Timp Cave

Whew! We actually made it all the way to Timp cave and back down again today. The weather was perfect for the 1100 vertical feet climb, and the caves were amazing. This was our first time, and judging by our sore muscles it may have been our last (just kidding). The scenery was beautiful and the kids especially enjoyed the giant mountain of snow near the top. I even managed to put a snow ball down the back of Ben's shirt and then threatened to ground him for a week if he retaliated (being mom has its perks). Fortunately for us and all the other hikers at the cave today, Garrett played at Grandma's house, and we were glad not to have all 45 pounds of him in the back pack. Despite many attempts, neither B or C managed to fall off a cliff, and C's hands have the bruises to prove how tightly I held on to her. (What is it about sheer cliffs and children that brings out the mother bear in me?) We had a fabulous time, the kids are amazing hikers, and Rich even bought CR (parental code lingo for Cafe Rio) AND sodas for everyone for dinner. It might have been my perfect day!

My New Favorite Poem

The Girl in a Whirl by Vickie Gunther of Redlands, CA

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!
I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano! I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too..
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day! (I also go do it for someone who missed hers. It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each "lost lamb" on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write "thank you's" to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak!
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It's easy!" she said and then she dropped dead.



Does that pretty much sum it up for each of us?
I thought it a fitting ode for the last day of school!

Ben's Piano Recital

We are amazingly proud of 9 year old Ben who is a magnificent pianist! He performed on Saturday at his spring recital and played the Indiana Jones March and The Entertainer, a duet with his Mom! He did a GREAT job--the culmination of months of daily practice. He also won a trophy from his piano teacher for earning the most points throughout the year--points received from practicing, passing off songs, and performing for others. Way to go Ben!

Babysitter Stress

Do you ever feel like getting a babysitter is more trouble than it's worth? Although I love looking forward to a date with Rich, I always feel like I have to have the house totally clean for who? THE BABYSITTER. Check the logic on that one! I also stress if I am having said babysitter feed the kids dinner, because it is usually something lame like cold cereal and toast, and then I worry that the babysitter thinks we probably eat that every night (which we do) and she'll probably go home and tell her mom that Sister King doesn't even cook meals for her kids! I also always worry about how much to pay them, because I want them to come back but at the same time I just spent $$$ on dinner and a movie and we stopped at Walmart on the way home and now there's no money left in the account. Does everyone agree that I am completely psycho? Really, I am trying to be more laid back. It just hasn't really happened yet. Oh well, at least I get to go out with a hottie tonight........

P.S. Anyone have any fabulous ideas for Memorial Day? We were trying to plan a hike but the snow level is very low and now it is supposed to rain on Monday! Any ideas out there?

Some things I need to get off my chest...

(in no particular order)

1. Calories. In case you were wondering, I really enjoy eating left-over dessert for breakfast and I think it shouldn't make me fat. I also really want to eat chips and salsa every night after the kids go to bed and I think that those calories shouldn't count either. Oh, and every time I walk by the pantry I stop to refuel. That's okay, isn't it?

2. Housework. I really think I should be able to clean the house once a week in about 20 minutes and it should stay that way. I don't understand why every time I mop the kitchen floor someone spills bubble solution and eats an orange popsicle within 3 minutes of it being mopped.

3. Laundry. For some reason our family of 5 can fill a laundry hamper to overflowing in one afternoon. And seriously, how hard is it to turn your dirty socks right side out? Also, if I find skid marks in your underwear I am throwing it away. If you run out of underwear, let me know how it works out.

4. Alarm clocks. They are pure evil, plain and simple. They give me the shivers.

5. Children. Bless their little hearts....love you to pieces but sometimes I want you in pieces! I really don't think I am asking too much for you to...close doors that you open, put your shoes away, flush the toilet, use an inside voice inside, eat what I make for dinner, limit yourself to only 100 questions per day, do what I ask before my face turns purple and Darth Mom comes out, and help out your siblings. This is not rocket science, people! Meet me half way, okay?

6. Husbands. Couldn't think of anything. I've got a really great one.

Thanks for letting me rant. I do actually feel better. Maybe tomorrow I'll try to "focus on the positive." But seriously folks.....

Some fun pics with my new toy....

Maybe if Smoky could see the ball he could hit it.
His long lost pal the light pole.
Simple minds, simple pleasures.
Could somebody please cut my hair?
I hope they call me on a mission!

Jane Austen's Emma

I just had to write a few words about my new favorite book! I realize that almost everyone in the world has read Austen, so I guess I just kind of missed the boat until now. I started with Pride and Prejudice a few months ago, followed by Sense and Sensibility, and then just moments ago I finished Emma. My only regret is that I didn't read them years ago, but then I fear I would not have gotten out of them what I so richly harvested at this present time. As I've finished each book I watch the movie, so no one call me tomorrow night (the Jazz game is on tonight) when I will be watching Emma. It's hard to choose which book I enjoyed more, but I think Emma is winning by a nose. Perhaps I saw so much of myself in the title character (excluding the fact that she is handsome, rich, and clever) that reading it was like a window to my soul (can you tell my prose has been affected by reading Austen's?) I include now some of my favorite quotes from the book. They will never hold their full value without their complete context, but these were my faves:

• Emma was sorry;-to have to pay civilities to a person she did not like through three long months!-to be always doing more than she wished, and less than she ought!


• "I wish," said Mrs. Weston, "one could know which arrangement our guests in general would like best. To do what would be most generally pleasing must be our object--if one could but tell what that would be."


• Mr. Knightley describes Emma as "falutless in spite of all her faults"---My favorite!


• (Mr. Knightley): "My Emma, does not every thing serve to prove more and more the beauty of truth and sincerity in all our dealings with each other?"


• What had she to wish for? Nothing, but to grow more worthy of him, whose intentions and judgement had been ever so superior to her own. Nothing, but that the lessons of her past folly might teach her humility and circumspection in the future.

It is really a story about loving those around us inspite of their faults, about seeing the good in others, about forgiving yourself and learning from your mistakes, about realizing that most people have good intentions at heart. Love, love, LOVED this book! I think Persuasion is next on my list. I only wish I could read them faster! Thank you to all of you who have always urged me to read them! Sorry I took so long!

Happy Mother's Day

I am proud to welcome our newest addition....my new Nikon D40 DSLR camera! He joined our family a few days before Mother's Day, a surprise gift from my Rich King. It came with 2 lenses, 3 instructional DVDs, and about 850 pages of instructions. I'm almost done reading said instructions (not) so hopefully I'll have some stellar photos to post soon (dont' hold your breath, at least about the stellar part). I do so enjoy taking photos, and I am so excited about my new machine. Now if only we can keep the 3 year old away from it......

Cassidy's Off (off off off) Broadway Premiere

Cassidy made a stunning debut as an acorn in this year's Lehi Children's Choir production of Nuts! She is so amazing. She delivered her lines with enthusiasm and poise, knew all her dance moves, and just generally brought the house down! We, her adoring fans, were awestruck. We look forward to LCC's next performance, singing the National Anthem in August at the SL Bee's game. Oh say, can you see.....a rise to stardom in her future? Way to go Sister Sue!

Rockies lose home opener

LEHI--The Lehi Colorado Rockies were shut out by their openents at their opening game Monday night. Smoky King pitched well in the second inning, striking out 2 batters on called strikes! Smoky also enjoyed playing third base and just missed tagging out a runner. The other team's pitcher, however, dazzled the rockies as he threw strike after strike with lightning speed. Hang in there Rockies---your day is coming!

Think about it

I had such a wonderful time being back on BYU campus these past few days! I think it is quite possibly the most beautiful university in the world. The trip was quite nostalgic for me, although the campus has had quite a face lift since I was a student there. I hope in the not-to-distant future to be a student again there! There are so many things I still want to learn.
While perusing the campus bookstore, I came across these postcards with intiriguing questions on theme and I just had to write them down. I print them here for your earnest consideration:

• When will you ever have more time than you do right now?
• Do you know that today is your day?
• What are you most grateful for?
• How will you give something beautiful to the world?
• What is the one thing that always makes you smile?
• What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?
• Where is your mountain, and are you climbing it?
• What is your perfect day?
• What is your passion?
• What if the rest of your life was the best of your life?
• What will you remember?
• How will the world remember you?

These questions just made me think about so many things. Maybe I will post some answers to them sometime, but for now I am just thinking. How about you?

Women's Conference

Women's Conference at BYU this year was so inspiring and wonderful. A million thanks to the most wonderful friends in the world---E, I, T, and H for not being embarassed to be seen in public with me! Thanks to I for helping out with parking ("We're in portal F, row 20"), thanks to T for getting us in shape to run a marathon , thanks to H for taking care of those "end of life issues" and to E for making sure everyone now knows her middle name. You guys are the best! Here's the short list (ha) of the many wonderful things I learned:

• Think of your life as a ministry. Why has the Lord put you where you are today?
• Disappointments don't change the doctrine
• It is easier to motivate someone to do something hard than something easy. Excellence is inspiring.
• It's not about what you do or don't do. It's about becoming holy.
• Ask the Lord to teach you
• Choose one thing to work on this week--just one
• Walk away from the world
• "We did not come to this earth to gain our worth. We brought it with us"--Sister Kapp
• Don't complicate the gospel
• How will you account for what you did with the priviliges you were given?
• Where you are weakest, put forth your best effort
• There is no "they". There is only you.
• The pioneers did not cross the plains or bury their children so we could have better shopping malls. Think about it.
• There is so much work to be done, but it is not fancy.
• Put your strength towards the things that are uniquely yours to do.

I feel very humbled and inspired after listening to so many wonderful speakers. I want to make changes in my life and work towards holiness. I have a long, long way to go, but with the Lord's help I know it is possible.

Smoky King throws some heat

LEHI-The Lehi Colorado Rockies took the field for the first time amidst strong winds and freezing temperatures in their first pre-season appearance on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. Benjamin "Smoky" King made an amazing debut, first as center fielder then as pitcher. In the bottom of the second with the bases loaded, Smoky took the mound and struck out his first batter in three pitches! What a save! He ended the inning with just a few more batters, striking out 2 and hitting (ooops) one. He walked every time he was at bat but hopes to get more hits at his next game when his fingers aren't numb! Although the final score was tied, kudos to all players for sticking it out during snow flurries and all. Here's to warmer weather and more sensational baseball from Smoky and the Rockies!