Memorial Day

Our family has a tradition of visiting 3 grave sites during the memorial day weekend. We visit Grandpa and Grandma Carter in the cemetery in Buhl Idaho first. The grave looked well kept but for the first time, there weren't any flowers on the grave when we arrived. Ok, maybe it wasn't the first time but it seemed odd to me. So, we cleaned out the holes where flowers are usually placed, filled it with water and placed our flowers that we brought from home.

After discussing who Grandma and Grandpa Carter were, we went Asparagus hunting. This has always been my favorite part of Memorial Day but this year we were a little worried that we wouldn't find anything because of the late arrival of spring. So, we drove at 5 miles an hour around the back roads of Buhl Idaho in search of the mother load. The first mile we were able to harvest 2 asparaguses (asparagui?). I thought for sure the kids would be board at the slim pickings, but to my surprise, they loved it and wanted to do more. Three or four more miles went by with the same amount of success. By the end of mile 5 we only had about 10 asparagi. The kids wanted to continue to hunt, Deanna and I were ready to go back to Twin. So, I turned the next mile corner to return to the main road when we hit the jackpot. Within a quarter of a mile we picked up 40 asparaguses. The kids were thrilled and wanted to asparagus hunt the rest of the day. Well, we didn't have that kind of time, nor gas mileage so we headed for Twin.

Back in Twin, we visited Grandma Marian's grave back in Twin Falls and then stopped by my Sister's baby's grave. We stopped and talked at each grave, we planted the flowers we brought and enjoyed the casual afternoon with sprinkles of rain. We had a great day visiting these sites and remembering those that came before us. I'm very thankful we have memorial day to make those memories last.

Staycation

I was listening to the radio this morning and the news anchor talked about the fact that a lot of people will not be taking a vacation this year because of gas prices and food prices. She said that many families are going to take a Stay Cation this year. Which basically means that they will be staying home. She said that people are going to spend their money on purchasing a new grill or patio furniture so they can vacation at home.

As I thought about this, I decided to bring up the idea with Deanna. Lets have a Staycation this year. We could stay at home and every day we could go do something fun and exciting that is right here in Southern Idaho. Some places and things we could do on our staycation are Bowling, Swimming, Rollerskating, Balanced Rock, Bruneau Sand Dunes, Golf and Tennis. Anyway, Deanna thought it might be a good idea so we will have to schedule the week and then plan an activity for each day. Another fantastic benefit is that we will be home every night sleeping in our own beds.

I'll let you know how it goes, if we actually do it.

Stimulus Package

What are you going to do with the money you get from the "Stimulus Package"?

I know that the government wants me to go and buy a bunch of junk from the stores to help stimulate the economy but for me, I want to do something really really boring with our money. I want to pay off debt. I know, it is not glamorous, it is not exciting, it isn't even interesting and I am probably turning off a plethora of readers by even mentioning it.

We have a couple of other options. We have talked about maybe using it for a family vacation. Maybe using it for a remodel of the bathroom that somehow didn't get finished. Or, just tuck it away for a rainy day and when the fuel prices are lower and take a long drive across the USA to visit some Church Historical sites.

Well, I'm not sure what we will do yet but that money is burning a hole in our checking account and we need to decide what we are going to do with it before we spend it all on Twinkies and Ding Dongs.

Appreciate your leaders

Tonight we had a Senior Recognition Dinner for the graduating seniors in our ward. The Laurals agreed to do the dinner and the Priests were to put on the show and setup and take down. Well, the dinner was the hard part. Two of the Laural Advisers went to the church at 4:00pm today to setup for the dinner at 7:00pm. The dinner was amazingly delicious. The tables were set, there were center pieces on each table, it looked wonderful. They worked so hard to put it together and to make it special. I, of course, did my part and the night was a success. I mentioned several times to the whole group of how much time and energy went into doing the dinner and the tables and decorations. The leaders really did a great job.

I am particularly sensitive to this issue of appreciating your leaders because about a month ago I learned what it felt like to not be appreciated at all. Here is the story.

There was an Eagle Court of Honor coming up where two of our Young Men were going to receive their Eagle Scout Rank. The day of the event I realized the no one had planned anything for this historic event except to have a speaker and awards. As I thought about the Court of Honor I realized that I needed to do something to make it more memorable. So, I went over to the church an hour and a half early. I took two tents, all of my dutch ovens, fishing pole, shovel, axe, lantern and any other camp gadget or camp gear I had in the garage. I created a mini campsite in the middle of the gym to set the mood for the Eagle Court of Honor. It took a lot of work but when I was done it really looked cool.

Everyone filed into the gym, we had the court of honor and everyone left. No one helped clean up, no one asked who had set the gym up so nice, no one even noticed. I picked up all of my stuff by myself and took it back home.

I now make sure and thank those leaders that have put in time and effort to make these events special.

Can't live without

My sister wrote on her blog of something she just can't live without. Here is her little blog article.
Anyway, I started to think about what I can't live without and I really couldn't think of anything until this morning. It is my toothbrush.

My toothbrush is all warn down and half of the bristles are flat. I really shouldn't be using it anymore but I just don't want to throw it away. This morning, it was done so I threw it in the trash and got a new toothbrush out of the closet. You must know that the toothbrush I threw away was no ordinary toothbrush. It is a MONSTER tooth brush called a Radius toothbrush.


Now, I am brushing my teeth with 1/8 of the brush I was using before and I am serious, it feels like I am trying to brush my teeth with a toothpick. Look at how many bristles are on this thing. It is AWESOME!!! I'm going to have to go out and buy another set of 3 or 6 or I am seriously going to go crazy with these small, thin, rinky dink toothbrushes that they have in the stores.

I miss my Monster Toothbrush!

Reward

Coby has been struggling to keep motivated about getting his Eagle Project complete and his Camping Merit Badge. He only needs a couple of things on each to finally put them to rest. Coby went to the Scout O Rama last weekend and learned about a game called Speed Stacking. http://www.speedstacks.com. He really wanted but buy a set of stacking cups so I told him that if he finished his Eagle Project paperwork, (which only needed one more signature) and he finished his Camping Merit Badge, (which only needed one requirement and a signature) we would let him buy a Speed Stacking Set.Well, yesterday Coby finished his Eagle Scout Project paperwork. He also finished his Camping Merit Badge. We were able to do both in one evening. So, after they were both signed, I took him straight over to Target and picked up the "Glow in the Dark" Speed Stacking set. He loved it and played with it until bed time. His best time was 20 seconds.

Coby has one more merit badge to complete. It is the Citizenship in the Community. He needs to volunteer for a Non-Profit organization for 8 hours. Once he completes this requirement he will be ready to submit his application to receive his Eagle Scout Award.

Go Coby!!

Overwhelmed

I know it is hard to believe, but I have been overwhelmed with the mountain of activities and responsibilities that have come my way. It really feels like college finals week every single week. You've been there before, you know you have tests all week. You haven't studied enough and if you study every hour of every day before the test, you know you still won't know enough to get an A in the class. Then, your car breaks down so you have to walk everywhere and you were just reminded that you haven't paid your rent yet. Plus, you have a 40 page report due on Friday which is worth half of your grade. Well, I would really like to go back to finals week. Why you ask?Here is a copy of our schedule for this very week. Keep in mind that all of these things have to be done AFTER we get home from work. I generally get home about 5:00pm and Deanna gets home around 4:00pm.

Monday: family home evening, baseball practice; ship some figurines, dinner
Tuesday: piano for Coby, Piano for Andy, Piano for Savanna, Baseball game, Soccer game, fix dinner
Wednesday: Baseball practice, clogging practice and tryouts, dinner, temple interviews and Mutual, Home Teaching
Thursday: Baseball game, Soccer Game, Temple interview, mow neighbors lawn, ship some figurines, fix dinner
Friday: Date night, and some other stuff I think I forgot, fix dinner for kids
Saturday: Youth Temple Trip to Boise all day long, mow lawn, plant garden do yard work around the house and clean up the disaster that happened all week.
Sunday: FAST SUNDAY!!!!! Meetings, meetings, Fast offerings, High Adventure Meeting.

Ok, am I through? No, I still have many other things that I just couldn't fit into the day. Do I sound a little overwhelmed?
Wouldn't it be nice just to go back to college and have finals week again? I am having finals week every week. AARRGGHH!