Three, Two, and One

Three Things I Had Forgotten:

Humidity makes bread go moldy faster than dry air.
(This is not my own personal bread, by the way)

When it rains in the Southwest, it pours. Can we say Microbursts?!
And the thunder and lightning is like nothing the West has ever seen.

It’s really satisfying to save money with coupons.
The stores here, (H.E.B., Randalls, CVS, Walgreens) make it really easy to coupon, and coupon well. With the automatic coupon doubling and tripling, and using the store specials/coupons in addition to the manufacturers’ specials/coupons, I’m getting so that many items I buy are free or very little. I’ve even made money on some! I get so excited to grocery shop now! And it’s helping me build up our food storage.

Click here to see my favorite money-saving site. Look especially in the Forums section to get tips on where the great deals are. I think you have to register to get to all the good stuff. It’s free.

Two Products I Love:

Airborne
I don’t want to jinx myself, but ever since my mom introduced me to this, I’ve taken it at the first sign of getting sick, and it has stopped it in its tracks! Helpful hint: I’ve tried all the flavors and Lemon Lime is the least offensive. I’ve also found about a cup of water is just about the right amount to drop the tablet in. (Not too strong, but not too much, either) Walgreens has a good generic brand.

Kraft Easy Mac
These are much easier than making the whole box, and Ty loves them. Just 3 ½ minutes in the microwave, and presto! Lunch! We started with the individual cups, but the value pack with the pouches are just as easy and less expensive. In fact, I’m stocking up this week and getting them for just $1 for a box of 6.

One Thing I’m Noticing:

Texas is a Bit Behind Utah in some things.
Now, I know Texans would never agree with me on this, but there are some things that we’re behind on here. Like Redbox: Utah’s had that for ages, and we just got one in our neighborhood this week. Also, I haven’t seen any self-checkout registers at any stores, and they’re all over Utah.

A Song Remembered

The Warbler passed away last week. She was one of the biggest reasons why I loved the Jefferson Ward in Murray, Utah. She had a name--it was Roxie--but Brad and I, with only respect and affection in our heart, called her The Warbler.

You couldn't miss it, really. Anyone new who participated in Sunday services could be seen perking up a bit when the singing began, because right there, in the smack-dab center of the chapel would be Roxie, singing loud and clear with all the feeling she could muster. I don't know how to describe it--not off-tune, not shrill; just signature Roxie. I loved her for that. I'm sure she knew she didn't have the finest singing voice, but she wasn't singing for herself, or anyone else in the room, for that matter. She was singing to her Heavenly Father, whom it was instantly apparent she had a tight relationship with.

I knew her for only the last three years of her life. Some people, when they reach the age of 91 might think it's their turn for a break. Not Roxie. This woman, in a four-foot-something frame, had a giant spirit. When a sister whom she visit taught fell ill and needed help, it was Roxie who let us in the Relief Society know. And before anyone else could help this sister, Roxie had already gone out to the store in her big boat of a car--with her head barely clearing the dashboard--to get some food and other items. A couple weeks before I moved, Roxie had a stroke and was put into a rehabilitation center. Her first comment to the Relief Society Presidency was her concern that she might not get her visiting teaching done that month!

Roxie also attended all the Enrichment Meetings. I got to sit next to her in March as we played a getting-to-know-you type board game. We all laughed and agreed when on one turn she chose the word Spunky to describe herself.

After her stroke, we all noticed the absence of her heartfelt singing. But her example remains. How many times have I not served with all my heart because of one of my perceived weaknesses, or because I worried how others would react? How many times have I ignored little promptings within me to serve a sister I visit teach? Maybe next time I'm prompted to bear my testimony, but try to talk myself out of it because I feel like a dork in front of all those people, maybe I'll gather up the courage to do it anyway...and I'll remember the beauty and sanctity of Roxie's warbling.

Maifest Fun

In an effort to discover and experience our new state, we went westward on Saturday, and landed in a town called Brenham, Texas. Brenham was settled by a bunch of Germans in the mid-1800's, and this weekend they were celebrating their 117th annual Maifest--the oldest spring German Festival in the South!!!! It was actually quite fun; they had a children's carnival, lots of leiderhosen and saurkraut, and fun little booths. Reminded me of many of the Oktoberfests in Oregon that I grew up attending.

(Sorry about the poor quality of these pics--we forgot the camera so we had to use the phone)

Ty rode on his first roller coaster and loved it!
He was really proud of himself for holding on so tight.

After the exciting coaster, we went for something more mellow with the bouncy castle.

From Brenham we went about 10 miles Northeast to St. Claire's Monestary. The nuns there breed and raise miniature horses. They are soooooo cute! (The horses, not the nuns) We saw many baby ones, even a day-old foal. This was the favorite part of the day for all of us. The little ones were about 18 inches tall, and were so gentle and curious. Tyler kept petting them and tickling them, and they would play back--it was really cool.

Because it is a monestary with a "cloistered, contemplative Order," it is only open for two hours each day and has self-guided tours. It was very interesting.

We finished the day by having dinner at a Biker Grill in the town of Novasota. My Reuben wasn't very good, but Brad's Texas Filled Spud was! A huge, huge potato stuffed with BBQ beef, cheese, bacon, butter and sour cream. Very filling! And very Texas. I guess I should save the German Reubens for the German festivals!

If You Ever Plan to Motor West...

If you someday find yourself traveling through the metropolis of Monticello, Utah, I highly recommend you stay at an up and coming hotspot: Canyonlands Motor Inn! Lucky for us, we happened to be traveling through the same night as a big car rally in nearby Moab, and no other room in town was available; otherwise we might not have found this gem.

Upon entering the 1970's lobby, you'll instantly be taken to the far-away land of India, native home of the proprietor. Several different strong and spicy incense sticks burning simultaneously will leave you and your clothes smelling sweet for days to come!

Don't let the rust stains and mold fool you! If you want to sleep in air-conditioned comfort, Canyonlands Motor Inn is for you!

They are so confident in their 100% safety guarantee, they laugh at the thought of using smoke detectors. (Besides, they just get annoying going off all the time with the burning insence.)

No need for clunky and bothersome shampoo bottles and bars of soap. They'll provide the same magical aqua-marine colored soap at the sink and in the shower.

This is Brad enjoying the luxury of the the lukewarm trickly shower in the comfort of his Teva's. We just weren't up for the adventure of battling foot fungus this time around, what with the long drive ahead of us. Maybe next time we'll be more daring.

Other bonuses not pictured:

*Be sure to get your TV remote control from the clerk upon check-in.

*Enjoy the game of "What Lamp works, and what lamp has the cord chopped off?"

*And please don't forget the age-old question of: Is that a man's or a woman's greasy handprint on the wall?

Making the Rounds

Last week was a bit sad, but fun, too, as we made the rounds to say goodbye to all our friends. The sisters in Relief Society gave me a cute Recipe book that everyone had signed. So nice! I'll really miss our life in Murray...I love this place and all the wonderful people! But there are new people to meet and new adventures to experience, so on we go!

These are Ty's best friends from the neighborhood. He'll really miss playing with them.

We spent time with Ty's birth family at the zoo. This is him with his birthmom.

Saying goodbye to Cousin Emma.

Playing with another cute cousin, Addie. We might see them again soon, though. Addie's parents, Spencer and Sara, are applying for jobs down in San Antonio. Wouldn't that be great if they were down there, too?

Movin' to Houston

Well, it definitely seems more real now. I went down to Houston and found a place for us to live. The city is sooooo amazingly huge. I know everybody says that, but I couldn't fathom it until I saw it. It just takes a long time to get anywhere! And there seems to be traffic at all times of the day. I came back to Salt Lake City, and marvelled at how small it seemed.

The Temple there is GORGEOUS! Breathtakingly beautiful, only you wouldn't know it was there unless you happened to drive by it! It is so dang flat, and the trees are so high, that you really can't see anywhere except where you are! I kept trying to get a glimpse of the area from up high. Occasionally the freeway went up on an overpass, but all I saw was trees! There are some really nice neighborhoods nearer to the Temple, and within about 25 minutes or so of Brad's office, but unfortunately the rental homes in that area were too much.

I got pretty frustrated the first day: even though I stayed outside the 1960 loop like everybody said, the first FIVE homes on my list were either yucky themselves or in yucky neighborhoods. Finally, I moved north to The Woodlands, which is farther north, but actually takes less time because of the freeway. I found two houses I liked, and called, and the lady said that BOTH had been leased out the day before!!!! AUGHH!! I asked if she had any others and she said there was one for about $50 more than we had wanted, but it was nice and was in the Woodlands area. So I went there and fell in love with the house!!! The yard needs some work, but she said she'd have the ground crew work on it before we get there on May 1st. This home is one story, one year old, and around 1650 square feet. Three bedrooms and a study. Two baths. Great kitchen, breakfast nook, dining room (although we don't have a dining room table--I thought we could make it a reading nook), and a great big master bath with a great big walkin closet. Plenty of storage space, two car garage...it's definitely the nicest place we've ever lived. It doesn't have tile and granite, etc., but it's still great for our needs!

So...without further adieu, here is our new home on Woodhollow Drive.

Cha Cha Cha...

I can tell I'm getting older because I'm getting more set in my ways. I'm just not as flexible and easy going as I used to be. Take, for instance, toilet paper. There was a time when I had no preference. Give me dyes, perfumes; quilted, not--heck I would even take one-ply and not even flinch. I probably would have been happy with newspaper!

And then, over time, I started caring a little bit...I would get annoyed when the TP was on the holder going under, instead of over. I noticed the different types of quilting, or lack thereof. I felt the different levels of roughness in the paper. I wondered why some people were so cheap that they couldn't even spring for two-ply. I pondered whether they consciously chose this sub-standard way of living, or if they were just ignorant. Are there people out there that actually put the toilet paper on the holder in an underly fashion on purpose?!?

Then came the dilemma. As a child and even into my teens and twenties, I often accompanied my mom on grocery shopping trips. During those trips to Waremart (now WinCo) and Safeway, Mom taught me some valuable lessons, like how to get some extra cash without Dad knowing by writing the check for ten dollars over, and where to hide the King-sized Hershey's with Almonds so no one would find it, and so it wouldn't melt in the summer heat! (Maybe someday we should explore this need to hide things ! :)

But I digress...I also learned some tried and true money-saving rules. One of the rules is to have a top price in mind for something. When the product you're looking for falls below that price, stock up--when it's above that price, avoid buying it if you can. What's funny, is I still live by many of those prices today: I never pay more than $1 for a Tostino's pizza, $1 for a can of Ravioli, $1 for a can of juice, $4.99 for a pound of deli meat. Although I often have to, I hate to pay more than $1 for a pint of sour cream, $2 for a gallon of milk, $2.50 for a quart of ice cream and $2 for a Lean Cuisine Entree.

Here's the dilemma: one of Mom's price rules was that she never payed more than $5 for the equivalent of 24 rolls of toilet paper. Naturally, I adopted that rule, and with the specials that would come and go, I was usually able to get some Angel Soft or Walmart's White Cloud brand for around that price. And that was good enough for me. Then one day I got some Quilted Northern on sale. I liked the feel of the paper, and the quilting, but I noticed that it was a little fragile and often left some remnants, if you know what I mean. Now, I'm a girl who prefers to be hygienic, so that wouldn't do. I happily went back to the cute babies on the package.

Until I walked into Smith's one day and saw a mother of a sale: 12 big (supposedly double) rolls of Charmin Ultra for $4.99! (Insert angels singing here) I snatched it up and when I came out of the bathroom that next time, I was a changed woman. No other paper would ever be enough for me. The softness, the strength, the texture--all of it made the trip to the bathroom an event, not merely a routine!

But here (really, this time!) is the dilemma: Charmin Ultra has not been on sale since, and their so-called double roll is not as big as the White Cloud double roll. I think they call it a double roll, but don't even make a single roll anymore, because it would only have a few squares on it! So do I feel guilty and pay an enormous amount of money for a really good product, or do I go back to the so-so paper that every time I use just makes me long for the good stuff? That, my friends, is my struggle. I've kind of settled into a little pattern: I never pay full price for the good stuff. Some times that means I just get the economical stuff, but I'm always on the lookout for my little bear friends to be on sale!

What are your little indulgences?

Should I stay or should I go?

Needs to Stay :

I think Blake is a real artist. He creates while others just perform.

Needs to Go:

Come on, America! It is seriously cruel for all involved to keep him on!

Needed to Stay:Sure, Rob was arrogant, but he and Amber were a great team, and played the game with skill and strategy. The Amazing Race isn't the same without them.

Need to go:

With their victim "poor me" attitude, and their fake accents and over-inflated sense of self, they annoy the heck out of me and must leave soon!

Must Stay:

Although I don't have them winning in my bracket, I really hope the Ducks pull out a victory in the Sweet Sixteen!

Must Go:

Nothing personal against UNLV, but they're the next opponent to the Ducks. Normally I would vote for them, being from the Mountain West Conference and all.

March Madness

Aughh!!!! I love it and hate it at the same time!! The stupid bracket challenge has my nerves on edge for every game. I'm not sure if I can take it! Calm down...breathe...it's just a game.

Home on the Range

Alright, y'all. Listen up. We finally got our job placement, and we're fixin' ta go to Texas! We're so gol-darned excited we can hardly stand it! We're headin' down around the end of April. First to Houston for a few months so Brad can get oriented a little, and then we'll settle down in San Antonio, where he'll open up a new office for his company. Ya-hoo! So does anybody have any good advice or stories about the Lonestar State?

Misc.

Tyler fought and fought his nap yesterday and finally succumbed at

dinnertime in his highchair. He's never done this before. He must have been really tired!

For a couple of years now, Brad has been complaining about our cheap-o particle board Shopko brand entertainment center that we bought with wedding money for $79, if memory serves me correctly. I don't really mind it, although it is pretty scuffed and one leg is broken. But I have learned that my normally go-with-the-flow, money-saving cutie is an entertainment center snob. The problem is, really nice ones cost more money than I want to spend on a piece of furniture like that. So imagine our joy when I looked on Craigs List yesterday and saw that they are remodeling the Hilton Hotel by the airport and are selling all the furniture. We managed to get a nice solid wood armoir for not much more than we spent on the cheapo piece of schwa we first bought seven years ago!

I always love putting Ty's shirts over his head like this, but usually he pulls them off just as fast as I put them there. But today he indulged me and let me take his picture before he got into his bath.

Cute Cousins

These two cutie cousins had a chance to play together the other day, and it was fun to see them get along. Both boys were brought into our family through adoption, and what a blessing they are to us.

Black Monday

A police officer securing the mall after multiple shootings.

This has been a horrible day. A killer strolled into Trolley Square, an upscale mall in Salt Lake City, and fired a shotgun on an unknown amount of people. Right now they're not sure how many are dead or injured. The police evidently shot him down and killed him, but not before he had run the length of the mall on his rampage.

This is a mall I frequent. Brad and I have eaten in most of the restaurants, where tonight people stuffed their children under bread carts for protection, and others locked themselves in freezers to keep the gunman out. Family restaurants, with children and parents enjoying a night out, when all of a sudden their whole world changed.

In addition to this tragedy, my sister-in-law's father died tonight as well. Just collapsed. He was only 55. I feel so bad for her. She's having, understandably, a really difficult time and is grieving.

Also in our area within the last couple of days a young Bishop's pregnant wife and two of their kids were killed by a 17 year old drunk driver.

A couple days before that a young 24 year old mom was killed when her new month-old home exploded because of a gas leak.

What is going on here?! This is all WAY too close to home. It's amazing how things can change in the blink of an eye. One moment it all can be going along smoothly, and bam--all of a sudden everything's different. I hope I truly appreciate my family and loved ones. I hope I live without regrets. I hope I live in the moment. I wish I could protect my family from stuff like this, but I don't know how. As I've watched, I've been amazed at the faith and strength of some of the people going through it, and my heart has broken for others who didn't have that same faith. I can't help but wonder how I would react in situations like I've witnessed the last couple of weeks. I certainly don't want to find out.

11 days!

Eleven days until Ty gets to see his cousins Jacob, Jessica and Katelyn! He wishes he had a sweatshirt with everybody's name on it, but we could only find one with Jake's name.

Grumpy

1. Freezing Cold and Hazy. It's too cold to spend any real amount of time outside, and the air is so bad, I wouldn't want to anyway. This has caused a bit of cabin fever, I'm afraid. You can only go to the Arctic Circle playland so many times a week before they start wondering if you work there.

2. Payday is supposed to be great, but I always get a little depressed because after paying all the bills, I see how little we have to live on until next payday. The heating bill this month was outrageous! I know we make more money now than when we were in school, but more expenses show up, too: higher rent, life insurance, school loan payments...it gets frustrating.

3. Another Friday goes by, and we still don't have a clue where we'll be transferred to. We've been in limbo for so long it's not funny anymore.

4. I thought I was over this one, but I was reading a lady's blog about deciding she was done having children, and then deciding she wasn't done, and how now she's due in May. I'm totally happy for her, but sometimes I'm still caught off-guard when I remember that most people have a choice. Most people can decide to get pregnant or not get pregnant, and when! It's funny how I think I'm just fine with all my infertility issues when something dumb like this gets me all in a funk again.

Okay kids, I got it out. No need to freak out and think I'm all depressed, it's just one of those days. I'm sure the normal Sal will return tomorrow.

50 Things I Like

Sunsets. Maps. Candlelight. A whole day to read. St John Chapter 14. Tyler's blue eyes. Taking the back roads. Holding hands. Fall leaves. The Amazing Race. Hyacinths. New Poems. Spontaneous trips. Stephen's brand Orange Creme Hot Chocolate. The start of football season. Christmas morning. Haceta Head Lighthouse. Cafe Rio pork salad w/both dressings. Old friends. American Idol after the meanness at the beginning. The Salt Lake City Library. Tornadoes. Snuggling. Reading old letters. Saturday Market in downtown Eugene. Fireflies. Dollar movies. Relief Society. Finding killer deals. Cold Mountain Dew. Hammocks. The Bountiful Deseret Industries. Getting the mail. Naptime. New calendars. Rough-housing with TyTy. Surprise flowers. Lunch with Mom. Giving and getting compliments. Trips to Susan's house. Office supply stores. Citrus smells. See's chocolate. Finding forgotten money. 80's and 90's music. Planning vacations. Time by myself after everyone's in bed. Collard Lake. Scary roller coasters. New babies.

Pinball, Poo, and President Kimball

How can it be that the same 2 year old that had a poo-poo in the bathtub yesterday, is playing Pinball on the computer like a pro? Brad taught him how, and now he starts the game all by himself with the mouse, and finds the keys (the z, the ?, and the space bar)to play all by himself! It's crazy! (Please excuse my messy desk!)



On another subject, I'm teaching the lesson tomorrow in Relief Society on President Kimball. I'm so excited to study his words this year. I found a little video blurb on him to show in the lesson, and it was so fun to hear that unique voice again. He is the Prophet of my childhood, and it's fun to revisit him.

Bear Lake Adventure

We had a fun little vacation at Bear Lake with Brad's family just after Christmas. We stayed at this really nice cabin that had six bedrooms and lots of room. And a great view of the lake (you can see it there in the background).

Grandma brought some crafty things for the cousins to do, like decorating Gingerbread men with marshmallows, candy and frosting.

Of course, Ty wasn't interested in decorating the cookie--he just kept putting frosting on it and eating it. Yum Yum.

We rented snowmobiles one day and went riding around the trails above the cabin. Way fun! Brad took Ty on a little ride and went really slow so I wouldn't worry. Ty loved it!

June brought little New Year's toys from England that pop and have little toys in them, along with crowns. Ty is blowing the little horn that he got, and we're all wearing our crowns.

Except for our car getting stuck on the hill on our way out (John ended up towing us with his truck--we brought chains, but they didn't fit our tires!) we had a really fun time. Everyone got along and the cousins had a great time getting to know one another again.

A Merry Christmas

Through a child's eyes,

There's Hope, there's Peace, there's Love.

I can almost see Heaven above--through a child's eyes.

Good Morning

As much as I LOVE Tyler's bedtime (think Hallelujah Chorus), I love seeing him again in the morning when he's sweet and cute and well-rested. He's not an early riser, which I am sooooo thankful for, so usually around 8:30 every morning I start to hear little chatter and singing. Then I hear, "Mommy!!! Wake up!!! Wake up Mommy!!" Even though he got a big boy bed a couple weeks ago, he still treats it like a crib (with the gates on the side it kinda still is like one), so he won't get out until I come in to get him. He's always sitting up playing with his bed "friends". Let me tell you about them.

In the picture he's holding the binks that he's collected througout the night. He collects them and puts them "away" until the next nighttime. (It's progress!)

His favorite blankies include:

Africa (the one pictured)
Bluey
Fringy
Balloony
Fuzzy
Quilty (also known as Mommy's Pillow)
Alphabetty, and
Giraffy

I think it's interesting that he hasn't stuck with one that's his favorite. He rotates and wants different ones at random times. Same with his animals and dolls:

BelleBelle (well, I think this is his very favorite)
Doggy (the hyper silly one of the bunch)
Payton
Debbie
Froggy
Monkey
Lion, and the newest one:
Gingy (the gingerbread man that a nice lady won in one of those claw vending machines and gave to TyTy. So nice, huh?)

No wonder the crib was getting too small!!!

After we inventory and talk to every friend on his bed, I sit in the rocker and we talk about his night and talk about our upcoming day, and where Daddy is, etc. It's a time I'm starting to treasure.

My Sincerest Apology...

Dear Nurse at the After Hours Clinic in the Sandy Mall:

It must be hard working off-hours on a Sunday, dealing with people that can't wait to see their normal doctors on Monday. I'm sure I didn't make it any easier for you yesterday.

After seven days of non-functioning, and not getting any better, I decided I needed to come see you. Wearing my little mask they gave me to protect others from sickness, I gave you all my info: no meds except Ibuprofen and Sudafed...Oh wait, I did use my Albuterol inhaler on Wednesday night... No, I don't smoke...Started my period a couple days ago...On a scale of one to ten, my throat hurts an 8.5 or 9...Mother of a headache last night...still stuffed up...a little nausea...husband and baby had cold last week...aches...fever...terrible cough...yes, green sputum.

I sat up on the exam table like the perfect patient. You looked in my ears: all good. I breathed for you: lungs sound good. And then--I should have warned you, but I forgot. I was too relieved to be taking off the little mask (it gets hot in there!) that I didn't realize what was next. All of a sudden you stuck a stick in my mouth and another stick with a swab on it. I couldn't warn you about my overactive gag reflex. But you sure did find out about it, didn't you? And you also found out first-hand about the green sputum. Just be glad my nausea kept me from eating anything earlier in the day! As you wiped off your face and hands, I didn't even see one look of disgust! You, dear nurse, are a professional!

Test Results? Positive for Strep. I really do hope you have a good immune system, dear After Hours Nurse. So sorry.

Random Stuff

We went to a birthday party for our niece Emma's first birthday. Ty was so excited to go. He chose to give her (with the help of Daddy) the same Refridgerator magnet singing farm animals that he has. I was running a bit late and Ty kept saying, "Vamanos!!! Let's go!" I guess Dora is doing some good. (He can count to ten in Spanish, too!)

Little Emma tearing through her cake!

Tyler saw Grandpa taking a nap and said he was "seepy", too.

The other morning I heard Ty yelling something from his crib. I went in there and he was saying, "It's on! Outside! It's on!" I asked him, "What's on?" "The sun!!" he said, "It's on outside!!!"