This month is our 10th anniversary of moving to Texas. I can't believe we've been here that long! When we moved, we were seriously thinking we'd be here maybe 3 or 4 years. I think our roots have taken hold without us really noticing.
We've been here long enough to redecorate our redecorating.
When we moved here, our oldest was in 3rd grade, now she's a college freshman. Our youngest was born here.
We're considering purchasing burial plots in this area.
We've experienced two hurricanes, Galveston beaches, Blue Bell ice cream, the birth of the Texans, the Dynamo, and the Astro's going to the World Series. We love camping in the winter and on the beach, seeing the alligators at Brazo's and the azaleas in the spring.
We love it here. It's a great place to raise a family. We've got great schools, great neighbors, a great ward with a fantastic bishop :), and the temple is within walking distance.
We're glad we came and we're glad we've been here this long.
Who knows what the next 10 years will bring.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Conversation with Benj
Benj: Mom, I really want to go get a pocketknife from the I.R.S. Jace says they have some for only 5 bucks.
Me (half-listening): What are you talking about?
Benj: Seriously! I want to get a pocketknife from I.R.S.!
Jace: Benj, it's called R.E.I., not I.R.S.
Me (half-listening): What are you talking about?
Benj: Seriously! I want to get a pocketknife from I.R.S.!
Jace: Benj, it's called R.E.I., not I.R.S.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Journey
Last night at dinner we were talking about Benj's upcoming field trip. He was excited to go to the new museum, the library, and the puppet show. Then out of nowhere, he exclaimed, "This will be my 3rd time on a bus!"
Ooh, Do you remember the days when that was all so new. Riding a bus was as anticipated as riding on a space shuttle! The countdown, climbing onto such a huge vehicle, finding a seat, the windows, the sound of the engine, the take off, and then, wow! we're moving!
We asked him about his previous bus rides. The first was when we all took a bus down to the rodeo so we could save the hassle of parking. He doesn't remember seeing the bull riding or watching Martina McBride. He just remembers the bus ride. The second was when we went to see the High School Marching Band in San Antonio and Erin took him onto the charter bus to get him a candy bar--that time the bus didn't even go anywhere and he remembered it!
Caitlin went to NYC this week for a school activity. She was so excited to go on the plane! She's only flown once before because all of our family vacations usually include a LONG car ride. I don't want to embarrass her by saying how excited she was, but I'm sure she'll remember it more than many of the landmarks she goes to visit. (She just texted me to tell me she rode the subway this morning--another memory for her.)
I think the coolest form of transportation I've ever experienced was an old train that our YW/YM took from El Paso to Mexico City when I was 14. It was 24 hours on the train--sleeping cars, dining cars, RR crossings where we waved to all the stopped cars, lots of things to explore and check out, porters came in to our car in the evening to pull the bed down from the wall where it had been folded up. Very amazing trip. The sights we saw in Mexico were as memorable as the ride.
Here's to an exciting journey! Enjoy the ride!
Ooh, Do you remember the days when that was all so new. Riding a bus was as anticipated as riding on a space shuttle! The countdown, climbing onto such a huge vehicle, finding a seat, the windows, the sound of the engine, the take off, and then, wow! we're moving!
We asked him about his previous bus rides. The first was when we all took a bus down to the rodeo so we could save the hassle of parking. He doesn't remember seeing the bull riding or watching Martina McBride. He just remembers the bus ride. The second was when we went to see the High School Marching Band in San Antonio and Erin took him onto the charter bus to get him a candy bar--that time the bus didn't even go anywhere and he remembered it!
Caitlin went to NYC this week for a school activity. She was so excited to go on the plane! She's only flown once before because all of our family vacations usually include a LONG car ride. I don't want to embarrass her by saying how excited she was, but I'm sure she'll remember it more than many of the landmarks she goes to visit. (She just texted me to tell me she rode the subway this morning--another memory for her.)
I think the coolest form of transportation I've ever experienced was an old train that our YW/YM took from El Paso to Mexico City when I was 14. It was 24 hours on the train--sleeping cars, dining cars, RR crossings where we waved to all the stopped cars, lots of things to explore and check out, porters came in to our car in the evening to pull the bed down from the wall where it had been folded up. Very amazing trip. The sights we saw in Mexico were as memorable as the ride.
Here's to an exciting journey! Enjoy the ride!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy St Patrick's Day
This is one of my favorite jokes and I can only tell it once a year so, here goes:
Q. What's green and stays out all night?
A. patio furniture
(you might need to say it out loud) ;)
Q. What's green and stays out all night?
A. patio furniture
(you might need to say it out loud) ;)
Monday, March 16, 2009
Creative Puns
A friend emailed this list to me. I thought I'd pass it on--Enjoy!
CREATIVE PUNS FOR "EDUCATED MINDS"
1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island,but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .
3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the roadand was cited for littering.
8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'
14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, 'No change yet.'
17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
18. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
19. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
20. A backward poet writes inverse.
21. In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
22. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
23. Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!
CREATIVE PUNS FOR "EDUCATED MINDS"
1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island,but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .
3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the roadand was cited for littering.
8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'
14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, 'No change yet.'
17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
18. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
19. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
20. A backward poet writes inverse.
21. In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
22. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
23. Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Breakfast
I think everyone that knows me knows that I love to eat.
Especially food.
And it starts early.
This morning, I got up about 6 to take my hubby to Woodbadge. I ate an apple* while I got the kids out to school and morning things taken care of. After the house settled down and I realized I now had an entire day ahead of me to do whatever I wanted, I thought about breakfast. Sure I had an apple, but that was technically a snack. I pulled out the bag of Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats-- a definite favorite lately. I made enough for two and put the second serving in the fridge for tomorrow (yes, oatmeal reheats in the microwave great!). That oatmeal is so good. I like it with white sugar, brown sugar and blueberries sprinkled on top. It tastes like blueberry muffins. Yum!
And while we're talking about hot cereal... True Confession: Every time we go to Utah we stop at Lehi Mills and buy a 25 lb. bag of Germade. I even asked M&S to bring us a bag once when they were visiting. I think it fit in their carry-on. :) Yes, I still owe you guys for that one. What did security think???
My all-time favorite breakfast food is pancakes. I love pancakes with homemade maple syrup and lots of butter. I like them with blueberries, I like whole wheat ones,
...and I will eat them on a train and I will eat them in the rain ...
and I recently found IHOP's recipe for their Harvest Grain and Nut Pancakes. I haven't tried it yet but it's full of oats, whole wheat flour, almonds, and walnuts. I also have a recipe for Sweet Potato Pancakes with brown sugar and pecans. It doesn't get any better than that. :)
For Christmas this last year, J&K sent us breakfast in a box. Was that the most perfect gift or what? We must be related!
I also love sweet breads, muffins, waffles, breakfast cake, danishes, actually any kind of pastry. I love crepes, doughnuts, kolaches, breakfast casserole, omelets, english muffins, french puffs, german pancakes, pannekoeken, and the list goes on....
I've decided that eggs aren't my favorite unless they're with something. If I eat a poached egg it has to be on top of an english muffin with grated cheese on top. Hollandaise sauce anyone? If we're going to scramble them we've got to put stuff in them. I like mushrooms and onions and/or zucchini and potatoes with a sprinkle of tomatoes and cheese on top. Like a scrambled omelet. And speaking of omelets--Chris makes the best omelets in the world--and the best sticky potatoes. He is a genius with breakfast. No wonder we love each other so much.
For sticky potatoes: grate a couple of potatoes but don't rinse them. Melt a little butter on a griddle or in a non-stick fry pan and add the potatoes. When they've gotten crispy on the bottom, flip them over. You might have to cut them with the side of your spatula so you can flip them over. Brown on the second side. Season with salt, pepper, season-all or whatever you like. Eat them with ketchup or homemade chili sauce.
Of course, our breakfast is usually cold cereal or instant oatmeal, or cinnamon toast. Since everyone leaves at different times we don't get to eat together every morning. Maybe the reason why I like a good breakfast so much is because we actually don't get it very often.
*A note about having an apple in the morning--One apple is supposed to give you just as much energy as a cup of coffee. Interesting, huh?
Especially food.
And it starts early.
This morning, I got up about 6 to take my hubby to Woodbadge. I ate an apple* while I got the kids out to school and morning things taken care of. After the house settled down and I realized I now had an entire day ahead of me to do whatever I wanted, I thought about breakfast. Sure I had an apple, but that was technically a snack. I pulled out the bag of Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats-- a definite favorite lately. I made enough for two and put the second serving in the fridge for tomorrow (yes, oatmeal reheats in the microwave great!). That oatmeal is so good. I like it with white sugar, brown sugar and blueberries sprinkled on top. It tastes like blueberry muffins. Yum!
And while we're talking about hot cereal... True Confession: Every time we go to Utah we stop at Lehi Mills and buy a 25 lb. bag of Germade. I even asked M&S to bring us a bag once when they were visiting. I think it fit in their carry-on. :) Yes, I still owe you guys for that one. What did security think???
My all-time favorite breakfast food is pancakes. I love pancakes with homemade maple syrup and lots of butter. I like them with blueberries, I like whole wheat ones,
...and I will eat them on a train and I will eat them in the rain ...
and I recently found IHOP's recipe for their Harvest Grain and Nut Pancakes. I haven't tried it yet but it's full of oats, whole wheat flour, almonds, and walnuts. I also have a recipe for Sweet Potato Pancakes with brown sugar and pecans. It doesn't get any better than that. :)
For Christmas this last year, J&K sent us breakfast in a box. Was that the most perfect gift or what? We must be related!
I also love sweet breads, muffins, waffles, breakfast cake, danishes, actually any kind of pastry. I love crepes, doughnuts, kolaches, breakfast casserole, omelets, english muffins, french puffs, german pancakes, pannekoeken, and the list goes on....
I've decided that eggs aren't my favorite unless they're with something. If I eat a poached egg it has to be on top of an english muffin with grated cheese on top. Hollandaise sauce anyone? If we're going to scramble them we've got to put stuff in them. I like mushrooms and onions and/or zucchini and potatoes with a sprinkle of tomatoes and cheese on top. Like a scrambled omelet. And speaking of omelets--Chris makes the best omelets in the world--and the best sticky potatoes. He is a genius with breakfast. No wonder we love each other so much.
For sticky potatoes: grate a couple of potatoes but don't rinse them. Melt a little butter on a griddle or in a non-stick fry pan and add the potatoes. When they've gotten crispy on the bottom, flip them over. You might have to cut them with the side of your spatula so you can flip them over. Brown on the second side. Season with salt, pepper, season-all or whatever you like. Eat them with ketchup or homemade chili sauce.
Of course, our breakfast is usually cold cereal or instant oatmeal, or cinnamon toast. Since everyone leaves at different times we don't get to eat together every morning. Maybe the reason why I like a good breakfast so much is because we actually don't get it very often.
*A note about having an apple in the morning--One apple is supposed to give you just as much energy as a cup of coffee. Interesting, huh?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
