Mission Accomplished

July 28, 2012

Brent's Surprise 50th Birthday Party

Golden Corral, Orlando Florida

 He was very surprised!

Six of our cousins flew in from Utah

All of my children (except for Andrew) were here.

My sister and her children were here.

We enjoyed every minute!

More later...just posting a sneak preview.

London 2012

Let The Games Begin!!!!!

2012 Olympic Opening ceremony is tonight. We will enjoy English Trifle as we watch! That is about as creative as I get right now. I thought about Fish and Chips, but dont want the house to smell like fish while I have realtors in and out every day. Bacon, Salmon or any other Fish...all things I have to think twice about cooking right now when I want the house to smell like "BUY ME"!
Back to the subject...Enjoy the next 2 1/2 weeks of watching the Olympic Games. I look forward to this every 4 years!

Happy Pioneer Day

Today, I am really missing being in Utah to celebrate Pioneer Day. Celebrating in Salt Lake City is so much fun. July 24, 1847 is the day that the Mormon Pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, forever changing the world. As I was trying to think of way to celebrate here in South Florida, I remembered this incredible movie, 17 Miracles by T.C. Christensen. 

We are going to watch it later today. Just thinking about this movie made me realize that I can celebrate Pioneer Day any place, any time. In fact the true spirit of Pioneer Day is not in the parade and the festivities, it is about the sacrifices made by the early Latter day Saint Pioneers to ensure I have the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have the blessing of associating with modern-day Pioneers every day because of the sacrifices of so many early-day Pioneers.

You may order this movie HERE. I highly recommend this movie as one you will want to own and view often. We saw it in the theater while we were in Salt Lake last year. It was truly one of the highlights of our month-long stay there.

Perspective

An exciting week is facing me.
My cousin, Darlene, is coming to visit from Utah.
She is coming this week to attend my brother's surprise 50th Birthday party.
In addition to Darlene, her brother, Von, and his wife Patty will be here.
And if that is not enough excitement 3-4 of my cousins from my mom's side will also make the trip.
All of them are traveling from Utah for the purpose of celebrating my brother's 50th Birthday.
I am humbled and honored that they would choose to spend their time and money to be here for this celebration.
I sent out invitations to all of our cousins, aunts,uncles, and friend from all over the USA with the hope that they would send a note with Happy Birthday wishes. Never did I dream that any of them would actually travel here  to be with my family, but it is actually happening-THIS WEEK!

Darlene is staying for 2 weeks!!!! Megan will fly back to Utah with Darlene and spend a week with Bollingers. Megan will fly back to Florida with Andrew.

On top of all the excitement, we get to see our grandsons, Des and Riley along with their parents. It is going to be a great week.

In addition to the excitement, we are in the midst of selling our house, waiting for final approval from the banks on the short sale house we are purchasing, and trying to move before school starts, even if it means renting something before our new house is ready.We need to get settled closer to the girls' schools and to early morning Seminary in our new area.

Meanwhile, I have had some expensive extensive medical tests which are helping me get to the bottom of some health issues that have been getting worse since Dec/Jan. Now I know where to focus my energies for overcoming some of these crazy symptoms.

A lot going on and I am grateful to be in the middle of it all...good and bad.

This is one of those posts I don't expect anyone to read, but helps my perspective when there are a lot of balls in the air.

Breaking News

I am in the middle of collecting facts for some information  that will rock PB  County (maybe Florida). It all started with a simple statement from John Klemas

Follow what John is saying here...

"It's nice to see that Florida has straightened out their voting problems. The new Supervisor of Elections just sent our son, Keith, his new voters registration card. They mailed it to our address in St. George, where he has never lived, but that address is printed on his card as his home address. Also, it shows Frontier Elementary, in Loxahatchee, as his polling place. P.S. Keith has not lived in Florida since January 2006."

John posted this on Facebook a few days ago and I was amused enough by this situation to re-post it on my Facebook page. Shortly after posted, the comments (and private inbox messages) started. This is not an isolated incident. 

So far, people from Texas, California, Illinois, and Utah have come forward to share the same story. This week, they receive a Florida Voter's Registration card. On the card was printed their current Out-Of-State address and a Palm Beach County, FL polling location. None of these people live in Florida. Most have been gone for 5+ years, all are registered to vote in their new home. I

I am certain by the time to day is over, I will learn of more people in this situation.

Hellooooooo.

In theory, if these people were not honest, they could request an absentee ballot from Florida and vote TWICE in the upcoming Presidential election.

Can you say....Election Fraud? Can you say...we NEED a new Supervisor of Elections? Can you say we must REQUIRE photo ID with an address that matches the Voter's Registration Card address?

If I have been able to uncover these few examples, how many hundreds, or even thousands, more are there?

How will we ever know if Palm Beach County has an accurate vote? Regardless of your political views, this should make you skeptical at the least and outraged at the most.

Hot Lifeguards and Abs

You know your daughters are teenagers when you are driving home from a day at The Rapids Water Park and the conversations are centered on the totally hot lifeguards and their abs. 

In previous years, we discussed the slides, the lazy river, the wave pool, how long they waited in line for certain slides, who they saw, etc. Those days are but a memory.

I am so grateful for the choices my children make in friends. We are blessed to have wonderful friends. Sun up to sundown and nothing but fun-no drama.

Happy Happy Birthday Part 2

Happy Happy Birthday, Curt!

Enjoy this fun blast from the past...

you and Ryan had the classiest ride to the Prom I have ever seen.

May 1998

Happy Happy Birthday Part 3

Enjoy your Birthday and some random "Blasts From The Past"

 At Sotelos

 Christmas Day 1998

 Christmas Eve 1998...

The day before we announced Megan was on the way.

Happy Birthday

 Happy Happy Birthday, Curt, Dear, Happy Days Will Come To You All Year! 

Enjoy these photos from March 12, 1998-Your Eagle Scout Court of Honor

I love you and I am so proud of you!

I have a saying, "Never argue (debate, discuss) with a crazy (angry) person."
This quote is a much better way to express this saying and an excellent thought for me to digest.

Dear Kelloggs

Dear Kelloggs,
Please print the recipe for Rice Krispies' Treats on the OUTSIDE of the Rice Krispies box.
I never know if I am purchasing the correct amount of ingredients, especially when I plan on making more than one batch.
Signed,
Rice Krispie Treat Lover (me)

What's For Breakfast?

Another great idea from Pinterest

Breakfast in a Mug (Basic Recipe)
1 Egg
1/4 C Oats
2T Milk (I use Almond Milk)
1T Stevia, Brown Sugar, Agave, etc (or no sweetner)
1/4 Blueberries

Mix in a Mug and cook in MIcrowave on High for 1 1/2 minutes.

That is the basic recipe. Another version is that I dont add the blue berries and just mix in fresh fruit (banana or strawberries) after it is cooked.
Today, I used 2 eggs and liked it even better.
This is a great recipe for during the school year when we are out the door early and with little time to spare.

Accents

When Ron and Katherine returned from Missouri and Illinois last week, Katherine noted that the friendly highway patrolman who stopped them in St Louis had a funny accent. It began a conversation about accents and how we must sound to other people. I grew up all over the USA and have been told it is hard to detect from my "accent" where I am actually from. That makes sense as I feel like I have collected words, phrases, pronunciations, etc. from all over the map. However...I pronounce Missouri Missour-ee, not "ah", just like the sign says.

It is easy for me to hear a regional accent from all parts of the USA. Ron's mother could listen to anyone speak Spanish and detect not only which country they were from, but from which region in that country they were from. She earned her PhD in Linguistics. It was always fun to hear her speak Spanish with anyone we met. My friend from England can do the same with people from her area. She immediately knows if they are from the north, south, etc. by their accent and pronunciations.
Language is fascinating.Using it to build and lift is much more important that worrying about an accent.

Atticus Finch and High School Reading.

This summer, we are reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. The kids moaned and groaned because it was not their idea and they both have summer reading for school. Tonight, we watched the movie  to help jumpstart the reading (I know this is reverse...generally it is read the book then watch the movie)
Every time I see this movie, I am reminded of how much I love it. My favorite character is Atticus Finch. He is a class act all the way.  I hope no one tries to re-make this black and white version from 1962. It is classic in every way.

Speaking of summer reading, Katherine was assigned a book to read for the summer that is entirely inappropriate for a High School audience. I explained to the school that she would need an alternate assignment but met with great resistance, even after I expressed this was for moral, ethical and religious reasons. I explained that we are very selective about the media we expose ourselves to as a family and individuals, that we don't see movies with an R rating and rarely see PG-!3 rated movies and that we don't watch a lot of network or cable TV, especially sit-coms and dramas. 

I was told to that the compromise would be for me to read the book and sensor the objectionable sections. Well...that would be the entire book. Even the Sparks Notes were not acceptable reading. Hello...if you have to use the words compromise and sensor, there is a red-flag.

There are a lot of changes in administration and staff at Katherine's school, every day, there is another teacher or administrator who is no longer at the school. I decided to not wage the book battle again until thinks shake out and settle at the school. The very person who is giving me so much resistance could easily be "no longer at the school" along with all the others.

I am purposely not listing the book at this point. Once we have resolution, I will discuss details.

There are very few great books in recent years. I wish teachers would rely on the classic classics. To many of them are bored with classics because they have taught them for many years and forget that the students have still not read them. This is one of the reasons we are reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" this summer. I want my children to read great classic literature and too many teachers are not assigning great classic literature.

I want my children to have more literary heros like Atticus Finch.

For Sale For Real

Officially On The Market...

Click HERE for photos and details

I have the house listed For Sale By Owner on Zillow and Craigslist

Uploading photos took forrrrreeeeeevvvvvveeeer. 

I have a new appreciation for any photos posted on Zillow or Craigslist.

Socks of Love

Another wonderful service idea.

Much like the Blessing Bags, fill a sock with snacks, toiletries, etc., 

add the other sock and tie up the top.

Share with someone who is living on the streets, homeless, panhandler, etc.

I like that the sock is used as a container...completely functional.

This would be an excellent Christmas project,

Socks (like Christmas Stocking) of Love.

See the full idea HERE from Family at The Foot of The Cross.

(Photo from Family at The Foot of The Cross)

Nauvoo

Nauvoo

Ron and Katherine

 At the Nauvoo Memorial, one of our ancestors...

She died after the saints were driven out of Nauvoo, 

leaving her daughter, Minerva Wade Hickman, to travel west to the Salt Lake Valley

Sally Maria Bundy Wade

 The Sunstone

 The Trail of Tears

More Than Freedom and Fireworks

Public Service Announcement...

July 4th

Nathan's Famous Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest

Click HERE for details.

Celebrate Andrew!

July 3, 1986

The world became a better place.

Our 3rd son, Andrew arrived weighing in at 8lbs 6oz

Happy Birthday, Andrew!!!!!

Do you realize that Andrew was the youngest child for almost 12 years

and ended up as the Middle child.

I hope these photos put a smile on your face as you walk down memory lane. 

I chose photos from between 1993-1998.

Some are Birthday celebrations and all of them are evidence of 

the great love and support you have from so many people.

Life is good. 

Enjoy!

Slam Dunk with a little help at our house in Royal Palm Beach

 Birthday Party at Dubois Park 1998

 Snowy Spring Break in Utah 1993. We arrived with no winter clothing (it was SPRING, we thought) Ron took the boys to DI (Deseret Industries) to outfit them with warm clothing, hence a Ute cap and Miami Dolphins scarf.

 Marathon RISK Game with cousins. Summer 1998

On the way to Sea Camp Fall 1997 with Nick D Alessandro

With 3-day old Katherine-March 1997

Bowling Birthday Party July 1997

TGIFriday Pie in The Face Birthday Surprise 1997

With Siblings and Cousins July 1997

Hellooooo

Summer 1997 with Katherine

Summer 1993 Preparing to install large patio on back of Royal Palm Beach House

Baptism July 1994

Birthday with cousins in Royal Palm Beach 1994

a little trivia...this was the summer that Atlanta hosted the

Summer Olympic Games...note the essays on the wall behind 

Andrew. They were Jeffrey and Andrew's school assignments.

I know the subject was Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

Cousins Joel and Ashley are helping with the cake

Backyard Trampoline fun 1995 "Take That"

This was a great back yard.

This was the beginning of the Lighthouse KIng art

1995

At Jenni and Robert's Wedding

Lion House December 1995

At the hospital when Katherine was a few hours old.

March 1997. I have photos of all the boys like this...

The nurse walked in, took a look, and just walked right back out.

1993 Spring Break visiting The Hansen cousins in American Fork

Summer 1998 Palmyra Pageant with The Hoglund Cousins.

We had a visit from a couple of Nephite Warriors prior to the show.

 With Brother Bucklew at Scout Court of Honor 1998

After Scout Camp...a nice long bath

 Christmas 1998 with Dad, Brothers, and Uncle Brent

Camping with D'Allesandro Family 1998

Welcome Home from

Washington DC Safety Patrol Trip

Spring 1998

Dubois Beach 1998

 Birthday at Mc Donalds on Southern (no longer there)

1990

 Wellington Ward Primary 1995

 Utah 1998