March 8th, 2010

It never rains in Ridgecrest, let alone snow. That is until this year. Rain and rain and rain, and the weekend I was supposed to go to Wicked in San Francisco, snow. It was cool, and cold, and beautiful. The problem was, if it kept up, we may end up trapped in this valley. All the roads out of our little valley close in a good snow, last Christmas it was for 3 days! The boys thought the snow was awesome, though. Omar couldn’t get enough of it, he stood outside taking pictures and enjoying it for a couple of hours. My babies liked catching it on their tongues, and making patterns in it once it started sticking. (We did eventually put coats and hats and gloves on them, when it wasn’t stopping!) They enjoyed it for about a half hour, and then decided they didn’t like the cold and wet all that much after all. Little desert rats!

The snow really stuck more than this, but by the end Omar had switched to taking pictures on his phone, and I don’t have those. I think there was probably a good stuck inch on the ground by the end of it. We were supposed to be leaving for Wicked the next morning, but watching the weather decided our best chance of getting through was going to be at 5 that night. One friend, Christina, was supposed to be flying into Inyokern from Utah (through L.A.) that night, but all those flights were canceled due to weather, so she changed her flight to meet us in SF the next morning. According to the weather on my phone, we made it through Tehachapi (up in the mountains) right before it started snowing hard there. We spend the night at my friend Carol’s sister’s house in Fresno, and woke up to a delicious breakfast the next morning. Then we left to go play in SF while we waited for Christina’s flight to come in.

Well, good thing we left so early! It tooks us hours to get to SF because of traffic on the freeway due to an accident. We ended up creating our own detour and made it just in time to get Christina, whose flight had thankfully been delayed! By the time we got her, it was time to check into our hotel and get some dinner, since none of us had eaten in all the madness.

We stayed at the Hilton in downtown SF. It was beautiful and elegant, super fun! We found out from the concierge that all the restaurants around there were closed, but a few were having happy hour with appetizers. We ended up going to an Italian Restaurant in downtown that was great. Rebecca even had wild boar! Then we walked back to the hotel to get ready for the show. You can tell we were all mom’s because we got ready way too fast and then didn’t know what to do with ourselves, but we had a great time just sitting around talking.

And then to Wicked! It was fantastic! I’ve really missed theater since there is no more Music Circus for me down here in Ridgecrest. The show was great, the set was great, I loved it! The story was WAY different from the book, but they changed it in ways that made it a much happier story, and great for kids, even. I really enjoyed it! Then we caught a bus back to downtown and went and had a midnight dinner (for Carol, whose always wanted to do that!) at a downtown diner. I’ve never really been in that part of San Francisco before. It’s pretty crazy to be surrounded by tall close together buildings. I had a hard time getting a sense of direction. But, I really liked it, too. I still think it would be fun to live in the city.

We were going to go to the Oakland Temple on Saturday. Carol and I were both sealed in that temple, and I was really excited to go back. I love that temple! But, it was closed for maintenance that weekend, so we decided to drive back to Fresno and go to the temple there instead. We got to meet 2 of Carol’s sisters there and then go out to eat with them afterward, which was fun. I was really grateful for the chance to get to go to the temple. It’s hard when you are 3 hours away and have two little guys to deal with to be able to go. It’s so peaceful inside the temple, it’s exactly the calm I need.

No trip out of town would be complete without a trip to Costco (at least for those of us who live in Ridgecrest). So after lunch we made a stop and filled up the van with groceries.

And then home. It was so good to see my boys, but I think Omar was the only who missed me. He kept the boys busy having so much fun, they keep asking when I’m going to leave again. I think they went out to eat every meal (including a trip out of town to Chukee Cheese). And he learned why I don’t give them baths very often, and never together! I’m so grateful for my sweet husband who let me go and was such a good sport about it. I had a great time. I never realized how much I need girl friends, but it was awesome! Thanks for coming with me girls!

September 20th, 2009

Why oh why can I not make cookies!  They always turn into this weird flat mess with chocolate chips sticking up out of them. I HATE making cookies! They come out of the oven all puffy and normal looking, and as they cool…. phtttt.

I’ve tried using crisco, margarine, butter… no help!  I don’t use a hot pan, I get a new cold one every time. What else? Any ideas?

August 9th, 2009

Pancakes is the one dish that everyone at my house will for sure be happy to eat. So we eat them a lot. I’ve found a recipe I really like (see below). But my pancakes are never round, never even a recognizable shape. As Omar was doing dishes I was making pancakes, and getting really frustrated. He just laughed at me and said they are just “cat in the hat pancakes.” I act mad, but I really like that he laughs at me like I’m cute.

But why is it that everything I do turns out cat in the hat and everything he does turns out perfectly?

I made him finish making the pancakes.

Best Pancake Recipe

from recipezaar

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons margarine, melted
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

• Beat egg until fluffy.
• Add milk and melted margarine.
• Add dry ingredients and mix well.
• Heat a heavy griddle or fry pan which is greased with a little butter on a paper towel.
• The pan is hot enough when a drop of water breaks into several smaller balls which ‘dance’ around the pan.
• Pour a small amount of batter (approx 1/4 cup) into pan and tip to spread out or spread with spoon.
• When bubbles appear on surface and begin to break, turn over and cook the other side.

August 5th, 2009

My mom called about a week before my birthday (I am 30 now, how weird is that?) and offered to pay for us to drive up, get us a hotel for Friday night, and watch the kids for two days as a birthday present. So, of course, we did.

We left after work on Thursday and got there for cake late that night. Friday morning Omar and I got up and got ready, then went to Sacramento to go to the temple and have some fun. When we got to the temple, we found out Omar’s temple recommend had expired the month before! Luckily, and miraculously, our bishop was home and we made it in without even being late. Our bishop is never home, and we’re never on time! The temple was wonderful from beginning to end, and it was a great start to the weekend.

After the temple we went and checked into our hotel and then went to play in old-town Sacramento. We always have lots of fun together when we have time play. I am so lucky to have married my best friend. After that we went and had dinner at the Chevy’s by the river and then went to the mall to find some shoes that we didn’t find.

We went back to our hotel and found a Wal-mart with a redbox and rented a movie and bought popcorn and candy. Then we went back to the hotel and swam and then attempted to watch Benjamin Button, but neither of us had the patience for it. And then the most amazing thing happened, we slept the whole night, alone! The whole night and alone are both a big deal at our house.

The next morning we woke up late, had lunch at Taco Bell, and spent the rest of the weekend with our families, running back to Ridgecrest on Sunday. Our trips are always so fast! But it was lots of fun. Thanks mom!

February 8th, 2009

The drug lords have been living well thanks to our family lately. What you see here is the fun assortment of drugs on our current schedule.

Isaiah has had a cough forever. We finally got x-rays and found that his left sinus was completely plugged from infection. So… he now takes the strongest possible oral antibiotic twice a day (for three weeks!). Three times a day we do a saline clean out of his nose, and twice a day he gets to snort steroids. He also has to take probio twice a day (but not at the same time as the antibiotics) so that he doesn’t lose all of his good bacteria. Plus since Helaman takes vitamins he has to take a vitamin every day, too. Oh, and we’ve been giving him Motric for the sinus pain to help him sleep at night.

I have a prescription that I have take every 12 hours and antibiotics for a root canal every eight hours to keep track of, too. So far, I haven’t had a day where I actually remembered everything.

Aslo, for those of you who knew about this… My heart monitoring results came back. I’m healthy, I just have mild rhythm problems, but nothing that will cause an damage. Just weird feelings and a little dizziness here there.

Anyway, we’re getting there!

February 1st, 2009

This has been a rough month at our house. Isaiah has been congested and isn’t sleeping well, so neither are the rest of us. Then everyone buy Omar got the flu, and I’m on a new medication that makes me feel sick most of the time anyway… I’ve kind of been a zombie mom (thus the lack of posting, etc.), just trying to get through each day as best I can. Unfortunately, that usually means I’m cranky mom, too.

But February is looking up. Omar is starting a new tour at work on Monday that he is really excited about. His boss also offered him an opportunity to come and work in the machine shop in a very specialized and very Omar position, so he is excited about that, too. His last tour was really hard on him because they didn’t have enough work to keep him busy. It wasn’t until the last week that he really got to start doing analysis on his project. He’s happy to be moving on, but sad he didn’t get to finish the work that finally started.

Helaman didn’t got back to preschool in January, and that’s been an adjustment for us, too. My plan was to do structured activities with him on my own a couple of hours a day. We did manage to do that, once. The rest of the time I’ve just been dragging myself around. I hate feeling that way. But Helaman is much happier not going to that preschool, so I’m sure it was the right thing. I don’t want him to start off his long life of school ahead hating it.

As of today, February 1st, I’m doing better, too. Isaiah slept a lot more last night, and I did to. That really helped. I took him to nursery today, too. I actually got to go to Sunday School and listen and participate. I feel so uplifted. The lesson in Sunday school was on the atonement, and I am so happy to be reminded of that tremendous blessing.

I’ve made some really bad decisions in my life. That’s a long story… and not one I like to tell (or even remember). But today, for the first time, I can see how what a blessing the road I’ve traveled was for me. I am so grateful to have a depth of understanding about the atonement and the love of my Savior that only came because of those bad choices, and my repentance, and his infinite mercy and forgiveness. Glory to God in the highest. When we turn our lives over to Him he really can take the bad and through his power make it good.

I’m grateful for that atonement at the end of this hard month especially. I’m not a nice tired mom, and I shudder to think how unkind I can be to my sweet boys (and husband). But as I repent daily (hourly) He continues to forgive me and help me do better. And I really am starting to see the change as He fills me up with His light and helps me be more like Him. I’m so grateful that His atonement is infinite, and as many times as I sin and repent He forgives me. If there was a limit I would be in big trouble.

The sun in shining and it’s warm today. I’m happy. February is going to be great!

December 16th, 2008

*updated! anything red Omar has done. Great idea Amanda. (He’s too responsible and too much of a homebody for a lot of these.)
The Ones in Bold are the ones I’ve done. Copy and paste into your blog and see how many you get.

Things I have done in my life:
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World – I’ve been to Disneyland but not DisneyWorld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child – I may one day
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked – with Billy when the thunderbird fried
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice – it was way too expensive, we just kissed on the top of every bridge instead
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language – if only…
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance – although I was not the hurt person, Rocky Donati was
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie – does a homemade movie count?
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (oops)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

It’s funny how this list makes you feel accomplished…

October 22nd, 2008

I’ve been tagged by Katie, who I am really excited is blogging, so I’m being a good sport and participating…

Here are the rules: “MY UNSPECTACULAR QUIRKS”

1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell 6 unspectacular quirks about you
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking to them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

My 6 Unspectacular Quirks

1. I am a germ-a-phobe. As a mom, my biggest struggle is staying calm with anything germy and grossy that goes wrong.
2. I don’t like lots of noise. I’m going to need one of those background noise filtering hearing aids when I grow up (though I’d enjoy one right now).
3. I almost always skip to the end of a book about half way through, because I can’t wait to see how it ends. Then I’ll go back and read the rest of the book.
4. I almost always finish a book within a few days for the same reason as above.
5. Although my dad said when I grew up and had to pay for the hot water I would take short showers, I still take long ones whenever I have the time.
6. I love to be right. Always.

Now I’m going to break the rules and tag anyone who wants to play. It’s fun to get to know my friends better, so if you have the time and inclination, I’d love to read about your quirks.

October 8th, 2008

I’ve been tagged. So in the spirit of good sportsmanship, here are some very boring things about me…

8 TV shows that I love to watch

1. The Office
2. House
3. 30 Rock
4. Life
5. SNL
6. Designed to Sale
7. Divine Design
8. CNN

8 favorite restaurants

1. Red Robin
2. Costa Vida
3. Chipotle
4. Applebees
5. Tempanyaki
6. Matsu
7. Hoola’s
8. Casa Lupe Deli

8 things that happened yesterday

1. We missed music class
2. We had our own music class at home
3. Omar and I watched and couldn’t finish watching the debate where they say nothing over and over
4. We had a dance party in the living room before family prayer
5. We went to McDonald’s for dinner and discovered Monopoly is back! (Now it officially feels like Fall)
6. I went grocery shopping by myself after the kids were in bed
7. Isaiah went to bed without nursing for the second night in a row
8. Helaman made a really cool parking garage that turned into a really cool tractor car wash with his duplos

8 things I’m looking forward to

1. Omar having Monday off while Helaman is at preschool and Isaiah is napping. Alone?
2. Going to stake temple day in a couple of weeks
3. Getting my piano cord in the mail (thanks Chris!)
4. Getting all caught up with my pictures
5. Riding bikes to the park tonight
6. Making Helaman’s pumpkin costume
7. Designing a flier for choir practice on Sunday.
8. Voting

8 things on my wish list

1. Air condioting in the van
2. The majic bullet
3. Shelves for the toy room
4. Wheat grinder
5. A cadre of skilled doctors moving to Ridgecrest
6. A house on the beach (while I’m wishing….)
7. A haircut
8. Safe kids

8 people I tag

1. Amanda
2. Emily
3. Greta (write something on your dang blog!)
4. Trina
5. Michelle
6. Donna
7. Debbie
8. Melanie

July 16th, 2008

I’ve really been slacking on picture taking, blogging, and all general forms of memory keeping. Because of this, I have nothing interesting to write about tonight. However, I have–for the first time ever–been tagged (by Marla). Since it makes me feel like I’m “in”, I am happily willing to play.

So, some not very interesting things about me are:

• 10 Years ago I was at home from BYU for the Summer trying not to be in love with Omar, and failing miserably. I think we were “not” dating most of that summer….
  5 Year ago I the wife of a very unhappy probation officer, living in Gridley, and just starting to get rolling with my web design business, wishing I had kids to keep me busy.
• 5 Days ago I was filling out endless forms involved in house buying, worrying about all the details of house buying and thinking about pretty much nothing but house buying.

5 Things to Do on my LIST

1. Make zucchini bread (this is on my to-do-list every day and never gets done)
2. Clean the bathroom
3. Fill out change of address forms
4. Call my brother
5. Water Tara’s plants

FIVE Snacks

1. Salted Oranges
2. Strawberry Special K Snack Bars
3. Chocolate covered pretzels
4. Kirkland Signature trail mix
5. Apples

5 Billionaire Things

This was hard, I don’t even know how to think about that much money!

1. Pay off all of our debt
2. Build a house somewhere that probably isn’t the desert.
3. Build temples, fund missions, and build up the kingdom
4. Something helping kids, probably lots of somethings–how do you decide?
5. Finance my own political campaign to run for president.

5 Places I Have Lived

1. Provo, UT (a BYU baby, and then a BYU coed)
2. Palo Alto, CA (at 18 months while my dad was an intern)
3. Gridley, CA (2-18, 22-29 – most of it in the same house, all of it on the same block)
4. Albany, CA (for a year while Omar finished at UC Berkeley)
5. El Cerrito, CA (for 2 months in my Great Aunt’s basement when we first got married and couldn’t find housing in the Bay Area we could afford)

5 People I Tag…

1. Tara Hepworth
2. Amanda Eccles
3. Emily Sorenson
4. Becca Fire
5. Cari Potter

And there you have it… a lot of really useless information about me.