At it Again

The joys of school projects....we were at it again last night.  Easton had to make a "creative" timeline of the country Singapore.  Creative?  Well, this is what we came up with...Ghost friends all in a row with the timeline events displayed on their cute little bellies!  We thought it was pretty creative and we're hoping for an A grade this time!  We should at least get an A for originality.

Winterized

It's been a long process, but we are ready.  My yard is finally ready for winter.  After some hard work I got some of my unfinished yard projects completed.  Woohoo!  The creek has been cleaned out and weeded and pine straw is covering the ground. The pictures always make the pine straw look red, I promise I would never put red pine straw in my yard.  So unnatural!  It's really simply a nice natural looking brown.

 The flowerbeds have been weeded and the little purple pansies are planted.

It feels good to go into the winter months with the yard ready.  Now we can look forward to Spring and the amazing beauty that will come forth after the cold of winter is gone.

Happy Fall

Charlie loves looking out the windows.  He is our protector.  I always know when someone drives up the driveway or there is a random squirrel or chipmunk running around.  I kind of like knowing when something unusual is going on.  Charlie is good to have around.

Mission Possible

 For my Relief Society calling in church I am the second counselor in the presidency, over the Additional meetings.  We had a great meeting a couple of weeks ago with the theme, "Mission Possible".  We wanted to focus on the missionaries serving from our ward and support them.  For weeks before the event we had sisters volunteering to bring items for the various missionaries from our ward to put in care packages to be sent to them all over the world.  Each Mother of a missionary made a list of things that their missionary would love to receive. We had such a great response from the sisters and received so many things for the packages.  We dressed up in detective garb each Sunday to give our announcements.  We even had a cute invitation we handed out to each sister that had been placed in a small manila envelope labeled "Mission Possible".

The evening started off with a dinner.  We had sisters bring various dishes from either the place where their missionary is serving, where they themselves served, or just whatever they felt like bringing!  An amazing selection of foods were brought.  I made coconut rice and an avocado corn salad in honor of my son who is serving in Brasil.  I got both recipes from the Internet and they were yummy!

 I loved the cute little napkins that were folded to look like white shirts.  We added the ties made from Fruit Stripe gum.

The tie banner added a lot to the decor.  This table was set up with a bag for each missionary from our ward to collect the items for their care boxes and a paper with the name of each missionary on top was set out for the sisters to write messages to each one.

We invited the Elders serving in our ward to join us for dinner and leave a short message with us.  They thought this idea sounded awesome and they said they wished that their home wards would do something like this for them!  Secretly we had the ladies write short letters to these Elder's mothers that we will be sending to let them know how much we appreciate their son's service in our area.  

 On each table we had the plaques displayed that belong to each missionary from our ward.  We also had some paper and pens so that the sisters could write a short message to them.

After the dinner we had the mother's of missionaries serving from our ward read a letter from their missionaries.  It was touching and fun to hear of each missionaries' experiences.  The spirit of missionary work was definitely felt that evening as our thoughts turned to our full-time missionaries.

We will be sending this picture along with the letters written for the mother's of the Elders serving in our ward.  As a missionary mom I know that they will love it!

15

 Easton and I completed another 15 mile bike ride for his cycling merit badge.  We left our house and headed to Chick-fil-A and then crossed the intersection at Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and kept going.  Taking the back roads, we ended up at Suwanee Town Center, our halfway mark.  We stopped and got a Smoothie for Easton so he could recharge and took a nice break.  The going home trip was not quite as fun as the first half but we made it.  Easton's back started hurting and he struggled a little.  Now we just have to complete two 25 and one 50 mile bike ride.  After completing the 15, I feel like we may have challenge on our hands.  It may be helpful if Easton completes some more short bike rides to get his legs strengthened.

Biking Buddies!

Busted

 A broken garage again!!!  It seems to happen at least every two years or so for us.  This is what happened Monday morning when I had to take Easton to school.  The door wouldn't go up, so we released it from the electric opener, pulled it up by hand and had to rest it on something or it would come crashing down to the ground.  It's so heavy because it's for a two car garage, but it's only one door.  The garage door fix it man says because the door weighs so much, we will continue to have the problem of the cable snapping that lifts the door. Well, at least we know what to do next time it breaks!

I'm There

"It's midnight and I am laying on the Loony Bin (That's what we call our home office.) floor with my head resting on a pillow and Ashton's pre Kindergarten Minnie Mouse comforter keeping me warm from the fall chill in the air.  Easton is still up working on a school assignment, actually two assignments." 

That was the scenario last night as I took this picture from my relaxed position on the floor.  I was tired and my body longed to be put to bed, but I didn't want to leave Easton.  He didn't even need my help, he was doing just fine with his assignment. I just wanted to be there to support him.  I wanted him to know I loved him, he wasn't alone and I was there for him.

My thoughts turned to my mother.  She was the best at supporting her procrastinating children in their academic endeavors, especially me! I truly was the master procrastinator.  I found great success while being pushed to the extremes during the wee hours of the night.  With a looming deadline I could pull all-nighters with the best of them.  It was quite a common occurrence during my junior high and high school years to be working on projects late into the night with my Mom.  She was there with her creativity pushing me along and helping me get it done.  I still remember brainstorming ideas with her to create my own country, Floralba.  It was a grand country based on flowers.  We had cities, mountain ranges, rivers, and lakes named after flowers.  Writing creative stories for Mr. Randolph's English class was a real challenge for me.  I was great at getting the story started, but always got stuck in the middle trying to develop the plot, the climax and then the conclusion.  My stories tended to go on and on with no end in sight.  My mother was an excellent writer and could wrap up my stories in a nice neat little package, always having a clever turn of events unfold at the end.  Together we produced a lot of A work!

I'm grateful for those memories of working side by side with my Mom.  It was always late and I'm sure my mother was tired and wanted to be in bed, but she was there for me.  While her fingers clicked along on the typewriter keys, finishing up final drafts, I knew she loved me. The message of care and support from my mother spoke loudly as I sometimes fell asleep and would wake up to a finished project, completed by my skilled mother.  She helped me get through school!

My children are smart, creative and good students but I'm sorry to report that they did get the procrastination gene from me.  From our little weaknesses we can gain blessings and growth.  In the quiet hours of the night while searching the internet for information, typing a report, cutting and coloring a map, studying for a test or finishing a book report project, I hope they've learned that I love them and will always have their back.  I'm there for them, even if I'm lying on the floor with a pillow and blanket.  I'm there for them.

Doors

 It's almost starting to feel like my dating years again.  Stephen and I seem to be spending more time with just each other, no kids in the picture.   And it's great!   I loved my dating years.  We had a great time spending time with each other and getting to know each other without the distraction of little ones running around trying to get our attention.

 Stephen and I went to our favorite Sims' Park today for a Sunday afternoon walk by ourselves.  Easton opted to stay home by himself.  We talked, laughed and held hands while enjoying the beauty of the park.  I had a quick glimpse into our future down the road a few years.  It really will be just US, a crazy thought, but true.  I look forward to that alone time with my husband and am so glad that we still love each other after all these years and still enjoy being together.

There was a really cool exhibit of painted doors at the park.  We enjoyed looking at the various styles and designs that the artists came up with.  Check out this bamboo picture....look closely.  Do you see the praying mantis on the burlap bow?  

As I looked closer at the creature I wasn't sure if it was part of the design or not.  I blew on it and yes, it was alive!  It was so cool just hanging out in the bamboo.

Again?

Do you ever feel like you keep doing the same things over and over?  We will have lived in Suwanee for 17 years this month.  That's just crazy.  When you live in the same place for that long you find the same things to do....like eating at Mellow Mushroom.  Easton got to pick the restaurant that we ate at the other night and he picked one of his favorites.  It's hard to resist their delicious pizza with all the melted cheese and toppings.   

We did try a different pizza topping this time if that counts for a little bit of change in our lives, pepperoni and hamburger.  HA!

Inner Voice

I've been thinking a lot lately about my inner voice.  You know, the voice that speaks to you on the inside about what to say and what not to say when you are out in public.  I feel like I do pretty well keeping my inner voice under control because let’s face it, sometimes your inner voice wants to just let it fly like a kite that’s just broken free from it’s string.  Now don’t think that I'm crazy, but sometimes I have to “talk” to my inner voice and just tell it to calm down, it’s not worth it, don’t say anything, act like an adult, or walk away!  And then there are those moments when I lose the battle, my inner voice is taken over by my school teacher voice and then I can't be responsible for what happens next.

There are many times when I have been just minding my own business at the gym, grocery store, or other public arena and a situation simply gets the best of me.  Once when I was at the gym doing my thing (I am very unsocial and don't give people the time of day when I’m working out) these buffed adult men were sharing their immense knowledge of profanity that they had acquired in their many years of living.  I guess they thought that was the “manly” thing to do.  I listened quietly for a while to their ridiculous conversation spewing with obscenities and then it happened.  My inner voice had put up with the swearing too long and just couldn't be contained.  With my most assertive school teacher tone I gave the “men” a reprimand, letting them know that they were in the presence of a lady and to knock off the swearing.  They apologized profusely and now they always make a funny comment when they are talking around me AND they don't swear, mission accomplished.

Last week it happened again, the whole inner voice thing.  We were at Easton’s Fall middle school chorus concert.  It’s a pretty short concert, four songs total, lasting about 20 minutes tops!  During the last song, “Somebody to Love Me”, Easton had an amazing solo part that went through the entire musical number. 

I was doing my motherly duties videotaping his performance and watching at the same time.  Easton started the song and the choir joined shortly to accompany him and the other girl soloist.  Things were going well and he was doing awesome, with all the confidence of a true professional and then the battle of my inner voice started.  There were two adult ladies directly behind me having a conversation.  They were whispering but it really just sounded like two squawking crows.  As I continued to use my amazing video taping skills to record Easton, I was getting really angry.  My inner voice wanted to turn around and tell them to be quiet!  I tried to put up with their conversation, hoping they would eventually get a clue, find their concert manners and stop talking.  But alas, that didn’t happen and my inner voice won the battle.  It just really has a mind of its own….I quickly turned around (while the camera kept rolling) and gave them a stern sounding SHHHHHhhhhhhhhh!  Can you believe it, I was shushing adult women, my peers?!?  And it worked.  The talking ceased and I was able hear the end of Easton’s solo in peace.  The ladies didn't say a word the rest of the concert.  When it was over there was no eye contact made but hopefully the subtle reminder from one adult to another will be a lesson to them in the future.  And the battle with my inner voice continues.

Click on this link to hear Easton's incredible performance.  If you listen closely you might just hear my inner voice talking! (at 2:30)

http://youtu.be/hG8QwWP0Ex0

Boys Club

A father and son heading off to priesthood session.....I love that.  It really doesn't get much better.  They are going to hear words of counsel and motivation.  They will listen to the prophet and apostles testify of our Savior and his role in our lives.  They will learn how to be better men.  As a mother and a wife, I couldn't ask for more.  I am glad they have this opportunity to be with other men and to share in a brotherhood of priesthood holders.  I believe in the "boys club" and am grateful that I have worthy priesthood holders in my family and home, in Idaho, Utah, and Brazil that are striving to be better each day and use their priesthood to bless others, including me.

Conference

It was a great weekend in our house to enjoy conference.  What a boost to life!!!  I love the uplifting messages that we hear from our inspired leaders and prophet.  They are motivating and help me to see things as our Heavenly Father wants me too.  I have a lot to work on to improve myself, but I know that I will be guided every step of the way.  We are never alone.  Today is a new day with the opportunity to be better than I was yesterday.

We had our traditional cinnamon rolls during the Sunday morning session of conference.  Two trays of cinnamon rolls are a little too much for Stephen, Easton and me to eat so we did some cinnamon roll drop-offs at the people Stephen home teaches and Stephen's parents.  Who doesn't like cinnamon rolls brought to their house?

 Charlie thinks he is getting a cinnamon roll...knowing Stephen, he probably did!

 Nothing better than a warm, gooey cinnamon roll during conference "half-time".  They always come just in the nick of time to wake you up and get you through the next hour without dozing off.

10 Miles

We are still working on Easton's Cycling merit badge....you may be hearing that for a while to come.  On Saturday morning we woke up and rolled out of bed early so we could hop on our bikes and head to Chick-Fil-A and grab some chicken minis for breakfast. 

A ten mile bike ride seems a little easier when you know there is an unhealthy breakfast waiting for you down the road!  It was a beautiful, perfect day as we strolled down the rode.  Easton did so great.  With each bike ride we all get stronger and our endurance builds.  I know we're not ready for our 50 miler yet, but we will be.  Our next ride is 15 miles....maybe we'll grab lunch somewhere next time!

Dad and Easton in their matching neon yellow and blue shoes.

 

 Every once in a while Mom gets in a picture!