The Family Buckner

2011-04-28T16:52:00.002-06:00

The Family Buckner has moved.

If you care, and if you don't, no worries... you can find us here:

mama-face.blogspot.com

It really is our new family blog. Pinky Promise.

buhbye

the painted house

2010-10-04T15:00:00.000-06:00

The house is finished...almost...on the outside

Today some guys were sanding and smoothing the bottom section in preps for whatever the heck that part takes to be finished.

You know I took a photo...but even for me...that is a YAWNFESTIVAL.

But now, ladies and gents,

I present to you:

The Painted House

cabinets. that's all.

2010-09-29T09:52:00.002-06:00

today's boring update.

kid's laundry

Adult's laundry

Basement bath

Her Cabinet

His Cabinet

Main Bath aka Boy's Bath

Powder Room Cabinet (LOVE)

Kitchen Island

Kitchen Range Hood

Bad Photo of Kitchen Window

Basement Kitchenette

Office

to be continued...

more house update y'all.

2010-09-26T10:29:00.000-06:00

These particalur photos are from Wednesday, the 22nd of September 2010.

pretty sure about that.

anywhaaaaaaaterr.

Not a fun day in many respects.

It was just the beginning of this cold I have that will not leave my sorry chest.

I've been mistaken for man about 5 times (at least) over the last few days.

Because of my voice, fools.

Why oh why any cold I get causes me to lose my voice is beyond me.

On Wednesday the cabinets began to be delivered.

Such excitement.

Mostly what you see here is the range hood, upside down. Kinda looks like a key-less piano now that I really look. Now what good would a key-less piano be?

(Also in this photo is the cabinet installer-I'm sure all these random workers love being in all my random photos).

This, folks, is the base of the cabinetry in the study/office.

That room needs a better name-neither studying or office-ing really goes on in there.

Internet Room?

Files of paid bill receipts, used checkbooks, online shopping confirmations, etc.-room?

nuff said.

These are my shower tiles.

The pretty glass ones are/were supposed to be clear and gray.

Obviously, we have what look to be BLUE glass tiles.

I don't understand-AND I can't do a dang thing about it.

I think they're still purty.

Shower floor.

Photo included only to show the smaller tiles.

That is not much of an explanation; but it's all I got.

****

MORE photos from the 22nd.

I met Matt the Builder and his wife at the house to choose the paint colors for the outside.

Funny story: I've been carrying around a swatch of a particular paint color I've been thinking would work well for so long that it is falling apart. SO......The first paint color she turns to from one of those HUGE paint sample books that only real decorators seem to carry around is that very color. Not really a funny story after all...but rather twilight zoneish.

(The original "twilight", not the what I won't give my real opinion on "twilight" of this decade).

So, the dark color on the left, (I'm too lazy to go find the real name right now), will be the main color of the body of the house. The lighter, (for the lighter colored painted sections), which I suspected it would, is too light. (Not to worry, a paint color to be the lighter has been selected. You know I'll be boring you with those details).

I painted little swatches on different sections of the house.

I'm smart like that.

(I was barely able to accomplish this little patch before the rains came).

****

fun with paint samples

2010-09-21T17:50:00.000-06:00

Some people say that you can have too many pictures of wes modeling with paint samples. I say those people are wrong. you may also notice the vast difference between each paint sample. or not. i certainly don't. He was a good sport. I think he may have enjoyed himself a little too much.

AND:

I love my front door.

I can't wait to welcome y'all inside. welp, maybe not all y'all, but most of y'all that's for sure.

just another house update

2010-09-19T10:10:00.001-06:00

pictures pictures and more pictures.

front walkway #1

front walkway #2

stairs from garage into house

door

wes in his new room

master tub beginning tile

finished kitchen floor

garage into kitchen

do not drive on driveway.

clever barriers

back #one

Back #2two

Back #3

slate floor for basement kitchenette

wood floor w/carpet and cabinet samples

front #1


Front #2

wes chillin' on the patio w/a pipe outta his back

th-th0-th-that's all folks.

'til next time. :)

house update

2010-09-16T18:12:00.000-06:00

September 16, 2010

laundry room

you know

wes' bathroom

The tile in that bathroom looks way darker than it actually is.

step over

master bath

hunter's room

walkway prep

DRIVEWAY

more walk way prep

sidewalk thingee in backyard

:-)

7 weeks to go

2010-09-14T16:13:00.001-06:00

I'm only going to post pictures pictures and more pictures of the new house here for now. For those who care...you know who I'm talkin' about.

Enjoy.

Sept 14, 2010

The 3rd and 4th Of July, 2010

2010-07-22T11:25:00.001-06:00

A whole lot of pictures-A whole lot of fun.

July 3rd

Tracy; she's so street. I mean sweet.

LOOK out.

Brotherly and Sisterly Love.

Missing a spider?

Fashion Senselessness

Fashion Usefulness-cell phone bra.

Blurry Glow Rings

FIREWORKS!

Look out

FIREWORKS!!!

The 4th of July

Celebratory Flip of Celebration by Wes:

Shadow play by Luke:

& Taylor

best picture setting ever

yummers

Randy, the grillmeister

Back to the 3rd:

More blurry glow ring fun:

Yep, I told you they were "more blurry".

The sweet smell of summer.

Jake trying to smile.

Best place on earth for Fireworks.

Kristen and Tracy working their smiles.

Funnel cakes FUN.

Back to the 4th

Shannon, Taylor, and Blake.

2 old geezers.

Family portrait minus some family. (Like Jake and Jessie).

Family photo with 'adopted' daughter Ang.

That's all folks.

Grandma and Grandpa's 70th Wedding Anniversary

2010-01-31T09:34:00.001-07:00

On January 2, 2010, Jesse Elwood Buckner [Grandpa] passed away,

and on January 16th, 2010, Ada Barbara Wood Buckner [Grandma] also left this mortal existence.

Grandma and Grandpa were incomplete without each other,

so, while they are greatly missed, we are happy they are together again.

These photos are from their 70th Wedding Anniversary/Family Reunion held on July 4, 2010.

Such a short time ago.

Shortly after this, Grandpa found out that he was gravely ill

and Grandma's previous condition worsened.

The actual party, where family and friends, (and party crashers), alike

gathered together in a building next to the river, was held on July 4th.

Tons of food, (thank you Patty, et al), and tons of laughter and joking around.

That night, in a raging lightening storm, the city of Carlsbad put on a fireworks show.

That was awfully nice of them to do this for all of us; especially Grandpa and Grandma.

Most of the pictures I have were taken from the table you will see; I guess we were too lazy to be bothered by walking around much. I wish we had many more pictures of extended family and of the massive table of food. yummmm. Pictures of food.

If wishes were fishes....

I began to post about Grandpa and Grandma's funerals and remembered I had a few pictures from the reunion. I think that Grandpa looks especially happy about the whole affair! And I love that he is wearing his ubiquitous baseball cap even then. He was the only man I know who had all that gorgeous white hair and covered it with a cap!!

Anyways................

Grandma and Grandpa, entering the big celebration. Mike and Barbi look extra happy, don't you think?

Grandpa with 2 of his granddaughters; Kristen and Ami. He sees something to his left that caught his eye. Is that what he is smiling about?

Grandpa chatting it up (and he wasn't much of a chatterer) with ????.

He was very gregarious that afternoon/evening.

Our family minus Jessie, (who was in Peru).

Grandma and Grandpa sat through pictures with each family.

And that's a lot of sitting to do.

(It was so confusing, everyone taking photos, so I don't know whose camera we are looking at. I know you don't care; it's just bugging me. WHERE are those pictures that someone was taking of everyone??)

Grandma and Grandpa. I just noticed that Grandpa had taken his cap off. Ha.

See what I told you about that hair? And Grandma was looking pretty spiffy as well.

What a fun night that was. I think it's pretty obvious that Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed it as well. I'm sure many of you who are reading this have your own pictures. And probably if I went back and checked your blogs from last summer you posted some. I will have to go back and see.

But, I posted these before a post about their funerals in their memory. For our memory.

Golf Cart

2010-01-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

{Jessie; fulfilling her wildest dream}

New Mexico-January 2010

Who knew you could have this much fun with a golf cart?

{Kristen, Ami, Wes, Aiden}

{Aiden! Could this boy be any cuter?}

Away they Go. Into the Sunset. Ish.

{a happy Jessie, a maniacal Kristen, a shocked? Jake}

{Ami, Jessie, Kristen, Wes, Aiden}

Golf Cart Models in and on a Golf Cart.

These pictures definitely speak for themselves.

What a bunch of great kids.

The Night Before Christmas 2009

2009-12-30T20:33:00.001-07:00

T'was the night before Christmas

December 2009

The Family Buckner Christmas Eve PigFest.

Rolls, pie, candy and treats galore.

Mixing, stirring, prepping and more.

Things like...

Smiling

Tasting

oohing and

AWWWWWING.

Tradition dictates the PigFest Order:

1. prep the food and table

2. drive about and admire the lights

3. commence PIGGING OUT...

and lastly... 4. opening that one special present.

Surprisingly it is always Jammies.

At least Wes still gets a thrill out of this part!

Talking, laughing, watching "The Nativity"; just soaking in the love.

All the kids still sleeping in the same room Christmas Eve.

I hope these are the things the kids will remember.

**********************

Wow, do I need to keep this blog up to date. I started to gather pictures since summer to post and it was just too much. Maybe I can just post random moments in between keeping things up to date. Maybe. :)

Buckner Family Reunion Pt. 1

2009-11-02T08:43:00.002-07:00

Buckner Family Reunion
July 4th Weekend, 2009
Carlsbad, New Mexico

The day after arriving in fair New Mexico, Kristen and I were with Ashley when we passed this place with the lovely sign in the winder. Looks like Hugh had had enough of that joint was ready to move on. Silly Hugh; thinking he could put up a sign like that and not have us drive around the parking lot 3 times before I was able to snag this shot through the bug incrusted windshield. And Hugh must have had a lot of stuff; it was going to take an entire month to get rid of it all. It was weird though; the next day it was a HUGE moving sale. Huh? What happened to poor Hugh?
Silly me, I thought this was so funny. Thanks Ash, for driving around in circles for me.

Kristen and Ami at the BFD the night of the BFD* Talent Show.

Jake and Keira the night of the BFD* Talent Show.

☝
Kristen and Mike at the BFD* Talent Show. They look way happy. Too much punch?

Wes is apparently the only one in our nuclear family with a skosh of talent.
And photography ain't one of them talents.
This is a shot, (with a big head in the foreground), of Bonnie just having announced Wes.
Wes went on to play a Wes Original. He IS the only one, (in OUR family), talented enough to perform in a talent show. Wes spotted the dusty keyboard in the corner of the huge room and it was his idea to bring it to the 'stage'. Thank you to Uncle Kip, (there he is, with his back to the camera, finishing up set up), for making it happen. There were several musical numbers besides Wes; but props for Wes for finding the keyboard to begin with.
☟

This picture is worth a thousand words. Yet it leaves me speechless.

Gotta love that Aiden and his droopy pants.

Gotta love Gina and that look.

No, really, Gina, LOVE YA!

Aww, Ami and I in our camper. Gotta love that Ami.

*Big Family Deal

Some Kristen Catch-up

2009-11-01T08:45:00.002-07:00

Kristen's first day of work-

Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.

A very happy day.

Kristen's 24th Birthday. Another happy day.

When Kristen was a baby, Grandpa Buckner gave her the nickname 'Patch Kid.

She made the mistake of telling her roommates in college;

and she became Kabby forever more.

Wes, the Lego Mastermind made her this Birthday Lego Collage.

Which she didn't get to keep-the Legos have gone on to other projects.

It's the thought that counts.

I made her a cake.

Which we ate.

Playing Catch Up #1

2009-11-01T08:23:00.001-07:00

Time to Play Catch Up with the Buckner Family.
Here we go............

Wes-First Day of School 2009
3rd Grade-Mrs York.

This was Wes' first day of school, he was happy and smiling. I hate that first day of each year, throwing my child out into the cold cruel world. I don't believe he's been real fond of it either this year either. Growing Pains.

A Montage For Jessie

2009-09-02T19:26:00.001-06:00

Jessie began school at Utah State University this Fall.

She's off having fun.

Cuz that's all college is.

All Fun and No Work.

Right?

I miss her.

JESSIE IS EIGHTEEN!

2009-07-17T12:44:00.001-06:00

July 15, 2009. Jessie's 18th Birthday.

A perfect time for a BBQ

Ready to Par-tay!

The Menu: Kabobs

Tasted much better than they look.

FRIENDS!

The Grown-Ups.

Okay, apparently the conversation was much more serious than I realized.

Party Prep.

Out of order picture. I do that a lot, don't I?

Cheese-y

The best part:

PReSeNts!!!!

Jedi Training Camp

2009-06-27T16:56:00.000-06:00

Wes came up with a plan to have a "Jedi Training Camp".

He made invites and took it very seriously.

We made treats that had some kind of Star Wars reference.

(I don't know what the reference was...they looked like

corn on the cob rice krispie treats to me.

What do I know?)

Any kind of rice krispie treat is good enough for me.

Within a few days almost every one of these boys came down with the flu.

Including Wes.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the Jedi Treats.

(I think one of the trainees was a traitor.)

If you are interested in holding a "Jedi Training Camp",

please contact Wes.

He will provide the training; I will provide the treat.

Jessie~Springville H.S.~Class of 2009

2009-06-08T16:38:00.010-06:00

Well y'all, Jessie done got herself gradyouated. We's real, real proud of her. Here are some pitcher's from the pert near craziest pitcher takin shindig I evah done seen.

Graduating + Bestest Friends=Good Times

Wes Jumping for Joy

2009-05-20T16:26:00.000-06:00

Kristen Graduates Part Deux

2009-05-10T16:58:00.000-06:00

Commencement took place in the Centrum Arena in Cedar City

on May 2, 2009.

Graduates

Mom is VERY excited.

President Monson was the keynote speaker.

I love this shot for some reason.

Maybe it's because you can tell it is actually him.

Jake, Kristen and Wes. (Jessie had to work, darn it.)

Looking ahead.

The proud parents of a very deserving girl.

Kristen with friends, Lynne and Miju

Yeah!!! I am an official graduate. A real life graduate! Ready to enter the real world!

Good bye house. It was a great 2 1/2 years we shared.

Kristen Graduates Part Une

2009-05-10T16:36:00.000-06:00

Nursing Pinning Ceremony-May 1, 2009

Southern Utah University

YEAH!!!!

Being "pinned" as a Nurse is a tradition that goes back many years.

Signifies something.

Who cares...it's just cool.

Pinning Ceremony took place in Hogwarts! Wes loved this room.

It kept him entertained.

Kristen in slideshow. I can't believe I got that shot.

Kristen being PINNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The students gathered together for a group photo op and only the really pushy parents were able to get a decent shot before the group broke up. Notice I am not a pushy parent in this instance. Dang. But Kristen is there in the middle. ;-0

Kristen with some Nursing friends;

Kristal, Holly, Kristen, Cammie, Crystal

(They are happeeeeeeee...gee I wonder why?)

Family Photo.

Kristen and Ashley

Kristen and Dad.

Prom 2009

2009-05-05T17:31:00.000-06:00

Springville High School Prom 2009

Prep Work. A lot of prep work. Some sweet girls!

Here she is!

It was the BLUE dress, can you tell?

Isn't she lovely?

Are you talking to your computer right now?

Dance. Twirl. Dance.

The knees of a hard core long boarder.

Thank goodness for the long dress.

Just because I love this picture.

Check out those earrings.

I took about 60 billion zillion pictures (you who have the delight of cross-referencing us on facebook are already aware of this) and it is super hard to pick which ones to post.

They are a cutie-patootie couple if I do say so myself.

Springville High School Promenade.

I can't even tell you beautiful this was. Springville High is a giant school with small town school spirit. The promenade and dance were held at the Provo Courthouse. It stopped snaining, Yes I said snaining, just in time for the unveiling of the Seniors.

I am wiping a tear away right now...

This picture has Wes in it...and the sunset...and Jess and Frank look very interested in whatever that girl is saying. In fact I would say Wes looks enthralled.

Pictures on the lawn in front of the courthouse.

And finally Mom and Dad (his too) left the prommer's alone.

Yeah, I just invented the word prommers.

These are seriously good kids. When I read and hear about some Proms and how they are all about drinking, etc. etc., my heart melts with gratefulness over what these kids are all about and how good they are.

Oh, to be 17 again.

Jess should really fill in here all about Prom, but I know they had a wonderful time.

(Perhaps she will add an update)

Bubbles

2009-04-27T10:35:00.000-06:00

BuBbLEs!!

One lovely springtime afternoon Wes and Jess had some special

Brother & Sister Time.

Locking and Loading

Ready, Set,

BloW!

Beeeeyoutifull!

Is it Spinning...

Or is it Dancing?

Jessie Loves Bubbles

and Smiling.

and Mom photographing everything.

Easter 2009 w/Wes

2009-04-20T17:39:00.000-06:00

Pretty self explanatory stuff here: 1. the finished product, 2. the concentration of creativity, and 3. the annual stack the Easter baskets on your head tradition.

Guess who dyed Easter Eggs this year? The same two people who will be doing it until Wes grows out

of whatever it is that makes a kid and a mom spend hours of prep for 5 minutes of fun.

The pictures below deserve some explanation. Wes is kind of creative with his crafts. He wrote this letter at school. I wonder everyday what his teacher is thinking about our family...

Let me translate:

Okay, I don't know how to explain the top picture. You have to see it in person to appreciate it properly.

Here is the literal translation of Wes' letter to the Easter Bunny:

"Dear Easter bunny

Please bring me as many Harry Potter movies as you CAN. bring me a turtle.

and do NOT bring airheads. I am not

allowed to eat them. DO NOT GO TO THE BATHROOM IN MY HOUSE!

Please enjoy. from: Wes!

(picture of carrot)

p.s I want monsters v.s aliens, too.

Fortunately, the Easter Bunny received this note in time to find as many Harry Potter movies as he could.
And he did not bring airheads, or a turtle.
But he did use the bathroom.
Don't tell Wes.

Pine Wood Derby

2009-04-09T18:28:00.000-06:00

It's Pine Wood Derby Time...

Tuesday night.

A Serious Look at the Serious Line Up

Check out the Awesomeness of Wes' Car!

Okay, even I am impressed.

(I'm so glad there are people willing to do these things for our kids.)

Both of these shots are priceless, correct?

Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about!

(Technically I have no idea what I am talking about)

1st Place in 3 out of 4; 3rd Place Overall!!

1 Pinewood Derby Down, 3 (?) to go!!

Prom Dress Shopping

2009-04-07T17:27:00.000-06:00

I did a bunch of talking somewhere else about shopping for a Prom Dress with Jessie...but just like the last post on here, I am posting more pictures of the shopping trip because I CAN! Still not saying which dress though. Gotta keep the anticipation up, oooooooh

A Celebration of Color

2009-04-02T17:13:00.001-06:00

Jessie posted a video and some pic's on her blog from the Hari Krishna Temple celebration on Saturday.

I'm posting a couple more cause I'm her mom and I want to:

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER!

SO MUCH FUN!

What you do when you are bored.

2009-03-25T13:52:00.001-06:00

Wes has been home all week because of some dumb kid at school...but you can read about that somewhere else (hmmmm, I wonder where? what a shameless plug for my blog ). Here is an example of how creative you can become when you are bored. (I've spent a lot of time on the internet...he was much more constructive.)

Introducing Wes' Neighborhood for Geckos!

Does your Gecko NEED a new neighborhood? Is the old neighborhood becoming seedy and rundown?Let Wes design and build a new one for you.

Lovely swimming pool is close by the homes...(homes are the red cups)

The Gecko Mart is mere steps away!

Every neighborhood needs a lookout. (Reminds me of "The Truman Show")

Even Geckos can't resist a bargain. (Yeah, that's 2 geckos. They do everything together.)

Leave a comment and Wes will get in touch with you about your specific needs. Be patient, he's in high demand right now. Must be the stimulus package; we're all feeling a bit more confident. not.

PoPcOrN

2009-03-20T12:05:00.000-06:00

This is a family favorite recipe; favored mostly by Kristen, Jessie, and Mom.

Introducing a whole new revolution:

Air-popped Popcorn!

Basic ingredients:

Popcorn

Butter

Salt

PoPpItY pOP pOp!!!

Tossing the melted butter and salt together

ENJOY!

Too much enjoyment, perhaps?

Not possible.

Move over Microwave Popcorn...Blech!

Spring has Sorta Sprung

2009-03-18T16:15:00.001-06:00

These pictures are from last Sunday afternoon. The weather was the weird combination of warm/cold that is Utah in the spring. So while Jessie and Wes are basking in the sun, they are wrapping themselves in blankets at times. It was a really lovely day.

Serious Air. Nice Pants.

Poetry in motion. My favorite part is the black Sunday socks.

The signature Buckner children thumbs up pose.

HAPPY SPRING!

jake is special

2009-03-15T20:16:00.000-06:00

If you noticed the last two posts featured the 2 daughters of the family and a unique talent they possess.

Well...
If you ask Jake if there is anything unusual or unique about him that perhaps no one knows, he draws a blank. Especially if you are trying to get this information from him in a devious manner while texting:

"jake tell me something odd about you"

"huh?"

"just do what I said"

"why?"

"just do it"

"what are you talking about?"

"something that makes you special"

(Not that I don't think that Jake is special; of course I do. But I am communicating in text and I am trying to be efficient in my wordage.)

"but why?"

At this point I am done with the texting. Apparently communicating such a request is too difficult for someone with my insufficient texting ability. So I try regular phone talk and end up with pretty much the same results.

"But, WHY?"

This Jake, is WHY. Although I can think of a thousand unique and wonderful things about you, (which I am sure I will write about at some point), I choose to take you at your word and tell the world just what it is that you think makes you special.

Jake does not like fried chicken or orange soda.

After some discussion amongst our family we discovered this: Wes is the only one who actually does like fried chicken or orange soda. I am confident he will grow out of such nonsense. And Jake, next time you had better take me srsly when I text 2 U. ;)

Jessie=Dance

2009-03-11T18:49:00.000-06:00

That is what it was. Jessie+hours of hard work=Dance. She started down the typical dance path at age 3 with the normal jazz/tap/ballet combo. She loved it from the start. She danced for 14 years; the last few years her life were almost entirely comprised of dance, mostly ballet, nearly every day of the week. And this was almost entirely what Jessie wanted. Over the years, I had many moms ask me how I made Jessie to go dance class. I never did have to make her go to dance though; she just loved it and worked tremendously hard at it. Over the years it was a joy to watch her progress and to watch her dance. Although this may seem odd, among my fondest memories of those many years of dance was driving her to lessons, most especially over the last few years.

There comes a point when a person has to make the choice and you ask yourself: is your passion still your passion? Is this going to be your passion for the rest of your life? Jessie gave up a lot of things for dance and there is life to be had outside of it. And while dance itself may be beautiful, behind the scenes it is less so. And after so many years of intense work you can simply burn out. Last summer she made the hardest decision she has had to make. After a lot of tears and discussion, she realized that she wanted to live a "normal" teenage life and explore the other areas of talents she possesses. And although it has been very difficult for her, (and me), I know she made the right decision. It's been just as enjoyable to see her live a "normal" life.

These pictures are from the Grand Prix Competition in February 2008. Above is from her Contemporary Piece; the bottom her Ballet Variation.

I think she is beautiful. Inside and Out.

Free Food

2009-03-09T14:28:00.000-06:00

This time I am so going to write about my most smartest child, Kristen. Sorry other children, but as far as I know, none of you have thus far achieved such brilliancy.

Kristen knows where to get free food. Not the kind of food you get from "borrowing" from your roommates. Or from patting your pockets thereby signaling that you have "forgotten" your wallet and "You'll pay next time" when out to eat. No, Kristen has used her cunning and strategic abilities so wisely that she makes getting free food an almost guiltless endeavor.

She goes to the Episcopalian church in Cedar City where every Thursday night they serve FREE food to ANYONE. Her favorites are Mac & Cheese and French Fries. She is a college student, so she doesn't have real high standards as far as food goes. I almost said she doesn't have high standards without mentioning food, and that would be wrong. Kristen has very high standards and a unique quality not found in many children. Any children. She is frugal and is not picky about her free food.

yumyum chip dip

2009-03-06T18:29:00.000-07:00

A yummy, EASY and FaSt recipe to dip your chips in:

Dump all of these ingredients together in a bowl and stir it up.

1 Can Black Beans (rinse and drain them; I don't care what they say, they are best that way.)

1 Can Petite Diced Tomatos

1 Can Corn (I use frozen corn, cause I hate canned corn)

cilantro, chopped. (I hate cilantro, so I don't use it)

1 Cup Italian Salad Dressing (use fat-free, then you can eat more)

YUM YUM. This is not my recipe; it is from Good Things Utah, who got it from I don't remember. But it is too good and too easy to not pass along.

Enjoy!!

Making Sushi

2009-03-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

Jessie had a Mutual Activity where she learned to make Sushi. After that she was determined that she was going to make it at home. I say, if anybody wants to volunteer to cook in my house, go for it. Sushi making ingredients are apparently too exotic for our local markets so she had to do some shopping around to get everything she needed.

Here are some pictures of the

occasion. I had them all uploaded and realized the one where she is seeding the cucumber is sideways, so turn your head to look at that one. Like I needed to tell you that. She did an absolutely fabulous job. I quit putting that much effort into cooking a long time ago. The sushi was incredibly tasty, and even Wes gave it a chance. He only ate one bite, but at least he tried.
He really has no

idea of the yummy food he misses out on .

I haven't mastered this whole bloggee thing and the art of arranging the pictures cleverly; but I think you get the gist of it. Pictures of Wes just disappeared and these pic's are out of order. arghhh

I can't wait for the next recipe night at Mutual.

Video Of Harvard Panel

2009-03-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

If you get a chance (and do make yourself get a chance); check out the article on:

mormontimes.com

"Video of Harvard Panel Discussion Thriving" -Steve Fidel

March 1, 2009

There is a link in the story to the video of Rachel Esplin, who is a student at Harvard...You'll get what I mean once you get to the story.

Sorry, I'm no good at the whole link direct thing. I can't even say it in a sentence.

Poor Porky Pig

2009-02-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

I'm worried about Kristen.

This is a conversation we had last week:

Kristen: Mom, I just had the most exciting day!

Me: What was so exciting about it? Did it involve free food?

Kristen: My awesome teacher brought visual aids to class.

Me: What kind of visual aids?

Kristen: A pig's heart and lungs!

Me: (silence)

Kristen: It was so cool!!!! I got to hold the heart and the lungs.

Me: This was exciting?

Kristen: yes yes yes! It was so cool; the dead pig parts looked more "real" because they were from the butcher and they hadn't been in formaldehyde like a cadaver would be.

Me: (gagging) Why would your teacher bring pig parts?

Kristen: So we could see how things actually work!!! We intubated the lungs and cut the heart in half!!! You could feel the arteries and vessels!!!

Me: How would you rate this with all of your other nursing school experiences in the past two years on a scale of 1-10?

Kristen: an eight or nine!!!!

This is a girl who needs to graduate and rejoin the real world. Yeah, I'm concerned...

Am I over-reacting?

hugs

2009-02-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

Give someone or everyone you love a big hug today. It matters. It really does.

Is it time for Cubic Zirconium?

2009-02-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Multiple choice question:

What is missing in the above picture?

a. a cubic zirconium

b. a lump of coal

c. a wad of bubblegum

d. a diamond

If you answered quickly and correctly (d.) then you are a regular reader of this blog. Or you are just unusually intelligent. I know this because this is the best picture I could get of my ring with out the diamond. If you squinch your eyes up real tight and stare like crazy, you can see where the rock used to be.

You say chip; I say rock. It hadn't sunk in that it is truly gone until today, when I went shopping and I started clicking my left hand ring finger on the handle of the shopping cart and the click was gone. I never realized how much I like clicking my finger. Sometimes it's the little things we take for granted and miss the most. Like my little diamond.

I'M IT!!

2009-02-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

Tracy tagged me!!!! I am so excited!!!! I have never been tagged before!!!!! Can you tell?

Okay, apparently you go to something called a "folder" and once you find the "folders" you go to the sixth folder. Then you proceed to the 6th photo in the folder and tell all about it. It being the sixth picture in the sixth folder. (Sounds sort of like a religious rite or something.)

The picture above is actually the fourth photo in the second folder but it is a cool picture that Jake actually took in actual Nepal and those are real cobras and we used this picture in Wes' s Nepal report and it was the most exciting thing in his report (basically because of the REAL cobras) so I was going to pretend that this was the sixth of sixth. But then I thought that might bring a hex down upon us and who wants a hex? So here it is, the sixth photo from the sixth folder:

This is a picture of Jessie and her friend Erin, last spring, after their dance performance.

Nowhere near as cool as a snake charmer with real cobras in actual Nepal; but they (Jessie and Erin) are way more pretty. Now I am not worried about a hex; just about what Jessie is going to say about me using this photo.

Oh yeah, I get to TAG people now!!!!

but, cept, um, uh, I don't know who to tag. Let me know if you want to be tagged, cause I will for sure TAG YOU!!!!!

**Rules***1. Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.2. Go to the 6th Folder and then pick the 6th Picture. 3. Post it on your bloggy and tell the story that goes with the picture. 4. Tag 5 other glorious peoples to do the same thing and leave a comment on their bloggy tellin’ them ’bout it.
I TAG...

**put your name here.**

Why Not to Clean

2009-02-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

This post could be about Kristen and the fact that she goes to this church for the free food.

But it's not. At least for now.

So I am just chillaxin after a long day. Today I cleaned areas that haven't been looked at, let alone cleaned, since we moved into this house almost 4 years ago. Yikes. I dusted (if you can call it that) the top of the armoire. 4 years of dust. Yuck. I took apart the fan and gave it a good detail. I threw away a bunch of random things like baskets and candles and little stuffed bunnies (why do I have little stuffed bunnies in MY room?) and the like. I'm so over baskets, candles, fake flowers, ceramic figurines; basically anything whose main function is to attract dust. I put Laura, from Little House on the Prairie, in a box. I'm not going to throw her out...she is "Laura" after all. Oh, I loved those books. When we go camping there is a tiny part of me who still pretends she is Laura. You don't have to tell me that's weird. I know.

I cleaned out the humidifier. If I could invent the self-cleaning humidifier I would and I would be a rich woman. What is all that un-identifiable crusty gunk? But the good part is making my house smell like a swimming pool with all the bleach in the bathtub. Yum. I cleaned out the dirt cup thing in the vacuum cleaner twice. I love cleaning out that dirt cup. It's the best part of vacuuming. Not that there really is a "best" part of vacuuming, but if there were... Something about unlocking the little dirt holder and dumping it out and pulling out the filter and scraping and shaking the accumulation of dust off is oddly satisfying. I always want to vacuum it clean, but then I realize that what I want to vacuum IS the vacuum. What I really need is 2 vacuums in tandem. (That would be my 2nd idea for an invention in one day; how DO I come up with this stuff?) (And how can I take these ideas and turn them into cash?)

I had 28 to be read books next to my bed; piled on, around, under, and next to my bedside table. Those are just the books: there were also a bunch of magazines and yet another cute, albeit dusty, bunny. I shelved a few books, threw out the magazines (that was the hardest thing to do), and tossed the bunny. Then I stacked the 25 remaining books very symmetrically. They will stay that way for approximately 24 hours.

All this before 2 p.m. I forgot to mention that Wes played fake sick today so he was kind of hanging around with me doing the fake sick thing. I have to pretend like I think he is sick, but he knows that I know that he isn't, and I know that he knows that I know he's not sick, but sometimes a kid just needs a day off. I think.

But now, instead of reveling in my accomplishments I am not. Why? Two reasons: one, I am suffering either from food poisoning or something else that is causing my stomach to feel like it is doing jumping jacks inside my gut. Reason number two would be the fact that today I lost THE DIAMOND FROM MY WEDDING RING! And when I say THE, I mean the BIG one in the middle. (BIG in relation to the other teeny diamonds around it). And that is one want there is no turning into a need, no matter how I try.

So, today, instead of a post where I explain all about the epiphany I've recently experienced, I wrote about the day where I cleaned where no man has cleaned before, recognized someone needed a day off, ate Rice Krispies for dinner, and lost a treasure. I gave up the baskets, the bunnies, the magazines, and some ceramic figurines; did I have to lose my diamond too?

Did I?

D.N.A.

2009-02-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

love

this.

Part II of II

2009-02-17T18:01:00.001-07:00

Valentine's Day-2009

Part II

Italian Food + Sweethearts Dance=Listerine

Waiting.

WHAT is Wes thinking? Something about chocolate milk?

So awkward, yet so

SWEET.

Oh, to be young,

and in like,

with several boys.

Saturday Night (2/14) was Springville High's Sweethearts Dance. Jessie's date was Garrett. They went to dinner (Italian) in casual attire and returned to their separate homes to change into their fancy duds. They went to the dance, had their picture taken, and then scampered off to another location to watch a movie. I've been waiting for my chance to use the word scamper. Brilliant!

"These are the moments...

These are the times"

Part I of II parts

2009-02-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

Valentine's Day-2009

Part I

I waited. I watched the clock. I paced.

I told myself to be patient.

I watched people come and go.

(By people I mean; Kevin, Jake, Jessie, and Wes)

I waited for the phone to ring.

When the phone did ring it was to tell me to

wait some more.

I am good at waiting. It's kind of my job. I don't think anyone other than me in our family can

wait quite like me.

I waited through breakfast, lunch, and yes, my Valentine's Dinner.

This is what I waited for:

I've always thought there is just too much hype about Valentine's.

(I think it is the pink/red combo that gets under my skin)

But that was before the new dryer.

It is sweet.

Cubs and Cake

2009-02-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet-what a group of fine looking young men. I think every imaginable emotion is being expressed. If I could put little thought bubbles over their heads, believe me, I would.

Cake for Decorating Contest

This was a total team effort. The theme was "anything about the United States." Considering that was the theme, and it could actually be anything, there were a surprising number of red, white, and blue cakes.

"Most Patriotic"

My, I mean our, cake was awesome. To win "most patriotic" is quite an honor. Eating it was quite an honor too.

The best part of all: leftover frosting! And this is after spreading at least 2 inches of that frosting all over that beautiful cake. The only thing better than frosting on cake, is, well, frosting.

There should be a picture of Wes receiving his first Cub Scout Badge, the Bobcat, but we were with him and couldn't take a picture of ourselves. (I've got to figure out how to do that. Do I smell an invention, maybe?) After the fun times at the banquet and arriving home and praising Wes for his winning cake we find out he doesn't know what patriotic means. Once we told him,

(after looking in the dictionary, because I found I could not really explain it very well), I think his little chest puffed up a little bit with pride.

Or he might have just been full of cake. But the frosting is all mine.

changing plans

2009-02-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

This isn't a post pertaining to any significant event; just some Mary Ramblings.

Today I had my list of things to do firmly set in the stone of my mind when my mojo began to crumble. I don't like my mojo being crumbled. It is a slippery, albeit rocky, slope.

My first mistake was to change my routine and not run. I used the flimsy excuse that I didn't want to wake Jake: who's home for the weekend and whose bedroom is next to the "exercise" room. (too cold outside also ruled out running outside. I use that excuse frequently as well.) As if I were ever that considerate. Bad choice, because running always makes my frown turn upside down.

Things have gone out of kilter from that one choice. I don't know quite how it works; but if I change one thing in my routine everything from that point on suffers.

My plan, (the set in stone one), was to go buy a dryer, pick up prescriptions, buy a birthday present for Wes's friend, and probably a couple of other random errands thrown into the mix.

Yeah, well, as I am prepping myself for the day, I hear loud rambunctious banging on the front door but because I was not fully prepped I chose to ignore it. Then I hear the rambunctioness actually enter my home. It's some of Jake's friends (see, I could have exercised cause they woke up Jake). And while I love Jake's friends, they did contribute to the messing up of my mojo. Is it my fault that I hung out with Jake and his friends for an hour or so?

I really did make a huge effort to get back on track though. I was getting my act together. I even answered the phone and didn't let it distract me. I was on task. I was propelling forward. I was purposeful and ready to go.

But the dryer is not the only thing that is broken. The Car. It is broke too. If I hate a broken dryer, I hate a broken car so much more.

So I am now completely derailed. Once I have a plan it seems like I just can't get my groove back. I look around dazed and thinking what am I going to do now? It's not like there aren't a thousand things to do; I am just deflated.

Here's what I did. I just gave up. I have been on facebook, reading random blogs, listening to the news, generally just wasting time. So I thought I'd waste some time here. If you actually read this, then you wasted some time too. Misery loves company.

*Do you realize how many random blogs there are? I could be derailed 24/7. I am definitely headed in that direction.

first official craft project post.

2009-02-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

This is my first official craft project post on our blog! So excited!

What we have here is a "5-minute Valentines Box". That's what you make when your child gives you the note telling you that he needs to bring a valentine box for his valentines the day before he needs to bring his valentine box to school.

Supplies for this project are:

1 red shoe box

1 lego catalog

scissors

glue

1 boy (this project is definitely geared more for a boy; it requires little thought.)

1 easily irritated mom

optional items:

random plastic toy (to tape on top; see instructions.)

Instructions for construction of Valentine Box:

Find the box.

Find the glue.

Find the scissors.

Have child cut out pictures of random lego toys. Overcome your OCD self and pay no attention to the fact that the pictures are cut all jiggidy-jaggidy.

YOU glue pictures to box because you cannot be expected to overcome that much OCD.

Try to place the pictures randomly and not symmetrically; random is more pleasing to the eye.

As a final touch you could add your optional random toy. After child has gone to bed, secure the toy with tape. Because there is no way it is going to stay stuck.

What would kids do without their easily irritated moms?

I hope my box wins first place!

Piano

2009-02-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

It's a right of passage. Piano lessons.

My own journey with piano began when I was 5 years old. I remember that I was very excited and I loved it and I caused a lot of grief for my parents and my piano teachers. Because, while I loved the piano, I, like most, did not like the part about practicing. And somehow teachers can tell when you haven't practiced. I do recall that one teacher requested that I not be her student any longer. I was a stubborn, contrary girl.

I must have picked up something because I still love the piano. And while I certainly never became a great pianist, I did learn enough to really enjoy what I could play. Playing the piano is a great stress reliever. Any time I would play as a teenager I would have a better day. I also had a crazy delusion that Donny Osmond was going to walk up to our door, hear me playing, and ask me to marry him on the spot. Plus be on his show. (And to think that some 30 years later I would be sitting next to Donny Osmond in a movie theater...if only I'd brought my piano along...no, bad idea.) The best calling in the church is Primary Piano Player. Hands down. I have had that calling at the very least 10 years in total.

The three old ones, (Kristen, Jake and Jessie), all had their piano lessons from a wonderful woman named Marilyn. (Marilyn was the original "Darla" on the "Little Rascals" show. That is a long time ago, even for me.) She charged $5 a lesson and that was a real deal. (And it is also exactly as much as we could afford.) She was a great teacher; not a great motivator. She was just too darn nice. I'm not sure how K., J., &J., feel about piano. I will have to ask them. (I just now asked J. #2, and she says she wishes she could play the piano.)

Wes began about 6 weeks ago and I am pretty sure the novelty has worn off. He is doing very well, passing off all the beginning songs as fast as a rabbit; but the realization that this is a skill to be learned and is not just handed to you is beginning to dawn. I know this is something Wes wants to do though because it is one of the few things he has to do that he isn't scheming for some way to be paid for for doing it. Lessons are now $15 each; but I think it will be worth it. He will succeed because Wes is motivated, and his teacher is as well.

Writing this is making me want to pull out the Primary Songbook and play a few tunes. Yeah, I am that good. I wonder if Donny is out taking a walk tonight?

I wouldn't pay $450 to see anything.

2009-02-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

Entering from the inner sanctum.

Looking UP from where we sat.

Warm up.

More warm up. Can't get enough of that.

The Carolina Bobcats warm up.

Notice the little boy crying. Those big dressed up characters creep me out too.

He (the little boy) got better.

Game Shot

Crowd shot?

Pretty sure that player is looking at me!

Or trying to NOT look at me.

Amazing action shot! They are ridiculously good looking.

This is a free throw, right?

Another Action Shot. He's got some great moves.

Okay, if you cannot tell, these are pictures from a Jazz game. A game that Kevin and I attended. And as you can see we are very close to the actual game. Very Very Close. $450 per seat close. Way out of our league close. Pun intended.

Here's the story: Kevin was given these amazing tickets from work and when you get tickets like that it doesn't matter one bit that you have no idea who they are playing, (or really care), or really understand the game of basketball. I did learn that it is somewhat like tennis. Your head goes back and forth, back and forth. I also learned that there a lot of people who go to great lengths to catch little balls that are thrown in the air at random. They don't throw those balls at the $450 seat section though; that'd be way tacky. People in that section also clap like they are at the ballet, very properly and politely. Nary a woot woot to be heard. I also learned that Kevin, and especially I, are big dorks. I was completely dazzled by the shiny floor, the really hot players (me) and the really hot dancers (Kevin and me), and the 3-ring circus that the whole thing actually is. Plus the fact that we were fed before the game in the "special people" upper crust eating room and were allowed to go down anytime during the game and get more free food. Which we never actually did; but knowing we could made us feel special. I took about 60 pictures of I don't even know what. We looked like tourists visiting another country. No clue about the customs or the language of the area. The "plastics" were sitting beside us and you don't know how badly I was trying to figure out how to get a picture of them. I was so distracted by them that I missed part of the game. Eventually I really did kind of get into things; I even gave a little tiny shout out at one point. I don't think anyone heard. Hopefully.

The funniest part for me was finding out that the Jazz had been on a losing streak and this game was the first one they'd won in a while. We must be like good charms or something. They should give us more tickets. But this time I would prefer to sit with the woot-wooters. (But I'm not complaining about the view; we could have touched the players. And have been tackled and restrained by the security force surrounding the floor. Not that I thought about ever doing that. No, definitely not. Too tacky.)

A Basketball game to remember.

Special, Special, Special

2009-02-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

January 31, 2009

Jake performed the baptism and Dad the confirmation.

Wes with Jake and his buddies.

Jake in his signature pose; Wes ???

Aww...the fam.

The pictures definitely tell the story of Wes's baptism day. I'm not an openly sentimental person but I will share that it was a really special day. "Special" gets a bad rap. It was a truly special day.

Oh how the years go by

2009-01-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

Seems just like yesterday:

Yet now...

What can I say? The years truly do fly by. If life is one eternal circle; will we circle back to the future? While I wouldn't want to relive pregnancy, I do envision living the best moments over. Wrapping them tight in their blankets, holding them close and kissing them over and over. The funny things they said that often made more sense than reality. First steps, first words, first days of school, I think I wished a lot their growing up years away and I want to grab it all back now and really savor it. 18 years is not long enough for each one of them to be all mine. All I can hope for is that they will all want to move back in when they are finished with school. It is all part of my diabolical plan. Gosh, I love them.

(family photo by Lyndi Bone Photography; check out the link over there, on the right)

ps. will someone please tell me why this is underlined and how to get rid of it?

Flavor

2009-01-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

After a week of being Wes being sick, I decided he needed to go to the Doctor. I could have saved myself (us) $25, since as it turns out Wes has only a "small" ear infection and something called an adenoidal viral infection. Okay, I miss the days when they handed out antibiotics like candy. Yeah, I get why they don't, but still... If he's not better by Monday, then we need to take him back in; another $25. What kind of racket are they running? Give me the dang amoxicillin! Okay me, calm down...I guess they know what they are talking about.

And the Cheerios? I am showing them because I used the age old parental ploy to "get your child to the Dr. by bribery" and promised Wes a prize. I thought that oughta work; we'd be picking up a prescription anyway, right? But no prescription does NOT mean no prize. We had to go to Walmart (arghhh), and as anybody knows, if you are already at the Walmart you might as well pick a $100 of groceries as well, no matter how much you hate it there. I don't know how to make a long story short to explain why Wes didn't even get a prize; other than to say that he has inherited my cursed inability to make a decision.

As I threw the box of Cheerios into our cart I heard Wes's one and only comment on our groceries, "You are buying THOSE? They are not good. They are not Honey Nut Cheerios. Did you know you have to put sugar on them?" Later that night he also clarified his feelings by telling me that they were "most unflavorsome". I'm not making him eat them; he gets Froot Loops. They are flavorsome. I don't why he cares so much about the Cheerios. I guess unflavorsomeness is a big deal to him.

8 is great!

2009-01-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Wes!

Wes, you are so funny, smart, sweet, clever, thoughtful, and you bring so much joy to our lives.

When you were born you made our family feel complete.

Sorry you had to be sick today...but It was fun to share our big hug at exactly 12:55 p.m.!

My name is Mary, and I am an addict.

2009-01-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

I made a huge decision today. I will be starting a twelve-step drug addiction program. It's been obvious to my family that I needed to do this long ago but I have been living in denial. I can go days, sometimes even weeks (though that is rare) without a "fix", but I am too weak, and I succumb to the relentless urge. I gotta have 'em and I gotta have them NOW. I always tell myself that this time I will stop at one, maybe two, maybe twenty. I am fooling myself though. I realize now that it's not just me that I am hurting; my whole family suffers. Most of the time they don't even get one cookie. (Which is hard on everyone except Kristen.) It is tough to admit this, but it's time. Time to admit that I am a chocolate chip cookie addict.

I will start the drug addiction program as soon as I have just one or two more cookies. I promise.

Apples and Penguins and a long story.

2009-01-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

Yes. That is a pretty seriously weird picture. (It was taken by a seriously weird person.) The picture is to serve a two-pronged purpose. #1, to get you to read this post. And #2, it leads into a funny story.

Funny story later.

You may be able to tell that I have been figuring some stuff out with this blog thing. I have added some new "gadgets" as they are known. If you are on the list and don't want to be, let me know. If you know someone who might want to be on the list, let me know. I want the list to be very long. I would love comments too, especially if they are nice. I will take constructive criticism if it is given in a loving manner. That applies always.

It is Wednesday, but it feels like Friday. Or perhaps Wednesday of next week.

It all began Sunday with my eyes hurting. They hurt often because it is so dry here; but they were hurting in an unusual way. All sting-y and burny like. By Monday they were even more burny feeling for me, AND I also noticed that Wes' eyes were all bloodshot. Which usually means too much time playing video games, so I really didn't pay too much attention to that. BUT, he was in such a foul mood, not just normal kid bad mood. He was simply unbearable at times.

But, Monday just wasn't a good day for any of us. Kevin and I realized last week that we had not registered the truck in November. We had had it inspected, just did not register it online. Miscommunication. We know from personal experience that you can get a ticket for that (let that be a warning to all of you), so after finding out it was too late to register it with the emissions info we had taken care of in November ($45), we had to have the emissions tested again. Another $45; what a racket. It failed. Of course. Took it be fixed, part has to be ordered, ($65), take back to be fixed (on Monday), pick up and take back to be re-checked AGAIN.

In between Jessie and I running back and forth with the truck (it takes 2 people to do all that car switching, you know what I mean) and dragging foul mood Wes with us while he tells us in no uncertain terms how evil we are, I am attempting to make a poster for Wes for his "star of the week" turn at school. (Whoever came up with "star of the week" should really reexamine the necessity of this tradition.) This making of the poster causes me untold grief and frustration. Plus my eyes hurt this entire time. Problems with flash drives, printers, computers in general, blahblahblah. Pure frustration.

About 4 pm or so Jessie and I drove to Jiffy Lube to pick up the truck in what should have been the final chapter before finally registering it. We debated for a moment on who would drive the truck and who would drive my car. Jess took the truck; me, my car. She left before me, and I was following in case she was stopped by the police. (Because of the non-registration, not because she is routinely stopped by the police.) It could not have been 20 seconds later that I notice the traffic going all weird because there is a wreck ahead of me and then about 5 seconds for me to figure out it was Jessie that was in the wreck. I missed seeing the actual accident by about 2 1/ 2 seconds. (I was really watching the second hand on my watch.) I consider not actually seeing the accident a blessing. She was standing next to the truck so I knew she was okay; but the truck and car involved were not. The car pulled out in front of her as she was driving straight down the road and there was no way she could stop. She's okay, the other driver whose fault it was is okay. The truck not so much. May be totaled, but Kevin has high hopes that it will not. Nice guy who saw the accident called the police before I even stopped, another man stopped and offered to do CPR (Jessie was standing next to me; I'm not sure on whom he wanted to perform CPR); we called Kevin who fortunately works about a mile from there; the police FINALLY show up (aren't they supposed to be able to drive fast?) and did I mention it was FREEZING.

Do you like how dramatic I am making this? When your kid is in an accident it is dramatic. And you mix feeling like crap, stupid star of the week poster, and Wes being a monster because he is getting sick all together you get drama. It is Wednesday and I have been staying home with a sick Wes. I feel like crap. I have to listen to star wars playing in the background constantly. And Hunter barks at his own poo. Kevin leaves for a week tomorrow. I deserve to feel dramatic. Or maybe pathetic.

Oh yeah, the funny picture with the funny story. When I asked Wes what he wanted for his birthday he said the usual Legos and Wii things which I expected, but then he had a couple of other requests.

A talking apple and a live penguin. Look at the picture as more of a dramatic portrayal and not as an actual representation. Because that is one more thing I can't figure out on this whole blog thing. How to post pictures other than my own. Maybe you could help me out with that. If anybody would like to see Wes' poster, let me know, it never made it to school.

*Very Important P.S.*

We are very fortunate that Jessie was not harmed in the accident. If you had seen the cars you would be surprised that no one was hurt. Jessie held herself very well during the entire time and I was really very proud of her. We all feel so blessed that it turned out that way it did. With my pessimistic way of expressing myself it may seem like am not grateful for our blessings. Tis not so. I just have a hard time with expressing revealing emotions.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Just Breathe

2009-01-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

From This:

To This:

This is winter in Utah County. We've been enduring the inversion for a week or so now. What makes it so beautiful here is what causes this inversion; the mountains surrounding us. They are a majestic, awe-inspiring sight. When we can see them.

Snowy January in Utah

2009-01-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

This is a collection of what I am calling "Snowy January in Utah (with some being before January)" pictures. Now we are stuck in a total inversion so for myself I am wishing that snowiness would once again return.

Our house, before Christmas, with Daryl in front. You would have to ask Jessie about Daryl.

It had been snowing off and on for what seemed like days and the sun popped out and I made Kevin run out and take these pic's. It is can be oh so glorious before the inversion rears up it's ugly head.

A shot of Rock Star Jake because he doesn't seem to have much presence on our blog.

Is it by choice? I don't know. (Notice the fine interior decorating if you haven't already.)

Weird out of sequence big snowstorm shot.

and 3.

We all headed up to Soldier Hollow to sled. Took us about a day and a half to gather stuff like snow pants, gloves, hats, etc. for everyone. We were quite excited. We don't really have that many chances for a family activity. But we learned one thing that day. You have to have reservations to sled at S.H.; so home we went and it became a half family activity.

You really can't tell but in the above shots but it was really snowing. Really.

Here we have driveway sledding. Who knew how much fun sledding in your own driveway could be? You don't need to make reservations either. So, come over.

I was gazing out the kitchen window about 4 p.m., probably dreaming of not doing dishes, when I noticed the sky. I could not capture the amazingness of it but I tried.

Officially longest post ever. I need to stop dreaming of not doing dishes because they are staring at me right now, mocking me. sigh...

OCD

2009-01-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know I keep changing our page. I just can't find the perfect one. I'm kind of OCD about things like this. The polka dots are kind of bugging me and it may be too girly. And I keep having to change the colors of the fonts. You can't even read some of the type. Sheesh.

Shall I venture into my other OCD's as well?

Or is it OCDS? I never know about the apostrophe thing. And it drives me nuts. nut's? nuts'?

NEW YEAR'S EVE EGG ROLLS

2009-01-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

New Year's Eve. Egg Roll Fest.

I make the mix that goes IN the egg rolls (looks gross, tastes good), then Kristen and Kevin roll them (which requires a skill few possess), and Kevin breaks out the fryer that we use this one time each year and fries up a humongous batch of egg rolls. We love whoever can/will come to feast with us. If you are reading this and are drooling at the thought of egg rolls, fried rice, and lots of junk food, please consider yourself invited for next year. There are always too many egg rolls, never enough people. I never really know if anyone actually likes the egg rolls...but any excuse to be with family and friends works for me.

And I promise I will not use the word FEST again until next December.

2009-01-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

CHRISTMAS MORN-2008

Jake is the picture of excitement...

Wes with an I-Pod, can it be?

this is before the explosion of wrapping paper...

The Buckner children trademark pose.

Santa completed his task well.

What a great Christmas 2009 was. We haven't actually celebrated Christmas Day at our house for a while. Last year we were in HAWAII (I can hardly believe it's been over a year ;(( ), and many times in years gone by we have celebrated in Idaho. We LOVE being at S & R's house and miss those fun times. It would take roughly 212 hours to open presents when the whole gang would gather in Idaho (you know who I am talking about). This year was much quieter and quicker. It did mean though that I was in charge of the entire breakfast fixings...life is just so hard.

I would say a good time was had by all. We're a lucky family.

Coming up soon in a future post: "The Annual New Year's Eve Egg Roll Fest"

Dog Treat

2009-01-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

Today will be a post about the dog. I could write a book actually about this dog. Not a cute and touching one so I probably won't write it, but just know that I could.

So Hunter was outside today barking his fool head off, I don't know what he barks at. I don't think he knows what he barks at. But he's going to town with the barking thing and I make the decision to let him for a minute to see if he'll calm down. (I don't know why I do these things, but I do.) He immediately makes a bee-line for his crate which is not his usual behavior so I am wary from the start. His usual process is to sniff around every corner, nook and cranny and then maybe settle down. So when he heads straight for the crate I already know something's up.

I notice that he has something in his mouth, big surprise I know, but I can't tell what it is and since it could be anything from a half-eaten toy to a precious heirloom or to my greatest fear; chocolate, I've got to check it out. Whatever it is, he is NOT going to be giving it up easy. We begin our precious dance of chasing around the table to around the chair to around and around and around. (Good dog training right there.) But I outsmart him and kick the table up against the couch and he is trapped! I win! Now the fun really begins. Because when I stick my fingers into his mouth to grab the mystery item (this reminds me of doing the exact same thing with my children, except then I was freaking out about them choking not about whether they were destroying someone's shoes) and I am totally and completely and sincerely grossed out. What I pull out, and bear in mind I don't even know what it is at first, is a slimy and rather elongated RAW PIECE OF STEAK! Now, I have a fairly strong gag reflex but this is almost too much. I gag just like I would if someone started upchucking next to me.

So Hunter had a short lived reprieve in the house, I washed my hands like I was going into surgery, he resumed his barking outside (probably because his hunk of meat was stolen from him), and I will be talking to Kevin about hiding meat in a dog's crate.

p.s. Hunter is the one next to the cute kid in the blue sweatshirt.

T'was the Night Before Christmas

2009-01-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

Jess and Wes always hamming it up...Kristen looking lovely, and Jake surprised by his "squishy present"

I've covered the Annual P.F. quite well...but we have a few other Christmas Eve traditions.

We open our one special present, which happens to be jammies (as shown above), driving around to look at the lights and laugh and talk, reading "The Night Before Christmas", reading about the birth of Jesus in Luke 2, watching a Christmas movie (spiritual or otherwise (ELF) ), and pigging out some more. Let's see, that's about 7 or more things we try to cram into one evening. This year we spent the majority of our time eating, laughing, and driving around...so we opened our jammies and called it good. I will deal with the guilt of it not being a "proper" Christmas Eve, i.e., Scriptures and Reenactment, and remember the good times. It was so good to be together; properly or not!

Feasting at the Fest

2009-01-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

Buckner Pig Fest 2008

So, time for a little update on our end of year activities. Before the ultimate

"New Year's Eve Egg Roll Fest". I made such a big deal about our Christmas Eve Pig Fests of years past I thought this year deserved some special attention. And now that we have a blog I can give it the special attention it deserves. Gotta love technology. (Just a note...these pic's aren't the best...the candle light just wasn't enough for my camera or picture taking abilities.)

Kristen and Wes and me (hiding behind the chair; right where I belong).

Jake and Jessie looking happy. Or perhaps delighted?

This is a fine example of the delicious fare for our fest and a fine example of Jessie eating it.

Pass the cheese ball and meat. NOW.

Just a shot to show the beautiful display of culinary delights. We had crackers of all shapes and sizes, cheese balls and cheese slices, ( including a new kind we tried, "Boursin" & oh my it is good), crazy flavored deli meat, sprite mixed with juice (tasty), (and as I write this I am embarrassed at the excess), and shrimp.

So, yeah, I am pretty sure we succeeded at making this an epic Pig Fest.

I love family traditions.

Pig Fest

2008-12-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

Every Christmas Eve it is our tradition to have a bunch of crackers, various cheeses and cheeseballs, crazy deli meats that we wouldn't buy any other time of year, and whatever treats we happen to have still around. Or maybe I make some treats just so we have some around. We just generally pig out. (Long time ago we also had cheese soup, but that just became just one more thing to cook, and I am tired of cooking by that point.)

So, I am watching/listening Good Things Utah (kind of embarrassed to admit that; I don't know why) and they are talking about some the show watcher's Christmas traditions. Well, someone wrote about their tradition (which consists of all of the SAME things as ours), but they gave it a name. Which had never occurred to me. They call it the "Christmas Eve Pig Fest".

We now have a name for one of our Christmas Eve traditions. It is now officially "The Annual Family Buckner Christmas Eve Pig Out Fest". The goal or point is to eat nothing that is healthy for you. (I changed up the name to make it more personal.)

Here's hoping that this year is the best "The Annual Family Buckner Christmas Eve Pig Fest" ever.

Never Say No

2008-12-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

Last night was the Christmas Ward Party. The one party that you don't have to actually drag me to. Because for the last however many years I've had a child or children who would want to go, and for one reason. Not for the food or entertainment, or even the decorations for that matter, but for YOU KNOW WHO. The big man in the red suit. You know who I'm talking about.

SANTA CLAUS.

So after the dinner, the dessert, 2 DVD's, primary children singing and YM/YW singing, it is FINALLY the time to line up to see Santa. Now, it seems to be an inherited trait within our family that we'd rather have our eyeballs poked out than to sit on Santa's lap. I've always wondered about those children (even when I was a child) who were actually comfortable sitting on a stranger's lap, even if it is Santa. But I digress.

Wes was pretty excited about it at first, but the fear was starting to get the best of him. But I know Wes, and he WOULD regret it if he gave up because of his fear. So I grabbed his hand and we got back in that Santa line and even though he was the second to last child in line, and was getting more nervous by the second, he persevered. He made a vow to not sit on Santa's lap, he was only in it for the candy cane. I told him he should at least say hi to Santa, and as he did so, that wonderful Santa took Wes by the hand, had Wes stand next to him, put his arm around Wes and had their picture taken. What a sweet Santa...the best I've ever seen. We were able to get the candy cane Wes was after the whole time and Wes was feeling pretty good about himself. As we walked away I congratulated Wes for being so brave and Wes said to me,"You don't say no to Santa." And he's right. Cause you ain't gettin' no candy cane if you are not polite to Santa!

What not to do.

2008-12-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

Wes had his 2nd grade Christmas Program on Tuesday night. Well, it's not just his program, but to us (his family) it basically is HIS program. He, along with all of the other 2nd graders, had been practicing and working on this for quite a few weeks. I was somewhat taken aback when he brought home his assignment...he was to be an angel. Now, for some reason when I think angel I think girl. But when you get right down to it, are angels really "girly"? I don't think that it says one way or another whether an angel is a girl or a boy in the scriptures. Well, all of this could be for another post. Back to me thinking that he was going be playing a girly angel. Fortunately through some connections I was able to put together a costume rather easily. A white sheet with a hole cut out for his head to go through, and some glittery gold cord for a tie. It was neither girly nor boyly. In fact I think it was just right. Okay, costume ready to go. And since Wes can memorize lines super quickly there wasn't any worry about that. So what do I have left to do? Apparently nothing. Or so I thought.

Fast forward to Tuesday night. A nice freezing cold winter night. Everyone is set and ready to go. The whole family is actually going to be there, making this even more of an event. I'm the mom, I'm thrilled that we are all there together. And then it hits me and my stomach plummets to the floor; the camera battery is DEAD. But wait, we have the new little video camera. Thank goodness for that. BUT NO, it is dead too. I can't even say how sad this makes me; and how I don't want to act like it is a big deal. Especially for Wes' sake.

He was so very cute; played his so part so very well. I could not take my eyes off of him, my heart was bursting with glee to see him there being so happy himself. And I am ignoring that mean little voice reminding me about the camera issue the whole time.

So, here is our one picture of him. AFTER he had taken his costume off. He's here with his teacher, Miss Meldrum. And he is still looks like an awesome angel.

p.s. This picture was taken by Kevin, with his blackberry. Which is when I found out that he could take pictures with the blackberry. sigh.

Gingerbread House Fun

2008-12-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

Kristen came home for break and the first thing I ask her do is help Wes with the Gingerbread House. She is so patient and nice she gladly went along with it. Yeah, I know, it is just the Costco kind, but hey for $10 who can beat it? If I tried to make the house from scratch I definitely would not be feeling the Christmas Spirit by the time I finished. And it IS cute.

The Family

2008-12-14T19:01:00.001-07:00

This is our family blog. Apparently we post stuff on here about our lives, we are indeed models.