pavement?

This is the view from our high school football field.

Whenever I tell people that I live in Mexico they say, "oh, you mean NEW Mexico." I have to correct them and say, nope...the one ACROSS the border.

The next assumption is that we live in an adobe hut on a dirt road with chickens running everywhere. 

Let me just tell you that is FALSE! We have a nice home (original Pioneer home, a story for a later date), indoor plumbing and even electricity! Nowadays with VONGE phone and DISH Network it is like we never left the States.

I had to reassure my mother that we lived on a paved road...a big step in the right direction. I must admit that my 4 inch heels do get dirt in them from going from my home to church but I blame that on the wind...mostly.

We live at the same altitude as Utah...we have green grass...and trees...I rarely see cacti...sidewalks are still a foreign concept....but we DO have pavement!

 

sisters' retreat

 Every year my husband lets me take a little vacation home...ALONE...while he watches the kids and takes over for me. I look forward to it every year!

I usually have a nursing baby with me, but it works out great because my siblings get a chance to meet my newest addition.

Uncle Rob instantly bonded with Adalyn. So sweet.

 The main purpose of the trip was to celebrate Rachel's first baby with a Sister Shower! Christine and Rachel are both due around the same time...MY birthday! So exciting!

 We ate at a darling little restaurant in the Riverwoods. I loved it because they had a lemon orchard throughout the restaurant. Made me feel like I was at home on the farm. Here we all are...except for Christine...she wandered off to a Toy Store.

 This was my traveling companion this year...Baby Ada. She did fantastic on the plane and didn't cry once!

 I just had to get a picture of my gorgeous...single...sister Janelle because this is the process she goes through to get her beautiful locks to cooperate. Too funny!

 I got the chance to meet up with my closest girlfriends from high school. We had a blast laughing and eating. Two of my best gal-pals had babies the same time I did. Here are our little girls!

My mom, Louisa and I went to the Homestead to have a soak in the mineral baths and Adalyn absolutely LOVED it. It relaxed her to the fullest and even calmed her through the "fussing hours" of the evening. We have been going to the Homestead for decades and it is one of my favorite places!

It was so nice to have a little R&R while G was home passing out Valentine's for our three kids, cooking, cleanings, wiping tears, holding FHE, doing laundry and driving to school. That is the BEST present ever.

While in Utah I got to be with all my siblings...eat out...shop...get a massage...visit...take pictures...laugh...relax...pedicures...hair appointments...visit old friends...see snow

The 

List

could 

go

on and on.

Living away from home makes these times all the more special!

{from scratch}

I am a city girl...turned country. When I married G we lived in a cute little town house and anytime we craved something we would just jump in the car and get it! I can't count how many late-night runs we made to Jamba Juice.

Today is a different story. I can no longer rely on a McDonald's to cure a quick-fix for dinner and those midnight pregnancy cravings...FORGET about it!

Don't get me wrong, we do have great little taco stands and hamburger trailers that sell the best baked potatoes you will ever taste but the hours are selective and you can't always count on them being there from one day to the next. 

In our small community I have to drive 22 miles to get to the nearest "drive-through". We do not have a WalMart in our neck of the woods so get your "fix'n's" before the tiny local store closes by 8:00pm.

Therefore, we rely on our cooking and baking skills. One night we were all craving Krispy Kreme donuts so I got online and found a copy-cat recipe and we made our own. Or the time we wanted some Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream...we had to recreate our own version. 

And so it goes...living in a small farming community. I don't feel as bad letting my kids indulge because nothing made from scratch has preservatives in it....so I justify!

Plus...my cooking skills have become pretty sharp! I can improvise like a pro!!

butter baby

Living in Mexico has many advantages and disadvantages...one being BUTTER. Yes, I said b.u.t.t.e.r. 

In my kitchen I make EVERYTHING from scratch (I have to...I'll elaborate later). I find that if I don't stock my freezer with pound upon pound of butter my life will somehow END! I know it sounds shallow but it is true. 

What would we toast our bread with...what would my kids have for their baked treats that serve as After-School-Snacks, recess treats, or dessert?! 

Not "monteqilla" a Mexican version of butter. I want the REAL thing. So, it goes onto my MILE long grocery list for our monthly run out to EL Paso (the good ole U.S. of A). 

I know it sounds trivial or something you could take for granted easily but today I am so grateful for my supply of BUTTER!

The Birthday Boy

 Benton turned 3 ! I cannot believe it! We started the day with some birthday pancakes...

 and presents....

 A sweet gal in our ward made this terrific cake. Benton is in love with all things CARS (the movie).

 The cake was too cute not to share with all our family in town. We had John and Sandra Hatch, Kent and Virgina Romney, Carol and Fred Hatch, Grandma and Grandpa Hatch and our immediate family for cake and ice cream.

The cake was wonderful but by the end of the night everyone had black lips!! Too funny!

Happy Birthday Son! We love you and are so glad that you are ours!

Sayings of 2011...

At the suggestion of a good friend, I have decided to jot down those little things that come out of my kids' mouths that make me chuckle. I will continue to add to this list throughout the year. 

Alex:

This month we taught our girls how to play UNO. They love this game and they do very well on their own. It has taught them colors and numbers. Alex is very good at winning too. 1

Garrett likes to "trash talk" while playing any kind of game so my girls picked-up on this very quickly. It was Alex's turn and she put down a SKIP card and then very politely said, "I'm gonna skip your trash Dad!" It was so funny we couldn't continue the game for several minutes.
Fri Jan 2, 2009 | 10:39 AM |

I told Alex to write a letter to Santa. She came back with a piece of paper with "a LETTER" on it. The letter "D" to be specific.

"Is Jesus's last name Romney?"

Alex fell flat on her face then jumped up and said, "Ole"!

Alex came up to me and said that Benton pulled her hair and it was her favorite one! She hopes it grows back.

"Mom, do I look popular?"

innocent prayers

This morning during family prayers Alex was blessing our home and food and family. Then she continued to pray and ended by asking Heavenly Father to please bless Daddy's "crap" (translation: crop). I am sure Heavenly Father has to chuckle every now and then at these little prayers.
Fri Jun 26, 2009 | 09:33 AM |

Alex- "Mom, will you frost my toothbrush?"

Tori:

"Look Mom, I am a Lamanite." 

Tori- "Mom, I had a dream that Dad chased the robbers out of our house with his belt."

Tori and Alex were bickering and then finally Tori said, "Alex, I'm trying really hard to be like Jesus. Leave me alone.

Tori asked to see pictures of Aunt Rachel's new "dieted" hair.

Tori told me that we needed to buy "more asses". I said, "WHAT?!", and she said, "yes, Mom, we need more asses to make those cookies."  Oh...molasses!!!

"Mom, when I get older am I going to be addicted to the computer like you?"

Benton:

Benton- "Mom, will you pet me?" aka: rub my back.

Benton..."I'm gonna kiss you on the lips and marry you in the temple."

"You will die like dogs."  He's been watch the 3 Amigos.

Saturday is a "special" day?!

This Saturday has been horrible, no good, awful, and to top it off Garrett is out of town. I will say that I am thankful my pressure cooker or water heater didn't explode in my face as it did my two good friends but it has been "one of those days."

Everything seemed to being going smoothly until 10:30am while I was in the middle of my first ballet class of the day. Benton pulled down my barre, out of the wall, and onto his legs. The barres are made out of straight metal and are NOT light. I am surprised it didn't make a hole in my wood floor. He was pinned down with the barre on top of both legs. I rushed him inside, gave him some Tylenol, put on his favorite movie and went back to finish class #1.

Right as class #2 was about to begin we noticed one of the mom's had a flat tire and was trying to get home. With no men in sight we tried to remedy the problem ourselves with FIX-A-FLAT and a air compressor from another friend.  Just then the plumber showed up to fix our master bath. I had to show him what to do then check on Benton and run back to start class#2.

As class #3 was about to begin I made a quick check-up on Benton and the girls inside the house then headed back out to my studio upon noticing our two ponies untied and running out into the street. Once again, NO men in sight to help so I had to chase down the ponies and lead them back into the yard. I had no rope so I couldn't tie them up and once I let go they just ran away again. I then got a phone call from Garrett checking up on us, handed him over to the plumber and went back to finish class #3.

Once I had finished all 3 classes I was done for the week and then proceeded to load up the kids to take Benton to the hospital. I dropped the two girls off at friends' houses, pick up my mother-in-law and we headed for town. Thankfully Benton did not fracture his legs but he cannot walk or put any pressure on them for a few days. So, without a husband for another 24 hours I will have two babies to carry around.

When it rains...its pours...I am just glad there was no permanent damage.  The horses are back in the yard, Benton doesn't need a cast, the bathroom will just have to wait, and our mom with the flat tire made it home safely (I hope).