Spring Break and Wildlife Refuge

So the past week Jake was away for Spring Break with his buddies. There I was, a mom alone, left to her own devices. Hmmmm…. So I thought maybe I would play music really loud…. I could walk through the house wearing only a towel…. Boy, the possibilities were endless. But what I really enjoyed was the quiet… the simple quiet of it all.

I was sitting on the couch late one night polishing some jewelry, and I heard this strange noise. It was kind of a scratching sound. I stopped, listened some more….and nothing. Hmmm, must be Scooter lying under the magazine rack scratching himself. And once the foul odor of dog gastro-intestinal distress reached my nose, I was fairly confident the scratching sound was Scooter. The week went on rather uneventful, occasional noises, frequent dog smells.

Jake arrived back home on Sunday evening. He was drawn downstairs to slay monsters and kill enemy soldiers ~ ahh the world of online gaming. As he was sitting down there with his AK57, he heard a noise coming from the fireplace insert. He sprinted up the stairs and said “Ummmm mom, I think there is something in the fireplace downstairs.” We went down together and banged on the top of the stove. The next thing I knew I was hearing this:

Muskrat Susie, Muskrat Sam
Do the jitterbug out in muskrat land
And they shimmy
And Sammy's so skinny

Nibbling on bacon, chewin' on cheese
Sammy says to Susie "Honey, would you please be my missus?"
And she say yes
With her kisses


And now he's ticklin' her fancy
Rubbin' her toes
Muzzle to muzzle, now anything goes
As they wriggle, and Sue starts to giggle


And the next thing I heard was that cooing and chirping sound…. Okay…so that is what I heard coming out of my fireplace - The Captain and Tennille . I think Susie and Sammy already did the raccoon love dance and I have their love children nesting in my fireplace.

Great…a momma and her babies in the fireplace. Raccoons can be fierce – seriously fierce. I looked up homeopathic ways to deal with varmints and I am leaning toward letting them grow up in a loving warm environment until they are 10 weeks old. At which time the momma and youngsters will leave the nest for bigger adventures. I think that is my solution of choice, given the sticker shock alternative of the “Critter Gitter.” Good Lord, $1,200 to $2,000 to get them out of there and do you think they really “relocate” them??? I think not. I can’t be responsible for Susie and Sammy’s love children’s demise. I just can’t do it.

So, welcome to the Poulson Wildlife Refuge. Tours are conducted daily 5 am- 12:01 am.

Year One

Every time I look at Kayla I think she is an old soul, kind of like she has been here for a while and is pretty skeptical about it all. Last night was her first birthday celebration. It was met with a little bit of apprehension. Witness the look in the eyes - - There she is all safe in mommy's lap...what is this birthday stuff?

Then what is up with all the presents? Wait, I think I am supposed to be opening these.... Thanks everyone for your support, but I think I can take it from here....

I wonder what this one is......

Prada maybe?

Uh... nope - Radio Flyer - - even better!

And what about that birthday cake thing? I don't know what all the fuss is about.... What?!?! Seriously, I get in my highchair every day, sometimes even twice a day....

Okay - here it comes.... Wow, the cake.... Can I be more underwhelmed? Alright, alright.... I will stick my finger in it .. there - are you happy?

Well, alrighty then .. not too shabby.....

Maybe just another couple of bites....

This is just pretty darn yummy... and much easier to eat when you use your entire fist....

What?!? What are you looking at???

Okay, seriously....NO ONE told me that this ewwiee gooey yummy bit of madness was going to go right straight to my hips....

Love you little Miss Kayla!!!!

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Birthdays and Parties

Do you ever feel sometimes like you just wish everyone would forget that it is your birthday? Like it is just another day? Well... I have. But I also know that I would feel yucky if the people who love me didn't celebrate it either...Geesh what a woman huh?

Mom and Daddy came down for the weekend and for my birthday we headed to J'Amy & Eric's. Maycie kept following me around with a birthday balloon that she was pretty insistent should be attached to my body at all times.

Happy Birthday Grandma!



Kayla was just pretty sober most of the night



With intermittent smiles, and pouts.


























This was the scene in the kitchen. Kirk with the asparagus, Mom making sure everything was going as planned.



J'Amy and Grandma.... pretty ladies!



Ashley and Drayton


Maycie helping Grandma open presents...



Maycie helping Grandma read cards...



Maycie helping Grandma eat her birthday cake....



It was a perfect birthday - a happy day... although the candles on the cake were arranged in a "4" and "0".... ya right that is it... my 7th anniversary of my 40th birthday :)




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The Blurrrrrr of Time

So, as I continue to think about where the heck time has gone....here is some of the pictorial evidence which proves my theory that my grip on time is slipping.

This is J'Amy getting ready to leave for a high school dance.

This is J'Amy with her family this Christmas...yes...two babies later....

I remember rocking J'Amy just like this...now it is me rocking my granddaughter Kayla... see the evidence of time slipping away?

I remember Ashley like this...an awkward teenager in braces....

Now she is a beautiful woman, happy and engaged to a great guy...

Yes, my grip on time is slipping right between my fingers.. Oh wait, those are J'Amy's fingers with the bling her darling hubby gave her for Christmas

It's all just a blurrrr....

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Christmas Eve

It is Christmas Eve here at the humble hacienda.




The list reads something like this:
1. Presents Wrapped - check
2. Prime Rib Roast ready - check
3. Lists made - check
4. Last minute stocking stuffers - not checked
5. Last minute jewelry items - not checked

(Yes, Maggie's Christmas necklace DOES say "I Believe"

6. Cup of coffee - check
7. Ding Dongs - check

So it will be a white Christmas here in Bountiful. This is the scene in the backyard:





In my Christmas mailer this year I wrote "My grown up Christmas wish is that each of us live in gratitude." I hope you will take time to reflect on your life and be grateful for all the blessings God has given you.

Merry Christmas!


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Pretty is as Pretty Does

After visiting Thailand for a few weeks and seeing all the poverty, disparity, and challenging living conditions, I came back home with a renewed sense of gratitude. I am grateful for the simpler things in life that I have always taken for granted. I am grateful for the fact that if I want a box of Ding Dongs, I can go buy them. Further, I am grateful that I have a car to jump in so that I can go and buy my Ding Dongs. I am grateful that I can put half and half in my coffee. All that important stuff aside, I am grateful for my children.





I am grateful for my two beautiful daughters and the joy and happiness their sheer existence brings me. My mom always drilled the adage “Pretty is as Pretty does”. Both my daughters have an inner beauty that makes this mama proud. I am grateful for you two!!

Rush of the Season

This was the night sky last night. Can you believe how stunning? I saw this tree completely backlit by the setting sun. I stood and looked at how gorgeous it was and remembered that my camera was in my purse. The definition of the tree is perfect, and as the branches extend they almost look ferny. In the rush, rush, rush of the season, it was nice to stop for a moment and see the beauty of a silhouetted winter tree. Take a moment, if even just a moment, to appreciate the beauty of the life around us.

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