I Made the Discovery about 4 Hours Too Late

That awkward moment when..... 

...you're changing your clothes AFTER the 2nd Grade Field Trip you chaperoned, 

and you discover there is a HOLE in the seat of the pants you wore.

And this Field Trip happened to be a walking field trip to the Farmington Pond ---

where we walked in a line of mini-groups, 2nd graders and adult chaperons combined, and there was ALWAYS a group(s) following behind me!!

{Here's my group}

 {a hole big enough for my 2nd grader to put most her fingers through!}

What d'ya think?!?
Will Brookelle EVER want me to come on another Field Trip with her class again?!?  ;)


*Grasping for the last string of positivism and hope....Nobody said anything - so that means no one noticed, right?!?  Right?  Hello?  Anybody there?  Maybe?

But, on the BRIGHT SIDE.....
I killed it on my FitBit results that day, earning the "high tops" badge = 20,000 steps in a day!

(I'm gonna claim the number of hours of sleep I got the night before had something to do with me

 donning hole-y pants for the field trip!) ;)

This [UEA] Weekend:

Every year, the second week of October, we get Thursday & Friday off school for U.E.A. (it means Utah Education Association, and there's a 2-day convention for educators).  But, working in the airline industry, we know U.E.A. actually stands for: Utah Escapes to Anaheim!

Although, many Utahns do go to Disneyland over this long weekend, we do not. (the crowds!)  We usually go somewhere, but this year, we stayed right in Utah.

We:

* Celebrated "Wingtoberfest," and got half-price boneless wings at Sonic for lunch.

* Went to the WitchFest at Gardner Village

And, while there, we HAD to go to the Chocolate Covered Wagon (a sweets shop) for caramel apples, Utah shaped chocolate dipped Rice Krispie treats on a stick,
old-fashioned candy sticks, etc. (of course!)

We did the "Witch Scavenger Hunt" and we were on a mission to find them all, so we could take our completed list to the Naborhood Bakery to get our cookies for $0.50!
(We did it, getting "help" on just the last [elusive] one).

* That evening, Haylee & Brookelle went to play night games and have a sleepover with their cousins.  Katelyn went for a late-night at her friend's house.

* Matt & I picked up our Bountiful Basket, went to donate plasma, and then to Station Park to do some birthday shopping
for a couple of our children in between taking our kids places.

* On Friday, I took Katelyn out to her favorite smoothie joint: Roxberry's. 

(since she was the only girl at home - the others were still at their cousins, 

and Kyle just wanted to hang out at home and rest for once, after so much XC running/practice!)

* Matt & I had date night at Joy Luck Restaurant.

(It seems they "replaced" some of the shrimp in our Walnut Shrimp dish with broccoli florets - pretty disappointed!)

* We went over to Matt's brother's house to catch the last half of the USU vs. Boise State football game.

It was a great day to be an Aggie!  :)

52-26!  

* On Saturday, Matt & I went out to breakfast at a new place I've been wanting to try, Criddles Cafe.

It seemed their menu was very close to our favorites; the former Doug & Emmy's, and Sill's Cafe.

I had a cinnamon roll the SIZE OF MY PLATE 

(I only could eat a couple of bites, and took the rest home to my kids - they didn't mind at all!)

* We took the family up to the Ogden Temple

Matt, Kyle, and Haylee went in and did Baptisms for the Dead.

I walked around the temple block with Katelyn & Brookelle (too young to go in still) while we waited.

 Katelyn was excited to be almost as tall as one of the stop signs we passed!

We also thought we could take a tour at the nearby D.U.P. while we were killing time....

but it's only open Memorial Day to Labor Day - too late!

So, we found somewhere else to go!  ;)

* We finally helped the kids with one of the "bucket list" items, by taking them 

shopping at Smith & Edwards - the Country Boys Store.

Ya know, the one with the slogan, “We’ve got anything you need....IF we can find it!” 

To say the girls were THRILLED about the largest Schleich toy inventory at a store they've ever seen, would be an understatement!

From Schleich to saddles....this store has it ALL!

*  Then we had dinner at the Burger Bar on our way home.  It’s been featured on the Food Network’s show, “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dive’s.”
Even though their specialty meat they were highlighting that week was ALLIGATOR....none of us opted for it!  ;)
(But we did get deferred when trying to donate plasma later, due to us being lipemic = fat levels in blood too high) I wonder why?  ;)

* Churchy-Church on Sunday 

* Third Sunday dinner/FHE over at the Brenchley's.
Haylee commented on our way home, "That was SO MUCH FUN tonight with the cousins!"  

*  I wrote my weekly novel letter to our missionary son.

A Sure Way to Get Your Teenager to Go to Bed Early on the Weekend

Here's the secret:  have them run the RACE OF THEIR LIFE in the High School Region Championship Cross Country Meet.

And SMASH their PR by 34 seconds!
(Those of you who aren't familiar with running.....to shave just a few seconds off your PR is fantastic.  To knock off 34 seconds is something I (and many) could never even dream of doing.  It's phenomenal, is what it is.)

 Ya....he pretty much ran out of his head. 

SO MANY student athletes were breaking their PRs right and left.  They did amazing!  I was so happy for everyone to see how excited they were!  The air at that meet was definitely filled with ADRENALINE and ENERGY.  To see a "spent" runner dig deep down within him/herself and find something, then pour it on at the end of a race is one of my favorite things to watch.

It's awe inspiring - and in some cases (my husband's at this meet), tears-producing.  The will of the human soul is wondrous.  You give it your ALL - and then some - until you're done.

....And because they were going above and beyond their normal capacities, there was some falling down, some passing out, some white lips, some throwing up, etc. after the race.

 Here, Kyle had just asked his teammate on the ground, "Do you know who we are?"

And he was pointing at each of them saying their names. (through heavy breathing and he kept trying to lie down)

He got it correct!  :)

But, the Viewmont boys AND girls cross country teams qualified to go to State!!! (the first time in several years).

So, needless to say, Kyle was a bit tired.

Worn-out.  

Weary.  

Exhausted.  

Drained. 

And I think all the other runners were, too, because no one came calling to get together and do something on that Friday night, like they usually do.

When the bus got back to the high school, Kyle texted us to come get him up (NOW).  

He got home, got in the shower, changed into comfy sweats/t-shirt.

AND WAS IN BED BY 8:00 PM!!!  And was asleep approximately 12.8 seconds after that.

THAT'S how you get a teenager to go to bed early.  ;)
(although, we, his parents, had nothing to do with it - it just happened on it's own)

The Frivolous, the Frugal, the Wise-Stewards, and the Clueless

It's that time again....
I have an 8th grader this year, and it's October...

So, it's time for:

I blogged about this 6 years ago, too, when it was my oldest's (and my) first experience with Reality Town.  I decided to volunteer at it whenever I have a child in the 8th grade - so, I volunteered 3 years ago with Kyle, too, but sadly, there's no blog post to reference.  I did it again yesterday for Haylee, as well.

 

Reality Town is a program that provides students with a hands-on simulation in which they make lifestyle and budget decisions, as they take on careers, salaries, families and associated responsibilities of the adult world.

Students come to Reality Town dressed up and are given a career and salary based on their current GPA. They are also given a "life scenario" with a family situation and the assignment to pay all the bills of the month. They are expected to live within the means of their monthly income.

At the end of Reality Town, students [are suppose to] reflect on the experience. Did they save or lose money? Is this how they'd really live? How does education correlate with income? This program is a great way to teach students the importance of how the choices they make NOW can affect them LATER.  It also gives them hands on skills in budgeting, math skills (although they let them use calculators), and determining priorities.  Six years ago, the students actually practiced the skill of check writing to pay for their expenses, but now they just "pretend" they did or use their "invisible debit card" and jot down the expense in their ledger and keep a running balance. (This is not offered at all schools, we are really lucky to have this program at ours.)

If they run out of money, they have to go to "Financial Counseling" or visit the "Supplemental Income" booth where they can get a part-time job that would realistically work with their current schedule.  They can also join the military (and get some more income), but at this Reality Town, they had the military people all doing MANY push-ups at one end of the gym to make it [kinda] the real deal.

That "Just my Luck" booth you can see in the background was required for them to visit.  They spun a wheel, and a scenario came up; got a flat tire, furnace broke, someone gets sick, get an inheritance check, drop your cell phone in the toilet, get in a car accident, etc. that they were face with - just like real life!

Haylee's career was a Music Therapist.  (What?  How did THAT happen when she doesn't even practice her piano???)  Her "spouse" did not have a job because he was a disabled veteran with one leg.  They only get a couple hundred dollars from the Army due to his disability status. (tough luck!)  They have two children; an 8 yr. old and a toddler.  It was super fun for her....until she started to get stressed with everything she had to buy on her finite income.  ;)  Ya gotta love the reality checks!

I worked at the "Property Taxes" booth in this years' Reality Town.  They had to buy their housing first, then come to me and we figured out what they would owe in property tax based on their house/condo/trailer/apartment/parents' basement.  (The higher the value of their housing, the higher their property taxes).
We weren't very far into the experience when I notice one guy was already lying down on the park bench that was set up in the middle of the "town."  We joked that he's already decided to be homeless and bypass the cost of housing and associated taxes!  ;)
These "adults" who came to me and were renting apartments or who lived in their parents basements did NOT owe anything in property taxes - when I told them that, they'd first be surprised, but then acted pretty glad about that little fact.  But, then I informed them the reason WHY was because they didn't OWN it.  And then they didn't look so thrilled anymore.  ;)

Here's the "consumers" who I interacted with:

The Frivolous
I honestly was surprised that we didn't have more "adults" buying THE BIGGEST/NICEST/MOST EXPENSIVE house that was offered.  I think I only had ONE person who bought it, but there was another "Tax Agent" at my table who was also helping, so she may have had some, too? 
But, we still did have some who were buying too much house for their income.  Towards the end of the "experience," I did have some come back to me to get a "tax adjustment credit" because they had ended up downgrading their house after their account got into the negative with all their other bills.  By doing so, they were able to get $25-40 back as their taxes went down, as well.  Although, when one "man" left my table, he was still a few hundred dollars in the negative, so he still had some shaving of expenses to do.  Good luck with that, Sir.  ;)

The Frugal
I had two different "men" come to me, who were both "well-to-do." 
The "Engineer" had only bought himself a trailer house, which only cost him $25 in property taxes.  As I looked at his income, I was a bit perplexed, and then I said to him, "Did you get the trailer, so you could have a lot of money leftover?"  He just gave me the "you got it!" smirk. 
*Sidenote:  this is the same boy who kept raising his hand to ask Matt questions last year, when he came to Haylee's class to speak on "Career Day."  One of the most entertaining questions was, "So, if I get a hold of any checks, can I just start writing them for stuff?"   He was also asking questions about what "robbery safeguards" are in place at financial institutions!  ;)  This boy's thinking about HOW to get money!!*

The "Orthopedic Surgeon" didn't even buy a house - he was in an apartment - which resulted in $0 property taxes.  He was beaming when he heard that news!  I questioned his decision (he's my neighbor, so I can razz him, right?) and he said he just wanted to be close to the hospital so he can make it to the emergencies in a timely manner - AND SAVE all that extra money!

The Wise-Stewards
There were a few "adults" who came back to visit me towards the end, after they had paid all the necessary bills, and realized they had money left over.  They discovered they really could've bought a bigger house, they just didn't want to "chance it" at first. 
So, one "consumer" decided to move out of his parents' basement and buy a 20 yr. old 3 BD/2BA house.  (SMART choice!)  So, he now had to pay property taxes....but he says it's totally worth it!
Another "consumer" was able to ditch his original trailer house to a 20 yr. old house, as well.  He said that was a relief!
And, another, who was feeling pretty rich, upgraded from his 20 yr. old house to a 5 yr. old 3BD/2.5BA house.

Now, I asked them (using my "motherly wisdom") if they were sure they didn't need to use their money for something else.  They said they didn't. 
What about your donations?  I asked them. 
Already donated. they replied.
What about your Savings?  I countered. 
Already got a bunch in Savings. they informed me. 
What about sending your wife to the Spa. I reminded them.
Done.  they said. 
OK, then, I guess you've managed just wonderfully!

The Clueless
There were A LOT (too many!) who opted to live in their parents' basements.  It was the lowest housing option available, after all.
Why were they choosing this?
In this Reality Town experience, $500/month rent was charged for living in your parents' basement (and $0 property taxes), but I don't think that reflects reality.  In reality (and the other volunteers there around me were all discussing this, and have made the same observation), I think "mooching" is what is happening more frequently than rent paying is!
Anyway, in Reality Town, they could've had their OWN place to live for just $150 more per month.  THAT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT!
I asked several of the "adults" if it was OKAY with their parents if they lived with them.  They all said, "YES!" without even thinking about it.
 
(Ha!  They're clueless!  Unless parents, these days, don't want their children to grow up and be responsible!??)

One of the living-in-your-parents'-basement "women" is actually in my ward.  She assured me it would be OK with her parents.  So I told her she better do all the cooking, clean the toilets, mow the lawn, and wash their cars.  She said she was paying rent, so she didn't need to.  ;)  haha.  (see what I mean by clueless!)
I texted her mom (my friend) afterwards:  "FYI, your daughter's planning on living in YOUR basement with her family.  haha."
To which she texted back, "Haaaaa is RIGHT....I don't think so!  I guess we're making life a little too cooshie for her.  I need to crack the whip." 
I'm thinking she better make other plans.  ;)

So, if you're in the market for a Music Therapist in the future, give Haylee a call - her bank account will thank you!  ;)

(And it will keep her out of my basement!)

"Privacy, Please" is the New "Barge on In"

Here's something to ponder: if you were to see THIS sign:

WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IT MEANT?

My husband and I spent the couple of days at the beautiful Hotel Park City, about a 45 minute drive from our home, this week.

                           

My husband had a meeting, so I was in our "cottage" making sure I fulfilled the meaning of, "leisurely morning" to the fullest!  (Remember, I like to do that, when I'm a guest on Matt's trips?)  I was sitting out on our deck, in the plush Hotel robe, sipping hot cocoa and eating fruit, with the tree leaves rustling, and a breeze gently swirling about me - not a golfer in sight, yet.......
...when, ding dong, I heard our door bell ring, so I start heading to the door (not even dressed in real clothes) to answer it. 
BUT, before I could even get there, the door opens up!  I was around the corner, and out of view of the door at this moment, but a MAN'S voice calls out, "Hello?" 
"Hello." I called back from where I was standing.
"Oh, I'll come back later," said the male voice.
Ya....you better not be staying!

So, I go and check the door, and sure enough, the "Privacy Please" door hanger had been put out by my husband when he left that morning, so WHY the intrusion from Mr. Hello.......???
To be even more secure, I found a "dead bolt" type knob that was also labeled, "privacy" so I turned that after he left.

.......AND THEN when Matt came back to our cottage, he was totally locked out and not able to get in!  :)  (I guess not even a key card will work if the knob is turned!)

After, we were in the back part of our cottage, getting ready for lunch (and when I say, "we," it means Matt was waiting for me to get ready) with the "Privacy Please" sign still on the door, and we hear a noise that sounds like our front door is opening, followed by a MAN calling out, "Hello?"

What?  Again?!?

Matt goes out to the front (I still had wet hair, fresh from the shower) and I hear him say, "Hey, What's up?"  And then I hear him telling someone that this is our room, and we've been here since yesterday, etc. etc.
Well, my curiosity got to me, so I walked out there to see what was going on, and there were two men in our room, with their rolling luggage and bags over their shoulders, looking like they're ready to move in to our same cottage! 
Did they not see the "Privacy Please" sign and think, Something's not right with this room!?
(Turns out, they had been given this room assignment AND key cards to it at check-in just moments before.)
So, they, being convinced that the cottage was already occupied, left.

Then, of course, Matt & I started discussing all these "forced entries" when, ding dong, our doorbell rings.  It was one of those same guys, asking for his sunglasses that he'd left on the kitchen counter.  Yes, they'd originally come in that far and started to settle into the place, when they must've seen some of our stuff here and there, and were prompted to call out.
At least they rang the doorbell that time!  ;)

Then the next day, JUST AS I was putting myself back together after using the bathroom, ding dong, our doorbell rings.  So, then I'm trying to stumble towards the door, and finish pulling up/fastening my pants at the same time, when the front door opens, followed by.....you got it!.....a MAN'S voice calling out, "Hello?"

Again?!? Yes. Again!

"Hello." I echoed back.
Now, fully dressed, I walked around the corner to the front door, and the man there informs me, "I'm just going to check your hot tub" as he proceeds to walk further into my cottage!
To which I must've responded with a stupefied look, not moving, because then he stopped, as if he was just struck with an intelligent thought, and he says, "I'll just come back later."
Uhhh....,ya you will!

After he left, I double checked - the Privacy Please sign WAS indeed up on the door then, too.

THREE TIMES we had trespassers.
THREE TIMES that sign failed us.
THREE TIMES I was seconds away from being spotted [in a compromising situation.]
THREE TIMES I wondered if people don't know how to read anymore.

OR........
Maybe I have misinterpreted the meaning and purpose of that sign all these years?!?   If so, please clue me in.  ;)


****************
We really DO enjoy this resort - we have stayed there for 3 years in a row now - we came to the conclusion that somehow, their computer system did not register that our room had guests in it, and everyone thought it was vacant.  At least we're hoping there was an innocent explanation, and this is not a common practice......

Big Shot Treatment for Being just Run-of-the-Mill?

We got this flyer in our email last week:

Does anyone else find it odd?
There's a "National Eat Dinner with Your Family" Day???
Since when did that "special day" start?
Since when is eating dinner with your family a big deal?
(Ya gotta have dinner, don't ya?)
AND it's FREE?
It was put on by Davis Behavioral Health - Are they so desperate to get families to eat dinner together, that they will feed the masses (because if it's FREE in Utah, people will come out in droves!) to make it happen?!?  And they're luring you to come even further by offering discounted swimming afterwards!
Apparently so.

Hmmmmm.

I said, "Let's go!"  (Kyle gets out of planning/making dinner for that evening, and I don't have to buy the groceries for that day!)
My husband said, "What's the catch?"
Here's the thing; there really wasn't one!  They are just trying to inspire families to eat together!  As part of the ParentsEmpowered.org initiative, they have done studies that prove that The family that eats together, beats underage drinking together.

So, we went to the event (again, no biggie, we have dinner anyway, last night was just a different location), and there was a line, but not nearly as many as we'd anticipated - maybe it really did reflect what they're so worried about; people can't find the time to have dinner together as a family!?! 
(Matt, who can't bear to miss a meal, couldn't quite grasp WHY families are not having dinner!)  ;) haha.
There was a huge committee of people who were serving at this event, and the very first one we came in contact with (the lady who gave us our plates) said [very sincerely], "THANK YOU for coming to dinner with your family tonight!"   
And I'm thinking, Why are you thanking ME?  We're eating YOUR food (for FREE!)   
Then, as we moved down the food line, practically everyone else else thanked us or said some other encouraging words about us and our actions.  It seemed strange that they were treating something SO NORMAL, as dinner with your family, as a huge accomplishment.  

They even gave us a "gift bag" for coming.  (It had a spatula, hot pad, snack bag clip, and a sticky-note pad, plus a informational brochure in it).  
 Then while we were eating dinner in the park, the youth volunteers came by and gave us another gift.
THEY GAVE US GIFTS FOR COMING TO THE FREE DINNER?!?
The second gift we received was a "Chit Chat" card game for parents and children to play together.

 Do some people have trouble with "stale dinnertime conversation?"  

Come on over to our house!  You'll learn/hear more than you ever bargained for; the boy who's been 'in love' with our [elementary school] daughter for 5 years, personal hygiene issues, their latest Halloween costume ideas, inappropriate bodily noises, complaining about the food, the awkward/stupid/hilarious/outrageous things that happened that day, the "Remember When" conversations where all the past "scandalous" acts of the siblings are brought up, teasing/taunting/trash talking, the weekly haircut/style change of someone we know, the teenage drama of who's asking who to the high school dances, the misbehaving kids in their school classes and what the teacher does about it, the history of one child's "crushes" - all this while usually talking over one another, laughing out loud, then someone else calling out for everyone to be quiet and listen to them!

Anyway, the game had some good topics, too - perhaps more proper than what we're talking/not talking about:

 {The top row was from the "Ask a parent" stack, and the bottom row was from the "Ask a kid" stack.}

That first card makes me snicker - I just don't see my children voluntarily coming up to me and asking, "How can I help you at home?"  ;)

We had an entertaining speaker, too, who ALSO commended us for having dinner with our family that night.  What?!?  It's very natural and ordinary!

At any rate, they treated us like VIPs! 
I'm still taken aback that they have to practically beg and bribe us to have dinner with our family - but it also make me sad if it is (and it appears it has with all these programs in place to bring it back) a disappearing tradition.

But it still doesn't seem that hard to me to eat dinner with your family - what would be hard is listening to the 6 other humans in my home whining because they are hungry, and badgering asking me WHAT there is to eat, all night, if I didn't feed them any dinner earlier.
(And that's not even taking into consideration all the facts and tips that the professionals are giving IN FAVOR of this bonding time called "dinner.")

Ya Gotta be Sherlock Holmes to be Able to Go on a Date

There was a knock at our front door tonight.....

And we found this on our doorstep.  It was obviously for Kyle, and he wasn't home at the time, so we left it there until he returned.  I KNEW he'd want to discover it for himself; he has a BIG birthday coming up next month (16!), and he has been greatly anticipating it!  Because then the whole world of dating is going to open up for him.  (Our kids wait until they are 16 to date - it is a family rule and a standard of our church).  Kyle will turn 16 on October 20th, and lucky for him, the Harvest Dance (Girls' Choice) is on October 24th!

When he opened the box, he found some delicious-looking harvest-themed cookies inside.  We figured the letters would spell the name of the person who was asking him.  Except it was not so evident to us; the 4 vowels were throwing us off!  Was it a first name and a last name?  Was it the first name and the first initial of her last name?  Or was it only her first name?  But, what first name has 4 vowels and 4 consonants?!? (Unless it's Hawaiian?  But, he couldn't think of anyone.)

So, we just started to move around the cookies.

Was it.....

"Lima?"

Could it be...

"Chem?"

Perhaps it's...

"Elm?"

I know!  It must be...

"Ace?"

Or was it the....

"Mice?"

Maybe he won't get to go on his first date, afterall, if he can't even ascertain WHO he's suppose to answer, and go with!  ;)

CAN YOU FIGURE IT OUT?!?  

A Paranoid is Never Entirely Mistaken

I started reading this new book, Still Alice, this week.  (A movie by the same title was made about this last year).  Before I even started the book, I knew it was going to be about a woman, a 50-yr.-old woman, mind you, with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, thanks to the synopsis written on the back cover.

In just the very beginning parts of the book, I read about how:
The woman (Alice) was on a speaking assignment, and she was mid-sentence when she couldn't find the word she was intending on saying.  She had a loose sense of what she wanted to say, but the word itself eluded her.  It just wouldn't come to her.
THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME!

A little later, she was leaving a restaurant when the waiter ran out after her, and handed her back her BlackBerry that she had left.  She couldn't comprehend HOW the waiter got a hold of it because she didn't remember ever using it during the meal.  But, she checked her purse, and sure enough, it wasn't in there.
THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME!

Another time, when she was checking her daily "To Do" list that she had written for herself, she came across a one-word name and she thought, "What does that mean?"  She didn't know if she was suppose to tell, show, or ask that person something.  She tried checking her calendar and email, but nothing rang a bell.  She couldn't figure out what she was suppose to do about that "reminder."  (And then she figured it out a month later when that person contacted her about an assignment!)
THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME! 

So, now the question is; should I keep reading, or is this book just going to make me think I HAVE (or am developing) Alzheimer's?!? 

Are these actual SIGNS, or just PARANOIA?

It doesn't matter if I'm paranoid, I'm still going to get the disease! ;) 

This Weekend

* On Friday, we went to a new place at Station Park, Brixton's (a baked potato restaurant!), for my birthday lunch out with 'The Girls.'
I didn't realize S.P. was such a happening place in the middle of the day - I saw several other people I knew there.
I guess I'll have to 'make an appearance' there more often!  ;)

* The afternoon was spent carting my daughters to and from friends'/parties.

* We went to The Roof with Matt's parents for our "anniversary dinner" on Friday night.

 (they want to take out each of their kids/spouse on an annual basis, so they use their
anniversary date to keep track of who they've taken out and whose turn is next)

* After returning home (and consuming much food & dessert), we thought it prudent to go out in our neighborhood in an attempt to WALK OFF dinner.

* Saturday morning, I did my first (of the required five) turn of being the chaperon/volunteer at the Bye Bye Birdie rehearsal that Katelyn is a part of (and will be performing in November).
Side Note: it was an interesting "study" in human behavior.
Each participant is suppose to sign in with their name and time of arrival prior to each rehearsal.
As background information, there has been a lot of emphasis put on the importance of being at and ON TIME to every rehearsal.  The directors have said that they will be giving out additional parts to those who do well in this area, and taking away from those who do not demonstrate dependability in this area.
One of my jobs is to check in all the kids.  So, when not everyone was there by the starting time, I wondered what those other kids would write down when they finally did arrive....
AND I observed that the majority of the kids (who were anywhere from 1 to 15 minutes late) STILL wrote down the time that the rehearsal started (when they were suppose to be there by) on the sign in sheet.
Hmmmm....See?  Interesting, huh?

* Matt & I took a jaunt up to Snowbasin...

for a Gondola ride and afternoon mountaintop dining,

followed by some hiking.

Apparently, we didn't get the memo about the XTERRA Utah off-road triathlon that was going on up there Saturday!
(notice all those cars down in the parking lot?  Normally, you wouldn't expect to see that AT A SKI RESORT in late Summer/early Fall)
So, we shared the area and our lunch table with that crowd!  (talk about some amazing athletes!)

* I attempted to go donate plasma....and was rejected. :(
The snag? Low protein.  I guess I better start eating more liver and tofu!  Yippee! (not.)

* Matt & I went up to the Bountiful Temple to do a session.

(I did pretty good staying awake this time!)  ;)

* We made sure to end the evening with a treat at Dairy Queen.
A Cherry float always hits the spot.

* Since we have afternoon church, I like to spend the morning reading/viewing things on www.lds.org.

I first read this blog post.

Which led to/referenced this article.
Valuable things to ponder. 

* We did our "yearly measurements" on the kids (height, weight, shoe size, waist/inseam).
It was only about 2 months late, I usually like to get to it in the Summer PRIOR TO going school shopping, but oh well.....
I write these all down and keep it in my purse, so I don't have to keep it all in my brain,
and I can look at it when I'm out shopping.
It's also fun to see how much they've grown from the year before!
Although everyone has grown and gained weight, the most unanticipated are:
Kyle now sports the same size shoe as his dad - a size 12!
Katelyn is just 4 inches away from being taller than I am!  She is only 10 yrs. old!

* Churchy-Church

In Sacrament meeting, we heard from a returned missionary who'd served in New Zealand.
THAT'S where I dreamed of going on my mission back in my youth!

While sitting there, I tuned-in to the fact that Matt needed me to rub his neck - he was not exactly
displaying a great deal of calmness at the moment - because of his first Gospel Doctrine lesson he had to teach in Adult Sunday School the next hour.
He prepared A TON on this lesson - and only taught a small portion of it before time ran out.
(Ya never know how it'll go with the class participation factor)

* After church, I made squash casserole.
(we've still got an overabundance from our garden!)

* We had dinner and FHE at Brenchley's

While talking together afterwards, we had an intriguing conversation about the lesson many of us had had in our Relief Society/Priesthood classes today titled,
 "Beware of Pride."

Bottom Line:  We ALL have it in some form.
(withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, won't change our mind to accept truth, comparison, fault finding, jealousy, love the praise of man, don't receive correction easily, rebellion, puffed up,  defensiveness, not happy for another's acheivement, etc., etc.)

AND we all need to overcome/repent of this sin!

* I started my [Sunday night ritual] weekly letter to Ryan out on his mission.