Oil and Vinegar

So, I love food blogs. Love. Since discovering them, my recipe binders are bursting with yumminess waiting to be had.

One inparticular introduced me to Fustini's oils and vinegars. These are not your ordinary pantry staples folks. We're talking things like Blood Orange Olive Oil and Cherry Balsamic Vinegar. Hello!! I'm going to make my first purchase soon. I seriously can't decide what to try first? I've been hesitant because of the price but I'm thinking a bottle will last awhile? Who knows. But I'm dying to try them!

Weekly Rundown

Monday: Oh, happy day!

Tuesday-Thursday- in a complete funk.

Friday: Sweet new running shoes

Saturday: Lettuce and peas from our garden!

Sunday: Silly boys in the bath.

So Your Dad Is An Axe Murderer?

There he was. One of my best guy friends. He had just pulled up in my driveway in his beat up old pick up. Not an uncommon thing in a hick town. He was there to take me for a ride. Eli was fun and easy to talk to. I bounded out the door and we sat and talked by his truck.

My dad, unbeknownst to me, was behind our garage chopping wood. Now, my father dearest had strong feelings about Eli. He didn't approve. And my attempts to make him understand we were just friends, were futile. Eli didn't go to church. And I really think that's the main reason dad was worried. Worried that I would fall for a non-member.

Well, there we were enjoying each other's company when Eli's face fell. I turned. I wanted to die. There was my dad, stone faced with an axe over his shoulder. Walking with purpose. He reached us and said, "So, you want to take my daughter for a ride?" "Um....is that, um...OK?", said Eli. My dad stared at me, then Eli. "You don't drive crazy do you? Because I want her home in one piece." I couldn't speak. My face was bright red from utter embarrassment and anger. "No,no, I don't!" It came out in a voice of sheer panic. "Well, alright then." And my dad turned and walked away. Poor Eli. Poor me. "Your dad hates me!" said Eli. "Why did he have an axe?!" I had no answer.

We went for our drive. The silence was deafening. Eli was shaken and I was so upset my mouth refused to work. Upon my arrival home, my dad was sitting at the kitchen table. He wanted to talk. I wanted to scream! I looked at him and he was laughing! "I scared him pretty good, didn't I?!" Duh! It was all just a big joke to him. "Tell Eli I was just kidding," he said. I think I was really mature and gave my father the silent treatment for about a week.

I relayed the message to Eli but he didn't believe it. In fact, he never came back. And, thanks to my mother, my dad never did anything remotely close to that again. And I forgave him. Eventually.

I Am Beautiful Because.....

It has come to my attention that there are many of us who feel, well, less than perfect. An impossible feat to achieve but, still, we try. It's been a bad week. And not just for me. Something dirty is in the air making us feel that we are worthless, ugly failures and ruining our perceptions of ourselves.

The other day, while running, I remembered something that I did in college. I started a journal. Not just any journal, but one in which I wrote, every day, something that was beautiful about me. Every entry started with "I am beautiful because....." It was hard at first because I was thinking about the physical. It started out with things like, "I am beautiful because I have nice eyes." Ugh. This was hard. Then it started to be more about the inside and who I was as a person. And let me tell you, it helped. Immensely!

And so, I'm going to start doing this again. It may seem cheesy but right now it's something I need. I'm way to good at being hard on myself. And by doing this I'm hoping there will come a day that I will believe these things that I have written about myself. To see myself as my Father in Heaven, and the people who love and care about me, see me.

Teachers

My son starts Kindergarten next month. And really, he could be going into first grade. I'm confident that we made the right decision by holding him back. Anyway, I hope he gets a good teacher. Someone who cares about him and how well he's doing. That's really what I'm worried about. And bullies.

I believe a teacher can make or break you. I've had both. One in particular, who called me stupid in front of the entire class. And my dislike for math turned into complete and utter hatred for the subject. I stopped trying. Which, of course, I seriously regret.

Thankfully, I had way more good teachers than bad. My favorites where the ones that challenged me. When I really had to think hard, that's when I learned. Mrs. Burnett, for instance was/is awesome. She's still teaching at Malad High. I'll never forget some of the first words she spoke, while introduced herself, "I don't believe in censorship. And I say shit, damn and hell." I loved her.

So, I just hope and pray that my kids get more of the Mrs. Burnett's and not crappy mean old math teachers.

An Explanation

Why I run: It kind of makes me feel bad ass. There. I said it.



Weekly Rundown

Monday: Cameron, aka Master of Disaster, strikes again.

Tuesday: Nine year Anniversary! We stayed here.

Wednesday: Cherry Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcake from The Cocoa Bean. Heavenly.

Thursday: The boys are obsessed with finding ladybugs and putting them in water bottles.

Friday: This bus parked across the street. Looked like a red neck motor home, complete with curtains.

Saturday: Double Chocolate Oreo Crunch Cookies

Sunday: I have no explanation.....

Some Favorite Flicks

In no particular order:

What About Bob? See this post.
The Majestic- In my opinion, Jim Carrey at his best.
The Private Eyes- Don Knotts and Tim Conway. Enough said.
You've Got Mail-How can you not love that show!
Return To Me-I may have wanted to be Mrs. Duchovny when I was younger....
Sherlock Holmes
Kate and Leopold and pretty much anything else with Hugh Jackman
All Harry Potter-Yes, I'm totally geeking out about the release of the final movie.
The Counte of Monte Cristo
Cool Runnings
Newsies

I know I'm leaving out a whole bunch but that's all I can think of, for now.

Something I'm sure you wanted to know.....

Something has happened to me. I bought a couple of dresses for my anniversary present. And I love them!! Today I took a trip to Victoria's Secret and bought a cute nightie. I have NEVER wanted lingerie before. And now I'm wishing I also would have bought the cute white and yellow lace bra with rhinestones. Who am I?

Still The One

I married my best friend nine years ago. It was hot. Don't ever let your kid(s) get married in July.

John and I are both from Malad. We met in high school. I thought he was the biggest dork. His feelings for me where mutual. I really have no idea how/when things changed. One day he's making fun of me in gym because I suck at basketball and the next he's taking me to my Junior Prom. Whatever.

We wrote his entire mission. No, I did not wait for him. I had fun. Had a few flings. Which never got me a kiss. It was Rexburg so I assume those boys thought I wanted eternal companionship. I just wanted a little lip action. Sigh.

But I'm so glad John wanted me. At times, I think he's better to me than I am to him. I'm so glad I chose him.  He once wrote me a poem. It went like this: 

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Your the best in the world

Except at UNO.

So romantic. I don't know how many games we played and he won every single one. And I was being a sore loser. I still have the paper it was written on....I love you, John! 

  

Weekly Rundown

Monday: Happy 4th!!

 Patriotic Strawberries

At the Fireworks

Tuesday: Still chillin' in Malad

Wednesday: Cars 2

Thursday: Where Cameron ended up, sometime during the night.

Friday: So good, my friends.

Saturday: Shaving

Sunday: Playing in their "tent"

Foreigner

Last year, me, John and my whole family went to the Foreigner concert at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. One of the best concerts ever! There we were, all together. Mom, Dad, my siblings and my husband. It rained. We didn't care. We rocked out. At one point, I looked over and saw everyone singing along. Even my dad, (who had wanted to go to Kenny Rogers). Blech! It was as if there were no generation gap. I wish I could have frozen time. It will always be one of my favorite memories. So, in no particular order, I give you some Foreigner favorites.

Weekly Rundown...A bit late.

Monday: First cones of the summer

Tuesday: seven layer tostadas. Yummmm

Wednesday: This is what I have to do in order to cut an onion. Thank goodness my 5 year old has child safety glasses.

Thursday: Bear Lake

Friday: Cache Valley Cruise-In

Saturday: New Cliffords

Sunday: Eating popsicles with cousins!

Caribbean of the Rockies.

Bear Lake. Beautiful. Due to the massive spring runoff, we weren't able to go in the water. There is not one inch of beach that is dry. I knew it would be full but, wow. The water is, literally, right in peoples backyards. We still had a great family day.

Driving through Logan Canyon, we made a couple stops.

Awe. My boys.

Ricks Spring

It's crazy how high and fast the water is right now.

Down by the Marina.  Suddenly, I want a boat.

Picnic. John is giving me some serious stink eye.

Because no trip to Bear Lake is complete without one.

Raspberry Cheesecake shake= Love.

Cameron was equally impressed

We browsed through a couple of gift shops and decided to drive further. This is the Tabernacle in Paris, ID. We found out it was dedicated by my great great great grandfather, Wilford Woodruff. Sweet! 

Further still.....we found this in Meridian, ID. Eh. Pretty boring. 

There was a park nearby so we let the boys get out some energy.

Oh, to be so happy on a swing....

I'm hoping in late August/early September there will actually be a beach to play on. I don't know, though. The water level is insane. I need a friend with a boat. ;)