Harry Potter Confusion

I am going through some major Harry Potter confusion these days. Here is why:

1. While driving to Colorado from Utah, we listened to the 2nd Harry Potter book on CD. My kids (the oldest being 8) are not quite at "reading it by themselves" age but love to listen to the books. We finished number 1 just before our trip and got about 1/2 way through the 2nd one on our drive there and back.

2. In preparation for the seventh book to come out, I have been listening, while doing housework to the 6th book on tape. Again, I am about 1/2 through through that one. I hoped to finish listening to it before the last book came out, but no such luck.

3. While in Colorado, everyone at the reunion were taking turns reading the four copies of the 7th book that we had at my parent's house. So, at down moments, when a book was available, I started reading that one. I should let everyone know that as usual, I read the last chapter first (I do this with most books I read) and so I know that everything is wrapped up nicely and I am now eager to see how it all unfolds.

So currently, I am reading/listening to three different Harry Potter books. When we got in the car to do a ton of errands today and Harry Potter came on, it took me about 5 minutes of listening to figure out what book I was listening to and what was going on. I am idiot.

I'm including a great picture of my 47 year old brother. Doesn't he look great! He is only 5'5" and those stilts are twice as tall as him.

Family Reunion

The original five siblings
Barbecue outside

All of the grandchildren in order by height--20 total.

I just got back from a week long family reunion. We get together every year with my family for a week. This year it was in Boulder, CO where we were all raised. My parents hosted it and it as usual was a ton of fun. We went to all of our old family haunts and added a few new ones--Brainard Lake, Huckelberry's for breakfast (what used to be Karen's Country Kitchen), Miniature Golfing at Adventure Land with the volcano that erupts every 7 minutes, a photo scavanger hunt on the CU campus and Pearl Street Mall, a talent night and this year as a special treat, all of the endowed members attended a sealing session at the Denver temple where my father performed the sealings. It was wonderful. Posted are a few pictures from the event.

Cute Kids

My Poor Rose of Sharon

Last fall I purchased a Rose of Sharon bush to plant by a section of my house that was driving me crazy. Of course, since I waited until the fall, the plant selections were minimal and so I ended up with a very small, barely living plant. In the ground, it looked very sad and unhealthy. But, I did do exactly what that gardener at my nursery told me to do and in the Spring, I noticed little green leaves sprouting on it. Daily I have gone outside to check on it. I have such hope for this little plant. It is now the middle of July and this is what my poor Rose of Sharon looks like. No flowers. (By the way, those are my Love in Mist in front it.)





In contrast, this is what my next door neighbor's Rose of Sharon bush looks like. Granted, theirs was planted two years before ours and was probably bigger and healthier and gets a few hours of more direct sun but still! I am hoping this plant (which is just across about 8 feet of grass from mine) shames mine into growth and blooming.
On a side note, how do I turn my pictures?

Why I am a Crappy Housekeeper but Probably a Pretty Good Mom

Yesterday, I tackled some housekeeping chores that I haven't done for awhile and now know I need to do more often.

1. I cleaned out the outside trash can. I don't insist everything that we throw away be bagged, so the "take out to the curb" trash can gets pretty disgusting. The inside gets sticky and then not everything falls out when the big trucks come by. The whole garage had a bad smell, so I knew it was time to clean it out. Much to my disgust, things were growing mold in the can. Eeww! It took me a while but I got it all cleaned.

2. I have discovered that I need to check on and clean the kid's bathroom more often. Little kids are getting up the middle of the night and not flushing. Enough said.

3. I need to sweep out my pantry nightly. Toothsome #3 goes in there for snacks and I discovered yesterday that the mess he makes is not "just a little" but "a big, if I don't sweep it regularly we are going to have mice" kind of mess.

But, besides doing that cleaning yesterday, I also drove downtown and took my kids to the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum. Traffic was bad, parking was worse and by the time we left, the place was so busy it was standing room only. We had a great time and to top it off, I stopped at Dairy Queen on the way home. Oh, and we had hot dogs (the light, lower fat kind) for dinner. Then, I let them stay up and watch the new show "The Singing Bee." The kids were happy and didn't even know or care about my crappy housekeeping.

Thinking about a Good Man

I just found out that the father of one of my oldest childhood friends has leukemia. I have known this man since before I can remember. Being raised in a small town with an even smaller LDS population, the few LDS families did ALOT of things together. I have spent many Christmas, Thankgiving and Memorial Days with this man and his family. I ate a lot of bagels and popcorn at their house on Sunday nights. This man peppers most of my childhood memories.

I think of him as a quiet giant of a man. Someone who is always physically active. Someone who regularly runs the Bolder Boulder. Someone with a quick and often sarcastic wit. He is arguably one of the greatest adult Sunday school teachers our ward has ever had, if not in the church in general. When I moved away from home, I often got calls from my mom on Sunday evenings telling me another important thing she learned from his outstanding Sunday School class.

So, I am having a hard time imagining him sick, in a hospital, receiving chemo treatments. I know bad things happen to good people (and he is up high on the good people scale) but I still don't have to like it. I don't like thinking about what his family is going through. I don't like that their lives are on hold while he is receiving treatment. I don't like that their daughter, who just had a baby is not able to enjoy the new baby moments without having to think about her father across the country being sick.

However, that said, because he is such a good man, I know he has a great support system in his family, ward members, and friends far and wide. I hope he and they are bouyed by our prayers and support. We are thinking and praying for you!

We Are Running a Hotel and other things

Our house feels like we are running a hotel and it is only getting worse. My sister was in town for a few days. It was a delightful visit and now all of the sheets have been washed and things are back to normal. We just got a call from dentist husband's brother who asked if he could stay in our house while they are visiting later this month. We are actually going to be in Colorado while they are here, so I have to have the house spotless before they come. My sister (sibling #3) just called and asked if they can stay a few nights in about week and then later, for another few nights when they take her son to the MTC. I also have my niece and nephew here for a few days the first week in August before they go to EFY at BYU. My son gets baptised that same week, so Grandma and Grandpa will be here as well. Then, at the end of August sibling #2 and her son will be here before he starts his freshman year at BYU! However, this is all a good because I love family and love the fun of visitors. I just hope I can keep up with clean sheet washing.

On a side note, my friend Tiffany recommended on her blog the movie, "Dear Frankie" and after watching it, I have to whole-heartedly agree. It really is a WONDERFUL movie and a "must see". I just checked it out of the library. Current outside temperature 100 degrees. Again, I hate summer heat.

Heat Heat Go Away Come Again Another Day

It is hot, hot, hot and I hate it. I HATE it! Besides that, nobody seems to be blogging. (UPDATE your blogs everyone). I have to admit, I haven't been super good so I can't blame all of you. It is the mid-summer lethargy that has come upon me.

Sister #4 has been in town. She, husband and kids were mainly in town to see her husband's side of the family but they stayed with us (we have a separate guest bedroom just for that purpose) and we still got to see a lot of her and her family. It was a fun trip and we had a great time going to Snowbird, eating that their VERY mediocre Mexican restaurant and then doing the Alpine Slide several times.

Swimming and tennis lessons are still going strong as well as bi-weekly soccer practices. Toothsome #1 turned 8 this past week. Eight years ago, life was very different for us (living in Colorado, husband just graduated from dental school, planning our move to Utah, and buying our first home). It was a crazy year for us but the start of a great adventure in parenting. Thank you toothsome #1 for putting up with our steep learning curve as parents. He gets baptized in August.

My next major project is cleaning out my butler's pantry. It needs it desperately. Oh, and while eating at Crown Burger some Spanish speaking only people about fell out of their seats when they realized that I spoke Spanish. They had been talking to themselves about how cute toothsome #4 is. Nobody expects Scandinavian-looking me to speak Spanish. OK, everyone, I've updated my blog. Your turn.

Give Away at Paige's Blog

My contest-loving friend Paige is sponsoring her first giveaway. To enter, go here.

Hot and Tired

It is currently 100 degrees outside. I am tired and hot and there is no end in sight to this heat. I hate summer.
But on a more positive note, we had a great weekend spent up in Heber, UT. We ate at a fairly new Mexican restaurant that was REALLY good. (I don't remember the name. It started with a T and for those of you who know the area, it is where the Snelgroves used to be, between Heber and Midway.) Most everyone went boating and we saw the movie Ratatouille while up there. It was a fun quick weekend get away. On Sunday, two of Dentist husband's sisters, spouses and children came over for dinner and we had a fun evening of dinner, speed Scrabble and conversation.
Now today is Monday. Fun weekend is over and I am preparing for my week ahead. My sister (#4) is coming into town for a quick visit starting tomorrow. I hope she doesn't mind messy houses because I don't think I am going to get completely on top of everything before she comes. It won't be too bad, but no white glove experience will be had. Toothsome #1's birthday is later this week. It will actually be low key because his friend birthday party is later in the month. And, of course, the Fourth of July is upon us. It is one of my favorite holidays and I can't wait to enjoy a family barbecue and feel pride in my country. On Sunday, I got very teary as I sang the lines, "Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just and this be our motto, "In God is our trust. And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!" God bless America!