Bathroom Duties

Since this is my personal journal, I have to jot down the little things that are going on even though they become public on the blog.

Jessica still likes me to do the wiping after #2 on the toilet. Lately she has been calling me to "come squish her". At first I thought she wanted to be wiped but she said "no, squish my belly so more will come out". So I squish her belly and leave and then when she is ready to be done she calls me back to wipe her. I still haven't figured out how that child thinks--logically I guess.

Only on Thursdays

Jessica is a most vivacious child. She is full of energy, giggles and life. The other day I was cooking in the kitchen. She likes to be in there with me and usually on top of the counter. I am constantly telling sit on a chair not the counter. She moved off the counter on to a chair, back on the counter and all around, only as she does. Trying to be sweet and patient I asked, "Jessica do you ever settle down?". Her reply, " Yes, on Thursdays."

Jeweled Jello

This is a fun Jello recipe I found on another blog site (Gourmet mom on the go). We made it to take to our Super Bowl party tonight.

Here is the recipe:

Jeweled Jell-o
Ingredients:
4 small boxes of jello, different colors
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
water

Directions:
Dissolve each box of jello separately, into one cup of hot water. Pour into individual containers (small tupperware works well) and chill overnight.
Ready a 9×13 pan.
Cut flavors of jello into small blocks.
Mix together carefully in pan.
In a separate bowl, dissolve 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water. Add dissolved gelatin to 1 3/4 cup hot water and condensed milk. Cool.
Pour cooled milk mixture over jello and chill overnight. Cut into 1" pieces and serve. This is a fun dish to serve at a party. You can color theme it for a holiday or a party. Have fun.

My brother Brad and his four kids were staying the weekend with us. I had worked all day and needed to get some things done for primary the next day. Brad and Jeff realized they needed to get the eight kids out of the house so they didn't go stir crazy. All the kids opted to go to the church house and play basketball in the gym. They were only gone for about 45 minutes when Jeff came home and had me come over and apply my nursing skills to my cute niece Madison who was hurt. When I asked Jeff what happened, he explained that he and Brad were playing a little one on one, they were both running full force down the court when Maddie jumped in front of Jeff trying to steal the ball. Jeff hit her full force and fell to the ground. She told me she heard a crack in her shoulder when Jeff hit her. We packed up the kids went home and Brad took Maddie to an Urgent Care. Sure enough a broken clavicle. She stayed the rest of the weekend and did great. She was such a trooper. She said running into Jeff was like running into a brick wall. Sorry Maddie.
Here is how we entertained all seven kids while Brad had Maddie at the doctor. Jeff was playing a new game on the computer and all seven kids gathered around him watching him play for over 30 minutes. What easy kids to babysit.

Temple Open house

This evening we went to the open house of the new LDS Draper temple. I has such a simple elegance in it's decor. I am grateful for opportunities like this for my kids to see the temple and hopefully begin to gain a testimony of the temple and the blessings it brings.

This temple is in an incredible location. What an awesome sight when we came out of the temple to the Salt Lake Valley at night. The city lights are magnificent from this view.

We went to dinner after at Sweet Tomatoes. The kids loved the macaroni and ice cream the best. I loved not cooking dinner. Ha, ha.

Have You...

My friend had this on her blog. She and I did some of these things together, like the Eiffel tower. I thought is was fun to look at the things I have done, things I would like to do and things I am greatful I have not had to do. This is fun because there are many things I have done that my husband hasn't and vice versa. I like seeing that everyone has unique and inividualized opportunities in life.

Have You...
PUT THE THINGS YOU HAVE DONE IN BOLD.

1. Started your own blog--with the help of my sister Julie.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (only if "Rock Band" counts)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping--Only about four years ago.
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing/repelling
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant--I bought vegies I didn't need nor could identify from a needy man.
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted/sketched
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud-and very stuck in the mud with my friend Heidi at age 6.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen--I have cleaned one though.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood item
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle--it was only speeding due to my lack of experience.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper--I was quoted when I said Pres. Carters favorite cartoon was Grape Ape.
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating--I think I've helped my brother with this.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day.
101. Fallen in Love
102. Lived outside the United States of America
103. Seen a performance on Broadway
104. Swam in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
105. Competed on a team
This year for the first time I had a real surgery, I don't always count my c-section since I was awake and never felt pain. I also saw a live bear up close, it was behind a fence in Yellowstone though.

The idea now is to choose a couple of items on this list or make a couple of new goals of your own to accomplish this year. Life is about constantly learning and having new experiences. This year I think I will try and run a half marathon, maybe a full one next year, and read the Doctrine and Covenants with my family.

We're back-blogging that is.

We have had a wonderful holiday season. I had taken a break from keeping up the blog in order to keep up with all of the holiday festivities. This is just a short entry to you know we are alive and well. I will start catching up, check our blog for back dated entries, (yet to come). We had Ellie's birthday the middle of November. Followed by a great Thanksgiving in Eureka (Utah). We have been to Idaho and St. George in the last few weeks and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and New Years. I will be posting pictures of all of our activities. Happy New Year to all. HAPPY 32ND BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER JORDAN.