Memory Lane Monday

So I'm starting a new thing. My cousin does a post every week called Flashback Friday where she posts a picture of the past and then writes a little something about it. So I'm going to copy her, except I'm calling mine "Memory Lane Monday." (Thanks for the idea "cousin." I hope you don't mind that I copy you :) ) OK - so here's my first:

This picture was taken April of 1994. I was 17 and a senior in high school. My "friend" and I were on our way out - probably going "cruising." Hey, it was a small community - it's what we did. Check out our BIG hair. Take a special note of the ropers we were wearing and our stance. Weren't we so cool ;) We had the picture taken because we dressed alike and we didn't mean to. In the background, you can see our wood burning stove - our ONLY source of heat. No furnace - just wood. So everyday the ashes had to be taken out and wood brought in. Every summer wood had to be hauled from the mountains, cut, split and stacked. It was a lot of work, but WELL worth it.

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary! Wow, has it flown by! I (Sandi) moved to Utah on 30 Sep 98. Bret and I briefly met 2 days before Thanksgiving when we happen to leave a party at the same time. We'd happen to be at several ward prayers over the next couple of months. Then on 18 Feb 99, I was getting out of my car to go into church and Bret pulled into the parking lot. His car was a mess. I told him he should keep his car cleaner - it was a Camero after all! He agreed and so I offered to wash it for him. That night at ward prayer, we exchanged cars so I could wash it for him the next day. We went out to lunch afterward. Nearly 2 weeks later, we went to a Kenneth Cope concert and then began dating - a lot. On 31 Mar 99 Bret proposed in front of the Jordan River Temple (amongst many cheers of strangers outside the temple - I might add!) We set a date for Aug something. Over the next couple weeks, we realized August wasn't going to work out - we had school problems and temple scheduling problems - so we moved our date to 26 June 99. We had 10 weeks before the wedding. It was a marvelous day! The elder who sealed us (Elder Ellsworth) spoke as if he knew us personally. The weather for pictures and the reception was beautiful and everything was perfect! So many people worked very hard to make this so special for us and we appreciated it. We went to Disneyland for our honeymoon - again, it was the best. I had never been before and I LOVED it! Of course I loved my tour guide!

The past 10 years have been really great! We've moved 5 times, Bret graduated from college, we've had 3 terrific kids, lost some loved ones, gained some. But the last 18 months have been the toughest of our married life. However, I wouldn't want to go through it with anyone else! I am truly married to my best friend. I'm very thankful for the Plan of Salvation. I'm thankful for my eternal companion. I love you, Hunny!!

PS - This was the BEST dress. It was just stunning!!! Thanks Jesse - You're the greatest!!

New Moon

Just wondering who has seen the New Moon trailer and what you think of it. Are you anxious for the movie??

HELP!!!!!

I need a recipe.

I've heard of a recipe for sticky buns or something like that. You put some sort of mixture on a cookie sheet and add frozen rolls on top. Put them in your oven before you go to bed and let them sit all night. In the morning, bake them. They're supposed to be really yummy and I need a recipe.

Please help me!

So Nice

Hasn't our weather been the best lately. I know I may be the minority here, but I'd like a few more weeks of the weather we've had last week. For those who don't live here, it's rained almost every day for about a week. On the days it didn't rain, it was cloudy and cool. It's been great!

A New Trick..

Noodle has a new trick! We've been working with Noodle off and on to ride her bike without training wheels. She has been able to do it since last summer, but has just lacked the confidence. (The girl can sing in a microphone at a neighborhood talent show by herself, yet she lacked balance confidence - go figure!) Yesterday she just got up and rode it without any help!! Since then she's been a bike riding fool! Yea Noodle!!!

In My Lovely Garden

Last fall while Hubs was at work, I borrowed a sod cutter from a friend (thanks McKay) and amidst may questions and weird looks, I cut out some of our front lawn. (It's in our front yard but on the side - no directly in FRONT of our house.) I added mulch and let it set through the winter. This spring, with much advise from a neighbor gardener extraordinaire, I planted a garden. Here is some of the fruits of our elbow grease. I'm so glad I did it. I don't have 1 regret. Since then there have been 2 others in our neighborhood who have taken lawn out of their front yards to put in a garden. (Our backyards are just too shady!) I'm also VERY thankful for a husband who doesn't detest weeding. Thank you Hubs, for your many hours of weeding! We've already picked a couple of peas - but sadly we won't get many more of those. We have many green tomatoes and a few pumpkin blossoms. Not to mention all the other stuff.

Summerfest

On Friday, June 12, we took the kids to the Summerfest Carnival. We rode on the "Tilt-A-Whirl" with all 3 kids. They loved it!! Especially Noodle and Lewlew. (After about the first couple of minutes, Buddy was ready to get off.) In this picture you can only see Hubs shirt, but all 5 of us were in the car. It was such a BLAST!! We laughed and screamed and had fun! It was a little chilly - we did get rained on a little bit. We had blankets in the van that the kids used to keep warm. But it was still fun.

Zoo FUN!

On Wednesday, June 10, I took the kids to the zoo. It was awesome. It was a little chilly and we did get rained on (we had umbrellas), but the animals were so active! I like to go when it's cool, because the animals are moving around instead of just lying or hiding somewhere. It wasn't as bad as I thought, taking them by myself. It was nice. Of course there wasn't a crowd, so they had a little more freedom. The kids had a great time and so did I.

There was an elephant "show". It was neat. They've made some great improvments at the zoo.

Birthday

A week ago on June 7 was my birthday. The day before, we went to the Mayan in SLC with all of Hubs' family. It was great! On Sunday, we went to Bestie's house for dinner. MMM it was good. The picture is the cake she baked for me. I got lots of great stuff, but more than anything it was just nice and relaxing. I got to spend time with family and friends and it was nice. A BIG thanks to everyone for everything!

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Yesterday, we had the awesome privilege to go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. When we went to the Draper Open House, Hubs wasn't able to go with us. This time we scheduled it so he could come with us. It was awesome. We went in the middle of the afternoon and there weren't very many people. We were able to go slow and look around. It was so much more relaxed than when we went through Draper. (Draper, we went on the last Saturday and it was CRAZY!!) Buddy took notes in his journal about almost every room. It was really sweet! He loved everything. Noodle loved the Bride's room. She talked about what her dress would look like and she would sit "here" and look in the mirror "there." It made me want to pause that moment in time. I could just see her in the future, sitting there as a bride. Lewlew thought everything was "piddy." The "light parkled like on my nails" - translation: the chandelier sparkled like the glitter on her nails. It was very beautiful - of course. The ordinance rooms were very similar to the Draper temple. It was MUCH easier to find than the Draper temple. Next month we get to go again while Hubs sister is in town. We can't wait!

Something New...

Last Sunday I was sustained as the second counselor in the primary. At first I was excited and anxious and now I'm stressed. I am working with 2 GREAT ladies and for that I am thankful. Any thought, ideas, comments etc. would be GREATLY appreciated. We need to work a lot on reverence and I'd like any and all ideas on sharing time. Please help!!!

End of the school year

Buddy is officially a third grader. Noodle graduated from Kindergarten and is now an official first grader! We are going to enjoy our summer and our sleep. Buddy likes (and seems to do better on) the earlier school time better so I signed them both up for the earlier track so they'd both be on the same schedule. The next school year just might be the death of me!! The earlier track is from 8:00 to 2:15 and the later track is 9:15 to 3:30. Wish me luck - I'm going to need it! :)