Question of the Day...

Why is it that kids think that 'looking' is an acceptable alternative to 'finding' when asked to retrieve something?

I Heart Faces~ Silly Faces

It's silly face week at Wow...I have too many of those to choose from. But this is a classic.

Savanna at full throttle.
Check out the other silly faces at I Heart Faces.

Meteor Mayhem

Mark your calendar! It's meteor month. Yep, in the Northern Hemisphere August is the time to see some fantastic meteors. During the second week of August (Peaking this year on August 12th) is the Perseid Meteor shower.

This is a great overview article on the occasion by MSNBC. Go on, read it now, I'll wait.


Waiting,

Waiting,

Waiting...

Ok did you read it?


Wasn't it interesting? The part that explained why we have a meteor shower every August.

Oh...you didn't read the ENTIRE article? You should have it was very informative. Well here is a good little tidbit on it if you are short on time.

"We know today that these meteors are actually the dross of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Discovered back in 1862, this comet takes approximately 130 years to circle the sun. And in much the same way that the Tempel-Tuttle comet leaves a trail of debris along its orbit to produce the spectacular Leonid Meteors of November, the Swift-Tuttle comet produces a similar debris trail along its orbit to cause the Perseids.

Indeed, every year during mid-August, when the Earth passes close to the orbit of Swift-Tuttle, the material left behind by the comet from its previous visits, ram into our atmosphere at approximately 37 miles per second and create bright streaks of light in our midsummer night skies. "

So, take note curl up with a blanket and a buddy for the only thing to fear is as Astronomer, Dr. Kenneth L. Franklin said is getting drenched with dew and falling asleep!

SIDE NOTE: If you are looking to view some stars while waiting for the those sand size comet pieces to fall. You must check this out. It's called the Sky Scout. It's a small computerized, GPS enhanced star identifier and it is really really cool. Mike's Dad brought one over Friday night and we all had a blast identifying stars. It even tells a bit of info/history on 50,000 stars, planets and constellations. It is definitely on my wish list of cool things to own.

"You do a lot of math at your house."

That is what our neighbor, Tim's friend, said today during dinner. You see, a few weeks ago I was paying Tim back wages for mowing the lawn. I handed him (3) 5 dollar bills and this same friend instantly said, "WOW, 15 BUCKS!" I was impressed at how quickly he had calculated the total so right back at him I said, " Hey, what's 3 times 5." He looked at me with a blank face and said "I don't know". I said, "Sure you do. If you have 3 five dollar bills how much money do you have?" Instantly the reply was once again, "15 Bucks". So I repeated my original question and he thought and thought and then replied "15?" It struck me funny (in that not so funny way) how he could instantly multiply money but when it came to times tables he had a mind block on.

Strangely (or maybe not so much) over the next few times he visited we had on the spot math equations interspersed with our conversation. I began teasing him that he had to do a math problem before he went home. It didn't even hit me until tonight, when during dinner, this friend mentioned he had run at 12 miles an hour (for a brief moment) on his grandpa's treadmill. Wondering how fast that really was I said well the really good runners can do 4 minute miles. So, how long would it take you to go 1 mile on the treadmill? As my kids started calculating. (Some faster than others) Our mathaphobic friend said,

"You do a lot of math at your house."

Yes...I guess we do. It is such a normal part of our conversation I didn't even realize it.

I'll take that as a compliment.

Cheesy Garlic Rolls--MMMMM

Cheesy Garlic Rolls
1 Can Large Refrigerator Biscuits (I used Pillsbury Grands--the regular kind not flaky)
1/4 Cup Melted Butter
1 tsp Garlic Powder (to taste)
1/2 Cup Grated Italian Cheese (Mixture of Mozzarella, Provolone, Romano, Asiago & Parmesan)

Cut each biscuit into three strips. Roll out into long 'snake'. Twist into pretzel shape. Mix melted butter and garlic powder together. Dip and entirely coat each roll in butter mixture. Place on baking tray and sprinkle Grated cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes or until the cheese on top turns golden. Yield 24 Rolls.


EAT!

Inspired by a Taste of Home recipe, Ethan and I put our own 'twist' on these and made them yesterday...fun and easy!

Thanks to Christine...

My dear sweet niece braved my 5 sweet, demanding, loving, exhausting children for 3 days last week. As she put Savanna to bed the first night they had a conversation that went something like this:

Savanna: I know why my Mommy left.
Christine: Oh yeah? Why?
Savanna: I drive her crazy.
Christine: What? Your Mommy loves you.
Savanna: Oh I know she loves me, she's nice to me. But I drive her crazy.

That probably should have been a warning...but I think they had a fabulous time doing things like:

*Riding the bucking bronco at the Treehouse
*Climbing the Rock Wall at Roy Days
*Catching Candy at the Parade
*And in general wearing poor Christine out.

Me on the other hand? I had a fabulous time with my good 'ole husband of 15 years.

Some highlights:

*Attending a session at the Salt Lake Temple
*Laughing till I cried at a Voice Male Concert (check out their new kids album...or favorite is the "Song with No Words"
*Mountain Biking until we almost died. (No it was great...really.) 6 miles--no popped lungs. That's good right?
*Good food, Good Company
*Relaxing
*Coming Home

Yes My Savanna...sometimes I am driven crazy...but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

This post has been a week in coming...

Not because I didn't want to write it, but I wanted to do it right. So the dilemma has been write or right...so far right has won, but no longer...right or not it is write's time.

You see 15 years and 1 week ago marked the biggest decision in my life.

15 years and 1 week ago.... I had new make up...

15 years and 1 week ago... I started an adventure with my best friend.

And what has happened in that last 15 years?

A LOT...

Graduated from college (on the same day no less)...

Built a house...

Welcomed 5 beautiful children to the world...

And well lived.

Living includes downs as well as ups. Losing jobs, starting businesses, battling depression, losing loved ones, learning to be patient, appreciating each other's strengths, understanding each other's weaknesses.

Sometimes 15 years seems long, very very long. But other times, it's short, in fact just a beginning.

Looking back its been quite the ride...I'm just glad to have had my best friend by my side.

Love you Mike.

P.S. I have a total LOVE/HATE relationship with your weird talent of making electronic things work merely by walking in the room even though I have done the same EXACT thing numerous times before you arrived. ARRRGGHHHH.

No...really...Love you Mike. :) To Eternity and beyond!