Country to the Core

One of the things that first attracted me to Jeff when I met him was the fact that he was a John Denver fan. I had never before met someone (outside of my family) who appreciated the same kind of music that I did and I was so excited. OK, I'm pretty sure I would have liked him even if he didn't like John Denver but it was definitely cool. We even had my parents sing their classic JD duet at our wedding reception...very fitting.


One of my favorite things now is listening to Jeff sing to the kids before they go to bed. While my songs of choice are usually Primary songs (or if we're having a rough time winding down, "I've Been Working on the Railroad"), Jeff opts for the sweet soothing tones of "Country Roads" or "Annie's Song". One night last month, while we were staying at my in-laws' while family was in town, we were both singing "Country Roads" to help the kids go to sleep. Pretty soon I noticed that Cole was quietly singing along and that Madlyn was mouthing the words and playing a little air guitar. :) Very funny, by the way. I was surprised that they both seemed to know all the words.


Since then, we have discovered that indeed, Madlyn & Cole both know all the words to "Country Roads" (at least the ones we taught them - we forgot some of them ourselves) and that they love to perform it. I don't have a digital video camera so you can't all see how stinkin' cute it is but if you want to come over, I'm sure they'd sing it for you.


P.S. I'm a little more proud of this accomplishment than the fact that they both can sing most of the words to Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire".

I Like to Look at Rainbows

Tonight during scripture study we were reading the end of Alma 5 and Alma's invitation to "Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life" sparked a discussion about baptism. Among other things, we talked about how old a child has to be before they can get baptized and we named some cousins and friends who have recently been baptized or will be soon. As I began telling the kids a little about my own baptism, it clicked: today is the 19th anniversary of my baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Memories flooded back as we talked about who baptized me (my dad) and what it was like for me on my special day.

August 12, 1989: almost 3 weeks after my 8th birthday...I thought I would die having to wait so long. Back then, it was not uncommon for a child to get to be baptized on her exact birthday, but to have to wait 3 weeks was almost unheard of. Another unique thing about my baptism was that I was not the only one to get baptized that day in my ward (back then almost everyone got their own special baptism date). Austin Perkins (who had celebrated his bday back in June) and Mindy Jackson (who was a couple of weeks younger than me) were baptized that same night.

We were baptized in order of our age, so I was right in the middle. I got to wear a white baptism dress instead of the usual jumpsuit (I felt pretty lucky) and then I changed into a beautiful dress that my mom had made. I am not really good in the water and I was pretty scared about the whole situation but I remember thinking that it hadn't been that bad after all.

It was a special day for me and one I will never forget. The blessings that have stemmed from that decision to get baptized are more than I can even possibly try to enumerate or describe. I am so grateful for the Gospel in my life and for the strength and sustaining power that I receive from my testimony of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation.

My Baby Is Growing Up!

So I sent Madlyn to Kindergarten this week - cry, cry. Actually, I pulled off the almost impossible feat (for a pregnant me at least) and didn't shed a single tear. She was super excited and couldn't go to sleep the night before and has been waking up bright & early every morning so that she can get ready to go. Unfortunately, it's been a little bit harder for Mom to get used to our new bedtime & wake-up time :) I still think I need to go to bed at 10:30 or later and then I can't hardly roll out of bed in the mornings. But so far we haven't been late (we were so close today though).

I am sooo upset because I took the cutest pictures of Madlyn on her first day before we left home and then with her friends Raelyn & Merrek who are in her class (yay!) and when I uploaded them onto my computer this morning, somehow it didn't work and they were deleted from my camera and I can't find them anywhere on the computer. Thanks to Cindy I have one so that you can all see how cute she looks with her backpack and new school clothes!

I can't believe my little baby is already in school - I have been having all kinds of emotions running through me. I think the biggest feeling - beyond being super excited for her - is that I haven't done enough to prepare her for the craziness of the world out there. I realize that I won't ever stop teaching her but I am a little paranoid I guess. She is a great girl though and I know she will do so well. Congratulations, Mads!

One Reason Why I Think it's Cool That I'm Turning Into My Mom

My mom is pretty much a genius in the kitchen. She can whip up the most delicious food at a moment's notice, and it doesn't seem to take her any time or effort at all (I know it does, Mom - but you sure do a good job of masking it). My kids talk about eating breakfast burritos at Grandma's house, complete with freshly homemade whole wheat tortillas & all the fixin's. Mind you, whenever she cooks, she has to prepare enough for her own 6 ravenous sons and 2 daughters and now all of their spouses and children. It is no small feat, that's for sure. My mom is famous in our small town for making a few things, one of which is her rolls. I have heard many references to Marla's Rolls and people wishing they could make rolls like Marla. My sister and I are among these hopefuls; somehow the roll-making gene was not passed on to us. It is amazing to watch my mom make rolls - she forms them so effortlessly and they turn out all soft and perfectly round...and not a single drop of dough sticks to her fingers while she's doing it. I remember the first time I made rolls as a married woman - I thought I was pretty cool and that my husband was gonna LOVE me - it was not nearly as easy as Mom made it look and I failed quite miserably. First of all, I can not shape them without getting at least half of the dough stuck in between my fingers, and then they are all misshapen and ugly. And most of the time, they don't rise at all so they just end up being tough and lumpy and really not desirable at all - nothing like the soft, melt-in-your-mouth Marla's Rolls.

I have tried everything and nothing has worked. I have even lived at different altitudes and tried several different recipes and ovens...nothing. I have resigned myself to the fact that I may never be able to make yummy rolls like Mom and that they may as well be called biscuits when I make them. (That's for you, Dad)! But yesterday, I had a breakthrough: I thought I was going to be taking dinner to a lady down the street so I decided to try the rolls again. I made bread too, which I can do, so I figured if the rolls didn't turn out then I'd just give her some bread with her dinner instead. What happened was magic. The dough just worked with my fingers and they just formed so effortlessly, with almost no help from me it seemed. They rose beautifully and baked to perfection. I tasted one later and felt like I was literally eating one of Marla's Rolls. Really, it was that good.

Now unfortunately, my sweet neighbor ended up having dinner with family so she did not get to sample this delightful culinary creation of mine but my family sure enjoyed them. In fact, they were dug into and halfway eaten before I had the thought to take a picture. I really hope that this was not a fluke occurrence and that I'll be able to make rolls this delicious again...thanks, Mom, for teaching me everything I know in the kitchen and everywhere else. I couldn't ask for a better mother.

P.S. If anyone wants the recipe for my mom's famous rolls, just look in any Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook...it's their basic roll recipe. Somehow, they just taste better when Marla makes them.

Somebody Help Me Out Here

So when I was pregnant with Cade, I got a great idea for a boy name: Willem. Jeff & I both have Williams in our family history but I liked this variation better. Jeff basically vetoed it from the get-go but I continued to ask other family members and friends for their opinion. The basic response I would get was "Hmmm. Willem? Really? Hmmm. No, I don't like it. Actually, it's kind of an ugly name." Of course, since we are expecting another boy and struggling a little in the name area, I decided to bring it up again. Again, shot down by my dear husband. And again, no one else seems to appreciate it either. I've given up hope of ever being able to use this awesome name but it would be nice if I could find someone out there who sees how cool it really is. Anyone?

Also, I like the name Crandall. It is a family name but I had never thought of it until I read it in my baby name book and I fell in love with it. Pretty sure it's one of Jeff's least favorite names ever (it's a toss-up between that and Willem) so it is definitely out as well. What's your take on this one?

Your Memory of Me

I thought this was such a cute idea that I had to do it.

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!


2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. :) If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Happy Birthday Cole!

Tomorrow is my little boy's 3rd birthday - I can't believe it! The time has gone by so quickly, it is hard to believe he is 3 already! Cole has always been such a pleasant little guy, from the second he was born. He is very laid-back most of the time, but has a little stubborn streak in him that I can't quite figure out where it came from. Cole is a snuggler and often comes up to me and gives me a hug and says, "I love you." Most of the time he doesn't want to be a big boy but prefers to be a little boy and says that he "doesn't want to grow up." That is, unless I tell him that he can grow up to be big and strong like his dad and uncles. Here he is:

Cole at 1 year

Cole on his 2 yr. birthday

Cole at 3 years (almost)

Cole just barely learned how to ride his bike without training wheels (actually, he didn't really have to learn. Jeff said he just pushed him off once and he started going). He is really really good at it but the funny thing is, he is scared to death and thinks he's going to fall. So he will be pedaling down the street doing such a good job but yelling & crying the whole time. It is such a crack-up.

Another funny thing about Cole - the other day I accidentally called him 'sweet pea' and he quickly informed me that Madlyn is 'sweet pea', not him. I asked him what he wanted me to call him instead and he said "Big C Courtesy". That is what Jeff calls him, ya know, after the Courtesy Chevrolet commercials. I thought that was pretty funny. He is definitely a daddy's boy. Oh, and he only likes to be told that he is 'sharp', not handsome, because that is what Grandpa Davis called him one time and now every time I call him handsome he gets upset and says that he is not handsome, he is sharp.

Well, Happy Birthday Cole! We love you and are so happy you are in our family.