Friends, Birds, and Roses

I thought I'd better quick and update before this crazy holiday weekend kicks off. I've had quite the challenging last couple of days with the whole park booth thing. Yesterday, that's right two days before the fourth, I had two of my children's ride vendors call and CANCEL!! Who does that? People can be so rude. I'm sure it will all work out, just a little stressful at the moment. So to ease the stress, focus on happier thoughts....

Saturday my roommate from BYU visited the valley. Liz and her husband Tom rode in the MS bike ride, which passed thru Lewiston. I got to see them as they rode through town that morning and then later that night we grilled out at Janelle's, also from BYU days. It was so good to see everyone. Hopefully soon we can get more of us girls together.

Janelle, me, Elizabeth

Camille, Malia, Maddie (Janelle's girls)

After dinner that night we went to the Osmond home and got ourselves a cockatoo. My sister-in-law's sister needed to get rid of their bird and David was more than willing to take it in. David's family has lots of birds and we had some growing up, too. I rather like having him around. It gives me someone to whistle to (I love whistling!). It's fun having him repeat little ditties. He was already named Sammy so we just stuck with that. Although when Malia says its name it sounds like Ditti?

On Sunday I sang in church, "America the Beautiful" in a quartet. Church must have tuckered Mali out. We were eating lunch and she insisted on getting down. We put her down and finished our lunch. We found her out in the living room like this...



Here is a picture of our rose bush out front. It's blooming beautifully. I don't even remember flowers on it when I moved here last year. With the TLC of David, it's doing great.


Super excited for the next few days. David's family should be here later this afternoon. Hopefully the Caley's will come spend the 4th with us too. I must admit I'll be happy when the park celebration is over! Then I can just enjoy the blessing of having family and friends around me. Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday! God Bless America.

My Little Water Baby

As stated before, Malia is obsessed with water, rather "agua". Now that summer is full force, the girl is pleased as punch to go swimming. We have a little baby pool out back that I filled up last week. My intent was to let her go swimming the next day, after it had warmed up. It was about 10pm (I know, she should have been in bed) and we were out in the backyard. David was burning branches. Malia wanted so very badly to get in the pool. I had to keep dragging her away from the pool. She even sat on the cover, just trying to get to her agua. I went to straighten the cover and realized the water was warmer than her bath water! Malia seized the opportunity and jumped in, fully clothed! I figured, why not? She needed a bath anyway! She had a blast. The clothes only stayed on for a bit and then she turned it into a real bath!
This is a photo David took of Mali with the "night shot" while she was in the pool. I thought it looked tripy. Sort of like one of those 3D ultrasounds!

The next day we played outside in the pool again. Once again, fun, fun, fun! It was funny watching her with the blocks. She was filling each one with water and setting them along the outside of the pool. She was being so careful and exact with it. It amazed me how long it occupied her attention.

Yesterday we played at a neighbor's above ground pool. Very nice! Although, I think it was more work than anything. Malia had no fear, whatsoever! She was too big for the floatie that she sat in last year and she wouldn't keep her little water wings on. She just jumped right in. I spent most of my time wrestling her.
Here's Mali after I finally got her out of the pool. Don't be fooled. That is not a half smile. It is actually the middle of a temper tantrum. I think I may safely say it was her worst one EVER! She wanted to stay in the pool. She cried the whole walk home and then some. Although more work than I was bargaining for, it was fun to get some sun and chat with Christina and Emily.

Here are some videos of Mali in the pool. The first one is shorter and shows the fun on the slide. The second one gets a little deeper as we discuss the scientific topics of temperature and gaseous celestial bodies.

Go Alpine!

Here are some pictures of David while playing of Alpine's softball team. Thanks Lori! In the bottom right he is stealing home. Go David! We go to all of David's games with him. Not always the wisest decision, since some of them don't start until 9pm. For instance, last week they played at 8 and 9pm. Malia got all crazy, being as it was past bedtime. She kept pushing the stroller around and around and around, running into anyone or anything that got into her way. Only one more game left. It's a big one... we get to play Chuck Norris' team!

Fishing Fun

On Saturday we went fishing on "Gene", Bart's boat. We went out to Newton Reservoir, just a few miles southwest of Lewiston. Lots and lots of fun. Thanks Bart!
Here is Malia holding a fish David had caught.

Looking cute in Caleb's Scooby lifejacket.
Bart's first catch. He supposedly caught a big one that got away. Okay, so we all saw it. Too bad, huh? Next time I'll grab the camera faster so there is proof. Or better yet, grab the net so we don't lose it!
Here is David's little crappie. I kept joking with the boys that they were taking turns catching the same fish over and over.
Here is Malia trying her hand at fishing with an ice fishing pole. Really she just swirled it around in the water.

Here is David kissing the fish for luck. Yuck!

Here is Malia "swimming". She loves water! She kept saying, "More". It was a nice day and I wish we had more time to relax like this.

Pretty Flowers

So this is the sequence, starting with top left: this is one of the beautiful roses that have bloomed on the bush next to our front door, here is Malia beginning her attack on the roses, next is Malia throwing the petals, and finally, after being reprimanded, here is Malia trying to put the petals back on to the flower. We are trying very hard to learn that flowers are just to look at and to smell. Tough lesson for a soon to be two year old!

Crazy Eights

8 things I'm passionate about:
1. my husband
2. my Malia
3. my friends and family
4. reading
5. organizing
6. cooking
7. organizing, especially filing papers and labeling things
8. teaching- whether it be to my Malia or in an actual classroom

8 books I have read recently:
1. The Crystal Cave
2. To Kill A Mockingbird
3. Across Five Aprils
4. A Heartbeat Away
5. Snuggle Up Little Ones
6. Waddle, Waddle, Quack, Quack, Quack
7. Harvey Happy Bee
8. The Book of Mormon- I wish I was better at reading it more diligently.

8 things I often say:
1. "Soup or Salad?", a close second "Would you like more bread sticks?"
2. "I love you" or "Te amo"
3. "Okay", obviously said way too often since my Mali now says it all the time.
4. "Malia, STOP!" (as she darts away from me for the umpteenth time)
5. "Just wait, Mommy has to get ready" (each morning after I dress Mali, she starts in with "Lets Go!")
6. "We should really get together" (surrounded by lots of great people that I wish I had more time to hang out with)
7. "I know, move to Utah" (my answer to any of Britt's woes)
8. "Mali, where are you?!" (after she has successfully darted away)

8 things that annoy me:
1. lousy tippers
2. bad drivers
3. health insurance
4. grey hair
5. adult acne
6. unseasonably cold weather
7. the price of gas
8. politicians

8 things I look forward to each day:
1. First thing in the morning, Mali screaming "Papa" and the sound of her jumping in her bed (it's not near as cute when she chooses to scream "mama").
2. Getting the dishes done. We don't have a dishwasher and tend to let them pile. Oh, where is the Dish Fairy?
3. Having dinner together as a family. It doesn't happen as often as I would like to with our schedules, but I sure do enjoy it when it does.
4. Malia's nap time. The only time the dishes get done!
5. Time alone with my husband. Usually only between Mali's bedtime and ours. Even if he's just watching TV and I'm reading, I love just having him by me.
6. Good tippers. It doesn't happen as often as it should. Someday soon I will share with you my complete thoughts on tipping.
7. Time with friends. Whether it just be on the phone, going for a walk, or chillin' in the backyard.
8. Watching Malia discover new things. Like, right now, for instance. She is pulling all of the floss out of the dispenser. And here I sit, typing.

8 things I look for in a friend:
1. sense of humor
2. interesting
3. sincerity
4. common interests
5. someone who will tell me how it is, yet still be respectful
6. someone I can learn from
7. patience with me and my ways
8. good conversationalist

8 things I want to do before I die:
1. raise my children and watch my grandchildren be raised
2. travel with my husband (especially to Hawaii, I've enjoyed it once by myself and would love to enjoy it again with David)
3. speak Spanish, well
4. read as many books as possible
5. own a home
6. sing the "Star Spangled Banner" at an event
7. go on a mission with my husband
8. be my goal weight

8 things I have learned this past year:
1. I've learned that children can do the most annoying things, and you can still smile through it. (Think toilet paper roll and toilet water)
2. I've learned that it's not as bad to live in Utah as "they" all say it is. Especially Lewiston. It has it's quirks but that's what makes it so endearing!
3. I've learned that "Families Can Be Together Forever" isn't just a song that people sing and never seemed to apply to me. Now it does!
4. I've learned that I can live in a separate state from my sister and still survive.
5. I've learned that I can make friends. I have been really blessed to be surrounded by great people.
6. I've learned that people still say Malia is cute even when her hairy is messy. Which is pretty much all the time now.
7. I've learned that I love to blog. I avoided it for the longest time because I thought it would be too hard. Not so.
8. I learned that sometimes that things don't work out the way you think they should and that in the end it will all be okay. Faith is an amazing thing!


Tag to all those who want to share. It is always fun to find out what people have for hopes and dreams as well as what they are really doing with their year! Sorry I stole some of your answers, Betsy!

Blogging Break

Sunset from our backyard

Just thought I'd let you all know I'm still here. Just having a blogging lapse. I'm sure the rest of you know what I'm talking about, the "blogging blahs"? Where you just aren't feeling it? Still love to read other's, but don't have the energy, time, or desire to come up with something to write about for your own blog. I love this pressure I place on myself to write. But just in case any of you are wondering what is going on in the Mata world, here goes:

1. David is working lots at Alpine.

2. I am working at OG still. They just asked me if I want to become a Certified Trainer. yipee.

3. Malia watches way too many "shows" as she calls them and frequently growls at others.

4. It's dang cold in Lewiston, but is supposed to warm up this weekend.

5. We still don't have our garden in yet, but given our current weather, that may work out to our advantage. We are also redoing one of our front flower beds. It was filled with this kitty litter like substance that was killing all of our plants. David dug it all out and filled it with better dirt. Now I just need to plant it.

6. This Sunday is the last of the ward conferences for the year.. a big YIPEE!

7. Three weeks from tomorrow is Lewiston's big 4th of July Celebration. I volunteered to be the Park Booth coordinator and it's turning out to be more complicated than I thought. My own procrastination and the unwillingness of others to help is a bad combination. I'm sure it will all work out in the end. They'll still let us live here if it flops, right? Like one lady said, "At least you can be sure they won't ask you to help again!" Funny, but not.

8. David is playing softball with Alpine tonight. I won't post last weeks score to save some face. Needless to say, they are in it for fun, not winning. It's fun for Malia and I to go watch. Malia loves to scream "Papa" as loudly as she can. She sure does love her papa.

I hope everyone is having a great summer so far. And if you don't have great 4th of July plans yet, remember Lewiston is where it is at! http://www.lewiston-ut.org/July%20Celebration.htm