VB & Monster Jam

Sunday was Stake Conference - which was probably the best one yet. The 70 that attended was very focused on the youth, so that was the bulk of our speakers. He did a good job as well, so I was glad I went (although I always get real antsy sitting for that long). 

Afterwards, we had dinner at Grandma's with Carol and Eve. Unfortunately, these things are usually planned too late for us to thaw something from our freezer supply, so the lasagna we brought "just in case" didn't get cooked until we were done. (Which meant that we got to eat it all week long). The good news is that the food provided actually turned out to be just enough for everyone present - including a delicious lemon pie for dessert. 

I had a chance to chat with Kassie, one of my old mission comps for a while and catch up. She's always delightfully cerebral and has some tangible goals, so I hope it all works out for her. And I'll probably chat with her again in another two years, so don't hold your breath on updates there. 

My work hired a new PT who starts in about a month - which is to help us with all the new work we have. Which means I get to transition out of Williams/Mund's Park areas and stick closer to town. Which means I'll see more patients in the same amount of time and save a lot in wear/tear on my car. This is also the time of my annual standard raise, which is 2%, and a joke. Inflation quadruples that at best, so we keep telling management that it's more of a loss than a gain, but it hasn't helped yet. I'll keep bugging them. It fits with one of my mottos - you can get anything you want if you're annoying enough for long enough. #Havasupai. 

Tired of chronic allergies that are getting worse every year (and paying for the strong OTC meds at the pharmacy to decrease the symptoms somewhat), I decided to try my hand again at a netty pot flushing. It didn't really help. But Rog DID scare me with a story about a parasite that enters your brain through water up the nose - killing 85% of its victims and leaving the others severely handicapped. It happens in still pools or in tap water that isn't filtered and has taken some netty pot victims before. So only use special water for those contraptions. 

For those not following the drama of my multi-ward activity, let me remind you. Our SPy has banned stake activities involving the 11-13y youth. Why? Who knows. So instead, we decided on a multi-ward activity for our YW in that age group that I agreed to run. I figured we could do some VB skills and games and eat food and it would be simple enough. 

Except that despite reminders, the wards didn't get the info out to the youth and my own ward completely forgot after kicking me out of YW. The second problem is that we had to use the LV building instead of the stake center and the net/poles there are trash garbage. I did go on Friday to practice setting them up and found a temporary fix and some ideas for something permanent, which ended up failing. (I think there have been too many temporary fixes previously and now we just need a new system). 

"Grave Digger" - overall winner of the night

ANYWAYS, we ended up with 3 girls and 3 leaders. We worked on skills for an hour, played a bit, and ended with a real game. Then we ate some sandwiches and chips and watermelon. The 3 kids had a great time and said they would love to do it again and would convince more people to come. So it went well and now that's one stressful thing off my plate. 

I immediately left to drive to Cenita's new casa in Chandler, AZ (about 2.5h south of me). It's a cute little townhouse and I'm excited for her and Colton to share it. We had dinner with Colton and Kaleb (homemade by Cenita, so ALWAYS delicious). Then Kaleb went to a multi-stake YSA activity and the rest of us + Colton's sister went to Monster Jam (which has been on my bucket list and Cenita has been helping me check things off). 

The crew ft. my new shirt (thanks Rog)

It was fun and super loud, so I was grateful for the ear plugs Colton procured for us from work. There were 3 events - a race for fastest overall, a skills test (rated by the audience), and a 2 minute freestyle (also rated by the audience). The trucks were often having electrical issues and needing to get flipped back over if they were stuck - but the crews were super fast at fixing them so most didn't miss any events. 

Highlights were mostly during the freestyle. The winner of this event was El Toro Loco - because by the time he was done bopping around the course, the entire body of his truck was in pieces around the track, leaving the skeleton truck. The second place for this event was Grave Digger - the only truck to do a double back flip and then attempt a third backflip (which probably would have worked if the whole truck didn't catch fire at the start). 

We got back late and Cenita and I were both nodding off before everyone left so we could sleep. She made a delicious omelet for us (sorry I said you didn't have breakfast food in your house lol). And I met our mutual friend Hannah (and fam) at the gas station for a quick chat since she's in town for a bit from NM currently. Then I hustled back to my own sacrament meeting for some ordinances and spiritual uplifting, and went home for a nice shower. You're welcome world. 

Camping & More Bread

 The Palmers invited us over for dinner on Sunday (since I share a birthday with Mike). So we got to enjoy their company and food and new massage chairs / foot massagers. It was a fun time and we ended up staying over there for a lot longer than we planned. 

I did make the rest of that amish bread into 2 batches - blueberry and coconut, the classics. We ate some, froze some, and gave some away. (Our neighbor keeps giving me bread for no reason, so I figured I would return the favor at some point). Always delicious and gone way too fast. 

We did actually have CFM study together, but it was after a day of Rog working his biology job. For this one, he had to hike a perilous trail straight down a canyon, unload/load supplies and set them up for some data collection on fishies, and then hike back up. He said the hike was hard, the ticks were many, and he was super tired and nauseated by the end. So our CFM was around 5 and then he immediately fell asleep for the night so he could recover from his heat exhaustion. 

The chopper dropping supplies.

After talking to all the stake YW presidents again (who have done zero advertising for the multi-ward activity that they were excited to have me plan/execute) I decided that if I didn't run it, nobody would. Which would be a shame. So I reminded them to TELL people about it and I would make it happen. (My own ward also 'forgot' and planned our camp fundraiser the same day/time, conveniently). 

We actually went camping this weekend. We had to break in our new camping trailer with a fold out tent on top. It was pretty comfy, although a really cold night. We camped by Ashurst Lake - kind of where Rog wants to go turkey hunting. It was busy. But we ate some hamburgers and hot chocolate and were woken a little by some daring coyotes that Rog scared away, and then by some really lovely birdsong. 

Then we went on a nice little jaunt into the woods to a spring and a salt Rog has been stocking to lure in the deer. We adventured farther than he had previously because I wanted to find the actual single source of the spring, instead of the muddy puddle with bright green grass that resulted farther down the line. We found a pipe out of the rocks that was diverting water from the lakes probably and chose that spot to have  a snack and listen to the water for a while. It was nice. I did get some photos on my camera, but I am too lazy to get to them at present. 

After getting home and showering, we went to a matinee showing of Henry Cavill's new movie - The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Which was hilarious and well-worth it if you can stomach some language and blood. Probably one of the best we've seen on the big screen in a while. (Although I have heard The Mummy is coming to theaters again for a week soon...)

Rog's mom was in town for some pre-op stuff and will stay for a bit to recover from an eye surgery, so we went to Sam's with her to pick up a few bulk items and went out for ice cream. Long live the birthday month of fun. 

(Let it be noted that Rog also was gifted a new gallon water bottle jug and some English scriptures for his half birthday, which apparently only I think is a celebratory milestone. Usually not enough to get a gift, but enough for me to bug him during his own birthday month of fun.)

Birthday Week of Fun

 I'm getting worse at writing these on time, but I can at least tell you what happened this week still. First of all, we're getting really busy at work. Both of us. My new AE (which is like the guy that goes and gets referrals for us) is cooking and my other PT has been sick and our part time PTA is really part time. Roger was told that there was a deadline to complete a series of apartment buildings (which was NOT in the contract) and has been hindered by HVAC guys on purpose and the framers on accident. So he's been spending extra time working. 

We had scheduled to have the missionaries come to dinner this week with us, but they have consistently had a hard time planning in advance and looking at the calendar prior to 11am - which is a problem because they assume everyone can feed them at 5pm and we cannot. So for the umpteenth time (and due to some whining on their part) we bought them takeout in town and made the decision not to put this on our schedule for the foreseeable future. 

In hopes of stocking up our freezer still with meal prep (because we HAVE the space and because we've ALREADY loved using these meals when we don't want to cook) - I did make a bunch of cajun chicken mac n cheese and also experimented with lemon amish bread - which was pretty dang good. More to come, but had to feed the starter for it. 

(since Rog always takes pics of me with our food, lol)

I hung out with my friend, Rachel, who will be moving soon to Utah since her husband will officially be a graduated MD with a real job and a real house for their 4 kids. I stayed for dinner with their missionaries - who had no problem eating at 6. (They were also women, so that might be why.)

Rog and I went to the woods on Friday and had a tinfoil dinner over the fire (which we now just cook all together in a big pot because it's faster and we have leftovers). We had a good time hanging out in the wilderness and nobody got bugbites. 

We didn't camp because Rog was going to play ball with some guys in the morning - but was disappointed to find the gym set up for a youth dance later that day. Frustrating. 

We did have the best breakfast ever at The Place (and even tried some new things). It's the best breakfast diner in town for sure. And we went to the bookstore for some bday festivities. And Rog cooked me dinner and it was a nice relaxing time. 

GC 24.0 APR

 As Roger said last week, he is not allowed to do anything on conference weekend. That's our pajama church time. And as he said this weekend, he didn't plan to do any chores because he didn't want to. (He still did some chores somehow). 

It was a good sports week again, although I subbed for a different co-ed volleyball team in the real leagues with much better competition and 2 of our players missing for the first game (one of whom was the person inviting me and so it took me a while to figure out what team I was on). 

Rog and I went to a Theatrikos (community theater) production of the Gods of Comedy. Rog was NOT having a good time at first, but then the gods showed up and stole the show. He had a good time after that AND we made it out in time for ice cream afterwards. 

At the theater (classy)

We also did a team shopping effort for meal prep and GC snacks. Rog loved it for the M&Ms and cheesecake and chocolate milk. And he even made some more breakfast meal prep. I made some banana bread with old bananas, broccoli chedder soup, an oatmeal apple breakfast thing (someone gave us a bunch of apples and broccoli) and we put leftovers in the freezer. 

Rog also did some work to the trailer and helped with dishes in between sessions and taking a fat nap both days. And for all of you wondering, I have some GC summations for you (minus a few thoughts that have been processing for a new writing project): 

1. CHOOSE TO TRUST THE LORD (helps with foresight, giving/getting corrected, finding joy in suffering, integrity, etc.) - He is there to help, not slow you down, and He has a plan. 
2. Russell M. knows what's up (think celestial, avoid myopic vision, God will prevail)
3. Study covenants in scriptures (including wearing garments, doctrine of Christ)
4. Be available for the spirit (pray, go to the temple)

So if you didn't watch conference, there it is. But go watch conference. Or read it. Whatever works. 

Easter Sunday

 After being released from YW, I have since been asked to still help with the fundraiser for camp (lol) which has also been planned the same day as the stake beehive activity I was planning that apparently everyone forgot about, so...

In other news, I've been gymming it up and playing some good VB. I even subbed for a co-ed team on Thursday - crushing the competition in city league. I've also been experimenting with my new high protein meal prep-style cookbook - cajun chicken mac n cheese and tomato bisque were both delicious (and have so much cheese in them, how could they not be??). 

Rog and I did our Come Follow Me study and I showed him my list for traditions we could start for Easter that bring us back to the Savior (with a clearer connection than eggs with chocolate or bunnies). Surprisingly, Roger is down to do every item on the list. I met with my study group later in the week, and they couldn't come up with any better ideas, so these are it:

1. Kill a goat/lamb. Eat it. 
2. Bread (it rises)
3. Crunching deviled eggs
4. Read the BOM resurrection story
5. Jesus sing-along

It's March Madness, and frankly we're all more interested in the women's bracket than men's. They have some ballers. And it's less like pickup. Anyways, so that's how we spent a good chunk of Easter weekend - watching games at Roger's parents house. We also ate delicious food and I got to play around with my accordion. 

The new design
(although it looks a little blurry here)

We were a little squished in the car with Stu and a bed frame we were returning (since our bed is now the couch bed to give us a little more room). We also are able to do that since our mattress topper went to the camp trailer and someone gifted us a car top storage thing. It was a nice relaxing weekend until the rest of the family arrived and then it's always stressful with kids and rules and making things work together, but luckily I don't have to really deal with that. It was fun to see Becky again and revamp the design for camp shirts.