I must confess...I am sore after doing 20 pushups on Sunday. Guess I'm getting old!

Katie, Katie, you Beautiful Lady!

Happy Birthday Aunt Lady. I hope it is a fantastic day for you

It sure was nice to see you. I can't wait 'til Bear Lake!

"It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge." - Phyllis Diller-

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads. You do great things for us. I'm so very thankful!

Melissa, I love to read whatever you write...another talent that you have dearie!
Jerry caught an early flight home and it's soooo nice to have him here. Sis has a friend over for the night and things are gradually winding down here. My roses have been fabulous this year. I just keep bringing them in and enjoying the color and fragrance.
Ed and Val are looking forward to the arrival of their little girl, but the doc wan't to induce and they are a little nervous about it. You know, the ol" "apple falls out of the tree when it's ripe." Say a little prayer for them as they need inspiration on this one.
I send you my love and highest regards. mom xoxol

If ever you wonder what your weaknesses are, just ask your kids.


In fact, most of the time you don't even need to ask. They will let you know.

Last Saturday the entire Sam Carter family ventured out to Costco (daring, I know). After paying for our groceries, we decided that we would stay for lunch. Sam and the kids had pizza, I opted for a diet coke (nothing sounded really appealing).

As we sat there eating, Eddie asked me why it was that I refused to buy "Sunny-D" for the kids. I explained that it is really just junk-food disguised as orange juice. I haughtily added that I don't like to spend money on junkfood.

Eddie looked at my cup, and then looked at me with a genuinely puzzled expression. "Well, you buy Coke for yourself and that's junkfood too."

What could I say? Sam laughed, and I just sat there with my TV face on, wondering how I didn't catch my own blatant hypocrisy. The boy was absolutely right. And I told him so.

I've decided to quit drinking soda. It's really not good for me anyway. I only bring this up, because my nature is to unscrupulously consume without limitation. (I'm really immature in most matters of self-discipline) and so, I'm asking for some support. Please hold me accountable. Ask me how it's going, and send me raised eyebrows as I'm about to order my drink at the restraunt. I know it's not that big of a deal. But it's that difficult for me to quit a silly little habit.

I don't think, in moderation, that it's bad. I haven't decided that soda is the drink of the devil or anything. I just reviewed my mental pros and cons list, and decided that it shouldn't be something that I need anymore.

On a slightly different subject:

I listened to a portion of an interview on the radio yesterday. It was an author (can't remember his name) discussing his book (can't remember the title). But it was a book about the Ten Commandments (the views of, in America or something) and sounded very interesting. I missed most of it, but towards the end of the interview, the author was asked what commandment was most difficult for him.

I thought it would be funny for him to answer "Thou shalt not kill" as a joke.

It actually was his answer! He explained that he had some history serving in the military. Spent some time in Bosnia, I think. How that experience has led to the struggle of that particular commandment because of having taken people's lives while seeing others desperate for their own, needing to resort to violence themselves.

He also suggested that the worship of idols, is ultimately just the worship of self. And that to worship God is the only way to not worship yourself. It was interesting to think about.

I haven't decided what my most difficult commandment is yet. Maybe I should ask Eddie, he's sure to know ;)

It was sure nice to see people writing. I love to read what you all have to say!

Happy Day.

GASP! Oh my heck! Imagine my shock to find out someone still remembers to write something here. Well, I'll just have to add my 2 cents...knowing just what it's worth.
We loved, loved, loved Chicago with Kate, Dan and the little boys. I'm with Liz...we just didn't spend enough time there with the boys. But, shop, walk, eat, shop, walk, stand, try-on, eat a little more, shop, look at, laugh, rush to beat the light, look at more stuff. Well, it's what girls love to do...not to mention "truth or dare."
The beat goes on here at home. Your dad is out of town for the whole week. We had telephone problems this morning, but they are now resolved. The disposal didn't work but I took an allen wrench to the blasted thing and it's humming along now. I had to buy some watermelon and gobble it down as soon as I got home. For whatever reason I have had a major hankering for watermelon.
Cold day and finally a blue sky. Life is good here for me. I just started reviewing "Preach My Gospel" and I am filled with the spirit everytime I open it up. What an amazing resourse for our family.
I love my family...write soon. mom xoxo

HAPPY 30 YEARS YOUNG SAM!

Our ward had a "country western" party last night, featuring homemade chili, cowboy and cowgirl outfits and line dancing. The activities committee had asked Cristie and I to sing a few songs, so we hastily practiced a few of our old standby's ("Blow up your TV", "I've Just Seen a Face", and "You Are My Sunshine") Saturday morning. While we were practicing, Melissa called and asked what we were doing that night. Sam and Melissa ended up going to the party with us, and as an afterthought, Sam and I drove back to his house to pick up his mandolin so he could provide some instrumentation to the songs.

His contribution was fabulous. He got an ovation after every lick and added a new dimension to those tired old songs. The ward didn't seem to mind our singing, but Sam was truly the hit of the evening.

We're going on the road!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANNY!

Ed and I saw "Million Dollar Baby" last night. I found it to be a powerful, emotional film. While watching, I was not surprised that Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman won oscars for their performances.

It was very well acted, directed, written and shot. I certainly think it deserved an Academy Award for best picture. It was such a treat to see a movie where character was actually developed and the focus was on people and not on action, special effects or even plot. Parts of it were hard to watch.

Still thinking of my all time favorite movies, I think "Dead Poet's Society" deserves a spot in my top ten.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREL!

She is in Arizona working with Kyle.

712-4887 for birthday greetings.

Anybody see coverage of the "Gates" in Central Park the last few weeks? Cristie and I saw a piece about them on a Sunday morning news show. As with most things in New York, they were very controversial; art or ego...and why the Hare Krishna orange? What think ye?

On the way to Sacramento today I read an editorial in Newsweek by Anna Quindlen in support of the overhangs of the walkways in Central Park. Her closing lines: "Our town has been a widow. For a few weeks she took off her weeds and put on a party dress."

Today my mother would be 70 years young! She loved to celebrate her birthday so drink a coke, eat a dessert, clean a bathroom, iron a shirt, or shoot a bird (wink..wink) in her honor....she was quite a gal.

If this has become a site "for healthy living", shouldn't we include posts on exercise, yoga, laughter, immunizations, seat belts, sanitation, good sleep habits and, perish the thought, beneficial medications, or is healthy living just eating raw stuff?

I've given this top ten all time favorite movies some thought. The movies I've listed below are in no particular order. I list them either because I found them most enjoyable, or they were influential in my life at the time, or both.

1. Dances With Wolves

2. Witness

3. Ben Hur

4. The Graduate

5. A Man Called Horse

6. Remains of the Day

7. A River Runs Through It

8. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

9. The Sting (could be bumped if I think more)

10. It's a Wonderful Life

I hesitate to write that I'm grateful for Eli's accident, but the last few days I was afraid this blog had degenerated into a raw food recipe site!

With tonight being a celebration of this year's best films I thought it would be fun if everyone posted their top ten favorties.

Not necessarily in order of significance...

1. Enchanted April

2. Manhatten Murder Mystery

3. The Fugitive

4. Widow's Peak

5. The Best Year's of our Lives (saw it as a child...it still moves me)

6. Charade or North by Northwest or Rear Window...something for sure by Alfred Hitchcock or is it Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart that I'm crazy for?

7. Runaway Jury

8. Peter Pan

9. You've Got Mail

10. A River Runs Through It

I reserve the right to change my mind and edit if you remind me of something I liked better ;-)

DID HE NEED STITCHES! and how did the little twerp do it? Laurel once OD'd on some medicine while I was gone and when I came home she was stumbling around the house....no one seemed to have noticed. Well, I called poison control and justice was served. Jerry was up all night long answering the phone and monitoring Laurel's progress. Oh, I'd say she was about seven years old.

Welcome once again to the world of parenting...it's the best!

CHALLENGE: Who can come up with the grossest sounding "smoothie" using only Superfoods (or whole foods)...Danny started with a pretty good one (though it would make a yummy salad).

Who can think of something completely unappetizing without using salmon as one of the ingredients?

Maybe we could collaberate our efforts, and "one-up" this Dr. Pratt. We'll call it;

"150 Super Food Smoothies: Live Forever and Never Chew Again"


All right folks, it's my bedtime.