SISTER ROAD TRIP!
The same day I tried out for A.I. we had to drive home to Safford for my Grandma's viewing! We turned what had been a hard day into fun driving in the beautiful AZ monsoon rain. My mom's van broke down that afternoon and so we had to dragg it to a shop and rent a van that only had 7 seats and we had 8 people. We were the last ones to leave Mesa and so we took turns sitting on the floor between the bucket seats! I love my sisters! We laughed and sang! They are everything to me!

AMERICAN IDOL!!!!!
I still get butterflies in my stomach when I think about it! What was I thinking?!?! Well, I will try to explain what I was thinking. I love the show first of all. Not, everything about it, but I love to sing and I love singing so I love that part of it. I have always thought in the back of my mind that I would love to try out just to see what it was really like. So about 4 weeks ago, my friend asked me if I would try out with her and I found myself saying" Sure!" So we practiced together and I found myself busting out all the old voice lesson info and really challenging myself and trainging my voice for the first time in 8 years. I loved it all over again. I would sing for anyone that would let me to try and build my confidence to sing in front of 2 judges accapella. So I felt like I definatley built some confidence.
Secondly, it is free, so I thought why not. Let me just tell you it is nothing like it seems. I had to register 2 days early to even get a chance to audition. Then I had the be there at 5 am the day of and stand in line outside for 2 hours so that all the news helicopters could get shots of the crowd. Then we had to have to songs rehearsed ahead of time to sing with the crowd of 5 thousand people (about half being actaully contestants). We sang the songs and screamed( I mouthed it) for about 2 hours and said stuff like, " The talent is hottest in Arizona!" And " Welcome to Pheonix!" Then they set up 12 tables in the center of the arena with thin, black sheets in between (you'll see it in one of the pics below). THese were the judging tables. They had 2 judges,or producers per table. They called us down by sections and had us stand in line in groups of 4. When our group of 4 got to the table we had to take turns stepping forward to sing our song. There are 12 other people singing at the same time as you in an arena of 5 thousand people!!! Talk about hard to concentrate, let alone hear yourself. And it was so nerve racking! They told us it was like that on purpose. They also know nothing about you at this point, not even your name. If you make it through this set of judges than you get to another set of producer judges and then days later you audition for Randy, Simon and Paula. They also, tell you not to take it personal if you don't get through. They said it doesn't mean you don't have a good voice but that they are looking for a certain look and style and they can't explain what it is. They just see it!
So, needless to say, I didn't make it through the first round. But, I had a really good time. When I first got in line outside I happened to stand right next to a girl I found out who was LDS and a mom of 3 and my age exactly. We knew all the same people. She was from Mesa. Her name was Tanya. We talked and exchanged phone numbers because we knew we would be split up. So then I met some more friends while we sat and waited and we went in the halls and sang for eachother and talked the whole time. That is the thing about musicians... most of them are very open and friendly and not afraid to meet people. And it was so crazy in the halls. Imaging thousands of people rehearsing in the halls! Loud, crazy chaos! But funny! THere were only about 2 outrageoulsy dressed people in the whole thing, I really wonder where they get all those crazy people they show try out!
So, the things I learned from this experience....

1. I don't want anything to do with that part of the world or industry. It is cut throat and hard core. It made me grateful I was a stay at home mom where I am surrounded daily by people who love me.
2. I am glad I don't feel that kind of pressure that I felt to look a certain way and soudn a certain way. That was not a fun feeling even for that long.
3. I truly gained some more confidence in myeslf and my singing talent and was reminded how much I LOVE to sing!
4. I also learned again that the Lord is detailed and watches out for us. I took my sisters car out there and it wouldn't start when I was trying to leave and so I called the girl Tanya as she was walking out to the parking lot and she took me home to Mesa from Glendale. I would've been stranded there.

THE FRIENDS I MET!



THE CROWD IN THE ARENA!

IN THE CRAZY HALLS!

THE LINES OF 4 TO WAIT TO GET TO THE JUDGES TABLES WHERE THE FLAGS ARE!

THE LINE OUTSIDE WAITING TO GET INSIDE!

THE CENTER OF THE ARENA WITH THE 12 TABLES SET UP WITH THE BLACK SHEETS IN BETWEEN!

THE PLACE MY KIDS STAYED! Leslie's house with my wonderful sisters to take care of them!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY EASTON!
It has been an amazing two years. Going from a colicy, sad, baby to the most sweet, obediant, silly, happy little boy has been a fun ride! You are talking so much and laughing and copying everything your big brother does. You want everything he wants and want to do everything he does! You are madly in love with horses, cows, boots, tractors, motorcycles and balls. You could play throw and catch literally for hours and hours. And any time there is a queit moment you are talking about Uncle Matt and his tractor and cows and "neigh" (horse)! We love you so much it is crazy!







We had the Ferrins down for a double birthday party for John and Easton. We ate Sunday dinner and I made home made donuts for the cake!
HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY JOHNNY!
It has been an amazing 5 1/2 years out of your 29! You are getting so grown up and working so hard! You study consistantly and study some more and study some more and oh.......study some more! And you are the best dental student and you will be an amazing dentist some day and then I will have other things to write about you. Oh, you are a terrific dad when you aren't studying! Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you!!!!

Summer Days!

Easton's favorite shoes these days!





Our friends the Broderick girls!

Aunt Callie came to visit!
And we gave her a sassy new due! Isn't she hot! We had so much fun together. We laughed til we cried and shopped til we dropped and sang til we........ I don't know. I just love that girl and my boys loved having her here too! Love you Aunt Callie!

We actually had our Daddy this day! And so we did projects and ran errands all day! Then we just did some of our own little fire works on our street!
My words can not begin to describe the way I feel about this day and this country. My grattitude is overflowing and my love is overwheming. I will forever be grateful!

I met the most amazing black preacher at Smith's Grocery Store the other day. We talked for 30 minutes at our cars. And when it was over I wanted to be a better person and have a better relationship with my Savior. He touched my life. When we first started talking he said " You know your Savior don't you." And I ofcourse said yes. And he said " I can tell, that is what has connected us here today." We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the last days and wanting to be more pure so we can have his spirit to be with us more and how much we need to bring people to Him and how we need to bring as many people to Heaven as we can. As he said " We need to bring EVERYBODY!" I am so grateful for this experience! I truly felt that he was my brother and I had known him my whole life, or maybe longer. He said" There is a reason for everything miss Lisa, maybe there was a reason we met today." I beleive this. I want to make people feel the way he made me feel. Like I can be a little bit better tomorrow.

MISSING OUR DADDY!
So everyday in Isaac's prayers he says "Glad Daddy will be done with school tomorrow and we can play and be together as a family all day." This breaks our hearts because it is never true. But maybe if he prays for it long enough we will recieve a miracle! :)

This is so funny, because this is very true about me. I think it describes me pretty well!


You Are Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES!
This is one of our favorite treats. This was a Sunday afternoon! I love messy boys!

PIANO
This is my "new" 1935 piano! I can't believe I havn't blogged about this. It was a total blessing! I found it for free at a garage sale and I just need to finish stripping the paint and stain it! I love having piano music in my house again. I cried when the piano tuner finished and played it! He thought I was a little crazy!

FATHER'S AND SONS OUTING!
The boys had so much fun. Of course John didn't get much sleep, but they even got to watch a movie on a big projector. Talk about the year 2008 camping!

2008 2 year old and 4 year old pictures!!!! I LOVE MY SWEET BOYS!





I can't decide between the one above this writing and the one below. Please give an opinion. I am going to have them blown up and printed and I can't decide which one I like better.

Isaac looks so much like a grown up boy it is kind-of freaking me out!

Isaac's new funny!

So Isaac says the most crazy things and so I am always asking him " Where did you learn that or where did you hear that."
So now if I tell Isaac something normal, like " GO potty before you go to bed or eat all your veggies" then he looks at me with this shocked face and asks "Mom, where did you learn that?!?!?" Try to answer that obvious question!

SUCCESSFULL HOMEMADE WHEAT BREAD!

So, sorry no picture, but I have to write about this for my own looking back sake. I have been putting off making bread for so long (even though I have really wanted to), because I hear so many horror stories about it and how it's different every time and how dry it is or crumbly or just doesn't taste good.

Well, I got my mom's recipe via my older sister Cara, because my mom says Cara's bread turns out better. I bought 400lbs. of white wheat which I heard has the same amount of nutrients as red wheat but just has a lighter flavor. Anyway, I ground a bunch at my friends house and made it from the freshly ground flour. I followed Cara's recipe almost exactly except for a few things. And I have to say......... IT IS INCREDIBLE! It's too good. That is all I want to eat and I can feel those carb packed pounds piling on but it is so tempting. It is so chewy and moist and dense. I don't like fluffy airy bread. I like it heavy and dense. And that is exactly how this turned out. It has such a good flavor and there is absolutely no crumbling or crusting or flaking! I have done it now the same twice. I will keep my fingers crossed. I will say this....... the bread doesn't look quite as good as it tastes. That is something I majorly need to practice. The loaves look pretty sad, but I guess I don't really care as long as it tastes good.

So, here is the recipe according to Cara and I wrote near it how I changed it.

Nona's Wheat Bread

5 cups warm water (not so hot that you can't touch it)
3 Tbsp yeast
2 Tbsp salt
2/3 cup honey
2/3 oil ( she uses canola, I used olive: I think that is what made it so moist)
I do 1/3 oil then 1/3 honey etc. so the honey doesn't stick to the measuring cup

Turn the Bosch on for a few second just to mix it up then let that sit and goo for a while, maybe 10-15 minutes, until it start to look really bubbly and smell yeasty. Put the flour guard lid on, turn the Bosch on 1 and add all the wheat flour first. I've been doing 9 cups (I added 10). Then add about 2 1/2 cups white flour (I only did 2 white), just until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn the Bosch to 2 and let it knead for 10 minutes. I check it after about a minute because sometimes I haven't put enough flour and the dough isn't staying together, it's spreading up the sides of the bowl. When 10 min. is up turn it off, prop the lid slightly open and let it rise until its about 2 inches above the top of the bowl. ( I only let it rise until it's beneath the top of the bowl) In the meantime grease 5 loaf pans with shortening and use plenty.

When the bread is done rising I pour a puddle of oil on the counter about the size of a softball, get some on my hands and pull the dough out of the bowl onto the counter. I just kind of rub it around until it's all covered with oil. Then I divide it into the loaf pans, cover them with towels and let them raise again. After about 20 min. I turn the oven on to 350, 15-20 min later I put the bread in all at the same time and cook it for about 27 minutes. As soon as it's done I run a cube of better over the top of each loaf, just enough to soften it up a little.
( I did this part different. I preheated the oven right after I put the dough in the pans and set the pans on the oven with a towel over them while they raised. I only let them raise for about 15-20 min total and only until they were again beneath the top of the pans. I then cooked them on 300 for about 30-35 minutes.)

DELICIOUS!

A TRUE WOMAN OF GOD

I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk’s lawn.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden.
I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.
(Desert Saints magazine, p. 8, May 2004, attributed to Marjorie Pay Hinckley)

I stole this quote from my friend's blog (sorry Emilee). I think I have heard this before, but my heart yearns to be this. I think I go from minute to minute between these two different women. I never want to loose this perspective. I love Sister Hinckley. She was am amazing woman. She probably didn't let he own projects and wishes and to-do lists come before her children. I hope I can really learn from this.

JUST A PREVIEW OF THE PICTURES LEAH TOOK OF MY BOYS! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE REST!