Anniversary of Our First Date

Tal and I met and started dating 23 years ago this month. I can't believe it's been that many years but in the same breath, it feels like we've always been together.

I am very grateful that the Lord saw fit to guide us towards each other and help us find our way. It hasn't always been easy but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

He is my best friend and closest confidant. He makes me laugh everyday - sometimes I'm laughing with him and sometimes I'm laughing at him but both count!

I am forever grateful that he brings the Priesthood and blessings of the temple into our home.

He takes good care of our family and is a wonderful father. He is a hard-worker and is dedicated to his family. I love and respect him so much. 

Derby

Our ward did a family pinewood derby this week. Since Eric did so well at the Cub Scout Derby, several boys (and dads) were excited for the opportunity to humble the Ehlers' men a little.
Sorry to say, no humility was handed out this week. Tal's car took first place overall and Eric's took 4th. Eric would have done a little better if they hadn't had Tal and Eric race against each other for their first heat. We were a little surprised that Eric's car did so well since he has played with it many times since his Derby last November.


They had a great turnout for the event - lots of families and I think there were 24 cars entered. They had one category that was traditional rules and a modified category.

S-O-L-D

It's true! Our home in Loa is sold. The people who bought it are the same people who sold it to us. Kurt and Tanya just had to have it back after missing it for 7 1/2 years.
SEE IT HERE
It was a wonderful home that we enjoyed for a long time. I am sad to see it go but I know we need to be in Vernal now.

This home saw a lot of milestones in our lives:

Birth of Spencer, started preschool

Eric's cancer (from diagnosis to end of treatment), starting school

Kadi graduated elementary school, finished middle school, became the chicken whisperer, had her own dog

Dallin's first job, learned to drive, played baseball

Taylor's first job, learned to drive, graduated high school, moved away from home, went to jail, got his mission call - twice.

Juli started and ended Aspen job, got EMT, CNA, started college

Tal started real estate business, EMT, Fire Fighter, Search & Rescue, Public Information Officer, Special Function Officer

And many birthdays, holidays, parties, family dinners, card nights, drive-in movies on the side of the house, sleep overs, house guests, thousands of loads of laundry, at least 2,700 loads of dishes, and more than 8,000 meals.

40 By 41

To commemorate the big 4-0, I am inspired by Ginger's idea of creating a list of goals to accomplish before a big birthday. Since all mine will be big from here on out, I ambitiously found 40 things to do before I turn 41.
I am retaining the right to substitute a different goal if by chance the one I set is no longer appealing.

1. Finish my Associates Degree
2. Lose 40 pounds
3. Enter 24 blog posts
4. Print blog for journal for a past year
5. Attend the temple 12 times
6. Bring a family name to the temple and do their work
7. Finish and print my Tastebook
8. Read the Book of Mormon
9. Make Crème Brulee
10. Become a Red Cross Volunteer to help with shelters and family case work DONE: Finished training March '12
11. Donate blood
12. Write a killer resume
13. Find 6 new bean recipes that my family likes
14. Find 6 new veggie recipes that my family likes
15. Find 6 new meatless dinner recipes that my family likes Fulfil a photo request in my area for Find A Grave.com
16. Learn to play Suduko
17. Earn a Bachelor's Degree
18. Learn to make a good steak
19. Compile the 2011 Girls Weekend on a photo DVD
20. Go on a hike (it's been YEARS since I've been on a hike)
21. Learn Photo Shop enough to print a great pic of each kid and Tal & I
22. Get Christmas cards out by the first week of December
23. Send a thank you note to someone from my past who made a difference
24. Get (last year's) school pages done for each kid's scrapbook
25. Have a container garden at the rental house this summer
26. Speak in public or teach a class
27. Make something homemade for a Christmas gift (non-food)
28. Reread a favorite series
29. Read The Undaunted
30. Wear a scarf as part of a cute outfit
31. Sell something online  Read 36 books
32. Make homemade vanilla
33. Cook a childhood recipe that I have never made before (mine or Tal's)
34. Make pecan logs
35. Organize a progressive dinner
36. Contact someone with my same name
37. See something on stage (theater, ballet, musical, concert)
38. Read a book before I see the movie DONE: Hunger Games
39. Climb an indoor rock wall
40. Test drive a new car I really like

Wendy's Frosty

Today is Spencer's 6th birthday. He has been sick with the stomach flu for 2 days now. He caught it from Eric, who was only down 24 hours, then Kadi had it for a day, Spencer is on day 2 and Dallin came home from school today after throwing up during 3rd hour. Tal is out of town for the week for a training so I have been on my own to clean up puke off the floor and nurse a houseful of sick kids. Thankfully, Dallin and Kadi are really great helpers even when vomit is involved and I have not yet been stricken. (A tender mercy, thank you!)
Since Spencer hasn't lost his lunch since last night, I got him a junior Frosty when we were out taking Kadi to her ortho evaluation. (I wasn't about to reschedule it, sorry waiting room parents, I tried to keep Spencer in a corner.) Here is our conversation:

S: I wonder what Frosty throw-up looks like?
M: I don't know. I've never seen Frosty throw-up.
S: Mom, I think we are going to find out!

Luckily, we did not need to find that out today. I am thinking that I would be OK if I never had to find out what Frosty throw-up looks like!

He is feeling better today and I think he may be able to keep down some birthday dinner and cake. He wants Parmesan noodles (from a box, not the yummy Alfredo I make) and grilled cheese sandwiches. I love easy birthday requests! For cake, he always asks for Spice Cake. Funny kid - he fell in love with it one year when I made it for Grandma Marilyn's birthday and now he and Eric say it's their favorite. I am still looking for the perfect recipe, so today I tried No-Fail Applesauce Spice Cake. My first clue should have been the implied guarantee. Yep - it flopped. It is still edible but that perfect spice cake recipe still eludes me!