Kids Say the Darndest Things - Dec. '12 Edition

Taken from the Sidebar....

In our Family Morning Prayer.....Katelyn: "Please bless all those people who are IN TROUBLE, that they can get it taken care of." 12/12

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

 And No.  I'm NOT talking about the "Jelly of the Month Club" (from Christmas Vacation).  :)

About 10 days ago, Matt & I finished our "Year of Dates".   I gave this to Matt as a gift for Christmas 2011.  I tried to think of all the things that we have always talked about doing, "We should do THAT sometime!" BUT never have.  Our "date bucket list" so to speak.

He was nice and told me it was "The Best present EVER!" (In his opinion, even better than the iPad HE gave to ME last year!) There were 12 pre-planned, [mostly] pre-paid dates in the basket, one for each month of the year. Shortly after Christmas, we sat down with our new 2012 calendar and decided all the dates and WROTE IT IN PEN (that makes if official, ya know! :) We really looked forward to it all year. Here's what we did.....

JANUARY

Utah State University Basketball Game.

We went back to our Alma Mater dressed in our Aggie fan duds for a basketball game and went to some of our old stompin' grounds: dinner at The Factory Pizzeria & ice cream at Charlie's.  (We're so sentimental.)  We were a bit disappointed that our names we had carved into one of the tables [Matt + Suz w/ a heart around it] all those years ago wasn't even detectable anymore - too many more carvings on top of it, I guess.  :(

FEBRUARY

A horse 'n' carriage ride around downtown Salt Lake City.  

It just so happened that the city was celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the SLC 2002 Olympics that night (with Mitt Romney present) so fireworks started going off while we were on our ride.....COOL!  Except, the downside to that was that it scared the horse and our driver had to turn it around and take a detour.  (but we scored a coupon for a future ride due to the unusual circumstances!)  We dined at P.F. Changs afterwards.

MARCH

A Spa Date Night

Massages, pedicures, hot wax treatments, and spa treats.

APRIL

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Session

We had never been to this temple before.  It's a cute, small one.  Then I got to experience Lamb's Grill - somewhere Matt has gone with work a lot and had talked about, saying he'd have to take me sometime, but it hadn't happened yet.  (He says it's better for breakfast than lunch.)

MAY

Brian Regan concert at Tuacahn

What an enjoyable time.  We laughed so hard!   The opening act was great, too.

JUNE

Picnic in the Park

We went to Sugarhouse Park in SLC and had Subway on a blanket and played cards -- until the breeze blew them away.  This was really relaxing and was kind of in honor of our college days when we hung out at the park quite a bit...to escape homework, roommates, or to just soak in the sun & fresh air.

JULY

Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City

We had tickets to "The Merry Wives of Windsor".  We had to concentrate SO HARD to understand/translate the lines they were saying.  How many years has it been since we studied Shakespeare in school?!?  We were kinda rusty on those language skills.  ;) haha.

AUGUST

I had a date planned to go to Snowbird and ride the tram, then go hiking around.......BUT on the day we had it on the calendar was the day we were moving OUT of our old house, so we postponed it to the next weekend.....BUT on that day, we were moving IN to our new house, so we rescheduled it to the next week...BUT on that day, we were still unpacking....you get the picture.  Snowbird never happened, but the last week of August we.....

Took a trip to San Diego instead - just the 2 of us!  

That counts as a substitute August date, right?  We got to finally relax after several weeks of WORK!  We (among other things) rode in a cycle rickshaw, took in a Padres game, lots of good restaurants, and attended a "60's Party."  (can you see the "SF {heart's} MB" I wrote on the VW bug?)    :)

SEPTEMBER

Cooking School

I was the "chef's assistant" during the demo portion of the class.  The class was "Mainland Chinese" themed.  We made Spring Rolls, Egg Drop Soup, Lemongrass Chicken, and Ham-Fried Rice with Bok Choy.  It also happened to be my birthday that day, so afterwards, the chef let me keep the apron (as a gift) and then took us downstairs to the bakery and let us each pick out any dessert we wanted!  woo hoo!

OCTOBER

We went to the Draper Temple and did sealings.....

then to dinner at Kobe Restaurant.  Doesn't the sight of this Udon bowl make you feel like saying,  

"FEE-FI-FO-FUM!"?  :)  

If you ever go there, Remember this:  SUNSHINE ROLL.  yum.

NOVEMBER

A "Slumber Party" at The Eliza Court Inn....sans children, of course.

DECEMBER

Holiday POPS Concert with Paul Cardall 

Hosted by KUTV ch. 2 Newsanchors, Mark Koelbel & Shauna Lake & directed by meteorologist, Sterling Poulsen (who knew?  a man of many talents).  We wished we could've heard from Paul Cardall even more - Matt really likes his music.

And now the "Year of Dates" is over.  (boo hoo)  Don't ya think Matt should reciprocate the idea for me in 2013, now?  Christmas is in a week, I guess we'll find out then......  :)

Kids Say the Darndest Things - Nov. '12 Edition

Taken from the sidebar.....

A Baptism invitation came for her cousin in the mail, which had the child's full name on it; first, middle, & last....Katelyn: "Why is her middle name, 'Nicole'?"
Me: "She's named after her Mom."
Katelyn: "Oh, so sometimes kids just get their mom's name for their middle name?"
Me: "Yep."
Katelyn: "I would HATE IT if my middle name was 'Suzanne'!"  11/12

How Did it Get to be the LAST DAY OF NOVEMBER Already?

Before this month passes by, I need to get in at least ONE "Song of Gratitude".

I am so grateful for my husband.

                           
He is everything I AM NOT.  Patient.  Optimistic.  a Peacemaker.  (all fabulous things to have in a marriage!)   ;)
Sometimes he is THE ONLY ONE I can talk to about certain things...when I am so full of concern about something that I feel I am going to burst - or at least throw up - he is my confidante.

I am grateful for these 5 children of mine.

I love the "moments" I have with them.

We have this Little People Nativity set that plays "Away in a Manger" when you push a button, which Brookelle LOVES to do.....I caught her "leading the music" to that today.  Melt my heart & made me smile.
I had the Young Women over to my home for mutual this week making pumpkin bread.....well, it ended up taking A LONG TIME, so Ryan returned home from young men's before we were done.  He joined in talking with us all....and we were all laughing in no time.  At one time, I was doubled over, hoping I didn't pee my pants!!  Love his "fun-ness."  He stood in as a "Witness" at Katelyn's baptism last Saturday.  As I looked over from my vantage point in the "wings" of the font and saw him standing there reverently, dressed in his suit.....well, THAT was a GRATEFUL moment for this mom!
Katelyn brings me in breakfast while I am working in the morning -- scrambled eggs with bacon bits & toast and some fruit, with a cut out paper heart on the tray with the words, "Hers ur brekfus.  I love you." written on it.  So thoughtful - especially since I don't even have time to eat some mornings!  AND when one of my [unnamed] children decided to "run away" but really was just hiding out in the shed, Katelyn took out cookies & crackers to her sibling - and asked it we had any "take out" boxes, so she could take care of them at dinner time, too!
Kyle doesn't say much around the whole family - or at home in general....he sure listens to everything that other people ARE saying around him, though!!  Sometimes he responds with a slight smile, a shake of his head, or a roll of his eyes depending on how "amusing" he thinks we all are....but he "gathers" all this info that is surrounding him and keeps it all in his heart....AND THEN when I get him in the car with me alone, he let's loose!  All of a sudden, he's got PLENTY of things to talk about.  He brings up all the questions, comments, and discoveries he's been holding onto recently and we have quite the delightful 1:1 conversations together - on the road!
SShhhh, don't tell anyone, but Haylee is all for having her parents "tuck her in" at night still -- AND scratch her back, of course.  Who wouldn't be able to fall asleep with that?  I also find it charming that she likes to "spy" on the Young Women when they are over, or hang out in the "fringes" of the group and admire them - trying to throw out a clever comment whenever she can.  I'm grateful to have her join me with any of my Young Women preparations and deliveries to their homes.  She is always willing to help me when it involves the Young Women!  (I hope the Young Women feel HONORED that they are such a "Rock Star" in her mind, but I also hope they feel RESPONSIBLE - as she is viewing them as an example - good or bad!)

I am grateful for books.

This is one of my little "mommy tricks" I use.  This is one of those things I have always used to cure a cranky child.  Stop.  Sit down.  Cuddle up with them & read a story.  Magic.  Everything is good with the world again!  I was in a bookstore today, and I was lovin' it....it made me almost GIDDY to be surrounded by books, so many I want to read to my children - or have them read on their own.  This love of Children's Books started at a really young age for me - I remember our "reading alcove" in the house where I lived in California (ages 2 to 5).  It had a bookcase full of all our children's books and a padded rocker where my mom would read to us, or we could sit there and "lose ourselves" in a book, too.  (Sometimes I pretended to take my nap by sitting there looking at books real quietly instead, but my mom was not deceived when I came down and told her I was "done with my nap!")  My Grandma knew what THE BEST books were since she worked in the schools, and she gave us some of the "Classics" for gifts.  She always wrote our name & date in the front cover of the book and then signed her name.  Some of them still exist [lovingly used] at my mom's house, and whenever I see them, I get extremely sentimental!  When I've picked out books for my children, I pick those SAME ONES from my childhood!  This "magic" of children's books now spreads across four generations (at least that I can remember).  Tomorrow, on the first day of December, we will start our Christmas storybook tradition each night.  And I love that they only want ME to read them the story - word is that Dad or Big Brother just can't pull it off the same way!  If I'm gone one evening, they will just skip that night since it's "our thing."  And, contrary to the "code-of-cool-conduct" my teenagers still gather round for this ritual.  Another "moment" I am grateful for.

I am grateful for church callings.
Namely those people who are serving well in their callings.

I have always thought "the most important calling in the church" was the calling(s) that currently has stewardship over MY CHILDREN.  So, right now, that would be the Young Men's President and Priests' advisers, The Young Men's 2nd Counselor, Deacon's Advisers, and Scoutmasters.  The Primary Presidency, the Valiant 9 teachers, the Valiant 7 teachers, all the Activity Day Leaders, and the Sunbeam teachers.  They are helping and teaching my children so much.  And they LOVE them and make things ENJOYABLE for them.  Right now - and over the last several WEEKS - the Primary Organization is planning our ward Christmas Party....and that is a TON of work.  They are making a "movie" of the Primary Children by filming them "in action" and "interviewing" them - with the skills & services of our local professional film editor.  What an exciting & fun project!  I'm thankful for all the people who put in some much time and effort to carry out the work of the Lord.  (I, myself, have been in charge of activities before and I KNOW how much work it takes, so I'm ESPECIALLY grateful when someone else is doing it - and I'm on the receiving end!)  :)  I, too, have been blessed from serving in church callings -- remember that virtue of patience I don't have?  I'm sure getting a lot of LESSONS in that category while doing my calling!  :)

The list could go on, but these are the things that come to my mind the quickest here on this last ditch effort to express my gratitude before the month is over!  

BUSTED!

A friend of mine came over the other day with a house warming gift......and it led to her seeing our new home.  REALLY, I will let you have a tour FOR FREE - you don't need to feel like you have to bring over a gift to "get your foot in the door!"  :)

So, I took her into the Laundry Room.

Here it is:

She looked at those upper cabinets for a while and admired them.....She commented that it would be nice to have some in her own laundry room.....Then she stalled a bit....Then she asked if she could open them and take a look inside to see if I was obsessed with laundry detergent and had filled them all up with a 12 yr. supply of it what I stored in there.  I agreed.  After all, I'm a pretty curious person, myself.  So, she opened it, and that's when I remembered my little "stash" I have in there.....

It was right at her eye level -- and she DID NOT miss it!  Ooops!  How embarrassing.

Here, have a closer look:

Hey! Sometimes, a girl's gotta do whatever it takes to get through and cope with the laundry that a family of 7 produces!!!  ;)

BUT, just for the record, those are from my JUNK BOX I got for my birthday, which was Sept. 14th, so I have made them last more than 2 months! 

Blog Post Flashback

I'm sick.

I'm reminded of what I posted 4 years ago.  {Have I been doing this blog 4 YEARS?!?}

Moments when it's okay to say, "OH CRAP!"

The only thing that made me feel better about it 4 years ago, was I told myself,

It'll all be over in 4 years.  
(There's NO WAY he could get elected again, right?!?)

wrong.

I'm sick.

I Found out How Many Days it Takes to Build a House

FINALLY.....now that we've been in our home for 2 1/2 months....[OK it'll be 3 months in 3 days], I'm posting the final House Time Lapse.

{I'm real on-the-ball like that.}

In case you missed it:

Part 1 here
Part 2 here
Part 3 here

DAY 137

Paint started

Steps in the Garage

DAY 138

Stucco Prep

DAY 147

Final stucco

Driveway Beginnings

Hardwood Floors

Kitchen Cabinets

Laundry Room Counter

Purple Painted Walls in Haylee's Bedroom

Patio

DAY 152

Indoor Lights

A Toilet! ( in half bath)

Laundry Room Sink

Basement Bathroom Sink, Faucet, and Granite Counter Tops

DAY 161

Kitchen Appliances (some cabinet drawers/doors still missing)

Carpet

"Playhouse"

Finished Stairway (banisters, ballisters, carpet)

Mudroom Lockers

DAY 166

Front of House (with House Number, Walkway & Sidewalk...and my brother in the left corner!)

Fireplace

DAY 167

It's OFFICIAL - We Closed!  

(In all our no-shower-last week's make up-SWEATY glory from working non-stop to get out of the old home by 5:00 p.m. this day!

 

The house was OURS, but we weren't moved in yet.

Who knew our entire 2400 sq. ft. home could fit into our new garage?

(We weren't allowed in the house until it was recorded)

Guess what we did for the next several weeks?  ;)

So, there's the answer.

167 days to build a house.

And AT LEAST as many head aches!!! 

{although there were some little things that they still needed to take care of - so maybe it's not DONE?  I should still be counting?}

Kids Say the Darndest Things - Oct. '12 Edition

Taken from the Sidebar...

At the end of General Conference, our prophet, President Monson, got up to speak.Me: "Brookelle, who's that?"
(she looks at the pulpit for a moment, thoughtful)Brookelle: "Heavenly Father." 10/12

Cruel, Harsh Reality

LAST WEEK
   


This Week 

Living Life one Cruise at a Time

I was hooked the moment I first stepped foot into the ship's lobby and the Cruise Staff formed a line on both sides of the entrance for us to walk through while the lead guy announced loudly, "Disney Cruise Line welcomes The Brenchley Family!" and the others applauded and smiled at us as we passed by.

And the royal treatment never ceased the rest of the week, either.

I decided then that cruising was the way to vacation!

Disney Cruise, Western Caribbean ~ March 2005 

Holland America Cruise, Alaska ~ August 2007 

Princess Cruise, Mexican Riviera ~ February 2010 

And now I get to go with these favorite people of mine! 

For a Disney Cruise ENCORE.

BON VOYAGE!