Big Date

On Wednesday I met Cory at his office and we went out to dinner with a group of his work associates. It was a very good restaurant called Ibiza - but in my opinion very pretentious. When the waiter was telling us about the specials - he had to tell us that the steak came from a "hand massaged cow" - as if that would make up a person's mind about ordering the steak - "Oh, well if the cow was "hand" massaged then I will have that - nothing worse than a cow that was never massaged!". WHO CARES!! Then they made a really big deal about the color of the linens - the waiter had a cow (not a "hand massaged" one) that our linens were white instead of black - so he quickly ran off to get the black ones! Don't these people have anything important to do in life? It makes me embarrassed for them - I know they think they are cool - but it is just so shallow.

We were kind of rushed during our dinner - and we barely made it to the theater to see "Fiddler on the Roof". It was very good. The original Tevye (the one who made the part famous and starred in the movie) starred in this production. He has such a distinct voice - I knew it was him right away. Just one of the perks of growing up with a mother who loves movies. I have probably seen it at least 10 times. It was a wonderful night - good food, great entertainment and my handsome husband right next to me. Good times!

Picture the Past

I'm not sure where this picture was taken or by whom. We have studied it for clues. (Like the pretty hat behind us on the wall - I know I have seen it somewhere before.) It looks like possibly one of Cory's aunt's homes - like Dana or Glenda? It was probably for some occasion like Thanksgiving or Grandma Birt's birthday get together. It was obviously before Cam so it must be at least 17 years old. I wish I didn't always have a huge shadow behind me so that my hair looks gynormous! I am not going to say anything about Cory's mustache - it speaks for itself! It sure does look like he is proud of something though doesn't it?

Shortcut Apple Crisp

Filling
3-4 large apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (about 3 cups)
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 C butter cut into small pieces

Topping
1 pouch Better Crocker oatmeal cookie mix
1/2 C melted butter

Heat oven to 300. Spray bottom and sides of 8X8 pan.

In large bowl - combine filling ingredients and spread in pan. Top with cut up pieces of butter.

In same bowl combine cookie mix and melted butter until crumbly, sprinkle over filling. Bake 50-55 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature - but always with ice cream!

I have loved Apple Crisp since I was in Junior High and we made it in Home Economics. I was so proud to have made something that was so delicious! Nowadays, I love recipes where there is some kind of shortcut - like using a mix or whatever. Kind of like the "semi-homemade" show on the cooking channel, which I love. This recipe caught my attention because of that factor.

The next thing that interested me was "apple" - I look for apple recipes because Cam is all about apple stuff - apple sauce, juice, pie, toaster strudel etc. . .He just loves apple flavor. This dessert got high praise from him, in fact he ate almost the entire thing in 2 days!

For those of you who like the topping better than the apples - this is for you! The topping is delicious and very thick. It is simple to make and satisfying to any and all who enjoy Apple Crisp.

Ogden Marathon

We were in Utah last weekend for the Ogden Marathon. It is kind of becoming a family tradition. It is fun because there are so many of us involved in the event and who have running in common. We always have a lot to talk about.

Cam and I ran the 5K. Cam's time was 22:11 and he got 9th in his age group. Which is pretty good considering he hasn't run in months! I got a PR of 30:10 and 9th in my age group as well. There are no shots of us as we finished our race before people got there. Wendy ran the half and beat her last years time by 8 minutes! Her time was 2:03. No one got a picture of her either. Michael tried the full and got a migraine at around mile 9 - when he started throwing up he cashed it in. Quite a disappointment after all the training he put in.


This is Cory finishing the half with a new PR time of 1:31. He got 5th in his age group. All that with an (so called) injured foot! It's not a great picture but it doesn't look like he is limping to me!



This is Brandon finishing the full marathon - looking strong! His time was 4:13, with I think 2 bathroom stops! We were all really proud of him as this is his first full marathon.



A picture of all the participants that evening at the weenie roast. From left to right and top to bottom is Cam and I (who ran the 5K), Cory and Wendy (who ran the half) and Brandon and Michael (who ran the full). I'm not sure why Cory looks like a murderer - but he is not known for taking wonderful pictures.

Paisley

My friend Liz called me the other night asking if I would take this stray little baby that they found abandoned at the church.

Now you know that I seriously LOVE pets - so I took it as a sign and said that I would. She is sooo small, way too small to be without her mama. She fits in one hand easily. She tries to suck on anything and everything. It makes me sad that she can't have her mom when she so obviously still needs her.

I am calling her "Paisley" - I don't know why, it just came to me. I love her markings and she is the cutest little bugger around! She is eating and getting stonger all the time.

Cam has taken to her as well and does some babysitting because he gets home before I do. He even got her to do a number 2 in the litter box today (first time!).

I guess I got what I was asking for a little while ago - a pet!

Motherhood

On Christmas morning 1991 I found out I was pregnant. I got up super early in the morning and took the test and then woke Cory with the results. We had been married for a few years and were starting to worry about not getting pregnant. Needless to say - it was a magical Christmas morning. Family had probably been expecting this news for quite awhile. There was lots of excitement as Cam would be the first grandchild and great-grandchild on Cory's side of the family. I experienced a near perfect pregnancy - never sick or down. I think emotionally I felt better than ever. I wish I had enjoyed the whole thing more - if I had known it would be my only pregnancy, I would have. It was a good time for Cory and I too. We were both completely involved, he actually went to every doctors visit with me. We read a progressive pregnancy book the entire way - to be informed of what was happening inside me. Cory also read Sports Illustrated to the baby in utero (this explains a lot).

I felt very close to Cam while I was pregnant and I talked to him and to God almost constantly during my pregnancy. My conversations with both were about hopes and expectations and traits that I needed, wanted and hoped for in him and in myself to be his mother. I remember asking that he would be kind - above all. Then I hoped for him to be strong - emotionally, spiritually and of course physically. I asked that he be smart and eager to learn. Truth be told, I also asked that he would be athletic and handsome. There are no surprises here - Cam is all of these things and so much more! All of my prayers were answered and some things were thrown in that I didn't even think of. I have often thought of those secret prayers and why they were answered so completely when so many other prayers of mine have seemingly not. Possibly because my hopes were the same as Heavenly Father's plans.

The day Cam came into the world was the best day of my life - it was a miracle. Everything went smoothly and beautifully. It was the closest I have ever felt to Cory, a closeness that bound our two lives into one being - and one purpose forever. It was incredible, indescribable. I remember both of us being in awe for weeks following the experience. It is a shame that the awe ever wears off.

I like Mother's Day because it is a day that we are encouraged to remember this singular, life altering experience. I love this day because I get to celebrate being a mother - what I consider to be my favorite calling here on earth. There is no pleasure so complete and so exquisite as that of being Cam's mother.

I love it because most of the time our kids will tell us they love us, write cute poems for us, maybe make us breakfast in bed. They will acknowledge our efforts and their love for us.

I also love it because we, as children of mothers, hopefully do the same toward our mothers - and it is a circle. It is a good thing to pay tribute to all the Mother's who have influenced our lives and helped to make us the people and the mothers that we are. Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

The Scene of the "Bumping"

I was driving home from work yesterday and stopped at a left turn light. I guess I should admit I was looking down in my wallet to see how much money I had (thinking of getting some fast food) when I somehow crept forward at an imperceptible rate and slightly bumped the truck in front of me. I am not exaggerating that it was really nothing at all! Anyway, I jumped out of my car as the guy in front of me got out of his truck. I noticed that he was in uniform. My first thought was "oh great, I hit an off duty officer." Actually - he was an on duty officer in an unmarked car! Of all the cars on the road I happen to slightly bump into a constable! (But, if we would have made that left hand turn I probably would have gotten a speeding ticket anyway - because I wouldn't have known he was a policeman and so of course I would have been speeding!) I digress, we both got out of our cars and we both agreed - not even a scratch! My rubber bumper hit his tow hitch (so I didn't even actually bump his truck at all!). Then he proceeds to get on his radio, which he is holding, and call it in. I ask if we can move our cars over into the gas station right in front of us - so we can move out of every one's way. He tells me that since this is a county vehicle he is not allowed to move it until officers come to the "scene" and investigate. Seven patrol cars (plus three tow trucks!)come one by one to the "scene" and all agree - not one scratch! They are laughing and apologizing to me for making me sit there in the middle of a traffic jam - created by this - and investigate. And when I say investigate, I mean take all kinds of photos from every possible angle - OF NOTHING!!!! After 45 minutes of this nightmare - with drivers rubbernecking to look at me and the nonexistent "accident" - he finally allows me to pull into the gas station where his colleague proceeds to give me a ticket. This old guy even tells me it was poor luck because if I had bumped anyone else it would have been nothing, but since it was a county vehicle and all that crap they are required to follow a set procedure! They were all very nice and blamed everything on government red tape etc, so it was hard to be mad. I still can't help thinking that perhaps I was given a "bumping" ticket only to be saved from getting a speeding ticket. Does anyone know if I ended up with the less expensive ticket?