The Gustafson Family

Insomnia

2009-08-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

Maybe I can blame this last round on school starting back up, but really, I get a few days (or nights?) of insomnia every month or so. I fall asleep okay and then I wake up sometime between 2 and 3:30 and can't get back to sleep. This morning, while I was wandering around the house by myself, I came up with my "Top 5 Worst Things About Insomnia" and my "Top 5 Best Things About Insomnia". I figured I should try to find the silver lining, right?

Here goes:

Top 5 WORST:
1. Everyone else is asleep and I'm awake all by myself
2. "Sleep odors" I encounter as I stumble down the hall
3. Achy eyeballs
4. Finally feeling drowsy about the time the alarm goes off
5. Vacuuming, which would be a good use of my time, isn't really a good idea

Top 5 BEST:
1. Peeking in at my kids and husband sleeping. Even Troy looks sweet and innocent. :)
2. Overwhelming gratitude for those same kids and husband-gratitude that we're all here together, we're all safe and healthy, and we can be together forever. Just. . . gratitude.
3. Sensing the world wake up outside: watching the sky lighten, listening to the traffic increase.
4. Housework done sooner in the day, so more time to play later!
5. Time to think up crazy posts for my poor neglected blog

Dobby

2009-05-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting a little dog for several months now and we were able to find the perfect one on my birthday! :) I spotted him on the North Utah Valley Shelter's website late on Wednesday and Troy went to check him out and pick him up Thursday morning. He's a Cavalier King Charles spaniel- Troy says his name is bigger than he is. He's playful and ENERGETIC; it's about like having a toddler in the house again. We are really enjoying having him in our family, though.

So it's been awhile. . .

2009-05-11T13:22:00.001-07:00

Looks like the last time I posted was on Lara's birthday- yikes! I guess I just have so much fun checking out other people's blogs that I forget to update mine. Hmm. Well, here's a brief synopsis of what's been going on with us for the last few months:

February:
Snow, snow, and more snow. Eric decided to play football for the new high school (Westlake) next fall so he began getting up at 5:15 three mornings a week for conditioning. We celebrated Valentine's Day with pink pancakes for breakfast and did our best to stay warm. :) Kelson played city league basketball and Maddie, Kelson, and Lara all got their parts for Enchanted.

March:
Again, snow. Averie turned one- that year went by so fast! More football, more Enchanted, and Mom's work started to get really busy.

April:
A little more snow, but then SPRING BREAK! We took a road trip down to Arizona to visit Andrew and Annalise- 14 hours in the car each way. Good times! We saw the Mexican border (not really much to see), visited Tombstone and Bisbee, and stopped by the Grand Canyon on our way home. Mom had a birthday in April and we got a dog! His name is Dobby and he's a Cavalier King Charles spaniel-very cute and VERY energetic! Grandpa and JoJo finished their mission in Germany- we're so happy to have them home.

May (so far):
As of yet, NO SNOW! :) Maddie's Musical Express group performed at Lagoon and won first place for the second year in a row. Eric's still doing great with football- they're starting to practice outside now. Mom and Dad celebrated their 13th anniversary with an overnight trip to Salt Lake to hear David McCullough speak at the Salt Lake Tabernacle-very cool! And the kids and Dad were so sweet to Mom and made her Mother's Day wonderful.

Anyway, that's what we've been up to. I'll recommit to doing a better job posting a little more often. . . Hope everyone is well and happy!

My baby's turning 7 today

2009-01-27T03:03:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my Lara is now 7 years old. She's pretty excited- we're going to have a music party this afternoon (her idea) because she loves music. This little girl amazes me. She is feisty and strong-willed but very soft hearted. Last night she got upset with us because we wouldn't let her stay up to finish her movie. She threw herself in bed and refused to say her prayers or let us tuck her in. We left her alone for awhile and, about 15 minutes later, there was a little knock on our door. We opened the door and she ran in and threw her arms around me. She couldn't go to sleep without us and her prayers. :)
She's really thrilled about turning 8 next year. Eric's going to baptize her and she tells everybody about it. Her big brothers and sisters are her definitely her heroes. The biggest heartache in her life is not seeing BreeAnne and Averie more often; she remembers to pray for them every time she says a prayer. She also loves her extended family and talks about them all the time. I think if Lara could have her way, everyone she loves would live in our house and be with us all the time!
I am so grateful for this little girl. The most frightening experience of my life as a parent came when she was diagnosed with RSV when she was six weeks old. She and I spent a week in the hospital, including one very memorable and tender night when I prayed and pled with Heavenly Father desperately. When she drives me crazy, I think back to that night and how things could have turned out differently. I wouldn't trade her for anything! I love you so much, Bug!

Girl Scout cookies- yum yum!

2009-01-15T06:45:00.001-08:00

It's been a long time since we've had a Girl Scout at our house, but we have one this year. Lara's a Daisy and this year, for the first time ever, the Daisies get to sell cookies. She is SO excited! We went to the parent meeting on Tuesday night; she was pretty disappointed that she didn't get to take some home to sell right then and there. Anyway, her goal is 30 boxes (which shouldn't be too tough, I hope) and if the troop reaches their goal, they all get to go to Build-A-Bear. The cookies don't actually go on sale until Saturday morning- please leave a note if you're interested in some and Lara and I will get in touch with you. :)

Three of my favorite people

2009-01-06T16:20:00.001-08:00

This is what the holidays are all about- relaxing together. :) I caught the three of them napping and they were just so stinking cute I had to take a picture. I love how Eric and Troy are like mirror images of each other, and Lara's just nestled in between them.

Christmas, etc.

2008-12-27T12:25:00.001-08:00

Wow, I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. It was wonderful- lots of fun with family. We went to Troy's parents on Christmas Eve day and had a yummy turkey dinner with all the cousins, aunts, uncles, and Grandma and Grandpa. Then back to our house for our Christmas Eve party with my siblings (except for Lise and Andrew who just moved down to Arizona-we missed them!). We FINALLY got the kids to bed, except for Eric who wanted to help the elfs. :)
An interesting conclusion to Kelson and "Beedle": On Christmas morning, I was surprised that a certain book-shaped gift was nowhere to be found. I looked under and behind the couches, and tried to discreetly get Troy's attention. Just as I was starting to panic, Eric looked over at me and could tell that something was awry. "Hey, are you looking for that book? I stuck it in the tree last night," he offered. We quickly grabbed it and handed it over to Kelson, who thankfully hadn't yet realized that something was missing.

Banned from Beedle. . .

2008-12-17T07:54:00.000-08:00

A slight Christmas mishap ocurred in our family yesterday. Kelson's class had library time and he was overjoyed to see that "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" was available for checkout as he just finished Book 7. Unfortunately for him, Troy spotted him with the treasured tome and ordered it back to the library. There was some juvenile resistance. So Troy had to pull the book from my boy's passionate clutches and hand it back to our librarian Mrs. Fyffe. "Why oh why?" pleaded the boy. A discomforting juncture for my beloved husband: Santa is, in ALL likelihood, bringing this child this book. But how to explain to our young believer? He suggested to Kelson that Santa likely knew of his desires and would furnish the book in his own time. Reluctantly Kelson relented. (I'm pretty proud of that sentence.) While relating his tale of woe to me this morning, Kelson offered his opinion that if Santa doesn't make good, there's going to be real trouble.

Hooray for Julie!

2008-12-08T15:57:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that my blog doesn't look so much like a 4 year old is in charge of it now? That's all thanks to my good buddy Julie Blanchard, exercise friend and blogger extraordinaire! She even showed me how to put the cute little reindeer on- I love how he floats around. Of course, in a few weeks I'll have to figure out how to make him go away, but for now I'm happy.
And while I'm on the subject of happy things, here are some more:
1)Troy and I are going tonight to my work Christmas party at La Caille.
2) I'm just about done with Christmas shopping and even with the wrapping.
3) I get to go to the MoTab concert on Thursday with my mom.
4) My Lara has complete faith in Santa's ability to provide her with a toy which Mom can't locate in any store or online. I hope he can do it! :)
5)Maddie's Musical Express performances start this week- all of her hard work finally paying off! And she did a great job at her piano recital last week.
6)Kelson has a new hedgehog named Lucy that entertains us all.
7)My hubby and I have been watching a TV series that we love based on the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell. We are so excited when there's a new Netflix envelope in the mail.
8)It's snowing today!

My Facebook addiction/Gustafson Day/When is "Twilight" going to go away?

2008-11-13T13:26:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a while since I posted here. And the main reason for that is, I am addicted to Facebook. When I'm at work, I just have a Facebook window open all day, just so I can instantly see when any of my friends have decided to take a nap or clean their houses or rant and rave. It's instant gratification. I've noticed how crucial knowing these things about people to whom I have not spoken in 20 years has suddenly become, whereas a month ago I had no idea where they were and what they were up to and I didn't really care to know.
Last Saturday we had Gustafson Day. I love that we made up our own holiday. It's so fun to wear tacky homemade t-shirts all over the place and do goofy things together. Breeanne and Averie weren't able to come (we were all sad about that) but we had fun anyway.
We went to breakfast then over to Lara's first basketball game. She was a little nervous about being on the court with nine other little girls, 2 coaches, a teenage referee, and a fast moving basketball. Most of the time, she looked pretty terrified and hung out around the midcourt line as far from the action as she could get. She likes practice, though, so we're hopeful that she'll get more comfortable by the end of the season.
After the game, we headed up to the District to see Madagascar 2. I never saw the first one, although apparently we have it on DVD. I thought this one was alright for a kids' show. Even though we stuffed ourselves with popcorn in the movie, we were able to manage lunch at Red Robin. We hit the grocery store and PayLess and then home. I'll post some pictures when I have my camera with me so you can share in all our fun.
Ok, finally- Twilight! What the heck is going on with this book/movie? I read the book and it was okay, but all the time I kept thinking, why doesn't he just bite her and get it over with? I am amazed at how many of my normally sane friends have gone bonkers over this series. He is a VAMPIRE, guys. And FICTIONAL. I wasn't interested enough after the first book to read any more, but I'm glad so many people have enjoyed it. But please, enough with the craziness already!

Sunday evening and there's no school tomorrow

2008-10-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

Today my Primary lesson was about being reverent during Sacrament Meeting. I teach the CTR 6 class with my friend Sara. Reverence is a fun topic for us. We watched one of the girls in our class spend half an hour putting a package of M&Ms in between her toes. When she was done, she asked me to open the package for her. Oh, yucky. Hard to set the tone for a reverence lesson after that. :)
But anyway, I've been thinking that I need to be more proactive in sharing my testimony here. I am so grateful for the Gospel. I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that through his Atonement, we have the opportunity to be with our Heavenly Father again someday. I know that the fulness of the Gospel was restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know we have a living prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson. And I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I don't know why these are hard things for me to share- it's not like I'm bawling at the pulpit on Fast and Testimony Meeting. Maybe it's just because they're so close to my heart. I appreciate all of you in my life who lift and inspire me and help me to be a better person, many of you without even realizing you're doing it.

It's Eric's Birthday!

2008-10-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my little boy is 16!!! He hasn't been too interested in driving yet, but he's plenty interested in the womenfolk. Apparently the bishop gave him the green light for kissing at his interview last week- I told him he might be broadly interpreting whatever the bishop actually said. :) In any case, I love this kid so much- he is one of my best friends (I know that sounds corny) but we have so much fun together. Our brains work on the same wavelength- kind of a dangerous situation. . .

Last night his friends Michelle and Olivia stuck hearts all over in our front yard. I'm posting a picture- I think it's called a heart attack. Troy, Eric, and I went out for breakfast (took a little break from school) and then another surprise at school from Aunt Tiffany. More fun awaits tonight- we're going to Olive Garden. . .

Tagged!

2008-09-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, my friend Kristy tagged me on her blog so I'm playing along. I have to write about six quirky things I do so here goes. . .
1. I sing. A lot. Wherever I am and whatever I'm doing. Unfortunately I'm not very good, but for the most part my family are good sports about it. Someday when I have the time I'm going to take voice lessons, but for now my singing is what it is.
2. I can't stand the inside of my ears feeling wet. As soon as I'm out of the shower and dried off I grab a couple of Qtips to wipe them out.
3. I rub my eyes when I'm tired. It's a bad thing because it's going to stretch out the skin around my eyes and give me wrinkles and all that, but oh well.
4. I like to sleep with one foot outside the covers. Maddie and Lara do it too. Weird.
5. I brush my teeth often and hard. I go through 3 toothbrushes for every one of Troy's. I don't like my mouth feeling yucky so I probably brush them 5 or 6 times a day. And I really scrub- the bristles get all smooshed out pretty quickly.
6. I like logic puzzles and I have a whole box full of them in my home office. It's a big box full of magazines- it's probably a lifetime supply. I thought I was pretty much alone in this hobby, but the other day at Wal-Mart I saw a lady in line with a logic puzzle magazine and I thought, "Woohoo! Kindred spirit!"
So now the deal is that I have to tag six people who have to write about their six quirks on their own blogs. Then I leave a comment for them so they know they're tagged . . . :) I'm just tagging everybody on my blog list (except for you, Kristy, because you just did this of course!) Have fun girls!

Random things on my mind

2008-09-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, first off- I hate the template of my blog, but I'm apparently the only person I know who cannot successfully download templates from thecutestblogontheblock.com. I know the colors are yucky and hard to read. Thanks for reading anyway, because this is apparently how my blog is going to look forever. Boo hoo. :(

Next, I'm reading this book "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin right now. Oh my gosh, I have cried and cried. It's a good book. Anyone who lives near me and wants to borrow it is welcome to it when I'm done. It's the first time I've ever seen a non-LDS fiction book start with a scriptural dedication.

Oh, and finally- Kelson's Pinewood Derby is tonight. Unfortunately Kelson has slacker, non-handyman type parents who were unable to help him design and complete a new vehicle for this year's race. His options are to recycle last year's model and hope no one recognizes it, or borrow one from Eric from years past. Kelson's last year's truck wasn't too fast, but I don't remember any of Eric's being much better because, well, they both have Troy and I helping construct the things. It's a handicap which I think should shave off some seconds. Thankfully I'm at work so I'm hoping I get there after the races have started and any questions of eligibility have been answered. On the other hand, I'm sorry to send my hubby into the fiery furnace alone. The worst of it, Kelson is so disappointed in us, but also quietly resigned to his fate. Tragic.

It's Breeanne's Birthday!

2008-09-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

Breeanne and I went out for pedicures to celebrate-we love "pedis"! Anyway, here are some pics of our cute toes! I'm so grateful to have Breeanne in our family- she's a great girl and we love her lots. :)

Finally I am excited about this year's Presidential campaign

2008-08-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

I haven't been all that jazzed about John McCain (I'm definitely unjazzed about Obama), but now he's done something that makes me giddy. Everything I've read today about Sarah Palin convinces me that she is a lot more in line with everyday Americans than Obama, Biden, or even McCain. How cool that she has a son going off to Iraq! Anyway, hooray!!!! I might even send the RNC some money, I'm so happy!

A little P.S. to this post: I have been sitting here laughing until my eye makeup is all goopy over Dave Barry's coverage of the DNC. I stumbled across this thanks to my sil Tammy- please, please visit his site and read this for yourself. It's a good way to spend the last 51 minutes of the workday, I guarantee.

It's Maddie's Birthday!

2008-08-27T14:49:00.001-07:00

She is eleven years old now- I can't believe it. She is a sweetie (most of the time) and we really love her. She had a great year this last year participating in Musical Express. She loves to sing, dance, play with friends, and ride THE MOTOR SCOOTER. We're not having a friend party this year, but we are going to Tepanyaki for dinner tonight. She is so funny- we got a "Birthday Girl" pin a few years ago that she's kept. She wore it to school today and then came home and told me that everyone at school told her happy birthday. :) I thought, What did you think they would say?

My cute kids

2008-08-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

Check out this picture of the kids- they are adorable. School is going well so far. Eric's favorite classes are computer graphics, honors history, and weightlifting. Maddie likes 6th grade- all of her buddies are in her class. Kelson has discovered the classics and is reading them all (he's in King Arthur right now). And Lara's enjoying 1st grade and Mrs. Karren's "fly jar". She is extremely dramatic (as most of you know) and every day is like a soap opera. Troy is teaching all the sections of history this year so you know he's a happy guy. I think he's a little disappointed that he didn't get to wear a PE whistle, though. I'm still adjusting to a quiet house. :)

Top Tens

2008-08-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

We're headed back to school in a few days so I was thinking last night about what I'd remember most from our summer. Here are my top ten lists for my family members, at least the ones I currently live with. :)

Troy-

1. Our DC trip, but especially Gettysburg, the Lincoln Memorial, riding the Metro, and Potbellys Sandwiches.
2. Early morning walks to get in shape for our trip.
3. Sniffing the tobacco at Jamestown Settlement.
4. Reading the Great Brain book series with Kelson.
5. Teaching Maddie to mow the lawn.
6. Helping clean at the home of our friend who passed away, even though you were the only guy there.
7. Monk DVDs.
8. Participating with me in the library's summer reading program- hey, you get a free book at the end!
9. Camping up American Fork Canyon.
10. Being (mostly) patient with the kids while I was at work and being the best husband ever. I love you!

Eric-

1. "Name something else that's orange." "Um, I don't know. Cheez-Its?"
2. Walking through the National Zoo in Washington DC and having a girl run past us and yell "Hi Eric!" Even on the other side of the country it didn't take long for the women to learn your name.
3. Swimming with the little kids in the hotel pool so Dad and I could have a break from them.
4. Finding a sleeping bat in a cannon at Manassas.
5. Video commentary of the DC trip.
6. Working at the Snowie and for Uncle Jon and Aunt Tiffy.
7. Walks with Tanner to McDonald's and Arctic Circle.
8. Scout Camp, Youth Conference, and CrueFest.
9. "Are you going all French on me?"
10. Being patient, loving, and setting a good example for all your siblings. You're a great kid and I love you a lot.

Maddie-

1. Mowing the lawn (and starting the lawn mower) all by yourself for most of the summer.
2. Saving up for THE MOTOR SCOOTER.
3. Getting hooked on "Monk" and watching seasons 1 through 5 several times.
4. Miley Cyrus. Need I say more?
5. Camping in American Fork Canyon and hearing you say, "This is a lot more fun than I thought it would be."
6. Playing with Sarah, Annecy, and Shianne.
7. Memorizing several of the Articles of Faith and working on your Faith in God projects.
8. Going off first the low dive and then bravely trying the high dive (and loving it.)
9. Trying out all the "big rides" with Eric at Six Flags in Baltimore and loving them.
10. Just generally being a fun and happy girl- I'm so glad you're my daughter and I love you.

Kelson-

1. Collecting pins on the DC trip, then having to take them off of your hat to get through security at Dulles on the way home.
2. Picking the National Zoo as the place to visit on your birthday.
3. Trying (and liking) calamari at dinner on your birthday.
4. Monopoly, RISK, and Pirates' Cove.
5. Reading the Great Brain books with Dad.
6. How It's Made
7. The club at the big tree with Nate, Bryce, Kyle, and other assorted boys.
8. Watching Maddie go off both diving boards and deciding you needed to do it, too.
9. Multiplying fractions in your head- "A triple quarter-pounder at Wendy's is 3/4 of a pound of meat, Mom."
10. Always entertaing me with the things that come out of your mouth and being a sweet boy. I love you, buddy.

Lara-

1. Squirrels on the DC trip. They were definitely the highlight for you.
2. Collecting dolls on the DC trip.
3. Sunburned shoulders and cheeks, the stinky metallic smell of a little kid who's been out in the sun all day, and the blackened soles of your bare feet.
4. Playing big sister with Isaac and Sarah.
5. The witness tree at Burnside's Bridge at Antietam.
6. Being a flower girl in Krissy's wedding.
7. Going on the upside down ride over and over and over with Kelson at Six Flags.
8. Snuggling and reading Curious George to Dad and I.
9. Learning that being a friend means apologizing sometimes and working hard to include others.
10. Growing up so much over the summer- I can't believe you are ready for 1st grade. I love you lots!

Me-

1. A sister's wedding and a friend's passing.
2. Learning that I actually enjoy running.
3. Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, which pretty much negates the effects of the running.
4. Our trip, especially seeing the temple from the freeway, getting lost in Maryland, holding hands with my husband while walking A LOT, and feeling a renewed sense of hope and love for our country.
5. Working for a company I love, with people I like, in a profession that's challenging and exciting.
6. Mineral makeup? Not for me.
7. Swimming with my kids in DC and at the Lehi pool.
8. Fruit smoothies-the best breakfast ever.
9. Finding things I never noticed before in the book of Alma. There's some good stuff in there.
10. Being more grateful for the blessings in my life, especially the Gospel and my family. That's what it's all about.

Lara is a Star!

2008-08-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

We went to take pictures with my family on Sunday night which, needless to say, was an experience. While we were there, the lady who was taking the pictures (who is my sister's sister-in-law) mentioned that she had put some pictures of Lara on her website. She asked if that was ok. Ok? Definitely! Here's the link: http://www.alanalangephotography.com Lara's pictures are in the "children" section- she's such a cutie pants.

A Genius With A Dimple

2008-08-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

This morning while we were getting ready for church, I told Kelson that he was cute. He looked at me in disgust and said, "Mom, I am not cute. I am a genius." I replied that that was fine but I still love his dimple. He sighed deeply and in apparent resignation. "Fine, then. I'm a genius with a dimple."

Some random thoughts

2008-07-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your suggestions regarding running. I've been jogging a little more each day this week and then walking when I need to. I have discovered that I definitely like running downhill better than uphill! I also like how my muscles feel a little sore during the day- it's weird but it makes me feel alive.

I just read a fantastic book called "Whatever You Do, Don't Run". It's by a guy named Peter Allison who spent most of the last twelve years as a safari guide in Botswana. It's always been a dream of mine to go to Africa- now I am going to start saving my pennies because I'm so excited. Troy agreed to come with me, but he's not nearly as enthusiastic as I am. I know he wants to see the animals, but camping and unfamiliar foods are not his thing.

We took the kids camping overnight earlier this week and it turns out that they love it! Maddie was hesitant before we left, but all night she kept remarking about how much more fun camping was than she thought it'd be. We just went up American Fork Canyon- away from civilization but not too far away from civilization. We also saw "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D"- of the three movies we've seen lately (including Wall-E and the Dark Knight) it was by far my favorite.

Oh, and guess what? The Office, Season 4 is out on DVD September 2! This is my favorite TV show, maybe of all time. Troy got me the first 3 seasons for Christmas and we've watched them so much we have most of the dialogue memorized.

One final random thing- I'm posting a picture of my penpal Tim and his new wife. They live in Australia and Tim and I have been penpals since I was in 8th grade (closing in on twenty years). They got married in April and he sent me a photo so here you go:

I'd love to hear your suggestions

2008-07-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

OK, I have been inspired by the blogs of several friends who have either recently started running or picked it up again. I've never been a runner, but so many people like that I decided to give it a shot. I found a training schedule (The Couch-to-5K Running Plan) which looks pretty good. I'm not actually starting from the couch- Troy and I have been walking about 30 minutes every morning this summer. But I'm still way in the beginner stages.
The plan suggests that for the first week I should do three workouts. Each workout starts with a 5 minute brisk walk to warm up. Then I alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Sounds pretty good, but I really have no idea. What do all you experienced runners think? I'm anxious to get started Monday so let me know right away! :)

Another full day in DC

2008-06-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, we have mastered the Metrorail system- even Lara likes to swipe her own card. We started the day at the National Air and Space Museum then headed up to Capitol Hill. We spotted several ducks and duck babies in the reflecting pool- the kids were captivated. After some photos on the steps of the Capitol, we walked (and walked and walked) to Union Station for lunch. It looks like a pretty short distance on the National Park Service map, but it doesn't feel very short when you are walking in heat and humidity. There are trees everywhere here, and everywhere there are trees there are also squirrels. Now, I know that our children have seen squirrels at home. But here they are absolutely obsessed with the squirrels. And the squirrels here are extra jumpy- we saw one come straight off the ground when Eric startled it. Kelson is sure that one was throwing rocks at him when we were at Jamestown. Hmm, they're smart but I don't know if they're THAT smart.

We had an interesting experience at lunch. As we were finishing our burgers, a man who appeared to be homeless approached Troy and asked if he could have what we weren't going to eat. We told him to help himself, of course. He was very grateful and insisted on clearing our table for us. I couldn't help thinking about how much we have to be grateful for and the responsibility we have to help those less fortunate. It was a good opportunity to talk with the kids about King Benjamin and principles of charity.

After lunch, we went to the Museum of Natural History, where the highlight was a squirrel skeleton (obviously). We took a break for cold drinks and enjoyed watching two bus drivers who were apparently brothers (from New York it seems) try to hold a conversation with their Asian riders. Then we strolled down to the Washington Monument and over to the World War II Memorial. That memorial made me cry- I can't believe what that generation did to preserve our liberty. Now we're back at the hotel, resting and hoping our muscles won't be too sore for walking at the National Zoo tomorrow . . . :)

On vacation!

2008-06-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, here are some things we've discovered so far:

1. Toll roads are a pain. We are always looking for quarters.

2. Seeing the DC temple from the freeway is awesome. Really. Usually all you can see is TREES everywhere, so seeing the temple was amazing.

3. Our kids are great- they're getting along well with each other and trying to be patient with us, especially when we got lost for two hours in the wrong state on Friday night. We ended up in what might be described as an "iffy" neighborhood and stopped for a quick and very sincere family prayer.

4. On a related note to #3, if someone offers you a rental GPS at the car rental place, RENT IT.

5.This whole area is so cool- we've made a lot of great memories so far and will be posting more soon!

Only 9 days to go. . .

2008-06-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

We are SO excited! Only nine days until our big vacation!!! I can't believe we're finally getting so close. It feels like Christmastime where each day drags because you're anticipating and anticipating. I can't wait to take lots of cool pictures and videos and post them here. Hope everyone is having a great summer so far!

Skirts and P.E. Class

2008-06-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

I think that sometimes I get too interested in reading everybody else's blog and forget to update my own. Maybe it's just that everyone else seems so much more interesting than I am. :) Anyway, today was a big day for me because I wore a skirt to work. Wow. I still can't believe I did it- I normally do all I can do to avoid skirts; they're just something to be endured once a week. But I am sitting here typing in a skirt and it's surprisingly comfortable. It's not hot enough here yet for my legs to be sticking together so I'm happy.
The kids and Troy have been out of school for a week now- I think they're pretty much ready to go back. :) Actually, they're having fun staying up late and riding their bikes all over the neighborhood (except for Kelson, he's not a "bike kid"). Troy found out that he'll be teaching P.E. along with history next year (yes, this is hilarious to me, too!) so he's planning his "lessons". But really- what is there to plan? Everybody knows the drill- put on your gym clothes and do some warm-ups followed by whatever sport is in season, then "shower" and back into your school clothes. It's not brain surgery. He says he's going to participate with the kids and he's looking forward to wearing sweats all day. I can't help but think of Mr. Johnson, who was my 7th grade history teacher/boys' gym teacher. I had him first period- that guy must have had seriously overworked sweat glands because even at 7:30 in the morning he had pit stains to his waist. I DO NOT want my darling husband to end up in this situation!!!

Opening night

2008-05-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

All the kids' extracurricular activities seem to be culminating this week. Eric had his soccer tournament (his team finished fourth in the league), Maddie had "Hope of America" on Tuesday at the Marriott Center, and tonight is Kelson's opening night of "Seussical Jr.". They have all worked so hard- it's been a fun week! Kelson is a jungle citizen and a hunter in his play-I can't wait to see him on stage.
On a (sort of) related note, Troy and I are really looking into the possibility of building a new home. There is a subdivision right across the street from our school which would be great for us. I've had a great time researching floor plans on the Internet today- too bad our budget doesn't coincide with our dreams too well. :)
Oh, and for anyone who is interested, our school is sponsoring a world-record-breaking squirt gun fight on June 21. I'm posting a link for more information on it. . . And, if you missed seeing the kids on tv, check out www.myfoxutah.com and click on GoodDayUtah. All of our segments are posted there.

2008-04-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a quote from President James E. Faust that came in my email today. It just touched my heart today so I wanted to share it with everyone.

"For most of us. . . what is required is not to die for the Church but to live for it. For many, living a Christlike life every day may be even more difficult that laying down one's life. . .
Many think that the price of discipleship is too costly and too burdensome. For some, it involves giving up too much. But the cross is not as heavy as it appears to be. Through obedience we acquire much greater strength to carry it."

In case you're interested. . .

2008-04-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

Our school is going to be the FOX13 "Cool School" on April 23. Big Budha is coming from 6 am to 9am; Eric, Maddie, and Kelson will all get to be on TV! I think they are running several different segments during the morning, so set your DVR! :)

Lara’s story- dictated by her to Mommy (with only a minimal amount of editing for readability :))

2008-04-04T06:40:00.001-07:00

BY LARALYNNE GUSTAFSON

EVERYTHING I LIKE

I WAS BORN IN JANUARY 27 2002. I WAS A CUTE BABY. I HAD BLACK HAIR AND BLUE EYES. MY NAME IS LARA. AND MY MIDDLE NAME IS LYNNE. AND MY LAST NAME IS GUSTAFSON. AND MY HOUSE IS WARM INSIDE. MY MOM AND DAD NAMES ARE KARYN AND TROY. THOSE ARE MY PARENTS NAMES. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE NICE TO ME. THEIR NAMES ARE BREEANNE, ERIC, MADDIE, AND KELSON. THOSE ARE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS NAMES. MY BEST THING OF ABOUT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THEY ARE FUN TO PLAY WITH. AND MY SISTER CAUGHT A LEPRECHAUN HAT ONCE. SHE IS BREEANNE, ONE OF MY SISTERS. MY BROTHERS ARE FUN TO PLAY WITH EVEN MY SISTERS ARE FUN TO PLAY WITH. AND I LOVE MY FAMILY. THEY'RE ALWAYS FUN TO PLAY WITH. MY FAVORITE THING IS TO HAVE SNACKS AND PLAY WITH MY BARBIES IN MY BARBIE HOUSE. MY FAVORITE SNACK IS STRAWBERRIES DIPPED IN WHIP CREAM. MY FAVORITE PLACE TO GO IS MCDONALD'S. MY TOYS ARE FUN TO PLAY WITH. MY FAVORITE THING TO DO AT SCHOOL IS COLOR PICTURES OF MY FAMILY. MY FAMILY IS NICE TO ME. I HAVE TWO CATS AND ONE SNAKE AND DON'T FORGET MY SISTER'S TURTLE. MY BROTHER HAS A GERBIL.ALL THEIR NAMES ARE ARCHIMEDES, THAT'S THE SNAKE'S NAME, EVEN THE TURTLE'S NAME IS SPEEDY. AND THE CATS' NAMES ARE NEWMAN AND JERRY. AND THE GERBIL'S NAME IS LIZZIE. THAT'S ALL THEIR NAMES. ALSO I LOVE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS PETS ARE

FUN TO PLAY WITH.

I LIKE TO SING. MY FAVORITE SONG IS "IT'S A GIRLS' NIGHT OUT". I LIKE GOING TO SCHOOL. IT'S FUN TO PLAY THERE. I LIKE GOING ON FIELD TRIPS AT SCHOOL.

Some cute pictures of the kids with Averie

2008-04-03T13:24:00.001-07:00

Typical day

2008-04-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

Suddenly it seems our lives have gotten CRAZY! I've been working all week because one of our agents is on a cruise and things at home seem to be spiraling out of control. Here's today's agenda:

Dad- School from 7:30 to 4, then drive everyone to/from all their activities

Mom- Work from 12-7 (hopefully not any later), figure out something for dinner

Eric- Seminary at 6:55, school, then soccer game at 4:30, then homework

Maddie-Choir at 7:10, school, then piano lessons at 5, then homework

Kelson-Field trip to the zoo, play practice till 5:15, then homework

Lara-School, homework, and help keep Daddy from going nuts :)

I love that the kids are involved in so many activities! Our school is going to be on FOX13 on April 23 sometime between 6 am and 9 am. All our kids get to go at 6 am (ugh) because their various groups are being featured (i.e. sports, play, and choir). I'm pretty excited about it- guess we'll have to invest in TiVo by then so we won't miss it!

Lara wrote a story this morning she wants me to post on the blog. So keep an eye out for "Everything I Like" by Lara

Breeanne's big day

2008-03-31T13:48:00.000-07:00

So now our little Breeanne is Mrs. Hammond- whoa. Her wedding was Saturday afternoon at one of the meetinghouses in our neighborhood. It was really pretty and I think she felt very special. We were worried a little worried ahead of time, but everything went well. We're feeling more hopeful and optimistic that things will work out. :)

A boy and his truck

2008-03-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Eric is one happy 15 year-old this week. Grandma and Grandpa Gustafson got a new car and found they had an extra 1994 Ford Ranger on their hands. Fortunately for them, Eric just happened to be in need of such a vehicle. :) They generously sold it to us and now it's Eric's pride and joy. He's still in the process of obtaining his learner's permit so about all the exercise the truck gets right now is in and out of our driveway (we're not allowed to leave it on the street overnight). He has vacuumed it all out and hung air fresheners and even put change in the cupholder, all in anticipation of that happy day when he gets to drive!

I am so not blog savvy

2008-03-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

So all the rest of you have these cool links to other blogs you visit- I cannot figure out how to make this happen. I also like that you can put pictures INSIDE your posts- can't figure that one out either. Please feel free to comment and explain these procedures to me. :) I would love to link with all my friends!!

Big news for us. . .

2008-03-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

We are now grandparents! Breeanne had her baby girl, Averie Anne, on Sunday March 9 at 12:49 pm. She's a very sweet baby (so far!) and we're happy to have her in our family. Also, Breeanne will be getting married on March 29. Hopefully everything will work out well for her, Taylor (her fiancee) and little Averie. :)

The Return of the Tooth Fairy

2008-02-22T10:38:00.000-08:00

Kelson wisely chose to apologize to the Tooth Fairy yesterday. He was thrilled, but confused, to find a dollar this morning. He was absolutely certain that no such creature existed as he's already sure he "figured out" Santa Claus. This is interesting because he has a deep fascination with the Loch Ness Monster, Yeti, and any other legendary creature-- he's convinced they all exist.

Wow, it's been a while

2008-02-21T13:14:00.000-08:00

So I guess we are way behind the blogging curve-I've just been reading blogs from some of our friends and I realized I haven't posted in about 9 months. Hmm. Well, I'm sitting here at work listening to Billy Joel and looking out the window at a kind of gray day. But good news! In just 43 minutes I'll be going over to the meetinghouse to donate blood! Excitement! I figure it's a good way to lose a quick pound. :)
In other news, Kelson lost a tooth last night and swiftly informed us that he does not believe in the Tooth Fairy. The Tooth Fairy must have overheard this blasphemy because this morning his tooth was still in the cup and there was NO MONEY to be found. He was dismayed. But our policy is, if you don't believe, you don't receive. Lara advised him to apologize to the Tooth Fairy and hope for a better outcome tonight.

2007-05-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Hooray! A bunch of us crazy neighborhood women got together for lunch today at Cafe El LLago and planned our neighborhood 4th of July party. This will be our third year- the first year was a blast and last year we got frozen out (the high temp was about 45 degrees). Pray for good weather this year- we've got a blowup water slide, 2 bounce houses, all kinds of goodies, kids' crafts, and general mayhem. Just between the six families planning it, we've got almost forty people. We're hoping to keep it to 200 or so by the time we're all done, so if any of our faraway friends want to come, let me know ASAP!

Our first post :)

2007-05-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go. Many of you have been blogging for months (years?) and we've finally gotten on board, too. Our school year is quickly coming to an end- the kids are all excited, and Troy especially can't wait. When school starts again, Breeanne will be in her last year and Lara will be starting her first year. How time flies! We are looking forward to summer- neighborhood barbecues, holiday traditions, and lots of time relaxing. We had our first neighborhood potluck of the year last Saturday night- I'll post some pictures as soon as I get them loaded on. It turned out to be a hotdog extravaganza-- we cooked something like 8 dozen of them! It was also a farewell party for our dear neighbors the VanCotts who are moving to Mesa this weekend. We will miss them but we wish them the best!