Merry Christmas!!

I am Fall-ing in love!

There is no way to express the absolute giddy joy I get from this time of year. My husband is a summer guy, he wants all the sun he can possibly soak up but I am fall all the way. My spirit just seems to perk up as soon as I feel a little bit of crispness in the air. I feel a warm and gooey kind of joy when the smells of spices and pumpkin float carelessly around me in the form of lighted candles or something yummy I am cooking. I love stews and hearty soups, and I love squash. I wake up feeling so ready for the day and life is just a little more savory than it was before fall began. I can literally taste the feeling in the air. To me the months of October through December are a time of fun, family closeness, cozy blankets, good books, ahhmazing food, and lots of time spent together!

It also makes me a little more amorous than usual so my husband may start loving fall as much as me =).

Looking Back

I have been busy beyond belief. So blogging has fallen by the wayside and reading blogs is non existent. All those who's blogs I used to read, I will come back to you soon. Let me get through this crazy time and we will be friends again.

So in the few quiet moments I find I will try to grab a little of what I have missed so I have these memories....memorialized.

The summer was a blast. We had a fun houseboat lake trip with 3 other great families and loved every minute of it. Even the mosquito that flew into my ear and buzzed in my head all night....glad my Dr. friend was on board with his ear-looker thing to help me out!!

One of our best memories was our trip to Utah. We visited family and then spent a week at Aspen Grove with some new friends.

My sister and niece

It is such a treasure to me to meet new people who make me want to be better. I feel so blessed when I rub shoulders with people that give me new perspective, make me think, and make my life richer. That was the group we went with to Aspen Grove. I only knew 2 of the 7 families that we went with and it was so much fun to get to know new friends. I call them friends because I know that I will keep in touch with many of them forever and how lucky I am for that. You can see in the pictures that my girls also made some life long friends of their own.

Chris and the girls after playing tennis

Olivia with her friends (the four musketeers)

Jen, Shawni, Amy, Melissa, Me Tracy and Nichole!

Cole and Melissa (one of my dear friends)

Grace and Elle

The three musketeers Ava, Sophie and Claire

Ruby and Elle (they were best friends)

I totally sucked at tennis....I would like to say it was the altitude but man I played bad!!

SOOOO cute!

Friday Night Lights!

Football is everything in this town. High school football is nothing like what I remember when I was young. Our games were played on our small highschool field with hard rickety bleachers to sit on.

Games here are played at the college stadium and that place is packed to overflowing. The stadium lights and atmosphere are reminiscent of a big college or pro game and everyone seems very serious about the experience.

Now that Chloe is on the pom squad we will be attending all the games and to be honest, we have had the time of our lives. I am really enjoying the games and connecting with the community. I love that we live in an area that feels so small town. The faces all around are familiar and between raucous cheering and heartfelt screams we talk and connect with all the parents. There is a strong community connection that happens at a football game, this is where we come together in rutual support of our kids, our school, pride and community bonding. It is such a treat for our family and I love every minute of it.

Lemons.....Lots of Lemons!

It has been an amazing summer, almost too much to tell so I guess the best thing is to do a couple of posts that give an overview and move on. It was a summer of being together and connecting with each other. With school starting in just a few days I am so so happy for all the time I had with my kids this summer to play, laugh......and who can forget all the great lessons learned. This summer will be remembered as the "Lemonade Stand" summer.

As the summer began we had a small issue that caused us to lay down the law that my girls had to earn their own way this summer (including Chloe earning her flight money to go to EFY (youth church camp)). They were not happy about this at all.....there were tears and pleading but we were firm. Chloe came to me and said "Mom, there is no way that I can earn $400.00 in 3 weeks, I am doomed....help, what can I do to earn money fast". I told her that I wasn't sure but if it were me I would set up a lemonade stand that very day, at least it would be a little something coming in until she could decide what to do.

So sure enough she got to work and set up a lemonade stand that very day. She set up a table right by the golf path near our house. She sold fresh baked cookies, yummy lemonade and set up a very nice display with fresh cut lemons and ice. Well, much to my dismay (because we wanted her to learn a lesson about sacrifice and hard work) In her fist 3 hours she had made $140.00. She came in and proclaimed....."I will have $400.00 in 3 days!!"
My husband and I were not so happy at first but she and the other girls went out almost every day and worked their hearts out selling their fresh baked goods and lemonade.

Chloe paid for Especially for Youth all by herself and even earned money to pay for all her school clothes and fun money.

Olivia earned all her school clothes money and then decided she wanted an I-phone...we said "no way" but she worked like a crazy woman and earned all the money she needed to buy her own I-phone.

I loved watching them from out the window selling to the golfers to earn their money. It will always be a sweet memory for all of us and I know that they have learned a valuable lesson about hard work and ingenuity.....I am so proud of them. Here they are counting their money after a good day of hard work!

I have to add one funny note. After their first week Chloe observed. "Boy mom, men sure will throw down the money when they are out with their buddies and away from their wives........our worst customers are the men who are golfing with their wives, the women always say, 'you don't need that cookie!!" =)

More about our summer tomorrow!!

Calling on a computer geek

So, for the few who read my blog I guess you have noticed that I have taken a long break.  It wasn't really an intended break, I am having a computer issue that has hindered my blogging.   Being that this is my journal and scrapbook it is making me sad because I have missed recoding so much.  This has been an amazing fun filled summer and none of it recored.   

So if anyone has any great computer skills....please tell me what to do.   I can't log in to blogger from my home computer.  When I try it says "Your borwser's cookie functionality is turned off.  Please turn it on"  It gives instructions that I follow to a t but to no avail.   I have tried many times to turn it on and off to enable my log in but no luck.  I can log in from other peoples computers but that doesn't help me.  So I don't know what to do except try to start another blog or just give up.  It has been frustrating.  So anyone with ideas.....leave a comment!! 

I wanna grow something wild and unruly

I have always loved that line from the Dixie Chick's song "Cowboy Take Me Away".

"I wanna touch the earth

I wanna break it in my hands

I wanna grow something wild and unruly"

I grew up with a massive garden in my back yard. In the summertime, as the afternoon eased into evening, it was common to hear my Mom say, "Gale run out to the garden and pick some carrots, beets and swiss chard for dinner". I would run out and gather the required vegies for our evening meal and pray the whole time that I wouldn't see a Daddy Long Leg (they were my greatest fear).

I have wanted to have a garden forever but this is my first summer to actually make that dream a reality and last night for the fist time I said "Chloe will you run out to the garden and pick some swiss chard for dinner." It brought me so much joy to eat fresh green vegies from my garden. I am not a pro so my garden is a little bit 'wild and unruly' (actually so is the little girl weeding it) but it tastes SO good!

Bringing shame to the family name

So, let me begin by saying that we feel very blessed to be in the home that we live in. Our home was a foreclosure so we got the deal of a lifetime and feel a little like the Jeffersons (movin on up and maybe a little out of our element). So we had a neighborhood block party this past weekend and it was a splendid affair. Our neighbors across the street both work for food companies, as well as another neighbor down the street so all the food was provided. One works for a beef jerky company, one for Pepsi and Frito Lay, another for a meat company. There were hot dogs, hamburgers, every kind of side dish and desert. The favorite spot for all the children was a huge stainless steel rack with every kind of chip, Dorito, cookie, granola bar available as well as all kinds of drinks. We were having a great time and then as the evening was winding down my neighbor who works for Pepsi/Frito Lay/Quaker says "Gale, grab a bag and take some granola bars and chips home, I have a garage full of stuff and if you could use some go ahead" I am thrilled at this invitation as this stuff will all work great in lunches and for snacks. So I grab a bag and begin filling it up when I notice that I am getting some funny looks. I then feel the need to justify my actions in front of everyone and say, "cmon I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to take some of this home. Come on ladies, grab a bag". Everyone gives me a sweet little smile and goes back to their visiting. Suddenly I hear my husband laughing hysterically. I look up and he and all the men are laughing at me and I hear him say, "Nothing like the trashy neighbors who clean out the party of it's leftovers." I laugh along with them because hey, it is really funny. Regardless, I fill my bag and move on, noticing that no one else takes any. I don't care because I feel like I scored.

So then as the party winds down I head home to put kids to bed. After they are all settled I look across the street and see about 8 or 9 people still there and I think. "I should go over and help clean up". I head over and they are actually not cleaning yet, they are all sitting in the garage visiting. I feel like it would be rude to leave so abruptly so I sit to visit. I find out all about what my neighbor does and what her work entails and as we are sitting there she mentions that she just gets loads of stuff and if we ever want anything she would be happy to send it our way. At this point I open my big mouth. Remember that I mentioned the large stainless steel rack full of everything imaginable. Yes, well earlier in the night I had been eyeing it and thinking "That type of shelf would be perfect in my storage room." I was trying to figure out where I could get one so I just simply asked, "hey where could I get a rack like that? If you could hook me up, would be happy to pay for it" Well to my horror she says...."Oh just take that one, I have so many and we often give them away to our vendors so I would be happy for you to take it". Well, I must admit I am horrified and thrilled at the same time. Then she says, "it is on wheels so just go ahead and wheel it home, food and all."

So just picture me, I am already pegged as the one at the party bagging up any and all goods I can take, now all the neighbors see me wheeling THE ENTIRE SHELVING unit FULL of over 200-250 bags of chips, Cheetos, cookies and granola bars down the street and taking it all home. When I got home Chris was laughing so hard he could barely breath and then said....."Gale in 3 months when they have another party and we are not invited......don't be surprised."

I LOVE my shelving and my kids think we are the coolest and want to invite all their friends over to see our stash.....I regret nothing.

Here is little peek at my new shelving unit!!

There are moments you remember all your life!

I had one of those moments yesterday.

Yesterday Chris had his doctoral defense. Chloe, Olivia and I went with him and wow it was something. He did an amazing job of presenting his research. We were in awe as we watched him flawlessly and articulately defend his work. The committee then began their questioning and I was amazed at how complementary they were. I was expecting it to be brutal and it was, but it was also very positive. After a good long grilling they asked us all to step out so the committee could discuss the outcome. We went into the hallway and all 4 of us were pretty anxious. When they send you out it can be a 15 min to 1 hour wait for their decision. We walked out and within 2-3 minutes the committee chair came out and said “Dr. Bray please come back in” I was so unprepared to hear that statement, especially so quickly that I just broke down in tears. As we went in and all the committee members welcomed him back in with “Congratulations Dr. Bray”, Chloe, Olivia and I were all crying, it was a very special moment for our family and I will always recall all the little details.

"Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes"

I saw this idea over at The Rockstar Diaries and I decided to post some of my favorite things. I have loved reading what brings other people joy, we are all so different and it is fascinating to me. Here are my own personal "Raindrops on Roses"

1. My Family
2. Lemons and limes (they are all over my kitchen, it is a source of decorating for me). Around Christmastime I replace the lemons with pomegranates and it is limes and pomegranates everywhere. I adore the color Green!
3. Loud, shake the house, thunderstorms. It is a good thing I live where I do because I get these often.

4. Daughters =) 5. History especially US history. I feel an affinity to our founders that runs deep.

6. The way my husband smells

7. Kissing (# 6 made me think of this)

8. Books, Books, Books. All kinds but especially old ones bound in leather. If I can get my hands on a first edition of a book that I love, I am in heaven!! One of my most prized possessions is an LDS primary song book from the 1800's bound in leather. Oh I love that! I LOVE old books. 9. Depression Glass. I LOVE the green and the pink. I collect it and when we eat ice cream out of our green depression glass sherbets, or drink out of the pale pink juice cups I just feel immense joy!! It reminds me of my mother =).

10. Old things....I love old minds(they are wise), I love old books, I love old movies and movie posters, and I love old people (they have great stories).
11. Music. I wish my life should be set to a score or soundtrack. On a daily basis I am wondering when the cello or bass is going to kick in.......since there is no orchestra following me around, music is always playing, often too loud, everywhere that I can play it.

12. Simplicity. I am not great at very many things so I find I succeed by remaining simple. I am not gifted in decorating, so I use limes, I am not fashion forward so I stick to classic simple styles that never go out, I can't scrapbook so I blog. I have found great joy in my life by staying simple.

13. My girls songs. Everyday they sit at the piano and compose, it takes my breath away and I am amazed at their ability.

14. Forgiving and being kind (not always easy but brings such joy, and so it is worth it!)

15. Learning. I really don't read too much fiction because I hate to waste the time when I could be reading history, religion, or something of great intellectual importance. I love expanding my mind.

I need to stop because I was only planning on writing 10 and here I am at 15 but I just have to quickly say that I also LOVE the smell of dirt......and lilacs.....and my girls hair.....and a roast dinner.....and my pillow......and rain....ok I need to be done!!

This has made me happy.

Why couldn't I be raised in an orphanage? it's just not fair!

This was pretty much a dominant thought of my childhood. Why you may ask? Did I grow up in an abusive home where I was unloved or neglected? Not a chance, I grew up in a stable happy home with amazing loving parents. So why would I spend any time wishing I was in an orphanage? I will tell you why, because my mother made it sound like the greatest place on earth. I would sit by her side in the evening and she would tell stories, amazing stories of intrigue and adventure. I wanted so badly to hide my apples in the snow by the orphanage steps only to gather them hours later and scrape my teeth across the frozen apple flesh for a delectable rarely experienced treat. I wanted to arrive at the orphanage with my little stash of worldly belongings and have the girls gather round me to see what I had and begin bartering and trading our goods. I wanted to sing Christmas carols in the big hall and gather to get our one gift that Christmas, an orange, which my mother made sound like the greatest gift ever received (citrus fruit was very rare for them). I wanted to feel the way that she did about that one orange. I wanted to relish fruit so much that I would trade my one prized possession, a carved wooden box that held an assortment of perfume, for one solitary lemon and never regret the trade. I wanted to sit on the large front oak steps that she described in detail and dream of all the things I would do and be.

My mother, at the time of her arrival, with her younger brother Leroy.

As I relive these stories now I feel the same feelings that I did when I was a child. My lucky lucky mother!!

As an adult I have now come to fully realize what an amazing woman my mother is. I have learned from her to try to find joy in everything I face or experience. I now believe that the orphanage couldn't have been the wonderland that she made it out to be. I can only guess of the pain and hurt a child must feel when abandoned and left alone in a strange place. I know how it must have been so difficult as she and her 4 year old brother were left without a mother or father hold and care for them. To this day she would dispute any of these thoughts I now have. "Oh Gale", she would say, "life was so good and so happy for me, my Father in Heaven was mindful and I was so very blessed". I never heard words like; abandoned, fear, sadness, alone, victim. She spoke only in terms of joy and optimism. She only shared one experience that was sad at all, and each time she told it, she and I would both cry. It was how sad she felt the morning after her arrival as she walked to breakfast and saw her 4 year old brother toddling down the hall carrying his sheets, almost too heavy for him to carry, to the laundry room as he had wet the bed that night. That was the only negative she ever shared and oh I knew she felt so sad for him. She never spoke of her own pain.

I am even amazed at how she speaks of raising 8 children. Again, if I even mention how hard it must have been to raise 8 children she brushes it off and says "Oh Gale, I have no memory of it being hard at all, it was a joy". Well, I lived in that house and I know it wasn't always a joy, there were very very hard times and struggles that would overwhelm anyone. We lived in a 1800 sq foot house with one bathroom, no shower, and no dishwasher. I feel shame if I ever complain??

Some would say oh she is unrealistic and in la la land. I will admit at times I have been frustrated by her continual optimism but now at this stage in my life I know she came to this earth with more wisdom than most. She has chosen to see joy in pain and peace in struggle and she is the better because of it. She is full of joy. I am grateful today as mothers day is coming close for an amazing mother. I pray that I can be half the woman she is.

*As a side note both her parents were alive when she was taken to this orpanage to live. That is a story for another day. An amazing story.

We laughed until our sides hurt!

Well, the outcome of the election wasn't good but for some reason it was totally OK. Chloe jumped in the car and said...."it's OK Mom, I think I will run for freshman class president". She went from wanting to be freshman senator to class president, wow! So we were driving all the girls to piano lessons right after picking Chloe up from school and seriously got into one of the worst laughing fits we have ever gotten into. We were all laughing so hard I think I may finally have that long desired six pack...my abs are hurting. We all got the giggles over a song we were singing and then we each started adding our own spin to the funny scenario and suddenly we all couldn't breath and had tears streaming down our faces.

So that is how you loose......you laugh. In my opinion it's the best way!!

p.s. one of her best and most respected friends won....that made her so happy!

Election Day!!

Election Day today!!!

A run for High School Freshman Senator (StuCo)

This week our life has been absorbed by school elections. Chloe is running for Student Government (they call it StuCo here) for next year. We have had a fun week making posters, t-shirts and silly ads to put on facebook. Below are a few of them.

Today she came home a little discouraged because someone keeps pulling her posters down or covering them up but she has had a good attitude about it all.

Win or loose we have had a blast!!