To Everything There is a Season...

Look!!! I am blogging again! That's because I would rather blog than write that paper I need to write. That's because I would rather blog than study anymore Chemistry Nomenclature. That's because I would rather blog than clean my house.

Well it is that time of year again...

LENT!!!!

It was very considerate of the Catholics...(or whoever is in charge of determining the Lenten Season dates) ...to take into account my 40th birthday and wait until the 25th of February for me to give up sugar.

I am ready!!! Well I will be after Tuesday. No more sugar until April 12th...Easter Sunday. If memory serves, that is when all cattle will break loose and the binging will begin. Then at the end of Easter give or take a day or two, I will swear to never eat sugar again (again)...an oath that is likely to be broken...the day after taking it.

My name is Robin...I am a Sugar Addict!!! (So who's in with me??)

On another seasonal note...I am finally working on getting a garden planted. I haven't really had a garden since Sarah was a baby. I am not actually planting the garden, Chuck is planting the garden. He and his wife live in a Condo and have no yard, so I struck up a deal with him to plant one in my back yard. So he does all the work, I water and provide supplies and we both get to enjoy the literal fruits of his labor. We both see this as a win-win situation... I think I will get just as much satisfaction out of letting someone else plant and work a garden in my yard as I would if I did it myself. I have found this to also be true of lawn mowing (now that Jacob does it) and house cleaning (when I can spare the money for a house cleaner...not often enough.)

And another thing....

My pantry...I love my pantry. I have expanded my pantry and it is huge. I found some great shelves at a garage sale and I love my shelves. I even have room in my pantry for more. More appliances...which I keep buying, more food storage...which we all need. My old pantry used to have a laundry room separated by a wall that led into my pantry. Well after the flood of May 2008, I decided to knock out that wall and make one big pantry. Then I put my laundry room hook ups in a back room addition. While I was doing that, I had the handyman set me up with hook ups for 2 washers and 2 dryers. I now have two dryers...but no washers. Once I get my washers we should never fall behind in laundry again. I have also told my kids that they will be in charge of their own laundry. (We'll see!) Don't you just love my new and improved pantry??...(It looks much large in real life.)




Here is a picture of our January 19th MiLK day celebration table. As a tradition in our family, we celebrate MiLK Day and have all kinds of MiLK. We have Chocolate MiLK, Vanilla MiLK, Strawberry MiLK...and even Vanilla Soy MiLK...so even those who are intolerant can be included in our MiLK day celebration. We had a bunch of friends over for brunch with french toast and butterMiLK syrup...we had OJ too. I found the cute, fitting...and perhaps controversial table decor at a garage sale the weekend prior





And here are some pictures I just found of our Christmas Ski trip... The kids loved their first try at skiing. Both of them took to it like fish to water. I took them back just last week for another go of it...I am hoping I can get Sarah to miss school so we can go again on Tuesday...but I'm thinking she won't want to miss school. Who would rather go to school than skiing???

Back by Popular Demand.....

Ok...I'll post something. I'll do anything to get out of studying.

What to write about. My life is pretty routine. Unlike Jenny who has a constant influx of children coming and going, or Paige who whose kids make sugar cookies into animal cells. (I should make some of those and give them to my old Bio teacher...wait I already got an "A" no need to kiss up to him anymore.) I don't have a son who is freshly driving and raising my insurance rates through the roof like Melinda, nor do I have the creative ability to post any of my creations for the world to see like Amy.

That is not to say that my life is uneventful...it is very eventful. Usually it is so crammed with activities, I don't have time or energy to blog about it.

Did I mention that I took my kids skiing for Christmas? I did...they loved it. We had a fabulous Christmas.

Did I mention I got straight "A" s in school? I did. I am now and honor student with a 4.0 GPA. (sigh)...If only I had known 22 years ago the things I know today.

Sarah is 13 and according to her facebook...she is currently "in a relationship". Yeah...she has more of a social life than I do. Oh well, as busy as I am...who has time for dating?

Jacob is soon to be 12 and doing well in school. In his ELP class he and I worked on an electrical project. We had an electric motor which we made into a fan which blew a boat across a tub of water. When the boat hit the other side, it turned a light on in the house. His project was one of the two best projects in his class. The other kids were really impressed.

I am working as a tax preparer again...in my spare time. I don't work often, but I do enjoy the people I work with.

...And that's about all I can think of. Oh Yeah!!! I am turning 40 in 12 days. Some how I just can't imagine myself 40. However I have noticed that my eyesight is getting a bit weaker, but I am still in denial about that. I tried on a friends glasses the other day and was surprised to see how crisp the world really is. My knee and wrist were aching the other day...something that happens on occasion. When I thought about it, I realized that it was going to rain. My joints now respond to the weather...AKKK! However, I am still young at heart... I may be wrapping up my "Hippie Phase" in life, but I am still just a kid mentally...

That's my life. I go to school, I take care of kids, I clean house, and I sleep. Sometimes I go out with friends...but they are getting used to me telling them I have to study. But they patiently wait for me to tell them I have a small amount of time for them. What great friends.

So that's it...

I did come across this video the other day that I thought a lot of you might like. I like the part with the kids...but I thought the preacher used it as a good model for putting off the natural man with a hope for something better....

http://www.wikihow.com/Give-the-Marshmallow-Test

So, which kid are you?????

My Favorite Saturday Morning Conference Quote....

"In the midst of Winter we find within us an invincible Summer...." Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaking on Hope.

Problem Solved!!

So you know what I did? I had Kemp go over and talk to him. That worked...now I have my hose back. I think everybody should have a Kemp.

What would you do?...

How is that for an opening? I have a situation...which haves a somewhat obvious solution...yet it is often easier for me to know the solution than it is to act on it.

I have this neighbor...his name is Jorge. He is from Mexico. He has lived next door for the past couple of years and has basically been a decent neighbor. Sometimes he even would mow or do small yard jobs for me...while I was away. He has had a number of people sharing the house with him, but they have always been nice enough. ....except a couple of weeks ago when the police were all around my neighborhood...on two streets. I found out that Jorge had let someone stay at his house who had molested one of the boys on the other street. Anyway...

A few days after that incident, Jorge came over to my house at 9:30 PM. I was in my pajamas and only opened the door to poke my head out. Told me he was moving in a few days and that his water had been shut off and he wanted to know if he could use my hose to wash up. I told him OK and after some small talk...which included him giving me a pile of firewood, I left him to use my hose. ...assuming that this was a one time deal or something.

Well, the next day I looked and saw that my hose was hooked up to his hose leading up to his house. I was a bit surprised and a little annoyed with that, but thought that maybe I had misunderstood him...easy to do when you don't both speak the same language. So thinking he would be leaving in a couple of days, I decided to just let it go. Well moving day came, and a bunch of his roomies moved out, but he didn't. Eight days later...he is still there, and so is my hose and water. He's been using my hose for nearly 2 weeks. This is because his water is off and he needs water. I believe his power is off too...as his house is always dark at night. Fortunately there are no extension cords going from my house to his.

So now I am getting quite frustrated with this situation. I spoke to him last week and mentioned it, he told me he was moving on Tuesday...Yesterday. Well, I don't see signs of moving.

OK...I know the answer is obvious. I could just go over when he is not home and unhook my hose from his and put it in my back yard. Or...I could go over and just talk to him assertively and suggest that he figure out how to get his water situation taken care of without using my water. It really shouldn't be that difficult, but it is for me. I HATE CONFRONTATIONS!!! Why can't people just be normal? You know? Who just uses his neighbor's water for weeks??? Perhaps that's what they do in Mexico, but we don't do that here. UGH!

So....any suggestions?...

No...really....I had a fantastic Summer!!!

Well, that last blog was my sort of sarcastic, but amusing (if only to me) way of appeasing Paige's persistent request for a blog. However, today I want to reiterate what a great summer the kids and I had.

We began the summer...and I mean began the moment the kids got out of school...with a cross country road trip in my coolest Vanagon ever...the Syncro. That was because I had sold it to some guy in Connecticut, and worked out an arrangement to drive it to him...that's kind of a long, unnecessary story.

We saw a few new states on the way to Connecticut...Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas...I've always wanted to see the Ozarks, as "Where the Red Fern Grows" is an alltime favorite book of mine. It is as beautiful as I had imagined...I really want to see it in the Fall.

We went through Kentucky...which we had been to before on our first Vanagon road trip. I have decided it is one of my favorite states so far. We camped at two different places there and almost got to experience a tornado in one...we could hear the sirens, but it never came to us. We also found a brand new baby deer at another camp site. We got to pet it...and the kids were very excited. Jacob got poison ivy from that...those silly deer hiding in the poison ivy...what are they thinking?

Then we drove through West Virginia and camped there. We were practically the only people at that campsite...it was like we owned the entire mountain. As night approached and it got very dark, the kids got a little nervous thinking about the wild animals that might be out there. I was a little nervous as well, not so much thinking about the animals, but the fact I knew there were 2 other small groups of people on that mountain that I didn't know, and all the Friday 13th movies I had seen in my tender youth...before swearing off those rated "R" movies came to mind. EEEK! I didn't share my nervous imaginings with my kids. Instead we watched "The Muppet Movie"...and that did wonders to lighten our spirits. (When was the last time you watched that movie...???)

From West Virginia...we went to Virginia and saw Lisa and ClarkCordner and their fabulous family. It was so nice to see them again and they are always very gracious and kind when we come visit. Our only regret is we wished we had more time to spend with them, but we only had an evening and morning. But it was very nice to see them...they are so accomodating...we think they actually like us to visit. (We hope they do :o} )

From there we made our last leg of the journey with a transmission going out and barely making it over the border to Connecticut. It was there that the new owner...who had to be a bit disappointed, took the van, dropped us off at a NYC hotel and said good bye...as we said good bye to our fabulous Vanagon that we had originally named "Buzz" because it was the coolest toy of all...and later named Wheezy...because it didn't perform as well as we had hoped. Sigh...I need another Vanagon!!!

On that trip...we experienced every kind of weather imaginable... We began with rain at home...believe it or not turning into heavy snow (yes on May 23) as we climbed into the mountains...(that has NEVER happened in AZ on that day for as far back as weather has been recorded in AZ) Then we crossed the hot, dry plains of TX and OK. Then humidity which often turns into tornado weather with heavy rain and hail...and some very ominous clouds. It was very exciting!

We also went to see my brother in law in Iowa...and saw a new state...Nebraska when we went to Winter Quarters in Omaha.

Then we went to San Diego for a couple of days of fun at the Beach and to visit my friend Sherri...that was fun with the exception of the Sting ray...but even that makes an amusing, memorable story. Then up to Utah to spend a week Paige and family...That's always a Summer Highlight. We especially loved watching Paige in her "Seussical" Play. She was great.

Between vacations, the kids went on various vacations with their Dad and had a fabulous time.

Finally, we went camping as we usually do. We go to a place where we can play in the stream and pick blackberries, and just relax. I love camping....even without a Vanagon. School started a few days later...and then for me two weeks later...but that is another post.

So summer was very eventful, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY FRIENDS WHO MADE THE WONDERFUL SUMMER MORE ENJOYABLE FOR US. We have officially seen 35 of the 50 states...we're getting there...I guess the Deep South is next... Are any of you moving south in the near future??? I wonder if anyone in North Carolina has a Vanagon they want to sell...

That's all.... Enjoy the photos....

(Apparently this blog site won't let me put captions on the photos...or I can't figure it out...WHATEVER!)

PHOTOS IN ORDER...

(FAMILY PHOTO IN WEST VIRGINIA)

(BUTTERFLY IN THE OZARKS...)

(LOTS OF CENTIPEDES IN WEST VIRGINIA.)

(JACOB'S ATTEMPT AND SUCCESS AT PHOTOGRAPHING LIGHTNING...BEFORE THE TORNADO WARNING SIREN.)

(FAMILY PHOTO AT THE OZARKS)

(SARAH PICKING POPPIES IN KENTUCKY)

(COOL TURTLE CROSSING THE STREET IN KENTUCKY)

(ONE MORE FAMILY PHOTO...IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA.)

Paige wants me to blog something...

Alright already ...MY SUMMMER....By Robin Johnson...Age 39

My summer was fun. We did lots of stuff. We drove our Vanagon to Connecticut. It took 8 days and we had fun, but we also had car troubles... I tell my kids the things that go wrong on our trips are what make the trip more memorable.

We only had 8 days to get to Connecticut because we had to be back in time for Sarah to go to Girl's Camp. I wanted to stay on our road trip longer, but Sarah really wanted to go to Girl's Camp. It was her first time. She had fun.

When Sarah and Jacob came back, we went visit my brother-in-law, Gary...only he's not really my brother-in-law anymore...but I still love him and I think of him as a brother. We flew with my mother to St. Louis where Gary and my nephew Colton met us. We had fun. We saw the arch and ate at the Spaghetti Factory. The Mississippi River was very flooded and we even played in the Mississippi River...in the middle of the street in St. Louis.

Then we went to Nauvoo. We had fun. But at some point my mother blew a gasket and yelled not very nice things at me. Then we didn't have fun. So Sarah and I went to Minnesota to see some of our friends, while Jacob stayed in Iowa with Gary, Colton and my mom. Sarah and I had fun...but I missed Jacob. Jacob did have fun in Iowa though. I tell Sarah and Jacob that the things that go wrong on our trips are what make them more memorable. We don't want to remember that part though.

We all met up in Omaha, NE to fly out. While there we saw Winter Quarters. I thought it was interesting and wished we had more time to see more.

After we got home from that trip, Sarah and Jacob went to Texas with their Dad, so I had a lot of time on my hands. I don't remember what I did with it...but I think I did some house cleaning somewhere in there.

When Sarah and Jacob came back, we decided to go to Utah to see our friends the Ericksons. Instead of just driving straight up, we went to San Diego to stay a weekend with a friend and then drive to Utah. We had fun in San Diego. On Saturday, we went to the beach and played in the ocean. I got stung by a Stingray. That hurt a lot...!!! That was NOT fun. I tell the kids that
the things that go wrong on our trips are what make them more memorable. We'll definitely remember that! We went to the beach the next day...and we had fun.

Then we drove up to Utah and stayed with Paige and Ryan and their kids. We had fun. My kids think Paige's house is the highlight of their summer vacation. I like it a lot too. We got to see Paige in her Seussical play...she was really good. I got to eat donuts with Michelle...that was fun...! Paige and I went Garage-sale-ing...that was fun. I even hung out with Larry and saw his new house. My kids played and played with the Erickson kids...They had fun. Paige and Ryan are very nice to keep letting us come to visit them...Thanks Paige and Ryan.

We had to come back from our trip to Utah in time for Sarah to go to Girl's Camp...in her Dad's ward this time. Sarah had fun...again. Then Sarah & Jacob spent the next week-and-a-half with their Dad. I cleaned the house...but this time really cleaned it. I even painted all the walls and de-cluttered every room.

My back patio was cluttered with all the stuff I had to move out of the house when my washer overflowed, so I had to work very hard to bring all that stuff back in, find a place for it, or throw it in a garage sale box...or in the trash. Lucky for me it had rained while I was in Utah and the patio roof leaks...so a lot of it got wet...so I could throw even more away. It was a relief to clean the patio off finally, but there was the most amazing cricket infestation I had ever seen. I believe it could rival the Pioneer's Cricket Infestation of May 1848. My chickens and goose were of no help...obviously not prone to gorging and puking as those seagulls are.

When my kids came home, I took them camping at Oak Creek. Every year we go there to pick wild blackberries...so it was time. We camped two nights...and it was lovely. We picked blackberries, played in the stream and rock-hopped and Jacob spent hours with Colton trying to spear a trout with a knife on a stick. While I knew he would not likely ever get one, I was amazed at his tenacity. Very rarely does something catch Jacob's interest that long...that is not electronic.

After camping...we came home, made blackberry pies and jelly, shopped for school supplies...and a few days later...SCHOOL STARTED!!!! Whooo-hooo!!! Now we can stop all that vacationing and get back to work!!!

HOW WAS YOUR SUMMER???