Super Saturday

If you are a LDS (Mormon) woman you have one of two reactions to this title.  If you've ever been in charge of one, you are feeling severe abdominal pains, a headache almost as bad as a migraine, and fevers and chills simultaneously.  This last Saturday was our wards' "Super" day.  I am too tired to explain what, when, where, or how we did it.  But I am not too tired to give you my take on the "why we did it" and mostly likely will painfully continue to do it.  

1. I enjoy being a crafty craftsman and teaching others new things/doing it for them.

2. Stress and sweat built relationships and strengthen bonds.  Some may call this 'service'. :)

3. I enjoy just being around other goofy women who have been humiliated by a hot glue gun and an occasional paint brush.

4. I reminds me of all the great qualities of others and their own uniqueness and talents. A Relief Society is such a special place.

I will admit that I do have a small sense of relief that my Saturdays will not be "Super" for another year.  But when the time comes I'll be looking forward to it once again for all the right reasons. 

The "real" Robin Hood

Very briefly...a friend (Scott) took me on my first hunting expedition.  We had a great time.  Spotted 11 deer (one of which was quite big for a white tail), numerous squirrel tempting us greatly, a coyote that was smart enough to leave us alone, and 1 deer that subsequently became my first big game kill.  I must say it wasn't "big" but exciting all the same.  A clean kill at 35 yards with a bow @ 9:30 am on Opening Day!!  A big thanks to Scott for his expertise that day.     

36 observations of turning 36

1. I'm noticing more gray hairs on the top of my head.  It could be that my new sunroof highlights the gray easier.  Either way, I may have to finally color my hair.

2. Paige thinks that on my birthday I shouldn't have to drive.  I should just sit in the passenger seat and relax. We would get nowhere.

3. I'm closer to 40 yrs. old than to 30 yrs. old. My 40+ friends think this is great. My "younger" friends think I'm old and need help walking up stairs.

4. If you are born before 1975 you don't have to take the Hunter Safety Test (or whatever it's call).  As if this is even an advantage to me.  Certain men have been plotting on getting me in a tree stand to sit in the cold and freeze just so they can use my tags.  Not gonna happen.

Okay, I'm not really going to give you 36 observations.  More like 3 to 6.  My memory is failing and I don't really observe too much anymore.  I'm pretty clueless.  For example: "I know this friend" who went into Walmart to do some shopping (not a small list either) and on "my friend's" way out she couldn't find her keys.  She made it to her car to notice that her keys were still in the ignition with the car on and the doors UNLOCKED.  Ready for the taking.  Needless to say, I didn't hesitate to say a lengthy prayer of gratitude.  I mean "my friend" said a lengthy prayer of gratitude.  (It still makes me cringe so please dad don't call and tell me how ridiculous I am).

A Special Day!!

Happy Birthday to my lovely wife!!!   Hope you have a wonderful day sweetie!!!

A billion years for this?

When we went to the caverns this summer we saw this "marriage" of stalagtites and stalagmites. They said that it takes billions of years for this to happen (does it really, or do they just say that?).  I got me thinking that "marriage" was an appropriate term. It will probably take man a billion years to understand woman and for woman to understand man and THEN eventually we meet somewhere in the middle.  Blake and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this last weekend and we are still trying to understand each other.  But we are having fun doing it. Spending our time together was a blast.  It began with a day fishing on the lake (w/o kids-they were in school). 

Saturday we spent the day with the kids at a fishing tournament.  Which we didn't win but Lane did catch a good fish.  Then he got bored and started torturing the little minnows with thorns off the bushes. It creeped me out that he enjoyed it a little too much. 

Paige didn't catch anything but she started taking pictures and got a couple great ones. This is one of hers.  The leaves are already starting to change.

We ended the day at a Jubilee. Where Blake ate this:

Why do men seek out food like this? Rule #1: If it is almost as big as your head, it is meant for a small family to share. Rule #2: Don't eat it if you don't know where the closest bathroom is (outhouses don't count). Rule #3: Consult with your doctor before starting this meal or better yet, only consume while sitting next to a doctor. Needless to say, it was a simple weekend but it reminded me of why I love him so much.  11 years down, just shy of a billion to go until we meet in the middle.

Paige's new hobby

Here in our house we have been preparing for "Super Saturday" in October and these are some clips that are so easy to do.  Paige and a little friend (Jenna) pulled apart all the silk flowers and then put them together and sat quietly and busy for a couple of hours while her mom and I did painting projects.  She loved making them and once she wore one to school she came home and had to make 5 of them for her friends and teacher. So here is the results of her work.  After she took these to school she came home and told me that every girl in her class wanted one and the boys wanted ones with black and red and skulls. She was sad because she didn't know how to do skulls. But she is the flower queen. (If you blow up the picture and see the yellow tags in the back, those have the names of the girl it goes to. She was very particular that certain ones go to certain  girls.)

First Day of Freedom...oops, I mean School

I think that the first day of school can sometimes be harder on moms than the kids. 

*I am having the darnedest time get up in the morning.

*The night before, I had dreams that I forgot to pick them up so I sent Blake to the school in an 18-wheeler.  It was faster in my dream.

*The first day was a half-day of school.  That's like giving me a Mt. Dew and telling me to only take a sip and yanking it away.  

The kids like their classes.  Lane's favorite part about school is his new locker.  Paige's favorite part is that she has a desk to put her books in.  I'm excited to see the growth they will go through.  I'm sure there will be challenges but I'll be there cheering them along the way.  I love the little people they are turning into.  Here's to the 2nd day of Freedom...oops, I mean school.