I miss Dib...everyone does!

Last night Wacky had a friend spend the night.  They decided to watch "August Rush".  It's such a good movie.  I cry always when I watch it.  Last night it made me miss our guitarist Dib.  Yesterday I saw John and missed Dib.  Andy came over to say "Hi" to Dib...and I missed him again.  When he goes on his mission in 2 years, for 2 years, I just might be a basket case... Yesterday Googla said she had had a dream that her big brother was home.  She came downstairs and was sad that it had just been a dream.  We'll get through this!!!  He'll be home in 2 weeks from today.  Hurrah!

a boy and his doggy

So we had hot chocolate and marshmallows for Family Home Evening dessert. That was not such a great idea.  It's 90 degrees out.  bleck!  ...but who can turn down ANY form of chocolate?

wacky and dog

-LiLa

Ricky, or was it Rhonda? Raccoon

Yesterday Rachel came over.  When she was talking to us I noticed, from the front window, a car slowing down and rolling their window down.  I said , "What are they looking at?"  Mirielle and Rach looked out the window and said, "It's a porcupine."  I thought they were joking.  About a half hour later Sam from across the street said, "Did you know you have a raccoon in your yard? Actually, it's under your driveway."  Jeff and Peterman came back around then.  Jeff trapped the critter in the irrigation ditch that runs under the driveway.  He put a square 5 gallon bucket on one side (with 2 clunks of concrete in it), and a grill with another clunk of cement holding it in place....voila!  One non porcupine-raccoon trapped under the driveway.  

That was last night, after Animal control hours.  The helpful dispatch gal basically said, "Well you have 2 options: 1-untrap the animal or B-wait until the morning."  I didn't want the varmint running around, so we kept it trapped until around 2 today when I could deal with it.  The story is way longer than I'm telling...."...that's uh, Unbe-liev-a-ble."(a quote from one of my favorite movies)  1 can of tuna in a trap and 30 minutes, was all it took to get the animal to walk out from under the driveway into said trap.  The animal was cute, but grunted/hissed at us. It is in Raccoon Heaven now.  Officer Friendly said this is #7 Raccoon of the day, along with 4 skunks, and 1 fence-impaled deer.  Lots of critters are no longer running around the city.

He wrote -- Hurrah!

What a wonderful treat to get an email from Dib.  It was short & sweet, and oh so welcome.  

I hope he's ok if I share this from his letter:

"I'm studying really hard and it kind of hurts my head, but I'm fine. I have to memorize and pass off a dialogue every day. On top of that there is a lot of homework, but I get to play my guitar if my brain isn't completely numb by free time! I'm having a lot of fun..."

We're glad he gets to have this experience, no matter how much we miss each other.  He sounds really busy!  That's good!!! 

Pizza Night Morning

Yep, I always am a little happier on Fridays when I wake because I already know what I'm fixing for dinner.  I love to make it.  All my family will eat my homemade pizza.  They even act like they like it.  :D

Yesterday was Pioneer Day... A Utah State Holiday.  We remember and celebrate what the Pioneers did for us.  We went to a park in Provo where there are real life Pioneer cabins.  It was fun to tour through them and go to the Pioneer museum, too.  I remember every summer as a youngster in Kansas City, MO we'd celebrate Pioneer Day by dressing like Pioneers for Primary.  My teachers would tell great stories and we'd sing songs.  

Today we MIGHT get to get an email from Dib. I hope he's having a great time @ Chinese Camp.  We're praying for him & sorely miss him, but we're glad he gets to have this adventure.

pioneer picture

with mondays post

Kids say the darnedest things!

"I was born on my birthday!"  That's what Googla proclaimed.  We all snickered.  My sis Jill apparently made the same discovery when she was Googla's age...or so I was told.    Speaking of cute and silly things, a few weeks ago Dib was in the kitchen and we were all discussing the features of the new iphone.  Someone said that they had heard the iphone could type what one says.  Dib said, "Gee, imagine how fast you could text with that!"  I stopped, took a breath and I just started laughing...I began to cry for laughing so much...maybe it's not that funny, but if you had to talk to the phone so it could text for you, wouldn't you do just as well by TALKING to the person?  It just struck me as awfully funny! 

So as Susan one of the Startalk "Chinese Camp" Staff put it:  Your child is now in an "MTC Wannabe Program" or "EFY for Nerds".  Everyone laughed!  I took Dib to the Orientation mtg.  It was kinda like the MTC--we had a nice mtg. that included a dvd-show of things done last year, intro to all of the Staff, and rules review, too.  Then they said, "Parents you are welcomed to leave, students stay."  It was time for hugs, and good-byes.  The Orientation was only missing formal attire and prayers.  I know he'll have a great time and we'll do ok at home, too...but I'll miss our natural born peacemaker.  

Dib's roommate is from Sandy, UT and goes to Brighton High.  There is a guy from Provo High attending, too.  It looks like Dib's Chinese teacher from PHS is one of the instructors.   Added bonus:  he's going to learn Chinese marshall arts.

 In 3 weeks and 2 days I'll go get him and he probably won't want to come home, nor speak English...and we'll be happy  :) 

ps--The cute little daf DIED in the middle of the intersection right in front of  "Creamery on 9th East"....Dib opened the door and "hoofed it" around the corner.  I had a feeling that would happen.  It's awful to be in a red light holding up the green-light-people. Thankfully it all worked out ok!!!

she's back

Friday

Last night it was really quiet.  

Lila was home.

Dib spent the night in the yurt.  Friend John stayed over.

Clarence was @ Camp.

Peterman spent the night @ Chandler's.

Wacky & Googla spent the night @ Michaela & Alexis' .  Two sister teams.   :)

Jeff & I went to Ann's, along with Lila, Dib, and John to watch the season premieres of MONK & Psych.  Too bad Ann wasn't there.  She's a gem for letting us watch it!  Dib kinda fell asleep...Lila said it's par for his TV watching there.  Crazy boy !

template tantrum

Ok...I've always wondered how is it (?) that Eliza changes her blog "look" every so often (where does she get the templates?), and of course her blog is always cute/fresh/inviting!  I was "linking around" and found a cool site that just might be the answer to my query.  We'll see if it works with my Mac.  :D

I need to add that at the cool site there are some not so cool things...proceed with caution.

 

girls camp goodbye

Last night for Family Home Evening Googla gave the lesson.  Apparently she had had this activity 2 weeks in a row in Primary.  She was excited about it, and wanted to share.  The lesson was on "Blessings".  She had a bowl full of water and an empty cup.  We all had spoons.  We dipped into the bowl and filled our spoons, then emptied the water into the cup.  We shared a blessing as we emptied our spoons into the cup.  We kept going around the circle until the cup was full, and even running over.  It took a while to fill the cup.  It was nice to hear the children's comments.  Some were silly, others serious... Thankful for: Parents who feed me, Primary Children's Med. Center, a good dentist, music, Jesus & the Atonement, Family, shoes, the Gospel, cottage cheese, books (Clarence said that-hurrah!), the scriptures, our bodies...on and on... It was a nice little lesson.  Dibs played his guitar, he does a great job. (We're going to miss him BIG TIME.  Next week he goes to Chinese camp at BYU--for three weeks.) It felt like we should've been around the campfire.  It's different to sing hymns with guitar instead of piano.  I kept feeling like we should break out into a rousing chorus of "Kumbaya" or something.  

    

Lila is supposed to try walking without the crutches today.  She's anxious to get walking, but scared she'll mess something up.  She really doesn't want to have an operation--and end up on crutches for 6 more weeks.  Next Tuesday we'll find out if she's "good to go" or if she needs the foot surgery...we're a little nervous about it all.

Clarence goes to Girls Camp in a few hours and comes back Saturday a.m.  I need to braid her hair.  Cornrows?  I'll try.

:D

ps--sometime in the wee hours of the morning (actually it was 1:48 a.m.) Clarence, Lila, & Peterman finished reading "Twilight".  They've been doing  a slumber party/read-a-thon the last few nights.  Cool.  After camp they're starting on "New Moon".  Until then Lila said she and Wacky were going to read Harry Potter 1, by the same technique...I love to have my children reading, but should I worry that they are "into" wizards and vampires? 

They're home sorta

Hurrah!

My boys are finally back home...except however, they're not all home right now.  Life goes on after Scout Camp. Peterman was invited to go to the Owlz Baseball game, and Dib is at a friends' house.  A bunch of friends are watching "Ferris Bueller" on  Clear play. Sounds fun. My Jeff is finally trying to relax.  He's had a long, but fun week.  I think he's relieved the Camp is over.  It's so nice to have them all back!!!  Wacky & Googla are having a hard time staying in bed...thirsty, hungry, bored...sound familiar? Lila & Clarence are reading,"Twilight" out loud.  Lila figured if they read 80 pages a day, they'll make it through the trilogy before the 4th book comes out.  We all love to read so much, it's hard to believe that Clarence doesn't care for it so much. Lila is trying to win her over to reading.  I hope it works, it'll make school so much easier for her if she could like reading better.  Any ideas out there?  I'm always open for suggestions.  They are enjoying the reading tonight, so that's good!  Now Jeff and I are enjoying "Showtunes Saturday Night".  It's really fun to guess the shows, tunes, singers... we'll do so as we wait for the boys to come home again.   :D

Friday, freaky

So, in the night/this morning @ 2:30 or so Clarence came up to get me.  Wacky was regurgitating in her bed.  Joy!!! Enough said!!!  This morning/now she's doing fine so I'm hoping it was just a fluke.  I am feeling queasy, but it might just be the subject matter. 

It's weird to not have the Sanford boys/men around--they're at their respective Scout Camps.  I know they should be having fun, I hope they ARE!  It's been ok here, but we miss our men.  This single parenting (even if it's just for 1 week) is really NOT easy!!! Googla has had enough of just girls around, me too! 

After I helped  Wacky, I decided to read some.  I eventually turned out the light.  Five minutes later  at about 3:20 a.m. (I checked the clock) I heard what sounded like gunshot.  It startled me and I got out of bed to look out the window.  Do cars still do the backfire thing?  I hope everything in our wonderful neighborhood is ok!!!  It was real and had nothing to do with the book I'm reading...I love mysteries in print, because I can usually figure things out, but the real life mysteries are a bit more difficult.

red rodents

Okay...anyone who really knows me, knows I am disgusted by rodents. (Too many real life confrontations!!!!) In fact I'm repulsed by mice and I'm afraid of them, but I saw this pic and I'm rethinking my stance. These are cute...however the thought of actually eating them, as they are in the form of a mouse, is a bit repulsive ...strawberries, almonds, cheese, mini chocolate chips, red licorice---they're just fine on their own.

Love @ Home in Provo

I want to put some photos of when Momma & Daddy, John, and Jared were here.  Lila is going to be in Nephi tonight.  I'm trying to remember her instructions.  I want one of the mosaic things really, but I'll be lucky if I get single pics up.  Here goes!  It was so nice to have them visit, and so hard to have them leave!!! It was harder than it's ever been--I'm a bawl baby.  I just don't know when we'll get to see each other again...  The gas prices are so ridiculous!!!

I guess Lila will need to coach me on the mosaic pic thing again.

Thankful!

This morning I received a quote from LDS Gems.  It hit home hard.  It's very good, so I'm sharing it:

"Gratitude is a divine principle:
"'Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.' (D&C 59:7.)
"This scripture means that we express thankfulness for what happens, not only for the good things in life but also for the opposition and challenges of life that add to our experience and faith. We put our lives in His hands, realizing that all that transpires will be for our experience.

"When in prayer we say, 'Thy will be done,' we are really expressing faith and gratitude and acknowledging that we will accept whatever happens in our lives. 

"That we may feel true gratitude for the goodness of God for all the blessings that have been given to us and express those feelings of thankfulness in prayer to our Heavenly Father, is my prayer."  ----- Robert D. Hales    Ensign, May 1992

A Sunday of Family & Thanks!

Peterman passed the Sacrament for the first time yesterday.  He was nervous, but did fine.  Dibs blessed the Sacrament and handed the tray to Peterman.  Jeff was helping to bless the Sacrament too.  It was so wonderful to see all 3 of our "Little Sanford Family" Priesthood holders: all together in the right place at the right time, doing exactly what they should be doing.   I felt like crying for joy!  

After the Sacrament we witnessed something else wonderful.  The Sorensen's had their babies' blessing.  Her name is: Julia Rose Sorensen...and she truly is an adorable baby girl!  Norm & Ingrid let us all find out her name during the blessing.  Googla was so sweet, and quiet during the blessing.  Afterwards she looked up at me and told me babies' name...she was really listening. Jeff was honored to stand in the blessing with Norm's & Ingrid's brothers/fathers/nephews ...what a marvelous day!    I do not boast...I am just so very thankful !!!!!!!

colonial days & and downtown

Clarence had told the girls she would spend her hard earned babysitting money on them if they'd go downtown with her to the fair.  I got home from the Baptism just as they were leaving, so I went upstairs and changed my clothes and we 4 went downtown.  I wanted to go to the "Colonial Days" part of the festival first--then the "market".  The wagon wheel is a replica of the wheel on the Mayflower.  Googla informed me that the metal smith had a waffle iron.  He does in fact have one in his display in the middle of the picture.  Last summer when we painted our house the Ridd's got theirs painted, in anticipation of Colonial Days.  It looks nice.  Those tents were the size used by the troops in the Revolutionary War.  They slept 9 people to a tent....

SCRUNCH!!!

Wacky, Clarence, & Googla are sitting on a bench at the Fair. Artisans and food vendors have booths set up all over the Courthouse grounds and along Center Street.   I was talking to our friend Ed Ham about his pottery.  He has beautiful pottery.  The girls were sweltering. It was SUCH a hot day!!!  Clarence got mini porcelain dolls for Wacky and Googla.  She bought a Peruvian bag, and a Jamaican-colored bracelet for herself.  Money spent/they were happy.

watermelon bust and just chill-in

July 4th is so fun!!!

a tidbit of the parade july 4th

top row:  Old Glory, Purple Clarence & Provo HS Flag corp, Pearl Harbor Veteran Lloyd Liddiard, GLENN BECK & Tania,

mid row: Curious George, Kilts!, More Veterans, More Kilts!

bottom row: Cool float, UVU--Lila's school,The LDS Missionaries--The 3 Islanders did the Haka dance--it was cool!! , Underdog

block party july 3rd

TOP: Toby the dog's head, Shannon & Dibs @ the Jumprope, Potluck panache

TOP MIDDLE: Googla & Cemryn , Clarence & the YW, All American Sweetsa

BOTTOM MIDDLE: Clarence & Baby B., Chuchi & Googla Sparkler fun, Same gals+CamBam=more fun!

BOTTOM: Cute puppy, CamBam & Googla dancing @ the street dance, Fuzzy tractor rides

the air ballon launch july 3rd

Attending the air ballon launch has been a family tradition for at least fifteen years? or so...   We now actually get out of bed and get to Fox Field in time to watch the "inflation" (funny word--probably used wrong).  The first time we saw the balloons, as a family, was when Lila was a 3 week old baby.  We were in our apartment.  I remember opening my eyes and glancing out our window...and the balloons were floating by.   I also remember watching it when I was in the MTC, the summer of 1985...

provo high color guard

The parade was super fun. Clarence made an appearance with the Provo High School Color Guard. She is the one in the purple trying not to smile.  Folks from the ward are there snapping photos and cheering Clarence on.

 

Baptism

Right now I'm at the computer to finalize my thoughts on Baptism.  It's the "Children of Record Baptism Day".  I have the assignment to give a short talk on Baptism.  It occurred to me that it is fitting to have a Baptism today, the day after Independence Day.  Baptism truly makes one free. Some may look at Baptism and the Commandments as "restraints"  when really they are helps and guidelines that keep us safe from what's wrong and draw us closer to our Loving Father in Heaven.

Happy 20th to us!!! 1 July, 2008

Yesterday was a bit crazy.  True to my Tuesdays lately, I was at 2 different Doctor appointments---a foot one with Lila in Payson in the morning, a ScoutCamp physical with Peterman in north Provo in the afternoon.  I took the daf, and am now familiar with the back roads.  We have some pretty scenery in Utah county!     Lila's foot is on the mend, and keeping our fingers crossed and her foot off of the floor, she'll be healed enough to remove the boot forever in 3 weeks?  We'll keep praying!

On the way home from Peterman's physical I parked the car 2 blocks from home and jumped on the UTA northbound bus with my Honeypot of 20 years.  Peterman hoofed it home.  Jeff & I rode the bus to Sandy.  We got on  Trax, and a short time later we "landed" in downtown SLC @ the Gateway.  We had no idea how cool "the Gateway" is.  It's an outdoor mall.  Openair, flowering pots of purple petunias, creeping violet phlox, sweet potato vine, & white allisum are  everywhere...beautiful!!  The Gateway is two tiered.  Tucano's is upstairs.  We walked in and right there at the "sign-in" desk (what is the name of that--I'm sure it's more formal than that)  Bob Lonsberry was standing chatting.  After about 10 minutes they escorted us into the dining room.  I wish I would've had a bigger appetite.  I drank so much lemonade I could only go through the buffet once.  They kept coming around to offer more meat off of "swords".  The best is a sirloin garlic meat, and the bacon wrapped turkey.  Bob spoke after a while.  I could listen to him talk and tell tales for a long time...it's kinda like Garrison Keillor, very entertaining, but I agree with Bob's political commentaries, not so much with Garrison.

After dinner we had Bob sign the complimentary postcard.  He remembered it was our Anniversary from our conversation earlier.  We went outside and hiked over to the Trax stop.  We made a quick stop at the Hansen planetarium.  It's pretty cool!  The Trax got to Sandy in time for us to wait about an hour for the next Provo bus.  It was a pretty night!  We saw the sun set over the Jordan River Temple.  The bus ride home was full.  I was so tired.  We were the last ones off of the bus.  We jumped in the daf and hurried home.  The children made us a Happy 20th Cake.  It was about 11 p.m.  The sweethearts waited up for us....  Here's to 20+ more years!   :)