Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Utah- In the Beginning
Why has blogging been so hard to fit in lately?Maybe it's just that I'm readjusting to my normal life, my routine, and catching up and keeping up with the daily grind is taking all of my time, leaving none left for documentation or creativity. I hate that. For my own sake I want to be blogging frequently. We'll try and do better. Now then.
This is the first part of my Utah trip. After we arrived at Michelle's we had a few days before we headed south for the Tanner family reunion. We settled in at Michelle's and on Saturday Timm and I celebrated our 6th anniversary. With built-in babysitting we were actually able to go out! It's about an annual affair with us, the ability to go out by ourselves. We left the girls in bed at Michelle's house and headed for Spark, a newer local restaurant in Provo. We were so psyched to try it as their menu looked amazing, Michelle had already recommended it and I had picked out a specialty drink that was a Shirley Temple with cotton candy on top of it!! Alas, it was closed because their a/c was out, but they had an employee standing by to give us a $50 gift certificate for our trouble. Not bad. (We ended up giving it to Michelle and Marc so they could celebrate their anniversary. Win-win.)
After that disappointment we headed to another highly recommended local restaurant, Pizzeria 712. It did not disappoint.
This appetizer, again recommended by Michelle, was amazing. It was short ribs on polenta with some kind of horseradish sauce cream that I cannot remember anymore. It was so succulent it could have been dessert. Coming from me, a statement that I would ordinarily consider blasphemy, that's really saying something.
The next day we met Timm's family at the amphitheatre in American Fork for a family portrait, taken by Marc. We all dressed in black and white and I think it went remarkably well for wrangling 19 grand kids, plus their parents.
Danielle, holding Fi.
Goofball in curls.
The SP caused a bit of confusion from some onlookers since we were after all, having professional portraits taken...
That night it was south to Birdseye, Ut for the Tanner family reunion.
It was in a beautifully remote location that I immediately loved for it, plus its lake, pond, and ample pastures filled with horses. Alas, they were not for the riding but they still captivated my attention for the 3 1/2 days we were there. There were 7 mares and 7 foals and I went out about 3 times a day, walking through their pasture, clicking my tongue and talking so they'd get used to me and accept me. Soon I was offering apples and carrots and they allowed me to pet them.
The foals were more wary.
Silly colt.
That building is a big chicken coop that was yet unoccupied. I could totally have lived there. (Uh, at the ranch, not in the chicken coop...)
Bella is such a wimp with physical activity. Where on earth does that come from? They were playing relays and Bella wouldn't participate so her cousin Lindsey carried her around. She still wouldn't acquiesce so after throwing a crying fit on the grass we let her sit it out.
Fiona had no shortage of dotage from her cousins, shown here with Kaylee.
The lake with its canoe was a favorite among many and Timm would row me around at dusk after the girls were in bed.
The last day we noticed a fire burning above the neighborhood across the road.
Overall it was a great time. Bella had fun playing with her cousins from sunup to sundown, running around the 12,000 square foot house, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the sandbox, walking around the pond, participating in the crafts, games, cooking, activities and programs. It was well-orchestrated and executed and everyone had a great time.
Next installment: Utah, Phase 2.
This is the first part of my Utah trip. After we arrived at Michelle's we had a few days before we headed south for the Tanner family reunion. We settled in at Michelle's and on Saturday Timm and I celebrated our 6th anniversary. With built-in babysitting we were actually able to go out! It's about an annual affair with us, the ability to go out by ourselves. We left the girls in bed at Michelle's house and headed for Spark, a newer local restaurant in Provo. We were so psyched to try it as their menu looked amazing, Michelle had already recommended it and I had picked out a specialty drink that was a Shirley Temple with cotton candy on top of it!! Alas, it was closed because their a/c was out, but they had an employee standing by to give us a $50 gift certificate for our trouble. Not bad. (We ended up giving it to Michelle and Marc so they could celebrate their anniversary. Win-win.)
After that disappointment we headed to another highly recommended local restaurant, Pizzeria 712. It did not disappoint.
This appetizer, again recommended by Michelle, was amazing. It was short ribs on polenta with some kind of horseradish sauce cream that I cannot remember anymore. It was so succulent it could have been dessert. Coming from me, a statement that I would ordinarily consider blasphemy, that's really saying something.
The next day we met Timm's family at the amphitheatre in American Fork for a family portrait, taken by Marc. We all dressed in black and white and I think it went remarkably well for wrangling 19 grand kids, plus their parents.
Danielle, holding Fi.
Goofball in curls.
The SP caused a bit of confusion from some onlookers since we were after all, having professional portraits taken...
That night it was south to Birdseye, Ut for the Tanner family reunion.
It was in a beautifully remote location that I immediately loved for it, plus its lake, pond, and ample pastures filled with horses. Alas, they were not for the riding but they still captivated my attention for the 3 1/2 days we were there. There were 7 mares and 7 foals and I went out about 3 times a day, walking through their pasture, clicking my tongue and talking so they'd get used to me and accept me. Soon I was offering apples and carrots and they allowed me to pet them.
The foals were more wary.
Silly colt.
That building is a big chicken coop that was yet unoccupied. I could totally have lived there. (Uh, at the ranch, not in the chicken coop...)
Bella is such a wimp with physical activity. Where on earth does that come from? They were playing relays and Bella wouldn't participate so her cousin Lindsey carried her around. She still wouldn't acquiesce so after throwing a crying fit on the grass we let her sit it out.
Fiona had no shortage of dotage from her cousins, shown here with Kaylee.
The lake with its canoe was a favorite among many and Timm would row me around at dusk after the girls were in bed.
The last day we noticed a fire burning above the neighborhood across the road.Overall it was a great time. Bella had fun playing with her cousins from sunup to sundown, running around the 12,000 square foot house, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the sandbox, walking around the pond, participating in the crafts, games, cooking, activities and programs. It was well-orchestrated and executed and everyone had a great time.
Next installment: Utah, Phase 2.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
She Says
I haven't documented any Bellaisms in a while, so here is a catch-all of strange and funny things she says sometimes.
"In America salvation comes to be ours."
???
J: "Bella, you only had one piece of bread, that's not lunch."
B: "No, I had two- I tore it in half!"
"This sucker tastes like a rainbow and is made from unicorns!"
Sebastian: "Bella, I think I'm going to marry you when I grow up."
Bella: "No, I'm going to marry someone else."
S: "Why?"
(no response)
S: "Before you can marry someone else I'm going to come to your house, grab you by the hand, swipe you off your feet, and into the car we go!!"
I told her that she would have to share a toy she was bringing with us. When she told me that the other girl never asks to play with her things I told her she might have to offer.
"That's not the way I am, mom. I don't do that to someone who doesn't speak to me and only listens. Why offer? I'm not that way."
"We have African music. It's mixed with Indian music and sounds like unicorns with horns."
(What's with the unicorns?)
I think there's more but I'll have to think about it and edit later.
"In America salvation comes to be ours."
???
J: "Bella, you only had one piece of bread, that's not lunch."
B: "No, I had two- I tore it in half!"
"This sucker tastes like a rainbow and is made from unicorns!"
Sebastian: "Bella, I think I'm going to marry you when I grow up."
Bella: "No, I'm going to marry someone else."
S: "Why?"
(no response)
S: "Before you can marry someone else I'm going to come to your house, grab you by the hand, swipe you off your feet, and into the car we go!!"
I told her that she would have to share a toy she was bringing with us. When she told me that the other girl never asks to play with her things I told her she might have to offer.
"That's not the way I am, mom. I don't do that to someone who doesn't speak to me and only listens. Why offer? I'm not that way."
"We have African music. It's mixed with Indian music and sounds like unicorns with horns."
(What's with the unicorns?)
I think there's more but I'll have to think about it and edit later.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Same old, same old.
I have so many things to write about, so many things I am behind on, things I never documented at the time, pictures waiting in reserve for their due appearance,expressions of gratitude, images I want to remember, experiences I want preserved- but I am not caching up on any of that today. Today I have to write about what is stressing me, what needs immediate release, if not resolution. Any guesses?
Money.
Of course.
I am trying to exercise a little restraint in the details of our finances which is somewhat foreign to me and just a bit hard to rein in. As much as I would like my blog to be completely honest and utterly devoid of content editing, I have made it public and people other than myself read it. I try to write with a complete disregard for my 'audience' since it is first and foremost my journal, but ultimately that is impossible since I know that others are reading it and the details of my life include other people, whether or not they have agreed to have their part published in a public forum. Thus when I want to vent or agonize over the minutea of a modern, domestic life it means that others agonize along with me. It also means that no matter how little finances mean to my self-worth, translated into complete and full disclosure over the details of said finances, others may not appreciate my lack of discretion. So, allow me if I may to speak somewhat cryptically in an attempt at semi-privacy. On a blog accessible to anyone on earth provided they have internet access.
Let me start by saying I don't want a lot of money. I have quickly adjusted to living on a very tight budget since getting married. I am creative in my frugality and even enjoy the challenge at times. In general I follow the adage to 'Use it up, wear it out, make it last or do without.' I make as many things as possible. I don't want to live ostentatiously. I try to avoid rampant consumerism. I don't like to accumulate too much stuff. I flee from extravagance.
But.
I would like to pay the mortgage with more than a $10 buffer, deposited on the day the mortgage is due to be withdrawn. i would like to be able to buy groceries so I can make actual meals without worrying about maxing the credit card. I would like to order the birthday present I picked out for Timm's 30th birthday next month. I would like to be able to go about my day, being productive, instead of feeling haunted with worry about paying the bills. Instead I am sitting on the couch blogging about it in the middle of the day when I have other things to do. I hate the feeling of want, I hate feeling ungrateful, I hate feeling like I can't do it myself, I hate not being able to find a solution, and I hate whining about it. I hate that I don't see an end in sight.
I hate it.
I know I'm not alone and I know that there are worse things on earth, worse problems to have, and that I still have more than a large portion of the world living with less than I have. Still, it's what's on my mind at 1 pm today, and much of the time. I'm off to the grocery store to see how little we can get by with until Timm gets paid n 2 weeks.
Money.
Of course.
I am trying to exercise a little restraint in the details of our finances which is somewhat foreign to me and just a bit hard to rein in. As much as I would like my blog to be completely honest and utterly devoid of content editing, I have made it public and people other than myself read it. I try to write with a complete disregard for my 'audience' since it is first and foremost my journal, but ultimately that is impossible since I know that others are reading it and the details of my life include other people, whether or not they have agreed to have their part published in a public forum. Thus when I want to vent or agonize over the minutea of a modern, domestic life it means that others agonize along with me. It also means that no matter how little finances mean to my self-worth, translated into complete and full disclosure over the details of said finances, others may not appreciate my lack of discretion. So, allow me if I may to speak somewhat cryptically in an attempt at semi-privacy. On a blog accessible to anyone on earth provided they have internet access.
Let me start by saying I don't want a lot of money. I have quickly adjusted to living on a very tight budget since getting married. I am creative in my frugality and even enjoy the challenge at times. In general I follow the adage to 'Use it up, wear it out, make it last or do without.' I make as many things as possible. I don't want to live ostentatiously. I try to avoid rampant consumerism. I don't like to accumulate too much stuff. I flee from extravagance.
But.
I would like to pay the mortgage with more than a $10 buffer, deposited on the day the mortgage is due to be withdrawn. i would like to be able to buy groceries so I can make actual meals without worrying about maxing the credit card. I would like to order the birthday present I picked out for Timm's 30th birthday next month. I would like to be able to go about my day, being productive, instead of feeling haunted with worry about paying the bills. Instead I am sitting on the couch blogging about it in the middle of the day when I have other things to do. I hate the feeling of want, I hate feeling ungrateful, I hate feeling like I can't do it myself, I hate not being able to find a solution, and I hate whining about it. I hate that I don't see an end in sight.
I hate it.
I know I'm not alone and I know that there are worse things on earth, worse problems to have, and that I still have more than a large portion of the world living with less than I have. Still, it's what's on my mind at 1 pm today, and much of the time. I'm off to the grocery store to see how little we can get by with until Timm gets paid n 2 weeks.
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