Independence Day

Well, this year was no Provo Freedom Festival, but it was nice and special in its own way. We went to a small town Festival at Magnolia's Restored Train Depot, and watched fireworks from a great, non-crowded spot on the shores of Lake Conroe. On our way home we stopped and got some frozen custard. Yummy.

Brad actually preferred celebrating the Holiday in small towns like we did instead of all the crowds. He said this was his perfect Fourth of July.

I think Tyler agrees--how can you top a day where you can explore an old train, win a cake in a cake walk, find a friend in an old Bassett Hound named Darlin', and see a whole bunch of fireworks over the water? Life is pretty sweet.

Our conversation when we got in the car to go home:
Tyler: I love fireworks. Fireworks make me so happy.
Mom: You love fireworks, huh?
Tyler: Uh-huh. I love to hug it.

Kitchen Goodies

Normally, I'm not a big fan of kitchen gadgets. I got rid of our breadmaker, our ice cream maker, our toaster oven--I hate how much room they take up for how little I use them. But too many failures in the rice department lately had me loudly wishing for a rice cooker. My little angel (Brad) heard my wishes and presto! Just like that I am a proud owner of a rice cooker. I tried it out tonight and I AM IN LOVE! I just put the rice and water in (of course I added some boullion, onions, and cilantro to it, too) and closed the lid. When the bell went off, I had perfect, fluffy rice, just like I've tried to make but always messed up. It was yummy brown rice, but fluffier and sticker, like I love. Mmmmm...

Speaking of yummy, I have a favorite summer salad/dip that is healthier than guacamole (I always put too much sour cream in my guac, so it's not so healthy), but more tasty than just plain salsa. The picture has it in individual scoops, but I just leave it in the bowl and scoop it out with a spoon or a chip.

Black Bean, Corn and Avacado Dip

2 cups frozen sweet corn (thawed)
1 can black beans (rinsed thoroughly)
1 cup salsa or picante sauce (I prefer mild, but I suppose you could go hotter)
1 small bunch green onions, diced
1 avacado, sliced in little chunks
Juice of a small lime
1/2 cup (or so) cilantro, chopped.

Combine all ingredients and toss well in glass bowl. Let sit for one hour in the refrigerator to meld flavors. Serve with chips (I like the lime Tostitos myself)







Another great recipe I got from a new friend in my ward is cake mix cookies. They're so easy! Just use any cake mix, add two eggs and enough oil to make cookie batter consistency (around 1/4 cup). She had used a white mix and dipped them in little confetti candy to make cute sugar cookies. I just had on hand a yellow cake mix, so I added choc chips. I think it'll be fun to try out different mixes. (I've done this kind of before, making homemade oreo cookies, but that recipe called for shortening instead of oil--the oil is TEN TIMES easier!) I think I'll try using applesauce instead of the oil for a low-fat version. They stay really moist, too. Now, don't get me wrong--they do not replace a really good choc chip cookie in taste, but they score MAJOR points for convenience and ease.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

My Goodness!!!

For a girl who grew up in rain-soaked Oregon, I must say I'm a bit surprised at how much it rains here in Texas! It has rained every day for a long time (over a week, I know)! The only difference from Eugene's rain is it's still really hot here. The rain is usually accompanied by thunder and lightning (or as Tyler calls it, Funder and Lightning Bugs). Whenever the thunder comes he repeats to himself, "It's okay, we're okay, we're safe in our new house, it's just the angels bowling."

This week we went to Laredo, a town on the Mexican border. (Yucky) But we got a hotel with great pools and a playground, so I was excited to do that while Brad had his appointments. Ummm...no. It flooded in Laredo. Not just rained, flooded. So we were a bit bored sitting in our swimsuits in the hotel room for four hours waiting for the rain and thunder to stop (Brad had the car). I think Ty and I just might stay home next time Brad goes to Laredo.

No Swimming Today

Current Favorites

Three Things Tyler Loves:

Marching!!!
We checked out a CD at the library called Wee Sing America. Ty loves it! He asks to listen to it probably 20 times a day. (or more! I'm not kidding) We march around to John Philip Souza songs and "You're a Grand Old Flag" for a large portion of our day. Anything with the American or Texan flag are favorites right now. (The golf club in the picture is his staff that he lifts up and down as he marches) Don't worry about me, trying to go throughout my day with songs about the civil war, goober peas, and picking cotton stuck in my brain!

Slippery Soap!!!
He is obsessed with bar soap, aka Slippery Soap. He wants to take extra baths just to play with it. The other day the last sliver of his first slippery soap bar disappeared down the drain, and he started crying inconsolably--in the bath, as he was getting dressed, even again at bedtime. Finally I got a new bar for him to sleep with and all was right with the world again.

Paper Clips!!!
So many fun things can be done with paper clips! He uses them on his train, in his hair, in Mommy's hair, with his stuffed animals, to push food around, to play the piano, and so much more!

My Boys

An old, but favorite pic

I'm so proud of my two boys today.

1.) Brad

Brad had a very difficult assignment at work, where he had to tell a very explosive, angry couple some really bad news. It was the right decision, confirmed by company headquarters and attorneys, but he knew the couple wouldn't see it that way. Walking up their doorstep was like walking into a fiery furnace. But he did it! And he stayed professional and calm--even empathetic--when this couple yelled and screamed in his face and eventually threw him out, slamming the door into his shoulder!

It's sad, though, because at the end--right before the slamming of the door-- this couple said they were going to tell everyone they knew how horrible his company is, and for them to run when they hear the company's name. And people probably will decide not to use his company if they hear these people's side, but there's always two sides to every story. And sometimes confidentiality agreements and professionalism dictate that one side will never be told. Hmm...

2.) TyTy

Truthfully, one thing about raising a boy that I've dreaded is the whole fascination-with-bugs thing. I hate bugs and little slimy animals, and I don't want Ty to bring them into the house and want to care for them, etc. I just don't want to be the Mom that helps her son turn tadpoles into frogs from a dirty jar in the kitchen!

But I think I just might change my mind! I saw a bug yesterday, and Brad was still home so he got it for me. Tyler saw that, and got a little washcloth and said "I got a bug, too!" We thought he was just copying his dad like he often does, but he gave the rag to Brad, and Lo and Behold, there was a spider in it!! We gave him a lot of praise, and a couple hours later I thought he was just pretending again when he said, "I got another spider and put it in the toilet!" I said good job and went on with my day, until hours later when I went to use the john and a dead spider was in the bowl! Now I have two guys to protect me from bugs!

Something New

Sometimes Brad and I get a hankering to try something new. Something we've never done before. So this weekend, after a long, HOT, sweaty, tiring, traffic-filled not-so-great trip to San Antonio we got home and do you think we just wanted to unpack and go to bed? No way! We're not that boring! We were just dying to add some spice to our lives! Do something new. Something adventurous. Even daring! Find a way to spend all the EXTRA CASH we have lying around the house. So this is what we came up with!

More Amusement

Ty and I have tagged along on both of Brad's business trips to San Antonio so far. (I'd much rather be sunning at the hotel pool and meeting Brad in between appointments for lunch than being home alone overnight with just me and a 2 year old that misses his daddy.) It's also a chance to explore the city that we will hopefully be calling home for at least a few years. This week we stayed an extra night using a gift certificate we had.

On Saturday we found Texas' oldest Kiddie Park. You could definitely tell it was the oldest! But it was fun, and cheap, and Ty really liked riding the unlimited rides.

The school bus was his first ride. He saw it and ran to it. He loves school busses anywhere! This one actually went really fast and it kept bumping his head against the foam there, but he loved it and rode it twice more!

Next was the 1918 hand-carved, hand painted carousel. Too bad people had broken off most of the horses' tails and some of their legs. This type of carousel is one of less than 100 left in existance.

This was the helicopter ride. You can tell that this is the first time around because Brad is still smiling. Ty kept wanting to go on this one, so Brad went with him, but by the fourth or fifth time, he was a teensy bit queasy.

Ty's still lovin' it, but Brad's a little less excited to be on a flying saucer!

After a fun-filled day of airplanes and rafts, trains and busses, helicopters and carousels, Ty dozed off on the trip home. And that was nice for Mommy and Daddy!

Say that again?

I consider myself fairly competent at the English language. I was an English teacher, for Heaven's sake! But my spelling/pronounciation rules have gone out the window since I've been here!

The following are street names or cities, etc., in and around Houston and San Antonio and how they are pronounced here in the Great Lonestar State:

Kuykendahl: pronounced KIRK in doll

Huebner: HEEB ner

Cibolo: SIB uh low (We thought it was si BO low)

Bexar: bear (just ignore the x, they say)

Gruene: green

Boerne: BURN ee

Tamina: TAM in uh (again, we thought it was tuh MEEN uh)

There are more, I just can't think of them at the moment. I'm noticing most of these have emphasis on the first syllable. I'll have to remember that as I'm trying to figure more things out!

Glasses

Tyler's lesson in Nursery today was "I am thankful for my eyes." He got to make these cool glasses that he has worn ever since. I think he likes them so much because now he's just like his daddy. We finally made him take them off for bed.

He kept saying, "I can see you, Mommy! I can see you in there!"

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?