Last Week's Activities

Well, last week we had some fun activities going on. I needed to find some ways to keep the kids occupied while B was off at Girl's Camp. Here are a couple of our excursions!

We went to the Queen Mary and watched C perform for the last time of the school year with her Egyptian Dance group. Her 4th grade teacher, Ms. Sabet, has been teaching the girls after school and C has really loved being involved.

Webb School Paleontology Museum in Claremont

Posing in front of a REAL Dinosaur. Alexis isn't too fond of it though!

Look out!! You might become LUNCH!!!

A Giant Alligator Skull... "So Cool!"

Digging for fossils

Alexis & R really liked this one. C & Becky were trying to determine which sound was "friendly" or "fierce."



We had lots of fun and plan to go again before summer is out. R just loves to learn about Dinosaurs and "holcanos" (volcanos). Maybe he'll be a scientist when he grows up!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Dad! I hope that you had a wonderful day. Today during sacrament meeting we had two really good speakers. While they were talking about their fathers, I was able to think about some of the things I remembered about you while growing up.

Contrary to what mom says, "you kids only remember the bad things," I don't remember the bad things. I remember our trips to Palm Springs and swimming in the pool with you throwing me up in the air and landing in the deep end. I remember how fun it was to have "room service" bring us breakfast on our last day there. I remember driving to Idaho and stopping over in St. George (when it was just a little town with nothing more than a few shops and the temple) and you taking a nap in the middle of the night on the temple lawn. I remember family reunions and us kids trying to tape you and Uncle Philip & Uncle Keith snoring to see who was actually the loudest snorer. Amzaingly, we you all stopped snoring as soon as we got into the room to tape you. Guess what, I married a man who snores as loud if not louder than you!

I remember you coming to my Freshman Home Economics "Brunch" and eating what we had prepared. I loved cooking and having you eat the food I had prepared. You always told me it was delicious!

I remember all of the nights I would come home from Baker's Square and you would come into my room and count my tips with me. I had more fun doing that and listening to you tell me how I should put so much into my jar of spending and how much I should save. I'm pretty sure that is why I love putting money into my savings account today. Every time I go to the bank I have flash backs of counting my tips with you.

I remember how you always were able to fix things for us. If I had a school project, I could go to your workshop and find something to use. Like when I had to do a mission project and I used scrap pieces of wood to make a fence, saw dust for the ground and your soldering tool to make little metal balls that I put into tiny baskets.

I remember watching you make things and paint the house and how you were always such a perfectionist. How everything always looked so nice, and PERFECT! This has been somewhat of a downfall though, because you have set a standard for my husband that he was never even aware of!!!! ha ha ha

I remember you coming to my aid in High School with Mr. Petralia. I was so glad that you didn't completely take his side and that you were willing to show up and support me.

There are many other things but what I love the most about you dad is the fact that you always know what to tell me to make me feel better. Specifically with my last pregnancy and we were worried about Ryan and what the doctors had told us. You quoted a scripture about faith to me. You also told me that all would be okay and that you and mom were praying for me, the baby and our family. You had faith when I did not. You were strong when I was weak. You have always showed me that you love me no matter what and I love that you love my family as well. You said that Ryan would be "perfect" and he is just that.

Thank you for being such a wonderful father and dad. I love you very much! Happy Father's Day DAD!

Please don't touch the Pinkle!!!!!

Well, the moment has finally arrived! I have become one of those mothers who looks at their little boy and says..."please don't touch the pinkle". I am just dumbfounded with the whole thing of why little boys have to touch their "pinkle" as we call it. It's not going anywhere, it certainly won't fall off, however, I do tell him that from time to time when I become really irritated with the behavior. So can anyone explain to me why,Why, WHY, does he have to touch his "pinkle"? I just don't understand.

Happy Mother's Day!

What a wonderful day I had today. No breakfast in bed but I did get to watch my girls put together the Ham and Au Gratin Potato dinner together. D handled the rolls and they were delicious! It was wonderful hearing my two younger children sing with the Primary. R kept waving from the stand to me and others in the congregation! C was very good at singing the songs. I got a little teary as they sang "I Often Go Walking." There is something about that song that gets me every time.


Today I was able to reflect on what I had learned from my mother. I know she sometimes thinks that we only remember the bad things. When in all actuality, we really remember the good things. Just a few are cookies, homemade bread, always having her there when we came home from school and when we were sick, laying on the couch watching "The Price is Right" which she still watches to this day!

I guess it takes getting older and having kids of your own to really make you appreciate your mother. I love my mother and I am so grateful for all that she has done and continues to do for me. Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Shall We Dance???

The Theme was "The Jungle Book" for our multistake LDS Prom. We had a lot of fun finding a pattern and then picking out the fabric. We finally decided and the wonderfully talented "Aunt Sandra" offered to make the dress. It was simply beautiful and it fit perfectly. The decorations were amazing and it was a fun time for all.

"Tradition"...It's Fruitcake Time.... Are you ready Dad?

Today is a new day! I am getting ready to make Grandma Condie's "Fruitcake". I have been attempting to master the art of making fruitcake for my Dad and Uncles for a few years now. Every year, Grandma Condie would make fruitcake for her sons. I have fond memories of Christmas Day watching my dad open his fruitcake and put it up to his face smelling it with his eyes closed. I almost wanted to have a taste but I knew it was his special gift. He would take it to the kitchen, unwrap it and very sacredly slice a piece off. He would then slather butter all over it and take a bite. Dad would have a slice every day until it was gone. He would always wish there were more but he'd have to wait another year for his favorite fruitcake.

My first year at college, I spent Thanksgiving at the Farm. I was home sick so grandma quickly put me to work helping her make the infamous fruitcake. It took my mind off of home and I enjoyed spending time with her. I knew how much this cake meant to my dad and I quickly began to learn how much this gesture meant to my uncles as well. Uncle Clair told me how his chioce of birthday cake was his mom's fruitcake. I didn't know it then, but I was learning a different side of family history surrounding this little, brown, fruit filled cake.

As Grandma set out the ingredients, I could see many things that I liked, such as, raisins, dates (yum yum), and many normal things like flour, eggs, shortening, sugar, etc. There were some new things I had not seen before, citron and currants. I didn't much care for the citron but I trusted grandma when she said "this is what makes it fruitcake". Once the cakes were baked, grandma wrapped them in foil and placed them into a crock to "settle" for a few weeks down in the basement. I teased Grandma by saying, "you mean it needs to ferment?" She was not happy and insisted that it was "settling."

I have fond memories of that first Thanksgiving away from home. I really enjoyed learning more about my dad and uncles and being a part of something that was so special to them.

Grandma has passed on and her crock has been passed on to me. I have often heard my dad say how much he missed having fruitcake at Christmas. A few years ago, I thought I would try my hand at making fruitcake in the hope of carrying on Grandma's tradition. Good thing Aunt Chris had the recipe. I have been honing my fruitcake baking skills for about 5 years now. I love doing this for my Dad and my uncles. They are always so kind and grateful, even when it is a little dark - you know, slightly burned.

My Brother, Steven now joins in the tradition of getting a fruitcake every year. He seems to enjoy it as much as my Dad does. I have learned that Spencer, one of Mike's boys, liked to eat the fruitcake with Uncle Clyde.

It's tradition and I look forward to making fruitcake every year at Thanksgiving. Grandma would be proud that I try to let it "settle" for about the same time that she did. This is just one great part of Holidays, doing things that have meaning to us and others because we love them.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Tradition Making!

A Season of Thanks Giving!

A lot has happened so far this month. We have been a part of history in the making, at times we have had to reach inside of ourselves and find the strength to push forward in defending what is morally correct but socially unacceptable, we have found more opportunities to teach our family about the Gospel, democracy, love and charity. We have gained a stronger testimony of the "Plan of Happiness". We have felt an even stronger urgency to be prepared in more ways than what we had expected. What an amazing month it has been, so far. We have had the opportunity to share and discuss what we are grateful for. We are so happy to have family, friends and the Gospel in our lives. We look forward to the future and hope to keep the momentum going.