Spring Break

Does my title bring to mind college students attired in swim suits who get drunk and party? Well, my spring break did not have any partying college students, but did include 14 children, 4 sisters and their spouses, swimming, laughing, playing, hunting for the leprechaun and his booty, one temper tantrum by my daughter, black and white cupcakes, a Sweet 16 birthday party, lunch with my youngest son, an unplugged concert and later that night a second concert by Thriving Ivory, catching up, and sisterly love.

In a previous post I talked about this cookbook I got called Hello, Cupcake and when my niece Julie saw it, she asked me what cupcakes I was going to make her when she came. I let her choose the cupcakes and she chose the black and white ones. We made them on Thursday and even though they were not as perfect as the ones in the book, they turned out great and we had a lot of fun! My kitchen had white nonpareils and black sugar all over it! Everyone was very creative in their designs. Isabel made a yin and yang cupcake, Daniel made a snowman, Denver made a smiley face, and the little kids put all kinds of decorations on theirs.

Isabel turned 16 on the 16th and for her party we went to Susie's apartment since it has all of these super great amenities like a heated swimming pool with tvs and two gas fireplaces, a movie theater with free popcorn, a pool table, and many other things. We laid out, swam, BBQ, watched a movie in the theater, had cake, and watched Isabel open her presents. I gave her a hot pink purse. Grandma gave her twenty dollars. Sam ( her 5 year old brother) gave her lip gloss "for kissing", and her parents gave her a diamond promise ring. When her Mom gave her the ring she explained how the diamond started out as a lump of coal, and how it was exposed to great pressure to became a diamond, and that she like that lump of coal will also be exposed to all kinds of pressures, and if she but endures she too can become perfected like the diamond and be sealed in the temple for all time and eternity. I hope my daughter listened to this message and that both the girls will remember to be like that lump of coal and endure the many trials that will and are coming their way.

On Saturday the 14th Morgan won tickets for Thriving Ivory. Two tickets to an unplugged show at the radio station and two ticket to their concert at Martini Ranch. She was very excited even though she didn't know who they were and that she wouldn't be able to go to the evening concert because it was at a bar. Morgan brought her friend Lindsay to they unplugged show and even though she was allowed only one guest they let me go up too. The couple in the elevator with us weren't able to go to the concert that night so she gave me her tickets! When I picked up our tickets I found out it was an all ages concert so Morgan wanted to have a girls night out! Before we met the band we were served lunch. It was pizza, wings, salad, and bread sticks. The girls only ate one piece of pizza. What's up with that? At home Morgan will eat three or four slices! After lunch, we went into a little studio and sat down. The band was right there! They played three songs, answered questions, and took pics with everyone. I didn't want to be in it though so it's just Morgan and Lindsay. If you want to see their picture or video from the set go to http://www.mix969.com/ under their unplugged series. It's not up yet, but I hope it will be ready for viewing on Monday or Tuesday. That night when we got to Martini Ranch we got a sweet free parking spot right across the street! I was so happy, because I didn't want to be driving all around searching or have to pay a fortune to park in a lot. We couldn't find a fourth friend to go with us on such short notice so when we were in line we gave the ticket away to the people behind us. It was a man and his daughter, here from Alaska for spring break to visit family. They are loving our gorgeous weather which has been in the 80's all week. I felt good giving them the ticket and saving them a little money on their vacation. The girls had a total blast at the concert! It was a lot of fun and Thriving Ivory was great! Since I didn't have to pay for parking I bought their Cd and Morgan has been listening to it all day! After the concert, Morgan and Lindsay said that Thriving Ivory is their new favorite band! When we left we were starving so we went to Applebee's for half price appetizers and had cheese sticks, fries, and wings which I love, love, love!

Spring break is almost over, and we all have to go back to school and work, but the memories of this week with my family will not soon be forgotten. I hope my sisters, nieces, and nephews have all gone away with memories that they can cherish, and recall fondly, when they are missing us, as I will do when I am missing them. Love, Monica xoxo

Backpacking

Here are a few pics from our backpacking trip last weekend. We went to West Clear Creek which is near Camp Verde. We arrived at about 8:30 pm so it was dark when we hiked in. If we've been there before and the hike isn't too hard we like hiking in at night. We attach glow sticks to our backpacks and wear our headlamps for light and off we go!

We have really enjoyed backpacking the last couple of years. It's fun to camp where there are little or no other people and to feel like you are alone with nature is awesome! I enjoy knowing that we carry everything we need for the weekend: food, clothes, tent, sleeping bag, and cooking supplies in, on our backs.

A few months ago Del made each of us an awesome little camp stove out of a soda pop can. They only weigh a few ounces, and for those of you who backpack know, shaving a few ounces here and there can really add up to a much lighter backpack. Anyways, they use denatured alcohol as fuel and we finally got to "field" test them. They worked great! We only used them to heat water for our hot cocoa, but they did a good job! When the boys tested them at home they also cooked hot dogs with them and they turned out yummy! The one problem with them is that they only hold an ounce or two of fuel at a time, and so only burn for about 10 minutes. When the flame burns out you have to refuel and light them. They're not very practical for cooking something that takes awhile, but work great for our backpacking needs.

I hope you all have a great day. :) This smiley face comes to you because the General Presidency of the Young Women want all the girls to do three things each day which are: to have personal prayer morning and night, read the scriptures just five minutes a day, and to smile. So go out there and smile and make someone feel good. Monica xoxo