Eggs

Husband requested that I make some cookies today so that he can deliver them to one of his home teaching families.  I told him  I would.  [Who can pass up another chance to use the Bosch?]

So, wonderful Wifey that I was, I began a batch of cookies in between a batch of rolls and a batch of bread.  And as I was starting those scrumptious snickerdoodles, this gave me a tickle.

When we got married, Husband taught me how to remove eggs from a carton.  You don't do it all from one side, but rather you work from each end and make a zig-zag pattern.  This allows for an even distribution of weight in the carton, significantly decreasing the chance of dropping (and ruining) your carton of eggs.

At first I did it just to humor him, but over the years I've come to love this handy dandy egg removal process.  Oh, and I love Husband.

Housewife

Being a nursing student isn't really conducive to being a housewife.  Husband usually has to pick up a lot of the slack because I'm gone so often and when I am home, I'm studying, or sleeping, or not really in the mood for housewife-ish things.  I think I've made up for it this week, though.

And let me tall ya...It feels good!

Husband and I had a large sum of money that we wanted to use to start our three month food storage, so I sat down and made a list of meals that we eat on a regular basis.  I then made a three month meal plan.  The next step was a little overwhelming, but I went through every recipe and made a HUGE shopping list of everything we would need to make those meals for three months.  If I thought making the list was overwhelming, shopping for it was ridiculous.

We made two stops, Sam's Club and Walmart.  We bought almost a complete three month food storage within budget.  Now, the goal is that this is a rotating food storage.  We use these things to eat and when we eat it, we replace it.  We've finally put the large, stand-alone freezer the Morgans left to good use.

I could have stopped there, but Wednesday came and I was still in that "accomplish something amazing" kind of mood.  So, I brought out Sister Morgan's wheat grinder and Bosch mixer (I'm in love!) and made a batch of homemade wheat bread.  It was delicious!  I cut thick slices while it was still warm and spread them with butter and raspberry jam.  Mmmmm... I should make bread more often!  [Yes, my next batch is rising as we speak.]  The loaves we don't need right now go into the freezer...food storage.

I also made two batches of wheat tortillas.  One to eat and one for the freezer.  At the end of each day this week I've been exhausted, but I love knowing that I did something good that day!

This post isn't supposed to be a "look at me, I'm a better housewife than you!" post.  Believe me.  We all have our times and seasons--and some will never be the homemade bread and tortillas kind of gal.  That's ok.  Come August I can tell you I won't be making much bread.  Come a few years from now when I have three little bedlamites, I won't be so on top of things.  The point is, whatever you can do--do it!  Set some goals and accomplish something good, even if that means getting all of the kids to church on time. 

Hyrum and Joseph

On June 27, 1844, Hyrum and Joseph Smith were murdered by an angry mob.  We testify that they were men of God.  

"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!"  Doctrine & Covenants 135:3

"Although the events of June 27, 1844 were tragic, we are provided comfort as we realize that Joseph Smith's Martyrdom was not the last chapter in this account.  Although those who sought to take his life felt that the Church would collapse without him, his powerful testimony of truth, the teachings he translated, and his declaration of the Savior's message go on today in the hearts of members throughout the world, who proclaim him a prophet of God."  --President Thomas S. Monson

A Poop Post

**This post is not for the faint of heart.  Proceed at your own bravery.**

I started the day off complaining that white shirts should be banned from motherhood.  I don't think I have a single white shirt in my possession that doesn't have a stain [thanks to that handsome boy I call my son].

I repent.  There are many a thing worse than stained white shirts.

I left Little Boy happily playing in the family room and grabbed the mail.  When I returned a few minutes later, he wanted to show me the pile of poop on the floor.  Smart mother that I am, I left the poop on the floor and whisked The Boy away to his room for some cleaning.  I knew that ignoring the source of the issue would only result in escalating the poop-on-the-floor problem.

I did my best to get most of the poop off of him, but soon realized that this wasn't your average poop clean up.  We ran to the bathtub.  I was scrubbing that cute little bum...and his legs...

And then...

I saw poop...

where you never never never ever ever...

ever never ever...

want to see poop.

Now, there are a few places you never (maybe even ever) want to see poop.  You never want to see poop in between your toes.  You never (maybe even ever) want to see poop on your wedding dress.

But you never never never ever ever ever never ever want to see poop in your child's mouth.  [Yes.  You read that right.]

Hyrum had poop at the corners of his mouth.  My child just ate his own poop.  I was mortified!  What do you do when your child eats poop?!  Hurry, quick!  Here's some milk, wash it down!  [Ahhh! Ew ew ew!  Bleck!]  Hurry, quick!  Let's brush your teeth!

Oh! To be the mother of a boy!

Picture Perfect?

Pops passed on a few pictures he had on his camera from graduation.  This one cracks me up.

 Life isn't picture perfect, but it wouldn't be any fun if it was...

The Big Kids

Yesterday all of the big kids went on a temple trip.  Leslie turned twelve in April and this was her first time to go.  It was so much fun being together.  We were able to do baptisms and confirmations for 48 women and 39 men.  These were people from our family, too!

I love my siblings.  Each is so different, but they each bring something special to our family.  We have so much fun together.  I'm so excited to see how our family grows as the years go by.

Keepin' Cool

Oh what do you do in the summertime?

Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool?

Hyrum does.  For hours at a time.

Happy summertime!

Happy Father's Day

We love our Dad.

We love our Pops.

We love our Grandpa.

 

Happy Father's Day!

Wake Surfing

My stud brother built a surf board.  Built, painted, the whole bit.  We're excited to try it out at the beach when we go next month, but who said a surf board can only be used in the ocean?

  

Naturally, I wanted to be just like my brother.

This may be entirely embarrassing, but it cracks me up every time I run through these photos.

This was one of my very best memories from the lake trip this year.  I can't wait to try the board out at the beach!

Wakeboarding

I didn't go wakeboarding this summer, but I did serve as the cameraman.  It was fun to watch Keila and Bryton have fun on the water.  Sydney even learned this year!

 Keila

 Grannie the driver

 Uncle Bryton

 

I'm so proud of Sydney.  She has some spunk and perseverance.  I was sad that I didn't get to see her get up and stay up, but she did it!

Early Mornings

I've found myself a workout buddy.  He is my best friend, my buddy, my pal.  His name is Husband.

We've decided that this set schedule 10-6:30 ain't so bad.  We get up at six and workout. [Yes, we're doing P90X and my muscles are so confused.]  Then we make delicious breakfasts together.  He makes the gravy, I make the biscuits.  P90X makes biscuits and gravy taste like heaven, and hey, I don't feel bad about eating three because Tony Horton said the tip of the day was to "Eat.  Eat.  Eat.  Eat plenty of calories."

These last few mornings have helped me realize how much I love this little family of mine.  It is my very own and I get to keep them forever.  I'm grateful for the little moments, like when we're doing ball kicks and Husband is holding Little Boy and it's just too cute to be considered P90X.

Little Boy Lake Adventures

Hyrum had a blast at the lake.  There was too much to do...to much trouble to get into.  I felt like I was running around both days just making sure he wasn't getting sunburned, wasn't landing face first in the water, wasn't finding bugs, wasn't eating rocks, wasn't running down the hill to his utter doom...

 

A little boy has never been happier.  Living in the great outdoors for two days.  Good food from his Papa.  Water and dirt.  It was a good time.

Hikes and Snakes

Good morning at Roosevelt Lake!

Almost every morning there was a group of my amazing family going on a 6.8 mile hike.  It was tough!  It was a great interval hike.  I was sore for days.  I can't believe some of those people did it almost every day!

 

There was great excitement too when we came across a rattlesnake.  Good thing Brittney had her gun and there were plenty of rocks.  Sherra made sure to cut off the rattle as proof!

Goodbye Home Depot

This is in celebration of replacing Home Depot.  We were so grateful for Husband being hired at Home Depot and now we are so grateful to see it go.  It was exactly what we needed for the last year and a half, but we're on to bigger and better things.

The only reason you'll see us at Home Depot in the near future are for Kids Workshop!  Whoop!

Muscle Confusion

Does anyone else feel like their exercise goals are sabotaged by the weather?  Six days of exercise a week when the definition of exercise is "at least a mile walk" shouldn't be out of reach.  Until it's already 90 degrees at 8am.  Especially when it doesn't have to be "hot" temperature-wise, but if the sun sees you your toast...literally.

So then I decide, "I'll just do a little P90X."  The thing is I should just put the DVD in and suffer...you shouldn't read the descriptions.  "muscle confusion" ""ab-ripping" "full-throttle battle for upper body supremacy" "Each muscle group will take turns recuperating while you blast another until you've got nothing left but quivering muscles."

WHO DOES THAT?!

I'm feeling a little defeated.  I need a do-able Arizona summer exercise routine.  I need an exercise buddy too...

Master of the Grill

Text conversation:

Wifey:  How do I grill hamburgerguesas for you?
Husband:  With love.
Husband:  Light the grill, turn all burners to low, then cook.
Wifey:  Cook with love...Hmmm...I LOVE YOU

So, like a good Wifey, I set the table, sliced the tomatoes, and the other such "pre-hamburgerguesa" preparation I usually do while Husband grills the meat.  But then, I grilled! 

I lit the grill.  I turned all burners to low.  I cooked with love.

I flipped them and they were looking mighty fine.  So, I closed the grill and went to water the garden. 

When I came back I didn't have any hamburgerguesas.  I had charcoal.

Husband kindly told me before he left for Home Depot, "You're terrible at grilling, but I love you anyways!"

Sprinklers & Faceplants

The other afternoon, the Brown family went outside to do a little yard work.  One item of business was to increase the frequency the grass, shrubs, trees, etc. were getting water.  We turned on the sprinklers to see which program they were set to and Little Boy decided "That looks like a lot of fun."

Husband just looked at me and said,"You're seriously going to let him do that?"

"Why not?  When you were a little boy, didn't you like to play in the sprinklers?"

"Sure I did...I just can't believe you're letting him."

 

And fun it was...

...until he faceplanted...

...in the rocks.

 

I know...so mean.  Taking a picture instead of jumping to the rescue.