my day today

Cool breeze blowing,
pool blue water.

Muddy fountain,
lake of red earth.

Kids swim,
I read.

Kids bicker,
I ignore.

I could do this everyday.

mini road trip

We solved our transportation problem (more on that later)- so we took a mini road trip-

now I want to go on more. Counting down the weeks for back to school makes me sad- so I just won't think about it.

It was a fun week - Jay drove down to Texas with us on Sunday night. He could not stay the whole week but we figured that he could at least drive with us down there and then hop on the train back. Now truth be known- I wanted Jay's company. I wanted to be together for a mini road trip. But I also wanted him there for this:

OK- it looks fine right? WRONG! Click on the picture and see that sky bridge up kind of in the middle of the picture? That alone could keep me from driving to visit our friends.
Here is a another photo that we found on the internet looking at it from the other side.

Its tall, its unavoidable and it goes on forever. It reminds me of driving across the bridge in Portland Oregon to drive to Washington and how I almost froze out of fear. Or from our trip last summer to the Grand Canyon. I have a totally real fear of heights. Don't misunderstand. I am not afraid of driving. I have driven many a long-distance road trip, with kids, by myself. It's heights I am afraid of!

And here is the 2nd reason I needed Jay with me, (besides wanting his company!)
Jay took the kids for the morning, and while they went to the Texas Mint:

Donna and I went and each had a massage then lunch.

It was heavenly.
I was cashing in on my mother's day gift!
For mothers day I asked, I begged for a gift cert. for a massage from one of Donna's friends, Hannah. (who also does pre-natal massage, and no I am not pregnant-see here) I knew that we would be going to Texas sometime in the future. So Jay agreed.
It was a perfect day for a massage- rainy, misty.
To top it off, Jay took care of running to walmart to buy diapers and wipes. (I left the box, sitting in the garage that had everything we needed-oops!)
That night I dropped Jay off at the train station and he rode back home.
The plan was for him to ride back down at the end of the week and we could do some more vacationing together -(and no, I did not need his help for the way back- no scary skybridge driving on the way back to OKC!) but we tried buying tickets too late. So we will just have to take a few days here and there to get our vacation in!

The rest of the week was spent:

canning

black beans & potbelly's hot peppers (I am so addicted to these right now!)

braiding hair

running- who knew I could run faster in Texas?

going to a water park

jumping on the trampoline in swimwsuits

playing in all the dress ups

playing make-up and hair

shopping for new sunglasses

rock band
star wars battlefront
played baseball
(and these next two photos have nothing to do with what we did, but would you look at those curls?!)

and a lot of hanging out and movie watching!

Somehow the older boys did not end up in alot of the photos- but all the kids were there, and they all had fun.
Thanks Ryan's for letting us come- and for "vacationing" with us!

Why I will look forward to Sunday's

After Jay and I were first married and we had moved to Utah, I was asked to help with the children's music on Sunday's in Primary. Primary is the organization in our church for kids ages 3-12. 

I was terrified. I cried every Sunday. I was always so so nervous. I would get up and quietly whisper what we were going to sing, and then timidly wave my arm, and try and get my voice above a squeak. I stood very still hoping that I would not be noticed.

Finally after a few weeks of this, the Primary president pulled me aside and said. "Alisa, you just need to smile, and the kids will smile back." I had been feeling so intimidated that I could not even look the kids in the eye and smile. Her comment kind of shook me out of my dreary state and I started to smile, and wouldn't you know I started to enjoy what I was doing. I was still nervous but I could get through a Sunday without crying. Then we decided to move. My last Sunday came and  I was saying goodbye and one of the kids came up with the most worried expression and said "but who will sing with us now?" It knocked me down! I felt like I had finally gotten comfortable in my calling- and now I was leaving. It was all over.

I hoped for the opportunity to do it again someday. In our church there are not paid positions. So it was not like I was going to go apply for the job. I tried to apply the same idea of smiling and just doing what needed to be done to other things I was asked to do. But I hoped, and hoped that I would get to do it again.

I was asked a couple of months ago to sub for our primary music leader. I did it for 2 Sundays and LOVED it. I could hardly wait to get to church to sing with these kids. I hinted loudly to anyone who would listen that I would love to do this if they ever needed help again.

Well I get my 2nd chance! I was asked to be the music leader.

One would think that I would not have any worries after having done it before, and wanting to do it so badly again. But I did get just a tiny bit nervous. I started thinking about how I really don't know how to lead music. And how would I come up with ways to keep the kids interested. I started having doubts.

As I was reading over the music book and some other information I came across this and I think it is what qualifies me to be able to do this: 

"You do not need to be a skilled musician to use music in your teaching. If you are well prepared and you enjoy singing, the children will enjoy and learn from the music you use."

I am not skilled, but I can prepare, and I do love to sing. I just have to remember to smile.

I am so excited!

Its safe for us to return home

We made it home from our road trip to Texas this afternoon. While I was busying myself with whatever it is we do after a road trip, Luke was busy with his Wall-e things. He had watched Wall-e on the way home in anticipation of getting to play with his Wall-e that Jay had fixed while we were gone. He got right to work with it and I think that it got his mind thinking of all of his other Wall-e things. He was looking for his books, and his action figures and his sticker books. He headed outside with that intent look on his face. He came back in, then went back outside. Then came back in, then went back outside. I just happened to walk past during one of his in and outs and noticed he was carrying a shoe.

Filled with dirt.

And a plant.

Then I sort of remembered him asking me if he could have a plant. And I remember telling him that I did not have any extra plants, but that we could get him one.


Well Luke is never one to let something stand in his way. If he wants something then he figures out a way to do it. I guess he went in the backyard and found a plant, dug it up and filled a shoe with dirt and put it in.


I suggested we switch shoes to an "older" shoe.

I was trying to explain that the blue pair was a "nicer" pair of shoes, and that the red ones would be better and then stopped trying to explain. Because really, does a 6 year old boy have a nice pair of shoes? And does he care?

I love that boy.
I love Wall-e.
I love that imagination.
I needed this tonight for our "re-entry" home.

sleep

I feel like this- and I am on my way to bed!

We spent the day at a waterpark in TX- and I am just too tired to write all the things I wanted.

To sum up:

we drove to TX with Jay- he took a train home- we are having a great time-

the end.

WICKED part 2

This was Savanna's and my sister Janelle's birthday gift- and I could not just send them up to Tulsa by themselves, now could I?

Per Savanna's request we all wore green, white and black.



Janelle made Wicked snack bags to take with us.

We were excited of course. I laughed before I left-my friend Lori tweeted reminding me to not sing during the show. And you know what? I didn't. I was too captivated by the whole thing. The story, the music, the costumes, the shoes, the hair the whole stage set. I was so caught up- I gasped, I cried, I laughed. I loved that Savanna pointed out different things about the costumes that she liked. Like the yellow boots. Or things that she liked about the set. I loved sharing this with her and with my sister.
After the show was over we all felt a little down. We were not ready for it to all be over!




I can't wait to go see it again- I think I need to take Jay.


Every year for Halloween I dress up as a witch. Well sort of. I have a apron that looks kind of like a witch and a hat.
This last year Luke told me I needed to be something else. He said it did not count because I was the same thing ever year. Well he is going to have to get over it, because come this October I am adding green face paint to my costume. I will have to be my new favorite witch.

WICKED part 1 I laughed, I cried, I made a fool out of myself

I am sure you have read enough reviews on Wicked so I will spare you my take on it. (well at least for this post!) I will just say it really was good. I was moved.

This was part of Savanna's birthday present and I wanted to have photos.
I ran out of battery on my camera so I ran out to the van to grab an extra and on the way chatted with a couple. They asked me how I liked the show and I in turn asked them their thoughts. They said they were ushers. And we continued chatting and then parted ways.
I made it back to Savanna and my sister and we posed and took photos. As I was putting the camera away a man walks up and asked how we liked the show. I gushed and said it was fabulous. Remembering the couple that I had just been with I thought I would beat this guy to the punch. I asked "So, are you an usher?"

He kind of chuckled and as he starts to speak I can see Savanna looking at me kind of odd,

"No, I am the presenter of the show."

Oops- I kind of thought you looked familiar.

He was kind enough to let me grab a photo-


I am sure he is still shaking his head about the loon asking him if he was an usher.

What to Eat Wednesday- BBQ Pork Tenderloin

I had this first when we lived in Oregon- another recipe from Holly who shared the chicken pot pie, and brownies. We met them during December before we had our 3rd child Luke. They kind of adopted our family and made every night into a party. We were in their home so much that we kind of felt like we needed to start sharing in the grocery bills! I am certain that all the partying and playing is what carried us through Luke's first year of life!

Holly served this as an appetizer but you can also serve it as a small main course.





BBQ Pork Tenderloin

2 pork tenderloins
Trim excess fat from pork.
Marinade:
2 Tablespoons Hoisin sauce
4 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
1/4 teaspoon sugar

Mix until sugar is dissolved then pour over pork.
Marinate at least 2 hours.

Bake pork wrapped in foil for 25 minutes at 350- then turn over and cook for another 25 minutes. Cool then slice.
Serve with ketchup, hot chinese mustard, and toasted sesame seeds.

What to Eat Wednesday- PW's new site

Ok- so this is another link- and I will post again later today with a real recipe but I had to share the news!
I love anything this woman does- and was so excited to share.
The Pioneer Woman has an addition to her site called ...

Tasty Kitchen

So what is it?

Ree said it like this:
"For a long time, I’ve wanted to create a happy little place on the web where people who love to cook could easily share recipes. Where the community would be able to tap into the bounty of tried, true, and tested recipes that exist in the arsenal of home cooks everywhere. Where recipes could easily be shared, searched for, found, and printed—and, most importantly, cooked, baked, prepared…and enjoyed!"

I got to be a part of the testing stage and loaded a few of my "what to eats" and have already made some of the recipes that other members have posted. I have loved reading what others cook, and have found some great food blogs. (like I really need more to read on the web, but still!)

It is a great place to go, and have tried and true recipes at your fingertips. I am often going to google and searching for recipes, but now I can start at the Tasty Kitchen and search things by category, or by a single item like "corn." I love that I can find every level of experience at the Tasty Kitchen. There are well seasoned chef's (real cooks!) down to people like me just making dinner for the family and blogging about it.

So go check it out- I can't wait to hear what you think!

Deal of the day- CHICK-FIL-A! the evidence

We dressed up.
We went.

We ordered.

It was free.


We ate.

Yipee!

Deal of the day- CHICK-FIL-A!

It's back-
Dress like a cow, get free chicken! (cow appreciation day!)
We did it last year-
We will be doing it again today!

as you wish

retweet @jayspear can someone please make me some lemon bars? please ......