Three Ardrys

Hearts of the Youth

2010-08-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

This message hit home as I watched it. It's so easy to get caught up in daily tasks and to-do lists. They are only young once. Stop and listen....

Randomness....

2010-08-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

We are now in full school mode. Ben is LOVING first grade and has made several new friends. He was happy to see some familiar faces in his class this year. He is staying busy with school, church, friends and karate.

Speaking of karate, Ben is a natural and is learning a lot about respect and self-control and is having a blast! His group is called the Little Dragons. Their belt system is a little different in that they achieve a series of 10 belts before advancing to Juniors. He was awarded Most Dedicated Student and Outstanding Forms and Focus at his last belt test and will achieve white/orange belt this month. We are really proud of our Little Dragon!

Ben earned a trip to the Lego Store before school started as he was such a good boy over the summer and kept his room sooooo clean! He was able to customize a few minifigures and we also let him choose a new set. We left with some great new Legos and much lighter wallets!

Grandma and Grandpa Judd will be here this weekend to help celebrate Sean's birthday. I will not disclose his age out of respect. :)

We then get to have Grandma and Grandpa Burris from Texas here for a whole week! Ben is so excited to show Grandpa Burris some karate moves!

Sean and I are busy as usual with work and church. We are both teaching in primary. Sean teaches CTR6 and I am teaching CTR7. I love singing the primary songs from my youth and learning a few new ones as well. Ben will be in my class next year and I am really looking forward to that!

We are also looking forward to our Snowflake trip over Labor Day. This heat is kicking us in the you-know-what! We will get to see Aunt Ronda and cousin Nick from Colorado as as well as most of the AZ bunch. We wish the NC Judds could make it but we will see them next summer for sure.

That's it for now. Ben has early release today so I'm off to pick him up and rehydrate the little dude! :) Have a great day!

The Dad Life - Yup Yup.

2010-06-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Procrastinate much?

2010-04-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! Have I neglected the old blog or what?! I remember many, many months ago making a promise to myself that I would post regularly and post the requisite amount of photos/videos. How's that working out for me? I was inspired by my friend Tracy to get back into posting again. It's definitely time for an update so here goes:

Sean is working harder than ever and usually works from home when Ben is in bed. He has been called to teach in the Elders' Quorum and will do a fantastic job. He has subbed several times and really enjoyed it. I've been stopped at church many times to be told that "Sean's lesson was really great". He is still enjoying playing guitar and jams with Ben (on drums) quite often. He recently bought some camping gear for a ward campout and has decided that he may be a camper at heart.

Ben is about to finish Kindergarten and has loved every minute of it. He had his "cap and gown" graduation pictures today and was very handsome of course. Cap and gown for kinders? What the heck? He is very bright and has learned so much in school! He has some really cool friends and plays with them often. He loves primary and recently got to go on a Father and Son campout with the ward. He will start 1st grade in August and will make his mom cry again because she still remembers his first day of K5. He takes very good care of Bodhi who is almost one now! We still laugh about the night Sean brought him home and he was just a little ball of tan and brown fur. Cute!

As for me, I am still doing medical transcription from home. It is wonderful to be able to contribute financially but I will probably be cutting back on the amount of hours so that I can be more available for Ben this summer. I am still addicted to crafts and have started a regular craft night for my fellow crafters here in the QC. I love teaching CTR 7 in primary, especially singing the primary songs. I can't believe I can remember so many of them! I will be heading to the Oregon Coast in a few weeks with my sister and niece. We are going to try to plan a "girls' trip" every year and would have more sisters and my mom going with us this year but Janelle and I sort of sprung it on everyone on short notice.

I'm sure there is quite a bit I am missing but I'll hopefully be posting more soon. Oh, don't hold your breath though! :)

Makes me smile.

2009-11-30T07:25:00.001-08:00

The end all, be all pasta dish.

2009-11-10T05:02:00.001-08:00

The name says it all. I would imagine this dish could end war, save marriages, make me taller....ooops, there I go dreaming again. Seriously folks, it's good. Here is a picture to get you drooling.

Baked Pasta with Chicken Sausage

*Makes a heaping full 9X13 pan*

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium red onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes

1 (14.5 oz.) can crushed tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 pound rigatoni

10 ounces frozen baby spinach, thawed and drained well (can substitute 1 9-oz. bag fresh spinach)

12 ounces precooked smoked chicken (or turkey) sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced 1/4 inch thick.

8 ounces mozzarella cheese, 4 ounces cut into 1/2-inch cubes and 4 ounces shredded

1/2 to 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic. Cook for another minute.
Stir in tomatoes, oregano and basil; simmer for 8-10 minutes. Add cream; cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook pasta in the boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions. (If using fresh spinach, add it to the pot of boiling pasta right at the end and cook until wilted.) Drain, and return contents to pot.
Add tomato sauce, sausage, spinach and cubed mozzarella to the pot; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Scoop pasta into lightly greased 9X13-inch pan (or divide evenly between two 8X8-inch pans). Top with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake until browned and edges are crisp, 20 to 30 minutes.
*Freezable Meal: Prepare recipe right up until the baking step and then cover with a double layer of aluminum foil. Freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. To bake, increase baking time to 1 to 1 1/4 hours. If baking from frozen, bake covered for 1 hour and 15 minutes, uncover and bake 30 minutes longer.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-10T04:54:00.000-08:00

I am still in shock at the cost of the candy this year! What the heck? Sean took Ben out to trick or treat while I stayed home and handed out candy. Our first trick or treater showed up at 6:53 and the candy was gone by 8:00. Cleaned out in just over an hour. Holy cavities Batman!
Ben went with his traditional Superhero custume in the form of the "Black Goo Spiderman". You know, the suit Peter Parker wears after the goo gets on his foot and.... well... maybe you can watch the movie ok?

He had a Halloween party at school the day before and brought home these gems. These bother me a bit but I tolerate them because I love him.

Camping and Puppies and Stuff.

2009-09-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am a terrible blogger. Now that that's out of the way.... We went camping over Labor Day weekend and I need to post pictures or my mom will snatch me bald-headed. We love the fact that we can drive for a few hours and see pine trees, lakes and elk! In fact, the last morning we were there, I woke up in the wee hours of the A.M. to.... ummm...use the facilities and I startled a herd of elk just across the meadow. It was really great! Benjamin was the head gate-opener and even scored a buck from a couple on and ATV, enterprising young man that he is.

Here he is taking a walk with Grandma Judd.

There are more pictures but Sean didn't download them and I don't want to go look for his camera right now.

In other news, we have a new addition to our family. His name is Bodhi ( BO-DEE), short for Bodhisattva. Google it. Or watch the movie Point Break. He is a little sweetheart and has us wrapped around his paw. He is very smart and is doing well with potty training. I was a little skeptical at first but he is now my little buddy. He loves it when Ben gets home from school and there is much kissing and frolicking.

Kidergarten, here we come!

2009-08-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

This will be a photo-heavy post so beware! Sean was able to go in late today so that he and I could drop Ben off together. I appreciated that because I got a little choked up when we left the classroom. He is, afterall, my one and only baby boy. He found his seat and got right to work as Miss Lin had a worksheet ready for him to do. Once he settled into his seat, I could tell that he wanted his parents to skidaddle so we did after a hug and a kiss. *sniff*. We are very proud of him and we know that he will be the best Kindergartener ever! We love you Ben!

Cheerios - breakfast of Champions. (actually I think that's Wheaties)

All slicked up and ready to go. We are not sure why he has adopted the peace sign lately.

Rear view (the backpack with legs)

One last hurrah before school!

It's official!

This is where Ben will sit while he expands his cranium.

Getting right to work!

Ghetto Booty

2009-07-18T10:37:00.001-07:00

This is what Ben came in to show me the other morning.....
Not sure what all is in there. He doesn't really eat enough to justify this sudden booty-ness!

Squigglies

2009-07-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

This may not be for the squeamish but we had a ball making them. I saw this on a blog and can't remember which one. You take turkey kielbasa (or any other type of link or hot dog) and cut it into thick slices. Break some spaghetti in half and start poking them into the slices. Boil a big pot of water and toss 'em in. When the spaghetti is tender, your Squigglies are done. Ben prefers them "naked" but I suspect they would be great with sauce. They are just as much fun to make as they are to eat. Give them a try!

Melting.......

2009-07-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

We have been experiencing some phenominal heat here in the last couple of weeks. We purchased a pool for Ben a few months ago in anticipation of said heat. The problem is that the temperature of the pool by afternoon is not conducive to cooling off per se. However, he enjoys splashing around despite the fact that his bathwater is more refreshing. Sean and I have been known to take a dip occsionally. We have decided our next home will have an in-ground pool.

We are hoping to get some of the monsoon moisture everyone "down south" is bragging about. You know who you are. In the six months we have lived here, it has rained approximately three times and only when we are asleep. So not fair!

A little conversation...

2009-07-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

I wonder if this is what my husband hears when I am talking to him sometimes?

Random

2009-06-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

We are getting requests for photos and quotes from grandparents, aunts and uncles so here goes:

ME: Ben, how did I get so lucky to have a sweet boy like you?

BEN: 'Cause you and Jesus worked as a team to build my bones. (then looks at me like, DUH.)

I'm not sure why he left Sean and Heavenly Father out of the equation but I'm sure they both understand.

After overhearing a heated conversation between Ben and, well, Ben, about one of his toys not working properly:

ME: Ben, did you try _____________________? (Insert helpful MOM advice here)

BEN: (Insert 5-yr old dirty look here) I TRIED THAT, YES, AND THANK YOU.

Here are a few photos from our recent San Diego/Seaworld trip. If you run your mouse over the photos, you will be able to view the captions. Your choice.

Hammer Time?

2009-06-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Canyon Lake

2009-05-10T19:52:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we decided to pack a lunch and frisbee and head to the lake for some fun. Canyon Lake is a quick 20 minute drive from our house and the water was cool and refreshing. Even though the day was warm, it was pleasant in the shade from the picnic ramadas.

We had a great time and have decided that we should have a boat. At the very least, a jet ski.

Conversation......

2009-05-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

Me: Ben, will you still let me kiss you when you are a big boy?

Ben: Yes, and I will still love you when I am big because you are the right mom for me.

I'm so glad I'm the right mom for him....

2009-03-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

Wow! Has it been a month already? We are just plugging away here. Sean and I are both pretty busy with work and Ben is busy getting ready to start kindergarten in the fall. I feel really blessed to be able to do medical transcription from home so that I can be home with him. He spends most afternoons playing with the neighborhood kids and riding his scooter. We took the training wheels off of his bike and he now refuses to touch it saying, "maybe I'll ride it when I'm bigger". He spent two days at Grandma and Grandpa Judd's over spring break and had such a good time! However, he was a little disappointed in my cooking after being in the land of homemade bread and chocolate cherry cake. Sheesh.
We are hoping to get away on vacation this summer. Not sure where though. I know we will be going to the lake fairly often as it is less than 20 minutes from our house!
That's about it for now. Hope everyone is enjoying this lovely Spring weather!

Everything is amazing......

2009-02-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

A nice serving of perspective...

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T07:51:00.000-08:00

I'm not a mushy-mushy gal so here is my valentine to everyone. :)

Good question.....

2009-01-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

Ben: Mom, did you know I was cool even when I was a baby?

Mom: Absolutely.

Ben: Yeah. And how did you get me in your tummy?

Mom: Uhhhhhhh....

Ben: Did you swallow me?

Mom: Uhhhhhh......

Go Cards!

2009-01-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

In like Flynn....

2009-01-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

We've settled into our new home and are feeling a bit more like humans rather than nomads. We didn't have hot water or heat for the first few days due to a mix up with the gas company. I know, I know, we are "lucky we live in AZ" but guess what folks? The water is FREEZING out here right now! We actually boiled water for baths. Not fun when you have to make several trips up and down these......

Benjamin loves his new bedroom and is especially excited about the park that is within walking distance from our house. I love the fact that there is a Super Target and a Paradise Bakery five minutes away! We are excited to get to know our new ward and make some new friends. I am still working as a transcriptionist and Sean is loving his new job. It's great to be able to see him every night now instead of only on the weekends.

We feel very blessed to be able to have jobs and provide for Ben in this unstable economy and are very grateful for our wonderful family and friends. Thanks so much to all who helped us during our transition!

Moving....

2008-12-29T11:54:00.000-08:00

I would love to post some festive ChrismaHanuKwanza photos here but it's not going to happen. We are moving to Queen Creek, AZ this week and the urge to gouge my eyes out is overwhelming. Sean's new job is in Gilbert and he has been staying with a friend (WE LOVE YOU MONTE) while we looked for a house/found renters for our Tucson house. Because of this, we have decided that we kind of like each other and would rather live under the same roof. My family has been AMAZING through this hectic time and I am thankful for all the help we have received already. Everything just fell into place all of the sudden, allowing us to move sooner than we had originally planned to. Heavenly Father truly blessed us! We are sad to be moving further away from family again but at least we are in the same state and only a few hours away.

So goodbye and farewell to Tucson, we hardly knew ya. We'll be back to visit often!

Big, Bad Five-Year-Old

2008-12-19T20:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Ben's fifth birthday and we celebrated with an "army guy" themed cake although the more I look at it, the more it looks like a "Happy Vietnam" cake. He requested pizza and salad for his birthday meal ( nice and easy righ? ). He had a small party last Saturday at Peter Piper Pizza. Grandma and Grandpa J were going to be out of town for his actual b-day and wanted to celebrate with him before they left. His friend Drew was there along with cousins Corynne and Allison. Last night was just the three of us and it was really fun. He is into the whole GI Joe thing right now but has not abandoned his love for Batman. Sorry the pics are so wierd but our lighting isn't the snazziest. I think we are going to enjoy having a five-year-old in the house but I sure will miss that four-year-old!

Beware of the Doghouse!

2008-12-16T17:53:00.000-08:00

Don't let this happen to you.

Team Edward

2008-12-08T00:11:00.000-08:00

Yep, I finally saw Twilight. I've heard many a critique and have read many reviews, both good and bad, and will put my two cents in. I can't help myself.

I.LOVED.IT.

Many people told me it was corny. Many people told me it was cheesy.

More corn and cheese please! I will definitely own this movie when the DVD is released and I will now have to endure the agonizing wait for the movie, "New Moon". Oh Stephenie Meyers, what have you done to me? They have likened you unto J.K. Rowling. J.K. who? (Ok, just kidding, I love the Harry Potter series and cannot wait to see "The Half-blood Prince") I was really happy to see that the movie followed the book fairly closely. In terms of the cast, I was happy with all but two. Carlisle and Rosalie. I just felt that these characters shoulde have looked different.

So there you have it. I will most likely see this again before it leaves theatres. I hope Santa brings me the soundtrack!

How will you thaw your turkey?

2008-11-24T15:47:00.000-08:00

2008-11-22T08:57:00.001-08:00

I don't know how I could have missed this! Amy Poehler is my hero! I mean, seriously, she got all up in the business and she's pregnant! Actually she just had her baby boy, but I gotta hand it to her. I've watched this six times and I still love it!

The next phase....

2008-11-18T18:51:00.001-08:00

For those of you who know us, you know Sean has been job-hunting since leaving his previous employer. Well....he was offered a great job today and has accepted. This is such great news as jobs are somewhat scarce these days. He will be implementing and then managing a call center for an internet company that is the seventh fastest growing internet-based business in the U.S. We are so happy and so grateful to our Heavenly Father! We are also grateful for all the prayers and support from friends and family. This has been a stressful yet rewarding exercise in faith. It is somewhat bittersweet, however, as we will be moving to Gilbert, AZ. Now begins the challenge of selling our home and buying a new one, yikes. This is just the next phase of our family's journey and we are excited! Thanks again for everyone's support and prayers.

Top Ten things......

2008-11-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

...overheard at Monday's meeting with President Bush and President Elect Obama. Number one is an absolute gem.

I opened up......

2008-11-11T11:37:00.000-08:00

a big ol' can of Ben!

Omnivore's 100

2008-11-01T13:47:00.000-07:00

I am not a picky eater and have tried lots of different foods. Many more than most of my friends and family. I was surprised, however, about how many of these foods I have not tried. I can't remember the name of the blog I found this on so I'll just send a thank you out into the atmosphere. The foods in bold are the foods I have tried. 44 out of 100 isn't bad I suppose. How many have YOU tried?

The Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile ( I have had Alligator though!)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects - fried mealworms in a biology class
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - um, eww.
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail (Escargo)
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

A little pre-Halloween face-painting...

2008-10-31T11:42:00.000-07:00

Sean bought a face-painting kit at the grocery store last night and decided to paint Ben's face just for fun. Ben is going to go trick-or-treating as Batman but wanted a little ghoulishness for kicks and grins. I must warn you. The after photo is somewhat disturbing. Thanks Sean.

My sweet angel boy.

The little ghoul in my life...

Yikes!

Tee Hee...

2008-10-31T09:59:00.000-07:00

Early Bird

2008-10-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

Early ballot voting rocks! I'll never drive to the polls again!

A little support

2008-10-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

I have been following the story of Stephanie and Christian Nielson for some time. I am so impressed with their strength and that of their families in the face of tragedy.

Mindy Gledhill will be performing a benefit concert in support of Stephanie and Christian.

You can hear a sample of her sweet voice here:

Tortilla Soup

2008-10-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is time once again to bring out the soup recipes and enjoy simmering-on-the-stove goodness. Chicken Tortilla Soup is fast becoming a family favorite and I made a pot to share with Grandma and Grandpa Judd the other night. Grandma Judd has just undergone major surgery and is getting better and stronger every day. We love her and Grandpa so much and are so glad she is going to enjoy a better quality of life.

So we filled our bowls with tortilla soup and had some yummy cornbread on the side. We also got to watch "On The Lord's Errand" again. It is such a wonderful tribute to President Monson. He is such a great man and I know he is always on the Lord's errand as he leads our Church. We had taped it during General Conference and we wanted to share it with Grandma and Grandpa. I get pretty choked up when I watch it!

Ok, so I guess I'll share the recipe since Kelly reeeeaaaaaalllly wants it! It's pretty easy and you can certainly add your own touch. I made it Ben-friendly and he digs it! This makes a pretty good sized pot of soup.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 to 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

8 Cups of water

1 1/2 to 2 Cans tomato sauce

1 can red enchilada sauce

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 Lg onion, chopped

3/4 Cup Masa Harina (ground corn flour)

2 TBS chicken boullion

1 Can of corn, drained

1 tsp Garlic powder

Pepper to taste

sour cream

chopped green onions

cilantro

grated cheese

2 TBS vegetable or canola oil

Corn chips or totilla strips (I made my own tortilla strips by slicing corn tortillas into strips and deep frying them, oh my heavens they are good!)

Place chicken breasts in pot with water. Bring to a boil and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Turn heat off and let sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. Save water for stock. Remove chicken to cutting board to cool. When chicken is cool enough to handle, shred or chop to the consistency you desire. Meanwhile, bring chicken stock back to a boil and add boullion, tomato sauce, enchilada sauce and garlic powder. Reduce heat to medium and cover. Saute celery and onion in oil until just tender, then sprinkle Masa over vegetables and stir. This will get rid of the "raw" flavor of the corn flour. Add vegetables and Masa to pot and stir. Reduce heat to a low simmer and add canned corn and shredded chicken.

Assembly is very important! :)

Place some tortilla strips your bowl.....

Ladle soup over the heavenly tortilla strips....

Then pile on the toppings. I am all about toppings! Hope you like it!

He can compute.

2008-10-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

Ben has become obsessed with the laptop. He loves playing the Curious George games on PBS.Org. I suppose it is better than being obsessed with the Playstation 2.

Here's the thing, he's starting to give me a bit of attitude about it. I remember a time when I was pretty cool and fun to him. I'm sure I'll be cool and fun again when he is asking for money and to borrow the car...

What's For Lunch?

2008-10-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

This and that....

2008-09-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

It's definitely been a while since I posted an update about our "goings on". I am now working from home as a Medical Transcriptionist. I've been training with my sister, Janelle, for the past few months and now I'm at home. I know she misses me terribly but I am NOT missing the long freakin' drive back and forth!

Benjamin is in preschool and loves it. He has the cutest little friends in his class! My friend, Michelle, is his teacher and she is a sweetheart.

Sean is in the midst of changing jobs and has been fortunate enough to have some time to spend at home with me and Ben.

He has been working really hard on our backyard and it is shaping up quite nicely! He has also been doing a lot of cooking and cleaning. Thanks Honey. I'm a little upset by the fact that when he cleans the house, it looks cleaner than when I do it. Must be an optical illusion or something.

We're excited for fall and the upcoming holiday season. We're hoping to get away for a quick vacay sometime soon as well.

I guess that's it for now. If anything exciting happens we'll be sure and let you know!

Photo Fun

2008-09-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

This site is really fun! It allows you to browse your photos and morph them into coolness.

Check it out! That's my little dude on a train station display....or is it?

Forever In Our Hearts

2008-09-11T08:08:00.001-07:00

In the huge mass of evil as it rolls and swells, there is ever some good working toward deliverance and triumph. ~ Carlyle

What Children Learn

2008-09-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

I really like this!

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live

How many countries?

2008-08-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

My good friend Carrie sent me this link. I'm quite disappointed in myself. Only 59 countries in five minutes? I thought I'd do much better, especially having just watched the Olympics. Oh, and who knew that Vatican City is a country? Sheesh.

59

Created by OnePlusYou - Free Dating Sites

Happy Birthday Handsome.

2008-08-22T07:12:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday Dear Seeeeaaaaaannnn. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! And Many Mooooooorrrrrre.

We love you Birthday Boy!

Tagged by Carrie

2008-08-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

In honor of the Olympic opening ceremonies held on 8-8-08. Here are my 8's.

8 tv shows I love to watch: The Office, Burn Notice, Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, Mad Men, No Reservations - Anthony Bourdain, Dateline, The Tudors

8 restaurants I love: Sushi Garden, La Parilla Suiza, Olive Garden, Taco Bell (I know, right?), Ziggy's, Beyond Bread, Chipotle, Flemings.

8 things that happened today: A nap with heating pad for my neck and shoulder, Homemade chocolate mikshakes, BBQ beef skewers for dinner, Actually sat down at my Scrapbook table and worked on some projects, Snuggling with Ben, Watched more Olympics, Almost finished my book.

8 things I am looking forward to: My transcription training to be over, finally getting to work from MY home instead of Janelle's (no offense Sis), Sean's birthday, taking a vacation, a haircut and color, Winter, the delivery of my latest Stampin' Up order, getting together with my girls and chatting.

8 things I love about summer: Flip flops (who am I kidding? I wear them year-round), watching Ben run through the sprinklers, 4th of July, icy Diet Coke, Sean's farmer tan, going to the movies, family BBQs.

8 Olympic events I want to see:Gymnastics, Volleyball, Swimming, Diving, Figure Skating, Skiing, Bobsledding, Softball

8 things on my wish list: A happy, healthy family, just enough money, a puppy, a family reunion where EVERYONE is able to attend, a new computer, to be able to take better photos, my dream kitchen, to see my Mom finally retire.

Ok, if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged!

Yessssss!

2008-08-17T12:51:00.001-07:00

Three weeks earlier sounds good to me!

If you want to live a long & happy life.....

2008-08-13T10:46:00.001-07:00

Olympic Opening Ceremony on 08/08/08

2008-08-08T22:58:00.000-07:00

What a fabulous Olympic Opening Ceremony! I was absolutely awestruck. I heard earlier today that scalped tickets for the Ceremony were going for $50,000.00 and up. After seeing it on TV, I'm thinking it would have been worth every penny.

The dancers on this "planet" spent EIGHT MONTHS training to perfect their routine. I, for one, am grateful for their dedication as it was one of my favorite moments.

Hulk out

2008-07-29T15:21:00.000-07:00

This is why I never worry about intruders.*

*Yes, I lock my doors and have established safety rules for my boybarian. I'm just sayin' doesn't he look tough?

Memories, like the corners of my mind.....

2008-07-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

Misty water color mem... oh, sorry.

I saw this game on my girl Kellie's blog and I've decided to play along...

Rules:

1. Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together (it doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, just anything that you remember).

2. Re-post these instructions on your blog. 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.

Nothing too embarassing, mkay?

The Perfect Sandwich

2008-07-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

Lovely and divine.

A man by the name of Thomas Keller made up this recipe and I will now praise him. Amen.

Ingredients:
4 thick slices of bacon
2 slices of Monterey Jack cheese
2 thick slices of rustic white bread, toasted and hot
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
4 tomato slices
2 leaves of butter lettuce
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1 large egg

Directions:

In a skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat, turning, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
Set the Monterey Jack slices on 1 piece of toast. Spread the mayonnaise on the other slice of toast, then top with the bacon, tomato and lettuce.
In a small, nonstick skillet, melt the butter. Add the egg and fry over moderate heat, turning once, until crisp around the edge, about 4 minutes; the yolk should still be runny. Slide the egg onto the lettuce; close the sandwich and eat right away.

Faint from the scrumptiousness.

Is it December yet?

2008-07-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

Oh. my. hizzle. I cannot wait.

My sweet Niece!

2008-07-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

My niece, Corynn, started Kindergarten today! She has been so eager and excited to start. I know she will have such a great time being a big girl at school! Her Mom and sisters, on the other hand, will miss her greatly I'm sure. I totally stole these pics from my Sis's blog.

Corynn and Alli

Sweet hug

Big girl at school!

A pretty dress...

2008-07-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

There is a particular scene in one of the Harry Potter movies which features Hermione Granger donning a beautiful ball gown and looking quite ethereal. She then dances with her handsome escort.
The other night we were watching said scene and my darling son uttered some of the sweetest words I've ever heard.

Ben: "I will buy you a beautiful dress and you will look pretty, Mom".

Me: "Thank you! I would love that".

Ben: "And then I will dance with you".

Yep, my eyes teared up immediately. He just looked at me sheepishly while I peppered him with a million kisses.

"That's what she said"....

2008-07-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

I would have to say that this is fairly accurate. I'm not sure about the impishness though. No Janelle, the impishness part does not refer to my height.

I was sorta hoping I might be a little Dwight-ish.

Which Office Character Are You?
	You are part Jim. You are personable, easy-going, and always socially aware. Your great sense of humor and impishness soften the blow of what might otherwise be a dark, cutting cynicism.
	You are part Ryan. You are extremely smart and perceptive, and it irritates you to no end when inferior people try to tell you what to do. Sometimes, though, your critical eye makes you come off as aloof and bitter to others, and it may take awhile for people to get to know you.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

Sprinkler Stunt Man

2008-07-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

Who needs a swim-suit when you have pirate undies?

This and that

2008-07-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I found my second gray hair last Saturday. Last Saturday was my 37th birthday. Is it too early to go shopping for my orthopedic shoes?

Note to telemarketer from Wells Fargo: I am not, nor will I ever be, interested in your "unique opportunity". Furthermore, you are now skipping the speal and going right to the hang up. Why call at all? I will be purchasing an air horn and hopefully damaging one or more of your eardrums next time you decide to give me a jingle.

Things I am growing tired of hearing:

"Mom! You can wipe me now"!

"I can't find my Lego guy's hair"!

"You have been selected to receive this limitedtimeonlyspecialofferblahblahblah....."

Events I am looking forward to:

The 4th of July (also my Mom's birthday)

My Sister, niece, and nephew visiting the last week of July.

Sean using some of the 250 hours of vacation he has accrued.

Taking a trip to Northern AZ to get away from this face-melting heat.

Ok, so what are you looking forward to?

Lawn Jockey

2008-06-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

This man is my hero!

We now have grass in our back yard thanks to my hard-workin' man. He even built a sprinkler system from scratch! Admittedly, we made some mistakes which made this job MUCH HARDER than it had to be but he got it done. My Dad helped too and pretty much saved the job! Thanks Dad! You're alright for an old guy.

Before:

After:

I'll post the final result soon. There will be much Slip-N-Sliding. Oh yes, there will be.

Bedtime conversation....

2008-06-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Mom: "It's bedtime Ben, time to pick up your Legos and get pajamas on".

Ben: "This just isn't right for me".

Mom (with a glance at Dad): "Why not"?

Ben: "Because you guys are making my tears come out".

Here's my question, when did Sean & I become "you guys"?

Daddy-O

2008-06-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the great Dad's out there!

Sean & Ben

My Dad (Senior Portrait)

Totally not surprised

2008-06-10T10:33:00.001-07:00

As a 1930s wife, I am
Poor

Take the test!

3-day weekend

2008-05-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

Ben got invited to Drew's Pirate Birthday Party on Saturday morning and it was great fun watching all these little "bearded" Swashbuckler's digging for treasure and knocking the crud out of the piniata. Benjamin is quite serious about his pirate-ness.

On Memorial Day, we went to a BBQ in the wash by my parent's home and it was really awesome. Great food, quad-riding, marshmallow gun shooting, s'mores making and lovely weather. I was really sad to see it end. Sorry, no pictures. Sometimes I just want to relax and not worry about getting the "perfect shot". Hope you all had a great holiday!

Road Trip

2008-05-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

Ben and I are getting ready to take off to Colorado. Sean has to stay home due to work obligations so that sucks. My nephew, Nick is graduating from High School and we're really excited to see him! He loves to go Snow-boarding and is pretty good from what I hear. I was a little sad to hear that he recently cut his BIG hair but I'm sure he's still just as hot.
P.S. No, you may not have his phone number!

We'll be driving with my parents and my sister, Janelle. We're breaking the travelling time over two days so it should be fairly relaxing. Especially since I don't plan to do any of the driving. Because of this, we should all arrive safely.

My sister, Ronda, is Nick's mom and is planning a wonderful BBQ for all of the family and friends who will be attending the graduation. She's a great cook so we're in for a great meal!

I'll post more pictures when we get back. See ya!

Boom De Yada

2008-05-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

We like the Discovery Channel and this song is stuck in my head today!

Pima County Fair 2008

2008-04-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

So we took Ben to the Pima County Fair on Thursday evening. Luckily, Sean scored free tickets at work. Just parking and walking through the entrance can be quite an investment. It was such a breezy, mild evening and the sites and smells were really enjoyable. Ben had a blast on the kiddie rides and fed all the animals at the free petting zoo. After watching an Elvis impersonator belt out "Suspicious Minds", purchasing a blue "light-saver" and eating some astronomically expensive fair food, we called it a night.

P.S. I regret to announce that, yes, we forgot the camera.

They're Back.....

2008-04-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight. Sweet.

Baby Audra is here!

2008-04-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

My sweet sister, Cindy, gave birth to a darling baby girl on April 1st. Her name is Audra Jeannine Cottrell and she is wonderful! Such a sweet natured little gal with beautiful eyes and dark hair. She weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and measured 19 inches long. Audra's big sisters, Allison & Corynn, just adore her and are taking very good care of their new sister.

Grandma's girls:

Proud Daddy:

Going home:

Sweet baby girl!

My Mother Taught Me....

2008-04-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

My Mother sent this to me and I appreciate it because I say some of these things to Ben. I won't tell you which ones. I have to say that the older my Mother gets, the smarter she gets! I now realize that when I was ignoring her in my teenage years, some of what she said made it through. Thank goodness! P.S. Number 25 causes cold sweat to run down my back.

I OWE MY MOTHER

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
" Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother tau! ght me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS
"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you "

Thanks Mom.

Friday

2008-03-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

Another Friday is blowing by. Where DOES the time go? I'm off to Bingo tonight at Tracy's and I'm hoping to win the pot because, hey, I deserve it. We're all bringing a little something for a gift swap so that should be fun. My boys will be here at the house doing who knows what. Ben went to his friend Jaxon's birthday party today so he's pretty hopped up on sugar right now.

Ok, so I saw this video on YouTube and I'm sure some of you have seen it but it just cracks me up!

Did you say Satay?

2008-03-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

So I tried a new recipe and it was a hit. We had grilled Chicken Satay a couple of nights ago and WOW, we all loved it! Ben ate three skewers of chicken and he rarely eats three of anything so we considered it a success. I enjoy trying new recipes and sharing them too.

I should have taken a picture when the plate was full but you have to watch yourself when you're feeding hungry boys!

I looked up several recipes for this dish but couldn't find one that I liked so I have combined several and modified them to fit our taste.

Chicken Satay with Peanut dipping Sauce:

1 to 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (I used thighs)

1 bottle - Kraft Asian Toasted Sesame dressing/marinade

Chopped green onions (optional)

Chopped cilantro(optional)

Wooden skewers that have been soaked in water for at least 20 minutes.

Cut chicken breasts or thighs into strips and place in large plastic bag. Pour marinade into bag with chicken and marinate in the refridgerator 3 to 5 hours. Reserve 1/2 a cup of the marinade. Thread chicken strips onto skewers. Grill skewers over medium heat approximately 8 to 10 minutes on each side, brushing occasionally with reserved marinade. Garnish with chopped cilantro and green onions.

Peanut Dipping Sauce:

1/2 C peanut butter

1 TBS brown sugar

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 TBS soy sauce

1/4 C rice wine vinegar

red chile flakes ( to taste )

Combine all ingredients and blend well. Serve with chicken skewers.

I served the Satay with yellow Saffron rice and green beans. If you decide to try it, be sure to let me know how it turns out!

Easter Schtuff

2008-03-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

We had a great time celebrating Easter 2008. The Easter Bunny was really good to Ben. We've had several discussions about E. Bunny and what he looks like, talks like, etc. Good stuff. Ben's got quite the imagination.

We had Easter dinner and the Egg Hunt at Grandma & Grandpa Judd's house, complete with the traditional Bunny cake.

Ben hunted eggs like he was looking for diamonds. I've never seen such determination on his face.

My Boys

Ummm hello? Can I get a ball here people?

All in all, we had a wonderful day. It was great to see cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. We're so grateful for our family and for the Resurrection of our Loving Savior.

2008-03-23T12:22:00.001-07:00

Easter Eggs

2008-03-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

We colored Easter eggs last night and I am proud to say that not a drop of dye hit the floor. Ben really had a great time. He was trying to be so careful not to crack any eggs but we ended up with about three casualties.
I can't wait for him to see his Easter basket in the morning. We're visiting Grandma & Grandpa Judd all day tomorrow so he'll hunt for eggs at their home. He's pretty darn excited!

Equinox & Silly Socks

2008-03-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo I took on March 20th. The 20th is one of four days in 2008 that is part of the Equinox. I'll let Wikipedia explain it for you.

In astronomy, equinox can have two meanings:

The event that the Sun is positioned directly over the Earth's equator and, by extension, the apparent position of the Sun at that moment, or the time that it happens.

The time at which the vernal point, celestial equator, and other such elements are taken to be used in the definition of a celestial coordinate system—see Equinox (celestial coordinates)

So, anyhoo, I've heard that on these days, you should be able to stand an egg on it's end. Guess what? I did it on my second try! This is not trick photography and no I did not glue it to my countertop.

In other news, Benjamin has decided to wear socks with his flip flops. This is not necessarily newsworthy, just a HUGE pet peeve of mine! It freaks me out because I know how it feels. Me no likey. Unattractive as well as uncomfortable. Oh, and I'm pretty sure he inherited this from my sister, Janelle. She also wears socks with flip flops. Ugggh.

Bring on the Spring

2008-03-20T22:22:00.001-07:00

The weather has been GORGEOUS! Sean assembled a new playset for Ben last Saturday and I don't know who loves it more. :) Ben has been playing nonstop and asks to have his snacks outside at his picnic bench.

Before:

After:

What a great Dad! He worked from sunrise to sunset and was never frustrated. Not once! Who are you and what have you done with my husband? We'll be laying sod and pavers soon and I'll be so happy when the dirt isn't being tracked in every 5 minutes!

We're really looking forward to Easter Sunday and will be spending it with my family in St. David. Ben will be dying some eggs tonight to contribute to the great hunt. I love watching the youngest of my nieces and nephews hunt for eggs. I'll expect some serious "chucking" from Allison, Sammy, and Owen! My sister, Cindy, is due to have her baby any minute now. I think it would be fabulous to have an Easter baby!

If I don't post again before Sunday, HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!

Speak With Conviction

2008-03-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

Amen.

Real Genius?

2008-03-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I saw this fun test on another blogger's site and decided to plug in Three Ardrys. Guess what level we are?! Not sure this test is entirely accurate! :)

Movie Reviews

Dad & Ben day

2008-03-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I helped my sister pack her kitchen because she and her husband ARE MOVING AGAIN! She called me, crying and moaning and begging. :) Just kidding Janelle! I'm such a great sister!
Sooooooo, while I did that, Sean took Ben to Bedrocks to go bowling. He loved it and was really digging the shoes. After one game, he was ready to move on to a little dancing....

After riding the pony......It was time to go eat lunch at McDonald's.

On the way home they stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things. I love it when I don't have to go grocery shopping! After a much needed bath, Sean helped Ben make a yummy pizza! Lot's of cheese and pepperoni....

It's soooo hard to wait...

I guess Daddy and Ben were too hungry to take pictures of the final result! What a fun day for Ben & his Daddy. I just wish I could have been there!

Ben has been really busy

2008-03-05T15:16:00.001-08:00

Don't send a lame eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Sick and tired of being sick and tired

2008-03-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

Sick. Again. Much coughing....and mouth-breathing so my lips hurt real bad.

Napoleon Dynamite Napolean Dynomite But My lips hurt real bad

Getting there...

2008-02-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

The Ardry house is getting back to normal. Sean and I both have a bit of a lingering cough and Ben is still hacking up a lung but he's getting there. One good thing has come from this illness and that is the fact that our 4 year old son goes to bed without argument, stalling, or negotiation! Who are you and what have you done with my Ben?!

In other news.....We are in the midst of a pretty serious Pirate phase. I am confident in saying that this was brought on by a recent gathering of small, giggly swashbucklers high on sugar! We now spend our days searching for buried treasure and hijacking unsuspecting sea vessels. I draw the line at a parrot. P.S. Pirates don't see their dentists on a regular basis.

I will now leave you with a video that will have you making extremely funny noises out of your face. Disclaimer: I will not be held responsible for the wetting of pants, the spitting of beverages on computer monitors, or any type of choking due to watching this video while eating snacks.

Charlie bit me!

2008-02-12T10:53:00.000-08:00

I wonder if I could teach Ben to speak with a British accent?

Bronchitis is in the Hiz-ouse

2008-02-05T04:05:00.000-08:00

In terms of illness this winter, we've been rather fortunate. However, we are all feeling pretty cruddy at the moment. Sean is finishing a round of anitbiotics and Ben & I are beginning ours. I've been disinfecting the house pretty regularly and we're all pretty good about washing our hands but this is a pretty strong bug! Needless to say, we'll be laying low for a bit.

Tribute

2008-01-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

Such sweet tributes to such an amazing man! Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away last Sunday. Our fond memories will include his sense of humor. He will be greatly missed.

BYU Tribute/Slideshow

15 Pearls of Wisdom

2008-01-13T09:28:00.000-08:00

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

5. You should not confuse your career with your life.

6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

7. Never lick a steak knife.

8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

11. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

12. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.

13. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)

14. Your friends love you anyway.

15. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of skilled professionals built the Titanic.

Amen.

Date Night

2008-01-11T15:18:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to share the news. Sean and I actually get to go out and have some married-couple-time tonight. Ben's Aunt Cindy volunteered to babysit while we go to dinner and a movie. It's been quite a while and I'm hoping we remember how to order a meal without a toy in it or making sure there are crayons and a paper placemat available.

This is why we don't have a cat.

2008-01-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

What a Christmas!

2007-12-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that Christmas is over! So much preparation and anticipation. I'm so grateful for my family and Sean's family. I'm especially grateful for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We saw several Nativity scenes this season and it was great to discuss the significance with Ben. I think he gets it.

We left cookies for Santa and carrots for his motorcade. Because we have no chimney, we left a special "Key" out for Santa. Benjamin didn't think Mr. Claus would fit down a chimney anyway.

Among his favorite gifts is a remote control T-Rex from Grandma & Grandpa Burris. He now puts it in his back pack and takes it wherever he goes. He also loves his Hungry Hippos game and his remote control racetrack. We received two snow sleds from Grandma & Grandpa Judd and can't wait to hit Mt. Lemmon to try them out!

It was really great to get together with my siblings and their kids at my parents' home. It was cold and windy but that didn't stop us from burning up the ping pong table. Jace and Randy were talking some trash and I think Janelle let them both have some humble pie.

This little guy had a really great nap on his Mama's lap and is such a delight.

It was fun watching my nieces playing. It definitely brought back memories of my dolls and dressing up.

I hope everyone had a warm and wonderful Christmas. We're looking forward to the New Year and all it will bring.

Do you feel lucky?

2007-12-23T11:24:00.001-08:00

Well? Do you?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!!

2007-12-18T10:37:00.001-08:00

Benjamin is 4 today and is so excited for his party tonight! He's having a big family party and chose spaghetti for the meal. His Dad had so much fun birthday shopping (thanks Hon). He got to have one of his gifts this morning before Sean left for work. Lincoln Logs! The real ones, not plastic. This set even came with a couple of cowboys, horses and a long horn steer. Pretty cool.

I'll post more pictures after the party. Happy Birthday baby boy!

The Ladies can Rock!

2007-12-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

Guess who I got to see in concert last night? My FAVORITE singer/songwriter! The fabulous BRANDI CARLILE! She is even better live! Cindy received two tickets from her wonderful hubby and she invited me to go with her. We also got to hear Ingrid Michaelson, KT Tunstall, and the Indigo Girls. It was quite a show. Very moving. Thanks again Cindy!!!!

Brandi sings "The Story"

Brandi Carlile sings "What Can I Say"

Dinner Dilemma

2007-12-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

We have entered a new frontier here at the Ardry house. This vast, cranky waste-land is called The-Kingdom-of-Ben-who-is-almost-4-and-will-not-eat-his-dinner-from-a-plate-or-on-a-train-or-on-a-plane-or anywhere else on this dang planet! I've tried to schedule his snacks to where he will be a little hungrier at supper time. Has it helped? Nay. We've tried bribery, trickery and cheek retractors (just kidding). We make him bless the food because it is quite entertaining and I'm sure President Hinckley would feel honored as he is often included. I suppose this is just a phase and we will look back on this and laugh one day.

DUDE! Just eat, ok?!

Oh Christmas Tree

2007-12-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

We've had our tree up for some time now but it was decorated by an almost 4 year old. I have now re-decorated and have taken some photos. Sean was brave and climbed the ladder to place the star on top.

Ben received a package of gifts from Grandma Linda & Grandpa David from Texas. He's chomping at the bit to open one but hasn't actually tried it yet!

Santa Ben (sorry for the blur)

The Man Cold

2007-12-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

It's a nasty, nasty condition. One that we women must take in stride, all the while loading the washing machine and dishwasher, preparing meals, and taking care of the children.

Poor, poor Bunny.....

New Blogaroonie

2007-12-06T09:16:00.000-08:00

I've decided to create a separate blog for family stuff. That way, those who do not wish to see or hear about my crafting obsession ( I know! Who wouldn't?!) will be spared the horror.
Can you believe Christmas is upon us?! I still have Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge! Just kiddin'. Sean & I set a goal this year to SIMPLIFY. I know it's possible. We want Ben to know the true meaning of the season and to develop his spirit of GIVING and not just receiving. My personal goal is to refrain from entering any malls, stores, or post offices this year. Any necessary shipping will be done from home with my printer and free package pick-up. I will be giving many hand-crafted items this year and those that aren't homemade will be ordered online. Thank you Internet!
Because of the fact that I have 6 siblings, (with spouses and offspring) our family draws names each year. Sean and I have Randy and Kristen this year. Part of my gift to Randy will be a huge apology for all of the beatings I gave him when we were kids. I will, however, remind him of the time I saved his life. He was stuck in a drainage tunnel in a field by our house and was crying. I was outside playing and, thanks to my supersonic hearing, was able to locate him and alert my mother. No Randy, no thanks necessary.