Visits from Mother

We were thrilled to have Mom and Joe come and visit us a few weeks back.  With parents who travel as much as these two, it is defiantly a treat to have their paths take them to us.  And we LOVED having them.

We did so much in just a few days, it just didn't seem like there was enough time for everything.  We spent most of our time in Midway, just relaxing and playing a new card game called Hand Foot.  The weather was fantastic so we enjoyed the local sights and breathtaking scenery.

We also were gifted with some seats to the Jazz game. I don't think Joe could have been more thrilled with the unexpected phone call that came in with the offer.  Being quite the Basketball fan, he didn't care that the team wasn't very great overall - it was the arena of sportsmanship that was fantastic.  Being Cameron's first live game, we feel he did pretty well.  He hasn't been much for loud cheering and clapping, but within a few moments he was content just sitting on our laps eating popcorn.

Midway also hosts the Ice Castles which have become quite popular around the area.  We enjoyed a short visit there.  I was surprised at how big they were, and how much they were melting above us.  We were quite wet by the time we left from all the dripping icicles above us.  But they were really quite fantastic to witness. 

 On our last day together, we were able to go and see the BYU Orchestra with my Uncle Mose and Aunt Gloria and a few distant cousins living in the area.  We enjoyed a delightful meal in the Skyroom at BYU and then a musical feast by the orchestra. The first number was quite surprising; a student composition that was hard to understand, but the rest of the pieces were just remarkable as expected.

It was a delightful few days with mom and I can not wait until we get to have her with us again.  Hopefully sooner rather than later!

An afternoon in the City

After being cooped up in our house for days on end, we decided to make a spontaneous trip up to Salt Lake to visit a few free museums that the church has there.  Going in the middle of the week, during the morning business hours made for awesome traffic, awesome parking, and no crowds.  We decided to go and see the Church History Museum; being the history buff that I am, and found it quite enjoyable.

I LOVED seeing all the pioneer memorabilia and the first edition of the Book of Mormon. Very cool. Whenever I read stories from the journals of those early saints I think, my journal must be incredibly dull and boring.  Those pioneers note so well the circumstances, their feelings, and the day to day life that they lead.  My journal---doesn't.  I suppose some improvement is needed there.

We spent probably the most time up on the second floor in the children's "Book of Mormon" area where Cameron could play with all sorts of things.  He especially liked the puppet chickens and the eggs underneath.  Such curiosity.

We had a short lunch at the new City Creek Center (super nice) where Cameron had his first ever Happy Meal.  And he ate only the fries.  What a wasted 5 bucks. What a happy day outing with my family, especially since they seem to happen less and less these days.

Cake Decorations

There are so many things that my Mother did in my youth, I could not begin to describe how wonderfully busy she was in taking care of her family.  She specialized, quite unknowing I might add, in creating traditions and memories that I now want to develop and share with my own family.  One of these traditions was birthdays.  She was so good at celebrating all holidays, but on birthday's specifically, she would decorate a cake of our choosing.  I remember the few weeks before, she would pull out her stack of Cake Decorating magazines and let us thumb through the pages to find the one that we wanted made.  Then she would somehow make it exactly as the picture showed.  Sometimes even making her own cake pans with tin foil and cardboard to get just the right shape.

Fast forward to present day.  I now have the desire to decorate cakes.  I just like to do it.  Pinterest has a gazillion cupcake ideas that I just can't wait to try.  And the decorative table-scape and such...I digress.  But the cakes is where I am starting now.  Mark gifted me with a large set of tips and piping bags for Christmas, so I really feel like I am off to the races! My first order of business, (besides my son's birthday cake) my Father-In-Law's birthday bash several weeks back.  Thanks to the great teacher-at-your-fingertips YouTube, I tried out an hombre something effect that turned out pretty cute.  Granted, the frosting didn't take the food coloring like I wanted, so it's a little amateurish, but I was really quite proud.

Father seemed really exited about it too.  Mark says he hasn't had a birthday cake for him in over 20 years.  So - kudos to me for trying to make him something special.  And he has thanked me for it a few times over; which has added to my confidence in making it and my pride in doing something nice for a man that I love.

February What?

Where has the time gone! I tell you, things have been moving at JET speed here in our neck of the woods.  There are SO MANY things that are hitting the pavement all at the same time; it is getting rough to keep up with them all, and get photos taken so that I can feel good about where my blog is.  Good news is, I do have some pictures and will post those up this month. (Including but not limited to: visit from Mom and Joe, quilting days, and Cameron updates)

There are several other things that are "in the mix" stage and aren't totally ready to be spread just yet. But they are coming and they are WILD. (including but not limited to: house hunting & moving, a Non-Profit Org., doctor visits, & Disney)

Stay tuned, knowing we are well and I haven't shirked my blog just yet.