The Impossible

If you haven't had a chance to watch this movie yet, you really should.  I know it's just another disaster film, but yet, this one is real.  It's also a tear jerker and man...so many painful parts!!

I'm a fan of Ewan McGregor, and he does a great job in this.  I guess if you wanted to pick it apart you could tell it was a little lower budget film, but it's still amazing.  I think it does a much better job than that other film I did a review of, the Fifth Quarter.   

So anyway - if you want something that reminds you how wonderful and important your family is, how people can pull together in a crisis, this is a must see.

It reminds me how once again, we're stuck in a place where we can't help anyone.  We couldn't help with Haiti, we couldn't help with Katrina, the tornado in Oklahoma, sigh.  We pray for them, we support financially when we can, and we donate blood.  

Sometimes it just doesn't feel like enough.

It also makes me wonder what it's going to be like when it's us.  When the end is closer and we have some kind of disaster of our own.  Are we going to feel like we're living in a movie?

Only time will tell.

At least we got rain today!!  Much cooler temps so it's a bit nicer weather.  Have a good one.  Tell the ones in your family that you love them.

Looking for the Stillness

Well, I told you how we now have a house full of people.  We haven't been this full since like....2005?  Actually, I guess we've never been THIS full, but it makes life interesting.

It also makes it a necessity to find whatever spots of peace that we can.  To enjoy every bit of joy that we can find.  The other night, for example; my son-in-law was taking care of his daughter after a bath.  They were talking, he was reading her a story, and her little voice was so sweet.  Then mom (my daughter) came in, and they were all three of them a spot of peace in the chaos that had been the weekend.  It was a moment I wished I'd been able to get on video.  This is one of my favorite shots of them.

Sunday was my youngest daughter's bday.  Her sister's were two weeks before, but things being what they are, no one has had a proper celebration at the house.  So, Sunday was kind of a combination for the 2 of them.  I made three smaller cakes, one for each of the girls, in hopefully the flavor they wanted, lol, and then one big one for everyone else.

I hope the youngest doesn't feel like she was just thrown in with the crowd again...because I was worried about it.  I tried to make her cake the center and more decorated...sigh.  Our weekends are so crazy lately though, that I don't think she had very much fun.  I did make her waffles for breakfast, at least.  And she asked for lasagna for dinner which we did dutch oven style and seemed to turn out okay.  She liked it, so that's all that matters.  ;)

My little granddaughter is growing up so fast!  She seems to be like a sweet weed...just shooting up!  And so smart!  We were slightly worried that she wasn't talking much.  That is not a problem any more.  I think she has an amazing vocabulary.  She still will stay stuff that's a little gibberish sometimes, but usually it's pretty clear.  It was really sweet when my in-laws were over and she came and grabbed GG Dahl's hand and said "come play!"

We have been extremely blessed with moisture the past week and today.  It hasn't poured so much (except for Saturday, of course) but it's been sooo needed.  I am so Thankful!!!  Our lawn is past saving at this point, but at least we do have some green spots.  ;)

I can't believe that I'm coming up on only having a month left before going back to work!!!  ARGH.  The summer is never long enough.  I'm really wishing I could just stay home, I have so much that I want to do!  But, the need is still pretty high for me to work, so I am thankful that at least I can work part time, and it's a great job.  And the ladies I work with are awesome.  So, if you got to work, it's not bad...lol

Anyway - off to try and get something accomplished for the day, since the house is VERY quiet today...odd...Hope you have a great day!

Weren't we supposed to be empty nesters by now???

Okay -  I have to admit, I've looked forward to the time when it would just be my hubby and me in the house.  (well, okay, we knew we'd probably have Randy for the rest of our lives, but he doesn't make much noise and we don't have to do much for him...lol)  We have a couple of dogs we'd have to walk, cats to feed, a garden to take care of, a yard that's too big, and the house to maintain.  That's plenty, don't you think??

But the kids just won't go!!  First, our second twin moves out and then back and then out, has child, gets married and is now back. in. our. house.  With hubby and baby, thank heavens, and two dogs...  sigh.  But, really?  and two turtles and three two fish...

Second, oldest twin, moves out, gets kicked out of that apartment, then another one, and ends up moving home.  with dog.  Look like a pattern yet?

Oldest son joins the Army, leaves home for boot camp and training.  Comes home, never finds a job...moves out with friends.  Gets married, moves back home, we kick him and wife out...  don't see them for two years, and now he's back with the second twin, as he'd been living with them....at least he didn't bring any animals.

Youngest daughter has yet to leave home....at least she's going to school full time and working full time...;)  and doesn't own any pets outside the cats that roam the yard...

Second oldest son goes on mission and comes home and takes forever to find a job, I'm not sure if he's really going to be going to school in the fall, but he's still here....no animals either, lol.

Youngest two are just here.  The very youngest is going to be a senior!!  sigh.  So, there is a chance he'll be out of the house in a year or so.  Maybe he'll take a cat with him.

Anyway, what I'm saying is that in the past week we went from a household of 7 to a household of 11!!!  ARGH.  Okay...I'm calm.

We spent our holiday weekend cleaning out rooms to make space for everyone.  We have now shifted our workout area to the old workshop, which is going to be handy.  There was just a lot of stuff in there that we still need to take care of...lots of visits to the dump.  Hubby didn't get much rest, and he's trying to get a paper rewritten for school.  Nothing trivial...

So, hope you had a great 4th.  The day itself was pretty good, nice bbq and fireworks!!  My favorite thing about this week??  RAIN!!  we've had rain almost every day (or night...)  it's been wonderful.

Hope you had a great one!!

it's a crazy world

wow.  I tell ya, life is totally insane.  I was reading an insert for the cover of an album of Simon and Garfunkel...(please tell me you've heard of them) and how they were a calming soundtrack to the troubled times of the 60's and early 70's.

Troubled times???  Okay, so I guess I was young, but I remember growing up in the 60's and 70's.  I grew up with Abba and rock and roll, back when it was recent, not golden oldies.  I remember wanting Nixon to be re-elected...and being heart broken when he messed up and resigned...  I remember Carter and the people lining up for gas.  I wasn't driving, so it didn't mean as much to me as others, but I remember it.  I also remember gas being .60 a gallon...but that's beside the point.

I'm sure there were many that experienced more of the troublesome times.  I know there was a lot going on with Vietnam and all that.

But I want to point out today.  I think today's youth have much more to deal with than I did.  I remember when my husband and I were engaged and we were commenting on something to my mom, and she said she had the same challenges when she was getting married.  Everyone has the same challenges, it's just a different generation.

Well, I hate to disagree with her (especially since she's passed on and can't rebut my statements, lol) but I think there is a definite challenge that the youth of today face.  It's much more than I ever dreamed of.  There is SO much more for them to process, for them to do, for them to decide on, than I ever thought would happen.

I mean, there was no such things as computers, cell phones, video games, etc.  We played games outside.  We had video arcades, but I never went there.  We had TV, and we watched cartoons on Saturday morning, and then American Bandstand when they ended with Dick Clark.  Porn was something we heard about existing, but it wasn't constantly in the face.  I don't remember ever seeing a commercial for tampons on the TV, or women's underwear.  Most bathing suits were one piece, the bikini was something that only the skinny girls and those who weren't LDS wore.  (oh well)  Movies would be in theaters for months at a time, and it was an event to go to them, not something that we did every week.  I remember watching the Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday.

Today's world is a whole different animal.  Not only are the youth of today thrust into the reality of porn every time they turn around, but they have access to the world at their fingertips.  The chaos that is our world of today is every day a new storm, devastation, war, killing, drowning, natural disaster, etc.  It makes me sad.

I have begun to pray for the return of our Lord and Savior.  I don't want my grandchildren to be raised in this world.  It's bad enough my own children have to struggle so hard.  I can't even imagine what it's going to be like in 10 to 15 years.

It's a blessing that at least we have the gospel and hope for a better future...

Keep smiling and keep your home strong.  Take care.

Okay - copy cats bug me...

Just had to get that off my chest.  I'm talking about movies, actually.  And, not really copy-cats, but people who try to cash in on something, just because they think it will make them big bucks.

Ever hear of the movie 5th Quarter?  Well, if you did, you were probably one of the few.  sigh.  I had heard of it and saw it for sale at Blockbusters going out of business sale, so I grabbed it.  We watched it the other night for FHE activity, and while the beginning was really good, it went downhill from there.  It was emotional, and you couldn't help but cry your eyes out, but the characters were lame after the initial shock.  And it had sooo much promise!!  It could have been great.

Part of it was the acting.  The oldest son was pretty much the focus, and he just wasn't believable.  Andie MacDowell was wonderful, as usual, and the dad...well, he was very emotional but it wore you out to the point you wanted to slap him in the middle.  The way he acted it seemed as if he was handicapped in some way, and it made me wonder if the real father was.  But anyway ---  lame.  I felt like they had made it to try and capitalize on the whole football tragedy thing.   And it ended kind of lame too.  So...hopefully if you were planning on watching it you won't toss it out the window.  Just know that it's not going to be Blindside.

Nuf said.  ;)

I'm done ranting for now.

California Dreaming...

Well...we went, we basked, we visited, we drove (forever) and we're back.  Sigh.  Like I've told the people we ran into out there....I love the ocean and it's the only thing I miss about living in California.  I would never live there again.  I guess I could be tempted though...lol

We split the trip down into two parts, stopping in St. George so David could give grandma the report...  and then we headed to California.  It was gorgeous weather the whole time we were there!  I couldn't believe it.  We didn't even have fog!  Getting down to St. George was ugly...and our daughters ended up spending Saturday  night in a hotel, but the rest of the drive was great.  The condos at Oceanside are great, but I wouldn't recommend the 3 room one...it's too close to the railroad tracks, and I swear they run every 20 minutes...till like 1 am, and then start up again at 5.  We heard those things every night...UGH.

The last day we were there was the cloudiest of them all...this was taken from our balcony on Sunday.  The sunbursts were sooo cool.  My camera just doesn't do it justice.

We tried to get David to show us his mission.  He finally took us to an area south...and it had a really cool beach.  There was a little park on the way to the beach and the walk way had shells in it, and the little staging area had decorative steps.  It was way cool.  There was a lifeguard station just off to the right of this photo, and it was cool.  It had lanterns along a short wall that we would love to put in our back yard.

We went to Dana point another day and saw a couple of tall ships that were docked there.  The gift shop was fun and we picked up some fun items for granddaughters....;)  But what was fun was our last day, Sunday, the same tall ship was headed into the harbor at Oceanside!

When we realized where it was going, we went to the dock area to get a closer look.  It was way fun, and Don really liked it.

We got to visit with a couple of different families.  One great family fed us dinner and we felt like we'd gained treasured friends!

We told them to be sure and look us up the next time they came to Utah.  ;)

We also visited the San Diego Temple...how can you not when you're so close???  This building always looks so unreal...so fantasy to me.

here's the group in front of it.  We actually had one taken just below the spires, but we were in shadow and you can't see us.  ..lol

I just love this photo of Guy...he's so good lookin!

Kristie and Clarissa had fun messing around together.

Oceanside dock was fun...there were two pelicans that were nice if you left them alone.  One shop on the dock that sold bait and stuff had a sign that said they bite stupid people, lol.

This is David looking like a rugged sailor...
All in all, it was a great trip.  Over too fast because we were going the whole time.  we went to Knottsberry farm, (I'm probably not spelling it right...and I'm too lazy to go google it, sorry) and that was fun.  We went mainly because it was cheaper than Disneyland, and it's theme is Peanuts, which is Guys FAVORITE thing...

Here's the group in front of one of the windows.  We stayed till the park closed.  I thought I took more pictures, since we took the camera inside, but I guess not.  I also look like I'm mad at someone...so go figure.  ;)  We had a great time feeding the chickens and roosters in the picnic area.  The kids thought it was funny that there were chickens instead of pigeons and seaguls.

Anyway...so  now we're back and it's still winter... lol   Of course it is.  Brrrrr....

Morning Frost

Okay...when we talk about inversion and the fog associated (okay, more smog, but I don't like that word..lol) there is generally a frost that happens on the plants as a result.  This past January, that didn't happen.

This morning, this is what was outside my windows!

now that's more like it!!  Fortunately, the sun is actually coming out and all of it will melt away, but for now, it's been nice.  Have a great day!

Are you Sure it's not Christmas?

This weather just makes me feel like it's December!!  I drive down the road and think, really?  It's not Christmas around the corner?

Well...it's not.  Christmas is long over and gone, but it sure feels like it's still here.  I'm loving it!!  I guess there are loads who are tired of the white stuff, but we're still way behind on our water levels, so I'm hoping we get more!

My son who just got back from his mission is loving it...at least I think he was...perhaps before he ended up shoveling almost every day since he got back??  lol  He loves it.

Here's to winter!!

And aren't the icicles amazing??  that's what freezing rain does on top of snow.... lol

Snow

I just had to write this down today....I LOVE snow.  I know most people would think I'm crazy, but I can't help it.  I think it's so beautiful the way it sparkles in the sunlight!  We've had smoggy days the past two weeks or so.  They call it an 'inversion'.  It's a nice way of saying we get smog in the winter.  It traps the heat above and the cold below, which makes us actually colder than the ski resorts...which everyone things is crazy.

But, anyway...that makes snow crystals that fall lazily down and it's just amazing.  This morning I looked at the snow outside, and usually snow compacts and becomes almost a solid mass.  Right now it's still powder. I had to take a picture of it and show you how gorgeous.

I even got it where you could see the individual flakes!!  I love my camera...but I think a bigger zoom would be nice.  ;)

Anyway - hope you have a marvelous day.  We're off to get my sons arm/wrist set from him getting it broken on Friday.  Should be interesting.

Tomorrow David comes home though!!!  My missionary will be home in less than 48 hours!!!  YEAH!!  you can't tell we're excited or anything...  ;)

Snow Day!!

I was watching my hubby and son snow plow and shovel the driveway this morning thinking, man, don't we ever get snow days???  I mean, I hear of them in Idaho and Washington and stuff...but we never seem to get them.  Well, after they finished (and the snow plow came by of course and buried the driveway again) the district called and said SNOW DAY!!!  YAHOO!!  So... day of relaxation and fun for me, I tell ya!  lol  ;)
Enjoy!

I know we will sure try!

Happy New Year!!

Well...I realized the other day that I hadn't posted in a while.  I'm afraid that I've not really got an excuse for it, but there ya go.  I just let life go, and it got in the way.

I hope you had a great New Years Eve.  We had fun, freezing our buts at the neighbors house and watching the fireworks....munching on snacks with the kids and then watching the Rose Parade the next day...which is always my favorite.  This years was a bit odd, but still fun.

So...I hope that all you could want to have happen does so in the coming year.

It's all up to you anyway - so go get it.  ;)