HAPPY HEART MONTH--freebies!

Valentine's Day is probably my favorite holiday. (Next to Christmas.) It is simply so happy.
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Life has dished out some bummer deals the last few weeks, and so as a way to distract myself from the blues, I have been all about the cheerful Valentine trimmings in my house.

I feel kind of bad that Andrew has to live in such a froofy, girly household.

He'll live, though.

This was given to me by my sister-in-law as a gift a few years back. If you still can't see it...each picture represents a letter of the word "LOVE."
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You like? Grab a camera! Very easy to make!

This teddy bear is but one of many many knick knacks gifted by my students. To make it look "valentine-y," I hastily embroidered a little heart on its sweater.

I found these free downloads on the blog of Becky Higgins. Print them from your computer, put them in any ol' frame, and you've got yourself a quick, cost effective Valentine pretty for your house.

I printed this one out for me.

eighteen25 is offering this free subway art download.

They come in two color schemes. I printed this one.


Happy Heart Day from me to you!

MEMORY MONDAY--wide open spaces

Lake Powell near Glen Canyon Dam. That's my 7th grade band shirt, so I'm guessing this is Junior High-ish era.

Isn't that incredible scenery? My family made this trip between Arizona and Utah probably a hundred times. Idaho has a beauty all of its own that is just as stunning in its own way. But sometimes I forget how much I miss the desert. No matter how long I've been away, this landscape still feels apart of my soul. Just stick some Saguaro cacti in there to make it complete.


What is it that would make me long for the desert now? Could it be the three feet of snow out my living room window? Hmm. 

GRAMPS

{I did NOT take this picture. It was taken by the fabulous FIFE PHOTOGRAPHY. I borrowed it from my cousin's wedding album HERE.}

Grandpa Brown turned 80 this week. As a surprise, it was arranged for him to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. How cool is that?

The next night, was a hopping shindig with cake. And cookies. And like, six hundred cousins.

Okay, I exaggerate. Not quite that many.

But there were tributes rendered, poetry read, memories shared, and tears shed. And then we all laughed and talked the night away.




Gramps has had a darn, interesting life. He took Grandma Jennie, my mom, and her five brothers on quite the lifelong adventure. He worked for American embassies around the world, pioneering the LDS church in remote areas as he went.
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As a result, my mom's growing up years were spent in places like:

• Baghdad, Iraq
• Tehran, Iran
• Bogotá, Columbia
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Brasilia, Brazil

I think that's cool.



We lived with him after Grandma died, from the time I was 12 until I was 16 (...my snottiest of years, now that I think about it...it's a wonder he still likes me) Here are a few things I remember from that time:

*Grandpa hates cats. Once, when a stray kept hanging around, he grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, tossed it in the trunk, and released it in the middle of the Mexican desert. No joke.


*We had all just moved into a new house. Around the dinner table, Grandpa told us about his first experience with his new shower. Not realizing there was a step down, he stumbled in and landed on the tile floor. After getting back on his feet, he went to turn the water on only to have the unexpected power of the water pressure send him right back down to the bottom.
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I probably shouldn't laugh so hard at this memory. But I do.


*Grandpa is staunchly against wasted food. So, most days, I came home from school to a pot on the stove of what we eventually dubbed: "goulash". It was a mixture of all the leftovers he could find in the kitchen, heated together, with raisins and salsa thrown in for good measure.


I love that guy.

TOP 3 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

Some good things happened at our house on Christmas. Let me fill you in on the top three favorites of the holiday...

#3.) The  family game we opened on Christmas Eve this year was Ticket to Ride. Many hours of cross-country train adventuring followed. 

#2.) Chocolate. Fondue. Enough said. 

Except for one thing. You can't go wrong with chocolate. We dipped bananas, pretzels, brownie bites, strawberries, marshmallows, and dried pomegranates! And the verdict?

All good. All favorites.

And while we're on the topic, just let me add: it only took whipping cream and a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips melted on the stove. I found the recipe HERE and simplified it.

Oh, and I would recommend halving it. Even after the exorbitant amounts of chocolate we ate, there was still a LOT left over.

On a side note--for all those out there who raised their eyebrows at the mention of dried pomegranates--it was just our attempt at recreating this insane sweet (insane meaning TOTALLY FREAKIN AWESOME) shared by some certain fine family members of ours.

Really hard to keep on the fondue forks...but otherwise, delicious.

I think we found a new Christmas Eve tradition. 

And finally...#1) The top favorite holiday moment was opening this most treasured of gifts. Wrapped in tissue paper and mailed from Washington...a necklace and bracelet set handcrafted by my nephew Braxton.

This is Braxton. 
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Five years old and already in tune with what the ladies love. 

Funky, sparkly, made out of pipe cleaners, and completely fabulous. You can't go wrong with jewelry. Thanks, Brax.

GOT SNOW?

No Problem. For us anyway. Andrew clears our little driveway off in style. 

(Andrew's job holds certain perks.)

BECCA'S BIRTHDAY

She came over to celebrate, and we gave her that hat. I hope she enjoys it, because I'm going to steal it the first chance I get.

Unconventional as always, she asked for peanut butter cookies instead of cake. We made it work.
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By the way, she turned 21...or 23...or 12...
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Heck, I can't even remember how old I am anymore. (But that's what I have Andrew for. He keeps track of stuff like that.) Happy mnphth birthday, Becca. Last month...

TEACHING SCENE TUESDAY--dear scrooge,

The final day before Christmas vacation (a Monday), was going to be a total bust. And then I got a substitute to cover my class on top of that because Andrew and I wanted to celebrate graduation/anniversary in style. SO, my lesson plans basically consisted of watching holiday movies...one being A Muppet Christmas Carol. The kids wrote letters after the show and this one made me laugh out loud:

Dear Scrooge,

You were not very nice. We were glad the ghosts came to see you and help you be nice. That was nice of you to bring the turkey to Bob's family. That was sad you didn't get married but we hope you fall in love someday.

Love,

*Mary and Suzie

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent. =)