heathrow please

Tomorrow I'm London bound to catch up with Gregg at his annual business conference.  After that a few of the wives and I are off to Rome. Whoot, whoot, girls trip with some of my very favorite peeps.

This is one of the items on our bucket list ….

photo credit http://tourism-images.blogspot.com

The blue grotto in Capri.  Apparently entrance is kind of sketch depending on the weather. Really hoping we get to go. But, no matter what, it's going to be good.  Rome, food, and four consecutive girls night outs.  Yeah. Pass the Bruschetta.

closing out april

Good morning Lovelies!  I hope your day is off to a good start.  Ours was kind of rough here.  We've reached that inescapable time of year when my kids are so done with school, even though they still  have four more weeks.  And I am so done making lunches, even though those kids still have to eat (at least three times a day, seriously!?).  But, in the middle of our restlessness waiting for the summer break, we are loving spring in AZ.

And all the new babies in our neighborhood. 

 Although mom sheep didn't appreciate us stopping by.  She protested at my camera lens and even stomped her foot at me. Good mama sheep.

And because sometimes this mama needs a break, I'm headed on a little adventure next week.  Across the ocean.  More on that tomorrow.

Happiest friday to all of you beautiful mamas!

soundtrack

I feel good today.  Like my old self.  My happy self.  Except better.  Different. Better.  If someone were to make my life into a movie ( I'm not saying they would), but if they did, it would have a built in soundtrack. The volume of this soundtrack fluctuates, but it's always there.   When I was in second grade, it was "Popcorn popping on the apricot tree" as I sang in the school's talent show.  When I was in junior high, it was Joan Jett's, "I love rock and roll" while making endless laps at the local roller rink.  In high school, it was OMD's, "If you leave" when I didn't get asked to the junior prom. Songs and lyrics that carried me through, motivated me, helped me cry, hurt, heal, and sometimes just breath. And someday, when I look back on 2014, I will think about this song (goo goo dolls) and this song (one republic) and how they helped me remember to just breath.

Today I got a glimpse of those better days.  My story is still being written and I have a lot to say.  Because someday, when this part of my story draws to a close, I want to be able to say,   I lived.

Because of Him

Easter morning 2014.

And I guess this video sums up how I am feeling today.  

because there IS more to life than laundry

Sometimes I have to remind my little ocd self that it's important to have fun. And do things like take a Jeep ride with the roof off.

Or try a new restaurant (if you live in AZ or UT, do try this one.)

Then Drew called me, "Hey mom, these people left this ancient big screen t.v. out for uncontained trash, can we bring it home for a movie night?"  Me, "Ya, I guess, if you can carry it?"  One hour later this was the scene in my back yard.

I love teenagers.  They never need to be reminded to have fun. 

try this

Today I want to pass on one of my very favorite (not low cal!) recipes.  All credit to my friend Chris for  sharing this with me.  On my top three list of desserts, carrot cake comes second only to texas sheet cake (another post, another day).  This cake is addictive. So far today, it's been perfect for breakfast and lunch.  But hey, it's completely loaded with carrots, so it's fine.  

Cake:

                                                          2 c. sugar                                   1 c. oil

                                                          4 eggs, beaten                            3 c. grated carrots

                                                          2 c. unsifted flour                      1t. salt

                                                          2t. baking soda                          2t. cinnamon

                                                          ½ c. ground coconut                  ½ c. ground raisins

Combine sugar and oil.  Add eggs.  Mix well.  Add carrots.  Sift together dry ingredients and slowly stir in.  Add coconuts and raisins.  Pour batter into lightly greased and floured cake pan.

(Two 9" round, one 9' x 13", or 24 cupcakes)

Bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes.

Frosting:

                                                          1 pkg. cream cheese, softened

                                                          ¼ c. butter

                                                          2 ½ c. powdered sugar

                                                          Hot water, if needed

Cream together, add a little hot water, 1t. at a time until you reach speeding consistency. 

                                                                     Enjoy.

Texas A & M

Sadie received the first "transfer" of her mission last week to Texas A & M university.  I honestly didn't even know they had full time missionaries on campus.  Her letter came with this picture.   It's soooo Sadie, you know, just cuddling up to a python.

You can read about her first week here on her blog. 

Today our family is watching the LDS general conference.  You can check it out live here.

  I heard a talk about gratitude from this morning's session that was absolutely stellar.  I'll be sharing it in a few days. 

Happy Sunday.