Everyone Needs a Ribbon Closet

Just got back from the orthodontist's office - Cara's dental saga continues (including a visit to urgent care because of the side effects of her pain meds that I didn't even blog about). While waiting I picked up the January issue of Country Living (I love the magazine but don't subscribe because I really stay caught up just by going to the orthodontist (both Cara and Emily see him and we have the hardest time getting them scheduled together, so I'm there way too often). Anyway - there was a great article in the "Idea Notebook" section titled "Creating a Happy Home" written by Alexandra Stoddard, who is amazing and a must read for anyone interested in discovering and celebrating their own style. I still smile when I think about the opportunity that I had to meet and talk to her at the National Book Fair. Illustrating her article are a number of fabulous pictures from one of her homes. I nearly fell out of my chair when I turned the page and saw a picture of her ribbon closet. I've got great ribbon - now I need a ribbon closet (not quite sure how I'm going to explain this "need" to Craig)!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Twenty-years ago today a tiny baby was placed in my arms - having already spent nine-months with her I felt like I knew her. As I held her, I wondered about my own abilities to be a mother and was overwhelmed by my love and hopes and dreams for her. I continue to wonder about my abilities and I am still overwhelmed by the love that I have for all of my girls. And for the past twenty-years I have had the wonderful opportunity to watch her as she has discovered her own hopes and dreams. She is an amazing young woman! Happy Birthday Alicia!

Smile!

Today Cara and I spent part of our late morning and early afternoon at the oral surgeon's office. She underwent an interesting (my words not hers) procedure that will allow an impacted tooth to erupt (come in). It actually involved making an incision so that the impacted tooth was visible, gluing on a small bracket, attaching a gold chain and then closing everything up. The chain is then attached to existing braces and the tooth is slowly pulled into the correct position. She insisted on NO PICTURES but I found someone else who was willing and if you are really interested you can see here

Scroll down and view the slide show.

In Cara's case the tooth was not left exposed - but covered up again - with only the gold chain visible. Emily will be having the same procedure in about six months - so she is watching Cara's progress with great interest. Hopefully the recovery will be quick and relatively painless - hey she gets to miss school - that's something isn't it?!

Unfortunately I think they inherited this from me - sorry girls - marry someone with amazing teeth genes!

Photo Album Complete

I'm more of a starter than a finisher and so I'm so excited to announce that our Mediterranean Cruise photo album is complete! I used photoworks.com. Of course, the system isn't perfect - with a set number of templates you lack some flexibility, there isn't a cut/paste option (for moving text around or from other documents), no spell check, and you can't make corrections in preview mode. HOWEVER in spite of my criticisms above, all in all I was very pleased with the ease with which I was able to put everything together. For me (not a great scrapbooker) with lots (and lots) of photos this was very doable - particularly for a very specific event-focused subject (a cruise, vacation, party, etc.).

If you are interested, you can preview the album (not that anyone would be interested in our trip - but in case you are interested in the format, etc.). I am already planning another album in my head - but I want to wait until after I receive the hard copy of this one just to make sure that quality wise I want to do another one.

Our Album

Happy, Happy Birthday!

My sweet Emily turns 12 today! I can hardly believe it. We are so blessed to have her in our family and in our lives. If I started a list with "Emily is..." it would go forever. Here are a few highlights:

Emily is creative
Emily is kind
Emily is talented
Emily is a performer
Emily is smart
Emily is funny
Emily is a chef extraordinaire
Emily is a reader
Emily is a good friend
Emily is amazing
Emily is a swimmer
Emily is our baby
Emily is after all Emily

We love you Emily!

Belated Christmas

I received a belated Christmas gift from Craig - something that I promised to order for myself and then forgot. I remembered to order it last week and it just arrived. I keep telling Craig that it was just my way of extending the season! I am so excited about the yarn and the sock book - the patterns are absolutely beautiful (most are made by stranding two colors of yarn throughout). The yarn itself comes from Icelandic sheep and is naturally colored (the cream, light brown and dark brown is the actual color of the wool - no dyes, etc.). Hopefully my socks will look just like those pictured above - I'll keep you posted. Click on the socks above to see them in more detail. The farm website includes the above pictures as well as a lot of additional information. This year yarn, next year sheep (just kidding)! Actually Craig gave me two great decorative sheep made of metal that I can't wait to put in the Zion's house.

Another Book - The Sister Knot

Yesterday while running errands I was able to catch part of the Diane Rehm show on our local NPR station. The guest for the hour was Terri Apter, the author of the book:

The Sister Knot: Why We Fight, Why We're Jealous,
and Why We'll Love Each Other No Matter What

Although I wasn't able to listen to the entire show and I haven't read the book, I was intrigued by the subject. It made me think about the relationships that I have with my sisters (so blessed to have two) as well as the sisters-in-law in my life (so blessed to have five counting all sides). The author had some interesting information about why this relationship is not only challenging but deeply rewarding. The callers who were estranged from sisters or whose sisters had died, expressed poignantly what the loss of this relationship means. One caller with two sisters said she doesn't even know where her sisters are or how she would get in touch with them if she needed to talk to them - that just about made me cry - because my situation is so different. Another caller (without sisters) talked about what a compliment it is when someone says, "You are just like a sister to me." I loved that and know just how that feels.

I love all of my sisters and am grateful that they are such an integral part of my life.

You can listen on-line to the program by accessing The Sister Knot.

A Book and A Theme

There are two things that I have been meaning to post for a couple of days - Dana's post about her theme for this year "Run With It" was an additional reminder that I wanted to get these two things down on paper (not sure if that phrase fits, given the technology at hand but I think you understand).

During December, our book group read A Heart Like His: Making Space for God's Love in Your Life by Virginia H. Pierce. This book was different than anything else we have read because it was church-related - in the six years that I have been meeting monthly with this group we fairly consistently stayed away from anything "religious" in nature (although we have found lots of "religion" in much of what we have read.

But I digress, I suggested the book several months ago because of some of the experiences that I had after being introduced to this book last spring when we were visited by some of Craig's cousins. Tene had finished it during the trip and asked if I would like to read it. I found it to be a very quick read (it is short and the book itself is small). But long after I was finished reading, I found myself thinking about it. It truly gave me much to contemplate - I suggested it for book group because I thought it would initiate an interesting discussion, which it did. I highly recommend it. (I was excited to hear that our entire RS is trying to read it and hoping to talk about it during February Enrichment).

The two things that really struck me while reading were:
1) This book isn't about adding any more "things-to-do" onto our already overwhelming "to-do" lists.
2) This book isn't so much about doing as becoming.

I love the focus on the concept of BECOMING rather than just "doing". I have to admit, sometimes the "doing" feels like going through the motions to me some days. This leads me to the second thing I wanted to post. I've been toying with the idea of having a theme for myself this year and I was thinking about "be more...." (I heard the phrase on a commercial - for what, I have no idea) but it stuck with me. However the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of BECOMING! Becoming kinder, becoming creative, becoming patient, etc. rather than just trying to be more kind, be more creative, be more patient....

Perhaps some would argue it is merely semantics but BECOMING feels different to me - and since it is my theme, I am going to BECOME!

100 Things About Me - In No Particular Order

I keep seeing this idea on other blogs and thought I would give it a try - it really is interesting to see what finds it's way to your list - what things you censor - what things you choose to add - what things you remember that you haven't thought of in forever, etc.

100 Things About Me – In No Particular Order

1. I don’t have a favorite book or movie.

2. I was raised in a great family.

3. I am neither a morning nor a night person.

4. My husband loves Christmas more than I do.

5. I hate to see summer end and my children go back to school.

6. I love my Palm Pilot after saying I would never get one.

7. I make my own mozzarella cheese.

8. I don’t really like to watch animated shows or movies.

9. I’m good at putting things together.

10. I don’t feel 43 and wonder if I will ever really feel grown-up.

11. I love hardwood floors.

12. Sometimes I feel like a fake.

13. I get sea-sick.

14. I am very protective of my fabric scissors.

15. For our 15^th anniversary we took an Alaskan cruise.

16. I spin fiber into yarn.

17. My husband is the best gift giver.

18. I don’t like sleepovers.

19. I have 3 daughters.

20. I like to sleep-in.

21. I had my 3^rd daughter during the middle of graduate school.

22. Autumn is my favorite season.

23. I’m a graduate of and a true-blue USU Aggie, and rarely admit that I attended BYU for 2-years.

24. I miss CA weather, our pool and the beach in Monterey.

25. My high school marching band was ranked 2^nd in the nation.

26. I am fascinated by the life-style of the Amish.

27. I am too judgmental of others and myself.

28. I don’t like camping.

29. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.

30. The smell of oranges makes me nauseous.

31. Take-out is my favorite dinner to cook.

32. I love my family.

33. I spoke at my high school graduation.

34. I’m a daydreamer.

35. I am good at driving in reverse.

36. I was on my high school debate team.

37. I taught myself how to weave and have a large floor loom.

38. I love to knit.

39. I love the store bakery frosting that everyone else scrapes off.

40. I love pedicures.

41. I know how to cane chairs.

42. I’m not a fan of snow unless it means school is cancelled.

43. I am a better wife than I am a mother.

44. I worked at Jacob Lake near the Grand Canyon for two summers.

45. I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Houston.

46. I don’t like wearing dresses.

47. My daughters have better fashion sense than I do.

48. My cholesterol is too high.

49. I’ve stayed in a suite at the Plaza Hotel in NYC (didn’t see Eloise however)!

50. I used to wear glasses but my eyes have actually gotten better.

51. I have lived in Utah, Oregon, Texas, California and Maryland.

52. I would love to live in San Francisco.

53. I love re-shelving library books at the middle school media center.

54. I was a hospital candy-striper during junior high.

55. I’ve delivered meals-on-wheels.

56. I can’t keep the story lines of the Star War movies straight.

57. I collect Navajo rugs.

58. I haven’t read the last 2 Harry Potter books.

59. I can play the piano.

60. I love auctions.

61. I’m allergic to cats, dogs and hay.

62. I don’t mind driving in rush-hour traffic.

63. I’ve been trapped in a men’s restroom (long story).

64. I love to listen to NPR.

65. I love fires (in fireplaces).

66. I’m a fiscal Republican but a Democrat when it comes to issues.

67. I believe Disney World really is “the happiest place on earth”.

68. I’m not an outdoors person.

69. I’ve traveled through most of Europe and the Mediterranean.

70. I give blood and donate platelets.

71. Most of my socks are hand knitted (by me).

72. I’ve wished at the Trevi Fountain in Rome that I would return to Rome, and I have.

73. I love high school football and basketball games.

74. I have a daughter in college.

75. I’ve taught Early-Morning Seminary.

76. I love reading and book groups.

77. I’ve never been good at doing my girl’s hair – even when they were little.

78. I worked at the USU laundry during college.

79. I do the crossword puzzle(s) in the Washington Post every day.

80. I love taking hot baths but never seem to take one.

81. I went to lunch with my “husband-to-be” in Germany while he was still on his mission (we weren’t alone)!

82. I have a “clutter” problem and am possibly in need of a 12-step program.

83. I first dated my husband when I was a jr. in high school and he was a college student, but would never let my girls do that.

84. I’ve never been good at remembering movie stars and the movies they are in (same with singers/groups and their songs).

85. I love reading mysteries.

86. I am more nervous than my children when I watch them perform.

87. I struggle with depression.

88. I love Girl Scout cookies.

89. One year I only read books considered to be “classics”.

90. I once helped cook at a Stake Girl’s Camp and stayed at a Bed and Breakfast instead of in cabins with the other cooks.

91. I make my own fry sauce at restaurants (mayo and ketchup).

92. I’m amazed at what I hear/learn while driving the Pom’s carpool.

93. I don’t really socialize with other parents who have children in the same activities as mine (swim team, dance classes, chorus, musicals, etc.) even though we spend lots of time together picking-up and dropping-off.

94. I am more of a “keep the drapes closed” than a “keep them open” kind of person.

95. I’ve seen the view of the National Mall looking towards the Washington Monument from the private balcony outside of the Speaker’s Office.

96. I’ve eaten uncooked quail eggs.

97. We celebrate birthdays in increments of 100 months in addition to the usual yearly birthday (8 yrs 4 months = 100 months, 16 yrs 8 months = 200 months, etc.).

98. The inside of my car is always a mess.

99. I've worked in a soil testing lab and know how to test for protein percentages in alfalfa.

100. I love Sushi.

Photo Works

I'm not much of a scrapbooker although I love scrapbook stores (both browsing and buying) and use the paper/supplies for a variety of projects. One of my goals for this year is to do something with the large number of photos that we have accumulated over the years. With this goal in the back of my mind, I came across a tiny sidebar in the newspaper that mentioned a company by the name of Photo Works that for a fairly reasonable price will publish your pictures in book form (similar to a yearbook). Of course the pages aren't as embellished as they would be if you were doing a traditional scrapbook, but for someone like me (not too crafty, too many photos, not enough time, did I mention too many photos) it seemed like a good idea. I have spent time this week putting together a book to highlight the Mediterranean cruise that we took in 2004 - I figured it was a good place to start. I have had so much fun uploading the pictures (we didn't take our digital camera on that trip??), writing the captions, and walking down memory lane. I just need to do the final proof and it will be finished and on its way here.

This whole process has gotten me interested in digital scrapbook - doing the pages on the computer and then having them printed either in book form or individual pages to put in albums. It seems like that process might be a better fit for me than traditional scrapbooking. I'd be curious to know if anyone is doing digital scrapbooking and has any info/suggestions to share?? Oh, the picture is of our family in Turkey - just outside of Kusadasi in the Solmissos Mountains at the House of the Virgin Mary. (Historically recognized as the resting place of Mary).

Science Fair

I think we are finally back on schedule?? I wish that the girls had had a few more days of Winter Break. They are now into end-of-the-semester finals and preparing for Pom competitions. Emily had a fun night on Thurs. when we went to her middle school science expo and found out that her project had been chosen to go on to the county competition. She was excited, surprised and a little overwhelmed knowing that this meant that she would have to "defend" her project for three-hours while "real" scientists ask questions (sometime in March).

I have great memories of participating in science fairs as a child. I especially remember my dad arranging for me to be able to go to USU and talk to a professor about electron microscopes and see their lab as part of one of my projects. A few years later, my Dad helped Emily make soap and this became another great science fair project (thanks, Dad). Every time I go to a science fair I am also reminded of the time that my mom let(?) my brother work on a project that was possibly titled "The Effect of Alcohol on the Maze Times of White Mice". For anyone who knows my mom there are several reasons why it is amazing that this experiment EVER took place!

It was a Sew, Sew Week...

Yikes, I'm afraid blogging is just something else that I'm not good at keeping current. These are a couple of pictures that we took the week before Alicia went back to school. We made some birthday pillow cases and an apron for one of her roommates. I will have fabric for Valentine's Day pillowcases - how many days 'till Val. Day??! I started to type that Cristin is going to embroider on the pillow cases (thank-you, thank-you) and then I checked her blog - yep, you guessed it, she has already posted them! I LOVE the embroidery! In reality, I'm not really much of a seamstress so the "stress" at the end of the word is most appropriate, but I loved the way these turned out.

The apron was A's idea - she saw one at a little shop in Cedar City and thought we could make them cheaper (ah, she's learning - nothing like having to spend your own hard earned $$!). We picked out the material, I did the sewing and A provided emotional support! I think she also cooked dinner while I was finishing up!

After Christmas

The days after Christmas were spent relaxing, duckpin bowling (typically a Christmas Eve tradition), watching movies (two-thumbs up for Night at the Museum), playing games, hanging out with friends, loading copious amounts of music into ipods (is it really necessary to have a weeks worth of music in your pocket??), sushi with friends, Nertz, a quick trip to the ribbon outlet in Hagerstown, logging lots of driving hours (Cara and Craig), High School Musical - The Concert (Alicia and Emily), and much to Craig's chagrin rererewatching episodes of The Office.

Christmas

Christmas Day was delightful! It all began by not beginning too early! We all slept in and enjoyed a leisurely morning - opening gifts, and enjoying Orange Rolls and one another. Santa, family and friends were both generous and kind. I think in the end everyone received some of their "needs" some of their "wants" and a few surprises mixed in as well. Explanation of the picture of boots. The girls all received Ugg boots causing Alicia to dub the day an "Uggly Christmas"!

Time Stands Still?

If you look at my blog you might think that time has been standing still since mid-December. It's only an illusion I'm afraid - we've been shopping, cooking, eating, laughing, celebrating and enjoying life. Here is a quick update. Alicia helped me wrap-up Christmas (pun intended) as we traveled all over finishing the shopping, etc. We had a quick visit from our Turkish friends (subject for a future blog perhaps), Emily had a fun Christmas cookie baking party with friends, our Christmas program at church was so nice (and included a beautiful flute duet - 1/2 of which was provided by Cara) . Christmas Eve found us eating our traditional Clam Chowder (I'm prepared to put my up against Dad's - I guess it should taste just as good it is his recipe after all!), and receiving the traditional Christmas PJ's.