How to Get a New Oven

November 13- Are you ready for an embarrassing story? Dave had been out of town for a conference and was due back later that evening. I was making dinner and talking on the phone with my friend at the same time (bad idea). I had been preheating the oven for dinner, when I smelled something funny and suddenly memories of the previous day flooded my thoughts. I was expecting two ladies over to work on a project and my kitchen wasn't its cleanest so I was scrambling to hide the mess. The high chair tray was dirty and with no time to clean it, I shoved it into the oven. I've never done this before! But I remember growing up that my mom was constantly storing things in the oven. There were several occasions when things were melted (bags of tortilla chips, my brother's plastic toy truck, etc)...I hope you okay I shared that, Mom. :) Because I've never done this before it never occurred to me to check the inside before I turned the oven on. And yep, when I smelled that horrible smell I opened the oven to find the high chair tray was a dripping melted mess and it also added oxygen to the existing flames. I explained the scene to my friend and kind of laughed..."oh and there are flames". But as the flames grew my laughter turned to panic and that panic turned to fear. She started to freak out and said "do you have a fire extinguisher!". I closed the oven door and ran to the garage and put her on hold for a minute while I took two squirts of the extinguisher to the oven. You wouldn't believe the mess and the smell that came from that dang thing. Of course all the alarms in the house are going off by now and all the kids wanted to come see what was going on. So I hung up with my friend, locked the kids in the toy room, opened every window and door to the house, and fanned the alarms until they stopped screaming. Then a new emotion hit me...anger. I was SO MAD at myself. I HATE making dumb mistakes. And I was angry that the highchair tray was toast...literally. I was also mad that this might make Dave think less of me. I'd like to think that I am a capable woman, but this doesn't add to that reality at all. So I cleaned up the film of fine powder from the extinguisher and waited for Dave's return. He walked in the door and I gave him a big hug. Then I asked him "how much do you love me"? To which he replied "uh oh, what happened?" I showed him the oven and he was quiet. I could tell that he was upset, but he could also see that I was just as equally upset, so he was kind to me...like always. We tried all that we could to clean that oven. I chiseled for hours, but nothing got it all off. So we went to The Home Depot and got a great deal on a new oven. But good things have come from it. My kitchen has been clean for two months now! :) And I know that I can handle using a fire extinguisher. :) Anyone have an oven catastrophe story they want to share? It would make me feel better! 

All the tan-colored stuff is the plastic remains.

And The Award Goes To...

Last August Derek completed his Wolf badge for Cub Scouts. He loves Scouts and it's fun to see him take such an interest in something. My little guy is now in the Bear den. 

After Pack Meeting we came outside to find a double rainbow. And since people think that pictures of just scenery are boring, I made Derek get in with his new award.

All of the Young Women and leaders that received their award in September.

Last September I finally finished my Young Women Recognition Award as a leader. What a powerful experience! I completed it as a youth but it meant so much more this time. I highly recommend that everyone do it whether you have a daughter or not. Personal Progress is an amazing program.

My display table representing some of the projects I completed.

It took me two years to complete the requirements for the award. Each of the 8 values requires you to complete certain goals and a 10 hour project relating to the value. Some examples: I took a sewing class, created a fitness and healthy eating program, read the entire Book of Mormon, taught the Beehives a craft, and spent 40+ hours on a Girls Camp video montage. And best of all...my new necklace is silver instead of gold like my first one. :)

And yesterday, Derek was one of five winners of a school-wide Reflections contest. He wanted to win so badly and was so excited when they called his name at an awards assembly. He entered a film that went with the year's theme, "Diversity means...". His film was titled "Weirdos". That kid has quite the imagination. Congratulations, Derek!

Give Me Something Good to Eat!

Halloween is a busy holiday for moms. Got to get the kids up early to get the costumes on and ready, attend the school parade, help with the class party, get dinner ready early, get the kids ready again while handing out candy to the way-too-early trick or treaters, walk the streets begging for candy trick or treating, then home again to let the kids binge, and down they all go to a late bedtime. But I do love Halloween. My kids are at fun age for it and I realize that there aren't many years left when we all get to go together. Soon they'll want to go with friends on rollerblades to maximize their time, and use pillowcases instead of cute little pumpkins because it holds more candy. Right, Dave?! :) Oh and that's all hypothetical, of course. ;)

 My sweet little Snow White.

I'm sorry, but the Woopie Cushion just struck me as funny. Don't judge me! :)

 Derek had the idea to be a swat dude. This is what he came up with using church pants and Batman's mask. I forgot about my idea to make the shield thingy until I was driving them to school that morning. I raced home cut out the cardboard, spray painted it, stenciled the letters, and had to him in time for the parade. Yeah, that's the extent of my craftiness. I can spray paint cardboard. Nice.

 We just can't let this "Monkey Face" thing die. First his birthday cake and now the Halloween costume. But he's such a cute monkey!

 And it had a tail for Heaven's sake!

 We should have mapped out a begging for candy trick-or-treating route. We zigzagged haphazardly throughout our neighborhood. We did a lot of walking! The kids still ended up with plenty of candy.

Eventually I went home with Ryan, and Dave took the other three kids for another hour. They ran into McKenna's little friend and they all finished up the last hour together. Our last trick-or-treater came at 10:00 PM!! I told them it was over and they should probably call it a night. Am I a Scrooge or what...but, really? 10:00 PM!? Bah Hum Bug. :)

Brock-O-Lanterns

The night before Halloween we do the traditional carving of the pumpkins. The kids draw the face and pull out the seeds and we try to follow their lines with the knife. 

I love these kids!

Love this cute little face!

Lastest Family Photo

It had been three years since our last nice family portrait. I thought it would be fun to try them myself. I didn't factor in the stress of trying to be mother and photographer at the same time. It's hard to arrange a family when you are a member of it that needs to be arranged. :) We put the camera on a tripod and asked Dave's sister to come get the kids' attention and snap the picture for us. I think it turned out well, except for the fact that Ryan wouldn't smile for anything! It's okay, I guess we captured one of his true moods. :) Again...a classic Ryan face.

I'm madly in love with this man!!

Mt. Nebo Loop

October 19 - Meet my brother Jeff. He comes up with crazy ideas...lots of them. 

This time he roped my sister, Stephanie and I into one of those crazy ideas. However, I must say that this crazy idea turned into a very fun and memorable excursion. He called me out of the blue one day and said "I want to go on a drive through the Nebo Loop and you can take pictures". He made it happen. The Aspen leaves were at their brilliant yellow peak. It was a beautiful drive.

A picture of the lazy photographer. :)

 Well, here's proof that we did actually get out of the van. :)  We were pretty much the only ones driving this road in the middle of a weekday, except one other car. They were two men in their 30's dressed in business attire. They became our interest as we'd pass them and then they'd pass us. For some reason we tried to figure out their story. Were they on a lunch break? In town for business? It wasn't a rental car so maybe one was from out of town and the other was showing him around? What's your theory?  ;)

We turned a corner and there was Mt. Nebo! It's peak is the highest in Utah. It was beautiful all covered in snow.

 From one point you can see the Utah County valley. That is Utah Lake and Mt. Timpanogos in the distance.

 Another of Jeff's crazy ideas. :) He wanted a picture of him upside down in front of Mt. Nebo. I obliged. :)

Here is part of the group from the viewpoint of the roof of my van. :) McKenna and Ryan were actually along for the ride as well. They were such good kids. They stayed in their car seats for the two-hour ride and stayed so quiet. 

There is a short walk you can take to see "Devil's Kitchen"...an amazing red rock formation. Jeff scouted it out for us and counted his steps, but he was way off. :)

Thanks for the crazy idea, Jeff. I can't wait to hear what you come up with next....but I can't guarantee I'll go along with it. ;)

My Oregon Trip - Day 3

This trip was by far not long enough. It's always hard to enjoy the last day, when the end is looming like a dark cloud overhead. I woke up Sunday morning and my countdown began to the hours and minutes until I had to catch my plane. :( I missed my family like crazy, but I was not ready to go yet. But how could I get too down when there was this cute little guy around. This was an extra special weekend with the blessing of baby Rex. 

My newest nephew on his blessing blanket made by Grandma.

The two stars of the weekend.

My sister and I are both learning the art of photography. We had fun playing with our niece and nephew and they were very patient with us. Laurel is holding a white baby blanket behind Kari. I wish I had taken a picture of that!

Traci is one of those mothers that I hope to become (if I ever grow up). She is kind and patient and does so many amazing things for her family. I truly wish they lived closer so that I could take daily notes from her.

I never want to be the first to leave anything. I want to make sure the party is good and dead before I go. I hate missing out! But it worked out that I was the first to leave. My parents and sister left the next day. After church Scott became tied-up in his bishop duties and, to no fault of his own, missed my goodbye hug. He left me a voicemail which I received once I was to my gate and it made me cry...okay, more like bawl! I had to send myself to the restroom to compose myself. I didn't think it would be so hard to leave. I was happy to return to my family, but I cried several more times the next day as well. We made so many great memories in that short time we had together. Move to Utah...Scott, Traci, Laurel, and Doug!! And there you have it...my trip to Oregon! And it was pure bliss.