GRAPEFRUIT TREE

Growing up in Arizona, we had a grapefruit tree. Every winter year after year we would enjoy fresh grapefruit, lemons and oranges. Even to this day, I love cooking with fresh lemons. They are the best!

Fast forward to now.

Grapefruit trees don't live in Utah, neither do any citrus trees. Every winter with the inversion, cold and snow, I CRAVE fresh Arizona grapefruit. Sure they sell grapefruits at the grocery store. But they taste horrible. They aren't the same as my Arizona grapefruit.

This past week I was blessed to receive a box of Arizona grapefruit! I can't stop eating them. The kids can't stop eating them. When they first came, I cut one in half and was walking around the house making everyone smell the grapefruit. It smelled like home and I started to cry.

Funny how the simplest things like fresh grapefruit can make one homesick for those warm Arizona winters!

WHERE DO THEY COME UP WITH THIS STUFF?

1. This is Tanner's "Doorbell." He found this bell in some toy box in the basement and now it is installed as the doorbell to his bedroom. The kids all use it to notify him when they would like to enter his bedroom. The annoying part of the story is that my bedroom is right above Tanner's and I can hear the doorbell every time the kids ring it. Why he thinks he needs a doorbell is beyond me!

2. Tanner recently turned 12 and is a Deacon in our church. Each Sunday 1 Deacon (a 12-13 year old boy) will sit up in the front of the congregation next to the Bishop and assist the Bishop should the need arise. Well a couple weeks ago, Tanner was not assisting the Bishop and was sitting next to me. The speaker started coughing. The Bishop motioned for the Deacon to go to the kitchen and get the lady a drink of water. Tanner leaned over and said to me, "I want that job. I want to be the ward waiter!" I started to laugh quietly, as to not make a scene during church. Tanner went on to explain, "That would be the coolest job. Wouldn't that be cool if I was sitting up there and the Bishop said...Hey kid...go get me a Coke!" I couldn't stop laughing becuase I could not imagine ANY Bishop sending a Deacon out to bring him a Coke. Daren was shushing me because I couldn't keep quiet. After church I told Daren what I was laughing about. He had a good laugh. Later, in Bishopric meeting he told the Bishop about Tanner's desire to be "The Ward Waiter." Bishop got a good laugh and couldn't imagine himself saying, "Yeah Tanner...run down to the Mini-Mart and bring me a cold drink." Daren said he had never seen the Bishop laugh so hard.

Where do they come up with this stuff?

SEPARATED

Camille & Abby are crying

Girls why are you crying?

Camille: Because Abby and I are going to get separated.

Why are you going to get separated?

Abby: When we grow up we won't live together anymore.

Camille: If we want to talk to each other we will have to call each other on the phone.

Abby: We won't be able to share a room anymore. And, Camille's kids will call me Aunt Abby.

Camille: We won't live by each other anymore because I will live in New York.

Me: New York, huh?

Camille: Yeah, New York City. I love the city! (She does. When we go to Salt Lake she always asks if we are in New York City.)

My 'Twin' girls who are 12 months apart. How blessed am I!

HOW CUTE IS THIS?

A few years ago my girls we so afraid of our friend Dave McClure. He is the son of our dear friends David and Sandy McClure. We met The McClures when we lived in Las Vegas and have remained friends through the years. We enjoy traveling with them to BYU games and love to hang out with them whenever we are in Vegas or when they are in Utah.

Their son Dave is attending Salt Lake Community College and plays on their baseball team. Years ago the girls would cry and scream with fear when they would see Dave. We just thought perhaps Dave had this effect on all girls! Well the girls have come to realize that Dave isn't quite as scary as they originally thought. He is a wonderful young man who is preparing to go on a mission later this year. We all enjoy it when he comes over to hang out at our house. The kids just adore him! Tonight, the girls were begging him to spend the night! One of the girls sat on his lap and the other was really mad because she wanted to sit on his lap too. He was so sweet and made room on his lap for both girls. They were so sad when he had to leave. They ran up and gave him a big hug and made him promise to come back soon.

We love Dave and we wish him well as baseball season is just beginning. I always tell his mom how proud she should be for raising such a wonderful young man. We love having Dave come over!!

BE THANKFUL

Yesterday after school Tanner came home a little sad. His science fair project was not selected to go to the next round. He did a great job on the project and scored a 98%. We were all really proud of him. But yet, he was a little discouraged.

Then Camille adds her 2 cents and says in a way that only Camille can:

"Tanner, don't be sad. Just be thankful you have a family that loves you!"

We all started to laugh but there is so much truth in that sentence. I am so thankful that when I have a sad day and feel discouraged that I have a family who loves me. I am grateful that they are there to help me feel better and cheer me up.

Thanks Camille for reminding us of that important message!

WHEETIES & RUNNING SHOES

I often joke with my brothers that to keep up with me they will need to eat Wheeties for breakfast and wear comfortable running shoes because I am SO busy. They totally laugh because I really think that they think I sit around at home, watch Price Is Right, eat ice cream and talk on the phone. Nothing could be further from the truth!

This week has been one of those weeks. I think to myself, "Where has the past week gone?" And then I remember:

A million carpools, including a new one I just started and misunderstood the start date and had 2 kids (not members of my family) late to their activity. SOOOOO EMBARRASSED about this!

A trip to Chuck E Cheese with 8 children.

Dinner with an old friend.

A daughters birthday.

Finishing touches to a science project.

Help pack for Klondike (snow camping for a scout in my house)

Voice lessons - definitely not for me

Tae Kwon Do - again defiantly not for me

2 kids appointments at the doctor's office

Haircut - this one for me

Church calling

Did I mention carpooling?

Dance lessons

Making dinner

Staying up until 1 am watching American Idol, The Biggest Loser, Lost, etc. (TIVO)

Grocery store

Cleaning

Laundry

I could keep going but won't bore you because I'm sure each of you have the same list each week. It's funny how next weeks list is the same...just with a few slight variations.

But I wouldn't change it for the world!!

IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME....

I had a conversation with my girls that went like this:

Camille: (Enters my bedroom) Abby is such a nice sister.

Me: Why is she so nice?

Camille: She does nice things for me.

Me: Like what?

Camille: Well...she is doing my homework for me.

Me: Why aren't you doing your homework?

Camille: Well....ya see....we have to draw a step chart. I didn't want to do that and so I asked Abby to do it for me and she said yes. I don't like drawing. She does. Isn't she such a nice sister?

20 Minutes Later....

Me: Girls...I need you to clean the mud room.

Abby: Camille you are cleaning it by yourself.

Camille: WHY??? That's not fair. Mom said both of us have to do it.

Abby: I did your homework for you.

Camille is cleaning the mudroom.....ALONE!!

AREN'T SISTERS GREAT???