This is the place.

 I know Brigham Young stated those prophetic words over 100 years ago but they are ever so applicable to me. Every time the plane lands in the Salt Lake airport I feel like putting my stick on the cement (if I carried a stick, more like a diaper bag) and yelling, "This is the place."  It's a little embarrassing how much I love to be home. This trip was no exception. We only had a few days and spent some in Heber in family lock down mode and I loved every second.

We did a lot of "just chillin" (in the words of my brother Jeff).

Thanks to Mary Kay, Taylor will be entering the MTC with satin lips.

Games and desserts (plural intended on both) were a delight and we learned some interesting unforgettable tidbits while playing loaded questions that I will not disclose here.

The grandparents came to join the sleepover and Liv was in heaven with the swingset in the back yard.

They say you gain at least 5 pounds on a cruise. I have found that fact to also be true when I go home.

(Cole looks very exasperated and bored here but you would probably make the same face if you were the only male in a glob of girl cousins)

There was constant cousin play although they are too young to play at all. Mostly they just squawked at each other if someone took something they wanted.

Liv was in pure paradise. She slept an extra hour longer than usual because she would be so exhausted at the end of every day from the constant playing and fun.  Disneyland would have paled in comparison to her experience.  She fed chickens, pet the pony, went on walks, pretended with Grandma, chased the cats, helped Tay feed massive fish and albino frogs, and had an avalanche of attention everywhere she went.

 We had girl craft time and B came down from SLC which is always a delightful treat. I miss being around these women. I need them to be my neighbors for the rest of my life. I feel a way deeper connection to each of them than just the same family tree branch. 

 I just wish I could have cool double vision like Eevie.  This picture is one of my faves.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Family is everything.

Farewell Elder Savio...

Sometimes I get blog bogged. That is a condition in which I feel obligated to put things in chronological order in which they have occurred with catchy captions and pleasing pictures etc. and have so many things to update that I feel I can't blog anything until I blog what happened prior and then feel too overwhelmed to blog anything at all. To avoid that, I am going to free myself from blogging pressure (which is self induced considering the only people that read this is my own mother and sisters) and simply give a few highlights.  One of highlights of the month was my brother Taylor's farewell.  He will be in Dallas Texas in less than two weeks and as cliche as it sounds, I am so proud of him.

 Tay took me to an all you can eat sushi lunch and I was in digestive heaven. There is no food I love more than good sushi so to have an unlimited amount took my sushi love to a new level. It was so fun to sit and talk and feast although the flying fish eggs on one of the rolls was a little too much...

 Taylor is one of the most interesting combinations of qualities and quirks that I have seen. Taylor is a people magnet and a natural leader. Taylor knows the breeding patterns and facts of every reptile created. Taylor bought these overalls at a garage sale and loves good deals. Taylor can eat more than anyone I know. Taylor owned an alligator for a pet.

 Taylor loves to read and if you mention any random fact, talking to Tay is like typing in a key word to google and he always knows something about what you are discussing. Taylor loves to have fun. Taylor loves to be with people. Taylor once had a tooth of a snake embedded in his knuckle.

 Taylor is spontaneous and likes to create memories wherever he goes and whoever he is with. Taylor and I once drove to 5 different gas stations because I was craving a krispy kreme. Taylor is a leader. Taylor is a wrestler. Taylor loves pecan pie.

 

Dallas Texas has no idea what an impact this 220 lb reptile guru, people loving, ginger Elder has to offer. I am so excited for him and proud that he where he needs and wants to be.

 It is most definitely our family's loss and Dallas' gain. I love my brother Taylor.

Vlasic classic...

Liv has a new obsession and it's called pickles. She goes wild for pickles. She would pick a pickle over a doughnut or ice cream any day.  One lunch she ate 4 whole pickles. It it wasn't so revolting I would describe her diaper the following day.  Let's just say I smelled pickles a room away.  We finally decided had to get her a massive jar from Sam's club because it was more economical to keep up with her pickle craze.

Sometimes I try to make her wait which is hard when you love pickles like she does.  Some people find comfort in squeezing their stuffed teddy bear, Liv gets the same peace from holding her jar of pickles.

I asked her if she loved pickles and instead of answering, she just kissed the bottle. 

I realize this is not normal. I am hoping the pickle phase passes quickly.

Amigos...

I have been thinking a lot about friends lately. You can't pick who you are related to. Luckily, I have some pretty sweet branches on my tree. No matter what you do though, peeps in your family are morally obligated to care or they look like  a jerk. No one wants to look like a jerk. The concept of someone caring about and wanting to connect with you simply because they want to is one of life's greatest features.  Seriously. I really feel like having true friends is what makes life have color, fun, and joy, otherwise it just feels like a moldy cardboard box of obligations and responsibilities.  I have been thinking about how being a good friend is a gift that some people have.  Some people can play the harmonica, some people are amazing cooks, and some people know how to be an amazing friend. They know when to call and how to listen and how to make you laugh. You feel like you don't have to put on mascara or be anything but yourself around them and they would do anything for you.  You don' t need to talk to them every single day, you just know that they are there, somewhere in the universe and that if you did need them, they would be there in a second.

Yesterday it snowed. Avalanched actually all over the city.  I was stressed because I had to try to get everyone packed (because we are going to Utah, aka the promised land), make some freezer meals, clean the house etc. Kim texted wondering if she could come over since I had asked her to trim my bangs (Why donate to unfantastic Sams when your friend is a professional?).  Lugging the girls into the freezing cold only to have them both melt down in the produce into balls of tantruming crying saggy diaper cart sitters was less than appealing. Kim acted like it was a delight to get my texted grocery list and showed up with a hot chocolate from Starbucks and held Grace so I could get things done.  Jandi dropped off a bag of plane treats and distractions for the girls that wins a blue ribbon for thoughtful.  I just realized from the examples of so many that I have a long way to go and need to make BEING a good friend a habit and practice in my life because it makes such a difference.

 The greatest thing about friends is that they don't expire (unlike the buttermilk I just found in my fridge that expired in October of 2012, I will spare you the details and the smell) and just because you don't see true friends you've made, doesn't make them evaporate.

There is nothing that fills the soul like re connecting with friends that you don't get to see on a day to day basis but are stored in the social archives of your deepest guts for forever.

 It doesn't matter where you find them, your ward, college dorms, mission, the awkward abyss of jr. high, or your local neighborhood. I feel like friends are gifts and none are ever the same and each one leaves you different.

 I can't say the number of times that I have been blessed because of true friends. I have realized that just like playing the tuba, or tennis, or any talent, I need to practice being the kind of friend that I have been blessed with and need every day in my own life.

Seriously, I feel like I should send an apology card to every friend I have because I am horrible at answering my phone and fail miserably at calling people back, I depend on facebook to alert me when its someones birthday and I still haven't sent out my wedding thank you cards from 3 years ago.  I want to work on it. Badly. Everyone needs true friends. Everyone. I know I need oxygen, food and water to stay alive, but I need friends to add life to my living.

Family Night...

 Some commandments are obvious (don't smoke or kill people).  Some commandments are necessary (go to church, fasting, be kind).  Then there are some commandments that are fun and having family home evening is one of my all time favorite commandments.  Family night is something that happens once a week on Monday nights where the family is supposed to spend time together and you have a lesson, activities, treats etc. Yesterday, Gar gave us a stellar lesson on faith.

Liv was an excellent song leader last night and takes her job very seriously. She leads along with the chorister on Sundays and has quite a repertoire of songs she can sing now.  She also started praying this week and refuses to copy anything we say.  The most frequently prayed for items are airplanes, titty tats, Baby Gace, and the park.  

 Grace's family night job was to not cry. She did her job which was appreciated  by  everyone.

I was on refreshment and activity so we had peach milkshakes..

Liv is always willing to help, and made some excellent "Handspun" milkshakes. 

For our activity I decided we should learn how to read palms and we found out that Gar is going to have a long and fulfilling marriage and that I lose attention quickly and and am selfish in my relationships. I would like to emphasize that after finding out what palms mean, I no longer believe them but if you want your palm read, there are now two qualified readers in Aurora if you would like to schedule your appointment.  

Guest Visitors...

 Monday morn we had two guest visitors that are rare appearances in our house and if we had a red carpet, we would have rolled it out....

Grandpa and Uncle Paul came to visit and the girls loved it.  Liv did her dog and pony show and gave them her stuffed monkey and sheep which means they ranked pretty high.  When Liv first meets people or doesn't like them, she socially shrivels like a sea anemone that has been closed tight. It's like she instantly becomes mute.  If she feels comfortable she turns into a one man band and does all her dog tricks that we practice (singing, her circle dance, reciting ABC's etc).  If she's testing out the waters and wants you to know that you are accepted on her territory she will quietly get her toys and bring them to you, the more loved toy she offers, the deeper the camaraderie she feels.   Paul beat Grandpa on the wii game and they couldn't stay all day but it was a rare occasion indeed that we loved to have them here. 

All done.

It's funny to see what phrases Liv picks up on based on what she hears from me, Curious George, and Sesame Street. Without consciously teaching her words, it is interesting to hear phrases said in a 23 month old voice that I say.  For example, after taking a bite of macaroni and cheese one day Liv put down her spoon, closed her eyes and said, "Mmmmm. Soooooo good." I thought that was a little over the top until I realized that when I really like food I make a big deal and say, "Sooo good," just like she did. She also says, "Don't do that," quite clearly when I tried to change her diaper.  The most frequent phrase is, "All done," when she wants to end something.  Usually she says it when it's time to tame the rats nest, or when its time for bed.

You know when she is sick of something because she suddenly says quite loudly and very clear, "All Done".  Sunday sacrament meeting felt a little longer than usual and we had already colored, lost the plastic zebra behind the bench, and exhausted our diaper bag resources.  Suddenly she stood on the bench and said loud and clear, "All done Jesus!"  I tried to tell her that we really shouldn't be done with Jesus but I don't think it meant anything because she was in the zone of "all done."  It is hard to compete though when she knew that nursery was next with bubbles and puzzles. Sometimes I wish there was adult nursery for times when you feel, "all done."

Bathroom mats and Liv's pet rat nest.

 Liv hates to have her hair brushed. I can't imagine why (typed in sarcastic font). I know you feel like you should call Division of Family Services and report us for never bathing her, but before you pick up the phone, let it be known that she has a nightly bath and her hair is washed frequently.  I don't know if she has dread lock genes or what is wrong with her hair consistency but every morning I understand why people use the term, "rat's nest."  It's like pure fluff that that would be a perfect habitat for a small animal.  Thus, we go through more detangler like bath water.  While we're on the topic of hair brushing and bathrooms, I have two bathroom mats that I am really wanting to get for a guest bathroom someday.  I can't decide which one would be better:

 
I will probably just have to get them both. Wouldn't you want to come to our guest bathroom someday? It makes the ones we have now look so boring.