Welcoming Polo Warren Afuvai

He finally came! We would like to share with you our pride and joy- Polo Warren Afuvai. Aka- Peewee or P.W. He was born on Sunday July 12 at 11:52 pm. He weighed 7lb 15oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. He is so handsome and all is well.

So the story goes that there were no signs of labor until sacrament meeting started on Sunday when I started having contractions suddenly and only five minutes apart. I waited out the meeting, went home and waited out another two hours. By four o'clock we had made it to the hospital, and I was dilated to 6 cm. Needless to say they gave me an epidural, a STRONG epidural, right away and we waited until almost midnight to greet the cutest baby in the whole world. We're very excited and very exhausted! We love him though!

Jet Skiing for Labor!!

"Jet skiis" and "39 weeks pregnant" are two things I bet you never thought you'd hear in the same sentence- unless that sentence ended in a "Yeah Right!" Well Jake's family is having a little reunion this week and we headed up to Pineview Dam yesterday to join them. We decided to skip out on the camping in a tent thing due to the very frequent bathroom trips in the middle of the night caused by a hefty (7 1/2 lbs) baby sitting on my bladder.

We got up there are soaked up plenty of sun- though we piled on enough sun screen to keep us white as we were when we arrived. We figured sunburns in the delivery room were something we should try to avoid, just so I wouldn't scream, "Don't touch me!" anymore than necessary. We played on the beach, and spent plenty of time in the water! We were joined by some friends for a total of 16 kids and 14 adults! I had made up my mind beforehand that I wouldn't be going out on the jet ski this year due to my Panza (belly). However, Jake's brother Darce said to me, "Grab a life jacket, I'm taking you out there!" And so I did. And so at 39 weeks pregnant I jumped on the back of a jet ski and cruised the dam! I can't say he went much over 35 mph- but it sure was nice to be able to skim the water. It was, after all, a beautiful day and the views were awesome!

And then we headed back to camp for some delicious taco soup, hot dogs, and dutch oven peach cobbler! Sad to say we did come home late last night and slept in our own bed. But you can be sure our little guy will see plenty of camping trips once he gets out here to see us.

Speaking of baby news--- No, the water skimming ride didn't induce labor and the doctor tells me I'll probably have to wait until next week for the big day. But all is well and he's looking healthy!

BABY SHOWER!!

Thanks to all the wonderful women who came and hosted my very first baby shower. The treats were so yummy and the gifts were more than I deserved. This little guy sure is getting a lot of love already!

Grandma Rohrer and Aunt Ethnee

Grandma Afuvai

The women who put this all together and threw it for me- Aunt Lene and Aunt Mara

The three adopted Aunties- Amy, Kara, and Rach

The diaper cake Aunt Cathy sent up- and the monkey that watched over all the treats!

Thanks everyone! And thanks to all of those who could not make it here but who sent gifts or expressed their love, concern, and excitement! We love you all!

What Does That Mean?

I've really been asking my doctor this question A LOT lately. He'll give me a measurement... 1 1/2 and 50% and I'm looking at him thinking- "does he think I have ESP?" Or he'll say, "Doesn't look like I'll need to intervene this week" and I'm staring at him wondering why he would say something like that! Obviously- this is my first baby and his Millionth or something! He's such a great Doc though that he laughs at me and then calmly explains what he is trying to say. Thanks Dr. Bierer! Basically- the general idea is that our little boy just loves where he's at. We hit 37 weeks today but there's no sign of his descent. Kind of grateful really as we're both pretty nervous and scared. And no- my hospital bag is not packed yet! I still lack the Butterfinger candy bars and a few other things- close to my crispety crunchety peanut buttery bar in importance :).

Baby Update

So I tried to get my ultrasound pics on here but it didn't work very well. Just in case you were wondering- the baby is doing great! He has the chubbiest cheeks in the whole world and he weighed 5 pounds last week. No sign of early delivery so right now we're still looking at another 5 weeks. Although we are getting a little anxious and I'm determined to have our hospital bags packed by this weekend! Oh and I finally bought something for the little guy- a pack of socks and a red and white striped onesie in case he's born before July 4th! Any helpful hints on products or tricks are greatly appreciated!

Memorial Day Weekend- The Stinky Man Trip

So I'm fresh out of pictures. I accidentally transferred all my pictures to my sister-in-law's computer and haven't yet retrieved them. But I thought I should write a little about our trip- seeing as how it may be the last trip as a childless couple!!

Who said 8 months pregnant is no time to go camping? Not me! So we headed up to West Yellowstone, Montana and found ourselves fishing peacefully on the Madison River. The first night the temperature was a reported 26* and everyone but us slept in the heated trailer. But we were toasty and warm in our brand new sleeping bag! It was great to wake up and feel the dew on the outside of the bag and then look inside and see that we didn't even need to wear socks to bed!

And then river was beautiful and fresh and freezing cold! We bought our licenses and fished the day away! Jake stuck to the usual fly fishing which I wish I could have done. But I was warned by two of the stinky men on the trip that the river was pretty violent- both of them had already fallen in earlier that week! And they said they were definitely NOT ready to deliver a baby in the river- seeing as how the nearest hospital must have been 100 miles away! So I sat on the river bank with my father-in-law and fished from a chair. Although I did buy a pair of cheap knee-high boots and stepped into the water a few times! And though Jake and I weren't out there long enough to catch anything- the rest of the "stinky man" gang filled the freezer with rainbow trout!

The next day was filled with lounging at the camp as seven nieces and nephews played jump rope, threw the football, and discovered nature all around our campsite. Then before we headed out we made our way over to Wade Lake where the water was much warmer and some of the kids even stripped down to their skivys and jumped in! Of course- they got a dollar for it! (The pictures would be so useful here!) We even had a naked two-year-old test the waters!

And then Jake and I headed home with our tiny car packed to the brim with probably 1000 extra pounds- no exaggeration! Plenty of Big Hunk bars jerky made for a wild weekend! And we made the whole trip on just two tanks of gas! What a trip!

Your Due Date is WHEN?

So another coworker asked me the other day, "When are you due?" I proceeded to tell her my due date- July 14th. And she promptly responded... "July! How much bigger are you gonna get?!"
Wow, I really was feeling pretty good about myself up til then. And of course, she must be right because I put on my pants this morning and well... they're MUCH tighter than they were two weeks ago. And let's not mention what the doctor's scale said. Let's not even go there!
But our little boy, yet to be named, is doing well and weighed in at 3 lb 2 oz yesterday. We're so excited. He's coming right along as we just completed 30 weeks! He's definitely growing bigger and longer and I can feel him moving around all the time. Let's just hope he settles down when he comes out to see us!

And yeah- this is how I feel!

A Few Good Women

So I was sitting in the doctor's office yesterday, reading the WebMD magazine. In there was an article about Salma Hayek, a gorgeous Latina actress. You may know her as producer of Ugly Betty, Alec Baldwin's girlfriend on the show 30 Rock, or more recently the Academy Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. But here are some of the things that I read that impressed me even more about this beautiful woman of our time. Last fall she made a trip to Sierra Leone working with UNICEF to help provide vaccinations for tetanus to mothers and children. The magazine reads...


[Take the now much-publicized story of her putting a tiny newborn boy to her breast. Only a week old, he had been born into poverty-stricken conditions in a remote area of Sierra Leone. “He was so skinny,” Hayek recalls. “His mother had lost her milk, probably because of malnutrition.” So Hayek, with the mother’s approval, instinctively did what almost any nursing mother would feel compelled to do. She fed him. “You should have seen his face!” she says. “He just lit up. He became alive. I mean, how could I not feed him? I was in the field, my daughter wasn’t with me, I was either going to throw away the milk or feed this baby.”]

Concerning a film Hayek cancelled...
They said, ‘You can really move yourself as an actress with this role and go to a really dark place.’ I said, I don’t want to go there! Maybe I’ll change my mind later, but right now, I want easy movies that I can take my child along to. I want uplifting movies for the world.”

On Working Out
Pilates "appeals to me because I’m lying down!”


About Healthy Habits
"I like to indulge, I love food."

“I never got into drugs … I never went through that phase, never found them appealing."

On Life and Beauty
"I’m joyful. I try to find joy in life, and I don’t take myself too seriously." That includes no plastic surgery, she insists. “None of that. No peelings, either, I’ve not started that craze. Or tanning booths. What you see is what you get. I’ve been lucky … maybe when the face starts falling apart, I’ll change my mind, but for now I think I’m fine. I think people who do things to their face age faster, I really do. And I’m lazy, so this suits me -- I don’t like a lot of maintenance, and now I really don’t have time for it!”

Against the World's Opinion
"The best thing you can ever do for your child in your lifetime is to breastfeed.”

It's so nice to have such great role models in our society when the world is so crazy! And she's such a hottie too! GO SALMA!

"Whoa, You're gettin' BIG!"

Of course my coworker told me that she meant "cute big" when the only response I could come up with was a quiet, "Thanks." I should have said something like, "Yeah well I made brain today! What have you done?" Or "Yeah the doctor said there's twins in there, and I'm ready to go any minute. So stay outta my way!"

On the up side of things is my belly button, my belly, my appetite, and my sleep. My belly button has slowly been turning its way up and out, peeking through my shirts. My belly continues to stay high and in the way of everything. I made sure to paint my toes and shave my legs this week- seeing as how I may not get another opportunity! Of course I want to eat everything in sight. And my former Gung-ho Gym attitude has sharply turned to kick my feet up and put my head down and sleep as much as possible.

That should all be just fine now that school is out! Hoorah! But I thought this cartoon depicted my 29 weeks of pregnancy very well.

Women ARE Perfect- Almost

So my very smart husband knows more than I could ever hope to know. It's great though- cuz he's a good teacher. He recently taught me that 28 is a "perfect number." Among other things, all the factors of 28 add up to equal 28. That is 1,2,4,7,14. They are the only factors of 28 and they all add up to 28. So cool. Apparently there are very few numbers like that.
Any way- so a woman's "monthly" cycle is really based on 28 days right? Just like the phases of the moon. Our cycle is "perfect." I'm already closer to perfection than I thought!

Summer Baby Mania

So I am finding out that almost everyone I know is pregnant right now! It's such a fun time full of excitement! There are four of us in my Spanish branch. I'm first, four days ahead of my sweet visiting teacher, a month ahead of my favorite Relief Society teacher, and two months ahead of my dearest friend in the branch. Then there is also a total of four here at work, though I 'm not sure where I fall in the line-up. My friend in Texas who I served under in my first Young Women's Presidency is also just a couple weeks ahead of me.

And most exciting of all- my best friend Amy called me a couple of weeks ago and told me she was pregnant too! My other best friend, Kara, and I are going to have so much fun being aunties to Amy and Jeff's little one!

And speaking of being an Aunty- Shae and Cathy had their baby in December and Scott and Rene had theirs last month- and I can't wait to meet my new nephew and niece! I know our little boy is going to have some awesome cousins to play with!

So congrats to all the recent and soon-to-be mommies and daddies out there. It's so exciting to see the love and joy that these little ones bring. We are all very blessed!

Busy Busy Bee

This last week has been crazy! Valentine's Day came around and we finally got to welcome our niece Adelaide! (Ethnee calls her Baby Lemonade) We're so happy Scott and Rene made it to the end in tact and in love! ;)


And so then we stayed in on Valentine's night and watched the Cosby show and cooked dinner together. Monday was our 2nd Anniversary! It still feels like the beginning! We celebrated with a fancy dinner out and then utilized our Plantearium memberships (Geek cards) for a free IMAX show about life under the sea!


And then yesterday was Shae's 34th birthday! Although we weren't down there with him- we hope he had an awesome birthday with his family. Happy Birthday Big Brother! And now Mom gets to go to Washington to meet Baby Lemonade and we are still waiting for our chance to meet Mr. Conley! Hopefully we get to meet them both sometime soon!


In the meantime we are anxiously awaiting our own little baby boy trying to figure out where in the world we're going to put our crib- and oh yeah- where are we going to get a crib!!! The doctors and books all say I should be able to feel him move any day now- but perhaps it is due to the extra pounds, which are compliments of my peanut butter chocolate kick, that are masking the movement! Cravings have gone in cycles so far from lemons- to peanut butter and chocolate (which was easily satisfied by peanut butter bars, Oh Henry's, and Nutty Bars), to grapefruit (which has turned out to be ongoing), to anything sugar, and now anything fruity!!! An occasional hot dog and an entire box of ginger lemon cookies which I found at Costco can also hold me over!



So all in all- Happy Birthday to Adelaide, Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Anniversary to us, and Happy Birthday to Shae!

We're Having A...

Well if this bet were taken in Vegas we would have too many winners for anyone to be happy about their winnings! Almost everyone said that we were going to have a boy- and we are!!! Last time we went to the doctor, our little boy was sure to let his privates flash the camera. Unfortunately- we didn't get a picture of that. This time he was much more modest, unfortunately, and the picture we got looks like- well I don't know what it looks like. Cathy could tell us- but since she doesn't live by us I had to trust my doctor and let everyone know that a little Afuvai boy is on his way.

My Child is Exactly Like Me... Except For

This great little site sends me weekly emails of Pregnancy Tips and things to be thinking of at my particluar point in this pregnancy. So today I got to read an article about what kinds of traits are passed down through our genes. It really got me thinking about the Nature vs. Nurture idea and why we end up the way we do.


My parents like to eat their bread or cake in a bowl of milk- and I hate it!! I got my dad's huge feet and long legs. And I'm more like my mom now than I ever would have thought! Everything from my love of jazz music to my intellect and hot temper are all passed down- or at least strongly influenced by my parents.

All except for my green eyes, that is!



But I am looking forward to watching my children and seeing them grow into little mini-Nessas and mini-Jakes. Of course- I expect them to have some characteristics that are uniquely theirs- I just hope they're things like a mild temper or great artistic talent- things I surely DO NOT have!!

Aren't we glad we didn't turn out like our parents? Well I have news for us all- we DID turn out like our parents- and we're stinkin' awesome!

Raiding His Closet...

So I'm quickly learning that none of my clothes fit me any more and the new clothes I bought to go with the belly seem to have gone missing- somewhere in my mess of a brain and house! I can't find anything to wear in the mornings.
Now you all know that I love to be comfortable- I mean REALLY comfortable. I'll wear Jake's shorts to the store and his T-shirts around the house- why suck it in if you don't have to right?!! But Jake has this nice black ribbed sweater in his closet and guess what- that's what I wore this morning!! Of course- it fits great! All I had to do was put my hair up in a cute bun, add some make-up and earrings so that I didn't look too mannish, and I was on my way!!
I guess what I really learned today is...
1. I should locate my cute pregnant belly tops
2. Mens' clothes are way more comfortable than womens'
3. A little make-up and a cute pair of earrings go a loooong way!

My Back Aches, My Belt's Too Tight, My Hips Shake from Left to Right!

Left! Right! Left Right Left! So I think whoever made up that song must have been pregnant at the time. Back Pains, big bellies, and loose joints not mention some of the strange sciatic nerve issues going on, the nausea and puking, the strange sensitivity to smells, tastes or textures, the lack of energy... And the list goes on. Props to my mom, my grandmothers, my sisters, and all the women who have endured these temporary (though they seem eternal) pains to bring life and joy to our home on earth! It'll all be worth it some day right?

Christmas Toys, Joys, and it's Back to the Grind

Well since I let everyone else do the picture taking this year I don't have one single picture to post on my blog of the holiday happenings. I can say though that the time spent with all our family and friends was the most joyous of it all. We got to join both of our families in Christmas parties, attend our neice Elauna's first dance recital, play games all kinds of games from Partini to Nerts to shooting video games, eat plenty of delicious food cooked up by hands of loving family members or restaurant chefs ;), watch children run, scream, crawl on Jake's head and pee their pants. Hey- it gave us something to look forward to in the future with our own little terror. It was, all in all, a joyful season of crazy snow, laughter, surprises, and love.
With Jake's money from being a football coach we were able to give each other an awesome gift. I bought him the I-pod he's been wanting. I must say that it's the coolest little gadget I've ever seen!! And he gave me a new Bosch kitchen mixer!! We both love our new toys and are reveling in reggae music and homemade rolls and crepes straight from yours truly!!!
We are so blessed to have had such an amazing Christmas season filled with the people we love. We got to see all my family except for Shae who is sharing the joy of his newest baby boy with his awesome wife and little girl! We miss you guys!! We also got to spend time with Jake's family who are definitely a riot- especially during the holiday season. Now it's over and everyone's back at home and back to the grind. Good luck everybody. We love you all!!

From 2 down to 1

Well y'all- we went to the doctor looking to see what other horrors he could give us for our first pregnancy experience. It turns out that we will only be having one baby this time. The other little angel didn't quite make it so its sibling is going to have to bring us double the joy. Good news though- our baby is healthy and its heart is beating and it looks just like an alien button- whatever that looks like :) Thanks to everyone for being so supportive and excited for us. We're on our way to one really big adventure!

Soon to be FOUR!

Well everyone-- we finally have some BIG NEWS! We are pregnant with twins! What we like to call "Just the Two of Us" will soon be updated to "Just the Four of Us." We suspected about two weeks ago that we were pregnant and so we went in to see the doc. Well he decided to do an ultrasound for- cuz we were in such a state of shock. Good doctor :) And guess what he found- two little black dots! Well for those of you who've seen an ultrasound- that's not normal. That's double the blessing though right!! So now we are worried with how many diapers these little things are going to need- and how we may need to use bottles more often than we though. Oh wait maybe not- Mommy's got Gillespie in her!
So we are about 6 weeks along right now which means those little things have heartbeats! We're due right around July 14th or 15th but they say that twins usually come about 4 weeks early so look for our news around June 16th or 17th!!!! Gonna share with Auntie Ethnee! We love you all! Glad we could share with you!

Speaking words of wisdom...

A wise man once said, "WE MUST ALL HANG TOGETHER - OR MOST ASSUREDLY, WE SHALL ALL HANG SEPARATELY."

What a great family motto. :)

Christmas Wishes From a Neice

The other day, while talking on the phone with one of my three favorite sisters in the whole world, I was reminded of how important family is. We were talking about plans for the holidays and Kayrena told me that the only thing Avonleah wanted for Christmas was to go see her Boo Boo Grandma. Boo Boo Grandma is my mom, whom Avonleah loves very much. Sometimes I think of all the great things I would love to have, like a new car or cute sweater. But hearing Ave's Christmas wish makes me remember how great it us to curl up by the fire at Mom and Dad's house in a blanket with some hot chocolate while the Christmas Tree lights in the next room light our season up with joy. The giggles of the little children and the peace that surrounds the true Christmas spirit is something that I am really looking forward to this year. Thanks Ave!

Stepping into the Spanish Branch

Hola y bienvenidos a nuestro blog. Lo nuevo de la familia Afuvai este mes es que ahora asistimos a una rama española! Nos encanta comunicar y estar con la gente latina. Sus corazones son grandes y sus testimonios fuertes. Ser miembros de la rama es una experiencia que me hace muy humilde. Soy maestra de la escuela dominical y Jake es miembro de la presidencia del Elder's Quorum. Es un desfío pero estamos trabajando aprender el lenguaje, la gente, y las costumbres- yo por la primera vez y Jake la segunda. ¡Es más fácil para él!

For those of you who don't "habla español" El niño is Spanish for "the niño." Ok so Chris Farley is a hero of mine. But seriously- Jake and I are now in the Spanish branch and we are loving getting to know everyone. The gospel is true wherever you go. We both have new callings- Jakes is in the Elder's Quorum presidency and I teach Sunday school to the youth ages 12-14. We love it and we love people already!

High School Football

So Jake has decided to coach the high school football team this season with two of his brothers. All three of them went to school here at Bonneville, played football here, and graduated from here. This week is what they like to call "Hell Week" so the boys are working two-a-days which means that Jake is also working two-a-days on the field and trying to fit his real job in between! It's gonna be a great season for the Lakers' defense headed up by three Afuvai's! Go Bonneville!

Our New Favorite Girl

This is our new favorite niece Prita. She got to spend the weekend with us and it was so fun to have her around. Of course she cried when we left the house or told her she had to stay outside. And that whining and petite howling tugged on our heart strings every time. She is a pure bred Rottweiler and is the prettiest thing ever. She's also mostly deaf, responding to only high pitched noises which she can't exactly place. So I spent the weekend kneeling down to get her to recognize me, or running after her when she chased little boys on their bikes down the street. I stayed home with her one day and she wasn't too interested in playing with me but rather waited by the gate all day long for Jake to come home. She knows who loves her! It sure teaches you something when you have to pay special attention to someone in order to get them to understand you- instead of yelling at the or commanding them to listen to you. She was such a joy to have around and we ended up with dog-kisses and dirty shirts every day- and it was totally worth it!

Another Amos Inspiration

Sometimes we think about all the troubles that we just can't handle, but we must choose to be strong and if all we can to pull us up is our memories, let them pull us up for now until we can find that greater strength that we truly need.


Amos Lee - Better Days

the darkness has always been,
the world was born into a blanket of sin,
when all the faith's been gone,
still we found a reason to carry on,
through the worrry, worry, worry,
caught in an endless maze
oh when the lights go out,
all i can think about,
is how, we've seen better days...

oh lover lately i've been thinkin i might leave you,
as you're surrounded by these fools who do decieve you,
yes our past is wretched true,
but i'm still in love with you,
thats why i am still refusin to give in to
all this worry, worry, worry
caught in an endless maze,
but when the lights go out,
all i can think about,
is how, we've seen better days

where do we go from here,
while we're all so consumed by feer,
why im trying not to be suspiscious of those im suspicious of,
I'm tryin to crackopen this angry heart and find a little love,
still i worry, worry, worry,
caught in an endless maze,
still when the lights go out,
all that i can think about is how we've seen better days,

oh when the lights go out,
all i can dream about,
is how, we've seen better days...

Batman Mania

Ok so he's aging, but aren't we all? Do you remember when he played Jack Kelly in Disney's "Newsies?" But man- he makes an incredible Batman. However, as excited as I was to see him put on that bullet-proof suit and fly across Gotham City, Jake was intensely more excited. Maybe it's that whole guys and super-hero thing. Juuuuuust maybe! This show was lots of fun to watch!

Bottom of the Barrel

"What makes a man a man? A friend of mine once wondered. Is it his origins? The way he comes to life? I don't think so. It's the choices he makes. Not how he starts things, but how he decides to end them."
- "Hellboy"

In light of a few recent events I find this man's song and voice very comforting. How true it is that everyone gets pushed to the bottom, but how far is that from the top? Do we really know? We wil never know unless we begin to climb.


"Bottom Of The Barrel"
Amos Lee

I keep on livin',
to keep from cryin'.
I keep on dreamin',
to keep from dyin'.
I keep on trying,
I aint gonna stop.

Get right down to the bottom of the barrel and float back on top.

We all know someone,
whos always hurtin',
The sun is shinin',
they draw the curtain.
One thing for certain,
the pain aint gonna stop.

You get right down to the bottom of the barrel and float back on top.

Cuz i know the grass,
is always greener in someone else's yard.
And the world is so much meaner,
when your heart is hard.

I go out walkin',
in any season.
It could be rainin',
it could be freezin'.
I don't need no reason,
it's just so pleasin'.
And i can't stop.

You get right down to the bottom of the barrel and float back on top.

You get right down to the bottom of the barrel and float back on top.

My New Feat/Feet!

Ok so I know this isn't much to be proud of but I sure am excited about it. The other day I ran a grand total of 6 MILES! I thought, "Hey, I'll just run while Jake lifts weights today." And so I did. And so I wasn't huffing and puffing. And so the next morning I thought I would die before I rolled out of bed!!! So no- this isn't a picture of me- but isn't it inspirational?

Key Lime Pie- YUMMMMMM!

This pie is sooooo good! I saw it on the Food Network about a year ago and it's been one of my favorites ever since. Plus it's easy! I've even learned to add my own twists to it! Wow- my first modified recipe! :) I'm learning...slowly.



1 Graham Cracker crust
zest of 2 limes
3 egg yolks
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup lime juice (fresh squeezed or bottled)

1. Beat yolks and lime zest together on medium speed until thick or about 2 minutes
2. Slowly add sweetened condensed milk and beat 3-4 minutes
3. SLOW speed- pour in lime juice and just beat until it's barely mixed in. Don't keep beating it.
4. Pour filling into crust and bake at 350* for 12-15 minutes or until just set (like Jell-O)
5. Let cool, then freeze it and you're done!

Vanessa's awesome chef tips...
1. I like to use egg whites instead of yolks, but if you make two pies, then you can do one of each.
2. If you don't like your pie tart, use less lime juice- as little as 1/3 cup.
3. Put it in the fridge 15 minutes before you serve it and it will take away that icy feeling.
4. This looks beautiful with whipped cream and strawberries on top (and even lime slices too!) and tastes even better than it looks!
5. Oh and hey, I bet this would taste good as a lemon pie too!

One More Thing

I know I've posted a lot in the last couple of days, worthless thoughts that make me realize how scatter-brained I really am. But this one is one of my favorites.
In learning Spanish and studying Spanish literature I've come across a lot of really great information. Perhaps that's part of why i can't think straight- sometimes I think of a word in Spanish and have to struggle to translate it into English. But there's something I learned in these last 6 or so years of Spanish that I already knew- having been taught by "goodly parents" who tried to root my life in the gospel.

"Mejor estar solo que mal acompañado"

In English, that means it's better to be alone than in bad company. So, it's pretty self-explanatory. Stand up for who you really are, no matter what the world thinks of you!

One More Silly Song Lyric(s)

Amos Lee states that Beauty is the Only power in a wicked world.

Let's all remember to remain beautiful on the inside so we will be strong in this world.

Black-Eyed Peas a Good Thing?

Ok so I know that there isn't a whole lot of music here that we'd like our kids to listen to. This song- however- came to my mind today as I think of Darron leaving to Iraq because there are things that we can be doing right here at home to keep our homes and communities peaceful. Shout out to all the members of community groups who work hard to make the world a safe, nurturing, and fun place to live! I especially love the chorus of this song which I have placed at the very end where they look to God for guidance. And also the part that talks about keeping our faith alive. We control our faith, our testimonies, and our knowledge. Let's now let anyone take those away from us and let us stay strong 'til the end!

So here are the lyrics to a song entitled "Where is the Love?"
What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin'
in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' our wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love

Looking Back

Aren't uncles the best? I remember walking over to Uncle Curt's house to pet old Zeb and feed the cow. Then he'd let us pick his strawberries and we'd stay and watch MASH with him and Aunt Lannie. I have such great memories of all my aunt and uncles, and Gram & Papa too!

All these pictures were taken a couple of years ago when we all made that fun trip down to Vernon to be there for Gram & Papa's temple sealing. I just found them and thought that it would be nice to share. I hope we all remember to pass on the great tradition of FAMILY to our own children and all the others we consider family.

Two inspiring quotes

I'm sure we've all heard at least one of these before, but it never hurts to look back on something that might inspire our future.

"My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or dealyed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate...at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in a maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up."
- Robert Moorehead


"I am in earnest; I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; and I will be heard."
- William Lloyd Garrison

A New Kind of X-Effect

Do we remember having a remote control for our tv's as children? Did we have tv's at all? Now, some people have more than one tv, and most people have more than one controller. When tv's first came out, remote controllers weren't available. Can you belive that we actually got out of our seats, walked to the tv, turned the dial, and then walked back to our seats and sat down?!! Today, we can do a million things with our remotes. Here's a sample...

Change the channel, change the color, change the pitch, change the picture mode, change the width of the picture, change the display mode, switch inputs, watch dvd's, play nintendo, shop for homes, shop for cars, buy jewelry, rent movies, pause, record, fast-forward, and rewind live programs, access re-runs, listen to music...

The list goes on and on. Do you have a tv? If yes- do you have a remote? Duh! Who doesn't? So why are these things so important to us? What do they mean? A remote control means for me- INSTANT GRATIFICATION. I get to watch what I want, when I want, where I want, with who I want. I don't have to skip work to come home and watch my show. I can record and watch it later. I don't have to put the kids in the back yard so that I can enjoy the program. I can wait for them to go to bed! I don't have to run to the video store to rent a movie. I can pay for it and have it sent to my television then and there- and save the gas money! I don't have to fiddle with the radio to find a station that comes in clearly. I have hundreds of options for music on my tv! All i have to is click a button.

So what does this say about our society, and perhaps, more generally, Generation X? Our new generation, all the way back to those born in 1961, has a remote control mentality. We want everything and we want it now. A remote control, a microwave oven, a credit card, a diet pill- all of these things give us what we want when we want them. We don't have to do any work to get the product we want! A twenty-year old can get a loan and buy a brand new house. Then his/her spouse can get a loan to buy two brand new cars. Then they can use credit cards to decorate and furnish their homes and lives, dropping themselves close to a million dollars in debt.
What happened to working hard to be able to have the things you wanted? What happened to saving money?

I remember saving the money we earned by selling candy from our house to all the neighborhood kids just so i could go down to the store and buy more treats. I remember working with my class at recess, selling treats in order to pay for our field trips.

What was once a convenient piece of equipment used to change the channel on the television set, is now a necessity for those seeking yet not willing to work to acheive.

As families- mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, and otherwise influential members of this Generation X, let us all work to change the remote control mentality and pass on to our children and loved ones the true meaning of hard work and the satisfaction of acheiving something you worked hard to acheive.