Good News / Bad News

The good news is that for cast #2, we went with a more feminine blue.

The other good news is that her x-rays show a lot of new bone growth, so cast #3 will no longer be needed (thanks to her mama, whose been forcing extra milk down her throat).

The bad news... I just found out that her first appointment with the Orthopedic doc cost over $700, and that doesn't include appointments 2 and 3.  Her broken arm just may cost more than her night in the ER for pneumonia.  Nice.

Easter Lesson

Last Sunday, the Primary President asked me if Brielle would share something she had passed off recently in her "Faith in God" book.  Rather than tell her I'm a horrible mother who has not worked with her on that, I opted for the "she would probably appreciate some time to prepare."  Which, in other words, means... we'll work on that and get back to you in a week or so.

In all honestly, Brielle is not an impromptu kind of girl, so I'm sure she really did appreciated it.  If she even knew about it.

Being that Easter is just around the corner, I wanted her to do something meaningful.  I found on Pinterest (surprise, surprise) a women who taught a Young Women lesson about what Christ did during the week leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection.  I decided that Brielle and I should take this a step further, and each night, during the week before Easter, talk about that day when Christ was on the earth.

The result... A book we've titled "Easter.  The Greatest Story Ever Told."  

While thinking of this project, and how we would execute it, I decided I wanted it to be something we could do as a family, every year.  And that the book would cater to a 9 year old, as well as children younger or older.  I think we accomplished just that.

My sweet girl, working so hard despite her big, bulky, blue cast.

Each page contains scripture references, quotes by prophets and an activity, or visual example, and is laid out from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

The above page is from the section "The Last Supper."  This particular page includes a scripture word search as well as a card that lists the different foods that Chris and His Disciples ate.  I used velum envelopes to create pockets.

On some pockets, I left the flap on, to hold items in (such as the 30 pieces of silver - or 3 dimes), and for some I cut them off.

You can find the pages of this Easter Book, along with a page of instructions and supplies needed by clicking HERE.  I think this would make a great project for Conference weekend.  Not to mention, it might provide your family an opportunity to focus more on Christ at Easter and not so much on the Easter Bunny.

The South Knows Something We Don't

And let me tell you... we are missing out.

I love me some good Mexican food.  I could never have too much Mexican food.  I could eat Mexican food every day, and not get sick of it.

But the South seems to know something about Mexican food that Utahn's do not.  Either that, or the South really doesn't know how to make Mexican food, but has created a crazy good Mexican knock-off.

When Chris and I were doing business in Mississippi, there was a Mexican restaurant near the hotel we would stay at.  They served your basic chicken enchilada, but wait for it... with a spicy creamy sauce!  Not a hot red sauce, or green chile sauce.  It was creamy!  It was spicy! And it was amazing!  We would go there every time we were in Jackson.  Oh, how I've missed them.

And they're no where to be found in Utah.

Then I went to Kentucky.  And a fellow A.E. (my job title) suggested that we get Mexican food, instead of the Chinese food that another A.E. was proposing.  I did not object.

After waiting almost an hour for our food (we were on the verge of leaving), it happened...  A plate was placed before me with two chicken enchiladas, rice and beans, topped with a SPICY CREAMY SAUCE!  I was overjoyed.  Elated.  In pure, blissful, creamy enchilada sauce heaven.  I inhaled them.  The ridiculous wait for our food suddenly no longer mattered.

And now here I am, back in Utah, and I'm swishing I would have asked for the recipe.  Or (because most restaurants don't give their recipes) savored the goodness a little slower, having tried to identify each ingredient so it could be replicated at home.  

So, if anyone knows of a recipe, or has tried an enchilada with spicy creamy sauce, please let me know.  I'm desperately craving one right this minute, after having choked down a turkey sandwich and carrot sticks.

Downton Abbey

How is it possible that I just found out about this series after two full seasons?  How could it be that this show could win multiple Golden Globes and an Emmy and I still not know about it?  Why, with my love for movies set during this time period did no one inform me of its existence?

I will, however, forgive all who has had knowledge of this crazy good TV Series due to the fact that I was able to watch both series in its entirety during my business trip to Kentucky (during my non-working hours of course).  There is nothing I hate more that waiting weeks or months for the next episode.

But, now that I'm finished with Season 2, I have to wait until January 2013 for Season 3.  Blasted PBS.

For those who are not aware of this fantastically wonderful program, let me enlighten you, to spare you feelings I experienced when I just happened upon this show.

Downton Abbey is a British drama set in the early 1900's.  The dynamic of this show is interesting, as it involves the relationships between a wealthy, privileged family and their servants, all while the tragedies of the Titanic and war occur.  The performances of the actors are seriously top-notch and the writing is outstanding.

I may need to use a thesaurus to come up with more adjectives to describe this series.  I loved it.

Order it on iTunes.  You can stream the first season through Netflix.  Find two days that you can have all to yourself and just watch.  I promise you, you won't be disappointed. 

January 2013 suddenly feels like a century away.

It's Been 355 Days...

... Since I last used a kitchen cabinet door.

We purchased new cabinet doors for our tiny little kitchen in order to update it and make it look like new.  But then jobs started rolling in for Chris and he could never find the time to paint and install them.

But now they're almost done.  And they look amazing!  And I've suddenly forgotten where I keep everything.

It started out like this...

Then for a year, I've lived like this... (I felt so exposed)

But now, it looks like this...

The ugly fluorescent light light is gone, and 6 recessed can lights were installed.  The floors were refinished to a beautiful chocolate brown, and are no longer that bright orange-ish/yellow.  The walls were painted "Belvedere Cream."

Still to do:

• Finish installing cabinet doors
• Touch-Up Paint
• Curtains (if you'd like to help me choose, see the following post)
• Counter Tops
• Backsplash
• Dining area light fixture

Soon as that's all done, we'll get started on the Master Suite and Carpet.  But, being that work picks up for Chris about time, you can pretty much bet that won't happen until... well, exactly this time next year!

Redirecting My Thoughts

I'm trying to take my mind off a few things.  My recent business trip to Louisville, KY started off bad, and ended with me fearing my life was over.  I have until a business trip in August to get over a fear of flying I never used to have.

A post about the 3 things you never want to hear your pilot say is another blog post, for another day.  That day may come when I'm over the fact that yesterday, my flight experience caused me to picture my daughters life without her mother.  Freaking terrifying.

Time to redirect my thoughts.

My kitchen is nearing completion.  All the cabinet doors are painted, and a few are hung with knobs and everything.  It would have been completed when I got home, except for a sudden sinus flu virus that knocked Chris out for a few days.

And with any remodel of an old home, we've hit a few snags.  For one, the previous cabinets where built onsite, therefore, ordering a perfectly square dimensional door may or may not fit.  Lucky for me, my hubs is brilliant and can fix those types of things (which hopefully will be sooner, rather than later).

Do you remember when I started experimenting with custom made fabric?  My sample got here and I just wasn't in love.  It blended in too much with my wall color.  And with white cabinets, neutral countertops (for now) and a fairly light wall color, I need something to pop.

So, I found another pattern that I really liked and started experimenting with colors.  Problem is, I have two color combinations and I just can decide.  So, I'm asking you... what's your opinion?

OPTION # 1 - Blue Accent Flowers

OPTION # 2 - Green Accent Flowers

Send me a text... write me an email... leave a comment.  However you do it, just help me choose.  And the sooner, the better.

(And if you don't like either, please don't tell me)