Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Our Supposed Spring Break

Challenger's spring break is this week (don't ask me why they can't possibly follow the public school schedule, maybe because they don't want to be helpful?), and it is going really, really well so far. That is sarcasm in case you missed it.




It's snowing and I think the flowers I just planted two days ago are mad at me, I don't blame them.

The dog pooped all over the basement floor this morning. She is the light of my life.




There is blue crayon everywhere: the office chair, the office door, the tile, the toys, the wood floor, shoes...

Someone sold Norah some crack, or at least it seems that way. Watch out for her.

And only 3 young women showed up last night for the activity. Oh personal progress, how can I make thee fun and exciting?

It's not all bad, I did get a new washer and dryer and now it doesn't sound like a tsunami is crashing through our kitchen ceiling everytime I do a wash.

These are for you Jenny (and all the other people who have asked why I haven't posted recipes in a while):

Italian Wedding Soup, I really enjoy this soup and most of my children will actually eat it. Not lulu, lulu doesn't eat anything--except bananas.


Hunter's minestrone


Swordfish with citrus pesto, this was really tasty as well, swordfish wasn't available so I just used halibut.

Seared tuna tostada, the roasted bell pepper vinaigrette was probably one of the best things I've ever tasted.

The ultiate fish tacos. My husband and I have eaten many a fish taco. I've tried all the recipes, and this one isn't new to me, but I thought you might like to give it a go because it is supreme. I mean people want to know how to get invited to my house supreme. That is not bragging because it is not my recipe, and sharing it does not mean I do not want to invite you to my house. I do, but I have blue crayon and dog poop to clean up.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Current Events



My brother did in fact, get married last week. And I did host a wedding dinner at my home.

I believe the dinner went well, I know the sealing was sweet and beautiful, and I am relieved that it is all behind me.







I really do enjoy my family. I feel safe, secure, and understood when I am with them.









And I really do sincerely have to say that my brothers chose women who were better than them. I am lucky to have two good, wonderful sister in-laws who make my brothers better.







Sitting through the sealing I appreciated and loved my husband a little more, the covenants and promises are powerful.









In running news: Last week while on a mid-week run we had to call 911 because some hooded fiend stalked us in his car, I'm not quite sure what he thought he was going to do, but it still bugged.

And, we did our 18 mile run on Saturday which included the incline from the Purple Turtle in Pleasant Grove to the Cedar Hills Golf Club in an 8:40 average while easily carrying on a conversation.

Not too bad of a week I'd say.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Catching Up

The last month has been a little stressful. I received a new counselor and secretary last Sunday. Leading up to last week, I felt quite a bit of anxiety while choosing names and feeling a little overwhelmed with my duties. YW is busy. I've been sick for about 8 days now (I believe my sickness was augmented Saturday when I ran our 15 mile run feeling lousy, ended up running straight up the side of the mountain lost, and had to be rescued by a companion's husband, all while running 9 minute miles)my husband is out of town, and my brother's wedding dinner is at my house next week. Do you feel sorry for me yet?

Don't feel too bad for me, things are often stress filled, but there is much good as well.



Norah successfully turned seven. She is a whirling dervish out of whirl, but she is also sweet and sensitive.











We had a semi-successful bridal shower for my soon to be sister-in-law. My brother likes to snap a bunch of pictures all at once so that you are unprepared and unposed and so that you think he is sort of a freak.

I've had a few lunches for women at my home: my old presidency needed to be thanked, and one of my running companions had a mastectomy so we had a running lunch right before her surgery.

Speaking of running, things are going fairly well. We usually do some pace work on a seven mile course we have over on the hills by Ridgeline in Highland. Last week I ran it at an 8 minute mile average and really wasn't that tired. Even though it's only been 4.5 months since I began training, it is hard not to have expectations and to not put pressure on myself because I used to race in a former life. I don't know how to get around that. I am grateful though that I run with girls that do the same things to themselves because they are not exactly recreational runners either.

So life is continuing, although sometimes the pace is a little trying.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

March 16th



You changed my life eternally 7 years ago. You were my perfect first-born. You are a beautiful whirlwind and I will forever try to be living up to your purity and potential.

I love you Norah, happy birthday.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Rosemary's First Masterpiece



Although, she may need to reconsider her medium.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Why I am Smart and Cool:

I am the oldest of eight children(that alone makes me cool, no?). The youngest two came almost 13 years after my birth and are identical twins: Tim and Peter. I rocked them to sleep, changed their diapers, fed them bottles, dressed them, carried them on my hip, pushed them around in a double stroller and was even mistaken for their mother in an elevator at a university hospital (um, no thank you).



Well, Tim was just accepted by Oxford for graduate school and Peter was accepted by University College London (in case you are wondering what UCL is,UCL was ranked fourth in the world in this year's Times Higher Education-QS rankings. No fewer than 21 Nobel prizewinners have come from the UCL community. And I totally copied and pasted that part). And the reason this makes me smart and cool is because I, no doubt, taught them everything they know.

In all seriousness, I am so proud of my brothers and love them. I am just slightly jealous of their cosmopolitan ways, but I am grateful that I now have a cool card to drop whenever I need it.