Missionaries and Mayhem

My family and I have been in Texas now for three months. In those three months I have talked about the church and what we believe in MORE than in my 32 years in Utah. Some of our neighbors have never known a "Mormon" before. In fact, one neighbor told me that as they waited for us to move in, the overall mood on the street for their new neighbors (us) was fairly negative... because, "you know, their Mormon". Talk about being on the "outs" for the first time in my life.

Slowly, I think I've won the hearts of some of my neighbors with my freezer jam (the bus stop ladies were blown away that I make my own jam, but com'n, once you go freezer, you can never go back) and home made rolls. (Thanks, Mandy)

The topic of religion frequently comes up. I've shared my testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, discussed polygamy, and shared my thoughts on the code of health our church encourages with the Word of Wisdom. I can feel my testimony growing and I'm thankful for that,..... but still, not thankful for the move. *sigh*

Every ward here in our city has it's own set of missionaries. It is a lot of fun to have them in our home for dinners and to visit with them at church and other functions. I love that my kids get the opportunity to interact with them. We had Elder Peterson and Elder Lund over for dinner last month. Elder Lund was being transferred, but before he left he wanted to come and say goodbye to our family.

Elder Peterson (on the left) is from Gilbert, Arizona (he's actually in my brother, Derall's, stake there). Elder Lund (in the middle) is from Kearns, Utah, and lives by the Olympic Oval there. These are awesome young men, and I'm sad to see Elder Lund go.

As we visited with the missionaries, Maidie found a little bit of trouble.

She found the Lanolin I use on my lips (not nips, but lips.... it's a very good lip balm) and squeezed it out to apply all over her face, hair and hands (it even got on her eyes). It took some Goo-Gone, a nice LONG soaking in the tub, and 5 shampoo's to take the grease from her locks. Oh, Maidie, at least it wasn't "Chocolate Rain" this time.

Leia Mais

I Should Have Brought Our Sleds!

It snowed here in Austin!

The biggest snow flakes I have EVER seen!

Look at my Eric; he loved the snowball action!

Check out those snowflakes behind Talmage. There were others twice that size!

Mae-Mae Sweet!

Every house had a token snowman in the front yard.

My neighbor even went and checked her son out from school so he could have a chance to play in "real" snow. She also checked out Talmage for me so he could join in the fun.

She said they only get snow like this every 5-8 years.

Here are some of our neighbors. The boys have loved having kids right outside their door to play with! We are making great friends!

The next day the only snow that remained was in highly shaded areas.

That's just the way I like it. Snow hard one day, and then completely melt away!

Later in the evening the dads took the kids to a hill to sled.

One neighbor had sleds. We had cardboard boxes from our move... I knew I should have brought our sleds from Utah!

Leia Mais

All The Colors of the Rainbow

Here is a picture of our house here in Austin, Texas.

Ty and I are really excited about it!

We bought it from a darling woman who had a vivacious color scheme.

I still feel like I am living in "her" house, but we are slowly making it our own.

Our house has good "bones" (a term I learned from our friend Rachel). With some paint and new flooring (AND money.... it always comes down to waiting for the cash) we'll make it our own.

Our first painting project was the dining room/living room area.

Here are the before pictures.

The ceiling and the walls were both painted a very bright, yellow color. When Ty's boss came to check out our house he walked in, walked back out again, put on his sunglasses.... and then came back inside.

Here are the after photos. I think we're going to make the dining room an office. EVERY house I've seen here has a formal dining room, but I just don't think we'd use it that much.

Here are some other pictures to show the eclectic paint in some of the rooms.

This blue in the bathroom downstairs is starting to grow on me.

The pink guest room, very inspiring....

(still using your comforter Mandy, thanks!)

Here is the family/game room upstairs. The paint is a mint green accented by a lovely rose curtain....

Here is our master bedroom, the walls and part of the ceiling are painted this purple...

Our favorite room is Talmage and Eric's room. We have dubbed it the "Aloha" room for obvious reasons. Here is the door to their room.

What little boy wouldn't want a purple room with a big "Aloha" painted on the wall?

As we make different changes I'll post more pictures, but if you really want to check it out.... come and visit me! Yee-haw!

Leia Mais

It happened......

I had heard of this happening to other people.

But it couldn't happen to me.

I had been so careful!

But the evidence was all over the walls.......

.....and the floor.......

......and the child......

......whom I adore!

"Mae Mae's lippy!" She exclaimed as I caught her in the act.

How can you not love a face like that?

Leia Mais