A Day of Rest - really!

With busy callings and a busy toddler, Sundays aren't usually a day of rest - as in, sit around and do not much. We love our branch and it is awesome to be involved in something that is growing and progressing, even when that requires some work. But, it is NOT restful.

Today, Phil got up at 5:00 and left around 6:30 for his meetings which begin at 7:00. I woke up when he left and did some things for my calling. Eden awoke at 7:45. So far, it was a very normal Sunday. Eden and I planned to leave for church at 10:30 so we'd be there when Sacrament began at 11:00.

But then...

It began to snow...
and snow...
and snow.

Now, my friends in Michigan or New Hampshire or Utah or Idaho will laugh at this next part but keep in mind that we don't have snow removal equipment in 'bama. Most drivers don't have much experience driving in it. Also, it had rained all night and then frozen so there was slush and ice underneath the snow. Also remember that most people drive from 30 to 60 minutes to get to church.

So...

Phil called about 8:30 and informed me that church was being canceled. He stayed and met more with the branch presidency and then got home about 10:30.

Phil and Eden each had a nap.
I worked on Personal Progress.
We read scriptures.
I fasted. They ate (Phil can't fast because of his health stuff).
Phil wrote in his journal.
I wrote in my other blog and in my Personal Progress journal.
We watched a movie as a family.
We read stories and played.
We took pictures of the snow before it melted at 4:00.
I crocheted.
I phoned my mom.
Phil's mom phoned him.

What a lovely, lovely day of REST!

A nickel ... or not

"Nickel-sized hail possible."

That is what the weather alert told us.

They were wrong.

Since Phil was not home for the hail storm, he asked me to put some in the freezer so he could see it. These two were randomly selected from among the hundreds on our deck. (Basically they were the easiest for me to pick up while standing in the doorway.)

Weather Event

We have been on Tornado Warning since about 2:30 this afternoon. Exciting. At about 4:00 it began to rain HARD.

Then it began to lightening and thunder.

Then it began to hail.

BIG HAIL.

Our deck is covered.

see...




Eden and I are watching Tarzan and eating cookies. Phil is stuck in the hallway with his class. I made the mistake of taking Eden on to the deck when things cleared a bit. She likes the ice. Now we are having more alerts/warnings so we have to stay inside. She is not happy.

Come on, Tarzan is so cute, work with me Eden.


********************

Before the weather event really hit we went to Hobby Lobby (or "obby lobby" as Eden says). Eden insisted on taking along her For the Strength of Youth book. She showed the ladies there the temple and the picture of Jesus. She cracks me up. She was talking to the woman behind us in line. This is how her "conversation" went:

Woman: "Is that your kitty?"
Eden: "Kitty, meow. Book."
Woman: "Yes, you are smart, that is a book."
Eden: "Head. Eyes, blue."
Woman: "Yes, very pretty blue eyes."

and on it went. It is true, most everyone in these parts seems to comment on her bright blues. I guess she just anticipated the comment.

Cold is as cold does... or does not

I went to the store the other night and NO ONE else was there. I couldn't figure out why until I realized the temperature was in the 30s. People stay home here when it is that cold. Yesterday, was a beautiful day. Sunshine, blue skies, and again in the 30s. It was the kind of February day that would bring great rejoicing and even some shorts in Logan, Utah but in 'bama it was a "stay-inside" day. Not for our little girl though. She was quite determined to play outside. We bundled her up and went into our yard.



We also made "slime" for the first time. At first she wasn't sure what to do with it. She kept saying, "boogers, boogers." Eventually, she decided it was quite fun.
On Saturday night we had the Thorntons and Baugards (the other members of the branch presidency) over for a night of family bonding. I love the look on Eden's face in this picture.
Someday this will be a good blackmail picture to show Eden and Trey how infatuated they were with each other. Look how they are gazing into each other's eyes.
This picture is for Charlotte. Not to make you jealous but to make you happy. When the inversion gets too crazy, just pretend this is outside your window.
Phil and his brothers are having a contest (of sorts) to see what fun movie characters they can each create out of a Mr. Potato Head. This is Phil's submission, the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz. Yeah, my man is cool, creative, and clever.

Our White Christmas

She has needs, ya know...

While we were in Utah Eden became very vocal about her needs. She would say,
"I need mom."
or
"I need outside."
or
"I need cracker (or cookie, or cooker - which obviously is a cracker-cookie)"

but two of my favorites were these:

While driving from Alpine (south of SLC) to Cache Valley (north of SLC) there was a bad accident and the interstate was shut down. We had to travel on a slower highway (with everyone else) and so the trip that usually takes two hours took four. Eden was frustrated, tired, and eventually just mad. It was snowing and we were creeping along at about five miles an hour. I could only show her the cattle truck we kept passing so many times before she had just had it. Finally about a half hour from grandma's house she began to cry huge, fat, wet tears. In the middle of her sobs she repeated,
"I need grandma, I need grandma."
It was so sweet and sad.

A few days later at grandma's house (actually I think it was at aunt Heather's) we had just finished a big meal. Everyone was sitting around talking. There was a plate of my mother's hand dipped chocolates on the table. Eden walked up to the group of women sitting around talking and proclaimed,
"I need chocolate!"

It was classic.

Food Friday

Ok, this isn't a recipe, it is a wonderful tip instead. In Utah, there is a restaurant (popular for their catering and wedding luncheons) named "The Lion House." They have some of the best recipes and are especially famous for their rolls and breads. Well, if you do a google search with "Lion House Recipe" you will find a treasure trove of great stuff. So, while the Food Friday Czar is on holiday, get your recipe fix from The Lion House, you won't regret it.

And what did I do on Friday (instead of Food Friday)?

Well, I dipped all kinds of yummy chocolates with my mom, aunt Deani, brother Josh, and sister Heather. Such a fun family tradition! Then I went to the Ogden Voice Male concert. It was good. The audience gave them two standing ovations. Fun times.

Now it is snowing ... yippee!!!

Yeah, I married well

Just in case you needed more proof that I married an absolutely fabulous man...

Today Eden and I had a play date. We'd invited five other mom's and eight other kids over to play and for lunch. I had planned to make soup and bread. The kids were going to play with the dress ups and outside in our large backyard (if the weather was good). Well, hurricane-turned-storm-system Fay had made a mess of our deck and backyard (tons of branches and twigs down and leaves everywhere).

Phil did the dishes last night (as he does every night) and made sure to fill up my flour and sugar bins. Before bed he informed me that "I've set the dishwasher to run tonight so everything will be clean for you tomorrow. Your pots and pans are all clean." As if that wasn't enough, he got up this morning and cleaned off the deck and made the backyard safe for kids.

Am I a fortunate, blessed woman or what?

oh, and the play date was a blast! Thanks, ladies.

Magic in the Mist

Location: Niagara Falls

Scene: A Husband and Wife have faced the rain in order to experience Niagara Falls together (she'd been, he hadn't). Their SIL was watching their most adorable one year old and they were enjoying some alone time that DIDN'T include doctors. As they looked over the amazing falls, Phil contemplated the deep mysteries of the earth. Heidi, on the other hand, enjoyed the mixture of mist and rain falling upon her face and hair.










The couple next approached their trusty aqueous vessel, The Maid of the Mist. As they did so, they gleefully held hands. Alone in their bliss, their solitude was abruptly interrupted by an elderly employee of the company who so ably relieved tourists of their funds. We will call this kindly man, "Bob."

Bob: "You know, there is magic in the mist."
Heidi: "huh?"
Bob: "Yes, there are more ions being charged in the middle of that mist than anywhere else on earth."
Phil: "Interesting."
Bob: "That's right, you two just keep holding hands and you'll feel the magic in the mist. You might even feel inclined to get a little more cozy. You might even kiss."
Heidi: "Alrighty then, thanks for the info."

In preparation for the magic in the mist, the couple donned the appropriate attire:












Off they went, resolute, determined, hands held, into the mist.

There was magic in the mist!

the end.

Big Fish (alternative title: "Sta, you are going to be so jealous and totally going to want to come visit us now!")

I love this picture because it captures how engaged Eden was during most of our time at the Georgia Aquarium (and her funny cowlick on the back of her head - no, I haven't dyed my hair, just weird lighting):

Big Fish Tank:

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout:
So cute (us, the fish is actually kinda ugly):
I think this was my favorite fish it totally looks like Pixar created it:
What is a girl to do when daddy is saying "look at the camera" and mommy is saying "look at the fish!" (obey the daddy, of course!):
I LOVE this photo. It isn't just the cheesy grin on Charlotte's face or the stud she married. It isn't even my pathetic attempt to jump in the picture. It is the disgusted look on the face of the girl in the middle of the shot. Classic!
Beluga anyone?
Ooooh.... Ahhhh....

We had so much fun at the Georgia Aquarium on Saturday. It was the day after the tornado hit the Georgia Dome and there was certainly evidence throughout downtown . Kinda crazy.

My favorite part of the whole experience was watching Eden. It may sound cheesy and cliche but experiencing things through the eyes of a child is truly amazing. She was absolutely captivated the entire three hours we were there. She did really well in the car too. What a trooper!

To see other pictures you can check out Charlotte's blog here.

Oh What A Night

Friday, March 14, 2008

12-midnight
Go to bed after a fun evening with the Cantwells. (We watched Martian Child which I totally recommend as a clean-good-message-family-film.)

12:30a.m.
As we are lying in bed, Phil and I begin to hear some rustling outside, or is it on the roof? or is it in the wall? or is it in the attic? The very loud rustling moves quickly around the house and then subsides.

12:45a.m.
More rustling. This time we get up and Phil finds the flashlight and goes out on the deck to see if he can see an animal on the roof or in the bushes. Nothing. The rustling continues but then stops.

1:30a.m.
The NOAA alert system blares. Phil gets up to turn it down so it won't disturb the Cantwells or Eden. NOAA informs us that there is a Severe Thunder Storm WARNING (which is the first of the warning/watch/alert system).

1:45a.m.
A thunder storm comes with all its noise and lightning. It lasts about a half hour.

2:30a.m.
The NOAA alert system blares again. This time we are informed that we are having a Severe Thunder Storm WATCH. The rain, lightning and thunder do indeed return for about an hour (this is the same system that ripped through Atlanta).

3:30a.m.
All is finally calm.

4:00a.m.
Eden cries. I go in and put her binky back in her mouth and she is quiet. I decide to use the restroom. While I'm in the restroom, she cries again. Phil goes in and, forgetting that he is not to lift her, gets her out of the crib and begins to rock her. I come in but my eyes have not adjusted from the light of the bathroom to the dark of her room. Finally I see where they are and go to take Eden from Phil. Unfortunately, Eden turns her head to see me just as I clumsily go to take her and she gets a thumbnail in the eye. She SCREAMS in both discomfort and (especially) betrayal. Although I am now holding her she wants nothing to do with an abusive mother and continues to scream. Phil sits back down and I place her in his lap. I sit in the chair next to them and make up with my daughter. After a few minutes, I take her (ironically, Phil pokes my eye when he hands the baby to me) and she comes willingly. Phil goes back to bed and I feed Eden a bottle and then lay her back down.

4:30a.m.
The whole family (and guests) are all in their beds. Eden, however, is not sleeping.

5:00a.m.
Eden has finally fallen back to sleep and so have her parents.

7:00a.m.
The alarm!

This just in...

I just had to share this winter storm watch. We have a little NOAA weather radio that broadcasts all weather warnings (we got it for tornado warnings). Anyway, this is what we hear in a deep, automated voice. Since we're from Utah, this one just made us laugh. I've highlighted a few things in red and included my comments in brackets. Enjoy...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

WINTRY PRECIPITATION...PREDOMINATELY SNOW...IS EXPECTED TO FALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA BEGINNING SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE SUNRISE FRIDAY NIGHT [sunrise at night???] LASTING INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS ON SATURDAY. ACCUMULATIONS UP TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE [wo, two inches!]. AT THIS TIME THE HIGHEST ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR ALONG OR JUST SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR BETWEEN TUSCALOOSA AND MOUNT CHEAHA. SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE BETWEEN 30 AND 34 DEGREES [brrrrrr] LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MIDDAY SATURDAY. WITH THESE EXPECTED TEMPERATURES SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL BE POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY ON ELEVATED AND GRASSY SURFACES. ROADWAYS MAY BECOME SLICK IN SPOTS...ESPECIALLY BRIDGES OVERPASSES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADS. VISIBILITY MAY BECOME LIMITED AS WELL. DRIVERS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW... SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

SNOW!

Yes, here in Alabama! It has been snowing for about an hour - big, fat flakes. How fun!