To My Garden

Dear Neglected Garden,

I am so sorry that I haven't come to visit all summer. This would have been a great season for gardening with all the rain and cool days we've had. But it just wasn't meant to be. Don't be glum. I couldn't help it!

It's just that, I had more important things to do! This season I decided to put all my efforts into raising three lovely little blooms. Most of the time they were happy to grow all by themselves, but the weeds of contention would come if I wasn't nearby. So I happily sat and watched my blossoms.

So, while you were sprouting weeds, I was busy. . .

Growing relationships. . .

Nurturing good feelings. . .

Watering and re-watering my blossoms. . .

Feeding them. . .

Keeping them in warm sunlight. . .

Enjoying their beauty. . .

And learning to be a master gardener by observing old pros. . .

So my sweet garden, hidden in the depths of despair, I hope you understand. There were times this summer that I would glance over at you and feel guilty for all the neglect. But now that the season is over, I realize, you will always be there needing to be weeded and tended. The sprouts I took care of for the past three months will go on to greener pastures sooner than I would like. Therefore, I had to choose between two good things and I chose the best.

Love,

Nimmy

Summer is Heaven in 2011!

- New trampoline

- Finding snakes at the Freeds' cabin

- Taylorsville Dayz

- Geocaching

- Snowball fight and sledding at Alta on July 3rd!

- 4th of July Camping with the Halverson Heros

-My daughter looks more like her aunt then her mom!

- Catty the Caterpillar

Picking Your Nose at a Red Light

If you look around, we all show are true colors when we think no one is looking. . .

Don't judge me too harshly. I'm only human. Just remember these wise words of Jerry: "If we pick, do we not bleed? I am not an animal!"

Our favorite neighborhood kid was picking is nose in the comfort of his own home one day. When his dad asked him what he was doing, he simply replied: "BOOGERS!" Oh, to be so honest and confident with our choices.

Contrast that with the mom who was clearing out her nose, sans tissue, while waiting for the light to turn green. Nothing gross came out of her nose, but as she turned to her left, with fingering lingering, she met the eyes of another driver. He obviously knew what she was about and smiled. Could the mom of three have saved herself from humiliation by rolling down the window and yelling, "BOOGERS!" Would that other driver have dismissed her gross display and accepted how real and confident she really was? I'd like to think she did the only thing remotely acceptable when she quickly turned away, acting like nothing was up (her nose), and sped off.

How do we really appear to people when we're not aware that others are watching us?

Toy Sale

We are finally spring cleaning the playroom! Sadly, my girlies have out grown a lot of their toys. Come over to our house Saturday morning for a Toy Sale. Cash only. Highlights include Little Tykes Plastic Playhouse for $15, three-wheeled princess scooter for $12, and lots of Little People playsets $8 each, tub full of Megablocks $12, preschool-size costumes $5.

Easter Bunny Hopping Down the Western Trail

Here comes Peter Cottontail

Way, way down the western trail

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way

Arizona has its joys,

Warmth and sun for girls and boys

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way

What a way to spend Spring Break

Twelve hour drive, what road to take?

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way

Joe's Farm Grill and backyard pool

Phoenix Zoo and bar-b-que

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way

Eleven cousins in a row

Mesa Pageant, here we go

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way

Time with sisters, getting late

Shows with Brad, he's so great!

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way

Going home, saw Uncle Ro

Seven girlies were in tow

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way

Heed and Nim braved the drives

Jacque and Sco missed their wives

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way

Easter bunny brought some treats

Moms were glad to see their peeps!

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's come, Hooray!

One Flew Over The Loof Lirpa's Nest

This past Conference weekend was one of our all-time best! Our girls are now old enough to listen while coloring and completing a General Conference Activity Packet. And when they were bored they went to play outside while Sco and I finished watching the afternoon session. All of us were anxious to get outside on Saturday, so between sessions we decided to go for a walk. The destination of choice: the pedestrian crossing bridge, of course. In all our 36 years, neither Sco nor I had crossed one and we really enjoyed the experience!

While on top of 6200 South, Jessica pulled out a blue piece of paper and started calling, "Loof Flirpa! Loof Flirpa!" We smiled and asked her what she was up to. She excitedly explained that her school teacher had given each child a blue paper with a special assignment. They were to go outside, hold the blue paper above their heads and call, "Loof Flirpa." Jessica was excited to tell us that if she did so, the elusive Loof Flirpa bird would answer their native call and actually reveal itself because it is attracted to the color blue. Not being Utah bird experts, Sco and I joined in the call a few times.

Alas, no Loof Lirpa joined us on the pedestrian bridge, so we trekked over to the Holiday Oil for a treat before walking back to watch more Conference. It was beautiful weather and I held hands with my sweet hubby the whole way.

On Monday morning, I told Jessica to make sure to tell her teacher that we had done the Loof Flirpa assignment. After school that day, Jessica got in the car with a tale to tell! She said that some kids in her class told her there was no such thing as a Loof Lirpa! I couldn't believe that Mrs. D would misguide my bird loving daughter. But Jessica argued that it was true. I asked her, "Well did you tell Mrs. D that we did the assignment?" And my little daughter giggled and said, "Noway! I was too embarrassed!" When asked why, she held up her blue paper with the name Loof Flirpa showing in the rear-view mirror, laughing. I shrieked and joined in the laughter.

You've got to be on your guard with those 2nd grade teachers, I tell you!

So Proud

I don't mean to sound self-absorbed, but I am way proud of myself today. My mom asked me to give her blog a facelift. I was a little nervous to fiddle with her internet facade, so I took my sweet time to get it just right. With the help of the blogspot template tools, elements from Scrap Girls and my own designer know-how, I did it! Jump on over to Travelin' Oma to see my handiwork and peruse my mom's great wit and writing.