To Do List

Well now that conference is over and I'm high on life, it's time to make some improvements on my already totally awesome life. {Disclaimer: I don't think anyone will care to read about this except me, so don't waste your time, in fact, make your own "better yourself list" and we can compare notes. . .it feels good to write it out.} So here it goes.

#1 It's time to stop complaining. Now, being sick all the time is horrible, but Dave has a very good point that it is worse being the one who has to HEAR about it ALL the time. I even complained about MO-Tab's color choice for their choir frocks today. (But even my mom thought they looked awful, so I didn't feel so bad. Really though, 80's pepto-bismol pink?!). Ok I'm done, for real! From now I'm adopting the old adage "if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all." Instead of complain.

#2 It's time to stop comparing. There will ALWAYS be someone more talented, more awesome, stronger, richer, more spiritual and more totally awesome than me. I'm pretty good about this one, but there's times when I wish I could have more $$ to spend mindlessly at Target or more talent in a certain area or visit the Holy Land, but when push comes to shove everyone has there own unique abilities and its best to just excel in the areas you've been blessed with and then enjoy what others have to offer.

#3 I have to be better at studying the scriptures. It is such a challenge for me to STUDY the scriptures. I read them, but rarely do I cross-reference, or write notes when I'm studying. I just feel like I can be better in this area over all. I loved Elder's Scott's talk about scripture study, especially memorizing scriptures. Right now I only have one memorized, back from seminary days. Helaman 5:12. And I don't even think I could recite it perfectly. Here it goes. "And now my sons remember remember that it is upon the rock of your Redeemer who is Christ that you must build your foundation. And when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shaft in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and mighty wind shall beat upon you it shall have no power over you because of the rock upon which you are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if you build you cannot fall." I'll have to check it later to see how far off I am. He even said if I am more diligent in scripture study, I'll be a better mom. And who can't use help in that area!?

#4 I am a hoarder. And super sentimental about everything. All Dave wants for Christmas is a dumpster size load of crap thrown away. Good thing my sister just moved here and she is 100% opposite of a hoarder. I don't know what the word is, but its the opposite.

#5 Once I get rid of everything, I will be ready to cutesify my house. Paint, re-decorate, craft, etc. I am needing ideas, so if any of you are still reading this, and are gifted in interior design, HELP ME! I promise I won't compare myself to you. Just read my #2.

#6 I am devoting 1 hour a day to speaking Spanish. Every day. IT is ridiculous I've been in the Spanish ward 5 years now and still can barely give a talk. It's embarrassing. Especially because my husband is a Spanish teacher and the Obispo! Oh if only I could live in Mexico for a year. I'd be rapping in Spanish. I need it to for visiting teaching. Two of my ladies are less active and only speak Spanish. I feel foolish only understanding 50% of their needs.

#7 Family history. Stake Prez wants every individual in the stake to have 5 names to go to the temple with by the end of the year. So time to start praying for the spirit of Elijah, because for sure, I don't have it. And let's face it, family history takes a back seat to life every time. But I did some research today and yesterday and our family names are pretty awesome. Cleatus? Roscoe? (As in chicken and waffles.) Barnabus? (As in the villain from Toy Land) Benjamin Franklin Speed? (As in the first electrician). I'm thinking Roscoe Cleatus might have to be the name for our next babe.

#8 I'm making the blog private. Dave is making me. I don't really think anyone reads this ol thing anyways. But he's a private kind of guy. If you care to keep up with us let me know. I'll privatize in the next day or two.

#9 I have to get my HAM radio license. Dave asked me to for our ward. I guess every ward needs at least one person who has it in case of an emergency. So I'll be pretty cool with a huge antenna on my car and a walkie-talkie-like system inside. I'll check in with the truckers and my other HAM peeps. I know all of you reading this will want to get your radio license, so we can radio each other when a big natural disaster comes. So go here and be prepared!

last but not least #10 Writing things down things I want to remember forever.

For example, today my sister Carrie and I were performing "Edelweiss" for her husband Pat (who has NEVER seen Sound of Music, gasp!, but we watched it soon after our duet). Anyways, we began singing "Edelweiss, edelweiss, every morning. . ." I glance at him, and he has the most perplexed look on his face and said "huh? What are you saying?" So we begin again. "Edelweiss, Edelweiss, every morning. . ." Again, same look and question. We stop the song and say loudly "Edelweiss, you know the small white Swiss flower?!?" Like duh of course you should know this. He then laughs uncontrollably for a solid 30 seconds, gasping for air and says between breaths, "I. . .thought you said "Anal-vice." I don't think I've laughed like that for a long time. We then began singing the parody "Anal-vice, anal-vice, every morning you greet me. . ."

First mural

Phoebe and Papa

I love them.

I cannot imagine

I know most of you who read this will know that I'm referring to losing a child. I cannot shake this deep sadness I have for baby Ruby's passing. I just can't stand it. Why didn't she get the perfect liver? Every night for the past 3 months I'd give Dave the latest status updates on her and would plead in my prayers that a perfect liver would come, or that they would be comforted, or whatever Ani put on her Facebook to pray for. I am so grateful that she kept this experience public because my prayers have been more fervent and its made me greatly appreciate the special role I have as a mother. It is so special and sacred. The difficult times I have with Phoebe don't even compare one mite to Ani's. And I'm not trying to compare trials, but just say it because it's helped me appreciate my life more and more. I am find myself living in the present, not caring what happened yesterday, and not worrying about the future, but enjoying every moment as it is. I'm not saying I'm totally 100% patient with Phoebs' tantrums or Philly's (my sister's dog I'm watching) disobedience, or Dave's. . .can't think of anything bad about him at the moment, or any trial, but in the back of my mind I remember Ruby and I am just a little bit calmer about everything. They are such a special family and will continue to touch my life from their experience.

Order your fresh, home made tamales today!

Hi. Our ward is doing a fundraiser for girls camp and scout camp. We are trying to sell 1,000 tamales so all our youth can go. (They can't afford to pay). Please, please order our tamales! Today is the deadline to order! (But if you don't read this today and still want to order, let me know ASAP!!)

Info:

1.) We are making them NEXT SATURDAY JULY 16th.

2.) ORDER HERE

3.) Repost on your blog (if you live in SC/DP/SJC/LN etc.)

4.) If you don't like tamales but still want to contribute go HERE

5.) Bring your tamales over and we can have a fiesta at my house on the 16th. Around 6? At least there will be plenty to eat :)

Muchas Gracias Amigos!

I never want to leave.

Today was a milestone for me. I really surfed on the 5'10 bonzer. I mean really surfed. I even did a sweet bottom turn, and paddled waaaay out to the outside. (It was scary big so I hailed mary back to the inside), but this is definitely hands down best place I've ever surfed.
AND I got to surf in WARM WATER! Which never happens. Icing on the cake!

Dave surfed the bonzer well too.Isn't this the most dreamy set up?A piece of real estate we are looking into (in our dreams). . .overlooking above. I'm telling you blog, southern baja is where it's at!

Mehico thus far.

It's no secret we LOVE mexico. Isn't it obvious? We tend to gravitate south of the border every few months or so and this time we are here for over 2 weeks! Now, I'm not going to pretend Mexico is this glamorous place. OOOHHH no. Its most definitely a diiiiiiirty destination. Literally. You know that scripture "from dust thou art. . .?" Well we are living proof of this. Especially when you're camping. You kind of start to turn into a giant crust ball. I don't think I even brought deodorant. SO ya, the flies are attracted to us needless to say. I give major props to Phoebs. She's had her moments (as 22 month olds do) but over all she's been a real champ, thanks to a little thing called a DVD player and snacks and pools when where available. I also give major props to myself for having such a good attitude! Even Dave said so. A girl can only be dirty for so long ya know? And of course I give props to Dave for being out numbered and for ALWAYS being so darn cheerful about it. He loves his girls. Even if we are a bit crusty. K. Here's the breakdown. The first day/night of driving was hell. Phoebs was ridiculously insane and I was also nuts from dealing with her, and we couldn't find a decent place to camp (we almost got totally scammed at K38 by some lame "surfer" trying to sell us a night at his overly clean, overly priced pompous place. He was a real dork.) So we finally found a place to camp just south of Enseñada. Little did we know it was like Mexican Disneyland. We wake up to music bumping, Mexicans ziplining and paddleboating, crossing crazy high bridge w/ death traps, splashing in a humongous water park, etc. You simply cannot find anything this death defyingly awesome in the USA. Whoever said Mexico is a dangerous place did not visit camp Las Cañadas. Definitely made up for our rough start.
A few hundred miles later in Cataviña we stayed in a hotel! The AC was glorious. I loved the architecture here and Phoebs loved running around and swimming. We had an impromptu photo shoot in the early morning. (Disclaimer: I'm not a photographer.) A few hundred miles after that and we ended up in this place, Dave refuses stating the name of places where good waves are. . .but if you're really curious give him a call. It was super awesome, because the owner of Aussie Dogs, Chris, has a fishing compound here (AD sponsors the surf team, and his daughter was in Dave's class.) So we just camped on his lot. Clean flushable toilets and showers are a rarity when you're camping in Mex. He also took us on his boat and I caught my first edible fish, actually I caught 3! It's called pinto bass and makes excellent fish tacos. Absolutely the highlight of our boat trip was when a pelican came outta no where and landed right on Chris' head. He stayed there for a good 5 minutes! A first for Chris. We also spotted lots of dolphins and turtles. The ocean is definitely alive here.This is Dave's dream set up. Homey ain't it?

Fashionable melt down.taking it back to '75. Dave's student (whose name is also Stephanie), was Phoebe's best friend for a few days. Dave is inside of this tube. For real.This Bay is probably the most beautiful I've seen. The water had to of been at least 80 degrees. It was sooooooooooooooooo nice to be in WARM WATER! Phoebs was in heaven. At night Phoebs, Dave and I laid in the water starring at the starlit sky. Well I laid and Phoebs did a "1, 2, 3, GOOO run into the water to dad, and repeated this several thousand times.) So, 4 days into traveling we are now in Cabo, and have been here 3 nights so far. This part of Mexico is definitely "glamorous" I use quotations because we have quite the scene here. Anywhere from "girls gone wild, summer '11" crew, to the older midwestern folk, to the honeymooners. It's fun being a tourist. We are lucky enough to be staying in Dave's surf team student's dad's hotel, his dad's dad was the architect and built it in the 80's and it is quite a work of art.

Phoebs has the pool all to herself and we can't keep her out of it. I have a hard time coming out too.

This is a scene you would ONLY get in a tourist destination of Mexico. and in the SC 3rd ward. Phoebs was way into the show. First half down. Time to go to Lover's Beach. Adios.