Monday Musings

I'm Baaaccckkk!!!

It has been a crazy 2 weeks. A GOOD crazy.
But if it doesn't let up a little, I may go BAD crazy.
Good stuff is that I am basically doing Home School with Mary now.
It's going awesome and we are seeing little bits of progress already.
I just need to get organized and the craziness will improve.
So, I've been madly gathering materials, and working on educational goals
and then implementing them.
I can't tell you how excited we are - but I will anyways.
WE ARE SO EXCITED!!
Mary has been happy and giggling and very cooperative with all the
things we are doing.
She also gets to go to her friends (Cindy and Kristin) house each day to do activities with them for an hour. They are so cute together.
Other happenings:
We are still following Rachel around to all her track meets and soccer games.
In fact, this past Saturday, they finally won a game! Yay!
Jessica has been madly studying for AP tests and the ACT.
I have to coax her to take a break and come up for air.

Here's a conversation I had with Rachel tonight:

Rachel: "Mom, what's that called...you know...that treatment when a big needle is stuck in your eye...."
Me: (gag reflex is starting) "WHAT??? That's HORRIBLE!"
Rachel: "You KNOW what it is Mom. You told me about it."
Me: "Huh? Told you about what?"
Rachel: "It's when someone has a mental illness and they would stick a really long needle right through the middle of their eye and into their brain."
Me: (gag reflex is in full swing) "Oh my gosh, Rachel!! That's the most awful thing I've ever heard!! I never told you that!"
Rachel: "Yeah, you did Mom. You told me that most people die from it, but it cured a few people."
Me: "How terrible! I never heard of such a thing!"
Rachel: "Yes you did! You told me that the people that did the treatment made lots of money doing it!"
Me: (still gagging) "I promise Rachel, I never, ever have heard of something so horrible! I never told you that!"
Rachel: "Well.... Maybe I dreamed it."
Me: "I think I'm gonna be sick...."

Oh, life is never dull with teenagers!
On a more serious note: I feel very grateful and blessed to have such a great family. Everyone has such varied personalities and interests that life always has a surprise for me.
Besides my 3 girls at home,
there's Danny the Doctor - the ultimate goofball who has a heart of gold and is passionate about learning.

There's Amelia - another goofy kid who is the middle child and loves to dance and be the center of attention when she's home.
Plus, we have a great son-in-law, Jon, who is so good to Amelia - plus he's goofy too!

And then, there's Loren, the missionary and a third goofball (come to think of it, there is lots of goofiness in this family) who is intense and artistic.

Wow! I sure love them all!

Monday Musings

When life gets too busy...

you don't get to enjoy moments like these:

Road trips with your best friend (Dan).

Watching all the kids try to balance on a rope at family reunion!

Watching the 4th of July parade on your Dad's lap.

Having a picnic BBQ when your son comes to visit.

Enjoying wearing flip-flops on a summer day.

Trying to get a close-up picture of a baby colt.

Happy family times - those are real smiles - not fake ones!

Walks in the rain.

Campouts with your daughters.


Frisbee Golf with your cousins.

Piggy-back rides.

And a beautiful sunset on the Arizona strip.

Where time stands still....
Courtyard at Marble Canyon Motel at sunset.

There's a little place I like to go to get away from it all.
It's close to Marble Canyon - a little rock hotel set against the Vermillion Cliffs.
There are no phones or TV's in the rooms.
There is no internet or cell phone coverage.
There is an old cafe there where everything is homemade and the owner greets her guests with, "Howdy! What'll you have today?"
The rooms are small, but comfy, each room themed-
and the original structure dates back to the early 1940's.
You go to bed to the sound of the wind whistling up from the deep canyons below, and wake up to the sound of birds and a bright sunrise over the cliffs below Page, AZ.
Travelers are few - an occasional car passes by - but time stands still (almost) there.
You can feel the worries and troubles of everyday busy living just melt away.
If Dan ever wants me to accompany him on a trip,
all he has to do is promise to take me there on the way home.
I love the sound of silence -
of hearing myself exhale and inhale -
of a leaf rustling in the wind -
or just that ear-deafening sound of nothing but nature.
This is one of the places I can hear that.
And I'm ready to go back - for another dose of "let's leave this Rat Race behind for a bit".

(my apologies for a lack of humor today - perhaps next time)

Monday Musings on Tuesday(again)

REALLY!

Mondays are becoming just too busy to muse or to blog. I do lot's of 'musing' or thinking on Sundays, so, I may have to adjust and plan ahead. So, here it's now Tuesday and I really don't have time today either. But, I'll try and make this quick.
Today is going to be on a more SERIOUS tone and I'm going to title this:

A GREAT LADY or
A GREAT FAMILY or
A GREAT HERITAGE
(take your pick)

My Aunt Lucille Tyler Greenwood (my Dad's sister) passed away last week.

Aunt Lucille's and Uncle Rolf's family (she's the white-haired lady in pink next to the groom)

She was a GREAT LADY.
She was over 80 when she passed and had a very large family of 7 children and lots and lots of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. BUT, the point is, she lived a GREAT life. No, no, she didn't become famous (except to her family) or travel extensively or amass great wealth. But she was one of the finest individuals I have known. She worked hard and always smiled. She gave and gave and gave. She remembered people's names and was genuinely interested and cared about others. She was known for her kindness and generosity. She is someone I'd like to become like.
Display at Funeral

Her children: L to R: Sue Ann, Janet, Marcia, Bill, Lori, Earl, Rita

Her children - my cousins, have taken after her. Good and kind and generous.
I traveled down to Eagar, AZ for the funeral this past weekend. I went with my husband, Dan, my youngest, Rachel, my cousin, Duane, and his son Matt.
Tyler cousins!
It was so good to see all the cousins and aunts and uncles and visit with this GREAT FAMILY, to which I belong.
Lucille's children, spouses and her remaining siblings on front row.

For the last few months I have been reading journals of some of my ancestors. WOW!
Can I say that again?
WOW!
Totally amazing!
Talk about staying true and faithful' about working hard for the necessities of life (not expecting the good 'ol 'government handout'), about enduring hardships, about enjoying the simple things, and about loving your family enough to do anything for them. I have to honestly say, that through the reading of these histories and journals, I have felt a change come over me. These lives of this GREAT FAMILY and HERITAGE to which I belong, although they are long gone, have touched my life and influenced me in a way that I don't think could happen in any other manner.
I AM SO GRATEFUL!

Side note: I have now lost 17 pounds!! Yay! Feels so good!

Monday Musings on Tuesday

It is late Monday night and I really just want to go to bed.

It's been a looonnnggg self-inflicted busy day.
In fact, it was a very long and crazy nuts kind of week!!
Here's a rundown:

Monday was no-school.
Rachel and I went shopping (with a TEENAGER!) and to lunch for her birthday, which was actually on Tuesday, but we didn't have any time to celebrate on Tuesday.
(This was also the day I got rear-ended by that lovely man.)
I made Rachel's favorite dinner and we celebrated with a
family party in the evening.

Tuesday was Rachel's real birthday.
Dan left me home with the beast truck while he took the van to get the damage assessed.
I therefore, didn't go get balloons and surprise Rachel at school -for her very first "at-school" birthday.
BIG MISTAKE!
I didn't think it would matter to her anyways as we had partied the day before, AND since she had track practice, drum lessons, and YW after school.
She noticed.
"Having your birthday on a school day SUCKS!", were her words upon arriving home. "Nobody did ANYTHING! Not even balloons!!!", she declared.
I am now officially a bad mother!

Wednesday felt like a little bit of a breather. Dan went out to inspect a campground at the state line. (Which somehow caused me to feel like I could be lazy that day - go figure!)
After a really good workout that AM, I fought (and lost) the battle of the chocolate zucchini cake.
Mary and I did all her laundry - JOYOUS!
I went and watched Rachel practice hurdles at track practice.
(I wish I'd taken pictures)
Then there was a RS birthday social. Dan was late coming home so all us girls went to the social and he came home with a big pizza and no one was there to eat it!! (tee hee!)
Thursday I had lunch with some of my "crazy lady" friends.
We talked and laughed, and laughed some more! I hadn't seen them in months!!
Then, I ran errands - ugh.
Rachel had track practice again, then soccer practice.
Mary had Special Needs mutual, which she loves.
I was the driver to most of these activities.
Good news - Danny called and he got his "match". He'll be doing his residency in Phoenix. We are thrilled!! He'll be so much closer!!
Dan and I went to a furniture sale in between all this and got a mattress for the guest room.
Friday I took down Mary's old twin bed and set up the queen mattress. Dan showed up in time to take apart the frame.
Now when we have guests, I can kick Mary out of her room and put the guests in there!! She won't mind. She loves having sleepovers with the other girls.
Mary also had some friends come over - they sat on the front porch swing and ate Otter Pops!
Rachel had her first track meet and blew everyone away by
coming in 2nd in the 2-miler. Go Rachel!!
Dan and I drove to Kanab for a little get-away. A friend surprised us there with flowers(daffodils and hyacinths), candles, and cookies - so kind and thoughtful.

Saturday, after a relaxing day of dreaming and planning, we drove home in time to take Jessica's group pictures for the Preference dance.
Jess looked bee-uu-tiful!!
A neighbor and a friend who is very talented did Jessica's hair for her.
It was AMAZING! Thank you Sherie!!
Silly, silly!
Sunday I had to give a lesson and Dan had tons of meetings.
Which brings us back to TODAY and
TO POST OR NOT TO POST...
I know, however, that I can't neglect reporting on some of my "musings".
I mean, my posterity will miss out on some essential wisdom!
(ha ha, right!)
For instance:
--If you pet the cat too vigorously in the spring you will get cat hair up your nose.
--If you go out and 'hoe' weeds after years of not doing this activity, your back will ache like you never knew! Hey, where's the weed spray???
--Dogs look very sad when they want to be fed. Scratch that, dogs look sad all the time!
--If you wash a dark red comforter with something white and fuzzy, it takes over an hour to get all the lint off.
--Wearing white capris might make you legs look tanner, but it will make your bottom look bigger!
--If you want your husband to hurry, don't tell him to hurry.
--Cat hair is very hard to get out of your nose. Or eyes. Or mouth.
--Given a lovely beach and beautiful blue water,
children will opt for the mud!!
Rachel and Jessica - summer 2004.

Okay, so it's Tuesday now and I'm just finishing this.
I know I'm off my regular "format", but hey!, it's my blog. I can do that!!
One thing I'm happy about today...
I've lost another 3 pounds!! Woohoo ME!! That's 13 total!! Oh yeah!
Now, just another 60 to go....

Monday Musings

(Spring has finally arrived, but it keeps trying to change it's mind!)

Yep, I know that I missed last Monday.
We were on the road - to San Diego - for Spring Break.
I didn't have many musings that day anyways.

However, TODAY I have some definite musings!!

Perhaps it's because some knucklehead hit me in the parking lot at Target this morning.

Perhaps it's because he was a MAN with a distorted sense of ego.

Perhaps it's because he was certain that he was right and that I was wrong.

But, MOST LIKELY, it's because I WILL NOT let myself, EVER, be pushed around simply because I am a woman and some man thinks he's better than us!


So, now I think I will take my dented fender, my aching head, and go to bed!
But first, one more thing...

THANK YOU DAN - for being a good kind of guy - a true gentleman!!
Your daughters and I are very lucky to have you as an example of what a man should be!
This post is dedicated to YOU(and all the other guys like you...like my sons and my nephews and my brother-in-laws(most of them))!

Monday Musings

Family - aren't they the best invention ever?
L to R: Karen, Patricia, Mom, Joyce, Steve (1964?)
I don't just mean your immediate family either - even though I couldn't live without them. I also include uncles, cousins, aunts, and in-laws. My sister and her husband, Joyce and Steve are in Chile on a mission. I was never really super worried about them with the earthquake and everything - and they are just fine. But, then I started playing the "what if" game in my head. BTW-I don't recommend this game - it's terrible! To make this short, let's just say that I would be really, really upset if anything did happen to any of my sisters or my brother. I am glad they are well and safe. I am glad to realize how much I love them.

Some, but not all, of us - around July of 2004 - at Bear Lake.

Now, for the random stuff.

*While watching Jessica's soccer game this weekend, Rachel and I decided that we should be in charge of naming the teams. Some of our favorites:
The Cabbage Patch kids vs. The Barbie dolls
The Jelly Beans vs. The Gum Balls
The Busy Bees vs The Stink Bugs
The Red Hot Chicken Wings vs The Spare Ribs
We were laughing so hard we were crying....

*Rachel: "Mom, will you help me pick out something to wear?"
Me: You never like what I pick out."
Rachel: "Please?"
Later...
Me: "Wow! You're wearing what I picked out!"
Rachel: "I was in a hurry. I didn't have time to not like it."

*Jessica: "Mom, can I go watch a movie at Jill's?"
Me: "Have you done all your chores?"
(Jessica gives me the sideways contrite look with a pouty smile.)
Me: "You know I can't say 'no' when you look at me like that!"
Jessica: "I don't mean to!" (whatever!!)

*We are sitting in a full downpour while watching soccer games:
Dan: "Are you getting wet?"

*Me to Jess, while walking to church:
"My feet must have shrunk. My shoes keep slipping out of my feet."
(wait, reverse that)

*My favorite for the week:
Rachel, singing f rom 'The Music Man': "Sha-poopie, sha-poopie..."
Dan chimes in: "On the floor...."
(retro pic of Dan - 1981!!)
Things I find annoying today:
--Runny noses and sore throats
--Rain only on weekends - again :(
--Grumpy teenagers
--Telemarketers
--Bathrooms that need to be cleaned a day after you cleaned them
--Obama and health care reform - I've heard enough!

Now....
Things I am happy about today:
--I've lost another pound - plus inches! yay!
--No boot! I am walking boot free!
--A considerate and unselfish husband
--Phone calls from Meli
--A letter from my missionary

--And always...family - gotta love 'em!!

Why's words....
(or, things I wonder about...)
--If heat escapes through your head, are bald men always cold??
--If 2 yards of denim fabric costs between $10-$15 - why are there jeans that cost $250+?
--Why would a sane person pay $250+ to cover their bottoms, when $10 covers it as well?
--What is the purpose of body hair?

That's all for this week!

Monday Musings

I'm going to start recording my random thoughts and funny exchanges each Monday. Here goes....

**My daughter tells me that blogs aren't as interesting without photos.... (the above photo is for you Amelia - taken in 1981! Vintage hummingbird!)

**Rachel hopes I'll still be alive by the time she gets married....

**Jessica has finally learned to smile politely while eating fish and green beans....

**Dan told me he likes me better than food! :) Now that's huge!

Things I find annoying today:
--Kids growing up so fast - this is an example below....

--Kids moving too far away

--when it rains just on the weekend
--piles of "to-do" stuff and I just wanna do nothin
--It's gonna get crazy come 4pm
--upstairs heater is on the fritz

Now....

Things I'm happy about today:
--I've lost 6 pounds
--I get to go to a Micheal Buble' concert in July
--Dan is coming home for lunch
--My foot is almost healed
--I feel like I'm getting things under control
--I love my family - even if they're all crazy
Well, that's all I can think of today! More next week!