06.29.09

Today:

My day wasn't that spectacular, and I don't know why I'm even blogging about it, just wanted to put thoughts and memories down, I suppose.
Run down of my day:

Heard a bird chirping in my window-well while I was on the treadmill. I looked out my window, but didn't see anything, so I decided it was just a nest close by. However, I decided to check it out, on my way out the door a couple of hours later. Yep, a good sized bird was in my window-well, just chirping away. Before I attempted to take the window well cover off, I called my boys over to see it. All the unwanted attention apparently motivated the bird and after a slight struggle, she freed herself and off she flew.

Went on down to the local Hobby Lobby. I'm heading up one of our projects for our Super Saturday, and I'm trying to find all the pieces. I found the missing part I've been looking for. I've never made the little cute things, but apparently lots of people have. Actually our Super Saturday isn't until August, but we're starting our display of projects and sign-ups this Sunday, and I needed to know what it would take, and what the cost would be, and of course- how to do it!
The boys did not earn a treat while at the store.

Got home from store, fed the bunch lunch, and got the eldest to Kindergarten with only moments to spare. (Good Job, Mom!)

While B is at school (yes, we're still in school- year round in these parts), and J is napping, C and I go outside. We were planning to get our pumpkins (is it too late?) in the ground tonight, so I cleared the planned plot of weeds to surprise Sweets, so that when he gets home from work and goes out to get the garden ready, its all ready done! {Surprise!}. It was hot! And I *glistened* like a sweaty race horse! Noticed that my lettuce needs cut again.

After I get B from school, and snacks and homework are done, the boys want to see what is in the mystery box that has been on the counter all morning. Last night Ryan and I pulled out our photo boxes, in search of pictures of when we were dating. The kids have been asking all morning what is in them and I decide to let them explore my picture box. I see them whispering in the other room over a picture, and I ask what they were talking about. It was a picture of me and a boyfriend in High School at a dance. I said that used to be my boyfriend before I met Dad. They get all giggly and say "We're going to tell Dad!" At which, I had to laugh and assure them that most parents date other people before they meet each other, and with much enthusiasm also, told them that Dad had LOTS of girlfriends before he met ME!

Decided I had better do a test run on my Super Saturday project and convince B that he could make them for his teacher, and C could make some for some of his Grannies.
Turns out to be very easy- just like everyone said it was.

Dinner: Husband said to keep it simple and quick.
Frozen pizza, break sticks and pasta salad.

FHE: talked about prayer.
Activity: Go out to the garden and plant pumpkin seeds,
Wash Mom's car,
Have a fantastic squirt gun fight. I was fearless, and ruthless, and kicked trash all over the place. I got soaked.
Keep the kids up waaaay too late eating S'mores for refreshments.

"Scriptures" with Sweets. We actually read and talked about a talk from the conference Ensign.
Elder Quentin L Cooks, I believe.

After which, he gets to work on work things
and I sit here and look at your blogs and blog my own.
My fuzzy hair is puffy as it dries.
I consider posting some pictures we took last night of us being funny.
Maybe another time.

I pause to help R find some tax information he is looking for from 3 years ago.
I know right where it is.
I'm thanked for being so organized. (Hear me bragging there?)

Tomorrow I'm watching my friend Jamie's boys while she packs up to move.
Truth be told, I was actually very touched by a friend of my sister, JoMama. JoMama just moved and she is prego and has two other kids. A friend (Colleen ?- who has three kids of her own) called her up, figured out that it wasn't going so swell and came over and packed JoMama's house up, and was there at the new house to unload it, over and over. JoMama said she was a life saver. I was glad that someone was there to take care of my sister. And I told myself I would take care of someone else's sister. Okay, so Jamie is my friend, and I would have wanted to help anyway, but I wanted Colleen to know that I was touched by her example, and somehow thank her. I wish there was something more I could do to help Jamie move, but she assured me she will have other help packing, and that watching her boys for the day would be helpful. I'll do my best to keep all our boys happy and entertained, OK, Jamie!

I see that I have a marathon post (a real yawner), and I better cut it off.

Good Night,

jt

A Night at the Park

Inspired by this:

{Boston Commons}

We decided to do some of this:

Fun Times.

Becoming Part of the Tribe

I was reading a rather interesting book (post for another day),

and it said that boys can learn a lot from being with older men,

who can teach them and bring them into the "tribe" .

By working with older men,

they can learn that a "Real Man" knows

how to serve, work hard, and get dirty.

And they form a bond.

*

The boys each got to spend a day out with Grandpa T.

Getting lunch and special treats,

Planting flowers for Grandma,

and learning how to play marbles!

Thanks Grandpa!

I Get Weak In the Knees

{For These}

Hershey's Best Brownies

{They're Not a Kiddin' Folks!}

1 cup (2 sticks) Butter

2 cups Sugar

2 teaspoons Vanilla

4 Eggs

3/4 cup Hershey's Baking Cocoa

1 cup Flour

1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/4 teaspoon Salt

In large microwave-safe bowl,

place butter and microwave 2-2 1/2 minutes, until melted.

Stir in Sugar and Vanilla.

Add eggs one at a time,

beating each until well blended with a wooden spoon.

Add Cocoa, and beat until well blended

Add Flour, Baking Powder, and Salt, beat well.

{Always do a quality control check here-

make sure the batter tastes as good as it looks}

Pour into greased 9x13

Bake 350, 30-35 mins

Cool in pan on wire rack

Happy Father's Day!

Why our Kids are LUCKY to Call you DAD

You get up everyday and get yourself to work,

often more than the usual 5/wk,

to a job that stresses you and keeps you running

all day,

without complaint.

*

Do you spend any of that Hard-Earned

money on yourself?

Hardly.

*

They're Handsome like YOU!

*

You tell them You LOVE Them, often

*

You bring the fun!

I'm really good at schedules, routines, predictability, and all the "boring" stuff, but you are always full of energy, excitement, and spontaneity! Without you, we wouldn't have much fun in our family! You get the smiles flashing, the giggles flowing, and the fun times rolling!

You love to spend time with them!

You will come home from work, and play ball, ride bikes,

and wrestle to their hearts' content

*

You change diapers

*

You love their MOM

*

BOYS NIGHT OUT

*

You have monthly

Father's Interviews with them

*

*

You love to pull them close to you

and snuggle with them

*

You're always serving someone

*

You care about their happiness

*

You will Do anything for them,

including getting up,

just this morning (Monday),

at 3AM,

to clean up puke

*

They want to grow up to be DADs

Just like YOU

*

From the Garden of...

Yours Truly

{Thank you, Thank you. No, please hold your applause}

Another Favorite

*****

{five stars}

We saw Amazing Grace when it was in Theaters,

watched it again last night

LOVE this movie!

Get it in your queue

PS its about the English Parliament, not church

PPS not that there's anything wrong with a movie about church

La-oved this Book!

June 11, 2009

Dear Miss Clarkson,

I had a BLAST last night!

You raised the roof,

(which, was on fire, of course)

and eveyone was hoppin' madly!

As you were singing in the rain,

we were dancing in it!

Thanks for the heart and soul, KC!

Love Ya!

jt

2nd Annual Lover's Retreat

Boston, Massachusetts USA

May 29 - June 5, 2009

At the time that we celebrated

our 10 yr. Wedding Anniversary last year,

we decided that we would make an effort

to have a little get away time, together every year.

We decided to stay in the continental US of A this time,

and we sent off for a free vacation guide

to almost any state that sounded a wee bit thrilling.

But when we got this in the mail,

we fell in love

So we saved up our credit card points for our tickets,

worked a sweet deal on a rental car,

got hooked up with our Boston accommodations,

{top floor, thanks joe!}

and we were off for a FABULOUS time!

Day 1

fly into Providence, RI

drive to Boston, MA

arrive 10PM

mid-night dinner at Vinny T's

Day 2

Boston by Foot Walking Tour- Heart of the Freedom Trail

Where we saw exciting places like Faneuil Hall,

where the likes of Samuel Adams, and others

held town meetings to discuss the growing

taxation problem,

and other historic sites and buildings,

of "America's Hometown"

that shaped the American Revolution.

{One if by Land, Two if by Sea}

Our favorite?

the sight of seeing Paul Revere

and the Old North Church-

where the lanterns were hung to

signal the coming of the British.

Everyone we met was so nice,

and we loved hearing the Boston

accent

(leave out those r's!)

and so with caw (car), caw-keys (khaki pants),

and shaks (sharks) out of the way,

we laughed when we saw that

the Corner Store, was also

{Acorn Street}

We noticed that postcards and calendars

would have beautiful pictures of a place called

Acorn Street.

We couldn't find it on the map,

but while exploring the town,

we stumbled upon the lovely lane.

{Weary Feet}

We loved going to Boston Commons,

where we would read and people watch and

rest.

Day 3

Bus tour of Cambridge, Lexington, and Concord

The ride of Paul Revere led to Lexington and Concord

home of the

"shot heard 'round the world"

where 70 minutemen stood against 700 British,

and were ordered to "fire!"

The first time they would fire

on their own people,

and begin the

American Revolution.

We had heard of Mike's Pastry

before we even left for Boston.

Serious Crowd.

Serious Good Stuff.

{Boston Commons}

Day 4

Salem, Massachusetts

Dead Horse Beach

Salem, Mass

Drive South to Plymouth, Mass

{our wonderful view was the the top floor of windows!}

By the Sea Bed and Breakfast

Day 5

Plymouth, Massachusetts

The Mayflower

year: 1620

a whole family would share one cabin,

the entire 9 weeks of voyage.

Nothing like a little family time, eh?

Plymouth Rock

Plymouth Plantation

year: 1627

Plymouth beach

Dead of Night Ghost Tours

{Do you believe in Ghosts?}

a walking ghost tour by lantern,

to the local haunted houses

and cemetery.

Spooooooky,

yet rich in history.

Day 6

Martha's Vineyard

4:30Am

Sunrise over the Mayflower,

out our bedroom window

After we drive to Cape Cod,

and ferry over to

Oaks Bluff, Martha's Vineyard

we rent one of these

All the better to see the island with,

My Pretty.

{the Gingerbread Cottages of Oaks Bluff}

En route to Edgartown

we do some of this

and find tons of

before heading to

The Edgartown Harbor Light

the first one we had

seen for real in our lives.

Then after collecting some more

seaschells for our evergrowing stash,

we sat down to enjoy the cool breeze,

the sound of the waves crashing,

and to read,

er, I mean snooze.

Then we headed back on our two-seater

to Oaks Bluff,

to catch the ferry home from

Vintage Harbor,

where we saw

The West Chop Light

Day 7

Cape Cod

LightHouse Hunting

The Sandy Neck Light

Barnstable, Mass

We did find a Light House in Hyannis,

Is that the right one?

Then to end Massachusetts time,

we decided on a whim to drive down to

Woods Hole

and try to find the

Nobska Light.

It was getting late, and we were

uncertain of really going,

but it was well worth it!

We fell in love with this Light!

Then we went home.

Well, actually,

we went back to Plymouth

for a wonderful dinner

at the intimate Sabor

Day 8

Return Home

2nd Annual Lover's Retreat

June '09

Boston, Plymouth, Cape Cod

Massachusetts

WE LOVED

our trip to

the New England/Cape Cod Coast

it was everything we had imagined,

that a summer day on the Cape would be:

One Eternally Blissful Day!

We plan to go again.

Special Thanks to:

Grandma & Grandpa P

for loving and entertaining the

kiddos

and to

Naggy Maggie

sorry for all the times we made you have to

recalculate the route,

but without you,

the lost would have remained

lost, and gotten even more lost.

Thank You.

Love You Babe.

(You, Ryan, not Naggy Maggie)