Laugh

This made me laugh, and laugh and laugh...

Snoop in his velvet jacket, Martha in her wool sweater.

Making brownies...

Seriously funny.

 

Happy Monday!

Navy makes me happy...

Been eye-ing this dress.

For some reason I love everything navy right now.

And polka dots just make me happy.

Silk is my favorite.

And this dress combines all three of these in one fabulous dress.

I'm hoping it goes on sale. But the problem with Lands End is if you wait for a sale they run out of sizes. Boden is the exact same way. Don't wait a moment with a sale item in your shopping cart, by the time you decide it's sold out.

Hope

Bear with me friends, I think things might be slowing down and I may just be able to take a moment and think about blogging soon. Just a few more days and I'll get through my last couple of projects and can get back on our family schedule.

I hope.

Tonight I pulled my car into our garage for the first time.

Or slid my car into the garage.

I sure miss our previous garage. It was a little bigger then this one. I'm not sure we'll be able to fit Erik's car in EVER.

But it's only a few months.

I hope.

I was hoping to be in by October, just in time for trick-or-treaters...

...but a hitch with the plan and the little cantilever in the master bath had us back at the architect and engineer. Hopefully Lehi City can push us through quickly so we can get our permit and move forward. Now if we can just figure out the building portion we'll be good.

I am now hoping to have Thanksgiving dinner in my new house.

I really hope!

My life is insane right now...

I have been trying to find a place to rent the past week.

I am thinking my expectations may need to come down a bit.

I am also thinking that people pay WAY too much to rent. It's crazy!

I am also thinking I may have been in outer space when I thought I could pack up our home in a week.

My List...

1. find a place to rent for the next 6mo (oh it is not as easy as it seems)
2. get a new drivers license
3. get our new address changed for mail
4. change over and transfer ALL utilities
5. pack our 5 bedrooms, living, family, office, kitchen, playroom, food storage, and storage which is full with STUFF.
6. Possibly find a storage unit
7. Attempt to fulfill my calling as Relief Society President at my church
8. I have a funeral today and a church activity tomorrow
9. Attempt to make dinner for my family each night
10. Attempt to be half way sane for my four little ones.
11. Oh and since we close on Monday the 30th we probably need to move out Saturday the 28th. The day of my daughters Violin recital.

Better sign off and get moving, right?!

Claire-ism #4968

Setting: Dinner on a crazy evening at 7pm and kids eating whatever was thrown together. Specifically cheese quesadillas, apple sauce and cottage cheese. Mom had been to late lunch that day at Olive Garden and didn't feel the need to eat much, So she grabbed a little applesauce in a small ramekin...


Claire: Mom's can eat whatever they want but kids have to eat the food. 


Mom: What Claire?


Claire: Mom's can eat any food for dinner but kids have to eat all the food.


Mom: (under breath) Crap!

Claire-ism #4468

Setting: 8:45pm and Erik is setting at the kitchen table on his lap top. I just walked in the door. Claire is standing at the table in her nightgown...


Claire: Dad will you read me another book?


Dad: No, I read you one. Go get in bed.


Claire: (Confidently) Dad, I'm going to keep bugging you until you read me another book.

Erik: (Small smile and look for help from Mom) ???


She DID NOT get another book from Erik.


She DID get a song from me.

Tuesday Tip: Over spray

I saw this on Americas Test Kitchen and thought, why didn't I think of that? It was a great idea so I thought I'd share.

Do you use Pam or Cooking Spray?

Don't you hate when the over spray gets on you counter, stove, floor, or child sitting at the bar? 

I usually spray over the kitchen sink so the over spray gets there and can be washed down. But it still makes you kitchen sink messy, and you still need to wipe it out of the sink. OR not.

So the brilliant and forever forward thinking people at America's Test Kitchen, pulled out all their resources and brains and decided if you open your dishwasher, like this...

And place your pan on the open door, you can spray away to your hearts content and when you close the door and start the dishwasher the next time... all that messy, slick, oily residue will just wash away.

Great idea huh?

Use it the next time you spray and tell me if it doesn't feel smart.

DROPBOX Love

Many of you may be fans of Dropbox.

But if you are not using it, let me tell you why I love it.

Once you set up a FREE account you install it on your computer, laptop, tablets or other devices and you can easily share files between the devices.

So... if I am working on something on my laptop, I close it and save it in dropbox. I can pick it up in the office on the PC and finish working on it. Then I can then open the file up on my ipad and take it on the road or wherever I might like to access it.

It's great and if you are not using it you should open an account here:

DROP BOX

If you share the love with others you will get more storage...again for FREE.

Check it out!

Do you Houzz?

Today I will share a terrible, horrible website called Houzz. Many of you may have heard about it before but if you haven't I will explain.

I came across this site a while back. It's basically pinterest for home architecture and interior design.

It is like a catalog of all your favorite photos from home magazines in ONE SPOT!

You search by category...

"Kitchens"

You can search by a few specific words...

"Coffered Ceiling"

At the home page you can search a self forwarded slide show of recently posted pictures and get all kinds of random coolness...

You can create an account and make your own ideabooks.

You can tag your pictures with little green labels so as you scroll across the picture you can see notes like...

Tag: Like steps to drop to another level in the back yard. Love the fireplace outside. Can we afford that?

I created this blog with some of my idea book photos to help us and contractors with building the new house...

To help them and drive them crazy with all my specific ideas. I'm sure they would prefer an... "I like white kitchen cabinets" but no...

I have an idea book with 78 kitchen photos with a handful of specific ideas and likes. "I want cabinets to go all the way up to the ceiling so the dust doesn't collect and I don't feel the need for Nick-knacks"  "I like the trim on this photo" "I like the handles on this picture" "I like how they put lights in the top of this cabinet"...

See how annoying it is?

You can see just how annoying I am here...

www.homeoncedarhollow.blogspot.com

Houzz is a great, fun, time wasting -- where did the hour go, money wasting -- there goes the retirement cause I've got to have that pool, I like that paint-- lets go to home depot, type of enjoyment!

Do you Houzz?

Yesterday our realtor called to let me know they were scheduling the Home Inspection.

Great! I said.

One step closer to checking an item off the list until closing.

You can be there, she said, but I'll warn you it will feel like a home invasion. He will go through everything, turn on all your appliances, check all the outlets, he will go up in your attic...

I had to laugh. Out loud.

Great! I said.

One step closer to checking an item of my bucket list!

Have a happy day.

I will.

Update: There is no one living up in the Attic. There was also no stack of hundred dollar bills. Or Andy Warhol drawings from when he was 10 yrs old.

7 and 14 and 2

We listed our home with a realtor (a FABULOUS lady) and had our house on the market for 7 days, and had 14 showings - if I counted right - which honestly about KILLED me! I started thinking I should move into a hotel, that way we could keep the house clean but I wouldn't have to go find something to do for an hour or two or three or four.

On the 7th day...we rested from showings... and woke up to 2 offers. And with tears and prayer we have accepted one. I think I may have a heart attack. We sort of thought it would take a couple months to sell, cause remember... it's a bad market for selling your home. So we started early. And it sold in one week.

Now... Nothing is final until it is...right? So we still have about three weeks for everything to finalize and "seal the deal" but things look really good and it is an exciting step forward.

And a heartbreaking one.

I brought all four of my babies home to this abode. I've watched them grow into the sweet little girls they are. I LOVE my home. I really do. We put a lot of pride into it. Building a play room where my girls have spent countless hours imagining and playing. We built an office/craft room with plenty storage so we could be creative as our hearts desired. We planted trees right when we moved in and have redone the play set area twice so it would be just perfect! We've spent hours in the summer under those lovely shade bearing trees. I've spend thousands of hours caring for this home and the people in it.

Insert random story:

When we first moved into this home and had the sprinkling system in and the sod down, it was time to fertilize. We headed to IFA and had a slightly heated debate about the benefits of the hand spreader vs. push. I grew up listening to my dad outside and the whirl of the hand spreader. So of course that was what I wanted to get. Erik grew up with his grandfather using a push variety. So he wanted to be wrong.

We drove away from IFA with the push kind.

Because Erik is stubborn.

And because I relented cause I wanted to enjoy seeing Erik wrong be a peacemaker.

We got home. Erik adjusted the setting on the PUSH SPREADER to the recommendations on the package and poured in the fertilizer. Then he began to walk.

Meanwhile... I started to screamed "RUN Erik!!!"

You see...what I viewed from my vantage point was a steady thick stream of fertilizer dumping out like the steady flow of water over Niagara Falls.

Erik could not. Thus the snail pace.

After my encouraging words of ... "HURRY! It's pouring out FAST! Your KILLING the lawn!!!"... Erik high tailed it... as fast as one can with a PUSH SPREADER... across the lawn.

Needless to say, I was right, Erik found sense, and made the decision to return to the store after the first row in the push spreader, and went and purchased a hand held spreader.

A few days later, despite our best efforts to rake and feather and water that first 6 feet of lawn, we had a distinct white dead strip or stripe, either one applies, of dead grass! 

We still have the hand spreader. We donated the push one.

That hand spreader will move with us to the new home.

You forgot I was talking about how sad I am to leave this house.

But that is okay because I did not.

Right.

As sentimental as I get...I do realize what an exciting time this is for our family. We are excited to carry on with the friends we've made in our neighborhood and ward, and for the opportunity to build new ones in our future home.

Fact #1: We have not started to build our future home.

Fact #2: Fact number one sends me into a panic attack when I think of what is before us...

Fact #3: We need to find a home to rent in 30 days.

Fact #4: Fact number three sends me into a panic attack when I think of what is before us...

Fact #5: When I was driving home from dance with Claire I told her we were going to have to pack up all our stuff soon and move. She said "Well, that's gonna be crap!" She is one smart cookie.

Fact #6: Fact number one is not MY fault. Just sayin'.

Fact #7: Sometimes Erik decides to read this blog. Every 4 or 5 months, he might grab my laptop while I'm posting and see what I have had to say.

Fact #8: When Erik read this post, he started wearing the said jacked every few days.

You think I'm kidding.

The said jacket was in my medium dark load every blinking time for like two, no, three weeks. For all I know he just kept putting it in the dirty clothes basket when he saw it hanging clean in the closet.

So... if you see Erik coming home from the store with a PUSH SPREADER you will know that he read this.
 
Right.

New memories in a new place.

I just need to remember that a home is where ever your family is. And great memories can be made anywhere... as long as you are with those you love.

And MAN I love my little crew! They are my everything. It will all be okay as long as I we are together.

March Madness Quotes 2012

Here are some of my favorites for this year...

DAD/GRANDPA:

To Ben and Kristy -- Looks like you two got duped - I mean Duked!

MOM/GRANDMA:

Who invented this dumb game?

DARIN:

I CAN BE A GOOD LOSER  I really can - and I can take the long distance shots from others who are enjoying their time at the top and throw out a little jab in an email....... BUT I CAN NOT live with the strutting, dancing and prancing all night from Jeri and Hannah (wife and daughter) as they tell me how superior they are..    

BRENDAN:

Now that I’ve been in the top spot for a couple days and will remain so at least until Saturday (GO LOUISVILLE AND OHIO ST!), I feel some relishing and gloating is called for. I know there isn’t an “i” in team, but there is “m-e.” And for me, it isn’t about the money, but I can already taste those 10,000 pennies in my mouth.

In addition to thanking the Academy, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my wife and children, my parents, my siblings (both biological and non-biological), my nieces and nephews, for picking so many non-winners in your brackets. I wouldn’t be here without all of you! I really and truly mean that.

It’s been several tournaments since I’ve been in this position, and I hope this shows the kids out there that you should never give up. I shocked 0.0000003% of the world over the weekend. None of the critics gave me a shot this year, but I silenced them. They said, “Oh Brendan has a runny nose and some congestion to start this tournament, he’s already behind the eight-ball.” It’s true; I was day-to-day throughout the first and second rounds. Triaminic, Musinex and Sudafed didn’t help, but with my back up against the wall, I fought through it like a dog backed into a corner. I may not have had the fancy uniforms this year, but I gave my bracket 110%. Having the cold might have pushed me closer to 111%. You just can’t say enough about me and the effort I’ve made with my bracket. I really picked my guts out this year.

So you don’t get the wrong idea about competitions, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, just go out there and have fun, and I’m having fun—a lot of fun. Don’t get caught up in the past or worry about the future, all you have is the present—and presently, I have more points than anyone else.

I’ll be here (in first place) all week.

Love me,
Brendan

Ashley adds to the above horrible definition of the word GLOAT by Brendan: 

If Brendan wins - which he will not (has N.C. to win it all poor soul) - but if he did win I would personally go to the bank and pick up the $100 prize in penny rolls to equal 10,000 pennies and deliver it to him... personally. In fact I would be DELIGHTED to! I am, if anything, about service to others. 

BROCK: (not only is he a storyteller he is also prophetic)

Once upon a time, there were four loud, ugly
stepsisters--let's call them Michael, Graydon, Grandpa, and
(for purposes of this story) Ashley. They had each come to
the big dance wearing their finest dress, lipstick, and
false eyelashes. As midnight fast approached, each was
scrambling for a spot at the center of the ballroom hoping
for the final waltz with none other than Prince Charming.
Let's call him Kentucky.

Also at the big dance, there were two gentle, unassuming
beauties watching the festivities from just beyond the
spotlight. Let's call them Jessica and Cheryl. Although
these two maidens had also pinned their hopes on the
bluegrass wonder, their happily ever after was about to be
fulfilled much sooner than anyone expected.

At that moment, the grand clock above the grand staircase
suddenly struck 11:00 (let's call it this Saturday). In a
flash, a strapping, handsome young lad (we'll call him
Kansas) came thundering down the steps of the grand
staircase on a glistening white stallion, charged to the
spot where the two blushing lasses stood, whisked each of
them into the saddle, and bolted through the balcony doors
and off into the moonlit night.

The chaos back in the ballroom was punctuated by the pitiful
spectacle of the stepsisters weeping, wailing, and gnashing
their teeth--screaming that Prince Charming (and each of
them) had been robbed of the final dance at midnight.

But alas, no one, not even Prince Charming on the fastest
thoroughbred at Churchill Downs could catch the maidens
after the Jayhawk vanquishing. The moral of the story: Ohio
State HAS to win if you're an ugly stepsister.

On behalf of all the mice and rats at the bottom, GO
KANSAS!!!

Crazy

We purchased our home newly built in February of 1999. Honestly we dropped by an Ivory site for Erik to check on something, saw the available home and two weeks later we had the keys. Crazy.

But what is more crazy is in all those years we have never, ever, not once, opened and peeked into the attic.

When we moved in, for the first month or two I used to tell Erik we needed to check up there.

For all we know someone could be living up there.

I'm serious.

I used to spook myself some nights thinking, "what if someone is living up there?" They might have moved in before the house closed. What if they only come down during the day when we are gone?

I worked full time and would come home sometimes and open the fridge and check if all the food was still there. 

I would check to see if any hand towels were wet from someone washing their hands after using the bathroom.

Now a rational person would get a ladder and pop open the panel and peek inside. But a rational person probably didn't watch the program "The People Across the Lake" a made for TV movie which dead people, and one living crazy man who took care of them, were living or "staying" for the dead ones, in the secret basement of a home of a recently moved in family.  Crazy.

We recorded that show and showed it to the fellow neighbor kids. We watching it over and over, again and again and man alive...I still get goosebumps and shivers thinking about it.

But back to the rational person who would address the issue by looking in the attic.

When I even thought about checking it out, I would get a hollow feeling in my lungs and my stomach would drop and my shoulders would shake at the thought of climbing the rungs of the ladder, pushing up that panel... 

and then seeing two feet standing there...

or worse...two EYES!

I could never do it and when I told Erik to do it he just looked at me like I was crazy and would completely ignore me. But really, I just think he was scared.

Somehow, amazingly, I got over this fear and was ableto sleep at night and sort of forgot about it...until...

A few days ago when I was vacuuming all the bedroom ceilings and corners and came across the attic entry in the ceiling...

Then it all came rushing back to me!

SERIOUSLY... Have you checked your attic?

Busy

I have been pretty slack on my motivation for blogging. I had a stomach bug one week, then the flu the following week and I am still frog voiced and hacking. My lungs just simply hurt!


We listed our home with a realtor and in five days have had 8 showings, It has been a crazy whirl wind and I feel like all I do is clean house and go on hour excursions with my little crew! As much as I don't want to sell quickly, I really do want it to move so I can quit living in a glass box which needs to be walk through ready all the time -- even if that means renting for a time which I really hate to do but I CAN DO HARD THINGS. But it is great to move ahead and the end result helps me focus and we are really excited that some family will enjoy our home like we have loved it.

Now if we can just get our ducks in a row and start building our house so we have some place to go eventually! We haven't even picked up the plans from the architect yet, let alone got bids to then submit for loan approval. Our goal to start digging in March is now about two months out I think! ARG!

Life is just so crazy right now.... do you ever feel like you have lost control of your life and someone else is driving at a way faster pace then you want? That is how I feel lately... so bear with me friends!

Favorite Time of Year

I love the approaching weekend. Conference weekend is my favorite time of year.  I love having my family sit around me as we listen (or in the case of my little ones - TRY to listen) to the council that is the most important we can receive. I never plan anything on this weekend because it is sacred. And I want my children to know it is sacred.

I love to sit at the feet of a living prophet and his apostles and hear council for us, for our day, and for our struggles.

When I see the conference center filled with people I am reminded of council received about 2000 years ago when the savior addressed his followers...as they sat at his feet...

1 ^aAnd seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

 3 ^aBlessed are the ^bpoor in spirit: for theirs is the ^ckingdom of heaven.

 4 Blessed are they that ^amourn: for they shall be ^bcomforted.

 5 Blessed are the ^ameek: for they shall inherit the ^bearth.

 6 Blessed are they which do ^ahunger and thirst after ^brighteousness: for they shall be filled.

 7 Blessed are the ^amerciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

 8 Blessed are the ^apure in ^bheart: for they shall ^csee God.

 9 Blessed are the ^apeacemakers: for they shall be called the ^bchildren of God.

 10 Blessed are they which are ^apersecuted for ^brighteousness’ sake: for ^ctheirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall ^arevile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of ^bevil against you falsely, ^cfor my sake.

 12 ^aRejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your ^breward in heaven: for so ^cpersecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 13 ¶Ye are the ^asalt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 14 Ye are the ^alight of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 15 Neither do men light a ^acandle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 16 Let your ^alight so shine before men, that they may see your good ^bworks, and ^cglorify your Father which is in heaven.

 17 ¶Think not that I am come to ^adestroy the ^blaw, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the ^alaw, till all be ^bfulfilled.

 19 Whosoever therefore shall ^abreak one of these least commandments, ^band shall ^cteach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and ^dteach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 20 For I say unto you, That except your ^arighteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the ^bscribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 21 ¶Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou ^ashalt not ^bkill; and whosoever shall kill shall be ^cin danger of the judgment:

 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is ^aangry with his brother ^bwithout a cause shall be ^cin danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, ^dRaca, shall be ^ein danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be ^areconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

 25 ^aAgree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid ^athe uttermost farthing.

 27 ¶Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit ^aadultery:

 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever ^alooketh on a ^bwoman to ^clust after her hath committed ^dadultery with her already in his heart.

 29 And if thy right eye ^aoffend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into ^bhell.

 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.^a

 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of ^adivorcement:

 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall ^aput away his ^bwife, saving for the cause of ^cfornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

 33 ¶Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not ^aforswear thyself, but shalt ^bperform unto the Lord thine ^coaths:

 34 But I say unto you, ^aSwear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s ^bthrone:

 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his ^afootstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the ^bcity of the great King.

 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

 37 But let your ^acommunication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh ^bof evil.

 38 ¶Ye have heard that it hath been said, An ^aeye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not ^aevil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right ^bcheek, ^cturn to him the other also.

 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

 42 ^aGive to him that asketh thee, and from him that would ^bborrow of thee turn not thou away.

 43 ¶Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt ^alove thy ^bneighbour, and hate thine enemy.

 44 But I say unto you, ^aLove your ^benemies, ^cbless them that ^dcurse you, do ^egood to them that ^fhate you, and ^gpray for them which despitefully use you, and ^hpersecute you;

 45 That ye ^amay be the ^bchildren of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth ^crain on the just and on the unjust.

 46 For if ye ^alove them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

 48 ^aBe ye therefore ^bperfect, even as your ^cFather which is in heaven is ^dperfect.