Beware of the Doghouse
9:55 PM Posted In Amusements , Thoughts Edit This 1 Comment »
Ladies, have a good laugh!
On the Radio
2:38 PM Posted In Amusements Edit This 2 Comments »
I heard a funny thing the other day on the radio. It just tickled my funny bone. I really don't know why. You know how things can be hilarious one time and the next time you wonder why? Well, the newsperson on the station I was listening to was talking about local rush hour traffic and he said that the 60 at Gilbert road was as backed up as a cheap toilet! ha ha ha That metaphor, and ultimate image in my head, just made me laugh.
An Old Fashioned Christmas...
9:10 PM Posted In Happenings Edit This 1 Comment »
...Was the theme to this ward party. We ate ham, potatoes, rolls corn, green beans and a nice tossed salad. The committee had a menu and gave us the recipes for our food assignments. My assignment was green beans. Sounds easy, right? Well, this recipe called for an entire stick of butter, melted and turned into a glaze with almonds and brown sugar. Tossed into it was eight slabs of cooked bacon! The healthiest part of the meal was turned into a buttery, glazed veggie! Wow! I guess this is the old fashioned way to eat. Here is what it looked like when it was done, and it tasted pretty tasty! 
See the shine from the butter and bacon! Wow! Old fashioned heart attack more like it! Activites included an old fashioned sing-along and a couple of fun performances by people. Of course in the end was that very special visitor that all the children wait for each year
!
Our ward does this really great thing at their parties. They take pictures and download them to a ward website where we can go and get a picture if we want to. So, if you like pictures of yourself, this is great! The rest of us tolerate it for posterity
!
See the shine from the butter and bacon! Wow! Old fashioned heart attack more like it! Activites included an old fashioned sing-along and a couple of fun performances by people. Of course in the end was that very special visitor that all the children wait for each year
!Our ward does this really great thing at their parties. They take pictures and download them to a ward website where we can go and get a picture if we want to. So, if you like pictures of yourself, this is great! The rest of us tolerate it for posterity
!
Old Friends.........
7:10 AM Posted In Friends Edit This 1 Comment »
Yesterday some old college friends dropped by for a visit. They live in St Louis but happened to be in Phoenix for the weekend. I was glad we were on their list of places to see and visit while they were in town. Isn't it funny how you can go years without seeing people, but when they are good friends, and you get along well, you can just pick up where you left off? And, you don't have to spend your time living in the past reminiscing. You can just talk about life and how things are today! 
Where was my camera? Well, it was sitting in the drawer in my kitchen the whole time they visited and it was not until they walked out the door that I realized we were having such a good time that I did not think about this blog once! Therefore, I did not think to pull out the camera and take a picture.So, you will have to trust me that Chris and Kim dropped in for a visit and the visit was good! And no one mentioned the few pounds we have all put on.
May your landing be safe today and you find your 4 children well when you return home!
Sleep Deprivation
3:09 PM Posted In Happenings Edit This 2 Comments »
Sleep deprivation has been the norm in this household since about 1987. So you can imagine that we are rather used to it. But, for two days in a row, I have been able to sleep-in! I think I can count on one hand how many times in 2008 I have slept in. But since Tim worked from home yesterday, and I had an unexpected day off yesterday, he kindly agreed to awaken Brandon and get him moving out the door for school and I slept in. But, of course, though I did not set my alarm, I woke up at the EXACT time I would have had the alarm gone off. The wonderful thing was, however, that I was able to roll over and fall back to sleep, after a quick trip to the bathroom. Here is the odd thing about sleeping in. You never really go back into a deep sleep. You just sort of hang there in a twilight zone of sorts but you still dream! For the past two mornings, I have had the strangest of dreams upon waking up after "sleeping in". They were so strange that I am thinking that getting up at my usual time might be a better option. 
Cameron, of course, is NOT sleep deprived. He sleeps anywhere. Often it is the couch we find him asleep on when we get up in the morning. He has the most comfortable bed in the house. Clearly he plans to sleep on the couch because he will go down to his room to get his comforter and pillow. Then he gets comfortable and settles in to watch a little TV until he falls asleep. He sleeps on the couch through the banging around that goes on in the kitchen as people prepare breakfast. He sleeps through the dog walking by and licking his face. He sleeps through all the normal daily household sounds that happen while he is sleeping and the rest of the world is awake. No, Cameron is not sleep deprived. He sleeps whenever he wants to. Enjoy it now, Cameron, for that time in your life is soon to come to an end!!!
Cameron, of course, is NOT sleep deprived. He sleeps anywhere. Often it is the couch we find him asleep on when we get up in the morning. He has the most comfortable bed in the house. Clearly he plans to sleep on the couch because he will go down to his room to get his comforter and pillow. Then he gets comfortable and settles in to watch a little TV until he falls asleep. He sleeps on the couch through the banging around that goes on in the kitchen as people prepare breakfast. He sleeps through the dog walking by and licking his face. He sleeps through all the normal daily household sounds that happen while he is sleeping and the rest of the world is awake. No, Cameron is not sleep deprived. He sleeps whenever he wants to. Enjoy it now, Cameron, for that time in your life is soon to come to an end!!!
The Announcements Are Arriving
10:32 AM Posted In Happenings , Holidays Edit This 0 Comments »
It is December. The wedding announcements are arriving. What makes December such a popular time to wed? During the busiest time of the year, a wedding is being planned as well. I am amazed and surprised at the number of wedding announcements we get each year during the month of December. I wished I had saved all the announcements I have received in December so that I had a count. It would startle you. Didn't it used to be traditional to marry in June? I am curious at the trend towards December. It must have something to do with the fact that it is a "break" time whether from work or school, and likely a great time to plan a wedding with some decent time for a honeymoon.
+001.jpg)
My niece Emily was married in December 2006. December 26 as a matter of fact. As she married in CA, we traveled on Christmas Day in order to attend her wedding the next day.
+001.jpg)
My niece Emily was married in December 2006. December 26 as a matter of fact. As she married in CA, we traveled on Christmas Day in order to attend her wedding the next day. Chris nearly did not go in protest of a Christmas Day travel day. But, the lure of two days on the slopes of Big Bear got him moving in a pinch and in the end, it was all worth it. Her wedding was beautiful and she married a great man.+008.jpg)
Cameron dragged a friend of his, Kyle, to the reception knowing they had the reward of a ride to Big Bear the next day. So, even wed+007.jpg)
ding announcements in December can be rewarding to a teenage boy.
+007.jpg)
ding announcements in December can be rewarding to a teenage boy. Brandon did not mind at all as he is great friends with his cousin Alex and any trip to see him is a great time! 
Wrestlemania season
3:39 PM Posted In Happenings Edit This 1 Comment »
Here is Brandon, wrestling 125 for the Highland Freshman team. Complaining about the practices, thinking wrestling is not for him, until that moment when he gets out on the mat. Then he is a maniac! And then he is proud to wrestle. And he is good! Pinning his man in the second perio
d, after playing with him the first period. (His words!)
Ain't he cute????
Eternal Thoughts...........
2:22 PM Posted In Thoughts Edit This 0 Comments »
How blessed we are to know so much about this world we live in. As time goes on, scientists discover more and more which make our lives more comfortable and convenient and easier. This planet we have was not some coincidence but a carefully designed and planned place for God's children to come to this earth to gain bodies and live out our callings here on earth. I am grateful to know this is not all happenstance and that there is an eternal plan. I am glad to have that eternal perspective on things, that helps us cope with the struggles we find on this earth. I am happy to know that after life on this earth, our lives are not over but that we just enter a new phase with a different purpose and plan for us. So, when we lose people we love so dearly, I am grateful to know a plan is in place by our Heavenly Father which enables us to see these loved ones again, for eternity. While our loss is great on this earth, the knowledge of eternities makes the loss endurable and hope for a sweeter reunion. Our family's thoughts and prayers go out to those that are struggling or suffering right now with the hope of tomorrow, a new d
ay and a recognition of God's eternal plan!Wrapping things up!
2:03 PM Posted In Holidays Edit This 1 Comment »
Since Chris is out of town, I need to prepare a box of gifts to send him. Then I need to send it to the mission home address. (See Monday's post!) They will then forward it on to him as I do not have his new address given he just moved there on Tuesday. Since it has to go through so many loops, I have to get prepared earlier and so I spent some time this afternoon wrapping his gifts and listening to Susan's playlist with her new Christmas songs on it. You can listen to it here and enjoy her playlist as well. I am really glad at this time of the year that Chris is serving in the United States. It sure makes it easier than sending things to say, Russia or Brazil! I hope you find wrapping gifts to be as much a part of the festivities as everything else. I like to decorate my packages a little fancier than you see here but because I have to box it all up, I soft wrapped everything and just stuck a little stick on bow on it. Too bad it has to be so boring. After working my high school years in a department store gift wrap department, wrapping like this is a let down. But even with fancy bows and ribbons or simple paper, neither are as important as remembering the gift we were given by a loving Heavenly Father, when he sent his Son to the earth for us! That is the greatest gift of all and it came very plainly wrapped!
Food for thought
7:05 AM Posted In Food Edit This 2 Comments »
Last week I made butter toffee. I did not take a picture of it. How could I? It was gobbled down way too fast! It was delicious! I want to make more but it took one pound of 
butter!One pound of butter and two cups of sugar!
One pound of butter, two cups of sugar, boiled to a hard crack, poured on a cookie sheet (one with sides) and then sprinkled with nuts and chocolate chips!
Holy cow! No wonder it was sooooo good! I want to make it again. But I am afraid I would be the one to eat it. At least this last time I had a place to take it and so many of us shared in the butter toffee. MMMMM it is sounding so good right now. I suppose I could make some more and share it wi
th you, right?
th you, right?Christmas makes me feel emotional
7:29 AM Posted In Holidays Edit This 3 Comments »
Well, here we are, December, and the decorations are going up. I remember as a child being so excited to help my mom get the decorations out. My sister and I put in the Gene Autry album and sang along to all his songs while we decorated, baked cookies and got in the festive mood. I remember, too, when we were so happy on the rare occasion that St Louis got its first snowfall in December. It usually waited until January to happen. We would play outside, get soaking wet, dry our gloves and hats and coats on the old radiators or lay them over the heat vents (depending on which house we were living in at the time) then warm ourselves with some hot chocol
ate prepared in a pot on the stove.
I also remember the excitement as school drew to a close and we were anxious for the break we got. Of course, back when I attended school, the semester did not end until January so we always had the finals and things to look forward to upon returning! It is nice now that there is a fresh clean slate and new semester, grades and classes to go back to for my children.
So, this year we have begun our decorating. It is an interesting phenomenon how I have noticed that during the day, the decorations are plain and the tree and outdoor lights do not look that great. You can see the extension cords and the flaws. You can see the tree is artificial. BUT, when the sun sets and the lights go on, all becomes magical and the holiday season takes on a dreamy quality that reminds us of simpler times and past traditions that bring us back around to the emotions they stir in us and help us to remember the reason for the season~
Kentucky, here he comes........
10:19 PM Posted In mission Edit This 1 Comment »
Chris has been transferred, temporarily, for six weeks, to Murray, Kentucky!
If you want to say hello or wish Chris a Merry Christmas, you can send a card to:
Elder Christopher Cox
105 Westpark Dr Ste 190
Brentwood, TN 37027-5010
They will forward his mail on to his KY address as long as it is sent through the US Postal service!
Thanks for family
4:05 PM Posted In Holidays Edit This 1 Comment »
We had a great time in California. The weather was perfect. The hills were excellent for walking up and down to burn off the feast, and most importantly we enjoyed time with some of our family.David and Lily
Sharon
Ben, enjoying some cookies and milk.
Brandon, Alex, and one of Alex's friends, Josh, trying to figure out what they are going to do next.
Brandon, with Alex, who loves to make faces when you take his picture.
This is Lora and Dan baking cookies. Don't they make a cute couple? We are all awaiting an announcement, aren't we Lora???
And here is Chris, who spent Thanksgiving in Tennessee but someone kindly took his picture and texted it to Tim's phone so we could get a Happy Thanksgiving message from him!
Hope everyone had a wonderful and thankful holiday!
Thanksgiving day travels
10:25 AM Posted In Holidays Edit This 0 Comments »
On Thursday, we traveled to Sunny California to feast with Sharon and her family. We left our home at 8 AM, which was 7 AM her time. We avoided the mass exodus of the day before by waiting to travel on Thanksgiving day. Believe me, the route from Phoenix to LA is a nightmare on a holiday weekend! While we were on the road, we saw some interesting cloud formations.
Usually as we drive along the 10, there is nothing to see but blue skies and desert, more blue skies, more desert. But today we were driving after a rainstorm and there were actual puddles in the desert! That was quite a surprise. There were also these amazing clouds. And when the clouds cleared, there was snow on those mountain tops!
Of course I could not pass on commenting on California's wind energy! This state has some of the highest electricity costs in the country even when they are doing all the alternative stuff our new president elect is suggesting as the answer to our economic woes. Hello! Take a look at CA and see if that is really the answer!
Usually as we drive along the 10, there is nothing to see but blue skies and desert, more blue skies, more desert. But today we were driving after a rainstorm and there were actual puddles in the desert! That was quite a surprise. There were also these amazing clouds. And when the clouds cleared, there was snow on those mountain tops!Of course I could not pass on commenting on California's wind energy! This state has some of the highest electricity costs in the country even when they are doing all the alternative stuff our new president elect is suggesting as the answer to our economic woes. Hello! Take a look at CA and see if that is really the answer!
Two boys I won't be seeing for Thanksgiving this year.
7:38 PM Posted In Holidays Edit This 1 Comment »
Our boys are growing up. Chris is in Tennessee so we won't be seeing him this Thanksgiving. Cameron opted out of a trip to California to dine with his friend Taylor and family here in Arizona. We will miss them. But Bailey is staying home to keep Cameron company and so it is how our holiday will go this year. Kinda sad.
It never rains in sunny Arizona.......
5:24 PM Posted In Happenings Edit This 0 Comments »
Today was one of those days where you just wanted to stay in bed and sleep until noon. It was dark and rainy and cold.
I had to use my headlights to drive to work at 7:30 in the morning.
I had to use my seat heater to warm my cold bottomside.
I had to use my headlights to drive to work at 7:30 in the morning.I had to use my seat heater to warm my cold bottomside.I had to figure out how to turn on my windshield wipers since they are only used a few times a year.
I had to run from my parking space at work into the building because it was so wet.
This is where I work, by the way. It is the view out of the window my desk sits under.
The sky is normally this beautiful blue color. I actually miss the gray skies and the rain so today was a nice change.
But I would have preferred it if I were in bed enjoying it.
The weather cleared off for a little while. The sun came out. But tonight, we got another deluge and I thought these pictures, taken at twilight, were fun with the raindrops coming down in my backyard.
Click on picture above to see rain! Cool!
Click on picture above to see rain! Cool!
