Twins? Didn't Even Know You Were Sisters?

Tomorrow is mine & my sister Kelli's thirty- something birthday. (I used to think people in their thirties were old... man Kelli you're old!) Yes, we are twins. Although through out our childhood nobody would believe us. Everybody thought Kelli was at least a year older, which would absolutely annoy me. I am 8, count them 8 minutes older!

Me & Kelli , a few days old

We were tiny. I was 4 lbs 4 oz, and Kelli was 5 lbs, she always has to out do me. She even got to go home weeks before I did :) (figures)

Grandma Beena with Kelli & Grandma Lucille with Me

My parents and grandparents had waited more than eleven years for us. So, spoiled would be an understatement.

Kelli & Me, early 1975

There are only three things that are identical about us. Our eye colour, our noses and our height. Although I am sure Kelli has started shrinking by now (wink, wink)

Kelli & Mom; Me & Grandad Glen, around our 1st Birthday

It was never hard to tell us apart, although my parents insisted on dressing us alike, until we revolted in Kindergarten. Then my mom tried, the same outfit in different colours. But by first grade even that was out.

Kelli, Mom, & I

Yes we are California Girls....This is the house we grew up in (until 14, when we moved to Canada) My dad still lives here today.

Mom, Kelli & Robin

Our double stroller...got to love the 1970's. The VW Bug in the garage my dad bought off the lot in 1962. He drove it for 28 years.

Me, Kelli, Mom; Mount Saint Helen's 1983

Me & Kelli with our Polaroid cameras....we always got the exact same birthday & Christmas gifts. Until the year we graduated high school. Kelli got a Bosch, five in one mixer, blender, food processor thing and I got that Braun food-masher-electric-wand-thing. (good thing I'm not a score keeper, right Kelli ?)

Kelli, Mom & I, Indian Maidens 1985

My mom involved us in every activity under the sun. You name it we were in it, but we had to be in it together. Girls Scouts, Indian Maidens, Piano, Violin, Voice, Dance, Music Machine(performing arts troupe). Although, my mom didn't think competitive sports were good for our self- esteem. It kept us out of trouble and for the hundreds of $$$ my mom spent on piano lessons,I think Kelli & I can still play "My Little Birch Canoe".

Kelli & I 1992

Getting along in Junior High & High School was near impossible. We fought like cats and dogs and even have the scars to prove it. Some how we managed to survive. When I got married and Kelli left for BYU things changed...

Mom, Me, Kelli & Holly, SLC, General Conference April 1994

We became the closest of friends. Neither one of us could have foreseen the challenges we would face with both of our parents as they aged. The trails and heartache have pulled Kelli and I even closer together. As a kid, I always wondered why I had to be a twin. Now I consider it one of my biggest blessings. We are twins because somebody knew how much we would need each other.

Love you Kelli, Happy Birthday!

Are Your Windows Clean?

When I headed down to Nanaimo on Saturday morning for the Woman's Conference & the General Relief Society broadcast...It had been a crazy busy week and I was grumpy....The only thing that made it easy to leave the house that morning was that the kids were still fighting over who was going to do the mammoth amount of dishes, I had let pile up......

I ended up really enjoying the day. President Monson's Talk at the end of the broadcast was the best, ever....This is the antidote he began his talk with....

"A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.
“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”
John looked on but remained silent.
Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.
A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John—she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”
John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”"

-Thomas S Monson, Charity Never Failith, RS Broadcast, Sept 25, 2010

We all need to be reminded of this from time to time, it is never our place to judge. I love President Monson.

Going down to conference was well worth it. And yes the dishes were done when I got home and the kids hadn't killed each other either. I guess you could call it a win-win :)

Holiday Mix-Up

Today this is the card I got from my Dad....He had told me there was a birthday card in the mail, so this wasn't a surprise.......Ahhhhh! Those bears are so cute, thanks Dad...were my first thoughts...then I opened it up....

"May the Peace of the Holiday Season???"...Holiday Season?? Oh. My. Gosh! Dad this is a Christmas card....Gotta love my quirky Dad. Thanks for the card and the belly laugh.....

**My Dad has never signed any card or letter to me or my sister with "Dad", he has even asked me to call him Les from time to time...But no matter how quirky or eccentric he is, I will always love him and "Dad" will have to do.

Good Friends

All through high school I had great friends. Not just fun people to hang out with but down right good people. We were all pretty respectable kids, the worst things we ever did was "fork"(we would take a ginormous box of plastic forks and stab them all over or friends front lawn) our friend Karla's lawn, over and over again or the occasional Chinese fire drill at a red light. To say we were straight lace would be an understatement... Jared, John, Gary 1992
I have been lucky to keep in contact with most of them. Last night we had the opportunity to have Gary(out on VI for business) over for dinner. I don't think I have a High School memory that Gary wasn't apart of...seminary, first dates(We watched "The Little Mermaid), stake dances, Star Trek... "live long and prosper" ...As adults we had university classes together and were even next door neighbours to Gary and his awesome wife Dawn. Dawn was our day care provider when H,B & M were toddlers... they loved her.

Gary then....sorry Gary(love the watch)...We were total geeks in high school but none of us seemed to notice.

Gary now. Friends for more than 20 years. Who'd a thought?? ....thanks again dropping by...Good Times!

Stormy Weather

Stormy Weather....its the second day of fall and we are under a wind/rainfall warning. I love it, the stormier the better. That is one of the major differences between Courtenay & Port Alberni, in Courtenay the wind blows hard in the winter (60-100 km/hr is common). Umbrellas are pointless here, your only hope is full body rain gear with a good hood. The only thing I worry about is losing power but that only happened twice last year and it was blowing twice as hard then so we should be fine (fingers crossed) The only annoying thing is my next door neighbour loves wind chimes. Wind chimes sound very pretty up to about 40 km/hr gusts. Beyond that they sound like my kids are dumping my silverware drawer into my stainless steal sink over and over again, which is even more annoying at 4 am. But I still love the stormy weather.

Today....

Grant had a unique, humbling experience today. Because he is part of our Ward's Bishopric he had been asked to officiate at a memorial service . The service was for a 90 year old, long time member of our ward, that we had never had an opportunity to meet. During the memorial service we learned much about the life of this dear Sister. She was humble & honest. Loved the children in Primary and raised a great family. We even discovered that this Sister and Grant where both born in the same small Alberta town. It really is a small world sometimes. It was a beautiful service and a privilege to be there today.
Grant shared a few thoughts at the end of the service...." even when a death is expected there are those who are left behind to mourn ...we can turn to the Saviour in our grief"...This is one of the scriptures Grant shared...

Matthew 11:

28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

How to Feed 140 Men, Cheap!

A couple of weeks ago my friend Maggie & I were asked to coordinate the meal for the Stake Priesthood Dinner. We were told it was for about 100 people and given a budget. Instead of asking a bunch of other RS Sisters to help, we "volun-told" our kids.

We settled on Pulled Pork on a Bun, Tossed Salad, & Baked Potatoes with all the fixings & Pumpkin Sheet Cake for dessert & Ice water with either lemons or cucumber to drink. We found two simple, inexpensive recipes for the Pulled Pork & Pumpkin Sheet Cake online. We came in way under budget, when I am given a budget in is always a sport to see how far under I can be, this was my best score yet. With our 9 "overly willing" kids to help, prep work was actually a breeze.

We used 3 large pug in turkey roasters (Buy one they are worth every penny!, I have two and use them for everything) one for the Pulled Pork( The big pork loin at Costco was the cheapest.) and the other two to bake the potatoes. We tossed the salad in a giant Zip Loc Bag, worked awesome and made storage super simple. The pumpkin sheet cakes were iced on the pan, pre- scored, and frozen, we top each piece with a pumpkin candy because we were worried about possible nut allergies (I like the cake better with the toasted nuts on top) I then used my dough cutter(my favourite kitchen tool) to slice the cakes will still slightly frozen. We planned for 100 but fed more than 140 with salad and potatoes left over.

I learned one valuable lesson too. The difference between Relief Society Sisters & Priesthood Brethren....TABLECLOTHS! I said to my dear, sweet Grant as we were heading to the church, "First thing we need to do is get the tablecloths on the tables." To which Grant replied "What for?" Me: "So it looks nice!" Grant "The Men don't care." Me: "Well I do!" Grant: "You're just making more laundry" (he almost had me there) Me:" I don't care" Grant: "Fine....What about table centerpieces?" Me: "Funny Grant! Funny"


PUMPKIN SHEET CAKE
Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
FROSTING:
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
5 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
3 teaspoons milk
Chopped nuts
Directions
In a mixing bowl, beat pumpkin, sugar and oil. Add eggs; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to pumpkin mixture and beat until well blended. Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool.
For frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add sugar; mix well. Add milk until frosting reaches desired spreading consistency. Frost cake. Sprinkle with nuts.

**I buy the big 28 oz can of pumpkin and double the recipe to make two cakes; always grease and flour the pan to avoid sticking**


ROOT BEER PULLED PORK
Ingredients
1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle root beer
1 (18 ounce) bottle your favorite barbecue sauce
8 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
Directions
Place the pork tenderloin in a slow cooker; pour the root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low until well cooked and the pork shreds easily, 6 to 7 hours. Note: the actual length of time may vary according to individual slow cooker. Drain well. Stir in barbecue sauce. Serve over hamburger buns.

**we did not drain completely and added the bbq sauce to the dripping which worked just fine**

After I posted this the bill for this meal came to just over $220 nearly $80 under budget...pretty awesome

Super Busy Weekend

We played DRESS-UP

Watched a BEAUTIFUL SUNSET

Made five PUMPKIN SHEET CAKES for the Stake Priesthood Dinner

WAITED UP for our teenagers to get home from the Duncan Dance

Had a SLEEP-OVER....there is a kid under there...they were actually sleeping, shocking

Typed up & printed the BAPTISM PROGRAM

CLEANED the Church

STACKED WOOD with friends

SCRUBBED POTATOES for the Stake Priesthood Dinner

Had a BBQ...thanks Hodacseks, How did you know we were starving?!

Put on our SUNDAY BEST...Dallyn actually fell asleep on the 7 minute ride to the Church

Attended Carrie & Gary's BAPTISM....So neat...Carrie's Baptism was done in Chinese.

Made BAG LUNCHES for Sunday

Attended CHURCH

FEED 140 men at the Stake Priesthood Dinner (Pulled Pork on a Bun, Baked Potatoes, Tossed Salad, & Pumpkin Sheet Cake for dessert) Thanks Hodacsek's for all your help :)

Came HOME

SLEPT like a baby.

Up With The Chickens

Holly, Bailey, & Madison started Seminary (Early Morning scripture study class for kids in Grades 9-12) this week. When we were teenagers we lovingly referred to it as "Cemetery", although I was lucky, I only had one year of early morning and the rest of the years I had class during my spares.

Here because we have a very small ward and have four different High Schools the only option is Early Morning (hehe). But honestly my kids don't seem to mind. The alarm goes off at 5:30am and with very little grumbling they are up and moving. As a parent it didn't take me long to realize what a blessing Seminary is. Our teenagers live in a world I could have never imagined. They are exposed to things that I never even knew existed until I was in my adulthood. Seminary reminds them daily of who they are, that they are loved and they have purpose. Who wouldn't be thankful for that. So even though we are up with the chickens. I wouldn't change a thing. Plus having teenagers in bed and asleep by 9 pm is downright, heavenly :)

Kidney Stones...."Say 8!, Say 8! "

Today was one of those days around here. We had planned on doing something fun (hiking in Strathcona Park), Grant had the day off and all the kids were in school but Grant decided to have a kidney stone attack... so we took an educational field trip to the ER instead. My favourite place in the whole world....First the DR waves at Grant as we walk in, apparently the same one that saw him when he fell down the stairs...When the nurse asks what his pain level is, it took everything in me not to scream "Say 8! Say 8!" (Watch the You Tube Clip)....After four hours I can't feel my behind and wondering where my Morphine drip is...They figure out that Grant was extremely dehydrated which probably caused the stones (working 82 hours in the last 7 days I don't think helped) Other than dopey, Grant seems to be through the worst of it. And I am trying to remain, as always, the overly kind, super patient, mommy, I mean wife ;)

Thank You, Mom

Me, Mom & Kelli 1978

This was one of my Mom's favourite hymns.

Where can I turn for peace?Where is my solace When other sources cease to make me whole?When, with a wounded heart, anger, or malice I draw myself apart searching my soul?
Where, when my aching grows?Where, when I languish?Where, in my need to know?Where can I run?Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?Who, who can understand?He, only One.
He answers privately.Reaches my reaching.In my Gethsemane, Savior, and friend.Gentle, the peace He finds For my beseeching.Constant He is, and kind.Love without end.

As I sit here tonight listening to Holly practise the piano (Holly knows that all she has to do to get out of anything especially chores is sit down and play), I can't help but be reminded of the hours I listened to my Mom play on the same piano while I was growing up. Mom always woke us up on Sunday Mornings by playing her favourite hymns. She taught us to love music and especially the peace that that music can bring. Even as her failing health took away her ability to play, the messages in the hymns she loved so much gave her and my sister and I the strength and understanding we needed to endure the heartache.

Tomorrow would have been her 69th birthday. In the more than six years since her passing there has been much healing. Her musical talents have lived on in her Grandchildren. I love you, Mom and the musical legacy you left us.

Okay, I Finaly Did It....

I hate to admit that I have never done it before....But,today I finished reading The Book of Mormon for the first time(start to finish, it took me two weeks). Don't get me wrong, I have read from The Book of Mormon, plenty. But reading four or five verses every couple of months or looking up scriptures in a Sunday School class, wasn't really getting me any where. I hate to admit it but I think I read the phone book more often. It is not that I haven't had every opportunity to read it before, I have. I have just never to advantage of them.
I am a person that has very child-like faith. If my heart tells me something is good or true, that's good enough for me. I don't need to know or understand the hows or whys. My testimony of the truthfulness of the (LDS) Church and The Book of Mormon began as a very small child in Primary. We sang songs about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the love each of them had for me and songs that told of the stories of The Book of Mormon and my heart told me it was true. My testimony has grown from there.
There was no life altering event or "ah-hah" moment that made me decide I needed to read it now. I just felt it was something I needed to do for me. My heart has been touch many times over the last two weeks as I have read. It was something I needed to do. I know The Book of Mormon is true because my heart still tells me so.

The following is link to a "Mormon Message" entitled "The Book of Mormon"were Elder Jeffery R Holland (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) gives a powerful testimony of The Book of Mormon....This is part of one of my favourite general conference talks ever.

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&vgnextoid=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&channelId=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&sourceId=561c6a86bdcf7210VgnVCM100000176f620a____

Oh Happy Day :)

Air force Beach....7 minutes from my door step. Believe me, I know its tough living in a place like this (winky face). I swear today was my gift for putting up with the ankle biters all summer. First day with no kids and I spent the afternoon on the beach with friends. The weather was perfect, warm breeze, salt air and sand between my toes. I sure hope this is what heaven is like.

Tooth Fairy :)

The Tooth Fairy at our house has been "retired" for more than a year. But this didn't stop our nearly twelve-year-old Alex from trying to swindle some cold hard cash.... This is the note left in the living room....Alex batted her eyes as she told us she still believed in the tooth fairy and expected at least a dollar for her efforts. Nice try girl...good thing you are headed back to school , time to work on that spellin'

First Day of School/Does This Back Pack Make My Butt Look Big???

First Day of School...I had to financially encourage(bribe) them to take these pictures Bailey, Holly, Madison ...Off to High School...were has the time gone

Dallyn & Alex

We are still laughing...last night Dallyn parades through the kitchen with his new back pack on and says "Does this back pack make my butt look big??" Man, we love that boy

This morning went off without a hitch. They were all looking forward to going back so they were up and at 'em before I was.

I love back to school, its so quiet...the only trade off , I guess I have to go and get my own ice water now.

Today Was A Privilege...

Grant and I are both serving in leadership callings in our ward. It keeps us very busy and out of trouble. There are moments when at least I feel over-whelmed with the demands of a large family, husband that works more than full time and of all the needs our callings bring. Then there are days like today when I am instantly reminded of what a privilege it is to serve amongst my friends. We witness first hand hearts touched, prayers answered and lives changed. This reaffirms my testimony of how much our Heavenly Father loves each of us as individuals. He knows our hearts and answers our silent prayers. Today was a privilege.

Taking Kids Grocery Shopping....You Are CRAZY

Yup I think I am now certifiably crazy. We took all five kids with us grocery shopping today. They wore us down and we totally caved, well at least Grant did. I am denying any responsibility. I can count on one hand the number of times, we have taken ALL the rugrats since, Holly turned elven nearly six years ago. I instantly realized our mistake, we didn't even make it of the loser cruiser before they were arguing over who got to push the carts, yes carts, it takes at least two. We look like a school field trip gone wrong.

"Are they ALL your kids??", "Must be stocking up for the winter or something??" "You have quite the family" "Must be feeding an army." People can't help themselves, there is always someone who has to say something. Keeping all the kids in the with in 50 yards of us is like herding chickens. And if I hear "Mom can I have this?" on more time....Grant is such a kid pleaser, hence the four family-size boxes of Lucky Charms. If it were up to me they would eat the "Crisp Rice" Wal-Mart makes. Some one let the ten year old push one of the carts and of course the back of my ankles will never be the same again.

Two hours and two heaping carts later we headed for the tills. I can't imagine what the check out person is thinking (Grant is their boss).....what crazy person buys 60 cans of Campbell's Soup (on sale), 12 loaves of bread, 4 dozen eggs....

As we loaded it all and them back in the van, one of the kids had the audacity to ask "Mom & Dad why are you so grumpy?" Yup, it will be along time before we do that again.

Movie Under the Stars

Last night we drove up to Campbell River to take the kids the last Movie Under the Stars in our area this summer. Its pretty cool event...you sit outside on a sports field with camp chairs and blankets and watch a movie on a giant, inflatable, 3 storey high screen. Its free and there is no wafting smell of popcorn to tempt the kids. It reminded me of a drive in movie theatre. Who knew Grant would find the movie so touching. He quickly wiped a way a tear or two, while I reminded him that they are toys and real toys don't talk and the rest of the kidlets snickered at him. I love my tender hearted husband.

Shopping Done & The 10-Second-Rule Gone Wrong

Simpler Times...First Day of School September 2002....Bailey grade 2, Holly grade 3, Madison grade 1...Raymond, Alberta

Yesterday we finished back to school shopping with all the ankle biters,minus one. Holly was volunteering with Parks and Rec. Since our budget is limited(or if you ask the kids"Mom's CHEAP!") We buy new shoes, socks and underwear but the rest is all second hand. We live in a community full of great second hand stores so its easy to do. I can usually put the kids back to school for around $500 total. Shoes, Backpacks, Clothes, Supplies for all 5 kids. I think its a talent.


This is the first year I feel like I have had to really let go. We have two rules with clothes. It's modest...and you have to wear it more than twice. (my money, my rules) Bailey picked out ankle boots and gladiator sandals...not my idea of practical but I'm also not fifteen. Holly got Uggs and flats... (boots and dress shoes...age 30+ translation). I was told with a very grand eye roll that "Brown is not my colour mom." as only a 15 year old can. My eleven year old,the resident fashionista, is going for the run way look, trying to accessorize down to the coordinating scarf and earrings.Alex your going to sixth grade...not clubbing it. I miss the days of crayons and Old Navy hoddies. Madison will only wear plaid shorts and zip up hoddies...it does snow here...but apparently they don't feel cold. My only saving grace is that Dallyn will wear anything you tell him to...he hates shopping and mopes around like a little lost puppy. Boys are men from the minute they are born. I'm just glad they are all ready to go back and I have a few dollars left in the bank.


On a side note:


For lunch yesterday we stopped at Wendy's... We are all eating as we watch Dallyn drop a french fry on the floor....he bends down to pick it up (isn't he helpful, I think)...he looks at it and shoves it in is mouth , faster than I can anticipate what he was really doing. We all yell...DALLYN THAT'S DISGUSTING!!!! "The 10 second rule." Dallyn says, nonchalantly. "That's at home, Dallyn...Not. At. Wendy's! Grant and I say in unison. Dallyn: Ohhh....Boys are gross.