happy weekend

Our low was 66 last night! I made pumpkin pancakes for breakfast with the windows open this morning! Ah! There is a light at the end of this very long, very hot tunnel. This change of seasons is my most favorite time of year. I feel like a different person, like I am coming out of a sweaty little cocoon and now I can wear real clothes again. Never mind that the high is still going to be over 100. The cooler nights make all the difference.

Two things that helped me this week: getting back into my weekly temple routine and being a little bit crafty. Going to the temple requires me to quiet my mind. It teaches me to be patient and helps me put my life into perspective. My goal is always to bring that peaceful feeling home with me, and then to spread it to my family. I want my children to recognize the special feeling in the temple when they are old enough to go. Attending weekly helps me make it a habit, and that makes me really happy.

I went to our local discount fabric store and raided their doily and lace section to make a bunting for my kitchen. I hardly ever craft, but it was a nice relief from my other duties as a homemaker this week.

And now, the weekend! Hooray! I hope you have a good one.

happy weekend

I feel like we're really earning our weekends these days. And this one is even a long one! Hurray! Mike is looking forward to using it to catch up on school work, which is totally sad. But the rest of us are going to let loose. And by let loose, I mean lay around and relax. We're low energy people.

Right before the summer heat started, Mike and I did some work on our yard. Lots of the plants we added or moved didn't survive, but these aloe sure are happy. And that jasmine, too. I am anxious for the weather to change so that we can finish up some planting.

Two things that helped me feel good this week: Making dinner for a friend who is going through something really hard. And giving myself a project. I've been wanting to do something with the little office off of our kitchen for a long time, and this week I did it! I'll post pictures next week, but first I need to finish up a few things.

Good news! Ryan Tanner released a new album. His music is my favorite-- slow and quiet and easy. You can find it here.

This macaroni and cheese recipe was a big winner at our house the other night. I even used whole wheat pasta and bread and it was still delicious. And Mabel made Martha's Triple Chocolate Cheesecake for my birthday last weekend. If you are in the mood for the richest, most delicious cheesecake, this is the recipe for you.

Have a good weekend!

happy weekend

It has been monsoony all week, which makes for really pretty pink streets after the rain. And lots of humidity, too. The overcast skies that come with the storms are always such a nice change from the searing red hot burning sun we get every other day, though. Can you tell I'm over summer yet? Sheesh. I walked into Joann's yesterday and they had their fall decorations out and I very nearly swooned.

The countdown is on! Only three more days until Mike starts school and 5 days until the kids start. What am I going to do with myself all day everyday, you ask? Whatever I feel like doing, that's what. Ha! Actually, I'm going to try to be very deliberate about how I spend my days. And I'll probably miss everyone more than I think I will. But think of all the time I'll have! Hopefully I'll be able to do more sewing to help supplement our income while Mike is in school. And maybe swim more. And definitely take more naps. . .

I have a feeling that once Mike is gone all day, I will realize that I didn't appreciate how much he was home this summer. Who will fix the internet if it's being slow!? Or run with me to the grocery store real quick? We'll have to make the most of this weekend, I guess. Like, by watching the Olympics. Hooray! The opening ceremonies are tonight. I am so excited. Do you watch the olympics? I have so many great memories of watching them with my family as a child. I want that for my family, too, so you'll find us glued to the tv for the next two weeks. For all things olympic, go here.

Have a good weekend!

summer: expectation vs. reality

I found this doodle in my living room the other day, drawn by Mabel. I thought it was so funny! And also true. We always have such high hopes for summer, don't we? And then it's 115 degrees everyday and we mostly end up sitting around, trying to stay cool. Well, our summer break is winding down. Only two weeks til everyone will be back in school (including Mike!).

I thought this little part needed to be enlarged. Ha! #blessed

We have one last quick trip to California to visit family and see the ocean. And then we'll be all about the backpacks and lunch boxes and pencils and new shoes.

Any last fun plans before school starts?

happy weekend

Summers are for cleaning out closets, and organizing bedrooms, and getting rid of junk. At least at our house they are. I found this guy at Target the other day. I painted him with about 6 coats of white paint and now Mabel has a handy spot to hang her flower crowns. (This is her reduced collection, by the way, after I made her toss half of them.) I love making small changes like this. I rearranged the couch in our family room a few weeks ago, and it still feels fresh and new.

Here's the bad news: it's going to be 120 degrees here this weekend. 120 degrees! That's record-breaking heat. I am sad for our plants. They are already looking a little peaky, and a week of intense heat isn't going to help. Why do we live here, again? Quick, someone remind me how wonderful our winters are. Sheesh.

Some good news: it's almost Father's Day! And that means we get to celebrate Mike and our dads/grandpas and show our gratitude for all they do for our family. We are lucky to have these wonderful men in our lives, and I hope they feel extra special on Sunday. (We got Mike this shirt because we are weird.)

Have a happy (and hopefully cooler) weekend!

happy weekend

We enjoyed a few breezy, cool nights this week, surely the last until November. So we stayed up past our bedtime and went outside. Only one more week of school until summer vacation, so we're sort of over bedtime at this point, anyway.

My friend posted a link to this article on Facebook, How I Slowed My Family Down. Like, to the Last Century. My favorite quote: "The 1950s era stands out as the golden age of family life. Of course, the real 1950s had polio and segregation and limited air conditioning. I didn't want to go to the REAL 1950s, I wanted to go to the mythological ones: the ones where kids played outside all day on their own and mom had plenty of time to make delicious, wholesome meals for dinner. Mom also had time to read a book, and have coffee with her friends, and cocktails with her husband. Mom did not race from place to place in her car, shouting, 'Just eat your breakfast in the car! You can change into your uniform later! We're late!'"

Ha! The author talks about a summer where she let her boys just play all day. No appointments. No commitments. No activities. This is how we do summer vacation, too. We don't do a thing. Just lots of time at home together in our pajamas being bored. And then some swimming. It's my favorite, and I can't wait for it to start.

Have a good weekend!

happy weekend

Mike and I have been hard at work on our front yard this week, trying to give 35 years worth of growth a little style. I've become quite adept at hopping on a shovel to remove grass. I've only fallen once, and it was right when our teenaged neighbor and his friend were leaving for school. Totally not embarrassing. And then I tried to move the wheelbarrow full of grass, but it was too heavy and it tipped over. Luckily, they had driven away by then, but still, #winning. Our goal was to finish before the heat came, but it's supposed to be 105 today, so I think we lost.

We're in the home stretch of the school year. It seems like every night has a baseball game or a concert or a recital or an awards ceremony. Or a dance! Mabel has her eighth grade promotion dance tonight. And the boys will be off at the Fathers and Sons campout, so Stella and I are going to paint the town red. Or maybe just rent a movie. :)

Have a happy weekend!

on the weekend

I am still processing this weekend (and honestly, mostly mourning the end of Downton Abbey). There was a lot to think about, and I feel very scattered on this bright Monday morning, which isn't a super motivating way to feel. In an effort to get going, I'm going to set some of my thoughts here.

on Stake Conference: Instead of the usual Sunday meetings with just our small congregation or ward, we met together with our stake, which is made up of 8 wards. This happens twice a year. I think this is probably what is mostly crowding my brain. I attended three wonderful meetings and took lots and lots of notes. After reviewing them quickly, I wanted to share my favorite thought, taught in a special meeting by Sister Laurel Lawrence, wife of Elder Larry Lawrence, our visiting authority. When we are born, our spirits are already mature. As our physical bodies grow, our spiritual selves can grow as well, but not in stature--in light. In order for this to happen, we need to continually feed our spirits light. That light can come from scripture study, from attending church meetings and the temple, through prayer and meditation, from anything uplifting and good, really. I need to be feeding my spirit a constant diet of light.

on rats (most definitely not part of a diet of light): It is late in the citrus season, and almost past time to clear our trees of their fruit. A few days ago, I found lots of oranges on the ground that had been picked clean, a sure sign of rats. Gross. We have several very lovely and mature citrus trees that reach nearly 30 feet high. I was under the canopy on Saturday, long citrus picker in hand, trying to reach the highest oranges. I was causing quite a bit of rustling as I tugged on those oranges, when all of a sudden the biggest, fattest rat I've ever seen plopped out of the tree right in front of me and scurried away. I don't know if I'll ever be the same. And our citrus trees don't seem quite so lovely anymore, you know? Side note: would anyone like to come clear out our trees? All the pink grapefruit, tangelos, and Arizona sweets you can eat! Don't mind the rats.

on the finale of Downton Abbey: Oh guy! I need a good cry over this one. I feel like everyone got their happy ending except me. I don't think I've ever been so sad to see a show end. I would have happily continued watching for the rest of my life. I love those Crawleys, and their servants, too. Even Barrow, who turned out to be not such a bad guy after all.

on sewing: I am tempted to participate in Katy(from no big dill)'s sewing challenge. She isn't going to buy any clothes for herself or her children for a year. A year! I think Mabel, who has been suffering in school uniforms for the past two years and will start High School this fall, would kill me if I told her I'd be making all of her clothes. Ha! That's what every teenager wants, right? A closet full of homemade clothes. :) So I'd limit the challenge to myself (minus running clothes). I think it would be fun and definitely challenging. But mostly I think it would help me figure out what I like to wear most. I'm sort of a disaster in that area.

on Sunday dinner: I made Ree's favorite meatloaf. I contemplated having the leftovers for breakfast this morning, it is that good.

Anything on your mind this morning? Feel free to spill.

signs of spring

Every year when the wisteria vine blossoms and the orange trees bloom, I fancy myself a nature photographer. My photos don't do them justice at all because they are so pretty in real life and the orange blossoms smell incredible. Spring is a fleeting season here in the desert, but we are leaving our windows open as much as we can and taking lots of deep breaths of the sweet air outside. Nothing smells better than an orange blossom. Happy March!

happy weekend

Big news! Mike is going back to school for his MBA this fall. It is something he's always wanted to do, and I think he finally decided that it was now or never. He applied to BYU and ASU, and was offered full scholarships to both. I'm so proud of him. After a few weeks of very stressful indecision, we decided that our roots here in Arizona run deep, and he will be attending the WP Carey School of Business starting in August. Hooray! It feels really great to have it settled and decided, and we feel really confident in our decision. And now I can breathe again.

I am excited for this next chapter for our family, and for Mike, too. I know he will really enjoy going to school. And hopefully this experience will open some doors for him, or put him on a different path. Or help him to realize that owning his own business is what he really wants after all. Whatever the outcome, I know it will be a good thing.

We sort of celebrated on Monday night for family home evening. We went to the campus and got everyone an ASU shirt and then went out for rolled tacos. But there was no cake! I feel like we need to remedy that this weekend.

Mike's marathon is tomorrow. He's been dealing with some really painful calf issues and hasn't run properly in weeks, so he hasn't decided if he will run in the race or not. I have a feeling he'll go for it. So our weekend will mostly consist of cheering him on and trying not to bawl our eyes out at the finish line.

I hope the sun is peeking out wherever you are! Have a happy weekend.

happy weekend

It's supposed to be 90 this weekend. 90! Oh man, early spring is right. I don't love being cold, but I really wish that groundhog had seen his shadow last week. I'm not ready for 90.

I asked my boys to stand under our pretty lilac vine the other day. This is as close as they would get. That thing is buzzing with bees this time of year. 90 degrees aside, February is still one of my favorite months. The sun is shining but the nights are still cool, and the air feels like spring. These bright mornings where you can already feel the heat of the day starting to stir are what Arizona is supposed to feel like. We moved here exactly 10 years ago this month, and so this weather feels really nostalgic. It feels like home.

Nothing is on the docket this weekend. Yippee! I feel like we all need a break from our weekday schedule, especially my big kids. Their days are so long. Our family has had some stressful big decisions to make lately (where Mabel and Mike should attend school next year), and I am really looking forward to just relaxing and spending time together.

Have you seen any good movies? Mike and I never go to the movies, but escaping to a dark theater sounds really nice right now.

I added a banner to the left about something really cool the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is doing. If I was a singer, I'd be all over it.

Have a happy weekend!

happy weekend

I've been working with this pretty rose gold sequin fabric this week for Mabel's eighth grade dance tonight. I have found sequins in every room in my house, including my front porch. Ah! Such a nightmare, but the dress is turning out just like she hoped it would, and that makes me really happy.

This weekend is packed to the brim with her school dance, little league tryouts for Oliver, a cousin's wedding, a long run with Mike, and a visit from my parents. Plus it's my turn to teach Sunday School on Sunday, and with the 8:30 slot at church this year, I can't put my lesson prep off till Sunday morning anymore. :) Oh well. What do they say? They best way to get the work done is to do the work, or something like that? The weather is going to be fantastic, so that makes everything easier. And really, these are all really happy things, so I am excited.

What do you have planned this weekend?

Have a good one!

getting stuff done

Three things combined this week to help me get some things done around the house.

First, the weather changed. All of a sudden our days are sunny and bright and warm. Hooray for winter in Arizona! A change in the weather always seems to light a spark under me and get me moving. And not feeling frozen all the time sure feels good (don't remind me that I said that come July).

Second, I made a list. I am a big believer in lists. I was feeling really overwhelmed by the things I wanted to get done this month, but writing them all on one master "Winter To-Do" list made them seem more manageable.

And third, I just decided to get started. That's always the hardest part, isn't it?

On Monday, I wanted to see how many things I could cross off of my list. I was surprised to see that most of the things I've been worrying about getting done could be accomplished pretty quickly. I can spend lots of time thinking about doing something, but if I just knuckle down and do it, I'll be finished before I know it. Something that really helps me is setting a time limit for myself. For example, this morning I had 15 minutes before I had to meet my sister-in-law. Could I clean the kids' bathroom in that time? It turns out that I could!

Hopefully writing this down will help me remember how to break out of my funk next time it hits and all I want to do is lay on the couch and read a book for days and days on end.

Here's to doing stuff!

happy weekend

What a weekend this will be! Four of my five siblings are meeting up at my parents' snow-covered house in the Utah mountains this weekend, and we can't wait! I plan on huddling in front of the pellet stove the entire time. :)

I picked a few boxes of our oranges and lemons to bring up. Freshly squeezed orange juice feels like such a treat when the world outside is white and heavy with snow. Elliot was helping me pick and he had a hard time understanding that some places are just too cold for orange trees to grow. It has definitely been cold in Arizona this week, but not Sundance-in-winter cold.

Our nativity advent calendar is moving right along. I get lots of emails about it. You can find a free pattern to download here (thanks to reader Jessica). And here, here and here are some old posts about it, in case you are interested.

In other news, I cut my hair! Man, it feels good.

Have a happy last-weekend-before-Christmas!

for our community

Our elementary school had their annual turkey trot this morning. So many parents came out to support and cheer on the runners. It was wonderful to see. I was the lucky turkey that the kindergarteners raced across the field. It was fun, but man, those kindergarteners were fast! I love our neighborhood and community. It is full of the best kind of people. I am thankful to live here and to be raising my family here.

for good weather

November is a great time to be in Arizona. I was reminded of this as Elliot and I walked home from school on this beautiful afternoon. The sun was warm on my face, but it didn't melt my eyeballs like it does in the summer. Some of the leaves are starting to change, and the oranges are getting ready to be plucked from the trees. Our windows are open day and night, letting in fresh, clean air. Good weather makes life easy, and I am thankful that we finally have ours. We really earn it here, and I do my best not to take it for granted.

for nice weather

We woke up to cold and wet this morning. After a long, hot and dry summer, this feels like heaven. Every fall I feel like I come alive again, like I have just barely been surviving the summer and now it is time to start dreaming and doing once again. This morning's rain was such a welcome beginning to the day. I am thankful for it, and for the opportunity to slip on some cozy socks, and maybe even sip hot chocolate!

happy weekend

We have our first Halloween party this weekend. Finishing Oliver's costume is top on my to-do list today. I am really pleased with how Stella's turned out. We had a fitting after school the other day and she couldn't get the smile off her face. She will be Princess Buttercup from the Princess Bride. She has just the right hair for it this year. I don't love Halloween, but I do like seeing my kids enjoy dressing up.

The best news around here this week was the weather, for sure. Oh, it was a relief. Cool, breezy days make everything feel easier. For instance: I forgot an ingredient for dinner the other night and had to run to the store real quick to get it but it was no big deal because it wasn't a million degrees outside! It's the little things.

Hooray for fall. And hooray for the weekend, too! Watch out ice cream. I'm coming for you.

fall break, cabin style

My kids had fall break last week, so we spent a few days at my in-law's cabin in Heber, Arizona. It was still 100 degrees when we left the valley, so the cooler mountain temperatures felt really great.

Our days looked a lot like this: staying outside all day collecting rocks, playing games with cousins, and reading. We came home relaxed and ready for a new season.

By day the fire pit acted as a school room.

By night it was s'mores central.

On the way home we stopped at the Mogollon Rim lookout point. Sometimes it's nice to remind myself that Arizona is a really beautiful place.

And good news, our high is only going to be 79 today! Every fall I feel like I should win some sort of award for surviving another Arizona summer. I think the cooler temperatures are here to stay. We've made it once again. Phew.

halloween decor

You're going to want to pin this, I'm sure. Ha! Whenever Halloween rolls around, my kids ask me why we don't have any Halloween decorations. Well, the truth is, I don't really like Halloween, and I'd rather save the little bit of holiday decorating energy that I have for Christmas.

But this year, I gave in. Stella and Elliot spent some very happy minutes after school one day crafting some decorations for our porch. Stella's heavily eye-lashed ghost peeking out of the front door is my favorite. And in the desert, when it's still 100 degrees everyday in October, styrofoam pumpkins from the fabric store are the rot-free alternative to the real thing.

The look on Elliot's face when he went outside to check his handiwork was the best. He was grinning from ear to ear and gave me a very enthusiastic thumbs up. I made him recreate it for posterity. :)

Happy Halloween! (Or not. Bah humbug, sheesh.)