Weekend in PC

One of the best things about having kids is that old things are fun again.  The alpine slide in Park City thrilled the boys.  Wes took Carson and I took Morgan and we raced down the track. It is so fun to see their excitement, now that they are old enough to ride the lift up.  Morgan loved seeing the mountains from high on the lift and said, "I just want to take Park City home with me!"  It was a fun weekend visiting Wes who had been up there working all week.   We even went and saw the BYU runners coming in first at the relay race. All I have to say is wow!  

Maybe we will do it next year when Wes' knee gets healed up!

Here's a great site, froghive.com.  It's like facebook but with email, blog, etc.  It's a great place to advertise or chat with your friends!

Sign up free, just put 72 under sponsor number.

This is the logo I did for the site, who's main creator is my brother-in-law.   Try it out!

Death to the Crayon

if you have ever had a problem on whether or not to get rid of some clothes, here's a suggestion, throw a crayon in the laundry, preferably a bright red one.  For extra punch, pretend not to see the crayon and make sure it gets into the dryer.   You will be amazed at the damage such a little thing can do, and there will be no other option but to throw the whole load out!   Extra points for throwing in your husbands favorite shirt.   

    Crayons.   They ruin laundry,  wood floors, and walls.  In kindergarten, we were given crayons that were too big to put our little fingers around, it didn't make sense.  They don't color well unless you push hard, then they break, ending up in the bucket with the crayons with no wrappers, and no one likes those.   And the whole "crayon" or "cren" pronunciation  thing, they just don't deserve the debate.   If you have ever asked for art supplies as a kid, you most likely got a box of crayons.   An art supply? They are sticks of colored wax waiting to ruin the world.  I remember watching a show on how a crayon was made in my little years and it was entertaining, probably the only reason I remotely liked using them.   But it is high time for the crayon to go, to be melted down into pretty little candles or something. 

There is no picture to post, I don't want to remember the lost laundry load.

How does the garden grow

A garden; 

Something requiring lots of care, hard work, some sense, and eyes in the back of your head.   Will sprout weeds of terror when not looking. May cause sunburn, sore back and frustration. When properly cared for, may give great returns.  See also children.

So this year we started a little experimental garden in our backyard.  So far, we lost a few to frostbite, but most are still green and growing, I hope!  Morgan was thrilled to pick out some vegetables, his favorite, watermelon.  We dug the hole and Morgan placed the little plant in and carefully packed the dirt around it.  In a little whisper he said, "There, little watermelon, nice and cozy."  He then asked if the plants had little voices.  "Why, I said, are you hearing some"?

Each day we check the garden,  Morgan says, "oooh! look at the little baby peas!"

Little Carson has no problem digging out weeds, not to mention some plants too.  

My favorite are the grapevines. I love how they grow, wild and free,  making little places for the kids to hide under, and eat yummy grapes. If that's not enough, homemade grape juice can't be beat.  

There is something mildy euphoric about gardening,  whether it's the interaction with a forgiving earth, helping in the creation of something living, or just being outside enjoying the blessings around us.   Maybe, like raising kids, it's just the satisfaction of working towards something good, with each day as a chance to do better, a challenge to overcome, a continual hope that one day it will all pay off.... 

Morgan's Run

The Ogden race turned out to be alot of fun. 

 The night before,  we took the forerunner train to pick up our race  packets then rode a rickshaw to dinner.  It was kind of fun getting around without a car.  The boys were glued to the train window the entire time and couldn't wait to get in the "bicycle buggy."

Wes and I both had mixed feelings about the race  because we both had signed up for the marathon and half marathon and would not be doing it.  Instead we did the 5K , we didn't train enough because of injuries we need healed for the next race.  So I actually enjoyed the run. I really hate the pavement and prefer trails, so when it comes to road races I'm sticking to the 5K's.  Kudos to all who ran the marathon, esp.  Tomee (Call) Pace who came through the finish doing her first marathon, way to go Tomee! Also to Carrie Neiderhauser, how many is this now?

The best part  was watching little Morgan run his 1K!  He was so excited for it and requested that I get him a 'Dash' outfit to run in.  Yea, they're jammies! He ran a bit, walked a bit, was carried a bit, then sprinted across the finish line to people cheering on "Mr. Incredible."  If only our races were that easy.  Afterwards, he got his own medal, a bell, and was made in the shade with popsicles and blue gumballs from grandpa, who also ran the 5K.  The other best part?  He slept great that night.  

Way to go Jenn!

Congratulations to my sister Jenn who took an honorable mention in the cookie contest from marthastewart.com! This is her picture of her most amazingly delicious gingersnaps.   I really think she should have been a grand prize winner(but isn't that always the case???) There were over a thousand entries, check it out on marthastewart under cookie contest winners.  

I only wish Jenn didn't live so far away in sunny warm Florida so I could eat these on a daily basis. Oh wait, I just found out that I'm hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and can't eat much sugar any more.  Doesn't make sense.  It hasn't been fun, but it's definitely a great thing as I feel so much better staying away from the sweets.  I've never been a huge dessert fan, but tasty little morsels like this can never pass me by unscathed.... 

 I guess I'll go eat my celery and peanut butter sticks now.

Here are some drawings from the book I am illustrating.  So far it's been a bit tougher than I thought it would be, but for the most part it's coming along.  I finally got the main character down, I think. (thanks Molls and Annie for the tips).  The story  is about a handsome mandarin who has one flaw, stinky feet.  The other character is one of the many travellers coming to try and cure his feet.  Other pages are posted on my art blog for review convenience.   

Morgan has proved to be my toughest critic though, and I still don't think these are up to his standards, at least until they are colored.....