WHERE WERE YOU? TAG

I got this tag from Erin, I think it will be fun.

20 YEARS AGO


I was a senior at Woods Cross High School. I was in Madrigals, and on the Seminary Council. I was accepted to Ricks college, and went there several times to visit Sheri Clark (my friend), and Wendy Dickson (my cousin). I was royalty at the Sweetheart Ball, and was ready to take on the world. I met Steve in July and we were married in December.

10 YEARS AGO


I lived in my little house in Tooele, and had no intentions of ever moving again. I had all 4 kids, Conner was almost a year old. Steve had sold his janitorial company and was working for Varsity Contractors again. I was a stay at home mom. Stephen went to first grade, and Jessica was in 3rd grade. Kaylea was in joy school, which was a pre-school co-op. There were about 8 kids in the group, so each mom took a turn teaching every 8 weeks. We were ripping out our old chicken coop, and a lot of cement in our back yard and putting in sod, and a nice vinyl fence for the horses we had just bought. Steve was in the bishopric, and I was put in as the primary president in my ward, life was a little bit busy.

5 YEARS AGO


We had moved into our home in Grantsville, a little bit older, and a little bit wiser. Steve worked for Varsity Contractors and NSC out of our home. I was his secretary. He traveled a lot and had just been put on the High Council. I was in the primary presidency. I still considered myself a stay at home mom, just with a few extra bills to pay for the company. The kids were growing up. Jessica at age 13, started Jr. High School and Young Women's. Steve was 11, Kaylea 9, and Conner had just started first grade.

1 YEAR AGO

My years all blur together, but last year I was in my second year of college (still considered a Freshman). I decided to go back and try to become a nurse. Steve was put in as the 2nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency. I was put in as the 1st Counselor in the Young Women's Presidency in my ward. Steve and I had the opportunity to attend the dedication of the new and improved Tabernacle.

THIS YEAR


Steve was made Stake President, I am still in YW. I have my niece Sage living with us. She and Jessica are both seniors in high school. They have been dealing with senior pictures, graduation announcements, school dances, etc. Jessica has been accepted to SUU, and I think will go there in the Fall. Steve is pursuing his Associates Degree, he is working, saving his money, spends most days on his computer. Kaylea is in 8th grade, with boys, make up, music, EMOTIONS! She is always smiling, and will probably get her braces off in the next month or two. Conner is 10, he'll have a birthday in about a week. He's been working hard in basketball, good grades in school, loves the computer with Steve.

YESTERDAY

Spent the morning taking Kaylea to the eye doctor. Apparently sleeping in daily wear contacts for a month, and never cleaning them causes eye infections. Her eye was swollen, and bright red, and she couldn't even open it because of the pain. Steve bought me a pass to a 24 hour fitness place so I ran down there and used the weight machines. Probably had my daily talk with Jamie...Made dinner for the family, and spent about 3 hours visiting teaching.

TOMORROW

Thankfully, tomorrow is Saturday. It's the last basketball game for Steve and Conner. It has been such nice weather that I'd like to get out in the yard, but I hear it will most likely rain. I may just have to kick back and read a book, or BLOG!

I tag Molly and Victoria! Have fun!

My basketball superstars

Conner and Steve have been in Jr. Jazz this season. They both are getting pretty good. Steve has mastered the dribbling, he goes between the legs or around the back when he's trying to sneak past a competetor who is guarding him. He makes more than half of the 3 point shots he tries for, and is a pretty good foul shooter. Conner's age group now plays full court, he is one of the best players on his team, he always makes a few points a game. His best was 9 points one week. Conner is also an expert dribbler. He can out-maneuver the guards any day. It's been a great season. Next Saturday will be their last game. I got pictures yesterday, but was really unhappy with how Conner's turned out, this is about the only one where he isn't blurry (because he's such a fast runner). I have several great videos of both boys, but when I upload them, they don't work on my blog. Anyone out there who knows what I can do to fix this problem, please let me know, I'd love to show the videos I took.

I am Vanilla

I thought this would be a fun quiz to take. Victoria is Rocky Road, and Molly is Coffee, both exciting, unique flavors. When I wondered what flavor they would come up for me, I thougt, watch it be vanilla, plain, simple, boring. I shouldn't be surprised, I should be proud...I AM THE MOST COMMON FLAVOR....I AM THE SAFEST FLAVOR...I MAY BE PLAIN AND BORING, BUT I'M STILL SWEET! It's a fun quiz to take. You should all try it.

3 pounds of CHEEKS

So Jessica has swoolen up quite well. She weighed herself today and has gained 3 pounds. I'm sure it's all in the cheeks. Here are some fun pictures.

Wisdom Teeth

Jessica went in for major surgery today,(oooh poor Precious!!) she had to get her wisdom teeth removed. She has been recouperating today, trying to watch about 6 chic flicks that she rented, and eating mashed potatoes. All went well, we decided to name each tooth; they removed Raphael, Donnatello, Leonardo, and Michael Angelo(we had to call Jared to remind us of the last ninja turtle name, we almost named the last one Bill).

I did post a picture of me!

I am the person with the red bandana on my head in the previous post. Here are all of my mia maids. They were all really good sports last night.

Send in the clowns!

This month for Young Women's we are focusing on Physical Health in the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet. This week I decided to let the Mia Maids have a little fun with a SPA day. I looked online to find some products I could make at home and let them use. I was surprised how many recipes there are online. Of course before the girls use the homemade products, I decided I'd better make sure they work. So I decided it would be a fun Family Home Evening activity. Jess, Kaylea, and Sage thought it was a fun idea, but I couldn't get the boys to try. The fun thing about using a chocolate mask is it is totally edible. If you get it on your lips, just lick it off. It felt like putting brownie mix on my face, but it really ended up making our faces baby soft. We made home made facial cleanser, chocolate mask, and flavored lip gloss (the girls will be able to flavor their own.)

Jess thinks I need to post the recipe for the Chocolate mask, so here goes.

Chocolate Facial Mask

This decadent mask is actually an excellent moisturizer, it leaves your skin baby soft, and the honey's antimicrobial properties can help ward off breakouts. A touch of honey is all you need for healthy, glowing skin. (That's what it says online)

1/3 cup cocoa powder
3 Tbs heavy cream
2 tsp cottage cheese
1/4 cup honey
3 tsp oatmeal

Mix all ingredients together in a blender or food processor and smooth onto face. Relax for 10 to 15 minutes then rinse with warm water.

ENJOY!

New Calling

I have tried to make phone calls and hope I haven't missed contacting anyone, but wanted to let you all know that Steve was called as the new Stake President of our Stake today. Our lives over the past 48 hours have been like a roller coaster ride, a very exciting, humbling, spiritual one.

Steve had to go in for an interview with Elder Quinton L. Cook of the quorum of the twelve apostles at 8:00am yesterday morning. Then we had Steve's basketball game at 9:00, and Steve had to coach Conner's basketball game at 11:00. He knew they would be done with the interviews at around noon, and Steve said if he received a phone call before 1:00 he would be nervous, if he received a phone call around 2:00, he knew it would just be a counselor, and he was fine with that. Conner's team played so hard, and it was such an exciting game, they lost by 1 point. We were on our way up the hallway leaving the High School at noon when Steve's phone rang. He looked at the number listed, and turned white as a sheet. Sure enough they wanted the two of us in the Stake President's office as soon as we possibly could.

Steve and I spent the next 2 1/2 hours with Elder Cook, and Elder Price, an area authority seventy, calling the two counselors, and being taught about what would be required of them. They told us that each President and his wife would have to bear their testimony in Stake Conference, ending with the new Stake President... my husband(It's still hard to believe). The session was broadcast simultaneously to our Ward building, and our Stake Center was packed. Needless to say, I was a nervous wreck, I've never spoken in front of so many people before. I realize they were there to hear from our Stake President who was leaving, and our new Stake President, I just made it short and sweet, and my mind is in a fuzz as to what I said.

Overall it was an amazing day. Elder Cook set Steve apart. We had Lee, Dallin, and Sage from my family attend, and Steve's mom and dad, grandparents, Adam and Caitlyn, Aunt Debbie,and all of our kids. We also have Steve's uncle, aunt, all of their kids and all of their kids spouses who live in our stake, who attended the conference. It really touched me when they were all made official, Elder Cook had the new Stake Presidency all sit down again, and he gave each person in attendance and Apostalic Blessing.

I hope I don't forget this day.

LET IT SNOW!!!

So if I complain about no snow, apparently we get dumped on!! On Wednesday night when all of Utah County was in a traffic snarl, and the entire state saw more snow, after we were teased with a couple of warm spring days, WE GOT SNOW!! This is the first real time we had to shovel. When we woke up Thursday morning we had a foot of snow. All the schools in Tooele county were closed, and the kids got to have a snow day. Steve's snow crews were up to their ears in snow, so they asked if my kids and some of their friends could help shovel walks at a couple of apartment complexes. The apartments in Tooele had snow drifts so high that it came up to my hip. It took them about 5 hours to do all of the shoveling that was necessary, and their supervisor had to come back with a 4 wheeler and snow blowers to clean up.


After they got home, I decided it isn't a real snow day until you have made a snow sculpture. We started out with grand ideas, we were going to make snowmen representing our entire family. Then we decided we'd do a dragon instead (my kids have seen pictures of the giant, pink dragon that my brothers and sisters and I made up at a cabin in Liberty) Once we got started, we realized it's an easier task when the sculptors are older and wiser, so our amazing dragon turned into a gecko with a mohawk. It was definately a memory, definately too cold to color it pink, and once the yellow eyes were in place we were definately done.


Last year for Valentine's Day, Jessica had two young men in tuxedos come to the door and serenade her. This year, I'm not sure if she took a step up, or a step backward. She had 3 young men come to the door, one dressed in UPS shorts and shirt carrying a large cardboard box. Another young man jumped out of the box wearing wings, and depends! She was again serenaded, it was quite frightening. I'm afraid for next year...6 cupids, all in diapers?

Happy Valentine's Day

New do

We had a dramatic day yesterday. Kaylea has had her hair in braids for the past 3 days, and we noticed why yesterday. She cuts and layers her own hair, and that of her friends. She has done such a good job, she really has a knack for it. Last weekend she had a friend come over, and I guess Kaylea thinks it's just as easy for everyone to do hair. She had her friend cut in a few more layers. Well, they didn't turn out as she hoped, and she didn't say anything to me or anyone else, she just dealt with it the best way she knew how. The braids were cute, but she would have had to do her hair that way for the next few months for it to not show. After a few tears, and laughs, and the word mullett coming up now and then, we decided this was a job for the professionals.


Last night Jessica took her to straighten out this little mess. Here is the end result. I can't believe how great she looks. She hated it at first because she has really enjoyed long hair, but I think she realizes it looks really classy.

Snow?

I have been watching the news for the past few weeks, and I realize this winter is one that a lot of people will remember for a long time. I remember when I was a kid and the snow would be 3 feet deep, it seemed to tower over my head as I would walk to the bus stop. Interestingly enough, we really haven't received a lot of snow in Grantsville. I love it out here. We have had an inch or two of snow every storm,(which is 2 or 3 times a week) but the snow melts before we get another storm. Yesterday I looked out in my front yard and I could see more grass than snow. This morning as the kids went to school it had just started to snow. Again, we got about 2 inches, and it has already started melting off the driveways. As I look at the snow percentage totals for the different areas, the mountains behind our house are 144% of normal, so we aren't in any drought trouble. I guess we are just lucky, my trouble is usually with TUMBLEWEEDS!!

New First Presidency

This has been an emotional weekend for me. I spent most of the day Saturday, and all day Sunday watching BYU TV. There were biographies of President Hinckley, talks he gave in Devotionals and Conferences, and coverage of the funeral ran several times throughtout the 2 days. It was nice to get my final fix of President Hinckley. Then today I was able to watch the press conference when they told us who the new first presidency is. I'm so excited to have President Monson as our new Prophet, and Presidents Eyring and Uchtdorf will be really nice to get to know better. When Steve came home from school today, I told him that Elder Uchtdorf had been called to the first presidency, he said, "he always was my favorite." On their way to the BYU football game in Las Vegas they bumped into him at the hotel where they stayed in St. George, Steve pointed him out to his dad. They were able to say hi. He's a neat man.