Christmas -- Round 2

Apparently, when some of the companies [that my husband ordered Christmas gifts for me from] said that the items would be delivered by December 18th....

 ....what they REALLY meant was on January 7th!

 Just THREE WEEKS later - no biggie, right?!?  (Not)

Geez Louise, I'd say that was pretty darn unsatisfactory, bordering on unacceptable, as far as customer service goes....We definitely have become too accustomed to Amazon Prime's [free] 2-day delivery being SO NICE!

But, really.....I'm a grown woman, so it's not like I couldn't handle a few less presents on Christmas morning.  In fact, I still received plenty of stuff, so it didn't even cross my mind that I was lacking - Matt just told me later that some things hadn't come.  Better me than the kids, right?!?


So, this all meant that I got to be surprised and open up ANOTHER Christmas package of stuff last night  - Woo Hoo!

Merry Christmas to me - AGAIN!

(since I was semi-conscious on the real day, anyway, this was real swell!)

The Short-Lived Birthday Gift

One of the things I love most about our new home that we built is the big front porch (and the cold storage that is underneath it!)  But, it'll take some work (and time & money) to get it to look like my "dream" front porch.

Case in point:

 {some examples of what I like}

Ours is not quite there, YET!

BUT, it got one step closer last Monday when Matt got me a hanging porch swing for my birthday!  I guess he had installed the hooks into the ceiling the previous Saturday, so it’d be immediately ready to put up after I opened it on my birthday.  He was worried that I would notice the hooks and KNOW about the surprise too soon – but I never looked up, I guess, and had no idea!

By the time we got around to opening birthday presents it was pretty late, but I wanted to put it up THAT NIGHT anyway, so we got it up around 10:00 p.m.  More chain was needed so it could hang lower to the porch, so I didn’t even sit in it, yet, since I’d practically have to jump up to get on.

 The girls were all sitting in it, though....

Then on Tuesday evening, about 20 hours after I opened it, just as I was starting my BUNCO night here at our home, one of the ladies heard a big, loud crashing noise, and they looked out my front window.  (I was in the kitchen getting all the last things ready, so I was oblivious, and heard nothing!)
Then that lady came and found me, and was like, “Uh, Suzanne, your swing just broke out on your porch....and your girls came down with it.” 

I go out there, and I saw that the chain & hook on one side had come OUT of the ceiling, and RIPPED down a few sheets of soffit (so the wood rafters were exposed)

 

And that same side of the swing was touching down on the porch (the other side still hanging up), with the arm of the bench broken off....

{not my actual swing - I was kinda shocked and too preoccupied, trying to put on a party, to take a photo - but this shows what it looked like} 

...and I saw Haylee standing there in silence, and Katelyn standing there crying, and Brookelle had ran and hid somewhere, I think, because I don’t recall seeing her.  

But, I had 11 guests at my home, ready to start, so I just left "the carnage" on the front porch for my husband to see when he returned home.  ;)

Well, that was a short-lived gift; it was up less than a day, and I never even used it myself!  

---------------------------

P.S.  All is not lost - Matt is working on repairing it/ordering a new arm and will reinstall it in a more secure place (he admitted, he wasn't sure if he got the hook installed into the wood beam or not).

One Month of Summer - Gone!?!

June is over and done with. 

This fact created a little bit of panic with my children....it means one month of Summer down, only two(ish) to go. 

[In case my kids accuse us of "not doing anything"] Here's what's happened:

Matt's Birthday!

Family Vacation to Aruba!

Big Brothers torturing loving on little sisters!

Band aids....lots of band aids!

 Cousins!

Father's Day!

{Artists: Haylee, Katelyn, & Brookelle}

The Official First-Day-of-Summer celebration!

....complete with ice cream for dinner 

and opening a present (Summer-y wardrobe additions).

Swim lessons for Brookelle!

(she's in the blue swimsuit, furthest away in the photo)


Kyle attended a "Family History" themed Youth Conference with our ward the 25th-27th and had a great experience.

He also got to "sky dive" (iFly) as part of their Super Activity.  ;)

Scout day camps for Matt (in charge of the 11 yr. old scouts) & I (in charge of Bears cub scouts) up Millcreek Canyon in East Salt Lake City.

{view from the hike}

Our family went to this production of "Savior of the World"

Ladies Bear Lake Getaway!

{meanwhile the kids had a blast at home without mom making them to do their chores ;)}

I also found out that applying sunscreen to mostly the front of your legs, and hardly on the back, 

then floating on a raft (laying on my tummy) for two hours on the lake DOES NOT provide adequate protection...and it not a good idea!

Can you say BEET RED?

Can you say extremely painful to sit down - or walk?

Can you say half a bottle of Aloe Vera gel used in 3 days?

(Incidentally, the gel caused my clothes to stick to it, then I had to RIP it off my burnt skin - OUCH!!!)

Of Course it Happened That Way

Probably for my first time EVER, I did not dread Mother's Day!  This year, there was actually something to look forward to.
It's because Mother's Day is ONE of the two-times-a-year that missionaries are allowed to call home!!! :)
Christmas is the other day that they are allowed to call.  And last Christmas, Ryan informed us he'd be calling at a certain time.....and then we waited 3 HOURS until he actually did! (When they are at someone else's house, they have to wait until they can set them up on their device - and if they're busy making dinner, it isn't a good time to ask for help, etc.)
So....we were kind of suspecting that his Mother's Day call would be the same; we took the time he told us, then added 1+ hours.

With this theory in mind, we had our children stay at church for Primary.  It is tradition in our ward that the Youth take over teaching/leading/directing the Primary children on Mother's Day, so all the usual Primary workers (many women) have the "day off" and can attend the adult classes in church that day.  Well, Kyle & Haylee got assigned to sit with and teach Brookelle's class.  They were so excited!  Especially Brookelle! 
Kyle & Haylee planned together.
They divided up the sections of the lesson.
They studied the concepts and the scripture stories.
Haylee even put together a bag of props to use in the lesson.
AND they assigned their other helper to bring a treat for the class.
They were ALL set!

Meanwhile, Matt & I returned home, just for the odd chance that he called on time, and set the Skype up.
Before the time he said he'd call, I went upstairs to my bathroom to brush my hair and teeth and put on some lip gloss.....and lo, and behold, he called EARLY!!!
Only Matt was in the room when Ryan's face filled our TV screen.
Apparently, Matt started calling my name, but I can't hear a thing from anywhere else in the house when I am in my bathroom....so I didn't even know he was already on.
When I did come down the stairs, just on my own time (without knowing he was on yet), I heard voices.
This is what I overheard:
Ryan: "Hey, Dad!  How's it going?"
Matt: "Good."  And then....silence.  (Seriously, he said just one word....to our son who we haven't seen in real life for 8 1/2 months!?!?!) 
Ryan: [laughing out loud] "Oh, wow, Dad.  You're still not a man of many words."
Matt: "I need your mother!  Where is she, to help me out?"
(Then I enter the room)
Matt: "Oh, good!  Here she is!"
And then he sat back, and visibly relaxed, and mostly listened to the rest of the [1 hr. 40 min.] conversation!
Hahahahaha hahahahaha hahahaha.

Oh, and I texted Kyle that Ryan had called and to come home now, so he gave his Primary class over to another young man, gathered up his little sisters, and they ran home to see/talk to Ryan!

And they didn't even get to teach their Primary lesson!!!  :(
It's because they were actually prepared.
YOU KNOW if they would've just bagged the lesson, thinking they wouldn't have to teach it, Ryan's call would've come late again, and they'd been lookin' like idiots in front of the Primary children!!

So, the moral of the story....
When you're expecting/counting on something, it doesn't/won't happen.  (I told you my life is governed by Murphy's Law!)
When you're NOT expecting/counting on something, your expectations are EXCEEDED (in this case, an EARLY call).

*****************************
As another interesting side note about the day, my other teenager son started asking me to take a picture with him.
WHAT?!?
Since WHEN does he want to take pictures with me?
When I couldn't get to it right away, he kept pestering asking me to do it.
Finally, I obliged.

Turns out, he had an ulterior motive.
Our photo ended up on Instagram later that day.....just like A LOT of his friends & their moms pictures did.  He can't miss out on what "all the other kids are doing" now, can he?!?  ;)

P.S. Besides the Skype with our missionary, everyone made & cleaned up a fabulous breakfast & dinner (the menus of my choosing), the talks at church were done well, I got a gift I had been wanting for a long time, I had the opportunity to read my book (undisturbed while everyone else was busy), and we stayed home TOGETHER.
I think this was my BEST Mother's Day to date!  ;)
(Lest you think I'm now a different person with a new opinion [or that someone is impersonating me on this blog post].......under different circumstances, my previous recorded feelings about Mother's Day still stand.)  ;)

I Think I May Have Gone to the 'Spa for Giants' by Mistake!?

I received a [very generous] spa gift certificate from my sister-in-law for my birthday last September (thanks, Nicole!) and I finally got around to using it this week.
They gave me a robe and some slippers to wear on my way to and from the treatment room.

I put on the slippers.....and I noticed they weren't quite my size....

....which I wasn't expecting because I know they probably have to invest in a "one size fits all" so it will work for their wide range of clients......

BUT, I have a very average sized foot, so I figured it would just be a little bit big - not THIS big.  I only filled 75% of this slipper!  I had a good 4 inches to go - I didn't get it!  (But, it made me feel "petite" - Yes!)

And then I realized.....I must be in the wrong place - I'd gone to the "Fee-fi-fo-fum Spa!"  ;)

But it was confusing....because I did not experience the same "over largeness" fitting with the robe.  Hmmmm, it MUST have been for the "Giant babies."  ;)

Be Mine

We had a great Valentine's Day -- even though it was Friday the 13th that weekend, too!! 
And since it was on a weekend, we spread it out and celebrated dates on both days!  :)

The girls had their Valentine's parties at school on Friday.  I had purchased their valentine cards & treats for their classmates a while ago and they were on a shelf in our storage room.  Well......when I got them out for the girls to sign, one of the boxes had been opened - and 11 of the treats were missing!!!  It seems Brookelle helped herself to some treats whenever she felt like it over the last little while!  I told her I wasn't going to go out and buy more valentine treats since she's the one who caused the problem of not having enough for her whole class now.  She thought for a minute, then informed me she'd decided she would just be EXTRA NICE to some boys in her class as their "treat" from her, instead of giving them a candy to go along with her valentine card.  ;)  That girl is thinkin;! 
And, ya never know, maybe the boys would like that "treat" better anyway?!?

Matt & I went out to Sushi Monster on Friday night

Katelyn got creative with the Valentine's morning breakfast she made me!

Messages for Matt

Matt took me up to Taggart's Grill.  This has been on our "bucket list" but we've never made it happen, yet, because it's out of the way and there's always a wait - not exactly the type of place you can just drop by when you're passing through.  But, we planned to make the journey up there for V-day!  It was kinda weird going on that long drive up the canyon in FEBRUARY and having the sunroof open!  Instead of our surroundings being covered with snow, it was all brown & barren.  Taggart's is a popular place, I tell ya.  We thought we'd miss the crowds by going at 2:00p.m.  Nope!  Still an hour wait, so we went hiking in the hills behind the restaurant while we waited.  (I needed steps for my Fitbit!)  There's many more things on the menu that I want to try, so we'll definitely be back!

Matt surprised me with a new treadmill!

So I won't have trouble getting my steps in the snowy winter......WHAT WINTER this year?  ;)

He had put it in the front room, but I hadn't seen it.  Katelyn kept trying to get me over there.
She'd call me, telling me to "Come here."  Saying she had to show me something, and I told her to just bring it to me!

Then they finally got me to go up the stairs (that are by the front room) but I

didn't even look in that direction.

(They were trying - I was just oblivious!)

Eventually, Matt had to say, "Just go look in the front room!"  ;)

We finished it off with our traditional HEART pizza from Papa Murphy's and red drink with Valentine-y dishes and table (and Cherry Ju-Ju hearts!).  

Then we watched our traditional movie: "Sleepless in Seattle" (Empire State Building on V-Day!) together with the girls.

  (Kyle went to a didn't-go-to-the-school-Valentine-Dance-party instead of hangin' at home with us!)

#LOVEISINTHEAIR

These are a Few of my Favorite things -- THIS Christmas

My favorite "Neighbor Gift" we received:

It's Rudolph the Red-Nosed [E.O.S. lip balm] Reindeer!

The Christensens are always so clever/cute with their gift & "packaging."

My favorite reaction to a gift I gave:

Haylee was SOOO happy (like jumping around & talking giddily) about her PJ's this year!  Namely, she loved the hood, the pockets, & the owl print.

She opened them on Christmas Eve and actually said that she'd be JUST FINE if that was her whole Christmas!  She was fulfilled!

It reminded me of a Christmas several years ago when she had a very emotional reaction to a ROBE she received.

{She doesn't have extravagent wants!  I LOVE it!}

This is not MY favorite, BUT the kids' favorite Christmas wish came true:

The kids were having a hard time FEELING like it was the Christmas season because we hadn't had any snow in December - AND it had been in the 40's & 50's (no coat weather!)

But, THEN they got a WHITE CHRISTMAS.  

It literally started snowing late Christmas Eve, and we woke up to a blanket of snow everywhere. 

THEY thought it was the best thing ever!

My favorite part about Christmas 2014:

Talking to/Seeing Ryan (Elder Brenchley) via Skype!!!

We waited forever - he'd told us it would be in between 3-3:00p.m.......we finally heard from him at 6:05p.m.

BUT, it was worth the wait!

It was so fun to talk to him - we got to be reminded of his playful, amusing personality, but also got to see HOW WELL HE IS DOING and how mature and solid in the gospel he is becoming! 

He absolutely loved the #sharethegift focus this Christmas season.

He testified again & again to us that HE IS THE GIFT.
We got about an hour with him, and 10 min. with his companion (he talked to us while Ryan HAD to go to the bathroom - some things never change! ;) haha. 
We didn't want to hang up and have him call us back because it took SO LONG for him to do it the first time!!)
He also witnessed Haylee smack Kyle while we were skyping....he laughed his head off about that!
Like I said, some things never change!  ;)

**********

What were your "favorite things" about Christmas this year?

He Is The Gift

My missionary son, Ryan, wrote home yesterday insisting that I  #sharethegift.

He is very enthusiastic about the "He is the Gift" video he, and many other missionaries, are sharing with everyone.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints wants this true message to flood the nation.  He is doing his part, and he wants us to do our part.

The first gift of Christmas was a simple gift given by a father to all his children, to us. He gave us His son, the Christ. He is the gift. This Christmas season, how will you share the gift?




It's BEAUTIFUL. Just beautiful.

It really puts things into perspective......especially after the way I've been spending my time lately (See yesterday's post).  Woops!

Way to keep me on the "Straight and Narrow," Elder Brenchley!   ;)

My New Rank: MM

We took my son, Ryan, to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Wednesday to begin his 2 year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

He will train there for just 12 days, then fly out into his assigned mission field of West Virginia (& parts of some surrounding states).  We will not see him again until he returns home, and only speak to him on the phone a handful of times on special occasions (Christmas, Mother's Day, & I've *heard* when he is at the airport, departing [but it's not confirmed]).  Our communication will only be through weekly emails or letters.  (SUCH A CHANGE from the instant communication we've grown accustomed to with texts, cell phones, & living in the same home over the past years!)

So many others who have already sent out missionary children have told me I am now a "Missionary Mom" (MM) - I didn't even know that I would now have a specific new title or rank!  They have been so kind to check up on me, share tips & tricks, send me texts, visit, and bring me "care packages" already!  :)

I got a bag full of assorted fun size M & M's (I was told it stands for "Missionary & Mom")

All my kids want to eat them, but I ask them, "Are you an MM?  I don't think so!  Run along now!"  ;)

I also got this cute card:

(front)

(inside)

And look at these bright & happy Gerbera daisies another friend brought to me:

A lot of people had told me that dropping him off at the MTC would be terrible, and HARD, and sad, and THE WORST, but truth be told, it was mostly happy!  To be a full-time missionary is something HE WANTS.  And it's something I WANT for him, too.  He was SO READY, he might as well just START!  Plus, I, myself, lived & trained at the MTC [for 8 weeks] 23 years ago, and when we drove into the entrance, I got this feeling of, "Ahhh, I'm coming home!"  And I think that helped a lot!  He's in a GREAT place!

Sure, my eyes filled up with tears during the final hugs and my voice was all quavering as I spoke my last words, but I was able to SMILE a lot, too.  And it's a bit quiet around home.  And I've had him on my mind almost constantly....wondering what he's doing/thinking/feeling.  And, of course, we're praying for him in every prayer.  And we've lost our 3rd driver and overnight "adult" babysitter!  boohoo.  But, it's GOOD!

I won't be writing on this blog about HIS mission.  A separate missionary blog has been set up for him to share HIS experiences on:
http://elderryanbrenchley.blogspot.com

It's Justified!

I discovered Pinterest about a year and a half ago.  (Thanks Jill!) 

When I tried to explain what Pinterest was to my 70 yr. old mom, it blew her away, but it's really a similar concept to what's been around for a while...in her day, in fact.  When she understood what it was, she replied,  "OH, so this just takes the place of what I used to do when I ripped out magazine pages I liked and filed them away in my "Idea Folders" all those years!"

YES!!....except more high-tech....and less clutter-y....and easier to find all in one spot!

And now I have over 2,000 Pins.

WHAT?!?

How much time did THAT take?!?

Early on, I actually had to change my settings because I would get so many emails whenever someone liked or re-pinned one of my pins, and then I would go and check THEM out....and before I knew it, I'd been sitting at the computer for an hour! 

So, NO MORE of that for me.

With so many pins, do you think I'm ever going to get around to doing all (any?) of it?

Well, I have!  And I'll prove it to you.....

 

Exhibit #1:  "A Box (basket) Full of Sunshine"

It just so happened that my daughter's teacher's favorite color is YELLOW.
So, I thought this would be so fun! 

Dollar Tree had this yellow basket all ready to go for me!  ;)

I didn't end up using the same products that were shown in my pin, but once I got going,
it was super easy to find so many yellow things at the store,
in my pantry, and in my "emergency stash" at home.  ;)

Finished product.
My other daughter was really upset that her teacher's favorite color
was PURPLE and this didn't work out for her to do it, too!


Exhibit #2:  The Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party

I REALLY persuaded my daughter, Brookelle, to go this direction (forget the Princesses!)
for her 4 yr. old b-day party just because of the pins I had collected on this!

The invitation.

The decorations.

Reading THE BOOK.

{nice MOUTH action shot!}

The FOOD.  (everything the caterpillar ate from the book!)

Exhibit #3:  Favors for my Young Women at church

It's an excuse to go visit them all at their homes!

And teenagers love pop, right?

 {7*UP} lifting ways to start your first week of school

BECOME A "FAN" of GENERAL CONFERENCE

{if you haven't already!}

"Decide now to make General Conference a priority in your life.

Decide to listen carefully and follow the teachings that 

are given.  Listen to or read the talks more than once to

better understand and follow the conusel.  By doing these things,

the gates of hell will not prevail against you, the powers of darkness

will be dispersed from before you, and the heavens will 

shake for your good."

Paul V. Johnson, of the Seventy

And speaking of General Conference.....

Exhibit #4:  General Conference attention-getters

 If you're paying attention to WHO is actually speaking, you get to snack on their treat!  :)

Exhibit #5:  Necklace Storage - "No More Tangles"

 

I put these hooks in my closet shelf separator thing-y for my necklaces. 

Exhibit #6:  Hawaiian Birthday Party

Now THIS party was completely my 8 yr. old daughter's choice.  (no forcing encouraging like with my youngest)

She'd had the "Luau" theme chosen for over a year, but Pinterest gave me some inspiration.

(I actually didn't follow the pin's cheese ball recipe, just decorated it to look like a pineapple.)



Exhibit #7:  Dinner and Dessert!
Well, I guess I can't really call it an "exhibit" if I didn't take photos of it, huh?

How about I just make a list - with the links:

Honey Lime Enchiladas

Korean Beef

Ground Beef Risotto

Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad

Chicken Piccata

Shrimp Tacos

Chocolate Chip Brownies

Chicken Corn Chowder

Copy Cat Pizza Hut personal pan pizza

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies

plus many more.....!

So, I'M TOTALLY JUSTIFIED, RIGHT?!?

 

;)

FYI: I'm at  http://pinterest.com/suzbaduz/