An Unexpected Delight

I have a soft spot for boys age 10 to 14. Maybe it is because I have one of my own. After years of the Vienna Boys choir coming to Cedar City, I finally went and saw them. I have to admit that I have never been overly excited to see these virtuosos who obviously give up their childhood to travel the world and sing. At least this was my initial thought. I have to admit I was a little wrong. And I was pleasantly entertained and moved by these boys who are, after all, just boys.

We took our two older kids and while Becca was pretty much bored out of her mind, Isaac found the performance interesting and at times even seemed to enjoy it. While I loved listening to these talented, amazing kids belt it out there were other parts of the evening I actually loved more. I loved that not all of those boys hair was perfectly combed. In fact, there was one boy with a very errant cowlick (I seriously don't know if that is the right spelling) He reminded me of Isaac before Issac decided to become vainly attached to his ever lengthening hair line. The same boy clearly had neatness issues since his pants didn't have the nice crease lines that all the other boys pants have. But did any of that stop him from being one of the most talented little boy singers in the world. No! And so here is the lesson I got from that.Sometimes it doesn't matter if our boys are all perfectly groomed. It is no reflection on their talents or their potential. They only get to be young for a little while.

I also really enjoyed the almost laughing looks some of the boys gave each other while singing. Clearly a few of them had a private joke going and yet they didn't miss a beat or a high pitched note.
These cute boys from literally all over the world attend the choir's boarding school. Many of them (along with girls) have received a musical education since Kindergarten. Every year the most talented 100 boys are chosen to form 4 touring choirs known as the Vienna Boys Choir which has been around for hundreds of years.

It really was a delightful night. I felt musically fed and I enjoyed those boys, although I was a little taken aback when a few of them did a dance in their Austrian liederhausen. My ever plain speaking Becca leaned over and commented "Well that is a little wierd." Why does she say things like that at the most inappropriate time to guffaw out loud. We all had a good giggle about it later.

New Food Blog

My new food blog is up and going. I am still trying to do a few finishing touches but you can check it out at pantryeats.blogspot.com

Write A Little. My Star and a new blog

Three year olds are such intriguing creatures. Their minds are at times so completely pure and bright. It is due to my own three-year old that I am actually starting to believe that the North Star is my own personal star. Every evening when we are running errands Lia is the first to point out the first bright star of the night.

"Look, Mom there is your star." I just don't have the heart to tell her that star belongs to everyone. Of course she may have an inkling because she occasionaly calls it Becca's star or Isaac's star or in rare instances, her own star. Still, more often than not she declares it my own star, as if she is giving me an amazing gift and that each night that star is hers to give to whomever she wishes. Every night she is just as excited at its appearance as if it was a new and bright shiny surprise. Honestly, I am starting to believe that her sweet gift is the best I have ever received. I only wish I could be 3 going on 4 so I could innocently hand out stars as if they were homemade chocolate chip cookies.


I am starting a new blog. (Don't worry I am keeping this one). At least that is my intention. After agonizing what to do with all the refried beans I feel compelled to buy for my food storage, or with the cocoa powder I bought a year ago and the bulk herbs and spices I invested in, I have decided to start using my pantry more efficiently. This is all part of the food division of my new financial plan. I am no food storage expert and I in fact feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of discovering a year's worth of tasty recipes from my food storage or pantry. I can't say I am your standard food storage gal. I store things I think I may actually use. Part of my new food plan is to make at least one meal a week that is 90 percent from the pantry shelves or food storage. I want those meals to be yummy. I am also going to start making a snack every week from my pantry shelves for my kids. I am trying to cut down on the snack budget but I have a voracious bunch and they need snacks. So I am going to start a blog that has a couple recipes a week of my own as well as a pantry item of the week tip. I would really love to try your best recipes. This will be a public blog and hopefully I can get a lot of people involved. Let's save money together while cooking up food that is actually good. Hopefully, I will have the blog up at the end of the week but feel free to send your recipes my way. It would also be really fun to have a taster panel that can give us feedback on their take on the recipes. Let me know if you want to be involved.
PANTRY EATS will feature

Tagged Three Weeks Ago -- 5 addictions

So I promised I would do this tag eventually. Does anyone really want to reveal their addictions.


#5. The Internet. I am so addicted to the internet, blogging, facebook, e-mail. It is getting pretty ridiculous. Poor Lia, sometimes she seems really frustrated with me. Which is why I am making a conscious effort to spend more time with her and each of my children every day. I honestly could not believe I went a whole week without Internet when I was on my cruise. I actually didn't have withdrawals.

#4 Chocolate. I have been looking for something non fattening and chocolate all day. Meanwhile, I ate everything in site trying to avoid the Ghiradelli chocolates I got Tom for Valentine's day. I finally found some sugar-free hot chocolate at 9:30 p.m. tonight and I am feeling much better.

#3 Sunshine. I am a sunaholic. I really get kind of wierd when the sun doesn't shine for days on end. This is why I never could have lived in Seattle. Oh how I could just soak in it even if it means a sunburn. When I was a little girl and sick I would go sit outside in the sunshine just to feel better. I walk around the house every day opening every curtain in the house, just to let the sunshine in.

#2 Laughter. I really like to laugh it just makes me feel better and I try to surround myself with people who make me laugh. Luckily, I have a really funny family and Rebecca's giggle alone can make me laugh so hard I almost pee my pants.

#1. Family. Of course I am addicted to my family but I like to believe it is a healthy addiction. I am actually a pretty anti-codependant personality but I love to just be in the same room as my kids and husband and I really can't get through the week without talking to my parent's or one of my siblings.

Three Wishes -- Talkative Tuesday

Remember that show Three Wishes? This past week I got to have three of my wishes granted. I will try not to make too many of you jealous. I know it has been cold here. But I had a great trip with my husband who I basically kissed goodbye for the next couple months.

Wish #1

I have always wanted to lie in a hammock on a beach. And yes I know that I am not actually lying in these hammocks. That is because I was too happy soaking in the perfect moment once I got to the hammock to worry about taking a photo. I will say this. I should have stayed in that hammock for at least another 10 minutes. Our photos almost ended at this photo because we temporarily lost the camera after it fell out of Tom's pocket while he was lying there. We were grateful to find it still swinging there in the breeze after we hiked all the way back across the island to find it. We actually loved the island of Labadee. We thought it was beautiful.



Wish #2 Climb a waterfall
There is no photo yet because I still have to get these developed from the water camera. Yes I know this is a wierd wish but I really did have it on my "bucket list." It was a slippery and wet hour long climb but I was so ready to climb this Jamaican waterfall again as soon as I was finished. We climbed the falls with the large group we traveled with and it really was cool to see everyone make it to the top. Afterwards we had some authentic Jamaican Jerk chicken. I made sure to grab some real jerk sauce from one of the stores on the way back to the boat.

Wish #3 Visit the Mayan ruins in Mexico.

Tom and I have always wanted to tour the ruins of Mexico. So we splurged and ordered the tour of the Tulun ruins. Once we arrived at the ruins we ditched our bus tour and hired the LDS guide with some friends. The guide, whose name was Nefi, was part of a family of LDS guides who give tours of the ruins throughout the Yucatan peninsula. Most of them have Book of Mormon names. The insight this guide brought to the tour really changed my perspective of the Mayans.

After we finished the Mayan tour the bus sped us away to a Mexican restaraunt on an absolutely beautiful beach. The food was delicious. I love homemade tortillas. The beach was perfect. Let's just say I spent a wonderful birthday playing in the waves, lying out in the sun and buying $5 homemade lapis lazuli earrings from a lady roaming the beach with her wares.

One of the biggest surprises of the trip was our excursion to stingray city. I didn't think I would actually like this experience as much as I did. I love those stingrays, although their long tails kind of freak me out.



Tom and I also had fun on the flow rider.


Tom got to jam with one of the bands one night. It was pretty funny. We thought they were just being nice the night they offered to let Tom come jam with them. They were not kidding and wanted to know where Tom was when he didn't show up the next night. This band from the Phillipines let Tom sing and play the keyboard with them for about half an hour. We didn't really have an audience. It was midnight. But it was still a blast.

We really had a great time. We ate ridiculous amounts of food. Took lots of long naps. Made new friends and played a lot. In fact we did very little shopping. We were enjoying ourselves too much.

Talkative Tuesday -- FOCA

I know it is Talkative Tuesday and I am sure you are just dying to hear the boring goings on of my life, JK. But I have been wanting to say something regarding the Freedom of Choice Act. But my sweet sister said it so perfectly that I am going to send you to her blog. Please read what she has to say. Maybe I am just lazy or busy but I really feel that she echoed every single feeling I have on this important issue.

This is the last post from me for a while. I am off to sit in the warm caribbean sun for a week.

Write A Little -- A Yearning

The Earth sings to me
a throaty, green song
calling me to sunshine
from thick winter indoor drowsiness.
Siren call of spring breezes,
whispering against skin,
tugging at me.
Come catlog each astounding
emerald offering.
Delve deep
play my harp strings.


I did write this a while ago but I really feel this lately.