Friday, March 31, 2023

Alone

 

Matt and I went to the movies tonight alone. 
And when I say alone, I mean we were literally just us in the movie theater.
There was not a single soul in the place. 
We watched the latest Marvel movie and ate popcorn. 
I love that we have been married for 28 years and we still like to spend time with each other. 
Not a lot of couple can say that. 
We have our hard things, for sure, but honestly I am so glad that we are braving this world together. 
He's my favorite. 

 

It Has Begun!

 

I always look forward to the planting season each year, but this year seems different. 
I am so excited I can hardly handle it. 
I have a goal to grow and preserve a years worth of veggies for us. 
I got a program called Seed Time that tells me when to start things according to our zone. 
I am filled with hope for this growing season.
We have the raspberries that I transplanted last year that I am hoping doing really well.
Plus we have all the trees and berry bushes that were planted last year as well.
I'd love to store a years worth of fruit too, but I can't grow mango and bananas here, so that is probably going to never happen. 
Right now I have tomatoes, cabbage, parsley, celery, peppers, onions and leeks started. 
I will be starting more things this weekend. 

 

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Ninny Time

 

Wednesdays are what we call Ninny Time. 
Andi and Atticus come to the shop for a little while and I stop by there after work so I can see them more often. 
I love that Dallin and Jessie make this possible so I can snuggle and mug on them for a little while. 
I love these cute kids.
Dallin was commenting on how Atticus is entering an awkward stage. 
His front teeth are so big for his face. 
He's adorable. 
And Andi, just loves me.
She always gets so excited to see me.
I love these kids so much!
Being their Ninny is the best. 

 

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Porch Time

 

We sat on the porch swing for the first time this season.
It's nice to be out there again. 
The porch is a mess and needs to be cleaned up.
Maybe this weekend. 
I am so excited for more porch time and more warm days. 

 
 

Sunday, March 26, 2023

My DONE List updated

 My last DONE list was in 2019 and I have done a lot more things since then, so I felt I needed to have an update here! 
Here you go!
 

My DONE List

Skydive Hike Lazy Mountain Go Dip netting on the Kenai Go on a Pioneer Trek Hike Diamondhead in Oahu Grow giant pumpkins in AK Catch Halibut Hike Mt MarathonHike Crow Pass in one day Visit ancient sites in Mexico Hold a monkey Go snorkeling over a shipwreck Become an exercise instructor own a farm Attend conference at the conference center Eat European chocolate make a cheesecake in my Instant pot Go cross country skiing compile a cookbook Hike Flattop Visit Washington DC Zipline in Mexico Complete a triathlon Touch the Alaska pipeline Run a ½ marathon Find my great grandpa Visit Liberty Jail Get my bachelors degree Hike to Lost Lake Hike North Face Learn to play the piano Go to Disneyworld Have Butterbeer at Harry Potter World Kiss a dolphin Eat emu Drink coconut water from a fresh coconut See the Northern Lights Sit in the Chena Hot Springs Eat dinner in the Space Needle Have an article published in the newspaper Attend the Prove City Center Temple Hike Ho Chi Men trail in San Diego Marry my high school sweetheart Serve two mini missions Tube down a canal Ride a motorcycle Homeschool kids Teach piano and voice lessons Get CPR certified Drink glacier water dripping from a glacier Adopt a cat from a shelter Start a genealogy business Climb the stairs at the Lincoln Memorial Visit the Smithsonian Sit in an Amish buggy Watch sea lions eating lunch Catch a salmon with my bare hands Fly first class Go kayaking Ride a roller coaster Eat from a food truck in Hawaii Experience a Super Blood Wolf Moon Watch a meteor show Eat pie from Ted’s bakery in Hawaii Live in Idaho Hike the Grand canyon Become a grandma Become an aunt 47 times Perform in a Broadway(type) musical Win a gingerbread house contest Experience a 7.0 earthquake Built a snow cave Snow machine on a frozen lake Pick wild blueberries Be in the Honor Society Catch tadpoles in a ditch Hold a dragonfly in my hand Marry in the temple Swim in the ocean Meet Hilary Weeks Raise 250 chickens Write music Record a vocal CD Do the crane pose in yoga Hold a star fish in my hand Go on a whale watching cruise Shoot a gun Learn to meditate Sing a solo (many) Own bees Attend a concert Experience natural child birth Read the Book of Mormon Star gaze on the deck of a cruise ship Eat snails Pan for gold Grow rabbits Tap birch trees to make syrup Ride on a scooter in Cozumel Pick apples from an orchard Own a miniature poodle Ice skate on a frozen lake Witness a miracle Have one of my recipes published in a cookbook Milk a cow Earn my Young Women’s medallion Ride the Alaska Railroad Go snowshoeing Watch a snake eat a rodent in the wild Dress up like a T-rex and surprise someone Plow a field Eat lunch on the grass at Temple square Ride in a horse drawn sleigh Be a missionary mom Watch the sunset from Sunset Beach in California Go mud bogging Win a contest Be a rainbow chaser Win a ribbon at the fair Watch the Iditarod start Make jam Saw a turtle on a Hawaiian beach Survived open heart surgery Kayaked around glaciersDrove through a forest fireFound a wishing rockAte an Amazon bananaSaw a troll under a bridgeSaw the Seattle gum wallbecame a temple workersaw flying fish at Pikes marketExplored a Bowing factoryExplored Multnomah fallsWalked through the tunnel at Oceanside beachHugged a redwood treeDrove through a redwood treeFound out who my maternal grandfather wasFlew in a hot air balloonVisited the Tucson templeWent to Huntington beach Saw The ThingVisited Joshua Tree National ParkBecame a seminary teacherSang in the MessiahVisited the Empire State buildingWent to Grand Central StationSaw some Van Gosh paintingsStrolled though Central Park in New YorkAttended a Broadway musicalVisited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis IslandLearned how to make KimchiAttended a Lauren Daigle concertTaught at FSYMet Bonnie CordonExplored Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe BendWent to Tuzigoot and Montezuma RuinsSaw Elephant Rock in Valley of FireHiked in Red Rock Canyon, NevadaSaw O at the BellagioVisited Seven Magic MountainsRode a scooter around Washington DC Swing on the swing in HomerStayed in the Spencer Bench cabinRode in an air boatLearned how to skiVisit Whidbey IslandHike Manoa FallsVisit Pearl HarborWon the Amazing Race with Matt at the S&I couples thingStacked 35 rocksCamped on the Homer spitLearned sign language


Saturday, March 25, 2023

Haircuts

 

Afton decided that it was time for a haircut and since I am the only one that has ever taken him to get one, it was time. 
Emerson didn't want to be left out.
We went to Kimber this time since she knows how to cut curly hair. 
Emer watched Afton get his done and then decided that he didn't want his done. 
I tried to bribe him with ice cream and that didn't work. 
Then Kimber said I could just hold him and he was okay with that. 
She had this cloak that had two holes in it, so I wouldn't get hair all over me. 
It was the perfect set up.
And they looked like new boys after that!
Emer still has his cute curls too. 
I did still take them for ice cream!

 

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Airport Pick up

 

Rissa called and told me they got on an earlier flight and wondered if there was any way that I would be able to pick them up after I got off work. 
I obliged.
Because they got on the earlier flight, they didn't think their luggage was going to make it and that they would need to come back later and get it. 
They were fine with that. 
Plus I was picking them up in my car and it is pretty small for the amount of luggage they had. 
Well, as they were waiting to get off the plane, Ryker was watching the luggage come out and told them that he was sure he saw their luggage.
Sure enough all 6 suitcases and 4 backpacks were there.
Then the game began.
How to fit it all in the car.
It was pretty funny, but we did it.
They brought so much joy into the car.
They were so happy and telling jokes and laughing about everything.
I was loving every minute of it and definitely needed that in my life. 
I love the Murphy's! 

 

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Light

 

Sometimes life feels heavy. 
There are a lot of moving parts in my life right now.
They range from my calling to my job to my health to my family. 
There are things in each that weigh on me.
As I waited for my stake meeting to begin, I was sitting on the couch in the foyer.
No one was around.
Just me.
And I was impressed by the light shining through the windows of the doorway.
There is always hope. 
There is always light.
As a covenant maker, I am NEVER left alone.
I always have help. 
And thank goodness, because there is crazy crap happening in this world! 

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Last Day

 

We left the apartment early this morning to start the trek to Phoenix.
We stopped in at Winnie's for breakfast and got a bag full of pecans to take home. 
The drive wasn't too bad.
It is really pretty right now with everything so green. 
We went to Deseret book and bought some books and temple stuff and then met Janell for lunch.
We shared five small plates and talked and cried and laughed.
I could travel the world and do tons of stuff, but if I didn't have people that I love to do it with, it wouldn't be worth it. 
After lunch Makenna dropped me off at the airport and I cried a bit.
I miss that girl already.
She'll be home this summer though.

 

Friday, March 17, 2023

Hot Air Balloon, Cookies, Hot Springs and Crossed Eyes

 

Both Makenna and I had a bucket list item of riding in a hot air balloon. 
And lucky for us, there was a company that does them right in Safford.
It was really cool. 
There was no wind, so we didn't go that far, but it didn't even matter. 
It was so awesome to see the sun rising and hitting the mountains.
It was smooth sailing the entire time.
Landing was easy and I'm grateful to get to be able to check one more thing off my bucket list! 








 After that we took a walk down to south campus so I could show Makenna that there was a pool and CC texted and said she had made us some cookies and wanted to bring them by. 
That was definitely okay.
She stayed for about two hours and we talked and talked and caught up more.
I'm so glad she came by.
I made a goal to not eat sugar this year excepting for a few occasions.
Before today, I had only had sugar once at Valentines, but this felt like the perfect occasion to have a little sugar.
Her cookies were amazing.
I love that girl! 
Then Kenna and I decided to go to the Hot Springs.
It is this adorable little place where the cute lady has these different rooms with hot springs in each. 
We scheduled for an hour and just enjoyed each others company while we soaked. 

 

Then we spent the rest of the evening on her couch laughing until our backs hurt as we took pictures of each other going cross eyed.
I love those moments of laughing so hard! 


 

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Old Friends, Campus and Pizza


 I took a walk this morning around campus.
There were pecan trees that were shedding their fruit, so I grabbed a handful to put in my oatmeal.
It was so peaceful and reminded me of my time here years ago.
I'm so grateful for those moments in my life.
They are treasured.
We went to lunch with CC, Ruth and Kymra to Casa Manana. 
The food was so good and the company was better.
As we were walking out, I told CC that it didn't feel like enough time together.
She said, "I agree. What do you want to do?" 
We left the others and drove to her home.
I got to say hi to Erik and the boys and then we drove to see their property that they are planning on building a house on.
After that we went to our friends, Cathy and Dave Layton's gravesite.
Words can not fully express my love for my friends.
It was good to be with her again.

 Kenna and I opted for a movie after that. 
We went and saw Shazam- total waste of money!
Then she made me her famous pizza, which was really good. 
It was a chill kind of day and I loved every minute of it.
Except the movie.
I want that time back.