A Forgotten Tradition

There are lots of posts again. I'm trying not to get behind, but struggling, so this is a catch up of the last month. Enjoy!

My little sister Ashley used to be the cook in our family. Out of all of us kids, she had the passion and was good at it. We used to always make soft pretzels together in all sorts of shapes. When I say always, I mean we made either those or homemade breadsticks on a VERY frequent basis.
I was needing a fun idea for something fun for the kids & I to do and I thought that would be perfect! I sent her a text message asking for the recipe and after a few days decided to try calling my mom to see if maybe she had it. I had to leave her a message and while I was waiting for her to call back, Ashley called me with the recipe. Right after I got off the phone with her my momma called me back with the recipe as well. She said Ashley had called her for it and she didn't even know where the recipe was, but Ashley had used it so often that even after all these years she could tell her exactly where to go find it. LOL! I'm an impatient imp...it's okay...I admit it.
So we broke out the aprons my Momma made for my kiddos and got to work. We had so much fun with the dough and the mashing and the general mess making that ensued. I had forgotten just how tasty the end result was too!

New Easter Outfits and a trip to Kanab

We went out to Kanab for a weekend birthday excursion. My birthday, Nick's birthday and Roxi's birthday's are all within just 5 days of each other. We always have a good 'ole time scarfing our faces full of yummy food and just shooting the breeze. This time was no exception.
We stayed at Nick's house on Saturday night and when we woke up on Sunday morning I decided to have me a little photo shoot. Please ignore the fact that I was probably the only LDS blogger alive NOT to have posted something cutesy about Easter outfits. It's not that I didn't HAVE the cutesy little Easter outfits...I'm just a lazy blogger. :) So, here are my kids in all their Easter outfit glory! Yes, I went with a matching theme this year. I think it's partly the anal-retentiveness in me, but I think they all looked so danged cute together! It was pleasing to my eyes and thus the matching! The end!






After our shoot Tucker decided he wanted to take the camera and have himself his own little photo shoot. I told him he could take 5 pictures. This is what he came back with. Was I impressed? Heck yes! I did adjust contrast and color on a few of the pictures, but most are SOOC (straight out of camera).

In observance of my big 3-0, I wanted to come up with a witty post like my friend. I have been laughing my can off at her post since reading it, and have gone back many a-time to go get another chuckle. I love her wit and wisdom and she has a talent with words. So, instead of having to actually work hard and create my own witty post I called and got her permission to just re-post hers. It's a cop-out I know, but seriously you'll love it!

Disclaimer: The below section was NOT written by me (with slight editing to save privacy), although many of the events and thoughts may have hit a bit close to home. :)

Today I turned 30. To celebrate, I'd like to take a look back at my last ten years with a quick review:

Age 20: Graduated from Dixie College, worked in Kanab, went one semester to the University of Utah
Age 21: Moved back to St. George, met husband, got engaged
Age 22: Married husband, moved to first home
Age 23: Finished college at SUU
Age 24: Baby #1
Age 25: Ran my first marathon
Age 26: Baby #2, moved to current home
Age 27: Baby #3
Age 28: Can't recall anything, survived?
Age 29: Ran second marathon

But being the realist that I am, I have to concede that while these were all pretty big events in my life, they weren't without some hardships, as well. So, since I HATE blogs about perfect husbands, children, hobbies, color schemes, and yummy treats, I have to interject some realism into my "20s List" (to help out all those folks that, like me, need to know that everyone else does NOT have a perfect life).

Age 20: Was so confused about where to go after Dixie, I felt lost
Age 21: Felt like I had to compete for husband's affection, I won, but what was this, "The Bachelor"??
Age 22: Felt like a failure for not getting married in the Temple
Age 23: Gained a significant amount of "we're in a comfortable routine now" marriage weight
Age 24: Did not know what the joys of motherhood were all about with a new baby that screamed for hours and hours every night for two months
Age 25: The year of the mouse invasion in our home - I didn't sleep for weeks
Age 26: Found out I was pregnant when Baby #2 was 5 months old, cried for months because the smells in our new home made me want to vomit and I felt like the old owner's dirt, and bird droppings, would never leave no matter how much I cleaned
Age 27: Threw a flower pot at my husband in front of his friends because I was very emotional
Age 28: Was consumed with three little kids, two of which weren't ready for Nursery at church
Age 29: Ran a marathon and didn't lose a damn pound

Life's not always great, but I am so thankful for the opportunities I've had to finish my education, have a family, and live in a place I like. As Tim McGraw would say I'll "drink a little lemonade and not so many beers, huh, maybe I'll remember my next 30 years." OK, so the beers haven't been a problem, but I can always "do it better in my next 30 years."

Okay, Crystal back again! :) That was funny huh?!? I am so grateful for ALL the ups and the downs honestly because, for the most part, I'm very proud of where I am. It's never an easy road and each day brings its own challenges and rewards, but as a man very dear to my heart just told me, "We're making it!" So here's to mid-life and all the great times we are to have. I hope you're ready for me, because I'm about to own it!

P.S. Forgot the picture. Yates had to work (boo!) so he brought home Chili's To-Go and I ordered my favorite treat! All that chocolatey-gooey deliciousness topped with ice cream and sticky caramel was all I really wanted for my birthday! The kids were more than happy to do the honors and help me ring in the big day in style!

Soccer 2010

Tucker played soccer again this year and loves it every year! He still is a little timid and kind of waits for someone to hit the ball to him instead of just running right after it and being the aggressor. He did better toward the end of the season, but my favorite thing about this summer was his coach. She was great! Tucker came home one day and said, "Mom, my coach's name is Inger...like finger. She told us it's okay to call her finger." I laughed and asked if he was sure that's what she had said. I highly doubt she gave permission to be called finger. She was super great with the kids and they all clamored for her attention and praise. She was free to give positive comments to each and every one of the players. Soccer is now over and it's baseball season. So far it's been an eventful one. Tucker's 1st year of machine pitch.

1st Grade End of Year Performance

Tucker had an event at the school where they dressed up like animals and did a little dance. I rushed to get there from work and didn't even think to grab my camera, so I didn't get any pictures. So, for the end of 1st grade presentation to the parents I failed to neglect my duties as a good mother and took my video camera AND point and shoot! My luck continued however, because I just may have had a dead battery on the video camera and had to stand at the back of the lunchroom near the wall outlet so I could get ANY video at all. That didn't stop me. He did great, but he must not have seen us come in because he didn't smile ONCE! I did notice that he was surrounded by girls. I know there are boys in his class, but he was stuck plum in the middle of the females...lucky boy!
I can't believe there's only a couple more weeks left of 1st grade!