Dinner with the Mitchells

2011 Slideshow

2012-01-03T18:08:00.001-08:00

For the past few years we've celebrated New Year's Eve by making a slideshow of the year. The slideshow is always one song long and we spend much of the year debating what the slideshow song should be. I lean towards dramatic and sentimental music while Bill prefers understated. Somehow--at the last minute--we always find the perfect song. I usually spend the better part of New Year's Eve gathering photos from different computers, phones and friends' facebook pages. And then I have the job of whittling down the photos to represent a year. Inevitably stuff is left out. Good photos are cut and poor quality photos left in. We had a big year this year and most of the milestones were not photographed. My dad's dad and my mom's mom died. Lizzy started high school, Zoey started middle school and Will started kindergarten. John started piano and chess (not real milestones but I couldn't leave him out.) But even without those events, I think the slideshow captures 2011. Putting it together I watched it nearly 100 times and I'm still not tired of it.

On this day 19 years ago...

2011-09-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

I spoke to Bill for the first time and in the course of the conversation I told him I loved him--not seriously but I said those words all the same. His hair was a little longer than it is in his I.D. card above and he was wearing a Grateful Dead T-shirt. Probably because of the long hair and the t-shirt I did not consider him boyfriend material. That all changed when I heard his ACT score a few days later--just kidding (kind of.)

Thinking back to when we first met, despite lots of late night talks bringing each other up to date with our life stories, I didn't really know who Bill was. In many ways I was in love with a Bill I imagined in my head. Over the years, over and over again I've discovered how much more amazing the real Bill is to the mythical Bill I first fell in love with. And now I wonder if some of my first love hyperbole wasn't some sort of second sight, that though at the time I couldn't fully explain or articulate why Bill was the "most wonderful boy ever," something in me recognized his beautiful soul.

I hesitate to say too much about how good my husband is. Praise generally makes Bill uncomfortable. So if I praise him, it's for myself and even though I have a blog I do try to avoid bragging. But it is worth mentioning once in a while and even documenting for my children how proud I am of my husband. Every day he faces death. He is an oncologist who specializes in palliative care. He is called in by doctors from all specialties to help when patients are dying. He has the courage to face some of life's hardest and most painful moments. He has to tell patients and their families that they are not getting better, that they are going to die, sometimes soon. These meetings often go several hours. Bill usually begins with, "Tell me about your life..." or if the patient is incoherent, "Tell me about your father..." And then he watches death--sometimes sudden, sometimes arduous and try his best make those lost weeks, days and hours--comfortable. Most of his patients and their families love him and appreciate his long hours and big heart. But some yell and scream and vent all their frustration and disappointment at him. He works long crazy hours. He comes home with heartbreaking stories--parents losing children, young children losing parents, bodies disintegrating. Generally, he can't stop death, but even in the face of death he helps people heal.

Then he comes home and sweeps the floor and orders groceries on-line and wrestles with his boys. He spends half of his Saturday's doing paperwork and all of his Sunday's doing church work. Every spare moment he gives to us. He truly is a good man.

So hear's to the wisdom of young love and great souls hiding out in Grateful Dead t-shirts. Ruth

Why is Lizzy smiling so?

2011-09-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

She is about to see Taylor Swift in concert.

People show their excitement different ways. Lizzy and her friend Jessie definitely fall in the screaming fan girl category. Zoey and Mia are more understated.

Mia and Jessie are also sisters and conveniently I'm good friends with their mom Beth who also came on this adventure. We splurged a bit an stayed at the Marriott right by the Staples center.

You don't just go to a Taylor Swift concert, you prepare. The girls spent three days, making banners and deciding what to wear. This banner is fabric--so it can be sneakily tucked in a purse and double sided. The other side read:

Which for those who don't listen to Taylor Swift everyday (like we do in our house) is a line from the song "Long Live." The girls decided rather than wearing Taylor Swift T-shirts they would go dressed as Taylor Swift. I was surprised when they told me this and thought, "How original." Apparently 10,000 other girls got the memo. I have never seen so many sundresses and cowboy boots, as well as glittery dresses and blond wigs. Lizzy's hair is naturally curly and perfect and she had the supreme compliment from other concertgoers who said, "You know you actually look like Taylor Swift." Like Taylor they all wrote a number 13 on their hands and song lyrics on their arms.

Since one reversible banner was not enough. Zoey and Mia made a shimmery one.

And Lizzy and Jessie made another glittery one. One fortunate thing was our seats were against a wall so we could raise our banners high. This was the first concert where I could sing a long with every song. (As you may have guessed Lizzy often chooses what music we listen to.) The concert was a far cry from the concerts I went to as a teenager--think muddy hillside at Parkwest. It was more like going to a Broadway show, with elaborate sets, costumes and dancers. One of the reasons I've stopped going to concerts (in addition to the exorbitant price of tickets) is that over and over again I have been disenchanted by the performers egos and the inevitable profanity and vulgarity spewed from their mouths. It was so refreshing to go to a concert that was completely family friendly. And Taylor was so lovely and gracious and energetic--I have no idea how she keeps up that enthusiasm. After just one night of singing and dancing you can see the girls were a little tuckered out.

But this is the image that pops in my head whenever Lizzy and Zoey talk about the trip.

Happy Birthday Zoey

2011-08-22T22:33:00.000-07:00

Last year every Thursday as I drove Zoey to viola we would listen to Zoey's favorite Taylor Swift song, "Never Grow Up" over and over. Unlike some kids who can't wait to grow up, Zoey revels in childhood. Despite her friends teasing, she wears twirly skirts to school; she spends hours playing with her dolls and some of her closest friends are 8-year-old girls. Still growing up is inevitable, in two weeks she will start middle school--middle school can you believe it? But before then to celebrate her birthday we are taking a girl's trip to LA where we will visit the American Girl doll store and see Taylor Swift in concert. Growing up is inevitable but we are going to make the most of childhood.

Sharks and Butterflies

2011-08-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

This week's Phineas and Ferb Friday was based on "Belly of the Beast. " In this episode the brothers make a mechanical shark and Dr. Doofenshmirtz makes lots and lots of saltwater taffy.
We made a papier-mâché shark. Not really to Phineas and Ferb standards--but we try.

Next we visited the lab of a friend from church to see sharks and other sea creatures.

This is a leopard shark. Nick's specialty is Mako sharks. However, they do not adapt well to captivity, so no Mako sharks for us. We did see a lot of other amazing sea creatures, including: abalone, cuttlefish, sting rays, star fish, sea urchins and anemones.

Above, Nick is showing us a brittle starfish. Everyone loves it when Nick is speaking in church. He always finds a way to tell a good shark story. On Friday he had lots of good stories for us. Just last week he was tagging manta rays in Mexico and swimming with whale sharks--whale sharks (for those of you who don't regularly read shark books to their children) are the largest fish on earth up to 30 feet long. Can you even imagine? And he was putting cameras in their mouths.

One of the many things I learned is that if you lick a sea anemone it will make your tongue fizz and pop and then go numb for about an hour. I guess the young men in our ward have all tried it. We all declined.

Check-eth it out, he also took us out on the famous Scripps Pier. (Yeah, "Check-eth it out" is a reference from the Belly and Beast episode. Those of you not familiar with Phineas and Ferb are really missing out. We watch it on NetFlix.)

Phineas and Ferb Fridays are so fun, our group keeps getting bigger and bigger. And this is not even a complete photo--no adults and no Lizzy.

Oh here's Lizzy holding up Emma to see into the tanks. I can't say how much more fun it was to see the animals in a lab versus in an aquarium. It was so good of Nick to take the time to show us around. And he was so patient with our large, often very loud group. Thank You.

Afterward, we thought we might make homemade taffy--ala Doofenshmirtz. But saner minds prevailed and we decided snacking on store bought taffy and hitting a shark piñata would be enough fun.

It was.

Yes, it was.

Now for the butterflies. Several years ago I gave my mom California milkweed seeds for her birthday. Hoping to attract monarch butterflies I had tried growing them in my own yard but without success. My mom had a green thumb and her plants flourished. After she died, we moved a couple milkweed plants from her yard. Each year the we seem to get more and more butterflies. We like to capture a few caterpillars and bring them into the house so we can watch them grow big and fat, form a pale green chrysalis and then come out a new creature.

It so amazing when the butterfly first emerges from the chrysalis. A new monarch is like a newborn who instinctively grasps on to your finger. A newborn butterfly--still drying it's wings-- seems to prefer human companions. One butterfly we nicknamed Leroy stayed in Lizzy's hair for more than 8 hours.

Watching the whole process has filled our home with hope. The caterpillar turning into a butterfly is such a beautiful metaphor. When we didn't know better we mistook one black chrysalis as a failure. All the plants in the jar had wilted and there was some mold growing. Then we noticed the chrysalis was moving. We discovered that the chrysalis turns black just before the butterfly emerges. One more reminder that sometimes what we mistake for the end, is actually a new beginning.

Phineas and Ferb Fridays

2011-08-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

OK I know I haven't blogged forever and now we're back with a random video. I think I owe ya'all some explanation. We've had a remarkably busy and fun summer. The kids have been busy doing jobs in the mornings (sometimes well into late afternoon) and then we do something fun. On Fridays this fun activity is based on a Phineas and Ferb episode. We call these Phineas and Ferb Fridays and they have been the highlight of the summer. If you're interested my friend Jordan posted photos of "S'winter" and "Summer Belongs to You." Whether or not you are interested I'm posting the video we made because a few of you have been anxiously awaiting our film debut.

We did this all from costumes, casting and story development to most of the editing in one afternoon. Hard to believe. ;)

A funny clip from the open house

2011-05-16T13:41:00.000-07:00

The best part is in the first 15 seconds.

First Wedding Open House

2011-05-02T16:53:00.000-07:00

When our friend and neighbor Tasha Hinton (now Tasha Moon) got engaged she asked if she could have her San Diego open house in our yard. Our response: have you seen our yard? One of the plans we talked of when we bought our home is that maybe after after 10-15 years of hard work we could have Lizzy's wedding reception in our yard. We never imagined we might host an wedding open house in less than two years. But Tasha and her sister Megan (who was also her Maid of Honor and in charge of the whole party) had a vision we did not. I also have to give credit to Bill who has worked like a dog every free Saturday tearing out concrete, leveling ground and shoveling gravel. And of course my nephew Ben who helped tear down the shed and all of my kids who also put in long hours in the yard. Actually, so many people helped to put this open house together that I can't name them all. Perhaps, it was because this party was such a labor of love that it was such an unqualified success. I can't really describe how fun it was but a few pictures will give you some idea.

The theme was rustic shabby chic. And when Megan told her parents that there would be no church tables and Relief Society polyester tablecloths there was some concern. But the mismatched chairs and tablecloths with fresh lilacs were charming.

There were lots of yummy homemade goodies brought by friends.

And lots of details that made the wedding fun for kids--starting with a desk at the entrance with gobs of old fashion candy.

Bubbles for the kids in the garden.

A photo booth to take a Hinton Family favorite--photos with mustaches.

Some of the mustaches were chocolate. That's why John's eating his.

And then there was dancing.

Probably my favorite photo. The Bishop and his daughter--Megan--dancing.

A change in our plans for spring break.

2011-04-11T21:47:00.001-07:00

We had planned on spending spring break doing yard work. Then last Sunday right after General Conference Bill got a call from a member of the Stake Presidency asking if we could go on Trek as a Ma and Pa. This was Sunday afternoon trek started Wednesday morning. That gave us three days to get ready. Trek is a Mormon tradition in which the youth dress up in pioneer clothes and march around the wilderness pulling their belongings in a handcart. Think of civil war reenactment, backpacking and a pilgrimage all wrapped in one. It sounds kind of strange but is totally amazing. As a Ma and Pa we were assigned 9 kids to be in charge of. Before last Wednesday I had only met two of our nine new kids.

Lizzy was planning on going on trek all along. She has spent the last couple of months preparing: sewing skirts and bonnets. She had quite the wardrobe--she even sewed lace trim on her bloomers. Sadly, because I was so worried about my responsibilities I didn't take any pictures of her. Here's one someone else took--Lizzy's in the black bonnet. She was in another family and even though she was assigned great parents, I think she missed us.

Bill's in the center pulling our handcart. It's amazing how pulling a handcart together can make strangers feel like family.

Here's our family after the first day's pull. The baby is just a doll.

This is Lizzy's family. She's the second in from the left with the red skirt.

We camped that night in an apple orchard. It was very pretty but quite chilly.

The next morning was very foggy. It cleared up briefly around noon and then dark storm clouds rolled in. It started raining just as we got into camp, and then hailing and then sleeting and then snow. For many of these kids it was the first time they had seen snow fall.

This is the barn the kids slept in. See that sad blue tent under the overhang. That's where Bill and I didn't get much sleep.

Though most of us didn't have the right shoes for snow, we continued in the snow. For me this was the best experience of the whole trek. It was so beautiful. And the kids has so much fun in the snow. There were lots of snow ball fights

and lots of mud.

Our stake leaders wisely decided to have us go home a day early. An option we were all well aware the pioneers didn't have.

I left the whole experience full of gratitude: grateful for pioneers who shivered in cold tents night after night because of their deep convictions; grateful for the bright contagious faith of kids in the family assigned to me; grateful for my own children whom I missed; and last of all but not least-- grateful for a warm house and a soft bed.

2011-03-25T08:14:00.001-07:00

This picture isn't the best quality because I was balancing Will and I'm not very good at taking pictures with my phone to start with, but I love it because it shows Will and I in our Paul Frank pajamas together. Every morning I get to babysit Will while Mom walks Zoey and John to school. Mostly we practice (Piano, Cello, Legos), but some mornings we hang out and look up mummies or take pictures in our pajamas.

More great photos taken by my sister

2011-03-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

Someday I'll get around to blogging but in the meantime my sister is doing such a fine job, I'll let her do it for me. She wrote this nice post about Zoey.

We love 26, 27 and 28

2011-03-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

26. Flying to Utah on an airplane. 27. Missing school. 28. Time with cousins.
I have lots I could write about our fabulous visit to Utah for my nephew's farewell. But while I'm catching up with laundry and the rest of my life a few photos from my sister's blog will suffice.

We love#25: Carrots

2011-03-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

The boys love Looney Tunes. I must admit I enjoy Looney Tunes too. But I do have my reservations about letting the boys watch them. They are filled with violence, cultural insensitivity and utter disregard for cause and effect. Oh yeah and they teach you to laugh at other people's hurt. Their redeeming grace is carrots. After an afternoon of Looney Tunes the boys must have carrots--a la Bugs Bunny. Sometimes they eat 3 or 4.

We love #24: Legos

2011-03-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

There just isn't enough room on John's night stand for all his Lego creations. I keep editing his display, leaving out only his bobcat and returning the rest to his Lego bin. John keeps putting them back, carefully arranging them. He would love to give you all a lengthy description of each of his creations but I'm afraid he'd end up sounding very militaristic. Suffice it to say most of his machines have cannons, missiles or grenade launchers.

We love girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

2011-03-01T10:54:00.000-08:00

I hesitate to put recordings of my kids playing instruments on the blog. To some it can come across as bragging. To more serious musicians my family's performances don't seem worth bragging about. But I know there are some grandparents and aunts who love to see Lizzy and Zoey perform no matter what.

Zoey's been playing viola for a little over a year. She loves it.

After her viola piece went so well, Zoey said her brain turned off and she found herself completely forgetting the rest of her piano piece. She just played and played until the piece came back to her. I considered not posting this piece since it wasn't perfect and I've already posted her playing this song once. But I think this clip tells a lot about Zoey. I admire how she kept her cool and kept on playing.

When Lizzy started piano at 8 we made a deal with her that she couldn't quit until she had played 5 years. We realized recently that she has passed the 5 year mark. Now she wouldn't dream of quitting. She recently got her first job teaching piano and loves it.

We love #22: Finishing 7-year projects

2011-02-28T20:56:00.000-08:00

Lizzy was 7 the summer after John was born. And she wanted to make him a quilt. It did not take her long to piece this quilt or sketch pictures, the hold up was waiting for me to embroider her cute pictures. She did stitch the hand above.

I love this longhorn.

I think when John was three I finally got around to embroidering it. The next problem was finding a suitable back. As a baby John had a blanket with a chambray back. He called his blanket Ya Ya. He carried Ya Ya with him everywhere until it dwindled to the size of a handkerchief. I was looking for a fabric with a similar feel. My friend Christy gave me one of her husband's old shirts. It passed the Ya Ya test when John immediately put it up to his cheek and sighed--Ya Ya. Using the shirt for the back had the bonus of two pockets to stash treasures in.

Last week I finally finished the binding. Now John is seven the same age as when Lizzy started this blanket. But not too old--to appreciate his new Ya Ya.

P.S. Like John's blanket, I intend to finish our "Love Posts" even though February ends today. There's just six more to go. I promise I won't take 7 years to finish.

We love blossoms

2011-02-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

These nectarine blossoms popped out right around Valentine's day. I've had a big vase full in my entryway ever since. I take blossoms personally--as if God created them just for me. Every time I see them my heart does a little leap. I often think of this poem by AE Housman

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my three score years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

We love Bobcats

2011-02-24T15:47:00.001-08:00

Some of you may have noticed John's birthday cake was a bobcat. This was in anticipation of renting a bobcat on President's Day. I'm not sure who was more excited Will, John or Bill.

We rented the bobcat to further the backyard demolition. If we had planned better, we could have thrown a John bobcat birthday party (as it was he only had a family party this year.) We could have invited a dad with each guest and put them all to work.

At the end of the day some friends came over and got to enjoy a bobcat ride. (We did put their parents to work).

Bobcat rides are much cooler than pony rides.

We love # 19: Ben

2011-02-22T21:00:00.000-08:00

To destroy the shed and help with other projects, my nephew Ben came for the weekend. It was great to have him. He was an amazing help and John and Will followed him like groupies. The boys were particularly bad about climbing all over him and I kept trying to stop them. Bill said, "He deserves it, remember that's exactly how he climbed on me when he was little." We realized Bill was about Ben's age when he first met Ben.

Ben did dishes, played countless games with John, listened patiently while Lizzy read out loud some of her favorite posts from Adam Young's blog, attended a lecture Bill gave on palliative care and through most of this let Will climb all over him. All of this time with Ben was extra precious because in less than a month he will leave for an LDS Mission in Milan, Italy. We sure are going to miss him.

We love: Demolition

2011-02-22T20:40:00.000-08:00

Years ago I asked my husband--I think we were still dating--what it was about guys and destroying stuff. We were talking about smashing mailboxes and Bill (who has never smashed a mail box) said, "Oh don't you get it there's something beautiful about watching something explode." Um, actually I didn't get it, but maybe after this weekend I do.

Saturday afternoon I looked out the window and saw the shed had no wall.

A few minutes later I looked out John and Will were on the roof. John with an axe and Will with a hammer. A couple hours later and this is all that was left. It was beautiful.

We love John

2011-02-18T21:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday John!

We love # 16: Sleeves

2011-02-17T17:05:00.000-08:00

I heard this report on Fashion Week on All Things Considered this morning.

"Sleeves are great. Everyone should be a sleeve fan. A long sleeve and a high neck on a dress--very, very hot." Sally Singer Editor of T The New York Times style magazine

As a good Mormon girl it's nice to hear that fashion has finally caught on to something I've known for a long time.

We love Waffle Wednesday

2011-02-16T21:10:00.000-08:00

Since the beginning of 2011 we've had a breakfast schedule that has made my life so much easier and significantly reduced whining. Monday--Muffins, Tuesday--Oatmeal, Wednesday--Waffles, Thursday--Toast and Fruit, Friday--French Toast, Saturday--Cereal, Sunday--Cinnamon Rolls. As you can see we are kind of fond of alliterations but not fond enough to skip oatmeal, though there are some in the family who wouldn't mind.

I originally put waffles on Wednesday because I think it's nice to have something to look forward to in the middle of the week. The alliteration was just serendipity.

I Love Enchanted

2011-02-14T07:46:00.000-08:00

This is me and my cousins combatting Thanksgiving dishes by singing Taylor Swift's song Enchanted. I love this song. It is probably my favorite off of her new album, Speak Now. I love it even more because it introduced me to Adam Young (Owl City). After decoding the secret message in the lyric booklet for the song (A-D-A-M) I promptly googled Taylor Swift and Adam. Google knows everything and it directed me to Adam Young. I already like his music, but now I read his twitter and his blog. He is amazing. Anyways, that brings me to today and his Valentine's day post. While you read it think of me and my epic fan girl screams.

We love # 12: When daddy comes home

2011-02-13T17:08:00.000-08:00

Bill's work hours are always long but a few times times a year they become especially arduous. At these times he goes more than two weeks without a day off. Yesterday ended one of those stretches --19 days without a day off. He tries hard during those periods to get enough time with us. One Saturday after work he picked up Zoey for a daddy daughter-date. They went to a patient's funeral and then visited another dying patient. They had a great time--really. Living with an oncologist who specializes in end of life care means that all of us are a little more aware of how mortal we are. At the end of one busy week Bill mentioned how much lighter his patient load was. Lizzy asked jokingly, "What happened to all of your other patients--did they die?" Bill answered, "Well, umm actually, they did." The girls found this extremely distressing. I do too when I let myself think about it. Some nights Bill just has to unload and tell me about the hard and difficult stuff he sees. Another way Bill deals with all this emotional stress is yard work. Yesterday he built more grow boxes and hauled more dirt. He finally got his haircut and we took a family walk to the beach. (You'll forgive me for not blogging.) Everything feels more complete with him home.

We love #11: Egypt

2011-02-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

We've been closely following developments in Egypt. At dinner each night we've been discussing the days developments. Like so many we've been praying for a peaceful outcome and that the will of the people would be heard. This morning as I was driving Zoey to viola Lizzy called me. When I got to my destination (it's against the law to talk on the phone and drive here) I called her back worried that John and Will had gotten hurt or hurt each other. She said apologetically, "The president of Egypt stepped down. It was kind of silly of me to call." No, not at all.

On the drive home from viola Zoey and I listened to the news. We sat in driveway transfixed by the expressions of tumultuous joy. I know some are worried about instability in the Middle East and there is no guarantee that all will go smoothly in the coming months as Egypt tries to convert to a true democracy. Freedom is always messy. But today we are all savoring the joy of a courageous, peaceful revolution.

Listening to this BBC footage brings tears to my eyes. This is another good recap of the past 18 days.

We love #10: Care Packages

2011-02-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

Today Grandma Tauna's Valentine care package arrived.

Her care packages always include festive socks.

Candy and small toys.

And this one included John's birthday gift.
Let's see if he can wait a week to open it.

Will had the most fun with the box. He said he was R-T-Du-T.

Valentine's Day Post

2011-02-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen the buttons that say 'Help! I'm in love with a fictional character!'? I think these normally refer to a Twilight or Harry Potter character. However, I am in love with several fictional boys. Not in any particular order, here's the list.
1.Jace Lightwood
2.Edward Cullen
3.Jacob Black
4.Fred Weasley
5.George Weasley
6.Peeta Mellark
7.Joe Willard
8.Mr. Darcy
9.Howl Pendragon
10.Gilbert Blythe
Some of these names I think you'll recognize immediately, but I think I might have one or two that you don't know. It's up to you to guess the corresponding book by Valentine's Day. Also I'd love to hear who your favorite fictional characters are.

We love #8:Benjamin Bunny

2011-02-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

Benjamin Bunny all grown up

I'm pretty sure we've never properly introduced Benjamin Bunny on this blog. Benny became a member of our household last Easter. He was not an Easter gift, Zoey had been working hard to earn the privilege of having a bunny and it so happened that she accomplished her goal the week before Easter.

Baby Benny, this photo was taken Benny's first week with our family

We bought him from a high school senior who was raising bunnies for her Future Farmers of America project. She had done an amazing job of loving and caring for her bunnies. She said she cuddled them every day. We give her much of the credit for Benny's amazing temperament. Benny is such a sweet, cuddly, tolerant bunny. I believe as Zoey's pet--he has put up with a costume of two.

Another earlier photo of Benny.Though, I think Will has changed more than Benny.

Everyone loves this bunny. Bill has made his share of barbecue bunny jokes, but just the other night he woke me up at 3 a.m. saying he was worried about Benny. It was raining outside and we still haven't built Benny a hutch. So we went out into the wet and brought the damp bunny inside. Benny is definitely and outdoor bunny since I'm allergic to him. Although that doesn't stop the kids from bringing him in and building castles for him. Zoey gives him lots of hop time in the yard or takes him for wagon rides. All of his outdoor play must be closely supervised because there's a red tail hawk who often sits on a fence post eying Benny. I'm pretty sure he thinks he'd love Benny too.

Homemade Tortillas

2011-02-07T21:15:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder why everyone else seems to have more free time than I do. Then I'll be covered in flour and rolling out tortillas for dinner and I realize--most sane people buy tortillas. I do too, but most of the time I talk myself into making them from scratch. They taste that much better. Lizzy pretty much turns up her nose at all tortillas unless they are homemade. I'm giving you the recipe but also fair warning. It might be wisest to never try homemade and continue blissfully oblivious to what you are missing.

Homemade Tortillas (I usually double the recipe because small children love to come in the kitchen on snack on hot fresh tortillas)

2 cups flour (plus extra for rolling and kneading)

1/2 t table salt

1/4 t baking powder

1/4 cup cold vegetable shortening (kept in refrigerator)

2/3 cup warm water

Combine flour, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Cut in shortening. Mix in warm water. Knead dough on floured surface until smooth and soft 3-4 minutes. Divide the dough into 8-10 equal pieces. Cover the dough balls loosely with plastic and let rest on the counter for 30 min. and up to two hours.

Roll out balls with flour to 9-10 inches round. Cook on skillet over medium heat until the tortilla bubbles and puffs and the bottom browns in spots 45-60 seconds. If any gigantic bubbles form, pierce them with a fork so the tortilla cooks evenly. Flip with a fork and cook another 45-60 seconds.

We love #6:Shark Pajamas

2011-02-06T20:54:00.000-08:00

Will becomes very attached to his clothes. When he falls in love with a new shirt he will wear it every day. He once asked one of his friends why she wore a different outfit every single day. His attachment to shirts come and go. Last spring it was the dump truck shirt, this fall it has been his red polo shirt, then his orange striped shirt. Currently his favorite is his shark shirt on backwards. But his affection for his shark pajamas has never waned. I bought him a pair when he was not yet two. Lucky for Will I bought John a pair at the same time. John outgrew his. Will outgrew his--but that won't stop true love. Will just wears his and John's shark pajamas plus another pair of hand-me-downs from a friend. With three pairs of shark pajamas he hardly has to go a night without them. Tonight he wore his 18-month-old shirt and the hand-me-down shorts. I keep trying to put the small pair in the goodwill pile and Will keeps fishing them out. He looks pretty pleased with himself.

We love #5:Saturday

2011-02-05T19:56:00.000-08:00

I think by most people's standards we have pretty boring Saturdays. We clean rooms, we clean bathrooms, we do yard work. But there is this blessed slowness to all this work. For some reason I don't feel the pressure of a normal weekday. Everyone is relaxed and cheerful. There is no rush. In the middle of weeding the boys take off to the dirt pile and start digging. Zoey putters with her bed of flowers. Lizzy wanders to the piano. Almost all the doors and windows are left open. The house is full of sunshine and the yard is full of children.

One of the things we did today was pick oranges. Our navels are finally ripe and so delicious--but messy. I find it best to eat one over the sink. We harvested another less common, but equally delicious fruit today. Bonus points to those who can identify the green spiky fruit in the foreground.

We love #4:Movie Night

2011-02-04T21:48:00.000-08:00

Pretty much every Friday is movie night at our house. We watch movies projected on our library wall. We usually have popcorn or candy. Tonight it was some of both.

Bill usually works late Friday so the boys have seen a lot of chick flicks which we sell to them with lines like: "There's fast cars in this movie." Or "There's a helicopter in this one." Will basically likes any movie with popcorn.

Speaking of movies I have two good Valentinish movie recommendations since it is so hard to find romantic movies without raunch. Young Victoria

This is currently an instant play on Netflix. Can I also add that we love netflix. Young Victoria is decidedly girlie. I didn't even try to make John watch it. But my second recommendation, How to Steal a Million is good for the whole family. It is an absolutely charming caper movie with Audrey Hepburn. The trailer doesn't do the movie justice (movie trailers have come along way in the past 50 years). But here's a picture.

What more could you ask for. Well actually, I could ask for some movie recommendations from all of you. Please share.

We love # 3: Waking up to this each morning

2011-02-03T21:00:00.000-08:00

We love #2: My Big Sister

2011-02-02T08:45:00.001-08:00

Today is my sister's birthday--she's the one in the polka dot dress. No she doesn't look a thing like me. As a teenager people would say. "Your sister is so gorgeous, you two don't look a bit a like." So true, and in some ways we are different. But we do share the same voice--I once had someone ask if I was Michelle's sister because they recognized my voice--the love of good books, running, writing and our families. My sister has a particular talent for writing fabulous flattering blog posts. I do not but she deserves one just the same. So here's a Top 10 list of things I love about my sister:

1. She has a talent for love. She truly loves and cares for so many people. Michelle has a big heart. The problem with a big heart is that when it hurts it hurts keenly. Michelle's suffered a lot of heart ache the past couple of years. But she's continued to keep loving and serving through it all. She is Young Women's President and those are some lucky girls to be loved by Michelle.
2. She always looks great. OK this may sound shallow but I believe being beautiful is a talent. Also, so much of beauty is the light that shines in one's eyes.
3. She's a fabulous writer. I love reading what she writes and working on projects with her. I know several of my friends have become devotees of her blog. It really is fun to read and most of it--except the flattering stuff about yours truly-- is true.
3. She's a great gift giver. This is an extension of her talent for love. She is truly thoughtful about gifts . My kids all love to get a gift from Aunt Michelle.
4. She gets things done. Probably my biggest fault is I take my time, move slowly, which is fine except for when I never finish what I start. Michelle doesn't do this. She doesn't say, "I mean to do this." She just does it.
5. She knows how to have fun. A lot of doers seem to have a problem with relaxing. Not Michelle. And when she is relaxed she gives off such a happy aura of contentment that it's impossible not to put down your load of laundry and join her.
6. She adores her children and makes sure they know it.
7. She adores her husband and makes sure he knows it.
8. She will admit when she's wrong.
9. She has the gift of good conversation.
10. Time and time again I've seen her make hard decisions because of her faith. Like so many believers she sometime finds what God asks of her difficult, and can not help but exclaim, "Father remove this cup." But in the end she always submits to the God she loves. I'm certain He loves her for this, even more than I do--if that's possible.

Happy Birthday Michelle!

We love limes

2011-02-01T21:54:00.000-08:00

For the month of February I've decided to do a post a day about something or someone I love. I spent much of today fretting about what I should start with until I was making dinner and realized I'd forgotten to buy limes for my fish tacos and then realized I have a lime tree--more like lime bush. Bill bought it for me in July and it really is just over knee high. But sure enough it had two ripe limes. The fish tacos were so yummy. So I'm including a link to the recipe. I didn't actually grill the fish. I just cooked it in a frying pan and I warmed the tortillas in the oven and really I think cheese on fish tacos is weird. But other than that I followed the recipe exactly and it was so good. Probably because of the home grown limes.

If you forgot I am a teenage girl here is your reminder

2011-02-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

So I have been reading Owl City's blog lately cuz it's amazing. My favorite posts are the ones about kitchen mischief, cowboys in Wyoming and marshmallow fluff. You see, these are the ones that make absolutely no sense. There is something extraordinarily charming about writing without a moral or even a theme. But nonetheless I have a theme today (you might not have noticed because in the true Adam Young spirit I am rambling, hopefully not too obnoxiously.) So you can understand I will give you a clue: It's in the title. Yes the theme of this post is that I am a stupid teenage girl with nothing to talk about. This all culminates with me telling you that today I went to my orthodontist - you need to understand that they're in a new building now.Okay so, I was looking super-cute with curled hair and gray converse and... there were several cute boys. ( hey mom did you notice them, they were boys) I don't think there have ever been boys at my ortho before. They switch offices, POOF, cute boys. I don't know where they came from, its like magic. Probably there just to admire me in my really cute outfit. So you all know this is not what I talk like in person (if you haven't talked to me lately.) This is not what I think like in my head either. This is my special voice reserved for inanimate objects and worms. So now you can feel like my computer. That's who I'm talking to now. Reading over this I can see why he never talks back, I'm kinda boring and stupid and teenage girl-like. You can let me be self deprecating because none of you have even read this far, not even my computer. So now I'm talking to myself. Goodbye self!!!

Lizzy goes to Disneyland

2011-01-29T14:03:00.000-08:00

One of the perks of living in Southern California is that rather than spending a small fortune to take my kids to Disneyland, they get to go there on field trips. Yesterday, Lizzy went to Disneyland with her school orchestra. I didn't go but a friend did and took lots of nice photos.

I'm also including some video. I think they sound pretty good for a middle school orchestra. They are playing the Finale of the Surprise Symphony by Joseph Haydn.

Sunday Music

2011-01-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

Sunday is a day of rest. For my parents that means rest from Zoey's and my volume war to see what can be played louder; Taylor Swift or Harry Potter on CD. On Sunday we only listen to Sunday music and we only read books. I have a clever solution. Owl City has 'Sunday Music.' On his blog Owl City does a cover of the song In Christ Alone. You can listen to it here. This is a really amazing song I really like a what he did. I'm very impressed by how sincere he sounds. Although not all his posts are even remotely serious reading his blog inspires me to be better. My mother would like me to list examples such as reading The Screwtape Letters and arranging music, but I think the most amazing thing is me actually writing on this blog. Yeah, that's impressive.
<3,
Lizzy

How to scare your mother

2011-01-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

We had a lovely Christmas which if I get my act together I may blog about. But for now I'm going back to the one or two photos a day--much more my speed. This photo was taken New Year's Day. We went to Joshua Tree which is little boy heaven because there are so many rocks to climb. We met up with Bill's sister and at the outset I told her we needed to keep an eye on Will because he seemed to think he could climb everything John could. Her 3-year-old son had the same problem. He thought he could do everything Will could. She proved to be a better parent because she kept Alex from getting hurt. In the meantime just as I predicted Will fell and scraped both of his knees. Yes, he was wearing shorts even though it was barely 40 degrees. (Read on, the bad parenting continues.) Both Bill and I ran to comfort Will. In the meantime a man called out. "Hey you'd better spot your son." We turned around to see this.

Actually this photo was taken a minute later. In that time, Bill had run from where I took the photo back to the rock. Bill's the figure in the dark brown jacket. But he wasn't fast enough. Moments after I snapped this photo on my phone, John slipped. The man who had warned us, the middle figure in the tan jacket was closest and caught John preventing his head from hitting the rocks. Bill brought back a very distraught 6-year-old boy but other than being scared, John was unharmed. The man and his daughter continued on their hike and we drove off to another part of the park. We were all so distressed that I didn't think to go thank the man who caught my son. Now, I wish I had. John is a heavy boy, he could have injured this good Samaritan. So I really regret, not thanking this man. But I thank God for protecting my crazy boy--even when his parents don't.

Things I love about Christmas #4: Being home for Christmas

2010-12-22T19:08:00.001-08:00

We've had a steady deluge for almost a week now. The most rain in 10 years and the rain just keeps coming. I like rain and it has made it all the more cozy to getting ready for Christmas with rain pelting on the skylights. This afternoon the sun came out for a moment and then the rain started again.

Rain + sun = Lizzy was upstairs practicing guitar and then there was this frantic yelling. I thought she was hurt until she came down stairs and I could hear that she was just yelling, "A rainbow!" It was a lovely full bow that seemed to hum. We all went out in the wet to admire it.

We returned to putting lights on the tree. I may be too persnickety or take too many rainbow breaks but it takes me an awful long time to put lights on a tree. John and Will were getting impatient. I told John he could untangle lights for me. I came out from behind the tree and found every outlet in the family room had a long string of lights coming out of it. Also, Will had given up on waiting and hung a dozen red balls.

The lights are all up now. We hung a Christmas garland--a surprise gift from a dear friend-- and Zoey is dancing with her bunny to Christmas music.

Things I love about Christmas: #3 Gingerbread and Generosity

2010-12-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

Zoey made this once-cute gingerbread house at activity days. After much pleading, she gave it to her brothers. They knew exactly what to do with it.

Any ideas how John did this to his shoes?

2010-12-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

In just three months?

To prolong the life of his next pair of shoes I decided to buy two pairs. One of them fittingly has flames.

John talks about his new shoes like a new car. "I'm not sure how fast they are yet. I haven't run in them at full speed. I think the flames will make me faster."

Things I love about Christmas: #2 Christmas Books

2010-12-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

This year I finally did something I've been meaning to do for years. At the beginning of the month Will and I wrapped up all of our Christmas books and set them under the tree in the boys room. Each night we open one book and read it together by the light of the tree. Last night we read "The Mole Family Christmas" a favorite from my childhood and another chapter of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" which we opened a few days ago. Now instead of dreading the chaos of the boys bedtime I look forward to the quiet magic of sitting by a lit tree in a dark room.

Things I love about Christmas-- #1 Christmas Pageants

2010-12-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

A traitor to my 10-year-old self, sometimes I dread December. Sometimes I just feel like the holidays are a long to do list with a very firm deadline. I've learned to look forward to the blessed emptiness of January. A few years ago as my Dec. dread was coming on I decided to write a list of the things I love best about Christmas and focus on those. Last Saturday we had our ward Christmas party--the last activity I was in charge of (something to celebrate in of itself) and I tried to fill it with the things I love about Christmas.

We decorated the table with fresh greens, clementines and candy canes. The whole room smelled of fresh cut pine. We served soups and bread. Then people broke into groups and went caroling in the neighborhood. Like dancing--some people are too shy to carol but those who did had a great time. Afterward everyone met outside the church for cocoa and cookies (another Christmas favorite of mine) and to watch the Primary Christmas pageant. There were quite a few dissenting voices about having the pageant outside. But I thought it was lovely.

It was a comfortable 53 degrees (though some California natives complained about the cold). Actually I felt like the chill made the story feel more real. Standing on dewy grass under the stars, it was easy to imagine how it felt to be a shepherd. Will (standing next to Joseph) was a such a sweet a shepherd. I wish I had the chance to take a closer picture. John (the middle wise man) took his role very seriously. I love those moments when my rambunctious boy is still. Zoe was supposed to be Mary with Malachi (one of her presidential opponents) but it was her best friend's birthday party and she turned down the role of Mary (something she's been anticipating for years) to be with Mia. The pageant ended with us all singing silent night. I'm hoping I can keep some of the peace of that moment in my heart through all of December.

A rare sight in San Diego

2010-11-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

We found this sheet of ice in a wheel barrow this morning. For most of you ice in November is no big deal. But in San Diego ice is so rare it seems almost magical. It's definitely beautiful.

We've had an incredible Thanksgiving despite the fact that Bill had to work over the holiday and I'm hobbling around in a cam boot. I sprained my ankle badly on Saturday. My sister and her family have been visiting and since she does such a lovely job documenting our fun, I'm taking it easy.

Build a ship before school

2010-11-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

Will was very busy this morning building a ship out of blocks. He was trying to make it look like this ship in a picture book about Columbus. I wish I could describe how delightful Will is in the morning. Before the sun is up he sneaks into my room with messy hair and giggling with joy. For Will every morning is as wonderful as Christmas. I wish I knew what he is so happy about, perhaps just being alive.

Now that Halloween is Over

2010-11-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning as I was working on this blog, John was busily working on his Christmas list for Santa. I wasn't paying him much attention but I remember him saying something like, "Oh there isn't enough room. I'll have to send him another letter."

I've never had a child write a letter to Santa, other than a school assignment. And in that case they've always had a hard time coming up with something they want. At 6 all Lizzy wanted was unsharpened pencils and chocolate.

So what does a 6-year-old boy want? Letter number 1: A metal detector, a robin hood costume, a tree fort, a wooden snow man that he can paint, a cash register, a barbecue, a hippity hop and a balance board. Letter number 2:. nutcracker, an indian tent with a fake axe and a "cwivar fll of earose and a boe." Bonus points for those who can decipher John's spelling.

The Super Duper Deluxe Halloween 2010 Edition

2010-11-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

We kicked off our Halloween festivities with the 2nd Annual Great Pumpkin Hunt. I always feel a bit exploited going to pumpkin patches. But going to the grocery store is not festive enough. So last year the family night before Halloween I hid pumpkins in the yard. This year we invited some friends over. If it's possible, we had even more fun. There's something thrilling about wandering the yard after dark, with flashlights.

The happy pumpkin hunters.

Here is Lizzy as Glinda the Good at our Ward's Halloween Carnival. I think it's worth mentioning that she made this costume. Of course the costume was a lot easier to make after we found a pink sequin tank top at Target. This was Lizzy's first time sewing an article of clothing and I think she did great. She really did it on her own since I was so busy getting ready for the Halloween carnival. When I left to set up at the church she was still sewing the skirt and needed to add sleeves, make the crown, wand and butterfly. She was Glinda because he friend Jackie was the Wicked Witch of the West.

The two of them grabbed some random two-year-old Dorothy to pose with them for a photo. Note: the cool back drop my friend Jordan helped me paint for the carnival.

I was actually kind of in charge of this party. I'm the activity chair. I wasn't completely in charge because we combined with another ward. It was not just a trunk or treat. We had carnival games, face painting, balloon animals, a cup cake walk and a spook alley put on by the young men. For some reason the young men used the head of a hammer head shark in the spook alley. Half the building smelled like dead fish. Fortunately, we ate outside where the evening was lovely. People really went all out for their costumes.

The most amazing was this family's rendition of the movie "UP".

We tried to have a family photo but John ran off. I wanted to make Bill a wolf costume to go with my Little Red Riding Hood which I've been wearing for the past 6 years but I didn't get around to it. Not surprisingly Will was a king. He wears some version of that costume every day. Zoey spent all her summer savings on her Southern Belle dress. Sometimes I find her sleeping in it. This is not such a good photo of me but captures well how I felt. That morning after running in the rain, I came home to find sewage seeping up the shower drain in the downstairs bathroom. We couldn't use water--meaning no shower for me-- until a plumber came well after I had left for to set up for the carnival.

Finally, a picture of John as a rat. He's actually Templeton, his favorite character from Charlotte's Web. I modified gray sweats to make his costume.

We had a nice quiet evening at home Halloween night.

We discovered roasting candy corn. Which is really pretty yummy but kind of tricky to roast. Warning: Do not try this at home.

Lizzy and my dad made doughnuts. She doubled the recipe because we had this vision of sharing doughnuts with trick-or-treaters. In the end we didn't get very many trick-or-treaters and all three came over before the doughnuts were finished. But some friends came over and we had a brief impromptu party eating doughnuts in front of the fire.

The creepiest Halloween Costume

2010-11-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

A guy in our Ward got it into his head to dress up as Bill for Halloween. It was spooky walking down the halls of the church and running into Bill's doppelganger. The best part was when the costume judges (from a different Ward) said, "Wait don't tell me. You're Doogie Howser."

This family may not be cut out for politics

2010-11-03T16:03:00.000-07:00

This morning all the candidates came to school early for breakfast. Just before school starts, Mr. Todd uncovers the white board with the winners names on it. Zoey was so nervous she turned her back before he uncovered the board. We watched from outside and saw some kids jump up and down. Immediately one girl ran out and kept running, ignoring her mom. I couldn't see Zoey. Other kids, mostly sad looking kids, came out of the bungalow. We could see Zoe through the window. Malachi's mom said, "Zoey looks happy." Malachi came out looking somber. Soon Zoe came out and said in disbelief, "I won."

Lizzy teared up, not because she was so happy for her sister but because she felt bad for Malachi. I have to admit I felt bad too--like we had stolen the election from him with our Z buttons and stickers and our glitter t-shirts.

You'll be glad to know that after my walk home my winner's remorse was replaced with mother's pride. I put on my vote for Zoe t-shirt and went grocery shopping. A mother I recognize but had never talked to told me that both of her kids voted for Zoe. She asked if election results were out yet. I told her Zoe won and she cheered.

Election Day

2010-11-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

I've just returned from the assembly in which Zoey gave her campaign speech. She was the last speaker and did a great job. I think she was the only candidate to get laughter from the audience. I just enjoyed watching her so I didn't take a very good photo. It really doesn't tell the story because I caught one of the few moments she wasn't grinning. When Zoey gets nervous she smiles, so most of the speech she smiled a way. It was charming. Hopefully, some of the third and 4th grade boys will think so too, break tradition and vote for a girl.

Here she is with the other two presidential candidates. Everyone voted immediately after the assembly. We find out the results tomorrow morning.

Friday 6 p.m.

2010-10-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

John: Why do I have to take this down?

Mom: Think about it.

John: I'm serious, why do I have to take this down?

Safety Patrol on Halloween

2010-10-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Campaign t-shirts

2010-10-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

We spent a good part of the weekend making glittery campaign t-shirts. Actually, I folded laundry and chatted while my friend Jordan taught my daughters how to make stencils out of freezer paper on Friday. My contribution was the idea to use glitter and purchasing the fabric glitter and glue. On Saturday Lizzy and the neighbor girls spent hours cutting stencils. Another friend helped make buttons with glittery Z's on it. All the shirts turned out great--we've made one for everyone in our family. I plan to post more photos but for now here's some photos of the candidate herself.

How to make Lizzy Smile

2010-10-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

She asked if she could smile with her mouth closed and I said, "If you possibly can." But since for months she has had a chain in her room counting down the days till Taylor Swift's new album comes out and because in a moment of extreme mother indulgence I bought her the People magazine with Taylor Swift on the cover (the first time I've bought People in my life) she couldn't stop smiling. We went to Target almost as soon as it opened this morning to purchase the Target exclusive album with 6 extra songs and because we love any excuse to go to Target. How do they always manage to fill the store with so many things I didn't know I always needed?

A warning: When I started posting again I said I might post a picture every day. But then I thought better of it. Who really wants to read about the Mitchells every day? But this week we have so much going on with Halloween and Zoe's campaign that I will probably post every day and then some.

A small celebration

2010-10-22T23:23:00.000-07:00

I've been promising for weeks that if all the Mitchell kids remember to make their bed on the same day--without being asked--we'd go out for frozen yogurt. As you can tell from John's cup, he knows how to celebrate. That's blueberry yogurt with chocolate covered raisins, jelly beans and sour patch kids. I almost got a shot of Lizzy with her new braces. And then she noticed me.

She got them on Wednesday and it has been a painful adjustment. The boys have been anything but sensitive, coming up in her face all the time asking, "Can I see your braces, show me your braces, open your mouth." or "Do you still have braces? Let me see." Anyhow she was really excited to have frozen yogurt because it would be soft enough to eat. And then without thinking she sprinkled Heath Bar chunks on hers--ah the irony. It was a sacrifice but I helped eradicate the Heath bar pieces.

Zoe for President

2010-10-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

One of the things Zoey looked forward to doing in fifth grade was to run for Student Body Treasurer. The office seemed the perfect fit for a girl who spends many a happy evening counting her money. But before class elections it became apparent that several of her friends also dreamed of being treasurer. She asked around and no one she knew was running for president. So she decided to give it a try. She did such an aggressive campaign asking for votes, that when they had class elections no on else ran against her. She didn't even have to give her speech. She now has till Nov. 2 to convince the rest of fifth grade as well as 3rd and 4th graders to vote for her.

Now for a little political analysis of the competition. She has two other competitors. First, Annie from her girl scout troop. This will divide two important voting sectors: her girl scout troop and the girl vote. Her other opponent is Malachi. A boy in her primary class and a good family friend. Now the Mormon vote is split too. Not that it was a very big vote to begin with --there are only three Mormons in 5th grade. And three more in 3rd and 4th. But she was hoping to have other kids from church in lower grades campaign for her. As elementary politics go, its considered a given that Malachi has the boy vote. Yesterday he was walking down the halls at church with his shoes tied together. You would think that it would be easy to beat a boy like that, but I'm afraid--considering his constituency--that's just the thing that will push him ahead in the polls.

Today she will come home with the campaign rules and then we will develop a campaign strategy and then we will begin the frenzied cycle of fundraiser dinners and campus rallies. At least Zoey really does enjoy kissing babies.

Lizard Traps

2010-10-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

Since we've moved to this house, one of John's favorite activities has been catching lizards. He's pretty adept at catching baby lizards by the tail but the big ones always elude him. So he sets traps. I'm always coming across lizard traps--cardboard boxes with cardboard ramps and rotting fruit for bait (to attract the the flies lizards eat). Sometimes there are pulleys and buckets involved. Recently I became pretty irate when I discovered John had emptied the entire big blue recycling can to make lizard traps. The yard was littered with cereal boxes, shoe boxes and tin cans. In a desperate search for boxes John took the box of dryer sheets from the laundry room--still full of perfectly good dryer sheets--for a lizard trap. All of this work for 16 months and nothing to show for it until now.

When I first saw John holding this creature by the tail it was so big and meaty I thought he had caught a mouse.

It was a beauty. The lizard had a pretty blue chin and belly.

John spent a half hour walking around with the lizard on his shirt. He spent the next half hour designing and building improvements on the lizard's home (the bucket he was found in). He made shade and hung a banana peel from the roof. Apparently the lizard didn't appreciate John's efforts. At his first chance--as soon as the boy with the pterodactyl shirt--turned his back, the lizard made his escape.

Good Neighbors

2010-10-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday night my neighbors called and said she had some food for us. I had just put a chicken pot pie in the oven but it would take more than an hour to cook and I knew from experience that what she was serving would be better. I think as American cooks go I'm pretty good, but ZoZo (pronounced ZuZu) my Palestinian neighbor puts me to shame. Sunday night we had homemade hummus, babaghanoog, dawali, oozi rice, roast chicken, beef and potatoes, taboulah, watermelon and cactus fruit. We always have a good time visiting while the kids play games. Sometimes we compare and contrast the similarities and differences of our religions. This was especially true one dinner we had together on a fast Sunday during Ramadan. It was lovely breaking our fast together.

Lately there has been a lot of anti-Muslim talk in this country and it makes me heart sick. These are good people who are being persecuted for their religion. Zozo tells me that she's had people swear at her, make crude hand gestures and tell her to leave the country--all as she is driving her kids around in her minivan. She points to her head scarf and says, "It's because I wear this, but I love my religion."

How can we help but love such good, generous people?

A spaceship that can land on anything

2010-10-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

This past week John and Will have been grounded from Legos. As much as I believe in consequences, I have been tempted to give the Legos back early because they are so good at keeping the boys quiet and busy. Anyhow, tomorrow is the blessed day they get their Legos back. In the meantime, John is making due with blocks and lots of tape. Here is his most recent creation. One pencil is a rocket engine the other is a missile. This spaceship also has a computer and a dock for a robot spy ship.

More glitter

2010-10-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

This is why we had glitter out. Once a month we have a family night focused on putting on the armor of God. This week we made shields of Faith. The above shield was Lizzy's.

This was mine. John's had a lion (Aslan--he's obsessed with Narnia right now) and Zoey's was a smiley face that said, "Love one another." Will's was even more abstract.

Will puts his new shield to use as he fights a dragon fruit. At least once a day, Will puts on his armor and informs me, "Mom, I going out to fight dragons now."

The glitter Nazi--Monday Oct. 4

2010-10-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

We were working on a family night craft and Bill was being the glitter Nazi. Fussing over glitter getting in the cracks of the table or on the floor. I suggested that it was just glitter not toxic waste and a little bit of glitter in the house wouldn't hurt anyone. I joked that he better watch out, next time he falls asleep we are going to give him a glitter mustache. He preempted us and made one himself.

Two Pictures

2010-10-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

Maybe one of the things that keeps me from blogging is that I make such a production of each post. So I'm going to try something simpler: a picture a day or every few days or once a week. I will try not to worry too much about the writing or the quality of the photos but capturing our daily lives. I have a lot of great photos from this summer that I hope to post someday but for now here are two more recent photos.

Rainy days here are like the snowy days of my childhood. Instead of putting on boots and gloves the kids put on swimsuits and go play in the rain. The picture I wish I had taken was of Zoey standing out in the rain in a pink shirt and a black tulle skirt with her arms outstretched and her face turned up to the sky.

Today is the last day of General Conference. Oh how I love General Conference. There is so much to love about General Conference but one of the best parts is sitting together as a family. The boys play blocks and legos, Zoey sews for her dolls and Bill paints Lizzy's toenails.

So much to celebrate

2010-06-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

Last week was a busy one it started with Father's day and Lizzy's 13th birthday. My dad and Bill put up with pink decorations and Lizzy had ribs for her birthday dinner. You can spare all the wisecracks about teenagers. Lizzy is an absolute delight. We love having her around.

The next day was the last day of school (June 21st, it felt like it would never come) and the day after that was Will's birthday.

Will pretty much thinks he's King Arthur--I don't really mind because he calls me queen. So we recycled Zoey's 4-year-old princess party and had a King Arthur party. We made shields instead of tiaras but we still had a treasure hunt for a dragon pinata.

The little rhyme I wrote for his invitation sums up the party nicely:

Come all ye knights and ladies fair
To a castle built o'er a dragon's lair.
Celebrate the birthday of a king,
East some cake, dance in a fairy ring.
We'll slay the dragon before it's o'er
And crown King Arthur who is turning 4!

We took one day off and then we had Lizzy's Harry Potter movie marathon party. The girls ate mass quantities of movie candy so I didn't really need to make a cake; but I couldn't resist such a good excuse to make a Union Jack flag cake.

Lizzy has two groups of friends: those who like Twilight and those who love to hate it. Most of the friends at the Harry Potter party fall into the latter category. But they all love Lizzy so much that they gave her lots of Twilight paraphernalia--which all came in handy the next night for Lizzy's birthday party part B: We watched New Moon in my friend's swanky private theater.

Note: Lizzy's New Moon t-shirt a gift from a Twilight-Hater Friend.

Once again this seemed a good excuse for edible art. They are wolf cupcakes--really cute, but hard to photograph. Finally, one last shot of Will in his new church clothes that he got for his Birthday--and yes that's what he asked for. John jumped in to make the picture just about perfect.

Sacrifice brings...

2010-02-18T05:43:00.000-08:00

Six years ago today I came to the end of my most miserable pregnancy. For the last few months my skin itched so much that each night before bed Bill would wrap my arms mummy-like in towels and tape to keep me from scratching in my sleep. Each morning, we'd find that I'd removed the towels and scratched my arms raw again. It really looked like I was bleeding from every pore. I spent all my waking hours thinking--"Don't itch, don't itch, don't itch--just breathe."

Most of the time I try to forget that experience. But it all came back yesterday afternoon as I was hurrying into my room and I found this on my pillow.

I guess all that misery was worth it.

Definitely, worth it.

Happy Birthday John!

2009 Slideshow

2010-01-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

For the past four years I've made a slide show to watch New Year's Eve. It's hard to sum up a year in a hundred or so photos and a song but I try. I actually really enjoy the process, it's amazing to see how much happens in a year, especially this year. A few things to note: the tree is the Jacaranda tree we planted on my mom's birthday there's a great story behind it which I never wrote about but my sister did in her blog.

The big white flowers are dragon fruit blossoms. They bloom at night and the blossom only lasts a day. The ones in the photo bloomed the night of my mom's birthday. The jets are the blue angels which fly by our house for an airshow each Oct. John and Zoey are running to school. This was the first day of school but they run nearly every day. Some time in Dec. Will decided he was King Arthur so I made him a crown. As you can see my back healed enough to fly to Utah for Christmas. Bill and I even got away for a night to celebrate our 14th anniversary. My back continues to get better even if it's not as fast as I'd like. I'm hoping 2010 will be a year of healing.

Angels

2009-12-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

I believe in angels. Mormons do. We've been ridiculed for this belief. But we still cling to it, because angels are a physical reminder of God's love. This past month, I have had a lot of experience with angels.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland clarified Mormon doctrine on angels in one of my all time favorite talks. He said,

"God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children....Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort..."

I believe in unseen angels, truly I feel my mom's presence often. But right now I want to write about living angels. Elder Holland said:

"I have spoken here of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods."

Since I've hurt my back so many people have done so much for me and my family. Below is a pillow made by a friend. When I start worrying about whether I'll ever get better, Bill likes to throw it at me.

On Will's nightstand sit the trophies of his many play dates. Not only have my friends taken him for the morning (and sometime the entire day) but they do crafts. He's made Christmas ornaments, painted a picture frame and even made a race car.

Here he is in a knight costume at the park on a day-long play date. Even though my dad told the Ward we didn't need dinners, friends brought them anyhow. One night a couple who didn't know about my injury brought over a bunch of tamales as an early Christmas gift.

Last night the primary children came to my home to sing and act in the Christmas pageant, since I couldn't make the Ward Christmas party. These angels even had halos.

But by far the most angelic service has come from my father.

My injury came at a time when Bill's work was most pressing and he did not have the option of taking time off. My dad canceled everything and has taken over my job. Just today Will told me, "My grandpa is my mom."

My dad makes breakfast, walks the kids to school and back, drives to lessons, does the laundry, makes dinner and does the dishes--all while trying to run a major business. He has been amazing and I so appreciate his help. It has been an honor to be served by him.

It has also been satisfying to have someone who truly understands my daily challenges. The other day he said, "One person can not take care of four children. It is impossible!" When after 19 days Bill finally had a day off, my dad was jubilant. He said he couldn't believe how much easier it was when Bill was around. I replied, "Believe me, I know."

Watching my dad wait for Bill for dinner, I can't help but see the irony. For so many years, it was my dad who was late to dinner. My dad never complains, he understands long hours. Now he also understands the long hours a mother puts in. He keeps talking about my mom. He speaks almost in awe of how hard and for how long she worked. She had it much harder than I do.

Since I became a mother, my gratitude for my mom increases every day. But this injury has given me a greater appreciation for my mom. For the last 10 years of her life my mom lived in a lot of pain. Walking and standing were particularly painful for her. I tried to be understanding, but really I wasn't. It is so hard to see beyond your own experience. I always pushed my mom to walk a little farther--mainly because I wanted her with me. I never understood the price she paid afterward.

This week I started feeling a little better and my dad and I went to the fabric store to get something for a Christmas present. In less the 10 min., I was pretty miserable and trying to hide my pain. I'd been to that same store with my mom many times and remember her leaving early to go sit in the car. I just didn't get it, I couldn't see how just standing could be painful. Now I do. I'm glad for the times when I was understanding and helpful. I wish I had been more.

All of us have limited experiences, we don't really know what others are going through. Someday we might, or we might never. For that reason most acts of service are to some extent acts of faith. We serve without perfectly understanding the trials others face; we serve without perfectly knowing the impact of our actions.

I am grateful to be served by so many. There's a part of me that hesitates to write this because I believe once again I've been blessed and loved far beyond my merit. But I wanted to publicly thank those who have helped me, especially my father. I want to get better so I can serve others as well as I've been served.

Elder Holland closed his talk:

"I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face."

I too,testify of angels.

“I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, . . . my Spirit shall be in your [heart], and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”
D&C 84:88.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-28T20:10:00.000-08:00

With me flat on my back and Bill swamped with work, you'd think having 12 house guests for Thanksgiving might be a disaster. But really it was a delight. With lots of air mattresses we crammed everyone into the house. I don't think we've ever had so much of my family under the same roof for so long and I don't think we've ever had so much fun.

On Tuesday a group went to Disneyland.

On Wednesday everyone helped get ready for the big feast and then went to the beach. The weather was perfect 80 and clear. Obviously, I stayed home, so no photos.

On Thursday we did more meal prep and then the beach again. It was wonderful how much everyone pitched in. Mike made pie crusts; Ben, Stefan and Michelle did pie fillings. Erik cooked stuffing; my dad, Mary, and Zoe made the butterflake rolls. Mike cooked the turkey. Bill made gravy. Cheri roasted squash. Stefan prepared the cranberry ice, Mike froze it.

Everyone also helped with the table setting. I was perhaps a bit fussy about setting a pretty table. But a well set table was important to my mom. We used persimmons and persimmon leaves for place cards. I spent Thanksgiving and most of my time downstairs reclined on a brown chaise lounge. While I was hobbling around setting the table. My nephews--Ben and Stefan-- set my chair. In the middle of the chair sat a plate with a persimmon that read, Aunt Ruthie. On one arm rest sat a glass, knife and spoon, on the other a fork and napkin.

We ate just a little after sunset-- a little later than usual but it meant that we could have candles and that Bill could make it to dinner.

All in all it was a very happy thanksgiving. And though maybe I did a bit too much with my bad back. I didn't do any dishes. And that is something to be thankful for.

paciencia

2009-11-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

Even the untrained eye can see something's not quite right with this MRI of my spine. I ruptured a disc. Don't ask me how, I don't really know. The most honest answer is I've been carrying around too much for too long without adequate rest.

I've spent the last week laying in bed strengthening my patience.

From the moment we started to dream about buying this house we felt it deserved a name. Before we lived here we considered the Villa Loco. It seemed such a crazy dream and a crazy house and admittedly our life is plenty crazy. But as soon as we moved in--we knew that name wasn't right. There's a peacefulness about our home and our yard--a sense of enchantment. In the morning and the evening the fog rolls in and sometimes it looks like the whole yard is floating in clouds. I toyed with names involving dragons since we have an abundance of dragon fruit: Dragon Head, Dragon Orchard, Dragon Dreams. I suggested the more prosaic Pomegranate Point or Persimmon Point. Every suggestion was shot down until I suggested: Paciencia. The Spanish word for patience.

So much requires patience. It will take many years before this house and yard reach their potential. The same can be said of my children and myself. All the fruit bearing trees in the yard are tokens of patience. You must wait many months, sometimes years for good things to bear fruit.

Naming my house--even in my own head--has brought me some comfort. I like to think when I come home and enter our front courtyard--that I've entered a state of patience. Patience is an overlooked virtue. It seems like doing nothing, but it's not really, patience is about sustaining hope.

I also like what Neal A. Maxwell said:

"Patience is a willingness, in a sense to watch the unfolding purposes of God with a sense of wonder and awe--rather than pacing up and down in the cell of our circumstances."

My sister and brother are coming in town for Thanksgiving today. I'm flat on my back while my dad cleans the guest bathroom. It so happens that this all falls during one of Bill's busiest weeks at work. Sometimes in life all we can do is be patient.

How am I doing?

2009-10-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

I started a blog with this title a month ago and never finished. I really relate to what C.S. Lewis wrote after his wife died: "..no one told me about the laziness of grief...I loathe the slightest effort." With a move and the start of school I haven't really been lazy but I want to be. And with the scraps of free time left, I just want to be quiet--read, think, sleep. So, I've failed to return calls or reply to emails or send thank you notes. All of those will come, but for now I just wanted to let you all know: I'm OK. I've loved your cards, comments, gifts and especially the letters. It comforts me to know a friend across the country is thinking of me. I just find it hard to reach back.

I checked my sister's blog several weeks ago and noticed there were several comments from my friends who haven't heard from me and so read her blog to check up on me. (That's only part of the story--my sister's blog is just fun to read.) I'm so glad my sister's writing still. I'm amazed that she's had the strength to do so. I haven't--not yet.

How am I doing? Mainly, I find it counter-productive to think too much about that question. I'm sad but going forward as best I can. Some days are beautiful and some are difficult. Isn't that how it is for all of us.

Babysitting

2009-07-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is Lizzy. I have been too busy and too lazy to blog recently. I have been babysitting a lot (nearly everyday since the middle of May.) I think my siblings are getting very sick of me. Anyways, i just wanted to say hi.

A bend in the road

2009-07-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

Last winter when Bill and I were trying to decide where we would settle when he finished his medical training, we each would express the same idea, "I just can't picture us here." Or "I don't know, whenever I think about the summer it's a big blank." We had no idea what was coming.

In one week at the end of April we found out that my mom had a tumor on Monday and on Friday we were notified that we were being kicked out of our home. OK our lease was up and our landlord's son was getting a divorce and needed a place to live, but after you live in a house for 4 years it feels like home and we have loved this place. I felt certain that if I shared it with enough people God would give me the chance to buy it. Needless to say I was sorely disappointed. That Sunday in church the opening song was "Be still My Soul" I sat next to my 11-year-old daughter who sat next to my mom. I cried the whole song.

Be still my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief and pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change he faithful will remain.
Be still my soul; Thy best thy heavenly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

The month of May was tough. We found the house we wanted early on but it took a month of negotiating and waiting until our offer was accepted. In the meantime, my mom's health went down fast. The house we found has two master bedrooms and the plan was to have my parents move into the ground-floor master bedroom; so we could help my dad care for my mom. We all were so looking forward to this.Often when I sat by her bedside she'd ask me to tell her about the house. She'd say, "I like to imagine I'm sitting out there with the fruit trees and it smells so beautiful. Does it smell like orange blossoms?"

Well we got the house, but I lost my mom.

We closed this week. We took the boys to see it for the first time on Wednesday. It is quite the house. Very quirky, there's a reason it's been on the market for more than a year--but just right for us. It is hard in this area to find a home with more than three bedrooms. But this one has six. This gives us enough room for our four kids and my dad--who plans to spend as much time as possible living with us--and still leaves plenty of room for house guests. We actually will have two guest rooms. And we love to have family and friends visit--that would be you dear reader.

In addition to the extra master bedroom this house has all sorts of curious additions. There is a large rec room on the back of the house. In the real estate ad the room was described as good for table tennis or dancing. So we joke that we got a house with a ballroom.

However, the strangest addition is the second kitchen right next to the first kitchen. One friend suggested that the second kitchen is a canning kitchen which seems plausible because the yard has 80 fruit trees.

The kids loved the fruit trees. They ran around the yard harvesting ripe fruit. They kept bringing me offerings: luscious nectarines, macadamia nuts still in the shell, miniature peaches that melted in your mouth and had stones the size of a cherry pit. Most of the trees are mysteries to me. The former owner was Chinese and loved exotic fruit. I need to quickly find out what to do with ripe sapote, lychee, jujube and persimmon. Only one tree on the property does not bear fruit. The owner called it a flower tree. In the evening the whole yard smells of this tree, it smells like falling in love.

The yard is large for So. Cal -- almost a half acre, but it is entirely paved. Most people would consider this a negative but not us. To me all that concrete means less mud in the house, to Bill it is a very good excuse to purchase a jack hammer. Our plan is to take 10 years working as a family to make the house and the yard beautiful--beautiful to the outside world--to our little family it already is.

A page from my journal

2009-07-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

I recently reread this page from my journal and thought it captured well how I've been feeling the past couple of months.

May 28, 2009

I'm sitting with my mom--she is asleep. I came to watch her while my dad goes to a doctor's appointment. This is a peaceful, quiet moment. ...I'm holding up OK. Sometimes I think, "How am I going to get through all this?" This feels like more than my heart can bear. But mainly I just plod along grateful for all the help I get: Jen Winn's babysitting on Friday, Gary and Joan on Saturday, Colleen on Monday. Gary and Joan brought dinner. Maren watched kids on Tuesday. Beth watched Will yesterday. Christy watched both boys. Emily Wignall brought dinner. Isa brought bread. So many send notes and call and I know are praying for us...

Many other names and acts of service could now be added to this list. To those named and unnamed, thank you. Ruth

My talk at my mom's funeral June 18, 2009

2009-06-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

A little more than a month ago, I had the great blessing of speaking
in church on Mother's Day with my mother in the audience. She loved
the talk, of course she seemed to love everything I did. Still, since I
didn't have much time to prepare and I know she approves I'm going to
give much of that talk today. And I can see so clearly in my mind's
eye the memory of her sitting in a church much like this, beaming up
at me.

I want to begin with a poem about a parent's love by Robert Hayden.

Those Winter Sundays

Sundays too my father got up early
And put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

I'd wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he'd call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,

Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love's austere and lonely offices.

My mom loved this poem because it reminded her of own father, who
built fires in the morning to warm their cabin. I love this poem
because I relate so well with speaker, who as a child didn't
appreciate his parent's sacrifices. I love the line "What did I know,
what did I know" Like most kids, I took my mom for granted. Not until
I had my own children did I begin to have a glimpse of what an
extraordinary task it is to take care of a baby. Suddenly I was in awe
of my mom. What did I know of the sleepless nights, the physical toll
of pregnancy, the worry, the absolute loss of freedom--all for the
love of child. What did I know, What did I know.

It's been almost 12 years now since the birth of my first daughter and
I've become more acquainted with "love's austere and lonely offices."
In fact that has become sort of a catch phrase in our home. Whenever I
have to do another undesirable chore for a child--such as cleaning up
bodily fluids in the middle of the night--I say to myself just another
one of "love's austere and lonely offices." I find the phrase a
comfort because it turns menial work into an office of love. I feel
like I belong to a special order of those who love and indeed I do. As
followers of Christ we should all be well acquainted with "love's
austere and lonely offices." When he was on the earth he said, "A new
commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved
you." John 13:34

My mom was a woman of great faith. And she lived out that faith in
service. She knew well "love's austere and lonely offices." She
sacrificed so much. Whether it was getting up early in the blue black
morning to drive a daughter to swim team, or staying up late waiting
for a son to come home. My mom almost always made nutritious homemade
meals and we almost always complained--loudly. She planned and packed
for fun vacations with educational side trips and we whined that
we couldn't be like everyone else and go to Disneyland. My dad worked
long, long hours and she really had to do most of disciplining, caring
and teaching on her own. She was a worrier and yet, she put aside her
worries and actually pushed her children to go out into the world and
grow. One of the things I'm most grateful for is that when I turned 18
she made me move out. She said it was an important part of growing up.
I really didn't feel like moving out, but I did and I loved it. It was
an important move that gave me much needed confidence. She hated it,
only later did I realize how much she missed me. But she gave up what
she wanted, for what was best for me. That's what she always did. I
cannot possibly list all the sacrifices she made for her family and
many, many others who were dear to her.

When I spoke on Mother's Day and had the great blessing of publicly
thanking my mom, I thought I was beginning to understand a little of
my mom's love for her children. But really, I hardly knew. I think for
the last few years she's been in a good deal of pain. But rather than
inconvenience us she mainly suffered in silence. In her last few
weeks as her body grew weak and her spirit grew stronger, I could
just feel my mom's love. I'd sit by her bedside and she would hold my
hand and look at me with such adoration. I was and am overwhelmed by
her love. I realize I never even understood how much she loved me.

I cannot help but think that my mother's love is like God's love and
even those of us, who believe and feel God's love and care daily in
our lives--we don't really understand how dearly, dearly we are loved.
Indeed, the ultimate of "Love's austere and lonely offices" occurred
in Gethsemane. Elder Holland an apostle in our church spoke of this
recently he said:

"I speak of the loneliest journey ever made and the unending
blessings it brought to all in the human family. I speak of the
Savior’s solitary task of shouldering alone the burden of our
salvation. Rightly He would say: “I have trodden the winepress alone;
and of the people there was none with me. . . . I looked, and there
was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold [me].”1

One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because
Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to
do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little
version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the
unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of
the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the
veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these
and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because
of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel.
Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never
be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are.
Truly the Redeemer of us all said, “I will not leave you comfortless.
[My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”20

I read that passage over the pulpit a little over a month
ago, scarcely knowing how important that message would become to me. I
testify that God has not left his children alone. My family has not
been left unaided. The comforter is real. Yesterday morning I woke up
with such a heavy heart I did not know how I would get through the
day, a day in which I was expected to dress my mother's body and
attend her viewing. But we went to the temple in the morning and we
were given such a great gift of comfort--an absolute outpouring of
peace and joy and the sure knowledge that the soul is immortal and we
will see our mother again.

I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, because of the lonely
path he trod, I will see my mom again in a beautiful resurrected
disease free body. I am so grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus
Christ especially for temples a place where my parents were sealed so
that their marriage does not end at death but extends into the
eternities. And I am so grateful for my dear mom. It will be hard to
live the rest of my life without her, but death is not the end. I will
see her again. I so testify in the name of my Savior who made it all
possible, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

My Dear Mom

2009-06-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

Zoe Ann Farnsworth
August 24, 1943-June 14, 2009

Zoe Ann Farnsworth, daughter of Harold and Ruth Ann Johnson, was born in Boise, ID on Aug. 24, 1943, and died June 14, 2009 in San Diego, CA due to carcinoid tumors.

Zoe and her older brother Kay grew up in Boise. But their fondest memories of childhood were in the mountains of northern Idaho picking huckleberries on the shores of Payette Lake.

As a freshman at Boise Jr. College, Zoe met Ken Farnsworth Jr. Their courtship continued even after she transferred to Oregon State and he moved to the University of Utah. Five years later, Ken visited Zoe in San Francisco where she was teaching school and proposed to her at Half Moon Bay.

After their marriage and move to Salt Lake City, UT, three children followed in quick succession: Kenny (Becca), Mike and Michelle (Erik Lehnardt). At this time the young couple began searching for a faith. They were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Dec. 18, 1971. This decision shaped and guided the life of their family for good. A year after they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple they welcomed another daughter, Ruth Ann (Bill Mitchell). When a neighbor abandoned a foster child, Zoe took him in. Later, Dan was adopted into the family.

Zoe sacrificed her time, her health and many personal pursuits to nurture these five children

While her husband worked long hours building his business, she sewed magical costumes, supervised chores, fostered a love of reading, limited television and taught her children to cook. Her mothering was infused with humor and she was known to dye the mashed potatoes purple and disguise a turkey neck as the largest sundae to surprise a greedy son.

Zoe passed on her love of gardening to all her children. In every home she lived in, she designed, planted and tended a garden of fruits, vegetables, perennials and roses. Even in her last two years when her health failed her, she planted herbs, strawberries, and calla lilies at her winter home in San Diego.

Cultivating friendships came as naturally to Zoe as growing flowers. She had several “best friends.” Every holiday was marked with thoughtfully chosen gifts for friends and family and she delighted in surprises.

Survived by her 92-year-old ailing mother, Zoe was her caretaker until just weeks before her own death.

From diagnosis to her last breath, Zoe’s husband Ken served her every need.

Though her death came too soon, she was well prepared. She was fully cleansed by the atonement of Jesus Christ. She wrote her testimony in her final days saying, “I know Heavenly Father loves all his children and sees the deep good in all of us.” She also saw the good in everyone and had a great talent for forgiveness. It was a privilege to be with her in her last few weeks.

Her father precedes her in death and she leaves behind nineteen grandchildren who will dearly miss her pig stories. No one can tell a story like Grandma Zoe.

Friends and family are invited to attend a viewing in her honor on Wednesday, June 17^th at Larkin Mortuary 1950 E. 10600 S. from 6-8 p.m. Funeral will be held on Thursday, June 18^th at 11:00 a.m. at the Pepperwood Chapel 2195 E. Pepperwood Drive.

Pictures for Daddy

2009-03-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

Bill's been out of town for nearly a week now and we sure are missing him. I bet he is missing us too. So I took some photos for him. This is what everyone in our house was up to at about 4:36 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

Lizzy just home from school snarfs a Samoa.

John is building a private island for the worm he and his friend Sage discovered. After taking this picture, I stood for awhile looking at the mess and wondered what a good mom should do when her son plays in the mud. I like to believe I'm allowing him to fulfill a deep inner need, but maybe I'm just letting him run wild.

Zoey is doing her homework. Zoey takes school seriously. After I took this photo, she informed me that she had already started on tomorrow's homework.

I am folding laundry.

Will is sleeping. I do know exactly what a good mom does when she finds her two-year-old sleeping. Stroke his hair, listen to his breathing, stand in the still room, savor the moment.

On Temples

2009-03-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

I don't talk much about my faith on this blog. I figure most of you know that I am Mormon. I worry about talking too much about my beliefs because I don't want to profess much and do little. I hope that my life can be a testament of my faith. But sometimes I feel like speaking out. My sister and a friend recently started a blog called "Let's Talk Religion and Politics" it's meant to be a safe place for those of different faiths and political backgrounds to have meaningful conversations. This seemed the perfect place for me to say a few words about why I love the temple. Please check it out. Ruth

Love that Boy!

2009-02-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

It is hard enough for a family of six to get a decent family photo, but if John is in the family it is nearly impossible. He spoils/improves (depending on your point of view) pictures by purposely pulling silly faces. In 2007 our attempt at a Christmas card was a fiasco. This year our friend Isa took more than 300 shots which was barely enough because John made a goofy face in all but something like three. One morning I found Bill sorting through the photos and cropping all of John's silly faces. Below is just a sampling.

As he worked in photoshop, Bill kept repeating a line from a poem by Walter Dean Myers. "Love that boy, like a rabbit loves to run. Love th boy, like a rabbit loves to run." Now whenever John does something exasperating, such as rub a glue stick on Zoey's chair, someone in the family says, "Love that boy." I'm often saying "Love that boy" as I take John to time out, which is often.

Today is John's birthday, he is five and we all truly do love that boy. After witnessing an afternoon of John's explosive energy and astounding capacity for destruction, a neighbor boy nicknamed him Nuclear John. An apt name but John has his quiet side too. He loves to be read to and will be still for hours listening to a book. He also grows quiet and focused as he builds with his blocks. He picks me flowers and leaves me love notes on my pillow. I may be blinded by a mother's love, but I think most of John's wildness is simply an enthusiastic celebration of life. John never gives a hug with out a running start. I call them attack hugs.

Love that boy!

Hull's Visit and a Happy New Year

2009-02-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

One reason I've found blogging difficult this year is we have way too many photos. Both Bill and Lizzy got new cameras for Christmas. Three cameras in the house make it hard for me to keep track of photos. For instance we had more than 3,000 photos in December. However, this is the sort of tribulation I think I can adjust to. It's nice to have Bill back behind the camera again, check out this great photo he took of Zoey.

Also, the camera came just in time to document the Hull Family's visit. I met Becky in the dorms at the University of Utah in the Fall of 1992, I met Bill the the next day. The three of us have been friends ever since. Becky wrote a great account of their visit in her blog, Holus Bolus.

Reading just a few of Becky's posts will give you a good sense of the Hull family and especially what a fabulous person Becky is. Since the day I met her, I've been trying to be more like Becky. Becky's post is fairly thorough, still there are a few photos I'd like to add.

We celebrated their daughter Helen's 4th birthday during their visit,

as well as our 13th wedding anniversary--both on the same day. We did not draw this heart on the beach, but it was there and it was our anniversary and the sun was setting and why not?

We also had a New Year's eve party with the Hull's, my parents and my brother Mike and his two kids. We took a great picture of Mike that I would have liked to have posted, but he stealthily deleted it from Bill's camera. The Hull's visit as well as my brother's made the whole week after Christmas feel like a party. We loved it. Please come again, soon. And the invitation goes to all of you.

Christmas Highlights

2009-02-08T21:11:00.000-08:00

A perk of being a stay-at-home mom is the lack of firm deadlines. As you may have noticed, I've become pretty comfortable with letting things slide; such as posting about Christmas in February. But Christmas is different. You can't procrastinate Christmas gifts. Actually you can, I do almost every year. But it doesn't work very well in fact the results can be traumatic. This is why the week after Thanksgiving I found myself positively dreading Christmas. I just didn't feel like all the stress and excess. So I sat down and wrote a list of what I love about Christmas and I'm not sure how I did it but I stuck to the list and we had a very, merry Christmas. Below is this list illustrated with photos.

1. Christmas Cards
We hang friends Christmas cards in our dining room. I still haven't taken them down because I love looking at all my friends. It feels like a virtual party. Also, I leave them up so there's a place to hang the one or two late cards that arrive each February. I may admire those of you who send yours like clock work on Dec. 1 each year, but I reserve a special place in my heart for those who send Christmas cards late.

2. The Christmas Story --especially when acted out by small children in a Christmas pageant. We participated in two pageants this year. And the first pageant really changed my heart. The real baby Jesus cried and Mary's (Lizzy's) head scarf kept falling off but these things just made the story feel more real. I left truly wanting to celebrate.

3. Christmas decorations The most important being a lighted tree in a dark room, which is even nicer when you have a Grandma to tell you stories.

I always trim a lot of branches off my tree so the ornaments can hang better. This year I used the trimmed branches to make this garland. I added red berries and other greenery from my yard. Yes, I impress myself.

4. Music As I decorated the tree Lizzy got out the hymn book and started playing Christmas carols. Every day I got to hear Christmas music when the girls practiced piano. Their piano recital, which was held at our house, turned into a real party. After the planned program some of the kids went home and got their other instruments. In addition to the piano we heard: cello, clarinet, trumpet and saxaphone. In this photo a father and daughter are playing Pachelbel Canon.

For the last three years, we have gone caroling with our good friends Gary and Joan. Often we sing at a house and then half of the family joins us until it feels like the whole neighborhood is singing with us. Every year, someone cries when we sing to them and not because our singing is so bad. But because it has been too long since someone sang to them.

5. Homemade Gifts At some point, I decided I needed less fuss in my life and I should give up on homemade gifts. I've discovered that while it is much more practical and affordable to buy gifts rather than make them, it is not more fun. This year I had a change of heart, and we made a lot of Christmas gifts. Above is an Elephant towel Lizzy made for Will because he says he's mommy's little elephant.

Lizzy also tie-dyed socks for her friends at school.

Zoey made this button necklace for her teacher.

Zoey also decorated this piggy bank for John. And now we are busily working on birthday gifts for John but they are top secret so you will have to check this blog sometime after his birthday, Feb. 18th. So assuming I continue to follow Ruth-standard time I should get around to blogging about it by... say... next Christmas.

Christmas

2008-12-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

Just the thing to put you in the holiday spirit- a jet crash in your neighborhood.( I thought I'd post what I have to say) It is so sad. I was having trouble getting in to the holiday mood until I came home to a Christmas tree on Thursday . Still, this Christmas season won't be the same because of the crash. We are decorating our tree this afternoon, so pictures of our beautiful tree to come. I will also post pictures of our primary Christmas pageant.
-- Lizzy

Too close to home

2008-12-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

1700 Ft.
That's how close Monday's plane crash was from our home. As I stood on a neighbor's balcony yesterday at noon and watched the blazing homes across the gully, it felt close, too close but not that close. But last night as Bill and I reviewed maps we realized that despite the homes, streets and canyon that separate us, we live just 1700 ft. from the crash site. And it appears from news reports and the flight's trajectory, that the plane was--moments before impact-- right above our home.

I noticed the plane as my mom and I drove home from buying fabric for our Primary Christmas pageant. We were driving north on Genessee up the hill that we refer to as the 4-corner gas stations. At the bottom of the hill we saw a fighter jet heading toward Zoey's elementary school. Low -flying planes are common in our neighborhood but something about this one caught my attention. I don't know if it was because it made no sound or if my peripheral vision registered that it just had dumped fuel. Anyhow my eyes were following it when a ball of fire burst out. I saw a parachute and part of the plane fall to the ground. At that moment my mind did a funny thing. I decided it must be a model plane--a large one--an experiment from the middle school; it was coming from that direction. That tiny parachute couldn't be a person, that couldn't be a real fighter plane hurtling towards my neighborhood. That hypothesis only lasted a moment, as we came further up the hill we saw the towering plume of smoke. Where was the smoke coming from? It looked like it could be coming from the school or our home. Zoey was at the school, the boys were home with a babysitter. It was a short, terrifying drive.

Everyone has a different story. Maybe because it was garbage day, many described the noise like a garbage truck crashing. That's what the boys heard. I think Will is still confused and thinks the fire he saw was started by a garbage truck. Lizzy was in orchestra doing auditions. She said someone had just finished playing. There was a loud bang and they continued with the auditions despite the continual sound of sirens. My friend Teresa Rizzo was upstairs in her house when she heard a deafening noise. She looked out her bathroom window and saw something fall from the sky. Then the house behind her burst into flames. Her first thought was that it was a bomb.

Bill was at a conference in San Francisco, when he received a couple of nerve wracking messages. First one from his dad about a plane crash at Miramar. He didn't think too much of that. After all we live a couple miles from the Marine base. But the next message was from the elementary school telling parents that all children had been accounted for. Then he started to worry. He was relieved when he called home and the answering machine picked up. At least, he knew, our home was still standing. Not long after that I called him and reassured him that we were all safe. Lots of neighbors were on the news giving eyewitness accounts. After school Zoey saw the parachute from a neighbor's backyard. The plane's canopy landed just a block from us. On our walk to school this morning we passed marines guarding homes with large pieces of debris. Nobody I know seems to know well the family that perished. But we all keenly feel their loss. Everyone keeps saying the same thing, "It could have been us."

I

Random November Photos

2008-11-26T11:01:00.000-08:00

Will with his most recent haircut.

With Grandma Zoe's help, Zoey sewed this bag.

And Lizzy made this one. (Note Lizzy's cute school uniform-the plaid skirt is even better.)

We attended several protests because the city was threatening to close our library. This was one of the few times I minded not having a television because I missed the chance to see us on the news. But the important thing is they are not closing our library, yet.

John learned to ride a bike sans training wheels. This was long overdue. I was pretty sure John no longer needed training wheels but it seemed like an event that Bill should be involved in. So when Bill finally had a free Saturday, we took the bike to the park. John just hopped on and pedaled. It was that simple. So I must remember when he's driving me crazy rearranging furniture (as he is right now) that sometimes, on some things John makes parenting easy.

But he's still a goof.

Birthday Greetings

2008-11-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

Since we moved to San Diego every Nov. 20, I get a little homesick for the Dallas 1st Ward. November 20th is Teresa Cook's (far left) and Emily Murdock's (striped shirt) birthday. Rebecca Hunt (in black) and Kelly Dunn (far right) have birthdays within a few days. It seems like some years we celebrated other Nov. 20ish birthdays but this is the only picture I have. I don't know if it was the mix of people we had in Dallas or just a time in our lives but we had lots of parties like this. So many of us were away from family and our husbands were all in some sort of career training (graduate school or residency) and we really relied on each other for emotional support and we had a lot of fun. I miss that time and those friends and it's sad to think that you can't really go back.

One of the blessings and trials of living this vagabond life is getting to know fabulous people and then either leaving them or having them leave you. Sometimes I get tired of saying goodbye, but all in all I'm grateful for each friend. When you know people so closely you truly see the strength and beauty of their character. These are women of faith and courage and love. I've been meaning to send this picture to all four but it is an old fashioned film photo (remember those) and I never took it in to get reprints. But now they can each copy it from the blog. I did both pictures so each could choose the photo they look best in. Happy Birthday!

Halloween--just 20 days late

2008-11-18T14:53:00.000-08:00

I was feeling pretty pleased with myself that I was getting around to blogging Halloween so soon. It was just last week wasn't it? I guess not. I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving and then Christmas, yikes! If I had just one photo of Halloween this year it would be the one of Will trick-or-treating above. This was the first year he really understood Halloween and he loved it. He was a tireless trick-or-treater. Growling for anyone who asked. Trotting from house just as fast as his little legs would take him.

Thanks to my friend Beth, John and Will had darling costumes. Beth bought them at Old Navy last year the day after Halloween and gave them to me. She had just witnessed my last minute agonizing to pull together costumes for four kids and thought I could use some help. Besides they were such a great deal she said she had to buy them even if I didn't use them. Use them I did because once again I foolishly decided to try a last minute sewing project. The world would be a safer place if I didn't think I could sew. But after much seem ripping and letting the boys run dangerously wild for two days I had a princess costume--an original Ruth design--for Zoey.

I don't know that the costume adds much--Zoey is so obviously a princess whatever she wears. But I felt I had to do something because Lizzy and my mom had got together and come up with the most ridiculously complicated plan for her costume. She wanted to be Queen Elizabeth.

The Virgin Queen was never this cute.

Not surprisingly, Lizzy's costume was a lot of work and though my mom is a much more accomplished seamstress, she too suffered a little bit of costume remorse. For a week the costumes ate up all our time and patience. But the girls loved them so much, it seems almost worth it. And if they don't grow too much they can wear them next year.

By the way I want to pass on the boys costumes. Will's is size 2 and John's is size 4. If you are interested let me know. I'll even mail them if needs be. Ruth

The Rest of Bill and Ruth's Excellent Adventure

2008-11-04T15:05:00.000-08:00

After our hot air balloon ride we said goodbye to the Blackburns and hit the road. I didn't know where we were going because Bill just loves surprises and I do too. We drove across Vermont and New Hampshire and ended up in Portland Maine. It was a breathtaking drive because the Autumn colors were at their peak. We explored the Maine coast for a couple of days. It rained one day and we loved it. We never get enough rain in San Diego. And I thought the rain just made it feel more like Maine.

A pic of our rainy drive. This picture doesn't capture how intense the colors looked in the rain.

This one's better.

Look at your spare change. Perhaps you have a Maine quarter, there is a lighthouse on it, I'm standing in front of it.

Now I'm inside it.

In addition to checking out the rocky coast,

we ate lobster (only $10 a lobster) and Bill had to eat some more fried whole belly clams.

Finally, we stopped to see some more friends near Boston, the Allen Family. You can tell they are recent transplants from San Diego. Look at the kids in their bare feet and flip flops in the crisp fall air. Among her many talents, Linn is a professional organizer (here's the link to her blog) and as such it is a dream to stay in their home. It's as clean and peaceful as a hotel but there are 4 children living there--truly amazing to me. Bill and I spent a lot of time talking about how we could make our home more like that. Having a clutter free life, helps Linn be thoughtful.

You might recognize this photo from my first post about our trip. Linn downloaded, printed it and wrapped it with a bow. It waited on the pillow of our bed. This amazes me because I often get the idea to do considerate things for people and then never get around to it or leave the project unfinished. Linn jokes about being being OCD. I wish I was just a bit more compulsive about being thoughtful. Anyhow the trip is over, it's almost been a month. But everynight when I go to bed I see this picture on my nightstand and I feel so loved-- loved by the friends we visited, loved by mother-in-law and by Lara who babysat (how do you repay a friend for something as generous as that, I'm taking suggestions) and of course I feel loved by Bill.

More surprises

2008-10-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

The morning of my last post, I took this photo.

From one of these.

As if a surprise trip to Boston and New York wasn't enough, Bill arranged for us to take a hot air balloon ride. Of course, it helped that our friends took us for free.

Jonathan Blackburn runs a hot air balloon company and took us up early Wednesday morning. The take off was quite exciting as it was a little bit breezy, Jon made sure that the air in the balloon was good and hot before we took off and when we did we went up fast. Much faster than an airplane, I felt like I had my head down for a moment and then I looked up and...

this is what I saw.
I found riding in a hot air balloon simultaneously thrilling and peaceful. It was exciting because you are up so high and without the protection of the steel cage of an airplane. Instead you float in nothing more than a wicker basket. You feel like you can touch the birds flying by. At one point Bill reached out and grabbed a tree branch.

We had a great ride, the fall colors were at their peak and it was fun to watch people come out of their houses to get a better look at the balloon. Dogs barked, kids on the school bus waved. When we finally landed a small crowd had gathered to greet us. I felt like a minor celebrity. Before this trip I didn't realize that you can't steer a hot air balloon. You can just go up and down. If you are not in a good place to land you wait until the wind takes you to a better one. Not only is it a lovely ride, but a useful philosophy for life.

I am jealous of myself

2008-10-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

What am I doing in Time's Square? That's what I keep asking myself. Just a few days ago I was expecting just another week of laundry and dishes and nagging children about homework. Wednesday night Bill told me that we were flying to Boston Friday morning and we'd be traveling for 9 days. The rest of the trip was a secret. I had a few moments of shock and I worried that I couldn't really leave my kids and primary but I soon adjusted to the idea and realized everyone would be just fine without me.

After flying into Boston and spending the night in Providence we drove to New York City and had a great time visiting with my old friend Marin. Some of the highlights were:

Boating in Central Park

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge

and--Bill's favorite--the American Girl Store.

Monday night we drove to Albany to visit more old friends Chame and Jonathan Blackburn.

We got our kid fix with the Blackburns. They have almost a matching family to ours. Two girls, two boys all practically the same age. We also got to see something we never see in San Diego:

Fall

Bill planned this trip nearly a year ago. He arranged babysitting (thank you so much Lara and Tauna), booked flights, and secretly contacted old friends. He is usually your typical not-so-romantic husband (this year he completely blew off Valentine's), which makes all of this an even greater surprise. And there are still three more days of surprises. I don't even know where I'm going today. I'll keep you posted. --Ruth

P.S. John, I took this picture of a cannon at Sarotoga just for you. Mom

Water Week now with photos

2008-09-30T15:33:00.001-07:00

At the end of July we did a preschool on water. While everyone arrived we used paint brushes and water to paint with water on our driveway .

After we had talked about ways we use water we did our crafts. We split into two groups. Zoey and I helped color with markers then spray with water which made a cool watercolor effect. Mom's group painted with frozen paint.

Later we turned the hose on and played with water balloons in the yard.

For our field trip on Friday we had a great time at a spray ground.
--Originally posted by Lizzy on August 25th but reposted Sept. 30th due to technical difficulties.

2008-08-25T18:42:00.000-07:00

At the end of July we did a preschool on water. While everyone arrived we used paint brushes and water to paint with water on our driveway .

After we had talked about ways we use water we did our crafts. We split into two groups Zoey and I helped color with markers then spray with water which made cool watercolor effect. Moms group painted with frozen paint.

Later we turned the hose on and played with water balloons in the yard.

For our field trip on Friday we had a great time at a spray ground.

July Celebrations

2008-07-29T22:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, we made eclairs for Bastille day. It was part of our summer preschool. We used Bastille day as an excuse to do a week all about France. I don't think I've written much about our summer preschool. It's a bigger group and a little more laid back than our school year co-op. It's for John and his friends but Lizzy and Zoey absolutely love it. And they are big helps. We did lots of fun things with France which you can read about in my friend Valerie's blog here and here. But because I have to cover my parent's anniversary and Pioneer Day. I'll just mention my favorite which was sketching out of doors. Here is Lizzy sketching in the garden.

With summer preschool we have a field trip every Friday. The fieldtrip is for moms and siblings. For French week our field trip was to the art museum. We had an excellent tour geared to 4-year-olds. Afterward we had a picnic and the kids played in the fountain and then they sketched water lillies just like Monet.

My parents had dinner with us on their 42nd Anniversary but there was no cake. It was actually a pretty basic dinner. But it was during this meal that Lizzy said she wanted to post another 2 truths and lie blog and we came up with the cake. I wish I had made it, it would have been so much easier than making bonnets. Anyhow, we did go through my parents wedding album and I scanned some photos. These are two of my favorites--before the wedding and right after. (And for those of you wondering that is a cross in the background. My parents were married in the Congregationalist Church. They joined the LDS church years later and after they already had three kids.)

And finally the bonnets. For the last few years I've been saying that I want to make bonnets for Pioneer Day (For my non-Mormon friends and family, let me explain Pioneer Day is the day the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley, July 24th, 1847. In Utah July 24th is a State Holiday one of my favorites. But even though we don't get work off, we still usually have some celebration) This year the week before I said whistfully, "I guess I won't make bonnets this year." And Lizzy said, "Why not?" The reason you are hearing so little from me this summer and it has taken me more than a month to write one silly blog (notice the date on this blog--I didn't actually post till Aug. 19th) is because I'm too busy with all my "Why nots?--Why not drive up the pacific coast in a motor home? Why not host a party? Why not have another party? Why not go camping this weekend? Anyhow, the bonnets turned out great. Lizzy, Mikaela (my niece), yours truly and Zoey wore them to the Stake Pioneer Day party in the photo below. Mikaela and Zoey's were made out of old dresses of Zoey's. And lest you are too impressed I only sewed Lizzy and Zoey's bonnets my mom who was visiting sewed mine and Mikaela's she also made everyone aprons. Actually this is how she spent her anniversary, sewing for us. Thanks Mom. One of these years I'm going to make that cake. Ruth

My Garden, My Life

2008-07-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

This is my life--overgrown, full of weeds a little bit wilty from lack of water (in this metaphor I'm not sure if water represents time with my husband, sleep or free time all of which are lacking) but still bearing lots and lots of sweet fruit.

I thought I'd do another two truths and a lie.

1. We celebrated Bastille Day (July 14th) by making eclairs

2. We celebrated my parents 42nd anniversary (July 16th) by making a cake shaped like the number 42.

3. We celebrated Pioneer Day (July 24th) by making pioneer bonnets and aprons.

The answer with great pictures is coming soon. Ruth

Lehnardts Visit

2008-07-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

My cousins visited us from Salt Lake City last week. I really don't feel like doing the typing to tell about it and we don't have any pictures, but I really like my Aunt Michelle's posts about it. (Especially as there is a fabulous picture of me.) So if you feel like it, you can read it here and here. (She did 2!)

-Lizzy

Two Truths and a Lie

2008-07-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

Here are my answers to my two truths and a lie in reverse order.

c: true (Mom used a bow and arrow for sharing time and John adopted it.)

b:true,here's the proof

and a is the lie Dad was on call and did not make it to church. But it was his last weekend of call for whole year!

At first John wouldn't pose with his bow and arrow for me so I got Will to although Will was happy to pose he isn't very good at it. After much coaxing John agreed that maybe he could do a better job. --Lizzy

The Giant Zuchini ,and a Party despite Pneumonia

2008-07-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Zoey with Pneumonia

Our giant Zuchini in comparison to a Watermelon ( we made alot of Zuchini Bread )

At our 4th of July party we were going to make root beer, but we couldn't get root beer extract so we made cream soda with vanilla extract instead. It was really good and every one had fun with dry ice.

When we were at party City to get decorations we saw the long, skinny, sculpting type of balloon and Mom thought it would be fun to have it at our party. Both Sanders girls made great silly hats, but unfortunately all of Marin's balloons popped. Despite popped balloons it was a great party.

My Pneumonia

2008-07-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

A week ago on Friday I started to throw up we were on vacation in a motor home. We were driving home through the Redwoods. We didn't stop until night but I did get to lay down on the back bed. Saturday night when we got home I went straight to the bathroom to take a bath to see if it would make me feel better, but it did not. That night when I went to bed, I had trouble falling asleep because I had a fever. On Sunday morning I couldn't find anything I wanted to eat except for some canned peaches; I only ate 2 slices. That day Daddy and Will and John and Mommy went to church because Mom was the only member of the Primary Presidency that could be there and Daddy was conducting Sacrament meeting so Lizzy stayed home with me. The next day I went to the doctor's office and they told me I had pneumonia. I took some antibiotics for 5 days and was finished on the 4th of July. I'm better now.
Zoe

Two Truths and a Lie

2008-07-06T19:10:00.000-07:00

Just a minute ago we were doing the dishes and talking and Mom suggested that we write a blog about our past week in the shape of two truths and a lie. Here it is.
a. Dad had call ,but still made it to church today
b.Mom started making apricot jam at 10pm on Saturday
c.Mom and I got John a Bow and Arrow
I will post my answers when I get around to it.
Lizzy

Tie Dye

2008-06-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

I just told my Aunt Michelle and cousins to blog more and so as not to be a hypocrite I'm blogging. (It's me Lizzy!) This is my sock that I beautifully tie-dyed pink. John's summer preschool had a beginning of the year tie dye party. I did these socks pink and I did a T-shirt red, white and blue. For our school play (which I was backstage crew in because it's really a dance recital with some skits by 5th graders and is really not that fun to be in) Zoey's group's costumes were jeans and tie-dyed red , white and blue T-shirts. Lucky me got to help tie dye approximately 15 shirts for that (I probably did 5) so I know the technique. Mine turned out great!

Cute Boys and Crushes

2008-05-14T21:47:00.000-07:00

First, a few pics of the cute boys in my life. Above is a profile of John on a Mother's Day card he gave me (obviously the preschool teacher cut out the profile--not John. I'm pretty sure I'm not that good with scissors.) I realized as we were walking to preschool that day that I hadn't bothered to brush John's hair that morning. Actually, I think it is a rare day when I do brush John's hair.

Another picture of John. Sometimes he likes to play with his helmet on--which considering his activities--is a wise idea. On this day he was lugging a large branch around the yard. He told me, "A guy with a helmet gets things done."

Here is Will. He keeps pretty busy moving trucks and digging in the dirt.

I'm fairly sure I have not adequately described how wonderful Will is. He is so easygoing and happy, he often can fade into the woodwork. He does however have a charming method of making sure we remember him. He frequently gives sneak attack hugs.

Now on to the Crushes. One of Lizzy's major complaints about this blog is that it is called Dinner with the Mitchells and it is rarely about dinner. (This is her number one excuse for not blogging. My response is: then blog about dinner.) Anyhow she will be greatly relieved that I am going to report here an actual Mitchell family dinner conversation which I thought was mildly amusing and worth opening up to the greater public.

We were talking about crushes. Lizzy was telling us the code names for her three crushes. I'm afraid I only remember two: Lollipop and Rapunzel. But it doesn't matter what the third is because he is no longer an official crush. According to Lizzy he has lost his allure because he parts his hair differently. Now for those of you who know Lizzy, this whole entry may come as a shock. Zoey has a new crush a minute you know but Lizzy? Well Lizzy has always been too dignified for crushes and besides where would she find a boy good enough. But alas this fall she will be starting middle school and she is now pining for a boy named Rapunzel. You will be comforted to know that she doesn't take any of this too seriously. She was the one who suggested I share the code names on this blog. Lizzy can be silly, but she can't be silly without laughing at herself.

Anyhow Bill was surprised by the code names. He said he never gave his crushes code names and he would be shocked if any boys did. For one thing he said boys don't talk about their crushes--except with some girls who pointedly ask. I said that I thought it quite common for girls to give their crushes code names. To back this up I cited my own experience, an entry on Aunt Collette's blog and a book the girls and I had recently read in which the heroine referred to her crush as The Boy. This was a revelation to Bill as was the idea that girls often have crushes on boys they don't really want to spend time with. Of Lizzy's three crushes, she says she would only like to spend time with Lollipop. This too surprised Bill he said he always had crushes on girls he actually liked.

I said it's different for girls. Crushes are not so much about who you like but about who you want to talk about. Starting in Jr. High crushes are the currency of female conversation in the same way boys talk about sports. A socially savvy girl catches on fast that easiest form of small talk with girls that you have nothing in common with or don't really know well is crushes. The question, "Who do you like?" in Jr. High is as ubiquitous as "What's your major?" in college. I'm not certain what the currency of conversation is for women my age. I'd assume it would be talking about work or children which leads to my theory--a bit of a stretch I admit--that girls crushes are not a precursor for romance and marriage but for children. They are the beginning of motherly love and this is why girls name their crushes. This would also explain why some don't like spending time with their crushes--just talking about them. I'd venture to say that most girls and women, don't give code names to the boys who become their husbands.

Sometimes, I wish it was as socially acceptable to brag about your husband as it is to brag about your children. But it really isn't, so I'll just end with this picture. It's a bit dark and maybe out of focus but it says quite a bit about what I see in Bill. --Ruth