What They Wore-PhoenixTemple Dedication Day

All the L.D.S. churches in Arizona, celebrated the dedication of the Phoenix Temple by having several sessions that we attended locally and watched the satellite feed from Phoenix.  Only those children eight years and older were able to attend so Eddy took the boys (Quinton, Declan, McCoy) to the first session (I stayed home with Archy and Zany) and then he and I went to the second session without any kids.  Just about every Sunday at least one kid tries to cough and claim they are sick and can't go to church.  Archy is the king of trying to get out of going to church so when he heard he wasn't going to church he couldn't have been happier no fake coughing needed.  Archer refused to get his picture taken and ran off and hid.  

I asked the boys what their favorite part of the dedication was and they all said they really enjoyed the Hosanna shout and there may have been some handkerchiefs hitting in faces but I am sure Eddy put a stop to that.  There also might have been some thumb wrestling during the prayer but Eddy stopped that too.  Being a teacher of third graders, Eddy is well versed in stopping naughty children.  

McCoy, Quinton holding Zany, Declan and Eddy

They did wear shoes to church but took them off as soon as they got home

One of my favorite parts of the session I attended was when the speaker said the blessings of having another temple here in Arizona was directly due to the faithfulness of the Arizona pioneers.  So many of my ancestors came to Arizona when it was a dry, barren desert and settled here enduring heat and hardship but remaining faithful through it all so that one day their descendants could enjoy the blessings of a local temple.  I am so grateful that they stayed true to the faith and raised their children in the gospel and established a tradition of stalwartness in the church of Jesus Christ that continues through the generations.  What a blessing the church has been to me throughout my life and especially now as I raise up the next generation.  My children now have the blessing of a temple (Gila Valley Temple) just a short five minute drive from home. I love that I can raise my family in the shadow of a temple that reminds me of the strength of family ties and increases the love I have for my ancestors and all that they made possible.

Kindlers

The two best kindlers (handheld devices) in our clan are hands down Ashlee and Quinton.  Thier kindles are extensions of their hands, as in they are attached nearly all the time (poor Quinton only has a finite amount of time though pesky homework and chores).  Quinton's main pastimes on devices are: playing Clash of Clans, watching Once Upon a Time, and listening to music like Maroon 5, Passenger, Mumford & Sons.  Ashlee likes to research things she may or maynot be buying, reading book, reading hobbying forums (which probably falls in the category of researching things she may or maynot be buying), listening to audible books, and of course music (Americana Folk).

What was life like before a kindles?  I can't even remember those days. 

 I am sure though the best thing they do with their kindle is read this blog!

Ashlee with her kindle whose name is Toby

Quinton with his kindle whose name is Alfonso's Joy

Here are the names of other people devices:

Eddy:  Ipadimus Edimus (Ipad)

Rhiannon:  Swindler's Reward

Declan:  Batman's Sidekick

McCoy:  Commodore's Command

Archer:  Archer's Awesome

Nona:  Nona the Naughty

Pa:  Carol's 10th Kindle or Q.L. Rat killer

Family that kindles together, stays together!

More Store Changes

Merry Christmas to Me!

 For years now, I have wanted a cabin in the woods to call my own (unrealistic dream at this time). [Lots of the old established families around here have cabins on Mt. Graham (10,000 foot mountain) but they don't own the land as it is leased from the government so no banks will loan the money for a cabin purchase, you have to have cash in hand to buy one and they aren't to cheap.] I just love the coziness of a cabin and decided that one of my favorite things about a cabin, a fire in a wood stove, could someday be mine.   I had no where in my house to put a wood stove but then we turned our former single car garage into a family room and suddenly I had a possible location.  

The next issue to be decided wood stove or pellet stove?  I did lots of research and even watched youtube thinking at the time I can't believe people make videos about this (fire burning in a pellet stove) and what's more I am watching this video fascinated by it.  I like the authenticness of a wood stove and I am a romantic soul, so the idea of going into the wild and harvesting wood was greatly appealing to me.  Once you have your wood stove, there are no motors, it can last a lifetime unlike pellet stoves with their three motors and control board.  Wood stoves are silent unlike noisy pellet stoves and nowadays wood stoves have large glass like windows so you can watch the fire (another favorite pastime).  I decided that a wood stove was the right fit for me (although you can even buy eco-bricks [Tractor Supply Company] that are wood byproducts pressed into a brick shape much like pellets that you can burn just like logs except they last 2 1/2 times longer, if you would like that convenience).

Eddy was not a fan of the wood stove idea but I gradually wore him down and I think more as a way to shut me up he finally agreed to it.  After many wishful visits to Tractor Supply Company, I finally got to go and chose my own little wood stove and bring it home.  Eddy the handyman took it from there and was able to install it in a weekend.  As with most home improvement projects there were many problems to solve and difficulties to overcome.  Eddy preserverved and before I knew it I was sitting in front of my own little cozy fire.  What a lovely ambiance it brings to a room!  I roasted myself into a stupor and loved every minute of it (it may have been eighty degrees outside but I really wanted to try it out).

Countless hours spent at home depot selecting things for projects: here we are selecting tile for under the wood stove that we didn't end up having to do (thank goodness) and ended up returning all these supplies.

Eddy (flashing the sundevil sign as they were beating Notre Dame quite nicely) cut out a hole in our ceiling for the wood stove ductwork.  That is true love I tell you, to give up watching part of your favorite team to be in a tiny attic only four feet tall with only rafters to kneel on.  Thankfully no feet came through the drywall.

Eddy did the majority of the work while I was gone, so I don't have any more photos of the process to share.  

At last, Eddy lights the first fire

Archy had been excitedly waiting for days to have the wood stove installed.

This is how he spent the first hour of the wood stove's life sitting in front of it, watching it.

Now, the only trouble is I live in Arizona and it isn't quite cold enough for wood stove use, yet.  Our days get into the eighties, too hot by half!   The children and I have commenced praying for colder weather because like me they love a good fire to watch and warm oneself by.  Dare I say, we may even be praying for a little snow this winter which would be a miracle as it only snows once every thirty years or so. Even though this wood stove consumed all my presents for my birthday, Christmas, Valentines, St. Patricks, Easter, and Fourth of July I couldn't be happier to have it at long last.  Now if we could just get out of the eighties and maybe have a sixty degree day you'll find me thankfully enjoying a small fire and probably folding laundry.  Bring on the cold weather, I can't wait!

Pick Your Battles

When I thought about being a mother I never realized how often I my fortitude would be tested.  Whether I am fighting with an teenager or battling with a toddler it boils down to holding my ground and sticking to my guns.  My mother always said, "Pick your battles." That is good advice for dealing with teenagers and toddlers. Once you draw that line in the sand though you don't want to have to step back.  

While Zany takes her morning bath, I usually get ready for the day and clean the bathroom.  Towards the end of her bathtime she began to splash lots of water out of the tub.  I was busy cleaning the toilet and she was getting me and the bathmat wet and I hate a wet bath mat.  (In my version of heaven, my bath mat will always be freshly washed and still warm from the dryer when I step out of the shower.)

I asked her several times to stop splashing and she completed disregarded me. I pulled her plug and told her it was time to get out.  As the bath water swirled and disappeared down the drain she began to scream (latest trick) very loudly.  She refused to leave the bathtub and continued screaming at a deafening level. Since the water was all gone and no danger there, I closed the door to the bathroom waited a couple minutes and then opened it to see if she was ready to get out.  She wasn't and she continued screaming.  This went on endlessly it felt like. I was calm about it all though and since she wasn't getting the reaction she wanted, Zany one upped me.  She bit a hole in my new shower curtain!  Bit a hole clear through it and so I waved the flag of truce and we mutually decided we would let bygones be bygones and both of us would forget that the other one had upset us greatly.  

Admiring her handy work

How big of a bite does a toddler take?  

About that big

Now if you want to keep a finger dry while you shower you can, it's innovation I tell you.

If I had to do it all over again I am afraid I would still pick the battle of no water on the bath mat. Some lines the sand you just can't let others cross and it is a battle I will continue to pick until the hereafter when there are no wet bath mats just warm, soft, and fluffy ones.

Duncan Birding Trail: Sandhill Cranes

Well, I am still into birds for a bit. Its that time of year, when the Sandhill Cranes descend upon Duncan like kids on candy. They are great fun to watch, but they do make quite a racket.

Finally, I was able to get a picture of our Red Tail Hawk. He doesn't seem to happy about it though.

I was surprised and happy to find some late blooming Sunflowers. I just love them.

From the old homestead, you can see the cranes where they swirl about in the air and make all kinds of noise. you can even see them land in the area where they hang out during the day.

All those specs are startled Cranes flying about

A group coming into land

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My what big feet they have!

Here is where they like to hang out. It is only a five minute walk from our store. If you open this photo and zoom in you can also see some ducks that I startled, (maybe a mallard?) They are on the left hand side of the photo flying away.

Here is a small sampling. I took this in the morning, by the afternoon there are quite a few more. Can't wait to take the kids to see them after a lecture on stealth mode though!

What They Wore-Blues

When I was a kid, I hated Sunday evenings for two reasons:  (1) Taco Salad (2) Endless Football Games.  My mom refused to cook on Sunday so after church we often went to a place that made everyone so happy (which was no mean feat with a very picky Ashlee), the all you can eat steakhouse--Ponderosa.  Back in the 1980's, I think the whole don't go out on Sunday and spend money was a little more relaxed and to my mom's way of thinking why should she have to work on Sunday fixing food  if she didn't have too.  Ponderosa had not only steak and other meat but any side you can imagine and a dessert bar.  With all that deliciousness for lunch what would follow for dinner?  Iceberg lettuce with cold kidney beans and some tortilla chips.  I so disliked that meal when I was a kid that I refused to eat and I fixed my own dinner.  

Today I didn't have to fix my own dinner or even lunch.  After Quinton did fast offerings (not pictured due to collecting fast offerings and he changed before I could photograph him)  he really wanted to make pancakes for everyone for lunch. I let him. So I didn't have to make lunch and then Eddy surprised me by jumping off the couch after the Cardinals game and roasting a chicken and making mashed potatoes with a side of vegetables.  Now I don't have a hard and fast rule about cooking on Sunday but today I possibly was planning a dinner of popcorn.  I have to say my mom might have known a thing or two to leaving the cooking to others on Sunday.

Growing up, my family watched a lot of NFL football.  Those games were long and I was only somewhat interested in them.  My preferred athletic viewing was WWF (World Wrestling Federation) but my parents felt differently and we watched football.  Nowadays, we watch the Arizona Cardinals religiously, having given up on "professional wrestling," and I have been converted to watching football. Good thing, with four boys and a husband who love football I have a lot of football in my present and future.

Zany, McCoy, Declan, & Archer with Cardinal Flag

Go Cardinals and other people cooking!