The Best Commercial I have seen in a long time!

I thought you would all enjoy something that made me smile!

$240 for that?

So, after reading my sister-in-law's post yesterday about the luck she had with a speeding ticket (read about it here http://4nielsens.blogspot.com/2008/08/another-first.html) I thought I would post a little ditty about my own misadventures! You as the reader can note the distinct differences!

A few nights ago I woke up in the middle of the night, (4:00 a.m. to be exact) smelling something that was reminiscent of Eu Du Vacuum belt burning! It was unnerving, so I spent the next 15 minutes walking around my house looking for the perpetrator. I could not find a thing, so I chalked it up to me being paranoid, having a stuffy nose, and not taking a shower ( thus it was clearly my nasty B.O).

Getting back into bed I awoke Paul who promptly sat up in bed and said, "Do you smell that, it smells like a vacuum belt burning." So, it wasn't any of the aforementioned items and we were up until 5:00 looking for the smell. We finally located it in the attic, coming from the furnace. We figured it was the fan to the AC, cut it off and Paul went back to bed. I sat up on the couch, watching early morning infomercials, waiting for my house to catch fire until 6:30 when I passed out while wondering if pro-activ could really work for me!

The next morning we called an AC guy who came out and informed me that it was this doo-dad, in my world that is the technical name, and it was going to cost me $224! Seriously! He was there for 30 minutes and the part, as best I can tell, cost $100! Really, $100 for something that is the size of a battery!

I did have one lucky break! He took $20 off! (Take that Emily! HeHe)

So, best as I can tell some people do have all the luck, unfortunately my name is not Some People!

AW! SNAP!

Sierra started 3rd grade this morning.

Last week she was really nervous about 3rd grade. But since last Thursday when her teacher, like all the teachers at the school, engaged in the Welcome Walk she has been feeling better! For those that do not live in this region of craziness, The Welcome Walk is when the teachers all come and visit each of their students at their home. It is the first time you find out who your teacher is as well as who everyone else has. So, knowing anything about my child you know that for the next 3 HOURS she was on the phone with everyone she knew! Last Friday was the Back to School Howdy, and the students took their school supplies into their classrooms and saw their rooms for the first time. This was also an opportunity for Sierra to meet the kids that are in her class this year! Since those two nights, her apprehension about 3rd grade has been stripped away and eagerness has taken root.

Last night at 9:00 she went to bed easily, but woke up Paul at 6:00 asking him if it was time yet. He told her no, but if she couldn't sleep she could go ahead and start getting ready. She was banging around the house until 6:30 when I finally got up because there was NO possible way to sleep through the racket. She informed me as I straggled into the kitchen that, " I woke up at 1:00 and saw the clock so I went back to bed, I just laid there wondering when it would be time to get up. " I asked her if she was able to go back to sleep and she said, " Um... I think so." At least she got a full nights sleep, right?

She looked adorable as she went to school today. Paul brought home a special ride for her to go school in... she picked it out and everything! He even took jokes from his co-workers in stride as they asked him, "You turned in a Mustang GT for that?" He is a great Papa.


I am so proud of my little girl. She is going to do great this year.

Sierra, I hope that you make lots of lasting friendships. I hope that you keep friendships alive that you started years ago. I hope that you learn new skills that will help you as you continue to grow. I hope that you try new things- and learn that you can DO them. I hope that you learn new things about yourself. I hope that you learn what an amazing Daughter you are to me, your Dad, and most importantly Heavenly Father. I hope that you learn that you can do, and be anything that you want to be.


Have a great year Sierra! I LOVE YOU!!!

And Logan enjoyed a Cinnamon Roll!

Whatcha' Smellin' ?

My friend Melissa and I were having a conversation the other day about our favorite smells. I thought I would share my top four favorite smells. Why? Because you all know deep down you want to know what makes my nostrils sing!

4. The smell of BBQ. I know that many of you know I have a love of cooking! But, I also have a true love of the smell of cooking meats on an outdoor grill. No, you will NEVER find me hanging outside of Rudy's for a hit. I'm not obsessed, I just like the smell.

3. The smell of Lilly's! When Paul and I were planning our wedding Paul's Mom asked what flowers I wanted in my bouquet. I thought it would be nice to have one of my Mom's and one of my Mother-in-laws favorite flowers in my bouquet. My mother-in-law chose lilies. I will never forget the smell of them. It is amazing! That smell reminds me of the day I was married!

2. The smell of Rain. I love being outside and "smelling" the

rain right before it hits. It is the mixture of rain and grass that I love. It is calming and reassuring to me! I love to dance in the rain, swim in the rain, walk in the rain. I love the rain! Yes, I could live in Forks for all you Twilight lovers out there!

and my #1 favorite smell is........

Coffee!

I know, I know but let me explain.

When I was a little girl I loved going to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Coombs. My Grandpa and Grandma Coombs are the most amazing Grandparents. Our visits were all about us. My Grandpa would ask us what we wanted to do while we were in Utah and then he would do everything in his power to make them all happen. It was magical! We loved to go fishing with Grandpa! The mornings of our fishing trips were amazing! I would wake up early in the morning and go and climb into my Grandpa's lap while he sat at the kitchen table drinking his cup of coffee. He would drink his coffee and rub his morning stubble on my cheeks. I would laugh, and he would laugh his big belly laugh, and then I would run off and get ready for the fishing trip. That is one of my happiest childhood memories, and why I love the smell of coffee! It reminds me of a Grandfather's unconditional love.

So, I ask, what are your favorite smells?

Question

Last night while watching the Olympics the following question popped into my mind:

Igor Cassina of Italy

( picture from a previous Olympics)

OR

Darrin from Bewitched?

Don't get me wrong, he was incredible on the high bar, but all I kept thinking as he was getting ready was, Oh My Goodness that is Darrin from Bewitched.

I also feel it necessary to say that American Gymnastics was great last night.

Jonathon Horton, Silver High Bar

Sjon Johnson, Gold on Balance Beam and

Nastia Lukin, Silver on Beam

Jawbreaker Lovin'

The only thing Sierra wanted from our trip to Utah was a large Jawbreaker. Unfortunately in Layton, Ut there were no candy stores that I could find, and therefore no Jawbreaker to be had!

Luckily we went to Houston the night we got back into town and in Sugar Land, there just happened to be a a great little candy shop. So, of course, we purchased a large Jawbreaker.

Sierra and Logan have been working on the thing for 3 days. Here are some great pictures of their efforts!

Logan's Jawbreaker goatee!

Sierra is very proud of her progress into the Center of the Earth,

I mean Jawbreaker!

Cute kids and their half-eaten Jawbreaker!

Utah Trip- Part Deux

While in Utah we were able to go and visit my Grandpa and Grandma Scovill, and my Aunt Lori and her kids. Sierra even walked down the street and visited her Great Great Grandma Uwin VanBuren. It was a special visit for my Sierra! She loved it! I love going to visit Paul's family, but I also love getting to go down to Santaquin and visiting "my kind of crazy". It is refreshing oddly enough! That, and I always stop and eat at the Santaqueen. They have THE BEST fry sauce and burgers in Utah County.We had a blast visiting the Scovill's. We have so much fun together. I love my Dad's family's sense of humor....because it is mine, and I love visiting my Aunt Lori because she loves to scrapbook and shop just about as much as I do! We always go out and get in trouble together, even if there are only a few short hours together! My Grandma also made dinner for us, delicious as always. What is it about dinner at your Grandma's table? Everything tastes SO good!

Anyway, here are some highlights of our trip to Santaquin, UT!

Sierra with her 2nd Cousins. Brandy and Erica. Such cute girls, Everytime we have come to Utah since Sierra was little, they have played with her. They are great friends! Cutie-Patootie Taye Silva. So much like his father.

We love you Uncle George!My Aunt Lori. She will kill me that I posted this, but now you can see that it is not only my immediate family that contributes to my mental issues. Do you see it- EVIDENCE. I love you Lori, you are my Aunt and my friend! I couldn't ask for more!

Miss you guys! Love you all! See you Soon!

I Love to See the Temple!

On our recent trip to Utah we had the opportunity to take Sierra and Logan to see Temple Square in Salt Lake. This is not the first time Sierra has been, but it was the first time I think she appreciated it. It was a really fun experience. It was great showing her where Paul proposed, and where Paul and I later married. I think she really enjoyed herself.

I loved feeling the peace and serenity that you feel just being inside the gates at Temple Square. The flowers were breathtaking, the brides were stunning, it was just a beautiful day.

To be there with my little family made it even more special.

Logan's favorite part of the day was climbing into the reflection pond and splashing to his hearts content. He was so happy to get all wet- my little water baby. ( Yeah, those are my arms trying to grab him before he decided to go all Olympic diver into the pool)

Sierra and her Uncle Jacob on the Temple Grounds. They were such good friends this trip. It made me so happy that she was able to spend time with her Uncles and Cousins.

The kids in front of Thorvaldsen's Christus.

We had such a great trip to Utah. We were able to do lots of fun stuff. Unfortunately, Paul and I were too busy having fun so there aren't a lot of pictures.

We had a great time and we love and miss you all already.

It's time to start planning the next one!

LOVE YOU GUYS!

On A Jet Plane

We are heading out tomorrow. We are going on our long awaited summer vacation, and heading to Utah. We are hoping that Eduard will be kind and not delay our flight. We need the rain still so I am not going to be too upset about his arrival but seriously, we have a 45 minute connecting window for our plane in Denver. I really do not want to sit in an airport all day! Please send up happy go lucky travel vibes for us!

I will be taking a short break from blogging while I am gone. You can check back, cause I may surprise you, but the odds are low.

(I like how I am speaking to a vast audience and really there are only 20 some of ya that visit our little fledgling blog anyway. I have delusions of grandeur. I like my delusions!)

Families that Laugh Together.....

That was the name of the restaurant that my friend Vicky and I were going to open. It was going to be amazing, we talked about it all the time. Vicky and I have the uncanny ability to cook really well together. We can come up with recipes, and execute them magnificently. Dishes that we have made alone all of a sudden come out 10x better when we are cooking in the same kitchen. Maybe it is the love that goes into them. We don't know.

But, last night we did it again!

Vicky called me, and while we were talking I said, "I have no idea what I am making for dinner tonight. What should I make?" She asked me what I had, and I told her about my brilliant idea to roast zucchini and squash to serve with my frozen ravioli and spaghetti sauce dinner. She then suggested that I make the zucchini and squash into a primavera type sauce.

We brain stormed and Vicky and Randi's On The Fly Garden Primevera was born.

I am blogging about it because not only was it delicious, but it was beautiful, and the kids loved it! If you want the recipe let me know and I will email it to you. It was super easy, fast, and more importantly my kids ate their veggies. Yummo!