in. There are semi-sweet, white, and milk chocolate chips.


I had to explain to the girls how to stir in the chocolate chips without flinging cookie dough all over the kitchen.


Rebekah did manage to make a small amount fling out, but the girls were happy to eat the dough, so no harm done.


Lily enjoying the dough.


Rebekah REALLY wanted to eat that.


Look at the cute little cookie dough balls!!! I LOVE my cookie scooper!


Lily learning how to operate the cookie scooper.


Rebekah cracks me up in this photo. She is so gentle with that cookie dough that it looks like she is ready to tuck it in and read it a story.


It looks like Lily is blowing it kisses!


Rebekah all covered in flour scooping cookies to cool.


When all the cookie were done, Lily got the bowl and instead of using a spatula (why waste the time to get one) she used her fingers.


This is not the best picture, but this cookie looks like it is smiling at me and that chocolate chip on the left makes it look like it is sticking its tongue out at me!!


Ooooo, look at all that gooey goodness.... the kids are just waiting for the all clear.


Lily took a while but then settled on this one.


Lily so happy to finally get a baked cookie.


I love the look on her face.


She seriously did not take normal bites. She constantly gnawed at it as she shoved it in her mouth until it was gone.


Rebekah found the one she wanted.


She tore into that like a monkey on a cupcake.


Here she is saying, "Mmmmmm!"


She is trying to get the little bits of cookie off her lip.


What does a cookie need?? MILK! Lily and her milk bubble tower.


Oooo, that cookie has my name on it!! Look at all those chocolate chips!!!


Ah, this cookie is smiling at me, too!


It is cookie paradise. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.


Here is the recipe (I halved this recipe since I didn't want 10 dozen cookies)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 pound (4 sticks) butter, softened (DO NOT USE MARGARINE!)
3 large eggs (if you have to halve this like I did, just use two eggs)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, if not used, add an additional 1/2 teaspoon vanilla)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional, I rarely add it)
6 cups unbleached flour
Lots of chocolate chips (what ever kind you have on hand. I usually just dump some in until it looks good.... which is about 4 cups)
2 cups chopped nuts (optional, and I left them out this time because Lily does not like nuts in her cookies)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream sugars and butter together. Blend in eggs and extracts. Mix well. Add dry ingredients, a little at a time. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by (or use cookie scoop) tablespoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet (I use Air Bake, they are the best.) Bake for 8 minutes. Let them cool on the rack for about 5 minutes, then transfer to wax paper covered wire rack.

Makes about 10 dozen.